- feeling:
hungry - listening:"Cry Me a River," Justin Timberlake
( In brief. )
- feeling:
tired - listening:"Carry On My Wayward Son," Kansas
Smart Bitches, Trashy Books had a March Madness kind of competition, and I picked up a few books based on their high rankings. Be With Me, by Maya Banks, was one of them.
( Spoilery, and not squeeful. )
( Spoilery, and not squeeful. )
- feeling:
embarrassed - listening:"Just Dance," Lady GaGa
Before I get to the spoilery notes, I do want to say one thing: I've read a lot of criticism of Eliza Dushku's performance on the show and it is...valid, I admit. She's not as versatile as the role demands. HOWEVER, I also think the show was first an Eliza Dushku vehicle, rather than a Joss Whedon vehicle, and perhaps the showrunners who knew Dushku's range could have planned accordingly.
I am always of two minds regarding the responsibilities of writers vs. actors when it comes to the success or failure of a text. I don't think writers should rely on the actors, but they could also capitalize on the strengths when possible.
I guess. Anyway, I would continue to watch the show if it was renewed, but I would only be the teensiest bit sad if it was cancelled. Not so much for the story, but for the cast. They grew on me!
( The episode itself. )
I am always of two minds regarding the responsibilities of writers vs. actors when it comes to the success or failure of a text. I don't think writers should rely on the actors, but they could also capitalize on the strengths when possible.
I guess. Anyway, I would continue to watch the show if it was renewed, but I would only be the teensiest bit sad if it was cancelled. Not so much for the story, but for the cast. They grew on me!
( The episode itself. )
- feeling:
lazy - listening:"Disloyal Order of the Water Buffaloes," Fall Out Boy
Better Off Ted feels like a mix of Mad Men's aesthetic and The Tick's absurdity and Saved By The Bell's magic realism, except it has scientists as office workers. (With very little social maladjustment! That is, when they are socially maladjusted, it's because people are sometimes socially maladjusted, not because scientists are socially maladjusted. If that makes sense.) I have watched two episodes of the show and I've really enjoyed it. Take, for example, this bit of monologue:
It's like The Office, except people are ironic instead of having their souls destroyed! Actually, I imagine the pitch for this was, "Imagine if Mad Men was funny! Like The Office!" Also, I think they're using the actual set from Mad Men. I also spotted some hallways from Alias. Hee!
Also, while it hasn't passed the Bechdel test yet (and I kind of doubt it will in the near future, given the interactions of the two main female characters), I was heartened by a scene with a group of scientists that featured an even mix of genders and a wide variety of shapes and ethnicities. ANYWAY. Anything that keeps Portia de Rossi on my television is A-OK by me!
In other news, I watched the first episode of Party Down, and I'm upset I'll never get that twenty-eight minutes of my life back.
In OTHER other news, as a follow-up to this post (f-locked) about authors and fannish entitlement, I think Patrick Rothfuss responded much more gracefully than either GRRM or Scalzi did. With bonus cartoons, even!
Do you know that they send us the phone bills for our non-work-related calls? They don't charge us for them--they just want us to know that they know we're making them. Can a company be bitchy?
It's like The Office, except people are ironic instead of having their souls destroyed! Actually, I imagine the pitch for this was, "Imagine if Mad Men was funny! Like The Office!" Also, I think they're using the actual set from Mad Men. I also spotted some hallways from Alias. Hee!
Also, while it hasn't passed the Bechdel test yet (and I kind of doubt it will in the near future, given the interactions of the two main female characters), I was heartened by a scene with a group of scientists that featured an even mix of genders and a wide variety of shapes and ethnicities. ANYWAY. Anything that keeps Portia de Rossi on my television is A-OK by me!
In other news, I watched the first episode of Party Down, and I'm upset I'll never get that twenty-eight minutes of my life back.
In OTHER other news, as a follow-up to this post (f-locked) about authors and fannish entitlement, I think Patrick Rothfuss responded much more gracefully than either GRRM or Scalzi did. With bonus cartoons, even!
- feeling:
ditzy - listening:"Love Song," Annie Stela
- feeling:
indescribable - listening:"Passacaglia," Battlestar Galactica S1 OST
( Life 2.18 )
In other news, I have finished Red Seas Under Red Skies, book two of Scott Lynch's Gentlemen Bastard series, and The Name of the Wind, book one of Patrick Rothfuss's Kingkiller Chronicles. First of all, OMFG THANK YOU to everybody who recommended these. They are awesome, all cleverness and competence and comeuppance. Second of all, AAAAAAAAHHHHHHH why aren't there more RIGHT NOW? Neither book ended on a cliffhanger; I just want more now because I am greedy and enthralled. I suddenly understand all those people who said they never pick up a series until they know it's complete.
