The video on this site loads really slow but I didn't immediately find a better copy anywhere else. Don't read the article, it just summarizes the video.
http://rawstory.com/news/2007/The_Daily_Show_lambastes_Cheney_secret_0626.html
I have no faith in them at all. This is farcical black comedy and has been for I dunno, decades, centuries, since the beginning of history perhaps.
Remember in Alice in Wonderland how the Jabberwocky went away when she refused to believe in it?
Yeah.
Louis Carol wasn't just tokin it up when he wrote that.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Challenge em.....one.
I came up with this idea a while back but never posted it anywhere - didn't really know of any place to post it, still don't really, so it's going here because I may try to write this myself at some point.
The Replacement Fic - It goes like this. Take the characters/actors from one fandom and put them in the roles of characters in another fandom. I'm sure it's been done before, but I haven't read much of it I don't think. For instance, the one I kinda wanted to do was the LotR cast in the roles of CSI: Vegas characters. Both relatively large ensemble casts, thought it might work out kinda interestingly. Or for something smaller-scale, take say, Dom and Bill and make them Jay and Silent Bob. Dom and Silent Bill? That was another I was thinking about.
The idea was really just to get the creative juices going again because I haven't written anything substantial in over a week I think, but I think it could prove to be fun to write too.
So since I don't get too many visitors here I guess it's just a challenge for myself unless I find a place to post it, but, if you happen across here and want to take a stab at it, I'd love to read what you come up with.
The Replacement Fic - It goes like this. Take the characters/actors from one fandom and put them in the roles of characters in another fandom. I'm sure it's been done before, but I haven't read much of it I don't think. For instance, the one I kinda wanted to do was the LotR cast in the roles of CSI: Vegas characters. Both relatively large ensemble casts, thought it might work out kinda interestingly. Or for something smaller-scale, take say, Dom and Bill and make them Jay and Silent Bob. Dom and Silent Bill? That was another I was thinking about.
The idea was really just to get the creative juices going again because I haven't written anything substantial in over a week I think, but I think it could prove to be fun to write too.
So since I don't get too many visitors here I guess it's just a challenge for myself unless I find a place to post it, but, if you happen across here and want to take a stab at it, I'd love to read what you come up with.
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Shaun of the Dead - a Motivational Poster
Hubby and I created this tonight. We'll both be working from home soon and we decided we needed some motivational posters for our home office.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
bold the one's you've seen
"Citizen Kane" (1941)
2. "The Godfather" (1972)
3. "Casablanca" (1942)
4. "Raging Bull" (1980)
5. "Singin' in the Rain" (1952)
6. "Gone With the Wind" (1939)
7. "Lawrence of Arabia" (1962)
8. "Schindler's List" (1993)
9. "Vertigo" (1958)
10. "The Wizard of Oz" (1939)
11. "City Lights" (1931)
12. "The Searchers" (1956)
13. "Star Wars" (1977)
14. "Psycho" (1960)
15. "2001: A Space Odyssey" (1968)
16. "Sunset Boulevard" (1950)
17. "The Graduate" (1967)
18. "The General" (1927)
19. "On the Waterfront" (1954)
20. "It's a Wonderful Life" (1946)
21. "Chinatown" (1974)
22. "Some Like It Hot" (1959)
23. "The Grapes of Wrath" (1940)
24. "E.T. -- The Extra-Terrestrial" (1982)
25. "To Kill a Mockingbird" (1962)
