2009 Reading: #2

1. Family Circle: The Boudins and the Aristocracy of the Left by Susan Braudy

2. The Sea-Hawk by Rafael Sabatini. Entertaining melodrama. I read Scaramouche a few years back, so I got about what I was expecting with this one--a thwarted romance, a man of property wronged, intrigue and adventure and subterfuge. Interesting for the way Islam is portrayed as perhaps superior to Christianity in the eyes of the protagonist; I don't think you'd find many adventure books taking that stance nowadays. Lest ye think this is a wholly enlightened book, however, rest assured that the gender relations depicted herein are a throwback to at least 1915, when the book was written. I was intrigued by the way Sabatini approaches his protagonist--in more than one way he is not entirely heroic, but the unjust actions of those around him keep him in the reader's sympathy. He's not Ender by any means--thankfully--but it's something to think about.

Bruce Lee Week Day Three

"When insubstantiality and substantiality are not set and defined, when there is no track of changing of such, one has mastered the formless form. When there is a clinging to form, when there is attachment of the mind, it is not the true path. When technique comes out of itself, it is the Way growing out of no way."

- From Striking Thoughts: Bruce Lee's Wisdom for Daily Living.

Bruce Lee went into space twice: once on the Apollo 14 mission, when he fought and defeated the LunaTicks, and again in 1975, when the g'Hynt Empire removed his body from its resting place and restored him to life so he could save them from illiteracy.

Except For All That Existential Fear

Your Word is "Fearless"

You see life as your one chance to experience everything, and you just go for it! You believe the biggest risk is being afraid and missing out on something amazing. Sometimes your fearlessness means you're daring. You enjoy risky activities. And sometimes your fearlessness means you're courageous. You're brave enough to do the right thing, even when it's scary.

What's Your Word?

Best Friends!

(Via used_songs.)