ROFL Beethoven, and tell Tchaikovsky the news

[Norgarth]

the esteemed Mr Biles has posted his latest short story in his MLP/Mystara setting to Fimfictionhttp://www.fimfiction.net/story/2857/12 ... s-of-vanya
This is actually from near the end.  Lyra, Bon-bon, and Spike are back from their adventure and Lyra is visiting Pinkie, getting advice on a song and caught up on events in Ponyville, and Pinkie has been reining in Pound Cake several times in their conversation.

“So who is watching Pumpkin Cake?” I asked. “Oh, I’m watching bo…” There was a great and terrible silence.
“PUMPKIN CAKE WHERE ARE YOU!” Pinkie shouted and ran off to find
her, while I followed, keeping Pound Cake suspended in the air. If you have ever wondered, a baby Unicorn can try to eat ten pounds of sugar, but it won’t actually *work* very well.

___________________________
"I've always wanted to be somebody, but I should have been more specific." - George Carlin

[DHBirr]

She ... she got Deadpool to shut up....
-----
Big Brother is watching you.  And damn, you are so bloody BORING.

[Sweno]

*boggle*
what is up with those heads? It's like they all have massive skull deformities.
-Terry
-----
"so listen up boy, or pornography starring your mother will be the second worst thing to happen to you today"
TF2: Spy

[SkyeFire]

From Ch 20 (or 17, by the author's count) of Soul of Fire:
He arched and eyebrow at me. "What about that time with those Demon Cultists in Roanapur? You seemed pretty happy after that mission."
I paused for a moment before I smiled at remembering that one. "Ah, that brings me back." It was one of the first missions I did after I left high school. It was also the last time
 they let me go on a mission without Nero for some reason or another. "I should give Balalaika a call sometime. I haven't spoken with her in ages."
"Hasn't she tried to kill you several times since then?"
"That's just how she says hello." I dismissed.

Psycho-Pyro Shirou has a... unique... spin on canon!Shirou's infamous Totally Oblivious Disorder....

[Norgarth]

Over in the recomendation thread, I linked to BT AU called By The Horns.  In the story, it's 2025, and the Concordat has recovered a data core.  A Taurian core, from the Unification War, which has never been touched (or edited) by either the Star League or Comstar.   All of the Intelligence agencies of the Sphere are descending on mass on Taurus in an attempt to recover/copy the core before their rivals do, or before the Taurians decode it.
Here's a recent post:

Quick Pick Convenience Store #1173
Samantha City, Taurus
Taurian Concordat
November 9, 3025

“What the hell is a taquito?” Phil Sheridan, field agent for MI-4
muttered to himself as he watched the long crispy-appearing cylinders
rotate over a heating element. It looked like a stick of rolled
tortillas—and just about as hard, but a pureed filling leaked out from
the ends, the scent of beef, beans, and spices filling the air.

He grabbed a pair of tongs and lifted one—and he took a sniff. He
winced. But then he sighed and he opened a bag and put the nasty greasy
item inside, followed by another dozen. Along with all four of the
sausages that had rolled on the machine beside them. He put several
packets of salsa and more of sour cream into the bag as well and set in
within the shopping basket he carried, and then he walked over to the
chillers containing cold drinks.

Energy drinks in a dozen flavors all in metal cans, cans of distilled
water, canned iced coffee, canned sweat tea (cans, what the hell was it
with Taurians and cans?) . . . but almost no carbonated
beverages. And the few imports that were present were three times the
price a drink would normally be worth in the heart of the Federated
Suns. But liquor? Beer? Wine? That covered three-quarters of the
wall . . . along with an entire freezer just containing glass bottles of
MILK. Almost the only item NOT in a can, at least, Phil thought with a shudder.

Sighing, he began to put an assortment of the multi-hued cans into his
basket—not even looking at the labels—and then he froze. Son of a . . .
!

Standing four feet away from him (and looking just as shocked) was
Victor Li . . . a Maskirovka agent with whom Phil had often sparred in
the worlds of the Capellan March and the St. Ives thumb. Both men
reached for their waist-bands—for the concealed weapons each carried
under their jackets—but then they stopped at the same time.

