Date: Friday 6 November 2009 20:36 Subject: Yuletide letter Status: Public Tags: yuletide

Dear Yule Goat,

Hi! Thank you for writing me a story! As I'm sure you already know, optional details are optional; I hope some of this is helpful to you - please disregard whatever isn't, I'd really rather you enjoyed yourself writing a story you like. And I really like getting stories I would never have thought of myself, so, seriously, if you have another idea, feel free to write that.

If you are one of those people that researches their recipient, I'm afraid I rarely update this LJ. In fact, a couple of posts back is last year's Yuletide letter, from which this has mostly been cribbed. I have a delicious account here, of stories I like, if that helps, including a couple in these fandoms.

Some things I like: bantering and bickering and snark and snappy dialogue; sexual tension and stoic pining and desperate, breathless longing; first kisses; holding hands; wanting to touch but not touching; finally touching after omg so long; canon-derived aus; stories about rebuilding and restoration; stories about friendship and family; unconditional trust in the face of apparent betrayal; unconditional loyalty; common sense; adventures, capers, hijinx and derring do; secrets revealed and cats out of bags; political machinations and twistiness; ass kicking; smart people being smart; mysteries; actions having consequences; competent people being competent; love being shown through action; ethical dilemmas; did I mention my competence kink?; complicated people being complicated; rational behaviour in the face of the irrational; superpowers; tentacles; woke up a girl; body switching; psychic adventures; second chances; hopefulness, kindness, compassion, forgiveness; not making the same mistake twice; our heroes against the world; people who complete each other; people who are complete in themselves; fucked up people finding happiness despite themselves; well adjusted people arranging happiness for themselves and those around them.

Some things I do not like: meanspiritedness, sap, humiliation (I have such an embarrassment squick), character bashing, misogyny (including phrases like "don't be such a girl"), infidelity, introspective navel-gazing. I do not particularly want alternate reality AUs (dragon kings in space, etc) or crossovers for any of these fandoms (though I like them in general, so if you're really inspired go for it). I also would prefer not a Christmas or holiday related story.

I can take any amount of angst in the middle but very much prefer happy endings. I'm fine with any rating.

Legend of the Dragon Kings [Sohryuden, Legend of the 4 Kings] (Tsuzuku/Hajime)

Tsuzuku/Hajime slash or brotherly gen would be awesome, I just would really love to have a story about them together. I would also be very happy with dirty wrong Tsuzuku/Lady L or Hajime/Lady L, or even Tsuzuku/Mizuichi or Hajime and Matsuri trying another date. The first six eps are my favourite if you want to write ep-related fic; I don't like the ending much, so post-series AUs ftw. Really, I'm very easy, I'd be overjoyed just to know another person who has even seen it!

If you didn't offer it (and you probably didn't offer it ;)) but you're stuck on the fandom you *did* sign up for, you can download LDK here (change file extension to .avi) or I believe it's nexflixable in the US, though difficult/impossible to find elsewhere (twelve 45 min episodes on six discs, which are inconveniently not numbered - the order is: Under Fire, Black Dragon, Red Dragon, Iron Dragon, White Dragon, Blue Dragon.) It is quite an old anime, and the animation is not great, but I love it anyway. Most of my favourite moments are in the first six episodes, and I must admit it gets a little slow thereafter - so if you want to watch half of it and go wildly AU, that would be fine with me ;).

Um, I have nothing more to say about Dragon Kings! I just love it because I do, but I love it a *lot*.

Hands Off! [Sono Te Wo Dokero] (Tatsuki/Kotarou)

Request: Tatsuki/Kotarou slash would be fantastic, but I would be just as happy with gen. Basically I'd love a story about their awkward, messed up love for each other, whatever kind of love you think that is. I'm fine with Kota/Mio if you write gen and want to include it, I love Yuuto, I love ensemble stories, and psychic adventures are always JUST FINE with me. I'd prefer fic set during or after the manga (rather than 'when they were little' fic), but I am still annoyed at the ending if you want to go AU there.

