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I'm an American, have been married for "a long time", and have a son and a daughter, so to me the characters are like sons and daughters. I like to study history and science, and I usually don't write (or talk) unless I have something to say, so I tend to be serious. Rather than seeking plot ideas, I wait until I am moved to address a particular topic. That makes it harder to produce something on demand for contests and challenges. Oh well!
Avada Crucio! by Vittoria
Rated: 1st-2nd Years [Reviews - 3]
Summary: Lord Voldemort is desperate to kill Harry Potter but what he doesn't know is that magic is ever-surprising. This fic follows his one-day adventure in a dragon reservation, in which circumstances lead to a twisted ending.
I am Vittoria of Ravenclaw House submitting my fic for the Third Task of the Mugglenet Triwizard Tournament.
Thanks to Viv for the awesome prompts and help and Apurva my wonderful beta!
Hi, Vittoria. It's been a long time since you posted this story, but never too late for one more review. I was trolling the list of authors, reading old stories that deserve to be not wholly forgotten, and I clicked on your story because your pen name is like my real name, Victoria.
This was a fun little story, written in a very light-hearted, tongue-in-cheek style, and that is refreshingly unusual for a story about Voldemort, who is usually depicted so seriously. (It reminds me of the humor dramas about Adolf Hitler -- we lessen his power by laughing at him.)
The story is certainly imaginative, and it moves at a lively pace, never dragging or getting boring. The short, declarative sentences make the story plain and easy to read. You have put in just enough description (the cold, barren terrain, surrounding mountains, wire fences, tents) for us to be able to envision the situation without ever slowing the pace of the action. I liked the exotic location (Tibet) and the mental images of the fantastic dragons against a background of frozen tundra.
Although there were several original characters in your story, you kept the focus firmly on your "unfortunate protagonist" by keeping everything in Voldemort's point of view, showing only his thoughts and reflections. But your original characters were well characterized just by their dialogue. I was left wishing that I knew more about them and what work they were doing at the Dragon Reservation; they sounded very interesting.
By treating Lord Voldemort with humor, you have shown us a side of him that we haven't seen before, a tentative and uncertain side. It was fun to see him react to people who weren't impressed by him at all and who considered him incompetent rather than formidable. And yet you drew a contrast between the bumbling Voldy who can't handle a baby dragon, and the ruthless (and more familiar-to-us) Voldemort who casually commits a brutal murder of the guard at the gate. These two opposite aspects of his character provided some dynamic tension in your story and remind us that, after all, he is still Lord Voldemort.
Your writing is quite free of mechanical errors of spelling, punctuation, and grammar. But there is one spot where your computer has "gremlinized" you: at the point where Voldemort wakes up in the tent after having been attacked by the "dangerous breeds" dragon, there is a piece of text from an earlier point in the story ([i]It also became clear....a wall of fire behind him[/i]) that has inserted itself into the middle of the current sentence ([i]He perceived his surroundings and came to a single conclusion...[/i]). This accidental insertion causes confusion in the reading, but it would be only a moment's work to edit it out, and then the text would be entirely free of glitches.
I'll bet you had fun writing this story, and I certainly enjoyed reading it. It is like a breath of fresh air amongst the more solemn and heavy writings which we see so often in these archives. Even in the context of terrible wizarding wars, we all need to laugh sometimes, and your story has accomplished that goal in charming fashion. Nice job.
Author's Response: Hey Victoria! Thank you for taking the time to read and write a lovely review for my fic. I was amazed to have received a review after a really long time. I'm glad you like this story. :)
Fool's Gold by Writ Encore
Rated: 1st-2nd Years [Reviews - 2]
Summary: Nicolas Flamel takes on an apprentice and sparks a friendship.
This piece does not have an easy-to-follow storytelling style. It gives the feel of a story with many of the sentences missing, and the reader must make cognitive leaps over the gaps like a person traversing a stream on stepping stones. It requires a lot of assuming as to why people say and do certain things, and a fair amount of "Well, I guess what he means is XYZ..."
Still, with a few re-readings the reader can come to some conclusions about what the characters are probably talking about. (What is "ushering a queue"?)
Here we have a little glimpse of Nicolas Flamel and his ever-patient wife (not yet a widow) Perenelle, who are otherwise only referred to in Book 1, never encountered. Nicolas is portrayed as more crochety than I would have otherwise imagined him, and if he is so unfriendly (unlike Dumbledore) and alchemy is a dying art, then why would Jacqueline be so persistent in trying to become his apprentice? She is much better off with Dumbledore.
The time of this story must be when Dumbledore is still a young man, and apparently he has spent some time in Paris and intends to stay on there for a while, since he offers this newly-married young woman a post as his assistant. How did she meet him, at her young age? Perhaps during the fifteen days of the International Alchemical Conference.
I would not care to read an entire book written in this style. It is more obscure than I prefer, and while I enjoy puzzling out a mystery (what do these facts and observations lead to?), I would rather not spend my time puzzling out individual sentences. But that's just me. This story has a certain stylishness to it, and I'm sure some people would appreciate its unique essence.
Summary: She had a way of falling for him in every way, including his blatant lies. Ten years later, she may not be able to recognise him, but outward appearances don't always prove a change inside.
Susan Bones/Theodore Nott
A drabble-turned-oneshot written for Soraya/babewithbrains for the Ravenclaw Christmas Drabble Exchange!
There are a lot of thought-provoking elements within the few short pages of this story. The outstanding impression of Susan is depression. Yes, Theodore has always been a dicey friend, playing her like a fish on a line, but she has allowed herself to be played. She knows, intellectually, that "he never had a solid foundation", but she keeps hoping that he will be something else, and failing to take care of herself.
The war has taken a big toll on her, and she has responded by isolating herself from people who could help her find her way back. A job in which she interacts mostly with strangers. A specific decision not to join the merrymakers at the Leaky Cauldron on Christmas. She complains of being alone on the holiday, but it is her choice, not her parents' fault. She focuses on what she has lost: her Aunt Amelia, "most of her immediate family" (though both her parents have survived). She faults her parents for leaving her to go on vacation (how dare they?). And she uses alcohol and loveless sex to try to fill the void in her psyche.
Not everyone who lived through the war is so far behind on the road to recovery as Susan is. I don't really see any insight on her part in this story. She has yet to take responsibility for her own happiness. It's a depressing story, and I wonder if it was depressing to write. But despite that, it's well-written, and the details all contribute to a tightly-constructed whole.
A Primrose in Bloom by Cinderella Angelina
Rated: 1st-2nd Years [Reviews - 2]
Summary: Primrose Dobbs is fairly happy, until someone reenters her life unexpectedly. Then she's ... still happy. Mostly. It would help if Fleur Delacour wasn't in the picture.
Cinderella Angelina of Hufflepuff checking in with my final exam for the Charming Characters class!
This is a fun little story, even though it ends on a more serious note, and Primrose is a refreshingly charming and down-to-earth character. She must have had a good home life, since she sounds so well-adjusted. And I like the little touch of her translating the runes on recently acquired treasures; it sounds like something that I would enjoy doing!
I enjoy seeing the creation of original characters that are linked to established characters like Bill and Fleur,and it's a treat to get a glimpse of Bill and Fleur in their Gringotts milieu at the beginning of their relationship. And although it looks as if there's no romance for Primrose in this little episode, despite her imaginative daydreams, one need not worry for her; she's a great girl, and some wizard (other than Basil) will see that soon enough.
This piece is well-written, with a light, deft touch. I'm not sure what the last line refers to ("something good could come of this news"), but it is just like Primrose to be optimistic, even in the face of You-Know-Who's return.
Thanks for writing.
In Pursuit of Greatness by PoeticallyIrritating
Rated: 6th-7th Years [Reviews - 4]
Summary: This is Bellatrix Black as a student, a wife, and a faithful servant. A child and a prisoner. She is exactly who you think she is, and much more.
This story certainly deserves more reviews than it has received so far. It is very well-written, with no awkwardness in the phrasing or the flow, no questionable choice of words, or poor timing of the pace.
It shows us a a young Bellatrix, amoral and conscienceless but not yet criminal, focused but not yet obsessed, a bully but not yet a psychopath. I am left wondering whether Bella at this point in her life could still have been salvaged and rehabilitated, given an opportunity for that, which of course never occurred.
The glimpses of the characters of Dumbledore and Slughorn are right on -- Dumbledore who was unable to be manipulated and Slughorn who was unable to avoid being manipulated. The statement "Everybody knew the Slytherins were prejudiced, but nobody knew it went that far" exemplifies Slughorn's unfitness as Slytherin Head of House. He didn't know what was going on and could not have controlled it even if he did. His refusal to change Bella's dormitory assignment was not based on moral principles but on a fear of losing his job, a weak response.
Bella's keen interest in Rodolphus Lestrange is a bit harder to understand. Her relationship with him is the same as her relationship with other people -- manipulative and self-serving. But what does she need him for? What value does he have for her besides being handsome, smart, and pureblooded? Chapter 3 is all about her seduction of him, but to what end? Given her nature as depicted, she obviously has something up her sleeve, and love is most certainly not it. Perhaps she has some goals in life (other than eventually becoming Voldemort's most worshipful follower), something more than being the wife of a pureblood and the mother of his children. It will be interesting to find out what her plans are.
Author's Response: Thank you so much for your review. I'm really grateful that you put so much thought into this! I'm glad you like my Dumbledore and Slughorn. I struggled with Dumbledore especially. He's a difficult character to manage, especially because he was dealt with so extensively in the books. It's easier to write "in character" if we don't know much about the character, haha.
