1. Argh. fandomsecrets is making me post in my LJ again. I just saw this secret and the all the things I wanted to say about this book but decided not to due to lack of time and internet started banging around insistently in my head. So. The Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon is amazing. This book affected me on a more emotional level than a work of fiction has in a long time. Each of the main characters was believable and sympathetic and it increased my desire to know more about comic books ten-fold.

( minor spoilers in here )

2. I started series 8 of Old Who today. This meant that I met the Master. I am exceedingly pleased with this. Delgado!Master is awesome and campy just as I hoped he would be. Also, I somehow completely missed the Auton tie-in with New Who the first time they came on the scene. I figured it out this time though. The fact that the threat from the pilot of New Who was borrowed from Old Who makes me happy--as does the fact that I now know this. (I am a nerd.)

3. Uh, I'm a bit behind the times on this piece of news, but you know, summer lack of internet, and all that jazz. I would like to bitch about this: Shia Labeouf: Indiana Jones V story "gearing up"

This IS NOT ok.

Leaving aside my (admittedly irrational) dislike of Shia Labeouf, leaving aside the fact that the fourth one was pretty terrible--actually no, let's not leave that aside. Let's remember the aliens! And the overly convoluted plot! And the smarmy annoying character that Shia Labeouf played. And now they're gonna make one all about said smarmy annoying character? Just no. Indiana Jones belongs in this decade in no way at all. Let him go.

4. Season two and three of TOS arrived at the doorstep the other day. God I love TOS--even though I know I shouldn't for so many reasons, sexism, racism, ridiculous Americana (don't even get me started on The Omega Glory). I'm glad Roddenberry made TNG later on or I'd be forced to doubt the idyllic picture so often painted of him. I don't know when I had this love of all things Trek was hammered into my brain, although it was certainly at an early age.

I'm still shipping Spock/McCoy. I refuse to stop. Bread and Circuses didn't help any. Spock and McCoy forced into gladiatorial games and imprisoned together (with awkward "thank yous" and everything)? More please.

Let's see...

I watched the Tony's because I liked the host--which is the only reason I ever watch the Tony's. But somehow I end up watching them almost every year. I actually really enjoyed them. I want to see Billy Elliot and Hair and Next to Normal and all of the plays that looked awesome. As per usual with these things the host was barely ever on stage (so why do I keep watching award shows for the host? No one will ever really understand this.) However, Neil's song at the end made the entire evening absolutely worthwhile. Also worth watching was the train wreck of an opening and the selection from Billy Elliot and the what-the-hell-where-they-thinking moments from Shrek. Really? Shrek?

Add theater to the list of things I wish I knew more about but will probably never get around to delving into.


On another note I am so pleased by the amount of love McCoy is getting in this newfangled Star Trek fandom. I've been a Bones girl since the get go (ignoring my silly eight-year-old days when I thought Kirk was the shit.) And my rabid love of Bones never really seemed to be matched by the rest of fandom. No more! Also, the sheer amount of Kirk/McCoy fic is fantastic, especially because a lot of it is actually good. I've always expected McCoy/Spock to the be thing and it never has been. But I'll take Kirk/McCoy quite happily. I want to write all sorts of rambly stories about the "holy trinity's" dynamics.

Netflix has flaunted my attempts to watch all of TOS. They've removed the DVDs from availability for some reason. Clearly the only logical solution to this problem was to purchase the DVDs for my very own. (Why do Star Trek seasons--all the incarnations--cost so much money? Other television shows don't make you fork over this much cash.)


Lastly, I watched all of Jekyll (starring James Nesbit and written by the illustrious Steven Moffat) in a six hour marathon yesterday. I still don't know what I thought of it but I'm exceedingly curious to know if anyone on my flist has seen it and what they think. I kind of feel like the ending nullified at least half of what came before--but maybe that was the point? Damnit Moffat stop giving me such conflicted emotions.

It's always funny to come home on a break and realize how I am actually capable of surviving without constant access to the internet; but really, really don't like to. I've been dragging my lap top up to Whole Foods weekly-ish to partake of their wi-fi. Then I leave all the articles and fic and meta and rumors I want to read open in tabs and drag the laptop back home where it serves as a source of fandom fix until I get back to Whole Foods.

Anyway, I just stumbled across this quote on io9 and wanted to go off on a bit of a rant.

"Zoe Saldana hints that she'd quite like to see Uhura ditch Spock and get with Kirk in the next movie. She, of course, is not actually writing the script."