I didn't write much of a prompt because I really don't know what I want, just: more of that! Um, I guess my favourite thing about Hands Off! is even though it is angsty it is also really warm and affectionate.

If you don't know Hands Off!, it's a manga - eight volumes of AWESOME (plus a two volume prequel, "Don't Call Us Angels". I really like that too but it's about different characters). If you're curious about it, there's a good fansite with a summary etc, and scanlations online or dl at yshare (you have to join the comm), but the offical translation is great if you like the look of it.

Gohou Drug [aka Legal Drug, Lawful Drug] (Kazahaya Kudo/Rikuo Himura)

Request: Gen is fine but at least as slashy as canon, please? But what else to ask for -- gah, surely every Legal Drug fan wants the same thing? *Volume 4*. Not that I expect you to write it when CLAMP apparently can't!, but if you can manage it a small taste of what happens next would be great. A daft assignment, a bunch of arguing, maybe some kissing?

Sorry about the prompt; I got nothing! Kazahaya/Rikuo, or just anything in the spirit of canon would be lovely, but *please* don't feel constrained; obviously I have no idea what I want, so go ahead and surprise me.

If you're stuck on another fandom, I guess this is my gimmee as it's only 3 wee volumes. You can Read Legal Drug online, or download it.

Mirage of Blaze (Naoe/Takaya)

Request: I know how the novels end and I want no part of it. It drives me crazy that after 400 years and AMNESIA they still can't get it right - some hope for Naoe and Takaya/Kagetora, please? Don't make it too easy, but there's got to be a way out of this miserable cycle somewhere. Otherwise, all the crack and melodrama you can bring probably still won't exceed canon, so do your worst. Yeah, that's right. I'm daring you. Wingfic, tentacle porn, genderfuck, amnesia (oh wait), accidentally-got-married - this pairing is crying out for emoporn and terrible, terrible cliches. Alternatively, if you want to write a more serious story and know anything about Japanese history, there's a *lot* of history there to explore.

Oh god, I hope I didn't make it sound like I only want crack or grim historical fic, there are so many different stories I want in this fandom I couldn't tell you them all if I had a month. I *would* like something that focuses on their relationship, but that covers a *vast* amount of ground. Porn is fine, gen (well, as gen as these two ever get) is fine - follow your heart! This page has a lot of useful reference links and dark agenda has a beta resource post if you're worried about getting cultural/historical details wrong.

If you haven't seen it, I'm afraid I can't help you out. I do recommend it though, if you are in the mood for some very pretty mel-o-drama. It's 13 episodes on 4 DVDs (there are 3 OVAs as well, but I haven't seen them yet). It's got reincarnation and pyschic adventures and totally fucked up people with superpowers!

Good luck!

Date: Friday 6 March 2009 13:47 Subject: RaceFail 09 Status: Public

I have been following this for some time but rarely commenting. However I do not want my silence to be taken for apathy or assent, particularly not assent with this piece of condescending fuckwittery (a more elegant response to that here, also here, here, here and here).

If you don't know what I'm talking about (srsly?), various timelines & summaries are around, most recently here, and especially this earlier one. rydra_wong is also keeping track of MANY RaceFail09 posts here.

I'm not likely to ever meet either of them, but I support the various calls to shun both Will Shetterly and Kathryn Cramer for maliciously and repeatedly outing coffeeandink (her posts, 1, 2, 3, 4, see also: this and this).

A few of the excellent posts that have I have read/re-read recently (some from this week, some from a month or two ago, so pls check the dates if you're going to comment):

Cultural Appropriation 101 by shewhohashope
For the people who still don't know what the big deal is, or have been pulled so far into the soul-sucking vortex of internet pseudonymity and professional egos that they've forgotten that there was a deal: Cultural Appropriation 101. Hopefully, by the end of the course, you will comfortable with the basic arguments against appropriation of marginalised cultures by dominant cultures.

