I really enjoyed this presentation by Elizabeth Gilbert. She talks about protecting one's creative genius and her talk may also help in your creation of a success as well.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Vid of the Day: Mega Shark Vs. Giant Octupus
Sometimes a movie comes out that's so ridiculous that it has to be seen.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Mini Book Review: The Graveyard Book
It's time for a Maya Papaya Mini Book Review!
The Graveyard Book
By Neil Gaiman
A wonderful mix-up of The Jungle Book meets classic fairytale meets The Nightmare Before Christmas.
Neil Gaiman has a way of slithering into your soul and intensifying the atmosphere and tone of the written word. He’s a master storyteller, and a weaver of the fantastic. I could see and picture main character Nobody Owens and his pale blue and gray world. The characters are nothing short of amazing. My favorite being Silas, the unworldly, ever calm, smooth guardian. But other favorites include almost every character in the novel, like Liza, the ghouls, Miss Lupescu, and Nehemiah Trot. Every character is unique and comes to life within a few short sentences. With a bittersweet ending (but those are the best, for the happiest of joys sprout from knowing heartache and change) and a admirable, courageous main character, The Graveyard Book has quickly pushed its way onto my top favorites booklist.
This novel is the winner of the 2009 Newberry Award.
10/10 Absolutely lovely, exciting, and extraordinary
The Graveyard Book
By Neil Gaiman
A wonderful mix-up of The Jungle Book meets classic fairytale meets The Nightmare Before Christmas.
Neil Gaiman has a way of slithering into your soul and intensifying the atmosphere and tone of the written word. He’s a master storyteller, and a weaver of the fantastic. I could see and picture main character Nobody Owens and his pale blue and gray world. The characters are nothing short of amazing. My favorite being Silas, the unworldly, ever calm, smooth guardian. But other favorites include almost every character in the novel, like Liza, the ghouls, Miss Lupescu, and Nehemiah Trot. Every character is unique and comes to life within a few short sentences. With a bittersweet ending (but those are the best, for the happiest of joys sprout from knowing heartache and change) and a admirable, courageous main character, The Graveyard Book has quickly pushed its way onto my top favorites booklist.
This novel is the winner of the 2009 Newberry Award.
10/10 Absolutely lovely, exciting, and extraordinary
Mini Book Review: The Anatomy of Murder
It's time for a Maya Papaya Mini Book Review!
The Anatomy of Motive
by John Douglas and Mark Olshaker
Intriguing and Horrifying.
This is the first true crime book I’ve ever read. And now, I can’t wait to read another one. Written by the most famous FBI agent, John Douglas (the inspiration for the detectives of Silence of the Lambs), his storytelling prose sets it apart from most non-fiction books. I was drawn in and morbidly fascinated by what goes into the makings of a killer and the quest to answer the most important question – Why did he do it? It really was a page turner. Douglas takes the reader through the hunt for infamous criminals and murderers like Timothy McVeigh, the Unabomber, and Andrew Cunanan (who shockingly has inspired a musical on his life!) I would recommend this one to fans of cop shows, law and order, or programs of the CSI variety.
8/10 It’s a great read, and you learn so many concepts about the criminal mind I would have never thought about. It’s just not my favorite type of literature to read, hence the nearly perfect score.
The Anatomy of Motive
by John Douglas and Mark Olshaker
Intriguing and Horrifying.
This is the first true crime book I’ve ever read. And now, I can’t wait to read another one. Written by the most famous FBI agent, John Douglas (the inspiration for the detectives of Silence of the Lambs), his storytelling prose sets it apart from most non-fiction books. I was drawn in and morbidly fascinated by what goes into the makings of a killer and the quest to answer the most important question – Why did he do it? It really was a page turner. Douglas takes the reader through the hunt for infamous criminals and murderers like Timothy McVeigh, the Unabomber, and Andrew Cunanan (who shockingly has inspired a musical on his life!) I would recommend this one to fans of cop shows, law and order, or programs of the CSI variety.
8/10 It’s a great read, and you learn so many concepts about the criminal mind I would have never thought about. It’s just not my favorite type of literature to read, hence the nearly perfect score.
Saturday, May 02, 2009
Race Bending
So I find myself in a dilemma.
I am a huge fan of the animated series “Avatar the Last Airbender” I own all the seasons, I draw fan art, wrote some fan fiction, was on the show’s online message boards, etc.
I was excited to hear that the movie is coming out next year. I like M. Night Shyamalan’s films, I really do. And now that he’s directing “The Last Airbender” it made me doubly excited. Until the casting started. Now the show consists of a world based on Asian tradition, mythology and culture. All the characters are either Asian or Inuit influenced. And yet, for the movie, almost all the main characters are White. At first I was a little bummed out about it. And then as time went on and I heard other people’s opinions and I thought about it more, I find the casting amiss and perhaps even unethical.
