EvaShandor

I'm a bit like this - if I like a book, I tend to read through it quickly and then go back to check things I'm unsure of. If I'm not enjoying a book, then I can struggle to get through the first chapter in an hour and tend to give up pretty quickly. Some 'difficult' books that have either been recommended to me as a 'must read' or I'm interested in but am struggling with writer style or parts of content, I'll try to struggle on, but it will take me ages to get through it.

James and TetRefine: what about the sleeper boxes that they had on the transport ship in the Fifth Element? XD I'm hoping someone makes these real, very soon! I'll have kids, maybe two, but not until I'm older. I'm still doing training, and I'd like us to have a more stable routine and household before babbies appear (currently in a flatshare, and want to get married beforehand). It's very odd, because I was a later baby, (my parents were 39 and 36 respectively), whereas my partner's parents had him when they were fairly young, around 25 or 26. We're hoping we strike a balance between these two. I worry about my temperarment because I feel like I'm not always very patient, although I'm told by others that I am. I've got no patience for people who misbehave and upset others, whether they are 4 or 40. The last two babies born in my family have been very quiet, happy and like to sleep a lot - I hope that this gene kicks in for me!

This sketch has been stuck in my head for weeks now! Sarcasmaholics Anonymous. http://youtu.be/U2Mc7bTG3-c

There was a fantastic Korean film adaptation of a Japanese manga, called Antique Bakery which must have been released in 2008. (The film is simply called 'Antique') It looks cheesecake-y at first glance, but when you get into it, it is similar in style to Amelie and the soundtrack is fantastic. It follows the story of a young executive Jin who quits his job to open up a bakery - he jokes that it's just to meet women, but it's then revealed that he's done it to track down a murder who is obsessed with cake and who also kidnapped Jin when he was a small boy. Jin enlists the help of Min Seon Woo, a fantastic patessereur(? he makes pastries), not realising it's a classmate he cruelly rejected on their high school graduation, and they're joined by Ki Beom and Soo Yeong, a former boxing champ and Jin's bodyguard respectively. I know how silly the plot sounds from this description, but it is worth a go. The execution of the film is very clever, and it certainly doesn't feel stereotyped. And the cake looks DELICIOUS. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antique_(movie)

Been enjoying this so far, and I really like the characterisation. Each character has their own voice within their POVs, and it continues to stand up. Nice to see Kit's POV as well now.

Hello all, I'm Eva (not really but it's what I go by) and I've been cross-posting my story on GA, which is called Cold Ghost. You can read it here: https://www.gayauthors.org/story/evashandor/coldghost It's a bit of a murder mystery and crime thriller. It follows the misadventures of Joel, a park ranger from Canada and Yukihiro who is a former assassin and gokudo. While on the run, Yukihiro bursts through a window and into Joel's life. Due to assumptions from rival gangs and Toronto’s Violent Crimes Unit, Joel soon becomes trapped in a dangerous web of deceit and is forced to join Yukihiro in completing his mysterious mission. At the moment, I'm just hoping for a bit of feedback. I hope you enjoy it!

I'm about to write a blog post here, linking to ways of getting in contact with people or helping out and information spots and helpful hints about earthquake survival for those stranded. I'll edit my post as soon as I've gathered it all up. EDIT - taken from my blog: As of writing this blog post at 18:35 GMT, there are STILL mini-quakes and small earthquakes on-going. The earthquake hit off the coast of Miyagi pref. and was 8.9 (larger than the Great Kantou Quake) and there was no epicentre - the central zone was split along some 400 km. The toll is rising, and the resulting tsunami is expected to hit other coastlines, such as the US/South America coastline, as well as Australia and New Zealand and many other countries. Headlines and Information: http://iphweb.com/20...ke-information/ http://headlines.yah...000795-san-soci 200-300 Bodies found in Miyagi pref. (Japanese only) http://www.bbc.co.uk...acific-12709598 http://www.itv.com/n...ol-vortex76744/ For those wanting to get in touch with loved ones: Phones lines and train lines are down completely as of writing, but the internet is still working in some areas. If a loved one has Twitter, it is currently your best to get in contact with them. If you are wanting to check on someone, Google has introduced this people checker if want to try and get in touch with someone. http://www.google.co...nquake2011.html Japanese http://www.google.co...nquake2011.html English For those reading who may be stuck in Japan: In areas affected, many public schools are opening their doors to those who cannot get home and acting as shelters. I have received this information bulletin from my former university in Japan. For those interested, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies campus is currently okay - should I hear anything more from the universities I shall post it here. Prepare water, food, warm clothes, flashlight, towels, raincoat, mask...(maybe only japanese ppl have ones), bell or whistle toilet paper, sanitary protections in case. Put on shoes with thick soles when you need to go out for safety. You are also advised to switch off any unecessary electrical plugs. There is free interpreting for foreign nationals who have been stranded by the disaster: http://www.47news.jp...1101001122.html For those who wish to help: Please get in touch with your local Red Cross or embassy to find out what you can do to help. Red Cross is currently taking donations for earthquake relief. http://www.ifrc.org/ http://www.huffingto...f_n_834484.html

