Some random verses I thought I'd share

From afar,
He could be watching the seagulls at his feet
But closer-

***

Life is delicate.

Like a flower,

Buried in the sand

***

Pure, quiet, country air

Grayscale hills as far as one could see

                                                                              ***
They were one.
-but
day breaks, and only the sheets are left to dance the dance of love

Google+ and YouTube

Hey good looking, what's cooking?

If you're a fan of YouTube and use it regularly, then you might have noticed the changes that have started to be implemented around the site. This mainly effects the long time users with a channel, and who are frequent commentors (is that a word?) such as myself.

So a few months back, YouTube started asking me if I would like to start using my full name. I refused, and continued to stubbornly refuse every time that silly little window popped up. I like my user name (Spangldee) and prefer to use that and stay anonymous.  Then the option to have background art was removed and replaced with banner art.

All these dumb things piled up for this one change...

YOU MUST HAVE A GOOGLE+ ACCOUNT TO COMMENT!!!

I ignored this for a couple of days until I wanted to comment on something (today). Such a difficult process. I had to create a new channel that uses my full name, and so I thought that all my subs and favourite videos had gone! But alas, they were in my OTHER channel, the Spangldee one (for which my display pic was removed). So if I want to comment, I have to manually switch to the new account, then switch back so I can access all my old likes, faves,subs, etc. 

Just as an aside, I never use my Google+ account, it seems pointless. Google version of Facebook basically. 

A pointless rant, I know, but I (and many others, I'm sure) would be happy if integrating with Google+ was a choice, rather than being mandatory.

A very funny guy (check out his videos! He does really good impressions) called Brock Baker sums it up nicely: 

I'm sure it won't be long before the YouTube logo is Googlefied.
First world problems, right? Excuse me while I go sign some petitions...

TTFN

M.F.S

Things that have gone wrong and things that have gone right for me this year

Hey peeps!

So we're in October now, and I've recently been reflecting on how things have gone for me this year. Now it's time to share it on the web! Yay. So I think that each positive/negative event has a positive/negative result or behaviour...so let's see how this works!

Positive: Broke up with my controlling, possessive boyfriend in January. Negative: He basically stalked me for the next two or three months, which got so bad that I had to get a trespass order against him.

Negative: Had to do a statistics paper this year. Positive: I survived! Passed with reasonable marks.

Positive: Went diving at Slipper island and out at the Alderman islands. Negative: There were heaps of ants...and the trip wasn't long enough

Positive: Friendships have gotten much closer. Negative: Some friendships have started to drift.

Positive: Been reading lots of classics this year. Negative: I don't seem to have enough time to read all the cool young adult books before I get too old.

Positive: Got lots of new farm skills. Negatives: None!

Negative: One of my best friends moved to Perth 3 years ago. Positive: I'm catching up with her in Melbourne for six days in December!

Negative: I finished a legislation report half an hour before it was due, and expected to get a really crappy mark and therefore fail the paper. Positive: I got an A grade and passed the paper!

Positive: Going to see Michael McIntyre live in November!

Negative (though this was only a negative for a week or so, after I got over the jealousy and anger bit): My ex got a new girl. Positive: I got a decent hair cut...chopped like 2 inches off. Change is good.

Negative: Didn't get a student allowance this year. Positive: I got a job that pays heaps more than an allowance would.

So yeah! Some cool things in there :)

TTFN
M.F.S

Some thoughts while tired and trying to write a very long report

This isn't procrastination, I'm practicing my typing skills!

If, in NZ, we are able to sign forms without parental permission and have sex at 16, buy alcohol, buy lottery tickets, and enter bars when we are 18, are able to have a couple then drive and go to casinos at 20, then why, is parental income considered a form of financial support until we turn 24?? Well at least I think it's some crazy age like that.

Society needs a slap in the face. Society does not know how to treat its vulnerable.

LEGGINGS ARE NOT PANTS

Thermo-meter.

