chaletian: (Default)
Sadly Day Three is a little delayed due to technical difficulties that Katie solved with her MIND. Woo.

chaletian: (dls innocent)
And yes, yes, this will indeed be how I write my bestselling chicklit novel...

chaletian: (margo)
Middle class guilt, in song form:

chaletian: (bard r&j fuck it)
Seriously. Oh yes. With my tiny, tiny shiny laptop teetering on top of the laundry basket. Laptops and wireless: they make the world a glorious place.

Anyway, I had some thinking to share, about history and how we understand it and stuff. This was, naturally, prompted by an SGA fic I just read: Written by the Victors, a superlative piece of fiction about Atlantis seceding from Earth, and historical interpretions of the same. It featured straightforward fictional prose about the events in question, combined with "secondary sources" from both sides of the schism. It was a brilliant read, and is actually one of my very most favourite fandom tropes, namely how events and characters will be viewed by history when anyone actually alive at the time is nothing but crumbled dust. I've seen Buffy fic that looked at this (and the Fray comic sort of touches on the idea), and Harry Potter as well, I seem to recall. Babylon 5 actually did it themselves, with the wonderful ep Deconstruction of Falling Stars. I've even written something similar myself in the Hornblower fandom.

And I love it. I love it so much I can't even express it, because they never KNOW. They never can, it's impossible. Seeing how characters in the future construe and interpret the past that we know is just so real, and I can't put this into words, though I've been thinking about it for a couple of days. Because this is how our understanding of the past works: we take the evidence, what we have it. We look at paper and buildings and art and laws made and unmade, and we cobble together what we think happened. And we can be right and we can be wrong, and we can't really know, because we weren't there. And people lie and are unreliable and it's so easy to misinterpret something.

And I love it when characters in the future come face to face with the figures of their history (everyone should read [livejournal.com profile] liz_marcs' Living History [BtVS], because it's awesome), because their figures are creations of the collective imaginations of generations, and the present characters are real. I just... meh. I really don't have the words to say what I'm trying to say. Boo.



In other news, this whole 13-year-old boy fathering child / not fathering child / someone else / what-the-fuck-ever: NONE OF MY FUCKING BUSINESS. I DO NOT FUCKING CARE. WHY IS IT ALL OVER THE FUCKING NEWSPAPERS? HOW IS THIS IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST? LEAVE THE KIDS AND THEIR FAMILIES TO SORT IT ALL OUT BECAUSE IT IS NOTHING TO DO WITH ANY OF US AND FOR FUCK'S SAKE STOP USING IT TO HERALD THE END (ONCE AGAIN) OF CIVILISED SOCIETY AS WE KNOW IT.
chaletian: (daily mail)
Bless. It's like it thinks it has to work to make me hate it more... What I particularly like about this article is how "gay men" is quite clearly synonymous with "violent murdering paedophiles".

In other news, Katie and I watched a beautiful film the other night called The Chase, where Charlie Sheen takes Kristy Swanson hostage and they fall in love over the course of the police chase. Naturally I am now writing an SG:A AU fic on this theme.

I caught the bus home from Hammersmith. At the Apollo, there was the world's most giant horde. Hmm, I thought, I wonder what's going on there? Well, according to the marquee, auditions for Britain's Got Talent. Life in Britain: raw and real.

Anyway, I haven't posted for ages, and I've got loads I've been meaning to say, but I can't remember any of it now (natch), so let us all mourn together.
chaletian: (charlie and lola)
This made good reading, though is it just me or is there something a little backwards about this:

"Some members of Obama's team are known to be privately angry with Israel over the death toll and destruction in Gaza, despite Obama's expression of sympathy for Israel over Palestinian rocket attacks."
chaletian: (ff snowdrop)
Just a quick festive post to say Merry Christmas! to everyone, and to share two Christmassy things, because I do so love it, even though as a religious thing it has no meaning for me.

So, firstly, a bit from Lanterns Across the Snow by Susan Hill, which is my favourite Christmas book... )


And secondly, I know that my fondness for Tim Minchin and his works is well-known, but he has written my perfect Christmas song. I love it when someone so perfectly articulates how you feel about something, mainly because you never again have to struggle to express yourself on the subject.

chaletian: (Default)
Ah, the traditional Monday morning post. It’s a glorious thing. Almost as glorious as the morning itself, which perked me right up the very second I stepped out of the building on my way to work. Clear blue skies, fresh air, a lovely chilly snap: what more can you ask for in an October morning? I walked briskly to the station, The Hush Sound playing very loudly in my ears, albeit not muffling the clunkety-clop of my new boots with their noisy heels, and read various passably intelligent things on my way to work. An excellent start to the day. Of course, now I’m at work in the unwindowed box that is my shared office, and things have taken a more gloomy aspect (am in receipt of cheery email from Alex asking for a dazzling variety of survival curves… thanks for that…) but still, all in all, life is merry and life is sweet, even though I don’t believe in God and must therefore be tragically unhappy with my pointless existence.

