Happiness is good,
Everyone wants happiness.
Share your happiness.
Monday, March 14, 2016
Sunday, March 13, 2016
Wednesday, August 12, 2015
Review: The Magicians
The Magicians by Lev Grossman reaches several dimensions (pun intended.)
In a nutshell, it's a Harry Potter crossed with The Chronicles of Narnia. Only, it's called Fillory. Not Narnia. The main character, Quentin Coldwater is a huge fan of the Fillory series. Through magic and stuff, he becomes a certified magician in four years. He and his friends move to New York City. One of his friends discovers a button that can transport people from their current universe to the Fillory world. Where they kill Martin Chatwick and become king.
The Chatwicks in a nutshell are like the Pevensie children. So each one goes to the magical land. Martin, the eldest goes and never returns. We find out that the Fillory series is real and that Martin gave up his humanity to stay in Fillory forever. His sister, Jane, alters time in an effort to stop her evil brother, Martin. To kill Martin, Quentin's girlfriend, Alice sacrifices herself. She becomes a "blue spirit of magical energy", called a niffin. By killing Martin, Quentin and his friends become Kings and Queens. The story isn't that simple, but in a nutshell, that is what happens.
It's easy to understand Quentin's motivations. He can be selfish and shallow at times. His girlfriend dies yet there is no true mourning described in the book. He screws up more than once, yet it doesn't prevent him from making more mistakes. Quentin's too impulsive. The one thing that's bad about the book is the inside flap summary gave away too much of the story. The story was draggy with the plot at times. Then other parts of the book have extreme jumps. I was considering putting the book down after the third page, but I am glad that I continued. The writing is excellent. The narrator voice inside my head was able to read without a break of flow despite the odd spacing of time in the story line.
I look forward to reading the next two books in the trilogy.
Rate: 8/10
In a nutshell, it's a Harry Potter crossed with The Chronicles of Narnia. Only, it's called Fillory. Not Narnia. The main character, Quentin Coldwater is a huge fan of the Fillory series. Through magic and stuff, he becomes a certified magician in four years. He and his friends move to New York City. One of his friends discovers a button that can transport people from their current universe to the Fillory world. Where they kill Martin Chatwick and become king.
The Chatwicks in a nutshell are like the Pevensie children. So each one goes to the magical land. Martin, the eldest goes and never returns. We find out that the Fillory series is real and that Martin gave up his humanity to stay in Fillory forever. His sister, Jane, alters time in an effort to stop her evil brother, Martin. To kill Martin, Quentin's girlfriend, Alice sacrifices herself. She becomes a "blue spirit of magical energy", called a niffin. By killing Martin, Quentin and his friends become Kings and Queens. The story isn't that simple, but in a nutshell, that is what happens.
It's easy to understand Quentin's motivations. He can be selfish and shallow at times. His girlfriend dies yet there is no true mourning described in the book. He screws up more than once, yet it doesn't prevent him from making more mistakes. Quentin's too impulsive. The one thing that's bad about the book is the inside flap summary gave away too much of the story. The story was draggy with the plot at times. Then other parts of the book have extreme jumps. I was considering putting the book down after the third page, but I am glad that I continued. The writing is excellent. The narrator voice inside my head was able to read without a break of flow despite the odd spacing of time in the story line.
I look forward to reading the next two books in the trilogy.
Rate: 8/10
Tuesday, July 14, 2015
What I learned from TV
No matter how stupid TV programs can be, they still have some remote value.
1 - Communicate!
Seriously. The amount of misunderstandings and pain comes from the withholding of information or simply no information at all. More than one drama, soap opera, movie or some other scripted show would have a sizable chunk of unnecessary draggy story line disappear if people would just talk with an open mind.
2- If it's too good to be true, it probably is.
Not everyone has the best intentions. Please. Stop making impulsive decisions. Go get a second opinion. If a third party heeds warning, LISTEN.
3- Don't listen to those who kill your dreams.
Yes. It contradicts number two. Those who listen are usually not impulsive, therefore they have thought things out over and over. Just go. Courage comes later.
4- Get it in writing.
Get major promises in writing. Make several copies. Put copies in different places. Don't leave it all in the secret safe behind the painting. That's why wills exist...
5- Bring a flashlight.
Make sure it has extra batteries. Test the lights frequently. Bring a whistle too. These two things can save your butt.
1 - Communicate!
Seriously. The amount of misunderstandings and pain comes from the withholding of information or simply no information at all. More than one drama, soap opera, movie or some other scripted show would have a sizable chunk of unnecessary draggy story line disappear if people would just talk with an open mind.
2- If it's too good to be true, it probably is.
