HEY! gehen_kaizen!!!! I HAVE SOMETHING FOR YOU!!!!

This was debuted at Ikasu Con 2008:



http://www.rehdogg.com/index3.swf
(Just be warned, PG17+ and not work safe)

Yes, this was entered in the amv contest here as well as Otakon.

I'll post report/pics up later.

(Inspired by fishknifeseller)

SCATTERGORIES...it's harder than it looks! Copy the text below, erase my answers, then use the 1st letter of your name to answer each of the following. They have to be real places, names, things.. nothing made up! Try to use different answers if the person in front of you had the same 1st initial.. You CAN'T use your name for the boy/girl name question.

WHAT IS YOUR NAME? Emily
4 LETTER WORD: Evil
BOY NAME: Eric
GIRL NAME: Eve
OCCUPATION: Endocrinologist
A COLOUR: Ecru
SOMETHING YOU WEAR: Earrings
BEVERAGE: Eggnog
FOOD: Enchilada
SOMETHING FOUND IN A BATHROOM: Ear drops
PLACE: Emergency Room
REASON FOR BEING LATE: Eagle attack
SOMETHING YOU SHOUT: Excellent! (you know, like Bill and Ted...)

Hellboy
Rafa & Federer
Incredible Hercules


( 27 icons )

HAppy bIRTHdAY trillsie!!!!!!!!

I only just woke up and I was busy and the world was exploding and a dog ate my legs and there was a flood and cgi monkeys attacked the car and... and... yeah

When I decided on this name, I was toying between it and alpacapenis

I'm suddenly wishing I'd chosen alpacapenis, because it's an anagram of anal ape pics


But at least I'm a cloaca pack

So, to jump off my last post, I want to say something about Cultural Appropriation, 'cause it's been bothering me ever since I posted the racism thing. A number of commentators had issues with the idea of Cultural Appropriation. Those people may wish to advert their eyes, 'cause I'm about to whine about it for a few paragraphs.

And the first thing to say to to the people who'll say "but it's all up for grabs". No, it's not. Knowledge carries Responsibilities. And I'm trying to take the responsibility of what I know, and the cultures I support (directly or otherwise) as seriously as possible. While still, of course, having lots of fun with them. Moreover, I can't ask someone to give a damn about my issues, and then run over them when I'd like for my "artistic vision". Screw that!

But yet, I've done it. I'm in a dance form that reeks of it. Hell, the creation of ATS is almost a poster child for Ways to Swipe From Other Cultures Without Thinking. And I still adore it. On another note, I've been deeply thinking about Cultural Appropriation in the SCA, as well. I'm just not sure what I'm thinking about it, exactly. It's deeply related to these issues, as well, in my formative thinking on it; after all, what right, exactly, does anyone have to, say, wear a kilt?

So, what to do with these ideas I have that keep jumping out from the dozens of cultures I've encountered, studied, enjoyed, etc.? How do I unpack them in ways that do respect and honor to them, even as I use them for nefarious -- or at least mischievous -- purposes? Who draws that line?

I know, it sounds like hogwash to some of you. But to others, the things stolen, swiped, mutated by other cultures, by my culture, by Western culture as well as others...you can't replace dignity with money. Or with late honors. Or with a sideline in a book.

And, maybe that's a key. The key to the conundrum. If you describe, document, detail how you mutated a thing, does that make the change "right"? What if the thing you mutate has a deep and abiding meaning to the people you "borrow" it from? There must be a line drawn, when you take from someone in such a fashion. And it differs from buying a piece of art in subtle ways that are critical to the end results.

Yeah, deep waters, blah blah blah. But when we don't ask these questions of our works, we hurt real live humans. Ignorance of the results of our actions is not a complete excuse, not when you risk corrupting active cultures in ways we cannot control.

Please don't just take your gut response and write a comment; ponder what that means. Ponder the history, the joy of discovering some new art, and the pain of realizing the dead bones of misery all too many have been built on. What I contemplate today may be a small thing. But it may end up a Big Thing, as many small things have. And it behooves me to start on as good a foot as I can -- because, if I fail, I will keep trying Big Things, and someday...I might just succeed.

So. Yes, this is a serious question. And I want serious answers, please.

Haven't posted in three weeks, even though I've been checking LJ daily.

Been trying out Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures... it's an alright game, but in it's current state, it's not super fun yet, other than the first 20 levels or so.

Went out with my blockmates from College, and that was fun. I really miss them all.

There's a chance that, should I fail a few more tests, I'll be diagnosed as a diabetic, and I definitely don't want that.

Also... back pains this week. There's this chronic pain on my back, right side. Had an x-ray done to check it out, and I'll find out the results soon. I hope it isn't serious.


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I miss people. I wanna hug some friends of mine, and some LJ friends as well. I miss that feeling of closeness, I guess. Or maybe I'm just lonely.

from feministing.com

In case you missed it, McCain allegedly told this joke...........

Did you hear the one about the woman who is attacked on the street by a gorilla, beaten senseless, raped repeatedly and left to die? When she finally regains consciousness and tries to speak, her doctor leans over to hear her sigh contently and to feebly ask, "Where is that marvelous ape?"

Classy, huh? McCain's spokesperson at the time denied it, though the reporter who recorded the joke, Norma Coile, said, "I'm not sure exactly what the wording was of the joke, but something was said. Some joke involving a rape and ape was said. Enough women repeated it to me at the time and the McCain campaign had a non-denial denial."

Yes, the "joke" is appalling. But I think the McCain campaign's response to the joke resurfacing was even worse. A spokesperson defended McCain's humor this way:

"He's long said that he's said and done things in the past that he regrets," Rogers said. "You've just got to move on and be yourself -- that's what people want. They want somebody who's authentic, and this kind of stuff is a good example of McCain being McCain."

I think there are enough examples that we can conclude this is true. Just McCain being McCain.

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I feel ill.

She's sleeping on her back again, but now she has her mouth opened weird. Good little black dog.

When my sister asked what I wanted for my 40th birthday, I said "Batman and Spiderman fighting a dinosaur, of course."

Ian: You know you were grinning the entire time.

Justin: Wha? Huh?

Ian: Grinning. You were grinning.

Justin: Oh yeah, the Joker's grin was crazy wasn't it? Go make-up team.

Ian: No, not..you..you were.... ::sigh::

Justin: I know. Wasn't that fucking cool? God, what an amazing movie.

Ian: ...

I rode this, among other things on Friday.

This was my least favorite.

Look at how far we've come...

I saw this photo of a lunar eclipse while at Starbucks today.

I kind of want to buy a copy of it.

It's taken by a Kevin Gamble - Minds' Eye Photography.