Title of the Page

Dereliction of duty

2009-12-05T19:41:47Z

So I run across another article about photographers being harassed by police and find myself thinking once again that in these cases the officers should be given two choices. 1, admit to dereliction of duty and be drummed out. Or, 2, admit to incompetence and be taken off active duty and be sent back for retraining.

Really, even if terrorists were prone to standing around blatantly taking photographs, they are so outnumbered by actual professional photographers, amateur photographers, tourists, and anyone else you can think of who would be innocently taking photos that to use photography as an indicator that someone needs to be questioned is utter stupidity. The ratio of false positives to actual positives is going to be so lopsided that frankly I think even under the US Constitution's strict definition of treason, you could actually make an argument that it is indeed 'aid' to the enemy. Has even one person anywhere in the world who was stopped solely because they were taking photographs turned out to be a terrorist? How can this kind of time wasting on the part of those who are tasked with the job of protecting us be anything but dereliction of duty? Frankly I see it is no less intentional time wasting than if they were to find a quiet spot and pull out a game boy for a few minutes of Tetris or Mario.

Although at least that last option would have the positive of not being harassment that will cause a group of people to start viewing the police as an enemy.

Fair notice hereby given to all insects!

2009-11-30T07:39:41Z

Warning! All insects read notice! Entering my home shall be considered agreement to the following terms.

*All cockroaches squished on sight! Entering home shall be considered consent to be force fed noxious substances.
*Spiders shall stay in inaccessible corners for maximum longevity. Crawling on any body part shall be considered a request for flattening.
**NOTE: No mercy nor quarter shall be granted to Black Widow spiders.
*Attention flies, this residence shall purchase and employ miniature scale anti-aircraft style anti-insect devices as soon as they enter the market. Until then you shall have to settle for being swatted the old fashion way.

*Geckos are welcome to dine in this domicile. However, please go outside to take care of waste management issues.

How long until I can buy a real HoiHoi-san?

The Unquiet Past, part 2A

2009-11-29T07:13:18Z

Well, I have skipped a number of writing opportunities that I shouldn't have, and I also went a little non-linear leaving some gaps in what I do have written. I do however have enough to post part 2A of The Unquiet Past. Which starts with a nightmare and then gives Doris a bit of a break (for now).

Disclaimer! "Caution! If you start a fanfic with a humorous disclaimer, people may well expect you to keep using humorous disclaimers!" "Hmm? Oh! You mean a 'someone else invented this universe' disclaimer? But I mentioned that in part 1. But it has been over two weeks. So listen up! Terinu is a really nifty webcomic with writing and art by chaypeta. Fun action in space, interesting characters, Australia as one of the major powers of the far future Earth, fox-like aliens including the ever nifty ace pilot Ru-Ofanius 'Rufus' Brushtail, an orphan with a mysterious past, a threat thought defeated... Well, why are you still here, go read it. Finished? Okay, then here is my contribution. These are not the characters from the comic, rather it's my own imagining of a corner of the vulpine homeworld. Can't stand a story with anthropomorphic foxes in it? Well fie on you. Oh, and jeriendhal first presented the Sharpears family in his Terinu prequel fanfic, in part 1 Doris was named Sharpear, obviously a failure on the part of the transciptionist. He has been chastened."

Ah, there. Thoroughly disclaimed, yes? Very well, The Unquiet Past part 2A under the cut.

The dream had changed again. Doris looked around the land now truly looked like Five Spring Valley. Some things hadn't changed. The snow still made that hideous crunching sound as she walked across it, footpads not stung by the snow nearly as much as they should with each step sinking deep.

Turn around! It's just a dream! Turn around, it isn't worth it!

Her dream self ignored her and continued on. A corner turned and she saw a crowd gathered ahead, singing and dancing, sharing winter food and drink. The anonymous faces took on features as well, just as the land itself had.

"Gran! Granmama! Come back!"

Lady Marissa Sharpears paused in conversation, first an ear then her head turning to Doris as the girl cried out.

"Don't leave me! Please!"

"Doris, why ever are you here. Your mother must be terribly worried. Be a good girl and go home."

"No! I love you! Don't go! You'll —"

It isn't real fool! That isn't her!

The two closest to Lady Marissa turned to give her bored looks. Their faces now those of Talli and Henry. The music taking on a change as well. A staccato drumming drowning out the other instruments.

"I say! What a rude child. You heard her. Run along girl."

Henry looked over her once before turning away, paying no more attention to her. "What do you say milady, I think this roasted kin goose is the best course yet. What do you imagine we'll get next?"

It's just a dream! Wake up! It's just a dream!

"Granmama!"

"Really Doris, can't you see I am busy? I will play with you when the important work is done."

"No! If you stay —"

Wake up damn you! WAKE UP!

"It's just a..." Jerking up, she found herself sitting in bed with only a light chill in the air and the rapid knocking remaining.

"Yes?" Ears drooping at the desperate pitch of her voice. "Oh... Oh, do go ahead and come in Nicol. I'm decent."

The door slid open to reveal Nicol with a small tray and tea service. "Morning tea, milady." Setting the tray on the bedside table.

"Thank you." A glance at the chronometer hanging on the wall showed a depressingly early time. "I fear I have cost you sleep again."

Nicol gave her the same look he always did when the dream would come and he would wake her. A touch of concern and a look of utter mystery at her apology. She even believed he was already awake the first few times.

"Always been an early riser, milady." Doris considered contradicting him for once, but before she could he was speaking again and then heading back out of the room. "Breakfast will be ready soon."

The rest of the morning was blessedly quieter. Only a few messages waited for her, including what looked to be an apology from Jagen, skipped in favor of the morning news bulletins. Little of interest was to be found there. Only the weather bulletin, with its promise of a dusting of snow, interesting her at all.

