On me, fic, friending, filtering and a bit on politics and books

[amari_z]

If you've friended this journal, you might want to read the third paragraph if nothing else.

I’ve been pretty much AWOL lately, and haven’t been spending much time online at all. (So, if there’s something anyone wants me to know, please tell me/post a link in the comments, because I haven’t been keeping up.)

I’m still working on the next part of Resurrection (a/k/a teh crack). I was hoping to finish it by the end of the year, but it’s going slooowly and I don’t seem to have much time/energy for it, so that seems unlikely--although I‘m going to try to have at least a draft done (provided work doesn‘t decide to explode in my face). I’m up to about 20 pages, although they need severe rewriting. There are a bunch of things in this chapter that I’ve been building toward for ages, so hopefully when it’s done, it’ll be somewhat exciting. It’s funny--I think I originally figured I’d get to these plot points in something like the sixth part. Ha! I actually remember sitting in an airport awaiting my connection on my way back from Austria, o so many moons ago (after I had been prodded into making this a series and realized I probably couldn‘t just get away with making bad jokes), and coming up with these vague plotty things. (I think I was smirking to myself because people in the waiting area gave me a couple odd looks. Or maybe that was because they were just worried I was a terrorist.) Anyway, this just means that in addition to the usual agonizing I do when writing this stuff, there’s no pressure or anything.

Also, I haven’t been paying attention to the friending thing for a while. I think a couple people have friended me. If you’re one of them, and you want me to friend you back, you can post something here. If you want to be added to my personal filter (mostly me venting my rage about work and other stupidities, but not even that lately), let me know, but I tend not to do that unless you have an active journal. And at some point when I get around to it, I am going to prune my filters, which are kind of a mess. This means that if you’ve haven’t commented much but are currently friended and included in the filter, I might defilter you on the assumption that you’re here for the fic (when I post any), which is all public. So, if you’re the quiet type, but don’t want to be defiltered, I’m afraid this is your chance to speak up. If you you aren't sure whether you're filtered and/or likely to be defiltered and care one way or the other, feel free to ask.

Ok, complete random change of topic: in one of the last posts I managed to make, the one after September 11, I quoted from a book by Rashid Khalidi, who is Middle Eastern scholar of moderate bent. I just recently saw this. You know, I do find it infuriating that even the hint of being critical of Israel in this country is enough to brand you as evil. I find this comment, made by a student, telling: "'It should have been like, yes, I know him, and I’d like to know more Middle East experts, because that’s an important thing when you’re making policies.’” How the hell are you ever going to begin to address the situation unless you can acknowledge the positions of both sides? It’s absolutely essential as a starting point--unless, of course, your ultimate policy is actually genocide.

And so what if Mr. Khalidi had babysat Obama’s kids? What’s wrong with the concept? The Colin Powell line seems to be the one to take here, not a simple denial. (And, to my mind, whatever else he’s done that I despise, Powell has completely redeemed himself in my eyes. He’s the only major political figure I’ve heard who’s made the point that I’ve felt like screaming since this whole Obama-is-a-Muslim stuff began.)

And also, btw, if anyone is interested in reading something from the non-Israeli perspective, I just finished Palestinian Walks, which is beautiful book about the landscape of Palestine and the change that Israel’s policies have wrought. It gives some sense of what it means to live in the occupied West Bank. I also read Let It Be Morning, a novel set in a Palestinian village in Israel just before the Oslo Accords were signed. Both are recommended.

And speaking of books, I’ haven’t bought a book in at least a month (I think). That’s pretty scary (and has nothing to do with the frightening state of the economy, since I‘ll forgo food before reading material). Consider it my contribution to the Halloween thing, since I worked late yesterday, did not dress up, ate no candy, gave no candy away, and played no tricks. I’m determined to make a good dent in my Big List of Shame. I’m actually down to under 20 books on my fiction list (we won’t mention the nonfiction). This, if you know anything about me, is pretty much unprecedented.

Comments

[amara-1783.livejournal.com]

Hey! :D Am speaking up on the filtering thing, because I do greatly enjoy reading everything you post and would hate to be taken off any filters I'm on (and would like to be on all of them, in fact, because you are articulate and interesting and a pleasure to read). I'm terrible at commenting and my active journal is currently over at IJ, so thought I'd better leave a comment.

[amari-z.livejournal.com]

Thanks! And no problem. I remember you. :) There are some people on my friends list who I don't think I've ever exchanged a written word with, and I have no idea who/what they are, so this is mainly directed at them. (Not like I'm paranoid or anything.) You're over at IJ now? I keep meaning to do a backup journal over there, but . . . well, lazy.

[ladybugkay.livejournal.com]

I'm thrilled to know Resurrection will be updated soon (and that you're working on it now). It's one of my very favourite fanfics, and I've reread it a couple of times despite only having (relatively) recently discovered it.

It's difficult to find really good Arthurian fic, particularly of the Lancelot/Arthur variety, and I am a shameless fan of your interpretation of Lancelot, so this series never fails to make me happy. Thank you!

[amari-z.livejournal.com]

Soon? Yeah. Suuure. Suffice it to say, I'm trying. And definitely eventually.

I'm glad you're enjoying rereading it, anyway. I need to do some of that myself, to remember what it was I was writing about. Kidding. Well, sort of.

