. Temporarily . Sidetracked .

IMPORTANT: Jade is Moving Journals

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 09:32:04 GMT

A few things have prodded me to move journals, and so without further ado:

mossy_jade is moving to a new journal as of now. Please accept the friend request from missjadey
If you have added me purely for the purposes of NaNoWriMo 2008, there's probably not much point in adding this new journal - there won't be much NaNo chatter there. Best of luck to you!

Everyone else - I hope to see you over there!

xx Jade

All Must Worship Me...

Sat, 15 Nov 2008 10:12:35 GMT

*snork* I was expecting a score in the seventies. Eighties at most. Lord.

New Layout

Sat, 15 Nov 2008 04:30:40 GMT

Jadey has a new lovely Brian/Justin layout thanks to the truly wonderful xlovexlolitax. If you haven't already, go check her out at xlolliexiconsx - she makes a tonne of awesome icons. And take a look at the prettiness - mossy_jade.

In other news, I wrote 5k last night despite the fact that my brain was deaded from the maths exam. Only 80k more to go *sigh*

And in other other news, I got my plane tickets for Japan yesterday!!! Eighteen more days then I'm off to run around without my parents in another hemisphere for two weeks... Hooray!

The Eternal Name Meme

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 03:27:18 GMT

Well, I must have done this meme ten times over the years, but I'll do it once more since I'm in my free period and very very bored.

WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother's & father's middle names)
Louise James

NASCAR NAME: (first name of your mother's dad, father's dad )
Kieth Allen

STAR WARS NAME: (the first 2 letters of your last name, first 4
letters of your first name)
Stjade

DETECTIVE NAME: (fav color, fav animal)
Sky Blue Wolf

SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you live)
Rose Canberra

SUPERHERO NAME: (2nd fav color, fav alcoholic drink, add "THE" to the beginning)
The Lilac Cruiser

FLY NAME: (first 2 letters of 1st name, last 2 letters of your last name)
Jart

GANGSTA NAME: ( fav ice cream flavor, fav cookie):
Vanilla Rice
*snickers*

ROCK STAR NAME: (current pet's name, current street name)
Fox Sherwood

PORN NAME: (1st pet, street you grew up on)
Cally Menzies
On a side note, I'm 99% sure I didn't fail my end-of-semester maths exam. HOORAY! Only one exam to go then onto my shameful, shameful NaNo count...

The Meme of Doom

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 09:13:49 GMT

Ganked from abusing_sarcasm (who had very interesting results).

Make a list of twelve of your favourite HP characters in no particular order. Once you've made your list, click the cut to see the questions. But make your list first, or you might be tempted to cheat! :D

1. Nymphadora Tonks
2. Severus Snape
3. Harry Potter
4, Luna Lovegood
5. Draco Malfoy
6. Sirius Black
7. Remus Lupin
8. Scorpius Malfoy
9. George Weasley (but not Fred)
10. Bellatrix Lestrange
11. Ginny Weasley
12. Neville Longbottom

1) Have you ever read a Six/Eleven fanfic before?
Ginny/Sirius? Possibly as a side-pairing at some point. They tend to accompany a lot of Hermione/Remus fics fics, for some reason.

2) Do you think Four is hot? How hot?
Luna? Um, no, not really. She's just damn cool.

3) What would happen if Twelve got Eight pregnant?
If Neville got Scorpius Malfoy pregnant? Oh my. Beyond the fact that I HATE mpreg, that would really be quite amusing. I can only image old, balding Draco's face.

4) Do you recall any fics about Nine? Can you rec any?
Not really. I wrote my own George-centric ficlet for ldws this year, but I've nevr actually read one, and would definitely not rec mine.

5) Would Two and Six make a good couple?
Sirius/Severus? I guess. Make for lots of hot, angry sex.

6) Five/Nine or Five/Ten?
Draco/George or Draco/Bella. Hm, thinking that the one where Draco isn't screwing his aunt might be the one to go with.

7) What would happen if Seven walked in on Two and Twelve having sex?
Remus walked on on Severus and Neville? He'd either leave, cough quietly or join in.

8) Make up a summary of a Three/Ten Fanfic.
Harry/Bella? I don't know. "Harry has always been attracted to older women. If they're trying to kill him and killed his godfather, well, that's just a bonus. Regardless, he's in for one hot night."

9) Is there any such thing as a One/Eight fluff?
Tonks/Scorpius? Oh yes, necrophilia and fluff go so well together.

10) Suggest a title for a Seven/Twelve Hurt/Comfort fic.
Remus/Neville - Bellatrix Lestrange Tried to Kill the Person I Love Too.

