ndless_mike, B is going to be in your area for a wedding some time in May. She'd like to see you while she's there so give her a call.

Does anyone know how to screen comments?

Also, among the GW fanficcers, does anyone know if Honor A. De'Mandoren archives her works and if so, where? I can't remember if I asked this before; sorry if this is repetitive.

( This is the last of the SasoSaku drabbles. It's been fun, but let's see if I can pull a plot out of it next time. )

( Next part of Endless. )

Someone was kind enough to inform me that Anna Nicole Smith is taking her case to the Supreme Court. I've gotten what information I can from the web and from what I can tell, it's actually legitimate issue. I just feel that no one who doesn't study law is going to take whatever the ruling seriously because it was Anna Nicole Smith. She just oozes triviality.

Speaking of the Supreme Court, here's an interesting quote from my textbook:

The freedom to decide as one's conscience and intellect demand, without fear of political retribution , is a rare luxury for any office-holder, and it certainly helps to explain what happens to men when they don the robes of a Supreme Court justice. The southern Senator required to go through the motions of defending segregation-and many in the Senate today are only going through the motions-can shed that dispiriting burden if he goes on the bench. The state judge who has to look to political bosses for re-election-as many do-cuts that tie upon appointment to the Supreme Court. The independence given to the justices enables them to do things that others know are right but have never had the courage or the determination to do by themselves. (Lewis, 1964)

A nice, optimistic view of the Supreme Court.

I'll accept the mayo since fruitypoundcake said it was popular in Japan. I'll accept the ketchup under the same principals. I can't accept the cream cheese as being part of authentic sushi. I mean really, there's just no way it's not an Americanization of the food.

The woman who did the 'Vagina Monologues' has a new show out. It's called 'The Good Body' and it appears to be a satire on the cultural obsession with appearance. If Wellesley gets around to having it, I would probably consider that worth the cost of watching.

Speaking of food, I found a milk-less 'Hot Toddy' recipe:

1 Jigger of alcohol
2 tbsp. honey
2 tbsp. lemon juice
Hot water
Sprinkling of cinnamon

It tastes much better than the one with milk in my opinion. Sort of like strong tea.

I'd just like to make some observations on BLEACH so far. Ichigo has managed to escape the usual 'idiotic main character' that mars so many of the other manga or anime that I like. Byakuya makes the funniest 'surprised' expressions ever. I wouldn't be surprised if the other heirs of the Four Houses made it a competition to see who managed to freak him out the most often. And Division 11 is the best family in the series (the Kurosakis were a close second, but they've got a permanent cloud of angst hanging over each and every one of them)! They're not even dysfunctional! They're actually nice, caring and supportive of each other. True, they're nice, caring and supportive while beating up other the members of other divisions, but really their actually the most mentally healthy of all the other family units that we see.

Here are various scenarios between Sakura and Deidara. I actually feel a little sorry for Sasori here.

( Why me? )

( More Nigredo/Rubedo stuff. )

Who remembers when I was asking for fanart? (No one I bet) Anyway I got something! Someone (you know who you are) mailed me a picture. Snail mailed a pencil sketch. Editing is up to my discretion apparently. Anyway, so now I need a place to hold the image online and a good paint program. And some pointers. But it's a start at least.

SasoSaku flash to the past. Something from Sakura's first few days, before she even met Sasuke.

( Jerk )

In one of these drabbles I mentioned that Sakura occasionally gets banned from Deidara's presence. I can't decide why that happens though. I've got two scenarios in mind: one involves cooking, the other involves posing nude. Which do you think would work out better? (Remember, my Deidara is a woman!)

And now something for the ByakuRuki fans!

( The Sound of Waves )

It's really strange but I have this weird idea that Byakuya and Hisana had an odd, chaste, Victorian-like marriage where they never ever touched each other yet otherwise lived their lives together. I'm not sure if I'll continue to use that portrayal in these stories, but the thought is appealing.

Saw some new anime recently, 'Area 88' and 'Jing: King of Bandits'. (Is that the right title? I've also seen it listed as "Bandit King Jing' and "King of Bandits, Jing'.) I really don't get 'Area 88'. I think it's about a war photographer, and it doesn't seem to have much of a plot. 'Jing' doesn't have a plot either, as far as I can tell, but at least it's funny. It kind of reminds me of 'Slayers', so maybe the plot comes in later? And is it just me or are most people named after drinks?

