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Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009
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stsisyphus
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As usual, ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) setsuled writes a serious and insightful look at James Cameron's Avatar. I particularly liked this bit:
This is the inherent problem--the Na'vi don't really have problems.....you realise that the Na'vi are an extremely privileged community who are like children in the Garden of Eden. Innocents. Which, of course, is the bottom of the noble savage stereotype.
Tons of spoilers follow the cut.
( Long, Meandering, and Probably Flame-Like )
You know, I did enjoy the movie. It was entertaining. I complain here because the film has had enough buzz on the internet about these complex issues and how it fails to really competently address them or it engages racial issues poorly or ultimately and blithely falls into the same pitfalls as countless other, less ambitious, less well-executed, and frankly worse films. I complain here because somewhere out there is this representation that this is a great movie that does a lot to advance a clear portrait of human irresponsibility and send a clear environmental message. But, truly, it really is just a Action Movie with a Space Whale Aesop. Take that as you will.
I think I've actually exhausted myself on this at this point, so I believe I will bow out for the moment.
-12th
Postscript: By the way, I do understand that a lot of the background information on the status of humanity and Earth, etc. is all in supplimental materials. That might flesh things out sufficiently to help provide some background, but there's little in directly in the movie that would compel me to seek this information out independently as a worthwhile endeavor.
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Comments: Add Your Own.
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Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009
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oneneatcat
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 Dear Santa...
Dear Santa,
This year I've been busy!
In November I put money in elahadrun's expired parking meter (14 points). In June I ruled Iran as a kind and benevolent dictator (700 points). Last Wednesday I committed genocide... Sorry about that, miss_purgatori (-5000 points). In August I helped bel_mulderleia across the street (6 points). In January I had a shoot-out with rival gang lords on the 5 near LA (-76 points).
Overall, I've been naughty (-4356 points). For Christmas I deserve a lump of coal!
Sincerely,
oneneatcat |
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Comments: Add Your Own.
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Monday, December 21st, 2009
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stsisyphus
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The film is quite pretty and deftly handles the 3D aspect without going gimmicky. I don't think I've seen a film handle live action and animation this well since the pantomime of Who Framed Roger Rabbit? It is a technical wonderland and the bankers are probably going to see all their money back. It is good to see Sigorney Weaver once again probably make a fat lot of cash, along with some revenue from (inevitable) toy sales.
On the other hand, Mighty Whitey once again rolls in to save the day as going native gives you karmic carte blanche to Kill Whitey. Somehow, when the indigenous chieftain recommends war, it is a suicide mission. When HepCat DoRight bellows out FREEEEEDAAAAAAUUUUUM!! then of course it's a rousing moment of inspiration.
I felt like the end of this film was much like the end of (oddly enough) The Prince of Egypt. Watching the cowed and defeated invaders carted off for exile in due punishment for their sins, I can't help but think of Moses cresting the high ridge of Mount Sinai looking down at the throngs of the liberated Israelites in the valley below:
"It only gets worse from here."
-12th
Postscript: And then my car got smacked into and I spent the next 4.5 hours trying to get home.
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capn_special
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I did a guest comic a while back for Left-Handed Toons (by right handed people). It was a short one called "Meaning of Life" that I wrote about 2 years ago and never really used. So I used it for that. Here is the LEFT HANDED strip.
That took way too long to make with my left hand!! JEsus did it ever! Before I used it for a guest comic, tho, I originally wanted to re-draw it for another project that fell through. I had penciled it out normally, but never inked it. After I did the guest strip, I decided to go back to those pencils and finish it up, so I could see it as I normally imagined it. So here it is again, as done with my RIGHT HAND.
Woa! Mama I will never be ambidextrous!! More comics tomorrow!!
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Comments: Read 10 or Add Your Own.
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Sunday, December 20th, 2009
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capn_special
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I did a banner for this blog right here for spydabass and I wanted to post a larger version of the main part here.
Sean gave me a load of albums to redraw and work into the picture, so I chose 10 and redrew them. Not all of them are super amazingly redrawn, but here they are as well!!!
All albums picked by him. I just had to draw them, and in some cases, not draw them. It's a wonderful world of freelance!! |
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Comments: Read 6 or Add Your Own.
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Thursday, December 17th, 2009
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stsisyphus
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So. After suffering several slings and arrows among the peerage, knuckling down to a lot of editing, and spending as much time as possible on making that "story" as good as I could...
...totally didn't even get a nod. Some guy who appears to have ripped off the premise from a Second Season Doctor Who episode seems to have taken the blue ribbon.
I really didn't want much out of this. An honorable mention would have been sufficient. I've lived my life sucking the marrow out of mediocre approvals and lukewarm consolations, and was perfectly content to continue doing that.
Demoralizing.
Context 1.
Context 2.
Context 3.
