happy valiancy

Hetalia vidspam, part Deutsch

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:54:03 GMT

To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, featuring West!Germany and GDR!Prussia:

And now for the ~~obligatory~~ crack:

(Note on the Chinese translation: one learns something everyday - apparently pigs are actually a symbol of good fortune in German, although IMHO the repeated chorus of "Schwein!" was probably meant to parody chants of "Sein!" in 1930s propaganda songs)

Also, Singaporeans ~~above a certain age~~ may remember a credit card ad aired here shortly after the Wall's fall, featuring two tired and mud-covered East German men tunnelling underground and saying in German that they should be in West Berlin by now, then surfacing next to well-dressed Asian tourist (Lim Kay Tong) reading news and sipping tea amid celebrating crowd:
East German guy (in heavily-accented English): Vi are from ze East!
Tourist (in Queen's English): So are all these people.
*close-up of credit card*, slogan "Travel the world with --card"

vidspam

Sat, 03 Oct 2009 16:34:29 GMT

"An abridged history of American-centric war, from World War II to present day, told through the foods of the countries in conflict.".

those who do not remember the past are condemned to search for Hetalia vids...

Sun, 20 Sep 2009 15:10:17 GMT

...although to be accurate I had been trawling Youtube for various versions of You Raise Me Up (worse than Hetalia, I know, but).

Having heard about (but not actually dared to get into) Hetalia, I was tempted to follow the links from this vid, which led to this ~~outstandingly cracktastic~~ character primer:

After which the first slideshow made (slightly) more sense, and so did these other vids about Europe (with cameos from non-European WWII belligerents), the Scandinavian countries, and two contrasting vids about East Asia.

And another ~~heartbreaking~~ work of staggering genius.

can't get that out of my head

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 15:32:00 GMT

After using variations on I Still Call Australia Home as the subject header for various Down Under-related posts, it's only fair that I post links to:

The song, as used in a very popular series of similarly-themed ads for the national carrier Qantas since 1997:

Which combined several principles of successful advertising:
1)adorable (or at least tolerable-looking) children
2)recognizable music (bonus points for being sung by 1)
3)pretty pictures

And therefore was an obvious target for The Chaser (what passes for Australian TV satire) when Qantas outsourced part (49%?) of its engineering services to *Singapore Airlines* and Lufthansa:

And for those Singaporeans who remember the ~~tuneless rip-off~~ NDP 07 song whose lyrics sounded strangely familiar, and before that, the distinctly deja vu official Chinese-version music video of another National Day song.

I no longer call Australia home

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 12:19:52 GMT

Well, I'm back.

LJ anniversary

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 09:29:07 GMT

One month since my last post, four years since my first one.

This LJ seems to have turned into a rant/whine zone. I will try (or, as the Australians say, "give it a go") to remedy that with a series of entries based on posting suggestions from f-list from the last anniversary.

First up, a smattering of .

- The only cats I've seen here were either pets, or pelts (complete with well-preserved snarling heads, to be precise), due to ecological concerns.

- Adelaide is a city of students and senior citizens. In view of this, why is the public transport system in such a deplorable state? Buses arriving unpredicably at a minimum of 15 minutes intervals, with none for 40-60 minutes in a suburb 10-15 minutes' drive from the city, and intra-city routes that appear to have been planned by sticking pins blindfolded onto a map placed upside-down at a 45-degree angle to the horizontal.

- I am starting to enjoy being complimented on my English by locals and foreigners who are under the impression that the duration of my sojourn in Adelaide is almost exactly equal to my period of study of the language.

- Paul Theroux was right: Australian aboriginals are not in the habit of firm handshakes. Perhaps that's only with foreigners, although I never saw them shake hands (or speak to, or meet the eye of) white Australians who weren't health care workers, either.

- I am using the "bcc" option more frequently nowadays, especially after becoming semi-unwittingly (half-wittedly?) embroiled in conflicts regarding authorship of papers and project planning, that I suspect to be fuelled by long-standing hotbeds of dissent, both inter- and intra-departmental (which as a foreign temporary visitor I was hitherto insulated from).

Sun, 26 Apr 2009 13:02:11 GMT

Am currently ın İstanbul for European Congress of Endocrınology, workıng on unfamılıar keyboard wıth dıfferent letters and layout, so excuse the funny ı. Respıte from varıous happenıngs at work.
Back on 3rd May.

Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 07:29:51 GMT

Even if you don't watch Watchmen (or prefer the original), the opening credits are possibly the best of any movie I've ever seen, and gain by re-watching after seeing the film. Special effects, political and pop culture references notwithstanding, it dragged a bit in the last hour. Also, a giant teleported SQUID does feature prominently, just not quite in the same way as the comic XD

I may have been the only person who watched the Metropolitan Opera's HD transmission of Lucia di Lammermoor to catch Watchmen in the same cinema. Hard to decide which was more entertaining.

DVD commentary 4

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 11:28:53 GMT

Commentary requested by ambientlight for double, double, toil and trouble:

The idea actually came from xsmoonshine's riff off a prompt: q's idea, I suppose, was that Adashino had just dispatched a Ginko-doppelganger!mushi (or was it actually Ginko? Ambiguous last line alert!); mine is a remix (riff?)of that. And then some...

Adashino has never seen Ginko so cheerful before; he attributes it to a combination of food, alcohol and the fee that the mushishi has secreted carefully into the inner pocket of his jacket, giving it a satisfied pat before settling down to Adashino’s dinner. Ginko does not speak for the rest of the meal, and Adashino lets him finish eating before bringing up the subject.

“You didn’t tell them the whole truth, did you?”

Ginko shrugs, pours himself another cup of sake and downs it in one swallow.

“How would you know, Adashino-sensei? You can’t see mushi, the villagers wouldn’t believe you if you claimed that the river was still infested.”

“I worked with you once in a similar situation.”

Said situation being episode 5 of the anime with the 水蠱 (green-haired girl in the swamp). IIRC Ginko correctly identified the swamp!mushi, but it was Adashino who was able to mobilise the villagers against it, using his status as the village doctor.

“Don’t recall it. Maybe you heard the story or bought an artefact.(Touche, Ginko.) You should write these down, Sensei, it’ll help your memory, and even generate some income. I hear such stories can get published nowadays. Wouldn’t you like to see your name in print? I know someone who records such things, but she doesn’t get out much and hers aren’t for sale, more’s the pity.(Would Ginko be speaking of Tanyuu in this way?)

