#anyways. /endrant

[astriiformes]

Seeing some posts today about the two different Jennifer actresses that appear in the BttF films (Claudia Wells and Elizabeth Shue) which means it's time to infodump about the secret, third Jennifer, because everything about this story is still wild to me.

Apparently Claudia Wells was genuinely the first choice for Jennifer in the original movie, but at the time they started filming she was doing a pilot for a TV series. So the first Jennifer they filmed any scenes with was actually a totally different actress, Melora Hardin. Who would have gone on to be the Jennifer in the films if it weren't for the fact that when they recast Marty, there were people on the crew who made a fuss about Michael J. Fox being. Significantly shorter than Eric Stoltz (5'4" versus 5'11" or so), and who argued that Hardin's Jennifer was "too tall" for Fox's Marty. So they recast her.

Anyways I think this is all very stupid and since BttF fanfic writers and artists already have to juggle two different Jennifers we should rebel against canon further and subsume Hardin's Jennifer into our depictions, too. Justice for tall Jennifer.

[librarycards]

the locked tomb?

added to TBR | on my TBR | couldn’t finish it | did not enjoy | it was OK| liked it | loved it | favorite | not interested

unfortunately, i have tried gideon multiple times and cannot stand it - mostly for the pacing/storytelling but also for the ??? reverse-anachronistic dialogue? anyway, /endrant, but yeah. no from me.

as such, i'm not 100% on what recs would be good, but here are a few you may enjoy. others are welcome to weigh in!

recs:

Martha Wells, The Murderbot Diaries (I like this series!)

Travis Baldree, Bookshops and Bonedust (This was 'pretty good' as an airplane book for me)

Mira Grant, Feed (I DNF'd this, and did so for similar reasons (the specific narrative style/on-the-nose dialogue, so maybe you will also like it?)

[hyperfixed-owl]

I always wonder what is it that makes people comment on some fics versus another. I know I try to comment if I’ve enjoyed someone else’s (or leave kudos), but I guess being slightly selfish here, it’d be nice to have some indication that the things I write are good too.

And yeah, I know I’m writing because I want to, not to please people, so it doesn’t matter if anyone comments, but deep down, we all like a little validation.

Anyway, I’m gonna stop sulking and keep writing because I love to write, I love the characters and it makes me happy.

#endrant

[faranae]

Rant Incoming: Cheat Engine/Hotbar Exploits and Sit Anywhere (FFXIV)

(Disclaimer: I do not mod. I'm not a client purist or anything, they just aren't for me.)

Call me anti-fun if you want, but I just saw a recent forum thread full of FFXIV players extremely upset for getting warnings for cheating despite "the only visible cheat I use is to sit anywhere", and "I never talk about mods in game".

My friend. Pal. Amigo. Chum. Buddy.

The key word there is "visible".

Literally anyone who knows what it is, can tell that they're using Cheat Engine to sit that way. Its visibility is not limited to client-side. Everyone can see them doing it.

"That's the point!" I see them saying. "It's harmless! Why should I get a GM warning just because someone told on me for using harmless mods?"

There is one, ONE major rule when it comes to modding in FFXIV: Don't ask; Don't tell. SE can't detect most mods, so they turn a blind eye to the harmless ones so long as they don't know it's happening. The problem these players don't seem to grasp is thus: They have automatically and silently done the "telling" part by publicly displaying that they're cheating.

The GMs have no way--ZERO--of telling if that is the only modification they have made to their client. They are not being mean, or unreasonable, by issuing warnings and short bans for "using a harmless sitting exploit". For all they know, any given player could be running malicious mods alongside it.

THAT is why they hand out bans for "harmless" mods. There's no way to prove the harmless ones are the only ones being used, so it's better to be safe than sorry.

Anyway, /endrant

[literaticat]

I'm considering trying to get my publisher to pay me in fifths instead of quarters for my next contract, for tax reasons. Do they ever do fifths? And if so when is the fifth payment usually scheduled?

Ahahah this question gave me hives -- it's the struggle of my LIFE to get publishers to divide payments *less*!

