breakthesky.net » Entertainment

Clifford and Miss Frizzle

Manda — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 01:10:45 +0000

One of my roommates and I went to the National Book Festival two weekends ago. It was a lot of fun, and even though we didn’t get any books signed or meet any authors, we did meet literary figures. Like Clifford and Miss Frizzle.

Not to mention go on the Magic School Bus. It was AWESOME.

Classic English Literature

Manda — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 14:27:05 +0000

I’ve been spending most of my spare time reading on my Kindle while I’ve been on the road. I’ve taken advantage of free public domain books to read some of the classics in English literature in an effort to expand my literary horizons. For years and years I’ve said I’ve wanted to read Dickens, Bronte, etc. Now, I’ve finally gotten off my lazy ass and have started reading them. For someone who once considered an English literature minor, it’s about time I started devouring more of the classics!

These are the ones I’ve read so far this summer:

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Next on my list are Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen, and perhaps some Shakespeare.

Question of the Week: What English classics would you recommend to read?

Music Downloading Spree

Manda — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 13:33:26 +0000

Fact: Google signed some sort of deal that allows every Internet user in China to download music for free off the Google website.

Fact: I am an Internet user in China who is always keen to expand my iTunes collection.

Fact: I am also someone who has been out of the loop in the pop culture scene ever since going abroad.

Fact: I have a wide-ranging taste in music and am willing to give anything a try, except rap.

Question of the Week: What are some of your favorite songs? Recently? All-time? What bands or artists would you recommend for me to check out, new or old?

My Life Is Like Glee

Manda — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 13:40:48 +0000

Picture this: my friends and I are at KTV (karaoke), singing and dancing and having a good time. Our last song comes on, which happens to be Journey’s Don’t Stop Believin’. Between all of us, we share two microphones. I end up sharing the microphone with my best guy friend, which is great because the two of us are the most jazzed about KTV out of our whole group. He’s ridiculously tall and adorable like Cory Monteith/Finn Hudson, and I’m short and feisty like Lea Michele/Rachel Berry. We sing Don’t Stop Believin’ to each other, belting our hearts out and dancing close together and loving every moment.

All the while, I couldn’t help but feel it was like we were recreating the pilot episode of Glee. It was just that perfect.

What I’ve Learned From the 2010 World Cup

Manda — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 14:09:41 +0000

Seeing as today is the 2010 World Cup final (GO NETHERLANDS!), here is a hodge-podge of what I’ve learned about soccer/fútbol and the World Cup in general from the 2010 World Cup.

Soccer/fútbol players must moonlight as actors, because I’ve never seen such childish, petulant drama on a sports arena. (Granted, I don’t watch a lot of sports.)
Speaking of drama, the French national team… a theater troupe of actors if there ever was one!
Vuvuzelas annoy everyone except South Africans, apparently.
FIFA referee calls are controversial at best, downright awful at worst.

My Brazilian soccer/fútbol player name is… MANDERTO!

This pie chart sums up the rest of my lessons from the World Cup, courtesy of Cracked:

And now, all talk of soccer will go quiet on the U.S. front until the World Cup in 2014!

Books That Changed My World

Manda — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 16:12:32 +0000

Inspired by Krissy, I’ve decided to compile a list of books that have changed my world. I don’t read life-changing books at a regular rate by any means; my book of choice is usually one in the chick lit category. But that’s not to say that I haven’t come across a life-changing book or two (or that chick lits aren’t capable of falling in that category!).

“The Book Thief” by Markus Zusak
I can’t put into words just how monumental an impact this book hand on me. It’s wonderfully written, with some of the most vivid characters I’ve read. The premise is very unique (have you ever read a book narrated by Death?) and Zusak is a gifted storyteller.
“Atonement” by Ian McEwan
I’m a sucker for romantic novels and the love story in “Atonement” just blows the rest out of the park. A sweeping love story set at the dawn of World War II, it explores how one girl’s serious mistake has irreversible implications for the lives of those around her. The balance of all the characters and intertwining plotlines is remarkably well done; it’s just a really amazing book.
“Someone Like You” by Sarah Dessen
This is not the first Dessen book I read, but it will always remain my favorite. The strength of the bond between Halley and Scarlett has always been a benchmark for me when it comes to the strength of my own friendships. It’s such a pivotal story of growing up, becoming your own person and falling in love for the first time and all the trials and tribulations that come with it.
“The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald
A standard required reading for all juniors in high school in the US, this is the best required reading I was ever assigned. The characters are so distinctly unique and I love how they embody the characteristics of the roaring 20′s.
“The Golden Compass” by Philip Pullman
I’ve read the entire “His Dark Materials” series and “The Golden Compass” is my favorite (with “The Subtle Knife” a very close second). I love how the story completely takes you into this world filled with daemons and there’s always a sense of the world being a much bigger and scarier place than we realize, with so much that is unknown. It’s another book that stays with you, which I think is the best quality a book can have.

This Is an S.O.S.

Manda — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 19:32:07 +0000

I have a confession to make.

For all my ranting and hatred of Disney Channel pop stars and how I rue the day they were ever introduced to society because manufactured pop nowadays just isn’t what it used to be (*NSYNC and Britney Spears back in the late 90′s, anyone?), I… um. I might actually like a song by the Jonas Brothers.