In other news, I have finished Red Seas Under Red Skies, book two of Scott Lynch's Gentlemen Bastard series, and The Name of the Wind, book one of Patrick Rothfuss's Kingkiller Chronicles. First of all, OMFG THANK YOU to everybody who recommended these. They are awesome, all cleverness and competence and comeuppance. Second of all, AAAAAAAAHHHHHHH why aren't there more RIGHT NOW? Neither book ended on a cliffhanger; I just want more now because I am greedy and enthralled. I suddenly understand all those people who said they never pick up a series until they know it's complete.
- feeling: tired
- listening:"My Life Would Suck Without You," Kelly Clarkson
- I got the most awesome and perfect fic for
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/community.gif)
yuletide: Christmas in Morganville. It's based on ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif)
rachelcaine's Morganville Vampires series, holiday-themed, and it is everything I like in a non-shippy story (I requested friendship-type gen, which I always always adore). Go read it! And then comment! Because it is awesome! - So today I leave home and fly back to Europe. UGH waiting at the airport! UGH long flights! Then again, I look forward to my traditional purchase of an armful of magazines at the airport. And maybe a paperback, since it is a 13-hour flight, after all. Also, I have been living in a weird space with no awareness of time at all, so perhaps it will be good to settle into a single time zone again.
- I will not tell you how much time I spent switching out all my icons, but I think it was totally worth it! (And I still have only 126/195 used. WHAT? I am having trouble deciding how to fill all those spots. It's not like I use more than twenty icons on a rotating basis anyway, but I like to think of my icons as my own little art gallery.)
- We had lamb and couscous and asparagus and pancit for Christmas Eve dinner, and then for the big Christmas family party there was even more pancit, and turkey, and various rice dishes, and various meat soup things, and MAN, it is awesome to eat during the holidays. And I have also had crepes and In-N-Out and Wingstop wings and Thai food and pasta salads and arroz caldo and chicken adobo and Taco Bell and baked potato soup from Outback Steakhouse and Starbucks (gingersnap latte, espresso truffle, peppermint mocha twist), plus the neverending supply of chocolate and baked goods that defines the holiday season, and I AM SO FULL. ♥! And there is still breakfast (I have been, alternately, making little sandwiches or eating leftover couscous) and lunch to be had!
- feeling:
full - listening:"Carry On My Wayward Son," Kansas
'Tis the season and all that, so: ( Dear Yuletide Author... )
ETA: And for my3_ships and secret_slasha authors, the same general rule can apply, I think. Smut = awesome, but in-character interactions = ♥ ♥ &hearts!
ETA: And for my
3_ships and secret_slasha authors, the same general rule can apply, I think. Smut = awesome, but in-character interactions = ♥ ♥ &hearts!- feeling:
excited - listening:"Dirt Off Your Shoulder/Lying From You," Jay-Z & Linkin Park
Starting on 12 August, I will be moving to Poland. Just for a year, as I'm working as a conversational English teacher at a small language institute in southern Poland. I should have mostly-regular internet access, so if you need to get in contact with me, drop me an e-mail, or leave a comment in a recent post.
- feeling:
busy - listening:"Handlebars," The Flobots
In celebration of More Joy Day, I present to you a humongous picspam of joy! Just pictures of things that make me happy, and hopefully will make you happy, as well. Like so: 
This is not anywhere near dial-up friendly. There aren't any super-hi-res pics, but there are a lot of them. For the record! Also, this post is public, so feel free to link, etc.
( Let us begin. )
This is not anywhere near dial-up friendly. There aren't any super-hi-res pics, but there are a lot of them. For the record! Also, this post is public, so feel free to link, etc.
( Let us begin. )
- feeling:
happy - listening:Cashmere Mafia
YOU GUYS I GOT ROBIN/BARNEY FOR YULETIDE. NO FOR SERIOUS.
It is everything I ever wanted, which is AMAZING because I just realized I did not post a public "Dear Yuletide Author" letter, which is totally lame of me, AND YET. SO MUCH AWESOME. OMFG.
GO AND COMMENT ON THE AWESOME.
Leave No Man Behind, by MY AS YET UNNAMED HERO
How I Met Your Mother, Robin/Barney, futurefic, PG-13
"So can I have your coffee table?"
"What?"
"Like you can bring all your stuff with you to the Casbah."
"The Casbah is in Algeria. I'm moving to Morocco"
"Whatever. So can I have your coffee table?"
