charts, facts, figures

Okay, so I'm frequently behind the curve on fannish things, especially with summer camp (and everyone laughs when I tell them how tiring it is, but not only is it being on all day, it's being on in a bizzare way because they are kids and that kind of energetic interaction is always taxing to the brain in a different way) and the resulting fallout. But I come bearing gifts!

First:

* Second City Torchwood

I know I recced this once a bit ago, but I needed to link it again because it will be helpful for rec number 2. Basically, it's the idea of Torchwood instead being set in Chicago instead of Wales, and David Tennant (aka Dr. Who 10) being cast as Jack Harkness instead of John Barrowman (who is instead the Doctor). With me so far? So it's the plot and the the story arc and some meta and meta of meta and it makes my little English major heart just jump with joy (which sounds painful, but still ;o) ). Awesome. Then, go read:

* Edgar van Scyoc Presents: Doctor Who

In this universe, Torchwood came first, so Doctor Who gets to ride the fannish coatails. Because we're US now, not British tv, one of his traveling companions is a very familiar military colonel. And we're back to the meta-meta quality of fanfic excerpts and byplay of Edgar (and Sam's favorite literary genius, Ellis Graveworthy) and it's just fascinating and fun and awesome as a fictional romp, all television ties aside.

***

On a different tangent, here is a fic that apparently is widely read in Supernatural fandom, or rather the Jared/Jensen sector (which gets shortened to J2, which is kind of cute), but I'd never heard of it until setissma linked it.

* Nosce te Ipsum

As an alternate view of Jared and Jensen is fantastic (welcome to my self-outing as a Jared/Jensen RPF fan *hangs head*) but honestly? The world-building here is so absorbing and captivating and addicting that is is self-contained fiction. I haven't read "alternate history" stories in years (though I still remember picking up a book where General Lee won the Civil War with automatic weapons... wow, that was strange), but if you've ever wondered what happens to civilization if the Roman Empire never really declined and you want a cool, entertaining plot to go with it (with the added benefit of the great mental image of Jared Padalecki being pretty hot) go forth and enjoy heartily. I know I did.

--

Fanfic is a very interesting beast, as a concept. What is it in us that drives a writer (I count myself in here too, but generalized it for a better sweeping statement) to choose to play in another's sandbox, as it were? Is it the 'ready-made' audience ready to receive and kiss and hug and call George shower accolades upon you? And, of course, coming up with the story after or before or in between the pieces of canon, or taking what you know and twisting it around (*points above*)

There's something in fanfic that is internet dependent, to be sure, tangled up with the idea of "publishing" a story about Rodney and John's reconciliation after an angsty near-death experience (people should write me one of these, please) thanks to one click of UPDATE is easier than offering up an original fic (or novel-length text) not made "legitimate" by "official" publication.** Did the people who wrote the Star Trek novels (or the Buffy tie-ins, or hell, the movie novelizations) have this problem too? I dunno...

Wow, this started out as a rec list because I had to tell you about these, and turned into a rant on the nature of writing in the internet age. Huh. Any opinions welcome, of course. Politeness is rewarded with cookies XD


**Note: I am not trying to say that blogs and online 'zines and the like are not legitimate publication, because they are. Electronic copyright, let me show you it. Just trying to sort through the stigma that is attached to "oh, you write fanfic" and how it is deemed less... authentic? professional? worthy? than original stories.

Edited to add the part about the fact that the "sandbox" of another's invention is often REALLY REALLY fun to play in, 'cause I sort of forgot to mention it :o)

Because it is so apt and true (even though I am at least one episode behind), go read The Rules of Torchwood Three. You just KNOW they have this posted someplace. Maybe next to Ianto's the coffee pot.

A significant goal of Torchwood Three is a decrease in the number of undead per fiscal year.

*giggles madly*

BBC America is showing the first episode of season two Torchwood, and so am flipping between Jack Harkness (mmm) as he rejoins his team (capedcruaser92, if there isn't at least a second of his date next week, I will be highly disappointed) and season eight of America's Next Top Model. Younger Sister is in the city again for the night with her boyfriend and is leaving me on Monday morning to go to Hawaii with my parents. Not that I'm bitter or anything XD

But I survived my second week of art teaching (with 50% less oil pastels all over) and I didn't drown in all the rain. Of course, now it's raining again. The highlight of my weekend was getting an email that I officially (finally!) have my California teaching credential, which is excellent. So I'm planning on working on some applications, because it's almost teacher contract time.

I got to have coffee with several of my new friends (assistant teachers at Labyrinth) on Thursday, which was awesome fun. Hopefully I'll get a chance to sub on Monday (though I need to work that out with taking Sister to the airport, hmm) or Tuesday, because I miss going there.

Also, for great amusement, while I was subbing (mostly babysitting the middle schoolers) on Tuesday, I had a great time making album art for my fake band (from this meme). Way too much fun, I tell you. There might have to be bandom fic, or at least lyrics of some kind.

