Here, Henry Jenkins describes the development of a new game where the object is to overthrow an unnamed oppressive regime by chewing gum, an act which is banned by said regime. Not that it's meant to be Singapore or anything. Oh no.

I haven't played it yet; my work computer is too slow to load any kind of video or moving image, and I don't go online at home much anymore because I practice late. But it is free for download at a site linked on Jenkins' blog.

I've spent the past few days writing a post about John McCain's use of the word "gook," and why it is offensive and wrong even within the context of his treatment during the Vietnam War. (I know, I haven't updated in about a month and you get something completely off the beaten, right?) But fortunately, I discovered this article by a Washington state government worker, Katie Hong, in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer that says everything I wanted to say, but more eleoquently. Here is an article in the San Francisco Chronicle that goes into more detail and makes some other good points. And finally, here Asian Week reports on his rather half-assed apology, which translates into "Well, I still don't think I was wrong, but because everyone gets offended so easily, I'll stop saying it."

All these articles are from the year 2000, you might notice. Yes. I just learned about this incident from this New York Times article, which mentioned it only in passing. I'm not of the opinion that we should take candidates' minor gaffes from ages ago and use them to decide our vote. However, I think this is much more than a minor gaffe; it speaks to an attitude that worries me, especially as McCain tries to position himself as an immigrants' candidate.

The reason I'm posting this is simply to raise awareness, as futile as that may sound. Most people I've spoken to--educated, politically aware people--don't know anything about this. I did some creative googling and found that it didn't receive a ton of coverage even in 2000, although some of the difference would be accounted for by the lack of 24/7 internet and news coverage that we have now. This is probably only the second or third political post you've ever seen from me; don't be fooled into thinking that this issue is all I care about. There are many reasons I am voting for Obama this fall, and it would take too much time and energy to go into them all. Most of these reasons have been covered adequately on the news anyway. I am posting today to bring your attention to these remarks.

In conclusion, a quote from Katie Hong's essay: McCain said that "gook" was the most "polite" term he could find to describe his captors, but because it is simply a pejorative term for Asians, he insulted his captors simply by calling them "Asians" -- a clearly disturbing message. The people running McCain's prison committed evil acts, tortured and killed American men, and the insult that he thinks is appropriate is....naming their race, and thus identifying these prison guards with me, an anti-war, anti-capital-punishment, thoroughly American girl who happens to be of Korean descent.

Please link this around if you know people who'd be interested; I'm leaving it unlocked (and open to flames! Come and get me, internet!). I promise a real update soon--I think that's a record for time between LJ posts.

Dear men of the world:

The Joker's lines, as awesome as they are, do not function well as pickup lines. No, not "Why so serious?" Not even "Let's put a smile on that face." Especially not "I'm going to make this pencil disappear."

So not ever going to put out ever again,

Me

---

On a related note:

Dear specific man who may or may not be a singer by profession:

When you announce your intentions of dressing up as the Joker for Halloween, and I then offer to help with any "impromptu facial plastic surgery" that you may need...that is not the time for you to start talking about how hot I am and how you wish I were there.

No. That was me volunteering to CUT YOUR FACE UP.

No love at all,

Me

[edit: Hmm. In my livejournal I probably come off as kind of a bitch. But he's *so persistent*! In other words, yes, I am.]

Kyra: "I feel pervy now, saying Heath Ledger is hot, since he's dead and all."
pipmister: "Wait, what about that guy you were telling me about in the airport?"
Kyra: "Who?"
pipmister: "You know, his picture was on your book cover."
Kyra: "Oh yeah, Pushkin....Good point."

baaaaaaaaby platypus!

That is all.

COOLEST THING EVER, continuing my obsession with bizarre animals:

Scientists map genome of THE PLATYPUS!

Also, shoiryu, I too was rickrolled by my car radio just now. Thanks, 95.7 New Hampshire.

Guys?

I have been stumbling upon Eugene Onegin fan fiction.

