IMPORTANT!!

Commenting is pretty straightforward - There's a 'kick the wall' and 'x scuff mark(s)' - those represent comments. 'Kick the wall' if you want to leave one. BTW!! I do tend to reply to comments :D

Obviously certain previous entries have been deleted due to my sometimes unstoppable need to be rant-y.. Trying not to be all emo here, so help God help us all..! Haha

http://mousharilla.blogspot.com/

And because I have no patience for a normal blog and a photo blog. :P

"It's always night in the Nightside. It's always three o'clock in the morning, and the dawn never comes. People are always coming and going, drawn by needs that dare not speak their names, searching for pleasures and services unforgivable in the sane, daylight world. You can buy or sell anything in the Nightside, and no-one asks questions. No-one cares."

Our man is John Taylor, not your typical hero. He's on the run from a world he's known since childhood and he's dirt-poor, living in his office which has a bullet hole on the window. He has no idea who his mother is - a plot devise you know will kick ass once it finally shows its head. But while he's literally nobody in our world, he's close to celebrity or royalty stature in his world.

You know - the one he's running away from. And I don't think its from paparazzis.

Now, I have very mixed feeling with this book so let me just start by saying: I quiet like the Nightside as a whole. BUT. But.. well, let me tell you what bugs me about this series.

I can't help but feel that the characters are a little bland.

I wont touch on the other characters as that would be a spoiler. So here's what I think about John Taylor.

John Taylor - supposed bad ass, shows weakness in a way that doesn't really convince you he's actually a bad ass. Just possibly someone who insists on it, but doesn't quite have what it takes. Of course he keeps saying that he likes letting his 'rep' speak more than his own actions, and how everything was exaggerated but that it helps when people fear him. I feel like Simon R. Green justifies his characters actions just a little too much by spelling things out.

Here's a little spoiler: His relationships with people from the Nightside.

He keeps insisting he has no friends, but just close enemies.. Well reading the two books I own, makes me think that he does have some very loyal friends. It would probably have packed more of a punch if John Taylor never mentioned that he had no friends, but casually mention acquaintances he has who have in turns helped then stabbed him in the back (or in one case, as we, the readers, find out very early on - shot him in the back).

And while I feel there's a huge need for character development, there's a whole cast of people I'm dying for you to meet. Shotgun Suzie, Razor Eddie, Cathy Barrett, and Alex Morrisey. Lovely people you wont want to meet in a dark alley, but fascinating all the same.

As I said before - I do think it was a good read.

I liked the whole noir feel of the novel, and how he was all Dick Tracy in the beginning. Complete with a dingy office, and your quintessential dame (limited to the very first story, but I liked her so much, I thought I'd mention her). Note; not damsel in distress. But kick ass snotty dame.

I also adored the whole idea of a world within a world. Of course it was very Neverwhere-ish (Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere).. But I think it distinguished itself enough with the whole range of inhabitants available for viewing.

I know, I know.. The whole hidden world thing isn't quite new (Of the top of my head: Neil Gaiman, Joss Whedon, LJ Smith, Eric Kripke - and those are only from the ones I've touched recently. Not to mention a whole host of others that I haven't read/watched/whatever..), but it works. Its an intriguing world to peek at.

Plot-wise, I enjoy the fact that the stories aren't quite novel length. Three stories to a book works for Simon R. Green. And there's a wide range of cases, showcasing the sheer absurdity of the Nightside. It never quite delves into the macabre though, he seems to lack the words to describe the blood and gore and to turn it into something which turns your stomach, so you're sort of left detached to it all.

To be honest it does feel like a half assed effort at times, but its saving grace is the sheer number of possibilities available in the universe Green created. And the potential you can see peeking from the corner. At times I feel like I should maybe coo at the book and try to coax out the ability of writing horror I think Green possesses.

On the whole? Read it. The genre needs more stuff like this.

Sometimes, when something is broken.. You have a chance to fix it.

But when it gets broken over and over again, and the cracks are so visible that what was once beautiful is just a horror show waiting to be broken again with a simple nudge.. Then maybe it should be put away.

Maybe it should be thrown away, because what use is something that is so broken you're even afraid to touch it in case it falls apart, crumbling beneath the gentlest caress? But looking at it.. All the memories and the laughter and the joy..

I don't think I can. Not yet.

And the saddest thing is, you probably don't realize that this is all that's left of our friendship.Or maybe you do, and you just don't care. I don't know anymore. I've been second best to everyone else with you these past few.. months? years? I don't even know where I stand anymore. I wish I could say that I didn't care, but  I miss being your friend - Without all the awkwardness that we're somehow left with.

I wish I could pinpoint that one moment in time when it all started to fall apart, and erase it. But I can honestly say it was everything and nothing. It was that one joke that hurt a little more than it should have, and imagined slights that went by remembered.. It was you walking away, or me never showing up. I wish I could say it was all you and live a guilt free life. But all the double edged words I've said in mock severity but meant in malice.. I can't erase those.

So here's to you, and to me.. And what we can't fix.

It's been a blast.

And that's fine.

I don't mind admitting how stupidly stupid I have been.

And today its one of those days I felt like someone had come along to slap some sense into me. I get excited over the most random things, and I have the attention span of a five year old high on speed, who has just consumed a tub of triple fudge-chocolate ice cream with sprinklings of sugar on top. I figure maybe I should take a breather, and calm down.

