shadowkat: (Default)
#12: In your own space, set yourself some goals for the coming year. They can be fannish or not, public or private.

Not really fannish, since I'm not truly fannish about anything at the moment. Well, maybe Cillian Murphy and Peaky Blinders. (I've given up on Soap Twitter - they got holier than thou on me, and as you may well know, that pisses me off. I don't handle self-righteous fans well. Particularly when they are wrong and threatening to cancel me on social media. But that's another post. Assuming I bother to explain it. Assuming anyone wants to know.)

I miss the Buffy fandom sometimes. I do not miss the kerfuffles.

Anyhow, goals..

1. To start painting again. I need the outlet. Also considering doing other arty projects. But baby steps.

2. Frame and hang on my wall some of the photographs I took. (Saw an add on FB about Picture Tiles, that you can do as a group, and hang up easily without a hammer and nails.)

3. Finish the novel that I've revising, and start working on revising and finishing the other two, so I can start on two more. I've three novels in the works, and two on the back burner. Plus an old novel idea that I'm considering reworking.

Lots of stories to tell and complete, and no time to do it in. These are all original works of fiction. (I'm not good at playing in other people's sandboxes with their rules, I like to play in my own sandbox and make my own rules. Need some semblance of control over the world, and no one telling me that I'm doing it wrong or questioning my take on the characters. Also, as a former copyright specialist - I don't want anyone telling me that I don't have the right to play with my characters as I see fit. ) That's not to say I don't like fanfic - I do. And I have written it. But it's not what I tend to want to write, if that makes sense? (Although I am tempted to write a fanfic about Peaky Blinders...)

4. Make it through the sizable movie, comic book, novel, audible, and television queue. I really shouldn't add any more books to my kindle or digital comic collection - until I read the ones that I already have. Same with the audible collection.

Once, I finish Peaky Blinders - I may jump to The Last Of Us, or
finish the White Lotus (which is incredibly boring and I do not understand the appeal of it at all. It's put me to sleep twice, and my attention always wanders during it.) I also want to re-watch S1 of the Witcher, and see S2 - but am kind of waiting for S3 to drop first. There's also the rest of Interview with the Vampire, New Amsterdam, Nancy Drew, Rosewell, Mayfair Witches, Miss Scarlet and the Duke, Vienna Blood, and All Creatures Great and Small to get through. (Have watched the last two episodes of All Creatures Great and Small, just one episode behind.)

I also need to go back to Kaldeiscope, try Wolf Pack (Paramount +), The Originals,

And, there's the Pale Eye, and various other things. The list is seemingly endless.

I'm dragging out Peaky Blinders - because I'm loving it and don't want it to end. It's harder than it should be to find a television show, book, or movie that captivates me. Considering how many there are now - you'd think it would be easier to find them, but no.

***

Eh, what the hell? Brief Kerfuffle on Soap Twitter - brief in that it lasted no more than five tweets. And most were mine, because I got pissed off. Twitter kerfuffle's don't go on for very long. Well not unless it goes viral or you are popular, I'm not - thank god. Been there, done that, and only on Voy forums, Whedonesque, and live journal, do not want to be popular on Twitter. Twitter is scary.

So...there's this crazy soap that I've been watching with Mother (well, not together - she's in SC and I'm in NYC, but we discuss it every day on the phone - it gives us something to talk about). I discovered I could get spoilers on Twitter, and FB. However - they are vague (dammit) and the people doing it - eh.

The current storyline is a woman dying of leukemia (Willow) needs to find her biological birth mother (Nina), who turns out to be her nemesis, or worst enemy. The woman who has systematically bullied her for years. And even exposed the child she thought was hers to a cult leader. Her adoptive mother was not exactly a saint either, Harmony (but crazily enough? More likable than Nina (combination of acting and writing, I suspect)). Nina's diabolical mother gave Willow to Harmony, because she didn't want the kid taking the money that her husband put in a trust for Nina. Nina was in a coma at the time and Madelyn was executor of the trust. (Madelyn put Nina in the coma.) Nina has done some horrible things herself. Anyhow, Harmony persuaded Willow on her 21st Birthday to do the ritual of getting stoned and sleeping with cult leader. Everyone did this. Including Harmony. The cult was loosely based on NXIUM (a real life one in NY), but Disney pulled the plug on the storyline before it got too far into what NXIUM was doing (*cough*humansextrafficking*cough*). So really just nasty cult hijinks.

On Soap Twitter, I tweeted:
Read more... )
I swear people give me a headache sometimes.

****

In other news...I found this tid-bit amusing at work.

Apparently they are offering courses in "Managing Up" - learn how to manage above yourself and work with your leaders effectively. I kid you not, they are actually offering course entitled "Managing Up".

