I don't know if anyone's1 noticed, but I haven't mentioned books for awhile now (is that two words or one? Must remember to check later...). Part of that is because this isn't intended to be a bookcentric blog (I have a librarything account for that), and I know that reading about books you haven't actually read really isn't all that interesting. Also, I really just haven't felt a deep urge to talk about anything in the books I've been reading.
Well, I just finished the second book in the Avatars series by Tui T. Sutherland, and I feel compelled to talk about it, as well as the first one, because even though both of these books are rereads2, I was still caught off guard by some of the twists and turns in them.
For those who are unfamiliar with the series, they are centered around four main teenagers, Gus, Venus, Kali, and Tigre. These teenagers are all going about their daily business one day, when something happens, and suddenly, they're alone, deserted. It's the end of the world.
(Here's where things start to get mildly spoiler-y)
Each of the four is inexplicably told to go towards New York by voices in their heads, with the exception of Gus. The three have various issues and adventures as they try to make it to their destination, but by the end, they're all in New York. There they meet a fifth teenager, named Amon (you sensing a theme here yet?) They find out that they are each an avatar of a god from various pantheons and religions - Greco-Roman, Mesoamerican, etc. - who brought about the end of the world so that they could rebuild anew. The avatars must fight so that one religion emerges victorious. They will rule the renewed world.
That's the synopsis of the first book at least. The second one expands on it, of course.
Anyway though, my Important Thoughts that I needed to share:
1. I thought it was kind of cool how Sutherland drops in the whole "end of the world in 2012" thing. One of the gods is asked why they chose four days before Christmas to set their plan into motion3, he says December 21, 2012 was a date of special significance to the Mesoamericans, and nobody else cared.
2. Also cool how Sutherland drops hints that the 2012 the avatars were in was slightly different from ours - at one point cloning is brought up, and Kali mentions that there were a huge number of laws against it.
3. Africa going into darkness because the gods there took back control was kind of cool, but also sort of terrifying, and I'm really glad we get to explore it more with this third book.
4. Probably my favorite image in the second book: Thor trying to protect Miracle from the rain. Super cute.
That's about it...onto the third book now!
1 There I go again, pretending like people reading these...
2 Because the third book came out, you see, to complete the trilogy, and I always like to read the previous books when that happens, as a sort of refresher.
3 A little bit more info - when everything had disappeared for the teens, what really happened was they moved forward 75 years into the future.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Friday, December 3, 2010
Firefly
Sooo, I started watching Firefly last night...and I kind of really like it. Like a lot.
I don't know, I really enjoy to characters - none of them take themselves too seriously (except maybe Inara, but...well, she's a different thing entirely).
Mal is fairly funny...when he's not being awkward and intense around Inara. Shepherd Book is perhaps a little too serious and righteous for my taste, but he's supposed to be that way. Wash is hilarious, Kaylee is super cute and bouncy and I want her to be my friend, and Simon is cuuuuute. Inara bothers me when she's being all calm and peacable and mysterious, but otherwise she's fine. I love Zoe's eye make-up, and River hasn't impressed me all that much - mainly because she hasn't done much that's been very interesting yet, despite the fact that she's crazy.
Small prediction: Jayne likes Kaylee. He luuuuuurves her. Maybe. Or maybe he's just crazy, who knows.
Also: I really like the music for this show. And the entire idea of a space western.
(SPOILER: I'm watching "Bushwhacked" right now and dear lord, I just screamed when the Reaver (Reever?) snuck up on Jayne)
I don't know, I really enjoy to characters - none of them take themselves too seriously (except maybe Inara, but...well, she's a different thing entirely).
Mal is fairly funny...when he's not being awkward and intense around Inara. Shepherd Book is perhaps a little too serious and righteous for my taste, but he's supposed to be that way. Wash is hilarious, Kaylee is super cute and bouncy and I want her to be my friend, and Simon is cuuuuute. Inara bothers me when she's being all calm and peacable and mysterious, but otherwise she's fine. I love Zoe's eye make-up, and River hasn't impressed me all that much - mainly because she hasn't done much that's been very interesting yet, despite the fact that she's crazy.
Small prediction: Jayne likes Kaylee. He luuuuuurves her. Maybe. Or maybe he's just crazy, who knows.
Also: I really like the music for this show. And the entire idea of a space western.
(SPOILER: I'm watching "Bushwhacked" right now and dear lord, I just screamed when the Reaver (Reever?) snuck up on Jayne)
Monday, November 29, 2010
Numbers
Remember how I talked about numbers & their personalities in that one blog post?
Well, I was in math the other day, having one of my weird conversations with one of my friends, and we were taking notes on derivatives for sine, cosine, etc. functions. And I mentioned that cosine would have a negative, because cosine is like sine, only more annoying (also, she's a girl). And we started talking about how we envision the trigonometric functions. And then we started talking about how we think about numbers - and I'm not alone! I am not the only one who has always had numbers with personalities!
(Meanwhile, the other two people at our table sort of looked at us funny when we'd look up eagerly at them to see if they agreed)
Well, I was in math the other day, having one of my weird conversations with one of my friends, and we were taking notes on derivatives for sine, cosine, etc. functions. And I mentioned that cosine would have a negative, because cosine is like sine, only more annoying (also, she's a girl). And we started talking about how we envision the trigonometric functions. And then we started talking about how we think about numbers - and I'm not alone! I am not the only one who has always had numbers with personalities!
(Meanwhile, the other two people at our table sort of looked at us funny when we'd look up eagerly at them to see if they agreed)
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Harry Potter VII
I saw it for the second time last night, and while some of my opinions were strengthened, I changed my mind on a couple of the others. (Obviously, there are spoilers in this)
Things I liked:
1. How fucking INTENSE everything was. Dear LORD, the scene with Bathilda and the snake was SO much creepier and terrifying, with the blood on the wall, and the flies...and all the torture scenes? Yeah, the idea that it's actually TORTURE going on there really sinks in. For example, the scene with Charity Burbage, the teacher of Muggle Studies - in the book, I don't remember feeling the same complete and utter horror that I did in the movie...
1.5 Because it sort of goes with the above: the writing of "Mudblood" on Hermione's arm. Was that in the book? Because that is some seriously messed up shit. But also kind of let's it sink in that these people are EVIL and, in the case of Bellatrix, mildly deranged.
2. The way in which the Three Brothers/Deathly Hallows story was told - I really liked the shadow puppet-esque style.
3. Luna and Neville are BEASTS. Luna is hilarious at the wedding, and though some people didn't like her contribution when Dobby died, I thought it was exactly what Luna would have done - she's sort of this weird character in my mind, because she's apart from the rest and has this special friendship with Harry, and so I feel like this would have been her way of showing that she cared, and none of that really made any sense.
4. Dialogue details: the little things that characters mumble about when the focus is on other things...for example, when Dolohov and that other Death Eater walk in and the focus is on them, you can hear Ron in the background saying to Hermione, "About the clothes, these are not my favorite jeans..." and it's absolutely wonderful, because that comment is pretty much in the book too.
5. The use of music to show Ron's growing paranoia and discontent was amazing - I especially loved how it even mimicked the radio noise.
(6. Also, Ron and his brothers bring the funny wherever they go. Just sayin'.)
Things I Disliked:
1. The way the locket Horcrux was done. Honestly, I always found that locket so creepy precisely because it was almost seemingly harmless - but also sinister. It was the fact that it seemed almost subdued, but that secretly it was trying to kill you - the subtlety. And let me tell you, a boiling mass if black goop screaming at you is not subtle in any way whatsoever. I mean, really, each Horcrux is supposed to be a mini-Voldemort, and monster thing is SO not Voldemort's style, gurl.
2. The whole "All evil people are Nazis" trope gets brought into this movie - notice how all the evil policemen types at the Ministry are wearing Nazi/soldier-esque uniforms? Which is silly, because these are WIZARDS who are trying to get rid of Muggles, etc. - shouldn't they be wearing robes?
3. The fact that in the movies, the character of Wormtail is played really wrong. He's groveling and submissive, yes, but he's doesn't have that same sense of weakness that he does in the book. I don't know how to describe it besides the fact that Movie!Wormtail is creepy in a pedophile sort of way, while Book!Wormtail is merely pathetic.
Anyway though, how that relates to this movie: because of the way he's been played, it's hard to have sympathy for Movie!Wormtail, so the whole thing with the silver hand strangling him is gone - which is sad, because I think it's a pretty important part within the part, in some ways showing the way not-so-evil people become one of the "bad guys" when really they're just weak and afraid. Instead, Movie!Wormtail is played for laughs.
4. Other random little details that are off - the fact that Kingsley's Patronus is a ball of light with screaming people running out of it, things like that.
Random Other Stuff I Noticed:
1. Harry and Hermione stop using Voldemort's name for no reason that is stated in this movie; in the book, it originally has to do with Ron being irritable, and then they find out about how it summons Death Eaters, but in the movie it's just sort of dropped.
2. The fact that Ron, Hermione, and Harry have new clothing pretty much every day on their adventuring - which in and of itself isn't super duper weird, because really they only show around fifteen different outfits probably - but the fact that they have different sweaters/other outerwear garments most times is a bit weird, as is the fact that none of these outerwear type garments are just normal sweatshirts layered over things. I think if I were trekking around day after day when it's cold out, I would probably not wear woolen sweaters, which are hard to clean, but instead a sweatshirt. (yeah yeah, it's picky, I know, but it's stuff I think about).
2.5 Related (sort of) to the above, but this is more for the book than the movie: Hermione isn't the brightest bulb in the world is she? I mean, I think the first thing I would have packed if I knew my two friends and I would be on the run is canned and boxed food...
3. Rufus Scrimgeour is Davy Jones! I KNEW I recognized those weird mouth movements!
Things I liked:
1. How fucking INTENSE everything was. Dear LORD, the scene with Bathilda and the snake was SO much creepier and terrifying, with the blood on the wall, and the flies...and all the torture scenes? Yeah, the idea that it's actually TORTURE going on there really sinks in. For example, the scene with Charity Burbage, the teacher of Muggle Studies - in the book, I don't remember feeling the same complete and utter horror that I did in the movie...
1.5 Because it sort of goes with the above: the writing of "Mudblood" on Hermione's arm. Was that in the book? Because that is some seriously messed up shit. But also kind of let's it sink in that these people are EVIL and, in the case of Bellatrix, mildly deranged.
2. The way in which the Three Brothers/Deathly Hallows story was told - I really liked the shadow puppet-esque style.
3. Luna and Neville are BEASTS. Luna is hilarious at the wedding, and though some people didn't like her contribution when Dobby died, I thought it was exactly what Luna would have done - she's sort of this weird character in my mind, because she's apart from the rest and has this special friendship with Harry, and so I feel like this would have been her way of showing that she cared, and none of that really made any sense.
4. Dialogue details: the little things that characters mumble about when the focus is on other things...for example, when Dolohov and that other Death Eater walk in and the focus is on them, you can hear Ron in the background saying to Hermione, "About the clothes, these are not my favorite jeans..." and it's absolutely wonderful, because that comment is pretty much in the book too.
5. The use of music to show Ron's growing paranoia and discontent was amazing - I especially loved how it even mimicked the radio noise.
(6. Also, Ron and his brothers bring the funny wherever they go. Just sayin'.)
Things I Disliked:
1. The way the locket Horcrux was done. Honestly, I always found that locket so creepy precisely because it was almost seemingly harmless - but also sinister. It was the fact that it seemed almost subdued, but that secretly it was trying to kill you - the subtlety. And let me tell you, a boiling mass if black goop screaming at you is not subtle in any way whatsoever. I mean, really, each Horcrux is supposed to be a mini-Voldemort, and monster thing is SO not Voldemort's style, gurl.
2. The whole "All evil people are Nazis" trope gets brought into this movie - notice how all the evil policemen types at the Ministry are wearing Nazi/soldier-esque uniforms? Which is silly, because these are WIZARDS who are trying to get rid of Muggles, etc. - shouldn't they be wearing robes?
3. The fact that in the movies, the character of Wormtail is played really wrong. He's groveling and submissive, yes, but he's doesn't have that same sense of weakness that he does in the book. I don't know how to describe it besides the fact that Movie!Wormtail is creepy in a pedophile sort of way, while Book!Wormtail is merely pathetic.
Anyway though, how that relates to this movie: because of the way he's been played, it's hard to have sympathy for Movie!Wormtail, so the whole thing with the silver hand strangling him is gone - which is sad, because I think it's a pretty important part within the part, in some ways showing the way not-so-evil people become one of the "bad guys" when really they're just weak and afraid. Instead, Movie!Wormtail is played for laughs.
4. Other random little details that are off - the fact that Kingsley's Patronus is a ball of light with screaming people running out of it, things like that.
Random Other Stuff I Noticed:
1. Harry and Hermione stop using Voldemort's name for no reason that is stated in this movie; in the book, it originally has to do with Ron being irritable, and then they find out about how it summons Death Eaters, but in the movie it's just sort of dropped.
2. The fact that Ron, Hermione, and Harry have new clothing pretty much every day on their adventuring - which in and of itself isn't super duper weird, because really they only show around fifteen different outfits probably - but the fact that they have different sweaters/other outerwear garments most times is a bit weird, as is the fact that none of these outerwear type garments are just normal sweatshirts layered over things. I think if I were trekking around day after day when it's cold out, I would probably not wear woolen sweaters, which are hard to clean, but instead a sweatshirt. (yeah yeah, it's picky, I know, but it's stuff I think about).
