For lack of a shelf...

As much as it pains me to admit, this week was not very productive in the recreational activities department. Yes, my entire week was consumed with crewing Homestead's production of The Diary of Anne Frank and attempting to cram in two hours of homework into thirty minutes of free time three days in a row. So I hope all none of you will forgive me for this lackluster post.

Reading:

A borrowed script of the play, as our venerable director forgot that maybe the stage crew needed to know when we were supposed to be efficiently moving things in the dark. Thankfully, one of the actors took pity (I begged him to lend me his script) and allowed me access to his script for the length of an advisory-shortened study hall. Needless to say, I doubt I gathered anything of importance as I hunted for scene transitions and furiously flipped pages with half frozen fingers (seriously, why is the cafeteria so cold).

Watching:

The tedious process of applying gels to flashlights. This became a necessity when our lights were too 'dang' bright backstage. So our beautiful tech director found some extra gels (for you non-techies gels are what make stage lights pretty colors) and cut them to the size of the flashlights the crew had scavenged from home.

Listening:

The hushed whispers of the costumers, stage crew members and assistant stage manager. As I was seated against the cool, paint-smeared concrete I was struck by how much their whispers resemble water trickling down a wall. Granted, this was the fourth night into a sleep-deprived stress-filled experience, so any artistic thought, however brilliant (And I assure you, I am aware my analogy is far from accurate, brilliant or even slightly bordering on witty) should be taken with a grain of salt.

I was also made increasing aware of how much yelling makes me flinch. Thankfully this round of stage crew did not include screaming directed at my person, but every time the mellifluous tones of our director sweetly declaring the many short comings of the latest scene filtered through backstage, it was hard to suppress a twinge of apprehension.

Eating:

The lovely meals brought it by the parents of the cast. For some reason every meal seemed to consist of sandwiches (almost always including ham), chips and water. Only one mother thought it wise to provide our production with healthy food. Not that I'm complaining, food was arguably the main thing that kept everyone from biting each others heads off.

On the Shelf: 11.5.12

Reading:

I cracked open the old Blue Beetle comics this weekend, and by old I mean they came out in 2006 and by cracked open I mean I opened them in Comic Book Reader. But petty details and logical inconsistencies aside, Blue Beetle is completely worth rereading. 

As I'm sure few (none) of you are familiar with the Blue Beetle legacy, a little backstory seems necessary. For those of you unfamiliar with comic books, titles like Flash, Batman, Green Lantern or Robin are usually given to legacy characters, so when the first one dies, retires or is somehow unable to continue to hold the mantle, the title is passed on to the next generation. 

Thus far only three people have held the Blue Beetle title. The first, Dan Garret was an archaeologist who discovered the scarab (the beetle part of the title) on a dig. So naturally he dug up a suit and became a superhero when he found out 'magic words' make the scarab shoot lightening. The second, Ted Kord worked under Dan Garret and he got the scarab when Garret was forcibly retired. Unfortunately the powers that be decided the second Blue Beetle just wasn't cutting it and the mantle passed on to a third generation: Jaime Reyes.

Now typically superheroes become superheroes for one of two reasons: 1.) they were born with powers and someone recruited them to fight the good fight or 2.) Something tramautic happened (usually a parent or guardian's death) and they devote themselves to crime fighting.

Neither of these things happen to Jaime. Instead he finds a beetle on his way to school and, like any sixteen-year-old with a healthy sense of curiosity, he takes it home. Where it attaches itself to his spine. And thus the third Blue Beetle is born! 

So now you have a kid with a relatively normal life (stable family, supportive, if sarcastic, friends and decent grades) thrown into the world of constant battles, fantastic creatures and alien invasions. And all things considered, Jaime copes pretty well. 

But Blue Beetle is greater than simply Jaime. The side characters - the disgruntled Green Lanterns, the gruff Peacemaker, his worn, but loving family, the quirky tech support and Jaime's close friends make a fully engrossing universe and add well-developed characters that seem increasingly rarer after DC's reboot. 
(Not to mention the art is quite lovely. Not Marcus To-level stunning, but far from an eyesore.)