* * *

The opening ceremonies consisted largely, as all such seem fated to be, of a series of people speaking mostly a stream of the standard formalities. The comfortable feeling of such well worn pattern could have been comforting if Doris didn't know they were working their way up to her, to provide the final words of the opening. It felt like countless hours and much too soon as she found herself standing, looking out across the town square. Her eyes paused, finding Nicol speaking to a slightly older vixen with a clear family resemblance. Good, I did hope you would listen. Not simply wait at a distance to help. You've earned some rest, enjoy it.

Setting her notes down, she started on her mother's speech. It had been easy to hear her mother's voice in her ears as she reviewed the lines the past days. It almost felt like she was simply listening and repeating the words for the crowd. With little need to do more than occasionally glance at the pages. Sliding the second page to the side she paused. Looking down at the words, reading ahead, her mother's voice still seeming to whisper in her ears.

She stopped partway down the page, and looked up at the gathering. Everyone was still quiet, the quick moment of quiet reading not quite too long. No. I think this isn't what I need to say. Sliding the rest of the notes off to the side. Looking through the crowd once more. Whispers just catching her ears as she found Nicol again. She smiled at puzzled look on his face. I suppose I had best speak again before that becomes worry. You worry enough for us already.

"These are good words. Which my mother hoped to give to you herself. Mother has always been better at finding the right words. They always seen to scatter away when I try to find them. But however good they are, they are not my words and somehow it just doesn't feel right for me to use them."

Puzzlement had in fact given way to worry on Nicol's face, and no one else seemed any more sure what to make of what had said as she paused again. Closing her eyes trying to find the right words. "Why are we here? The Remembrance. The Remembrance of the life of Lady Samara Sharpears. Who fought to end the Dominion and returned to this, our home that was stolen from us for so long. Who survived the fighting and the Bloody Plagues that were released in a final childish tantrum, to end all if the Varn couldn't rule all. What lesson might she want us to learn?

"I think perhaps, the importance of family. There was no reason for her to think, after all that she survived, that finally arriving home she would only have twelve years left. Only twelve, dying so young for all she did.

"But if you look at those twelve years, she spent all she could with family. Politics, the rebuilding and restoration, they received their time. But her children, her relatives, there was little that could pull her away from them.

"Can we say the same? Will I be able to say the same when I return to the Holy Den Mother? We have no choice but to seek a balance, there is work that must be done, but when the day ends can we say we found the proper balance? It is perhaps easy for me now. Unmarried, no children, I can devote my time to service, putting education and will to work. Even that is a balance of time I suppose. But when I start a family, I pray that I will remember this lesson.

"I fear this perhaps isn't really so profound. But it is what I find myself thinking as I look back on my ancestor's life. It is good to have an example such as hers. Something to help us judge our own goals and progress. To think that my family sets such an example for others as well — it is a strange feeling at times."

And this is why I ought not do this. Plan your speeches from now on! Thankfully the crowd did not seem as puzzled by this final pause. Or perhaps it simply felt longer than it was. She gave the crowd a shy smile. "Thank you for indulging me in my first time speaking before a group this size. Never fear, my mother's words will be available on the town news net this evening."

* * *

In the gathering afterwards Doris eyed Jagen cautiously as he approached. "Believe me Miss Sharpears, it was a better speech than you feared."

Doris lifted a single brow. "Miss Sharpears? Really now Jagen, you stuck your tail in your mouth, it is simply one of your endearing yet tiring traits. But calling me Miss Sharpears? Next that paw behind your back will have flowers."

He did at least have the decency to look embarrassed as he brought out a pair of ice blue flowers. "Heh. Well, actually my man is quiet good at finding things. With no reply to the apology I sent last night, I simply said I needed some flowers as beautiful as your eyes and before I knew it they were at hand."

"I see, well be sure to tell him that his apology is accepted."

"I truly didn't mean to upset... You're smiling again. That was, you actually told a joke, didn't you."

"Do not think it means you are off the hook Jagen. However, you are one of my oldest friends. I will let you work for your forgiveness. I expect you to join me at the school tomorrow. You can help me with all the cubs."

"Certainly. I can provide the littlest with something more exciting to climb and stare down any who look too worshipful of my date."

"Your date? Are you looking to make your servant apologize for you again?"

"Surely my lady jests. It will be perfect. A tour of their gardens, lunch in a cafeteria that has customers lining up for it daily, and a reserved seat at a one day only play."

Henry smiled to Talli off to the side. "Well, listen to that laugh. I always do like being wrong about trouble starting."

Cue deluge of new Polanski posts in 3... 2... 1...

2009-11-25T15:53:34Z

Although a three million euro ($4.5m) bail isn't cheap, I have the suspicion it won't be that hard for him to raise.

And that's all I have to say for now.

Yokaiden 2! Woo! (Hey, that kinda rhymes)

2009-11-21T23:26:23Z

space_coyote has posted pictures of volume 2 of Yokaiden. What? You say you haven't read volume 1 yet? What are you waiting for, run down to the store and pick it up. It's fun!

Volume 2 comes with nifty features like pre-printed, pre-assembled pages. That's right! No longer do you need to print, cut, stack, and glue the pages, only to then need to find the heaver paper to print the cover on. Del Rey's manga group has already done that for you, all you need due is turn the pages and read.

Honestly, I'm looking forward to volume 2, and you have find preview pictures of Yokaiden 2 at the link you just read over.

People who take jobs they don't want to live up to...

