I started reading the Divergent series while poolside in Vegas. Vegas is another post or maybe a never post since it is Vegas. So why Divergent? A month ago, I finally got my The Hunger Games series back from my godbrother. I immediately re-read them, again, and again. So yes, I re-read them 3X. Obviously, the series is a fast read and I can be obsessive about knowing every single detail. After the third re-reading, I wished I could go back and start The Hunger Games trilogy without knowing anything. It is rare that I want to re-read books. The only other time it has happened to me is with the Harry Potter series. This of course says a lot about me. I like simplistic books whose deeper meanings are to be discovered. In lieu of reading Harry Potter over again, I researched some new book series. I had very narrow criteria: there will be no years long waiting for the book series' end (learned my lesson from Harry Potter), no love triangles (there is a reason why I don't read chick lit), and finally, most importantly, it must be well-reviewed. I vaguely remembered something about a movie named Divergent. I learned Divergent was based on a book also named Divergent. Within an hour, I had ordered Divergent and its sequel Insurgent from Amazon. The final book Allegiant will be published in October.
Divergent revolves around a strong-willed 16 year old female living in a post-apocalyptic world. Sounds familiar? The world is divided into 5 factions: Abnegation, Dauntless, Erudite, Candor, and Amity. I will withhold describing each faction for the simple reason the author Veronica Roth also does not explicitly describe the factions: reading the books gives a better idea on the faction purpose/ideal than the definition of the word. Roth has stated she picked unfamiliar words for the faction names so that people would not be predisposed to think of a faction a certain way. The protagonist, Tris, is divergent suggesting she could belong to multiple factions. This uniqueness makes her death a certainty until a few people sacrifice their lives for her. Some die because of Tris's desire to live. To say more would require a lot of explanation and make this blog post way tooo long. There is a male, Four, whose fighting skills and love for Tris save her repeatedly. Insurgent brings the series long mystery out into the open. Allegiant is anxiously awaited by many and will probably not disappoint.
I feel confident Allegiant will be good because of the strength of Divergent and Insurgent. Unlike The Hunger Games series, whose bleakest book is the last book MockingJay, Divergent will probably be harshest book of the series. The deaths (yes, plural) experienced in Divergent are heart-breaking and the guilt destroys Tris for most of Insurgent. However, the big mystery reveal of Insurgent sets Allegiant up to be chaotic. Roth stated in ComicCon that Allegient will have points of view from Tris and Four (Divergent and Insurgent were from Tris's point of view) which is intriguing. Does Tris die? Does Four die? Why does everyone need to die????
In many ways, Divergent is subpar to The Hunger Games. There are some inconsistencies within the series and the editing could be sharper. However, I would say Divergent is more ambitious. This is Roth's first book series and it shows. A veteran writer would never attempt something with this magnitude. I'm excited to see what happens and will admit to being optimistic for a happy-ish ending. October can't come soon enough.
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
PEDs are everywhere, the age of denial is ending
I'm fairly obsessed with sports. That is probably an understatement. I relate to things in my life according to sporting events. Fall is football, summer is baseball, and the period between the two is known as dead time. Though hockey has become part of my sports watching schedule since the 2010 Olympics. The 2014 Olympics will only entrench hockey into my sports watching. I digress since this post is about the worst part of sports: PEDs (Performance Enhancing Drugs).
Yesterday, Ryan Braun accepted an MLB suspension for the rest of the season. He is in the prime of his career and has sort of/basically admitted to using PEDs to enhance his baseball performance. Other MLB suspensions are imminent. Braun is definitely not the first person to use PEDs and most certainly not the last. Recently, The Tour de France concluded to little fanfare. Cycling has taken a hit in popularity due to the PEDs admission of Lance Armstrong. It is a sad thing because cyclists are athletes who abuse their bodies the most. The fact that most of them felt they needed to go a step further to even compete is really what this PEDs situation is all about.