Watching: 

The Diary of Anne Frank, the play (the musical is only in French) mostly from behind scenes as I'm crewing the show this week. As I wish away my free time for the next week, I can't help but fondly await the sight of harried actors, stressed-out stage managers and aggressive directors. But we all know the final result is worth it, so it almost makes up for the fact that few people will actually appreciate the 100 plus hours spent on the production.

Following:

barackobama's tumblr. Political beliefs aside, the interns running this blog know what they are doing and it is perfectly geared towards the 15 - 25 demographic that populates tumblr. (I have yet to see Romney use the "all of the feels" or the "OTPs" tags on his tumblr. Or get ride of infinite scroll.)

Listening:

To the Indiana's State Marching Band competition. And proud Band Parents triumphantly chanting "Homestead, Homestead, Homestead" as our school was awarded second place for "The Lost Melody". But, hey, we beat Avon I still have no idea what their show was about) and Carmel (Indiana State Champions for Class A) had a pretty awesome show.

Eating:

Pumpkin Pie. Because Birthday cake is overrated I made Birthday Pie for a friend's birthday this Monday. As I am not know for my baking skills (for good reason) my fingers are crossed hoping it turned out okay. 

On the Shelf: 10.29.12

Reading:

I saw Tina Fey first on her SNL depiction of Sarah Palin in the 2008 Vice Presidential Debate. Which I'm sure most of you have at least heard about by now, but for me the experience was, if not very memorable, at least something I can recall with fairly decent accuracy. Not only did it mark my first exposure to political satire and people on television swearing (I was a very isolated twelve-year-old) but it was the first time I saw a female comedian. At the time the experience was hidden under levels of a painfully basic knowledge of politics combined with a precocious interest in dry mockery, but Tina Fey soon became a background character in my life - I was aware she was a very intelligent and very humorous lady, but I wasn't actively seeking out her companionship in my literary and viewing adventures.

As I mentioned last week, I began her book Bossypants, and this week I have it soundly completed. Sexism is still a concept I have yet to fully understand as I only have limited experience with it myself (I typically only talk to my friends and we have a strict matriarchal merticocracy). Yet hearing Fey's tale about her male dominated work force and the constant questions she receives about how she 'handles' being a working mother and managing hundreds of subordinates is an uncomfortable experience. But somehow Fey manages to put a light-hearted comedic twist on even the most disrespectful moments.

However, this isn't why I feel Bossypants is worth picking up. No, this novel is worth a read not because it is simply funny but because it feels real. (And someone will probably google-fu this and reveal Fey did in fact use a ghost writer, but forget them) But Fey's life experience doesn't feel contrived or forced - she has opinions and she isn't afraid to share, after all, it's not her fault you decided to read her book (A fact of which she is quick to remind you of). 

Watching: 

I attempted to enjoy Adventure Time. Really, I did. I forced myself through two episodes before I finally gave up. Randomness for randomness' sake simply doesn't cut it anymore (for those of you who will bring up my Hetalia phase - I was young and foolish and accents are funny.) and I have simply been left longing for something more solid and less quirky.

Following:

fororchestra. Although I guess this would technically count as listening too. Run by a twenty-something trying to make it in the digital music industry, Fororchestra does, as the name might imply, orchestral covers of popular songs. He eeks out about one song a week, and some of my personal favorites are his covers of Adele, Avicii's 'Levels', Psy's 'Gangum Style', and MGMT's 'Kids'.

Eating:

My mother's onion, leek, chicken and potato soup, in place of the default tacos offered at Saturday's stage crew build day.

Nomination for What We're Loving

 Hysteriaslament's WHAT I'M LISTENING TO: I remember the 80s.

On the Shelf 10.22.12

Reading:

Baby steps were made with The Fault in Our Stars this week, but I can proudly declare I began a new novel this weekend. After a round of speed-dating with books that mostly left me uninteresting, my curiosity was piqued with Bossypants by Tina Fey.

Fey's frank and sarcastic approach to life at the top of the entertainment industry offers charming insight on the comedic minds behind shows like Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock and illustrates the 'diversification' of comedy groups like Second City. Bossypants made quite an incredibly boring car ride significantly more interesting and I look forward to finishing it.

