Rose's, three years on

Three years ago, I wrote, "A sentence I never thought I'd have to write: "I just left Rose's Turn for the last time, ever." It was just after Deathly Hallows came out (I still have photos of rm in her Snape outfit, entertaining some kid), and I was already rather spent emotionally; there was virtually no warning (perhaps ten days); one moment, I was seeing people there who I hadn’t seen in far too long, and then...

It’s hard, even at so brief a remove, to sum up what Thursday nights at Rose’s used to be. Work would end, and I would hurry downtown; Soren would be tapping time on the bar- as he still does- as I grabbed a seat, and wondered if Robbie would start playing the “Take Me Home, Country Roads” intro. (He often enjoyed waiting until later in the evening, when I was suitably off-balance, to do this: remember, piano players sense fear, and they will attack.) Parties of nurses, acting like characters from The Bacchae (Mere words cannot convey...). The whole Harry Potter thing coalesced for me there; I still have a napkin with some old plot scribblings on it. So, so many people I met there, and then, too often, only saw online after that. Too many feelings to put a proper name to- instead, I simply lift my tea mug, and salute those with whom I knew those times- and all of you, come to that.

Not bad, Onion, not bad...

Officials announced this week that the country's ongoing financial crisis would necessitate the closure of a mysterious seaside village operated by the British government since 1967. "In light of the current economic downturn, it is unwise to maintain this secret locale any longer," said a man identified only as Number Two, referring to the bucolic village whose sole aim appeared to be the recovery of desirable information from former intelligence agents.

(no subject)

Researchers say they have found the cause of celiac disease.

Granted, it was only 12 inches tall...

Archaeologists studying the iconic Stonehenge monument in southern England have uncovered a second prehistoric henge-like circle only 900 meters away, which they hope will shed more light on the mysterious stone landmark.

(no subject)

Superheroes vs the Westboro Baptist Church.