White Jade by AidaLuthien
Rated: 1st-2nd Years [Reviews - 3]
Summary: The youngest prince of China prepares to leave the capital to go to the Dragon Pearl.
This is AidaLuthien of Hufflepuff House's final for the Charming Characters class.
What an unusual story. It is a simple tale, but its charm comes from the blending of basic magical principles into a very different culture. The details give the appearance of being researched and are sufficiently plausible that they might be accurate. (Were phoenixes really a symbol of femininity in China? Did regular army soldiers rotate in and out of palace guard posts? I guess so.)
The references to magic are few, just enough to show that this is a magical story -- a wand, Apparition, shrinking the travel trunks, Polyjuice Potion, Veritaserum.
The story gives hints of questions we will have to answer for ourselves. What is the time period? Were members of the emperor's family always magical? Were the "lesser schools" also schools of magic? And how will the prince's experience be, studying alongside both commoners and scheming aristocrats? It boggles the mind to think of the amount of research that would be needed to describe even one ordinary day at Dragon Pearl.
As usual, Aida's writing is skillful and graceful, easy to read and easy to follow. A good blend of background, description, thoughts, dialogue, and action.
It is assumed that witches and wizards are present in countries all around the globe but we tend to imagine them only in Western-culture countries. Aida has opened up a whole new vista of possibilities. Will anyone follow her lead? (No, don't look at me.)
The Institute of Marriage by Half_BloodPrincess
Rated: 3rd-5th Years [Reviews - 3]
Summary: For many, marriage proclaims love, for others, it shows pain.
This little story has a refreshingly imaginative thesis. What I like: the "marriage bonds" which turn out to be a sort of telepathic notification of romantic/emotional feelings in one's spouse; the long time span; Hermione's constant eluding of her erstwhile husband (at first we don't know who or why); the notion that a Voldemort victory ultimately didn't make much difference to the Muggle world.
Even though we have an AU where Voldemort wins and Hermione is Imperiused to marry Draco, her character remains the character we knew in the 7 books, and when she is released from magical mind control, she is old Hermione, opposed to Voldemort and the Death Eaters, and she flees. There is no need to cudgel our brains trying to figure out why Hermione is behaving so sympathetically toward the Dark Side; she never does.
We get the feeling, even before Hermione realizes that Draco is about to die, that she has achieved a peace and tranquility in her life. The whole piece has a gentleness to it. And when she does see him for one last time, on his deathbed, there is no expressed anger, but no forgiveness either. For Hermione his death means neither triumph nor tragedy, just a final freedom.
This piece is very well-written, and the style is pleasingly different. So much is packed into just a few pages.
An Act of Love by hestiajones
Rated: Professors [Reviews - 2]
Summary: Salazar Slytherin has a dark secret, one that only Helga knows. Will she let him get away? Or will she hunt him down?
This is an adaptation of my drabble for the SBBC Cliche Redemption Challenge: Vampires, as well as an entry for the GH Inaugural Cotillion Challenge.
Disclaimer: I am not J.K.Rowling. No copyright infringements intended bro.
I'll bet this story never got into "Hogwarts: a History". This story is an interesting expansion of the character of Salazar Slytherin and speculation about his backstory and his motivation for leaving the new school. So little is established about these early times that the door is open for the development of the Founders' personalities and actions in any of a number of directions.
The story cuts back and forth between present (for the tale) time and flashback, including a dream sequence, but it quickly becomes easy to follow, and the characterizations of the four Founders are true to canon, with one reservation.
Given Salazar's long-established elitism and his condescending attitude, it is a bit of a stretch for me that Helga, with her egalitarian nature, should develop romantic feelings toward him (or he toward her).
The concept that he was actually a vampire is an imaginative stroke. Has he been thus for most or all of his adult life? During all of his twenty-plus-year tenure at the school? When did the Muggle mob dump him in the vampire's nest? How was it that he survived that encounter when his own victims do not? How long did Helga know that he was killing and consuming Muggles before she finally confronted him and he fled? I imagine that it could not have been long, since she acts resolutely not long after.
The developments of the problem with Salazar and Helga's desperate plan unfold slowly and steadily. The cutting back and forth between present time and flashback supports the mystery by allowing us to know that she has a plan to do something momentous without revealing too soon what it's all about. A straightforward timeline would not have accomplished the same thing.
The ending is ambiguous, no doubt on purpose. Salazar does not bite Helga, that is clear, but for some unexplained reason she has a sudden urge to sample the blood spread out over the floor (and why is half of his body gone?) But she quickly recovers and leaves the accursed cave. I wonder whether she will tell the other Founders what she knew, where she went, or what she did. Would Salazar have continued to be revered as one of the four Founders if she had told them?
This story is well-written and the sentences flow smoothly (as per the author's usual achievement). It was enjoyable to read. I can't fathom why it has so few reads and only one review.
Author's Response: Hello! Thank you so much for the lovely review! :)
To Kill for Her by h_vic
Rated: 6th-7th Years [Reviews - 3]
Summary: 'You'd die for her. I see it in the way you look at her. You'd kill for her. You wouldn't do that for me, would you?'
It ought to be a rhetorical question, but for Michael Corner suddenly it isn't.
This is h_vic of Hufflepuff writing for the Inaugural Great Hall Cotillion
When I read this story, I said to myself, "I am missing something." It was like reading a random chapter out of the middle of a book, not understanding who the characters are or what has been going on. The first part of the story was tough enough, trying to figure out the fourth paragraph with its obscure references to other unnamed people and past events. But the second part of the story was a shocker. I went back to check the dates; how do these parts relate? I wondered if the italics meant it was a dream or a prologue; apparently not. But why is Michael digging a grave, for heaven's sake? Is the corpse someone he killed, or merely a body he is hiding? The mention of bad images permanently in his brain suggests that he at least witnessed, probably committed the murder.
I went online to check out this author's other stories, Is there a prologue there somewhere? Not that I could see. But as I scrolled down the list of titles, I noticed the title of this piece more closely: "To Kill For Her". What? Did Michael murder Anthony in an attempt to get Lisa back again? Say it isn't so!
This story is definitely not ordinary. In a few short pages it manages to be startling, even disturbing, beginning as an unremarkable though nicely-written love story and ending as what can only be called an act of madness. It reminded me of John Hinckley's assassination attack on President Reagan in an attempt to impress the actress Jodi Foster (he is still in a mental hospital).
Michael refers to himself as weak. he has lost what is most valuable to him because of his self-perceived weakness. Now he is going to be "strong", for once! Now the tragedy is complete.
Sticking Together by iLuna17
Rated: 3rd-5th Years [Reviews - 3]
Summary: During the reign of the Carrows, Dumbledore's Army fought against them. The D.A. also had each others' backs, no matter what happened. But it wasn't always that way. It took a fourth-year, a little black book, and a plan the size of Hogwarts itself to make the D.A. realize their only chance of survival lied with each other.
This is iMusic17 of Slytherin writing for the Outstanding OWL's prompt in the School of Mischief Challenge in the Great Hall.
This is a clever story about a guerilla mission by Dumbledore's Army during Snape's tenure as Headmaster. The action moves along quickly in the students' multifaceted caper, and it was necessary to re-read it a few times in order to grasp all the actions and their purposes. The story fits into the canon timeline of events by taking place at the same time as the D. A. attempt to steal the (false) sword of Gryffindor from the Headmaster's office. The Carrows are depicted, as usual, as brutal but not very bright.
There were a few points I could not get sorted out precisely at first. In the first scene in the Room of Requirement, Hannah is present and delivers a few lines; then Nigel asks where Hannah and Terry are, and Anthony says "Hannah and Terry went to get the first years..." I think they mean to speak of Susan and Terry, not Hannah and Terry; shortly thereafter, Susan and Terry burst into the room.
When Anthony, Demelza, and Nigel invade the detention room, Susan seems to be in there, tied up and having recently been tortured, but how she ended up in there is not plain. When Hannah and Ernie, playing the role of turncoats, escort Demelza and Anthony "to the Headmaster's office", the story seems to refer to them as the three Prefects, but there were only two of them.
These editing defects are easily overlooked after one studies the story to feel confident that they are just flaws that escaped the beta's eye.
In the last conversation in the Room of Requirement, where Nigel reveals his actions in the back room of confiscated objects, he speaks as if he wrote the weird love letter in the duplicate book while he was in that room, but I can't imagine he had time for that; the second book must have been all prepared before the caper began. (Tell me if I'm mistaken.)
I also wondered whether the Carrows noticed the Stupefied bodies of the six Slytherin torturers lying on the floor.
But all of these points are very minor and easily fixed up with a few minutes of editing. The story is fun; we all enjoy a clever scheme. And the writing was good; the sentences flowed easily and the principal players, who are mostly minor ones in the books, were well characterized. Anything that helps fill in the mystery of what was going on at Hogwarts during the 1997-1998 school year is a welcome addition to the whole saga.
Author's Response: Thank you so much for the review! (Just a warning I wrote this about a year ago, so I'm not sure how much I remember :/)
I know that it's a little hard to grasp, and thank you for pointing out the wording errors (*headdesk* on my part). Nigel did have that letter prepared, he just chose not to spread it around because no one knew that he was planning to switch the books. Susan was serving detention for having been caught with the book, but I should have made that clearer. I'm really glad you enjoyed it, and thanks again!
