Early linkspam

[cleolinda]

Hm. I feel jittery and unsettled and kind of sad--helpless, even. The onset was so sudden that I think it's a regularly scheduled hormonal dip. But it's really weird, feeling so jittery that you have to do something, but too depressed to actually do it.

I do want to mention something that's kind of been eating at me, re: The Secret Life of Dolls--I know I keep mentioning that I'm going to get this or that doll eventually, and I want to make sure people understand that I'm not fishing for gifts, you know? I mean, I'm so flattered and grateful that people actually did send me a couple, but--please read anything of that nature as foreshadowing rather than begging for loot. I mean, go back and read the last several Secret Life entries (starting with, say, "The Newcomer") knowing now that I had found a decently-priced Faramir and was planning on getting it, and was building up the expectation there so that we could then have this entry. (I hate breaking the fourth wall here, because I feel like keeping a straight face is what makes those entries work. So skip down a bit now if you don't want to spoil the illusion with a meta discussion.) >>I mean, believe it or not, I actually have a number of things planned out--not set in stone, but I've thought out how various characters would react to different situations, and as it turns out, getting a Faramir before an Edward (I had planned the reverse) has actually resulted in a better storyline. (You'll see what I mean.) I don't have a regular posting schedule or anything, and I only post when I think of something--often in reaction to some news item, which is why I don't plan things out too concretely; I like to incorporate this or that whim as it comes to me. But I still have a general direction I'm moving in, and I have a lot of "whims" that I write down and set aside for the future.<< My point, and I have one, is--please don't think that repeated mentions of something means that I'm hinting at y'all to buy it for me. It's about trying to set up something that will have a payoff in the future, and it makes me kind of queasy to think that it comes off as grasping or tacky.

Anyway.

What can mustang_bex1126's husband do in Montgomery (AL) while he's there for the week? I really don't know Montgomery at all, so I can't advise--y'all?

Linkspam:

Lots of toys: Classic Doctor Who Sonic Screwdriver Prop Replica; Star Trek Movie Barbie Dolls Unveiled (To The Dream House, Spock! [Malibuhura]).

The A.V. Club Blog: One more amusing thing: An insanely detailed Obama action figure; Living Dolls ("Word on the street is, the TY company is making Sasha and Malia dolls. Who are, for some reason, portrayed as teenagers. With breasts. Not change we can believe in!"); Maker swears Sasha, Malia dolls not Obama-related. I like to think there was a threatening phone call from Rahm Emanuel. If TY doesn't give in? Michelle Obama gets involved, and God help them all.

Entertainment Tonight Gives Cruise Cuddly Nazi Teddy Bear [WTF].

Keira Knightley Insults Paparazzi Via Text Message.

'Lost': Producers talk premiere; Lost's "Ben" says the new season changes everything; Lost Is Everywhere: A Collection Of The Best Parodies And Island Shout Outs; Nine ‘Lost’ Questions We Need Answered. I STILL WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THE FOUR-TOED STATUE.

‘Benjamin Button’ Tops Oscar Nominations; The Biggest Oscar Snubs Of The Morning; Newsweek's Oscar Roundtable (after which participant Sally Hawkins fell prey to the Ironically, Not Nominated curse); 5 Plots And Subplots To Watch In This Year's Oscar Race; One Year Later - Remembering Heath Ledger.

How Benjamin Button Will Win All The FX Awards; 'Benjamin Button' is great, for a totally unoriginal piece of trash ("If you see one bitchy viral video this year, see this one").

Images: Attn costume hounds! New still from 'Cheri' starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Rupert Friend; Exclusive: 'The Great Buck Howard' Poster Premiere; Check This Out: Another, Better 'Street Fighter' Movie Poster; Exclusive: 'Obsessed' Poster Premiere.

Trailers and clips: Exclusive Red Band Clip: 'Taken'; new 'Coraline' clip; Trailer Premiere: 'Big Man Japan'; Lady of Shalott Film on Facebook; There's a New Overly-Elaborate Serial Killer Movie in Town ['The Horsemen'].

New Poster, Image and Clip from Disney/Pixar’s ‘Up.’

‘Iron Man 2’ & Other Upcoming Blockbusters: Feeling The Economic Pinch?; Is Marvel Really Trying To Nickel-And-Dime Tony Stark?

The Dark Knight Re-Release IMAX Locations; Toy Review: Hot Toys Bank Robber Joker.

