Fandom Lounge

Author feud!

2009-07-04T02:29:05Z

There seems to be a writer's feud on Twitter.

Now, this isn't a for-reals feud, but rather a bunch of writers who have decided to call each other names on Twitter for the amusement of others.

It starts when John Green decides he wants to have a writer's feud. People suggest writers, ranging the gamut of quality from Neil Gaiman to Cassie Cla(i)re (who makes an amusingly ironic comment here. Ultimately, however, Maureen Johnson (no connection to the character from Rent) fires the first shot, despite John's stated wish earlier not to "feud" with her again.

Follower counts are compared. Awards are whipped out and dismissed (though I will admit that Johnson's American covers do have unfortunate implications). There's even a comment about making John cry, as well as a commentary on John's hair.

Justine Larbalestier decides to get in on the feuding action, bringing fandom_wank star Cassie Cla(i)re in with her. "Real" names are revealed. Jellyfish are ordered (for Johnson's bathtub).

Jennifer Lynn Barnes takes sides with Johnson. Johnson attempts to drag Neil Gaiman in on it, but he declines, letting off what is perhaps the best insult in the whole thing.

As of now, Green, who one could say started this fight (and managed to put in a good flamewar on a BlogTV show earlier today), seems to have forgotten about the whole thing.

And they say Twitter is useless. Well, it probably is, and these people would be writing (or perhaps making YouTube videos in Green's case or plagiarizing in Cla(i)re's) were it not for this tremendous waste of time.

ETA: Another postworthy burn.

Let's Play

2009-07-04T00:00:28Z

I'm not sure how many people are familiar with the concept of Let's Plays but I've become addicted to them. Pretty much its someone playing a game and offering commentary on it. Blind runs are popular as well especially on horror survival games like Silent Hill.

Those of you that are familiar with them do you have any favorites? Or a let's play you'd recommend to someone who'd just discovered the concept?

On a minor note I've started doing LP's myself. I just finished King's Quest 3 VGA remake, and plan to start on KotR I. But I'd like to line up some games to play after that or if I run into issues with KotR, so do you guys have any suggestion? Please keep it to PC games, or games with emulators. And if any of you have tips or comments about my first attempt please let me know. :)

You are hereby banished from the Kingdom of Squee

2009-07-03T15:54:00Z

Over the course of the recent warnings controversy, I kept seeing phrases like: "As an exiled BNF myself..." "I was forced to leave fandom years ago..." "...she was kicked out of fandom..."
...and this isn't the first time I've heard it.

I've been active in various fandoms for about 15 years now and I still don't understand the concept of being "kicked out"; nor have I seen such a thing occur.

What does it even mean? You get a court order to stop cosplaying or writing fanfic? The postal service intercepts your zine submissions? Ninjas come in the night and steal all your DVDs? I'm utterly bewildered. It seems awfully vague, not to mention unenforceable.

You're standing on my neck.

2009-07-02T23:49:14Z

TV Shows on DVD reports that an upcoming DVD release has an ad for Daria DVDs in 2010! I'm so excited! I still have a bunch of videos from when The N would air edited episodes.

Also (might as well consolidate my posts y/y?), does anyone have an idea as to where I can find people to fill up my San Diego Comic-Con hotel room? (I already tried the unofficial LJ comm and Facebook.)

mtv.com streaming The Maxx!

2009-07-02T17:54:15Z

Looking for a new fandom?
Want a new mind screw?
Missed The Maxx during the hay-day of YTV or MTV?
Just want to re-live The Maxx in it's Pez eating, toast wanting, Meeping glory?
You're in luck!
MTV.COM IS STREAMING 6 EPS OF THE MAXX FOR FREE!!

Oh, Good. They killed it.

2009-07-02T03:16:56Z

A judge has banned the US publication and advertising of Catcher in the Rye "sequel."

fandom_lounge @ 2009-07-01T16:30:00

2009-07-01T21:48:44Z

A new Tales of Monkey Island trailer and gameplay clip have been posted. The mouse+keyboard controls don't look as EVIL EVIL EVIL as the wankers said but that's just me.

