MacWorld

New bloggish layout

2008-11-23T02:19:27Z

I've just posted a new layout here:

http://asylums.insanejournal.com/mylayouts2/

and it the codes should be up on freelayouts shortly.

Yoo, you, the writer over there!

2008-11-03T08:40:50Z

YULETIDE is open for sign ups. If you've ever wanted to write in a challenge, this is the one. Its, like, HUGE. There are literally thousands of genres to write in, and you are not limited to any one style - gen, het, slash, all are possible. And you only have to produce one thousand words. I have signed up, both because I've always wanted to take part but generally missed the sign up, and also to kick start my writing again. I picked some way cool choices, and will be happy to write in whatever I get given. It would be nice if I get one of my chosen fandoms written for me, too, we will see how it goes.

Oh, and if you plan to take part, you might want to check out the list of needy fandoms, to see ones where stories have been requested but not yet offered. There is a huge number of very interesting genres there. *feeling really quite excited*

What the ferk!

2008-10-14T10:40:13Z

Can anyone tell me what the fuck is going on with IJ? I am getting constant error messages and weird goings on whenever I am trying to load a page with IJ. Its pissing me off!

Layout

2008-10-13T23:38:23Z

I have created a new layout for anyone who might like to take a look. If you like it, I can provide instruction details.

It's S2 Bloggish.

http://asylums.insanejournal.com/mylayouts4/

A CSS question for the knowing

2008-10-08T22:41:51Z

For anyone reading me who knows coding/CSS:

Regarding width - you have two ways to specify the width of a component of the page (eg, the content)- you can do it using pixels (eg width: 900px;) or you can use percentage (eg width: 90%).

Can you clarify this for me - I'm assuming that using pixels means that its a set width, set to that measurement of pixels which will therefore look different depending on what resolution the viewing computer is using or the size of the monitor. However, I'm also assuming that if you use a percentage, it's a percentage of the area and that this will be the same no matter what resolution/monitor is viewing it.

Would that be a correct assumption?

Also, I'd appreciate it if anyone who is using a Mac could take a look at this layout and tell me if anything looks skewiff (that is, bits overruning, off screen, etc). It isn't finished yet, but I'm testing the settings:

http://community.livejournal.com/mytestinglayout/

a question for the Harry Potter fans

2008-10-03T08:37:11Z

I was browsing through my saved stories folder and contemplating the HP stories and it occurred to me that all of them are, by current standards, dated.

It made me wonder whether people reading older stories, stories written before the finalisation of the series, would consider such stories as unreadable. What is the general feeling about HP fanficftion? Is there some sort of timeline? Are stories written prior to the last book's release considered dated? Does anyone still write stories set back before the last book, where Harry was a student and Snape was a teacher and, if so, does the obvious knowledge of what is to come alter the style of the stories?

If I look at my fic, there was always a general feeling of hope, of Snape surviving and Harry becoming an auror or a teacher or whatever. But now we know, of course, what Snape's fate was and what became of Harry, all of those concepts become AU.

I suspect it was one reason I gave up writing HP. Not because I found Snape any less interesting as a character (he will always be my favorite Slytherin) but because I felt restrained by the path his character took.

Another plagiarist at work

2008-09-26T08:26:48Z

There appears to be yet another plagiarist at work on Fanfiction.net.

He/She is HERE and from my quick perusal she seems to have copied and claimed for her own the following:

Delectationis Draconigenae by ldybastet.

Another is "Devotion" by CJ May.

Also A Whiteer Shade of Pale by Rhysen.

I'm sure the rest are as well. Check them out.

The Palin Kids Name Meme

2008-09-25T12:44:31Z

Sarah Palin married her high school boyfriend, Todd Palin, on August 29, 1988. The Palin family lives in Wasilla, about 45 miles (72 km) north of Anchorage. The Palins have two sons (Track, 19, and Trig, four months) and three daughters (Bristol, 17; Willow, 14; and Piper, 7) [ages as of August 2008]. Todd Palin has said Track's name came from the interest Sarah's parents had in the sport and the fact that he was born in the sport's season; Bristol was named after Bristol Bay in Alaska, where Todd grew up and where he does commercial fishing; Willow was named after Willow, Alaska; Piper got her name because it is uncommon and "a cool name"; Trig's name is Norse for "strength".

