Read More! Read More!

I've always wanted to learn how to do expandable summaries for my posts, since (1) I've always had the tendency to be a lengthy writer and (2) my reviews usually have a lot of spoilers. At first, I thought the feature was something readily available at Blogger (like something you just tick in the menu of options in Settings).

Unfortunately, it's much more complicated than that. There is a need to actually do some HTML tweaks. And seeing the entire raw code of my Blogger template really reminded me of how much I sucked at my programming courses in school. But for the love of my blog (LOL), I attempted to figure the whole thing out anyway (and by that I mean follow instructions and doing some copying-pasting). I tried following the instructions on Blogger Help but to no avail. Sorry to say, the whole section wasn't so helpful, Blogger Help. There were some missing steps or tips, and it seemed like it was written under the assumption that everyone is a natural programmer or coder.

Luckily, when the main resource fails, there's always Google. After perusing a couple of sites, I found the one that seemed user-friendly enough in this blog called Coder's Talk (and it is!). I followed the very clearly illustrated instructions (complete with screenshots and highlights) and eventually hacked it! Yey!

To anyone who might be interested in creating their own expandable post summaries, I highly recommend following Coder's Talk. I have three final notes:

1. Never attempt to tweak your HTML code without saving a back up of your original template. You can do so by automatically saving a back up (this facility is readily available in the Edit HTML page of Blogger). Or copy-paste the entire code to a Word file for easier access because the HTML back-up file needs to be run via a HEX editor or some other non-standard program. Or just do both to be sure. :D
   
2. After following Coder's Talk's instructions to the letter (well, sort of), I was still unsuccessful initially. What I did was type in the p tags missing from my original HTML template (and mentioned in the instructions) and viola! It works! Yipee! :D
3. The final step in the process requires you to edit your post template. Should you wish to post something without the read more link (or whatever it is you wanna call it instead of 'read more'), you would have to delete the code from your post template otherwise your post might have some missing text once published.
   

Happy expanding and collapsing, bloggers! :D

Baby Proof: Proving It

True to being an Emily Giffin fan (says my Facebook account :P), I eventually picked up and read Baby Proof. Honestly, judging from the title and synopsis alone, it was the least interesting of her books to me, so much so that if I were to forgo reading one of her books, this would have been it. Luckily, there is no limit as to how many books I can read because Baby Proof was definitely a good read, and I can truly say it can give Something Borrowed a run for its money (and we all know the first book, which popularizes the author, is usually hard to beat).

Baby Proof tells the story of Claudia who is married to Ben. The couple, perfect for each other in every way, have come to the agreement that they do not want children in their lives. Ben, however, has a change of heart, which puts Claudia in the terrible predicament of choosing between Ben and what she wants (or doesn't want), in a matter as serious and important as having a baby. Women in general are expected to want to be mothers, and it is very rare for a woman to insist with absolute certainty that she does not want to be one. This is where Baby Proof takes off from, and what follows is a very mature tale that still has all the adorable trademarks of an Emily Giffin novel - great writing, interesting retorts and anecdotes here and there, and an overall appeal that women can easily relate to. It is without a doubt, Giffin's most serious novel but it was intelligently written (not in an brain-draining way).

I give out my usual spoiler warning, but if you wish...

I thought I would be reading about the disintegration of a marriage throughout the course of the book. Instead, three chapters into the book, we read about Ben and Claudia deciding to part ways. The story proceeds to show how Claudia copes with the divorce in all its different stages - missing Ben (where the all too familiar everything-reminds-her-of-him was detailed affectionately), the wallowing, the struggle to hang on, seeing Ben moving on, finally deciding to move on herself (where it goes to prove yet again that the rebound, no matter how ideal, will not get the girl), a sense of acceptance, and finally, the decision on how to take everything from there. While Claudia eventually regretted the haste in the divorce, it seemed much better to have decided to end things before they both started resenting each other. After all, the time off proved to be good for the both of them.

My favorite part of Claudia's time apart with Ben was that time during her 35th birthday, after she arrived from that dreamy vacation at Lake Como with Richard (a. k. a. the Rebound Guy) and received a call from Ben. Despite the great vacation, it was that greeting from Ben that actually made everything feel right. Because in reality, it can be something as simplistic as that from the right person that will make you happier than any beautiful or outlandish gesture from the wrong person.

Of all of Emily Giffin's main characters, Claudia is the most ideal - successful, mature, and so put together (even in the stages of wallowing and cyberstalking the new girl). All throughout the book, Claudia demonstrated how strong-willed (but not stubborn) she was with the fact that she really did not want to be a mother. It was pretty much established that it was not because of her unfortunate experience with her mother or how it would interfere with her career (because she did decide to pass off on a career opportunity to be there for a pregnant friend) or her own fears of whether she would be a good mother or her own capacity to be one. She simply did not want children. Plain and simple. Despite everything from peer pressure to an ultimatum from the love of her life (maybe she was a bit stubborn too, huh?). To me it demonstrated strength of character to insist on this despite the contrarian forces from everywhere. Because sometimes, you really just don't want what everyone seems to want. Which is why I was quite disappointed when she finally caved and became willing to have a baby if that meant she could have Ben back.

