Jay Smooth does great vids with social commentary of various kinds, his vids can be found on illdoctrine and youtube. I liked his vid about the "Little Hater" that discourages creativity. What I'm watching right now: New Forms of Storytelling.

I've been watching and listening to R.E.M.'s Turn You Inside Out for days.

Fan vids:

One Girl Revolution by arefadedaway

Glorious by such_heights

There are comments at Dreamwidth.

Silence and the Word, both a story and an essay, by Mary Ann Mohanraj. Text available online. Explicit. This story is about how the author is a writer of erotica, can read the stories aloud at bookstores, but has trouble speaking her own desires to her lovers.

Stiches: a memoir by David Small, graphic novel, 2009. YouTube trailer for this book. Gothic, haunting, full of raw emotion; this book is about Small's childhood growing up in a repressive, silent family in Detroit. He was taught silence as a behavior, and after a surgery during his youth, he lost half his vocal cords and therefore lost his voice above a whisper. Small retreats into art and explores his dreams, looking to understand his own existence. I enjoyed this book a lot and read it quickly, but would have liked a bit more reflection and more of the author's adult life and experience. Portions of this book are quite dark and disturbing and probably not suited for younger readers.

There are comments at Dreamwidth.

I am having a fannish Christmas, or Yuletide, or holiday whatsit, and it's the best Christmas in while. Someone asked me my primary fandom, and oliviacirce helped me figure out that META is my primary fandom at the moment.

Interesting Links:

In lieu of life (fandom is) by hesychasm

Mixed Feelings by jmtorres, a meditation on hair, beauty, and gender presentation, that really got me thinking about those things in my own life.

Yuletide Insta-rec:

Life, Stripped of All Luxuries

This story is based on The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold, is Cazaril/Palliar, set during the seige of Gotorget. It it is heart-rending, gorgeous, and you should read it immediately.

What Remains

Based on the novel Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro. This is lyrical, moving story that makes me like the book better because of its particular insights into the characters. The voice is perfect and it fits the canon so well. Go read it!

I teared up while reading both of these stories! They are so well-written.

For a bit of cheer afterwards, watch One Night Fandoms, the Yuletide tribute vid by thingswithwings and eruthros!

There are comments at Dreamwidth.

Vid recs!

thingswithwings: James Bondage [MythBusters Jamie/Adam]

beccatoria: The Other Love Quadrangle (No, the Other, Other One) [BSG]

So I am working on my old laptop, and I realize I have a couple of vids on here. One is:

cesperanza: Supersmart [SGA] (scroll down)


The other one is this fantastic McKay/Sheppard vid labeled "Untitled", set to the song "Cold War Kids / Hospital Beds". Anyone know this vid? It's fantastic. I downloaded this ages ago, before I was really into vid watching, and have no clue where I found it.

There are comments at Dreamwidth.

haddayr posted this a while back.

Cantus - 23rd Psalm (dedicated to my mother) The gender designation is changed so that God is "She".



This entry was originally posted at sasha-feather.dreamwidth.org. If you choose, comment there using OpenID.

If you are wondering what the heck I am talking about, these would be fan vids. Go to the link, RightClickSaveAs, then watch them using something such as the VLC media player. Some of them also have streaming options (meaning you don't have to download). You don't need to be familiar with the source material to enjoy these vids.

Just A Girl (SG-1, Vala) by kuwdora

I didn't even watch late series SG-1 but dang, Vala, dang. You go.

Vogue (300) by luminosity

This was one of the first vids I feel like I "got"-- I understand its political message just from reading reviews of 300 and watching the vid. It's intensely beautiful and well-made. I watch it a lot.

Forever Fuzz (Hot Fuzz) by jescaflowne

HAPPY PLACE.

Seven Nation Army (multifandom) by charmax

I read this described as "the rainbow coalition vs. the robots". I love it.

This entry was originally posted at sasha-feather.dreamwidth.org. If you choose, comment there using OpenID.

jesse_the_k posted about the best TV documentary she has ever seen, from "This American Life" with Ira Glass.

