tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63055452253021212142024-03-06T01:15:11.662+01:00Jasmine the nerdJasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10043222093725090635noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6305545225302121214.post-69205319434901541622015-01-09T20:35:00.000+01:002015-01-12T15:36:13.047+01:00Some of my favourite Android apps<div class="my-thumb">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFrwBwTf8Q2jZCOpe0O5RyJwXmjPB-JamUDT2ATPDfaHPLWKG1LvGgfkdsTP7IdQJTm-yxVjQRrjqVG8t91iBVQt21WbzNBm9FlhbV4CbuOsedq7UZ6JVNjEjh6tOzbRMpF2KqCUps_U0/s1600/favoritappar_jan2015.png"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFrwBwTf8Q2jZCOpe0O5RyJwXmjPB-JamUDT2ATPDfaHPLWKG1LvGgfkdsTP7IdQJTm-yxVjQRrjqVG8t91iBVQt21WbzNBm9FlhbV4CbuOsedq7UZ6JVNjEjh6tOzbRMpF2KqCUps_U0/s1600/favoritappar_jan2015.png" /></a></div>
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<a name='more'></a>I had a great idea today, when I had the first cup of tea of the day; share my favourite Android apps. That sounds informative and simple, right? Informative, I hope so, but simple? No, not really. I had a hard time trying to narrow down my favourites, there are simple too many apps I use on a daily basis, that I love! <br />
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In the end I manage to narrow it down to <b>5 apps that I really like right now</b>.<br />
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<h4 class="content">
Moon+ reader</h4>
When I got my first “smartphone” (a Nokia 5230, Symbian OS, not the smartest of smartphones) and started to look at different apps, the first one that I downloaded was an e-book reader. The possibility to read books on my phone was an entirely new experience for me, and I loved it (still love it)! When I got my current phone, the first thing that I did was to try to find the best e-book app. I’ve tested a bunch of different apps, but the one that I’ve been using the longest, and that is my favourite is <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.flyersoft.moonreader&hl=sv" target="_blank">Moon+ reader</a>. I just love it! It is incredibly easy to add books, change information about the book, it supports a lot of different formats and above all; it is really customizable when it comes to text, colours, background etc. <br />
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If you’re looking for a <b>great app for reading e-books</b>, try this one!<br />
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<h4 class="content">
Themer Launcher</h4>
As a graphic- and webdesign nerd, I want to be able to customize UI on my phone with my own backgrounds, icons etc. I don’t know how many different Android launcher I’ve tried, none of them being close to what I want. About a year ago I found <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mycolorscreen.themer&hl=sv" target="_blank">Themer Launcher</a>, and it lets me customize my phone just like I want to. Also, if I’m feeling lazy there are a lot of free themes to download on their website.<br />
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(And yes, I know that if I were to root my phone, I could customize it to my heart’s content, but I’m too much of a chicken to do that. If I were to do that, I’m almost certain I would wipe everything on the phone, and it would set itself on fire... It wouldn’t surprise me one bit...) <br />
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<h4 class="content">
Microsoft OneNote</h4>
Okay, I’ve got a confession to make; I’ve been “addicted” to Microsoft Office for several years, especially “the big three” – Word, Powerpoint and Excel. A couple of years ago I also started using <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.microsoft.office.onenote&hl=sv" target="_blank">OneNote</a>. It is a great note-taking program, although it is not without its limits, especially when it comes to tables. I use both the desktop program and the app daily. I especially love the ability to colour code different types of notes.<br />
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<h4 class="content">
Soundcloud</h4>
I discovered <a href="http://soundcloud.com/" target="_blank">Soundcloud</a> not too long ago, but I’ve been using it a lot, especially when I exercise. You can find a lot of different “mixtapes” with great music for booty shaking! I also listen to podcasts on Soundcloud, like Sword and Laser. The app might not be as user friendly as the website, but once you know how the website works, you’ll figure the app out quickly enough.<br />
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<h4 class="content">
Pinterest</h4>
I’ve been using <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a> like crazy for the past year, and a couple of months ago I installed the app. And just like the website, the app is really user friendly, easy to navigate with a clean UI. If you use Pinterest a lot, you need to get the app right now!<br />
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There is one more app that I use every day that I’ve not talked about here, and that’s <a href="https://www.spotify.com/" target="_blank">Spotify</a>. It felt like a given, for me.<br />
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Any apps you think I should try?<br />
<br /><b>Song of the day: “Not In That Way” by Sam Smith.</b> Beautiful!<br />
<br /><b>Later!</b><br />Jasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10043222093725090635noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6305545225302121214.post-25760083271645759992015-01-05T12:29:00.000+01:002015-01-12T13:47:12.695+01:00Reading challenge and goals 2015<div class="my-thumb">
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<a name='more'></a>Last year was a good reading year for me, not great, but good. One of my goals was to read 120 books, which I exceeded by reading 126. Apart for that though, I didn't do so well. I did not read as many fantasy books has I had challenged myself to do, and the same goes for sci-fi, non-fiction and classics. Over all, I'd say that 2014 was not a good year in terms of meeting my reading goals. <br />
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This year, I'm going to do things a bit differently. I would like to be a bit more free in my reading choices. Reading is something I do because I want to, because I enjoy it. Having to meet a goal of how many genrebooks I must read is taking the enjoyment out of it. <br />
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So, this year I have fewer challenges/goals, so that I can enjoy reading more. I want to read 100 books, instead of 120. I've lowered my the number of books (even though I managed to read more than 120 books last year) for two reasons:<br />
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<b>1.</b> I'd like to read longer books. With a lower number of books, I can focus more on reading those long epic fantasy books I love, without having to think about being behind in the challenge.<br />
<b> 2.</b> I'd like to feel free to reread more books. I love rereading my favourite books, but last year I didn't really do that, because I felt like should read more new books, so that I would meet my goal.<br />
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I'm not going to challenge myself to read a certain number of different genrebooks. Instead, my over all challenge is to just read what I feel like. It's as simple as that.<br />
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Related posts:<br />
<a href="http://jasminethenerd.blogspot.se/2014/01/reading-challenge-and-goals-2014.html" target="_blank">Reading challenge and goals 2014</a><br />
<a href="http://jasminethenerd.blogspot.se/2014/12/top-6-books-read-in-2014.html" target="_blank">Top 6 books read in 2014</a><br />
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What are your reading challenges and goals this year? <br />
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<b>Later!</b><br />
<br />Jasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10043222093725090635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6305545225302121214.post-909795464940249242014-12-17T21:31:00.000+01:002014-12-17T21:31:32.757+01:00Top 6 books read in 2014<div class="my-thumb">
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<a name='more'></a>I've read a lot of good books this year, books that missed something that would make them great, in my opinion. But a few managed to stand out to me. A few were excellent, even. I thought I'd share those books with you, <a href="http://jasminethenerd.blogspot.se/2013/12/top-5-books-read-in-2013.html">like I did in 2013</a>. Just like last year, this is a list of my favourite books that I read in 2014, whether they were published this year or not. <br />