I was tempted to respond: "okay, aren't you already doing that - you are actually good at that. What you really need is a course in learning how to "manage down" or "supervise" effectively, and resolve conflicts with your subordinates." But I decided I didn't have the bandwidth to get into that battle, so just ignored it. I probably should take the course - I suck at managing up. But it would have been more useful ten-fifteen years ago. Now? I don't care.
shadowkat: (Default)
I don't know what to write about tonight. I'm spent. I went from being bored at work to being overwhelmed in the space of two weeks time, thanks to cubical mate leaving crazy org. I'm kind of drowning. It's been non-stop, and I'm not sure sometimes what to do next.

Also worried about the Omicron variant interfering with my trip to Hilton Head. My brother is worrying about his daughter making it home on Friday and not getting stuck in England with COVID. She's fully vaccinated with booster (Pfizer just like me). But they've had outbreaks at her school. She gets test bi-weekly, they all do. She's at the London School of Economics, they are sending the International Students home a week earlier than scheduled. Currently under a teacher's strike - so it's not like there's school at the moment. Also, my brother isn't certain she'll get to go back next year - UK and Europe are getting dicey, apparently.

I told mother that I was worried about the Omicron variant.

She told me not to be. That there is very little information out about it.
And South Africa only has 6% of its population vaccinated. (This is a problem. My SIL (sister-in-law) was ranting about this in July. We have nitwits who refuse to get vaccinated because..."their rights" and half the world can't get vaccinated because their countries can't afford enough doses.) The other problem is that the information out there is confusing, I can see why folks are reluctant and want to wait, every few weeks the damn media tells us certain vaccines are more reliable than other vaccines. And there are so frigging many vaccines.

My family and friends (on and offline) are in a three way split between Moderna, Pfizer, and Astrezenca (if they live outside the US, Astrezenca (sp?)).

In other news... Chris Cuomo is suspended indefinitely from CNN for using his contacts, and position at CNN to strategize against the sexual abuse allegations lodged against his brother Andrew Cuomo

It's weirdly ironic. In March through roughly July of 2020, the Cuomo Brothers were America's darlings. People loved watching them spar during the Governor's live briefings. People around the world were tuning in. It was the Cuomo COVID show...

Now...almost two years later...they are brought down by a sex scandal. (I don't understand why Trump hasn't been - I know he's sexually assaulted women, maybe he has better lawyers? Or a hit squad, we don't know about?)

Oh well, Cuomo is why I'm in hell at work - so there's that. But him being taken down hasn't exactly lessened that hell any. We keep waiting at crazy workplace, but alas na da.

**

Apparently Nicolas Cage is playing Dracula opposite Nicolas Holt's Reinfeld in the film Reinfeld.
excerpt )

AM agreed with myself and movie buddy about The Eternals. She stated that it wasn't as good as Shang-Chi, making me kind of wish I'd seen Shang-Chi in the movie theaters.

***

I don't know what I want for Xmas, or what to get anyone else. I'm at a complete and utter loss. There's stuff I need to buy myself - but I'm not asking others to buy them for me. Too expensive. I may buy some pre-wrapped things for myself and leave them here - to unwrap after Xmas. That's an idea.

I need pictures to hang on my walls - but I'm too cheap to buy any. I'm very cheap. I don't like spending money on furniture or decor.

**

Anyhow..

* CDC can't find the Omicron variant in the US but it keeps looking )
* Mark Meadows is testifying in the House Panel Investigations )

* Dr Oz is running for Senate Seat in PA - Ugh, just what we need another crazy Republican nitwit )

*Supreme Court is going to look into Roe vs. Wade again )

*When Shamma Goodrich moved to New York from New Delhi in 2015, she was struck by the homelessness in Manhattan. She is now volunteering with Brooklyn Community Services’ shower bus, which helps those without reliable access to bathroom facilities. The organization is one of nine supported by The New York Times Neediest Cases Fund. [Finally, somebody worth saving, yay!]

*United Arab Emirates are one of the few ways Bedouins can sustain their traditions. And at the heart of the festival are camel beauty contests.

The ideal camel has long straight legs, a long neck, a shapely hump, pert ears, expressive eyes framed by upward-curled eyelashes, a sleek coat and elegant posture. A little jewelry also goes a long way. When Kiki Streitberger, a photographer, visited Al Dhafra in 2019, more than 24,000 camels from all over the Middle East competed for the equivalent of more than $16 million in prize money


* Tony Kushner discusses writing West Side Story Screenplay for the new film

excerpt )

[The trailers look amazing, and it's getting good reviews, even if Soap Twitter doesn't like the guy cast as Tony. I don't know, I'm reserving judgement. Also Soap Twitter is well, Soap Twitter. Actually Soap Twitter makes me miss the Buffy fandom. I miss arguing over whether vamps should show their breath or reflections over say whether a bridge should be dedicated to one couple - on a soap opera that religiously reuses its set pieces.]
shadowkat: (Default)
RIP Stephen Sondheim...apparently the lyricist and composer died today at the age of 91, they were mourning his death on Twitter. Sondheim is best known for the musicals West Side Story, Into the Woods, Sweeny Todd, Company, Sunday in the Park with George, and A Little Night Music. He also was the inspiration behind the music in Buffy episode Once More With Feeling.