You should read her post, or you can go directly to the online video which is uncaptioned.

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I think I forgot to say it in my own journal! kaz, were_duck, and I have been collecting links on Feministing and disabling language and posting roundups in access_fandom. Check it out. It's cool to see people talking, cool to see so many voices.

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Generally for me, learning about disability is frankly a survival tactic: it gives me tools, resources, communities, ways of thinking that help me with a sometimes very challenging life. But I also think that DS is interesting to learn about, it is concerned with justice and feminism and anti-oppression, it involves ethics (always something I've been interested in), thinking about bodies and embodiment, thinking about the way we treat people as a society; it's about humanity, and the wrong messages we're given growing up, like how if you only try harder you can change, you can be better, stronger, smarter, prettier, more able; and how to undo some of those messages.

And even if you are able-bodied now, it is likely you won't always be, so, as Jesse says,
"Learning why disablism is wrong now will make your life easier later."

1. A fantastic review of all 3 WisCon Chronicles:
http://www.asif.dreamhosters.com/doku.php?id=the_wiscon_chronicles

2. were_duck talks about queer appropriation in True Blood (Spoilers through 2x09):
http://were-duck.livejournal.com/114259.html

3. I've been watching a lot of fan vids, and so far the one I've liked best is Forever Fuzz by jescaflowne. (ETA: The Fandom/Source material is the movie Hot Fuzz.)

(If you are new to vids, right click on the vid title and "save as" to download.)

(x-posted)

I had a lovely time at Think GalactiCon in Chicago! I squeed about fanfic and vids to a lot of people, including people who are clearly not in fic culture (like lcohen), which was pretty funny. I talked more than I expected to.

Panels I attended:
*Species-defined gender roles in SF/F (link takes you to my notes)

*Infinite Diversity (Star Trek); a well-attended panel. I surprised myself by ranting about unethical ST doctors, for example Dr. Bashir in Sons of Mogh. Leah and I brought up the fanvid ...On the Dance Floor by sloanesomething.

*Gender and Sexuality in Fan Fiction. I talked a lot, but I don't remember what I said. I did give a shout-out to General_jinjur's Podfic archive; and I recommended Straight as a Circle by toomuchplor.

*Brown People Harshing My Squee?
About the costs (emotional and otherwise) of RaceFail and doing anti-racist work. Panelists were Candra, Karnythia, Jamie, and Pope Lizbet.

*Skipped the Sunday AM panels; ended up sitting in the commons area with a bunch of the TG concom and assorted people. I remember I did refer to vito_excalibur's parody of comic book art and said I'd post links:

These are from a couple of years ago:

How to Draw Women in Comics (According to Wizard), an LJ post with scans and commentary, by ratcreature.

Then look at vito_excalibur's brilliant reversal of it:
IM IN UR STUDIo DRAWING UR DooDZ

There are also some good parodies here at Girl Wonder (scroll down/go through the pages for pictures).

*Race, Ethnicity, and YA.
I was pleased that I'd heard of or read a lot of these books, which made me feel like YAY I know YA pretty well, but also very sad that there aren't MORE YA books about race and ethnicity. There are so few in this booming publishing market! Candra was keeping a list that will be posted eventually. Nnedi Okorafor was the other panelist (go read her book Zarah the Windseeker; it's awesome!).

Other vids I brought up:
Vogue by luminosity (a 300 fan vid/critique)
"White" and Nerdy by talitha (Psych, Gus)

Other fic I brought up:
Reading Against/Reading With: Mastering the Oppositional Discourse in Textual Healing", by emeraldwoman. ST: Reboot fic.
Daddy was a steel-driving man by livii. Sarah Connor Chronicles fic that address issues of trans identity.