1)Your first-born will be named after your parents favorite sport:

Cricket
That sort of works on a cutesy level.

2)Your second-born will be named after a nearby area that you're not from but you like the sound of part of the name, and maybe you have nostalgic memories of said place:

Vaucluse
I don’t have any real nostalgic memories of it, but it’s where the rich live and envy sort of qualifies as nostalgia, yeah?

3)Your third-born will be named after another nearby place, for no reason other than you already have two children and don't have time to put much thought into another name:

Silverwater
I dare the kid to get past childhood alive.

4)Your fourth gets a "cool" name:

Yo
That’s cool, and easy to remember.

5)Your fifth gets something mythological, possibly straight out of Lord of the Rings:

Shadowfax, but only if the kid looks like a horse.

Layout testing

2008-09-25T12:32:58Z

If anyone still reads me (I know, not the most active poster at the moment) I'd appreciate it if you could run an eye over my new layout and let me know how it looks. It helps to get input from people using different machines, browsers and resolutions.

If you do take a look, can you let me know if anyone looks odd or wrong.

Art and moi

2008-08-31T07:37:33Z

I mentioned I was working on a painting. It's almost finished, some touching up to do and a little more detail, but I thought I'd share the work with you. I'm enjoying do it a lot (though not enjoying quite so much getting paint all over myself - how do you get paint out of your eyeborws!)

The colour of the photo isn't very accurate - there was light coming through from behind and that pinkish area isn't real. As I say, not finished yet, but fun.

This was from a photograph taken by my boss when he trekked the Kokoda Trail, showing a shot of the mountains at dawn. It was a stunning pic that just yelled Paint Me!

Fic: : A Certain Slytherin Villian

2008-07-30T12:24:42Z

Title: A Certain Slytherin Villian
Rated: Adultish
Genre: Harry Potter
Characters: Severus Snape/Harry Potter
Notes: that this has very little to do with the last novel. I ignore it, she said airily. I actually wrote this back in January and did put it on LJ but thought I'd share it here, as I know many of my list is still very active in HP fandom.

"Moriarty."

Harry looked up from the book he was reading. "What?"

"You asked me what I liked about Sherlock Holmes novels, why I read them. It's Moriarty."

Harry curled onto his side, put the book aside and placed his glasses on the side table. He rested his head on his arm and studied Severus with a mild smile. "Should have known you'd like him."

Snape nodded, thoughtful. The lamplight sent blue and gold highlights through his dark hair, mingling with the streaks of silver at his temples. The years had softened his austerity, providing an elegance that was almost beauty, as close to it as Snape would ever come.

"He's almost Slytherin, so that makes him rather admirable, of course. He appreciates a worthy foe, and feels that being who and what he is, his match must always be the best of the best. He's brilliant, cunning, devious, unpredictable, and he has a sense of his own worth. Of course, his morals are somewhat ambiguous."

"Phooey to that. He isn't ambiguous. He's a total villain."

Severus turned to him, eyes calm, as deep as ever, exerting the same dark fascination they always had for Harry. "But that's rather what the world thought of me, wasn't it? One's reputation tends to proceed one, and the judgment of the moral majority guides opinion."

Drawn inexorably by that voice, by the unspoken bond between them that a decade together had not dimmed, Harry slid closer to his lover, curled next to him, rested his face on Severus' chest. "So, if it were real, and I were Sherlock Holmes, how would the story have ended?"

Long, powerful fingers stroked his hair, and he closed his eyes in pleasure at the touch.

"Oh, I imagine one day Moriarty would have lured poor, foolish, quixotic young Sherlock into a trap and seduced him with drugged wine, hypnosis and his apparently sensual voice and before he knew it the detective would have been naked and aroused and filled with a quite shameful desire to have the bad Professor have his evil way with him. With or without his violin."

