1. Fic rec: Learning Wesley (FRT, Wesley Wyndham-Pryce/Evan Lorne)

Summary: What if the SGC were the ones trying to recruit Wesley, not Wolfram and Hart? What if they succeeded?

Rec: I've always wondered/played with the idea of Dark!Place Wesley (post throat owwie) just going, leaving and finding a new life. Where better than the SGC? It's a spectacular fit and allyndra keeps everyone wonderfully in character and balances Wes's Dark!Place with his natural dorkitude and geeky enthusiasm.

2. Link rec: iwanexstudio (thanks miera_c). It's a website that shows before and after photos of their studio shots. Click on portfolio and then click on one of the images on the bottom and then scroll your mouse on and off the image to see the before/after. I think most people downplay the amount of postproduction that goes into these sorts of professional photos. Maybe not realizing. And honestly, I'm for playing with colors and such, brightening the saturations and all that jazz can make a photo more visually interesting, but these do so much more than that.

3. Nope, still not giving up on this. (One day I might explain how this actually isn't random.)

4. Bigbang. Argh? On the bright side (?) I'm not getting much work done at all, funky sleeping schedule (and possibly an upsurge in actual allergies) has made my v.v. fuzzy. So I'm writing about 1000 times slower than normal. At least though I remembered that I can actually write when half asleep (assuming I can put two thoughts together inside my own head).

  I broke 15k, so yays! Today was the largest chunk at one time in several weeks. (Over 1k I think). So. *eyes file*

You know what I love? I love the occasional wink, wink, nudge nudge, when tastefully done, you know, not over the top. Like say-- that Quantum Leap convention that lawyer from JAG ended up at (okay that might've been over the top), or the Cylon that walked by in the A-Team. That's adorable to me.

But I wonder. I wonder how expats of popculture influence their new shows.

So I'm watching Bones and there's this episode that's very PopCulture oriented in terms of comic books. Hodgins goes so far as to rattle off several franchises that have spun out to all sorts of merchandise, including comics (comics was the focus of the story), he mentioned stuff from Star Trek through Stargate. Here's what I'm thinking, how much does the fact that DB stars in the show changes their Pop Culture references? Are they actively avoiding Buffy thoughts? And if so, how far are they avoiding? I watched that scene in the comic book shop and I'd bet that whatever they couldn't get for no licensing fees was not in any way a Buffy or Angel or possibly even Firefly comic. (Yeah I bet they got someone to draw up the most visible covers, but I wonder, you know?)

James Marsters, David Boreanaz, and Allison Hannigan (I'm sure there are others, but I am sleepy and unthinky) all have spots in shows that could easily comment on (and possibly HAVE as JM is really a guest star so their curbing of references possibly only started recently or when he's on) something using a 'PopCulture' reference from their past, but don't. Is it on purpose? Is it a coincidence? Etc. I'm curious how much thought about this actually goes INTO writing and production. I mean, the number of Star Trek guest stars on Stargate is a running gag and they DO make occasional Trek references themselves, but they don't do it when the guest star is lurking, actually since Michael I'm not sure how much they do it at ALL. On purpose? Subconsciously? It's fascinating I think. Someone with a better memory than I have might be able to detail more specific progressions.

Mostly it comes down to "Does this really affect production and if so, how?"

1. While I am surely not the first person to use lists to enumerate (ha!) their many thoughts instead of falling back to the much loved paragraph style, which requires things such as connecting sentences and a vaguely linear subject movement, I feel as if I have have seen many a listing from my flist these days and I feel like I have started a list revolution. I know somewhere, someone hates me for this *puts on tinhat*. It's the sort of thing that's a sidenote on a f_w staring you. (omg amireal, with her pretentious listing kink.)

