Random Things: CassaStorm, Autumn Weather, Monty Python And The Holy Grail, Colds, And Your Favorite Networking Platform

It's been a very long time since I did a post consisting of a random assortment of things I thought were blog-worthy. Since I'm attempting to get out of a slump, I thought I'd resurrect that old format just to get some words flowing. Here we go! (I know it's a bit long, but you can always skip to the categories you're interested in or ignore me entirely or take a snack break while you read this or whatever.)

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CassaStorm:

First, the news. Alex J. Cavanaugh's new book CassaStorm was released this week on the 17th, sequel to CassaStar and CassaFire, and has since reached the top 100 Space Opera books on Amazon. Huge congratulations, Alex!

Commanding the Cassan base on Tgren, Byron thought he’d put the days of battle behind him. As a galaxy-wide war encroaches upon the desert planet, Byron’s ideal life is threatened and he’s caught between the Tgrens and the Cassans.
     After enemy ships attack the desert planet, Byron discovers another battle within his own family. The declaration of war between all ten races triggers nightmares in his son, threatening to destroy the boy’s mind.
     Meanwhile the ancient alien ship is transmitting a code that might signal the end of all life in the galaxy. And the mysterious probe that almost destroyed Tgren twenty years ago could return. As his world begins to crumble, Byron suspects a connection. The storm is about to break, and Byron is caught in the middle…

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Autumn Weather: 

Now that fall is almost officially here (well, at least in this part of the world) I've fallen in love again with the cool temperatures, brilliant blue skies, changing leaves, and the sharp, fresh smell of the air. I adore this time of year, particularly right now, which is just before the nights get so cold you turn into an ice block when getting up in the morning.

via Pixabay.

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Monty Python and the Holy Grail:

Up until two weeks ago, I'd never actually watched anything involving Monty Python (it took me only slightly less time to realize Monty Python was, in fact, more than one person). I'd seen references to Monty Python and the Holy Grail both knowingly and unknowingly, so when I noticed the library had the Holy Grail I snagged it.

Most of my response for the duration of the film was "Ah, so that's what the 'it's just a flesh wound'/Knights who say Nii/killer rabbits/airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow/knights with coconuts for horses" scene comes from!" because I'd absorbed those through the internet. Particularly the killer rabbits bit; I was especially confused before about what the heck was going on in that scene. LOL.

It's quite funny, at any rate. I'd recommend it, if you don't mind British humor.

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Colds:

I have a cold. Apparently a lot of people are getting sick right now, and I really, really sympathize with them because needing to blow your nose every half minute and having a sore throat isn't fun. Also having your brain start physically feeling like the mushy, heavy, oversensitive thing that it is; I'm getting headaches now and again, which has never really happened before, that I can think of. Sigh. Maybe I'll make soup later or something. (And keep watching copious amounts of Whose Line Is It Anyway?)

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via Pixabay.

Favorite Networking Platform:

I'm curious. Obviously, if you're reading this now and have any intention of commenting on it, you're somewhat invested in Blogger as an internet platform--but if you had to choose, which would be your favorite? Not necessarily in a "if you could only use one for the rest of your internet life" sort of way, just as a "which has the best features/layout/people in your opinion" type of query. Facebook, Twitter, Google+, etc.

I like Blogger/Wordpress as blog hosts since they have a pretty open and welcoming atmosphere, at least from what I've experienced, and they give you the ability to post a huge range of content. But I'm not sure about many of the other "social networking" platforms (except for Tumblr, which is opinionated, fast-moving, and extremely image-based), so I want to know what you guys think. Preferences? Dislikes? Things you'd change about a platform you use?

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Read CassaStorm yet? Enjoying or disliking your weather? Watched Monty Python and the Holy Grail? (And if you have, any recommendations on what to watch next?) Have a cold? Don't have a cold? What do you think of networking platforms and their differences?

And if you've made it to the end of this post, here, have some virtual cookies and/or hugs. (Though seeing as I have a cold, maybe not a hug . . . how about a warm cup of tea?)


-----The Golden Eagle

The Hobbit Blogfest

M. Pax and Tyrean Martinson are hosting the Hobbit Blogfest (or Hobbit Fest) today, in celebration of the book and new movie. Being a fan of J.R.R. Tolkien, I had to participate. It's a simple event--participants just post their answers to four questions about the story.


What is your favorite hobbit characteristic or the one that you think closely resembles you?
I don't think I have a whole lot in common with hobbits, other than being relatively short. My favorite characteristic of hobbits would be their determination in the face of difficulty, even if they don't appear very fierce in their peaceful lives at Hobbiton.

If you could choose between a scrumptious second breakfast and a perilous unexpected journey – which would you prefer?
Oh, probably the unexpected journey. I'd feel too lazy sitting around munching food (even if it was delicious) if other people were doing something.

Have you ever left behind something on a journey (expected or unexpected) and wished you could have it over and over again? (A pocket handkerchief?)
A camera. It drives me crazy to see something interesting and be unable to photograph it.

What is your favorite part or quote from the book that you hope will be in the movie?
You may have already guessed my answer to this one: The eagles! I'm also highly looking forward to the Lonely Mountain. And the elves. And Beorn. And Bilbo Baggins played by Martin Freeman. And--heck, I'm looking forward to  the entire thing.


