Slowly getting back to productivity

[cleolinda]

It's good to know that out of three entries with any sort of political content on them, two different fights managed to break out. Aaaaaand this is why we will not be having political discussions here anymore.

... But first I'll post this, because it's stunningly stupid, and as much as I hate Fox News, Shepard Smith's reaction is for the win. "Really? ... Ralph Nader. What was that?"

By the way, in case you didn't check out the Twi-spam entry, there is in the comments the most amazing Breaking Dawn macro/animation ever created. No, it is. IT IS. You'll see it. Can't miss it.

Black Ribbon ramblings: Read over some of the most recent additions I'd written for Black Ribbon--earlier this summer--and was surprised how much I liked them. I have huge issues with some of the earliest scenes I wrote, the ones I haven't fixed yet, but some of the newer additions seem to be working out pretty well. The funny thing is that I came up with a fairly major antagonist in one of those new scenes--I've been writing on this for five years and I only just now came up with her. I've actually done a lot of that this year--come up with some fairly important characters, particularly for later books, that I can't believe in retrospect I didn't have in there the whole time. I'm afraid people are going to think I'm an incredibly sloppy writer or something, but it's like--it's like I have to gestate these things until they come out almost fully-formed (I have control issues, I think). I'm going to have so much of the series planned out in advance, in my head and my notes, that the actual writing of the books is almost an afterthought. "Oh wait! I can't actually download the story from my brain to yours!"

Yeah. I have to learn to unclench a little.

(I think part of my anxiety about Black Ribbon is that I'm trying to lay the groundwork for an eight-book series, and I'm terrified that there's something I ought to be including, some little clue or detail, that I'll wish I'd put in four books from now. [The Harry Potter series: a terrible, terrible influence.] So it's that whole self-sabotage-by-perfectionism thing going on. "I'LL JUST KEEP WORRYING THAT IT COULD BE BETTER AND THAT WAY I'LL NEVER HAVE TO FINISH.")

Anyway. On to the linkspam!

New Springsteen album in January?

Thom Yorke releases Obama celebration song.

Will Obamas get a Yankee labradoodle?; Daily Show: John Oliver Sniffs Out "The Road To The Doghouse." "SHE'S A MAVERICK" made me laugh really hard, I don't know.

Bush Dog Barney, Acting Out after Obama Win, Bites Reporter; The Bizarre History of White House Pets.

From prncssaurora: The puppycam! (Let's check in on the puppycam; Pick your favorite puppy!)

Recall the Gold: The 1988 Best Actor Oscar race.

Images: New 'Dragonball' Pic.

Trailers and clips: Must Watch: Full Trailer for Jim Carrey's Hilarious 'Yes Man'; Clive Barker's 'Book of Blood' Trailer - For True Fans Only!; Tropic Thunder's Scifi Trailer Brings Double the Baby And Double the Stiller.

trailer_spot: Australia, Monsters vs. Aliens, Cadillac Records, Dean Spanley.

Daniel Craig focuses on James Bond; Daniel Craig Brings 'Quantum' To Rome; Daniel Craig Brings 'Solace' To Germany (no word where he took "Of" to); Daniel Craig is Spain Sexy; Craig: 'We're Ready For A Black Bond'; 'I wanted to make the Bond movie I always wanted to see...'; Bond babe talks videogames; The Most Ludicrous James Bond Supervillain Plots Of All Time; Site of the Day: Rejected James Bond theme songs.

(Related: Marc Forster Remaking Korean Action Flick 'Die Bad.')

Watchmen's Sally Jupiter Sexy At Every Age. People asked why they would cast Carla Gugino as someone's aging mother. Now you know.

Downey Jr. On Howard/Cheadle: "Don't Ask Me!"

Brooding Hero Saves IMAX; When Oscar Hype Goes Wrong, Vol. MMCXLI: 'How Obama Helps Batman.' Okay, I thought maybe I was the only reader who saw that post and went "WHAT?"

Did Angelina Jolie Kill The 'Wanted' Sequel? I have to salute her if she's the one who insisted on [spoiler], because as wrenching as it was, it was right. It's also why I kind of wish they wouldn't do a sequel at all.