Why this hurts everyone by oyceter
RaceFail has, from the very beginning, had authors and editors on one side and readers and consumers on another.

On Safe Spaces by eruthros
I've been thinking about the degree to which some people don't understand what a safe space is, and what it means -- a self-determined space, a space I declare safe, a space under my control.

I didn't dream of dragons by deepad
One of the most frustrating arguments I’ve encountered is—If you hate it so much, stop bitching and write your own.

ven ve voke up, ve had zese wodies by ciderpress
As the dust settles, I have seen a considerable number of white people repeatedly declare that their painful, difficult ordeal has been worth it, thanking and patting each other/themselves on the back and having a little cry or whatever it is people do when they feel like they have had a cathartic moment.

on the David Levine thing by vito_excalibur
So let me recap. I want to stand up in public and say whatever fool thing comes into my head. If I say something insulting and anyone calls me on it, I want to react by getting hugely defensive and insisting that I didn't do anything wrong. And I want this not to result in the internet coming down around my ears.

Some thoughts on the impossibility of opting out of the economy of privilege by miriam_heddy
An effective white anti-racist is not an ex-racist or a never-been-racist but instead is a racist who finds racism problematic enough to work against the privileges that systemic racism offers white people at the expense of recognizing the humanity of PoC.

*

50books_poc
verb_noire
The Remyth Project
Team Fandom at Kiva
Scholarship type thing for Wiscon
12th POC blog carnival
POC in SF/F Carnival call for submissions
First Asian Women Blog Carnival call for submissions

Date: Wednesday 31 December 2008 12:00 Subject: YULETIDE LETTER Status: Public Tags: yuletide

Dear Excellent Person Who Is Writing Me A Story For Yuletide,

ETA: I forgot to mention that I am away for Christmas, and probably not back online until the 27/28th. So please don't be freaked if I don't comment before then!

Firstly, sorry my prompts were kind of crap. I fully expected to have to re-submit my sign-up so I got a bit lazy, and then I ran out of time. And sorry I don't have a fourth fandom, but I couldn't think of anything I wanted as much as these three. I do love all three though, and would be gleeful at a story for any of them. Here are some further ramblings about my requested fandoms, if you find that sort of thing helpful.

Some things I like: bantering and bickering and snappy dialogue; sexual tension and stoic pining and desperate longing; first kisses; plot; canon-like stories; canon-derived aus; stories about rebuilding and restoration; stories about friendship; adventures, capers and derring do; political machinations; smart people being smart; competent people being competent; mysteries; actions having consequences; love being shown through action; ethical dilemmas; complicated people being complicated; rational behaviour in the face of the irrational.

Some things I do not like: sap, humiliation, character bashing, misogyny (including phrases like "don't be such a girl"), infidelity, lengthy internal monologues (ETA: I think what I really mean here is introspective navel-gazing). I would prefer not to be depressed, unless the darkness really calls to you.

I'm fine with any rating. Not usually that into PWPs, but there are always exceptions. (Uh - if you are the kind of person who looks that sort of thing up, I have a delicious account here, of stories I like).

Legend of the Dragon Kings (Any)

Original request: I would be equally delighted by gen, slash or het. Tsuzuku & Hajime are probably my favourites, but I always love ensemble stories. Pairing suggestions: Tsuzuku/Lady L dirtywrongness, Tsuzuku/Hajime (I'm not normally into incest, but they're *dragons*, so), Tsuzuku/Mizuichi, maybe Hajime/Shinkai, or even Hajime and Matsuri trying another date. In general I prefer stories set during or after canon (rather than in the past) but please (*please*) feel free to ignore the ending or write an alternate one (anything that isn't "then they woke up and it was all a beautiful dream!" would be *fantastic*).