Watching:

Dirk Gently, a British program about an eccentric detective and his loyal companion. Inspired by the Douglas Adams novels of the same name, this off-beat, not-quite comedy has a delightful mix of deduction, snark and humanity mixed with just a pinch of the ineffable. Despite the surface similarities it shares with Sherlock Holmes, Dirk Gently sets itself apart with the title character's ambiguous crime-solving strategy (almost reminds me of Victorique from Gosick), the stark reality of a failing detective agency and an appropriately quirky secretary.

Listening:

The faceless person who sits across from me in Study Hall greatly appreciates loud music. The subtle nuance of blasting ones eardrums out with music that can be clearly heard from seven feet away is unfortunately lost on this philistine. It is impressive that he seems to have found the exact volume between loud enough to get the monitor to lecture him and not quiet enough that only he can hear it.

Eating:

I have been brought out of my deep-seated distaste for all things tortilla (I blame a period in my developmental years, probably around second grade, when my mother decided that bread had too many carbohydrates and we should only have tortillas for three months - the experiment lasted two weeks) with the discovery that when one is very hungry and very cold cheese quesadillas taste fantastic.

On the Shelf: 10.15.12

Reading:

I'm about halfway through The Fault in Our Stars and I must admit, I'm impressed. I wasn't expecting awful writing, but the quality of  what I've read has by far exceeded my expectations. It feels too early to cast a final judgement but I can guess what happens (they meet the author, he is disappointing or the answers he offers fail to live up to expectations, or Hazel dies in the middle of the drive to the author's house.) 

Watching:

As anyone who has talked to me for more than thirty minutes will know, I am obsessed with superheroes. More specifically a television program called Young Justice, which is hosted on Cartoon Network. This delightful channel decided that, for their birthday, they would pull the program, in the middle of the season, (the fourth time they've done this) ten hours before it was scheduled to air. Without notifying the creators, publicists or even giving a press release. Understandably the internet backlash was swift but surprisingly polite.

Fans bombarded Cartoon Network's webpage with delicately worded complaints, voiced polite distaste on Cartoon Network's facebook page and sent condolences to the creators. Yet Cartoon Network's unprofessional behavior did have one positive consequence; since no one was properly informed of the delay iTunes released the episode the day after it should have aired. Naturally 'leaked' versions of the episode were already available online, but thanks to fans on tumblr and twitter and  the latest episode became the top selling episode on iTunes for the week.


Following:

****nosexisthalloweencostumes. What started out as a humble comparison between male and female Halloween costumes available (a majority of costumes only have the 'sexy' option available for women), quickly escalated into a full-out discussion on feminism and shamming.

Listening:


A tumblog dedicated to Gravity Falls recently released the soundtrack to several episodes. Although I highly recommend the program itself, it has phenomenal music, if the theme song is anything to go by.


Eating:

This week was one of hastily made dinners and half eaten sandwiches. Nothing noteworthy.

What We're Loving

The Sun eclipsed by Saturn taken from Titan

There is something undeniably compelling about a person who feels so passionately about a subject their entire being practically exudes enthusiasm. Carolyn Porco was born to study astronomy.

In her 2007 talk This is Saturn, Carol delivers a goosebump-raising lecture on two of Saturn's moons.

The first picture of an
outer planet's surface

Despite her dated pop culture references, playful jabs at scientists who removed Pluto from the nine planets, and the uncomfortable pitch of her microphone, Porco delivers a thorough explanation of the leaps and bounds made with the Cassini space probe. She introduces ground breaking discoveries of moons with the potential to support life and delivers stunning photographs of images beyond imagining. Her lecture is a breathtaking snapshot of spectacular planetary discovery and it is definitely worth eighteen minutes of your time.

On the Shelf 10.8.12

Reading:

I started The Fault in Our Stars this week after hearing nothing but positive reviews from my nerdfighter friends. Granted, I usually take their recommendations with a grain of salt, but this week I was feeling like some fluffy romance with an aesop buried somewhere.

