(Inspired by a comment on LJ)
John sat on the veranda, sipping his tea and watching parkgoers do the various things that parkgoers do. He admitted that those things had changed since he was a young man. Even things as simple as kites and toy boats had been carried along by technology and changes in hobbies. All part of getting older, he thought. He'd accepted that, but it was still strange to watch sometimes.
When he was young, he hadn't ever thought of retiring. He couldn't imagine it back then, but now he found that he was quite happy to sit on the veranda of his favorite teahouse, sip his favorite blend, read his favorite paper (with accompanying favorite crossword), and watch people bustle by with whatever concerns they had. His companion was just as happy to do just the same, although she had taken to challenging various folk to games of chess on Tuesdays, and she never was one for the crossword. Oh, they still kept their hand in; the Agency was far too busy with all the furor over this "handwavium" stuff to not hire them back as consultants. Other companies had contacted them as well, drawing upon John's experience and knowledge (the declassified knowledge at any rate) to help them out.
He smirked into his teacup at the memory of his most recent consulting "miracle." The Americans had all been so flabbergasted at how easy he had made it look to find the source of that shipment. In all honesty, they could have done it just as easily, had they not been so set on it being directly tied to terrorists. Terrorists and fen, that's all they thought about these days. It never occurred to them that it might have been a simple criminal enterprise, easily found by looking in circles other than those associated with Muslim radical elements or that strange bunch of rebellious young people who had made it into orbit.
He looked down at the crossword. Four letters, "Wimbledon fundament." He shook his head as he picked up his pen and filled in the word. It was Tuesday, but he thought the Times' crosswords should be better. Maybe he would offer his services as a contributing designer.
A chiming tune, tinnily reminiscent of a fanfare of trumpets, interrupted his thoughts. His phone, tucked in his coat, was ringing. With simple care, he extracted it and looked at the caller identification. Ah, he thought, it's him. He engaged the line, saying, "Good afternoon, Doctor. Am I on the Global Frequency?"
The voice that replied was American, and sounded nothing like Peter Weller. John would know, he had heard Mr. Weller play jazz while in Italy, at a little club not far from the university where the actor was now teaching. "Good afternoon, John. I'm afraid so. We have a situation that requires your skills and knowledge. I hate to interrupt your tea, but could you meet up with Tallyho and Ogre at our London offices?"
"But of course, Doctor. I take it that there is some immediacy in this?"
Buckaroo Banzai's smile was evident in his voice, but also his concern. "It is, John. We've come across some unpleasant information regarding last month's fire in Avesbury."
"I will be there as soon as traffic allows."
"Thanks, John. See you soon."
John disconnected the phone and placed it back in his coat. He drained the dregs of his tea in a single swallow, placed the tally of his bill (with his regular, substantial gratuity) on the table, and stood. Collecting his hat and umbrella, he entered the teashop to collect his companion.
She was leaning on the counter, engaged in a game with the young woman who ran the shop most afternoons. John studied her from behind for a moment, savoring her appearance like others would savor a beautiful sunset. Even after working with her for so many years, he still enjoyed looking at her. She didn't wear anything like the impressive outfits she wore when they were both younger, but she still was the most beautiful woman he knew.
The shopowner looked up as he entered, and his companion turned at her glance. She fixed him with an inquisitive look, full of her regular humor. In response, he smiled, placed his hat at its old rakish tilt, and held out a hand.
"Mrs. Peel, we're needed."Ebony the Black Dragon
Senior Editor, Living Room Games
http://www.lrgames.com
Ebony the Black Dragon
http://ebony14.livejournal.com

"Good night, and may the Good Lord take a Viking to you."

Seen on The Register: Sole competitor comes second in cake-baking contest
But it gets worse... (No, I won't spoil it for anyone - just be sure to read through to at least the second-last paragraph.)

-Rob Kelk
"Read Or Die: not so much a title as a way of life." - Justin Palmer, 6 June 2007
--
Rob Kelk
"Governments have no right to question the loyalty of those who oppose
them. Adversaries remain citizens of the same state, common subjects of
the same sovereign, servants of the same law."

- Michael Ignatieff, addressing Stanford University in 2012

Haruhi and Evangelion
Youtube link
''We don't just borrow words; on occasion, English has pursued other languages down alleyways to beat
them unconscious and rifle their pockets for new vocabulary.''

-- James Nicoll

Given that there are only 16 more days until the last Harry Potter book is released, I just wanted to engage in a single act of speculation regarding the book. I tried registering with Muggle.net to do so, but my first two attempts to register were ignored and my third attempt revealed that they'd banned my e-mail address. Attempts to contact their administrators to find out why I'd been banned (despite having never managed to login even once) have also been ignored. So, failing to engage in speculation there I hope you don't mind my doing so here.