Er, before going on this rant I suppose I should mention that I loved the new Star Trek film--not until about twelve hours after my first viewing though. I had to work out all the kinks in my mind, but I've gotten over them and embrace it whole-heartedly now. (Most of the fic open in tabs to be read at a later date is New Trek fiction, with a handy dosage of Old.) I worship at the feet of Karl Urban's McCoy and the shiny new Enterprise does things to me I don't want to talk about. I may or may not have seen it four times now.

Anyway, the whole Spock/Uhura thing bugged me a bit--it's one of the few things I still haven't come completely to terms with. I think a lot of this is because, as the only female character in the movie, it sucks that Uhura had to become a love interest. That her main function in this film was as someone for Spock and Kirk to play off of. What drives me nuts about Zoe Saldana's "hint" was how it would completely undermine one of Uhura's strongest characteristics in the movie--her repeated ability to shoot down Kirk. Fine, have Uhura dump Spock but don't have her immediately run into the arms of another male, let her stand on her own for a little while. Please.

On another note, io9 (what? It's where I get my nerd news.) says that Doctor Who is looking for a male companion to accompany Matt Smith and Karen Gillan for five or six episodes. This makes me exceedingly happy. As mentioned earlier I think a steady male companion would be fantastic. Jack and Mickey--awesome as they were--never stuck around long enough.

1. I have been watching too many cop shows

1.a One of the newer additions to this list is Psych (the other is The Unusuals.) I am really enjoying Psych but I have a quick question. Why is it the exact same show as Dexter? Eccentric, charismatic main character with a cop father who teaches him how to manage his "gift"? Frequent flashbacks that relate in some way to the main plot of the episode? That one cop who doesn't trust or like said main character even though everyone else on the force seems to love him? Which show am I describing here? I bet you can't figure it out. (I really like 'em both a lot though.)

2. I dropped out of polychromatic. I had some fun there, but hadn't quite anticipated the amount of work that would be required in keeping up with it. Or the overwhelming number of players. Plus my internet access will be spotty over the summer. Maybe I'll reapply in the fall. Maybe I'll find somewhere a bit smaller with fewer characters I've never heard of. I'm in awe of the people who can stay on top of it--I just couldn't figure out what to do or where I/Alice belonged.

3. I've been meaning to write about this for awhile, but, uh, why is it assumed the Doctor's new companion will be female? Is it just to maintain some gender equality on the show? Is it cuz we're all unimaginative? Also, can't he have more than one? I wanna return to the Old School Who I've been watching with two or three companions running around of both genders. This one male and one female formula makes me uncomfortable.

4.( Lost Spoilers )

5. The obsession with The Tick is only growing. Also, I very much want to write a fic in which Arthur somehow meets Byron (Mothman from Watchmen). I don't have any idea how this would work because if Mothman existed than The Tick and Arthur shouldn't (Keene Act and all that jazz) but I will figure it out because I am turning into one of those annoying people who falls in love with side characters who have no personalities. They're both moths! Both slightly neurotic! They need to be friends!

5.a Actually I was one of those people who fall in love with side characters already. I will write that epic about all the hobbit wives, sisters, mothers, etc. one of these days. You just wait.

6. I started to understand all those people who say that The Office isn't funny to them because it just makes them uncomfortable tonight. That's the feeling I get whenever I watch Parks and Recreation. It is an almost physically painful experience. I wonder vaguely if it has something to do with the gender dynamics. Maybe because the buffoon is a woman instead of a man I have more trouble with it? I feel somehow the characters are less endearing and the stupid things they're doing are even stupider. Maybe it's because they work in government? Something about the show makes me cringe--I can't stop watching it though.

Obsession strikes me quickly and oh-so painfully. A couple weeks ago a friend lent me (unasked for, although I never turn down an offered comic book) The Tick: The Complete Edlund and I was making my way through it when I had time. I thought it was funny, but the storyline didn't quite grab me. Something changed around issue 6 (I think it was the increased role of Arthur. Who, is, uh, a Mothman! Anyone? Mothman? Anyone? I go a bit insane when fandoms intersect--intentionally or no.)

Yeah, because of this increased interest and a insidious boredom the afternoon I looked up the show on Hulu. They've only got the live action. I was sold within five minutes. There is something perfect and absurdist about this humor. I'm currently downloading the cartoon. I might stay up all night finishing the rest of the live action series. This franchise is more or less incredible. (Unless it gets sucky very quickly.)