October also marked an uptake in my feminist literature intake. I started off with a brief article on Thor which quickly lead into a study on the The Bechdel Test, which is a simple set of criteria (1. It includes at least two women, who 2. have at least one conversation where they 3. talk about something other than men) that serves as litmus test for female presence in literature. Despite the deceptively simple requirements it is embarrassing how many prominent films have utterly failed to pass this test (Transformers, Star Wars IV through VI, Iron Man, etc.).

Watching:

The first episode of Elementary was sorely disappointing. It seems unfair to compare the program to the BBC's highly acclaimed show, Sherlock, but for the level of fame Elementary seemed to strive for, it utterly failed to meet the mark.

Following:

The tumblog nerdyfacts, a lovely collection of, as the name implies, nerdy facts. I'm stuck between feeling proud I know most of the facts related to my fandoms or disappointed the Simpson counts as 'nerd material'. We're better than that, folks.


Listening:

Thanks to tumblr I was indirectly exposed to the wonder that is Max Raabe. This brilliant man manages to create the most delightful blend of nasal and smooth singing. I wasn't aware it was possible to make songs like "Party Rock" "Oops I did it again"  and "Mambo No. 5" classy, yet somehow this musical genius manages to make even the crudest songs seem like they wouldn't be out of place in Harmonia Gardens.

Eating:

Panera's customary chips. They have a delightful thick texture that never fails to taste fantastic. Also my aunt's tuxedo cake, made for my grandfather's 73^rd birthday, with an almost sinful amount of dark chocolate.

On The Shelf 9.27.12

Reading:

Four weeks after beginning 1984 and my odyssey is finally over. I could go on about the fours hours I spent yesterday finishing the novel, or discuss how the bland diction enhances the narrative, or how deep the betrayal of O'Brian struck me, but, at the moment, I don't feel particularly motivated to discuss such things.

Instead I'd rather talk about a highly self-aware article I stumbled upon called How to Build a Universe That Doesn't Fall Apart Two Days Later by Phillip K. Dick. As a general rule I avoid anything written in first person (yes, the irony of this blog is not lost on me) as I find an unbiased third person narrator far more intriguing and helpful in the development of minor characters. However, the narration of the author who wrote this particular piece may force me to reconsider my position. Concealed behind the rambling anecdotes, lies a well-developed argument about the true nature of reality. Dick goes into great detail about coincidences and life imitating art and art imitating life, although he chooses different words to illustrate his point; the ideas remain the same.

Watching:

As fall is the season of season premiers, several of my favorite shows came back on air last Thursday. Of particular interest was Parks and Recreation, which returned for more laughs on the 20^th. The last episode left off with the election of Leslie Knope to the City Council, and I am eager to see how her absence from the Parks department will affect the easily agitated staff.

Following:

On Tuesday I found a delightful new blog: Lucille and Mitt. Somehow between the meme-ic font and the absurd faces, Mitt Romney's antiquated beliefs become oddly more realistic as they develop him as a character instead of a person.

Listening:

After about an hour into a car ride on day trip to Chicago and three Supernatural fan playlists later, I rediscovered my distaste for the Supernatural fandom. However, I did find an enchanting new song The Problem with Saints. Despite my penchant for Joan of Arc I had never considered how she might cope in a modern society. 

Eating:

This Wednesday I rediscovered fruit snacks at the urging of my sister. I was not impressed.

On the Shelf: 9.20.12

It's that time again. At this point the drill should be quite familiar. I have actually made progress on 1984, but perhaps I should pick up a novel I feel more inspired to read constantly so I can provide more interesting perspective rather than my limited reflection on thirty pages of reading.
However, that is all the hard copy material I have to cover this week, so without further ado: this week's segment. I've already passed the introduction of Newspeak, but the idea seemed more like a throwaway reference to the rapidly deteriorating mental capacity of 1984's distopia. Newspeak is the idea of using short words and uncomplicated speech patterns in order to make communication easier. Ironically enough, this provides a small amount of confusion from a narrating perspective as all Newspeak words have to be explained. Thankfully the tireless narrator, with his unique perspective (but that's a blog for another day) gracefully enlightens his audience. In this week's selection we were introduced to Syme, one of the chief editors for the 11th edition of the Newspeak dictionary. I initially wrote him off as a slightly more intelligent but never-the-less mindless slave to Big Brother, however his interactions with Winston (our protagonist) reveal an oddly multi-faceted character. What really made Syme stand out to me was his desire to destroy words. The concept of killing words seems so foreign and unnecessary when applied to our society, but Syme's fervor as he explains his passion for eliminating words that no longer have relevance provides an intriguing look into the heart of Big Brother. His intelligence contrasts with his blind devotion paints an interesting picture of how talents are put to use in the new world.

