6400 couples kissed simultaneously in Hungary to set a new world record on June 10, 2007. Previously, the record was set by the Philippines. This is apparently a contest between the Filipinos and the Hungarians. The record set previous to the Philippines was by Hungary. When Filipinos created a new record, Hungarians defiantly organized this latest smooching record breaker event.
Since we are on the topic of romance in this Blog, I just want to raise a question. Can this record breaking moment be considered a romantic moment in time? When I first read about this event, I thought to myself this is for sure one of the most unromantic moments. Can you really imagine that while you are kissing the one you love, 12,800 other people are smooching right next to you. Yuck! I'd feel awkward and uncomfortable. Then, a few hours later, I had a second thought. My mind wondered about all the other times people actually kiss in public alongside other kissing couples. Think New Year's Eve, the ball drop in Time Squares at midnight and thousands of couple kiss regardless that they may be in the middle of Time Square, street, home or party. Would I kiss my significant other at such a moment? Probably. Yeah, love is blind and the excitement of the moment can cause all of us to do strange things.
For more details on this record breaking event, you can check it out here on Foxnews.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Saturday, June 9, 2007
Book review - Sweet and Twenty (Joan Smith) is not so sweet
I do not know what made me choose the book Sweet and Twenty by Joan Smith to read, but I do know that I have deeply regret the time I spent on it.
In the book, pretty, but dumb Sara is in need of a husband. Sara and her widowed mother, Melanie, are not smart enough to manage their own estate. Her aunt, Martha comes to "help" Sara by looking for a husband. She brought along Sarah's cousin, Lillian, who is not as pretty, but much smarter and brighter. Lillian (our main heroine character) has so far turned away most suitors, which frustrated her aunt Martha to no end. Martha and Melanie decides to set their cap on a local bachelor Tony Fellows. Tony is also running a local political race against Alastair with the help of his campaign manager, Matthew Hudson (our main hero character). The love of Lillian and Matthew grows as the political race heats up.
When I first began reading the book, I found the story interesting and the dialogue refreshing. Then, the political race heated up. I found myself slowly but surely losing interest. Politics, which involves backstabbing and lying is what the whole story is about. A lot of pages are devoted to the race or how Matt goes about helping Tony win. Of course, Tony is not very smart and does not know his party's view half of the time. This sounds suspiciously like our own politicians.
Half the time, I find myself seething with frustration and the other half of the time, I wondered to myself, when is this story going to end! Maybe, it is that this book is too close to real life. Perhaps there is too much politics involved that tainted the love story. Perhaps, it is simply that I don't like politicians. This is simply one of the most frustrating books I have ever read.
In the book, pretty, but dumb Sara is in need of a husband. Sara and her widowed mother, Melanie, are not smart enough to manage their own estate. Her aunt, Martha comes to "help" Sara by looking for a husband. She brought along Sarah's cousin, Lillian, who is not as pretty, but much smarter and brighter. Lillian (our main heroine character) has so far turned away most suitors, which frustrated her aunt Martha to no end. Martha and Melanie decides to set their cap on a local bachelor Tony Fellows. Tony is also running a local political race against Alastair with the help of his campaign manager, Matthew Hudson (our main hero character). The love of Lillian and Matthew grows as the political race heats up.
When I first began reading the book, I found the story interesting and the dialogue refreshing. Then, the political race heated up. I found myself slowly but surely losing interest. Politics, which involves backstabbing and lying is what the whole story is about. A lot of pages are devoted to the race or how Matt goes about helping Tony win. Of course, Tony is not very smart and does not know his party's view half of the time. This sounds suspiciously like our own politicians.
Half the time, I find myself seething with frustration and the other half of the time, I wondered to myself, when is this story going to end! Maybe, it is that this book is too close to real life. Perhaps there is too much politics involved that tainted the love story. Perhaps, it is simply that I don't like politicians. This is simply one of the most frustrating books I have ever read.
Monday, June 4, 2007
What is Romance?
According to Webster's Dictionary, the word romance has these meanings:
1 a (1): a medieval tale based on legend, chivalric love and adventure, or the supernatural (2): a prose narrative treating imaginary characters involved in events remote in time or place and usually heroic, adventurous, or mysterious (3): a love story especially in the form of a novel b: a class of such literature2: something (as an extravagant story or account) that lacks basis in fact3: an emotional attraction or aura belonging to an especially heroic era, adventure, or activity4: love affair 5capitalized : the Romance languages
I, however, think that the word "Romance" has different meanings to different people in different circumstances. For instance, a movie that contains great love of two people is usually considered a romance movie. But, would it still be considered romance if this great love is broken apart by a great tragedy? Think Titanic. (Sorry, a little spoiler here... ) Rose and Jack never had much a chance before the ship sunk. Kate had a great life post sunken ship incident, got married, had a couple of kids (none of them were Jack's), but Jack was fish food. Yeah, I cried half the movie. I couldn't help but feel sadness and sorrow coming out of the theater. IMDB.com list this movie as Romance. Some of my friends that I have spoken to also think it is a romantic movie. Do I consider this movie a romance? I can't really say so. It's just too tragic. When I finish a "Romance" movie or book, I really hope to feel euphoria, a sense of well-being. I can believe again that great love can succeed and not die with a premature death. So, yes! I would like Romance to have happy endings, where the hero and heroine have the possibility to have a good long life in the future. If not, what is the sense of make-believe!
1 a (1): a medieval tale based on legend, chivalric love and adventure, or the supernatural (2): a prose narrative treating imaginary characters involved in events remote in time or place and usually heroic, adventurous, or mysterious (3): a love story especially in the form of a novel b: a class of such literature2: something (as an extravagant story or account) that lacks basis in fact3: an emotional attraction or aura belonging to an especially heroic era, adventure, or activity4: love affair 5capitalized : the Romance languages
I, however, think that the word "Romance" has different meanings to different people in different circumstances. For instance, a movie that contains great love of two people is usually considered a romance movie. But, would it still be considered romance if this great love is broken apart by a great tragedy? Think Titanic. (Sorry, a little spoiler here... ) Rose and Jack never had much a chance before the ship sunk. Kate had a great life post sunken ship incident, got married, had a couple of kids (none of them were Jack's), but Jack was fish food. Yeah, I cried half the movie. I couldn't help but feel sadness and sorrow coming out of the theater. IMDB.com list this movie as Romance. Some of my friends that I have spoken to also think it is a romantic movie. Do I consider this movie a romance? I can't really say so. It's just too tragic. When I finish a "Romance" movie or book, I really hope to feel euphoria, a sense of well-being. I can believe again that great love can succeed and not die with a premature death. So, yes! I would like Romance to have happy endings, where the hero and heroine have the possibility to have a good long life in the future. If not, what is the sense of make-believe!
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