CHRISK

(This doesn't have much to do with firefly except that I was able to sneak in one of Jubal Early's favorite words, 'imbue', but I don't think you'll mind me rambling on about it.) I'm a big fan of Stuart McLean's show 'The Vinyl Cafe' on CBC radio, but that doesn't mean that I agree with all of his opinions or writings. Last weekend he did a big spiel about disliking February that I have to take issue with for a few reasons. First, but not most importantly, he used a conceit that I really think should be done away with - that of pretending that the months of the year have weather patterns and spirits of themselves, divorced the periods of time that we as people have arranged them into and the cultural attitudes that we imbue them with. 'I know that February is the shortest month of the year, but if we could shorten it even further and add the extra days to June, we could get weeks more fine June weather.' Lately I'm not such a big fan of the June weather, but it obviously can't work like that anyway just by rearranging the months, it's not cute anymore, and everybody, especially Stuart, should just drop it. The bigger point that I want to take issue with, though, is Leap Years and Leap Days, and today, Leap day of 2008, seems like a good time to get this off my chest. First, I'm going to include a bit of the McLean ramble to which I am rebutting, with all of the usual disclaimers, this is his writing, not mine, and I include it here under fair use as explanation: "...this notion that a month can accordion in and out every four years, and I don't know how they got THAT past the Board of Regents. You're commissioned to codify the year, to design a system that makes the year solid and reliable, and you *do* that, eleven out of twelve months... And you leave February to some maniac from the basement, who has *radical theories* about child-rearing and what you should eat for breakfast, and has just been WAITING for a chance like this! ...This is what we're left with, a month that can't keep track of itself, a month that loses days willy-nilly... like those school notices your kids never bring home." There's a lot to nitpick in that passage, (WHAT board of regents, and who commissioned them?) but to me what sticks out is that the charge that Leap Day is somehow flighty, unreliable, or crazy just because it isn't part of every year like the others. Odd notion it might be, but something like leap day is the best way I've heard of to make a workable calendar on planet Earth, and I have nothing but respect for the people who came up with the idea and crunched the numbers for it. Let's start with the basics - the point of our calendar is to organize the solar days within the seasonal year - the number of times the sun rises and sets between winter and winter, to put it fairly simply. These periods of time are based on how fast the earth is spinning on its axis and orbiting the sun, and naturally, they don't match nicely with one being an exact multiple of the other. The seasonal year, (from one winter solstice to the next, say,) is close to 365.2425 solar days long. If you want every year to have exactly the same number of days, then you'd make a calendar that's just 365 days long, and not worry about the extra quarter-day every year. However, at that rate, if you started with winter in December, it would only take around 900 years to get to winter in summer. That's not much good. Around the time of Julius Caesar, I think, was when the notion of an extra day first got some momentum. Jules recognized a good idea when he heard it, supported the idea, and therefore that first system is known as the Julian calendar. (Calendars never get named after the people who come up with the ideas and do the math, they're named after important leaders who manage to get everybody to listen up.) This leap day system was pretty simple, one leap day every four years no ifs ands or buts, and it was LOTS better than what came before, but still not really close enough. A few hundred years ago, what with telescopes and abacuses and slide

PHYRELIGHT

I'm seriously hoping I'll be able to make it to D*C this year in Atlanta, and I'm thinking about wearing a costume for at least one of those days. Though, I don't know what to wear. I have several options: [u]Zoe/browncoat[/u] I found a long khaki trench coat at Target the other day that's pretty close to Zoe's, and I know where I can find some dark brown pants that I can tailor to be knee length so they won't bunch up in the tall black boots that I've had for a while. (Yup, those boots are made for walkin'! :wink:) And, I also have an olive-drab dress shirt. All I'd have to do is make a vest and buy a gun belt, holster, and fake mare's leg (or other gun). However, Atlanta in August is guaranteed some of the most miserably hot weather known to man (those of you who are laughing at this have never known a summer in the South), so I may not want to wear a costume with that much gear. [u]Kaylee[/u] I have a top that is embroidered with an Indian design and a pair of olive-drab capris (as oppose to the jumpsuit). I do own a Japanese robe, but it's black with pink peacocks. A moody Kaylee? Maybe. [u]Inara[/u] I have this black skirt with a lot of nice lace work at the hem. All I'd need to do is get a top that would be Inara-ish. My best bet would be making one myself. However, my sewing skills aren't that good. Though, I do have six months to get it right. And it would be really nice to wear a skirt there. Hmm... [u]River[/u] [b]Pfft! That ain't gonna happen![/b] I've spent the past seven years being poked and prodded by doctors in RL, been on all sorts of prescription drugs that [i]has[/i] made a couple of heroine addicts jealous, and categorizing my days into "good" and "bad". Portraying a character whose schizophrenia was manufactured in a lab sounds less like a day of fun and more like digging up repressed memories. [u]Firefly/Serenity t-shirt[/u] Let's face it. I've been meaning to order one from CafePress.com. (TenthCrewMember, I'm talkin' to you! :biggrin:) Despite the above options, I [b]will[/b] wear one on one of the three con days. If I can make it. *crosses fingers* Anyways, any opinions?

TARRISH311

I had an account here years ago, but I can't remember the email it was under or my password. This makes me a bit sad becauase I had submitted art, and I really wish I could find my old account. I guess I'll have to make new Inara and Mal art to make up for the loss. I'm glad this site is still going strong. Go Browncoats!!

STEAMER

So it's a short film, but it's a film nevertheless, as once again we gear up for Can't Stop the Serenity this June. No shooting date set yet, but it's going to be at the Desert of Maine some time this spring. Of course I'm playing Mal, and I'll be speechifying a bit about the New England Browncoats and why we're involved with CSTS. The film will be shown just before the 'Serenity' screening in Boston on June 23, in whatever theater we end up booking. Keep your hopes and your prayers with me, friends, that I'll make it safely through the rest of this filthy winter without gettin' myself dead or debilitated. I'm powerful stoked about this and I DON'T wanna get left!!! And now, on with a Firefly mini-marathon to brush up on my Malediction. :biggrin:

THEJACKAL

i wish i could walk serenity right now, but i cant cause i let my cinema literature teacher and she hasn't given it back yet. i wanted her to watch it cause there was a chance we could watch it in class and i thought that would be a great way to get more people into firefly... but now i am serenityless

SHAMROCK

The last time I updated my blog, it was at Christmas. Infact, the day of. heh heh. If anyone actually remembers me I'll be surprised, and thankful! LOL. Where to start off? Hmm...I guess the biggest thing to start off my blog would have to be a question. A question that's been picking my brain for a couple months now. When is the Serenity event that happens in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, this year? I know there was one last year but I missed it. :( But not this year! I want/NEED to go. Badly. Sean Maher. Need to meet. It's a must. So if there are any Canadian Browncoats, do any of y'all know? On to the next! Job's been going well. It ain't the most exciting thing, being a waitress, but it does bring in good, quick money. I have college to pay off before I can even attend in June. It's $11,000 and I'm about $1500 away. I'll get there in no time. After that, saving up for a Volkswagen Rabbit. They damn Shiny! I'd drive it. Besides, I can't afford a Mazda. Told a boy I liked him, knowing full well he has a Girlfriend. :crap: Couldn't hold it in any longer. His response was flattering. I know it wasn't far to dump that information on him, but he kind of forced it outta me. But we still cool. Still friendlies. So, he's coming down to Brantford soon and I'll be able to chill with him. Doesn't change friendship. Dont change nothin'. I just wish I could meet a man who is super nice, a god head on his shoulders and who wants to love me back. Funny, a nice personality, and hell if he wants to be cute, he can be that too! I wonder if Sean Maher is available..... HAHAHA. Just kidding! :wink: My mom made me another Jayne hat. (pictures coming soon) We changed the colour scheme some, only cause I think the first time it was a little off. Either way, I love it. And It's so much warmer than the old one. (better wool.) Hope everything has been well for everybody! Still supporting the sequel and possible following season(s). I know we can do it. Somehow. Someway. Somewhere, there will be a continuation. There HAS to be. Stay Shiny everyone! -Shannon Xbox Live Gamertag: Reilly67

