Part of My World

It'll turn out right.

Sat, 19 Dec 2009 10:17:10 +0530

Pep Talk: You are letting go of the future and staying in the present. You are letting go of all your projections and predictions. Things will turn out as they’re meant to whether you worry about them or not.

Today remind yourself: It’ll turn out right.

forwhenifeellikesharing: A former professor of mine recommended...

Sat, 19 Dec 2009 08:11:15 +0530

forwhenifeellikesharing:

A former professor of mine recommended The Book Thief when I met up with her a while back. After reading a book about the Holocaust what felt like every year in grade school, I have to admit I’m not much of a World War II fiction buff. Markus Zusak’s book is a unique beast though. It’s very atypical to the “genre.”

First of all, it’s narrated by Death. (I’ll refer to Death as a “he” because I had a male reader in the audiobook I listened to.) Zusak develops him as a compassionate character, but he shows no regret taking lives and doesn’t provide answers about the afterlife. His concern is sharing a story that touched him. His perspective on humans is a bit jarring at times because when he waxes poetically on “humanity,” it’s a reminder he isn’t “one of us,” no matter how attached to the narrative he seems. I know he provides a kind of omniscience for Zusak, but I can’t really shake the feeling that was the only reason for choosing him as the narrator.

The book is at times totally uplifting and light and then it shifts to be as bleak as you’d expect for a story about a poor German girl in Nazi Germany. But it’s a story about a girl’s childhood, so how could it not include light moments? It’s endearing to see the silver-lined side of her life. In a way the reader experiences the story as Liesel did, as a child full of confusion and intensified emotions. The adult reader “knows” things can’t end well, but Death spoils the ending several times, rendering that knowledge useless. The story is a mystery of how a conclusion is reached. An omniscient narrator then frustrates the reader with his knowledge. Forcing the reader to experience the book much like the protagonist is where Zusak succeeds best. There’s so much emotional tension and Zusak asks you to become invested in certain characters knowing they’ll die later. Luckily, he writes them compellingly enough to make you want to.

There’s a lot said in the book about the power of words and language. The book thief Liesel feels “brought to life” by books and that power is well-exemplified when compared to how Hitler manipulated words to gain his position. The book says something very basic about how language is a savior and a destroyer depending on how it is used. At times, I felt like the plot-driving components of the story were burying this theme. Likewise, when “words” and “books” became focal point in the book, the rest of the story felt slightly secondary. However, including so many anecdotal side-jaunts in the plot allow for Liesel’s story to be an example of “the power of words” for the reader. Those seemingly irrelevant components are integral in the experience of understanding the power of words. Without those words, we would not connect to the narrative and experience the same kind of attachment to literature Liesel does.

With all that said, I don’t feel like tearing it down for the weaknesses it has. They’re there, but the book is really worth the read, especially if you feel like you’ve become jaded to this kind of fiction.

2009 Reading Goal Score: 25/26

I want to read this, but I keep forgetting the title! Thank you, tumblr!

thedisgruntledgradstudent: brieknowsthings: [via lenorebeadsman...

Sat, 19 Dec 2009 08:09:02 +0530

thedisgruntledgradstudent:

brieknowsthings:

[via lenorebeadsman]

Again with the “more true than I care to admit” thing…

The Top 10 Pieces of Advice...

Sat, 19 Dec 2009 08:06:30 +0530

fishy:

juliasea:

…that I’ve been given by the families that I nanny for. Mind you, I’ve nannied for about 50 families in the past 3 months alone—I don’t get this heart-to-heart on a daily basis.

“Don’t date mean people. This sounds easy, but it’s not. Goofy is okay. Mean is where you can get into hot water. And trust me, it’s only a matter of time before mean starts to show in the face.” (PS: I’ve received this bit from two different families.)

“Take time while you still can. Also, stay out late and drink the cheap stuff while you still can.”

“Travel. No seriously.”

“Write it all down.”

“Get it in writing—then make a copy.”

“Find something you do that’s your favorite thing.”

“In DC it’s who you work for, in NYC it’s where you live, and in San Francisco it’s what you do on your weekends.” (Not really advice, but it’s a truth I’ve held onto for the past few years.)

“If it seems to good to be true, it probably is.”

“When someone offers you a compliment or a beer, accept it graciously.”

“The thing you need to realize is that the rest of your life is going to be there no matter what. It’s not a choice. Don’t worry about it, just go with it.”

Advice to hold on to.

Noted.

my mom seriously just lol'd at dick in a box.

