Cleolinda everywhere

I bring you a final (presumably) SDCC/movie linkspam. To begin:

@dcwomenkicknass: DC Comics SDCC panels: uncomfortable questions about female creators/characters. Apparently what happened was, a woman dressed as Batgirl (with a young girl dressed as Spoiler) (I don't know who Spoiler is) (just go with it) kept going to comics panels and asking questions: ( Read more... )

Some very sad real-world news in the previous entry. I endeavor to bring you escapism and raptors.

( Read more... )

Did get some work today. Spent the morning... mathing.  ( NUMBERS, HOW DO THEY WORK )

Linkspam! ( Full Alien or Predator costume required )

... because I am cheerfully at work footnoting. Although not so much today, because we had thunderstorms and I didn't want to lose the last computer we've got to more electrical foolery.

So... how were all those conventions this weekend? PAX and Dragon*Con and NADWCON? Failing that, what'd you do for Labor Day? I, uh... labored. Such labor as it is.

Okay, so: the mania was getting so unpleasant (and let me repeat, it was a physical sense of being overcaffeinated; I was otherwise completely calm and non-crazy) that I broke down and started my new, slightly higher dose of Lamictal. Things seem to be gradually calming down. Of course, side effects include back pain and stomach upset (both of which have already set in), so that's fantastic.

Also, I got three packages in the mail today and I have no idea who they're from, and thus no way to contact anyone, thank them (thank you!) and let them know that things arrived. So: 1) witch hazel/rose toner, received; 2) Neutrogena conditioner, received; 3) soap and conditioner mask from Lush, received. (Again, thank you!)

Still truckin' in the Comedy Mines. Might be done with things this weekend, I don't know.

Meanwhile: two-part video of the New Moon panel; the best, snarkiest writeup I've seen ("I can’t wait to take part in the Caesarian"); leaked clips, get 'em while they're hot. (Summit's taking them down as they find them, so I won't be able to repost them if they go down. Short version: Ghostly Edward appears, Bella wipes out on a bike, BLATANT JACOB FAN SERVICE; yellow Porsche, Bella runs, 6000 women scream at Shirtless Edward. As McRachel and I were discussing, it's like porno for pre-teens.) (Also, God bless Chris Weitz, I am totally in platonic unscary movie-fan love with him.)

Also-also: Tonner Edward's "Hungry" double (via annlarimer); The Sparkenpire in the wild. Maybe I'll get one as a chew toy for the Ellowynes for Christmas.

So. Stuff.

We all went out to New York Pizza for Valkyrie's birthday yesterday (I am slightly obsessed with their Fire Island Fajita pizza. IT COMES WITH SALSA!), and then we went to see The Lovely Emily's new house, which is awesome, although I think the first words out of my mouth were, "God, it's huge! --You got yourself a lotta pokeweed there." But it really is awesome (it has an entire Rock Band room).

Finally going to try to learn to knit. Knittinghelp.com is going to be my first stop. My first project is going to be a practice scarf with a bit of leftover yarn on which I can try out random techniques. More of a "scarf," really. I'd really like to knit Lyra a little knee-length pink cardigan, but... that's probably years away, in terms of knitting experience.

I think I have a cavity between two molars. Maybe it's just gum inflammation, but my hopes are not high. I have a dental cleaning appointment at the end of the month anyway, so... whatever.

Dying of cramps. You needed to know this, I'm sure. But at least when I say "I'm feeling really bad today," you'll know I don't mean it emotionally.

A few key linkspam items:

Ryan Reynolds Lands 'Green Lantern'! I'm going to be really interested to see how this does or does not affect his Deadpool movie. (However: congratulations, Green Lantern movie! You now get a tag.)

New Moon and Cameron!Avatar panels rescheduled to avoid riots; The Horrors of Comic-Con 2009: Saturday; GIRLS AT COMIC-CON! GET IN THE CAR.

First Look: Wes Anderson's Version of 'Fantastic Mr. Fox.'

'True Blood' gets truly great with new episode tonight.

"I am not a hero for turning you on, and neither is John Barrowman."

Fin.

