I live in a little neighborhood in Toronto. Unlike the urban sprawl of suburbia and the subdivisions, my neighborhood is near the downtown core. It's old and has character. It's a neighborhood similar to the one I grew up in.
In my neighborhood you can actually see people in the streets going about their way, if it's children walking to school (you heard me right, I said walking), moms strolling with their babies, or people hurrying to work.
In my neighborhood we know are neighbors by name. On hot summer evenings we meet outside, on our porches and have a beer (or two).
The children in my neighborhood don't need their parents to drive them to their friends, they can just walk, and on Saturday evenings the teenagers, too young to go clubbing, hang out in the streets and alleys, making a little noise when they pass under your window. I love that noise.
In my neighborhood we have a few corner stores, mom and pop shops and even a little cafe.
There are two supermarkets I can walk to, one outside, surrounded by other stores, another in a dingy malls.
I can also walk from my neighborhood to one of the trendiest places in town, a street full of restaurants (mostly Greek) and shops.
I love my neighborhood.
Occasionally, and it flows naturally from the makeup of our neighborhood, kids ring my doorbell for donations. Sometimes I ignore the ring, sometimes I go ready with some money to the door. Of course, we have salespeople too. But I can usually tell by the ring or the sound they make as they climb the four stairs leading to my front door.
Well, and this is where my story really begins, I was all alone at home the other day when I heard the door bell ring followed the screeches from the screen door hinges as someone opened it, followed by such bangs on my door I would only expect the Gestapo or KGB to use when coming in the middle of the night to haul people out, people who are never seen again.
I was certain something happened. No one, but no one would knock like that unless they had a good reason. Perhaps there was an accident and someone needed my help, perhaps the police were in search of a fugitive criminal. The thoughts ran wild in my head while I climbed the stairs to reach the door.
I did not open it.
"Yes?" I said from behind the door. I have a clear glass window on the door that allows me to see the person outside. He was no policeman but he wore a kind of uniform.
"Ma'am, I'm from the utility company," he said showing me a fancy name tag.
There's a gas leak, I thought.
"I wanted to make sure you are protected---" for sure a gas leak "---in your bill from gas price increases."
"What?" I said, confused. It didn't sound like a gas leak. In fact, he didn't really sound concerned at all, only very aggressive.
"I wanted to make sure it says on your bill---"
I looked more closely at his name tag. It belonged to a utility company, not my utility company as he alluded to. "No, thank you," I said.
"---you're protected from price increases---"
Remember that I didn't open the door? Well, that was his lucky day because if the door was open I'd probably have given him quite a beating using one of the shoes always near the door, or at least a good shouting right there. But I'm such a wimpy wuss. Instead, I said, "I'm protected," which seemed to be the only thing I could say that would make him disappear and then I walked away.
He, in turn, shouted at me something like 'are you sure?' before finally leaving.
I'm only sorry I didn't take a better look at his name or the gas company he represents. I would have complained, but not to them. They couldn't care less, I'm sure. In fact, I'm certain they teach this scare tactic to their sales people. I have no doubt.
Which brings me to today's topic - sales and marketing. It seems that sales and marketing people have lost all scruples. Unethical conduct, dehumanizing ads, subversive practices, not to mention privacy intrusions with telemarketing or door-to-door sales.
Since I don't usually rant here, I will leave the rest of my opinions on the subject to the political blog I share with a few others. I did come to the conclusion, though, that I prefer junk mail to door to door sales people, believe it or not.
Oh, and compliments of Ryan, here's a list of things you can say/do when a telemarketer calls you.
Categories: opinions
Thursday, December 15, 2005
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
Editing Your Writing
And you thought I'll never talk about editing...
You're probably right. I probably would never have if I wasn't getting frustrated with it.
I know that the recommended way is to write a "vomit first draft" but it doesn't work for me. I have to edit while I write. Mind you, I don't edit too much during the writing process. Somewhere in between.
I also don't edit after each chapter is written, which I know some do.
So maybe if I ask you, my fellow writers, how you edit your material, my current aversion of the editing process will subside.
Here goes:
Do you edit chapter by chapter, in the middles of chapters or the whole thing?
Do you print it all and work with a hard copy or are you monitor bound?
Is your editing process different for shorts?
Anything else you'd like to tell me?
Categories: writing, editing, process
You're probably right. I probably would never have if I wasn't getting frustrated with it.
You see, I never used to mind editing. Not at all. It was fun, but lately, I guess I could say in the last year, editing has become more of a chore. It's gotten to the point where I dread finishing a piece just because I know I'd have to edit it after.
I don't know how you go about editing but for me it's always been a mix of editing while writing and editing at the end.I know that the recommended way is to write a "vomit first draft" but it doesn't work for me. I have to edit while I write. Mind you, I don't edit too much during the writing process. Somewhere in between.
I also don't edit after each chapter is written, which I know some do.
So maybe if I ask you, my fellow writers, how you edit your material, my current aversion of the editing process will subside.
Here goes:
Do you edit chapter by chapter, in the middles of chapters or the whole thing?
Do you print it all and work with a hard copy or are you monitor bound?
Is your editing process different for shorts?
Anything else you'd like to tell me?
Categories: writing, editing, process
Sunday, December 11, 2005
Fun Sunday - Kakuro
To all you Sudoku lovers out there I'm sure you've already heard of the Sudoku offshoot - Kakuro.
In case you haven't, let me introduce you:
Rules:
- Place numbers in the grid, only single digit numbers (1-9)
- The numbers must add up to the marker at the top or to the left
- Each number in a block must be different, so if you have to add up two numbers to 8 - you can only use 1&7, 2&6, 3&5, but not 4&4.
Hint: it is easy to start with cells you know at least the combination. So starting with a 4 is good because it can only be 1&3 for example.
