And so spoke my daughter . . .

evilnicola: "Goddamnit, when did I turn into my dad?"

I love my baby.

zephyrofgod reports from Calontir Crown -- Sir Ostwald and THL

Congratulations to the Falcon Heirs, Sir Ostwald von Riesetoten and Her Ladyship Kaye of Gordon!

Finals were Ostwald and Anton, best two out of three in greatsword, polearm, and sword and shield.

Semifinals were Anton vs Thorbjorn and Valens vs. Ostwald.

Both Thorbjorn and Ostwald had to win twice in order to advance.

(Addendum from Liam: THL Kaye is a Huscarl, Calontir's highest non-peerage fighting award)

Saturday afternoon: End of a long week . . .

1. OK, No. 1 usually welcomes new folks, but today it's for a special birthday.

Today is the day  evilnicola turns 23. I could tell you stories  . . . But I am too busy feeling old.

2. Usually when folks launch themselves into the Liamverse, they know something about me, and often they know some of the best, "No, shit, there I was with Liam stories."

Then there's ma_ee_uh. She's knows me only from my posts to teaching and I think views me as a friendly teacher-guy. I am thinking, as I was a couple of weeks ago, that the Liamverse should come with warning labels.

I mean, hi, ma_ee_uh, welcome to my LJ!

3. The commissioner of the National Basketball Association knows what to do with an idiot:

New York Times

As Gilbert Arenas prepared to play the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday night, he entered a circle of his Washington Wizards teammates, cocked his fingers into a gun and playfully shot them.

They all laughed together, making light of the somber situation in which Arenas has found himself since his decision to bring several guns into the Wizards’ locker room in Washington and then later display them in what he called a misguided joke.

Not at all amused by Tuesday night’s antics was NBA Commissioner David Stern, who on Wednesday suspended Arenas indefinitely rather than wait for investigations of the gun matter to be completed by law enforcement authorities.

“Although it is clear that the actions of Mr. Arenas will ultimately result in a substantial suspension, and perhaps worse, his ongoing conduct has led me to conclude that he is not currently fit to take the court in an N.B.A. game,” Stern said in a statement that was ominous in its suggestion that more, and tougher, punishment for Arenas is still to come. “Accordingly, I am suspending Mr. Arenas indefinitely, without pay, effective immediately.”

4. Meanwhile, in Africa, it's a whole lot more serious.

Courtesy of the Irish Times
Togo have withdrawn from the African Nations Cup in Angola following the terrorist attack on their team bus. The death toll has now reportedly risen to four after the bus came under machine gunfire yesterday.

It had just crossed the border from the Democratic Republic of Congo into the Angolan enclave of Cabinda.

It was confirmed last night the bus driver was killed in the attack, while reports from France today claimed an assistant coach, a press officer and reserve team goalkeeper Kodjovi Obilale have also died from their injuries.

Manchester City confirmed their striker Emmanuel Adebayor - the Togo captain - is returning home.

A statement on the club's official website, www.mcfc.co.uk, read: "Togo has pulled out of the African Nations Cup after their team bus came under gunfire in Angola.

"City star Emmanuel Adebayor, who is captain of the Togo side, was unharmed in the ambush and he and his team-mates met this morning before deciding that they wished to pull out of the tournament.

"Their first game in the tournament had been scheduled to take place on Monday against Ghana, but they are now heading home to their families.

"Organisers have so far insisted the tournament will go ahead.3. I owe a lot of people a lot of responses on cookie and auction notes, and I plan to do that this weekend.

5. I owe a lot of people a lot of responses on cookie and auction notes, and I plan to do that this weekend.

6. I will post more about it later, but I have been doing a lot of cooking this week. I am going to take a break and go to the library, then come back and cook more.

7. And finally the weather. It's been cold, but we have not gotten much snow. This is good. It's 17 right now in the North Country.