Disappointed yes, surprised no
“My Immortal” is widely considered to be the worst beset fanfiction ever. It is hilarious without meaning to be. It has had me rolling on the floor more than once. The sad thing is the ‘author’ seems to take it quite seriously. Who knows ‘she’ (I say she- it’s either a 12-14 year old girl or a 40 year old man who lives in his mother’s basement). I recently found this drinking game which should add even more to the fun.
Humerous Situations from My largely Boring Life
Recently, by which I mean this semester, in my Greek Archaeology course the professor was conducting an exam review. He asked a question to which no one knew the answer. Everyone stared at things - their lap, the wall, the back of their neighbor’s head, a fascinating piece of mold in the shape of Abraham Lincoln’s face - anything but raising their hands. After a minute or two the professor turned to the roll. A student, who routinely sits in the back and sleeps, was called upon to attempt an answer. After they were done the professor paused, looked at the student, and proceeded to facepalm. After a few moments the professor said: “Jesus Christ!, does anyone else want to try?”
A fact to make you think
As an Anthropology major one thing that really bothers me is culture bias. This fact is just one of many examples of why it’s ridiculous: The Mississippian center of Chaokia in ~1000 CE had a greater population, even by the most conservative estimates, than London at the same time. Food for thought.
The Hum and Shiver - Alex Bledsoe
description from Amazon.com: No one knows where the Tufa came from, or how they ended up in the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee, yet when the first Europeans arrived, they were already there. Dark-haired, enigmatic, and suspicious of outsiders, the Tufa live quiet lives in the hills and valleys of Cloud County. While their origins may be lost to history, there are clues in their music—hints of their true nature buried in the songs they have passed down for generations.
Private Bronwyn Hyatt returns from Iraq wounded in body and in spirit, only to face the very things that drove her away in the first place: her family, her obligations to the Tufa, and her dangerous ex-boyfriend. But more trouble lurks in the mountains and hollows of her childhood home. Cryptic omens warn of impending tragedy, and a restless “haint” lurks nearby, waiting to reveal Bronwyn’s darkest secrets. Worst of all, Bronwyn has lost touch with the music that was once a vital part of her identity.
With death stalking her family, Bronwyn will need to summon the strength to take her place among the true Tufa and once again fly on the night winds… .
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What I liked about it: It contains elements of fable/fairy tale, fantasy, and science fiction. The magic is secondary to the plot, and supports it. I have never read anything quite like it. Well paced plot, smart writing.
Where I found out about it: from the excellent goodreads.com
She says, “I am content when wakened birds,
Before they fly, test the reality
Of misty fields, by their sweet questionings;
But when the birds are gone, and their warm fields
Return no more, where, then, is paradise?”
There is not any haunt of prophecy,
Nor any old chimera of the grave,
Neither the golden underground, nor isle
Melodious, where spirits gat them home,
Nor visionary south, nor cloudy palm
Remote on heaven’s hill, that has endured
As April’s green endures; or will endure
Like her remembrance of awakened birds,
Or her desire for June and evenings, tipped
By the consummation of the swallow’s wings.
Before they fly, test the reality
Of misty fields, by their sweet questionings;
But when the birds are gone, and their warm fields
Return no more, where, then, is paradise?”
There is not any haunt of prophecy,
Nor any old chimera of the grave,
Neither the golden underground, nor isle
Melodious, where spirits gat them home,
Nor visionary south, nor cloudy palm
Remote on heaven’s hill, that has endured
As April’s green endures; or will endure
Like her remembrance of awakened birds,
Or her desire for June and evenings, tipped
By the consummation of the swallow’s wings.
“
| — |
Wallace Stevens, Stanza IV of Sunday Morning |
A History Channel Thanksgiving.
These days South Park varies widely between brilliant social commentary and stupid shit. This episode falls firmly in the first category. Plus anything that in less than 30 minutes manages to make fun of the Alien, I mean Hitler, er History channel, and Thor - is just epic. You do need a Hulu account to watch though - not Hulu plus - it’s free, but you have to prove you are ‘old enough’ to watch it.
