sundries

[rm]

Just got off the phone with Virgin America. They say that the storm is "not looking as bad as what you guys got hit with last time" and "we do not expect we will have to cancel any flights." To be frank? I think they are crazy, but I live in hope.

I certainly live in hope of making it to Gally in time for my panels. If I wasn't excited before (and I was), the lovely shout-out from Paul got my gears going, and I'm particularly glad he mentioned that we'll be doing criticism. I want the audience to know what this is and isn't -- it is not a debate on "should Ianto have been killed off." It is a discussion on "what makes these sorts of events hurt the way they do" with a focus (at least from my end) on the design of the canon/text (whether with intent or not) for maximum impact.

On that note, here's my theoretical Gally schedule:

Thursday, 8pm -- arrive (hopefully), check-in, see you in the bar.

Friday -- I'll attend some programming, but will probably be easiest to find at the bar.

Saturday, 1pm, Scottsdale Room
It's The End, But the Moment Has Been Prepared For: Fan Reactions to Character Deaths
I'll be joined by Tina Beychok, Paul Cornell, Kate Orman, David Wise, Tammy Garrison

Saturday, 2pm, St. Louis Room
The Crossplay Equation
I'll be joined by Sarah Underwood, Jessica Montague, Salina Conlan, Miriam Hardin

Note: These two panels are, as you can see, back to back. If you want to chat with me re: the character death thing, please find me AFTER the crossplay panel. Meanwhile, if you're coming to the crossplay panel, please be forgiving of the fact that I won't be in full costume, but I just _can't_ for the character death panel, because it's too bloody weird since in this fandom I cosplay Jack and only Jack.

Saturday, 11:30pm, Scottsdale Room
It's Not Porn, It's Research!
I'll be joined by Tara O'Shea, Tammy Garrison, Jan Fennick

Hey, we've always known Doctor Who is filthy.

The language of touch.

Because abortion is illegal in Nicaragua, a pregnant woman cannot receive chemotherapy and will likely die, leaving her ten-year-old daughter without a mother.

So yet again, it seems it needs to be said: TRUST WOMEN.

Trust women to know if they want to fuck you or not. Trust women to know whether or not it was rape. Trust women to do their jobs. Trust women to make their own choices about their own health. Trust women to walk home. Trust women to drive. Trust women to invent things. Trust women to fight. Trust women to feed themselves. Etc., etc., etc., etc.

And on a similar theme, Dear Apple App Store, don't blame women being uptight (and the sensitive eyes of children -- because that's the same, you know) for you taking the non-big brand sexy (because apparently Playboy is fine) out of your app store. You made a branding/marketing decision. Fine. Don't be condescending and nasty about it. Don't promote the BS that only women care about the degradation of women.

A beauty queen quotes Bible verses she believes indicates homosexuals should be put to death (i.e., their shitty translations). Why do you care? You probably don't. But as a former pageant competitor, I have no patience for this shit -- a huge number of the women who compete are in the closet and the pageants thrive on the behind the scenes talents of gays and lesbians. The whole thing infuriates me.

Also, while I've not been following Olympic iceskating as closely as many of you, I'm infuriated by the crap being dished out to Johnny Weir in particular and about men's skating in general. Lots of homophobia, transphobia, misogyny (because, let's remember, it's all related) and concerns about "butching up" the sport. Guess the people worried about such things missed the rugby player who came out. Butch has got nothing to do with it.

Meanwhile, it's the daily Buffy update:

- So Wesley has a thing for Cordelia? Hrrrr. On the one hand, she's an idiot (as far as he knows) and so his being into her on that score is pretty annoying. On the other hand, damn they make an attractive couple. Meanwhile, I'm glad they are actually acknowledging the whole "dudes watching over teen girls" thing and the way that older students and young teachers often wind up in weird situations, at least in their own minds. Speaking of which, Giles totally checked out Willow's tits when she was wearing her doppleganger's outfit.

