Council of Watchers

http://www.dieselsweeties.com/print/?date=20080811

Not many of these left! Maybe I should do a MEGA-COMICS WEDNESDAY.

Your ad could be here, right now.

http://feeds.theonion.com/~r/theonion/weekly/~3/369681110/china_bans_release_of_carbon

http://www.theonion.com/content/radio_news/china_bans_release_of_carbon?utm_source=onion_rss_daily

Onion Radio News - with Doyle Redland

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/20/books/20schi.html?partner=rssuserland&emc=rss

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/20/books/20schi.html

In Debra Ginsberg’s spooky new novel, a cynical fortuneteller discovers that she really is a psychic.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/19/business/19book.html?partner=rssuserland&emc=rss

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/19/business/19book.html

Barnes & Noble has substantially reduced its 10,000-copy order of “Obama’s Challenge,” after the book’s publisher announced it would initially be sold exclusively on Amazon.com.

http://www.somethingawful.com/d/rom-pit/nes-swamp-thing.php

Reynaldo P. Mellenfritz takes over the ROM Pit for a day to pitch his FANTASTIC video game idea, "Swamp Thing."

Do you have a Doctor Who community or a journal that we are not currently linking to? Leave a note in the comments and we'll add you to the who_daily reading list.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Because of the high posting volume and the quantity of information linked in each newsletter, who_daily will no longer link fanfiction that does not have a header. For an example of what a "good" fanfic header is, please see the user info.

Off LJ Links
Unreality SF reviews the BFA Scherzo.
Colin Baker will be signing copies of The Doomwood Curse.

Discussion and Miscellany
minerva_fan seeks Leela-centric fanfic recs.
shemacraterror is looking for reviews of the BF Companion Chronicle The Great Space Elevator.
greenwitch wonders about the TARDIS font.
hazurd2s0ciety has questions about time travel and what it entails.
persiflage_1 reviews the BFA Medicinal Purposes.
jadedragdoll seeks Nine/Rose fic recommendations.
albauk plans a Doctor Who/Torchwood tour of Cardiff.
raptorgirl wants to know about Donna's jacket.
suchcuriousity seeks any and all fic recs.

Challenges/New Communitites
dw_icontest has Challenge 52.
torchwho_ic, a icontest for Doctor Who and Torchwood lovers.
the_randomiser has the latest Claim Post.
historical_au has the first challenge.
doctor_donna has the "Find the Cherry!" Fic Challenge.
500year_diary has the "Volcano" challenge.