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 08:49:49 +0530

(via gaseousclay)

Mine too. Isn’t family fun?

Hulu - The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien: Myq...

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 06:16:51 +0530

http://www.hulu.com/watch/115812/the-tonight-show-with-conan-obrien-myq-kaplan

Hulu - The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien: Myq Kaplan

yaybies, or hooraybies, or standing ovabies!

Brrr it's still cold!

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 04:53:00 +0530

But my new Betsey Johnson jacket came today!

And I did more than an hour of cardio, including 2.25 miles of running!

And I made over $50 in tips at the cafe in just four hours of work!

And I’m home in my sweatshirt and slippers for night 7 of Hanukkah.

Not bad at all…

peterwknox: Amazon.com: Pygmy (9780385526340): Chuck Palahniuk:...

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 04:45:10 +0530

peterwknox:

Amazon.com: Pygmy (9780385526340): Chuck Palahniuk: Books

You know what book I’m not enjoying? This one. I’ve considered myself a huge Chuck P fan and have read every single word of every single book and novel of his, but this one, man, even Snuff was easier to digest.

This reviewer, in a review titled “I don’t know what to say” says it best:

First, if you’ve never read a Palahniuk, I don’t recommend starting here.

Second, I am Palahniuk fan. Not a die-hard, but I’ve read all the books except Snuff, and many are favorites. I love Chuckie P. I love the mood his books create; his unique point of view; sense of humor; and particularly his typical writing style.

I rushed out to get this book because I was so excited about it. The concept, the premise, sounded amazing. I’ve gotten to page 100, and unfortunately, I can’t make myself go on.

I get that he wanted to do something different with this book, but the writing is so convoluted, that I am just not enjoying it.

Here’s an example: “Location former chew gum, chocolate snack, salted chips of potato, current now occupy with cylinder white paraffin encase burning string, many tiny single fire.”

Chuck has always been (through Rant), a can’t-miss author for me, but he’s dangerously close to losing that status.

Agreed! This was so awful that I stopped reading it and returned it to the library within hours of checking it out.

fishy: This photo got flipped and made me all warpy, and I need...

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 04:11:34 +0530

fishy:

This photo got flipped and made me all warpy, and I need to fix my eyebrows, but you get the idea. Snuggly sweater; rocking chair; fireside. Home.

Cannot wait to come visit!

dealbreaker: GUESTBREAKER: Your Vanity Muscles Yes, it’s true...

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 04:11:05 +0530

dealbreaker:

GUESTBREAKER: Your Vanity Muscles

Yes, it’s true that when I first laid eyes on you, it was your broad shoulders and rather large arms that drove me to drunkenly wave at you. It didn’t take long before I found out that your protein shakes give you intolerable gas and your post workout supplements cause impotence! You’d think for all of the suffering your bulging muscles have caused me you could have picked me up in the shower to fuck, or maybe even thrown me over your shoulders. Christ, carrying my luggage every once in awhile would have been nice! After all, you can bench press twice my weight. Alas no, you’re muscles are good for one thing and one thing only: luring unsuspecting woman into sexless, gassy relationships. While you were at the gym I should have been out looking for a man capable of having an intelligent conversation.

A Guest Dealbreaker written by Heather.

HAHHA

13 degrees out

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 20:16:59 +0530

Brrrr

Myq Kaplan

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 12:17:44 +0530

Myq Kaplan:

But for the record, this is who I’m talking about…

And tomorrow I’ll try to find the clip from Conan. Woo.

(Also, “Myq”?? Really??)

There was a hilarious comedian on Conan tonight, and he did a skit about boobies and yaybies, and I...

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 12:15:51 +0530

There was a hilarious comedian on Conan tonight, and he did a skit about boobies and yaybies, and I cannot find it online!

Internet fail.

Perhaps tomorrow?

bibme

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 12:03:11 +0530

bibme:

booksarebetterthanboys:

BibMe is a free automatic bibliography generator that supports MLA, APA, Chicago, and Turabian formatting. BibMe leverages databases provided by Amazon, FindArticles, Yahoo! News, and CiteULike to quickly and accurately AutoFill citation information for you. BibMe will then format the citation information according to the rules and guidelines of the style guides.

My bff just sent me this link and I am so excited about it. I absolutely hate formatting references.

WOW!

forwhenifeellikesharing: A Doggy Style Christmas Wait, that...

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 12:00:33 +0530

forwhenifeellikesharing:

A Doggy Style Christmas

Wait, that sounds wrong, but “Dogs Decorating For The Christmas” isn’t very eye-catching.