Not too many SasoSaku drabbles left. I'm running out of inspiration.

( Sakura, can you help me with this? )

And I'm coming to the close on my first 30_kisses pairing soon too. Perhaps I should get another one? Any suggestions?

( Red Dragon )

I gave in and got a Greatestjournal account. No opinions on it yet (nothing on it yet, not even a profile), but so far it's so-so. I hate their style and management options, especially those dealing with the appearance of the journal. With no preview options it makes it very difficult and I have to keep returning to Livejournal in order to keep track of what I'm doing. On the other hand, they offer an incredible amount of space for pictures and icons which Livejournal certainly doesn't have. Anyway, more on this later, after I actually start posting.

I decided to get a head start on my readings. fruitypoundcake you might be interested in one of our course books. The Buffalo Creek Disaster by Gerald M. Stern is an interesting take on something that happened in your home state.

And now something much more upbeat.

( Sakura gets deja-vu . . . again. )

And this is a new fic for Naruto. Multi-chaptered (IamgoingtofinishthisIamgoingtofinishthis), inspired by hallidae's FMA universe. Features the Endless from Neil Gaiman's Sandman series.

( Denial )

Hey, if any of you participate in the GW fandom, do you know the author Honor A De'Mandoran? If you do, do you know if and where she archives her fics?

Now, a little SasoSaku drabble-

( Things found on the cutting room floor. )

And something for my first 30_kisses pairing. I hit the halfway mark and didn't even notice.

( #26 If only I could make you mine. )

If you like vampire stories, but don't like Anne Rice or if you're a Robin McKinley fan, I highly recommend that you read Sunshine. It takes place in a sort of post-war alternate world. It's not too provocative (one of my objections with Anne Rice) or dark and there's a definite touch of whimsy. The main character is interesting (she's a BAKER! When's the last time you've seen that?) and the vampire's certainly not a cliche portrayal. Yeah, that's a really horrible description, but check it out anyway.

( First something for Naruto )

( First for my new pairing. Not that good yet. )

I think I regret not taking up photography.

I had an odd dream last night. Do any of you know 'Reign: The Conqueror'? It was done by the same person who did 'Aeon Flux'. Anyway, there's a scene where Alexander cuts the Gordian knot. Except in my dream, the knot wasn't made up of rope, but instead a woman's hair (I think it was Hisana from Bleach but it's hard to say because she didn't talk). And Alexander was sort of freaking out, for obvious reasons. When he asked the people around him what the deal was, they just told him that it wasn't a cart that the man was watching but his young daughter. In order to make sure she didn't run away, he tied her up with her own hair. Since he never came back the townspeople have been taking care of her, by feeding her and occasionally throwing buckets of water on her to clean her. Alexander asked why she didn't talk and they tell him that they cut out her tongue years ago because they didn't like hearing her all the time. He then asked what would happen to the woman if he cut the knot and they tell him she'll be his possession. He sort of freaks out and goes on how he's already married to Roxanne and they tell him she can be a concubine or something. He spent a few minutes staring at her and actually took out his sword. Then he put it away and turned around. He mutters something about just not being able to do it. As he walked away, Ptolemy came up and started trying to undo the knot. Then there was this weird scene of Alexander and Roxanne playing around with a couple of kids, which I guess is my dream telling me that Alexander didn't conquer the Known World, but stayed home and lived a long happy life. And then I woke up.

So more fic things! This one takes place perhaps the day before Sakura met Sasuke.

( Am I beautiful Sasori-sama? )

And more 30_kisses.

( Monday Morning )

OK, some of you may remember I was talking about the lawsuit the company I'm working for is in. Some of you who may know me better might also remember I was thinking of leaving because of the long commute. Anyway, I've found a different route that cuts my commute in half so I've decided to stay a bit longer, at least until things get less hectic. I'm hoping that will be before I start classes, because I've already decided not to work full-time while I'm studying.

Anyway, that being said, they're giving me another day off tomorrow. On Friday they already told me I had today off, because the computer system went down and it would take at least until today to fix it. Well, they got it fixed, except the stuff we're supposed to be working on has to be shipped in. Now anyone who's been keeping up with MA weather knows exactly what happened this weekend. Of course, none of it got through. It's coming sometime late tomorrow, but there's nothing we lowly peons can do so rather than pay us to sit around all day, we're all getting another personal day. So yes, that's another day of weird ramblings for all of you.

