Arianhrod @ The Quilted Elf

Join my team!

2010-11-14T21:04:00.001+10:30

You are invited to join MyDinos Go!

Shannon invited you to join their tribe on MyDinos Go! In MyDinos Go! you can collect, train, and battle rare and endangered Dynamals, travel through time, and save Planet Earth!

MyDinos Go is FREE and you can get it for your iPhone on the iTunes store by clicking here.

Be sure to add Shannon to your tribe by clicking "Add Friend" and entering Shannon's Player ID: 9603412351

Secret Bonus! You can also get $2 worth of FREE DIAMONDS in the REDEEM BONUS CODE section of the EcoLab. Enter Shannon's Player ID: 9603412351 directly as the bonus code and you'll get 5 free diamonds!

See you in Pangaea!
Shannon

Venus & Mars

2009-10-16T09:45:00.000+10:30

WOMAN'S DIARY

28 July 2007 Saturday

Saw him in the evening and he was acting really strangely.

I'd been shopping in the afternoon with the girls and was a bit late meeting him, thought it might be that.

The bar was really crowded and loud, so I suggested we go somewhere quieter to talk.

He was still very subdued and distracted so I suggested we went somewhere nice to eat.

All through dinner he just didn't seem himself - he hardly laughed and didn't seem to be paying any attention to me or to

what I was saying, I just knew that something was wrong.

He dropped me back home and I wondered if he was going to come in,
He hesitated but followed.

I asked him what was wrong, but he just half shook his head and turned the television on.

After about ten minutes of silence I said that I was going upstairs to bed,

I put my arms around him and told him that I loved him deeply,
He just gave a sigh and a sad sort of smile.

He didn't follow me up immediately but came up later and, to my surprise, we made love

- but he still seemed distant and a bit cold.

I cried myself to sleep -

I think he's planning to leave me - maybe he's found someone else.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

MAN'S DIARY:

Saturday 28 July

Australia lost the cricket.

Gutted.

Got a root though.

If I Had My Life To Live Over by Erma Bombeck

2009-09-10T11:29:00.001+09:30

The following was written by the late Erma Bombeck
after she found out she had a fatal disease.

If I had my life to live over, I would have talked less and listened more.

I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained and the sofa faded.

I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.

I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.

I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.

I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass stains.

I would have cried and laughed less while watching television - and more while watching life.

I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.

I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.

When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, "Later. Now go get washed up for dinner."

There would have been more "I love you's".. More "I'm sorrys" ...

But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute... look at it and really see it ... live it...and never give it back.

Thoughts for the Day!

2009-09-02T12:02:00.000+09:30

-I wish Google Maps had an "Avoid Ghetto" routing option.

-More often than not, when someone is telling me a story all I can think about is that I can't wait for them to finish so that I can tell my own story that's not only better, but also more directly involves me.

-Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.

-There is a great need for sarcasm font.

-Sometimes, I'll watch a movie that I watched when I was younger and suddenly realize I had no idea what the heck was going on when I first saw it.

-How the heck are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?

-I would rather try to carry 10 plastic grocery bags in each hand than take 2 trips to bring my groceries in.

-I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.

-The only time I look forward to a red light is when I'm trying to finish a text.

-Was learning cursive really necessary?

-I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.

-Whenever someone says "I'm not book smart, but I'm street smart", all I hear is "I'm not real smart, but I'm imaginary smart".

-How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and smile because you still didn't hear what they said?

-I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars teams up to prevent a jerk from cutting in at the front. Stay strong,brothers!

-Every time I have to spell a word over the phone using 'as in' examples, I will undoubtedly draw a blank and sound like a complete idiot. Today I had to spell my boss's last name to an attorney and said "Yes that's G as in...(10 second lapse)..ummm...Goonies"

-What would happen if I hired two private investigators to follow each other?

-MapQuest really needs to start their directions on #5. Pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.

-I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.

-Bad decisions make good stories

-Whenever I'm Facebook stalking someone and I find out that their profile is public I feel like a kid on Christmas morning who just got the Red Ryder BB gun that I always wanted. 546 pictures? Don't mind if I do!

-Why is it that during an ice-breaker, when the whole room has to go around and say their name and where they are from, I get so incredibly nervous? Like I know my name, I know where I'm from, this shouldn't be a problem....

-You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you've made up your mind that you just aren't doing anything productive for the rest of the day.

-"Do not machine wash or tumble dry" means I will never wash this ever.

-I hate being the one with the remote in a room full of people watching TV. There's so much pressure. 'I love this show, but will they judge me if I keep it on? I bet everyone is wishing we weren't watching this. It's only a matter of time before they all get up and leave the room. Will we still be friends after this?'

-I hate leaving my house confident and looking good and then not seeing anyone of importance the entire day. What a waste.

-I like all of the music in my iTunes, except when it's on shuffle, then I like about one in every fifteen songs in my iTunes.

-As a driver I hate pedestrians, and as a pedestrian I hate drivers, but no matter what the mode of transportation, I always hate cyclists.

-It should probably be called Unplanned Parenthood.

-I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.

-Even if I knew your social security number, I wouldn't know what do to with it.

-I wonder if cops ever get ticked off at the fact that everyone they drive behind obeys the speed limit.

Fairy Tale

2009-08-10T13:59:00.000+09:30

Once upon a time

~~~~~~~~

in a land far away,

~~~~~~~~

a beautiful, independent, self-assured princess

~~~~~~~~

happened upon a frog as she sat contemplating ecological issues on the shores of an unpolluted pond in a verdant meadow near her castle.

~~~~~~~~

The frog hopped into the princess' lap and said: " Elegant Lady, I was once a handsome prince, until an evil witch cast a spell upon me.

~~~~~~~~

One kiss from you, however, and I will turn back into the dapper, young prince that I am

~~~~~~~~
and then, my sweet, we can marry

~~~~~~~~

and set up housekeeping in your castle

~~~~~~~~

with my mother,

~~~~~~~~

where you can prepare my meals,

~~~~~~~~

clean my clothes, bear my children,

~~~~~~~~

and forever feel grateful and happy doing so. "
~~~~~~~~

That night,
~~~~~~~~
as the princess dined sumptuously
~~~~~~~~
on lightly sauteed frog legs
~~~~~~~~
seasoned in a white wine
~~~~~~~
and onion cream sauce,
~~~~~~~~
she chuckled and thought to herself:
~~~~~~~~
I don't f…..think so.

Kids Are Quick :)

2009-07-16T10:29:00.001+09:30

TEACHER: Maria, go to the map and find North America.
MARIA: Here it is.
TEACHER: Correct. Now class, who discovered America?
CLASS: Maria.

o0o o0o o0o

TEACHER: John, why are you doing your math multiplication on the floor?
JOHN: You told me to do it without using tables.

o0o o0o o0o

TEACHER: Glenn, how do you spell 'crocodile?'
GLENN: K-R-O-K-O-D-I-A-L'
TEACHER: No, that's wrong
GLENN: Maybe it is wrong, but you asked me how I spell it.

o0o o0o o0o

TEACHER: Donald, what is the chemical formula for water?
DONALD: H I J K L M N O.
TEACHER: What are you talking about?
DONALD: Yesterday you said it's H to O.

o0o o0o o0o

TEACHER: Winnie, name one important thing we have today that we didn't have ten years ago.
WINNIE: Me!

o0o o0o o0o

TEACHER: Glen, why do you always get so dirty?
GLEN: Well, I'm a lot closer to the ground than you are.

o0o o0o o0o

TEACHER: Millie, give me a sentence starting with ' I.'
MILLIE: I is..
TEACHER: No, Millie..... Always say, 'I am.'
MILLIE: All right... 'I am the ninth letter of the alphabet.'

o0o o0o o0o

TEACHER: George Washington not only chopped down his father's cherry tree, but also admitted it.
Now, Louie, do you know why his father didn't punish him?
LOUIS: Because George still had the axe in his hand.

o0o o0o o0o

TEACHER: Now, Simon, tell me frankly, do you say prayers before eating?
SIMON: No sir, I don't have to, my Mom is a good cook.

o0o o0o o0o

TEACHER: Clyde, your composition on 'My Dog' is exactly the same as your brother's. Did you copy his?
CLYDE: No, sir. It's the same dog.

o0o o0o o0o

TEACHER: Harold, what do you call a person who keeps on talking when people are no longer interested?
HAROLD: A teacher

o0o o0o o0o

Swine Flu

2009-05-01T13:28:00.000+09:30

And the jokes abound…

How Swine Flu started!

2009-05-01T10:54:00.000+09:30

Rather amusing I thought, regardless of the reality.

THINK YOU'VE SEEN IT ALL???

2009-04-15T14:02:00.000+09:30

I have seen this one a few times, but it gets me every time!!!

Warning to Women - THIEVES ABOUT!!!

2009-04-15T14:00:00.000+09:30

You've heard about people who have been abducted and had their kidneys removed by black-market organ thieves.

My thighs were stolen from me during the night a few years ago. I went to sleep and woke up with someone else's thighs. It was just that quick. The replacements had the texture of cooked oatmeal. Whose thighs were these and what happened to mine? I spent the entire summer looking for my thighs. Finally, hurt and angry, I resigned myself to living out my life in jeans.

And then the thieves struck again.

My bum was next. I knew it was the same gang, because they took pains to match my new rear-end to the thighs they had stuck me with earlier. But my new bum was attached at least three inches lower than my original! I realized I'd have to give up my jeans in favour of long skirts.

Two years ago I realized my arms had been switched. One morning I was drying my hair and was horrified to see the flesh of my upper arm swing to and fro with the motion of the hairbrush. This was really getting scary - my body was being replaced one section at a time.

What could they do to me next?

