Petitions, cartoons, and Mother Jones
by V.E. on July 26th, 2005
filed under ladyamedeus, politics, to do
Flowers for Change
Never Surrender bracelets
Sign the petition telling the President to shut Guantanamo down!
And urge your senators to eliminate funding for new nuclear weapons.
For those of you in Cali (and those who aren’t, but may want to live here someday) help support solar energy here in CA.
Also, the national minimum wage is currently $5.15/hour. That’s NOT a living wage! Tell Congress to raise minimum wage!
On a slightly happier note, these are funny. I especially like this one.
EVERYONE: Subscribe to Mother Jones NOW!
Stolen from Rachel
by V.E. on July 26th, 2005
filed under ladyamedeus, quizzes/surveys
do you shop at abercrombie and fitch?: No.
have you ever heard of hollister?: Um, maybe?
does the word ‘starbucks’ tickle your fancy?: Sometimes. Depends on my mood.
do you use moisterizer on your face at night?: No.
have you seen the ocean?: Yes.
if so, where and when?: Which time? The first time? The last time?
do you even like coffee?: Not particularly.
If you do, do the baristas at your local starbucks know you by name?: No.
have you ever seen the movie, ‘thirteen’?: No. Unless you count walking by it at a Blockbuster. I mean, I’ve seen it, but I haven’t SEEN it.
are you a lazy ass or do you work?: I work when I’m motivated.
do you like to smoke the occasional cigarette?: Nope, don’t smoke.
do you like to take the occasional shot of tequila?: No, don’t drink either.
do you help yourself to more than one beer at a party?: No, I’m the designated driver.
have you ever gotten so drunk you can’t remember anything?: No, thank you very much.
did you have your first kiss while you were drunk at a party?: Nope. Never been drunk.
whats your middle name?: Elieen.
where do you live?: CA for half the year, PA for the other half.
do you like it there?: Yes, I love both places.
what grade are you in?: Um, I’m going to be a Junior in college, so I guess that’s 15th grade, right?
do you have a job?: Not at the moment, but I have one lined up for next fall.
do you have a lot of friends? Yeah, I guess so.
how many siblings? Two.
who do you live with?: Either the family or the roommate, depending on where I’m living at the time.
do you get sick a lot?: Eh. Sort of, yes. But not like SICK sick, just sick sick.
whats your favorite type of candy?: Reeses, Butterfingers.
how many cavities do you have?: None, but a couple of fillings, so I have had them.
have you ever cursed out your mom/dad?: No.
have you ever cried in public?: Yes. And at the time, I was too furious to care.
do you cry a lot?: Relatively? I don’t think so. But I feel like I cry a lot for my standards, yes.
have you had the chickenpox?: Yes, when I was little.
have you had pneumonia?: No. At least, I don’t remember it. But I think that’s something I’d remember, right?
have you ever been to a wedding?: Yes. A couple of them.
if yes were you a flowergirl/ringbearer/bridesmaid etc.?: I carried the train of the bride once with my sister when we were both really young.
have you ever been to a funeral?: Yes.
if yes did you really know the person that died?: Yes.
do you like parades?: I have to be in the mood.
have you ever known somebody that died & not cared?: Um. Known someone and not cared? No. Known OF someone and not cared? Yes.
about how many hours a day do you spend online?: Too many.
do you have a social life?: Yes.
rate school on a scale of 1-10.: 6-8 on good days, 2-4 on shitty days.
do you have a diary?: Um, I don’t like the word ‘diary’. It sounds so girly.
do you like writing or read it?: <-----Does that question make sense to anyone?
what's your dream car?: Some kind of Honda, or a hybrid.
do you know a lot about cars?: No, I know nearly nothing.
whats your expertise/obsession?: Um, anime; history; writing; HTML; others I can't think of right now.
do you think brad pitt is THAT hot?: Hmm, yes and no. He's hotter than Tom Cruise, but not as hot as Johnny Depp.
is urban outfitters a sellout?: Er, I don't know.
coke, pepsi, or neither?: Cherry Coke.
do you like mountain dew?: Mountain Dew Code Red, yes. Normal Mountain Dew, not really.
are you a fan of modern art?: No.
are you a fan of art at all?: Yes.
do you actually do your homework?: Yes.
do you copy homework off of other people when you dont do it?: No.
do you like answering long surveys such as this?: Not really, unless I'm bored like right now.
are you lefthanded, righthanded or ambidextrous?: Right-handed. Mildly ambidextrous.
do you secretly want to be the opposite sex?: Yes, sometimes. But it's not a secret NOW, is it?
do you think girls or boys have it easier?: Wow, I'm way too biased to answer this question.