2. I see that service pack 3 is out for XP. I shall be waiting here in my special service pack3-less bomb shelter for about two months. If no reports of fatal errors/fuckups/security holes the size of my car(HA!)/sudden computer related flatulence/the random usurping of some democratic country in the name of skynet appear on various warning sites for Windows the Speshul Generation, I shall tentatively schedule that update for a future computer maintenance.

3. I wonder if one day, even I'll get tired of this gag.

( Cut because I think this gets long? There are at least three more numbers, dealing with naps, bigbang and carebears. )

1. I am now 100% migraine free! w00t! After spending that long just unhappy and tense I've upped the regularity of my muscle relaxants for a bit. It's always strange to have sore muscles from just sitting around doing nothing but letting drugs unknot you. *rolls neck*

2. Funny migraine story. So. A while ago, fellow headache of DOOM sufferer offered me the advice of drinking White Peony tea along with whatever else I was doing for my headache. Aside from the caffeine (which tends to be a part of most OTC migraine meds and some prescription ones) that particular type of tea has something natural that helps suppress that type of pain. I didn't manage a lot of it this weekend because I was too busy being curled up under my covers ignoring the world and most light sources, but I did make an effort a few times. I did have to get up and make food after all. So the last time (Sunday afternoon) I washed out the reusable filter, put it in my mug, set the water to boil and-- somehow brewed tea without a. putting the loose tea into the basket, b. NOTICING c. adding milk and DRINKING IT d. not realizing until I went back into the kitchen to do a little cooking/cleaning up. HOURS LATER.

...

Yeah.

In my defense! My mugs are black! And white tea has little color! And And-- um. Yeah. *hangs head* I blame the carebear porn?


3. *eyes number suspiciously*

4. I'm thinking about going back to the clinic and asking if they're willing to write me some scrips as 'hold over' meds till I can get my new patient physical out of the way (btw, I have decided to write out all of my issues so I look prepared instead of a big, drug seeking, whiney butt). I just feel like I'll look like a big-- I dunno. I mean-- I went in for allergies that I thought might've been something worse. And now I want to go back for a small supply of migraine meds and emergency backup back meds. The migraine meds PROBABLY won't get me a weird look, especially if I explain that my main doc is in NYC and I'm in the process of getting a main doc out here, but I feel like I'll look guilty if I ask for 10 of hydrocodone or Darvocet or something for my back.

5. I'm very-- awake. It's 4am here. Just for reference. I cannot decide if I should see if I can STAY away and somehow force my schedule back to something more normal. (I'm pretty okay with waking up 6am. Because that gives me a normal day to deal with and I can slide forward slowly to around 8am. Plus I wake up to new tv!) I'm just not sure for how long I'll FEEL awake. Maybe I'll catch a super early showing of IronMan?

6. Anyone else get strange radiated pain from allergies? Mostly my throat has a low grade "bleah I ache" which sometimes radiates out to the ears.

Two links of absolute delight:

1. Having a bad day? Try Funny and Stupid Customer Quotes, because sometimes they're not always right. *reads in awe* It's confirmation that sometimes, people just make no sense. (Also that maybe that math and logic thing they try to teach you in school is really important.)

2. Verbal Punctuation in metaquotes The quote is funny, the ensuing conversation, PRICELESS.

You know, at this point, the only reason I'm not writing an SGA/Carebear fusion is because I don't remember the source material well enough.

That is all.

***

AstroBear crossed his paws. "HeloBear! Would you take this seriously!"

"I am." HeloBear said distractedly, not thinking at all about how Astro's wormwhole glowed softly in the dim light. AstroBear did not seem like the belly rubbing type.''

***

This, by the way, is all seperis's fault.

1. I was going to declare this Thinky Thought Thursday, but I don't have the energy. Next week. I swear. (note: this is not permission to stop being thinky *G*)

2. Doctor called, Definitely not strep. Am still feeling the sore throat. Also it seems as time goes on the AllegraD is losing a battle. I'm not sure this is allergies, though I suppose my body can change as you get older and this does seem to be a steady sort of low grade BLEARG. We'll see. Meanwhile, my entire sleep schedule is fucked beyond belief. I'm not sure how to make it better. Well my one option I don't have time for (going around the clock). I LIKED being awake and dressed by 10am.