ETA: I think access was pretty good at this con. The food was utterly fantastic! Good location that utilized a university in downtown Chicago--awesome.
I really liked the commons area that combined the dealers tables, food tables, registration, and social events. I *loved* the crafty stuff. (I skipped the main crafting event but did casual crafting on Friday.)
Also, bravo to karnythia for turning off the fluorescent lights for me at the Brown People Harshing My Squee panel.

coffeeandink: Born to Run and her scc tag

thingswithwings: SCC: Can I Keep it, Mom? (spoilers through last episode)


Reading the commentaries made me go from liking this show a lot to LOVING IT. And I think it will have a lot of re-watch potential. WHAT A GOOD SHOW.

This collection of links may be updated frequently-- 14 Valentines is a lovely excuse for me to do something I've been meaning to do for a while!
Thanks jesse_the_k for many of these!

Disability: Theory, Resources, and Discussions

Diary of a Goldfish: The Social Model of Disability
Ragged Edge Magazine Online
(Color) Blindness as as a Metaphor to Racism by Jesse the K
Deconstructing Cheney's De-inaugural Wheelchair by Liz Henry
I'm just a soul whose intentions are good by lim
Portrayals of People with Disabilities in Star Trek
Changing Expectations

Migraines and Headaches
Migraines are a disability that disproportionally affect women.

National Headache Foundation
Headache Network Canada
The Daily Headache Blog
I really like this blog! A lot of what she write resonates with me.
On the Right and Left Sidebars are links to many other resources, including other migraine blogs
Arms at Rest by Siri Hustvedt, an Op-Ed about coming to terms with with a life as a migraineur

Book Recommendations

Living with Chronic Illness by Cheri Register
Also titled The Chronic Illness Experience: Embracing the Imperfect Life (link to WorldCat)
Decloaking Disability Bibliography By Kestrell -- A annotated list of (mostly) SF/F books dealing with disability

Misc

hidden_diseases

Special for 14valentines, a reminder to ask your doctor or health care provider about the HPV Vaccine to prevent cervical cancer.

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If you have more links or book recommendations, leave a comment!

truepenny has written Absent from Felicity (Hamlet slash).

Go read it!

The Monsters Men Don't See by anna_bird. Gen, ~5,100 words.

My friend Eric Vogt has his story "Return" published this month in Strange Horizons.

(Part one this week, part two next week).

Go read it, it's great!

From anna_bird:

Fantasy Author Stephen Brust has written a Firefly fanfiction novel! It is free to download here!

I have not read it yet.

(Like you, Anna, I'm curious to know what the fallout will be. I have a sneaking suspicion that Joss Whedon won't mind.)

zelempa has posted meta about slash here. Highly recommended-- there are good points here that I totally missed in my post about why I like slash (which I have recently unlocked--commenters, let me know your views on locking/unlocking if you wish.) Also, Zelempa posts on the problems regarding each possible explanation.

People in fandom often use the word "kink" to indicate things they especially like, and not always in the sexual sense. What this is getting at is "this does it for me and I don't entirely know why."

In fact I had a similar discussion last night regarding tattoos. I think tattoos are interesting and sometimes quite striking and beautiful, but I have never, ever wanted one for myself. Piercings, either: my ears will be staying just they way they are. So why do people get them? One could make a laundry list of reasons, but in the end it comes down to "I just like them."

If you are an SGA fan, you might also like these jokes posted by thingswithwings.

I read 100 books this year. Some people talk about the 50 book challenge. For me, the challenge is to put the book down, get off the couch, and socialize.

All the Books I read in 2007
The highlights follow--
(With a formatting nod to some people on my f-list!)