2009-11-19T04:11:10Z

Another post got me thinking about pharmacists who want to be allowed to pick and choose which prescriptions to fill. Now, there are some reasons I can think of why this could be reasonable. They might see that Doctor A has prescribed Medication X while Doctor B has prescribed Medication Y, which in combination will have serious side effects. It would be reasonable for the pharmacist to say, "Whoa! I don't think Doctor B knew what Doctor A prescribed. You really, really ought to make sure he knows this. If you want we can call his office and ask if he still wants you to take Medication Y when you are also taking X, or if it really has to be that medication we can call the other doctor and ask if he can change his prescription." Or perhaps they might have just received some kind of notice about previously unknown side effects. Perhaps most importantly they might see reason to believe that the prescription is fraudulent. (I actual saw this happen about a month back. The pharmacist said they wouldn't be able to fill the prescription until the next day. Then as soon as the person left, they called the doctor who had supposedly written the prescription. Strange, but the doctor's office says they have no patient by that name, nor is other information on the form correct.).

That said, whenever people come out arguing for pharmacists to get to pick and choose what to fill, they hardly ever seem to be giving more than token time to these issues. Probably because pharmacists are already able to take those issues into account. Nope it's given as a moral argument. "But it would be horrible to force the poor pharmacists to fill prescriptions that offend their beliefs."

To which I have to say, "Yeah, and who held a gun to the pharmacists head and told them, 'Go take pharmacy classes, get licensed, and work as a pharmacist -- or die!'? No one? Really? Then how is the possibility of this occurring a big surprise?" Should I be allowed to get a job as a bartender, and then say, "Whoa! Wait! Hold on! I'll serve people soda, or soda water, or if they insist mock cocktails, but I don't believe in drinking alcohol. No way I'm serving beer! And don't you dare fire me for this, I'm just obeying by moral principles!" I'd get laughed out of court, and if I went to ask my state or federal reps to change the law for me, I'd get laughed out of their office.

You know, you walked into the job eyes open. Either fill the prescriptions without a darn good reason, which doesn't include, "But I don't wanna," or maybe *you* ought to pay the expense of hiring your replacement.

It makes about as much sense to me as the kid who enlisted in the Marines, and then come Gulf War I said, "Whoa! Wait! I only joined for the college money, I don't believe in killing people, even in time of war, let me out!" Really? In you joined the Marines? The Gung Ho, storm the beach, kick the door in, and clear the way for the rest, Marines? You're a pacifist and you somehow didn't realize joining the Marines might mean going into battle? Right. You think my IQ is lower than my height in miles, don't you.

Not that I'm automatically going to believe the guy, but...

2009-11-19T03:35:50Z

Based on an item on the news ~~today~~yesterday:

State court tells guy he never paid a ticket in 1999 and that he will have to pay it, plus almsot $1k in interest/fines. Guy says not only did he pay it in 1999, but that he is especially irked because a few months after paying in 1999 he was told he hadn't paid and had to go back to court and show that he had indeed paid. Sadly he apparently decided after some years of not being gone after to stop looking after the financial records with a paranoid eye.

Which raises two questions for me.
1) Shouldn't there be record of his going back to court to show that it had been paid. And shouldn't this be something that can be used to quash the current claim?
2) Isn't it normally the one making a claim that is expected to prove it. "You never paid!" Should be answerable with, "Okay, produce the complete file, and explain why for a decade a supposedly unpaid claim wasn't pursued."

And additional bit, a DMV official on camera said with a straight face and without apparently thinking there was anything wrong with it, "When you pay your ticket, hold onto the proof." "For how long?" "I'd say forever."

Um. Yeah.

Ah well, maybe I'll manage next year

2009-11-16T02:28:54Z

I am rather unlikely to reach 50k words by the end of the month. I only have just over 4k now and would need a to a touch over 3k a day for the rest of the month to hit 50k. But that doesn't mean that I'm giving up entirely. I'm just acknowledging the unlikeliness of reaching the NaNoWriMo goal.

That said, since posting part one I've got a dream (which is clearly a dream from the start, none of that "Oh my what's happening... psych, fooled you, just a dream sequence" nonsense from me), a little of the aftermath of the dream, and skipped ahead and did a portion of the school play (which will probably later be ruthlessly cut -- too much, "Look at the nifty background history I came up with," most of which can safely be trimmed).

After November I think I'll work out what my average daily output was and use that to help set a continuing goal. Then when next November hits I'll be better prepared.

The Unquiet Past, part 1

2009-11-13T06:09:04Z

After debating for much of the day I decided to post the first portion. For anyone who skipped the previous post this is my unofficial nanowrimo effort (I haven't actually taken the time to set up an account at NaNoWriMo.org). I spent the first several days working out who the characters were and a few of the major plot elements, which means that at my current words per day rate I will run well short of 50k words. I'll have to see how many words I manage on the weekend, and if I manage to keep modestly upping the words per day rate.

Warnings: This is a fanfic for those allergic to that, set in the universe of Peta Hewitt's (chaypeta

) comic Terinu. Set on the world of Vulpine Prime, so yes, if you're allergic to furry the majority of the population are aliens who look like anthropomorphic foxes. For the rest of us, part one of the story comes under the cut.

{include: non-standard disclaimer} Terinu is a really cool and nifty webcomic. If you think my story is nice, go read the source material, it's even better. Fanfic written without prior approval or permission of Peta. She has been pretty cool about fanfic in the past however. Hey, she's nifty. Have I said to go read Terinu yet? Oh, but make sure you have time to work through the archives. Aren't Rufus and Melika made of awesome? The rest of the cast too, but hey, extra props to the Vulpine characters since this fic is set on their homeworld. Peta is of course free to ignore or use anything here as she likes. It's her sandbox, please don't send me home before cookie time, I wanna finally try a Tim Tam. (Silly grocery store put up a display bragging about stocking "Australia's Favorite Cookie" and stocked the entire display with packages nigh a month past the sell/eat by date). {end: non-standard disclaimer}

“We have arrived, milady.”

Doris looked up from her notes as the ground car rolled to a stop. Giving a soft grumble, a growl really if she was to be honest with herself, as she looked out at the town she had arrived in. Turning her eyes back to her driver. Forcing her ears to lift once more. I am a Sharpear, she thought to herself, they will see me calm and in control.