When my poor neck suddenly disappeared and was replaced with a turkey neck, I decided to tell my story. Women of the world wake up and smell the coffee! Those 'plastic' surgeons are using REAL replacement body parts -stolen from you and me! The next time someone you know has something 'lifted', look again - was it lifted from you?

THIS IS NOT A HOAX. This is happening to women everywhere every night. WARN YOUR FRIENDS!

P.S. Last year I thought some one had stolen my Boobs. I was lying in bed and they were gone! But when I jumped out of bed, I was relieved to see that they had just been hiding in my armpits as I slept. Now I keep them hidden in my waistband.

Thought this was too 'important' not to pass on. Have a wonderful day - with a joy filled heart

BTW - These same thieves come in my closet and shrank my clothes!

How do they do it????

Sisters

2009-04-01T15:02:00.001+10:30

A little something I received through the email.

A young wife sat on a sofa on a hot humid day, drinking iced tea and visiting with her mother. As they talked about life, about marriage, about the responsibilities of life and the obligations of adulthood, the mother clinked the ice cubes in her glass thoughtfully and turned a clear, sober glance upon her daughter..

'Don't forget your sisters,' she advised, swirling the tea leaves to the bottom of her glass. 'They'll be more important as you get older. No matter how much you love your husband, no matter how much you love the children you may have, you are still going to need sisters. Remember to go places with them now and then; do things with them.'

'Remember that 'sisters' means ALL the women... your girlfriends, your daughters, and all your other women relatives too. 'You'll need other women. Women always do.'

What a funny piece of advice!' the young woman thought. Haven't I just gotten married? Haven't I just joined the couple-world? I'm now a married woman, for goodness sake! A grownup! Surely my husband and the family we may start will be all I need to make my life worthwhile!'

But she listened to her mother. She kept contact with her sisters and made more women friends each year. As the years tumbled by, one after another, she gradually came to understand that her mother really knew what she was talking about. As time and nature work their changes and their mysteries upon a woman, sisters are the mainstays of her life..

After more than 50 years of living in this world, here is what I've learned:

Time passes.
Life happens.
Distance separates.
Children grow up.
Jobs come and go.
Love waxes and wanes.
Men don't do what they're supposed to do.
Hearts break.
Parents die.
Colleagues forget favors.
Careers end.
BUT.........

Sisters are there, no matter how much time and how many miles are between you. A girl friend is never farther away than needing her can reach. When you have to walk that lonesome valley and you have to walk it by yourself, the women in your life will be on the valley's rim, cheering you on, praying for you, pulling for you, intervening on your behalf, and waiting with open arms at the valley's end.. Sometimes, they will even break the rules and walk beside you...Or come in and carry you out.

Girlfriends, daughters, granddaughters, daughters-in-law, sisters, sisters-in-law, Mothers, Grandmothers, aunties, nieces, cousins, and extended family: all bless our life!

The world wouldn't be the same without women, and neither would I. When we began this adventure called womanhood, we had no idea of the incredible joys or sorrows that lay ahead. Nor did we know how much we would need each other..

Every day, we need each other still.

Bizarre...

2009-03-30T09:55:00.000+10:30

They say its true… is it???

Catholic golf

2009-03-19T17:10:00.002+10:30

A Catholic priest and a nun were taking a rare afternoon off and enjoying a round of golf.

The priest stepped up to the first tee and took a mighty swing. He missed the ball entirely and said "Shit, I missed."

The good Sister told him to watch his language.

On his next swing, he missed again. "Shit, I missed."
"Father, I'm not going to play with you if you keep swearing," the nun said tartly.
The priest promised to do better and the round continued.

On the 4th tee, he misses again. The usual comment followed.
Sister is really mad now and says, "Father John, God is going to strike you dead if you keep swearing like that."

On the next tee, Father John swings and misses again. "Shit, I missed."

A terrible rumble is heard and a gigantic bolt of lightning comes out of the sky and strikes Sister Marie dead in her tracks.

And from the sky comes a booming voice ......

"Shit, I missed!!!"

Last Wishes - a late St Pat's day joke...

2009-03-19T16:04:00.000+10:30

In a tiny village on the Irish coast lived an old lady, a virgin and very proud of it.

Sensing that her final days were rapidly approaching, and desiring to make sure everything was in proper order when she dies, she went to the town' s undertaker (who also happened to be the local postal clerk) to make proper 'final' arrangements. As a last wish, she informed the undertaker that she wanted the following inscription engraved on her tombstone:

'BORN A VIRGIN, LIVED AS A VIRGIN, DIED A VIRGIN'

Not long after, the old maid died peacefully. A few days after the funeral, as the undertaker--postal clerk went to prepare the tombstone that the lady had requested, it became quite apparent that the tombstone that she had selected was much too small for the wording that she had chosen. He thought long and hard about how he could fulfill the old maid's final request, considering the very limited space available on the small piece of stone. For days, he agonized over the dilemma. But finally his experience as a postal worker allowed him to come up with what he thought was the appropriate solution to the problem.

The virgin's tombstone was finally completed and duly engraved, and it read as follows:

'RETURNED UNOPENED'

Ten Times!

2009-03-12T17:03:00.002+10:30

The 6th grade science teacher, Mrs. Parks, asked her class, "Which human body part increases to ten times its size when stimulated?"

No one answered until little Mary stood up and said, "You should not be asking sixth-graders a question like that! I'm going to tell my parents, and they will go and tell the principal, who will then fire you!"

Mrs. Park s ignored her and asked the question again, "Which body part increases to 10 times its size when stimulated?"

Little Mary's mouth fell open. Then she said to those around her, "Boy, is she going to get in big trouble!"

The teacher continued to ignore her and said to the class, "Anybody?"

Finally, Billy stood up, looked around nervously, and said, "The body part that increases 10 times its size when stimulated is the pupil of the eye."

Mrs. Parks said, "Very good, Billy," then turned to Mary and continued, "As for you, young lady, I have three things to say:

One, you have a dirty mind.

Two, you didn't read your homework.

And three, one day you are going to be very, very disappointed."

The naughty dung beetle...

2009-03-12T16:44:00.001+10:30

Among scarab beetles, males and females generally pair up to start a family, jointly gathering dung and rolling and patting it into the rich brood balls in which the female deposits her fertilized eggs. The male may on occasion try to attract an extra female or two — but he does so at his peril. In one experiment with postmatrimonial scarabs, the female beetle was kept tethered in the vicinity of her mate, who quickly seized the opportunity to pheromonally broadcast for fresh faces. Upon being released from bondage, the female dashed over and knocked the male flat on his back. “She’d roll him right into the ball of dung,” Dr. Barash said, “which seemed altogether appropriate.”

THE WORLD'S SHORTEST FAIRY TALE!

2009-03-12T16:42:00.000+10:30

Once upon a time, a guy asked a girl 'Will you marry me?' The girl said: 'NO!'

And the girl lived happily ever after and went shopping, dancing, camping, drank martinis, ate chocolate, always had a clean house, never had to cook, did whatever the hell she wanted, never argued, didn't get fat, travelled more, had many lovers, didn't save money, and had all the hot water to herself. She went to the theatre, never watched sports, never wore friggin' lacy lingerie that went up her ass, had high self esteem, never cried or yelled, felt and looked fabulous in sweat pants and was pleasant all the time.

The End.

The Rudd Financial Bail Out Package

2009-03-11T17:34:00.001+10:30

The Medical Profession Speaks out on the Financial Bail-Out Package

The allergists voted to scratch it, and the dermatologists advised not to make any rash moves.

The gastroenterologists had sort of a gut feeling about it, although the neurologists thought the administration had a lot of nerve, and the obstetricians felt they were all labouring under a misconception.

The ophthalmologists considered the idea short-sighted; the pathologists yelled, "Over my dead body!"
while the pediatricians said, "Oh, Grow up!"

The psychiatrists thought the whole idea was madness, the radiologists could see right through it, and the surgeons decided to wash their hands of the whole thing.

The interns thought it was a bitter pill to swallow, and the plastic surgeons said, "This puts a whole new face on the matter."

The podiatrists thought it was a step forward, but the urologists felt the scheme wouldn't hold water.

The anaesthesists thought the whole idea was a gas; and the cardiologists didn't have the heart to say no.

In the end, the proctologists left the decision up to the assholes in Canberra.

Marriage

2009-03-06T17:35:00.001+10:30

Marriage (Part I )
Typical macho man married typical good-looking lady, and
after the wedding, he laid down the following rules:
'I'll be home when I want, if I want and at what time
I want -- and I don't expect any hassle from you.
I expect a great dinner to be on the table unless
I tell you that I won't be home for dinner.
I'll go hunting, fishing, boozing, and card-playing
when I want with my old buddies, and don't you
give me a hard time about it.
Those are my rules. Any comments?'

His new bride said:
'No, that's fine with me.. Just understand that there will be sex
here at seven o'clock every night...whether you're here or not.'

(DARN SHE'S GOOD!)

************************************************

Marriage (Part II)

Husband and wife had a bitter quarrel on the day of their 40th wedding anniversary!

The husband yells, 'When you die, I'm getting you a headstone
that reads, 'Here Lies My Wife -- Cold As Ever'!'

'Yeah?' she replies.. 'When you die, I'm getting you a headstone
that reads, 'Here Lies My Husband -- Stiff At Last'!'

(HE ASKED FOR IT!)

*****************************************

Marriage (Part III)

Husband (a doctor) and his wife are having a fight at the breakfast table.
Husband gets up in a rage and says, 'And you are no
good in bed either,' and storms out of the house.
After some time he realizes he was nasty and
decides to make amends and rings her up.
She comes to the phone after many rings, and the irritated husband says,
'What took you so long to answer to the phone?'
She says, 'I was in bed.'
'In bed this early, doing what?'
'Getting a second opinion!'
(YEP, HE HAD THAT COMING, TOO!)

