Oh joy to the world!

I got myself a Hannukah miracle!

As you may know, not too long ago Frida died and I found myself laptop-less.

Well, no more!

Friends, Readers, Lurkers and Voyeurs!

I present you with...

Ursula, the laptop!

I hope she lasts a wee bit longer than Ms. Frida did.

I've just finished all the installations and such and am looking forward to actually working on it!
As Mr. Izzard would say:
"Oh, bravo"

My tolerance for people has never been particularly high. I'm very picky about the people I'm willing to be friends with and I unfortunately tend to form strong opinions very quickly, so if someone said, done or have an attitude that grates me... I'm afraid it would take a hell of a lot to make me consider that someone worth any kind of positivity from me.

The one kind of attitude I can't fucking stand, really, it pisses me off beyond grating, is the "I'm so speshul" attitude.

A small disclaimer; I have my own incidences in which I'm completely narcissistic and think I'm the best thing that ever happened. This is a normal thing for people who know they're smart, I think.
But when [editorial] you are only saying something in a class discussion that isn't in aid of putting forth a standpoint, but in fact to put yourself in the spot light, you're an ass.
No, really.
You are.
I'm sorry I'm being vague, but I dislike demonizing particular people on the Internet, especially since I'm not locking this post as it's actually something worth talking about.

In a class forum, especially in a class in which sexuality and gender identity is on the table (it being a Queer Theory class), your own individual personal sexuality isn't what's being discussed.
It's one thing and a very good thing, to say out loud, that the discussion is excluding certain sexualities and identities (e.g. bisexuality and genderqueer). It's another to say that it affects you personally.
No, sorry, that's someone with an attitude problem.
And I may sound harsh, but I cannot stand it when people decide to use a class forum to show off their "spedhulness".
It's neither the time nor the place.
You want to talk about your own sexuality, there are breaks and after-class discussions. I mean, c'mon, we're a bunch of intellectual queers... this is what we do.
It rubs me the wrong way.
I (try to) participate in classes. I have things to say. I try to make them a standpoint and not a "personal opinion" or a "personal issue" mainly because, every word I say is ideological and very obviously a "personal" thing, unless I'm very specifically playing Devil's Advocate - but that's a whole different kettle of fish (where does that saying come from).

There are certain types of "speshul" people.
Not just the type described above.

There's also the type that feels the need to tell you, that because they like something in a certain way, then liking that same something in a different way is wrong.
For example, I was talking to this person about Alan Moore and how I'm really pre-supposed to hating the new "Watchmen" movie, mainly because I hate, despise Zack Snyder.
Hate. That. Director.
A lot.
Aesthetics mean a lot... but not enough to cover up the badness and complete lack of directorial abilities.
But I digress.
Any way, this person totally agrees and inside I'm all "yay, Moore fan!" and then he says "I really hated the Vendetta movie as well".
And I was like "What? How come? I mean, it was a very cute adaptation? Wachowski Sibs!"
He goes: "It completely butchered the meaning of the book, which is one of the few works that managed to show Anarchy as interesting".
(I refrain from bringing up "The Dispossessed" by Ursula K. Le Guin).
I say: "I enjoyed it and..." before I can finish my thought about the movie making it's own statement about freedom, government and other things like that, he interrupts and says:
"I guess I'm more of a political hard-liner than you"

What is with people?
Seriously?
Do you know me? I think not. I'll tell you something, I now know this guy a hell of a lot better now than before and I hope the hostility I transmit reaches him loud and clear.

People are people, I know.
And I can understand how misanthropy develops and becomes ones default position when it comes to interaction with others.
I really hope I retain my love for humanity for a little bit longer, despite the fact that I'm encountering these characters.

Is it funny, or sad that there's an Ayn Rand Club for Philosophy Students at my Uni and they're spamming the entire Humanities student body's email.
The first meeting is next Wedesnday.

Do I go and mock?
Or do I avoid the proto-fascist crazies?