Harry sighed, turned into the touch and licked the nipple he was resting against, nuzzling it with mouth and face, smiling as he did. "I think that version of the novel might have been a best seller. You could call it Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure to Be Found in a Brown Paper Bag Behind the Counter."

End

This week's film music

2008-07-18T09:19:24Z

Not so much film, as TV; these are two tracks from a particular love of mine "Beauty and the Beast".

Written by Lee Holdridge, this music is very romantic, and admirably suited the style of the series.

The first track is the Theme, and is 1 minute 18 seconds in length.

http://www.yousendit.com/download/Q01ITkFpSWVIcWRFQlE9PQ

The second track is called "The Voice of Her Eyes". I particularly love this track as it includes Ron Perlman reading "somewhere I have never travelled" by ee cummings, one of the most perfect pieces of poetry ever written, in my undoubtedly unhumble opinion. It is 3 minutes 14 seconds in length.

http://www.yousendit.com/download/Q01ITkFxU1BnYVB2Wmc9PQ

Enjoy!

A TV rundown

2008-07-13T02:57:29Z

This looks like the schedule for the TV series I currently watch and enjoy:

DR WHO:
Next episode shown will be the Christmas special (obviously in December), followed byfour "specials" in 2009, the first of which will be broadcast at Easter, 2009. The next full season which not commence broadcasting in the UK until (presumably mid) 2010.

TORCHWOOD:
No certain news yet, although it looks likely to be a truncated season, again presumably in the first half of 2009.

PRIMEVAL:
Commencing January, 2009, apparently with an extended season of 10 episodes.

STARGATE:ATLANTIS:
Has just commenced broadcasting Season 5.

ASHES TO ASHES:
Second season being made, showing on an unknown date in 2009.

NCIS:
Renewed for 6th season, commencing broadcasting September, 2008.

Stargate: Continuum

2008-07-03T03:57:09Z

The second of the Stargate films, "Continuum" is due out shortly, and due to the kindness of friends online I managed to get a copy last night and I viewed it this morning over coughing and porrige. naturally, spoilers lurk behind the cuts. Love to discuss the film with others reading me who might have seen it.

"Continuum" is the latest in a line of time travel stories for SG1, it's a theme the production team seem very fond of. Sometimes the stories work, sometimes not so well. In this instance I like the 'feel' of the tale and it has its own particular charm.

Bad old Baal is about to be knocked off, presumably the last one. In the midst of that Vala and T'ealc vanish, poor old Jack gets shot and everything else starts going down the gurgler, so Cam, Daniel and Sam head back to Earth. However, what they don't know is that Baal, tricky bugger, had managed a little time trip of his own, had saboutaged the journey of the oririginal stargate on its way to the US back in the 30's and they arrived in the old a ship frozen and locked away in the Arctic.

So it's back into time/alternate reality/whatever you want to call it. Cam doesn't exist, Sam was killed as an astronaut and Daniel is a fringe-dwelling nutter. Jack is still in service as Special Forces, as is General Hammond (a three star) while Landry has retired. SG1 has no trouble convincing the authorities who they are, but they do have trouble convincing them to do anything about it. Naturally, it's everyone else's timeline and they're quite happy to leave it alone.

Until a year later, when Baal turns up with poor old Vala carrying a g'ould and looking stunning, I must say. I almost prefer her cool, evil persona. She certainly was a much snappier dresser.

Anyhow, they proceed to do nasty things to Earth, while the team attempts to get back to the place where Baal obviously had some sort of time travel set up. They manage that, people get shot along the way and poor old Cam ends up in around 1929 on Earth, having to wait the 10 years till 1939 to save the ship and put the timeline back in its proper order.