The Best (alpha by author)

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian; by Sherman Alexie
Fun Home (graphic novel); by Allison Bechdel
Kushiel's Dart; Kushiel's Chosen; Kushiel's Avatar; by Jacqueline Carey
Book of a Thousand Days; by Shannon Hale
Privilege of the Sword; by Ellen Kushner
Melusine; The Virtu; by Sarah Monette
The Queen of Attolia; The King of Attolia; by Megan Whalen Turner
Y: The Last Man (comics/graphic novels); by Brian K. Vaughan

Honorable Mentions
Speak; by Laurie Halse Anderson
Feed; by M.T. Anderson
Princess Academy; by Shannon Hale
The Language of Power; by Rosemary Kerstein
The Mirador, Sarah Monette
Beka Cooper: Terrier; by Tamora Pierce

Authors or Editors:
Number of Authors: 46
Female Authors: 34
Male Authors: 12
(note that I'm making an educated guess on the sex of the manga authors. Will double check later.)

Miscellany!

I see now that my counts are slightly off. I read so many comics and manga and stories this year; I got a little confused in my record-keeping!

Re-reads: 3
Comics or graphic novels: 35 volumes
Fantasy: 54
Science fiction: 6
Nonfiction: 1
Contemporary fiction: 2
YA non-genre fiction: 2

Stories of MAN-killing plagues!: 2 (Y: The Last Man and A Brother's Price)

Authors from the WisCon Reading List (Is there such a list? I'm making this up!)
Laurie Halse Anderson (even though she's non-genre!)
Elizabeth Bear
Allison Bechdel
Lois McMaster Bujold
Rosemary Kerstein
Ellen Kushner
Laurie J. Marks
Sarah Monette
Tamora Pierce
Delia Sherman
Ysabeau S. Wilce
Connie Willis

And I'd also add loosely add Perry Moore, Lynn Flewelling, Maria V. Snyder, Megan Whalen Turner, Shannon Hale, Brian K. Vaughan, and Jacquelin Carey to the WisCon list.

A little of what I've been reading on LJ:

Sarah Monette is reviewing episodes of Due South in her LJ here.

A friend of mine (nabonidus) is reviewing episodes of Firefly and Babylon 5 at his blog Brian's Study Breaks.

I'm really loving this analytical, literate approach to television shows. It makes them seem smarter.

Here is a feminist take on the Stargate: Atlantis episode "Doppleganger" (4x04) by thingswithwings. And linked in the comments of that post is this post on "John as Shadow" by shuhu (creepy and fascinating!).
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If you're interested in reading author's blogs, I've stumbled across some and thought I'd make a listing (to be added to as I find more).

Elizabeth Bear matociquala
Holly Black blackholly
Laurie Halse Anderson halseanderson
Ellen Kushner ellen_kushner
Kelly Link kellylink
Sarah Monette truepenny
Naomi Novik naominovik
Tamora Pierce tammy212
Delia Sherman deliasherman
Sherwood Smith sartorius
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My friend Anna is posting some of her fiction at notbirdy (f-locked, I think).
--------

ETA!
Nathan Fillion's essay about Firefly:
I, Malcolm

(thanks, izzybeth!)

Go Read!

Notes: This list is primarily for my own reference--to keep track of what I read and like--, and for my fannish convertees, so I'm warning for spoilers. A little background: I started reading SGA fanfic in the summer of 2007. I did read some fanfic back in college but was away from it for a long time. I mostly read slash; all of these unless otherwise noted are love stories for our favorite couple, John and Rodney, who are pictured in the icon. This will be updated as I come across stories I *especially* like. There is a LOT of SGA fanfic out there, so it isn't hard to find: it just takes some wading through to find the stuff that sticks with you the way these have with me.

Stargate: Atlantis Fan Fiction Recs

Updated 2-25-09

--Freedom's Just Another Word for Nothing Left to Lose by synecdochic
Poignant, is about all I can say. No significant spoilers. A must-read in this fandom.

--Written by the Victors by cesperanza
A "history of the future" story, where the colony revolts! Exceptionally well-written. Spoilers through season 3 (I think). A must-read in this fandom.

--toft_froggy:
Healing Station Argh -- hilarious, sexy, warm, team story. Minor (mostly casting) spoilers through season 4. Possibly my favorite story in all of SGA, therefore I'm calling it a must-read in this fandom! Fic tag for toft_froggy
I LOVE ALL HER FIC!