I just realized tomorrow's Valentine's Day. Yay for being completely and utterly oblivious!

( Anyway, to celebrate, here's another part of the SasoSaku thingy. )

And here's another 30_kisses fic. Just to make sure they don't eliminate my pairing.

( Like blood. )

I'm really taking advantage of my day off here.

I've been thinking about Sasori and Deidara's perspectives on art and I think I'm more inclined to side with Sasori. Not that there isn't beauty in the ephemeral, but to have both strength and endurance along with beauty is more befitting of "art" rather than something that will die in a year, a month or even in just a few seconds. Something that only exists for a short time is more "beautiful", but something that lasts is more "artistic". Does that make any sense?

Rocks, jewelry, gemstones, paintings, Sasori's puppets, all of those would be artistic to me. Flowers, bubbles, sunsets, Deidara's explosions, on the other hand, would be more beautiful.

Frankly, I think I'd prefer art to beauty. Beauty has a somewhat poignant aspect to it, and shallow person that I am, I'd rather avoid pain if I can. I also dislike change and the ephemeral aspect of beauty just highlights change and the passing of time and the inevitable loss of everything.

I suppose looking at some of my preferences, that makes no sense. I favor flowers to gemstones, cut flowers to plastic ones (admittedly, that may just be my allergies talking), and live plants to dead ones (although there's definitely more charm to a well-arranged dead bouquet to a hastily thrown together live one). Still, it's easier to look at something and know it will endure long after your dead, than to see something that you know will be gone before your next breath.

To change the subject, yesterday I watched 'House of Flying Daggers'. Overall I liked it. The plot was a bit campy (aren't the plots of all martial arts films a bit campy), but the cat-and-mouse games kept me entertained. The cinematography was gorgeous, better than 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' IMHO. The sex scenes were boring and broke up the drama too much, not to mention there seemed a touch too many of them. I loved the 'Echo Game', it added a lovely touch of nostalgia when you realized what it was. I have to admit I'm very disappointed by the ending; I would have preferred if all of them had died. (None of you were really surprised to hear that from me, were you?)

( And more of Sasori and Sakura. )

Sakura's somewhat OOC there isn't she? This is supposed to take place within the first few days of Sakura's time with the Akatsuki. I was trying for a sort of pre-time-skip Sakura, one who still mostly helpless and needs other people to validate her existence. Hopefully she's going to acquire a bit more of a backbone soon, as Sasori allows her more freedom.

( Read more... )

It's not that I hate people categorically.

Actually, it's hard to hate anything categorically. (Dogs are the exception here.) I can hate temporarily, I can hate individually, but hating categorically requires too much effort. (Which raises interesting questions about the Holocaust, but let's not go there.) Hating in itself requires a lot of effort and in general is just not worth it.

Not that I don't hate. There just are fewer people that I hate then one might expect.

So in general I don't hate people. They just irritate me to the point of being homicidal.

And yes, I still believe everything would be a lot better off if humans didn't exist. And would be quite willing to push the red button (except I don't have one).

And if I can't find a fanartist, well darn it, I'll make my own fanart. Even if it's the last thing I do.

( So here's another SasoSaku drabble. )

And this is for locketpair.

( Kaiba needs help. That's no military secret. )

I've figured something out. Not only do I want someone who will give me flowers and candy and recite poetry to me, but I want someone I can give flowers and candy and recite poetry to. Obviously, I should marry another girl, because the only guys like that are probably gay. Or homicidal.

Still like Valentine's Day despite the lack of a romantic relationship. If there's one holiday I really dislike, I think it would be Christmas.

And I'm going to try to stay away from political posts on my friends' journals. They just make me depressed. I don't mind anyone responding to anything I say, but I probably won't be as active (as if I was ever more than a lurker) on other people's.

Here's the first of a set of SasoSaku drabbles that I'm writing. I'm trying out the style rayemars is using with her Ichiro and Megumi fics. I haven't really decided where this is going, but if a plot does suddenly appear before I run out of inspiration, I'll collect these and post them on one of my fanfic archives. Until then, they'll only be appearing here, on lj.

( Read more... )

And here's my first entry for naruto100. Actually written because I couldn't stand seeing another NaruSasu. So evil Sasuke here takes my revenge.

( It's been awhile since I've done one of these. 216 words. )