Not everyone has the best intentions. Please. Stop making impulsive decisions. Go get a second opinion. If a third party heeds warning, LISTEN.
3- Don't listen to those who kill your dreams.
Yes. It contradicts number two. Those who listen are usually not impulsive, therefore they have thought things out over and over. Just go. Courage comes later.
4- Get it in writing.
Get major promises in writing. Make several copies. Put copies in different places. Don't leave it all in the secret safe behind the painting. That's why wills exist...
5- Bring a flashlight.
Make sure it has extra batteries. Test the lights frequently. Bring a whistle too. These two things can save your butt.
Monday, June 8, 2015
Review : UnReal
Holy cow. This series is awesome.
SURPRISE! It's from lifetime! It actually isn't stupid for once. This you must watch. Seriously drop whatever else you're doing and go watch the TV show. After you finish reading this, of course.
In a nutshell, the main character, Rachel, is mentally unstable according to her psychologist mother. Which is coincidental since Everlasting, the parody of The Bachelor, creates drama though manipulation. Mentally unstable people are supposedly good at manipulation.
Rachel is one of the producers for the show Everlasting and with UnReal, we get a behind the scenes look at how "reality" TV is made.
Quinn is her boss. Quinn is sleeping with Chet, a married rich guy who funds the show. It turns out Quinn and some other guy Bill came up with the idea for the show but Chet stole it. Quinn also has to deal with the fact that all along Chet's wife knew about the affair. Hmm.
At the end of the first episode, I put my money on Rachel having feelings for the bachelor, Adam. I wasn't quite sure if he'd like her back but after watching all four online released episodes, it looks like her might like her too. Relationships don't seem like a good thing for Rachel.
Now, as for the ladies. Each one of them is quite interesting. I like Faith, she's quite simple. Anna is sensible. Grace, well... She has Adam's attention. There are way more female suitors but they don't matter. Except Athena, who got kicked off the show at the end of the fourth episode. She's smart to use of the fact that she's African American to her advantage but she should have listened to the other pale Black lady's words.
Quinn yelling at people to "sell true love here" is fake. I suppose one of the girls will fall for Adam but Adam and Rachel will be too deep in each other's heart and too deep in bed to care about the girl. Rachel will get fired again. (I hope not.) She got fired the "previous season" because she ruined the show by revealing that the runner up was the runner up. Eh. True love comes from the most unexpected place, I guess?
Ooo. There's also a backstory with Rachel hooking up with the head camera guy, Jeremy in the "previous season". It's not delved into details much except in awkward passing conversations and when Rachel's last roommate blackmails her. It's at the forefront yet a lot is left to be implied.
This may be the best show yet. It may replace the C-Drama Scarlet Heart as my favorite. We'll see.
Rate : 8.5/10
SURPRISE! It's from lifetime! It actually isn't stupid for once. This you must watch. Seriously drop whatever else you're doing and go watch the TV show. After you finish reading this, of course.
In a nutshell, the main character, Rachel, is mentally unstable according to her psychologist mother. Which is coincidental since Everlasting, the parody of The Bachelor, creates drama though manipulation. Mentally unstable people are supposedly good at manipulation.
Rachel is one of the producers for the show Everlasting and with UnReal, we get a behind the scenes look at how "reality" TV is made.
Quinn is her boss. Quinn is sleeping with Chet, a married rich guy who funds the show. It turns out Quinn and some other guy Bill came up with the idea for the show but Chet stole it. Quinn also has to deal with the fact that all along Chet's wife knew about the affair. Hmm.
At the end of the first episode, I put my money on Rachel having feelings for the bachelor, Adam. I wasn't quite sure if he'd like her back but after watching all four online released episodes, it looks like her might like her too. Relationships don't seem like a good thing for Rachel.
Now, as for the ladies. Each one of them is quite interesting. I like Faith, she's quite simple. Anna is sensible. Grace, well... She has Adam's attention. There are way more female suitors but they don't matter. Except Athena, who got kicked off the show at the end of the fourth episode. She's smart to use of the fact that she's African American to her advantage but she should have listened to the other pale Black lady's words.
Quinn yelling at people to "sell true love here" is fake. I suppose one of the girls will fall for Adam but Adam and Rachel will be too deep in each other's heart and too deep in bed to care about the girl. Rachel will get fired again. (I hope not.) She got fired the "previous season" because she ruined the show by revealing that the runner up was the runner up. Eh. True love comes from the most unexpected place, I guess?
Ooo. There's also a backstory with Rachel hooking up with the head camera guy, Jeremy in the "previous season". It's not delved into details much except in awkward passing conversations and when Rachel's last roommate blackmails her. It's at the forefront yet a lot is left to be implied.
