Political, fandom and random thought of the day, as well as a meme

[misscam]

Cam's idea of breakfast: A burrito and a banana. Yes indeedy. But it did the job of feeding me, which is the main thing.

Political thought of the day - everything varies with where you stand yourself. To me, pretty much the entire US is conservative and when the right-wingers there moan about a liberal media, I just laugh and laugh. Not to mention in Norway, liberal *is* to the right. We must have a different definition or some such. But the 'OMG conservatives are being oppresssssssed' whinging that some do over there just makes me want to invite them to Norway. I'll show you oppression of conservatives - just come right along.

Don't bring your cars, though. Our petrol taxes will give you heartattacks.

Fandom thought of the day - is it just me, or does trying to justify your own likes and dislikes get a lot more wanky and occasionally downright bashing when you have to justify them? When you get into something you like, it is so very easy to talk about in terms of what you don't like, after all. Which isn't always a good thing in fandom. People can get very vocal about dislikes, people can get very defensive about likes and so it goes.

Random thought of the day - last few hours at work sure do pass a lot slowlier than the first few.

Meme of the day - comment with your favourite icon with either a) your favourite book, your least favourite book finished and a book I so need to read or b) your favourite fic of your own, others and mine or c) both.

Comments

(current fav., will probably last until tomorrow night)

[vandonovan.livejournal.com]

On the Road by Jack Kerouac. You might have read it but maybe not. Everyone should.

Re: (current fav., will probably last until tomorrow night)

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Haven't, actually. Shall make a note of it,

[lotus79.livejournal.com]

Good moaning!

46 wins in freecell now. ;)

hmm, I shall go with a)
i)I think it's still Dragonspell, b Katharine Kerr, though I haven't read the series in quite a while.
ii)Just looking at my bookcase, Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie probably worth a read. Or Possession, by AS Byatt.
iii)Tess of the D'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy

[lotus79.livejournal.com]

OK, I got the last two round the wrong way.

i)My favourite book;
ii)Book(s) you should read;
iii)Book I finished but hated.

[slm4gsr.livejournal.com]

I'm having a hard time narrowing down favorite books/recommendations, so you're going to get multiples from me...

i) FAVORITE BOOK(S): Marjorie Morningstar by Herman WoukTo Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen, The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, I Know This Much Is True by Wally Lamb, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers, One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

ii) LEAST FAVORITE BOOK (FINISHED): Watership Down by Richard Adams

iii) RECOMMENDATIONS (in addition to those listed in above): The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, Survivor by Chuck Palahniuk, Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad, Haroun and the Sea of Stories by Salman Rushdie. I also recommend A Million Little Pieces by James Frey...though Frey admittedly embellished a few details of his memoir, I felt that this book was the most authentic portrayal of addiction that I have ever read.

[misscam.livejournal.com]

I see you like to read - not a bad selection there. Have read a few of those myself. Actually have The Kite Runner, that I'm about to start reading.

Hard to manage without books.

[marcasite.livejournal.com]

I just finished reading My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult.

I think its a must read for everyone!!

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Heh, duly noted.

[melliyna.livejournal.com]

Current favourite book (and bear in mind my favourite books tend to be fluid things) is Throne of Jade by Naomi Novak. Napoleonic wars with dragons, thus combining my love of history with my love of fantasy which makes me happy.

And the liberal thing used to confuse me too - for a while I couldn't understand why all this people would belong to John Howards party when they didn't agree with him at all (I was about twelve at the time and had just discovered the internet *sheepish grin*)

[misscam.livejournal.com]

I am now imagining Napoleon on a dragon. Hum. Quite the image.

Hee. Oh, Howard. The Prime Toad. I wish less people would agree with him, quite frankly. Blæh.

[melliyna.livejournal.com]

Actually that image of Napoleon on a dragon is strangely accurate in regards to the book.

Oh yes. I would love it if no one agreed with Howard. If he turned in to a toad that would just be a lovely bonus.

