"My life is spent in one long effort to escape from the commonplaces of existence." — Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
hello  |  artworks  |  writing  |  reading  |  bookmarks  |  home

May 05, 2024

Seven Things

01 - I've been reading nothing but book samples and that's okay — I guess I'm not interested in reading much these days. Reading slump, reading fatigue, reading pause, whatever you call it, is not something to make a big deal of. I'm a moody reader who don't always want to read and there's no changing that. Reading is reading even if you never finish a book.

02 - A book I'm never going to read: The Outlaws Scarlett and Browne by Jonathan Stroud — Why are there cannibalism in a children's adventure book? I was going to read this but decided I can't deal with the above matter. One reviewer said it was intense and in real time - just no to this. This is not a spoiler. I guess this is content awareness of a sort. But what's irks me more is the wholesome cover - the girl is blowing bubblegum for goodness sake. See the cover here.

03 - A book sample that I'm not sure I should have read — A book started in the point of view of a 2-year-old but his age wasn't mentioned in the beginning so when he mentioned soiling himself, I just go what? He may be a baby genius but I just cannot believe his brain would be that developed that he can understand what he sees or thinks in a comprehensive way although judging by the writing, it seemed to try to make him a bit dumb about things but at the same time, not really. Was I prejudiced because of his age? Maybe. I don't know. I just found it kind of unbelievable. So, yes this is fiction but if I can't even believe it on a general level, then what's the point? Is this author reaching for the way-way-way youth market? Baby geniuses aside, if the author had made him 4 or even 3, I might believe it more. Even though this was a prologue (the rest of the book is told from his adult view), I still don't like this introduction to this main character enough to read the book. (I can't remember the title but it was the first book of a series.)

Signal the movie
04 - Recent film I watched: Signal The movie: Cold Case Investigation Unit
> link
This was okay although I wondered why the policeman (Saegusa) went to battle three guys while his fellow two policemen are in the control room staring at screens. Saegusa got stabbed, shot at, punched and pretty much almost died but no one was there to help him. What is the point of being in a team when your team members aren't doing anything while you fight like crazy with the bad guys? In the end, Saegusa dragged himself to where the culprit was, all bloody and wounded, why? So he can be the sole hero? But no, the solution is something else which means his fighting was kind of in vain. I'm not going to spoil it for you but if you have seen the show, then you know how this movie would end. Watch this movie for free with commercials at youtube here.

05 - It's kind of odd the way Blogger now only works with tracking protection off. You can't sign into other Blogger blogs to comment unless you turn off tracking protection. I don't know why that is when it wasn't like this before they changed spam filters (or whatever it was changed that had to do with spam). Of course my browser remembers my options so I don't always have to turn tracking protection off but why do we even have to anyway? You can leave comments without signing in (assuming the blogger had chosen to allow anonymous commenting) but I don't like using anonymous to comment when I have a Blogger account. (To turn off tracking protection in firefox, you just click on the shield icon next to the url address bar.)

06 - Because of region restrictions or region block, I cannot watch the last season of Vera. The company that mades the show didn't allow digital purchases in the U.S. which was how I watched the show but I didn't get to watch all the seasons because of region restriction. So yes, I can subscribe to Britbox to watch the episodes I missed and the last season but I refused. I'm not going to subscribe just to watch one show. I guess I'll have to read episode recaps to find out what happens or maybe not.

07 - Firefox keeps asking me to update even though I have updated a million times already — Why don't they just make it that you update to the very latest version whenever you update? Why does it work in increments? So yes, apps needs to be updated for security reasons and such but come on, how much update can they do anyway? I can download the latest, greatest version but then I would have to rebuild bookmarks and preferences but that won't solve the update problem because there will always be updates. Why did firefox removed the option NOT to check for updates? Why don't users have a choice to check for updates and then choose when to update? Why are app makers (and computer makers) keep removing options that allow users to make choices? Are users so dumb that the choices have to be made for us?

What's on your mind these days?

14 comments:

  1. You will do well not to read the book you mentioned, there are so many!
    If I don't like a book, I stop reading it and choose another one, otherwise I have a huge wish list.
    I think as technology develops unfortunately users have less and less options and manufacturers want more and more profits...big issue.
    I love the topics you brought up!
    Have a beautiful week!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Katerina: That's what I do, if I don't like a book, I stop reading it and look to others.

      Thank you for coming by. Have a lovely day.

      Delete
  2. Yes, those updates ... They're a nuisance.
    I am also in a non-reading period, I am sure it will change.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Charlotte: No matter what we do, there will be updates, nuisances they are.

      I hope you get to reading but you lead such busy lives so you probably have no time for reading.

      Thank you for coming by. Have a lovely day.

      Delete
  3. Replies
    1. Christine: If you say so. I don't knoow how to reply to your comments anymore. Maybe you should cut back on commenting?

      Thank you for coming by. Have a lovely day.

      Delete
  4. Sigh at the updates. I am never in a non reading period. It seems to be an essential for me - though I have been doing a lot of rereading recently.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Elephant's Child: I like to be like you to always be reading and I was like that until recently.

      Thank you for coming by. Have a lovely day.

      Delete
  5. I spend a lot of time reading samples too. One day maybe I'll find something I want to finish. The one with the bubble gum is definitely not going to make my list.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kristin: I hope you get to finish a book or two.

      Thank you for coming by. Have a lovely day.

      Delete
  6. At least you're trying to read. One of these days a sample will catch your interest and you'll read the whole book!

    Cannibalism in a children's adventure book??? *scratches head*

    "Why are app makers (and computer makers) keep removing options that allow users to make choices?"
    Good question...I'm a rebel by nature, so that's a surefire way to make me hate them LOL.

    That's a pity about Vera. Everyone wants us to subscribe to every darned thing nowadays...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Roberta: That is the purpose of reading samples- to find something to finish.

      I don't get why that thing is in a children's book either. I'm glad I know about it or else I would end up reading it and not get any sleep for a week.

      We can't do anything when big companies as they are usually big companies, change the things.

      Yes, it's true. Even if you just want to watch a movie, they ask you to sign up even if it's free. Everyone and anyone and all companies has a streaming service so it's the viewers that had to pay for all the services.

      Thank you for coming by. Have a lovely day.

      Delete
  7. They put cannibalism in a children's book? That seems so wrong!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lark: It seems wrong to me too. I don't get it, either.

      Thank you for coming by. Have a lovely day.

      Delete

"To practice any art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow. So do it."
- Kurt Vonnegut