Like many of you, I am most seriously displeased with the way the world is at the moment.

( All the ways things are horrible...Collapse )

On the lighter side, let me complain, yet again, about how( I fail at Tumblr...Collapse )

Um, I don't think I mentioned over here that I posted the first couple of chapters of a WIP at seasonal_spuffy, back in May. If you missed it, and don't mind a bit of silliness, here you go:

Title: What Happens in Canada
Rating: Mature — for language, themes, and science
Summary: For the good of her sister Slayers, Buffy participates in a study (in Canada). She's a giver.

Since then, I've been to some films at the Frameline (LGBTQ) Film Festival. It was super fun, as always. Dear Old Dad was visiting, and we saw the touring company performance of Cabaret (thanks, feliciacraft!), went to the new SFMOMA, and did a bunch of other art-related things. Including this really amazing stealth photography museum, called Pier 24, which has a huge, amazing, super-curated exhibition. There is virtually no signage and it only allows a handful of people in at any given time. You have to make reservations online and then go through an airlock (only slightly exaggerating) to see the marvelous photos. If you are into photography and coming to or already in SF, I highly recommend it! After all that, I went to see Alan Cumming Sings Sappy Songs at the Castro Theater, which is his live show. I like him.

I am kicking around the possibility of going to the UK in September, partially to attend writerconuk! It's all very sudden, which makes me think I'll probably not pull it off, but the temptation is fierce.

Before that, I'm going to San Diego Comic-Con for the first time in years, ostensibly to flog the new Fantagraphics collection/reprint of Wimmen's Comix. If you will be in San Diego, come to my panel:

The Complete Wimmen's Comix: A Her-story
Groundbreaking women cartoonists discuss the pioneering history of this comic series that covered still-taboo topics like abortion, menstruation, masturbation, castration, lesbians, witches, murderesses, and feminists. Moderator: Trina Robbins.
Sunday July 24, 2016 12:00pm - 1:00pm , Room 29AB

Doesn't that sound like fun?

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So many good things!

1.herself_nyc is writing Buffy fic again! She is continuing her Bittersweets opus in the scary story Mr. Grieves and the Vengeance Girl. Give it a look and let her know what you think! (Hint to reader: catch up with previously posted parts of this story here (LJ) or here (AO3), and when Spike reveals his identity to servant girl Kate switch to the new post here.

2. The Headline Awards have been announced! There are several old favorites among the winners in the Giles categories, but also, even better, some I haven't read before! I know what I'll be doing this weekend!

3. The Buffy Rewatch atfantas_magoria is loads of fun! Check it out!

( TV, Movies, and Comics...Collapse )

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I was touched to see the outpouring of appreciation for IDW artist Franco Urru upon his death a few weeks back. Unfortunately, I was in the emergency room with MiAmor at the time, so didn't really get to comment.( Hoo boy, was that ever NOT fun...Collapse )

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If you're not interested in parsing the comics, I don't blame you a bit, and this is probably not going to be your thing.

People who do read the comics seem fairly happy with one point in this issue: Spike came clean about his feelings for Buffy. To her face, even! Possibly.

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And yeah, this is gonna be a short entry.

( The positives...Collapse )

( The neutral...Collapse )

( The (mostly local) politics...Collapse )

This entry was originally posted at http://rebcake.dreamwidth.org/21500.html. Please comment here or there using OpenID.

I have eleven DreamWidth codes for people who'd like to join up, which is looking better by the hour, is it not? Just drop me a comment here or there, and I'll set you up.

I am up to my neck in RL and seasonal_spuffy  prep, so my commenting is way down. Please forgive me. I will catch up. Probably.

I still made time for WonderCon last weekend, which is in my fair city (San Francisco) and which has become McDiva's annual birthday bash, although its date drifts farther away from her actual birthday every year. ( Here are some highlights:Collapse )

So, Season 8 is all wrapped up. I have mixed thoughts on the last issue (#40).

Before I get into that though, I thought I'd paraphrase tonight's amusing dinnertime conversation with MiAmor and McDiva!

( What happened in the war, daddy?...Collapse )
( Okay, there was some good stuff in this issue...Collapse )
This entry was originally posted at http://rebcake.dreamwidth.org/14157.html. Please comment here or there using OpenID.

First, happy belated birthday to mere_ubu , the rootinest, tootinest fandom dropout in the whole USA! I cannot say how much I miss your little amuses bouches, doll!fics, and tales of domestic misadventure. I've taken on the task of cleaning out the Augean Stables my office, with you as my inspiration. No brassieres have turned up yet, but I live in hope...

( Next, I have the most slight of all S8 #36 comic wanks. It concerns the bugs...Collapse )

More news: I've put a couple of stories up on some comms in the last few weeks, but forgot to mention it here. Until now!

Title: Urban Myth
Author: Rebcake
Rating: PG
Word Count: 282
Characters: Spike/Buffy, Willow

Buffy ponders an anti-smoking slogan, post-Something Blue.

Title: Gray Into Gold
Author: Rebcake
Rating: PG13
Word Count: 1150
Characters: Giles, Wood, and the Angel Team
A/N: A sequel to the story of Robin Wood’s early professional life, The Front Lines. 

