Weather, life, woes

[lady_karelia]

It's past one in the morning and the current temperature is 84 degrees. Yeah. Heat wave. I finally set the a/c to 65, having sworn to never ever set it this low, but 70 just doesn't do it. It's still about 75 inside. Not as bad as without a/c, granted, but I'm craving cold. I want to shiver, I want to feel cold, so I can feel like putting a sweatshirt on. Or something. One month and it'll cool down. I'll survive. I hope. We've been having a "severe weather alert" for the past few days, advising the public not to leave their air conditioned homes, so I guess that qualifies as a heat wave in the Southern States, but I don't read/watch news enough to know whether it does or not. Who cares. It's fucking hot is all I know! And looking at Germland where, last year, we were melting away in a heatwave, makes me downright jealous. The high over there is way lower than the low over here. I'm not saying I wanna be there right now, honestly, I'm not. But, you know... It would be nice if the weather gods got it right for me once in a while. *grumble*

In other news, my brother and I went to see HP and the Order of the Phoenix again last night. It was as enjoyable as it was the first round! And we decided we want to see Stardust next cuz the trailer looks just brilliant, and I like Neil Gaiman anyways. I reckon blue_paris might join us for that one. And then there'll be The Golden Compass - I need to read the book.

On reading, I've been reading non-fic lately. After DH, I felt no need to read fiction, really, so I've been sticking to the likes of The Montauk Project and similar. Rather interesting.

In fandom, aside from LJ doing major fuck-ups, some people are ignorant, others are particularly ignorant, and some are, well, ignorant. If fandom continues to go this way I can see it die a death very soon. Sad, this is. Do you really think anyone is going to continue writing with two reviews for each hundred hits? I know I won't. I'll keep writing, but not for fandom. The same goes for podcasts. If 495 downloads get us 3 feedbacks, do you seriously expect us to invest 60 hours a month to bring a podcast to you? You must be kidding.

And to those of you who continue with LJ because you like what they are doing - you scare me. Today it's the potentially under-age depiction of some art, which allegedly has no artistic merit while the pro-anorexia crowd are still going strong. Tomorrow it might be those who refuse to believe every word the newspapers print. The day after it might be those who don't follow the Christian path. And by the time they come for you, there'll be nobody there to defend you except yourself. Good luck with that. I'm paid up here until the end of the year, but I know I won't review the pay option. Supporting some institution who imposes beliefs on anyone goes completely against my beliefs, and this is exactly what lifejournal has been doing lately. I'm disgusted with it.

Aside from that, I've spent fairly little time online. Not read much lately either. Lapita's Southern Magic is still one of my current favourites. You can find it on The Petulant Poetess. And, oh, we started a round-robin on TPP. The first chapter is posted, Soul Bound is writing the second chapter, and I'll be doing a chapter somewhere, sometime. Christy and Amsev are in it too. It looks good so far.

Comments

[veradee.livejournal.com]

I don't think I've ever received more than two reviews out of 100 hits. Apart from that, I've never written for fandom, but for myself.

I don't intend to stay at LJ because I like what they are doing, but because the TOS of LJ and GJ are identical. The same can happen at GJ any time as well.

[lady-karelia.livejournal.com]

I don't write for fandom either. But since people read what I write, I kind of appreciate if they let me know what they think, yanno?

Oh, I'm absolutely with you about LJ and GJ. Yes, I've parked my name there because it seemed a good idea at the time so I can keep in touch with LJ (or former LJ) friends. I'm looking around, hoping for some form of blog to emerge that is run by people who value freedom of speech. *shrug*

[duniazade.livejournal.com]

May I participate to the round-robin? If yes, can you give me the link? Thanks.

For the rest, what can I say, except that you're right? I've just discovered the pro-anorexia thing, and I'm horrified.

[lady-karelia.livejournal.com]

I would love to say yes, but this particular round robin is run by the admins of the Petulant Poetess. But if you're interested in starting one, I'd be happy to play!

