Friday, January 30, 2015

Hope for Humanity?

I enjoy thrift shopping sometimes a lot. I see a lot of weird things.

Not long ago, however, saw something that made me grin—possibly guffaw—in the middle of a secondhand store.




I have read about 90% of the first book, yes. At the time, though, it wasn't published, and it was Twilight fanfiction entitled "Master of the Universe."

It was also garbage brain candy.

Garbage brain candy that—despite the lack of variety in adjectives, and lack of personality in its protagonist—was a quick read. Breeze right through. It's easily consumable, I'll give it that.

Consumable, and empty.

I stopped at the 90% mark because I discovered that late into the game that the author was publishing it chapter by chapter online and I had to—gasp!—wait to finish said garbage brain candy.

Of course, I was not going to wait to finish it. It's one thing when you're skipping along at a good clip reading cheap brain candy, it's another to have to commit to returning another day in order to finish the bag.

And then it was earmarked for publishing and subsequently yanked from the Interwebs (heh).

I have issues with fanfiction. Specifically the appropriation of another author's characters without their permission. I can respect the true nature of fanfiction—fans writing for other fans in a quiet corner of the Internet, okay. But to create an out-of-universe storyline based on a pair of characters that aren't yours, effectively appropriating an audience, hooking them, and then turning a profit when you realize it has marketing potential?

That doesn't sit comfortably with me.

I've flipped through these pages more than once, and every time I am shocked at how few changes were made before publishing. That people are beginning to purge their shelves delights me.

Maybe those housewives are learning how to Google the word porn, too?

Or perhaps that's too much to ask...?




Saturday, January 10, 2015

Another day, another patch...


It's at the point where the boys' older play jeans (read: jeans that have been previously patched) are being outgrown, or are raggy, or are developing even more holes in other places (HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?!).

And of course the boys are begging for me to patch their favourite pair just once. more. please...!

While flattering, I'm not patching a pair of play jeans 14 times. It's just ain't happenin'...

So I've decided to sacrifice the pockets of those dying jeans to patch other pairs. Yes, the favourite-must-have-super-comfortable-and-can't-live-without play jeans are getting one last go, but only because these pocket patches take a fraction of the time and planning of previous patches. And I needed a test subject, heh.

My nine-year-old appreciates these pocket patched jeans far more than the other patches I've used in the past. Apparently he's sophisticated. ::snort::

These patches definitely rank beginner for a difficulty rating. If you've got the jeans to spare, they're an efficient and easy patch to install.

Cut the pocket out of the sacrificial jeans, clipping close to the edges, and cutting the inside pocket denim out (no, this won't be a functional pocket on your knee, sorry). Iron everything nice and flat and pin the pocket patch in place. Straight stitch as closely to the outermost line of stitching on your pocket to hide your stitching. Then stitch along the second more inner line of stitching for more durability, and you're finished.

There's a skull hiding under the double patch, as the boy blew out the knee in another spot. There's a twisted rock-paper-scissors joke in there somewhere, too...

So... when do I get the prize for "woman who goes to enormous lengths to avoid buying her children new pants"...? Surely I've been nominated by now? Ha!



Thursday, January 1, 2015

Yo, Wassup?

Another of Mr Lannis' finds... it feels like an Asian group attempted to create a music video in keeping with Western hip hop culture and... almost nailed it. Maybe.



When I went to track it down myself on YouTube, I found the writeup particularly endearing:
New 7 Hip Hop girls debut with first single album [Wa$$up]! Title song Wa$$up is exciting dance song based on club beats, funny lyrics, and comfortable melody line. Also Wa$$up added sexy dance on music and it is highly expected to be released. They practiced much time on Twerking and put it into choreography. It will be one of the greatest points to watch twerking in the MV. 
7 new ladies will show great and sexy performance with first album [Wa$$up]. So please be ready to welcome warmly!