Points I liked:
Cameron Mitchell: The Untold Story
One of the things I most enjoy about SF is the stories that aren't told, just as much as the ones that are - and this often applies in time travel stories, because time travel is such fertile ground for the explortion of potential. The notion of what happened to Cam in those ten years between 1929 and 1939 is a whole novel in itself - a man out of a time at a very difficult point in modern history, having to survive and make his way, to stay fit and well and alive for that 10 years no matter what, and to tell no-one so as not to alter history. THAT is a story I'd like to read.

Also, the whole tone of the movie was nice; neither rushed nor slow, it was paced and enjoyable. They had an interesting story to tell and they told it with all the skill that they should have after more than 10 years of telling the SG1 story/

Points I was unhappy with:
There's coincidence and then there's Poke My Eye Out With the Impossible
The Stargate writers have a habit of pushing credulity with regard to coincidence to the point where it will often spring back and hit you in the eye in a natural eye-sporking kind of way. They have continued that fine tradition in Continuum. For example:

In the altered timeline, Cam didn't exist because his grandfather had been aboard the ship carrying the stargate. Now this is just silly. He could have been killed under another perfectly believable paradoxical scenario, having him on the very ship carrying the stargate was unncessarily trite. Don't ask me to suspend my disbelief that much guys, and I think it's a bit of an insult to expect to expect an intelligent audience to do likewise.

Similarly, the ship carrying the stargate presumably sank in the arctic under lots of ice and very cold water. Yet somewhow the Russians not only knew it was there, but managed to salvage it without anyone else knowing. All possible I suppose. I'd like a winning lottery ticket for the same odds, though.

All in all, I like this movie, and will happily watch it again to catch those moments I might have missed. And, of course, I can't help thinking...what happened to everyone who should have gone to Atlantis....???

JOHN ADAMS: a special music request

2008-07-02T13:12:52Z

At the request of cordelia_v I am making available some tracks from the soundtrack to JOHN ADAMS.

The entire collection is around 80 minutes of music and far too huge a file for me to store anywhere or to upload via my normal methods. However, I am making a few tracks available for her, and for anyone else who cares to grab them.

1. The White House 3min 4sec

2. John and Abigail 1min 12sec

3. First President 1min 7sec

4. Opening Titles 2min 44sec

Drabble: No Good Deed (Who)

2008-07-01T01:05:13Z

Drabble (exactly 100 words): No Good Deed
Rated G
Master and Doctor
Just to get me back into the writing mood. I'd forgotten how fun it can be to write a short piece and make it precise in length and try and put exactly what you want ot say in those few words.

There'd been something odd tasting about the Tea.

He'd slouched back in the couch, just to rest his eyes for a few moments, to rest his mind from the constant need to be on guard, because the Master was roaming the TARDIS and, well, you just never could tell.

And he'd fallen asleep. When did he sleep!

When the alarm blared out, he'd leapt to his feet, only to fall headfirst over the rail because someone had tied his shoelaces together. He heard the familiar, satisfied chuckle. It all just proved the point really.

No good deed ever went unpunished.

On the 4th...or is it 5th...reviewing of Doctor Who: Stolen Earth

2008-06-30T01:32:31Z

When you're home sick with the flu, you can be self-indulgent, so I've rewatched it a few times, looking out for things of interest. Some boquets, a couple of brickbats, just to prove I am not a totally one-eyed fangirl

Lots of boquets:

Firstly, Harriet Jones. I loved, just loved, how they carried through the theme they'd established so long ago ("Yes, I know who you are") right up to and including the Daleks who presumably blew her away. But I did catch and investigate the Mr Copper Foundation, to find that he was the Mr Copper from the Titanic who'd stayed on Earth with his million pounds petty cash. Obviously he'd done well with his money and decided to do something useful with it. Good for him. And good for Harriet, too. I think she was right. I think the Earth needed defending for the times when the Doctor wasn't there, and the arrival of the Daleks was a proving point.

Secondly, this Osterhagen Key. That intrigues me. I can't find any references to Osterhagen beyond a reference to a slave labour camp during WWII. I'll be interested to see where it goes. It looks a bit like a computer backup disc. Hmm.