do you think girls or boys work harder?: It's not a sex thing. It's a personality thing.
are you a pessimist?: Not really. Not more than anyone else, that is.
are you a worrywart?: Yes.
do you scare easily?: If I'm already frightened, yes.
do you have a lot of posters or photos on your bedroom walls?: My room's not really good for that sort of thing.
what color are your walls?: Dark blue with red trim.
do you have a rug? if yes what color is it?: Yes, it's dark blue; same as the walls.
do you think there is really such things as white lies?: Yes, I do. Just ask any Jewish person to explain the lie scale thing to you.
if yes, do you tell them a lot?: Eh, only when it's necessary.
are you a dork?: Yes.
do you think being a dork is really a bad thing?: No.
do you have a lucky number and if so what is it?: 3.
do you think you will end up in a nursing home when you are older?: I don't know. Maybe.
if no is it because you'll be in a mental institution instead?: More likely than a nursing home.
do you like rap?: No, I don't.
is old school rap better than new school rap?: What? There's that much of a difference?
do you like rock at all? and if so whats your favorite genre?: Yes; soft rock.
whats your favorite thing to do on weekends?: Depends on the weekend.
do you have (a) best friend(s)?: Yes, one.
why are they your best friend(s)?: He knows me better than anyone else in the world. Although I'm not sure he thinks of ME as HIS best friend.
have you ever been on a roadtrip?: Yes.
how early do you wake up on school days/weekends?: Hopefully as early as I'm supposed to.
do you think all boys are pervs?: Eh, probably. But girls are pervs too.
do you think it's okay to use gay as an insult?: NO, absolutely not.
how about 'faggot'?: Again, NO.
do you have high or low self esteem?: Medium.
do you think therapists actually help ppl or are just in it for the money?: If you get the right one, s/he can really help you.
do you think vandalism is fun?: What? No.
should weed be legal?: I don't care one way or another.
would you move to holland just because of the change in laws?: What laws? Our laws, or Hollands?
is the government controlling our minds through tv and advertising?: You have no idea!
are you patriotic?: Yes.
is george bush a good president?: No.
do you like the tv show 'friends'?: No, but I'll watch it when I'm bored.
what about 'will and grace'?: More or less, yes.
do you like any tv at all? if yes whats your favorite show?: Hmm, I really like Law & Order: SVU. And Battlestar Galactica.
are you lonely?: Sometimes.
remember that song 'peaches and cream'?: You betcha!
do you like N.E.R.D?: What IS 'N.E.R.D.'?
speaking of nerd, are you one?: Um, yes, I guess I am.
are you slick?: Not really.
do you eat cough drops just because they taste good?: No.
GOD, that was the most random, pointless survey EVER! And it was freaking LONG, too. Geez.
You can be emailed journal entries?
by V.E. on July 26th, 2005
filed under ladyamedeus, meta, personal
Okay, so apparently it’s possible to have journal entries emailed to you. Does anyone know anything about this? Daylin mentioned it, but I don’t think it applies to LiveJournal or DeadJournal; but I think it DOES apply to MySpace, Xanga, Diaryland, and maybe others that I’m currently unaware of. Anyway, she said she hasn’t updated her LiveJournal because she hasn’t figured out a way to get friends’ entries emailed to her. And here I am sitting here not even knowing such a thing is possible. Although I must admit, I’d never set that for my journal cause I already get enough email as it is. So, can anyone fill me in?
On another note: MY LOWER LEFT LIP AND CHIN ARE STILL NUMB FROM LAST SATURDAY! WTF!
Book on marriage equality
by V.E. on July 26th, 2005
filed under ladyamedeus, lgbt, writing
Okay, so I’m writing a book on marriage equality. The outline is below. I know this is an issue people NEED to know about, whichever side of the argument they’re on, and I intend to help them learn more about it. As for actually WRITING the book, the first three sections (1a, 1b, and 1c) are done.
1. Introduction
a. Why this book?
b. Who is this book for?
c. Why it’s not about “gay marriage” but rather marriage equality
2. Ordinary people’s thoughts (diverse responses!)
a. Marriage: a right or a privilege?
b. How much do you know about marriage laws in the United States?
