BlogFerret

Brien gave me a gift card to Amazon for my graduation. Well, what with moving and all, and then my perverse enjoyment of anticipation over gratification, he basically almost got me a birthday present (2 weeks!).

I just wanted to say thank you again, Brien, and let you know that you got me really cool stuff. I got an educational book, a movie, and an electronic gadget - ok, a memory card, but it goes inside an electronic gadget. I put them on my Amazon store as the last three items, if you’re curious. But yes, through the magic of Amazon, I was able to get three of my very favorite things.

I’m pretty sure I’ve thank3ed everyone else for graduation goodies, but if I’ve missed you, feel free to berate me by email or even here, (sort of) publicly. I won’t be offended. And then you’ll probably get a thank you note in the mail if I have your address.

And yes, Brien, I could have emailed you, but this way is better: it announces your awesomeness to the world. If that makes you uncomfy, I’ll happily delete this post.

In the interest of expanding my knowledge of 19th century literature, I recently read Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. I admit I’ve been a fan of Treasure Island since childhood, but I had never read this book before. Read the rest of this entry »

So it’s almost time for me to stop reading for pleasure altogether. Okay, it’s almost time for me to say I’m not reading for pleasure anymore and then do so anyway, probably ruining my eyes in the process. I wanted to put in a few words for Philip Pullman and the “His Dark Materials” trilogy.

This is good stuff. Pullman has created a pretty neat universe here that goes beyond both fantasy and “Steampunk.” Of course, I believe technically these novels would be in the “young adult” category, but there are some very dark themes present here. The kinds of themes that I would hope my kids weren’t understanding even though I’d know they were. There are also really interesting presentations of demonology and the “Fall of Man,” which I’m a total sucker for. I’m in the middle of the final book, and it’s just kickass. I think kickass is a literary term. At any rate, the series is complex without bogging one down, and Pullman’s craftsmanship outstrips the Harry Potter novels easily. Oh, the blasphemies I will commit in the name of literature!

Pullman is also the author of some Victorian-style mystery novels: The Ruby in the Smoke, Shadow in the North, and The Tiger in the Well. I haven’t read them yet, but Pullman is an excellent writer, so I have high hopes. I also saw The Ruby in the Smoke on LPB’s Masterpiece Theatre with Billie Piper as the lead, and after I got over seeing “Rose” (late of Doctor Who, for anyone who doesn’t know) as an “unconventional” Victorian girl, it was pretty good entertainment.  Of course, you have to really like Victorian and Early 20th Century mysteries, which I do.  Probably more than is healthy.

I have more news, but I think it should go in a separate post. I’m thinking of getting a new boardgame, and there is, of course, my Master’s Degree to think of!

Guess what, guys? My blog made money! Well, it made Amazon referral fees. It was for the second quarter, so it was in April.  I made $5.00!  How exciting is that?  Thanks to my faithful readers and random wandering googlers. I get paid in Amazon gift certificates, so it has to reach a certain amount before I actually get to use it for anything, but hey, I was pretty gratified that after several years of being an Amazon associate I finally made money!

I usually only link to products (mostly books) that I want or like, but maybe I’ll stick some random-ish Amazon links next to my Google ads on the sidebar.  I’m not worried too much about being too mercenary, because no one clicks the Google ads - which is okay, really. My website has always really been sort of an experiment to see what happens if one quietly goes about his or her business on the internet.  Over the past few years,  some interesting things have happened, including being hacked and having really neat commenters!

If I lived somewhere with seasons, the weather would be getting cooler like it does in the movies, and the leaves would be turning. I love October! It’s the month of my favorite holiday, and it’s also my anniversary (on the 26th).

Halloween is my favorite holiday. It’s pagan in origin, has been corrupted beyond recognition by “Hallmark syndrome,” and it involves candy and dress up! What’s not to love? I also enjoy it because it’s a holiday that doesn’t make you feel like a total craphound if you can’t/won’t be with your family for whatever reason. Suicides increase around Thanksgiving and X-mas: not around Halloween. It’s probably all that emphasis on family that does it….

So here’s to October! Definitely gotta get a copy of:

(mine’s in the mail…)

Was like this one?

Do I need to say more?

So it’s the ULTIMATE James Bond box set. It’s not out in the U.S. yet, but it will probably cost about 500 bucks. *sigh* I wonder if you even need any other movies if you own this puppy?!

Probably since the early 80’s I have wanted a complete collection of James Bond films. I hooked up two VCR’s together in our living room and made my parents rent all of the movies which I painstakingly copied. (Yeah, child pirate — but they were for my own personal viewing: not for profit. At least, that’s what I tell myself so I can sleep at night!)

Since, we’re on the subject of Bond, I’d also be interested to read The Monneypenny Diaries :

Of course, this thing coud be a load of dime store crap, I suppose. There are a bunch of freaks out there who are convinced that there was a “real” James Bond. Now, I am not an expert, but I am fairly sure that most of the information in the Bond novels was purely fictitious. I do know Ian Fleming did work in British Intelligence, but I believe he admitted himself to making Bond and his world rather sensational. So this book, ostensibly Moneypenny’s diary, while it makes references to real events, cannot possibly be anything but an interesting read. The freaks who thought otherwise, however, were shamefully encouraged by the book’s publishers. The same people published Bridget Jones’ Diary. Thing is, I don’t want to read a bunch of insipid crap about unrequited love… I want to read a spy novel. I suppose I’ll have to read the thing and find out.