The Antisocial Socialist

In case you're curious. This would be a filler post, incidentally. I have homework. Please feel free to talk about why so many people think that they need to read Ayn Rand, or who the hell starts The Prince and doesn't finish it, given that it's maybe 120 pages long.

( Book meme )

( Dystopian movie meme )

Once the shock of reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows for the fifth time in a row wears off, some readers may be wondering what they can read next. So why not start a meme of suggestions? So here are the rules:

1. You must copy and paste the directions, rules, and the list so far into your blog and then add three (and only three) books to the list.

2. These three books must NOT already be on the list so far. They must be fantasy or science fictional in nature that those who enjoyed Harry Potter may also enjoy. You must provide your name and a link to your blog and/or website so that people may contact you to ask for more information about the books, if they want. They must be books that you have actually read yourself.

3. You cannot recommend a series; instead, recommend the first book in the series. Terry Pratchett's Discworld would NOT be considered a series; but Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time would. Use your best judgment about whether you're recommending a series or not.

4. You must label the books as either YA (young adult, suitable for the younger fans of Harry Potter) or A (adult, suitable for the not-so-younger fans of Harry Potter). Please be clear about this. It will be understood that anything labeled YA is also recommended for A.

5. If you are an author, you CANNOT recommend your own books. (You can however hound your friends into recommending your books.)

6. Providing a link to information about the books you are recommending is optional.

And here's the list so far:

( It's getting long )

mistersmearcase says:
Inspired by the lovely example (with photos!) of threepunchstuff, I am suggesting a meme: tell about the moment you came to an understanding with the place you were living--knew you were home, knew you weren't, just some time you had a big talk with everything around you.

There wasn't a moment. There were a series of moments, discussions and asides rather than epiphanies. I love this city, and love-of-place is quite frequently irrational. I won't talk at great length about Hogtown's virtues—there are bigger cities, more exciting cities, kinder cities, cities more steeped in history and politics—and my decision to stay is informed at least in part because my choices are limited. Still. It's home.

( place )

P.S. Emma Goldman died here.

Memeage, because I haven't done a public post in awhile.

Comment with the words "Top Ten" or "Top Five", and I will reply with a subject for which you will generate a top ten (or top five) list. Post the listand instructions in your own journal.

ironed_orchid asked for my top five artists. I'm going to go with "artists I really dig at the moment" rather than "artists whom I think are the best artists ever," because the former is more fun. It's a bit slanted towards Russians and Germans, though.

1. Käthe Kollwitz: My favourite artist. If you've ever doubted that a piece of art can make you cry, pay a visit sometime to her museum in Berlin. Weavers Rebellion and Peasants War are my favourites.

2. Georg Grosz: After I stopped being so obsessed with Dada (admit it—Dada gets old after awhile) I still liked Grosz. He went beyond the "hee hee, random fish" and painted actual absurdity.

3. Otto Dix: Giant landscapes of mutilation, pain, and suffering. Yay!

4. Banksy: You all know who Bansky is, because you're all obsessed with him too.

5. Alexander Rodchenko: My favourite of the Russian Constructivists. I may have a soft spot for socialist realism, but the avant-garde, pre-Stalinist art is still way better.

Bonus artist: Rocky Dobey: If you hit that link, you'll notice that there are only two images there, and one is of Rocky. If you live outside of Toronto, chances are you've never heard of him (though you might have one of his posters on your wall). If you live in Toronto, you probably pass his anonymous plaques (to forgotten history, dead homeless people, etc.) all the time.

Edit: Also, it is a sign that my wee brain is not caffeinated enough yet that I forgot Francisco Goya, who ranks higher than several of the artists I mentioned in my top five.

1. Grab the nearest book. (N.B. Don't you dare dig for that "cool" or "intellectual" book in your closet! I know you were thinking about it! Just pick up whatever is closest.)
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the text of the next 3 sentences on your blog along with these instructions.
5. Tag 5 people.

"See, I've studied pigeons, robins, merlins, Jabber knows what else, but I've not yet seen a fucking garuda up close. So I'm going to go hunting. I've put it off, but I think the time's come. I'm going to Spatters."

I tag the five of you who haven't done this meme already. You know who you are.

Oh yes, and it's International Delurking Day. I don't think anyone lurks on my blog anymore (I used to have anonymous commenters who told me how much I sucked. Nostalgia!), but hey. If you lurk, say hi.

I neglected to mention that three years ago yesterday, a very special guy came into my life.


Marinetti in 2003, just before his fourth birthday. I can't believe he was ever this skinny!


Marinetti today, doing what he likes to do best.

When I adopted him, he had been in the Humane Society for several months. No one wanted him—he was older (although not very old at all), somewhat aggressive (despite being the most mellow cat in the universe now), and had a few health concerns (none of them all that serious). Today, I can't imagine my life without him.

Here are the cats at the Toronto Humane Society currently awaiting new homes. If you can, adopt one.

Crossposted to kittypix.

---

As promised, the other five unlucky recipients of my bad drawing:

( funnel101 )

( profane_stencil )

( andreazenith )

( frippy )

( florence_craye )

New Gaybortion!: Breadcrumbs.

Coming soon: Bowling pictures and getting the cats high!

Here are the first five. The next five may have to wait until after the weekend.

Apologies for the poor taste and even worse art.

( my_valentine )

( jk_fabiani )

( jordansc )

( lokilokust )

( threeliesforone )

Yes, this would be one genuine meme. The first five* people to comment will receive an individual, unique piece of art, by me, about them. Quality, type, and delivery date subject to vicissitudes of life. No warranties.

Recipients must repost.

* Ten, technically, since I responded to this meme twice.