RIP Karl Malden

2009-07-01T20:30:39Z

And another celebrity death! Seriously, people, WTF?

Spaghetti sauce.

Actor Karl Malden Dies at 97

Posted by: Scott Coppersmith

Brentwood (myFOXla.com) - The family of Karl Malden says the actor who won an Oscar for his role in "A Streetcar Named Desire" has died at age 97.

Malden had been in failing health in recent years.

Malden's family informed the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences of his death on Wednesday. Malden served as the academy's president from 1989-92.

He made his screen debut in the 1940 movie "They Knew What They Wanted," and was praised for his role as Mitch in the 1951 classic "A Streetcar Named Desire."

His greatest fame came as Detective Mike Stone in the 1970s TV series "The Streets of San Francisco," in which he co-starred with Michael Douglas.

Malden also was a pitchman for American Express in a series of commercials airing over 21 years.

Are you looking for something cute? Do you like Princess Tutu?

2009-07-01T20:26:10Z

If that's the case, it's my pleasure to invite you to:

The
Princess Tutu
Cute Meme

Friendship and/or romance, nothing over a PG rating!

All characters and all pairings allowed (het, slash, femmeslash), just keep it cute!

RIP Mollie Sugden

2009-07-01T20:18:55Z

Mrs. Slocombe is no longer free.

Sauce.

Actress Mollie Sugden has died at the age of 86, her agent has said.

The TV star, best known for playing Mrs Slocombe in long-running BBC sitcom Are You Being Served?, died at the Royal Surrey Hospital after a long illness.

The Yorkshire-born actress's twin sons, Robin and Simon Moore, were at her bedside, agent Joan Reddin said.

David Croft, one of the writers of Are You Being Served?, remembered her as a "marvellous character" who would never turn down chances to make people laugh.

"She would never refuse any sort of comedy situation no matter how undignified it was she would always go along with it. She was marvellously funny," he said.

Ms Reddin, who began representing Sugden in the 1960s, said the actress has become a "very close friend".

"She had had a long illness and various problems but it was very quick in the end. Her twin boys were with her and she faded away.

"She was a lovely, lovely person and I never had any trouble with her. She was a great professional."

After training at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Sugden served a long apprenticeship in repertory theatre before television gave her a taste of fame.

She appeared in the comedy series Hugh and I in 1962 and Coronation Street as the gossiping Nellie Harvey.

But it was The Liver Birds that enabled her to make her first real impact, as Nerys Hughes' snobbish mother.

Are you a fan of Mollie Sugden? Share your memories of Mollie Sugden with us by filling in the form below.

Published: 2009/07/01 19:10:58 GMT

© BBC MMIX

fandom_lounge @ 2009-07-01T10:28:00

2009-07-01T14:29:34Z

Is LJ being particulary robust for anyone else, or is it just me? It's taking several attempts for anything to load, if it loads at all. Its not my internet connection, as every other site is loading in no time at all.

ETA: It's back up now.

fandom_lounge @ 2009-07-01T03:00:00

2009-07-01T10:03:08Z

My deepest apologies, I dug around in the archive and couldn't find what I was looking for but this was the place I remembered finding it.

Could a kind soul direct me to the program, add-on, feature, shiny magical spell that backs up LJs? A friend of mine is looking to back up some game logs Just In Case and I remembered there was something that was good for archiving of the el-jays without saving comment by comment... and promptly forgot everything about it (even the name) save for the fact that I heard about it here.

Random question

2009-07-01T02:19:39Z

Say we saw a really juicey wank happening on twitter? Would it still be considered 'fandom_wank' material, or would it be considered the same as a locked post?

*waits for people to throw rotten fruit at her if she's posted in the wrong place.*

In Which Our Intrepid Author Reveals Her Inner Asshole

2009-06-30T14:58:27Z

Ah, we are all familiar now with the time-honored tradition of professional published writers flipping their shit on the internet, no?

