(no subject)

[cleolinda]

Today's sort of a reserved-for-reading day. I just finished the new Lemony Snicket and now I have to get started on The Lamplighter, which is more in the vein of The Wide Wide World, and if you remember the occasional book recaps I do on the spur of the moment, you will know that that is a very good thing. (I still have to tell you what happened on Alice's wedding day in Venus in Boston, because that one's a doozy.) Next after that is the Lovely Emily's YA novel draft, and it comes last if only because I don't have to write a paper on it. (Snicket came first because 1) it's Snicket and 2) Em and I are doing a book swap--she gets Snicket and I get her book about honey and/or bees. I don't remember the name of it, because nonfiction books about honey and/or bees seem to be something of a fad lately, but I don't care, because I'm v. v. interested in old-fashioned beekeeping and honey folklore for The Fantasy Project That Shall Not Be Named, Because the Title Is Awesome and I Don't Want Anyone to Steal It.)

And then I get to start trying to catch up on Lost recaps and Another Project That Shall Not Be Named. Oh, and prepping Black Ribbon.

(Why do I write out all the stuff I plan on doing? Why do I do that, when I know it's like a jinx that will make sure none of it gets done?)

That said, I have been in a much better mood lately. Basically, since Friday, when it was apparent that people were starting to get the book and the world didn't, like, end. A lot of anxiety has been lifted--it's kind of like, "Maybe I can do this," you know?

Speaking of which, at m15m: Scans of the first review; Urban Dictionary; Play.com ships free to all of Europe; dropping from #8, above Snicket, to #15; lj_spotlight whee!; how to request signed bookplates (in lieu of, like, mailing your book to me); tell me about your favorite book signings.

In which I polish the banhammer. Please read this.

Am self-medicating with Silver Jewelry Club orders (plz send help) but my new moonstone ring and my blue leaf pendant and earrings are love.

Linkspam:mandy0x: "Man arrested in robbery of Lost actor."

trede: "Jonny and Phil from Radiohead (and some other bloke) as the Weird Sisters in the new Harry Potter film. It's like Harry Potter... if they were wizards." Jarvis Cocker's the third. Warner Bros basically got Cocker and the two guys from Radiohead to be the Weird Sisters band in the movie. I remember seeing an article last week where a Canadian folk group called the Wyrd Sisters, unrelated entirely to Harry Potter, are suing for trademark infringement, or something of that sort. "People will think we're singing about Harry Potter!" What, and people will actually start coming to your shows? OH NOES.

From hnk: There's a Toothpaste for Dinner book!

From Molly: "Hey... I just wanted to send you this link to an online petition on Petition Spot, bring back sailor moon to tv in the usa." Normally I'm not that big on anime or petitions, but... I really would like to see Sailor Moon back on TV. Ahhh, the days of watching it in the dorm. Good times.

Ann Coulter is going DOWN: "Citizens for Principled Conservatism (CPC) is currently in-production of a documentary named The Truth About Ann which aims squarely at political and religious hypocrisy of Rightwing commentator and author, Ann Coulter."

(One of the things that bothers me about any possible Coulter attack is that there will likely be a sexist edge to it, just because we wouldn't be fortunate enough to have someone persecute a woman for simply being an asshole; there'll have to be a "...and get back in the kitchen and make me a sammich!" subtext to it.)

An email I got from Narniaweb: "New Narnia Trailer Available! The new trailer for The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is now available for viewing at Moviefone.com and it is incredible! A very large hi-res Quicktime download is also available. We've been working really hard on screencaps for you and they are now available for viewing. If you are going to the movies next weekend, steer on over to Legend of Zorro to see this trailer in the theater."

I started crying (again) just looking at the screencaps. Like, not even at sad things necessarily, just at weird little things, like the fur coats in the wardrobe, or Edmund creeping into the Witch's castle. I need to accept that I'm just gonna be a big ol' sobby ball of childhood nostalgia at this movie and just sit in the back with a megabox of tissues or something.

Giant 'corpse flower' blooms in Germany.

Police Probe Wash. High School 'Hit List.'

Accidental Invention Points to End of Light BulbsAccidental Invention Points to End of Light Bulbs.

Alpha Sets Record As 22nd Atlantic Storm.

Study Reveals Pittsburgh Unprepared For Full-Scale Zombie Attack.

Aaaand it's the Onion for the win! Two Publicists, Stylist, Personal Assistant Injured As Nicole Kidman Turns On Handlers.