Mortal Thoughts by noblefate
Rated: 1st-2nd Years [Reviews - 2]
Summary: Dumbledore's dead, and Tonks has just said she loves him, but Remus is still too afraid to go after what he wants. Here's hoping Molly Weasley can get him to take matters into his own hands.
An interesting little story, a continuation of the conversation that took place by Bill's bedside in the Hospital Wing after the battle in the tower. After Harry leaves the Hospital Wing we do not know how that conversation played out, but the author assumes that Lupin went into the Great Hall to see Dumbledore's body, then returned to the vicinity of the Hospital Wing but did not re-enter. The author gives a good exposition of Lupin's sense of being alone as, one by one, everyone who was close to him dies and he is reluctant to get close to anyone again. But he does not entertain the notion of a romantic attachment with Tonks until Molly comes out into the hall to pursue the discussion that was cut off earlier by Hagrid's arrival.
Lupin reiterates his negative opinion of himself -- he is a monster, he is a risk -- which has dominated his self-image all his life (encouraged no doubt by societal attitudes and restrictive laws), but Molly encourages him to break out of this self-imposed strait jacket, and eventually he decides to follow Lily's advice "...you don't have to let it define you." This is a realization that all disabled or damaged people will hopefully come to, sooner or later, that they can learn to manage their disability and go on to live a rewarding life that is normal in many respects.
In this story, Remus concludes that what holds him back is, first of all, fear, an emotion which comes not from Fenris Greyback or from society, but from within himself, and which he can conquer.
The story is nicely written. It's just a little slice of time, a little bit of dialogue, but a turning point for Lupin and Tonks. My only suggestion is a word choice in the final line. The word "feelings" sounds too tentative for a 37-year-old man like Lupin. It sounds like a word a teenager would use, in speaking about his first crush. Given that these were grim times, in which Lupin and Tonks would marry, have a baby, and die within the span of a year, I would have said "love".
Author's Response: Thank you for your extensive review. I always appreciate seeing my work through someone else's eyes as it gives me a sense of perspective, and I understand the critique of the story's ending. Thanks for reading! ~ Megan
Overcoming by Kaitlyn Snape
Rated: 3rd-5th Years [Reviews - 2]
Summary: Ginny is torn apart by Fred's death. He was the only one of her brothers who understood her, and now he is gone. Yet despite this, she knows she must go on. She must continue to live despite this. And to live, she must accept his death, no matter how hard it is.
If you've never experienced such an unexpected loss of someone so close, it's hard to understand how a person would feel in that situation, and therefore it would be challenging to write it. We know that there are various ways of showing grief; this story describes an extreme reaction for Ginny and George. The author puts this in perspective by saying "Slowly each person in the family manages to return to living. I can't. George can't." It is good for the author to point out that most others recover functionality much more quickly.
Except for George, no other character is explored in depth. Ginny makes short-sentence bald statements of what the others are doing, almost as if they are mere acquaintances, not family members. Ginny is pulling back from the very people who could help her integrate this loss into her life experience. She makes scant mention of Harry. At first "Harry is alive," as if that mattered to her, but quickly she pushes him away from her psychologically, and he becomes a focus of blame. It is common for a wounded person to want to pin blame on another person; "fate" is too impersonal to blame, and God is too far away. There is no more mention of Harry except "Harry travels across the country, repairing lives" (but not her life), and by Christmas he is no longer mentioned at all.
The staccato sentences in which this chapter is written sound the way a grief-stricken person would talk. The sentences could be combined to make longer sentences, one idea flowing into another, but that would change the tone of the piece
The timeline of the chapter is notable. It begins with a long section describing Ginny's and George's ascent from the depths of grief over a period of about four months. Then follows a very quick synopsis, only a few paragraphs covering a span of time of at least two years, Ginny's last year of school and at least one year with the Holyhead Harpies. This section feels like a bridge between the four month period after Fred's death to some new episode which the reader expects to be explored at some length again.
The implication is that something important is going to happen involving the game with the Montrose Magpies or during the timespan of the game. Ginny says "The dreaded day comes." Why is the day dreaded? Is it just a game like all the previous games, or is there something special about this game?
Ginny speaks in short sentences to the very end of this chapter, giving the impression that, despite her assertions to the contrary, she still has a large reservoir of grief under her facade of moving on and resuming a normal life. Her recovery feels stuck.
This first chapter sets us up for further developments in Chapter 2, but it's hard to guess where this story is going. We shall see.
Author's Response: Thank you so much for sending me this response! I really appreciate that you analyzed my chapter, and I'm not being sarcastic. I like that you included very specific details. I also like the questions you asked me, and I will hopefully be able to answer some of them in my next chapter.
Your analysis of my chapter has actually helped me to understand something I have been wondering about for a long time. I am currently in high school, and we have been analyzing literature very in-depth in English. Something I have been wondering is how authors end up with all of these interesting symbolisms, syntax, and tone. I now know that it just happens. Thank you!
I will try to post Chapter 2 soon, but I am having a little bit of a hard time finishing it. I also have to say that you're prediction that something important will happen during the game is correct. The question is- what will it be?
Once again, thank you for your lovely and lengthy review!
Author's Response: Thank you so much for sending me this response! I really appreciate that you analyzed my chapter, and I'm not being sarcastic. I like that you included very specific details. I also like the questions you asked me, and I will hopefully be able to answer some of them in my next chapter.
Your analysis of my chapter has actually helped me to understand something I have been wondering about for a long time. I am currently in high school, and we have been analyzing literature very in-depth in English. Something I have been wondering is how authors end up with all of these interesting symbolisms, syntax, and tone. I now know that it just happens. Thank you!
I will try to post Chapter 2 soon, but I am having a little bit of a hard time finishing it. I also have to say that you're prediction that something important will happen during the game is correct. The question is- what will it be?
Once again, thank you for your lovely and lengthy review!
Hard-Faced by LollyLovesick
Rated: 6th-7th Years [Reviews - 3]
All that matters is the face you show to the world.
Hard-faced, but in love.
What's a girl to do?
This is LollyLovesick of Hufflepuff submitting my entry for Rosmerta's Mini-Gauntlet being held in The Three Broomsticks over at the MNFF beta boards.
Nominated for Best General Story in the 2012 Quicksilver Quills. Thank you!I read your story through a few times to completely understand all that you were saying. This is a great story, and it deserves more reviews. It does a good job of describing a girl who wasn't malicious, but just doing what she had to do to survive. The series of vignettes establishes her careful attempts to balance her mother's advice, her place in the social milieu of Slytherin House, and her own repressed need for love.
It is posited in this story that after Draco betrays Pansy (in her mind) by marrying someone else, she decides that she wants to take revenge on him. It is a little hard for me to understand why she has this reaction. True, she hoped that after the war he would come back to her by default (having no other friends), but when he does not, why does she react so strongly? Because without him she has no future (paying job, dingy flat, nights in clubs drinking, nothing like the status she was born into, no respectable man with money to feed and clothe her)? Or because she wanted him so badly that she began to believe that it was guaranteed she would have him? My father used to remind me and my siblings that "Wantin' ain't gittin'", and I quote that wisdom often.
It is amusing to read Pansy's wild fantasies about how she might take revenge, including something as ridiculous as abducting Draco's baby. But she shows her cunning nature, which has gone far beyond mere survival now, in the elaborate plan to have Draco make a fool of himself with a prostitute in front of his wife. When at the last minute Pansy doesn't go through with her plan, what is she thinking? Sympathy for Astoria? For the baby, which whom she suddenly identifies?
There is a subtlety to this story that invites re-reading and pondering. A lot is suggested in a few sentences here and there. Well-written.
A Death in the Family by GDPeg43
Rated: 1st-2nd Years [Reviews - 3]
Summary: Lily Potter has been confined to her Godric's Hollow home for months now with little contact to the outside world, so it comes as a great surprise to her when she learns of her Muggle mother's death. Lily's strong urge to go to the funeral and say good-bye to her mother would mean putting herself and family in danger in multiple ways - and possibly seeing her estranged sister Petunia.
I read this story when it was first posted, and should have reviewed it then, but better late than never.
I am impressed by the good descriptions all around, of the actions and interactions at the Potter house in Godwin Hollow, the neglected yard, the baby throwing the wand against the wall, and so on. You captured well Lily's severe stress from the threat of You-Know-Who, from being virtually imprisoned in her house (with an uncertain future and no end in sight), and now from the loss of her mother.
I also like the depiction of Dumbledore. Although he knows that going to the funeral involves a big risk, he does not forbid Lily to go and he even brings the Invisibility Cloak for her to use. He leaves the final decision to her, without a long conversational harangue. But was it realistic to think that she could actually go to the funeral without talking to any of her own family? When Lily returns, Dumbledore chides her for taking the risk of revealing herself to Petunia, but after a sentence or two he lets the matter drop. I liked that.
I loved the brief description of her town, her house, and the mourners and the funeral. It was just right, not too much or too little.
The blow-up between Petunia and Lily was wonderful. Again, not too much or too little. It seemed very realistic, making clear the depth of the animosity that Petunia had built up toward Lily, ever increasing over the years, as resentment bred resentment, topped off by what seemed the final blow, her mother's asking for Lily on her deathbed.
On top of the old sibling rivalry is superimposed, in Petunia's mind, the terrible stress of taking care of sick and dying parents, a job that, in real life, typically gets foisted off on one of the children and creates bitterness toward the other siblings who got off scot-free. Petunia is far beyond any openness; she will never let bygones be bygones.