Some places you can play on the net:
- Kakuro Live
- Kakuro San
- And obviously the place I got the puzzle from: Kakuro Puzzle
Categories: games, fun, misc
In case you haven't, let me introduce you:
Rules:
- Place numbers in the grid, only single digit numbers (1-9)
- The numbers must add up to the marker at the top or to the left
- Each number in a block must be different, so if you have to add up two numbers to 8 - you can only use 1&7, 2&6, 3&5, but not 4&4.
Hint: it is easy to start with cells you know at least the combination. So starting with a 4 is good because it can only be 1&3 for example.
Some places you can play on the net:
- Kakuro Live
- Kakuro San
- And obviously the place I got the puzzle from: Kakuro Puzzle
Categories: games, fun, misc
Friday, December 09, 2005
My Work Space
The Grumpy Owl
Slowly I'm discovering more and more people from "real" life who are blogging.
My friend Ryan has just begun too.
His blog is crazy, his blog is funny, his blog is disturbing...
I cannot repeat most of what of he writes there because I've committed to a PG-13 blog, but those of you who are disturbed by nature--you know who you are, don't make me name names ;)--must go check out Ryan Oakley at The Grumpy Owl.
Categories: misc
My friend Ryan has just begun too.
His blog is crazy, his blog is funny, his blog is disturbing...
I cannot repeat most of what of he writes there because I've committed to a PG-13 blog, but those of you who are disturbed by nature--you know who you are, don't make me name names ;)--must go check out Ryan Oakley at The Grumpy Owl.
Categories: misc
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
From Short to Novel
When I started writing fiction, it only seemed natural to me that I should start with short stories and progress from there into writing novels. It made sense to me back then.
Sensible or not, that's what I did and the shorts came gushing out of me, but at some point I figured that writing for magazines wasn't going to help me make writing a career. For that I needed to write novels.
I started writing a novel three different times, each time I got stuck somewhere in the beginning, around the 15,000-30,000 word mark and went back to writing another short or two. It wasn't until my third attempt that I figured something out. I was writing a novel, not a very long short, which meant I had to change my whole concept of writing.
You see, shorts describe an event, or a sequence of events that happen at some point in the character's life. They describe it quickly and to the point. But novel writing is different. Writing a novel is describing everything that led to the crucial event that a short would concentrate on, it's adding a few other events, it's a plot and few subplots intertwined together, etc.
Of course I knew all that, but it wasn't wired in yet. I had to get into the novel writing state of mind. Instead of getting to the point quickly, I needed to get to the point differently. See what I'm saying? And then I discovered that there are many points along the way leading to that one big event, interesting ones, there is more character development, there are more voices.
I've always been a very quick and succinct person. I don't know how to philosophize at length (although I'm sure some of you are rolling your eyes just about now) and it shows in my writing, compact and condense. Maybe that's why I gravitated towards shorts at first.
My point? I have two:
The first is that while both forms are fiction, the mindset required for each is different.
The second is that if you are in the beginning of your writing endeavors and wish to write novels, don't start with shorts.
And if, on the other hand, you are like many of my friends who wrote their first short story after writing three novels, don't think it would be a breeze to write a short, but we'll tackle that some other day (maybe with a guest poster).
Categories: writing, short-stories, novel, process
Sensible or not, that's what I did and the shorts came gushing out of me, but at some point I figured that writing for magazines wasn't going to help me make writing a career. For that I needed to write novels.
I started writing a novel three different times, each time I got stuck somewhere in the beginning, around the 15,000-30,000 word mark and went back to writing another short or two. It wasn't until my third attempt that I figured something out. I was writing a novel, not a very long short, which meant I had to change my whole concept of writing.
You see, shorts describe an event, or a sequence of events that happen at some point in the character's life. They describe it quickly and to the point. But novel writing is different. Writing a novel is describing everything that led to the crucial event that a short would concentrate on, it's adding a few other events, it's a plot and few subplots intertwined together, etc.
Of course I knew all that, but it wasn't wired in yet. I had to get into the novel writing state of mind. Instead of getting to the point quickly, I needed to get to the point differently. See what I'm saying? And then I discovered that there are many points along the way leading to that one big event, interesting ones, there is more character development, there are more voices.
I've always been a very quick and succinct person. I don't know how to philosophize at length (although I'm sure some of you are rolling your eyes just about now) and it shows in my writing, compact and condense. Maybe that's why I gravitated towards shorts at first.
My point? I have two:
The first is that while both forms are fiction, the mindset required for each is different.
The second is that if you are in the beginning of your writing endeavors and wish to write novels, don't start with shorts.
And if, on the other hand, you are like many of my friends who wrote their first short story after writing three novels, don't think it would be a breeze to write a short, but we'll tackle that some other day (maybe with a guest poster).
Categories: writing, short-stories, novel, process
Monday, December 05, 2005
Depression, Sensitivity and Creative Juices
It has long been argued or widely believed that depression helps creativity.
Perhaps.
Let me tackle this one from a different point of view though.
About a week ago I read an article about a groundbreaking find: Mildly Depressed People More Perceptive Than Others.
At first the researchers were so stunned with the results that they performed the study again with a different group only to produce the same results:
Previous similar studies were done with clinically depressed persons and I guess that now they have reached the conclusion that mild depression and clinical depression may be two different things, which is a controversial idea.
You may have the same reaction to this article/research as I had.
To be honest I don't know much about clinical depression but I think most people have experienced mild depression at some point in their lives, either due to objective reasons or simply because they are more prone to it.
From our experience then, haven't we all noticed that when depression hits us, we become more sensitive, that we can notice every little thing in the people around us, a lingering look, a sigh, raising of the eyebrows?
So why were the researchers surprised?
Also, if I return to what I started with, the argument that depression helps the artist be more creative, then again I'm at a loss with the researchers' surprise at their findings.
