tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30069418783039334202024-02-22T04:38:38.395-08:00Epic BloggeryGraduate student, book lover, total geek.Niwihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10049596510871682195noreply@blogger.comBlogger263125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3006941878303933420.post-90184333304297802152012-07-03T16:52:00.001-07:002012-07-03T16:52:06.473-07:00Magic Mike?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxjnvebTE7h_fIbCAlcTkO5l1SPdwGdIHc3SB0QCi3LRLgzaHBgVgpzyCZJkzex5BnN5KxZ_lXhzcWTGhKb_9rWAXmrOZLZkUg-KNJqLyG-touvQ3eJ67hL2vYDQM54JJZQ2MtPolmN6k/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-07-03+at+6.36.21+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxjnvebTE7h_fIbCAlcTkO5l1SPdwGdIHc3SB0QCi3LRLgzaHBgVgpzyCZJkzex5BnN5KxZ_lXhzcWTGhKb_9rWAXmrOZLZkUg-KNJqLyG-touvQ3eJ67hL2vYDQM54JJZQ2MtPolmN6k/s320/Screen+shot+2012-07-03+at+6.36.21+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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So, has anyone out there seen Magic Mike yet? I didn't even know this movie existed until last week. I invited a friend out for karaoke (which. was. amazing.), and she made some comment about compromising her self-respect to go see Magic Mike. I wasn't sure if she was joking, so of course, I went to look it up.<br />
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On the one hand, the IMDB description doesn't really grab me:<br />
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A male stripper teaches a younger performer how to party, pick up women, and make easy money.</blockquote>
On the other, <a href="http://bitchmagazine.org/post/five-non-beefcake-related-things-that-will-surprise-you-about-magic-mike-feminist-magazine-movie-reviews-mcconaughey">this article</a> has a few interesting comments to make, that alleviate some of my fears:<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><strong>It isn't a romance.</strong></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Promos for this film make it seem like a rom-com with some butt action, but at its heart</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><em>Magic Mike</em></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">is about students and teachers. The primary relationship in the film is between Mike and his protege "The Kid" (Alex Pettyfer), and I'd argue that the secondary relationship is between Mike and Dallas (Matthew McConaughey). Romantic relationships come in at a distant third, or maybe even fourth after the camaraderie among the Xquisite male strippers. Overall, the centrality of the mentor/mentee dynamic makes this more of a</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><em>Karate Kid</em></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">or a</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><em>Training Day</em></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">than a gender-swapped version of</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><em>Pretty Woman</em></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">. Who knew?</span></blockquote>
So, has anyone seen it so they can let me know what they think?Niwihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10049596510871682195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3006941878303933420.post-45388407748532888112012-07-02T13:56:00.002-07:002012-07-02T13:57:30.809-07:00Test Post<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; color: #84b320; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 20px;">The weak customer chooses the understandable rack.</span>Niwihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10049596510871682195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3006941878303933420.post-52504675870452617972012-06-29T15:44:00.000-07:002012-06-29T15:44:00.386-07:00It's Been Pouring All DayI love the rain, but driving home from class is *not* supposed to be a near-death experience. <br />
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Thankfully I'm all home and warm now, and only have to go as far as the Italian restaurant up the street tomorrow afternoon.<br />
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I also restarted The Science of Sherlock Holmes this evening. It's a fascinating book!Niwihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10049596510871682195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3006941878303933420.post-90304075540066411212012-06-27T21:40:00.000-07:002012-06-27T21:40:00.499-07:00Blessing and a CurseI have a hard time with suspense - it's one of the reasons (among others) that I prefer comedies to dramas.<br />
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With books, because I tend towards mysteries, it means that I'll try my very hardest to finish a novel within a few days. Which is great news in regards to the gigantic stack of books I brought home from Bouchercon and really want to get into.<br />
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The problem is that I finished TKO so early in the day, I felt the need to pick up another book this evening. I went with the "Kilborn" novel because the two authors were on a panel together...<br />
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...yeah, bad idea. I read the humorous novel in full sunshine on a crowded plane, and now that I'm halfway through the terrifying horror story it's almost midnight and everyone else has gone to bed.<br />
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Fan<span style="font-style: italic;">tas</span>tic plan.Niwihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10049596510871682195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3006941878303933420.post-8557731794476338882012-06-26T15:41:00.000-07:002012-06-26T15:41:00.398-07:00A Risky VentureGood: playing Risk 2210 with friends you haven't seen in a while.<br />
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Better: playing Risk 2210 with friends you haven't seen in a while,<span style="font-style: italic;"> for three hours.</span><br />
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Best: Wiping out the two male players and then, just to tick them off, declaring a truce with the other female player instead of fighting it out to the bitter end.<br />
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This completely makes up for the last time I played regular Risk with just the boys, and the game dragged on <i>forever</i>. After three hours I was craving a glass of wine, my female roommates, and maybe a surprise gust of wind to knock the table over.<br />
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<br />Niwihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10049596510871682195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3006941878303933420.post-59501681165757340032012-06-25T14:06:00.000-07:002012-06-25T14:06:00.307-07:00Quotes: A-TeamI've been watching a lot of the A-Team lately, and I think I should take the time to honor their writers for coming up with some of the funniest/campiest/best lines I've heard on tv:<br />
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Bad Guy's Girlfriend: "When Sonny and I first met, he changed the combination of his safe to my measurements. Isn't that romantic?"<br />Face, looking through a pair of binoculars: "38...26...38. Nice!"</blockquote>Niwihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10049596510871682195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3006941878303933420.post-36054761552717540852012-06-24T15:32:00.000-07:002012-06-24T15:32:00.206-07:00This suit is...amazingI don't remember at all where I first saw this photo (okay, probably it was Tumblr), but I saved it for future use. I'm very torn between "this is ridiculous" and "oh my goodness I must own that outfit immediately."<br />
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I mean, how could you not be having a wonderful time while wearing something like this?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPq-_erhwsL5KGsV5hqC256j2e7yDXeyv6eannVEinOOVZgwfiZ9Yt9l5WNsSMk7dIRjZz9dgqEm_hNvsgQxZE17_OC3ijx0oCb6YdeHFYbIrzvj3ihLFRHgmNn9RUqHSvINutRy-4dEA/s1600/tumblr_m635n0F2Te1qzningo1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPq-_erhwsL5KGsV5hqC256j2e7yDXeyv6eannVEinOOVZgwfiZ9Yt9l5WNsSMk7dIRjZz9dgqEm_hNvsgQxZE17_OC3ijx0oCb6YdeHFYbIrzvj3ihLFRHgmNn9RUqHSvINutRy-4dEA/s320/tumblr_m635n0F2Te1qzningo1_500.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>
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The shoes are a bit much - I prefer flats - but the rest of it is adorable!Niwihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10049596510871682195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3006941878303933420.post-40873097673992514422012-06-23T15:19:00.002-07:002012-06-23T15:19:36.455-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaq-7iXU8MvxBTbM7daykbrnhut4JeW0WhgeRAnDti9V3WkSL5I1ULbCJWdxcQNGLMp-zzOPSVWNZPWLFLRTOj7qoyrcdwUJtooqpdnC86FvV5_PMnajU3g1F9vPI1nvSnWW8HphO1FZ4/s1600/604178532.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaq-7iXU8MvxBTbM7daykbrnhut4JeW0WhgeRAnDti9V3WkSL5I1ULbCJWdxcQNGLMp-zzOPSVWNZPWLFLRTOj7qoyrcdwUJtooqpdnC86FvV5_PMnajU3g1F9vPI1nvSnWW8HphO1FZ4/s320/604178532.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This little Manx has been trying to make his way into the house for months now. He's adorable and sweet, but somehow I think the roomies might just draw the line at <i>six</i> cats. It is nice that he always joins us outside when we're hanging out, though, and I think he keeps some of the less-friendly strays at bay.</div>
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We've named him "Bobby" after one of our favorite characters on Supernatural. </div>
<br />Niwihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10049596510871682195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3006941878303933420.post-6901539598722673572012-06-06T14:20:00.000-07:002012-06-23T15:19:54.954-07:00Cave of Forgotten Dreams<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAagCurH9seiuWtMD_HOT6n7pBNg8vuGJIaOAJOnRm9woEqPdChxLZ9WJY23dZIqCbt6wDedm6JjmUjS9v-xF9UDEnB3YtFyon7KmW2pUW2VBNCHmF_U7CX_UevCWb5jXsaqXd9bcYtaE/s1600/chauvet.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611514412293924530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAagCurH9seiuWtMD_HOT6n7pBNg8vuGJIaOAJOnRm9woEqPdChxLZ9WJY23dZIqCbt6wDedm6JjmUjS9v-xF9UDEnB3YtFyon7KmW2pUW2VBNCHmF_U7CX_UevCWb5jXsaqXd9bcYtaE/s320/chauvet.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 216px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
Last night E and I went to see <a href="http://www.ifcfilms.com/films/cave-of-forgotten-dreams">Cave of Forgotten Dreams</a> at a new theatre in Austin. <br />
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If you haven't heard about the film yet, here's the rundown: Werner Herzog was given permission to film in the <a href="http://www.bradshawfoundation.com/chauvet/">Chauvet Cave</a>, which was (re)discovered in 1994 and contains cave paintings which are mind-boggilingly old. (You can <a href="http://www.culture.gouv.fr/culture/arcnat/chauvet/en/index.html">explore the cave online here</a>.) Herzog combined this footage with interviews and some truly stunning aerial footage of the area to create the movie. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZFP5HfJPTY">The Cave of Forgotten Dreams trailer</a> gives you a bit of a feel for what to expect.</div>
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Inevitably while watching the movie, I found myself making a pros/cons list. I think one of my first reactions after leaving the theatre was, "that film didn't need Herzog as director." But, on reflection, maybe it did - France is very selective about who gets to enter the cave, so it is possible that a director with a less impressive resume would have been rejected. On the other hand, Cave of Forgotten Dreams sees Herzog being especially... Herzog-y.</div>
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Elements I Liked</div>
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<ol>
<li>The cave paintings. This is the oldest recording of human art modern humans have been able to find, and they've been preserved so well precisely because they're in a particularly inaccessible location. Most of us will probably never be able to visit, so I was pleased with how much screen time is given to the paintings.</li>
<li>The interviews. There are a lot of absolute characters associated with the cave, from a circus performer-turned-archaeologist and an "experimental archaeologist" who is a riot, to a master perfumer. Someone needs to make a film about these people, honestly.*</li>
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Elements I Disliked</div>
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<li>Herzog being self-indulgent. The crowd in the theatre had paid $11 apiece to see a movie about cave paintings; I'm assuming that all of us were genuinely interested in the material. That still wasn't enough for there not to be giggles here and there when Herzog waxed poetic about the doppelgangers of albino alligators or tried to lead the interviews down his own paths.</li>
<li>The score. Oh, God, the score. For the most part it was just annoying, but in one or two places the reverb was physically painful. I will only every watch this film again if the soundtrack is redone.</li>
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All in all, worth the ticket price, absolutely. And, I have no idea why only one theatre in the city is playing this in 3D; this movie is exactly what 3D was invented for.</div>
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<span style="font-style: italic;">*yes, my movie critic friend and I talked this weekend about how Herzog invents characters sometimes... and at the moment apparently it's unclear which of the interviewees are "real". Personally, the master perfumer is really the only one that strikes me as probably not an actual person.</span><br />
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(<a href="http://www.ancient-wisdom.co.uk/francechauvet.htm">image credit</a>)</div>Niwihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10049596510871682195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3006941878303933420.post-48525378989827351392012-06-01T15:53:00.000-07:002012-06-23T15:20:20.884-07:00What I'll Tell Future ChildrenI got a text today:<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">Was it you or me that used to freelance writing horoscopes?</span></blockquote>
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Which brought back <i>so many memories</i>. You see, for a while as an undergrad I was reduced to taking freelance writing assignments off a vaguely-disreputable website. I'm talking, like, people bidding to accept the least amount of money for the most amount of work - it was not a pretty part of the internet.</div>
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One of the bids I actually got from this site was:</div>