This may be the best show yet. It may replace the C-Drama Scarlet Heart as my favorite. We'll see.
Rate : 8.5/10
Review : Double Daddy
Interesting new storyline. Sorta. The main guy gets his girlfriend pregnant and some other random new girl knocked up too.
New girl is a gold digger. She has tried at least once to scam some other rich dude but failed each time. She runs over (unsuccessfully) Girlfriend. She attacks main guy's mom with a plate.
Eh. Typical lifetime plot states that the main character be a woman (check, that's the girlfriend), a psychopath (yep.), a precious somebody (present) , plot holes ( also present), some dead person (yep. New girl kills her ex-boyfriend when he wants money from her. )
As always, unless you're bored, don't watch lifetime movies.
Seriously? How do people give birth in the middle of the woods? Plus the mother had no umbilical cord.
Babies daddy is split between dirt poor needy girl and his girlfriend. He chooses his girlfriend (Thank god. Also, no duh...)
To spoil the ending, Gold Digger goes to jail for killing her Ex. She gets twenty to life, yet she vows to be reunited with her precious baby and rich boyfriend.
Rate : 6/10
SOMEONE PLEASE MAKE ME STOP WATCHING LIFETIME MOVIES!!!
New girl is a gold digger. She has tried at least once to scam some other rich dude but failed each time. She runs over (unsuccessfully) Girlfriend. She attacks main guy's mom with a plate.
Eh. Typical lifetime plot states that the main character be a woman (check, that's the girlfriend), a psychopath (yep.), a precious somebody (present) , plot holes ( also present), some dead person (yep. New girl kills her ex-boyfriend when he wants money from her. )
As always, unless you're bored, don't watch lifetime movies.
Seriously? How do people give birth in the middle of the woods? Plus the mother had no umbilical cord.
Babies daddy is split between dirt poor needy girl and his girlfriend. He chooses his girlfriend (Thank god. Also, no duh...)
To spoil the ending, Gold Digger goes to jail for killing her Ex. She gets twenty to life, yet she vows to be reunited with her precious baby and rich boyfriend.
Rate : 6/10
SOMEONE PLEASE MAKE ME STOP WATCHING LIFETIME MOVIES!!!
Wednesday, May 6, 2015
Review: I'll Meet You There
I've found a book that I don't particularly like. The romance between Josh and Skylar was obvious from the start. The recurring theme of how these two are good for each other is very "in-your-face". The author did do a good job explaining PTSD and other issues surrounding war and its affects on soldiers.
I have nothing to say. Just don't waste your time reading this novel.
I have nothing to say. Just don't waste your time reading this novel.
Tuesday, April 21, 2015
Hidden Costs
It amazes me how many hidden costs there are.
Even when there's a 10 for $1 sale on limes, you pay for the gas to drive your car to the store and the time it takes to get there.
For college, it's not just the cost of attendance. People forget things like placement tests, SAT, ACT, AP, random midnight munchies and so on.
Before you do anything, think of how much money you are not spending rather than how much you are saving. There is a big difference in both.
Even when there's a 10 for $1 sale on limes, you pay for the gas to drive your car to the store and the time it takes to get there.
For college, it's not just the cost of attendance. People forget things like placement tests, SAT, ACT, AP, random midnight munchies and so on.
Before you do anything, think of how much money you are not spending rather than how much you are saving. There is a big difference in both.
Sunday, April 12, 2015
Review: Empress Ki
I find myself watching historical dramas again. This time it's a Korean drama about Empress Ki, the last true empress of the Chinese Yuan Dynasty. Empress Ki was not Chinese, nor Mongolian. She was Korean.
One of the things I found interesting was that Chinese/ Mongolian Emperor Huizong, when he was still the crown prince, complained that Korean King Gongmin had men that would respect him and die for him. Yet, no one would follow Huizong. Ironically, his words would ring true. At the end when he died, all his men, even his eunuch betrayed him. It's strange how our words are more true that we can ever know.
As I write this, I find myself tearing up. Empress Ki lived while everyone around her died. Her beloved King Gongmin let Huizong kill him in order to let Ki live.
Another ironic thing is that Ki wanted to kill Huizong for causing her father's death and continuing the slave trade / tributes. At the end, she ends up saying that she loves him. She never killed him as she originally planned. Even though a majority of her suffering existed because of him.
One thing that bugs me in dramas is when the actors "don't age" even though there's a long time period that elapses. The only thing they do is have children play the young version of the actors but then when the characters become adults, they are the same throughout the whole drama.
The actress that plays Empress Ki is a good example of how your hairstyle can completely change the way that you look.
