Oct 10
Books and Screen Adaptions
This blog post is spoileriffic. I don't want to use spoiler tags though, so you read at your will
While I was on my holiday to the Norfolk Broads, I read 6 books from the 'True Blood' Sookie Stackhouse series and after I ran out of those books, I read Angels and Demons by Dan Brown.
A few years ago I'd read The DaVinci Code and then watched the movie, and wasn't impressed with the movie adaption. However this time, I found the movie adaption of Angels and Demons much much worse. In fact I heavily regret buying it via iTunes, should've waited for the rent option. Silly me.
Angels and Demons is fast paced to read, and the whole story takes place within what I think is a period of 6 hours. You'd expect the movie to be fast paced too, yet they somehow manage to go the speed of light, cramming so much into the first 15 minutes...but not before the content of the first 15 minutes is a complete alternation with how the book starts, and one of the key elements in the book. In the book, the two scientists worked on their project in secret, hence why they were confused as to how it was stolen from CERN. The plot includes the director of CERN... and OH!!! the body of the male scientist with the illuminati brand on his chest. Instead, in the movie they just show him with an eye removed, literally 10 minutes after their experiment takes place...which also includes a large science team. This would imply that the killer/thief knew the exact time they were doing their experiment and managed to kill the scientist, take his eye, then gain access to the lab and get out without anyone seeing them while the female scientist is on her way down to see the product of their experiment. Had they stuck to the book, that particular aspect of the movie would've been more believable. In fact, the murder and theft has taken place before the book begins, to me it just seemed like an excuse to feature the Large Hadron Collider in the movie. The brand on the chest of the scientist is important to how the story develops, yet in the movie, Robert Langdon is shown the brand on a piece of fax paper...before hearing that the 4 cardinals have been kidnapped - which in the book, is something that they only hear about when they get to Rome, and don't actually believe for a while.
I really can't be arsed to list all the idiotic changes, but it really did not do the book justice at all.
One screen adaption I can get behind, is the 'True Blood' series based off the Sookie Stackhouse books. The series does for the majority, stick to the book storyline, however where it does change it doesn't go badly. For instance, in the books, the Maenad is a fleeting thing that aids part of the storyline. In the TV series, she is a character that appears in every episode in season 2 and is part of one of the main storylines which culminates in the season finale. It is a pity that they don't do more than 12 episodes per season.
While I'm talking about the True Blood books, it was completely obvious when reading the books how much the author of Twilight copied various elements of the TB storyline. For instance:
1. The books are written in first person from the perspective of the lead female character. Twilight dips between it, but for the majority it is in first person.
2. While TB stays true to the vampire myth of them being allergic to garlic and combustible in sunlight...Twilight has the mincy 'oooh your skin sparkles in the sunlight' aspect. In TB, the main character notes how the Vampire's skin glows.
3. Werewolves are introduced in both series. They are mainly introduced in the third book of the TB series, and the main character notes how 'they run hotter' than humans. The third book was the time where the first Twilight book was written, and lo and behold, the werewolves in the second Twilight book are noted to 'run hotter' by the main character. In both series, they also have an amnesty towards Vampires and vice versa.
In the TB universe, werewolves emerge when they hit puberty... which also happens in Twilight.
4. TB contains shapeshifters, which is also revealed in Twilight as what the 'werewolves' actually are. Then the silly author jumps between having the traits emerge in puberty to emerging when there is a vampire presence.
5. The love triangle. While different, the main character has a 'first romance' with the main vampire character, while struggling with feelings of hate and affection for the other. In TB this is another vampire, in Twilight it is the werewolf Jacob. The difference is however, that the author of Twilight decided to go down the boring route and have her main characters romantic endeavors end up with the pansy-like vampire Edward in the end...with some sort of crazy bond with Jacob. In TB, the most recent book takes another leap forward toward the main character falling more for the other Vampire (which IMO makes the story more interesting, the Bill character is just rubbish) Eric, while maintaining the aspect of the storyline that Bill is still in love with the main character.
6. Mind reading. In TB the main character can read minds of humans, while in Twilight it is Edward the vampire that reads the minds of everyone except the main character Bella and the werewolves (when changed). Bella also has some mystical part of herself which shields herself against the powers of multiple vampires. In TB, Sookie cannot be 'glamoured' like other humans can. The reason for this is explored more in later books when her true lineage becomes a main part of the storyline in book 8 and 9.
7. Both take place in small towns in the middle of nowhere.
Having read both series I thoroughly enjoy the TB series compared to wanting to burn my Twilight books in a bin on fire
In my view, so far the only successful book adaption I have seen has been Lord of the Rings, which are still my favourite movies.
In case you're wondering, my favourite books are the three books in 'His Dark Materials' trilogy by Phillip Pullman - Where the first book was made into the movie The Golden Compass, which as usual, sucked compared to the books
Aug 30
I guess I'm spending winter naked?
