Category Archives: Art, Theatre, & Film

Not What You Think It Means

I really want to believe that a journalist was aiming for a punnish-like thing in composing this headline, but it’s more likely that s/he simply didn’t think this through:

Rare gladiator marbles discovered in major Italian art bust

Rare because gladiators weren’t big marble players; they preferred tetherball. And these must be really special marbles, too, because they were discovered during an art bust (“*in* an actual bust, as the headline could also be read, would be stretching my patience just too far), so they’re probably collectibles!

(Yes, I know what marbles are. But I’ll bet that at least eighty percent of people who encountered this headline didn’t until they read the article.)

Huge Weekend

Lots and lots of stuff happened this weekend. Lots. Not as in going-places sort of things, but as in Significant Decisions. And I am very proud and very supportive of everyone who went through the tough decision-making process and arrived at a conclusion that was right for them, if not comfortable or easy. You all know who you are. (And yes, I’m counted in there too.)

To otherwise generally recap the weekend:

Awesome band practice. I recorded much of the rehearsal using the minidisc, and wow. I now have an adaptor that may allow me to link it into the sound card, so I’ll be messing about with that and Audacity this afternoon.

Saturday night was the 2007 Capricornucopia extravagana, for which my darling Mousme wrote me a role that was not humungous nor expository in any way, and was in fact comedic. I adore Wodehousian comedy, and to be given lines such as “I am off to go look for a suitable frock in which to end my already frightfully brief existence” was absolutely delicious. Also, I got to scream on stage again. This looks suspiciously like a trend.

There is currently scads of snow coming down outside.

Accomplished

So far this morning I have:

– written half a dozen thank yous for mail and Christmas-associated stuff
– gone through winter/spring 2007 frontlists from three publishers to pinpoint potential review books, and made a schedule for reviews through July
– discussed the details of an article assignment for Wyntergreene, the local neopagan journal, due at the beginning of February
– talked through a potential second article for the same journal, also due at the beginning of February
– read news
– uninstalled and reinstalled and repaired Adobe so that it actually opens PDF files I download from the internet
– did some banking

And yet I feel as if I have accomplished pretty much nothing. I have got to re-examine my personal standards of productivity, because this is ridiculous.

Well, I did cross five things off my written to-do list. That’s something.

Important Concert-Related Announcement

To all Random Colour and Invisible fans:

Due to an unacceptable rate hike from our regular venue, the double-band show on January 20 has been cancelled.

I know you’re all devastated, as you were deprived of our gig last fall as well. When we have another date we’ll announce it, but do be aware that because of various other commitments it won’t be until late spring at the earliest.

Thanks, everyone, for your ongoing support.

Icon Credits

I’ve been hoarding icons for ages, and what with a couple of computer crashes sometimes I’ve lost track of who made what. If an icon isn’t listed here, it’s because I made it. When I have free time I’ll sit down and add those to this list and include my sources for the artwork. Icons of unknown or untraceable source are listed at the end; if you recognise one and know who created it, please let me know.

Icons by curtana (all text-only icons in this set are quotes from the oeuvre of Neil Gaiman):

Icons by Summersamba:

Icons by Raevnn:

Icons by aimala1:

Icons by Odette River:

Icons by September_Icons:

Icons by Fiery Tempest (quote by Neil Gaiman):

Icons by Talyesin:

Icons by Karine:

Icons by Melleanmouse:

Icons by Pointless Blank:

Icons by Fire Icons:

Icons by Glimglamoury:

Icons by Scholarsicons:

Icons by Hobbitholes:

Miscellaneous Icons:

by crymeariver

by M-icons

by avendya

by dawn_icons

by pouringicons

by coeliz

by Kyuukumber (art by Brett Helquist)

by call_twilight

by Vanity Made

by Macpherson Arts

by Keswindhover

by shewhoweeps

by ikonanza

by Proverbial Web

by avelina

by Allegoric Icons

by Anandi

by Semyaza

by emjy

from mrmmarc

by summer_kisses89

by Sawyer

by Forthright, art from the Codex Seraphinianus by Luigi Serafini

by Gracenote

by Ravensmaybite, art from Swan Lake illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg

by Mysticmirth

by Eronn Icons

Icons of Unknown Origin:

If you recognise any of these and know the creator, please let me know so that they may be properly credited.

What I Read This December

Whitethorn Wood by Maeve Binchy
The Boleyn Inheritance by Philippa Gregory
The Constant Princess by Philippa Gregory
The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale
Pagan Christmas: The Plants, Spirits, and Rituals at the Origins of Yuletide by Christian Rätsch and Claudia Müller-Ebeling
Spider Dance by Carole Nelson Douglas
The Crown of Dalemark by Diana Wynne Jones
Swordspoint by Ellen Kushner (reread)
Black Powder War by Naomi Novik
Throne of Jade by Naomi Novik