The chilling part of this story is that we know (but Lily does not) that in a few months her beloved son will be sent into the care of this woman who will continue the battle for years, not with an adult sister but with a defenseless child.
Dumbledore mistakenly believes that his relationship with Aberforth is a good yardstick to measure Lily's relationship with Petunia. He was not in that church. He did not see their confrontation. He does not know.
There is a timeline problem. James tells Lily that her mother died "yesterday", Wednesday, May 20th, and that Mrs. Jenson saw the obituary in the newspaper "yesterday" and mailed it to them. The obit would not be published on the same day that Mrs. Evans died. Then Lily says that she will attend the Saturday funeral "tomorrow morning", so this day must be Friday, Mrs. Evans died two days ago, not yesterday, and the obit was published on Thursday morning and immediately cut out and mailed by Mrs. Jenson, to arrive today (Friday). James is obviously mixed up about what day today is; it's Friday the 22nd, and he thinks it's Thursday the 21st. Easy to do if you are cooped up in the house all day, day after day, and don't go to a regular job.
One other hint: the story says "...it donned on her..." What you want is "...it dawned on her..." "Donned" means "he put on clothing," as in "he donned his hat and coat."
All in all, a good story, and it contributes to the understanding of why Petunia behaved as she did when Harry was put in her care. Nicely done.
They Brought the Great Alastor Moody To His Knees by The Last Marauder
Rated: 3rd-5th Years [Reviews - 3]
Summary: Alastor Moody's house was impenetrable. The door had ten locks on it, each requiring a complex spell to open. All his windows had been reinforced with all the security spells in existence. At least two Sneakoscopes were perched in each room. He had taken every precaution. He had added every security measure under the sun. He had thought of every possible entry point and fortified all weak areas. No one could get inside, no one, but they did. They did.
I am blown away by the sheer mass and richness of detail in this story. You must have sat up late at night thinking of more things to say about Alastor Moody. In writing like this, you run the risk of becoming repetitious or too wordy, and I read critically with an eye to phrases I would blue-pencil if I were your editor, but in truth I found very few.
The title of your story is good in that it promises the reader that, after the long build-up describing Moody's character as an Auror and his circumstances as a recently-retired pensioner, there is going to be some action eventually. Lacking that promise, a reader might give up about one-third of the way through the story (right before Moody gets out of bed for the first time).
It is hard to imagine that Barty Crouch Jr., masquerading as the false Alastor Moody, could be as detail-obsessed as the real Moody was; probably few people except Moody's four allowed visitors really had an inkling as to the extent of his detail obsession (looking for codes in the newspaper articles?), and of them only Dumbledore was at Hogwarts. How did Barty Crouch Jr. manage to impersonate such a complex character as Moody so successfully, given that he, Barty, had not seen Alastor Moody for years? How did he manage to fool Dumbledore?
The fight scene is vivid and well-described. The fight goes on for quite a while, the advantage switches back and forth from side to side, and Moody's courage is impressive. But, because he was a skilled Auror, I wonder why so few of his shots hit their mark. And Pettigrew and Crouch seem pretty skilled in fighting for men who have spent their recent years as a rat and a shut-in respectively.
I also wonder how they managed to overcome Moody's protections and blast a hole in the side of his house. We are not told of the protections that Moody had on his walls, other than the windows and door, though he believes "the house was impregnable." But nothing is perfect, even Moody's protections, and how they got in is one of those things that we will probably never know.
This story is an amazing elaboration of the personality of Alastor Moody. After reading it, one is tempted to go back through Books 4-7 and re-read the sections which include Moody to see how his depiction there reflects the descriptions in this story.
One nit: in several places the story uses the word "passed" where I think the word needed was "past". But that's a little thing. The story is awesome.
Author's Response: Hi there, so sorry for the delay in responding to your lovely review, I only just noticed it! I am so glad you liked this, I had a lot of fun writing it, and you are half right, I did spend a lot of time just sitting still in an empty room, thinking, observing, and plotting, trying to get into the head of Mad-Eye Moody, and I had a lot of fun with that, so I am glad you enjoyed.
I know what you mean about being repetitious and too wordy, and I was conscious of that. It is a very wordy piece, and not a lot happens for a while, which I thought would be problematic. I was focusing more on Moody's character at the start of the piece, and less on action. I am just glad it worked, because people do seem to like the story!
In terms of how Crouch managed to impersonate Moody so flawlessly, well I was basing that on that fact that Crouch kept him alive and under the imperious curse, so he could question him and learn his habits and quirks so he could fool even Dumbledore (he does say that in GOF, that he kept Moody alive to question him and learn his character and personality)
I am glad you liked the fight scene. In terms of Moody being a skilled Auror and not a lot of his shots hit their mark ... well, he is older now and battle worn and scarred. He has lost his leg. I was trying to capture a hero in decline. He is not as fast, or fit or as skillful as he used to be. I wanted to capture him like that, because I think it is really sad, that his once brilliant and great Auror has to face up with the fact that he can't be brilliant forever, that everything has its time and must end, and his story is a sad one - where he was forced to retire when he himself was not ready to let go...
Sorry about the issue with passed and past - I will go and fix that now - thanks for pointing it out!
Anyway, thank you so much for your fantastic review, it really made my day. I am just so happy you liked this little story! Thank you so much, your review is awesome.
Seven Simple Years by HalfASlug
Rated: 6th-7th Years [Reviews - 151]
Summary: The story of Ron and Hermione through a series of missing moments. Who said love was simple?
Very, very, very well done. Completely believable, just the right amount of detail, sensitive without being overwrought, absolutely canon-compliant. There are a few stories that I print off and keep in a binder, to go along with the seven volumes by JKR, and this story is definitely one of them.
Author's Response: Thanks for reading and reviewing! I'm really glad that you liked it and I am honoured to be included in your binder :)
Tales from Howling Hall by Racing Co
Rated: 3rd-5th Years [Reviews - 2]
Summary: Fellow Healers despised Damocles Belby for his arrogance and admitted genius, but none ever envied him. Assigned to St. Mungo's little-known ward for treating werewolves, Belby faces death and failure each time the full moon rises. Who is more cursed? The werewolves or the man charged with curing them?
Together with his story "The Howling Hall", the author has given us a peek into the part of the history of St. Mungo's Hospital and the evolution of the treatment of lycanthropy. Stories such as these give us the understanding that the magical culture is not conceived as being static or immutable; developments and advances occur, as in the non-magical world. The state of the art in past generations was not what it is today.
The protagonist, Damocles Belby, is not a completely lovable hero. In Chapter 2 the young Damocles shows traces of the prickliness that marks the older Damocles in Chapter 1. This prickliness is also hinted at in the references to his failed romance with Poppy (why did she refuse him?) and his assignment to the unpopular dead-end job in Stokeley Ward (how had he offended the administrators?) Both these points could be explored in further stories; maybe the author intends to do so.
The writing is graceful and fluid. The story is easy to read, easy to follow, with interesting details that enrich the scene.
The timeline seems a little uncertain. In Chapter 2, "1959", Damocles states that he is 26 years old and has been working on the lycanthropy assignment for five years (supposedly since age 21). In Chapter 1, his age is given as 57 and he states that he has been working on it for 30 years. Since age 27? Or maybe he really meant "30-some-odd years", more precisely 36. At any rate, he seems to have developed the Wolfsbane Potion in about 1989-1990, a few years before Remus Lupin's tenure as a Hogwarts professor in 1993.
Always Watching by AidaLuthien
Rated: 1st-2nd Years [Reviews - 2]
Summary: Severus Snape is bound to watch and wait.
This is AidaLuthien of Hufflepuff writing for the Great Hall Challenge, Illustration for Inspiration.
It would be wrong to suggest that Snape was not a man of action, but he didn't do anything impetuously. His actions were planned, studious; time was not an issue.
He probably learned this at his parents' house under the influence of his brutal, unpredictable father. Sheer power was not the way to survive a man like Tobias Snape; you had to use cunning, guile, stealth; you had to be patient, but always alert, always on guard.
Perhaps his original attraction to Tom Riddle had to do with the allure of power, the shuffling off of the feelings of helplessness. Did he think that he, a half-blood, could gain a favored position in the New Wizarding World Order? Even after it became plain that this new order involved torturing and killing people, Snape did not act impetuously; it took a threat to the only woman he loved to make make him take the action of changing his allegiance.
Now he feels that he can only watch and do nothing. Matters have gone far beyond his control. Yet he can do something. He can protect the students to a certain degree from the Carrows, transmit the real sword eventually to Harry, and throw a red herring to Bellatrix.
And if the alternative to watchful waiting is impetuosity, he has already convinced himself that that is a losing strategy also. In the end, of course, the winning strategy was a combination of careful planning and gutsy action. But Snape did not live long enough to see that.
This story continues the author's string of well-written fiction, a good expansion on details of the canon story, an effective combination of action and analysis. I reviewed the scene of the death of Charity Burbage in Book 7; I had always assumed that Voldemort did the deed, but this author assumes it was Snape. The book does not exactly say.
Taken by AidaLuthien
Rated: 1st-2nd Years [Reviews - 2]
Summary: Luna's trip back to Hogwarts is interrupted by Death Eaters on the train.
This is AidaLuthien of Hufflepuff writing for Round One of the 2012 Character Triathlon.
This story is a good evocation of the climate of danger and fear that existed during the final year before the downfall of Voldemort. The conversations among the students on the train are stilted. Assuming the train is bugged, they speak in code which carries double meanings. "She had copies." The first year students are described as terrified and so scared. (It would have been nice to give a bit of description of what the first-years were doing that made them appear scared.)