"Even experienced handlers can't turn their backs on these creatures," said celebrity behaviorist Laurel Fraser, who has conducted extensive field studies on such performers as Madonna, Bruce Willis, and an entire pride of Baldwins. "It's easy for people in the starkeeping profession to get complacent, and when stars sense that, they often lash out."

Celebrity-control officers working with the LAPD cornered the actress outside a sound stage at Hollywood Center Studios late Tuesday and shot her with a tranquilizer dart after failing to coax her into custody with an expensive gift bag.

"She was just calmly feeding at a craft-services table, unaware of all the havoc she raised," celebrity-control officer Rene Bofill said. "After being tranquilized, she began to snort and rave, knocking down tables and chairs before she collapsed near the set of That's So Raven."

"Sometimes, we love our celebrities so much that we want them to experience the same freedoms we enjoy," Hable said. "But if something goes wrong, you'll quickly realize that a lot separates a celebrity from an ordinary human being. And believe me, you never, ever want to find yourself in the powerful jaws of a Chris O'Donnell."

Ad Guru Leaves Job Over Remarks on Women.

French made the contentious remarks during an industry discussion in Toronto on Oct. 6. According to a report in the city's Globe and Mail newspaper, French said women did not make it to the top because "they're crap." Nancy Vonk, a Toronto-based creative director at WPP subsidiary Ogilvy & Mather who attended the event, said French described women as "a group that will inevitably wimp out and go 'suckle something.'"

The comments sparked outrage among many women in the advertising industry. Vonk wrote on the advertising industry Web site http://www.ihaveanidea.org — sponsor of the Oct. 6 event — that "my jaded jaw hit the floor" at French's comments. "If our greatest leaders are busy quietly persuading girls they're just not cut out for this gig, how far is this group going to get — the brave ones who soldier on in spite of the discouragement?" she wrote.

British-born French, 61, known for his ever-present cigar, worked as a debt collector, trained as a matador and was agent to the heavy metal band Judas Priest before going into advertising. He was among a generation of innovative admen — including future film director Ridley Scott and brothers Maurice and Charles Saatchi — who made a mark on British advertising in the 1970s and 80s.

Singapore-based French — who during the Toronto event was served drinks onstage by a woman in a French maid's uniform — was unrepentant. In an interview with the Globe and Mail published Friday, French said there were few female creative directors "because you can't commit yourself to the job."

Shows of support. "The TV protest that began with fans running disparate letter-writing campaigns with limited success (Cagney & Lacey and the original Star Trek being notable exceptions), has since evolved. Now internet-organised terror groups send nappies, baby food, bananas, spoons and bottles of Tabasco sauce (the spicy kind) to TV executives. Others have funded TV and press ads, attempted to fund future series themselves, and created a Live Aid-style protest record. At the proactive savethatshow.com you can even protest before your favoured show has been cancelled. Perhaps even more bizarrely, these campaigns appear to be working."

Best part: "Family Guy (best described as The Simpsons with Tourette's) had already been cancelled and saved once when Fox axed it for a second time. Not letting poor ratings bother them (or that Fox wanted rid of a controversial show) fans campaigned for its DVD release, to have it moved to the Cartoon Network, and, after a three-year absence, forced Fox to commission a new and unprecedented 22-episode run. Protests involved over 100,000 signing a petition promising to boycott all Fox TV and every product they advertised (surely tricky if you don't know what products you're boycotting?), nearly bankrupting a business by sending (unloaded) nappies, and some less-than-subtle letters. 'There were threats of murder, burning of buildings, harming of pets...' remembers organiser Joe." Although the part about the failed Tick campaign is also mighty fine reading.


Damn, my eye twitch is back. And I haven't even told you about the candy-apple martini taste-test session we had on Friday night. I think we decided the one with more Apple Barrel and less Hot Damn was the winner.




  

Comments

[this-quiet.livejournal.com]

Oh, I always thought that "corpse flower" was awesome. It's supposed to be the biggest flower in the world. It smells like rotten meat to attract flies, which the flower eats.

Happy Halloween. Oh, and congratulations on the book!

[allthelivesofme.livejournal.com]

"One of the things that bothers me about any possible Coulter attack is that there will likely be a sexist edge to it"

Yeah, this is sortof where I have mixed reactions with people going after her . . . goodness knows she's said enough nasty crap and her personality is creepy enough that there should be a ton of material in that alone, but inevitably we get the "oh, and she's so ugly!" stuff.