3. Marriage laws
a. Basic tenants
b. All 50 states
c. Canada and other similar countries
4. What’s so different about Canada? What about Massachusetts and California?
5. My story/inspiration/struggle
6. The case for marriage equality
a. Civil unions vs. marriage
b. Opponents’ arguments and my responses
7. What you can do to help
a. Get involved!
b. Start a focus group
c. More stuff
8. Where to go for support — and where not to
a. Supportive institutions/people
b. Unsupportive institutions/people
c. Institutions/people who have flip-flopped
9. Conclusion
10. Resources, further reading
a. Newspaper/magazine articles
b. Books
c. Websites
d. How to contact your Senator or House Representative
e. Other important contact information
11. List of works cited
Wendy
by V.E. on July 26th, 2005
filed under ladyamedeus, writing
Wendy, a ten-minute play by Viannah Duncan. Copyright Viannah Duncan.
Wendy, an 18 year-old middle-class girl living in the modern age. She loves her brothers, but does not tolerate irritation well.
Michael, the younger of Wendy’s younger brothers. He is between 7 and 9 years old and is still relatively innocent.
John, the older of Wendy’s younger brothers. He is 15 or 16 years old and seems to enjoy annoying Wendy a bit too much.
Peter Pan, a boy about Wendy’s age. He is larger than life, is dressed in odd clothing, and has a firefly-type animal in tow.
SETTING:
Wendy’s bedroom, furnished as a typical modern middle-class 18 year-old girl would furnish it — popular magazines on the bedside table, a computer in one corner of the room, and girl’s clothing lying on the floor, etc. There is a Spiderman poster on one wall, visible to the audience.
The time is the present.
————————————
MICHAEL
Wendy, tell me a story. My friend, David, his sister tells him stories before he goes to bed. Please tell me one?
WENDY
I know David’s sister. She’s such a bag lady. She looks like she’s fifty.
MICHAEL
(bordering on whining) Won’t you tell me a story, please?
(She shoves him off her bed.)
WENDY
No! I’ll tell you a story when I’m fifty, okay?
(He thinks about this for a few seconds.)
MICHAEL
How long will that be, then?
WENDY
Thirty-two years.
MICHAEL
(a bit desperately) I can’t wait that long! Please? It’ll only take a minute!
WENDY
Fine, but only one minute. And do you promise to get out of my room when the story’s done?
(He happily crawls back onto her bed.)
MICHAEL
I promise.
WENDY
Fine. Once upon a time —
MICHAEL
(interrupting her) Wait! Don’t start yet. I have to call John!
WENDY
John hardly cares about my story.
MICHAEL
(calling off-stage) John! Come quick! Wendy’s telling a bedtime story!
(John appears in the bedroom doorway after a moment looking amused.)
JOHN
What’s this, Wen? A bedtime story?
WENDY
Screw off, John.
(John sits on the floor and mocks her lightly.)
JOHN
C’mon, tell us this bedtime story.
MICHAEL
Yes! Tell the story!
WENDY
Once upon a time —
JOHN
(interrupting her) What time?
WENDY
This time. 2005, whatever. May I continue?
(Michael nods enthusiastically. John snickers. Wendy becomes more irritated.)
WENDY
Once upon 2005, there was a boy. He lived in —
JOHN
(interrupting her) What’s the boy’s name?
(Wendy scans her room for inspiration; her eyes land on the Spiderman poster on the wall.)
WENDY
Um… Peter.
JOHN
Peter what?
WENDY
Pan, the exact thing I will hit you with if you don’t shut up.
JOHN
(sarcastically) I’ll try to restrain myself.
WENDY
Okay, once upon 2005, there was a boy named Peter Pan. He lived in a land far away, where no other people had been —
MICHAEL
What was it called?
(John barely holds back his laughter.)
WENDY
Neverland, because if this story keeps going at this rate, I’ll never get it done.
MICHAEL
(timidly) May I ask another question?
WENDY
You just did. Now, He lived far away —
MICHAEL
(interrupting her) Why had no other people been there before? Was it invisible?
WENDY
No, Michael, it was in the sky, okay? Are you happy?
JOHN
(unable to contain his laughter) I am!
WENDY
Oh, just shut up, John.
(Michael covers his teddy bear’s ears with his hands.)
MICHAEL
Don’t say that, Wendy! It’s bad!
WENDY
One day, Peter Pan was… um… flying around Neverland… and he… he saw a giant band of pirates. The pirates were, uh, firing their ship’s cannons at some… Indians –
JOHN
(interrupting her) Did the Indians get hurt?
WENDY
(throws a pillow at him) No, but you soon will if you don’t stop interrupting me!
MICHAEL
(yelling excitedly) Wendy! Hurry with the story!
WENDY
And so he flew down to the pirate in charge and said –
JOHN
(interrupting her) What was his name?
WENDY
Oh for the love of God… Long John Silver, I don’t know.