The author includes brief mentions of Luna's imaginary creatures. She thinks about Blibbering Humdingers and Invisible Meese, and mentions Crumple-Horned Snorkacks and Wrackspurts in passing, during the don't-mention-anything-important conversation in the compartment. These mentions serve to show us that this is still Luna, but changes in her communication style ("Luna was getting a bit better at subterfuge") show that as she matured, she became more aware of how her speech sounded to other people.
Luna understands instantly why she is being taken from the train and why she is not in immediate danger of death. Despite her outwardly dreamy demeanor, she has a grasp of the politics of the situation. "She tried to keep her tone casual" indicates that she instantly recognized how serious this development was.
When she says, "Yes, it's very nice of them" to Bellatrix, she is continuing to maintain her facade of non-threatening naivete, although we see later in the book that she is the person who survives about three months in the Malfoy dungeon and is able to cut bonds with a hidden nail.
This story is well-written, with only the one suggestion mentioned already. It avoids stereotyping Luna as out-of-touch and reveals her innate intelligence and toughness. A good job.
Cherry and Chocolate by AidaLuthien
Rated: 1st-2nd Years [Reviews - 3]
Summary: On a trip to Diagon Alley, Severus Snape remembers the first time he visited the wizarding enclave - with Lily Evans.
Thank you to Broken Promise for betaing!
This is AidaLuthien of Hufflepuff writing for Round One of Madam Pomfrey's One Shot Character Clinic.
This is a sunny piece, even seen through the eyes of Snape. The lull between the storms. Although Snape hates crowds and shudders at the sight of so many children, his visit to Diagon Alley cannot help stirring up memories of a happier moment, like a kaleidoscope of colorful images from long ago. For a brief time, Snape leaves his demons behind to revel in remembrance of an afternoon with Lily in the excitement and wonder of a first visit to Diagon Alley and the anticipation of being a real wizard at Hogwarts with a real wand.
The author deftly changes Snape's mood throughout the story from distaste at first, when he entered Diagon Alley, to wistful heartache when he sees the little redheaded Muggleborn girl, to heartwarming reverie as he reminisces about that precious afternoon with Lily, while they were still friends. The mood changes abruptly, with finality, in only three words: "his father's rage".
It is easy to understand why he tries to will himself to forget the unforgettable. The pain of losing Lily and the pain of his father's abuse run so deep that he yearns to be free of them, even at the price of surrendering perhaps the only happiness he ever knew. And he does not foresee any happiness in his future. As the author says, "He knew what was to come." Survival is the best he can hope for, and for that he must keep his emotions strictly under control. Although seeing the little girl who reminds him of Lily was sudden and unexpected, It didn't throw him for a loop. He had steeled himself so well.
This piece is just a brief glimpse into Snape's thoughts and background, but it is enjoyable to read, and it makes the reader wonder what Snape could have become if he had survived the war. How much humanity was left, hidden in his heart?


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Last Chance To Sign Petition, Email Or Speak At Meeting
WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif., Sept. 16, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- An online petition was launched this week on the website www.Change.org to save the world famous Tower Records store on the Sunset Strip in Southern California: http://chn.ge/1e5yF92. This is the last chance to save the Tower Records store from the wrecking ball and preserve the most significant location and history of music on the Sunset Strip. While most music fans remember and know this store as the most famous record store in the world, many others remember it as the place to be seen and experience live music events during the nearly four decades on Sunset Boulevard.
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130916/PH79883)
Last spring the Historic Preservation Commission had two meetings where they agreed there was a significant social, cultural and music history there. But then they got hung up on mere aesthetics of red and yellow paint and additional advertising/marketing signage. The commissioners did recommend a plaque or perhaps a music square as recognition. Unfortunately they disagreed about full preservation of the location and structure. The majority of music fans and experts want full preservation of the location and structure. The original Tower Records store opened in November 1970 and began with no additional advertising/marketing signage at all. The original applicant for preservation is historian and author, Domenic Priore. Residents and fans still feel that commissioners last spring missed an important opportunity to preserve the location and site. But now there is a second chance as the Tower Records Store is up for reconsideration of an appeal to the city council. Local resident and community advocate, Jerome Cleary has launched a fundraising event on the crowd funding website: www.GoFundMe.com to raise funds to hire experts for the appeal: http://www.gofundme.com/2qxaeo.
The appeal will be heard on Monday, November 4th at 6:30pm and there are numerous ways to participate. Sign the online petition at: http://chn.ge/1e5yF92.
Come speak for two minutes at the appeal hearing or email: Stephanie Reich at: email@example.com and to the city council at: firstname.lastname@example.com.
Snail mail: Stephanie Reich, 8300 Santa Monica Blvd. W. Hollywood, CA 90069.
Or call city council members at 323 848-6460 The appeal will be at the new West Hollywood Library, first floor city council chambers located at 625 North San Vicente Boulevard, West Hollywood, California 90069, between Melrose Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard.
Media Contact: Jerome Cleary, 310 920-2424
Read more news from Jerome Cleary.
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Just wondering where did the term "sandbagging" come from?
Just wondering where did the term "sandbagging" come from?
An unintuitive consequence of conditional probability.
Twitter @steflachMMA. Herald Sport www.heraldscotland.com/sport
Simple answer is you can't stop it, you can limit it to a degree if it's pre-registrations but even then unless you sit and google every competitors name (although of course according to one of Scotland's senior sports writers recently you can pay to have your google history deleted, how do some of these clowns get jobs Stef?) you'll never catch every one who's at it.
Rob your being harsh about the comp mate, it ran smoothly enough especially when you take in to account you were weighing guys in and making brackets up on the day.
Scotlands No. 1 Timekeeper also available as a BJJ/No Gi referee
Had an absolutely fantastic time at the comp apart from getting uncontrollable gun-burn..........
Brilliant atmosphere. And chatted to some cool people.
My only issue was we could have done with a warm-up mat. Did notice some sandbaggers too. Like the guys are saying, a gold medal in the beginners aint anything to brag about if you arent a fucking beginner. Myself and other guys wouldnt let their guys enter a beginners bracket if they are not beginners - its honourable to have competed against high level dudes.
My favourite thing was those krav-maga guys...... After watching them I now know how to defend against multiple attackers. Defo gonna do that ritual looking head-touching drill.
Having attended this comp in the past, i have to say that it is a great comp!
- well run..well reffed and ran in good time...not to forget the goodies at the end ie: comp tshirt, protein shakers etc
The addition of intermediate cat's can only be a good thing and will imvho entice more people to attend and compete.
Unfortunately, sandbaggers will always be part of the comp scene for the reasons that meat outlined.
Just in case anything i have said gets twisted around, im not having a go at the comp. According to everyone it went well and everyone enjoyed it. All i was saying was that i kinda understood why Majid done it, but as Tom pointed out, if your not comfortable in the division above then dont enter...... Makes sense
This sandbagging thing, doesn't really matter in my mind. The guys who do it, I assume mostly do it because they don't consider themselves to be of advanced level, not because they are wanting to win an easy gold medal. So if you are of the mind that the sandbagee (coined term) should be up at the next level as he'd get more experience against a more advanced grappler than himself then it works in reverse, the guys in beginner are getting a chance at going with someone of greater experience (the sandbagee) than themselves.
Either way, it's a neat little comp in Scotland, not the ADCC- for most it's just a bit of fun, meet up with friends and have a competitive roll.
Asa | www.granitecitygrappling.com
This is what I found:
Early race tracks had a safety wall of sandbags around the outer edge of the track. To convincingly qualify at a lower speed (and thus obtain a better starting position), a driver tries to appear to be running flat-out, but intentionally misjudges a corner or two, causing the car to swing wide and lose speed due to friction against the sandbags. He could then claim that his better performance in the race was due to learning the track.
58KG (126 lbs) Wuss, the same weight as my 13 year old nephew.
To limit the problem of sandbaggers & accommodate people that just arent that good at grappling but still enjoy it, would it be possible to implement a division structure instead of a year/experience structure?
For example, Div A, B,C.
Div C: Aimed at novice competitors, no BJJ Blue belts. If you medal in this division you move into Div B next time.
Div B: Aimed at experienced competitors. No BJJ Brown or Black belt. If you medal in this div you compete in Div A next time.
Div A: Brown/ Black belts, accomplished no-gi grapplers.
As mentioned in previous threads numbers havent been sufficient enough for 3 classes, Div B & C would prob be busy with A being low numbers, but as the comps progressed there would be more competitors moving up. Hopefully would be easier to control whos in where as you'd know previous medalists.
Ive done every SGC & have yet to get a victory, I done -1yr at first couple & moved to 1+ when Id been training 1yr. I empathise with guys going into -1yr because they think they would or did get smashed +1yr but want to take part.


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For heavy soiled carpets takes a few running over as mine was normal soiled but overall not bad of a job. I would recommend for for normal soiled carpets not very heavily soiled.