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To write horoscopes. </div>
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To write six months' worth of horoscopes for all the Zodiac signs. </div>
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To write six months' worth of horoscopes for all the Zodiac signs, in five days.</div>
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To write six months' worth of horoscopes for all the Zodiac signs, in five days, for something like 40 measly dollars.</div>
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I started on day two of five by carefully researching the strengths, weaknesses, and personality types of each sign and crafting horoscopes that spoke to these characteristics. It was all very slowly and painstakingly done. By the home stretch, it was 5am and I was alternating a few hours' sleep with a few hours' writing as my then-boyfriend helped during my breaks.</div>
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It was nerve-wracking doing so much work on such a tight deadline. 30 days x 6 months x 12 signs = 2160 unique horoscopes x a minute or two to write each = 36 hours or so. I just did the math now because at the time I couldn't bear to. And I would like to never do it again. </div>
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On the up side, in the short term I learned a lot about freelancing; in the long term, it makes a <i>really</i> funny story to tell at parties. </div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new';">"In my day we wrote horoscopes SIXITY months ahead of time, we had to say SIXITY cause George Bush had taken away all our civil liberties and the number six"</span></blockquote>
</div>Niwihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10049596510871682195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3006941878303933420.post-82086601073738101792011-05-25T14:04:00.000-07:002011-05-25T14:21:40.023-07:00Centrum: Get Fit for Summer!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikkMKTduj0e-QSLfeGDgNvoVlSaxkYHtWcEhtogxLrp4tWq-YKnX_tFu7Pp_e1o5iVy2IN4FtLcsi22VFmB5e1pzbC4g3vdSIQQxc-VV1OT7kd6ZMgvCfMcTQPZ_PTK4kdS1hFg1pHxTk/s1600/198979_10100514513861970_7943495_68807825_2504111_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikkMKTduj0e-QSLfeGDgNvoVlSaxkYHtWcEhtogxLrp4tWq-YKnX_tFu7Pp_e1o5iVy2IN4FtLcsi22VFmB5e1pzbC4g3vdSIQQxc-VV1OT7kd6ZMgvCfMcTQPZ_PTK4kdS1hFg1pHxTk/s320/198979_10100514513861970_7943495_68807825_2504111_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610765783614881346" border="0" /></a><br />The above photo (which always makes me smile) is from this Spring Break, when my brother and I took a bunch of his friends out for a nice day on the lake. It was sunny, but the weather was lovely and there was a perfect breeze. Going out to play outside for the day wasn't an issue at all!<br /><br />Now that we're getting into summer, however, it's not so easy to just spend hours outside. Particularly if you might not be in the best shape - I, for example, spent most of the fall chained to a desk while I worked on my graduate classes.<br /><br />Yesterday, I heard about a great giveaway to go along with the start of summer vacation: <span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><blockquote><span style="font-weight: bold;">Centrum (yes, the vitamin company) has a GET FIT contest going on now, and the grand prize is a trip to LA and a one-on-one training session with Harley Pasternak</span>.</blockquote> If, like me, you haven't heard of Pasternak, I've saved you the trouble of going over to Google - Harley Pasternak is a celebrity trainer (think Jennifer Hudson and Lada Gaga) and creator of the 5 Factor Diet.<br /><br />To get in on this contest, all you have to do it text the word "CENTRUM" with an image of a Centrum multivitamin bottle to the number 89800. That's it! We already take Centrum in our house, so I didn't even have to go shopping in order to enter for the LA trip and training session.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:medium;"></span>(As ever, thank you to the ladies at the <a href="http://www.one2onenetwork.com/">One2One network</a> for this posting opportunity)<br /><span style="font-size:medium;"><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></strong></span>Niwihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10049596510871682195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3006941878303933420.post-37601230589885274452011-05-22T11:22:00.001-07:002011-05-22T11:22:25.067-07:00Today's challenge over at https://challenge.meyouhealth.com/ is to list three things that made you happy as a child. I chose the first three that came to mind:<br /><br />1. Family game night, particularly when everyone would agree to play Huggermugger - which they dislike and I enjoy. <br />2. Weekend television, like Wishbone, M*A*S*H, and Hogan's Heroes. <br />3. Those make-a-wax-animal-model machines they used to have at zoos. Niwihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10049596510871682195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3006941878303933420.post-81148227833750696682011-05-22T10:51:00.001-07:002011-05-22T10:51:17.866-07:00TestingJust testing out an app to let me blog from my iPod. <br /><br />And getting ready to go see the new Pirates movie, of course. Niwihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10049596510871682195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3006941878303933420.post-42097792372998151552011-05-11T13:56:00.000-07:002011-05-13T13:40:19.556-07:00The Adventure of the Silent Partner, Chapter 2<a href="http://limitlessgeekery.blogspot.com/2011/05/dear-vincent-donofrio-i-am-so-so-sorry.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Chapter 1 and an explanation</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">.</span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Basically this is what geeks do in their free time - write terrible self-instert fan fiction as though it were created by another fictional character.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Tonight's selection is the brainchild four authors, and two of them were tipsy for some of it. Enjoy!</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Chapter Two: Crimson and Change Over</span></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 19px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">The smell of dust and honey filled his nose as something large stood on his chest. Weary from the fall, Coren slowly opened his eyes. He was in a musty study under a large antique desk. An English bulldog stood on his chest. He could tell by the name on its collar that its owners had named it "Gladstone." </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 19px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 19px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">It sniffed at his shirt collar and then sounded a loud, gruff bark, then lapped gently at his face and wuffled his hair. He could feel warm, sticky slobber in his hairline, but that wasn't all. A syrupy liquid had become entangled in his coffee-colored locks--it was a bright green and dripping from the edge of the desk. It appeared this his impact had shattered a small chemistry set balanced precariously on a stack of worn medical journals. </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 19px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 19px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Coren shot up with a start, dislodging the bulldog, and had to brace himself against the table, for his knees were uncharacteristically weak. Gladstone began to make a snorting-barking noise as it snuffled around his feet; the door swung wide - a statuesque gentleman in a houndstooth dressing gown stood in the doorway. "Gladstone!" the man boomed in a deep British baritone, "I see you have found a guest! Mrs. Hudson, please put the kettle on, this promises to be a long evening."</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 19px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 19px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Disoriented from his collision course with the mysterious Brit's study, Coren could barely make sense of his surroundings. He ran a hand through his tawny strands and pulled it back to examine the nearly fluorescent substance now dripping down his temple. "Don't concern yourself with that too much, it probably won't even take affect for another couple days," the handsome stranger said nonchalantly, "I would offer you a seat, but I'm waiting for my companion to bring me a rag." </span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 19px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 19px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">The stranger gave the vulnerable detective a knowing smile that brightened his eyes. Even in the dim candlelight, Coren could tell he was devilishly attractive. The houndstooth robe hid what was no doubt a trim and alluring figure. Before Coren could return the expression, a rotund mustachioed man in a scarlet damask patterned dressing gown barreled in. He flailed about like a befuddled, injured animal and glared angrily at Coren. "What is all this then? An intruder! I shall grab my pistol," the other man, obviously a former English military man from his demeanor and accent, exclaimed. </span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:verdana;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:verdana;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">The lithe Adonis snatched the sleeping cap off his chubby associate's head and stood with the most excellent posture Coren had ever seen, "No need to fret, my dear friend. This gentleman means us no harm." The rouge-clad man fumed and puffed out his cheeks, which made him look like a giant tomato, "Don't be ridiculous! Why, he's gotten your experiment all over his tennis whites and--what the devil are you doing with my cap?!" </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 19px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 19px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">The florid man's companion sauntered over towards Coren in a memorizing gait and never broke eye contact as he spoke, "Don't get so upset, old fellow. This was a gift from Sarah back when you were engaged? You always hated this particular one and I assume Mrs. Hudson is behind in the laundering, so you were forced to put this one on before you left the bedroom. You won't mind if I allow our new friend to use it to clean himself up a bit." </span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 19px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 19px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Despite his earlier promise to let Coren clean himself, the unidentified man immediately set about running the cloth through the detective's hair himself. "It would be a shame," the man murmured as his larger companion uncomfortably took a seat near the fireplace, "were I to allow this muck to obscure your natural hair color any longer." Coren felt his iron control slip a notch or two, and - not ungently - plucked the soiled cloth from his host's hands. "Thank you, but that won't be necessary," Coren admitted gruffly, "if you'll just point me in the direction of your nearest - ah - water closet." </span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 19px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 19px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">The man nearest the fireplace started briefly at Coren's accent, but the handsome stranger (who had yet to move back from Coren's personal space) merely allowed himself a small smile. "I see our guest is an American, and from the northeastern corner of the country as well. I had gathered as much from your attire, but it is nice to have complete confirmation from your accent." </span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 19px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 19px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">While the florid-faced man by the hearth merely made a noise that sounded uncannily like "pwah" in reply, Coren's attractive host finally bestirred himself to move further away. Coren found that he missed the proximity, but was relieved when he realized he was being shown the way to the bathroom. It was there, with the door closed firmly behind him, that Coren's sharp mind finally reasserted itself, took in the details of his surroundings, and realized that he might be in quite a situation, indeed. </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:verdana;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">It was no task for him to piece together the puzzle of his current whereabouts. Due to the lack of electrical lighting, the attire, and the atrocious patterned wallpaper he was in the Victorian era, probably late eighties or nineties. He must have been in London specifically owing to the regional inflections in the accents of his two hosts. Doctor Death's infernal contraption must have been a portal to a different time. Coren could only wonder if the mad doctor had been flung back as well.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 19px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Coren sighed heavily and looked at himself in the mirror. Most of the strange substance was gone and his tresses had almost returned to their full body. Rubbing his cheek, he despairingly noticed that he had a bit of stubble. Being so dedicated to his job, Coren often neglected the more time consuming hygiene habits. Luckily, the stubble gave his usually taut, boyish features a rugged edge. The thick, dark bristles highlighted his strong jawline and chin. He chewed nervously on his pouty bottom lip; the unshaven look was popular in modern day NYC, but it would not do him any favors in this era. That man must think he was a scoundrel or worse, a sailor! </span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 19px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 19px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Coren always had terrible luck in his romantic life. Sure, there were plenty who expressed interest in him and his charm was more than sufficient to attract whomever he chose. Yet, no one really understood him. Sometimes he wondered what was the point of all the rare vinyl recordings and vintage spirits if there was no one to share and appreciate them with. </span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 19px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; "><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline- display: table; color:initial;"><tbody style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline- color:initial;"><tr style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline- display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit; color:initial;"><td valign="top" style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline- display: table-cell; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font: inherit; color:initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Shoving these thoughts firmly into a small lockbox labeled "Later" deep in the recesses of his mind, Coren examined his surroundings for any useful tools. The cramped room was a mess, for all that the two men claimed to have a housekeeper in their employ, and Coren did not allow himself to dwell on how the realization there was no overtly feminine hand at work in this household spread through his stomach like warm mead. Two confirmed bachelors, perhaps? The rents in London, even in this time, would indeed make it economical for two men to share the rent on an apartment. No, on a "flat", Coren corrected himself; best to start blending in with his surroundings.