On the Shelf 9.13.12

Well, I lied again. Somehow between the increase in after school activities, the college visits and chatting with grandparents I have not progressed further in any of my novels. By that I mostly mean 1984, which I would promise to complete by next week, but, at this point, that's probably not going to happen. I can claim it as my goal, though. So goal for the upcoming week: complete 1984. Perhaps this weekend will be kinder to my free-time, but my expectations are rather low.

I have, however, started No Country For Old Men. I had heard several positive reviews of the novel from people I hold in high esteem, but it just didn't work for me. To be fair, I don't really blame the book for the lack of my interest. In the first ten pages the unique approach to dialog (atypical punctuation) stood out to me, but I found the dry imagery and solitude of the opening passage utterly unappealing. Perhaps I'll attempt to give it another try someday, but for now I shall place it back on the shelf.

The Blatantly Copied from HL Because She Has Clever Ideas And I Am Sad And Lazy Section (or Honorable Mentions of the Week):

Gravity Falls.

Lately my sister and I have been engaged in an extensive debate regarding the merits of children's television programs. KF and I have had differing opinions in entertainment since Twilight became a popular series, but  I find her unwillingness to accept that genuine enjoyment can be derived from children's programs incredibly frustrating. Gravity Falls, however, has mostly sweet characters with a healthy dose of dry wit and sarcasm in a carefully concocted blend of summer camp meets mystery novel. It has the typical kid with the precocious crush, monster hunts, and oddly enthusiastic help but the heart of the show is the well-paced humor, the genre savvy twins and the endearing approach it takes to the character quirks.

And really, what other kids show could get away with body outlines?

On the Shelf 9.6.12

This Week's Reading:
Resuming my sluggish pace for reading, I only have thirty more pages under my belt for 1984. However, in the spirit of achievement and an increase in time I will spend in a car, I believe I will finish reading it by next week. Granted, that's what I told myself last week, but this week I'm telling myself I'm not lying. Because that always works. But I digress.
Anyway, of the pages I did read, Big Brother's concept of reality struck me most. For those who haven't read 1984, and based on who actually reads this is, at most, one person, the section of the Minitrue (Ministry of Truth) that our protagonist, Winston Smith, works in, is in charge of correcting 'false' information previously released. So basically, Big Brother and the Ministries make projections about supplies, wars and patterns of the future. These patterns are usually found inaccurate and then Minitrue employees are asked to correct them. The original assumption I made was simply that the disutopia eliminated information that shed a less that positive light on Big Brother and the authorities of Oceania. However, Winston reveals that the even the original statements were equally inaccurate as the new 'real' results. The thought of the truth being so muddied and uncertain that even those manipulating the information were confused is a terrifying one that strikes a little too close to home.
Honorable Mention of the Week:
Chuck Cunningham Syndrome. Yes, I'm back at tv tropes again. This trope covers a character who has been killed off or 'put on a bus' (sent away for an undefinable period with little to no explanation) because the author was sick of writing for them. I found myself spending a fair amount of time on the page as it reminded me of some of my old interests and characters I hadn't realized I had missed.

