Currently listening to: “Miraz Crowned” – Harry Gregson-Williams (The Chronicles of Narnia OST)
Two quotes from dear friends of mine, who are wise beyond their years. I thought I might share.
On life, and being eighteen:
“Well, you’re young, and you think you’re invincible, and then you start to grow older…and then you realize that you have to sleep.” – C. N.
On political leanings:
“Left wing or right wing…you can’t fly very well without either.” – C. G.
Currently listening to: “Maurice au bistro” – Les Cowboys Fringants
So most of you know that I work at Indigo. Work is always delightful; usually, it’s a complete laugh, and the books we get in are moderately decent, for the most part. Except on rare occasions. The other day at work, I was shelving a bunch of children’s books, and they were the scariest things I’ve ever had the misfortune to lay eyes upon. I am speaking of the “In The Night Garden” book series, also a BBC (gasp!) children’s television show. These books are some of the most disturbing things I have ever seen in my life, and I am downright opposed to the sale of these books. Why are they igniting such a radical flame of anger in me, you may inquire? LET ME TELL YOU.
Firstly, the book characters are bloody creepy. Let me direct your attention to some of the book covers:
Secondly, who named these characters? Igglepiggle? Upsy Daisy?? Ninky Nonk?!?!? Good god, this is bizarre.
Thirdly, I decided to read the books. Don’t judge by a rubbish cover and whatnot.
You know what? If the covers look anything like that, go ahead and judge, because the content’s not much better. Let me summarize the plot of one of the books I skimmed through – “Upsy Daisy loves the Ninky Nonk”:
here for your viewing pleasure.
So. Plot summary. The Upsy Daisy roams the forest, kissing wildlife and plant varieties indiscriminately. The Ninky Nonk, a train (?!?!) shows up, and is sad. Upsy Daisy kisses the train and it cheers up. Everyone is happy and goes to sleep.
What kind of message is this sending out to impressionable young children? In the guise of cheery (uh…think utterly frightening) creatures (occasionally nude, in the case of one particular character), I would see this to be the rampant spread of promiscuity among the young. Small children will roam around thinking it’s perfectly alright to emulate any of the above activities, including (but not limited to) kissing public transport. Honestly.
Fourthly, the television series is even worse, if possible.
PART ONE of “The Ninky Nonk Adventure”. I can’t follow the train of thought, or plot, if any. Just watch it. Seriously. You’ll understand my reaction after viewing such an abomination.
I ought to be studying for finals now, by the way.
Ta for now.
Currently listening to: “Jezebel” – Two Hours Traffic
Most. Adorable. Movie. EVER.
Currently listening to: “Foux de Fafa” – Flight of the Conchords
hello, I am Mary, hear me ramble.
Order of Business Numero UNO:
HEY JAYNE, I HEAR YA. The first thing you learn in Arts One is that you can’t write. Not even for change, baby. Not even Plato can save you. You’re in the cave. And you can’t get out. But I digress, as usual.
Order of Business Numero DEUX:
Twelve-year-olds, IT’S OKAY. You can RELAX. The world is not coming to an end. Yes, the Twilight movie is coming out. IT IS SERIOUSLY ALRIGHT. Don’t forget to breathe. (Or you know…don’t…let’s see…uhm.)
And on the same note, is there any real good reason why is Indigo selling Twilight t-shirts? What are we, the Gap? American freaking Eagle? Are we going to sell out and become the TNA of the book industry? Are we going to start selling tank tops for $50 – NO. WAIT.
I will rephrase that.
It’s really not our fault. We sell books. We’re just doing our job. BUT Twilight has blown out of proportion. A faintly entertaining novel with great potential to be read aloud in a sarcastic manner has been seized and taken hostage by the movie industry, as usual. I actually found the books quite entertaining. I had nothing against them in particular. In typical consummate Hollywood style, the industry is just so desperate to latch onto the next kids’ bestseller, make it into a movie featuring some unknowns, and market their end product (“I’d rather die than stay away from you”? “You are my life now”? WTF? Aren’t they like, seventeen???) to aforementioned hyperventilating twelve-year-olds, rendering themselves, and the kids, absolutely incomprehensible to polite society.
Even more puzzling to me are the 40-year-old women who read the books. I can’t quite imagine why, unless you were a highly worried parent wondering what sort of madness has stricken your poor and unfortunate child in throes of Twilightmania.
Order of Business, Numero TROIS:
T’is the season for wellies!!!!!!!!!
With that, I shall leave you now.
Ta, till the next time!
Currently listening to: “Pas fait en chocolat” – Tricot Machine
So, the Rousseau essay for Arts One is still in progress. Five hundred-ish more words to go! Listening to delightful French ditties while drumming out paragraphs on inequality is quite entertaining but time-consuming. Ah well, at least the Discourse on Inequality was easy and enjoyable enough to read. These essays may be hell to write (or maybe I’m just a procrastinator), but at the end of it all, a rather lovely wave of satisfaction washes over as I beam down at the neatly printed, paper-clipped sheafs of paper. Lovely.
In other news, Tricot Machine is my new music obsession.
I’ve been listening to their debut album – it’s never really struck a chord with me before, but the more I listen to it, the better it gets. Take a listen to “Pas fait en chocolat” and the super-adorable “L’ours”. Their music videos are absolutely delightful- whimsy abounds! Dripping with eclectic goodness! Lomography-inspired! You don’t see videos like that every day.
And since I’m constantly playing word association in my mind. On the topic of music, does anyone have any entertaining British rap to recommend? It never fails to make me chuckle. Oh witty Brit-rap, how I adore thee.
More one-liners:
– cannot believe that first semester is almost over, and finals are upon us! Le gasp.
– needs to buy Virginia Woolfe’s Orlando
– is 1/7th to goal to fund next year’s cross-North America trip and pay next year’s rent
– needs wellies! Splish splash.
– Christmas drinks at Starbucks! Now I feel guilty.
Ta for now, me lads and lasses.