If you're running Windows XP and want to install Service Pack 3 but are wary of doing so on a production machine (as you should be!), trying the following:

1. Download the Windows XP Service Pack 3 Network Installation Package for IT Professionals and Developers. The file should be a bit over 300 MB.

2. Reboot your computer.

3. Boot into Safe Mode by pressing the F8 key right before the Windows logo shows up on reboot. (If you see the Windows logo, you're too late. Reboot and try again. You can press the F8 key multiple times without your computer complaining--just don't try to hold it down.)

4. Log into Safe Mode and run the Service Pack 3 installer from there.

Most of the problems people run into from installing a big service pack are a result of too many things running on their computer that might interfere with the install. Safe Mode eliminates that problem by loading only the essential files the system needs to run, bypassing anti-viruses, firewalls, and pretty much all spyware and other potentially unwanted programs lurking in the background. Success rate (for me, at least): 3 out of 3 fully-loaded machines.


For the aspiring web masters/designers who want a dynamic website but don't want to deal with learning PHP/mySQL/ASP/Python (or what have you):

Take a look at Exhibit, a very cool Javascript-based interface that allows you to build dynamic sites out of structured text files. The site has some really neat examples of what you can do in a short amount of time.

The caveats: (1) all information is public and exposed, so don't use this to build anything you want to keep private. (2) Javascript is client-side and will probably be quite slow with large amounts of data.

Now go out and put me out of a job. ^_~

I have been trying to find an official timeline for the events of FFVII and the related spinoffs. I know when some things took place in relation to other events, but not others, and wanted to flesh this out to use as a reference point for writing - I'm happier ignoring canon when I know what it is I'm ignoring.

Unfortunately, I found a half dozen different timelines - many of which contradict things I know as well as each other - and others that don't even bother mentioning anything outside the original game. I know Squeenix have not been entirely consistent from game to game, but still, if anybody has links to a decent timeline that covers relevant events from more than just the original game, I would be most appreciative.

Thanks!

Fandom: Hana Kimi
Pairing: Nakatsu/Ashiya
Theme: Epsilon
Rating: PG13 to be on the safe side
Warnings: spoilers for whole [live action] series

( He was a boy. She was girl. Can I make it any more obvious? )

Fandom: Full Metal Panic!

Characters: Sousuke Sagara, anyone needed to tell a good story

Pairing: Sousuke Sagara/Kaname Chidori

Rating: Any rating is fine (even smut is fine!)

Length: At least 500 words

Situation: ( Read more... )

researchotaku, Full Metal Panic!, Sousuke Sagara/Kaname Chidori, I'm asking you to be my strength and yet you insist on being my weakness, 07/08/08

Title: Pretty Commision Ch.1
Authors:  Acid_Gas_Cloud & Sadist_Dragon
Paring: Cid/Vin (post DoC)
Warnings: Au-ish becuase Don Corneo is still alive; Based on an RP so it's a bit silly; men in dresses; and uhh we're calling Edge "Midgar" cause its easier to remember..  Oh! not really beta'd so sorry about the errors!!

Countless Time
- Inu Catalog ch 3 by Kirishima Tamaki

Nakama
- Wild Rose ch 3 by Yamagishi Hokuto

NoDeadline
- Oku-san's Daily Fantasies ch 2 by Takatsuki Noboru

PresenceDear
- Three Quaters ch 4 - 5 Complete by Yamagata Satomi

Polaris
- Brothers ch 5 by Yamamoto Kotetsuko

Silver Soul <-- All are Gintama Doujinshi
- Soshite Hototogisu wa Naite (Okita x Yamazaki) by Katashina Miyura
- Spiral (Okita, Hijikata, Gintoki) by Plug
- Summer Steal Head (Okita x Gintoki, some Okita x Kagura) by Kaji Hayato

Vices and Devices
- Doushiyoumo nai Karedo ch 4 by Natsume Isaku
- Innocence (Jade x Peony) Tales of the Abyss Doujinshi by Iwasaki Saya

Yuri
Lililicious
- Plica 76 - 100 by Amamiya Sae
- Needles and Oranges Oneshot by Kizuki Akira

Anime
Aarinfantasy
- Junjou Romantica ep. 12

So I've made a doujin to sell at SMASH!, a convention here in Australia. Anyway, I'm taking orders for this now. Prices are all finalised.