I cannot even begin to comprehend how it must feel to be innately good at one thing. Then to watch your superiority pale in comparison to others. To decide what to do next rests on the strength of your character. I'm not saying if I was a supreme athlete, I wouldn't take PEDs. I'm simply just acknowledging it is an unfathomable decision. There is nothing brave about admitting the truth with your back against a wall. There is nothing admirable about accepting consequences while previously accepting millions of $$$. Obviously this does not only apply to sports.
It seems like the age of denial regarding PEDs is coming to an end. As a sports fan with wide open eyes, it is something I've been waiting for since the Sammy Sosa/Mark McGwire era. Though I have spent the time between that baseball season and now cheering on various sports games, I have always felt uneasy being obsessed with something where cheaters prospered. Maybe now, I will be able to fully enjoy watching sports. At least, that is my hope.
Yesterday, Ryan Braun accepted an MLB suspension for the rest of the season. He is in the prime of his career and has sort of/basically admitted to using PEDs to enhance his baseball performance. Other MLB suspensions are imminent. Braun is definitely not the first person to use PEDs and most certainly not the last. Recently, The Tour de France concluded to little fanfare. Cycling has taken a hit in popularity due to the PEDs admission of Lance Armstrong. It is a sad thing because cyclists are athletes who abuse their bodies the most. The fact that most of them felt they needed to go a step further to even compete is really what this PEDs situation is all about.
I cannot even begin to comprehend how it must feel to be innately good at one thing. Then to watch your superiority pale in comparison to others. To decide what to do next rests on the strength of your character. I'm not saying if I was a supreme athlete, I wouldn't take PEDs. I'm simply just acknowledging it is an unfathomable decision. There is nothing brave about admitting the truth with your back against a wall. There is nothing admirable about accepting consequences while previously accepting millions of $$$. Obviously this does not only apply to sports.
It seems like the age of denial regarding PEDs is coming to an end. As a sports fan with wide open eyes, it is something I've been waiting for since the Sammy Sosa/Mark McGwire era. Though I have spent the time between that baseball season and now cheering on various sports games, I have always felt uneasy being obsessed with something where cheaters prospered. Maybe now, I will be able to fully enjoy watching sports. At least, that is my hope.
Sunday, July 21, 2013
The ComicCon of it all
Since I grew up in San Diego, I basically grew up alongside ComicCon. I've gone only once, ~11 years ago. I bought tickets from a friend who has a booth every year. Mmm, I just realized he probably sells his extra tickets for huge profit these days. I used to be able to enter any "geek" conversation seamlessly. Now there is Doctor Who, Game of Thrones, The Hobbit, and a bunch of other things that completely elude me.
I have no idea when TV became a huge deal at the Con (which is what people who go to ComicCon call it). It must have started with Smallville (does anyone else remember the Superman TV series with Dean Cain and Teri Hatcher?) But it seems like every TV show has a panel at the Con. There is also a huge movie presence at the Con which I assume started with comic book movies. Spiderman 2 remains one of my favorite movies ever. Of course it is, Peter Parker underwent a genetic mutation! Since the Con has a huge following, it makes sense for everything entertainment wise to preview there since so people are in one place. Then that begets even more people to attend Con which leads to more things being showcased there. It is almost impossible to get tickets for Con these days unless you attended the previous year and are willing to buy the 5 day pass. The Con is soooo huge, they debate whether or not they should move it to a different city. Even though I don't go to ComicCon (even getting into downtown San Diego the weekend of ComicCon is a huge hassle), I can't imagine ComicCon not in San Diego. Some things just go with the other.
Now onto the most important ComicCon stuff: the costumes. Even though it is in the middle of summer, the weather in San Diego is in the mid-70s. This allows people to be comfortable and imaginative with costuming. The best costumes are always group costumes. And that is what ComicCon is really about: where friends get together and talk/obsess about their favorite things.