Aren't creative people usually 'accused' of being artiste types, prone to depression and forms of madness? And don't we all know how sensitive creative people are? They must be. Artists' social and environmental sensitivity is almost a requirement to their artistic expression. If artists wish to express other people's feelings in their art, to show the world's beauty, people's goodness, or even plush fields, they must know what that is like.
How would otherwise writers describe people's feelings and behavior if they weren't sensitive to it? How would a painter show emotions in their drawings if they weren't sensitive to those very emotions they're trying to paint?
I'm not saying that all artists are, by definition, mildly depressed. Far from it. But we've all encountered those little depression spells that somehow cause the sensitivity to become acute and the creative juices to flow.
If they had asked me, those researchers, I could have told them what to expect. It seems rather obvious to me.
Categories: writing, general, science
Perhaps.
Let me tackle this one from a different point of view though.
About a week ago I read an article about a groundbreaking find: Mildly Depressed People More Perceptive Than Others.
Surprisingly, people with mild depression are actually more tuned into the feelings of others than those who aren't depressed, a team of Queen's psychologists has discovered.
At first the researchers were so stunned with the results that they performed the study again with a different group only to produce the same results:
People with mild symptoms of depression pay more attention to details of their social environment than those who are not depressed.
Previous similar studies were done with clinically depressed persons and I guess that now they have reached the conclusion that mild depression and clinical depression may be two different things, which is a controversial idea.
You may have the same reaction to this article/research as I had.
To be honest I don't know much about clinical depression but I think most people have experienced mild depression at some point in their lives, either due to objective reasons or simply because they are more prone to it.
From our experience then, haven't we all noticed that when depression hits us, we become more sensitive, that we can notice every little thing in the people around us, a lingering look, a sigh, raising of the eyebrows?
So why were the researchers surprised?
Also, if I return to what I started with, the argument that depression helps the artist be more creative, then again I'm at a loss with the researchers' surprise at their findings.
Aren't creative people usually 'accused' of being artiste types, prone to depression and forms of madness? And don't we all know how sensitive creative people are? They must be. Artists' social and environmental sensitivity is almost a requirement to their artistic expression. If artists wish to express other people's feelings in their art, to show the world's beauty, people's goodness, or even plush fields, they must know what that is like.
How would otherwise writers describe people's feelings and behavior if they weren't sensitive to it? How would a painter show emotions in their drawings if they weren't sensitive to those very emotions they're trying to paint?
I'm not saying that all artists are, by definition, mildly depressed. Far from it. But we've all encountered those little depression spells that somehow cause the sensitivity to become acute and the creative juices to flow.
If they had asked me, those researchers, I could have told them what to expect. It seems rather obvious to me.
Categories: writing, general, science
Saturday, December 03, 2005
Plot Lines for Romance Novels? Maybe Not
Just some weekend fun... or not...
I only found out about Don't Date Him Girl last week - a site that has lists (upon lists) of cheating men.
Here's what they have to say about themselves:
Well... I just thought that one could get some plot ideas about cheating bleep-bleeps from this site.
In any event, while I don't take lightly the pain of the women who posted in the site about their cheating men, I still find the whole concept to be, well, weird.
Categories: writing, plot, weird, misc
I only found out about Don't Date Him Girl last week - a site that has lists (upon lists) of cheating men.
Here's what they have to say about themselves:
DontDateHimGirl.com is changing the way women date! Browse our search engine of cheating men right now! Finally, a way for women to check a guy out BEFORE dating, marrying or otherwise committing to him! Warn other women about the men who have cheated on you! Register and become a member today! You'll receive our free newsletter and other valuable goodies just for women! It's fast, easy and best of all, it's free!
Well... I just thought that one could get some plot ideas about cheating bleep-bleeps from this site.
In any event, while I don't take lightly the pain of the women who posted in the site about their cheating men, I still find the whole concept to be, well, weird.
Categories: writing, plot, weird, misc
Thursday, December 01, 2005
A History of Violence - Show, Don't Tell
In one of my previous posts I gave an example of a movie I didn't like and outlined the mistakes made in the making of the movie comparing them to writing mistake. If you want a reminder go to Festivel Movies and Sucky Writing.
Now I'm coming from the other side of the coin and want to give you an opposite example, a good one, a movie I liked. A lot.
I saw A History of Violence last week and I am recommending it whole heartedly. I couldn't stop thinking about it for a few days after I've seen it, in fact, I'm still thinking about it a week later. Viggo Mortensen (or as we better know him - Aragorn) is superb in it as are the other actors in this movie.
I'm not a movie reviewer, nor do I have aspirations to become one, hence I don't know if it was the plot, the acting, directing (Cronenberg), or cinematography that was the one thing that 'made' the movie. Probably the combination of the lot.
In any event, the movie has that understated, almost subdued quality to it. A quality that I like. While the characters display emotions, they don't necessarily have to cry, shout, wring their hair out or whatever other devices and vices directors and actors choose for the purpose of emotional display. A History of Violence is similar to In the Bedroom in that respect (if you recall that one from 2001).
Another similarity between both movies is the dialogue, or lack there of. Don't get me wrong, there is a dialogue, and pretty darn good one, but it isn't the idiotic verbal stream most Hollywood movies are 'blessed' with. Thus, instead of the characters saying things, explaining their feelings, intent, thoughts, we see and understand what they want to express by their actions, motions, facial expressions or even sometimes from the camera angle the director has chosen, what we see on the screen and how we see it.
As writers we all know the Show, Don't Tell rule. It seems that some directors / film makers have heard of the same rule and when they use it in their films, the result is--as it most often is in writing too--amazing, intelligent and touching. A movie can have that much more impact if not everything is spelled out, if the characters occasionally act out their emotions instead of explaining to us that they're standing at a cross-road and have a hard time making a decision. Most times viewers are able to figure these things out on their own. Same with writing.
