Monday night, eyes kind of tired

[cleolinda]

So I expected to knuckle down on Black Ribbon today, now that my notes are typed up, and... well, actually, that did happen, but it didn't look like it at first, because my mother swept home from work at lunch and drafted me into a luncheon-making assembly line. Apparently she's supplying the food for a small informal lunch tomorrow (the university president may be involved?) and she ends up amateur-catering a lot of things at work, so I was put straight to opening cans and stemming two different kinds of grapes (green and blue-black, if you were wondering). By the end of two hours, she had made chicken salad, pimiento cheese spread, pasta salad, two pecan pies, a batch of fresh spaghetti sauce (actually, that was just for dinner) and her famous cold custard banana pudding. I really, really want to say that something else got made, but I cannot for the life of me think what. There will also be fresh fruit.

So after that whirlwind, I settled down and tried to write, and... you know what? I did. It was strange in a very satisfying way--I rearranged several note-chunks and then I just started writing full, actual, narrative sentences (instead of narrative sketchy, as I usually do). They weren't the most amazing sentences ever, I grant you, but I got into a nice, simple storytelling kind of groove, and it was working for me. So that was nice.

Also, skip down to the bottom of this page if you haven't seen my seasonal background already. WooOOooOOoo.

From the previous entry: Project Download--one click, two seconds, a lot of help.

OMG OMEGACON BIRMINGHAM 2008! A CONVENTION I CAN ATTEND BECAUSE IT WON'T COST ME A FORTUNE IN TRAVEL EXPENSES! Exciting.

ETA: A teaser for tomorrow night's new Golden Compass trailer. This is the first thing I haven't liked about the movie, but... I'm really not digging Ian McKellen as the new Iorek voice.

Marion Jones Surrenders Olympic Medals.

Mellencamp song about 'Jena Six' upsets mayor.

Vandal Punches Hole in a Monet in Paris.

Adventurer ends 13-year human-powered world trip.

Tiny Galaxy Spotted Halfway Across the Universe.

‘Economan’ admits investor fraud. I love the tiny little superhero illustration.

Japan officials reprimanded for editing Wikipedia at work. " 'The Agriculture Ministry is not in charge of Gundam,' said ministry official Tsutomu Shimomura."

Eatery's 'Naked Lunch' may be banned.

The Squirrel Wars: "The red one is cute. The gray one is taking over. England is going nuts." Man, I want to see that on a movie poster someday.

omgwtfsleddogs! AWWWW.

Jem Warns Kids Of The Dangers Of Lesbians, Lying, And Pill Popping.

ME BID U... VELCOM. Seriously, I keep going back to look at it again because it makes me laugh every time. Also: seasonally appropriate!

But mo-om, all da kidz wear der pantz like dis.

FOX greenlights new J.J. Abrams series. Is Abrams a Sagittarius? Because his whole starting-series-but-not-finishing-them thing is starting to sound a lot like me.

Warner Bros. is either making films for 2008 with female leads after all, or they're backpedaling really, reaaaaally quickly. That, or the bias won't show up until current projects come out in 2009. But at least they know people are pissed now. Also: I kind of wanted a cigarette after reading this.

Walden's Narnia Plans After the Third Pic.

The Golden Compass: Sam Elliott to host trailer-unveiling ceremony tomorrow night. I can only imagine that the trailer will be online shortly thereafter.

New Line Needs Money Softens Jackson Stance.

‘Goonies’ Sequel An ‘Absolute Certainty,’ Says Astin.

Baby's day off: Roger Ebert goes back and reviews Children of Men.

First Images of Maria Bello from 'The Mummy 3.' "When Bello had spoken with Sci Fi Wire in September, she was quoted as saying her Evy, '...has the same name, but she's a very different character than Rachel played. She's a bad-ass action chick. I had to train a lot. I had to do wushu, a martial-art form, some kickboxing, swordfighting, rifle training for a couple of months before we even started shooting.' " You know, it wouldn't bother me so much if I didn't already love Weisz's version of the character. I did notice, however, that hyperlinked character names on IMDB no longer take you to a relevant quotes page, but to a page for the actual character. Awesome. (God, that must have been a lot of work.)