Add Alice Hoffman to the storied list.

The Executive Summary: using that ubiquitous new tool of social networking, Twitter, Ms. Hoffman lashes out at the literary critic of the Boston Globe, posting 27 tweets of ringing outrage (including the phone number of the critic, tastefully redacted from the Gawker article and thankfully no longer available on Ms Hoffman's now AWOL twitter feed). Outtakes are included, as well as a conversation in comments about the various literary and personality charms of Ms. Hoffman.

Obviously there is a lot of wank in Alice Hoffman's cute little meltdown, but I'm not seeing a tremendous amount of wank in the reaction (I did not, however, read all 42 pages of reaction at Gawker, so who knows). Am linking here mostly because this sort of thing no longer triggers my personal threshold of wank reporting, and strikes me more as a pathetic curios of irrational human behavior instead.

Enjoy? :)

I want YOU to be my new fandom!

2009-06-29T18:23:24Z

You guys are a learned and creative crowd. Only a few posts ago I asked for book recs in a thread, and got a reading list I can't wait to get started with. ♥

I'm also curious about something else. I know a lot of you are active in fandom as writers, artists, vidders, &c., which is ace. But have you got original work available online? I'd love to read it: stories, comics, poetry, travelogues, anything your fancy comes up with.

If you don't mind plugging your stuff (and allowing others to spread the good word), please do link to it! I also appreciate links to communities dedicated to original work.

Thank you!

Simpsons and Scribblenauts, oh my!

2009-06-29T12:16:42Z

Over 100 sci-fi characters drawn in the Simpsons style.

Characters you won't find in the upcoming DS game Scribblenauts. How cute is Scribblenaut!Phoenix Wright?

Farewell, Billy Mays

2009-06-28T17:01:08Z

Police: TV pitchman Billy Mays found dead at home

TAMPA, Fla. – Billy Mays, the burly, bearded television pitchman known for his boisterous hawking of products such as Orange Glo and OxiClean, has died. He was 50.

Tampa police said Mays was found unresponsive by his wife Sunday morning. A fire rescue crew pronounced him dead at 7:45 a.m.

There were no signs of a break-in, and investigators do not suspect foul play. The coroner's office expects to have an autopsy done by Monday afternoon.

"Although Billy lived a public life, we don't anticipate making any public statements over the next couple of days," said Mays' wife, Deborah. "Our family asks that you respect our privacy during these difficult times."

Born William Mays in McKees Rocks, Pa., on July 20, 1958, Mays developed his style demonstrating knives, mops and other "as seen on TV" gadgets on Atlantic City's boardwalk. For years he worked as a hired gun on the state fair and home show circuits, attracting crowds with his booming voice and genial manner.

After meeting Orange Glo International founder Max Appel at a home show in Pittsburgh in the mid-1990s, Mays was recruited to demonstrate the environmentally friendly line of cleaning products on the St. Petersburg-based Home Shopping Network.

Commercials and informercials followed, anchored by the high-energy Mays showing how it's done while tossing out kitschy phrases like, "Long live your laundry!"

Recently he's been seen on commercials for a wide variety of products and is featured on the reality TV show "Pitchmen" on the Discovery Channel, which follows Mays and Anthony Sullivan in their marketing jobs. He's also been seen in ESPN ads.

His ubiquitousness and thumbs-up, in-your-face pitches won Mays plenty of fans. People line up at his personal appearances for autographed color glossies, and strangers stop him in airports to chat about the products.

"I enjoy what I do," Mays told The Associated Press in a 2002 interview. "I think it shows."

Mays liked to tell the story of giving bottles of OxiClean to the 300 guests at his wedding, and doing his ad spiel ("powered by the air we breathe!") on the dance floor at the reception. Visitors to his house typically got bottles of cleaner and housekeeping tips.

Discovery Channel spokeswoman Elizabeth Hillman released a statement Sunday extending sympathy to the Mays family.