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I think part of my reading challenge for 2015, will be to read more new books, i.e. books that were actually published in 2015. I don't know why I tend to read books that are a couple of years old. Sometimes is just because I didn't hear about the book around the time it came out. But most of the times it's simply because there are too many books to read, and TOO LITTLE TIME! Oh, well...<br />
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<b>Let's go!</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfrMLqH1CMJ3bdjbfA5MMneLcBRgYp1xnsp16myMc2K090Uv1Pc0V-zo83lxRcQJAN94gvpr2mhFGxzZ13RglTrWmVWXalatwIpuvY5uMofovSBwh9t5nDppD7cfxwHPjy8iRAiHnBQeE/s1600/erin_morgenstern-night_circus.png"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfrMLqH1CMJ3bdjbfA5MMneLcBRgYp1xnsp16myMc2K090Uv1Pc0V-zo83lxRcQJAN94gvpr2mhFGxzZ13RglTrWmVWXalatwIpuvY5uMofovSBwh9t5nDppD7cfxwHPjy8iRAiHnBQeE/s1600/erin_morgenstern-night_circus.png" /></a></div>
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<h4 class="content">
Erin Morgenstern - the Night Circus</h4>
OMG I loved this book!!! It's definitely one of my favourite books ever! The atmosphere, the characters, the "feels"! The feels are happening, people! It was just such a good mix of worldbuilding, magic, great characters, romance, conflict... Just such a beautiful book! I'm probably going to reread this fairly soon, and I'll probably write a proper review of the book then, because it deserves that.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqsWtnigjg3E6X3ZWYkm6CgkuXC_Zu8NdCfANeEPZVQB0-hz4GMvkhXviSGX4o7LWQ6b29qE0Q9GqhYDQ0LuAGyzTQBRhLPna_QPDhUbGRfP_j8wzAB1dREn_91TUCpXFO3vAViXGjrK8/s1600/ernest_cline-ready_player_one.png"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqsWtnigjg3E6X3ZWYkm6CgkuXC_Zu8NdCfANeEPZVQB0-hz4GMvkhXviSGX4o7LWQ6b29qE0Q9GqhYDQ0LuAGyzTQBRhLPna_QPDhUbGRfP_j8wzAB1dREn_91TUCpXFO3vAViXGjrK8/s1600/ernest_cline-ready_player_one.png" /></a></div>
<div class="part-righty">
<h4 class="content">
Ernest Cline - Ready Player One</h4>
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Wil Wheaton, and it was awesome! I'd like to think that I would have loved the book, even without Mr. Wheaton. This books was so much fun reading/listening to, and I loved all the nerdy references. Also; the description of the world inside OASIS was incredible.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb84rfmRQo8UuAy_8hxHolkhyphenhyphenHMFrDCVe2nqmogvmLKvEkzANmnGb_8rGVypfKUnDD54UREHkWxr2pxX2HmipL1Oq8fTcJS6z_zvgnUrBnN4JRoO280iuZLTCf0M_k31kdueCBKzXzmf4/s1600/nk_jemisin-dreamblod_duology.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb84rfmRQo8UuAy_8hxHolkhyphenhyphenHMFrDCVe2nqmogvmLKvEkzANmnGb_8rGVypfKUnDD54UREHkWxr2pxX2HmipL1Oq8fTcJS6z_zvgnUrBnN4JRoO280iuZLTCf0M_k31kdueCBKzXzmf4/s1600/nk_jemisin-dreamblod_duology.jpg" /></a></div>
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<h4 class="content">
N.K. Jemisin - Dreamblood Duology</h4>
I absolutely loved both of the books in the Dreamblood Duology. The world, the characters, the magic; everything was brilliant! The Egypt-inspired world sucked me in from page 1, and I speed read both books. What I appreciate most about N.K Jemisins books are the characters; they're very dimensional. And they clearly develop and grow during the books. Also; the "magic" the the gatherers used felt so wonderfully unique. I haven't read anything like it before! And as someone who loves her maigc, I really appreciated that. This definitely one of my favourite fantasy series!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXOPuBhj4fJ6CKSbLQ80A16TKM4SP9fRpz75NwGpSJNsN1XVfMEd9oYOayRbxtiSbPO3E3m3OqYq0KP3zu4fawV7S3TNLdg6QY8HGK98bgCyxVJiFasgC02ygN4hRMDCic3mEbS-k51IY/s1600/ben_aaronovitch-rivers_london.png"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXOPuBhj4fJ6CKSbLQ80A16TKM4SP9fRpz75NwGpSJNsN1XVfMEd9oYOayRbxtiSbPO3E3m3OqYq0KP3zu4fawV7S3TNLdg6QY8HGK98bgCyxVJiFasgC02ygN4hRMDCic3mEbS-k51IY/s1600/ben_aaronovitch-rivers_london.png" /></a></div>
<div class="part-righty">
<h4 class="content">
Ben Aaronowitch - Rivers of London</h4>
Way back when, before I really got in to fantasy, I pretty much only read mystery and thrillers. The Rivers of London (or rather, the entire Peter Grant series) combines my love for a good detective novel with fantastical elements. Modern day London + magic + crime and police procedures = a great read!</div>
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<h4 class="content">
Jasper Fforde - The Eyre Affair</h4>
This was an unexpected delight! It was witty, funny, original and full of literary references. The mix of this alternate England was fascinating and very vivid, and so creative. Unfortunately, I didn't like some of the other books in the series...</div>
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<b>Other good books I've read this year worth mentioning:</b><br />
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger<br />
The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson<br />
Crocodile on the Sandbank by Elizabeth Peters. <a href="http://jasminethenerd.blogspot.se/2014/01/crocodile-on-sandbank-by-elizabeth.html">My review here</a>.<br />
The Lions of Al-Rassan by Guy Gavriel Kay<br />
Phèdre's Trilogy by Jacqueline Carey<br />
Bossy Pants by Tina Fey<br />
<br /><b>Later!</b>
Jasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10043222093725090635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6305545225302121214.post-85147921003213619832014-12-14T13:12:00.000+01:002014-12-17T21:13:35.361+01:00My favourite Jane Austen adaptations<div class="my-thumb"><a href="http://jasminethenerd.blogspot.se/2014/12/my-favourite-jane-austen-adaptations.html"><img border="0" src="http://media.jasminesfunderingar.nu/2014/12/ikon_byjas-100_hover1.png" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #b3b3b3;"><i>First published on <a href="http://jasminesfunderingar.nu/2014/12/05/mina-jane-austen-favoriter/" target="_blank">jasminesfunderingar.nu</a> 5 december 2014</i></span>
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<a name='more'></a><br />
Even though I’ve only read half of Jane Austen’s books, I consider her one of my favourite authors. Like many others, my first contact with Jane Austen was through BBCs miniversion of Pride and Prejudice. A couple of years later I read the book, and it was love at first… read. I’ve also read Sense and Sensibility and Persuasion. I started to read Emma earlier this year, but gave it up as I really couldn’t stand Emma as a character.
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I’ve seen several film and TV adaptations of Jane Austen’s work. Here, I thought I’d share my favourites.
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<h4>
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE (BBC 1995)</h4>
BBCs miniseries of Pride and Prejudice is, hands down, my favourite of all Austen adaptations. The overall feeling, the environments, the characters; pretty much all of it is spot on! <b>Jennifer Ehle</b> as Elizabeth Bennet is brilliant. Mr. Darcy is of course played by <b>Colin Firth</b>. It doesn’t matter how many other actors portrays the pride gentleman, Colin Firth will always by my Mr. Darcy.
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<h4>
THE LIZZIE BENNET DIARIES (2012-2013)</h4>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KisuGP2lcPs&list=PL6690D980D8A65D08" target="_blank">The Lizzie Bennet Diaries</a> is a Youtube-series that is essentially Pride and Prejudice in modern day USA in a vlog format. It is a very good modernization of the book that proves that the overall themes in the book are timeless. <b>Ashley Clements</b> plays Lizzie Bennet, and she is great! The other actors in the cast are, for the most part, very good as well.
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<h4>
SENSE AND SENSIBILITY (1995)</h4>
This movie was nominated for 6 Oscars and won 1 (<b>Emma Thompson</b> for the script), and I am not surprised by that. This is a wonderful adaptation that is pretty faithful to the book. The cast is full of the best of English actors; Emma Thompson is great as Elinor, <b>Kate Winslet</b> is brilliant, <b>Alan Rickman</b> is wonderfully bitter and <b>Hugh Grant</b>… well, he is okay, but that’s all I can say. To be honest, I’m not really that big of a fan of his.