Exclusive 'Watchmen' Concept Art; New 'Watchmen' TV Spot and Viral Site Launch; Must Watch: An NBS Retrospective, 10 Years of Dr. Manhattan.

New Moon Casting Scoop! Dakota Fanning as Jane? (repeat from last night); ‘Twilight’ DVD Announcement! Special Features Include Deleted Scenes, Documentary; DVD Release Parties (apparently it's coming out on a Saturday for that reason. Really? Really?); Where Can Fangirls Get Twilight Blu-Ray?; Starz Bunnies do Twilight in 30 seconds.

Inkheart's Brendan Fraser says his role was based on ... him!; Why 'Inkheart' director Iain Softley fought to keep star Brendan Fraser; Andy Serkis on Fantasy-Adventure 'Inkheart'; Exclusive 'Inkheart' Video Interviews; 'Inkheart' Video Chat.

Sony Pushes Emmerich's '2012' From July to November.

Ruffalo's 'Sympathy' Back on Track; Orlando Bloom And Laura Linney Join Mark Ruffalo’s ‘Sympathy For Delicious.’

John August Penning 'Frankenweenie' for Burton, 'Preacher' for Mendes.

‘The Shadow’ Remake Could Feature ‘Many People’ Instead Of Solo Hero, Says Producer.

Abigail Breslin Joins Johnny Depp’s ‘Rango’ & ‘The Wild Bunch,’ In Talks For ‘Zombieland’ Role.

Katie Holmes, Paul Dano And Kevin Kline Join ‘The Extra Man’ Cast.

Wilkinson and Belushi in Polanski's 'Ghost.'

Sam Rockwell On 'Moon,' Mind Games, And The Perils Of Clone Ping-Pong [Defamer Interviews].

Michael Cera Would Rather Play A Villain Than George Michael Bluth; Arrested Development movie is "more hypothetical than people think," according to a jerk.

Kieran Culkin Cast in 'Scott Pilgrim'; Routh, Larson and Many More Board 'Scott Pilgrim'; Chris Evans, Brandon Routh fill out cast of 'Scott Pilgrim.'

Joss Whedon horror film begins casting: Guess the plot!

Should Judd Apatow make Bill Hader's slasher movie?

‘The Box’ Director Richard Kelly Finds The Arcade Fire.

Tom and Jerry Getting a Live-Action CGI Feature Film.

How Can A Space Battle Be So Great, And So Cheesy, At The Same Time? [Found Footage].

Comments

[maudelynn.livejournal.com]

OMG TWILIGHT DIDN'T GET ANY OSCAR NODS!!!!????


Hmm, Maybe it would be fun to add a twilight comm right about NOW

[roseredhoofbeat.livejournal.com]

Oh sweet Jesus for a second I thought you were serious. *breathes*

[salamandersam.livejournal.com]

I never got the impression that you were fishing in mentioning you wanted something. If that helps.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Well, I even talked a few people out of sending things. It's just--you know. iPods and such. It's not like people haven't fished before.

*splutters*

[roseredhoofbeat.livejournal.com]

New Moon Casting Scoop! Dakota Fanning as Jane?

I...! SHE...! WHAT?! She isn't Jane! Jane's dark, isn't she? She has brown hair and olive-toned skin. I am 99% positive of this. I also don't think that she could pull off the kind of quietly sinister evil Jane needs. Man, they are just ALL ABOUT ruining this movie for me, aren't they?

Re: *splutters*

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

I'm checking my New Moon e-book, and...

At first I thought it was a young boy. The newcomer was as tiny as Alice, with lank, pale brown hair trimmed short. The body under the cloak--which was darker, almost black--was slim and androgynous. But the face was too pretty for a boy. The wide-eyed, full-lipped face would make a Botticelli angel look like a gargoyle. Even allowing for the dull crimson irises.

"Darker" would refer to the cloak, right? And aren't all the vampires supposed to be pale anyway? I mean, Laurent being black was an invention of the movie (I thought?), and Meyer doesn't really deal with how the pallor works with multiethnic vampires.

[nochi_san.livejournal.com]

CGI Tom and Jerry.

WHY.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Our God is an angry God.

[robinmc.livejournal.com]

I like to think there was a threatening phone call from Rahm Emanuel.

I wouldn't be surprised if he did. If that turned out to be true, I would hope that someone would leak the phone conversation. All the Rahm fangirls (myself included) would go nuts.

And I know everybody likes to hate on Benjamin Button, but I really enjoyed it. I thought it was funny and moving and not Forrest Gump Version 2.0.

