The First Temple

Doing that thing

Fri, 10 Dec 2010 03:00:44 GMT

Announcement!

I don't use this journal very much anymore, especially not for significant fandom-related activities. It's mainly become a twitter-feed dump and the occasional photo-post or Real Life update space.

All of my fandom stuff and writing -- which yes, is predominantly Transformers slash now-a-days -- has moved over to justbolts.

So this is what's happening: I'm trimming down my friends list here to close friends and people I want to keep track of/keep updated. I'll continue posting photo-shoots and important Real Life stuff (under friends lock), but that'll be it.

If you're here to follow my fan writing and might be interested in Transformers, go friend justbolts.

If you're here for me, stick around, or feel free to friend to both. If you really like hearing what I'm personally up to and notice that I've unfriended you, drop me a line and we'll talk about it.

Alternatively, just follow my Twitter, which is where most of my content ends anyway.

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[Photoshoot] Persona 4 Cosplay - In drag!

Wed, 03 Nov 2010 06:41:41 GMT

I'm a fail at posting a proper Con report, but since I got the pictures I took edited in a reasonable amount of time, I shall post those instead.

motorbike, moonsheen, and dotiscute are women dressed as men dressed as women and they do not like your face.

( Image heavy, under the cut. )

Thank you for viewing!

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[Photoshoot] Black Widow

Mon, 01 Nov 2010 07:30:25 GMT

This weekend, I was away at Yaoi Con, trying to make the monies off in a mildew-scented tent half a hotel away from the convention itself.

But never mind that! I had the oppertunity to get some pictures of lovely maiea in her Black Widow outfit. Many thanks to her for letting me take her picture! Please to be checking out:

( View the rest under here )

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Disney Sequels part 1 - "The Lion King 2: Simba's Pride"

Sun, 12 Sep 2010 00:17:14 GMT

There's this thing with Disney and sequels to their animated masterpieces.

And that things is that they suck. Actually, this is an issue with all sequels, everywhere, because it's tough to take the same characters from the same situations and with the same hang ups, and figure out how to tell an entirely new story with them. While still also trying to hook the audience and full-fill any expectations they have from the first movie.

As such, I've been avoiding Disney's animated sequels like the plague. However, thefacelessevil has been on a huge Disney kick recently and RPing with people playing characters from the sequels, and I decided the time had come to give them a chance.

And since YouTube means I can do that for free, who am I to complain?

My first movie: "The Lion King 2"

( Review, ranting, rambling commentary, and SPOILERS. )

Final Conclusion:
An enjoyable movie that stands well on its own. Which, as a sequel, makes it somewhere near amazing. The stories of the new characters were ultimately unsatisfying to me, but Simba himself got a good resolution and it was great to see how he'd gotten on over the years. As a father/daughter story, it was charming, and as a romance, it was cute. Worth the watch if you're not expecting it to be as tightly told as the first movie.

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007 - $2.50

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 04:34:18 GMT

Tuesday is Farmers Market day in Todo Santos Square and all the local farmers turn up with their bins and crates and some of the local restaurants set up stalls. Today I decided to stretch my legs and walked over during my lunch break to buy food. It was the perfect day for it.

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006 - Cafe Mocha

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 07:17:25 GMT

Cafe Mocha is a neat little sandwich shop wedged into the corner between a salon school and an Asian fusion cafe. They serve panini style gourmet sandwiches for about the same price as the Togos down the street and the owner is an absolute character. It's become one of my favorite places to get lunch (when I forget/am too lazy to pack my own, a'course).

Also breaking my own rules here, with three photos, but I missed a few days and it feels wrong to have restaurant pictures without the food.

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005 - Concert Day

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 07:04:41 GMT

Switchfoot opening for Goo Goo Dolls in the Sleep Train Pavilion in Concord, CA. Really fun concert, great energy and music and the weather held nice too. A great time had by all!

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004 - Charity Cakes

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 07:49:09 GMT

Running late today because I was making these -- vegan cupcakes for thefacelessevil's company's charity Bake Sale! This reciepe was called "Cookies & Cream" and was made with Oreos. Very tasty, I'm sad I won't get to put them all in my mouth.

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003 - Here Again

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 04:25:59 GMT

This is a terrible picture. I look like I'm trying to wrench around my own spine. But I was determined to get at least one of me in the hospital, in the wake of another test. The ultrasound equipment says "hi".

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Now with anime!

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 03:49:40 GMT

Taken from -- and granted questions by -- lacunarity:

Reply and I'll give you four fandoms. You then have to make an entry writing about your favorite character from each fandom, and why.

( Fandoms and answers down under here )

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002 - Service Entrance

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 06:24:16 GMT

The back service area for the local Chinese Buffet and Indian Restaurant bears close resemblance to the once-swanky entrance of a 70's era night club. A little further down was the paper-sheathed display windows of a out-of-business clothing store and another title and stone framed doorway, this time in blue. The whole section had the feel of having once been far more interesting and lively than it's current state would suggest.

