Archive for May, 2008
May 31 2008: Sydney, Mmmkay?
I’m off to Sydney again tonight. Things on the agenda include:
- Throwing myself off a plane tomorrow. There may possibly be a parachute involved. If not, it’s been a good life thus far.
- Feeding myself to sharks on Monday. Feed the animals, sacrifice yourself!
- Shopping/sight-seeing on Tuesday. Money is no object…as long as it’s under $10AUD.
I would also have gone to Xuanneh’s 18th celebrations tonight, but he’s being extremely uncooperative and leaving the club at midnight…when I don’t touch down in Sydney until 10pm, and won’t get into the city from the airport until 11pm. Boo for him.
I’ll be back on Wednesday morning…and don’t forget to enter the competition!
Filed under Travel with 11 Comments
May 31 2008: Reviews In Ten Words: May 2008
Non-Fiction
- Paul Challen - The House That Hugh Laurie Built (An Unauthorized Biography and Episode Guide): Shallow attempt, with nothing that can’t be found on Wikipedia.
- Tim Lihoreau - Modern Phobias (A Litany of Contemporary Fears): Forget arachnophobia, think agmenophobia and antefamaphobia. Relevant to day-to-day life!
- Ilsa Sharp - Culture Shock! A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette (Australia): Panders to stereotype of Australian life which no longer exists.
- Susan Watkins - Jane Austen, In Style: Regency lifestyle as a whole, rather than simply Austen-centred.
Fiction
- Sophie Dahl - Playing With The Grown-Ups: Study in unconventional parenting, bohemian life isn’t sunshine and roses.
- Jill Kargman - Momzillas: Identical to all other “Upper East Side NYC” mommy literature.
- Nicholas Sparks - Dear John: Rings false, Sparks’s classic love stories don’t work in modernity.
- Nicholas Sparks - The Choice: Question of assisted euthanasia, and letting a loved one go.
Movies
- Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull (2008): Just like old Indy, until all the sci-fi rubbish started.
Filed under Reviews with 3 Comments
May 30 2008: Jingwen’s Competition #4
What It Is
A competition run by yours truly, in order to give current, and potential, readers of Jingwen a tangible prize. Prizes will differ from month to month. Some may only be suitable for a certain demographic, others will be gender and age neutral.
The Prize
This month’s prize is a brand new copy of a “Deluxe Collector’s Edition, 2 DVD set” of “Shine“, an Australian movie starring Geoffrey Rush as David Helfgott, a talented pianist with a myriad of psychiatric problems. Based on a true story, the film was made in 1996, it has become an Australian classic, and won Geoffrey Rush his one and only Oscar thus far.
Please note that this is not a second-hand copy, it is brand-new and still sealed in plastic! Like the previous month’s prize pack, it was originally a prize I won in an online competition. However, as I had already seen the movie a million times (I love it and highly recommend it!), I thought I’d pass the film onto a new viewer who will hopefully come to love it as much as I do!
How To Win
You will need to email me at acchamanda@gmail.com with:
1. Your full name
2. Your postal address
3. A URl (if applicable)
4. Your favourite Geoffrey Rush movie thus far, and why
You will also need to comment on any entry on this blog between the 30th of May 2008 and 20th of June 2008 in order to qualify for the draw. Please note that the comments left on blog entries, as well as email entries, will be deemed to be the property of Jingwen, and will, in all likelihood, be reproduced for public consumption.
Summary
The winner will be determined on the 20th of June 2008, via random “pick a winner out of a hat”. They will be notified by email, and will also be announced on this blog. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to address them here in the comments for this entry. Spread the word, and good luck!
Filed under Online with 3 Comments