rm ([personal profile] rm) wrote2009-06-26 10:10 am

sundries

  • So yes, I wasn't really sure about the Michael Jackson news being true yesterday. Thank you, LJ braintrust.

    I was never particularly a fan of his music, but shit, he had scads of talent and I did love the Jackson 5.

    One thing I am struck by now is how Victorian his preoccupations (or at least our sense of them) were -- the militaria, the named estate, private zoo, interest in medical curiosities and alternative cures, the sojurn in the Gulf, and, of course, the fetishization of childhood. It's remarkably interesting.

    As to the controversies, I always thought that if he did do anything untoward with any children, it was because he saw himself as a child as well, and didn't grok why it would be a problem.

    I hope he wasn't as unhappy as the media had us believe and that he's in less pain now.

    I live in Harlem, and last night was loud.

    And the Iranian boy I was friends with as a child was obsessed with Michael Jackson-- had the jacket, practiced all the dance moves from Thriller was always singing Billie Jean... so that's all entwined in my head strangely.

  • Holy Crap was a news week!

  • We saw Avenue Q last night. It's a remarkably well-written show. It easily could have lacked a solid plot-arc and still have been fun and yet there were solid A- and B- plots and everything wrapped back together. It was all very awesome. Folks in Torchwood fandom know I about died on the "bitch, that's what stairs are for!" line.

  • Torchwood ads are on the buses! Gwen Cooper and guns = awesome. I am also struck by how clever the promo shot of Gwen with the guns between Ianto and Jack is. I've always loved the shot, but hah hah hah -- all over buses here and I bet lots of people will tune in expecting hot chick with guns and a love triangle with her at the center of some drama between the two blokes and they'd be wrong! I love it.

  • Pride is this weekend and I'm getting excited. Not that I have a thing to wear or even tickets to the dance yet. Is suppose I should get on that.
  • ext_3685: Stylized electric-blue teapot, with blue text caption "Brewster North" (big city)

    [identity profile] brewsternorth.livejournal.com 2009-06-26 02:37 pm (UTC)(link)
    I live in Harlem, and last night was loud.

    ...that explains the low-hovering helicopters for two hours straight last night. Hoo boy.

    *needs to look out for TW ads*

    [identity profile] redstapler.livejournal.com 2009-06-26 02:44 pm (UTC)(link)
    I can't believe you hadn't seen Avenue Q before!

    I saw it right after it moved from the Vineyard Theatre, and it was pitch-perfect in 2003. Bits of it haven't aged as well, but at the time? Whoa.

    Especially going into my senior year at college, working towards my (everyone together now!) BA in English.

    Also? The puppet sex scene while sitting next to my father? Awwwwwwwwwkward...

    [identity profile] misch.livejournal.com 2009-06-26 02:46 pm (UTC)(link)
    I loved Avenue Q too :-D Made it a birthday treat for myself the weekend after the last Broadway strike ended.

    The first time I heard the sound track, I was driving with [livejournal.com profile] redstapler up to Toronto. Damn near wrecked my car on the QEW from laughing so hard.

    [identity profile] redstapler.livejournal.com 2009-06-26 02:47 pm (UTC)(link)
    LOL! I almost forgot about that!

    (Spoilers: We arrived safely at our destination.)

    [identity profile] count-to-seven.livejournal.com 2009-06-26 02:59 pm (UTC)(link)
    We saw Avenue Q when we were in London last year and though I already knew the soundtrack and am generally a fan of the music, I was struck by how much the energy dropped off midway through and barely picked up until the end.

    I sincerely wish Tallahassee were important or cool enough to have Torchwood promos. Please snag a photo for us lame deep South kids!

    [identity profile] redstapler.livejournal.com 2009-06-26 03:07 pm (UTC)(link)
    They all look so hurt and damaged in those shots! OUCH!