Victor shook his head. “Long time, Phil,” he said. “What brings you to
sunny Taurus? The food?” he said, pointing to the basket. “I’ve got
to warn you—those are a bit spicy.”

“I’m on vacation,” Phil answered. “Yourself?”

“Strangely enough, so am I,” Victor replied with a smile. “I heard that the fishing is good off-shore.”

“Fishing? I’ll have to look into that.”

“Never know what you can catch if you spend an afternoon just casting lines, eh?”

“Right,” Phil answered, glancing to his left and right—and noting that
Victor was doing the same. The store wasn’t—quite—full, but it was far
from empty . . . and Phil nodded. Starting a gun-fight here and now
would just bring the local Constabulary down on their asses—and pose
questions that Phil really didn’t want to answer. Nor did Victor, it
seemed, because he nodded and slowly lowered his gun-hand; Phil did so
as well.

“Another time, eh, Phil?” the Capellan asked with a grin.

“Be seeing you around, Victor.”

“Not if I see you fir- . . . SHIT,” the expletive was not shouted, but was heartfelt all the same as Phil felt the barrel of a gun prod him in the back.

“Okay, both of you—why are you two on Taurus?” a harsh voice asked.

“Who are you?” asked Victor.

“I’m asking the questions here, Cappie,” the man spat in a thick Marik accent.

“Wait just a damn minute,” Phil said as he half-turned in recognition of
the voice, and then sighed. “Victor Li, meet Walter Krogh—the SAFE
liaison at the Marik embassy on Taurus.”

“SAFE? SAFE?” Victor asked in disbelief. “What are you planning
to do, Mister Krogh? Shoot us down in the full view of the customers
of this store?” Some of which were beginning to notice the whispers—and
drawn gun—and began to back off, a few dialing numbers in their mobile
phones.

“Both of you are coming back to the Embassy with me to answer
questions,” Walter answered. “If you try to run, I’ll shoot him dead.”

Victor laughed, and Phil groaned. “Did you just tell me—a Capellan—that if I run, you will, as means to stop me, shoot a Davion?”

Krogh didn’t answer, he just jerked his head to one side. “Let’s go.”

“Excuse me, are you paying for those?” a woman asked.

“What?” Krogh said as he half-turned—and grunted as a petite red-haired
woman swung a fist clad in brass knuckles into his jaw. The SAFE agent
dropped like a sack of bricks, and the customers began to applaud—two
even gave wolf-whistles.

“That’ll teach you for trying to rob my boy-friends!” the girl shouted,
and she winked at Victor and Phil before lowering her voice to a
whisper. “Time to run, boys.”

“WHAT THE HELL?” hissed Phil—and then he saw Victor cradle his face in both hands.

“Phil Sheridan, meet Nicky Kirkland—of the Magistracy Intelligence Ministry.”

“MIM? Oh could this cluster-fuck get any worse?” moaned Phil.

A siren sounded outside and flashing blue and red lights began to dance off of the glass.

“You had to ask?” said Victor.

“There’s an exit in the rear,” Nicky said.

“I’ll bet there’s an entrance too,” Phil muttered, drawing a harsh glare
from the Magistracy agent as the three of them left the Marik spy
unconscious on the floor and headed into the backroom.

“HEY! YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT!” the clerk shouted. Phil threw a wad
of 20-Bull notes into the air in answer—and the crowded store erupted as
people started to grab money.

The fire-door opened to an alley way—and a spot-light illuminated the faces of the three agents.

“HALT! SAMANTHA CITY PD—HANDS IN THE AIR!” a voice amplified by a loud-speaker called out.

“Well isn’t this lovely?” asked Phil—and then five gun-shots rang out
and the spotlight died away, leaving two officers bleeding out on the
ground next to their car.

Phil, Victor, and Nicky drew their weapons—but none of them fired as a
fourth man exited the shadows. “I’d advise you to run; they’ve got your
faces on video,” the stranger said, lowering his hood.

