teamromy:

He's so cute! ^___^

teamromy:

Finally starting to keep track. Makes us feel accomplished and that in turn keeps us motivated.

Goal: Read as many books as we can (hoping for at least 35) from September '09 -- September '10. Since we have to share time this is an acceptable goal. Hopefully we will shatter this.
Definition of "book": any book/any length, whether fiction or not; does not include textbooks that we have to use (unless that text is read purely for pleasure), but will include books used for book reviews and critiques; re-reads are okay
Books read so far: 11


What We're Currently Reading:

Some Trouble With Cows: Making Sense of Conflict by Beth Roy
Across The Pacific by Akira Iriye
Bound by Donna Jo Napoli

Recommendations always accepted.

aikonamika, posting in porn_battle:

( Prompts W-Z, Crossovers, RPF )

aikonamika, posting in porn_battle:

( Prompts Q-V )

aikonamika, posting in porn_battle:

( Prompt K-P )

aikonamika, posting in porn_battle:

( Prompts E-J )

aikonamika, posting in porn_battle:

Welcome to Round Nine of Porn Battle! This will run until midnight EST on November 11th. Please remember to post the prompt as the subject title of your post, and if the story exceeds the length of one post, make the second as a reply to the first part. Happy porning!

( Prompts 0-9, Symbols, A-D )

teamromy:

besides the brief posts lately.

- As I was walking through the park on my way into school today, something hard dropped on my head. I look up and a squirrel was in the tree. I am surmising that it was a nut shell. I also saw quite a few of those red capped brown finches eating berries off of the bushes. Now that the leaves are falling away they can really get at them.

- Study study study. As always. We are getting toward the end of the term here - have about a month and a half to go and wow, are a lot of things coming due. We have several book critiques to do, so we spend a vast amount of time reading the textbooks (or rather, books that the instructor picks out to read for the critiques. So, long story short - we are spending a lot of time on school.

- Just finished a wonderful text (that was used for one of the above critiques) called War Without Mercy by John Dower. It essentially poses the thesis that the Pacific theater of World War II was a race war. He provides several compelling examples, such as propaganda that depicts the Japanese (from the Western world) as monkeys or subhuman individuals whereas the Anglo-Americans and Europeans (from the Japanese) were depicted as demons or devils. He also makes the case that while the Western world could separate Germans into "good Germans" and "Nazis" there was no differentiating between a "good Jap" and a "bad Jap". This would suggest that whereas Westerners could separate the German culture and people from behavior, they could not do so with the Japanese. Also, while the Nazis committed horrendous atrocities against a select populace, they were never incarcerated in camps in the U.S. even though there were Germans that agitated for the Nazi party present. The Japanese however, were incarcerated even up to the third and fourth generation born in the States even though they were never agitated for either side of the war and many military experts considered the second-born Japanese-Americans more dangerous. This was primarily because in the Western world, a common enemy was the Jews, in fact, the U.S. had many immigration restriction on the Jews as immigrants to the country.

If you are interested in this sort of thing, I suggest you read the book. It was eye-opening and very interesting. I find it fascinating with how many peoples have been depicted as monkeys or gorillas over time - from the Irish, to the Blacks, to the Japanese, all the way up to President Bush - and how that has been deemed as a fine way to portray someone.

- Next reading will be: Some Trouble With Cows - an ethnography of a village riot in Bangladesh (or the former Pakistan colony). I'll let you know how it turns out.

- Still have not heard from financial aid, but hoping to this week. Then decisions will be made.

- Finding some time to watch some movies with the Wers. Finally saw Wolverine and Hellboy. Hellboy was just fun crack, but Wolverine was a little disappointing for those that read the comic. Talk about ret-con! But aside from those changes, the special effects were outstanding and the story good for the changes that they made, but I probably wouldn't watch it again.

- Probably going to be helping our mom and dad move back into their old house over the weekend. The place where they were living has been sold. So that will be fun - haven't seen the parents in a while.

- Reno threw out upper back out a couple days ago. It was incredibly painful - who throws out their upper back at the shoulder-blade level? Anyway, Zack fixed it yesterday. He just snapped whatever it was back in place with a crunch. Go Zack!

- I suppose that I should probably pay attention in class...

jlsigman, posting in porn_battle:

Thank y'all so much for all the great prompts!

Now I need to finish putting them in order, then I'll send them over to be posted.

See you soon!

teamromy:

Ended up being late for my history class today.

Decided to go to the restroom before sitting in class for 45 minutes, did my business and was washing my hands when I took note of a girl that was in the restroom when I arrived and was sort of huddled near a sink in the corner (when I came in, I assumed that she was fixing her make-up).

Between classes the restroom is usually bustling - women coming and going at lightning pace. And yet out of the ten or so women that were in the restroom at the time, I was the only one who looked at this poor girl and noted how unusual her behavior was. I asked her if she was alright to which she shook her head no.

Even after that exchange, the women cleared out of the restroom in quick order leaving only the young lady and myself.

Turns out that she went to blow her nose and acquired a nosebleed, but not just any nosebleed. This one was really gushing and wouldn't stop. She was crying and scared and bleeding all over the restroom. The paper towels that she was using were filling up very quickly, and I was concerned for her.

I got some basic information and told her that I would be right back that I would go get some help. I rushed to the Political Science department which is right across from the restroom and had them call public safety. Then I went back to her side to wait with her so that she wouldn't be afraid. It was all I could do, not having much medical knowledge but I felt good for doing it. Within about 5 minutes, they were there and able to attend to her.