Empress Ki never really chose Huizong but rather made her choices based on allowing Gongmin to live and be able to become a king in a nation without the Mongols.
The epilogue makes me laugh because it shows the essence of the whole movie. For her whole adult life, Ki has always had to choose between Huizong and Gongmin. Not only the two men but also the two nations. She could never truly decide.
There was a part of me that goes, why not give up everything Ki? If you give everything up, Gongmin will follow and you two can live a happy life together. Forget the Regent and his family. Forget about the Empress Dowager. Unfortunately, neither could do that, their selfless behaviors prevented their happiness. They would die alone. Only Huizong had someone who was not really for him.
A minor thing, I'm amazed at how easily Ki adapted to being a woman despite growing up as a man to protect herself. She was most innocent as a man.
This was a good drama. Please do watch this. You may need a box of tissues.
One of the things I found interesting was that Chinese/ Mongolian Emperor Huizong, when he was still the crown prince, complained that Korean King Gongmin had men that would respect him and die for him. Yet, no one would follow Huizong. Ironically, his words would ring true. At the end when he died, all his men, even his eunuch betrayed him. It's strange how our words are more true that we can ever know.
As I write this, I find myself tearing up. Empress Ki lived while everyone around her died. Her beloved King Gongmin let Huizong kill him in order to let Ki live.
Another ironic thing is that Ki wanted to kill Huizong for causing her father's death and continuing the slave trade / tributes. At the end, she ends up saying that she loves him. She never killed him as she originally planned. Even though a majority of her suffering existed because of him.
One thing that bugs me in dramas is when the actors "don't age" even though there's a long time period that elapses. The only thing they do is have children play the young version of the actors but then when the characters become adults, they are the same throughout the whole drama.
The actress that plays Empress Ki is a good example of how your hairstyle can completely change the way that you look.
Empress Ki never really chose Huizong but rather made her choices based on allowing Gongmin to live and be able to become a king in a nation without the Mongols.
The epilogue makes me laugh because it shows the essence of the whole movie. For her whole adult life, Ki has always had to choose between Huizong and Gongmin. Not only the two men but also the two nations. She could never truly decide.
There was a part of me that goes, why not give up everything Ki? If you give everything up, Gongmin will follow and you two can live a happy life together. Forget the Regent and his family. Forget about the Empress Dowager. Unfortunately, neither could do that, their selfless behaviors prevented their happiness. They would die alone. Only Huizong had someone who was not really for him.
A minor thing, I'm amazed at how easily Ki adapted to being a woman despite growing up as a man to protect herself. She was most innocent as a man.
This was a good drama. Please do watch this. You may need a box of tissues.
Saturday, April 4, 2015
Valuable Resource
If you haven't heard of Rate My Teacher or Rate My Professor , go check it out.
It's a great resource for students and parents to find information about how a teacher, professor and some staff and faculty members are like. It's really useful as a college student in deciding what classes to take.
It's a great resource for students and parents to find information about how a teacher, professor and some staff and faculty members are like. It's really useful as a college student in deciding what classes to take.
Wednesday, March 25, 2015
Personality H
The ditzy who mean well.
They're really nice people. Unfortunately, they fail to understand the complexities of things like group project. Sometimes I feel as if they are in some magic box that protects them from us "normal" people. They fail to see the obvious . They just sit there and smile and nod in agreement. It's disturbing. I'm at a loss on what to do with these people.
They haven't done anything wrong. Nor have they done anything right.
They're really nice people. Unfortunately, they fail to understand the complexities of things like group project. Sometimes I feel as if they are in some magic box that protects them from us "normal" people. They fail to see the obvious . They just sit there and smile and nod in agreement. It's disturbing. I'm at a loss on what to do with these people.
They haven't done anything wrong. Nor have they done anything right.
Saturday, February 28, 2015
Evil
If time is money and money is the root of all evil; does that mean time is the root of all evil?
Random thought there.
See you next time.
Random thought there.
See you next time.
Saturday, February 14, 2015
Review : The Jakarta Pandemic
The Jarkarta Pandemic by Steven Konkoly is not so great.
It's rare for me to consider not finishing a book. The main character, Alex is a Marine, a liberal, slightly racist and a tad arrogant. That's a weird combination. Konkoly has spent the first eighty or so pages drawing out the events of two days...
I suppose I will keep on reading before finally deciding whether or not to stop reading. The amount of positive reviews is unfathomable.
It's rare for me to consider not finishing a book. The main character, Alex is a Marine, a liberal, slightly racist and a tad arrogant. That's a weird combination. Konkoly has spent the first eighty or so pages drawing out the events of two days...
I suppose I will keep on reading before finally deciding whether or not to stop reading. The amount of positive reviews is unfathomable.
