tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5682412381004324564Tue, 13 Oct 2009 06:57:28 +0000"If it was so, it might be; and if it were so, it would be; but as it isn’t, it ain’t. That’s logic.”http://contrariwiseblog.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Kanadani)Blogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5682412381004324564.post-4317983187010146131Tue, 07 Oct 2008 15:30:00 +00002008-10-07T11:30:00.792-04:00reviewsSchickelbooksEssential ChaplinChaplinI don’t normally read essay collections but I decided to take a look at The Essential Chaplin: Perspectives on the Life and Art of the Great Comedian in hopes that it would assist me in my pursuit of all things Charles Chaplin and that it would provide intriguing insight into the silent film comedian. Schickel gathered a notable series of nearly thirty essays on Chaplin’s work, life, and art fromhttp://contrariwiseblog.blogspot.com/2008/10/review-essential-chaplin-perspectives.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kanadani)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5682412381004324564.post-7208156058557922687Thu, 02 Oct 2008 12:59:00 +00002008-10-02T11:02:25.326-04:00steinbeckbooking through thursdaydickensA Thursday meme: What, in your opinion, is the best book that you haven’t liked? Mind you, I don’t mean your most-hated book–oh, no. I mean the most accomplished, skilled, well-written, impressive book that you just simply didn’t like.That one was easy, I have two: Dicken's The Tale of Two Cities. I'm not sure if it was how it was presented at school, or the fact that the French Revolution held http://contrariwiseblog.blogspot.com/2008/10/booking-through-thursday-best.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kanadani)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5682412381004324564.post-5407075741614504162Tue, 30 Sep 2008 13:04:00 +00002008-09-30T09:04:00.566-04:00reviewsKate HahnForgotten Fashionbooksfashionsatirehistorypopular cultureI love humor and while I may not look like my clothes are from the runway and I don’t have a subscription to any of the current fashion magazines, I do have a healthy interest in fashion. If for nothing else, I find that some trends can serve as a way to gauge the social climate by observing clues in the fashion trends. Haven’t you heard the theory that skirt hemlines creep up as consumer http://contrariwiseblog.blogspot.com/2008/09/review-forgotten-fashion-illustrated.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kanadani)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5682412381004324564.post-3580135526110078437Thu, 25 Sep 2008 12:47:00 +00002008-09-25T09:29:42.002-04:00The Night Battlesromantic fictionbooking through thursdayreadinggenreCarlo GinzbergA Thursday meme: What was the most unusual (for you) book you ever read? Either because the book itself was completely from out in left field somewhere, or was a genre you never read, or was the only book available on a long flight… whatever? What (not counting school textbooks, though literature read for classes counts) was furthest outside your usual comfort zone/familiar territory?And, did youhttp://contrariwiseblog.blogspot.com/2008/09/booking-through-thursday-well-that-was.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kanadani)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5682412381004324564.post-7891323999450819372Tue, 23 Sep 2008 12:36:00 +00002008-09-24T08:52:38.053-04:00reviewsHal SpacejockbooksHaynessci-fiI have watched Simon Haynes’ Hal Spacejock series grow for years now as a popular series in Australia. The first book, Hal Spacejock is now undergoing a third printing, according to the website it is available as an import to the US. Now you can experience the first book for free as a downloadable ebook here: http://www.spacejock.com.au/Hal1Download.htmlArmed with a sense of humor and imaginationhttp://contrariwiseblog.blogspot.com/2008/09/review-hal-spacejock-by-simon-haynes.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kanadani)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5682412381004324564.post-8559160471342866951Thu, 18 Sep 2008 12:36:00 +00002008-09-18T08:57:36.144-04:00booking through thursdaybooksreadingautumnA Thursday meme: Autumn is starting (here in the US, anyway), and kids are heading back to school–does the changing season change your reading habits? Less time? More? Are you just in the mood for different kinds of books than you were over the summer?I don't have kids so school doesn't really affect my reading habits. However, there is something in the crunch of the leaves, the coming chill in http://contrariwiseblog.blogspot.com/2008/09/booking-through-thursday-autumn-reading.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kanadani)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5682412381004324564.post-613074940719712450Tue, 16 Sep 2008 12:08:00 +00002008-09-16T08:08:00.678-04:00Neil GaimanreviewsbooksAmerican Gods I have a particular weakness for irreverent humor, satire, and surreality, so when I was recommended to read American Gods by Neil Gaiman I was agreeable. I had loved Sandman and his joint-venture with Terry Pratchett in Good Omens. However, I was surprised and found myself eagerly devouring this novel because it was unique, not many books are able incorporate mythology, satire, and humor so http://contrariwiseblog.blogspot.com/2008/09/review-american-gods-by-neil-gaiman.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kanadani)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5682412381004324564.post-9136550199322574005Sun, 14 Sep 2008 17:39:00 +00002008-09-14T13:58:48.749-04:00Water for Elephantsreviewsnanowrimosunday salonbooksAmerican GodsJonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell It's been a rather interesting week. I'm still slogging through Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke. I have two hundred pages to go and it's finally getting interesting. Hopefully I can get them done soon so I can start thinking about the book and writing up a review.This week, I've written up two reviews so far. A review for Sara Gruen's Water for Elephants was posted last Tuesday http://contrariwiseblog.blogspot.com/2008/09/sunday-salon-september-14-2008.