Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Cascades of Ice

Some of you have already seen this up on my deviantart page but I thought I'd post this pic here for two reasons:
1: People seem to actually like it, and/or think it looks cool
2: It's Springtime! So I thought I'd post this picture as a sort of farewell gesture to all things wintry, icy, and cold (ie. Most of the things that make me miserable)







I actually took this picture in a parking lot! I know it looks like I trekked out to some rocky cliff in the middle of winter to take it, but this cropping of rocks was at the end of a mall parking lot. Despite being a 14 year old girl, I find that I actually prefer nature like this most of the time to the often too crowded, boring mall I live near.
In other news:
The Bamboozle Festival is this Saturday! And I still haven't gotten tickets. What am I thinking?
I'm going to be posting a review for a cool book called Generation Dead which I just finished reading and should be reaching a bookstore near you,

Saturday, April 26, 2008

Persepolis

Autobiographical novels are usually not my preferred genre of books, but the graphic novel Persepolis is the one exception to that.

My world cultures class is now reading Persepolis, but I had actually heard of and been interested in the book before that after hearing glowing reviews, finding out that a movie was adapted from the books, and seeing Marjane Satrapi, the author and illustrator, interviewed on the Colbert Report.


So when I finally started reading the graphic novel I had somewhat high expectations. And Persepolis totally reached those expectations.




Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi is a graphic novel telling the story of what it was like for her growing up as a young girl in the '80's in Iran during the Islamic revolution and the war with Iraq.


Its a quick read (since its after all only a 150 or so page comic book), but it stays with you. In fact, the illustrations make the book even more powerful by showing the joys, violence, tragedy, and love for her family in Marjane's life.
This is an amazing and interesting book, and you should check it out even if comics or history aren't your favorite things.




Here is one scene from the book (click to enlarge):


Tuesday, April 22, 2008

An Insight on Dentists...

It's Earth Day everyone! But, instead of talking about this environmentally friendly holiday, I'd like to share with you, my readers, a small thought about dentists.

I'm not sure if other people have noticed this, but dentists love to talk. At least the several that I've known. I was at the dentist's offive today, and my dentist, who shall not be named, chatted away the entire time. He even began to sing--while filling a cavity! And I was powerless to stop it, seeing as I had sharp metal tools inside my mouth at the time. The other two dentists that I've known have acted in similar ways. It makes me wonder whether some people become dentists simply because they like hearing themselves talk.

Has anyone else noticed this?

Friday, April 18, 2008

A Guy Reading Twilight?!

*gasp* How can it be?

Ok...That was a little over dramatic. I actually know several guys who have read Twilight (shout out to Dan!), but this is the first website by a dude to actually record his reactions to the books chapter by chapter.


Check out his website, twilightguy.com which has been doing exceeding well considering he only just started it very recently and has only reveiwed the first chapter of Twilight. I'm looking foward to following this site :)

Sunday, April 13, 2008

Where's Your Favorite Place to Think?

Do you have a place where you like to think the best?

For me its whenever I'm on a bus or in a car looking out a window and watching the world go by quickly while I'm sitting still. My mind just sort of goes blank but at the same time focuses, and I'm able to think about things more efficiently. It's sort of hard to explain. That's one reason why I love taking long bus or car trips. I usually come up with a lot of ideas for stories on them.

Saturday, April 12, 2008

Deviant Art!

I've gotten a deviant Art account! I've basically uploaded all the artwork I've posted on this blog plus a couple of pictures.

http://afleetingdream93.deviantart.com/


If anyone else has an account on deviant art, leave a link to it in a comment and I'll check it out.

Wednesday, April 09, 2008

An Attempt at People

I really like posting my artwork here on this blog. I've just recently started doing more drawings and other types of art because of the art class I'm taking. Before this I didn't really think I was that good.


I've had these two since March, but I posted them now since I haven't really had anything to post. The top one is my first attempt at shading a person. The bottom is another Twilight inspired fan art. For enlarged versions just click on the the picture.








I like how this turned out a lot, espicially sonsidering its the first time I've actually tried drawing a person's face up close like this.






This is supposed to be Bella and Jake in New Moon/Eclipse. I know that porportionally Jake is WAY off. :( But he is supposed to be over 6'7 in the books...

The quote is from the end of Eclipse. I don't like this one as much as the previous drawing.







Bamboozle is coming up in May!!! Can't wait!!!

Friday, April 04, 2008

21

I saw the movie 21 a couple of nights ago...

Summary:
"Ben Campbell (Jim Sturgess) is a shy, brilliant M.I.T. student who needing to pay school tuition finds the answers in the cards. He is recruited to join a group of the schools most gifted students that heads to Vegas every weekend armed with fake identities and the know-how to turn the odds at blackjack in their favor. With unorthodox math professor and stats genius Micky Rosa (Kevin Spacey) leading the way, theyve cracked the code. By counting cards and employing an intricate system of signals, the team can beat the casinos big time. Seduced by the money, the Vegas lifestyle, and by his smart and sexy teammate, Jill Taylor (Kate Bosworth), Ben begins to push the limits. Though counting cards isnt illegal, the stakes are high, and the challenge becomes not only keeping the numbers straight, but staying one step ahead of the casinos menacing enforcer: Cole Williams (Laurence Fishburne). 21 is inspired by the true story of the very brightest young minds in the country and how they took Vegas for millions."








Jefferey Ma, one of the MIT students that this movie (and the book Bringing Down the House by Ben Mezrich) is based off of actually has a cameo in the movie. He plays one of the Planet Hollywood dealers.
While this movie was pretty good with some nice visual effects and a good ending, what I really liked about it was Jim Sturgess, who was cast as the movie's main protagonist, Ben Cambelle. I've loved Sturgess since I saw him in Across the Universe, and his acting in Across the Universe and 21 is awesome. Even though he's British he does an American accent flawlessly. I can't wait to see what other movies he's going to be in.

















In other, Twilight related news:


Go vote for Stephenie on TIME Magazine's 100 Newsmakers!! http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1725112_1723512_1723880,00.html Go, Go, Go! She's at the Number 2 slot! And we can't let some stupid Korean pop star beat her! ...Wow...I'm so obsessed.

Tuesday, April 01, 2008

Shoes

It's April Fools Day! Did anyone play any good pranks or get pranked on?
Everyone at my school just basically forgot about it.



I'm usually not the kind of person to obsess about clothes or shoes or anything, but I absolutely adore these shoes!! They're converse! With purple laces!














Shooooeeeessssssssssssssss :D