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| 2009-11-16 18:48 |
| Star Trek DVD! |
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The new Star Trek DVD came out today, and I have a copy! My evening is complete.
(And this is after a wonderful weekend full of new Merlin and new Dr Who. *hugs TV*)
The Moral of the Story: Not all Mondays suck.*
*Although it seems all Captain Kirks do, in fact, suck - at every possible opportunity if the fanfic is to be believed. *G*
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| 2009-10-26 14:18 |
| Life Update #2 |
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So, just after I posted my lovely happy post yesterday, I managed to trip over my laptop cord, and ended up spending the evening in Accident and Emergency. I eventually got home at 2am, after having my foot x-rayed, and with five stitches in one of my toes. *sigh*
Needless to say, this changed today's To-Do List somewhat, what with not really being able to walk. It was such a stupid accident, I kind of want to kick something -- my laptop, or myself -- but that would hurt too much. *scowls at toe*
The only silver lining is that I took my Acer with me and wrote fanfic for two hours in the waiting room. I don't know what I'd do without my Acer; it's such a lifesaver. *g*
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| 2009-10-25 16:11 |
| Life update |
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On the good news front, my Dad's had his hip replaced now, and is out of Hospital and recovering well at home. He says he's already in less pain than he was before the op, which is great, and his physiotherapist is happy with him. It's all good. Also, I temporarily have the car, since Dad can't drive, and have thus been able to drive for the first time in years. I've been on the road for two weeks now, and I haven't killed anyone! *\o/*
I've also been doing a course on Web Design - I'll have qualifications by December! - and it's hilarious! I know more HTML than the teacher does; she always used WYSIWYG editors like Dreamweaver. The first week, she said (I'm paraphrasing) that she'd "never used HTML until recently, but decided it looked useful," tried it, and now she's like a new convert - it's so sweet! She doesn't really understand what it does, but she's passionate about the control it gives you over the fine details of the code.
But the course materials are so out of date! The printing date is 2005, but it really does feel like going back to 1995. At the end of the HTML segment we have to create a website - using tables!
The example website... OMG, was it ugly! Do you remember those old cloudy/marbled-effect backgrounds in blue or green or grey? It had one of those in a pale blue/white, then a lemon-yellow table, and the navigation buttons were 'embossed' rectangles of blue/orange marbled backgrounds with chocolate brown text on them. [1]
The tutor said, "and this is what you'll produce at the end of your course," and the beginners nodded, but the two of us in class who've actually done some web design said, almost in unison, "Aww, do we *have* to?" [2]
I am now torn. Do I produce the absolutely worst, ugliest, most disgusting table-based webpage ever, for the LOLS, or do I try to -- somehow -- produce a circa-2000 website that isn't eye-wateringly fugly, despite being (yeurgh) table-based?
[1] Like the Highlander archive -- http://www.seventh-dimension.com/ -- except the example webpage was uglier.
[2] It could be worse -- the tutor did threaten us with mention frames at one point...
Fannishly, I have learned my lesson about mentioning works in progress: it seems to kill them for me. Mentioned Harry Potter EPIC FIC OF DOOM in, oh, May? Posted some of it in June. Haven't written a thing in it since July.
Until now! Yay! *dances* Have now begun writing once more, and have worked out why I stopped, too -- I needed to work out characterisation and backstory for three no, four characters before I could get on with writing the next section, so I'd know what the characters would/wouldn't do/say, and why. So, backstory first, then the next scene can roll on. Yay! *bounces*
And next month there will be people! And theatre! And going to the theatre, with the people! It's going to be so much fun.
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| 2009-09-24 15:43 |
| Thursday's child has far to go.... |
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I'm posting this from the train on my way to Connotations (a UK fan-run slash-fans con). Only another hour or so and I'll be in Newcastle. I can't wait!
Today is a glorious day! Not only am I on my way to a greta holiday with lots of friends, I also got a birthday pressie this morning!
My birthday isn't even until the 29th, but it was early - and it was awesome! DVDs! ::hugs them covetuously::
Lewis seasons two and three, and Doctor Who: The Caves of Androzani. I repeat: today is awesome! Thank you, B! ::hugs you::
Did I mention that today is a wonderful day? Because it really is!
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| 2009-08-31 21:46 |
| Another "survey" of fans by outsiders who FAIL rather spectacularly. |
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Really, don't answer this survey. It fails on so many levels I'm not even sure where to start, but luckily there are lots of clever people in fandom who dissect the multiple failures of "Dr" Ogi Ogas (![[info]](http://s.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png) ogi_ogas) and "Dr" Sai Gaddam (saigaddam). (I believe they do have doctorates; I am not sure they deserve them, based on their disregard for the most basic academic standards.)