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kanadani)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5682412381004324564.post-9020487830593222218Thu, 11 Sep 2008 12:17:00 +00002008-09-11T08:44:12.681-04:00villainsbooking through thursdayreading9/11A Thursday meme: Terrorists aren’t just movie villains any more. Do real-world catastrophes such as 9/11 (and the bombs in Madrid, and the ones in London, and the war in Darfur, and … really, all the human-driven, mass loss-of-life events) affect what you choose to read? Personally, I used to enjoy reading Tom Clancy, but haven’t been able to stomach his fight-terrorist kinds of books since.And, http://contrariwiseblog.blogspot.com/2008/09/booking-through-thursday-villainy.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kanadani)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5682412381004324564.post-7462543859521048132Tue, 09 Sep 2008 13:05:00 +00002008-09-09T09:13:57.362-04:00Water for ElephantsreviewsGruenbooks I was excited to read Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen, it had all the elements I was looking for, the circus setting, the depression era time period, and I'm not ashamed to say it: the handsome cover. I certainly was not expecting to find such a gem in this light summer reading expedition."Oh yes. It's an honor indeed. I'm willing to bet no one else in your neighborhood -- heck, probably the http://contrariwiseblog.blogspot.com/2008/09/review-water-for-elephants-by-sara.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kanadani)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5682412381004324564.post-4480441802348712130Sun, 07 Sep 2008 13:47:00 +00002008-09-07T11:30:27.364-04:00reviewsClarkesunday salonbooksJonathan Strange and Mr. NorrellMerimeewritingSpore Well, it's my first Sunday Salon and I figured I should write this one up early since today is going to be busy. It's been a rough week and I've been trying all sorts of new things to shape my blog into what I had in mind.I've written several reviews to be published in the future, but my hiatus from writing has really had an impact. I guess two years of game forum moderation really can wreak http://contrariwiseblog.blogspot.com/2008/09/sunday-salon-september-7-2008.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kanadani)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5682412381004324564.post-5553746860323736309Thu, 04 Sep 2008 12:13:00 +00002008-09-04T09:01:22.188-04:00memebooking through thursdaybooksA Thursday meme suggested by JM: I was looking through books yesterday at the shops and saw all the Twilight books, which I know basically nothing about. What I do know is that I’m beginning to feel like I’m the *only* person who knows nothing about them.Despite being almost broke and trying to save money, I almost bought the expensive book (Australian book prices are often completely nutty) justhttp://contrariwiseblog.blogspot.com/2008/09/booking-through-thursday-peer-pressure.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kanadani)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5682412381004324564.post-7316212139251811642Mon, 25 Aug 2008 12:06:00 +00002008-09-03T08:57:13.292-04:00reviewsFable IIgamingIn anticipation for the video game, Fable II, Lionhead has made three pub games set in the Fable environment available. Gold made from these mini-games will have the ability to be transferred to your Fable II character when the game comes out end of October.Of course, the real challenge is making the gold. Gambling has never been a strong point with me. To illustrate that fact, the first time I http://contrariwiseblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/why-ill-never-be-any-good-in-vegas.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kanadani)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5682412381004324564.post-8580656776764242754Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:53:00 +00002008-09-12T08:54:49.685-04:00reviewsbooksChaplinDavid Robinson's examination of the silent film comedian, Charlie Chaplin, is a must-read if you have an interest in Chaplin's life and extensive experiences at the birth of American Cinema. Chaplin: His Life and Art uses a multitude of sources to help give witness to the actor from many viewpoints and addresses the various inconsistencies found in Chaplin's own autobiography.For those interestedhttp://contrariwiseblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/book-review-chaplin-his-life-and-art.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kanadani)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5682412381004324564.post-8849706335938711142Tue, 19 Aug 2008 12:33:00 +00002008-08-19T08:33:00.373-04:00internetfilmChaplinIn my browsing I found a really awesome application of Google Earth. It's BFI's Google Earth Tour. The British Film Institute has created a layer database that allows you to look up locations, filmmakers, and other historical film references by using the free Google Earth application found here. Really, it's an interesting way of seeing things from a different view. I loaded it up (it wasn't too http://contrariwiseblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/going-back-in-time-with-google-earth.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kanadani)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5682412381004324564.post-2474637235637149808Wed, 13 Aug 2008 21:11:00 +00002008-09-03T09:14:02.262-04:00wheel of timenewsbooksfilmI came across an article saying that Universal pictures have optioned Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series.Not much other info came from the article, but it would be interesting to see how someone would interpret this seemingly never ending epic tale of fantasy.I am on the fence for this one. I enjoyed the first half of the series (up to book 8) but as I think about it more, I am not sure if I http://contrariwiseblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/wheel-of-time-keeps-turning-and-turning.