Okay, what I would really like for Christmas is a huge Legend of the Dragon Kings fandom, with novel-length stories and missing scenes and crossovers and character studies and AUs and ship wars -- maybe not the ship wars, can't we all just get along? --, but I would settle for there being just! one!! story!!! So if you are the one person who offered this fandom, I LOVE YOU. If you're not but you're stuck on the fandom you *did* sign up for, I believe it's nexflixable in the US, though probably difficult to find elsewhere (12 eps on six discs, which are inconveniently not numbered - the order is: Under Fire, Black Dragon, Red Dragon, Iron Dragon, White Dragon, Blue Dragon. But you could totally just watch the first three discs and then go AU -- all my favourite moments are in the first six episodes, and I must admit it gets very slow thereafter. And the ending is just stupid. And - okay look, it is not the best anime ever, but it was my first and I kind of imprinted on it -- well, actually I think my very first anime may have been Akira, but what kind of psycho imprints on Akira? Um. Anyway.)

Some of the things what I like about it: siblings with no parents looking out for each other, dragons, reincarnated gods, superpowers, our heroes against the world, TSUZUKU. I think Tsuzuku is a lot snarkier in the UK dub, which I tragically could not find. I love Tsuzuku and his car and pink shirt and his tea-making and his polite, cheerful violence. I also like the matter-of-factness with which they approach the weirdness that befalls them, it makes the moments of angst more compelling to me. And - honestly, none of that is really why I love it, I just do. And I put "any" because I really would be happy with anything in this fandom.

Hands Off! (Tatsuki/Kotarou/Yuuto/Mio)

I put all four characters because I really do love them all and would be happy with a story about any or all of them, in any combination, but I would especially love a story focused on Tatsuki & Kotarou if you are inspired - gen or slash. But absolutely no Mio bashing! Mio is awesome.

(If you don't know Hands Off!, it's a manga - eight volumes of AWESOME. There's a good fansite with a summary and the like here, and you may be able to find it on free_manga.)

Things it has what i like: Banter, snark, complicated love, uncomplicated friendship, psychic adventures, totally justified angst, TATSUKI.
I'm afraid my request was pretty useless, and I don't really have any specific ideas to offer you so I hope you're not stuck! Again, I'd rather something set during or after the series, but once again you can go ahead and change or ignore the ending for this one if you want. I tend to prefer two or more characters interacting to someone brooding alone (I'm looking at you, Tatsuki) and I do like a story with a plot, however slight. I would love a Tatsuki/Kotarou story but don't fret if it doesn't appeal, I love gen too and I meant it about 'any combination' - I would totally read Yuuto/Mio ;}.

Diana Wynne Jones - Hexwood (Mordion)

I would love a Mordion story - gen, het slash, whatever, whenever - but I also love ensemble and friendship stories. What does the new Hand do next? Maybe a story about the trip back or their first days in office? I would slightly prefer a story set during or after the book (unless it's about Mordion), but please write a story you are happy with and I'm sure I will be happy too.

Hexwood is one of my favourite books - if you haven't read it, I highly recommend it. I know DWJ is hard to emulate, but anything in the style of the book would be awesome. A post-book story would be great but there's acres of scope for missing scenes as well. And it really doesn't have to be about Mordion! it's just that if it's going to be focused on a *single* character, I'd rather it was him. Otherwise Hexwood has a really interesting cast I'd be delighted to see more of. But please no depressing alternate endings?

In conclusion, thank you so much for writing me a story! You can ignore any and all of the above, of-course. Just write a story you enjoy writing, because I always think that shows ;}.

Date: Friday 28 March 2008 11:31 Subject: I do not love you, Mister Incest Status: Public Tags: numb3rs

Oh, Numb3rs fandom, why don’t you love me? How can there be so much Ian/Charlie and so little Ian/Don? I mean, I don’t want to be one of those people who questions other people’s stupid pairing choices, but that is a stupid pairing choice you made there, Numb3rs fandom. Ditto Colby/Charlie and don’t even get me started on all the Don/Charlie omg, seriously, it’s just so mean. There’s so much fic and I can’t read any of it, why you gotta be so cruel to me?

