What fresh hell is this?

--so onwards to cinema criticism

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 18:59:37 GMT

...but what do we call it when:
-person not of color writes a story and does her/his level best to get inside the headspace of characters who are of color, and treats them as respectfully as she/he can
-persons of color go off on (to paraphrase) white imperialist cultural genocide- and refuse to even read the story / view the film?

I'd be horribly disgusted if a black guy did a movie about white people, and white people were horrified and up in arms because he doesn't understand the white culture so obviously they shouldn't even see the movie, myself. And I wouldn't be disgusted at the director; I'd be disgusted by the white people shrieking about their culture being misappropriated. So... why is it that if a white guy makes a movie that's framed in his understanding of non-white culture, it's cool to throw racist epithets at him?

No, I really am not trolling here: I'm genuinely startled at what seems to be a huge degree of duplicity, from where I'm sitting. I can certainly see going 'yeah, Kevin Costner? You're clueless about my people, and let me tell you why, utilizing my informed opinion as to what you missed in your movie, and my quite simply larger grasp of the issues you glossed or missed'. I don't think it's cool to run around spouting off 'oh yeah my mother's brother's friend said her husband thought that Dances With Wolves is horribly racist so I'm gonna run it down everywhere, and never see it' everywhere you go... Hell, why would you need to slag Dances With Wolves for being racist? It's a Kevin Costner movie, that right there is enough argument to never see it in your life.

Eeh. Anyway. Am I completely insane, or is there a point to not going off about a work of fiction that you haven't encountered even 1% of?

EDIT:
OK, I definitely have a better handle on what I was missing, here- many thanks to all!
I think some of this question came up after last night's movie watching: the housemate brought home a recent Mexican sci-fi film named 'Sleep Dealer'. Very good movie- I recommend it highly if you either speak Spanish or have patience to read subtitles- which is a discussion of the border politics in southern California / Mexico (I fear I didn't catch where the main character's hometown was, more specifically than 'it's in Mexico, and that definitely is too dry to be the Yucatan'). I think watching it had some hand in this issue cropping up to be discussed, rather than me just putting the question aside.

Ruminations that I'm not going to LJ cut and you can just freaking cope.

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 08:00:35 GMT

So a thought occurred to me:
Straight couples have little discussion required about who's doing what to whom. There's an emphatic 'this is how it plays, homey' about who's putting what in where; if you want to vary from that (and good on you if you do!), there's discussion to be had. But most people won't vary.

Gay couples? It's a negotiation every night. Maybe I don't feel like giving head tonight. Maybe I just don't want to fuck your ass senseless tomorrow night. Is that something wrong with you? no. Might it take a good bit of coercing to get that across? yes.

Chripes, no wonder a lot of older gay men seem so lonely.

Today's hilarity

Sun, 20 Dec 2009 22:39:01 GMT

So I smoke outside of the building I live in. Foul habit, & this discourages me from just shuffling out of bed and lighting up. instead, I THINK about having a cigarette before having one.

Was outside having a smoke in front of the church next door. Woman pulls up in front, and I civilly engage in 'do you want me to play parallel parking curbside guru? OK, I'm game... back up a bit, back up, a bit more, a bit more-- okay STOP- pull forward and straighten it out a bit...' for a fair while. She gets out of her car and greets me, then cheerfully and chirpingly invites me to join the congregation...
...and I politely turn her down, wish her a happy Christmas, and going back in, realize-
I'm wearing my '667: Neighbor Of The Beast' shirt.

Funny...

Sun, 20 Dec 2009 02:55:57 GMT

...is when you mention you don't think people should allow the internet to get them wound up about something, as it's clearly unhappy-making and uncomfortable- and the response is to get wound up about that something in your direction.

Huh

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 20:21:43 GMT

I guess there is a sequel floating around in my mind for the novel.

And it'll require much research in Paris, Nantes and that weird little building some whacked-out Jesuit priest made in south-east France (if memory serves).

I tried to avoid schadenfreude today...

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 21:06:15 GMT

...but Oral Roberts died today.

I think I'll be wallowing in glee at someone else's damage, thanks.

okay THAT'S trippy...

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 07:27:29 GMT

...So watching Battlestar Galactica, I'd always assumed Michael Trucco- the guy who plays Anders- was somebody I'd seen in something else. Stumbled across something and realized why I know him...
...he's 3 months older than I am, and his home town was my home town. Our mothers were good friends and we spent a lot of time hanging around with each other as kids.
*cough*ty years ago.

Ow. My brain hurts.

The latest iteration of the lasagna recipe

Sat, 12 Dec 2009 21:43:09 GMT

So it occurred to me that I haven't documented the lasagna recipe in Many Years, and it has changed pretty dramatically since I last posted it. As I'm doing it again today, I figured this was a good time to put it up again.

