Introduction

So you probably (if anyone ever does) wandered across my blog haphazardly, you are probably truly questioning what the purpose of this blog is, and by proxy, my sanity.
Never mind dear Watson; you are about to go on a journey into the horrific and insatiable mind of a 17 year old girl who has a rather strange taste for knowing things that others don't. And delights in it.
Classical Books, basic psychology, what is interesting in my macro and micro world, not to mention favorite words that only poor unsuspecting victims (that's you dear reader) will ever come across (or hear me use) and of course interesting facts I have been privy to at school.

So really, my friends, it is a documentation to record my perilous journey into 'becoming smarter' and generally ruling the world one nerd at a time.

So sit back and try to enjoy the mechanical workings of my irregular thought.

Not an excuse, but an explanation (Akrasia)

WORD OF THE POST: Akrasia (a-CRAY-zia) Noun.                                                                                                    The state of mind in which someone acts against their better judgement through weakness of will, even to the point of contradicting their own morals. From early 19th century Greek 'akratos' with 'a' meaning 'without' and 'kratos' meaning 'power and strength'.

Well lets face it. Despite all promises of future and/or scheduled updates, we, using common sense and the evidence of sparse continuity found within this project, know will never be achieved. Why, one might ask? In all attempts at honesty, I think too much and do too little. Yes, all the energy I use for thinking over interesting, however pointless possibilities makes it increasingly difficult for me to communicate coherently and perform action. This can be seen in all aspects of life, my room taken for example. When my mother asks why my room in never clean, I have two main reasons. 

1. My room resembles my mind. Messy and disorganised to the untrained eye. Totally and utterly chaotic. But in most instances, I know where everything is, even if I can't walk across my floor without stepping on something.
2. Why bother cleaning when you can create awesome theories? One such theory was created through the merging of two of my favourite things – Scott Ridley's Blade Runner and Plato's Allegory of the Cave. Are the humans we see in Ridley's futuristic universe the 'shadows' of the replicants, whom have not only physical superiority, but moral as well?

However, in moving on, I guess I'll give you a quick run down on life since my last update instead of rambling on. Highschool and the HSC are finished. No longer am I required to write essays on belonging within Shakespeare's “As You Like It” (which in my opinion, is the worst of the Shakespearean works). Obviously, while overjoyed of new found freedom and time, I miss formal education and can't wait to get to university if I get in. Until then, however, I will probably spend my time looking for work, reading, gaming and trying to avoid people for the most.

 Nonetheless, hopefully I might be able to update a little more (I might even update TWO MORE TIMES before February if I'm lucky). If so, I hope to share with you my account and experiences of Phillip K. Dick's “The Man in the High Castle”, information on the Myer-Briggs Personality Type Indicator, as well as all else I may find interesting.

Anyway, some interesting facts;

 1. The construction on the Parisian Notre Dame Cathedral began in 1015 A.D and was completed in 1439 A.D. That's more then 400 years.

2. Cracking knuckles DOES NOT create or exacerbate arthritis.

It does, however, weaken muscle and joint ligaments, resulting in not only pain, but reduced grip strength. Even so, it sounds terrible.

3. Not Everyone dreams in colour.

In fact it is estimated that 12% dream only in black-and-white. It is suggested that those that dream in only black-and-white dream less vividly and less often.

Leaving you with that, till next post.

Zombies Sleep? HELL THEY DO!

WORD OF THE POST; Prognosticated prog-NOS-ti-cated
To be prophesied or foretold of.

1375- 1425; late Middle English came from Medieval Latin "prognosticatus" meaning 'sign of the future'.
Well my fellow night owls; its late here in sunny Australia, and once again due to my inability to stop thinking, I can not achieve a blissful sleep. So nothing too amazing from me tonight. Any-whom, I have read Collapse by Jared Diamond, and I am telling you now (right now) if your into that sort of thing, and don't mind old statistics, you will probably want to read it, it's quite amazing.
So, now I'm beginning to ramble due to lack of sleep, but I am about to give you TWO (that's right, two) amazeballs tips for HSC. Hopefully it will be the start of many.
So new segment.

