tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52998201415960590502023-11-16T06:50:59.425-05:00Jabberwockywhisperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05665166033958707844noreply@blogger.comBlogger72125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299820141596059050.post-61168262043081129672012-01-01T19:02:00.000-05:002012-01-01T19:02:10.538-05:00a fond farewell.<div><br /></div>All things must come to an end.<img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 280px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9xZeFChcuiuOO-VNxTiDgMTvRT7pJymXy35iztLuwcDO3EfumjP4V8qDS27JayfJJDgm1tCgtbSX9wFS003P1Ng2Pbm3rG_O94hPOHii9JnFjfiHtCPL3mUHqrkUIeljzkZM5IKcd112i/s320/farewell.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684960574211424962" /><div><br /></div><div>And I think that it is time for Jabberwocky to come to a fond close.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've concluded that, as I'm running out of things to post, my time and yours will no longer be wisely spent in the keeping up of this weblog. So, at the very least I'll take a nice long break of a few months or so. Perhaps at the end of said time I'll post some more; perhaps not. I wish I could stay connected to the blogosphere. o_O But I fear it is a time vacuum to me. So many valuable things to read and say...</div><div><br /></div><div>You are each unique and awesome, and I eagerly await the next time I see you in-persona. In case you'd like to contact me, you could just comment - I'll be emailed accordingly - or you could send me a direct email, the address of which I shall reveal.</div><div><br /></div><div>just.brennan(@)gmail(.)com</div><div><br /></div><div>I'll leave you to think that one over.</div><div><br /></div><div>Final admonitions:</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- if you haven't yet, play <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TluRVBhmf8w">Portal</a></span></b>. Please. You must. :| It's a fantastically randomly bizarrely awesome game.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- also, read <i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness</span></b></i>. I never got around to ranting about that book's awesomeness, but I've lent it out to <i>eleven</i> different people and all of them have loved it. Please. Read it. It's for your own good. Also, you ought to look into <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#ff0000;">The Man Who Was Thursday</span></i></b> for a thoroughly bizarre tale of anarchy, espionage, wit, London, crashes, disguise, explosions, and overall G. K. Chesterton awesomeness. The ending is weird. But the rest is unquestionably epic.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- try some <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330033;"><b>Dr. Pepper jelly beans</b></span>, if you haven't already. They're supremely tasty.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Thank you ever, ever so much, kind readers. :) Your comments/thoughts/advice/input/randomness-spazzes have been a great source of smiles and encouragement for me. I'm going to step out of the blogging world for a time, but I'll still see all of you. :) Some in person, some through email/FB, and some in the undetermined Later. The future is composed of many bizarre occurrences, and only one of them is certain. If I don't meet you on this side, I'll see you on the Other. Then it'll be grand stories around campfires and adventures in cold woods and feasts in great halls.</div><div><br /></div><div>Until then, my friends.</div><div><br /></div><div>With all sincerity,</div><div>gratitude,</div><div>and eucalyptus,</div><div>Shelob for President,</div><div>thanks for reading,</div><div>see you around,</div><div><br /></div><div>-whisper</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">~~~</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>twas brillig, and the slythy toves</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>did gyre and gimble in the wabe.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>all mimsy were the borogoves</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>and the mome raths outgrabe.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>whisperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05665166033958707844noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299820141596059050.post-30580971354955002262011-12-28T18:09:00.001-05:002011-12-28T18:10:08.753-05:00Evil Overlord<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:180%;">The Top 100 Things I'd Do If I Ever Became An Evil Overlord</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>(copyrighted excerpts, from the List.)</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times;font-size:medium;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 259px; height: 194px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMtGKJxSbBgECEh9-ynLMsea_rwCqpZ6-jo549tVu9D9ZgwYxIW2BTsxwmSasinGt678rL1CrZ2FBP-h9S6_Q_BgX_dyIpn0brUtLI-PQ-Lx3wKcRCH4RhJlqjoj4KLHz_c8QKVWSjD707/s320/vader.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684985424761950738" /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times;font-size:medium;">My Legions of Terror will have helmets with clear plexiglass visors, not face-concealing ones.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- My ventilation ducts will be too small to crawl through.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- My noble half-brother whose throne I usurped will be killed, not kept anonymously imprisoned in a forgotten cell of my dungeon.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- Shooting is </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times;font-size:medium;"><i>not</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times;font-size:medium;"> too good for my enemies.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- The artifact which is the source of my power will not be kept on the Mountain of Despair beyond the River of Fire guarded by the Dragons of Eternity. It will be in my safe-deposit box. The same applies to the object which is my one weakness.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- When I've captured my adversary and he says, "Look, before you kill me, will you at least tell me what this is all about?" I'll say, "No." and shoot him. No, on second thought I'll shoot him then say "No."</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- After I kidnap the beautiful princess, we will be married immediately in a quiet civil ceremony, not a lavish spectacle in three weeks' time during which the final phase of my plan will be carried out.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- I will not include a self-destruct mechanism unless absolutely necessary. If it is necessary, it will not be a large red button labelled "Danger: Do Not Push". The big red button marked "Do Not Push" will instead trigger a spray of bullets on anyone stupid enough to disregard it. Similarly, the ON/OFF switch will not clearly be labelled as such.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- I will never employ any device with a digital countdown. If I find that such a device is absolutely unavoidable, I will set it to activate when the counter reaches 117 and the hero is just putting his plan into operation.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- Despite its proven stress-relieving effect, I will not indulge in maniacal laughter. When so occupied, it's too easy to miss unexpected developments that a more attentive individual could adjust to accordingly.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- I will maintain a realistic assessment of my strengths and weaknesses. Even though this takes some of the fun out of the job, at least I will never utter the line "No, this cannot be! I AM INVINCIBLE!!!" (After that, death is usually instantaneous.)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- I will dress in bright and cheery colors, and so throw my enemies into confusion.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- I will not fly into a rage and kill a messenger who brings me bad news just to illustrate how evil I really am. Good messengers are hard to come by.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- If I learn that a callow youth has begun a quest to destroy me, I will slay him while he is still a callow youth instead of waiting for him to mature.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- If it becomes necessary to escape, I will never stop to pose dramatically and toss off a one-liner.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- My five-year-old child advisor will also be asked to decipher any code I am thinking of using. If he breaks the code in under 30 seconds, it will not be used. Note: this also applies to passwords.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- If I must have computer systems with publically available terminals, the maps they display of my complex will have a room clearly marked as the Main Control Room. That room will be the Execution Chamber. The actual main control room will be marked as Sewage Overflow Containment.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- If I decide to test a lieutenant's loyalty and see if he/she should be made a trusted lieutenant, I will have a crack squad of marksmen standing by in case the answer is no.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- If I am fighting with the hero atop a moving platform, have disarmed him, and am about to finish him off and he glances behind me and drops flat, I too will drop flat instead of quizzically turning around to find out what he saw.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- I will not use any plan in which the final step is horribly complicated, e.g. "Align the 12 Stones of Power on the sacred altar then activate the medallion at the moment of total eclipse." Instead it will be more along the lines of "Push the button."</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- I will not ignore the messenger that stumbles in exhausted and obviously agitated until my personal grooming or current entertainment is finished. It might actually be important.</span></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">~ ~ ~</div><div><br /></div><div>Complete list is <a href="http://www.eviloverlord.com/lists/overlord.html">here</a>. There's a coupla' iffy things in it, content-wise, but predominately clean and hilarious and oh-so-true. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.eviloverlord.com/lists/overlord.html">http://www.eviloverlord.com/lists/overlord.html</a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>chortling maliciously,</div><div>-whisper</div>whisperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05665166033958707844noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299820141596059050.post-82666390607645627962011-12-20T23:07:00.001-05:002011-12-20T23:07:57.120-05:00O Holy Night - the awesome version<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Mk4woNRD7NQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><div><br /></div><div>This is, personally, the most hilarious thing I have ever heard. ^_^</div><div><br /></div><div>Please listen to it all the way through. If you can't make it to the end, I understand. It's OK. Those brave souls who forge onward to the epic climax are generally scarred for life, and some have even had to go through traumatic therapy. But I advise hearing it through to the bitter end. It builds gloriously.</div><div><br /></div><div>murry christmus,</div><div><br /></div><div>-whisper</div>whisperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05665166033958707844noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299820141596059050.post-14151832515547814992011-12-15T08:30:00.000-05:002011-12-15T20:30:06.762-05:00rice and water.<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Two neat websites where you can simultaneously teach yourself and help the less fortunate in this world.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.freerice.com/">Freerice</a><br />http://www.freerice.com/<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 279px; height: 181px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE6nwa9Guee91kUBp6EYKUijUHPz6d-sXuju9SmmgNmcV8AikYgT18qbHKqMMjY_8zaLEPQnilS4fPEZTDzvkv3qy3x54I4bXmGXOakam6wHqsQpksdxwFzwHygyzfJKzXD83n3wXjRnmZ/s320/rice.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686531489328383074" /><br /><div>On Freerice, you can answer quick questions about all manner of topics, including Spanish, math, geography French, art, English vocabulary, chemical symbols, and others. For every question you answer correctly, Freerice will donate (through the World Food Programme) ten grains of rice to help end hunger. You can read up on the very interesting process of how it works through the FAQ.</div><div><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.freepoverty.com/">Freepoverty</a><br />http://www.freepoverty.com/<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 275px; height: 183px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlXoKiuHXjXkXlpsesyI53LCxubBTQUKVfvzvLE0KZcKLutrL0lcq18Dy1ukCXuUtrOVYnTnxV634EdOg6IzwVjQH4XWSEgvw_qia2_cMez85dnPXmNeA6RLc9vMQ6xCiKgNfyA7qV6TPj/s320/poverty.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686531595150577746" /><br />This website tests your knowledge of geography. It ranks your knowledge by how closely you can pinpoint a given location on the world map. If you can nail it exactly, Freepoverty gives ten cups of clean water, the amount decreasing by how far from the correct location you were.<br /><br />- - - - -<br /><br />The two sites have helped me with my Spanish and geography, and I'd like to think that I've helped someone else out there. You ought to try them out. ^_^<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>riceness,</div><div>-whisper</div>whisperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05665166033958707844noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299820141596059050.post-24422265535712322342011-12-11T14:58:00.000-05:002011-12-11T14:58:43.709-05:00these are my politics.<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div> <p style="font-style: normal;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';font-size:100%;"><b>"That is the problem with government these days. They want to do things all the time; they are always very busy thinking of what things they can do next. That is not what people want. People want to be left alone to look after their cattle."</b></span></span></p><p style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';font-size:100%;">- Alexander McCall Smith/ Mma Ramotswe</span></p><p style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';font-size:100%;"><b><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 251px; height: 201px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidSyIMA-8LxkRu5pNcr42OPP2RllfIrNhurcad51O6A3MRyLTJxYAYx6zVQokrnZW06_ZcYLyfCQVLpXdkIolg7SOVu0x-jfWRDsSBUsgOoz0LSqmUvcL3v1fR_o4hEmFk_P7J4q580Q8i/s320/politics.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683574782093170834" /></b></span></p><p style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';font-size:100%;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';font-size:100%;"><b>"Just as it is easy to think the State </b><b>has a lot of different objects – military, political, economic, and what not. But in a way things are much simpler than that. The State exists simply to promote and to protect the ordinary happiness of human beings in this life. A husband and wife chatting over a fire, a couple of friends having a game of darts in a pub, a man reading a book in his own room or digging in his own garden – that is what the State is there for. And unless they are helping to increase and prolong and protect such moments, all the laws, parliaments, armies, courts, police, economics, etc., are simply a waste of time."</b></span></p><p style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';font-size:100%;">- C. S. Lewis</span></p><p style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';font-size:85%;">These are my politics,</span></p><p style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';font-size:85%;">-whisper</span></p><p style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';font-size:85%;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';font-size:85%;">~~~</span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';font-size:85%;"><b><i>post scriptum: </i></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-family:'trebuchet ms';font-size:small;">a note of forewarning: I do not intend for this blog to continue for much longer, and I shall probably bring it to a close at the year's end (because I like doing things in such orderly fashion.) I have only a few more things to say to the world, then I'll bring things to a stop. :) I have greatly, greatly appreciated every view and comment and post-reading. thank you for them all. (: </span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-family:'trebuchet ms';font-size:small;">so, you can expect a couple more posts, and then my farewell notice. just sayin'.