11) What kind of plot would you use if you wanted Four to de-flower One?
Luna deflowering Tonks? "The horn of the crumple-horned snorcack can do all sorts

12) Does anyone on your friends list read Seven slash?
Yes, I know a fair few who read Remus/Sirius. And Harry/Remus is one of my secret guilty pleasures.

13) Does anyone on your friends list read Three het?
I'm pretty sure everyone's read Harry het at some point. Hell, they've read the books, haven't they?

14) Does anyone on your friends list write or draw Eleven?
Ginny? Probably.

15) Would anyone on your friends list write Two/Four/Five?
Severus/Luna/Draco? Not that I'm aware. Could happen, though. Would be interesting to read.

16) What might Ten scream at a moment of great passion?
"AVADA KEDAVR- Oh shit, no! Sorry, force of habit!"

17) If you wrote a song-fic about Eight, what song would you choose?
Scorpius... hm... Probably an AS/S fic to Blackout by Muse: don't grow up too fast / and don't embrace the past / this life's too good to last / and i'm too young to care

18) If you wrote a One/Six/Twelve fic, what would the warning be?
Tonks/Sirius/Neville, hm, would probably be slight incest since they're all supposedly related, with a crossgen and a good old buttsex warning attached.

19) What might be a good pick-up line for Ten to use on Two?
"The Dark Lord needs some more followers..."

20) When was the last time you read a fic about Five?
Draco - I'm currently reading Secrets by Vorabiza, which is Harry/Draco. It's quite enjoyable :)

21) What is Six's super-sekrit kink?
He's into antlers. They're like double-headed dildos with something extra...

22) Would Eleven shag Nine? Drunk or sober?
George/Ginny. Ew. No. Never.

23) If Three and Seven get together, who tops?
Hum, I'm not sure. Personally, I like Remus topping Harry better, but Harry topping Remus in a loving, caring situation is nice too.

24) "One and Nine are in a happy relationship until Nine suddenly runs off with Four. One, broken-hearted, has a hot one-night stand with Eleven and a brief unhappy affair with Twelve, then follows the wise advice of Five and finds true love with Three." What title would you give this fic? Name three people on your friends list who might read it. Name one person who should write it.
Tonks and George are in a happy relationship until George suddenly runs off with Luna. Tonks, broken-hearted, has a hot one-night stand with Ginny and a brief unhappy affair with Neville, then follows the wise adivce of Sirius and finds true love with Harry.

Would title it When I Couldn't Fuck My Brother. I think the squicky George/Ginny would put EVERYONE off it.

25) How would you feel if Seven/Eight was canon?
Lupin/Scorpius? Much as I did about Tonks/Scorpius. Necrophilia doesn't work so well for romance, and fucking someone the same age as your grandfather... *shudders* It's wrong on so many levels.

So there you have it! Not quite as incestuous as poor Camden, but interesting nonetheless.

Short NaNo Update

Sun, 02 Nov 2008 22:09:55 GMT

So physically and emotionally drained, feel like I'm about to fall over dead. But I'm less than 100 words off 11k, so at least I'm on track for my 100k goal even if I do collapse in a miserable heap.

Camp and TOMS

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 10:25:59 GMT

So, the last couple of days have been spent at Outdoor Education camp. I was expecting it to be a not-so-fun waste of money and time. And well, I am exhausted, can't type a coherent word (let alone sentence) to save myself, am covered in filth and burnt to a crisp, but it was a lot of fun. May have almost been worth it. Stand out points (be it for positive or negative):

- Having to haul myself up 5km of steep, rocky mountain every day. So. Not. Fun. I almost died, and my poor little knees did die. I had to strap them up so they wouldn't literally fall apart. I can't wait for reconstructive surgery.
- Caving. My God. I love caving with a passion. I have developed an affinity for small spaces, and I have always loved clambering over huge piles of rock. Caving was just amazing. Crawling through tunnels, sliding my way down dark, muddy paths, sitting in awe in darkly lit chambers that you can't see the roof of... At one point, when we were very deep underground, our instructor made us turn off all of our lights and sit in absolute silence. The darkness... wow. I have never, ever been in such complete darkness before. I was like I had no eyes at all. I had my hands so close to my face that I was brushing my eyelashes with my fingers, and I couldn't tell any difference between that and having my hands in my lap. The silence was amazing, too - it felt like my ears were being compressed with the sheer density of the silence.
- Abseiling. Getting up there KILLED ME. I am waaay too unfit, and so reaching the top of a 40m cliff was most definitely not fun. And well, abseiling was always going to be interesting. Remember my affinity for small, enclosed spaces? Well, I was FREAKING TERRIFIED of abseiling. I went into full on panic attack mode, hyperventilating, crying, shaking etc. I had to laugh afterwards, though:

Me: Fuck fuck fuck oh my god oh my god fuck fuck fuck...
Instructor: ... *looks around for help* Just... just... uh... calm down, Jade. Calm down.
Me: I'M SCARED!!!!!
Instructor: It'll be fine, Jade. Just calm down and walk backwards over the edge of the cliff.