<br /><br /></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">A few moments of shuffling through the rickety cabinet unearthed several flannel cloths, the most useful half of a hairbrush, three-quarters of a men's shaving kit, and a series of alarming chemical stains - really, what HAD these men been doing with lead tetroxide in the bathroom? Coren puzzled over this quandary as he set about performing his toilet with the materials at hand: damp cloths took care of the last of the gunk adorning his dark tresses, but did nothing for the shudder Coren felt when he remembered the phrase "probably won't take effect for another couple days" and the detective mentally noted to keep an eye on his physical health for any signs of poisoning.<br /><br /></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">With his hair situation sorted - a new part and a few passes with the brush rendered it very nearly respectable - Coren perused his facial hair with a critical eye. His original assessment had been correct, and severe changes would need to be made, here, for him to pass as a member of the non-criminal classes. Facial hair was considered fashionable in this time period, Coren mused, but stubble was simply outré - no, best to embrace the clean-shaven look, at least for the time being. With a sigh, Coren began the work of removing his three-day-old stubble. As an afterthought, he left the sides alone; if he remained in this time period long he might yet need to grow a set of dundrearies or Piccadilly weepers to fit in more fully.<br /><br /></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Coren almost made it through the entire shaving process unscathed, but his brilliant mind was reasserting itself yet again, and it demanded to go over the information available. Just as Coren brought his hand down for the final stroke of gleaming razor against soft flesh, he was struck with the realization of just whose flat he had been transported into by Doctor Death's experiment.</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 19px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 15px; font-family:arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">"My God," his mind and body jerked with the force of his epiphany. Unluckily, his hand had twitched as well and embedded the razor into his crisply shaven jaw. He instantly pulled back the blade and examined the reddening nick. A small stream of blood dribbled down his neck looking like the Nile after Moses had his way with it. The bloody river traced his pronounced Adam's apple, a pyramid on the Egypt of his throat. Coren sighed in irritation at his momentary miscalculation of his muscle spasms. </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 15px; font-family:arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 15px; font-family:arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">The water-closet door burst open and the flustered man adorned in crimson shouted, "Are you quite alright, Sir? By Jove you've been injured, I shall fetch my instruments!" Before Coren could protest and point out to the hyperbolic medical professional that a little pressure would alleviate the flow of his wound, the man returned with a black doctor's case. He wrenched it open and several instruments flew out and fell to the floor with a clatter. As he fumbled around his bag, the tall gentleman stepped into the WC beside him. </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 15px; font-family:arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 15px; font-family:arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">"It is only a minor cut, my friend," he spoke steadily in contrast the theatrical series of seizures his companion was experiencing. "Shut up," he barked, "I am a doctor you know! Where did I put that confounded thing?" If eye-rolling had been customary in Victorian England, Coren was certain that was what the taller man would be doing. </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 15px; font-family:arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 15px; font-family:arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">With a long, thin hand that appeared suited to playing a stringed instrument like a piano or a viola, he grabbed something in the doctor's case. "Nevertheless, he is our guest and it should be our responsibility to see he doesn't acquire an infection while visiting our residence." </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 15px; font-family:arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 15px; font-family:arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Finally jolted from his stunned observation of the scene before him, Coren saw an opening to confirm his hypothesis, "Yes, it's not everyday one gets the chance to be mended by London's greatest consulting detective Sherlock Holmes and his 'special assistant' Dr. Watson."</span></span></span><br /><div class="yiv1462835322gmail_quote" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; "></div></span></div>Niwihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10049596510871682195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3006941878303933420.post-30824338375761064112011-05-09T21:26:00.000-07:002011-05-09T22:16:38.407-07:00Dear Vincent D'Onofrio: I am so, so sorry.So, backstory: <a href="http://www.usanetwork.com/series/criminalintent/">Criminal Intent</a> is a great show. The lead Detective (<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000352/">Vincent D'Onofrio</a>) is basically a modern Sherlock Holmes. Also he's totally cute. Anyway, Detective Goren is always writing in this notebook, and today E and I came to the following logical conclusion:<div><br /></div><div><blockquote>Detective Goren is working on his self-insert Sherlock Holmes <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Sue">Gary Stu fanfiction</a>. </blockquote></div><div><br /></div><div>And then, because we do this sort of thing, we started round-robin writing the story that Detective Goren would write, if he had a fanfiction.net account. Enjoy:</div><div><br /></div><div>The Adventure of the Silent Partner</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Chapter One: Death Takes a Holiday</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />Super-sleuth Detective Inspector Coren walked into his elegant New York apartment after a long day at work. He and his parter (Detective "Skull" Feames) had been working doggedly to bring down the self-styled criminal mastermind Doctor Death. In reality, the criminal's name was Gary Studdard, and Detective Coren was working hard to understand Studdard's psychology as he undressed after work and put on his favorite vinyl recording - a Tuvan throat-singing group covering ABBA's greatest hits.<br /><br />Coren had just begun to hum along to "Dancing Queen" when his phone rang. Detective Feames, ever at a loss without Coren's expert opinions and brilliant feats of inductive logic, exclaimed breathlessly down the line, "We need you at 152nd street, now!" Coren dashed from the apartment, leaving the vintage bottle of wine he'd selected for the evening untouched on the kitchen counter.</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The ever-dedicated detective hopped into his Ferrari 308 GTB, a generous gift from an anonymous benefactor of Coren's astounding skills. Naturally, he knew it was from the heiress of a particular diamond company who he had exonerated of murdering her ex-boyfriend. Coren smiled fondly as he recalled how grateful the curvaceous blonde had been. Her not-so-subtle flirtations had been flattering, but Coren had politely informed the much sought after scion that he was dedicated to his work. Truthfully, Coren had to turn away many prospective partners over the years since he was yet to find the perfect mate. He needed an intellectual equal, someone who could really understand his eccentric demeanor. Someone who could understand the pain in his heart.<br /><br />Detective Feames was relieved to see her partner. She ran over to the Italian sportscar parked haphazardly on the curb. Without hesitation, she opened the driver door for Coren and complimented him on his stylish sunglasses. He stepped out and thanked her, modestly. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Detective Coren then strode toward the obvious center of activity up the block, with the ever-impressed Feames trailing in his wake. She updated Coren on the nature of the late call even though they both knew Coren could tell (from the stances of the other officers as well as the locations of the four unmarked vans) that the lair of Doctor Death - née Gary Studdard - had been discovered. Coren removed his embossed leather notebook from his stylish trench coat, eager to note down the particulars of the case before the final confrontation with this latest menace to the peace of his home city. </span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">After interminable minutes of briefing and debriefing with his superiors and other officers, Coren and Feames quickly got into their personas for the final sting operation. Coren had already discovered the floor on which Doctor Death operated (the fourth, judging by the state of the windowsill), the nature of Doctor Death's lair (pseudo scientific research, according to the papers and boxes Feames had fetched from the dumpster), and the people Doctor Death was most likely to trust (anyone delivering Chinese food, if the call Doctor Death had just made to the restaurant up the street were any indication). It was the work of mere moments for Coren and Feames to waylay the hapless deliveryman, and Coren and Feames slipped into their personas - she, a hardened veteran of the delivery service; he, an eager student learning the ropes as he attempts to pay his way through college. </span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">All too soon and not soon enough, our intrepid Detectives were standing at Death's Door.</span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Feames knocked harshly on the old door, several red paint chips crumpled under her pounding fist. She cast a glance at her disguised cohort and tensely gripped the plastic delivery bag. Calm as a majestic stag sleeping in a fragrant meadow, Coren gave her a reassuring pat on the back. She managed to stretch the already ratchet-tight skin across her face into a nervous smile. <br /><br />On the other side of the door there were loud clicking noises and Coren noted that the so-called Doctor had at least six additional locks on the entrance to his lair. The villain's excessive precaution had to be due to the perceived importance of his research and acknowledgment of his illegal practices. <br /><br />A middle-aged man wearing goggles over his eye-patch and single piercing ice-blue iris swung the door open. His gaze immediately focused on Coren whose figure was surprisingly flattered by the unisex polo shirt-khaki pants combination of the Tao Wei Chinese Palace uniform. The cut of the polo sleeves accentuated Coren's carefully sculpted biceps and his rebellious chocolate locks peeked out from under the white baseball cap. The man was finally able to pry his eye away from Coren to scowl at Feames who tragically looked as though someone had stuffed potatoes into her outfit and knocked her hat askew. </span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Before the evil twin brother of Bill Nye could notice that Feames was holding the pencil completely wrong for a veteran of the food- delivery industry, Coren stepped in to salvage the situation with his usual perfect blend of boyish charm, impish humor, and faux confusion. Tilting his head at an angle painstakingly calculated (during a lazy summer many years ago) to be coquettishly disarming, Coren mildly inquired, "Is the the correct address? Only, we have an order of North Prince Chicken for two, and this apartment clearly belongs to one, very lonely, man." Before Studdard could reply, his one eye widening and fixing on Coren's two piercing mahogany orbs, Coren continued, "No, not a man at all, are you? You see yourself as something more. A scientist? A seeker of all the knowledge of this world and the next?" <br /><br /></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">As Coren continued in this vein, using the low, hypnotic baritone that worked so well on skittish suspects and injured animals alike, he and his partner wafted into the Doctor's apartment as though propelled by the softest of breezes. The entire situation was moving exactly according to Coren's master stratagem - distract and disarm - but Coren had, as ever, missed one simple detail in his otherwise brilliant examination of the Doctor and his living quarters. If queried much later (although he never was), Coren would have been hard-pressed to answer whether he was unhappy with the way the situation rapidly spun out of control. The order of North Prince Chicken was indeed intended for two diners: Doctor Death and his Chinese Crested canine companion. Coren could read the tag as the furred avenger lunged at Feames - it appeared that "Nom Chompsky" was about to take Coren's partner out of the running, and rip the spell he had so cunningly woven around the Doctor. </span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The hideously deformed rodent passing as man's best friend latched onto the cuff of Feames's left pant leg. It tugged and growled. Feames tilted her head down to regard the assault with the same expression one might use when noticing one has stuck a foot in a bucket. <br /><br />"You have a dog," she observed with no inflection. <br /><br />Coren mentally slapped his forehead in exasperation. He had always been quite fond of the woman despite her frightening visage, but she had never been able to grasp the subtle art of detective work that he had mastered years ago. Sometimes he wondered how she had even passed the exam to enter the Major Case Squad. Nevertheless, her loyalty and continued reverence of Coren's talent made her an invaluable companion and it was his responsibility to protect his partner. <br /><br />"Ah, yes," Doctor Death finally spoke, his accent clearly originating from the Skåne region of Sweden probably near the city of Malmö, "I'm afraid Mr. Chompsky has an intense disliking for authority."