2.5 Related (sort of) to the above, but this is more for the book than the movie: Hermione isn't the brightest bulb in the world is she? I mean, I think the first thing I would have packed if I knew my two friends and I would be on the run is canned and boxed food...
3. Rufus Scrimgeour is Davy Jones! I KNEW I recognized those weird mouth movements!
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Thankfuls
I am thankful for books and movies and photographs.
I am thankful for holidays and snow and Christmas music.
I am thankful for my friends.
I am thankful for my mother and my father and my sister and my uncles, aunts, cousins, and grandparents.
I am thankful for our stupid, silly-looking dog.
I am thankful for pasta and bread and chocolate.
I am thankful for sweaters and socks.
I am thankful for trees and camp and summer.
I am thankful for rain and clouds and thunder.
I am thankful for the Internet. Which sounds super nerdy and kind of weird.
I am thankful for life.
I am thankful for holidays and snow and Christmas music.
I am thankful for my friends.
I am thankful for my mother and my father and my sister and my uncles, aunts, cousins, and grandparents.
I am thankful for our stupid, silly-looking dog.
I am thankful for pasta and bread and chocolate.
I am thankful for sweaters and socks.
I am thankful for trees and camp and summer.
I am thankful for rain and clouds and thunder.
I am thankful for the Internet. Which sounds super nerdy and kind of weird.
I am thankful for life.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
"I hate the fall"
Who can name what musical that's from? Anyone? Anyone? Come on y'all, you know this. (don't know who I'm talking to, obviously crazy, ignore me)
Anyway, it's not true. I do like fall, the season. It's just that usually it's so hard to distinguish it from fall, the school year, you know? Which makes me wonder how it'll feel when I'm older and retired, and there is no "back to work" mentality.
It's once again been awhile since I typed up a post and published it (I don't count Mockingjay...it was already ready to be published). School, sports, music, etc., etc. I have no free time.
Quick updates:
College searches have begun. Our school system has a five (usually it's four) day weekend in October this year for the teachers to grade or something, so me and my family'll be going to the East Coast.
My birthday's coming up - woohoo!
Lost my iPod - booooo!
AND FRINGE IS BACK ON! YESSSSSSSSS.
(Except this storyline is making me want to kill someone...)
Anyway, it's not true. I do like fall, the season. It's just that usually it's so hard to distinguish it from fall, the school year, you know? Which makes me wonder how it'll feel when I'm older and retired, and there is no "back to work" mentality.
It's once again been awhile since I typed up a post and published it (I don't count Mockingjay...it was already ready to be published). School, sports, music, etc., etc. I have no free time.
Quick updates:
College searches have begun. Our school system has a five (usually it's four) day weekend in October this year for the teachers to grade or something, so me and my family'll be going to the East Coast.
My birthday's coming up - woohoo!
Lost my iPod - booooo!
AND FRINGE IS BACK ON! YESSSSSSSSS.
(Except this storyline is making me want to kill someone...)
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Mockingjay (posted waaaay later than when I typed it...like by a month)
I don't know if I have any books that can even follow that up.
If you haven't read The Hunger Games, go read them. If you have, you know how good these books are, how well they're written, and how thought-provoking they are. Especially this last one.
For those of you who haven't read the series, they're about a place called Panem, which has 12 Districs in rings around a central city called the Capitol. In punishment for an uprising that took place many years ago among the Districts, there is a yearly event called the Hunger Games. Each year, two canidates are picked from each District, one boy and one girl, aged 12-18; they must participate in the Hunger Games, in which all the canidates are put in an outdoor arena and fight to the death. The entire event is televised for the viewing pleasure of the Capitol.
Spoilers, and I mean MAJOR details (highlight to read)
I thought she would kill off Gale. Or Peeta. Well, truthfully, I was expecting Gale to be killed off, because anyone could see she was always going to end up with Peeta. I never thought Prim was going to die - I thought that if she survived the District 12 destruction, and then the bombing of District 13, well, she must be okay, because she'd almost died twice already...and how would she ever be killed otehrwise? She was supposed to be safe.
And then there's Finnick. Finnick's death was a major blow - because Finnick was great. Really. Annie and him just really made it seem like things could be okay - that there could be someone you love, who you could get married to and have a life with, even with a horrible war going on...his death almost upset me more than Prim's did.
Other things: I liked that she didn't make the rebels perfect, because in reality, they never are. I like that, in fact, the rebel leader was someone who was just as bad as the previous dictator. The deaths of some were absolutely horrifying - Messala's in particular comes to mind.
The ending was a little weird, in a way. I know that because of what she did, Katniss was put in District 12 and didn't have a part in the politics anymore, but the idea that life just sort of went on is there, and that's odd. Though I supose the children didn't come around for a while, so that's why there's schools again and everything seems more normal. It's just hard to reconcile, you know? In real life it takes so long for damage to be undone...and what did they do with the people from the Capitol anyway? Did they have a Hunger Games? What was the compromise?
If you haven't read The Hunger Games, go read them. If you have, you know how good these books are, how well they're written, and how thought-provoking they are. Especially this last one.
For those of you who haven't read the series, they're about a place called Panem, which has 12 Districs in rings around a central city called the Capitol. In punishment for an uprising that took place many years ago among the Districts, there is a yearly event called the Hunger Games. Each year, two canidates are picked from each District, one boy and one girl, aged 12-18; they must participate in the Hunger Games, in which all the canidates are put in an outdoor arena and fight to the death. The entire event is televised for the viewing pleasure of the Capitol.
Spoilers, and I mean MAJOR details (highlight to read)
I thought she would kill off Gale. Or Peeta. Well, truthfully, I was expecting Gale to be killed off, because anyone could see she was always going to end up with Peeta. I never thought Prim was going to die - I thought that if she survived the District 12 destruction, and then the bombing of District 13, well, she must be okay, because she'd almost died twice already...and how would she ever be killed otehrwise? She was supposed to be safe.
And then there's Finnick. Finnick's death was a major blow - because Finnick was great. Really. Annie and him just really made it seem like things could be okay - that there could be someone you love, who you could get married to and have a life with, even with a horrible war going on...his death almost upset me more than Prim's did.
Other things: I liked that she didn't make the rebels perfect, because in reality, they never are. I like that, in fact, the rebel leader was someone who was just as bad as the previous dictator. The deaths of some were absolutely horrifying - Messala's in particular comes to mind.
The ending was a little weird, in a way. I know that because of what she did, Katniss was put in District 12 and didn't have a part in the politics anymore, but the idea that life just sort of went on is there, and that's odd. Though I supose the children didn't come around for a while, so that's why there's schools again and everything seems more normal. It's just hard to reconcile, you know? In real life it takes so long for damage to be undone...and what did they do with the people from the Capitol anyway? Did they have a Hunger Games? What was the compromise?
Saturday, August 21, 2010
So I've been gone. For awhile.
My YMCA camp was awesome...I'm pretty much already looking forward to next year, when I get to be a real counselor. Hopefully I'll be allowed to go for more than two sessions, which is what my mom's plans seem to be, despite my repeated attempts to convince otherwise (most counselors are there for at least three sessions, if not four). We'll see.
The church camp I went to with friends was also (surprisingly) a TON of fun. I didn't really think I'd enjoy as much as I did, especially coming right out of another camp that I'm way more comfortable with. But I enjoyed going to a camp where I actually had friends from "back home" - the YMCA camp is based out of Evanston, IL, and takes place in Michigan, and while I usually know some people at the camp (whether from before we moved or from previous camp years), it's not really the same as having good friends from home. (I don't know if that all made sense. Sorry)
ANYWAY, so that was a little while ago though. Since, my French exchange student has arrived (she's pretty cool) and swimming/diving have started (ew. 6 A.M. wake-up sucks).
And FINALLY the real reason for this post: I got to see Wicked last night.
Now, I've seen it before, on Broadway in New York, with most of the original cast. But that was when I was in 5th grade or something, so it's not something I remember crystal clear. However, I can say with some certainty that there were some things added into this version - as in more explanations for why specific events are happening - that weren't in the original. All in all, I would say the New York cast were stronger singers, but that's kind of a "DUH, of course!" thing. I still loved it...because at its heart, Wicked is a love story, and I ADORE those. And also? I WANT A FIYERO. WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY DON'T I HAVE ONE???
(And then I watched Fame tonight, and I'm pretty sure I need to go marry Asher Book because I love him. Or I love his character, at least. Is cute, can sing, AND he's a decent person? Um yes, please have him delivered to my house straight away.)
Books read this year: 66
Songs I haven't listened to, yet are still on my iPod: 1390 (...whoops, I should get on that...)
The church camp I went to with friends was also (surprisingly) a TON of fun. I didn't really think I'd enjoy as much as I did, especially coming right out of another camp that I'm way more comfortable with. But I enjoyed going to a camp where I actually had friends from "back home" - the YMCA camp is based out of Evanston, IL, and takes place in Michigan, and while I usually know some people at the camp (whether from before we moved or from previous camp years), it's not really the same as having good friends from home. (I don't know if that all made sense. Sorry)
ANYWAY, so that was a little while ago though. Since, my French exchange student has arrived (she's pretty cool) and swimming/diving have started (ew. 6 A.M. wake-up sucks).
And FINALLY the real reason for this post: I got to see Wicked last night.
Now, I've seen it before, on Broadway in New York, with most of the original cast. But that was when I was in 5th grade or something, so it's not something I remember crystal clear. However, I can say with some certainty that there were some things added into this version - as in more explanations for why specific events are happening - that weren't in the original. All in all, I would say the New York cast were stronger singers, but that's kind of a "DUH, of course!" thing. I still loved it...because at its heart, Wicked is a love story, and I ADORE those. And also? I WANT A FIYERO. WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY DON'T I HAVE ONE???
(And then I watched Fame tonight, and I'm pretty sure I need to go marry Asher Book because I love him. Or I love his character, at least. Is cute, can sing, AND he's a decent person? Um yes, please have him delivered to my house straight away.)
Books read this year: 66
Songs I haven't listened to, yet are still on my iPod: 1390 (...whoops, I should get on that...)
Monday, July 12, 2010
The Last Airbender
I have seen a clip.
I want to cry, it was that bad. No way would I ever, EVER go see this. I'm actually horrified with what they've done to it; or, you know, specifically what M. Night Shyamalan has done to it.
Let's go through this in order:
Okay, so to start, Katara looks dead, and Aang looks like a baby. This would be acceptable if they could act, which they can't. I'm not sure why Aang is reading his dialogue like that, but it's broken and choppy and generally sounds like an amateur movie. Next, "You are powerful and amazing people." That's what it sounds like he just said. That's not....the grammar....just...WHAT? Is English not your first language in this movie? (Actually, that would explain why he talks so oddly...) AND THEY'RE SURROUNDED BY EARTH AND STONE, WHO THE HELL THOUGHT OF THAT? WHAT KIND OF IDIOTS ARE THESE PEOPLE? WHAT KIND OF IDIOTS ARE THE FIRE NATION?? WHY WOULD YOU PUT PEOPLE WHO CAN MANIPULATE EARTH IN AN AREA WHERE THEY ARE SURROUNDED BY EARTH???
Ah, and now the names. You know, I've heard that Shyamalan purposefully had them all mispronounced. Again, this might (might) be acceptable - if the entire thing didn't suck so much.
And again, Sokka and Katara look dead. Yay for conveying emotion!
"I ran away. But I'm back now." A sixth grader could write a better dialogue.
Aaaaaand then there's some seriously weird head moving...(who's he talking to? The fire nation? The earthbenders?)
(....this dialogue is slowly killing me, send help....)
Oh Sokka. You're...mildy funny. The only thing that hasn't vastly upset and horrified me in this 3 and a half minute clip.
And then the firebender looks constipated...(also, yet another thing I've heard: the firebenders can only bend fire if they have one near them. WHY. THE. FUCK. WOULD. YOU. LEAVE. IT. BURNING. You have a waterbender! Just have her put it out!)
Why is it this is a fight scene, and yet everyone takes their turn, one by one, to fight? The people are rallying, and you aren't doing anything? You're not even shocked - you're just standing there!
Oh nice, we gave Katara her scroll. How you knew it came from her tribe, I don't know. I can't rewatch the rest of it. This is too painful. I'm going to go rewatch the entire first and second seasons of the original TV show to get this blasphemy out of my mind...
I want to cry, it was that bad. No way would I ever, EVER go see this. I'm actually horrified with what they've done to it; or, you know, specifically what M. Night Shyamalan has done to it.
Let's go through this in order:
Okay, so to start, Katara looks dead, and Aang looks like a baby. This would be acceptable if they could act, which they can't. I'm not sure why Aang is reading his dialogue like that, but it's broken and choppy and generally sounds like an amateur movie. Next, "You are powerful and amazing people." That's what it sounds like he just said. That's not....the grammar....just...WHAT? Is English not your first language in this movie? (Actually, that would explain why he talks so oddly...) AND THEY'RE SURROUNDED BY EARTH AND STONE, WHO THE HELL THOUGHT OF THAT? WHAT KIND OF IDIOTS ARE THESE PEOPLE? WHAT KIND OF IDIOTS ARE THE FIRE NATION?? WHY WOULD YOU PUT PEOPLE WHO CAN MANIPULATE EARTH IN AN AREA WHERE THEY ARE SURROUNDED BY EARTH???
