The Tertiary Tyrannosaurus

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The Tertiary Tyrannosaurus

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1ChaChatheSkimasaur
Feb. 20, 2015, 7:11 pm

Hello Librarything! Woops, I lengthily hiatused again. There is a plethora of books which I would like to talk about: 1.) Though I mentioned Catcher in the Rye frequently in my "Ayn Rand Essay," I never gave a post dedicated purely, and explicitly, to it. 2.) Recently, while taking the SATs, I noticed a question concerning "The Harlem Renaissance." I thought 'what is that?' and, after looking it up, it seems to me a perfectly appropriate topic for February, considering it's Black History Month... however, since I dawned upon this realization 8 days before the end of February, let's pretend March is really black history month. After all, I'm sure there's enough history concerning the black race that the abundance of subject-material to discuss is certainly worthy of satiating the time given by any month other than literally the shortest one. That being said, I see no reason not to immediately start now. 3.) Otherwise, something which has piqued my curiosity, which has demanded my attention, is the recent discoveries of YouTube channels like John Green's CrashCourse and WiseCrack's Thug Notes, which both delve into analyses of famous literature. Later, I would like to discuss these channels more in depth, as well. 4.) I swear Remember Me is not dead. It'll happen, you'll see!

2ChaChatheSkimasaur
Feb. 28, 2015, 12:39 am

Now, although it was aforementioned, don't get your hopes too high for the Harlem Renaissance. I would love if it did happen, but it probably won't (on this thread).

3ChaChatheSkimasaur
Mrz. 1, 2015, 9:27 pm

There have been developments with Remember Me! Not any particularly drastic ones, just that I'd like to mention I went back today and reviewed what I read. Though I've maintained this is an especially contemplative book, which requires a lot of your attention simply to figure out what's going on, on the second read, it can be blasted through. In fact, the faster pace sort of heightened my comprehension of what was going on, because my brain just sort of snapped into "immediate mode." I tried to pick up where I actually left off later, but found that trying to do it immediately as I'd been doing before didn't work nearly as well as it previously had. So, my suggestion to anyone willing to embark on this novel is to simply re-read it. It is much better the second-time around, once you've circumvented all the crypticism.

4ChaChatheSkimasaur
Mrz. 22, 2015, 3:19 am

I know this is unprecedented, concerning the structure of my threads so far. Usually, I pick a list of books or things to talk about and work my way through it. Today, however, I would care to delineate from books and talk about a certain game I've been playing recently (for the very console I'm typing this on).

Professor Layton v. Phoenix Wright is brimming with biblical allusions, or at least clear aspects of religious philosophy. The Shades outside of Labyrinthia all resemble one another, yet are not the same. Some are female, some are male. Some are tall, some are small. One thing I noticed, however, is that they all have one (and arguably their most distinct) feature in common; a steam-punk-esque gas mask with two protudings coils resemblant of an old-fashioned salt-shaker attached to a reimbursed slinky.This reminds me of how the amish are noted, almost primarily, physically, from their large beards which hang off the sides of their chins.

I wouldn't venture to stipulate something as heavy as that, however, without stronger evidence than a peculiar artificial wooden face. When I really first conjectured as before, it was because a shade mentioned that they work so hard at their 'task' (as well as they all do) to, mayhap, one day, gain approval to re-enter Labyrinthia from the Great Witch. Another common theme amongst the shades is that they hold the Great Witch in the highest regards, and always work at their task in a constant battle to impress her. This seems reflective of the God-fearing tendencies of the amish, who are known to work all day in order to satisfy God, and maybe even humble themselves and say they should work all night as well. It is very Calvinistic (though, to be fair, Calvinism is more likely a derivitave of amish-ish philosophy as opposed to the other way around).

Then again, I've never been amish. This could all be based on a highly anecdotal and unreliable perspective of what amish people are and what they think and believe. Then again, I'm not too worried about offending them over the internet. If anyone has any ideas, opinions, or complaints, feel free to post.

Besides the Amish however, Labyrinthia is controlled by three enteties; the Storyteller, who writes all that which will happen in Labyrinthia, a high Inquisitor, who manages the Inquisition, and the Inquisition itself; an order of knights which police the town. It is not too far a stretch in perspective to see how this set-up of Labyrinthia could be reflective of the Holy Trinity. As far as which one is which, however? I'm not entirely sure. It just seems to me that one component of the spectrum is neutral, one is omnipresent, and one presents ideas of what the law should be. The Storyteller, would represent the Holy Father, due to the separation of himself from the public. One is omnipresent; the Inquisition is scattered throughout all of Labyrinthia, which would make them the Holy Ghost, and High Inquisitor Darklaw would represent Jesus, seeing as how she decides how the law should deal with the public, and henceforth vice-versa. I know Jesus never actually controlled such an empire as the Inquisition, but he certainly did augment the way people thought about the legal aspects of judeo-christianity, which is an inarguably significant aspect of the New Testament. Because Darklaw controls the Knights of the Order (previously referred to as "The Knights of the Inquisition/ The Inquisition"), she also can significantly change how the town's denizens would feel about complying with the law.

