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Thursday, July 24th, 2008
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11:48 pm
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Alas, friendslist, you fail me. There's not pointless meme within easy reach for me to do. *shakes head sadly*
So instead, I give you statistics that I learned recently by listening to a talk given by Christiane Northrup, MD.
Studies show that exercising for 1 hour a day, four times a week, causes a 30% reduction in breast cancer. In the people exercising, of course. >.> And not that if you have it it'll go down by 30%, but that 30% fewer people got it. THIRTY PERCENT! That's a lot. If you aren't exercising, start!
...I have to take up jogging again. >.>
Breast feeding for the first 1-2 years of a child's life decreased the overall death rate--for any reason, including SIDS--in those age groups by 20%.
Obesity (in the US) kills almost as many people as smoking does, racking up 400,000 deaths per year (not a shortening of a lifespan, but death-by-obesity) to smoking's 450,000.
I also learned that the smaller your bone structure, the more likely you are to get osteoporosis, which is something I think I should have known but I never paid much attention. You can measure your bone structure by wrapping your thumb and index finger around your wrist. If they don't touch, you have a heavy bone structure. If they do, you're medium. And if they overlap, you're small boned and need to take lots of calcium AND magnesium (because calcium doesn't absorb without magnesium: take twice as much calcium as magnesium), along with getting exercise and vitamin D. The best sort of exercise for small-boned people is weight-lifting and things like pilates.
...so I'm gonna start bulking up on calc and mag. >.>
She also stressed the importance of eating at least 5 fruits and veggies a day (they say 12 is better, but I think I'll start small. >.>) and taking a vitamin supplement. There were reason that impressed upon me the Importance Of This, but I don't remember what they were. :P I have, however, started taking vitamins (again)!
So. Yeah. She also says that health is our natural state of being, and we should focus on that, rather than what illnesses we don't have (you know. "I'm going for a physical to make sure I don't have..."). Because focusing on what we don't have is also focusing on what could go wrong, and that will bring ill-health. She says, "Every time you walk past a mirror, say to your reflection, 'You're beautiful! I love you!' and when that voice in your head says, 'Beautiful? Ha! Look at that cellulite!' say, 'I'm so glad you feel safe enough to point that out to me! Thank you! But you are not welcome here any more.'"
And she says that even if you don't believe it, say it anyway, because action is key and if you start ACTING that way, you will start teaching yourself to THINK that way, which will instill BELIEFS that way.
She also pointed out the plant thing. I'd heard several of these studies done before, but the short of it:
plant 3 carrots. To one plant, do nothing but tell it how ugly it is, how much you hate it, how horrible it is. To the next, tell it how much you love it, how beautiful it is, what a sexy orange root it has! ;) The third, ignore. The one you love on always grows fastest. The other two sometimes switch, because bad attention is better than no attention. ;)
But then she related it this way, which I'd never thought of: if YOU are that carrot, and you hate yourself every time you look in a mirror... Yeah.
So from now on I'm suiting my actions to what I'd like to believe. Or at least, trying to remember to do so. ;)
Which brings me to a rant that I have in my head periodically. And it's this:
( flailing! Ranting! General hand waving! )
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| Monday, July 21st, 2008
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10:16 pm
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Another article on a RL superhero
I am of two minds. For the guys who are like this guy--handing out blankets and whatnot to the homeless--I'm like, "Woot! Doing good things and having a little fun? Yeah, go for it!"
But there are enough guys who are violent about it that I'm like, "..." and when I first read about these guys I thought, "It's just a mental half-step to deciding to dress up like a villian and beat these guys up for no reason..." which has apparently happened, now. It is cynical of me to be expecting destruction of public property next because of a 'villain fight'?
I wonder if this will last? If, in ten or twenty years, there will still be superheroes. I'm inclined to say yes, looking at the general progression of things--starting with the vigilante group on the Mexico border.
