Life · is · action · and · passion...

Everyone's upset about the latest fandom drama regarding fic warnings. I've read the arguments, and while personally I fall on the warnings side of the fence, I can't say that either side is blameless for turning this into the huge kerfuffle it has evolved into. That said maybe it's a good thing to have out there. A good portion of the current online fan community is younger and doesn't have the context of fanish faux pas that existed in the earlier days. In this time of livejournal and archive tags a lot of the formality has been discarded, and perhaps it's time to give it a good dusting off. I've been heavily involved in fandom (though mostly as a lurker) since approximately 1997. At the time there was something like a standard opening format for any fic out there. The lists I was a part of required something along these lines in the opening of any fic posted:

Title:
Author:
Feedback: email@email.com
Rating:
Disclaimer:
Pairing:
Spoilers:
Content warning:
Distribution statement: Please ask first.
Summary:
Notes:

Yes, it's bulky and looks awkward, but there was something to be said about having that fandom wide standard. It wasn't something that ruined the story, but more something that was an act of common courtesy. I can understand the reasoning behind not wanting to warn people about something that could cause them to not read your fic. Your writing is sharp, the handling is smart, and it could blow people away if only they'll give it a chance. I get it, but in effect you're tricking the reader in a way that is inexcusable. Even people who don't have trigger issues might like to know about the dub-con and abuse content in the fic you just wrote. I love reading things that rip my guts out, but today maybe I just can't deal with it. It doesn't mean your audience will disappear, but it does give people the chance and power to make their own choices. Putting in some of the guidelines listed above, even if it's just paired down to title, author, rating, content warning, and summary isn't compromising your fic, it's common courtesy. Robert A. Heinlein said that manners are lubricant for the social machine, and he has a point. Just because we're invisible to the outside world does not mean that our lack of courtesy doesn't have effect. In this case it is pitting some people who are otherwise lovely against each other. Perhaps a return to a somewhat more structured approach to fandom is in order.

x posted to livejournal

Well, apparently people are criticizing Obama for taking his wife on a date. Seriously? Because God forbid that we have a president who loves his wife and wants take her out for a nice evening. Don't we have bigger issues here?

Speaking of bigger issues: splix brought this one to my attention.

KRXQ Sacramento Radio Hosts Encourage Violence Against Transgender Children. Reading the excerpts from their show quite literally made me ill. However you feel on the issue, the fact is that these men are quite vocally advocating verbal and physical abuse towards children. I realize that "shock jocks" are supposed to push the envelope, but advocating criminal abuse towards five and six year old children is about six miles over that line.

I'll be sending an email to the station's general manager, John Geary. jgeary@entercom.com
I'm also going to snoop around their website and figure out some of their advertisers that I can also email about the issue. In general I don't believe in going after someone's livelihood, but the fact is that these people are heard by thousands of listeners each day and they have a responsibility at the very least not to advocate criminal actions. I will be including in my email to the station manager that I will be sending letters to their advertisers asking them to pull their financial support unless these asshats are let go. I don't want to be placated. I don't want an apology. What I want is to never hear about some another nine year old who hangs himself due to homophobic bullying at school. What I want is to never read another report on the statistics of abused gay children. What I want is to be able to expect some level of decency from my fellow man. All these things are not going to happen, but I will settle for NEVER hearing from these bottomdwelling scumsuckers again.

ETA: Here is the page that lists their advertisers.

I have quite a few friends who will be pleased to know that Dollhouse was renewed for a second short season next year (with a budget cuts requirement, so who knows how that will affect the quality).

So yeah, Fox stepped up and is keeping one scifi show.

In other RAGE INDUCING news, they announced that Sarah Connor Chronicles was not renewed today.

Joss, I love you, but SERIOUSLY? TSCC is by far the better show.

Fox, you are rat bastards and I loathe you with every fiber of my being.