He laughs, a grating sound quite unlike the chuckle that Adashino is accustomed to (hint), hitching up his trousers as he gets up unsteadily. When Adashino finishes clearing the table and looks in on him, Ginko is already snoring. The doctor watches him for a while before turning into his own room where he takes out several books from a dusty shelf and starts to turn the pages, muttering to himself until sleep overtakes him.

The room is pitch black when he wakes with a start, the light having burned out some time ago. He fumbles his way towards the lamp, letting out a yelp as he tumbles over something solid. Ginko’s eye gleams at him; even in the dark, he can tell that the mushishi is smiling, and there is no time to utter a sound when Ginko’s lips close on his ferociously and suck the breath from him, Ginko’s arms clinging to him for dear life as his head whirls and descends into the nothingness.

My, not!Ginko, what big teeth you have. Dedicated to all the Ginko/Adashino shippers!

When he returns to himself, it is as though he had drunk too much wine, and he draws in a deep breath of the sharp winter air, coughing and trying to shift his unresponsive limbs. Far away, a voice calls a name which he does not recognize (removal of mushi = removal of Tokoyami as well, hence Ginko thinks/remembers he is Yoki); he tries to answer. Pale smoke rises from his lips, or perhaps it is steam: his vision blurs around the edges, then refocuses with a clarity unknown since the moment he awoke with no recollection of his name, and the last thing he sees is Adashino lunging at him, scalpel in hand.

Yes, village doctors may not have had scalpels in whatever era (Meiji?Taisho?) Mushishi is set, but I needed a technical name for the blades they must have used to lance boils and excise superficial tumours. This is where the plot diverges from the original - this is Ginko!POV. In the original, the solid doppelganger!mushi has been safely dispatched by Adashino's scalpel; in this one, the entity (mushi? something else?) survived its transfer from the mushishi to the doctor, who then removed the evidence.

(Extract from a letter from Dr.J.izabel Disraeli (late of ~~Godchild~~ London, England, now residing in Tokyo, where he can pursue his research on into the natives) to Dr. Adashino, dated some months after the preceding events:

...it is most gratifying to hear from you again, sir, now that the difficulties with obtaining a translator (~~not PMK!Sakamoto Ryoma, thankfully~~) have been resolved. I have received the sample you so kindly sent, and my organization understands perfectly your need for secrecy as to the means of its procurement. Rest assured that the funds are on their way to your account in Tokio (Victorian spelling?) even as I write.
Our scientists in Delilah are still working on your last specimen of mushishi-tissue/mushi-hybrid (take your pick); it is perfect for our purposes of creating deadly dolls aka zombies/clones/even weirder stuff, even if its inherent impurities render the effects a trifle - unpredictable (should have thought of that before injecting it into certain characters), shall we say? Although some of the abilities manifested, such as prescience (Meridianna) and the manipulation of insects (Michaela), have proven most useful. I find the latter circumstance an even more piquant coincidence in view of the fact that the name of the raw material is a homonym of "bug" i.e. mushi in your native tongue - please excuse my presumption, I have been doing a little reading and hope to be proficient enough to enclose a simple note of thanks in Japanese with my next letter...)

DVD commentary 3

Sun, 22 Feb 2009 14:46:22 GMT

Commentary requested by flemmings for the importance of being earnest

Title chosen for the allusion to pretending to be someone else while being yourself, the irony of said quality in reference to Bo Pi, and small caps because no English names are intended.

Background (from China Wiki and Baidu): Bo Pi fled Chu after his father and grandfather (upright and well-loved officials) were executed on the Prime Minister's orders, and sought the protection of Wu Zi Xu, like other men who had been persecuted by the Chu government.

He arrives in Wu in the early hours of the morning, alone and dishevelled after several days’ riding at night through unfamiliar territory and taking refuge in the meanest inns that he could find, and congratulates himself on having reached his destination after losing his pursuers some time ago. It does not occur to him that they have simply deemed him unworthy of their attentions, being the young son of a criminal who was executed by orders of the highest authority in Chu.

IMHO, Bo Pi is about a decade younger than Wu Zi Xu (Baidu calls him a 青年), which would make him about the same age as the Chancellor when he came to Wu.

When he asks the city gate guards where he might find the Chancellor Wu Zi Xu’s residence, their response (laughter, and incredulity that such a beggarly person would have the temerity to address the great man by name) teaches him his first lesson about how to act when one has come down in the world and needs a favour. His second lesson is paid for with his last silver piece. The few coins remaining are sufficient to buy him a room for the night, next to the stable. He would have sold his horse, but he has to keep his options open, as he had always kept a low profile in Chu, and he had heard that there were currently many foreign talents in Wu.

First lesson: It is better to bend when assailed by the winds of misfortune, lest one's stiff resistance be broken. Second lesson: Money talks in a universal language.

It is past sundown when Chancellor Wu’s attendant draws back the sliding doors, motioning the shabbily- but neatly-dressed youth to enter, and tells him to be quick about his business, for the Chancellor has been too busy with affairs of state to take his dinner. Wu Zi Xu has never seen the young man before, but welcomes him warmly when he is introduced.

Baidu: 伍子胥与伯嚭虽无私交，但是因为遭遇相似，同病相怜，就将他举荐给吴王阖闾 - "Though Wu Zixu and Bo Pi did not know each other personally, Wu Zixu pitied the similar fate that had befallen him, and recommended him to King Helu of Wu."

“I knew your father; he was a good and honest man. Many are the upright officials who have fallen victim to that cruel king and his evil cronies. Truly, Chu will repent of its iniquities!”

I was trying for series!WZX's way of putting things in black and white (according to his own opinions), and his tendency towards verbosity and exaggeration.

The young man raises his eyes, which are brimming with tears, almost to the level of the great man’s, and prostrates himself again as he cries,

“Bo Pi has heard that the lord Chancellor suffered greatly from their cruelties; please, sir, give me a chance to avenge our shared wrongs and contribute to building the great nation that Wu will surely become with our gracious king Helu at its head!”

Lesson number three: know who you're speaking to. Bo Pi learns fast.

“Has His Majesty granted you an audience?”

“The Chancellor was the first person Bo Pi thought of.” Really fast. OTOH WZX, the (silver) fox, has already gotten the measure of the young man, but he likes flattery too.