I am shaking my head sadly in your general direction, just thought you should know.

*

Seriously, I think I figured out what the problem is with Ian/Don: you’re afraid that much pretty in one place might hurt somebody, right? But we are a hardy breed, friends! TAKE THAT CHANCE!

*

Please?

*

Date: Friday 19 October 2007 20:48 Subject: Yuletide Status: Public

Oh god. I suffered some sort of terrible brain spasm and accidentally signed up for Yuletide. Oh god. Oh god.

*

Dear Santa,

I uh, think I was fairly detailed in my details -- possibly too much so. I am too terrified about my own assignment right now to think if I missed anything out, but I will try to come back to it. But really, I would like for you to have fun, so please do ignore my details if they freak you out and make you feel, like, OH MY GOD WHAT DID I DO WHY DID I SIGN UP FOR THIS OH MY GOD I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHO THAT CHARACTER IS WHY DID I SAY I COULD WRITE ANYONE OR IN THIS FANDOM AT ALL OH GOD I AM SO SCREWED.

Just follow your heart and don't kill anyone, and I'm sure it will work out fine!

*

oh god.

Date: Sunday 5 August 2007 11:00 Subject: IBARW: ICONS Status: Public

International Blog Against Racism Week starts tomorrow, and runs 6-12 August 2007.

In honour of SF's long tradition of further marginalising people of colour by making them 'the alien', here are some icons:



They are kind of lousy, sorry. I ran out of energy before I ran out aliens.

I wanted to find a screencap of Kingsley Shacklebolt in his Ethnic Robes of Ethnicity and caption it "Magical Negroes Against Racism". Would that be funny or just completely inappropriate?

ETA: Made one of Kingsley.

ETA2: Forgot to mention, but obviously: all sharable, modify-at-will, no credit required.

Date: Monday 30 April 2007 22:17 Subject: Dr Who 3.05 Evolution of the Daleks Status: Public

Well, that was a complete waste of 45 minutes. If you haven't seen it yet, kids, don't bother.

*

Meanwhile, in happier news, a long awaited consummation has finally taken place between my house and my carpet, after a year long engagement. In a beautiful ceremony held on Saturday, they joined together as house and ... carpet.

It was extremely moving and I may yet cry, as I suspect my stupid rabbit is already plotting a christening. So far she's been kept to the bathroom, instead of having the run of the house -- which is not in the least cruel, by the way. It's a big bathroom, and there's plenty of room for her to run and jump and frolic, and destroy the floor varnish with her corrosive urine.

Long may the honeymoon last.

*

Date: Sunday 29 April 2007 20:05 Subject: (no subject) Status: Public

Is there anything more obnoxious than the joyful sound of children's laughter?

Date: Sunday 22 April 2007 18:25 Subject: Dr Who 3.4: Daleks In Manhattan Status: Public

Look, it's only been four episodes since we last saw them. We don't need a Very Special Dalek Episode every season, give it a rest already. (I would consider that a spoiler, except: see subject line. Honestly. If you're going to put the big exciting revelation in the title, you could at least call it "The Daleks Take Manhattan".)

Apart from that, a reasonably fun episode. I really liked the Hooverville leader-guy, whose name I didn't catch because only one of my speakers is working and Tallulah keeps kicking it off my desk so it's not working that great. Sully? He would be a kickass companion. Tallulah might be amusing also. The guest-star Tallulah, not my rabbit. Tallulah-the-rabbit would be a terrible companion. Too jumpy.

*

Meanwhile, at Mr Baker's Home for Orphaned Tennis Players, Kevin Smith is making a scrunchy face.

Date: Saturday 21 April 2007 22:31 Subject: Time wasted lately on Status: Public

Waiting for Dr Who to download! I do actually live in England, so I could watch it on TV, if I had a TV. But I don't. I'm starting to wonder if there's any point getting one, since Dr Who is about all I would watch. Well, and cooking and gardening shows. I don't cook or garden, but I love to watch other people do it.