--In the City of Seven Walls
by Auburn auburnnothenna
Long-like-a-short-novel long, and heartbreaking like all reading should be. General spoilers through start of season 2, one spoiler for end of season three.

--Inflated by Auburn
John and Rodney are fighting... an amusing look at a relationship from the perspectives of those around them. General spoilers through start of season 2.

--3 Lovers by cesperanza. This is Teyla/John, Teyla/Rodney, Teyla/Ronon, and John/Rodney. Go Teyla! It's a warm story, that gets at that sense of family which feels so strong to me between these four. General spoilers through start of Season 2.

--Things to do in Denver when You're Dead by cesperanza.
Spoilers through 2x02 "The Intruder". Funny and realistic. (Speranza is my favorite fanfic writer: See the website for more! Read it all!

--Unsingable Name by 30toseoul
I like the political take here, of the US military's intolerance and its effect on people. Minor spoilers through beginning of season 2, this is Lorne/Parrish (two characters from the episode 2x03 "Runner".)
--Of Polar Bears is the McKay/Sheppard companion piece to Unsingable Name. Features telepathy. Minor spoilers through 2x04 "Duet".

--Junk Cheap by devildoll
Funny and endearing! No spoilers. A fandom favorite.

--Strangers on a Six Train by eye_queue
Again, funny and wonderfully endearing. Very minor spoilers through season 3.

--This is a bit of sartorial porn by franticjoy that was just really memorable to me for some reason. Short, no spoilers. I maybe have a thing for uniform porn!

--No, Really by basingstoke. A porny foursome. What gets me is the humor and the trust between these people. It has a sequel, Yes, Maybe. Very general (cast) spoilers for beginning of season 2.

--Rock, Paper (No scissors)". This story is AMAZING. So in-character. So funny and touching and hurt/comfort OMG. So GO READ IT NOW. By zelempa. No spoilers that I know of, except general casting for season 2.

--Theory of Everything by rheanna27
Minor spoilers through "Tao of Rodney". Really an excellent story; paced like an episode, but with slash! Excellent character insights in this one.

--That Which Does not Kill Us by liketheriverrun. A graphic-novel-style satiric fic. Brilliant. Spoilers through season 5.


--Target Practice by cathalin. SMOKIN' HOT. Gun play kink. No spoilers.

--sheafrotherdon's fic. She's best known for A Farm in Iowa stories; warm, domestic fiction without much angst or conflict. She is prolific! She now has a del.icio.us page with all her fic on it: here!

--Another author I've been enjoying lately is mmmchelle (chellefic)
Her website. I liked Bridges a lot--an outsider's view on John and Rodney. General spoilers for "McKay and Mrs Miller".

--Fic Index for toomuchplor! See "Straight as a Circle", in which John finds himself unexpectedly heterosexual. I also liked "Confidential".

--franticsga. Index post is here. Read the "five things" stories!

--thingswithwings. I love her fandom and SGA meta posts. Her genderswitch story, "Always should be with someone you really love", is great.

--Missed the Saturday Dance by zoetrope. A WWII AU. The creativity here is Just.Frakking.Astounding. The artwork especially.

--42, an episode tag for Season 4 "Quaratine", so naturally it's spoilery. And really good. By cathalin; apparently her first SGA fic which is amazing to consider since the voices are so very accurate.

--Eight Ways John and Rodney Gave Themselves Away by trinityofone. Loved this one: outsider perspectives, pared down style, really just awesome. This author is my new favorite! Index Page Here!

--spuffyduds for Due South and SGA (and other fandoms). Her SGA index post is here.

--seperis, Story of a Girl. Here's how awesome this show would be if John Sheppard had been Joan Sheppard. AWESOME. Made. Of. Win. There are general spoilers through season 3.
The Insurrection is an outtake story, and good in and of itself.
Seperis also has good recs in her LJ. Her fic index page.

--Or Something Like It by semivowel. Truth serum story, hilarious and sweet and charming.