Who else is excited for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey? Have any of you seen the movie, and if so, what did you think? 


-----The Golden Eagle

Novel Films Blogfest

The Novel Films Blogfest is hosted by Madeleine at Scribble and Edit.

The objective?

How many works of fiction have you seen BOTH the film/TV drama and read the original book, play or comic story?

I love getting the chance to talk about books and movies. So, here I go, in the random order I remembered them:

City of Ember
Not crazy about this one, mainly because the person they had playing one of the MCs looked twenty, and I believe he's twelve in the book. But otherwise, it did stick to the plot.

Inkheart

Changed some things around here, but good overall. They did change around the ending, so it was more like a standalone than part of a series.

A Series of Unfortunate Events

I love this one. It mixed up, combined, and generally chopped up the first three books in the series, but it's funny and stays true to the humorous/weird/mysterious air of the books.

I, Robot

AHEM. That is not Susan Calvin. And who is this detective guy? He doesn't even exist in the original book. In addition, the logic they base the story on is faulty. For example, why on Earth would a robot lean out of a line of identical robots? They're robots. They don't need to see with physical eyes. Unless they're still in the beginning age of robotics, and it certainly didn't seem like it. End rant.

The Rats of NIMH

Another (IMO) flop. They changed the plot--and they changed the message of the story. There's all this magic and fantasy hanging around the science to the point where they practically changed the whole genre. And the characters . . . ack.

Anne Frank

Actually, I only saw part of the PBS Masterpiece show. I turned off the TV when they got to the tooth-pulling part. Also, I don't really like Anne Frank.

Harry Potter

I haven't seen the last one . . . but, overall, I love these movies. My favorites? The Prisoner of Azkaban and The Chamber of Secrets. Go, HP!

The Da Vinci Code

Meh. It wasn't bad, just not my thing. I was more interested to see if/how they changed the book.

Howl's Moving Castle

Hooray for Hayao Miyazaki. I love his movies.

The Lord of the Rings

Great movies.

The Hobbit

The animated one. It wasn't great; I think I've only watched it once . . . I am looking forward to the one coming out in 2012.

Kiki's Delivery Service

I love watching this one. Again, Hayao Miyazaki, and again, it's excellent.

Mary Poppins

Yes, I've read the books. I like the movie better than the books, too. :P

The Chronicles of Narnia

The BBC version, and the ones by Disney, except for The Dawn Treader. Which I want to see.

The Polar Express

They really extended this one. I like watching it once a year, around Christmastime.

The Kite Runner

Got to this one last Saturday, actually. They did a very good job. It lives up to the book.

Twilight and New Moon
Ah yes . . . notice I gave up on New Moon.

Charlie Brown

Does this count? I've read the comics, and we have the holiday videos.

2001: A Space Odyssey

Man, this one is long. But worth it.

The Wizard of Oz

I never particularly liked The Wizard of Oz. It always kind of disturbed me.


Macbeth
BBC Shakespeare; I've watched several others in the series, but not read the plays.

. . . and I'm pretty sure there are more than that, but I can't think of other titles.

***Edit! Reading other peoples' lists made me remember these:***

Eragon

A good movie--though not the best they could have done. (Small, but irritating point: why weren't Arya's ears pointed?)

Charlotte's Web

This was THE first actual book I read. As in, no illustrations, long chapters, and many pages. A jump from the Dr. Seuss I had been reading before. :P

The Secret Garden
Movie is better than the book. I love the movie.

The Golden Compass
They watered down the movie, compared to the book. It was an okay movie . . . but I ended up feeling frustrated. It was like they tried to avoid following the more controversial aspects to the book and ended up with something that was even less satisfying.

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What about you? What films based on books have you seen that you loved (or hated)?


-----The Golden Eagle

Awards

I have been storing up awards for a post. . . and here they are!

The first award comes from Elena Solodow at You're Write. Except When You're Rong. and it's the Versatile Blogger Award:

Which was also awarded to me by L'Aussie at L'Aussie Writing!

Many thanks to both of you! :)

The third (or second . . . depending on how you look at it) award is from Lynda Young ad W.I.P It! She gave the people she awarded the option of choosing which award they wanted, and I decided to take the Magical Blog Award:

Since I love the image of the Eiffel Tower.


Now, you're probably curious to see who I award, so here they are (for various reasons . . . among them amazing blogs, writerly or otherwise):

Adina West at Stairways And Landings for the Magical Blog Award.

N. R. Williams at N. R. Williams, Fantasy Author for the Magical Blog Award.

Ann at Inkpots n' Quills for the Magical Blog Award

Jane at Jane's Ride for the Magical Blog Award.

Jayne at A Novice Novelist for the Versatile Blog Award.

Holly Ruggiero at Scribbles And Splashes for the Versatile Blog Award.

Mary Vaughn at Giggles And Guns for the Versatile Blog Award.

Jen Chandler at Culinary Vagabonding for the Versatile Blog Award.

(Four of each.) And once again to those who awarded me: thanks!

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One last thing. For those of you (lu-cky!) who are going to see Harry Potter tonight . . . have an awesome time, and I'm hoping for your sake and for the sake of the book that it rocks. :)


-----The Golden Eagle