...and now I know how the civilians in comics feel. *laughs*
J
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| Sunday, July 20th, 2008
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6:24 pm
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Yeah, that's accurate. Kinda funny, really, since I've often told people before that I sometimes feel like a kite, and I need someone to help hold the end of my string lest I flutter away. ;)
| What Kind of Fairy Are You? Your Result: Airy Fairy Sometimes you like a good party, but sometimes you forget the address. Sometimes you help Granola Fairy when she's saving the world, and sometimes you eat fast food and throw the wrappers next to the trash can because you forget it's a bad idea. Your wings are very large, much larger than you are, because you fly around so much. You're generally cheerful and always late--when you remember your appointment. You have an affinity for trailing scarves, art galleries and museums, wandering aimlessly while talking to yourself, and sandwiches. | | Party Fairy | | | Homestyle Fairy | | | Granola Fairy | | | Invisible Fairy | | | Gadget Fairy | | | Darkling Fairy | | | Cranky Fairy | | What Kind of Fairy Are You?
Quiz Created on GoToQuiz |
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12:42 pm
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11:26 am
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2:14 am
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So, the Supreme Court said people could carry handguns, and then some guy went in DC and tried to register his and they said no, because it's bottom-loading and therefore a semi-automatic weapon, even thought the Court ruling said it was all cool if it had less than 20 bullets or something, and this had 11. Or something. I dunno, I'm fuzzy on the details. Allow me to take this moment to say: I DON'T REALLY CARE. I'm rather anti-gun, anyway. You can read the details here.
What actually interested me about this article was not the details--again with the I don't care--but the comments. Go ahead. Read them.
They're TERRIFYING. It's not, "Hey, this sucks! We need to protest so they uphold the law and let us register our guns!" (which, even though I'm anti-gun, I would agree with), it's "Hey! this sucks! Let's go SHOOT THEM and declare MARTIAL LAW!"
...
I have "Top Ten Personal Safety Tips" by The Onion printed out and pinned up on my wall above my bed. It includes things like, "Live in the same city as The Batman" and "Wear pants that say DO NOT RAPE on the ass and crotch." The last one says (paraphrased), "The NRA says that the safest thing to do is to carry a loaded weapon with you at all times. So, to ensure your personal safety, stay the hell away from NRA members." It's SAD when people are making me agree with The Onion. :P
Briefly: Why I am anti-gun (since, once upon a time, I was pro-gun): Because of very persuasive arguments made by ![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) nute, and various studies done. Among them, a study done on which is more effective as a deterrent: a gun or a dog, a study done on the overall death rates in those cities where they say "everyone has guns and statistics show crime goes down!", studies done on the mentality and long-term crime and death rates in highly weaponized areas, and a study done on how people are more likley to subconsciously put themselves in danger and make themselves a target when they're carrying a weapon. (Once aware of this, I realized I even do it with my dogs, and now try to be conscious of what I'm doing. I still sometimes do it, but A) who the hell is going to attack me with an obvious pit bull on one side, and a 90-pound German shepherd-looking dog on the other? and B) I'm at least aware of it, and keep an eye on my surroundings. Not as good as not doing it at all, but...)
I could go into detail. Unless someone actually asks, I'm not going to. :D
J
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2:01 am
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As long as I'm up too late and posting, I might as well let everyone know!
I have an official author website (designed and put together by the AWESOME alestar) at www.jbmcdonald.com.
I ALSO have a mailing list! Go here and add yourself to it! I send out snippets of stories, tid bits here and there, the occasional random oddity. Some stuff hits my LJ, but some stuff doesn't--the snippets I sent out this past week, for instance, didn't hit here. Eventually it probably all gets everywhere, BUT... you should go join. *grins*
If only so I have more than 11 members. >.> Heh. And the dogs totally think you should join. That's a reason to do so, right? Riiiiiight. :D
J
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12:45 am
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*waves* Ignore me. I'm creating a DC-fic index, much like the Naruto fic index for people who'd like a quick list of my fic.
I attempted to arrange these in series, where applicable. :P Newest stories added at the bottom. DC fic as of July 20, 2008:
Stand alones
Decorating the Three Christmas fic, batclan. Slice of life.
Young Hormones 350 word challenge, Young Justice. Humor.
Papercut Superboy, when he loses his powers. Slice of life.
Four Days Five part story, Superboy when he lost his powers. Drama.
Subreality Cafe: The Blue Lounge Subreality Cafe fic. Lots of characters. Humor.
