[book review] Catching Fire.. I already ate dinner..

Catch the joke? I really did just eat dinner, though.

My brother incidentally informed me that he had the hardcover edition of the second book of The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire. With nothing better to do, I read it. As per the first book, the second book loads on the action and the hold-your-breath moments, with scarcely an attempt at allegory or a deeper theme other than survival. The beginning one-third of the novel aimlessly drifts around as the main character, Katniss Everdeen, aimlessly drifts around in her newfound fame. During this time, I fought between my boredom and my anticipation of another Hunger Games happening (why yes, I read the Wikipedia article beforehand). In Catching Fire, the string of storytelling that Collins winds about our minds is not stretched as taut and is not as compelling. Katniss may be a likeable character, but only grudgingly so, as I became increasingly frustrated by her ability to boil things down to, well, all about her.

Verdict: read if you have time and would like a not-bad-to-fill-the-time-with thriller. Otherwise, I strongly recommend you have a go at its companion Wikipedia article. In my experience, the article is more concise, and skillfully kills Curiosity the Cat.

[book review] The Hunger Games.. I’m hungry, when is dinner coming.. someone feed me..

I watched The Hunger Games movie on the way back from China, and then I saw my brother’s copy of the book lying around this afternoon, so I thought I would finally see what the hubbub was about. Ultimately, there is quite a lot to hub and bub about in The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. It is a fast-paced thriller that is fast-paced and thrilling. The thrilling part is derived from the setting and what happens, rather than from the flat one-dimensional that inhabit its universe. It is not unpredictable; more accurately, I simply turn the page to confirm what is quite obvious. Nonetheless, crafting a story that pushes me to personally confirm the ending– despite watching the movie and reading the Wikipedia article– is no mean feat. In the end, The Hunger Games is still only a young adults’ novel; in this sense, it draws comparison to Harry Potter for its wild popularity for the younger generation. However, as The Hunger Games has only its thrills to rally fans, it falls rather short of Harry Potter‘s multi-generational appeal (humor, mystery, etc).

Verdict: read if you are a so-called ‘young adult’. If you are an adult or old adult, cook me some dinner, because I am hungry.

Extra: I figured out my ‘leisure’ reading speed from reading The Hunger Games. The speed is around 427 word-per-minute (I spent three hours reading it, The Hunger Games is approximately 76,800 words long). To compare, an average reader is around 150-200WPM. Nonetheless, the bottom of the speed-reader pit can easily reach 1000WPM.

[three book reviews, one paragraph] Americana time! Uncle Tom’s Cabin, The Tragedy of Pudd’nhead Wilson, Little Women

Are you ready? I’m going to attempt to review three books in one paragraph!

I love pre-Civil War drawings! I mean, stick anything with Civil War on it and I love it automatically. I'm looking at you Homer Winslow!

Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe, The Tragedy of Pudd’nhead Wilson by Mark Twain, and Little Women by Louisa May Alcott were all extremely quick reads; they were not exactly thrillers, but the character development were all masterfully executed so there was continual curiosity to see how so-and-so turn out. Does Tom ever make it back to his master and his family? Does Pudd’nhead Wilson ever shed his terrible nickname “Pudd’nhead” and successfully become a lawyer? Will the little girls ever grow up to be grand old ladies? Yet, despite this investment in the characters, what happens to them is rather expected. If you have read a great many novels, you will probably begin to predict, with alarming accuracy, the outcomes of these respective Americana novels. Nor are the novels’ characters particularly original. For example, though, Uncle Tom’s Cabin was central to rallying sentiment behind the abolitionist movement, in today’s standards, the roles that the African Americans are portrayed in are condescendingly stereotypical, the “mammy”, and the “unerringly faithful manservant”. In Little Women, the main female characters are so good and look up to their mother and father as saints– all of this is interspersed with random Alcott preaching a pious style of life– it’s a bit sickening at times to be so opaquely preached at. Overall, in these three novels, the main characters’ only redeeming qualities are that they are good. They are not antiheros or villains, they are good people to which interesting things happen, and they develop in response to these interesting things in a “good” way. More than anything, these novels serve to reaffirm our beliefs in the goodness of the human mind and heart.

verdict: if you are in search of quick reads of American flavor, go for it! Twain is always good for extra laughs. For those who particularly enjoy romance, I recommend Little Women. In the last 20%, your heart will be broken (mine was broken severely; I had to read a lot of fanfiction before I could get up the courage to read the rest of the novel).

[kpop/WTF] rumor: pervert-coordinator-noona? verdict: false! UPDATED

***updated 14 June 2011, 13.35 EST***

Thank you to the Korean fans who have been vigilant in letting the truth out, and left comments (I assume they’re trying to post this all over the internet, so it’s all of the same refrain). Please read their comments for further clarification, so you can judge for yourself whether this rumor is true or false. (I would lean towards false!)