"Everyone that knows him was aware of his larger-than-life personality, generosity and warmth," Hillman's statement said. "Billy was a pioneer in his field and helped many people fulfill their dreams. He will be greatly missed as a loyal and compassionate friend."

fandom_lounge @ 2009-06-27T22:43:00

2009-06-28T03:53:12Z

The Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC) inmates of Cebu, Philippines that became famous for the video of 1500+ inmates dancing to Thriller has just posted their Michael Jackson choregraphed tribute.

PW review of Goodkind's new book

2009-06-27T21:00:45Z

Publishers Weekly review of The Law of Nines:

The Law of Nines Terry Goodkind. Putnam, $27.95 (512p) ISBN 978-0-399-15604-5

Bestseller Goodkind (Confessor) ventures into thriller territory with results sure to please fans of his fantasy fiction. In the opening pages, Alex Rahl, the book’s unwitting hero, saves the beautiful Jax from being run down on the street in Orden, Neb., by a plumbing truck flying a pirate flag. Jax, who turns out to be from an alternate reality where evildoers are attempting to seize control of her civilization, has traveled to Nebraska to seek Alex’s help in saving her people. In Jax’s world, magic takes the place of technology, but on earth she’s stripped of her powers and forced to fight armed with only her trusty dagger. The author takes his time setting all this up, but once the story gets rolling, it’s a gripping ride as the bad guys whoosh in between their world, which remains unseen, and ours. Fantasy and thriller readers alike will find themselves swept along to the final confrontation and looking forward to the next installment. (Sept.)

fandom_lounge @ 2009-06-27T10:25:00

2009-06-27T14:30:40Z

I'm looking for some good anthromorphic fics. I've heard rumors of a really good, famous Tetris fic, and ...bleh, my brain just died again, so I'll edit this part in later.

Please give me stuff to read while I spend time in Vicodin land? Thanks!

(I hope this is the right comm...)

Micheal Jackson Breaks the Internet

2009-06-27T01:06:53Z

CNN reports that Micheal Jackon's death nearly brought the mighty internet to its knees. The article Jackson dies, almost takes Internet with him notes all the websites that are buckling under the weight of mourners of the King of Pop. LJ and JF have been particularly robust. And we all thought that Potterdämmerung would be the end of the internets. At least he went out with flair.

Additional mentions of the phenomena here and here.

Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea

2009-06-26T07:02:15Z

Miyazaki's film Gake No Ue No Ponyo is coming to the States on August 14 (two weeks after I move back home - guess who's carting all her younger siblings to the movies!). The voice cast includes Liam Neeson, Cloris Leachman, Tina Fey, Matt Damon, Cate Blanchett, Betty White, and Lily Tomlin, with Miley Cyrus' sister Noah as Ponyo and the Bonus Jonas Frankie as her friend Sousuke.

In the movie, Ponyo is a baby goldfish who wants to be a human girl. Thanks to a young boy named Sosuke, she actually begins achieving this dream, and goes to live with him, upsetting the balance of nature in the process.

Here's a trailer.

Yay Ponyo, yay Miyazaki, yay Tina Fey, and yay family/children's movie starring a girl who isn't a princess!

Gundam 00 Recs?

2009-06-25T22:22:29Z

Since eljay is down, I figured I'd ask a favour of any Gundam 00 fans who aren't currently mourning the possible death of Michael Jackson:

Big, fandom favourite pairings scare me ever since I got into TW and read some J/I fic that gave me hives. So I'm looking for recommendations of really, really good - you guessed it - Tieria/Lockon fic. I'd love long or short, fluff or tearjerkers, and Neil!Lockon where possible, unless there's some good Lyle/Tieria angst. I can do angst.

I've combed the kink meme, but I like a little more psychological/emotional element with my porn, so it wasn't quite satisfying.

ADDITIONALLY! If anyone can direct me to really, really good Ribbons/Tieria, I will give you my firstborn (Of course, I can't have kids, but the thought is there).

