Good morning!

[lizbee]

That meme where you take a photo of yourself at that very moment, without alteration or Photoshop.





What? I just got out of bed and I haven't had my cup of tea yet.



Life of late has involved copious amounts of (a) work, (b) sleeping and (c) messing with fabric. Yesterday I went to myniamh's house with weaver to start work on our costumes for Armageddon. As of this moment, I have made two thirds of a wraparound skirt. (Don't laugh; I feel like I've achieved something. Sewing machines and I are not friends, so part of it is even hand-sewn.)

I've also watched all but the last 20 minutes of the first season of Mad Men. It was GREAT. I had seen reviews around the internets about how Don Draper has no business being a series lead, and Pete Campbell is a misunderstood woobie, so it was kind of hilarious to realise that I love Don, in a wanting-to-punch-him-in-the-face way, while Pete Campbell is plainly a nascent serial killer.

I also like the way the question of Who Is Don Draper? sort of folds into the question of Who Will Peggy Olson Become? So that's great. Good work, AMC. If only January Jones wasn't a black hole that sucks in charisma and talent and offers only trace radiation in return, the show would be perfect. But Betty seems very popular, so maybe she gets better? Or maybe fandom has just attached itself to the first bland blonde that comes along.

And I am currently reading a book about the AFL draft, which is decidedly strange, given my general state of ignorance and apathy surrounding football, but it caught my eye at the library, and is very interesting so far.

Which reminds me, speaking of AFL -- someone at Worldcon, I can't recall who, was complaining that hotels here have rules about not letting more than three people congregate in a hotel room, which seriously inhibits room parties? I cited Schoolies Week and the desire to minimise the sorts of situations that lead to underage girls getting raped, but someone -- myniamh? -- pointed out yesterday, there's also the issue of AFL players pack raping women in hotel rooms. Minimising rape >> room parties. Sorry.

Comments

[lizzieladie]

I had seen reviews around the internets about how Don Draper has no business being a series lead, and Pete Campbell is a misunderstood woobie, so it was kind of hilarious to realise that I love Don, in a wanting-to-punch-him-in-the-face way, while Pete Campbell is plainly a nascent serial killer.

There are people who think that Pete Campbell is a misunderstood woobie? I would call him more of a fantastically creepy excellent character, but not definitely not misunderstood. He's very clearly pretty awful. I even remember hearing the actor say at one point that he has trouble getting dates with women who have actually seen Mad Men because his character creeps them out too much.

I'm not sure I agree about the January Jones thing. Well, I guess I think that she is a giant black hole, but that her being a black hole kind of actually works to say something about the way that that society encouraged women to be shallow and frivolous and even mean, as long they looked fabulous and could throw the right kinds of parties.

[nonelvis]

You're going to get a lot more of the Who Is Don Draper/Who Will Peggy Olson Become parallel as the show progresses, especially in S4. As for Betty ... I don't think she gets much better, at least not until S3. I realize that she's stuck in this role -- a partially self-imposed one -- of being the good, beautiful, perfect wife, but that makes it impossible for me to relate to her, despite being married myself. Mostly whenever she's on screen, I just want to tell her to grow the fuck up.

[lizbee]

"Mostly whenever she's on screen, I just want to tell her to grow the fuck up."

That's the thing. I understand they're covering the whole Feminine Mystique (which I originally typed as Feminine Mistake) deal, but I keep wishing the series was about Helen Bishop instead.

[myniamh]

Yup, the hotels really don't want to get involved in possibly well publicised crimes going on in their rooms. Can't imagine why.
It doesn't impinge on sharing a room with three or more people but inviting people who aren't staying in them is out, I'm not sure if it's a law or just an industry wide policy. It's probably also that room parties are messy and they may have other areas for that kind of thing.

It was fun sewing! I want to make lots of doll clothes now. I must be mad.

[skywaterblue]

Seriously, I have no idea where you guys got this impression. :(

[purple_smurf]

At this point in time, I'm actually planning on attending Armageddon, so I really can't wait to see you all with your greasepaint and lethal fans.

[kerravonsen]

Which reminds me, speaking of AFL -- someone at Worldcon, I can't recall who, was complaining that hotels here have rules about not letting more than three people congregate in a hotel room, which seriously inhibits room parties?
I remember some announcement about that at the opening ceremony, and I midly wondered why, but now it makes sense. Obviously a change of policy since the last worldcon in 1999, but I totally agree that Minimising rape >> room parties. Definitely. Indeed, I'd possibly tack an "awesome" onto that change of policy.

[lizbee]

Yeah, on the whole, I prioritise Minimising Rape well above Enabling Con Hook-ups, which I was informed was the purpose of a room party. (Clearly people have been leaving the good stuff out of their con reports, that's all I can say.)

[sally_maria]

Obviously experiences vary, but that's not what any room party I've ever been to has been for.

It's just a continued excuse to sit around and chat, and drink in a low pressure kind of way (no paying bar prices, or expectation to keep drinking, because you're in the bar) - to let your hair down in ways you can't in the public spaces of a hotel. While obviously minimising rape is important, I do think that losing room parties as part of a con experience is sad. :-(

[violetisblue]

"I had seen reviews around the internets about how Don Draper has no business being a series lead, and Pete Campbell is a misunderstood woobie..."

And, that right there is why I stay as far away from the fandom as humanly possible, not despite but because of loving the show.

"I also like the way the question of Who Is Don Draper? sort of folds into the question of Who Will Peggy Olson Become?"

Totally. I'm just a couple of episodes into S2 but that continues and is clearly quite purposeful in a way I like.

"But Betty seems very popular, so maybe she gets better? Or maybe fandom has just attached itself to the first bland blonde that comes along."

Swear God everywhere I've gone where people talk about the show, nobody can stand either Betty or January Jones. Of course I've gone outside fandom proper for those discussions so maybe that explains it. (I'm down the middle about her: I can see just what I think they're trying to do with Betty and also think the actress isn't up to the challenge.)