*****************************************

Marriage (Part IV)

A man has six children and is very proud of his achievement.
He is so proud of himself, that he starts calling his
wife,' Mother of Six' in spite of her objections.
One night, they go to a party.
The man decides that it IS time to go home and
wants to find out if his wife is ready to leave as well.
He shouts at the top of his voice, 'Shall we go home Mother of Six?'
His wife, irritated by her husband's lack of discretion,
shouts right back, 'Any time you're ready, Father of Four.'

(RIGHT ON, LADY!)

*****************************************

THE SILENT TREATMENT

A man and his wife were having some problems at home
and were giving each other the silent treatment.

Suddenly the man realized that the next day he would need his wife
to wake him at 5:00 AM for an early morning business flight.

Not wanting to be the first to break the silence (and LOSE), he wrote on a piece
of paper,'Please wake me at 5:00 AM.' He left it where he knew she would find it.

The next morning the man woke up, only to discover it
was 9:00 AM and he had missed his flight.

Furious, he was about to go to see why his wife hadn't wakened him when he
noticed a piece of paper by the bed. The paper said, 'It is 5:00 AM. Wake up.'

Men are not equipped for these kinds of contests..

*****************************************

God may have created man before woman, but there
is always a rough draft before the masterpiece.

*****************************************

20 Universal Truths

2009-02-27T12:48:00.000+10:30

ONE. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.

TWO. Marry someone you love to talk to. As you get older, their conversational skills will be as important as any other.

THREE. Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.

FOUR. When you say, 'I love you,' mean it.

FIVE. When you say, 'I'm sorry,' look the person in the eye.

SIX. Be engaged at least six months before you get married.

SEVEN. Believe in love at first sight.

EIGHT. Never laugh at anyone's dreams. People who don't have dreams don't have much.

NINE. Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the only way to live life completely.

TEN. In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.

ELEVEN. Don't judge people by their relatives.

TWELVE. Talk slowly but think quickly.

THIRTEEN. When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile and ask, 'Why do you want to know?'

FOURTEEN. Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

FIFTEEN. When you lose, don't lose the lesson.

SIXTEEN. Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others; and Responsibility for all your actions.

SEVENTEEN. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

EIGHTEEN. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

NINETEEN. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.

TWENTY. Spend some time alone.

Miss Joyce

2009-02-04T12:26:00.001+10:30

Toward the end of Sunday service, the Minister asked, 'How many of you have forgiven your enemies?'

80% held up their hands.

The Minister then repeated his question. All responded this time, except one small elderly lady.

'Miss Joyce''; 'Are you not willing to forgive your enemies?'

I don't have any.' She replied, smiling sweetly.

'Miss Joyce', that is very unusual. How old are you?'

'Ninety-eight.' she replied.

'Oh, Miss. Joyce, would you please come down in front & tell us all how a person can live ninety-eight years & not have an enemy in the world?'

The little sweetheart of a lady tottered down the aisle, faced the congregation, and said:

'I outlived the bitches.'

How tastes change - reflections of a freaked out fan

2009-01-20T17:56:00.001+10:30

I really don’t remember how long I have been reading HP fanfiction now but I was introduced to the glory that was HP and the Philosophers Stone 9 years ago. We were on holidays and we were staying in communal accommodation, sharing with my aunt and her family as well. I was pregnant at the time and was staying there with my father and daughter. Due to the lack of anything to do and the general weariness that comes with pregnancy and a toddler combined, I was going to bed with the children. There really wasn’t anything else to do as we were all staying in one room together. Every night my aunt would read a chapter from this new book, HP - PS, that everyone was raving about, and I was hooked, the last afternoon we were there I borrowed it from my aunt just so I could finish it before we left. I had to know how the story ended.

I can’t remember the first ever fanfic that I read, I envy people who can in detail describe their first adventure into that world. The only thing that I am sure of is that it probably wasn’t slash. The earliest memory I have is that of Harry and Draco sitting together at the train station and having a smoke. And Draco being surprised that Harry smoked. It was what I now recognise as an Independent!Harry fic. I remember that Harry ‘rebelled’ and did things he wasn’t supposed to… yeah well that does feature dramatically in many fics. Was it well written, probably not, but then is that really a criteria when you are looking for something specific? Mostly yes, good grammer, spelling and punctuation are vital to help the reader relax, enjoy and understand where you are going. A good understanding of English is also vital. I could list a couple of my favourite ‘English’ mistakes easily.

For Example:

· Shutter instead of shudder, the first is a window covering, the second is a full body shiver

· Brake fast instead of breakfast, no further comment

· Wither/withering instead of writhe/writhing, to wither is to shrivel from lack of water, to writhe is to wiggle or contort your body

· Over use of the word lovely. ‘his lovely eyes were a lovely shade of green like the lovely emerald in his lovely ring.’ And yes I have read something very similar, except it was nearly a whole paragraph.

· Onyx is not an eye colour, it seems that at one stage everyone was using onyx to describe Snapes eyes, but onyx comes in several different colours including white and green and the black is often dyed that colour… really the best gift you can give a budding writer is to give them a thesaurus, I use mine all the time and for example there is listed in mine under black the following: dark; pitch-black; jet-black; coal-black; inky; sable; and nigrescent. hmm no comment.

Perhaps I’m being too much of a literary snob, but I don’t think so, I can cope with the occasional spelling mistake, a finger burp as a friend calls it. The occasionally bad use of tense can be ignored if the story is good enough. But when the regular use of bad English, of the incorrect use of words gets to the point that it is every time they use it, then I lose patience and give up. I have seriously thought about offering my time a beta reader, only I have also seen stories where the beta readers comments are still enclosed in the text, or a paragraph is written twice with the second one having some adjustments done to it. Then of course is the authors note right in the middle of the text. Use footnotes please, if you must have a note there. There is nothing more disconcerting to come across a piece of text that has nothing to do with the story in general.

But then perhaps I am being too harsh. I’m not sure, it could have something to do with my job where I am always working/editing other peoples writing. I work with people who are more highly educated than me and others for whom the English language is a second language and not a very comfortable one at that. I am accustomed to editing text and seem to do it all the time regardless of what I am doing. So does that mean that I am the perfect writer??? Not at all. I cant write fiction and in momentary lapses of sanity, often dabble with the idea of writing my own fic, but have no illusions of the quality of the work that would be produced. So there is no threat of my having put out some dodgy work of fiction and getting upset because someone lambasted it for being of poor quality.

Anyway, until next time, when I lambast some poor soul’s lifework.

Happy writing!!!

Finally bit the bullet and got sorted!!!

2008-07-22T00:10:00.002+09:30

I have for some time now seen many people's profiles with the various houses of Hogwarts that they have been sorted into. Finally I figured it was time that I did it to...

Needless to say I was suprised by the answer...

I figured on Slytherin!

be sorted @ nimbo.net

Give it a go!

Google Maps (Part I of "The Googling")

2008-07-18T16:22:00.002+09:30

Rather amusing...

It of course brings to mind many questions as to how or what Google can cover with it's Google Maps and how far can the take the satelite thingy. Big brother is watching you and this is a sure example of it. Even if entirely fictional!!

THE BEAT » Academic Libraries discover graphic novels

2008-07-14T14:38:00.000+09:30

This post makes it sound like librarians cant be hip, cant be at the forefront of a surging sub-culture, cant have interests out side of their particular field...

I've got my weekend pass to the local Anime Con, and I've got cash stashed by for the manga that I will be buying... bring it on baby!!!

THE BEAT » Blog Archive » Academic Libraries discover graphic novels

The orginal artical that spawn the pwbeat one...

Typies: 15 tips to choose a good text type

2008-07-09T14:30:00.000+09:30

A really great reference for design and the decision making process for the use of fonts in text. With pitures!!!

Typies: 15 tips to choose a good text type

misprinted type 3.0_ art, design and type (1998-2005) Eduardo Recife

2008-07-07T14:32:00.000+09:30

Absolutely beautiful example of interesting webdesign...

oh if only I had the talent!!!

misprinted type 3.0_ art, design and type (1998-2005) Eduardo Recife

Look and desire...

Libraryman » Sing A Song Of Innovation

2008-07-06T14:38:00.000+09:30

Too funny, a bit of Gilbert and Sullivan... The Gods of the Stage!!!

Libraryman » Sing A Song Of Innovation

Internet TV in Japan, Tradional TV going to the Dogs

2008-05-30T12:00:00.002+09:30

Death knell for television as we know it

New Internet television technology in Japan could make traditional real-time broadcasting obsolete

The Age
Monday, May 26, 2008

By Justin Norrie

Japanese television technology that will give viewers access to high-speed broadcasts over the internet could render conventional television obsolete and transform the media landscape within years, analysts have predicted.

The country's electronics and telecommunications industries are developing a technological standard for a new "internet television" set, which will let users browse websites and watch streaming programs at the touch of a remote control.

Japanese media reports say the new television, which is likely to run on the open source Linux operating system rather than Microsoft Windows to save boot-up time, could be on sale locally by next March.

The TV Portal Service Corp syndicate, comprising Sony, Matsushita (Panasonic), Sharp, Hitachi and Toshiba, is expected to announce the standard as early as next month. With the backing of telecommunications giant NTT, it will lobby the International Telecommunications Union to adopt it for global use.

Full article here

Librarian Anime Character wears "real glasses"

2008-04-16T14:45:00.007+09:30

Eyeglass Store Sells Official Library War Glasses
posted on 2008-04-16 03:28 AEST
Asako character to wear different pair of Zoff prescription glasses every week

Full article from Anime News Network

Oh YEAH!!!