Thank you!

Michael Jackson has died.

2009-06-25T21:47:43Z

http://www.tmz.com/2009/06/25/michael-jackson-dies-death-dead-cardiac-arrest/

OH MY FUCKING GOD
Michael Jackson Dies
Posted Jun 25th 2009 5:20PM by TMZ Staff
We've just learned Michael Jackson has died. He was 50.

Michael suffered a cardiac arrest earlier this afternoon and paramedics were unable to revive him. We're told when paramedics arrived Jackson had no pulse and they never got a pulse back.

Michael is survived by three children: Michael Joseph Jackson, Jr., Paris Michael Katherine Jackson and Prince "Blanket" Michael Jackson II.

Jackson had 13 number one hits during his solo career.

OH MY GOD.

I am shaking, ngl.

ETA:
I hope it's not true. PLEASE LET IT BE FAKE.

WHY WON'T ANYONE CONFIRM THIS, GDI.

TMZ IS THE ONLY ONE REPORTING THE DEATH, NEEDS CONFIRMATION FIRST

POTENTIAL CONFIRMATION? OH GOD I HOPE NOT

ETA AGIAN, VIA TWITTER: According to @FSBigBob KTLA, KCBS, CNN, and MSNBC are still reporting MJ is alive.

EVERYTHING IS SLOW I AM IN PERMA CAPSLOCK.

ETA:
Pop star Michael Jackson was pronounced dead by doctors this afternoon after arriving at a hospital in a deep coma, city and law enforcement sources told The Times.

Holy fucking shit, he's dead.

;_; for reals. No, really. :'(

MSNBC, NBC, CBS, among others confirm death. CNN, Fox...

I am not even kidding when I say it was a dream of mine to see him in concert. I am so sad, I don't even know what to say or do right now.

LJ is still down, wiki is nutso, Twitter is ROBUST LIKE WHOA. And, omg, radio stations are only playing Michael.

ETA:
I'm guessing they fixed LJ by suspending ONTD. Which is now back up, comments disabled.

WAY TO STAY CLASSY ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT:
http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/6285/400mjacksonambulance090.jpg

~~Oh yeah, and this just in: JEFF GOLDBLUM DIED TOO. http://bit.ly/l3xgZ~~ FALSE. I THINK. YEAH. IDK. BRB, STILL CRYING OVER MJ.

Comic fandom call to...umm...lips?

2009-06-25T21:35:33Z

Most of the wording borrowed, with permission, from suyari @ LJ

It has finally happened.

http://www.shatteringtheearth.com/xfactor/45004.png

Why YES. That IS Star and Rictor kissing ON PANEL!

Marvel's finally allowed for it BUT typical of a comic company, they're gonna go with the majority. Whoever Yeas or Nays the most will decide whether we get to finally enjoy relationship equality in a medium that is way behind the times. The gay characters can finally do more than risk a way in the back, silhouetted hand hold. Or sitting next to each other a lot, and the random arm about the shoulders. We're not asking for much. We just want them to be allowed to visually express their feelings like anyone else.

So, this is a fandom call to arms. If you can just take 5 minutes to write a 'Good Job, Marvel. We'd really rather see relationship equality in comics' it'd be a big help. Because you know the homophobes will write in masses, without knowing a thing other than there are two male characters kissing. It will be enough for them. Why can't it be enough for us?

If you have the time, you can drop Marvel a line here: officex@marvel.com

Let the boys kiss too.

Thanks.

I personally admit that I've not actually seen the issue in question, only the scan. I don't have access to a comics shop, so I don't know for certain that this is up for a vote. But what I've heard is that if the Yeas win, Shatterstar stays in the title and they'll develop the relationship. If the Nays win, they'll find a way to write Shatterstar out of the title and there may even be a retcon of the kiss.

But even if it isn't, letting Marvel know that we're not afraid of two guys kissing in our comics is not a bad thing and giving PAD kudos for writing it? Well, it can't hurt. At all.