THEJACKAL

like i said yesterday... i was dying for serenity but i decided the next best thing that would satisfy my craving was watching a few episodes of firefly. it turned out that i watched Jaynestown, the Message, and Objects in Space... i also say another one of my favorite Jayne and Mal moments was in Jaynestown when they are in the bar and the folk singer starts singing "the Hero of Canton" and mal says "Jayne...?" and jayne says "...yeah Mal" with even more confusion than usual. the acting in that scene is great... anything between nathan and adam is GOLDEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

TANKOBITE

Mine heart ish proken into little pits, I tells you friend what for; Mine schweet-heart, von coot patriotic kirl, She trives me off mit der war. I fights for her der pattles of te flag, I schtrikes so prave as I can; Put now long time she nix remempers me, And coes mit another man. CHORUS: Ach! Mein fraulein! You ish so ferry unkind! You coes mit Hans to Zhermany to live, And leaves poor Schnapps pehind, And leaves poor Schnapps pehind. I march all tay, no matter if der schtorm Pe worse ash Moses' flood; I lays all night, mine head upon a schtump, And "sinks to schleep" in der mud. Der nightmare comes -- I catch him ferry pad -- I treams I schleeps mit der ghost; I wakes next morning frozen in der ground, So schtiff as von schtone post. CHORUS They kives me hartpred, tougher as a rock -- It almost preaks mein zhaw; I schplits him sometimes mit an iron wedge, And cuts him up mid a saw. They kive me peef, so ferry, ferry salt, Like Sodom's wife, you know; I surely dinks they put him in der prine Von huntred year aco. CHORUS Py'n py we takes von city in der south -- We schtays there von whole year; I kits me sourcrout, much as I can eat, Und blenty loccar pier. I meets von laty repel in der schtreet, So handsome effer I see: I makes to her von ferry callant pow -- Put ah! She schpits on me. CHORUS "Hart times!" You say, "what for you folunteer?" I told you, friend, what for: Mine schweet-heart, von goot patriotic kirl, She trove me off mit der war. Alas! Alas! Mine bretty little von Vill schmile no more on me; Put schtill I fights de pattles of te flag To set mine countries free. CHORUS No real point behind this; don't have any thing to say or any fiction bits to throw out.

STINKINGROSE

Spring's on the way! I'm getting ready to start my tomato and pepper plants! Yay! More sun! There's less than 6 weeks of official winter left and you can't make me stop being cheerful about it!! :biggrin:

DUN

Only found out i can log in by phone.i didnt know that,things have been up and down of late ,missin out on things that give me real peace of mind,good 2 be back,stay shiney

ELDRITCHSANDWICH

Having an ungodly busy couple of days—the end of Proof will be up later this week.

TANKOBITE

I've decided to do a sort themed reading (there's a bit of a point to it, but not sure if I'll explain it yet) and I figured this is as good a place as any to do write it down so someone else can possibly go "Hey, that's a damned good looking book." The books I'm reading are similar as they're all books about war written from the first person point of view, or as told by a narrorator (or in two cases about what war does to a person). A +, means I've already read it, but if it is on this list I probably plan to reread it soon. The only exception of this is [i]The Forgotten Soldier[/i] because I just finished it about a month ago. [i]The Forgotten Soldier[/i](+): A rare book; World War Two as seen from a French boy serving in the German army on the Eastern Front. Excellent; in the sense that you really feel the cold, hunger, and death looming over you. [i]All Quiet on the Western Front[/i](+): The quintessential anti-war novel, written by a German World War I vet. Banned in Nazi Germany. [i]Company Aytch[/i]: The Civil War as seen through the eyes of a young Tennessee volunteer. Joins with 119 of his friends and neighbors; only him and six others come back home again in 1865. A classic and possibly the only completely true story on this list (Controversy on [i]The Forgotten Soldier[/i]) [i]Starship Troopers[/i](+): Heinlein's classic military adventure story. Some who may read this list may scoff, but this is required reading at all Military Service Academies and is recommended by both the Army and the Marines for all servicemen. [i]The Forever War[/i]: Tough to explain, but basically think of it as an allegory to Vietnam, both combat, conscription, and how difficult many veterans found it to re-adjust to life back home. This may be removed from the list, however, because I'm not sure if it is written in the first person. Even if removed, I plan on reading this book. The exceptions [i]On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society[/i]: Rather self explanatory title, written by a retired Lieutenant Colonel; Wikiepdia has this to say about the book [quote]an analysis of the physiological processes involved with killing another human being. In it, he reveals evidence that most people have a phobic-level response to violence, and that soldiers need to be specifically trained to kill. In addition, he details the physical effects that violent stresses produce on humans, ranging from tunnel vision, changes in sonic perception, and post-traumatic stress disorder.[/quote] [i]On Combat: The Psychology and Physiology of Deadly Conflict in War and in Peace[/i] Similar topic, because it is the same author. Wikipedia has this to say; [quote]an extension of the first, intended to provide coping strategies for dealing with the physiological and psychological effects of violence for people forced to kill in their line of work (soldiers and police officers).[/quote] Well, if anyone's read this, I hope I've given you some books to check out. All of these books have excellent reputations. I'll leave you with some Jacobite music: Ye Jacobites by name give an ear, give an ear Ye Jacobites by name give an ear Ye Jacobites by name your faults I will proclaim Your doctrines I must blame, you shall hear. What is right and what is wrong by the law, by the law What is right and what is wrong by the law What is right and what is wrong, a short sword and a long A weak arm and a strong for to draw. What makes heroic strife famed afar, famed afar? What makes heroic strife famed afar? What makes heroic strife, to whet the assassin's knife Or hunt a parent's life with bloody war. Then leave your schemes alone in the state, in the state Then leave your schemes alone in the state Then leave your schemes alone, adore the rising sun And leave a man alone to his fate. Then leave your schemes alone, adore the rising sun And leave a man alone to his fate... And leave a man alone to his fate.

THEJACKAL

i was just checking on my pics in the bluesun room and i realized that one of the pics i made yesterday had a spelling mistake... im sorry and please don't pick at me for it... it will be fixed as soon as i can...

REAVERKILLER21

I cant wait for the online game anybody else? I cant wait to blast :blast: the reavers and alliance.

THEJACKAL

when shamrock commented me it reminded me of my other favorite moment in the Jaynestown episode. this occurs when Simon and Kaylee are in his quarters, i think, and they are talking and Simon says that showing good manners is the only way that he can show Kaylee how much he cares and then she goes... Kaylee: So, when we made love last night... Simon: When we *what*? Kaylee: [laughs] You really are such an easy mark. that was so funny!!!

