The most recent 20 comments posted to Making Light by MD²:

"African American": I've seen uses of the term meet here some sort of semi-contemptuous almost-aggressivity quite often, once established the one using it never had any relationship whatsoever with Africa (ie: "You know nothing about Africa, you're not African American, you're black American").
I've always thought it misleading and ill-chosen myself, though I can understand why it was.

In my experience, "nègre" have mostly disappeared, pejorative uses excepted ("négro" has kept the jocular/ironicaly positive uses; I still have some fond memories of the whole "négro-parigot" fad of the 90's... my cousin would shout "Salut négro" to greet me, enjoying people's general embarrassment). One recent devellopement which get on my nerves is the use of the english "black" instead of "noir" by people feeling compeled to do the switch by some sense of political correctness. It really, really get on my nerves.

Given that intent, white people shouldn't be identifying as African-American for the purposes of these institutions, since they're not racially discriminated against in the USA.

I know it comes from me being an exception, but I can't help but wonder how much truth there is to that sentence. I've seen people's reaction change totally (either to my advantage or my detriment, it must be said) when linking my - clearly Western African - name to my person.
I'm pretty sure it played a role in me not getting one job.

Which make s me wonder: I'm as white as my Wallon-borne mother. I generally speak wolof and soninke with my black father, and french with my mulatto [yes, using it as an adjective, not sure I can] brother and sister. I have a Western African name. All in all, were I born and living in the US, would I be allowed to use the term African American ?

Eagerly awaiting on Michael Roberts's Astonishing Adventure in the New House's next episode. I hope everyting will go well.

Earl Cooley III@140: It sounds like fanfic for Houses of the Blooded could be extraordinary. Has the game spawned any apazines?

Not that I know, but I'd be surprised if it wasn't eventually the case. The community's still barely burgeoning though.

Xopher@116:
Q: How is a Hummer like hemorrhoids?

A: They both surround an asshole.

What's the diffence between a Hummer and hemorrhoids ?

The Hummer's a pain to everything but assholes.

Almost there... I remember my first try was better but I can't find back the exact way I formulated it.

This just in: Neil Gaiman signing near me this afternoon... how ridiculous would it be to go queue up just to say "thank you for being awesome" in horribly bad sounding english ? (I really don't care anymore for autographs.)

They can't afford volunteers?

Things you can't buy, or don't have to pay for, tend to be the most expensive of all.

Or why a cut-off cat's head happens to be the most valuable thing in the world... at least it used to be before ebay. :/
Old zen parables sure need an update.

@Mike Reeves-McMillan (#205 ): Sadly I don't think so, which is why I didn't bother writing the cyberpunk version in the first place. Even in French, it's not easy to find nowadays (not hard, the latest edition must be a ten years old anthology I believe but, well, takes some time to track down).
Sad as it's one of my favourite books by the man.

*checks imdb*

That Tristan & Isolde movie was produced by Rydley Scott, not directed by him... still need to see it, now. Thanks for the heads up.

I'm sure it was torn down decades ago: permanence of buildings isn't taken for granted in Japan, so I suspect steady maintenance -- especially cosmetic -- isn't a high priority . On the block where I lived in suburban Tokyo for 6 years, literally half the houses were torn down and replaced during my time there.

I knew someone who used to collect photograph of the strange architectural artefacts that came from this constant tearing apart/rebuilding. Stairs that remained but weren't connected to anything anymore, doors on the nth floor of building that led to nowhere (for Roger Rabbit fan I guess), small bridges no more connected to anything.
Too bad I've lost the CD she gave me of her work.

Still, that's something to look for while you're there.

Congratulations.
Adding my voice to the background chorus of "Where will I find time, oh Time Devourers ?"...

albatross @10: Glad I'm not the only one.

But how free are they if you're imposing their freedom against their will ?

(Purely rethorical question. As I was about to answer albatross @#204, using that argument to delay the end of slavery for more than one generation - one generation too much already - would be purely hypocritical. When there are ways to make the transition viable, they should be used. When - if! - there aren't, we should help those that can't make the transition.)

@Sarah: I hear you.
Even now, I type most of my post and never send them, or delete most of their content. I get the feeling most of what I have to say, or the way I might say it (at least in english) is uninteresting in this crowd.

Then I remember how some of Mike Ford's post could be born from even, until illuminated, what could seem the most unremarkable comment, and I remember that other truth: without noise, there is no music.

*post this before deciding to delete it again*

I'm reminded of that time when I went to school in the US for a couple of weeks.
Culture shock: there was a feeling of malaise among us French students when we realised the school had the Star-Spangled Banner sang every morning. A feeling which was only mirrored when, trying to be courteous on the first day, they decided to put the Marseillaise on for us to sing, which was answered with impassive silence, most of us not even standing (I think I remember one did, not really knowing how to react politely).
Never could get the American student sitting next to me to understand that it was because we loved our country we weren't singing.

So, yeah, thank you, Bastille day was happy. As far as I could see people did what you ought to do on such a day: strolling, shopping and invading restaurants, overall having a good time.

My favourite version of the Marseillaise must still be Serge Gainsbourg's, if not only because it keeps ironically closer to the original manuscript.

Abi #21: you know you want to.

Hell yes, who wouldn't ?

Just so beautiful I would love to have it, yet can't covet it. If I make sense. The only image I can think of is unfit.

And all your other works are incredible too !

Stumbled upon that, and thought that some computer geek gardeners around here might like it.

@ Howard Peirce & Julie L.(100-112-113)

I was actually contemplating experimentations with a French press to try out that process.

Ocelot's brilliant.
I can't recommand enough "Princes et Princesses" also if you're digging his work.

SORRY FOR THE INCONVENIENCE.

Warning: Contains Language.

Do not ingest if pregnant.

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