<br /><br />Feames paled, "Why is he attacking me? It's not like I'm a cop or anything." </span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; "><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-size: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; display: table; "><tbody style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; "><tr style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit; "><td valign="top" style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; display: table-cell; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font: inherit; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Thinking even more quickly than usual, Coren decided that a smart (not as smart as himself, but very nearly beginning to approach it) man would have trained his dog to respond to a command that caused it to cease its attack. After all, only an idiot would fail to implement a failsafe for every eventuality. Mustering a not inconsiderable amount of command into his voice, Coren started with a simple "Nom Chompsky, ligg!"<br /><br />Doctor Death merely wheezed out a sinister laugh, as "Fot!" and "Kom!" similarly failed to arrest the miniature death-hound's attack - Feamon was beginning to look decidedly ashen by the time Coren realized, based on the bad Doctor's heritage and speech patterns, that the stop command must be something slightly more esoteric. In a blinding flash of insight, and just before Feames could gather herself enough to turn her service weapon on the minuscule hound, Coren began again. "Burlov! Eslov! Trelleborg!" Doctor Death's once-triumphant laugh became a shaky shadow of its former self, and he backed ever-so-slightly toward the control panel of his infernal device. "Lund! Skurup!" bellowed Coren, before finally, in a tone of triumph, "STAFFANSTORP!" <br /><br />In a thrice, Nom Chompsky had released the (now ragged) edge of Feames' nice yet serviceable slacks and sat down, eyeing Coren and its former master expectantly. <br /><br />Unfortunately, Feames' obvious distress at the unexpected assault had bought precious moments for Doctor Death to plan the fall of this, his greatest, handsomest, and most intelligent enemy. Before Coren could begin to expound upon how he had known that one of the "heel!" commands must have been the name of a municipality within Skane County, Doctor Death had pounced on the controls of his dread machine - and Coren had not yet finished discovering its intended purpose. </span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">With the light-footedness of a jackrabbit, Coren rushed toward Doctor Death, poised to tackle him as Coren had done so many years ago when he was the MVP of his basketball team in high school. Even as he rushed forward, his ears picked up the minute sounds of the machine whirring to life, although Feames was clearly unable to distinguish such minuscule sounds. He stopped dead just in time to miss a Tesla coil as it shot through the floor of the apartment, already giving off huge bursts of electricity. </span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Doctor Death bellowed, "MY MACHINE, SHE AWAKENS! TASTE YOUR FINAL DEATH, DETECTIVE COREN!!!!!!!!!!" Wishing to savor the horror on Coren's handsome visage, Doctor Death first turned his laser sights onto the immobile form of Detective Feames. Feames, ever certain that Coren possessed the capability to save them both from any harrowing situation, said merely, "He has a laser."</span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">"No!" shouted Coren, "Your quarrel is not with my feeble-minded partner! It is with me - let us engage in a true battle of the minds." Doctor Death concurred, "Let's get dangerous." Unheard in the heat of the forming battle, Detective Feames commented, "Au contraire." </span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Doctor Death swung the laser sights around to the gallant Coren, but Coren had just spotted a toolbox in the corner. Harnessing all of his lightning speed (matched only by his love for puns), Coren sprinted to the toolbox and, with a single swift motion, completely appropriately threw a monkey wrench into Doctor Death's devious plans - literally!</span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO--" exclaimed Doctor Death as the machine sparked and rumbled, "OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO---" until the lighting arced from the Tesla coil and formed a perfect sphere, "OOOOOOOOOOO--" and finally sucked Doctor Death into the ball of light "OOooooooooo." Meanwhile, Feames was staring vacantly into the pulsating orb of unknown origin, "It is bright." Unbeknownst to Feames, she was within the radius of the orb's pull. "Feames! Back away! It is clearly an extension of the gravitational lensing effect!" but Coren's desperate yet mellifluous cries fell on deaf ears. </span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">With no other solution, as Feames was pulled closer to possible demise, Coren threw himself bodily at Feames. She was pushed to safety, but Coren was not so lucky. He could feel the inexorable tug of the light source throbbing through his veins like some irresistible but yet-undiscovered drug. With a sigh, he was pulled through. </span></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div></span></div>Niwihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10049596510871682195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3006941878303933420.post-2846721705090600272011-04-29T12:49:00.000-07:002011-04-29T12:54:01.895-07:00No Wonder I Was So Tired This MorningApparently I spent the night in a friend's dream:<div><br /></div><div>----------<div>I had a crazy ass Sherlock</div><div>dream last night. It was </div><div>awesome and you were in it</div><div>----------</div><div>Well, there was a mystery</div><div>obviously and it took place</div><div>on a train for most of it. I</div><div>was Watson some of the </div><div>time. At one point you were</div><div>a person of interest</div><div>and Sherlock had to</div><div>disguise himself to get info</div><div> from you.</div><div>----------</div><div>You were dressed all fancy</div><div>and sipping a martini and </div><div>Sherlock was awkward since</div><div>I told him to flirt with you, </div><div>but you figured him out and</div><div>dropped hints about</div><div>who the murderer was.</div><div>There was a lot of chasing </div><div>and arguing</div><div>----------</div><div>At one point Sherlock saved</div><div>a child and he kept scaring</div><div>her by being weird and I</div><div>would scold him. I was a very</div><div>nagging Watson</div><div>----------</div></div>Niwihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10049596510871682195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3006941878303933420.post-39753347298828323742011-04-18T11:19:00.000-07:002011-04-18T11:35:34.483-07:00Krull<span style="font-style: italic;"></span><blockquote><span style="font-style: italic;">A prince and a fellowship of companions set out to rescue his bride from a fortress of alien invaders who have arrived on their home planet. </span></blockquote>I finally watched <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCQQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.imdb.com%2Ftitle%2Ftt0085811%2F&ei=ooCsTfrMKLGE0QGVmIn5CA&usg=AFQjCNG6vbXd9yEdzHWB8m213nfEYIzlhQ">Krull</a> last night (in my defense... I have no defense). It was surprising in many ways - the opening scene and special effects clearly think they're actually in the original Star Wars trilogy, but most of rest of it is standard fantasy fare. Also, for every groan-worthy scene, there's a plot point that I actually found intriguing:<br /><ol><li>A race of cyclops created when they gave up one eye in exchange for foresight. They were tricked; the only future event they can actually see is their own death. (I would seriously like to read a short story based on this.)</li><li>Fire mares are the fastest creatures ever and leave trails of smoke in their fiery wake. (haha, what.)</li><li>The science teacher from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory makes an appearance as the short sidekick who can turn himself into various animals for laughs and eventual saving-of-the-random-child-character. (Fun character).</li><li><a href="http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ThePowerOfLove">The Power of Love</a> at the end. (One of many, many tropes in the movie.)</li></ol>In a general sense it was a watchable enough movie, and had some fun elements; I'm glad to have seen it, but I doubt I'll watch it again.Niwihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10049596510871682195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3006941878303933420.post-42433893686364536902011-04-11T10:53:00.000-07:002011-04-11T11:55:31.749-07:00American Gods - Twitter Q&AOne of the (many) things I enjoy about Twitter is the way in which it occasionally removes the barriers between the author and the audience. Case in point, Neil Gaiman spent an hour today answering questions about his novel <a href="http://www.neilgaiman.com/works/Books/American+Gods/">American Gods</a> on the <span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/SFXmagazine" rel="nofollow">SFXmagazine</a> Twitter account.</span></span></span><br /><br />I missed most of the fun while out getting new glasses, so here is my attempt to read just the questions that got answered. And rebut (or support?) all my family members who think Twitter is a silly waste of time.<br /><br />In reverse chronological order, and I paired questions + answers:<br /><br /><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/neilhimself" rel="nofollow">neilhimself</a> Thanks, Neil! A truly valiant effort. Much bravery under tweet-fire!</span></span><br /><br /><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">Damn it, Gaiman managed to wriggle out of the leg manacles. I knew we should have fixed them tighter.</span></span><br /><br /> <span class="status-body"> <span class="status-content"> <span class="actions"><div> <a id="status_star_57489789460545536" class="fav-action non-fav" title="favorite this tweet"> </a> </div></span> <span class="entry-content">And this is @<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/neilhimself" rel="nofollow">neilhimself</a> signing out. Thank you @<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/sfxmagazine" rel="nofollow">sfxmagazine</a> for the platform. Thank you Headline Books for setting it up. Hail & Farewell.</span> </span> <span class="meta entry-meta"> <a class="entry-date" rel="bookmark" href="http://twitter.com/SFXmagazine/status/57489789460545536"> </a></span></span><br /><br /> <span class="status-body"> <span class="status-content"> <span class="actions"><div> <a id="status_star_57489438032412672" class="fav-action non-fav" title="favorite this tweet"> </a> </div></span> <span class="entry-content">That's all I have time for. What a fine deluge of questions. Sorry if yours wasn't answered. It was like grabbing snowflakes in a blizzard.</span> </span> <span class="meta entry-meta"> <a class="entry-date" rel="bookmark" href="http://twitter.com/SFXmagazine/status/57489438032412672"> </a></span></span><br /><br /> <span class="status-body"> <span class="status-content"> <span class="actions"><div> <a id="status_star_57488828331601920" class="fav-action non-fav" title="favorite this tweet"> </a> </div></span> <span class="entry-content"></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/SFXmagazine" rel="nofollow">SFXmagazine</a> @<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/neilhimself" rel="nofollow">neilhimself</a> <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a> What is going to happen to all of the questions you did not get to?<br /></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/sprunka" rel="nofollow">sprunka</a> I think they will float around the universe, and be answered by time, or never. <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a></span></span></span><br /><br /> <span class="status-body"> <span class="status-content"> <span class="actions"><div> <a id="status_star_57488588903940097" class="fav-action non-fav" title="favorite this tweet"> </a> </div></span> <span class="entry-content"></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/sfxmagazine" rel="nofollow">sfxmagazine</a> Does the Morrigan roam the America of <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23AmericanGods" title="#AmericanGods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#AmericanGods</a>? Can a god hitch-hike on superstition or is active belief required? Thanks!<br /></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/cathyby" rel="nofollow">cathyby</a> If someone once believed, that's enough. One person's superstition is another person's worship, after all. <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23AmericanGods" title="#AmericanGods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#AmericanGods</a></span> </span></span><br /><br /> <span class="status-body"> <span class="status-content"> <span class="actions"><div> <a id="status_star_57488405885489152" class="fav-action non-fav" title="favorite this tweet"> </a> </div></span> <span class="entry-content"></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/SFXMagazine" rel="nofollow">SFXMagazine</a> Would Shadow and Fat Charlie get along? <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a><br /></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/antonomasia09" rel="nofollow">antonomasia09</a> I think Fat Charlie would be scared of Shadow. What Shadow would think of Fat Charlie only Shadow knows. <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a></span></span></span><br /><br /> <span class="status-body"> <span class="status-content"> <span class="actions"><div> <a id="status_star_57487997024735232" class="fav-action non-fav" title="favorite this tweet"> </a> </div></span> <span class="entry-content"></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">Outline? or just pull from the aether once you have gathered the experiences and info that open you to the story? <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a><br /></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/PolytropicProds" rel="nofollow">PolytropicProds</a> Every now and again I'd write an outline for what I had to do next, but it was like walking through fog <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a></span></span></span><br /><br /> <span class="status-body"> <span class="status-content"> <span class="actions"><div> <a id="status_star_57487789863862273" class="fav-action non-fav" title="favorite this tweet"> </a> </div></span> <span class="entry-content"></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/SFXmagazine" rel="nofollow">SFXmagazine</a> being an indian I can say that <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a> is v well researched. But were youu nervous about gettin things wrong?