Phobia of the Day

Decidiophobia - Fear of making decisions.


Courtesy of phobialist.com

Phobia of the Day

Arachibutyrophobia - Fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of one's mouth.

Courtesy of phobialist.com

Excuse the Absence!

I've had a pretty chaotic week! After I'd gotten back from Easter shenanigans at a friend's house, the game began. Indeed. Humans vs Zombies week began. The Apocalypse came to my campus.

Humans vs Zombies originated in Goucher College where a bunch of students came up with this eccentric game. It became so popular that it is now played in hundreds of communities and colleges nationwide. More information can be found on their website http://humansvszombies.org/.

HvZ is like a giant "big-kid" game of tag! Humans wear bandanas as armbands and Zombies wear them as headbands. It starts with an OZ - Original Zombie - who tags as many Humans as they can, infecting them. Those tagged by the OZ immediately become Zombies. The OZ wears an armband for the first 24 hours of the game, or until they tag 10 Humans. A tag is quite literally a tag. A Zombie has to chase after the Human and tag them.

Tags, for Zombies, equate to kills for food. A Zombie must "feed" or be "fed" every 48 hours, or they will stave to death. That is the only way to "lose" HvZ. Sometimes some Humans equate becoming a Zombie with losing.. That's not the case. In fact, living without the paranoia of getting mobbed by Zombies is a rather nice feeling. One can only lose if they do not tag anyone.

Tags are regulated through the website hvzsource.com. Every human has an ID number, which they carry with them at all times. So, when they are tagged by a Zombie, that Zombie enters the ID number into the website. When submitting the tag, the Zombie is able to "feed" two other Zombies as well. By feeding fellow Zombies, you increase the survival time of the horde.

Humans are not defenseless! They are allowed to use Zombie repellent. Nerf Darts and balled up socks can stun Zombies for 10 minutes. Typically Humans will stock up on both and fortify themselves in no-play zones. Many Humans will create packs or squads to protect each other and attempt to survive longest. It all becomes about who you know and where they are. By building up one's social network, a person can survive for quite a long time. This is a game of networking and social capital. You don't want to protect someone who can't protect you! Ultimately, you'll get killed for it! But, as a Zombie, you contact your Zombie friends and create a horde. Your horde will go to the missions, or go out Human hunting with you. Both parties are stronger in groups than alone.

Anywho, so this was the game that was played for a week, with missions to keep up excitement. It was supposed to span from Monday to Sunday, but us Zombies took out too many Humans. On Friday, our Moderators gave 7 Zombies (chosen from a lottery) revives, and the ratio of Humans to Zombies was relatively equal: 52:48 or so. But, then came the Friday evening mission. It was a glorious last stand for the Humans, and a magnificent win for the Zombies. 20 or so Humans versus 15 Zombies, maybe fewer. Strategically, the finale was definitely in our (Zombies') favor. So, the game ended earlier than intended.

I was sore, I was tired, I was bloody exhausted... But, HvZ was the most fun I'd had in a while. I met some fantastic people and bonded with some I already knew. Being a Zombie was tons of fun! Sprinting after Humans while going to class made the mundane ... absolutely wicked. So, spread the word! Maybe you can get one started in your community! At home? At camp? Family gatherings? Anywhere!! Check humansvzombies.org and hvzsource.com and find a game near you!!

More books to come! =)

Happy Hunting!
-Isabel

A Children's Book is not Always for Children!

A bit of a rant!

JK Rowling Writes an Adult Novel? I know! Surprised me, too! But, then again, she's such a good author, I'd probably read anything she published. I understand her need to break away from Harry Potter and start something new; something fresh. To be completely honest, I feel kind of proud. 

But, that's not why I'm here. There was a comment left by someone on that post that said the following:

I still maintain that the last 3 books of the Harry Potter series were not children’s books. J.K herself said that a person should not be any younger than Harry is in the books when they read them. It always bugs me when I see them in the children’s section. Those and Phillip Pullman’s Dark Materials. When are people going to realize that just because the main characters are children doesn’t mean the books are for children.

And thanks to that comment, here’s a brief rant on something that irritates me. 

What makes a children’s book a children’s book? So many people classify books with children as the protagonists as children’s books. But this is not the case! Think about it!! Was Harry Potter a children’s book? No! It was a young adult book at the very least! It’s dark! So dark! Lord Voldemort murders Harry’s parents when he’s an infant, and tries to kill Harry for 7 YEARS! He’s 11 when he first battles Voldemort. Eleven! There’s something about that fact that makes me hesitant to consider that as children’s literature. He watches people he loves die and or suffer. He’s told he’s the only one who can destroy an all-powerful dark lord at a young age. Yeah, it’s fantasy-fiction, but that’s a dark world for a child to be exposed to. I’m not sure that it’s an appropriate book for a 4 year old.

I started Harry Potter just after 1^st grade, so I was about 6 or 7 at the time. And maybe that’s a decent age to start. But, there were a lot of things I didn’t understand. Granted, JK Rowling writes for all ages, and with some experience I understood everything. But, I think about things like His Dark Materials and how Lyra’s only 11 as well. That series couldn’t ever be a children’s series! When the Magesterium kidnaps children, Lyra’s best friend gets taken. When she goes to look for him she finds out <they kill children’s daemons to “save” them, which pretty much destroys the children>. Not only that, but <Mrs. Coulter is in charge of the operation and Lyra's mother>. I dunno, there’s something about these books that just doesn’t make them child friendly. It’s like when I read The Shining in 7^th or 8^th grade. Another one! Danny is only 7 or 8, if I remember correctly! Here’s a note for those who thought the movie was scary: it’s not even close to the scariness that the book is. I’m serious. I couldn’t sleep for at least a week after reading the book. When I saw the movie? Completely unfazed. Yeah, Jack Nicholson’s creepy and a great actor, but nah. Didn’t get me as much as the book did. I mean, seriously, <the entire book, you have no idea he’s going crazy>.

