My, it's been a long while, no?

Things have been IN-FUCKING-SANE. This has been shaping up to be the Semester from Hell what with my predictable struggles in Statistics and that I seem to be pulling all-nighters all the time. I'm tired and punchy just about all the time and while that's made for highly interesting times during Lit Mag {the more exhausted I am, the less of a filter I have and considering the accidental comic gold we've had submitted this semester, I pretty much never stop talking}, this spells bad things in the Everything Else department. Namely in making it so I manage to lock myself out of my apartment and being very VERY late for work and in being so smart as to not realize that the clocks in the math lab are wrong (thus making me very VERY VERY late for work).
It's frustrating too because my manager doesn't appear to believe me. Last week was just one of those Murphy's Law sort of weeks where everything, improbably, went totally wrong.

BUT! A glimmer of hope! We had a snow today, so I got to catch up my sleep and do some work I was behind on. I'm still doing some stuff as I realized halfway into an english paper that I was doing it all wrong, but whatever. Small improvements, right?

Anyhoodle, this totally made me choke on my cereal. I think my favorite is, "To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everythi… Holy shit! ZOMBIES!"
Faith should get on making this right quick. Kthanks.
Coming in at an awesome close second? The fact that they're making Pride and Predjudice and Zombies. Holy wow, yes!

Speaking of... FAITH! You and I need to talk soon. We keep missing each other and I've been terrible about getting back to you (see above) and we have all sorts of things to discuss.

So, I'm going to go back to my paper, Wish me luck! I might pull an all-nighter and catch up on sleep by going to bed at like... 4 in the afternoon or something.
Healthy, right?

God, I have had a baaaaaaaaaaaaaaad week. Aside from sleeping through my alarms/turning them off in half-sleep and missing classes, work has been grueling. I'm more or less in a constant state of "tired" lately. I was supposed to be at a budget hearing yesterday to help pack the SGA room with more lit mag people to make sure we have money to print. I was personally hoping I could use the phrase "the only thing that wins awards around here," but alas, I had written down the wrong building so I was wandering around so lost and confused. I feel really bad about that as the professor is an amazing woman and she really wanted everyone's support, so I sent her a very apologetic email.
Teal deer: I'm even diztier when tired.

SO ANYWAY. Can we talk about Twilight for like the 486034856056th time? No, no, I have something new aside from "Tee hee the movie looks like balls." I mean, it still does, but had any of you heard a while back that Meyer was talking about re-writting the series from Edward's perspective? Well she was. And then she wrote an unedited first chapter. Which, first of all: WOW. Just read it. It's kind of amazing.

But it gets so much better. So, Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart have been pretty vocal about how they're really uncomfortable with the Twihards and Meyer and the whole thing {which effectively means no other movies}. And Meyer, who wins this century's Misplaced Wish Fulfillment Award, has been creaming all over Pattinson because Edward is her ideal {with Bella as her self-insert}, calling his performance "Oscar-worthy" and all sorts of nonsense. BUT BEFORE ALL THIS? She had given her unedited stuff over to Pattinson to help him better understand his character that he really, really hates. So what did he do?

FUCKING LEAKED IT. Oh my god, I am forever in love with him now. I don't care that he can't EVER seem to take a good photograph and he seems kind of cracked out 80% of the time. That is awesome. So Meyer got so upset that she canceled the book indefinitely.

One side of me is all THANK GOD because I don't want her milk another penny out of her non-talents {like that Eragon asshole}. But the other side of me is pining for what could have been. Could you imagine?
MORE ANNE RICE FANFIC FOR EVERYONE! ANITA BLAKE 4EVAAAAAA!!!11!

Also? Read the ED page about the series. It's fantastic. I learned that Meyer actually addressed one of my questions about the whole vampire/mortal set-up: what happens when Bella gets her period? Wouldn’t Edward like… lose it? Apparently, and surprisingly, she thought this out: it’s “dead blood” so it just makes him a little uncomfortable. Good to know!
Still unanswered: is sex with him, which is written about SO MUCH, so I’m not insane for wondering this, like fucking an icicle? I mean… Edward’s supposed to be ice-cold like all the time.