Slave for my entertainment, little cooking and gardening minions. Sieve and baste and dig. Mwahaha.

Anyway, last week's episode, Gridlock, was genuinely horrifying to me, and I'm not at all convinced that was a happy ending. Also, I think I have to accept at this point that I am never going to love Ten. I don't hate him or anything, but I do not feel the shiny love for him I felt for Nine. I sort of wish he would die, actually, but that's not mean in Dr Who fandom, right?

Meanwhile, on Prince of Tennis, Kevin Smith is making a scrunchy face.

Date: Saturday 14 April 2007 23:07 Subject: Data Gathering Status: Public

I feel like I haven't made proper use of my paid LJ time. Maybe I should do a poll. But I kind of hate polls. Hm.

Poll #966608
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 12

Should I do a poll?

Date: Friday 6 April 2007 22:06 Subject: damn it Status: Public

Wah! I spent a couple of hours fondly playing around with my icons and uploading new ones and re-doing some old ones and changing all the keywords and OOPS! Now all my icons in past posts seem to have been replaced by my new default icon. I didn't know it would do that and I am most displeased, since I always spend several minutes solemnly perusing my icons to pick the most appropriate one for the post/comment.

... but everyone does that, right?

But, I love all my icons, even though I don't know why I have nine DC ones when I am barely in the fandom. I have four of Inui, but none of them are perfect. The perfect Inui icon would be the one where Oishi is trying to help everyone with their troubles after Tezuka leaves, and no-one has any troubles, and he goes to Inui to ask if he has any concerns and Inui sits down with him and gets out his notebook [jump to several hours later]:

"... Concern #33. I still have not decided on a name for my new juice" and I love him so much I can't stand it.

But I just couldn't find the right font.

Also, my new default icon is the best thing ever. Bow before me, mortals.

That's pretty much all I did today, but I feel like I've been productive anyway.

Tomorrow, lunch at Mum's, and maybe a nap! I own my laziness.

Date: Tuesday 3 April 2007 22:48 Subject: Media absorbed this week Status: Public

Doctor Who:

Like the entire internets, I love Martha. But I could do without the sonic plot device.

*

TMNT:

So alestar sent me an email saying: the new Ninja Turtles movie is excellent!

And I sent one back saying: THERE'S A NEW TURTLES MOVIE?!!

Because that's how up-to-the-minute I am.

Apparently there are new Spiderman & Harry Potter films out this year as well. Who knew?! (but I don't know that I want to see the Spiderman film. On the one hand: Spidey! On the other hand, Kirsten Dunst and Toby McGuire. It's a difficult decision; I'm not sure how much more of McGuire's neck [it's the same thickness as his head!!!] and Dunst's 'acting' [ ... ] I can take.)

Anyway. TMNT was a lot of fun, even if the opening narration had me rolling my eyes some. You do not start a film with five minutes of largely irrelevant exposition, even if it's Laurence Fishburne's deep, portentous voice saying:

"Four turtles."

"Mutants."

"And ... NINJAS." [No wai, Larry!]

"They fought their greatest enemy. And won! Probably."

"But this one time? 3000 years ago? There was this other guy. And a war! Mayhem! Destruction! Portals! Monsters! And then he was very very sad!! Blah blah blah backstorycakes."

"And now, back to the sewers to begin the actual film."

Also, the female character designs made me kind of ill, what with their waists being approximately the same size as their necks. CAN WE MAKE SOME TINY NOD TO REALITY ON THAT ONE AND STOP UPHOLDING DANGEROUSLY STUPID IDEALS OF FEMININE BEAUTY JUST FOR FIVE GODDAMN MINUTES KPLSTHX.

But it was still a good time; very fast and snappy. And I kind of do want that turtlecest now.