Of course, the main point of this is not lost to me (since it was very much stressed via a cameo from Ethan because agreebly, it is easier to accept reality from an objective stranger than from your family and friends). True love really does conquer all. True love would really will you to do whatever it takes for the person you love, even if it means sacrificing what you want (or do not want) in return. After all, with regard to the matter of having a baby, there are no compromises (you either do or you don't). In a sense, Ben and Claudia were lucky that their impediment is based on wants and non-wants, and not some other totally complicated or inflexible circumstance like religion or distance or other people (all of which others have been willing to overcome as well). It was a good thing Ben caved too though, and was also willing to give up his desire for a baby in order to have Claudia back. After all, true love is nothing but unconditional. I also like how it ended not really resolving whether Claudia and Ben really do have a baby. Because either way is fine. The important thing was that they were together again.

And finally, there were other stories too. The story of the pep-talking and tip-laden Jess (Claudia's best friend), her one-sided affair and eventually her getting the relationship she deserved. The story of Daphne and her plight to have a child. The story of Maura and her struggle to stay in an unhappy marriage for the children. All stories tied up well with Claudia's storyline, and effectively enhanced it (especially on the motherhood angle). Which all in all makes Baby Proof a truly great read, with great quotes to boot as well (more on that later).

I can't wait for Miss Giffin's next book! :D

...Read more

On Heroes (The Show, Not the General Idea)

The latest run of Heroes is on its fifth chapter, and while I don't dislike it as much as after watching the second chapter, it's still not exactly the Heroes I've known and loved.

If you've been following Heroes or would want to know what's been going on (and don't mind spoilers)...

Sure, I'm curious about who this person is who calls himself or herself Rebel, but I don't think it's enough to keep people tuned in on the show. Especially when the other major thing happening is another *gasp* explosion, this time with an involuntary suicide bomber in the form of Matt Parkman, and the ever enthusiastic savior Hiro and his (now) supercharger friend Ando. It's just too how-many-seasons-ago-with-some-tweaks, don't you think?

In other news, while Peter was way cooler when he had a wide array of powers to use at his disposal, the whole one-power-at-a-time limitation does bring out an adorable vulnerability in him that enhances his character. He is still the compassionate and idealistic Peter from day one of Heroes, but his courage (albeit naive) is now more evident. And let's face it, there really is room for only one invincible hero even in a show full of heroes. Unfortunately, that "hero" is Sylar.

Speaking of, while the rest of the heroes are trying to elude Nathan and Co. (and Noah too), Sylar (a. k. a. the most lovable heartless villain ever) is more preoccupied with his quest for answers by finding his birth father. Sure, he is being hunted down like the others but are they really a match against him? For a little while there, he drives with Luke, a very willing teenage sidekick, who does not believe Sylar is that dangerous. Taking off from last season's Elle-Sylar love story, the first few chapters of the show has lead us to hope that maybe Sylar has a redeeming quality after all. And if it's not romance that could extract the best in him, maybe a little brotherly friendship would (sure, sure, whatever). In a sense, we did see him not kill Luke (because it's a little too on the nose, apparently), and yet he still continues alone on his quest to find and kill his father who deserves all the credit for demonstrating to him how to do his signature killer move (pun intended) and scarring his soul for life (and why is it only now that he remembers all these again?). Sylar as a kid was too darn cute though, and I actually felt a wave of sadness knowing what he will end up to be.

So what's next aside from Sylar's soul-searching and another explosion and that Claire encounter with the puppet master (which I am so not looking forward to)? Is Moira Kelly really just a Homeland Security person? And the biggest question of all: Is there something more original in store for this season of Heroes? I guess we all have to stay tuned to find out. Or not.

P. S. Apparently, if you kiss someone with fish abilities (i. e., can breathe forever under water), you are able to sort of do that too. Oh really now...

...Read more

Usher is the Man! :D

E! Online reports Usher shaking his head on Chris Brown's Miami vacay in the light of, you know, recent events. Sure, it's a bit on the meddling side of things (is he close to either of them?), but who are we if not for our opinions, especially when speaking up against things totally against our principles.

I love Usher! Always have, always will. :)

DQ Tendencies

Soooo... I changed URL. Which is a pretty straightforward thing to do (Blogger to Blogger at least) except:

1. You have to create a new blog with your old URL to inform people that you changed URL. Do this ASAP because if someone else takes hold of your old URL, how else can you do that without brute force? Unless it's your plan all along to disappear off the face of the earth. :)

2. Your links to other blogs disappear when you change so you have to re-link those again. This one took me by surprise.

So there's a little more work to do than simply changing your URL, but it's not exactly brain surgery. Or maybe my blog is too simple (i. e. not much gadgets or tools or widgets or whatever). So please don't blame me if you change your URL and lose more than your blog links. :)

I changed because I have to admit I didn't think too much about what URL to use when I started this blog (and how bothersome the multiple dashes are). Besides, 3 out of 5 people will agree this new URL suits me and my blog better. :P The other two people who disagree either don't know me too well, or have not been reading the junk I've been posting here. :)

But other than the URL change, it's business as usual. :D