Ah, and now the names. You know, I've heard that Shyamalan purposefully had them all mispronounced. Again, this might (might) be acceptable - if the entire thing didn't suck so much.
And again, Sokka and Katara look dead. Yay for conveying emotion!
"I ran away. But I'm back now." A sixth grader could write a better dialogue.
Aaaaaand then there's some seriously weird head moving...(who's he talking to? The fire nation? The earthbenders?)
(....this dialogue is slowly killing me, send help....)
Oh Sokka. You're...mildy funny. The only thing that hasn't vastly upset and horrified me in this 3 and a half minute clip.
And then the firebender looks constipated...(also, yet another thing I've heard: the firebenders can only bend fire if they have one near them. WHY. THE. FUCK. WOULD. YOU. LEAVE. IT. BURNING. You have a waterbender! Just have her put it out!)
Why is it this is a fight scene, and yet everyone takes their turn, one by one, to fight? The people are rallying, and you aren't doing anything? You're not even shocked - you're just standing there!
Oh nice, we gave Katara her scroll. How you knew it came from her tribe, I don't know. I can't rewatch the rest of it. This is too painful. I'm going to go rewatch the entire first and second seasons of the original TV show to get this blasphemy out of my mind...
Sunday, July 11, 2010
My Family Vacation
My mom's side of the family (or some of them, at least, though I'll get to that later) decided that this year, we'd do a little family thing together, and it would be to rent a house in Charlevoix, MI. We spent the last week there; me, my mom, and sister, my dad for half of it (he had to come home in the middle for an inspection on our house), my mom's two sisters and one of their husbands (the other came late, and stayed only for a day because he wasn't feeling well...we think he had E. Coli), and all their children.
To be honest, while I love my family, they are hard to deal with. I'm pretty sure this is true for everyone. We have all sorts of tensions that go on among the adults, not helped by the five young children running around the place and screaming. And of course, being the eldest cousin, the really used to enjoy doing things to me - sort of, "Let's all gang up on the big kid" thing. They've gotten better - now I only have the youngest hanging around all the time, and she's absolutely adorable, so I'm okay with that.
Anyway, so we were up by Charlevoix. It really is beautiful up there in Nothern Michigan. Like, breath-takingly beautiful. It's the second time I've been there, it turns out - when I did the bike trip through my camp two years ago, we biked right through it. We also visited a couple other towns we went through - though it took us far less time by car. Leland, known for its historic fishtown (...yeah. It was actually pretty nice), and Traverse City, which was hosting the...National Cherry Festival. *cough*
I leave for Ohio this Wednesday, where I will be for my dad's family reunion on Saturday, and moving on to my YMCA camp on Sunday, for two weeks. When I get back, I will have one day, and then I will be going to another camp, at which I will be teaching disabled kids to ride horses. The day I get back, I have a French exchange student as well as family coming over.
It's going to be a busy summer.
Books read this year: 61
Times I've been to the beach: 5
To be honest, while I love my family, they are hard to deal with. I'm pretty sure this is true for everyone. We have all sorts of tensions that go on among the adults, not helped by the five young children running around the place and screaming. And of course, being the eldest cousin, the really used to enjoy doing things to me - sort of, "Let's all gang up on the big kid" thing. They've gotten better - now I only have the youngest hanging around all the time, and she's absolutely adorable, so I'm okay with that.
Anyway, so we were up by Charlevoix. It really is beautiful up there in Nothern Michigan. Like, breath-takingly beautiful. It's the second time I've been there, it turns out - when I did the bike trip through my camp two years ago, we biked right through it. We also visited a couple other towns we went through - though it took us far less time by car. Leland, known for its historic fishtown (...yeah. It was actually pretty nice), and Traverse City, which was hosting the...National Cherry Festival. *cough*
I leave for Ohio this Wednesday, where I will be for my dad's family reunion on Saturday, and moving on to my YMCA camp on Sunday, for two weeks. When I get back, I will have one day, and then I will be going to another camp, at which I will be teaching disabled kids to ride horses. The day I get back, I have a French exchange student as well as family coming over.
It's going to be a busy summer.
Books read this year: 61
Times I've been to the beach: 5
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
The Last Airbender
I just saw a behind-the-scenes clip with Jackson Rathbone, who is playing Sokka in the movie.
And he can't pronounce his own characters name.
And he can't pronounce his own characters name.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
There may be spoilers in this blog post.
Maybe. Except not, because really, how can they kill off Maid Marian in Robin Hood? She's CANON. She HAS to live, there's no way she dies, I know she doesn't die, but HOW THE HELL CAN SHE BE ALIVE IF THEIR1 ALL SAYING SHE'S DEAD? Because it's not one of those, "Oh, well they must have died, but we didn't actually see them die, they just fell off a cliff/were there when that thing blew up/have no pulse and seem dead2/were shot/got hit by a bus. And it's not "They're lying to the main character for his own protection/to hurt him" because the main character went to check!
(this post took me two hours to finish because I got sidetracked at TV Tropes)
1 Oh look at how my grammar leaves me when I'm angry...
2 Actually, that might be what they're using here...except for unlike the examples, she didn't take anything to make it look like she died. She just died...and will now come back to life somehow, because her heart didn't really stop, or something like that.
(this post took me two hours to finish because I got sidetracked at TV Tropes)
1 Oh look at how my grammar leaves me when I'm angry...
2 Actually, that might be what they're using here...except for unlike the examples, she didn't take anything to make it look like she died. She just died...and will now come back to life somehow, because her heart didn't really stop, or something like that.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Book #49
So, I was reading Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr, and I stumbled across not only a reference to Dr. Faustus and the parade of the seven deadly sins, BUT ALSO a reference to the conspiracy theory that they were the same person.
(While we're on the subject of this book, I might as well mention that if Melissa Marr is going to continue using love triangles in all of her books, I just may have to stop reading them, because I hate love triangles. They make me angry.)
(Oh, and as the title would suggest, this is book #49 of this year)
(While we're on the subject of this book, I might as well mention that if Melissa Marr is going to continue using love triangles in all of her books, I just may have to stop reading them, because I hate love triangles. They make me angry.)
(Oh, and as the title would suggest, this is book #49 of this year)
Sunday, June 13, 2010
I almost forgot a title...
I get nervous about things a lot. Not written tests, surprisingly, but everything else? Yeah. Oral exams or presentations, in English or French, first days of school, first days of anything else, lifeguarding, playing solos, talking to waiters/salespeople in general, swimming/diving in meets, interviews, diving in practice, walking the dog1, driving.
There is, however, one thing which tops all others in terms of jitters: camp. Every year, without fail, I am so excited/nervous I can't sleep the night before. I start figuring out a packing list months in advance. I have actually made myself sick due to lack of sleep and general stress because of it.
I love camp. So much. I've been going to it for 6 years now, and it's always one of the highlights of my summer.
That being said, it also makes me excessively nervous, especially as time goes on and two things have happened:
a) the original group of friends I went to it with no longer go to it/do different programs or sessions than me. 2
b) I gain more responsibility as years go by.
Culminating in this year, where I will be going with no one I know, and living in a cabin with the campers as a Counselor-In-Training. I DON'T KNOW HOW TO BE A COUNSELOR WAAAAAAAH!!!
Ok. I need to calm down now, so we'll move onto other internet things.
1. These really cool reimaginings of the Disney princesses by Jeffrey Thomas. My favorite's the Sleeping Beauty one:
2. Saw the A-Team. Was hilarious. Also saw Dirty Dancing, and I love '80's movies.
3. For anyone who cares:
Books read - 45 (100 is my goal, so I'm pretty much on track)
4. Terry Pratchett is amazing and I love his books.
That's all for tonight folks!
1Walking the dog sounds like something that would be really easy and stupid to be nervous about, but our dog has yet to go to obedience school, and therefore barks at everyone and everything, and quite frankly, it's embarassing.
2 To be honest, I don't know how much of a difference it would make if my friends were still doing it, seeing as I pretty much don't talk to them at all during the school year...they all live in Evanston, IL, and I now live in St. Paul, MN. They've becoming closer to "people who used to be friends" than "current friends" at this point...
There is, however, one thing which tops all others in terms of jitters: camp. Every year, without fail, I am so excited/nervous I can't sleep the night before. I start figuring out a packing list months in advance. I have actually made myself sick due to lack of sleep and general stress because of it.
I love camp. So much. I've been going to it for 6 years now, and it's always one of the highlights of my summer.
That being said, it also makes me excessively nervous, especially as time goes on and two things have happened:
a) the original group of friends I went to it with no longer go to it/do different programs or sessions than me. 2
b) I gain more responsibility as years go by.
Culminating in this year, where I will be going with no one I know, and living in a cabin with the campers as a Counselor-In-Training. I DON'T KNOW HOW TO BE A COUNSELOR WAAAAAAAH!!!
Ok. I need to calm down now, so we'll move onto other internet things.
1. These really cool reimaginings of the Disney princesses by Jeffrey Thomas. My favorite's the Sleeping Beauty one:
2. Saw the A-Team. Was hilarious. Also saw Dirty Dancing, and I love '80's movies.
3. For anyone who cares:
Books read - 45 (100 is my goal, so I'm pretty much on track)
4. Terry Pratchett is amazing and I love his books.
That's all for tonight folks!
1Walking the dog sounds like something that would be really easy and stupid to be nervous about, but our dog has yet to go to obedience school, and therefore barks at everyone and everything, and quite frankly, it's embarassing.
2 To be honest, I don't know how much of a difference it would make if my friends were still doing it, seeing as I pretty much don't talk to them at all during the school year...they all live in Evanston, IL, and I now live in St. Paul, MN. They've becoming closer to "people who used to be friends" than "current friends" at this point...
Sunday, May 30, 2010
This wasn't originally going to be a rant...
So you may have noticed that I haven't been posting often....or really at all. I'm going to try to nip that in the bud though, before it gets out of hand and I'm suddenly rediscovering this blog after forgetting about it for a year. Which is just my way of saying I'll try to post more often.
This month was, if possible, even more busy than April. We have all our final projects getting assigned/due (specific cause of stress: English), and Ultimate got more intense (I hate shin splints so so much now). It was just plain old HOT last week, which always makes me lethargic and prone to slacking. And to top all that off, our bathroom is being re-done, which means I have to take little mini-shower things in the bathroom on the first floor...bleh.
AND, meanwhile, there's been all sorts crap created by the cuts going on within the school district.
They've already shut down a school because of low-enrollment, and, as always, there is talk of cutting the arts, because that's the first to go when times get hard. And this year, they did it. They're cutting music in the elementary level, which means all sorts of teachers are getting displaced who have seniority over some of the teachers in the junior highs and high schools - which in turn means that those less-senior teachers are being laid off in favor of the older teachers. And when I say "less-senior" I don't mean 5 or 6 years; teachers with up to eleven years of experience are being affected.
And so this brings up two issures: the first is the age-old question: which is more important, seniority, or good teaching? There are some really great teachers who are going; the choir director at Central, who is our school's choir program, and who is also half of the entire music department (yup, we have two teachers for all the choirs, all the bands, and orchestra) has been informed she has been laid off. Not only will a new choir teacher be coming from an elementary level, and probably be unprepared to teach high school students, they will have to deal with a much smaller group next year; approximately half of the concert choir is graduating this year.
Our band director has talked to us about all this; he has told us that, while nothing is final yet, there is a possibility that if things continue next year, he may be next. He's been at Central for 14 years; he went to school there, and he directs not only our concert/symphonic band, but also the freshman band, the orchestra, and jazz band. He has also told us that though he may be safe for this year, and maybe even the next, if things continue as they are, and he can't rely on his job safety, he may have to look for another, more stable job elsewhere (i.e., at a private school), because he has a family, and he needs to look out for them.
I'm going to be honest: if he leaves, I'll probably quit. So will about half the band and orchestra most likely, and it's easy to imagine how that would continue to devolve: the program would suffer, and being in band would no longer be a point of pride for those in it. It might take years before the program is brought back to the level it's at now.
The impact on the program because of these new teachers wouldn't be the only problem either, which brings me to the second issue: elementary music being cut.
Most students in band (this isn't as true for orchestra) only begin their instrument because of band in elementary school. Without that class, we never would have picked up our instrument on our own. Obviously, students will still join band in junior high, but they've just lost two, possibly three years of practice on their instrument. Where before they at least had some knowledge, now they have none. Of course the junior high and high school programs will suffer! You've got students with less experience, and probably less of a connection to their instrument in your band now!
And so suddenly, the quality of your band has just gone down dramatically.Which usually (not always, but generally) makes it less fun to play in. It is fun to be in a good band; it's nice to be able to feel pride in the way you sound. When your band doesn't sound very good, there's less incentive to stay in it. And so the program continues to suffer.
There are some people who say so what? Isn't the education of our children in areas like math and reading and science more important anyway? I can't even begin to address that in this post; already it's way too long. Obviously, I disagree, and many of the reasons why are adressed in Karl Paulnack's welcome adress to the parents of incoming students to the Boston Conservatory of Music.