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Snort.

So Waterloo on dragon's back? Makes for some variation, I guess. Also, ABBA might have to rewrite their song a bit then.

[bozaloshtsh.livejournal.com]

*de-lurks, kind of*

Though it's terribly unoriginal, 1)Crime and Punishment, specifically the Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky English translation, because you know, not with the being able to read Russian much. Also Blade of Tyshalle by Mathew Woodring Stover, for a more modern, obscure sci-fi novel. 2) The Silmarillion. I just. Mostly not what I expected it to be, and dissapointment influences my opinion of books probably more than it should. 3) Fierce People by Dirk Wittenborn, a pop-y short update of something along the lines of Lord of the Flies meets the O.C. It was an amusing, short read. Also 13 Clocks by James Thurber, even though it's a children's story, because gothic litterature is love.

[misscam.livejournal.com]

I've read Crime and Punishment, only in Norwegian. Since I don't read Russian either. Was actually 13 the first time I read it. That was... Interesting.

[silvery-lass.livejournal.com]

Favorite: 1984 by George Orwell (its classic sci fi but still good)

Least Favorite: Låt den rätta komma in by John Ajvide Lindqvist (I never finish books I really dislike and this sucks beyond imagination, if you ever see this guy's name on a book just walk away. Who ever agreed to publish this book had a screw loose. It's not badly written I just hated it)

Recommendation:
Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman (because its hilarious as hell)
Startide Rising by David Brin (because its good)
Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve (what made me read it was the line on the back of the book that said 'London is hunting')

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Good Omens is a brilliant book, truly.

[anamin.livejournal.com]

You think a lot. I like that. ITA about your random thought. Work passes much too slowly the later in the shift it is. . . I don't have an icon of my fav book, but one of my old standbys is Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte and of course The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde, he's Welsh.

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Not much else to do on a train in the morning, let me tell you. My brain is usually still sleeping a bit, so reading feels a bit blah.

You know, I have not actually read that classic. I don't think I've read any of the Bronte sisters at all, apart from some poetry,

[mahala.livejournal.com]

The right-wingers have the money, and they control the media, both who gets air time and what gets said. All that moaning and groaning is supposed to convince We the People that our liberal opinions are in the minority so we should just StFU.

Pretty much the entire US government is conservative, because only the very wealthy can succeed in the political system (set up by the wealthy to keep it that way). Actually, even here in Texas the Giant Blood Red State, most people I meet are desperate for Less War More Education, HealthCare, and Humanitarian Relief. But the elections are rigged (Whee! No paper trail!) from the admission of candidates to the final vote, and nothing is going to change.

/rant

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Ouch.

I think a very large difference between the US and Norway is indeed who gets elected. For one thing, we don't have TV commercials come elections. So, that money aspect goes away. Smaller country, less filthy rich too, I think. Plus, our society is very middle class and elect middle class people.

But yeah, the US and some of its ways baffle me.

[sc-angel72.livejournal.com]

Burrito and a banana, eh? Breakfast of champions. I can't comment. Had a half a cold calzone and a spoonful of chocolate frosting to start the day yesterday, chased with a Diet Coke. It works.

*points to favorite icon, as seen before*

So let's see... since the only bound literature I get to read these days with four kids around has titles like Baby Duck Goes To the Beach and If You Give A Mouse A Cookie, I'll go with option B and fanfic.

Other: Wendymr's Ballad of Reading Gaol. Nine/Rose from DW. She has a ton of brilliant stories, but that one just totally thrills me down to my toes, especially the ending.

Misscam: I think I'd have to say Mirror Dancing if I have to choose just one. The haunting tone and Rose's confusion just totally captivated me.

My own: Probably the last thing I wrote, The Cool Burn of Moonlight because it's not a monster WIP, short'n'sweet and I'm just rather proud of how it turned out in general. *blushes* How's that for self-pimpage?

