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[May. 11th, 2010|03:16 pm] |
Long may you run.
Although these changes
have come
With your chrome heart shining
in the sun
Long may you run.
Long may you run, Gretchen Davies. Those were brave words, and I'm damn proud to call myself a friend of the woman who spoke them.
[Warded to Gretchen]
And you know if you need a place to stay, our guest room's always open to you and Roger. |
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[Mar. 24th, 2010|12:09 pm] |
[Warded to Angus MacDougal, Nick Harrow, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Andromeda Tonks]
Alright, so I've been doing some steady work, and I think I've got something figured out. What I've done, basically, is set up a private wireless channel - similar to a police band or CB radio, if you're familiar with those. I put the prototypes in retractable ballpoint pens. You press down the thingy that would make the pen work, and then you get your transmitter activated, and whatever you say will go out to whoever else has one set to your channel. Magic's in it, so you don't need magical power of your own to operate it. Fits in a pocket, so carrying it at all times wouldn't be any trial. And I'm really quite proud of the volume control - Remus, thanks for finding me the books to get that working right.
It's not perfect. I don't have a way to make it completely private, and of course anyone who's around when you use it would hear it. However, if you're in an emergency situation, that's not necessarily going to be a problem anyway. Still, it would be a good idea to set up some code phrases so you can say things without saying them, dig? But anyway, you and Nick and I can test them out when you two are running your shift tonight. There's also the fact that if you break the casing, it's going to be useless. We may want to see about some protective charms on the device itself - so far everything I've attempted ends up screwing up the transmission, but we can keep trying.
[end ward]
Got to work with a really amazing band last night. They're called Disconnect, and they're putting more energy and dedication into their music than anybody I've seen since Rachel Lee and the Sweethearts. They're taking the precision and composition of prog rock and the vibrancy of punk and putting it all right there in one place, and I do not understand how everyone in the world does not love this band. I'm hoping they'll catch on soon, because seriously, the world needs to hear this music.
At any rate, I had a great time recording with them. We got some fantastic tracks put down last night, and I think it's going to be a really beautiful album when we finish working with it at the end of April. So everybody keep your ears open for Disconnect's Hold Off this August. |
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| Warded to Remus |
[Mar. 18th, 2010|02:07 pm] |
[Warded to Remus Lupin]
You're working at the library now, right? I need to look up a few things in the reference section and I'd rather not have anybody I don't trust knowing what I'm looking for. Think you could give me a hand? |
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[Feb. 17th, 2010|12:20 pm] |
Ladies and gentlemen who frequent the Hogshead, you'll soon not be seeing so much of me there.
That would be because I have been offered a job at Ravensbend Recording, which you may know as the studio where such albums as Baba Yaga's Strawberries and Cream and Marty Dell's Breakdowns were recorded. Needless to say I accepted, and I will be starting work as an assistant producer there in two weeks.
[Warded Private]
And Christ I'm glad of the timing. I never minded taking Doc's place behind the bar before, but since he was killed it just feels wrong. And Charity. Merlin. I've known Charity since I was just a kid, and now she's just gone. It's not right. The two of them never did anything to anyone.
[end ward]
[Warded to Andy]
Gretchen wants to know if we can take Roger on Saturday night. She's going to a Harpies match with Roy. I feel we should encourage this as much as possible. |
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[Feb. 12th, 2010|01:24 pm] |
( Warded to Andromeda )
( Warded to Friends )
Life does take the most unexpected turns, doesn't it?
In July of 1971, I went up to the dessert buffet table at the WWN gala with one thing on my mind: more tiny cheesecake bites. And really, who could blame me? They were (as anyone who was there will confirm) utterly delicious. We're talking nearly Molly Weasley-quality cheesecake here. (Note I said nearly, Molly.)
