This and that...and the other thing...
Aug. 28th, 2024 07:27 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shadowkat1. I checked out Amanda Palmer of the Dresden Dolls, and decided to follow her on Twitter. I adore her. She writes lovely posts...
this is a reminder in case you need it. everything is going to change. people will leave. they will die. objects and plans will be lost. your script as you wrote it will be ripped or burned again and again and again. you are not alone. it’s happening to all of us. and i love you.
I kind of needed that tonight.
2. Followup on previous post?
* I am not currently reading nor am I fan of Neil Gaiman and haven't been for a while. I've always had issues with his work and narrative style - mainly because it is mostly world-building, tends to be rather lyrical and vague, and not a lot of character development and meanders. But it has nothing to do with the current allegations. Also like a lot male writers of a certain age - he tends to focus on cypher like white male characters, with a kind of vague presence. And doesn't tend to have strong identifiable women characters. Also, he's a bit dark - but hello, horror writer, comes with the territory. I admittedly have a love/hate relationship with the horror genre, and am somewhat leery of horror writers - you have to go to a really dark place to write horror.
Also I've become increasingly wary of charming people. They tend to disappoint me, and many do insanely monstrous things. And they get off on being adored, which is never a good thing. I'm hesitant to define them as monsters. I know people can do monstrous and wonderful things at the same time, I've seen it. Humans aren't good or bad, but something in between, whether we wish to admit this to ourselves or not. The danger lies in thinking you are only good and not seeing the dark side. The choice lies in not giving into the darkness, and that's often easier said than done. Just as it is difficult to be "self-aware" or "aware" of it.
That said. I find that my opinion of Gaiman has gradually changed or gone regrettably down hill to the extent that I find him creepy as opposed to charming, even though I haven't read or investigated the allegations, which I also find troubling for oh so many reasons. My opinion changing, and well the allegations - so both? Mainly because I don't know what to make of any of it - and the internet has been less than helpful in this regard. (The internet is always less than helpful with this sort of thing. It's great at spreading rumors, opinions, editorializing, but not all that great at corroborating or supporting the rumors with decisive facts, which my analytical brain requires to feel happy and safe.) The sources (not the women per se, but those doing the reporting and the publications reporting on it - kind of are like The Nation or Fox News reporting on it) do not seem to be remotely reliable, have agendas (subscriptions), and I find it odd that the reporters wasted time and money reporting on an obscure dark fantasy writer's actions, when they are ignoring the actions of politicians and other power brokers that are far more troubling. [Most people have never heard of Neil Gaiman or read him, I'm the only one in my family and among those I know and see a lot off line that has.] (I'm not sure about the women making the allegations - mainly because I know how easy it is pay people to lie and how easy it is to embellish and exaggerate something that happened a while ago. OTOH - the difficult divorce and breakup of Gaiman and Palmer, not to mention Gaiman's odd retreat from New Zealand in 2020, does lend some credence to the allegations. Along with Palmer's reaction to them - which is to pull away from it completely. But this is private stuff and hardly suitable fodder for a publication that claims it's not just a tabloid. The British are notorious for their tabloids. They are worse than the Americans in this regard.)
There was a sting recently at Comic Con, where 14 people were arrested for human trafficking. Per the BBC (a reliable news outlet) - 14 People were arrested at the California Comic Con in a Human Trafficking Sting (An acquaintance that I knew used to work for Convent House, which was involved in rescuing kids who were victims of human trafficking. It's difficult work.) And of course there is Trump who is running for President of the US. I find Trump far more dangerous than a nitch cult dark fantasy writer, who occasionally gives classes. It just seems odd to me that they keep going after "liberals" and ignoring the conservatives who make the liberals look like Saints in comparison? Reliable publications and outlets go after Human Traffickers and bigger fish, not small time dark fantasy writers few have heard of.
[ETC: Since 2016, people have responded to any question of veracity, by stating: "if a woman claims it is true, it is. How dare you respond otherwise." This isn't just in response to Gaiman, it has been in response to all allegations.] I'm also troubled by the caveat that if a woman claims it is true, it obviously is, without further investigation. Uhm, what? Or that all we need is someone's testimony or story to believe its true? Uhm what?
