Leftover Thoughts of a Slightly Dented Mind

shazzerwise @ 2009-08-13T16:30:00

2009-08-13T21:32:06Z

Bloody spiders.

New Vid - "F*ck You, I'm Beautiful"

2009-07-14T22:49:43Z

Title: "F*ck You, I'm Beautiful"
Music by: Linda Strawberry
Subject: "General Hospital", Elizabeth, Liason
Length: 2:24

Nutshell: My feelings about Elizabeth's dead-end relationship with Jason.

Download:
Large wmv (42.5 mbs)
Small wmv (7.16 mbs)

BamVidVault stream

Find more videos like this on BAM Vid Vault

As soon as I heard this song, I had to use it. It expressed my feelings about the Liz/Jason couple so perfectly. Nearly ten years of back and forth, and Liz has nearly nothing to show for it (I say nearly nothing because she got Jake, but as Jake has nothing to do with Jason but genetics, it hardly counts). Being with Jason brings out the worst in her. While with him, or for some reason because of him, she has lied, cheated, turned against her friends and family and put herself and her children in danger. She has been targeted, abducted, poisoned, and her children have been made targets as well. Whatever good there was between them, it was always lopsided, and nothing Liz could ever do would bring Jason completely around to balance the scales. Elizabeth has been through and accomplished much in ten years, but where Jason is concerned, it was mostly wasted time.

To Boldly Go...

2009-05-10T04:17:49Z

I just came back from Star Trek. Yeah...I'm gonna need to see that again.

giddy dance

shazzerwise @ 2009-01-22T08:26:00

2009-01-22T14:28:41Z

Well, the AMPAS just shot themselves in the foot. What a bland morning.

"Prop 8 - The Musical"

2008-12-04T04:03:04Z

NFVA 2nd Anniversary Round

2008-11-15T14:38:32Z

There's one day left to submit to the 2nd anniversary round at No Frontiers Video Awards, as well as to vote for the Audience Award. Get those vids in while you can and voice your opinion on your favorite of the year's winners!

shazzerwise @ 2008-11-04T23:05:00

2008-11-05T05:21:18Z

Because in the moment, this was all I wanted to say:

Morning has broken, like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken, like the first bird.
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning,
Praise for them springing, fresh from the word.

Kermit says the rest.

NFVA 2nd Anniversary Round - Audience Award Poll

2008-11-03T00:04:04Z

Voting is up now for the 2nd Annual Audience Award Poll. We wanted, as we did last year, to give vidders and watchers a chance to vote for their favorite among the past rounds' winners. Last year's winner was Milly's fantastic "Through Glass"

Award voting and vidding submissions will remain open until Nov. 15th.

NFVA 2nd Anniversary Round

2008-10-05T22:31:59Z

The 2nd Anniversary Round of No Frontiers Video Awards is now up and running. We're playing by the same rules we did last year for out 1st anniversary: each vidder may submit up to two videos from the past "year", regardless if it has been entered into a previous round this "year" (rounds 13-24). Submit your best, submit your favorites, whichever you like.

We'd love to make this round as successful as our last anniversary round, so if you'd like to play along, we'd love to have you!

shazzerwise @ 2008-09-24T23:22:00

2008-09-25T04:31:59Z

For the love of all that is pretty in the world, is it too much to ask that one day at work go by without some semi-major to major disaster? Just one freaking day without a fire to put out. One.Damn.Day. Gray matter hurt so much. My mini-vacation seems so far away.

On the other hand, I may have discovered a magical tube of makeup. I've been squeezing the absolute bottom of the barrel out of a tube for well over a month now, and it keeps on giving. And I'm talking toothpaste-rolled, all the way to the top, blood-from-a-stone type squeezing, but it never seems to end. Granted, I don't wear a lot of makeup, but still. It's like the loaves and fishes, but with liquid foundation.

New Vid - "When Under Ether" - Pan's Labyrinth

2008-09-21T00:31:06Z

Title: "When Under Ether"
Music by: PJ Harvey
Subject: Pan's Labyrinth, Ofelia
Length: 2:13

Nutshell: "Out of the frying pan and into the fire." Ofelia escapes from one world of horror to another.

Download:
HQ avi (33.8 mbs) *
Med. wmv (16.8 mbs)
LQ wmv (7.82 mbs)

Imeem stream

*If you are unable to view the avi, try downloading and installing the free Divx codec.

I always wanted to do something with del Toro's Pan's Labyrinth. It's such a lovely and sad film, beautifully visualized, and a concept that is ripe for examination. How do you escape when your fantasies prove as dangerous as your reality? When I first listened to Harvey's new album, "Ether" immediately stuck me as "Panish", though I went back and forth several times. Lyrically, it's a bit of a stretch, but something about the melody struck me as a deconstructed lullaby, and Harvey's delicately scratchy voice seemed a great fit for Ofelia.

