For the record, I totally called it. In an email to Brian Flemming on August 25th, I predicted that Lonelygirl15 was a fake created by a filmmaker who wanted to get attention:

Brian,

Just fueling the Bree “fraud” fire: I know many Thelemites personally. Knowing them, their beliefs and the sorts of people that are attracted to that religion, I think it’s completely assinine to pose Bree as a “home schooled” child by “strict” Thelemite parents. Such a configuration doesn’t exist. The video makers are counting on a largely Judeo-Christian, “Jesus head” audience who is entirely ignorant of magickal orders. This one in particular isn’t satanic. I think the relationship is drawn because Crowley said, “Do what thou wilt, it is the whole of the law,” and Anton LaVey paraphrased this law in The Satanic Bible, but with a different, more indulgent slant. I could be wrong but the two are entirely unrelated to the best of my knowledge.

Before I left Disney a couple of months ago, I was in the loop on a viral marketing campaign they were doing for Everest before it opened. I’ve not yet seen these videos, and I can tell you right now that Bree is a marketing ploy — if not for a major corporation, then for an individual filmmaker who wants recognition. I’m hoping for the latter because that would be so much cooler.

^M^

The worst part is, I never even saw any of the YouTube episodes. I read what other people were saying about it and I just knew. I guess no matter how far away from home I am, I’m hardwired to the dastardly ways of Hollywood. Go me, eh?

We had our first soiree last night, and it was very nice, even if I only understood about 30% of the conversations. I made some new friends, which is much needed here. I’ve concluded that I’m a better guest than a hostess for lots of silly reasons, including my insecurity over serving fruit salad. (Is there enough pear? Enough apple and grapes? Is there any “extra protein” — i.e. bugs — in it? Oy!) Fortunately, one of our wonderful guests brought a small bottle of kirsch, a really yummy liqueur that you can pour over fruit. C’est magnifique!

And I just finished Chuck Palahniuk’s Diary. Oh my fucking gawd! How much darker can dark get? It really was marvelous. The surprise theme of the book is one with which I’m intimately familiar…