If you really have to refer to a character as "the older man", please, make sure it is actually stated (in canon or in your fic) which one of them is older. If it isn't, remember that there are so many things you can use instead: their occupations, titles, and even... their names. You know, things we actually know.

I've been googling "black and white book covers" and trying websites all over the internet. But can anyone tell me what book this actress is holding in her hands?

68. The Wealthy Barbder - David Chilton - 224 pages - (6.5/10)

Finances. Fascinating. Nope, not really.

This is a book written in 1998 about sound financial investment and planning. My husband and I are attempting to become Responsible Adults (tm) and bought it because it had great reviews. The book is a bit interesting in that, instead of being the traditional, lecture-based book, it's told as a mediocre novel--a group of four friends and siblings go and get financial advice from their barber because he made himself very wealthy through sound investment, despite a meagre salary.

As someone who knew absolutely nothing about finances, it was a good enough starting point. I didn't know the difference between mutual and index funds, and it got me to think about how to plan for retirement. The main bit of advice I took from it is to invest 10% of your income for long-term growth, which is pretty sound advice, I think. Other than that, though, a lot of the information is either out of date or doesn't apply to me, an American who just moved to the UK. So, for that, I do not recommend it. We're no longer in an economic boom. It's unrealistic to get 15% returns from mutual funds. You can't get loans from banks very easily.

Discussion:

Does anyone know any good, easy-to-follow investment books targeted towards the UK and those who make an average wage? We have no debt and a bit of savings and we're trying to let that savings grow so we can have a downpayment for a flat.

Even so, the anguish at my being a prisoner remains unchanged. Moreover, in contrast to their having lost only their spiritual face, I have undergone a physical loss, and there is naturally a difference in the degree of our solitude. Nevertheless, I cannot help feeling hope. It is not the same as being buried alive, and surely there is cause for hope. Isn't it true that the liabilities of an incomplete person - not being able, without the mask, to sing, to exchange blows with an enemy, to be a lecher, to dream - have become a common subject between me and others, and I alone am not guilty? Perhaps so. Perhaps so indeed.

Lady, three white leopards sat under a juniper-tree
In the cool of the day, having fed to satiety
On my legs my heart my liver and that which had been contained
In the hollow of my skull. And God said
Shall these bones live? shall these
Bones live?
-T. S. Eliot, Ash Wednesday (II)

---

And night came, and it was such a night that one knew that human eyes would not witness it and survive. Everyone felt this: not one of the guards, neither Italian nor German, had the courage to come and see what men do when they know they have to die.

All took leave from life in the manner which most suited them. Some praying, some deliberately drunk, others lustfully intoxicated for the last time. But the mothers stayed up to prepare the food for the journey with tender care, and washed their children and packed the luggage; and at dawn the barbed wire was full of children's washing hung out in the wind to dry. Nor did they forget the diapers, the toys, the cushions and the hundred other small things which mothers remember and which children always need. Would you not do the same? If you and your child were going to be killed tomorrow, would you not give him to eat today?
-Primo Levi, If This Is A Man

---

Okay, now for my request. A while back there was a quote posted about how one can never really know the mind of another; we come to think we have someone all figured out, then we realise we have it wrong, and we have it wrong, and we have it wrong, over and over again. I can't remember much more about it, let alone the author, but if anyone has one similar or knows the specific quote I'm talking about it would be greatly appreciated.

Fragile Things: Short Fictions and Wonders by Neil Gaiman


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This collection of short stories and poems from one of my favorite authors was like unwrapping a gift, with every new title. Every world Gaiman creates is eerie, fantastic, or terrifying. But each one is so fascinating, I wish I had a TARDIS so I could drop in and observe. Some of the best bits:

The Facts in the Case of the Departure of Miss Finch - I've had dreams very similar to this story (entering different rooms filled with bizarre people/things), so it was almost like Neil did research in my brain!

Feeders and Eaters - Disgustingly engaging.

October in the Chair - classic Gaiman - naturally the months of the year gather round and take turns telling stories!

Sunbird - What does the epicurean club that's eaten everything finally consume? I think this story is the best of the bunch!

Monarch of the Glen - For those American Gods fans, Shadow returns in this one, for a wonderful retelling (of sorts) of the Beowulf tale.

View all my reviews >>

" 'Love him,' said Jacques, with vehemence, 'Love him and let him love you. Do you think anything else under heaven really matters? And how long, at the best, can it last? since you are both men and still have everywhere to go? Only five minutes, I assure you, only five minutes, and most of that, helas! in the dark. And if you think of them as dirty, then they will be dirty -- they will be dirty because you will be giving nothing, you will be despising your flesh and his. But you can make your time together anything but dirty, you can give each other something which will make both of you better -- forever -- if you will only not be ashamed, if you will only not play it safe. [...] Not many people have ever died of love. But multitudes have perished, and are perishing every hour -- and in the oddest places! -- for the lack of it.' "
--p.46-47