... yeah, real great advice there ^_^

Eventually I got over my panic attacks and did my abseiling on a few different cliffs. It didn't end up being too hard (except on one wall where I smacked into an overhang and got massive bruises all over my shins. Not to mention huge lumps.) God, I know why they call it abseiling, though - my stomach muscles are so sore now XD
- Centimetre-thick foam sleeping mats. Most definitely not fun. I have a lot of back/pelvis damage that comes along with all the damage to my knees, and my god that was painful.
- Camp fire. It gets very cold in Wee Jasper at night, so the camp fire was awesome. Not to mention, thanks to the wonderfully lax supervision from Droz (our teacher), I got to play pyromaniac to my heart's content.
- Lord of the Rings-style stone bridge, narrow thing with huge drops either side. Very very scary to walk across, but I felt like Frodo, especially with Sam lumbering in front of me bellowing, "You shall not pass!"
- Falling asleep in the cave. This was actually pretty cool. At one point my knee was so swollen and screwed that the instructor decided to leave me with the bags in one of the bigger chambers while my classmates went crawling through some crevices. My torch died though, so I was left sitting in complete darkness once more. I lay down on a curved rock... and next thing you know, I was asleep in the cave. Much more comfortable than the foam mats. I really, really love caves.

So, camp was good. Tomorrow I'm off to Melbourne until sunday for the Tournament of Minds Australasian-Pacific finals! I am so. Frigging. Excited. We're going to get completely thrashed by all the other states and countries, but that's no big deal. The main thing is that I made it there in my last year of TOMS, and that I'm damn well going to make the most of it!!!

The net is about to turn off, so I'll stop rambling now. I shall talk to most of you either tomorrow morning or when I get back on Sunday/Monday! Wish me luck :)

xx Jade

Yes, Cam, I'm an annoying twit.

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 10:29:43 GMT

For abusing_sarcasm and anyone else who reads her fic Runway...

A hard whiteness surrounded Scorpius completely. He was not aware of his clothes, his body or even his own thoughts; the only thing that existed was this white, not soft or hazy in any way, but clear, sharp and unyielding. After all the stress of the machinations that ruled his life on The Next Great Supermodel, the complete nonexistence was almost a relief… as long as it was temporary.

Though how Scorpius could reach that conclusion when he wasn’t aware of his own thoughts, he didn’t know.

It was then that he realised that the whiteness was slowly receding to make room for his presence. He was gradually forced to acknowledge his mind, body and the Muggle clothes that covered it. To his surprise, the whiteness continued to give way after he was complete; not around him, but around a black spot that was appearing a foot to his right. The black spot shifted, revealing a horizontal band of smooth skin punctured by the twist of a navel, and Scorpius knew that soon he would have a fully-formed Albus by his side.

As soon as Albus became whole and solid, Scorpius began the laborious task of movement. He knew he was not encased by the whiteness, or he would not be able to see Al, but he did know that something certainly didn’t want him to move. Knowing that general thrashing would not help him, he focussed all of his power on moving his right hand, straining and forcing his way across the inches…

As soon as he brushed Albus’s fingers movement became quick and free, and he crushed the black-haired man to him with the fervour born of love that has spent weeks deprived. ‘I’ve missed you,’ he muttered into the Al’s shoulder. ‘Where the hell are we?’

Al chuckled, bending down slightly to flutter light kisses all over the blonde’s face. ‘I have an idea, but I doubt you’d believe me.’

‘Al, I’ve been suspended in some strange white place for almost two months. There’s very little that I wouldn’t believe at this point in time,’ Scorpius drawled. He paused to kiss and lick his way over the smooth column of neck offered to him as he waited for a response.

‘Well, there’s been this girl, says her name’s Jade, she’s been talking to me. Says we’re stuck in the head of someone called Camden. This person - who apparently decides our fate - has been busy with something else.’

Scorpius lifted one perfectly-shaped eyebrow with sarcastic amusement. ‘Uhuh. Our whole existence has been put on hold because a woman named Camden hasn’t had time to pay us any attention?’

‘So Jade says. Scorpius, I’m bored,’ Albus whined. ‘We have to think of a way to convince this person to continue our story. I want to know what the plan is!’