It is King Helu's habit to entertain foreign visitors on certain days of the month. Bo Pi has been placed at the foot of the table as befitting his youth and lack of position, but has contrived by a series of well-timed whispers to his immediate neighbours to move himself somewhat nearer to the King; this has not escaped Chancellor Wu’s attention, but he approves of the young man’s ingenuity. Besides, it will be interesting to see how Helu reacts to the lad’s fastidious manners and slightly overdone gestures, notwithstanding the intelligence and common sense that Bo Pi had earlier shown when discussing Wu’s strengths and weaknesses with himself.

I don't know what were the exact words whispered, since Baidu does not even mention that Bo Pi spoke to anyone before Helu saw him, but I imagine the conversation must have gone along the lines of:

Bo Pi: My good man, I couldn't help reading your petition to the king - no, don't put it away, it's very well-written, but as one of the Chancellor's staff, I have it on good authority that it's unlikely to succeed with His Majesty unless *looks around, whispers into the man's ear, leans back with satisfaction as realization dawns on his face*. I can help you with that - ask for me at the Chancellor's office tomorrow, and we'll discuss it in greater detail.

(A quarter of an hour later)
Bo Pi: Do I have the pleasure of addressing the Secretary of Pisciculture? Permit me to introduce myself as one of the Chancellor's new staff. (mutual greetings and pleasant conversation ensue.) By the way, I just heard that the Secretary of Sericulture has quite high hopes for expansion into areas around the lake. No, he didn't say exactly where, but he did mention that some fishing villages would have to make way. The best person to ask would probably be the under-secretary - I think he's at the other end of the room.

And so on.

His observation of Bo Pi’s animated re-enactment of the scene in his house (I suspect Helu, like his son, enjoys acting and being entertained, especially since Baidu says that Helu was extremely touched (颇为伤叹) by Bo Pi's impassioned declaration of fealty unto death (大王您有什么需要我效力的，万死不辞), which just could not bring myself to write) is interrupted by High Constable Bei Li (被离, described as a 大夫, but for purposes of the fic I made him a military official.) murmuring at his ear,

“Do you trust that young man, Chancellor?”

“Bo Pi and I bear the same grudge towards Chu; has the Constable not heard that those afflicted by the same illness must offer assistance to each other in times of need?”

Baidu again: After Wu Zi Xu has explained his sympathies towards Bo Pi as a countryman in the same predicament as himself all those years ago,
Bei Li: 您只见其表，不见其内。我看伯嚭为人，鹰视虎步，本性贪佞，专功而擅杀。如果重用他，恐怕您日后定会受到牵累。(Which I have tried to translate in Bei Li's next speech.)

Bei Li shakes his head slowly. “Has Bo Pi? I fear that he is as ambitious and ruthless as an eagle watching a tiger’s movements. You and I will be much afflicted, sir, if we assist that young man in his ambitions!”

It is almost the third watch of the night; Wu Zi Xu attributes the sudden chill to the lamps burning low in the great hall, now empty of all save themselves, the guards, and the King and Bo Pi deep in discussion at the head of the table. Bei Li leaves, though the King hardly notices. Wu Zi Xu clears his throat, and both men look up at him: Helu surprised at the interruption, and Bo Pi’s earnest eyes shining in the candlelight.

“It is getting late; Your Majesty needs Your rest for tomorrow’s early court session. “

“Ah yes, of course. This young man is your protégé, Chancellor Wu? Most interesting things he’s been telling me. He must attend me tomorrow!”

“I humbly thank Your Majesty for deigning to listen to my unworthy ramblings-”

Helu holds up his hand. “That will do, Bo Pi. Good night, good Chancellor.” WZX still winz Bo Pi

Wu Zi Xu pretends not to notice Bo Pi’s smirk concealed by his bowed head as he trots merrily along after his acknowledged mentor to his quarters (next to the Chancellor's office, where the other staff sleep in shifts, in case the Chancellor needs something checked or transcribed in the middle of the night), and waves him off to bed when he again expresses his profuse thanks for the Chancellor’s kindness. He looks in on Bo Pi sleeping with a smile on his face (on a soft bed and after a square meal, probably for the first time in days), and his expression softens. Still, he is unable to sleep, and decides to work on that problem of the marshes on the border with Yue. WZX is an insomniac workaholic, which accounts for his expression and temper.

The sun rises early in summer; Wu Zi Xu blinks at the light streaming in through the blinds which Bo Pi is pushing back. He looks on in astonishment as a basin and a tray are set before him and his work is put aside.

I really have no idea where Bo Pi learned his domestic skillz, in between runnng from Chu and playing politics. Possibly from the same place the scriptwriters pulled his cooking a fish for Fu Chai from. There is young!WZX/younger!Bo Pi slash in Mandarin, but let's not go there ~~yet~~.

“Bo Pi did not want to wake the Chancellor earlier since you must have had a busy night from the looks of it, but there is just enough time to wash your face and eat. I took the liberty of making breakfast, but please excuse me as I only know how to cook in the Chu style, sir.

Whatever Wu Zi Xu might have said (forty years later when reflecting on the circumstances that led him to be fool enough to take Bo Pi under his (ahem) wing , he will still be uncertain if he would have replied)(A simple "Thanks.~~You're looking rather delicious yourself~~" would do, if his mouth weren't so wide open) is stopped by Bo Pi’s sudden yelp of surprise at a small boy cannoning into the backs of his legs and falling over. The morning calm is shattered by a strident female shout of, “Your Highness, don’t go so fast!”

The child stares fearlessly at the Chancellor as Bo Pi sets him on his feet and dusts him off with a kindly smile, admonishing him gently for being so excited; Wu Zi Xu wonders which of Helu’s sons (the youngest, a.k.a. Fu Chai) this is (and who let him in), and notes with no small surprise that Bo Pi seems to like children. The nursemaid (followed by a boy of about the same age as the first, also carrying a wooden sword (Wangsun Luo, starting young with the soldiering) gasps when she sees who her young charge has disturbed, and prostrates herself, stammering as she berates herself for her negligence.

“Bo Pi, see the prince home.” (Possibly the first and last time that WZX is glad to have Bo Pi take Fu Chai with him, instead of dealing with his young compatriot himself) The gleam in the young man’s eyes does not escape Wu Zi Xu; he watches Bo Pi take the two boys by the hand and lead them out, their fascinated faces upturned to him (Bo Pi always had a way with kids) as he talks to them about the great man they have just unwittingly disturbed, and he looks away only when the sun hurts his eyes.

