Pages not Posts Wednesday, Jan 28 2009

I added yet another page to my blog. I figured you’d all appreciate a summary of all the characters making an appearance in here, especially since I don’t really use names that make sense. So the page titled ’My People’ will give you an idea of who gets to be my friend. Or just get mentioned on here.

For some reason it’s easier for me to write pages, instead of posts. I don’t know why, maybe it gives me a better sense of accomplishment. Oh well, I’ll write a post too. And hey! I can always do this! Write a post about the page I wrote. (sorry, thesis work, and crazy lunatics on the BCF, don’t expect me to make sense.)

xoxo,

ii

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Richistan by Robert Frank Wednesday, Jan 28 2009

Richistan; A Journey Through the American Wealth Boom and the Lives of the New Rich by Robert Frank.

It was interesting and funny. I loved how Frank didn’t take a condemning stance and go “why should all these people have all this money when there’s so much suffering and poverty” while still highlighting the gap between the rich and, well, really, everybody else. Frank covered the issue and the lives of the rich from several angles, focusing on the fast way to both make and lose the money, on the problem of “keeping up” with your peers, the difficulties of managing that money, on philanthropy and political involvement, on the next generation. The one focus I felt was left between the lines was the Old vs. New Money, but that was more my own issue than Frank’s, as the book was about the New Money, really.

While it was always funny, it was at times sad reading. I didn’t know whether to feel sorry for the people or laugh at them, to agree with them or applaud them. I felt their pain, and yet wondered about their actions. It was a conflicting read for me personally, as I’m not really one of them, yet face the same issues. The real reason to read this book is the beauty of Frank’s writing. Richistan was sharp and poignant, but never judgemental.

10/10

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The Dressmaker by Elizabeth Birkelund Oberbeck Wednesday, Jan 28 2009

Finished The Dressmaker by Elizabeth Birkelund Oberbeck earlier tonight…

Blurb: Monsieur Claude Reynaud is known throughout France for making fabulous clothes. The most elegant women in Paris regularly undertake the pilgrimage to the cobbled village of Senlis to be charmed by the tailor in his cluttered studio by the century-old apple tree. Claude can take a measurement at a glance, stores everything in his head and fashions each dress by hand. And, despite his ex-wife’s protests, he refuses to be lured by the promise of the Parisian fashion industry. He is too old to change and certainly too old to fall in love: his only passion is his studio.

Then one afternoon, in a cloud of spring blossom, Mademoiselle Valentine de Verlay arrives on Claude’s doorstep. She commissions him to create her wedding dress. But before the first stitch has even been made, Claude realises that for the first time in his life he has fallen passionately in love and, very quickly, the seams of both their lives begin to unravel…

My Opinion: I liked this. The style of writing was different, very selective and yet very exposing. The characters were stripped of their protective layers and presented to the reader in a raw, yet very lyrical way. As for the story, you expect this to turn into your ordinary love story, but you’ll be surprised. First off, it’s not really about two people falling in love. It’s about love. Period. And as you read on, you wonder if there is going to be a happy ending or if the story ends in tears. After you’ve finished the book, the story’s all wrapped up, you’re still left wondering. Not because there’s no ending, but because you can’t quite make up your mind whether it’s a happy or sad one.

Lyrically written story about love, that’ll make you gasp at the use of language, and cry for the characters.

9/10

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I’ve seen 64 out of 239 films Tuesday, Jan 27 2009

SUPPOSEDLY if you’ve seen over 85 films, you have no life.

There are 239 films on this list. Put x’s next to the films you’ve seen, add them up, change the header adding your number, and click post at the bottom. Have fun.

