Monday, June 23, 2008
Weekly Quote W/E 21/06/08
It would be a stronger world, a stronger loving world, to die in." - John Cale
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Top Ten and thoughts on Music
I've wanted to do this for a bit and as I've got a bit of dead space to fill in I thought I'd post up the present top ten just to see how out of touch I am with current music. While fairly connected to music I tend only to listen to music I've already got an interest in and don't pay much attention to current stuff. As I'm no longer in school or Uni I din't tend to discuss music much and therefore I'm often unaware of current hits. I only really listen to radio in the car, which isn't that often and I only occasionally catch the music channels. I'm also very miserly so I don't often splash out on music unless I feel it's worth getting or it's tried and tested - it was a stretch for me to buy the new Coldplay album today, and that's mainly 'cause I saw the live gig last night! Anyway enough of the bla bla and on to the chart - I'll try to embed videos. Note that I am no music expert and opinions are purely what pops into my head.
10. Heartbreaker - Will.I.Am ft Cheryl Cole
10. Heartbreaker - Will.I.Am ft Cheryl Cole
Monday, June 16, 2008
Weekly Quote Double - W/E 14/06/08
"My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:
Look upon my works, ye mighty, and despair!"
- Ozymandias, Percy Bysshe Shelley
Look upon my works, ye mighty, and despair!"
- Ozymandias, Percy Bysshe Shelley
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Weekly Quote W/E 07/06/08
"Outside in the distance a wild cat did growl, two riders were approaching, the wind began to howl." - Bob Dylan
Friday, June 06, 2008
More on reading
I just thought I'd plug a nifty little application on Facebook called Visual Bookshelf which is a handy resource for readers on Facebook. You obviously have to have Facebook to use it and the idea is to use it to show off what you're currently reading, what you have stacked away on your shelf and the books you really want to get a hold of to your friends on it. Since I've been doing the same on my blog I've found this a handy resource to share with friends the books I have an interest in.
On the blog I only tend to post once I've finished a number of books so as to make a decent length post. This obviously makes posts few and far between so in the meantime I find Visual Bookshelf a handy way to give up to the minute updates on what I've been reading. If you've found yourself having an unhelpful obsession with wanting people to know about things you're interested in (and you probably do - I mean you have a blog after all don't you?!!) this can be a nice neat way to share with your friends on Facebook.
I deplore most applications on Facebook, thye are generally complete wastes of time and I usually eagerly click ignore when offered a chance to compare what kind of pokemon I'd be with someone I met once on holiday in 2003 or something similar. But this one is neat, tidy and about something worth sharing with friends - great literature. The program uses amazon as a resource so it can find your book and cover quickly so you can visually display your reads on your page. It is of course restricted to what's on amazon, but the selection is pretty big so most books shouldn't dissapoint.
So if you're like me and like telling people about good books you've been reading then I'd check this one out if you're on Facebook.
Word of the post: Quibble –noun
| 1. | an instance of the use of ambiguous, prevaricating, or irrelevant language or arguments to evade a point at issue. |
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
Stuff I've forgotten recently (4.3)
Oh yeah - knew I'd left something out, oh well makes for another post doesn't it?!
Analog Magazine, June 2008 edition - Stanley Schmitd
A nice collection of short science fiction writing once again. I got this on import from America in Borders and thought it'd be nice to see what Sci-Fi is up to in modern times. There was also "Asimov's" magazine, but the presence of Sci-Fi big hitter Ben Bova prompted me to get Analog and give it a whirl. There was a very nice and diverse colection of stories from time travel to asteroid mining each one making good and interesting reading. The sciency editorials are a bit over my head, but still interesting to read. With the exception of an immature anti-God poem, the sentiment seems harboured in the magazine a little too often and detracts from the "science based" ethos it seeks to present.
Well there ya go, a bit more from my shelf - enjoy!
Word of the post: Sentient –adjective
Analog Magazine, June 2008 edition - Stanley Schmitd
A nice collection of short science fiction writing once again. I got this on import from America in Borders and thought it'd be nice to see what Sci-Fi is up to in modern times. There was also "Asimov's" magazine, but the presence of Sci-Fi big hitter Ben Bova prompted me to get Analog and give it a whirl. There was a very nice and diverse colection of stories from time travel to asteroid mining each one making good and interesting reading. The sciency editorials are a bit over my head, but still interesting to read. With the exception of an immature anti-God poem, the sentiment seems harboured in the magazine a little too often and detracts from the "science based" ethos it seeks to present.
Well there ya go, a bit more from my shelf - enjoy!
Word of the post: Sentient –adjective
| 1. | having the power of perception by the senses; conscious. |
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
Stuff I've read recently 4
Wow! It's been quite a bit of time since my last post, again thanks to slow reading distraction and the epic volume of my "main" book. I've noticed while reading that I tend to split books into three categories "Main" books - usually a classic or some dense work, often non science fiction, which makes it more of a challenge to read. Then there are Christian books which I read for my own benefit more than reading pleasure though I've managed to get into them a bit more recently. However I do sadly tend to view these as more of an obligation than an interest. Lastly there are "incidentals" - books which just get picked up along the way, often graphic novels or Star Wars books which are quick and easy to read alongside a wheightier volume. So so far I've only read one "main book" but I've picked up a few incidentals along the way. I've also got several nearly finished books which can carry on to the next post if I can get my next "main" read before I forget.
Anyway - here goes. I'll start with the Bible and Christian books.
The Bible, God et al
OK I actually lost my Bible so I can't remember where exactly I was up to. In the meantime I've jumped to the new testament and read through John which was encouraging. To read the story of Jesus again is very compelling to read and John's careful eyewitness account and carefully chosen events and miracles to reveal are good reading and thought provoking.