DVD commentary 2

Sun, 22 Feb 2009 12:49:35 GMT

Commentary requested by that_oneill_guy for Different Strokes

Tetsu spends a substantial portion of the PMK anime wanting to fight with a sword, and being told why he can't - of course, when it is necessary for him to wield a blade, the circumstances are completely unexpected and Tetsu realizes what his brother and Okita (and Hijikata) were trying to tell him.
I don't think Tetsu and Suzu are "diff'rent folks" - in fact, to paraphrase one of my favourite books, there but for the grace of whatever circumstances - upbringing, older brother, friends, ~~a higher power~~ dumb luck - goes Tetsu through the streets with the gory head of his master tightly clutched to his chest.

Sometimes Tetsu thinks that the only reason he is being kept around is for entertainment value, as Shinpachi, Heisuke and Sano are again reduced to fits of teary laughter after an incident involving freshly mopped floors, spilled tea, and an eye-level hole in the sliding paper door.

Someday, if my imagination gets the better of me, I may tell the story of that particular incident. Suffice to say that for once, Shinpachi wasn't the one who started it and left Tetsu to take the rap.

Their main source of amusement remains his regular requests for a sword.

Up till now, Hijikata’s usual response to his impassioned appeals has been a grunt without taking his eyes off the paper in front of him; if the Fukuchou is in a tolerant mood, he will dismiss his page with a summary wave of his hand. If Tetsu has chosen a bad moment (which is increasingly frequent nowadays) to ask, his answer will be another round of laundry or cleaning out the pigpen, “to train you up so you can actually lift a sword”.

Tetsu has decided against reminding the Fukuchou today after sensing the waves of disapproval radiating from the man even before he has approached within six feet of him, consequent to another perceived lapse in his pagely duties, though why on earth a Shinsengumi recruit should be expected to be able to categorise in chronological order the works of the major haiku poets is quite beyond him.

Just any Shinsengumi recruit would be expected to know the sword better than the pen, but library duties take precedence for Hijikata's page, especially when his master is reading (and composing) poetry to relieve the stress of the escalation of Choshu-Bakufu hostilities.

Okita-san has kindly given him a holiday to get him out of the house (and he suspects, out of Hijikata's way), so Tetsu ambles down to the market, whistling and not looking for anyone in particular.

Suzu is sitting on the steps of a public house, as he often seems to be found nowadays. Tetsu has only glimpsed his master from a distance: from the coldly commanding profile of the man’s face, and Suzu’s effusive admiration for his Yoshida-sensei, Tetsu does not think he is the sort of man to indulge in drink, but then times are bad for most masterless samurai. Perhaps there might be an opening for Yoshida-sensei in the Shinsengumi, and Tetsu would have a companion, but he has been unusually tactful about the matter thus far, and only mentions this time that perhaps Suzu would like to come with him around the stalls while waiting for his master.

Tetsu is in luck - Suzu has been informed by Yoshida-sensei that as this Choshu meeting (to discuss measures to counteract the increasing threat posed by the Shinsengumi, though Suzu does not need to know that) will take longer than usual, he is free to go where he wants, as long he returns to the pub by mid-day. Of course, Suzu seldom wants to go anywhere other than with his master.

Surprisingly, Suzu gets to his feet at once, and Tetsu’s eye is drawn, as always, to the small sword which never leaves Suzu’s side.

Tetsu buys them both a snack and they walk along, chatting amiably, until they spot a particularly handsome blade on display in a shop window.

“I know this is a bit awkward, but why doesn’t your master allow you to carry a sword?”

Tetsu has often asked himself this and never found a satisfactory answer.

“Because I’m not big enough.”

Keep telling yourself that, Tetsu, and they'll believe you too.

Suzu frowns, looking at the shorter boy appraisingly.

“You’re my age, and you’ll catch up soon, so shouldn't the page of a samurai be outfitted in appropriate fashion? After all, you must have started your training by now.”

Tetsu chooses that moment to take a large bite of his taiyaki, so his reply is muffled by red-bean paste; he swallows and changes the subject to the merits of their respective masters, which Suzu is only too happy to elaborate on.

During the course of which he asks if Suzu is going to finish the rest of *his* taiyaki. (Suzu: Oh, you can have it. I'm eating with Sensei soon.)

The longer he listens, the more he wishes that their places were exchanged, or at least that he were Yoshida-sensei’s page as well: Hijikata and Suzu’s sensei appear to be cut from the same cloth – believers in the ideals of bushido, able to intimidate enemies with a look or word before cutting them down effortlessly, and as exacting of themselves as those who serve them.

Tetsu is slightly mistaken in the last respect: Yoshida asks more of himself than from those around him, and they all know it.

The difference is that Hijikata will never trust him with as much responsibility, and he knows that Suzu would not want to share.

Suddenly, Suzu smiles and jumps up from the steps where they have been sitting, and Tetsu waves goodbye to his friend as Suzu runs to join the solitary figure in the distance.

Suzu doesn't look back. Yoshida does; if Tetsu had seen the look on his face, he would have found the epithet used for his master to be equally appropriate for Suzu's.

When Tetsu reaches the Shinsengumi compound, it is time for the Fukuchou’s afternoon tea. He sets the tray carefully before Hijikata, waiting on his knees for the signal for dismissal, and looks up when the Fukuchou makes a surprised sound.

“This is actually drinkable, Tetsu-kun. At least you’re taking your duties more seriously now.”

If he hadn't remembered that a page is obliged to maintain his poise no matter what his master calls him, he would have fallen over at that ~kun.

Tetsu bows and withdraws, remembering to keep his back to the door, when he is arrested by Hijikata’s casual voice.

“Oh, by the way, starting tomorrow you can join the men in their training sessions, but I expect you to keep to the schedule that Okita-san has drawn up for you.”

At the last moment, Tetsu recalls where he is and refrains from laughing and jumping Hijikata, contenting himself with the wide grin spreading across his face and a happy bow of assent, as he shouts,

“Hai, Fukuchou! You won’t regret this!”

“Do not give me any reason to do so.”

He's already starting to regret it, but what can one do, with such an eager recruit? Especially when someone casually mentioned that the piglet has developed the habit of following Tetsu (who feeds him) "everywhere, and I mean *everywhere*, Hijikata-san - and you know I couldn't *possibly* keep an eye on him at all times, being the First Captain..."

As Tetsu half-skips down the corridor to his brother’s quarters, he does not realize that he has forgotten to ask about the sword.