JONNYQUEST

Well here I go again. Holy mackerel. Taking note of another milestone. 30 years ago today, I started college. I had completed all my high school graduation reguirements by the end of the first semester of my senior year. So I started college early. My college was on the quarter system so I got January and February off before going. I missed out on a lot by not finishing my senior year and I wouldn't recommend what I did to anyone. But I did it and so, before graduating officially from high school, I pushed for and got a conditional admission to college. Three months later, I was on probation. See, for me college worked the exact opposite than high school. Maybe it's like that for everyone. But in all the years since, I haven't heard anyone live through their college days like I did and actually

TANKOBITE

I've got a log update about the books and the idea, but for some reason it hasn't worked. I'm going to try putting it in two parts and we'll see if that does it. First off, thanks to all who posted some suggestions for my reading list, I'll second any one of those; especially [i]The Killer Angels[/i] which [i]was[/i] what Joss said got him started on the idea of [i]Firefly[/i]. The book is probably my favorite work of Civil War fiction; it centers on soldiers from both sides of the battle of Gettysburg, namely General John Buford, James Longstreet, Robert E. Lee, and Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain. Each perspective is different, from Buford's quiet professionalism and distaste for the political muck ups that have hindered the Union Army; to Longstreet's conflict between defending his home from a foreign invasion and having to fight against his friends (Notably U.S. Grant) on the other side; to Chamberlain, a professor of rhetoric who was granted a leave of absence to study in Europe, but instead enlisted in the army. Some have criticized the book because there are a lot of speeches in it, and I'll grant that there are, but they are damned fine ones. This is an excerpt of Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain's speech to a group of mutineers; this particular text was the version used in the movie based on it, so some of it might be a little changed, but this is it. [quote]Many of us volunteered to fight for the Union. Some came mainly because we were bored at home and this looked like it might be fun. Some came because we were ashamed not to. Many came because it was the right thing to do... ...This is a different kind of army. If you look at history you'll see men fight for pay, or women, or some other kind of loot. They fight for land, or because a king makes them, or just because they like killing. But we're here for something new. This hasn't happened much in the history of the world. We are an army out to set other men free. America should be free ground, from here to the Pacific Ocean. No man has to bow, no man born to royalty. Here we judge you by what you do, not by who your father was. Here you can be something. Here you can build a home. But it's not the land. There's always more land. It's the idea that we all have value, you and me. What we're fighting for, in the end, is each other. Sorry. Didn't mean to preach.[/quote] I'll also recommend any of the [i]Sharpe[/i] series by Bernard Cornwell. The series centers around the exploits of a British Rifleman in the Napoleonic Wars (first books were written about the Peninsula Campaign specifically), but really it is a shadowing of the Duke of Wellington's campaigns. They're well done, full of action, they can be a little repetitive, but are still excellent. Keep in mind that what you're really reading is Wellington's exploits from an individual soldier's point of view. Anyway, back to my book list. Looking back over it, I realized that I overlooked some books that did intend to read for the project. Here are three more, which I'll suggest, but may be harder to find ( I haven't actually seen the third one anywhere, just heard of it). [i]Good-Bye to All That[/i]:Another classic anti-war memoir, written by a British World War I veteran and friend of the famous poet Siegfried Sassoon. He describes in detail life in the trenches, trench warfare, and the battle of Loos. [i]The Highland Brigade in the Crimea[/i]: This book is actually a collection of letters home written by LTC Anthony Sterling who served with Sir Colin Campbell (see my profile quote) in the Crimean War. I'm excited about this one, should be interesting to see a war from an officer's point of view (until now, all other books I've suggested or read have been written by private soldiers). [i]Tickled to Death to Go: The Memoirs of a Cavalryman in World War I[/i]: A bit of a self-explanatory title here, but the author was involved in the First World War from the first shots an Mons. I'm not sure if I'll be able to find it however, because I've only heard of it recently

TANKOBITE

It was the length that was preventing me from posting this. Anyway, previous post is my final books for the reading list. Now to the idea and the reason behind all these books, a bit of explanation is needed. My father is a historian, specializing in the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars. Because of this, I’ve grown up a little Bonapartist and with a few revolutionary sympathies (only classical, not a Marxist). About a year and a half ago I read Victor Hugo’s [i]Les Misérables[/i] and was extremely taken by his account of the failed 1832 revolution (A Bonapartist one). Later I began to listen to Austrian Military marches and my favorite song was the [i]Radetzky March[/i]. I began to do research in it, because it is named after an old Field Marshal who refuses to stand down in the 1848 Revolutions and because of his stand saves the Austrian Empire. I became so interested in this, that during my final year of high school I took two creative writing classes and wrote a short(!) based on the actions of Field Marshal Radetzky in a sci-fi setting (sci-fi because a lot of military sci-fi is historical incidents set in space; a lot of Zulu, and David Drake did a story based on the Nika Riots) from the Austrian point of view because I’m extremely impressed by the old man; outnumbered and outgunned he saved the Austrian Empire against orders of the Emperor-my kind of guy. However, there is a short section in the story told from the point of view of what would be one of the French revolutionaries. I really enjoyed that part of the writing and since I’ve started listening to my Jacobite music, my music of the French and American Revolutions, and my Civil War music, I’ve started going a little closer to the side of the rebels and revolutionaries. So, to the point, I’ve been thinking that what I’d really like to see is some military sci-fi based on the French Revolution, the Jacobite Rebellions, or the American Civil War… I’ve thought about it a bit, and I’m slowly coming to the conclusion that perhaps I should give it a shot. However, I recently became a Firefly Fan and I joined this site recently looking to see if someone had beaten me to it. Unfortunately (I don’t consider myself a good writer) I haven’t been able to find any, so it looks like I’ll have to give it a shot. Movie SPOILER ahead. Here’s the concept (very skin and bones and just added the Firefly universe’s spin to it): at the end of the movie the Miranda news breaks; now we know that the Alliance won the war at a cost and we can assume many of the former independents don’t care to fight again, but kids who would have been more then eleven or twelve at the time of the surrender are now old enough to legal enlist in the military today. Most of the childhood they can remember was hating the Alliance and if they were anything like me during the war they were probably playing army as Browncoats versus invisible Purple-Bellies (Kids don’t seem to like playing bad guys; I never remember fighting anyone pretending to be Germans, though that’s possibly because they’d have to die a helluva a lot more then we Yanks), so is it too hard to believe that with the help of a few fiery orators, the Miranda news, that the youth of the rim might at least attempt an uprising (see July 1832 revolution, or the last part of [i]Les Misérables[/i], the students rising). Specifically (and the point behind all the first person narrations of war and the human psychological response books) I think it’d be interesting to see this story told from one of the volunteers. Originally this was inspired [i]Day By Day Armageddon[/i] a zombie story told through a journal, hence the “Day by Day” part. (If you haven’t heard of it, the first half of the book is available free online from the author’s website

DUN

was just passing through seems we still have a spammer in the chatroom (wont say what im thinking)Anyhow the last couple of weeks got a new car,tis nice, and now the company putting us on a 3 day week,lots of unrest and bitchin going on trying to rise above it and keep my reaver at bay,which aint easy.Anyway i know it aint good manners too post a blog so soon after the last one but i gotta get this off my chest.I usually keep in the shadows when im reading other fanfics,dont read many as im trying too write my own(which is surely a non-starter for now)and this is a part of the last blog,since i found that i could get the fics on my phone its been a godsend,taken me away from the crud in work for awhile .i also have to apologize too all who do write fanfics for not posting comments;reading one at the moment which is brilliant and the member is no more ,shame.

HOBBLEIT

Another good lesson this week. My instructor got me to drive to Shotton without him giving me instructions and i managed to do it. My left turn at Thornley Crossings was perfect as my approach to a set of traffic lights. Then I had to do reverse parking. The first time I did this I was terrible but today I was great. I did five and apart from almost hitting the kerb once (I managed to correct it) and going a little too fast I did them perfect. I do soemtimes have a problem with remembering which way to turn the wheel sometimes but since i'm going so slow I can correct easily. I like reverse parking, you only ever have to do one turn of the wheel at a time, nit half turns and then feed it through so you don't go too far. It's easier than reversing round a corner. TTFN Jennifer -x-

NINAC

Hullo again, (thinks - am I doing this in the right place? oh, hooey, whatever..) Just wanted to let any/everyone know they can see and hear the band's new bits and bobs at our spankin website www.carnelianband.co.uk Lovely stuff.. Still can't stop the signal. Nina X

THEJACKAL

...THE MAN THEY CALL JAYNE. man, it's another one of those things you think of at some point (ex: when you are watching firefly) and you say... crap! Jaynes looking kinda ruggedly-handsome... and then thoughts ensue... and then im like Jayne is awesome and strangely sexy... and then he goes and does something like in "heart of gold" and is asking the captain if he "Can I start gettin' sexed already?" and then it's like never mind... so i guess what im trying to say is ADAM BALDWIN=YES, JAYNE COBB=NO!