I have no idea when TV became a huge deal at the Con (which is what people who go to ComicCon call it). It must have started with Smallville (does anyone else remember the Superman TV series with Dean Cain and Teri Hatcher?) But it seems like every TV show has a panel at the Con. There is also a huge movie presence at the Con which I assume started with comic book movies. Spiderman 2 remains one of my favorite movies ever. Of course it is, Peter Parker underwent a genetic mutation! Since the Con has a huge following, it makes sense for everything entertainment wise to preview there since so people are in one place. Then that begets even more people to attend Con which leads to more things being showcased there. It is almost impossible to get tickets for Con these days unless you attended the previous year and are willing to buy the 5 day pass. The Con is soooo huge, they debate whether or not they should move it to a different city. Even though I don't go to ComicCon (even getting into downtown San Diego the weekend of ComicCon is a huge hassle), I can't imagine ComicCon not in San Diego. Some things just go with the other.
Now onto the most important ComicCon stuff: the costumes. Even though it is in the middle of summer, the weather in San Diego is in the mid-70s. This allows people to be comfortable and imaginative with costuming. The best costumes are always group costumes. And that is what ComicCon is really about: where friends get together and talk/obsess about their favorite things.
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
4th of July in San Diego
It came to my attention this past weekend, I've actually been out of the country at least 3X for 4th of July. The reasoning behind this fact is super simple: it is an extra vacation day. Also I can't remember when was the last time I spent 4th of July in San Diego. Although the war of independence was fought on the East Coast, San Diego is a military town. Independence Day is deeply felt throughout the city.
My family decided we would have a family reunion this 4th of July. This was super exciting for various reasons. We were going to rent a beach house in Mission Beach, San Diego. Family from NYC, Texas, and Hawaii would travel to San Diego. There would be bbq-ing, alcohol consumption, working on tans, and just hanging out. Since I don't see most of my family even at Christmas, I was looking forward to this.
And it was so much fun!! Too much food, mostly meat. Though if you surf fish, there was alot of good fishing to be done. The house came with two kitchens which turned out to be necessary. Mostly to store all the caught fish (freezer) and beer (fridge). My cousin from NYC bought Patron to make margaritas. We laughed at him and decided to do shots with the Patron. We talked about growing up in San Diego. A truly wonderful place to be young but the time frame was also idyllic. My family truly appreciated the effort everyone made to make this happen. Then we talked about doing the beach house again next year.
We watched about three different sets of fireworks on 4th of July. The best were from Sea World. The weather was perfect which I only mention because there was a scorching heat wave the previous week (some of us spent the entire week at the beach house...). The no alcohol law on the beach does make a difference. Everyone was just chill. I never really hung out in Mission Beach when I was younger (I was more of Pacific Beach gal), but from now I will always prefer Mission over PB. It will always remind me of family.
My family decided we would have a family reunion this 4th of July. This was super exciting for various reasons. We were going to rent a beach house in Mission Beach, San Diego. Family from NYC, Texas, and Hawaii would travel to San Diego. There would be bbq-ing, alcohol consumption, working on tans, and just hanging out. Since I don't see most of my family even at Christmas, I was looking forward to this.
And it was so much fun!! Too much food, mostly meat. Though if you surf fish, there was alot of good fishing to be done. The house came with two kitchens which turned out to be necessary. Mostly to store all the caught fish (freezer) and beer (fridge). My cousin from NYC bought Patron to make margaritas. We laughed at him and decided to do shots with the Patron. We talked about growing up in San Diego. A truly wonderful place to be young but the time frame was also idyllic. My family truly appreciated the effort everyone made to make this happen. Then we talked about doing the beach house again next year.
We watched about three different sets of fireworks on 4th of July. The best were from Sea World. The weather was perfect which I only mention because there was a scorching heat wave the previous week (some of us spent the entire week at the beach house...). The no alcohol law on the beach does make a difference. Everyone was just chill. I never really hung out in Mission Beach when I was younger (I was more of Pacific Beach gal), but from now I will always prefer Mission over PB. It will always remind me of family.