*

Prince of Tennis 120-123 (for the three people on my flist who watch Prince of Tennis):

For the love of God, don't the nationally ranked Golden Pair ever win an actual match? How did they even get to be nationally ranked? Was everyone else helping pregnant women to the hospital that year? Also, someone please to be giving Eiji a smack now.

Inui vs. Yanagi is my favourite match in the manga. Not quite so much in the anime, but I was still bouncing up and down on my seat going "Squash him, Inui! SQUASH HIM! SQUASH HIM LIKE A BUG!!!!!"

I, um, take my magical gay tennis very seriously.

Still, I do not know why anyone would ship Yanagi/Inui, when Yanagi so completely DOESN'T DESERVE HIM, and especially when the end credits show Kaidoh and Inui having a private chat, with Kaidoh looking shy and hopelessly adoring, and then handing Inui a TOWEL OF EXTERNAL LOVE.

What with the BANDANNA OF ETERNAL LOVE he gave Momo a couple of episodes ago, Kaidoh really seems to have a theme going here.

You go, Darling. Next you can give Ryoma a hankie or something, and your harem will be complete.

*

Date: Saturday 24 March 2007 21:09 Subject: Prince of Tennis #119 Status: Public Tags: tennis is forever

Hee. I have just watched Prince of Tennis #119, and finally understand where all the MomoKai comes from. Ohmigod, this show! This show!!

All the punching and meaningful looks and ceremonial exchanges of bandannas and Kaidoh is so staring at Momo's ass when he does the superdunk.

And the whole time everyone on the sidelines is going:

"Yes, well, of-course they understand each other so well because they are, uh, rivals."
"Yes. Rivals."
"So very, very rivals."
"Rival-y as anything."
"..."
"God, please don't let them start making out on the court."

Date: Monday 19 March 2007 21:56 Subject: Baby's first meme Status: Public

alestar tagged me to do a meme. Four times actually, but possibly SHE JUST DOESN'T KNOW THAT MANY PEOPLE.

So, okay, I am doing my first meme ever.

:::goes and looks at alestar's journal again to figure out what the meme is:::

Okay! 10 little known things about me:

1) Poilass is not my real name.

2) I have five toes on each foot.

3) My hair gets a tiny bit longer, every single day.

4) On days that end in 'day', I eat more than I strictly need to to survive.

5) My middle name isn't on my degree certificate.

6) In high school I once came 17th in a local marathon and went on to the regionals, where I came 117th.

7) I can plaster walls. Also: ceilings.

8) I am mysteriously attractive to men on bicycles. They just ride up and ask me out. No, really -- at least half a dozen times in my life, a guy on a bicycle has just cycled on up, and put the moves on the Poi.

I don't know what it is, my friends, but I am man-on-a-bicycle catnip.

It's best for everyone that I just stay away from the Tour de France.

9) It turns out, I kind of hate memes.

10) My first fandom was not the X-Men, as some of you may think, but Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. I never wrote or looked for fic on them (thank god; I bet there's turtlecest out there), but I used to run home from school every day to watch the cartoon, losing myself in childish daydreams about Raphael and the ninja adventures we would have together. (Now that I am a grown up, of-course, I prefer Leonardo.)

Date: Wednesday 14 March 2007 22:14 Subject: Er -- *Wednesday* Songs? Status: Public Tags: music

It's not alliterative. Also, no-one seems to be downloading them, but whatever.

Music! I never used to be very into music. When I was a kid I never bought tapes or listened to the radio much or put up pinups. One of the few songs I remember from my youth is Walk Like An Egyptian because everyone at school was doing the dance.

I did not know how to do the dance.

My brother was a huge music fan (and is still, frankly, a huge music snob), and eventually worked in the record industry for awhile, which was apparently really depressing and kind of put him off the whole deal. One of my few other music memories is sneaking in between songs to turn the volume down on The Smiths because I thought they were depressing.

I did not have much of a sense of humour when I was a teenager, it was very sad for everyone.

