What a weekend.
May. 9th, 2006 12:20 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
silveradeptWell, Anime Central's finished. The Freakin Suite II: The Wrath of Con was a success, despite a couple hiccups. There was record attendance. The panels were a little light, and frankly, a little weak, and the autograph sessions never got started on time. This made for some frustration, naturally, while trying to adhere to my schedule. I mixed things up on Saturday, as well - only managed to get one game of Morton's list in, as most of my crowd was pre-empted by the speed dating sequence and the premiere of Negima! (which I watched - there were some fun delays there). Also, instead of playing a significant amount of 1000 Blank White Cards, like I did last year (not that the 30 minutes or so that I played wasn't great), I went to the Saturday night techno rave. It was definitely music you could feel. I was there to listen to Greg Ayers spin a set, actually. That said, the con chair spun a good set, the scratch-master was awesome, and then Greg Ayers tossed off a kickass d'n'b set (technical difficulties seemed to plague him wherever he went - the Negima! premiere was delayed by an hour because there wasn't a DVD player, and then it had sucky audio. Eventually, the sneak disc went into a borrowed laptop, and all was cool. At the rave, the people who set Greg's mixer up, plugged power directly into the subwoofers. Considering what kind of speakers they had there... yeah. Once it was all found out, though, and a reboot later, no troubles at all, and Greg rocked the house. Didn't stay for his second set, though, as it was getting to be about 3 in the morning, and I had to get up (relatively) early. Sunday closed the day out with yoga, with Jan Scott Frazier. My shoulder thanked my greatly for it, as it had been carrying my messenger bag all weekend.
The Dorian cosplay (form 9th Elsewhere) was recognized by more than just the artist. I got a picture taken, and a hug, and recognition (some of the "I know what you're from, just not who you are" variety. Should have asked the person who took my picture to send me a copy.). It was good. Although I think the ears that I used to make the earwings were a little small. All in all, though, success. Also,![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
neoboy3000, we need to make some refinements and start planning now, while we have time and remember. All in all, an average con (Too many weaknesses, including planning across from Golden Week, so almost zero Japanese guests, but bolstered by Negima! and cool con people and costumes and set spinning)
The Slacktivist tosses off some interesting thoughts - first, a new dimension (or perhaps just an important one) on whether or not cheerleaders are participating in a sport - if there's no sport to receive the cheer, is the cheer a sport? The second, though, is a bit more thought-provoking, and discusses The Minutemen (the anti-immigration vigilanties) as men who commit the sin of Sodom, inhospitability. Although there are at least a couple who argue that there's some homosexuality involved there, too, in the comments, the main thrust of the Slacktivist is that the people who are against doing the whole "give me your tired, your downtrodden..." bit are not paying attention to the bits in both Testaments that keep referencing how you need to be kind and hospitable to aliens and strangers. You never know whether one of them might end up speaking for or against you at Judgment.
That article may prove to be a biasing frame for the next: a film being made about "Jesus Camp". It's pretty much what it sounds like - an evangelical summer camp for children. This is probably well beyond Vacation Bible School. If it were geared toward teaching Islam, people would probably be denouncing it as a terrorist training camp. Still, no child should have to be subjected to such a high-religion atmosphere at such a young age. I honestly think that people who come to a religious conclusion as adults, with their faculties fully formed, and with no pressure from anyone else, will probably be the most devout of followers, rather than those who were raised in it and don't know anything else.
Back from a rather long European Tour, we find that Geoffery Chaucer blogs. And apparently has some dandies of pick-up-lines, too. Although some of them may not work unless you're fairly well-versed in medieval and early modern culture (B.A, M.E.M.S., U of M, 2005 C.E., that's me!).
AOL going the way of the dodo? Some say it's not soon enough. AOL may be on its way out because people don't need the convenience service that AOL was - you didn't have to navigate the WWW if you didn't want to. The kids and adults these days, however, are much more web-comfortable, and even if AOL offers exclusive content, someone's likely to bootleg it and put it out at large.
Also,
1. Put numbers in the boxes instead of x's (example: 1, 2, 3, 4, ...)
2. Repost as "I have lived through ___ of these 158 things."
[1] I have read a lot of books.
[2] I have been on some sort of varsity team. (Does band count?)
[] I have run more than 2 miles without stopping.
[] I have been to Canada.
[] I have been to Europe.
[3] I have watched cartoons for hours.
[4] I have tripped UP the stairs. (Still do.)
[5] I have fallen down an entire flight of stairs. (Yep.)
[] I have been snowboarding/skiing.
[6] I have played ping pong.
[7] I swam in the ocean. (More than one.)
[] I have been on a whale watch.