--Harmonic Function by shaenie. Best BDSM fic I've ever read-- probably the only one I've really truly enjoyed.

--icarusancalion "Tanlines and Dogtags", Sheppard/Lorne (sort of)
Her website -- all her stuff is good!

--Six Word Story Challenge, mostly SGA, many spoilers. Fun reading!

--Five Kisses that Haven't Happened Yet by shaenie and fiercelydreamed

Still hungry? Here's more

A terrific rec post by unamaga! I'm working my way down this list, and most of them I'm enjoying. A good place to start if you're looking for good fic. I admit I'm avoiding the "epic" section because I occasionally feel burned by long fanfic. It's got to be truly excellent for me to stay with it that long.

Rec Post by bittenbird

Fic recs by my fannish convertee anatratrope

Jinjurly audiofic archive

SGA Authors that many people rec (details to be added):
astolat; resonant8; cupidsbow
I am not as familiar with individual stories for these authors, but they are good authors all 'round and well-regarded. Also: fiercelydreamed.
Lately I'm reading beadattitude and lamardeuse (fic index for lamardeuse)

Art

SGA:

--Downtime
Oh, my heart! Watercolor! Happiness!
Crysothemis' website!! (crysothemis)

--Steampunk Atlantis

--tardis80 has cute cartoons and a robot bookmark template. Doodles tag

--A bunch of art recs from icarusancalion!

Art & Fic from Other fandoms:

--Art by Mathia (multi-fandom). Song of Ice and Fire, Lynn Flewelling, Ellen Kushner, Harry Potter, others. Really fantastic artwork!

--Do Wizards Dream of Magical Sheep? by keelywolfe. HP fandom; Sirius Black/Remus Lupin. Set during book 6.

--Lately I'm reading Cesperanza's Due South fic. I especially enjoyed "Eight Sessions" and "With Six You get Egg Roll". Index is here

--Teal'c's five favorite board games, Gen SG-1

--The Big Bang and Everything After by mandysbitch. SGA/Firefly crossover. River/Rodney, PG-13. Beautifully written, poignant, and convincing.

--Where Winter Wolves Bark by petronelle. A Due South/A Companion to Wolves Crossover. Excellent.

Self-Promotion and friend-promotion.

Mirror Box, a Battlestar Galactica fic by myself and bittenbird! Gaeta/Anders.

The Legend of the Browncoats and the Shining City. Firefly/SGA, R. With bittenbird.

bittenbird (anna_bird's fic journal--new)

anatratrope: The (Dr.) Manhattan Project (SGA)

Sharp-Dressed Man, SGA, Parrish/Lorne, R. By me!
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In an attempt to cheer myself up, I've been watching these fan vids, which the fan girls introduced me to on Saturday. My favorite is the following, set to an Eminem song. Mild warning for nudity and lyrics. The juxtaposition here of the Eminem song with this nerdy lovable guy is just...beyond my capacity to express. Go watch it. You'll see. (Also: it's AMAZING how different DH looks in different years and roles.)



----
I have an inkling what the postcard thing is about (I know the line comes from Martin Gero in an episode commentary, and led to a postcard campaign of some kind). If someone in the fan crowd would care to elaborate, I'd appreciate it!
----
Also. It looks like I'll be going home this weekend, which means no cable TV. Can someone fill me in on how to acquire the SGA episode "Doppleganger"? It's not really necessary--I don't want TV schedules to interfere with actual living. But OTOH, I'm enjoying keeping up with a show while it actually airs, which is something I usually don't do. It makes it easier to participate in fandom. And I know this ep was leaked, so. Fill in the newbie fangirl?
----
(edit) One more thing. I don't think I want to commit to watching all 10 seasons of SG-1, especially because I've already seen a lot of the early episodes. So I'm thinking of NetFlixing the later eps, if only to get the Hewlett appearances and the crossover eps of later seasons. This would be... season 6 onward I think? Any thoughts?