Fast Car - Tracy Chapman
She Will Be Loved - Maroon 5
Big Machine - Goo Goo Dolls
UNI - Ed Sheeran
Drunk - Ed Sheeran
(lonely moments, late nights, sometimes I wish these songs were my life)

Jodi Picoult, stop being such a good author. You're distracting me.

I spend too much money on exotic sweets

Goodnight!

Nah not really. Here is some poetry. Consider yourself lucky

'Wishlist'
Everything I am.                                                                      
I want you to know,
Everything.
Like how sometimes,
I want to crawl under the blankets
And forget the world.

Will you forget the world with me?

(written/a/very long/time/ago)

 I'm still me, right?
   Despite everything, everything, everything.
                                                         

Blackfish: Movie review

Couldn't be bothered to do this yesterday, so here it is now!

Last week I went to Rialto cinemas (by myself!) to watch the Blackfish documentry. It premiered at the Sundance Film festival, and was brought to NZ as part of the New Zealand Film Festival. It's about orca whales in captivity - specifically Tilikum, a large bull held at Sea World in Florida. The film focuses on the killings of human trainers by whales in captivity, and the controversy (and excuses) surrounding it. It's heartbreaking, yet also acts like a slap around your face, pulls you from the cocoon of your safe little world and reminds you that humanity freakin' sucks! You can't help being mesmerised by this doco, and I can guarantee you'll walk out of the theater with new thoughts and ideas. 

Go see it! Now! It's good to fall out of your comfort zone once and a while. Here's the trailer:

Official website,

And the original article that inspired the director

CLICK!

TTFN,

M.F.S

Book reviews

I'm really bored, this is gonna be three posts in one day haha.

I have a few weeks off course, so naturally I took myself to the library to pick up some novels:

The Perks of Being a Wallflower - Stephen Chbosky

The Maze Runner - James Dashner

Beautiful Girls - Beth Ann Bauman

Mortal Fire - Elizabeth Knox

The Dragon Keeper - Robin Hobb

Await Your Reply - Dan Chaon

Finding Alice - Melody Carlson

I've finished the first 5 in that list, and have just started Await Your Reply.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower - Stephen Chbosky - Young Adult Fiction - Coming-of-age

First up, I'd already seen the movie and loved it (wasn't Emma Watson gorgeous?!) so I was expecting the book to be heaps better. It was! Surprisingly the book to movie adaption was really well done, no key points were missed, however the movie did leave out some of Charlie's humor. You really got a sense of the tension and anticipation of the story as it progressed, and I really felt like I was part of it, growing up and understanding the world as Charlie did. That's a rare thing to find in a book, and not only did I feel pulled in, it was hard to separate myself when the end came. 10 million stars and a round of applause.

The Maze Runner - James Dashner - Young Adult Fiction - Sci-fi/fantasy

I was recommended to read this like 4 years ago by two of my good friends, but only picked it up now, it had always been taken out at my local library, for good reason! I'm a big fan of sci fi, I read Goosebumps a lot when I was a kid, then when I turned 14 I read a lot of Neal Shusterman (Bruiser, Unwind, Full Tilt, Everlost Trilogy) and Patrick Ness (Chaos Walking Trilogy and A Monster Calls) which I still read. The Maze Runner has a awesome plot, young teenage boys have had their memories wiped and been sent to a giant maze somewhere, which they've been trying to solve for two years. The climax of the story was excellent, I never saw it coming, and usually I'm pretty good at predicting books and movies. Awesome book. There's a sequel as well, but I feel the story would be better off as one book.

Beautiful Girls - Beth Ann Bauman - Adult Fiction - Short story collection
Yes a short story collection. All about girls and women, all beautiful heart warming (or wrenching) stories. I loved them all, and it inspired my to write my own short story, something I've never really been good at (I'm more of a poet).