And so those are my thoughts, and I'm going to end with a quote:
Music is the manifestation of the human spirit, similar to language. Its greatest practitioners have conveyed to mankind things not possible to say in any other language. If we do not want these things to remain dead treasures, we must do our utmost to make the greatest possible number of people understand their idiom. --Zoltán Kodály
This month was, if possible, even more busy than April. We have all our final projects getting assigned/due (specific cause of stress: English), and Ultimate got more intense (I hate shin splints so so much now). It was just plain old HOT last week, which always makes me lethargic and prone to slacking. And to top all that off, our bathroom is being re-done, which means I have to take little mini-shower things in the bathroom on the first floor...bleh.
AND, meanwhile, there's been all sorts crap created by the cuts going on within the school district.
They've already shut down a school because of low-enrollment, and, as always, there is talk of cutting the arts, because that's the first to go when times get hard. And this year, they did it. They're cutting music in the elementary level, which means all sorts of teachers are getting displaced who have seniority over some of the teachers in the junior highs and high schools - which in turn means that those less-senior teachers are being laid off in favor of the older teachers. And when I say "less-senior" I don't mean 5 or 6 years; teachers with up to eleven years of experience are being affected.
And so this brings up two issures: the first is the age-old question: which is more important, seniority, or good teaching? There are some really great teachers who are going; the choir director at Central, who is our school's choir program, and who is also half of the entire music department (yup, we have two teachers for all the choirs, all the bands, and orchestra) has been informed she has been laid off. Not only will a new choir teacher be coming from an elementary level, and probably be unprepared to teach high school students, they will have to deal with a much smaller group next year; approximately half of the concert choir is graduating this year.
Our band director has talked to us about all this; he has told us that, while nothing is final yet, there is a possibility that if things continue next year, he may be next. He's been at Central for 14 years; he went to school there, and he directs not only our concert/symphonic band, but also the freshman band, the orchestra, and jazz band. He has also told us that though he may be safe for this year, and maybe even the next, if things continue as they are, and he can't rely on his job safety, he may have to look for another, more stable job elsewhere (i.e., at a private school), because he has a family, and he needs to look out for them.
I'm going to be honest: if he leaves, I'll probably quit. So will about half the band and orchestra most likely, and it's easy to imagine how that would continue to devolve: the program would suffer, and being in band would no longer be a point of pride for those in it. It might take years before the program is brought back to the level it's at now.
The impact on the program because of these new teachers wouldn't be the only problem either, which brings me to the second issue: elementary music being cut.
Most students in band (this isn't as true for orchestra) only begin their instrument because of band in elementary school. Without that class, we never would have picked up our instrument on our own. Obviously, students will still join band in junior high, but they've just lost two, possibly three years of practice on their instrument. Where before they at least had some knowledge, now they have none. Of course the junior high and high school programs will suffer! You've got students with less experience, and probably less of a connection to their instrument in your band now!
And so suddenly, the quality of your band has just gone down dramatically.Which usually (not always, but generally) makes it less fun to play in. It is fun to be in a good band; it's nice to be able to feel pride in the way you sound. When your band doesn't sound very good, there's less incentive to stay in it. And so the program continues to suffer.
There are some people who say so what? Isn't the education of our children in areas like math and reading and science more important anyway? I can't even begin to address that in this post; already it's way too long. Obviously, I disagree, and many of the reasons why are adressed in Karl Paulnack's welcome adress to the parents of incoming students to the Boston Conservatory of Music.
And so those are my thoughts, and I'm going to end with a quote:
Music is the manifestation of the human spirit, similar to language. Its greatest practitioners have conveyed to mankind things not possible to say in any other language. If we do not want these things to remain dead treasures, we must do our utmost to make the greatest possible number of people understand their idiom. --Zoltán Kodály
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Nostalgia.
So, I pretty much took a little walk down memory lane today, with the following results:
This Pippi Longstocking movie. I used to love the songs in it, and for the longest time it was one of those movies that I remembered watching and I couldn't find on Youtube. And now I've found a video with all the songs! Now all I need to do is find the soundtrack on Amazon...
And did anyone else every watch The Life & Adventures of Santa Claus? Not the stop-motion version, but the 2000 version. That was another one I could never find, mainly because I didn't know the name of it, or really any details except for that it was about Santa Claus and that there was some fairy battle involved. Also, that Santa almost died in it.
And then I found this: Freddie the Frog. I had completely forgot I had ever seen this. I vaguely remember having a dream about it once. I don't even remember most of the scenes/characters in the trailer! But I do remember the frog, and his wicked aunt...
And I had to look up Sky Dancers (I like that country rock is considered a type of dance in this clip)1, even though I only ever saw like one of the episodes. I was way more into Princess Guinevere and the Jewel Riders, which, I should mention, I originally figured out the name of by searching, "jewels owl wizard portals" on Google. Google is obviously magic.
Moving on to slightly more recent, we had Winx, which I remember from around 6th grade, and W.I.T.C.H., both of which were originally Italian, something I didn't know. I do know I got really far into the whole W.I.T.C.H. thing before I stopped. Both of them were definitely cooler once they got midway through the whole plotline...these first episodes are just annoying.
Well, that was fun, but I should probably stop now.
1 Wow, I just watched all of that clip, and I definitely don't remember the show being that bad...
This Pippi Longstocking movie. I used to love the songs in it, and for the longest time it was one of those movies that I remembered watching and I couldn't find on Youtube. And now I've found a video with all the songs! Now all I need to do is find the soundtrack on Amazon...
And did anyone else every watch The Life & Adventures of Santa Claus? Not the stop-motion version, but the 2000 version. That was another one I could never find, mainly because I didn't know the name of it, or really any details except for that it was about Santa Claus and that there was some fairy battle involved. Also, that Santa almost died in it.
And then I found this: Freddie the Frog. I had completely forgot I had ever seen this. I vaguely remember having a dream about it once. I don't even remember most of the scenes/characters in the trailer! But I do remember the frog, and his wicked aunt...
And I had to look up Sky Dancers (I like that country rock is considered a type of dance in this clip)1, even though I only ever saw like one of the episodes. I was way more into Princess Guinevere and the Jewel Riders, which, I should mention, I originally figured out the name of by searching, "jewels owl wizard portals" on Google. Google is obviously magic.
Moving on to slightly more recent, we had Winx, which I remember from around 6th grade, and W.I.T.C.H., both of which were originally Italian, something I didn't know. I do know I got really far into the whole W.I.T.C.H. thing before I stopped. Both of them were definitely cooler once they got midway through the whole plotline...these first episodes are just annoying.
Well, that was fun, but I should probably stop now.
1 Wow, I just watched all of that clip, and I definitely don't remember the show being that bad...
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Woodynets Biographies
"Ali “Jesus” Olmstead began the Woodynets after being told repeatedly that the oboe WAS NOT A JAZZ INSTRUMENT. Instead of admitting defeat and drinking birthday cake milkshakes to drown her pain, Ali took charged and formed her own freeform jazz group. She began by inviting Charlotte “Banana’s Are Magical” Hecht, who had received great acclaim at the first grade talent show for her stunning rendition of Mary Had A Little Lamb, and was an accomplished recorder player. After the invitation, Charlotte dedicated herself completely to freeform jazz clarinet.
Ratih “Sheepland” Sutrisno was the second to be brought into the fold. She began her musical career at a young age, performing alongside her parents and two sisters in the Indonesian version of “The Partridge Family”. At the tender age of 10, Ratih announced her decision to begin her solo career as a bass clarinetist. After releasing three full albums and one EP, to much critical acclaim, Ratih abruptly disappeared from the music scene for a year. When she returned, she had renounced the bass clarinet in favor of the B flat clarinet and the Woodynets, as well as grown an additional two inches. Rumors of kidnapping and brainwashing have circulated about this sudden switch, but it is more likely Ratih simply came to realize that people who played bass clarinet were weirdos (and, let’s be honest, have you seen Max May? Case in point).
The rest of the group was finagled into joining through a mixture of sweet-talking, begging, bribing, and blackmailing.
Anri was born in a tuba case, but for years ignored her calling and destiny, instead turning to the flute. It took her five years to stop fighting her fate and begin her budding relationship with her tuba. The two are now happily married, and were in fact approached by Ratih about joining the group at their wedding.
Chelsea Kipp and Helen Wieffering both began playing the trumpet with their middle school bands. After a mere three weeks of this ridiculous instrument, both realized that clarinet section was far superior, and as an added bonus, contained more girls. While Helen has continued on this course and now views her short stint in the trumpet section with regret and shame, Chelsea switched to the French horn and regained some measure of respect for instruments made of brass (though perhaps, it is true, not for those annoying trumpets). Both were convinced to join by Charlotte; it is believed some photos from "The Incident" were used as persuasion.
Ally Fulton was a skilled concert violinist, renowned throughout the world for her masterful performance of the Sibelius Concerto, with Paavo Berglund and the Bournemouth Symphony orchestra, as well as her recording of Beethoven’s violin concerto with conductor Rafael Kubelik and the Philharmonc Orchestra. She was born in Chelm, a small city in Eastern Poland. After being admitted at the Warsaw Conservatory at age seven, she studied with Carl Flesch and George Enescu. After a tragic accident at age 10, in which the speed of her playing caused a fire in which nearly all of her hair was burned off, Ms. Fulton permanently put down her bow. She found the lack of music in her life too much to bear, and picked up the clarinet a year later. She found out about the group through a mutual friend.
Abby plays only Asian flutes. She has no room in her life for any other instruments, or in fact, anything else at all, including last names. Abby is perhaps a little bit racist, but then, so is everyone else in the world. It is unknown how she was approached, as Abby never does anything but play the Asian flute, and eat macaroni (no cheese, as she is lactose-intolerant).
Jessie Austin learned to play the clarinet in 4th grade. After suffering multiple setbacks due to the difficulties of playing the instrument without the mouthpiece, she gave the clarinet up for good. She never played, touched, or even looked at any sort of instrument from this time until her 15th birthday, when, much to the amazement of her party guests, she spontaneously began playing the violin, tuba, and bassoon all at once. She abandoned the first two in favor of the bassoon, and found, to her surprise, that she was really quite good. She quickly took up the piano as well, developing a mastery of the instrument far beyond her years. She was invited to join by Anri; by that point, Ali had begun to resort to calling random numbers in the phonebook in hopes of finding a bassoonist."
Ali Olmstead came up with the idea, as it says above, for a non-jazz instrument free-form jazz group (exception is clarinets, which are sometimes used in jazz). I wrote our biographies for it. Even if it doesn't go anywhere (I doubt it will), I had fun writing them.
Ratih “Sheepland” Sutrisno was the second to be brought into the fold. She began her musical career at a young age, performing alongside her parents and two sisters in the Indonesian version of “The Partridge Family”. At the tender age of 10, Ratih announced her decision to begin her solo career as a bass clarinetist. After releasing three full albums and one EP, to much critical acclaim, Ratih abruptly disappeared from the music scene for a year. When she returned, she had renounced the bass clarinet in favor of the B flat clarinet and the Woodynets, as well as grown an additional two inches. Rumors of kidnapping and brainwashing have circulated about this sudden switch, but it is more likely Ratih simply came to realize that people who played bass clarinet were weirdos (and, let’s be honest, have you seen Max May? Case in point).
The rest of the group was finagled into joining through a mixture of sweet-talking, begging, bribing, and blackmailing.
Anri was born in a tuba case, but for years ignored her calling and destiny, instead turning to the flute. It took her five years to stop fighting her fate and begin her budding relationship with her tuba. The two are now happily married, and were in fact approached by Ratih about joining the group at their wedding.
Chelsea Kipp and Helen Wieffering both began playing the trumpet with their middle school bands. After a mere three weeks of this ridiculous instrument, both realized that clarinet section was far superior, and as an added bonus, contained more girls. While Helen has continued on this course and now views her short stint in the trumpet section with regret and shame, Chelsea switched to the French horn and regained some measure of respect for instruments made of brass (though perhaps, it is true, not for those annoying trumpets). Both were convinced to join by Charlotte; it is believed some photos from "The Incident" were used as persuasion.
Ally Fulton was a skilled concert violinist, renowned throughout the world for her masterful performance of the Sibelius Concerto, with Paavo Berglund and the Bournemouth Symphony orchestra, as well as her recording of Beethoven’s violin concerto with conductor Rafael Kubelik and the Philharmonc Orchestra. She was born in Chelm, a small city in Eastern Poland. After being admitted at the Warsaw Conservatory at age seven, she studied with Carl Flesch and George Enescu. After a tragic accident at age 10, in which the speed of her playing caused a fire in which nearly all of her hair was burned off, Ms. Fulton permanently put down her bow. She found the lack of music in her life too much to bear, and picked up the clarinet a year later. She found out about the group through a mutual friend.
Abby plays only Asian flutes. She has no room in her life for any other instruments, or in fact, anything else at all, including last names. Abby is perhaps a little bit racist, but then, so is everyone else in the world. It is unknown how she was approached, as Abby never does anything but play the Asian flute, and eat macaroni (no cheese, as she is lactose-intolerant).
Jessie Austin learned to play the clarinet in 4th grade. After suffering multiple setbacks due to the difficulties of playing the instrument without the mouthpiece, she gave the clarinet up for good. She never played, touched, or even looked at any sort of instrument from this time until her 15th birthday, when, much to the amazement of her party guests, she spontaneously began playing the violin, tuba, and bassoon all at once. She abandoned the first two in favor of the bassoon, and found, to her surprise, that she was really quite good. She quickly took up the piano as well, developing a mastery of the instrument far beyond her years. She was invited to join by Anri; by that point, Ali had begun to resort to calling random numbers in the phonebook in hopes of finding a bassoonist."
