Okay, I'm giving up on this fic. As far as I'm concerned, it's jumped the shark. The only thing the latest chapter -- which I've just finally read -- had to recommend it was the excellent DADA class sequence at the end, but that's not enough to rescue this fic from spiralling down towards its death from pointlessness.
And it had such potential, too.

-- Bob
---------
For Jor-El so loved the Earth, he sent his only begotten son...

In a remarkably sympathetic article that can be found here.
(Lawrence Lessig, a professor of law at Stanford Law School, regularly comments on legal matters for the Financial Times.)
-Rob Kelk
--
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

... an' now I got so many bunnies, I don't know what to do! Please mister, you wanna buy a bunny? (From a Spike Jones song, IIRC)
(since I couldn't find a bunny thread in the past three pages or so that wasn't either a specific setting or co-opted to discuss and develope one of the bunnies)

So... redhead, bright green eyes, floral name... Suppose Lily Evans was Haruno Lily instead? It's at least a hook to hang a HP/Naruto on, if you have a plot to be hung.
- CD
ETA: Also, you know how they say that everyone is the hero in their own mind, be they protagonist or antagonist? Well, I just figured out a possible justification Akatsuki can use - they're capturi8ng these dangerous, insane demon vessels and getting them out of circulation, and whatever their final goal, they certainly believe that the benefits - probably mainly to themselves, granted - outweigh the damage done along the way.
Edit: TitleThat which does not kill us... has made its last mistake.
SERVO: Loook *deeeeply* into my eyes... Tell me, what do you see?
CROW: (hypnotized) A twisted man who wants to inflict his pain upon others.
Next morning, Harry found himself butt-naked in the other side of town, mouth tasting of lima beans. - from Uzumaki Harry by Shadow Crystal Mage
--
"Anko, what you do in your free time is your own choice. Use it wisely. And if you do not use it wisely, make sure you thoroughly enjoy whatever unwise thing you are doing." - HymnOfRagnorok as Orochimaru at SpaceBattles
woot Med. Eng., verb, 1st & 3rd pers. prsnt. sg. know, knows

chapter 13 is now around 25 kb or so...
Just thought I'd let you know that progress, however slow, IS being made...
''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

...or how long they're going to be available, so get them now if you want them: screenshots from episode 25 of the new anime. (Spoilers, obviously.)
Obviously, from the shots of Urd and Skuld, they're continuing the anime past the Lord of Terror arc...
-Rob Kelk

(Edit: If Paradox sees Skuld like that, he's really going to worry... -RK)
--
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

I listen to a lot of filk songs, and after seeing March of Cambreadth show up, I've been trying to think of some useful filk for Doug. After a bit of consideration, I thought this one might be...interesting. And given the origin of its subject matter, I thought Doug would approve of the song wholeheartedly.

Operation: Desert Storm
Tom Smith
The land is burning and dry under hot desert skies.
My gut is churning but you won't see fear in my eyes.
Nothing to lose as I climb in and look to the roads,
Then light the fuse of the cannon, which promptly explodes.
The blast sends me skyward and into free fall,
With one final thought as I head towards the wall:
I'll get that Road-Runner if it's the last thing I do.
If Murphy's Laws are religion, I must be a saint.
What else explains semis bursting from tunnels I paint?
A thousand Rube Goldberg nightmares lie smashed in my garage --
How many falling pianos can that damn bird dodge?
From magnetic birdseed to dynamite darts,
I could buy General Mills with what I spend on parts,
But I'll get that Road-Runner if it's the last thing I do.
I should forget it, he's not big enough for a stew.
My line of credit with Acme is ten years past due.
Got no insurance, I can't sign for claims with my paws.
In vile durance for breaking most EPA laws.
But my super genius will deal with that dunce,
Remember that I have to win only once,
And I'll get him someday -- perhaps I should try something new.
My canyon compactor was perfect to echo my screams.
My backpack reactor worked fine, until I crossed the beams.
My bomb extender snapped back with the lit TNT.
My flying blender was just a tad quicker than me.
But I'm smarter, I'm stronger, and he's only fast,
Let's hear him "beep beep" with his head up his ass,
And I'll get that Road-Runner if it's the last thing I do!
(spoken)
.... Eureka! That's it!
EARTHQUAKE PILLS!!
Effect: All mad-scientist-style equipment within range backfires disastrously against its creator.
--Feinan