[ETA: I am in no way stating that the allegations aren't true. I'm stating that I do not know if they are. The allegations that I am referring to are "non-consensual sex or rape". I'm not stating that I don't believe the women or I believe Gaiman, I am stating that I do not know, and am inclined to believe the women, and am troubled by it. Because as a former defense attorney? I could logically and rationally argue it either way. Allegations/accusations are not proof of a crime. If that's all we needed? Your next door neighbor could accuse you of anything and get you thrown in jail - you do not want that. And the number of accusations/allegations aren't proof either - or Trump would be in jail right now for the 100-200 against him. And yes, that's troubling, but think about the alternative for a moment? What if a group of people decided to take you out? And all they needed was to accuse you of something horrible? (This is called "a witch hunt" in popular culture, I don't like that term because it comes from a time where women were hunted and burned at the stake based on accusations from numerous people in the township of witchcraft and evil intentions. Another term is "lynch mob" - when numerous white women would accuse a black man of rape or other misdoings to get him lynched - this was a thing in the post Civil War South. This is why I find stating "multiple allegations" or "testimony" is obviously proof deeply troubling. It's also why rape is so hard to prove - because for everyone who is telling the truth, there are those who don't. You can't go by testimonials or allegations alone. Like it or not, People lie and are not trustworthy. Final clarification? I am not saying Gaiman didn't do this - I tend to think he most likely did for a lot of reasons. This is not about him or those women, it is about our media culture and our tendency to trust something without all the evidence, and a trial and due process. And our hypocrisy, in that we want due process for ourselves but not someone else. The difficulty with human rights - is it's not just you who gets the rights, but also that evil dude across the street that you wish would be hit by a truck.]
* I don't like to trust one gender, race, etc over another. The statement, "I'd rather trust a woman over some dude" is troubling to me for many reasons. However, white men have held a lot of power in our society since pretty much Grecian times. And they've abused it. As a result, people are furious and want to rip them asunder. We need to be mindful of how we go about it. Not all white men are monsters, and not all of them abuse their power. I have at least fifty family members who haven't. Just because someone happens to be male - doesn't mean they are an asshole. They have an ass hole, but aren't necessarily one.
Gender politics or the Gender Wars - shouldn't be about winners and losers. We are losing this game or war because we think there are winners and losers. Neither gender wins that battle. And what about those who don't subscribe to either gender? I think we need to let go of gender as a definitive identity. This obsession with gender identity is not helpful.
---
3. I got my plane tickets to go see mother in Hilton Head finally. That's for October. Hopefully all will go well. I got travel insurance just in case it doesn't.
4. The Air Train was out again today. This is the Air Train from Jamaica to JFK. They were piling folks into shuttle buses. I really hope these people gave themselves enough time to get to JFK, so they don't miss their flights.
This has not been a great year for public transportation.
5. I still have a dry random cough, and a little chest congestion left over from COVID. Lovely, it took me forever to get rid of the last one. Also now that there is a new COVID Booster Shot available, I can't have it. Nor can I get my Shingles shot - I have to wait at least 90 days.
Highly annoying. I'm wearing the K-95 mask on the Q train, which is...
well this isn't a perfect picture of it, but close. I was explaining the width of the platform to Babs and Jay today in the kitchen, and they were both appalled. It's not very wide.
Here's a description and photos of it.
The reason I'm taking the Q, which is about an 15 to 20 minute walk across ten cross streets and two busy intersections and a narrow sidewalk, is G Train Service Changes.
Why are they doing it?
"The Crosstown Line, used by the train, still has its original signal system from when it opened over 90 years ago. This system is now past the end of its useful life. So, we’re bringing the latest in communications-based train control (CBTC) technology to the Crosstown Line. A more modern, reliable signal system means more reliable service for the 160,000 riders who take the each day.
We’re partially suspending service 24/7 in three phases because this will allow us to complete the work much more quickly than working only overnight or on weekends. This will help us reach our goal of fully upgrading the signal system on the Crosstown Line by 2027.