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text: Commencement Address, May 28, 2006 Novelist and essayist Anna Quindlen, Colby's 2006 commencement speaker, has written columns for leading American newspapers and magazines, including The New York Times and Newsweek magazine, for which she continues to write the "Last Word." She has written four best-selling novels, and a collection of her New York Times columns titled Thinking Out Loud was on the New York Times Best Seller List for more than three months in 1993. With the publication of her nonfiction book A Short Guide to a Happy Life, in 2000, she became the first writer to have books appear on the fiction, nonfiction, and self-help New York Times Best Seller lists. She will receive an honorary degree. Women and men of the Class of 2006 at Colby College. I do a fair amount of public speaking. And, because of their virtuosity, I have always said that there are two people that I never want to follow on a program: Mario Cuomo and Hillary Rodham Clinton. However today I make a new vow: Francis—I'm never speaking after you again. Commencement speeches are the toughest speeches I ever give.This is a hugely transformative moment in the life of you graduates and of all of your families. It's also a day of great celebration, and I'm always keenly aware that I am now all that stands between you and your diplomas and the partying to come. So I'm going to be brief with you. My text is a simple one —you can remember it. Be not afraid. It's an old and honorable directive—you can find it with some variation in both the Old and the New Testament. That's because it's really the secret of life. C.S. Lewis once wrote "Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point." So, Class of 2006, fear not. Believe me, I have enough of a memory of my youth to know that it's really preposterous to say that at this moment. You are afraid. You're afraid of leaving what you know, you're afraid of seeking what you want, you're afraid of taking the wrong path, or you're afraid of failing at the right one. Your closest friends are going one way, you're going another, and from this small, serene, safe, gorgeous pond, you go down through the estuary to the ocean, and often the current will be harsh and the riptides will be tough. But you have to learn to put the fear aside, or at least refuse to allow it to rule you. It is fear that always tamps down our authentic selves, that turns us into some patchwork collection of affectations and expectations, mores and mannerisms, some treadmill set to the prevailing speed of universal acceptability that causes a tyranny of homogeny, whether it's the homogeny of the straight world of the suits or the spiky world of the avant-garde. The voices of conformity speak so loudly out there. Don't listen. People will tell you what you ought to think and how you ought to feel. They will tell you what to read and how to live. They will urge you to take jobs that they themselves loathe, and to follow safe paths that they themselves find tedious. Only a principled refusion to be terrorized by these stingy standards will save you from a Frankenstein life that's made up of others' outside expectations grafted together into a poor semblance of existence. You can't afford to do that. It's what's poisoned our culture, our communities, and our national character. No one ever does the right thing from fear, and so many of the wrong things are done in its shadow: homophobia, sexism, racism, religious bigotry. All of them are bricks in a wall that divides us and they're bricks cast of the clay of fear—fear of that which is different or unknown. Our political atmosphere today is so disspiriting because most of our leaders are leaders in name only. They're terrorized by polls and focus groups, by the need to be all things to all people, which means that they wind up being nothing at all. Our workplaces are full of fear—fear of innovation, fear of difference. The most widely used cliché in management today is to "think outside the box." The box is not only stale custom, it is terrified paralysis. In my own business fear is the ultimate enemy. It accounts for censorship, obfuscation, the lowest common denominator of the news when sharp, free, fearless news is more necessary to us than ever before. Without fear or favor, the news business has to provide readers and viewers with stories, even if those stories are stories the powerful do not want you to hear or believe and do not want us to publish or disseminate. Too often our public discourse fears real engagement or intellectual intercourse. It pitches itself at the lowest possible level. Always preaching to the choir so that nobody will get angry, which means nobody will get interested. What's the point of free speech if we're always afraid to speak freely? Not too long ago I asked a professor of religion what she did to suit the comfort level of all those diverse students in her class. And she said, "It's not my job to make people comfortable. It's my job to educate them." I nearly stood up and cheered. If we fear competing viewpoints, in this country of all countries, if we fail to state the unpopular or to allow the unacceptable to be heard because of some plain-vanilla sense of civility, that's not civility at all, it's the denigration of the human capacity for thought—the suggestion that we are fragile flowers incapable of disagreement, argument, or civil intellectual combat. Colby College does not turn out fragile flowers. You have to be smart and sure and strong enough to overcome the condescending notion that opposing viewpoints are just too much for us to bear—in politics, in journalism, in business, in the academy. Open your mouths. Speak your peace. Fear not. Believe me, you're not the only ones who sometimes lack courage. We parents have been paralyzed by fear as well, haven't we? When you were first born, each of you, I can guarantee that your parents' greatest glory was in thinking you absolutely distinct from every baby who had ever been born before. You were a miracle of singularity. You shouted "dog," you lurched across the playground, you put a scrawl of red paint next to a squiggle of green and we put it on the fridge and said, "Oh my god, oh my god, you are a painter, a poet, a prodigy, a genius." But we are only human, and being a parent is a very difficult job—unpaid and unrewarded much of the time, requiring the shaping of other people—an act of incredible hubris. And over the years, we sometimes learned to want for you things that you did not necessarily want for yourselves. We learned to want the lead in the play, the acceptance at our own college, the straight and narrow path that often leads absolutely nowhere. We learned to fear your differences, not to celebrate them. Sometimes we were convinced conformity would make life better or at least easier for you. Sometimes we had a hard time figuring out where we ended and you began. So today guide us back to where we started. Help us not to make mistakes out of fear, or out of love. Learn not to listen to us when we are wrong. Begin today to say no to the Greek chorus that thinks it knows the parameters of a good life when all it knows is some one-size-fits-all version of human experience. There's plenty to fear out there. You know that every time you pick up a newspaper. Two years ago I gave into it myself, writing a column at just this time called "An Apology to the Graduates," telling the Class of 2004 how sorry I was about the unremitting stress they had been under all their young lives. In part I wrote, "There's an honorable tradition of starving students; it's just that between outsourcing of jobs and a boom market in real estate, your generation envisions becoming starving adults. Caught in our peculiar modern nexus of prosperity and insolvency, easy credit and epidemic bankruptcy, you also get toxic messages from the culture about what achievement means. It is no longer enough to make it, you must make it big. You all will live longer than any generation in history, yet you were kicked into high gear earlier as well. Your college applications look like the résumés for midlevel executives. How exhausted you must be." Well, here is what might await you. You will, I am sure, be offered the option of now becoming exhausted adults, convinced that no achievement is large enough, with résumés as long as short stories. But what if that feels like a betrayal of your true self? A forced march down a road trodden by other feet at the end of which is nothing you truly care for? Fear not. Remember Pinocchio? Each of you has a Jiminy Cricket. It is you, your best self, the one you can trust. The only problem is that it is sometimes hard to hear what it says because all of the external voices and messages are so loud, so insistent, and so adamant. Voices that loud are always meant to bully. Do not be bullied. You already know this. I just need to remind you. You already know how important courage is. After all you chose as your class speaker someone from a small village in Zimbabwe who got on a plane to transcend hemispheres, customs, and cultures to come to Colby College. You can look at him and know that a flying leap of fearlessness is possible. Just think back. You know how to do this. Think back to first grade – to yourself in first grade when you could still hear the sound of your own voice in your head. When you were too young, too unformed, too fantastic to understand that you were supposed to take on the protective coloration of the expectations of those around you. When you were absolutely, certainly, unapologetically yourself. I have a pocket-sized edition of the Tao that I keep on my desk. I read a passage from it every day, and the section I like best says, "In dwelling, live close to the ground. In thinking, keep to the simple. In conflict, be fair and generous. In governing, don't try to control. In work, do what you enjoy. In family life, be completely present." When you are content to be simply yourself and don't compare or compete, everybody will respect you. We live in a world in which the simple, the generous, the enjoyable, the completely present, above all the simply yourself, sometimes seems as out of reach as the moon. Don't be fooled. That's not because anyone has found a better way in the millennia since the Tao was written. It is because too often we are people enslaved by fear. The ultimate act of bravery doesn't usually take place on a battlefield. It takes place in your heart when you have the courage to honor your character, your intellect, your inclinations, and your soul by listening to its clean, clear voice of direction instead of following the muddied messages of a timid world. Samuel Butler once said, "Life is like playing a violin solo in public and learning the instrument as one goes on." That sounds terrifying, doesn't it, and difficult too, but that way lies music. So, Class of 2006 pick up your violin, lift your bow, play your heart out. Congratulations and courage. For video clips of Commencement, including Anna Quindlen's address, click here. |


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NOTE: After writing this first draft I noticed the other guide in drafts (I didn't really look through drafts before posting this). I'm hopefully going to continue writing this, as I have some valid points on tanking/dps that the other one doesn't have. Sorry :P
- Added introduction
- Added pro's & con's
- Added base stats
- Added skill information
- Added support/tank skill set
- Added support/tank item setv1.1
- Removed some title art
- Added skill set of Support/Tank
- Added item set of Support/Tank
- Visual changes to text colouring and sizes
Demented Shaman
Mr Malleable
I've been using Dazzle in DotA since he came out and loved him ever since. Upoon getting a BETA key for Heroes of Newerth I instantly picked up on playing Demented SHaman, his almost direct port. Shaman is a great hero for all levels of gameplay; the fact he could be used in so many different ways drew me to him, and I haven't looked back since. I've discovered him to be an adept healer (obviously), a less conventional damage dealer and a rarely seen tank. In this guide I'll explain to you how he can be all of these things, so if I've caught your attention and captured your imagination, read on!
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Pro's & Con's
+ Babysitter
+ Harrasser
+ Strong Support
+ All physical damage
+ Low cost spells
+ Low cooldown spells
- Lack of escape mechanism
- Needs more and more items as game goes on
- Reasonably low HP
Base Stats
Strength:16 (+1.85)
Agility: 21 (+1.7)
Intelligence: 27 (+3.4)
Starting HP: 454
Starting Mana: 351
Range: 600
Base Damage: 41-59
Attack p/second: 0.71
Movement Speed: 305
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Type: Magic
Target: Enemy unit
Range: 600
Cast time: 0.8 seconds
Mana Cost: 100/115/130/145
Cooldown: 15/13/11/9
- Performs a mini-stun on target and slows its movement speed by 33/66/66/66%.