- That whole episode about Faith killing someone and the aftermath was sort of crap. Everyone wants to save Faith from herself and no one is really worrying about the cops until a random line gets thrown in so we know they don't have enough evidence? I just... there were practical concerns, but instead we're having an intervention? Also, I'm with Wesley and Willow on this, maybe she does need to be locked up.

Comments

[andrewducker]

So, do I have to trust women to decide what should happen to homosexuals?

[kalichan.livejournal.com]

Just got off the phone with Virgin America. They say that the storm is "not looking as bad as what you guys got hit with last time" and "we do not expect we will have to cancel any flights." To be frank? I think they are crazy, but I live in hope.

Maybe it's working!

[rm.livejournal.com]

The point I was making, and I hope you were trying to be funny in response, is that women as a group are no more or less honest or capable than men. But making the remark you just did, it appeared you were trying to say that my logic was entirely invalid and that women, collectively, cannot be trusted. It was, I hope unintentionally, kinda icky.

[kindkit.livejournal.com]

I'm not defending the comment, but the original placement of your "trust women" section, before you edited the post, was confusing. It was right after the bit about Miss Beverly Hills's homophobia, and separated from the section about the Nicaraguan woman who can't get her cancer treated. I know I sat and boggled at it for a minute.

[andrewducker]

I was, indeed, trying to be funny in response.

And yes, they are no more or less honest or capable than men.

I wasn't trying to call your logic into question - I saw it as more of an attack on the whole "You can't trust the cute widdle women to make up their own minds about things! Anything might happen!" ethos that pervades large chunks of the world. I didn't, for instance, think you were actually trying to say that the woman was right in every rape allegation - more that women need to be listened to and treated as equals, rather than being patronised.

[rm.livejournal.com]

I made a typo when I added something in. I went back and fixed it immediately. Thank you for pointing out a possible cause for the comment.

[brewsternorth.livejournal.com]

*hopes*

[brewsternorth.livejournal.com]

Trust women to know whether or not it was rape.

Ugh, which reminds me of the blasting headline on the front of today's Post. (Gothamist link.) In that case, it definitely *wasn't*, but it plays into the narrative that women may "cry rape" and are therefore not to be trusted.

[lonebear.livejournal.com]

2 cranial rectal stories in one post!

I posed a comment on the whore* beauty "queen" pointing out that if she quotes from the Greek translation of the Hebrew, she, by logic, needs to follow the rest of the commands in the 5 Books. IE: No pork or shellfish. No cheesburgers. Keep yourself modest. HA!

And the Apple thing makes me happy that I chose to stick with Verizon.
So if the IOmC** created an app that showed the winners, they couldn't show full body images. Or NBC showing clips of the skating. Idiots.

*not the best word, but she is selling her body for the crown.
** I have zero respect for the International Olympic monetizing Cmte. From the murder of the Luger, to them forbidding an equipment sponsor from using the name of a gold medal winner in their ads, to the asinine assertation about female ski jumpers, they just get more and more stupid.

[fmanalyst.livejournal.com]

The touch article hit me hard. I've been suffering from depression lately, and touch, or rather the lack thereof, has been an element in that. The only people who touch me are health care providers. Nobody else does. Not even my friends.

[sparkindarkness.livejournal.com]

I hail your trust women and add a "None of your damn business!" to everyone who doesn't trust them. Their bodies, their health, their lives, their business. Not only do we not get to prevent them making this choice - we have NO right to even judge or disapprove of it - because it is NOT OUR BUSINESS.



