“Camel” by Mother of the Child. Commissioned work from her needle felted series.
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As usual, more at the Flickr set.
“Camel” by S. Lake. Art © 2010 S. Lake, photography © Joseph E. Lake, Jr. All rights reserved, reproduced with permission.
Posted: 6:27 pm Sun February 28 2010 | Comments(3) |
© 2010
This work by F. Mendlesohn and Shelly Rae Clift is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.
Posted: 6:18 pm Sun February 28 2010 | Comments(5) |
My side effects have been degrading my quality of life today in some pretty significant ways. The mouth issues are now up to a continuous, low-grade burning sensation. I’ve developed a whopping headache. The “tennis ball” effect is back at the chest surgery site, while the chemo port is aching as well. It’s a bunch of cumulative irritation and stress, all of which I can do nothing about.
And that’s the frustrating part. I’ve learned how to manage the GI symptoms, though I don’t always succeed. I know how to handle the fatigue. This stuff, though, I mostly must endure. If the mouth issues continue tomorrow, I’ll call into the oncology clinic.
Mostly, I hate this mouth stuff because it seems to get in the way of everything else.
In other news, I got in about three hours of writing today, revising Endurance, revising some short fiction, and doing some actual story marketing and send-outs for the first time since the surgery last November. Go, me! Chemo can batter me, but it cannot beat me. Or deep fry me. Or something.
Posted: 6:08 pm Sun February 28 2010 | Comments(0) |
A good but difficult day yesterday, if that makes sense. Dear friends in town,
Meanwhile, side effects are kicking up in a new and strikingly unpleasant ways.
In other news, my nasal passages have been scabbing over continuously these past few days.
I am not enjoying today very much, even though I am surrounded by people who love me.
Stoopid chemo.
Posted: 11:52 am Sun February 28 2010 | Comments(0) |
Your Sunday moment of zen.
This work by Joseph E. Lake, Jr. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.
Posted: 11:41 am Sun February 28 2010 | Comments(0) |
How Not To Apologize — Cheryl Morgan on bad behavior. (Not the fun kind, I’m afraid.)
Fallen Princesses — Disney, the morning after… (Thanks to
Light runners — Language, headlines and the social logic of recordings.
Obvious quacks: the tip of a scary medical iceberg
Right wing slams White House for meeting with atheist ‘hate groups’ — So let me get this straight. If you oppose Christianist bigotry, and support secular freedoms over the narrow, restrictive views of any particular religious sect, you’re a ‘hate group’? Got it, right. Check. This must be why I’m not a conservative. Such logic escapes me.
?otD: Is the sun really the same in a relative way?
Posted: 11:38 am Sun February 28 2010 | Comments(0) |
Your Saturday moment of zen.
Yakima Canyon. © 2006, 2010 Joseph E. Lake, Jr.
This work by Joseph E. Lake, Jr. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.
Posted: 8:37 am Sat February 27 2010 | Comments(0) |
Teaching kids to read from the back of a burro — The biblioburro. Admirable work. (Snurched from
MTA Rip Off — An excellently cranky letter about a ticket. Apropos of that, the somewhat amusing story of my long-ago parking ticket, with extensive ramifications and legal idiocy. I won, but it definitely was not worth the cost.
Brewster Rockit on the threshold for outrage — 386, anyone?
Liberalism, atheism, male sexual exclusivity linked to IQ — This makes me laugh. I don’t believe it, but it does make me laugh. PZ Myers explains why the study is bs.
Afflicting the Afflicted — Paul Krugman on the Healthcare Reform summit, and the Republican ideas. While some people would gain insurance, the people losing insurance would be those who need it most. Under the Republican plan, the American health care system would become even more brutal than it is now. And yet ordinary people still vote for them.
The End of the Tea Party — Right-wing populist fads catch our attention — but they burn out quickly. Money shot: “the idea that there is a “conservatism” that is measured, responsible, decent, and worthy of the word is a bit of a myth.” In a word, yes. Hell, in their own words, yes. And no, I really don’t think the Tea Party is going away any time soon. Not til the economy and unemployment get sorted out. I just wish their outrage were based on actual factual information instead of the drumbeat of conservative rhetoric. It would be nice for a start if the Tea Party recognized that the ballooning deficits, the bank bailouts and the foreign wars originated with Bush — a noted Republican and decidedly not a Socialist — and not Obama.
Can We Have Our Electricity Back, Please? — Anti-Chinese pogroms in 19th century Tacoma. I’m particularly struck by The New York Times report on the end, about the utter lack of agency to be found among Tacoma white after the fact.