But on the other hand, the moron did write an article talking about how Republican women are all attractive and whatnot and Democrat women are invariably braless unattractive granola crunchers (insert your favorite stereotype here). So maybe I shouldn't worry about the looks-based criticism heaped on her, because she basically left herself open to it. Dunno.

[linz-lou.livejournal.com]

So is the Silver Jewelry Club stuff nice? I've thought about ordering a couple of pieces, because I mean, you can't beat $5.99.

[so-typically-me.livejournal.com]

i ordered stuff from there and its awesome - my purchases keep rolling in. You do get addicted!

[oasis-beatles.livejournal.com]

My sister and I ordered your book (YAY!) and we are going to make a day of it. :D:D:D

[lezopez.livejournal.com]

That Onion article perpetuates the unfair stereotypes that all Pittsburghers are either zombies, are fleeing from zombies, or will be eaten by zombies. Just like how we're all obsessed with ketchup and beer and football. JESUS.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Hey, we get incest, y'all get zombies. I think it's a fair trade.

[kalio-plaid.livejournal.com]

I need to accept that I'm just gonna be a big ol' sobby ball of childhood nostalgia at this movie and just sit in the back with a megabox of tissues or something.

Oh man, right there with you. Only, y'know, in a different theatre. And a different country. But in spirit...

[sea-of-tethys.livejournal.com]

Oh, pleeeeease more Venus in Boston!

[skyblade.livejournal.com]

Ah, The Guardian, always reliable for its looking down at genre subcultures. This isn't to say Arrested Development isn't a better show than Roswell was, but comedy geeks (you know, the same types who were devoted to Newsradio) are still geeks. I mean, at least sci-fi fans aren't that channel trying to get Sunset Beach because they knew it was bad, as opposed to Enterprise fans who denied it.

Now I wonder with great wonder what your book title could be. I supposed I'll have to take educated guesses. Or better yet, process of elimination...

The Aardvark Adventures

Acerbic Bile

Adam's Cry

After Daylight....

More to come...

[sapphires13.livejournal.com]

The link about Pittsburgh was pretty fun before I realized it was to The Onion =P

[babybuki.livejournal.com]

Not to be a annoying, but how in hell do you find all this time? Reading all day, all those projects, Lost recaps, charity stuff, going through dozens of links to post—I am jealous. My days get eaten up by work and essays and sadistic math homework before I can even think about the things I'd like to do. x_x

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Well, for one, I don't have a normal day job. On one hand, I kind of suck for not having one and letting my parents support me and still living at home shut up, but on the other hand, it's allowed me to go through grad school *and* write a book. As for the reading all day--well, it is Sunday, after all, and one of the books was for class tomorrow. I have stacks of books going back literally three years of stuff I keep meaning to read, so getting to read all day isn't what I normally do. I'm basically trying to get a publishing career off the ground that would allow me to write for a living, no matter how small that living might be, before I graduate in a semester (maybe two semesters, if I really, really stretch it out), and to that end I'm sending in a children's picture book MS come November and trying to get the first Black Ribbon in a publishable form.

[lizzyrose89.livejournal.com]

[random book-related aside]
English TV seems to like your book - last Sunday on channel 5 they showed Spider Man (I'm now reading the parody) and tonight they are showing Gladiator! Maybe they'll show Braveheart next week...
[/random book-related aside]

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

You know, the week I finished the MS, half the cable channels were showing Spider Man and Gladiator and Braveheart and Jurassic Park and Titanic and Independence Day and I was all like, "STOP MOCKING ME!!"

[princessstarr.livejournal.com]

Hee! Pittsburgh and its zombies. How I love my hometown.

On a note about Sailor Moon though- not gonna happen soon. Toei's holding onto the copyright and they're currently in a distribution fight with Takeuchi Naoko. (Of course whenever THAT gets settled, I'm all for it- just hoping that Haruka and Michiru are NOT cousins if reshown)

Oh- Cleo, I've put your book down on my list for the family grab bag! Hopefully, I can get my hands on it that

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Yay!

And yeah, it's totally not. But hey, at least it's anime I have a passing acquaintance with. : )

[gaaneden.livejournal.com]

Will your book be available on Amazon.Com? It doesn't seem to be currently.

[lotusbiosm.livejournal.com]

It hasn't been released in North America yet. You can get it via amazon.co.uk, but you have to pay international shipping.

[dramedy.livejournal.com]

my mom is gonna order your book through the library, and so we won't have to pay shipping. and i'll get it before it's put in the Card catalog, so i can take my tme reaidng it.
either that or she'll buy it for me. arrr.