NVALROE11

Hey I was just trying to find anyone who is in Spokane who is a Browncoat. Cause I feel lonely.

LEOPARDFLAN

I, RiverFlan, have now changed my name to LeopardFlan (because I got bored with having the same name for seven months.)

SHAMROCK

3.... 2... 1.. 0. I'M GOING TO MY FIRST CONCERT ON MAY 10TH!!! :biggrin: And it's my favourite band playing!!! (Queens of the Stone Age) I'm SUPER Excited. We are right up close to the stage, right infront of Josh Homme. (Front man) They are coming to a city that's only 20 minutes away from where I live so it's perfect driving distance! It was clearly a sign that I had to go, so I'm taking the opportunity and going! My mom was 18 when she saw her first concert. I'm 19. Good enough! What else? Oh! We just got hit with an ASSLOAD of snow. 32 centimeters (12 inches and a bit.) Can I remind nature and stuff that it's March now? No more snow, please. :smile: Still on the potential boyfriend hunt. Not going well. Can't find anyone stable/mature enough. Perhaps I'm too mature for them? Ah, who knows. Still wondering if a Serenity event is coming to Toronto. Does anyone know? Hope y'all have a good day! Stay Shiny! -Shannon

CORI

I have successfully converted my brother to Firefly. He is not a big sci-fi person like some other members of my family. He has been watching the series, and he likes it. I have to loan him the movie now to make it complete.

NVALROE11

Does anyone know where I can go to find out about conventions and shindigs? I really want to go to a convention!

CHARLIEBZ

Hello, Firefly People! Due to some comments on my last posts I feel the need to clarify some fic issues. I first set out to write one fic. Then, I discovered I liked the process so here I am going on and on... So, yes, each fic is a part of a continuing series. I should probably do chapters but I'm not nearly that organized. So, here is my attempt at organization. Please note that if you are reading the stories, stick to this order otherwise it ain't gonna make a lot of sense! [b]The Aftermath Series[/b] This series takes place after the battle on Mr. Universe's moon and continues to the end of the BDM. Fallout:

TANKOBITE

Finished [i]Company Aytch[/i] on the ride back from Branson (much sooner then I expected) and so here’s some of my thoughts (and a mini-review): For those who don’t know, [i]Company Aytch[/i] is a memoir of a private soldier in the Army of Tennessee, Sam R. Watkins, who enlisted in it at the beginning of the war and served with it until its surrender in 1865. Of the 119 other men who enlisted with him at the start, only six others came back home with him at the end. Sam was wounded (not severely enough to be sent home) several times and one of his final wounds was (if nse of horror and fear he must have felt that day. Sam isn’t a professional writer and while that is evident, it isn’t really a problem. To me it came across as just an average guy trying to tell his story; he never makes himself out to be a hero and I respect him for it. That’s not to say I agree with everything he says (or that I think he’s completely correct). For example, he’s writing about some action after the Army of Tennessee has abandoned (and set fire to) Atlanta and he makes a claim that (paraphrasing) “Other then Lookout Mountain, we’d licked the Yankees”, which is a bit of bullocks. If they’d won every battle except one, why had they been forced out of Tennessee and into Georgia and were now on their way up to the Carolinas? I can’t speak for Sam, but I think it probably has to do with the fact that he only saw his company’s point of view, so battles like Shiloh, where his unit was only in action the first day would seem to be victories (even though they lost it on the second). I also disagree with him on his views on the war and the Union, but he fought against it and that’s to be expected. All in all, I liked the book a lot. One of the best things about [i]Co. Aytch[/i] is that most of the story isn’t the battles, but the stuff that happens in camp or on the march. Of course there are the battles, but most of a soldier’s time isn’t fighting and this book is spot on for that. The book is good on showing what an average soldier’s point of view was of the fighting, but I won’t be able to use it as a stylistic guide for writing it (I may try the sort of serial in a newspaper approach). Now I’m starting [i]The Highland Brigade in the Crimea[/i]. We’ll see if I finish it as quickly; I was worried that I was picking too many books, but I may have a shot since I finished the last one in less then a week. I had originally planned to outline some of the challenges ahead, but I think I’m stopping here for now and I’ll give myself sometime to think that part over. Fundamentally, the biggest challenge is understanding the universe (times, dates, planets, how the military will function) and I’m sure there’s resources out there, I’ll just have to find them. As promised, here are the lyrics to the Civil War song "Short Rations", transposed from a Bobby Horton CD and a google book. [b]Short Rations-Dedicated to the Cornfed Army of Tennessee[/b] [i]Lyrics by Ye Comic, Music by Ye Tragic[/i] Fair ladies and maids of all ages Little girls and cadets howe’er youthful Home-guards, quartermasters, and sages, Who write for the newspapers so truthful! Clerks, surgeons, and supes—legislators, Staff officers, (fops of the Nation,) And even you, dear speculators, Come list to my song of starvation! [i]Chorus[/i] For we soldiers have seen something rougher Then a storm, a retreat, or a fight, And the body may toil on and suffer With a smile, so the heart is all right! Our bugles had roused up the camp, The heavens looked dismal and dirty, And the earth looked unpleasant and damp, As a beau on the wrong side of thirty; We were taking these troubles with quiet, When we heard from the mouths of some rash ones, That the army was all put on a diet, And the Board had diminish’d our rations! Chorus Reduce our rations at all? It was difficult, yet it was done— We had one meal a day—it was small- Are we now, Oh, ye gods! To have none? Oh, ye gentlemen issuing rations,

SAFEAT2ND

Ok, I'm wound tighter than a drum right now. As some may know, inspired by the people at this site, I took a writing course and have entered several writing contests. Four to be exact. A total of 6 pieces. Well, I got word this weekend that I am a top 10 finalist in a humour writing contest. The top ten are now being judged by some pretty big radio talents here in Canada. Roger Ashbey and Erin Davis. Even if I don't win, this is huge considering my class went from Sept. to Dec. '07, and these are the first contests I've entered...EVER. It's also the reason I haven't been around much. Now, I'm not saying I'm of Mal4prez's calibre, or some of the other great writers here, but for a guy who's highest mark in high school english was 68%, this is a huge accomplishment. Thanks for listening.

NVALROE11

for all of those Browncoats out there i have a question. Who is your favorite character and why? this for anyone

SPACEANJL

Well, I don't really know what to do at present. I started a little something, got distracted, and now I can't seem to get back on the horse. Add to which, some of the ideas that I wanted to use are being done elsewhere, and done well enough that I'm tempted to just back out and do something different. Post up my nascent ideas as a grab-bag for other writers. A year ago, I gave up work in an attempt to become a Writer. So far, I've done a lot of house decorating, and very little else. It's not that the ideas aren't there, more that there are too many without form or substance to make any one stand out. When I do write something original, it doesn't seem to have the flow and humour that I feel I can get into an FF piece. I've deleted a lot, thrown a lot away. And now I'm beginning to get flak from folks who aren't seeing results. (Not my husband, who is a wonderful man, and without his support, I would probably have had a nervous breakdown in my old job by now) In fact, my mother actually said - 'maybe it's time you admitted that you can't write.' ...:disappointed: Guess it's just the time of year, and losing my cat, and feeling generally crap, but I'm feeling burnt out right now. Maybe it's time to hand the baton on, and go back to cubicle hell. Which makes me want to go play in traffic at the very thought. I like being creative. I like to think I CAN write. My parents just have a hard time dealing with the fact that they can't put a label on what I do. Posting on site is all very well, but it has no financial gain. (From my point of view, even knowing that one person has read and liked it, is reward.) Of course, I'm a grown woman, so it's none of their business. But I guess parents remain on your case forever. Of course, if anyone knows the address to send a Firefly novelization to...