</span></p>whisperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05665166033958707844noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299820141596059050.post-42794432216063766762011-12-07T20:57:00.001-05:002011-12-07T20:57:37.483-05:00Starfish<p><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: bold; font-size:130%;">Starfish</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">-story from an unknown origin-</span></p><p><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></p><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 276px; height: 183px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil7xSZEXj8FE_uV93KiTBHLUw0uq5YUDhXXTO8xCwU2w6NPZnPxiTVNVBANk_F7a3tZ1L4hqPGioxg53tmPSb-_7R-OjHzOJG5cty91UDFIS4D4JTh8H-RBM3t5PmOUHECc3T2QBL0Lv3Z/s320/starfish.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683570445799296738" /><p><span style="font-size:100%;">One day an old man was walking along the beach. It was low tide, and the sand was littered with thousands of stranded starfish that the water had carried in and then left behind. The man began walking very carefully so as not to step on any of the beautiful creatures. Many of them seemed to still be alive, and he considered picking some up and putting them back in the water, where they could resume their lives. The man knew the starfish would soon die if left on the dry sand, but he reasoned that he could not possibly help them all, so he did nothing and continued walking. </span></p><p><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;">Soon afterward, the man came upon a small child on the beach who was tossing one starfish after another back into the sea. The old man stopped and asked the lad, "What are you doing?" </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size:100%;">"I'm saving the starfish," the child replied.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size:100%;">"But why waste your time? There are so many. You can't save them all, so what does it matter?" asked the man. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size:100%;">The child picked up another starfish. He glanced at it for a moment, then threw it back into the water. "<span style="font-weight: bold;">It matters to this one.</span><span>"</span></span></p>whisperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05665166033958707844noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299820141596059050.post-125956929693426982011-11-29T10:57:00.005-05:002011-11-29T11:01:57.383-05:00Monsters.<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil_xvThLGK_kNrQxraIFsMSZTKDYAVxPuQNy7_Zxr0U-QhFgG0r5IwnakauARMBLWKY2U9SG8YW6SFoQ6JA7cgLQL2KwJa98-xAW9feYa_VurnlocpHBzc6ZUNQ8xV1OQ5ewqZ3ojqjimv/s1600/seven.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp9oD5ac9k7dZyxlDg87nnOddMTG6ujzrbhFbNDxTXIQN9BBFpt_vxNehj-LEOJyUJuWSZGwtn01iOuOPuHP8vtfxkLSxVov4TauxQb4GmDxz-60QY7syM_IeFyodzNWxSaTesQzNJpa70/s320/civilian.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680447688774432930" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 264px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR1WTf3up_HySCSRcvTvj2b5nuXa8K_o4mGqe7YK8HozeDrk0OcZxU8aIHYEAvAGL5xUDDsrCatmBpSLxM-LulifITkReMPt4QER-h6XCCP3avvSCTtonns7X1FYbynBnQibLoD96Qm6sM/s320/hi.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680447944448984866" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_30kCa0CPRMwuNw0y8IhKJ38u2P0kp5pGbMeJ_ym6ZtTqc1fey6-S7GLdDpoU09gA_kDguSeh9L60XKrBFWbf1vY2YmSdMXrlm7pZIV7joVe-xRF_AVLjyFDTeN2tUscsiPSfzzjU98vK/s1600/teddy+bears.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_30kCa0CPRMwuNw0y8IhKJ38u2P0kp5pGbMeJ_ym6ZtTqc1fey6-S7GLdDpoU09gA_kDguSeh9L60XKrBFWbf1vY2YmSdMXrlm7pZIV7joVe-xRF_AVLjyFDTeN2tUscsiPSfzzjU98vK/s320/teddy+bears.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680447615663063570" /></a><br /></div><div>teddy bears for the win,</div><div>-whisper</div>whisperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05665166033958707844noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299820141596059050.post-4908062672573540732011-11-29T10:53:00.003-05:002011-11-29T10:56:49.609-05:00Audiobooks 111<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA7KWJcoTe8SXsvbx1Vh3B9VH63EJRXFDZzP7pocZpqpvrjlp6GsOoFg3PF8jXdTfvbJvzjpiHwWjzw6_vvwKn77ME7u3xAQOeMo2T-BjmwNQE12AoyQtX_g56vDtLlvL5Stuq0u7zRGoW/s1600/outsiders.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div><br /></div>got a lot of audiobooks catch up on. we'll make this fast. ^_^<div><br /><div><br /></div><div><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 181px; height: 278px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY3rmtj7qWxw9xYe-M0XSL9k7kK27m2uFkiBYVJCEnmzFg6iZPY-QiYzUA3mLhuWpNQ1raETDJb_6hgWJ_DfqqMl30EDZe29XVTIFRlyVgcM7LIYIz2dhf7xkoDNosXKTKtuZ-ZwPnA60_/s320/forthewin.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634184067201885458" border="0" /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;">For the Win</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Cory Doctorow</span><br /><br />This book was unusual. Lots of third-degree language, and for that I don't recommend it. But an interesting premise - that much is worth looking up.<br /><br />And an epic cover.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;">Lord of the Flies<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu-kP8Ye-J3rnpX3_rKr5KiJ4hFrXgwDskefD9_FMRyy8S64lLMf-cqi2oWyoTr8z_uNGZqC4PNhKbL1Q07uRKbMGe220wDrhmxYTseUxmrg_3hmX-WqVF9ffhE2FLebPMLCvaNwSZo54z/s1600/lordoftheflies.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 173px; height: 292px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu-kP8Ye-J3rnpX3_rKr5KiJ4hFrXgwDskefD9_FMRyy8S64lLMf-cqi2oWyoTr8z_uNGZqC4PNhKbL1Q07uRKbMGe220wDrhmxYTseUxmrg_3hmX-WqVF9ffhE2FLebPMLCvaNwSZo54z/s320/lordoftheflies.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634183163319436898" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">William Golding</span><br /><br />My favorite book. Ever. The jury is in; the die are cast. I have concluded.<div><br /></div><div>I read it via audiobook for the second time, and my love for it expounded.<div><br /></div><div>It's rather dark, and sort of morbid, and sort of sad. It explores the question of what would happen if a group of boys were stranded alone on an island. The war between order and chaos is epic and terrible.</div><div><br /></div><div>Recommended, personally. ^_^<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;">Peter Pan in Scarlet</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN0N0r-fiF29VaXAL3JM2C7fgD7nNNviaFDIpR8oX8fX7I0RxdL3XN31n8EggXDid3HaEP05gUw2WKENXlUlzS6miY_IKSjEFb-R0XQFqazaLqygcxsE7CVaNm9ClMkXVhxyyL7vb_GDcc/s1600/peterpaninscarlet.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 183px; height: 276px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN0N0r-fiF29VaXAL3JM2C7fgD7nNNviaFDIpR8oX8fX7I0RxdL3XN31n8EggXDid3HaEP05gUw2WKENXlUlzS6miY_IKSjEFb-R0XQFqazaLqygcxsE7CVaNm9ClMkXVhxyyL7vb_GDcc/s320/peterpaninscarlet.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634183018178350898" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Geraldine McCaughrean</span><br /><br />Kind of a weird book. o_O For instance, through magic, a grown man turns into a little girl for a while. >_> Odd. Peter Pan himself is rather obnoxious and not so heroic as in the Ridley Pearson series. XD heh. So, I didn't like this so much. But there's a pretty nice, nostalgic quote, if you care to read it:</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:85%;" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:85%;" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:85%;" >Next day, Mrs. Wendy's cold kept her from going out, but the Old Boys found themselves in Kensington Gardens with butterfly nets, wandering up and down. Looking for fairies.</span></div><div> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 6.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">There was a stiff breeze blowing. Something white and fluffy brushed Mr. Nibs's face and he gave a shriek. "There's one! It kissed me!" And all the gentlemen went pounding after it. The wind was rising. Other scraps of whiteness scudded past, until the air seemed to be full of flying snowflakes all twirling and dancing, feathery light. The Old Boys trampled the grass flat with running to and fro, swiping at fairies, accidentally swatting each other, whooping and shrieking, "Got one!" </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 6.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">"So have -- OW!" </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 6.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">"Here's one, look!" </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 6.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">But when they peered into their butterfly nets, all they found were the fluffy seed-heads off summer's first dandelions. There was not a single fairy in among the dande-down. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 6.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">All day they searched. As the sun went down and starlings gathered over the glimmering city, the Old Boys hid themselves among the bushes of Kensington Gardens. Early stars ventured into the sky, their reflections spangling the Serpentine. And suddenly the air was a-flicker with wings! </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 6.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">Jubilant, the ambushers leapt out of hiding and ran to and fro, nets flailing. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 6.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">"Got one!" </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 6.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">"By Jove!" </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 6.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">"Don't hurt them!" </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 6.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">"Ouch! Watch what you are doing, sir!" </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 6.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">"I say! This is ripping fun!" </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 6.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">But when they turned the nets inside out, what did they find? Midges and moths and mayflies. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 6.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">"I have one in here! Definitely! Incontrovertibly!" cried Mr. John, cramming his bowler hat back onto his head to trap the captive inside. The others gathered round, jostling to see. The hat came off again, with a sigh of suction; Mr. John reached in with finger and thumb, plucked something out of the satin lining, and held it up to show them -- the iridescent purple, the shiny, flexing, turquoise body... </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 6.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">Only a dragonfly. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 6.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">Mr. John opened his fingertips, and eight pairs of disappointed eyes followed the lovely creature as it staggered and waltzed back towards the water. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 6.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">"I don't believe there is a single fairy..." began Dr. Curly, but the others felled him to the ground and clapped their hands over his mouth. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 6.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'"><i>"Don't say it! Don't ever say that!"</i> cried Mr. Nibs, horrified. "Don't you remember? Every time someone says they don't believe in fairies, a fairy somewhere dies!" </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 6.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">"I didn't say I didn't believe in them!" said the doctor, tugging the rumples out of his suit. "I was only going to say, I don't believe there is one single fairy <i>here. Tonight. In this park.</i> I have mud on my trousers, insect bites on my ankles, and I have not eaten supper yet. Can we give up now?" </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 6.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'">The other Old Boys looked around them at the twilit park, the distant, glimmering streetlamps. They looked at the soles of their shoes, in case they had trodden on any fairies by mistake. They looked into the water of the Serpentine, in case any of the stars reflected there were really fairies, swimming. No fairies, no fairy dust. Perhaps, after all, they would not be going back to Neverland.</p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 6.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'"><b>- Peter Pan in Scarlet</b></p><br />All in all, don't really recommend it, I suppose. But I love that quote. ^_^<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi27X7oqKavoQA9xvuRYHKkGJ5zZeTnszgXCwSr9d5lHTgy-Oh6c4c8qJ-IVo9kWcCGG78PQWzgBmXZ1MO8zwV0hpAkXQkMhmCKo8B25-oP35AjyBNX8GghMkCkGOfbuLI74kbYxVFumSDm/s1600/morgan.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 109px; height: 179px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi27X7oqKavoQA9xvuRYHKkGJ5zZeTnszgXCwSr9d5lHTgy-Oh6c4c8qJ-IVo9kWcCGG78PQWzgBmXZ1MO8zwV0hpAkXQkMhmCKo8B25-oP35AjyBNX8GghMkCkGOfbuLI74kbYxVFumSDm/s320/morgan.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634182904749159026" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">I Am Morgan le Fay</span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">Nancy Springer</span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">A forgettable story. Turns into a romance. Magic and whatnot; kind of boring, I think. A testimony to its forgetable-ness: I don't remember anything more. Not recommended. I doubt it's worth your time.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><b><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA7KWJcoTe8SXsvbx1Vh3B9VH63EJRXFDZzP7pocZpqpvrjlp6GsOoFg3PF8jXdTfvbJvzjpiHwWjzw6_vvwKn77ME7u3xAQOeMo2T-BjmwNQE12AoyQtX_g56vDtLlvL5Stuq0u7zRGoW/s320/outsiders.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676088762278397714" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 160px; height: 260px; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; " /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>The Outsiders</b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">S. E. Hinton</span></div><div><br /></div><div>Sad, but good. I enjoyed this book a lot. And one character, Soda, has an awesome name and is a great character. The book provides a good and clean perspective behind the street life of decades ago. Get your boys together; get ready for a rumble. Stay gold, Ponyboy. Stay gold. ^_^</div><div><br /></div><div>Recommended.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjlhK1o8MStFP3nStXKqX3MuAwAw73wslqf68cytOJx2JkswBad_x6ixxVb0-Lcc9AMbMvBRrKOpKGMugUImbbaSKB4wwDDcmLI3JvFlPbJOr3dPaNAYc1TZ6HCujUO0OaNeD1fVmEzE2L/s320/macbeth.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676088667470896962" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 160px; height: 242px; " /><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Lady Macbeth</b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">Susan Fraser King</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><br /></span><div>I was all excited about this one (I like <i>Macbeth</i>, and this tale is the backstory of his wife) but hardly got through the first fifteen minutes. Madness and immorality. Not recommended, indeed.</div> <div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0MIbikoksnoW7XKlJ3DfLwbl1yFv1TAZQp6N1ROshfsLazaIqZzORxsP0PfyagkJR8Y7GTMKYtBUtSgq1XpTwC5UyUBwcptEvYq7NUaIkjC1dSiyN2a64ANdaCQb1qqKWtlrFMpyStgjW/s320/dearly.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676088531973389842" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 169px; height: 256px; " /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>The Beloved Dearly</b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">Doug Cooney</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><br /></span><div>Cute story about a group of entrepenuaral kids who start their own business: pet funerals. Recommended.</div> <div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv2WmAQVpxTSTt7vvUCcbPe7s0viaNOrwNKBXBUvPCCwSZiH2lJPAVOU6BTYMROFMl3p2hEvd5VumckalSd5mwuyQsd95MhiIykFMKEANyUSEg-IAPRWPLwfuLnb7UssB-MY_loY55PuEm/s320/sappique.