| Glee & etc. |
[Nov. 26th, 2009|11:04 am] |
I have not yet seen this week's episode, but: has anyone else found themselves just recording Glee and then fast-forwarding through it to (mostly) watch only the musical numbers? The actual "plots" have generally become deeply embarrassment (and otherwise) squick inducing for me, as much as I love the music.
While I'm talking about squick-inducing things, TCM is running a Fred Astaire marathon today, and Swing Time is on. I love this movie, not least for the completely awesome white dress with gorgeous full skirt that Ginger Rogers wears when she dances on the stairs with Fred. However! I believe that this movie is also the one which has Fred dancing in blackface. *facepalm* When I fell in love with this movie as a child, I didn't know any better, but now? Ick.
And while I'm here, I'd like to wish all who celebrate it a very Happy Thanksgiving! |
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| The greatest hits of Craigslist. |
[Nov. 26th, 2009|03:15 am] |
This is epic. It's like a novel excerpt scrawled on a bathroom wall. I love it.
Gonna be out at my parents' house for the next couple of days, so -- to any and all Yankees, have a Happy Thanksgiving. To everyone else, have a happy Thursday and Friday. Safe journeys. |
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| Twenty-fifth day of writing |
[Nov. 25th, 2009|09:11 pm] |
xposted to IJ and LJ
Word count: 385. |
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| Drumming diary: Violet Hill II |
[Nov. 25th, 2009|03:53 pm] |
There isn't much to report: the song itself is pretty simple, as I thought. The main problem that I'm having is that my headphones appear to be giving me jaw problems. I've got some heavy-duty Sennheisers that cancel out noise really well - but in the last few weeks, my jaw has been aching and popping every time I yawn or take a semi-big bite of food.
I don't honestly know if the two are related. The headphones do hurt my ear and jaw area if I wear them for extended periods of time, and I can't seem to adjust them to a place where they don't. I've always just kind of dealt with it, but I've been wearing them a lot more in the last few weeks, since one of my last steps to learning a song is to play along to the music. I'd do it without headphones, but in the particular case of Violet Hill, the drums are kind of muted and hard to make out if you're playing your own kit on top. (This is really the case for everything except, like, AC/DC.) You really need noise-canceling abilities of some kind.
Has anyone else experienced headphone-related jaw problems? I couldn't find anything online. I don't want to screw up that part of my drum practice, but I also would like to be able to EAT, yaknow? Eating is nice. |
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| Shelter |
[Nov. 25th, 2009|01:19 am] |
Hi, people wot have seen Shelter. Come talk to me about it.
On the one hand, it was reeeeeally poorly directed. As in, what is this shot? Oh my god, what is this blocking? And Brad Rowe bugged me a bit, though Trevor Wright was effective. Pretty predictable plot.
On the other hand, dudes, Zach totes had a crush on Shaun for years. YEARS. Like, it's not stated explicitly, but he mentions to his sister that he'd been surfing with Shaun since age 8. Plenty of time for bb!Zack to get starry-eyed over the confident Older Brother, and the way Zack sort of hesitated when he saw Shaun for the first time in what, 5 years? And then later when they're arguing he tosses out, "I'm sick of being your childhood wet dream," which makes absolutely no sense unless you turn it around and put it back on him. Yeah. Long-repressed crush, thar.
I also really appreciated the scene between Zack and his sister where the truth comes out and it's this complex tangle of prejudice, family responsibility, financial pressues, sibling rivalry, and personal insecurities. Up until then Jeanne is pretty unsympathetic, but that scene really made you believe that she's a fuckup trying to do her best. What is so easy and effortless for Shaun and Gabe is a slow climb for Zack and Jeanne, and they struggle under it in different ways. |
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| Twenty-fourth day of writing |
[Nov. 24th, 2009|09:29 pm] |
xposted to IJ and LJ
Word count: 315.
Heartwarming youtube: The Message. |
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| made entirely of win |
[Nov. 24th, 2009|11:09 pm] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  giggly | ] |
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| Twenty-third day of writing |
[Nov. 23rd, 2009|09:32 pm] |
xposted to IJ and LJ
Word count: 350.
A poem I found and love:
( On Etymology ) |
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| Monday, November 23, 2009 |
[Nov. 24th, 2009|12:54 am] |
- irana: On BDSM, Part II - Today we're going to look at some other terms - negotiation, limits, contracts - break those down, and hopefully provide those reading with a better understanding of what those terms mean. -
- irana: On BDSM, Part I - Consent is a vital element in all psychological play, and consent can be granted in many ways. -
- the_minx_17: Hi! My name is Minxie...¦ - [...] if a piece of fiction disregards the basic principles of safe, sane, and consensual they really are more trouble than they're worth. -
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| The Prisoner Remake? |
[Nov. 23rd, 2009|10:23 am] |
| [ | Tags | | | tv | ] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  curious | ] |
Dear flist: I have 6 hours of The Prisoner sitting on my DVR at home, along with however many other hours of TV I normally watch. I will not get to watch it until I get back, at which point I will have many other things I could spend my time on.