Thanks for the kind words! One of the great things about this version of Lancelot, to my mind, is no matter what you do to him (well, not me, it's all Arthur, and Merlin and others), he's more likely to hit something than wallow. That's always going to be more fun. ;)

[sasha-b.livejournal.com]

I know we don't chat so much, but I'd like to stay up on your life still. :))))

[amari-z.livejournal.com]

Don't worry, I remember who you are!

[evil-jacquie.livejournal.com]

Hey there, I hope I make the cut. I, too, love reading your posts. And I"m really anxious to see more of Restruction, so doing the happy dance for that, too.

[amari-z.livejournal.com]

No problem. :) Although you might want to pace yourself on the happy dancing thing . . . .

[darklyscarlett.livejournal.com]

Don't even get me started on the Professor Khalidi bullshit.

Your music meta reminded me that I have to get you to Sugar Sweet Sunshine for dessert: Mike Doughty's rider called for a dozen of their cupcakes, 6 pistachio (my favorite), 6 vanilla. They do the double chocolate one that benitle loved when she was here.

[amari-z.livejournal.com]

Well, then I guess he's no dummy. :) And I have to laugh every time I hear that song, because it seems, inevitably, that I'm sitting in Starbucks.

Sure, let's go sometime. The hard part will be deciding which flavor to try.

[suejc3dogs.livejournal.com]

It's good to read you, and I eagerly await more resurrection fic.

As to the McCain campaign's screaming about all of the things that Obama might be - a socialist, a friend of Palestine, a Muslim, a Radical, I say so what. I doubt he's as left wing as they are screaming, but this country has moved way too far to the right.

I agree with you that in order to solve the situation in the Middle East it is necessary to see both sides of the picture. Israel has a right, I believe, to continue in existence and I hope it does so, but not at the cost of the eradication of the chance for a Palestinian state. It's ugly over there, but it's not only the Palestinians who make it so.

Glad to see your post.

[amari-z.livejournal.com]

Well, today's the day! So we shall see.

[suejc3dogs.livejournal.com]

On my way now!

[shelley-stone.livejournal.com]

Well, I was very happy to see that you're alive and kicking! I thought you'd disappeared from the planet. I do however understand about the blasted workload. That usually sucks big time *nods head vigorously*

I've sorta been keeping an eye on the election hoopla. We had our version last month. The Conservative Party was re-elected with a minority government. That is never good news. Things can get ugly very quickly and we get stuck with another election and the bills that accompany one *headdesk*. Prime Minister Harper thought he'd hedge his bets by shuffling his cabinet and appointing mostly female politicos to top cabinet positions. Gotta have have the "token little woman" on board to keep the female voters happy. That man is just so stupid....O_o


I wish you the best with your elections. McCain looks like he lost it somewhere along the line and is desperate to recapture something, anything....

As far as logical decisions made with much thought and consideration for both sides of an issue/conflict? Good luck with that one. Human nature being what it is, odds are that will never happen. A truly sad and terrible thought really.

Stay sane!

Shelley

[amari-z.livejournal.com]

Cross your fingers, or do your lucky dance, or whatever for us! Us all, really. At least your crazy government is more contained in the damage it can do and isn't trying (very hard anyway) to run the world by starting wars and bombing places.

[d-violetta.livejournal.com]

I am glad to hear you are still alive. I will have to admit sitting in the UK I have never really understood the whole Israeli question. I do feel sorry for the Palestines when I read about the problems they have just living everyday life.

I am also glad to hear you are writing more of your Resurrection fiction I do enjoy reading such a complex and interesting story.

I like reading about your life just as I like reading about other peoples we all have different views because we come different places. So if you want to keep me I would like to stay and continue to read.

[amari-z.livejournal.com]

Sure, as I said above, this was really directed at people I have on my friends list who I can't remember ever "talking" to. You, I have. :)

It's interesting to me that you say that about being in the UK. I generally consider my fellow Americans as some of the most ignorant people on earth about the Middle East, which is appalling because the U.S. is the third party in the Israel/Palestine conflict triangle. But the U.S. largely inherited that position from Britain, which has a great deal of responsibility for the origin and the framework of the conflict. Anyway, I don't consider myself all that knowledgeable, but I would like to be.

[cat-o-wen.livejournal.com]

I am thrilled to read that you are still working on Resurrection (a/k/a teh crack)!!!! I adore your work so I will always keep an eye out for that.

I find you a very interesting person even though we do not know each other well. So I hope you'll keep me friended. I suck at commenting these days while still in school. But I'm around. *waves*

Take care!

[amari-z.livejournal.com]

No worries, I've pretty much been absent from LJ for months myself. Hope you're doing well and that school is going okay!

[scifislasher.livejournal.com]

*waves* Hi, I don't think we really chat all that much - I tend to be more of a lurker in general and admittedly I'm not so active on this journal anymore - but I do like reading your posts, especially ones like these. Which is basically my way of saying I'd like to stay on any filters I may be on. :)

[toujours-nigel.livejournal.com]

Dunno about anyone else, but, sitting here in India, I can't think of anything that'd have been worse for the U.S. than the Republican party winning again. (Sarah Palin yuck) So congratulations.

[amari-z.livejournal.com]

There are a couple things worse, but they involve the abrupt end of civilization and such like.

[toujours-nigel.livejournal.com]

hmmm. well, yes, but, y'know, apocalyptic situations aside...

[amari-z.livejournal.com]

No problem. :)

[hekateriness.livejournal.com]

I like reading your personal posts.
I haven't been around or commented as much as I used to, but I'm still here.

[amari-z.livejournal.com]

No worries, I remember you. :)