Anyway, le weekend. Saturday, Katie and I bopped into Staines (fucking South West Trains. That’s all I have to say…), to meet Kathye and Megan for the thrilling, nay, scintillating, cinematic treat that was to be High School Musical 3. Sadly Kathye couldn’t come, but we were delivered of Megan, and took her off to get lunch, embark upon a sweet-buying mission in Woolworths, and pobble around a few shops before hurling ourselves upon the Staines Vue.

Oh. Em. Gee. Don’t ever let me do that again. Do you have any idea how much high-pitched noise young girls can make? My ears are still ringing. So much enthusiasm. So much screaming. It hurt. Still, it was sort of sweet, and Megan was frankly adorable, bopping away in her little seat. Katie, likewise, quite excited. I mostly laughed, but I did enjoy the ridiculousness, and there was one song that was actually good. I also, I must honestly admit, found myself, in my tiny head, going, ‘So. Zac Efron. Hmm.’ Heh. So, then we dropped Megan off, went home via pizza and chocolate pudding purchasing, and watched SPN and Chuck (oh, Chuck! Chuck who, I cannot lie, PALES INTO INSIGNIFICANCE NEXT TO THE AWESOMENESS OF JENSEN ACKLES).

Sunday began with an indignant phone call to my mother, demanding to know whether she had stopped loving me. I will explain the background to this. My mother has, for some unknown reason, long since decided that my brother and I are CONSTITUTIONALLY INCAPABLE of remembering when the clocks change. Thus we have always received at least one, and usually two or three, reminders at each change. But some horrible mutation has occurred to this scheme. Reader, I shudder to mention this tragic truth, but this time I received not a single, solitary reminder. I know. It pains me merely to type the words. Surely the only conclusion which can be drawn from this sad state of affairs is that the milk of motherly affection has dried up. The grape of maternal devotion has withered upon the vine. All is devastation and dismay. O! O! And so I lament, etc etc. Anyway, turns out she’s decided we’re old enough to cope with the clocks ourselves, which makes a nice change, so there you go. Milk of m.a. and grape of m.d. turn out to be safe and sound. *thumbs up*

So, once that family brouhaha was resolved, we pottered around for quite some time, before making the heroic leap into outdoor!clothes and bopping into town, where Katie tried on boots and we bought comics, before agonising for about SIX WHOLE ENTIRE HOURS about where to have lunch. Eventually lunched, I bought a jumper, we went home. Pottered some more. Had cheesy mash and tuna mayo for dinner (gastronomic fucking genius, me). Watched Hairspray.

And then, after that, I settled into my bed, and succumbed to the compelling world of the US election. I freely admit that I am actually addicted to it. I have basically spent all my free time in the last few days reading political blogs and newspapers and polls and analysis and campaign videos and TV interviews and I think my brain is in danger of exploding. And now that Sarah Palin has gone ‘rogue’, I think it’s just going to get more exciting! Also, I ♥ the Oval Office as a ‘bummer free zone’. Which does actually seem to be the same zone John McCain is living in.
chaletian: (and and bee)
♥ I hope the Lords do vote not to pass the proposed legislation which will make it possible to hold people without charge for up to 42 days. I will be so ashamed of my country if this becomes law.

♥ Katie yesterday introduced me to The Hush Sound, who are really great, so you should bop off and have a listen.

♥ Off to see Avenue Q tonight, which I am really excited about, even though I keep forgetting that we're going. Woo! They had a bit from it at the Royal Variety Show a couple of years ago, and it looked really funny; it's taken us this long to actually go and, in fact, we weren't even the ones to organise it. We suck. Katie: we totally need to actually use some of our theatre vouchers and get tickets for Cabaret. Is that even still on?

♥ I am wearing make-up today. It's like a tiny miracle.

♥ Because I am an attention ho, I put one of my NCIS fics on the Pit of Voles, as well as the first part of A Haunting on Pennsylvania Avenue. I have come to the conclusion that I would do almost everything for feedback. I am, to all intents and purposes, an actual ho.

♥ Another avant-garde verse for Helen:

Helen
First I lied about you and melon
(Because you don't dislike melon)
But then I compounded
This confounded untruth
By being uncouth
And not singing
'Ring-a-ling'
Or more to the point 'Happy Birthday!'

Ho hum

Oct. 11th, 2008 08:01 pm
chaletian: (hp luna)
*eyes giant bowls of risotto*

So, it's good to know that in this time of economic uncertainty, Katie and I are in no danger of imminent starvation...

♥ We're watching Lone Star State of Mind. I love this film. And Joshua Jackson.

♥ I don't wish to sound lacking in compassion or tolerance, but people shouldn't be allowed to go around with wheelie suitcases in mainline London stations when they don't have wheelie-suitcase-fu. It should be a law.

♥ Saw an article in my favourite of the free papers about this lad, and he is really quite a little bit amusing.

Meh. Don't really have much to say.
chaletian: (p+p mr collins shelves)
I have read two brilliant things today and would like to share. Because sharing's good.

