use your own dirt

There was once a conjurer who boasted that he had become god-like. One god happened to overhear, and challenged him to a contest.

“Can you do this?” the god asked, scooping up a handful of dirt and making it into a bird. They watched the bird fly away.

“Sure,” said the conjure-man, and reached down for a handful of raw material.

“Hey,” said god. “Use your own dirt.”

[found: Making Light: “Fanfic”: force of nature]

modern high-quality tech support

“We all scratched our heads and glared threateningly at the machine for hours.”

~ John Charde

[source: Sending an S O S for a PC Exorcist – New York Times]