Leah

So my soon-to-be-live-in boyfriend Josh-- he's the guy in charge of the Nieman Journalism Lab, which I point out in part because it's apropos and in part to try to make up for my previous "Nieman" spelling mistakes-- talks sometimes about Twitter's potential as a reporting and news vehicle, largely thanks to its immediacy, even compared to web-based news sites, blogs, etc. Case in point: reports of earthquakes on the other side of the globe. Not so earth-shattering (earth-shaking?) other case in point: the other week there was a shooting on Harvard's campus, and while the articles that were posted on "official" newspaper webpages were no doubt more complete, and "reliable" (re: accuracy), and are important for it, they came after anyone on Twitter had already heard the basics.

What it seems like is happening here (at least to my non-journalist mind) is that one of the traditional functions of the news-- speedy reporting of things-that-are-happening-now(ish)-- has been essential usurped.( I get to SPN and Asylum eventually, I promise! )

My comments on a negative (?) review of In the Hunt

You can't link straight to the comment, but it's easy to find-- it's the pathetically wordy one about 22 down, labeled with my name. A few thoughts on passion vs commerce and the value of publishing/editing in changing literary landscapes (in this case fandom), plus a generic reference to my fanfic habits.

. . . if you're a Supernatural fan, I humbly suggest you check out our In the Hunt promotional site, complete with an excerpt of the book and the finalist essays from our Supernatural.tv/Smart Pop Supernatural Essay Contest from last year.

I'm really pleased with how it turned out. And, of course, with the ever-growing fixation with the show that the project gave me. ;)

Running Press Sweet on M/M Romantic Fiction

Running Press is launching a new m/m historical romance line that features gay romantic fiction written primarily by and for straight women, which the publisher called a growing market--however unlikely it may seem. The books feature plots "ripe with forbidden love, exotic locations and sensual leading men." Because the books are modeled on romance novels, not gay erotica, they are geared toward the romance sections of bookstores, not the erotica sections.

The first two titles, to be published next April, are Transgressions by Erastes and False Colorsby Alex Beecroft. Two other titles are scheduled for fall 2009. ( rest under cut )

Which naturally led into a staff meeting discussion this afternoon about my recent forays into Supernatural fandom. I'm not sure what made my coworkers' eyes go wider: Wincest or RPS.

Had a conversation this morning at Starbucks with a Latin translater on the orginal bible phrasing re: homosexuality (sparked by the 600-page Queers in History manuscript on my table). It was about specific acts, he said, not love. Which makes me wonder whether cleanliness-- a la guidelines for kosher meats and women during "that time of the month"-- wasn't a big factor there.

Proposition 8: The Musical

This afternoon, also, I bound a manuscript copy of Queers in History for easier transport and reading. My day has been so thematic!

Twittering now, in case that's anyone's thing: www.twitter.com/leahalexis

I admit I haven't done a lot of listening to past concession speeches, but--

I'm very satisfied with (most of) McCain's concession speech; it's the most sincere I've heard him sound since the election began, and the most appealing. Not because he's conceding (though it is the outcome I voted for), but because of the way he's conceding. I remember back before this election, when I used to respect McCain very much, and I'm glad I'm getting to leave him on a good note.

*phone rings*

Leah: (picks up phone) Hello?
Leah's sister: I'm with my scooter at the mechanic's, and I'm wearing some guy's motorcycle jacket as a skirt.
Leah: Why are you wearing some guy's motorcycle jacket as a skirt?
Leah's sister: Well, it was raining.
Leah: . . . and that somehow made you LOSE YOUR PANTS?

My guess is I don't have a lot of working journalists on my friend's list, but if you've ever been interested in journalism, or like to read news stories sometimes, or just are so slavishly devoted to me that you click on whatever link I put before you (suckers!), I'd like to recommend you check out the newly launched Nieman Journalism Lab.

The NJL is "an attempt to help journalism figure out its future in an Internet age . . . highlight attempts at innovation and figure out what makes them succeed or fail . . . help reporters and editors adjust to their online labors . . . help traditional news organizations find a way to survive . . . help the new crop of startups that will complement-- or supplant-- them."

Yes, this site is the product of much hard work on the part of the boy, so I'm obliged to recommend it regardless, but I'm also digging it on its own merits. Sure, I'm not very good at following the specifics of news (i.e., the actual news . . . but seriously, that knowledge is clearly Josh's job in the relationship, whereas I handle the plot details of various sci-fi and fantasy tv shows), but I'm very interested in how things work, and how industries change. Also, y'know, Josh writes stuff good.