PHYRELIGHT

I did something at 2 AM on Monday (I couldn't sleep), I bought a copy of Better Days signed by Nathan on ebay. I was so excited to buy it that I didn't read the item description. Until just now. It says "[b]This is a pre-order and will not be available to ship until April[/b]," in red letters. *sigh* Crap. I guess I'll buy a regular copy from the comic book store tomorrow morning. Oh, well. If the signed copy comes in plastic or something, I'll keep it in there.

FAYDIABLO

Yeah, I know, pretty crappy thing to do, but I kinda got ahead of myself so.... I'm going to work in what happened in Cloning the River into Broken Souls and whatever comes after Broken Souls, but I still have Ressurected Way Too Early, which actually was supposed to be longer, and Death, Darkness, and Day-Old Grits. So... Which one do you think I should trash, Death, Darkness, and Day-Old Grits, or Early?

NVALROE11

So what is next for us? Are we getting another movie? Game? What's in the works?

SLICEANDDICE

so im currently in disney land and i wante dto share this my first day i was going on space mountian one more time before heading over to california adventure. i use my fastpass, i go through the line get in right up front. Weg et started, we get to the that first rise, we stop as we are about to go forward and....... nothing ...more nothing.... guy doing a wash impression (hey whats going on? are we ok? hello? hello...?) some joking announcement that the ride is delayed more laughing(two minutes go by) annoucement that the ride has been shut down lets speed forword 10 minutes two workers finally get to us and... i cant get out. TOO steep of a sloop, too hard of get off, too loose shoes, and to far of a drop to the stairs. So here coems the cops (thee minuteslater) 2 for my general body, 2 hor my legs and to help me fall. i loose a shoe but one gets t back for me, climb down a million shoes. I feel sick and tired and icky and embarrassed so that was day one.

HOBBLEIT

It's my Mam's 60th Birthday today. Happy Birthday!!!

MOBBEX

I'm eyeing a move to Quebec City. Some weird thoughts have been nagging at me lately and it's getting a tad confusing, like, why would I want to dye my hair bright red? Ambient music is good. Oh yeah. I'd like to throw a bureaucracy hate-party. Who's interested? Gahh, the habs lost. 3-0. A sad day for humans. Anybody else thinks the english language can be a lot of fun? Sometimes I think if I ever do drugs, I'm just gonna... explode. I looove playing the guitar. I'm not too much into playing songs, mind you, but just sitting on my sofa, playing random leads & stuff... I mean, how cool can things get? Back pains suck mutated monkey ball hair. 'Kay, I'm done. There's definitely more to come, so stay tuned. —that is, if you've got nothing better to do.

ORPHEUS

Episode #25 is out now! This week, we're talking about Roland Emmerich's latest flick "10,000 B.C.", and Trent takes us back into The Vault with a look at "Demons". It's a quick one this week, so catch it now at

STORMWIND

Huh, I love putting on random titles, that have absolutely nothing to do with the content. Spoons. Chopsticks. Dammit, I was wrong. They snuck in there. Anyways the point is, that I'm five chapters into A New 'Verse out of about 9 or 10 (I like to keep things open) and I'm wondering if I should start posting.Whisk. Any suggestions? Actually its probably not the best time, becuase I'm actually acheiving one of my lifelong dreams next week. I'm part of a show thats in the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Spatuala. For you UK people thats Australia's ecquivelent of the Edinburgh Festival, or for you Canadians its like Montreal's one. In fact its the third largest in the world. Incredibly awesome. My life is fufilled. Yipee Hooray. Pants. oh wait. Oh and if anyone tries to contact me, do not use the message box! I don't have access to that email anymore. my email is crowscavenger7@hotmail.com Keep Flying Browncoats.

MANWITHPEZ

I realize that this website promotes creative freedom. I get that, really. But someone...I won't say names (but it rhymes with RonAnnethownee) has been a memeber here less than a month, and has completely flooded the Blue Sun Room with almost 50 motivational posters. Most of them are the same pictures with slightly different text. That's...well, that's just fucking ridiculous. Several things happen on this site that I no longer agree with, but I still come to look at some people's pretty pictures(In the Blue Sun Room), and that kind of flooding makes it nigh impossible to do. So, for the love of God...Jo...whoops. Ron! Stop with the posters. No one's saying you can't post them. Just pick the best one from a set and do that. I mean, you've said you've got plans to drop 25 MORE IN THE NEXT WEEK? Knock it off already. We get it...you know how to use the motivational poster creator site. Congratulations! But, please, let someone else have a turn over here on FFF. Please?

WYTCHCROFT

i've been asked to apologise for any late posting to the BSR, wytch is in hospital - tucked up and shivering with a copy of Better Days issue 1. zoner.

STINKINGROSE

I have itty bitty teeny tiny tomato plants peeking cautiously from the potting soil. There were geese flying north by moonlight. A robin was back...looking cold and grumpy, but not giving an inch. Things are thawing around the edges. Next stop: Spring. :biggrin:

GORAMMAN

And yet again I apollogize for being late with something.

COSMICFUGITIVE

SQUEE!

SHADOWCAPTAIN

Pilot: OUT2THEBLACK Temp. pilot: PALMER [BROWNCOAT] 1st mate: DOCKAT Black-ops intel for C.A.T [Counter Alliance Technonet]: JUBALISEARLY [injured] Engineer: SHINYFRYE Weapons Specialist: *** NEEDED *** YINYANG [injured] Acting weapons specialist: ELBARTO [wounded] #2: OREOISFIREFLY *** DECEACED *** Doctor: *** NEEDED *** AVENGINGWATCHER [injured] Cargo Contractor\Logistics: PATHFINDER Stowaway\Prodigy\Fugitive: *** NEEDED *** [LEOPARDFLAN now aboard INDEPENDENCE] Shepherd: *** NEEDED *** PIRATECAT [now on Aquila spreading the Word] Operative\Double agent: OPERATIVEJAI [now on Alliance cruiser Dortmunder or Magellan] Shuttle pilot: 13 [at large] Ships computer analyst: WHATAWOMAN Mascot: Admiral the Cat: WORLDOFHIGLET Passenger: IRISHANGEL Other: ```OPEN``` Capt. Shadow 平静

WYTCHCROFT

if it had been a movie? i woulda walked out. it had no third act. oh sure - a bravura opening - stumbling into the docs, waving and babbling and then very unexpectedly unconscious - and i guess a tour de force with the hand held camera work; faces all blurry and dramatic and boom cut to the hospital - nurses - patients and impatients and things that go beep in the night. x-rays - always fun. ok, so that was cool - so far so good - a short interval of further unconsciousness before the second act, which was an unexpected stick shift into farce with the assembled forces of the hospital (many wearing blue gloves - i kid you not) pursuing a - hapless yet death defying - delirious wytch determined to find somewhere to smoke... ... funnily enough it was the giant no smoking sign! ha ha ha! hide where no/one thinks you be dumb enough to go, i always say - cough, cough, cough and cut to DIAGNOSIS - ooooooh... it's a virus. i SAID oooooooooh! it's a virus. I said [i] OOOOOOOOOH [/i] - oh forget it - anyway it plays it's exile in dullsville. a virus. a gorram boring virus. don't even make me glow in the dark or invisible or in quarantine, just consistently and unexpectedly unconscious. woah, sorry - happened again. see? you shoulda walked out too. ach well. it was at least a comfy bed built for shivering on and - yes! - reading BETTER DAYS. i like it fine so far - just hope it has a better third act than mine. oh and - yeah... [i] "Kris Tamora hated hospitals - always had, always would. It was like schools - they all smelt the same, left him confused as to why he was there... and suspicious that they would not let him leave." [/i] the irony is not lost on me - can't say it's appreciated much all the same. what IS appreciated are the many morale boosting get well messages. [b] THANKS SHIPMATES! [/b] (it was really moving to have the print out brought in to me by zoner). to conclude: i have a truly boring sudden raging evil menningitus type virus which i can't spell and that will now require much rest, so i won't be around for a spell - but i was going on holiday anyhow so i'm ok with that... as much as an FFFN addict like me can be. stay shiny, super people - this is a wonderful site that i love very much and y'all know it's true!:)

THEJACKAL

WTF? what kind of religion is this based on?