See this post by eruthros (one of the kinkbingo mods) for a good overview of their interactions with the "interviewers" who approached them, and a good demolition of the (many, many) problems with their research: http://eruthros.dreamwidth.org/273840.html
I think I can sum up the main problems in only one sentence: "Fascinated" male academic fandom-outsiders who specialise in computer programming decide to mansplain slash to the world in their first-ever project involving human research subjects!
(I wasn't sure whether to laugh, cry, or knee them in the nuts, but I went with laughter in the end. As naraht says [1], "in Soviet Russia, fandom researches YOU!" *gets out the popcorn* *sits back to watch the fireworks* *toasts marshmallows over burning male egos*)
First, it seems that US researchers are required to go before an IRB (Institutional Review Board) for any survey involving human subjects, and there is no evidence of an IRB being involved in this project anywhere at all, despite their alleged affiliation with Boston University. There should also be a lot more in the way of consent/withdrawal/anonymity guarantees than they apparently have.
See gnomicutterance's comment here for a beautifully-worded and concise summary of the problems: http://ogi-ogas.livejournal.com/681.html?thread=185001#t185001
Note: Several academics who are also in fandom have sent concerned letters to Boston University's IRB people. Fandom, this is why I love you. *hugs aca-fans*
Second, the assumptions about the biological, neurological basis of behaviour, including such complex issues as gender identity, sexual orientation, and sexual behaviour, are... well, limited is the kindest way of putting it. I refer you to Q1: "What was your biological sex at birth? Male/Female" Because clearly there are no intersex people born, and you can't be born a transgender person either. Sexual orientation plays into the gay/straight false duality, almost completely ignoring bisexuality, and not mentioning pansexuality or asexuality at all. Incredibly hetero-normative Relationship question ignores polyamory, asexuality, etc.
They actually have a question that asks whether you're more interested in "girl things" or "boy things". Biologically, that question is meaningless: once again it ignores intersex, transgender, and queer individuals, and even if you talk about cis-gendered people, there are men without penises and women without wombs, so what exactly are you asking? And, culturally? Even more meaningless. Yadda, yadda, yadda, FAIL.
Third, there are race!fail issues, and geography!fail issues. It doesn't show in the anon's copypasted list of questions (links below) but in Ogas's post it's obvious that the options for ethnicity were both limited and problematic. The country of origin question is also excessively biased (US/Can/UK/Aus/Other), and the whole questionnaire is extremely, objectionably US-centric. (I have no idea what "6th grade" translates to, and I've never taken a "SAT" or an "ACT".)
Fourth, they already have a book deal. The book is due to be published in 2010. Considering it's already September 2009, and they're only just starting their research, this looks ominous. Something will have to give, and if it's not the publication date, then it will likely be the quality of the research. Plus, if they've already signed a book deal, one assumes they've already put together some sort of proposal, and if so, then how objective can their research really be?
I thought the title of the book was a fannish mockery, but apparently their book really is titled "RULE 34: WHAT NETPORN TEACHES US ABOUT THE BRAIN". The mind boggles.
They've taken their "survey" down now - "We're revamping some of our survey questions based upon the first round of feedback we received! Please check back again soon to take our survey!" (where "feedback" translates into English as "shitstorm" apparently; I also love the way they make it sound as if they meant this to happen, instead of getting their asses kicked by fandom. *g*) - but if you want to see the questions that annoyed pretty much everybody, a lovely anon copypasted all the questions.
WARNING: Q61 is triggery for some people!
Q01-30 here: http://community.livejournal.com/who_anon/7210.html?thread=31767594#t31767594 and questions 31-70 here: http://community.livejournal.com/who_anon/7210.html?thread=31767850#t31767850.
"Dr" Ogi Ogas has the questions in a thread here: http://ogi-ogas.livejournal.com/3544.html
WARNING: Q61 is triggery for some people!
jonquil has a great round-up here: http://jonquil.livejournal.com/888909.html?format=light, and so does ithiliana, here: http://ithiliana.livejournal.com/1121179.html. It's hit The Hoyden's blog here; http://viv.id.au/blog/20090831.6431/ten-steps-to-a-perfect-fanstorm/. Metafandom has links, so does Unfunny Business (Journalfen); I'm expecting it to reach Fandom Wank any moment now. *eats more popcorn*
[1] http://eruthros.dreamwidth.org/273840.html?thread=1036464#cmt1036464
[Post edited 31 August 2009 to add more links & context]
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| 2009-08-29 23:12 |
| Five Things: The Real Life version |
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1. Slashbash. OMG - only 7 days to go! *makes to-do lists* *makes shopping lists* *hyperventilates*
2. Spring cleaning. (Or is it Summer cleaning now? Autumn cleaning? IDEK.) (see Slashbash, above). I have four bags of stuff to go to charity shops, 1 bag of stuff to go to parents, 1 bag to go to the tip, and 3 bags for recycling. My flat is so tidy now. *admires*
3. Painting. I kind of want to finish painting the kitchen and the bedroom. But this will make more mess and mean I need to move stuff around... I really should wait until after the Slashbash. But I kind of want to paint, oh, MY WHOLE FLAT. Just so it's all nice and fresh for the party. *sits on hands* *womanfully ignores polyfilla*
4. Amazon. I have made a public wishlist. Announcing it seems so odd, somehow, but OTOH I hate not knowing what to buy people for birthdays or Christmas, so... yeah. My list is here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/registry/registry.html?ie=UTF8&type=wishlist&id=36XNPAUQVKLWJ, or just look for 'zellieh'. What about you, friends? Do you have public wishlists? If so, link me, please.