The brain fog continues, making it hard to focus. I've had this pretty much since 2020. It comes and goes. I star into space a lot.
6. Television
They are killing off a major character on the soap that I watch. The fandom is up in arms about it. They are trying to stop it. Good luck with that.
Apparently the decision was made a long time ago.
I'm considering watching "Into the Badlands" on Netflix post The Magicians.
Not sure yet. Oh, and Somebody Somewhere is getting a final season - Season 3 - I thought it had ended with Season 2, so am gratified to hear this. It's a lovely little show. It and The Bear are my favorite dramedies.
7. Almost forgot? My next door neighbor or the one catty corner to me? We share hall space at any rate. Who feels the need to run a bicycle repair shop out of his apartment? Well over the last few months, he has increasingly added bikes to his collection in the hallway. By the beginning of this week? I counted five bikes. Two big ones. With helmets and water bottles attached. One in disrepair - basically it was a skeleton with no wheel or seat. Two smaller bikes, and one in the adjacent hallway. He either was hosting six people in that small one bedroom apartment, or he was running a bike shop. I stared at it on Monday, considered taking a photo and complaining and decided, eh, not my problem. They have to know about it - it's near the staircase, everyone walks by it.
I get home from work Monday night - and low and behold in the window of the front door foyer leading into the building is a memo from the Building Management. It's also posted in the elevators.
It states: Tenants, please be advised that strollers, scooters, bicycles, shoes, etc or any other personal items that are being stored in the hallways in front of and outside of your apartments are deemed a fire hazard by the NYC Fire Department. And therefore illegal and prohibited. The Super will provide you with one warning, and if you do not remove them within twenty four hours of this warning, the management will remove them for you and dispose of them accordingly.
I go upstairs, and the bikes are gone - as if they'd never been there at all. So too are the strollers that used to be in front of certain apartments or any shoes. Or anything else.
I never put anything out there - it's dangerous. Honestly, you'd think people would realize this? Mother reminded me of when I had to advise the folks below me not to have their bikes in the hall landing outside their apartments, because I was running into them and injuring myself. At least I wasn't running into this guy's bikes, but they were annoying me to no end, and I worried about my elderly neighbors who barely spoke English and had to deal with them.
this is a reminder in case you need it. everything is going to change. people will leave. they will die. objects and plans will be lost. your script as you wrote it will be ripped or burned again and again and again. you are not alone. it’s happening to all of us. and i love you.
I kind of needed that tonight.
2. Followup on previous post?
* I am not currently reading nor am I fan of Neil Gaiman and haven't been for a while. I've always had issues with his work and narrative style - mainly because it is mostly world-building, tends to be rather lyrical and vague, and not a lot of character development and meanders. But it has nothing to do with the current allegations. Also like a lot male writers of a certain age - he tends to focus on cypher like white male characters, with a kind of vague presence. And doesn't tend to have strong identifiable women characters. Also, he's a bit dark - but hello, horror writer, comes with the territory. I admittedly have a love/hate relationship with the horror genre, and am somewhat leery of horror writers - you have to go to a really dark place to write horror.
Also I've become increasingly wary of charming people. They tend to disappoint me, and many do insanely monstrous things. And they get off on being adored, which is never a good thing. I'm hesitant to define them as monsters. I know people can do monstrous and wonderful things at the same time, I've seen it. Humans aren't good or bad, but something in between, whether we wish to admit this to ourselves or not. The danger lies in thinking you are only good and not seeing the dark side. The choice lies in not giving into the darkness, and that's often easier said than done. Just as it is difficult to be "self-aware" or "aware" of it.
