Making coincidental magic vulgar since 2003

HEY! LOOK! LISTEN!

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 23:23:11 GMT

*ahem*

Now that I have your attention (y/n?) may I please beg a few minutes of your time.

Below is the link to a petition asking President Obama - how I love saying that - to appoint a Secretary for the Arts. All the details and "story" behind the initiative are in the petition. This is an area that is obviously very close to my heart and soul, and I ask that if you have ever seen a live symphonic concert, seen a play, been to a poetry reading, visited a sculpture garden or art installation or arts museum, whether these presentations were professional or amateur, hell, if you've read a self-published novel or read a "Style" or "Arts and Leisure" review in a magazine or newspaper, OR if you have children of any age who are or will be going to school in the future, SIGN THIS PETITION!

The arts are a grossly overlooked area of our society and culture - Artists ARE the voice of any society, and it is artists who create that society's culture. Arts and Arts Education are not getting the attention they deserve, and should the decline in Arts support continue the way it has over the past decades, our society will suffer greatly. Many people consider the Arts a joke, this would help us regain our footing and get us the respect we deserve.

http://www.petitiononline.com/esnyc/petition.html

One might point out how the Renaissance was great, because it sought to solve no social problem, and busied itself not about such things, but suffered the individual to develop freely, beautifully, and naturally, and so had great and individual artists, and great and individual men. One might point out how Louis XIV, by creating the modern state, destroyed the individualism of the artist, and made things monstrous in their monotony of repetition, and contemptible in their conformity to rule, and destroyed throughout all France all those fine freedoms of expression that had made tradition new in beauty, and new modes one with antique form. But the past is of no importance. The present is of no importance. It is with the future that we have to deal. For the past is what man should not have been. The present is what man ought not to be. The future is what artists are. ~ Oscar Wilde, "The Soul Of Man Under Socialism"

Thank you :)

Pretty freakin sweet

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 05:33:00 GMT

Yes, we did

We can. And we will.

ATTENTION VOTERS

Sun, 26 Oct 2008 14:07:31 GMT

As all you Americans (probably much of the rest of the world as well) know, Tuesday November 4 is Election Day (woooo).

I hope that each and every one of who who can vote, will vote. Regardless of whether you're voting for Obama, McCain, Nader or Kevorkian, all I ask of you is that you exercise your right to vote. Too many people - myself included - are apathetic when it comes to voting. But this one is "important", if what the news media is telling us is true, and everyone should get out there to vote.

There's much talk this year of voter disenfranchisement, that people will be mysteriously knocked off of registration lists, turned away from polling places for improper ID, receive fraudulent information regarding the location of their polling place, and so on. I have come across an awesome website (thanks to TIME magazine) that can help clear all of that up for you. And with a week left, there's not a lot of time, but if you find a problem now as opposed to at the polls, there may be enough time to do something about it.

canivote.org

I've just gone and confirmed that I am registered, where my polling place is, and what form of ID I need to bring. I know that for many those things are plainly obvious, but for first time voters or those who just don't do it that often, there may be question. There's not a whole lot to it, you just need to provide your first and last name, locality in which you are voting/registered, date of birth and last 4 digits of your social. They even provide outside links to your state's Board of Elections website (at least they do for VA, am assuming it is across the board).

A last note to this PSA - lines will be LONG. Polls open at 6:00am and some people will even start lining up prior to that. So be prepared. Lines are typically shorter in suburbs, but you never know and it is best to plan for the "worst". ALSO - I know that in Virginia you can and most likely will be turned away from the polls if you are wearing paraphanelia (shirt, button, ANYTHING) specifically promoting a candidate or party. No Obama shirts, no I <3 Sarah buttons. And I believe this applies in many other states as well. Just to let you know.

/srs bsns
You may return now to your regularly scheduled... whatevering.

Vote Colbert

Quick before I go to work

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 12:53:45 GMT

My little sister, Monica - 16, is somewhat of a golf prodigy, playing since about 6 or 7, she now assistant teaches at a private club, yadda yadda yadda. Just FYI for those who don't know her, she's pretty ridiculous with a club in her hand.

She received an invitation to play in the PGA's Mid-Atlantic Juniors Tour competition. That game is today/tomorrow/Friday. They rank people from the region (in this case VA and MD) according to past performances in Junior PGA open events. Out of 50+ young ladies, she is ranked 9th. 9TH. That's top freaking 10 in the region, according to the goddamn PGA. Should she do well, there is the possibility (I believe, am assuming) to move on to more national type tourneys before the summer is over.

I'm asking people to just send good vibes and positive thoughts for/about her over the next few days. She's really nervous (a-duh) but excited. :D

And He Made Me Feel Excited, Well Excited and Scared

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 11:43:59 GMT

New issue of Rolling Stone came in the mail yesterday.

(Click the pic to get to the RS article online. First half is about music/culture, but then they hit a really brilliant stride in discussing politics and his vision for the country)

I've just gotten through the initial interview, there's also a second article discussing his campaign team, the formation, some of their operations and so on. Really fascinating stuff, and I think it is a good read for people on both sides of the political fence. If we can make this happen, and everything goes even slightly toward what he's got planned for his first term, I don't think we'll recognise this country in four years' time. And that is a wonderful thing.