So yeah. That made me really happy.

Second post of the day, promise to shut up after this.
I've made no secret of my issues with the McCain/Palin ticket and all their massive failings and problems. Not to mention: Palin is useless.

I have nothing more to say aside from offering these two links:

McCain was a petty, unprofessional, un-presidential ass at the debate. Here are the clips {Calling Obama "that one" and refusing to shake his hand after the debate}.

Everything I feel about McCain's public actions, but put in a far more eloquent and collected way.

I think this speaks for itself.
Two notes though: 
1.They make the absolutely lovely Kristen Stewart look doll-like in the most awkward, dead-eyed way.
2. Seriously, does the make-up team hate Robert Pattinson? Did he kill all of their dogs? Sleep with their spouses? This is even worse than last time's coke addict romance novel. This time? Completely unattractive udead troglidite. Why are they doing this?  Edward's supposed to be ZOMG TEH HOTNESS. Also: why do they hate Robert Pattinson? He's cute and handsome. Are they trying to make him look as horrid as possible?

God, I cannot wait.

You know the drill.

( Spoilers )
Today's been kinda meh. This weekend's looking busy as HELL though.

I am confused.

Reading through the school newspaper today, I saw an op-ed article by the lovely Theresa who I haven't seen in ages. She was writing about how apparently the Westboro Baptist Church showed up to protest at the Parade of Gold? They apparently had signs that said "God Hates Michael Phelps."
Why? I don't get it. The parade was to honor Michael Phelps and Katie Hoff for winning lots of metals {so much so that if Towson split from the union, we'd have the 16th most metals in the world}. It had nothing to do with the war or the LGBT community or the Swiss.

So. Why? I looked it up on their website I couldn't find anything.
I guess this is just another incident that goes to show that Westboro finds whatever happens to be popular/celebrated/talked about and decides that god hates whatever it is. And they looooooooove publicity.
But don't they usually have a stated reason for rolling out the hate parade?

So, Biden's kind of my hero right now. Palin's obviously been coached within an inch of becoming a rolodex of party lines {and has managed to say nothing terribly or laughably stupid, which: surprise!}, but Biden is being completely blunt in calling her out for her side-stepping. And he's not mincing words! I'm so excited! I mean, it's not a total steam-rolling, but I'd wager that Biden's coming out on top in this one.

I'm disappointed that Obama/Biden aren't pro gay marriage, NEVERMIND. They only oppose it because, as Jocey so rightly informed me, "Biden and Obama said they were against gay marriage only because marriage is a term used for those of the Christian faith. technically, anyone 'married' not in the Christian/Catholic faith all have civil unions." So really, what it seems then, that they're saying that marriage as a religious insitution that can't and shouldn't be dictated by law. But the law can and SHOULD control and influence civil unions. Which is fair. I don't think the government should dictate to the faiths about allowing or disallowing gay marriage.
And  I am happy that they support equal civil/spousal rights which is more than I can say about McCain/Palin. Palin seems to really want to come across as at least somewhat pro-gay, but she side-stepped Biden's question about whether she supports equal spousal rights for civil unions. And I'm glad that gay rights were discussed. It was nice to see. I'd like to see more, sure, but the three big issues of the campaign seem to be the economy, healthcare and the war and gay rights isn't the only issue being back-burnered. C'est la vie.

I'm irritated about Palin's "Joe Six-Pack" comment. I am so tired of her approach to everything being, "Anyone can be the VP!" Yeah, I guess, but do we really want Joe Six-Pack to be a leader of our country? We want the best of the best! We want the best educated people! I mean, I get why she's trying to pull this populist, common man stuff, but really? Do we want her vision of "common man" to lead us?