Point form:
1. Show, Don't Tell - works well in both media
2. Give your audience/readers some credit, most are intelligent and don't need to be spoon fed
3. Sex scenes can be a wonderful device if they're not gratuitous (yes, after forgetting all about sex scenes (seems no one does sex scenes anymore since the new millennia started), this movie had a couple and they worked very well!)
I hope for more movies such as A History of Violence and if you haven't seen it yet, then what are you waiting for? It is one of the best movies I have seen this year, and if Viggo doesn't get the Oscar for his performance there then that would prove once and for all what the Academy Awards are worth!
Categories: writing, process, movies
Now I'm coming from the other side of the coin and want to give you an opposite example, a good one, a movie I liked. A lot.
I saw A History of Violence last week and I am recommending it whole heartedly. I couldn't stop thinking about it for a few days after I've seen it, in fact, I'm still thinking about it a week later. Viggo Mortensen (or as we better know him - Aragorn) is superb in it as are the other actors in this movie.
I'm not a movie reviewer, nor do I have aspirations to become one, hence I don't know if it was the plot, the acting, directing (Cronenberg), or cinematography that was the one thing that 'made' the movie. Probably the combination of the lot.
In any event, the movie has that understated, almost subdued quality to it. A quality that I like. While the characters display emotions, they don't necessarily have to cry, shout, wring their hair out or whatever other devices and vices directors and actors choose for the purpose of emotional display. A History of Violence is similar to In the Bedroom in that respect (if you recall that one from 2001).
Another similarity between both movies is the dialogue, or lack there of. Don't get me wrong, there is a dialogue, and pretty darn good one, but it isn't the idiotic verbal stream most Hollywood movies are 'blessed' with. Thus, instead of the characters saying things, explaining their feelings, intent, thoughts, we see and understand what they want to express by their actions, motions, facial expressions or even sometimes from the camera angle the director has chosen, what we see on the screen and how we see it.
As writers we all know the Show, Don't Tell rule. It seems that some directors / film makers have heard of the same rule and when they use it in their films, the result is--as it most often is in writing too--amazing, intelligent and touching. A movie can have that much more impact if not everything is spelled out, if the characters occasionally act out their emotions instead of explaining to us that they're standing at a cross-road and have a hard time making a decision. Most times viewers are able to figure these things out on their own. Same with writing.
Point form:
1. Show, Don't Tell - works well in both media
2. Give your audience/readers some credit, most are intelligent and don't need to be spoon fed
3. Sex scenes can be a wonderful device if they're not gratuitous (yes, after forgetting all about sex scenes (seems no one does sex scenes anymore since the new millennia started), this movie had a couple and they worked very well!)
I hope for more movies such as A History of Violence and if you haven't seen it yet, then what are you waiting for? It is one of the best movies I have seen this year, and if Viggo doesn't get the Oscar for his performance there then that would prove once and for all what the Academy Awards are worth!
Categories: writing, process, movies
Friday, November 25, 2005
Personal Note / Apology
Due to an extremely busy week, I did this little disappearing act and I'm sorry.
I had one project due yesterday (Thursday) and I have another one due Monday. Hence, I cut myself off completely from blogging. I had to, you see.
Also - NaNo is due Wednesday and I would like to try to reach 30,000 words at the very least. I will call that a win, considering everything.
However, I do know of this is one amazing person who already reached the 50,000 mark last week. Yzabel, way to go!
And to my American friends - Happy Thanksgiving.
I was supposed to go to the US yesterday for Thanksgiving but was grounded due to the blizzard we had here. Sigh. And it's not even winter yet.
But it was a blessing in disguise as it afforded me more time on my project. (Plus, I really don't like turkey.)
So there you have it...
Categories: personal
I had one project due yesterday (Thursday) and I have another one due Monday. Hence, I cut myself off completely from blogging. I had to, you see.
Also - NaNo is due Wednesday and I would like to try to reach 30,000 words at the very least. I will call that a win, considering everything.
However, I do know of this is one amazing person who already reached the 50,000 mark last week. Yzabel, way to go!
And to my American friends - Happy Thanksgiving.
I was supposed to go to the US yesterday for Thanksgiving but was grounded due to the blizzard we had here. Sigh. And it's not even winter yet.
But it was a blessing in disguise as it afforded me more time on my project. (Plus, I really don't like turkey.)
So there you have it...
Categories: personal
Saturday, November 19, 2005
Idol Writing - Compromising your Artistic Integrity
Soon, another season of American Idol will begin. And while I may not watch Lost, Survivor, or most other TV shows, I do watch American and Canadian Idol (but shhh, don't tell, it's my little secret).
I don't know if you know, but last season two contestants seemed very out of place there, at least at first. Same was true with Canadian Idol where one contestant was such a rocker, the judges didn't know if she would fit the pop singing and culture. One of them even asked her - are you ready to sell your soul? (my own paraphrase).
It is well known that rockers view pop singing as exactly that. An artistic compromise for the purpose of selling more CDs and be more popular. Well, what is pop(ular) after all?
I often thought of the matter in my writing as well. What would be the point, if any, where I would say, 'Stop.' What is the line I wouldn't cross?
I know that many of you who read this are fiction writers mostly, so the question is almost moot. But not entirely. Has anyone ever decided to write in a certain genre because it was the "in" thing? Has anyone ever put in a sex scene simply to drive up interest? Has anyone ever changed her language because she suspected her own would not sell?
What about after a sale? Has anyone ever agreed to change something fundamental just to keep the sale?
Since I don't write only fiction, I find myself considering some of these things more often. I sometimes "dumb down" articles because I know this is what editors prefer even though the public is perfectly capable to be slightly more challenged. (One could argue that perhaps I don't write for the right markets, and one might be right, but still, it's an interesting point.)
In my fiction writing, also. I am always asked to change something. Without fail. I usually agree without any regrets, except for this one time. This one time will haunt me forever (or until I'm famous and can republish the story as it was originally written). I feel that on that one occasion I sold my integrity.