(x) Rocky Horror Picture Show
(x) Grease
(x) Pirates of the Caribbean
() Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man’s Chest
() Boondock Saints
() Fight Club
() Starsky and Hutch
() Neverending Story
() Blazing Saddles
() Airplane
Total: 3

() The Princess Bride
() Anchorman
() Napoleon Dynamite
() Labyrinth
() Saw
() Saw II
() White Noise
(x) White Oleander
() Anger Management
() 50 First Dates
(x) The Princess Diaries
(x) The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement
Total so far: 6

(x) Scream
() Scream 2
() Scream 3
(x) Scary Movie
() Scary Movie 2
() Scary Movie 3
() Scary Movie 4
(x) American Pie
(x) American Pie 2
() American Wedding
() American Pie Band Camp
Total so far: 10

(x) Harry Potter 1
(x) Harry Potter 2
() Harry Potter 3
() Harry Potter 4
() Resident Evil 1
() Resident Evil 2
(x) The Wedding Singer
() Little Black Book
() The Village
(x) Lilo & Stitch
Total so far: 14

(x) Finding Nemo
() Finding Neverland
() Signs
(x) The Grinch
() Texas Chainsaw Massacre
() Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning
() White Chicks
(x) Butterfly Effect
(x) 13 Going on 30 (Suddenly 30)
() I, Robot
() Robots
Total so far: 18

() Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
() Universal Soldier
(x) Lemony Snicket: A Series Of Unfortunate Events
() Along Came Polly
() Deep Impact
() KingPin
(x) Never Been Kissed
() Meet The Parents
() Meet the Fockers
() Eight Crazy Nights
() Joe Dirt
() KING KONG (2003)
Total so far: 20

() A Cinderella Story
(x) The Terminal
() The Lizzie McGuire Movie
() Passport to Paris
(x) Dumb & Dumber
() Dumber & Dumberer
(x) Final Destination
() Final Destination 2
() Final Destination 3
() Halloween
() The Ring
() The Ring 2
() Surviving X-MAS
() Flubber
Total so far: 23

() Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle
(x) Practical Magic
(x) Chicago
() Ghost Ship
() From Hell
() Hellboy
() Secret Window
() I Am Sam
() The Whole Nine Yards
() The Whole Ten Yards
Total so far: 25

() The Day After Tomorrow
() Child’s Play
() Seed of Chucky
() Bride of Chucky
(x) Ten Things I Hate About You
() Just Married
() Gothika
() Nightmare on Elm Street
() Sixteen Candles
() Remember the Titans
(x) Coach Carter
() The Grudge
() The Grudge 2
() The Mask
() Son Of The Mask
Total so far: 27

(x) Bad Boys
() Bad Boys 2
() Joy Ride
() Lucky Number Slevin
(x) Ocean’s Eleven
(x) Ocean’s Twelve
(x) Bourne Identity
(x) Bourne Supremacy
( ) Lone Star
(x) Bedazzled
() Predator I
() Predator II
() The Fog
(x) Ice Age
() Ice Age 2: The Meltdown
(x) Curious George
Total so far: 36

(x) Independence Day
() Cujo
() A Bronx Tale
() Darkness Falls
() Christine
(x) ET
() Children of the Corn
() My Bosses Daughter
(x) Maid in Manhattan
() War of the Worlds
() Rush Hour
() Rush Hour 2
Total so far: 39

() Best Bet
(x) How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
(x) She’s All That
(x) Calendar Girls
() Sideways
() Mars Attacks
() Event Horizon
(x) Ever After
(x) Wizard of Oz
(x) Forrest Gump
() Big Trouble in Little China
() The Terminator
() The Terminator 2
() The Terminator 3
Total so far: 45

() X-Men
() X-2
() X-3
(x) Spider-Man
() Spider-Man 2
() Sky High
() Jeepers Creepers
() Jeepers Creepers 2
() Catch Me If You Can
(x) The Little Mermaid
() Freaky Friday
() Reign of Fire
() The Skulls
(x) Cruel Intentions
() Cruel Intentions 2
() The Hot Chick
(x) Shrek
() Shrek 2
Total so far: 49

() Swimfan
() Miracle on 34th street
() Old School
() The Notebook
() K-Pax
() Krippendorf’s Tribe
() A Walk to Remember
() Ice Castles
() Boogeyman
() The 40-year-old Virgin
Total so far: 49

(x) Lord of the Rings Fellowship of the Ring
(x) Lord of the Rings The Two Towers
(x) Lord of the Rings Return Of the King
() Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
() Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
() Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Total so far: 52

() Baseketball
() Hostel
() Waiting for Guffman
() House of 1000 Corpses
() Devils Reject
() Elf
() Highlander
() Mothman Prophecies
() American History X
() Three
Total so Far: 52