Sunday, June 23, 2013
10 years ago, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix was released
When I read this tidbit, I knew exactly where I was 10 years ago: driving around Vegas trying to find a Barnes and Noble to buy Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
I am not part of the target audience for Harry Potter. I'm not much of a fantasy person, but I do like science fiction. I've never read The Lord of the Kings and don't even remember if I saw the movies. I haven't watched or read Game of Thrones.The first Harry Potter was actually given to me by a boyfriend. He thought I would like it due to a conversation he had with another law student. The year was probably 2001. Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone sat in my room for months before I picked it up one night because I couldn't sleep. I read the entire book that night (it is a children's book). I bought the second, third, and fourth books of the series the very next day. So after furiously reading those four books, waiting for the 5th book was extraordinarily hard. I was a Harry Potter addict. J.K. Rowling weaves a meticulous story of magic, bravery, and the line between destiny and choice. The end of the fourth Harry Potter shows the return of the supreme evil into the wizarding world. This explains why, during a 2003 Vegas trip for my parents to watch Celine Dion, I ended up driving around Vegas suburbs trying to find the Barnes and Noble where I had reserved the Order of the Phoenix. I procured my copy and ended up reading most of the book that very night in our hotel room. To say I hate The Order of the Phoenix is probably an overstatement, but I believed it that very night 10 years ago. It remains my least favorite book of the Harry Potter series.
Why do I hate it? Well, everyone in The Order of the Phoenix is just depressing. Terrible, stupid people are in charge of the wizarding world in The Order of the Phoenix. Also my favorite character gets killed off. I actually can't think of a redeeming quality in The Order of the Phoenix. I even just googled the wiki page just to make sure. I haven't re-read it (even though I've re-read every other Harry Potter book at least 5X) because why would I subject myself to that?!?! Nevermind the fact I actually lent my copy to a friend and never bothered to get it back. My Harry Potter book collection is incomplete yet I kinda like it that way.
However, I almost bought The Order of Phoenix last weekend because I was buying the Divergent series (well, at least Divergent and Insurgent which are books 1 and 2). It seems a little weird to be hating the book so much after 10 years. Maybe I should re-read it and I needed to buy something to get free shipping from Amazon. In the end, I bought whiskey stones instead of The Order of the Phoenix. I guess I need the whiskey stones so I can drink whiskey while re-reading The Order of the Phoenix. At least this time, I'll be prepared.
I am not part of the target audience for Harry Potter. I'm not much of a fantasy person, but I do like science fiction. I've never read The Lord of the Kings and don't even remember if I saw the movies. I haven't watched or read Game of Thrones.The first Harry Potter was actually given to me by a boyfriend. He thought I would like it due to a conversation he had with another law student. The year was probably 2001. Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone sat in my room for months before I picked it up one night because I couldn't sleep. I read the entire book that night (it is a children's book). I bought the second, third, and fourth books of the series the very next day. So after furiously reading those four books, waiting for the 5th book was extraordinarily hard. I was a Harry Potter addict. J.K. Rowling weaves a meticulous story of magic, bravery, and the line between destiny and choice. The end of the fourth Harry Potter shows the return of the supreme evil into the wizarding world. This explains why, during a 2003 Vegas trip for my parents to watch Celine Dion, I ended up driving around Vegas suburbs trying to find the Barnes and Noble where I had reserved the Order of the Phoenix. I procured my copy and ended up reading most of the book that very night in our hotel room. To say I hate The Order of the Phoenix is probably an overstatement, but I believed it that very night 10 years ago. It remains my least favorite book of the Harry Potter series.
Why do I hate it? Well, everyone in The Order of the Phoenix is just depressing. Terrible, stupid people are in charge of the wizarding world in The Order of the Phoenix. Also my favorite character gets killed off. I actually can't think of a redeeming quality in The Order of the Phoenix. I even just googled the wiki page just to make sure. I haven't re-read it (even though I've re-read every other Harry Potter book at least 5X) because why would I subject myself to that?!?! Nevermind the fact I actually lent my copy to a friend and never bothered to get it back. My Harry Potter book collection is incomplete yet I kinda like it that way.