Third - there is more going on here than simply a Dalek invasion. "The Darkness is coming" and whatever it was that had the TARDIS' Cloister Bell sounding (which only sounds at imminent destruction of the Universe). There is some sort of monumental disaster in the offing which may be connected to the Daleks and their tinkering with the fabric of time. Or it may simply be an external extra danger.

I'm not going to speculate too much at this point about the Doctor's regeneration. I will be very intrigued to see what Russell has done. I think it will be fun.

Donna on the steps and heartbeats, yes, that's intriguing too. It's almost as if for a moment there she was just phasing out. Or hearing something or someone else.

And can I just say that as much as try not to be a Doctor & Rose fan, the look of pure joy on his face for those few moments after he sees her and runs towards her was wonderful. In those moments he was totally and uninhibitedly happy.

A couple of minor brickbats: with all the alien technology Torchwood discovered over the years, the best Gwen could find to shoot the Dalek was machine guns? Hmmm. And why was it necessary to talk to the weird Rhino soldiers in their native tongue? Doesn't the TARDIS automatically translate? And is it just me, or does Ianto look a little more...robust...than he looked in Torchwood?

The Unwellness of Being

2008-06-27T10:01:22Z

About the only positive thing about being home sick is tht you get to watch lots of DVDs.

What I normally do I pull out my TV series sets and watch those episodes of shows that stand out for me.

Today it was West Wing.

Truly, it was amazing TV. I understand very little about US politics and when they start waffling on about the ins and outs of it my eyes tend to glaze over - but on the other hand, the show itself is so enthralling, so brilliantly written and acted and filmed, that it just drags me in.

This afternoon I watched two of my favorite episodes, "The Stackhouse Fillibuster" and "The Supremes".

I'm not the sort of viewer who normally takes a lot of note of how a script is put together, or the technical aspects of a piece of film work, but if you are sensitive to quality in any way, you can't help but notice how brillian these episodes are. Stackhouse in particular just grabs me, it's so clever and balanced and beautifully made.

Whenever anyone castes woe upon US TV, I remind them of West Wing because there, for a few years, was a piece of immaculate television that even hooked someone for whom much of it was a mystery.

I say this in passing - CJ rules!

InsaneJournal Permanent Accounts

2008-06-21T02:08:53Z

There is a sale going on this weekend at InsaneJournal, with the site offering permanent accounts for US$60 for a short time.

If you are interested in grabbing one, I suggest you do so while the offer is there.

POST IN REGARD TO INSANEJOURNAL SALE

Stargate to the rescue

2008-06-21T01:38:45Z

We're apparently not long away from the start of the new season of STARGATE:ATLANTIS. Due to the kindness of a friend, I got to see the first episode of the season "Search and Rescue".

A bit fo rambling on the episode, which I really enjoyed.

Firstly, if anything their spfx are even better than before. The introductory segment of zipping through space outwards from the site of the disaster to the planet where Michael's ship was sitting was absolutely film-quality first rate. In fact, I watched it twice, because it was so gorgeous.

Loved the opening, loved the dreamlike quality of John sitting drinking with Teyla, of Ford being there to remind him of lost chances, and fading into a trapped and hurting John.

Hurting John. *sigh* The H/C Ho comes to the fore again. John just hurts so nicely.

Having them split into two groups gave each a chance to shine. Poor injured Major Lorne having to put up with Rodney's panicramble (the mode he goes into when he's scared, which is to talk constantly). I love that despite his advancements in social skills, McKay is still the same dweeb. This, at least, satisfies me on a character development front. But again, Lorne does deserve a medal. I think were the show adult rated, he would have been telling Rodney to 'shut the fuck up'...

John and Ronon were doing the usual 'he man' thing. We'll go out shooting, strong, silent nods of understanding. Boy, those guys really do function on testosterone.

The plot itself flowed very nicely. Rescue arrives, only to find that they have a time limit as Michael is on his way back to the planet, with Teyla aboard. So they need to get out before that happens.

Then the Daedelus turns up.