3. *narrows eyes*

4. Broke 13k in bigbang. I feel-- I don't know. I think part of it is feeling icky and having a screwed up sleepy schedule. Like, I'm waking up after 5 hours and refusing to go back to bed and that just makes me bleary. I'm getting at least 750 a day in (ish) so I'll make the deadline, I think. Maybe. I haven't even started on storyline B.

5. link: PSA: Plan B, and the fact that it is NOT RU486 by muppetk - just useful information I think. Warning: occasionally a bit graphic.

But in the last couple of weeks, I realized that even among the highly educated, scientifically literate, it's easy to confuse Plan B with RU486. (One can argue whether this is logical confusion vs deliberate misinformation. As usual in controversy, it's probably both.) Two highly intelligent people (my parents) both didn't realize the difference upon engaging them in conversation about the topic. Or at least, my mom was confused for sure and I think my dad was -- my dad and I think enough alike that I just assumed what he thought from his expression. And given that my folks are no slouch in the brains and science department, I thought it was time for THE WORLD, or at least my friends-list, to get a primer.

1. AMPTP walks away from SAG negotiations.. Color me shocked. There's a joke here about how this explains why all movies tend to be kind of bland and the same these days isn't there?

2. When Living History Becomes "Just History"... by liz_marcs - Starts with the RPG disaster and goes off into Holocaust history. Could be triggery.

Historically speaking, Auschwitz was not the only concentration camp that had a brothel. In fact there were several camps that had them, thanks to Heinrich Himmler. Why? Because Himmler had decided that these brothels were just a dandy way to motivate and reward officers and high-ranking camp personnel. Just staff them with "Aryans," or at least Aryan-looking women from among the camp's population, and you've got yourself a brothel any Nazi would be proud to have in their camp. (Please note sarcasm here.)

commodorified

But I was standing at the bus stop on Rideau Street today, holding some parcels and waiting for the bus and sort of negotiating my spot in the crowd, as you do, and thinking idly about "what does agreeableness have to do with feminism?" and less idly about "how do you keep your space in a crowd without being a jerk?" and realised that these are basically aspects of the same question.

stoney321

1. Note to self: Go to clinic before 10am on a weekday. Minimal waiting. YAYS. \o/ (possibly augmented by the fact that I had a book, being prepared seems to ruin the universe's plans.)

2. Quick strep test negative. Not shocking as I've only had strep ONCE. They sent the second swab out for cultures. Got a scrip for a month of AllegraD instead of the OTC stuff. Fine with me. I suspect the bumps, while not strep, did serve as a possible warning sign for the doc. I've never gotten told to skip to the scrip symptom treatments without getting an antibiotic first. I suppose this can't hurt my mild congestion if it's something viral going on. I can't decide if they were really humoring me, or if they looked at my history (which was vague as it's a walk in clinic I've only been to once before) and saw "Tonsillectomy at 20' and said 'okay maybe she's just being cautious.' Copay for visit bad, copay for meds makes me think I need to look closer for an inplan pharmacy.

3. Three is dead to me, we've discussed this.

4. It occurs to me that getting 4ish hours of sleep, getting up, going to a clinic and then WALMART while feeling kind of run down probably did more damage than good. OH WELL. I have vitamins and food. *prepares for hermitude* I only worry about the state of the cat litter. *makes note to check on that later*

5. I owe a few people comment replies and as I think I'm the ONLY post coming up on MF today, erk, it's not that I don't care!. I need a nap, food and time for the Allegra to kick in, possibly not in that order. Also, with my luck, I'm that Person who gets all useless on Allegra even though I take sudafed all the damn time.

