Embryo of Philosophy

After far too long (I take forever to do these things), here's the second installment of Veleda Versus the Academy Awards. For those of who who don't remember, I've set myself with the task to watch all of the films to ever win Best Picture, in order.

The second film in my venture is The Broadway Melody. Winner of the 1929 Academy Award for Best Picture, it was the first all talking movie musical.

The following review does have some spoilers for the film, as I found I couldn't discuss what I thought without getting into the plot. I don't give a detailed synopsis or anything, but if you plan to watch this movie completely unprepared, give this a pass. I'll wait.

( Read more... )

A good while ago, I decided I was going to be nothing but a lurker in the Sherlock fandom. I was kind of embarrassed that I liked it so much, given how it treats its women and POC characters. But I have so many FEELINGS about 2x01, that I must share.

( Spoilers for the episode, as well as some for Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows )

Wow, so many feelings.

This entry was originally posted at http://veleda-k.dreamwidth.org/273503.html. Feel free to comment at either location.

I was going through my routine today, when all of the sudden I went, "Oh, crap! Yuletide!" I mean, I knew I had yet to write my story, I just didn't realize how close to the deadline we are.

But it's okay! My story is now written. So... does anyone have time for a super quick beta job? The story's not very long. If some does have time, then the deadline is December 22nd 8:00 PM (Eastern US time), so I'd need it back before then.

Comments are screened in case someone wants to know the fandom before committing.

This entry was originally posted at http://veleda-k.dreamwidth.org/51663.html. Feel free to comment at either location.

Big news: I've decided not to go to grad school. These past few months, all I could think about was how much I was going to hate it. All of the sudden I had an epiphany: no one's forcing me to go. So, I'm going to try another year in limbo, volunteering and trying to obtain usable skills. Because that worked so well last time.

I'm a in a really bad emotional place right now. I don't want to talk about it, but I feel I should put that out there. So if I'm even worse about returning comments or replying to posts than usual, well, that's probably why.

Instead of actually dealing with any of my issues, have a fandom meme. My avoidance tactics are the bestest.

From salinea:

Send me a fandom and I will tell you my:

Favorite character:
Least Favorite character:
5 Favorite ships (canon or non-canon):
Character I find most attractive:
Character I would marry:
Character I would be best friends with:
a random thought:
An unpopular opinion:
my canon OTP:
Non-canon OTP:
most badass character:
pairing I am not a fan of:
character I feel the writers screwed up (in one way or another):
favourite friendship:
character I want to adopt or be adopted by:

This entry was originally posted at http://veleda-k.dreamwidth.org/51449.html. Feel free to comment at either location.

It's 2:30 in the morning. I should be working on this paper. Instead, I wrote itty bitty crack fic.


Title: The Venezuelan Frenchman's Blackmail Deal for Tax Purposes
Fandom: White Collar
Characters: Neal, Mozzie
Word Count: 150
A/N: Written for fic_promptly for their Romance Novel Title Generator theme. I used the specific prompt as the title. I looked at that prompt and thought, "That sounds like a Mozzie plan."

( The Venezuelan Frenchman's Blackmail Deal for Tax Purposes )

This entry was originally posted at http://veleda-k.dreamwidth.org/50993.html. Feel free to comment at either location.

So, I remembered my claim at femslash100


Title: Before the Clock Strikes
Prompt: Cinderella
Fandom: Revolutionary Girl Utena
Pairing: Anthy/Utena
Rating: G
Word count: 100
A/N: Takes place during episode three.

( Before the Clock Strikes )



Title: It is but One Turn in the Road
Prompt: Hansel and Gretel
Fandom: Revolutionary Girl Utena
Pairing: Anthy/Kozue
Rating: PG
Word count: 100
A/N: Title from Anne Sexton's "Hansel and Gretel"

( It is but One Turn in the Road )



Title: All Worn Down
Prompt: The Twelve Dancing Princesses
Fandom: Revolutionary Girl Utena
Pairing: Anthy/Utena
Rating: G
Word count: 200

( All Worn Down )

This entry was originally posted at http://veleda-k.dreamwidth.org/50786.html. Feel free to comment at either location.

Dear Yuletide Writer,

First of all, thank you, thank you, thank you. You are wonderful just for signing up.

Everything here is just a suggestion. Take what you want, or nothing at all, and leave the rest.

What do I like? I like romance, action, angst in moderation, humor, and stuff that doesn't quite fit into any one category. I like platonic love and romantic love. I read gen, maleslash, femslash, and het with equal fervor. I love fluff, but I also love explorations of complicated relationships. I love stories with explicit sex, stories with no sex, and everything in between. I also love BDSM sex, but don't worry too much about that. I adore happy endings.

