Randomosity. Yes, I know it's not a word

[dangermousie]

I live in an apartment building. Every year we have this gorgeous, huge, uber-decorated Christmas Tree in the lobby. Every year except this one. They had one last year that they took down early because someone complained about it opressing them blah blah dread onset of religion blah blah. Now I won't even go into the whole "private building so can have icons of Baby Jesus if it wants" but hello? How is existence of Christmas Trees threatening your survival? Other people like them. I am not Christian and I've never celebrated Christmas in my life and I like looking at them. They are bright and sparkly and fun. The fact that other people believe it celebrates a Messiah has certainly never interfered with me. It's the freaking lobby. Of a private apartment building. Where other people like the thing. Seriously, people need to let go of their "poor opressed victim me" mentality. Grrrrr. The world is NOT out to get you. Though I can't guarantee the forbearance if you keep on being so annoying.

In completely unconnected thoughts, do you have a book in your collection that is sort of like chicken soup? It's not a good book but you just like it for whatever reason. Mine is Beverley Harper's "The Forgotten Sea." I don't think anyone not Australian on my flist is likely to have heard of it. I had a long layover in Sidney one time and bought a bunch of books to kill the time. I ended up loving this one though it would never win Book of the Year award (and I tried other books by this author and they aren't bad but they didn't grab me). It's a romantic thriller/mystery and it's good trashy delightful fun. The plot? Holly Jones, a recently divorced Australian journalist goes to Mauritius to do a story on Connor Maguire, a rather reclusive multi-millionaire and some kind of a pirate treasure hunt he is conducting. Of course, nothing is as it appears and throw in Chinese Mafia, drug drade, arms running, mercenaries, and some good sweet revenge and we got a fun twisty plot. Also, while Holly tries to pin Connor on one explanation of his behavior, he always has a plausible, every time different excuse that isn't quite right. Heee. It's totally, totally fun and for some reason I keep seeing Holly as an older Veronica Mars, though Connor is not at all Loganish. And there is sexiness and he is all manly and vulnerable and he rescues her in a storm. Good stuff.

In other, also unrelated thoughts, was thinking about Smallville. Why on earth won't they make (on this show or any other) subtext into text. There are obviously plenty of slash-hungry audience around and if they were giving that kind of build-up and either Clark or Lex was female, there would be no doubt they were intended to be an OTP. Bizarre.

Comments

[life-on-queen.livejournal.com]

Why on earth won't they make (on this show or any other) subtext into text. There are obviously plenty of slash-hungry audience around and if they were giving that kind of build-up and either Clark or Lex was female, there would be no doubt they were intended to be an OTP. Bizarre.

Because Time/Warner would put a hit out on them and sue the globby remains for every cent they had?

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Heeee. What a visual. Not I am imagining the remains looking like that creature in the Fractures ep of S3 Farscape. Boolite. Heeee.

Re TimeWarner: I am sorry, but a man who wears skin tight tights and shows off his underpants to the world is not really an icon of machismo :P

[life-on-queen.livejournal.com]

*snicker*

OTOH, did you hear about the fuss over the size of Superman's uh, 'bulge' in the new movie? Macho or not, apparently Brandon Routh is a very male man.

[crumpeteer.livejournal.com]

The ironic thing is that Christmas trees are actually a pagan tradition that got turned into a Christmas tradition.

This is a very funny and truthful post about the whole "Christmas" vs "Holidays" thing. There's some language and general political incorrectness, but it's worth a read.
http://www.livejournal.com/users/dazz/411452.html

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Ooooh, off to read.

In USSR we had Xmas trees but they were for New Year's and you put the red communist star on top.

[crumpeteer.livejournal.com]

I personally don't understand what all the fuss is about. A holiday is a holiday. I'm not going to ask someone to take down their menorah because it offends my beliefs or get all bent out of shape if they wish me a Happy Kwanza. People just need to get over themselves.

And dazz makes a valid point that it's generally those not secure in their religion that are the most anal about it all.

[elvensapphire.livejournal.com]

That was the same thought I had, actually. It was just adapted for Christmas, so being offended is really idiotic regardless.

[elvensapphire.livejournal.com]

Finally, don't even THINK about wishing anyone a Happy New Year - it's offensive to dead people. LOL

[danceswithwords.livejournal.com]

I think it's easy, when immerses in fandom--a place where there's a lot of interest in slash, and a lot of thoughtfulness about television in general--to lose sight of the fact that many television shows are made on the lowest common denominator principle. Smallville's target audience is average teenagers, hence the emphasis on Lana Lang, one of the most annoying characters to ever grace the small screen, someone whose presence and role in many episodes is virtually inexplicable unless you understand that she has a huge fanbase of 13-year-old girls who buy a lot of merchandise. I've only been a casual viewer, mostly when it was on before Angel, but my impression is that the Clark/Lex chemistry was a total accident, and I've never seen much indication that the showrunners understand that it's one of the more compelling things about the show.

