Date: 2007-01-31 19:46 Subject: A self-exercise in disemvowelment Security: Public

Due to A Series of Unfortunate Events (okay, one -- my office computer going KAPUT at exactly the worst possible time) -- I was forced to buy a brand new computer yesterday.  With Vista.  'Cause all the nice greedy and/or pssy-whppd retailers pulled all the machines that still had XP in anticipation of VST, which decision incidentally set me behind on my work for ANOTHER day. 

I have now spent a day and a half wrestling, on a decently-equipped HP,  with Billy-boy's latest bastard baby, and it sx.  t sx s bd, t sx lk   hvr.   My particular beefs are that attempting to run a few essential functions cause the whole thing to hang, and I can't get the fckng Backup utility to work at all.  Which is, ya know, kinda IMPORTANT.  HP is a major manufacturer; there should not be this many difficulties and outright fckng bgs.

This is why I am NOT an Early Adopter and why I ht Mcrsft wth th fry pssn f   thsnd sns.  FUNCTION, NOT FLASH, IDTS.  (Wait, let me misquote Clinton: "IT'S THE FUNCTION, STOOPID.")

As far as I'm concerned, the best new "improved" (Submliminal Man says, "Useless!") function is the Sidebar Voodoo Doll.  Luckily, that's one thing that doesn't hang: the little pins go in quite nicely, thank you, although aim in the groin area is a little dicey. 

Guess what I've named mine.

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Date: 2007-01-03 20:20 Subject: Gratuitous Alive Post Security: Public

Subject says it all.

And to certain persons to whom I owe critique, apologies, and a brief overview will hopefully be on its way very soon.  If it's any consolation, I've denied myself a single lick o' the chocolate since I got off track.

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Date: 2006-02-01 02:31 Subject: Political rant aholy. And oh, yes, I'm still alive. Barely. Security: Public

"By targeting only Mideast oil, Bush will be ignoring the very largest sources of American petroleum consumption. Imports of oil and refined product from the Persian Gulf makes up less than a fifth of all imports and 11 percent of total consumption, according to Energy Department statistics." Associated Press, By TERENCE HUNT

So I'm not particularly impressed by calls for alternate fuel sources and mandates for new nuclear power plants. This is a politically motivated decision, not an ethical one. (Should I be grateful that it's being made at all? I don't think so, not really. I still have the naive belief that Intent plays an important part in the rightness of things.... But then, I approved of Jimmy Carter because of his Intent, even if "History" has labeled him a largely ineffective president.)

In fact, rather than continuing to watch the State of the Union, I popped 1776 into the DVD player. "Cool, Considerate Men" is on right now, in fact.

God, I love this show. It's incredible that it survived, even as expurgated, during the Nixon administration.)

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Date: 2005-12-12 12:44 Subject: For those interested in Narnia.... Security: Public

A link here, per yendi, to a rebuttal of Pullman's views on Narnia via The Chronicle of Higher Education.

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Date: 2005-12-08 19:05 Subject: Amazing, how much reading you can do with time on your hands.... Security: Public

Rec: Inside Job by Connie Willis
1. Incredibly timely in one particular plot point.
2. Willis's usual wry humor.
3. Damn, wish I'd written it.
( More, with potential spoilers )

Rec: The Great Stink by Clare Clark
1. Not for the weak-stomached.
2. Wowza on the historical detail.
( Everything you ever wanted to know about mid-Victorian London's sewer system )

Third book.... Note that I'm not reccing this per se, as it's a series that makes me go, "Huh?" but that I can't seem to stop reading anyway.... Matty Groves by Deborah Grabien (Third in the Haunted Ballad series)
( And you know it's time to shut up and try to publish your own stuff when you start picking apart a book like this... )

By the way, lizbee, I've seen a couple in the Phryne Fisher series at my local library, much to my surprise. I have so far resisted the temptation to dive into da period feminist light pr0n.

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Date: 2005-12-07 23:57 Subject: OMDearG, I love Neil Gaiman. Security: Public

So. Disney has decided to update Winnie-the-Pooh. Apparently Christopher Robin alienates a chunk of the demographic/ain't swingin' with the times/insert stupid marketing idea in this space.

See here as Gaiman reacts to the news in his usual pragmatic yet entertaining fashion.

Can Gaiman sue me for plagiarism if I make "Oh, bitchcakes. *hugs* " my new mantra?

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Date: 2005-11-30 20:42 Subject: For all bleeding heart pinko-liberals like me -- Breaking News: Security: Public

I hope y'all saw this on Making Light's front page.... If not, here's the link: General Tells Rumsfeld: STFU and siddown. (Paraphrased.)

Wow. Kudos, General Pace.

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Date: 2005-09-27 00:14 Subject: Snape was on the grassy knoll. Film at 11. Security: Public

This is so wrong in so many ways....

(Gacked from a link on F_W. tl;dr, but stared at pretty, spoilery banners.)

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Date: 2005-09-19 20:31 Subject: Recent arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrquisitions Security: Public

1.

2. "Smoking Loon" Chardonnay is quite nice, really.

3. ( Half A Sixpence not as good as I vaguely remembered, however. )

4. ( 'A Walk in Ancient Rome' by John T. Cullen )

Now returning to Half a Sixpence and another glass of Smoking Loon.

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Date: 2005-09-18 20:50 Subject: So much for human compassion. Security: Public

It's a wonder that we don't eat our young, really.

( please bear in mind that due to job, I don't keep up on news as fast/often as others -- and therefore have a 'longer-running' well of anger to draw from )

Anyone who wishes to keep abreast of the continuing idiocy in Loiusiana could do far worse than to follow Making Light. (Also a wonderful site for those interested in the publishing industry, or those of a Liberal bent.)