Also? Palin, cut the "doggonit" folksy, cutesy bullshit. Just stop it. It's so annoying and frivolous and you just do it to get out of tough questions. ALSO? SHE HAD TO BE EXPLAINED WHAT THE VP DOES. I mean, she said she was kidding, but would that really be surprising? The fact that she had to "cram" so to speak for this debate just speaks to the fact that she is entirely unprepared and unfit. It's not an exam. It's the second highest political office in the country.

Project tonight. Let's discuss.

( WE STILL HAVE TO WAIT?! {Spoilers} )

So. Let's talk about Project Runway tonight.

( SPOILERS )

I'm usually quite clueless when it comes to economic matters, so I generally stay out of them.
But this bail-out plan being discussed seems to cross the line into a larger issue.

Basically, the situation, as I understand it, is this: our stock market is shaking on the edge of disaster and to help this problem, Secretary of the Treasury Henry Paulson has asked for $700 billion to help bail out the banking companies. Here's the caveat: he wants the money, no strings attached, all actions un-reviewable.

Are you fucking serious? He wants a berth that huge? I'd think with that much money in question, there should be TONS of accountability and a completely articulated and detailed plan so maybe we can know what he plans to do with the oceans of our that money he wants.

And the way Paulson's saying that everything needs to happen now, fast and now, it reminds me a lot of an episode of The Office. Stanley mouthed off to Michael and Michael was looking for ways of dealing with it. Dwight swooped in with this solution that put Dwight in total control of everyone and everything. He presented it and kept repeating, "Do it. Give me authority. Don't think. Do it. Do it."

That's what this feels like.
Just with 700 billion tax-dollars.

This really scares me.

Unrelatedly, Faith, I'll call you after classes. I got your message and we should catch up and stuff. Because you're awesome and sexy and mrowr.♥  

I've had a really bad day. Not fun things have happened and I'm exhausted.

But this? Just made my life. Just when thought that all the Sarah Palin scandal-making hoo-ha couldn't get any better. I mean, seriously. Sarah Palin being a moron and Anonymous hacking her and exposing her idiocy?

I think I just came.

ETA: This for added awesome. You can start calling me Commando Coalfire Palin kthnxbai.

Did... did we really just see Kenley say, "What does Tim know anyway?" in the Next Week on Project Runway?
I KNOW no one just questioned The Gunn is such a flippant way.

Because well, bitch, Tim Gunn is the creative director for Liz Claiborne, used to be a professor at Parsons and has his own show where women melt for his fashion guidance.
He's also God.

Though next episode seems to be the Episode of Karmic Retribution because not only does Tim tell her to cut the shit, not only does Jerell and Korto let her make enough rope to hang herself in the next challenge, but Nina, who I love and adore for her No Bullshit approach to judging, calls her out on her whining.

What can I say? As they said on Best Week Ever, you mess with the Gunn, you're going to get shot.
Countdown to Kenley's likely aufing: 7 days.

EDIT: I said in the comments that I liked Suede's outfit. TOTALLY taking that back now. I think I must've been on crack/the TV made the coat look gray instead of weirdly green/that dress had no shape.

So I woke up late from my nap today because I was exhausted last night and I knew I would be exhausted at work too if I didn't get some extra sleep. I woke up and then delighted at how much time I have to do chores and runs errands before work at 6. I need to go the pharmacy, go to Giant for groceries, get my fancy dancy Hybrid Car School Parking Permit that costs a thankful half of the normally expensive price and go to the service center to get my car's undercarriage re-fastened.

Except then I remembered that work is at 5.

Oh okay, I thought, no big deal. I can still get things done.

Then I remembered I have a doctor's appointment at 3. MERDE!

AND THEN I left my bedroom and saw a notice that said that due to plumbing work, we won't get any water till 5 which means I can't take a shower and I'll look like ass when I go to work. ASS.

I was going to be productive today.