Not only is it a anime about libraries, and censorship but one of the characters wears glasses that are available in Japan from a particular store...

Shibasaki's eyeglasses can actually be bought at Zoff, a chain of Japanese eyeglass stores.

Now where is that credit card???

Based on a light novel series by Arikawa Hiro, illustrated by Adabana Sukumo.

In the year 2019, the explosion of information and misinformation became a direct threat to society. In a daring decision, it was decided to create a new government agency dedicated solely to information management. Now some thirty years later, the government still monitors and controls information, suppressing anything they find undesirable, but standing against their abuses of power are the libraries, with their special agents called ‘the book soldiers.’

Taken from AniDB.net

Ok so does this just show my uber geekiness or am I really so sad that I'm getting excited by a character wearing glasses, and not just any but ones I could buy for myself, and based in and around libraries. I'm all for no censorship and freedom of expression and find this whole idea of a guerilla movement of librarians fighting for the rights of the people and their libraries just a little exciting!!

Listings for Toshokan Sensou (Library War)

AniDB.net
Anime News Network
AnimeNFO
Official Site (Japanese)

The Twelve Kingdoms Novel 2 - Review - Anime News Network

2008-04-16T14:40:00.002+09:30

The long awaited 2nd novel of the Twelve Kingdoms Series has been beautifully reviewed on Anime News Network...

Synopsis:

In all of the lands of the Twelve Kingdoms there is only one Sati-tree, on Hohzan, one of the Five Mountains at the heart of the Yellow Sea. From that tree spring the fruit that become the noble kirin. Shortly after the fruit for the new kirin of Tai began to grow on the Sati-tree calamity strikes, resulting in the fruit being blown across dimensional boundaries into Hourai (i.e. Japan). Ten years later the fledgling kirin, now grown into a boy who has had immense trouble fitting in, is found and recovered, bringing Taiki back to his proper place. Though Taiki, an auspiciously rare black kirin, quickly comes to accept his new reality, the ten years he spent in Hourai have prevented him from developing what should be instinctive kirin traits, such as how the world of the Twelve Kingdoms works, how to pacify demons to become his sirei (i.e. bonded servants), and how to shift into his animal form. Despite that, it falls to him to choose the new king of Tai, a holy task that he has little time to prepare for or understand.

For the full review ---> The Twelve Kingdoms Novel 2 - Review - Anime News Network

The HP Saga Continues

2008-04-16T12:11:00.001+09:30

Sued by Harry Potter’s Creator, Lexicographer Breaks Down on the Stand

By ANEMONA HARTOCOLLIS
Published: April 16, 2008

Shhh! The librarian at the heart of the Harry Potter copyright-infringement lawsuit stood up to J. K. Rowling on Tuesday in a Manhattan courtroom, and then broke down sobbing.

The librarian, Steven Jan Vander Ark, had the mild-mannered demeanor of Ron Weasley, and the intelligence, charm — and haircut — of Harry Potter. Even his name sounds like that of a character in one of the books, if preceded by “Lord” or “Master.” Although, at 50, he is older than Ms. Rowling, 42, he looked like a schoolboy, with an unlined face and caramel-colored hair parted down the middle.

On the witness stand in Federal District Court, he portrayed the famous writer as his idol, his true literary love, who had been unaccountably bewitched by the evil money-grubbing forces of publishing, like one of Voldemort’s vassals. One day, he testified, Ms. Rowling was singling out his Harry Potter Lexicon Web site, out of “hundreds of thousands” of Potter fan sites on the Web, for praise; the next, she was accusing him of plagiarism for wanting to turn it into a book.

A rather dramatically titled article but interesting none the less...

One could imagine all sorts of things happening with this. I would also ask where all the research that went into the lexicon will go, would JK Rowling list all of the conflicting information that exists in her books? What about the essays and other articles written about her books that may be published...

While Ms. Rowling argued on Monday that people who bought the “Harry Potter Lexicon” would have little incentive to buy her books, Mr. Vander Ark argued that, on the contrary, only people who read her books would be interested in his encyclopedia.

This is a valid I think, I dont know of anyone that would buy an encyclopedia on a item of fiction that wasn't a researcher or a major fan. And lets face it, what with the content being on the web already for free, they would have to be a major fan!!!

The full article here ---> NY Times

HP Lexicon being sued

2008-04-14T15:20:00.002+09:30

Rowling to Testify in Trial Over Potter Lexicon

By MOTOKO RICH

Published: April 14, 2008

J. K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter series, is expected to testify against a small publisher looking to bring out an encyclopedia based on her work.

Not really sure what to think about all this...

Part of me says that the Lexicon is ok to publish and if done in the right way, will be ok with the copyright restrictions etc. but admitedly, I'm no copyright expert.

Check it out and see what you think... NY Times

Would you buy it if it went to print???

Google's sticky fingers in print...

2008-04-14T09:46:00.001+09:30

This was one of the funniest things I had seen in a while, Google got lazy... you can see the fingers of the scanners fingers on the books that they scanned for Google Books...

Too good!!!

Book scans reveal Google's handiwork - web - Technology - theage.com.au

Endorphins... What tha???

2008-04-14T09:45:00.001+09:30

How to Make Book Earrings - wikiHow

2008-04-10T17:13:00.002+09:30

For those with little to no life!!!

How to Make Book Earrings - wikiHow

Just like me, yeah, am considering doing just for the not so smart reason of cos I can... wonder if I can make them a book of women's erotica...

That could be some interesting earrings

Go Fug Yourself

2008-04-07T14:10:00.000+09:30

I've just been introduced to Go Fug Yourself
which would have to be one of the most hilarious sites I have seen in a while. If you're like me and not a celebrity lover then you'll love this bitch fest!!!!

Recycled book jewelery

2008-04-07T14:06:00.001+09:30

I'm not really sure what to think about this little beauty...

I'm into recycling and the use of used items in jewerly is a personal fav... I have a wrist band that was made with washing machine parts amongst other things.

I guess if the books were going into the bin anyway, it's not so bad...

Ok, so it does hit my book lover button and I'm find the idea of descrating a book for such a thing a little disconcerting, but it's not so bad I guess...

Ok so I can't make up my mind on this one. Not too suprising now is it???

craftzine.com

The Second Life of Gene Yang - Asia Arts

2008-04-02T15:16:00.000+10:30

The Second Life of Gene Yang

By Ada Tseng

After an award-winning year in 2006, American Born Chinese creator Gene Yang continues to build an audience for graphic novels, one lecture at a time.

The original golden age of comics refers to a period around the 1940s, when the comic book was a popular mainstream art form in America. It was a time when the special effects technology of film and television was still in its developmental stages, and therefore skilled comic book artists could create graphics for science fiction stories that were more visually-convincing (not to mention less expensive) than any other storytelling medium.

Over the years, the graphic novel has taken a backseat to film and literature, but some comic book artists and critics -- including Douglas Wolk, author of Reading Comics: How Graphic Novels Work and What They Mean -- are arguing that there is a new golden age of comics currently in full swing.

A very interesting article looking at the comics and graphic novels. Has a focus on American Born Chinese author Gene Yang. Yang's book is one that has been on my wish list for so long, that I forget what it was all about now.

Yes, I'd like to renew this, please...

2008-03-12T17:30:00.000+10:30

A library user in Finland returns a 100 year old loan!!!

This would have to be one of the most amazing stories I have read about in a long time. Especially given that a lot of the public libraries herre in South Australia simply haven;t been around that long!

Yes, I'd like to renew this, please...

Pop-Up Books Meet Photoshop

2007-12-12T14:40:00.002+10:30

these would bring a new definition to the word education...

Pop-Up Books Meet Photoshop

Election results - an American view

2007-11-28T14:33:00.000+10:30

A fascinating take on the Australian Election to be found on Asia Media. I personally haven't been following it very much and shocked everyone at work when I asked who won 2 days after the fact. Yes it's offical, I would reather read a book or watch an anime than watch TV or the Newspaper. As for the radio, what radio???

TV Shows: Princely Affairs

2007-11-21T11:56:00.000+10:30

Princely Affairs

By Julie Hong

All the rage in Korea this summer, The 1st Shop of Coffee Prince brings homosexuality into the spotlight in a tale of gender-bending mixups, but ultimately loses its intrigue when it reverts back to a traditional story of cutesy straight coupling.

In a country where feminine guys and boyish girls can easily pass off as the opposite sex, it only makes sense to make a romantic comedy series about the mixed-up relationships that emerge from a society that welcomes (and appreciates) androgyny. Until the Korean series Coffee Prince recently came to a disappointing close, faithful viewers have been glued to the television screen every Monday and Tuesday nights. Being a Coffee addict myself, I would obediently come home early just to get my cup's worth.

Asia Pacific Arts: Princely Affairs

Joost - Free online TV - Comedy, cartoons, sports, music and more - Download today

2007-10-08T10:47:00.000+09:30

Thought this was rather interesting, I can't test it however - no broadband just dial up *sob*

Joost - Free online TV - Comedy, cartoons, sports, music and more - Download today

The Buff Barbarian Song, a Gilbert and Sullivan Parody

2007-09-28T15:49:00.000+09:30

The latest fun thing I've found, a Xena song 'The Buff Barbarian Song, a Gilbert and Sullivan Parody' combines two of my favourite things. Women scantily clad in leather armor and Gilbert and Sullivan's Pirates of Penzance. Yes that's about as camp as you can get... Well what can a girl say???

The Ultimate Meme Database

2007-09-04T12:14:00.000+09:30

Yet another fasicinating site ---> The Ultimate Meme Database

Yes it's official, I have too much time on my hands!!!