Ali Olmstead came up with the idea, as it says above, for a non-jazz instrument free-form jazz group (exception is clarinets, which are sometimes used in jazz). I wrote our biographies for it. Even if it doesn't go anywhere (I doubt it will), I had fun writing them.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
This is the fiftieth post!
So I don't know if anyone's bothered to look at the links in the sidebar (they're all wonderful), but I was reading one of them (I Wrote This For You) and this was the post:
I bring it up because, well, a) It's wonderful and b) because that's how I think of all the numbers and the letters, and if I really thought about it, the seasons too.
For example: with numbers, I've always done this. I don't where it stemmed from; maybe the addition and subtraction we had to do in math prompted some of the chracteristics. I don't know. But in my head, 1 is like the baby; he runs around and tries to be friends with 2 and 3. 2 looks on him kind of fondly, treats him like a baby brother; 3 doesn't like having him around. 2 and 3 are pretty good friends, but 2 and 4 are like sisters, which makes 3 jealous, because he wishes he had the type of bond with 4 that 2 does. Still, he hangs around with 2, and generally they get along. 4 likes the younger kids, but she really wants to be friends with 5; unfortunately, she usually just gets grouped with the younger ones instead of the older ones, even though she's pretty mature for her age. 5 and 6 are really good friends, though sometimes 6 will hang out with 7. Not often though, because 7's a really meanie; even 8's afraid of her. The only ones who can keep her under control are 9 and 10. 10's usually too busy with the older numbers, so it's almost always 9 who tells 7 to cut it out. 9 also hangs out with 10 a lot though, and sometimes he doesn't keep 7 in check, and then she runs all over. Sometimes she'll listen to 6; at the very least, she never picks on her. 5 and 8 are different stories; she just doesn't like 5, and she stomps all over 8 when he tries to stop her.
"The Children of Time
"January has issues with her mother, February is always talking about things he wants to do while March does them, April eats sweets and May pays for them, June is the oldest but not the wisest and July always has an opinion on everything. August never stops trying do the right thing, even if he doesn't always know what that is. September once saw something so sad, she never stopped crying. October holds the lift for anyone, vice-presidents and street-sweepers alike (for his memory, not for theirs) and November makes fun of him for this. December is tired but always hopeful. He has never once stopped believing.
Monday's obviously a bastard, quite literally as dad can't remember what or who he was doing. Tuesday's temperamental but ok as long as you stay on her good side. Wednesday doesn't say much and Thursday sometimes hums just to break the silence. They're in love. Friday's always wasted and she and Saturday hold each other tightly until their delirium fades.
But Sunday, Sunday knows she's the end. But she closes her eyes, and she pretends with all the strength in her tiny heart that really, she's the dawn."
I bring it up because, well, a) It's wonderful and b) because that's how I think of all the numbers and the letters, and if I really thought about it, the seasons too.
For example: with numbers, I've always done this. I don't where it stemmed from; maybe the addition and subtraction we had to do in math prompted some of the chracteristics. I don't know. But in my head, 1 is like the baby; he runs around and tries to be friends with 2 and 3. 2 looks on him kind of fondly, treats him like a baby brother; 3 doesn't like having him around. 2 and 3 are pretty good friends, but 2 and 4 are like sisters, which makes 3 jealous, because he wishes he had the type of bond with 4 that 2 does. Still, he hangs around with 2, and generally they get along. 4 likes the younger kids, but she really wants to be friends with 5; unfortunately, she usually just gets grouped with the younger ones instead of the older ones, even though she's pretty mature for her age. 5 and 6 are really good friends, though sometimes 6 will hang out with 7. Not often though, because 7's a really meanie; even 8's afraid of her. The only ones who can keep her under control are 9 and 10. 10's usually too busy with the older numbers, so it's almost always 9 who tells 7 to cut it out. 9 also hangs out with 10 a lot though, and sometimes he doesn't keep 7 in check, and then she runs all over. Sometimes she'll listen to 6; at the very least, she never picks on her. 5 and 8 are different stories; she just doesn't like 5, and she stomps all over 8 when he tries to stop her.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Today's wikipedia page...
Hard Core is the "...first solo album released by former Streetheart & Loverboy lead guitarist, founder, and main songwriter, Paul Dean from 1989. The lead-off track, Sword & Stone was demoed by Kiss for their Crazy Nights album in 1987, and later additionally recorded by the German Rockers, Bonfire in 1989 for the Shocker film and accompanying soundtrack. The Bryan Adams-penned, Draw The Line was originally recorded by Ted Nugent with Brian Howe on lead vocals in 1984, on his Penetrator album."
How many of you have heard of/own this album? Come on, don't be shy, raise your hands. 1
Go Back for Murder opened last night, and had a pretty good first night. The matinee today had a much smaller attendance, though the final performance later that night was also a large house. I got to see most of it from the audience, as I was on House Management, and the first act was really, really, REALLY, static. The second act was much better, and the girl who played Caroline was absolutely amazing. Amyas (? I'm too lazy to look up spelling) was good, as were the Blake brothers; really, all of the characters in the flashback were reasonably good actors, though Elsa was a bit iffy until she found out Amyas was dead - then she screamed bloody murder and was absolutely convincing.
I started out today by making a strawberry shortcake, and had to leave before it was fully done; the cake had been baked but there was not whipped cream or strawberries on top of it. In spite of this problem, and my specific warning not to eat the cake, half of it was gone by the time I got home tonight. Ah, my family.
It occurs to me I never set a challenge this month, but I will excuse myself on the pretext that April was an exceedingly busy month. Band trip, Ordway, Ultimate, Small Ensemble Contest. A Vous la Parole, which is a French thing held at the U of M. General craziness. I will, however, set myself a challenge for the upcoming week, and this will be to actually practice everyday, since I really am going to need to for both Ordway and my own flute lessons.
1 As you can see, I seem to be suffering under the delusion that there are more than three people who read this.
How many of you have heard of/own this album? Come on, don't be shy, raise your hands. 1
Go Back for Murder opened last night, and had a pretty good first night. The matinee today had a much smaller attendance, though the final performance later that night was also a large house. I got to see most of it from the audience, as I was on House Management, and the first act was really, really, REALLY, static. The second act was much better, and the girl who played Caroline was absolutely amazing. Amyas (? I'm too lazy to look up spelling) was good, as were the Blake brothers; really, all of the characters in the flashback were reasonably good actors, though Elsa was a bit iffy until she found out Amyas was dead - then she screamed bloody murder and was absolutely convincing.
I started out today by making a strawberry shortcake, and had to leave before it was fully done; the cake had been baked but there was not whipped cream or strawberries on top of it. In spite of this problem, and my specific warning not to eat the cake, half of it was gone by the time I got home tonight. Ah, my family.
It occurs to me I never set a challenge this month, but I will excuse myself on the pretext that April was an exceedingly busy month. Band trip, Ordway, Ultimate, Small Ensemble Contest. A Vous la Parole, which is a French thing held at the U of M. General craziness. I will, however, set myself a challenge for the upcoming week, and this will be to actually practice everyday, since I really am going to need to for both Ordway and my own flute lessons.
1 As you can see, I seem to be suffering under the delusion that there are more than three people who read this.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Blog, I have neglected you
I am quite sorry to say that it looks as though that's going to continue.
As the weather gets nicer and the AP tests draw nearer, I have to say, blogging is not high on my priority list. I do have news-ish type stuff though I guess...
I don't know if I ever mentioned it, but this year I joined Ultimate. I was lucky - I joined the same year that most of my friends decided it'd be cool to join as well - so it's not just me, absolutely sucking and feeling bad about it, and sort of being awkward around all the other people. It's me, not-completely sucking, and being able to laugh about it and talk about it with people.
Joined Ultimate, play is coming up (Go Back for Murder, I'm on House Management, which is basically just selling refreshments and tickets).
OH! I got to see Avenue Q!!
It was awesome and hilarious, and I loved it. I don't even know how to describe everything that went on in it - only that it was like Sesame Street if Sesame Street grew up. Favorite song was probably "Everyone's a Little Bit Racist" though "A B.A. in English/It Sucks to Be Me" was a close second. And I absolutely loved the Bad Idea Bears.
Ordway. Next week. Anyone in the area should come - Tuesday, 7pm I think? At the Ordway (duh!). I'm in the orchestra - playing the tuba! Yah tuba!
And, finally, I am at book 34. Soon to be book 35 (I mean, really soon. Like, fifteen minutes after I post this.)
[the following paragraph is a massive rant. You can and probably should skip it]
As the weather gets nicer and the AP tests draw nearer, I have to say, blogging is not high on my priority list. I do have news-ish type stuff though I guess...
I don't know if I ever mentioned it, but this year I joined Ultimate. I was lucky - I joined the same year that most of my friends decided it'd be cool to join as well - so it's not just me, absolutely sucking and feeling bad about it, and sort of being awkward around all the other people. It's me, not-completely sucking, and being able to laugh about it and talk about it with people.
Joined Ultimate, play is coming up (Go Back for Murder, I'm on House Management, which is basically just selling refreshments and tickets).
OH! I got to see Avenue Q!!
It was awesome and hilarious, and I loved it. I don't even know how to describe everything that went on in it - only that it was like Sesame Street if Sesame Street grew up. Favorite song was probably "Everyone's a Little Bit Racist" though "A B.A. in English/It Sucks to Be Me" was a close second. And I absolutely loved the Bad Idea Bears.
Ordway. Next week. Anyone in the area should come - Tuesday, 7pm I think? At the Ordway (duh!). I'm in the orchestra - playing the tuba! Yah tuba!
And, finally, I am at book 34. Soon to be book 35 (I mean, really soon. Like, fifteen minutes after I post this.)
[the following paragraph is a massive rant. You can and probably should skip it]
Monday, April 12, 2010
As You Like It
So while doing research for my critical review, I stumbled upon these lovely facts:
CELIA is EMMA! I knew I recognized her from somewhere! YAY! I love Emma!
And Oliver plays Myror in Merlin (I also love Merlin).
And, finally, Touchstone has been in Monk. Which makes him awesome.
CELIA is EMMA! I knew I recognized her from somewhere! YAY! I love Emma!
And Oliver plays Myror in Merlin (I also love Merlin).
And, finally, Touchstone has been in Monk. Which makes him awesome.
Monday, April 5, 2010
I hate losing things.
I lost my flute music.
There is one week until solo contest, and I lost my music.
I also don't have a piano accompanist, which is an automatic two point deduction.
And even if I asked one of my lovely friends if she would accompany me, I wouldn't have any music to give her.
Because the extra music is with my flute teacher.
Who I won't see for another two days.
And the contest is in a week.
And while my flute teacher has the music for my piano accompanist, I don't have any for myself.
Or for the judge.
And even if I find my music, I wouldn't have enough music for the judge, myself and the piano accompanist. Because I only have two copies.
And you need only original copies, so no photocopies.
I am also doing a duet with a friend who's learning oboe.
I hate life sometimes.
:(
There is one week until solo contest, and I lost my music.
I also don't have a piano accompanist, which is an automatic two point deduction.
And even if I asked one of my lovely friends if she would accompany me, I wouldn't have any music to give her.
Because the extra music is with my flute teacher.
Who I won't see for another two days.
And the contest is in a week.
And while my flute teacher has the music for my piano accompanist, I don't have any for myself.
Or for the judge.
And even if I find my music, I wouldn't have enough music for the judge, myself and the piano accompanist. Because I only have two copies.
And you need only original copies, so no photocopies.
I am also doing a duet with a friend who's learning oboe.
I hate life sometimes.
:(
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Just a short little memo
Will Grayson, Will Grayson just came out, along with a new book by Megan Whalen Turner whose Attolia series was AMAZING. (Or I think they just came out...if not, they're out soon)
I NEED MORE MONEY. I don't want to wait for the library to get these books - I'll probably end up buying them anyway.
AND ALSO: books read this year: 27
Books bought this year: Surprisingly, only three.
And ALSO ALSO I need to start that Maximum Ride series I'm seeing everywhere - it look sinteresting. And The Heist Society. And Leviathan, which I actually have and is just sitting in my bedroom until I finish all the books borrowed form the library/other people.
I NEED MORE MONEY. I don't want to wait for the library to get these books - I'll probably end up buying them anyway.
AND ALSO: books read this year: 27
Books bought this year: Surprisingly, only three.
And ALSO ALSO I need to start that Maximum Ride series I'm seeing everywhere - it look sinteresting. And The Heist Society. And Leviathan, which I actually have and is just sitting in my bedroom until I finish all the books borrowed form the library/other people.
Monday, March 29, 2010
New Orleans was AMAZING.
Besides the 23 hour bus ride, which wasn't necessarily unbearable, but in no way was it enjoyable either. You ever tried to sleep on a coach bus for an extended period of time? Yeah, it sucks.
But New Orleans itself was BEAUTIFUL.
We got to explore the French Quarter a bit, and I wish I had taken twice as many photos as I did. It has tons of ironwork all over, and it was so warm and sunny.
When we weren't spending time in the French Quarter, we were performing in an Episcopal church with some beautiful stained glass (I couldn't take any pictures of that, and the church below is NOT the same one, it was one right by Jackson Square), visiting Mardi Gras World (left is the White Rabbit), participating in a clinic at Loyola, and taking a swamp tour (we saw at least six alligators).