I don't know what happened to this young lady after I left her, but I hope that she is alright. While waiting for public safety I told her that I wouldn't leave her until they got there and she made the mention that I was the only one who stopped to ask if she was okay and that she was very grateful. We chatted about how she had been sick with the swine flu and was just now getting back to classes and she was terrified to miss any more school. And most importantly, she was very scared about the fact that she couldn't get the nosebleed to stop and "what if it won't stop" and the prospect of having to go to the hospital. I admit that I was afraid for her too. I have never seen a nosebleed that bad.

But one thing that she said just caught me (in her words): "people were just walking around me. They wouldn't help me and I didn't know what to do." People could see the blood everywhere and they did nothing and I am ashamed for them.

Yes, I was late to class, but sometimes there are just more important things to attend to - like your fellow human beings. When I apologized to my professor after class, even he said that what I did was the right thing and in no way did I owe him an apology.

I feel a little sick that no one else wanted to take notice, but I am on top of the world for that little difference that I made to someone today.

sniperandmedic:

I'm losing motivation. Not to draw, but to improve on what I am doing.

There's this artist. Well, she's a really super popular artist in this fandom. And well, I for one, cannot stand her animu style and I cannot for the life of me see why she is so goddamn popular.

Unfortunately, I cannot speak my real displeasure in fear of making me look like a jealous twit/whiny brat.

Now my own friends are all like: "Well I like it!". Now, don't get any thoughts that I am forcing them to not like it. I'm not. But I have to put up with THEIR fagging over a popular weeaboo artist in the fandom I'm in and it's just.... it's just....

I'm already brutally harsh on my own work as it is. I HATE my own work. I HATE everything about it. But to shove HER in my face, then fangirl over it in front of me even when they know I'm probably one of the only two people on planet earth that doesn't like it.....?

Yeah, smooth. And y'all wonder why I'm taking forever on Strangelove Page 8.

jlsigman, posting in porn_battle:

(updated 10:28am: some fandoms don't need entire names)
(Updated 5:35am Nov 2: Sorry, me + muscle relaxants = x_x)

Couple of things to read before you post:

1) PLEASE spell out your fandom completely and characters correctly. There's a very good chance I won't know them.

2) PLEASE use proper capitalization and number notation (roman numerals for the most part).

Things that don't conform to the above will make me cranky, and you will likely end up with your prompts ignored.

I will stop taking prompts after I wake up Wednesday November 4th, which is usually 5:30am-ish EDT. Then they'll be sorted and posted by the other co-mod for you to write on.

Thanks!

teamromy:

I found this link tonight for a site: Library Cats

It has a listing of all known library cats in the world! Some of them even have pictures. Go there!

We clicked on our state and some of them are so adorable reading their books and stuff. It's awesome!

theweranarchist:

I've been having a rough time this morning, small things making me cry. I may have to write them out when I feel stronger but not yet.

So I looked through our flists to try to distract myself and I found this poem. It's by a Chinese poet who committed suicide shortly after writing this.

I know that Seph was discussing lightning bolts with someone last night...

Face the ocean, and there blooms the spring flower
by Haizi (1964-1989)

Starting from tomorrow, be a happy person
Feed the horse, chop the woods, and go around the world
Starting from tomorrow, pay attention to grains and vegetables
I have a house which
Faces the ocean, and there blooms the spring flower

Starting from tomorrow, write to every loved one
Tell them of my joy
What the lightning bolt of happiness told me
I shall relay to each and every person

I give a name of benediction to every river, every mountain
Stranger, my prayer is also for you
May you have a brilliant future
May you be united with the one you love
May you find happiness in this earthly world
As for me, I only wish to face the ocean, let there bloom the warm spring flower

jlsigman, posting in porn_battle:

Starting November 1st, the next round of Porn Battles will start. Once again we will ask for your prompts to be thrown out there for smutty minds to snap up and churn out porny gems for everyone's enjoyment.

SO start writing those prompts out, find a few from previous battles that you want to see written and throw them up.

Remember, all prompts in the top comment slot so they'll be found. If you think of some after you've posted, then post again. There's nothing that says you can only post once. In fact, we'll love you more if you post more.

teamromy:

This creeps me out...and it is just so wrong that I just stare and sometimes...sometimes, I giggle nervously. I mean, I don't think the guy or the rooster should be around children...um, right?

teamromy:

Psych test has been taken and I think we did well. I sent Kadaj in to take it. He is "Mr. Memory" on fact type things. He doesn't like going in to school, but if I ask sweetly (or as sweet as I can) I can usually persuade him to help.

Have to sign the lease today for another year on the apartment. It's needed for the evaluation of our food benefit, blah.

I forgot to bring my cough drops to school, but remembered Zack's nuclear gum so that will work, I suppose.

Need to get started on that reading tonight: so much is coming due far too soon for my tastes. I think the reading is my biggest obstacle right now. There is so much of it and it isn't all fun and adventure! In fact, yesterday one of our texts was discussing the history of African Americans from slavery up to about the year 2000. I like history, I do, but this book (which couple of us have bitched about before), is not only one of the driest books I have ever read (tried to read a few passages aloud to the Wers and they tuned me out) but the information is so condensed to the point of being insulting. The general information is so general that I know most of the material already. I would have enjoyed the chapters more had they gone into slavery not just from the standpoint of the whites, but if they had included information about the black society at that time. Excepts from slave diaries would have been nice, not just a minor reference to them. Also, go into detail about the interesting leaders in black history - I think Malcolm X got only a passing mention in a paragraph and MLK Jr. received less. Tell me about W.E.B. DuBois besides his involvement in the NAACP. These are intriguing individuals that did more than just what was passingly mentioned. I am appalled that this book is even referenced as a history book and that the authors show so little enthusiasm for the subjects (Ethnic and racial Minorities in the U.S.) that they are writing about. Not that I need any more to read, but dammit! Grrr.

Phone call, gotta go.

sniperandmedic:

( Best wallpaper ever? Or Best wallpaper evah? )