LOLCATS.COM - Funny Lolcat Pictures

2007-09-04T12:11:00.000+09:30

Phase one of I'm losing my mind.... LOLCATS.COM - Funny Lolcat Pictures I have been going through all my old posts and drafts and finding all these half arsed posts that I never finished posting.

Can't even remember now what this was about, aside from some really funny photoshoped photos of cats.

hmm......

Here's some more ---> Lol cats on Wikipedia

The brighter side of book banning

2007-09-04T10:29:00.000+09:30

Banned Books Week

I must admit this is one of the few American celebrations that I wish we had here is Australia.

This article is a wonderful reflection on the ideology and things that get books banned, not only over time but now too. I especially like the references to Harry Potter as I'm very much in HP mode lately.

Almost throwbacks in such a society are people who want to impose their standards. But now, instead of banning adult books, they say they do it for the kiddies. The ALA's annual listing of most challenged books comes from public and school libraries. So, the list is heavily tilted toward, well, Harry Potter. And why are we not surprised?

In one adventure or another, Harry became the most challenged character of the 21st century after his creator, J.K. Rowling, discovered what it takes to make kids want to read. The Potter phenomenon preceded the merchandising hype by at least two volumes.

The first complaints were about sorcery, but later gripes expanded to include inappropriate behavior among sorcerers. The kid disobeys elders, gets into trouble, mixes with good and bad witches and con men and kills someone. Oh, wait. That's the beloved The Wizard of Oz.

The brighter side of book banning

Some truely beautiful pieces of jewels and other pretties

2007-08-15T13:51:00.000+09:30

Heavenly... oh for an unlimited credit card!! I could spend hours in this place!

MOB (Modern Objects of Beauty)

The Book Hunter @ ///shigabooks.com///

2007-08-10T11:47:00.000+09:30

This is soo cool!!! check it out!!!

Bookhunter

The year is 1973. A priceless book has been stolen from the Oakland Public Library. A crack team of Bookhunters (aka. library police) have less than three days to recover the stolen item. It's a race against the clock as our heroes use every tool in their arsenal of library equipment to find the book and the mastermind who stole it.

While this story is based on an actual case, it has been highly fictionalized. I took some liberties with architecture as well. For example, the library of this comic does not in fact exist. It is a hybrid of Oakland Main and the old Berkeley Central library

///shigabooks.com///

A Book Reading Meme (Whatever)

2007-08-10T11:45:00.000+09:30

Too Funny!!! A Book Reading Meme (Whatever)

Librarian Haikus - A Librarian's Guide to Etiquette: Reference, Redefining

2007-08-09T13:09:00.000+09:30

A Librarian's Guide to Etiquette: Reference, Redefining

I pass pained faces
at front desk - thank god I work
in Preservation.

This worthy post is gorgeous!!! Especially the new names she has come up with for reference desk. My personal fav... 'The Place Where the Magic Happens'

But the final touch would have to be the wonderful haikus written in the comments.

Check it out!!! one of the best intellectual giggles I have had in while!

Librarians love balls???

2007-08-09T13:03:00.000+09:30

Librarians love balls - Librarian Avengers

Too Funny!!! check it out! Now I only have to find out exactly what she was referring to

Getting out into the community « Library Nation

2007-08-09T12:18:00.000+09:30

Getting out into the community « Library Nation

Academic libraries have a need for public exposure, and specialized collections might bring in more courtesy borrowers. Like the Fine Arts Library where I work… it would be great to do some community building with the artist, musician, dance, and theatre folks in Austin (”Live Music Capital of the World”). We’ve got great resources for them to use, and maybe they’ll remember us when they’re finding a home for their artistic collections

WOW! just what I've been trying to get my workmates to think about. Because It's such a small library and they dont use it very often they seem to forget that it exists... in fact one when asked if we had a librarian said no and then said that we have someone who looks after it but no librarian. OUCH!!! Itai!!

She actually wrote in a report that we had a room in which we stored resources and that we 'referred to as a library'. OK perhaps I need to work more on my workmates first before I start pushing the library going out idea...

The Big One « Library Nation

2007-08-09T12:10:00.000+09:30

The Big One « Library Nation

I’ve learned over the years that I am fairly controlling… I love it when delegation works, and I love watching my teammates succeed, but sometimes it just seems easier (and safer) to do things myself. I really have to watch myself here because I know that this could lead to overly-controlling, dominating behavior that crushes the creativity and input of others. I’m glad I was made aware of it early on while I can try and redirect those impulses in a more positive direction.

I love this comment as it sums me up perfectly!!! The library that I work in is a sole person library and I often find my self doing just that. *Doing it myself* Most of the people in the office here are not as literate computer wise as myself and so I often find it much easier to just simply do the work myself. This is mostly just the IT stuff but it is amazing how much I do that could be done by some one else. Ho Hum

Anyway, Procrastination is not a good thing so it's back to work I go!!!

Friday Funny

2007-06-08T19:26:00.001+09:30

I love this one...

The 2007 version of I WILL SURVIVE

SING IT GIRLS!!! (Maybe in your head, if you are reading this at work!)

Ready... Set... Go...

At first I was afraid, I was petrified.
When you said you had 10 inches, Lord I almost died!
But I'd spent so many years just waiting for a man that long,
That I grew strong,
And I knew that I could take you on...

But there you are, another lie,
I was ready for a Big Mac and you've brought me a French Fry!
I should have known that it was bullshit, just a sad pathetic dream,
Should have known there was no Anaconda lurking in those jeans!

Go on now - go, walk out the door,
Don't you promise me 10 inches, then turn up with only 4!
Weren't you a brat to think I wouldn't find you out!?
Don't you know we're only joking when we say size don't count??!!

[Chorus]
I will survive! I will survive!
Cuz as long as I have batteries,
My sex life's gonna thrive!
I will always have good sex,
With a handful of latex!
I will survive! I will survive! ...Hey! Hey!

It took all my self control not to laugh out loud,
When I saw your little weiner standing tall and proud!
But to hell with your ego and to hell with all your needs,
Now I'm saving all my lovin' for a cordless multispeed!

Book Review - A Man Named Dave

2007-05-08T19:24:00.001+09:30

A Man Named Dave
Dave Pelzer
Orion - isbn 0752844083

First of all, let me state categorically that this is NOT the usual type of book that I read. I don't like reading anything too unpleasant, for me reading is a healing exercisae, not an activity that I use to plumb someones darkest hour. I have my own dark hours to deal with, without adding someone else to the equation. That being said, I truely enjoyed this book!

The third in the triology that looks at Dave Pelzers abused childhood and subsequent evolution into an independant, free thinking, responsible adult is truely amazing, and inspiring. Dave touches on the traumatic with such a light and delicate touch that the reader is left with an understanding without being emotionally wrung out. His struggle to do the right thing, to understand why these things happened, his touching reunion with his father, and his eventual forgiveness for his mother are astounding. But for me, I think the best part was when he truely began to care for himself.I haven't read the previous two books, but feel that I haven't lost anything from that. The story reads as a stand alone quite well!

I could write about his courage in "bearing all", his joy in his son, the softly dramatic portrayl of his childhood, and the sweetly poignant moments with his love. But I don't think that I could do justice to it!

In the end all I can say is this: READ THIS BOOK! It will mesmerise you from beginning to end, but not just out of saddness but from joy as well!!!

--shanchan

Ok bad/naughty day at work!!!

2007-05-07T12:07:00.000+09:30

No I do have something better to be doing!!!

More Library clothes etc

Pimp my Firefox! Curtesey of Jessamyn West @ Librarian.net

Lolibrarians

The Librarian in Black - A little something about Google

2007-05-07T11:43:00.000+09:30

Scary little article on the latest developments from Google

librarianinblack.typepad.com

I think the scariest thing about this one is the comment about giving our work to Google and not reading the terms and conditions!

Cool Librarian Gear!!!

2007-05-07T11:34:00.000+09:30

Just cruising the sites of the world when I should be working, and found this one

http://www.cafepress.com/curmudgeony

One of the best library sites I have come across in a while!!! I want so many of the t-shirts, it’s a shame I can’t wear them at work!!!

Woah, back home then out again!

2007-04-29T00:33:00.001+09:30

It seems that my whole world is upside down! I got back from a great weekend down the Eyre and spent the week at work being a goood kid and now I'm out in the country again. This time its with the other family! The kids and I have just come back from dancing up a storm at the pub and having a great time! Mind you it looked like we weren't going to make it at one stage!

We had car troubles from the start, and with the amazing rain we have been having the roads were slippery to start with! We got nearly outside of town when it all started, the wind screen wiper on the driver side stopped working, and we were right at the beginning of the freeway! So we had to pull over and fix it! So I, wearing my 'this is what a feminist looks like' t-shirt is under the hood with a car full of people waiting to go.

We had to pull over several times before we had reached the edge of the city limits. One of those times we had found a stable that opened onto the road and pulled into that to fix it. In the end it was when we had pulled into a truck stop and a nice guy from Beaurepairs (spelling?) helped us by taking off the loverly wiper and replacing it with the other one. Thanks a lot mate!

After a few hours driving, going the wrong way, detouring etc. We finally made it! Yay! 15 mins before the kitchen closed at the pub. So I got my birthday dinner after all! Now it's nearly one in the morning and I'm not in the mood for sleeping but had to leave the pub cos kids can't stay there after 12. Oh well, we only have to get up early in the morning to go to mass any way!

Nite nite all, sweet dreams and all that! Keep your fingers crossed, we have to drive back tomorrow!

--shanchan

Bus trip from hell...or not!

2007-04-18T22:07:00.001+09:30

Well it's somewhat late and we're only half way to Ceduna and the little lass with me is no nearer to sleeping. I know that I need to sleep too, but can't seem to find the ability to.