3/4 lb. ground beef
1/4 lb. sausage meat
1-2 cloves garlic, minced
1 medium sized onion, chopped
1 pinch oregano
16 oz. can of tomato sauce
8 oz. can of tomato paste
(go a little large on sauce and paste, if you can't find smaller cans: you will never have enough)
3 medium tomatoes, diced
olives (ideally, fresh)- to taste (there is no such thing as too many olives, in my world
1/2 pound of mushrooms (or so: this one's an optional)

Brown ground beef & sausage meat with garlic, onion, and oregano; drain. Add tomato sauce, tomato paste, and diced tomatoes. Bring to a boil (medium/medium-high heat), then turn low and simmer until the tomatoes are soft and peeling. This can take a while- and you really rather want it to. Be sure and taste now and again while it's simmering, so you can check on flavor.

This would be a good time to grate your mozzarella, set your noodles on a low boil, and then to preheat the oven (350 degrees).

Noodles:

8 oz. package of lasagne noodles, slightly over-cooked- by overcooking, you wind up with ends to poke out over the edges and produce DELICIOUS CRUNCHY LASAGNA CRUSTY GOODNESS, Z O M G.

Other stuff:

16 oz. mozzarella cheese, grated
16 oz. ricotta cheese

In a lasagna pan, layer noodles, ricotta, sauce, mozzarella, topping it off with whatever sauce and mozzarella you have left. Bake at 350F degrees for about thirty minutes, til the cheese on top is melting and bubbling golden brown.

As always, adjust to taste.

A few helpful tips:
1: always save some sauce to smear over the last layer- otherwise, the cheese and the lasagna noodles commingle into this unholy stiff horror.
2: Can be done vegetarian: firm tofu, sear as one would the hamburger with the herbs. Press the water out of the tofu: it'll crisp up easier.
3: if you're able, shoot the recipe a bit large, and freeze the leftovers for next time. For some reason, having some 'starter' does a world of good.
NEW
HELPFUL
TIP:

Trader Joe's does these lovely pre-baked slabs o' tofu that are seasoned. I figured I'd give that a go this time, picked up the savory ones.
Perfect consistency, and it has a rather savory smell indeed!

Another million thanks to karjack for her recipe- I've tweaked it back and forth, here and there- I couldn't have done this without her recipe to build from.

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 21:22:25 GMT

THIS is exactly why I am dubious about the USDOJ, in a nutshell.

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 04:55:54 GMT

Today is so fired it's not even funny.

'the kind of exponential growth that should get us all into fuck-you money before we turn forty'

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 21:34:59 GMT

Given that it seems that I'll be down here more often, it's starting to look like imbecility to keep renting hotel rooms. So out of curiosity- other than Venice, where do you think I might enjoy living, in greater LA? Ideally, a short commute to eastern-edge-of-West-Hollywood.
Silverlake?
North Hollywood?
I kind of liked what I saw of Burbank, last I was down...

Oh lord jesus, protect me from thy followers

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:39:04 GMT

Why, exactly, is it that the religion which comprises over 2/3rds of the people who are religious in the US has somehow had a major portion of its members get their heads stuck on the idea that they're somehow a persecuted minority? The religion whose tenets get printed on our damned currency, no less?
Hurry up and make your Conservative party, Sarah Palin. And take all the crazy religious nutjobs with you to it-- and show us all how badly you fare without associating yourselves with an organization that's not intrinsically religious. Do it quick, though, Jeebus is coming and you'll want to do this before the Rapture!

I always knew Bea Arthur was a class act...

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:50:55 GMT

...but this news story is a bit past what I'd known. Bea, I wish I'd ever met you. What a lovely legacy you're leaving to the world- not just as a comedian, but as a person who chose that one of her final acts on the earth was bettering other people's lives.

'Golden Girls' star Bea Arthur leaves $300,000 in will to NY group that helps gay homeless youths

Tuesday, October 27th 2009, 7:04 PM
Actress Bea Arthur, who died in April of this year, showed amazing generosity in her will
Micelotta/Getty

Bea Arthur left $300,000 in her will to a New York organization that aids homeless gay youth.

The Ali Fornay Center provides services to more than 1,000 each year, and is planning to buy a building to house 12 young people - and name it in honor of the "Golden Girls" actress.

The head of the center said he is thrilled with the stage and television legend's generosity.

"We work with hundreds of young people who are rejected by their families because of who they are," said Executive Director Carl Siciliano.

"We are overwhelmed with gratitude that Bea saw that LGBT youth deserve as much love and support as any other young person, and that she placed so much value in the work we do to protect them, and to help them rebuild their lives," he said.

The Ali Forney Center offers emergency shelter and transitional housing in seven residential sites in New York.