Oh and Wesley and Daniel from Project Runway are totally dating now. Alisa and I SO called it. At the beginning of last week's episode when Daniel said that he'll miss making out with Wesley because they had "a real connection," Alisa and I agreed that there HAD to be something going on. And now there is. *vindicated*

So.
I've started reading New Moon after swearing that I wouldn't. At least it's an e-book, so it's free? I'm doing this after reading cleolinda's brilliant notes on each of the books. Her style always makes me laugh and all the more so because her observations and comments, posited in the most witty manner, are quite insightful. She made a particularly good point that I haven't yet been able to properly articulate: the claim that the Twilight series is deeper than Harry Potter is crap. Bullfuckingshit it is. Unless "deep" has been redefined as "rehashing obsessive love and stalking over and over and over and over." Cleolinda makes the very true point that if Harry Potter did away with literally every other plot-point and focused entirely on the star-crossed love of Ginny and Harry, then we'd have the HP equivalent of Twlight.

And while I've never considered myself to be the kind of person to go witch-hunting for bad messages in things, I keep seeing the issue come up in various places that the books become increasingly ill-advised in their messages, mostly in regards to the male/female relationship dynamic. Namely, I've seen the complaint that, starting mainly in New Moon, there's a disturbing passiveness on the part of the female characters when getting hurt/maimed/disfigured by the werewolves and/or vampires that they love. In basic terms: I've heard there's a scary amount of "I'm sorry I made you hit me" mentality going on. Not to mention concepts of women being helpless against men, having no choice but to seemingly serve them, women belong to men and can't have other friends and, in one particular scene in which Bella {fuck her} punches a guy for kissing her, breaks her hand in the process and then he tells her that that was her fault because she "should've known better," it's the woman's fault for getting hurt because she shouldn't have resisted the guy's advances.

Now, not to say that the sources aren't valid in their expression of this opinion, but before I add this pretty serious crime to the series very, very long list of literary transgressions, I want to read it for myself. So that when/if I ever bring up the chauvinist aspect of the series, I can say, "Yes, I read it myself" instead of copping to just repeating what I had seen written about it.

If it's true, then I give up and I'll see everyone at the funeral of teen-lit. And that also means that Stephanie Meyer as truly poisoned a generation of teenage girls {and gay guys?}.

In faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaact. honooko? I'd suggest you give these a try and turn your analytical gaze onto the material. It reminds me of reading kimiwapet's stuff in that you wonder what kind of abusive, unhealthy love the writer has come to see as ~*maaaaaaaagical*~.

ETA: Meyer dedicated the last book to the band Muse. Fuck you, Stephanie Meyer.

Tim Gunn just said, honest to god, "Holla atcha boy."
I had no idea if I could be any MORE in love with him, but now I know there is always more love to feel for Mr. Tim Gunn.

Crystal's right. That man needs to procreate. There needs to be little Tim Gunns running around. There needs to be an heir!

Make it work, Tim Gunn. Make it work indeed.

EDIT:  And on the other side of the coin: I would like to address this to Blayne. Blayne, in the immortal words of Regina George {modified for you}, "Stop trying to make "licious" happen. It's not going to happen." Seriously. "Licious" is the "fetch" of Project Runway.
Similar note to your third person bullshit, "Suede."

I have no idea if anyone knows or cares, BUT: Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog {By Joss Whedon and starring Neil Patrick Harris and Nathan Fillion aka hotass Mal from Firefly/Dr. Pomader from Waitress} is going up for this week only.
Act One went up today!

It's pretty adorable.

I have the first of three exams coming up on Thursday in my math class. This is like... my third or fourth go-round with math, so for the sake of not derailing my Graduate Next Year plan, I'm trying as hard as I can to stay on top of things.
So I'm going to start studying for it tonight.
I personally think it's a bit silly for a Soc major to need to know algebra. And the best part? I only need THIS class so I can take ANOTHER math course next semester: Statistics. Which makes more sense and I'm told it's easier, but considering my massive failure with math, I'm not so sure.