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<h4>
SENSE AND SENSIBILITY (BBC 2008)</h4>
It is hard not to compare this miniseries with the movie from 1995. The series is almost as good as the film, and that is mostly thanks to the actress playing Elinor (<b>Hattie Morahan</b>). Worth mentioning is also <b>Dan Stevens</b> (who played Matthew in Downton Abbey), how is a much better Edward Ferrars than Hugh Grant, in my opinion, and <b>Dominic Cooper</b> who plays Mr Willoughby.
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<h4>
Emma Approved (2013-2014)</h4>
As mentioned above, I started to read Emma earlier this year, but I could not finish the book. Emma just infuriate me too much. But when I started watching the modern Youtube adaptation of Emma, called <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeeXkf8LZ_8&list=PL_ePOdU-b3xcKOsj8aU2Tnztt6N9mEmur" target="_blank">Emma Approved</a>, I just couldn’t stop. The actors are not all brilliant, but most of them are really good. My favourites are definitely <b>Joanna Sotomura</b> (who is really good as Emma Woodhouse) and <b>Brent Bailey</b> who plays Alex Knightley.
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Other films worth checking out, that in one way or another is tied to Jane Austen is:
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<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0866437/?ref_=nv_sr_1" target="_blank">The Jane Austen Book Club</a> (2007)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0416508/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_18" target="_blank">Becoming Jane</a> (2007)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112697/" target="_blank">Clueless</a> (1995) – the classic modern version of Emma.</li>
</ul>
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<b>Later!</b>
Jasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10043222093725090635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6305545225302121214.post-340668156553026852014-12-09T22:25:00.000+01:002014-12-17T22:26:37.350+01:00My celebrity dinner party<div class="my-thumb">
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A while ago I saw an interesting blogtitle on Pinterest; ”If you could have a dinner party, which celebrities would you invite? At first it seemed like an easy post to write. Everyone has their favourite famous people they would like to meet. But after a while I realized that it was harder than I’d thought at first. Firstly; it’s best if it is a relatively short list, under 10 persons at least. Secondly; should you only choose actors or musicians or comedians or mix? Thirdly; living or dead people or both? So many choices…<br />
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The list below is simply a list of people a felt like including today, and if I were to write another list in a month, it would probably look quite different.<br />
<h4 class="content">
Stephen Fry</h4>
Fry and Laurie, Blackadder, QI… Stephen Fry has done so many things I love. He is hilarious and extremely intelligent. Stephen Fry is simply a must at my dinner party! For those of you who aren’t familiar with him or any of the TV shows above; check them out now! Now, I tell you!<br />
<h4 class="content">
Jennifer Lawrence</h4>
I am one amongst, probably, millions of people who are completely in love with Jennifer Lawrence. She seems so funny, intelligent and down to earth. I also think she’s an incredible actress (Silver Linings Playbook, hello!). I think Jennifer and I would have a great time discussing women in Hollywood, X-men and loads of other things.<br />
<h4 class="content">
David Bowie</h4>
David Bowie is one of my all-time favourite musicians. If I’m being honest, I would invite him mostly so that he could entertain the rest of us with is fantastic music. But he also seems like an interesting man.<br />
<h4 class="content">
Eddie Izzard</h4>
I adore Eddie Izzard, as a comedian and human being. He is so incredibly funny! If you don’t know who he is just check out some of the millions of clips from his stand-up shows on Youtube. He also seems to have a lot of sensible opinions about people and the world in general. Would we try to recreate his Star Wars canteen scene? Absolutely!<br />
<h4 class="content">
Emma Thompson</h4>
I saw Saving Mr. Banks not too long ago, and sort of rediscovered Emma Thompson. She seems like a very empathic person, who is not afraid of make a fool of herself. Or get really drunk on Golden Globes… Haha, I loved that! She is also really funny. We’d have a great time talking about Sense and Sensibility and her time with Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie.<br />
<br />
<br />
So, in the end I chose 1 American and 4 Englishmen for this list. I think that reflects me quite well.<br />
<br />
Some people who I considered, but in the end left out from this: Aretha Franklin, Susan Sarandon, Felicia Day, Wil Wheaton, Aisha Tyler, Zachary Levi, Ellen Degeneres, Chris Hardwick.<br />
<br />
<b>Song of the day:</b> ”Re:Stacks” med Bon Iver. Wonderful!<br />
<br />
<b>Later!</b><br />
<br />Jasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10043222093725090635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6305545225302121214.post-14464509860946004592014-01-07T14:53:00.001+01:002014-12-16T20:23:07.926+01:00Crocodile on the Sandbank by Elizabeth Peters - book review<div class="MyBook">
<div class="MyBook-img">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2eO3fyJq_bt9KFermg0ejyHnsA2zEFFHT0HpJW5BWWulr5lThihAng2trTuXwQEYwYcUJolAD69oOK3SHTjZ3Ac16vFGQaS1b4pGBkNzmk0qb0Vhs2X2M3gSIK1Zjvi20qRurAzBZaSg/s1600/elizabeth_peters-crocodile_on_sandbank.jpg" />
</div>
<div class="MyBook-right">
<div class="MyBook-text">
<b>Title:</b> Crocodile on the Sandbank <br />
<b>Author:</b> Elizabeth Peters<br />
<b>Published:</b> First published in 1975<br />
<b>Series:</b> Amelia Peabody #1<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Historical mystery<br />
<i>Archaeology, Egypt, historical, mystery, romance, Victorian.</i><br />
<a href="http://www.ameliapeabody.com/" target="_blank">The Amelia Peabody series</a>•<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/188230.Crocodile_on_the_Sandbank" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>
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<div class="stars">
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<a name='more'></a>I've always been a sucker for a good mystery, ancient Egypt, the Victorian era and a strong female lead. What, I can get all that in one novel? Brilliant! I just had to borrow this book from the library when I finally got the chance.
<br />
<h4>
Synopsis (from Goodreads)</h4>
Amelia Peabody, indomitable Victorian, embarks for Egypt armed with confidence, journal, and umbrella. Enroute to Cairo, she rescues dainty Evelyn, abandoned by her lover. They sail up the Nile to the archeological dig of the Emerson brothers - irascible but dashing Radcliffe and amiable Walter. A lively mummy, visitations, accidents, kidnap attempt - evil is afoot.
<br />
<h4>
My thoughts</h4>
This book was a true delight! I loved everything from the characters and the plot to the language.
<br />
<br />
The book starts out quite gently with Amelia's backstory. I liked the beginning; I got a pretty clear picture of Amelia as a person right from the start. And I took a liking to her right away. Ms Peabody seemed to me to be a woman ahead of her time. She is a feminist who states that she has yet to find a man as sensible as herself; until then she will remain a spinster. But apart from that it seem to me that Amelia find the freedom of spinsterhood more agreeable than marriage; the fact that she is unmarried allows her to travel.
<br />
<br />
Amelia is a very forthright, sensible woman with a tendency to speak her mind in a wonderful way. But she also has a kind heart, something that becomes apparent when she meets Evelyn for the first time and when they arrive in Egypt. I really liked the growing relationship and companionship between Amelia and Evelyn. To me, they felt almost like siblings in the end; Amelia, the responsible, older sister and Evelyn, the younger, more impulsive sister.
<br />
<br />
In Cairo, Amelia and Evelyn meet the Emerson brothers. Radcliffe is the older, brooding brother with quite a temper, whilst Walter, the younger of them, is somewhat of a knight in shining armour. I would have liked to get to know both of them a little bit more, but I suspect I will if I continue on with the series.
<br />
<br />
This is a fairly typical mystery novel, when it comes to the structure and plot, and I won't lie about the fact that the wonderful characters and the Egyptian environment are the main reason why I loved the book. The ending is truly the weak point for me; it was fairly predictable who the villain was. It didn't bother me that much, but enough for me to not give the book the highest rating.