6. I think I'm out of TV. Right on time to be sick. AWESOME.

Those of you who tuned in late yesterday probably saw a whole lot of seething anger coming from my and other LJs. Thankfully (and really, I'm kind of in shock), a resolution was achieved. Some might argue the actual soothing nature of the new community name, but I say it's 500 times better than before, so I consider that a good step.

In order to combat what I think was one of the worst and horrific themes from yesterday, "It was so long ago" and "move on", I'm going to discuss history and why I really hate that *I* don't know enough about it, let alone everyone else.

First a really great link. xanphibian gives us a concise history of kirstallnacht and surrounding events. It is by no means complete or in any way touches on how deep these events run and how many factors lead into them and how many lead out, because that period in history was especially, what I like to think of, knotted up in a whole crap load of other things. Some only decades old, others hundreds of years.

I'm going to say this once kids. History is fucking important. Read a goddamned book, actually, read more than one. Understand, at LEAST what your own country was doing and thinking in the last hundred years or so. In some ways, this is the pot calling the kettle black because I've forgotten more than I've tried to remember but at least I know the difference between the Bill of Rights and the Declaration of Independence, a distinction I'm afraid is slowly being worn away with the vagaries of time and apathy. No I can't readily name all 10 amendments but I can give it a damn good go. I can tell you that the American Revolution precipitated the French Revolution and that all of our forward and democratic thinking has roots in the thinking of Voltaire and Rousseau (among others).

WWII in some ways wasn't one massive war but a thousand tiny strings woven together into a mess of death and destruction. Believe it or not, a majority of the fighting had very little to do with what the Germans were actually doing to the Jews and the Roma and the Gays (and I'm forgetting people here, please correct me, ETA: See this link for more details) but that they dared to invade and take over other people's territory. (Remember, the Holocaust isn't WWII and WWII isn't the Holocaust, they are concurrent events that are deeply interrelated, but not the same thing.) The Camps were a gory surprise for the Allied troops. America either didn't know or didn't want to know. Other countries gave Jews very little recourse but to stay where they were because they'd often be refused at the boarder of places they were supposed to be allowed to go, like Palestine. Thank you England. (Someone please update me on how hard/easy it was to get into the US, assuming you could, you know, make it across the vast ocean. ETA: some thoughts on it here. Also here.)

How could they not know? Well. From wikipedia (I know I know, better sources always accepted.):

In 1942 Karski reported to the Polish, British and U.S. governments on the situation in Poland, especially the destruction of the Warsaw Ghetto and the Holocaust of the Jews. He met with Polish politicians in exile including the prime minister, as well as members of political parties such as the PPS, SN, SP, SL, Jewish Bund and Poalej-Syjon. He also spoke to Anthony Eden, the British foreign secretary, and included a detailed statement on what he had seen in Warsaw and Bełżec. In 1943 in London he met the then much known journalist Arthur Koestler. He then traveled to the United States and reported to President Franklin D. Roosevelt. His report was a major factor in informing the West.

The community has officially been renamed.

Color me SHOCKED.

Thank you to the mods who listened and understood.

Harry Potter Fandom.


Really.

No, Really?

Excerpt of the really, RPG game FAQ:

This name sounds familiar. What does Kristallnacht mean?
Kristallnacht, aka Crystal Night, or the Night of the Broken Glass, is a historical reference to World War II. Kristallnacht marked the beginning of the systematic eradication of the Jewish people, as more than 30,000 Jewish men were rounded up and taken to concentration camps, more than 1,000 Synagogues were destroyed, and tens of thousands of Jewish businesses and homes were ransacked and destroyed. On the anniversary of Kristallnacht, Grindelwald rounded up hundreds of Muggles to kill them in front of the Ministry of Magic, and Muggleborns were forced to leave London, marking the beginning of a dark era in Grindelwald's reign.