DVD commentary 1

Sun, 22 Feb 2009 11:46:37 GMT

Commentary requested by xsmoonshine for The Heart of Autumn (Li Mu-bai/Yu Shu-lien, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon)

This was written for Yuletide 2007. I had ~~foolishly~~ signed up in spite of finding most of the fandoms frighteningly unfamiliar. And of course, the fandom and pairing I was assigned to write was the one I was least familiar with, not having watched CTHD since its release 7 years before.

The central theme arose from a vague idea based on the word 愁 (melancholy), which seemed most appropriate for what essentially seemed to be a relationship characterized by loss and regrets for missed opportunities. 愁 is composed of the words for autumn (秋) and heart (心), which again (and this is terribly pretentious, so please bear with me) conjured up images of Mu-bai and Shu-lien, past the first flush of youth but still (perhaps more) constrained by the bond between them, Shu-lien's dead fiance who was Mu-bai's sworn brother, to the extent that they cannot even speak clearly (at least for much of the movie anyway) of their feelings for each other.
Bearing that in mind, I watched the film again, and this is the result.

A Mid-Autumn Festival invitation from the protection agency reaches Li Mu Bai three days before the night itself. He turns the paper over and over in his hand as he stares out the window, while the messenger awaits his reply.

"Stay overnight, you have ridden hard and fast to reach here."

"It is a long way back, Master Li, and I would not like to disappoint Miss Shu Lien."

The swordsman looks down at the familiar writing. A memory rises unbidden, like the moon, and swiftly clouds over.

Mid-Autumn Festival = 中秋节. Not actually a reunion festival, unlike Chinese New Year, but I was thinking of people being comforted by the idea that their loved ones somewhere else are looking at the same full moon and thinking of them. The English transliteration of the names is how the subtitles looked.

It has been ten years since Mu Bai last celebrated the festival at the agency, on the night that Shu Lien's betrothal to Si Zhao was announced. He had always been most keenly aware of his sworn brother's absence at this time; the invitation surprised him, since he had supposed that she felt the same way.

Meng Si-zhao was killed while protecting Li Mu-bai during a fight; Mu-bai felt doubly guilty because he had been unable to express romantic feelings for Si-zhao's fiancee, Yu Shu-lien, due to his sworn brotherhood with Si-zhao. Shu-lien feels the same way, but not as Mu-bai supposes i.e. that she does not want his presence to reawaken painful memories.

The festivities have already started at a long table and several benches specially arranged in the large practice area. Mu Bai notes that racks of brightly polished weapons are still in their places along the walls, ready for use if necessary, even at this time of celebration.

As shown in the film. Shu-lien and Jen (Jiao-long) would later conveniently obtain their weapons from the racks during their spectacular show~~off~~down.

He steps through the side door as silently as possible, stopping a little distance behind Shu Lien standing in the garden gazing at the moon, and does not notice the housekeeper Mrs Wu bustling in from the kitchen balancing two large platters, until she exclaims, "Shu Lien, look who's arrived!"

He would have liked to look at Shu Lien a little longer, but she whirls around and strides towards him, and he feels his gaze unequal to the light in her eyes.

"Thank you for coming, Mu Bai."

"How are you keeping, Shu Lien?"

"We manage. Business has recently improved. Are you well? Rumor has it that you will be going into solitary meditation soon."

She pauses and looks up at him; when he nods but does not speak, her lips part slightly before pursing in a smile that does not quite reach her eyes.

"Thank you for joining us before your retreat."

The mention of his retreat (归隐) places the events of this story shortly before the opening of CTHD, when Mu-bai has just returned from years of meditation in seclusion.

Some members of the agency have returned to their families and hometowns for the festival, but those who live on the premises are making the best of the evening with merry talk and games, fuelled by the wine and moon-cakes specially prepared by Mrs Wu. Mu Bai, who has taken a cup for the sake of the occasion, is prevailed upon for a demonstration after the men have had several drinks. Shu Lien mixes the ink for him and pretends not to notice Mrs Wu's wink and grin, as the rest crowd around to watch him write. Like his swordplay, the graceful movements of his brush are as light as a breeze through the forest even as they leave a deep impression with every stroke.

Shu Lien reads aloud: " 'Hundred years, thousand autumns'. Thus may we all flourish forever!" This is met with applause and shouts of approval as the scroll is held up for all to see, and even those who are unable to read more than their names express wholehearted admiration for Master Li's calligraphy.

百年千秋 - had to look up my dictionary of proverbs and several websites. Means exactly what it says, though it is more neutral, and not overused unlike the traditional 天长地久 (thanks to the Solvil et Titus ads). Of course, nothing lasts forever (foreshadowing ahoy!)

The men make their farewells to sleep off the drink in their quarters (or, Shu Lien suspects but lets it pass for tonight, to continue their celebrations on the town). It is a fine night for admiring the bright full moon, high in a cloudless sky studded with innumerable stars. Shu Lien regrets that she does not have the words to describe the sight, and smiles at Mu Bai's face upturned to the moon.

I imagine that Shu-lien isn't much for words - she lets her actions speak louder. Pity Mu-bai can't or won't listen.

Green Destiny is on the table between them, half-covering the four words on the scroll. The scabbard gleams iridescently by moonlight, the intricate carvings on its surface appearing to ripple with a verdant sheen. It is the first time Shu Lien has seen Mu Bai's sword in this light, ever since she admired it when they first met at that Mid-Autumn Festival so many years ago.

"I remember when you used to compose long poems for our Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations."

Mu Bai smiles at her as he absently traces the lines of his sword. "That was when I was young, though even then I seldom had the words or the inspiration, unlike Brother Si Zhao -"

Shu Lien looks up from Green Destiny just as the stricken look is replaced by his usual composed expression. His fingers hover above the sword, flexing involuntarily before they uncurl and rest beside the word "autumn", inches from her hand.

I think Mu-bai wasn't reaching for the sword.

"Will you return for next New Year's reunion dinner?"

"This may be our last meeting for some time, Shu Lien; even after my meditations are complete there is other business to attend to, especially in these troubled times. You must have noticed that the agency has been hired more frequently - for good reason."

IMHO the reason Mu-bai keeps going on those meditations is to avoid people repeatedly coming to petition his support for various rebellions to overthrow the Qing dynasty - said rebellions being funded in no small part by appropriating money and goods being transported through literal forests in the 武林, hence the need for protection agencies.

