Hi everyone!
If you're still following this blog, I will be on a semi-hiatus for a little bit in order to explore other styles of blogging and blog for my graduate classes.
I am taking a class on food/cooking memoirs and will be blogging about my own experiences with food, taking a more "creative non-fiction" approach to blogging.
If you're interested, check out my blog: Dine In, Or Carry Out?
See you soon :)
Friday, August 19, 2011
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Steampunk
For those of you who have followed me from the beginning, you may know that I enjoy the aesthetics of steampunk.
I found this game on Armor Games: Steampunk
I played the first few levels.
It's a fairly simple puzzle/skill game with 30 levels to unlock where the levels get progressively harder as you go on.
If you've ever played a game like "Wake the Box/Royalty" or "Cover Orange" it is very similar except with a Steampunk theme, which is pretty cool.
Not "super-Victorian" but I got excited when I saw it :) !
Enjoy!
I found this game on Armor Games: Steampunk
I played the first few levels.
It's a fairly simple puzzle/skill game with 30 levels to unlock where the levels get progressively harder as you go on.
If you've ever played a game like "Wake the Box/Royalty" or "Cover Orange" it is very similar except with a Steampunk theme, which is pretty cool.
Not "super-Victorian" but I got excited when I saw it :) !
Enjoy!
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
The Moonstone: A Character Sketch
Potential Spoiler Alert!
----------------------------------------------------
I've just finished the first ten chapters of The Moonstone. The first epoch, about half of the book, is told from the point of view of the head servant at Lady Verinder's home. His name is Mr. Betteredge and I think he is very entertaining.
He constantly references the novel Robinson Crusoe, stating that "such a book as Robinson Crusoe never was written, and never will be written again...and I have found it my friend in need in all the necessities of this mortal life. When my spirits are bad - Robinson Crusoe. When I want advice - Robinson Crusoe. In past times, when my wife plagued me; in present times, when I have had a drop too much - Robinson Crusoe" (17). Throughout the character's narrative, he always relates events of his story to some piece of "wisdom" given to him from reading Robinson Crusoe.
I've never actually read Robinson Crusoe, but on the cover of all of the books I have looked at there is a very masculine man with huge muscles either dominating an image of "the other" or standing erect/dominating the island he is on. I think this could say a lot about the character of Mr. Betteredge.
He is also the type of character who clearly favors his race. Toward the end of the first ten chapters, he states that the Indian men in search of Mr. Franklin's moonstone are thieves and murderers, not acknowledging that the stone was originally stolen from India by British soldiers.
Random Facts about Mr. Betteredge:
He smokes a Pipe.
He has a daughter (may early-mid teens?) named Penelope.
He is very opinionated.
He seems semi-arrogant.
One curious thing about this novel that contrasts The Woman in White is the fact that, so far, there is not a strong female character. There are four main women mentioned so far:
1. Penelope - Mr. Betteredge's daughter, does whatever she wants, but is not a large part of the story yet (I'm holding out hope that she becomes the heroine!)
2. Lady Verinder - The Lady of the estate, Mr. Betteredge's employer. (I believe her husband is deceased.)
3. Miss Rachel - Lady Verinder's daughter (18 years old), her uncle died (the man who originally stole the diamond from India) and wrote in his will that Rachel be given the diamond as long as her mother is still living. (Very curious!)
4. Rosanna Spearman - a maid in the house. We first meet her watching quick sand boil next to the ocean. (hmm...interesting!) She seems to be distraught. She was "rescued" by Lady V. from a reformatory which she was at for stealing (we don't know what).
Predictions:
Penelope will defy her father further than her small childish attempts now.
Lady V. will die.
Rachel will marry Mr. Franklin.
Rosanna Spearman will tell her story somehow.
Mr. Betteredge, not exactly clueless now, yet he doesn't truly seem to understand what is going on, will become 100% aware of the situation.
----------------------------------------------------
I've just finished the first ten chapters of The Moonstone. The first epoch, about half of the book, is told from the point of view of the head servant at Lady Verinder's home. His name is Mr. Betteredge and I think he is very entertaining.