I know, I know. I can’t believe it either, and I feel icky with shame as I write this. But the chorus of the song “S.O.S.” is just so damn catchy that somehow it’s making me put aside my very low opinion of the band’s songwriting and musical talents. I’m not sure how that’s possible, but I blame the catchy chorus melody.

Damn. I might need to signal my own S.O.S. for liking this song…

(If even I admit that there’s a Jonas Brothers song that I like, is it any surprise my university incorporated Justin Bieber in their admissions marketing? Actually, don’t answer that.)

Ooh! This is an S.O.S.
Don’t want a second guess
This is the bottom line
It’s true!
I gave my all for you
Now my heart’s in two
And I can’t find the other half
It’s like I’m walking on broken glass
Better believe I bled
It’s a call I’ll never get ♪♫

Affirmation

Manda — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 15:49:31 +0000

My iTunes decided to surprise me by playing “Affirmation” by Savage Garden, a song and band that I love but haven’t listened to in ages. As the song played, it struck me just how right the song lyrics were. I don’t know what inspired the song, but if the band had been asked to write a song about the unwritten rules of life, the guys would have hit the nail on the head.

I believe the sun should never set upon an argument
I believe we place our happiness in other people’s hands
I believe that junk food tastes so good because it’s bad for you
I believe your parents did the best job they knew how to do
I believe that beauty magazines promote low self esteem
I believe I’m loved when I’m completely by myself alone

I believe in karma what you give is what you get returned
I believe you can’t appreciate real love ’til you’ve been burned
I believe the grass is no more greener on the other side
I believe you don’t know what you’ve got until you say goodbye

I believe you can’t control or choose your sexuality
I believe that trust is more important than monogamy
I believe your most attractive features are your heart and soul
I believe that family is worth more than money or gold
I believe the struggle for financial freedom is unfair
I believe the only ones who disagree are millionaires

I believe forgiveness is the key to your own happiness
I believe that wedded bliss negates the need to be undressed
I believe that God does not endorse TV evangelists
I believe in love surviving death into eternity

My two favorite lines are “I believe in karma what you give is what you get returned” and “I believe your most attractive features are your heart and soul.” This song is just beautiful, absolutely beautiful.

When I get my own place in the fall, I’m going to put the lyrics of the chorus up on my wall where I can see it every day. I feel like these are good words to be reminded of on a daily basis.

Hockey, and Why I Don’t Like Following Sports

Manda — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 17:03:28 +0000

Ever since the semester has ended and I’ve moved back home, I’ve been watching hockey games. More specifically, I’ve been watching the game whenever my team, the Chicago Blackhawks, is playing. I watched them beat the Vancouver Canucks and I watched them sweep the San Jose Sharks (that one was particularly satisfying as one of my friends is a diehard Sharks fan). Now the Hawks are against the Philadelphia Flyers in the Stanley Cup finals and I’m suddenly being reminded of why I have steadfastly avoided following sports my entire life.

It’s stressful being a hockey fan! You are glued to the game, pulse racing with every move, afraid to breathe whenever either team is about to score, bellowing in frustration whenever the other team scores, cheering with joy whenever your team scores… the tension, anticipation, anxiety and unadulterated joy when it comes to sports is really unparalleled. More often than not I’ve found myself alternating between wanting to cover my eyes at the truly tense moments (usually whenever either team is about to score) and not being able to take my eyes off the game. (I realize that wanting to close my eyes is silly because those moments can be part of the best or worst moments of the game.)

Part of the reason why I’ve become interested in hockey recently is that it’s just a fun game to watch. I’ve tried watching numerous sports over the years and the only ones I’ve found interesting are AFL¹ and hockey. (My friends that are fanatics about American sports will be disappointed to hear that American football and baseball are among the sports that bore me to death.) I’ve been able to pick up a surprising amount about hockey in such a short amount of time, both in terms of how the game is played as well as background about the Hawks players. Also, it is not a bad time to start watching hockey when your team wins the Western Conference and has a 50/50 chance of winning the Stanley Cup. Just putting that out there.

But yes. Even though I don’t like following sports in general, and even though I’ve discovered it is very stressful towards my health to start becoming a hockey fan, and even though last night’s overtime against the Flyers in Game 3 almost killed me…

GO HAWKS!

I’m a West Coast Eagles fan and yes, I know they are doing horribly but I don’t care.

Asian Vampires

Manda — Thu, 27 May 2010 14:59:10 +0000

This week’s Glee gave me a new life (or perhaps I should say undead) goal:

Tina: So here’s what’s gonna happen… my dad, he’s the king of the vampires, and Asian vampires are the most vicious of all the vampires. You’re going to let me wear my lady demon clothes or my dad will fly into your bedroom, and bite your face off. He’s really pissed. Is that what you want?
Principal Figgins: No, I don’t want that I’m afraid.
Tina: Good. I’m glad we had this talk. Now I have to go back to my coffin because the light is burning my eyes!

That goal is to become a vampire, because Asian vampires are the most vicious of them all¹, and then have everyone PH34R ME! Excellent plan, yes?

(And before anyone asks, no, vampire!Manda will not sparkle. Please. If I’m going to become a vampire, I’m going to be a badass one, not some wishy-washy sissy type that sparkles like diamonds in the sunlight. Duh.)

I’m half Asian, for those who don’t know.