“ ‘You want to be clean. You think you came here covered with soap and you think you will go out covered with soap – and you do not want to stink, not even for five minutes. […] You want to leave Giovanni because he makes you stink. You want to despise Giovanni because he is not afraid of the stink of love. You want to kill him in the name of all your lying little moralities. And you – you are immoral. You are, by far, the most immoral man I have met in all my life. Look, look what you have done to me. Do you think you could have done this if I did not love you?’ ”
--p.106

http://www.cartoonlabs.com/comics/index.php?date=2009-12-05&show=sinfest

Sinfest
Tatsuya Ishida

Allow me to say once again: I am not one of those intellectuals who possess a philosophy or a social structure in their mind that from the start guides a film. I have never set out to imbue my films with literary or philosophical references. Film should be looked at straight on, it is not the art of scholars but of illiterates. You could even argue that I am illiterate. I have never read a lot or thought about philosophical themes that I could then shoot through these stories I tell. For me it is much more about real life than about philosophy. All my films have been made without this kind of contemplation. Contemplation always comes after the film. (p 70)

My beloved lord,

don't be afraid, don't move, be silent, no one will see us.

Stay like that, I want to look at you, I looked at you so much but you weren't for me, now you are mine, don't come near me, please, stay as you are, we have one night for us, and I want to look at you, I've never seen you like that, your body mine, your skin, close your eyes, and caress yourself, please

don't open your eyes if you can, and caress yourself, your hands are beautiful, I've dreamed of them so many times now I want to see them, I like seeing them on your skin, like that, please go on, don't open your eyes, no one can see us and I am near you, caress yourself my beloved lord, caress your sex, please, gently,

your hand on your sex is beautiful, don't stop, I like watching it and watching you, my beloved lord, don't open your eyes, not yet, you mustn't be afraid, I'm near you, do you hear me? I'm here, I can touch you, this is silk, do you feel it? It's the silk of my robe, don't open your eyes and you will have my skin,

you will have my lips, when I touch you for the first time it will be with my lips, you won't know where, at some point you will feel the warmth of my lips, on you, you can't know where if you don't open you eyes, don't open them, somewhere you'll feel my mouth, suddenly,

maybe it will be your eyes, I will rest my mouth on your eyelids and eyebrows, you will feel the warmth go into your head, and my lips on your eyes, inside, or maybe it will be your sex, I'll place my lips there, and, opening them, descend, little by little,

I will let your sex half close my mouth, entering between my lips, pressing my tongue, and my saliva will run along your skin to your hand, my kiss and your hand, one inside the other, on your sex,

until finally I will kiss your heart, because I want you, I will bite the skin that beats over your heart, because I want you, and with your heart in my mouth you'll be mine, truly, with my mouth in your heart you'll be mine, forever, if you don't believe me, open your eyes my beloved lord and look at me, it's me, who can ever cancel out this moment that's happening, and this my body now without silk, your hands touching it, your eyes looking at it,

your fingers in my sex, your tongue on my lips, you who slide under me, hold my hips, pick me up, let me slide over your sex, slowly, who can destroy this, you inside me moving slowly, your hands on my face, your fingers in my mouth, the pleasure in your eyes, your voice, you move slowly but until you hurt me, my pleasure, my voice,

my body on yours, your back that raises me up, your arms that won't let me go, the thrusting inside me, it's a sweet violence, I see your eyes searching mine, they want to know how far to hurt me, as far as you want, my beloved, there is no end, it will not end, do you see? No one will be able to destroy this moment that is happening, forever you will throw your head back, crying, forever I will close my eyes wiping the tears from my brow, my voice in yours, your violence holding me tight, there is no longer time to flee or force to resist, it was to be this moment, and is this moment, believe me, my beloved, will be this moment, from now on, will be until the end,

We will not see each other anymore, my lord.

What there was for us we have done, and you know it. Believe me: We have done it forever. Keep your life safe from me. And don't hesitate for a moment, if it is useful for your happiness, to forget this woman who now, without regret, says farewell.

~~Silk by Alessandro Baricco.

oh my god where are her hands



...



this doesn't look bad until you see the face. Christ.

Just because a character likes to swear, doesn't mean that they swear every five words.

Especially if they're evil.

Edited to add:

If your fic is a 18+ one with smut in it, I really don't think you have a reason to block out profanities.

Challenge: [209] Off-Kilter
Title: Practice Makes
Word Count: 259
Spoilers: For 358/2
Rating/Warnings: PG
Notes: Somewhen at the end of 358/2. She uses his memories for and against him.

*hugs crimsoncookie for pre-reading and for providing the correct dialogue*


( It's okay... she's done this before. )

Poll #1494670
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: None, participants: 97

Whom would you rather bone?

(YMMV)

This was great, just like my fic, called Manor Mistmantle* and Its Many Marvelous Misadventures, now I'll tell you about the finer points of the plot, setting, and characters in great detail. You should definitely ask me for a link right now.

This kind of self-promotion via reviewing aggravates me. I see it all over FFnet, LJ, and pretty much wherever else fics are routinely posted. But it's particularly baffling on LJ fic comms. ffs, if you wanted to advertise your fanfiction, just make a post about it in the community instead of commenting every other fic with some variation of the above "review."