Most of my contracts are paid out halves or thirds -- like so:

1/2 on-signing / 1/2 on delivery & acceptance of final (this is the ideal, but for bigger deals it's getting harder to achieve)

1/3 on-signing / 1/3 on d&a of draft or sketches / 1/3 on d&a of final (this is the ideal for illustrators or for books sold on proposal)

OR 1/3 on-sign / 1/3 d&a final / 1/3 on publication (not great)

OR 3 parts, weighted -- so big part big part small part -- like 20k on sign, 20k on final, 5k on pub for example (better than the previous at least)

.... I've seen them do 4ths -- like part on signing, d&a, publication, and on publication of the paperback (or one year after pub, whichever comes first). This makes me feel ill, and <rant> I personally would die before I'd be OK with a more spread out payment than that, my god, enough is enough, it's already NOT AN ADVANCE if the book is already published, I literally feel like setting something on fire just thinking about it, how dare anyone want to pay for something A YEAR after the shit is published ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? And what if the book tanks and they cancel the paperback or try some other shenanigans? Part of the point of an advance is that they are taking a risk, actually, and the risk is negated if they can just cut bait. If I hired a roofer and then told him "thanx for the roof, looks great, here's part of the money, I'll pay you the rest next year when I see how it does during hurricane season" he'd SUE ME. As well he fuckin should!!! OMG I AM FIRED UP!!!! </endrant>

So anyways. My point is. I guess you could do 1/5 on sign, 1/5 on draft, 1/5 on final, 1/5 on pub, 1/5 on pb pub or one year later?

The payment on PB pub is already somewhat normalized for adult books with very large advances (though it's still quite uncommon in kids books). But please please please PLEASE for the sake of your author and agent brethren don't ask for a payment further out than that -- I don't want them to get any bright ideas.

(Also, Important to note if there are tax issues: You can ask the publisher to hold your payment if need be. Your agency is legally required to pay you within a certain time of getting your money in (14 days I think?), and even if money comes in during early 2024 but was paid by the publisher in 2023, it has to count as 2023 money. Agencies CANNOT hold your money for you, but the publisher can. So sometimes if, say, the end of the year is coming up, and my client has a tax thing where they don't want any more income but I know that they have a D&A coming, we just ask the publisher to hold it until January. It's never been a problem, they are more than happy to wait to pay you!)

[transistoric]

hate when I find myself up late losing sleep bc of months old bs

someone who was not only a dick to me but also in being a dick to me threw a wrench in the sweet social get together I used to have regularly that was lowkey and a nice getaway to talk with friends and make cool things. instead they decide to immaturely and unfairly blow up on me essentially about meeting times and having to cancel last minute once, definitely the scale of thing that an emotionally mature adult would tell you within a reasonable timeline and not typically withhold from you for months and then blow up on you in a group chat about. in fact you’d say it’s the kind of minor thing people wouldn’t sweat AT ALL.

anyway this mf blew up on me in a group chat and I have already moved farther away and these other people around the mf are huge home bodies who don’t necessarily wanna drive an hour after being just casual friends but they were still great to hang with nearby and they’re not hugely confrontational so essentially this cool meet up we used to have has been on hiatus since the blowup. It’s not that I don’t have other ppl nearby who are great to be around but I’m still so pissed this particular cool artsy thing I used to be part of was ruined over someone who acted accusatory and articulated their blow up as if they were not an immature overactive toddler who shies away from adult healthy conversations both in person and text

the amount of emotionally immature and spiteful, hurtful people out there who are convinced they’re the victim and/or self righteous protector when they’re stooping to vent about minor issues (we’re talking scheduling issues or asking for a fucking invoice) they failed to bring up at the time and in the manner that’s appropriate has exhausted me. I’m not being overly gentle anymore and bending to people’s bullshit bc I’m tired of being overly diplomatic. it’s not a solution to then be mean but I’m being firm and not over giving anymore it’s not sustainable and they nowhere near deserve it. /endrant

[papa-evershed]

[masterjedilenawrites]

I think i’m going to take a little mental health break this week. I’ve spent a lot of time and effort fulfilling requests the last couple weeks but didn’t get many notes/interaction on them so feeling a little dejected. I think some time off to reset will help me come back to the other requests and projects I have with genuine passion and not interest in just affirmation. I mean, it’d be nice to have more people enjoy the things I put effort into, but I also write for myself too, so if I’m feeling burnt out in this hobby, it’s just time to take a little break. Hope to be back soon!