Mortal Fire - Elizabeth Knox - Young Adult Fiction - Fantasy

If you've read the Dreamhunter Duet, then you'll love this! I read them a couple of years ago on recommendation from a friend, and loved them. Mortal Fire was just as good, if not better. The concept of the story is very original, I've never come across anything similar, and I consider myself pretty well read. The world of Mortal Fire is (geographically) set in New Zealand/ Pacifica region, and intermingles with the world of Dreamhunters (which no longer exists). I can't really give a summary without writing a million words, so here's the blurb on Goodreads. The only thing I had to fault is that the concept and rules of the magic is a little hard to follow, had to re read some bits to completely understand it. But then again I'm a fast reader, so it might be just me.

The Dragon Keeper - Robin Hobb - Adult Fiction - Fantasy

I found this while looking for Perks of Being a Wallflower. Stood out to me cos of the dragon, haha. I love dragons! This book is Book 1 in the Rain Wild Chronicals, and after finishing it, I know I'll definitely be reading the rest. It's in third person, and follows several different characters, and the mingling of their lives. It's about a new generation of dragons that have just emerged from their 'cases' after hibernating for half a year. They were previously sea serpents, so it's kinda like the transformation from a caterpillar to a butterfly. But something went wrong, and the dragons emerged stunted - couldn't fly and and wern't properly formed. The local city has been feeding them for 4 years, now they've decided they can't carry on doing so, so the dragons are being shepherded up a river (Rain Wild river) by the Dragon Keepers to find an ancient dragon city that they have in their memories. I enjoyed this book, but it was a little bit too predictable.

That's it for now! If you've read any of these books, I'd love to hear your thoughts and opinions, so comment away!

TTFN

M.F.S

Calvin Klein gel eyeliner and Maybelline Dream Fresh BB cream

Hey peeps!

If you've been following my blog, you may recall that in my list of procrastination techniques, I mentioned practicing makeup application, and that I was crap at applying eyeliner.

Hopefully that will be no more! I purchased some Calvin Klein gel eyeliner in cocoa sheen, and love it after my first application. I don't claim to be a makeup expert, but here's my opinion:

• It's super smooth and creamy, and it was easy as to load up my brush
• Goes on easy, and made a pretty good line
• Colour was good on the skin, in the pot it looks like it has a bit of a sparkle to it, something you don't notice once it's on
• Easy as pie to blend.
• But, maybe not so great if you want a sharp, precise line.

For me the colour was great, I have golden blonde hair with dark green eyes, and black is a little bit harsh for my liking. The brown colour isn't that obvious, especially once you apply mascara. I will admit though, I didn't check reviews of the product until after I had bought it. From what the internet was saying, it was a crap eyeliner. Mine came new and unboxed so I didn't get the brush. All good in the hood though because I have my own set of brushes. If it had come with the brush, then I think this review would've been not that great: It's small and pathetic- click here!

So five stars for this eyeliner! Super pleased.

UPDATE: I wore the eyeliner today, all day (24/09/13) and found that it wasn't very long lasting. To be honest though, I'd been wearing from 6:00am til 4:00pm which a good 10hrs. I only noticed it had disappeared when I took it off. Not a big factor for me, purpose of my eyeliner is to cover up the blonde roots of my eyelashes. This is just mentioned if it bothers others :)

I couldn't stop with just applying the eyeliner though. I had to apply a full face of I'm-getting-drunk-tonight-and-maybe-a-little-slutty makeup, to get the full effect. I'd received a sample of the new Maybelline BB cream in the mail today so I substituted that for my usual foundation (Natio mineral liquid).

Ugh, wish I hadn't!

• Far too dark for my skin tone, I almost turned oompa loompa like. It promised to 'blend in with your natural skin tone' Whatever, Trevor. It did nothing of the sort.
• Was ridiculously thick! I used bugger all but it still looked like I'd caked it on
• Not easy to blend in (I just used my fingers)

My normal foundation is a million times better than that BB crap. And girls go out every day with this stuff on!? This is only for the Maybelline stuff, though, I can't speak for other brands.

Negative stars times infinitely for this tar like substance.

Clearly I am not affiliated with Maybelline lol, if I were they'd sack my ass or sue me or something.

TTFN

M.F.S

(Which stands for MarineFantasyStudent. I like marine things, fantasy books/movies and I am also a student. WOAH. Haha.)