Scorpius, who had been subtly yet firmly unzipping two pairs of jeans and easing them over narrow hips, paused to look up at the taller man’s face. ‘Albus, you know what the plan is.’

‘Oh. Right. Well, Jade doesn’t,’ he said, ‘and she’s driving me nuts trying to find out what it is. You have no idea how frustrating it is to be bored out of your mind, your only company being a persistent teenage girl who won’t leave you alone. God, Scorpius, I’ve been so BORED!’

‘You’ve made that very clear,’ Scorpius said dryly. He looked at Albus for a moment, gaze growing intense. ‘Hopefully we can change that.’ And he grabbed Albus’s hand, brought it up to his mouth and began to suck.

Albus groaned. ‘Merlin, I’ve missed you. How about we find out where the walls are in this place, and give this Camden something to write about.’

Sorry for any typos. I'm too tired to proofread this at the moment XD Anyway, hope you enjoyed, Cam *squishyglomps you*

Geek Test

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 08:27:19 GMT

Stolen from abusing_sarcasm, who is Teh Awesome *glomps* (Yes, teh.)

I scored 45.36489% :D

In other news, I have spent most of today rediscovering my childhood play Jet Set Radio Future. I love that game to pieces; it was the first Xbox game I ever owned ^_^ I then got bullied into going to see Journey to the Centre of the Earth late tonight, which I know nothing of bar the title. Should be interesting.

QaF Quote Meme

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 08:05:35 GMT

Ganked from xie_xie_xie over at IJ... Post one of your favourite Queer as Folk quotes and a picture to go with it. Aside from the one in my icon (made by the awesome xlovexlolitax at xlolliexiconsx, go check her stuff out!) this is one of my favourites simply because it's so liberating. You can feel the defiance radiating off it in waves, particularly in Gale Harold's performance of it. I have no doubt that it's a lot of people's favourite quotes.

‘I’m a cocksucker! I’m queer! And to anyone who takes pity or offence, I say judge yourself. This is where I live. This is who I am.’

- Brian Kinney, Queer as Folk S5E1

Despite the fact that this quote is from season five, the picture I've got to go with it is actually a ~~very poor~~ screenshot from the very first episode, when Brian climbs up onto the wall on the hospital roof and shouts "I'll jump!" There's so much power in that scene (even though Brian's so high it's ridiculous ^_^) and I love it to pieces.

I'm supposed to tag three people to do this, but I don't really think that there's anyone on my flist who watched QaF and would do this; so I tag anyone who will!

In other news, I got back my first piece for accelerated English yesterday, the essay on women in Othello, and I got 92. Topped my class, even though they're all a grade above me, so I was happy :) Chest infection is pretty much gone, too. Hooray! Third book in the Inheritance Cycle comes out tomorrow, but I'm going to reread Eragon and Eldest before I buy it... the books aren't that good, so not really worth the rush.

Oh, oh, and has anyone else read The Fountainhead or Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand? I've just finished The Fountainhead, so I'm interested to hear people's thoughts on it, and any comments on if it's worth reading Atlas or not would be appreciated :)

The Day of Twist

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 06:08:41 GMT

Today I convinced my mother that I deserved a day off (it was amazingly easy... *shocked*) and descended into the debauchery that is fanfiction. Without meaning for it to be so, this very very quickly became the Day of Sick and Twisted Ships. I started off with a little Harry/Scorpius, always a favourite, before quickly descending into depravity with such ships as Harry/Al, Harry/Al/Scorpius, Slytherin/Harry-looking-like-Hufflepuff, and then truly going off into the deep end with some nice Harry/Hedwig. I am highly amused with myself.

Meanwhile, the assignment that I mentioned yesterday remains unstarted, despite the fact that it was due... oh, about five hours ago?

ETA: The assignment was now due about ten hours ago and I still haven't started it. Oh well. I've now moved onto a Harry/Remus fest... not many people know, but I love Harry/Remus even more than I love a good Snarry. It can be so sweet... :)

Sun, 14 Sep 2008 09:47:20 GMT

By some amazingly disturbed miracle, my Tournament of the Minds team managed to win State Finals today, so we're going to the Australasian-Pacific finals in Melbourne next month! Hooray!!!

In other news, I have a 1000 word religion essay due tomorrow that I can't even be bothered to start, let alone put any real effort into. I figure, when I've only got nine weeks left after suffering through eleven years of this Catholic brainwashing shit, I have the right to not care any more. Besides, the assignment is boring as hell:

You are a priest of a new sect, the Jesus followers. You have been ordered by the high priest, Smithias, to get rid of one of the synoptic gospels in order to save paper and costs. The one to be cut is Luke’s gospel. Your task is to write a letter to the members of the sect asking them to support you in your fight to retain all the synoptics.

