sundries

[rm]

- Did not hear from Patty today. Not sure she's in Damascus yet. May be shopping. (It's going on evening there, so I expect she will not be in Internet cafes at this point).

- Have finally started watching Dr. Horrible (I'm about 10 minutes in -- I view media on the subway only these days). Neil Patrick Harris can do anything. I've loved him since Starship Troopers (which I know is a film that some of you hate and many of you find upsetting, but that I just adore for the OMGWTFOhNoTheyDidn't! factor). Also, I just love that this thing exists.

- Hey. Vids are awesome. More vid recs please?

- The heat is, I think, breaking.

- I am listening to this version of Hard Times that redstapler sent me on obsessive repeat. It is very hard not to sing along with, as old time music is about the only thing my voice is _really_ suited to in terms of the intersection of sound quality and my emotional state of being.

- Note to tourists travelling in large groups. Please, please don't stand in big clumps on street corner staring up at a particular landmark (say, the Empire State building). Because for those of us living here, when we're walking to work and we haven't had our (in my case, metaphorical) coffee yet and we see a bunch of you on the corner frozen and staring up, we assume a plane hit it.

No, really. It scared the shit out of me this morning. And I wasn't the only one. I saw at least five or six people go through the same set of reactions -- speeding up, looking at other corners to see if _everyone_ in the world was looking up, swiping at the eyes.

Just. Grace. Not all at once. Please.

Comments

[redstapler.livejournal.com]

That song got me through this past weekend. Both for its beauty and its disconcerting relevance.

Also on repeat, oddly, was "Popular," from Wicked. Guess which was stuck in my head all morning. 9_9 (Hint: Obsessively cute isn't where my head wanted to be today.)

[darthhellokitty.livejournal.com]

Who sings your version of Hard Times? I don't think I've ever heard a version I haven't liked.

[redstapler.livejournal.com]

It's by a duo called "eastmountainsouth".

Apparently they've since broken up. :(

Find the song here!

[1-mad-squirrel.livejournal.com]

I saw at least five or six people go through the same set of reactions -- speeding up, looking at other corners to see if _everyone_ in the world was looking up, swiping at the eyes.

Oh man, I felt my heart squeeze

* hugs New York City *

[kenazfiction.livejournal.com]

I happened to be coming out of work on 43rd street when one of those lunatics was half-way up the side of the NYT building last month, and I saw all these people congregating around Port Authority and my heart just climbed in my throat and I nearly ran for the Hudson. Of course, when I found out that we weren't under attack, I stood there and gawped for a while like a tourist, and a woman beside me was in tears on her cell phone, telling whoever was on the other end "It's just some nutjob climbing up a building, but I swear to god, I saw all those people looking up and I just thought 'not again, please not again.'"

So, yeah.

Vid recs

[laurashapiro.livejournal.com]

I have a recs tag (http://laurashapiro.livejournal.com/tag/recs) which may prove useful. There's a little fic on it, too.

My own vids are here (http://www.laurasha.com/vids/) streaming here (http://laurasha.imeem.com)), if you don't mind the shameless self-promotion. (:

If you tell me more about what you're looking for, I can direct you more specifically.

Re: Vid recs

[rm.livejournal.com]

I don't know really. I just find that I like really well done vids (apparently, even in fandoms I'm not in -- because I'm just such a movie trailer whore). I spent hours in a vid room at a party back in the fall and had no idea what huge chunks of it was.

I will totally check out your list. Thanks!

Re: Vid recs

[laurashapiro.livejournal.com]

You're my favorite audience! (:

Okay, I'll just link you to some of my favorite amazingly talented vidders, then:

Seah and Margie (http://trickster.org/vids/)

JKL Vidders (http://trickster.org/vids/) (don't be dissuaded by the password-protection -- they are awesome)

Here's Luck (http://heresluck.net/)

Jarrow (http://jarrow.livejournal.com/tag/vids)

Luminosity (http://www.slum.slashcity.com/lum/eyecandy/)

Shalott (http://www.intimations.org/vidding/)

Obsessive24 (http://obsessive24.net/videos.html)

Oh, and

[laurashapiro.livejournal.com]

if you haven't yet seen charmax's contribution to Femslash day, I'm Your Man (http://charmax.livejournal.com/107223.html#cutid2), run. Do not walk.

[quatredeathlady.livejournal.com]

Dr. Horrible I thought was quite fantastic, although there is apparently wank over the ending that I do not understand (nor am I privvy to because I don't have a lot of Whedon fans on my friends list. I only know that it exists somewhere out there on the vast internets). Like, are these people STILL unfamiliar with Joss Whedon's schtick? I was surprised at Neil Patrick Harris's ability to sing--just wasn't expecting it, I suppose. And Nathan Fillion has one of the best lines in the whole 'show'. I will not spoil it.

[stardragonca.livejournal.com]

The hammer bit?

[quatredeathlady.livejournal.com]

Bingo. XD

[stardragonca.livejournal.com]

I hooted like a loon!

[stardragonca.livejournal.com]

It's a musical from the POV of a super villain, and they want a happy ending? Can you say "Groundlings?'
Trigger warning for Old Yeller: the dog dies, kids.
And Bambi's mama is never coming back...