OK not just one thing, but something stuck out that made me think about what a friend or two has said:

How are you going to connect your support among young people to the governing process?
This is where the Internet is so powerful. One of the things that surprised me in this campaign is how well we were able to use technology to organize people. There's enormous promise — but we've just scratched the surface of what's possible when it comes to making government work for people. Virtual town-hall meetings, increasing transparency, accountability on legislation. You think about all the inefficiencies in government. We basically have a New Deal government in a 21st-century economy. We've got to upgrade it.

OK, so from talking to a few of you, I understand that one of your biggest (bigger) concerns is the direction of science exploration that you think the country should be taking, but for whatever reason, is ignoring. You've raised some very valid points - re-starting the space program would boost the country's morale, would put us in a positive light in the eyes of other countries, would take our minds off of the not so pleasant things back home and maybe look as though we're making some sort of noble effort for something (anything) for a change.

Obama is clearly a fan of the internet, understands the power it has as a tool of communication. So if Project Constellation is something you're concerned about, let's start a petition. An online petition where we can let people voice their thoughts on this - there's no way we're the only ones with this mindset - and get the word out. Not just the petition, we can write letters. I'm on his online community newsletter, I'll ask around the forums there to see if anyone would be willing to help out as well. With enough of us pimping this, it might really make a splash. At least give him something to consider that maybe he hasn't thought of yet.

Voice Post

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 20:05:28 GMT

Voice Post

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 18:04:45 GMT

Voice Post

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 16:16:03 GMT

Because I am an arse

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 11:56:59 GMT

I don't feel like just editing my last post.

Today is Friday the 13th woooooo. I wonder what will happen today, anything interesting, perhaps?

Of course, last time I ventured to wonder that, in all seriousness, the whole 9/11 thing happened and... yah. Trufax. I think I'm like that guy in Surf Ninjas - if I say "what if _________" then it happens. Please tell me someone gets the reference...

At any rate, today just got a little more interesting.

I feel like a zombie

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 11:51:59 GMT

Shuffling around, groaning randomly, a dead look in my eye... eyes, I guess, I do have two of them >_<

My own damn fault though. I went to the gym for way too long (my poor muscles) and then stayed up till gods only know how long watching Season 3 of LOST and maybe finishing up someone's Doctor Who scarf. I really need to find my LOST Season 2, I want me some Henry Gale, plus Monica is wanting to catch up with the series before it all ends. *mental note* But hay, I now have 13 feet of timey-wimey goodness (or will, till I deliver it to its owner!)

Thank god today is Friday though, I can wear comfy clothes to work and generally have a good time of it.

Oh. Work. Let me tell you. Not that many will understand, but whatever. Was talking with a mate of mine who works in Service this morning and he's going on about how stressed he is (worked the night shift, poor bugger) because they got a record number of calls in last night from stores all over the country with false alarm readings. He was saying something about a couple thousand motions all seeming to go bad in the space of one night. THey'd get the call that a motion was going off in a building (lots of distribution centres actually) or that a door contact was reading open. If they couldn't get hold of a night shift manager (none of who seemed to be answering) of course they dispatch the local PD. He started to go on about something regarding local police in some mid-western town, but then had to go because I guess they were getting another deluge of calls? He sounded a bit weirded out, apparently something to do with the police calls or something.

So... yeah this looks like an iiiiiinteresting day. At least I don't have to go home for lunch, so I can get my hours in easily and then leave at a decent hour. Huzzah. Of course, that means being stuck in the building all day, but tis a small sacrifice to make.

I rediscovered the voice post number, maybe me and Shannon and Desiree or some people can make a voice post at some point in the future. My coworkers are HILARIOUS.

Do Your Part

Sun, 30 Sep 2007 19:51:12 GMT

Please follow this link : http://www.avaaz.org/en/stand_with_burma/t.php (in raw format just in case) to sign a petition urging the United Nations to take action against the atrocities going on in Burma.

With more voices, it is also possible to reach the ears of China, which holds much sway over Burmese goings on. With the 2008 Olympics coming up and China's international reputation on the line, if there is a large global outcry for these things to stop, China should have no choice but to listen.

So please, take a minute out of your time to sign this petition. All you need is your name, e-mail address (and you can unsubscribe from the newsletters if you so choose) your country and postal code. Giving your mobile number is completely optional. They're trying to reach 1 Million signatures on this petition. Let your singularly small voice join with others to ring out for peace, tolerance, and human understanding.

Once you've signed, please spread the word to others. Post this in your own journal or send it as an e-mail.

Thank you.

Across The Universe

Wed, 26 Sep 2007 01:50:34 GMT

Disclaimer: No spoilers, I've checked and double checked.

Julie Taymor strikes again! You may know her name from Titus starring Anthony Hopkins and Jessica Lange or perhaps the original Broadway production of The Lion King. She's an incredible visual director, easily on par with Terry Gilliam. My mind boggles at the thought of what might happen if the two of them teamed up for something.

Anywho, to relieve some of my anger of late (all directed toward myself, don't worry) today my Nana and I went to see Julie's latest film Across the Universe, that strange looking new movie-musical about a bunch of late 60s war protesting Bohemia loving drug taking kids set to the music of The Beatles. Seriously, it is better than it sounds.