“Oh the shit has hit the fan,” muttered Phil. “ROM. Victor, Nicky, meet Adept Robert West—what the hell did you shoot them for?”

The ROM agent smiled. “Because they have your pictures—not mine. And while they are chasing you, they aren’t chasing me.
But I do believe,” he said stepping back into the shadows and into a
doorway set in the wall of the alley, “their fellow officers are rushing
through the store to get back here to the sound of those shots.” He
then closed the door and locked it. “Good night and good luck,” Phil
faintly heard after the lock clicked.

“Suggestions?” he asked.

“Running sounds good,” replied Victor as he put his words into action.

“Yeah, don’t have to outrun the local cops, FedRat,” Nicky said as she took off, “just have to outrun you.”

Damn it all, Phil thought as he too began to run into the night—and I still didn’t get any food!

___________________________
"I've always wanted to be somebody, but I should have been more specific." - George Carlin

[Norgarth]

From chapter 29 of 'The Monster in the Twilight'.  The CMC(+2)are facing off against NMM:

“We aren’t afraid of you, Nightmare Moon,” declared
Sweetie Belle, standing in front of Monster with her head held
high.  “Well, not a lot.  Maybe just a little.”
“Where is your fear?” snarled Nightmare Moon, stalking closer.  “Why do you not fear me?”
“We ride in Scootaloo’s wagon!  It takes a lot to scare us.”

___________________________
"I've always wanted to be somebody, but I should have been more specific." - George Carlin

[Shepherd]

"Power!" the newborn Catalyst states, "I am no longer your slave, Viator! I am now the God of the Relays! In my right hand, I hold the sword to cut you down! In the left, I hold the greatest weapon of all! The greatest weakness of the Reapers!"
Standing above him, four arms larger than a man each, the forbidden soul of the Great Maker centers upon the god with a pustular eye.
"The access codes for the Relays?"
The Catalyst thrusts out the left hand, the glowing sphere behind it flashing. "No, Viator! Worse!"
And then the skies above them open, flowing light and sound and sunlight as a channel is opened directly to realms above. There is a sound like flapping wings, of scratching upon walls as the signal is given.
And the Viator of Nullspace is subsequently buried under one billion years of missed paperwork.

Glorious Shotgun Princess (Exalted/Mass Effect):http://forums.spacebattles.com/threads/ ... t-11273437
----------------------------------------------------

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

[classicdrogn]

Minnows do indeed swallow whales when they are cyborg magitech minnows with the magical equivalent of rocket launcher arrays.

I just love SpaceBattles, don't you? The url is too long to deal with, not being able to cut and paste, but it's from the comments on Nitramy's HP/MSLN fic Ouroboros.
--
"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

[Bluemage]

...It was supposed to be an easy job: steal relics from Ancient Belka and
make a getaway to sell them on the black market. What the planners
failed to take into account was that A: Yuuno Scrya was the head of the
presentation, and B: Shirou Emiya had promised his friend that he’d be
there. So when the four trucks filled to the brim with illegal mages
busted through the front door of the building they found themselves
beset against impossible odds. Out of the fourty mages that went in,
only five made it out...

-from Infinite Library of Swords, a thread full of MGLN x F/SN shortfics(http://forums.nrvnqsr.com/showthread.ph ... 5c023525d5)
EDIT: Another line from the same thread:

“Initialize dedicated processes for bombardment.”

“Wa—that’s unreasonable, Hayate-chan! You know you’re not that good at aiming!”
“If the spell is large enough I don’t need to aim.”

---

My Unitarian Jihad Name is: Brother Atom Bomb of Courteous Debate. Get yours.

I've been writing a bit.

[LilFluff]

Something bounced out of tree cover, rooting around at the base of a
bush. It clearly hadn't expected any humans; it froze, puffy tail
twitching madly as it stared at them with large black eyes.
Zuko stared back, in sheer disbelief.
Then it turned and darted away.
Toph cleared her throat. "Um, Sparky?" she said slowly, looking baffled. "What was that?"
"…I think it was a squirrel," he said slowly.
"You mean a squirrelfox?"
"Nope."
Very, very slowly, her head tipped to one side. "A squirrelchuck?"
"Nope."
Her eyebrows rose a little. "A bat-squirrel?"
"Nope."
"Just a squirrel?"
"Yep."
"…This place is weird."
"Very."

