The Mountain and the Tree

Not something I'd normally do, but have a Harry Potter fanfic recommendation, in which standard-issue whiny entitled Harry is replaced by a hyper-rational^[1] child genius.

Warning: Chapter 7 contains something that looks like a character making a rape joke. Reading on, thank goodness, it's a highly serious plot moment and his interlocuter is disgusted with him. The entire section is, however, both potentially very triggering, and generally a bit upsetting. [Edit: Also an actual rape joke in Chapter 11, which consists of eminently skippable random non-canon bits for some inexplicable reason. Not plot justified. F, see me after class, &c.]

As a whole, the story is extremely funny in places, genuinely moving in others, and quite interesting throughout. Bear in mind that I am only on chapter 17, so cannot either guarantee the quality or issue warnings beyond that.

NB: This story is not for fans of Ron Weasley.

"I only want power so I can get books." (I feel a T-shirt coming on...)

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[1] For "Less Wrong" values of hyper-rational. "Less Wrong" is a somewhat pretentious and very self-regarding website all about being cleverer than everyone else. Nevertheless, this Harry is an engaging character who may be somewhat familiar to Bujold fans.

From ewin - A note on depression.

Chronic depression does not kill merely through suicide; your body and mind also take a powerful hit every time it strikes. Depression is exhausting and painful. It shifts the balance of chemicals in the brain, and if it lasts long enough, it can cause damage to the brain, making that imbalance permanent. It's hard on the heart, the glands, the digestive system, it's hell on the immune system, bad for circulation.

(otherwise known as, I had to see it. Therefore, so do you)

Star Trek slash for kids, via harald387.

After the Late Unpleasantness at Bishopsgate, I've thankfully seen a very sensible attitude towards the police from all my friends-list. A couple of times, though, I've seen commenters talking about "pigs" or "filth", as though the police were some monumental dehumanized bloc. Please, if someone does this on your journal, point them to this.