<br /></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/Hardigirl" rel="nofollow">Hardigirl</a> The things I'd get most wrong were things that people would tell me about places that they had misremembered <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a></span><br /></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"> <span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/Hardigirl" rel="nofollow">Hardigirl</a> I was terrified about getting things wrong, yes. And I did get a few things very wrong, when research failed. <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a></span></span></span><br /><br /> <span class="status-body"> <span class="status-content"> <span class="actions"><div> <a id="status_star_57487275080167424" class="fav-action non-fav" title="favorite this tweet"> </a> </div></span> <span class="entry-content"></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/SFXmagazine" rel="nofollow">SFXmagazine</a> So how's the latest incarnation of the Technological Kid holding up? I imagine he's matured a bit. <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a><br /></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/justplainrii" rel="nofollow">justplainrii</a> I think he has. But he's still looking over his shoulder. <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a></span><br /><br /></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="actions"></span> <span class="entry-content"></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/SFXmagazine" rel="nofollow">SFXmagazine</a> Of course, I mean nicely organized questions and answers. would like to be able to reread and ponder at leisure. <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a><br /></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/whooshing" rel="nofollow">whooshing</a> I hope someone can organise all the questions and answers -- it's a bit of a flurry... <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a></span> </span> <span class="meta entry-meta"> <a class="entry-date" rel="bookmark" href="http://twitter.com/SFXmagazine/status/57487191529627649"> </a></span></span><br /><br /> <span class="status-body"> <span class="status-content"> <span class="actions"><div> <a id="status_star_57486959622373376" class="fav-action non-fav" title="favorite this tweet"> </a> </div></span> <span class="entry-content"></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/SFXmagazine" rel="nofollow">SFXmagazine</a> How much of Shadow is you and how much of you is Shadow? <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a><br /></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/halcyonhalcyoff" rel="nofollow">halcyonhalcyoff</a> "He's me, but I am not him." But then, that's true of everyone in the book, good & bad, male & female. <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a></span></span></span><br /><br /> <span class="status-body"> <span class="status-content"> <span class="actions"><div> <a id="status_star_57486727606054912" class="fav-action non-fav" title="favorite this tweet"> </a> </div></span> <span class="entry-content"></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content"><a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a> what was working with terry pratchett like when writing good omens?<br /></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/admiralross2400" rel="nofollow">admiralross2400</a> That is absolutely not an <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a> question. <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23deceptivehashtagfail" title="#deceptivehashtagfail" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#deceptivehashtagfail</a></span> </span> <span class="meta entry-meta"> <a class="entry-date" rel="bookmark" href="http://twitter.com/SFXmagazine/status/57486727606054912"> </a></span></span><br /><br /> <span class="status-body"> <span class="status-content"> <span class="actions"><div> <a id="status_star_57486600740941824" class="fav-action non-fav" title="favorite this tweet"> </a> </div></span> <span class="entry-content"></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/SFXmagazine" rel="nofollow">SFXmagazine</a> <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23AmericanGods" title="#AmericanGods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#AmericanGods</a> I'd love to see Shadow meet The Endless. Any possibility, or have you left them in the past?<br /></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/pdav21" rel="nofollow">pdav21</a> For copyright reasons, I do not believe that could ever happen. But I suppose it's possible (Superman met Spider-Man) <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23AmericanGods" title="#AmericanGods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#AmericanGods</a></span> </span> <span class="meta entry-meta"> <a class="entry-date" rel="bookmark" href="http://twitter.com/SFXmagazine/status/57486600740941824"> </a></span></span><br /><br /> <span class="status-body"> <span class="status-content"> <span class="actions"><div> <a id="status_star_57486353113432064" class="fav-action non-fav" title="favorite this tweet"> </a> </div></span> <span class="entry-content"></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/sfxmagazine" rel="nofollow">sfxmagazine</a> <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a> how much did Julian of Norwich's visions influence your writing?<br /></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/dpknowles" rel="nofollow">dpknowles</a> I don't know. But she was definitely in the mix. <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a></span></span></span><br /> <span class="status-body"> <span class="status-content"> <span class="actions"><div> <a id="status_star_57486232514600961" class="fav-action non-fav" title="favorite this tweet"> </a> </div></span> <span class="entry-content">Eight Minutes to go! MUST TYPE FASTER</span> </span> <span class="meta entry-meta"> <a class="entry-date" rel="bookmark" href="http://twitter.com/SFXmagazine/status/57486232514600961"> </a></span></span><br /><br /> <span class="status-body"> <span class="status-content"> <span class="actions"><div> <a id="status_star_57486046560129024" class="fav-action non-fav" title="favorite this tweet"> </a> </div></span> <span class="entry-content"></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content"><a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a> Are you ever embarrassed about what you did to(for) The House on the Rock? :)<br /></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/Aluhdeen" rel="nofollow">Aluhdeen</a> It makes the House on the Rock people happy, and it brings people who love the place there, so no. Not even a bit. <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a></span> </span> <span class="meta entry-meta"> <a class="entry-date" rel="bookmark" href="http://twitter.com/SFXmagazine/status/57486046560129024"> </a></span></span><br /><br /> <span class="status-body"> <span class="status-content"> <span class="actions"><div> <a id="status_star_57485835242708992" class="fav-action non-fav" title="favorite this tweet"> </a> </div></span> <span class="entry-content"></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/SFXmagazine" rel="nofollow">SFXmagazine</a> Did you actually visit the attractions you talk about in the book, or did you learn about them through research? <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a><br /></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/czeagler" rel="nofollow">czeagler</a> I visited them. Some I knew before I wrote the book, some I bumped into while writing it. <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a></span></span></span><br /><br /> <span class="status-body"> <span class="status-content"> <span class="actions"><div> <a id="status_star_57485707488399361" class="fav-action non-fav" title="favorite this tweet"> </a> </div></span> <span class="entry-content"></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/SFXmagazine" rel="nofollow">SFXmagazine</a> If you were choosing a band or musician to create a soundtrack for the book, who would you choose? <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a><br /></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/wonderwoman1100" rel="nofollow">wonderwoman1100</a> I wrote it to a soundtrack of Greg Brown, & The Magnetic Fields' 69 Love Songs <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a></span> </span> <span class="meta entry-meta"> <a class="entry-date" rel="bookmark" href="http://twitter.com/SFXmagazine/status/57485707488399361"> </a></span></span><br /><br /> <span class="status-body"> <span class="status-content"> <span class="actions"><div> <a id="status_star_57485295674867712" class="fav-action non-fav" title="favorite this tweet"> </a> </div></span> <span class="entry-content"></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">Hi, Neil, dear. @<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/SFXmagazine" rel="nofollow">SFXmagazine</a> Curious what's your favorite Art inspired by <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23AmericanGods" title="#AmericanGods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#AmericanGods</a> (song, statue, painting)?</span> </span><span class="meta entry-meta"><span></span> <br /></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/GodTheMother" rel="nofollow">GodTheMother</a> Dear Godthemother, the HOUSE ON THE ROCK costume contest put a smile on my face that still hasn't faded yet. <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23AmericanGods" title="#AmericanGods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#AmericanGods</a></span> </span> <span class="meta entry-meta"> <a class="entry-date" rel="bookmark" href="http://twitter.com/SFXmagazine/status/57485295674867712"> </a></span></span><br /><br /> <span class="status-body"> <span class="status-content"> <span class="actions"><div> <a id="status_star_57485038819880961" class="fav-action non-fav" title="favorite this tweet"> </a> </div></span> <span class="entry-content"></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">Where do you the see the deities of the major, modern faiths fitting into the world of <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a>? @<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/neilhimself" rel="nofollow">neilhimself</a><br /></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/AdamLanceGarcia" rel="nofollow">AdamLanceGarcia</a> In much the same way that important politicians & movie stars fit into a story about poor grifters <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a></span> </span> <span class="meta entry-meta"> <a class="entry-date" rel="bookmark" href="http://twitter.com/SFXmagazine/status/57485038819880961"> </a></span></span><br /><br /> <span class="status-body"> <span class="status-content"> <span class="actions"><div> <a id="status_star_57484810033168385" class="fav-action non-fav" title="favorite this tweet"> </a> </div></span> <span class="entry-content"></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/SFXmagazine" rel="nofollow">SFXmagazine</a> Dear Mr Gaiman, when you wrote <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a> WHAT WERE YOU DRINKING?! Fantastic book, but I felt a little dazed upon finishing.<br /></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/TheIdleLaureate" rel="nofollow">TheIdleLaureate</a> For the first third of <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a>, I was drinking Tori Amos's fine red wine. After that I had to drive home from writing</span> </span> <span class="meta entry-meta"> <a class="entry-date" rel="bookmark" href="http://twitter.com/SFXmagazine/status/57484810033168385"> </a></span></span><br /><br /> <span class="status-body"> <span class="status-content"> <span class="actions"><div> <a id="status_star_57484179117588480" class="fav-action non-fav" title="favorite this tweet"> </a> </div></span> <span class="entry-content"></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/SFXmagazine" rel="nofollow">SFXmagazine</a> Why do you think people either really hate or really love <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a> with few ho-hummers in-between?<br /></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/TehGoob" rel="nofollow">TehGoob</a> And I am fascinated that people who hate <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a> are often very clear on how they would want that story told differently.</span> </span></span><br /><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/TehGoob" rel="nofollow">TehGoob</a> I don't know. It took me by surprise. I do not know why <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a> is so divisive, although it may be a good thing.</span></span></span><br /><br /><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="actions"></span></span></span><a id="status_star_57483604183359488" class="fav-action non-fav" title="favorite this tweet"> </a><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="actions"><div> </div></span> <span class="entry-content"></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/SFXmagazine" rel="nofollow">SFXmagazine</a> did you ever have plans to flesh out Shadow's character further before writing Anansi Boys? <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a><br /></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/StrangeBum" rel="nofollow">StrangeBum</a> My vague plan was to write another 2 or 3 Shadow stories like MONARCH OF THE GLEN & then the next <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a> novel. We'll see</span></span></span><br /><br /> <span class="status-body"> <span class="status-content"> <span class="actions"><div> <a id="status_star_57483342353940480" class="fav-action non-fav" title="favorite this tweet"> </a> </div></span> <span class="entry-content"></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/SFXmagazine" rel="nofollow">SFXmagazine</a> Who was your favourite person/god/other to write in the book? <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a><br /></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/ClaireyMil" rel="nofollow">ClaireyMil</a> my LEAST favourite person to write was Shadow, as he doesn't let you inside his head, which is hard for an author. <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a></span></span></span><br /><br /> <span class="status-body"> <span class="status-content"> <span class="actions"><div> <a id="status_star_57483135553765377" class="fav-action non-fav" title="favorite this tweet"> </a> </div></span> <span class="entry-content"></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/SFXmagazine" rel="nofollow">SFXmagazine</a> Who was your favourite person/god/other to write in the book? <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a><br /></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/ClaireyMil" rel="nofollow">ClaireyMil</a> I loved writing Sam. Loved all the Zorya - they felt like relatives. Mr Ibis, Bast, Easter, Whisky Jack. <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a></span></span></span><br /><br /> <span class="status-body"> <span class="status-content"> <span class="actions"><div> <a id="status_star_57482741800902656" class="fav-action non-fav" title="favorite this tweet"> </a> </div></span> <span class="entry-content"></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">Why can't we find <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a> in brazil anymore? :(<br /></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/MariaLuiza_M" rel="nofollow">MariaLuiza_M</a> I think <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a> has been out of print in Brazil for a while now, but that should change very soon.