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676088417888535634" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 182px; height: 276px; " /><div><b>Sapphique</b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">Catherine Fisher</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><br /></span><div>Awesome book. One or two second-degree swear words, but no immorality. Steampunk. It's the second book in a series, but I didn't know it, and I <i>liked</i> reading this one first. I liked being dropped into the middle of the story, and figuring out who was who and what was going on. Epic adventure, and I liked it better than book 1. Only qualm were the swear words and that I didn't entirely like the ending. >_></div> <div><br /></div><div>Recommended.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjih2o3KUtUvlyRb9CUSvwj5KXfAGAMYCYtHU4jXg19wNPac9UdHBBEaN2XTiStBLKEgoiQMyKHNeXDhY43k0ZCme5o42etyE64o2opAYru6kwK3A5F_Y571c3ajGLduRKhurNVkKgJ8MGB/s320/incarceron.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676088201192721842" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px; " /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Incarceron</b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">Catherine Fisher</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><br /></span><div><div>^See Sappique. Good but not quite as much, I thought. This was a bit more cliche and had a bit more objectionable content. Still a good steampunk tale.</div> <div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyxS7BFR6ly_KG-N2Lq5XARww2iQvAO03UWoro7vkyo0wdjNZjqMi72FRpSU8PtvregokX2bD0XjT8yNyH3-0SQBDKTkG449aalydBpeZNCClRw-eLPl8L0X3X1sdBfG7L0bxiPxK9Tqwh/s320/neverland.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676088093150691938" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 142px; height: 224px; " /><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Cave of the Dark Wind</b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">Dave Barry</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><br /></span><div>Very cliche, very wholesome Peter Pan adventure. A short sort of cheering read but quite predictable.</div> <div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhch9FHotfF9KzBYchGDfLd6EUm0oxojdhEoa2D9kNe3udotAsfc1lITbgZrba7SA5ybJ8SpxBo3vdVzucbGRmoknmmza1fbdPKaszGNryK1SDxKsCLPXbE7WqpL2dZ9F0giGRz1xk8cTZs/s320/sam.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676087947495438114" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 179px; height: 282px; " /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>My Brother Sam Is Dead</b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">James Lincoln Collier</span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><br /></span></div><div>A sad book. Let's just say things weren't looking good for poor Sam. ^_^ I think this book is a classic; it was sort-of forgettable, and, as aforementioned, sad. Raised an interesting ethical dilemma or two. Not particularly recommended.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglqVN09y9cN8RnNdJiWn5ZlvBa06G1v_qioTjbUxPV3MlZ3gQsYV_Cbkl37KFlQk68sXLSaPvYo-hYlsDlhSRAR5_zLXp7cDKlHGaLuMxW2_Bh_2qr5OrzfAhKC8YQWfAU4upNMUxH2EgM/s320/sherlock.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676087788414621186" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 188px; " /><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Sherlock Holmes</b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">Arthur Conan Doyle</span></div><div><br /></div><div>I read a few of the famous Sherlock Holmes short stories. They were good! Quite clean, a bit dark, fairly epic, and entertaining. Good solid mysteries; recommended.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4duntwdeVuB7uf-SWcro8AQBRWt7rSale5A1LRdfzXApxno5vewWcqBb5ikiYIhaSuiAOlPyenVcpT4nOyrZIy0huIEr8WZiq2_nfztHS6TM_QFzZ9ABRKFOr4mYVPOHKbX4Fo43-A5hS/s320/disney.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676087632516574178" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 180px; height: 270px; " /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>The Kingdom Keepers</b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">Ridley Pearson</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><br /></span><div>The first one was good; it has an interesting premise: five kids are teleported each night to Disneyland after dark, when the machines are starting to come alive. I liked the first one all right, but then it became a series and became, methought, cliche and unrealistic, and I lost interest. *shrug* First one mildly recommended.</div> <div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3401IIFGzvtIVgLe9CjH2df8ngrFKUUb70setLNR2sKeSx_AQc7D_g8zS6-jDQtUFx1oex4DCSasBn9ARz6k1nw-LRnDpL-FG11EO-oPhAhz-lqFIMJkLstRR8Go9_Vs3ETcZB67lJSpS/s320/iliad.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676087424449526914" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /><div><b>The Iliad/The Odyssey</b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">Homer</span></div><div><br /></div><div>I liked these. Quite gruesome, though. >_> The author has no hesitancy in describing exactly how a warrior was impaled and how he falls to the ground, gasping and bleeding out and dying. Ahem. A half-dozen times.</div><div><br /></div><div>I spent most of the books trying to figure out who was the son of whom and fighting for which army (probably would have understood it better if I'd read them in book form). There's some immorality referenced, and most characters are supreme idiots, but it was good to get this taste of very-old literature; of the true, original epic warfare. Rather interesting, too, and rarely boring. Recommended for older readers.</div><div><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div>- - -</div><div><br /></div><div>in order of favorite-ness:</div><div><br /></div><div>1. Lord of the Flies</div><div>2. Sapphique</div><div>3. The Outsiders</div><div>4. Incarceron</div><div>5. The Iliad/Odyssey</div><div>6. Sherlock Holmes</div><div>7. The Dearly Beloved</div><div>8. The Kingdom Keepers</div><div>9. For the Win</div><div>10. Peter Pan In Scarlet</div><div>11. My Brother Sam is Dead</div><div>12. Cave of the Dark Wind</div><div>13. I Am Morgan le Fay</div><div>14. Lady Macbeth</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>^ read any of these? Thoughts, opinions, arguments?</div><div><br /></div><div>thanks for reading,</div><div>happy eucalyptus day,</div><div>-whisper</div><div><br /></div></div>whisperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05665166033958707844noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299820141596059050.post-90029913230370618742011-11-17T16:27:00.004-05:002011-11-18T07:53:34.528-05:00the many perils of being a bookworm<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkXKGrUMI6ka2kWc4Ow88t7CJlyu_odJII5Vwuxfk_JyZ_B_lqMKlPxxrxwp6ut5z5f4zk-jfh8zaerSgjxvVc11xhG6e5U3oSaUxgSBMJR3rInb3n4L9jJFjzAGnBs6q20Klrp37G-A8j/s1600/%257Bon+reading%257D.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 254px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkXKGrUMI6ka2kWc4Ow88t7CJlyu_odJII5Vwuxfk_JyZ_B_lqMKlPxxrxwp6ut5z5f4zk-jfh8zaerSgjxvVc11xhG6e5U3oSaUxgSBMJR3rInb3n4L9jJFjzAGnBs6q20Klrp37G-A8j/s400/%257Bon+reading%257D.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560978149773739730" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Courtesy of<a href="http://seeingbeauty.wordpress.com/"> Noelle</a>whisperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05665166033958707844noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299820141596059050.post-76991774249177332872011-11-17T16:06:00.004-05:002011-11-17T16:11:20.434-05:002 Superb Blogs for Writers<div>These are the two best blogs-of-writing-tips that I've found yet. I hope they're as helpful to you as they have been to me. ^_^</div><div><br /></div><div>- - - - - - - - -</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;color:#3333ff;"><b><a href="http://www.superheronation.com/">Superhero Nation</a></b></span></div><b>http://www.superheronation.com/</b><div>This site is for writers of superhero stories/comicbooks/adventure/fantasy/scifi/etc. There are a few words of second-degree naughty language, but if you get past that, you'll find plenty of splendid tips. Though you could spend hours browsing, here's a few articles I found particularly useful, to get you started:<div><br /></div><div><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 181px; height: 279px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXAKm8ZTd5wqj4lMOdM5vWtT1AoRvLgm62YPcJhAdl_F9sLSYLvGLn0z6cYcgUWnZMX2ZW_GERJPxYXWZf_7gQ3zCTkHPmKCoc-wuHrdhu4VoiyXioLS8fs1dqbmb0FGD3KQEoJmXPsJ24/s320/superhero.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676073512230703266" /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.superheronation.com/2008/07/03/100-questions-for-novel-writers/">Exam for Novelists</a></div><div><a href="http://www.superheronation.com/2008/07/20/portraying-characters-without-color/">Characters Without Color</a></div><div><a href="http://www.superheronation.com/2009/07/07/how-to-handle-traveling-in-a-novel/">How to Make Travel Scenes Interesting</a></div><div><a href="http://www.superheronation.com/2009/07/16/cover-your-plot-holes-it-could-be-funny/">Covering Plot Holes</a></div><div><a href="http://www.superheronation.com/2008/11/05/why-secret-origins-are-usually-awful/">Why Secret Origins are Usually Awful</a></div><div><a href="http://www.superheronation.com/2011/01/26/how-to-save-mary-sues-insufficiently-challenged-heroes/">How to Save Mary-Sues</a></div><div><a href="http://www.superheronation.com/2008/07/16/evaluating-titles-of-submissions-to-the-critters-writing-workshop/">Title Wins (and Fails</a>) Part 1</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;color:#3333ff;"><a href="http://wordplay-kmweiland.blogspot.com/">Wordplay</a></span></b></div><div><b>http://wordplay-kmweiland.blogspot.com/</b></div><div>The squeaky-clean blog of author K. M. Weiland (by the by, her Medieval novel <i>Behold the Dawn</i> is a splendid, albeit mature, epic tale). Years of posts on writing, with tips both practical (<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><a href="http://wordplay-kmweiland.blogspot.com/2009/07/5-ways-to-pace-your-story.html">5 Ways to Pace Your Story</a></span>) and general.</div><div><br /></div><div><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 225px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVXdh9dNDExvPWeXmllLkx0F3JCCTRUg29KexRU1DAG2yl4rBMT5uhyphenhyphenMEpzk_26wSH0UmOqoTWNR20aPZRD8f96OFX6dLY3NqQnJh354KDnjSViZ0nUTKJLSOfi1g85NV7m7AI2uZhkcUr/s320/wordplay.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676073639905308594" /></div><div><p style="margin-left:0in;text-indent:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/%E2%88%92http://wordplay-kmweiland.blogspot.com/2009/09/9-ways-to-strengthen-your-beginning.html">9 Ways to Strengthen Your Beginning</a></span></p><p style="margin-left:0in;text-indent:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops: 0in"><a href="http://wordplay-kmweiland.blogspot.com/2011/05/are-happy-endings-must.html">Are Happy Endings a Must?</a></p><p style="margin-left:0in;text-indent:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops: 0in"><a href="http://wordplay-kmweiland.blogspot.com/2009/11/how-to-kill-characterand-avoid-hate.html">How to Kill A Character and Avoid Hate Mail</a></p><p style="margin-left:0in;text-indent:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops: 0in"><a href="http://wordplay-kmweiland.blogspot.com/2011/09/why-your-hero-absolutely-must-pet-dog.html">Why Your Character Must Pet A Dog</a></p><p style="margin-left:0in;text-indent:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops: 0in"><a href="http://wordplay-kmweiland.blogspot.com/2009/01/myth-of-originality.html">The Myth of Originality</a></p><p style="margin-left:0in;text-indent:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops: 0in"><a href="http://wordplay-kmweiland.blogspot.com/2009/04/what-characters-want-art-of-frustration.html">The Art of Frustration</a></p><p style="margin-left:0in;text-indent:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops: 0in"><a href="http://wordplay-kmweiland.blogspot.com/2010/12/most-common-mistakes-series-are-your.html">Showing VS Telling</a></p><p style="margin-left:0in;text-indent:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops: 0in"><br /></p><p style="margin-left:0in;text-indent:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops: 0in"><br /></p><p style="margin-left:0in;text-indent:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops: 0in"><br /></p><p style="margin-left:0in;text-indent:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops: 0in"><br /></p><p style="margin-left:0in;text-indent:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops: 0in">typing like unto a hurricane of rabid wombats,</p><p style="margin-left:0in;text-indent:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops: 0in">-whisper</p> <!--EndFragment--></div><div> <!--EndFragment--></div></div>whisperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05665166033958707844noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299820141596059050.post-58622214724244710002011-11-09T23:24:00.000-05:002011-11-09T23:25:07.990-05:00"In our tree-house in the fall..."<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh_I3I3dxOnjDHmqEv5qPBo_Hk5FQOon_p3HTk_mI4wJWV0CYy4FpsmPO6F0mbQFDOKps0h84AhoAadC7VSeUJzOYRfT7I6N5DWcHWjw5rcg7n5ErUwZeyuS6z-W1Be2bk-LfPGZQTwf3l/s1600/treehouses.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh_I3I3dxOnjDHmqEv5qPBo_Hk5FQOon_p3HTk_mI4wJWV0CYy4FpsmPO6F0mbQFDOKps0h84AhoAadC7VSeUJzOYRfT7I6N5DWcHWjw5rcg7n5ErUwZeyuS6z-W1Be2bk-LfPGZQTwf3l/s400/treehouses.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673216748839133170" /></a><br /><div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">In our tree-house in the fall</div><div style="text-align: center;">The Adventure Club gathers all</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">With our popguns and weapons of power,</div><div style="text-align: center;">We meet in the closet, our castle tower</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Now stealthily to the crawlspace we run,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Into the spaceship goes every man and gun.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">And now as darkness settles over Indian lands,</div><div style="text-align: center;">We run with the buffalo, in whooping bands.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">And underneath our parents' bed we fend</div><div style="text-align: center;">Off dragons and goblins, to the bitter end.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">copyright whisper, 2011. Mine.</span></div></div></div></div>whisperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05665166033958707844noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299820141596059050.post-12978073882463166252011-11-04T12:00:00.001-04:002011-11-04T12:00:56.709-04:00Three Little Pigs in Old English<iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Yyd17aaHCgU" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" width="425"></iframe><br /><br />Be charmed... be charmed. *chuckles* Ah, me. The beauties of Olde English. I <span style="font-style: italic;">wish </span>we still talked like this.<br /><br />Lo,<br />-whisperwhisperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05665166033958707844noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299820141596059050.post-23385223709727979412011-10-24T09:29:00.000-04:002011-10-24T09:30:17.140-04:00Amish Vampiress of the Tribulation<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggtGpapJR-yN9GV5veevlhGuv-GPvyuc-2ukBi4E_lpO1tCFU-gzyRRJC___dp5J0ppJWnasfYoFO_75GbVwnhvxs9CtviajyUKwO5-UOuFXmzUqCGvMyQh55XvKAqr-T0bUG4NvZB0QGz/s1600/amish.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 183px; height: 275px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggtGpapJR-yN9GV5veevlhGuv-GPvyuc-2ukBi4E_lpO1tCFU-gzyRRJC___dp5J0ppJWnasfYoFO_75GbVwnhvxs9CtviajyUKwO5-UOuFXmzUqCGvMyQh55XvKAqr-T0bUG4NvZB0QGz/s400/amish.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667049909243005554" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div> <span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >"That’s right. It’s an Amish novel; it’s a vampire novel; it’s an end-times novel. It’s the best of all worlds."</span><br /><br />I'm ROTALing over here. This is quite possibly among the top three funniest things I've ever read.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >"Twenty-three year old Cassidy lives a simple life in the Amish countryside of Lancaster County. Simple, that is, until Slade Byler moves into the old Lapp farm. Cassidy finds herself irresistibly drawn to the handsome Slade; but she fears to share the secret that she alone knows. For Cassidy is an immortal, a princess in the long line of ancient Amish vampires. Will Slade’s love grow cold when he learns this great secret? Can she give to him a heart that does not beat?"</span><br /><br />Click below. Read the rest. Laugh. Hard.