It is everything I ever wanted, which is AMAZING because I just realized I did not post a public "Dear Yuletide Author" letter, which is totally lame of me, AND YET. SO MUCH AWESOME. OMFG.
GO AND COMMENT ON THE AWESOME.
- feeling:
ecstatic - listening:"Mr Brightside," The Killers
I have forcibly restrained myself, by dint of shadowing my mother in order to learn her magical last-minute cleaning techniques, from writing anything more for yuletide. And that is all I have to say for myself until after the reveal. (The stocking stuffers are so so so tempting, though!)
In the meantime, if you're in the mood for some EXCELLENT slash, swing on over tosecret_slasha's 2007 stories, which have just gone live! I'm going to do a public post with reactions to all of the stories sometime this week, but I must say, I am giddy at the fast-talking absurdity of the story I received. Oh, Harmony/Faith. So pretty, and so unmixy in most conceivable ways.
Also, mail call: A box of goodies fromdanibelle (we are all thrilled), a packet of DELICIOUS cookies from phoenixchilde, and lovely cards from avariel_wings, eiluned, and offscreen. Thank you, all!
yuletide. And that is all I have to say for myself until after the reveal. (The stocking stuffers are so so so tempting, though!)In the meantime, if you're in the mood for some EXCELLENT slash, swing on over to
secret_slasha's 2007 stories, which have just gone live! I'm going to do a public post with reactions to all of the stories sometime this week, but I must say, I am giddy at the fast-talking absurdity of the story I received. Oh, Harmony/Faith. So pretty, and so unmixy in most conceivable ways.Also, mail call: A box of goodies from
danibelle (we are all thrilled), a packet of DELICIOUS cookies from phoenixchilde, and lovely cards from avariel_wings, eiluned, and offscreen. Thank you, all!- feeling:
chipper - listening:"Starlight," Muse
Can you think of any female comic book (super)heroes created by women? A friend of mine asked me if I knew of any last night, and I couldn't think of a single one. I AM LAME.
Help? (This entry is public, so feel free to link at large.)
Crossposted.
Help? (This entry is public, so feel free to link at large.)
Crossposted.
- feeling:
exhausted - listening:"Supermassive Black Hole," Muse
Due to various personal reasons, I've decided to make this journal friends-only. (Kevin, if you're reading, this isn't because of you. Or is it?)
I've moved my fic over to
moodfic, and my fic index has been updated accordingly. If you ventured over to my LJ via a fic rec or a ficathon link, I encourage you to click over one more time to my fic index, as I will be changing the links to public posts on moodfic, and they're alphabetized by fandom so you can easily find the fic you want.I post recaps, commentary, recs, icon updates, and any worthwhile meta on
calikali. If you would like to be added, please leave a comment in this post.
Edited 12 October 2005.
- feeling:
determined - listening:Kevin Hill
If you're driving by my LJ because you'd like to snag icons I've made, leave a comment on this post instead of the f-lock post.
Just let me know the number and/or subject of the icon, so I know which one you're taking. Credit is appreciated (especially since LJ allows users to add comments to individual icons), but if you're not on LJ, it's not required.
Thanks!
ETA 10 September 08: I have taken my icon website down for a while. If there is a particular icon you want, please let me know.
- feeling: organized
- listening:the printer, printing
I am still bleary and whatnot. Somehow the task of selecting and coding random links is beyond me, so instead, I give you a list of LJ newsletters:
Fandom-Specific
Age of Sail fandom:despatches
Angel:su_herald
Avatar: The Last Airbender:atla_press
Babylon 5:universe_today
Band fandom:theydresstight, dotcoms_refresh
Batman:wf_roundup
Battlestar Galactica:galacticanews
Bleach:bleach_news
Buffy the Vampire Slayer:su_herald
Comic books (misc):comicstore_news
Criminal Minds:bau_inbox
CSI:csi_gazette
Doctor Who:who_daily
due South:ds_weekly
Eureka:eureka_newslttr
Farscape:farscape_weekly
Firefly:the_cortex
Harry Potter:hogwarts_today
Harry Potter femslash:girls_today
Heroes:ninth_wonders
Horatio Hornblower:despatches
House:house_news, house_notice
Kingdom Hearts:kh_press
Lord of the Rings:middleearthnews
Narnia:narnian_herald
NCIS:ncis_newsletter
The Office (US):scranton_times
One Piece:grand_line_vine
Pirates of the Caribbean:despatches, isla_tortuga
Queer as Folk:_in_babylon
Smallville:sv_ledger
Star Wars:jedi_news
Stargate Atlantis:atlantis_news, sga_newsletter
Stargate SG-1:sg1_debrief
Superman:wf_roundup
Supernatural:spnnewsletter
Torchwood:torchwood_daily, torchwood_three
Veronica Mars:vm_navigator
The West Wing:tww_full_lid
General Fandom
Crossovers:crossover_news
Femslash (panfandom):femslash_today
Het (panfandom):het_newsletter
Meta (panfandom):metafandom
There are plenty more out there, I'm sure, but these are the ones I watch, or have watched, and don't seem to be inactive. If you know of an active newsletter I haven't listed here, leave a comment, and I'll add it to the list.