So I coined the term for my own sanity - idol writing. Sometimes, for a bit of publicity and a bit of money we compromise. Instead of carrying our hearts on our sleeves and sing rock/jazz/blues/punk we sing pop. Instead of writing with all of our hearts we write someone else's ideas.
Do you have a line you wouldn't cross?
Categories: writing, publishing, art
I don't know if you know, but last season two contestants seemed very out of place there, at least at first. Same was true with Canadian Idol where one contestant was such a rocker, the judges didn't know if she would fit the pop singing and culture. One of them even asked her - are you ready to sell your soul? (my own paraphrase).
It is well known that rockers view pop singing as exactly that. An artistic compromise for the purpose of selling more CDs and be more popular. Well, what is pop(ular) after all?
I often thought of the matter in my writing as well. What would be the point, if any, where I would say, 'Stop.' What is the line I wouldn't cross?
I know that many of you who read this are fiction writers mostly, so the question is almost moot. But not entirely. Has anyone ever decided to write in a certain genre because it was the "in" thing? Has anyone ever put in a sex scene simply to drive up interest? Has anyone ever changed her language because she suspected her own would not sell?
What about after a sale? Has anyone ever agreed to change something fundamental just to keep the sale?
Since I don't write only fiction, I find myself considering some of these things more often. I sometimes "dumb down" articles because I know this is what editors prefer even though the public is perfectly capable to be slightly more challenged. (One could argue that perhaps I don't write for the right markets, and one might be right, but still, it's an interesting point.)
In my fiction writing, also. I am always asked to change something. Without fail. I usually agree without any regrets, except for this one time. This one time will haunt me forever (or until I'm famous and can republish the story as it was originally written). I feel that on that one occasion I sold my integrity.
So I coined the term for my own sanity - idol writing. Sometimes, for a bit of publicity and a bit of money we compromise. Instead of carrying our hearts on our sleeves and sing rock/jazz/blues/punk we sing pop. Instead of writing with all of our hearts we write someone else's ideas.
Do you have a line you wouldn't cross?
Categories: writing, publishing, art
Friday, November 18, 2005
This and That - about ten of them
First, it's officially snowing here.
Second, I've discovered that all my hand written stuff I've done in the past ten days or so, after my laptop went caput, for NaNo does not even amount to half of what I thought it would. I still have to transfer a few more pages, but it's disappointing.
Third, my office is freezing despite the furnace working full time. I think I might have to get a heater.
Fourth, I'm missing so many ingredients for tonight's supper yet there's no chance in hell I'm going outside in this weather (and it's only just the beginning).
Fifth, professionalism, professionalism, professionalism! I've queried a certain magazine a month and half ago but heard nothing yet despite them promising in their guidelines a two week reply. I've queried about my query and again have yet to receive an answer. Why is it that only one side of this industry is expected to maintain professional behaviour?
Sixth, as always I have an adjustment period in which I can't write after I travel. Today is the third day. Granted I'm jetlagged, tired and have a cold, but come on! And I have so much to catch up to as well.
Seventh, my forever single best friend is now dating. Shhhh. Don't jinx it.
Eighth, if I read one more depressing blog post I'm going to explode. The winter is definitely here and it's only just beginning. I'm stocking up on tissues. Please don't make me cry too much this winter...
Ninth, it's kind of hard writing when wearing a heavy winter coat. Options? 1) Freeze. 2) Move computer upstairs. 3) Buy a heater - hopefully tonight. For now - it's kind of hard writing with a heavy winter coat on.
Tenth, Cavan is right. If Canadians didn't have winter, what would we complain about?
Eleventh, I wish there were no adverbs in this world. It's so easy to use them, yet sooooo bad. Thank you Carter for reminding me (nicely).
Categories: writing, personal
Second, I've discovered that all my hand written stuff I've done in the past ten days or so, after my laptop went caput, for NaNo does not even amount to half of what I thought it would. I still have to transfer a few more pages, but it's disappointing.
Third, my office is freezing despite the furnace working full time. I think I might have to get a heater.
Fourth, I'm missing so many ingredients for tonight's supper yet there's no chance in hell I'm going outside in this weather (and it's only just the beginning).
Fifth, professionalism, professionalism, professionalism! I've queried a certain magazine a month and half ago but heard nothing yet despite them promising in their guidelines a two week reply. I've queried about my query and again have yet to receive an answer. Why is it that only one side of this industry is expected to maintain professional behaviour?
Sixth, as always I have an adjustment period in which I can't write after I travel. Today is the third day. Granted I'm jetlagged, tired and have a cold, but come on! And I have so much to catch up to as well.
Seventh, my forever single best friend is now dating. Shhhh. Don't jinx it.
Eighth, if I read one more depressing blog post I'm going to explode. The winter is definitely here and it's only just beginning. I'm stocking up on tissues. Please don't make me cry too much this winter...
Ninth, it's kind of hard writing when wearing a heavy winter coat. Options? 1) Freeze. 2) Move computer upstairs. 3) Buy a heater - hopefully tonight. For now - it's kind of hard writing with a heavy winter coat on.
Tenth, Cavan is right. If Canadians didn't have winter, what would we complain about?
Eleventh, I wish there were no adverbs in this world. It's so easy to use them, yet sooooo bad. Thank you Carter for reminding me (nicely).
Categories: writing, personal
Paris en Feu - Paris on Fire
I cannot ignore what happened in Paris lately even though I'm quite late talking about this.
And no, I'm not going to discuss this politically, socially, or any other ally.
In fact, I've changed my mind and I'm not going to discuss this at all. It's hard enough to see the images, to see Gais Paris like that, that all need for words is gone.
I've never been. It's true. I've been to many places but never to Paris. And I've had so many different excuses each time. Perhaps I was afraid of shattering a dream. Perhaps Paris seemed so magical that I didn't want to ruin that image. Beautiful Paris, with its chateaux, palaces, museums, street monuments and restaurants. Romantic and unattainable.