That said. I find that my opinion of Gaiman has gradually changed or gone regrettably down hill to the extent that I find him creepy as opposed to charming, even though I haven't read or investigated the allegations, which I also find troubling for oh so many reasons. My opinion changing, and well the allegations - so both? Mainly because I don't know what to make of any of it - and the internet has been less than helpful in this regard. (The internet is always less than helpful with this sort of thing. It's great at spreading rumors, opinions, editorializing, but not all that great at corroborating or supporting the rumors with decisive facts, which my analytical brain requires to feel happy and safe.) The sources (not the women per se, but those doing the reporting and the publications reporting on it - kind of are like The Nation or Fox News reporting on it) do not seem to be remotely reliable, have agendas (subscriptions), and I find it odd that the reporters wasted time and money reporting on an obscure dark fantasy writer's actions, when they are ignoring the actions of politicians and other power brokers that are far more troubling. [Most people have never heard of Neil Gaiman or read him, I'm the only one in my family and among those I know and see a lot off line that has.] (I'm not sure about the women making the allegations - mainly because I know how easy it is pay people to lie and how easy it is to embellish and exaggerate something that happened a while ago. OTOH - the difficult divorce and breakup of Gaiman and Palmer, not to mention Gaiman's odd retreat from New Zealand in 2020, does lend some credence to the allegations. Along with Palmer's reaction to them - which is to pull away from it completely. But this is private stuff and hardly suitable fodder for a publication that claims it's not just a tabloid. The British are notorious for their tabloids. They are worse than the Americans in this regard.)
There was a sting recently at Comic Con, where 14 people were arrested for human trafficking. Per the BBC (a reliable news outlet) - 14 People were arrested at the California Comic Con in a Human Trafficking Sting (An acquaintance that I knew used to work for Convent House, which was involved in rescuing kids who were victims of human trafficking. It's difficult work.) And of course there is Trump who is running for President of the US. I find Trump far more dangerous than a nitch cult dark fantasy writer, who occasionally gives classes. It just seems odd to me that they keep going after "liberals" and ignoring the conservatives who make the liberals look like Saints in comparison? Reliable publications and outlets go after Human Traffickers and bigger fish, not small time dark fantasy writers few have heard of.
[ETC: Since 2016, people have responded to any question of veracity, by stating: "if a woman claims it is true, it is. How dare you respond otherwise." This isn't just in response to Gaiman, it has been in response to all allegations.] I'm also troubled by the caveat that if a woman claims it is true, it obviously is, without further investigation. Uhm, what? Or that all we need is someone's testimony or story to believe its true? Uhm what?
[ETA: I am in no way stating that the allegations aren't true. I'm stating that I do not know if they are. The allegations that I am referring to are "non-consensual sex or rape". I'm not stating that I don't believe the women or I believe Gaiman, I am stating that I do not know, and am inclined to believe the women, and am troubled by it. Because as a former defense attorney? I could logically and rationally argue it either way. Allegations/accusations are not proof of a crime. If that's all we needed? Your next door neighbor could accuse you of anything and get you thrown in jail - you do not want that. And the number of accusations/allegations aren't proof either - or Trump would be in jail right now for the 100-200 against him. And yes, that's troubling, but think about the alternative for a moment? What if a group of people decided to take you out? And all they needed was to accuse you of something horrible? (This is called "a witch hunt" in popular culture, I don't like that term because it comes from a time where women were hunted and burned at the stake based on accusations from numerous people in the township of witchcraft and evil intentions. Another term is "lynch mob" - when numerous white women would accuse a black man of rape or other misdoings to get him lynched - this was a thing in the post Civil War South. This is why I find stating "multiple allegations" or "testimony" is obviously proof deeply troubling. It's also why rape is so hard to prove - because for everyone who is telling the truth, there are those who don't. You can't go by testimonials or allegations alone. Like it or not, People lie and are not trustworthy. Final clarification? I am not saying Gaiman didn't do this - I tend to think he most likely did for a lot of reasons. This is not about him or those women, it is about our media culture and our tendency to trust something without all the evidence, and a trial and due process. And our hypocrisy, in that we want due process for ourselves but not someone else. The difficulty with human rights - is it's not just you who gets the rights, but also that evil dude across the street that you wish would be hit by a truck.]
* I don't like to trust one gender, race, etc over another. The statement, "I'd rather trust a woman over some dude" is troubling to me for many reasons. However, white men have held a lot of power in our society since pretty much Grecian times. And they've abused it. As a result, people are furious and want to rip them asunder. We need to be mindful of how we go about it. Not all white men are monsters, and not all of them abuse their power. I have at least fifty family members who haven't. Just because someone happens to be male - doesn't mean they are an asshole. They have an ass hole, but aren't necessarily one.