POTENTIAL SPOILER SPACE

I believe that there is a good chance that Professor Severus Snape is Dumbledore's illegitimate child. There are several pieces of supporting evidence. These are a few of the more obvious ones:
Looking over a Potterverse timeline reveals that Snape was conceived right around the time that Dumbledore was made Headmaster of Hogwarts. Perhaps Dumbledore wouldn't have gotten the job if it had been known that an unwed woman was carrying his child?
Snape's job at Hogwarts suggests that he is an excellent potion maker. Dumbledore was sufficinetly skilled at potion making that his chocolate frog card specifically notes that he assisted Flamel, the maker of the philosopher's stone.
Both Snape and Dumbledore are skilled at Legilimency.
Snape has always seemed inordinately angry at both Harry and James Potter. Perhaps this is because he sees them as being rivals for the affection of the father that could never publicly acknowledge him.
Dumbledore seemed to give Snape a disturbing amount of leeway in his behavior. Perhaps it was partly because of a guilty belief that Snape was the way that he was because Dumbledore couldn't be there for him the way that he should have been.
Dumbledore seemed to trust Snape's loyalty implicitly. Perhaps it was because he had faith in their family ties.
In book 6 Harry overheard a conversation between Snape and Dumbledore in which Snape petulantly whined that he didn't want to perform a certain task while Dumbledore chided him and demanded that he do as he'd promised. This certainly sounds like an argument between a parent and child.
What do you all think about my theory?
-Essex
----------------------------------------------------

"Anyone can be a winner if their definition of victory is flexible enough." - The DM of the Rings XXXV

So I'm sitting in the library this morning, surfing the Net, and I suddenly hear the Atlas Park music coming from the living room. Where we have no computer.
And I'm thinking, what the hell is that? Did Peggy just channelsurf over to, like, G4 or whatever it's called these days and stumble on a review of COH? But there's this guy ranting on about movies over the music...
Turns out it's the start of a 2003 film called The Movie Hero, and the music is the opening theme. (The movie, btw, sounds like a blast; Peggy apparently has seen part of it, and tells me it's weird and fun, but she surfed off of it just about the time I came out to find out what it was.)
Sadly, IMDB doesn't have any soundtrack info on it, so I don't know if it was original to the film, but I'd surely love to track it down now.

-- Bob
---------
The Internet Is For Norns.

I don't usually start threads in this area -- but this is an article that I think should be read. I don't expect everyone to like it -- there are a few folks here who I'd suspect would cheer the President on even if he issued orders to round up every fifth random citizen and kill them on the spot, because he apparently can do no evil in their minds -- but I find Olbermann's points to be simple, well-written and compelling.
Keith Olbermann calls for Bush and Cheney's resignations.

-- Bob
---------
The Internet Is For Norns.

I'm back my ISP finally got it's act back together just in time for me to discover that one of my favorite writers has died.
Fred Saberhagen died July 3 he was best known for the Science Fiction series "Berserkers" and the Fantasy series "Swords".
Sorry I've not been able to find a link to a Obituary yet. I found out through another favorite writers website.
howard melton
God bless

Several COE (Church of England not City of Eroes) Bishops stepped forward to hoist their robes and lay the long, fragrant cable of their meteorological wisdom upon the masses. Recent torrential rains and flooding in England and Whales have gotten this miserable flock of con-men and professional god botherers touching cloth as they rush to the pulpit to deliver their news.
Goddidit. Goddidit. Goddidit. Yes, that right. We are in the 21st fucking century and these weasels are still spouting off that their favorite omnipotent, omniscient, imaginary friend is responsible for flooding. Foremost amongst this pack of gormless whack-jobs is the Rt. Rev Graham Dow Bishop of Carlisle. Nice. Carlisle is getting reamed, as Graham is pocketing two fees; the office of Bishop and Village idiot. Yes, according to Dow, gay laws and gay rights have angered god. Oh yes they have.
What sort of small mind creates such a small and petty god? What sort of imagination creates an omnipotent, omniscient, god (who moves in mysterious ways) and then somehow claims to know the mind of that god and not just the mind, but the minutiae. This flood was due to god being testy about gay rights. That volcanic eruption was caused by onanism. That tsunami was due to someone eating shellfish, because god hates shrimp or pederasty it is hard to tell sometimes. Dont worry about a tidal wave due to rape the god of the old testament was keen on both.
Religion is made up; by primates. Mostly male primates.
Sadly Dow is not alone. You can hardly turn around without a religious goit mouthing off in an attack on rational enlightenment. From Phelps to Falwell (who, in his defense has been quiet of late) they vomit forth their drivel with an enthusiasm that is as misplaced as their minds.
Cardinal Alfonso Lopez Trujillo (President of the Pontifical Council for the Family) a top man at the Vatican has been shooting his mouth off about condoms, which he sees as being ineffective in halting aids. He has stated several doozies on the matter including Using a condom to stop AIDS is like trying to put out a fire with petrol. Forget the data. Forget the research. God says rubber johnnies are bad, so the Cardinal carries on even going so far as to drivel that the AIDS virus is roughly 450 times smaller than Spermatozoon and can pass through condoms even if seminal fluid cannot. Anyone with an even passing knowledge of condom technology can point this out as what is, in the Navy commonly referred to as a lie.
What an utter, murderous, bastard.
Shayne

From the Notebooks of Dr. Brain by Minister Faust.
A wondeful story of a post-crisis world, where the only threats the heroes really have left is their own neuroses.
Most of the heroes are blatant Pastiches and Parodies of DC/Marvel heroes (mostly DC) but still, it's a damn fine and thought-provoking read.--
Christopher Angel, aka JPublic
The Works of Christopher Angel
"Camaraderie, adventure, and steel on steel. The stuff of legend! Right, Boo?"

I found a site which has some of the omake's from the Nanoha manga
www.acatisfinetoo.com/edible/nanoha/
A small warning.. it is... more adult than I expected.. possible Nsfw tag may apply :S_______________________________
We're definitely playing this game wrong. I thought Vampire was supposed to be a game of personal horror, not about ninja magic-carpet airstrikes at night.
- A friend after playing a session of Dark Ages Vampire.
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away. THERE IS ONLY WAR!
-Same friend.
_________________________________
Take Your Candle, Go Light Your World.