    [identity profile] count-to-seven.livejournal.com 2009-06-26 03:20 pm (UTC)(link)
    I haven't stopped laughing about the Ianto Jones, Badass of Cardiff photo since I first saw it.
    ext_3685: Stylized electric-blue teapot, with blue text caption "Brewster North" (armed'n'dangerous)

    [identity profile] brewsternorth.livejournal.com 2009-06-26 03:34 pm (UTC)(link)
    I know; that and the Gwen Cooper, Badass photo in the same shoot both made me think instantly of Hot Fuzz.
    Edited 2009-06-26 15:35 (UTC)

    [identity profile] darthhellokitty.livejournal.com 2009-06-26 03:52 pm (UTC)(link)
    Is there a Jack one like that? I'm loving the flying poses.

    [identity profile] count-to-seven.livejournal.com 2009-06-26 03:53 pm (UTC)(link)
    Jack is too cool to zoom through the air. He simply swans around in his coat.

    [identity profile] lawsontl.livejournal.com 2009-06-26 08:24 pm (UTC)(link)
    Jack is so cool, the air zooms through him :)

    *offers Ianto a Cornetto*

    [identity profile] darthhellokitty.livejournal.com 2009-06-26 03:51 pm (UTC)(link)
    Oh. My. God. I hadn't seen that one before. That is HILARIOUS, in that not-meant-to-be-funny way.

    [identity profile] count-to-seven.livejournal.com 2009-06-26 03:52 pm (UTC)(link)
    Exactly. I just can't take it seriously.

    [identity profile] offbalance.livejournal.com 2009-06-26 03:02 pm (UTC)(link)
    As to the controversies, I always thought that if he did do anything untoward with any children, it was because he saw himself as a child as well, and didn't grok why it would be a problem.

    I always thought the same thing. His psyche always seemed so profoundly damaged, I'm not sure what his connection to our reality was. He had his own, fairly distorted one. In some ways, he looked truly lost. It didn't remove him from the consequences of his actions, though.

    [identity profile] browneyedgirl65.livejournal.com 2009-06-26 09:07 pm (UTC)(link)
    This is the best summation of that whole sorry issue I've ever seen...

    [identity profile] cat-latin.livejournal.com 2009-06-26 03:07 pm (UTC)(link)
    "One thing I am struck by now is how Victorian his preoccupations (or at least our sense of them) were."

    What an insight. That had never occurred to me.

    [identity profile] rm.livejournal.com 2009-06-26 03:09 pm (UTC)(link)
    Thanks. I wonder if anyone has done any academic work on it. I don't tend to do anything on music, but it seems so obvious to me, I hope an actual scholar has gotten on this one by now, otherwise I might have to.

    [identity profile] darthhellokitty.livejournal.com 2009-06-26 03:54 pm (UTC)(link)
    This might be the time to do it. I would imagine more information is likely to be coming out now.

    [identity profile] otherdeb.livejournal.com 2009-06-27 08:25 am (UTC)(link)
    Would be very interested to see what you come up with on this, as this is the first time I've heard it exressed that way.

    [identity profile] kalichan.livejournal.com 2009-06-26 04:42 pm (UTC)(link)
    Yay Ave. Q.

    Hey, I'm back on the internets today!

    [identity profile] stardragonca.livejournal.com 2009-06-26 06:27 pm (UTC)(link)
    I feel like I've seen Avenue Q.
    The Internet is really really great.

    [identity profile] delle.livejournal.com 2009-06-26 08:24 pm (UTC)(link)
    As to the controversies, I always thought that if he did do anything untoward with any children, it was because he saw himself as a child as well, and didn't grok why it would be a problem.

    Wow. That's so amazingly true and yet I never focused in on that.

    [identity profile] kel-reiley.livejournal.com 2009-06-27 04:16 am (UTC)(link)
    I bet lots of people will tune in expecting hot chick with guns and a love triangle with her at the center of some drama between the two blokes and they'd be wrong! I love it.

    that is the best inaccurate summary of torchwood ever

    [identity profile] woogledesigns.livejournal.com 2009-06-27 11:32 am (UTC)(link)
    Torchwood ads are on the buses!

    What? American buses? Pics, Piiiiiiics!