Last night I went to a friend's bday party at a really big coffee place.  It was just a regular coffee place that show cases bands and such.  She was really excited because it was open mic night and she was going to go up to read a poem she wrote.

( Continue Reading The Craziness.... )

Let's see.

1. He's said that the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are part of a war on Islam.

2. He'd made posts comparing suicide bombers to soldiers who jump on a grenade to save their comrades.

3. He'd been placed on probation earlier in his career for trying to convert patients to Islam.

4. He was apparently so devout that he refused to even appear in his office Christmas photo, because that would require him to have his picture taken with a woman in the frame.

5. During a grand rounds presentation at a medical conference, he decided to regale the attendees with details of the punishments the Koran sets out for nonbelievers.

They have grand rounds, right? They, you know, dozens of medical staff come into an auditorium, and somebody stands at the podium at the front and gives a lecture about some academic issue, you know, what drugs to prescribe for what condition. But instead of that, he - Hasan apparently gave a long lecture on the Koran and talked about how if you don't believe, you are condemned to hell. Your head is cut off. You're set on fire. Burning oil is burned down your throat.

And I said to the psychiatrist, but this cold be a very interesting informational session, right? Where he's educating everybody about the Koran. He said but what disturbed everybody was that Hasan seemed to believe these things. And actually, a Muslim in the audience, a psychiatrist, raised his hand and said, excuse me. But I'm a Muslim and I do not believe these things in the Koran, and then I don't believe what you say the Koran says. And then Hasan didn't say, well, I'm just giving you one point of view. He basically just stared the guy down.

6. Witnesses report that he shouted "Allahu ackbar!" as he started firing.


How does Chris Matthews interpret all this? "We may never know if religion is a factor at Fort Hood."

How would you make a child's life hell without any form of corporeal punishment,

Casper's insulted that you think he doesn't know how to discipline his children, honestly.

This is so neat! I love the belt. Here's the link.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Fine-Rare-1870-Patent-Ladys-Worcester-Skeleton-Corset_W0QQitemZ230396329431QQcmdZViewItemQQptZVintage_Women_s_Clothing?hash=item35a4b0fdd7

• 00:06 Watching old episodes of "The Goodies" - holds up surprisingly well. #
• 02:04 @Malach I hate you, Milkman Malach. #
• 21:25 Michael Laws. What the fuck? bit.ly/1kBpDx #

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• 17:07 Against my better judgment, I managed to spend most of the day outside Getting Stuff Done. Not sure I approve. #

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( Melbourne )</div>

( TV )
L 950mm x W 600mm x H690mm
$30 ono

( Caster footed table )
Teac  - Model CTF51205L
53cm 3 years old
$60 ono

I've done one corset where I covered the whole thing in a single panel of a rib knit cotton/lycra.  I want to do at least a sample where I use a finer fabric - silk jersey.  (Not as stretchy, so I know it'll at least need side seams, but same principle.)  I also want to start using it for other projects.

Anyway...  I hadn't realized how expensive this stuff is.  Retails easily for $30+/yard...  which makes it more than 3 times as expensive as dupioni.

Does anyone know of a good source for this stuff?  I'm in San Francisco but very comfy with internet shopping.  At this stage I probably just want a few yards each of basic colors, maybe only black and white to start with.  I didn't turn up anything with a cursory googling/ebaying (will keep looking), unlike my search for silk habotai (for example).

ETA: For that matter, does anyone have a good source for muslin?  I can get good muslin (nice hand, not off-grain) at Britex or Utrecht, but it's $3/yard.  Something more like $1-$2 for good muslin, purchased in bulk, would be nice.  There's ebay but I have no way of testing the hand and grain without seeing it in person, so let me know if you have any tried-and-true recommended sources, online or in the bay area.

Thanks in advance!

-Marianne Faulkner
http://www.popantique.com

The Dances of Vice Festival in New York returns on November 20-22, 2009 in a three-day nautical themed flight of fancy that will be held in several stunning historical locations and feature performances by New York bellydance troupe Bastet, as well as a number of anachronistic and chimerical amusements, including a presentation on 18th-19th Century European fencing styles, 18th Century ballroom dancing, sea shanties, live Baroque harpsichord and classical music, historical costume inspired fashion shows, and more.

Those interested in sailing away with us this month can find more information about the Dances of Vice Grand Shipwreck Ball at www.dancesofvice.com.