Fishies Kon and Cassie, humor. Mostly a stand-alone, really, but references the Over... series.
Survival Robin. Rated R. 10 parts. Psychological horror.
Talking About Sex Titans/Young Justice, late night conversations. Rated PG. Slice of life with teenagers. Vaguely references Cake 1.
See Things Bart, Teen Titans. Slice of life.
Pest Green Arrows. Humor.
Deranged Caterpillars Young Justice-Teen Titans, humor.
Dracoverse
Having Faith Dracoverse, OC. Slice of life.
A Doggy Day Dracoverse, same OC. Humor.
Over...
Over Pizza Superboy, Superman. Slice of life.
Over Chinese Superboy, Superman. Slice of life.
Fishies Kon and Cassie, humor. Mostly a stand-alone, really.
Disneyland
Teen Titans, the old Dick-led group and the new Tim-lead group. Humor.
[1], [2]
Cake series
Young Justice, Batclan, Outsiders, JLA. Humor, slice of life.
(See also, 'Talking About Sex' which sort of takes place after the first Cake short.)
Shorts 1-5, collected, plus extra [6], [7], [8], [9], [10], [11]
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12:06 am
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Many many moons ago, I wrote a serious of Cake drabbles (where a drabble for me is a short story. >.>). You can read them collected, here (follow the links), or you can just read this. It should stand alone all right. ;)
This takes place in JB-time, after Kon died. I hear he was resurrected. This is before that. I also hear that Bart's dead. This is before that. Just assume it makes sense, all right? Cool.
Also, I published a book! I'll refrain from linking and whatnot here. Scroll to the bottom, and I will totally link there. Everyone should go buy it. And I do mean EVERYONE. :D Support a fanfic author! You can buy it online for $3.50! :D
( Saturday Night, Titan's Tower )
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| Saturday, July 19th, 2008
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11:19 pm
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I want to write Major Evil and Trauma. Or possibly smut. Sadly, I spent the day editing romance novels instead. >.>
I did get most of the Kakashi/Iruka fic I've been slowly working on done. It's about 20 pages now, and will go another 5-10 before it wraps. It has smut! Lots of smut. >.> But it was already written, so I didn't write that today. Damn it. Also, I have no idea if it's good. I think it sucks. Except the smut! That's good. Perhaps I'll just post drunken sex instead of the story. Delete the whole story, and just have a PWP. Mwahahahaha.
...except I suck at doing that. Well, if the story really doesn't work, maybe I'll just make it a funny little drunken sex one-shot. Something like that. Yeah. >.>
It has been a bizzare day. I feel like I've been waiting, but I have no idea what for. Possibly I just need to write EVIL. Wish those stories weren't so long. :P Maybe I'll write a Fallen Leaves one-shot and post it as a story. Backstory on Inuzuka Tsume! Gods know I have enough planned.
...still want to write evil. or smut. Or BOTH. My brain is a scary place today. :P
J
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| Friday, July 18th, 2008
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10:35 pm
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So, over the last few weeks characterization has come up in all sorts of aspects of my life. Specifically, people asking me how to make a character/change a character/build a character. So I might as well post about my thoughts on creating a character.
There are as many ways to make a character interesting as there are people in the world. But I don't know all those ways. Over years of paying attention to characters that interest me, I've spotted two big keys to making a character interesting right off the bat. So these are them, with examples!
( possible minor spoilers for stories, series, shows and movies that I think have great characters. )
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10:25 pm
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First, the post of Stuff! (second will be a post of... other stuff. >.>)
I saw Batman! Mac and I went to the midnight showing, and it was BRILLIANT. If Heath Ledger weren't dead, he'd be my new love. I wrote a whole post in my head about things I liked and didn't, and figured out what I was going to title the spoiler cuts and if I was really going to spoil more than the make up...
And now I'm not going to write it out. I already did! Not my fault you people aren't telepathic. >.>
But it was brilliant! Go see it!
