Patron Saint of Falling Over Things

ETA: By the time that this got posted, we're out of lockdown. Masks only indoors or outdoors where social distancing is impossible. I am stiff and sorry from not being able to get to the hydrotherapy pool, but I'm otherwise doing okay.

We're slamming back into Stage 4 lockdown at midnight. So far, I've felt the introvert's euphoria of legitimately cancelled plans, and the horror of watching a perfectly balanced roster collapse as leave is called off. I saw someone on FB refer to this feeling as riding the coronacoaster. It seems right.

Poor hospitality businesses, who were all primed for Valentine's Day.

I could do without all the sniping at Dan Andrews, also. In the middle of a crisis, sniping and trolling is worse than useless. He's not doing a perfect job, but he's doing okay. Fuck sake.

*deep breath*

( The Equalizer )

( WandaVision - spoilers for episodes 5 and 6 )

( Clarice ep 1.01 )


Hurt Comfort Exchange 2021
I have four tabs open at the moment specifically dedicated to nomination for Hurt/Comfort Exchange 2021. It's a tricky sign-up! A high degree of difficulty! So many freeforms. I'm nominating The Black Tapes, the new Equalizer series and Person of Interest. Maybe WandaVision? Maybe Captain Marvel? Maybe Star Trek: Discovery? Oh, oh, maybe A Simple Favour, which was really incredibly gay and fun.

ETA: welp, since I wrote that, I got my noms in, and I'm working on my letter. It's still a really hard sign-up for me though? I never know if I should start with the tag or with the pairing or what the heck. Also I worry about ending up writing the fic in the request - the tags are so thorough. But this year, I'm going to be ready. I'm going to get that sign-up done. *cracks knuckles*


Festivids
A few that I really enjoyed from Festivids.

Monument Valley
A lovely, ticky-tocky vid for a beautiful game:
Sacred Geometry by findmeinthealps (General)


Mallory Towers
This vid is full of pluck! I haven't seen the series yet, but gosh, I really want to now.
try everything (sometimes we come last but we did our best) by itsanizzyb (General)


The Old Guard
Lovely vid with found-family themes. Oh, I love this movie so much!!
Never Look Awayby kaydeefalls (Teen)


Jelle's Marble Runs
This is marble runs and the William Tell Overture. It's a perfect match, and the timing is spot on.
The Marble Overture by cosmic_llin (General)

The Strange Case of Starship Iris
I love vids for non-visual media, because they're usually so clever. This one uses a particularly memorable scene in Season One, and gives you an external POV that somehow makes you feel like you're inside the cockpit of the Rumor. It's really good and made me love the podcast all over again.
Space Bees by cupidsbow (General)


Repair Shop
Two vids for Repair Shop, a show which was my favourite 2020 reality TV discovery. They're both by odessie which surprised me, because they're very different. The first is energetic and full of movement. The second is full of love for the making of things, and I love it.
Back It Up by odessie (General)
Time to Make Sawdust by odessie (General)


Vids!!

I will finish with this excellent kitty photo, with big demon/angel energy:

I'm not doing very well. The prednisolone did not go down quietly, I had rebound inflammation and I've been back on pred once already for a massive skin flare up (let me tell you about the 1 in 10,000 chance of getting photosensitivity while taking frusemide.) The cellulitis came back and I had another round of antibiotics (let me tell you about the rare side-effect where you can taste clindamycin IN YOUR SALIVA.) I've had lots of meds changes. I feel wrung out and tired all the freaking time. I am pretty down about this. I want to feel well, and not like my skin is crawling off my body. It's busy at work, too, and that is more exhausting than it ought to be.

I've signed up for wipbigbang and Camp NaNo, so hopefully I can get some fic posted. I wasn't game to sign up for an actual exchange, so I sadly had to miss out on ssrconfidential. I'm starting to be more chatty on Dreamwidth, which is nice, and I did manage to do a big push on answering AO3 comments, which feels like an achievement. My only other achievement was to crochet a sock monkey hat with a big red pompom. I'm quite pleased with it, even if my sister says the button eyes are demonic. That's part of the charm, I think.

( Button eyes will eat your soul, my sister says )


I've been hoarding linkspam, too, which I shall try to group in themes:

The Expanse
- From Indiewire, The Expanse: How The Syfy Series Found the Unfindable Actress (Which Means Other Shows Can, Too)
About casting a S2 character, who is apparently female, Polynesian and tall/muscular. This is what made me want to start watching The Expanse, and I'm so glad I did. (I've just finished S1, so no spoilers, please. Apart from what's in this article, I guess.)

Podcasts (mostly The Strange Case of Starship Iris)
- From buzzfeed, 27 Podcasts You Should Listen To In 2017
Which reminds me, I've been listening to The Strange Case of Starship Iris and it's really lots of fun. The first episode drags a bit, but once there's more than a cast of two (from episode two), the dialogue bounces along, and the world building opens up. The story is building f/f UST between Violet and Arkady, it has a trans character and a gender fluid character, and I really like the crew of the Rumor. Would recommend.

You can listen here: The Strange Case of Starship Iris

For non-listeners, there's a transcript of Episode One, which isn't the best episode but it sets up the dynamic between the two characters well:
The Strange Case of the Starship Iris, Episode One: Violet Liu, written by Jessica Best

There's an official tumblr, where (I presume) the author discusses world building, nuances of the alien language, and other cool stuff: iriscasefiles


Iron Fist
- via netgirl_y2k, who also has an excellent post about Iron Fist, Here's The Important Stuff That Happens In Iron Fist So You Don't Have To Watch It
There were so many weird things about Iron Fist, (apart from the obvious weird thing of why they cast Finn Jones as Danny.)

( brief spoilers )


Dance-themed links
- From Pointe Magazine, #TBT: Watch Baryshnikov Do 11 Pirouettes in White Nights
Because Mikhail Baryshnikov is so pretty.

And through that video, I found a slo-mo analysis of the move, which was really interesting. It's mind blowing to count those turns in slow motion.
( embedded under the cut )

Speaking of ballet, the Dance Academy movie comes out next week!
( Trailer under the cut! )

More Dance Academy links:
- I wish I’d grown up with ‘Dance Academy’, ABC’s beloved teen drama

- The career of Joanna Werner, and how Dance Academy remains en pointe


Other random links
- From HuffPo, Dolphins Might Be Chewing On Blowfish To Get High
Dolphins are bastards and kind of sketch.

- From Buzzfeed, 23 Accidental Google Image Searches That’ll Make You Pee A Little
Very silly. Somehow very satisfying.

- via Nalini Singh's facebook, The Moistest Chocolate Mug Cake
The word moist has ceased to have any meaning that is not disgusting, but I do like a mug cake.

- via the medical tag on Ravelry, Dressed for Success
Crocheted stethoscope sweater. CN: anthropomophising of a stethoscope. Also not addressed is how this could contribute to spreading infection? IDK. The idea is cute though.

- via dine, Artist Paints Realistically Detailed Animals on Smooth Stones
So beautiful!

- From The Age, Police hunt for unicorn after attempted servo smash and grab
CN: armed robbery, only extra.

12 Yarn Ball Types and How to Knit with Them
Hankenstein. Heh.


I still need to post fic here that I've had up at AO3. And get planning on what I'm going to write for Camp NaNo which inexplicably starts tomorrow omg. Tomorrow is April Fools, too. *reminds self to watch out* I always fall for stupid shit, me.