My thoughts aren't all praise. And actually I'll start with what I didn't like, just to prove it.

Pacing was off, plain and simple. It felt very rushed. And I'm glad that I know the reason behind it, otherwise I don't think I could have excused it as easily. Julie Taymor and either the producers or the company releasing the movie had some beef a few months ago about the version of the film that would be released. Julie wanted Version A, which I am assuming was a fair bit longer and contained more of her mind and reality bending stunning visuals. The studio wanted Version C, whatever that is. There were contentions and in the end Version B, a compromise between A and C, was released. You can absolutely tell that things are missing out of it - a couple characters only pop up for a split second (or a song, making it seem very out of place), and conflicts, love affairs, etc seem underdeveloped. But you can tell, just tell that there's got to be more. So I'm hoping that Julie will be able to swing a DVD release of her own brilliant intended version.

Eddie Izzard was underutilised. That's one of the characters I was referring to. He plays Mr. Kite (For the benefit of Mr Kite, there will be a show tonight on trampoline... Sgt Pepper anybody?). It is not ever explained who Mr Kite is or why he is in the middle of this field full of puppet cows and giant hands and faces. Is he a drug induced hallucination? Is he the rival LSD mind expansion philosophy guru of Bono's Dr Robert? I was so looking foward to this number, and Eddie's performance. And while the segment was FANTASTIC as a stand-alone piece - probably my favourite bit actually - it didn't seem to fit into the movie and I was left wanting more of Mr Kite's fantastic circus. Which might be the point, that the drugs are THAT tempting and wonderful, but I dunno.

I also think Julie could have gone farther with her visual pallet. Again, this may be something that fell to the merciless Studio Guillotine. But it just didn't feel as Taymortastic as I think I was expecting. The new orchestrations of John Paul and George's already brilliant pieces of music were begging for, I felt, much larger production numbers. Having grown up on The Beatles, these songs are already so effing huge for me, that to hear them all gussied up with full backing orchestras and griding rock guitars and pounding drums, I wanted more to feast my eyes on. The two numbers that really did it were the aforementioned "Being For the Benefit of Mr Kite" and "I Want You (She's So Heavy)". "I am the Walrus", "Dear Prudence" and "Happiness is a Warm Gun" also were fantastic, but those first two were positively jaw-dropping. If I see a Julie Taymor production, I want to be left breathless from the visual onslaught. As it was, I was only panting slightly. Good, but not where I know it could be.

All right! So those things aside - and really they're not that big - I LOVED THIS MOVIE. Ever since Moulin Rouge died down for me, I've been looking for another innovative musical to latch my fannish claws onto. I knew, back in March when I saw my first AtU preview with (believe it or no) 300, I kinda knew. Mostly because of the director, also because of the music. Honestly - if you liked Moulin Rouge, you will hopefully be super keen on Across the Universe. It is very much Moulin Rouge meets (I can't believe I'm saying this) Rent. Rent the movie, not Rent the play, unfortunately. I blame the NYC setting. It has all of the heightened sensibility of Moulin Rouge (but not so many flashing lights and bright colours), the glorification of the idealised Bohemian lifestyle, and what I feel to be masterful revamps of classic songs; plus all the grit and social commentary the movie version of Rent wishes it had retained. As though it even needs to be said, Across the Universe kicks Rent's tail up and down Alphabet City.

The cast was so fresh and new! I love it! No big names with preconceived notions to get in the way. The only main player I really knew was Evan Rachel Wood (from Thirteen, some Cate Blanchette/Tommy Lee Jones movie, and Marilyn Manson's current squeeze). And she's a small enough name that I wasn't expecting more than what I'd seen her perform previously. Which is not bad, she is one talented young lady. Jim Sturgess (leading man) and Joe Anderson (hot hot supporting actor) were positively brilliant. Jim sounds very much like the fresh faced Ewan at the top of Moulin Rouge. An entire freaking movie of that. And his Liverpudlian accent? *guh*. And Joe can just come over to my house and be increasingly scruffy. Just scruff about. And fall over and drink and be an ass. The eyes, it is all about those baby blues *_*; But anyway, yes, the cast! While they may not have been 100% the strongest and best singers ever in the world, they could more than carry a tune - Beatles songs, being ultimately pop (brilliant pop) are very easy to do - and the untrained quality made it more... real? If a movie-musical could be "Real", I guess. It sounded like real people singing.

The guest spots were ridiculous! As I said before, Eddie Izzard pops in for a quick spoken word rendition of "Mr Kite" (which, as far as fitting it into the story, the BeeGees/Peter Frampton movie did better, sad to say) and is totally freaky looking and just a delicious little treat. As Eddie Izzard should be! Salma Hayeck's little cameo was sexy and fun. Bono was the biggest surprise. I was expecting him to be another UK refugee, like Jude (Jim Sturgess) but he must have paid damn good attention during dialect training - his heavy Irish accent was positively undetectable. Who knew that Bono would be so masterful a dialectician?! I certainly didn't! His cameo, the longest, was so freaky fun and so Ken Kesey/Neal Cassady/Merry Pranksters/Electric Kool-Aid Acid Tests (check out the punch bowls at his pad in the movie!).