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;" href="http://www.challies.com/ramblings/the-ultimate-christian-novel"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cassidy: Amish Vampiress of the Tribulation</span></span></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Rolling On Thin Air Laughing,<br />-whisper<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">p.s. of course, no offense and/or insult intended to anyone Amish. ^_^ I (and the article) are poking fun at Christians and their literature in general.</span><br /></div> </div>whisperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05665166033958707844noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299820141596059050.post-75196762071119396252011-10-16T17:14:00.004-04:002011-10-16T21:27:08.159-04:00COURAGEOUS - some thoughts<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhasmhZrQ1-E0OwnaQY1EcnSXJiLjDtFR0i8LoByf0GUPtMcMhR-hd63SrMCGAMCkqoaf-dqkV9BKA000pSDj8LpSWbH7ydOkF9YdNGCOrrMf3EGTHe69nV6LHwWXafCWqHPKbhI0QUP4v/s1600/courageous-poster.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 318px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhasmhZrQ1-E0OwnaQY1EcnSXJiLjDtFR0i8LoByf0GUPtMcMhR-hd63SrMCGAMCkqoaf-dqkV9BKA000pSDj8LpSWbH7ydOkF9YdNGCOrrMf3EGTHe69nV6LHwWXafCWqHPKbhI0QUP4v/s400/courageous-poster.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663751997771022674" border="0" /></a><br />I saw the movie Courageous a week ago.<br /><br />I liked it. I liked it a lot.<br /><br />The Christian world has given it a very mixed-up reception. I've heard men chortling over its un-realistic-ness, and critical articles dryly mocking it. I've also heard many people say they loved it, and a couple call it possibly their favorite movie of all time.<br /><br />So. As with all Christian movies produced from the dawn of time to the bitter end, <span style="font-style: italic;">Courageous </span>was received on all extremes of the spectrum. While mulling this over, I realized a remarkable epiphany: no Christian movie will ever, EVER be a total "win" to the Christian community. It will ALWAYS be accused of erring on one side or another; either of being "watered-down" or being "unrealistic and preachy." I've heard people accuse <span style="font-style: italic;">Courageous </span>of both. o_O You really can't win 'em all.<br /><br />My opinion of the movie? I liked it a lot.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibLfV3Zt3FPbKW9qN9-eV1JFrVes7UYYf0ofm7lIjKppZXC9g8IHRTik0vdLKfcPbcZdjh52Z-4hSFo9wD6taJDlxOj-iCft-ZtMjRfGs8qfk6pFlNbzrn8bmIDlq7qq5pgglwOvRBfF_u/s1600/courageous-15.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 297px; height: 198px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibLfV3Zt3FPbKW9qN9-eV1JFrVes7UYYf0ofm7lIjKppZXC9g8IHRTik0vdLKfcPbcZdjh52Z-4hSFo9wD6taJDlxOj-iCft-ZtMjRfGs8qfk6pFlNbzrn8bmIDlq7qq5pgglwOvRBfF_u/s400/courageous-15.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663751776115976482" border="0" /></a>The <span style="font-weight: bold;">pacing </span>was a bit slow at times, but when there was action, it was ACTION. O_O At least to this little homeschooled, sheltered teen. XD To me the car-chases and break-ins and shoot-outs were pretty awesome.<br /><br />The <span style="font-weight: bold;">plot </span>felt rather unsatisfying on the whole - when the credits started rolling, I was left with a sense of "wait- what?" as though we still had half the movie left to go (though it was already about 2 hours long. O_O). Maybe that was because there were five main characters, all with subplots and families that couldn't all be fully extrapolated.<br /><br />The movie was <span style="font-weight: bold;">emotional</span>. I thought that was well-executed. I cried once or twice. Or thrice. And movies don't generally make me cry. (exceptions: <span style="font-style: italic;">Up,</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Lord of the Rings</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">Prince Caspian</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">Alice In Wonderland</span>.)<br /><br />So. I cried, I laughed, I was surprised, I was on the edge of my seat, I whispered fervently "Nonononodon't-open-that-DOOR/go-that-way/split-up/etc. you ninny!", and I was practically squeaking during the climax.<br /><br />The movie challenged me. It impacted me definitely for the best. It has not completely revolutionized my life - I will never expect that of any particular moment or book or movie (edit: aside from my moment of salvation, of course). But it did certainly change my thinking, and has, in turn, influenced my actions. It's perceptively shifted my worldview a bit; it gave emotional depth and memorable dimension to the principle of <span style="font-weight: bold;">not wasting one's life.</span><br /><br /><blockquote>"Let me do all the good I can, for all the people I can, as often as I can, for I shall not pass this way again." - John Wesley<br /></blockquote><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEAqX5pVEZFUD_iTSLNyEnWQga6Ade06a9fuYf-Y0KnGW2fxgkKBZayEOo1j8p4C3iMaL52Cz1E0xa2Z0INjYP8CUxnjsbki9swUQqIBweS8eOyhHJN2cQ9s0gIJ0lMR9NpaH2afGtrOkP/s1600/courageous-1.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 304px; height: 202px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEAqX5pVEZFUD_iTSLNyEnWQga6Ade06a9fuYf-Y0KnGW2fxgkKBZayEOo1j8p4C3iMaL52Cz1E0xa2Z0INjYP8CUxnjsbki9swUQqIBweS8eOyhHJN2cQ9s0gIJ0lMR9NpaH2afGtrOkP/s400/courageous-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663751457617773714" border="0" /></a><br />Yes, the movie felt to me, at times, mildly corny. It was not wholly and completely satisfying, to myself or to the Christian community at large. But all things considered, I'd say they did a very fine job.<br /><br />If you haven't seen it yet, I advise that you do. ^_^ If you have seen it, what did you think of it?<br /><br />All things considered,<br />-whisperwhisperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05665166033958707844noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299820141596059050.post-87004704593715255472011-10-14T17:49:00.002-04:002011-10-14T17:56:28.122-04:008 EverythingsGreetings and salutations!<br /><br />I have been largely absent from the online world. I have many excuses, none of which you'd like to hear, and all of which matter to me but not to you. So. Here comes a highly condensed account of some Lately-Things, concerning, respectively,<span style="font-weight: bold;"> a blog, a job, Eagles Wings, <span style="font-style: italic;">Apprentice</span>, mornings, story titles, Jabberwocky, and an anonymous quote</span>. Good stuff.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">- - -<br /></div><br />1. <span style="font-weight: bold;">My sister has a blog.</span> I've already mentioned <a href="http://elvishscrollsfromlostlibraries.blogspot.com/">the blog of Hark</a>, but now my other sister, The Golux (alias Fountain, alias the wearer of the Indescribable Hat) has one of her own, as well! Entitled "The Simple Tales of Fountain", you can find it by clicking the screenshot below.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://simpletalesoffountain.blogspot.com/"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 163px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDp5kLV2zMaW9BoxoEGOApAdb6wNwpjQp4GZKj8jtiA3iC-Wyw5fnA0ZkqTyOqNuIuszde2YZ7WnvtG6pUtP1qYOkmEcpTiId4oMNoYThMeozDYkn4uIBFgDp_dxomeJDxQex-88-p9s6q/s400/blog.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663375265990732466" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2. My Dad got a job</span>. Huzzah! As you can read in <a href="http://chasingjabberwockies.blogspot.com/2011/09/strangenesses.html">this post</a>, my Dad recently left his job as a pastor for complicated reasons. But a few weeks ago, he got a new, different sort of job, which, except for the fact that it pays less, is better in every way: Dad gets to work predominately from home, it's a Christian-run company and, ironically, there are a lot of other ex-pastors there. o_O Conspiracy. Anyhow, thank you so much for any and all prayers you submitted to the King concerning this matter - He heard and met them wondrously. :)<br /><br /><br />3. In a few<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidOODfhkHQbte1-91IRIQY1Whwa3V0fI6TM59vns8bnKPhxxGq8sgZVhrc9wG5ZtPC19xZpQ7tn__Qm2veymU1QCu1sMeUdphKQc4-F0Aq6wz-SsGZ4AqAZicQE3-qmu-y5llEfwEXWJk5/s1600/EW.png"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 117px; height: 102px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidOODfhkHQbte1-91IRIQY1Whwa3V0fI6TM59vns8bnKPhxxGq8sgZVhrc9wG5ZtPC19xZpQ7tn__Qm2veymU1QCu1sMeUdphKQc4-F0Aq6wz-SsGZ4AqAZicQE3-qmu-y5llEfwEXWJk5/s400/EW.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663461969311163810" border="0" /></a> days.... <span style="font-weight: bold;">I'm going to meet Eagles Wings</span>. O_O Elves, you know who this is. You know of Eagles Wings, the mighty, the brave, the cheerful. I and Rowan are going to meet her together for an afternoon. XD Huzzah! I'd offer to show pictures, but I don't want to compromise any of our secret identities. ^_^<br /><br /><br />4. My pet story, (working title) <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Apprentice, </span>(you can find some info on it <a href="http://chasingjabberwockies.blogspot.com/2011/03/story-tag.html">here</a>) has gone through much, much, much rewriting. Between drafts one and three, I doubled the characters and quadrupled the word count. ^_^ I have no idea how much longer it will take me to complete the story. But at least I'm starting to think about beta readers. o_O Anyhow, <span style="font-style: italic;">Apprentice </span>keeps me happy and gobbles up my time. I'm going to try to compose a nice "back-cover blurb" description thingy so I can explain what in the seven stars is it about, both to the mighty readers of this humble blog and to anyone (friend, foe, or family member) who inquires.<br /><br /><br />5.<span style="font-weight: bold;"> This is how I feel.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuaLVwZ6Z6RQV5meFQu6Ju2lYOEmEih36mdWxl5V_vBIcQE841bRAzedLKJr4BVZEXnPPV4X1NMQKP0Y3TDQ5IJkUPqyv1lBdEG62S5tl6XOx1W-Y731fsPvPpzOGFmGhpJl_sGkEc0BA9/s1600/mornings.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuaLVwZ6Z6RQV5meFQu6Ju2lYOEmEih36mdWxl5V_vBIcQE841bRAzedLKJr4BVZEXnPPV4X1NMQKP0Y3TDQ5IJkUPqyv1lBdEG62S5tl6XOx1W-Y731fsPvPpzOGFmGhpJl_sGkEc0BA9/s400/mornings.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663378137807925826" border="0" /></a><br />Every morning.<br /><br />Just thought I'd share.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />6. Concerning <span style="font-weight: bold;">story titles.</span> I leave you three to consider.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">A. <span style="font-style: italic;"> The Can Go Bang.</span><br />B. <span style="font-style: italic;"> Revenge of the Plot Bunnies</span><br />C. <span style="font-style: italic;">The Legend of Aunt Sylvia</span><br /></div><br />^ I want to write those stories one day, and many more.<br /><br />If you think you've missed something, don't worry, you haven't. :| For some reason I felt I ought to disclose these deep and bizzarre inclinations to you. Thank you for bearing with me in my hour of great need; I hope we understand each other.<br /><br /><br />7. According to legend (aka, in this instance, <a href="http://slygames.net/wp/">Leighton</a>) there might be a <span style="font-weight: bold;">Jabberwocky video game</span> coming out at some point. o_O The truth of this matter is unverified, but there's still a cool trailer to be watched. ---> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;"><a href="http://vz3.blur.com/work/detail/jabberwocky#movies/1">http://vz3.blur.com/work/detail/jabberwocky#movies/1</a></span></span></span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-dQHmVBgdRWb_QncHjt0mOTlKCBBZzksY83ZJKjp4DJV54VEFaK5SifR9WxlkOijgOzMwfBReZGdPxlyHpVMbdXSZbFd9QZlrYYC-FNETTCXTlsFo1x08u7MzdZG_TA6RNkK8P0poWmgd/s1600/ja.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-dQHmVBgdRWb_QncHjt0mOTlKCBBZzksY83ZJKjp4DJV54VEFaK5SifR9WxlkOijgOzMwfBReZGdPxlyHpVMbdXSZbFd9QZlrYYC-FNETTCXTlsFo1x08u7MzdZG_TA6RNkK8P0poWmgd/s400/ja.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663466375598440834" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">note the vorpral sword. ^_^<br /></span></div><br /><br />8. I'll leave you with a thought-provoking thought; an <span style="font-weight: bold;">anonymous quote </span>of great and profound meaning:<br /><br />"Time flies like the wind.<br />Fruit flies like bananas."<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">- - -<br /></div><br />Miscellaneous,<br />-whisperwhisperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05665166033958707844noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299820141596059050.post-27260887959890878122011-09-24T08:43:00.001-04:002011-09-24T08:43:00.448-04:00Punctuation<span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="UIStory_Message">The grammari</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIg_fjxCxEVz0dnSZ6zDMxsBbF_VQbtpNxTpjnTT7b_qaytrTOrvlr1CxJrN13rkL1wVVcXyrJU8048Z22ZZhSejDsEdxHGPBwQYMK1C1NXGPyR1iMRXHMnezwx0SKKsRGy6C953l4AT5Y/s1600/Typewriter_keys.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 149px; height: 119px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIg_fjxCxEVz0dnSZ6zDMxsBbF_VQbtpNxTpjnTT7b_qaytrTOrvlr1CxJrN13rkL1wVVcXyrJU8048Z22ZZhSejDsEdxHGPBwQYMK1C1NXGPyR1iMRXHMnezwx0SKKsRGy6C953l4AT5Y/s320/Typewriter_keys.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520648792206975554" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="UIStory_Message">an within me rejoices, for today is National Punctuation Day! *cheers* A toast to wholesome gra</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="UIStory_Message">mmar! *raises glass of apple cider*</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;">On this informal holiday's official website, http://www.nationalpunctuationday.com/, this day is hailed as "A celebration of the lowly comma, correctly used quotation marks, and other proper uses of periods, semicolons, and the ever-mysterious ellipsis."<br /><br />Our generation's standards of grammar have fallen to abysmal depths. In honor of the English Language and how it has served millions of people for centuries, take the time today to punctuate properly.<br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span>Typewriter picture found on http://thegalleyslave.wordpress.com/<br /></span></span>whisperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05665166033958707844noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299820141596059050.post-62962110198963833622011-09-20T23:40:00.004-04:002011-09-20T23:47:15.964-04:00The Creed of the Sociopathic Obsessive Compulsive<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOSpOyWtcHw-TpXEBg00WpEauoe-cNUPSIeCJdMluOk_wWn_0BldtMfDu24qdhJYZlRibKt9HYJjt6UV9yvhOaEC7jaIhjOKyrN8O0_VXoU7ZEdcGlknXYZIfqLc_6dlix9ZU8xwc-2cou/s1600/peters-laws.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 218px; height: 275px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOSpOyWtcHw-TpXEBg00WpEauoe-cNUPSIeCJdMluOk_wWn_0BldtMfDu24qdhJYZlRibKt9HYJjt6UV9yvhOaEC7jaIhjOKyrN8O0_VXoU7ZEdcGlknXYZIfqLc_6dlix9ZU8xwc-2cou/s400/peters-laws.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654652020272757122" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><h1 style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Peter's Laws</span></span></h1><h1 style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">The Creed of the Sociopathic Obsessive Compulsive</span></span></h1><br /><br /> 1. If anything can go wrong, Fix it!<br /><br />2. When given a choice -- Take both!<br /><br />3. Multiple projects lead to multiple successes.<br /><br />4. Start at the top and work your way up.<br /><br />5. Do it by the book...but be the author!<br /><br />6. When forced to compromise, ask for more.<br /><br />7. If you can't beat them, join them, and then beat them.<br /><br />8. If it's worth doing, it's got to be done right now.<br /><br />9. If you can't win, change the rules.<br /><br />10. If you can't change the rules, ignore them.<br /><br />11. Perfection is not optional.<br /><br />12.. When faced without a challenge, make one.<br /><br />13. "No" simply means begin again at the next highest level.<br /><br />14. Don't walk when you can run.<br /><br />15. Bureaucracy is a challenge to the be conquered with a righteous attitude, an intolerance for stupidity, and bulldozer when necessary.<br /><br />16. When in doubt: THINK!<br /><br />17. Patience is a virtue but persistence to the point of success is a blessing.<br /><br />18. The squeaky wheel gets replaced.<br /><br />19. The faster you move, the slower time passes, the longer you live.