“So I see Nicol.” Looking quietly out the window for a moment. Delaying the inevitable. “Excellent driving as always.”

As she opened the door she could see a small welcoming delegation approaching ahead of the rest of the commoners who had spotted her arrival. Time to go do as Mother wishes and listen to the scoundrels, sighing softly as she caught herself once more. No, I cannot show any of that. Time to go listen to our subjects however much it galls.

The soft patter of a child's feet caught her ears as a human girl ran up to the approaching welcoming delegation, sharing a few quiet words with two of the adults. Not even half my age I expect, Doris thought to herself as she looked over the girl, still a child, but surely old enough to know better than to interrupt adult business without good reason. The quiet words finished and the girl turned to Doris with a shy smile and walked ahead of the delegation with more measured steps the rest of the way to her. Bowing deeply as she reached Doris.

“Milady Sharpears, please allow me to welcome you on behalf of the families of Five Spring Valley.”

Doris frowned for a moment before she caught herself. But the girl noticed, freezing in place for a heartbeat before seeming to mentally check for how she might have offended. Straighting her back and at least trying to speak in a steadier less excited voice, perhaps hoping to sound less like a child. “Please be most welcome among us in this time of remembrance. We are honored by your presence milady.” The girl held out a paper wrapped bouquet of flowers flashing her shy smile again.

Doris forced a smile to stay her face this time, I will not take things out on a cub, I will not do that. “Thank you, child. They are quite nice.” Accepting the flowers Doris saw the girl's smile grow before she bowed and darted back to the welcoming committee, accepting a quick hug from one of the human males before slipping back to the small crowd that had gathered.

A tan furred vixen came forward after the girl retreated. “I am Talli Quickfoot, milady, head of Five Spring Valley's town council. I must admit we feared we would have to do without your family's presence this Remembrance. The Remembrance is only held every ten years and it just wouldn't be the same without a Sharpear attending.

“If I may introduce the others, Henry Jacobs, of the Twelve Families Historical Society.” One of the human males stepped forward and bowed, showing the top of his red furred head to her, no not fur but hair, she reminded herself. “Darrin Liard, manager of medicinal greenhouses.” An elderly gray furred male bowed in turn, appearing quite healthy for his apparent age. A handful more were introduced before Talli turned to wave forward one more at the back. Doris finally noticing a face that grabbed all her attention.

“Finally, if he will forgive me for ignoring his claim to shyness. Lord Jagen Shaventail, here to represent his family at this Remembrance has offered his assistance to the planning committee.”

He smiled, “Oh, but purely out of transparent self interest.” Removing the cap of his house uniform before giving her a bow that would look more at home on a stage than a town square.

Doris took one look at Jagen, barely hearing Talli or Jagen's words. An honest smile coming to her face, “Jagen, I thought you said in school that you couldn't take that name of yours seriously. Why... How long ago did you...”

“Shave my tail?” The wave of his tail seemed to match the mirth in his voice, but looked ever so strange with only a short fuzz of fur covering it, nearly bare skin. “Just before I set out for my obligatory three in the navy. I still think the family history is a bit absurd. How we are ever supposed to complete a forgotten quest not one family member has puzzled out in centuries of trying. But if we can't take the absurd seriously, how can we ever hope to give the serious its due?”

Doris shook her head, her but her smile remained. “Somehow I always thought you would be one of the Shaventail's to skip that crazy tradition. But looking back, I do believe I can see it now in the Jagen I knew.”

“If I did skip the family tradition I'd feel obligated to use our old name instead.” Laughing at a thought, “You know as well as I that my family's old name is one of the secrets lost to the Subjugation. Even the Brushtail's pet digger doesn't claim to know that.”

“Crazy or not, I am happy to see you Jagen. I haven't heard a word of you since graduation.”

* * *

Heading in to the Planning Committee's offices, Talli motioned for Doris to follow her into an alcove. “Milady, I hope I am not being to forward, I truly don't mean to be rude. I want to say that you're presence here really does mean a great deal to us. You may not have said anything publicly, but for any of us who have paid attention it is clear that you do not care for Five Spring Valley. That you would still come – ”

“I would not be here given the choice Miss Quickfoot, you are right about that.” Doris frowned, giving Talli a hard look before continuing, “Holy Den Mother willing I will never need to return. I would prefer that this down town had never been founded, but that decision is long past deciding. You are here and you are part of my family's holdings. You have my word I will stay and do my duty to my family and people.”

“Oh, milady you don't have to say that. I never meant to imply that you wouldn't, we have never doubted in your honor. I only wanted to say that if there is anything we can do to make your stay more comfortable you only need to ask. I –”

“Have already received my word. I do not wish to discuss this further Miss Quickfoot.”

“As you wish milady.” Talli seemed reluctant to stop with just that, but motioned back to the hall, “If you wish to rejoin the others we have a light luncheon prepared to discuss the final preparations.”

At one time Doris would possibly have been surprised to see the simple spread of food laid out on the table called a luncheon. A pair of platters held a modest selection of fresh fruit and small finger sandwiches. But her time in the Vulpine Space Force, even if she held no illusions about receiving somewhat better treatment than the average commoner recruit, was enough to have made clear just how much luxury she had grown up thinking normal was anything but.

“As I mentioned earlier, there are three traditional roles that the Sharpear's have at Remembrance. First, a few words are expected at the opening ceremonies.”

“I have a copy of what my Mother planned to say, I will need to make a few revisions but not many.”

Talli nodded and continued. “The Remembrance ends at the close of the week with a quieter ceremony at the Sharpear's marker in the Valley Memorial Garden. And since they days of Lord Gregor Sharpear there has always been a visit to our school and a speech at their assembly.”