My cousin who is travelling with us was late as per normal. I shouldn't have been surprised by that!! But then we get told that we can't sit near each other!!! That totally sucks!! I know that is just a small thing but it would have made things so much more fun. Oh well, could be worse. He could have been left behind!

Anyway, I'm going to try to sleep now, and see if things don't look rosier in the morning!!!

--shanchan

Off to the country, tra la la! tra la la! tra la la la la!!!

2007-04-18T08:06:00.000+09:30

Yay! It's that time now, we're off to see the wizard, the Wonderful Wizard of Oz!

I have just sid goodbye to the first of the family to leave for the front! And later today, child no 1 and I will be climbing aboard the bus with a couple of others to go to Ceduna to visit my granmother for her 80th birthday!!

A truely auspicious occasion!

so, ja ne

be good!

Ceduna.net

Ceduna on Wiki

Uke or Seme??? Which are you???

2007-04-06T12:08:00.000+09:30

Flaming Uke
Take Are you a Seme or an Uke? today!
Created with Rum and Monkey's Personality Test Generator.

One of the easiest uke to recognize by sight. Your flamboyantly gay behavior makes it easy for seme to prey upon you, and that is exactly what you want, and you usually have a few tricks up your sleeve as well. You most often have colored hair, designer clothes, and eyes that are constantly roaming, searching for the perfect partner for you. You are best paired with the Chibi Seme, as you don't mind what they look like, as long as they're a seme.

*Sigh* it appears to be official!

Little red

2007-04-04T22:24:00.000+09:30

This has to be the cutest picture I have come across in a while! Enjoy!
--shanchan

Desirable things!!! - 2007 Booklist

2006-12-08T11:59:00.000+10:30

Can I admit to being totally in love with books???

I suppose there is no point in denying it! I have through various methods come up with my wish list for this coming year. Please note that this is a work in progress and will be expanded as time goes on....

Blart by Dominic Barker
Goblins of Labyrinth: 20th Anniversary Edition by Brian Froud
Bareback By Kit Whitfield
Complete Wrecks Unfortunate Events Box Set by Lemony Snickett

I think that's enough drooling for now!

Will Farrell....Phantom of the Opera????

2006-11-08T19:20:00.000+10:30

Musicals have died today....

Ero Games - a history

2006-10-17T22:08:00.000+09:30

An article on the history of ero games and an interesting theory as how the computer market developed because of them.

I'm not sure that I would say that this is all true, but it's bizarre enough to be true!

Eroge

Fab AMV!!!

2006-07-26T20:25:00.000+09:30

Check this out!!!

This would have to be one of the best AMVs I have ever seen!

Unshelved comic strip

2006-07-18T15:36:00.000+09:30

I've just found this comic strip all about a young adult librarian!!!

It's great!

overduemedia.com/archive

New Layout!!!

2006-04-25T15:36:00.000+09:30

Well after about 3 hours coding I have finally finished my new layout.

I use a template that I got from Blogskins.com by Photokicho! There are a few funny quirks to it but I'm hoping that it's not too hard to navigate through it.

If there is too much of a problem with it, I'll just have to re-do it with a new template or something. We'll see how it goes.

Hope you like it and have fun!!!!

Buh Bye!!!

Top 20 Sci-Fi of all time

2006-04-19T12:59:00.000+09:30

1 Frank Herbert: Dune
2 Orson Scott Card: Ender's Game
3 Isaac Asimov: Foundation
4 William Gibson: Neuromancer
5 Robert A Heinlein: Stranger in a Strange Land
6 Ursula K Le Guin: The Left Hand of Darkness
7 Larry Niven: Ringworld
8 Robert A Heinlein: The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
9 George Orwell: Nineteen Eighty-Four
10 Dan Simmons: Hyperion
11 Douglas Adams: The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy
12 Joe Haldeman: The Forever War
13 Frederik Pohl: Gateway
14 Ursula K Le Guin: The Dispossessed
15 David Brin: Startide Rising
16 Walter M Miller: A Canticle for Leibowitiz
17 Harlan Ellison [ed]: Dangerous Visions
18 Ray Bradbury: The Martian Chronicles
19 Alfred Bester: The Stars My Destination
20 Arthur C Clark: Childhood's End

Taken from Newsline Spring 2004 Issue

Well I'm not sure that I can agree with that list entirely. There is no mention of Andre Norton, the definitions used are not listed so I would have to say that it's not really definitive. I would have a few different authors in my top ten list.

Also, although not having read many of the ones listed, I have read enough of some of the authors listed, more specifically Frank Herbert, Isaac Asimov, Robert A Heinlein, Arthur C Clark, & Ray Bradbury, and cannot honestly say that I enjoyed their work in anyway. There was a lack of believable female characters or none at all. Some times the females were in such a oppressed/subservient role that I couldn't even finish the books.

Now I'm not saying that in women's writing things are any different for the men, for example Daughters of a Coral Dawn by Katherine V. Forrest, that they were often written for a select audience and not "commercial" in any form. Mind you Daughters is a classic example of lesbian pulp fiction so I think that would say it all!!!

You know lifes little bumps has hit you when....

2006-04-18T21:28:00.000+09:30

you have nothing better to do with your time than to google your name and those of your family and friends.

Me
Breandan
Eilish

Oh God I'm bored!!! LOL

The Earth is not safe enough!!!

2006-04-18T21:18:00.000+09:30

My work mates and I have been in hysterics over an article that I read today.

Apparently there is a company in... wait for it... America! That has the ultimate data backup storage idea, yep you guessed it, on the moon!!!

I mean, how ridiculous can you get? What is going to happen to the Earth in the next ten years that is going require storing data off planet?

As they say... only in America!

myneedleisbiggerthanyourneedle

2006-04-17T19:49:00.000+09:30

It must be my sense of humour but I laughed when I saw the title of this blog. All about a bloke who knits! not too bad, now we just have to get him posting a little more of his fascinating stuff!!!!!

myneedleisbiggerthanyourneedle

Signs - Sources not verified but damn they're hilarious anyway!!!

2006-04-17T19:32:00.000+09:30

Friends don't let friends take home ugly men
Women's restroom
Starboard, Dewey Beach, DE

Beauty is only a light switch away.
Perkins Library, Duke University, Durham, NC

If life is a waste of time,
and time is a waste of life,
then let's all get wasted together
and have the time of our lives.
Armand's Pizza, Washington, DC

Remember, it's not, "How high are you?"
it's "Hi, how are you?"
Rest stop off Route 81, West Virginia

Fighting for peace is like screwing for virginity.
The Bayou, Baton Rouge, LO

At the feast of ego everyone leaves hungry.
Bentley's House of Coffee and Tea, Tucson, AZ

It's hard to make a comeback when you haven't been anywhere.
Written in the dust on the back of a bus,
Wickenburg, AZ

Make love, not war.
-Hell, do both GET MARRIED!
Women's restroom
The Filling Station, Bozeman, MT

If voting could really change things, it would be illegal.
Revolution Books
New York, New York.

If pro is opposite of con,then what is the opposite of progress? Congress!
Men's restroom House of Representatives,
Washington, DC

Express Lane: Five beers or less
Sign over one of the urinals
Ed Debevic's, Phoenix, AZ

You're too good for him.
Sign over mirror in Women's restroom
Ed Debevic's, Beverly Hills,CA.

No wonder you always go home alone.
Sign over mirror in Men's restroom,
Ed Debevic's, Beverly Hills,CA

A Woman's Rule of Thumb: If it has tires or testicles, you're going to have trouble with it.
Women's restroom

Carrot, Egg or Coffee? - Yea olde inspirational email

2006-04-17T19:00:00.000+09:30

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil, without saying a word.

In about twenty minutes, she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me what you see."

"Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied.

Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft.

The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg.

Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma.

The daughter then asked, "What does it mean, mother?"

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity - boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak.

The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened.

The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water instead of the water changing them.

"Which are you?" she asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?"

oh no more bloggy things!!!

2005-12-07T20:52:00.000+10:30

You Are a Skin Deep Sweetheart

You may be supermodel gorgeous or a plain Jane.

It really doesn't matter, because you're confident and secure.

You don't go out looking like a slob, but you are low maintenance.

You have better things to worry about than whether your nails are the right shade!

Are You Obsessed With Your Looks?

yeah I know.....I need to get a life!!!

More blog things

2005-12-07T20:39:00.000+10:30

Your Ideal Relationship is Casual Dating

Maybe you're looking for love...

But mostly you're looking for fun.

You could get serious with the right person.

For now, though, you're enjoying playing the field.

What's Your Ideal Relationship?

Everyone Else Has Had More Sex Than Me

2005-12-07T20:06:00.000+10:30

LOL

Read what you like into that one!!!

Nah really it's this really great flash animation.....

Check it out-------->Here

Oh no! Not again!!!!!!

2005-11-09T23:30:00.000+10:30

Your Blog Should Be Purple

You're an expressive, offbeat blogger who tends to write about anything and everything.

You tend to set blogging trends, and you're the most likely to write your own meme or survey.

You are a bit distant though. Your blog is all about you - not what anyone else has to say.

What Color Should Your Blog or Journal Be?

Yet another quiz.......

2005-11-09T23:28:00.000+10:30

Your Personality Profile

You are dependable, popular, and observant.

Deep and thoughtful, you are prone to moodiness.

In fact, your emotions tend to influence everything you do.

You are unique, creative, and expressive.

You don't mind waving your freak flag every once and a while.

And lucky for you, most people find your weird ways charming!