In dog news, Cash had his first show-dog lesson! The woman, Jeannie (who's a VERY good trainer) was like, "...he doesn't know ANYTHING? ACK! We have so much to learn! And only 6 weeks!" *laughs* But then we got to work and she realized that he's well behaved, fairly calm with other dogs, and learns FAST. Which I tried to tell her, but y'know. *grins*
So that was yesterday morning, and as of tonight he can trot beside me with his head held up all proud, stop and stand in front of me without crowding me, front legs aligned, keep his focus on me and stay still until I release him, and look pretty. >.> Still to learn: how to remain perfectly still, not even looking around, while a stranger comes up and feels his shoulder, ribs, etc and checks his teeth! How to stay perfectly still around other dogs. I have utter faith that we'll do it. :D
Jeannie also gave me some awesome tips on grooming, and some stuff to make his coat shiny--it's still rather dry. She wanted me to get him trotting beside me with his head up and then standing and staying this week, but I think I'll have more done than that. I'm hoping to start getting him still while strangers pet him, and maybe even start with work around other dogs. We'll see. ;)
Regardless, he looks so fancy running alongside me with his head up! It looks like Dark will be here for his show, so I'll make her take video. ;-D
I've also started getting Lily to work with some of this stuff too--mostly so she doesn't feel left out. ;) But they both enjoy it, so woot! :D
Um. That's all. >.> Second post to follow!
JB
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| Wednesday, July 16th, 2008
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12:25 am
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| Thursday, July 10th, 2008
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12:43 am
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There's this group called ![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/community.gif) happy_news that I love. It reports on, you guessed it, happy news.
But the two times I've put something up there, someone comes along and points out the negative--RIGHT AWAY. For instance, they did a reverse mastectomy on a Przewalski's horse (which are nearly extinct) so they could breed it. YAY! I post this. The response? "they were morons for gelding it in the first place and should get sperm before it dies."
...
Yes. Very nice. Let's focus on the negative, rather than saying, "You know, maybe someone didn't realize what they were doing. Maybe there was a reason for that. And, hooray, now maybe the bloodlines can be a bit better."
I'm tempted just to keep posting things to you guys and screw happy news. :P
J
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| Wednesday, July 9th, 2008
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6:39 pm
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12:18 am
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| Tuesday, July 8th, 2008
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2:35 pm
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| Sunday, July 6th, 2008
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9:43 am
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| Saturday, July 5th, 2008
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3:33 pm
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12:39 pm
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Everyone is emo'ing. **edit: the last time I said something like this, people emo'ed at me for singling them out. I think LJ is a girl. Every month or two, LJ has PMS and EVERYONE emo's, regardless of fandom, race, sex, religion, or... uh... money. If you think I'm singling you out: you're emo'ing waaaay too much.** I could emo, too. Instead, I give you a post on...
DOGS IN BANDANAS!
My dogs have bandanas. Mostly thanks to messypeaches, who provided me with LOTS of them! They have bandanas for almost every holiday, and they have superhero bandanas (Superman, Spider-Man, Batman, Supergirl, Hello Kitty... of course she's a superhero. >.>) and just-for-fun bandanas (one that's totally a party bandana, which is one of my favorites) and all SORTS of thinsg to make them look ADORABLE. And approachable, which is important when you're a GIANT PUPPY OF DOOM and a PIT BULL, both of which look rather intimidating when they don't have bandanas. >.> (I have actually noticed that people are more likely to approach when the dogs are 'dressed.' *amused* "That dog is wearing a bandana! It MUST be friendly!")
I love my bandanas. I have a whole box of them. And they're in different sizes, too: there's the little Lily size, and the big Sam size, and the biggest size is for Cash. (I was a little surprised when I put one of Sam's old bandanas on Cash yesterday... and it barely fit. I didn't realize he was so big. >.>)
Actually, there's not a Cash size--he outgrew his--but there's the on-the-large-size-for-Sam size, and so I count those. :D
Anyway, what I'm saying is--I love these bandanas. They make me happy, and they make me smile, more so because they were made by a friend of mine, picked out with ME and MY DOGS in mind, not just at random. They were gifts, and that makes them more special. Thank you, messypeaches. You rock. :D
You have anything like that? C'mon. Tell me. Post it in your LJ. Spread the anti-emo. ;-D
J
**Edit: Picture ( under the cut! )
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