We got to explore the French Quarter a bit, and I wish I had taken twice as many photos as I did. It has tons of ironwork all over, and it was so warm and sunny.
When we weren't spending time in the French Quarter, we were performing in an Episcopal church with some beautiful stained glass (I couldn't take any pictures of that, and the church below is NOT the same one, it was one right by Jackson Square), visiting Mardi Gras World (left is the White Rabbit), participating in a clinic at Loyola, and taking a swamp tour (we saw at least six alligators).
ALSO I keep seeing references to the things we're doing in English now; we watched Camp Rock on the way down to New Orleans (I actually saw more movies on the way there and back than I've seen in the past month) and at one point someone uses the witches' line, "Something wicked this way comes". As well, I found, purely by coincidence, this:
I follow her on tumblr because cleolinda is amazing and hilarious, and I saw this, and I think this might just be the version we're watching in class, because of the fan, and because the running figures are in the style of Japanese art. I do find it a little disappointing, if this is the one we're seeing, that the lead looks to be white - I was expecting the play to be fully changed to a Japanese setting, including a Japanese cast, but it looks like that's not the case.
Monday, March 22, 2010
So, I was reading The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray....
And guess what awaited me on the very first page? A reference to Dante!
She was talking about how walking with ramrod straight spine, in a corset, was a punishment not even Dante would describe, or something to that effect.
And then, halfway through the book, they went to see Macbeth!
There are many time I doubt the validity of English class. I am sure many of us have asked ourselves, at one point or another, "How is this going to help me in life?" And, truthfully, I actually have very little idea how some of what we do will help me - I can understand persuasive writing, and vocabulary, and maybe being familiar with certain works of literature, but unless I decide to either a) major in English or b) become a writer/book reviewer/editor, I'm not sure how being able to write a commentary will help me in life.
(This is, in no way, to say I don't like English. Though I may not be able see how it will be applied in my everyday job in the future, I still value it.)
But then you find something like this, and suddenly, I feel justified. And, really, if I'm being honest, I do enjoy discussing and analyzing these books in class. There's something about looking at a passage and really getting it - about understanding the point behind it. The research paper we did last year was actually something I was proud of, and the oral commentary on a poem at the end of the year was surprisingly rewarding (even though, at the time we were doing them, I pretty much broke down in tears because I couldn't figure out what I was going to write about for the former1, and for the latter, well, I almost puked).
And I've gotten off topic.
(And this took me like a week to post, and since then, I have ALSO found a reference to Christopher Marlowe in Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen)
1 Michael Chabon's books (especially The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay) have imagery, symbolism, and themes by the boat-load, and I actually had around 5 different topics I could have written on: sexuality, the American Dream, religion, loss/grief, escapism and magic and comic books...it was overwhelming.
She was talking about how walking with ramrod straight spine, in a corset, was a punishment not even Dante would describe, or something to that effect.
And then, halfway through the book, they went to see Macbeth!
There are many time I doubt the validity of English class. I am sure many of us have asked ourselves, at one point or another, "How is this going to help me in life?" And, truthfully, I actually have very little idea how some of what we do will help me - I can understand persuasive writing, and vocabulary, and maybe being familiar with certain works of literature, but unless I decide to either a) major in English or b) become a writer/book reviewer/editor, I'm not sure how being able to write a commentary will help me in life.
(This is, in no way, to say I don't like English. Though I may not be able see how it will be applied in my everyday job in the future, I still value it.)
But then you find something like this, and suddenly, I feel justified. And, really, if I'm being honest, I do enjoy discussing and analyzing these books in class. There's something about looking at a passage and really getting it - about understanding the point behind it. The research paper we did last year was actually something I was proud of, and the oral commentary on a poem at the end of the year was surprisingly rewarding (even though, at the time we were doing them, I pretty much broke down in tears because I couldn't figure out what I was going to write about for the former1, and for the latter, well, I almost puked).
And I've gotten off topic.
(And this took me like a week to post, and since then, I have ALSO found a reference to Christopher Marlowe in Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen)
1 Michael Chabon's books (especially The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay) have imagery, symbolism, and themes by the boat-load, and I actually had around 5 different topics I could have written on: sexuality, the American Dream, religion, loss/grief, escapism and magic and comic books...it was overwhelming.
Friday, March 12, 2010
If I could, I would make a weird face as this blog title.
So, tonight we saw the Suzanne Farrell Ballet's performance celebrating George Balanchine, and it was quite good - I especially liked the movement they did from Romeo and Juliet.
We did have a bit of a surprise during the performance as well - the dancer who was Romeo, and who was supposed to dance a pas de deux with another dancer hurt himself (it looked like it was his hip) at the beginning of the fourth dance. He was dancing with the other three men, when he suddenly stopped and limped off the stage! So that caused quite a flutter.
All in all, it was good, and I always love going out to see performances - there's something that's so much fun about the whole experience.
In other news regarding this blog, I've decided to skip Wikipedia (I feel ADD changing the "features" this often, but there you have it - I get easily bored), and instead today we will have the feature entitled "Remember that film?" In this case, the film is The Nativity Story. Do you remember when that came out? I do. I really wanted to see it too, for some inexplicable reason, especially considering we don't practice a religion in my family. I did eventually see it - but I don't actually remember it anymore. Maybe I'll watch it again.
We did have a bit of a surprise during the performance as well - the dancer who was Romeo, and who was supposed to dance a pas de deux with another dancer hurt himself (it looked like it was his hip) at the beginning of the fourth dance. He was dancing with the other three men, when he suddenly stopped and limped off the stage! So that caused quite a flutter.
All in all, it was good, and I always love going out to see performances - there's something that's so much fun about the whole experience.
In other news regarding this blog, I've decided to skip Wikipedia (I feel ADD changing the "features" this often, but there you have it - I get easily bored), and instead today we will have the feature entitled "Remember that film?" In this case, the film is The Nativity Story. Do you remember when that came out? I do. I really wanted to see it too, for some inexplicable reason, especially considering we don't practice a religion in my family. I did eventually see it - but I don't actually remember it anymore. Maybe I'll watch it again.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
I have a song stuck in my head.
SWEET CAROLINE (BUMBUMBUM) GOOD TIMES NEVER LOOKED SO GOOD
I'VE BEEN INCLINED (BUMBUMBUM) TO BELIEVE THEY NEVER WOULD!
Anyone know how to put music on this thing? Like on the side -> over there by my profile?
Görög Katolikus Szemle, which means Greek Catholic Survey, is this post's Wikipedia article. It was a "Hungarian-language Greek Catholic weekly newspaper published from Ungvár, Subcarpathian Rus, between 1899-1918." I actually don't understand about 50% of the terms being used in the article, so I can't really tell you much more without directly quoting it:
"Politically, the newspaper represented a sector of the Greek Catholic clergy. The group behind Görög Katolikus Szemle supported the Habsburg monarchy, but opposed Hungarian assimilation of the Rusyn people. The group symbolically supported use of Church Slavonic and Cyrillic script.
Görög Katolikus Szemle was closed down in December 1918, after the fall of the Austro-Hungarian empire. In 1919 Kárpát was launched as a continuation, but that publication did not last beyond that year."
FASCINATING, isn't it? YES. YES IT IS.
Blarglesnacksedrfdshtksla BLUH.
I'VE BEEN INCLINED (BUMBUMBUM) TO BELIEVE THEY NEVER WOULD!
Anyone know how to put music on this thing? Like on the side -> over there by my profile?
Görög Katolikus Szemle, which means Greek Catholic Survey, is this post's Wikipedia article. It was a "Hungarian-language Greek Catholic weekly newspaper published from Ungvár, Subcarpathian Rus, between 1899-1918." I actually don't understand about 50% of the terms being used in the article, so I can't really tell you much more without directly quoting it:
"Politically, the newspaper represented a sector of the Greek Catholic clergy. The group behind Görög Katolikus Szemle supported the Habsburg monarchy, but opposed Hungarian assimilation of the Rusyn people. The group symbolically supported use of Church Slavonic and Cyrillic script.
Görög Katolikus Szemle was closed down in December 1918, after the fall of the Austro-Hungarian empire. In 1919 Kárpát was launched as a continuation, but that publication did not last beyond that year."
FASCINATING, isn't it? YES. YES IT IS.
Blarglesnacksedrfdshtksla BLUH.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Feature?
Ok, so I feel as though I should be doing something with this blog, seeing as this month's challenge involves pretty much no blogging whatsoever.
So should we introduce a feature? This one is the random Wikipedia article, a feature which I admittedly stole from a podcast I sometimes listen to. This post's article is on Montezuma Township in Pike County, Illinois.
Actually, the Wikipedia page on this county has very little on it. It's kind of sad; the one fact on there is how Pike County had only 543 people in it as of the 2000 census. I can't imagine living anywhere where the population density is that low.
So should we introduce a feature? This one is the random Wikipedia article, a feature which I admittedly stole from a podcast I sometimes listen to. This post's article is on Montezuma Township in Pike County, Illinois.
Actually, the Wikipedia page on this county has very little on it. It's kind of sad; the one fact on there is how Pike County had only 543 people in it as of the 2000 census. I can't imagine living anywhere where the population density is that low.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Your Daily Update
First! Today is Talk in the Third Person Day!
Second! Interesting (or stupid) news in the world of libraries and banned books:
Dictionary banned in a California school (another article here)
Also, if you're over 18 you need a chaperone in the Orlando Public Library YA section
And actually, that's all for today folks!
Second! Interesting (or stupid) news in the world of libraries and banned books:
Dictionary banned in a California school (another article here)
Also, if you're over 18 you need a chaperone in the Orlando Public Library YA section
And actually, that's all for today folks!
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
So a new month.
This challenge will involve much less blogging (in fact, it will involve zero blogging) due to the fact that it would be extremely boring to read about.
I noticed the last time I was cleaning out my dresser that I have a ton of shirts I never seem to wear, because I just own way too many shirts. So I've decided that for this month, I'm going to wear a different shirt every day.
Also, I finally came up with a suitable/helpful punishment: I'll donate $2 to a charity of my choice for every day I end up missing/messing up.
I noticed the last time I was cleaning out my dresser that I have a ton of shirts I never seem to wear, because I just own way too many shirts. So I've decided that for this month, I'm going to wear a different shirt every day.
Also, I finally came up with a suitable/helpful punishment: I'll donate $2 to a charity of my choice for every day I end up missing/messing up.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
This blog is weird
And I don't mean in terms of content, though it is true that that aspect of it is also a bit weird.
No, I think it's weird because...well, it's because it was/is an English blog originally. Which means that I know the people who could be reading it, even if they probably aren't, and that limits what can be spoken of on here.
But that's not the only reason this blog is weird. Because if it were just people from our school who I knew who were reading this, that'd be one thing. But the site tracker thing informs me that there are people reading this who are not only not from our school, they're from other countries. And that's...surreal would be the only appropriate word.
Anyway, for this week: The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne and Julie and Julia by Julie Powell.
Both were good, and of course Julie and Julia was quite different from the movie. I have to say, in some ways I enjoyed the movie more, though the book definitely came off quite a bit more like real life.
In other news: concerning music, I am looking forward to our band's trip to New Orleans, and all the music I plan on stocking up on right before we leave. I tend to do this every year, usually right before camp; I'll save up around $40 and just buy a ton of music on iTunes. This year I'll probably be getting some Julia Nunes and ALL CAPS. I also usually do this with books too, but this year I think I'll have plenty from my TBR pile.
No, I think it's weird because...well, it's because it was/is an English blog originally. Which means that I know the people who could be reading it, even if they probably aren't, and that limits what can be spoken of on here.
But that's not the only reason this blog is weird. Because if it were just people from our school who I knew who were reading this, that'd be one thing. But the site tracker thing informs me that there are people reading this who are not only not from our school, they're from other countries. And that's...surreal would be the only appropriate word.
Anyway, for this week: The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne and Julie and Julia by Julie Powell.
Both were good, and of course Julie and Julia was quite different from the movie. I have to say, in some ways I enjoyed the movie more, though the book definitely came off quite a bit more like real life.
In other news: concerning music, I am looking forward to our band's trip to New Orleans, and all the music I plan on stocking up on right before we leave. I tend to do this every year, usually right before camp; I'll save up around $40 and just buy a ton of music on iTunes. This year I'll probably be getting some Julia Nunes and ALL CAPS. I also usually do this with books too, but this year I think I'll have plenty from my TBR pile.
Monday, February 22, 2010
ZOMBIES.
The two books for this week: Lock and Key, by Sarah Dessen, which I finished in a day (...yeah) and The Zombie Survival Guide by Max Brooks. As I have probably mentioned, I love Sarah Dessen, and The Zombie Survival Guide is probably going to be one of my favorite books to reread. It was hilarious, and...ok, is it weird that when I read survival guides, I have this desire to go put the knowledge within the book to use? Like, I know hundreds of people would die, and I would most likely end up among them, but wouldn't it be cool to actually prepare for an outbreak? And survive one? Or not cool, as many of your neighbors, friends, and family would be dead, but...I don't know. It's like when you're little and you would pretend to be stranded on a desert island.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
The Olympics
So, I've been watching the Olympics this year, something that has pretty much NEVER been done in my family; we usually only see the figure skating, and only parts of it.