On the geekier side of things: I've applied tospectaculum and I'm awaiting a reply. It looks like it'll be a fun game. I'm also going to be applying to imperiums because  Ashton is creative and foxy and it looks like awesome fun.

Oh and I want to pimp two more things: KATE BEATON is a very clever and very funny historical webcomic. READ SOME. It takes a run at all historical events/people serious and silly and makes it vastly amusing. She also features more modern pieces and has sections devoted to comics about her family, friends, her local area. It's awesome.
PICTURES FOR SAD CHILDREN is a dead-pan, simply-drawn webcomic with rather large dollops of weird added and I quite like it. The jokes of each strip build on each other and I totally want some of the shirts the guy's selling. Right now, it's about a guy who died, came back as a ghost who has to train his replacement who is sortakinda dating a girl who worships a spider and attracts butterflies. I think. IT'S GOOD.

ALSO: DARK KNIGHT IN TWO DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYS.
Can't wait.

OH AND apparently some Bible belt church was giving guns to kids at a youth event. Because why not? They don't say how old the kids were, but that's pretty messed up regardless. They're assault rifles too.

I've made no bones of my love/hate for Twlight. It's a terrible book, but it's AWESOMELY terrible. Except for Bella. She will never be awesome. Ever.

So anyway.
Look at this:


Kristen Stewart? Looks like a knock-out.
Robert Pattinson? Looks like a coke-addict.
Also: Hottest book since Harry Potter? MY ASS, it is. I could write volumes on how much I disagree, but I'll leave it at this: Harry was annoying and somewhat emo for one book. Bella? Is an ungrateful, whiny Mary Sue ALL THE TIME.
cleolinda posted the picture from ohnotheydidnt.
BUT THEN.  orangeokapi13 posted this in response:


YES.
Now I kind of want to see the movie? It's looking like Eragon with vampires.

I should be productive right now, but I feel far too lazy/wiped out. I've had a busy few weeks. And I'm almost done my manuscript write-ups! YUS!

I've been playing A LOT of Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King. My settlement is an EMPIRE now and I'm only two dungeons away from the temple were King Epitav is kept.
I think if/when Alisa gets her own Wii and I have some extra money, I'll start a new game and get some add-on content so I can have some Selkies and Yukes and Lilties.
I'm guessing there's more exploring and adventuring to do after the temple? I mean... there's TONS more upgrades I can get and I can still develop my realm, so... maybe?

Oh also: I've been hankering for a new lj layout. Something Kawaii_not-themed? Or not. I have a few ideas. But no artistic talent to do it.
Any takers? I'll pay you in love! Lots of glorious, glorious love!


ZOMG EDIT: Saw this on rockthecliche's journal: Death Note to become an American live-action movie.
Lots of people have mentioned Zac Efron to play Light which makes sense because Efron is creepy and looks like an anime character. Someone also said Joseph Gordon Levitt for L and Amanda Seyfried for Misa. AWESOME.

So. I'm really worried.

I spent last weekend with my family and our dog seemed as old and feeble as ever. Hershey's arthritis has flared to the point that he can't get up or down the back stairs into the yard. The vet also warned us that now that he's getting older, Hershey might be developing a protein allergy because many old dogs get that.
And something so depressing happened while my ma took our little cousins with her on Hershey's walk. As a chocolate lab, Hershey loves to swim and he always takes a dip in this one stream in the woods. So he ran into the water as per normal, but when he went to get out, he realized he was trapped. Hershey was able to get his front paws on the bank, but couldn't muster enough strength from his back legs to get back on land. My ma had to go down and push him up.
It seems like he's never comfortable anymore. When he lays down, he tends to grunt and shift and wince.
Hershey's 11. Dogs his size usually live to be at least 12 and at most, 15.

I really hope he feels better and that he can be happy despite his ills. I love my big goofus.