1. Letter to a Christian Nation - A Challenge to Faith by Sam Harris

2. A post challenging my assumptions about the "average" American voter by [livejournal.com profile] copperwise - beautifully written and an important reminder for this slightly-smug organic-bean-throwing British liberal. (Thanks to [livejournal.com profile] liz_marcs for linking to it.)
chaletian: (dls you)
I was interested to read this article about censorship in today's Guardian - I think everyone else should read it too, because it highlights some important issues. The troubling concept of self-censorship also came up a while ago; some of you may remember Katie and me attending a platform on the subject at the National and writing about it at length. All very interesting.

Also, we're going to see Ed Byrne tonight, and saw Mark Watson last week, which was highly entertaining. Yay stand-up, frankly. And we're going to see Russell Howard in November(and Tim Minchin again next month), so that's all quite exciting.


* Ooh, check it out, a relevant and yet comic post title... it's like a tiny miracle, floating down from heaven...
chaletian: (buzzcocks lemonade well)
OK. Yes. Hormonal. Shit mood. Listened to this song which makes me vee happy on account of the total genius. People of the world my flist, go and listen!

Tim Minchin - If I Didn't Have You
chaletian: (p+p lizzy murder)
♥ Life sucks. I hate the world. In the immortal words of Frankie Boyle [ed. no, apparently that was Fred Macauley], fucking booooo.

♥ Am off to Oxford this weekend, to see my young chum, Cath. The day has arrived when the train to Oxford is actually cheaper than the Tube. Huh.

♥ Pre-emptive birthday wishes to [livejournal.com profile] mchobson! Hope you have fun this evening, and tomorrow!

♥ I wrote an article for thelondonpaper's column thing. As shit as my life is at the moment, it is very likely to be rejected, so I present it forthwith. )

Read this. It's a beautiful, beautiful thing, and makes me heart science and stuff SO MUCH.
chaletian: (margo)
This morning I was idly glancing across at my neighbour’s copy of Metro, and noticed a couple of bits about David Miliband. Apparently, he’s been heaping praise upon Gordon Brown at the Labour Party Conference and being all smiley and stuff. Ah, I thought cynically, nice try; position yourself as the nice chap, get some press coverage, and then disclaim politely when the rebel element in your party propose you as the new leader, before graciously agreeing. Anyway, Miliband was going on about Brown’s contribution to international development policy etc, and I thought (in my mind), you know what, I don’t have a clue about half the stuff the Government’s done, because it doesn’t really interest me. I keep track of the things that *do* interest me, but a lot of stuff I don’t bother about, and I imagine lots of people are the same.

And the thing is, give me late C19th British politics, and I can give you chapter and verse (please note: this is actually a lie. Ten years ago I could have done; not any more) on the people and the legislation and the political shenanigans and the ins and outs of the various groups and parties. I knew what happened when, and who was involved. I knew (insofar as anyone could) why people chose the actions they did, and why they supported the legislation that they did. We can build up such a clear idea of it all, not only from books, but from the press of the day, and Hansard, and private correspondence and diaries and all that. It’s funny to think that a hundred years hence, people will have a better understanding of the politics of our day than we do ourselves.

Also, moving on from that, how much are we at the mercy of the press? Really, all we know is what they tell us. And you can manipulate that a bit by choosing your sources of information, but only a little bit. It’s slightly freaky. Huh. Anyway, that’s today’s thought of the day.

In other news, I have a couple of genius links to share (that will have already been on some people’s flists, but whatevs):

Barack Obama chats to Jed Bartlet, courtesy of Aaron Sorkin

Hamlet’s Facebook

Simon Pegg writes the end of Spaced

Also, it has been brought to my attention that I do not have a tag for Katie. Please do not think FOR ONE TINY SECOND that this does not mean she is not AS IMPORTANT AS GOD. Clearly, she is. I just don’t bother to tag her as it would be a little redundant given that she appears in practically EVERY POST EVER. Glad we’ve cleared that up. *g*
chaletian: (buffy religion freaky)
A couple of Whedony things to share, both of which have probably appeared on people's flists before now, but if they haven't:

Sugar Shock
Part One :: Part Two :: Part Three
Joss Whedon online comic story. It's ace.

Firefly and Serenity: Defying Gravity
This is genius. Sheer genius.

Compote is already done. Huh. Go rhubarb, with your acidic insides.

Katie has just informed me of *another* thing starting on ITV. Seriously, darlings, what's going on here? Where's the good TV coming from and why is it all on ITV? This is playing with my conception of the universe. And you know I get cross when that happens.
chaletian: (firefly wash evil laugh)
Gather round, chaps, for today is an important day in my little fandom life. I have finally (and believe me, the sweat and angst this task provoked was beyond measure) created a master list of all my fic on the internet ever, even the really, really shit stuff I wrote when I was 18.

The Masterlist of Fictional Genius
chaletian: (mp god)
I love this song. Very, very much. (As the title suggests, it's a bit talking-about-religion.)

Voltaire - God Thinks

ETA - So, yep, thinking about it, some people might find this offensive.

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