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Chocolate for breakfast. Very adventurous. Think that's more the sort of thing I'd eat when getting home, to celebrate.

Nothing wrong with some self-pimpage now and then ;) It's just interesting sometimes what people pick of their own work, I find. Or others, for that matters. Tells you a bit about how their brain works. Plus, you tend to find some you haven't read ;)

[scarlettgirl.livejournal.com]

Fandom thought - I'm nodding vigorously. I don't even understand the need to justify unless you sort of like the wank. You like what you like for your very own reasons. It's all good. I like to talk about it because fandom is shiny but you won't convert me and I won't convert you so my default is "Whatever. Let's go get a drink."

[misscam.livejournal.com]

People are a bit sheep sometimes and go all "I AGREE" when they don't neccessarily don't. And people do like to announce stuff to the world, really. And people will be people and different.

I just see how easily it gets oh so wanky, so perhaps sometimes one should consider first.

[moyawyvern.livejournal.com]

I moved from pretty liberal Massachusetts to super conservative South Carolina, and it was like a slap in the face. I am not a very political person, but the politics here drive me crazy. With the stupid electoral college thing, I was told outright that my vote for Kerry in 2004 just wouldn't count. Luckily, I worked we 3 people who were non-local and pretty liberal, so we got on well. But now one is gone and in her place is a Bush liker. "Oh no, don't beat up on my W, he is a misunderstood sweetie." Work is now my personal political hell. If only the country was more liberal, I would be a much happier camper. But as one of the previous posters said, the government is inherently conservative due to the fact that you must have tons of money to get elected. They want to keep it to themselves, so we will never be the liberal country that the conservatives want us to think we are.

[misscam.livejournal.com]

I went to the US and felt like I was in bizarro world. It was just so... Up-side down in many ways from the way we think.

W is misunderstood? You know, I dread to understand him at all.

[all_at_once.livejournal.com]

Hmmm, favorite book...I love anything by American author Luanne Rice. I own just about everything she's come out with recently and in the past. I love her books. They're about New England, the ocean, nature, families, love...and she writes so beautifully and with such detail. I don't know what kind of reading interests you have, but if I were to recommend anything bookwise it'd be Luanne Rice.

Happy reading!

[misscam.livejournal.com]

I'll read almost everything from romance novels to historical non-fiction. Name duly noted, therefore.

[jonquil.livejournal.com]

I think justifying your likes trends wanky when you try to make them universal. "I like Rose in S1 because she's a strong character" is fine; "S1 Rose is such a strong character; I guess women who don't like her are just jealous/afraid of power/want Eccleston for themselves" is well into the Wank Zone.

I'll give you the last book that I really enjoyed, "Cast In Courtlight" by Michelle Sagara. It's well-done intrigue on the usual fantasy world with five different races, two immortal. However, it's a sequel; read the first book, "Cast In Shadow", first. It has great worldbuilding. The character is from a convincing underclass == Not the cute, adorable underclass with roguish thieves and gold-hearted whores, but the desperate underclass whose life is a full-on battle against starvation and murder. She has risen to join the police force, and is constantly coping with being one-down because of her race (human) and two-down because of the visible runes on her arms whose origin and purpose nobody understands.

My favorite fic of my own is The Ragged Edge.

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Underclass, huh? Be interesting to see how she does that indeed. Can easily be done badly, but could be worth a look.

I sometimes think humans just want to make everything universal to feel more like the norm or some such.

[jenbachand.livejournal.com]

I keep wanting to ask where the liberal media is so that I can watch it or listen to it. Honestly I only watch local morning news because watching national news is like a big wank fest. It's like a big fandom wank fest for the conservatives.

The media is controlled by rich old white men, who use it to keep dumb poor white men in control. We went to my brother's in-laws for a party Saturday night & one guy actually told us we'd be better off without any kind of government. *head-table* Honestly, they are allowed to drive & vote & breed.

When these people who voted for the current administration start talking about how oppressive & abusive the government is, well it makes me want to laugh & cry at the same time.