BUT! That's not the best of it. Well, it is the best of it, but this is the most amazing added bonus ever. Nestor Carbonell is in the live action show. The leader of the others and the Mayor of Gotham city plays Batmanuel! Did you get that? The mayor of Gotham city is playing a Batman parody!! Observe:



P.S. I believe the spoon is becoming a bit over used as the comedic utensil. And clearly fork cannot be used completely randomly due to it sounding similar to fuck. So, I vote that knife become the new eating utensil of humor.

So, clearly the episode was going to be amazing because it was called 'Some Like it Hoth' but I was not prepared for this!

( THERE ARE NO WORDS! (But I'm gonna try anyway) )

Fandom: Watchmen
Characters/Pairing: Rorschach/Nite Owl
Title: Rationalization. Chapter 5 of 5
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 700
Previous Chapters: Chapter One, Chapter Two, Chapter Three, Chapter Four

( They didn’t become part of each other’s lives for they had no lives to speak of )

I have now stayed up way past my bedtime RPing with the most spectacular Captain Hammer and a very friendly girl from an anime I have never heard of.

polychromatic what have you done to me?

Yeah, so, I watched the leaked version. I know, I know, I'm a horrible person (not to mention a bit late). I still plan on seeing it in theaters--probably a couple times too. And honestly I really enjoyed watching it this way. It made the sucky parts a little better because it gave me hope that they'd be fixed by the time May 1st rolls around. Also it was fun seeing wires and ADR notes pop up on screen and hearing the filler score. Random 300 music ftw.

( Nothing particularly spoiler-y within )

Fandom: Watchmen
Characters/Pairing: Rorschach/Nite Owl
Title: Rationalization. Chapter 4 of 5
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 1700
Previous Chapters: Chapter One, Chapter Two, Chapter Three.

( Read more... )
Chapter Five

Fandom: Watchmen
Characters/Pairing: Rorschach/Nite Owl
Title: Rationalization. Chapter 3 of 5
Rating: PG-13 for this chapter (series NC-17 over all.)
Word Count: 750
Summary: Nite Owl contemplates his relationship with Rorschach.
Previous Chapters: Chapter One, Chapter Two.
leiadiana did you get my email? I'd still love a beta for chapters four and five if you're interested.

( Owl Angst )
Chapter Four
Chapter Five

Because clearly I have the time for this right now. Now I just have to figure out what the hell I'm supposed to do next.

Last Sunday (due to my lack of cable over Spring Break) I watched two series finales. And both of them left me feeling kind of empty.

( Spoilers for L Word and BSG )

Fandom: Watchmen
Characters/Pairing: Rorschach/Nite Owl
Title: Rationalization
Rating: R for this chapter (series NC-17 over all.)
Word Count: 1400
Summary: Two days after the events of the first chapter things escalate.
AN: So you all convinced me to write a second chapter, hope you enjoy.

( Thwack )
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five

DVD #1: I watched Australia today. And it was as bad as I'd expected it to be. Well, worse in a way because even Hugh Jackman didn't do funny things to me. I've never seen a movie where his manliness was so overwhelming I found him unattractive. Suppose it's good to know that's a possibility. However, there was suprise!David Wenham, and he made the bits of the movie he was in enjoyable. David Wenham needs to do more things. (Also, the fact that this is his second movie with Hugh Jackman makes me happy for reasons I can't quite explain.) All in all the movie basically served to make me wish I knew more about Aborigines so I could decide whether that feeling of vague exploitation I was getting was justified or not.

DVD #2:Doctor Horrible's Sing-A-Along Blog arrived yesterday. The musical commentary is one of the best things I have ever heard in my life! Moist has a song! My love of Moist is deep, I wanna write fic expanding on his origin comic some day. The number explaining the writer's strike was also excellent. Well, all of it was excellent. I'm going to need to listen to it quite a few more times.

So, uh, I want to get into the mystical world of LJ RPing but am overly nervous at the prospect.

I feel like there are whole sets of rules that one is simply expected to know when applying to RP community. There are words slung around that I don't understand and expectations I'm not sure I meet. I probably just need to get over myself and apply already. Of course that presents obstacle number one: Where?

I've got my eye on polychromatic and milliways_bar. polychromatic seems so terrifyingly serious though. Is there a comm out there for terrified newbies or something?

Does my flist have any sage advice, or maybe just a smack upside the head, for me?

First up, in answer to my question about whether anyone's ever told a story where all the women disappear but one there this: Planet Man is a short film from New Zealand about a world in which all the women disappear. It's noir-ish and interesting and worth taking a peek at.

Then there's Angel of Death. Which is a internet show Wil Wheaton pimped the other day. I've only watched the first episode so far but it was really intriguing and overdone in that stylized way that I'm a sucker for.