It's been a bad week, in terms of the depression thing. I'm just at a point where I'm afraid to talk about it. I finally let my mother in on the severity of it, and she immediately went into I JUST WANT TO FIX IT mode. And she knows she did, and she knows she can't. BUT OMG IS THERE ANYTHING SHE CAN DO TO FIX IT? NO REALLY, IS THERE? I've made about six different attempts at this paragraph and backspaced them all. My inner Elinor is flaring up and I'm afraid to say anything about how I feel now, because mostly I feel moldy and selfish and unmotivated on the best of days, and hellaciously cranky/stupidly weepy on the worst. And I am so, so afraid that if I don't post regularly enough (mmm, aged news! Delicious), readers are going to wander away, but I know I have to hold off if that's what I need to do. And meanwhile, I want to talk about this the way I usually talk about depression, but I just--can't. I don't know. Maybe I'll do a voice post or something--I feel like y'all would need to hear from my actual tone of voice that I'm not falling to pieces over this. It's just... heavy.

And please know that even when I'm not posting, I'm flagging stories for later, not all of which I even end up using. So really, I am keeping up with things, and if I don't compile a linkspam, you can still see what's going on there, if you want.

Re: Tonner SDCC exclusives: They're apparently going to be selling whatever's leftover on the direct site, so I think I'm going to try that (or eBay) rather than ask an unknowable number of readers to try to track down a slightly variant Tonner Edward. As much as I appreciate y'all offering--and, I mean, I did ask--I'm just not sure how that would not end up being a total clusterfuck, since no one would know if anyone else had managed to get one, and we'd end up, with, like, seven.

Also: they're going to have a Black Canary exclusive as well.

Also-also: I think I have found the Uhura I want.

( Linkspam: Yes, I *did* hear about the getting kinda-hit by a cab thing )

Re: the SDCC exclusive Tonner Edward variant: I think my problem here isn't OMG IT'S A TWILIGHT DOLL I MUST HAVE IT; it's that I love incorporating stuff into the Secret Life stories. And "stuff" often gets expensive, although not always--some of the best bits have been small reader gifts (The Littlest Cowboy Hat, for example), or stuff I found around the house (the dessert fork for pitching the ponies' grass), or old toys from my closet (the ponies themselves). I mean, there are dolls I want for myself that I haven't bought because I couldn't justify the cost (even crazy-fantastic bargains) by thinking of a way to incorporate them--but I see something that makes me go HOLY SHIT I HAVE TO PUT THAT IN THE STORY and it's like my brain just shuts down. I mean, I saw Super Special Exclusive Legolas with Cloak on eBay and fought for that thing to the $40 death AND STILL GOT IT FOR HALF WHAT IT USUALLY GOES FOR, SUCKAAAAAS. It's kind of my equivalent of "SQUIRREL!"

But I am trying to talk myself down off the Gratuitous Edward Variant ledge because: Alice. I have to have Alice. I can't not have Alice. I have to bring Alice's awesome to The Shelf. I can't blow this kind of money on a character I already have in a slightly different shirt and afford an Alice. So there's that. I... I'll have to see a picture of the variant Edward, I guess. *hangs head*

Oh, by the way, we have a reader question about dolls--where to find good sites for accessories for 4" figures?

Oh, and my mother has found someone who wants to buy the plates. Not the mugs yet, though.

( Linkspam )

Linkspam: The OH SHIT Edition, in which I suddenly realize there are a ton of things I was supposed to mention and, inexplicably, didn't.

made_of_fail_pc does, in fact, have a new episode up.

greyduck's new photo comic Quacked Panes (the secret life of rubber duckies, if you will).

The Sirens conference (sirenscon, October 1-4, 2009, Vail, Colorado):

Inspired by the daring adventures of women characters and compelled by the brilliant works of women authors, Sirens is a conference dedicated to women in fantasy literature. The conference, both scholarly examination and professional retreat, welcomes academics, authors, professionals, and readers to attend—and provide varying perspectives on fantasy books by women, female characters in fantasy works, the market for fantasy by and about women, and how to support women in fantasy literature.