( Look under the cut to see the two images side-by-side on a larger scale. )

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001 - Poof

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 05:09:54 GMT

001 - Poof

Diamond dove up for sale at locale Petsmart. He was the only bird not flitting all over the place like a mad thing.

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Color me not shocked

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 00:58:14 GMT

Paramount gave Asian American groups in LA an advanced screening to "The Last Airbender". One of the attendees wrote up a list of the changes between the film and the cartoon series. You can read it in detail here.

The writer of the article makes an effort to be as neutral as possible and just note the differences. I'm under no such compulsion.

( My opinions and analysis and potentially also bitter amusement )

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if only they had a pill for entitlement

Mon, 14 Jun 2010 20:05:53 GMT

A couple days ago, a_white_rain linked to this Feministing post addressing people who don't live in the US. This post is simply this:

"USians" is an insulting term. Consistently referring to a group of people in an intentionally derogatory manner is ridiculous. Were you unaware that "USian" is a pejorative? Now you know. So stop.

The comments go back and forth in being either for or against. My short nasty response? Fucking cry about it.

My longer response I want to comment with to the post itself, but Feministing is taking it's time sending me my confirmation email.

So it goes here instead.

( As much as I don't want to discredit or disrespect anyone... )

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how does this species survive in the wild?

Sat, 15 May 2010 01:56:40 GMT

When I was researching this species of snake, everyone said they weren't climbers. Clearly, this was a gross falsehood.

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TRANSFORMU!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sat, 03 Apr 2010 23:04:47 GMT

I got my bad back tooth worked on and now have temporary crown in place. Blegh. On the upside, it was probably one of the more pleasant experiences I've had at the dentist. Except for the whole hands-in-my-mouth, cheek-being-yanked-around part.

In other news, they've dubbed "Transformers: Animated" to be aired in Japan.

Japan, being Japan, went ahead and made a new, longer opening for it. Which I don't blame them, because TF:A, awesome as it is, has probably one of the ugliest openings out there. But you know that when Japan gets ahold of a series and makes an opening, magic happens.

For those of you who have never seen TF:A, let me tell you. IT IS NOTHING LIKE THIS. Half those characters have like, two scenes. One of them doesn't really show up until the latter half of the third season. That looming black cloak thing with the red eyes? I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THAT IS.

Also, Optimus never once glows with the firey spirit of determination and flies off into Megatron's giant chest. It just doesn't happen.

For comparison, this is what the original opening looks like:

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convergent topics

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 23:17:12 GMT

Stuff White People Do: perpetuate the idea that "gay" or "lesbian" means "white"

The problem is that only white people can compare any oppression to racial oppression; blacks, for example, can't say that their oppression is like racial oppression, because they already are racially oppressed.

In addition, the myth that LGBT people are homogeneously white and wealthy yields a number of other myths. One is that some people of color have called homosexuality “a white thing,” dismissing the idea that LGBT people are in their communities.

A Fragile Union, by Kai White

Once the marching and the chanting is done, the multihued cry against a universally felt oppression usually breaks down into deeply segregated, often opposing parts. Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community organizers have for years debated whether that reality matters to their political goals, whether the community’s divisions are meaningful enough to cripple efforts to create equality on everything from marriage rights to schoolyard safety.

Last year’s ugly fight over marriage in California ought to finally settle the question.

From the campaign’s first days to its lingering post-election recriminations, an inability to deal with race undermined California’s struggle for same-sex marriage every step of the way. Throughout the campaign, activists of color, both inside and outside of the LGBT community, complained that its leaders failed to take people of color seriously and that they’d be punished on election day for doing so. Since the campaign’s end, polls suggesting those activists were correct have ignited outrage among white gays and lesbians directed at people of color, Blacks in particular.

[...]

Then, in December 2008, a survey of California voters discovered that, while a majority of nonwhite voters supported Prop. 8, the primary factors were education and income. College-educated, upper-income voters of all races voted against the initiative; lower-income voters with no college degree of all races voted for it. And a January analysis by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force definitively settled the question. Researchers scoured precinct-level voting data in the five most heavily Black counties. They found that party affiliation and church attendance far trumped race as indicators of support for Prop. 8—indeed, after factoring in church attendance, the task force’s researchers found “no significant difference” between Blacks and other groups in their support for the initiative.

Among the "-isms" and "-phobias", one doesn't stop existing when another gets picked up. And none can be solved unless all addressed.

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no, your m--- wait.

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 07:33:23 GMT

Damnit Facebook, why can't I "like" this 500 times?

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On sale at your local Yaoi con!

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 02:00:44 GMT

Way to go, us!

( Bigger picture and inside preview of Summer/Winter under here )

This was printed on rush from 48 Hour Books, who did a fucking amazing job and has earned our business from now onto forever.