A tide of anger and sadness washes over her, which she masters yet again with the knowledge of duty instilled by her father and owed to her fiancé. Both of them cold and still, like how her feelings for Mu Bai should be, but are not. She is recalled to herself by Mu Bai making an effort to sound brighter.

"My master once said that nothing is permanent: all things change, and these troubles too shall pass. I will come back as soon as I can, Shu Lien."

His master is a Taoist. Shu-lien's a realist.

"I will be here. Until then - "

She tries to add the character for "heart" below his "autumn", but the ink is almost dry, so the word "melancholy" is only visible with difficulty.

"The 'heart' should be clearer, Mu Bai, but you must be able to see it..."

It sounded better (in my head at least) in Mandarin, honest. *facepalm*

He does not answer. She stares dry-eyed at her writing, which is already starting to fade.

Mu Bai stands up and politely wishes her a good night before taking his leave. They are both aware that it is not proper for a man and woman to be alone in the same room in the middle of the night. An owl hoots, a solitary sound in a garden illuminated only by the light of the moon.

Since I couldn't be sure that my recipient knew Mandarin, even after checking out her LJ, explanatory notes: It is a custom for Chinese people to admire the full moon while enjoying moon-cakes and wine, and composing poetry, on the night of the Mid-Autumn (literally, 中秋 - the middle or heart of Autumn) Festival. The four characters which Mu Bai wrote are 百岁千秋 which literally mean the way Shu Lien read them. Together the phrase means "everlasting". The word "愁" meaning "sadness" is formed from the characters 秋 (autumn) and 心 (heart).

two memes

Sun, 22 Feb 2009 03:14:12 GMT

From ambientlight and xsmoonshine
Fic meme:
1) DVD commentary: Point at a story, and I will babble about it. (not expecting any takers for this, owing to lack of output)

2) Write me anything from a sentence to a drabble (or more if you desire), any fandom you want and think I know. Identify fandom and characters if it's not clear from what you wrote. I will respond in some fashion -- fic, ~~art~~, bad poetry, a mini FST, etc.

3) Make up a title for a fic I've never written and I'll give you a blurb, excerpt, illustration or whatever else strikes my fancy.

From ambientlight
Association Meme: Comment to this post, indicating that you'd like to play, and I'll give you 5 subjects/things I associate you with. Then post this in your LJ and elaborate on the subjects given.(optional)

three days in Paris

Sat, 31 Jan 2009 04:13:27 GMT

Finally getting round to posting pics of Paris, whittled down from several to just one dozen:

The city's most famous landmark, which, unfortunately I neither ascended nor took night photos of. Opposite it on the Champ de Mars was the Ecole Militaire, the backdrop to people strolling about, sunning themselves on the grass, eating ice cream and generally having ~~unmilitary~~ fun.

Since I had only 3 full days there, much of the city was seen from atop a sightseeing bus (same company as the red-topped one returning from the obligatory roundabout the Arc de Triomphe), the better for tourists to lean out dangerously over the tops to get a closer shot.

Another must-see was the Louvre, where tourist hordes swarmed in to see the lady with the mystic smile practically as soon as the doors opened. The two famous belles dames sans pièces, the Winged Victory of Samothrace and the Venus de Milo, being in relatively open spaces at the tops of staircases, had the virtue of being much more accessible (to photo-taking). Personally I much preferred this painting (whose title, alas, I neglected to record).

The bus made multiple trips over the Seine, passing over several bridges (overlooked by Haussman-era houses) to get to various landmarks within a limited time. Two of its three routes passed by Notre-Dame de Paris, of which the external carvings and stained-glass windows impressed me the most.

Other frequently-visited-sites included the Place de la Concorde (which, going by the photos, I must have passed at least six times in two days), les Invalides, and recurrent views of the Academie Francaise, Place Vendome, Opera etc, various Quartiers, musées, and the Moulin Rouge and Sacré-Coeur basilica (neither of which I visited, despite living on the outskirts of Montmartre).

I'd have liked to spend more time in Paris, but not in autumn. Perhaps Paris in the springtime...

Happy the man that finds the grace...in bed

Fri, 16 Jan 2009 07:10:25 GMT

Day #7 of happy-making things:

This gem in the comments, from flemmings' link to the post on how numerous hymns could be improved by adding a particular phrase.

(In case of wonky browsers:"...I was suddenly snapped out of a rather droning rendition of Handel's Messiah by the abrupt realization that the entire choir was singing at the top of their voice, "And we like sheep! And we like sheep! And we like sheep! And we like sheep!

have gone astray")

Yet another reason to regret not singing Handel's Messiah in choir.

that happiness meme

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 12:29:47 GMT

For 8 days you have to post something that made you happy that day: Day 6

Being able to go abroad this year for HMDP and posting this in Adelaide.

Looking forward to 2009 - may it be a better year for everyone!

happiness is...

Mon, 29 Dec 2008 07:09:27 GMT

For 8 days you have to post something that made you happy that day: Day 5

Rather inappropriate icon, since the happy-making is Woxin - flemmings' Woxin fics of the last several days, and xsmoonshine's Santa-hat!Gou Jian Woxin pic :D

meme, interrupted

Sun, 28 Dec 2008 05:00:37 GMT

For 8 days you have to post something that made you happy that day: Day 4
(well, it didn't say *consecutive* days...)

Getting tickets for the HD-broadcast (almost a month later than everywhere else, but that's typical of living Down Under) of the Metropolitan Opera production of Lucia di Lammermoor, which makes for a much better opera in Italian, than a book in (almost) English.

good things come in a box

Thu, 25 Dec 2008 23:38:10 GMT

For 8 days you have to post something that made you happy that day: Day 3

From the artistic genius of xsmoonshine, thanks to flemmings:

mistletoe!Maloki, seasonally and fannishly perfect.

8 days meme, part deux

Thu, 25 Dec 2008 02:52:55 GMT

For 8 days you have to post something that made you happy that day: Day 2

Being able to wish all of you

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Wherever you are, whatever time it is, have a joyful holiday ^_^

meme

Wed, 24 Dec 2008 00:33:04 GMT

From that_oneill_guy:

The rules are that for 8 days you have to post something that made you happy that day. Tag 8 people to do the same.

The things that made me happiest (paper accepted by endocrinology journal, project protocol approved by hospital ethics committee, finding a better download site for music, not screwing up majorly in inaugaural experiments) happpened last week. So, music: Bei Männern, welche Liebe fühlen

WARNING: potentially offensive material in this piece (male chauvinism, glorification of heterosexual love/marriage and conventional mores, classical music, tuneful singing, religion, foreign languages), and more, in its source.