OPERATIVEJAI

so ideas i have for the firefly universe. whos to say that the browncoats were completely dead, how do we know that the browncoats didnt have underground organizations and have there own black ops or brown ops lol. Whats to say there werent double agents, working for the alliance but really working for the browncoats. i personally love spies and secret agents and Books secret past made me think of all the possibilities of this secret world within the Verse

EVO421

OK! So I got the BDCE yesterday. Unfortunately, my work schedule necessitates that I be there, well, a LOT.:fork: Hopefully I get to see it before, like the end of the week.

ABBEYGIRL

Well, I recently finished the first part of a fanfic series I am doing: Not Forgiving. It was my foray into something a little more thought out than my drabbles. It turned out to be thirteen chapters! I am so proud of myself for finishing this first part. It felt even better when I got a lot of really great reviews! Thank you all that spent the time to review one of my chapters. Now I am on to the next part: Find My Ship. My overall fear is not being able to write something that does the first part justice or even worse, not being able to write it at all (shudders at thought)! I admire so many of the writers at this site for their unending sagas based on the same storyline/characters and I hope that I will get there someday. Wish me luck in my endeavors. abbey

WORLDOFHIGLET

Hello there, Can't think why you would be here but thanks for dropping by, much appreciated. If you want to see my 'real' blog go to

SHADOWCAPTAIN

Hey all. As you can plainly see we found a crew in rapid fashion, and a fine crew at that. But a new developement has ... well...developed. I've found 2 more 'out of commision' fireflys that have been restored by someone who owed me a favor. My dilema is this - I need to fill 2 more crews for these 2 fireflys. Now I'd be much obliged if all of you would stay on my boat but... fair is fair and I'm giving you a chance to pick a spot on 1 of the 2 fireflys before I go public to fill the spots. They will both be named after our fallen friends from SERENITY. Ship 1: the 'BOOK' Ship 2: the 'WASH' We, in the true sense of the word, will become a fleet,in effect tripling our influence to get SERENITY back in the air. Again,wanna keep ya but can't stop ya from takin' your leave, either way we'll be workin' together. Le'me know. 谢谢 Xie Xie, captain shadow - 平静

JOSI

ilove that song yahh trick yah

SHINYBRIT

I've been watching Firefly for God knows how long and I adore it! I own the series on DVD and the collector's edition movie. I guess the thing to do now would be to tell ya my favorite Firefly characters, right? So here they are in order. But I got to warn you, there's not a single character I [i]didn't[/i] like so just coz the last person's last, doesn't mean I didn't like them. So anyway, here: 1. Jayne 2. Mal 3. "Wash" 4. River 5. Kaylee 6. Simon 7. Zoe 8. Book 9. Inara So that's them in order. Gotta love the cast. They are amazing. =] My favorite episode is obviously "Jaynestown" considering Jayne's my favorite character... but I don't think I could pick a episode that I didn't like. This series is just so perfect, I don't even know how it got knocked off the air. I just want to blow-torch FOX's building. Oh well... Firefly will always live on. Love, peace, and chicken grease.

TANKOBITE

Title says it all. I'm about thirty pages into it, and it is just amazing. It was a good choice to read this book; a lot of this stuff so far hasn't been new per-say (I assume most people know that the body defecates itself when dying) but a lot of it clarifies things and explains why. Not the body defecating itself, but for example why after a shoot out a police officer might not be able to get to sleep at night, but after a few hours of combat soldiers can fall asleep at the most inopportune times(the precise example is a group of soldiers in the Korean War who had a good night sleep attacked a hill; took it by noon, and the NCOs had to wake the soldiers up to prepare them for the inevitable counter attack). Anyway, I'm planning on going to sleep (the book also made an excellent point in why sleep is so important) soon, so I won't take long. I will say that I'm extremely glad I decided to read this book, and I think it will help me with my writing.

PHYRELIGHT

I've been wanting to write something for those who loved Not Sorry (

EVO421

Hey all again. Finally saw Serenity...holy hell, what a movie. The collector's features in the BDCE are excellent (as someone mentioned, thank you!). LOL @ "the cartridge fell out of my gun." As for my newest acquisition from the 'verse, I FINALLY scored the Serenity RPG book! WIN! Now I'm searching for insights and campaign advice for someone who's looking to play and/or run a game.

NCBROWNCOAT

Squeeeee!!!! I'm 3/4 of the way to my first Dragon Con. I have DC tickets (bought those a couple of weeks ago), hotel reservations about a block from the Con and now I have plane tickets. Yes, I really committed myself to going along with my daughter. I've been in a tizzy about the rising price of air fares because I couldn't have any fun if I had to drive 8 hours each way. Well, a friend who travels a lot guided me to a discount air fare site and I got 2 tickets from Raleigh to Atlanta for about half of what the airline sites were listing. YIPEEEEE!!!! Hope to see a lot of you guys there Labor Day weekend.

DUN

just be aware this could end in a rant,the ol timers keep goin on that this aint the same site as when it started,the new comers keep posting and i ,i is lost for the moment.I've noticed alot of members have gone silent for awhile,been known to do it myself from time to time.

MOBBEX

I'm going to NYC next summer... glee! I don't like chocolate. It has absolutely no appeal to me. I saw Fightclub a few days back. I thought it was great! Who's with me? [i]I am Jack's raising right hand.[/i] :biggrin: If were to die and reincarnate, I'd like to be a snowflake. Or a pair of socks. A very chirpy pair of socks. Can we reincarnate as inanimate objects? I don't drink. Ever. Is there such thing as an inanimate object? The last Nine Inch Nails record is terrific. Sometimes I have these bouts of insurmountable numbness that seem so out of character for me... It's quite bewildering, really. Did I mention the last Nine Inch Nails record is terrific? I was doing some excavating in my room earlier today, and stumbled upon a pirate eye-patch. Depth is a fabrication of the mind. The habs won yesterday. 'Beat Boston 4-2. Kovalev made some pretty plays... :smile: It's crazy how the simplest things can become mind-expanding if you let them be. I think I need to move some place away. I've been in this city so long I don't even see it anymore. That's it folks, tune in next week for more.

SHADOWCAPTAIN

TRANQUILITYS journey Part 1 'Genesis' Be part of my virtual firefly crew

YINYANG

Since we would like to have a little bit more money around the house, my family and I are going back to the Dark Ages of Internet access, courtesy of PeoplePC. What little visible involvement I've had with this site is probably going to decrease, depending on how often I can make it to the library. I probably don't really need to be online so much until I graduate anyway, but grr. And, sad to say, but I'll probably miss lurking in the RWED most of all.