But while I was intent on cramming my face full of food, life had other plans for me. I met the most beautiful woman in the room, I talked to her about dessert and music, and she somehow found my dorkiness charming enough to want to see me again. Somehow that turned into me marrying the most kind, generous, forgiving, funny, intelligent, and let's not forget drop-dead-gorgeous woman I've ever had the pleasure of knowing despite the fact that I was, am, and always will be an incredible geek. I've been completely and utterly in love since the moment she agreed to let's just have ice cream for dinner, and I've never had so much fun with anyone in my life as I do with her.
She wasn't what I planned for. I know I wasn't what she planned for, either. But I know I don't have to ask her right now to know that neither one of us would have it any other way. We've had our hard times - some really hard times - but we've never loved each other or our daughter any less. In a world where we're all losing friends and family and so much is so wrong, I like to be able to remind myself that there's still some light left. I've got something worth fighting for. That's a good feeling, and I'm holding onto it. |
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[Jan. 27th, 2010|05:39 am] |
So everybody's posting their thoughts on love, it seems. I'm not much for poetry, but there was something from one of my favorite writers, Robert Heinlein, that I always liked:
Love is the condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own.
Best definition of love that I've run across. |
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[Dec. 30th, 2009|02:39 pm] |
Sirius narrowed the choices an awful lot, but I'm curious in a broader sense:
Who is your favourite musical artist of all time? Muggle, wizard, doesn't matter: just reply here to make your case for why your choice is obviously the best. Not that they're necessarily the greatest band of all time - just your favourite.
My answer: The Rolling Stones.
In the early 60's, the Stones were revolutionary. They took the groove of pop and the grit of the blues and they made something incredible. They've managed to carry that spirit on through the present and they just keep going. They've written both hard rockers and beautiful ballads, and the sheer amount of energy they put out on stage is nothing short of incredible. They show both technical skill and raw emotion, and it all comes together in a vulgarly beautiful way. It's got a beat and you can dance to it, but it's also got soul and it's got skill.
So who's top of your list? |
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[Dec. 17th, 2009|01:38 pm] |
[Warded to Andromeda, Gretchen, Doris, Jon, Josie, Malcolm, Betty, Sirius, Angus, and Nick]
I just ran our broadcast numbers. I know, I know - bad idea running a trace. But I did it from a middle-of-nowhere location up in the mountains that we're not going to use again, during my evening broadcast last night.
People, at 9 last night we had 3,000 listeners. That's nearly half of wizarding Britain's population. We are reaching people, and a whole bloody lot of them.
Which brings me to a question: is there more we could be doing with this? Does anyone have ideas? Given that Frank knows, should I run it by Frank and see if he's got ideas, or is that just putting him in an even more awkward spot as an officer of the law?
[end ward] |
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[Dec. 7th, 2009|02:11 pm] |
Warded to Andromeda, Gretchen, Betty, Jon, and Malcolm
Andromeda already knows this, but...meet the new barman at the Hogshead. Doc Dearborn went back to the Oblivation department, which means there's an opening behind Abe Dumbledore's bar. So, until I can find something more permanent, I'm pulling pints and pouring shots. The pay's lousy, but it's a damn sight better than the not-even-a-knut an hour I was making unemployed. Gives me plenty of time to work on the Tube, at least! And really, it's fun in a way. I get to talk to different sorts of people, Abe's a good boss--it's not a bad temporary gig at all. Maybe I can even pick up some guitar work for some extra while I'm at it, with the flexible hours. So don't worry, just congratulate me on being employed! |
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| Warded to Friends |
[Nov. 15th, 2009|04:24 pm] |
[Warded to Jon, Malcolm, Gretchen, Betty, Doris, Sirius, the Vampires, and Andromeda]
There's really not a good way to say this, so I'm just making a little announcement here to let you all know. Gretchen and Andy know already, of course.
The WWN did some layoffs, and I was one of them. They say it's budget problems, and while I'm not sure I believe them, I'm not brave enough to stir up the trouble I could be bringing down on my family by saying anything about it. So I'll be starting the hunt for a new job tomorrow.