<br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br />(notice: I did not write this; I found it on a poster somewhere. I mildly edited the list in order to remove a word of profanity)</span><br /><br />sociopathic in the dark,<br />-whisperwhisperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05665166033958707844noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299820141596059050.post-9399754508856673252011-09-11T08:46:00.004-04:002011-09-11T08:46:02.896-04:00"Now the towers are gone."Of course, you all know that something unspeakably terrible happened on this day at this minute ten years ago.<br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">9/11.<br />the world trade center.<br />a day of madness.<br /><br /></span></span></div><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>But in 1974, in that same place, <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" >something beautiful happened.</span><br /><br />French tightrope walker Philippe Petit strung a cable between the two half-constructed towers and made a glorious walk between them. For forty-five minutes, he ran, danced, jumped, laid down, and gave knee salutes on a wire <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">one thousand, three hundred, fifty feet above the ground</span>.<br /><br />I read a book on it - a children's book called <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">The Man Who Walked Between the Towers</span>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcHEZVYbo12E-L5i2i1nsotr5B2uxtnKbTk10JG4erH8cqPGwdd916Ss0X-Rsvc_Y4kJrB1fMyvovPNPWFIH2hDALo-S2DdP4RH91Y0gGoJa5hD_gWwIwv88qTLCq-5fhKR9bgss0_8_F2/s1600/the-man-who-walked-between-the-towers1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 301px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcHEZVYbo12E-L5i2i1nsotr5B2uxtnKbTk10JG4erH8cqPGwdd916Ss0X-Rsvc_Y4kJrB1fMyvovPNPWFIH2hDALo-S2DdP4RH91Y0gGoJa5hD_gWwIwv88qTLCq-5fhKR9bgss0_8_F2/s400/the-man-who-walked-between-the-towers1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5650906982939712866" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It is my favorite children's book.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzOGm12_2p8iEedFy9cffhy7DGLBKqIJWqWRFaigooTK6cJchLNO6YA76Ogj35ri4i14-4YVRqtzkmzvIU0tOEyMlIqmiVGUxPs5sKSx_ekLATWoZYuFE5ko-JIuMThEyvSrE3vHaX_Div/s1600/wire.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 220px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzOGm12_2p8iEedFy9cffhy7DGLBKqIJWqWRFaigooTK6cJchLNO6YA76Ogj35ri4i14-4YVRqtzkmzvIU0tOEyMlIqmiVGUxPs5sKSx_ekLATWoZYuFE5ko-JIuMThEyvSrE3vHaX_Div/s400/wire.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5650907155986926194" border="0" /></a>It tells a beautiful story. The pictures, and the very concept of being so entirely<span style="font-weight: bold;"> in the air</span>, so isolated with the light rain and the wind and the sky and the city so infinitely far below... it's <span style="font-weight: bold;">beautiful</span>. It electrifies my mind in Owl-City-ish ways. It's just glorious.<br /><br />To my dismay, as I researched this possible-new-hero, Philippe, I found that he was, of course, not perfect. He had (has; for he lives still) issues with immorality and narcissism (and obeying authority >_>). Nonetheless, his walk between the two unformed towers was courageous, and it is to me very beautiful.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIrN5xx864zSNSHhJlSzOFvWtvJAF7Ncc2hEZxzQtEPazIK-jNvMOf-9YOU6fJco241KmeqjIdyBS1VNXcmsfndtjYC1o-e7YLvox69uftiCWXytIOrAZbYbFU2d7jstA8hj70D9YsAl9R/s1600/wire2.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 306px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIrN5xx864zSNSHhJlSzOFvWtvJAF7Ncc2hEZxzQtEPazIK-jNvMOf-9YOU6fJco241KmeqjIdyBS1VNXcmsfndtjYC1o-e7YLvox69uftiCWXytIOrAZbYbFU2d7jstA8hj70D9YsAl9R/s400/wire2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5650907390860537154" border="0" /></a>Philippe was arrested for his stunt. Secluded from the astonished press, while cuffed to a chair in a police station, Philippe kept himself occupied by picking his handcuffs with a paper clip and balancing an officer's hat on his nose. Such <span style="font-weight: bold;">classic mischief</span>. :) He was later given the grave sentence of performing for children in a park.<br /><br />Although the actual walk between the towers was not captured clearly on video, several pictures were taken. Good ones are in the news report below, as well as footage of his post-arrest stunt with the hat.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">See the report to the confused and smiling world.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/lAVj2IVC9ko" allowfullscreen="" width="420" frameborder="0" height="345"></iframe><br /></div><br />Philippe was not perfect, and his stunt was not exactly wise. But his walk between the fated towers <span style="font-weight: bold;">made beautiful </span>a place that, decades later, would be a scene of <span style="font-weight: bold;">terror and chaos</span>.<br /><br />Go check out the book from your library -<span style="font-style: italic;"> The Man Who Walked Between the Towers</span> - and spend a few moments reflecting on the quiet awe of standing on an inch of steel, in the air atop the world, entirely alone and untouchable.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">"Now the towers are gone."<br /><br /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;">"But in memory, as if imprinted on the sky, the towers are still there. And part of that memory is the joyful morning, August 7, 1974, when Philippe Petit walked between them in the air."</span><br /></span></div>whisperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05665166033958707844noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299820141596059050.post-51219633848834386922011-09-09T17:47:00.004-04:002011-09-10T00:26:57.354-04:00StrangenessesThis is a time of strange situations. Matters of Strange Nature have infested my life like so many wombats, and I am forced to confront (sword in hand) things which do not happen everyday, nor even every year, but only-occasionally-once in a lifetime.<br /><br />In swift succession over this past week, the following odd, sad-making events have occurred:<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">note - this is not my church. >_><br />It's just a very cool-looking one found on Google.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz5g5pHQbSTEdeO8KhqrsQzKvR-RtXCsOj4a-9IFxVgC5KFf7ZCIJh99UpbYBu3FMxlxq9NrTJRNjr7Cy5QdaiSoA3EWb6M3ndudRPkoOqRSDQJnxuGmjDvQ_Fyo9cW-YAgGZX_JDFBxCv/s1600/church.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 318px; height: 211px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz5g5pHQbSTEdeO8KhqrsQzKvR-RtXCsOj4a-9IFxVgC5KFf7ZCIJh99UpbYBu3FMxlxq9NrTJRNjr7Cy5QdaiSoA3EWb6M3ndudRPkoOqRSDQJnxuGmjDvQ_Fyo9cW-YAgGZX_JDFBxCv/s400/church.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648942060217376274" border="0" /></a>1. We have left our church.<br /><br />2. My Dad left his job.<br /><br /><br />These events go hand in hand. You see, my Dad is <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">(ahem, </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">was</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">)</span> a pastor. We went to that church for many years, and it's the only one I truly remember. Dad was a pastor there, but after some sad, sad, sticky situations and 2+ years of trying to <span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">fix the problems</span> and <span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">bring in help </span>and<span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"> preserve the church</span> and <span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">maintain his sanity</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">(all at once! My Dad's a great multi-tasker ^_^)</span>, he and one other pastor <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">(and several other families in the congregation)</span> left, creating a small church <span style="font-weight: bold;">schism</span>. So now Dad and the other pastor - our families are good friends - have no jobs. They are unemployed. O_O<br /><br />Planned/desired dinners and talks and friendships - hundreds have been snapped off. Sad, sad. Yet I confess that I am in part enjoying these Strange Things; I am enjoying the newness of it all. After all, this situation is the closest thing to an <span style="font-weight: bold;">adventure </span>this spy is going to get for a long time. My <span style="font-weight: bold;">morbid </span>side has come alive in <span style="font-weight: bold;">spewing writings </span>about this. ^_^ Of course, there is still the sad nostalgia and mixed-up-ness of the whole matter that makes one cry atimes. And with this situation came the awfulness of broken trust. I learned sad things about people I'd respected and admired and loved as brothers and sisters in Christ - people that I wanted to go on seeing as role models. There is something unreconstructably sad in realizing your heroes are fallibly far from perfect.<br /><br />Yet there is one hero who, for me, has come to light in this whole mess: my Dad. Throughout the church-/job-leaving situation, my Dad has been, in so many ways, a <span style="font-weight: bold;">hero</span>. He has been inestimably gracious, humble, and brave, and my respect for him has grown so much. Love you, Daddy. (:<br /><br />And then there is a third matter: as many of you already know, our very good friend, <a href="http://teenagewritingrocks.blogspot.com/">Jake</a>, is leaving, going far-off. He and his family are moving to Liberia, Africa, and communication will be diminished significantly. Although I am quite happy for this splendid opportunity that the Sadaar Clan now has to participate in mission work in far-off lands, this is still unquestionably sad-making. As all who know him will agree, Jake is a marvelous elf, an epic writer, a heroic fighter, a wellspring of randomness, a summoner of turkeys, and a loyal friend. His Pen of Doom is respected and revered among all elf-kind. And his <span style="font-style: italic;">Battle Fought at Midday </span>- a four part chronicle in which he quite literally duels with Procrastination -is a masterpiece in entertaining allegory ("Inspiration hit me over the head with my shampoo.") (read part 1 <a href="http://teenagewritingrocks.blogspot.com/2011/04/personification-challenge.html">here</a>)<br /><br />Many goodbyes are happening; many things are being changed, and books are closed and burned. *snif* Two quotes<span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"> (both from the illustrious </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">100 Cupboards</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"> series)</span> seemed to suit various aspects of this week well:<br /><div style="text-align: center;">- - - - - - - - ~ - - -<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">He sat up. "Your peaches," he said. "And your applesauce. How many pies do you think I've eaten in my life?" He looked down at her. "Not enough." He smiled. "If we get out of this, there needs to be more pie. That's all the complaining I've got."<br />- <span style="font-style: italic;">The Chestnut King</span><br /><br />"Sometimes standing against evil is more important than defeating it. The greatest heroes stand because it is right to do so, not because they believe they will walk away with their lives. Such selfless courage is a victory in itself."<br />-<span style="font-style: italic;">Dandelion Fire</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">- - - - -<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" ><br />(a third quote that is not 100-Cupboards-ish but that I love anyway and pertains to farewells and thus ought to be said)</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;">"For Christians, 'goodbye' always means 'see you later.'"<br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">- Anonymous</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">- - - - - - - - ~ - - -<br /></div><br />These times are still strange. o_O If you have any inspiring quotes and/or advice about sadness, farewells,<span style="font-size:100%;"> friendships, and/or Aztecs, I</span>'d love to hear them.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 204);">*sighs* <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">What with the sadnesses of the aforementioned three things</span></span> and the compounding frustrations of overloads of schoolwork, papers, deadlines, and information, this situation becomes evermore unpleasant. Sometimes I just want to vanish into a French monastery and become a nun, or maybe a part-time Russian Communist spy. Or perhaps move into the forest and become a librarian/warrior/hermit. If I disappear one of these days, know that Whisper the spy has donned the black robes and obliterated herself from the face of the earth and all its social quandaries.<br /><br />Or gone LARPing. More on that later.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Standing at the top of, and blinking owlishly down at, the very-long spiky black glass staircase leading into the Depths of Despair,</span><br /><br />-whisperwhisperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05665166033958707844noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299820141596059050.post-47155513547060500162011-08-24T22:07:00.001-04:002011-08-24T22:15:32.846-04:00100 For Justice
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNcQ5UKnl-P1LR-nXcil38ocPzie6WErV2fAjDxP2B82nWWP1PoqExJ6_WZJLdsgbKAZuLYiavk-8cFrwvWg4ixf2byuSG7cShuXXC0KffQZn_t-Blr1ar-H87E8im1M4oyDgXoc82JLFd/s1600/home.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 248px; height: 203px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNcQ5UKnl-P1LR-nXcil38ocPzie6WErV2fAjDxP2B82nWWP1PoqExJ6_WZJLdsgbKAZuLYiavk-8cFrwvWg4ixf2byuSG7cShuXXC0KffQZn_t-Blr1ar-H87E8im1M4oyDgXoc82JLFd/s400/home.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644610942543050162" border="0" /></a>
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<br />*waves* Greetings, all! I have a Something to tell you about.
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<br />My friend, Noelle, proprietor of the blog <a href="http://seeingbeauty.wordpress.com/">Seeing Beauty</a>, has launched a project she calls
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<br /><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><a href="http://100forjustice.wordpress.com/">100 For Justice</a></span></div>
<br />Noelle is undertaking the daunting task of running 100 miles this September and October; hoping that others will join her in this act of support for a worthy organization: <span style="font-weight: bold;">International Justice Mission</span>.
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<br />Perhaps you've heard of IJM. It is an organization working in several counties (including India, Cambodia, and the Philippines) collaborating with the local police forces to enforce justice. They expose hidden evils, rescue the abused, and uphold the rights of the voiceless. IJM's work is multi-fold:
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<br />- They perform undercover operations, investigating cases of injustice
<br />- They actively free the enslaved and trafficked and arrest their oppressors
<br />- They take the persecutors to court and legally prosecute them.
<br />- They train and equip local police forces to be more effective.
<br />- They provide aftercare, job training, and counseling for the former victims
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<br />The International Justice Mission battles to protect those who have been unjustly arrested, defends those whose property has been illegally seized, rescues the trafficked, and frees the slaves.
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<br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7yzu2DIifQn2AnJuyUmaMFap6a62b3H55CjT4V1PqdGkda6Z8BZ_Siva3gHI-OKlpc0D0L89NvSot8oZpKhw1gRJnSN0rbHeA-CPbwXpbkXlkYxOxFV-pJ-iiin1An2Rk2mpeE63rx2ZA/s1600/chains.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 265px; height: 190px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7yzu2DIifQn2AnJuyUmaMFap6a62b3H55CjT4V1PqdGkda6Z8BZ_Siva3gHI-OKlpc0D0L89NvSot8oZpKhw1gRJnSN0rbHeA-CPbwXpbkXlkYxOxFV-pJ-iiin1An2Rk2mpeE63rx2ZA/s400/chains.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644610673847652722" border="0" /></a>
<br /></span><a href="http://www.ijm.org/">http://www.ijm.org/</a> < please click, if you are interested.
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<br />Also, I recommend a video telling the story of a former slave. She is Suhanna, captured and enslaved <span style="font-style: italic;">twice</span> before being rescued by IJM. Here is the video, but I advice caution: it contains sad realities of trafficking that are not for youngsters' eyes and ears, if y'know what I mean. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nytkBRQ0qZI&feature=youtube_gdata
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<br />Noelle has a passion to combat this. As she runs 100 for justice, giving up her time and strength, please consider if you can give up a few dollars.