Finally, saw Sweeney Todd last night. It was entertaining, though not as good as I was hoping. It felt like it rushed too much of the musicality of it, and focused too much on the physical effects of the throat-cutting (so much a Tim Burton film, unsurprisingly). But still, I loved the little boy that played Toby. And where was the Ballad of Sweeney Todd, I ask you? Bit bummer on that front.

So it's been a productive couple of days, and a delightfully lazy Saturday.

Two funny things from the past:

Intros from 80s cartoons.

And then? Intros of many 90s cartoons.

There was a cartoon in the 90s called "Sherlocks Holmes in the 22nd Century". How did I miss that???


Today was a slow paced day because Younger Sister was in bed sleeping off a stuffy nose (she just got over a cold and doesn't want it for Thanksgiving). We're either driving down tomorrow or the next day to the grandparents near San Luis, which will be the first time I've been to the "big" family holiday thing since I was... six? One of the sucky things about living on the other coast from a lot of your extended family. BUT, it's awesome to have extended family. Or any family at all. So it's definitely a thing to be thankful about.

I was thinking about this, and while there are definitely people I'm thankful about, and stuff (i.e., having a job, even though it's not full time, because the people are all awesome), there is stuff in fandom that makes me happy too. So first, the serious, and then the fantastic.

I'm so grateful that I have still have friends from grade school and high school that I keep in touch with, friends who are like family (rhymester, capedcrusader92, kumquat_queen, looking at you). And the highly awesome group of people from college, from my big-sister-in-English-majorness friede, my pals winkingstar, trifes and sadcypress to the newly-Mawrtered setissma XD

THEN, right at the divide between real life and the virtual joy of fandom are the people I've gotten to know through their stories and art, such as aesc (I was reminiscing about your Without a Trace fic the other day), sheafrotherdon, beadattitude and the_oscar_cat.

But I'm also thankful for the fact that Rodney always will use his hands when he explains, no matter the weird looks that John gives him. That whenever Sam's in trouble, Dean's got his back. That Captain Jack Harkness will flirt with everyone, and sometimes, everybody lives. I'm thankful the fanfic I've read recently, that makes me laugh, grin uncontrollably, or get all sniffly by turn. I'm incredibly thankful for the highly talented people who have recorded podfics (I have several gigs worth on my iPod), because there's something about hearing our boys just be themselves that puts a stupid grin on my face. I'm finally thankful that, for most of my fandoms, there are green ships and red ships, but no ships like partnerships.


Off to switch my laundry, but tell me: what are YOU thankful for, in life and in fandom?

Some of my movies came early! I can attend the tale of Sweeney Todd! Or at least a DVD recording in which Patti Lapone and Doogie Houser Neil Patrick Harris sing! *so excited!*

Sending me to the library is almost as dangerous as sending me to a bookstore, though at least it has less fiscal changes. I have, at present: a Spenser mystery (yay), both The Chocolate War and Beyond the Chocolate War because those were kids books I missed out on, Mr. Sebastian and the Negro Magician because it sounded fascinating, an "illustrated novel" ala Nick Bantock by Barbara Hodgson, some mathy/sciencey fiction book that reminded me of parts of the Entangled Particles SGA AU (both shamefaced and amused by that one, but hey! it had math on the cover! maybe Rodney wrote it!) and then I couldn't take any more because I wanted to be able to walk home.

I was listening to the_oscar_cat's Nantucket AU podfics on the way there and back, and it made me sad that I had to stop in the middle of Doghouse, when John is being such an idiot. Oh well.

On the reality front, Labyrinth gave the job to somebody else with actual experience, which isn't too much of a shocker. I got to sub all last week and will at Forest this Thursday and Friday, so it's a work in progress.

Got to watch the most recent episode of Stargate: Atlantis and thought Teyla rocked. Was sad to see so little of John and Rodney. Keller is making me happier, though at the time she annoyed me. Sorry?

This weekend's episode of Torchwood made me fall in love with Owen a little bit, and seriously, does Jack have to hit on everybody? (Answer: Yes.) I really think I'd like this show more if I enjoyed Gwen; I really just find her annoying. Sigh.

Think I might take a shower to wash some of the "eh" feeling away, the residual of the cold that will not die. Though, as I say this, now my L key is. Dammit.

You've probably seen them advertised on tv, but the Bertolli dinners in a bag are actually really good. I had "chicken parmigiana with penne" and yum. It needs a little more stirring than it says (which now reminds me of the Top Chef episode where they had to make new flavors and only CJ and Tre actually froze things separately) but still, tasty.

I also had a great time with my cousin who came to hang out while we talked about her college essays (awww) and then gossiped about nothing in particular. It was fun. Also had the added benefit of me being forced to clean the house, so I continually am impressed with how clean my room is.

I slept in abominably late today, per my Saturday usual, and never got a chance to see last night's Stargate: Atlantis, so I'll eventually have to track that down. Thursday's Supernatural will be on the CW website, because they're awesome like that. And it's Saturday, which means I can watch Torchwood, the evercontinuing saga of Captain Jack and his love triangles. XD

Also, my cat slept with me last night AND this morning. I am loved. Or at least warm.