This whole political thing freaks me. The power freak me even more. I refuse to deny liking erotica just because some nitwits think it's a good idea to forbid it. It has absolutely nothing to do with chan or pedophilia. If they were serious in tracking down the culprits, they know exactly where to look for them. Oh, it drives me up the wall! *grumbles* That is one thing that's so much easier in Europe. They don't have the stick of morale up their arses when it comes to be open about sexual issues...

[natasnape.livejournal.com]

(Just wrote a long post and deleted the whole thing...)

In a way you are right. We, in Europe, don't voice out our freedom that much, we think it and live it. But there is a lot of history in it. People are in a way safer over here, hence less frightened to be pressed into a corner, hence they bite and launch less.

But I must also admit that you hit the nail straight on head with your post. I have written less then five reviews since DH, and it certainly does not represent the number of chapters I've read. I'll try to do better. Afterall, one must attempt to get over the grief.

[lady-karelia.livejournal.com]

I think nowadays it doesn't even matter where one lives - fear is encouraged. Must be some weirdos feeding off fear. *shrug*

Yes, indeed, one must attempt to get over the grief! The good thing is, fandom is still around, and it won't go away any time soon. Already, DH-compliant fics are popping up, many better written than DH. We'll keep going. That is, as long as we leave reviews. :-)

[firefly-124.livejournal.com]

I guess it's all a matter of perspective. I would be giddy with elation at a review rate like 2 reviews per hundred hits. Actually, let me rephrase that. I was utterly blown away by the experience of getting a large number of reviews for my exchange fic, and am still blown away as I'm getting more when I'm uploading to archives. But the bulk of my stuff, particularly my WIP, is lucky to get one review per 200-300 hits.

I'm sorry to hear the response rate is so low for the podcast. I know I'm one of the offenders, as I don't thnk I've yet listened to the last one in its entirety, much less sent feedback, though I did enjoy what I heard.

The round-robin is on my ever-growing to-be-read list. It sounds like it'll be a fun read!

[lady-karelia.livejournal.com]

A few months ago, one in fifty review/reads was pretty much the norm, with erotica much higher and rare pairings considerably lower. The dynamics have changed over the past six months or so. Several people are currently trying to push the review issue. Yes, I know, we all write for ourselves. But I have no doubt that the vast majority of us love receiving reviews, not even squeeful ones, but simply the acknowledgment that someone who reads the chapter/story is sufficiently entertained to waste 20 seconds of their time to let us know...

It's similar with the podcast. I go into chat and people tell me they love it. I look at the downloads, fantastic! Then I look at the feedback, both on the site and the mail, and... zilch. It disappoints me insofar that other podcasts have real commercials. We spend time making up commercials that are so very obviously spoofs that even the dummest person will recognise them as such. Da world's gone topsy-turvvy me thinks *snerk*.

The round-robin... I'm actually looking forward to my turn, LOL. SW wrote a most intriguing first chapter, and now the second one rests with SoulBound, who no doubt will introduce some more potential open endings continuation. Teehee, it's so much fun. :-)

[vics-words.livejournal.com]

I just finished reading Southern Magic on your suggestion, I am now desperate for more. I don't want to be left hanging like this. Is it updated regularly?

[lady-karelia.livejournal.com]

Ohhhhh, you're someone I don't know! :-)

Yes, Southern Magic has been updated regularly, I'd say almost weekly, and I can tell you that the next chapter is in the queue and should be out there in a day or two. I'm so glad you like it because some people don't, and I totally don't understand how anyone couldn't love that story. Introducing this much more spiritual branch of magic to the HPverse has me totally intrigued.

[vics-words.livejournal.com]

I am a bit of lurker, too lazy to keep my own journal. Plus my life isn't exciting enough to be journal worthy.

Oh I can't wait for the next chapter, that one will be interesting. I love the clash of cultures. I just think it is a very well developed and thought out story. If it managed to keep me up to midnight even although I had to be up for work at 6am, it's got to be good!

-Victoria.

[lady-karelia.livejournal.com]

*nods* I like it for the clash of cultures and the spiritual content. :-)