[end ward] |
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| Warded to Gretchen |
[Nov. 5th, 2009|08:40 pm] |
[Warded to Gretchen]
Since when does the station sack people just for arguing with the administration? We've all done it a hundred times, and never anything like this. Besides which, Sean was right. It did go against the whole non-involvement, neutrality policy. And now Vaisey gets to take his spot? I don't like the looks of this. |
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| Happy Birthday to ya! |
[Oct. 24th, 2009|01:13 pm] |
[Warded to Jon, Betty, Gretchen, Andromeda, and Malcolm]
Jon, Betty, Malcolm - are you lot going to this Masquerade business? Andy and I are out, and Gretchen - not really our sort of thing anyway, and a babysitter'd be hell on earth to find with half the wizarding world out anyway. The Cornfeet are having a little kid-friendly affair at their place, so we and our sproggen will be there.
If you all are going, though, I demand photographs of yourselves in whatever ridiculous costumes you wear.
[end ward]
My wife's all fidgety about twenty-eight, but in less than a week I'll be twenty-nine. And you know, I'm really not concerned at all. I don't feel old. I'm having just as good a time now as I was this time last year. I don't seem to have developed any really square habits that would make my younger self cringe. I'm more mature than I was in my pre-fatherhood days, but I'm okay with that. I don't think it's made me boring. So...yeah, twenty-nine. It's cool. Looks like just another year of scarfing down sweets in celebration. |
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| o12. Warded to Gretchen, Andromeda, Benjy, Frank, and Betty |
[Sep. 23rd, 2009|04:36 pm] |
All right, I'm officially severely worried about Malcolm. I'm warding this just to good friends of mine and his: Gretchen, Andromeda, Benjy, Frank, and Betty.
the evidence:
1. Malcolm has been acting cagey as hell for months.
2. Malcolm's long since out of training, but we still barely see him.
3. Malcolm is never in his flat.
4. Malcolm asked me if I ever felt guilty about Andromeda and Dora.
5. When asked about why he would ask, Malcolm got even weirder and said there was too much to talk about via journal.
6. When finally pinned down into talking about it with me, Malcolm stood me up.
I've never seen him like this. It's obvious that something is getting to him, though, and getting to him badly.
Theories as to what the fuck is going on and/or possible solutions? |
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| o11. Teach Your Children |
[Sep. 22nd, 2009|08:26 pm] |
Five year old philosophy is fascinating. Dora was in an inquisitive mode today, and we covered some very interesting topics. For instance "What if the entire house was filled with ice cream?" and "what if we lived in a cupcake?" and "When mice die, do they come back as mice, or can they come back as people?"
Much of five year old philosophy, I have discovered, is based around a goal of stalling. If you can keep dad on the reincarnation long enough, you can seriously cut down on the time he'll insist on spending on mathematics lessons. Easily distracted as I am, I suppose I should count myself lucky that Dora's quick at maths.
[Malcolm]
1. I don't believe you.
2. Is there a time when you have some reasonable belief that "something" will not "come up"? Because
3. I'm not letting this go. |
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| o1o. Warded to Sirius Black, Nicholas Harrow, and Doris Purkiss |
[Sep. 4th, 2009|05:27 pm] |
[also warded to Andromeda, Betty, and Gretchen]
Have any of you been listening to that unregistered wireless station, by any chance? The one that's still playing Muggle music along with the Wizard stuff and is virulently anti-Death Eater? |
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| oo9. Warded to Gretchen and Ernie |
[Sep. 1st, 2009|01:07 pm] |
Hey you behind the glass.
What the fuck is going on with all this "Let's just try to report simple facts" shit that Rob is handing us? Those people are out there attacking children left and right, and we're not allowed to call them cowardly scum? People die defending those kids and they'd rather we "avoid the use of terms like hero"?