Rainy, gloomy day, and I've gotten nothing much done. Except fending off anxieties, and eating more pumpkin pie than I should. It's gone now, so that's no longer an issue at least. It was a small pie.

Also watched the first episode of The Wheel of Time - hopefully it gets better as we go, because I kept dozing off during it. Compelling its not. Also the major fight scene takes place at night, and its hard to see what is happening, or care. And the lead character is played by that cool actress from Gone Girl, which I'm not certain is the best choice? I've not read the books, so I wouldn't know.

And episode 2 of Peter Jackson's Beatles Documentary "Get Back". Apparently this was co-produced by the remaining members of the Beatles, and the family members of those who died, such as both Yoko Ono and Scean Ono Lennon, and the Eastmens and Harrisons. They worked with Peter Jackson in editing the footage and providing background information on what happened.

It drags in places - because basically there are sections in which all we're doing is watching musicians jerk around in a recording studio trying to figure out a bunch of songs, and punch them into shape. They do get rolling after a bit - and jump from song to song, riff to riff, some of which aren't even songs they are planning on doing. So we're basically watching a jam rehearsal session - not the most entertaining thing on the planet.

But there are some rewarding sections in there, and we do get to hear fully fleshed out numbers. The Beatles are aware they are being filmed, and almost used to it. They kind of make fun of it. With Lennon and Ringo mugging at the camera. Lennon keeps stating - "And tonight your host will be The Rolling Stones," then giggles. I have no idea what this inside joke refers to - but he obviously finds it hilarious.

The second episode picks up where the first one left off - George left, and they don't know when he's coming back. spoilers )

***

Per mother...

Mother: Your niece has the week off from school, because her school is on strike. I don't know why they are on strike but..
Me: The London School of Economics?
Mother: Yes, I've no clue why. So she's decided to go to Sicily with a friend.
Me: Sicily??
Mother: It's in Italy.
Me: Yes, I know but why Sicily?
Mother: I asked the same thing, wondered if her friend was from there...but she's from Chicago.
Me: Okay.
Mother: I think they were hunting some place warm with sunshine. Plus there were really cheap flights. But my concern is - what if the strike ends early and they are stuck in Sicily?

Well, Wales got stuck in Dallas.

ME: Did you make it home safely?
Wales: No, I'm stuck in Dallas, the one state I swore never to enter again.
Me: Oh dear. Hope it works out. (Later) Did you ever make it?
Wales: Yes, I got in at 1 AM on Thanksgiving, but hey, I'm here.

Also...GH FanBoard Likes to Give Out Superlatives or Thank You Awards. (I was hoping they'd bypass me this year...that maybe saying less on the board and jumping to Twitter this month would enable them to forget I exist? No such luck. They gave Mother an award.)
Soap Fandom )

Anyhow...mind is a blank...so leaving with...random picture of the evening.


shadowkat: (Default)
So...I've almost gotten myself in trouble with FB fan moderators..again.

I'm reposting this conversation because it underlines my difficulties with fandoms...how fans myopically ship certain characters and stories, and get upset when they don't get to control it or it doesn't go the way they want and not everyone agrees with them. How they insist one character hogs all the screen time (it's never true, television fans are insane).

On this board, the two moderators go on and on about not bullying fans, and letting people have opinions that vary from theirs. But they are complete hypocrites on this point when it comes to characters and speculation that they don't like and don't want to be true.
Facebook discussion )

I learned a lot from the discussion.

1. not to discuss the character of Peter with the moderators. They hate him. I hope the actor is smart enough to stay off line.
2. to stay away from certain discussions -- the more emotional, the less rational, and less likely they can hear you. .
3. people are weirdly hypocritical and unself-aware.
4. fandoms are the same regardless of the one I enter. It's all about the emotion. All about their character getting screen time. How their characters are being disenfranchised. How this new character is horrible and shoved down their throats when they'd have rather had a story with another character!
In short it's all about what they want, their needs, their wants...fuck what anyone else wants.
5. be mindful of the personalities you are dealing with and how volatile they are online, regardless of where you are. Landmines are everywhere.
6. Facebook is a ridiculously difficult place to have a reasonable discussion with anyone. I so miss the voy discussion boards. It was easier to avoid certain conversations on those. (Not that I did. I tend to be rather aggressive and not afraid of sharing my point of view. Also, at times I can come across as didatic. I get this tendency from my father and mother who go into lecture mode.)
7. I hate GIFs. I find them annoying. Whoever invented them should be forced to look at nothing but GIFS for the rest of their life. I'm thinking a hell where you have only GIFS to look at.
8. Soap fans are not the brightest cogs on the planet. There's a reason this genre gets a bad rap. Granted the content doesn't tend to lend itself to serious discussion...we're talking about absurd plots that often make no logical sense.
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