Title: SMASH! CoTN Mix Book 08
Circle/Artist: nerdygridbug / griDbug / Tazi | Child of the Network
Page count: 30 pages (FINAL)
Rating: G/PG
Estimated price range: $9 USD (FINAL)
International Shipping: $15 Via Flatrate International DLE to just about everywhere in 4-5 working days (registered so it's not going to be lost, people). Via airmail or other service (cheaper), just tell me your country and that you'd like a quote. [All prices include postage and envelope cost ]
Shipping within Australia: If you're in Sydney for the con, come pick one up from me personally :P If not, drop me your postcode and I'll quote you shipping.
Payment Internationals by paypal only. Australians via paypal or direct deposit.
Contents:Follow the link for more details.
Preview:


( Onward to a book full of tenipuri and other stuff )

^{Soon to be x-posted EVERYWHERE, waiting on mod permissions from other tenipuri comms, apologies in advance}

Here is the book that came out on July 1. The zip file contains illustrations only.

Mirage of Blaze - Kaikouhen "Hyousetsu Mondou"



( A Few More Illustrations and the Link )
Possibly interesting news:
There will be a 'Zen-pre' Drama CD by Cobalt magazine that will contain short dramas of its most popular novels, and Mirage of Blaze is listed as one of them. There is no detail yet, but it looks like there will be another MoB drama (albeit a very short one).

( You are about to view content that may not be appropriate for minors. )

[26] Animanga (Sailor Moon, Death Note, Code Geass, Trinity Blood)
[22] Misc (Tales of Symphonia, Devil May Cry, Final Fantasy VII, Kingdom Hearts II, King of Fighters, Ludwig Revolution)

icons here @ burning_iconz.

Fandom: Macross Frontier
Pairing/characters: Michael Blanc/Saotome Alto
Situation: Something like Alto confronting Michael about being almost shot (as he did) and this somehow ending in smut :P (oh, and violence is fine but please without NCS, heh)

prikliuchenie, Macross Frontier, Michael/Alto, post-friendly fire smut, 07/07/2008

Fandom: Reservoir Dogs
Pairing: Orange/White
Prompt set: Gamma
Rating: Various/all

( Voila )

Fandom: Golden Sun
Pairing: Felix / Alex (Slash!!)
Theme set: Gamma

Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Some sexuality, slash (or yaoi, whatever you wanna call it...)
Disclaimer: Golden Sun belongs to Nintendo and Camelot and possibly others. Point is, as much as I want my own Felix on a leash, I cannot have him. Oh, and the title of the story and quotes sprinkled liberally throughout the fic belongs to From Autumn to Ashes. If I were making money off of this, then perhaps I could have my own Felix on a leash...

( ... standing so close, knowing that it kills me to breath you in. )

Title: Different Country For Different Men
Rating: PG-13
Characters: Vincent/Veld
Summary: Vincent and Veld take a moment in the middle of Midgar rising.
Warnings: Past!fic, worldbuilding.

1384 words.

( Different country for different men, back then. )

Fandom: Kingdom Hearts

Pairing: Squall x Yuffie (Squffie!)

Theme set: Beta

Rating: PG-13

Warning[s]: Mild lime scenes, fluffiness, incredibly slight language. An excessive use of the word “and”? Yeah, that too.
Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts or any of the characters. This is for entertainment purposes only.
Note: None of these are connected; each sentence is its own separate idea/story.

( This way to the magical world of Squffie! )

Fandom: Soul Eater
Pairing: Black*Star/Tsubaki
Theme set: Alpha
Rating: T+
Warning[s]: Very shippery, so be aware, lol.

Fandom:A Song of Ice and Fire by G.R.R.Martin
Pairing/characters: Lyanna Stark/Arthur Dayne
Situation:Anything really,I'm open to every situation whichs romantically involves the two of them...:)

amorete, A song of Ice and Fire, dawn, Lyanna Stark/Arthur Dayne,7/7/2008

Hey, guys! Just a quick post to apologise profusely for the lists being so behind - moderators going AWOL is never a good thing, and we're trying our hardest to clear the backlog of comments as soon as we can. Thanks for being so patient, and many apologies again for the long wait.

( You are about to view content that may not be appropriate for minors. )

Datenshi Blue
- Even this Love in Captivity ch 2 by CJ Michalski
- Hyper Love Power ch 4 by Hiiro Reiichi

Fushichou
- Melty Honey ch 3 by Yoshiko Shioberi

MegKF
- Second Boy ch 3 by Takahashi Yuu