<br />
<br />
I highly recommend this book the pretty much anyone who enjoys mysteries. And I will definitely continue on with the series!
Jasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10043222093725090635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6305545225302121214.post-4196831089829221602014-01-06T15:29:00.000+01:002014-12-14T13:34:27.090+01:00In an infinite universe...<div class="my-thumb">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQr-vMQlPFmXXh_opseoRezPKGumlWw9LE8c6KIgz73R2ShcZv7jKHWIBFCpIrcJGUBQk4MJn-4pOW1emhgJxinJR__SJMu7mqmXrEEV9lZ9azmWQgTj1b9JdKgkoz4VnafKtINxrRqDY/s1600/Infinite_universe.png"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQr-vMQlPFmXXh_opseoRezPKGumlWw9LE8c6KIgz73R2ShcZv7jKHWIBFCpIrcJGUBQk4MJn-4pOW1emhgJxinJR__SJMu7mqmXrEEV9lZ9azmWQgTj1b9JdKgkoz4VnafKtINxrRqDY/s1600/Infinite_universe.png" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
Here's another image with a quote from Douglas Adams. This line is from The Restaurant at the End of the Universe. Seems like something you should think about, when life is bringing you down.<br />
<br />
I made this with GIMP using a stockimage of stars, a free texture and a custom font. It turned out all right, I think...<br />Jasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10043222093725090635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6305545225302121214.post-23857780996177111852014-01-05T21:50:00.001+01:002014-12-14T13:33:49.631+01:00Don't Panic desktop wallpaper<div class="my-thumb">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSLcGTm2RWemRTs3IODsTgjshgcDbXxu5Yb77A0kTv3Heyt_SgxXgdtnm5IjsWjWZoEBZh63Dr4gRoAKtuomaD6fESeehdMhYjm7f7yvdzrwMfevxCPHGOAk0C19Qq1XLpPPGvoWYkK74/s1600/Dont_panic_ciruits.png"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSLcGTm2RWemRTs3IODsTgjshgcDbXxu5Yb77A0kTv3Heyt_SgxXgdtnm5IjsWjWZoEBZh63Dr4gRoAKtuomaD6fESeehdMhYjm7f7yvdzrwMfevxCPHGOAk0C19Qq1XLpPPGvoWYkK74/s640/Dont_panic_ciruits.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<i>Click to embiggen. (1366x768 px)</i>
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<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
I thought I'd share my current desktop wallpaper. Whenever I play around with Gimp to make a new fun wallpaper, "Don't panic!" usually ends up included. I just love the Hitchhiker's Guide to the galaxy! And also; I have a tendecy to panic needlessly so I could use the reminder sometimes ;)<br />
<br />
Like the image? Feel free to download it and use it for yourself! <br />
<br />Jasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10043222093725090635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6305545225302121214.post-79477083345735167362014-01-03T13:49:00.004+01:002014-12-14T13:32:45.418+01:00Reading challenge and goals 2014<div class="my-thumb">
<a href="http://jasminethenerd.blogspot.se/2014/01/reading-challenge-and-goals-2014.html"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwJNNnYg10C1rMF3uQjlk_xZgegCu172HGjH6mtcQTE9hUQ2cZciD-Ot16VxZ56-3IHc2IcVUlkbsEVQGfoB6L10u4kztBqsc3CImj-uaLKKXpKFpbu6fQC2GAjJ4FPRXy3unVwS1t9VY/s1600/book_shelf_2014.png" /></a></div>
<br />
<a name='more'></a>2013 was a really good year in terms of reading for me. I read 134 books, not counting rereads. That's a lot for me. In 2014 I’m planning on setting a goal of 120 books again. I’m not sure whether I’ll have as much time to read or not, but I am pretty sure that I won't have more time, so 120 books seems safe. <br />
<br />
I've also decided on some more specific goals for different genres. The numbers of books below add up to 100, not 120. That is because I've decided to give myself som leeway for spontaneous reads.<br />
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<table class="books-table">
<thead>
<tr>
<td>Genre</td>
<td>No.</td>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Fantasy<br />
as well as PNR</td>
<td>45</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Mystery</td>
<td>20</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Science Fiction</td>
<td>20</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Steampunk</td>
<td>5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Classics</td>
<td>5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Non-fiction</td>
<td>5</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
This past autumn/winter I read the <b>Old Man's War</b> series by <b>John Scalzi</b>, and started on the <b>Vorkosigan</b> Series by <b>Lois McMaster Bujold</b>. I would like to continue reading more science fiction, and maybe explore different subgenres of sci-fi; space operas, futuristic mystery, dystopian etc.<br />
<br />
I've never really read a lot of non-fiction, apart from books I've had to read for school. In 2014 I want to read some biographies/memoirs. And maybe some earth science as well.<br />
<br />
As you can see above, I'm going to read a lot of fantasy (no surprise there). But I wanted to challenge myself further so I thought I'd try to read more fantasy published before 2000. Maybe reread <b>Katherine Kerr</b>'s <b>Deverry</b> Series? We'll see...<br />
<br />
What are your reading goals for 2014? Any good sci-fi to recommend? Let me know!<br />
<br />Jasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10043222093725090635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6305545225302121214.post-73867324818176123482013-12-24T08:00:00.000+01:002014-12-14T13:31:37.523+01:00Merry Christmas!<div class="my-thumb">
<a href="http://jasminethenerd.blogspot.se/2013/12/merry-christmas.html"><img border="0" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9uD8r7tzuGnFRflAe7UTJvzHucFALsk-Zq-6u7hFaXeXR1iqfCI1KfR2pjNS95zJEB_7IDqt9m7qJkABDlDobzq3_RZJdTIdWrGgJvl9IFTzRNoFBG43cDig8eQ9rD7GOwFzkEZyLHl8/s640/christmas_background_small.png"/></a></div>Jasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10043222093725090635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6305545225302121214.post-65663253912978122532013-12-23T22:01:00.002+01:002014-01-07T15:45:47.855+01:00About Jasmine<br />
‘Twas the night before Christmas.<br />
<br />
(Well, strictly speaking it was the night before the night before Christmas for the rest of the world, since Christmas celebrations starts on Christmas Eve in Sweden, and not Christmas Day. Oh well…)<br />
<br />
Anyway, for Jasmine it WAS the night before Christmas (Eve) and she had decided to write a piece about herself to post on her blog whilst waiting for the movie to start on TV. But alas, the words would not come and as time ticked nearer to 9 pm Jasmine started to… well, get a bit pissed off, to be honest. How hard could it be to write a couple of lines about oneself? But then, Jasmine had an epiphany! She would interview herself! That ought to be easy, right? Let’s give it a go!<br /><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<b>Hi there Jasmine!</b><br />
Hey yourself! Or myself… This is weird…<br />
<br />
<b>But this is just what you used to do on your Swedish blog! Besides, this is the best idea I’ve got, okay?</b><br />
Right… So, you’re not concerned about people knowing right away that you’re bonkers then? Or we, I suppose…<br />
<br />
<b>Not really, no. I’m more concerned about what people might think when they find out that you’ve never seen Indiana Jones. Not one of the movies, not even a clip.</b><br />
Shh! Not so loud! I know I ought to have seen at least the first movie. It’s a cult classic, after all! But you know… There’s too many books, films and tv-series to watch, and too little time.<br />
<br />
<b>Indeed. Let’s start with the essentials first; fantasy or sci-fi?</b><br />
Fantasy definitely. I was brought up with Astrid Lindgren’s books and some of them included fantastical elements. Later in life (I think I was about 11 or 12) I was introduced to Harry Potter and I loved that world. Correction; I still love HP! But it wasn’t until I saw The Fellowship of the Ring at the cinema for the first time that I really became curious about the fantasy genre. But The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and Star Wars will always have a special place in my heart.<br />
