Yay, the Remix is finished! And other stuff.

[snorkackcatcher]

Finally got my entry for remixredux08 properly finished -- i.e. it was a case of posting a short version just before deadline, and then going back with a completed version later once I'd tidied it up. It explores some new characters and situations for me, anyway. (Although it wasn't betaed, so if anyone could do a really fast beta before the weekend opening, let me know -- it's HP, neither especially short nor especially long.)

Birthdays! Many happy returns to pennswoods for today (and I would have remembered anyway :D), and belatedly to eclecticmum and golden_d (and mrs_wolf, if she's still reading LJ).

Here's a somewhat waffly Register article that suggests a rather interesting and unfortunate side-effect of undergraduate plagiarism rules -- but one that's a not unnatural consequence of the paranoia universities aim to induce on the subject. Why yes, I do have the heretical suspicion that it gets overdone -- especially as undergrad essays are a very different sort of creature from real academic research. In which context I can't resist quoting Hogwarts Staff Meeting:

Rowling: None of you use computers, of course, so you will be unaware that Draco and Regis Malfoy have a website, on which they sell pre-written homework essays.

Sprout: Well, of COURSE we know about that, dear!

Rowling: Do you?

McGonagall: We're teachers, for heaven's sake!

Weasley: Hey! Nobody told ME!

Flitwick: At least once a month, one of my students will try to pass off a Malfoy Cousins product as their own work, and I have to give them a detention.

McGonagall: A detention? I give them a whole WEEK of detentions!

Hagrid: I give 'em a month feeding the skrewts!

Sprout: What do you give them, Severus?

Snape: Oh, generally about a 74%.

All: What?!

Snape: Well, as I see it, they are learning valuable real-life skills. Internet research, stress avoidance, and taking credit for other peoples' work. All in high demand in today's junior management market.

Hagrid: Yeh, that's why I reward 'em, too.

Everyone's already done reviews of The Fires of Pompeii -- so for now I'd just like to say I thought it was an excellent, gripping episode with some fun, humorous touches (and a nice bit of fanservice with Donna asking what happens if you really speak the language the Tardis is translating). Also, I think we can form the provisional conclusion that Donna is entirely constructed of industrial-strength awesome. It's a real pleasure to have a companion who isn't doing the Hopelessly Devoted To You thing where the Doctor's concerned.

Did you know that Alfred Enoch, who plays Dean in the HP films, is (apparently, according to Wikipedia) the son of William Russell, who played Ian Chesterton in the original Doctor Who? One of those 'well, I never' moments.


Lyrics: Had to check back for the last one -- it was the classic Night Moves by Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band from 1977 (fine album too), spotted by a_t_rain. And since I haven't featured this band for ages, it's about time I rectified that:

That's great, it starts with an earthquake, birds and snakes, an aeroplane - Lenny Bruce is not afraid. Eye of a hurricane, listen to yourself churn - world serves its own needs, regardless of your own needs. Feed it up a knock, speed, grunt no, strength no. Ladder structure clatter with fear of height, down height. Wire in a fire, represent the seven games in a government for hire and a combat site ... (1980s)

No, I haven't a clue what the lyrics mean, but I promise not to read out the chorus in a snooker commentator voice. :) (Um, private joke, sort of.)