Edited 06 July 2007.
Fandom-Specific
Age of Sail fandom:
despatchesAngel:
su_heraldAvatar: The Last Airbender:
atla_press Babylon 5:
universe_todayBand fandom:
theydresstight, dotcoms_refreshBatman:
wf_roundupBattlestar Galactica:
galacticanewsBleach:
bleach_newsBuffy the Vampire Slayer:
su_heraldComic books (misc):
comicstore_newsCriminal Minds:
bau_inboxCSI:
csi_gazetteDoctor Who:
who_dailydue South:
ds_weeklyEureka:
eureka_newslttrFarscape:
farscape_weeklyFirefly:
the_cortexHarry Potter:
hogwarts_todayHarry Potter femslash:
girls_todayHeroes:
ninth_wondersHoratio Hornblower:
despatchesHouse:
house_news, house_noticeKingdom Hearts:
kh_pressLord of the Rings:
middleearthnewsNarnia:
narnian_heraldNCIS:
ncis_newsletterThe Office (US):
scranton_timesOne Piece:
grand_line_vinePirates of the Caribbean:
despatches, isla_tortugaQueer as Folk:
_in_babylonSmallville:
sv_ledgerStar Wars:
jedi_newsStargate Atlantis:
atlantis_news, sga_newsletterStargate SG-1:
sg1_debriefSuperman:
wf_roundupSupernatural:
spnnewsletterTorchwood:
torchwood_daily, torchwood_threeVeronica Mars:
vm_navigatorThe West Wing:
tww_full_lidGeneral Fandom
Crossovers:
crossover_newsFemslash (panfandom):
femslash_todayHet (panfandom):
het_newsletterMeta (panfandom):
metafandomThere are plenty more out there, I'm sure, but these are the ones I watch, or have watched, and don't seem to be inactive. If you know of an active newsletter I haven't listed here, leave a comment, and I'll add it to the list.
Edited 06 July 2007.
- feeling:
sick - listening:office clatter
When your story is posted, please comment with a link to your story, and I'll add it to the list.
Thanks for participating, and I hope you all enjoy your stories.
The List
illmantrim wrote Bonding: The Lighting of the Torch for taraljcliptonrm wrote One More Loss for sathinkssathinks wrote A Thousand Ways to Say No Thanksfor voleusetaraljc wrote Cabin Fever for liptonrmvoleuse wrote _____ for illmantrim- feeling: starving
- listening:creaking pipes
It's almost midnight PST. Close enough.
The Farscape Ficathon
When your story is posted, please comment with a link to your story, and I'll add it to the list.
Thanks for participating, and I hope you all enjoy your stories.
The List
andrastewhite wrote Reconnaissance for sathinks
apathocles wrote Power Play for iamsab
astrogirl2 wrote One Slip for fourteenlines
eve11 wrote A Sci-Fi Original (teaser) for simplystars
florastuart wrote Films About Ghosts for suenix
illmantrim wrote On The Edge for sorlklewis
kazbaby wrote Silent Running for apathocles
kernezelda wrote First Steps for andrastewhite
kixxa wrote Moveable Feast (Part One) (Part Two) for spoonishly
pdxscaper wrote Déjà Vu All Over Again for kixxa
iamsab wrote In bed, I am an Astronaut for kernezelda
sathinks wrote The Shivering Beggar for kazbaby
schneck128 wrote The Sum of the Parts for pdxscaper
scorpy808 wrote Give and Take for voleuse
searose wrote Life in Oils for astrogirl2
fourteenlines wrote By Hook or By Crook for eve11
sikozu_shanu wrote Jealousy for schneck128
simplystars wrote Famous Last Words (Part One) (Part Two) for thassalia
sorlklewis wrote Ten Steps Towards Eternity for florastuart
suaine wrote The Things We Want for searose
suenix wrote Greenery for illmantrim
thassalia wrote Double Negative for sikozu_shanu
voleuse wrote Delay Notified for scorpy808
spoonishly wrote Exploration of Deconstruction for suaine
When your story is posted, please comment with a link to your story, and I'll add it to the list.