() The Jacket
() Kung Fu Hustle
() Shaolin Soccer
() Night Watch
(x) Monsters Inc.
(x) Titanic
() Monty Python and the Holy Grail
() Shaun Of the Dead
() Willard
Total so far: 54

() High Tension
() Club Dread
() Hulk
() Dawn Of the Dead
(x) Hook
(x) Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe
() 28 days later
() Orgazmo
() Phantasm
() Waterworld
Total so far: 56

(x) Kill Bill vol 1
(x) Kill Bill vol 2
() Mortal Kombat
() Wolf Creek
() Kingdom of Heaven
() The Hills Have Eyes
() I Spit on Your Grave aka the Day of the Woman
() The Last House on the Left
() Re-Animator
() Army of Darkness
Total so far: 58

(x) Star Wars Ep. I The Phantom Menace
(x) Star Wars Ep. II Attack of the Clones
(x) Star Wars Ep. III Revenge of the Sith
(x) Star Wars Ep. IV A New Hope
(x) Star Wars Ep. V The Empire Strikes Back
() Star Wars Ep. VI Return of the Jedi
() Ewoks Caravan Of Courage
() Ewoks The Battle For Endor
Total so far: 63

(x) The Matrix
() The Matrix Reloaded
() The Matrix Revolutions
() Animatrix
() Evil Dead
() Evil Dead 2
() Team America: World Police
() Red Dragon
() Silence of the Lambs
() Hannibal
Total so far: 64

Now Add them up and…
Put “I’ve seen … out of 239 films” in the subject line and repost it.

Disclaimer: boring list.

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Non-PC joke from Dad: Obama’s family moves to DC Thursday, Jan 22 2009

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being ii Wednesday, Jan 21 2009

I know you’re all wondering how can anyone be as amazing and captivating as me. *grin* So, I thought I’d share some of my secrets here on my blog.

One thing I absolutely adore is moisturisers. Living in Finland for a large part of the year, I’m exposed to some cold and trying weather. So moisture, for my skin and my hair, is important. And let’s face it, dry skin just looks bad! Especially since it’s so easy to fix.

My secret no. 1 therefore is the ultimate moisturizer for skin. While Dove is good (The soap to use!), the best moisturizer isn’t from the cosmetics department. It’s from the baby aisle.

Seriously! Spreads well, won’t leave a greasy residue and feeling on you, won’t stain your clothes as it’s immediately absorbed… I love this stuff! And it’s good even to sensitive skin. (Hello! It’s for babies!)

xoxo,

ii

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Thoughts I’m playing with Wednesday, Jan 21 2009

There’s currently a lot of different thoughts in my head, as I try to decide what I want to do when “I grow up”. While I should focus on a) graduating, and b) getting a job, I’m playing with secondary plans.

I want to design. The things closest to my heart are obviously wraps and scarves, but I haven’t rules out other knits.

I want to write. I don’t know if I have what it takes, and I’ve never really dared to try. I guess I prefer to live with the delusion that I could, but I haven’t just given it a go yet, than find out for real that I can’t.

I wish to create something. Something I can look at and say “I made that happen.”

I want something that’s mine. My doing, my creation, my achievement.

I wonder what it is, though.

Till the next time,

xoxo,

ii

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Vancouver 2010 Books Tuesday, Jan 13 2009

Okay, so maybe it seems like taking the really easy way out of an Olympic challenge, to do Winter Games instead of Summer, and not only that, but the host countries instead of the participants. But excuse me! the Vancouver Games are next year! And I have a life, you know! So, I’ll take the easy way out as you call it, and do the participant countries after Vancouver. And before the 2014 Games. How’s that? And as I prefer Winter Games above the Summer Games (hello! hockey! and Ski Guy, of course. One must always prefer Ski Guy to no Ski Guy. It’s like a law of nature.) , I’ll do the participant countries of Winter Games.

But that’s a post-Vancouver challenge. This is pre-Vancouver, and it’s about the Winter Games host countries. The list is as follows, with these books as the plan. I’ll list the finished titles that fit the criteria here too.