What don't I like? I'm not a big fan of character death and I'll admit to not liking tragic endings. However, I do understand that sometimes these things are called for, so don't feel limited.
( Read more... )

My mom and I are watching the new ABC series Once Upon a Time. I'm enjoying it, and she loves it. So, I'd really like to show her The 10th Kingdom. The trouble is that it's out of print, and I cannot for the life of me find a region one copy for under $35, and those $35 copies are in "acceptable" condition, which I don't find acceptable at all.

Is there anyone, anyone at all reading this, who owns the series and would be willing to burn and mail me a copy? I'd pay for postage and materials. I really want this series, but I can't pay $50 dollars for it. And the Blockbuster where I work no longer carries it, so I can't rent it and burn it myself.

Anyone?

This entry was originally posted at http://veleda-k.dreamwidth.org/50136.html. Feel free to comment at either location.

It's time for guess the movie quote! Comments are screened.

1. "Communism was just a red herring!"

2. “I need a heterosexual male, CODE RED!”

3. "You can't just buy me a guitar every time you screw up, you know?"

4. "I didn't ask to see you. I don't mind if you don't like my manners, I don't like them myself. They are pretty bad. I grieve over them on long winter evenings."

5. "You and me with long faces plunged into despair because we find out a man didn't kill his wife. We're two of the most frightening ghouls I've ever known."

6. "Come on, boys, won't you shake a poor sinner's hand?"

7. "What was I supposed to do? Call him for cheating better than me, in front of the others?"

8. "For me, stealing's always been a lot like sex. Two people who want the same thing: they get in a room, they talk about it. They start to plan. It's kind of like flirting. It's kind of like... foreplay, 'cause the more they talk about it, the wetter they get. The only difference is, I can fuck someone I've just met. But to steal? I need to know someone like I know myself."

9. "How do you shoot the devil in the back? What if you miss?"

10. "Note to self... rent Goodfellas, Casino, Godfather 1, 2, 3."

This entry was originally posted at http://veleda-k.dreamwidth.org/49847.html. Feel free to comment at either location.

Reblogged from racebending.

Director Yunah Hong has created a documentary about Anna May Wong, titled Anna May Wong: In Her Own Words. It's been making its way across film festivals, and if Hong can raise the money to buy the rights for the archival footage she used, it could air on PBS.

Get more info on the project here.

I've been interested in Anna May Wong since I read a biography on her. I'd love to see this project succeed for multiple reasons.

Ugh, I want to donate so bad, but I'm not sure if I can. Forty dollars, could I do forty dollars? Do I have forty dollars lying around?

This entry was originally posted at http://veleda-k.dreamwidth.org/49511.html. Feel free to comment at either location.

I firmly believe that nothing, no matter how awesome, can fail to be improved by adding "Together, they fight crime!" "One's a [blank], the other's a [blank]! Together they fight crime!" is one of my very favorite plots. So, it is with great joy that I link you to this.

Some of my favorites:

He's a sword-wielding skateboarding senator possessed of the uncanny powers of an insect. She's a violent communist museum curator descended from a line of powerful witches. They fight crime!


He's a fiendish guitar-strumming shaman with a secret. She's a radical gypsy snake charmer with only herself to blame. They fight crime!


He's an old-fashioned neurotic romance novelist searching for his wife's true killer. She's an enchanted nymphomaniac Hell's Angel with an MBA from Harvard. They fight crime!


He's a benighted Jewish sorceror who hangs with the wrong crowd. She's a violent cat-loving former first lady from out of town. They fight crime!


He's an underprivileged albino matador on his last day in the job. She's a disco-crazy goth hooker who dreams of becoming Elvis. They fight crime!


He's a scrappy skateboarding gentleman spy with a robot buddy named Sparky. She's an artistic gypsy vampire trying to make a difference in a man's world. They fight crime!


Are these not the best plots ever?

This entry was originally posted at http://veleda-k.dreamwidth.org/49362.html. Feel free to comment at either location.

Remember how I said White Collar was my new fandom obsession? Well, to prove it, I have fic.



Title: Your Mind's Eye Finds the Exit Sign
Fandom: White Collar
Wordcount: 500
Rating: PG
Characters: Kate, mentions of Neal and Mozzie
Pairing(s): Some Kate/Neal
Notes: For lionessvalenti over at wc_women_fest. The prompt was: "Kate- On the run" The title is from Run, by the Indigo Girls. Spoilers for "Forging Bonds."


( Your Mind's Eye Finds the Exit Sign )

This entry was originally posted at http://veleda-k.dreamwidth.org/49050.html. Feel free to comment at either location.

In case you didn't know, there's a Fall Fandom Free-For-All going on over at oxoniensis's lj. You can leave up to ten prompts in any medium and fandom, and there are lots of interesting prompts to fill.