On the Shelf 8.30.12

Reading: 
This week I began the first 'challenging' book for myself, 1984 by George Orwell. I've probably only read thirty pages so far, but already it doesn't seem to fit the typical 'classic' category that other novels in the far corner of the Etymology library. It's not the writing by any means (although I don't really have any place in critiquing writing) but the novel feels too contemporary to be shoved into the same category as Great Expectations and The Catcher in the Rye. The idea that has intrigued me the most (and I've found a lot of what I've read so far intriguing) is probably the Ministries. The contradicting ideals of their motos: War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, and Ignorance is Strength, is a conflict I look forward to seeing play itself out.
Also on my radar this week is this delightful tumblog, This Should Be In A Museum. Tuesday through Friday, the blog offers up tasteful vignettes of various museums around the globe. The diversity of the museums selected has helped me add to my 'list of places to'.  The author of the blog throws in casual anecdotes about the location of the museums and his/her love of what she does is very apparent. Something is very satisfying about reading or seeing someone so passionate about something that you can't help but be engaged by default.
Listening: 
Recently on a trip back from a (rather disappointing) Harry Potter spoof, a friend of mine discovered that my dad can hook ipods up to his car and project them throughout the vehicle. The first person she wanted to play was Linsey Stirling, I've always loved violins but having an orchestra-oriented friend to explain the subtleties of the songs greatly increased my appreciation for her pieces.

On the Shelf for Longreads: The General and The Moose

     The Awl has an ongoing series about the politics and controversies surrounding the Revolutionary War, and this week I was fortunate enough to stumble upon The General and The Moose (quick confession, I just like the word moose). The article primarily focused on a little known story of the time - the time Thomas Jefferson tried to send a moose to France. Obviously the practicality of transporting an animal moose-sized over the Atlantic Ocean with colonial technology is baffling on its own, but the motivation behind this request is what I find far more amusing. Buffon, a prominent European scientist, believed that American moose were a degenerate version of the European Elk. Thomas Jefferson decided that this incorrect assumption should be corrected as soon as possible. After long hours of letters, debates, and controversy the moose of America and Europe were revealed to be two different species.
     There's something soothing about the petty squabbles of Jefferson and Buffon. Their arguments can easily be likened to school boy bickering, debating about whose dad can beat up the other father. Yet, silly banter like this reminds me that our leaders and founding fathers, set up on a pedestal by our history books and teachers, were still people. Trivial little debates about the size of moose and other obscure details are also part of our history and offer a new perspective on our 'boring' Founding Fathers.

On the Shelf 8.23.12

Reading

Starting this week I began my noble quest to conquer books beyond my comfort zone. As in many quests it began sluggishly. This week I cracked openPawnee: the Greatest Town in America, written in the perspective of character Leslie Knope of the program Parks and Recreation. I typically avoid books relating to television series, but something about it drew me in. The novel (I can't, in good conscience, call it a book) describes the fictional city of Pawnee’s rich history, culture and frequent raccoon infestations. Told primarily from Leslie Knope’s narrative, the novel also incorporates brief contributions from other characters and does a wonderful job of letting each individual shine.

Another haunt this week was tvtropes, a wiki about the world of media cliches and patterns. The site details repeated trends in media, giving them creative names like Ham To Ham Combat to describe large and overacted characters fighting to see who can be the most unnecessarily dramatic. The unique terminology the site prides itself in can come across as a bit intimidating to new comers but after spending an afternoon clicking on Lampshade Hanging, Fridge Logic, and YMMV, the accumulated vocabulary opens up a new world of pop culture references.

Listening

This week my background music of choice has been Hans Zimmer’s soundtrack to The Dark Knight Rises. I have yet to find a Hans Zimmer song I haven’t enjoyed but something about this particular CD speaks to me. As with most soundtracks there are quiet songs but the strong instrumentals of The Fire Rises, Gotham’s Reckoning, and Underground Army give me chills with their power. It also makes mundane tasks like cleaning the dishes feeling like I’m saving a city with each plate.

Start-up Post

I generally prefer to read simpler things that are probably below my reading level. My reading style is typically not very in-depth unless I have someone to discuss my reading with.  When I read for pleasure I don’t always read very closely and usually it takes a second reading for me to really understand or appreciate the writing in a piece. This style does help me get through books fairly quickly, so it usually doesn’t take as long for me to complete books.

                I would like to take some time to truly enjoy what I’m reading, appreciating and acknowledging every word the first read through. My goal for this class is to improve my academic vocabulary so I can better describe and analyze my reading pieces. I would also like to read something outside my typical comfort zone, hopefully that will help me with future exams.