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Date: 2005-09-13 21:14 Subject: AHA! Snape's MO revealed at last.... Security: Public

"Voldemort might have required the odd bit of murder, but at least he didn't ignore people with bad hair." --tourette, on a recent F-W thread.

By Gad, you cannot put Snape's motivation more succinctly and spot-on than that. Genius.

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Date: 2005-09-05 14:01 Subject: Harry Potter film Scam Alert (HP, Nigerian Style) Security: Public

So, being in The Biz (albeit the theatrical side) I was interested to note the following spam/scam/phishing (placed under the cut) in my Inbox this morning. And being a snarky little whistle-blower, I'm putting this out there so no idealistic excitable young persons think this is legit. It's not.

How do I know this is a scam? Because no (and I mean, NO) reputable casting agency -- especially any attached to one of the Industry Biggies -- works this way. Casting places an ad in a trade paper, and they then have anxious actors/wannabes swamping *them* without much effort on their part. This "notification" is undoubtedly a ploy to get your personal info and/or (eventually) money out of you -- note the amorphous nature of the "travel arrangements". I bet you have to fork over your plane fare to them, as they'll so kindly go out of their way to book your reservation for you. Isn't that nice of them, to make travel arrangements for hundreds and hundreds of absolute unknowns solicited over the email? /snark

Also, note the many mis-spellings, typos, etcetera. (Lord Voldermort? WTFBBQ?) Note the clumsy syntax in areas. (If it *is* legit, this person ought to be fired for absolutely unprofessional copy alone.) Also, note the taking in vain of JKR's name. Does JKR *really* need help "creating original characters for the casts"? ...that last was intended with absolutely no snark.

( HP, NIGERIAN STYLE )

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Date: 2005-08-23 23:34 Subject: In lieu of a frothy-mouthed political rant... Security: Public

...the Management presents this Public Service Announcement:

Osama Bin Laden + Pat Robertson = OTP.

Good Evening, and thank you for watching. *cue "The Star-Spangled Banner" *

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Date: 2005-08-22 01:09 Subject: Never say never. Never. Security: Public

So, that little fecker Gaius decided to poke at me a bit more. (Besides, I'd left everyone on the edge of a smut cliffie -- so mean of me....)

Can't make any guarantees for either regular updates or closure.

The Gift index for those who want a refresher.

Screw a refresher, take me to Chapter IX and teh smut.

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Date: 2005-08-16 23:43 Subject: *wails* But I don't even *like* slash! Security: Public

You've been in a fandom environment far too long when you hear the following, and can only think of one thing....

KIRK: When do you estimate penetration?

SPOCK: Slowing now.... Contact in 18.3 seconds. Brace yourselves -- the area of penetration will no doubt be sensitive.

(Hang on, it gets even better. And yes, that was "yourselves", plural.)

*SFX WALLOP* *CUE MELODRAMATIC MUSIC*

KIRK: Report, Mr. Spock.... Spock, report --

SPOCK: I am... undamaged, Captain.

From The Immunity Syndrome, ST:TOS Season 2

Frankly, I think a good sharp shock is what uppity Vulcans deserve for trying to penetrate two things at once. ETA: Jumpin' Jehosophat, the rest of the ep is full of howlers like that....

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Date: 2005-08-04 02:20 Subject: Hoorah hooray! Security: Public

Snagged today: the 3-DVD set of the BBC Petherbridge-Walters Lord Peter Wimsey series. Haven't seen this since it first aired in 1987. Have been dying for same.

Note 1: Petherbridge is my one concession to crushing on blonds.
Note 2: squeeeeeeeeee!
Note 3: within 5 minutes, notice how strongly the Chief Justice (sorry, know this is not accurate -- no doubt shiv can correct me) -- stresses in his remarks that Harriet was a) living in sin; b) is a writer of a low-brow genre who has had the audacity to purchase poison under the pretense of (gasp) research. Which, as I have been researching Homicide, hacking, and various other unpleasant criminal matters (though not via Learning By Doing, I will stress), is ironic.
Note 4: Petherbridge closeup squeeeeeeeeeeeee!.

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Date: 2005-07-28 00:36 Subject: Being a lemming. With deli mustard and swiss on rye. Security: Public

I think I just ruined my reputation as the Snark-Master. On the other hand, at least I'm well-balanced.
( okay, I took the humor test. Surprise, surprise.... )

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Date: 2005-07-24 14:38 Subject: Book rec: A Sundial in a Grave: 1610 Security: Public

( Wowza. A Sundial in a Grave: 1610 by Mary Gentle )

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Date: 2005-07-19 22:39 Subject: More HBP wibbling, part two Security: Public

( Where did I leave off? Oh, yeah, wild-ass faculty family theory )

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Date: 2005-07-19 00:09 Subject: ...what the hey do you *think* I'm going to talk about -- liverwurst? Security: Public

First off, may I just say:

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!

/gloat

Is it just me, or did Scholastic go with a damned American English copyedit again? I saw "pants"; I saw "practice"; I saw lots of crap. Had I known, I'd
have gone through Amazon UK (again).... Also a lovely typo of "site" for "sight" early on. I wish the woman would get a good
copyeditor. Preferably peacockharpy, who can then smugly tell us to shove off when we bug her for spoilers.)

Haven't had time to second-read, so what follows is first impressions. I haven't had time to be online
much, but snuck on the other night and skimmed synaesthete7's recent post on the [spoiler expurgated].
( SPOILERS AHOY, MOSTLY SNAPISH )

ETA: apologies for formatting errors -- html editor ran amok. Hopefully fixed now.

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