26. "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" (1939)
27. "High Noon" (1952)
28. "All About Eve" (1950)
29. "Double Indemnity" (1944)
30. "Apocalypse Now" (1979)
31. "The Maltese Falcon" (1941)
32. "The Godfather, Part II" (1974)
33. "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" (1975)
34. "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" (1937)
35. "Annie Hall" (1977)
36. "The Bridge on the River Kwai" (1957)
37. "The Best Years of Our Lives" (1946)
38. "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre" (1948)
39. "Dr. Strangelove" (1964)
40. "The Sound of Music" (1965)
41. "King Kong" (1933)
42. "Bonnie and Clyde" (1967)
43. "Midnight Cowboy" (1969)
44. "The Philadelphia Story" (1940)
45. "Shane" (1953)
46. "It Happened One Night" (1934)
47. "A Streetcar Named Desire" (1951)
48. "Rear Window" (1954)
49. "Intolerance" (1916)
50. "Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" (2001)
51. "West Side Story" (1961)
52. "Taxi Driver" (1976)
53. "The Deer Hunter" (1978)
54. "M*A*S*H" (1970)
55. "North by Northwest" (1959)
56. "Jaws" (1975)
57. "Rocky" (1976)
58. "The Gold Rush" (1925)
59. "Nashville" (1975)
60. "Duck Soup" (1933)
61. "Sullivan's Travels" (1941)
62. "American Graffiti" (1973)
63. "Cabaret" (1972)
64. "Network" (1976)
65. "The African Queen" (1951)
66. "Raiders of the Lost Ark" (1981)
67. "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" (1966)
68. "Unforgiven" (1992)
69. "Tootsie" (1982)
70. "A Clockwork Orange" (1971)
71. "Saving Private Ryan" (1998)
72. "The Shawshank Redemption" (1994)
73. "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" (1969)
74. "The Silence of the Lambs" (1991)
75. "In the Heat of the Night" (1967)
76. "Forrest Gump" (1994)
77. "All the President's Men" (1976)
78. "Modern Times" (1936)
79. "The Wild Bunch" (1969)
80. "The Apartment" (1960)
81. "Spartacus" (1960)
82. "Sunrise" (1927)
83. "Titanic" (1997)
84. "Easy Rider" (1969)
85. "A Night at the Opera" (1935)
86. "Platoon" (1986)
87. "12 Angry Men" (1957)
88. "Bringing Up Baby" (1938)
89. "The Sixth Sense" (1999)
90. "Swing Time" (1936)
91. "Sophie's Choice" (1982)
92. "Goodfellas" (1990)
93. "The French Connection" (1971)
94. "Pulp Fiction" (1994)
95. "The Last Picture Show" (1971)
96. "Do the Right Thing" (1989)
97. "Blade Runner" (1982)
98. "Yankee Doodle Dandy" (1942)
99. "Toy Story" (1995)
100. "Ben-Hur" (1959)
2. "The Godfather" (1972)
3. "Casablanca" (1942)
4. "Raging Bull" (1980)
5. "Singin' in the Rain" (1952)
6. "Gone With the Wind" (1939)
7. "Lawrence of Arabia" (1962)
8. "Schindler's List" (1993)
9. "Vertigo" (1958)
10. "The Wizard of Oz" (1939)
11. "City Lights" (1931)
12. "The Searchers" (1956)
13. "Star Wars" (1977)
14. "Psycho" (1960)
15. "2001: A Space Odyssey" (1968)
16. "Sunset Boulevard" (1950)
17. "The Graduate" (1967)
18. "The General" (1927)
19. "On the Waterfront" (1954)
20. "It's a Wonderful Life" (1946)
21. "Chinatown" (1974)
22. "Some Like It Hot" (1959)
23. "The Grapes of Wrath" (1940)
24. "E.T. -- The Extra-Terrestrial" (1982)
25. "To Kill a Mockingbird" (1962)
26. "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" (1939)
27. "High Noon" (1952)
28. "All About Eve" (1950)
29. "Double Indemnity" (1944)
30. "Apocalypse Now" (1979)
31. "The Maltese Falcon" (1941)
32. "The Godfather, Part II" (1974)
33. "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" (1975)
34. "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" (1937)
35. "Annie Hall" (1977)
36. "The Bridge on the River Kwai" (1957)
37. "The Best Years of Our Lives" (1946)
38. "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre" (1948)
39. "Dr. Strangelove" (1964)
40. "The Sound of Music" (1965)
41. "King Kong" (1933)
42. "Bonnie and Clyde" (1967)
43. "Midnight Cowboy" (1969)