Mark Strong On His 'Kick-Ass' Character and How Violent It Will Be.

Antonio Banderas Readies His Canvas For Salvadore Dali Biopic; El Mariachi for Dalì. So now we've got THREE Dali movies in the pipeline? (Al Pacino as Dali, by the way, is so wrong it may circle all the way back around to right.)

Worthington to star in 'Clash of the Titans'; 'War of the Gods' and 'Clash of the Titans' Casting Begins; 'Titans' Clash with 'Gods' at Warner Bros.

‘Role Models’ Star Paul Rudd Denies ‘Ghostbusters’ Casting During Exclusive Stuffed Animal Booth Interview; The Reelist: 5 More Reasons to Love Paul Rudd; Look to 'Role Models' to laugh.

Boorman to Helm CG-Animated 'Wizard of Oz.'

Bening and Watts are 'Mother and Child.'

Exclusive: Damian Harris on 'Gardens of the Night.'

Poignancy, shock in Holocaust drama 'Boy in Striped Pajamas'; AV Club review: 'The Boy In The Striped Pajamas'; David Thewlis interview.

Interview: 'Repo! The Genetic Opera' Director Darren Lynn Bousman; AV Club review: 'Repo! The Genetic Opera'; See 'Repo! The Genetic Opera' at your own risk.

‘SNL’ Star Rachel Dratch Gets Obnoxious In ‘My Life In Ruins.’

Stallone, Statham and Li are 'The Expendables.'

Lunchtime Quiz: Christopher Walken’s Canon of Crap. Christopher Walken's crap is still better than anyone else's crap, though. Or maybe, more precisely, it's more... more... walken than anyone else's crap.

Comments

[laurelin-kit.livejournal.com]

Oh my God. That is the greatest macro in the world. I only wish it were bigger.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

I'm almost kind of glad it's not, because I was a little traumatized on the first run-through...

[glass-radical.livejournal.com]

I was just.....its just so right.

[flamingtoilet.livejournal.com]

I know, I wish it was too. But it was too epic NOT to post, even at it's small size.

[robinmc.livejournal.com]

I read what you've posted of The Black Ribbon so far, and I really loved it, so I'm glad you're still working on it, and I can't wait to read more of it. But hey, no pressure (as my drama teacher used to say). Best of luck with it.

Also, I saw that video with Shepard Smith and Ralph Nader, and I thought "wow...go you, guy from Fox News."

[odontomachus.livejournal.com]

I think that is possibly the second time ever I have genuinely liked an American news anchor. The first being the poor sod who interviewed Kenneth Eng.

Also, for your enjoyment, I present a couple of rather fine post-election image macros (http://community.livejournal.com/lolhistory/88512.html).

[wendyzski.livejournal.com]

I had to delete all comments and lock a post I had made because it started out as reasoned discussion and quickly degenerated into accusations of "class warfare". So I posted an explanation of why (and a video of baby bunnies - because baby bunnies make everything better) and TWO people PMd me to try and continue things under the impression that because I was civil to everyone that I agreed with them.

I don't want to be the kind of person who bans people because of their opinions, provided that people can be civil and agree to disagree. But rudeness or general asshattery will get you one warning and then a smackdown with the Hammer of Bannination.

I've discussed religion, sex, and ethics on my LJ before and NEVER had to deal with this level of absurdity.

[barrelgoddess.livejournal.com]

Can't stop laughing at that Dragonball picture. Absolutely cannot. XDDD

[sorchar.livejournal.com]

When Fox News is offended, you know you've gone too far, man.

[rorqual.livejournal.com]

Wow, Shepard Smith...I...I think I love you.

No, no...that was just gas. But I do sort of want to give you a smooch for that one.

[mogumogu.livejournal.com]

Wow, as a newstalkercomer, I have not heard of this 8 volume series you plan. Wow, that's ambitious!

..That is... Goku? What?

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it's a Victorian vampire steampunk thing I've been working on for five years now, but... you know. Life gets in the way, and all that.

[greedyskunk.livejournal.com]

Victorian vampire steampunk?

I am so looking forward to adding that to my library someday.