I've seen this a bunch of times on fanficrants , too, and the fic's mention is brought into the conversation in the most roundabout way possible. "It's =/= its, you say? Let me explain how this ties into my epic Inuyasha story."

But, you know. It's just one of those pet-peeve type of things.

*kudos to anyone who gets the reference

This is a response to a fic posted @ FF.net (a.k.a. The Pit of Frequent Fail)
Dear Star Trek author,
Your story started out well, I admit it was cute and enjoyable. It was enjoyable enough that I was willing to overlook the poor spelling, grammatical mistakes, Mary Sues (they were tolerable), and pretend I had not just read terms like “criss-cross applesauce” (yeah I know it’s a kid-fic, but come on, even if you are 12 that’s still lame; although YMMV). But what really irked me was the author’s note in chapter 4. The author’s not right in the middle of the fic! Not only was it an author’s note in the middle of a fic, it was an author’s note talking about the newest Mary Sue! Author’s notes a in the middle of your fic are a no-no! They throw you out of the story entirely. Besides that particular statement could have easily been put at the beginning or end notes, there was no need for it be in the middle of the fic. Also, how many whiney female OCs can you jam into one fic? I’m half way through chapter 4 and you’ve got 3, THREE, Mary-sues wandering around! I can tolerate one or two if they’re not too annoying, but 3? Really?
Better luck with your next fic,
Me
P.S. ‘does’ is spelled D-O-E-S, not D-O-S-E.’ Dose’ is something different.

Shipping fic covers a pretty wide range of fanfiction. It probably makes up the majority. As a shipper, I have no problem with this.

My problem is that most shipping fic falls into one of three categories:

1. Smut - the characters having sex. I don't have a problem with smut per se, although I'm unlikely to ever write it.
2. Thoughts - one character thinking about their feelings for another. I've written one of these myself, though I don't read them that often.
3. Married - the characters living as a couple. Includes marriages, settling down, buying a house, having or raising kids. Also includes all pregnancy fic. Often extremely fluffy.

My problem is that none of these include my favorite sort of shipping fic:
4. Plot - the characters dealing with the usual sort of plot, only they are a couple.

Take Battlestar Galactica as an example. Imagine Starbuck and Apollo, having already become a couple, going on patrol together. They share a kiss before they get into their Vipers (resulting in cheers from the other pilots). During a quiet period, they discuss their relationship and are interrupted by Cylons. Apollo gets in trouble. Starbuck kicks Cylon ass, and they fly back to their ship. No sooner have they made their report, they scramble back to their bunk.

I understand one reason for the lack of this sort of fic - it's usually long. But so are "married" fics. And I've seen a lot of them.

Fandoms revolve around an original work. Most original works do not focus on the romance between the characters, but on their "day jobs". In theory, the majority of fanfiction should focus on said "day jobs". Excluding ficlets, drabbles, or vignettes (which includes most smut), there is no good reason to ignore what our characters normally do, whether it's fighting monsters, exploring the stars, solving crime, or saving the universe. That's the kind of romance I want to see - where our couple continue with their lives while maintaining a relationship.

As a sidenote, you know what's even more romantic than two people having hawt sex? One person taking care of their injured/sick lover.

EDIT: Wanted to add that this complaint applies irrespective of gender. I've found this problem in both het and slash pairings.

Look, nothing against you or your fic, but please, please LJ cut it if you're posting it to a public community.
And also, couldn't you have waited a bit in between posting chapters...?

Francie stared at the oldest man. She played her favorite game, figuring out about people. His thin tangled hair was the same dirty gray as the stubble standing on his sunken cheeks. Dried spittle caked the corners of his mouth. He yawned. He had no teeth. She watched, fascinated and revolted, as he closed his mouth, drew his lips inward until there was no mouth, and made his chin come up to almost meet his nose. She studied his old coat with the padding hanging out of the torn sleeve seam. His legs were sprawled wide in helpless relaxation and one of the buttons was missing from his grease-caked pants openeing. She saw that his shoes were battered and broken open at the toes. One shoe was laced with a much-knotted shoe string, and the other with a bit of dirty twine. She saw two thin dirty toes with creased gray toenails. Her thoughts ran...

"He was a baby once. He must have been sweet and clean and his mother kissed his little pink toes. Maybe when it thundered at night she came to his crib and fixed his blanket better and whispered that he mustn't be afraid, that his mother was there. Then she picked him up and put her cheek on his head and said that he was her own sweet baby...Then he was a young man, strong and happy. When he walked down the street, the girls smiled and turned to watch him. He smiled back and maybe he winked at the prettiest one. I guess he must have married and had children and they thought he was the most wonderful papa in the world the way he worked hard and bought them toys for Christmas. Now his children are getting old too, like him, and they have children and nobody wants the old man anymore and they are waiting for him to die. But he don't want to die. He wants to keep on living even though he's so old and there's nothing to be happy about anymore."