Current highlights (in my un-newsy mind): an interview with Ana Marie Cox (the original Wonkette), the purpose behind those Mad Men "advertising facts", some very Smart Pop-relevant musing on the recent John Hodgman Wired interview

1. I'm still trying to figure out what I think of Fringe overall, but I do know two things: first, more shows should have cows; and second, I am irrationally pleased to have Joshua Jackson back on my television. I blame this largely on Doug, for putting Dawson's Creek (and thus Jackson) on my radar to begin with, and my freshman roommate Carrie, for actually making me watch it. Or, more accurately, I should probably blame my strong appreciation for competent smart ass second fiddles-- guys who can comfortably take a backseat. Jackson, I think, plays an awfully good one of those.

2. Does Sarah Palin's new hairstyle make anyone else think of Laura Roslin from BSG?

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ETA (before I even manage to post!): The boy has already burst my bubble by letting me know I am not the first to observe this Palin/Roslin thing. Alas! Curse the Internet and its capacity for preventing me from being pleased with my keen powers of comparison!

Losing the Weight Stigma

They don't acknowledge us by, like, name, or anything, but look! There's our book!

. . . or does Jim Lehrer sound like a marriage counselor? ("Senator McCain, please, address Senator Obama directly. Tell him how his behavior makes you feel. . . .")

Okay, what the hell, Supernatural. Can you not just totally invalidate, like, five of my essays from In the Hunt in the frickin' season premiere?? The day after I turn the manuscript in to the production department???

( Other, brief but more spoilery reactions )

There's a frickin' bullet-hole in my boss's office window.

That is all.

1) In school, I hated outlining chapters, and I never thought I'd need to use the skill ever again. Practically all I've done this week is outline stuff. And not in the fun chalk/dead body way.

2) Jack in the Box's "orange sunrise" tastes a lot like an icier Orange Julius.

3) My handwriting is even worse than I joke to incoming interns that it is.

Nothing about me (save, occasionally, my toenails) particularly sparkles. I'm generally kind of quiet. I don't have hilarious, appropriately paced stories sanitized for casual group telling, and consequently people tend to have to be introduced to me a half dozen times before memory of me really sticks. (This last bit is not self-pity; it is, I swear, absolutely true.)

This is actually about politics, I promise.

To borrow a metaphor from the very wise Ms. Crusie, ( I'm more of a muffin than I am a cupcake. )

So, seriously, I've been trying to come up with something good about the whole Palin VP thing, and today I did: How great is it that somebody went, shoot, if we wanna win this election, we better pick somebody female? That someone thought it'd be helpful, instead of an obstacle? Sure, I was pissed that McCain et al did it, and I'm still kinda pissed about it-- and picking somebody for their gender? still not best case scenario-- but it's still pretty awesome, since four years ago, I find it tough to believe anybody would've done it.

So there you go: silver lining.

This guy:

As someone who went to Duke, let me say I'd have rather gone to Columbia. Sure the prestige of the degrees is pretty much equal, but Duke is full of ugly, overweight, women. Driving out to Chapel Hill to nail UNC girls gets old. I'd rather have my pick of Upper West Side trim.

(The article's cute; it's just the commenters who scare me.)

A tidbit from my current project, Toxic Beauty:

Following over a decade's review of AHAs [alpha-hydroxy acids], studies sponsored by the FDA finally warned that AHA ingredients in sunscreens increase the susceptibility of the skin to damage following exposure to sunlight-- the very thing sunscreens are supposed to protect against-- and thus increase the risk of skin cancer. These studies also identified a doubling of UV skin damage among people using AHA products. While typically failing to take any regulatory action, in this case the FDA proposed the following: sunscreen users should be warned to "limit sun exposure while using these products and for a week afterward."

I . . . I just have no words.

If I were an Olympic gymnast? I'm not sure I'd be wearing makeup. I mean, I get mascara in my eyes when I blink, forget flinging myself around bars and over vaults and stuff.

Truly, gymnastics is a demanding sport.

It's at moments like this, when you're awakened in the middle of the night by the fire alarm going off in the building next door, followed by the sound of sirens, that you think to yourself: Shit-- I have no renter's insurance.

Blogging and long-form narrative can be alternate means to the same end, breaking through the calcified restraints of traditional newspaper writing.

Featuring Steve Jobs, 19th century painters, the Sixth Floor Museum, Tom Craddick, and a rustic french loaf, all in 51 minutes or less.

The Atomization of Conversation