the night has a thousand saxaphones

Quick rec- Star Trek (DS9) and Big Bang Theory

Sat, 01 Nov 2014 18:16:14 GMT

we get on just fine (on those long long drives) (9534 words) by Raven
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Big Bang Theory (TV), Star Trek
Rating: Not Rated
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Leonard Hofstadter/Penny, Sheldon Cooper/Amy Farrah Fowler, Rajesh Koothrappali/Benadette Rostenkowski/Howard Wolowitz
Characters: Penny (Big Bang Theory), Bernadette Rostenkowski, Leonard Hofstadter, Sheldon Cooper, Amy Farrah Fowler
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe, Alternate Universe - Star Trek Fusion, Section 31, Rihannsu, Captain Proton! Defender of the Universe!, why am I such a giant nerd
Summary:

In the autumn after the Federation goes to war with the Dominion, Penny moves to Pasadena to star in a mostly-Vulcan production of A Streetcar Named Desire. A Star Trek AU.

I love love love love love (and almost never see) fic set in the Star Trek universe but outside of Starfleet and on Earth. It's an amazing premise for a fusion fic, and really emotionally captivating.

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Sat, 11 Oct 2014 18:24:16 GMT

So basically I just crave good meaty thinky discussion of TV, from people who care about narrative and character and FEELS. And the thing is – where does one get that, outside of dreamwidth? There must be places, but occasional isolated snippets on facebook and the comments section of the AV Club just Do Not Cut It.

1. All the Feels about Doctor Who. So much potential in Capaldi, and Clara is so wonderful now that she’s being treated seriously as a character, and so much potential in Danny Pink (and his status as a soldier and all of the self-loathing, lack-of-self-awareness Issues that this doctor has). And the way they dealt with the Doctor’s age managed to be very meta without tipping into the expected misogyny against the fanbase was a nice surprise.

This season has seen pretty much the best concept ever, even if execution was slack (Time Heist) and one of the all-time good episodes (Listen). But then... this Kill the Moon thing. I don't even know. Deeply conflicted, too many feels, head spinning, cannot sort through them, except that I am sure that at the end there I want to stand up and cheer for Clara. Where are all the crunchy Dr. Who reaction posts? Who’s got some?

2. Similarly All the Feels about Transparent. It’s really quite extraordinary, and the thing that makes it truly amazing is that it’s not just a drama about early transition or a show to educate people about trans folks. It’s way more twisty and interesting than that, and Maura manages to be the calm (and slyly hilarious) center of her fascinatingly screwed-up family. All the reactions I’ve seen to it outside the fandom space are all social-justice-y and “yaay for representation” and “yaay for centering the experience of a trans person” and that’s all good and necessary and stuff, but it’s a boring take on a captivating show. How much more eager would people be to watch this if promotion of it was less “Here, a show about a marginalized person, take your medicine and watch it” and more “This is a surreal and thinky and screamingly funny show about a tight-knit family that is severely dysfunctional in entertaining ways”?

3. Am re-watching Gilmore Girls like every other human being on the planet, apparently, because yaay Netflix. Conclusion: I am now significantly closer in age to Lorelai than Rory, and reacting to their stories accordingly. This is terrifying.

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Fri, 08 Nov 2013 05:47:55 GMT

Jane Fonda just bought me dinner. She thinks the story of how my husband and I met is very sweet.
Sometime in the last two years, my life got weird.

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Wed, 30 Oct 2013 12:39:05 GMT

SOMEBODY passed the bar.

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SG-1 Fic: Driftwood

Tue, 29 Oct 2013 01:18:59 GMT

Title: Driftwood
Author: dragojustine
Summary: Daniel is always surrounded by artifacts.
Word Count: 2300
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Still not mine
Written For: magickmoons in the jd_ficathon
Prompt:
1. set after Jack moves to DC (...stretched that a bit)
2. Daniel's piano
Optional Request: something happening on an off-world mission that has unexpected or continuing effects after the team returns to Earth
Notes: Did you know Daniel had a piano in The Light? I sure didn't. Thanks to magickmoons for making me scour every glimpse of Daniel's apartments we get-- the results were interesting, and didn't match my head-canon much at all.

----------------------------

( Daniel is always surrounded by artifacts. )

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SHIELD, finally

Sat, 28 Sep 2013 15:53:05 GMT

I LOVED that.

