I've just finished watching the service at the Cenotaph on tv.   I'm surprised at how emotional it was for me.   My grandparents were too young to fight in the war - they were only just in their teens when WWII ended, and my great-grandfather was a miner, so whilst he still contributed to the war effort, he didn't see active service.   My grandfather did his national service with the RAF, but that was in the 50's, and my cousin was in the Navy, out in the Gulf during the Afghanistan and Iraq conflcts, but he was lucky in that no-one he knew was killed, and he left the Navy a few years ago.   I am sure some relatives must have fought during major conflicts, but they would be distant ones.   Still, watching it really got to me this year.  I am lucky that my parents raised me with awareness of our history and the conflicts we have been engaged in, and the bravery that those involved demonstrated, and so I have always appreciated what people have done in order to preserve our country and our freedom. 

I suppose, same as last year, I dislike how some people just don't seem to care.   At the start of the service they showed a list of the British soldiers who have died in the last year, and their ages.   The majority were teenagers or in their early twenties.   The youngest person to die in WWI was 14.   I am 23 and I could not show the courage which people of my age have been showing over the last century.   And yet, some people will keep going on about how this is an illegal war and they don't support it, and so they won't buy a poppy.   That isn't what a poppy is for.   I do not support war, I feel that if we are threatened we should fight to preserve our country, but we shouldn't fight to gain something, just to defend.   However, I seperate the war issue, to the soldier issue.   I agree with the current war, in some ways, and disagree with it in other ways.   But I  unconditionally support the soldiers fighting, for they are doing what they believe to be right for their country.   And I will show my recognisation and appreciation of what past generations have done also.   I am just disappointed that a lot of people in my area think boycotting what the Royal Legion are doing is a way of protesting against the war.

Title: Draco’s Year
Author: fancypantsdylan (on LJ as rage_jt)
Pairing(s): pre-slash Harry/Draco, Severus Snape, Luna Lovegood/Dean Thomas
Word count: ~2,400
Rating: PG-13
Beta: katiebell_0408
Warning(s): Follows plot of DH but is AU, EWE
Disclaimer: All characters owned by JK Rowling, I just play with them. No profit made on use of characters.

Another late one, but today was a busy busy day (both my Mom's and my Best Friend's b-day's today)

Ok I did the first week of this! The last 2 days have been difficult mifu kinda days. But I have so far written 4064 Words, which is awesome! Sunday is my down day, so I hope to plug away on a few of them as I have 35 ficlets left to do, and I have 23 days in which to do them. Plus there are a few warnings that might be difficult, (though probably not the ones you would think - any guesses?)

Onward!

Title: Desire
Author: shadowess
Word Count: 646
Rating(s): R
Challenge: Hogwarts Years
Warning(s): Hogwarts years, Chan (thoughts towards a minor 13-16 – nothing too explicit)
Summary: It started in his third year
A/N: Written for WriSoMiFu and My Table of Warnings/Prompts can be found Here

( Desire )

Fic 2 done and off to beta. OMG, I feel like I'm actually on top of things right now. Scary, huh?

So tomorrow I start Fic 3 and hopefully will finish that Monday (seriously, it shouldn't be a difficult fic to write--which means I'll likely be whining all over the place about how slow the progress is on Tuesday).

But for now I get to splash around in the happy feeling of "yay, fic completed!!"

And six days early, too. Whoot!

I believe this calls for wine.

At least one person can't see the comments on the Baseball AU fic most of the time.

Even if you don't want to read the fic, it'd be nice if I could know if it's just her, or if there's actually a problem to report.

Fic is here. It's long, but at the moment there are a handful of comments. If you don't mind clicking, could you let me know if you can/can't see them, and if not, if there's anything unusual about your browser/viewer/whatever? If there's any common thread, I figure that's something the support folks need to know.

I originally posted this at http://florahart.dreamwidth.org/998084.html. Comments may be left here or there; you can comment there with OpenID even if you don't have an account.

Free Falling by evening_spirit
J2, R
explicit sex, mental illness, anti-schmoop I think this might have started off as a one off and developed into a 'verse. There is a disjointed unreal quality about this story, yet it is also rather beautiful and fluid. It is hard to describe, but then Jensen (in the story) probably feels that way all the time so it really lends itself to helping the reader to 'feel' Jensen, even when parts are told from Jared's perspective. The link takes you to a master post and you can read it either as it is written or in linear order. I chose linear.