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<br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl-MowLbXyQVRPTjo3lVot18SQn5DuiQoIkb37lc3qDyPGEezpq5d0obH07dDFKqYhFY39LFOOfCHur4fKFJQ8Jw_JqFHIDzZIU2WF9XlXLuQLgc3-Q5hOQAxtPArjX1usNkKpf2ZIutVC/s1600/onehundredforjustice-alt21.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 198px; height: 198px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl-MowLbXyQVRPTjo3lVot18SQn5DuiQoIkb37lc3qDyPGEezpq5d0obH07dDFKqYhFY39LFOOfCHur4fKFJQ8Jw_JqFHIDzZIU2WF9XlXLuQLgc3-Q5hOQAxtPArjX1usNkKpf2ZIutVC/s400/onehundredforjustice-alt21.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644611190636308434" border="0" /></a>
<br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;">for justice,
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">-whisper
<br /></div>whisperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05665166033958707844noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299820141596059050.post-43771733680383323172011-08-15T15:02:00.001-04:002011-08-15T15:03:03.031-04:00Risk<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUwnds6JHWwh8hWW4-FIAZwrF5MJVY7rCq9sZlRmHeR5_cPyAi6cmmu9K90IbQ4MYWEcvg8BFU7Cwjv6OHgzbl6146hl0aHvC77HnwEKOpDnJXH0ieCT4FD7s5Jk5PtVzluJ2Rmhl0KJyo/s1600/risk.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 275px; height: 183px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUwnds6JHWwh8hWW4-FIAZwrF5MJVY7rCq9sZlRmHeR5_cPyAi6cmmu9K90IbQ4MYWEcvg8BFU7Cwjv6OHgzbl6146hl0aHvC77HnwEKOpDnJXH0ieCT4FD7s5Jk5PtVzluJ2Rmhl0KJyo/s400/risk.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640825721703719746" border="0" /></a>
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">"I try all things; I achieve what I can."</span> - <span style="font-style: italic;">Moby Dick</span>
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<br />That simple line inspires and thrills me. Behind it lurks a daring and a desire to accomplish more, harder, and riskier things. I wish there were more worthwhile risks in my life - that I had great opportunities to take steps against the social norm and to stand strong as a Christian.
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<br />Problem is, I don't know of many such opportunities. >_> Do you have any spare Worthy Risks sitting about? Because I could use one. Or two.
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<br />I've been trying to live life to the fullest and to try new things. But I have no high goals to achieve! Sure, I've been composing a bucket list, including (but by no means limited to):
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >- visit the loch ness</span>
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >- go skydiving</span>
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >- learn morse code</span>
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >- adopt a girl from china</span>
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >- attend an owl city concert</span>
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >- publish a book</span>
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<br />It looks all well and grand on paper. But what am I to <span style="font-style: italic;">do </span>with my life, right here, right now? Days ride by on schoolwork and meals and empty words. We live, we eat, we dance, we go to libraries, we make pumpkin pie, we post clever FB statuses, we dive, we read classics. To what purpose? To what point?
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<br />We play life so safe and scheduled. <span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Where are our </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">challenges</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">? Where are our </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">quests </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">and </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">feats of valor</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">? Where are our </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">mistakes </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">and our</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"> epic fails</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">? Where are our </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">triumphs </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">and </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">stories</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">? </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Where have all the adventures gone?</span>
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >“Let me do all the good I can, for all the people I can, as often as I can, for I shall not pass this way again.”</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> - John Wesley</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="text_exposed_show" >
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<br />“It's probably true that a person who makes it through life without making any enemies never stood up for anything important.” </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="text_exposed_show" >- Start Here</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">
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<br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do.” </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >- Mark Twain</span>
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<br />I want a risk.
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<br />whisperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05665166033958707844noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299820141596059050.post-15641345137706976582011-08-09T15:28:00.001-04:002011-08-09T15:29:12.271-04:00The Dragon's Tooth -or- N. D. Wilson Writes Again -or- Welcome to Ashtown<span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span>I couldn't decide on a fitting title for this post. I answered the dilemma of choice in my typical fashion - choosing 'em all.
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<br />But enough of that. Have you heard of the 100 Cupboards Trilogy?
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<br />They are worthy of all ranting. I should have done this long ago! I should have hollered their praises and pounded my fist upon their blessed pages and shouted down your ear about them! (metaphorically speaking, of course; as I am far too polite an individual to <span style="font-style: italic;">really </span>shout in your ear. Unless its about something important. Like Twix candy bars. Or this series.)
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<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0OvOtsBGXu4MBvlg_0YQGU0-ZeaGd_hYeew9p0WmnXZHRvKRVxd2-8mP1CzWtvl93n11qyyqDDEVV5t_CKYj90-_4eB6TXMR3MdjMtrbdgqmrQnDn1u7fDnKEfGsnbxBA6Qc-_edoZ-p1/s1600/100+cupboards+trilogy.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 198px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0OvOtsBGXu4MBvlg_0YQGU0-ZeaGd_hYeew9p0WmnXZHRvKRVxd2-8mP1CzWtvl93n11qyyqDDEVV5t_CKYj90-_4eB6TXMR3MdjMtrbdgqmrQnDn1u7fDnKEfGsnbxBA6Qc-_edoZ-p1/s400/100+cupboards+trilogy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638928852620218946" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqDtmwprjW49RLLYUxkeTCXuRM18VPLHBLE5sQWxxpsHOcMzRxNnogM6zoIq-UxRfZBB1BPVNflzlHJEp2fdcO2J3_lJtVCAK_XhLWCG12fvDNH1MtlsqLs8jxKIT_BviuNYbCJaBlIc3d/s1600/100+cupboards+trilogy.JPG</span>
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<br />These books are... <span style="font-weight: bold;">Epic</span>. <span style="font-weight: bold;"> Stunning</span>. <span style="font-weight: bold;"> Amazing</span>.<span style="font-weight: bold;">
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<br />Fantastic </span>in every sense of the word.
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<br />The 100 Cupboards trilogy is one of my favorite favoritefuls series (you <span style="font-style: italic;">know </span>it's good if it includes a book called <span style="font-style: italic;">Dandelion Fire</span>); third only to the Wingfeather Saga and the Chronicles of Narnia. And, happily, they're rather clean; there were a few minor weirdnesses and perhaps two or three swear words throughout the trilogy, but aside from that I they were clean, like so many bars of soap. Personally, methought that the series' goods far outweighed the bads.
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<br />They tell the story of a kid named Henry who wakes up one night because plaster has fallen on his head. He looks up and sees two door knobs poking out of his bedroom wall. After chipping away all the plaster, he finds behind his wall <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">99 cupboards</span> of varying shape, size, and color. Inside one door he can smell wood and rain and when he sticks his hand through he feels moss and worms. Through the glass door of another, he can see a yellow post office (and starts receiving some very odd letters). And then there's the cold, sucking black door that hides nightmarish creatures. And the ship... and the haunted ballroom... *shivers with delight* Fantastic books about Henry's exploration of the cupboard worlds and his war against the evils of Endor.
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<br />The books have an amazing premise, and they succeed where so many promising books fail: <span style="font-style: italic;">they actually execute the idea well.</span> A revolutionary concept, I know. >_> The author, N. D. Wilson, is brilliant - he is a master of <span style="font-weight: bold;">description </span>and <span style="font-weight: bold;">character </span>and <span style="font-weight: bold;">worldbuilding</span>.
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<br />As if all this isn't incentive enough to read it, rumor has it that the movie is coming out sometime this year. And don't you just love that wise feeling you experience when a new movie is coming out and all your friends are talking about it and trying to describe it to you but you can cut them off smugly and say, "Oh, I already know what it's about. <span style="font-style: italic;"> I read the book</span>." *smirk* Heehee. I savor the satisfaction of knowing everything about a movie before everyone else does. Ah, the bookish joys of being the one to explain the <span style="font-style: italic;">Eragon</span> and the <span style="font-style: italic;">I Am Number Four </span>and<span style="font-style: italic;"> The Series of Unfortunate Events </span>trailers to one's bewildered and excited acquaintances! (Come to think of it, I never saw <span style="font-style: italic;">any </span>of those movies. o.o I heard they were all lame. And for the record, so far as my humble opinion goes, <span style="font-style: italic;">I Am Number Four</span> is a profoundly dumb book.)
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<br />SO. With that established. Hop on your bike right now and pedal like mad to the library and snatch <span style="font-style: italic;">100 Cupboards</span> off the shelf (it is adviseable to bowl over any kids in your way in the process, but you didn't hear it from me). Stuff it furtively in your book bag and flee for your life with it! (checking it out is optional.)
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<br />No! Wait! Stop! Halt! Desist! Hold everything! Before you do that, we must come back to the original point of this point:
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<br />The Dragon Tooth.
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<br />N. D. Wilson writes again.
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<br />Welcome to Ashtown.
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<br />As you may have guessed and/or heard by now, Wilson is starting a new series, the first book of which is coming out <span style="font-weight: bold;">August 23rd</span> - in 14.0002 days. The series is called The Ashtown Burials, and book one is<span style="font-style: italic;"> The Dragon Tooth</span>.
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<br />Best of all, there is a trailer - a book trailer - a professional trailer - an epic trailer - a trailer that makes me shiver with delight every time I watch it.
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<br />Watch. You must.
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<br /><a href="http://vimeo.com/27156974">http://vimeo.com/27156974</a> <span style="font-size:85%;"> <- I can't get the video window to show up here, so just follow the link. And if this link is acting weird, as it did for me...
<br /></span><a href="http://www.hornspoon.com/2011/08/dragons-tooth-book-trailer.html">
<br />http://www.hornspoon.com/2011/08/dragons-tooth-book-trailer.html</a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><- ... then try this one, linking to the blog of my noble friend Cson. The video is in his post.</span>
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<br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Welcome to Ashtown</span>,
<br />-whisper
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<br />whisperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05665166033958707844noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299820141596059050.post-71312179768530242312011-07-31T23:28:00.005-04:002011-07-31T23:35:02.429-04:00Audiobooks 2<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">Heyyy! *jaunty wave* This spy has been scarce in the online world these past few days, due to a very intense and time-consuming project, namely the making of a short film that involves lots and lots of editing (ie, more than 10 hours. >_> Not to mention filming). Fun. But busymaking. Because it was for a film contest. And it had been going on for two months. But I only came up with an idea three days ago. And we had three days to do it. And I was working up 'till the last few hours of it. XD And we turned it in with an hour and twenty minutes to spare. :D That's what I call living summer on the edge.<br /><br />Anyhow, on to business. I present to you an audiobook post!<br /></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">For those among you who do not know, I have developed a habit of listening to audiobooks whilst executing my job: shelving books at my local library. Multitasking, you see. I am an avid multitasker.<br /><br />In a previous <a href="http://chasingjabberwockies.blogspot.com/2011/04/audiobooks.html">post</a>, I reviewed the audiotales I had recently heard. I do the same again. And once more, I have not one, not three, but<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:180%;" >5</span><br /><br />audiobooks to report.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Without further ado,<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">- - -<br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Nvd4o4VIk8y5XG0L1yGuw9YYFMUuPa2OkE5kaj9LMA9J7f5T0zStA6ow8QfCgPOjNIv_w6XwQ2IfPo20G-iSLKMmR5ylSkZYykhQWKZkhrnTxdDr16E6a4-7qvAnq6bMyUbCKlLHt1S4/s1600/animalfarm.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 169px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Nvd4o4VIk8y5XG0L1yGuw9YYFMUuPa2OkE5kaj9LMA9J7f5T0zStA6ow8QfCgPOjNIv_w6XwQ2IfPo20G-iSLKMmR5ylSkZYykhQWKZkhrnTxdDr16E6a4-7qvAnq6bMyUbCKlLHt1S4/s320/animalfarm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634185261829468834" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Animal Farm</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">George Orwell</span><br /><br />I liked this book. I liked it much. It was a short and swiftly-paced story of a group of farm animals who overthrow their human masters and establish a government of their own.