For the most part, I am keeping up the original text and my original reaction so others can read what was said at first, and can judge for themselves whether this rumor is true or false. However, I put “false” up in the title, and for the verdict, I wrote the rumor is false, so there should not be any confusion or bias. I also removed the picture!

Thank you for all your hard work–especially being able to respond  in a respectful manner. That is, I’m going to trust you guys aren’t spewing bad words behind my back on your forums! I certainly hope not.. I’m not evil.. as far as kindergarteners go.

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This has been spreading via Facebook and Twitter just this morning, and though I hate to break my all-tech post theme, I thought it was a highly interesting read. Following is a compilation of fan accounts by a Korean BEAST fan (a B2uty).

I’ve edited it for some grammar and style.

Before reading this, note that this is the source I originally saw this on. I did not make it up by myself, and nor do I vouch for the person who wrote this. As peoples say, “I don’t make the news, I report it.” It’s ultimately up to you to decide what is real and what is fake.

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The background. Within the idol groups, there is one particular female coordinator, who was first a DBSK coordinator, then SNSD’s, then Lee Hyori’s, and who recently became SHINee’s coordinator as well.  The problem is that she is infamous with ALL idol fandoms as mean, harsh, disobedient, a fox, and a pervert. DBSK fans were extremely angry with her, because she touched their bodies more than she needed to, and pretended to be so cute with the members. With SHINee, when they had fanmeets, she would stick right next to the members and glare at the fans who wanted to get signatures and look down upon them.

When fans send fan letters, presents, etc. to the members, the coordinator’s and manager’s job is to just give it to the members. However, this coordinator would open them up herself, read it, then rip it, and finally throw it in the trash without letting anyone know.

When she was a coordinator for SNSD, she would wear her tracksuit to work and be careless with her job. When she worked with DBSK and SHINee, she would wear miniskirts and keep back-hugging them in front of everyone.

There is one story that a SHINee fan explained. She was a normal Korean high school student, and she went to this SHINee fanmeet with her friends. She wanted to meet her biases and was so excited. However, the coordinator was there, and turned the fan’s hopes completely around. When the members did not see, she would push the fans’ heads with her hairbrush telling them to get the ”fuck out of her way” and look down upon them. Once, as a joke at a fanmeet, a fan yelled loudly, “Jonghyun-oppa! Marry me!” and all the members took it as a joke and laughed. The coordinator got involved and yelled back, “He’s not going to marry a stupid and ugly idiot like you, your hopes should disappear!!!!!” and then the place went all quiet. After this fanmeet, this group of girls complained to the coordinator as she walked back. The coordinator swore at them and laughed at them without pity, and said, “You guys are so stupid. Is this really a big thing–to see a celebrity? I see SHINee’s naked bodies every day” and continued to brag about it. The fans were so upset that they tried to leave, but the coordinator suddenly took one of the girl’s hands and rushed to search for a phone in her pocket. She was looking through the phone and then said, “Phew, good thing you guys weren’t recording what I’ve said. I would have killed you guys if you did.” She then threw the fan’s phone at the ground and left.

Also, at this showcase, backstage, where all the fans could see–apparently, Jonghyun’s zipper was down. She could have just told him to put it up, instead she put the zipper up herself. The fans got mad and called her a pervert, and she did not seem to mind. She would act so kindly to the male idols and would be a rude bitch, and an antagonist to the fans and the girls. She is like a legend to all fandoms, and when she moved to SHINee, the DBSK fans warned SHINee fans about her because they had to deal with her before.

Why I am telling you this, is because..

THE COORDINATOR NOW MOVED TO WORK WITH BEAST.

Right now Naver (Korean site) is crazy with B2uties being upset. This infamous legend has moved to work with BEAST, and everyone is sad about what could happen next. I have always heard about this coordinator for the past six years from when she was working with DBSK (at their debut). She was a bitch, and everyone thought of her as a pervert.This really is not just a “fan” problem: she got sacked by S.M. Entertainment, J.Y.P. Entertainment, and two other agencies for her misbehavior and fan treatment. Now she is with Cube Entertainment. She has already begun her actions; BEAST just recently had their fanmeet, and she would stick right next to them, and will not move. A Korean B2uty asked her to give her drawing to Junhyung-oppa, and explained it took 16 hours to draw. Apparently her dream was to be an artist, and she was amazing at it. However, the coordinator looked at the drawing, smirked and ripped it into pieces on the spot and put it in the trash, and then went to back-hug Junhyung.

As Korean fans know, a few days ago after Inkigayo (you know how managers and coordinators are like, 24/7 next to groups), she was back-hugging Junhyung tightly, and the BEAST members just took it as a joke and as being friendly. But she is always like that. Why this issue rose again is because of Inkigayo, for after their performance, when they were leaving for their vans, there was a fancam recording Junhyung back-hugging the coordinator as he was walking, and being friendly. B2uties were hella angry.