-12th
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Wednesday, December 16th, 2009
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capn_special
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I drew this comic on scott kurtzes's cintiq. it was my first time really sitting down and using one, so it was kind of neat!
You can actually watch me draw it on this recorded ustream where scott, kris, and others talk about kickstarter. I mostly laugh a lot and draw the comic. I act like Glenn from the Tom Green Show, basically.
After the comic was done, I just sketched a bunch so here is all those damn sketches (scott came in and sketched too, SEE IF YOU CAN FIND HIS!)
( big sketches underneath the cut!! )
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Comments: Read 10 or Add Your Own.
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bel_mulderleia
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Hey also you should all come to my party:
http://www.houseparty.com/party/238571
It's a good excuse to drink and play video games partially on someone else's tab! If I sent you an invite, please click that you'll be attending even if you're not sure so it looks like more than one person is going lol.
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Comments: Read 3 or Add Your Own.
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bel_mulderleia
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I am doing Christmas Cards today if it kills me!!! Send me your address as a Facebook message, an LJ message, or email fading_guinevere@yahoo.com so Santa knows where to bring your card!!!
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Comments: Add Your Own.
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Monday, December 14th, 2009
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capn_special
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Here's a comic Thomas asked me to make for his GF.
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Comments: Read 3 or Add Your Own.
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Saturday, December 12th, 2009
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teravell
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Well, here I am. I'm 28. It's an age that screams "Grown-up!!" I don't know why it does so more than 27. Maybe because it's not an odd number. (Odd numbers always seemed somehow a bit more immature to me.) Maybe just because I haven't been it for a year, so I'm not used to it yet. I was going to say that I still don't feel like a grown-up. I still like the things I liked as a kid. I still like doing the things I liked doing as a kid. (I like a few more things too, though.) I still feel uncertain about my future, and wonder what I'll be doing a year from now. I still feel a bit ridiculous talking about things like car loans and life insurance.
But you know what? What exactly does "feel like a grown-up" mean? What did I expect? That someday on my birthday I'd suddenly become interested in the stock market, start wanting to get manicures, decide that my business suit was my favorite item of clothing after all, and start thinking brussels sprouts taste good? Hah!
I AM a grown-up. And at the same time I'm the exact same person I was all along. And I'm happy this way. I'm contented with my life for now. There are pathetic bits and there are awesome bits and there are boring bits and there are ridiculous bits, and without them I wouldn't be me, so I'm happy to have them there. I have no idea what's coming in the future, but I've always liked surprises, so that's okay. Whatever happens, it will be interesting.
So today (even though it's Saturday, and I have a crazy lot of work to do and I shouldn't even be writing this because I should be getting ready to take on massive hoards of children and obsessive-compulsive busy people with too much money and no sense of humor), I am going to have fun celebrating being contented with my life. Like staying up until 2 AM listening to bossa nova at the Natural Cafe and eating chocolate cheesecake (my first official act as a 28-year-old), or staying in bed late hugging Mia, or dancing to all my favorite songs for no reason, or having strawberries for lunch even though they're expensive because it's December. Because life is for enjoying, even if you're 28.
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Comments: Read 5 or Add Your Own.
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Friday, December 11th, 2009
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stsisyphus
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| Time: | 3:51 pm. |
| Mood: |  calmer. | | Music: | I forget.. |
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Since this week has been full of M&M stuff over at ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/community.gif) team_disaster, here's what I sent out to players via email to keep the game running:
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When we last left our heroes, they had just finished apprehending the mysterious snake girl's accomplices: the jocular and pyrokinetic Heatseeker, as well as the bizarre and phrentic Aurora Dioscuria. Jerome, Special Agent Q, has teleported Aurora to parts unknown.
Fresh with the sweat of another victory under their belt, The Regulators call in to Project Allegiance HQ requesting a pick up and containment for Heatseeker. However, now that the dazzle of battle is complete, ProAll HQ's urgent alerts are now coming to the fore.
"LV-For26, urgent backup needed immediately at base. Repeat, immediate backup required at base."
The sounds of gunfire are clearly heard through the commlinks. The group rushes back to the Federal Building, although precious moments are lost without their signature teleporter available. The Untouchable's uplink to ProAll command provides a SitRep for the team: the mysterious snake girl has escaped custody, and the building is locked down until the team can arrive to assist. Multiple casualties are being reported and ambulances on en route. LVPD is being called in to assist with a dragnet, but given the girl's known capacity to blend seamlessly with her environment - there's little chance of her being recovered.
When the team arrives, it appears that the situation has turned to one of sullen humilation and grief. Every security team has at least one dead, most have multiple serious injuries. The Regulators are not without their own losses, however, as Special Agent P.S. Vale was grievously injured and is being medievac'd for surgery. ProAll Division Head Gerry Jetson meets the team in the Hangar bay on the building's top floor.