It’s George Wallace’s GOP Now — Like Wallace and his supporters 40 years ago, today’s conservative populists are long on anger and short on coherence. Money shot: “The history of the modern Republican Party in one sentence: Barry Goldwater and Nelson Rockefeller got into an argument and George Wallace won.” A lot of interesting stuff in this one.
Hand Me Down World — Specific examples of the sociopathic lack of empathy in conservative America. Are you proud of your Republican Party?
Rep. Trent Franks: Blacks Better Off Under Slavery — Speaking of sociopathic lack of empathy, guess what party he belongs to? The stupid, it burns. Ta-Nehisi Coates nails it, saying: “This is what happens when your knowledge is capped, and your ignorance is boundless.” Which is not a bad description of the current conservative movement as a whole, especially the Tea Party and the Palinite wing.
Two posts about denialism, climate change and otherwise — Bad Astronmy with links to discussion of denialism. I was struck by this observation. …when faced with overwhelming evidence, Simpson’s lawyers attacked the court process instead of the actual case. That’s exactly how the GOP has opposed HCR, by attacking the process rather than the merits of the question.
?otD: Who is the master of fox hounds?
Posted: 8:34 am Sat February 27 2010 | Comments(2) |
This evening while resting in my usual end-of-day state of chemo exhaustion, I rewatched Luc Besson’s The Fifth Element, which I have not seen since the original theatrical release.
Going to Twittersnark The Fifth Element shortly … stay tuned #5thelement
Opening credits appear to be outtakes from Lost Highway
Story by Luc Besson, from when he was 15. Wish I could make my high school crap into a big budget movie.
The inside of this tomb is much larger than the outside. Much like my colon.
“Yes, I’ve got your snakes.” Who wrote this dialog?
@stagemypage RT @jay_lake: The inside of this tomb is much larger than the outside. Much like my colon. #5thelement #fb….*PMSL* HahahHAhah!!!!!! 
xx
Coptic Priests are apparently male Bene Gesserits.
The camel does not like the Grappa. Trust Eris, I say.
Hey, this movie also features espressomachinepunk!
Aliens with glowing blue penises. Hmmm.
“Father, this is the most unbelievable thing I have ever seen!” “Ah, ah…are you German?”
Why do the aliens in a French movie (currently) set in pre-WWI Egypt speak English to one another?
Firing Lugers at aliens, always a poor idea.
I like the spaceship, which was apparently designed and built by mud daubbers.
Hmm, something bad just happened. Their response? “Send out a probe.” Kind of like dating, really.
Apparently 300 years in the future ear bud technology has been lost. Boom headsets are all the rage.
“Evil begets evil, Mr. President. Shooting will only make it stronger.”
“Get out of there. I don’t want an incident.” You figured this out after you shot the hell out of it with nukes?
Hey, it’s Bruce Willis as Harry Canyon! Or possibly Harry Canyon as Bruce Willis…
Wow this cat is psychotic.
The mugging scene, however, is hilarious.
“Very nice hat”
@MurphyJacobs RT @jay_lake: “Very nice hat” #5thelement #fb — always wondered if he adlibbed that line
“So what you’re telling me Father is there’s nothing that can stop this.” “There is only one thing.” Highlander!!!
@davidinindy Love it when I catch @jay_lake live tweeting a movie. Tonight it’s #5thelement.
“If evil stands there…” “Then what?” In that light he’s going to look like a real mudpuppy. Maybe we can offer a makeover?
“Normal human beings have 40 DNA memo groups.” WTF? That’s not rubber science, that’s play-doh science.
“We put it through the cellular hygeine detector.” Woo! Safe sex!
They’re making a man now. Just like Dr. Frank N. Furter.
Did he really just say “bombarded by slightly greasy solar atoms?”
:I’d uh, I’d like to take a few pictures. For the archives.” For the archives of spank!
She looks like Raggedy Ann after a tour in the flesh pits.
“Activate the phonic detector.” Come on, you guys aren’t even trying.
Important safety tip, don’t taunt the resurrected superalien just because she’s cute and you’re a dick.
A girl’s first view of New York City. From forty stories up…
I want to fly like Superman…
So much for Bruce’s cab. He always wanted that sunroof…
“…jella boom.” “Boom, yeah, I understand boom.” The international language of love.
Now she teaches herself to read by sheer force of will?
Do you guys really want her inside that police cruiser with you?
It’s the world’s biggest McDonald’s sign!
“I only speak two languages: English and Bad English.” Hahahaha.
Wow, McDonald’s shipping containers. I’d forgotten that.
I love the police cars. Like blue, armored sperm with guns.