Yeah, that is the story. It is much more serious than you think. I have been reading the blogs of Korean B2uties, and some of them are like:

“To you, we may be nothing; just like you treat as us rubbish. We buy 20 albums so we can get one signature of BEAST, and wait for days at the door of Music Bank just to see BEAST for three minutes on stage. When BEAST cries, we cry, when they are happy, we are happy. When I have hard times, I push myself to feel positive because I can see BEAST. It doesn’t matter BEAST doesn’t know my face, because I know them. It doesn’t matter that they don’t love me as a person, because I love them. To you we might be mental, but this is how all fans feel. Korean fans–us, we draw BEAST for 20 hours erasing, drawing, erasing, all over again by the thought that BEAST might not like it. We take the time to just see BEAST’s faces when they see our drawings, and you just rip them into pieces and leave to hold hands with BEAST. Is this how you can treat us?”

Well, this is the story. You know how the different fandoms always fight against each other? Do you know about BEAST Ten Minutes? It was last year in the Dream Concert when the BEAST performance was on, and the other fans would sit there quietly for ten minutes. BEAST cried.

But as soon as everyone knew this coordinator is now with BEAST, the SHINee fans are warning each and every B2uty about her. By the way, Jonghyun was hit on the head and physically abused a lot by this coordinator backstage. I am hoping Junhyung will not hurt our fans’ feelings and understand us, and not be too friendly with this coordinator.

source; shared/edited by theinnocentlam

This retelling is simply awful, if in fact, it is true. Some thoughts on this account:

1. Jonghyun’s zipper issue and physical abuse: I feel embarrassed for Jonghyun about the zipper thing. I think this incident struck home for a lot of fangirls because of the close proximity to you-know-what and subsequent jealousy. However, there are just people who are brash like that, and some of them are nice people. So I am not too fazed about this. But physical abuse?! That is unacceptable under any circumstances.
2. Despite her misbehavior and outrageous actions towards fans, how is she still able to work with so many idols? (a) Idols may not be complaining (b) Fans are not complaining enough–Cassies were strong enough for JYJ to form, so they definitely have the strength (c) she’s sleeping with the heads of S.M./J.Y.P./Cube (d) Idols actually like her.
3. BEAST Ten Minutes?! Are you freaking kidding me?! You’re complaining that this coordinator is mean, and you guys are all meanies too!! This is probably reason #9559 I despise hardcore fangirls. Just because you are in one fandom does not mean you cannot support another group, officially or unofficially. If they are doing a good job, they merit your applause. Just refusing to clap for them because they are not your fandom is spiteful. Hypocrites!!! (UPDATE: as said below, Beast 10 Minutes is a false claim!)
4. Does she not realize who is paying her salary? The check may say Cube Entertainment, but all of Cube’s money derives from fans. But who are we kidding? Do we think that B2uties will actually boycott BEAST until the coordinator goes away? Just reading that representative blog entry from a B2uty made me shiver: “it doesn’t matter they don’t love me, I love them!” It’s just a thin line to stalker.
5. In my opinion, this pedo-coordinator has extremely low self-esteem. Getting so obviously close with the male idols is just code for “I don’t feel good about myself! No one likes me or notices me! So I have to stick myself to idols to get noticed!” Treating people like they are beneath her just indicates how little dominance she has in her own life, so she feels she needs to vent it out on fans, who really cannot do much about it.

Verdict: this retelling has a lot of exaggeration, and is false for the huge, huge, huge majority. I, for one, cannot imagine Jonghyun getting physically abused without a sizable backlash, because although the coordinator may be uncouth with her words, physical assault is something that is definitely punishable by law. When Jonghyun had surgery for his leg, he was out for a good two months and more–S.M. takes physical trauma seriously, and I don’t understand why they would not take this seriously as well.

This just draws attention to how much worldwide fans of Korean groups are in the dark about the things that really go on in the kpop industry. It is disheartening.

[kpop/rumor] rumor: Taemin got a nose job. verdict: …

Rumors have been circulating that SHINee’s Taemin has gotten a ‘nose job’ and gotten rid of his little ‘hook’ and made his nose a bit straighter:

I have already generally outlined my view about plastic surgery on kpop idols. For the most part, I am against it, and for the record, I am universally against plastic surgery after debut (barring circumstances like accidents which do require reconstructive plastic surgery). It is sort of pointless after debut, after they have already established an image. Unless one has a radical face change, a general reshaping of the face will not really bring in more fans. In Taemin’s case, it was even more pointless, because it was so minor. General reaction from Shawols: we will love Taemin regardless of a nose job. So this was useless–fans who loved him before will not stop loving him, and due to the minor nature of the surgery, Taemin did not really grow any more attractive. Rather, one could argue that he became less attractive, because there are some people who dislike the concept of artificially modified idols (me).

Throughout this whole process, I wonder who is tugging the strings, who says okay to the doctor holding the scalpel. I wonder if Taemin, at the end of his short idol life, will feel regret or satisfaction. I wonder when the joyride will end, and I shudder to know the consequences, inequitably distributed on one side.

Verdict: Taemin likely has received minor plastic surgery on his nose.

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