</span> </span> <span class="meta entry-meta"> <a class="entry-date" rel="bookmark" href="http://twitter.com/SFXmagazine/status/57482741800902656"> </a></span></span><br /><br /> <span class="status-body"> <span class="status-content"> <span class="actions"><div> <a id="status_star_57482453555744768" class="fav-action non-fav" title="favorite this tweet"> </a> </div></span> <span class="entry-content"></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/sfxmagazine" rel="nofollow">sfxmagazine</a> did you travel the us while writing <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a>? including chattanooga (i'm from there)<br /></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/madasahattress" rel="nofollow">madasahattress</a> I did. I bought a 2nd hand Camry and I drove, and what I saw went into the book. <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a></span> </span> <span class="meta entry-meta"> <a class="entry-date" rel="bookmark" href="http://twitter.com/SFXmagazine/status/57482453555744768"> </a></span></span><br /><br /> <span class="status-body"> <span class="status-content"> <span class="actions"><div> <a id="status_star_57482254255013888" class="fav-action non-fav" title="favorite this tweet"> </a> </div></span> <span class="entry-content"></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/SFXmagazine" rel="nofollow">SFXmagazine</a> why did you decide to make it a novel rather than a comic book? <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a><br /></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/idesignwhatails" rel="nofollow">idesignwhatails</a> I think an <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a> comic would be thousands of pages long. Writing a book it took 2 years of my life, not 10.</span></span></span><br /><br /> <span class="status-body"> <span class="status-content"> <span class="actions"><div> <a id="status_star_57481794626404353" class="fav-action non-fav" title="favorite this tweet"> </a> </div></span> <span class="entry-content"></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/SFXmagazine" rel="nofollow">SFXmagazine</a> just read Anansi Boys in about three days and loved it, but which story was the first you thought of, it or <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23Americangods" title="#Americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#Americangods</a> ?<br /></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/CircesIsland" rel="nofollow">CircesIsland</a> Anansi Boys came first, although it was written later. I borrowed Mr Nancy from it for <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23Americangods" title="#Americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#Americangods</a></span> </span> <span class="meta entry-meta"> <a class="entry-date" rel="bookmark" href="http://twitter.com/SFXmagazine/status/57481794626404353"> </a></span></span><br /><br /> <span class="status-body"> <span class="status-content"> <span class="actions"><div> <a id="status_star_57481555895001088" class="fav-action non-fav" title="favorite this tweet"> </a> </div></span> <span class="entry-content"></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/SFXmagazine" rel="nofollow">SFXmagazine</a> If the present Neil Gaiman had to write the novel, do you think he could do it? <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a><br /></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/Hardigirl" rel="nofollow">Hardigirl</a> The present Neil Gaiman would write a different novel, about a different time. But that's always true. <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a></span></span></span><br /><br /> <span class="status-body"> <span class="status-content"> <span class="actions"><div> <a id="status_star_57481370783596544" class="fav-action non-fav" title="favorite this tweet"> </a> </div></span> <span class="entry-content"></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/SFXmagazine" rel="nofollow">SFXmagazine</a> <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a> was the book difficult to sell to editors/agents?<br /></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/mshamah" rel="nofollow">mshamah</a> No. The only trouble was it was too long originally, so I cut it a bit. Now the cut stuff has been restored. <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a></span> </span></span><br /><br /> <span class="status-body"> <span class="actions"><div> <a id="status_star_57481039894949890" class="fav-action non-fav" title="favorite this tweet"> </a> </div></span> <span class="entry-content"></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/SFXmagazine" rel="nofollow">SFXmagazine</a> <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a> Were Norse gods always central, or did you contemplate centering it on other characters/mythoses (sp?)?<br /></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/dxferris" rel="nofollow">dxferris</a> Norse Gods seemed central as there's something so dark & fatalistic about them. Other pantheons get happy endings. <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a></span></span><br /><br /> <span class="status-body"> <span class="status-content"> <span class="actions"><div> <a id="status_star_57480735455592449" class="fav-action non-fav" title="favorite this tweet"> </a> </div></span> <span class="entry-content"></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/SFXmagazine" rel="nofollow">SFXmagazine</a> who would win in a bar fight, Mad Sweeney or Czernobog? <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a><br /></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/DanSoloLives" rel="nofollow">DanSoloLives</a> If Shadow could beat Mad Sweeney in a bar brawl then Czernobog could take him with ease. <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a></span></span></span><br /><br /> <span class="status-body"> <span class="status-content"> <span class="actions"><div> <a id="status_star_57480515753742336" class="fav-action non-fav" title="favorite this tweet"> </a> </div></span> <span class="entry-content"></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/SFXmagazine" rel="nofollow">SFXmagazine</a> What genre would you say the book belongs to? <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a><br /></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/Hardigirl" rel="nofollow">Hardigirl</a> What genre is <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a>? Hmm. Is "Big Strange Book About America With Cons, Magic Tricks, Sex & Gods in" actually a genre?</span> </span> <span class="meta entry-meta"> <a class="entry-date" rel="bookmark" href="http://twitter.com/SFXmagazine/status/57480515753742336"> </a></span></span><br /><br /> <span class="status-body"> <span class="status-content"> <span class="actions"><div> <a id="status_star_57480113150898176" class="fav-action non-fav" title="favorite this tweet"> </a> </div></span> <span class="entry-content"></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/SFXmagazine" rel="nofollow">SFXmagazine</a> How much time did you put into researching the different gods/mythologies? And who is your favorite/why? <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a><br /></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/ekuntzsch" rel="nofollow">ekuntzsch</a> I put about 40 years into researching <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a>, although I could only read for about 35 of them.</span> </span></span><br /><br /> <span class="status-body"> <span class="status-content"> <span class="actions"><div> <a id="status_star_57479886440374272" class="fav-action non-fav" title="favorite this tweet"> </a> </div></span> <span class="entry-content"></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/SFXmagazine" rel="nofollow">SFXmagazine</a> So can look forward to a new American Gods Book? & Will there be a follow up of Graveyard book linking in to it? <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23AmericanGods" title="#AmericanGods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#AmericanGods</a><br /></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/Booky_Lillz" rel="nofollow">Booky_Lillz</a> I don't think so. The Graveyard Book Universe has its own agenda. <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23AmericanGods" title="#AmericanGods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#AmericanGods</a></span></span></span><br /><br /> <span class="status-body"> <span class="status-content"> <span class="actions"><div> <a id="status_star_57479691296178177" class="fav-action non-fav" title="favorite this tweet"> </a> </div></span> <span class="entry-content"></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/SFXmagazine" rel="nofollow">SFXmagazine</a> What was the most surprising thing, that you discovered writing Shadow's journey <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a><br /></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/Enting" rel="nofollow">Enting</a> That I needed to trust the book and not try and impose my own ideas of what ought to happen in it <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a></span> </span></span><br /><br /> <span class="status-body"> <span class="status-content"> <span class="actions"><div> <a id="status_star_57479570521202688" class="fav-action non-fav" title="favorite this tweet"> </a> </div></span> <span class="entry-content"></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/SFXmagazine" rel="nofollow">SFXmagazine</a> is there any character from any of your other works that you feel would feel right at home in the world of <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a>?<br /></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/Snarglepip" rel="nofollow">Snarglepip</a> I think all of my books join up around the back. Perhaps they share a communal parking space. <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a></span> </span> <span class="meta entry-meta"> <a class="entry-date" rel="bookmark" href="http://twitter.com/SFXmagazine/status/57479570521202688"> </a></span></span><br /><br /> <span class="status-body"> <span class="status-content"> <span class="actions"><div> <a id="status_star_57479406356152320" class="fav-action non-fav" title="favorite this tweet"> </a> </div></span> <span class="entry-content"></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/SFXmagazine" rel="nofollow">SFXmagazine</a> Do you pick up hitchhikers? If so, have you met any interesting characters? <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a><br /></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/MaryGaughan" rel="nofollow">MaryGaughan</a> I always used to. I've not seen a hitchhiker in the US for about 10 years now. Still in the UK sometimes <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a></span> </span> <span class="meta entry-meta"> <a class="entry-date" rel="bookmark" href="http://twitter.com/SFXmagazine/status/57479406356152320"> </a></span></span><br /><br /> <span class="status-body"> <span class="status-content"> <span class="actions"><div> <a id="status_star_57479057402638336" class="fav-action non-fav" title="favorite this tweet"> </a> </div></span> <span class="entry-content"></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content"><a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a> did you intend the book to read like a road trip?<br /></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/gramophone23" rel="nofollow">gramophone23</a> Yes, very much so. <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a> is a Road Novel. partly because the endless road is something we don't have in the UK.</span></span></span><br /><br /> <span class="status-body"> <span class="status-content"> <span class="actions"><div> <a id="status_star_57478709451558913" class="fav-action non-fav" title="favorite this tweet"> </a> </div></span> <span class="entry-content"></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/SFXmagazine" rel="nofollow">SFXmagazine</a> what part of you is contained in the character Shadow? <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a>"""<br /></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/Sevywevy" rel="nofollow">Sevywevy</a> I'm in everybody there. But probably my distinct lack of amazement at strange things. <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a></span> </span></span><br /><br /> <span class="status-body"> <span class="status-content"> <span class="actions"><div> <a id="status_star_57478579872731136" class="fav-action non-fav" title="favorite this tweet"> </a> </div></span> <span class="entry-content">I wish the <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a> hashtag had been shorter. I miss the extra characters. Oh well. Too late now. (Keeps typing like a mad thing.)</span></span></span><br /><br /> <span class="status-body"> <span class="status-content"> <span class="actions"><div> <a id="status_star_57478321923035136" class="fav-action non-fav" title="favorite this tweet"> </a> </div></span> <span class="entry-content"></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/SFXmagazine" rel="nofollow">SFXmagazine</a> As an Englishman writing about America, did you ever feel like <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a> was something you weren't permitted to write?