Just when you think living in Oxford can't get more surreal

[jadesfire]

Protesters occupy a Bodleian Library building. It's a Gaza protest, and they have a list of demands. Um. I'm honestly at a loss as to what to say. Of all the places to protest about the Israel/Palestine issue, Oxford is not even on the list, let alone near the top.

Also, I just watched Criminal Minds 2x20 "Legacy" and while I found the story itself a little weak - although the victim was brilliant - I loved Hotch's line while they're canvassing the streets (from memory as I can't seem to find a transcript):

"Well, Reid got propositioned by every prostitute we questioned, but no one knew anything."

I love Reid's little embarrassed smile, Morgan's grin and the way everyone just goes 'oh, right' and moves on.

I had honestly forgotten how much I love this show. It's not for everyone - the themes are dark dark dark and I can think of a few people on my flist who I'd positively advise not to watch it - but I love the whole thing, from the way it plays with expectations, to the character arcs (which are done *right* - subtle and real, the way you find out about people in real life) to the way it treats everyone, profilers, criminals, police and victims as human beings first. You can't assume anything about these guys. And I like that.

Comments

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

what an *odd* protest.

I sort of watch Criminal Minds, but have only caught an episode here and there

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

It's seriously weird. The staff can still work in the building, it's just that there's a load of student-protesters in there too.

I think CM is the kind of thing you have to really 'get into' to enjoy fully - they use a lot of jargon that's easier to follow if you watch week by week. But the characters and the plots are worth the effort, if you've got the temperament for the really dark stuff that they cover.

Damn, I need me some icons...

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

some of their cases are positively squicky. Very dark and icky

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

*nods* But - and this is going to sound weird - although they're sometimes graphic, they're rarely gratuitous, and often no worse than what you'd seen on CSI. It's just that they take you into the heads of the people doing it, and that's the squicky, creepy part. There's always a note of hope, though, or something to make you think or to tell you something about the characters you're falling in love with.

Also, I want to be Garcia (the computer tech) when I grow up because she rocks :D

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

Garcia is awesome. I love all the stuff sje has on her desk/computer. The finale of last season/start of this season has them all (including her) travel to NYC for a big case and she brings all her little things to make the work area there seem more friendly

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

The best bit is that most of the stuff she uses in her office (as well as Reid's socks!) are sent in by the fans. I know when I was in the fandom, TPTB were very open and willing to have the fans involved and on-set and communicated really, really well. Think of the opposite of how SGA was run and you've more or less got it ;)

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

Really? Actually liking/respecting the fans? What an unusual idea! *grins* that's all kinds of awesome that people sent in some of that stuff

[rustydog.livejournal.com]

Wait, Criminal Minds is an American show? I am so out of it. Jades is the only person I've ever seen talk about it so I assumed it was not one of ours. Heh.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

*pets* yes- wed night, on cbs

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Hee. Yes, it's American - made by the people who make NCIS. I would guess it's not your sort of thing - it can be very, very upsetting - although I'm planning a crossover with Torchwood that you might enjoy ;)

[dyddgu.livejournal.com]

'Pparently it's something to do with Balliol having a Shimon Peres lecture series. Still have no idea what it has to do with Bodley...

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I saw that on their list of demands. I'm still kind of o.O about that because don't you need hostages or something to make ransom demands? As far as I can tell, they're really just a nuisance at the moment :S

Of course, OULS is well known for its influence on Middle Eastern politics [/sarcasm]

[miss-zedem.livejournal.com]

Well, it's kind of nice to see student activism is alive and kicking, even if I'm not entirely convinced they're doing it right...

I've never been able to get into CM, but I'm glad you're enjoying it :)

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

*snort* Yeah, their 'we're prepared to be here for weeks' protest ended at 7pm last night. I'm still not entirely clear what they thought they were going to achieve - it's all a bit puzzling...

CM is definitely giving me characters to get my teeth into, and with current fandom interest waning, it's nice to have something to go to ;)

[roga.livejournal.com]

I have to say, if there's something I really, really, really dislike about the UK (and in general I LOVE the UK, which is what makes this all the more distressing), it's that every year the cry for an academic boycott of Israel arises again. And it drives me crazy, because boycotting the academy is a) unprofessional - if any institutions should remain free of politics, it's sports and academia, and b) so counterproductive, because hello, do these people remember on what side of the political map the academia usually falls? The intellectuals are the left wing, they were the ones protesting against what went on in Gaza and in every war so far, they're the ones who are for more democracy and human rights, and boycotting them is just silencing the people who agree with you.

