Today's my mom's birthday. Happy birthday, Mom!
If you, like me, have been frustrated by attempting to make the new iTunes do any of the things iTunes is supposed to do, you should check out my friend Faythe's illustrated solution.
Other people's Christmas letters could be a good Tumblr to follow this season.
Last night a friend and I were discussing Mrs. Rachel Lynde, as you do, and I realized there is a new book on knitted counterpanes coming out! I want it desperately.
The Go Fug Yourself Gift Guide is a delight, as always.
You must read author Scott Tracey on loss and grief and inspiration.
Oooh, Love, Actually drinking game!
Aspiring authors should read this and MEMORIZE IT. Please.
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
All I want for Christmas is agency for Elena.
The Vampire Diaries has always revolved to a certain extent around people doing things to and for and because of Elena, but the show is at its best when it lets her make her own decisions (for better or worse), when it lets her be an actor instead of merely the object acted upon. Therefore, I'm not thrilled with the way the other characters are treating her sire bond with Damon. They are fixated on removing his influence at any cost rather than respecting her own wishes or feelings.
If the sire bond had given Elena new, false feelings that were not her own, that would be one thing. But the show made it very clear that that was not how it worked. The bond merely amplified her feelings, and it would not have existed in the first place had Elena not loved Damon. Again, the feelings are real. But it seems obvious to Damon, Stefan, and practically everyone else that the "right" thing for Damon to do would be to order her to leave him behind - even though that is the opposite of what Elena herself would choose, with or without the sire bond.
Look: There are no good options here. But deliberately going against Elena's wishes and choices is not the better option, just because other people in her life think it might be better for her. The better option would be for everyone to continue to treat Elena as an individual with agency, rather than reinforcing the bad aspects of the sire bond by expecting Damon to make decisions for her (even if those decisions are supposedly against his own self-interest). But Damon has a fair amount of self-control; this should be obvious to the audience even if not to some of the characters. And he wants - he has always wanted - for things with Elena to be real. He could have compelled her to sleep with him many times in the past, but he didn't. There's no reason to think he would start acting that way now.
Therefore, by far the preferable plan here would be for him to continue the relationship they both clearly want at this point, while being very careful not to (accidentally or intentionally) direct Elena's actions. Will this work perfectly? No, assuredly not. It will take a lot of thought and consideration and trial and error. But is it more respectful of Elena's individual identity and agency to try that rather than immediately jumping to the point of forcing her to act against her own wishes? Absolutely.
(An aside: This is all closely related to issues of consent in this show, which is probably a post for another day. But related to this episode, since it's been much discussed: as far as I'm concerned, Caroline never, ever has to give Damon a break. But I also find it completely believable that Elena doesn't want to [or can't] see that, and she is absolutely allowed to be angry with her friends for trying to tell her what to do, regardless of their reasons.)
If the sire bond had given Elena new, false feelings that were not her own, that would be one thing. But the show made it very clear that that was not how it worked. The bond merely amplified her feelings, and it would not have existed in the first place had Elena not loved Damon. Again, the feelings are real. But it seems obvious to Damon, Stefan, and practically everyone else that the "right" thing for Damon to do would be to order her to leave him behind - even though that is the opposite of what Elena herself would choose, with or without the sire bond.
Look: There are no good options here. But deliberately going against Elena's wishes and choices is not the better option, just because other people in her life think it might be better for her. The better option would be for everyone to continue to treat Elena as an individual with agency, rather than reinforcing the bad aspects of the sire bond by expecting Damon to make decisions for her (even if those decisions are supposedly against his own self-interest). But Damon has a fair amount of self-control; this should be obvious to the audience even if not to some of the characters. And he wants - he has always wanted - for things with Elena to be real. He could have compelled her to sleep with him many times in the past, but he didn't. There's no reason to think he would start acting that way now.
Therefore, by far the preferable plan here would be for him to continue the relationship they both clearly want at this point, while being very careful not to (accidentally or intentionally) direct Elena's actions. Will this work perfectly? No, assuredly not. It will take a lot of thought and consideration and trial and error. But is it more respectful of Elena's individual identity and agency to try that rather than immediately jumping to the point of forcing her to act against her own wishes? Absolutely.
(An aside: This is all closely related to issues of consent in this show, which is probably a post for another day. But related to this episode, since it's been much discussed: as far as I'm concerned, Caroline never, ever has to give Damon a break. But I also find it completely believable that Elena doesn't want to [or can't] see that, and she is absolutely allowed to be angry with her friends for trying to tell her what to do, regardless of their reasons.)
Morning Coffee (12/11/12)
It Matters If You’re Black or White: The Racism of YA Book Covers
A Saving Francesca movie? YES PLEASE.
Cassandra Clare, Maureen Johnson, and Sarah Rees Brennan are teaming up to write stories about Magnus Bane. Eeeeeee.
Solving the Broken Crossword Puzzle Economy
Ooh, here's an interesting feature on costume design in The Hour.