5. Meta! I was reading xtricks' post on sex-positivity and some of the problems with heteronormative romance tropes especially when applied to slash, and, yeah: I agree with that post so much. (Dreamwidth link here: http://xtricks.dreamwidth.org/18718.html or Livejournal link here: http://xtricks.livejournal.com/99410.html; posts are public; links posted with permission.) You should go and read - it's a short post, but meaty.
And so to bed. *yawns* *posts* See you later!
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| 2009-08-09 00:54 |
| Sherlock Holmes movie 2009 |
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Some of you who've been to the cinema recently may have seen the trailer for the new Holmes movie (due out in the UK in December 2009).
If you haven't, go and watch it on Youtube, because it is a thing of beauty:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUQbmFAE5WI (This link says it goes to an official version, so I'm hoping it will stay up.)
Holmes 2009 stars Robert Downey Junior as Holmes, and Jude Law as Watson. Conan Doyle's canon looks a bit Hollywoodised, but on the other hand, RDJ and JL seem to spend a lot of time running around nearly naked, looking muscular.[1] Also, there was a hot woman in a sexy corset who kneed RDJ in the balls,[2] which looked interesting; I like capable women.
As a long-time Holmes/Watson slash fan, I'm hoping the pretty will revive the fandom in much the same way that the Star Trek Reboot revitalised Trek fandom. And as I mentioned to Glitterandlube, this trailer made me really really want slash fic where RDJ Holmes/JL Watson go undercover in a Victorian gay bar. I'm just sayin'.
[1] And I'm sure many people have dreamed of RDJ and/or JL naked.
[2] And I'm sure many people have dreamed of kneeing RDJ in the balls.
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| 2009-07-16 14:52 |
| Derailing for Dummies! |
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Benighted at Journalfen posted this link in Unfunny Business (Link to the post here: http://www.journalfen.net/community/unfunnybusiness/135340.html) and I'm crossposting it because it looks really useful.
So, if you want to derail a discussion about privilege and/or discrimination, just follow the guide in Derailing for Dummies!*
Link to Derailing for Dummies! site here: http://www.derailingfordummies.com/
*Also doubles as a useful Bingo card.
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| 2009-07-14 16:46 |
| HP HBP! Star Trek! Fan meet -ups! JOY! |
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So, a round-up of my life, with emphasis on the JOYOUSNESS of FANS and how being fannish is SO MUCH FUN IT SHOULD BE ILLEGAL OMG!
1. STAR TREK IX, aka ST:AOS, aka ST Reboot.
Finally went to see the film last week (I AM A BAD FAN, I KNOW! I AM SO LATE TO THIS PARTY FOR THIS FILM, I'M ALMOST EARLY FOR THE SEQUEL. HEE!) and it was just so much fun. I have decided I'm going to go and see it again tomorrow, since I'm in London anyway (see 2).
1A. LOL Kirk fic rec is LOLARIOUS! Link: http://community.livejournal.com/st_xi_kink/5912.html?thread=14406680#t14406680
Go forth and read this, even if you're not in ST fandom! FANDOM = THE GOOD CRACK.
2. HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE
Which I am also, coincidentally, going to go and see tomorrow at the Empire in Leicester Square WITH FANGIRLS! Which is THE BEST WAY TO SEE FILMS AND SO TOTALLY SUPERIOR TO NORMAL FILM-GOING THAT IT HAS TOTALLY SPOILED ME FOR SEEING FILMS WITH ANY PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT FANGIRLS. *bounces*
(I may possibly be slightly over-excited about this. *BOUNCES MORE*)