I'm definitely one of those people who thinks that fashion is stupid. I don't want some random artsy, nutjob type declaring what they feel everyone should be wearing. Unfortunately when these crazy nutters decide for instance, that wearing giant t-shirts over silly leggings is the fashion, that is ALL you can buy if you're a woman.
Yesterday was yet another occasion where I wanted to tear my hair out at the lack of anything that an AVERAGE sized person can wear. I think leggings are fugly as they are, but I'm not an anorexic pixie-sized child lacking in nutrition. It would be unflattering for me to wear something that clings to everything...and I mean everything. Basically, it's unflattering for anyone who actually looks like a woman to wear those things. By that I mean actually has an ass and a pair of thighs. I.e not looking like a 12 yr old girl.
Leggings are as gross as skinny jeans, because once again that is an item of clothing that really can only be worn by thekidsskinny women. I went into H&M on my birthday last week to find some new jeans (Since my only pair came from there), and ALL I could see were freaking skinny jeans, that like leggings, leave little to the imagination. I just wanted another pair of 'wide leg' jeans, since those are the only style that actually fit me (thanks to my dad's awesome genes providing muscley thighs..yay.). But because those aren't in fashion, it means I can't find them ANYWHERE. All there is are these 'skinny jeans', or these yucky leggings. I mean look at Topshop, which is a popular high-street retailer here: http://www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=19551&storeId=12556&categoryId=115935&langId=-1&top=Y <- Gone are the wide leg jeans, gone are the 'boyfriend' jeans, which I wore to death when I was at University because they were so comfortable....and yes, those are jean leggings there too. Ew. Thankfully 'River Island' do slouch-style jeans....but their sizes are nuts. My normal dress size is too small and yet the next size up are too big and actually fall down when wandering around.
Want a t-shirt? They're of the thinnest fabric you'll ever seen, and can only be worn with...skinny jeans or leggings!because with a normal pair of jeans on a normal sized individual it looks like you're wearing a shapeless bin-bag.
Want a skirt? You can only get a skirt as long as it's neon coloured and poofs out at the bottom. Or a pattern that resembles your grandma's living room rug. OR it's a 'body con' style, based on the Herve Leger 'bandage' dresses...which once again, are only flattering if you're a skinny waif (if only I was, I actually like those dresses)
When I was in University I bought these really awesome pair of boots that I loooved. They were beige suede, and they were heeled, but were wedged rather than just a standard heel. They were soo comfy. I wore them with everything. They were square toed at the end so I could actually feel my toes. You can't get those anymore. They're all pointy these days
Technically, I was such a fashionista when I was 9. I used to have these rainbow leggings for P.E that my mum had bought me, that looked like someone had swallowed a lot of different coloured paint and then vomited it onto the fabric. Was bullied for those.
I had a blunt fringe for my entire childhood until I was sick of being bullied for it and got rid of it when I was 13. When I was 14, they become fashionable.
I used to get picked on for wearing a cardigan my nan made for me to school on the 'mufty' days...now they're in fashion. As with jumpers.
Then of course the range for 'tall' people (classed as being over 5ft8 in most shops) is rather pants. Apparently we just wear black trousers and long cardigans all day. There is a company that does clothes for tall people (and by tall I mean really tall, like they'd probably be too long for me then
So amongst the migraine inducing fabrics, skinny jeans, leggings, vomited-on tops, flimsy fabrics... I came back with plain stuff from H&M. The same long-sleeved jumper-type tops I had last year in several different colours, a few t-shirts in the same style in different colours, another plain hoody to replace my current plain hoody which is getting holey by the cuffs, and a long-sleeved comfy top in the only colour it came in. Brown.. plain
No jeans. No pretty boots for wearing with skirts (not that you can find any skirts that are knee-length, they're all rather short and revealing, especially since they don't make them for tall people!), no pretty shoes that come in my shoe size (looks like it's trainers again this winter...sigh), no winter coat.
So basically I have the same outfit in slightly different colours, until my only pair of jeans die. Then I'm screwed. All because I actually eat food and don't resemble a 12-yr old girl.
Aug 24
Boo.
http://support.zetaboards.com/blog/entry/23/7844/
Today I learn it's £5,005.34p.
Probably ought to whack my £1,500 grandparents-wub-me-and-hate-inheritance-tax money that I was going to save for strictly holiday purposes onto a cheque.
Ought to, but won't. I'll just start poking a chunk of my wages out a month I think.
Aug 09
My Themes.
In case anyone reading this is unaware, we recently made ZBTZ the official resource board of the network. Therefore all my themes have been moved there, and any future themes will be posted up there as well.
Jul 29
How?