[8] I have seen fireworks. (Regular as clockwork)
[9] I have seen a shooting star.
[10] I have seen a meteor shower.
[11] I have almost drowned. (Or so my mother tells me.)
[12] I have been so embarrassed I wanted to disappear. (Fade away for a bit? Oh, yeah.)
[13] I have listened to one CD over and over and over again.
[14] I have had stitches.
[] I have had frostbite.
[] I have licked a frozen pole and got stuck there.
[15] I have stayed up til 2 doing homework/projects. (Hellooooo, college?)
[16] I currently have a job.
[17] I have been ice skating.
[18] I have been rollerblading.
[19] I have fallen flat on my face. (Literally and metaphorically)
[20] I have tripped over my own two feet. (Still do.)
[21]I have been in a fist fight.
[22] I have played videogames for more than 3 hours straight. (On a regular basis)
[23] I have watched the Power Rangers. (Hell yeah. And some of their source material, too.)
[] I attend Church regularly.
[24] I have played truth or dare.
[25] I have already had my 16th birthday.
[26] I have already had my 17th birthday.
[27] I've called someone stupid.
[28] I've been in a verbal argument.
[29] I've cried in school.
[] I've played basketball on a team.
[30] I've played baseball on a team. (Summer leagues)
[31] I've played football on a team. (Intramurals)
[32] I've played soccer on a team. (Same)
[] I've done cheerleading on a team.
[33] I've played softball on a team. (Same)
[34] I've played volleyball on a team. (Not intramurals)
[] I've played tennis on a team.
[] I've been on a track or cross country team.
[35] I've been swimming more than 20 times in my life. (Ah, state with lakes? Neighbors and relatives with pools? Yeah.)
[] I've bungee jumped.
[36] I've climbed a rock wall. (Boy Scouts, surprisingly)
[37] I've lost more than $20.
[38] I've called myself an idiot.
[39] I've called someone else an idiot.
[40] I've cried myself to sleep.
[] I've had (or have) pets.
[] I've owned a spice girls CD.
[] I've owned a britney spears CD.
[] I've owned an N*Sync CD.
[] I've owned a backstreet boys CD.
[41] I've mooned someone.
[42] I have sworn at someone of authority before. (All'a da time.)
[43] I've been in the newspaper.
[44] I've been on TV.
[45] I've been to Hawaii.
[46] I've eaten sushi.
[47] I've been on the other side of a waterfall.
[48] I've watched all of the Lord of the Rings movies.
[49] I've watched all the Harry Potter movies.
[] I've watched all of the Rocky movies.
[50] I've watched the 3 stooges.
[] I've watched "Newlyweds" Nick & Jessica.
[51] I've watched Looney Tunes. (Hell yes!)
[] I've been stuffed into a locker/I have stuffed others into lockers.
[52] I've been called a geek. (Called myself one, too.)
[53] I've studied hard for a test and got a bad grade.
[54] I've not studied at all for a test and aced it.
[] I've hugged my mom within the past 24 hrs.
[] I've hugged my dad within the past 24 hours.
[55] I've met a celebrity/music artist.
[56] I've written poetry.
[] I've been arrested.
[57] I've been attracted to someone much older than me.
[58] I've been tickled till I've cried.
[59] I've tickled someone else until they cried.
[60] I've had/have siblings.
[61] I've been to a rock concert.
[62] I've listened to classical music and enjoyed it. (Still do)
[63] I've been in a play. (Several)
[64] I've been picked last in gym class.
[] I've been picked first in gym class.
[65] I've been picked in that middle-range in gym class.
[66] I've cried in front of my friends.
[67] I've read a book longer than 1,000 pages
[] I've played Halo 2.
[] I've freaked out over a sports game.
[] I've been to Alaska.
[] I've been to China.
[] I've been to Spain.
[] I've been to Japan.
[68] I've had a fight with someone on AIM.
[69] I've had a fight with someone face-to-face.
[70] I've had serious conversations on any IM.
[71] I've forgiven someone who has done something wrong to me.
[72] I've been forgiven. (Both of these many, many times over)
[73] I've screamed at a scary movie.
[74] I've cried at a chick flick.
[75] I've watched a lot of action movies.
[76] I've screamed at the top of my lungs.
[] I've been to a rap concert.
[] I've been to a hip hop concert.
[] I've lived in more than 2 houses.
[77] I've driven on the highway/been on the highway.
[78] I've driven more than 40 miles in a day/been in a car that went more than 40 miles in a day.
[79] I've been in a car accident. (Yep. Nobody was hurt, mostly because, well, it was a parked car with nobody in it
[] I've done drugs.