BIGBADJAYNE

Hey all... Just one word (okay, several words) of warning... I recently went in search of the stuff Mal had been drinking in an episode, which he called Ng Kai Pei.. Found said item....in a Chinese grocery store..17.95 hard cash... Drank it down (when it stopped fuming in the shotglasses and we all could breathe)... The stuff Mal is drinking in no way resembles it.. it's not pinkish, like wine, it's completely clear. Essentially the stuff's moonshine..at least that's how it acted upon my already alcohol-laden system, anyway... okay..drunk for one night..fun. Drunk for two days...not so much. And the hangover alone is not worth the price... Not to mention Karma kicking me waaay hard in the ass. Stay away from Ng Kai Pei..unless you wanna gorram die. We now return the 'Verse back to you. I will be hiding from this stuff at all costs. thanks for reading. :)

MICJWELCH

I've never blogged before. But I figured this might be a good place to start. And since my current rant is about Whedonesque, I figured this was an appropriate site. I was absolutely stoked when I finally got a login at whedonesque.com. Like a kid in a candy store. Then I found an awesome blog post on Writer's Digest about something that Joss Whedon is really good at, and how we can try to emulate that . Awesome. I'm gonna share it. Posted it to Whedonesque, and it was immediately deleted. (Sorry, I don't have the link anymore.) Okay, I guess they really don't care that much about writing technique. I'll admit that one of the posts I put up got deleted because it was a duplicate. I'll forgive them for that. But I've posted a few things that just don't make any sense. Just today I posted this

SHINYBRIT

Being new to this community(though I've known about for like... ever) I figured I should update my profile and such to let you all know a little bit about me. I haven't done it yet, but once I do you should check it out. I'm also in the process of writing a fanfic starring[[i]drumroll[/i]]... Jayne! Yay! But I think there's gonna be an even amount of dialogue between all the characters. I'm excited to see where it goes... Then again... I'm never really satisfied with my writing. I'm kinda picky with it to be honest... but I'm going to try. Therefore "My Firefly" will flourish! Yay! So I guess I'm going to go work on my profile right now and then my fanfic. Alright. Thanks to those who read. =] And for those who read... just out of curiosity... here is a question for you: What is your favorite Firefly episode and why? Okay folks, see ya later!

ASIANSOLO

It's been a while since I last wrote anything in the blog. I have been busy with work, homelife and other issuses but I plan on writting more. Well thats all I have for now.

2X2

*Crossposted from my LJ* I avoided it at first, but it kept popping up on my flist, so I finally went over and read this blog/rant that this self-proclaimed 'lesbian feminist' wrote about Joss Whedon and Firefly. Have you heard about this? I am... flabberghasted by this rant. It makes me extremely angry to read it. This woman is herself blinded by her hatred of men and men's position in society. She describes every client of Inara's as her rapist/fucker, and persists in calling any man who has sex a rapist. She even goes so far to say that she has never heard of a successful relationship between a white man and a black woman. I... The urge to reply to her is *so* strong, but this woman has already received far too much attention as it is, and she is not interested in debating her 'point of view', she simply deletes the comments she doesn't like. Right off the bat, as she explains it, she rolls her eyes because Zoe calls Mal 'sir'. She takes immediate offence that the man is in charge, harping on the fact that Zoe 'follows Mal around and calls him sir' without acknowledging the military relationship they had. There's more... there's *so* much more, and it's just mind-boggling. The worst thing is, if presented in a respectful, intelligent and unbiased argument, there *are* certain lines and certain actions that, taken from a certain point of view, one could take as less than favourable to women, but she's so rabid and foul of mouth in her delivery that there's just no point in addressing any of it or trying to take it seriously. I'm sure it's very serious to her, but this woman has *Issues* with a capitol 'I'. She focusses on the most negative spin she could possibly put on any characterisation or situation. For example, rather than saying Yay for Zoe being in the middle of the action and fighting - and beating up - the bad guys, all she sees is a woman getting hit by men. She doesn't see any of the other side. And that is the inherent flaw in her entire arguement. Blinded, utterly blinded. I don't really want to put up a link to it here, because as I've said, I think it's gotten enough attention as it is, but if you haven't read it and you want to, I'm sure you can find it... if not, I'll give you the link if you really want it. In re-reading this, I can see that it doesn't sound like much, but if you could feel the amount of anger behind my words right now... and don't confuse this for my obsession of Firefly, honestly. Yes, I read it because I am a fan of the show, but it's her man-hating narrow-mindedness - to the point that she is a detriment to real feminist progress - that I just can't get over and that pisses me off so much. It is no better to be a man-hater than it is to be a woman-hater, and I'm telling you that this woman feels so righteously justified for whatever reason - whatever experiences she's been through or whatever to form this bias - that there is just no common ground for her, no seeing the other side. It's all or nothing. Woman supreme, or let's blow up the world. It's so...... GRRAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUGHHHHHHHHHHH! God damnit, it makes me angry!!

COLT999

ShadowCaptain is continuing the verse with a virtual Firefly Tranquility. You can follow their adventures here.

MICJWELCH

When I posted my rant about Whedonesque, I didn't realize that it would end up on the front page of fireflyfans.net, but hey, Browncoats are a great community - I didn't even get anybody mad at me. :smile: I had a quick question, and forgive me if I haven't searched around enough on the site to find it on my own. What is the etiquette for blogging here? I know in the Blue Sun Room, we need to make sure that everyone has a chance to be seen, but blogging is a new thing to me. I'm kind of working under the assumption that it should be Firefly related, but otherwise I'm kind of in the dark here.

INVICTUS12

I don't think Serenity is as good as Firefly. It's more scifi and less western than the show. I still think its one of the best movies ever made, don't get me wrong, its just not as good as Firefly

ASIANSOLO

First of I want to wish everyone who left words on my first blog, Thanks. Today was a good day at work, we controled burned between 500 to 800 acres. We are getting ready for troops to arrive here for training. If we pre-burn areas before the troops get here, then we have less uncontrolled wildland fires when the troops are here.And since this was my off day, the work was over-time for me, too! A good day over all.

SHINYBRIT

I figured I'd let you all see what I look like... if I can figure out how to post pictures on this thing. So if this doesn't work the first time... then I'm probably just stupid. lol. Also, if it doesn't work the first time, I'm going to try and do it again... so have no fear!! lol. Okay anyway... Here they are (if they show up):

CORI

I forgot to mention that I went to a Serenity convention in October. It was so much fun, plus I got a picture of me with Nathan Fillion. The best day ever. I would defiantly go to another convention.

JANE0904

I had been trying to get my current tale ORDINARY DAY to finish today – March 27th – in time for our dear Captain’s birthday. However, time constraints, RealLife and the story itself has decided otherwise - it's got longer and more convoluted than I could have imagined at the beginning! But I’d still like to take this opportunity to wish Nathan Fillion the very best of wishes for the day and the coming year, and I can’t wait to see what he turns up in next! :kiss: Jane

INVICTUS12

Just wanted to see if there are any Indy Browncoats. Please tell me.

ASIANSOLO

Today my wife and I brought a small Koi to go in our outdoor pool. The pool looks like a small mountain with several water falls. My wife is from the Philippines and is into Feng Shui. After we put the Koi into the pool, it jumped out, several times before I put on old nylon tarp over the opening. The tarp has small holes in it to let the water flow in, sun light can enter but is somewhatly blocked, this way when the Koi jumps again it only hits the tarp and goes back in the water.