“I brought the girl, remember. The redhead?” Yeah, as opposed to all those other girls in this scene.
@LynnFlewelling With blond hair and a tan? @jay_lake They’re making a man now. Just like Dr. Frank N. Furter.
“Here, take it. Go ahead. You can call me when you learn how to speak English.”
“That whole thing’s your name, huh? You have an, uh, shorter name?”
I’ve got a brand new firearm, you’ve got a brand-new key! Everybody sing!
“Are you sure she’s the Supreme Being?” “Could you ask her if I could have the gun back, please?”
@adelheid_p @jay_lake You are making my evening work drudgery much more enjoyable. That’s one of my favorite movies!
She just microwaved an entire turkey…
Gary Oldman in this movie really needs help accessorizing.
“They really make her…” “…perfect, I know.” Remember, no pictures for the archives!
@stagemypage RT @jay_lake: Gary Oldman in this movie really needs help accessorizing. #5thelement #fb……Hahhha U r sooo makin me die tonite!
This arms trade show is quite something, especially given Oldman’s delivery.
Apparently the aliens delivered the case from Pulp Fiction. “Empty. The opposite of full.”
“We are warriors, not merchants.” “You can still count!” “A little compensation is in order.”
:: boom :: “Bring me the priest.” Yeah, that was my first thought too, after my first multiple murder.
“I’m glad you’ve got your memory back. You’re going to need it.” What were we taking about?
Man, look at Zorn’s collection of classic Roombas. “What a lovely ballet ensues, so full of form and color.”
@haroldgross Rewatching #5thelement via @jay_lake tweet. A storm of snark, but I still rate the film as one of my favs… some of best sf satire around!
Zorn just deployed a life preserver on his desk. This isn’t even surreal. Just fricking weird.
“Your entire empire of destruction comes crashing down. All because of one little cherry.” Yeah, had dates like that, too.
“It’s gobbling up all the communications satellites in the galaxy.” WTF? Need to discuss interstellar vs intragalactic again
Corbin Dallas is now eating dinner on the Bladerunner set, at the noodle stand.
@bikermike I’m thinking a Larse Von Trier remake. RT @jay_lake “We put it through the cellular hygeine detector.” Woo! Safe sex!
“No, I don’t want to make you beg, I just want an explanation.” Been there, done that.
I thought General Monroe took a Leeloo fist in the spleen earlier on.
My god, it’s Princess Leia behind him, except Leia by way of Krispy Kreme quality control.
Major Iceborg will accompany you as your wife. “I’m not going.”
Corbin Dallas now stuffs four special forces types into his fridge. This is Leave It To Beaver, death match edition.
“Is this the way priests usually take vacations?” “We’re not on vacation, we’re on a mission.”
“This is not an exercise. Can you please spread your legs?” Oh, man, these guys are killing me.
“Sir. Are you classified as human?” “Negative, I am a meat popsicle.” Been there, done that, too.
Actual Bladerunner music now. And a tiny apartment chock full of weirdoes.
Her hair matches his shirt. Must be true love.
“Multipass.” Multipass! Multipass!
Leeloo Dallas Multipass “Multipass” “She knows it’s a multipass!”
“This is the key to the temple. Prepare for our arrival. I must face my destiny.” If I had a dime for every time I heard that
“Aliens ahead. Spread out.” Mmm, I love good tactics.
“I prefer to remain anonymous.” “Corbin Dallas!” My god, it’s the gender-ambiguous Soul Train!
“From what I’m looking at, intimate is the stud muffin’s middle name.” This movie is much better than I remember.
:Tomorrow from five to seven, will you please act like you have more than a two-word vocabulary?” Uh, no.
“Hi.” “You speak English now?” “I learned.” “Good.” Romance, mystery, language acquisition…
“You’re going to have to assume your individual position.” “I don’t want one position, I want all positions!” Hahahahaha.
I love the stoner rasta ground crew with the flameflowers. I don’t remember this either.
“I never felt this way before…with a human.” “Really?” Expand your horizons, baby.
Meanwhile back on Planet Evil, we still haven’t heard of orbital dynamics.
“Why is it sending out radio waves?” “Maybe it wants to make a call.” :: ring :: ring :: Hahahahah.
Phloston Paradise is a mighty, mighty ship. Better hope there’s no icebergs.
It’s Don Ho’s floating casino from hell.
“I was in labor for days. This is how you repay me? I should have just gotten a robot.”
Who did these costumes? Zombie Coco Chanel?
Hahah. The waiter walks into a room of heavily armed aliens and says, “Showtime.” Now if he’d only said “HBO”.