<br />
<b>So would you call yourself a book nerd primarily?</b><br />
Well… If you really must label it then I guess so. Books are where my initial interest in genre fiction and fantasy in particular comes from anyway. I used to practically live at the fantasy and sci-fi section at the main library when I was like 15-19 years old. <br />
<br />
<b>Why this blog? And why in English? </b><br />
I started blogging in 2009, in Swedish. And one day I got an idea; to start an English blog primarily about films and books. I thought it would be good practice for me to write in English. But it took a while for me to start, because I didn’t think my English was good enough to start with. Once I got going I would write a few entries, remove them, wait a few months, start again and so on. Let see how long I keep at it this time!<br />
<br />
<b>Okay, this entry is already too long and you’ve not really said that much of interest.</b><br />
What are you talking about, I’ve said loads!<br />
<br />
<b>Whatever, let’s speed things up a bit: favourite subgenre of fantasy?</b><br />
Epic fantasy. And the longer books, the better! <br />
<br />
<b>Favourite horror movie/book?</b><br />
I don’t like horror, I’m still a bit afraid of the dark… That’s true, I really am!<br />
<br />
<b>Wimp… favourite doctor/companion?</b><br />
Favourite doctor: tenth (Tennant), companion: the Ponds.<br />
<br />
<b>What’s the closest thing to a holy book (e.g. the Bible) for you? </b><br />
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy!<br />
<br />
That’s a good start to getting to know me I think! More to come later. <br />
<br />Jasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10043222093725090635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6305545225302121214.post-27102780987009819352013-12-22T00:02:00.000+01:002014-12-17T21:02:31.281+01:00Top 5 books read in 2013<div class="my-thumb">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitd7EZMaNd0pr_CCjC8NEvbe_xT9oSc7SGGGmSonmYYKb2JbU7J5HuHxukh8brauc1-uUXdpXIp-ouznwYJnpTLrFcPmRL9E_ZM6IHS_CH9wzJ8EWjQDqBgxXQRxYkEa-om-CBQx5kDM0/s1600/top5_2013.png"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitd7EZMaNd0pr_CCjC8NEvbe_xT9oSc7SGGGmSonmYYKb2JbU7J5HuHxukh8brauc1-uUXdpXIp-ouznwYJnpTLrFcPmRL9E_ZM6IHS_CH9wzJ8EWjQDqBgxXQRxYkEa-om-CBQx5kDM0/s1600/top5_2013.png" /></a></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
I’ve read a lot of books in 2013, more than any other year I think. And
of all those books there are a few that stand out. Mind you, this is not
a list of the best books published in 2013, since I’ve read very few
that actually came out this year. Instead, it’s just a list of my
favourites books that I read in 2013, regardless of when they were
published. <b>Here we go!</b><br />
<br />
<div class="part-img-text">
<div class="part-lefty">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheXhFoRUQ8VJwORRQwm35pubhz4j2BogLS88JWAqmZi4fuzKYlK9Yby1VP2tv-Kdg37g7uEfNQabKrFOEMIW7g9qcjCP7hkmyE3D0m-Q5r6HcWP0MCv8eulgdfQwxdRKtWlA6tGjx9Kq0/s1600/lois_mcmaster-paladin_of_souls.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheXhFoRUQ8VJwORRQwm35pubhz4j2BogLS88JWAqmZi4fuzKYlK9Yby1VP2tv-Kdg37g7uEfNQabKrFOEMIW7g9qcjCP7hkmyE3D0m-Q5r6HcWP0MCv8eulgdfQwxdRKtWlA6tGjx9Kq0/s1600/lois_mcmaster-paladin_of_souls.jpg" height="320" width="198" /></a>
</div>
<div class="part-righty">
<h4 class="content">
Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold</h4>
I couldn’t quite decide whether to pick the first or the second book in the Chalion series for this list. The first book, The Curse of Chalion, was brilliant! I absolutely loved every part of it; the world building, the plot, the characters. But I enjoyed the second book, Paladin of Souls, a little bit more, and that was mostly because of the main character. Bujold’s characters all seem very multi-layered, which I appreciate. But the older, female protagonist in Paladin of Souls really gripped me. Add that to an interesting and intricate plot, and you’ve got a winner!</div>
</div>
<div class="part-img-text">
<div class="part-lefty">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkYfJh_HZwjfbqUh3egNv6JLVRgAXY0C-cl1W6B_DtqzMb7gJ28WmVCu-u1HJhP_4EgSdHWdmNwDpmNOHWVs_gh-Ssd69Nac_29zYrqSm-tI4Vsn1GAncT6OHqOQKhjuBmBracED2uAI8/s1600/brandon_sanderson-alloy_of_law.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkYfJh_HZwjfbqUh3egNv6JLVRgAXY0C-cl1W6B_DtqzMb7gJ28WmVCu-u1HJhP_4EgSdHWdmNwDpmNOHWVs_gh-Ssd69Nac_29zYrqSm-tI4Vsn1GAncT6OHqOQKhjuBmBracED2uAI8/s1600/brandon_sanderson-alloy_of_law.jpg" height="320" width="205" /></a>
</div>
<div class="part-righty">
<h4 class="content">
The Alloy of Law by Brandon Sanderson</h4>
The Mistborn trilogy is one of my all-time favourite fantasy series; the characters, the plot and the magic system (obviously, it’s Sanderson we’re talking about) are great. In The Alloy of Law, we get new characters in a world that has progressed, but with the same magic system. We also get to know more about the magic, and I really enjoyed that. This book was fun and a fairly quick read, and I cannot wait to read about Wax’s next adventure!</div>
</div>
<div class="part-img-text">
<div class="part-lefty">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBKN-yFxB9y7FB24e0rwef_sk97bUQGwLWnvnGr1cZP7n46FRv7aww4TSU6BC1C50rzXcFBEuzEU_-dsTATubsvhZchitEwKKKCxiJCUnVNPfhyIG_EOEpEFzAyXDHxM0H6R1MdLZEoiA/s1600/joe_abercrombie-last_argument_of_kings.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBKN-yFxB9y7FB24e0rwef_sk97bUQGwLWnvnGr1cZP7n46FRv7aww4TSU6BC1C50rzXcFBEuzEU_-dsTATubsvhZchitEwKKKCxiJCUnVNPfhyIG_EOEpEFzAyXDHxM0H6R1MdLZEoiA/s1600/joe_abercrombie-last_argument_of_kings.jpg" height="320" width="210" /></a>
</div>
<div class="part-righty">
<h4 class="content">
Last Argument of Kings by Joe Abercrombie</h4>
The last book in the First Law trilogy was an epic conclusion to an epic series. It’s full of intrigue, awesome action and witty dialog. But, perhaps most importantly, I love the ending. Sometimes the last pages of a series, or even book, can feel too final, too much is concluded. To me, fictional books are glimpses into people’s lives, and as such there should be some loose ends. And there is, in Last Argument of Kings. That doesn’t stop me from wanting to know what happens to a certain someone after the last page though… No spoilers, but if you’ve read the book I’m sure you know what I am talking about.</div>
</div>
<div class="part-img-text">
<div class="part-lefty">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmcJMimV7CLCw6zBSK5lvy3QQYPlawqgr9_9OS7ihCwW9XRHksUGI_Ae6yMCvmC4siJYcSTqVrM-BVyawoLiqpPBWtjXHHBKGhmfkl2nphhuV0FKNfWK3uHGWzUa424pQjH_fjlva6SQU/s1600/naomi_novik-his_majestys_dragon.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmcJMimV7CLCw6zBSK5lvy3QQYPlawqgr9_9OS7ihCwW9XRHksUGI_Ae6yMCvmC4siJYcSTqVrM-BVyawoLiqpPBWtjXHHBKGhmfkl2nphhuV0FKNfWK3uHGWzUa424pQjH_fjlva6SQU/s1600/naomi_novik-his_majestys_dragon.jpg" height="320" width="194" /></a>
</div>
<div class="part-righty">
<h4 class="content">
His Majesty’s Dragon by Naomi Novik</h4>
The Napoleonic era, England AND dragons? Yes, please! The first book in the <b>Temeraire</b> series was a true delight to read. Novik has taken some pretty common topics and done something (at least to me) new and exciting. I particularly love that she treats the dragons as any other characters in that they all have different personalities. They feel like individuals, which I haven’t experienced in any other books I’ve read with dragons. The relationship between Lawrence and Temeraire is just adorable. Are there a lot of action? No, but that is not necessary to make a book great, and His Majesty’s Dragon is a great example of that.</div>
</div>
<div class="part-img-text">
<div class="part-lefty">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxobD25QaVrunx5iA2xkZLzkT0-KaEBbfIUG_vF4aPIiu-rAolLC2W-kk2bYLRMAZj4hDCgG5NDbuXEbZgCQmXZ72_diBHidOl1gPm7qMEFCcSoQbq-mz_hyUwk53Loz3gIAQf-DNqL2Q/s1600/peter_s_beagle-last_unicorn.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxobD25QaVrunx5iA2xkZLzkT0-KaEBbfIUG_vF4aPIiu-rAolLC2W-kk2bYLRMAZj4hDCgG5NDbuXEbZgCQmXZ72_diBHidOl1gPm7qMEFCcSoQbq-mz_hyUwk53Loz3gIAQf-DNqL2Q/s1600/peter_s_beagle-last_unicorn.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a>