44. "The Philadelphia Story" (1940)
45. "Shane" (1953)
46. "It Happened One Night" (1934)
47. "A Streetcar Named Desire" (1951)
48. "Rear Window" (1954)
49. "Intolerance" (1916)
50. "Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" (2001)
51. "West Side Story" (1961)
52. "Taxi Driver" (1976)
53. "The Deer Hunter" (1978)
54. "M*A*S*H" (1970)
55. "North by Northwest" (1959)
56. "Jaws" (1975)
57. "Rocky" (1976)
58. "The Gold Rush" (1925)
59. "Nashville" (1975)
60. "Duck Soup" (1933)
61. "Sullivan's Travels" (1941)
62. "American Graffiti" (1973)
63. "Cabaret" (1972)
64. "Network" (1976)
65. "The African Queen" (1951)
66. "Raiders of the Lost Ark" (1981)
67. "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" (1966)
68. "Unforgiven" (1992)
69. "Tootsie" (1982)
70. "A Clockwork Orange" (1971)
71. "Saving Private Ryan" (1998)
72. "The Shawshank Redemption" (1994)
73. "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" (1969)
74. "The Silence of the Lambs" (1991)
75. "In the Heat of the Night" (1967)
76. "Forrest Gump" (1994)
77. "All the President's Men" (1976)
78. "Modern Times" (1936)
79. "The Wild Bunch" (1969)
80. "The Apartment" (1960)
81. "Spartacus" (1960)
82. "Sunrise" (1927)
83. "Titanic" (1997)
84. "Easy Rider" (1969)
85. "A Night at the Opera" (1935)
86. "Platoon" (1986)
87. "12 Angry Men" (1957)
88. "Bringing Up Baby" (1938)
89. "The Sixth Sense" (1999)
90. "Swing Time" (1936)
91. "Sophie's Choice" (1982)
92. "Goodfellas" (1990)
93. "The French Connection" (1971)
94. "Pulp Fiction" (1994)
95. "The Last Picture Show" (1971)
96. "Do the Right Thing" (1989)
97. "Blade Runner" (1982)
98. "Yankee Doodle Dandy" (1942)
99. "Toy Story" (1995)
100. "Ben-Hur" (1959)
A bit meoldramatic, but it has it's merit
http://www.wikiprotest.com/index.php?title=A_Phone_Call_With_The_Federal_Reserve
Makes me want to go panning for gold.
Makes me want to go panning for gold.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
So this was interesting.
I've had this thing - that I do. I've been doing it for years but I never understood why. Can't say I completely understand it now either, but at least this was a small insight.
Sent an email to this guy I dug up on a website somewheres. Ask a psychologist. Kinda like ask a ninja, but more psychological and less deadly.
Read on...
The Dr's Reply:
A: Wow...what a great question. This situation may require a detective who
is part psychologist, part neurobiologist, and even part computer geek.
Some conditions that might cause this:
- Psychogenic sneezing: a form of conversion reaction (in psych terms)
where your intense need to write is expressed in physical symptoms - in
this case sneezing. It's like wanting to hit someone so hard that your arm
freezes.
- Allergic reactions: You don't have to have allergies to have allergic
reactions or to respond to irritants in the environment. We all sneeze if
we try to look at the sun, but that's not an allergy.
Based on your description:
- You are experiencing a histamine release. That's what produces the
entire symptom package of watery/itchy eyes, itchy nose, and urgency to
sneeze. Histamine is the target for many allergy medications - giving us
antihistamines.
- You experience this in two distinct situations - when you are "in the
zone" writing and when you are writing on the computer for a prolonged
period of time (while in the zone).
- You don't experience it during boring, calm, organized writing activity
or activity on the computer that is brief.
- You probably don't have a consistent allergy status based on what you've
said - although I'm not an allergy specialist obviously.
- Your sneezing appears directly linked to accessing your creativity. It
doesn't occur (as far as I know) in other situations where you might be
stressed or anxious.