The Diva is very…blue. Perhaps Corbin could cheer her up.
She does appear to have a blue penis on top of her head. I’d be depressed, too, if that was me.
Aliens are now fingering the diva’s underwear. I hate it when people get short.
Leeloo is now going all Raggedy Ann ninja on the aliens. Like Priss without Roy Batty.
Oh, wait, we do have guns!
Wow, she even does Priss’ thrill-to-kick attack. Where’s the egg boiler?
@jay_lake I’d like to see Audrey Tautou portray Zombie Coco Chanel.
@Pixelfish I think (for serious) this is Moebius concept art, though.
Gary Oldman ventilates the ventilation shaft.
Somehow watching the Opera House massacre scene makes me want to sing “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down”
“If you want something done right, do it yourself.” Advice for the ages. Smarter if you’d checked the luggage first, though.
“What do I do?” “If he moves, squeeze the trigger.” “I don’t feel right, Corbin.” You don’t feel right to me, either.
Man, that Diva has some stones. [I kill myself.]
“The gun!” :: Ray rolls him the billiard balls :: “Thanks, Ray.”
That’s one hell of a bomb, Corbin.
Meanwhile, disappointed Gary Oldman is disappointed. Very disappointed.
RT @GVDub: @jay_lake Probably Chris Tucker’s greatest performance ever. I realize that’s not saying much, but there it is.
“I.. I.. I’ve never negotiated.” “Mind if I try?” :: bang! :: “Anybody else want to negotiate?”
This movie is a blend of sublimely inspired and deeply stupid.
“What is this thing with all these numbers?” “It’s a, it’s a…” “If it was a bomb, the alarms would go off” :: woop woop ::
@jay_lake I’ve seen #5thelement ten times. Easily. It’s like the Plain Lays of fun movies.
“You know how to fly this thing?” “Just like driving a cab.”
“It’s not only advancing, it’s moving at incredible speed. We’re having trouble following it.” Used to have a car like that.
This universe apparently has interstellar communications with no lightspeed lag.
Ok, where did the kid come from? Was he just hanging out in Egypt?
“You’ve never seen this work before, have you?” “No.” “Every weapon has a manual, I’m sure this has one, too.”
@jay_lake “If you want something done right….do it yourself”
How do we open the stones? “Maybe it’s a charade. A game or something?” Yeah, that’s a good idea…
“Corbin my man, I got no fire. Father, you smoke?” One match left… You need a Zippo, man.
Leeloo freaking out at Corbin reminds me of Sgt. Pinback and the Bomb.
Wow. That was the worst case of acid reflux I’ve ever seen.
Knocked a flaming ball of rock out of orbit.
“They were so tired from their ordeal we put them in the reactor this morning.” Hahahahahahah.
Meanwhile, inside the reactor, Harry Cannon and god’s female laser are getting it on.
That’s all folks, thanks for listening. Don’t forget to (re)watch The Fifth Element soon for yourself. #5thelement
At some point, I need to retrieve my prior Tweetsnark about Lord of the Rings.
Posted: 7:56 pm Fri February 26 2010 | Comments(1) |
Couple of mildly discouraging things today. (No, I’m not depressed about any of this, just mildly discouraged.) While at lunch with
After Day Jobbery, I went to Albertson’s by myself. I don’t much do this any more. My friends and family do my shopping for the most part, and when I do go by the store, it’s with someone. I needed a few things, and figured midafternoon would easy. I went over there with a four item list. It took me forty-five minutes to get through the store. The large, complex space was confusing to me, and even the fairly light number of shoppers felt like far too many for my comfort. I came home with four bags of stuff, half of which I’m now looking at in mild wonderment, while getting through the self-service checkout was a nightmare for me. (I would have stood in the full service line, but that was 20 minutes of waiting behind several gigantically full baskets at each open register.) The self-service cashier took pity on me and helped me get sorted out after the register kept trying to scan and weigh my man-purse despite my best efforts to the contrary.
You know, I used to be able to go to the grocery store, shop for ten minutes, and come home without mishap. This underscores to me that my “zone” has become very narrow. By myself I can handle the post office, the pharmacy, the gas station, Blockbuster, and a very limited selection of restaurants, mostly where I already know the staff. Almost everything else I do, I do with
This doesn’t actually surprise me. It’s no different from not doing my own laundry and dishes any more, really. It just…disappoints.
I shall console myself with Tweetsnarking The Fifth Element here shortly. And laying low at home for the rest of the day, doing nothing important whatsoever.
Posted: 3:19 pm Fri February 26 2010 | Comments(0) |