Worlds Apart by freakn_out
J2 AU, PG-13
In medieval days, a peasant has no standing in society according to the nobles So then why does Sir Ackles suddenly take an interest in peasant-boy Jared? Is it Jared's dream finally coming true, or something else...? Its a fairy tale, as in an actual fairy tale. Which was kinda cool in its uniqueness. Its not the most 'in-character' piece I've ever read, but I'm just a sucker for happily ever after schmoop!


There's No Logic (So Please Believe Me) by raphaela667
J2, R
So, overall, Jared was not especially surprised that he’d fallen in love with Jensen suddenly. He was a little shocked that he’d fallen in love with Jensen. Who was, OK, sort of blindingly pretty, but you got over that once you figured out that he would rather buy new underwear than wash the old ones (sometimes, Jared got annoyed with him and did his laundry, it made sense to him). A lovely cute little story about falling in love with your best friend. About knowing someone. Did I mention how cute it is?

NaNoWriMo has stolen my soul. Word count? 18,157 words. I just finished part one of four, which was supposed to be 11K of the 28K I had planned out. I really should be used to things not going as I plan, but I am in total shock. I'm writing. I'm writing A LOT.

Tea is evil!

That is all.

Title: Looking Great
Author: alisanne
Pairing: Neville Longbottom/Bill Weasley
Word Count: 100
Rating: G
Warnings: Fluffy fluff!
Beta: sevfan
Challenge: Written for neville100's prompt #94: Neville and his women
Disclaimer: The characters contained herein are not mine. No money is being made from this fiction, which is presented for entertainment purposes only.
A/N: Neville has the perfect day.

( Looking Great )

Caught On Tape by taelynhawker
SPN, NC-17
Dean's not sure what's hotter. Porn. Without Plot.... Sam & Dean watching Sam & Dean. Guhhhh


I'd Marry Your Cat Just to Get In the Family by wanttobeatree
SPN, PG-13
Written for woodstarling's prompt 'Dean gives Castiel all his lame pick-up lines and Castiel keeps trying to use them on Sam' over at THE TOTALLY AWESOME SAM/CASTIEL COMMENTFIC MEME. Complete and total WTF?!?! CRACK. OMG, such good crack. Hang on, I need to rest my gut for a sec.


And if you like that one then you might also like Just a Question of Morality by emerald_embers also from the meme for the Castiel discovers texting. Dean ignores his messages, but Sam is too polite to do so prompt. A little less on the crack and little more on the cute schmoop. I said a few weeks ago that I was sad about the complete lack of Sam/Castiel fics out there so this is fucking awesome to me! I'm so enjoying this.

I have very few personal passions in life, fandom/Snarry being the one you all know most about. :) Gaming and crafting area also passions of mine, but, my longest held passion is cooking. I don't have many memories from my childhood, but being in the kitchen makes up the majority of the ones I do have. I can vaguely remember helping my Great-grandmother fry corn fritters on her farm. I can remember getting after my grandfather for pushing the cooked eggs into the uncooked ones while he made me scrambled eggs, and I can remember watching my mom cook all sorts of delights for Christmas, granted this was while she was bitching about doing it, but seeing the happy people because of her food helped off-set that. I don't know if you all can tell, but I have self-esteem issues. (LOL more issues than Severus Snape had of Potions Monthly, I imagine. ^.^) While these issues hinder several areas throughout my life, cooking has been the one area where I am extremely confidant. I know, more often than not, if I make something it's going to be good, and most likely damned good. I LOVE to cook. And I love to share this passion, thus all the recipes. :)

Today's recipe is relatively easy one. And it's one that tends to disappear fairly quickly around here, which is funny, since it's a side dish.

Canned, cut green beans
Bacon (diced)
Onion (diced)
Summer Savory
pepper

The rule of thumb with these are three pieces of bacon for every one regular sized can of beans. But that's it. Everything else is too taste, and even the bean to bacon ratio can be changed. (which is why I like cooking and not baking. Baking is too exact.)