Help me out dear friends.

I'm just... who would have thought? Randians on campus, and they could be anyone. Cooo! Maybe I should go and scope in order to know who to avoid for the rest of my academic career.
When I was a teenager I was a Randian, read all her books, felt that I was Smarter and More Capable than Thou... loved "The Selfish Ideal".
Then I finished adolescence.
Like may things Randinism is a phase.
How can people, students of high theory, philosophy and such actually consider this woman to be anything other than a stylish author!?
Digressing over.

So? Should I stay or should I go? *duh-na-na-na-naa*

Un-Fucking-Believable!

This house is a hub of technological dysfunction.
Or maybe there's just something about Mel.

Over the months of anticipation for the Iron Man DVD, I've been watching other movies and series on the home teevee and DVD machine.

Guess.
No really.
Try and guess what happened when I began to watch this oh so anticipated movie.
Yes.
That's right.
The signal between the DVD machine and the fucking teevee was lost.
Lost.
No signal.
No picture.
No Tony Fucking Stark in a Shiny Metal Jacket!

The Universe hates me.
Hates me!!!!!

Aaaaargh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The frustration is killing me!
First Frida, then the home network (which is fixed thank you new telephone wire) and now the fucking DVD decides to fucking malfunction - even though it's actually the teevee that decided that Iron Man and the special features within are not for Mel's consumption.

Dude!
What! The! Fuck!

Forget about the Universe hating me.
I hate this bloody Universe!

---

Please not that this is all in reference to the past half hour. The Universe and the World are filled with Many Good Things unrelated to seeing Robert Downey Junior don an exo-suit and flying around to the sound of heavy metal music.
Which I currently cannot do.

I'm blocked.

I have, like, lots of ideas for entires that may or may not be interesting to other people, but they're definitely interesting to me.
I mean, I've been reading all sorts of things critiques about the economic bail out and the economy in general, since many Lefties are calling for reform and saying "Nyah! We told you this system was bad *razzberry*".
I mean, it does sort of seem like that doesn't it?

In any event I'm not writing anything in depth about the economy, or the local political situation which may keep me from beginning University on time.
Again.
Fuck the ministry of finance!
You fucking suck!
Economic disparity is bad for everyone, but fuck fuckity fuck!!! If someone deserved to get their ass bitten in the current financial climate it would the minister of fucking finance, Bar-On - the two fingered slaute is way, WAY to mild for what I fantasize about happening to you - you greedy, over-paid, neo-liberal, lying, double dealing fascist shit!

And yes, I know, it's bad form to wish ill on anyone in general and specifically on the Eve of Yom Kippur, just before we're supposed to be Atoning for sins we committed amongst ourselves and God.
Screw it, okay?!
I'm an Irreverent Heretic no matter which way you look at it.
But yeah, Days of Awe will be done tomorrow and I must say... wasn't feeling too Awesome this year.
Last year I felt a much deeper connection to what was going on, even before we went to schul, but this year I think I'm in a spiritually numb place... or my peak has come and gone, or it's yet to come over Sukkot which is next week.
In any event.
Feck it.

I'll probably blog something nice, meta-ish or critique-y later on.

Shanah Tovah and Eid Mubarak to those who celebrate Rosh Ha'Shana and Eid al-Fitr on my f-list and the lurkers around.
A good Tuesday to the rest of you, make it a good one, it is a New Moon after all.

For some reason I'm not feeling terribly celebratory.
I could blame it on my period (kind of apt that I began to bleed on a new moon, on one of the most important Holidays of the year), but that always seems like a cop out to me.
I don't know.
Even coffee doesn't taste as nice this morning (*gasp* *horror* I know).