</div>
<div class="part-righty">
<h4 class="content">
The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle</h4>
Why haven’t I read this book before now?! I have no idea, and no excuse. This was a wonderful and sweet book. The story gripped me from the start and I devoured the book in no time. It’s one of those timeless books that you will enjoy whether you’re 10 or 80 years old. Beautiful, just beautiful. If there isn’t a good Swedish translation of this book out there, I will write it so that I can read it to my future children! Or maybe not... I doubt I could do the book justice.</div>
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<b>Other good books I’ve read in 2013 worth mentioning: </b><br />
What Angels Fear by C.S. Harris<br />
A Song for Arbonne by Guy Gavriel Kay<br />
Shards of Honour by Lois McMaster Bujold<br />
Blood of Dragons by Robin Hobb<br />
Agents of Lights and Darkness by Simon R. Green
Jasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10043222093725090635noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6305545225302121214.post-78728918641220644792013-12-21T00:52:00.000+01:002013-12-21T22:55:20.390+01:00I'm back! I think...So, it’s been a year since I last updated this blog. Why? Well, life sort of got in the way. Also, the inspiration and motivation just wasn’t there. After a while, I thought about just deleting the blog altogether, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Just like a lot of other things in my life. Whilst some people are really good at throwing things away, I tend to keep them until I run out of storage and have to chuck it. Like old notepads I’ve used in school or cd’s. Yes, I still have a lot of cds, even though I don’t listen to them… It’s the nostalgia and emotional value, I guess.<br />
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Now, however, I’ve got a lot of ideas for this blog, starting with this new design. So stay tuned for more nerdy content!<br />
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<b>Later! </b><br />
<b></b><br />
<a name='more'></a><b> </b>Jasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10043222093725090635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6305545225302121214.post-41172487184143268642012-12-13T19:27:00.001+01:002014-12-16T20:14:00.267+01:00Grimspace by Ann Aguirre - book review<div class="MyBook">
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeG-y_aDW6xXu3lPlJ-OP2B7QjFrd5lqLspbHRmpvdFtiOeeh-v_IPa80rIYYZXExi5P3FnuYFLDUYuss2PKvY67blm-RZ90lE0guTX0GQuId4pCrv3qclgMNLm_mncInV8B9-X3J4v8k/s1600/grimspace-ann_aguirre.jpg" />
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<b>Title:</b> Grimspace <br />
<b>Author:</b> Ann Aguirre<br />
<b>Published:</b> 2008<br />
<b>Series:</b> Sirantha Jax #1<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Science Fiction<br />
<i>Adventure, kick-ass heroine, romance, space.</i><br />
<a href="http://www.annaguirre.com/" target="_blank">Ann Aguirre</a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1828067.Grimspace" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>
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<a name='more'></a>I’ve had this book on my “to-read” list for a couple of months, but not gotten around to reading it. Mostly because there’s just so many books I want to read and also because I haven’t read that much sci-fi. But after having read <b>Redshirts by John Scalzi</b>, I found myself wanting more sci-fi in my life. And since I’d heard great things about this book from <b>Felicia Day</b>, I decided that it might be the perfect mix of sci-fi and romance for me. And it was.
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<h4>
Synopsis</h4>
Sirantha Jax is a carrier of a rare gene, that gives her the ability to jump ships through grimspace. When the ship she’s navigating crash-lands, Jax finds herself not only blamed for the crash and killing everyone on board, but also imprisoned and without a memory of the incident. As Jax fights the oncoming madness, a mysterious man breaks into her cell and promises to help her escape – but for a price.
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<h4>
My thoughts</h4>
I really, really enjoyed this book. The dialogue was witty and the plot and characters were interesting.
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The main character, Sirantha Jax, caught my attention from the start. She has most of the qualities I look for in a good heroine; she’s strong both mentally and physically, she’s snarky and not afraid to say exactly what she thinks, and she’s not super hot. I like that in a character, it makes her seem more real. These qualities are not totally original in sci-fi or urban fantasy. There is however one thing that you don’t see every day in these genres; Sirantha Jax is 33 years old. And that is another thing that I liked; she’s not fresh out of high school or even college.
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The rest of the characters in the book are quite different from one another. March, the male lead, has the ability to hear what other people are thinking. But he uses this ability in a good way; he can chose when to listen in on someone’s thoughts, and when not to. The Doctor onboard, Saul, is a pretty typical medical doctor. Dina is the ships mechanic, and at the beginning of the book a pretty stereotypical butch, lesbian. But as the story goes on, you see some other, interesting sides to Dina.
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I liked that the story was told in Sirantha’s POV, but you still got a very good sense of the other characters. That’s not something you see always see when a story is told in first person.
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The plot and the pacing kept me hooked pretty much all the way through the book. And there were some interesting twists and turns along the way.
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I can’t really compare this book to other sci-fi books, since I haven’t read that much sci-fi. But even so, this book is really, really good, and I would recommend it to people who read a lot of fantasy, as well as sci-fi.
Jasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10043222093725090635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6305545225302121214.post-50291251761265282092012-05-20T10:35:00.000+02:002014-12-17T21:12:58.977+01:00Favorite of the Week: Star Wars Episode 4-6I enjoyed a cosy evening last night with rosé wine, crocheting and a mini <b>Star Wars</b>-marathon. Like some other people, I think that the older Star Wars films (episode 4-6) are better than the newer ones. In part because they’re somewhat cult now, and in part because… well, they’re just better movies.
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<a name='more'></a>Sure, the CGI is (for obvious reasons) awesome in the later films, but just because a movie is full of special effects it doesn’t automatically make it good. Compare episode 2 (my least favourite of the first episodes) with the fifth film; I’m all for romance, but episode 5 has <b>Lando</b> and the Skycity. I’ll admit that the first part of the movie, on the iceplanet is a bit boring, but still: The Empire Strikes back wins of the two, hands down.
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<br />
Another thing that makes the older movies better than the others, is <b>Han Solo</b>. He’s definitely on my “fictional characters I want to bang”-list. He’s a bit of a dick, but oh so charming. Besides, I’ve got a thing for the bad guys.
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<br />
I remember some years ago when me and some friends watch all of the Star Wars movies in one go. We started watching the first episode at 1 pm, went to see episode 3 in the theatre (yes, it was that long ago…), and ended the last film at 4 in the morning. I was so tired by the time we started with episode 6, that I barely could get my eyes open. But it was definitely worth it!