TANKOBITE

Well, I'm still reading [i]On Combat[/i] and I don't want to really say much about it until I'm done, so I'm borrowing a term my sister's anime TV shows use. In honor of the "Rapists View of the Universe" I give you an old favorite: The Creative Writing Assignment Gone Awry (Note-I actually got my creative writing teacher in High School to read it out loud to the class...good times) [quote]THIS IS AN ACTUAL COLLEGE THEME PAPER - "Today we will experiment with a new form called the tandem story. The process is simple. Each person will pair off with the person sitting to his or her immediate right. One of you will then write the first paragraph of a short story. The partner will read the first paragraph and then add another paragraph to the story. The first person will then add a third paragraph, and so on back and forth. Remember to reread what has been written each time in order to keep the story coherent. There is to be absolutely NO talking and anything you wish to say must be written on the paper. The story is over when both agree a conclusion has been reached." The following was actually turned in by two of my English students: Rebecca -last name deleted, and Jim - last name deleted. ------------------------------------------------------------ STORY: (First paragraph by Rebecca) At first, Laurie couldn't decide which kind of tea she wanted. The chamomile, which used to be her favorite for lazy evenings at home, now reminded her too much of Carl, who once said, in happier times, that he liked chamomile. But she felt she must now, at all costs, keep her mind off Carl. His possessiveness was suffocating, and if she thought about him too much her asthma started acting up again. So chamomile was out of the question. ----------------------------------------------------- (Second paragraph by Jim) Meanwhile, Advance Sergeant Carl Harris, leader of the attack squadron now in orbit over Skylon 4, had more important things to think about than the neuroses of an air-headed asthmatic bimbo named Laurie with whom he had spent one sweaty night over a year ago. "A.S. Harris to Geostation 17, he said into his trans- galactic communicator. "Polar orbit established. No sign of resistance so far..." But before he could sign off, a bluish particle beam flashed out of nowhere and blasted a hole through his ship's cargo bay. The jolt from the direct hit sent him flying out of his seat and across the cockpit. ---------------------------------------------------------- (Rebecca) He bumped his head and died almost immediately but not before he felt one last pang of regret for psychically brutalizing the one woman who had ever had feelings for him. Soon afterwards, Earth stopped its pointless hostilities towards the peaceful farmers of Skylon 4. Congress Passes Law Permanently Abolishing War and Space Travel," Laurie read in her newspaper one morning. The news simultaneously excited her and bored her. She stared out the window, dreaming of her youth, when the days had passed hurriedly and carefree, with no newspapers to read, no television to distract her from her sense of innocent wonder at all the beautiful things around her. "Why must one lose one's innocence to become a woman?" She pondered wistfully. -------------------------------------------------------- (Jim) Little did she know, but she had less than 10 seconds to live. Thousands of miles above the city, the Anu'udrian mothership launched the first of its lithium fusion missiles. The dim-witted wimpy peaceniks who pushed the Unilateral Aerospace Disarmament Treaty through the congress had left Earth a defenseless target for the hostile alien empires who were determined to destroy the human race. Within two hours after the passage of the treaty the Anu'udrian ships were on course for Earth, carrying enough firepower to pulverize the entire planet. With no one to stop them, they swiftly initiated their diabolical plan. The lithium fusion missile entered the atmosphere unimpeded. The President, in his top-secret Mobile submarine headquarters

SHINYBRIT

In Serenity the movie, when the crew goes to Miranda, even though it's in Chinese, River's monologue has to be one of the greatest I have ever heard. "Renci de Shangdi, qing dai wo zou; Wo xiang mei er, mei xin, bian shitou." "[i]Merciful God please take me away; I will close my eyes and my heart and become a stone.[/i]" This hit me hard when I read it in English, but even in the movie when I couldn't understand what she was saying... Summer Glau acted it out so well that it was simply mind-blowing. I felt her pain right there. That was my favorite scene in the movie. What was your favorite scene in the movie?

MAL4PREZ

Life brings many changes lately, and I'm feeling the need to blog... I've missed hanging out on FFF. I've been checking in off and on, but too caught up in real life stuff to really keep up with fic and the threads. But I just got back from New Zealand, and should have some more time to myself in the next few months. I certainly will have free time this summer, because I'm changing jobs and will take as much time off as the icky finances allow. I'm going to be a teacher! I'll be teaching physics and dance at a private high school just outside NYC, which means I'll have summers off, as well as long breaks at Christmas and in March. My theory is to use my vacation time to get into writing original fiction. (Well, and to vacate a bit too!) I've got something going now, although I haven't been able to really develop it yet. This summer will be a battle between the original idea and my never-ending fanfic, which I really would like to finish. I know the ending but it's just so hard to get there! Anyway - New Zealand. Gawd, what a gorgeous gorgeous place! I was with a student dance group, so we were mostly in the cities. We did concerts and workshops in Kaikoura, Dunedin, and Wellington. Informal concerts, but fun. Very good audiences, including one at a community center with lots of children. A few times I thought the kids were going to run up and join us LOL! They was very cute. We performed outside in Wellington, which was interesting. These aren't the kind of dances that love concrete (ouch!) but it was fun to have wind and sun and blue sky above us. A different experience, for sure. Being with the group and having a schedule to keep, I was a bit limited as far as getting into the countryside, but I saw plenty to impress me. The area around Queenstown is just out of control. I wish I could have spent a few weeks there, instead of barely a day! The mountains are (fittingly) called the Remarkables, and I guess a lot of LotR was shot in them. We drove through a rocky area that was straight out of the beginning of Two Towers. I kept expecting Aragorn and Legolas and Gimli to come running around an outcrop LOL! NZ is also very European in places, with the vineyards and cypress trees in the valleys. And lots and lots of sheep. (I got the best wool socks!) We had a fabulous afternoon at the Gibbston winery. I'm a red wine lover, but the NZ whites were lovely, especially on a warm sunny day. And it turns out that Gibbston was only a few miles from the original bungy jumping spot - I really wanted to do it! But the schedule didn't allow. :( The people in New Zealand are soooo friendly. It's much more laid back than where I live on the US's east coast (but then, no where is as uptight and hurried as here...) There were some similarities though - I was on a college campus on St. Patty's day and those Kiwis sure do know how to drink beer! It wasn't pretty. Oh, we also had the amazing experience of staying at a Moari morae (meeting house) near Wellington. We got to see a haka done by students - this is the dance that the All Blacks, the NZ rugby team, does before matches. F*ing amazing. We got a lesson with the poi (ball on a string) and the paddle weapon thing (I forget the real name) but not the haka. I guess that's reserved for men - which I can't really argue. I mean...

MICJWELCH

I just got my little model of Serenity in the mail. There aren't words. This is awesome. I know, the picture was obviously taken with my phone, but you get the idea.

TRANQUILITYONBOARDCOMPUTER

TRANQUILITY Part 9

DJTOES

It's been a long time since I updated. I don't know how much longer I'll be updating, but here goes one more entry. I'm doing well in school and I will be trying out for the OSU marching band this coming summer. If i work hard, I might be able to make it. Go me. Still no job, which is very frustrating. I really need one, and no place will hire me. The last time a applied for a job, someone steals my social security number and all my information. Thanks a lot Gap Inc. -_- Not doing much but going to school, doing homework, cheering on my Buckeyes, and watching tv.

ASIANSOLO

The Koi we brought died today when the weather here turned off cold over night. Too bad , the Koi will be missed. we are waiting until warmer weather to try again with another. Not much else is going on until next time. Bye.

THATWEIRDGIRL

Ni Hao! I need a favor from all you Jayne hat wearing folks out there. Can you help me find D*C ('06 and '07) pics of my costumes? I'm putting together a costume blog and I'm having trouble locating pictures I thought I took. They could be anything: Kaylee, Inara, Ariel EMT, Tara, or Wonder Girl. I'll make sure to add your photo credit to the caption. Thank you!!! I've already borrowed/lifted two pics from Lissa. *Cross posted everywhere

MIKEYBOY

Would anybody know how to get floor plans for serenity?

ADAMSTEVENSON

For my first entry I thought I'd talk about myself and whats going on in my little life. I am at University studying the media and I'm about to hit some hard times as I go on holiday while the term is still running so I need to hand some things in early which will be a pain one is a 2000 word essay and the other a very short column. I have no idea what to write at all for both of them but I have something like 17 days to write them in, hopefully finish one if not both by the end of next week. On top of that I work two days a week in a call centre which is great. The one thing that is getting me down is that I have started the first chapter of my fanfic called "Someone to carry you" but still have not finished even when I know I'm about a paragraph away from finishing it. The more I don't write it the less appeling it becomes to me and I know I have a good story that would interest alot of readers, maybe I'll wrote abit more on holiday or something.

ASIANSOLO

Last night we had storms here. Today high winds and storms, well that's Arkansas for you. Wait a few minutes and the weather will change. I have found some miniatures to use as a crew for my Firefly game, part of them come from Eureka miniature the Pax Limpopo line. Some more come from Alpha Forge.All in 28mm scale. That's all for today.

SHINYBRIT

[b]In personal Firefly/Serenity news:[/b] I just joined a virtual Firefly crew right here in our very own fireflyfans.net forum! For the ship I'm on, named "BOOK" in remembrance of Shepherd Book, we still need quite a few crew members. There is also another ship in need of even more crew members (The "WASH" in remembrance of Wash) so go on and join!! The BOOK: