A Commentary

Writer's Block: Choose a Power

2008-06-26T03:19:07Z

If you could have the power to fly, be invisible, or teleport anywhere, which would you choose?

I wouldn't choose the power to be invisible: I bump into enough things on my own without people bumping into me aswell.
I wouldn't choose the power to teleport: That would just encourage my inherent laziness.
I would choose the power to fly, except during shooting season.

Book 1/50

2008-06-21T03:08:17Z

1. Gone With the Wind - Margaret Mitchell

Rating: 9/10
Recommended: Yes

I loved this book and its understandable as to why this book is a classic and a favourite to many.
I enjoyed being introduced to the social norms of that time regarding what acceptable female behaviour should be. I also liked the way that Mitchell managed to skip a few years at a time in some parts of the book and the story still retained its seamlessness.

One part that irritated me is that I wanted to see Rhett and Scarlett happy and reunited at last. I wanted the soppy, cheesy ending. However, I think Mitchell's closing of the book was good as it added a bith of grit to the book and is something that kept me wondering for a little while as to whether Scarlett could actually win back Rhett's heart.

Is there any other book that someone could recommend me, seeing that I loved this one so much?

Start date of book/page challenge: 1st June 2008
Book: 1/50
Total: 2%
Pages: 1024/15000
Total: 1024 or 6.8%

(Cross posted)

Writer's Block: Irksome Films

2008-06-09T18:44:18Z

Talk about the movie that you love to hate the most, and why.

View 500 Answers

I love to hate: Troy. Yet another travesty at the hands of the American blockbuster machine messing with a classic story (The Illiad). The movie includes items and conduct from time periods hundreds of years away from the time setting of the film. Coins? Really?
And another thing - changing someone's gay lover to become his 'friend' just to placate the homophobes - not cool.

A Few Recommended Reads

2008-06-09T18:28:51Z

Seeing as a lot of my LJ friends are avid readers, here are a few book suggestions that I really enjoyed recently:

The Blind Assassin - Margaret Atwood
The Bronze Horseman - Paullina Simmons
The Colour Purple - Alice Walker
We Need To Talk About Kevin - Lionel Shriver
Perfume - Patrick Suskind
Suite Francaise - Irene Nemirovsky

I could give you a detailed write up about each of them, but to be honest, I'm going to to make some breakfast instead.

Writer's Block: Banished to Space.

2008-06-08T19:26:45Z

If you were exiled to outer space, where would you be sent and what would you bring along?

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I would not be sent anywhere in particular. I would be a rogue wanderer, seducing men on every planet I come across and fighting my way through evil armies hellbent on restraining me.
Although I would be wild and free, I would bring sensible things with me to outerspace, like dehydrated mash potatoes and a change of underwear.

Writer's Block: Where the Cheese Goes

2008-06-08T05:05:39Z

What should cheese go on, and what should cheese NOT go on?

View 501 Answers

Cheese should go on sale because its too damn expensive!

My Solution

2008-06-05T04:43:45Z

After catching my flat mate eating my precious jam (after I'd written my name all over the bottle!) and having him admit to wrongly eating it all, this is my solution:

Flat meeting tonight.
I'm making everyone fill out flat mate contracts to protect me (as I'm the only one with my name on the lease).
I'm going to ask everyone to write their names on their bread and milk (that's the stuff that mainly goes missing) to avoid any confusion.
I'm going to take everyone through the kitchen to show them where their shelves are.
If anyone doesn't like what I've put into the contract, then out they go! (The people I mean, not the contract!)

Thanks heaps to louismaistros for kicking my but into confronting them!

Procrastination

2008-06-03T20:09:52Z

I'm supposed to be cleaning the flat as we have a flat inspection in an hour's time. Instead, I'll make a list!
These are the books I have read so far:

The War of the Worlds: H.G. Wells
If you have seen the movie for this book, beat the memory of Tom Cruise bastardising this classic out of your head with a big stick and read the book.

The Blind Assassin: M. Atwood
This is amazing! A book within a book within a book. This woman is quickly becoming my favourite author.

~~Crime and Punishment: F. Dostoyevsky~~
I tried to read this book several times without success. I just can't do it!

The Handmaid's Tale: M. Atwood
I read this in highschool and the symbolism jus blew me away. A must read.

Perfume: Patrick Suskind
A book totally based on the senses.

David Copperfield: C. Dickens
After reading this, I want to read every single Dickens book in existence

Wuthering Heights: E. Bronte
One of my favourites.

Jane Eyre: C. Bronte
Love the Bronte sisters.

The Count of Monte Cristo: A. Dumas
My favourite book.

The Colour Purple: A. Walker
I struggled to get used to the narration at first, but once I got used to it, I loved it.

Slaughter-House Five: K. Vonnegut
Funny, intersting. Lent it to my boss and he hated it.

The Bell Jar: S. Plath
Made me feel thankful that I live in this age with a mental illness.

A Clockwork Orange: A. Burgess
If you read this, make sure its not the American censored version. The real ending is the entire reason for reading this book!

To Kill A Mockingbird: H. Lee
Lee's narration through the eyes of a child is refreshing.

Lord of the Flies: W. Golding
Wow. We all are a little bit evil.

Day of the Triffids: J. Wyndham
Another of my favourite books of all time. Read it!