Most of it is Onegin/Lensky. I have decided to call this pairing Vlevgeny.

I don't really know why I am surprised at this anymore, considering Laura Kalpakian published Cosette, you know. But still.

I have spent the past hour or so dying laughing at this. Don't worry; despite the title, it's not gross at all. Also, it is not a rickroll this time, I promise.

A little while ago, tigeremme asked me for dating advice. Of course, I'm the last person to give such advice. Thus, I decided to turn to arguably the Western world's greatest resource for the understanding of human behavior: our operas. What do they have to teach us? (Contributions from tigeremme and Jonathan, whose lj name I don't have... barilosopher) Any other ideas? [edit] More from!: signorinakatina, ladybretagne, novawolf, and hailpoetry

( If he's dead, he can't say no )

Dear Francis Ford Coppola,

What kind of crack are you on? We wants it, precious.

Love,
me

Here's a hilarious article about weird classical music stories in the news in 2007, many of which I've posted about here. Some of my favorites didn't make it, for instance Vienna thief snatches hundreds of obscure avant-garde music CDs (Luigi Nono: Most Likely To Have Kleptomaniac Fans), the guerilla Mahler graffiti, the first orchestra concert ever to be played in Second Life, and the performance at the Met of Die Aegiptysche Helena, featuring the Omniscient Mussel.

I wish you all a very happy 2008. You guys have been nothing short of fantastic over the past year, as you are every year. Despite the ridiculousness of the internet, I am very lucky to be able to use it to keep in touch with such supportive, friendly, and often hilarious (in nothing but the best way!) people. Be magnificent!

Best part of Yevgeny Onegin: Pushkin interjecting the narrative at the end of the first part to say "Hey guys, just for the record, Onegin is totally not my Mary Sue, k? Also plz R&R!!!!"

On my way to New York last week, I saw a pickup truck with a bumper sticker saying "Love me, love my goats." The bed of the truck had some random bits of straw in it. It was like I saw Aberforth Dumbledore trying his hand at assimilating into the Muggle world.

Facebook group of the week: "My refrigerator sounds like the Horn of Gondor"

Youtube video of the week: the Vienna Vegetable Orchestra. I'm pretty sure I posted about them way back in one of my first entries on lj, when they appeared in the Singapore Straits Times. I'm glad to know they're still around, now with their own youtube account.

Josh Beckett's ex is singing the national anthem tonight.

Hey man, I feel your pain.

Moral of our story: stay away from singers from Ohio.

Omg, guys, I just got an email from the SILENCE! The Musical guys. I wrote them an email asking about the Off-Broadway production of the show, which I'd heard about from Aaron and which I was hoping to go see when I go to New York in a few weeks. I've been a fan of theirs since their site first went up in 2003, a fact I also mentioned to them. In fact, I'd even written them a fan email back then. Anyway, this was their reply:

Hi Kyra

Production on the show was delayed because the producers' screwed things up. We hope it'll still open in NY, but these things seem to drag along forever. We'll definitely let you know if we get more concrete info though. Thanks for writing and for the kind words!!

Best,
Jon and Al

Aww, they're so sweet! It was probably a good thing that I didn't reiterate my last email--I'm pretty sure that one included offering them sexual favors.

Belgium for sale on eBay

I thought this only happened to Martel.

I am throwing this out to everyone who has ever taught a stringed instrument to anyone, ever.

First of all, I just got another job! I am teaching violin at the Sharon Music Academy. I start on Saturday with one (1) student, a six-year-old girl who has no background in music. (One or two other ones are supposed to start coming within the month.) Now, I have taught beginners before, I took Goldsmith's pedagogy class, and I have a pretty good idea of what I'm going to do, so I don't feel completely lost, but I would really appreciate any tips any of you have. What have been the best strategies for you when teaching young beginners? What exercises do you give them? Do you have any tricks to help them learn posture? How do you keep their interest for the first couple weeks before they can really play much? Any random thoughts?