[80] I've been homesick.
[81] I've thrown up.
[82] I've puked on someone.
[] I've been horseback riding.
[] I've filled out more than 10 myspace surveys.
[83] I've spoken my mind in public.
[84] I've proved someone wrong.
[85] I've been proven wrong by someone. (Oh, gods, yes.)
[] I've broken a leg.
[86] I've broken anarm fingers.
[87] I've fallen off a swing.
[88] I've swung on a swing for more than 30 minutes straight
[89] I've watched Winnie the Pooh movies.
[90] I've forgotten my backpack when I've gone to school.
[91] I've lost my backpack.
[] I've come close to dying.
[] I've seen someone die.
[92] I've known someone who has died.
[93] I've wanted to be an actor/actress at some point. (Still do, to some degree)
[] I've done modeling.
[94] I've forgotten to brush my teeth some mornings.
[95] I've taken something/someone for granted.
[96] I've realized how good my life is. (Yes and no? I've seen certain contrasts)
[97] I've counted my blessings. (Related to the one above)
[98] I've made fun of a classmate. (A good-natured ribbing, thank you very much, nothing malicious.)
[] I've been asked out by someone and I said no. (My memory says I haven't done this. I don't know whether my memory's accurate, though.)
[99] I've slapped someone in the face. (Myself.)
[] I've been skateboarding.
[] I've been backstabbed by someone I thought was a friend.
[100] I've lied to someone to their face.
[101] I've told a little white lie.
[102] I've taken a day off from school just so I don't go insane. (Easier to do in college, where your schedule gives you the ability to take a sanity day from your homework.)
[103] I've fainted.
[104] I've had an argument with someone about whether cheerleading is a sport or not.
[105] I've pushed someone into a pool.
[106] I've been pushed into a pool.
[107] I've been/am in love. (You don't get to know which, though, sorry.)
Rather surprising to see what one has already done in twenty-three years of existence. Perhaps I've had more of an effect than I think.
That'll be enough for tonight. There's still more to sift through over the weekend's interesting material, along with whatever crops up tomorrow. So, I'm going to bed. G'night.
The Dorian cosplay (form 9th Elsewhere) was recognized by more than just the artist. I got a picture taken, and a hug, and recognition (some of the "I know what you're from, just not who you are" variety. Should have asked the person who took my picture to send me a copy.). It was good. Although I think the ears that I used to make the earwings were a little small. All in all, though, success. Also,
neoboy3000, we need to make some refinements and start planning now, while we have time and remember. All in all, an average con (Too many weaknesses, including planning across from Golden Week, so almost zero Japanese guests, but bolstered by Negima! and cool con people and costumes and set spinning) The Slacktivist tosses off some interesting thoughts - first, a new dimension (or perhaps just an important one) on whether or not cheerleaders are participating in a sport - if there's no sport to receive the cheer, is the cheer a sport? The second, though, is a bit more thought-provoking, and discusses The Minutemen (the anti-immigration vigilanties) as men who commit the sin of Sodom, inhospitability. Although there are at least a couple who argue that there's some homosexuality involved there, too, in the comments, the main thrust of the Slacktivist is that the people who are against doing the whole "give me your tired, your downtrodden..." bit are not paying attention to the bits in both Testaments that keep referencing how you need to be kind and hospitable to aliens and strangers. You never know whether one of them might end up speaking for or against you at Judgment.
That article may prove to be a biasing frame for the next: a film being made about "Jesus Camp". It's pretty much what it sounds like - an evangelical summer camp for children. This is probably well beyond Vacation Bible School. If it were geared toward teaching Islam, people would probably be denouncing it as a terrorist training camp. Still, no child should have to be subjected to such a high-religion atmosphere at such a young age. I honestly think that people who come to a religious conclusion as adults, with their faculties fully formed, and with no pressure from anyone else, will probably be the most devout of followers, rather than those who were raised in it and don't know anything else.
Back from a rather long European Tour, we find that Geoffery Chaucer blogs. And apparently has some dandies of pick-up-lines, too. Although some of them may not work unless you're fairly well-versed in medieval and early modern culture (B.A, M.E.M.S., U of M, 2005 C.E., that's me!).
AOL going the way of the dodo? Some say it's not soon enough. AOL may be on its way out because people don't need the convenience service that AOL was - you didn't have to navigate the WWW if you didn't want to. The kids and adults these days, however, are much more web-comfortable, and even if AOL offers exclusive content, someone's likely to bootleg it and put it out at large.
Also,
1. Put numbers in the boxes instead of x's (example: 1, 2, 3, 4, ...)
2. Repost as "I have lived through ___ of these 158 things."
[1] I have read a lot of books.
