If you want to leave either the text of your letter or a link to a letter that you've posted elsewhere, please comment to this post with your signup name in the comment subject line. This is in no way mandatory, but such letters can be valuable to whoever receives your assignment, not to mention those who might be prowling about looking for early inspiration for Yuletide Madness.

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i thought long and hard, but given the natrue of the community, and the rules, and some of the posts, i think this will be ok. if not then...delete it. posted becous of the date. sorry if its a little out of sorts.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
— Lt.-Col. John McCrae (1872 - 1918)

39. Gretchen Holbrook Gerzina, Black London: Life Before Emancipation

This was a great book, but not quite as great as I wanted it to be. An academic work as readable as any pop non-fiction book, Black London deals with the historical presence of black people in London throughout history, although the focus is on the 1700s. The author says that she decided to write this book when, while doing research, a bookseller told her, "Madam, there were no black people in England before 1945".

I loved how this book didn't just give generalities about black life in the 1700s, but used the historical record to find real individuals and tell their stories: slaves, escaped slaves, servants, husbands and wives (it appears to have been quite common for black men to marry white women during this time), shop-owners, writers, the children of African elites come to Europe to study, the mixed-race children of Caribbean planters, actors, beggars, and on and on. I found it really fascinating and wished the whole book had been about these stories of people. Alas, about half the book is actually taken up with recounting the stories of two legal changes (and the mostly white lawyers, judges, plaintiffs, defendants, reporters, etc, etc, involved): the James Somersett lawsuit of 1771, which outlawed slavery in England itself, and the Slave Trade Act of 1807, which abolished the slave trade. While these part of the book was interesting, it wasn't as incredibly awesome as the first part. Still, I enjoyed this book, and am excited to see she has another about black people during the Victorian period.

Anyone seen any significant flooding in the Cary/Apex area?

xposted to IJ and LJ

Today's writing total: 741 words.

Today's laugh: Via Cesare, a letter to the Stargate producers written in LOLcat. Oh my god, it made me laugh so much. It's here, by Sabinelagrande.

Something that always makes me kind of sad at Yuletide is seeing all the fandoms which heaps of people have offered but no one has requested.

So, just in case there's anyone who is still debating what requests to make, or anyone who is looking for inspiration, or just in case there's anyone who's just interested, I've made a spreadsheet of Unrequested Fandoms which have been offered but not requested! These are all the fandoms which (as of 1683 participants) have had more than 10 offers.

And, for anyone who's interested, here is a top ten list of fandoms no one has requested:

( The Top Ten )
Edited because I can't count :)

Maybe we can both swim to an island and form a moderate party....

Title: Keeping Up Appearances (Not Always on Purpose)
Fandom: 30 Rock
Pairing: Jack/Liz
Spoilers: through "Cooter"
Word Count: 4,055
Rating: NC-17
Notes: I periodically look over unfinished fics I have on my hard drive in hopes of finishing them. This is one of the times I was successful.
Summary: Five people who assumed Jack and Liz were dating.

Disclaimer: Not mine. Don't sue!

( cut tag. )

In this week's edition of Anna Torv Is Pretty:



If Anna Torv came out, lesbians would form gangs and engage in territorial thunderdome battles in her name. Or they would, if anyone would bother to watch this goddamn show. Fringe deserves a way better timeslot. Even if they pushed it by one hour to 10PM, I think it would do much better against stinky Jay Leno and Private Practice. Sorry, Kate Walsh, but between Addison's (undeserved) neuroticism and Olivia Dunham leaving trails of whoopass across the eastern seaboard, I'll take Olivia Dunham every time. I mean, how many strippers have you kissed while experiencing the consciousness of a former child experiment turned emotional murderer?

( Not even a story about Broyles can deny me the pretty. )