Thanks for participating, and I hope you all enjoy your stories.
The List
andrastewhite wrote Reconnaissance for sathinksapathocles wrote Power Play for iamsabastrogirl2 wrote One Slip for fourteenlineseve11 wrote A Sci-Fi Original (teaser) for simplystarsflorastuart wrote Films About Ghosts for suenixillmantrim wrote On The Edge for sorlklewiskazbaby wrote Silent Running for apathocleskernezelda wrote First Steps for andrastewhitekixxa wrote Moveable Feast (Part One) (Part Two) for spoonishlypdxscaper wrote Déjà Vu All Over Again for kixxaiamsab wrote In bed, I am an Astronaut for kernezeldasathinks wrote The Shivering Beggar for kazbabyschneck128 wrote The Sum of the Parts for pdxscaperscorpy808 wrote Give and Take for voleusesearose wrote Life in Oils for astrogirl2fourteenlines wrote By Hook or By Crook for eve11sikozu_shanu wrote Jealousy for schneck128simplystars wrote Famous Last Words (Part One) (Part Two) for thassaliasorlklewis wrote Ten Steps Towards Eternity for florastuartsuaine wrote The Things We Want for searosesuenix wrote Greenery for illmantrimthassalia wrote Double Negative for sikozu_shanuvoleuse wrote Delay Notified for scorpy808spoonishly wrote Exploration of Deconstruction for suaine- feeling: exhausted
- listening:Shattered Glass
It's past midnight for some of you, right?
The Wishverse Ficathon
When your story is posted, please comment with a link, and I'll add it to the list.
Thanks for participating, and I hope you all enjoy your stories.
The List
alixnoorchis wrote Attrition for avariel_wings
anna_maria wrote Delayed for katemonkey
avariel_wings wrote Waiting for the Girl for voleuse
challengetime wrote Simpler Times for dolores
adjectivegirl wrote Sweet Home Sunnydale for seldear
cookie_dough101 wrote Caged for sathinks
darcydodo wrote Curled in Darkness for challengetime
dolores wrote Delayed for researchminion
doyle_sb4 wrote The Same Rainbow's End for hermionesviolin
fox1013 wrote Break for spikesredrose
flurblewig wrote Wish You Were Here for glossing
gentle_thorns wrote And in short, I was afraid for briargate.
glossing wrote The Sunnydale Book of the Dead: Excerpts for girlflesh
hermionesviolin wrote Click Shut for cookie_dough101
katemonkey wrote It Started for flurblewig
puppet_show wrote Brave New World for darcydodo
the_red_shoes wrote Delayed for gentle_thorns
researchminion wrote What the hell happened to Alice? for the_red_shoes
sathinks wrote Gratitude for a Nightmare for theantijoss
seldear wrote Puppies and Playthings for anna_maria
spikesredrose wrote Fractures for adjectivegirl
theantijoss wrote Overachiever for alixnoorchis
briargate wrote Delayed for puppet_show
voleuse wrote Delayed for fox1013
When your story is posted, please comment with a link, and I'll add it to the list.
Thanks for participating, and I hope you all enjoy your stories.
The List
alixnoorchis wrote Attrition for avariel_wingsanna_maria wrote Delayed for katemonkeyavariel_wings wrote Waiting for the Girl for voleusechallengetime wrote Simpler Times for doloresadjectivegirl wrote Sweet Home Sunnydale for seldearcookie_dough101 wrote Caged for sathinksdarcydodo wrote Curled in Darkness for challengetimedolores wrote Delayed for researchminiondoyle_sb4 wrote The Same Rainbow's End for hermionesviolinfox1013 wrote Break for spikesredroseflurblewig wrote Wish You Were Here for glossinggentle_thorns wrote And in short, I was afraid for briargate.glossing wrote The Sunnydale Book of the Dead: Excerpts for girlfleshhermionesviolin wrote Click Shut for cookie_dough101katemonkey wrote It Started for flurblewigpuppet_show wrote Brave New World for darcydodothe_red_shoes wrote Delayed for gentle_thornsresearchminion wrote What the hell happened to Alice? for the_red_shoessathinks wrote Gratitude for a Nightmare for theantijossseldear wrote Puppies and Playthings for anna_mariaspikesredrose wrote Fractures for adjectivegirltheantijoss wrote Overachiever for alixnoorchisbriargate wrote Delayed for puppet_showvoleuse wrote Delayed for fox1013- feeling: tired
- listening:"I'm Only Happy When It Rains," Garbage