Everything about Coulson worked for me- the Tahiti jokes, setting up a mystery with him, letting Skye interrogate Ward. All good. It does read a lot like they've been reading Coulson fanfic, yes. (Except that in the fanfic Hawkeye would have found out he was back in the land of the living and would be refusing to leave his side.)

Fitz-Simmons has a lot of potential. Sure, they're no McKay-Zelenka, but they'll have a way more prominent role than the McKay-Zelenka dynamic did (the wonder of that relationship, honestly, existed more in the fanon than in the show). And yeah, they feel pretty Torchwood-y, but I'm okay with that.

I am totally on board with the criticism of the handling of Mike, and I do hope he's a recurring.

I mostly loved it as much as I did, I think, because it gave me the sense of a thing that has been missing from my TV (I mean, from presently-airing shows) for a while- since SGA went off air, actually. It's a currently airing SF show that gave me the sense of a big expansive universe full of possibilities, with a core team of characters who I think I could get really attached to and want to just hang out with. I just haven't found one of those since SGA, so I'm really excited.

P.S. giandujakiss on Skye .

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Wed, 25 Sep 2013 02:04:06 GMT

Agents of SHIELD Oh my god I can't watch it until tomorrow and I am so excited I just cannot. Every review I've seen so far says it is utter crap and I don't even CARE. That was all.

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Game of Thrones rec

Mon, 19 Aug 2013 02:14:08 GMT

GOT rec: They Will Crown You, They Will Take Your Legs by netgirl_y2k.

This is 2k of Dany/Doreah, which I found because the author posted a commentary on it and author commentaries are like crack (Filling like meta! Tasty like fic!).

It's amazing for being very emotionally complicated in a very short fic, and for exactly hitting the notes of Dany complexity that I like and that I am on tenderhooks hoping the show does well enough. Doreah's enslavement just permeates the fic, and one of the best complex/interesting/infuriating things about Dany is that she does not understand slavery as well as she thinks she does; that she has co-opted that narrative as her own, and does not actually see slaves clearly as people or slavery clearly as an institution because she has made it All About Her. Which is interesting, and the books did it well.

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Fandom Secrets obsession is so shameful...

Sat, 03 Aug 2013 17:55:46 GMT

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So I took the bar.

Sat, 03 Aug 2013 02:04:56 GMT

I did it. It is done and I have done it. Dear God please let me not have to do that again.

I wouldn't wish the entire process on my worst enemy.

Studying for the bar not only makes you crazy, it also makes you really really boring to talk to or be around. I apologize.

Five thousand bar takers in New York City. Have never felt so much like a head of cattle in my life.

You'd think a convention center in Manhattan would be better at crowd control.

Five thousand people taking a six-hour long test with one very short, strictly enforced lunch break... is like an illustration of potty parity. I know a couple girls who spent their entire lunch breaks in line.

On much the same note, the cab stand basically looked like the Hunger Games.

On day two, when I finished the morning a bit early, I actually had a really good lunch. I walked up to the Empire State Building, and got cart hotdogs, and walked back down to the Hudson River Park and wandered around, and sat and ate watching the water. And then walked to the subway afterward and went past my favorite subway art. I know other people love their cities- really, I do, I know I'm not the only person in the world who loves her city- but sometimes it just blows me away that I'm lucky enough to live here.

Perhaps the oddest thing about the entire damn experience is how NICE people are to you. Everybody taking the bar is identified by a bright green wristband. You see anybody you recognize in a wristband? "Hey! Good luck! You're doing great!" Anybody recognizes you in a line? "Hey! Almost over, hang in there!" The proctor, walking down the row and getting us all to sign in? "You guys are doing so good, you're almost done!" The guy behind me in line at Subway? "Hey, you're taking the bar? My aunt took it a couple years ago. My aunt's kind of a moron, so if she can pass you definitely will. Good luck!" Random people on the street? "Hey, you're one of the bar people- chin up! You can do it!" A woman in a flight attendant uniform going to the airport shuttle stopped when we were in line to tell us her son was taking it in California right now, and then she went down the line pointing at each person individually yelling "You're going to pass! And you're doing to pass! And you're going to pass!" until the shuttle honked. Seriously, I had no idea this was such a cultural Thing. Probably never again in my life will so many random strangers be so nice to me on one day.

And yet, despite everybody being REALLY nice, and the fact that I had wine and cake waiting for me at home, I still don't want to do it again.

Nest up: major medical shit, giant fights about money, job I am in no way prepared for. This couple month stretch is shaping up extraordinarily unpleasant.

