OK Computer

[freckles_and_doubt]

On mature reflection, Batgirl is the first computer I've ever owned that I've bought, new, in its entirety, instead of cobbling it together out of begged or borrowed bits or single, grudging infusions of commercially-acquired newness pried from my scanty resources. Mnemosyne, my last one, was pretty much a Dwarven ancestral axe in the sense that there was no actual bit left of the original Mnemosyne, but she'd existed in a continually-upgraded continuum from the first DOS-based 286 I ever bought. Second hand. To write my Masters on. I've been slaving old hard drives to new since then. It's a very strange feeling, to have a complete data disconnect as well as all-new hardware that's not actually about five years out of date. The cleanness of the new drive is lovely, akin to moving house and throwing out junk - and, wow, does data junk accumulate. Worse than dust bunnies under the bed. The stolen hard-drive could have been sectioned like an archaeological dig to reveal weird little programmes going back to the Paleozoic. (Paleozoic is a lovely word, had you noticed? Rolls off the tongue).

The only non-backed-up data I've lost is about fifteen years worth of CLAW role-playing tournament modules, and my considerable database of LARPs. I have everything in hard copy and some back-ups on possibly-defunct ancient stiffy disks, but I'm going to have to make the rounds of the Old CLAW Gang and find out who has spare module files stashed away so I can recreate the collection. Not for any real reason, mind you, other than random acquisitiveness, and an overdeveloped sense of history. Also, after an unplanned wrestle with the feeble campus "bandwidth" and a pinpointedly accurate stealth raid on the Evil Landlord's study for the wireless drivers, I Can Haz Internets. The Iburst sort of works if I festoon USB extension cables across the study and tape the antenna to the top window in the corner. Heath Robinson drew it once.

Department of Random Linkery: the Tor site is live, presenting much sf goodness including a new Charles Stross Laundry story. This has done much to reconcile me to the rigours of today, which will almost certainly be almost as horrible as yesterday. Wish me luck as I face my 8-hour non-stop doom advice marathon. Which unlucky student will buy it today at the hands of my teeth? News at !11!1!!

Last Night I Dreamed: wide-open fields containing giant hills of fluffy sheepskin. Also, being governess to an extremely wealthy family somewhere, and rather sad about it. Also, Robert Downey Jr., again, in an unspecified role involving a pine-floored attic. That darned Iron Man DVD better come out soon, is all I can say, otherwise I may be forced to pine away in a fearfully fangirly fashion.

Comments

RD Jr

[first-fallen.livejournal.com]

Ok, good, so it's not just me then.

Re: RD Jr

[extemporanea.livejournal.com]

Why, no. Actually not. You, me and about two-thirds of the female population. And half the men, only they're all manly and silent about it.

I'm not actually sure what RDJ did in that movie, but it worked.

Re: RD Jr

[first-fallen.livejournal.com]

"two-thirds of the female population"

Really? I never got the idea that he's a sex-symbol. He was always portrayed as this pathetic, drug-addicted washout who screwed up a promising career with his inability to kick his bad habits.

Re: RD Jr

[extemporanea.livejournal.com]

Well, yes. Then he did Iron Man, which by some mysterious alchemy transmuted him somehow into a sex god.

Pajiba, my favourite film review site, recently did a comments diversion where everyone posted their top five free passes. I swear RDJ turned up on one in five of the female lists.

I admit, one in five is not two thirds. However, all maths should be hyperbolic.

Re: RD Jr

[extemporanea.livejournal.com]

RDJ turns up as number 3 on the Pajiba list (http://www.pajiba.com/the-pajiba-ten-2008s-most-bangalicious-celebrities.htm). You may appreciate the writer's take on him ;>.

Re: RD Jr

[first-fallen.livejournal.com]

Hmm, I'm not sure I'd agree with the purely physical lust aspect. While the list is introduced as a "please, don't give us that intellectual bullshit, we all know you just want to fuck these people all night long" article, I like him more for his roles and his take on life in general. I must admit that he is rather good-looking, but that's only a very small part of his sexiness. It's the wounded, "I've had a hard life of drugs and jail and I just want to be loved by someone who understands me" puppy-dog look that does it for me. Omg, I've just realised, he's very emo. I bet he writes awesome poetry and is really vulnerable and fucked-up underneath that drug-toting leather jacket. He falls right into my "type": slightly fem, angsty and somewhat broken, a little self-absorbed and intelligent.

While I've always thought he was a great and under-appreciated actor, his role in Elton John's "I want love" music video really cemented his place on my Frothing Fangirl list. It made me cry the first time I saw it, it's like RD Jr wrote it.

Otoh, there _are_ celebrities who just do it for me without actually needing to have a brain. Owen Wilson, for instance. And Keanu.

Re: RD Jr

[first-fallen.livejournal.com]

Although, "Hey there, Super Tiger Sex Commando" will have me chuckling all day. That was a good write-up, Clive Owen is quite sexy.

[strawberryfrog.livejournal.com]

Have you seen the stills of Robert Downey Jr's next role?

[extemporanea.livejournal.com]

Yes. They're ... disturbing. And strangely fascinating. I possibly have to see this movie just because the whole concept of his role is so bizarre.

CLAWs and LARP data loss

[(Anonymous)]

...as if millions of d@vids suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced... :(

Re: CLAWs and LARP data loss

[extemporanea.livejournal.com]

I'm sure it's not as bad as that. As I say, I have hard copies, and some stiffy back-ups - I think there will be holes, but not major ones.

Of course, I've spent about the last six months meaning to back up the whole bang toot on a CD, and never getting around to it, so that'll be a lesson to me, won't it?

Re: CLAWs and LARP data loss

[wolverine-nun.livejournal.com]

You know if you say "stiffy" to an American, they fall over laughing, don't you?

Re: CLAWs and LARP data loss

[extemporanea.livejournal.com]

Well, yes. But I can't be responsible for wanton American misinterpretations.

One of my SCA mailing lists used to refer to them as 'Merkins. Now there's an excuse for misinterpretation, if you like.

[mwotn.livejournal.com]

Note to self: do not let girlfriend watch Iron Man.

I'm impressed that I actually had a new computer before you - then again, the second hand PC I got as a present was swallowed by the school's IT department a good three years ago and never returned, and you just can't bolt bits onto antique laptops (second hand laptop, £10 - bargain!). Your resourcefullness impresses me.

[extemporanea.livejournal.com]

Actually, your girlfriend should definitely watch Iron Man - (a) it's fun, and (b) it'll show you're really secure. Also, I hope she kicks you in the shins at the mere idea that you might presume to censor her movie-watching. (/feminist).

Resourcefulness at acquiring one quickly, or resourcefulness at creating Frankencomputers for so long? The former is a result of actually having spare money lying around for the first time after about fifteen years as an impecunious grad student; the latter is the result of hanging out with bajillions of computer programmers and geeks, most of whom have spare computer bits lying around.

[mwotn.livejournal.com]

She would kick me in the shins if I tried, but I think I would have to convince her to watch the film in the first place!

Resourcefullness at having created Frankencomputers. Evidently I've missed some important life lessons at Sherborne...

[extemporanea.livejournal.com]

The secret is simple. Always date computer programmers ;>.

Congrats on your taste in girlfriends, btw. Even if she's not a programmer, appropriate shin-kicking is an important trait.