My theory:
- Anyone who has ever been "in the zone" will tell you it's a special,
neurochemical event involving hyperfocus, fluidity of thought, high
organization, excited tension, etc. It's a heightened state of arousal and
awareness that increases productivity and facilitates highly effective
functioning.
- From a psychophysiological (whew!) standpoint, being in the zone is
actually a release and increase in arousal-related neurochemicals,
typically norepinephrine, dopamine, and...here it
comes..histamine<
produces your sense that your circuits are switching in your brain. In your
"zone" process, your body is increasing the production of these chemicals
and what you are experiencing is the gradual increase of histamine -
producing the allergy-like symptoms you exhibit. This is why it doesn't
happen during "calm", noncreative, or nonaroused states such as outlines,
email, or even non-writing stressful situations. Obviously, you are
getting into a Big Zone here to have this much neurotransmitter release.
Similar situations are found in long distance runners ("runner's high"),
partygoers (second wind), etc.
- This is also why, after dealing with the histamine release, the "zone"
disappears. I don't mean to sound kinky, but the entire process is similar
to a sexual release which goes from arousal to intense release to
relaxation in simple terms.
- There is one other possibility. You can experience a histamine release
with prolonged exposure to your computer. Computers, by nature, attract
dust, pollen, etc. due to their electromagnetic fields. After many hours on
the computer, you may be experiencing a histamine release due to exposure
to these substances, eye fatigue from the monitor, etc.
Recommendations:
- First, clean and vacuum your computer frequently. Keep it in a
well-ventilated place. I didn't have the impression you were hand-writing
when in the zone so you need an anti-histamine computer as much as possible.
- If we proceed with my theory, the more intense your "zone" becomes, the
more likely the release of histamine. If you feel a "zone" approaching, you
may want to try taking an over-the-counter non-drowsy antihistamine in an
attempt to block the histamine release or minimize it.
- While in the zone, shift from computer to a voice-recorder to get away
from the computer enviroment (less dust, less eye strain, etc.). Dictate
and pace in the zone for a while, then return to the computer. Alternating
may help keep you in the zone while burning off some arousal energy.
- While creativity is arousing, remembering creativity can also be
arousing. Read what you have written, try to jog your memory and return to
the zone for shorter periods.
I think what you are experiencing is very real...a bit weird, but hey,
that's one of the costs of being creative. I suspect this is a normal
physiological response that you'll need to manage by trial and error. It
can be worked out.
Hope this reply is helpful.
Dr. Carver
ETA: Here is the article - http://counsellingresource.com/ask-the-psychologist/2007/06/20/psychogenic-sneezing/
wheeee I'z publishjd!!! Not rilly.
Sent an email to this guy I dug up on a website somewheres. Ask a psychologist. Kinda like ask a ninja, but more psychological and less deadly.
Read on...
To: just-ask@counsellingresource.com
I have a peculiar problem. I asked a psychologist about it once before but not only did he not have an explanation for me, he said it was the weirdest thing he had ever heard. A psychologist said that. The problem is this. I am a writer by habit. I write every day, fiction, mostly. Sometimes I only write a little bit, but some days I will sit at the computer for hours and pound out page after page. It's usually during my most productive, most creative times that it happens. When the creative juices are flowing, and I find myself in a zone where I can write fluidly and free associate words to the wanderings of my imagination, I sometimes start to sniffle. Then my eyes start to water, and my nose itches and I have to sneeze. I have to sneeze BAD. I hold it off as long as I can because this is my best writing, when I can barely see the screen and I'm blowing my nose over and over just to stave it off for a few more seconds. But eventually I start sneezing. And I don't stop until I get up from the computer, walk away, blow my nose a few million times and try not to think about what I'm writing for ten minutes or so. Eventually I get it under control and I can sit back down, but then that lit fuse of creativity is extinguished and I can't get it to return without the same effects. It's not an allergy. I've had this for over ten years, in four states, it can happen in any season, any room of my house, with or without a cat on my lap, but it only happens when I am able to turn on the writing juice. It didn't happen while writing this, and it never happens while writing anything I have outlined or planned out, only when writing from the cuff, when i can actually feel the gears in my brain switching. It would be really nice if I could just write without some bizarre function of my brain sabotaging me - never mind that such a thing shouldn't be possible. Any ideas?The Dr's Reply:
A: Wow...what a great question. This situation may require a detective who
is part psychologist, part neurobiologist, and even part computer geek.