The script was a riot - filled to the brim with subtle Beatles references, if you know your source material. My fave - Prudence climbs into the apartment during a rain storm. Sadie enters, looks at the unfamiliar sopping wet girl. Beat. Turns to Jude, asks "Where the hell did she come from?" to which Jude replies "She came in through the bathroom window." XD There was also Sadie's quip about Max looking harmless enough, but who knows, he might have murdered his grandmother with a silver hammer. And then the almost-but-not-quite Blue Meanies from the Yellow Submarine cartoon in the Mr Kite scene.

All in all it was a fantastic movie, and has made me miss the city very much. It really got me back into the mindset of wanting to do fucking something, anything, to rally against this retarded Conflict in Iraq. It made me angry that in the new millennium, everyone is too fucking scared or lazy or apathetic to take up our parents' example with their protests against the Vietnam Conflict. Everyone says "oh yes, they care" but no one does anything. Lump me in with them if you like, I'm just waiting for the first opportunity I see to jump in on the start of some revolution (be it artistic, social, whatever). I wish I were enough of a radical to start something, but I haven't got the political smarts or the guts to do it. People, go see Across the Universe. Live it, Love it. Get off your asses and do something. We've still got a year left, we can still impeach Him, we can still effect some change here. Even after Bush is gone (thank god finally), regardless of who gets elected, we've still got to be constantly vigilant to make sure that this bullshit doesn't continue to happen. Guys, we are the next generation to come into power, some of us may already be in a position to do so. It is only a matter of a decade or so before we inherit this crazy fucked up world and our parents and superiors retire to the background. They say history is doomed to repeat itself. They say the sins of the father shall be visited upon the son. But they also say that we learn from our mistakes and that hindsight is 20/20. So come on, look around, look back. Write a letter, a song, paint something, put together an impromptu improv about current events (or script it, hell, and distribute copies) and perform it in a public space - freedom of speech and freedom to assembly and peaceful demonstration, you were given these freedoms by your forefathers for a REASON. Don't let this become another super conservative, right-thinking, religious ~~reich~~ right, 1950s clone cesspool. Get off your asses, stop playing Halo 3 and watching... whatever the hell it is that saps your mind of thought and keeps you from acting out. I know you can do it. You only just have to act.

And gee, but that turned into a little socio-political rant, didn't it? Awesome.

Here's The Deal

Sat, 22 Sep 2007 19:43:41 GMT

As Live Journal becomes more of a fascist state, I'm considering going on a Friends Only lockdown. I'm sticking it out here till my paid time runs out in May, to keep in touch with you all, but until then I may be interspersing regular posts with PSA announcements and Posts of a Sensitive and Scandalous Nature that - if the latest comment screening and banning on the fucking news post is any indication - could put me in hot water. Hot water of the Ban-Hammer kind.

Yes, Live Journal has made me paranoid.

So I'm just kinda putting up a pre-emptive warning that things may very well go on lockdown here in the next day or so. If you want to continue to be privy to the ongoings of my life in my journal, you'll need to comment in the entry I'll put up after locking all my entries. If I don't know you in real life (or you're one of those groovy Online Pals who I've communicated with for a while) I will be checking profiles and such to make sure you're not an LJ spy or a troll. If you're new to me and I find that you haven't got any sort of visible entry on your own journal, I shall summarily reserve the right to friend back. Which isn't fair to people who may have just joined the community honestly, but comment anyway, and I'll keep an eye on you ^_^

Dear LJ, please don't ban me for this entry. I'm only trying to do right by me.

Now that Zombie Day is finally over...

Thu, 14 Jun 2007 15:24:10 GMT

Damn, but that was fun! I think the NOVA gang did a bang up job, we managed to get quite a few "outside" hits! Not that that was the point of the game, but it was awesome to go onto Technorati and see people I don't even know linking to posts :D

Speaking of which - To everyone who popped by my journal yesterday, ESPECIALLY everyone who commented on the first video post with praise and such - THANK YOU! Credit for that goes to inner_salvation who was my cohort in writing/taping that bit and who also was the supplier and teacher of zombie makeup ways. Further thanks goes to babylonthegreat taraione, Kris' brothers David (the biting zombie) and Jon (unfortunate victim), my sister Monica and Kris' friend Chris for coming out early on a Saturday morning to get covered in face paint and Elmer's glue. And the Karo blood and the peanutbutter/paint gore! Couldn't have done it without ya!

If any of you visitors to my journal care to stick around, please do! I'm always on the lookout for new friends, especially cool people the likes of which participate in Blog Like It's the End of the World Day :D So if you're still keeping an eye on this journal, don't hesitate to drop me a line!

For those of you who may have been watching from the sidelines (star54kar :D) I'm putting together a little bit of a timeline of yesterday's events in the Northern VA area

Previous Night
inner_salvation (Kris) and niko_hime (Nicole), along with Kris' wife Izzy and his brothers Jon and David, play a ball busting game of the Serenity RPG (shepherds packing heat omg!) during which much alcohol is consumed. David, who works at a biotech research firm with Nicole's mom, tells them about some accident that had occured in one of the labs that day when a body was brought in for some testing. Employees were sent home early. Nicole's mom, a high-up lead in the firm, will be rushing to some conference the next day at the firm's main office in DC. They suspect it has something to do with the body. Nicole stays the night, not wanting to drive home drunk. Kris promises to make French toast the next morning, and calls in sick so he can wake up at a decent hour

7:30 am
niko_hime is woken up from a sound sleep by police cars patrolling the neighbourhood. But for what? Minutes later, sounds of several squad cars are heard revving up sirens and speeding towards the industrial park about a mile away. Contained in said park is ATCC, the biotech firm in question.