( Read more... )

Brilliant debate between Christopher Hitchens and Stephen Fry vs. Archbishop Onaiyekan and Ann Widdecombe on the proposition "The Catholic Church is a force for good in the world." Hitchens and Fry devastate the Catholics.

Catholic defense for slavery? "We didnt know it was wrong and neither did anyone else at the time." Really? I thought you were in possession of universal morals.

And just wait til you hear their defense of child rape by priests.




The Audience was polled before and after the debate.


Before the debate the numbers were:

For the motion: 678
Against: 1102
Don’t know: 346

After the debate:

For: 268
Against: 1876
Don’t know: 34

-----------------------------------------------------
Part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFTj9n40rNo

Part 3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-q8US0QRs4

Part 4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQRkfZzyfcU

Part 5 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i391gBoEo58

so, going to a 3 day party in 2 weeks and i have 3 gowns to make :|

here is the beginning of it all--undies!



me in my corset ^-^
thermal long-sleeves = the hawtness


( and on the mannequin with chemise and pantalettes )

November is National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), and Bastet is participating with their latest show Read My Hips.

Come see stories told through movement and music. Let's get together for a night of good food, good company, and (of course) lots of dancing. And if you're participating in NaNoWriMo this year, come meet and commiserate with other writers.

$10 cover ($5 off if you pre-register by email before November 10th), $10 food/ drink minimum. This is a Belly Dance For Change event, and all door procedes go to NaNoWriMo's Young Writer's Program.



( I see you shimmy in anticipation )
We hope to see you there!

So, have previously made corsets, but not nice ones (i.e. with proper coutil, steel bones, busk, etc.) So this is my first serious attempt.




OK, so, horrible picture of me, but hopefully a decent pictures of the corset! I bought the silk brocade facing at a Dark Garden sale, and really like the color. I wish that I'd gotten a bit more reduction out of it!  (I modified the Dore pattern to make it a bit smaller at the waist and breast, and a bit larger at the hip, but I'd STILL like more reduction!)  Even laced all the way, it started slipping just a touch after about an hour. Although it's fairly comfortable, so not a bad attempt, I think.  And the next one will be better.  ;)

More links to construction and other pictures on my blog (if anyone is interested/cares/really bored at work.)

mutive.livejournal.com/7233.html#cutid1

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mutive.livejournal.com/10025.html#cutid1

mutive.livejournal.com/10314.html#cutid1

mutive.livejournal.com/10574.html#cutid1

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mutive.livejournal.com/12495.html#cutid1

A while back, I ordered a corset from Sweet Carousel. The idea was that I was going to replace my Puimond corset eventually (the magenta Asian brocade that I posted for sale a few weeks back, and is now on the way to Denmark). It is in the same silk brocade, but the pattern is a bit longer and has more of a sweetheart shape to the bust.

Well, after a few months, Elise from Sweet Carousel sent me a corset that is, frankly, one of the best-fitting corsets I've ever had the privilege of wearing. It is a standard sized corset, however it feels as though it was made exactly for my measurements all the way around in every way. The hips, the bust, the length (which is always a problem with me unless it's customized completely)- perfect. I have a high amount of squish, so I can lace down at least 8 inches. In this corset, it was smooth as butter in lacing down. I almost couldn't believe it. :D

I wore the beauty for two and a half hours around the house. Yay for comfort!

As of yet, I do not have photos. I tried taking some pictures, but they just didn't do it justice. I'll have to wait until I get back into town to photograph it well. :D

Well, I finished my 'Silverado' corset ready for last weekend. I got quite a few comments on it, not least from a bunch of boys who don't quite get the whole corset thing and were just fixated on my chest the whole night. Heehee.

Anyway, this is the 2nd corset I've ever made - outer fabric is a really cheap satin brocade which I strengthened by ironing on interfacing before flatlining it to some heavy twill. Lining is herringbone coutil and it's got 26 flat steel bones in it.
I'm quite impressed by my putting in of the grommets but I managed to stuff up on the bust gore and couldn't work out how to fix it (4th picture) - any advice on how to sort it would be good since a few people have said that they want me to make one for them too and I want them to have nice corsets (so they really should commission someone else to make them!!!)

When it was properly laced it gave me quite a good shape - unfortunately in these pics I just put it on and didn't tighten so I could take some pics. Anyway... onto the pics

( Pretty eye candy...of sorts! )