Translation

PAMINA
Bei Männern, welche Liebe fühlen,
Fehlt auch ein gutes Herze nicht.
(In men, who feel love, a good heart is not lacking.)

PAPAGENO
Die süßen Triebe mitzufühlen
Ist dann der Weiber erster Pflicht.
(To sympathize with the sweet instincts, Is then the wives' first duty.)

PAPAGENO AND PAMINA
Wir wollen uns der Liebe freun
Wir leben durch die Lieb allein,
Wir leben durch die Lieb allein,
(We want to be happy with love; We live through love alone, We live through love alone)

PAMINA
Die Lieb versüßet jede Plage,
Ihr opfert jede Kreatur.
(Love sweetens every torment, Every creature offers itself to her.)

PAPAGENO
Sie würzet unsre Lebenstage,
Sie winkt im Kreise der Natur.
(It seasons our daily lives, It beckons us in the circle of nature.)

PAMINA and PAPAGENO
Ihr hoher Zweck zeigt deutlich an,
Nichts edlers sei als Weib und Mann,
(Its higher purpose clearly indicates, Nothing is more noble than wife and man,)

Mann und Weib, und Weib und Mann, Reichen an die Gottheit
(Man and wife, and wife and man, Reach to the height of Godliness.)

An die Gottheit an, an die Gottheit an.
(To Godliness, to Godliness.)

At least it made me feel better, after learning that one can be sued for rescuing a friend (or a stranger, or anyone, possibly including people like the attempted-suicide in The Incredibles) from a dangerous situation. For several years, health care workers in the States have been taking out insurance against such situations happening if they are off duty.

Not tagging anyone.

Twenty (-one) songs meme

Sat, 06 Dec 2008 02:06:26 GMT

Music meme from ambientlight:

Put your MP3 player on shuffle, and write down the first line of the first twenty songs. Post the poem that results. The first line of the twenty-first is the title.

I love you from the bottom of my pencil-case

Well, I don't know why I came here tonight
Va', pensiero, sull'ali dorate (Fly, thought, on wings of gold)
O Fortuna velut luna, statu variabilis (O Fortune, like the moon you are constantly changing)
Besame, besame mucho (Kiss me, kiss me a lot)
Young man, there's no need to feel down!

Come up to meet you, tell you I'm sorry, you don't know how lovely you are
Hold on little girl, show me what he's done to you
I'll be your dream your wish your fantasy
Listen as the wind blows from across the great divide
Some people say a man is made outta mud

Moon river, wider than a mile
Sleigh bells ring, are you listening?
天地悠悠过客匆匆朝起又朝落 (Heaven and earth eternal, we pass by in haste, dynasties rise and fall)
Love love me darlin', come and go with me
Att vår värld behöver ha mera kärlek varje dag. (What our world needs is more love everyday)

Shall we dance? On a bright cloud of music, shall we fly?
Votre toast, je peux vous le rendre (Your toast, I can give it to you)
Wake up, she said, Lord, it's a beautiful day!
Why are there so many songs about rainbows?
おいしいの　はんたいは　たべたくなーい (The opposite of "delicious" is "inedible")

Title: Song For Whoever (The Beautiful South)

Stuck in the Middle with You (Stealers' Wheel)
Chorus of the Israelites from Nabucco (Verdi)
O Fortuna from Carmina Burana (Carl Orff)
Besame Mucho (Dean Martin)
Y-M-C-A (The Village People)

The Scientist (Aimee Mann)
To Be With You (Mr Big)
Truly Madly Deeply (Savage Garden)
Possession (Sarah MacLachlan)
Sixteen Tons (Tom Jones)

Moon River (Henry Mancini)
Winter Wonderland (Doris Day)
潇洒走一回 from the 笑傲江湖 OST (Sally Yeh)
Come Go With Me (The Del-Vikings)
Håll Om Mig (Nanne Grönvall)

Shall We Dance from The King and I (Rodgers and Hammerstein)
Toreador Song from Carmen (Bizet)
Life Story (Dick Lee - yes, Singapore's Mad Chinaman)
The Rainbow Connection (Muppets - specifically Kermit the Frog)
くるっと・まわって・いっかいてん (The Keroro Gunso ED theme no.9, Kigurumi)

Evidently too much opera- + MOR-easy-listening-lurve-songs, soundtracks and showtunes, regardless of language/era.
[Instrumentals omitted: Glasgow Love Theme(!), 1812 overture, various Chopin/Schubert/Beethoven piano pieces, Theme from The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, Recuerdos de l'Alhambra, Prelude from Bach's Cello Suite No. 1 (Yo-yo Ma's version in Master and Commander), Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana, In the Hall of the Mountain King (Grieg, not the heavy metal version), first movement of Mozart's Symphony no.41]

after the cat has roared through my blood, this is the way forward

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 14:47:18 GMT

Dec 2nd prompt for 31_days: make him tame so he can live in peace with the world

after the cat has roared through my blood, this is the way forward

“The ambassador of Qi has arrived, Great King.”

Fu Chai waves the attendant away. “The Prime Minister will see to him. We’re not to be disturbed unless absolutely necessary.” He frowns at the board, forehead furrowed in concentration, and exhales exasperatedly.

“Damn him, he made Myself lose focus. Start a new game.”

Gou Jian’s brows imperceptibly rise, but he separates the black and white stones again without a murmur as Fu Chai paces about the room cracking his knuckles and rubbing his palms, while the servants scramble to light all the lamps and re-fill the braziers.

Sixty-seven moves, and they are almost evenly matched. It is White’s turn. Gou Jian, hunched over the board, twitches just a little when Fu Chai’s hearty voice breaks in suddenly on his thoughts.

“I say, Gou Jian. Don’t you find this much more restful than fighting and politicking and all the rest of it?”

“The rest of what, your Majesty? Ah, with your Majesty’s permission.” He removes a black stone, sets it aside almost reverently and replaces it with his own.

There is no reply until Fu Chai has made his move. “Being a king, of course. Don’t play the fool, Gou Jian, it doesn’t suit you.”

His opponent puts another stone down. “Gou Jian humbly submits that preferences may differ. Begging your Majesty’s pardon, your Majesty spends much more time on the battlefield than on the board.” This time, he appears startled by the shout of laughter that makes all the dozing attendants look up.