The wonders of the Internet!

I am probably going to regret trying to go for a run.

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 23:55:06 +0530

thedisgruntledgradstudent:

It is 21 degrees here.

I’m regretting having skipped my run (yes, at the gym, on a treadmill). But tomorrow is another day!

"The Sing Off" fills my need for a cappella, but Nick Lachey is an awful host.

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 22:02:21 +0530

unfinishednovel:

thelittlemermaid:

fishy:

Also, there’s a group called “Face”. AWESOME.

As usual, fishy sums it up!

In addition, I find the judges condescending and annoying, mostly because they clearly don’t really know how to judge a cappella. They keep saying “I can’t believe there are no instruments!” Duh. That’s the point. It stops being remarkable. That should have been said in the first sentence at the beginning of the show, and then dropped while the judges focused on blend, messy cutoffs, staying together at the same tempo, quality/originality of the arrangements, choreography, solo performances, vocal percussion, and energy. The general comments were “Wow, you guys rocked it. That was tight. Sometimes the harmonies weren’t as great. But it’s really great that you’re all here.” Every. Single. Time. If you’re going to do a show about a cappella, please have qualified judges. The end.

Yes, but BEN FOLDS! Amazing judge!

University of Glasgow :: Theology & Religous Studies :: Courses

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 20:55:30 +0530

University of Glasgow :: Theology & Religous Studies :: Courses:

M.Th. (taught) or M.Litt. (taught) in Inter-Faith Studies

This innovative programme has been offered by the Centre for Inter-Faith Studies since 2005.

The aims of the programme are:

to develop skills in inter-faith understanding, fostering awareness of the problems and potential of inter-faith encounter, and enabling students to specialise in a particular area of inter-faith relationship.
to encourage students from various religious and ideological backgrounds to collaborative reflection, study and research.
to develop advanced skills in study, research and original, independent thought in engagement with the pressing issues of inter-religious encounter.

I got in!

supersonicelectronic: Alice in Wonderland Trailer Need I say...

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 20:51:02 +0530

supersonicelectronic:

Alice in Wonderland Trailer

Need I say more?

This is going to be so odd! I can’t wait!

I confess that in 2009, I have....

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 11:27:11 +0530

( ) stayed single for the whole year

(x) made out in/on a car

( ) kissed in the snow

(x) celebrated Halloween

(x) kissed in the rain

(x) had your heart broken

(x) broke someone else’s heart

( ) had a stalker

(x) went over the minutes on your cell phone

(x) had a good relationship with someone

( ) someone questioned your sexual orientation

( ) gotten pregnant

( ) had an abortion

(x) have a relationship with someone you’ll never forget

(x) done something you’ve regretted

(x) lost faith in love

( ) kissed under a mistletoe

( ) painted a picture

(x) wrote a poem

(x) ran a mile

( ) shopped at Hollister or Abercrombie and Fitch

(x) posted a blog

(x) listened to music you couldn’t stand

(x) went to a sleepover

(x) went camping

(x) threw a surprise party

(x) laughed till you cried

( ) laughed till you peed in your pants

(x) visited a foreign country (lived in one!)

(x) cut in a line of waiting people

(x) told someone you were busy when you weren’t

( ) partied to celebrate the new year

(x) cooked a disastrous meal

(x) lost something/someone important to you

(x) broke a promise

(x) lied

( ) went behind your parents back

(x) cried over a broken heart

(x) disappointed someone close

(x) hid a secret

(x) pretended to be happy

(x) slept under the stars

( ) kept your new years resolution

(x) forgot your new years resolution

(x) met someone who changed your life

( ) met one of your idols

(x) changed your outlook on life

(x) sat home all day doing nothing

(x) pretended to be sick

(x) left the country

( ) almost died

(x) given up something important to you

( ) lost something expensive

(x) learned something new about yourself

(x) tried something you normally wouldn’t try and liked it

(x) made a change in your life

(x) found out who your true friends were

(x) met great people

(x) stayed up til sunrise

(x) cried over the silliest thing

( ) was never home on weekends

( ) got into a car accident

(x) had friends who were drifting away from you

(x) had someone close to you die

( ) had a high cell phone bill

(x) spent most of your money on food

( ) had a fist fight

(x) went to the beach with your best friend

(x) saw a celebrity

(x) gotten sick

( ) liked more than 5 people at the same time

(x) became closer with a lot of people

(via fishy: via thedisgruntledgradstudent:via japprove)

Note: some of these were pretty lame. Then, again some of life can be.