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kanadani)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5682412381004324564.post-5995082334422891930Wed, 13 Aug 2008 13:00:00 +00002008-08-13T09:13:28.936-04:00FlashbackGardeningOriginally published on Machinations of a Wandering Mind - April 22, 2005:I have recently taken up gardening. The allure was simple: watch things grow, tame nature (to some degree), and make the jungle of my Dad's backyard into something that looks just a bit neater.I also love plants (a key to gardening, I hear). And for most of my life I have sorrowfully been like death running a scythe throughhttp://contrariwiseblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/flashback-mother-natures-vengeance-is.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kanadani)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5682412381004324564.post-6641360238670003083Tue, 05 Aug 2008 12:00:00 +00002008-09-12T08:55:34.409-04:00reviewsThe HistorianbooksNow that I commute every morning by train, I am able to finally regain my love for devouring books.I decided that my first book since I came back to the land of the bookworm is The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova.It is an intricate and intriguing tale of a girl uncovering her family's past and their secrets surrounding the late fifteenth century history and legend of Vlad the Impaler (Count http://contrariwiseblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/searching-for-count-vlad.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kanadani)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5682412381004324564.post-2911820123743544130Thu, 31 Jul 2008 13:04:00 +00002008-07-31T09:19:48.683-04:00OCDlibrarything.combooksI just discovered a site that has been around for a while...http://www.librarything.com/. It is really neat because it appeals both to my OCD as well as my bookworm side.Finally I have a little place on the interwebs to house a listing of our huge and eclectic book collection. I have always dreamt of finally listing what I own somewhere but never could find the right medium. (Databases would havehttp://contrariwiseblog.blogspot.com/2008/07/virtual-bookworms-at-librarythingcom.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kanadani)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5682412381004324564.post-3307479612816934620Mon, 28 Jul 2008 12:49:00 +00002008-07-29T13:17:57.053-04:00censorshipmediaIn San Francisco protestors rage on, demanding a radio station fire talk radio host, Michael Savage, for his off-color and rude remarks about autism. You can read about it here at the San Francisco Chronicle, amongst others.Instead of taking several approaches, like boycotting the show's sponsors, or heaven forbid, stop listening to the show, they are calling for his head in something that seems http://contrariwiseblog.blogspot.com/2008/07/mob-calls-for-head-of-mantheyre-just.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kanadani)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5682412381004324564.post-1888623650202587713Thu, 24 Jul 2008 13:18:00 +00002008-07-24T11:42:49.997-04:00lawcensorshipgamingAccording to an Associated Press article, on Tuesday New York Governor David Paterson signed a law that he claims will lead to restrictions on video game violence and increase parental awareness of video game violence and appropriateness.It's a two-parter (as most censorship laws are) that will first create a "commission" or "authority" to study the effects of violence in video gaming. In this http://contrariwiseblog.blogspot.com/2008/07/new-york-censoring-video-games.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kanadani)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5682412381004324564.post-6292723666091954907Wed, 16 Jul 2008 13:29:00 +00002008-07-16T09:37:24.875-04:00internetwhedondochorribleSo, the population of the internet, as vast and voracious as it is, has swarmed upon Dr. Horrible, crushing his servers. Was it really a surprise? Whedon is a cult-icon and paired with a cast full of internet and nerd-culture celebrities the buzz for this Internet event was amazing! The surprise would have been if the servers didn't melt down and it all went smoothly. I've worked in the wild http://contrariwiseblog.blogspot.com/2008/07/fear-internets-minions-doc-horrible.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kanadani)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5682412381004324564.post-8371835340509948825Tue, 15 Jul 2008 13:15:00 +00002008-07-17T08:20:02.545-04:00FillionreviewsNPHwhedondochorribleToday is the big day...the start of the great Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog!You can watch it here (if available):Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along BlogI was lucky enough today to get a chance to watch it at work before everyone else got in and I have to say...it is awesome!Joss Whedon does it again by creating a story that is compelling, well-written, and populated with interesting characters. I am http://contrariwiseblog.blogspot.com/2008/07/paging-doctor-horrible.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kanadani)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5682412381004324564.post-626667577037079057Mon, 14 Jul 2008 16:27:00 +00002008-07-14T12:32:37.465-04:00randomA friend of mine IM'd me an image today and I thought I should share:I don't know why, but this makes the words Battle Hardened Beagle come to mind. Actually, on its cute little armor it looks like there might be room for a rider...but what type of rider would look good on a beagle donning what looks to be plate armor?http://contrariwiseblog.blogspot.com/2008/07/image-randomness.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kanadani)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5682412381004324564.post-2651486319269962698Wed, 09 Jul 2008 13:10:00 +00002008-07-09T11:31:31.034-04:00I never thought I'd be qualified to work in the circus...but wow my juggling skills have now achieved legendary status! I am now purple when people hover their little imaginary mice over my head. In the past month, I have:Started a new job in a new industryStarted a blogAlmost finished knitting my Doctor Who scarf. (I have only 16 rows, some clean up, and some fringe left...it should be done http://contrariwiseblog.blogspot.com/2008/07/some-people-juggle-geese.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kanadani)1