If I didn't have a family to worry about, so help me god I would have walked already. |
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| oo8. Warded |
[Sep. 1st, 2009|12:07 pm] |
[Warded to Andromeda, Betty, Gretchen, and Malcolm]
The news is coming in fast and furious here, and not much of it good. Lots of injuries, lots of bad injuries, and a few deaths. No names I recognize as close friends or family yet, but...yeah. One of the dead is Dedalus Diggle - you know, the barman at the Leaky with the curly hair? He was the one who turned me on to country music.
The one bit of good we did get, though: one Death Eater (name not yet released) was captured and is going to be questioned by Aurors as soon as he recovers enough. G should be releasing the same news on the air here in a minute.
[Warded to Andromeda]
A few more years, and it would have been us out there with Dora. I can't stop thinking that. You two be careful, please? Maybe go hang out with friends for the afternoon - if not for you, then just so I'll feel better about you two not being alone in the house. I love you both, and I'll see you right after 7. |
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| oo7. Feelin' All Right |
[Aug. 29th, 2009|10:50 pm] |
Did everyone but me know that it was "all right" and not "alright"? I had no idea until I was flipping through the journals the other day and saw a couple having an argument over it, and now I keep finding out that apparently everyone I know knew it and just didn't ever tell me.
THANKS, FRIENDS. |
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| oo6. Warded to Andromeda, Gretchen, and Betty |
[Aug. 18th, 2009|04:03 pm] |
Alright, ladies - I think I've got our equipment just about set. We need to do a test run tonight after work to make sure everything works and give me a little time to work out the kinks.
Things we still need to do
1. make an extensive list of different places where we can apparate the Broadcaster to each night. For my comfort, we need at least 21 - I don't want us broadcasting from the same place more than once every three weeks. Also, I don't want it on a regular rotation - we need to move locations randomly. And just in case, I want everyone to practice a very fast combination of Shield Charm followed by Disapparation to the Leaky Cauldron (which is going to be standard procedure if you're attacked while on Broadcaster duty) and also Shield charm followed by a shouted warning on a Sonorous Charm followed by Disapparation to The Leaky Cauldron (which is going to be standard procedure if you're attacked while on-air). I know it sounds like I'm being paranoid, but given everything that's going on and the risk we're taking by doing this at all, I don't think we have any choice but to be paranoid.
2. Finish setting up the Casa Tonks basement as Studio: get everybody's record collections together, set up table for everybody's comfort with turntables, microphone, and Listener, get soundproofing finished.
3. Test reception at several wide-ranging locations, to make sure we're covering as much of wizarding Britain as we can. I can put a little more power behind the Broadcaster if we need it.
4. Test voice-changing charms (pitch and accent) and figure out what works for each of our personas.
5. Training session (particularly for Betty and Andy) on the operation of the Broadcaster, sound mixing, and using the two-way communication charm between Broadcast and Studio. It's not hard to do, but it does require a specific set of knowledge and skills, so I need to teach you how it works.
6. Chocolate biscuits. They are clearly necessary to Wireless operation.
If we can get all that done tonight and tomorrow and don't run into any particular problems, I think The Tube can hit the wireless on Thursday night. Which leaves me with one last question: How are we going to let people know we're out here? |
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| oo5. My Generation |
[Aug. 16th, 2009|10:54 am] |
[Warded to Friends]
We work for the most popular station on the wireless. Why should I be surprised that when we stop playing Muggle music, the others start following suit? Somehow I just thought The World would hold out a couple days longer, at least. I guess everybody's scared, though. The station owners probably all got together in some big meeting and decided to do it all at once, anyway.
And no, I'm not happy about it. I'm pretty well furious about it, actually. The station manager isn't budging, though, and everybody seems to be of the general run-and-hide philosophy, and I can't just quit if I want to continue paying my mortgage and buying food.
[end ward]
[Warded Private]
Makes it even more important to get our project off the ground. I hope Gretchen gets some good news in her research this afternoon. I'm done with the Listener now, which means I just need to spend the next couple of days getting the Broadcaster working.
[end ward] |
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