Quoting Leviticus? Aren't we past that now?! Seriously even the most foolish hater out there doesn't quote leviticus - there is so much nonesense in those laws that we wouldn't even dream of enforcing a tenth of them. And I care not because I'm a beauty queen fan - but the more this toxic crap is spread and upheld as an acceptable opinion - rather than a deeply shameful and vile thing to say - then homophobia and homophpbic violence will continue to be reinforced

[drinkingcocoa.livejournal.com]

Here's the good thing about Johnny Weir. The guy is a tower of strength and there's nothing some moronic radio commentators can dish out that he hasn't seen before, and worse, from his own skating federation -- so they don't stand a chance against him. He's been cross-dressing since he was a teenager and he knows exactly what he's doing, and he's smart as anything and his parents are awesome. *Johnny love Johnny love*

[smirnoffmule.livejournal.com]

Dammit, I want to go to that character death panel. Can't wait to hear how it all goes down.

[matthewwdaly.livejournal.com]

"That isn't really the issue,” she said. “I have a lot of friends that are gay, and ... I have a lot of friends who have different views, and we share our views together. There's no hate between me and anyone."

This is what bugs me about the Leviticus quoters. She believes that the Bible commands her to stone people who have committed homosexual acts, and yet she doesn't, despite knowing who they are. It's like they believe in some sort of Leviticus Lite that God will be pleased if you just deny them housing and employment rights. I find it disgraceful behavior both as a progressive and as a Christian.

And hey hey hey. When Willow says "Whoa, look at those", Giles MUST be allowed to look. And that's not the randiest thing Giles has done so far this season....

[rm.livejournal.com]

Oh, I agree, and I'm sorta all Giles/Willow! so I thought it was hilarious!

[andrewducker]

It bugs me as well. It's hard to believe that these people _actually_ believe in God, otherwise their behaviour would be radically different.

[kproche.livejournal.com]

I'm crossing assorted appendages but will refrain from attempting Weather Magick on your behalf (it's unreliable and gives me horrible hangovers, anyway ;-) )

They've got me on How Queer is your fandom? at 10:30pm Saturday, and Costuming 210 at 10:00am Sunday. It's just plain cruel. Expect me to be armed with shaker and martini glass for the former, and IV bag of coffee for the latter, if my Gallifrey Saturday night follows its usual pattern :-)

[popfiend.livejournal.com]

According to the National Weather Service, it's still a Winter Storm "Watch". I'd be more concerned if it shot up a level to a "Warning".

But that middle layer is still always iffy.

[thatwordgrrl.livejournal.com]

Should we perhaps exchange phone numbers, in case something goes pear-shaped? Since I was responsible for the death panel and all... :>

Seriously, though, lemme know!

[rm.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm going to drop you a note. I've also asked a friend who is on a different panel earlier in the day to take my seat if I don't get there and I'll be sending him notes. I'll drop you a line with the details. I figure, since it's Saturday, I should be safe.

[nisaa.livejournal.com]

I'm assuming you won't be passing through the Bay Area this time around? Best of luck getting to LA!!

[rm.livejournal.com]

Nope. Although I'm sort of looking at Virgin's current fare sale and wishing Patty and I had a better sense of what May looked like for us.

[nisaa.livejournal.com]

Well, let me know if you make it this way. We'd love to see you. Oh, and if you'll be in NY 7/11-13ish, I'll try to make a trip to the City when I go to NY to see my folks.

[rm.livejournal.com]

Alas, I will almost certainly not be, as the conference I'm giving a paper at in England is on 7/10.

[nisaa.livejournal.com]

Oh well :( But, yay for giving a paper in England!

Have fun at Gally too. Maybe one of these years I'll make it to that con, now that you've dragged me into the Whoverse ;)

[5251962.livejournal.com]

Hahahah, you know, I can quote arguments using Biblical facts that would seem to advocate abortion when twisted the way I want. People are bananas over this shit.

As to Wes/Cordy. You just wait. You have to move on to Angel after this, you really, really REALLY do. Seriously- I won't say why but there is a particular episode where I shot coffee out of my nose because of Wes.

[malle-babbe.livejournal.com]

Re: Nicaragua.

How is it not massively intrusive when the government gets to say which kids get to grow up orphans and which don't?