[kiandra-fire.livejournal.com]

I really enjoyed it, too! The bad thing is that everyone around me was going, "But it's so long!" But it's one of those movies where you really get your money's worth. You get humor, sadness, romance, fantasy, and you see more movie (running-time wise) than any other movie out now. Would these people rather spend their money on Twilight?

*hates to consider the possibility*

[schmoo999.livejournal.com]

I really want that Obama action figure.

[flamingtoilet.livejournal.com]

You're just saying that so people will send you one. :)

(I want one too.)

[wiliqueen.livejournal.com]

That statement from Ty is a bit disingenuous -- of course that's why they picked the names! -- but they're not likenesses by any but the stretchiest stretch. Toy companies do that all the time. Heck, even doll artists -- I never in my life giggled harder than at the little porcelain Chinese girl named Inara that I saw advertised shortly after Firefly premiered.

[annlarimer.livejournal.com]

please don't think that repeated mentions of something means that I'm hinting at y'all to buy it for me.

Nah. There's nothing more fun than going SQUEEEEEEE over a doll you don't have and likely won't. "OMG she's got a trunk! And a pony! and a castle! And look at the ickle shooooooooooes!" :D

2009 Tonner stuff is supposed to be announced Monday, by the way.

Oh, my God, it's 2009. How did that even happen?

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

OH GOD REALLY? OH SHIT IF THEY PUT OUT A SERAFINA I'M FUCKED. OR A WHITE WITCH HOLY FUCK CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT.

[laurelin-kit.livejournal.com]

lol Dollgate?

[r0ck3tsci3ntist.livejournal.com]

You've never come across as fishing. Honestly, your posts and TSLD are a breath of fresh air and I, and a lot of other people, enjoy them a great deal.

I think you were just the recipient of a spontaneous moment of generosity on the part of one of your readers. One of those things we like to encourage in life. After all, you put your time and effort into entertaining us, right? It looks like someone wanted to return the gesture.

But no, you've never come across as begging.

LOL maybe you should start a charity - you know, like, "if you ever want to send me something make a donation to X instead." Just saying. :p

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Well, the thing is, it's happened more than once (acts of material generosity), and a number of people said, "I nearly got you the Faramir myself," and before that, I talked a few others out of it. And you know, the next thing I really wanted to get is way, way more expensive than that one, so I really don't want to risk someone thinking that I'm asking for it and then send it to me.

[greyduck.livejournal.com]

If there's one vibe I've never, ever gotten from reading your posts, it's the Entitlement Bitch vibe. "I want this thing, why won't someone on the Interwubs get it for me?" I'd be willing to bet cash money that nobody who's gifted you with nice things has done it because they felt you were holding out your hat for it.

With that said, I can see the use for a formal disclaimer as well. (It's also interesting to get some behind-the-script info. Gods, I'm a sucker for story-construction background...)

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Heh. I could talk a lot about developing the Secret Life story, but it's probably better not to, given that part of the premise is that it's really happening around me.

[ppyajunebug.livejournal.com]

Holy shit, I would NOT want to be the person getting a call from Michelle Obama regarding her daughters. That woman is the shit.

[megalion.livejournal.com]

Did you ever get my Tweet about Orlando??

I knew about him being on the movie because he showed up for rehearsals at my friend's work (some filming should also be there too afaik).

I didn't realize that Franco was out though I know he'd been there for rehearsals too.

I wonder if Linney is replacing Juliette Lewis too?

WARNING... THE FOLLOWING IS NOT SAFE FOR WORK OR BRAIN
And btw the obama action figured reminded me of the Obama dildo (http://www.headostate.com/)... they used to have a McCain one too and I've a screenshot of that page if anyone wants to see it.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

What? Orlando! No! I never saw OH MY GOD MY BRAIN IS MELTING OUT MY EARS, WHY, WHYYYYY, NOOOOOOO

For the record...

[dakiwiboid.livejournal.com]

I never think that you're actually asking for things when you post about them. It's really cool when someone decides to give them to you, though. Like the time before I made my journal friends-only (because of some ick, alas) that the folks who made Mozart Black chocolate liqueur found a post where I was going "I wonder what this stuff tastes like?" and sent me a bottle. I was completely blown away.

I do often wish that I had more money floating around these days so that I could still do things like that myself. It's just meant to be an upwelling of affection, really.

Re: For the record...

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Yeah... it's not that any one thing makes me feel bad--it's just that there's been an upswing lately, and I'm trying to make sure it's not because of something I've said.