- After 1/2/3/3 seconds, applies Entangled to target for 7 seconds and stuns them for 0/0/1/1 seconds.
- Entangle Effect: 7/14/21/28 Physical damage per second
For damage and chasing this is your main skill. Maxed first in the DPS build for maximum effect. Slows the target to stopping, stuns and does damage. This will get you kills nobody else can. It's perfect for ganking, escaping, chasing and killing. Maxed second in support/tank build.
Arcane Hide
Type: Magic
Target: Allied unit
Range: 600
Cast time: 0.8 seconds
Mana Cost: 85
Cooldown: 15
- Applies Arcane Hide to target for 15 seconds with 5 charges.
- Arcane Hide Effects: Reduces incoming non-DOT damage from Heroes, Towers or Bosses by 50%
- Each time target is damaged by a Hero, Tower or Boss, 1 charge is removed.
- Damage over time effects (DoT's) are not reduced and do not remove charges.
- Arcane Hide is removed when no charges remain or after 100/200/300/400 damage has been absorbed.
Noticably nerfed from the DotA counterpart 'Shallow Grave'. Applies 5 counters to the target allied hero that get removed from each source of damage taken. At max this can block 400 damage which may not seem like much but can definitely save peoples lives.
Best used on initiators or squishy heroes like Glacius. Can be the difference between a full Glacius ulti or dying half way through.
Healing wave
Type: Physical
Target: Organic Allied Units
Range: 600
Cast time: 0.8 seconds
Mana Cost: 80/90/100/110
Cooldown: 12/10/8/6
- Chains between the successively closest 3/3/4/5 allied targets, healing each for 80/100/120/140.
- Enemy units within a 180 radius of a healed target will take 80/100/120/140 Physical damage per target.
Your primary damage dealer and support heal. This spell is incredible, not only does it do a 140 heal on an array of 5 allies, it can also do up to 700 damage on enemies at max. Since the damage is physical this also goes through magic immune units, such as Swiftblade and Jeraziah, which can confuse them.
Storm Cloud
Type: Physical
Range: 2000
Radius: 600
Cast time: 0.8 seconds
Mana Cost: 100
Cooldown: 40.0 Seconds
- Applies Storm Shield to allies and Storm Strike to enemies in a 600 radius for 12/18/24 seconds.
- Storm Shield/Storm Strike Effects, Armor Per Charge: 1/-1.
- Adds 1 charge per second.
- This ulti is buffed by Staff of the Master.
Staff of the Master effects:
- Increases the radius to 800
- Increases duration to 35 sec on lvl 16.
Remember all tyour damage output is physical, and physical damage is only reduced by armour? Well now you can rid of that armour and buff your own! This gives a few seconds of -24 armour at max level and the rising effect surprises people as you become stronger and stronger whilst they are weaker and weaker. Amazing for team fights for the effect and the animation, causing mass confusion and fear. Totally annihilates tanks and casters alike; this is what makes you the only tanking caster!
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Section 1: Support/Tank
Skill build
1. Healing Wave
2. Arcane Hide
3. Healing Wave
4. Entangle
5. Healing Wave
6. Entangle
7. Healing Wave
8. Entangle
9. Entangle
10. Storm Cloud
11. Storm Cloud
12. Arcane Hide
13. Arcane Hide
14. Arcane Hide
15. Stats
16. Storm Cloud
17-25: Stats
Item Build
Steamboots (STRENGTH)
As a malleable character these are the most useful boots to you. You're movespeed is enough to not require Post Haste (although they are still an option in certain circumstances). These give a nice strength buff (for tankability) and smaller bonuses to your other stats also. Change to intelligence mode if you need a quick heal.
A stronger heal than your wave, but doesn't give the bonus damage. Also applies armour as an after effect so perfect for saving teammates in large battles. Only unnecessary if two other people have it.
Nome's Wisdom
A nice item that synergises well with Shaman's support build. Gives HP equal to 25% of any spell cast in the area to the caster and works nicely with Shaman's low cooldown spells, even though they have low mana too.
Staff of the Master and/or Barrier Idol
This is a great item for keeping you and your team buffed constantly. With decent mana regeneration your ulti will never be off a target. Generally makes you and your team stronger at taking physical damage.
Barrier Idol is another good item for a Demented Shaman if the game is quite spell based. Not only do you get a personal benefit of buffing your magic resistance to almost 50%, your team and yourself get 400 magic damage absorbed when the Idol is cast. If cast with Arcane Hide thats 800 damage blocked on a single hero!
Frostfield Plate
Adds to your armour and intelligence (and therefore mana pool) all of which you benefit from. Will help you survive many a team fights, and when the healer survives, the rest of the team generally too. Also gives a nice slow to aid in you and your teams escapes and a 300 damage nuke, which helps with your somewhat limited AoE damage.
Daemonic Breastplate
More team auras! +/-5 armour on allies/enemies synergises amazingly with your ultimate, making your team strong as iron and your enemies putty in your hands! Bonus of +40 attack speed to yourself and +15 attack speed to allies makes you even faster at taking down your foes.
I often find getting the Manatube for this item helpful early, increasing your amount of heals and ability to Astrolobe. You can then turn that manatube into Stormspirit, a nice 3 second single-target disable. Not only do you get a cheap disable, but you get some nice movespeed, mana regeneration and intelligence!
Totem of Kuldra
200% mana regeneration, 35 intelligence, 10 strength and agility, what more could you want? Oh yes, another 3 second disable! And this isn't some cheap invunerable disable, it's a totally nerfing, completely attackable hex. If the AoE in your team is already great, or theres someone you really want to disable in large fights this is the item you need.
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Section 2: DPS/Tank
Skill build
1. Entangle
2. Healing Wave
3. Entangle
4. Healing Wave
5. Entangle
6. Healing Wave
7. Entangle
8. Healing Wave
9. Stats
10. Storm Cloud
11. Storm Cloud
12. Arcane Hide
13. Arcane Hide
14. Arcane Hide
15. Arcane Hide
16. Storm Cloud
17-25: Stats
Item Build


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Some nice features in a photo album sharing site. Includes the ability to attach an audio file to a slideshow.
"Slide is a free downloadable desktop program that indexes photos on your hard drive, automatically groups them into intuitive channels, and plays them back via a unique always-on ticker interface. Because of this innovative scrolling "photo playback" model, you can rediscover and enjoy images you would rarely see otherwise. With just one click members can choose to share any photo or invite both registered and unregistered friends and family to subscribe to entire channels of photos. Simple access controls allow you to manage the privacy of your photos."


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A special exposition of the sacred Tooth Relic has been opened at the Historic Dalada Maligawa today (06), and President Mahinda Rajapaksa worshipped the sacred Tooth Relic, inaugurating the rare religious ritual taken place after a six-year lapse from the last exposition.
The sacred event has been blessed by Mahanayakas from both Malwathu and Asgiria religious chapters, and the exposition will be open to the public till 16 March. Special arrangements have been made to hold the exposition from 1.00 pm – 5.00 pm on each day.
In a most benevolent situation in the country, when everything is settling towards permanent peace through a united country, the exposition blesses the country and its heroes to march forward with courage, equanimity and blessing from all. The sacred event was organized with the patronage of both Mahanayaka theros from Asgiriya and Malwattha chapters.
First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa, Central Province Governor Tikiri Kobbekaduwa, Chief Minister Sarath Ekanayaka, and many other dignitaries participated in the inaugural ceremony.Courtesy: News.lk


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Will a standard for social responsibility make any difference?
Over the past twenty years non-governmental organisations have shown increasing interest in setting standards with an overt agenda for social or environmental change. Fairtrade, for example, aims to give producers fair access to markets under better trade conditions while the Forest Stewardship Council aims to promote the responsible management of the world's forests.
But mainstream businesses have worked with standards for a long time – today's International Standards Organisation (ISO) has its origins nearly 100 years ago in 1926. ISO standards are mostly very technical and concern matters like the size of petrol nozzles for filling cars or the dimensions of credit cards. Without them the world would be a rather chaotic place – but they are generally not of interest to NGOs or relevant to sustainable development.
ISO 26000, which is an ISO standard for the social responsibility of any type of organisation is different. The standard defines organisational responsibility through how an organisation manages itself and through an extensive list of issues that should be considered. This list includes the environment, human rights and labour rights, as well as other crucial matters, like organisational governance and corruption.
There are of course some important ISO standards for environmental management (the ISO 14000 series), but ISO 26000 is the first time that ISO has produced something directly relevant to sustainable development. Given the huge and worldwide reach of ISO and the wide awareness that will come almost automatically, the key question must be: how much difference can this standard make to sustainable development?
My recently published book Standards for change aims to answer this question. At first glance, ISO 26000 looks promising. It was developed through a large, broadly legitimate and determinedly inclusive process that involved over 600 people living in places that spanned the globe. The working group meetings had more representation from the developing world than the developed world – including people from Nigeria, Honduras, Argentina, Bahrain, Malawi, India, China and the West. It also included representation from business, NGOs and the labour movement.
ISO 26000 has already influenced the European Commission; its recent re-definition of corporate social responsibility (CSR) echoes the ISO definition and, as a result, has a much broader scope than the old one. And ISO 26000 is being referenced by companies across the world.