Fanfiction
Rapture Regained by lostwolfchats [Chapter 4/6 | Ten/Rose, Jackie, Pete, Mickey | Adult]
Patient by persiflage_1 [Martha/Nine | PG-13]
Happen To Like Apples, Not Afraid of Snakes by skellerbvvt [Chapter 3/3 | Ten/Master/Ianto, Jack/Ianto, TARDIS | NC-17]
Unexpected by dana_cz [Chapter 2/3 | Ten/Donna | PG-13]
Taking the Plunge by shengirl [Chapter 10/11 | Rose, Ten, Donna, Jack, Owen, Ianto, Gwen, Tosh | NC-17]
Displays of Affection: Private and Public by chissel [Chapter 2/2 | Ten/Rose | Adult | Spoilers for JE]
The Ultimate Challenge by goldy_dollar [Ten/Rose, Jackie, Tony | PG | Spoilers for JE]
Wedding Reception Blues and Greens by renn [Sarah, Harry | G]
Choices by firedancersoul [Chapter 2/? | Donna, Ten | PG | Spoilers for JE]
A Vampyre More Accursed by jinxed_wood [Chapter 1/2 | Eight, Romana II, Historical Characters | PG-13]
Balancing Act by ageless_aislynn [Chapter 1/6 | Ten/Donna | NC-17 | Spoilers for JE]
A Kiss by rommies_voice [Ten/Rose | G | Spoilers for JE]
A Blue Gravel Path by azriona [Chapter 1/13 | Ten, Rose | PG]
Hide and Seek by drabblewriter [Ten, Rose | G]
Truthiness And Relative Dimensions In Space by sailorptah [Steven, Ten, Jack, Sarah Jane | PG | Crossover with The Colbert Report]
Into the Fire by fleurette [Ten, Donna | G]
Brain Child by sciathan_file [Ten/Rose | Teen | Spoilers for JE]
Just Another Friday Night by minerva_fan [Harry, Sarah Jane | No Rating Given]
Reassembled by pellnell [Ten/Rose | 14 | Spoilers for JE]
Flammable by gritsinmisery [Five/Ainley!Master | NC-17]
A Little More Time by unfolded73 [Chapter 2/? | Ten/Rose | PG-13]
Pre-Emptive Strike by wendymr [Ten | G | Spoilers for JE]
Collaboration by gritsinmisery [Five/Ainley!Master | R]
And When I'm Introduced to One by maymargaret [Harry, Sarah, Maria, Luke, Clyde | All Ages]
False Laughter by studyofrunning [Ten, Rose | PG]
Dirge Without Music by mamfidd [Ten, Jenny | Teen]
Path of Needles by tardis_stowaway [Chapter 4/7 | Ten/Rose | PG-13]
Star by popcorn_head [Donna/Ten, Sarah Jane, Luke | U | Spoilers for JE]
Bereavement by wihluta [Ten, Donna | PG]
The Adventures of Parker and Cohen by nightrider101 [Chapter 2/? | Ten, Torchwood Team | G]
Sanctuary by wildwinterwitch [Chapter 12/? | Ten/Rose | T | Spoilers for JE]
Tea, No Sympathy Included by molleo [Ten, Rose | G]
Stalks and Stones by shining_moment [Ten/Donna | PG-13]
Find the Cherry! by [Bad username: catvampcraziness] [Ten/Donna | PG-16]
From Dusk Till TARDIS by makingmy_fic [Bella/Edward, Alice/Jasper, Ten/Rose, Carlisle | R | Crossover with Twilight]
Out of Tune by catsfiction [Chapter 6/6 | Rose, Doctors, Donna, Jack | G | Spoilers for JE]
They Weren't There by hermya [Chapter 2/? | Ten/Rose | PG-13]
Real Life by voicegrl [Chapter 6/? | Martha/Ten | PG]
Secret by kitty_cate [Ten/Rose | PG-13 | Spoilers for JE]
Identity by gracewillow [Rose/Ten | PG-13 | Spoilers for JE]
Untitled by kathkin [Nyssa/Adric | G]
Tell by kitty_cate [Ten/Rose | PG-13 | Spoilers for JE]
How to Successfully and Repeatedly Get Yourself into Dire Situations by windiain [Ten, Donna, Discworld characters | PG | Crossover with Discworld]
Find the Cherry by time_converges [Ten/Donna | PG-13]
Unfinished Symphony: Episode Five by usmc75 [Chapter 3/? | Everyone...mostly | PG | Spoilers for JE]
After Dark by dark_aegis [Rose, Nine | PG]
Welcome Back by chissel [Chapter 1/4 | Ten/Rose, Jack | No Rating Given | Spoilers for JE]
As Easy Might I From Myself Depart by miss_prufrock [Ten/Rose | All Ages]
Wet, but Drying by vail_kagami [Chapter 1/2 | Jack/Ten | PG]
No Alias by io_aenaria [Ten/Rose | PG | Spoilers for JE]
Five Conversations Rose and the Doctor Had (And One They Didn't) by [Chapter 4/6 | Ten/Rose | PG-13 | Spoilers for JE]
Five Drabbles III by yo_mawari [Doctor/Master | PG-13]
A Sky Without Zeppelins by amberfocus [Chapter 5/? | Ten/Rose, Donna | PG | Spoilers for JE]
Produce and Peter Cottontail by sonicgirl2005 [Ten, Donna | G]

Icons & Graphics
fading_xhopex with two wallpapers and five icons featuring Ten and Donna.
snowgrouse with 18 Doctor Who Amazon icons.
charinne with 10 icons in a multifandom post.
madeelly with 33 series two icons in a multifandom post.
holo_daxy with 14 icons in a multifandom post.
nil_nyx with 27 icons in a multifandom post.
sweet_lemmon with icons from Journey's End and The Last of the TIme Lords in a multifandom post. [Spoilers]
arale_26 with a few Tennant/Doctor Who icons.
buckshotwon with 12 icons in a multifandom post.
csi_freak11 with 12 headers in a multifandom post.
abigail_nicole with 9 icons and 7 headers.
radiogaga80 with a Tenth Doctor wallpaper.
sallyna_smile with 12 icons in a multifandom post.
alohachary1851 with 12 icons in a multifandom post.
astranger_rose with 78 icons in a multifandom post.
femme_slash_fan with a Sarah Jane/Andrea wallpaper.
ringingxshotgun with 32 JE icons in a multifandom post.
wildalyss with 10 icons in a multifandom post.