It also operates two drop-in centers offering food, clothing, medical and mental health treatment, HIV testing, treatment and prevention services, and vocational and educational assistance.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2009/10/27/2009-10-27_golden_girls_star_bea_arthur_leaves_300000_in_will_.html#ixzz0WfVXt6Gf

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:22:34 GMT

So I'm noticing that something has changed in the way my mind deals with the world, in the wake of the race!fail and sexism conversations I've participated in on LJ.

A good example of how happened a couple days back. I was discussing a person I know who is doing foolish things and I said 'I don't get it, because she's a smart woman'-- then paused, shook my head, and said 'I'm sorry. I don't get it because she's a smart person: her gender's irrelevant to the question'.
While it's not an example of me being perfectly proper about sexist use of language, it's at least a good example of me noticing the sexism implicit in the language I used, and navigating around it.

why I sometimes hate Apple

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 22:58:16 GMT

Hypothetical scenario:
Pretend you own a laptop computer. For argument's sake, let's call it a Smackmook Schmo.
Along with a computer, there are, of course, peripherals. Some more, and some less essential.

Apple has reduced the # of essential peripherals, laudably, to 1: the power adapter. Now, the power adapter is a fairly smallish piece of work- again, laudable.

Unfortunately, smaller things are easier to lose. But hey, if you're in my neck of the woods, there're something like a thousand Apple stores in driving distance...
...care to guess what they can't bother keeping in stock inb the county I live in? Hint: it's a computer peripheral.

Come the fuck on, people: this is a total no-brainer.

subtracting the dinner break...

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 08:34:54 GMT

...I drove LA->SF in 5.5 hours.
Car redlined well below design spec.
Obviously, tune-up must happen.

Sweet Merciful Mother of Fuck!, or, why office moves are evil

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 02:38:50 GMT

I've been at the office since 9. It's now 6:30. I'm cutting out before we're done with the move.
I've had to do all sorts of weird little errands, and I'm not the type of person who cheerfully adapts to such things en masse.

Off to dinner with cheezdanish and del_the_psycho.

bad, and good

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 07:42:45 GMT

Minus side: did not manage to get a ticket to Gilliam's Graumann's Chinese premiere, despite much effort.

Plus side: did get to meet him after, wish him well with the new film, tell him friends in London are raving about how good it was, and tell him I hoped it continued to do well.

Overall grade? A+++.

Things I really should do with icons...

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 02:45:57 GMT

...include adding a white cord looping in from the left and back out, on this icon. While I don't have a bigger version of this image anymore (thank you, hard drive crash), I could grab one off my Thunderball DVD.
Yes, I own Thunderball on DVD. I own ALL the Bond movies, in fact. Except for the latest one- haven't found it used yet. I may be a media addict but I'm not one who unremittingly must buy something THE DAY IT COMES OUT ZOMG.

Anyways, yeah, that has to happen.

helLA, hello

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:53:26 GMT

So here I am, in beautiful chic Hollywood.
And my car is here in beautiful chic Hollywood, too.
Should I perhaps do something in greater LA since I can actually get there on my own steam now?

8 hours later...

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 08:41:03 GMT

I know, now, to just SKIP getting over to the 5 before leaving the bay area, when the bridge is down.
Sweet christ, but scotch is called for.

Ritual Gourd Molestation and You

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:09:47 GMT

Anybody local got one of those child-safe pumpkin-carving knives I can borrow for Friday early-eve?
My local pub's going to do some jack-o-lantern creation which sounds like fun- but I'm thinking in terms of alcohol, knives, and hand-eye coordination and coming to some unpleasant possibilities.

Writer's Block: Nature or nurture

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 08:21:14 GMT

Do you think your moods are controlled by your brain chemistry or that your brain chemistry dictates your moods? Do you believe people are born with particular emotional temperaments or that they are primarily shaped by environmental factors?

Submitted By abelincoln1864

View 728 Answers

Jeez, what a crap question this is. 'Do you think that your feet define what shoes are most comfortable for you, or is it that the shoes that are most comfortable to you depends on the shape of your feet?'

Answering the question that IS a question: I do think people tend to follow nature and nurture in roughly equal percentages: I know I'd be a very different person if I'd been brought up by different parents and exposed to different stimuli by my parents. I frankly think I'd be worse off for it.

A DIFFERENT music meme, this time

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 04:27:46 GMT

Why are you taking yet another shuffle quiz?
Song: Wasted
Artist: Camper Van Beethoven
Comment: Oh come the fuck on, I've had ONE beer. ONE.

What's currently in your fridge?
Song: Les Dents
Artist: Malajube
Comment: I... my roommate MIGHT have put teeth in the fridge? I know I'm not unwrapping the catalog of horrors that are his leftovers to check.

