Love, technology, and hobbitses

tree lent me the Harlequin romance "Baby Down Under" by Ann Charlton, and it was actually pretty good! Short and slight, but the Queensland setting felt very real which was a nice change (I can't remember the last time I read a book set in Australia by an Australian), and the characters felt likeable and real too.

Also at tree's rec, I finally got around to watching "While you were sleeping", and also quite enjoyed it! There was more family drama and less romance than I expected, but it was still very sweet and happy in an adorably dorky 90s sort of way. Also I've always had a thing for Bill Pullman :D

clip-on lenses for your iPhone. This seems relevant to several people's interests.

A useful infographic to help get more out of google. There's a text post with similar tips linked if you can't see the graphic.

I really didn't agree with this article comparing Veronica Mars and Pride and Prejudice. There are some similarities, especially in the father/daughter dynamics, but Elizabeth/Darcy is not like Veronica/Logan, as much as I love them both. Yes, in both cases they're a pair of similar people at odds due to misunderstandings and their prickly resentful natures who eventually work out their differences and fall in love. But that's true of like half of all fictional romantic couples ever. Elizabeth and Darcy are sensible, snarky, and basically decent people who've lived fairly happy lives, and are at odds because they're strangers and don't understand each other yet. Once they work things out their relationship is stable and happy. Veronica and Logan are traumatised, moody, and obsessive, they've known each other for years and are at odds due to tragedy and other people's lies (and the fact that Logan is legitimitely a jerk). Their relationship is messy and dramatic and breaks up several times, eventually for good. Also: Darcy isn't remotely tortured, and if Duncan is anyone it's Bingley, sheesh. The Wickham is that charming con artist Veronica dates for a while.

Finally: The Hobbit trailer OMG