However it's hard to say exactly how great the take up of ISO 26000 has been because it's not a certifiable standard, so there is no official proof of compliance. That has led to some criticism, as has the fact that it does not provide a formal approach to management, unlike, say, ISO 14001.
The impact of a standard may be 'soft' as well as 'hard'. Soft impacts include effects on culture and values. For example, it could lead to discussions on how corporate responsibility is defined or what is considered legitimate to discuss in the Board room. These in turn may give rise to harder impacts in the longer term, including better social and environmental performance as the standards will legitimise the consideration of a wider set of issues by mainstream business.
ISO 26000 has already raised awareness through the inclusive methodology used to develop it, which built legitimacy with the stakeholders involved, and which will likely influence the way ISO tackles standards in the future in order to include a broader set of stakeholders.
Yet it is too early to say how extensive the influence of ISO 26000 will be. And of course, the challenges of sustainable development are constantly changing. So ISO 26000 will also need to be continually adapted to keep pace with progress.
Adrian Henriques is the author of Standards for Change and Visiting Professor of CSR and Accountability at Middlesex University. He is also Chair of the UK Committee on ISO 26000.
The blog contains the authors' personal views and does not represent the view of IIED. IIED accepts no liability for your use of or reliance on information found on the blog. IIED does not edit and is therefore not responsible for any comments, but reserves the right to review/remove any comment at any time. If you wish to report a comment for any reason, please contact us or flag the comment on the comments system. When using the blog and posting comments you agree to be bound by the terms of the IIED website terms and conditions (which includes the privacy policy), and you agree that any blog you submit or access is subject to the terms of the blog licence.


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Yobowannabe said:why like?
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So my shoulder are ****ED! Havnt been able to do ANY pushing movements for almost 2 months
First i injured my right shoulder, was out 2 weeks, started to come back and messed up my LEFT shoulder!! Waited a couple more weeks came back and hurt my RIGHT shoulder AGAIN
So i havnt even touched it for 5 weeks and just started doing loight lifting this month.
Any tips/exercises i can do to streangthen it? Right now all im doing some light (10 lbs ) shoulder raises (front, side, rear) and machine shoulder press (40 lbs )
ive been doing some "rotator cuff" training (im a dumb ass, never even researched it, just think im doing it right) where i get a cable and just rotate my shoulder by brining my arm from 0 degress to 90 degrees.
Suggestions/Tips would be really helpfull!!!
My bench and military press were my best lifts and i was really proud of em and it REALLY sucks not being able to do em any more.


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Loading... To Kill a Mockingbird (original 1960; edition 1988)by Harper Lee
Work detailsTo Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (Author) (1960)
Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. This book reminds us that there is good and bad qualities in everyone. However, when I read this book I did not highly enjoy it. I did not enjoy it because of the writing but I did like how the characters were portrayed. The writing was a little confusing because it talks about the good and evil in everyone. Essentially, the book helps the readers to focus on the good. On the other hand, the characters were well developed. For example, Boo Radley served as a "mockingbird" and he changed throughout the story, forcing Jem and Scout to gain a new perspective of him. I read this because my sons are reading it in their English class. Why did it take me 25+ years to read what I believe is the greatest book ever? This novel is a perfect book to be read at the grade level that I teach. There are many connections you can make across the curriculum. It can also be addressed across genres such as historical fiction, young adult, and multicultural. Students really seem to enjoy this book and are involved in any activities that we do as a grade level. I can finally mark this off the list of "books I'm ashamed to say I haven't read." Surprise, surprise, it's as good as people say it is. I tried a couple times before to read this, and for some reason was turned off by the first chapter. Lo and behold, when I actually give the book time to develop, it becomes something that is impossible to put down. I loved it, and I'm glad I finally read it. ★★★☆☆
A book that we thought instructed us about the world tells us, instead, about the limitations of Jim Crow liberalism in Maycomb, Alabama. Its sentiments and moral grandeur are as unimpeachable as the character of its hero, Atticus. ... It's time to stop pretending that "To Kill a Mockingbird" is some kind of timeless classic that ranks with the great works of American literature. Its bloodless liberal humanism is sadly dated, as pristinely preserved in its pages as the dinosaur DNA in "Jurassic Park." Author Lee, 34, an Alabaman, has written her first novel with all of the tactile brilliance and none of the preciosity generally supposed to be standard swamp-warfare issue for Southern writers. The novel is an account of an awakening to good and evil, and a faint catechistic flavor may have been inevitable. But it is faint indeed; Novelist Lee's prose has an edge that cuts through cant, and she teaches the reader an astonishing number of useful truths about little girls and about Southern life. There are some improbable and sentimental moments in the story, but there are also great moments of laughter that belong to memory and a novelist's hand... Miss Lee's original characters are people to cherish in this winning first novel by a fresh writer with something significant to say, South and North. The dialogue of Miss Lee's refreshingly varied characters is a constant delight in its authenticity and swift revelation of personality. The events connecting the Finches with the Ewell-Robinson lawsuit develop quietly and logically, unifying the plot and dramatizing the author's level-headed plea for interracial understanding... Moviegoing readers will be able to cast most of the roles very quickly, but it is no disparagement of Miss Lee's winning book to say that it could be the basis of an excellent film. Has the adaptationHas as a student's study guideHarper Lee's to Kill a Mocking Bird (Monarch Notes) by Donald F. Roden CliffsNotes on Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird by Eva Fitzwater To Kill a Mockingbird (coles notes) by Harper Lee York Notes on: TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD / Harper Lee by Beth Sims Has as a teacher's guide
References to this work on external resources. Wikipedia in English (5)
Amazon.com Amazon.com Review (ISBN 0446310786, Mass Market Paperback)"When he was nearly thirteen, my brother Jem got his arm badly broken at the elbow.... When enough years had gone by to enable us to look back on them, we sometimes discussed the events leading to his accident. I maintain that the Ewells started it all, but Jem, who was four years my senior, said it started long before that. He said it began the summer Dill came to us, when Dill first gave us the idea of making Boo Radley come out."Set in the small Southern town of Maycomb, Alabama, during the Depression, To Kill a Mockingbird follows three years in the life of 8-year-old Scout Finch, her brother, Jem, and their father, Atticus--three years punctuated by the arrest and eventual trial of a young black man accused of raping a white woman. Though her story explores big themes, Harper Lee chooses to tell it through the eyes of a child. The result is a tough and tender novel of race, class, justice, and the pain of growing up. Like the slow-moving occupants of her fictional town, Lee takes her time getting to the heart of her tale; we first meet the Finches the summer before Scout's first year at school. She, her brother, and Dill Harris, a boy who spends the summers with his aunt in Maycomb, while away the hours reenacting scenes from Dracula and plotting ways to get a peek at the town bogeyman, Boo Radley. At first the circumstances surrounding the alleged rape of Mayella Ewell, the daughter of a drunk and violent white farmer, barely penetrate the children's consciousness. Then Atticus is called on to defend the accused, Tom Robinson, and soon Scout and Jem find themselves caught up in events beyond their understanding. During the trial, the town exhibits its ugly side, but Lee offers plenty of counterbalance as well--in the struggle of an elderly woman to overcome her morphine habit before she dies; in the heroism of Atticus Finch, standing up for what he knows is right; and finally in Scout's hard-won understanding that most people are essentially kind "when you really see them." By turns funny, wise, and heartbreaking, To Kill a Mockingbird is one classic that continues to speak to new generations, and deserves to be reread often. --Alix Wilber (retrieved from Amazon Mon, 30 Sep 2013 13:51:20 -0400) Racial animosity is aroused in an Alabama town when a little girl's father defends a black man accused of rape. (summary from another edition) |
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St. John's University ranks among America's top institutions for undergraduate education, according to The Princeton Review's 2013 guide to "The Best 377 Colleges."
This is the ninth consecutive year that St. John's has appeared in the annual guide. Only about 15% of 2,500 U.S. colleges and universities appear in the rankings, along with three outside the U.S. The book features detailed profiles of each institution along with student survey-based rankings of top 20 schools in 62 categories.
"It's gratifying that the high quality of a St. John's University education is once again recognized by inclusion in this national ranking," said Robert A. Mangione, Ed.D., R.Ph., Interim Provost of St. John's University. "St. John's provides students with an educational experience combining academic excellence with our Vincentian focus on making the world a better place. Our success is measured in the achievements of our students, faculty and alumni."
St. John's students and faculty earned a wide variety of awards and honors this year. Seven students received Fulbright Grants to conduct research and teach overseas. In June, the New York City Council honored the Mock Trial Team with a proclamation recognizing its 20th anniversary and continuing achievement. Five faculty were ranked among "The Best 300 Professors" by The Princeton Review, and a professor of philosophy was a featured speaker at the celebrated TEDGlobal conference.
"We commend St. John's University for its outstanding academics," said Robert Franek, The Princeton Review's Senior VP/Publisher and author of the edition. That, he observed, is "the primary criteria for our selection of schools for the book."


text: Doha: Pennetta Interview An interview with Flavia Pennetta after her win in the first round of the Qatar Total Open. Published February 14, 2012 09:17 Topics: 2012, tournaments, singles, photos or videos, flavia pennetta, doha Share this page! Print Email Related videos Doha: Tournament Highlights February 17, 2013 Highlights from the 2013 Qatar Total Open. Doha: Final Highlights February 17, 2013 Highlights from the final of the Qatar Total Open. Doha: Shot Of The Day (Sunday) February 17, 2013 Victoria Azarenka has Sunday's shot of the day at the Qatar Total Open. To The Top 3