Well... no longer. That image is now ruined and while Paris remains beautiful, the mystical aura I gave it is no longer there.
Maybe I will visit Paris after all. And maybe sooner than I ever imagined. I think I'm ready.
Categories: personal, politics
And no, I'm not going to discuss this politically, socially, or any other ally.
In fact, I've changed my mind and I'm not going to discuss this at all. It's hard enough to see the images, to see Gais Paris like that, that all need for words is gone.
I've never been. It's true. I've been to many places but never to Paris. And I've had so many different excuses each time. Perhaps I was afraid of shattering a dream. Perhaps Paris seemed so magical that I didn't want to ruin that image. Beautiful Paris, with its chateaux, palaces, museums, street monuments and restaurants. Romantic and unattainable.
Well... no longer. That image is now ruined and while Paris remains beautiful, the mystical aura I gave it is no longer there.
Maybe I will visit Paris after all. And maybe sooner than I ever imagined. I think I'm ready.
Categories: personal, politics
Thursday, November 17, 2005
Back to Blog Writing
Sorry, I said Tuesday but meant Thursday...
I'm back home finally after a very long stretch.
As far as my writing is concerned I had some setbacks, such as the demise of my laptop, but I also had some successes. Most notably was my ability to actually write while away, something I found difficult to do up until this last 'away mission'.
I came home to a new monitor, which I'm happy to report is a slick, flat and black 17'' LCD monitor. Things like this make me very happy.
However, I also came home to a chilly weather, which of course everyone blames me for. Apparently it was hovering around 10c-15c (50F-60F) until I arrived. It dropped to zero (32F) and below the day I arrived. Needless to say I don't believe them. They must be lying. It can't be. Not to mention it really can't be me. I couldn't have such influence over the weather... or could I?
This weather, in any event, made me sick so this post is it for today. But I'm looking forward to visiting you all next.
Categories: writing, blogging, personal, misc
I'm back home finally after a very long stretch.
As far as my writing is concerned I had some setbacks, such as the demise of my laptop, but I also had some successes. Most notably was my ability to actually write while away, something I found difficult to do up until this last 'away mission'.
I came home to a new monitor, which I'm happy to report is a slick, flat and black 17'' LCD monitor. Things like this make me very happy.
However, I also came home to a chilly weather, which of course everyone blames me for. Apparently it was hovering around 10c-15c (50F-60F) until I arrived. It dropped to zero (32F) and below the day I arrived. Needless to say I don't believe them. They must be lying. It can't be. Not to mention it really can't be me. I couldn't have such influence over the weather... or could I?
This weather, in any event, made me sick so this post is it for today. But I'm looking forward to visiting you all next.
Categories: writing, blogging, personal, misc
Saturday, November 12, 2005
I'll Be Back Tuesday
I'll be back to regular blogging Tuesday the 16th.
Thank you all for visiting in the time that I am absent and see you all then...
Thank you all for visiting in the time that I am absent and see you all then...
Sunday, November 06, 2005
Just Another Sunday
Today I wanted to put in at least an hour of writing on my already behind NaNovel so I woke up early.
Someone, and I'm sorry but I can't remember who, told on his blog about his previous year's NaNovel getting corrupted by viruses or something like that. I boasted that I usually write on my laptop which isn't connected to the internet and therefore is very safe. What I didn't mention was that my laptop is nearly 8-years-old.
This morning, not being very different from others (yet), I stayed in bed and turned on my laptop. It had problems starting up, but hey, being seven and half, it wasn't the first time this happened and so I didn't get too anxious. When on the fifth attempt my laptop wouldn't start, I began to feel little pangs in my chest area. Forty-five minutes and two dozen attempts later you could have found me pulling my hair out. I no longer cared about my laptop, only about the material inside, especially the NaNovel (I have backups for most of the rest).
Eventually, after much qualm, I managed to start the computer in DOS mode and copy the necessary files onto a floppy. I sent copies of the files to my gmail, yahoo and msn accounts. Just to be on the safe side.
As I was finishing doing all that my alarm clock went off. I ran back to the bedroom, leaned over the bed to reach the night table and turned on my night lamp. You guessed it, the alarm clock didn't stop alarming. I tried turning off the night lamp. Nothing. I tried turning the night lamp on and off a few more times to no avails when I finally had an epiphany - turning on and off the light won't affect the alarm clock, perhaps I should try pushing the little button on the clock. Lo and behold - it worked, I did it! I chuckled to myself, feeling pretty silly, but already knowing what this day was about to turn to.
By this time I also needed to get dressed. So I did. Then I even put on my socks and heavy winter shoes on. I nearly left the room when I realized that while I was wearing shoes, I wasn't wearing any pants... That's right and you can imagine the sight: underwear, bare legs, socks to the knees and heavy winter shoes. This time I wasn't chuckling, I was laughing hysterically.
So, when a day like this happens, I always get the impression it wouldn't stop, but then again, if I don't take charge and change my day, who would? When these little mishaps happen I simply take a break, a deep breath and make myself come out of the funk (despite not writing anything for NaNo…)
Have a good day everybody and if things happen, try to laugh at them, and then maybe they'll laugh back - who knows?
Categories: writing, life, misc
Someone, and I'm sorry but I can't remember who, told on his blog about his previous year's NaNovel getting corrupted by viruses or something like that. I boasted that I usually write on my laptop which isn't connected to the internet and therefore is very safe. What I didn't mention was that my laptop is nearly 8-years-old.
This morning, not being very different from others (yet), I stayed in bed and turned on my laptop. It had problems starting up, but hey, being seven and half, it wasn't the first time this happened and so I didn't get too anxious. When on the fifth attempt my laptop wouldn't start, I began to feel little pangs in my chest area. Forty-five minutes and two dozen attempts later you could have found me pulling my hair out. I no longer cared about my laptop, only about the material inside, especially the NaNovel (I have backups for most of the rest).
