sundries

[rm]

In response to getting an F from GLAAD for its inclusion and representation of LGBTQ characters on its shows, SyFy has announced two gay characters for upcoming programs (this was apparently what set off John C. Wright's homophobic diatribe the other day). Both characters are married, and I, like hllangel, who pointed this out, would like to complain.

Now sure, in the future, or whatever, there will be more gay married people, but it's not the realism or lack there of, of marrying off your gay characters in background characterization that bothers me. It's the fact that this might be the 21st-century version of the "sexless gay best friend" (even if I do know lots of married gay folks having scads of hot sex) because our society, in privileging marriage, does so, in part, by removing the "taint" of sexuality from our conception of it. So having some married gay folk on SyFy would be rad, since equal marriage rights are a huge hot-button issue right now, but having the only LGBTQ characters on SyFy be married? It's a bit like saying "don't worry, they won't reach through your television with their predatory sexuality and make you gay."

Yeah, I'm picky. I should be.

Also in the land of SyFy*Fail, much noise has been made about a particularly appalling casting breakdown for some Stargate property or other.

I'm glad people are making noise about this, but what I assume most people don't know is how much Every Single Casting Breakdown Ever is filled with objectionable stuff like this -- while this one is a particular confluence of crazy and hate, I spend day after day combing through stuff that refers to 30-something women as "girls," insists "hotties only" (which is a very particular type of euphemism for a very particular type of beauty), goes on and on about how "despite her gender so-and-so is sassy and tough!" and so forth and so on. Offensively worded requests for people who own ethnic attire that then mismatches the country and the garb are also freakishly common or often phrased "looking for people with saris, kimonos and other costumes." 1. Not costumes. 2. Kimono is a plural noun.

Number one reason to get an agent? My conscience and sanity allows me to submit for so little, because the breakdowns are SO CRAZY. And this is not a business where actors have the power to change things from the inside; we don't. At all. Haven't you heard? I need to lose ten pounds and in France I'd "actually be attractive."

ETA: Apparently the whole thing is much uglier than just the appalling casting call. Thanks to sheafrotherdon for the heads-up and continuing details. See comments below.

Meanwhile, a Marriott in CT blames a woman for her own rape. Good thing I almost always stay at the Sheraton (Marriott needs to solve its shit before Gallifrey One, dammit, because I am not giving these scumbags my money).

Whole Foods is one of the easiest places for me to get Food I Can Eat. Specifically, they make the only gluten-free bread I like. Well, no bread for me, thanks to the fact that its CEO is anti-healthcare reform, anti-union, and not rational or honest on these issues. A more succinct version is at CommonDreams -- thanks to firinel for the link.

Speaking of Gallifrey One, new guests have been announced and they are awesome. Also, now I have to get "Torchwood Lesbian" ribbons made up, so Tony Lee can wear one on his badge. It's a long, fucked-up story.

Patty will be home a week from today!

I get my suit and new shirts a week from Sunday. So, I own a sole, solitary pair of cufflinks. Time to buy cufflinks! Tell me what you love. (Considering where my mother has a life-time discount, I was thinking I should get some classic monogrammed ones, except for the fact that it looks lame without a middle initial and that I have this weird disconnect from my name lately -- it looks, as I've been told my whole life, so totally awesome as a by-line or a screen credit, but it doesn't feel like me an actual person. It's just this long, odd textual signifier of my existence).

Here is the schedule for the Dragon*Con Comics and Popular Arts Conference which is the academic track for Dragon*Con. Not how most people are academics. And I'm just.... there.

As ever, I tend to add into these posts as the day goes on for all the little things I don't want to forget. So, updates may happen!

Comments

[cruentum.livejournal.com]

As long as you don't get any of these,

http://www.johnbarrowman.com/shop/section.php?xSec=2&xPage=1&jssCart=1f8a1957eceb5b7ba2bf350fc1d43316

I think you are fine

[rm.livejournal.com]

UGH! UGH UGH UGH UGH.

THOSE ARE CRIMES AGAINST STYLE.

AND NOW THAT I'VE SEEN THEM I CAN'T UNSEE THEM.

[sheafrotherdon.livejournal.com]

It gets worse than the simple casting call - the audition sides show that the straight, disabled character (Eleanor) swaps into the body of the lesbian character (Camille), and then proceeds to use Camille's body to solicit straight sex from her coworkers, and sleeps with a man Camille canonically cannot stand. [After Ellen] (http://www.afterellen.com/blwe/08-14-09) has a great summary, and I'd be happy to email the sides if you'd like to see them.

[wcg.livejournal.com]

For daily wear cuff links (on those few occasions when I actually dressed to that degree for work) I like french knots. They're nicer than buttons and not like what people usually think of as cuff links. Other than that I have a goodly assortment of gold and silver cuff links to choose from, though I hardly ever wear them anymore. Plain gold with a monogram is nice, and would go well with your taste in suits. If you get a matching signet ring that would be an extra touch.

For formal wear the two classic styles are mother of pearl for white tie, and onyx for black tie. I have a set of ruby cuff links and shirt studs that I wear for most formal events unless MoP or onyx is explicitly required.

[splix.livejournal.com]

My dad had round onyx cufflinks banded in silver. Loved them.

