sundries

[rm]

Today is the 5th of November. As an American, Guy Fawkes Day isn't mine (even to comment on the things about it that look pretty uncomfy to me over here). But, somewhat randomly, as a gay person the source of my knowledge of that day makes me clutch November 5th close. If you're not familiar with V for Vendetta and Valerie's letter, you can read it or watch it.

It's hard. I cannot always do it. But it would please me if you would today. It's why I came out. I cannot read I was born in Nottingham in 1957, and it rained a lot. I passed my eleven plus and went to girl's Grammar. I wanted to be an actress. without bursting into tears.

The whole thing is some of the most perfectly cadenced writing I've ever read.

Working late before I put that aside to do some other work. Am tired, will have a hard weekend of work too. But, on the other hand, am happy to do it this weekend instead of next weekend so it's all right.

The previously mentioned awesome smoked salmon is saving me. I eat it, and I feel bright and functional for a bit. I'm trying to cut back on the sausage/dairy/starch thing, but that's really all there is to eat here. First meal I want in the UK is, I think, vegetarian curry. Or sushi. Just, I love meat and cheese and right now I never want to see it again.

The thing about pressure systems and headaches here? Totally true. I woke up and felt AWFUL, but some paracetamol and a few hours helped.

The office is over a car park, and sometimes the lobby of the building smells like car fumes. It freaked me out, because of the Great Carbon Monoxide Incident of a few years back.

Today I wrote a new bio and some copy for the Treble Entendre website. I feel like I'm getting back in the game. And most importantly, Erica and the Webinatrix have been busting their asses so soon we'll have web stuff up and Inception: The Musical in your hands.

Speaking of, we're a bit in the Kickstarter U of a quiet donation time, and I know weekends are quiet on that front in general. RIght now we are at 64 backers for a total of $3,180 in pledges. I've decided that $3,500 by Tuesday night is a goal of the moment. If you've been thinking about donating and the timing is right for you... make my business travel day!

Olbermann suspended for donations. I am, to be frank, floored by this. Sure, we all know where his loyalties lie, but he always struck me as an old-fashioned newsman of the type I was educated to be: you don't donate, you don't register with a party, and, very traditionally, you don't vote. (Note: I am no longer a working journalist; I do all those things now). What the fuck? I think he's even spoken of the not donating/registering/voting thing in the past (although I may be misremembering), hence the level of my shock.

"I was born here, and the animals were born here, and we have lived together very well."

New York's rare family compounds.

Stop devaluing art. And people who make art of the same sort you do and who then do assholish things? Are still no reason to devalue art. Or fandom. Or you participation in either/both. Got it? Awesome.

I am, as you might predict, not quite able to keep up online as I normally do. If I need to know, please comment or email. Posting through an LJ client (I can't even see LJ or the web most times) and email are my only really reliable things right now, and even those can go out for hours at a time.

Comments

[redstapler.livejournal.com]

I absolutely adore the term "Webinatrix."

Did I ever tell you I referred to myself as "The Props Dominatrix" during a show I ASM'd?

Also, lol, Dogboy & Justine.

[upstart-crow.livejournal.com]

V for Vendetta is not my favorite of Moore's work, but that part is definitely some of my favorite writing by him.

[upstart-crow.livejournal.com]

Oh and have an icon :) It's a BPAL one, but since it's got V on it, feel free to take it (I didn't make it, but it was free for distribution)

[kshandra]

Here's another one. ;-) (And being a fairly recent BPAL convert, I'm going to have to look up Bonfire Night!)

[elusis.livejournal.com]

I'm floored about Olbermann because I'm sure Buchanan has donated to politicos but he's kept on as a commentator. And Olbermann's role has very clearly been one of commentator, not journalist.

[rm.livejournal.com]

Buchanan isn't a program host. They bring him in as a frequent outside expert. I don't think he's compensated by MSNBC.

[elusis.livejournal.com]

Seems some other hosts have donated, though.

All of it is troubling. Of course, none of it as troubling as Rupert Murdoch's massive support for right-wing candidates.

[redstapler.livejournal.com]

Re: Olbermann: Why wouldn't a traditionalist journalist vote? I understand not being openly preferential to any given candidate or party, but if votes are supposed to be secret, why recuse oneself from that civic duty?

