Marlen-Anke

1. Art Recs

Breathless Anticipation by acatnamedeaster (Charlie/Padfoot, NSFW)

on the nose by nami86 (Bill/Fleur)

Awesomeness for both, though for completely different reasons.

2. Random Thoughts on Characters I Dislike in Fandom

Quick TMI-Time on marlenanke about Harry Potter and the characters therein.

I love to bits almost all of the characters. Even when I think they are complete imbeciles and they should perhaps think things through more, rarely do I actively dislike them. There are, of course, exceptions. These pertain to the way the characters are constructed. I'll just jump straight to the characters that actively piss me off in and of themselves. These are: Nymphadora Tonks (her existence is pointless!), Luna Lovegood (self-insert to the n-degree!), and Ginny Weasley (unrealistic in all aspects after Book 4 and just generally does not make sense as a human being/person/character/thing).

What is interesting to note is that I love Luna in fandom. The fanon interpretation of her is lovely most of the times. She is one of my favourites for femmeslash couplings because I think she just works perfectly. Tonks is still pointless in all her interpretations. I have yet to read a story that makes her appealing to me. Sad, that. Ginny stops being an annoying imbecile when she's deconstructed or severely scrutinised and analysed in fic. If her behaviour is treated candidly, I can get her (somehow). Same as with Luna, she's more tolerable in femmeslash because, well, that's just what works for me. (Also, Ron/Ginny is a personal favourite, but not everyone is cool with incest in their fic, so, yeah, I get how I shouldn't get my hopes up about this particular pairing gaining any sort of prominence.)

Now, I am of the belief that you can get me to like anything in fic as long as the writing is convincing. However, the reasons I do not read Harry/Ginny relate to how I disliked it in canon anyway, I completely hate dislike half of the pairing on principle, and, well, het (not as interesting for me as femmeslash or slash). This being said, the recs I have today might surprise you.

Note: I hate that I can't give equal treatment to Ginny, which prompts me to go off and actively try to read or even write her. I don't want to discriminate against her in any way. Actually, I find that I can like her well enough when she's a minor or secondary character, but that's it.

...

I'm working on it, I am.

Hey, I didn't even mention Lily in this one. I'm trying to forget she exists right now, along with James.

3. Fic Rec

9.8ms-2 by delicfcd (Harry/Ginny, G, 833 words)
Summary: Ginny can't stop falling.

Notes: So. Much. Love. For. This. Story. I have no words. It just combines in a completely lyrical and astonishing way two of my favourite things in fandom: experimental fic and character analysis/deconstruction. The pairing is almost an afterthought to the idea. I cannot praise this story too greatly or too extensively. The length is perfect as is, though I'd love to read an extended piece in the same vein because I do think there is much to say once the floodgates are open on the topic. (As a side-note: this was written in 2005. How did I not know about this? Gah! So good.)

Comments? Complaints? Corrections? Feedback is appreciated!

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20000867-503544.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/22/your-money/health-insurance/22consumer.html?hp

IDEK. I somehow feel I should be commenting in some way on this simply because this is an issue, it is of current (well, as current as it can get, considering) interest, and my roommate is half American and has US citizenship and basically grew up there. Hence, I feel that I should be responding in some way.

US politics have never failed to amaze me, and mostly in a negative sort of way. I try to have my response to what goes on over the Atlantic in a coherent, thoughtful manner, but, more often than not, I end up with meh. That's just how it is. It's not a country I care for, but they've maintained a certain hegemony over international politics until now and they have yet to hand it over. Therefore, I have to care (I guess).

That being said, I somehow think this issue needs to be resolved now. I feel like we're all ready to move on to the next thing. Really, we are. There's going to be more debate, apparently, right after Obama signs the bill, which is going to take place on Tuesday. The Republicans aren't happy and want to go froth with modifications and amendments and all that. They've hinted at this already, or more than hinted. Then again, the Senate moves... not quickly, let's say, so there's more stuttering on that side.

Overall, why is this still going on? Obviously it's taking way too long, but it is an important topic and it needed to be done. Honestly, how can I take American politics seriously when things like this take a year to be resolved because of various interests that all parties have in the matter? There's no Good Guy here that I can see. I'm jaded towards all the parts in the debate because I feel that the society they live in is inherently too self-righteous to see that it's taking itself too seriously and is putting some interests ahead of others when maybe it shouldn't.

Again, I have to wonder if this is the end of it. Apparently, it's nearing completion, but, then again, we are talking about the Senate here. I have to frown and shake my head, and maybe hope for the best. I don't see the provisions that will be enacted as solving as much as many other people would want them to. I think that again has to do with interests, self-affected douchebags who cannot get over themselves thinking they can decide what is best for the majority without considering alternatives and long-term effects. I feel like the struggle between different parties is more important than the actual outcome, and, actually, if you think about, that might just be the case.