<br /></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/gathcreator" rel="nofollow">gathcreator</a> Very much so, yes. But nobody else was going to write it, if I didn't, so I buckled down and wrote. <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a></span> </span> <span class="meta entry-meta"> <a class="entry-date" rel="bookmark" href="http://twitter.com/SFXmagazine/status/57478321923035136"> </a></span></span><br /><br /> <span class="status-body"> <span class="status-content"> <span class="actions"><div> <a id="status_star_57478140607471616" class="fav-action non-fav" title="favorite this tweet"> </a> </div></span> <span class="entry-content"></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/SFXmagazine" rel="nofollow">SFXmagazine</a> Why in the United States rather than England? <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23AmericanGods" title="#AmericanGods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#AmericanGods</a><br /></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/merlintriss" rel="nofollow">merlintriss</a> Because UK Gods is a very different book. MONARCH OF THE GLEN in Fragile Things gives a flavour of it. <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23AmericanGods" title="#AmericanGods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#AmericanGods</a></span></span></span><br /><br /> <span class="status-body"> <span class="status-content"> <span class="actions"><div> <a id="status_star_57477861367492608" class="fav-action non-fav" title="favorite this tweet"> </a> </div></span> <span class="entry-content"></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/SFXmagazine" rel="nofollow">SFXmagazine</a> <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a> As a 1-time instructor of World Myth, I'd like to know if you'll ever publish a studyguide/key to the book's gods<br /></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/DJStinky" rel="nofollow">DJStinky</a> Possibly. I've been asked to write a Big Book Of Myth, and it may well happen. <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a></span> </span></span><br /><br /> <span class="status-body"> <span class="status-content"> <span class="actions"><div> <a id="status_star_57477657163599872" class="fav-action non-fav" title="favorite this tweet"> </a> </div></span> <span class="entry-content"></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/neilhimself" rel="nofollow">neilhimself</a> @<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/SFXmagazine" rel="nofollow">SFXmagazine</a> Are there any new <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a> since you wrote the book?<br /></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/ianholmes" rel="nofollow">ianholmes</a> I think Smartphones are rising through the ranks rapidly, as the god of telephone fades <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a></span> </span> <span class="meta entry-meta"> <a class="entry-date" rel="bookmark" href="http://twitter.com/SFXmagazine/status/57477657163599872"> </a></span></span><br /><br /> <span class="status-body"> <span class="status-content"> <span class="actions"><div> <a id="status_star_57477392695955456" class="fav-action non-fav" title="favorite this tweet"> </a> </div></span> <span class="entry-content"></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/SFXmagazine" rel="nofollow">SFXmagazine</a> would you ever be tempted to write another Wednesday book? <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a><br /></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/idesignwhatails" rel="nofollow">idesignwhatails</a> Yes <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a></span> </span></span><br /><br /> <span class="status-body"> <span class="status-content"> <span class="actions"><div> <a id="status_star_57477359619678209" class="fav-action non-fav" title="favorite this tweet"> </a> </div></span> <span class="entry-content"></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/SFXmagazine" rel="nofollow">SFXmagazine</a> Why is the choice in songs played in the diner where Shadow and Wednesday eat dinner together? Iko Iko etc. <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a><br /></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/justplainrii" rel="nofollow">justplainrii</a> Pretty important, actually. All the song lyrics reflect on what's happening, especially if you spell sun SON <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a></span></span></span><br /><br /> <span class="status-body"> <span class="status-content"> <span class="actions"><div> <a id="status_star_57477140983185408" class="fav-action non-fav" title="favorite this tweet"> </a> </div></span> <span class="entry-content"></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content"><a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a> at what point in the creation & dissemination process did you realize American Gods was going to be as widely lauded as it is?<br /></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/_PBJ_" rel="nofollow">_PBJ_</a> Don't know.I wasn't surprised when it was nominated for awards, was amazed it won them, am still amazed it's in print <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a></span></span></span><br /><br /> <span class="status-body"> <span class="status-content"> <span class="actions"><div> <a id="status_star_57476752741646336" class="fav-action non-fav" title="favorite this tweet"> </a> </div></span> <span class="entry-content"></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/SFXmagazine" rel="nofollow">SFXmagazine</a> in your books, gods are real bc ppl believe in them. If that was true, you'd still be making up stories abt them? <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a><br /></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/AtmaSinnan" rel="nofollow">AtmaSinnan</a> No, I don't understand this one. <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a></span> </span></span><br /><br /> <span class="status-body"> <span class="status-content"> <span class="actions"><div> <a id="status_star_57476675423846400" class="fav-action non-fav" title="favorite this tweet"> </a> </div></span> <span class="entry-content"></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">what scenes from the book do you think would completely ruin a film adaption of <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a> if they were removed?<br /></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/Maximumguido" rel="nofollow">Maximumguido</a> I think the most important thing is to try & keep the races of all the characters correct. <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a></span></span></span><br /><br /> <span class="status-body"> <span class="status-content"> <span class="actions"><div> <a id="status_star_57476463586320384" class="fav-action non-fav" title="favorite this tweet"> </a> </div></span> <span class="entry-content"></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/SFXmagazine" rel="nofollow">SFXmagazine</a> <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a> was the working title. Why did you decide to keep it as the final book title?<br /></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/gathcreator" rel="nofollow">gathcreator</a> Everybody liked it and I never came up with anything better. It's what normally happens with my book titles. <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a></span> </span></span><br /><br /> <span class="status-body"> <span class="status-content"> <span class="actions"><div> <a id="status_star_57476348360396800" class="fav-action non-fav" title="favorite this tweet"> </a> </div></span> <span class="entry-content"></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/neilhimself" rel="nofollow">neilhimself</a> Jesus doesn't appear in <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a> (he's considered aloof by other gods) but if he did, would there be multiple versions?<br /></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/ianholmes" rel="nofollow">ianholmes</a> Maybe, or maybe a consensus version with satellite versions... <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a></span> </span> <span class="meta entry-meta"> <a class="entry-date" rel="bookmark" href="http://twitter.com/SFXmagazine/status/57476348360396800"> </a></span></span><br /><br /> <span class="status-body"> <span class="status-content"> <span class="actions"><div> <a id="status_star_57476143669968897" class="fav-action non-fav" title="favorite this tweet"> </a> </div></span> <span class="entry-content"></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">Did <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23AmericanGods" title="#AmericanGods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#AmericanGods</a> narrative structure used sleight of hand because of Shadow's hobby or because it's effective to keep readers guessing?<br /></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/thefoodgeek" rel="nofollow">thefoodgeek</a> Both of those, and because it was what the book was all about. Now you see it, oops, look over there... <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23AmericanGods" title="#AmericanGods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#AmericanGods</a></span> </span> <span class="meta entry-meta"> <a class="entry-date" rel="bookmark" href="http://twitter.com/SFXmagazine/status/57476143669968897"> </a></span></span><br /><br /> <span class="status-body"> <span class="status-content"> <span class="actions"><div> <a id="status_star_57475948114747392" class="fav-action non-fav" title="favorite this tweet"> </a> </div></span> <span class="entry-content"></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/SFXmagazine" rel="nofollow">SFXmagazine</a> When can we expect the <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a> author's preferred text to come out?<br /></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/MaggieMimsy" rel="nofollow">MaggieMimsy</a> June 21 in the US and around there for the UK anniversary ed. - although the UK has had the text for 5 years... <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a></span> </span></span><br /><br /> <span class="status-body"> <span class="status-content"> <span class="actions"><div> <a id="status_star_57475715452502016" class="fav-action non-fav" title="favorite this tweet"> </a> </div></span> <span class="entry-content"></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/SFXmagazine" rel="nofollow">SFXmagazine</a> <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a> What were Greek and Roman gods doing during the events of American Gods?<br /></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/Amarien" rel="nofollow">Amarien</a> I couldn't justify putting them in. But since then I learned about this stash of Roman coins <a href="http://bit.ly/ddAcnv" class="tweet-url web" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/ddAcnv</a> <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a></span> </span> <span class="meta entry-meta"> <a class="entry-date" rel="bookmark" href="http://twitter.com/SFXmagazine/status/57475715452502016"> </a></span></span><br /><br /> <span class="status-body"> <span class="status-content"> <span class="actions"><div> <a id="status_star_57474735629537282" class="fav-action non-fav" title="favorite this tweet"> </a> </div></span> <span class="entry-content"></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/SFXmagazine" rel="nofollow">SFXmagazine</a> Was Mr.World really fully aware of Wednsday's plan or just another sacrificial god? Was the trickster tricked? <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a><br /></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/StrawberreField" rel="nofollow">StrawberreField</a> It was a two man con, and Mr World was half of it <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a></span> </span></span><br /><br /> <span class="status-body"> <span class="status-content"> <span class="actions"><div> <a id="status_star_57474585892896768" class="fav-action non-fav" title="favorite this tweet"> </a> </div></span> <span class="entry-content"></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/SFXmagazine" rel="nofollow">SFXmagazine</a> Were there any gods you wanted to use but couldn't find the space for in the novel? <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a><br /></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/kevinchiat" rel="nofollow">kevinchiat</a> Yes, many. I had a whole section in a Japanese Internment Camp in Kansas that never made it in. <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a></span> </span></span><br /><br /><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content"><a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a> questions are flooding in (this is @<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/Neilhimself" rel="nofollow">Neilhimself</a>) & I'm answering them as @<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/replies" rel="nofollow">replies</a> so as not to clog everyone's twitter feed.</span></span></span><br /><br /><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">The one we won't get an answer to: Who is the Forgotten God? <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23Americangods" title="#Americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#Americangods</a></span></span></span><br /><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/Aulayan" rel="nofollow">Aulayan</a>: I think I'll answer it in another American Gods book. But no, not here. Also, I think I've forgotten your question. <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23AmericanGods" title="#AmericanGods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#AmericanGods</a></span></span></span><br /><br /><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">Would you consider making American gods into a movie or TV serial? <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a></span></span></span><br /><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/Jear1106" rel="nofollow">Jear1106</a> It's in the works right now. I should say no more at this time, but I do not think anyone will be disappointed. <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a></span></span></span><br /><br /><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/SFXmagazine" rel="nofollow">SFXmagazine</a> Were there any gods you wanted to use but couldn't find the space for in the novel? <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a></span></span></span><br /><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">@<a class="tweet-url username" href="http://twitter.com/kevinchiat" rel="nofollow">kevinchiat</a> Yes, many. I had a whole section in a Japanese Internment Camp in Kansas that never made it in. <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23americangods" title="#americangods" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#americangods</a><br /><br />*whew*<br /></span></span></span>Niwihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10049596510871682195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3006941878303933420.post-4191257113608837602011-04-06T12:21:00.000-07:002011-04-06T12:32:09.489-07:00Toy Ads and Gender StereotypesToday's post is really just a link over to another post on <a href="http://www.achilleseffect.com/2011/03/word-cloud-how-toy-ad-vocabulary-reinforces-gender-stereotypes/">How Toy Ad Vocabulary Reinforces Gender Stereotypes</a>. The original post is worth reading, but the shortest version is this:<br /><br />If you take the words from television advertising for toys marketed specifically to boys and girls (the boys’ list included 658 words from 27 commercials; the girls’ list had 432 words from 32 commercials) and throw them into Wordle, you get:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.wordle.net/show/wrdl/3372921/Words_Used_to_Advertise_Boys%27_Toys" title="Wordle: Words Used to Advertise Boys' Toys"><img src="http://www.wordle.net/thumb/wrdl/3372921/Words_Used_to_Advertise_Boys%27_Toys" alt="Wordle: Words Used to Advertise Boys' Toys" style="padding: 4px; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221);" /></a><br /><br />and<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.wordle.net/show/wrdl/3372936/Words_Used_in_Advertising_for_Girls%27_Toys" title="Wordle: Words Used in Advertising for Girls' Toys"><img src="http://www.wordle.net/thumb/wrdl/3372936/Words_Used_in_Advertising_for_Girls%27_Toys" alt="Wordle: Words Used in Advertising for Girls' Toys" style="padding: 4px; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221);" /></a><br /><br />Those are some pretty clear divisions - and, while I'm not surprised, I am a bit disappointed.