Eventually, after much qualm, I managed to start the computer in DOS mode and copy the necessary files onto a floppy. I sent copies of the files to my gmail, yahoo and msn accounts. Just to be on the safe side.
As I was finishing doing all that my alarm clock went off. I ran back to the bedroom, leaned over the bed to reach the night table and turned on my night lamp. You guessed it, the alarm clock didn't stop alarming. I tried turning off the night lamp. Nothing. I tried turning the night lamp on and off a few more times to no avails when I finally had an epiphany - turning on and off the light won't affect the alarm clock, perhaps I should try pushing the little button on the clock. Lo and behold - it worked, I did it! I chuckled to myself, feeling pretty silly, but already knowing what this day was about to turn to.
By this time I also needed to get dressed. So I did. Then I even put on my socks and heavy winter shoes on. I nearly left the room when I realized that while I was wearing shoes, I wasn't wearing any pants... That's right and you can imagine the sight: underwear, bare legs, socks to the knees and heavy winter shoes. This time I wasn't chuckling, I was laughing hysterically.
So, when a day like this happens, I always get the impression it wouldn't stop, but then again, if I don't take charge and change my day, who would? When these little mishaps happen I simply take a break, a deep breath and make myself come out of the funk (despite not writing anything for NaNo…)
Have a good day everybody and if things happen, try to laugh at them, and then maybe they'll laugh back - who knows?
Categories: writing, life, misc
Friday, November 04, 2005
Aliens and Mafia Blogs
Since many of us are very busy with NaNo these days, and since some of us who don't do NaNo find our blogs lacking in posts lately, then here are a couple quick links:
To all your sci-fi lovers out there Kate created an alien. Well... at least this is what I see when I look at the new Apophysis image she's posted.
And since, as Mama Corleone, I always pay my tribute to Teh Blog Father, here's the latest one: and you're really going to enjoy yourself there, go check it out.
Categories: misc
To all your sci-fi lovers out there Kate created an alien. Well... at least this is what I see when I look at the new Apophysis image she's posted.
And since, as Mama Corleone, I always pay my tribute to Teh Blog Father, here's the latest one: and you're really going to enjoy yourself there, go check it out.
Categories: misc
Wednesday, November 02, 2005
Tactician Writer - Seeing a Few Moves Ahead
In the last few writing related posts I had some very interesting comments. What I found to be most interesting was how we almost all differ in our writing techniques: some are very plot oriented, some character driven, some spend months building a world, others spend months creating a detailed outline, while others yet simply take the pen (or sit at their computer) and start writing. I loved, for example, how Pat categorized herself as a "method writer."
Me?
Well, I need to tell you something else about me first. I play chess. Not very well, but I try. As a chess player though, I've learnt the importance of seeing a few moves ahead. The more moves you can see the better player you are.
Same goes for my writing. I can't categorize myself using any of the above techniques. Depending on what I'm working on I have different methods I use. However, there is one thing I always strive for and that one thing is to know/have, at the very least, a few scenes ahead in my head.
So there you have it, I present a new method - tactical writer. And as always, I'm probably not the first to write about this or mention this, but who has any "first" ideas these days?
Any chess lovers out there by the way?
Categories: writing, process, chess
Me?
Well, I need to tell you something else about me first. I play chess. Not very well, but I try. As a chess player though, I've learnt the importance of seeing a few moves ahead. The more moves you can see the better player you are.
Same goes for my writing. I can't categorize myself using any of the above techniques. Depending on what I'm working on I have different methods I use. However, there is one thing I always strive for and that one thing is to know/have, at the very least, a few scenes ahead in my head.
So there you have it, I present a new method - tactical writer. And as always, I'm probably not the first to write about this or mention this, but who has any "first" ideas these days?
Any chess lovers out there by the way?
Categories: writing, process, chess
Monday, October 31, 2005
Feelings In Writing
In the past I have written about how my feelings affect my writing (writing as in how much I write more than the content itself).
Then I wrote another post, this time from the reverse angle, about how my writing affects my feeling.
Now we get to the most important subject of all, especially as NaNoWriMo is so near (tonight at midnight), and that is the feelings and emotions that are in our writing.
It is my opinion that the greatest novels evoke emotions, "that emotion is the novelist's stock in trade" as GOB so well put it.
I am not talking about gushy, mushy, trashy stuff, but I am definitely talking about emotions. "Cold writing" doesn't work, shallow emotions don't cut it. We are feeling sort of creatures and that's what we need/want when reading. That's what we have to show when writing.
So just remember that as you embark on your NaNo adventure and good luck to you all.
Blogging may become sparse, I still don't know...
Categories: writing
Then I wrote another post, this time from the reverse angle, about how my writing affects my feeling.
Now we get to the most important subject of all, especially as NaNoWriMo is so near (tonight at midnight), and that is the feelings and emotions that are in our writing.
It is my opinion that the greatest novels evoke emotions, "that emotion is the novelist's stock in trade" as GOB so well put it.
I am not talking about gushy, mushy, trashy stuff, but I am definitely talking about emotions. "Cold writing" doesn't work, shallow emotions don't cut it. We are feeling sort of creatures and that's what we need/want when reading. That's what we have to show when writing.
So just remember that as you embark on your NaNo adventure and good luck to you all.
Blogging may become sparse, I still don't know...
Categories: writing
Sunday, October 30, 2005
Desert Wind
Uploaded on August 27, 2005by Alain Bachellier
Those who know the desert wind also know the longing it creates. It calls out to their hearts and awakens old memories and desires. Desire to wander and roam the world in the manner of nomads. Desire to pack it all and head straight into the wind.
Those who live in the desert, those who love the desert are like the sand, moving and changing, or at least the yearning is in their hearts.