9:00 am
inner_salvation is up and making French toast. While Izzy lounges around up stairs with their daughter Aeris, Kris and Nicole sit on the back deck eating. They notice, between the fence and the forest behind the house, there is an odd shape moving about slowly.
niko_hime , who has lived in the area longer, tells inner_salvation about how, when she was in elementary school just down the road, sometimes cows would break loose from neighbouring farms and slaughterhouses and run amok about the campus. Kris gets excited and wants to tip a cow.
They grab Nicole's camcorder and head around back to find the cow.

9:30 am
They obviously do not find a cow, but a small but formidable group of strange looking people shambling down the walkway. Thinking it is best that they go inside, they open the gate in the fence and rush back into the yard. There, they encounter Kris' 15 year old brother Jon, who was woken up by their loud chatter on the deck and by their yelling at the ?zombies?. Despite their pleas, he plays the fool and runs off from them, only to be attacked by some arm-eating zombie who had jumped the fence. The offender is beaten off (lolz) and the trio escapes into the house. Jon's wound is attended to while Nicole scours the web for news and information. The TV is not working.

10:00 am
tiepilot and babylonthegreat notice strange things on their way to work (at the same computer something or other office) and also around the building. People are acting strangely. They just make fun of it.

Back in Manassas, taraione, Fred's (babylonthegreat) wife is attacked by a cop who had been banging on her front door. He bites her in the forehead! She manages to keep him outside and shut the door. Feeling immediately unwell, she decides to lie down for a nap.

11:00 am
Nicole and Kris, leaning more about the global pandemic, beg their friends to stay indoors and stay safe. Their pleas are ignored

tiepilot and babylonthegreat leave their building to go to lunch, despite the fact that (to Kris and Nikki's understanding) there are several zombies in the area.
Jon's wound continues to get worse
kissokomes gets a late start to her day after her boyfriend heads off to work at a daycare. She sees the warnings online but, being a caffeine junkie, leaves the house to get a Starbucks. She encounters quite a hoard, to include skim-milk coloured zombie children next door, but manages to get her coffee. She sprints back to her house from her car and barricades herself in. Worrying, of course, about her boyfriend and her housemates.

NOON
tiepilot has been bit by a Mexican zombie outside his work. He and babylonthegreat are still flippant about the whole thing
taraione wakes from a restless nap to find their neighbourhood in shambles - more zombies milling about, a busted up fire hydrant and general suburban mayhem. She is hungry and searches for something to sate her.

12:45 pm
Our heros learn that the country is now operating under a State of Emergency. The President, VP and his cabinet have been moved to secure undisclosed locations. Martial law is in effect. Sounds of gunshots, helicopters and other defensive aircraft are now heard regularly.

1:00 pm
Things at home are heating up. Zombies are trying to break into the Saylors' house where Kris, Nicole, Izzy, Jon and Aeris are holed up. Izzy stays upstairs with the baby, not wanting to endanger either the child or herself (she is five months pregnant with their second child). Kris and Nicole board up the windows and barricade the doors as well as they can. Jon is getting increasingly worse and, unable to get through to 9-1-1, and reading horrific reports online of people who have already been bit and turned, they fear the worse, yet hold out for hope. Kris is attacked in the basement by a zombie while boarding up windows, but manages to finish it off with a few well aimed blows of a claw hammer. While cleaning an unconscious Jon's wound, the events of the day suddenly overwhelm niko_hime and she has a panic attack.
Back at work, tiepilot (James)and babylonthegreat (Fred) are told that, because of rioting and the President's decree. They cannot leave, however, due to the fact that the second and third floors (where they are) have been locked off due to the fact that the first floor is rife with the undead. James is feeling pretty rotten after his bite.

2:00 pm
Jon has been moved out to the back deck for the safety of the rest of the Saylor family. He is now One of Them, and yet neither Kris nor Nicole can bring themselves to kill the kid.
Fred asks Kris and Nicole if they can drive over to his house to get taraione (Tara) out safely. Despite the infestation in their own neighbourhood, Kris and Nicole make plans to head over. While Nicole is downstairs, arming herself with sporting gear (baseball bat and hockey stick) Kris is upstairs with his family. Tara calls the house and it is pretty obvious she's not long for this life. Kris thinks that it would be best NOT to go get her, since there is no point.
Tara, back at home, is slowly turning, yet very scared. She notes that They are now coming in the back yard and will soon be in the house.

2:30 pm
James, knowing that people are hunting down anyone who has been bit, has barricaded himself in a server room with a super secure lock. Fred cannot get in normally and must apply force. James is feeling quite unwell.

