extemporally

Things which are making me happy today!

1. Cobra Starship - Good Girls Gone Bad

I KNOW, I am the lol most latest here but it's awesome anyway. I don't watch Gossip Girl but *__________* LEIGHTON MEESTER anyway. And, you know, those Cobra crew or something. I guess.

2. The Really Really Ridiculously Cliche H/C Challenge

Signups aren't open yet, but prompts are! OH MAN GO LEAVE SOME PROMPTS. *faps at you all* Also, I really like the fact that it has to be just 1000 words - so, you know, less pressure. My face looks like this right now:

:D

THERE IS GOING TO BE SO MUCH HURT/COMFORT FIC COME SEPTEMBER, YOU GUYS.

3. Lastly (oh man, this is a short list), I got an A!

Link dump!

I Didn't Dream of Dragons, by deepad

This is a wonderfully thought-provoking post on the problems people who live in non-Western countries face when they try to read or write in English - it's incredibly true, and it really resonates with me. Halfway through writing my Malory Towers AU, I couldn't help but have to dig into the issues that inevitably came up when I, a citizen of a country whose entire history was shaped by colonialism, tried to write something set in the heyday of colonialism, along with all the racist, sexist, and xenophobic undertones it implies. What does it say about me, that I grew up reading (and yes, loving) Enid Blyton's books? What does it say about my peers, who grew up reading much the same thing?

... lol overinvested. Anyway, it's an excellent post, and I'm grateful to strange_bt_true for linking to it. Go read it!

Obama's First 100 Hours

Wow, so I really, really want to be in America now. This is fantastic news! As a sampler, he's:

- He signed the order reversing the global gag rule, which refused funding to international health programs if they informed women about abortion. He waited two days to do it so that it wasn't on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, which was actually lauded by pro-life activists. They knew he was going to do it, and thanked him for not doing it on a day they spend in public mourning. He indicated his intention to seek re-engagement of the U.S. in the United Nations' efforts to improve women's health nationwide.

- He signed an executive order requiring himself and all past presidents** to consult the attorney general before they can claim executive privilege. "Information will not be withheld just because I say so," he said. "It will be withheld because a separate authority believes my request is well grounded in the Constitution." That means before Bush can claim executive privilege over the documents dealing with interrogation, he'll have to get approval from the current A.G. Good luck.

- He stopped a last-minute Bush directive to remove gray wolves from the endangered species list.

How awesome are the next four years going to be? (He saved the gray wolves!) I was pretty excited when Kevin Rudd got elected as PM of Australia in 2007, but THIS. Wow, it's like. Obama is PRESIDENT of ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL NATIONS ON EARTH. If anyone can change the world, maybe he can do it!

Sea Change, by pasi (gen, PG).

I read this a few days ago, and it was beautifully sweet and funny! Essentially, when Obama gets elected (yes, president!fic, don't look at me like that) he gets a visit from a certain Minister for Magic in the fireplace...

"Uh, yes, I do read bedtime stories to my kids," said Barack. Or he had, a long time ago. He'd never thought he'd wish for it, but, oh, to have those days back again, to be nothing more than a state senator. How would Hillary or McCain have handled this?

"Oh, excellent! You do know, then! That makes it so much easier. You'd be surprised how many Americans, when I tell them I'm a wizard, think I play for one of your basketball teams."

"The Washington Wizards."

"Yes, that's the one. But no basketball for me, I'm afraid. I'm a Quidditch man myself. The fresh air, you know, soaring into the open sky on a Firebolt. Fastest broom ever made by the hand of wizard--"

Barack put up his hands. He'd take the latest bank failure over shooting the breeze about broom-flying with somebody who called himself a wizard. Any day of the week.

♥ ♥ ♥ GO READ IT OMG.

Lastly, I wrote some commentfic for the Bandom Kissing Meme. girl!Spencer/Ryan, G, 600 words (lol absurdly verbose), quick and dirty. Here!

ps. colourmeshocked showed me how to do blockquotes a few days ago! I am going to use them ALL THE TIME from now on.