Our Guests of Honor in 2009, our inaugural year, include authors Tamora Pierce, Sherwood Smith, and Kristin Cashore, each of whom has written of strong, smart women warriors. In addition, all attendees are encouraged to propose presentation topics related to women in fantasy: history, social studies, fan studies, business, specific books and series, fantasy generally, or even Sirens's 2009 focus on warrior characters and the women who write them.

The thing is, and I feel awful about this, the due date for proposals is tomorrow. Somehow I got "June 20" stuck in my head and thought I had plenty of time to mention it, because I suck. So if you do have something you think would work, do think about submitting that. I don't know that I'll be able to go, but I would love to and will if I can (depending on health and finances), so if nothing else, keep it in mind if you think you'd be interested in attending.

(Additional details: registration is currently $175 [all programming, events, keynotes and keynote food]; hotel is $109 for 1/2, $134 for 3-4. Adds praetorianguard, "Hotel is the Vail Cascade Resort and Spa. Think library, awesome bar, hot ski bum staff.")

From quizzicalsphinx: "Since you're an Alabama girl too, I wondered if you might link people to the Calhoun County Animal Shelter's Donation Page. Due to the economy, they've had steadily declining donations and two weeks ago, they lost their gas. I can't confirm this rumour, but word on the street has it that, as of this morning, they lost their electricity and water as well. If the utilities cannot be restored, up to 300 otherwise adoptable animals may have to be euthanised. Here's the local news report."

From sachielle: U.S. Manga Obscenity Conviction Roils Comics World; Neil Gaiman On The ‘Obscenity’ Of Manga Collector Christopher Handley’s Trial.

Assorted thoughts:

A couple of mail-related things--Lelio? I couldn't figure out what your LJ username was (to contact you), but I did get what you sent me? Also, I brilliantly lost the message (comment? email? PM?) where someone mentioned Rement, but I did get that package as well. The one with The Littlest Shopping Basket?

God, I need an intern.

Lots of jaw/tension headaches. Not sure if it's the weather (air pressure) or not. Or possibly a buildup of massive amounts of fail.

Slept in today, then made necessary purchases at local shopping centers. May go see Up tomorrow.

Yelled at people on eBay who could not hear me for bidding against me on a bargain and thereby making it less of a bargain. Won the auction anyway (it ended at only $18, I am not nickel-and-diming myself to death, stop saying that). You will find out what it was several weeks from now, I think, although rest assured that it is merely a prop, not a character.

Making a doll-sized longbow? Not as easy as you might think.

A few things (omg so behind on answering email/comments):

From mercuryandrain: "I was wondering if you could do me a HUGE favor and plug the Support Stacie auction sometime this week in one of your linkspam posts? Stacie is fighting high stage III breast cancer without the help of health insurance. This coming weekend (April third through sixth) a multi-fandom fanfic auction is taking place - people will bid on their favorite authors, and the highest bidder gets a story tailor-made to their specifications. Over 100 authors are participating at last count, from Roswell, Twilight, Dr. Who, Gilmore Girls and Harry Potter among other fandoms. Her website is http://www.supportstacie.net, and the website where the auction will take place is http://www.majiksfanfic.com/phpbb. There is also an LJ comm dedicated to the cause: supportstacie."

countessmary has put up (with my blessing) some "Twilight Means Never Having to Say You're Kidding" t-shirts to raise money for prizes for the YA Lit track at Dragon*Con.

The Littlest Edward is famous! And I mentioned this the other day somewhere--Twitter?--but while we're here: Biker Barbie with pink chaps. Ya rly.

Also, I have to show you this, because it brought light and joy into my life: VAMPIRE CLOAKS FOR DOLLS OMG. THE ALL-BLACK ONE HAS A COLLAR LIKE A BATWING OR A SPIDERWEB OR SOME SHIT, LOOK AT THAT! OMFG A BLACK POET SHIRT, I CAN'T STAND IT. It's like what Bella would make Edward wear if she felt kinky or something.

( More on that rock-awesome Joker doll )

( More linkspam )

And now, maybe I can get a bit more done before the power goes off tomorrow.