[kiandra-fire.livejournal.com]

As someone who was born and raised in Montgomery, I can suggest some things, but sadly, we don't have all that much.

For the Intellectual:
Alabama Shakespeare Festival
Davis Theatre (they actually had a really good performance of The Drowsy Chaperone last week, but I think it might have been a one-night thing? Still, an option)

For the Drinker:
1048 in Old Cloverdale (Great neighborhood place)
Head in the Door on Vaughn (a hole in the wall with live music on Fridays or Saturdays, I forget)
La Jolla in Eastchase (for when you want to get drunk but be an artsy snob about it. What? It's fun!)
Capitol Oyster Bar and Grill on the Southern Bypass (live music some nights; great seafood and drinks all the time)

For the Art Lover:
Montgomery Museum of Fine Art (closed Sundays and Mondays, but you can still go feed the ducks, which have apparently been trained to mug people for bread crumbs)
F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Museum on Felder (After their marriage, the Fitzgeralds lived here for three months. Of course, they hated it and fled the city as soon as they could, but they were still here!)
Hank Williams Museum (downtown, across from Union Train Station/Visitor's Center; they've got handwritten songs of his there, as well as other memorabilia)
Hank Williams Grave (one of the cemeteries downtown, I forget which. The concrete boots are chained to the grave because people have stolen them on occasion)

For the Tree Hugger:
Shakesperian Gardens at Alabama Shakespeare Festival (they're trying to plant each flower/tree/shrub mentioned in Shakespeare's plays)
Blount Cultural Park at Alabama Shakespeare Festival (walking trails in a park modeled after Elizabethan England and London's Hyde Park)

For the Food Critic:
Vintage Year in Old Cloverdale (Expensive, but well worth it!)
Nancy Patterson's Bistro in Old Cloverdale
Dirk's / Food & Vine in Old Cloverdale (a combination family grocery (not much there in terms of that), restaurant (down-home cooking), an entire room of wine and two aisles of beer to choose from)
Street Cafe on Vaughn (Japanese Fusion Cuisine, so good they're expanding by two more storefronts)
Down the Street on Zelda (Confusing after Street Cafe, I know, but this place has down-home cooking and live entertainment every so often.

For the History Buff:
The Capitol (yep. I hope this is self-explanatory since I get confused between Capitol and Capital still)
Rosa Parks Museum (I've never actually been)
The Church where Martin Luther King Jr preached (not actually called that, but I forget the proper name for it; it's the only brick building in spitting distance of the Capitol, though. Spitting distance. God, I'm cultured. Which leads us to...)
The Cow Mooseum (I have never even asked, but if you're interested, I know it's downtown, has something to do with cattle, and might be the worst place to eat a hamburger other than a PETA rally)
First White House of the Confederacy (downtown, a block and a half from the Capitol. The last widow of the Confederacy always lies in state here. I say always because there have been something like twelve last widows of the Confederacy, and as soon as one dies, there's always another. Maybe a society of old ladies passes a baton or something, I don't know. A way to get fifteen minutes? To laugh at the world? Maybe they're Yankees in disguise trying to undermine the Confederacy? I DON'T KNOW. But I know I've thought about this too much)

There's a bit more, but I'm afraid I can't think of much more right now. Maybe little? It would depend a little on what her husband likes.

Oh! And they're redeveloping the waterfront, so there's that. Old Cloverdale is generally a good place to be for atmosphere, even if one of the girls in Tomatino's (really good pizza place, by the way) is kind of scary. Maybe she just doesn't like me, I don't know.

Anyway. Yes.

Fin.

[mustang-bex1126.livejournal.com]

You are awesome and amazing and thank you so much! I'm going to send this on to my dear husband... and hope he doesn't survive solely on Chic-Fil-A's and get all fat...

[maudelynn.livejournal.com]

have you tried primrose oil for your hormonal things? it has helped me with everything from break outs to bad moods... xo feel happier as soon as you can

[baku-chan.livejournal.com]

Those Star Trek dolls need a few cheeseburgers...or at least the chick on the right does (ahhhh her legs). Yikes O_o

Re: Arrested Development film

[smirkdoctor.livejournal.com]

I think it would be pretty hilarious to just replace Michael Cera with someone who looks nothing like him (a different race, even). Ron Howard could acknowledge but none of the cast would. Opportunities for irreverent humor would abound.

Re: Arrested Development film

[teirkin.livejournal.com]

One of the (many) great things about that show is that could actually work.