However, I almost bought The Order of Phoenix last weekend because I was buying the Divergent series (well, at least Divergent and Insurgent which are books 1 and 2). It seems a little weird to be hating the book so much after 10 years. Maybe I should re-read it and I needed to buy something to get free shipping from Amazon. In the end, I bought whiskey stones instead of The Order of the Phoenix. I guess I need the whiskey stones so I can drink whiskey while re-reading The Order of the Phoenix. At least this time, I'll be prepared.
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Warby Parker
I've previously promoted Warby Parker on my Facebook page. Since Clark Kent is sporting Warby Parker frames in Man of Steel, it is appropriate I revisit the subject again.
Some background: my graduate research was on vision. Specifically on rhodopsin, the protein which senses black/white (essentially gray) vision. Rhodopsin is very sensitive to small amounts of light. This is the protein mammals use to see at night, i.e. when there is very little available light. Consequently this is why at night, everything is a gray hue. I could go on and on about our sense of sight :) It is an understatement to say vision is close to my heart.
Yet so is fashion. I am slightly near-sighted, so I require glasses to drive. My last pair of glasses I bought were Gucci frames mostly because I loved them and everything else I tried on paled in comparison. Let's just say I could buy 3 (maybe even 4) Warby Parker frames with the amount I paid for my Gucci frames 8 years ago. But I'm getting ahead of myself.
So what is Warby Parker? It is a company started by 4 friends who wanted to build a different type of business. They partnered up with factories who make designer frames and curated their own collection. Their glasses start at $95. If you are unable to visit a Warby Parker showroom, you can go to their website and request a home try-on kit. This is a free service they provide where a customer picks up to 5 frames they would like to try. Warby Parker will ship the frames for free and provide a return shipping label as well. The best part: for every frame sold, they provide a pair of glasses to someone in need. They are not the same pair of glasses a customer buys. Warby Parker partners with non-profits to provide this service.
As evidenced by Clark Kent in Man in Steel, Warby Parker frames are incredibly pleasing. I don't need a pair of glasses (I won't buy another pair until my Gucci ones are practically falling apart), but my sister did use the Warby Parker try-on at home service. It worked exactly as promised. I even tried on the frames and found a style I liked on myself. They now sell sunglasses. I tell everyone I know to try Warby Parker.
TOMS, the shoe company who gives a pair of shoes to someone in need for every pair of shoes sold, also has a vision program. TOMS sells sunglasses and for every pair sold, TOMS will provide sight (in the form of eyeglasses, surgery, or medical treatment) to someone in need. I own 3 pairs of TOMS and thoroughly support their endeavor into vision philantrophy.
It should be noted that Warby Parker and TOMS are both for-profit companies. Not that they stand to makes billions due to their altruism. Just keep in mind both are companies with business plans that include doing good in our world.
Finally, please take care of your eyes! Wear hats in sunny California. Buy polarized sunglasses. Eat lots of carrots or anything with beta-carotene. We interact primarily by using our sense of vision. It is truly amazing to see.
Some background: my graduate research was on vision. Specifically on rhodopsin, the protein which senses black/white (essentially gray) vision. Rhodopsin is very sensitive to small amounts of light. This is the protein mammals use to see at night, i.e. when there is very little available light. Consequently this is why at night, everything is a gray hue. I could go on and on about our sense of sight :) It is an understatement to say vision is close to my heart.
Yet so is fashion. I am slightly near-sighted, so I require glasses to drive. My last pair of glasses I bought were Gucci frames mostly because I loved them and everything else I tried on paled in comparison. Let's just say I could buy 3 (maybe even 4) Warby Parker frames with the amount I paid for my Gucci frames 8 years ago. But I'm getting ahead of myself.
So what is Warby Parker? It is a company started by 4 friends who wanted to build a different type of business. They partnered up with factories who make designer frames and curated their own collection. Their glasses start at $95. If you are unable to visit a Warby Parker showroom, you can go to their website and request a home try-on kit. This is a free service they provide where a customer picks up to 5 frames they would like to try. Warby Parker will ship the frames for free and provide a return shipping label as well. The best part: for every frame sold, they provide a pair of glasses to someone in need. They are not the same pair of glasses a customer buys. Warby Parker partners with non-profits to provide this service.