“Naturally! A King must continue to fight, to preserve and enlarge his domains. A burden that you have been spared by Myself.”

“Gou Jian must once again thank your Majesty for your Majesty’s magnanimity. I now desire nothing more than to live out the rest of my days quietly as a groom in your Majesty’s service.”

“And as a sparring partner - on the board only, you understand. Ah, this is so much more enjoyable than palavering with those tiresome ambassadors. Thank Heaven for Bo Pi and his like! Now, where were we?”

“Your Majesty’s move.”

It is the 2nd here, and looks like a busy day. Title from another of Sutardji Calzoum Bachri's poems, In front of the Ka'abah ("I look for my veins, and search for my blood...") ~~The prompts for subsequent two days are slightly terrifying.~~

the cat to his dinner

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 03:25:13 GMT

December 1st prompt from 31_days:

let snow and silence mark the site of my unseemly appetite

One of the many perks of being King is being spoilt for choice. Not, of course, that he had ever indulged himself to excess. Just knowing that he would be able to do so if he so wished, and none (or almost none) to stop him. Food, for example. And other appetites. Just a little exercise needed to work it off.

But it is still snowing. There are always other things to occupy himself with, but none of them require trips to the royal stables and the presence of the grooms. Fu Chai surveys, yet again, the table fully-laden with winter delicacies, and frowns.

“Bring Gou Jian here, that he may watch Us eat.”

The food remains untouched until the king of Yue is announced, whereupon the Great King motions that he be sent in, and begins to fill his plate. Gou Jian remains prostrate at the foot of the dining platform, until the King acknowledges his presence with a command to sit where he is. A smaller table is placed in front of him by an attendant muttering about how “even them as cooks this don’t get to enjoy it” before withdrawing with every show of courtesy.

Gou Jian expresses his gratitude for the fine repast so effusively that Fu Chai’s appetite is whetted further; he falls to with such gusto that he is halfway through before he notices that the plates on the table beneath his dais are still full. Fu Chai’s chopsticks hit the table with a clatter, startling the man whose head is bowed over his own.

“The food isn’t poisoned, Gou Jian! I’d find a more satisfying way of killing you if I meant to.”

“Gou Jian humbly thanks Your Majesty. He has just now filled his belly in his hut with the meal that was graciously provided.”

“Well, you can eat some more, it’s a cold day!” A pause. “I command it!”

The captive king slowly inclines his head, takes up his bowl, and begins to eat. In spite of himself, Fu Chai’s gaze is drawn by the way Gou Jian’s slender fingers wield the chopsticks, expertly pincering a morsel before bringing it to his lips, which then part to reveal a delicate – Fu Chai remembers that his food is getting cold, coughs and swallows to clear his dry throat and drags his attention to focus on other delicacies.

They finish their respective meals in silence, turning as one to look at clear grey skies over the snowy ground. A perfect winter day for riding, though Fu Chai can’t figure out if it is the large meal or Gou Jian’s renewed praise of the munificence of the Great King his host that is making him a little queasy. Nothing a little exercise wouldn’t cure, though.

“Return to the stables and saddle Swift Victory. I shall expect you at the front of the paddock by the end of the watch.”

“Gou Jian will await Your Majesty’s arrival. May it please Your Majesty to guard Yourself well against the cold.”

“You had better make sure of the horse and your owns- I mean, your own people! Those structures look like they’ll be blown down any minute, that’s how you Yue people build.”

“Gou Jian thanks his Majesty for His concern, but we are still here.”

Fu Chai watches Gou Jian make a ceremonious leave with inclined head and hands respectfully raised before him until he steps over the threshold and turns toward the stables to disappear into the white winter landscape, and wonders why he feels unsated.

(set in the historical!AU where Gou Jian & co. are ensconced fairly comfortably as grooms/servants in huts near the royal stables.)

taking a break from navel-gazing

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 10:40:28 GMT

From squidlet, the "Controversial Survey(TM)":

1. Do you have the guts to answer these questions and re-post as The Controversial Survey?
I'd have thought that defending the positions taken here non-anonymously to a large and possibly hostile crowd takes more guts, but.

2. Would you do meth if it was legal?
No. But the issue for me is not its legality or otherwise. I'm high-strung enough as it is.

3. Abortion: for or against it?
Pro-choice - the woman's, that is. Some will, some won't. It's her decision.

4. Do you think the world would fail with a female president?
Depends who elected her, and how.

5. Do you believe in the death penalty?
I don't believe that it works, but some people will.

6. Do you wish marijuana would be legalized already?
Yes. There are marijuana-flavoured sweets!

7. Are you for or against premarital sex?
Whatever the couple agrees on.

8. Do you believe in God?
Yes. And the Flying Spaghetti Monster. Pace Voltaire.

9. Do you think same sex marriage should be legalized?
Yes.

10. Do you think it's wrong that so many Hispanics are illegally moving to the USA?
Replace USA with one's home country, and Hispanics with any minority/poorer nation in close proximity to said country, and the answer would still be No. But the people whose jobs are threatened would certainly feel otherwise. Unless the focus of the question is illegally, in which case, Yes.

11. A twelve year old girl has a baby, should she keep it?
There are so many minefields in this question, starting with how did she get pregnant, and why did she deliver?. Main considerations after the event - 1)did she want it (never mind the implications of a child making that decision)? 2) can she (and/or her partner and family) look after it?

12. Should the alcohol age be lowered to eighteen?
There are religions which forbid drinking alcohol completely, and there are people who give their infants/toddlers beer to shut them up. (It is 18 in Singapore and Australia, but the former also makes it compulsory for medically fit males of the same age to learn to shoot people with M-16s, so.)

13. Should the war in Iraq be called off?
Not if withdrawing now leaves an even bigger mess that makes people persecuted by Saddam's regime nostalgic for him.

14. Assisted suicide is illegal: do you agree?
Pro-choice, again.

15. Do you believe in spanking your children?
Yes ~~in the hypothetical situation that they would exist~~

16. Would you burn an American flag for a million dollars?
Who's paying? More importantly, is anyone watching?

17. Who do you think would make a better president: McCain or Obama?
I'll go with squidlet: The one that doesn't die and leave the vice in charge.

18. Are you afraid others will judge you from reading some of your answers?
If I were, why would I post them? ^_^ (tautological: q.v. first question)

The one cheering thought for the day: Computer with the nifty food-calorie-counting software in our lab is ~~named~~ labelled HAL-1 *hums the Blue Danube*