Here's some added reproductive rights fuckery, from the state of Utah:

Utah Bill has the potential to criminalize miscarriage (http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/blog/2010/02/15/its-illegal-37-states-for-a-pregnant-woman-fall-down-stairs).

[malle-babbe.livejournal.com]

Gah, I meant this page (http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/blog/2010/02/19/utah-passes-bill-that-charges-women-for-illegal-abortion-or-miscarriage).

Still, both links are filled with BiologyFail...

[bodlon.livejournal.com]

Hey, we've always known Doctor Who is filthy.

Oh, lol. And that's even Classic Who. Just wait until they find out about Jack and catch him groping the makeover bot's, er, bumps.

Also, I'd comment on the news items, but virtually all of them make me a little bit incoherent with angry. And the touch one makes me feel like I'm living in a Skinner box.

So, uh, too much crazy to words at you with.

[51stcenturyfox.livejournal.com]

You will make it in on Thursday. I still have your number on my phone from Dragon*Con. LOL. So if I text you in LA, don't freak out. :D

[newsbean.livejournal.com]

Related to several of the items above, I give you Vajazzling (http://www.theluxuryspot.com/2010/02/23/i-got-vajazzled-and-had-a-camera-crew/). Yes, you did read that right.

[penguineggs.livejournal.com]

Oh, fuck you and the horse you rode in on, you misogynist little creep.

[rm.livejournal.com]

I just.... WHY?

[liminalia.livejournal.com]

Admitting a word is problematic and then "justifying" it: still problematic. Frankly, it reminds me of the people I knew in the old neighborhood who used to say, "See, there's black people and then there's n*****s."

[feyandstrange.livejournal.com]

...okay, both your and britgeekgrrl have pointed out now that there's a lot more to Gally than just Dr Who stuff (wow, Marv Wolfman and lots of comic people). Obviously not this year, but we shall see. (And oh ow ironic that I have an icon of comics and Dr Who.)

I'm going to have to read the whole touch article later when I've had a proper meal, but this is a SERIOUS problem for disabled folks; nobody touches cripples except in a medical setting. I saw a piece somewhere which actually suggested that some of the benefit of massage for folks in these situations is that it's comforting touch, regardless of what that touch does medically.

[feyandstrange.livejournal.com]

...okay, it took me a whole ten seconds to go from "AIEEEEEEGH" to "I know some drag queens and Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence who would make that look good, especially with their tattoos; I wonder when San Francisco spas will make this available for men?"

[apostle-of-eris.livejournal.com]

How many feminists does it take to change a light bulb?

[penguineggs.livejournal.com]

Some fucker will have convinced you that the act of moving the light-bulb off the shelf constitutes oppression of some other minority before you can contemplate actually changingit.

[lefaym.livejournal.com]

I want the audience to know what this is and isn't -- it is not a debate on "should Ianto have been killed off." It is a discussion on "what makes these sorts of events hurt the way they do" with a focus (at least from my end) on the design of the canon/text (whether with intent or not) for maximum impact.

I'm just wondering if those things are really strictly seperable for a lot of people. While there would, no doubt, have been a great deal of grief at Ianto's death regardless of its circumstances, I think that the very extreme reaction we've seen from fandom is because for a lot of people, it feels like Ianto should not have been killed -- there is more grief than there otherwise would have been precisely because, to so many of us, it felt like he was killed before his story was finished -- and it felt like in killing him, RTD was telling a radically different story to the story that Torchwood had told us in its first two seasons. And also, because so many of us felt like Ianto's death reduced him from a character to a plot point.

I know that you personally didn't read CoE in any of those ways, but looking at the question of why people respond in the ways they do -- I do think that for a lot of people, their grief for Ianto can't be separated from the question of whether or not he should have been killed off. I know that that's certainly the case with me.

[robling-t.livejournal.com]

...Every time, EVERY TIME I think I've seen it all on the internet... {sigh}