[evanelric.livejournal.com]

Huh. That regularly scheduled hormonal dip is kind of weird, as all of a sudden since yesterday my view on the world has changed from rather sunny to rather tragic. They do say misery loves company, I suppose. Maybe something else good will happen to push things back to normal, but for right now I feel like crying angry helpless tears and then falling asleep on my soggy pillow. I'm not fond of this.

[orca-girl.livejournal.com]

FWIW, it's funny, but... when I read your TSLD entries, I never, ever get the feeling you're fishing. I totally get that it's part of the conceit of the narrative.

Yet I do sometimes still feel that urge of, "Aw man, I'd totally get her a Faramir". (But I also know enough to tell myself, "but I don't think she wants that, because, slippery slope, and she knows it, because she's classy".)

Maybe it's just that it's a natural audience reaction to something you like; sometimes you like the idea that you could participate in the shaping of the narrative. Plus, in making someone happy in recognition of the fact that they make YOU happy. But if you think about it for a few seconds and realize that's what it is, then you realize why it wouldn't be a great idea. (For example: heck, I feel like a lot of TSLD hinges on "things she would like to get, but someday, and there has to be thought put into it, and it's a *process*, and it's not all immediate gratification, and that's what's interesting about it". Honestly, how interesting would it be if all the possible dolls you could get just landed on your doorstep, fwump? Where's the narrative tension in that?)

So, yeah. I get why it's a good idea to make sure to SAY these things. But really, it's cool.

[hey-sup.livejournal.com]

Re: AD movie. I was discussing it with the bf last night, who is a huge AD crazyfan, and he totally understands why Michael Cera isn't that interested in making the movie. Like, it's not really necessary to any storylines other than to make the fans happy, and although making the fans happy is nice, that shouldn't be the only reason. I'm kind of in agreement. So I don't think he's as enormous a douche as he's being touted to be for this, although the fact that it's just him holding out just looks bad no matter what.

That said, maybe he should just be replaced with the real George Michael. I'm just saying.

[smirkdoctor.livejournal.com]

I feel like some comedy could be had between the real George Michael and the guy with the Freedom sign.

[outinthestorm.livejournal.com]

As someone who has sent you things in the past (mind you, it was only chocolate, not a huge expense or anything) and who had contemplated buying you small doy items (I have a second-hand toy mart that I frequent - I've been on the look out for unpackaged bows, swords, knives, etc), I can tell you honesty that you never come across as asking for anything. If you were like that, you would have been asking for money back when all the things in your house were exploding.
As it was, when I read about that, I thought "Would it be weird to send money? Probably. How else can I cheer her up?"
I guess, what I am getting at is - people like to be generous to you because you seem like a genuinely lovely individual, and you entertain us every day. Don't think that this is going to become a kind of BNF/Cassandra Claire/laptopgate thing, because I don't think you are like that.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

And I really am thankful for things people have sent me. It's just--there's this fine line between someone saying, "I want to send her this," and someone saying, "She wants me to send her this." Maybe that's too fine a distinction, but I don't want to cross it.

[xuxana.livejournal.com]

I don't think it ever sounds like you're hinting at or grasping for gifts, but it has crossed my own mind several times to get you a doll -- just by way of recompense for writing TSLD (and secondarily for the fun of seeing what would happen if So-and-So were thrown into the mix... although if you get too many you'll have to spin off another show).

I bet the people who have sent you dolls and other things feel the same.

Just think of it this way: you're Michelangelo, and we're the Medici Popes supporting ur work.

[threeparts.livejournal.com]

Just think of it this way: you're Michelangelo, and we're the Medici Popes supporting ur work.

*snorts tea* That's awesome.

[maggie-qow.livejournal.com]

I'm distressed by this constant Michael Cera run around. It just seems so bite the hand that feeds you. It makes me ashamed of my inexplicable and inappropriate crush on him. It's not like the movie would ruin his career or something, and he kind of looking like a tool about the whole thing. I don't understand it.

[audheim.livejournal.com]

I feel the same way. I mean, I suppose he's not necessary to the plot depending on what route they go, but it wouldn't be AD without George Michael. And I just get an 'I was in Superbad and now I'm a big star' vibe from the whole thing.

[goonie-freak.livejournal.com]

What do you get with a geisha, a rookie, and that geek kid from "The Cumscrubber"?

A horror movie I might actually rent!

And there was no fishing. Although I wish people would send ME stuff I say I want on my journal... heh, I might actually be in Cali going to school then...