*attempts to regain zen*

Also, I desperately want Emma Caulfield's new movie Timer to get a wide release. Almost as I want Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Undead. Here watch some trailers and make a buzz.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbE6KXBuzbE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Iq_KE61Gio

1. Reply to this post and I'll assign you a letter.
2. List (and upload) 5 songs that begin with that letter.
3. Post them to your journal with these instructions.

1. Damn You Look Good (and I'm Drunk) - Cobra Starship
(hxxp://www.divshare.com/download/7408944-526)
Okay, while this is not their best song I find that every thing they do makes me laugh. For a good listening time I suggest picking up a copy of all their albums and rocking out.

2. David Duchovney (Why Don't You Love Me?) - Bree Sharp
(hxxp://www.divshare.com/download/7408945-d35)
Like I could make a list without including just as much fangirl as possible.

3. Destiny Calling - James
(hxxp://www.divshare.com/download/7408946-7aa)
I LOVE this song. This is my anthem, and should be on almost any playlist.

4. Drink & Fight - Flogging Molly
(hxxp://www.divshare.com/download/7408947-555)
Irish Punk at it's best.

5. The Dumbing Down of Love - Frou Frou
(hxxp://www.divshare.com/download/7408948-db4)
How is it that Frou Frou is always awesome?

Bonus Song:
Down & Out - The Academy Is...
(hxxp://www.divshare.com/download/7409086-cc3)
I LOVE Bill Beckett. He's gorgeous, sweet, can solve a Rubiks Cube in just over a minute, and has GREAT taste in music. Bill Beckett is prettier than you, me, and all my sisters. Current favorite song is Classifieds. Check him out.

Dimensions & Verticals - Say Hi To Your Mom
(hxxp://www.divshare.com/download/7409088-ef7)
Okay, this guy records all the instruments separately, mixes them on his mac, and lays the vocals over them. He's fabulously talented and totally geek oriented. Also try Northwestern Girls and I'm In Love With An Android.

Death of an Interior Decorator - Death Cab For Cutie
(hxxp://www.divshare.com/download/7409087-094)
Love them, love everything they do.

For the links, change the xx to tt.

As per our tyrannical copyright laws you should all delete these songs after 72 hours. If you don't it's totally on you.

Okay, yeah, I wanna do something nice for people to celebrate the end of finals. I don't care if you're on my flist or not, just drop a comment and I'll upload some music for you.

Grades come in Monday, so I'm trying to accrue good karma.

xposted to livejournal

Okay, so there is this thing that exists to torture students. This horror is known as finals. A significant portion (almost half) of my grade hinges on my doing well on the following:

Write a paper in which you agree or disagree with this summary of the thematic elements of A Room with a View:
"England must change or she will merely rot away like a medieval corpse."

Then, write your own one line summaries of Moll Flanders, The Mayor of Casterbridge, and Silas Marner. Explain your statements in an essay for each book, providing examples to support your reasoning.

Now if it were any other teacher this would be no problem, unfortunately Professor Heller (no, I did not make that name up) has the best bs detectors I've ever seen, so I have to make this REALLY good. Why, oh why did my brain choose now to take a vacation?

xposted to LJ.

Well, here's hoping I update this journal more than my LJ. I love the fandom friendly platform and I know there's all kinds of cool tools I can use, but honestly, I'm not sure I'll have much time to even read until I finish school. Anyhow, love to fandom and dreamwidth. I'm totally buying an account when I've got the cash, just to support the endeavor. Peace out people!

gakked from my flist:
1 question.
1 chance.
1 honest answer. None of my usual BS.
That's all you get.

You get to ask me 1 question.
Any question, anything, no matter how crazy, dirty, or wrong it is.

One catch, that should go without saying: no mentioning the questions or answers to others. :)

But I dare you to repost this.
And see what people ask you!

Comments are screened.

Saw Milk tonight and it was glorious. It just needed a bit more Lucas Gabreel for me to be happy. Wonderful story, amazing acting, and it was just perfect all around.

Also, James Franco is DEAD SEXY.