And honestly, I think most people in America are kept stupid for a reason, so that they are easier to control. The school system here could be so much better, and yet in the last 50 years drop out rates have stayed consistent and in some areas risen. The school systems spend all their time teaching kids to take standardized tests, that speaking with a recent high school graduate is honestly painful. And reading what they write, *shudders* is an experiment in patience trying.

Most Americans that were born here, went to school here, and have been citizens their whole life couldn't pass the citizenship test required of immigrants.

*steps down off soapbox*

I really enjoyed reading The Joy Luck Club, it is such an interesting foray into many different women's lives.

I'm currently trying to slog through Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, but as it has made up names for places I've put it down several times.

HP & the Half Blood Prince has had a bookmark in it for a year now. I know who dies & who kills him, but I can't bring myself to finish it. I found the whole book a little whiny on Harry's part & honestly it was like some bad fanfiction I would have left a bad review for.

I tend to do better seeing a movie and then reading the book. I saw the first two HP movies & then fell in love with the books. I have been thus far unimpressed with the last two HP movies. I saw Interview with a Vampire before I read it & it made me love the book more. Which is why my copy of the DaVinci Code has sat unread, because I want to see the movie first.

If Wicked was playing anywhere close, I'd probably drive to go see it so I could finish the book. :)

Thanks for posting topics worth venting about.

[misscam.livejournal.com]

That's often the irony with citizen tests, really. The level of ignorance amongst natives do make me groan sometimes. Not just in the US.

There's also the deep distrust at the government in the US, whereas in Norway, we rather do trust ours. One can wonder why...

I read books first, then watch movies. Probably because I tend to read a book a day - so I go through a few.

Thanks for posting topics worth venting about.

Any day ;)

Meme of the Day (Version C)

[aervir.livejournal.com]

Books!

-- My favourite book:

I have got many favourites, but rereading Pat Barker's Regeneration Trilogy for my M.A. has reminded me how good these novels actually are.

-- A book I finished but hated:

There are lots of candidates, too. D.H. Lawrence's Lady Chatterley's Lover will probably remain a perennial candidate for my "Worst of" list. And while I was reading The Time-Traveller's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger this year, I kept wishing for a time-rift to open, a few Daleks to fall out and exterminate the protagonists ASAP.

-- A book you should read: Weight by Jeanette Winterson. The Atlas myth retold, post-modern style.

Fanfiction (Doctor Who only)!

-- Favourite fic by yours truly: Probably Hana-Mi.

-- My favourite fic of yours: Not an easy choice, but it's Today's Not Over Yet, I think

-- Favourite fic by someone else: I'll just got with my favourites of the moment, Lessons by calapine and All this season of snow and sins by cherryice.

Re: Meme of the Day (Version C)

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Daleks, now as exterminators of dull fiction?

[http://users.livejournal.com/_tallian_/]

This is a great meme. I'm getting all sorts of adds to my reading list. :D

I've so much trouble narrowing things down. Anyway:

Favorite fiction: The Deed of Paksenarrion by Elizabeth Moon. Great worldbuilding and and fascinating characters

Favorite non-fiction: Closing of the Western Mind: The Rise of Faith and the Fall of Reason by Charles Freeman. I *love* this book.

Least favorite: American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis. This made me feel like I needed to scrub out the inside of my mind.

Favorite fic I wrote: <a href="http://users.livejournal.com/_tallian_/15144.html#cutid1>Aggressive Mimicry</a> It's weird, but I'm kinda proud of it. [/pimping]

[http://users.livejournal.com/_tallian_/]

Bah. The link didn't work.

http://users.livejournal.com/_tallian_/15144.html#cutid1

There. HTML, I cry uncle.