As evidenced by Clark Kent in Man in Steel, Warby Parker frames are incredibly pleasing. I don't need a pair of glasses (I won't buy another pair until my Gucci ones are practically falling apart), but my sister did use the Warby Parker try-on at home service. It worked exactly as promised. I even tried on the frames and found a style I liked on myself. They now sell sunglasses. I tell everyone I know to try Warby Parker.
TOMS, the shoe company who gives a pair of shoes to someone in need for every pair of shoes sold, also has a vision program. TOMS sells sunglasses and for every pair sold, TOMS will provide sight (in the form of eyeglasses, surgery, or medical treatment) to someone in need. I own 3 pairs of TOMS and thoroughly support their endeavor into vision philantrophy.
It should be noted that Warby Parker and TOMS are both for-profit companies. Not that they stand to makes billions due to their altruism. Just keep in mind both are companies with business plans that include doing good in our world.
Finally, please take care of your eyes! Wear hats in sunny California. Buy polarized sunglasses. Eat lots of carrots or anything with beta-carotene. We interact primarily by using our sense of vision. It is truly amazing to see.
Sunday, June 16, 2013
Update on Summer 2013 movies
I've only watched two movies this summer: Star Trek Into Darkness and Before Midnight. I kinda missed the boat on Iron Man 3. Apparently Hangover 3 is a rambling mess. I should watch Fast and Furious 6 in the theatre, but I was too excited about Before Midnight. Man of Steel previews confirmed my membership to Team Bruce Wayne. When I really thought about movies I wanted to see this weekend (perhaps with my dad), I realized I would rather just watch Star Trek Into Darkness and Before Midnight again.
Star Trek Into Darkness did not disappoint. Something about the movie appeals to everyone. Whether it is hard core Star Trek fans, BBC Sherlock fans, summer blockbuster action fans...it has everything. It probably appeals most to people like me: a Star Wars fan who appreciates Star Trek and thinks Chris Pine is super cute. Some had problems with the end (there's a chase scene between Spock and "John Harrison"), but I enjoyed it because Spock wasn't in control of his emotions. In many ways, there doesn't need to be a third movie. A part of me hopes they don't make a 3rd movie yet I know I will feel short-changed if they don't. Complicated are my feelings about this (sorry, couldn't help myself).
Before Midnight is a marvel. What happens when you do end up with a true love? The final argument between Jesse and Celine in the hotel room (it was hard not to be distracted by a topless Celine) was so painfully real. These type of arguments are built on frustration, love, and have no answer. Yet you remain hopeful that together you may find an answer. Not just for Jesse and Celine, for everyone. I am grateful to Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy, and Richard Linklater for continuing this story. Thank you for sharing.
I recommend Star Trek Into Darkness and Before Midnight to anyone. Let me know if you need company to watch either, I'll totally come with.
Star Trek Into Darkness did not disappoint. Something about the movie appeals to everyone. Whether it is hard core Star Trek fans, BBC Sherlock fans, summer blockbuster action fans...it has everything. It probably appeals most to people like me: a Star Wars fan who appreciates Star Trek and thinks Chris Pine is super cute. Some had problems with the end (there's a chase scene between Spock and "John Harrison"), but I enjoyed it because Spock wasn't in control of his emotions. In many ways, there doesn't need to be a third movie. A part of me hopes they don't make a 3rd movie yet I know I will feel short-changed if they don't. Complicated are my feelings about this (sorry, couldn't help myself).
Before Midnight is a marvel. What happens when you do end up with a true love? The final argument between Jesse and Celine in the hotel room (it was hard not to be distracted by a topless Celine) was so painfully real. These type of arguments are built on frustration, love, and have no answer. Yet you remain hopeful that together you may find an answer. Not just for Jesse and Celine, for everyone. I am grateful to Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy, and Richard Linklater for continuing this story. Thank you for sharing.
I recommend Star Trek Into Darkness and Before Midnight to anyone. Let me know if you need company to watch either, I'll totally come with.
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