ZOMBIE SHAYS' GREAT HOT TIPS FOR DOING (RESONABLY) WELL IN THE HSC/ EXAMS.

1.  If you have trouble going to sleep because of constant over thinking (which may be a result for getting in school drama's or your a nerd and study roughly five hours), write a conscious stream journal. Its where you write every single thought in your head before bed so you don't dwell on it during or before those important zzzz's.
2. Stop drinking coffee RIGHT NOW. And if you do, don't drink five a day. It's like your brain commiting suicide. Not fun for anyone.

OK, Nighty Night Night. Hopefully to catch some sleep (PLEASE JUST LET ME SLEEP!)

Muses and the word Perused (plus a whole lotta awkward)

WORD OF THE POST; Perused pe-rus-ed
To read thoroughly and carefully



Comes from the Middle English word "perusen" which means 'to use up'.

So! Happy 141 days before Australian HSC! Can you sense the sarcasm? Or the sound of the impending doom which to become all of Australia's Year 12 adolescence? FEEL THE FEAR!
In a serious manner, not long before the rest of my life is decided by a rather obsolete exam. I am quite nervous, but even more nerve racking is the choice of which university (and course) I am to study. OH THE CHOICES! To choose between Medicine, History and Linguistic Anthropology! How do I choose? Well I'm sure I can leave that for later ... right?

Anyway, here is some interesting information that will (or may not) benefit you;

1. The movie "Blade Runner" blows my mind. EVERY. TIME. I seriously believe that Ridley Scott is a cinematographic mastermind, and I am so excited to see his newest movie, Prometheus. It shall be a moment.  In other words; If you have not seen this movie, GO OUT AND GET IT NOW! or stay at home, eat chocolate and think of me being ever so disappointed in you. I am and will continue to judge you.
2.  Even though women make up 50.2% of the total Australian Population, they only make up 30.8% of Australian Parliment. I don't know whether to get my feminism on OR be disappointed in the ladies out there. Once again, I am judging you. Right now. At this moment.
3. I am currently reading three books at the same time, and have quite a few on my bedside table. Yes, I am reading "Collapse,  How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed", by Jared Diamond, "The Inky Fool; The Etymologicon", by Mark Forsyth and "Common Phrases and Where They Come From" by Myron Korach. I can't help myself! And I don't have enough time in the day to read them.
4. The words Awkward, Egg and Skirt come from the Scandanavians. Thank you Lord Scandinavians for making awkward conversations even more awkward by allowing us to use the word awkward, awkwardly. Even its' spelling is awkward. A-W-K-W-A-R-D.
5. Wearing headphones for an hour will increase your ear bacteria by 700 times.

Leaving you with that wonder fall thought, Good Night
Shay.

Accept this sincere apology and some useless information!

I would like to publicly apologize for my lack of blogging this year. It has been forever, but fear not little cherubs! I never forgot you, I was just preoccupied with the HSC year. Nonetheless, tomorrow! I swear to you (in my own blood) that I will update!

So to keep you slightly interested for tomorrow here is some wonderfully useless information from the book I have started reading "Common Phrases and Where They Come From" by Myron Korach.

"Samuel Langhorne Clemens, known by most of us as Mark Twain, took his name from the idiom 'mark twain', a command 'barked out' by Mississippi riverboat captains to their boatsmen. It was a request to mark the river's depth as they travelled upstream in uncharted waters" (page 7).

Will write tomorrow! (and more regularly)
Shay

Just Some Words from our sponsors....or not!