[2] I have been on some sort of varsity team. (Does band count?)
[] I have run more than 2 miles without stopping.
[] I have been to Canada.
[] I have been to Europe.
[3] I have watched cartoons for hours.
[4] I have tripped UP the stairs. (Still do.)
[5] I have fallen down an entire flight of stairs. (Yep.)
[] I have been snowboarding/skiing.
[6] I have played ping pong.
[7] I swam in the ocean. (More than one.)
[] I have been on a whale watch.
[8] I have seen fireworks. (Regular as clockwork)
[9] I have seen a shooting star.
[10] I have seen a meteor shower.
[11] I have almost drowned. (Or so my mother tells me.)
[12] I have been so embarrassed I wanted to disappear. (Fade away for a bit? Oh, yeah.)
[13] I have listened to one CD over and over and over again.
[14] I have had stitches.
[] I have had frostbite.
[] I have licked a frozen pole and got stuck there.
[15] I have stayed up til 2 doing homework/projects. (Hellooooo, college?)
[16] I currently have a job.
[17] I have been ice skating.
[18] I have been rollerblading.
[19] I have fallen flat on my face. (Literally and metaphorically)
[20] I have tripped over my own two feet. (Still do.)
[21]I have been in a fist fight.
[22] I have played videogames for more than 3 hours straight. (On a regular basis)
[23] I have watched the Power Rangers. (Hell yeah. And some of their source material, too.)
[] I attend Church regularly.
[24] I have played truth or dare.
[25] I have already had my 16th birthday.
[26] I have already had my 17th birthday.
[27] I've called someone stupid.
[28] I've been in a verbal argument.
[29] I've cried in school.
[] I've played basketball on a team.
[30] I've played baseball on a team. (Summer leagues)
[31] I've played football on a team. (Intramurals)
[32] I've played soccer on a team. (Same)
[] I've done cheerleading on a team.
[33] I've played softball on a team. (Same)
[34] I've played volleyball on a team. (Not intramurals)
[] I've played tennis on a team.
[] I've been on a track or cross country team.
[35] I've been swimming more than 20 times in my life. (Ah, state with lakes? Neighbors and relatives with pools? Yeah.)
[] I've bungee jumped.
[36] I've climbed a rock wall. (Boy Scouts, surprisingly)
[37] I've lost more than $20.
[38] I've called myself an idiot.
[39] I've called someone else an idiot.
[40] I've cried myself to sleep.
[] I've had (or have) pets.
[] I've owned a spice girls CD.
[] I've owned a britney spears CD.
[] I've owned an N*Sync CD.
[] I've owned a backstreet boys CD.
[41] I've mooned someone.
[42] I have sworn at someone of authority before. (All'a da time.)
[43] I've been in the newspaper.
[44] I've been on TV.
[45] I've been to Hawaii.
[46] I've eaten sushi.
[47] I've been on the other side of a waterfall.
[48] I've watched all of the Lord of the Rings movies.
[49] I've watched all the Harry Potter movies.
[] I've watched all of the Rocky movies.
[50] I've watched the 3 stooges.
[] I've watched "Newlyweds" Nick & Jessica.
[51] I've watched Looney Tunes. (Hell yes!)
[] I've been stuffed into a locker/I have stuffed others into lockers.
[52] I've been called a geek. (Called myself one, too.)
[53] I've studied hard for a test and got a bad grade.
[54] I've not studied at all for a test and aced it.
[] I've hugged my mom within the past 24 hrs.
[] I've hugged my dad within the past 24 hours.
[55] I've met a celebrity/music artist.
[56] I've written poetry.
[] I've been arrested.
[57] I've been attracted to someone much older than me.
[58] I've been tickled till I've cried.
[59] I've tickled someone else until they cried.
[60] I've had/have siblings.
[61] I've been to a rock concert.
[62] I've listened to classical music and enjoyed it. (Still do)
[63] I've been in a play. (Several)
[64] I've been picked last in gym class.
[] I've been picked first in gym class.
[65] I've been picked in that middle-range in gym class.
[66] I've cried in front of my friends.
[67] I've read a book longer than 1,000 pages
[] I've played Halo 2.
[] I've freaked out over a sports game.
[] I've been to Alaska.
[] I've been to China.
[] I've been to Spain.
[] I've been to Japan.
[68] I've had a fight with someone on AIM.
[69] I've had a fight with someone face-to-face.
[70] I've had serious conversations on any IM.
[71] I've forgiven someone who has done something wrong to me.
[72] I've been forgiven. (Both of these many, many times over)
[73] I've screamed at a scary movie.
[74] I've cried at a chick flick.