*Went to Abq for St Patrick's day party with some of the SCA people and it was a BLAST. I really love that group up there.

*Why is it that my job makes me want to regress to my cutter state? I give it till September and if things aren't better I'm going to take the pay cut and do work study instead.

*I'm starting to research programs for getting my Masters in Medieval History. Any suggestions?

*Bandom wants to eat my soul.

*I think Dollhouse is easier to get into if you get the opportunity to watch in chunks. My first exposure was earlier this week and thanks to Hulu I've mainlined the first six eps and I find it completely watchable.

** In last week's episode I couldn't figure out why I kept wanting to laugh while watching Echo beat up FBI dude... then I realized that the song running through my head was Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline" and I busted up.

*** On another note, where's the Fall Out Boys/Dollhouse crossover? If someone's writing this for Sports Night then Bandom, which is infinitely more cracky, totally needs one.

Today I got one of those annoying pre-recorded messages from the NM Republican Party about a bill in the state senate that is about gay marriage. I kept listening, hoping to get some kind of menu option to talk to a real person and opt out of these calls when I hear the closing lines:

"If you are repulsed by the left wing drift of the Democratic Party remember you are WELCOME in the Republican Party."

Seriously, I believe in being open minded with candidates and not simply voting party line, but this commercial makes me want to vow never to vote Republican again just on the principle that they should not get away with being such jackasses.

ETA: you can see my email to the RNC in the comments.

Tell everyone about this movie. My spider sense tells me it will be AWESOME...

http://www.undeadflick.com/

Yep, you read that right. "Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Undead."

This may be the most awesome thing I've ever heard of.

The first five people to respond to this post will get something made by me! My choice. For you.

This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:
- I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!
- What I create will be just for you.
- It'll be done this year.
- You have no clue what it's going to be. It may be a story. It may be poetry. I may draw or paint something. I may bake you something and mail it to you. Who knows? Not you, that's for sure!
- I reserve the right to do something extremely strange.

The catch? Oh, the catch is that you have to re-post. We can all make stuff!!

My nine year old brother was just totally grossed out by the song "Sexy Boys" by Air. Here I am thinking he's feeling like his gender is being objectified, but then he tells me "that's so disgusting! It's like some gross vampire song singing about sexy blood."

*snorfle*

Cost Plus the World Market is having a 20% off sale today only. Also, if you order $50 or more there's free shipping. Which means if I had the money I could totally buy a full set of these gorgeous dishes and not have to pay an arm and a leg to ship them.
http://www.worldmarket.com/kitchen-tabletop/dinnerware/dinnerware-collections/Batik-Floral-Dinnerware-Sets-of-4/lev/4/productId/5313/No/32/Ne/1100001/Nao/32/pCategoryId/1100135/sectionId/2866/Ns/TOP_SELLER_INDEX|1||CATEGORY_SEQ_2980|0/N/1100137/Nty/1/categoryId/1100137/gpCategoryId/1100217/index.pro

Well my dear, I apologize, but I don't have a lot of guidance for you. If you want to look at my delicious bookmarks (http://delicious.com/inteligrrl) or my google reader page (https://www.google.com/reader/shared/03257131471096552665) you can see the kind of random stuff I find interesting. Basically, I love either happy endings or things that make me *bawl*. I'm a torrid slasher, but meaty friendship fics are wonderful too. Give me either and I'm sure I'll love it. Witty dialog is a favorite, but some of my favorite fics have almost no dialog at all, so it's really up to you. I'm sure whatever you do will be lovely and if you want to leave me a question (anonymously, in the spirit of the secret) I don't mind.

Okay, my beloved friend Crystal was telling me some fascinating stuff about church history, and here's the juxt of it (No, seriously people read this, I promise it's worth it):

Point A) Interestingly enough, when Martin Luther separated from the Catholic church he(a former priest) took a former nun as a wife, which was considered extremely sacreligious at the time. His argument to justify this? Marriage is not a religious sacrament, but a legal covenant made by the state. He felt the church was obligated to bless the union, but was not the legislative authority of marriage. Also, Luther felt that sexuality itself was a gift of creation, and not for the sole purpose of reproduction. Huh, I'm having visions of a cartoon Martin Luther exclaiming "Silly catholics, sex is for fun!"