Ok, so I come home from the lengthy epoch-making journey around the corners of Australia (ok, to Victoria) and have done limited of anything other then eating, drinking and hanging with my beautiful new baby cousins; shout out to Charlie and Dustin (and I have got to admit, love the new baby smell). So no great "OMG! Tolstoy makes me wanna cry!" or "I peed myself with excitement when I read Jane Austin". However, there are quite a few things I wish to grab you attention with.

Heather; Is my cousin, is younger (a month makes a whole difference) definitively smarter and optimistic. So she has created a wonderful blog which I definitely implore you to go too. NOW! (you will find it here). We also are attempting a band. We've named it Jelly Fish in Suits, chosen from previous bedroom antics that were all legally filmed on camera.

Books;
So driving through old country towns you find incredible books. Mikey, my dad, found this incredible picture journal of the second war year by year, and I settled with a Herb book, a New Scientist (which every article alarmed me at my impending death of rickets and other possible causes) and this little gem;

FOSSIKING FOR OLD BOOKS, by Anthony Marshall.

Found at a truck stop, this is going to the head of the pile of my favourite books. It is about a second-hand bookseller and his run ins with thieves, books on eucalyptus, procedure on book fairs, nostalgia for the art of buying good quality books and much more. An exceptional book which I recommend to anyone.
(a review from the age.com here )

I also managed to score a book lent to me by my wonderful Aunty Tara. I haven't read it yet, but we have similar tastes and whatever she recommends, I love. Shown by my previous addiction to any novel by the legendary (and quite unknown) Walter Moers.

Anyway, hope your all keeping safe, and keep reading (cos I know I am :p )

Dirt Music/ Tim Winton is a Literary GENIUS! (Absonant)

WORD OF THE POST; ABSONANT Ab-SON-ant
Dichordant; Unresonable.

Appears in the Mid-16th Century and derives from Latin with "ab" meaning "away,from" and "sonant" meaning "sounding"


"The Dog rasps at the door. It knows the rules but lives in hope, although paradise awaits inside"  (Dirt Music, Tim Winton)


Dirt Music, masterfully written by acclaimed Australian author Tim Winton, is an enrapturing novel that utilises prose to illustrate the significance of an intrinsic and extrinsic sense of identity that enables humanity to create holistic human connections.

It tells  the story of 40 year old Georgie Jutland who has centred herself in a world of inconsequential cyber hum drum and social isolation. Trapped in a shallow marriage and in a position of domestic drudgery and alcoholism, her world is obliterated through a chance meeting with the equally damaged Luther Fox that leads them on an adventure of self-healing and a sense of belonging with each other, themselves and their natural landscape.

Tim Winton describes this novel as a love/ romance, however in my own reality, I found the relationships and character development to be quite superficial and demoralising for all involved. I find Georgie self-centred, Luther Fox unwilling to become a centre figure and the ending unbelievable.

Nonetheless, his use of description is quite unprecedented. He manages to depict the raw power of the wild Australian outback without diminishing its unfathomable beauty. Quite frankly, it is worth reading, if not only for the exceptional detail and imagery it provides the audience with.

In other news;

(1) WELCOME TO THE NEW YEAR!
Ah, yes. 2012. Another year in supposably heralding the end of the world and the end of my HSC. If we survive that long.

I'm quite ready for this year to be truthful. My new years resolution was to be better at everything. Sounds quite arrogant and vague but that is what it was. What were your New Years Resolutions?

(2) Kindle
The Kindle is awesome. I got one for Christmas and while I miss books, it is so much cheaper and easier! Do get one!

(3) Future Posts
I plan on posting after getting back from Victoria and seeing all my family. I still have to comment on Paul Auster's "New York Trilogy" and  Steig Larson's "Girl who kicked the Hornet's Nest". Did you hear the English Version is coming out? I do plan on seeing it but English Versions always ruin originals.

(4) Current Reading
I am currently reading War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy. To put it lightly IT IS AMAZING! However surprisingly it is taking for ever to read. And with school starting soon, it maybe a while before I finish it.

Anyways, Have a great Holiday (for those who are) and keep reading