My icon says it all in that respect. The Boss is back! Yeah for the Bald Man in the captain's chair!!!

A moment's pause to reflect on John's pleasure at the information that McKay is alive. The incipient John/Ronon story in my head just expanded to a threesome...

So there is a little tussle going on, they finally get everyone aboard but the the Big D is injured in the process. However, the team is not going to let a little problem like fighting superships get in the way of continuing the rescue theme; they get on board Michael's ship.

So, of course, in the way of pregant lady stories everywhere, Teyla chooses this moment to break her water and have her baby, with only poor putupon Rodney for company.

Naturally, they get away. Naturally, so did Michael, having absconded with their Jumper (presumably he has somehow got hold of the ancient gene to be able to fly it). He will therefore be returning, probably with some nefarious scheme, since he now has a ship that can cloak.

And poor Sam is cast off Atlantis, with another bald man stepping into a command post. Woolsey and Caldwell will be able to commune.

A pleasured *sigh* for m'Caldwell: "Make that ship go away." Love the man. I'd just a few moments, though, to talk to the Producers re costuming. I think ship's captains should look a bit more spiffy. Khaki jumpsuits are so passe.

All in all, enjoyed it very much. If they maintain the standard for the rest of the series, we SGA fans are in for a fun ride.

this week's movie music

2008-06-18T12:57:30Z

I know it's not always possible to list your favorite 'something' but I think it's probable that my favorite movie is this one.

If favorite means the movie I rewatch with almost the same pleasure as the first time, if it means it moves me the same way, if I watch it critically and find no flaw, if I watch it for just the pure viewing pleasure of it, then that's fine too.

Really, it's a nearly perfect film; beautifully crafted, lovingly written and directed and filmed, it works for me on just about every level.

So I offer you the end titles of my favorite film, The Shawshank Redemption. The music is by Thomas Newman, and the End Titles run for 4 minutes and 5 seconds.

http://download.yousendit.com/9097A4DC48F4A708

A Poll

2008-06-13T13:42:05Z

I'm curious to know how many of you who are reading me on IJ have paid accounts, since the actual number of paid accounts seems quite small. So save me going through and checking all of you.

View Poll: #1912

What I find very surprising is the tiny proportion of paid users.

Out of 66,200 currently active journals there are only 1600 Permanently Insane (I'm one of those) and only 1242 paid accounts.

Going on those numbers, I'm surprised Squeaky gets as much done as he does....

This week's movie music

2008-06-13T13:16:01Z

The score for this 50's film by Dimitri Tiomkin is lush and dynamic and rich, and is one of my favorite historical film scores. This track, longer than those I normally offer at just over 10 minutes, is from the start of the film and features The Main Title, the Pharaoh's march into the city, and a final section titled "The Pharaoh's Walk".

http://download.yousendit.com/17CD6B7A6D467542

To the Harry/Draco fans on my list

2008-06-03T03:19:19Z

I notice that my good buddy meredyth_13 has released the latest part of her ongoing epic (now up to around 120,000 words - go Mer!)In the Beginning There Was Darkness.

Just a heads up for those who were reading this story, or might wish to dive in.

ITS ON SKYEHAWKE HERE

This Week's Movie Music

2008-05-30T09:35:26Z

I actually liked this movie a lot although it didn't get much critical acclaim when it came out; the story of a musician, a composer, who gave up his dream to compose in order to devote his life to teaching and to raising his disabled son.

It spoke to me on a number of levels, I guess; the idea that sometimes we can't have we want no matter how perfect a desire it is, how sometimes the realities of life tie our souls to earth when we want to fly.

The music for the movie was written by Michael Kamen, who sadly passed away at the young age of 55 in 2003. Kamen wrote for movies like Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and X-Men, as well as co-writiting the music for the British series "Edge of Darkness" which won him an award. While not as famous as other movie composers, I think his movie had strength and drive and lots of emotion.

This particular piece is from "Mr Holland's Opus" and is called "Mr Holland Begins". It is 2 minutes 58 seconds long.