3. CONNOTATIONS!
I HAVE TRAIN TICKETS! ONLY A FEW MORE WEEKS AND I CAN HAS A XANDUTCH! ALSO, THE SQUEE OVER ST:AOS AND HP:HBP (AND THE WANK OVER TORCHWOOD) WILL BE EPIC! *starts singing scales in preparation* *packs more throat sweets* *packs more tissues*
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| 2009-06-23 20:14 |
| I'm not sure I want a Full House, thanks... |
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So, I have a Cliche Bingo card from the nice people at Cliche Bingo: http://community.livejournal.com/cliche_bingo/profile?mode=full
( Cliche Bingo card behind this cut )
And I have a Kink Bingo card from the nice people at Kink Bingo: http://community.livejournal.com/kink_bingo/profile?mode=full
( Cliche Bingo card behind this cut )
And, following a conversation with moonlettuce, I thought it would be really funny to do a prompts Mash-Up. So, starting with Row One (top row), Column A (left-most row), I got the following prompts (Kink first, then Cliche): ( Read more... )
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| 2009-06-18 19:18 |
| Friends |
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[Meme from Beren-writes and others on my f-list]
If there is one person or more on your friends list who makes your world a better place just because they exist and who you would not have met (in real life or not) without the internet, then post this same sentence in your journal.
This is one of the big reason s why I love fandom and the Internet: all the friends I've met and people I've spoken to that I would never have known without it.
I'm looking forward to seeing some of you very soon! *hugs you*
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| 2009-05-28 14:02 |
| MP's expenses = fail. |
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I've been watching the various MP's give their apologies/excuses for fiddling their expenses system (in ways that would get most people I know fired), and is anyone else reminded of internet flounces?
"You're just jealous!"
"It's not my fault! I was ill!"
"Your criticism of me is making me ill, you big meanies!"
"Your criticism is stressing out me/my family/my children/my dog! Don't you feel guilty about that?"
"It wasn't my fault, it was my staff family accountant sockpuppet!"
"You can't criticise me for my bad behaviour, because I followed all the rules!"
"I didn't mean it like that! Stop picking on me!"
"You don't understand my problems! My life is soooo haaaard, so you should ignore all those bad things I did, and be nice to me!"
"If you're going to be like that, I'm going to take all my voters toys and go home!"
"My constituents support me in email!"
It's like a collection of all the classic excuses for drama that you see on Fandom Wank! Somebody call the Waaahmbulance! *giggles at the silly MP's*
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| 2008-03-13 15:04 |
| Dear LJ management, you suck. |
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| Bitch Slapped |
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Dear LJ management,
Please could you stop sucking quite so much? The draft is getting on my nerves.
Yours - but not for much longer -,
Zellieh.
As of March 12th, LJ has cancelled the creation of free Basic accounts. Which is 'to make it easier for our customers', and has NOTHING AT ALL to do with making more money off of ads. NUH-UH.
Anybody want to buy a bridge and drop it on LJ management's heads? I hear there's one in Brooklyn and a couple in London going cheap...
In totally unrelated news, now would be a good time to swap your browser to Firefox (if you haven't already) and/or start using the Firefox add-on, AdBlock Plus, to block ads.
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| 2007-09-24 16:38 |
| Meme about fandoms. |
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Meme from ![[info]](http://www.journalfen.net/img/userinfo.gif) kylielee1000
Which fandom is...The one(s) who seduced you and fucked you over and broke your heart in a million pieces and laughed about it: The X-Men and Highlander, two fandoms that made me go, "Movies? What movies? Lalala, I can't hear you!", and seriously consider taking out contracts on various 'creative' people involved. Grrr. The old flame(s) you don't see very often any more but whom you still really enjoy getting together with for a few drinks and maybe a pleasant nostalgic romp in the sheets: Star Trek: The Original Series, The Man from UNCLE, and Jeeves and Wooster. The mysterious dark gothy one whom you used to sit up with talking until 3 a.m. at weird coffeehouses and with whom you were quite smitten until you realized s/he really was fucking crazy: Highlander. (Although this question was really *made* for The X-Files.) The one you spent a whole weekend in bed with and who drank up all your liquor, and whom you'd still really like to fuck again although you're relieved s/he doesn't actually live in town: Torchwood. The steady: Stargate Atlantis and Due South. The alluring strangers whom you've flirted with at parties but have never gotten really serious with: Criminal Minds, The Sentinel, and Firefly. The one you hang out with and have vague fantasies about maybe having a thing with but ultimately you're just good buddies 'cause the friendship is there but the chemistry ain't: Stargate SG-1. The one your friends keep introducing you to and who seems really cool except it's never really gone anywhere: NCIS. The one who's slept with all your friends, and you keep looking at him/her and thinking, "how the hell did s/he land all these cool babes/boys?": Supernatural. The one your friend has fallen for like a ton of bricks and whom s/he keeps babbling to you about on the phone for hours, and you'd be happy for her/him except you just know it's going to end badly: The Donald Strachey Mysteries.
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