[75] I've watched a lot of action movies.
[76] I've screamed at the top of my lungs.
[] I've been to a rap concert.
[] I've been to a hip hop concert.
[] I've lived in more than 2 houses.
[77] I've driven on the highway/been on the highway.
[78] I've driven more than 40 miles in a day/been in a car that went more than 40 miles in a day.
[79] I've been in a car accident. (Yep. Nobody was hurt, mostly because, well, it was a parked car with nobody in it
[] I've done drugs.
[80] I've been homesick.
[81] I've thrown up.
[82] I've puked on someone.
[] I've been horseback riding.
[] I've filled out more than 10 myspace surveys.
[83] I've spoken my mind in public.
[84] I've proved someone wrong.
[85] I've been proven wrong by someone. (Oh, gods, yes.)
[] I've broken a leg.
[86] I've broken an
[87] I've fallen off a swing.
[88] I've swung on a swing for more than 30 minutes straight
[89] I've watched Winnie the Pooh movies.
[90] I've forgotten my backpack when I've gone to school.
[91] I've lost my backpack.
[] I've come close to dying.
[] I've seen someone die.
[92] I've known someone who has died.
[93] I've wanted to be an actor/actress at some point. (Still do, to some degree)
[] I've done modeling.
[94] I've forgotten to brush my teeth some mornings.
[95] I've taken something/someone for granted.
[96] I've realized how good my life is. (Yes and no? I've seen certain contrasts)
[97] I've counted my blessings. (Related to the one above)
[98] I've made fun of a classmate. (A good-natured ribbing, thank you very much, nothing malicious.)
[] I've been asked out by someone and I said no. (My memory says I haven't done this. I don't know whether my memory's accurate, though.)
[99] I've slapped someone in the face. (Myself.)
[] I've been skateboarding.
[] I've been backstabbed by someone I thought was a friend.
[100] I've lied to someone to their face.
[101] I've told a little white lie.
[102] I've taken a day off from school just so I don't go insane. (Easier to do in college, where your schedule gives you the ability to take a sanity day from your homework.)
[103] I've fainted.
[104] I've had an argument with someone about whether cheerleading is a sport or not.
[105] I've pushed someone into a pool.
[106] I've been pushed into a pool.
[107] I've been/am in love. (You don't get to know which, though, sorry.)
Rather surprising to see what one has already done in twenty-three years of existence. Perhaps I've had more of an effect than I think.
That'll be enough for tonight. There's still more to sift through over the weekend's interesting material, along with whatever crops up tomorrow. So, I'm going to bed. G'night.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2006-05-09 04:55 am (UTC)I don't think the Jesus Camp movie will get a lot of play, besides by a few people who want to hold something up to say "See! They are crazy!" Despite what the article says in it's last line, churches are closing across the country, not opening. Beyond a few true believers the Christian Sweep of the late 90s and early 00s was just a fad and it's starting to die out. It's just like Paganism, or crystals or eastern religions before it. Some, those who really believe will stay, most won't.
I don't care about cheerleading that much, but I'd be more apt to call that a sport than golf, or billards, or football. It's like synchornized swimming, or ice skating, or group sex during twister. A lot of effort and practice has to go into it, and there is some serious skill involved both mentally and physically.
I object to the little boxes of "This is a sport" and "This is not a sport anyway.
no subject
Date: 2006-05-09 05:05 am (UTC)that's what I'm saying!
no subject
Date: 2006-05-09 05:31 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-05-09 12:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-05-09 12:16 pm (UTC)My impression has been that smaller, mainstream churches are the ones that are struggling and closing and mega churches are only getting bigger and more numerous. We just had a "new" mega church open here - they are using a building that use to include laser tag, bowling, rock wall, arcade, ect. The megachurches are the ones spouting the evangelical message for the most part. I loved the line that if they voted they could swing any election seeing as how they always want to claim they are under attack, "endangered" because of the rest of the country. It seems they chose whether they want to present themselves as powerful or weak depending on what they want to accomplish (guess that makes them no different than any other person then)
no subject
Date: 2006-05-09 12:24 pm (UTC)I think any large group could swing an election if they all voted the same way, but groups don't vote... I was going to say people do, but they don't in America do they?
no subject
Date: 2006-05-09 12:29 pm (UTC)Voting just ain't cool you see. Some groups seem to think people would be more likely to vote if they are told how to vote and don't have to actually think about it...despite you know, all those important things about democracy...
no subject
Date: 2006-05-09 12:34 pm (UTC)Sadly, voting will never be cool I fear. You would think a country that fought so hard and so many times to get the vote would have a greater instrest in it.
Ah well.