[rm.livejournal.com]

The argument is that any act that reminds you that you do, unavoidably, have a horse in the race increases your disposition to bias. Additionally, since not voting is a choice in the US, even being seen voting can be viewed as a political, biased act (not the case somewhere where voting is required by law).

Whenever I mention this people go pretty ballistic. And I'm not saying all journalists engage this way, but it is not uncommon and certainly how most of us over a certain age were educated.

For the curious, I have always voted, but never donated or registered with a party until I left the field.

[redstapler.livejournal.com]

That makes sense.

That's a lot more nuanced than I would expect. And lord knows we're even shorter on nuance these days.

[naath.livejournal.com]

Gosh. Um, I'm so used to big newspapers endorsing candidates I guess? that I fully expect most journalists to have an opinion on the question.

Not sure what the BBC asks it's journalists to do on that front though, an interesting question although I'm not sure where I'd find the answer.

[rm.livejournal.com]

Newspapers endorse yes, by a group decision of an editorial board. Individuals however, no. Also, TV has a different power than print. And you'll notice that US networks don't do endorsements so-called (Fox and MSNBC obviously have their opinions).

[j-v-lynch.livejournal.com]

I love that letter. I hope i can hang on to my last inch.

[hab318princess.livejournal.com]

I only watched V for Vendetta recently and was impacted at the time and am again reminded through your post how much I need to get past getting affected for a short time and then forgetting again

Currently I am surrounded by fireworks (some idiot let off a whole box in the middle of the street - and I mean the middle of the street - at 11 last night) in the pouring rain

[5251962.livejournal.com]

I was just telling someone that a big reason behind my annoyance at the whole "remember remember" meme that has become of all of this is that it very rarely ever leads to any deeper discourse. Much of the times I've seen it has been followed with discussion of how "awesome that movie was" and that's pretty much it.
Thank you for bringing up Valerie's Letter- it also makes me cry, but I've rarely ever seen it or the deeper aspects of what Moore's work was intended to express.

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

I'm with you on Vendetta. That's why the 5th is important to me too.

I have an icon...v

[teleens-journal.livejournal.com]

Icon love, :).

[merrycaepa (from livejournal.com)]

Oh, man. That's gorgeous. Mind if I steal?

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

Sure! Be my guest :)

[teleens-journal.livejournal.com]

I loved that letter in V myself. RIII introduced me to the comic and that scene, in particular. Remember, remember, the 5th of November...

As for Olbermann... I think it's a huge mistake on MSNBC's part, regardless of the journalistic ethics of the situation. While I definitely see your point, from a fan's perspective, everyone knew he was biased already and honestly, even though I quite enjoy Rachel Maddow sometimes, it was Keith who drew me to MSNBC and if he's fired for this, I won't ever watch them again... Regardless of if they're in the right or Keith's in the wrong.

I'm a fan through and through and while I don't always agree with every word he says, my loyalty outstrips the times I've disagreed with him.

Besides, it's not like he can't get a job elsewhere...

[rm.livejournal.com]

For a lot of reasons, including that he has celiac disease and is one of my sartorial role models, I'm a huge fan of Olbermann too.

But as far as I can tell, he fucked up. And, meanwhile, MSNBC's policies may not make sense for the current state of journalism today.

I doubt they'll fire him. This'll just drag for a while.

[teleens-journal.livejournal.com]

Not denying he fucked up, but it's still dumb of MSNBC to throw their weight around like this.

Not sure, actually. Someone pointed out that he badmouthed GE (MSNBC's parent co.) last week... *fingers crossed*

[naath.livejournal.com]

Remember Remember th 5th of November...

it's *Catholics* not Muslims who are the ebil trrrrists trying to destroy our state. [NB - no, I do not believe this!]

(I find V a bit strange, because, well, the take-home message of Bonfire Night was never what the take-home message of V is. But I do like V, I think it has a good message, and the whole burning Catholics in effigy thing stinks anyway).

[smirnoffmule.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I must admit my enthusiasm for the fine traditions of baked potatoes and first degree burns waned a little when I actually studied that period in history. The image of Fawkes' signature before and after torture is one that's stayed with me. And I think it's easy to say, oh, it doesn't matter, it's not about Catholics any more, no one's thought like that for a long time - but that's only really true on the mainland, we've still got Northern Ireland just across the pond (and even where it is true, I think it has more to do with Christianity being less relevant in general, not down to enlightenment or anything).