Some of you may be wondering, however, how anyone with a name as ominous as "Darklaw" could possibly be a metaphor for the compassionate Jesus Christ of scripture. Well, I agree. Darklaw seems very villianesque to me, and in fact, I'm convinced she's the main villian (though recently I've begun to doubt it; it's too obvious). So, I propose a secondary theory. Although the powers which govern Labyrinthia are still a trinity of sorts, perhaps they're a twisted spin of the holy trinity, wherein Jesus Christ would be surrogated by the devil. Furthermore, a much kinder character, Espella Cantabella, offers twice to sacrifice herself as the Great Witch Bezella (whom isn't the same person as the Great Witch mentioned earlier) to end all witch trials forever, and prevent any more burning of innocents (or the not all that guilty, really). This sounds a lot like the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, so that we may all repent for our sins.

Furthermore, Espella has a vision, earlier in the game, where she sees the Great Fire (a disastrous legendary fire set to Labrynthia long ago). She's convinced, sort of, that it's a distant memory of her once being Bezella, but I think she's wrong. I don't think it's a flash-back, it's a flash-forward so that Espella knows that which she is to be preparing for. Jesus knows the prophecy of the rapture, does he not? I think what Espella really saw there wasn't the horror of inflicting the great fire, but rat

5ChaChatheSkimasaur
Mrz. 22, 2015, 3:20 am

her being the only one able to prevent it.

6ChaChatheSkimasaur
Mrz. 30, 2015, 5:45 am

Hello LibraryThing. It's so late at night that it's early tomorrow. Why am I up this late? In part, because I was finishing Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright, in the climax of which Professor Layton enjoyed prolonging by mentioning about 7 more "one-more-thing"s per "one-more-thing." It took, literally (keep in mind, literally literally, not tumblr literally) hours. I loved it... but I'm gonna go ahead and not get into it. Just recall that their are clear biblical allusions, but don't presume it's just a boring reflection of the bible. I hate when people do that... specifically, my English teacher. Like, there was one time she talked about the ending of Candide's garden being allegorical for the garden of Eden and there's nothing to implicate that besides the word 'garden.' Like, as I was reading it, I knew she would try to make it go there, and I knew her other little devout religious pet, and those who have already figured out you can just throw Jesus haphazardly in there somewhere to pretend like you ever thought about it in the first place, would ease on down that road as well. Hey, though, I have a lot of harbored hostility towards religion. I probably shouldn't with this spiel.

7ChaChatheSkimasaur
Apr. 18, 2015, 12:16 am

Around two days ago, I watched a film on Netflix entitled "Life Itself." It's a documentary based on the memoir of Roger Ebert, the famous film critic.

It was an unforgettable experience. The film was heart-breaking, inspiring, and at some times, even painful. The image of the painful smile left on Roger Ebert's face ultimately resembles a strange, fitting attitude to the story. It is a movie which you will not be able to resist telling your friends about, and, in order to properly appreciate the concise writing style discussed, I will end my minor review of sorts on it with this simple statement; thumbs up.

8ChaChatheSkimasaur
Jul. 29, 2015, 7:36 pm

Hello! I'm here, not for a particularly large update, but just because I wanted to say that I've been getting into non-fiction lately. I blame Prager University for asserting that males have an inclination towards the genre. Also, I sampled "The Fault in Our Stars," recently. I used to think that type of thing was right up my alley, but not so much, anymore. Essentially for the same reason Pee Wee Herman won't watch his own movie. Bee tee dubs, I got a Kindle recently. Alright, that's all for now. Bye!

9ChaChatheSkimasaur
Aug. 8, 2015, 9:59 pm

Opinion on The Fault in Our Stars
For those of you that may be vigilant with keeping up to date with my stuff (mom!) you may have noticed that I added John Green's "The Fault in Our Stars" to my collections recently. However, I must explain, I've only sampled it. I have far from read it.

Listen, as someone who was, at least once in the past and probably at some point in the future, an aspiring author, I don't want to seem to be too harsh on other people's novels. Yes, even if the success they've had warrants the idea that they can buy away any insults flinged their way with the disposable income necessary to drown themselves in enough cookies and ice cream to fling the insults away. However...