The Catcher in the Rye: J. D. Salinger
I didn't like this as it reminded me of all the teenage boys I know.

Nineteen Eighty Four: G. Orwell
Fascinating

Animal Farm: G. Orwell
I love this book.

Of Mice and Men: J. Steinbeck

The Hobbit: J. R. R. Tolkein
As I managed to get through this, I have hope for reading LOTR.

Advice Please?

2008-06-02T19:51:26Z

We recently got two new flatmates (a couple) and everything was going fine and dandy, except we started noticing we were going through our food essentials a lot quicker than usual (our essentials being jam, tomato sauce, milk and bread).
A couple of times now we've come across them ferreting around in our fridge (we have a separate fridge to the couple) and then they've said something like "oh hey, can I borrow some of your jam?" Although I doubt I'd want it back after they've used it!Ewww.
Anyway, what do I say to these two little thieving squirrels that are making themselves at home in our fridge?
As a poor student, I can barely afford to cover my own food, little own cover unwilling donations to other people!
I want to make it clear that we've got our eye on them. My partner actually wants to get enough evidence to kick them out, but again, that's such a hard situation!

My Goals (June 08 Edition)

2008-06-01T01:53:39Z

Short Term (By September):

Learn to keep my room clean. It sounds so stupid and simple, but I can never seem to tidy up after myself and its an endless source of frustration for my boyfriend. I also think a de-clutter will be good for me too!
Get into a proper study routine and stick to it so I can be ready to graduate at the end of the year!
Get into a real exercise regime so I can feel confident, look good, and reach my long term goal of climbing to Mt Everest base camp.
Make a decent dent in my "50 Books Within a Year" goal.
Save up enough money for my Vietnam visa, Sydney airfares, spending money = $1000.00
Pay off my overdraft (although its not THAT much!)
Get my car in a relatively good condition.
Be on a reasonable budget that allows me to save.

Mid Term (By June Next Year):

To have landed a good job in the health sector that I actually enjoy.
Complete my "50 Books Within a Year" goal.
Plan and save for another overseas trip.

Long Term (2-5 years):

Have paid off my student loan.
Be moved overseas.
Be well established within my career so that I can enjoy my job and have time to play as well.
Be well on my way to completing my goal of reading all the books in "1001 books to read before you die" .

Marry Me

2008-05-29T20:03:24Z

I've been talking to some people lately and I'm increasingly finding that the institution of marriage has largely become a joke. Most say things that can be roughly translated into the belief that marriage is a dead end.
Now I'm a romantic. I love the idea of soul mates, enduring love, yada yada yada. I guess this belief is not helped by my increasing interest in classic romance novels (or maybe my interest is because of my beliefs).
Does everyone think marriage is dead, an outmoded tradition?

My "To Read" List:

2008-05-28T19:34:27Z

I'm going to take part in the 50 Book Challenge I found on LJ.
I'm currently reading Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell.

My Next Reads Are:
1. The Bridge to Holy Cross by Paullina Simmons
2. Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe
3. Deception Point by Dan Brown
4. Oroonoko by Aphra Behn
5. The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams.

Does anyone here belong to BookMooch?
If you're an obsessive reader like me, check it out: www.bookmooch.com

Aplogies All Round?

2008-05-27T21:28:37Z

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10512882

This story in the New Zealand Herald particularly interested me as I am traveling to Vietnam soon and the American war in Vietnam is obviously a topic that is both important and unavoidable. I have no doubt in my mind that the New Zealand government should apologise to the veterans of this war. The implications upon the physical and mental health that resulted from the warfare and chemical exposure has been devastating to these individuals and their families.

I do agree with Turia's request for an apology to the Vietnamese people. Although the Vietnamese may be moving on and putting the devastation of the war behind them, public acknowledgment of the wrongs done to them is necessary. If the government does decide to aplogise for New Zealand involvement in the war, they need to carefully word their apologies to the veterans. Governments that have sanctioned war will always aim to glorify the actions of their troops. This glorification would not do the government any favours if they are to admit that our "glorious combatants" were wrongly deployed to the country.

However, I can't help but wonder:
Is it too little, too late? Many of these veterans will never recover from the war and many have already passed away. The consequences of New Zealand's involvement in the war can never be undone.
Is it a coincidence that this apology is delivered in election year? It seems to me that following the appalling public response to the 2008 Budget, the Labour party needs a stunt like this to boost public opinion that at least they're doing something, anything at all, that the general public believes should happen (even if it should have happened thirty years ago).

It is of some satisfaction to me that although the New Zealand government bowed to international pressure to participate in the Vietnam war, the NZ government of today isn't as easily swayed into sacrificing its citizens and morals. Whilst a small country like New Zealand is still subject to pressure from "world powers", I believe that we are finally beginning to stand on our own two feet.

Although the New Zealand government needs to apologise to both the Vietnamese and the veterans, part of me can't help but wonder whether this is the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff.

A_Welcoming

2008-05-27T20:54:20Z

Kia Ora,
This is my sparkly new live journal that I plan to use to discuss my thoughts on politics, news, literature, religion, all the big things.
I am a sheltered person. I have lived out my entire existence never feeling real hunger, loss, need or desperation. Until recently I believed I had a worldly perspective, that is until I actually went out into the world.
I welcome replies as I would like to use this journal to broaden my perspectives.
I will accept all friend requests as long as your involvement with my journal is not destructive.