[thelana.livejournal.com]

I do think that they wanted to do something epic with Clark/Lex, but I do think that they always wanted Clark/Lana to be at least as big a story, running in parallel. I don't think that they ever intentionally made Clark/Lex homoerotic (as opposed to lets say House/Wilson which is much more obviously intentional).

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

is average teenagers, hence the emphasis on Lana Lang, one of the most annoying characters to ever grace the small screen, someone whose presence and role in many episodes is virtually inexplicable unless you understand that she has a huge fanbase of 13-year-old girls who buy a lot of merchandise

Lana is really a blight. Dreadfully dull, and very Mary Suish but I guess that's what 13 year olds like. I have no idea, it's been a while since I was 13. Of course, they also like(d) Britney Spears so what can I say :D

I have no idea why anyone likes her except for the looks.

The thing is, I am not a slasher, nor am I anti-slash. I just like stories that are interesting and characters that have chemistry. And unfortunately for the Smallville folks, the Lex-Clark stuff is way more interesting than anything else on the admittedly mediocre show.

[winterspel.livejournal.com]

Why on earth won't they make (on this show or any other) subtext into text.

Because they're skeeeeeered. Seriously though, I thought that Xena: Warrior Princess did have tons of subtext that had been acknowledged by someone from the production staff once (probably only after the show was over, though). Does someone remember better?

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

they're skeeeeeered

But that's what makes me go hmmmmm. Now, a show with a gay non comic character is never going to be a break-out hit in the Red States, but Queer As Folk (admittedly on showtime) did quite well, and Brokeback Mountain is getting all this acclaim and awards. There is an audince for that stuff out there so I wonder why no one takes advantage of this (I am not talking Smallville here, I am just curious about TVland in general).

[elvensapphire.livejournal.com]

I like the word randomosity. *adopts it*

The world is NOT out to get you. Though I can't guarantee the forbearance if you keep on being so annoying. :D I agree. It's silly to completely suck the joy out of something, not to mention immature. I've grown up celebrating both Christmas and Chanukah because my background is mixed, and I've always loved the decorations - for a purely shallow, aesthetic reason. They're pretty and sparkly and add a nice feeling to everything at this time of year. Insisting on taking them down is terribly immature.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Insisting on taking them down is terribly immature.

Exactly. You don't like them, don't have them in your own house. But why ruin other people's fun? What next, going to stores and telling them they can't play Xmas music? I find all those songs annoying, but I am not the only being in the world and I am sure plenty of people enjoy it and it's none of my business to ruin their fun.

I can see getting all upset about separation of Church and State, but none of the stuff involved is remotely state-sponsored. Grrr.

[ayn-rand-fan-13.livejournal.com]

I love Christmas trees and the whole spirit of the holiday, and am not Christian. I did find it odd, though, that my school is entirely decorated for Christmas while 70 percent of the student body is Jewish.

I don't watch Smallville, but isn't the whole Superman story that Clark Kent is into Lana Lang? It's been a while since Saturday morning cartoons, but that's how I remember it.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Nope, he's into Lois Lane, who is another girl. Which is why the Lana Lang thing is a bit odd.

[ange-louise.livejournal.com]

I've heard of Beverley Harper, but haven't read any. My chicken soup books are Laurell K. Hamiltons' Anita Blake series, even though they're crap past book 6.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I've heard of Anita Blake. It's the one with vampires and werewolves, right?

[jesus-freak1234.livejournal.com]

You know, I don't believe in Santa Claus, but that doesn't mean I'm going to sue if you sing a Christmas song. Some people need something better to whine about, like Dark Angel being cancelled. :P

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Exactly. I am being opressed because I never got to see a non-fantasy Max/Logan sex scene. Dammit, they are denying me my rights! *g*

[lazypadawan.livejournal.com]

Couldn't agree more re Christmas trees.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Oooooh...icon! Love it. He can be my Santa any time!

[femmenerd.livejournal.com]

Why on earth won't they make (on this show or any other) subtext into text.

Ah, homophobia - got to love it.[/extreme sarcasm]

For some reason, on TV today GLBT characters have to either be on shows where everyone is gay or else their entire purpose on the show becomes embodying gayness (i.e. they don't get to do much else besides "be gay").

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

The one exception I can think of is Buffy's Willow, but that bugs me on a different level because She. Is. Not. Gay. She. Is. Bisexual. Grrrr.