JOHN
I think that’s copyrighted, Wen. You’ll have to choose another name. (pulls out an imaginary check-list) Let’s see, you can have Captain Bob, Captain Joe, Captain Hook, Captain Paul, Captain Dave —
MICHAEL
(encouragingly) Oh, Wendy! Pick Captain Hook!
WENDY
Fine. He flew down to Captain Hook and said, “Look here. Stop pestering these poor Indians!” But Captain Hook wouldn’t. Instead, he grabbed Peter Pan by the collar and said, “Get lost, you pesky boy.” Captain Hook hated Peter Pan for trying to… um… feed him to a crocodile once —
MICHAEL
(interrupting her) Is that how he got his hook?
WENDY
(a little less irritated) Yes. Hook has a missing hand which he replaced with a dangerous hook which he uses to… peel the skin… off of little boys who… um… don’t let their older sisters go to bed!
MICHAEL
Wow! I’m glad I’m not like that!
WENDY
(scowling) And so now the crocodile really wanted to eat Captain Hook, now that it had had a taste of him. But Hook was a devilish man and he fed the crocodile… um… he fed the crocodile a clock so that he would hear it before it got too close.
JOHN
Oh, like that’s realistic.
WENDY
Haven’t you ever seen Jurassic Park III?
JOHN
Oh, you mean part about the dinosaur swallowing that guy’s cell phone?
WENDY
Yes, and it’s the same thing, only with a clock, okay?
(After a pause, she continues with the story dramatically.)
So Hook grabbed Peter Pan and was about to pierce his skin with the ruby-encrusted hook when –
MICHAEL
Oh no!
(Michael fearfully hides behind his hands.)
WENDY
When Peter’s fairy —
MICHAEL
(perking up) Peter Pan has a fairy? What does it look like? What is it called?
WENDY
(throwing her hands up) It looks like a drugged-up supermodel, only a lot smaller, okay? And he calls it… um… he calls it Tinkerbell.
MICHAEL
Wow! I want a Tinkerbell!
JOHN
(with false sweetness) Michael, be quiet and let lil’ old Wendy finish her story.
WENDY
And then Tinkerbell covered Hook with fairy dust and he lost hold of Peter Pan and floated away. While Hook’s crew was getting him down from the ship’s mast, Peter Pan and Tinkerbell flew away to safety. The end.
MICHAEL
Thank you, Wendy!
WENDY
Now, go to bed, okay?
(Michael hugs her tightly, then leaves the room.)
JOHN
That was easily the worst bedtime story I have ever heard.
WENDY
Oh, shut up. Get out of my room, you moron.
(John leaves the room and Wendy turns off the bedside light, throwing the entire stage into darkness. After a moment, there is another CRASH out in the hall and Wendy groans loudly from her bed.)
WENDY
(to herself) Goddammit. (yelling to off-stage) Be quiet out there!
(Silence, then another CRASH.)
PETER PAN
(from off-stage) Tink! Tink! A little help here? (long pause) Tink! Tinkerbell!
WENDY
(yelling to off-stage) John! If you don’t cut it out, I’m gonna–
(Peter Pan enters grandly through the doorway, a wastebasket stuck to one foot.)
PETER PAN
(interrupting her) Gonna what?
WENDY
(now angry and scared) Oh my god. (beat) Who the hell are you? And how did you get into this house?
PETER PAN
(indicating the wastebasket) Would you mind helping me get this thing off my foot?
(Wendy reaches down to help him, but then thinks better of it. Peter Pan moves forward, and she backs away. She flips the bedside light back on.)
WENDY
Who are you? What are you doing in my house?
PETER PAN
I’m Peter.
WENDY
(pause, then at the top of her lungs) John! Get in here right now!
(There is a CRASH and some cursing off-stage, then John enters.)
JOHN
(to Wendy) What the hell– (to Peter Pan) Who are you?
WENDY
You mean you don’t know this guy?
JOHN
No, of course not. (to Peter Pan) Who are you?
(Peter Pan waves the firefly away from his face.)
PETER PAN
Cut it out, Tinkerbell! I’m Peter Pan. Who are you?
WENDY
What?
JOHN
What?
(Peter Pan extends one hand to Wendy to shake; John and Wendy both back away, wary.)
PETER PAN
I said, “I’m Peter Pan. Who are you?”
JOHN
Peter Pan?
WENDY
You have got to be kidding me.
PETER PAN
Yes. Is that so hard to believe?
WENDY and JOHN
Yes.
(Peter Pan is alternating between keeping Tinkerbell out of Wendy’s effects and trying to get the wastebasket off his foot.)
JOHN
Wendy, I thought you said you made that story up.
WENDY
(incredulously) I did! This isn’t some practical joke?
PETER PAN
Tink! Stop it! That’s not your stuff!