Um, sorry for the rant.

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

No apology required - it doesn't make any sense to me either. The whole thing was (it's over now) a complete and utter farce and strikes me as something of an embarrassment to serious protesters. They've even asked 'not to be punished' for their actions. Oh yes, that's the courage of their convictions alright. *facepalm*

Because I'm not affected directly, only at one remove, it's easy for me to look at them and sort of shake my head and consider them ridiculous. But as you say, it's just so *waves hands* It's almost wilfull ignorance and that I find frustrating.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

what an *odd* protest.

I sort of watch Criminal Minds, but have only caught an episode here and there

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

It's seriously weird. The staff can still work in the building, it's just that there's a load of student-protesters in there too.

I think CM is the kind of thing you have to really 'get into' to enjoy fully - they use a lot of jargon that's easier to follow if you watch week by week. But the characters and the plots are worth the effort, if you've got the temperament for the really dark stuff that they cover.

Damn, I need me some icons...

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

some of their cases are positively squicky. Very dark and icky

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

*nods* But - and this is going to sound weird - although they're sometimes graphic, they're rarely gratuitous, and often no worse than what you'd seen on CSI. It's just that they take you into the heads of the people doing it, and that's the squicky, creepy part. There's always a note of hope, though, or something to make you think or to tell you something about the characters you're falling in love with.

Also, I want to be Garcia (the computer tech) when I grow up because she rocks :D

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

Garcia is awesome. I love all the stuff sje has on her desk/computer. The finale of last season/start of this season has them all (including her) travel to NYC for a big case and she brings all her little things to make the work area there seem more friendly

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

The best bit is that most of the stuff she uses in her office (as well as Reid's socks!) are sent in by the fans. I know when I was in the fandom, TPTB were very open and willing to have the fans involved and on-set and communicated really, really well. Think of the opposite of how SGA was run and you've more or less got it ;)

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

Really? Actually liking/respecting the fans? What an unusual idea! *grins* that's all kinds of awesome that people sent in some of that stuff

[rustydog.livejournal.com]

Wait, Criminal Minds is an American show? I am so out of it. Jades is the only person I've ever seen talk about it so I assumed it was not one of ours. Heh.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

*pets* yes- wed night, on cbs

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Hee. Yes, it's American - made by the people who make NCIS. I would guess it's not your sort of thing - it can be very, very upsetting - although I'm planning a crossover with Torchwood that you might enjoy ;)

[dyddgu.livejournal.com]

'Pparently it's something to do with Balliol having a Shimon Peres lecture series. Still have no idea what it has to do with Bodley...

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I saw that on their list of demands. I'm still kind of o.O about that because don't you need hostages or something to make ransom demands? As far as I can tell, they're really just a nuisance at the moment :S

Of course, OULS is well known for its influence on Middle Eastern politics [/sarcasm]

[miss-zedem.livejournal.com]

Well, it's kind of nice to see student activism is alive and kicking, even if I'm not entirely convinced they're doing it right...

I've never been able to get into CM, but I'm glad you're enjoying it :)

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

*snort* Yeah, their 'we're prepared to be here for weeks' protest ended at 7pm last night. I'm still not entirely clear what they thought they were going to achieve - it's all a bit puzzling...

CM is definitely giving me characters to get my teeth into, and with current fandom interest waning, it's nice to have something to go to ;)

[roga.livejournal.com]

I have to say, if there's something I really, really, really dislike about the UK (and in general I LOVE the UK, which is what makes this all the more distressing), it's that every year the cry for an academic boycott of Israel arises again. And it drives me crazy, because boycotting the academy is a) unprofessional - if any institutions should remain free of politics, it's sports and academia, and b) so counterproductive, because hello, do these people remember on what side of the political map the academia usually falls? The intellectuals are the left wing, they were the ones protesting against what went on in Gaza and in every war so far, they're the ones who are for more democracy and human rights, and boycotting them is just silencing the people who agree with you.

Um, sorry for the rant.

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

No apology required - it doesn't make any sense to me either. The whole thing was (it's over now) a complete and utter farce and strikes me as something of an embarrassment to serious protesters. They've even asked 'not to be punished' for their actions. Oh yes, that's the courage of their convictions alright. *facepalm*

Because I'm not affected directly, only at one remove, it's easy for me to look at them and sort of shake my head and consider them ridiculous. But as you say, it's just so *waves hands* It's almost wilfull ignorance and that I find frustrating.