From The Dragon King's Tempe Chapter 9 (SG1/AtLA)
-----

Will the transhumanist future have catgirls? Does Japan still exist? Well, there is your answer.

[Sweno]

[warning incoming pet-pieve mini-rant]
One thing that always annoyed me about mashup names in world-building:
If the animals that are used as parts (squirrel, fox, woodchuck, bat, etc) don't exist, or are vastly more rare than the named hybrid, why are they used as naming origins?

In the classical DnD the owlbear exits, but so do owls and bears. And the former is far less populous than the laters (or if it isn't, your campaign is in all kinds of trouble). So having something named "owl-bear" conveys meaningful information: it is part owl and part bear. Without knowledge of the parts, the whole makes no sense.

I don't remember seeing any squirrels in AtlA. Granted this may have been a animation limitation, but the sheer number of animals that the characters name in that snipit point to one of three things:
1) squirrels are a populous animal in AtlA, and the naming makes sense in 'verse. And therefor the characters shouldn't be surprised at it's existence.
2) squirrels are not populous animals in AtlA, and the characters are appropriately weirded out. But the naming makes no sense, because 'squirrel' as a naming root conveys little information.
3) these names are created to convey information to the reader, and would mean nothing to the characters saying them.

Any of the above reasons is writing that rubs me the wrong way, and the scene could be tweaked in minor ways to still convey the same sense of humor without the above flaws.

alright, sorry for posting a derailing rant, but pet-pieves demand to be flogged.
If people would rather I move this into a different thread, I've no problem with that, as it is rather off topic.
-Terry
-----
"so listen up boy, or pornography starring your mother will be the second worst thing to happen to you today"
TF2: Spy

[classicdrogn]

I'm pretty sure there's a famous sci fi author rant on that exact topic, possibly even a less-quoted section of the one about over-descrption that cuts going on at length about a raygun age fortress to "the door irised open, and he stepped through." I know I've read them in the same omnibus, at least.
--
"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

[deadpan29]

Regarding the animal names:

It has already been established in AtLA, regarding the Earth King's bear, that the base animals may exist but they are less well known than the mix-and-match critters in that world. You are right in that it doesn't make sense, but in this case your ire should be directed towards the AtLA creators for this and not the fanfic author. The fic author might be called to task for rehashing a gag that was done in the show once to hang a lampshade on the issue you just raised, but I'm of the opinion that it was still funny anyway.
----------
No, I don't believe the world has gone mad.  In order for it to go mad it would need to have been sane at some point.

[K sai]

It could be said this way:

- The original Gou'ld or whatever transplanted the humans (Ancient?) to the World of the Spirits also transplanted Earth wildlife with them
- The native lifeforms (Spirits, and Bending Animals) screwed with both the Humans and Earth fauna so that all the animals and humans began to crossbreed in weird ways
- Pure strains are rare by now and mostly kept as curiosities - Bosco the Earth king's bear - but are definitely known, just by now considered the oddities rather than the norm - rarely seen in the wild. (As Deadpan points out)

I always thought that the original show hinted humans had wound up on the planet unnaturally.

As for the naming? Well originally the pure animals would have had their original names. The cross-breds show up people would start splicing the names to match. Start as a joke, but then become normal in a couple generations.

So I think the rant doesn't fit here as there's a very good in-universe explanation with consistent logic behind it.

[classicdrogn]

Honestly, all I really care about is that turtleducks are cute. FOR THE TURTLEDUCKS!

Kinda makes me wonder about a Princess Tutu/TMNT/ATLA crossover though.
--
"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

[Sweno]

You know, I had forgotten about the kings bear. And yes, I consider my ire redirected at the creators of AtlA. There were some great parts of the show, and some dumb parts. I would be madder at the creators for poor world building, but it's a kids cartoon show, and they are going to stick in non-sensical stuff for laughs*.