JOHN
Oh like I had enough time in all of five minutes to put something like that together.
PETER PAN
(waving a little) I’m still here, you know. Do either of you know where I can find–
JOHN
(interrupting Peter Pan, to Wendy) This guy isn’t a boyfriend of yours?
WENDY
Are you kidding me? Look at what he’s wearing!
PETER PAN
Hello? I’m still here.
WENDY
You shouldn’t be! Get out of my house!
PETER PAN
But I don’t even know where I–
WENDY
(interrupting him) And take your stupid firefly with you!
PETER PAN
Hey! Tink’s not a firefly! She’s a fairy!
JOHN
There’s no such thing.
PETER PAN
(gasp) Oh god, don’t say that! You mean to tell me you don’t believe in fairies?
WENDY
No, of course not!
JOHN
I think the tooth fairy is about as much as we ever believed, and we all know it’s not real.
(Tinkerbell pulls Wendy’s hair. At the same time, Peter Pan finally manages to get the wastebasket off his foot.)
WENDY
Ouch! You little brat! Fairy or not, I’ll squash you like a bug!
(Wendy swats at Tinkerbell until Peter Pan captures her in his hands.)
PETER PAN
Tink, be nice! (to Wendy) And, hey! You be nice too!
WENDY
(yelling) Excuse me? What did you just say?
PETER PAN
Look, I’m just trying to–
JOHN
(interrupting him) Wen, just calm down, okay?
WENDY
Calm down? Calm down? There is a strange boy who I’ve never seen before in my room with a firefly whizzing around his head, who calls himself a name that I made up, and you want me to calm down?
JOHN
Try to think rationally here, will you?
WENDY
What? Rationally? At a time like this? What if he’s a robber or something? You or Michael could get really hurt… Or I could!
(Wendy storms up to Peter Pan and points angrily to the doorway.)
PETER PAN
Wait, but I just want–
WENDY
I’ll tell you what I want. I want you to get out.
JOHN
Whoa, Wendy, maybe we should hear him out.
MICHAEL
(off-stage) Wendy? I’m thirsty. Can I have some water?
WENDY
Crap, now you’ve woken up Michael. (calling to off-stage, nicely) Yes, off course, Michael! Go on and get a drink!
PETER PAN
(hopefully) How old is Michael? Maybe he’ll–
WENDY
What are you, a stalker now?
PETER PAN
(to Tinkerbell) Tinkerbell! Cut it out! You’re making this worse. (to Wendy) No, I just need to find–
WENDY
(interrupting him) If you don’t get out of this house right now, I’m going to call the cops and have you arrested for breaking and entering. (beat) And disturbing the peace. (beat) And molestation and attempted rape.
PETER PAN
What? But I just–
JOHN
(interrupting him) Wendy–
WENDY
(interrupting John, to Peter Pan) What, you think coming into a young woman’s bedroom in the middle of the night is going to look good for you in court? Get out. NOW!
(Peter Pan hastily leaves. John stands in the doorway for a moment, silent.)
JOHN
Wen, don’t you think–
WENDY
You too, John. Get out of here before I clock you one.
(John holds his hands up in surrender.)
JOHN
Okay. God, Wendy, what is your problem?
(John leaves. After a moment, Wendy turns off the bedside light; stage goes dark.)
WENDY
All I want is some peace and quiet around here. “Peter Pan and Tinkerbell” my ass.
–fin–
Yes, this is the final version, although I may make a series of ten-minutes based on modern-day Wendy. We’ll see.
About my tags
by V.E. on July 26th, 2005
filed under ladyamedeus, meta
Okay, so here’s my new tag system for your convenience.
anime: anime stuff, including links to pictures, anime expo, and whatnot.
drama: stuff that people take too seriously and shouldn’t. usually, these are private entries.
life: straight from my life to your home!
politics: politics and religion.
quizzes: surveys, memes, quizzes, including quizzes I give YOU all.
random: for when I can’t think of anywhere else to put it.
writing: my writing. poetry, short stories, plays, and ideas.
Many overlap. This tag thing is cool and helps me stay organized.
To everyone I said I would hang out with today:
by V.E. on July 26th, 2005
filed under health, ladyamedeus, personal
I’m really sorry. I haven’t been feeling well since I got my wisdom teeth out and I’ve kind of been going in and out of consciousness since Saturday morning. I’m disappointed I didn’t get to see you all today, but I wouldn’t have been any fun to be around anyway; I’m grouchy, moody, a bit nauseous, and at times in pain. Please forgive me, and I hope I’ll see you some time tomorrow or when I get back from Texas the Saturday after next Saturday.