Heat a heavy bottomed pot, add bacon and onions, and cook until onions are soft. Add savory, stirring through. Add beans, liquid and all. Stir gently, just to combine. Turn heat down, and let almost all of the liquid cook away. Make sure heat is down low enough not to burn beans, as you won't want to stir these often. They tend to turn to mush if you do. When I make these for dinner, I normally use 2 cans of beans, and it takes anywhere between 20-30 min for the liquid to cook away. When I make them for holidays, I double that, and it takes 30-50 min, depending on how many other burners I have going as well. (I cook on gas. I HATE electric stoves with a huge passion.)

Enjoy! :D

All the criticism that's leveled at Richard Curtis' films (that they're too cliche or feel-good, sugar-coated and lacking in realism, trite, consumerist - Yes, even Notting Hill and Four Weddings, which are actually damn good films) can be applied to The Boat that Rocked. The plot is thinner than a vinyl LP, the film as much loving caricature as comedy. Yet it is lovely fun.

Bill Nighy and Rhys Ifans are superb, stealing the show right out from under Philip Seymour Hoffman. Emma Thompson gives great cameo and the music... the music Rocks!



It's the movie equivalent of cheap chocolate. Really great while you're eating it, too sweet when you're done. But I laughed a lot. Not a great film, but great, great fun.

You could do worse than rent it.

***
This entry was originally posted at "http://boji.dreamwidth.org/292261.html" - comment/s left.
If you wish to comment there, instead of here, you can do so using OpenID.

Hmm, where to begin with this one..? I first knew you in HP fandom through your fics. You're a fantastic writer, and if I had to describe your writing in one word, I'd use "witty." (If I was allowed a second, I'd try to get away with "monitor-melting-smutty-hotness-OMG.") Then I discovered that you're an absolute blast in person; funny, friendly, smart, gorgeous, and blessed with pretty much the Sexiest Voice Ever. Your one-of-a-kind cards are way original and cool; getting mail from you is so much fun. Also, your "welcome to the U.S." gift for Ari was just hilariously awesome! I hope we cross paths again one of these days.

If you don't know what the heck this is all about, the explanation is here.

Guys!!

You all know that fall_fantasia has been posting for like a week now, right? Well, guess what?! The gift for me posted today!

How awesome is that?!

I urge you all to run out and read The Proper Incentive. The pairing is Snape/Bill and a surprise pairing that will make you squee and want to hug the fic to yourself. :D

Go. Read!

Title: No More Dreaming
By: Bridget McKennitt
Pairing: RPS - Gina Torres/Monica Bellucci
Rating: PG
Word Count: 670
Summary: Both Gina and Monica say goodbye to their shared past as they take their separate paths into the future.
Contains: No warnings in as far I know that can't be extrapolated from the header itself.
Disclaimer: Any real person, location, or organization mentioned in the story below own themselves. This is only a fictional story meant for entertainment and not intended for profit or believing the real people mentioned are like this in real life.
Author's Notes: This is an AU where some people possess powers.

No More Dreaming

I think I had about a day to breathe after getting back from con, but that's being generous. Finished up part two of the big design gig I've been working on, and have been catching up and refining my class projects. Today I worked opening shift for the first time in about a month and it was ridiculously busy, but that just meant I hardly felt the hours go by.

So, I've been playing a bit over on IJ's porn_battle. The drabble tally, so far:

X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Stryker/Victor, always about Logan

Baccano!, Fermet/Czeslaw, the mental torture is worse than the physical

Commercials, Mr. Clean/Scrubbing Bubbles scrubbers, raw

Batman: The Dark Knight, Batman/Jim Gordon, night visitor

On a completely different note, anyone who works, lives, or has ties to Oakland and who are interested in community news/blogging/local journalism and activism, OaklandLocal is hosting a meetup on Nov 16th downtown. There are some very inspired folks with great ideas involved in the site, so if you've got any inclination, please consider checking it out!

This is a fan-made World's Finest "trailer" featuring Tom Welling as Superman and Christian Bale as Batman. It is awesome. Superbly well-made, and damn if I don't want to see that movie immediately.

Check under the cut for the embed. ( Read more... )

I've opened up my Photoshop today. Just to doodle a bit to get my muse out of hiding. Anyway, I open it up, click 'new', tape in all the relevant numbers, press ok, and this pops up:

<centrer>Could not create a new document because scratch disks are full.</center>

What is that supposed to mean? I mean... I know it means something is full and I have to empty it before I can use Photoshop again, but what is that thing? And more importantly, where do I look for it?

Please help me.

CV