Big thanks to leobrat and Arie for being my sounding boards.

Icons...the sequel.

2008-09-07T18:55:49Z

Here's Part Two of my children's illustrator icon batch.

Preview

01-12 - Mary GrandPré
13-14 - Anne Dewdney
15-16 - W.W. Denslow
17-20 - David Wisniewski
21-21 - Shel Silverstein
22-23 - Dr. Seues
24-25 - Brian Selznick
26-29 - Eva Schöffmann-Davidov
30-31 - Chris Raschka
32-33 - Arthur Rackham
34-39 - Beatrix Potter
40-45 - John R. Neill
46-50 - Brett Helquist

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Created with angelamaria's Icon Table Generator @ Bauble

Icon resources are credited in my user info.

Comments are nice, credit is nicer, hotlinking is just plain tacky.

Part One is here.

Icons, icons, icons!

2008-09-03T21:16:08Z

These have been sitting around in a folder for months. It's about time to let them out. :) Since there are so many, I'll put them out in doses. I'll try to get Part II out in a few days.

51 icons from classic and contemporary children's book illustrators.

Preview

01-09: Sandra Boynton
10-16: John Tenniel
17-21: David Christiana
22-28: Lauren Child
29-30: Nicoletta Ceccoli
31-35: Eric Carle
36-36: E. Stuart Hardy
37-38: Ian Falconer
39-45: Mo Willems
46-51: Tony DiTerlizzi

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Created with angelamaria's Icon Table Generator @ Bauble

Brush and texture sources are credited in my user info.

Comments are love, credit is nice, hotlinking is just tacky.

shazzerwise @ 2008-08-23T21:57:00

2008-08-24T03:03:48Z

Can someone please poke me and make me vid? I have a half finished project just sitting there, taunting me. I need poking. Possibly cattle-prodding.

A little night meme-age.

2008-08-10T01:47:53Z

Snagged from bananainpyjamas.

Comment here and I'll reply to you to tell you which icon(s) of yours I associate with you. Once I reply, please repost this in your own journal.

shazzerwise @ 2008-07-22T21:24:00

2008-07-23T02:35:04Z

So I get off work today to be greated with a voicemail that my father has had a heart attack. He's doing ok (ish) now, but will have to stay for several days. I'm still feeling a little knocked over. I suck at grown-up crisis situations. I just don't know how to behave around anyone over the age of twelve in the event of something terrible, even and probably especially when it's my own family (we're sort of the Southern Methodist version of wasps...we don't talk about things). I lack the proper social plugin.

Just gonna sit here and listen to the new Emmylou until I chill out a little.

Edited: I've been to see him now, and it seems like he's doing okay, though uncomfortable and seriously discouraged about the state of his health.

And hospitals still unnerve me. I don't care how new, shiny and state of the art they are.

shazzerwise @ 2008-07-11T21:35:00

2008-07-12T02:39:12Z

Agh. Anyone have some advice about how to train a cat to throw up in the catbox, or heck, even on the tile, just anywhere but on the carpet?

shazzerwise @ 2008-07-07T01:29:00

2008-07-07T06:32:56Z

Ooh, I've just had an idea. Now mind, it's probably a very dumb idea, but here at 1:30 in the morning, I'm quite taken with it. It's the not the idea I've been hoping would come to me since Saturday night, but it's something.

Now...how to do it?

Doctor Who wonderingments.

2008-07-05T05:06:09Z

So I've spent the week re-watching bits of Series 4, and have come to some thoughts and conclusions.

Firstly, the thoughts. Well, thought. Not theorizing, mind. I'm not going anywhere with this, just thinking. Maybe I'm blanking out on the previous three seasons, but it seems to me that there have been an unusually high number of people sacrificing themselves this season, particularly sacrificing themselves either to save the Doctor, or in place of the Doctor. We had Rattigan in "The Poison Sky", Jenny in "The Doctor's Daughter", River Song in "Forest of the Dead" and the hostess in "Midnight". You could even make the argument for Donna in "Turn Left", and Agatha Christie in "The Unicorn and the Wasp" (who didn't die, but not for lack of trying). Seems like a lot, right? And given that the Doctor's already dying once, he most likely won't be dying again to save someone. A companion dies? Dalek Caan said as much. I imagine it will be big and heroic and terribly, terribly sad.

And now my conclusion. I've been reading all week all these theories about Donna. About what she is, who she is. She's a Time Lady, she's the key to time, she's the Doctor, she's unknowingly carrying the Master's baby. My favorite of these theories is that she's a regeneration of Romana, because, well, it would be kinda cool to have Romana back. There are certainly clues directing us to think Donna is something different than she appears: "you are something new", "what will you be?". After all, she is the most important woman in the whole of creation.