Doris looked up quickly from skimming her Mother's planned speech. “An assembly?”

“According to what I have read, your great-grandfather heard that some of the cubs would be putting on a play and decided to go and watch them. After the rest of the events were over the Headmistress of the school gave her closing comments and Lord Gregor walked up and asked if he might offer a few words.”

To the other side of Talli, Henry spoke up. “Over at the Historical Archives we have a letter from one of the students who was there that day. She said it was Lord Gregor's praise that day which encouraged her to continue acting. The stage may have taken Mirelle Seladon from our town, but it's hard to argue with the results.”

“She was from Five Springs?” Her face still mostly blank, but surprise clear in her voice.

“Indeed. She settled with her husband's family to be closer to the major theaters, but she was born here. She left many of her papers as part of a donation to the Society in her will.”

“I see,” Doris frowned but nodded, “Mother didn't give me anything for that but I can manage. They are cubs not the Council of Farm Lords or a Court Martial.”

* * *

The luncheon meeting was over in only just an hour, after which Talli offered to lead a short tour of the town's major features. The idea agreeable to Doris if only for the opportunity to speak with Jagen again.

“I still cannot believe you did that.”

“Surely my tail isn't the most interesting thing about me. Wouldn't you rather hear of my glorious time in the Navy Quartermaster Corp? I can tell you all about the nefarious crates we captured and paperwork mercilessly filed.”

“Jagen and paperwork? Is this a tale of romance? You always had a love of paperwork.”

“Certainly. But not one for polite company. After all, the quartermaster's paperwork was but a mistress, to give the story's scoundrel company until he returned to his true love, his own family's paperwork.”

She turned a puzzled look to him. “True, hardly a proper tale. I thought however that your brother held the position of Family Land Administrator?” Frowning at the sudden serious look her gave her.

“For a moment there I think I got an actual smile out of you. That would make two of them today. I will have to put this in my diary.”

“Jagen, be serious.”

“Oh, believe me, I am. Certainly you smile. Occasionally. I have pictures somewhere to prove it. But do you have any idea how rare it is for anyone to catch a true smile from you?”

“You are avoiding the question.”

“Very well, milady, if you insist I shall answer. Yes, my elder brother is indeed the family land administrator. But I convinced him that it would be no shame to accept an assistant. It so happens that as soon as he agreed he might be able to use one he found a volunteer right in front of him.”

They found themselves arriving at the greenhouses even as Doris shook her head at his obvious amusement. While Darrin gestured widely with his arms to the building before them and three more beside it. “Our four largest above ground greenhouses, which allow us to grow over a dozen medicinal varieties under controlled conditions year round. The lines we've bred here are considered some of the finest around. They provide not only for the local market but even provide one of this district's exports. I would show you the underground crops as well but –“

“But,” Talli continued for him, “while we could easily get to all our stops through the underground passageways, on a day with such perfect weather it would be a shame not to walk up here.”

Another male near Darrin, a representative of the local farmers as Doris recalled, spoke up. “It isn't only medicinal crops we're growing within the mountains. We have the largest mushroom crops of any site in the district and those next door as well.”

The rest of the tour proved much the same. Old buildings from the town's founding, some built on pre-subjugation ruins. Another old building for the historical society, with archives apparently in a private set of tunnels dug into the mountainside, although they didn't explore those.

* * *

Doris relaxed in her guest suite as evening came, declining all invitations with the simple explanation that she was tired from the trip and meetings. I will either need a better excuse tomorrow or simply endure.

“Milady, Lord Shaventail has inquired as to whether you would take any guests this evening.”

“I will receive him, Nicol, but please decline anyone else unless it truly sounds necessary.”

Nicol brought Jagen in to the suite's sitting room a few minutes later. Withdrawing after bringing them tea.

“Tell me Doris, do you think it's possible I might record a third smile on this trip?”

“This again? I may have exaggerated how tired I am, but it isn't a lie Jagen. If you actually have a reason for being here, may we skip the pointless chatter and get right to it? Or if it is only for the chatter, let me know now.”

“Doris Sharpear, I truly am serious. As cubs you were as silly as I can be, on any occasion I can recall our meeting as cublings you were as playful as I. That was quite a few times, what with our families being allied as close to forever as you can get in politics. And then when our schooling finally crosses that playful cub has become the most serious one in the room.”

“It is called growing up. Even you, Jagen, have managed a little of that.”

“There is more to it than that. Surely you know some of us worried for you. Even if you did make a useful study partner.”

“A useful study partner? Was that all I was to any of you?”

“And now Doris you are the one avoiding the question.”

“What question? If you want an answer, stop dancing your words around it and ask.”

“What happened?” Jagen shook his head, “No, I am pretty sure I know the answer to that.”

“Jagen, I am too tired for this.”

“You mean rather that you would prefer not to talk about it.”

“Fine. Since you clearly understand, kindly change the subject or leave and allow me some peace tonight.”

“I suppose the proper question is when will you get past it. I really was surprised to see you here. If word hadn't arrived I would have offered to step in soon. I may not be a Sharpear, but the Shaventails were...”

“I said, change the subject.”

“Do you really think Lady Marissa would want you, to,” Jagen's voice dropped as he suddenly found Doris standing directly in front of his chair, staring down at him without a trace of emotion on her face or voice.

“Leave. Now.”

“Doris, I,” he looked down, pinching the top of his muzzle as he closed his eyes. “Fruit. This isn't going how I meant it. Look. My family was a part of this town's start and even I find it bizarre. More so than my own family's history. Maybe as a cub, but surely now you cannot still hold them responsible for – ” His eyes snapped back open, he paw moving to touch his cheek where she slapped him.