All this means that it's the first year I saw the Opening Ceremonies (!!) and thus I have some observations and questions:
1. What is going on with Nordic Combined? Who thought to put those two separate events together? Unlike biathlon, which I have been told is probably based on some hunting thing, Nordic Combined would have very little basis in reality. So where did it come from?
2. I have successfully identified them using the score from three different movies thus far, which makes me really proud, and also makes me slightly nerdy, but whatever. (For interested parties, the scores were those of Coraline, Pirates of the Carribbean, and A Series of Unfortunate Events.)
3. SHAUN WHITE.
That's all for now folks!
(oh! wait! I almost forgot: finished The Power of Three by Diana Wynne Jones, who I LOVE as an author, and you should definitely check out, and The Lightening Thief, the first in the Percy Jackson trilogy! So, two books for this week: check!)
All this means that it's the first year I saw the Opening Ceremonies (!!) and thus I have some observations and questions:
1. What is going on with Nordic Combined? Who thought to put those two separate events together? Unlike biathlon, which I have been told is probably based on some hunting thing, Nordic Combined would have very little basis in reality. So where did it come from?
2. I have successfully identified them using the score from three different movies thus far, which makes me really proud, and also makes me slightly nerdy, but whatever. (For interested parties, the scores were those of Coraline, Pirates of the Carribbean, and A Series of Unfortunate Events.)
3. SHAUN WHITE.
That's all for now folks!
(oh! wait! I almost forgot: finished The Power of Three by Diana Wynne Jones, who I LOVE as an author, and you should definitely check out, and The Lightening Thief, the first in the Percy Jackson trilogy! So, two books for this week: check!)
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Folding Chair
"Come and open up your folding chair next to me
My feet are buried in the sand
And there's a breeze."
-Regina Spektor
My feet are buried in the sand
And there's a breeze."
-Regina Spektor
Monday, February 8, 2010
Success!
So, I did succeed in my challenge for this week, though not in the two books I had listed; while I did finish We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed With Our Families by Philip Gourevitch, which was about the genocide in Rwanda; however, instead of finishing Rebel Angels, I reread The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen.
We Wish to Inform You was absolutely fascinating, and definitely a book I think everyone should read. Seriously. Go check it out right now. (Okay, so maybe don't read it if you're really emotional and are going to have some serious, May-from-The-Secret-Life-of-Bees-esque trouble reading about genocide)
It was just...gaaah, it sounds really horrible and boring but informative. And horrifying, in some ways worse than the Holocaust. Because we all grew up with the Holocaust, you know? We know its story. But this was completely different, and new.
Anyway, the second book I just recently bought, and I love Sarah Dessen beause she writes stories with happy endings (usually) involving love. The only exceptions to this are Dreamland and Someone Like You. And possibly some others, which I haven't read...like her two most recent (although, they definitely look like they have a happy ending). And That Summer, which I'm kind of too scared to read for fear of an unhappy ending.
So The Truth About Forever is probably my favorite of her books, though This Lullaby and Just Listen are pretty good too...anyway, I cried, again, because that's what I do.
And the final news of the day: I went to the pharmacy beacause I needed construction paper for making Valentines, and as I was walking I was sort of going over what I want to say in my commentary, because I think better if I can walk and talk it out, and as I was crossing the street I looked up and some lady pushing a stroller was staring at me. So...yup, I am that crazy person who talks to themselves.
(A final ps. I don't know why, but I've noticed that I can't paste into Blogger when I'm editing. I can cut and copy, but when I try to paste it just doesn't work. It's getting to be quite annoying.)
We Wish to Inform You was absolutely fascinating, and definitely a book I think everyone should read. Seriously. Go check it out right now. (Okay, so maybe don't read it if you're really emotional and are going to have some serious, May-from-The-Secret-Life-of-Bees-esque trouble reading about genocide)
It was just...gaaah, it sounds really horrible and boring but informative. And horrifying, in some ways worse than the Holocaust. Because we all grew up with the Holocaust, you know? We know its story. But this was completely different, and new.
Anyway, the second book I just recently bought, and I love Sarah Dessen beause she writes stories with happy endings (usually) involving love. The only exceptions to this are Dreamland and Someone Like You. And possibly some others, which I haven't read...like her two most recent (although, they definitely look like they have a happy ending). And That Summer, which I'm kind of too scared to read for fear of an unhappy ending.
So The Truth About Forever is probably my favorite of her books, though This Lullaby and Just Listen are pretty good too...anyway, I cried, again, because that's what I do.
And the final news of the day: I went to the pharmacy beacause I needed construction paper for making Valentines, and as I was walking I was sort of going over what I want to say in my commentary, because I think better if I can walk and talk it out, and as I was crossing the street I looked up and some lady pushing a stroller was staring at me. So...yup, I am that crazy person who talks to themselves.
(A final ps. I don't know why, but I've noticed that I can't paste into Blogger when I'm editing. I can cut and copy, but when I try to paste it just doesn't work. It's getting to be quite annoying.)
Monday, February 1, 2010
New month, new challenge
So! New challenge time!
This one isn't going to be one that's all that interesting for the non-readers out there, because that's what it involves: reading. The goal would be to finish at least two books a week. I figure I need to shrink my To Be Read pile anyway, so why not make it an official challenge?
This week's books are two I'm already in the midst of: We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will be Killed With Our Families by Philip Gourevitch, and Rebel Angels by Libba Bray.
I'll be blogging at the end of every week to let you know how it goes!
This one isn't going to be one that's all that interesting for the non-readers out there, because that's what it involves: reading. The goal would be to finish at least two books a week. I figure I need to shrink my To Be Read pile anyway, so why not make it an official challenge?
This week's books are two I'm already in the midst of: We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will be Killed With Our Families by Philip Gourevitch, and Rebel Angels by Libba Bray.
I'll be blogging at the end of every week to let you know how it goes!
Sunday, January 31, 2010
The news for today.
I felt artsy today and decided to play with my camera since I can't draw or paint or anything like that.I was looking through all the old documents I have saved on this computer and it was...entertaining, and weird, and a little bit embarassing too. My favorite document is the letter I wrote to my sister, which I believe I had planned to send to her before we left for camp, so she would receive it at camp. It basically outlined a secret mission I was giving her, that she had to complete because I was going to become evil in the next couple of days.
I'm thinking I'm definitely going to finish that letter, and send it to her while we're at camp this year.
Anyway, on to the other news of the day: I learned stick shift!
Sort of. Me and my dad practiced in one of the many parking lots across from the Mall of America, as I had to go there for shopping anyway. It was fine; I stalled the car quite a few times, but I didn't hit anything!
Bought a dress at the mall, and shoes because I have somehow managed to lose my black flats (yeah...I don't know how I managed to lose a pair of shoes either.) Then we came home and a friend came over, and we watched Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and the beginning of Rebel Without a Cause.
I'm going to be honest: Rebel Without a Cause was a pretty "meh" type movie for me. I felt as though James Dean was (accidentally or on purpose) playing a character who was either drunk throughout the entire movie, or mentally impaired, because he slurred his words, and was just generally crazy.
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid was better, and I actually liked it - though part of the reason may have had something to do with the fact that William Goldman was the screenwriter. He did The Princess Bride as well (and wrote the book), and that was probably one of my all-time favorites as a child.
AND FINALLY: I will announce the challenge for February tomorrow; as this challenge is done, and I failed, I will also announce my punishment.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Tonight's the full moon y'all!
Went ice skating, and fell three times, of course. There was some kind of festival thing going on, so there was music and hot chocolate, and snacks. It was really fun, and then we came home and made crepes, which were delicious!
Most of my day besides that was spent watching Lost, and trying to catch up. I think I might make it (sort of)...at the very least I'll be at Season 4 by Tuesday, and I can probably finish that and Season 5 by the time the episodes are being taken down on Hulu.
On another note, the Winter Olympics are coming up! Are YOU prepared?
Friday, January 29, 2010
This is the moooorning report...
So, as predicted something happened that was of note: my sister crashed into a tree, and is, as we speak (or type?) getting stitches. Not because the cut was horrible or anything, but because it'll probably scar otherwise, and as it's on her chin, my dad decided it'd be worth it to go to the hospital.
I, meanwhile, fell once, and dropped a glove once on the ski lift, so yesterday's predictions came true! Thankfully that was the worst of it all, which means my rocrd for broken bones and stitches is still intact: 0-0
While the two of them are gone, I watched No Reservations. I don't think I've ever mentioned on this blog how much I LOVE happy endings. Especially ones where there is romance. So this movie was good, especially after a long day, and fulfilled my romance quota for the week.
And that is pretty much all...
Except, I guess I never did say what song it was from three (three? four?) posts ago: 121 (or I2I, not sure which) from A Goofy Movie (again, I don't know if I've already mentioned it, but I also really like soundtracks. If you can name the movie/musical the title of this report came from, you're awesome.)
(no photo today, sorry, our computer is spazzing at me right now.)
I, meanwhile, fell once, and dropped a glove once on the ski lift, so yesterday's predictions came true! Thankfully that was the worst of it all, which means my rocrd for broken bones and stitches is still intact: 0-0
While the two of them are gone, I watched No Reservations. I don't think I've ever mentioned on this blog how much I LOVE happy endings. Especially ones where there is romance. So this movie was good, especially after a long day, and fulfilled my romance quota for the week.
And that is pretty much all...
Except, I guess I never did say what song it was from three (three? four?) posts ago: 121 (or I2I, not sure which) from A Goofy Movie (again, I don't know if I've already mentioned it, but I also really like soundtracks. If you can name the movie/musical the title of this report came from, you're awesome.)
(no photo today, sorry, our computer is spazzing at me right now.)
Thursday, January 28, 2010
The end is in SIGHT.
Well, we are nearing the finish of this month, and finals are OVER, thank the lord.
Ummm....so today I watched Fringe. As always. And the Muppets, because they are awesome. And we went out to eat at Bonfire, and me and my sister got weird looks/comments from the waiters after we asked for children's menus so we could color. Is that so weird? I like coloring! Waiting for food is boring.
Tomorrow I get to go skiing! I'm sure I'll have some stories then; either I'll fall epically at some point or I will lose one of my skis/poles on the ski lift. Or both! (I've done all three too! Multiple times.)
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
In which we change things up a bit...
Okay, now for that new idea I mentioned to y'all:
I will attempt (and by attempt, I mean try my hardest) to finish a challenge every month. If I fail to complete these challenges, I'll do some sort of punishment. This will maybe/hopefully make this blog slightly more interesting for the both of us.
So for example: this month's challenge was to blog every day. I failed, obviously, so I'll try to come up with some sort of punishment idea. Unless there are suggestions? (come on people. I know there are some of you out there. Please, please let there be some of you out there...) Also, as one would suspect, this means the rest of the months I won't be blogging everyday, which may work out, or may mean I end up never writing on here at all. We'll see how it works for February and go from there. 1
And that's all for today folks! Off to study for finals and watch Psych!
I will attempt (and by attempt, I mean try my hardest) to finish a challenge every month. If I fail to complete these challenges, I'll do some sort of punishment. This will maybe/hopefully make this blog slightly more interesting for the both of us.
So for example: this month's challenge was to blog every day. I failed, obviously, so I'll try to come up with some sort of punishment idea. Unless there are suggestions? (come on people. I know there are some of you out there. Please, please let there be some of you out there...) Also, as one would suspect, this means the rest of the months I won't be blogging everyday, which may work out, or may mean I end up never writing on here at all. We'll see how it works for February and go from there. 1
And that's all for today folks! Off to study for finals and watch Psych!
1 Note: while I am not blogging everyday, I will be taking pictures everyday still. Just not here.
Monday, January 25, 2010
A missed day! Oh dear!
Written 1/25/10:Well, I excuse myself, because yesterday WAS CHAOS.
As was most of the day in school today. Ah well.
Written today:
FINALS. GAH.
I do have an idea I just recently thought of involving challenges and making this more interesting, buuuut, that's gonna have to wait til tomorrow, as the cuckoo clock is going off and that means it's BEDTIME!
Saturday, January 23, 2010
We're back in business people!
A pretty sketchoad I got from the architecture thing I did over the summer. I'm too afraid to put anything in it, unfortunately, for fear of messing it up.
I've spent a large majority of my time on the computer today, online and doing homework stuff. I'm trying to catch up on all sorts of videos, but it's an uphill battle. I did find out about some new music by some people I follow on Youtube, so I've been listening to that for a bit now. And I'm finally as caught up as I can be on White Collar.
Ok, so some new lyrics: "Got myself a notion/One I know that you'll understand/To set the world in motion/By reaching for each other's hand."
Friday, January 22, 2010
Sleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep
I am continually sleep deprived. That is all for today because I am too tired to write more.
Similarly, I couldn't be bothered to take a photo with anything actually going on.
So here I am, scratching my head.
Nope, not even lyrics. That would involve going and getting my iPod. The only movement I will be making after this is going upstairs to sleep.
ETA: Ok, so I'll at least tell you yesterday's lyrics: Nowhere Man by The Beatles.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
I feel that I am better at the short posts.
Started this today; I'm super excited, and so far it's pretty good. It does move A LOT faster than the original Pride and Prejudice. Also, it has some pretty awesome pictures.
Tomorrow's the Music Listening Contest, and I am...sort of prepared. Kinda. Maybe. Apparently we (that is, our school) have a habit of SUCKING at this, so. It'll be interesting at the very least.