<br /><br />You can also <a href="http://www.achilleseffect.com/2011/04/how-toy-ad-vocabulary-reinforces-gender-stereotypes-follow-up/">read the follow-up to the original post here</a>.Niwihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10049596510871682195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3006941878303933420.post-81831189463181965812011-04-04T08:57:00.000-07:002011-04-04T09:00:33.730-07:00<div>My throat is still raw and my ears are still ringing.</div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRAo9JkXvJfinpC3j12435Ck3L3JWlB_HSS-P2_GrOEvAwesFgeO6k9EaX09i4ohz2uQunGBImBzN0zhGtgrkjMFEKe2oCZnpjxKzPnBmA6I3ZrBl6Op12Df2Q3WyxfCoJ2Q66J-xsGvU/s1600/SS3.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRAo9JkXvJfinpC3j12435Ck3L3JWlB_HSS-P2_GrOEvAwesFgeO6k9EaX09i4ohz2uQunGBImBzN0zhGtgrkjMFEKe2oCZnpjxKzPnBmA6I3ZrBl6Op12Df2Q3WyxfCoJ2Q66J-xsGvU/s320/SS3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591758317368735426" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaBzj3M5kS7y4KtXQ9QGyIRfpiYu99_McjpLMRlgCV9JYaHRvgOQMPC-bVqijGuNm-3YNj6MEtxD09eAb-46K-lkLHIeBdyMzjRSIWLwMY80uitY3zAGV1A6_MqO7iDpL3q6CTGZGndWU/s1600/SS1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaBzj3M5kS7y4KtXQ9QGyIRfpiYu99_McjpLMRlgCV9JYaHRvgOQMPC-bVqijGuNm-3YNj6MEtxD09eAb-46K-lkLHIeBdyMzjRSIWLwMY80uitY3zAGV1A6_MqO7iDpL3q6CTGZGndWU/s320/SS1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591758313836503858" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkBB07fHbOZNmdXgux3aG5lv9lk7tAtwpQg3j6HSd0lvwGaFxWIN-86oVHyUZqwhhIVCNCJW_Zhf376RCEwLoYSySJqLZ-f71it3FTyKwaw5cH2vm46cuNjsUbrENiXS-VzKBISo2xqvk/s1600/SS5.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkBB07fHbOZNmdXgux3aG5lv9lk7tAtwpQg3j6HSd0lvwGaFxWIN-86oVHyUZqwhhIVCNCJW_Zhf376RCEwLoYSySJqLZ-f71it3FTyKwaw5cH2vm46cuNjsUbrENiXS-VzKBISo2xqvk/s320/SS5.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591758314618508818" /></a>First Scissor Sisters concert (<a href="http://stubbsaustin.com/scissor-sisters/">at Stubb's</a>) was definitely a success - they <i>absolutely</i> know how to put on a high-energy show.Niwihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10049596510871682195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3006941878303933420.post-68081675903508429802011-04-02T10:49:00.000-07:002011-04-02T10:54:12.586-07:00Texts From Last Night<div style="text-align: center;"><blockquote>"I know you destroyed a J Beiber pinata, hid in my closet, and turned into a pineapple. Anything else I should know?"</blockquote></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ8Ztoj8-gt48N1Db83qVsU_GmWsrcHP4j0vq8UkvZOjbLW5qUCO7alV-gsyG09ZB8cSNm_1IFQS5UJECSpywsNhtdu-OuEz067o5aKOMKNeZCGLuMMl_AL1fgy10GEIetTq6syc3DqYQ/s320/2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591045079853556802" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div>Niwihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10049596510871682195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3006941878303933420.post-46799225597168983292011-03-29T10:31:00.000-07:002011-03-29T11:34:21.669-07:00Rabbit-Proof Fence<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 17px; font-family:Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: normal;font-size:16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 17px;font-size:13px;"><blockquote></blockquote></span></span></span></span></blockquote></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 17px; font-family:Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><blockquote>Rabbit-Proof Fence is the true story of Molly Craig, who, in 1931, at 14, was taken from her mother in Jigalong, a depot on one of the fences that were being constructed across the continent in an attempt to keep marauding rabbits from destroying the western farmlands. Along with her half-sister Daisy, 8, and cousin Gracie Fields, she was taken to the Moore River Native Settlement in Western Australia. </blockquote><blockquote>[. . .] The film would show the terrified children sprinting across stony wasteland in a futile attempt to escape the police, distraught mothers wailing in the dust, and an aged granny battering her head with a stone in impotent frustration. It would show the girls in a cage as they are transported by train to their new home and a culture of flogging and solitary confinement for those who failed to appreciate what the white man was doing for them. (<a href="http://www.iofilm.co.uk/feats/interviews/r/rabbit_proof_fence_2002.shtml">Source</a>)</blockquote></span>I just finished watching <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0252444/">Rabbit-Proof Fence</a>, which was recommended by my Linguistics/Second Language Acquisition professor. She wanted us to look at a) the many ways in which a second language is definitely not taught properly, and b) the ways in which language can be legislated. While I was taking notes on these things, I also spent a large portion of the movie wrestling with whether to feel horrified or uplifted.<div><br /></div><div>On the one hand, it's beyond disturbing that the officials tearing families apart apparently thought they were doing "the right thing". Kenneth Branagh in particular does a brilliant job making me want to shake some sense into him as he questions, "should the coloreds be encouraged to go back to the black, or should they be advanced to white status?" The voiceover at the end is also enough to make one weep.</div><div><br /></div><div>On the other hand, I believe that the underlying message in the film is also one of endurance and family. The three girls (<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1082266/">Everlyn Sampi</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1082270/">Tianna Sansbury</a>, and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1081920/">Laura Monaghan</a>) beautifully portray the trio who undertake an incredible trek, in an attempt to reunite with their mother. And, as we find out later, one of them actually makes the journey twice in her life.</div><div><br /></div><div>I highly recommend this movie if you haven't seen it; I'm also adding <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Doris-Pilkington/e/B001HMYVKK/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1301423162&sr=8-1">both of the related books by Doris Pilkington</a> (Molly's daughter) to my reading list.</div>Niwihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10049596510871682195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3006941878303933420.post-82957091480334930382011-03-21T11:33:00.000-07:002011-03-21T11:43:36.471-07:00Birthday Gift!So, I don't hit my quarter-century until this summer. However, some industrious friends have already purchased my gifts (take notes, people)!<br /><br />M & S returned from an antiquing trip with copies of <a href="http://sherlock-holmes.classic-literature.co.uk/the-hound-of-the-baskervilles/">The Hound of the Baskervilles</a> and <a href="http://www.classic-literature.co.uk/scottish-authors/arthur-conan-doyle/the-adventures-of-gerard/">The Adventures of Gerard</a> for me.<br /><br />I'm jazzed because:<br /><br />a) I've been meaning to branch out into more non-Holmes ACD works, because he's a good writer all around (I loved his <a href="http://www.classic-literature.co.uk/scottish-authors/arthur-conan-doyle/tales-of-terror-and-mystery/">Tales of Unease</a>).<br /><br />b) One can never own too many copies of Hound of the Baskervilles.<br /><br />c) Both books are old enough to list the author as a mere "Arthur Conan Doyle" because the printing <a href="http://www.siracd.com/life_knight.shtml">predates ACD's knighthood</a>.<br /><br />d) Old books smell <span style="font-style: italic;">wonderful</span>.<br /><br />e) The books are in rough condition, so said friends are going to have the binding redone for me.Niwihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10049596510871682195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3006941878303933420.post-83106288455857130402011-03-12T17:13:00.001-08:002011-03-12T17:30:18.169-08:00http://www.savetxschools.org/<a href="http://savetxschools.org/rally-to-save-texas-schools/">This mornin</a>g was the pro-education rally at the Capitol, organized by <a href="http://www.savetxschools.org/">savetxschools.org</a>. It was a great experience - not as big as the <a href="http://march.now.org/">March for Women's Rights</a> I attended in DC, but definitely the largest rally I've been a part of since. With all the <a href="http://www.statesman.com/news/local/AISD_budget_crunch/">bad (and worse) news lately about budget and staff cuts</a> in Austin and the rest of the state, I felt truly gratified to see how many people bussed in from <a href="http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2011/03/11/arlington-group-heading-to-austin-public-education-rally/">around</a> Texas to gather. Even better, the folks over at SXSW publicized the event, and I know at least a few people in town for live music also came out <a href="http://savetxschools.org/faq/">to the rally</a>.<br /><br />Also, the <a href="http://galleries.statesman.com/gallery/save-texas-schools-rally-031211/">Austin-American Statesman has a lovely photo gallery up</a>; here are a few of my own additions:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4nZyuNkT0MtEukqSGaaY_187NSDMxVYj3DwGRIINz2WGmj8sNUvlFinvjQ8xouj-1gMgpoGX64Gz0R6nIRqOJ_ISbiPCQ29qqZWDNfFt45Gp6iNFmg27hv1CeKxF29d1L1GXIHwfMliY/s1600/IMG00059-20110312-11231.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4nZyuNkT0MtEukqSGaaY_187NSDMxVYj3DwGRIINz2WGmj8sNUvlFinvjQ8xouj-1gMgpoGX64Gz0R6nIRqOJ_ISbiPCQ29qqZWDNfFt45Gp6iNFmg27hv1CeKxF29d1L1GXIHwfMliY/s320/IMG00059-20110312-11231.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583369858629210610" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFtxOelbIGiYJznvTrlUw7EPQowUFK4NQkaA_zEvz507y9N8SGMyum9ylMs0O3Vb9zKRV8P3G6Jf6iD5OzcbOdcD4-P-zzn8gRutGc9negYxPBB-JZIEvzaz5oCGYU_E1Bo3VQf4x_yms/s1600/savetxschools2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFtxOelbIGiYJznvTrlUw7EPQowUFK4NQkaA_zEvz507y9N8SGMyum9ylMs0O3Vb9zKRV8P3G6Jf6iD5OzcbOdcD4-P-zzn8gRutGc9negYxPBB-JZIEvzaz5oCGYU_E1Bo3VQf4x_yms/s320/savetxschools2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583369854560233410" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqaPqrMIcmnUumjS0a1h862_wKWQsf1pjIq7X1Lgt5nW-x_Or6GEXasmdSNkQ8KHF64nXg98E-A0UpZMcrSivjC0JjU6hCL0SKJLCOMMH8TRPdnLhEMHpP2Td8zbYcIzN8JjuPYgRWTUc/s1600/savetxschools.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqaPqrMIcmnUumjS0a1h862_wKWQsf1pjIq7X1Lgt5nW-x_Or6GEXasmdSNkQ8KHF64nXg98E-A0UpZMcrSivjC0JjU6hCL0SKJLCOMMH8TRPdnLhEMHpP2Td8zbYcIzN8JjuPYgRWTUc/s320/savetxschools.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583369846489660002" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXgsJqoVq0nR0KiqXAqzlX8-LdkYAuOl9NF8cO2cxUoRAtEJmyz2rI1_qsO9CLvUiYh1soMzFog3FmnFtbghykL42dUBPKJyEUXn8K7wfR7yZO4aspJzYo5FLtuZXFmJKdgv286g23jtk/s1600/2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXgsJqoVq0nR0KiqXAqzlX8-LdkYAuOl9NF8cO2cxUoRAtEJmyz2rI1_qsO9CLvUiYh1soMzFog3FmnFtbghykL42dUBPKJyEUXn8K7wfR7yZO4aspJzYo5FLtuZXFmJKdgv286g23jtk/s320/2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583369848678692178" border="0" /></a>Niwihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10049596510871682195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3006941878303933420.post-81401611026366228272011-03-05T08:32:00.000-08:002011-03-05T08:53:25.833-08:00Austin's The BestI've seen more plays in the last year and a half than in the last decade - and Austin theatre is still surprising me.<br /><br />Here are the three most recent, since they're on my mind. These are all still running, by the way, so if you live in Austin go see them already:<br /><br /><a href="http://austinlivetheatre.blogspot.com/2011/01/upcoming-hedda-gabler-palindrome.html">Henrik Ibsen's Hedda Gabler</a>, from the <a href="http://www.palindrometheatre.com/">Palindrome Theatre Company</a>. As a future English teacher I'm always interested in the not-often-done performances, and I'd never seen any Ibsen performances that weren't A Doll's House. (not that I have anything against A Doll's House, but a woman longs for a little variety). It was fairly impressively done, and I thought most of the actors put on a great performance. Kate Eminger also kindly answered a few of my questions afterward. I got into a debate about the scenery, which I found appropriately evocative of The Addams Family, and Ryan found somewhat distracting - if any of you see it, I'd love your opinion.<br /><br /><a href="http://do512.com/event/weekly/thu/alvida-the-airship-pirates-a-steampunk-adventure">Alvida & The Airship Pirates: A Steampunk Adventure!</a> from <a href="http://www.weirdcitytheatre.com/">Weird City Theatre</a>. Ok, so I love steampunk, and the music was from one of my favorite groups - Abney Park. My friend Ryan had me sold at steampunk, but he completely sealed the deal with "and John Carroll wrote and directed." We went last night, and I had a lot of fun. The set is nicely done, (most) of the costumes were quite good, and nearly all the writing was very funny. The fight scenes were a bit clunky, but overall it was enjoyable and the actors (who did a great job) seemed to be having as much fun as the audience.<br /><br />This afternoon Ryan and I are off to see <a href="http://www.austin360.com/arts/in-hidden-room-theatres-experimental-production-ryan-wants-1292562.html">You Wouldn't Know Him, He Lives in Texas / You Wouldn't Know Her, She Lives in London</a> from <a href="http://www.hiddenroomtheatre.com/what_will_be.html">The Hidden Room</a>. I'm excited about this one, since the format is quite a change:<br /><br /><blockquote>From London's Look Left Look Right and Austin, Texas' The Hidden Room: <em>You Wouldn't Know Him, He Lives in Texas / You Wouldn't Know Her, She Lives in London</em> links US and UK actors and audiences live via Skype. Become the friends and family of the show's London/Texas lovers, and help decide if distance really does matter in this interactive, site-specific, partially improvised, original collaboration. (<a href="http://www.roundhouse.org.uk/whats-on/productions/you-wouldnt-know-him">source</a>)<br /></blockquote><br /><i><span style="font-size:8pt;"></span></i>Niwihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10049596510871682195noreply@blogger.com0