Fanart
tremas with 2 Classic Who wallpapers.
rhube with a Five/Ten photomanip and matching icons.
jonwes with page one of Dark Tide, an Eighth Doctor fancomic.
laurab1 with an animated GIF, a logo, and a fanfic cover.
wulfae with Sad!Voc art.
aimeekitty with a comic of Doomsday disgruntledness.

Fanvids
cherryice with What We Had [Jack, Martha, Mickey]
laurashapiro with Shut Up and Drive [Martha]
secretsmile90 with Doctor Who Opening Credits (Veronica Mars Style)
femvamp with Losing A Friend [Ten/Donna]

You can reach us in the comments or at whodaily@gmail.com.

... to gnimmel. Hope you had a great day yesterday.

Walk, do not run, to read auburnnothenna's The Water Grinds the Stone. It's John/Rodney, but that is not the most important part. I mean, yes, in the end, the main plot of the story really is John/Rodney's relationship, but the important part is everything else. 242,740 words though, so set aside a couple of days to read it.

This is the best sort of thing, very science-fiction, a bit thriller-ish, long and complex and full of character development and angst (but very little angst that arises from characters being stupid, and a lot that arises from characters interacting with other characters who are acting quite human.) It's twisty and beautiful and demonstrates the evils of colonialism (not in a preachy way, but very naturally, very one thing after another.) There is one character who we never really understand, and this character is pretty central to the story, and that's the only quibble I have with this novel. But, god, forget about it. Read the complex social science-fiction and roll around in the McShep and have hours and hours of golden pleasure/pain.

Push Until It Holds is the same sort of extrapolatory, character-centric, long-view novel, only John/Ronon and about a fifth the length (52924 words). zillah_fic did an excellent job and I really loved the Satedan worldbuilding and Rodney's heterosexual freakout.

This Bolder Life by darkrosetiger and telesilla is a little more standard. This is not a bad thing, this story is almost a cozy. An OT4 babyfic which culminates in an extremist kidnapping, this story has plenty of relationship stuff and a nice action climax to top stuff off. And hot, fourway sex, which is awesome.

Fandom: BATTLESTAR GALACTICA
Pairing: none (unless you count Gaeta's passionate hatred of Baltar)
Length: short
Author on LJ: millarific
Author Website: Notes From the Underground

Why this must be read:

It's an epistolatory story (told all in people's letters to each other) like "Daddylonglegs" (except with spaceships) or "Clarissa" (except it doesn't suck and you don't want to bash the main character's head in). Short version: one of Gaeta's duties is to try and stop Baltar's pirate broadcasts, and Gaeta doesn't want to talk to Baltar, so he writes instead. And then Baltar stalks him by letter, and has his groupies stalk him in person, probably because he realises if he went himself, Lt. Butterfingers would find another pen. So Gaeta now has a new thing to write an annoyed letter about. And it's really, REALLY damn funny. Spoilers through "The Road Less Travelled".

Crossed Frequencies

Jim MacDonald has a deeply moving and often enraging series of posts up about Carl Drega, who went on a rampage and killed four people in their town, 11 years ago.

---

The Red Army Faction and the Baader-Meinhof gang were *certainly* leftists. I think it's significant, though, that I can't think of an example of a violent leftist movement in Europe or North America since the 70s.

Something *changed*, starting no later than the early 70s, to make violence feel intrinsically "conservative", and peace/non-violence seem "liberal". I don't think this alignment is dictated by logic: to be conservative is to want to conserve something, to support some kind of status quo, and violence *should* be a particularly poor match for stability. There *should* be a conservative peace movement -- but we observe that there isn't one.

I have my suspicions about what's driving this dynamic, but I'm going to wait to see what other people think, first.

---

David Manheim @30:

Either I don't understand you or I don't agree with you, or both.

Modern political & economic conservatism are indeed conservative, because they want to keep the distribution of money & power the way it already is: with large corporations and wealthy individuals. Keeping the rich rich is *the* bedrock value of economic conservatives; keeping power in the hands of the powerful is *the* goal of political conservatives.

---

Michael Turyn @19: Yes, exactly. So very well put.

IMHO libertarians are people who don't believe humans are social animals. In the cases of Drega and VS, this goes along with full-blown sociopathology: an inability to act or *feel* like a social animal.

Jorg @17: Your insight is extremely useful.

My theory, which is mine: Historically, it has been exceptionally easy for people in the US to detach themselves from networks where others know them personally, yet to be able to depend on impersonal, industrial/capitalist networks for survival. This doesn't *feel* like depending on other people, so it's easy to think you're self-reliant and independent, beholden to no man.