“Shut up!” For all that her voice had grown louder it felt cold, more emotion betrayed in the swinging of her arm as it punctuated her words coming close to slapping again. “I know perfectly well Grandmother would scold me for it, but it bloody well is their fault. If not for this stupid town I would still have my grandmother! There is nothing, nothing they can do that will bring her back to me...”

Doris stared at her paw, finally feeling the sting from the slap. “Go back to your own rooms. Please. I'm sorry. I'm tired. Just go away.” Letting her arm drop back to her side. Turning and walking from the room without another word.

Jagen stared at the doorway until he heard a throat cleared softly at his side. Looking up numbly to Nicol. “Your cap, milord.”

“Thank you... I swear, I was only trying to help.”

“Yes milord. I believe it would be if you left now.”

“Yes. Yes, of course.”

* * *

“Lord Shaventail has left milady.” Nicol paused at the doorway before turning to leave her to her privacy.

“Nicol.” Her voice was soft, almost a whisper, but he still heard and turned back to her.

“Yes milady?”

“You have relatives here?”

“Yes milady.” After she didn't speak he added, “An aunt and her family, milady.”

“After breakfast, I believe I can manage on my own. I appreciate your help, but you should visit them. At least one of us should get some enjoyment out of this trip.”

“As you wish, milady.”

*** End of Part 1 ***

Well. I guess it's a good thing I didn't promise a story of cookies and sunshine. I do hope however that the formatting doesn't end up utterly scrambled. It at least looks like I can do a copy&paste from open office and have the italics carry over. Looks like there is some other formatting interestingness and extraneous detail in the html it generates...

Royce mentioned some time back that he was having trouble getting Vulpine to argue in anything but a, "I'll polite talk you until it makes you bleed" manner. Well, just a guess here (okay, not a guess, it's right in her brief character notes) but Doris is not a happy Vulpine. She has at least managed to be polite in public.

Is it a name dropping...

2009-11-11T19:28:15Z

...if your character never actually mentions the other character's name? Still in the opening of my nano, and have one character make an of hand reference to, "The Brushtail's pet digger," which as I think about it isn't really a nice way for him to refer to Lady Dorothea Bayard, AKA Aunt Dottie, archaeologist and family black sheep from jeriendhal's Terinu fanfic Spin Recovery. He needed to make reference to someone known for studying pre-subjugation history, and hey, what do you know there might not be anyone mentioned in canon so far (that I recall being mentioned) but Dottie fits the bill (and is probably eccentric enough to be known). Which yes, means what I'm working on is also a Terinu fanfic. Or at least set in the same universe, most likely it won't involve any of the major characters.

Although hopefully my characters will be able to avoid running into addiction and loss of limbs like happened in Spin Recovery. Which isn't to say that they'll manage to avoid the involvement of law enforcement. Then again a story without troubles isn't going to be a very interesting story. For someone is going to be a very naughty boy, forcing my main character to take care of things when she'd rather not be on scene at all. ("Troublesome commoners and their silly celebrations, should never have accepted that offer of shore leave to visit home. Could have been in training, or doing paperwork, or getting shot at by pirates instead of this.")

Now to try and actually write past the opening scene...

EDIT: Hurrah, I do believe I now have a title. "The Unquiet Past"

So long 9.10, welcome back 9.04

2009-11-01T10:34:11Z

Well, it looks like Ubuntu 9.10 doesn't like the wired or wireless networking in my laptop. Spent a while poking at it, then decided to give it one last chance, a clean install instead of an upgrade install. Short answer, even with a clean install there was no sign this machine has networking anywhere but in the log files that reported neither part coming up.

Ah well, no money lost and 9.04 is working just fine. I'm planning on giving Nanowrimo a try this year, so I'm not going to spend the time to try and find a way around this until December at the earliest.

Snerk! Or: In Which Royce Makes Me Laugh

2009-10-29T00:11:52Z

From Royce's fic Altered Trajectory

Rufus fought the urge to just turn around, as the hairs rose up on the back of his neck. Looking into the reflection of the dusty mirror mounted behind the bar, he could see a figure hunched down over in a corner booth, nursing a beer. He appeared to be about two meters tall, with a scaly snout emerging from the hood of the cloak that left the rest of his face in shadow. Given normally suspicious nature of the bar’s patrons, he might as well have been carrying a three-dimensional holographic sign stating, GREETINGS! I AM TRAVELING INCOGNITO! PLEASE IGNORE ME!

Link when I'm not on battery fumes...

lilfluff @ 2009-10-28T16:23:00

2009-10-28T23:36:13Z

From "5 Myths About Health Care Around the World," at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/21/AR2009082101778_2.html

Under the header, Foreign health-care systems are inefficient, bloated bureaucracies. "U.S. health insurance companies have the highest administrative costs in the world; they spend roughly 20 cents of every dollar for nonmedical costs, such as paperwork, reviewing claims and marketing. France's health insurance industry, in contrast, covers everybody and spends about 4 percent on administration. Canada's universal insurance system, run by government bureaucrats, spends 6 percent on administration. In Taiwan, a leaner version of the Canadian model has administrative costs of 1.5 percent; one year, this figure ballooned to 2 percent, and the opposition parties savaged the government for wasting money." (emphasis added)

Can we at least have a rational debate about improving out health-care system? While we're at it can we also be honest enough that if it's going to be government run that we make that pass constitutional muster (with something more palatable than the "let Congress do any bleeding thing it wants to do" Interstate Commerce Clause AKA The "Limitations? What? You thought we were serious when other sections imply any kind of limit to Congressional Authority" Clause).

Yeesh, I do long comments don't I

2009-10-01T01:36:10Z

In which I make a brief post to comment on my habit of leaving lengthy comments elsewhere. AKA: Gee, maybe that should have become a post over here.