Gender politics or the Gender Wars - shouldn't be about winners and losers. We are losing this game or war because we think there are winners and losers. Neither gender wins that battle. And what about those who don't subscribe to either gender? I think we need to let go of gender as a definitive identity. This obsession with gender identity is not helpful.
---
3. I got my plane tickets to go see mother in Hilton Head finally. That's for October. Hopefully all will go well. I got travel insurance just in case it doesn't.
4. The Air Train was out again today. This is the Air Train from Jamaica to JFK. They were piling folks into shuttle buses. I really hope these people gave themselves enough time to get to JFK, so they don't miss their flights.
This has not been a great year for public transportation.
5. I still have a dry random cough, and a little chest congestion left over from COVID. Lovely, it took me forever to get rid of the last one. Also now that there is a new COVID Booster Shot available, I can't have it. Nor can I get my Shingles shot - I have to wait at least 90 days.
Highly annoying. I'm wearing the K-95 mask on the Q train, which is...
well this isn't a perfect picture of it, but close. I was explaining the width of the platform to Babs and Jay today in the kitchen, and they were both appalled. It's not very wide.
Here's a description and photos of it.
The reason I'm taking the Q, which is about an 15 to 20 minute walk across ten cross streets and two busy intersections and a narrow sidewalk, is G Train Service Changes.
Why are they doing it?
"The Crosstown Line, used by the train, still has its original signal system from when it opened over 90 years ago. This system is now past the end of its useful life. So, we’re bringing the latest in communications-based train control (CBTC) technology to the Crosstown Line. A more modern, reliable signal system means more reliable service for the 160,000 riders who take the each day.
We’re partially suspending service 24/7 in three phases because this will allow us to complete the work much more quickly than working only overnight or on weekends. This will help us reach our goal of fully upgrading the signal system on the Crosstown Line by 2027.
The brain fog continues, making it hard to focus. I've had this pretty much since 2020. It comes and goes. I star into space a lot.
6. Television
They are killing off a major character on the soap that I watch. The fandom is up in arms about it. They are trying to stop it. Good luck with that.
Apparently the decision was made a long time ago.
I'm considering watching "Into the Badlands" on Netflix post The Magicians.
Not sure yet. Oh, and Somebody Somewhere is getting a final season - Season 3 - I thought it had ended with Season 2, so am gratified to hear this. It's a lovely little show. It and The Bear are my favorite dramedies.
7. Almost forgot? My next door neighbor or the one catty corner to me? We share hall space at any rate. Who feels the need to run a bicycle repair shop out of his apartment? Well over the last few months, he has increasingly added bikes to his collection in the hallway. By the beginning of this week? I counted five bikes. Two big ones. With helmets and water bottles attached. One in disrepair - basically it was a skeleton with no wheel or seat. Two smaller bikes, and one in the adjacent hallway. He either was hosting six people in that small one bedroom apartment, or he was running a bike shop. I stared at it on Monday, considered taking a photo and complaining and decided, eh, not my problem. They have to know about it - it's near the staircase, everyone walks by it.
I get home from work Monday night - and low and behold in the window of the front door foyer leading into the building is a memo from the Building Management. It's also posted in the elevators.
It states: Tenants, please be advised that strollers, scooters, bicycles, shoes, etc or any other personal items that are being stored in the hallways in front of and outside of your apartments are deemed a fire hazard by the NYC Fire Department. And therefore illegal and prohibited. The Super will provide you with one warning, and if you do not remove them within twenty four hours of this warning, the management will remove them for you and dispose of them accordingly.
I go upstairs, and the bikes are gone - as if they'd never been there at all. So too are the strollers that used to be in front of certain apartments or any shoes. Or anything else.
I never put anything out there - it's dangerous. Honestly, you'd think people would realize this? Mother reminded me of when I had to advise the folks below me not to have their bikes in the hall landing outside their apartments, because I was running into them and injuring myself. At least I wasn't running into this guy's bikes, but they were annoying me to no end, and I worried about my elderly neighbors who barely spoke English and had to deal with them.