* a small part of me hopes for authors that take the opportunity to shore up the weak world building of the show creators, but I shouldn't complain too much. It's not like I'm putting out better content, or I believe the story isn't good. Just *pet-pieve*
-Terry
-----
"so listen up boy, or pornography starring your mother will be the second worst thing to happen to you today"
TF2: Spy

[Jorlem]

From Adam West Batman vs. Heath Ledger Joker -- How would it go?

Day 1, Joker finds himself in a happy, smiling community full of public
minded but stupid citizens. And its caped crusader is even more
incorruptible. It's perfect. So, he starts a scheme, raises the stakes,
makes some threats.

Batman makes a speech about The Duties of a Citizen, or Not Giving In When Crime Makes Threats, and it's even more perfect!

Sure, he gets caught. But the mask will crack. Even if it doesn't, he'll have a foe who'll show his wear, who'll wish he could break.

Then he breaks out. Manages some mayhem. (He'll notice these things
normally have more of a bodycount, but that can come later). Batman
makes a speech when he's caught.

...Hang on. That's the same speech as earlier. Like, the exact same one.
It's like Batman isn't impacted in the slightest. It's like... he
doesn't notice. This is just another day at the office for him.

Then the Joker runs through his kills. Surely someone died, he'd have to... no-one is dead. It's like nothing he does matters.

Day 83. The Joker realizes he's in Hell.

Batman judges a pie eating contest; declares the real winners the judges
for getting to try so many delicious taste treats made by hard working
Americans, the backbone of democracy.

-----
Stand between the Silver Crystal and the Golden Sea.
"Youngsters these days just have no appreciation for the magnificence of the legendary cucumber."  --Krityan Elder, Tales of Vesperia.

[deadpan29]

Crossovers for the Worm webserial are very popular right now.  The author of a DC Comics crossover made this statement when the inevitable arguments about relative power levels broke out, and it did make me laugh out loud. 

This is going to be as wank-free as I can make it while still having Superman in the story.

----------
No, I don't believe the world has gone mad.  In order for it to go mad it would need to have been sane at some point.

[robkelk]

From a thread about writing, over in GenChat on the SJGames forums:

I'm reminded, tangentially, that the advice "write what you know" explains why there are so many novels about dissatisfied literature professors thinking about having affairs. . . .

Bill Stoddard

--
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

[Bob Schroeck]

Heh. Whoever posted that steals from the same sources I do. I put a paraphrase of that same quote up in one of the recent "writing advice" topics over in the EPU forums.
-- Bob
---------
Then the horns kicked in...
...and my shoes began to squeak.

[Bob Schroeck]

This passage isn't new, it's from a Shadowjack http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?578 ... st14194598]In Which I Watch Sailor Moon from a couple years ago, but it made me laugh out loud, literally, when I read it for the first time this morning:

• Denouement
The taiko performance is about to begin. Chibi-Usa is getting a piggy-back ride from Usagi.

Usagi: "This is so unfair. Every time I gain a base, a small child shows up."
Mina: "Well, that is the general idea, isn't it?"
Ami: "Recent research in evolutionary biology suggests that small children instinctively interfere with their parents', er, intimate time, so as to focus available childcare attention upon themselves."
Mako: "Are we at all surprised that Usagi's child goes over-the-top?"
Usagi: "Yes, but isn't it stupidly dangerous for her to interfere before she even exists?"
Rei: "Well, she is your child."
Usagi: "Har de har har."
Chibi-Usa: "It's a good thing I'm too small to understand this conversation."
Usagi: "Seriously, does your mom know you're here?"
Chibi-Usa: /looks at Usagi. "…Yes."
Usagi: "That's NOT what I meant and you know it!"
Michiru: /just passing by. "Oh hai."
Usagi: "Frell."
Haruka: "…Do I detect a family resemblance?"
Usagi: "Yes, she's my illegitimate daughter."
Chibi-Usa: "HEY!"
Haruka and Michiru: "…"
Haruka and Michiru: /start to do the math…
Chibi-Usa: "I'm her cousin."
Haruka: /phew.
Michiru: "And a very cute one you are! Haruka likes that, I'm sure."
Haruka: "Hey!"