Meh

2009-09-29T05:47:58Z

I'm feeling rather meh this evening. Such a wonderful word meh. It's not bad. It's not depressed. It's just... meh. No real energy, no upset over that lack of energy, no desire for that energy. Just a shrug and, "Ah well, today isn't bad but tomorrow will be better."

Maybe it is the peas. I willingly, intentionally added peas to dinner. Me, intentionally eating a green legume. Weird. :) Or lack of sleep. I did stay up a little too late last night. Although I got extra sleep the night before.

So I guess I'll just sit back, absorb extra vitamins and fiber, and run through flash cards.

Power sockets are baby magnets. Eek

2009-08-28T01:31:37Z

Subject line says it all.

For those wondering, disaster averted.

Still, they really need to take the baby magnets out of the design.

A very brief Kennedy rant

2009-08-28T01:28:06Z

Frankly I think those who feel that Mary Jo Kopechne is the only thing we should remember about Ted Kennedy are as misguided as those who feel that that incident should be stripped from memory.

So called adult professionals throw toddler tantrum over amateur being given photo opportunity

2009-08-28T01:11:47Z

Rant RE: Please Don't Blame FSU and A Great Day For Sports Photography?

So Scott Kelby held a contest recently on his blog. Send in your best sports photo for a chance to be Mike Olivella's assistant at an upcoming Florida State Seminoles game. Apparently this was beyond the pale as some so-called adult professional sports photographers decided it was worthy of throwing tantrums and crying until FSU would agree to tell Mike he couldn't allow the winner to use his Assistant's pass.

Really?

Do they have so little confidence in their skills that they feel that threatened by a guy with no media contracts being allowed on the sidelines? They have that little confidence in themselves and they dare call themselves professionals? They have so little confidence in themselves that they don't even wait to find out who will win or to look at the winner's submitted photo before starting to insist that the winner will be a trouble maker?

Frankly, as far as I'm concerned if they have that little confidence in their skills and that little maturity that they would whine until getting the chance to crush someone's dream opportunity -- then the appropriate action for them to take is to hand in their photography passes to FSU and go practice until they don't feel the need to act like a cranky toddler with no-sleep and a wet diaper.

Amigurumi, woo!

2009-08-15T04:18:04Z

I have been tempted lately to learn crochet or knitting for one simple reason. Amigurumi Look at that critter, it's cute! Oh look, another cute fox! Cute sleepy fox! Or a fox guarding cookies

Yeah, I like cute critters. Yeah, I'm a guy. Your point?

Cute burns away the cynicism. Enough said.

Is this how cynicism and misanthropism start?

2009-08-14T00:05:37Z

My continued employment and modest pay are guaranteed for one simple reason. A good many high school graduates and working adults are either unaware of the existence of indexes, don't know how to use indexes, or are so confused by indexes that they would rather sit and mope for a week before calling in to say, "How in the world am I supposed to figure out how to do this?" or "I know this came up in the book, but it's over a hundred pages long, how can you expect me to find it?" And 99 times out of 100 if I look in the index it is listed by name. Not hunt through all the pages covered by that topic, but the very term they ask about is sitting there in perfectly readable 12 point type.

=o.O=

=0.o=

sigh

Don't even get me started on the apparent failure of coworkers to have graduated from pre-school. I'm failure certain toilet training, at least to the degree of, "Aim for the bowl!" is covered there. I'm pretty sure it was covered at the preschool I went to.

I really don't want to be that old guy who yells, "Get off my lawn you damn kids!" But they sure seem to keep asking for it. Come on world, I'm not even old enough for a proper mid-life crisis yet... Am I?

At last! I have figured out how to get rich!

2009-08-07T22:26:51Z

How to get rich in three steps.

1. Got to mechanics school just long enough to learn how to repair/replace a Chevy intake manifolds.
2. Talk government into requiring all cars to use Chevy engines as part of the government buyout of the auto industry.
3. Count money as people keep returning again and again to have engine manifold problems fixed.

Bitter humor? Why would I be bitter? Just because I am once again hearing that lovely gurgling sound that says, "Hey, guess what? I'm leaking again." It's not like I wanted any money in my wallet. You just get in trouble if you have money.

All or nothing you say? Well don't come crying to me.

2009-07-30T07:15:36Z

Some of you may have heard me say in person in the past that if someone says, "All or nothing!" I don't feel much sympathy for them when they usually end up with nothing.

I've been having an interesting time reading about just such a case recently. Identifying details left out to protect the ~~guilty~~ nothingists. Short version, Party A discovered that Party B had published some of their work without permission, worse than that after the predecessor Party B (there had been a change of ownership) had in fact rejected the work. But Party A is feeling kindly, so they say, "Hey, since you're just taking a few pre-publication pages of background notes and putting them for free on a website, how about you just acknowledge the authorship? Heck do that and I'll do a quick revision so it's not quite so embarrassingly first draft." To which Party B initially agreed.

All is happy, yes? For a few years, yes. Then Party B apparently decided that was a bad deal and pulled the work. Oh well, nothing said they had to use it. Only, oops, then they start letting people with authority bad mouth Party A. Then they reject that the deal made with Party A was valid. Wait? Is that smart? Wasn't that all that saved Party B was getting in trouble for publishing someone else's work without permission? Ooh, then Party B starts claiming, "No, really, Party A is the pirate, trust us!" Wait, isn't that defamation? Sounds like it's a good thing Party C decides to voluntarily step in and offer to mediate.

And that's where the all or nothing comes in. Party A decides he's still willing to offer a much-to-kind deal. He'll drop all claims of defamation and copyright violation without even asking for a single penny, just two concessions. First, stop defaming him and acknowledge that he hadn't done anything wrong. Oh hey, Party B thinks that sounds good. Party B is in fact alleged to be shocked that Party A is willing to settle without asking for any money. Ah, but the second thing? Well, Party A figures after being publicly harassed that he ought to get something slightly better than the original deal. So hey, this one minor character, who before Party A's involvement was nothing more than a name on a list, well Party A had invested time and emotion into that character, so let him had that. No money, just an end to the abuse and a fictional character that Party B had never shown any sign of wanting to make any use of. Oh. Well, apparently for Party B that was beyond the pale. Sorry, see you in court Party A.