I'd held off making requests for the longest time, since I wasn't sure I could fill any prompts. (I've really been off my writing game.) But I think I can now, so I felt safe to make some requests. In the off chance that anyone is interested, they're here. Lots of White Collar, which is my new fandom obsession, but also Utena and YnM

This entry was originally posted at http://veleda-k.dreamwidth.org/48800.html. Feel free to comment at either location.

Title: A Keener Blade
Prompt: Drabbletag 4- Blade
Fandom: Merlin (BBC)
Pairing: Morgana/Morgause
Rating: PG
Word count: 150

( A Keener Blade )



Title: Pray, Love, Remember
Prompt: Drabbletag 4- Flowers
Fandom: Merlin (BBC)
Pairing: Gwen/Morgana
Rating: PG
Word count: 200
A/N: Title is from Hamlet act 4, scene 5.

( Pray, Love, Remember )

This entry was originally posted at http://veleda-k.dreamwidth.org/48507.html. Feel free to comment at either location.

Today I'm twenty-four. Another year older, another year of managing to do nothing but consume precious resources.

Sorry, I get cynical and pessimistic when my birthday comes around. As opposed to my usual sunny and optimistic personality. I guess it would be more accurate to say that I get extra cynical and pessimistic.

Every year I beat myself up for not accomplishing anything. I've been on this planet for twenty-four years, and I've done nothing of any real importance. Surely if I was worth anything, I would have saved the world by now?

And, yes, I know it's irrational and probably unfair to me. But there's still that little voice telling me that fixing the world is my responsibility, and if we're still messed up, it's because I haven't tried hard enough. I have guilt issues.

I'm twenty-four. I have no real job, done virtually no traveling, and managed to find myself back in school despite my seething hatred for the institution. I haven't done anything.

Man, reading this, I'm not sure I want to know what twenty-five is going to look like. Unless by some slim chance I actually make something of myself. (Hah!)

Really, the Arrogant Worms put it better than I can.

This entry was originally posted at http://veleda-k.dreamwidth.org/48223.html. Feel free to comment at either location.

This is the official start of a little project I've given myself: to watch every movie to win the Academy Award for best picture. I'm calling it Veleda versus the Academy awards for absolutely no good reason whatsoever. I think it sounds catchy, if a bit nonsensical.

We'll be starting with Wings, premiering in 1927, and staring Clara Bow, Charles Rogers, and Richard Arlen.

Strictly speaking, Wings didn't win "Best Picture." The first Academy Awards ceremony (in 1929) didn't have a Best Picture award. Instead it had two separate categories, Most Outstanding Production, which was awarded to Wings and Most Artistic Quality of Production, which was won by Sunrise: A Tale of Two Humans. It was decided retroactively that Wings had won the equivalent of Best Picture.

( Read more... )

This entry was originally posted at http://veleda-k.dreamwidth.org/48008.html. Feel free to comment at either location.

So, it looks like my last post was in April. Wow. So, I lack deadness, but I haven't been keeping up with lj/dw properly. So, if there's anything you'd like me to take a look at, please link me. I mean it, don't feel shy.

I'm back in school now. Whenever I tell people that they always congratulate me or say something positive. They are completely misreading situation. I hate school. I have always hated school. But I need to take a few classes as prerequisites before I apply to get my Masters in Social Work. I just can't seem to get a job on my current qualifications and experience. So, going back to school is like going to the dentist: it's necessary, and the end result is desired, but that doesn't make it any fun.

I still hate my sorry excuse for a job, but that's old news.

I have quite the backlog of 50books_poc reviews to post, as well as the beginning of a new personal challenge.

This entry was originally posted at http://veleda-k.dreamwidth.org/47730.html. Feel free to comment at either location.

#21: House Divided by Raul Ramos y Sanchez

( House Divided )

This entry was originally posted at http://veleda-k.dreamwidth.org/47563.html. Feel free to comment at either location.

#19: Summer of the Big Bachi by Naomi Hirahara

( Summer of the Big Bachi )



#20: Oil on Water by Helon Habila

( Oil on Water )

This entry was originally posted at http://veleda-k.dreamwidth.org/47183.html. Feel free to comment at either location.

Interesting looking meme stolen from shimuzu_hitomi.

Name a character from one of my fandoms, and I will reply saying:
* How I FEEEEEL about this character
* All the people I ship romantically with this character
* My non-romantic OTP for this character
* My unpopular opinion about this character
* One thing I wish would happen / had happened with this character in canon

I have 50book_poc reviews I need to write.

This entry was originally posted at http://veleda-k.dreamwidth.org/46945.html. Feel free to comment at either location.