In your letter you should identify the key themes and structure of each gospel and explain why Luke’s gospel is unique and yet part of a whole.

In addressing this task consider the following:

Using Luke’s Gospel as a starting point, explain why the Church and the Jesus followers have sought to reach out to those in the greatest need.
Discuss ways in which the message of Luke’s Gospel is relevant to us today, by identifying social justice issues in Australia or the world. Compare and contrast these social justice issues with those mentioned in Luke’s Gospel.
Discuss efforts and organisations that translate this concern for the downtrodden into real and visible action in the contemporary world.

I'm considering just arguing that if our sect is illiterate to the point that they can't put enough capital letters in our name, then the "Jesus followers" need all the reading practice they can get.

ETA: Whilst procrastinating, I came across a list of ten reasons as to why you shouldn't do marijuana. Reason two: "Marijuana contains many harmful chemicals. One such ingredient is carbon, the same chemical found in your urine, poison, and feces. Yuck!" *dies laughing*

Desktop Meme

Sun, 07 Sep 2008 09:59:49 GMT

I haven't posted a desktop screenshot in awhile, so I thought I would. Please, please post yours! I'm always fascinated to see people's desktops (in a non-stalkerish way).

Hm, so I'm gonna tag people... xlovexlolitax, killermanikins, abusing_sarcasm, crystalkei, emerald_dragon8, 1863, triptychdream and selinabln.

So, my desktop... not that interesting. I was bored, I made it, using a Dr Who quote with my trademark little guys in the corner. (Warning, 1280x800 large.)

Wth!?

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 09:16:48 GMT

Since when is the correct spelling of igloo "ingloo"?

First and Last Lines Meme

Sun, 31 Aug 2008 06:13:50 GMT

Ganked from jamie2109. This is a mix of HP fic, QaF fic and original stuff. Anyone want links/word docs, just tell me. Otherwise, I can't really be stuffed XD

Collision (Even though Collision is a WIP, I consider the prologue a story in its own right.)
Two men wandered through a pensieve together, aimlessly drifting from memory to memory without any real sense of purpose.
*
They could have been father and daughter, if not for the fact that they were on opposite sides of the wall.
Subliminal messages are cool.
The Boy
They say that wherever he went, he was remembered, even though he was shy and not outspoken.
*

And when I first met him, after all the tales that had not quite captured the magnitude of his presence, I knew that it was truly this grief that spurned his wisdom.

Smile
When Brian and Justin thought they were alone, Michael watched them.
*
He smiled at Justin with such a radiant, inexpressible joy that Michael thought having Justin around it might be worth it, if only Brian could die with that smile on his face.

Reverse
Remus Lupin had been alone most of his life.
*

For a few brief moments after the memories faded, he could almost believe that that was the true order; that she had been dead, but was alive once more.

Ropes
In any given situation there will always be a choice to make; anything from what to wear in the morning to whom to marry.
*
So while Petunia pretended that my choice had severed all connections between us, I remained calm, knowing that it was simply one more rope woven securely among the others.
Oh look! Here's another one.
Taint
'Gran! Gran! It's here! Gran! It's here!'
*
'I wonder, perhaps, if it's not already too late for that.'

The Trail
The battles I have been in stretch behind me, a winding trail of stale blood and splintered glass that follows no logical path but is, nonetheless, a depiction of my past.
*

I take another step on the trail, and behind me shines a puddle of water, not a speck of blood in sight.

The Censored Vision
Right now, if she could kick something, she would.
*
And then when The Baby simply becomes a baby, accepts its own starvation with the clatter of plastic against tile but continues to shriek nonetheless, she goes back into her room and shuts the door.

Revelation

When it’s the end of the world, everything changes.
*
Gavin pressed his lips to Jason’s forehead and together they burned, their ashes merging, bonding, as the earth was wiped clean.

School and Debating

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 09:00:04 GMT

I know, I know... you're sick of hearing about debating. But I can help it (RE:my icon).

First, I have a request - for my accelerated English oral presentation, I have to study four Shakespearean sonnets in depth. I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions/recommendations?

And next, I have for you, the practice test for debating trials on Saturday. Some of the questions are Australian-centric, but have a go in a comment (or even on your own journal!) - I'm interested to see how everyone goes.