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[TF: Movieverse] Foresight

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 22:48:14 GMT

Someone just put me out of my misery. oh god.

Title: Foresight
Fandom: Transformers, live-action movie
Pairings: NADA, none, zilch.
Warnings: Giant robots.
Notes: Set between the '07 movie and "Revenge of the Fallen".

( Starscream = Worst. Mother. Ever. )

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Because I have not meme'd in a while

Thu, 27 Aug 2009 17:15:48 GMT

Why not?

This is when you get to ask me anything. I mean anything, this time -- fandom things, real life things, things you think you should know, things you think I should have told you a long time ago. Anonymous posting is permitted but screened. This post is unlocked, so anything that is too personal will not be answered.

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gosh I miss "Goof Troop"

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 17:58:36 GMT

"So you're the tart who led my Petey astray, hmm?" Peg said, bracing her hands firmly on her amble hips.

Maleficent looked down at the petite, feline woman glaring up at her and smiled ever so slightly.

"You seem to misunderstand the nature of mine and your husband's arrangement, madam," Maleficent said with affected pleasantry, "He is the one who sought me out to prove himself, not the other way around."

Peg continued to eye her doubtfully before letting out a gusty sigh.

"Pete did become downright unmanageable after that mid-life crisis," she said, "Had to re-live his glory days by trying to take over the world. Well, I've got news for him that fun time is over." She patted the side of her head, smoothing her up-swept orange hair and favored Maleficent with a smile as sharp edged as her nails. "In other words, sweetcakes, I'll be taking back my husband now if you don't mind."

( you know this is only funny if you're like me and spent the 90s glued to Disney cartoon shows and even then it's questionable )

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[Kingdom Hearts Fic] Holding Up the River (5)

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 04:41:38 GMT

Title: Holding Up the River
Part: 5
Pairings: Riku/Sora/Kairi, eventually and in theory. Background implications of Roxas/Namine and past Roxas/Axel. Sora and Kairi acting like bestest girlfriends forever because they are.
Warning: Boys Love, het, threesome.
Summary: On the shores of Destiny Islands, Sora ends his quest and finally comes home. But even as he struggles with being a normal kid again and certain budding feelings for his friends, Sora may find another journey has already begun.
Notes: Begins directly after the end of Kingdom Hearts II, sans the epilogue at the end of the credits.

Part One ♥ Part Two ♥ Part Three ♥ Part Four

( In which dreams are confusing and feelings are a hassle. )

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Your lack of a penis offends me.

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 22:12:34 GMT

This was sparked by a discussion thefacelessevil got into regarding Kanan of Saiyuki, but it's something I've had a thorn up my ass about for ages.

Lets talk about Kanan. (bear with me if I'm covering old ground for people familiar with the series) Before the main story of Saiyuki begins, Kanan was captured by youkai and impregnated by them. Her lover/twin brother, Hakkai, fought his way to her rescue, at the risk of his humanity, just in time for her, shattered by her experience, to commit suicide in front of him.

In yaoi/BL fanfics of the series, there's the frequent theme of Hakkai holding back from being with Gojyo, his friend and roommate, because of Kanan, usually in the form of not wanting to betray her. So she gets bashed for both leaving a big wound on Hakkai's emotional state and for being an in absentia love rival. A dual stance which makes me want to spit acid for it's lack of compassion and utterly unrepentant sexism.

Lets talk about why.

( For the sake of warning, there is a blunt discussion of rape and it's after effects in here. Also a lot of caps and screaming. Just saying )

Now that's out of the way, lets address the issue of Kanan as a love rival.

Mini Side Rant:
I should note first that one of the things in fandom that disgusts me the most is the preference for Boys Love/yaoi being used as an excuse to dislike female characters. Especially because I'm a raging yaoi fan and especially when it has to with fanon pairings that wouldn't exist even if the female character suddenly vanished off the face of the series. "I like Naruto/Sasuke, so it changes how I feel about Sakura." HOW DOES THIS EVEN WORK? Look seriously, you're sexist. It has nothing to do with your pairing preference, you're just sexist. Get that looked into, thanks.

( Now getting back to Saiyuki stuff. )

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don't underestimate the importance of a body language

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 17:23:56 GMT

Last night I organized and refreshed my icon collection, because apparently I have nothing better to do with myself. Even so, I'm still only using half of my allotted space.

It's odd to think that I'm now living in a world without Michael Jackson in it. He had a hard, troubled life and I only hope he'd found some peace, maybe even happiness, before his unexpected death. Thanks for the music, MJ.

Dan Choi's military trial is on Tues. Help him fight "Don't Ask Don't Tell" by signing a letter of support. Reading anything this man writes about honesty and integrity brings me to tears each time. Go, support him, and get him back serving the country where he belongs.

DON'T DIE LITTLE EGG:

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