Saturday, January 10, 2015
Review: Sugar Daddies
I have to stop watching Lifetime movies.
In almost every Lifetime movie, there are three elements: A (usually) female lead, a Psychopath, and family member/or friend(s) that is in danger due to the Psycho.
Sugar Daddies is no different. Kara is a college student. She lost her job. So she can't pay for her school stuff. Her roommate turns her toward Sugar Daddying. She meets a middle aged guy, Grant. He is rich. They go out for awhile. Until her boyfriend and father find out. Then goes the downhill slide. She needs the money so she turns back to Grant. Grant agrees, as long as he can have a threesome with her friend, who also sugar daddies. The friend dies, due to sexual axphilation. She tries to convince her roommate to stop visiting men. Roommate does not. Grant wants silence, and his bodyguard helps him. Fortunately, due to the GPS tracker on her phone, her dad comes to the rescue. Grant goes to jail.
So, Kara is really lucky to live. Really. She could have died. The whole movie, I shook my head at this. I thought the bodyguard was the bad guy. In reality, I missed his partner, Grant. There are two antagonists.
Moral : There is no easy money. Only cheap deaths.
Rate: 5.5/10
In almost every Lifetime movie, there are three elements: A (usually) female lead, a Psychopath, and family member/or friend(s) that is in danger due to the Psycho.
Sugar Daddies is no different. Kara is a college student. She lost her job. So she can't pay for her school stuff. Her roommate turns her toward Sugar Daddying. She meets a middle aged guy, Grant. He is rich. They go out for awhile. Until her boyfriend and father find out. Then goes the downhill slide. She needs the money so she turns back to Grant. Grant agrees, as long as he can have a threesome with her friend, who also sugar daddies. The friend dies, due to sexual axphilation. She tries to convince her roommate to stop visiting men. Roommate does not. Grant wants silence, and his bodyguard helps him. Fortunately, due to the GPS tracker on her phone, her dad comes to the rescue. Grant goes to jail.
So, Kara is really lucky to live. Really. She could have died. The whole movie, I shook my head at this. I thought the bodyguard was the bad guy. In reality, I missed his partner, Grant. There are two antagonists.
Moral : There is no easy money. Only cheap deaths.
Rate: 5.5/10
Thursday, January 1, 2015
Finding Mr. Right
Also known as Beijing Meets Seattle.
This drama is great. But depends on two things: understanding Chinese culture and having lived in the United States for an extended period of time. Otherwise, this romantic comedy falls flat on its face.
So it's basically a woman who is a mistress and gets pregnant by her rich man. To avoid scandal, she goes to the USA to have the baby. She meets a man, who is the driver for all the pregnant mothers in the illegal House for Unwed Mothers. She falls in love with him. He falls in love with her. Duh. And he's poor too. Duh.
Where it's different, is the guy has a daughter and is divorced. The daughter also has a love romance.
The lady goes go back to rich man. She decides that he isn't for her. So the break up. The rich man divorced his wife for the lady, and remarries the wife after the lady leaves.
Oh, and the ex-wife gets married to a rich guy. Blah.
I liked the movie in the sense that the comedy actually was funny. I recommend this movie, but the elements of American or Chinese culture may hinder your enjoyment of this movie.
Rate: 4/5
This drama is great. But depends on two things: understanding Chinese culture and having lived in the United States for an extended period of time. Otherwise, this romantic comedy falls flat on its face.
So it's basically a woman who is a mistress and gets pregnant by her rich man. To avoid scandal, she goes to the USA to have the baby. She meets a man, who is the driver for all the pregnant mothers in the illegal House for Unwed Mothers. She falls in love with him. He falls in love with her. Duh. And he's poor too. Duh.
Where it's different, is the guy has a daughter and is divorced. The daughter also has a love romance.
The lady goes go back to rich man. She decides that he isn't for her. So the break up. The rich man divorced his wife for the lady, and remarries the wife after the lady leaves.
Oh, and the ex-wife gets married to a rich guy. Blah.
I liked the movie in the sense that the comedy actually was funny. I recommend this movie, but the elements of American or Chinese culture may hinder your enjoyment of this movie.
Rate: 4/5
Friday, December 26, 2014
Young Sherlock
Young Sherlock is based upon the Judge Dee stories.
The Chinese drama is intriguing. Yet can movie along slowly. So there are three main plots, essentially.
One is the Di renjie storyline with all the mysteries.
The second is the Emperor and the palace.
The third is the people in the cave. These people are lead by bird guy. We don't find out much about him until the end. I'm only on episode 23 out of all fourty.
I did skip to the end out of boredom. Spoilers ahead.