3:00 pm
HORRIBLE miscommunication.
Nicole thinks that they are still going to get Tara and so breaks down the barricade by the front door and prepares to face the horde.
Kris, tending to his wife and child, hears noises coming from outside. Grabbing the camera, he goes out to the roof and, to his mingled delight and horror, witnesses Nicole fighting off a small pack of undead in a madly invincible furor. She takes down two of them before Kris realises that more are closing in and that he should get his ass down there. He makes a quick explanation to Izzy before heading downstairs. By the time he gets out, Nicole is facing off with the last and most formidable of the zombies, beating him with a hockey stick.
Completely covered in blood, gore and zombie stank, Nicole angrily goes inside and bathes while Kris posts the videos for the world to see.

Fred, attempting to get James out of the room he's locked himself in, is attacked and bitten by James himself. Fred makes his peace with the world and wonders where all his coworkers have disappeared to.

4:00 pm
kissokomes (Tini) realises that zombies have gotten into her townhouse, through the basement. Her pet rabbit Boudicca is lost and Tini, fleeing for her life, dashes up to the third floor, blocking the stairway with boxes of fabric from their sewing room, bravely adding a few Zombie bodies to the mess with her hot foam cutter, creating a sort of Zombie Thermopylae, if you will. She barricades herself in the sewing room at the front of the house, still armed, and frantically gets in contact with Nicole.
Nicole, clearly over the edge, decides that the only thing to do now is to go rescue Tini who lives a good 30 to 40 minutes away under normal conditions. She may or may not tell Kris she is leaving.
Kris, meanwhile, is spending all his time with Izzy and Aeris, while also trying to figure out what to do about Jon.
Nicole breaks into the garage, steals the Saylors' large ladder, a metal baseball bat and a handsaw - baseball bat for hurting zombies, handsaw in case she gets bitten and needs to remove a limb (Ash style) . Somehow, she manages to get to her large van, strap the ladder to the roof and get in without life-ending injury.

Fred is genuinely freaked out by the video Kris posted, convinced that he saw himself die on screen. He finds out where his coworkers have disappeared to - a shining vortex in the parking lot. He knows this is where he must go, and vows to "come back for you". He is not heard from again.

somewhere in the 5:00 pm hour
Kris, reading a last comment Nicole left to Tini, realises where she's gone and makes preparations for - hopefully - welcoming her home safely. He begins to clear out the garage so she can drive her van straight in.

Nicole, meanwhile, is flying down the Prince William Parkway, doing 90mph when she can, with an aluminum ladder strapped to the roof, swerving around abandoned cars and bodies, hitting zombies when she can. She arrives at Tini's house, sets up the ladder and between the two of them, they manage to get Tini out of the house, along with her housemate's wireless laptop, all while fending off zombies in the pouring rain. Tini, on her way down the ladder, slips and falls onto the roof of Nicole's van, parked right below in the lawn and the flowerbed. She breaks her collarbone and painfully gets into the van without further injury. The laptop, miraculously, is still working. Leaving the ladder there, she and Nicole (driving) peel out of the development. At one street corner, they see Boudicca the rabbit, now undead, taking down a pitbull in spectacular fashion. Tini begs to get the rabbit, but Nicole tells her "No time for that now, sugar-bean, she's in the late night drop-box now."

6:00 pm
Kris is, by this time, supremely worried that both Tini and Nicole are dead. Even so, he prepares an old bow and arrow, the only ranged weapon he's got in the house, for fending off zombies should the girls make it back.

Tini and Nicole manage to find oh_frabjous_day (Blake), Tini's boyfriend, at the day care centre where he works. He's covered himself in tempera paints and has been lording it over the children he works with, now mostly zombified. Rain still coming down around them, they manage to persuade him into the van. They speed back to Kris' house.

7:00 pm
Kris notices that, due to the large amount of inactivity at the house, the zombies seem to be ignoring them, possibly thinking that now there is no one left inside.

In world news, it has just been revealed that Prince Harry of Wales has been taken down by zombies and is now One of Them.

Eventually, Nicole comes screaming down the road, hauling ass. Kris hurriedly opens the garage door. The van hurls into the space, barely missing going through the back wall. Kris yells at its occupants to stay inside until the garage door is totally closed. He manages to shoot a few arrows into some zombies, taking down one for certain.

The rest of the night
Nicole, completely overwhelmed and on the brink of insanity, lies down and goes to sleep, hoping for a better tomorrow.
Kris gives Tini pain medication and goes about trying to set her collar bone.
Blake sits up the rest of the night, blankly reading Star Wars RPG books.

psychicmayhem, unheard from all day, has made it to a secure location somewhere in the woods, with enough provisions and arms to keep himself going for a considerable amount of time.
wolviecrippler, also frighteningly silent, returns from school with tales of zombie teachers attacking students. He loads a few guns, barricades his house and, by the light of a binfire set by a neighbour, prepares to be another solitary fighter.
spirehouse leaves one message only, and it is only too obvious she has been turned.

Gee... a little tweaking and this could make for one fecking awesome movie! I had fun, guys! Let's do it again sometime?

Take that Zombie FUCKS

Thu, 14 Jun 2007 00:02:32 GMT

AAAAAANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNDDDDDDDDDDD

We're in!

What a fucking ridiculous ride that was! Fuck! So Tini is back in, we're taking care of her. No one has been bit. She lost her poor bunny, last we saw it it was going all Bunnicula on some helpless pit bull. But we found her boyfriend, also free of Zombites.