[quatredeathlady.livejournal.com]

And not only that, but there are just certain things Joss Whedon does all the time that really shouldn't surprise anyone anymore.

[stardragonca.livejournal.com]

Complete agreement. Nonspoilerage forbids further comment.

[stardragonca.livejournal.com]

Ok, someone on my friends list wrote a much better ending, involving Horrible/Hammer shipping, and the Bad Horse Chorus singing "Get A Room."

[askeladden.livejournal.com]

Is this Hard Times of Old England? I've got Steeleye Span's version of that song, and I really love it.

[rm.livejournal.com]

I don't think so, because it has that particularly Appalachian sound to me -- I only know this as "Hard Times"

starts "let us pause in life's pleasures and count its many tears"

"hard times come again no more" is the phrase you'd know from it.

So I don't know the song you're referring to, I suspect.

[askeladden.livejournal.com]

Yeah, seems to be a different song. Who sings yours? Here's the one I was talking about. Ignore the video 'cause it's boring and creepy, but the song itself is great (I'd send you my mp3, but it cuts off about 30 seconds from the end and I haven't been able to find a complete version.):

[shield-toad111.livejournal.com]

"Hard Times" is a Stephen Foster song. I've loved it since I was young because it was on a Stephen Foster CD that my mom had and was obsessed with for a time and it had really lovely harmonies, especially the bass line.

[nobodyreally.livejournal.com]

That would be the Stephen Foster version. someoneElse plays a slow, blues version of it on a sweet acoustic guitar. Got a link to your version?

[jesse_the_k]

It always tugs my heart-strings too! Very hymn-like, great fun to harmonize on. It's a bellwether cover tune, the melody seems simple but is challenging to sing. Many many people have drowned this tune in heavy syrup.

Particularly delicate, weepy versions:

The Red Clay Ramblers

Mary Black with De Dannan

Dry Branch Fire Squad

Side Trip: Starship Troopers.

[stardragonca.livejournal.com]

I have a friend who used to work in Hollywood( and later at the Pentagon-less crazy!)
The story is this: Starship Troopers was well into production under the name Bug Hunt on Outpost Nine , when someone commented that the screenplay seemed a little like (about ten pages of) something called Starship Troopers by somebody named Heinlein. So the director bought the rights from his estate, didn't read it, but hired two people to throw some stuff from the book into the script.
If I think of it as Bughunt On Outpost Nine, I find that it's a much better movie.

Much more relevant.

[stardragonca.livejournal.com]

The people of New York earned my undying devotion by the way they handled themselves while the rest of their country went Batfuck nuts.
*hugs New York too*

vids

[kalichan.livejournal.com]

Did you watch that mpreg one I sent you? Oh, and I have some more (not funny, but actually awesome.) Will find links.

Re: vids

[rm.livejournal.com]

I was at home. I don't have sound at home and this isn't the best office moment..... but I will.

Re: vids

[kalichan.livejournal.com]

Affirmation (http://www.imeem.com/butterflydm/video/v3zdjWoH/butterfly_drwhotw_affirmation_shortfilm_video/)

This is maybe my favorite TW/DW vid ever. Okay, I have a ridiculous love for this song, but give it a chance even though it is cheezy!pop.

Wherever You Will Go (http://youtube.com/watch?v=zFSfekRQGCk)
This is not the most polished work, but I like it anyway.

Five Becomes Four (http://www.imeem.com/xandrazander/video/aZBS7tmF/drwhotw_five_becomes_four/)
Oh, Jack!

Accidentally in Love (http://www.imeem.com/fahrbot/video/D9xip6kS/accidentally_in_love/)
Oh, Ianto!

In the End (http://youtube.com/watch?v=nVxeck-dE8Y).
This is a song that gets used a LOT in vids, but this one is just perfect anyway. Really gorgeous vidding, and it fits so well!

Everything You Want (http://youtube.com/watch?v=54lNSmDyY6Q)
I kinda love this too. No effects or anything, but still fun!

Banned from Argo (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eu4mFV3TxTo)
You've watched Star Trek, right? I find this vid adorable. Oh Team Torchwood! Come back soon!

Read My Mind (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0_GTgfCwcw)
Okay, I love this song. And it's so very Jack.

Re: vids

[kalichan.livejournal.com]

*laughs* Isn't it great?

Mocking with love is the best sauce.

[nisaa.livejournal.com]

I know you've been raving about it. It's high time I started watching Torchwood. I've been sitting here looking at the vid links people have sent you and am very interested.

[rm.livejournal.com]

I will warn you that the first season is _very_ spotty. But the second season is pretty consistently great. And all of it's fun.

But once you start, you'll have to dig into the Who thing too because there are so many character crossovers.

[nisaa.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the warning. It always helps when getting into new crack to have someone guide you through it. I've put the first disc in my netflix queue already ;)

[laurab1.livejournal.com]

Vids?

Us, by Lim, with pretty much every genre show ever, is so very awesome :)

[roadnotes.livejournal.com]

I may have to learn "Hard Times," since it's coming up. Last week, Elise, Teresa, and Patrick sang it at The Stonewall Inn.

[redstapler.livejournal.com]

My love for the song is SO HIGH. Mp3 found here.

(Warning: non-traditional arrangement)