The ending is a cliffhanger. Sorta. The love interest of Di, named Wan Qing, runs away. I don't know why, other than she thinks they shouldn't be together. So she becomes a nun again. She was raised in a nunnery until Di and his friends solved a mistery there, so she joins them. So, the drama ends with Dee keeping his promise at the beginning about wanting Wan Qing to come back. So he goes out to search for her.
The ending should have had another episode where he spends "forever " looking for her and he finds her at last. But we will never know. Since it just shows him riding a horse and the voice over going : " I will definitely find you and return. Li Wan Qing." Does this mean there will be a part two? What if he never finds her? There is no producer who will clarify that ending. (Unlike how Bryan and Mike dispelled any ambiguity for The Legend of Korra.) I'm just so agitated. Just have them meet and make up and walk into the freaking sunset.
So throughout the drama, he solves cases. He is successful on all of them. Even it takes forever. I mean several episodes. With that said, this is a good drama. Unfortunately, it's not subbed in English. So sometimes even I have no idea what they're saying.
The Chinese drama is intriguing. Yet can movie along slowly. So there are three main plots, essentially.
One is the Di renjie storyline with all the mysteries.
The second is the Emperor and the palace.
The third is the people in the cave. These people are lead by bird guy. We don't find out much about him until the end. I'm only on episode 23 out of all fourty.
I did skip to the end out of boredom. Spoilers ahead.
The ending is a cliffhanger. Sorta. The love interest of Di, named Wan Qing, runs away. I don't know why, other than she thinks they shouldn't be together. So she becomes a nun again. She was raised in a nunnery until Di and his friends solved a mistery there, so she joins them. So, the drama ends with Dee keeping his promise at the beginning about wanting Wan Qing to come back. So he goes out to search for her.
The ending should have had another episode where he spends "forever " looking for her and he finds her at last. But we will never know. Since it just shows him riding a horse and the voice over going : " I will definitely find you and return. Li Wan Qing." Does this mean there will be a part two? What if he never finds her? There is no producer who will clarify that ending. (Unlike how Bryan and Mike dispelled any ambiguity for The Legend of Korra.) I'm just so agitated. Just have them meet and make up and walk into the freaking sunset.
So throughout the drama, he solves cases. He is successful on all of them. Even it takes forever. I mean several episodes. With that said, this is a good drama. Unfortunately, it's not subbed in English. So sometimes even I have no idea what they're saying.
The Shade of the Moon Part B
So Jon is still an ass in my mind after a week later. He thinks that I love you equals sex. So first, poor Juile gets hurt. Then Sarah. This guy has no sense.
So, my long rant comes down to this. Don't waste your time reading this book.
So, my long rant comes down to this. Don't waste your time reading this book.
Wednesday, December 17, 2014
Review : The Shade of the Moon Part A
I just finished reading the fourth book in the Life as We Knew It series. So this review will refer to all four books. More or less.
The main character in this novel, Jon (Jonathan) Evans, is the biggest asshole of a protagonist that I have ever encountered in a book and/or movie. He lived his full life as a spoiled child. So when the moon was hit by a meteor, his life changed for the worst. He and his family survived on nothing. One would expect that when he was able to live I'm comfort again, he would cherish it.
Back to the beggining of the series. In the first and third books, we were told the story from Miranda's point of view. In the second one, Alex told his story. Alex and his two sisters and brother were from NYC and Miranda and her family are from Pennsylvania. People died and food became scarce. The family did what they did to survive. Eventually, the characters in book one met the characters of book two in book three.
I liked the Miranda and Alex. The author planned to pair them together from the start. Which I agree with. They have given up a lot to become lowly bus drivers and a greenhouse gardener instead of a chance to live in the town of Sexton. With that said, they aren't perfect characters. Alex has stolen from his neighbors to feed his sisters. Miranda had her selfish moment when she ate a whole bag of chocolate. Mind you, in a world where they don't make chocolate anymore, indulging like that is terrible. Anyways, they have a baby girl that was kidnapped by the rich people of the "enclave" of Sexton. Fortunately, asshole Jon with the help of Sarah, his girlfriend, was able to rescue his sister's baby. Miranda had some issues with her mother, Laura, at the beginning of the series, but the whole natural disaster struggle mended their bonds. Miranda suffocated Julie, Alex's sister, to prevent Julie from suffering in pain after being paralyzed by a tornado. Alex ran away after hearing what she did.