My question is, as someone who has never seen the original, is the remake worth it? It's got Ian McKellan, who almost makes it worth it in and of himself for me. However, I've been hearing not-so-good things about the remake, albeit from fans of the original, to the point where I'm not sure even Sir Ian will be able to save it. Should I bother trying, or just delete from the DVR unseen? |
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| So, THAT just happened on national television. |
[Nov. 22nd, 2009|09:55 pm] |
Adam Lambert, you magnificent bastard. I cannot even - that whole set! Boys in chains! Shoving that one guy's face in his crotch! Fondling girls! Making out with his teensy little bassist (who is apparently straight)! Leading men around on leashes! On our TVs! Him! Doing that! At the American fucking Music Awards! WHAT. How did this even happen??
*giggles and twirls around in her computer chair*
For those that missed it, WATCH THIS and check out these pics!
And then write fic. Lots and lots of fic. |
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| Twenty-second day of writing |
[Nov. 22nd, 2009|09:26 pm] |
xposted to IJ and LJ
- Word count: 1,332.
- Interesting article: Clay Shirky's essay A Speculative Post on the Idea of Algorithmic Authority. Authority thus performs a dual function; looking to authorities is a way of increasing the likelihood of being right, and of reducing the penalty for being wrong. This is, oddly, something I think about a fair bit -- probably because the university I used to work at is run by scoundrels and liars. Over and over again the president (or more often his horrible "spokeswoman") would say things that I absolutely knew weren't true. Even writing about it, years later, when I no longer work there, makes my heart race. Of course, living through the George W. Bush years was pretty much the same thing: liars, liars, liars. So what makes an authority the authority when you know that what they say isn't accurate? Looking to authorities might increase the likelihood of being right when the value of "right" has nothing to do with verifiable facts.
- Guilt still plagues me: Almost two years ago, I signed up for a story exchange and flaked out. I was having troubling writing anyway, and the prompts I received didn't spark anything. I felt horrible dropping out -- and have sworn off exchanges FOREVER as a result -- but I'm still glad I signed up because the person who got my prompts not only didn't flake out, she wrote a wonderful, wonderful story that I re-read again today: Salutation to the Dawn, a deeply romantic Ronon/Radek story with terrific world-building. Thank you, Pierson! I still love your story so much.
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| a few things |
[Nov. 22nd, 2009|09:06 pm] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  hungry | ] |
1. Billiam told me that we're getting rid of our temp-who's-worked-for-us-for-over-a-year. This sucks. He's all trained in and only about 25% murder-worthy.
2. ( Next Iron Chef spoiler )
3. I'm being forced to spend Thanksgiving at my brother's. And my parents coerced the invitation out of my sister-in-law. Wow. This is going to be so. much. fun.
4. That blast from the past email that dropped into my inbox a couple weeks ago? SO glad I didn't answer it. Some people nevereverever change.
5. Also glad that Optional Details Are Optional. |
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| Twenty-first day of writing |
[Nov. 21st, 2009|11:22 pm] |
xposted to IJ and LJ
Word count: 137. |
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[Nov. 21st, 2009|08:36 pm] |
I'm trying to remember who among the lasses and lads of my flist are in Great Britain or Ireland. Just, if you're one of them, I hope you're okay. Please let me know if you're in the area, and if you're safe tonight.
*frets* |
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| Twentieth day of writing |
[Nov. 20th, 2009|11:13 pm] |
xposted to IJ and LJ
Word count: 1,024. Yay! No end in sight, though. |
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| Friday, November 20, 2009 |
[Nov. 20th, 2009|11:10 pm] |
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| Er. |
[Nov. 20th, 2009|09:42 pm] |
Having seen a spoiler for the episode as a comment in a journal where I did not expect to see Supernatural commentary, and having not seen last night's episode yet, I have a really spoilery question for those of you who have seen it: ( Major spoilers for last night's SPN )
For those who may be wondering, I have made it to the hotel for tonight, having survived the Pennsylvania Turnpike. I will probably collapse soon. |
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| Transgender Day of Remembrance |
[Nov. 20th, 2009|02:00 pm] |
Today is the 11th Annual Transgender Day of Remembrance, when we remember the hundreds of victims that transphobia claims every year around the world. Here is only a partial list.
It isn't just victims of violence, either. I'll confess that I had never heard the case of Tyra Hunter until I read that article at Shakesville: she was a transgender woman involved in a traffic accident in 1995. When EMTs arrived on the scene they started to treat her, then noticed her male genitalia. They stopped medical care and called her slurs. After they finally did get her to the hospital, she received substandard care and died. The EMTs and the hospital might not have caused her injuries, but due to their prejudice and apathy, they certainly caused her death.
Take a moment today to educate yourself about one of these victims. These are real people, dying every day. |
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contemplative