I can never voice my thoughts on issues very well, so I won’t spend too long explaining and going into depth. But Asians in the media have been overlooked time and time again. If Avatar had been an African influenced show with Black children, I very much doubt that the cast would have been all white. Some people may not think it’s a very big deal, but it actually is! Can you name (by their actual names – not characters) five Asian actors off the top of your head?
Back to my dilemma, I really really want to see the movie because I am such a big fan of the show. But is it worth it if I really want to see change? Because change won’t happen if people just let things slide by. Kids are influenced immensely by the media, and I know that every little girl has wondered at least once at some point in her life why she isn’t like the beautiful white blond skinny Barbie doll people we see on television. Being half Asian myself, I know I felt those things, There were no cool Asian characters that looked like me when I was a kid. I hope that this can change for my future children.
Some Sites about this issue who explain it much better than I:
A Protest Website: Racebending
What can you do?
A really well thought out post
An article from the Washington Post
Funny, but unfortunately true song from the creators of Dr. Horrible: (It's just a song, there's no video, only a picture)
I am a huge fan of the animated series “Avatar the Last Airbender” I own all the seasons, I draw fan art, wrote some fan fiction, was on the show’s online message boards, etc.
I was excited to hear that the movie is coming out next year. I like M. Night Shyamalan’s films, I really do. And now that he’s directing “The Last Airbender” it made me doubly excited. Until the casting started. Now the show consists of a world based on Asian tradition, mythology and culture. All the characters are either Asian or Inuit influenced. And yet, for the movie, almost all the main characters are White. At first I was a little bummed out about it. And then as time went on and I heard other people’s opinions and I thought about it more, I find the casting amiss and perhaps even unethical.
I can never voice my thoughts on issues very well, so I won’t spend too long explaining and going into depth. But Asians in the media have been overlooked time and time again. If Avatar had been an African influenced show with Black children, I very much doubt that the cast would have been all white. Some people may not think it’s a very big deal, but it actually is! Can you name (by their actual names – not characters) five Asian actors off the top of your head?
Back to my dilemma, I really really want to see the movie because I am such a big fan of the show. But is it worth it if I really want to see change? Because change won’t happen if people just let things slide by. Kids are influenced immensely by the media, and I know that every little girl has wondered at least once at some point in her life why she isn’t like the beautiful white blond skinny Barbie doll people we see on television. Being half Asian myself, I know I felt those things, There were no cool Asian characters that looked like me when I was a kid. I hope that this can change for my future children.
Some Sites about this issue who explain it much better than I:
A Protest Website: Racebending
What can you do?
A really well thought out post
An article from the Washington Post
Funny, but unfortunately true song from the creators of Dr. Horrible: (It's just a song, there's no video, only a picture)
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Vid of the Day: Super Go!
Amazing Animation and Funny! Kind of like 6 roommates that also happen to be ninjas.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Hello! Hello! Hello!
Hello there! I am a college graduate! Yippee! Wow, it feels good to never have to do homework ever again. Ever again! And yet sometimes, I'm still haunted by school, like last night I was anxious that I had something due tomorrow. But nope! No homework for me!
It has been like two years since I've updated this blog. So let me tell you what's going on with me! I suppose I have an addiction to explanation points for starters! I live in Provo, UT in a little brick house, in a little room made entirely of wood. It feels like I'm under the sea, and I live in a ship's quarters. I work a dinky student's job for BYU broadcasting. I haven't seen my boss in about a month and I have no co-workers. In fact I am typing this right now while I am at work. I have no idea where I'll be five months.
I have a mom, dad, little sister and a dog that live in Fairfax, VA. I have a brother on a mission in Portland, OR.
I'm pretty awesome, but pretty dorky, too. Goodness, I can be awkward. I'm trying to practice drawing more often, and a little painting to get better at art. I'm also attempting to write a young adult's fantasy / sci-fi novel. I'm about half way done with the first draft.
Yes! That is the wonderfulness that is me! I will be posting awesomeness very very soon.
It has been like two years since I've updated this blog. So let me tell you what's going on with me! I suppose I have an addiction to explanation points for starters! I live in Provo, UT in a little brick house, in a little room made entirely of wood. It feels like I'm under the sea, and I live in a ship's quarters. I work a dinky student's job for BYU broadcasting. I haven't seen my boss in about a month and I have no co-workers. In fact I am typing this right now while I am at work. I have no idea where I'll be five months.
I have a mom, dad, little sister and a dog that live in Fairfax, VA. I have a brother on a mission in Portland, OR.
I'm pretty awesome, but pretty dorky, too. Goodness, I can be awkward. I'm trying to practice drawing more often, and a little painting to get better at art. I'm also attempting to write a young adult's fantasy / sci-fi novel. I'm about half way done with the first draft.
Yes! That is the wonderfulness that is me! I will be posting awesomeness very very soon.
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