Australia

[bella-stella78.livejournal.com]

While I was watching the election coverage with bated breath on Nov. 4th, I saw the extended commercial for "Australia" and literally got chills. Baz, I hope you don't eff this up...

[redcoast.livejournal.com]

You once told me that you had been diagnosed with ADHD in college. Did you ever take anything for it except Adderall? I ask because I'm a writer with ADHD too and I've been thinking about going on a med for it, and I'm wondering how it will affect what I do. I've heard some people say it makes writing more difficult, like you get fewer ideas or something, but I think it'd help.

[all-ephemera.livejournal.com]

I can never leave the internet again. I have to sit here and watch the puppies. Someone hand me my phone; I need to call into work tomorrow.

[sarahbrand.livejournal.com]

There was another segment where Shepard Smith was interviewing Joe Wurzelbacher about how he, in his capacity as the official plumber of the McCain campaign, agreed out loud when some guy at a rally said Obama's election would mean "death to Israel." And Wurzelbacher was all, "blah blah I'm just some guy" and Smith was like, Obama has never been anything but supportive of Israel and y'all are out of your mind, kbai.

What I want to know is, why are these exchanges so surprising? Why is something that would be par for any other channel's course practically a Crowning Moment of Awesome for someone from Fox News?

... Wait a minute, why am I even asking this question? Sigh.

[venusad.livejournal.com]

Poor Shepard Smith. I remember the last time I saw him was when he was bitching Joe the (not really a legal)Plumber out for saying Obama would bring death to Israel.

You know things have gotten out of hand when Fox pundits are calling people out on their bullshit.


And that macro has made my entire night.

[labonnefille.livejournal.com]

It's good to know that out of three entries with any sort of political content on them, two different fights managed to break out.

I'm so glad I didn't get in on any of them. I had a blissful few days of ignorance over there being anything but rejoicing all over the country. I think I'm gonna stay inside my bubble a little longer, tyvm. Just going and reading some of the comments got me so riled up! Lol.

[megalion.livejournal.com]

I love Jolie for doing that. That was one of my two favorite things about this movie (the other being the keyboard scene).

the way her character was played... she couldn't abide by hypocrits and to not do what she did would make her a hypocrit.

Kind of like Jolie herself ;)

[mercat.livejournal.com]

Your icon is adorably awesome.

[flamecurls.livejournal.com]

Your Black Ribbon thoughts made me think of this (http://truepenny.livejournal.com/568669.html) written by the amazing Sarah Monette. It's sort of the same thing in reverse... your subconscious is smarter than you know!

[encyclops.livejournal.com]

two different fights managed to break out

Sorry about that. :(

[caerbannog.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure what to make of Fox News lately. I mean, they mocked the crazy McCain supporter who wouldn't give out candy to kids of Obama supporters. Then they reported on Sarah Palin not knowing about Africa being a continent and now this. It's like they woke up one morning with a horrible hangover and a deep sense of self-loathing.

"everything I ever let go of has claw marks on it"

[discogravy.livejournal.com]

(I have control issues, I think).

well, yeah. Not to pick at your brain, but the way I work when I've got things I need to work on is I find a way to motivate myself to do it. I'm sounding vague intentionally and it comes out poorly, apologies. I'm trying to say that your control issues and your guilt issues might be two sides of the same coin.

The only reason one should ever watch Fox News...

[bastetbabe27.livejournal.com]

Oh, first-time poster here btw, but avid lurker since the summer, when the excellence that is your Twilight recaps was revealed unto me. And there was much rejoicing. Amen.

Anyway...

The only reason one should ever watch Fox News is Shepard Smith (and his dimples). Actually, his response to Nader's wtf-ery, though appropriate and (slightly) entertaining, isn't why I want to jump-- I mean, like him. It's his irreverence toward general asshattery and how (over)seriously most news anchors take themselves. His exchange with Nader is not the best example of his awesomeness. I hope the election coverage hasn't beaten it into submission.

Oh, and did I mention he's hot? Anyone know if he's married? Or gay? Since I think he lives in Atlanta, he's probably not both, but with my luck...

[foresthouse.livejournal.com]

Re: Black Ribbon - yay!