There's so much of the story to tell. Laura, by far is the most selfless person. She gives up her meals so that her children can eat. Seriously, she'll go days on end without eating if Miranda and her other son, Matt let her. These two have sense. Jon may have let her starve. After the family relocated to Sexton and the outside "grub" town/ shanty town of White Birch, she became a high school teacher. This lady fought the guards from letting them take her students to become house servants. They killed her. I don't think Jon felt as bad as pregnant Miranda did. She's pregnant! She could have had a miscarriage... Despite being divorced, she had no hatred towards her ex-husband's new spouse. Laura would do anything in her power to help people she cared about. This lady deserves a long moment of silence.
Lisa, is the wife of Harold (Hal). Hal died of exhaustion en route to the settlement. She has been portayed as a nice and caring lady. But, she is a stepmother, so at first, I didn't trust her. In this fourth book, we see that she also will do everything to help her family survive, even if they are her step family. She did have a son named Gabriel (Gabe) with Hal. She, Gabe and Jon went into the town of Sexton to become "Clavers" because Alex had given up his passes that were for him and his two sisters. So with these passes, they became akin to people in the Second Estate of Pre-Revolutionary France. Lisa first works as a low class clerk in the Administration offices, later being promoted to the Head of the Domestics. She deals with house servant issues. So, she has Gabe in the first book. Lisa doesn't like having Domestics in her house, but she has no choice since she can't work ten hours a day, six days a week and be able to clean and cook. So, knowing Miranda is pregnant, she arranges for Miranda to become a Domestic in their house. I understand this, at least the baby can be looked after and Miranda can be guaranteed decent food that can not be procured in the "Grub" town. But who would want to be a slave for their own family? Fortunately, she never does because the living members of the family move to a new settlement that doesn't have the oppressive Enclaves.
There is a riot between the Grubs and the Clavers and many laborers are killed. So, the children of the highschool are needed to be the new workers. And Laura gets killed. Lisa feels really bad about this, but is torn between her job and indirectly killing her dead Husband's ex-wife. Who wouldn't? Eventually, this guilt gets to her and she commits suicide. Partially, the suicide is a cover up for Jon, Gabe, Alex and Miranda's escape. She was a good woman. A standing ovation goes to her.
Jon should be greatful of having a mother and a stepmother who killed themsleves to let an ungrateful son live as close to a normal life as possible in this dystopia.
The main character in this novel, Jon (Jonathan) Evans, is the biggest asshole of a protagonist that I have ever encountered in a book and/or movie. He lived his full life as a spoiled child. So when the moon was hit by a meteor, his life changed for the worst. He and his family survived on nothing. One would expect that when he was able to live I'm comfort again, he would cherish it.
Back to the beggining of the series. In the first and third books, we were told the story from Miranda's point of view. In the second one, Alex told his story. Alex and his two sisters and brother were from NYC and Miranda and her family are from Pennsylvania. People died and food became scarce. The family did what they did to survive. Eventually, the characters in book one met the characters of book two in book three.
I liked the Miranda and Alex. The author planned to pair them together from the start. Which I agree with. They have given up a lot to become lowly bus drivers and a greenhouse gardener instead of a chance to live in the town of Sexton. With that said, they aren't perfect characters. Alex has stolen from his neighbors to feed his sisters. Miranda had her selfish moment when she ate a whole bag of chocolate. Mind you, in a world where they don't make chocolate anymore, indulging like that is terrible. Anyways, they have a baby girl that was kidnapped by the rich people of the "enclave" of Sexton. Fortunately, asshole Jon with the help of Sarah, his girlfriend, was able to rescue his sister's baby. Miranda had some issues with her mother, Laura, at the beginning of the series, but the whole natural disaster struggle mended their bonds. Miranda suffocated Julie, Alex's sister, to prevent Julie from suffering in pain after being paralyzed by a tornado. Alex ran away after hearing what she did.
There's so much of the story to tell. Laura, by far is the most selfless person. She gives up her meals so that her children can eat. Seriously, she'll go days on end without eating if Miranda and her other son, Matt let her. These two have sense. Jon may have let her starve. After the family relocated to Sexton and the outside "grub" town/ shanty town of White Birch, she became a high school teacher. This lady fought the guards from letting them take her students to become house servants. They killed her. I don't think Jon felt as bad as pregnant Miranda did. She's pregnant! She could have had a miscarriage... Despite being divorced, she had no hatred towards her ex-husband's new spouse. Laura would do anything in her power to help people she cared about. This lady deserves a long moment of silence.