Jetson has seen better days, his hair is tussled and his eyes are a little wild. He sits on a munitions crate, limply holding a regulation automatic pistol in his hand, as if he can't remember how to drop it. A medic is applying a bandage to the side of his head, where it appears he'd received some kind of burn. He looks at the team when they arrive.
"Containment wasn't expecting a kid when you called it in. They thought she was neutralized, but she went through the sedatives and the restraints like they weren't even there. Once they got her in the elevator...they didn't stand a chance."
An aide comes up with a mug of coffee as the medic puts the finishing touches on the the bandage and offers him a shot of painkillers, but Gerry brushes it off. He looks to the team wipes a hand over his brow.
"Alright. LVPD is trying to find the girl. They aren't going to engage, but we've given them a few tracking guns to tag her if we can find her. From there, we'll send you out or a heavily fortified containment team. We'll just have to play it by ear. If I was her, though, whatever she was trying to do with that Madam - she won't get too far now that we have her in custody. Maybe we can finally get some answers about what's going on between the Ape and the Chain and the Capo."
Gerry looks around the team.
"So...where is Ms. Belloq?"
-12th
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Comments: Read 1 or Add Your Own.
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stsisyphus
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Or, "I Want My Nazi Scalps!"
Signal Boosting via cucumberseed, who boosts from cristalia. I have fuck all for cash at the moment, but I can throw 20 bucks at saying "fuck you border cops" any time of the year.
Dr. Peter Watts, Canadian science fiction writer, beaten and arrested at US border.
This is my friend. He is somewhat self-deprecating and snarky and goofy, and he writes phenomenal fiction and has done me a great deal of kindness. He is part of my community. I have a not insignificant amount of adrenaline in my mouth right now.
If you have the resources to spare even five bucks, I would much appreciate it if you would consider contributing to his ability to simultaneously pay his rent and mount a legal defense. Paypal is donate@rifters.com.
There's something I want to bring up here. I don't know this guy, I've never read his fiction, I'm not part of his community. I don't know him, I don't know the circumstances and because I'm not on the hotline to the netnews whatever I'm probably not going to.
Here's the point. Cops should not get away with disproportionate use of force on a individual. I don't care who the fuck they are. Award winning writer and a doctorate or crackhead with three years of elementary school. I don't care. If it happens in Honduras or Estonia or fucking Bota Raton, Florida - I don't care. It is not fucking necessary and doesn't solve shit.
I will concede at the moment that the present source sounds alarmist in regard to the severity of the attack on Dr. Watts. That he was "beaten" could mean a lot of things, and I'm certain if it was serious enough for him to have been seen by a medical professional that detail would have been in the article. Does that mean I'm excusing it, or being an apologetic? Hell no. As far as we know, he got out of his car (which is a damned mistake of common sense when speaking with Eagleland cops, but the fact that I can hold that opinion is more evidence toward Henry Rollins' assessment that we live in a defacto police state) and asked the purpose of a search. Asked. Not interfered, or took measures to escape, or even farted in their general di-rec-tion.
He asked a question. Which, I understand, given our general level of education sophistication and vocational training of peace officers might have caused momentary cognitive and neural stress on the part of the border guards, which could have conceivably caused some kind of mild discomforting vascular or muscle tension in the region of the temples, scalp, and facial area. This, I suppose, could have been considered a hostile, aggressive action on the part of Dr. Watts, which could, in some definition, be considered an assault on the officers.
By matter of comparison, were I to enact an equivalent policy of escalation, this would mean that I could legally mutilate and grievously murder any SOB who made the mistake of calling me at work and asking a relevant question about their claim or benefits as indicated in their coverage. And that's just the folks who ask NICELY. The normal dickwounds who fill my day with rancor and bile would undergo a trial that would make Eli Roth cover his eyes and Torquemada look like Amnesty International.
If you got cash, drop it on the man. Worse comes to worse, you can feed some kittehs. At best, you'll have some border cop's holiday pay pulled just in time for them not be able to get their fat-ass kid some overpriced piece of plastic and microchips that will end up in a landfill in five years poisoning the groundwater. And the look that overpriviledged kid will give his PhD-beating income-provider, that look of total disappointment, the one that screams out "I will hate you all your days and we'll never have a charmingly Hollywood-esque child-parent moment that will shine all through your golden years as you're sitting in your own freezing excrement in the third-rate Upper-Pennisula nursing home I've contracted to slowly poison you to death"...
...that is so worth the cops not getting a slap on the wrist for this.
Yours in Evil.
-12th.
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Comments: Read 1 or Add Your Own.
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Thursday, December 10th, 2009
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capn_special
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shufflin thru TNG one episode at a time. I havent really even gotten to experience beard man riker. its all a lie *pushes everything off the table*
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Comments: Read 10 or Add Your Own.
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busy.
satisfied.
bitchy.