George Lucas Talks ‘Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull.'

Neil Gaiman Wants Terry Gilliam to Direct 'Sandman.' "Gilliam is having trouble getting financing for the project; Gaiman said he needs about $70 million, if anybody is interested."

Benicio Del Toro Ready For A Horrific Time As ‘The Wolf Man.’

Coming Soon Exclusive: James Gray on We Own the Night.

Scarlett On-Set: "He's Just Not That Into You."

Is Charlize Theron In 'White Jazz'?

The Killer to be remade?

Pixar's Plans for John Carter of Mars.

Weinsteins Ditch Kevin Smith's 'Red State.'

News Bites: Valentines, Global Warming, and More Hulk Pics.

'EverQuest' Players Tempted to Leave Home by 'EverQuest' Movie.

'Tin Man' Trailer Shows Sci-Fi Really 'Gets' Younger Generation.

Bizarrely Nasty Guardian Piece Says Nicole Kidman Should Retire; Roberts May Join Kidman in Monte Carlo.

Simon West is Next to Direct an Iraq War Movie. This is going to end well, I'm sure.

Comments

[greenwitch.livejournal.com]

Gaiman/Gilliam=OTP! And like many OTPs, unlikely to actually materialize in canon. Woes.

[greenwitch.livejournal.com]

Oh, and kudos for the projectdownload button!

[faeriemaiden.livejournal.com]

I had to cover my mouth to muffle my actual literal squeeing at the thought of this. Because. AJKLHGKHG. Neil Gaiman and Terry Gilliam are like apples and caramel: they absolutely beg to be put together, yeah?

I am still tempted to make little squeaking noises.

[editornia.livejournal.com]

Also, skip down to the bottom of this page if you haven't seen my seasonal background already. WooOOooOOoo.

Is it in honour of Halloween? Will it revert back after Halloween? 'Cause it's nice and all (Oooo! Spooky!), but I kinda like the old background. (I don't take easily to changes, so it may take me a while to appreciate it.) :)

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Oh, it's definitely a seasonal thing. I've done it the last few Halloweens, actually. I love my normal background, and I tend to fear change, so it'll come back.

[editornia.livejournal.com]

*Big sigh of relief*
Well, now that I know the old background will come back, I like this Halloween one better. :D

[crumpeteer.livejournal.com]

The Japanese could at least TRY not to fall smack into a stereotype. They're making it too easy for people.

[glass-radical.livejournal.com]

THE TAPS GUYS ARE GOING TO YOUR CON. *JEALOUSY*

Seriously, Ghost Hunters is my only weekly show in the abscence of Lost. Even if they have episodes where they don't find anything and just walk aroung going "Did you hear that?" I love them.

[crumpeteer.livejournal.com]

I think my favorite moment of that entire show is when the one guy tricked the other into wearing a tiara for the entire investigation under the impression that it was a head lamp.

[paradise-loved.livejournal.com]

gundam ftw!

also, are you doing nano this year? i think i remember you doing nano in the past, but i just thought i'd run this past you. any tips for a newbie if i do remember correctly?

[incogra.livejournal.com]

Vandal Punches Hole in a Monet in Paris.

AW HELL NAW. Give me five minutes with these people. That's all I need. Five minutes. *brandishes fists*

[kelcea.livejournal.com]

Cleo, have you seen the artwork that this genius does?
http://oddee.com/item_89460.aspx

[nohara-megami.livejournal.com]

" 'The Agriculture Ministry is not in charge of Gundam...'
*giggle*

[troubleinchina.livejournal.com]

Three movies?

Three whole movies with female leads?

REALLY?

Gosh, I feel so... so dirty for thinking that the WB had an official policy of not making films with women as leads, but now that I know that for the entirety of 2008 we'll get three of them, I know I was wrong.

Gee, I wonder how many movies are being made by WB with a male lead?

[chris-walsh.livejournal.com]

Your linkage is wide in depth and breadth. I've been increasingly enjoying it.

