Slumber

1. hp_writers_desk
   
   HP Writer's Desk is basically an extended form of workshop that we usually see in HP cons, borne out of the realization that hey, not everyone who writes can attend cons, so why shouldn't people everywhere be unable to discuss the craft of writing, and writing HP fiction in particular?
   
   It's only just been set up and it hasn't got much in it yet, but I've volunteered to help silver_ariel run it with femmequixotic, and it will begin with planned posts/workshops (though eventually, we'll open it up to everyone-- we're just testing the waters at the moment and would like to familiarize ourselves and everyone with the comm format first). We're looking for ideas and suggestions to have an idea as to what people would love to see on the comm, so go! Join! :D
   
   
2. bribitribbit is running the The Kisses/Cuddles Battle of 2009, and it is opening up its Prompt Post til February 7 at noon, EST.
   
   As Brit said:
   
   

   This is a challenge not only for those rare people who, like me, get really goopy around Valentine's day and want to read tons of fic about their favorite pairings being dorky and cuddly, but also for the people who just want to see their favorite standoffish character kiss his son on the forehead, or two friends hugging after a long fight. Because awwww.

   
   
   
3. And finally, a FIC REC: Bothersome Things by Anon over at hp_nextgen_fest.
   
   Yes, it's Charlie/Teddy, and yes, it's Percy/Teddy, and yes, it's pushing 10k words. But this has to be one of the most brilliantly narrated stories I've ever read. Albus pretty much steals the show from Charlie, Teddy, and Percy, but that only shows how well-written this story is, because it's hard not to adore Charlie, Teddy, and Percy here either (and yes, that's a big deal-- I'm normally not a fan of Gryffindors or Hufflepuffs :P). ♥

Your result for The Sorting Hat Test...

Slytherclaw

You scored 47% Order/Chaos, and 30% Moral/Rational

Take The Sorting Hat Test at HelloQuizzy

1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
   
   • Cut my finger, went to the ER, got myself stitches
     
   • Moved (by myself :|) into an apartment
     
   • Got an internship, followed by an actual job
     
   • Went to a Harry Potter convention, met fandom people!
     
   • Flew to a state all by myself and spent close to a week there
     
   • Worked full-time, went to school part-time. It's been a weird experience.
     
   • Fannish sleepovers!
     
   • Picked apples
     
   • Ice-skated
   
   
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
   I was, for the first half of the year, but then my laptop crashed and I lost some of the documents I was using to help keep those resolutions, so it kind of went downhill fast. :|
   
   
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
   Nope.
   
   
4. Did anyone close to you die?
   Nope.
   
   
5. What countries did you visit?
   Kansas and DC should count for countries. :| I went nowhere, which is possibly one of my few frustrations for this year.
   
   
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
   The ability to control my impulse to shop. *sigh*
   
   
7. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
   May 10/May 12 - I moved in to my new apartment on the 10th, and started my internship on the 12th. It's just been so clear in my head because those dates were written down on very important papers :|
   
   
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
   More awesome school projects pulled off somehow, I guess, but now they're starting to feel not so much of achievements. I can't say I've got one.
   
   
9. What was your biggest failure?
   My biggest failure was probably not achieving anything remarkable this year. And don't get me wrong, I think this year was awesome, but in terms of the whole personal-achievement category, it was more or less a bust.
   
   
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
    Injury, yeah. Finger. ER. Middle of the night. Hello Kitty PJs.
    
    
11. What was the best thing you bought?
    I am going to go ahead and say my bean bag. Or my bedsheets. Or, well. That DC trip? Terminus tickets? *flails* I don't know!
    
    
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
    Tina Fey. God I loved her. Oh, and Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart, for both of whom I rekindled my love. And Obama, obviously. And the Blackhawks, for winning 9 straight games in a row, breaking a franchise record! (Of course, they DID lose last night's game, and HORRIBLY, but there's still the Winter Classic?)
    
    
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
    Sarah Palin. Which is quite ironic, considering my answer to the above. :| Blagojevich, while we're on that topic.
    
    
14. Where did most of your money go?
    Hockey games, dinners, dates :| Oh, and random impulse buys, like an oversized bean bag, a Wii console, and Rockband. So I guess I'd say entertainment. :|
    
    
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
    I can't say Terminus, because that didn't sink in til it was, like, five minutes away. I think I was looking forward to moving out of the dorm the most.
    
    
16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
    I Kissed a Girl by Katy Perry? Because, urgh, the girls talked about it a lot when I was an intern this summer so it just sort of. Stays in my memory as a 2008 song.
    
    
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
    i. happier or sadder? happier, though not in an excitable sort of way. I'm more content, I think.
    ii. thinner or fatter? fatter, eurgh.
    iii. richer or poorer? richer, and I actually have a savings account that proves it, lol.
    
    
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
    Reading, writing, napping-- oh, and traveling to other countries.
    
    
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
    Faffing about.
    
    
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
    Spent it with my cousin and his family upstate.
    
    
21. Who did you spend the most time on the phone with?
    Line, if texting counts.
    
    
22. Did you fall in love in 2008?
    Yes, all over the place.
    
    
23. How many one-night stands?
    None, I'm taken.
    
    
24. What was your favorite TV program?
    HIMYM, Gossip Girl, Desperate Housewives :|
    
    
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
    Nope
    
    
26. What was the best book you read?
    The Graveyard Book
    
    
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
    None :\
    
    
28. What did you want and get?
    Plenty of random things.
    
    
29. What did you want and not get?
    Other random shit. :|
    
    
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
    Iron Man? The Dark Knight? Come on, they were really kind of awesome. :|
    
    
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
    Um. I knew I spent it with Line a week after my actual birthday, because school was in the way. I visited her and-- hm, I think that was the weekend of my first apple-picking!
    
    
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
    If the Hawks had gotten a ten-game winning streak before the year ended.
    
    
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
    There was none. :|
    
    
34. What kept you sane?
    I never really got crazy this year, I don't think.
    
    
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
    It's sad that I've been doing this the last couple of years and my answers have never quite changed. Cillian Murphy, Gale Harold, and Jude Law. Oh, now I've also got Boyd Holbrook. Ngh.
    
    
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
    Uh, the US elections.
    
    
37. Who did you miss?
    My family and friends back home
    
    
38. Who was the best new person people you met?
    This is what I love about this year; I met so many new people! There are those I've met before this year, but finally saw in the flesh and those that I only met this year. Lots of fannish people, obviously, but also! I met everyone from my office just this year, too, and a lot of them are pretty damn awesome too. :D
    
    
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008:
    Um. :| Socializing is good? :|
    
    
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
    Starfish and coffee
    Maple syrup and jam
    Butterscotch clouds, a tangerine
    And a side order of ham
    If you set your mind free, baby
    Maybe you’d understand
    Starfish and coffee
    Maple syrup and jam
    

The US was the only major Western nation not to sign the declaration.

• I am glad that this declaration was sponsored at all...
  
• But I personally don't know where I stand in the whole, you know, imposing one's concept of right and wrong onto wholly different cultures and I understand why some countries would opt not to sign it
  
• But on the basis of what the declaration says... I would like to think that the US is past that. Maybe the reason the US did not choose to sign is so it could retain diplomatic relations with the states that chose not to sign as well, but. Really? Really? You don't want to sign a non-binding declaration that arguably upholds human rights?