So, I feel I missed out. And now I look at my music collection (tragically wee), and I long to have spent the last fifteen years building it up, because I soooo cannot afford to buy all the music I want now. God bless illegal downloads.

Also, I kind of hate WMP because it will not rip cds to mp3 at a decent size, or play mp4s and the like, but it has all my playlists and play counts and ratings now, and I don't want to change to another player unless I can import it over. Um, just. FYI. If anyone wants to rec another player.

Anyway. Here is some music!

Em Gryner: Pour Some Sugar on Me. How much do I love this song? (A: More than I love you!)
Placebo: Running Up That Hill This is kind of a big file, sorry.
The Trash Can Sinatras: To Sir With Love This would be my TezuRyo vid song, if I could vid. It's so dreamy! Download it! Plus, I thought I should upload at least one song I actually own a legal copy of.

I love few things as much as a good cover song. And, hm, hate few things as much as a bad one. La, I am so whimsical.

Please to let me know if you want to me to post some more, sometime. Now, to bed.

Date: Sunday 11 March 2007 22:40 Subject: Sunday Songs Status: Public Tags: music

Continued painting my living room, for the fifth weekend in a row. Still not done. It's like the bloody Sistine Chapel; by the time I am finished I will be blind and broke and the Pope will hate me.

3 songs I have been listening to today:

You Only Disappear
Sakura Kiss for String (why is this is so hilarious to me?)
Blood Makes Noise

I was going to post a bunch of covers so there would be a theme, but I need to re-rip some, and I so cannot be bothered.

I have been trying to think, in a desultory fashion, what the most covered song ever is. I know there are about 6 versions of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah, but that can't be a record (I only have two: Jeff Buckley's, which is excellent, and Rufus Wainwright's, which is so awful I can't actually listen to it all the way through. Pls to feel free to give me more versions, minions).

ETA: Oh my god, I'm such an idiot. Obviously it's Stairway to Heaven. How depressing.

Date: Friday 2 March 2007 20:02 Subject: briefly escaping the event horizon Status: Public

So I said I would post most often, and have failed, failed, failed. I know, it's almost impossible to credit. Thousands of shocked faces turn to me as to a disappointing sun, awed by my unexpected lack of life-giving light. I am practically a black hole, in fact, so not full of light-giving light am I, sucking the precious coinage of the Person Who Inexplicably Gave Me Paid LJ Time And Has Still Not Owned Up into oblivion.

I feel bad. That's money she could've spent on chocolate.

On the other hand, maybe she's trying to lose weight.

*

BUT! I do have a kickass new tardis icon, and I also updated my layout. There are gay penguins now! and random Shakespeare quotations. I don't know, I thought it was funny. Gay penguins! The Tempest! that's funny, right? (my friends page is called how beauteous mankind is! seriously, that's funny right?)

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According to marag, Today's Fandom Appreciation Challenge is to feedback reccers, community mods, etc, and (optionally) pimp them.

I don't really know what that means, but I get many excellent recs from issen4, which I know I would otherwise miss completely. I don't think I've ever commented on her LJ, but if she ever stops by here, a dizzying array of compliments awaits her!

Well, a compliment, but hey: I made a whole LJ post for that and a tardis icon, and I don't do that for just anyone.

Date: Tuesday 20 February 2007 20:24 Subject: Poi Explains It All For You Status: Public Tags: free advice

Don't cut tags off your clothes while you're still wearing them.

Date: Sunday 18 February 2007 19:53 Subject: A Sunday Song Status: Public Tags: music

I was looking back through my past posts today. Two years, and maybe six entries, back is an earnest paean to Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots by The Flaming Lips.

And oh, I was so completely right: it is still fabulous, and the title song is still pretty much my favourite song in all the whole entire world.

It is a beautiful and unique piece of music about evil robots and you can't go another a day without it in your life.

Oh, Yoshimi. They don't believe me. But you won't let those robots eat me.

So what's YOUR favourite song in the all the whole entire world?