HALLMARKGATE: Or, A Lesson On How The Internet Works
A Saving Francesca movie? YES PLEASE.
Cassandra Clare, Maureen Johnson, and Sarah Rees Brennan are teaming up to write stories about Magnus Bane. Eeeeeee.
Solving the Broken Crossword Puzzle Economy
Ooh, here's an interesting feature on costume design in The Hour.
HALLMARKGATE: Or, A Lesson On How The Internet Works
Monday, December 10, 2012
How do you solve a problem like Maria?
(Sorry. I couldn't resist.)
We've known for a while that NBC was doing a one-time live broadcast of The Sound of Music, but now the first casting news is out: Carrie Underwood will star as Maria von Trapp. I've known this for ten days and still haven't decided how I feel about it, though I think I'm cautiously optimistic. I honestly don't know whether she can act, but at least she can sing. A lot will depend on who they cast opposite her, which is quite a puzzle. I've discussed it with a few friends and none of us can come up with any obvious candidates. (If you were the network who already had Matt Bomer in your employ, and you were going to stage a musical, wouldn't you pick one with a major role for him? But I digress.) Scandal's Tony Goldwyn played the Captain at a benefit recently, and . . . I would not object if they went with him. But we'll see.
In general, though, I've seen a lot of outrage about this adaptation, and I just don't share it. That realization sort of surprised me, since The Sound of Music is my favorite movie ever. But the movie is an adaptation of the stage show, and there have been countless productions of that. (And, of course, the show itself was an adaptation of a real person's memoirs.) This NBC version (which, for the record, is being billed as a production of the show, not a remake of the movie) is just another in a long line. It doesn't take anything away from the movie. Julie Andrews will still be there on your DVDs, I promise. So while I think there are a lot of ways that this version could go wrong, I don't think the fact that it's based on the same show as my favorite movie is in itself a negative. I am in favor of more things being like the things I like! So I'm eager to give this Sound of Music a chance.
We've known for a while that NBC was doing a one-time live broadcast of The Sound of Music, but now the first casting news is out: Carrie Underwood will star as Maria von Trapp. I've known this for ten days and still haven't decided how I feel about it, though I think I'm cautiously optimistic. I honestly don't know whether she can act, but at least she can sing. A lot will depend on who they cast opposite her, which is quite a puzzle. I've discussed it with a few friends and none of us can come up with any obvious candidates. (If you were the network who already had Matt Bomer in your employ, and you were going to stage a musical, wouldn't you pick one with a major role for him? But I digress.) Scandal's Tony Goldwyn played the Captain at a benefit recently, and . . . I would not object if they went with him. But we'll see.
In general, though, I've seen a lot of outrage about this adaptation, and I just don't share it. That realization sort of surprised me, since The Sound of Music is my favorite movie ever. But the movie is an adaptation of the stage show, and there have been countless productions of that. (And, of course, the show itself was an adaptation of a real person's memoirs.) This NBC version (which, for the record, is being billed as a production of the show, not a remake of the movie) is just another in a long line. It doesn't take anything away from the movie. Julie Andrews will still be there on your DVDs, I promise. So while I think there are a lot of ways that this version could go wrong, I don't think the fact that it's based on the same show as my favorite movie is in itself a negative. I am in favor of more things being like the things I like! So I'm eager to give this Sound of Music a chance.
Morning Coffee (12/10/12)
How is it almost mid-December already? How?
Make sure you check out today's Google doodle. Ada Lovelace! Whee!
Terrifying: The Truck Stop Killer
The Mad Men of Dallas
I miss Google Reader's social side so much.
I love codes AND secret societies.
How Do You Raise a Prodigy?
Make sure you check out today's Google doodle. Ada Lovelace! Whee!
Terrifying: The Truck Stop Killer
The Mad Men of Dallas
I miss Google Reader's social side so much.
I love codes AND secret societies.
How Do You Raise a Prodigy?
Friday, December 7, 2012
Dalek Cigar Ad
This... is this a real thing? I mean, Hamlet cigars are known for their funny ads, using "Air on a G String." Quick Googling suggests people think this is real. In any case, it's hilarious.
Morning Coffee (12/7/12)
Here's a murder case with possible cult involvement for cheery Friday morning reading.
This year's format for the Guardian gift guide is probably a lot more useful but also a lot less fun.
Please Shut Up, Bret Easton Ellis!
I love Williams-Sonoma, but The Hater’s Guide To The Williams-Sonoma Catalog is fun too.
Morris Award Finalists!
The 40 Most Influential Corgis of 2012
This year's format for the Guardian gift guide is probably a lot more useful but also a lot less fun.
Please Shut Up, Bret Easton Ellis!
I love Williams-Sonoma, but The Hater’s Guide To The Williams-Sonoma Catalog is fun too.
Morris Award Finalists!
The 40 Most Influential Corgis of 2012
Thursday, December 6, 2012
The Best Music Performance You Will See This Christmas
I know it's a little early in the season to be making such a sweeping claim, but, I mean, SERIOUSLY.
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