Disqus - Latest Comments for kirasha

Re: Ordinary Girl, Extraordinary Dreams

kirasha — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 11:10:03 -0000

Awww....poor thing looks so uncomfortable!

Re: When social networks are one-way streets

kirasha — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 14:17:55 -0000

"Social networks, for me, are one-way streets. I try to make my voice heard above the chatter about the latest service, the newest shiny gadget. But my input is of little value. They know I’m not one of them. I’m an interested voyeur, a watcher, a listener. I’m a simple techno-priest among the internet gods. My understanding is far below theirs."

You have stated perfectly here what I've often thought of my own participation in these forums and networks. Although, I think I'm even further removed from things. There's nothing wrong with hanging out on the sidelines, though. Heck, the guys on a bench who never play in the game still get paid for sitting on the sidelines with a clipboard, right? :-D

Re: EsoRen Fanfic: Into the Maze, Part 2

kirasha — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 13:48:27 -0000

OMG! I can't believe I never noticed! I'll have to find the CD with the original files from the event still on it. I can say that at most you're missing about 200 - 300 words, judging from where part 3 picks up. But, eek! *rushes off to go find the original*

Re: EsoRen Journal - Musings: Confessions of an Information Junkie: Part Two - FriendFeed

kirasha — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 13:08:57 -0000

I'll have to keep it in mind to look into once the site is up. It's only showing a blank page for me right now.

Re: In a polarized society, will moderate viewpoints die?

John — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 20:57:57 -0000

Thanks Kirasha. I knew there were some of us out there.

Here's one of my loud squeaks from moderatedom- Eliminate "slippery slope" arguments in political debates. It's the hollow argument both extremes make against what is otherwise an acceptable compromise.

Re: In a polarized society, will moderate viewpoints die?

kirasha — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 14:44:39 -0000

I think I have to agree with John. When they're screaming to the left of you and shouting to the right of you, it's difficult to be heard. Doesn't mean you're gone, just that no one's paying attention because your wheel isn't squeaking as loudly as the other two.

Re: Imagine This: Two Days Left Until Day of Blogs

kirasha — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 17:51:35 -0000

Hi Moira~! Great to meet you. :-D We're getting pretty excited to get started. Hoping for loads of fun. Thanks for stopping by and for the compliment on the page. I actually hand-painted the background in photoshop (except for the tree, but I took the picture it came from). So, that made my day. *g*

Cheers!

Re: EsoRen Fanfic: Out of Time, Out of Mind

kirasha — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 10:06:42 -0000

Thank you! :-D Yes, it is a WIP. Although Chapter Two likely won't go up for a couple weeks or so because of time constraints. I'm posting it to both this site and my IJ and when it's up in it's entirety I'll put a pointer up at lupin_snape as well.

Re: Wandering Path

kirasha — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 23:27:14 -0000

LOL No kidding!

Re: Visual Inspirations

kirasha — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 23:26:16 -0000

You are very welcome. It's a gorgeous piece.

Re: Boom in Teen Readers?

cedorsett — Sat, 31 May 2008 17:53:01 -0000

I am glad to hear that you are finding so much crossover. I do wonder sometimes if "young adult" has become a short hand more for "books featuring kids" or for a certain "overly imaginative" fantasy.

For me, this is a promising trend that will hopefully keep the written word alive.

The internet also has a big effect on the youth culture too. While the popularity of video sites and podcasts is undeniable, there is an abundance of text that people are consuming. The kids are IMing and TXTing each other all the time, all of which takes the stigma from reading that existed when I was in school.

I am amazed to hear all of the kids I talk to here talking to each other in terms of their MySpace blogs. They are writing to each other, and reading what they are writing. That makes it easier for writers to convince them to read their work.

But I am curious what percent of the increase in "young adult" book sales can be attributed to adults buying and reading these books.

I have to smile though at the thought that there is a peer pressure to read a book, any book, Harry Potter or not. That is a form of peer pressure I can endorse.

Re: Boom in Teen Readers?

kirasha — Sat, 31 May 2008 13:39:57 -0000

I've spent a lot of time with those in their late teens to early twenties, the 16 - 22 age group, because I've been very active in fandoms like Harry Potter for the last few years. Other than Harry Potter, honestly, they're reading the "adult" fiction. I met one girl who, at 14, told me her favorite books were Anne Rice's Beauty series. And then I meet adults who read Potter and Twilight. The thing is though, half the books on the 'teen' shelves are adult fantasy and sci-fi. The Hobbit may have been written for children, but the trilogy wasn't. When I was a teenager, I was already long past 'teen' books and well into Amber, Shakespeare, and Dragonlance.