[cruentum.livejournal.com]

They are very Barrowman, you have to admit, but I honestly can't see anyone non-flamboyant wearing them with a straight face or, you know, style.

I'm not sure I can really see Barrowman wearing them with style, but then- It's Barrowman (style and he are a bit, oh well)

The multi-colour ones are especially ... fun.

[firinel.livejournal.com]

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/08/13-0

[wcg.livejournal.com]

*sigh* I had to click, didn't I?

Oh well, I feel sure there's a market for those. I'm just not part of it.

[rm.livejournal.com]

Love to see them... racheline@gmail.com

And have updated post.

Thank you!

[brewsternorth.livejournal.com]

Someone have a better link than the DailyKos thing?

Not really. ONTD_Political transcribed the entire article, but the poster in question was in favor (!) of the WF dude's screed (what can I say? the Internet is crazy).

[rm.livejournal.com]

They are... but just... NO.

Look, I'm a Teen Beauty Pageant Survivor; I don't do rhinestones and try to avoid looking at other people doing them too.

Holy crap.

[sheafrotherdon.livejournal.com]

Sent!

[cruentum.livejournal.com]

I'm not quite sure what the market is, to be fair, or how big it really is, but someone is surely spending the 65+ pounds a pair on them. Mr Barrowman is, for one.

[filkerdave.livejournal.com]

Monogrammed cufflinks work well just a single initial. My favourite pair, though, are Roman glass set in sterling silver, no monogram. My second favourite pair are just plain stainless steel ovals.

If you want something geeky, I have a pair of gold-plated ones with slices of microchips on them that I never ever wear; I'll be glad to donate them to the cause when I get back from Houston.

[laughingacademy.livejournal.com]

Oh, dear LORD. I didn’t know anyone made cufflinks for eight-year-old Disney princesses.

[kalichan.livejournal.com]

Yesterday on the train, I saw someone in red plaid pajama shorts, and a rhinestone encrusted belt that fastened in the shape of a giant crown. the crown part, I need hardly add, was in his crotch. Also, hightops.

[sageautumn.livejournal.com]

*laughs*

It's bad that I'm thinking... "My husband could TOTALLY pull those off"... isn't it?

And, umm... I liked the squared black and grey, and the onyx/mop rectangles.

[starstealingirl.livejournal.com]

Yes, absolutely, with regard to the gay married characters on the (I cringe to write it) SyFy channel. I am certainly in favor of granting marriage rights to same sex couples (and, hell, even to triads or other non-couples), but I'm worried about the ways in which marriage rights get equated with LGBT rights in general; and about the prospect of the right to marry becoming the imperative to marry. Putting both of these characters in marriages strikes me as a way to not deal with queer sexualities in all their variety and complexity while gaining the favor of one organization and some half-assed liberal street cred.

[laughingacademy.livejournal.com]

D:

Uh, wow. Is there any indication that the two characters discussed what they could and couldn’t do with each other’s bodies? If not, any chance the script addresses how massively skeevy that scenario is?

[dulcinbradbury.livejournal.com]

On SciFi's married gay couples: My first thought was I get why it bugs you, but, at least it's a small nudge in the right directions.

Then again... when put in context of the casting call kerfluffle, I can only shake my head. There's no point in getting annoyed over the "attractive" bits -- that's how everyone from Hollywood to community theater works. Someone can be better for the part & still lose it because the director was looking for a particular look for the character.

On the Marriott? WTF? I can see taking the tack of putting the responsibility squarely on the rapist, but, blaming the victim is all kinds of fail.

[rm.livejournal.com]

The problem isn't seeking people who are attractive, the problem is not specifying if or casting calls that saying things like "IF YOU"RE NOT HOT DON"T WASTE MY TIME" and just crazy stuff like that. The fact is, I've a classical face, am thin and have an hour-glass figure, but I've been yelled at for not grasping particular casting folks' vision of attractiveness to the point that I no longer audition for things that note the attractiveness levels, because if it's noted, they mean one or two very specific things, which I am not due to short hair (UGLY DYKE!) and a small rack (NOT A REAL WOMAN!)

[51stcenturyfox.livejournal.com]

You are attractive here, not just in France, babe.

Re: the Marriott. I think the management is locally controlled in some cases - not like a franchise but one fail doesn't reflect the whole chain's stance. I know a few people who've worked at corp for many years and I am sure they are APPALLED by this.

[hllangel]

You've hit on exactly why I have a problem with Syfy right now.

[filkerdave.livejournal.com]

I work in the financial sector.

People with money++ and taste-- are NOT in short supply

[sheafrotherdon.livejournal.com]

Nothing in the audition sides addresses that, no, but given the track record of these particular producers I'd be surprised if consent was addressed at all (they famously had a character in SG:Atlantis maintain sexual relationships with several wives by drugging them - a plot they intended to be comedic.) There's a moment in the audition sides where Eleanor kisses Eli, and Eli objects (after the kiss) saying that while he thinks Camille's body is very attractive, he doesn't think Camille would want to have sex with him. Perfect moment for Eleanor to say, oh, no worries, Camille and I worked this out ahead of time. She doesn't - she just focuses her advances on a different guy on board ship.