I need a brain rest. My brain feels like an effing tastee cone. I don't even know what the fuck that means.

Seriously people it is even worse now than it was. Zombies fucking EVERYWHERE. We might have even seen zombies fucking and I thought that only happened in New Zeland. Eff!

Kris was such a fucking master and shot a bunch of them all to shit as we blasted into the garage. My van is DRIPPING and smells like ten thousand asses. But we're safe and we're in. We're so in

Voice Post: Born to Be Zooooombies

Wed, 13 Jun 2007 22:02:26 GMT

Zombies zombies zombies zombies

Wed, 13 Jun 2007 20:23:59 GMT

But seriously, I can't believe so many people have gotten bit. This is the worst fucking thing that could ever happen ever. taraione and her husband babylonthegreat were both attacked in separate incidents, at home and work respectively. Tara was the one Kris and I were gonna try to "rescue" (?) before all the killing started out front. Another friend of ours, tiepilot who works with Fred (babylonthegreat) was attacked at work earlier this morning. He was the one who infected Fred. I'm sorry guys, I'm sorry guys. I'm sorry we couldn't do anything. Fred, you asked, we tried. Tara, we were this close. James... if I can find them, I shall covet and protect your Coupling DVDs. Not that any of you are likely to be reading this, or able to comprehend it if you are.

I swear to piss I'm never leaving the house again. There's still a ton of them out there. We're just hoping that the government or national defence or something comes by soon to get survivors out. If there's any sort of National Security monitoring this, and gods I never thought I'd say anything like this but, Hi, we've got four survivors COMPLETELY UNINFECTED in this house. Two women and a man, early/mid 20s and a year old infant. One woman is pregnant (5 months). Please send help.

I've stopped looking at news reports online. Can anyone Out There bring me up to date on where things stand? Is anyone anywhere doing anything?

What's that thing that soldiers get after fighting in the Iraq war? Traumatic Stress something? Yeah I think I got that. And I can't stop staring at Jon out on the back deck. There's nothing else we can do. He's one of Them now. He's only 15. That's not right. Not right. I haven't been in touch with any of my family today. I don't even know if I have a family any more. I don't even know if we're gonna make it through this.

Biiiig sanity check. Yeah. I think I've dropped multiple san levels in just the past ten hours alone. heh. I know he's not real, but now I know how Ash feels. I'd totally cut off a limb now and attatch a piece of machinery to it. OMG maybe I can get bit on the leg and we can go get Izzy's rifle out of storage and I can attatch it to my severed limb like Rose Magowan in Grindhouse. I would be so awesome. Legless, but awesome. heh.

We're rolling out to get Tini. Or I am even if Kris doesn't come. Whatever, I can fucking take it. And if they get me, at least I went out fighting. Hell yeah. Fuck my mom's car, it's a fucking tank and it can take it. Toyota quality all the way, baby! Listening out back, it doesn't sound like anyone's on the parkway bypass. I always wanted to race down that sweet stretch of pretty road doing 90. Tini, I'll be there in 15 minutes.

ZOMBIES ATTACK

Wed, 13 Jun 2007 20:05:43 GMT

HAIL TO THE KING, BABY!

I still can't believe that just fucking happened!

Voice Post: I speak Zombie

Wed, 13 Jun 2007 18:04:27 GMT

Zombies make me sick

Wed, 13 Jun 2007 17:39:56 GMT

Just cleaning Jon's wound. It smells like THEM and I can't do this any more.

Sancheck red please. I'm gonna lose it. I think I'm gonna soak my hands in rubbing alcohol and then go sit with Izzy and Aeris. I need some baby holding time to un-mess my brain. I also think I may be sick. That thing in the video earlier? That we thought was an arm? That WAS an arm? They're just leaving body parts strewn about the street now and moving on to the next house.

I gotta go.

Zombie Help please

Wed, 13 Jun 2007 16:56:53 GMT

Some of Them are trying to break into Kris' house. We've got the windows all boarded up (or are getting them boarded up) on the main floor and in the basement. We've also got heavy furniture pushed against all the main floor doors. Laundry room is locked, garage door barracaded. Check.

I'm really worried. It looks like they've already gotten into a few more houses around the neighborhood. And Kris says that out back he saw one take down a stray dog. I don't like this one bit.

Jon has kinda fallen into unconsciousness. He's all sweaty and pasty and pale as fuck. He was hungry earlier and so we gave him some leftover hotdogs from last night, he ate them real fast but it didn't help. Now he's like this. I dunno whether we should cover him with a blanket or leave him cool. And the blood is still oozing from the wound.

Some more of my friends have been injured today apparently, despite that they're not taking any of this seriously. I still don't understand how I'm logically accepting all this. Because this seriously shouldn't be allowed. This is just too fucking surreal.

We can hear gunshots echoing from all around the city and there's all kinds of helicopters and other aircraft flying all around. I don't know what's going on. Local news still not working.

EDIT: as of 12:45. We've just been placed under a state of emergency. Apparently Bush gave a news conference or something. Or Condi Rice or something. Bush and Cheney have been moved to "undisclosed secure locations". Tony Blair has apparently done the same thing in the UK. Ireland looks to be following suit.

