TwiLyghtSansSparkles

That's fine. I was going to step back for a little while to give everyone time to catch up anyway.

Long enough to make someone pick their nose or stick out their tongue, but not long enough to commit a crime. I like it.

I will be the herd. Sooooo clever. I actually really did think it was clever.

1. The idea of a parent who can tap into their child's innermost thoughts with minimal effort gives me the creeps. I'm of the opinion that emotions, thoughts, and memories are private. Period. If you want to share them with someone, share them, but hearing those thoughts from another person should be a privilege, not a right. Accessing someone's thoughts and memories without their express permission is, in my opinion, a violation of privacy. If I had that power, I would be tempted to use it, yes, but if the technology existed, I might pay to have it removed. Otherwise, I would do everything within my power to resist invading the privacy of others. I'd get my husband to help me, have my kids hold me accountable, buy blindfolds, whatever it took to resist using that power on the people I loved. 2. I have to think about that one a bit more. I'm torn between allowing them the choice to not use it, and removing that choice entirely. Basically, I'm struggling with the moral implications of each. None of the above options is a good solution, but then again, it's a problem that doesn't have any good solutions.

Aaaahhhhh! I love that site!

Aaannnnd it's already affecting my life. I have two pugs—a breed notorious for shedding. Today I dusted after taking—oh, I don't know—a month or so off? 0.o I think I know what an ashfall looks like now. It's not pretty.

I can't speak for that one. It may be the pinnacle of literature, for all I know. Just stay away from "The Organization of Information":http://www.amazon.com/Organization-Information-Library-Science-Text/dp/1563089696/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1403882426&sr=1-1&keywords=the+organization+of+information

So the "Jolly Boots of Doom" song from Invader Zim was the only Christmas carol Newcagoans were allowed to sing? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CP1thwtnKtk

I wonder how Steelheart felt about Christmas. Did he try to make it all about Santa to placate the people who wanted to celebrate it? Or did he ban it outright because he didn't like the idea of a God more powerful than he was? Or did he decide that the Bible was full of fairy tales and laugh it off? The things I think of when I'm trying to sleep….

Thanks, guys. You've officially made my reading list longer and more demanding than the one I have for grad school. Oh well. Sanderson is a better writer than whoever it is that writes those textbooks, anyway.

Night had nearly fallen by the time Doctor Funtimes had seen her share of Portland. Nathan had tried to direct her pranks toward the harmless end of the spectrum, and in most cases, it had worked: Ducklings and bunnies scampered away from garbage heaps and vacant apartment buildings. Even so, he hadn’t been able to stop her from turning a few cars into trampolines or piles of stuffed animals. He tried not to think about the people who would need to walk or find some other way to work. Then again, if cars were as expensive in Portland as they were in Newcago, those people might be able to afford new ones. Doctor Funtimes skipped down the vacant sidewalk, coming to a stop outside what could only be the lair of a powerful Epic. It seemed to have been a bank at one time, but the lettering above the door was gone. She giggled. “Okay, last one.” “Then back to Tillamook?” She giggled again. “Tillamook.” He took that as a yes. “I think those cameras would look nice as kittens. What do you say?” “Don’t be silly! We’re going to make this into the biggest bouncy castle the world has ever seen!” Nathan understood her reasoning. Life as an Epic was a constant battle for supremacy. More dishes had been broken over tacit insults than by clumsy servers, and repairs to the blackjack table had become so routine it could be completed in three hours. Changing another Epic’s lair into a bouncy castle would send him an unmistakable message: “Hi there! I’m Doctor Funtimes. I’m more powerful than you. What are you gonna do about it?” That didn’t mean he had to like it. “And then we’ll leave? I’m—um—kind of tired.” For the briefest second something like concern crossed her face, nearly knocking him to the ground. Then it vanished into a smile, covered by her quick giggle. “It won’t take long. And it’ll be worth it, trust me.” He nodded. He couldn’t speak. Doctor Funtimes pranced around the lair, waving her hands, singing as she did. “Oh where is my hairbrush? Oh where is my hairbrush? Oh where oh where oh where oh where…..” Nathan watched as the plaster became rubber in red and blue and yellow. The first drops of a rainstorm made hollow pitter-patter sounds as they hit. He hadn’t seen what he thought he had seen. Epics didn’t feel sympathy, even for one another. There was no reason why she would feel it for him. It had been his imagination, he decided. His brush with death was making him hallucinate. Come to think of it, that was a terrible thought. It was wishful thinking, nothing more. When the outside was completely transformed, a process that took the better part of four songs, Doctor Funtimes skipped over, took his hand, and led him inside. He stood in the entryway as she skipped and spun, plaster and tile turning to rubber as she sang another song. “The Biscuit of Zazzamarandabo was lost to the world many years ago…” Smack. Smack. Smack. Nathan froze. “Um, Doctor?” “Almost done!” “I think someone’s here.” Her eyes brightened. “Oh! He can see what I’ve done to his stupid lair!” “Maybe we should go before he—“ Smack. Smack-smack. He heard it again, above the patter of rain and the roar of the generator she had created especially for the bouncy house. Outside, lightning flashed, illuminating the silhouette of a man trapped inside the wall. It was an Epic. It had to be. No human could survive being trapped inside a bank wall. “We should go.” She slapped him playfully on the shoulder. “No we shouldn’t! Not without inviting him! That’d be rude!” She took a ribbon from her sweater and, with a snap of her fingers, turned it into a razor blade. Nathan could only watch, scarcely daring to breathe, as Doctor Funtimes bounced to where the silhouette was and began to cut it free, singing about a party for everybody.

I for one welcome our pony overlords.

Dear Princess Celestia, Today I learned that extortion is not a good way to make friends. Sure, it might make you Princess of a few Guilds, but in the long run, it only creates dictatorships that will inevitably lead to glorious peoples' revolutions. Vive les Observers! Ahem. If you want friends, the best way is to simply ask them. Your faithful student, TwiLyghtSansSparkles Your move, Knave.

Is this….war?

Calamity's fires, that sounds worse than Kidz Bop.

On that note, Steelheart banned all war protest songs, up to and including "Sunday Bloody Sunday," even though Bono claims it isn't a protest song. Can't have anyone thinking "we can be as one tonight," now can we?

Headcanon accepted.

Wow. I think that alone is evidence Steelheart never read The Hunger Games. Actually, under him, it was probably banned because of its themes of revolution against oppression. And that is one case where a self-absorbed main character would actually make it less appealing to the ruthless dictator, because Katniss' example would send the message that simply protecting yourself and your family could start a revolution.

Okay, weird story time, but it'll make sense in context. My dad works for a cable company, and a few years ago, he was working with his local technicians to think of a slogan to put on the backs of their T-shirts, which they would wear to events. One of the potential contenders was "Be the hero." However, someone had bad handwriting, so when it went on the whiteboard, the O looked like a D. By then, it was too late to stop it. "Be the Herd" was what went on their shirts. BE THE HERD

It did, actually. The day someone decided to add a spot for decimal points for extra accuracy.

I'm a total Sanderson noob, so no.

….because my library finally landed me a copy of Mistborn! Now I can finally find out who this Hoid character is and why he's so universally beloved! MYSTERIES OF THE UNIVERSE SHALL BE UNLOCKED!!! Please refer to the following link to accurately assess my mood. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-GLuydiMe4

He is a part of the Newcago Court. He is always a part of the Newcago Court. …or else. That's the Newcago Way.

I think this whole conversation probably happened in-universe. Whovians must've gone insane.

And Megan would be....Rose? Oh my gosh, this makes too much sense.