I just can't do it, man. I mean, have you attempted reading the first few pages of that book? We all know the main character's afflicted with cancer, but she narrates like "So anyways my cancer started cancering the cancer I have on my pet cancer so I had to ask the cancer to get the cancer removed. By the way, my favorite constellation is cancer, which I have...
Cancer."

Now I know that probably seems unfair and as if it's a threshold of cringeworthiness that can be easily triumphed over with just a deep breath and anything resembling an interest in John Green's story. However, I don't feel my duty as a reader, or even someone giving an opinion, is to be "fair." Truth be told, a lot of the mechanisms our subjective minds fall victims to are wildly unfair, and the reasons behind distaste, dislike, disgust, and pretty much all the 'dis' words are prime examples. Yet, I kinow that supporting that, you may be wondering "then why I should care what you have to say?" I'd simply rebutt by asking "why you should care what anyone has to say?" and then we'd drop it.

If for some reason that retort wouldn't be sufficient for you, however, and you really wanted me to ellaborate, I might assume that the reason I'm telling you is because I think I wanted more from it. As someone who has definitely had a relationship akin to that held with Hazel Grace (as in, this female is extremely depressing and lonely, and VERY aware of it) I also figured that I would relate to the novel in one circumstance or another. Even if not from the perspective I expected, perhaps from Hazel's perspective instead, but no. Heck, even if I couldn't find anyway to like it, I assumed that maybe I could vigourously and self-righteously hate it, for the exact same reasons I expected to relate. However, it's just so...
eh.

Maybe part of me feels that it was written by someone who doesn't truly understand the experience, but I'm certain that that statement might step on someone's toes, since it could have just as easily tapped into different layers of emotion I had never perceived or understood during my time. Maybe I actually do know what this feels like, but being someone who has lived through it makes you realize you no longer desire it. Basically, "once you been thru' that John Green bullshit you ain't never again gonna want it." The whole "broody young misunderstood" thing is not one-size-fits-all, and definitely not the ideal romance. Perhaps part of me is absolutely infuriated that anything might even possibly be pushing for it, the idea that "this type of thing" (continuing on with a doomed relationship because "love too stronk") is ever a good idea, or worth admiration.

Once again, really not trying to be harsh, but especially seing that Paper Towns has also got its film, it's clear to me this is something people really care about. I expected more, but yet I'll still implore;
Is there something more to this story that I missed? (I mean, yes, the entire thing beyond the first few pages, as I mentioned in the beginning, but I'm clearly asking moreso about the whole attitude and general idea behind the whole thing)

10ChaChatheSkimasaur
Dez. 16, 2015, 7:17 pm

CHRITHMATH!

11ChaChatheSkimasaur
Dez. 21, 2015, 6:16 am

So far, I'm fairly certain I like The Gift of Acabar. I've read about 4 chapters.

12ChaChatheSkimasaur
Dez. 21, 2015, 6:18 am

So far I'm pretty sure I like The Gift of Acabar. I've read nearly 4 chapters.

13ChaChatheSkimasaur
Dez. 29, 2015, 5:34 pm

I don't know why I like Woody Allen movies. To be honest, most of my time is spent thinking about how bored out of my mind I am, but that thought quickly dissipates when I look up at the time I've spent watching the movie, and I realize that there are only five minutes or so left. Amazingly, they all seem to end nearly the exact moment I want them to. That may not sound like much, but it is incredibly difficult to get my attention at all. To have captivated me for however long is just as hard whether you're a two hour film or a twenty minute exercise.

Then, I watch them again, and I still don't get it, but, I love the films. Maybe I relate to Woody Allen's pretentious self-righteous indignation towards other pretentious people; in other words, that's my kind of asshole!

Similarly, I now struggle to say much good of The Gift of Acabar. The main character, Tulo Mattis, bores me. He is a type of boy genius that I feel I have seen played a million times before. This is only made worse by how hyperbolic his characterization is. He is said to have read all the books in the library (BEWKS!) even though he's only been in school for a few months (very few, 2 or 3.) Maybe I'm just a slower reader, but that doesn't sound like it would be possible for someone who should have schoolwork and chores to manage. To be fair, they also say the library is pretty small, but I sincerely doubt any library anywhere is that small, (unless it's this one ) especially not in a school.

Also, a minor digression. Isn't it just so lame when a work has to praise its own art form? This sort of meta thing books and movies and especially music will do sometimes where they attempt to prove to you how amazing BEWKS are because "they make you smarter!" and how heartfelt music is because it "makes you cry" and things of that nature just makes me wonder, like, why even make the damn thing in the first place if you feel the need to prove to us that it has merit for existing? The quality should speak for itself.