<br /><br />The story is a simplified allegory of the Russian Revolution (and it can be applied to virutally any of the world's tyrannies), and so if you're a history nerd like me, you'll especially enjoy it. Even if you're not, it's still a good story. The animal farm is erected on the cheerful motto "All animals are equal," but subtly - oh, so subtly to the unsuspecting horses and chicken and sheep! - the pigs come to unjust power.<br /><br />Read in dismay as the animals' slogan, "All animals are equal" is, over time, mysteriously replaced with the enigmatic and grim philosophy: <span style="font-weight: bold;">"All animals are equal, only some animals are more equal than others."</span><br /><br />Clean, short, excellent. High recommend.<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Peter and the Starcatchers<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLJqASqas61PUPVgw_ohe9ixGPflxGPFdJdKW5Ih1D6uI0P1Ka3u1DDFIx5MYR8NwT7_YfgDggsDR6V1iyX2Q2rz66eGhCJpkiFDS31u9r5pbldiyOrIBSNaItCSkuFmWb2Y-g3d-95NAM/s1600/starcatchers.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 195px; height: 293px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLJqASqas61PUPVgw_ohe9ixGPflxGPFdJdKW5Ih1D6uI0P1Ka3u1DDFIx5MYR8NwT7_YfgDggsDR6V1iyX2Q2rz66eGhCJpkiFDS31u9r5pbldiyOrIBSNaItCSkuFmWb2Y-g3d-95NAM/s320/starcatchers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634185043194149490" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Dave Barry</span><br /><br />Peter and the Starcatchers is actually Book 1 of a four-book series chronicling the story before the story - explaining how Peter Pan came to be on the island of Neverland, how he could fly, how he lost his shadow, how Tinkerbell came into being, and other wonders. I liked this > the first one, best; afterwards they started to feel a bit more cliche and same-ish. Happily, the entire series was quite clean and appropriate for all ages. The author was very creative in inventing the backstory to the original <span style="font-style: italic;">Peter Pan</span> story. Read this if you want an exciting, innocent story reveling in the classic villainousness of Captain Hook and the daring childishness of Peter Pan.<br /><br />Cliche, lighthearted, classic. Mildly recommended.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQLBg5k9Zb7c5TqlEpHfPEtk9HSvemNgI4V2UykJPlvTjubL8cUyIk9HGsZmsC-lPjz7rIkvF0yeBADSm3Klt5lWGwSaEoEiggb98L5v0Rl58YmCQCDFODfi5R0Zd1fwe3UZZZtlsj0Jq8/s1600/1984.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 175px; height: 287px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQLBg5k9Zb7c5TqlEpHfPEtk9HSvemNgI4V2UykJPlvTjubL8cUyIk9HGsZmsC-lPjz7rIkvF0yeBADSm3Klt5lWGwSaEoEiggb98L5v0Rl58YmCQCDFODfi5R0Zd1fwe3UZZZtlsj0Jq8/s320/1984.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634184689146838786" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >1984</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">George Orwell</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen."</span><br /><br />Thus goes the misleading first line of the odd book <span style="font-style: italic;">1984</span>. I say that the line is misleading because it indicates an Alice-In-Wonderland-esqe, whimsical kind of story.<br /><br />It is not so.<br /><br />Much graver than <span style="font-style: italic;">Animal Farm</span> (by the same author), it also presents, similarly, a political analogy.<span style="font-style: italic;"> 1984 </span>was written in 1948, and Orwell was predicting the future. He portrayed a bleak Communist world, all gray and brainwashed, peppered with security cameras everywhere that see all; inescapable propaganda; enthusiastic efforts to simplify and de-emotionalize language; thoughtcrime; doublethink; and Five-Minute Hates. While well written, I don't recommend it - for one matter, there's the protagonist's graphic adulterous affair. >_><br /><br />It's an eerie story that ends nontraditionally. It's a story of brainwashing, liberty, invasions, betrayal, and mistrust. It presented interesting philosophical questions. If I may trouble you with a thought-provoking quote, exemplifying the brain-washing philosophy of that era:<span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >"Anything could be true. The so-called laws of Nature were nonsense. The law of gravity was nonsense. 'If I wished,' O'Brien had said, 'I could float off this floor like a soap bubble.' Winston worked it out. 'If he thinks he floats off the floor, and if I simultaneously think I see him do it, then the thing happens.' Suddenly, like a lump of submerged wreckage breaking the surface of water, the thought burst into his mind: <span style="font-style: italic;">'It doesn't really happen. We imagine it. It is hallucination.'</span></span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>He pushed the thought under instantly. The fallacy was obvious. It presupposed that somewhere or other, outside oneself, there was a 'real' world where 'real' things happened. But how could there be such a world? What knowledge have we of anything, save through our own minds? All happenings are in the mind. </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:courier new;font-size:100%;" >Whatever happens in all minds, truly happens.</span></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">"</span><br /><br />Grim, political, dystopian. Not recommended because of immorality.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><br />The Good Thief</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiO1QPfbEsx0AjZGHXfsrWZjripuq7hooBXmSZBo7O8OuxhXG93tc8QypCaVyjZuMGYasunVE5gCqPU24YnX6UjrW8vqxWlE0otMxKOUwhtumSujMReeE3R0YbvqARFPY_1g3xJAtMEIxw/s1600/thegoodthief.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 169px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiO1QPfbEsx0AjZGHXfsrWZjripuq7hooBXmSZBo7O8OuxhXG93tc8QypCaVyjZuMGYasunVE5gCqPU24YnX6UjrW8vqxWlE0otMxKOUwhtumSujMReeE3R0YbvqARFPY_1g3xJAtMEIxw/s320/thegoodthief.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634184543819524258" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Hannah Tinti</span><br /><br />This is a Dickenesque tale of an orphaned kid, but there's a significant difference between this orphan and most - he's missing a hand, and has no idea why. Fairly intriguing premise, so I tried it.<br /><br />Rather a waste of my time, I think. The long plot rambled as the kid followed in the footsteps of theives and drunkards and impersonaters and grave robbers and hoodlums, eventually coming to a weird climax involving a murderous corrupt wealthy factory owner. >_> Didn't see that coming. Combined with some unpleasant weirdnesses, it was not worth the read.<br /><br />Wandering, depressing, bland. I don't recommend it.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7VjQXm97DVpTI6vN60sr_EOrXqgfNms32maU-qqjrHm12UpGfyisjU0yB-pkxRjhamXxKsb8XzENC_bfPy4aKN8Nl1AGnjnqVIx_IcpJc3i_QM8NVAo8MTC6nwXtRLh5nGb4BIWoN-9AL/s1600/maximum.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 140px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7VjQXm97DVpTI6vN60sr_EOrXqgfNms32maU-qqjrHm12UpGfyisjU0yB-pkxRjhamXxKsb8XzENC_bfPy4aKN8Nl1AGnjnqVIx_IcpJc3i_QM8NVAo8MTC6nwXtRLh5nGb4BIWoN-9AL/s320/maximum.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634184258209653490" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">James Patterson</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Enter Max, leader of her 'family' of six. They are brothers and sisters not by blood, but by friendship and common plight: all are escapees </span>from a pack of vicious scientists who want them back. Because these kids are not ordinary. They're 98% human and 2% bird - and they have wings.<br /><br />Rather cool premise, no? And it did prove to be respectably cool. An amusing 1rst person narration from the view of the sarcastic Max kept even the slow points entertaining. Often the narration sits on the knife edge between being hilarious and being cliche-corny. XD Pretty long tale, a bit rambling-feeling atimes. As I recall, it was clean... I cannot remember if there were swear words or not. If there were, they were few and mild.<br /><br />This is book one of a series. I haven't read the following ones; while the first was enjoyable, I don't yet feel terribly inclined to read the others.<br /><br />Exciting, action-ous, cool. Recommended, I suppose.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">- - -<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">In order from most favorite to least, I hereby order this batch of books:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1.</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Animal Farm</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2.</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Peter and the Starcatchers</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3.</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">4. </span> <span style="font-style: italic;">1984</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">5.</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">The Good Thief</span><br /></div></div><br /><br />Have you read any of these books? And if so, do you concur or disagree with my review of them?<br /><br />Hoping for a book-chat,<br />And to all a good night,<br />-whisperwhisperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05665166033958707844noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299820141596059050.post-53096856418486785032011-07-18T16:01:00.003-04:002011-07-18T16:06:27.447-04:00The House of ShelvesThere is a house in Japan.<br /><br />And it is a house of shelves.<br /><br />AND I WANT IT.<br /><br />I read an article about an absolutely glorious structure comprised entirely of shelves. Thousands and thousands of wooden nooks to be filled with everything under the sun! It's... breathtaking in possibilities... gloriously wonderful.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJztBqbuoLBGxdjo5M9nvZsoQGs6zO7qU7Hx8fEaVDTWDfVhDo7k7J5daZmkKtNqXBPWQtvuAALUR-hr7qeypPHdq2xNDk_P5qurMRiH_jWo2VJSwUxuCzapJ3vJiklTvA-fVr7r0yEK3t/s1600/shelves.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJztBqbuoLBGxdjo5M9nvZsoQGs6zO7qU7Hx8fEaVDTWDfVhDo7k7J5daZmkKtNqXBPWQtvuAALUR-hr7qeypPHdq2xNDk_P5qurMRiH_jWo2VJSwUxuCzapJ3vJiklTvA-fVr7r0yEK3t/s320/shelves.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630780575978071698" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://realestate.yahoo.com/promo/house-of-shelves.html?utm_source=feedblitz&utm_medium=FeedBlitzEmail&utm_content=5575&utm_campaign=0">The house of shelves.</a><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br />^ more pictures!<br /><br /><some pictures=""></some></span><some pictures=""><some pictures=""><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://shofiyahomedesign.com/house/create-unique-interior-design-with-shelf-pod-by-kazuya-morita-architecture-studio/">The house of shelves II </a><even pictures="" more="" see="" and="" it="" s=""><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:verdana;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><even more="" joysome="" pictures=""></even></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:verdana;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><some more="" joysome=""></some></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" ><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:verdana;" >^even MORE joysome pictures!</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" ><br /><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:verdana;" >It's </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >beautiful</span>.<br /><br />dying of envy,<br />- whisper<br /><br /></even></some></some>whisperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05665166033958707844noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299820141596059050.post-44443646622715343522011-07-12T16:12:00.004-04:002011-07-12T16:23:52.653-04:00Summer Camp<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOgkJ6eEl2fRVppeCLUHaU8rYjZpAQMjdxIbx_Ts1zr6hiiLWMo6nkYHOPblMU1aVN51hUHT0j4XTz8qBIKKOa-WWUUSpAma7S3CnbaGGkhSs1qgeVhDTX1-oTA60xLVrfojNTqUZVIT9Q/s1600/P1120953.JPG"></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Skits.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Smoothies.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Ninja.</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-style: italic;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOgkJ6eEl2fRVppeCLUHaU8rYjZpAQMjdxIbx_Ts1zr6hiiLWMo6nkYHOPblMU1aVN51hUHT0j4XTz8qBIKKOa-WWUUSpAma7S3CnbaGGkhSs1qgeVhDTX1-oTA60xLVrfojNTqUZVIT9Q/s1600/P1120953.JPG"></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Mail call.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Jousting.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Washington, DC.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">A human-sized game of Dutch Blitz.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Lucky Charms.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The epic camaraderie that comes with trying to shoot basketballs through a hoop by bouncing them on a tarp with eighteen other teens.</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-style: italic;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOgkJ6eEl2fRVppeCLUHaU8rYjZpAQMjdxIbx_Ts1zr6hiiLWMo6nkYHOPblMU1aVN51hUHT0j4XTz8qBIKKOa-WWUUSpAma7S3CnbaGGkhSs1qgeVhDTX1-oTA60xLVrfojNTqUZVIT9Q/s1600/P1120953.JPG"></a><br /><br />All these epicnesses, and more, were experienced in five full days of summer camp.<br /><br />As aforementioned, it was the Leadership and Vocation Camp at the excellent Patrick Henry College. The campus is small and well-kept and lovely. Though pictures don't do it justice, here's a few.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNiLgWnz0Xj2sEg2c0yyRsTu0WDLwMCbQ5bPRbgQq7P1HCsvjn37AQ7joUrNV64XovuOYWiE2uSEsSJcYo9bsOwDuHPHJ4aQLPobK1moy_0psh7nWbIjnovob67Eop_aAHaswM74B9aMev/s1600/P1120681.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNiLgWnz0Xj2sEg2c0yyRsTu0WDLwMCbQ5bPRbgQq7P1HCsvjn37AQ7joUrNV64XovuOYWiE2uSEsSJcYo9bsOwDuHPHJ4aQLPobK1moy_0psh7nWbIjnovob67Eop_aAHaswM74B9aMev/s320/P1120681.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628309386937673986" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOgkJ6eEl2fRVppeCLUHaU8rYjZpAQMjdxIbx_Ts1zr6hiiLWMo6nkYHOPblMU1aVN51hUHT0j4XTz8qBIKKOa-WWUUSpAma7S3CnbaGGkhSs1qgeVhDTX1-oTA60xLVrfojNTqUZVIT9Q/s1600/P1120953.JPG"></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">^This is Founders' Hall, I think.^<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYj6QKjWeQjLXsWIB6quxbS06wayn_OKCFNkBKWSLg4QU0hKMliaGNN635VlDYrJqBwiodgIk2JhBYLUd7woDLISGVm6T4kMgZW9x6Gi5Txq2VuIrhfunbooP8853YZp5yWR4X8kUHruR_/s1600/P1120667.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYj6QKjWeQjLXsWIB6quxbS06wayn_OKCFNkBKWSLg4QU0hKMliaGNN635VlDYrJqBwiodgIk2JhBYLUd7woDLISGVm6T4kMgZW9x6Gi5Txq2VuIrhfunbooP8853YZp5yWR4X8kUHruR_/s320/P1120667.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628309256600138850" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />Here is a view of the infamous Lake Bob. It has become a sort of emblem at PHC; a symbolic symbol <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOgkJ6eEl2fRVppeCLUHaU8rYjZpAQMjdxIbx_Ts1zr6hiiLWMo6nkYHOPblMU1aVN51hUHT0j4XTz8qBIKKOa-WWUUSpAma7S3CnbaGGkhSs1qgeVhDTX1-oTA60xLVrfojNTqUZVIT9Q/s1600/P1120953.JPG"></a>of... something. Significant, surely. Apparently there's a custom of chucking newly-engaged students into the lake... it's called being "Bobtized." :| However, under normal circumstances, swimming in Lake Bob is highly discouraged.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOgkJ6eEl2fRVppeCLUHaU8rYjZpAQMjdxIbx_Ts1zr6hiiLWMo6nkYHOPblMU1aVN51hUHT0j4XTz8qBIKKOa-WWUUSpAma7S3CnbaGGkhSs1qgeVhDTX1-oTA60xLVrfojNTqUZVIT9Q/s1600/P1120953.JPG"></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheY7ZkBQoIKFjkbZ9O8S5jxH6c8vz2-ccahnj7io8IslozS0QPSmDWe4GWLx2rF-CUfwCFiLuMqnC_Nn6yh87D5knKAMsvC63dTBEQcO2iIzMMHvtBswJkYbYRs2kR_PXYF2gj4m4wsjgQ/s1600/P1120699.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheY7ZkBQoIKFjkbZ9O8S5jxH6c8vz2-ccahnj7io8IslozS0QPSmDWe4GWLx2rF-CUfwCFiLuMqnC_Nn6yh87D5knKAMsvC63dTBEQcO2iIzMMHvtBswJkYbYRs2kR_PXYF2gj4m4wsjgQ/s320/P1120699.