I would love to see him cast as Laurence for the movie version of His Majesty's Dragon.

Oh my bloody God, that is the best idea in the history of ever.

C'mon, Peter Jackson! Get your arse into gear and make the movie already!

Teppy - they're very enjoyable books, if you're fond of Master and Commander. Also, fwiw, Naomi Novik, the author, is one of the people behind the Organisation for Transformative Works and is better known to many fen via LJ and suchlike under another writing nom de guerre. Ahem. So there's that whole 'One of Us! One of Us! Published! Woohoo!' thing going on too. For me, at any rate. 'Cause she's definitely one of my favourite fannish creators, in both prose and vidding.

eta tangent:

My kids are busy rehearsing their Chinese New Year Assembly this week. I wrote a play script telling the story of why the 12 years got their name (and why there is no Year of the Cat. Or indeed Shark). Everyone has some lines. The kid playing the monkey? He says: "Go Monkey! Choose Monkey!" because I think that's hilarious. I somehow doubt there will be any other Buffy geeks in the audience, but I needed to share. (Later he says "Go Home! Choose Home!" Because I am easily amused.)

well, I hope it's enjoyable cheese.

The fromage was evident and enjoyable.

ND's situation is even a little bit easier, because from most Christians' perspective, Satanism is specifically antagonistic to their belief, even moreso than atheism. So it's a rough one to navigate.

While I understand how it appears this way it has not been my experience. I think it's that the idea of someone believing in no higher power at all is very threatening. Also, while the idea of Satanism being the antithesis of Christianity is there, atheism is more prevalent, and as such I think taken more seriously. It's tough. I have old friends that won't talk to me any more. Friends that were with me through thick and thin, but now are people that I just have a very difficult finding common ground with. I've also had some very tough things directed my way with attitudes. The idea that since I'm an atheist I'm amoral and unable to make any judgment about right and wrong.

Anyway, it's a topic for a a very long post.

It's often conflated with Satanism anyway.

It's tough. I have old friends that won't talk to me any more. Friends that were with me through thick and thin, but now are people that I just have a very difficult finding common ground with.

This. I had one very close friend (we still are and got past this) get very upset that another chose me as a god parent.

Also, we're supposed to shut up and not talk about being people who participate in society from a strictly secular humanistic standpoint.

I got in a huge argument with my husband, who is agnostic to the point of apathy, when I pointed out that the kid on Inside Sports saying it was ok that his coach was jewish because they both believe in god was a little offensive to me.

The idea that since I'm an atheist I'm amoral and unable to make any judgment about right and wrong.

This just slays me. The supposition that one can only have a moral framework within the context of being terrified of punishment by the flying spaghetti monster/other deity of one's choice. I think it belittles both people of faith and atheists.

The supposition that one can only have a moral framework within the context of being terrified of punishment by the flying spaghetti monster/other deity of one's choice. I think it belittles both people of faith and atheists.

Yes. This. In fact, the idea of being motivated to do good out of fear is absolutely repellent to me.

Also, while I'm hardly an atheist by any stretch, I have essentially been cut off from one of my old social circles, because I am now a very liberal Christian. As far as they're concerned, I'm not "really" Christian because I am in favor of gay rights, don't believe in the exclusivity of salvation, etc. There's only one friend I truly regret losing touch with, especially as I feel she is being pulled into the freakier aspect of the whole FAC thing.

Giving someone ... his level prominence and tacit approval by including him in something as symbolically important as the inauguration is never going to seem anything but wrong to me.

My money says the exact same words are being spoken, by the far right, about the inclusion of Rev. Gene Robinson.

Yes, this. Exactly.

And, to tie it in with the atheist conversation, I know people who are furious -- practically unhinged in a "please seek medication" way -- that the inauguration would even include any leader of any faith speaking publically. They would prefer no faith of any kind being tied to the inauguration or, indeed, any public official's public statements, ever.

So nobody wins. Some people are pissed at including Rick Warren, some people are pissed at including Gene Robinson, and other people are pissed at the mention of any god, in any capacity, at all.

Go America.

Well, as long as everyone is equally offended, that's as good as pleasing everyone, right?

Well, as long as everyone is equally offended, that's as good as pleasing everyone, right?

Seriously? That's what you think I meant?

I'm not saying that offending everyone is a good thing. I'm just pointing out that it's a no-win proposition.

Obama is a politician, first and foremost. Asking Rick Warren to be a part of the inauguration is simply politics. I don't doubt that for a second. As is asking Gene Robinson.

I, personally, think that Rick Warren is a bigoted troll who doesn't have the slightest understanding of what God is really about, and I hate that he's such a big part of the inauguration.

But I also understand *why* he is.

I'm just pointing out that it's a no-win proposition.

I completely agree. And I also agree that it's completely political. He's doing exactly what he said he would--bridging between the parties. I see Rick Warren is a huge part of that.

Quite frankly, I've been surprised that people have been so surprised of the choice. Disappointed? Upset? Angry? That I can see, but the surprise surprises me.

Giving someone ... his level prominence and tacit approval by including him in something as symbolically important as the inauguration is never going to seem anything but wrong to me.

My money says the exact same words are being spoken, by the far right, about the inclusion of Rev. Gene Robinson.

The difference being that Warren is a hate-monger and Robinson is not.

Obama is a politician, first and foremost. Asking Rick Warren to be a part of the inauguration is simply politics.

I think this is absolutely true, which doesn't make it okay with me. He'd rather cater to the right-wingers that didn't vote for him than the LGBT community that did. I don't have an issue with Obama engaging people like Rick Warren. I just think the timing of this sucks and makes me personally feel like a second-class citizen. Coming on the heels of Prop 8, it feels almost like an attack.

And now I try to go back to sleep. Total hot button issue for me. Sorry.