NARNIAAAAA!(right, am I the only one who thinks that's a little corky? XD)
I too shall be crying over this glorious masterpiece.

[lotusbiosm.livejournal.com]

I could curse you for introducing me to SilverJewelryClub. I was fine, until I saw this pendant that I had to have, and then there were these onyx earrings I was so tempted by, but I resisted. But I don't know how long I can hold out. It's a fortunate thing that the rings are all too small for me, because I have giant hands, as many of them are incredibly tempting.
I always thought the Weird Sisters were, you know, girls.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Maybe that's what makes 'em weird.

[kalliopeia.livejournal.com]

Oh, that Narnia trailer! Mr Tumnus! I could just cry. I'm sure I will, when the movie arrives.

[entropy-and-me.livejournal.com]

That Place (SJC) is the most damnably tempting website currently on the intraweb as far as I'm concerned. It keeps tapping into my BPAL funds that I try to always keep in my paypal account. Thank God for the schedule site, that helps me keep it all in perspective. I did get up at 4 this morning to order this moonstone ring, (http://www.silverjewelryclub.com/PHOTOS/SR7298.jpg) so maybe my perspective is lacking... :/

I've thought the few pieces I've received were really nice though. Small, but nice. Not gaudy or anything.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

I was only just able to talk myself out of that one. It helped that I really need a 9 or possibly an 8 at the smallest to really wear a ring comfortably.

[trede.livejournal.com]

Ooh. I got mentioned!

Ooooh, new Narnia trailer! *clings to it.*

[leucocrystal]

Oh man, I totally blame you for getting me into the Silver Jewelry Club -- *shakes fist* It is just too awesome. But so are you. ♥

[coconut-zebra.livejournal.com]

Whoa, Stairway to Heaven with an orchestra?! Where can I find it?

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Aerosmith's "Dream On," actually. ; )

[teleute12.livejournal.com]

Hey Cleo, would you mind pimping The Breast Cancer Site (http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/)? It works on the same principle as The Hunger Site, only with funding mammograms for women who couldn't afford them. For the month of October, each contribution is tripled, but they're way behind on their goal and really need help. Can you ask people to click every day for the rest of the month? Thanks a lot!

[lotusbiosm.livejournal.com]

I just pimped it on my own LJ, which is of course not the same kind of readership at Cleo, but still.

Plagiarizm

[(Anonymous)]

Not a comment on your journal. I fell in love with your "Movies in 15 Minutes" and read all the ones you have posted publicly so I'm familiar with them. I do believe you've been plagiarized on another website. I'm not comfortable posting a link to it on a public comment but you're welcome to email me at carri895@yahoo.com and I'll be glad to send you the link privately.

Re: Plagiarizm

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

I don't know if you've gotten the email, or if you'll even check back here, but I have emailed you. Keep an eye out for it--half my stuff goes into my junk anyway.

[mouseykins1.livejournal.com]

Gah! PLEEEAASSEEE tell me the new Snicket is good. I have to wait a while to read it (aka steal it from my best friend) and I needs to KNOW!!! Grim Grotto was a little disappointing, IMHO. And I got soooo angry at Fiona.
Oh, and those 'corpse flowers'? I used to live on Eric Clapton's estate (long story, don't ask) in Surrey, England and he had 5 really huge ones. They were so huge that a crowd of Pittsburgh zombies could sleep in there.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

See, I loved Grim Grotto. I liked Penultimate Peril, but at the same time Handler's style, with the "a word which means here" and so on, seemed a lot more self-conscious and overused. Which made me sad, because the wordplay is one of the things I love most about the series.

[sarafinapekkala.livejournal.com]

Hey, I remember when the corpse flower at the Botanical Gardens bloomed! Didn't seem that smelly to me, though.

And hee! I remember the Tabasco campaign.

[shesnotallthere.livejournal.com]

Speaking of jewelery, I'm watching "Family Plots" on A&E, and apparently, you can have your deceased loved ones cremated and then have the ashes turned into diamonds and set in earrings, necklaces, etc.

Y'all, I love my mom. I don't want to WEAR HER. And can you imagine if somebody did this with SEVERAL family members?

"Hey, honey? Which goes better with this dress, Aunt Edna or Grandma?"

[lotusbiosm.livejournal.com]

Hey, it's all carbon in the end. But it would weird me out to much to put on a piece of jewelry and know not just in an abstract way, but in a concrete way that it used to be not just an actual person, but someone I knew. I mean, sure, the planet recycles all kinds of things, but usually it takes a while, and we don't know where it came from.