I think the difference is going to be writing style, though, to a degree. Even in those teen novels that don't seem to be writing down to their audience, the level of language is not the same as in 'adult' fare, for the most part. I read them as something that's good for a quick read, an afternoon's entertainment. But for the most part writers for teens don't take risks for the most part and I like a story and a writer who take risks, both with the characters/plot and the structure/language. And the kids/teens I know who read them like having something different, something that doesn't necessarily parrot the same teen dramas they already see every day in school.

I think the first quote from the thirteen year old in that article probably speaks more to the real reason behind an increase in teens reading, though. Todays' television and movies aren't worth much, remakes upon remakes upon reality game shows. Books give kids a better chance for real entertainment. (And Mum's less likely to yell 'put down that book' as often as she does 'turn that television off'.)

You also have a lot of movies and television being based on books again, particularly for kids and teens -- Harry Potter, Twilight, Narnia, Ember, even the Hobbit. I know any number of teens who have started reading these books because they enjoyed the movie or the television series (like Women's Murder Club or Blood Ties). There's also the peer pressure factor. I know, at least in parts of the Harry Potter fandom, it's a mark of pride to be able to say you were a fan of the books before the movies were made.

Of course, that's all only based on the kids I hang with, and I'll admit, those kids always strike me as more mature than their average peer. heh.

Re: Kirasha's Recs and Links

kirasha — Thu, 29 May 2008 22:51:32 -0000

I think the mythology is the societal/environmental reaction to that genetic impulse that some can't understand. Perhaps it's another symptom of It's-different-so-it-must-be-wrong-or-somehow-less-itis? Some of those without that creative drive belittle it because they can't understand it's value fully, while some of those who have that drive belittle others with it in some misguided idea that it makes them less if more people share it. In both cases, as in other issues of 'my way is better than yours', I think it all boils down to they feel something is missing in their life, or they don't have the confidence in it, so they try to make more out of what they have/think/etc/ than what you do/think/etc.

The aforementioned ex was one of those. He used to be very involved in music until about halfway through college, when he came to the decision that, as a business major, he couldn't continue such distractions because he needed to focus solely on practicalities that would get him somewhere in life. That was about when the comments on my own pursuits began. Maybe in a way, he was jealous because I wouldn't give up what he had? Who knows.

Re: EsoRen Musings: Birthday!

kirasha — Thu, 29 May 2008 00:47:28 -0000

Well, if you saw that one, there's no need to feel bad about not replying to this one. You don't have to respond to all of them. ;-D

Re: EsoRen Musings: Birthday!

Adrianne Vandal — Wed, 28 May 2008 00:35:40 -0000

Oh I saw that one!! Didn't you see my comments?

Re: EsoRen Musings: Birthday!

kirasha — Mon, 26 May 2008 23:33:04 -0000

LOL Probably shouldn't mention I posted it on LJ too, then, should I? ;-D

Re: EsoRen Musings: Holiday Fest Recs, Part One

kirasha — Fri, 23 May 2008 17:17:18 -0000

Why thank you, dear. I try. :-)

Re: EsoRen Musings: Holiday Fest Recs, Part One

kirasha — Fri, 23 May 2008 17:16:55 -0000

Why thank you, dear. I try. :-)

Re: EsoRen Digital Art Gallery: Magical Friends

kirasha — Fri, 23 May 2008 16:23:53 -0000

hrmm....

Re: EsoRen Digital Art Gallery: Still afield in Middle Earth

kirasha — Fri, 23 May 2008 16:22:00 -0000

is anyone else sick of seeing me test things? LOL

Re: EsoRen Digital Art Gallery: Still afield in Middle Earth

kirasha — Fri, 23 May 2008 16:19:10 -0000

Testing the gallery too...

Re: Esoteric Renaissance: Beginnings…

kirasha — Fri, 23 May 2008 15:41:02 -0000

Testing again

Re: Esoteric Renaissance

kirasha — Thu, 22 May 2008 00:35:45 -0000

one more test

Re: Esoteric Renaissance

kirasha — Thu, 22 May 2008 00:06:03 -0000

Testing to see how these come out.