Name two major countries who have not signed onto the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Who is the Zimbabwean opposition leader?
Who are the leaders of China, North Korea, Japan, South Korea and Indonesia?
Name the members of ASEAN, and the purpose of ASEAN.
Who are the leaders of France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Turkey, Isreal an the UK? How would you characterise the political alignment of their parties (extra points for naming the parties)?
What does NATO stand for? What is the purpose of NATO historically and today?
Who is the head of the IOC? What is the IOC? Is it a democratic body?
Give some examples of international laws that are relevant, and some international laws that are less relevant. What sorts of international laws have the most weight?
Give an example of the difference between positive and negative rights, and a simple definition of each.
What is a gini-coefficient?
What are the currencies of the UK, France, Belgium, Australia, the US, Isreal and the Palestinian Territories?
How many years was Fidel Castro in power?
Who controls Iran?
Which countries have nuclear weapons?
Who is the secretary general of the UN?
What is the AWB? Discuss its role in recent history.
What is APEC?
Discuss the purpose of the 2020 summit.
Name some high court judges.
Why were Barry Bonds, Floyd Landis and Marion Jones all in the news recently?
Name three terrorist organisations, their origin, location and a prominent member.
Why has the company James Hardy been in the news over the last three decades?
What is the body that monitors international whaling?
What is the precautionary principle?
What is the difference between a regressive tax and a progressive tax? Give examples.
What round of WTO talks are we currently in? How have they been progressing?
What is the purpose of the IMF?
Who is Mlatko Radic?
What are the Bretton Woods institutions?
What is the ACCC? What is their purpose?
Name two public TV stations. What does being public mean? How would they cease to be public?
What is the worlds largest Muslim country? Is it a democracy? What country in the world has the most Muslims? Is it a democracy?
When did we invade Iraq?
Who is Blackwater?
Name some countries that have a constitutional Bill of Rights.

HALP! (Debating)

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 10:51:42 GMT

Ok, so before state finals for Tournament of the Minds pops up on my radar in the next week or so, debating is consuming my life. I have trials for the state debating team that's going to nationals in about six months, and even though I know I'm going to lose the 3rd speaker position out to either my own school's debating captain Laura or Ned from Radford (or possibly even one of those mysterious Braidwood debaters that mysteriously came out of nowhere to almost beat Ned and his SuperSidekicks in the Murray Trophy this year) I'm still very nervous about it. Two secret/impromptu debates working with people I don't know and probably not even in my usual speaking position, followed by a general knowledge test on stuff that isn't really general knowledge. (More on the test later, though. I'm gonna need your help on some of the freaking practice questions. It's all politics and law and evilness! Though I had to laugh at one of the questions. Which countries possess nuclear weapons? That's not such a good question to put on a test for debaters, of all people. At least, not if you want a definite, concise answer.)

But I have a general plea for you all first. Maddy and I have our first debate in Senior Crime Prevention tomorrow, and we'll be debating British Parliamentary Style for the first time, against people a year or two against our own year level. So again, we're very nervous. And we've been put as the affirmative/government/proposition on the most stupid topic to ever be called into existence - that blackmail should be legal. (Yeah, I know. I want to know what Jeremy was smoking when he assigned that topic.) We somehow have to get half an hour (literally!) of positive speech on that. So, obviously, we're going to have to very heavily restrict the terms of 'blackmail' for our model in the debate. But what I need as much help as possible on is thinking of arguments as to why blackmail should be legal, particularly focusing on information as a commodity. But really, any single silly thing you can think of. I'll be in your debt forever if you can come up with some argument at all, because otherwise Maddy and I are screwed.

Sun, 24 Aug 2008 07:47:50 GMT

Hey guys :) I know I've been absent-ish... school/debating/Tournament of the Minds/work/Reflections/miscellaneous other crap has been killing me. There's not been a single day in the last week and a half where I haven't been double or triple booked before/during/after school and on the weekend. To top it off, I've had a chest infection T-T But after this week I'll hopefully have at least a couple of days that aren't complete murder. Eventually, I'm going to post a few pictures of our recent trip to the coast - babies on the beach! They were so cute!!!

And since I was tagged by Lollie...

Pick 10 people and give them the "you make my day" award in no particular order. If you're picked, you are charged with picking 10 of your own (unless you've already done it).

xlovexlolitax, abusing_sarcasm, killermanikins, 1863, magick_7, besame_bj (you made my day just with the knowledge that there's going to be a chapter of Precipice tomorrow!), gaedhal, brianslave68, my debating coach Radhika and the unknown Hungry Jacks employee who drew a smiley face on my cheeseburger wrapper. You all made me smile today for one reason or another!