France: 3 (Chamonix, 1924; Grenoble, 1968; Albertville, 1992)

• L’éducation d’une fée by Didier van Cauwelaert
• Au bonheur des ogres by Daniel Pennac
• Notre-Dame de Paris by Victor Hugo

Switzerland: 2 (St. Moritz, 1928 and 1948 )

• Book 1
• Book 2

USA: 4 (Lake Placid, 1932 and 1980; Squaw Valley, 1960; Salt Lake City, 2003)

• The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
• Book 2
• Book 3
• Book 4

Germany: 1 (Garmisch-Partenkirchen, 1936)

• Book 1

Norway: 2 (Oslo, 1952; Lillehammer, 1994)

• L by Erlend Loe (I’ve started and restarted this for ages, now I promised Ski Guy I’d read this)
• Book 2

Italy 2 (Cortina d’Ampezzo, 1956; Torino, 2006)

• Book 1
• Book 2

Austria: 2 (Innsbruck, 1964 and 1976)

• Book 1
• Book 2

Japan: 2 (Sapporo, 1972; Nagano, 1998 )

• The Diving Pool by Yoko Ogawa
• Book 2

Bosnia and Herzegovina: 1 (Sarajevo, 1984)

• Book 1

Canada: 2 (Calgary, 1988 and Vancouver, 2010)

• Book 1
• Book 2

Russia (Sochi) has been granted the 2014 Games. This is optional.

• Book 1

For added difficulty, I could try to find books from not only the host country but also from the year of the Olympic Games. Obviously that’d be impossible for Russia, and the second Canadian book would have to be left last, and there’d still be a hurry, but I guess those two could be the exceptions. I’ll try this, but I won’t consider myself tied to this additional rule. I think I’ll try to find some options to go with the years hosted -rule, but if I read something that fits, I’ll go with it. And if I later read something that actually fits the year rule too, I’ll just replace the earlier book.

Okay, so the year-rule is turning out really difficult, so I’ll just drop it.

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The List for Non-Fiction Challenge Tuesday, Jan 13 2009

Okay, so some of the books I’m (possibly) reading this year for my non-fiction challenge. As always, I might end up reading someting else. But this is a good guide, and all these books are in my TBR list, so… But it’s all up to my mood and interests.

• Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt & Stephen J. Dubner
• Richistan by Robert Frank thoughts here
• The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins
• The Shock Doctrine by Naomi Klein
• Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser
• 740 Park by Machael Gross
• Suomen naisen tie by Kaari Utrio
• Edith Wharton by Hermione Lee
• Breach of Faith by Jed Horne

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The Adapted 1001 Books Challenge List Tuesday, Jan 13 2009

The partially complete adapted list of Peter Baxall’s 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.

1700’s (total: 37 books)

• A Tale of a Tub by Jonathan Swift
• Love in Excess by Eliza Haywood
• Moll Flanders by Daniel Defoe
• Roxana by Daniel Defoe
• Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift
• A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift
• Joseph Andrews by Henry Fielding
• Pamela by Samuel Richardson
• Clarissa by Samuel Richardson
• Tom Jones by Henry Fielding
• Fanny Hill by John Cleland
• Peregrine Pickle by Tobias George Smollett
• Amelia by Henry Fielding
• The Female Quixote by Charlotte Lennox
• Candide by Voltaire
• Julie; or, the New Eloise by Jean-Jacques Rousseau
• Rameau’s Nephew by Denis Diderot
• Èmile; or, On Education by Jean-Jacques Rousseau
• The Vicar of Wakefield by Oliver Goldsmith
• Tristram Shandy by Laurence Sterne
• A Sentimental Journey by Laurence Sterne
• The Man of Feeling by Henry Mackenzie
• Humphry Clinker by Tobias George Smollett
• The Sorrows of a Young Werther by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
• Evelina by Fanny Burney
• Reveries of a Solitary Walker by Jean-Jacques Rousseau
• Dangerous Liaisons by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos
• Confessions by Jean-Jacques Rousseau
• Cecilia by Fanny Burney
• The 120 Days of Sodom by Marquis de Sade
• Vathek by William Beckford
• Justine by Marquis de Sade
• The Adventures of Caleb Williams by William Godwin
• Wilhelm Meister’s Apprenticeship by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
• Camilla by Fanny Burney
• Jacques the Fatalist by Denis Diderot
• The Nun by Denis Diderot

1800’s

1900’s

2000’s

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