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Sun, 28 Jul 2013 19:51:01 GMT

That amazingly good article on historicity and The Borgias that is going around.

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Vid rec (because I needed one nice thing in my life today)

Tue, 25 Jun 2013 16:06:33 GMT

What I knew about Evidence 24 hours ago: There’s something called hearsay, and that’s no good.

24 hours later… I don’t even know that. (This is a lie; I’m also good on FRE 702 and Daubert. As long as every evidence question is about expert testimony, I’ll pass! What do you suppose my chances are?)

( Vid rec. Seriously, this vid is amazing. )

And so I watched it a bunch of times today, because it’s one of those examples of beauty and meaning and resonance from the most unexpected direction, and I am always so grateful when a fan-creator blindsides me that way.

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IM3 rec

Sun, 23 Jun 2013 21:47:14 GMT

I like that bit right in between fic and meta. Accordingly, let me rec Gary the Cameraman: A Profile by lettered, which is about Iron Man 3 and also about comic books and what media does right and does wrong and what to do with that.

The best part of being back in the fandom is that sense of incredible relief you get when other people say the smart things you were trying to think and couldn't quite manage. IM3 reaction posts today are like the biggest sigh of relief ever.

( results of my last post, for my own reference )

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So many cobwebs to clean out!

Sat, 22 Jun 2013 22:47:43 GMT

So. I went away due to law school, and I stayed away for too long. And then when I realized I needed to find an online community again, I found one that ended up being really psychologically not healthy for me. And so here I am, I guess, going… take me back? Please?

1. What can I be watching/obsessing about that has a good fandom right now?

2. Where is the action? Lots of things I liked are dead now and I’m just feeling a little bit… lost. Like, Sweet Charity is dead- where are the actions now? Are kinkmemes still a thing? I don’t even.

3. Is it possible to be all fannishly participatory on DW/LJ/AO3 alone, or am I now required to have a tumblr? Or is it something else entirely that I am too old and stupid now to know about?

4. Fandom specific
a. Oh my god did I have Strong Feelings about IM3. I'm weeks too late, but... it didn't leave much room for the Avengers fandom to breathe, did it?
b. My Little Ponies: This is a thing, right? I love the art on equestriadaily, but are there specific coms or people I should be following here for MLP?
c. Who are the big name people I should be reading for Game of Thrones, and/or where are the best recs?
d. Does anybody other than me care about The Borgias?

I feel so lost. It’s like when I first discovered fandom proper and have no idea how the hell to start, but now it’s sad because I used to. I will basically never have the time again that I did before but I am worse without a lot of those fannish habits so I need to figure out new ones I do have time for.

( Life )

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Oh, that crazy pony cartoon

Sun, 18 Mar 2012 15:45:56 GMT

So one of my main guilty pleasures in the last four or five months has been My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. I'm pretty much convinced it's one of the better things going right now. It's also basically everything a feminist could possibly want out of a kids cartoon.

But I just watched Dragon Quest, and I gotta say... I think they fucked up. Gender-based analysis of this episode plz? Where am I to find such a thing?

Ep under cut.

( Dragon Quest )

(I just realized that my current "feminism" icon is completely inapropos for "I think this may be perpetuating some really terrible stereotypes of masculinity," but I don't think I have one for that...)

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#youknowyoureaNewYorkerwhen

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 20:54:19 GMT

Apparently Jews wear costumes to celebrate Purim. I did not know this.

It's not so notable that there is a Jewish holiday that involves costumes. Nor is it notable that on such a holiday, the New York subways would be full of Jews in costumes.

What is notable is that yesterday afternoon I got on a subway car packed to the gills with Orthodox men wearing neon clown costumes with tzitzis hanging out and jester hats attached with little kippah clips, and my reaction was basically "look, another Thursday." Oh, New York.

Oh, hey, queer girls: Jennifer Morrison cares about us and wants us to be happy.

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On plus side, 2012 can't possibly be worse than last half of 2011.

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 18:33:25 GMT

Year round-up

( The year round-up is late this year, which I guess isn't surprising given that doing anything for the last several months has felt like swimming through molasses. )

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Yuletide squee!

Sun, 20 Nov 2011 18:05:51 GMT

( Dear YuleGoat )
Thank you again, lovely writer!