So a few months ago my best friend got engaged to my other friend. I was a little bit upset that she didn't ask me to be a Bridesmaid, especially when a guy they've only known two years and only through me was asked to be best man.
But, then while I was sick with my flu-type-thing (as was she, heh) she text me asking me to do a reading during the ceremony, so I was pretty chuffed about that. Yay. I wasn't really sure what she meant by that, so after asking a couple of people it sounded like a bible passage. But my friends aren't religious, so when I finally actually asked her about it, she said I could read a poem.
I am someone who likes to be original, and while poems can be somewhat generic and I shouldn't feel unoriginal for using one I could get some a book for example, I want to write one. I used to get praised for my poems in school, and I can put my thoughts into words pretty well.
However this sort of poem is going to be hard, because she said 'A poem about love, relating to the occasion'. Earlier I was thinking about it and realised that I can't legitimately talk about love in a poem. It has to be real, and pure and fantastic enough for my best friends wedding...to read out in front of the entire wedding party before/after they exchange their vows. It's a big deal. Therefore it has to be great, not just good.
But I've never been in love, so how can I write a poem about it and be accurate? Having two friends you hang out with as friends doesn't really give you an accurate view on their relationship, what love means to them as a couple and on an individual level.
I may have to interview them to get their personal thoughts and feelings on the matter, and eachother. Honestly, how lame is that? Having to do research on the most basic human emotion to write a poem
Someone at work suggested I read an extract from Captain Correlli's Mandolin, while someone else suggested something from Romeo and Juliet - how appropriate
Jul 20
I don't get it.
WARNING: Here be spoilers. No I am not using the spoiler box. Deal with it!
So while I was sick with swine flu, a friend said 'Ooh read the Twilight books!'. I had been wondering what the hype was about them in the first place, so I decided to order them off Amazon and read them.
I'm just about halfway through the final book and I just don't get the hype. I like a bit of gushy romance as the next girl, but when someone is touching someone elses face on virtually every page, the word 'kissing' is as common as a conjunctive...it's just a bit much.
I preferred the second book, probably because of the extreme lack of the vampire characters..until the end unfortunately. Boo.
I honestly have no freaking clue how they're going to make book 4 into a movie. A rushed wedding chapter, lots of implied rough sex, some crazy fast growing pregnancy, a bloody birth with her vomiting blood and having her body mangled, closely followed by the anti-climatic (I feel. It was rubbish considering he way you thought it'd happen) way of making the main character Bella into a vampire. Oh and then her best friend is a werewolf who has a crazy attachment to her new baby that can put thoughts into people's heads.
It's like...REALLY bad fan fiction. If this author can write a 'best seller', anyone can. Hell I could. Just mention shirtless males every other page, have oodles of 'no I cannot touch you BUT I MUST...OH I am so bad for touching you aaahhh rawwrr...purrr' angst and you've got yourself a cult of rabid teen followers.
Of course I intend on finishing the book, I am not a quitter. However I just needed to vent about what a slap on the face of literature these books are. I feel I may need to re-cooperate by reading my favourite books, so my imagination has something to nourish it after this boring, soap drama like fiction.
Edit:
I finished the book, and just when you think the ending may save the story...it REALLY doesn't. What kind of hyped battle basically has people shaking hands? and what the feck is with the cottage in the garden which is basically their private sex house? Ew. An absolute, barrel of utter drivel.
Jul 12
Boo...Mac... :(
I've found my first pet peeve about my Mac: It displays colours differently compared to how I'm designing it in photoshop.
Two options:
1. Change the settings and make everything look normal on my mac. This would make my themes much darker for windows users,
2. Live with the fact that things look lighter on my Mac
It's made my new theme look less than nice in my web browser.
Jul 10
Worst Week this Year
I've already had worst day: http://if.invisionfree.com/blog/entry/20889/838/
Now I've had worst week!
Saturday, I piled my parents, my sister and their suitcases into my car to drive them to the airport so they could go on holiday to Majorca. Leaving me to look after the dog, my guinea pigs, my mum's army of plants in the garden and my parent's vegetable patch. Woo.
Sunday I woke up with the worst sore throat I've ever had, and it felt extremely swollen, like I'd swallowed a golf ball or something. It got worse as the day progressed, and despite drinking gallons of fluids it still felt dry and cracked and it was really uncomfortable. Eating, drinking and talking(by that I mean singing in my room) was *really* painful.
Monday - I called in sick for work, since I wouldn't have been able to talk to patients. Plus I had no idea whether I had something contagious. Working in a hospital...you don't come to work with something contagious.
I went to see my GP, and he quizzed me for swine flu symptoms, and since I only had a very sore throat (with no sign of infection), my GP gave me a course of penicillin just in case there was an infection he couldn't see. I also had a pressurised feeling in the area above my nose and between my eyes. I was used to that because I regularly have sinus problems from work because of the air con.