Would one consider Grimm’s Fairytales to be children’s literature? No! Of course not! It used to be, but at the same time, it was ageless. The original fairytales we carry so near and dear to our hearts, thanks to Disney, are so much darker and bloodier than we know them to be! I’ve read so many things that are considered to be “children’s” literature, and it’s a shame to see what fantastic work gets shunted to the sections where their demographic will never look for them. It’s rather depressing! Just because the main character of a book is a child does not mean the book is a children’s book! Pick it up! Give it a try! Take The House of the Scorpion for example! Matt is a genetic clone. He is treated like crap. He’s locked away until El Patron has a use for him. Eejits are worked like mindless zombies. It’s a terrible world and not one built for a children’s novel.

If you haven’t read my post about The House of the Scorpion, click here!

There is a theory that due to the Internet and text-messaging and all those shenanigans, that children are now unable to separate from their parents. The whole "being hounded by mum and dad" idea, I suppose. Maybe it doesn't matter anymore? Maybe we're all just really big children because of all this new technology. I somehow can't imagine that. The children in these books grow up so quickly, and we're being restricted somehow. And, yeah, a lot of us "teens" or "young adults" are just really big kids. But, that doesn't mean we can't reach that individuality that so many characters do. Would anyone's character develop if mum and dad held our hands all the way through adolescence? Probably not! I'm just thinking of Buster from Arrested Development. I think, in this society, we can't consider ourselves children. Thanks to technology, we grow up much faster than before. Yes, mum and dad are just a text or phone call away; but, you're still more-or-less on your own. But, a child is still a child. Becoming an adult, in my opinion, is not stripping oneself entirely of that childishness. I believe that you have to understand it, embrace it, and indulge it. Everyone is childlike. Everyone can identify with a child.

Don’t let age brackets deter you! Row! Row! Fight the power, and grab yourself a good ol’ “children’s” book and see what it’s like. You decide! 

Happy Reading!

-- Isabel

Phobia of the Day

Alektorophobia - The fear of chickens.


Courtesy of phobialist.com 

P.S. Hunger Games Film Rant

MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS

The movie was good. A good standalone movie. I liked how it was filmed and the scenery was spot on. Every location shown, I had imagined to look pretty much like it was in the movie. I can't help but separate this from the book, because – in my opinion – the book was better. I'll admit that I'm not a huge fan of the cast, but it worked. It worked for the film. It's just not how I imagined.

Granted, I am a very tough critic. But, when it comes to book-to-film adaptions, this was done well. Those who haven't read the books will enjoy it and be able to discuss it with those who have. The movie was straightforward and took the main parts of the book. I know it was a little over 2 hours long, but I felt like they moved too fast and the passage of time was skewed. 

I just wasn't moved by some of the things that I had been in the books. When Katniss volunteers for Prim, I felt that was well done. But, at the same time, I just – I dunno. It was good. My friend had to hold my hand through Rue's death, but the tears didn't really come until Katniss put flowers around her body and then saluted the cameras. That moment got me. But, I think – more than anything – it got me because I knew it was coming. I sobbed in the book. It's the one scene I was dreading most, probably because I had imagined it differently. I desperately wanted it to be so ... perfect. And, it was good. The dogs scared the crap out of me. When they jumped out! Bah, hate when things do that in movies. 

Also, I don't know if it was just me, but the people from the Capitol dressed really ... oddly. I had imagined that to be very different, too. I almost couldn't take them seriously. It was a little ... well, odd! Haha! Cinna was great – except for the gold eyeliner. Haymitch was great, too! Gale wasn't too present in the books, and so putting him in more shots of the movie was fantastic. (I'm a Gale fan!) Cato was brilliantly played! I wish Foxface had a little more in the movie. I really liked her character in the book. Thresh is the most badass dude ever. I freakin' loved him. And ... umm ...
I think that's it.

The books are so wonderful! I highly recommend reading them – or just the first – before seeing the movie. I try to separate the two, in my mind, because otherwise I don't know if I'd like it half as much. Again, I am a really harsh critic. And I almost always side with the books. Unless it's The Lord of the Rings. Now those – crikey – those are a masterpiece. It's just – the passage of a hero. Someone goes out on an adventure, learns things, and then comes back changed and ready to teach what he/she learned. Katniss is definitely the heroine here. But, with three books in total, I'm not sure if the movie glorified her a little too much, or just enough. I'll have to see what they do with Catching Fire and Mockingjay.

It's tough to please everyone. Especially in a book-to-film adaption. I was satisfied and content with what was presented to me. I will most likely see it again, later on (after this semester is over). I feel like I might've been a little too cynical, but that was my state of mind when seeing it. And, ultimately, these are my initial reactions. I do want people to go see it, though! It was a great movie!

Happy Reading!

- Isabel

Phobia of the Day

Ecclesiophobia - The fear of church and going to church.


Courtesy of nursingdegreeguide.org