I've got a few new faces on my flist, so in an effort to get to know people better...Tell me something random about yourself. Anything. Just whatever you fancy.

Repost if you want to know random things about your flist.

Why isn't Livejournal letting me read my friends page? Just as it's finished loading the page reloads to an ad about selling gold for cash. Does this have something to do with the fact that I've got a plus account? Or is it another sign that my computer is full of malicious software and I should junk the thing. Does anyone know? Is this happening to anyone else?

I just finished watching season six of Old Who. I'm a wee bit crushed

( Cut for spoilers. Can you spoil a thirty year old show? )

I am continuing to work my way through Dexter. And continuing to love it and let it distract me horribly from my homework. I would however like to know (half-way through the second season) where Dexter's asexuality went. If anyone has recovered it and would return it to the owner that would be much appreciated. Otherwise my brain will do naughty, naughty things with the new found sexuality of Dexter.

Oh, oh! I saw Milk two days ago and it was astounding. Heart-wrenching and horribly relevant to our times. Wonderfully acted and well written, seamlessly edited. Yeah... it was great. My already passionate love for James Franco has doubled. Also after writing an awkward Wash and Faramir meet up in the 70s and make out fic my brain couldn't help inserting the two of them into many of the crowd shots. I think I may have to write a sequel. It will be known as the crack!fic that spiraled out of the author's non-cracky hands.

In other news I am reading Y: The Last Man and thoroughly enjoying it. However, it's poking at some of my feminist buttons and I am now going to write about those. I really like the story, and the characters are interesting but there's a vague sense of misogyny about it that I can't shake. It's not really that the world has completely fallen apart because the men died--although would the same happen if all the women died? I think not. Speaking of, does anyone know of a story in which all but one woman dies? Or am I gonna have to write it? It's not really that feminist thought is twisted into an evil in the hands of the Amazons. It's not really that the one male character left remains sane and rational while the majority of the women around him flip out. It's not really that the awesomeness that is Agent 355 seems to be falling for said male character. And damnit, I did not want that to happen. It's not really that it's written entirely by males, though that doesn't help either. I realized today that what bugs me about it the most is it breaks Alison Bechdel's third rule. All of these strong female characters are running around and all they can seem to talk about is a man.

So, I'd barely seen any of the nominated movies due to my stint in Ireland seriously cramping my movie viewing and awareness style. Well, awareness of the sorts of movies that get nominated for Oscars anyway, I did see some terrific films in Ireland. I digress.

Anyway, even with my lack of knowledge of the nominated movies I thoroughly enjoyed this year's Oscars. Most of the speeches were short, and some were fun--the man from Man On Wire balancing an Oscar on his chin was a definite highlight. Also there was a general air of self deprecation about everyone this year, from Sean Penn to Ben Stiller, no one was taking themselves too seriously. I geeked out (sadly) during Ricardo Montalban's bit of the tribute to those who have passed on and may have "aw"ed audibly when Heath Ledger's parents mentioned Matilda.

The Judd Apatow bit was clever and fun. My slasher heart loved the moment when Pineapple Express' James Franco watched Milk's James Franco and uncomfortable pseudo-groping occurred.

However I could've done without the stars of Twilight and High School Musical popping up everywhere. Oscars, let me let you in on a secret, you're never going to appeal to the tweenybopper crowd, so don't annoy the rest of us with your attempts to. Please.

All of this is just lead up to the fact that Hugh Jackman was fucking amazing though. His opening bit left me laughing harder about movies I'd never even seen than anything has in a long time. Even the awkward song mash-up he shared with Beyonce was enjoyable, and man was that mash-up of songs awkward. My fellow Oscar watcher and I sang about never having seen The Reader whenever it was mentioned. Jackman's charisma and charm make him an ideal host. Hell, I even watched the Tony's (and I'd never seen any of those plays) when he hosted. I suppose that's enough fangirling for one night.

...

HUGH JACKMAN'S SINGING AND DANCING MAKES ME BOUNCE!

Really, I'm done now.

Sometimes I am so happy to be a nerd.

Err, this was supposed to be utter crack. Inspired by a throw away comment during a marathon viewing of all three extended editions of Return of the King: "I wonder if there's fanfiction where Wash and Faramir meet up in the 70s and make out."

I wondered that too, and got giddy at the thought of it, and then came home and made this thing. Which, like I said, was supposed to be utter crack but then got kinda serious and moody on me. I don't know, make of it what you will.

There's a manip and a ficlet under the cut, rated about PG-13 I guess. Feedback, especially when it's constructive, is always adored.

( The Horizon )