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<b>Today's song: "The More You Ignore Me, The Closer I get" - Morrissey.
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<b>Later!</b>Jasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10043222093725090635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6305545225302121214.post-5677566504960304472012-05-19T21:21:00.002+02:002015-01-12T17:15:24.409+01:00The Answer is 42, t-shirt designOne of my all time favourite series is the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. After playing around a bit with Gimp, I came up with this design I'm planning on printing on a t-shirt eventually. Quite simple, with some objects that feature in the books.<br />
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Since I spent a lot of time on the design I've put a watermark on it... <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1du09WiRsO8AxHzGM2qjV0OQI6Fx-Yyban6hKMN7hQW8BzVbdyDs1bNBG4GE5y8JVdsL4qXw5fa9H8nf-RNOC7KJza-mbCXHliY6AXI7D3lRD9jnFCOCNCKINjfyfDwmVku6YXifnwGY/s1600/The_answer_is_42_2__watermark_600x480.png" ><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1du09WiRsO8AxHzGM2qjV0OQI6Fx-Yyban6hKMN7hQW8BzVbdyDs1bNBG4GE5y8JVdsL4qXw5fa9H8nf-RNOC7KJza-mbCXHliY6AXI7D3lRD9jnFCOCNCKINjfyfDwmVku6YXifnwGY/s1600/The_answer_is_42_2__watermark_600x480.png" /></a>
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Perhaps I should re-read the Guide, it's been a while since I read it...<br />
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The books are full with awesome quotes, so I'll probably make more designs based on the books soon. Stay tuned!<br />
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<b>Today's song: "The Clouds" - Joel Alme.</b> Brilliant!<br />
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<b>Later!</b>Jasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10043222093725090635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6305545225302121214.post-17527765168370316992012-05-16T16:54:00.002+02:002014-12-16T20:09:26.143+01:00Throne of the Crescent Moon by Saladin Ahmed - book review<div class="MyBook">
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8BU8sAUmgsdYyR88Zz4mGAQ9coWtuORxf1e-Z5PM0-S-jsclAyJm5E8MXfLuMycZtkokVmBo4uPhAAbAYkpmpEhuqmV1RPJgIB4h3UWjph8za9W28AsO5FtzpqCzMH9rsbpnkfccnPJ8/s1600/throne_crescent_moon-saladin_ahmed.jpg" />
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<b>Title:</b> Throne of the Crescent Moon <br />
<b>Author:</b> Saladin Ahmed<br />
<b>Published:</b> 2012<br />
<b>Series:</b> The Crescent Moon Kingdoms #1<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Sword and Sorcery / Epic Fantasy<br />
<i>Arabic inspired, alchemy, ghouls, magic, shapeshifter, sword.</i><br />
<a href="http://saladinahmed.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Saladin Ahmed</a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11487807-throne-of-the-crescent-moon" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>
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<a name='more'></a>I’ve read a lot of urban/paranormal fantasy recently. More than I’ve ever read before. I blame the Vaginal Fantasy Hangout, since they always drop at least 10 names and series during an episode. I can’t help but look some up, and before I know it, I’ve started reading a new book series. But there will always be a soft spot in my heart for epic fantasy, and the like. So, when I heard about Saladin Ahmed's Throne of the Crescent Moon, I thought it would suit me very well. And it did.
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<h4>
Plot (from Goodreads)</h4>
The Crescent Moon Kingdoms, land of djenn and ghuls, Khalifs and killers, is on the brink of civil war. To make things worse, a series of brutal supernatural murders strikes at the heart of the Kingdoms. And it's up to Doctor Adoulla Makhslood to solve them.
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<br />
"The last real ghul hunter in the great city of Dhamsawaat," Adoulla just wants a quiet cup of tea. But when an old flame's family is murdered, he is drawn back to the hunter's path. Recruiting old companions and new, Adoulla races against time--and struggles against his own misgivings--to discover a plot for the Throne of the Crescent Moon that threatens to turn Dhamsawaat, and the world itself, into a blood-soaked ruin.
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<h4>
My thoughts</h4>
This book was a true delight to read! A wonderful world, interesting characters and a well thought out plot. A mix of the familiar and some new ideas.
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<br />
First and foremost I have to say something about the world that Mr. Ahmed has created. In most epic fantasy/high fantasy books that I’ve read, the story mostly takes place in a world similar to the medieval Northern Europe. Right now I can only think of one other book that I’ve read, that used another setting.
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<br />
The Throne of the Crescent Moon takes place in an Arabic inspired world. As a Swede that feels exotic and interesting. The World building is very well done; you get a very clear picture of the big city of Dhamsawaat. I also appreciated that there isn’t a big dump of information in the beginning of the story. The world building took place throughout the book in an, almost, subtle way, and that is something that not every author does. I’ve read a lot of books where they just throw all the information about the world in the first chapter, and that can ruin a perfectly good story for me.
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<br />
One of the main characters is Adoulla, whom I adore. He may be a bit of a grumpy, old man, but in a charming way. I really like the way Saladin Ahmed portrays the doctor, I really felt like I got a clear picture of Adoulla as a person. His protector, the young dervish Rasheed is in many ways quite the opposite to Adoulla. I feel like Rasheed has a way of only seeing people and things as black or white, whilst the doctor has learned that the world is more “grayscaled” than that. I like the partnership that they have. There is a lot of potential for Rasheed to develop as a character and person, and I’m looking forward to seeing that in future books.
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<br />
Another important character is Zamia, a 15-year old shape shifter, who can take the form of a lion. She teams up with the doctor and Rasheed to avenge her murdered tribe. I had a hard time with Zamia. The portrayal of her felt a bit… 2 dimensional. I don’t know exactly why I felt that, I just felt like there were a lot of sides of her that were left out.
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The magic in the book is introduced quite early in the book, and although it is described I would have liked to get a greater understanding of its boundaries and such. When it comes to the magic responsible for ghuls, not a lot is explained there either.
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<br />
Okay, I clearly really enjoyed this book, so why not give it 5/5? I can’t really put my finger on it, there’s just something about the book that prevents me from really loving it. Perhaps I didn’t connect with some of the characters enough? Perhaps I wanted to understand the magic more? I don’t know. What I can say is that if you look at my ratings on Goodreads, I tend to be cautious about giving a book top marks. But still, 4/5 is really, really good.
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I would recommend this book to every fantasy fan out there. And I can’t wait to read the next book from Saladin Ahmed.
Jasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10043222093725090635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6305545225302121214.post-84401932593237448872012-05-08T14:22:00.001+02:002014-12-14T13:27:27.552+01:0012 things that make you a LoTR nerd<div class="my-thumb">
<a href="http://jasminethenerd.blogspot.se/2012/05/12-things-that-make-you-lotr-nerd.html"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-nfjllnDSHmFPVFzKUAgDyb1HAhFZjuTIEyxy-FtIi0J5iJYaXbRpb5sbSbJAmm2CshbicVR8A9xu539B2ywze0ZBWhWyVHRXMahIT_r6vfSs87FPkkPNm74mDAthD3syhlj9PlmfCWw/s1600/LoTR.png"/></a></div>
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<a name='more'></a>Until I’ve finished my next book review, I thought I’d share a list of some signs of you being a real Lord of the Rings-nerd. Enjoy!
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<b>1.</b> You don’t trust advice from people who isn’t an old man with long, grey hair who carries a staff.
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<b>2.</b> All your passwords include the word “Mellon”.
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<b>3.</b> You know the history of the Middle Earth better than the history of your own country.
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<b>4.</b> You would never marry someone who doesn’t want to name your future children to Arwen, Faramir or some other name from LoTR.
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<b>5.</b> You own only one ring, which you carry around your neck in a necklace. Whenever you’ve lost it you’ve been convinced that the world would end and that it would have been your fault, since you were unable to keep the ring from the forces of evil.