Yesterday's: Put Ur Hand Up by Family Force Five.
Today's: "Doesn't have a point of view/Knows not where he's going to/Isn't he a bit like you and me?"
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
A longer post than usual
Today I started reading Julia & Julia, and it got me to thinking about the Internet. (Because she starts a blog and stuff...) And I started wondering how it is I even know what I do about the Internet - because I look at my sister, and I realize I was a lot more Internet-savvy than she is when I was in 6th grade (at least, I like to think I was). And while I'm no expert, I like to think I know a little more than the Average Joe.
But anyway, all that's weird because really, what prompts this type of thing? What is it that gets us started in on these things, until we know what we do about them? I don't know about you, but I never remember the underlying cause, the second when I thought, "Ah yes, I'm going to read webcomics." so that now I follow ten or eleven of them.
And for me, it's because I liked to explore.
The only reason this would be revolutionary is because it's something I never associate with myself. I'm so used to thinking of myself as a scaredy-cat, and a bit of a wimp - both are which are completely true statements, but perhaps not as true as I once thought, if you know what I mean. And in case you don't: I'm not as much of a scaredy-cat and a wimp as I thought.
An example: I hate shots. I mean, HATE them - I once suffered through some serious vomitting and stomach cramps rather than use my EpiPen. But shots are a part of life - you have to get vaccinations all the time, and I have to get flu shots every year thanks to asthma - so I learned to deal. And they aren't so bad anymore; I'm not afraid of them anymore. And roller coasters - I love them. Not afraid at all, something I thought was totally natural, before trips to Valleyfair with friends. So I've slowly begun to realize, I'm not so pathetic and weak, like I thought.
And this realization relates to exploring how? Well, my point would be that when you think explorer, you think bold; certainly not a wimp or someone who's afraid to take risks (read: me) And because I suck at athletics (like, really. Asthma, and also, I'm lazy) and I've read too many books to think going into spooky abandoned houses is a good idea, I'm not the ideal model in terms of curiosity or fitness, another two traits generally associated with explorers.
But I do enjoy it, just not the conventional, backpack-all-day-in-the-Amazon version of it. Really, and I express it in music and books and the Internet, by spending hours researching and looking for things, and clicking random links, and writing down all the books mentioned anywhere in the books I was reading (yup, I did that last one). And sometimes I will express it with actual, conventional exploring: at camp, or when camping with friends, with trails and things. And at home sometimes, wandering around random neighborhoods, sneaking through people's backyards (okay, I don't do that last one much. Or, you know, ever.)
And, well, this isn't all that relevant to you in life or anything, but it was an interesting thing for me. It's just a thought, and this blog seemed like an appropriate place for it. Also, it seemed like a fun coincedence that my dad brought home a coonskin hat right when I realized this.
In other news, I lost my library card and had to buy a new one; also, the tuba I use at school is officially broken.
Yesterday's lyrics: Through Heaven's Eyes from The Prince of Egypt
Today's: "One listen up loud and clear/because we got a little something to put in your ear/I know you came to have a good time/so kick off your shoes and relax your mind"
But anyway, all that's weird because really, what prompts this type of thing? What is it that gets us started in on these things, until we know what we do about them? I don't know about you, but I never remember the underlying cause, the second when I thought, "Ah yes, I'm going to read webcomics." so that now I follow ten or eleven of them.
And for me, it's because I liked to explore.
The only reason this would be revolutionary is because it's something I never associate with myself. I'm so used to thinking of myself as a scaredy-cat, and a bit of a wimp - both are which are completely true statements, but perhaps not as true as I once thought, if you know what I mean. And in case you don't: I'm not as much of a scaredy-cat and a wimp as I thought.
An example: I hate shots. I mean, HATE them - I once suffered through some serious vomitting and stomach cramps rather than use my EpiPen. But shots are a part of life - you have to get vaccinations all the time, and I have to get flu shots every year thanks to asthma - so I learned to deal. And they aren't so bad anymore; I'm not afraid of them anymore. And roller coasters - I love them. Not afraid at all, something I thought was totally natural, before trips to Valleyfair with friends. So I've slowly begun to realize, I'm not so pathetic and weak, like I thought.
And this realization relates to exploring how? Well, my point would be that when you think explorer, you think bold; certainly not a wimp or someone who's afraid to take risks (read: me) And because I suck at athletics (like, really. Asthma, and also, I'm lazy) and I've read too many books to think going into spooky abandoned houses is a good idea, I'm not the ideal model in terms of curiosity or fitness, another two traits generally associated with explorers.
But I do enjoy it, just not the conventional, backpack-all-day-in-the-Amazon version of it. Really, and I express it in music and books and the Internet, by spending hours researching and looking for things, and clicking random links, and writing down all the books mentioned anywhere in the books I was reading (yup, I did that last one). And sometimes I will express it with actual, conventional exploring: at camp, or when camping with friends, with trails and things. And at home sometimes, wandering around random neighborhoods, sneaking through people's backyards (okay, I don't do that last one much. Or, you know, ever.)
And, well, this isn't all that relevant to you in life or anything, but it was an interesting thing for me. It's just a thought, and this blog seemed like an appropriate place for it. Also, it seemed like a fun coincedence that my dad brought home a coonskin hat right when I realized this.
In other news, I lost my library card and had to buy a new one; also, the tuba I use at school is officially broken.
Yesterday's lyrics: Through Heaven's Eyes from The Prince of Egypt
Today's: "One listen up loud and clear/because we got a little something to put in your ear/I know you came to have a good time/so kick off your shoes and relax your mind"
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Whoops, almost forgot a title!
So, I just found some things out in the last 3 minutes that are unnerving to me, and they will be summarized briefly right here:
1. Neil Gaiman (who is an awesome author) and Amanda Palmer (who is an awesome singer) are getting married.
This is sincerely surreal for me, because Amanda Palmer is someone who I associate my past with, as my dad listened to The Dresden Dolls, and I grew up with Coin-Operated Boy, while Neil Gaiman is much more firmly implanted in the future (despite the fact that I read Coraline when I was in 4th grade) because only recently have I begun to read his books/blogs/see him in general mentioned on the Internet.
2. Crazy fan is crazy.
There's some girl who, basically, stalked someone from a band I actually used to listen to quite a bit, and saw, and looked up his address, and waited in his bushes, and was generally creepy, and crazy and this would be yet another surreal moment as I learned of these goings-on from the lovely Cleolinda - this would be yet another case of different aspects of my life colliding and relating and it sort of weirds me out.
And that is the news for today.
Yesterday: It Ends Tonight by The All-American Rejects Today's: "A lake of gold in the desert sand/is less than a cool fresh spring/And to one lost sheep a shepherd boy/is greater than the richest king"
1. Neil Gaiman (who is an awesome author) and Amanda Palmer (who is an awesome singer) are getting married.
This is sincerely surreal for me, because Amanda Palmer is someone who I associate my past with, as my dad listened to The Dresden Dolls, and I grew up with Coin-Operated Boy, while Neil Gaiman is much more firmly implanted in the future (despite the fact that I read Coraline when I was in 4th grade) because only recently have I begun to read his books/blogs/see him in general mentioned on the Internet.
2. Crazy fan is crazy.
There's some girl who, basically, stalked someone from a band I actually used to listen to quite a bit, and saw, and looked up his address, and waited in his bushes, and was generally creepy, and crazy and this would be yet another surreal moment as I learned of these goings-on from the lovely Cleolinda - this would be yet another case of different aspects of my life colliding and relating and it sort of weirds me out.
And that is the news for today.
Yesterday: It Ends Tonight by The All-American Rejects Today's: "A lake of gold in the desert sand/is less than a cool fresh spring/And to one lost sheep a shepherd boy/is greater than the richest king"
Monday, January 18, 2010
Today me and some friends made some bracelets to be sold at lunch tomorrow for a dollar, to raise money for Haiti. We also made some friendship bracelets too, cause those are awesome.
This of course inspired me to make more friendship bracelets, and that is string I'm holding in my hand right there; there're so many COLORS!
Today's first song on Shuffle was part of the Sherlock Holmes soundtrack, and thus had no words (awesome title though: "Is it Poison, Nanny?") The second song, on the other hand, goes something like this: "It's my fault when you're blind/You're blind/But all these thoughts locked inside/Now you're the first to know" Yesterday's song was Johnny Tarr by Gaelic Storm.
Today's first song on Shuffle was part of the Sherlock Holmes soundtrack, and thus had no words (awesome title though: "Is it Poison, Nanny?") The second song, on the other hand, goes something like this: "It's my fault when you're blind/You're blind/But all these thoughts locked inside/Now you're the first to know" Yesterday's song was Johnny Tarr by Gaelic Storm.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Discoveries, and some slight cheating
For those of you who, like me, didn't know, if you stand further back, you can actually see the image better. IT'S AMAZING!!!1!!11
Anywho, today was a vegetable kind of day, though I did make a couple bracelets to help the whole Haiti thing - they'll be sold in the cafeteria during lunch I think, for one dollar, definitely on Tuesday, possibly on other days as well.
Completely forgot to have lyrics yesterday, but no one seemed to notice, so no harm done right? Those from two days ago were Baba O'Riley by The Who (<3)
So for today's lyrics:
"See, I wasn't there, I swears I have an alibi/I heard it from a man who knows a fellow who says it's true."
I'm going to be honest: this was not the first song that came up when I pressed Shuffle. In fact, I didn't even do this on my iPod; it was on my dad's. But while the first song that came up is in my iPod, I've never listened to it. So I decided to keep skipping until I found a song that's both on my iPod and that I've listened to at least once. (For those interested, the original song would have been FutureSex/LoveSounds by Justin Timberlake)
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Books, books, and more books
God my To-Be-Read pile has reached gargantuan sizes. One of my goals for this year was to shrink it until it was no taller than my knee; I have quite a ways to go, as you can see.
I really enjoy reading. It's the best form of escape; you can go anywhere, and see people and places you couldn't normally, and fantastic things can happen. And even better than movies, because you never have to worry about bad actors, or effects, because all of its in your imagination. And all of this has been said a million and one times, but it's still true.
In other news, my family watched Julie & Julia, and I still really like that movie. It's happy and fun and has great music, three of my favorite things in a movie, and it was based on a book based on a true story, which is always a huge plus. I also got around to watching 9 finally, and it was pretty good, though it seemed really short. It's funny how much longer movies have gotten; the movie was about an hour and 15 minutes, which used to be the norm, yet it seemed short. Meanwhile, Julie & Julia was almost two hours and that seemed just right.
(ETA: Whoops, I forgot to say the song! It was Baba O'Riley by The Who)
Friday, January 15, 2010
Today's picture was brought to you by the Imwatchinu Corp. of America.
So.Today, inspired by The Omnivore's Dilemma (I caved and bought it so I could finish), I will begin yet another new thing (ye gods, how am I going to manage to do all this?!): keeping track of the food I eat during the day. It probably won't be written on here though, as that's not so interesting to read, I wouldn't think.
Second order of business: Yesterday's lyrics and today's. Yesterday: We're Not Afraid by Sing It Loud. Today's, brought to you by my father's iPod are: "We fight for our meals/We put our back into our living/I don't need to fight/to prove I'm right/I don't need to be forgiven." (As a side note: I love this song. It will forever remind me of A Bug's Life, as it's the song that plays at the very end, towards the end of the credits. HINTHINTHINT)
Nothing else of note happened today, besides my first Behind-the-Wheel, which was more uneventful than most of my driving sessions with my mom.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Mellifluous is a cool word.
So. First off, the answer to the games will be posted in the following day's post, due to the unforseen problem of a non-white background.
Second, I tried to finish The Omnivore's Dilemma because of Geography, and failed pretty badly. Oh well.
Third, I love Fringe. But what else is new?
Fourth, today's lyrics: "I wanna know if there's a way that you could take my hand/with yours before I slip and fall/and fall again"
And that's all for tonight, folks!
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
In which we invent a new game...
Today on The Daily Blog, we will be introducing a new game, because a blog about what happens to me every day is way too boring, and I don't have it in me, quite frankly, to write long blogs every day. Or even most days. (though today I do have some news: I drove on the highway for the first time!) Anyway, the game is called Name that Song, and the rules are simple: name the song the lyrics go to without using a search engine to look them up. The answer will be in white; highlight it to see.
So I put my iPod on Shuffle, and today's lyrics are:
"I met you before the fall of Rome/And I bet you to let me take you home/You were wrong; I was right/You said goodbye, I said goodnight."
It's All Been Done by The Barenaked Ladies.
It's All Been Done by The Barenaked Ladies.
ETA: Unfortunately, it has been discovered that this font still shows up on the post. So. We'll have to rethink this plan.
Also: text "Haiti" to 90999 and you donate $10 to relief funds (billed to your phone)And if you do that, I will send you this cat*:
*Offer valid only through 01/12/10
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Yet another post in which nothing happens
I hate Pep Band, but I love Orangina!
Today is awesome because I got a dress in the mail and it is pretty, even though I can't wear it for at least another two months.
Also, because I took a two hour nap, which was good, because I literally fell asleep in band today. I half-dreamed Mr. Oyen was talking about reading.
Today was not awesome because carrying the tuba up and down flights of stairs and to the gym is not fun at all, and because half-falling asleep in all my classes was not very condusive to actually getting work done.
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