He constantly references the novel Robinson Crusoe, stating that "such a book as Robinson Crusoe never was written, and never will be written again...and I have found it my friend in need in all the necessities of this mortal life. When my spirits are bad - Robinson Crusoe. When I want advice - Robinson Crusoe. In past times, when my wife plagued me; in present times, when I have had a drop too much - Robinson Crusoe" (17). Throughout the character's narrative, he always relates events of his story to some piece of "wisdom" given to him from reading Robinson Crusoe.
I've never actually read Robinson Crusoe, but on the cover of all of the books I have looked at there is a very masculine man with huge muscles either dominating an image of "the other" or standing erect/dominating the island he is on. I think this could say a lot about the character of Mr. Betteredge.
He is also the type of character who clearly favors his race. Toward the end of the first ten chapters, he states that the Indian men in search of Mr. Franklin's moonstone are thieves and murderers, not acknowledging that the stone was originally stolen from India by British soldiers.
Random Facts about Mr. Betteredge:
He smokes a Pipe.
He has a daughter (may early-mid teens?) named Penelope.
He is very opinionated.
He seems semi-arrogant.
One curious thing about this novel that contrasts The Woman in White is the fact that, so far, there is not a strong female character. There are four main women mentioned so far:
1. Penelope - Mr. Betteredge's daughter, does whatever she wants, but is not a large part of the story yet (I'm holding out hope that she becomes the heroine!)
2. Lady Verinder - The Lady of the estate, Mr. Betteredge's employer. (I believe her husband is deceased.)
3. Miss Rachel - Lady Verinder's daughter (18 years old), her uncle died (the man who originally stole the diamond from India) and wrote in his will that Rachel be given the diamond as long as her mother is still living. (Very curious!)
4. Rosanna Spearman - a maid in the house. We first meet her watching quick sand boil next to the ocean. (hmm...interesting!) She seems to be distraught. She was "rescued" by Lady V. from a reformatory which she was at for stealing (we don't know what).
Predictions:
Penelope will defy her father further than her small childish attempts now.
Lady V. will die.
Rachel will marry Mr. Franklin.
Rosanna Spearman will tell her story somehow.
Mr. Betteredge, not exactly clueless now, yet he doesn't truly seem to understand what is going on, will become 100% aware of the situation.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Wilkie Collins' "The Moonstone"
Potential Spoiler Alert!
------------------------------
If you're interested in the Koh-I-Noor diamond that was exhibited at the Crystal Palace, you should definitely read Collins' The Moonstone. The name of the novel is, in fact, referring to the diamond that was on exhibit, except in the hands of a young woman, Rachel.
I've just started reading the book, so I'm not sure if Collins' addresses the great exhibition specifically, but I'm curious to find out more.
------------------------------
If you're interested in the Koh-I-Noor diamond that was exhibited at the Crystal Palace, you should definitely read Collins' The Moonstone. The name of the novel is, in fact, referring to the diamond that was on exhibit, except in the hands of a young woman, Rachel.
I've just started reading the book, so I'm not sure if Collins' addresses the great exhibition specifically, but I'm curious to find out more.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Understanding Charles Darwin
As I have never read anything by Darwin before, I was a little bit surprised to find that this was fairly easy to understand and that my view of Darwin (in terms of what I thought he was proposing) has changed.
In high school, and even before, every time I heard Darwin's name mentioned, I immediately associated him with evolution. Due to this association I also assumed that he did not believe in "God" and only believed in science. (fine by me either way). After reading this excerpt from The Origin of Species I have come to believe that Darwin wasn't actually proposing that evolution took the place of "God," but that it is actually an act of "God:"
"There is grandeur in this view of life, with its several powers, having been originally breathed by the Creator into a few forms or into one; and that, whilst this planet has gone cycling on according to the fixed law of gravity, from so simple a beginning, endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been and are being, destroyed (1545)"
Darwin's beliefs are not, however, any of my concern. Because of this "realization," I am more interested in why Darwin's theories were, and still are, fought so hard.