The Anonymous Meme

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 10:12:02 GMT

Ganked from abusing_sarcasm ... You get to say whatever you want to me anonymously. Please tell me something, even if it's not sunshine and rainbows. Actually, what I most need to hear is probably not sunshine and rainbows ^_^

THEANONYMOUSMEME

Icon Credit

Sun, 17 Aug 2008 09:56:58 GMT

I discovered bianslave68's journal today, with lots and lots of lovely QaF icons. Along with my userpic, I've stolen a few that I need to credit. Go look at her icons!!!

I'm tired. I had to work two eight hour days of checkout chicking this weekend T-T

amused

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 07:20:05 GMT

It was St Clare's Day today at my school, which is probably the biggest day on the school calendar. At the end of they day we always have a talent quest (with a remarkable lack of talent present) And then generally just dance around and go psycho until the judges announce their decisions and we can all go home.

There is nothing more funny or disturbing than watching 1200 teenage girls in tight clothing all dancing and singing enthusiastically to I Kissed a Girl. At an all-girls Catholic school with a reputation for turning out lesbians and sluts by the barrel XD

Onto debating - we managed to get to the semi finals in this year's competition, before being knocked out by Radford 2 (aka Ned and his Supersidekicks). I always lose to Ned T-T Oh well. My coach sent her final congratulations letter today, and she included a bunch of really funny things some of the less intelligent debaters have said this year. Very funny XD (Btw, for reference, I do three person Australian Style debating, and in it, we have these things called Points of Information or POIs. A POI is basically when you get up in the middle of your opposition's speech, go 'Point of information!' and if they accept you, you get to ask them a question that points out something really stupid that they've said. Very fun.')

Email from Radhika, my coach:

I thought I’d end with some of the funnier things that have been said by debaters in the Murray competition in 2008 – these are in a fun font:

“The O blood group is really rare, only about 1% of humans and children have it.” (Wow, you managed to pack two incredibly stupid statements into one sentence.)

“We shouldn’t become a republic because we’ll have to change the name of the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and then we’ll have to change the sign on it and that’s expensive.”

“Marijuana kills sixty billion people every year in China.” (Yes kids, sixty BILLION)

“No one would care if we start cloning blood, it’s not an ethical issue; we do it all the time.”

“A curfew is unfair to P plate drivers who want to drive in groups of three or more responsibly between 1 am and 5 am.” (yeah, like I can think of plenty of good reasons for legitimate driving in groups of three or more at that time…)

“Women don’t want paid maternity leave, they want to be treated equally to men, and men don’t get maternity leave.”

“If we pay people for their organs, poor people will like, sell their hearts to put their kids through schools.”

“What’s Mugabe? Is that like AIDS?”

“Point of Information! Oh wait, I’m on your team.”

Revelation (Story)

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 14:09:21 GMT

I have read so many different things in the last week or so that my brain is nothing but a seething mass of quotes and images that combines everything from Shakespeare to bad fanfiction into one horrendous lump. This short, short story (494 words) is my brain digesting that lump. So basically, this is a bit like fanfiction of everything I've read this week in some shape or form.

Subliminal message goes here.
Revelation

When it’s the end of the world, everything changes.

When the sun turned black and painted the sky with tar, Gavin started to believe in love. He clutched at Jason’s smaller body, the one that had always been next to his when he woke, no matter how long Jason waited while Gavin slept. He grappled for purchase in the strands of gold that tried to slip through his fingers, inhaled the most perfect of scents, and said tenderly, ‘You know I love you. But if we’re going to die soon, I want you to remember me actually saying it at least once.’

When the moon turned to blood and drowned the world in liquid red, Jason relinquished his stubborn insistence that there was no God. He stole the comfort that was embodied in Gavin’s much larger hand and pulled him to the bookcase. He stared at the spines and reflected on the hours wasted reading novels, wondered why he had insisted on finishing each novel when he could have been with Gavin. He edged a shaking hand toward the leather-bound cover on the bottom shelf, and together the two men sank into the musty pages of a childhood bible, the Book of Revelation making everything sickeningly clear while ash clouded the air.

When the four horsemen thundered over the earth and people started to die in multitudes, Gavin and Jason broke down the communication barriers between them that had seemed so impenetrable once. They told each other of love and skin and forward and forever and everything that came to them. They desperately tried to make up for four years of only communicating with hands and looks, drinking in each other as though it might quench a forever insatiable thirst.

‘We shouldn’t have needed an apocalypse to say all this.’

Both men paused, acknowledging the truth but knowing that regret no longer held meaning.

When it’s the end of the world, you go where you want to die.

When the heat began to inhibit movement like drying concrete clinging to their limbs, they collapsed together. Gavin fell onto the spot that he had woken in every morning, desperate to rouse the slumbering memories that lay with him. Later, with agonising precision, Jason fit his body over Gavin’s. He melded their forms together until they were one symmetrical object, perfect despite their differences in size.