Robin Wood had never liked the New Council of Slayers’ willingness to ally itself with Not-Actively-Doing-Evil demons.

Last, MiAmor and McDiva are chomping at the bit to get DVDs of Doctor Who Season 5. We aren't much fussed about region. Is it available yet in Blighty?

D.E.B.S. was on IFC today, and MiAmor and I were as riveted as ever. When I first saw the movie  in 2004, I hadn't yet hopped on the BtVS train, but now I see how incredibly influenced it was by Buffy, and how much it, in turn, influenced Dr. Horrible. (That line about Australia? All D.E.B.S.!) There are some things D.E.B.S. does better than Buffy, such as the lack of race!fail, and some things it doesn't do as well, such as emotional depth. But many, many of the themes are the same, and they happen to be themes that interest me. A lot.

D.E.B.S. is about an all-girl school for super spies, in which — SPOILER! — the star pupil, Amy, falls for a completely inappropriate, but charming, super villain named Lucy Diamond. Lucy drives a gigantic old car with tail fins (baby blue instead of black) and eventually decides to reform for love. Sound familiar? Amy's friends and colleagues do care about her, and she them, but they do not like it at all when she doesn't meet their idea of what she should be, and end up making her rather miserable. However, it's a comedy, a satire, and great good fun.

Before I get into the serious part of the discussion, let me just say that this movie is an unsung, candy-colored gem and I highly recommend it. It's rated PG-13, but isn't even as risqué as BtVS and contains only cartoonish, property-damage-type violence. Unless there is some objection to letting your kids know that girls can like like each other, it's not controversial. I think my daughter saw it when she was 8 or 9, and while the romance didn't especially appeal to her, the "girls as super spies" angle did. It mos def meets the Bechdel Test. It's not perfect, but it's perfectly entertaining. Rebcake says check it out.

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Hey howdy hey! It's been awhile, pardners, but I have a couple of fics for you! Then I have a favor to ask! Aren't you glad you stopped by?

First, here's a tiny drabble about Xander's first experience being "Up With People"!

Title: Just In Time Delivery
Author: Rebcake
Rating: PG13
Word Count: 100
Character: Xander
Summary: Xander discovers a new core compentency.

Then, there's a ficlet about Número Cinco:

Title: Two Faces Have I
Author: Rebcake
Rating: PG
Word Count: 800
Characters: Los Hermanos Números with their myriad allies and enemies.

This ficlet turned into a crossover with Love & Rockets, though familiarity with that comic is not in any way necessary. However, if you want to read a comic that has amazing female characters of all shapes, colors, and sizes and that does not talk down to you, you might want to give it a try. Start with some of the older trades.

The reason I bring that up is I've been stewing about another comic lately, and sometimes it helps to remember the good stuff.

So, about that favor...

In response to Scott Allie's press release (if that's what they're calling them these days), I've written my first letter to the editor in almost 10 years, and I was wondering if y'all would be willing to look it over and make sure I didn't make any stupid mistakes. 'Kay? Thanks! Feedback appreciated!

( Season 8, blah, blah, blah, anti-feminist blah, Angel is a dork blah, and etc...Collapse )

+++

That's that. In other news, McDiva wanted me to tell you that she beat me in a music-related BtVS trivia matter. She thought "Virgin State of Mind" was used in Season 3, I guessed Season 7. I should know better than to go up against her savant-like powers of musical recall. Live and learn.

First of all, y'all know it's the season premiere of Glee tonight, right? Fox. 9 PM or so. Check your local listings. You're going to want to record it. Trust me on this.

I went to see Julie & Julia (or is it the other way around?) this weekend, and voila: another check in the over-40 romance column. I'm telling you guys, it's like a fad or something. I'm not complaining. Stanley Tucci has really got something. Uh huh. It's like, I dunno, intelligence? Anyway, it's swell and all, but looking at all that Bavarian Cream made me feel a bit inadequate, culinarily speaking. I mean, I can knock out a mean bundt (ask anyone) and my Xmas cookies are verging on legendary (to those in the know), but I'm just never going to be Julia Child. Also, although I keep asking him not to, MiAmor occasionally buys boxes of Ding Dongs, and I am completely powerless to resist them. Uniform little hockey pucks of chocolate cake, with a very thin layer of something that might pass for chocolate ganache frosting, and a dollop of creme inside, wrapped in a shiny square of foil, like those Sucrets lozenges used to have. They are un-nature's perfect food. I don't think Julia would've looked twice at one. There's a little café down the street, Tartine, whose cooks know all the secrets of butter and pastry, and I have been struck dumb with wonder after a bite of something there. But still: Ding Dongs.


( Season 8 comic spoilers under the cut:Collapse )


Work has been plentiful lately. I'd like to think that means something, but it's hard to tell. All I know is that this Universal Healthcare dealio is going to mean a lot to my (healthy, self-employed) family. I'm on pins and needles wondering if Mr. President, Sir is going to pull it out tonight. C'mon, baby! Make me believe it! (And everybody else, too.)

Besos to all on this lovely Wednesday night!