The World's Shortest Personality Test

The Torrens over floweth

2005-11-08T20:45:00.000+10:30

Adelaide experienced the biggest rains in the last couple of days, so much so that we've received double the November average in the last 8 days!!!! The last couple of days they were saying that Adelaide had the most rain at this time of the year in 120 years! Well, it's hard to say whether or not it's true but it has been pretty torrendous!

On the way home from work, I was surprised by the traffic slowing down on the River Torrens bridge on Henley Beach Road. So much so that I'm surprised to hear that there hasn't been any accidents, what with the slow traffic and the people all over the place. The bridge was crawling with people and the banks were covered as well.

Last week we went for a bike ride in this very same spot, sat near the banks and had a picnic tea. 5 days later and we couldn't even get near the area where we were only last week.

The kids and I went mad snapping pictures with the phone so here's a few.....

The path here runs below the cycle path, but was a little way back from the river bank, the tree you can see is on the edge of the bank.

It's hard to see here but the dark blobs in the middle of the water are trees and bushes from the edge of the river bank. The water in the river is usually a little below them.

Eilish and the park bench, again usually further back from the bank. You can't see it here but the high water mark is about halfway between Eilish and where the water is now.

Eilish and the park bench again!

Breandan in front of the bridge, you may not be able to see very clearly, but the cycle path that leads under the bridge is completely underwater! There is not so many people on the bridge now but only an hour earlier the entire side there was covered with people. As for the cycle path, there were more people walking and cycling along than I have ever seen along here before.

Where the kids are standing is the top of the stairs above the weir next to the bridge. There are several steps down to the normal level of the river to a weir that you are able walk across....Not now!!

We are on the other side of the bridge now, looking north. And yes what you can see is a couple of silly cyclists who decided to have a go at getting through! They didn't get very far and one went a little further along the bank and lowered his bike from the shoulder of the bridge. The water reached 3/4 of the way up the handle bars, it was so deep.

A closer shot of the cycle path where it disappears under the bridge, you can see the tracks of where the intrepid explorers went in... and the fence along side of the path has debris hanging off of it.

A shot of Eilish looking north from the bridge. Now usually you can see the artificial wetlands and weir created to cleanse the river. Even with the most rain we've had you could always see where the water was tumbling over the weir, now it's so high there is no obvious indication of the wetlands.

I believe that this sign in the middle of the river is one of the ones on the edge of the bank saying that there is to be no swimming in the river or something of that sort. Of course now you can't even get close enough to read it!

This would have to be my favourite shot. It's absolutely gorgeous and you wouldn't know that there are houses right next to the river, behind the tree on the left hand side (you might be able to see the fences just below the bend in the branch). It reminds me of the River Murray, but much higher up stream. This section of the river is only 200 - 500 metres up river from the bridge, but being much narrower the speed of the water racing through is amazing!!!

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

A couple others and then it's off to bed!!

2005-11-07T01:39:00.000+10:30

Your Beauty lies in Contradiction. Controversial, unpredictable, and
never what anyone expects.You appearance and your personality are two
opposite things. Even your appearance sends different signals to different
people. To some you may look innocent and sweet, to others you look mysterious
and intimidating at the same time. No one ever knows what to expect with you.
You are a little bit of everything all mixed together. You can be watching
the football game with the guys one minute and the next out shopping at the
mall. You seem to be almost a different person every time you meet someone, but
at the same time you know exactly who you are and there is always that one
thing that makes you you. You enjoy keeping people guessing and people love how
completely unpredictable you are.

Some ThingsThat Represent You:

Element:Fire, Water Animal: Chameleon Color:
Dark Tones, LightTones Song: Everything by Alanis Morriesette
Expression:Half-smile

Gemstone:Opal Mythological Creature: Gryphon,
Half-breeds Planet: Mars Hair
Color: Red Eye Color:Brown

Quote:"Appearances can be deceiving."

Where Does Your Beauty Lie? ..::Detailed Results::..
brought to you by Quizilla

Mildly amusing, I find that a lot of these are not really worth posting and don't really reflect what I think I am like, but I still love them LOL

You're a Mystical. You don't fit in in any way and
most people just find you weird, but you are in
a group. You are respected by everyone, even
though you're just really different.

What kind of group person are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

I must admit though, I love anyone that tells me I'm weird....work it out, I don't know why, jut it feels right :-P

Yes I have been quizzing again!!!

2005-11-07T01:06:00.000+10:30

I know it's such a silly little thing to do but I just love em!!!

Here's the latest I have done:

You're just the happy go-lucky type. You might have
your pet peeves, but other than that, you're
mainly calm. Blending in with your
surroundings, you're the type of person who
everyone likes. Usually it's you who cracks
jokes at social gatherings - after all,
laughter is the best medicine. Sometimes you
pretend to be stupid, but in all actuality, you
could be the next Einstein.

What Type of Soul Do You Have ?
brought to you by Quizilla

This one's great and quess what??? She even looks like me.....well if you take away the blonde hair and have short dark curly hair with a blue streak, and add green eyes, and I've got a feeling that I'm bustier than her LOL the funky glasses are just right though!

But you get the point, yes???

Dark magician. You love the dark because of it's
beauty and just the life that no-one else sees.
Mysterious, calm, quiet... But that doesn't
mean you're not friendly!

What kind of dark person are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

Well this one is just plain cute, which is a word I seriously don't use around myself. I am not cute!!!

Well it's that time again!!!!

2005-11-07T00:54:00.000+10:30

Yes that's right Shannon has been on one of her funks again!

I have been having quite a lot of trouble doing things these days, just getting out of bed is often more of a hassle than anything. Like today, I woke up with this massive headache and could barely move without my head pounding. So, what do I do??? Stay in bed of course!!! And then when it finally goes away I stay in bed as there is no real reason to get up.

BAD!!!

There is a reason for it of course, just it's not a pretty one. I have depression and it seriously fucks up my day. So I try to do things that are fun and think of fun things to do just to make the day a little sunnier.

This is why I don't post here as often as I would like to. I have this then about writing about things in my life. I don't see most of my life as being particularly fantastic and have a thing about writing about ordinary things that happen daily, but because they are ordinary to me doesn't mean that they are to anyone else. But I don't think that writing about them is a particularly great thing to do. Also writing about how crap things are or I feel is not a subject that I would like to read about and also being a very private person, I find it very difficult to put such personal thoughts down in a public sphere where anyone could read them.

So I'm trying to get over this bug of mine and work on something that is positive for all of us!!!!

Wish me luck!!!

Toodles!!

Mercedes Lackey ----> A Feminist???? Part 2

2005-10-11T19:10:00.000+09:30

I decided to research this a little further. At work, it being a feminist library, they are very careful about what goes on the shelf. And Misty's works are considered by one of the collective as too fluffy and not serious enough. Well, obviously I don't agree otherwise I wouldn't be writing this. I for one, when I am reading for pleasure, don't like to read anything that is based too much on reality. So crime, drama etc are out. I want to escape to a world that reflects how I would like to see my life, or my world. A place where your face is not your calling card. Where you are taken at face value and valued for your abilities.

Yes I could dream on a little more but I think that it would be a problem if I got too caught up in the fantasy and forget about reality!

Out of interest, I have been searching for sites that discuss feminism and Mercedes Lackey and Have been having a great deal of trouble finding anything that is recent.

But anyway here is what I have found so far.....

A review from http://www.feministsf.org/femsf/reviews/lackey.m.html dated 8/13/95.

This site also seems to have a great mailing list for the discussion of feminist sci fi and fantasy....great!!!

"Because of the prominence of female and homosexual characters in her high fantasy works, she has been criticized for writing "fluffy" fantasy novels which bear little or no resemblance to real or pseudo-real history. Given that fantasy is an escape from reality, the relevance of this criticism is somewhat questionable."

Quoted from http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Mercedes_Lackey a great encyclopedia article on Misty which is very similar to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes_Lackey Curious.....

Well enough of that now, I have looked for a while to find stuff on Misty and feminism and can't seem to find much at all, and even less that has been written in the last 3 years.

That is simply sad.

It's not beer o'clock yet, cyberbludger

2005-10-11T19:01:00.000+09:30

Good old Aussie linguistic culture is alive and kicking, thanks to terms like
dunny budgie, pash rash, cyberbludger and beer o'clock.

For the
uninitiated a dunny budgie is a blowfly, a pash rash is the result of excessive
kissing, a cyberbludger plays internet games on the boss's time, and beer
o'clock is any time you feel like a drink.

All have become official
entries in the latest version of the Macquarie dictionary.

Wow! Just what we've always wanted!!! A dictionary with all those aussie phrases that drive every other English speaker nuts!

Seriously though, it is very heartening to finally start to see true Australian language showing up in our dictionaries, I, for one, am getting rather sick and tired of the American bias that our culture is slowly assuming.

check out the full article ~ http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=66711

Yet more Quizzes!!!

2005-10-05T21:12:00.000+09:30

Try this one, I got goth, which is just what i prefer out of the two anyway!

You're Gothic.
Alone, cold, and distant, you're typically the
social outcast. You often find yourself in a
crowd full of people, while being the lonliest
person in the world, wanting something more
from life. Besides that, you're a damn
creative person, and you're always drowning in
your next "project." You're life may
seem dark and gloomy, with out much detail, but
in reality, it is quite the opposite. You
choose to keep your life rich by burying you
head in books that require thinking, and
writing people that confuses the common folk.
The world is a cold place--And you understand
that to the fullest.

Punk or Gothic?
brought to you by Quizilla

And here's another one!

Your a vampire congrats! YOu live for the darkness
because you can't go in the light.you live of
blood but you don't kill when feeding(only if
your evil you will)Being immortal is a a very
lonely road,but somehow you deal.YOur rich and
money is not an object since if you wanted to
you could rob a bank!(that would be so cool!)
Your saying:Bite me and I'll bite back.