Everybody talkin' 'bout the seventh son
In the whole wide world there is only one
And I'm the one, I'm the one
I'm the one, I'm the one
The one they call the seventh son
I can tell your future, it will come to pass
I can do things to you make your heart feel glad
Look in the sky, predict the rain
Tell when a woman's got another man
I'm the one, oh I'm the one
I'm the one, I'm the one
The one they call the seventh son
I can talk these words that will sound so sweet
They will even make your little heart skip a beat
Heal the sick, raise the dead
Make the little girls talk outta their heads
I'm the one, oh I'm the one
I'm the one, I'm the one
The one they call the seventh son
I can talk these words that will sound so sweet
They will even make your little heart skip a beat
Heal the sick, raise the dead
And make the little girls talk outta their heads
I'm the one, oh I'm the one
I'm the one, I'm the one
The one they call the seventh son
I'm the one, hey, hey
I'm the one
Oh, I'm the one, babe
Oooo, I'm the one
I'm the one, I'm the one
The one they call the seventh son
I'm the one, I'm the one
The one they call the seventh son
-- Johnny Rivers, Seventh Son
(I've always had a sneaking suspicion that Orson Scott Card's "Alvin Maker" series was inspired by this song; so many of the things the singer says he can do in the lyric, Alvin does do...)

-- Bob
---------
For Jor-El so loved the Earth, he sent his only begotten son...

coming along slowly. After reviewing notes and pulling up what I had for ch3, it's up to 20K. Hopefully to rise in the course of the week.
Naruto plotbunny taking up residence managed to distract me a few times, in addition to the usual things that RL brings up now and then.
-Griever
When tact is required, use brute force. When force is required, use greater force.
When the greatest force is required, use your head. Surprise is everything. - The Book of Cataclysm

Quote:

---

Are you ready, Steve? Aha.
Andy? Yeah! Mick? OK.
Alright, fellas, let's go!
Oh it's been getting so hard
Livin' with the things you do to me, aha
Oh my dreams are getting so strange
I'd like to tell you everything I see
Oh, I see a man at the back
As a matter of fact his eyes are red as the sun
And a girl in the corner let no one ignore her
'Cause she thinks she's the passionate one
Oh, yeah, it was like lightning, everybody was frightening
And the music was soothing, and they all started grooving
Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah
And the man at the back said
Everyone attack and it turned into a ballroom blitz
And the girl in the corner said
Boy, I wanna warn ya, it'll turn into a ballroom blitz
Ballroom blitz, ballroom blitz, ballroom blitz
Ballroom blitz
I'm reaching out for something
Touching nothing's all I ever do
Oh, I softly call you over
When you appear there's nothing left of you, aha
Now the man in the back
Is ready to crack as he raises his hands to the sky
And the girl in the corner is ev'ryone's mourner
She could kill you with a wink of her eye
Oh yeah, it was electric, so frightfully hectic
And the band started leaving, 'cause they all stopped breathing
Refrain
Oh yeah, it was like lightning, everybody was frightening
And the music was soothing, and they all started grooving
Refrain
It's it's a ballroom blitz, it's it's a ballroom blitz
It's it's a ballroom blitz, yeah, it's a ballroom blitz

---

Oh, the power to be strong
And the wisdom to be wise
All these things will
come to you in time
On this journey that you're making
There'll be answers that you'll seek
And it's you who'll climb the mountain
It's you who'll reach the peak
Son of Man, look to the sky
Lift your spirit, set it free
Some day you'll walk tall with pride
Son of Man, a man in time you'll be
Though there's no one there to guide you
No one to take your hand
But with faith and understanding
You will journey from boy to man
Son of Man, look to the sky
Lift your spirit, set it free
Some day you'll walk tall with pride
Son of Man, a man in time you'll be
In learning you will teach
And in teaching you will learn
You'll find your place beside the ones you love
Oh, and all the things you dreamed of
The visions that you saw
Well, the time is drawing near now
It's yours to claim in all
Son of Man, look to the sky
Lift your spirit, set it free
Some day you'll walk tall with pride
Son of Man, a man in time you'll be
Son of Man,
Son of Man's a man for all to see
-- Phil Collins, Son of Man

-- Bob
---------
For Jor-El so loved the Earth, he sent his only begotten son...