Finding God in Lord of the Rings - Kurt Bruner
A nice cheap little book which I decided to read and it has helped me ease my way into reading Christian material a bit more frequently. Thankfully the authors don't pretend to have some deep insight or knowledge of allegory in the books but rather acknowledged that Tolkien's Christian life influenced his writing and point to useful lessons reflected in the epic tale.
Battles Christians Face - Vaughan Roberts
A very helpful book about the struggles and temptations we can face while living the Christian life. It goes through a number of topics thoughtfully and sensitively providing encouragement while getting the reader to acknowledge the gravity of their own sin. But for each measure of guilt there is the greater reminder of God's grace provided by Jesus and testified to in his word.
OK, onto incidentals now I think...
Star Wars Legacy of the Force: Revelation - Karen Traviss
While not the best of the series this book was pretty good still and a good setup for the finale. The more in depth look at the Mandalorians was good as well as several other familiar faces turning up out of the shadows to join the war. Some nice fleet and Jedi battles in this one as Jacen's nature as Sith Lord is revealed and the rest of the galaxy has to decide once and for all which side they're on.
Watchmen - Alan Moore
Widely regarded as one of the greatest works of the medium of graphic novels this is a great read, dark and gritty as it is compelling. The story of failed superheroes is very poignant and tragic as they seek to find their place in a world that seems darker without them. The murder of one the "Minutemen" a group that went before and inspired the present group sets off a chain of events that challenges every character to face the depths of themselves and face up to what it might mean to truly be a hero.
Gear School - Adam Gallardo
A nice short graphic novel aimed at the younger market. I think it is a fantastic piece of work, not the least blighted by it's younger characters or audience. I think more science fiction for children should be written - it's not an easy task to condense advanced scientific theory to something a younger reader can cope with but this book has triumphed at it. The art, done by a studio in Spain, is incredible the design of buildings and "gears" are unique and excellently drawn.
I've a feeling there was more, and there probably was, but oh well onto the main course I guess.
Rainbow Six - Tom Clancy
A dense volume that explains my absence from posting on of these. I was intrigues by the video game series of the same name and thought I'd buy it just out of interest. It sat there waiting to be read for some time and didn't dissapoint when I finally picked it up. The book features one of Clancy's primary leads John Clark who is now getting on and has been put in charge of an international anti-terrorist organization. Keeping the group under wraps is a challenge but when a spate of terrorist incidents breaks out, and a former KGB agent and a coporation with a dark agenda are thrown into the mix this bunch of strangers may have to get on and quite literally save the world!
Well I'm being called away, hope you enjoyed my brief and cursory insight into the literature I've absorbed not too long ago.
Anyway - here goes. I'll start with the Bible and Christian books.
The Bible, God et al
OK I actually lost my Bible so I can't remember where exactly I was up to. In the meantime I've jumped to the new testament and read through John which was encouraging. To read the story of Jesus again is very compelling to read and John's careful eyewitness account and carefully chosen events and miracles to reveal are good reading and thought provoking.
Finding God in Lord of the Rings - Kurt Bruner
A nice cheap little book which I decided to read and it has helped me ease my way into reading Christian material a bit more frequently. Thankfully the authors don't pretend to have some deep insight or knowledge of allegory in the books but rather acknowledged that Tolkien's Christian life influenced his writing and point to useful lessons reflected in the epic tale.
Battles Christians Face - Vaughan Roberts
A very helpful book about the struggles and temptations we can face while living the Christian life. It goes through a number of topics thoughtfully and sensitively providing encouragement while getting the reader to acknowledge the gravity of their own sin. But for each measure of guilt there is the greater reminder of God's grace provided by Jesus and testified to in his word.
OK, onto incidentals now I think...
Star Wars Legacy of the Force: Revelation - Karen Traviss
While not the best of the series this book was pretty good still and a good setup for the finale. The more in depth look at the Mandalorians was good as well as several other familiar faces turning up out of the shadows to join the war. Some nice fleet and Jedi battles in this one as Jacen's nature as Sith Lord is revealed and the rest of the galaxy has to decide once and for all which side they're on.
Watchmen - Alan Moore
Widely regarded as one of the greatest works of the medium of graphic novels this is a great read, dark and gritty as it is compelling. The story of failed superheroes is very poignant and tragic as they seek to find their place in a world that seems darker without them. The murder of one the "Minutemen" a group that went before and inspired the present group sets off a chain of events that challenges every character to face the depths of themselves and face up to what it might mean to truly be a hero.
Gear School - Adam Gallardo
A nice short graphic novel aimed at the younger market. I think it is a fantastic piece of work, not the least blighted by it's younger characters or audience. I think more science fiction for children should be written - it's not an easy task to condense advanced scientific theory to something a younger reader can cope with but this book has triumphed at it. The art, done by a studio in Spain, is incredible the design of buildings and "gears" are unique and excellently drawn.
I've a feeling there was more, and there probably was, but oh well onto the main course I guess.
Rainbow Six - Tom Clancy
A dense volume that explains my absence from posting on of these. I was intrigues by the video game series of the same name and thought I'd buy it just out of interest. It sat there waiting to be read for some time and didn't dissapoint when I finally picked it up. The book features one of Clancy's primary leads John Clark who is now getting on and has been put in charge of an international anti-terrorist organization. Keeping the group under wraps is a challenge but when a spate of terrorist incidents breaks out, and a former KGB agent and a coporation with a dark agenda are thrown into the mix this bunch of strangers may have to get on and quite literally save the world!
Well I'm being called away, hope you enjoyed my brief and cursory insight into the literature I've absorbed not too long ago.
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