Maybe it's the knowledge that this New Year isn't actually starting all that auspiciously, both at home and Internationally, which in this day and age are the same thing.
Glocalisation anyone?
I mean when you read News about an economic crisis which I know happened, but don't understand why or how, only that the debt that was rising in order to make a profit was too much and now people like my parents need to pay it because private banks are there to act not as a service, but as a for profit company.
Speculative capitalism rose, if you'll pardon the crassness, like erection and pretty much fell the same way.
I'm kind of hoping it stays impotent do that something can be done to recreate the economy, but Blue Pills are in fashion, and it's only a matter of time (which correlates to money and lives) for people to forget this crisis, because once the owners of the mainstream News outlets are no longer quaking... they'll be talking about something new.

It's not just the economy, which as you can see by the abundance of smilies and metaphors I don't actually know much about.
I only feel about it.

I haven't lost hope, my cynical optimism doesn't allow me wallow is apathy about my country as much as it used to. Also since my cynicism is about the current system of governance and social structure and my optimism is about the change that can and needs to be brought about.
The olive harvest is starting this month and unlike last year, this year I'm much more apprehensive.
The tension between the Israeli factions is very, very high.
And you never know if Settlers and their sympathizers will come and disrupt a picking just for the hell of it... which has happened. Not to mention the IDF forces that may or may not be away, or stand around and glare at us like happened last year.
But I'm not really worried about it.
I'm still trying to get other people to come with me, because last year I pretty much went alone and didn't know many people. I probably know more people this year and will make new friends but still, it's nice to be with people you know.
I'm still stoked about the fact that I managed to get my Parental Units to come with me last year!

Another thing that's causing me to be a wee bit down is the fact that I've finally noticed that nothing has really changed. I mean, I feel I've changed, because I consciously refuse to become static. Stasis is much more the mind killer than fear. Fear makes you react, without fear you can't be courageous... you're just stupid.
I'm very wary of this non-change that I see.
That on this side of the fence (wall) life goes on as usual, whole Over There things are also unchanging but are in rapid deterioration.
And under the surface eruption is immanent.

Sorry about the downer.
But what's misery without company right?

Tomorrow is my Nephew's fourth birthday.
There will be a party
Expect a more optimistic and happy entry at some point.

Once again Have a Good New Year, a Happy Eid and a Successful Tuesday.

Dear Ladies, Gents and Others in the Supermarket,

Mind your own fucking business!

Thanks,

The grrl who was doing as her Mother asked and really wasn't looking for any input from you.

I mean, really.
There I am minding my own business putting olives into a plastic container from the buffet like counter where you can put as many condiments as you like in the aforementioned containers. Mother Unit asked me to cover the olives in the water.
I do so.
And as I put the container in the cart I am bombarded by one of the workers behind the meat counter telling me that I should put the water in a different container so I don't have to pay the extra weight.
I stare blankly completely surprised to be spoken to in this situation - going to the Supermarket is one of the most anti-social phenomena in real life I feel - and mumble about doing what my mother asked me to.
And then, then other shoppers around me began to tell me to do the same thing and someone asked who my mother was!

Fucking hell.

I shot out of that aisle like something on wheels.
Mother Unit was a little past me and gave me a look of total puzzlement.
Moi: Who are these Nosey People?
MU: I don't know. Who cares if I want to pay extra for the water!?
Moi: They scared me.
Mu: Poor baby.

I hate going to the Supermarket.
It's one of those places that really brings out the worst in Humanity.

Staying up late to watch obscure movies which for some reason are only broadcast between one in the morning and four in the morning.

I love my Night Owlish ways.

The movie in question is Fur, by the way. Pretty "mundane" people and self-identifying "Freaks" who are also very pretty.

The last time this happened was a few months ago with A Scanner Darkly, hasn't been on teevee since, as far as I'm aware.

As an aside; it's interesting to note that both these films feature Robert Downey Junior, no. Also Zodiac, in which RDJ also appears, is on teevee this weekend and I'll be watching that as well. Yeah, try and stop my movie buffness.
Yes, RDJ rocks, rah rah rah - and yes he so spouts racist anti-intellectual nonsense... but his performances do really rock.
End of aside.