The drums begin.

Usagi: "Seriously, WHY ARE YOU HERE?"
Chibi-Usa: "Mom said I needed to get some training in the 20th century."
Usagi: "Oh, well, that makes perfect sense."
Usagi: "Get Luna-P over here! Get Pluto on the phone— No! Get your Mom. I think I and I have to have a heart to heart."
Chibi-Usa: "Awwwwww." "But you're cooler than Mom."
Usagi: "You're darn right I am. Who do I think I am, shoving my kid off onto me when I'm trying to do dangerous work? I'm so irresponsible! Don't I know I can't take this responsibility?"

-- Bob
---------
Then the horns kicked in...
...and my shoes began to squeak.

[Norgarth]

A recent chapter in a Spacebattles forumfic (A yellow Lantern SI, the character was mysteriously youthened to early teens.  After making peaceful contact with the Justice League, he's been placed with the Teen Titans.)http://forums.spacebattles.com/threads/ ... t-12142764Facing off solo against Mumbo Jumbo, he borrows a page from Disney, specificly Jafar's song 'you're only second rate' from the 2nd Alladin movie)
at the end there's this bit:

"When did you guys get here?”
“About the time you kicked him off the bridge tower...” Cyborg looked like he was about to laugh, but kept turning serious when Robin looked at him. Starfire was giggling. Robin looked pissed. And Raven looked confused.
“I told you to intercept Mumbo, not play him like a fiddle,” Robin said.
“I couldn't hear his fears,” I said, fiddling with the wand, and not looking at the team leader. “I had to improvise.”
“You call what you did there improvisation!?”
“I'm not finding a word to describe it other than improvisation, actually,” Raven volunteered.

___________________________
"I've always wanted to be somebody, but I should have been more specific." - George Carlin

[Jorlem]

Did no one ever give you The Talk, Mister Potter?
The Talk?
The birds and bees? How a man loves a woman, and what they do with each other in the bedroom?
Err...
I'm surprised. You spent time with Arthur Weasley and Sirius Black, and no one gave you that talk?
There was a moment of awkward silence.
I'm not going to give you that talk, Mister Potter. Ask James. Or Sirius Black. Or the werewolf. Or even Severus. Anyone but me.
Sirius tried, I think, once, said Harry, hesitantly, recalling their last Christmas together. He was pretty drunk at the time, though.
There was a sigh on Riddle's part. It was a strange mixture of terror and resignation.
I am still not going to give you The Talk.

From chapter 9 of Elsewhere but not Elsewhen
-----
Stand between the Silver Crystal and the Golden Sea.
"Youngsters these days just have no appreciation for the magnificence of the legendary cucumber."  --Krityan Elder, Tales of Vesperia.

[Shepherd]

“HULK SMASH!” He spoke in all-caps and slammed his ham-sized fists into the ground. The earth shook, and two trucks behind him exploded. He did that cool thing where he didn’t look back as the explosion back-lit him.
No one out-posed Faith. She was capable of twisting her spine in directions that simultaneously showed off her ass and tits. She crouched low while flaring her right leg out and held up a waiting hand. The katana she’d used against Banner came flying through the air, propelled by the explosions, and landed gracefully in her out-stretched hand. She slowly lowered it into an en garde.

http://www.tthfanfic.org/Story-29348-3/ ... minism.htm Hulk vs. Modern Feminism
----------------------------------------------------

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

[robkelk]

From today's Darths and Droids

Captain Piett: Interesting fact about shields: they take an enormous amount of power, which—
Admiral Ozzel:
Captain Piett: Admiral, do you need a glass of water? An average glass of reclaimed water contains—
{Ozzel collapses}
Darth Vader: Keep up the good work, Captain Piett.
Captain Piett: Oh, thank you for not promoting me, sir. Did you know the mean life expectancy of Admirals in your service is—
Darth Vader: Admiral Piett.

--
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