Lisa, is the wife of Harold (Hal). Hal died of exhaustion en route to the settlement. She has been portayed as a nice and caring lady. But, she is a stepmother, so at first, I didn't trust her. In this fourth book, we see that she also will do everything to help her family survive, even if they are her step family. She did have a son named Gabriel (Gabe) with Hal. She, Gabe and Jon went into the town of Sexton to become "Clavers" because Alex had given up his passes that were for him and his two sisters. So with these passes, they became akin to people in the Second Estate of Pre-Revolutionary France. Lisa first works as a low class clerk in the Administration offices, later being promoted to the Head of the Domestics. She deals with house servant issues. So, she has Gabe in the first book. Lisa doesn't like having Domestics in her house, but she has no choice since she can't work ten hours a day, six days a week and be able to clean and cook. So, knowing Miranda is pregnant, she arranges for Miranda to become a Domestic in their house. I understand this, at least the baby can be looked after and Miranda can be guaranteed decent food that can not be procured in the "Grub" town. But who would want to be a slave for their own family? Fortunately, she never does because the living members of the family move to a new settlement that doesn't have the oppressive Enclaves.
There is a riot between the Grubs and the Clavers and many laborers are killed. So, the children of the highschool are needed to be the new workers. And Laura gets killed. Lisa feels really bad about this, but is torn between her job and indirectly killing her dead Husband's ex-wife. Who wouldn't? Eventually, this guilt gets to her and she commits suicide. Partially, the suicide is a cover up for Jon, Gabe, Alex and Miranda's escape. She was a good woman. A standing ovation goes to her.
Jon should be greatful of having a mother and a stepmother who killed themsleves to let an ungrateful son live as close to a normal life as possible in this dystopia.
Saturday, December 6, 2014
Repetition or Variation?
Every single Karate class, we will start with Kihon (basics), we do each technique seven times facing forward, then turning around and continuing backwards. Sometimes, I think fourteen times is too much for three reasons: a) it is time consuming, b) it bores the hell out of the younger students, c) students do not see this as a time to improve themselves, but only a warm up activity that takes fifteen minutes.
Things learned in isolation does not always allow a student to learn. Many of these students do not know how or why to combine techniques. They see no need to. In schools, when each subject is limited to only that subject, children feel bored. Math does not have to be learned in math class, it can come from cooking class or wood shop. Social studies/ history shouldn't be reading from a textbook about people from "once upon a time". Of course, history isn't a fairy tale, but most kids see it as that because they never get a chance to experience the culture of these historical events.
This applies to Karate as well. Kata isn't just a dance, it's defense against counterattacks that exist in the form of Bunkai. If Dojos, Dojangs or Halls don't teach the significance, no one will.
On the other hand, if every single class, we do something different, then students still will not connect these lessons. Every class has to build on the last.
Someone will ask, what about the new students? If schools are scheduled around rank, then, that isn't an issue. On the other hand, if the school is like mine, where we are dependent on the Parks and Recreation department for students , so we can not have different classes, this becomes an issue. The class is too small to have many classes, but it is too large for each student to receive individual help. Students get left behind. Fortunately, there is an advanced class, but it only is beneficial for senior ranks. In the advanced class, we do a variety of things, not just Kihon and Pinan Shodan all class long.
I am at a loss of what to do. It is too difficult to have a full class of nearly forty students, with two thirds of the students being low ranks, and be able to teach these kids and adults something new every single class. These students want something new, but they do not necessarily understand the basics of these basics that they are doing. I know the instructors are aware of that, but what can any of us do?
"I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times. " ~ Bruce Lee
There are days where this quote is spot on with how the students feel. They want to learn 10,000 different kicks and only practice it once. But we only teach them six or seven of the same ones again and again. The problem is, doing 10,000 things does not mean that you understand 10,000 things. Understanding only one thing is also undesirable. Knowledge comes with repetition, but variation is needed to become a master.
Saturday, October 25, 2014
The "Magic" of Black Belt
I got my black belt today.
There is this myth that when you become a black belt, you become a god. Seriously.
But in reality, you have not changed the least bit. All you have is a new color belt on your waist. You are not special. You are not better than before.
In some senses, I feel unworthy of my black belt. I have not achieved the theory of "10,000 hours to mastery". I probably barely make the 1,000 hour mark by a few hundred hours. I only have a thousand something hours after six years of training... That is not much. If anything at all. Then again, this is already more than most McDojos.
Ah.... Well. I suppose the only thing left to do is to try harder.
There is this myth that when you become a black belt, you become a god. Seriously.
But in reality, you have not changed the least bit. All you have is a new color belt on your waist. You are not special. You are not better than before.
In some senses, I feel unworthy of my black belt. I have not achieved the theory of "10,000 hours to mastery". I probably barely make the 1,000 hour mark by a few hundred hours. I only have a thousand something hours after six years of training... That is not much. If anything at all. Then again, this is already more than most McDojos.
Ah.... Well. I suppose the only thing left to do is to try harder.
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