I also remember the first time I found an obscure movie in the middle on the night. It was about five years ago and I had insomnia and I was channel surfing like a zombie when suddenly I came across an Alan Rickman movie I didn't know existed - the horribleness of it!

The movie is Judas Kiss and it is so very bizarre, Alan Rickman's and Emma Thompson's accents alone are distracting from the plot - of which I have no recollection, by the way, but the grainy looking picture and the it being set in New Orleans, the one thing I remember, made it a funny movie experience as well.

As would watching a movie of that kind between two in the morning and four in the morning, I suppose.

Anyway, looking forward to the totally made up biopic of Diane Arbus and watching the prettiness of Steven Shainberg's directing. He's the one that did Secretary, probably the best love story ever.
Yes, even better than The French Lieutenant's Woman, which having seen it recently... is not that good as a story.

I have a Job!

At a book shop.

An Independent second hand (and also new) book shop.

It pretends to be a second hand book shop, but there is a stairwell to a basement filled with Sci-Fi and Fantasy books, Comics, Action Figures, Dolls, Zines, Magazines, Shirts and Props.

How cool is that?!?!

So yeah, there's schlepping, and filing, and cleaning and all that other stuff that you have to do in order to work in a shop (I've been told by the Boss that I need to lose my conscience ASAP... Woe!).

Also, I'm working minimum wage. Which is okay (it's peanuts) but what do I have to complain about, I just need to keep my bank account from dropping too much before the bank starts telling me that that minus is their plus, forever.

Anywho... isn't that the coolest thing ever!?

Here's a Plug.

I'm slowly but surely working my way into being the cool Aunt, if only by default.

The Jerusalem contingency (The two Nephews, Amos (7) and Shaul (3 going on 4)) I believe perceive me to be that easily irritated lady with cool books and toys... and Justice League cartoon episodes - they're far too young to read the comic books, but they're at the right age to learn that Batman, along with Wonder Woman (and yes, okay, Superman as well) rock the socks.
They are back with their 'rental units in Jerusalem, so the Asylum is not as hectic as it was over the last weekend.

The Local contingency have vastly improved their attitudes towards me. Libby (2), the Niece, actually initiates contact with me and no longer gives me Hard Stares when I talk to her or suggest something. The child is very, very independent. Her catch phrase is "No! Me do it", though she speaks beautifully with quite a large vocabulary which includes colours, numbers and other words of command - not bad for a two and half year old kid, eh.

Her big brother, Shvo (6), I think sees me as a fluctuating person, going from authority figure to play thing - my tolerance for repetition* game is thin. However, he being a precocious six year is into pushing the limits so he has also begun to say "dirty words" like "Heck" and "Damn" which his 'rental units don't approve.

Personally, I'm a potty mouth so I don't mind him using "bad" words in my presence. Not to mention that he has read all the buttons that I have on my canvas bag - buttons which include Zero to Bitch in 4.0 Seconds and I'm a very loving and positive person, so don't give me any negative bullshit asshole. In addition, the local Buffy Fan-club produces buttons and stickers with prime quotes, of which I have several on the same bag and they include: Out. For. A. Walk. Bitch and Sodding, blimey, shagging, knickers, bollocks... Oh God! I'm English - that Spike... gotta love him.
And yes that was me bragging about my button collection, sue me.

Suffice to say I've added quite a bit to his bad-word vocabulary, which is fine when it's the two of us and we're laughing and making fart jokes... but I'm not keen on his mother (my older sister-sibling) telling me to stop teaching him these things.

Ain't I the coolest.

Notes
* Wherein you repeat everything a person says to them, e.g: Moi: Come here.
Him: Come here
Moi: Stop that
Him: Stop that
Moi: I said enough
Him: I said enough
Moi: Don't make me raise my voice
Him: Don't make me raise my voice
Ad nauseam.