Speaking as an biologist, human sociality is not all that deep, evolutionarily speaking. Some sociopathology is surely a matter of a basic neuro-biological lack, a problem in the brain. But it can also be matter of upbringing or habit, so that neurologically normal people lose or never develop the mental skill of seeing things from another's POV.

It's not coicidence, IMHO, that Drega was a "summer person", whose only connection to the community was property. The connections Jim and Debra have to the town and the area are far deeper, more complex, more personal and (I do not use this word casually) natural. If things like this happen more often than they used to, more often in the US than in Europe, or more often in some parts of the US than the rest, it's IMHO these are places because sociopathic behavior is more normal, where it's within the range of what is acceptable.

I don't think this is unconnected to the well-known fact that if corporations were humans (not just legal persons), they would be sociopaths.

So they've started writing the script for The Hobbit. You know how many Tolkien fans feel about LotR? That is how I feel about TH. Growing up, it was the Tolkien story I loved best, even though LotR had my girl in it being awesome. I am a tiny bit nervous about the new movies. Excited, though.

---

The Mac/Windows commercial where Windows is a king and he tries to banish Mac? Too precious for words. I seriously ship those two anymore.

---

Vin Diesel to direct and star in a 20 minute prequel to Fast and the Furious 4. Michelle Rodriguez is going to be in it too. I just died a little. Out of happiness.

Vin Diesel beats up everyone in science fiction. "I'm Vin Diesel. Don't fuck with me."

God, I love it when he has a new movie out. The entertainment just keeps coming.

At polymexina's request, I am posting a CBC link to some interviews with Margaret Atwood, spanning much of her career.

These are the best interviews with her I've ever found, including one where I can't decide if she's being very rude to the interviewer (something she's known for) or if the interviewer is asking for it, or both.

http://archives.cbc.ca/arts_entertainment/literature/topics/1494-10058/

I've posted a story for Ianto's birthday in tw_cooks. It's title is Gwen's Secret Recipe (Stolen From Brenda) for Ianto's Birthday Cake and it's my contribution to the grand celebration of our favorite tea-boy and coffee connoisseur's 25th birthday. And may he have many Many MANY happy returns!

News
- theforcenet posted Richard LeParmentier Looking For Animators.
- theforcenet posted Anthony Daniels Talks The Clone Wars with FilmDetail.com.
- theforcenet posted The Force Unleashed Preview By IGN.
- theforcenet posted Jabba In The Live Action Series?.
- theforcenet posted Alex Wheeler To Write Rebel Force.
- cj_rss posted Catching up with The Clone Wars: AP goes to the special hell, Henry Gilroy, defending the prequels.
- cj_rss posted Catching up with the Expanded Universe: Leland Chee, RPGing KOTOR, Rebel Force, Bookcrossing.
- starwars_today posted The Force Unleashed on your Bookshelf.
- theforcenet posted Miniatures Update From GenCon.
- theforcenet posted Harrison Ford To Sign Again For Official Pix.
- theforcenet posted KOTOR Minis and Campaign Guide.
- starwars_eu posted The weekly EU update.
- theforcenet posted Wizards.com KOTOR Updates.

Discussion/Questions
- lazypadawan discussed The Clone Wars thoughts and little moments. *spoilers*
- famira asked for help in finding a specific picture of Liam Neeson.
- arky_tiger asked for Star Wars-themed poems or readings.

Fic
- lotusflower85 wrote "Unintended". (Rated G, Luke/Mara)
- mavjade wrote "I Do, Promise Chapter 11/?". (Not rated, Luke, Mara, OCs)
- mavjade wrote "The Old Man and The Boy". (Not rated, Luke, Ben, OCs)
- mavjade wrote "Collide". (Not rated, Luke, Mara)
- luminations wrote 30 sentences about Anakin/Palpatine. (Rated G-NC-17, Anakin/Palpatine)
- pronker wrote "Covalent Bonds Part 45/?". (Not rated, Anakin/Obi-Wan)

Challenges/Contests
- anakin_icontest has Challenge #15.

Graphics/Icons
- firieth_sidhe posted 10 PT icons.

Miscellaneous
- theforcenet posted A History Of Star Wars Video Games.
- theforcenet posted Are You A Fanboy?.
- theforcenet posted It's The Force Unleashed Reading Day!.
- officialswblog posted The Empire Strikes BookCrossing.com.
- theforcenet posted Get To Know Leland Chee At Wired.com.
- starwars_vip posted Star Wars: The Clone Wars Artwork.
- cj_rss posted Preview The Force Unleashed on StarWars.com.

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