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<b>6.</b> You spend every warm, summer evening in the grass, barefoot with a beer in one hand and a pipe in the corner of your mouth.
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<b>7.</b> You refuse to see the LoTR films, unless it’s the extended versions.
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<b>8.</b> You only hang out in groups of 9 persons. No more, no less.
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<b>9.</b> Whenever people pick on Gollum, you get offended since, according to you, Gollum is a misunderstood character.
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<b>10.</b> Every time you read the word “Eleven”, you think it says “Elven”.
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<b>11.</b> Every masquerade you’ve ever been to, you’ve dress up as one of the characters from the books. Never the same character twice, of course.
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<b>12.</b> You've changed your surname to Gamgi.
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<b>Later!</b>Jasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10043222093725090635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6305545225302121214.post-39433143446379441832012-04-24T14:41:00.000+02:002014-12-16T19:55:49.584+01:00Soulless by Gail Carriger - book review<div class="MyBook">
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ckd39zbhlbToaCcBnZFEh0GnjOW8H-6GmY0JGuAPk7lxCiLcd9tBy2Us3kmpfEeSUdKh0E9m8tl96mjKW5wEWG_e2uj0sc1SovK5maQmWC6pR0naqHCt6kjEn13bjT8UMqvGqybFWes/s1600/cover_soulless-gail_carriger.jpg" />
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<b>Title:</b> Soulless <br />
<b>Author:</b> Gail Carriger<br />
<b>Published:</b> 2009<br />
<b>Series:</b> The Parasol Protectorate #1<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Steampunk<br />
<i>Romance, Steampunk, teadrinking, vampires, Victorian London, werewolves.</i>
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<a href="http://www.gailcarriger.com/" target="_blank">Gail Carriger</a>•<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6381205-soulless" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>
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<a name='more'></a>I’ve been a fan of Felicia Day since the day I first saw The Guild, and I’ve followed her Vaginal Fantasy Book club since it started. I’ve been reading fantasy since I was a teenager, mostly epic fantasy. But lately I’ve really enjoyed urban/paranormal fantasy series, some of which I’ve heard about in the Vaginal Fantasy Book club. One of the books that the Book club pick out for April was “Soulless”, a steampunk novel. I haven’t read any steampunk before, but after reading some reviews on Soulless, I thought I’d give it a go.
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<h4>
Plot</h4>
Alexia Tarabotti is spinster without a soul, a preternatural. When she's attackted by a vampire at a party - how rude, indeed! - she accidentally kills it with her umbrella, and thus gets the attention of Lord Maccon, an alpha werewolf, as well as an investigator in service of Queen Victoria. As a series of disappearances unravels, Miss Tarabotti becomes the attention of werewolves, vampires and humans alike.
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<h4>
My thoughts</h4>
I must admit that this was an unexpected surprise. I really liked the book, and I hadn't really expected that, this being a steampunk novel and all. But the plot, as well as the characters, really drew me in.
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It took a while for me to get in to the story. In most of the recent books I've read, there has been non-stop action pretty much from page 3, and that did not really happen in this book. Instead it built up until about halfway through the book, when things really took of. But when the action finally happened, it was worth the wait.
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One of the things I liked most with this book, was the language. The style of writing really suited the overall feeling of the Victorian Era. And I completely fell in love with the environment of Victorian London mixed with the steampunk and paranormal elements!
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When it comes to the characters, I always love a strong, independent woman whose not afraid to show of her intellect, just like Alexia Tarabotti. How she managed to keep her temper everyday with that family of hers, is a mystery to me. But I suppose it can be an advantage to be soulless in more than one case.
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This is a book I would recommend to pretty much any one; there are some parts that would please people with an interest in science; fantasy as well as sci-fi readers would enjoy a book with elements from the genre they usually read; and there is a strong romantic sub-plot that is great.
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<b>Read the book, why don't you!
</b>Jasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10043222093725090635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6305545225302121214.post-6920884771966181432012-04-03T23:19:00.002+02:002014-12-11T15:46:28.159+01:005 things to do when you're boredHere’s some tips on things to do when you’ve got nothing to do/doesn’t want to do the things you should be doing/wants a challenge. Some of the tips involve a computer, whilst others just demand that you’re somewhere, with or without some things and at some point.<br />
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Let me just point out, in case some of you don’t get my weird and slightly twisted sense of humour, that I’m not serious about this list. Not entirely anyway….<br />
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<b>1.</b>Look up a lot of unnecessary facts on Wikipedia, eg:<br />
- Where the Mentawai Islands are located<br />
- When the dildo was invented and by whom<br />
- How fusion power really works<br />
- Which tram line to take when going from Bordet station to Rogier in Brussel.<br />
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<b>2.</b> Don’t know what to do with the next four years? Why not write a dissertation?<br />
Suggestions on ”interesting” subjects:<br />
- The origin of the teaspoon<br />
- Why all the queues except the one you’re in always moves faster (tip! Little’s law)<br />
- How long one can survive on a jar of ravioli, two pears and a dead mouse<br />
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3<b>.</b>Close your eyes and pick three random objects in your room, and play MacGyver. What can you make out of these objects? Can you make a weapon out of post-its, a cellphone charger and a pot plant? The answer to that question is, according to MacGyver himself, of course yes!<br />
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4. Try to refute Newton’s law of gravitation. But how do you do that? Let me give you some advice; start off with small, light objects from low heights and work upwards. That should do the trick… or maybe not…<br />
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5. Grab every magazine, newspaper and books that you have in the vicinity. Now try to put together your own story by cutting the newspapers etc and paste onto a blank paper. Depending on how much time you/patience/”crazyness” you have you can do it in a number of different ways:<br />
- Cut out entire sentences and try to come up with a serious story<br />
- Only cut out separate words and try to devise new phrases.<br />
- Cut out separate letters and put together to words and sentences (like you do….). To make it extra time consuming you can invent your own language.<br />
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<b>That's all for now, folks!</b>
Jasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10043222093725090635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6305545225302121214.post-74184076145115452172012-03-29T21:33:00.000+02:002014-12-17T21:13:04.850+01:00Favorites of the Week: Adele coversOne of my favorite artists right now is Adele. Ever since I heard Hometown Glory I’ve been a big fan. Nowadays she’s such a huge star, and Youtube is full of Adele-covers. I thought I’d share some of my favorites. They’re not necessarily the best, but it’s a matter of personal preference. I didn’t want to make this entry too long, so I’ve only included male versions, so to speak. Let’s get started!<br />
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<u><b>Someone Like You - The Sliders feat. Rich Tuorto</b></u><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/RPl5envJKmk?rel=0" width="560"></iframe><br />
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The original with Adel (and perhaps especially her performance on BRIT Awards 2011) is really hard to compete against. The rock-version, however, is really, really good, especially when the singer really belts out.<br />
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<u><b>Rolling in the Deep - The All Ways feat. Gia Farrell</b></u><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/VQaC3o4Tmm8?rel=0" width="560"></iframe><br />
Another rock version, but this one is a tade sharper than the one above. And, shit, does that man has a voice or what?! “Me Like”!<br />
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<u><b>Rolling in the Deep (A Cappella) - Mike Tompkins </b></u><br />
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I’ve sort of got a thing for a capella mix with beatbox, like this version. Also, he’s sort of funny to look at, with all the faces he pulls.<br />
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<u><b>Set Fire to the Rain - Chester See </b></u><br />
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Powerful version. I also like D-trix in this, he pops in now and again.<br />
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<u><b>Chasing Pavements - Airto</b></u><br />
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I love this acoustic version. Beautiful!<br />
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<u><b>One and Only - Jack Martello</b></u><br />
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I get shivers everytime I listen to this! <br />
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<b>Enjoy!</b>Jasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10043222093725090635noreply@blogger.com0