Some conditions that might cause this:
- Psychogenic sneezing: a form of conversion reaction (in psych terms)
where your intense need to write is expressed in physical symptoms - in
this case sneezing. It's like wanting to hit someone so hard that your arm
freezes.
- Allergic reactions: You don't have to have allergies to have allergic
reactions or to respond to irritants in the environment. We all sneeze if
we try to look at the sun, but that's not an allergy.
Based on your description:
- You are experiencing a histamine release. That's what produces the
entire symptom package of watery/itchy eyes, itchy nose, and urgency to
sneeze. Histamine is the target for many allergy medications - giving us
antihistamines.
- You experience this in two distinct situations - when you are "in the
zone" writing and when you are writing on the computer for a prolonged
period of time (while in the zone).
- You don't experience it during boring, calm, organized writing activity
or activity on the computer that is brief.
- You probably don't have a consistent allergy status based on what you've
said - although I'm not an allergy specialist obviously.
- Your sneezing appears directly linked to accessing your creativity. It
doesn't occur (as far as I know) in other situations where you might be
stressed or anxious.
My theory:
- Anyone who has ever been "in the zone" will tell you it's a special,
neurochemical event involving hyperfocus, fluidity of thought, high
organization, excited tension, etc. It's a heightened state of arousal and
awareness that increases productivity and facilitates highly effective
functioning.
- From a psychophysiological (whew!) standpoint, being in the zone is
actually a release and increase in arousal-related neurochemicals,
typically norepinephrine, dopamine, and...here it
comes..histamine<
produces your sense that your circuits are switching in your brain. In your
"zone" process, your body is increasing the production of these chemicals
and what you are experiencing is the gradual increase of histamine -
producing the allergy-like symptoms you exhibit. This is why it doesn't
happen during "calm", noncreative, or nonaroused states such as outlines,
email, or even non-writing stressful situations. Obviously, you are
getting into a Big Zone here to have this much neurotransmitter release.
Similar situations are found in long distance runners ("runner's high"),
partygoers (second wind), etc.
- This is also why, after dealing with the histamine release, the "zone"
disappears. I don't mean to sound kinky, but the entire process is similar
to a sexual release which goes from arousal to intense release to
relaxation in simple terms.
- There is one other possibility. You can experience a histamine release
with prolonged exposure to your computer. Computers, by nature, attract
dust, pollen, etc. due to their electromagnetic fields. After many hours on
the computer, you may be experiencing a histamine release due to exposure
to these substances, eye fatigue from the monitor, etc.
Recommendations:
- First, clean and vacuum your computer frequently. Keep it in a
well-ventilated place. I didn't have the impression you were hand-writing
when in the zone so you need an anti-histamine computer as much as possible.
- If we proceed with my theory, the more intense your "zone" becomes, the
more likely the release of histamine. If you feel a "zone" approaching, you
may want to try taking an over-the-counter non-drowsy antihistamine in an
attempt to block the histamine release or minimize it.
- While in the zone, shift from computer to a voice-recorder to get away
from the computer enviroment (less dust, less eye strain, etc.). Dictate
and pace in the zone for a while, then return to the computer. Alternating
may help keep you in the zone while burning off some arousal energy.
- While creativity is arousing, remembering creativity can also be
arousing. Read what you have written, try to jog your memory and return to
the zone for shorter periods.
I think what you are experiencing is very real...a bit weird, but hey,
that's one of the costs of being creative. I suspect this is a normal
physiological response that you'll need to manage by trial and error. It
can be worked out.