There's the church vs. science debate, which I find confusing. I guess because heavenly creations are supposed to be perfect and therefore animals, plants, and humans don't need evolution. I think Darwin considered this debate himself because he incorporated a quote from a friend stating that "he has gradually learnt to see that it is just as noble a conception of the Deity to believe that He created a few original forms capable of self-development into other and needful forms..." (1542).
I also wonder if part of society opposed Darwin on principle. He states that "the chief cause of our natural unwillingness to admit that one species has given birth to clear and distinct species, is that we are always slow in admitting great changes of which we do not see the steps" (1542). Darwin is stating society's flaws. Maybe they just didn't want to be told what they could or could not observe. However, it's interesting to note that Darwin uses words like "we," implying that he includes himself into society. I think this is his way of carefully explaining his argument as to not separate his views too much from everyone else.
I also think this was met with opposition because of Darwin's promise for the future. He wrote "In the future I see open fields for far more important researches....Much light will be thrown on the origin of man and his history" (1544). I think people realized that this conversation will not go away until Darwin's theories are proved or disproved. Clearly, they were right. We still speak of Darwin today in science classes and, while I'm not biological expert, I believe scientists are still questioning and trying to prove evolution. The fear that one day evolution could be proved, (a wreck to religion (?)), is another reason why his work was met with so much opposition.
(Below a funny cartoon 1st published in Harper's Weekly in 1871)
[Victorian literature]
In high school, and even before, every time I heard Darwin's name mentioned, I immediately associated him with evolution. Due to this association I also assumed that he did not believe in "God" and only believed in science. (fine by me either way). After reading this excerpt from The Origin of Species I have come to believe that Darwin wasn't actually proposing that evolution took the place of "God," but that it is actually an act of "God:"
"There is grandeur in this view of life, with its several powers, having been originally breathed by the Creator into a few forms or into one; and that, whilst this planet has gone cycling on according to the fixed law of gravity, from so simple a beginning, endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been and are being, destroyed (1545)"
Darwin's beliefs are not, however, any of my concern. Because of this "realization," I am more interested in why Darwin's theories were, and still are, fought so hard.
There's the church vs. science debate, which I find confusing. I guess because heavenly creations are supposed to be perfect and therefore animals, plants, and humans don't need evolution. I think Darwin considered this debate himself because he incorporated a quote from a friend stating that "he has gradually learnt to see that it is just as noble a conception of the Deity to believe that He created a few original forms capable of self-development into other and needful forms..." (1542).
I also wonder if part of society opposed Darwin on principle. He states that "the chief cause of our natural unwillingness to admit that one species has given birth to clear and distinct species, is that we are always slow in admitting great changes of which we do not see the steps" (1542). Darwin is stating society's flaws. Maybe they just didn't want to be told what they could or could not observe. However, it's interesting to note that Darwin uses words like "we," implying that he includes himself into society. I think this is his way of carefully explaining his argument as to not separate his views too much from everyone else.
I also think this was met with opposition because of Darwin's promise for the future. He wrote "In the future I see open fields for far more important researches....Much light will be thrown on the origin of man and his history" (1544). I think people realized that this conversation will not go away until Darwin's theories are proved or disproved. Clearly, they were right. We still speak of Darwin today in science classes and, while I'm not biological expert, I believe scientists are still questioning and trying to prove evolution. The fear that one day evolution could be proved, (a wreck to religion (?)), is another reason why his work was met with so much opposition.
(Below a funny cartoon 1st published in Harper's Weekly in 1871)
[Victorian literature]
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Steampunk!
Dr. Peel shared some really exciting information with me! Apparently the band Sugarland is touring. The title of their tour is "The Incredible Machine" and the theme is steampunk!
They'll be at Roanoke Rapids, NC the day after my birthday (June 17th)! You should check it out :)
They'll be at Roanoke Rapids, NC the day after my birthday (June 17th)! You should check it out :)
Victorian Facial Expressions
After my posting for class last night I decided to look into how people were actually found in large cities, especially when they did not want to be found.
I found another blog (Sharing Knowledge) that said police used common criminal facial features in order to recognize people who may want to commit crimes. But what about those who are just hiding?
I found another blog (Sharing Knowledge) that said police used common criminal facial features in order to recognize people who may want to commit crimes. But what about those who are just hiding?
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