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The two best images on the internet this week

Fri, 07 Oct 2011 16:33:49 GMT

First, predictable insta-rec: Bohemian Rhapsody, by cesperanza, in which Sherlock takes a case for Lady ~~GaGa~~ DaDa.

Second, the following are the two best images on the entire internet of the past week: Number One and Number Two.

I'm not sure what that combination says about me.

Third, still unemployed and psychologically fucked up about it. Send ~~job offers~~ best wishes, please?

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Eyes Turned Skyward

Sun, 10 Jul 2011 21:08:07 GMT

I left fandom for a couple months (because of my AMAZING SUMMER JOB OMG) so of course I missed Space Girl by charmax until now. It is, of course, an amazing vid. It's basically the entire history of televised science fiction as seen through the lens of female characters, with all the kitch and tropes and awesomeness and awe that suggests. Amazing.

Speaking of which.

On Friday, this happened for the last time.

( in which I am sentimental, also tl;dr )

Everyone -- EVEYONE -- who feels even the smallest fraction of what I do about this needs to go watch To Touch the Face of God by destina, and good luck to the Atlantis crew for their safe return home.

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Apocalypse No

Sun, 22 May 2011 20:53:13 GMT

Because I would be remiss if I didn't pass it on, The Periodic Table of Storytelling. There should totally be some kind of random-element-generator prompt meme, Y/N?

Via cofax7, the Guardian is doing some kind of SF thing.

Calvin & Hobbes futurefic gets me right where I live. Have Hobbes and Bacon part one and two.

( Aliens, zombies, and plauges, oh my )

( And the life update )

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Required reading

Sat, 23 Apr 2011 19:57:03 GMT

If you read George RR Martin's Game of Thrones, or if you watched the first episode of the miniseries, or if you have even contemplated doing either one, hth's meta is absolutely non-optional required reading. It's long but articulate and amazing, and includes an explanation of the consistent ethical stance and worldview of the series, meta on the characters of Drogo, Daenerys, and Cersei, the society of Westeros vs. the Dothraki, issues of institutionalized rape and consent, and (obviously), That Scene.

It's really really good.

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Fannish miscellany to prove I'm still alive

Mon, 18 Apr 2011 02:11:08 GMT

( Linkspam appreciates George R R Martin )

( Borgias, which you should watch )

Question for fandom at large: You will soon be providing me massive amounts of kinky intense conflicted unbearably loyal fucked up Cesare/Michelotto porn, right? I can't be the only one wanting this.

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I love slash cons

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 23:47:15 GMT

So Muskrat Jamboree was awesome. I know it was days ago now, but I'm so busy I can hardly cope and haven't even done the post-con round of friending (hopefully tonight). But. It was great meeting you all! I shall try to look you up! I was surprised by how many people I recognized from BP last year, and even from Wincon before that. The slash-con-going world is pretty small, and people are so fantasically nice even to someone who is basically a lurker. I love it.

The vidshow was fantastic, especially the Harry Potter vid We're Marching On, which made the con collectively bawl like babies.

Gender issues in fic panel was also excellent. Recs should hopefully be here, including a couple trans fic recs from me.

AO3 has subscriptions now! Thank God. With fandom splintering off lj this last few years, I've been having a harder and harder time getting to know people and finding fic. Anyway, I haven't written in ages and my WIP list is basically a fond and wistful dream, but I am a lemming:

I'm at DragoJustine and fandoms you may possibly see someday if I ever write again (damn law school) are Inception, Adam Lambert, and SG1!

For the record, I shall be in DC this summer and have a place to sublet in NYC. Just... putting that out into the fanosphere.

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New York has ruined me

Fri, 25 Mar 2011 20:22:05 GMT

So I'm looking for someplace to live in DC over the summer, and it's tough. The problem, basically, is that a commute of longer than 45 minutes seems completely inhumane to me. Plus, it seems inconceivable to live someplace that doesn't have, with a roughly five-block radius, a subway stop, at least three different kinds of restaurants (at least one 24-hour delivery), two bars, a drugstore, and a basic grocery store (also 24 hours). And this is a bare minimum, you understand, much less than where I'm living now. Plus, I keep looking at possible addresses in google maps satellite view, and it turns out that seeing expanses of parking lots now makes me a little bit sick to my stomach.

I have reached the somewhat distressing conclusion: I can never, ever, move away from New York. In less than nine months, this city has ruined me. I mean, this is DC I'm trying to move to, it's not like I'm going back to Texas or something. But still. Parking lots everywhere. That's just... terrible.

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