I still quibble, because I'm a quibbler: in the Neil Gaiman-Terry Gilliam bit, the $70 million figure is the projected budget for a Good Omens film, not a Sandman film. Development went further on Omens than on a Sandman film (though there was a Sandman film script Gaiman was happy with written by the two Pirates writers and Roger Avary; you knew about that one, right?), and I doubt that film ever got to the budgeting stage: Good Omens did.

There. My inner pedant is satisfied.

About that "Sandman" script:

[chris-walsh.livejournal.com]

On the off chance you haven't seen the Sandman script that Elliott, Rossio and Roger Avary wrote, once upon a time Neil Gaiman linked to it in this journal entry (http://www.neilgaiman.com/journal/2003/02/all-plans-for-last-night-including.asp).

[shesnotallthere.livejournal.com]

I'm excited about OmegaCon, as well. Finally, I get to attend a con without having to stress about travel and lodging.

[secretnthewings.livejournal.com]

Hmmm...do we know why they changed Iorek's voice? I mean, I loves me some Ian McKellen, but now Iorek just sounds kind of...weird and decrepit. I was rather fond of the voice from the first trailer.

Well, if nothing else, I guess it's nice to know that the Fantasy/Sci-Fi genre will be keeping McKellen comfortably employed for the rest of his natural life.

Oh, man! And I totally forgot that Ian "I think they sold a few copies" McShane is voicing Iofur Raknison, aka "Ragnar Sturlusson". Now every time Iorek takes swing at him during their battle, I can pretend he's grunting "THIS...IS HOW...YOU ADAPT...FANTASY BOOKS...FOR...THE SCREEN...YOU ASS." I will cheer heartily indeed.

[megalion.livejournal.com]

I blame you.... I created a LJ feed for Rob Cohen's production blog for Mummy 3 at rob_cohen

You might want to post it for others who are interested in keeping up to date with the movie.

[shebit.livejournal.com]

The rest of the cast for the new Mummy movie look good - still Fraser and Hannah, and yay Jet Li and Michelle Yeoh! - but I really liked Rachel Weisz as Evy and just think recasting the role will be... weird.

[flamingtoilet.livejournal.com]

Ooh... Gilliam directing Gaiman. I'm gonna need fangirl pants for this and I'm a guy.

[eofs.livejournal.com]

First off, they're making a film of White Jazz? Oooh. I hope it's better than Black Dahlia. Second, how does the article about the potential Theron casting manage to not mention Elroy a single time. Or indeed LA Confidential.

[pinstripe-bindi.livejournal.com]

I always wanted to see the Barsoom stories on screen... but I loathe Pixar. I know I'm in a tiny minority, but I think their animation is ugly and utterly devoid of character. Bummer.

[angelene.livejournal.com]

The Squirrel Wars: "The red one is cute. The gray one is taking over. England is going nuts." Man, I want to see that on a movie poster someday.

I second that (ie your comment).

[aetra.livejournal.com]

Dude, Omegacon should have you as a guest.

[emisi.livejournal.com]

DId you see this? There's a version of Next Top Model (http://news.aol.com/story/ar/_a/afghan-top-model-show-raises-eyebrows/20071002095009990001?ncid=NWS00010000000001) in Afghanistan. These girls are very brave - there's a serious uproar over this, and under Sharia law they should be punished.

[foresthouse.livejournal.com]

Ooh, that convention looks like fun. I am trying to go to/volunteer at a number of conventions in prep for The Big One in '09 and helping to run it all. But yeah, travel expenses/hotel expenses can kill. Thanks for the heads-up, though. I might look into it.

I will be so excited if they make The Magician's Nephew.

That eatery with the Naked Lunch is right near where I used to vacation as a small fry. Aw. Moosehead Lake. It's beautiful up there.

Random comment of randomness

[cosmob.livejournal.com]

Hey, Cleo,

Earlier today, I came across this old pamphlet... thing (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v71/nanceoir/whyread02.jpg) at work (we sell all sorts of literary odds and ends). And, I dunno, I thought you might enjoy what it says on the front cover (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v71/nanceoir/whyread01.jpg).

If you can't read what it says, I'll type it out... but spoiler-tag it for folks who want to try to decipher the results of my poor photography skills on their own:

Well, I found it funny, anyway. :D