Your biggest nightmare?
Song: Hollywood Sunset
Artist: Barry Adamson
Comment: Curiously, I rather like sunset in Hollywood. As well as Sunset in Hollywood, see what I did there, hah hah hah.

What place would you like to visit?
Song: Pandemonium
Artist: Pet Shop Boys
Comment: Clearly I don't enjoy order in my life. Wait a second...

A reason to commit suicide?
Song: Armageddon Days Are Here (Again)
Artist: The The
Comment: Oh come on, this is far from the worst thing Johnny Marr's performed on, I mean there's some brilliant lyrical twists about-- oh. Yeah, okay, getting out of Armageddon would be handy.

Why are we here?
Song: Sax & Violins
Artist: Talking Heads
Comment: Clearly, it's all about the sax and violins.

Something you never dared to say to anyone...?
Song: Look Back In Anger
Artist: David Bowie
Comment: I can think of a few people I'd love to suggest this tactic to. It's amazing how much different the past looks when you're pissed off at it.

One thing the world really doesn't need?
Song: English Summer
Artist: The Eurythmics
Comment: I dunno, I think England would get pretty effing bleak without summer.

What's your biggest unfulfilled wish?
Song: Everybody Needs Love
Artist: Robyn Hitchcock
Comment: Probably self-explanatory.

If you could invent something, what would it be?
Song: Oops- I Did It Again
Artist: Max Raabe & Der Palast Orchester
Comment: Well, it'd be an accident, whatever it was.

The last thing you say before you die?
Song: Ca Plane Pour Moi
Artist: Plastic Bertrand
Comment: 'That Plane's For Me' seems a terribly surreal exit line. I approve.

What's your destiny?
Song: Nails In The Road
Artist: The Pretenders
Comment: YEAH WELL I WON'T BE THE HAMSTER OF MODERN ROCK, CHRISSY, TAKE THAT.

What do you do when you're alone in an elevator?
Song: Hot Corner
Artist: The B-52's
Comment: I didn't know I made out with myself in the corner when nobody else was in the elevator. Well! Now I know.

Why do people go fishing?
Song: The Final Battle
Artist: Michael Kamen
Comment: The showdown between TROUT and MIDDLE-AGED DUMPY GUY is the ULTIMATE showdown.

What would you do with your slaves?
Song: We're Having Much More Fun
Artist: X
Comment: Apparently, I'd have more fun than other people were having. I think that sounds appropriate.

Is there a man on the moon?
Song: Heaven
Artist: Nouvelle Vague
Comment: I... am not sure. iTunes wishes to speak about where the moon is than what is in a where one might call the moon.

What does hell look like?
Song: The Bridge of Khazad Dum
Artist: Howard Shore
Comment: Well there's an irony.

About what would you like to write a book?
Song: Putting On The Ritz
Artist: Rufus Wainwright
Comment: Okay I AM NOT THIS GAY, iTunes, jesus. However, that said- uhm, the book I'm working on is set in the inter-war years of the early 20th century.

The best thing ever is...?
Song: Somebody From Somewhere
Artist: Ella Fitzgerald (Comp. Gershwin & Gershwin)
Comment: I suppose it'd have to be a person- one I haven't met so far, I'm guessing.

Why did the chicken cross the road?
Song: Schadenfreude
Artist: Avenue Q Cast
Comment: To laugh at the expense of someone else.

Why do you listen to music?
Song: Victorian Squid
Artist: Robyn Hitchcock
Comment: ...

What do you do when you're alone and nobody's watching?
Song: Lazy
Artist: Ella Fitzgerald (Comp. Berlin)
Comment: I'll take 'Doing Fuckall' for $400, Alex

Why are other people so stupid?
Song: Masquerade
Artist: Soundtrack- Casshern
Comment: Because they're pretending to be someone else, I suppose?

Last thing you ate?
Song: No Bravery
Artist: James Blunt
Comment: That's true- I had scrambled eggs for dinner.

Why is grass green?
Song: Delusions of Grandeur
Artist: Fleming & John
Comment: Apparently it aspires to be something else. Perhaps money?

Your phone is ringing, but who's on the other end?
Song: Dance of the Dream Man
Artist: Angelo Badalamenti
Comment: DO NOT WANT. I do NOT want the Man From Another Place ringing me up and talking backwards at me.

What should you stop doing?
Song: J'ai Deux Amours
Artist: Madeleline Peyroux
Comment: ...uhm, well, I obviously should HAVE two before I stop having two.

A word of advice to the readers of this quiz?
Song: I Am A Human Head
Artist: They Might Be Giants
Comment: It's true, everything from the neck down's a prosthesis.

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 19:54:43 GMT

Gentle Reader, what's your favorite story of an awkward social situation? Especially one that was awkward at the time, but that with hindsight was really, really funny.