[moonburst.livejournal.com]

Favorite Book: Wizard's First Rule by Terry Goodkind.
Least Favorite Book: Uncle Tom's Cabin. It's intirely propaganda and steriotypes, and very poorly written. GAH! Just thinking about the stupid books makes me angry!
Book You Need To Read: I think everyone should read the Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. It's a very good study on revenge. If you don't want to read that, read Dealing with Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede. It's a really good book, even if it's a teenager book.

[misscam.livejournal.com]

I've read the Monte Cristo book. And seen the not-as-great movie, too. Was a while back, though.

[fannishnonsense]

That political thought (and some of the responses) is making me want to move to Norway. It sounds like heaven compared to here. If I hear one more idiot going on about what a "good christian man" W is I think I may snap!

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Our former PM was a priest and still managed to mention God less in all his years in office than W seems to do in a month.

If you're left-wing, Norway is a kind of heaven, I suppose ;)

[yourradiogeek.livejournal.com]

I must ask then, in response to your political thought, how good the schools are over in Norway. My beau and I are seriously considering jumping the continent to raise our kids (someday) over in Europe, and I'm very intrigued by your country :-p

In other news, the guy who works in receiving at my grocery store has a little rubber Bush doll. You don't know how often I'd like to be mean and evil* to the poor piece of rubber, and then post pictures on a website for all to see. Like the people who do evil things to Peeps and the like.

*Not what was orignally written. I better be careful or that "liberal media" will come knock on my door and lock me up.

[bloodanna.livejournal.com]

the guy who works in receiving at my grocery store has a little rubber Bush doll

Wow, really? I didn't know they could make dolls with their heads that far up their ass.

[denara.livejournal.com]

*wishing she could go visit Norway again* Two days around Oslo (and Kristiansand- with a loooong ass story behind it) doesn't count.

I'd like to say that my friends, family, co-workers... none of us are conservatives. We're all rather left-wing. But we've just given up on this country. Bunch of disaffected Californians, most of us, the kind that fondly theorize how nice it'd be to be our own country.

My favorite book series is the Mars Trilogy (Red Mars/Green Mars/Blue Mars) by Kim Stanley Robinson. Some people find it boring, but I like all the exploration, politics, psychology... As it goes on it gets very speculative, but the first book is set in the near future, even the more fantastic elements of that part aren't as far-fetched as you'd initially think.

Least favorite book is escaping me right now... I remember really disliking The Scarlet Letter in high school.

[misscam.livejournal.com]

You'd probably have your own troubles as a country on your own. Grass is always greener, and all.

And two days is definitely not enough to see any country, really.

[bloodanna.livejournal.com]

A liberal media? Where the heck did they get that idea from?


Meme of the day: Do you know how hard it is to pick a favorite icon? lol.
Option C:
Books:
I. Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire or Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice.

II. Lord of the Flies by William Golding. Man, I hated that book. There was only one character I liked in the whole thing and the rest got together and killed him. It was the only time I've thrown down a book in disgust and frustration.

III. Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. I think everyone should read that, it's just wonderfully done and so beautiful.

Fic:
A Modern Myth by Emerin. It's a beautifully heartbreaking Harry/Draco one shot.

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Sometimes, you gotta make a choice :P

Ah, Lord of the Flies. Nasty book. I never finished it, actually.

[despertarse.livejournal.com]

To me, pretty much the entire US is conservative

Well...
...thanks.

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Sorry - but it's mostly because Norway's so to the left, really. Even our conservatives are all for gay marriage and such. It's... tilted my perspective quite a bit.

[susanmary14.livejournal.com]

So favourite book of all time To Kill a Mockingbird, I read this at least once a year. Least favourite book finished - The Da Vinci Code (the most over rated book ever). And I recommend Born on a Blue Day by Daniel Tammet, an amazing guy who has Aspergers and also has synathesia, he sees numbers and words as shapes and colours. Also anything by the master Terry Prachett (I wish he would write an episode of Dr Who).

[misscam.livejournal.com]

So hear you on the overrated thing. I read it and was all 'argh'. I wouldn't have hated it so much had it not been hyped so, I reckon.