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Post by Marina on Jun 1, 2011 18:14:44 GMT -5
Not to be a downer or anything, but we just had a several small tornados in our area. Something I never thought would happen, because nothing ever happens here. Ever. A bunch of people are hurt and trees and cars are overturned, gas lines are broken and power is out in several places. But it's sunny and birds are singing on my side of town. I think I have survivor's guilt.
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Post by Marina on Jun 1, 2011 14:27:06 GMT -5
When conversion to Christianity began, they simply renamed Holidays like Christmas, I think, for convenience. It wasn't so much "convenience" as "your gods are false idols, but we really need your numbers, so instead of pissing you all off and saying you're wrong, we'll just kindly adopt your fluffy little bunny rabbits and whatnot." I realize that this is also probably offensive in some ways, but it's really how the situation always appeared to me. And honestly, I was raised Catholic :-D No, no, I don't find that offensive at all. I think I agree you, I mean, can you imagine being in charge of starting and popularizing a new religion. People, even back then, were lazy, and I think it was just easier to adopt and integrate, rather than come up with new material and change centuries worth of history.
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Post by Marina on Jun 1, 2011 13:57:50 GMT -5
I'm a fan, too! Although I gotta say, the fandom on tumblr has been getting on my nerves lately, so I'm taking a break from them.
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Post by Marina on Jun 1, 2011 13:55:11 GMT -5
I wouldn't say "stole", that is not the correct (and even somewhat offensive) way to put it. Integrated maybe, but even then, it's a bit iffy. I could tell you (as my reason) that the stories are similar because they are based on truth, but the way they are told, is different. Gods are given different names, and holidays are on different days. When conversion to Christianity began, they simply renamed Holidays like Christmas, I think, for convenience. But I don't know much about it, so I'll stop there. *pulls on history major hat* Actually, when Christianity first became accepted (since it was initially banned throughout the Roman Empire, only place that mattered *coughbullshitcough*) and then popularized, they wanted to convert as many people as they could, especially the Ostrogoths, Visigoths, etc. All them Goths, yo. So anyway, they basically...how to phrase this...kinda said "Keep your holidays, just worship our god before yours and everything's cool!" so the Goths were like "Whatevs." and yeah. Then things started getting crazy and there was that whole Gothic sack of Rome (and then another one) and shit just got crazy, yo. Ahh, so see, I wasn't that far off. Thank you for this information though, now I know more.
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Post by Marina on Jun 1, 2011 13:53:05 GMT -5
Ha-ha. Well, if we're going to mention languages we know, but not fluently. I guess I know a little French. I love knowing even a little bit of a different language for when an author uses a different language in a book. Jane Eyre there is some French, Tolstoy uses it, and even Dan Brown. I love being able to know what they're saying without consulting a dictionary!
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Post by Marina on Jun 1, 2011 13:49:22 GMT -5
I wouldn't say "stole", that is not the correct (and even somewhat offensive) way to put it. Integrated maybe, but even then, it's a bit iffy. I could tell you (as my reason) that the stories are similar because they are based on truth, but the way they are told, is different. Gods are given different names, and holidays are on different days. When conversion to Christianity began, they simply renamed Holidays like Christmas, I think, for convenience. But I don't know much about it, so I'll stop there. I may be a Christian, but I am open-minded. And I'm not Catholic, I'm a Protestant
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Post by Marina on Jun 1, 2011 13:31:17 GMT -5
I find Toni Morrison overrated. Of course, she's more modern, but still. Couldn't stand Bluest Eye or Beloved.
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Post by Marina on Jun 1, 2011 13:26:36 GMT -5
I love Greek mythology, and after watching Thor (which I enjoyed, but I think only because I barely know anything about Norse mythology) I want to learn more about Norse mythology. I used to like Egyptian gods too, but somehow my interest in it has waned. I have Hamilton's mythology, but she only has a small section on Norse myths.
Also, after taking a few classes which talk about Greek mythology in detail, and being a Christian, I find it fascinating how many stories are similar. And I want to learn more! Any type of myths intrigue me.
I gotta say Hades is my favorite. Mostly because he is so misunderstood and misinterpreted/represented in popular culture, which drives me nuts sometimes. After watching Clash of the Titans, I was almost foaming at the mouth I was so annoyed. Not to mention Disney's Hercules. I can't even watch it for simple enjoyment anymore. I hate it when they make Hades the bad guy.
I gotta say the Iliad was my favorite mythological story though, I never expected it to be so enjoyable. My friend and I also had a Hector vs. Achilles debate, I sided with Achilles, but had to forfeit after taking a Classics class in college, after I found about how much of a sicko Achilles was.
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Post by Marina on Jun 1, 2011 12:57:01 GMT -5
Anyone else here speak any other language fluently other than English?
I myself was born in a different country and didn't speak English fluently until I was about thirteen. My primary language is Russian.
I fell in love with the language. I practically breathed books, which is why I learned the language so fast. It is also why I became an English major and will now be in a Publishing program in Emerson College.
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Post by Marina on Jun 1, 2011 12:51:13 GMT -5
The word "odd", instead of saying weird or strange, I always say "odd."
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Post by Marina on Jun 1, 2011 12:49:12 GMT -5
In other countries they teach British English, not American English, which is frustrating for anyone who comes to U.S. and find that the British and the Americans have such different ways of speaking. I also wish there was less distinction, but I guess language will always evolve.
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Post by Marina on Jun 1, 2011 11:49:39 GMT -5
I went from being a fan, to a hater, and then to a neutral position. So, I guess I was one of the people who went through the phase, except I went through it before it became popular, so thankfully, I sparred myself from the craze.
Honestly, when I was reading the first book, I thought Edward was going to kill Bella, or turn her. Mostly, because the girl, who let me borrow the book, is a nincompoop who described the book wrong. I was severely disappointed that Bella didn't die or get turned, and I was bored through most of the beginning because nothing was happening. Also, I did not understand where the whole sparkling thing came from. When I read it, I thought that the sun simply shinned off of Edward like it would off a rock. Mostly, because Bella kept describing him like a rock, so I was like hey, he's so polished, he actually shines. The only reason I liked in is because I was swayed by the opinion of the girl. (I was 14, don't blame me, please)
My love for it died with the last novel. Which was so horrible, I was confused for days. The movies are pretty bad too, although I think they get a little better with each one. But because you see everything in the books acted out, everything looks ten times worse than when you're reading it.
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Post by Marina on Jun 1, 2011 11:36:39 GMT -5
I should be reading Russian literature myself because it's my heritage, but of course I'd read a lot of short stories when I was younger. In the U.S, not many people seem to have heard of Alexander Pushkin, and if you love poetry and prose I would most definitely recommend checking him out.
As for the big guys like Tolstoy and Dostoevsky, I'm gonna hold off on them until I can get my hands on the Russian versions. My bragging rights will be through the roof.
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