Am I missing something? Has there been some sort of biological terrorist attack? Because I am hella worried here. Izzy wants us to put on some kind of masks, the sort of sterile things. Apparently David had brought some home from ATCC a while back? Thye're still packaged, so they're probably good. I dunno, I'll hold off, I don't think it is airborn. If Jon is any indication, it is transmitted via contact with fluids or something. I wish I could get in touch with my mum, because she'd probably know a lot about this, working for that biotech firm and all. Which kinda makes me think, given the accident there yesterday and now she's in this conference at their main office? I just don't know.

No not zombies

Wed, 13 Jun 2007 11:58:52 GMT

I just realised how stupid this must all sound. But I've been looking around online and apparently other people are throwing the Z word around as well. There's reports of similar shit like this going down as far as Australia. Which is ridiculous. There's no way this can be global.

We hought for a bit that maybe this had something to do with ATCC and the accident that happened there yesterday. Kris' brother David and my mum both work there. David gave us a few details, but my mum said that she wasn't allowed to say too much about it. She's a bit higher up than David (ok a lot higher up) so I'm guessing this runs a bit deeper than David knows. Not cool.

But the reports are weird, online at least, we can't get any local or anything news stations. Just static mostly with an occasional image or blip of sound. Apparently people are looting at the Mall of America in Minnesota? I don't have the patience to link you stuff right now, maybe Kris can do that later.

Jon isn't doing well. He's looking all pasty and the bite is not in a good way. Fuck. Poor Izzy is staying upstairs with Aeris till things calm down, she doesn't want to make her resiratory infection worse with potential nastiness from Jon. We can see them walking around outside, one is trying to break into the SAylors' garden shed. Stupid. ... the neighbors we can see are boarding up windows. Maybe we should?

I'm a bit worried, as what if these things, like in the stupid movies, try to get inside or anything? I mean, what do we do? Can these things be fought? They seem slow enough, I guess. Shouldn't be too hard. But do you need silver bullets or anything specialised like that? If so, we're fucked, we don't even have a gun.

Chainsaw?

Gonna go... well not out on the deck, that Jon Biter might smell me or something, it probably finished that arm by now. *vomits* I feel so bad for whoever that was, god I can't even... gonna try to fix the TV with Kris. See if that helps

Let me get back to zombie fucking sleep asswipes

Wed, 13 Jun 2007 11:39:40 GMT

Got woken up by a stupid cop car (cop cars?) going about the neighbourhood, doing that little BWOOP thing every now and again. I think that means patrolling? Then they (it - I dunno, I just fucking woke up) screeched around, turned on the sirens and went off in the direction of the industrial park (Micron, that other place and ATCC)

There was some weird accident or something at mom's work yesterday (ATCC, that bioresearch firm) which she had to go into the main office for today. Blargh. Hope nothing stupid is going on. I'm gonna try to get back to bed now. At least now it is very very quiet outside

ZOMBIES GET IN THE FUCKING HOUSE

Wed, 13 Jun 2007 11:30:43 GMT

oh fuck oh my god really very much NOT A FUCKING COW. shit shit shit shit. Anyone who reads this please PLEASE do me a favour and STAY IN YOUR HOUSE. oh fuck oh shit.

OK the beginning. So Kris and I go around the back of his house to look for the cow, right? Well we didn't find the cow. There wasn't a cow at all. And I am so glad I had my camera because words cannot fucking describe. Uhm... Damn. All those times I wanted to live this movie or that movie or some rpg scenario... gods, this is not what I asked for. And then Kris' little brother Jon got attacked. Now I know that I'm probably going to get a lot of people on my case for taping this thing but seriously, I just didn't turn the camera off. I should have but I didn't. I think it is also good for people to see - horrible as it is - because this could save someone else's life. I feel so awful. But we got him away, so it is fine. I hope. Please just look.

Hopefully he's ok. The bite looks pretty nasty, he got wounded on the inside of his leg. We've cleaned it as best we can and we're trying to keep it wrapped. We're also making him lie down, keep it elevated. I dunno what else to do. Kris called their family doctor, but the line was jammed. We might call 9-1-1 later if it gets worse. God I hope this isn't happening anywhere else.

Also, these things fucking smell. But they're fairly slow? so staying away from it isn't that bad. I almost retched. *shudder* And yeah, that was an ARM a severed fucking ARM that thing was handling in the video. I just hope it doesn't come up the deck. Looks like I'm staying at Casa Saylor for the day...

More awake now, zombie

Wed, 13 Jun 2007 11:12:05 GMT

Maaaan wtf so Kris and I got plastered last night with Izzy (who was obviously not drunk) and Kris's brothers and we played so much Serenity. Pics might or might not have come out. We had blasters.

Ennywho, posting because we think there's a FUCKING COW behind Kris' house. OK, not a cow that is fucking , but an effing COW, man! XD Sorry, maybe rums still? Yeah, we're on the deck, me and Kris (Izzy and the wee one are still in bed) eating French toasts that Kris delightfully made watching what we think is this cow. Weird shit.

Oh apparently Kris has decided he wants to tip it (??) so we are taking my camcorder down to "document" this "momentous" occasion.

Win.