A few hours after seeing my GP, I got a text message from my Nan asking me to contact my parents to tell them that my great Aunt Nell had died in hospital at the age of 94. She died from blood poisoning from bed sores due to poor care, and then a second bout of pneumonia... after she'd recovered from the first. That was not a fun text message to type, and it's the first relative I've lost in my entire life
Tuesday - I woke up and my throat was worse, only drank soup for meals and drank lots of fluids. It actually felt like the skin was splitting at the back of my throat a couple of times, it was horrible. Toward the end of the day I started to get a runny nose, the pressurised feeling turned into a headache and it felt like I was being jabbed in my ears with a pencil.
Wednesday - Woke up, and throat was feeling a bit better. Started coughing and sneezing, felt weak and dizzy with general movement, and head movement. Only had a bowl of soup for lunch and a bread roll. Felt nauseous and shivvery rest of the day. Had a temperature of just over 38'c, so rang work since they were still on at that time for help since my family were away sunning theirselves... and it can't hurt to ask a diagnostic department for advice. They suggested swine flu, and told me to ring NHS direct. Instead I said I'd ring the doctor in the morning and they told me to take the rest of the week off.
Thursday - Woke up feeling a lot perkier, throat was better. Gleefully ate lunch and immediately felt sick after, and spent the rest of the afternoon and evening with another fever and evil chills. Tried to have a nap but felt too bad. Finally slept.
Friday (Today) - Had set alarm to phone in time to get a doctors appointment, took my first shower in days (yes, you may go 'ewww!')... and debated whether I was fit enough to drive. I felt reaaallly rough, but driving slowly for a mile (ordinarly I'd have walked) was okay, so I got there fine.
So I saw my doctor again, and explained how I'd got worse since I saw him on Monday. He said it was high likely that I have swine flu
I felt that was a strange diagnosis for two reasons:
1. I work in a hospital, and because I work in a hospital we've had lots and lots and lots and lots (I mean lots) of emails about swine flu, and even lectures. I know the symptoms list, and I didn't have vomiting and diarrhea. But apparently those aren't actually symptoms of swine flu, according to my GP (and he's an awesome GP before anyone wants to debate that).
2. I've been lucid, I've been able to wander around the house. I cleaned my guinea pig's hutch out the other day, and I've been feeding my dog and doing the dishes. While I've felt terrible, I've felt worse. A few years ago during ZB development, I got the flu. I was delerious in the evenings, and spent them curled up in a shivvering ball. My parents told me I'd get better,but I didn't, and I was ill for two weeks until I finally went to the doctor and was told I had a chest infection. It took another week to get better after having some strong antibiotics.
I've read a number of stories where people have had 'mild' swine flu, so maybe that's it, but I could've felt much much worse.
But considering that it's currently just hit my area, my best friend and her fiance were diagnosed with it three days ago...seems like a good bet. The up side would be that in the future when we have a full scale epidemic (because it WILL happen), it'd be good to be immune to it. Or even if it mutates, some sort of defensive against it. If not...then maybe soon I'll have a bit of a bit of contender for worst week, minus the passing of a relative, of course.
So that has been my worst week this year. Being alone at home and feeling that rough has sucked, and losing a very awesome relative of mine has sucked a lot more. Hopefully as soon as I feel better and I can safely say I am not contagious, I can go cheer my grandparent's up. Especially since my Mum is in another country and can't comfort her mother. It has been hard knowing that I couldn't do that, but an upside is that the funeral is on the 20th, so I should definitely be okay by then...and my mum will be home, and my grandparents can get a drive there and have support from my Mum.
Jun 28
Beach Theme update
After a really rubbish weekend I thought I'd get stuck in on fixing the errors - oh including the 'error' of the header not being long enough. Congratulations, it's wider and now even larger to load. Upside is I edited it a bit and I prefer the new one. The waves are more defined and the water ripples are too.
I've started to phase out the orange, because it was honestly a bit too much for my liking, and what I say goes when it comes to my themesI'm also going to edit the large buttons and make them simpler (sans the palm) and more in tune with the small buttons (delete, edit etc). I also need a clock icon (oops!).... and then I want to make a sunset version with some reds, oranges and dark purples. Dunno how that'll go down just yet but we'll see
Jun 13
Summer Theme
Needs some refinements before release. Some new hex codes in places, some minor edits in others and perhaps a simple way for people to increase the font sizes if they wanted to. I made the text quite small because it just looked really chunky otherwise. It *might* be because I'm using a mac. Dunno.
What sucks is that it looks different depending on which OS I useText is bigger on mac and therefore some things are being misaligned, like the blog entry dates.
What is great however is how many errors (of sorts) there are, so if anyone nicks the theme right now they get something incomplete. Mwahah.
2:23 PM Nov 22