[maroonmorons]

let me just take a moment to be absolutely crystal clear

if I have ever implied or outright expressed I want queer actors in queer roles it is because I want the stigma that queer actors cannot come out and still get work to end

I want people of any and every profession to be able to come out with 0 repercussions that is the dream

that does NOT mean people should/have to come out or that I’m entitled to know anything about their personal lives

real people do not queerbait

they actually cannot

y’all are weird if you think otherwise

[wahbegan]

bigzubeblanket replied to your post: do YOU know how to swashbuckle (because that would...

YOOOOOO

Always watchin movies like HANGING PARRY!!! MIND YOUR FEET!! WHY ARE YOU SWINGING YOUR SWORD AT YOUR OPPONENT’S SWORD, YOU IMBECILE???? STAB FOR FUCK’S SAKE

[gunmetal-ring]

Random but another pet peeve of mine is when a fic totally demonizes Lori. Like yeah okay she cheated on her husband except her husband was as far as she knew dead. She could trust one (1) person in the entire world to keep her and her son safe. It was the one (1) person that looked out for her while her husband was in the hospital, too. It was the one (1) person that could even share a semblance of what she was experiencing. God forbid she try to find some kind of earthly comfort while the world was ending grappling with traumatic grief on top of the regular grief of having her husband shot and slip into a coma, stressed out of her mind with worry about whether or not her son would live another day, worried about how losing his dad would affect him especially in a world like this, beyond grateful that he could have a surrogate dad when he most needed it

Like damn of course she trauma bonded w Shane who in her position wouldn't. Jfc. Of course she didn't tell Rick right away. Who tf would. She broke it off with Shane immediately upon realizing he lied to her and rick actually was alive. Of course the issues from their regular marriage weren't magically solved when he returned. The apocalypse doesn't cure marital strife. One might actually say it exacerbates it.

And yeah no shit she was conflicted about keeping the baby. No shit she was harsh when cutting ties with Shane. No shit she tried to apologize to him for being harsh - the guy just fucking tried to rape her, and she could sense him growing unstable, and plus she felt guilty about being callous when he'd done so much for her and carl. And no shit she was devastated when she found out Rick killed him, and carl put him down, bc it meant that Rick was a totally different person than she'd ever known, and carl was exposed to something horrifically violent and traumatic, and she kept trying to mend things with Rick and he was being an asshole about it, and carl took out his adolescent anger on her too like normal teenagers do

She did what she could to protect carl and herself and tried to navigate loving a man while having trauma bonded to another and carrying his baby and oh yeah that's a total 180 from the relationship they'd had before the world ended and just what a fuckin mess

Anyway i always loved lori and was appalled at all the hate she got back when i was watching the show when it first came out and when writers make her out to be a villain i hit the exit button bc nope /endrant

[storyof-eden]

Lemme rant for a hot minute

So here's the thing. In canon? Hermione did not Obliviate her parents.

This is what she tells Harry and Ron and the Burrow:

"I've also modified my parents' memories so that they're convinced they're really called Wendell and Monica Wilkins, and that their life's ambition is to move to Australia, which they have now done..."

Later, in the cafe? This is what happens:

"You're the boss," said Ron, sounding profoundly relieved. "But I've never done a Memory Charm." "Nor have I," said Hermione, "but I know the theory." She took a deep, calming breath, then pointed her wand at Dolohov's forehead and said, "Obliviate."

.

So to me, there are three options here.