I never get to go out anyway, I have to spend the 5th inside providing a solid platform for a trembling dog. It was Diwali too today, so it's been a loud one.

[eac.livejournal.com]

I am glad that someone besides me (and besides right wing wing nuts) things that Olbermann screwed up here. There was a policy, and it was understood, and he broke it. I'm sorry that Fox News people do that all the time, but he's not Fox News people...

[kuangning]

I don't see a substantial difference between your employer telling you who to vote for (or to not vote) and them telling you who you can or can't support with personal donations. I think it's a great gesture if it comes from the employee, but I absolutely do not believe that any employer should have the right or the clout to strong-arm an unwilling employee into it.

[elainasaunt.livejournal.com]

A news media organization is different from most employers, though, because of the obligation to at least strive for objectivity in reporting. They're not telling you who you can or can't donate to; they're telling you you can't donate to anyone.

When I was a journalist, however (I left the field a little 22 years ago), there was no stricture against voting.

[kuangning]

Except his clause (if it even applies to him; NBC says it does not apply to MSNBC) doesn't say he can't donate at all; it says he can't donate without permission -- presumably, they reserve the option to allow or deny based on who he's planning to support. I'd actually be marginally more okay with "you can't donate to anyone at all while in this job" rather than "you can donate only to those candidates we give you permission to support".

[elainasaunt.livejournal.com]

Well, I haven't seen the clause in question, but it would surprise me if the option to allow or deny were based on the candidate(s) concerned; I'd expect the issue to be "You didn't ask us if you could make a donation" rather than "You didn't ask us if you could donate to Candidate X."

[marcmagus]

From the NYT article on the "Bushmen", "each speaking a language employing click sounds as extra consonants"

Really, NYT? Really? "Extra" consonants? I don't even have words...

[marchek.livejournal.com]

Alan's sister is a journalist in Texas and back during the 2008 election season her employer told everyone that they were not allowed to make donations to political organizations nor display politcal signs in their yard. Also, they pretty much insinuated that the journalists shouldn't vote without directly saying it. They did however say the spouses were allowed to make donations.

[atrophying]

Passing this on. Reminded me of a post you made - last month, I think? Or the month before - about the need for more LGBT YA literature.

Prize Is Created for Gay Literature for Young Readers

(tl;dr version: the ALA has created an award "called the Stonewall Children’s and Young Adult Literature Award ... for an English-language book 'of exceptional merit relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered experience.'")

[dsmoen.livejournal.com]

Every year, I watch V for Vendetta on the 5th of November. I don't like Moore's work generally speaking, but I love this film. Even though (perhaps especially because) he didn't like it.

That letter is a beautiful thing.

Shocked about Olbermann, also a fellow celiac.

Okay, gotta run, beer bash time. Can't have the beer, but there are other goodies to be pounced upon.

[dsmoen.livejournal.com]

Watched it, and tried to understand what that scene would mean to you. It felt deeper knowing how it affected someone I knew, and how I could relate to it more having heard parts of your story. Thank you.

[chaos-by-design.livejournal.com]

Valerie's letter was one of the most amazing things I've ever read. Very powerful.

[teacupdiaries.livejournal.com]

The whole thing is some of the most perfectly cadenced writing I've ever read.

YES. It kills me every single time. I cried so much the first time I saw it, and it still has a great impact on me.

[viciouswishes.livejournal.com]

I've read a lot of comic books written by Alan Moore and V for Vendetta is by far my favorite one. It's such a wonderful, engrossing read.

[deusabscondidum.livejournal.com]

Valerie's letter makes me sob, and it is one of my choices for a tattoo, if I ever get one.

Part of me wonders if maybe the whole story was made just for the purpose of presenting that letter.

[chuckro.livejournal.com]

I suspect that you're going to get a hiccup in the "kickstarter U" when Inception the musical goes live; should be interesting to see.

[austengirl.livejournal.com]

I actually bought V for Vendetta last month so I could watch it before Bonfire Night. It's become something of a ritual for me to watch it around this time of year. Thanks for the link to Valerie's letter; reading it is as profoundly moving as watching it on screen.