I'm not fully aware of what Gervais has done this time - I know that his live stand up is fairly explicit and the radio shows he did with Stephen Merchant and Karl Pilkington, he and Merchant essentially treated Pilkington like their whipping boy. As I understand, most of what he says and does is probably just to get attention and I don't care for his comedy styles. As a 'Brit' (apparently), I do take exception to the idea that we're either gluttonous fans of US culture, or we're sneering down our noses at them, while cursing like sailors. Gervais is a very loud exception, and by all accounts, not an entirely pleasant person either. Looking at your comments about 'the Brits': well, Cowell, Morgan and Gervais are very polarising in the UK as well and not every famous figure behaves the way that they do. They are exception against the rule, and it says more about what the US has bought rather than what the UK will sell. Fantastic works suchs as 'IT Crowd' and 'Life On Mars' bombed when remade for US telly, whereas the likes of 'the Office' and 'American Idol' (originally Pop Idol back in the day) did extremely well. As for 'making it in Hollywood', I would say that it is very hit and miss, as many actors who have only done small bits in UK industry, go on to do extremely well for themselves by comparison in Hollywood. There have been more than a few British actors, and Canadian ones as well, who are mistaken for having been born and brought up in the US. A lot of British musica acts do extremely well to the US in this same way.

Interesting! This is definitely different to the kinds of stories I have been reading so far; the chatty tone reminds me a little bit of Will Ferguson's writings.

I've enjoyed this story so far; you seem to have a keen eye (or ear) for office romances and office politics. Kit comes across as a genuinely affectionate kid, and I'm enjoying your characterisations.

I am! No idea what I'll be writing yet though.

Big Tanya Huff fan! I've read all of the Blood and Keeper books, and I've read the first two Smoke books. Re: Vicki/Vikki, when I read the Smoke books and then went back to the Blood books, I started to like Vicki a lot less. Don't get me wrong, I understand why she was an interesting and important character. Maybe it was the jump in perspective between Vicki and Tony, as even with some of Tony's experiences, he seems to have a brighter outlook. Also I find that she is very smug in the second Blood book. Did anyone else just get this feeling, or is it just me?

Just wanted to say thank you as well, as Ricky has kept me from making any faux-pas with a few swift PMs!

What can I say? I'm a lady who likes her comfort food.

Law & Order UK is not as slick as it's American cousins, I'm afraid. I'd recommend The Bill over it, but The Bill got cancelled this year and that's 25 years worth of YouTubing.

Whoops, I joined here nearly a week ago and only just found this thread today. >_< Well, my name is Eva (my pen name anyway) and I stumbled across the site last week. I write a web serial called 'Cold Ghost' and was hoping to get some feedback while looking for new stories and authors to read. Looking forward to meeting you all.

A big bag of salt and vinegar crisps, big bottle of sweet chili sauce, a big drink and a book, or some QI or Never Mind The Buzzcocks on Youtube.

Apparently some ladies' drives do go into overdrive during and post-menopause. I remember it being discussed on the IHGK forums, and ladies tend to pick up interest at that stage, or it dwindles, sometimes regardless of your drive during your 'pausal' years.

Ah, I love Zebbie's stuff! If you want to find good slash recommendations, The Slash Pile is a very excellent recs community on LiveJournal, and they have a pretty extensive back catalogue. I think a few others from this site are on it as well. http://community.livejournal.com/the_slash_pile

Hi ya, just to add to the list: Zebbie Martin aka Frenchmartini is another fantastic author. I'll link to her FictionPress profile, and highly recommend 'Nerves'. It's a little sugar-sweet, but very good. http://www.fictionpress.com/u/630320/frenchmartini There's also the amazing Jesse Halijeck, author of The God Eaters and writer for the webcomic Metanoia. He does a lot of fantasy and AU writing, but he does have a semi-coming of age story 'Henry and the Shadows'. It's not sugary-sweet, but it does have interesting and well-written ups and downs. http://www.fictionpress.com/s/2631601/1/Henry_and_the_Shadow