I keep saying I should do my under grad thesis. Maybe I should start then. I keep saying I'm going to be better at resisting vices I know I should avoid. Maybe I should start then. I keep saying I'm leaving my past (non existant) love affairs behind (seriously, I hold on to the most random people.. I can recite you my yr. 8 crush's home number, because I'm still crushing on him a little). Well maybe I should start it then.

There's a long 'to do' list that I've neglected for much, much, much too long. And today's a Sunday, as good a day as any to start over.

I'm gonna stop saying maybe, and I'm just going to plunge right into the deep end.

Here's to a new start.

I have crushes on people who are able to voice their thoughts with eloquence.

No, I don't mean that they have to wax poetic on artsy subjects, or serious stuff.. Its just.. Well, its hard to explain - I haven't the words for it. Just.. Words. *happy sigh* I'm sorry, but I've just spent the last couple of hours watching stand up comedians weave tales of hilarity through speech, and I'm in awe. I find myself easily falling for comedians (not the slapstick kind). And writers (song, books and television AND movies included). When someone turns the mundane into something interesting through choice of words - I swoon, flail and fall into an undignified heap, panting like an idiot.

I wish I had the skills, but I realize I'm incoherent half the times.

Partly because I really do find myself talking too much without saying anything all too often, and because I prefer to reveal all only to a couple of friends. (Then why an online journal? Well.. That's another story for another time.)

*twirls, bows and rolls away*

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/music-news/4984680/Beyonce-fans-among-least-intelligent-but-Beethoven-fans-are-cleverest.html

READ.

I laughed my ass off..!

http://musicthatmakesyoudumb.virgil.gr/

That's the researcher's site.. And also, just take a look-see:

http://booksthatmakeyoudumb.virgil.gr/

The whole intelligence coupled with taste thing is a bit weird for me. Because.. Well.. Hypothetically speaking, I should be around.. The upper-average scale of the SATs based on my tastes in music and books. SHOULD. I'm not saying 'am', actually I'm just pointing out that it just goes to show how there are always exceptions when it comes to 'grading' human beings and sticking them to categories..

*laughs and shakes head*

But seriously.. Do you think taste indicates intelligence? I mean, I know I'm a snob and I'm judgmental when it comes to books and music - but that's just because of my own rating systems. Its a bit of a moot point for me..

And yeah okay, this is based on SAT scores and stuff..

But come on..

I'm still giggling over the fact that someone was 'niat' enough to do this. Niat apa kreatif yah? Masih bingung. Hahaha.

Ah well, I don't mind being classed as intelligent. Well.. Average at least.. All hail Indie!

A couple of days ago I was alerted to the fact that I spent too much time on the internet.

But at least I'm not wasting my time. I read, I write, I faf around. Okay, fine. Maybe I am doing time-wasty thingies on the net, but that's only because I can only stare at chains for so long before I feel like I should scratch my eyes out. And no, I'm not suddenly into ropes and chains in a BDSM kinda way - I've been making a bunch of jewellery bits and bobs. Earring, necklaces and bracelets. My friends are gonna hold a garage sale, and I thought I'd contribute some bits and bobs.

God knows I need the cash :P

ANYWAY.

Sharing the crack. Yes. Here's a couple of sites that never fail to make me laugh:

Confessions of The Inadequate - Sex blog. Yes. FUNNY. It's a livejournal community of people sharing unfortunate "incidents"
Nguping Jakarta - Inspired by Overheard in New York
Not Always RIght - Brought to you by your frustrated servers
Daily Cognition - Random bits and bobs, occasionally containing the weirdest things

and finally..

Cracked - Well the name explains it all, yeah?

So.. Now that I've shared. I'm off to read some fanfics.. Another reason why I spend entirely too much time on the internet. The unlimited amount of reading to be done.. *swoon*. Yes I'm a happy birdie. :D

http://mousharilla.blogspot.com/

I have no idea why, but I made a photo-blog-ish-type thing. I already have my dA account, and flickr as well (though I haven't touched flickr in eons).. And I promised myself I wouldn't spread my work around until I've learnt how to watermark my stuff.. But I can't resist. Its just one of those things.. Hahaha..! I'm a fickle, fickle person.

Lately I've found myself full of ideas for essays. All on fiction. I really shouldn't have stuck it out in politics - but it is such a fun subject to study.

Anyway, this has resulted in lengthy discussions and arguements with Mama dearest regarding works of fiction spanning from classics to contemporary fiction. She declared I would have passed all her classes with flying colours. Then she told me to get on with my under-grad thesis. I was supposed to click my fingers and suddenly go from talking about the impact of culture in an author's characterization and signature flair in telling stories to ponder the impact of technical assistance in dealing with HIV/AIDS in Indonesia!

Of course considering how everyone jumps from talking about one thing to another in what is supposed to be 'quiet, relaxed afternoon coffee times', in this family.. with heated voices no less.. I shouldn't be surprised.

*sigh*

I much prefer talking about fiction than the real world. I understand it so much better. *laments*

I suppose I better get on with it then.

Ciao!

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/brazil-rocked-by-abortion-for-9yearold-rape-victim-1640165.html

A nine year old rape victim's parents and doctors were excommunicated by the church for abortion. Its left me with a frown on my face and a sick feeling in my stomach.

All life is sacred, I get that. I do. I've always believed in pro-choice, but I have moderate views on it, and I do believe that sometimes it shouldn't be a way out.. But on cases like this. Oh my god. The kid has gone through enough traumas without having to endure months more of it.

I'm pretty much speechless. My god.. The things that are happening in the world today..