When the whole world became so hot that reality blocked their throats and made it difficult to breathe, they sank deeper within each other, not even skin holding them apart. The heat brought them together even as it killed them.

‘Do you think we’re really going to hell for being gay?’

‘I was told that the most important rule was to love one another. I loved the only way I knew how. That should be enough. It has to be.’

Gavin pressed his lips to Jason’s forehead and together they burned, their ashes merging, bonding, as the earth was wiped clean.

Ugh

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 08:21:06 GMT

It's been an okish day, I guess. We had our once-a-term whole school assembly, which sucked, but it wasn't as long as usual, which was good. I had double PE, which sucked, but we were doing rock climbing, which was good. I had my first ever free period all alone in the library today, but it was surprisingly productive - I got all my Japanese homework done. I'm determined to put my free periods to good use, even if I have to deliberately change my school network password to something only my friends know and can log me in with. If completely shutting myself off from the computer is what it takes...

I had my nice, lovely, very long and very thick hair cut off today *sniff* I went to the hairdresser's not really knowing what I wanted but thinking I'd probably just get a trim to get rid of the icky ends. Guess again. I had what was quite possibly the most bossy hairdresser known to man - but in my case, that's probably a good thing, as I know very very little about hair and care about it even less (which was demonstrated by the fact that it's been a year since my last haircut). My hair has been re-parted, restyled, and realmosteverythingknowntomanned. I've also been told I should always have my hair straightened, which I usually only do once every couple of months, but I should only wash my hair... once a week. Twice at the very most. For someone who washes her hair 4-5 times a week, that's not very appealing. Ah well.

Also, I'm becoming a bit worried about my left hand. Since Monday the muscles at the base of my thumb, spreading right into my palm, have been really sore and stiff, particularly when I wake up in the morning. And then, this afternoon while I was getting my hair cut, just sitting normally in the chair, I got random pins and needles in my hand. My elbow aches slightly too (but not the elbow I broke - that was the other one). There's no noticeable discolouration or anything, but yeah... should I be worried?

*dies* Why is it than when my favourite fanfics all get around to updating, they all update on the SAME DAY? No updates for awhile, and then abusing_sarcasm updates Runway, aspenlight updates A Year Like None Other, and two fics on BJfic all update at once. So yeah, I might read and then take a break to do some of the mountains of homework that I've somehow managed to get in all of three days back at school.

No More Credit Card

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 09:36:59 GMT

I received my notice in the mail today that Bopo, the only prepaid Visa company Australia, has gone bankrupt. Lovely. So, while I'll still get the money off my card, no more credit card and online shopping for Miss Jadey. Goddamnit.

Oh, and my hand has been seizing up all day, so I should probably get off the computer soon. The muscle between my index finger and thumb, running down into my palm, has been cramping all frigging day. Hurts like hell when you're furiously trying to keep up with the teachers in your note taking.

My dreams say I read too much fanfic and think too much about debating.

Sun, 29 Jun 2008 11:34:12 GMT

Night before last, I had a dream that basically was David, one of my frequent debate adjudicators (he adjudicated the octofinals, my latest round) forcing his way into my house and stealing a bunch of crap.

And then last night, I had a very odd dream in two bits.

First, I was at school and there was some parent meeting going on, where the school executives were having an emergency conference about something that I assume was lovely slashy fanfic. I sneaked into the meeting, and then to my horror Mr Garrity, one of the three assistant principals at my school, told the outraged parents that he had dangerous perpetrator Camden (abusing_sarcasm) locked in a room upstairs. So, naturally, I snuck up stairs and tried to break Camden out of the locked room so she could run away before all the scary Catholic parents (not that I have anything against Catholics - I just go to a Catholic school) crucified her. Unfortinuately, Mr Garrity chose to come up at that moment to make sure that Camden was still locked in her room and not writing any awesome fanfic. I then kicked him several times and Camden and I ran away XD

Then, in part two of my dream, Cam had been returned to her computer to write in peace, so I went off to religion class. For some reason, prep time for my next debate was scheduled to begin in the middle of class and the venue was at my school. I somehow ended up running half an hour late for the debate, which means an automatic forfeit but I lied to the head supervisor and so he let me off XD I was supposed to be debating against St Edmund's College about wolves or something, but my team and I ended up just wondering away through the carpark with the boys from St Edmund's and then took them to the nearby bushland (don't ask me how bushland mysteriously disappeared in the middle of Canberra Avenue) and pushed them down a hill. They forfeited the debate.

Are my dreams trying to tell me something?