unsympathetic.net

Awhile ago, Dorchester Publishing ran a small “contest”—fill out a survey, provide some info, and if picked, they’d send you an ARC¹ of a soon-to-be published novel. The only stipulation was that if you liked it, you would talk about it. Post reviews to forums, to Amazon, to blogs. Well, I got picked, I read the book, and whether or not I liked it, I knew I would blog about it. It was the least I could do for a free book, I figured.

The promotion was for a Marjorie M. Liu novel, Soul Song. It’s the sixth book in the Dirk & Steele series. I came into this book having never read a previous book in this series, nor any of Liu’s previous novels. It is a paranormal romance, and not one I would have picked up in the bookstore, had I seen it on the shelf. Getting an ARC was a great way to try out a book I normally wouldn’t want to spend my money on. I now have an urge to look up Liu’s backlist, and gorge myself on her paranormal.
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1. Advanced Reading Copy[back]

I just haven’t been able to drag myself to the keyboard this week. I hate the book I’m reading, I had quizes that I didn’t want to study for, and in general, have just let everything slide.

But I did do a vidcast, so there is 13 minutesof me rambling on about stuff that I, apparently, didn’t feel like writing about.

I hope I get out of this lethargy soon. But, if not, video to the rescue.

Lovely, how it’s Friday again.

I’ve been waiting all week for this day, if only because I know that tomorrow I get to sleep in. I’m still a bit sicky–I stayed home from school again, even though I went to work. I’m really tired of feeling like my eardrums are trying to rub up on one another.

Anyway, got my webcam last night, so of course it means a new vidcast. I’m shooting for one a week now, since it’s literally like minutes from when I shoot it to when I upload it. Which is just awesome for my quick and dirty lifesyle.

So, that’s it. I’m looking forward to the weekend, unless it brings me an earache, and then I’ll be very very bitter.

– “Endlessly, She Said,” Decemberunderground: AFI

Lovely, how it’s Friday again.

I’ve been waiting all week for this day, if only because I know that tomorrow I get to sleep in. I’m still a bit sicky–I stayed home from school again, even though I went to work. I’m really tired of feeling like my eardrums are trying to rub up on one another.

Anyway, got my webcam last night, so of course it means a new vidcast. I’m shooting for one a week now, since it’s literally like minutes from when I shoot it to when I upload it. Which is just awesome for my quick and dirty lifesyle.

So, that’s it. I’m looking forward to the weekend, unless it brings me an earache, and then I’ll be very very bitter.

– “Endlessly, She Said,” Decemberunderground: AFI

I don’t usually do anything internet-wise for Valentines Day, since previously? Not so many of the internet friends. But this year, I’ve got a mess of them, and I thought I’d do a video for a few of my favorites.

I didn’t do everyone I like, because really, that would be more like an awards show thank-you reading. So I opted to stick with four guys that I like emensley.

A few of them have also done Internet Valentines. Josue waxes philosophical on the holiday and how it’s silly. Of course it’s silly. That’s why we still enjoy it. Josh talks about the mass quantity of snow, and blames my stalkerishness for the reason behind his video. And he offers himself up as valentine for all those ladies out there.

I haven’t heard back from Bryan Veloso, and Rich is balking on the whole video idea. I think he’s just bitter that I’m not only his valentine.

I want to see everyone’s internet valentines. So, video-up, please! And leave a link to where we can all see it.

So, the laptop is back, and danger has been averted. However, I’m much more leary about the whole thing. A near-harddrive crash will do that to a girl. Thank god the tech kept looking for a problem when first glance showed him nothing was wrong. He mirrored the HD, and saved everything but the unsaved post I had open when the computer crashed between classes last Tuesday.
I got it back on Friday with a new harddrive (are those ever under warranty in a Dell?), and between school and work, I just haven’t been able to pull myself together enough to formulate some sort of posting schedule.

Since I seem to be in a writing funk, I thought we’d fall back on the old stand-by, quick and dirty¹ film. It helps that Josue has been asking for it every day since I’ve got the laptop back.

So the vidcast is just me filming the interior of my house, and me rambling on about it. It’s not very good, and I filmed at around 11pm at night, after my parents went to bed, so it’s a bit dark.

If there is ever a place you want me to video (I’ve already gotten a request for work, and school), drop me a line and let me know. I always want to see places where people grew up at, or spend all their time at, so if there is something in my life you want to see, let me know.

And I promise, I’m working on a real post for tomorrow. I’ve got quite a few post-topics floating around my head, besided the Blog Club post that’s due by the end of the week.

- “3am” Yourself or Someone Like You: Matchbox 20

1. Quick and dirty refers to the taping / editing process, not that it’s a dirty video[back]

I had IRC withdrawls today. Classes started this morning, and at 8:30, I was wondering what was going on in IRC. I missed everyone, and really would have rather been talking to people than sitting in Math.

The only really good news is that they finally have wifi on campus this year. It’s only in the library, quad, and cafeteria, but that’s better than nowhere. And it’s probably good that there is no access in class, because I would be in IRC instead of listening to the lecture.

Since today was just the “go over the course outline,” I don’t really have much to talk about. Lucky for everyone else, I filmed a VidCast over the weekend, which is ready to be viewed.

It’s quick and dirty, with virtually no editing. I mangled Josue’s name like the horrible gringa that I am, and I feel super horrible about it. I didn’t know what to do with the “u” in his name because I forgot that I took three years of Spanish.

So Josue, I’m really sorry. Really. I hope you can forgive me.

Moving on, the VidCast is a tour of my backyard, and the creek. I managed to lock myself in the creek, and then scare the crap out of myself when I nearly ran into a spiderweb. I talked for about half an hour, and the VidCast was easier than a PodCast. Probably because I had something to talk about when I had nothing to talk about.

Since I’m back at school now, I think everyone can look forward to daily posts once more. After all, I have to find a way to avoid my homework somehow.

- “Camisado” A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out: Panic! At the Disco