No the part in the title about, "Well don't come crying to me?" It seems that Party B would have done quite well to have either not reneged on the original agreement or to have accepted the, "No money, just let me have this minor character as mine." Because part of the process of going to court involves digging through records. Which resulted in Party A rediscovering the original terms his work had been offered under. Terms which were not Work for Hire and were not "We'll buy it as an individual product", but terms that said, "We'll be picky because if we accept your work we'll be making it a part of our greater product."

Oops. Now, most likely that would have been written away in the final contract if the original submission hadn't been rejected. But that's damaging since if the original deal was, "If we take it, it becomes part of the larger whole", then the law says Party A is a co-copyright holder to that larger whole. Note, not co-copyright holder to his submission, but the whole product. At which point the law doesn't much care what percentage you put into the whole, a part owner is apparently just that, a part owner. Oopsie? Suddenly not playing nice sounds much more expensive.

The thing is, it's not gone to court. Even if the court rules in favor of Party B, this is alot of hassle, time, and money that didn't need to be lost. Really, one minor character that previously was nothing more than a name on a list is enough to effectively say, "Talk to the hand, not even going to make a counter offer, yeah sure you'll take us to court. We dare ya to do it."

Well, as I've said for some years now, when you say all or nothing it seems to me history usually doesn't say you'll get the all side of the equation. You might not get nothing, but it seems you usually get a heck of a worse deal than you were offered in the first place. And who knows, maybe when it reaches court it will turn out Party A was full of hot air and Party B has Perry Mason as a lawyer. But if that isn't the case I suspect someone is going to regret deciding to go for all or nothing.

(Edit: Oh, and as a note, quite intentionally not naming names as I'm not really interested in arguing the merits of that particular suit so much as commenting on my philosophy regarding people taking all-or-nothing positions.)

Happy pain, if that makes sense to you

2009-06-19T17:46:40Z

Sometimes it just takes one news story to change your day. To go from grumpy about events around the world and right at work to remembering that not all the news is about people doing bad things. Found via shadow27's journal, an article in the Orange County register about a girl named Colby who wanted to see the movie Up. Only one thing was keeping her from going to the theater, a little matter of the vascular cancer that was killing her and leaving her to ill to make the trip to the theater. So when her mother called Pixar they sent an employee out with a copy of the movie on DVD for a private viewing, allowing her to see the movie hours before the cancer killed her. And from the article it sounds like if the family didn't decide to talk about it and thank Pixar we'd probably never have heard. No bragging press releases and no attempt on Pixar's part to take the public spotlight for doing something kind.

So thats what I mean by happy pain. You can't help but feel something when hearing about a kid dieing from something as cruel as cancer. But to also see that others stepped in to try and do something to help. It's good to be reminded that there's more going on in the world than acts of greed and madness.

Orphan Works

2009-05-30T22:07:02Z

So, I got to thinking about the issue of Orphan Works.

I think one thing I would require in an Orphan Works bill before I would approve of it is:

1a: Require that someone actually document what they have done to search for a rights owner, and
1b: You don't then just use the work, you take your documentation to (either court, or a panel set up specifically for this) and they review your search and say yea or nay to using it.

Okay, lie, more than one thing.

2: After ruling on whether or not the work could be used there would be an official government registry of Orphan Work requests, and the ruling would be entered into it.
2b: Anyone else could then skip the research stage if they add their use and contact information to the registry.
2c: Anyone else could review the registry and challenge a designation of Orphan Work status by presenting evidence to show who a rights holder was.

I don't like the idea of having multiple competing registries, unless perhaps they are split by media type (photo registry, written text registry, etc) administered by one office. Access to the registry should also be open and free. No one should have to pay to find out if something of theres is in it. There should also he a high standard required in the research. No, "Well, I looked up the magazine and it's out print now, so it's free to use, right?" You should have to show how and were you looked.

I also like another idea I heard. Sure, you get your initial copyright free and clear. But it should be for a length closer to older copyrights, and renewing it should not be automatic. If you can't be bothered to fill out a form saying, "I want to renew the copyright on my book X goes to Y and does Z" should the government really be bothered to smack people down for doing stuff with it?

There should also be very stiff penalties for presenting false evidence, and the panel that reviews claims should have the ability to levy at least a modest fine if it's ruled that you should have been able to find out who the rights holder was with even a modest search. "Why no, honest, I tried for months to find out who might own this movie called Muppet Treasure Island." I also wouldn't complain if there was a waiting period between "Hmm, yes, you did do a decent search" and "Alright you can use it" during which the item in question would be posted with a bounty should anyone track down the owner (pay the bounty with a combination of department funding, application fees, and "You wasted our time trying to claim Men In Black was an Orphan Work?" fines).

Yay Memes! Er. That is humor type quiz.

2009-05-24T22:11:08Z

Your result for The 3 Variable Funny Test...

the Prankster

your humor style:
CLEAN | COMPLEX | LIGHT

Your humor has an intellectual, even conceptual slant to it. You're not pretentious, but you're not into what some would call 'low humor' either. You'll laugh at a good dirty joke, but you definitely prefer something clever to something moist.

You probably like well-thought-out pranks and/or spoofs and it's highly likely you've tried one of these things yourself. In a lot of ways, yours is the most entertaining type of humor because it's smart without being mean-spirited.

PEOPLE LIKE YOU: Conan O'Brian - Ashton Kutcher

The 3-Variable Funny Test!
- it rules -

Take The 3 Variable Funny Test at HelloQuizzy