I might be alone (or maybe not) in this, but I still don't get why there is such reticence to take the welfare system and apply it to the US, European style. I can see the cultural and interest impediments, but that's like listening to children grumble about how they would rather eat ice cream than have their veggies. It's childish and not based on actual reasoning from what I can see. Also, I don't find that it would constitute a bigger risk than what is already going on because, as far as the provisions that have been put forward are concerned, it's still not a solution for everyone. Basically, many people are still screwed and it's not their fault.

I always thought of the real issue in all of this, throughout all of the debate, was related a lot to those who are uninsured and unable to be insured. Has the new propositions solved this? I think not. Maybe I need to read it over one more time and maybe get someone who gets it more than me to translate it in terms of what it means to the average citizen, but I doubt that's the real issue here. IDEK.

It might just be my European-ness, but I think there's going to be a big blow-up with this proposition and course of events as well. It's inevitable at this point. I don't want to be negative—I really don't—but how can I not be?

Uh. Yeah. I need a breather now.

Comments? Complaints? Corrections? Feedback is appreciated!

So.

America's Next Top Model.

Yes, I have watched every single cycle released. DON'T JUDGE ME!

Right. Moving on.

Hmm. I might have ANTM episode summary updates critique thingy as a regular feature. Maybe. We'll see. I'm not good with promises. (By the way, I'm writing this kind of from memory. Yeah.)

Anyway.

( Dreckitude! [Spoilers] )

Uh. They need to make it more interesting with the photo shoots methinks. I mean, they're still interesting, but I feel that there's such a formula to them all. They need to get all alternative about it. Do something new and completely unexpected, but still connected with modeling. Maybe new locations and new designers and new photographers. I don't know.

Overall, I can't wait for the regularly-timed episodes. The specials are killing me.

Next week there's something with dancing and stuff. Yeah, OK. Whatevs.

Comments? Complaints? Corrections? Feedback is appreciated!

wizard_love has posted a masterlist for the 2010 edition of the fest here. Personally, unless I am specifically rec'ed any stories within a fest, I try to wait until posting is finished to begin hardcore reading. This has to do more with my own time constraints than anything else. It's not an approach I recommend since commenting during the fest is an integral part of the experience, but it's just how I like to do it. This applied to the Harry Potter fandom almost exclusively due to the plethora of fests occurring concomitantly. I simply cannot devote hours per day to reading through everything and prefer to take my time when I possess said time.

Anyway. On to some recs. These are basically the ones I loved best, although all entries were high-quality works (which was a very pleasant surprise).

Art Recs

Tonight...We Have No Names by Anon tbranch (Tom Riddle/Minerva, NSFW)

Notes: I love the first panel. It's delicious and naughty and yum. The second is, of course, also lovely, but in a smutty sort of way (which is equally great).

Cendrillion by Anon serpenscript (Snape/Hermione, NSFW)

Notes: This validates my (possibly insane) theory that certain concepts work well only in one type of media. If this were a story, it would be so damn clichéd. But as art it works wonderfully (and makes me want to read me some hot Snape/Hermione).

Find Your Way by Moonlight by Anon moxicrimefightr (Luna/Draco)

Notes: Sweet and fluffy, but not too sugary. Just right as far as I'm concerned.

Death Eaters by Anon ericahpfa (Hermione/Draco, NSFW)

Notes: Hermione's face. Her curves. The juxtaposition of dark robes and creamy skin. Gah!

Always by Anon pinkelephant42 (Luna/Draco, NSFW)

Notes: So much work was probably put into this. Bloody brilliant work, actually. I can't even imagine. And it looks fantastic.

Revenge by Anon thilia (Ginny/Scorpius, past Harry/Ginny, NSFW)

Notes: I am a Ginny/Scorpius, but this one is all about Ginny. Her eyes are simply amazingly scorching.

Underneath the Stars by Anon karasu_hime (Hermione/Harry, NSFW)

Notes: Everything about this is hot and perfect. Hermione especially looks phenomenal.

I'll keep any thoughts I have on who the artists are to myself. I can't wait for reveals, though!

Comments? Complaints? Corrections? Feedback is appreciated!

My friends C. talked me into watching the Oscars this year with her. Because of the time zone difference, they will begin airing at around 2 a.m. A fun night awaits, especially since I have a course and quiz at 9:45 a.m. the same day (and about three hours after the show will be over), for which I have yet to do the reading.

Expect a run-through plus commentary of the Awards after the event itself transpires.

*sigh*

Comments? Complaints? Corrections? Feedback is appreciated!