Phannish Stuph

An illuminating essay from ranalore on character vs archetypes in fan fiction. LJ has meant my proper introduction to metafandom, if that's the right word - fans of multiple texts who my move between and combine them (eg Harry Potter doujinshi). In Australia at least, Doctor Who fandom is an entity unto itself, with only tenuous connections to wider media or literary SF fandom, whereas here fandom comes first and texts second.

The Guardian asks: Why do we still fall for Mr Darcy?. Speaking of archetypes, he and Mr Rochester have something to do with Snape fan fiction.

It's that man again: behold, the first unofficial James Callis Web site.

I'll bet you've already heard of the remote that can turn off public TVs. I heard on the radio that there's now a thingy that can prevent all but emergency mobile phone calls in cinemas. We need one of those for the library, and also a device which causes the sudden demise of students using Hotmail on the research computers. Preferably not a messy demise, as the carpet is still new; perhaps something which leaves one smoking shoe as a warning to others.

(no subject)

Too drowsy to go to work today, thanks to my antidepressant. Of course, without the drug, I'd be too suicidal to go to work today, so it's not a bad tradeoff. You know the bit in Ringworld Engineers where Speaker is pretending to be a god and sends Louis as his servant - "Because I am hurried, he will be dwarf, and mute."? I feel like that all the time.

Genesis 35

OK, where the heck where we? Right, last chapter Jacob's sons pulled that cheeky prank of wiping out a city while the men were recovering from circumcision. They must have felt a bunch of right, erm, nanas. Anyway, onto Genesis 35!

My crummy summary: Jacob and his company abandon their idols and travel to Bethel. God renames Jacob Israel. En route to Ephron Rachel dies giving birth to Benjamin. At Hebron, they meet up with Isaac, who passes away.

Notes to self: Why the earrings, in particular? I liked the midwife's bit of encouragement. Is Rachel's pillar still there? (Bet there are numerous candidates.)

Fits of madness

Friend crack_news. There's not enough pain in your life.

There are Esperanto editions of two Chick tracts: La Eta Fantomo (The Tiny Ghost) and Jen Via Tuta Vivo (Behold Your Whole Life, ie "This Is Your Life!"). Esperanto being what it is, I can read them without difficulty after about three and a half lessons. Try it for yourself: Jesuo diris, "Mi estas la vojo kaj la vero kaj la vivo." (This is all your fault, ashamel.) Why do the kids pray by prostrating themselves and covering their faces? They look as though they're ducking and covering.

ETA: Jon asked if there were any in Klingon. Not yet.