Now Hear This!

Today is all sorts of days: International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO for short), World Information Society Day, and the 56th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education. It is also the 71st birthday of Gary Paulsen, an award-winning author of books for young adults (and older adults, too). I met him a few times and love his work. An excellent guy.

Most importantly, today is Monday. Don't forget it.

And we have some EXCELLENT fanfic for today!

PPMB

• The Dream of the White Darkness, by jtranser (continued): It was very dark in the car. For the sake of her remaining sanity, Daria refused to look at whatever was in the passenger seat. Unfortunately, she couldn't shut off her hearing as the slobbering breathing sounds were clearly audible and accelerating their frequency as the indefinable mass began moving toward her like some sort of vile animated gelatin.
• Finn Morgendorffer 46: Shields Up, by HolyGrail2007 (Part 5): “Well... well thanks.” Finn smiled. “It was actually really nice to meet you.” Finn stood up, and shook Teresa’s hand, then Bruce’s hand. The husband and wife stood up, paid for their coffees, and left in their car. For a second, Finn sat there, unsure of what to make of everything. The recruiters didn’t actually make him an offer yet, they just expressed their interest. They could turn him down... but still, Shields University. Finn already knew it was a fantastic football school, but according to Teresa it took the upper echelon of grades from high school. Grades that Finn now had. And there was prestige.
  
• The Game Called Life, by Trscroggs (continued): “One again,” Daria said, “I am reminded that I need to be more specific with requests.” “You asked for a ‘simple life’ this time,” the old man replied. “What could be simpler than a pastoral farming village?”
• General Semantics, Private Angst, by Gwrtheyrn (Part 25): Dr. Sloane chuckled as they turned to go. "I've been so stupid, all these years. Now that I've seen you in action, it's obvious why the AIs like you. I shall follow your example henceforth, O sensei!" "Happy to have been of service, I guess," said Daria, dubiously. It seemed to her to be nothing but a little ordinary courtesy, which AIs, unlike humans, usually deserved.