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628309525124930162" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />muck from the noble lake.<br /><br />"Ladies and gentleman, <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">this </span>is why<br />we do not swim in Lake Bob."<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Teams</span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Within the camp, each camper was assigned to a wing. Each wing had a theme and a name. I and eight or nine other girls had our own wing/hall of three rooms. Ours was entitled... *sigh* The Piggly Wigglies.<br /><br />Yes. I know. We tried to make the most of it. We kept our chins up and resolved to be the classiest piggies the camps had ever seen.<br /><br />Each girl wing was assigned to a brother wing; we were matched with The King's Men. Combined, the Piggly Wigglies and The King's Men were one team, to compete together against the other teams. Teams would earn points for doing things such as winning the evening games, keeping their rooms ruthlessly clean, and singing patriotic chants whilst coming into the cafeteria for breakfast. They'd lose points for breaking rules, being late for breakfast, or forgotting their nametag.<br /><br />We had a fantastic team and all got along well. We selected a glorious name for our combined team, a name we shouted with pride and invented cheers to laud. We were <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Royal Swine</span>.<br /><br />Good times. ^_^<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lectures</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The camp week was packed with many lectures. Sounds boring, right? They were actually quite good, ranging diversely from deep, philosophical thoughts to practical, everyday application. Very good stuff and quite entertaining (so far as lectures go). But, of course, after sitting in a hard wood chair for 3+ hours and running on little sleep, one starts to grow just a bit tired. >_> Nonetheless!! They were all excellent lectures from which I gained much and took copious notes.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOgkJ6eEl2fRVppeCLUHaU8rYjZpAQMjdxIbx_Ts1zr6hiiLWMo6nkYHOPblMU1aVN51hUHT0j4XTz8qBIKKOa-WWUUSpAma7S3CnbaGGkhSs1qgeVhDTX1-oTA60xLVrfojNTqUZVIT9Q/s1600/P1120953.JPG"></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCIfu4yrXjOF1hyphenhyphendJXFyirQcnhx7mburvTrcOmrcn-7E4WxMB6ad8i62CxvEPkoJhYEGhKIf_XqXAPyqb0-GtrdLD7ls2RYD9TlBSPAaub2PdRnfo14-DG3MEJ_9leHPYmePclJhKNK-D4/s1600/P1120786.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCIfu4yrXjOF1hyphenhyphendJXFyirQcnhx7mburvTrcOmrcn-7E4WxMB6ad8i62CxvEPkoJhYEGhKIf_XqXAPyqb0-GtrdLD7ls2RYD9TlBSPAaub2PdRnfo14-DG3MEJ_9leHPYmePclJhKNK-D4/s320/P1120786.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628310166732545490" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOgkJ6eEl2fRVppeCLUHaU8rYjZpAQMjdxIbx_Ts1zr6hiiLWMo6nkYHOPblMU1aVN51hUHT0j4XTz8qBIKKOa-WWUUSpAma7S3CnbaGGkhSs1qgeVhDTX1-oTA60xLVrfojNTqUZVIT9Q/s1600/P1120953.JPG"></a></div><br />^ At a break between lectures.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVL1BWxUSt4qd6RjOYybu4Jtt6ejgIZ-LZlavdPEHRP24k3DXNJ1lyZNnGfAcp40B9O_dseKCGzningeJlWTgHmErCrWvAnBx5VJVTBId7FX3tensrCHcLa9_HKhEUuCOEzNWZNtO7yWds/s1600/P1120627.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVL1BWxUSt4qd6RjOYybu4Jtt6ejgIZ-LZlavdPEHRP24k3DXNJ1lyZNnGfAcp40B9O_dseKCGzningeJlWTgHmErCrWvAnBx5VJVTBId7FX3tensrCHcLa9_HKhEUuCOEzNWZNtO7yWds/s320/P1120627.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628309130665945218" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOgkJ6eEl2fRVppeCLUHaU8rYjZpAQMjdxIbx_Ts1zr6hiiLWMo6nkYHOPblMU1aVN51hUHT0j4XTz8qBIKKOa-WWUUSpAma7S3CnbaGGkhSs1qgeVhDTX1-oTA60xLVrfojNTqUZVIT9Q/s1600/P1120953.JPG"></a><br />Studious student that I am, I took many notes. ^_^<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOgkJ6eEl2fRVppeCLUHaU8rYjZpAQMjdxIbx_Ts1zr6hiiLWMo6nkYHOPblMU1aVN51hUHT0j4XTz8qBIKKOa-WWUUSpAma7S3CnbaGGkhSs1qgeVhDTX1-oTA60xLVrfojNTqUZVIT9Q/s1600/P1120953.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOgkJ6eEl2fRVppeCLUHaU8rYjZpAQMjdxIbx_Ts1zr6hiiLWMo6nkYHOPblMU1aVN51hUHT0j4XTz8qBIKKOa-WWUUSpAma7S3CnbaGGkhSs1qgeVhDTX1-oTA60xLVrfojNTqUZVIT9Q/s320/P1120953.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628542914913004306" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This is David Aikman, one of my favorite speakers there.<br /><br />He worked for Time magazine for 30 years.<br /><br />He's written more than a dozen books.<br /><br />He saved <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Yeltsin">Boris Yeltsin</a>'s life.<span style="font-size:85%;"><br />(Mr. Aikman told us the story of how he was one of a group accompanying the Russian president whilst he toured America and its capitalist markets. Yeltsin was about to saunter across a busy street as a huge truck was coming and Mr. Aikman grabbed Yeltsin's shoulders and held him back. Yeltsin turned around with an insincere smile and said reproachfully, "Oh, the KGB would be very disappointed in you!"<br />XD *shakes head* Communists.)<br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">He interviewed Billy Graham and Mother Theresa in person.</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><br />He was <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">in</span><b style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span></b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tieneman_Square">Tiananmen Square</a> when the tanks rolled in.<br /><br />And I got his signature. :)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Free Time</span><br /><br />Each morning, once we were freed from the hard and frigid lecture hall, we migrated back into the warm sunlight and then dispersed (like so many rebels) to various activities.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhibhz4weKipVbnb918E-PxSe0EPyQs2zrPvuNj5ZJMhehLYlES9GapumeQYEntTPSBP5p8ICj7KLtROS0PFKJ5dpwAkroJpdwOKz2KCS656sSbsyuFKkbtw9zS38BIA7DuWLMjNGbbanxS/s1600/P1120731.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhibhz4weKipVbnb918E-PxSe0EPyQs2zrPvuNj5ZJMhehLYlES9GapumeQYEntTPSBP5p8ICj7KLtROS0PFKJ5dpwAkroJpdwOKz2KCS656sSbsyuFKkbtw9zS38BIA7DuWLMjNGbbanxS/s320/P1120731.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628309897138584498" border="0" /></a><br /><br />^ many rounds of ninja. epicness.<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAQjLAMjYoI2KvOuR56uwWRjztf9nvC60JqIZI2xgafgA3jpwMKqwn-P58E1M_ZyA5C50JMRedcA7DSm-41BdQh4OclLRzheOs8Etfg_Zzte11xX85pvK8j9T9Q91gRpiTyAcbBulHHxoP/s1600/P1120688.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAQjLAMjYoI2KvOuR56uwWRjztf9nvC60JqIZI2xgafgA3jpwMKqwn-P58E1M_ZyA5C50JMRedcA7DSm-41BdQh4OclLRzheOs8Etfg_Zzte11xX85pvK8j9T9Q91gRpiTyAcbBulHHxoP/s320/P1120688.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628309008530284914" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">^ I liked to hang out in the cafe.<br /><br />After all, they had smoothies.<br /><br />And Twix candy bars.<br /><br />Thusly they won my heart forever.<br /><br />The cafe was in this very cool lounge in which one could eat, drink, and write copiously in one's notebook. There were also pictures of camels on the walls. ^_^<br /><br />You <span style="font-style: italic;">know </span>its a cool lounge if it's got pictures of camels.<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">D. C.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">On one of the days we all took a bus down to Washington DC, splitting into groups to work on various community service projects. I was in a group whose task was weeding the back garden of the office of a charitable organization - I believe it was called "So Others Might Eat" and provided food for the homeless. I have no pictures of the gardening, but I wish I'd thought to take before-and-afters. There was a very dramatic difference. o_O It started as an irregular pale green field of billions of weeds and branches and bricks. By the end we'd uprooted piles of grass, the flowers were contained in neat clusters, and green foliage jungle was uprooted and the ground turned, leaving nice dark earth paths. It looked very pretty. ^_^<br /><br />Then all the groups gathered for a picnic lunch. Those were some good sandwiches. >_> I salivate thinking of them.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDBu4t5y20j_2n-mS5pcSudPrv1KNqocgbVFN_D9y0nggn44TGZGBiJg8mkAum1aJ5VCr1K_FoDMnjI24mkwrbUwwCmXI1COsvB6WIpOLC9M8Qa03rCUqK_cUnEPYgOm2DLXR59V7HCbfQ/s1600/P1120842.JPG"></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDBu4t5y20j_2n-mS5pcSudPrv1KNqocgbVFN_D9y0nggn44TGZGBiJg8mkAum1aJ5VCr1K_FoDMnjI24mkwrbUwwCmXI1COsvB6WIpOLC9M8Qa03rCUqK_cUnEPYgOm2DLXR59V7HCbfQ/s1600/P1120842.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDBu4t5y20j_2n-mS5pcSudPrv1KNqocgbVFN_D9y0nggn44TGZGBiJg8mkAum1aJ5VCr1K_FoDMnjI24mkwrbUwwCmXI1COsvB6WIpOLC9M8Qa03rCUqK_cUnEPYgOm2DLXR59V7HCbfQ/s320/P1120842.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628310945875265714" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">we all wore our ridiculously cool camp T-shirts. ^_^<br /></div><br /><br /><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBmmeB9zslbN21RhrfC4014jf1vLJBQRqHwve_ZgrzQI82EYrmXePEmtZFsG07FC60Utea8BSk71GKUrVsXqQjL2CUzGMc2rS0T6lSVsVyaXIsI08zEiV_ufJ6WeGl5PlmzSoICcRA9Zcq/s1600/P1120721.JPG"></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgduZUazpcuMJk55G767jQ_4HJsfvoc7bwJIC-7Spa9ZITfII4yJS_II359559qTsiEMQwUriHyaAAlf-YqJo2KEuUoBRzEKJqjw2TleiO5sVwG0bXmy19HqP2zRRRjVXNsRPfte8lr8rAu/s1600/P1120853.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgduZUazpcuMJk55G767jQ_4HJsfvoc7bwJIC-7Spa9ZITfII4yJS_II359559qTsiEMQwUriHyaAAlf-YqJo2KEuUoBRzEKJqjw2TleiO5sVwG0bXmy19HqP2zRRRjVXNsRPfte8lr8rAu/s320/P1120853.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628310526288034162" border="0" /></a><br /><br />we then went sightseeing. Lo, the pencil tower!<br />That is, the Washington Monument. >_><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Quotes</span><br /><br />Learned some good ones.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;font-family:trebuchet ms;">"The man who never reads will never be read;<br />he who never quotes will never be quoted.<br />He who will not use the thoughts of other men's brains,<br />proves that he has no brains of his own."<br />- <span style="font-weight: bold;">Charles Spurgeon</span><br /><br />"We are distracted from distraction by distraction."<br />- <span style="font-weight: bold;">T. S. Eliot</span><br /><br />"We read books but books read us as well."<br />- <span style="font-weight: bold;">C. S. Lewis</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Butler:</span> "You found God, Sir?"<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Wilberforce:</span> "I think He found me. You have any idea how inconvenient that is?"<br />- <span style="font-weight: bold;">Amazing Grace</span><br /><br />"Always forgive your enemies. Nothing annoys them so much."<br />- <span style="font-weight: bold;">Mark Twain</span><br /><br />"Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard."<br />- <span style="font-weight: bold;">Anonymous</span><br /><br />"When everything is said and done more is said than done."<br />- <span style="font-weight: bold;">Anonymous</span><br /><br />"Unless you can show me wrong, I cannot take anything back. Here I stand, I can do no other, so help me God."<br />- <span style="font-weight: bold;">Martin Luther</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></div><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Games</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">...were perhaps my most favoritist part of the whole camp. The counselors had arranged absolutely epic games, including:<br /><br /><ul><li>campus-wide Counselor Clue (in which the teams had to travel the campus, asking counselors - disguised as outlandish characters, including a knight, a drill sargeant, a leprachaun, a scholar, and a telephone operator - questions about an attempted murder, trying to solve the who, the where, and the what-with.)</li><li>a massive game of rock-paper-scissors (that was <span style="font-weight: bold;">loud</span>. Picture forty kids in a walleyball room, their team chants filling the echoing, enclosed space...)</li><li>human-sized Dutch Blitz</li><li>counselor hide-and-seek</li></ul><br />I took no pictures; I was too busy living life, savoring the moment, siezing the day. XD There are some epic memories I shall treasure from those days.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">In Short</span><br /></div><br />The teens I met in that camp were incredibly special. In that wondrous blend of personalities, accents, appearances, hometowns, beliefs, and interests there was one common theme. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Every person had this unique quality - a blend of friendliness, outgoingness, and maturity.</span> I was stunned. It was so wonderful and so different from the general mood of teens I'm used to back home.<br /><br />Everyone, even the shy ones and the older ones, were mature and conversational. You could make a random comment to anyone, guy or girl, about the length of the line for the hamburgers and they would actually <span style="font-style: italic;">talk back</span>. O_O Guys who looked like the kind who would only hang out with their friendswould plunk down in a random seat at lunch and chat cheerfully with whoever was around. Guys who looked like the "cool ones" who would only sullenly participate in games actually <span style="font-style: italic;">participated</span>. They led the team cheers and even after one failed (and two, and three, and four...) they'd try again and start another. They remembered names and genuinely laughed and weren't afraid to do something embarassing, get back up, and try again. They didn't just chat polite, boring stuff; a random girl and I started quoting Tim Hawkins to each other and talking about colleges and coffee and laughing. In group discussions even the ones whom I judged as shy or bored would boldly add something useful to the discussion. They knew when to stop joking around and to listen up. They had good vocabularies and used them, too. They knew when to make suggestions and when to shut up.<br /><br />^ And what we didn't know at first, we learned. The games taught us these things, how to practically be a leader and <span style="font-style: italic;">when </span>to be a leader. When to take the lead and when to sit in the back and be a minor player. <span style="font-weight: bold;">We couldn't all be heroes all of the time.</span> But everyone had a small moment of glory, a time of usefulness.<br /><br />It was a remarkable time with remarkable people. I miss them much. I learned a lot - and not just from the lectures. Learned a lot about team dynamics and leadership and teens and friends. It was a very, very good time, and I'd like to go back next year. :)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Oh. And one more thing. My primitive phone came to the brink of giving up the ghost.<br /><br />It's lived through much. It's seen a lot. It's been through creeks and mud and rain. But finally it hit the carpet at camp one day and a cracked hinge broke open and now it dangles by a wire.<br /><br />Still works. ^_^<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBmmeB9zslbN21RhrfC4014jf1vLJBQRqHwve_ZgrzQI82EYrmXePEmtZFsG07FC60Utea8BSk71GKUrVsXqQjL2CUzGMc2rS0T6lSVsVyaXIsI08zEiV_ufJ6WeGl5PlmzSoICcRA9Zcq/s1600/P1120721.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBmmeB9zslbN21RhrfC4014jf1vLJBQRqHwve_ZgrzQI82EYrmXePEmtZFsG07FC60Utea8BSk71GKUrVsXqQjL2CUzGMc2rS0T6lSVsVyaXIsI08zEiV_ufJ6WeGl5PlmzSoICcRA9Zcq/s320/P1120721.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628309700977857874" border="0" /></a><br /></div>nostalgic,<br />-whisperwhisperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05665166033958707844noreply@blogger.com7