Wednesday, October 26, 2005
The End Is Always Bittersweet
12:30 a.m. / 00:30
I just finished another book. It's a classic by Betty Smith called A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. It's kind of sad, though, that it's over. That's always how the good ones are, of course. A good book can leave you a little sad, even if it has a good ending, just because it's the end. And so, it's bittersweet.
It was a rather good read. I spent at least a couple of weeks on it, but I would none the less call it a "page-turner". Actually, I read a little over half of it just the past two days, since I've gotten a cold. I plan to look into Betty Smith's other works, sometime in the future. I feel like I learned a few things from this book. I think I'll always remember Francie Nolan, and likely her family, too.
I just finished another book. It's a classic by Betty Smith called A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. It's kind of sad, though, that it's over. That's always how the good ones are, of course. A good book can leave you a little sad, even if it has a good ending, just because it's the end. And so, it's bittersweet.
It was a rather good read. I spent at least a couple of weeks on it, but I would none the less call it a "page-turner". Actually, I read a little over half of it just the past two days, since I've gotten a cold. I plan to look into Betty Smith's other works, sometime in the future. I feel like I learned a few things from this book. I think I'll always remember Francie Nolan, and likely her family, too.
Labels: books
Wednesday, October 19, 2005
Does My Toothbrush Need Its Own Computer?
11:50 p.m. / 23:50
The electric toothbrush has existed for quite some time now, so I guess toothbrush engineers decided something really new was needed. So, now there is a new toothbrush with an "onboard computer". Maybe you too have seen the commercial (perhaps late at night during a Night Court re-run) that heralds a new brushing-era and attempts to make my own toothbrush look archaic.
So I'm wondering... since I never would have guessed someone would put a computer in a toothbrush, what rather mundane product will next become available in a computerized version? After some thought, pasta came to mind. Maybe I was just hungry; I don't know. But just imagine it! Your pasta will be equipped with tiny, edible computers that will alert you when the pasta is cooked to "al dente"! Never again will pasta be over- or under-cooked! Hurray for tiny computers!
The electric toothbrush has existed for quite some time now, so I guess toothbrush engineers decided something really new was needed. So, now there is a new toothbrush with an "onboard computer". Maybe you too have seen the commercial (perhaps late at night during a Night Court re-run) that heralds a new brushing-era and attempts to make my own toothbrush look archaic.
So I'm wondering... since I never would have guessed someone would put a computer in a toothbrush, what rather mundane product will next become available in a computerized version? After some thought, pasta came to mind. Maybe I was just hungry; I don't know. But just imagine it! Your pasta will be equipped with tiny, edible computers that will alert you when the pasta is cooked to "al dente"! Never again will pasta be over- or under-cooked! Hurray for tiny computers!
Sunday, October 09, 2005
Ella Enchanted-- The Movie
11:45 p.m. / 23:45
A couple of nights ago, I sat down and watched the movie version of Ella Enchanted. I knew it would not be as good as the book, but it was worse than I expected. There are certainly talented people in the movie, but over all, I was not impressed. It was much more cheesy than the book was.
A couple of nights ago, I sat down and watched the movie version of Ella Enchanted. I knew it would not be as good as the book, but it was worse than I expected. There are certainly talented people in the movie, but over all, I was not impressed. It was much more cheesy than the book was.
Tuesday, October 04, 2005
Third Installment of Random Quotations
2:38 a.m. / 02:38
"Why do I find it endearing that the man has no arse?"
--Natalie, in Running in Heels by Anna Maxted
“If you’re happy inside, you don’t have to convince everyone else.”
--Luke in Getting Over It by Anna Maxted
“Don’t try to solve serious matters in the middle of the night.”
--Phillip K. Dick
“If you haven’t found something strange during the day, it hasn’t been much of a day.”
--John A. Wheeler
“Nothing travels faster than the speed of light with the possible exception of bad news, which obeys its own special laws.”
--Douglas Adams
“There are two kinds of light—the glow that illuminates, and the glare that obscures.”
--James Thurber
“I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought with, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.”
--Albert Einstein
"Why do I find it endearing that the man has no arse?"
--Natalie, in Running in Heels by Anna Maxted
“If you’re happy inside, you don’t have to convince everyone else.”
--Luke in Getting Over It by Anna Maxted
“Don’t try to solve serious matters in the middle of the night.”
--Phillip K. Dick
“If you haven’t found something strange during the day, it hasn’t been much of a day.”
--John A. Wheeler
“Nothing travels faster than the speed of light with the possible exception of bad news, which obeys its own special laws.”
--Douglas Adams
“There are two kinds of light—the glow that illuminates, and the glare that obscures.”
--James Thurber
“I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought with, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.”
--Albert Einstein
Labels: random quotations
Monday, October 03, 2005
Anna Maxted & Other Good Reading
1:30 p.m. / 13:30
Well, I have read three books since I last posted anything.
I finished another Anna Maxted book, called Getting Over It. This one is actually Maxted's first novel, although I think she's written four or five of them now. I liked this one even better than Running in Heels. Her main characters take a little while for me to warm up to, but over all, I really enjoy her books, and I think she's become a new favorite of mine.
I followed Getting Over It with a couple of young adult novels: Esperanza Rising, by Pam Munoz Ryan and Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine.
Esperanza Rising has a lot to do with the treatment of Mexican field workers in the United States during the Great Depression. That was covered in my high school history classes, but the new twist in this book is that Esperanza had been wealthy and privledged in Mexico, but here that did not matter.
Ella Enchanted is an excellent fairy tale. Ella is an extremely likeable, relatable character. Her prince is a cool guy, too.
Well, I have read three books since I last posted anything.
I finished another Anna Maxted book, called Getting Over It. This one is actually Maxted's first novel, although I think she's written four or five of them now. I liked this one even better than Running in Heels. Her main characters take a little while for me to warm up to, but over all, I really enjoy her books, and I think she's become a new favorite of mine.
I followed Getting Over It with a couple of young adult novels: Esperanza Rising, by Pam Munoz Ryan and Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine.
Esperanza Rising has a lot to do with the treatment of Mexican field workers in the United States during the Great Depression. That was covered in my high school history classes, but the new twist in this book is that Esperanza had been wealthy and privledged in Mexico, but here that did not matter.
Ella Enchanted is an excellent fairy tale. Ella is an extremely likeable, relatable character. Her prince is a cool guy, too.
Labels: books
