which got the rather facile comment from some female Minister that we had made lots of progress but there was more to do, and that makes for an interesting definition of progress.

So people are blathering on about childcare provision being behind it....

and I don't say that childcare responsibilities help. However, if you read the comments there and here it's fairly clear that the causes are entrenched sexism.

My father has a woman working in his almost all male firm. She's having some sort of breakdown / crying a lot / under stress. Her boss has decided never to hire another woman again, because it's too much hassle.

One woman fucks up and it's fucked up for us all.

It's been a grand time in this city. It's almost over and I don't want to go home. But I will be back. Hopefully to stay - at least for some years. Cryptic? There's more below the cut ;-) Also about the rest of my visit, but for you reading convenience, there's a separate cut for that.

( A couple of sights, a few days, wonderful hosts and great experiences )

( Why I'm hopefully staying here soon )

Equus tomorrow! :-D

Apparently, someone is attempting to steal my identity.

I wish all this happened tomorrow, because now this birthday sucks.

Recently, I had the pleasure of meeting Rana at Terminus. In Potterdom she's know as chibitoaster on Live Journal and littleblackbow on Insane Journal. She's definitely a jill-of-all-trades, writing, cosplaying (her Lockhart is aces, man *G*) and arting her way through fandom.

In the spirit of art reccing, I wanted to do an 'Artist Spotlight' on Rana so that others could familiarise themselves with her work. I know that I've recced several of her Snape pieces, but even I was pleasantly surprised to find out she draws Harry/Draco and a host of other pairings, too.

So without further adieu, I bring you a sampling of Rana's art. And if you love her work as much as I do, don't be shy. Stop by her journals and tell her so!

( The Artses )

So in German we have two different formal ways of saying goodbye.

Aufwiederhören - Hear from you soon -> which you use when you are on the phone.

and

Aufwiedersehen - See you soon -> which you logically use when you say goodbye to someone after a visit or something.


So I am making the most horrible mistakes lately, and I think I made the day of the insurance guy through that. I had to get some forms to fill out for the insurance, and when I leave I say Aufwiederhören. This happened the second time now. He found it amusing. XD

Brain, please work properly again!

Otherwise, yesterday had the shock of having to pay 468€ for my dress code at school, which is like 678$. *Groans*

For those who want to see pictures:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/little_werewolf/p1010001-1.jpg - me in serving uniform *i iz not cute*
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/little_werewolf/P1010002-1.jpg - and in the cooking dress

My brain is a weird place right now. So I'll stop now.

Moony ^^

Tell me something I don't know about you!

Clearly, as a Video Media Arts major, I need to know Final Cut Pro (6). I was supposed to have figured it out in a prior class, but I...didn't. I learn best by doing with example- I did my Photoshop course and the teacher did everything on a computer that was projected onto a thing. But that's not how this class is, and I seriously cannot handle just reading it all from a book- I need to see things done. Does anyone have any experience or know of any really good tutorials? I know once I learn the program I'll be pretty awesome, but to me I am finding it really hard, since there are so many aspects at once. So if anyone has suggestions, I'd really like that.

This was my entry for the second round at the rs_games.

Title: Horoscopes Always Know it Best
Team: Team MWPP
Rating: PG
Warnings: None
Summary: Sometimes horoscopes are not as bad as they seem.
Prompt: Gemini (May 21 - June 21): It's time to act against your natural character and inclination. You need to display all the qualities you don't believe you have. With the right changes, you'll attract the luck you need when it means the most.
Genre(s): Fluff/Romance
Author note: Thank you to wolfish_cat for being my beta!

( Click to read )

SO! I have a favourite author! Gail Carson Levine, to be exact.

Her books are amazing, I've read Ella Enchanted twice, and for me (who never re-reads books ever) that mean the book must be DAMN good. Even if they are on the younger side, and not particularly realistic when it comes to bad guys. In fact, that's a good reason to like them. Who wants to read about the evils similar to real evils if you can just go see them yourself?

I just finished Fairest, which legit made me cry at a point or two, and was absolutely wonderful. I suggest you all read it!

In other news, there is no other news.

ETA: Choose any of my characters, past or present. I will give you a name, PB, and five facts for their firstborn child, even if the character doesn't/is unqualified to have children. If I'm feeling up to it, I'll also write a short story about the kid/parents/conception (NOT SMUTTY, IT'LL BE CUTE). Specify which, if you want.

One warning to the Republicans on my flist--this is very anti-Republican. And as such, skewed in favor of Democrats. Feel free to pass this by. You're not likely to convince me not to be annoyed by this situation.

I've kept quiet about the elections for the most part, but after listening to NPR today, I had to say this. Already said it in a comment, though there's more here...


I have so many issues with this woman, but my main issue is that she's Republican. The party of White middle-to-upper-class men. And anyone who doesn't fit that image but still wants to vote for them had better sit down and shut up and just come along for the ride. They think nothing of a family with a disabled kid because the wife is the one who has to take care of it (in their view), and therefore it wouldn't be an issue for a candidate, right?

Granted, that's a very narrow view, but look at how many Republicans are non-whites or women.

Which isn't to say that a Democrat would have a much easier time of it if she ended up having a Downs baby, but honestly? I think she'd be far more realistic about it, she'd have more support from friends and family, and quite possibly would retire from office given the responsibility it would take.

I do admit, for all I know, her husband will be the one to take care of the child. But in even a modern-day Republican family, that still feels (to me) like too much to expect.

And if Palin can't see how much work having a Down Syndrome child will be, which she doesn't seem to, because she keeps saying how it will be no issue, she certainly has no right ever being Vice President.

And then there is her daughter. Leaving her daughter's choices in this aside, it's quite obvious that Palin wasn't available to be there during a time when she should have obviously been talking to her about these sorts of choices. I'm not talking about whether they were the right choices or not. But I can't believe that Palin or McCain, or indeed, any Republican could really think this makes her look good. To me, all I see is a woman who chose between politics and her family. And her family lost.

Even if I were a Republican, I couldn't see voting for her. She's not groundbreaking. She's a mess.

teaser:

The rest are here Take and do with as you'd like.

Don't know where the time went today. I won't be posting my dragons at dragonspam today - way past my usual posting time - so I'm posting them here. For once my own dragons and eggs, and not someone else's in trouble.

( Read more... )

Title: Eye of the Beholder
Pairing: James/Lily
Rating: Adult
Summary: This had to be wrong because it felt so dirty
Word Count: 1270
Beta: florahart
For the Random Kink Challenge. Prompt: Pregnant

( Eye of the Beholder )

oh my god i fucking hate the college freshmen here. someone save me pleeeease.

I am really trying to clean my room, really. *hides*

( Icons of Zach Efron and Jesse Spencer under the cut )