What creature of darkness or you?(COOL PICS)CHANGED
brought to you by Quizilla

True Confessions.....Quizzes

2005-10-05T21:01:00.000+09:30

Ok Yes I will admit it, I have a shocking weakness for quizzes, especially those of a personality kind.

I have just found 4 different ones that are new to me and and three of them are on Fruit Basket characters. That's right I like Fruit Basket!! Both the manga and anime!!!

So here are the 4 quizzes I found and my results.....

You're orange. You're strong and have the reflexes
of a tiger. You're overly protective, and
those skills come in handy... You're a natural
person, with a taste for natural foods (I mean
organic, here.). Well, that's not true.
...Just food in general! You're as
quick-witted as your reflexes, and sometimes
painfully logical. You love wild animals and
pets. (Preferably wild animals!) You're a
natural person, and a true child of Gaia.
You're a stimulating, and outgoing person. You
enjoy making people think, especially with your
infectiously spontaneous attitude. You're a
generally optomistic person, with a love for
showing off all of your good traits. Although
many people may see you as strung-out, or just
plain weird, you're very down-to-earth and
humble. You're incredibly sweet (as this
color's other name!), and you care about people
in general. As this color would describe,
you're energetic beyond all human
comprehension. You've got a nack for drawing,
and you enjoy it, too. When it comes to
school, you're a good listener with an even
better memory. You're studious... At least
when you need to be!

What color are you? (Amazingly detailed & accurate--with pics!)
brought to you by Quizilla

You're Ayame - the snake.

Which Fruits Basket Character Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

You are the very weird Ayame Sohma.You love to hang
around with Hatori he is your basically role
modle.You also love to be very weird with your
cousin and best friend Shigure.other than that
you have a lot of emtional problems inside.You
didn't really know you had a little brother
untill later and when you did you just brushed
him off.You now wish that you had differently
and want to close the gap between you two and
with the help of Tohru you might be able to get
really close.

Which fruits basket character are you inside?
brought to you by Quizilla

You're Ayame Sohma!
You have a weird relationship with your family...
then again you're kind of weird yourself...

What Anime Fruits Basket Character Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

Guess what the irony is???

Aya is one of my two favourite fuba characters!! Along with Shigure of course!

Breast Cancer Myths Part 2

2005-10-03T21:31:00.000+09:30

I find it amazing that women don't go and have their breasts checked when they find something wrong/different!

When I was 19 I found a lump and went straight to the doc and had it looked at. Just as well as three months later, after seeing the specialist, it was removed. It was a very frightening experience and one I don't care to repeat. Fortunately it wasn't cancer but something entirely different, but it still had to come out.

Please, please, please, go see your doctor if there is anything different about your breasts!!!

Breast cancer Myths

2005-10-03T21:10:00.000+09:30

Survey shows breast cancer myths persist

Wednesday Sep 28 18:00 AEST
By Sheryl Taylor
National Nine News medical reporter

Breast cancer kills 2500 Australian women each year, but the results of a national survey on women's' knowledge about the cancer show that many are ignoring risk factors and delaying early detection tests, putting their lives at risk.

The survey of 3000 women found myths are often believed ahead of lifesaving facts.

"It's frightening," says Professor Don Iverson, from the National Breast Cancer Centre.

"Not just because it's the biggest cancer killer, but because it's the program we spent the most money on."

Half the women surveyed thought breast cancer was a young person's disease.

"But the risk of breast cancer increases with increasing age," says Dr Helen Zorbas, from the centre.

For full article Click Here

Mercedes Lackey ----> A Feminist????

2005-10-02T11:55:00.000+09:30

I don't know but the book I read last night makes me question.

A bit of background....I have always loved Misty's books, They have a heart, soul and are just great reads. But most importantly she is woman friendly. Her stories are either about women or are based in a world were equality is an accepted reality. I love the way Valdemar doesn't have a state religion and that there is no one true way, but many. Misty's books are like a balm for the soul, especially the Valdemar ones. Now I'm not saying that there is no nasty stuff in them, because there is. And not every book ends in a traditional happy ever after, but every time I read one of her books, I put it done with a smile on my soul as she reaffirms everytime, my beliefs in true equality. The kind of equality were no one is judged by their gender, race, religion or any other kind of bias, but by their own personal abilities and actions.

Anyway to get back to my fist comment, last night I finished reading The Serpent's Shadow, one of her fairy tale books. And in one of the chapters there is a section where the main character is talking/thinking about the suffragette movement and how she agrees with them. It does go on for a while, instead of being "a fleeting thought" which makes me ask the question...Is Mercedes Lackey a feminist??? And if so, then why haven't we seen more of the "feminist dogma" in her works??? Or is it just because her works are based in the ideal feminist utopia, that is why I have always liked them anyway???

I am not so much confused as curious, I must admit but whilst I have always recommended her books as a wonderful place to go to, I have never actively thought of her and feminism in the same heartbeat.

As I work in a feminist library, I often have "discussions" about whether or not an author is feminist, and what is it that makes an author a "feminist writer"? Is it the fact that they are a writer and a feminist, or because they only write feminist tracts???? My understanding of feminism is that it is all about equality and there is a difference between women friendly books and those that are separatist and those written by men that are not so women friendly. A lot of the fantasty/science fiction written by men, in the earlier years not so much now, were not particularly friendly towards women. They were placed in very low positions within the societies, or were property, or in some cases didn't feature in the books at all. But then having said that, there are some feminist fiction out there that have done exactly the same thing to men, so what does that say about the women???

Can a book only be feminist fiction if it is woman friendly and has a woman as it's main character??? Or can a book be considered feminist even if the main character is a man???

It bears thinking about I think, and it is one of those loverly questions that needs to be raised.

The Life and Times of a Forgotten Mat

2005-09-30T23:53:00.000+09:30

You have got to see this blog........I have never seen such an aimless piece of writing (we're not counting my own here). Well aimless is probably not a good word to use, but I love the Alien growth and the writers imagination is great!!!

If you want a giggle about a couple of wondering door mats then this is the blog for you!!!

Awesome act of honesty

2005-09-30T23:25:00.000+09:30

"Some people believe other people's money will never bring them good luck. Jitendra Chirag is one of them, so when he found $10,000 neatly stashed in an unsealed envelope on his walk to the train station on Wednesday, he immediately knew he would hand it in to police."

I couldn't believe it when I read this article, I suppose it raises all these questions about what would you do If you found that much money just laying around.

I'm not sure exactly what I would do but I hope that I'm never put in the position of having to find out!!!

For the full article go here

The Fool from Kaleidostar

2005-09-30T21:03:00.000+09:30

My kids and I are going mad over this great show we have discovered!

Kaleidostar!!!

I even love it which is saying something as it is made by the same people that made Sailor Moon, and I am not the biggest fan of that one.

A quick run down of what it is about... Sora is a 16 year old (I think) Japanese girl who flies to America to take part in an audition for Kaleidostage, a Circ De Soleil style circus.

She misses the audition and the story just runs from there. There are lots of other loveable characters in the show. Most adorable being Ken who is in love with Sora.

But I would have to say that my most favourite character has to be The Fool, the Spirit of the Stage. He is so stylish, full of himself and just great! I can see dolls of him because he is so gorgeous. Well, at least I would buy one if there were any here in Australia.

The new website for work

2005-09-30T20:53:00.000+09:30

I have been working very hard lately. One of the projects I have been working on is the new website for the library in which I work. the current site can be found here. But I am working on a newer version which can be found here.

I hope that it's gets approved by the collective, so that we can put it up on the real site.

One of the things that I'm really pleased with is the fact that we now have our own blog. It can be found at the library site but here's the direct link!!!

I used one of the premade templates available on Blogger and everyone so far that has seen it has been rapted in it!

Of if only the good things happened all the time!!!

Oh My God!!! It's been nearly a year since I last posted!

2005-07-26T13:50:00.000+09:30

I can't believe that it has been so long!!! Things have just been moving for me since the last I posted.

I had a bit of a blip in my love life! I met a loverly guy who just did things for me!!! LOL well lets say on the shag-o-meter he hit Oh My Gawd! But such is life *sigh* we are no longer seeing each other as he wouldn't accept that I had different priorities in life. He wanted to be No. 1 and couldn't accept that he was No. 1..... behind the kids & work!!!

Oh well no great loss. But we have remained friends so that's not so bad!

adios

The God - Pratchett

2004-10-27T21:55:00.000+09:30

I have just discovered this great web site on Terry Pratchett it's bloody brilliant!!! Especially if when reading his stuff you find a quote or something that sounds vaguely familiar and it has all of these annotations for the various different references in his many works.

Check it out!!!

Book addict goes into overdrive!!!!

2004-10-27T00:39:00.000+09:30

I don't know if you've heard of bookcrossing.com but I've been having a ball with it for a while now. The concept of registering and releasing books for people to read is one that is strangely addictive, especially for someone who is an avid book collector like myself. I have one hell of a time trying to cull my books when there is too many on my bookshelves, so giving them away, and not even knowing that the person who gets them will like/love them, is a real heartbreaker, but at the same time a huge thrill. I have released a few books now but have yet to get anyone to journal them.

I have been slowly registering all my books and this will take some time as I have shelves upon shelves of them!!! LOL

However patience will prevail! I have already had a couple of people ask for some of the ones I have registered but I am a little troubled by the fact that they expected me to send them the books without receiving anything in return, and we're talking international postage here!!!!

Oh well, It could be worse...they could be asking for one of my kids!!!!! LOL

Couple of bookcrossing elves doing their thing at a release site.

Anyway, time for bed and all that stuff!!!!

Catch ya again later!

Shannon