But here's the thing. I love Donna. I love her socks off. I think she's brilliant, she's tough, she's funny. She knows who she is and she defends who she is (minus her mother-inflicted inferiority complex about being "just a temp"). When threatened by the Sibilene sisterhood in "The Fires of Pompeii", she doesn't tell them the Doctor's coming to sort them out, but assures them she'll rearrange their faces herself. She's has a pulsing sense of right and wrong. She respects and loves (lowercase "love") the Doctor, she doesn't worship him. She's more than ready to tell him he's wrong, he's foolish, he's an idiot. She asks him questions to which he doesn't know the answer. She can fly the TARDIS. She is the perfect companion.

And she's human. So perfectly, mundanely, ordinarily human. As cool as some of the theories about Donna are, I don't really want them to be true. I don't want Donna to be anything but an ordinary human being, because being an ordinary human being is what makes her so extraordinary. Same with Rose. Same with Martha. Same with Mickey. Same with Sarah Jane and countless others. Making her some otherworldly, "enchanced" being would take away from that. It would be, "Oh, so that's why she's so clever." I really hope they don't do that to her.

shazzerwise @ 2008-06-30T21:58:00

2008-07-01T03:06:48Z

Dear disgruntled former co-worker,
I understand that you are upset that you were passed over for a promotion, despite the fact you feel you deserve it. I'm sorry you chose to believe the promotion choice was made entirely with favoritism, despite your "opponent's" many, many years in the business, though yes, lack of upper-lever experience. And most of all, I'm sorry you felt the need to come to work, throw a hissy fit and quit on the spot, offering no notice, nor even the good faith to finish out the day.

Would you like in on a little secret? You're an ASSHOLE! Maybe that's why you didn't get the job.

Signed,
Someone glad to be rid of you.

Doctor Who - "The Stolen Earth"

2008-06-29T05:58:30Z

Spoilers aplenty, so everything under a cut.

Holy crap-weasel. It has taken me close to two hours to watch this, as I had to continually pause and run around, or rewind, or at one point find Neville, my bunglie giraffe to hold on to because I was freaking the hell out.

1). And above all else...I am not ready to say goodbye to 10/Tennant. Not anywhere near. I feel like every episode he's bringing something new to the character, some new shade, and the Doctor's "grown" so much in three years, I'd miss seeing where he could go. So pleasenopleasenopleasenopleaseno.

2). So much love for everyone! Jack! Ianto! Gwen! Sarah Jane (my Sarah Jane, bless her, loved her fussing at Mr. Smith to cut with the fanfare)! Martha! Harriet Jones (yes, we know who you are)! Everyone together, saving the world. The children of time. I love that they all got to connect in a way, minus Rose.

3). Speaking of, re: the fates of Ianto, Gwen and Sarah Jane. I believe the words coming (repeatedly) out of my mouth were, "Don't you fucking dare."

4). Rose is badass. I'm waiting on my "Do you like my gun?" icon. I expect it will rock. I love that she was a little jealous of being excluded from the spacey Facebook (though I loved Wilf's excuse for not being allowed a webcam).

5). More Donna awesome explosions. Standing up for herself, figuring out the missing planets. Catherine Tate is just lovely. I simply love how happy she was for the Doctor when both in the beginning and when (almost) reunited at the end, the Doctor realizes Rose is back. Honestly, unselfishly happy.

6). "Genesis of the Daleks" is one of, if not my favorite Classic Who story, and Daddy Davros is just as creepy, melty-face awesomey awesome evil as ever. And how over the moon is Loopy Loony Dalek Caan?

7). I'm sorely tempted to dial the Doctor's number.

8). Wilf and his paint gun. Smart man, he had the right idea. Shame it didn't work.

9). Ok...I'm know this is being greedy, given that I'm not ready to say goodbye to 10, but I'm not ready to say goodbye to Donna, either. What's with the sound and the thing on her back again? I'm worried.

10). Where's Mickey the idiot? (term of endearment)

10.5) I know it's not likely to happen, but could a girl get a little K-9?

11). Is it next Saturday yet?

shazzerwise @ 2008-06-27T21:45:00

2008-06-28T02:47:16Z

I really should be vidding right now. I have an evening ahead of me with no other pressing concerns, and nothing to distract me. Instead? I'm watching "K-9 and Company". Why? No bloody idea.

Doctor Who meme

2008-06-25T06:00:55Z

When you see this post, quote Doctor Who in an lj entry.

"What, no tea?"

-The Doctor (4/Tom Baker)

NFVA

2008-06-22T21:51:39Z

Round 21 of No Frontiers Video Awards will close tomorrow (21st) at midnight(ish), cst. We're having a light round, so this would be a good time to submit if you haven't in a while.

Doctor Who - "Turn Left" (no spoilers)

2008-06-22T02:17:29Z

I do believe Donna Noble might be the most awesome thing...I don't want to be hyperbolic and say ever, so how about 'in a really, really, really long time." I might love that woman.

In other news...

*runs flapping around her home*

AHHHHHHHHH!