Is this really the best choice of names for your game?
We realize some people might look at the name and think, "Do they realize they just named their game after a horrific event in World War II?" And yes, we do, and were well aware of it when we named the game. We were drawing parallels between Grindelwald's actions and those in World War II. As you may notice, a few of the important events in our history even occur on the same dates as the historical events, and this was not by accident. Don't worry, we did our research, and we didn't just think, "Man, that sounds like a cool name, and I do like broken glass!" If you find it offensive at all, then we're really sorry. Like, really really. That wasn't our intent and we're really actually good people, I swear.

This very second I have EXACTLY 10k of words down on bigbang. I felt hung up for a really long time. I'm still afraid of what will happen by the time I run out of plot I'm pretty sure about, but the rate of verbage means I'll be so far past the (or really close to) the minimum, that will at least not be a worry at all. I'm not REALLY worried right now, but it's sort of a "I have to write all those words still" feel.

However. HA! LOOK AT MY SHINY WORD METER. *goes back to writing some more.*

10,000 / 40,000 (25.0%)

( Reaction exclamations to Smallville )

If you would be so kind, ask me the seven questions below. Just copy and paste them into a comment, replace the blanks with anything you want--personal, silly, surreal (e.g. 3. Donkeys or sandcastles and why?), or deep--and I'll answer honestly as I can! Then post this in your own LJ and see what kind of things people want to ask you!

1. What do you think of _____________ ?

2. When did you last ____________?

3. __________ or ___________ and why?

4. What did you ______________?

5. What's your favorite ______________?

6. How would you ______________?

7. Who would you most like to ________ ?

I keep forgeting not only what my OC's names are, but what they look like.

Brightside? Broke 8100 words?

*tiny cheer*

*BAKES BREAD FOR EVERYONE*

*G*

How's that pasta/pizza/pancakes/toast/rice taste? GLORIOUS right? I HEARD your groans from here last night people. *G*

Can someone write me NCIS/SG1 xover involving Mini!Jack?

You know you want it. Imagine the possibilities. *BATS LASHES*

Thanks to basingstoke, my life is a little brighter.

To be honest, the original Harold and Kumar didn't appeal to me at all. The new one doesn't really ring that many bells either. That said, NEIL PATRICK HARRIS ON A UNICORN, THERE CAN BE NO WRONG.

synecdochic - Don't be that guy.

Yes, you have to be more careful about not doing that than a woman might be. That's because you carry the privilege in this situation. Because -- okay, let's take a potential transaction here. Let's assume You and She are at a con, and happen to be standing next to each other in line or something. Let's take it from your point of view:

You: [thinking: she looks stressed and tired and tense, I'd like to increase happiness in the world around me and do a good deed] Hey, wanna backrub?

Her: [speaking very sharply] No. I have to be somewhere else right now.

You: [thinking: ...wow, that was really kind of rude, I was just trying to be friendly.] Are you sure? Really, you look stressed, I'm happy to --

Her: [walks away, quickly]

Whereas the reality is, to her that might look really different:

Her: [thinking: oh God I'm tired and stressed and I don't want to deal with anybody in the world right now and oh God this guy next to me is in my space and I don't know what he's going to want]

You: Hey, wanna backrub?

Her: [instant wham of thoughts: what does he want, what is he suggesting, if I consent to accepting this and being touched what else is he going to try to talk me into, dammit, I said no and I am sick and fucking tired of having to say it sixteen times before it fucking sinks in and I so do not want to deal with this fucking shit right now because I do not have the energy to fight off yet another creepy guy hitting on me, I need to just get the fuck out of here] No. I have to be somewhere else right now.

You: Are you sure? Really, you look stressed, I'm happy to --

Her: [thinking: How many fucking times do I have to say it? Dammit, I just dealt with this shit ten minutes ago and I don't want to argue with another fucking horny jackass who's just doing this to try to get into my pants. I'd better get out of here before he starts pulling that "I'm doing this for your own good" crap even more.]