Modifying a memory doesn't actually constitute a Memory Charm or there's just the implication that "Memory Charm" = Obliviate

Hermione is lying during one of the exchanges

The Author forgot and has no idea what's going on

Personally, I think it's the first one. I don't think Hermione Obliviated her parents. If she did, wouldn't she say it plainly? Admit to what she's done?

Anyway--that's just one of those things that gets to me. Hermione didn't wipe her parents' memories using Obliviate. She, presumably, modified them using some other series of spells.

IT BUGS ME OKAY.

/endrant

[everythingsouthasian]

My Liberation Notes E2 Climax

I think that episode 2 climax has become kind of a hit with the fandom, but I didn’t get it. “You’ll have nothing to do in the winter, so worship me” is such an... odd phrase/request to put forth. I have a terrible problem with her wording, or at least the way it’s translated. I guess primarily because I associate worship with anything “godly” and transcending humanity, so I am unable to fathom why Mi-jeong feels like she deserves God-status? And I think this has less to do with the translation, because in the following scene, they display the English synonyms of the Hangul term as “revere, respect, worship”. She perhaps meant she wanted him to respect her, because she was tired of people at work treating her like shit?

I don’t know, the “worship me” phrase makes absolutely 0 sense to me in the context of Mi-jeong’s character (whom we anyway know so little about thus far). I know that she’s looking for an earnest and profound relationship at this point (hence the multiple arsehole boyfriends’ reference), but she could probably have used something more pertinent like “be my best friend” or “let’s get to know each other” or “be my 3AM friend” or, Greys Anatomy fandom will get this reference, “be my person”; anything but “worship me” would make sense to me. The way she uses the phrase, or how it is inserted (and repeated about a zillion times in the span of 2 minutes), kind of ruins the entire scene for me, truth be told. I wish they’d had better dialgoues there, because that does seem to be an incredibly important scene between a possibly canon couple.

And don’t even get me started on all the negative connotations of “I need to feel whole for once” follow up to the “worship me” line. I mean, here we are in the 21st century, advocating to not be dependent on others to fulfill us, hence, that is a whole new can of worms I do not wish to open right now. For now, “worship me” makes for a terrible catchphrase.

/endrant

[willowbird]

Reblogging for @creativefiend19 's tags. Because omg. Look. The crying club is one of those like 2 second moments in cdth that I regularly obsess over because I NEED TO KNOW MORE about Adam's college adventure. I just. I need it.

I can’t stop thinking about how cdth implies that Persephone is haunting Adam’s tarot deck. Like I imagine the first time Adam reaches Persephone through them, they’re both like so excited to hear from each other, and she leaves him with some sort of wisdom. But Adam doesn’t have anyone to ask the usual “college kid calling their mom” questions, so he keeps contacting her for the dumbest shit. She’s like living it up in the afterlife, and Adam comes in like “Hey. Sorry to bother you. How do I make a doctor’s appointment?”

[whitecanarrow]

@ my brain why can't you just... ship any of the popular ships?

Or bring yourself to like any of the "cool" "edgy" anti-heroes/villains?

Tired of feeling like the fandom buzzkill.

[haleigh-sloth]

Just to spill it out because I can't tell if I have absolute SHIT luck or good luck but--

I accidentally locked myself out of my house tonight when I went to walk my dogs. The emergency number for my complex didn't operate on weekends so....obviously it's not an emergency number then.

My brother has my spare key and lives half an hour away but was working from home and couldn't leave until 1am (it was like 7:45pm at this point), and a locksmith was at minimum an hour away and was going to cost me like $300. I was about to pay to uber up to my brother but I had my DOG with me which, probably wouldn't have flown with the Uber driver.

I went up to a neighbor who was standing outside minding his own business and asked if he knew how to pick a lock. He said no but that he would walk down and see if he could help me somehow.

This man climbed the wall of my building, opened my top floor patio door (that I by some miracle didn't lock), climbed over the metal railing, and into my house to come let me in.

On one hand, I feel like I'm cursed because it literally feels like the universe is trying to kill my spirit with a lot of other bullshit going on, on the other hand--what a blessing some guy was willing to do that for me.

Anyway /endrant