Hope this reply is helpful.
Dr. Carver
ETA: Here is the article - http://counsellingresource.com/ask-the-psychologist/2007/06/20/psychogenic-sneezing/
wheeee I'z publishjd!!! Not rilly.
Saturday, June 16, 2007
I remember betting you that I could climb the disco wall using only me lips...
Oy. Dizzy. Last night was fun. Chinese food and rum. And Tommy Chong is MY HERO. Steven too.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
I ALMOST DIED
SO my friend Loni took me out horseback riding today. She's been riding a long time, has a degree in equine medicine etc. She knows her stuff and I trust her to keep me, as an inexperienced rider, safe while I'm with her horses. She had this tiny little horse for me, Jazz, not her horse, but one she knows well enough. She's had other people ride him and he's a little spunky, but settles down after a bit, so she says.
Jazz was pawing and chomping at the bit long before I got on him.
When I did finally manage to get on him, after pulling the saddle down and having to put it back on and his girlfriend in the paddock whining at us and the other gelding kicking at the gate - he took off with me. He starts riding the fence back and forth through a tiny path, more like an obstacle course around fence posts and wood piles and other hazards, kicking, dancing, rearing. I haven't been on a horse in years, and never on one performing that kind of nonsense. I just kinda held on for dear life and tried to be adamant as possible when he started acting like he was going to try to jump a low spot in the fence to get back to his girlfriend.
A small FOREVER later, my friend got hold of him from the saddle on her own horse, and I jumped the fuck off of him.
Then it got interesting.
She asked me to hold her horse, who is reliably gentle and nonchalant about most things, and SHE took Jazz. Took her ten minutes to get on him, kept trying to kick her. All the while she swears, he's not usually like this. She finally gets on him and rides him around, and he is bucking and kicking and snorting and then rears like a fucking giant stallion vertical, and she just barely stayed on the saddle that time, was a hair's breadth from tipping over backwards, shit you not, then came back to Earth and tried to kick the horse I was holding, or me, or both, who knows.
BAD PONY.
Jazz was pawing and chomping at the bit long before I got on him.
When I did finally manage to get on him, after pulling the saddle down and having to put it back on and his girlfriend in the paddock whining at us and the other gelding kicking at the gate - he took off with me. He starts riding the fence back and forth through a tiny path, more like an obstacle course around fence posts and wood piles and other hazards, kicking, dancing, rearing. I haven't been on a horse in years, and never on one performing that kind of nonsense. I just kinda held on for dear life and tried to be adamant as possible when he started acting like he was going to try to jump a low spot in the fence to get back to his girlfriend.
A small FOREVER later, my friend got hold of him from the saddle on her own horse, and I jumped the fuck off of him.
Then it got interesting.
She asked me to hold her horse, who is reliably gentle and nonchalant about most things, and SHE took Jazz. Took her ten minutes to get on him, kept trying to kick her. All the while she swears, he's not usually like this. She finally gets on him and rides him around, and he is bucking and kicking and snorting and then rears like a fucking giant stallion vertical, and she just barely stayed on the saddle that time, was a hair's breadth from tipping over backwards, shit you not, then came back to Earth and tried to kick the horse I was holding, or me, or both, who knows.
BAD PONY.
I stayed home from work today
Why you may ask? TOO. MUCH. POLLEN.
I woke up feeling like I had pollen caked on the inside of my skull - like I had some kind of nocturnal honey bee's nest in my head and all night the workers were out collecting pouches full of allergens and delivering them to my sinuses.
I never used to have allergies.
At all.
Now my list is like
Anyway.
I blame the govt.
I woke up feeling like I had pollen caked on the inside of my skull - like I had some kind of nocturnal honey bee's nest in my head and all night the workers were out collecting pouches full of allergens and delivering them to my sinuses.
I never used to have allergies.
At all.
Now my list is like
Anyway.
I blame the govt.
Monday, June 11, 2007
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