Point B) Apparently, the book of Mathew is the gospel written for a distinctly Jewish audience. This is particularly important when looking at verses like the following:

Matthew 16:19 "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven."

Now how this applies is that rather than being about spiritual warfare or anything it was talking about the evolution of the church. There were many Christian Jews in the early church, who most likely still attended synagog and considered themselves to simply be of the Jewish faith. As time went on there was more and more difficulty with them attending synagog as there was an abundance of bad feeling toward "the Nazarene" and his followers. Mathew was writing to tell them that it was okay to loose themselves from the Jewish faith, and that by doing that they would not be separating themselves from God. Anyhow Crystal was telling me that quite a few people feel this is something that will apply to issues such as gay marriage, and if the church in general decides that it is acceptable than so it is, basically rewriting the traditional arguments. People talk about a "living breathing constitution", but how cool is it that the bible was actually meant to be able to adapt with the ages?

Just goes to show, if you don't like the way the bible reads you're getting the wrong translation.

P.S. Presuming any of my evangelical friends have found this journal: please I can totally explain Sodom & Gomorah too, so don't even go there.

There's been a lot of talk about the election, in both real life and in cyber space. One of my favorite bloggers pinkfinity recently asked her readers what their election playlist consists of. Songs such as Aztec Camera's "Good Morning Brittan" and Will.I.Am's "Yes We Can" were put forth, each one seeming to express a hope for the future. As a result of this thread I have been pondering my choice off and on. Finally this morning it dawned on me that the only song that truly expresses my feelings is Vonda Shepard's cover of "Baby Don't You Break My Heart Slow."

There's this line in rageprufrock's fic Hindsight that in many ways summarizes my feelings. It goes, "John wants to say, don't worry--my heart's been broken all this time, and I've been fine." What I realized today is that this is where I'm at in regards to our political system. I remember being a child and finding things like elections, Independence Day, and expressions of patriotism thrilling. In my youthful naiveté I believed there was no place on Earth equal to the United States of America. Now I'm an adult, and I don't believe in the system. I think the government doesn't do the things it should and does the things it shouldn't.

I can't exactly say when the shine came off, but at some point I realized my outlook had changed. I now felt that while idealism is usually well intentioned, it is also generally foolish and ultimately damaging. Those who are in politics are either corrupt or hamstrung to the point that their best intentions are ultimately useless. I believe one thing, power corrupts absolutely. I'm not sure how much I still like my country, much less believe in it. I still vote, I still salute the flag, but when our national anthem plays all I feel is tired and jaded. It is as if the wonder has gone out of the world.

My political history is as follows: When Clinton was elected in ’92 I was a rabid conservative. I listened to Rush Limbaugh with my dad and saw the liberal conspiracy everywhere. I had decided that when I went to college I wanted to go into political science. After leaving the Bible Belt and moving to Silver City, I was thrust into a completely different atmosphere. I learned that Democrats are people, too, and that I don’t have a problem with gay people getting married. At seventeen I was a libertarian. I felt the government needed to be trimmed, Democrats needed to keep their hands off my money, and Republicans needed to stop telling me what to do. I’m twenty-five now, an English major, and jaded. I keep looking into immigrating to Italy.

I am so tired of everything.

Quite honestly, I don't think we can change things. I think the same people are always in power, and they are usually not elected. Mr. Obama, I applaud your call to action, but in my heart I don't believe we can change the status quo. Everyone seems to have such great hopes for their choice of future president will be. If I were given a chance to be heard I would make one request of him, whoever it might be: Whatever you do, either for good or ill, do it boldly. Not everyone will like the things that you do, but Mr. President be bold. Don't break our hearts slow. and please, prove me wrong.