I'm a wanderer. I'm often asked to stop, become rock, but I can't because I am sand. And the desert wind tosses me around.
I have made promises to stay put and I have broken them time and again, deserting the ones I love only to find that I am mistrusted upon my return.
Ah desert wind, what have you done to me? Why have you taken my heart?
Those who live in a barren land don't choose to go to another land, they just move around the desolation from one oasis to another.
Categories: writing, creative
Friday, October 28, 2005
Explaining Too Much When Writing?
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
Feeling and Writing - Again
A while back I wrote a post about feeling and writing.
The post related more to how my state of mind, my feelings, affect my writing.
Today I want to tackle it from the reverse angle - how writing affects my feelings.
Often I am told that my hide is quite thick. And it's true. I choose (note the key word here) not to get hurt by people as much as I can.
That's all very nice and works quite well in my personal life, but oh boy, it fails miserably when it comes to my writing.
Now I bet you're thinking, not another post about handling rejections...
No. Well, almost no.
I've discovered that my writing affects me in the following manner, and the order is important here, from best to worst.
The days in which I've done nothing to advance my writing affect me the worse as the feeling of failure is the greatest.
So while publishing is something important, it's almost a side-effect of hard work that manifests itself in good writing (which has better chances at getting published).
Do you feel the same?
Categories: writing, process, publishing
The post related more to how my state of mind, my feelings, affect my writing.
Today I want to tackle it from the reverse angle - how writing affects my feelings.
Often I am told that my hide is quite thick. And it's true. I choose (note the key word here) not to get hurt by people as much as I can.
That's all very nice and works quite well in my personal life, but oh boy, it fails miserably when it comes to my writing.
Now I bet you're thinking, not another post about handling rejections...
No. Well, almost no.
I've discovered that my writing affects me in the following manner, and the order is important here, from best to worst.
- On days I recieve good news re my writing/submissions I'm elated. Almost panicky.
- On very productive days, i.e. - the amount of writing done, I'm happier than on less-productive days.
- On days where the percieved quality (by me) of my writing is fine, as on days I've revised something to my satisfaction, I'm happier.
- Then come the days I recieve "bad" news about my writing, and while I don't enjoy getting rejection letters, at least I feel that I'm moving on.
- Then come the worst days of all: those days I haven't written anything.
The days in which I've done nothing to advance my writing affect me the worse as the feeling of failure is the greatest.
So while publishing is something important, it's almost a side-effect of hard work that manifests itself in good writing (which has better chances at getting published).
Do you feel the same?
Categories: writing, process, publishing
Name the Nobel Prize Winners - Results
Smoking Reduces Fertility and Intelligence
Maybe some of you figured out already that the fight against cancer is close to my heart.
So if getting cancer doesn't convince you to stop smoking maybe higher sterility and lower intelligence would as this Smoked Sperm article brings about new research.
Other science news in the article: the FDA approved the first transplant of fetal neural cells to human brains, oxygen on the moon, the rate of fatal drug overdose among people 40 or older has doubled, and more.
Categories: science, health
So if getting cancer doesn't convince you to stop smoking maybe higher sterility and lower intelligence would as this Smoked Sperm article brings about new research.
Other science news in the article: the FDA approved the first transplant of fetal neural cells to human brains, oxygen on the moon, the rate of fatal drug overdose among people 40 or older has doubled, and more.
Categories: science, health
Monday, October 24, 2005
Please Allow Me to Introduce...
Kate.
Kate has just started blogging (on Friday I believe) and her blog about art and writing is already full of interesting stuff:
- A fractal with a scientific meaning in Black Hole
- A very personal post and a painting in Paintings
- An inspired poem in Day Dreaming
- A little eastern philosophy in The Life Color Mandalla
Here is what I know about Kate:
Kate is first and foremost an artist. She paints. Always have.
Kate writes - a little prose but mostly poetry.
Kate is a philosopher. She studied mostly western philosophy, but also some eastern philosophy. She also studied a lot of religious philosophy and Kaballa long before Madonna's virgin stint.
Kate's love for science is contagious. She is never one to say 'I don't know.' When I used to ask Kate a question, encyclopedias would open until she found the answer.
How do I know so much about Kate?
If you go visit her, you'll understand...
Categories: art, writing
Kate has just started blogging (on Friday I believe) and her blog about art and writing is already full of interesting stuff:
- A fractal with a scientific meaning in Black Hole
- A very personal post and a painting in Paintings
- An inspired poem in Day Dreaming
- A little eastern philosophy in The Life Color Mandalla
Here is what I know about Kate:
Kate is first and foremost an artist. She paints. Always have.
Kate writes - a little prose but mostly poetry.
Kate is a philosopher. She studied mostly western philosophy, but also some eastern philosophy. She also studied a lot of religious philosophy and Kaballa long before Madonna's virgin stint.
Kate's love for science is contagious. She is never one to say 'I don't know.' When I used to ask Kate a question, encyclopedias would open until she found the answer.
How do I know so much about Kate?
If you go visit her, you'll understand...
Categories: art, writing
Saturday, October 22, 2005
Deductive Reasoning
Ever since I can remember myself, I can remember my dad telling jokes. Problem was, he'd tell the same jokes over and over again.
When my friends would come over, my dad always tried to be 'cool' by holding my friends in the hallway, not letting them continue to my room, and telling them a joke or two or three.
I'd cringe and try to hurry things, being quite rude when I think about it today. My friends, so polite, always laughed. It never dawned on me that the jokes were actually funny (well... having heard them so many times).
Well, today I'll share one of these jokes with you that somehow made more of an impression with me. Unlike my dad, however, I'm the worst joke teller, so please bear with me while I struggle here:
Uploaded on October 20, 2005
by wiccked
This joke appealed to me on so many levels, but first and foremost was the statement it made about us, humans, and our cockiness. Our assumptions, our presumtions of understanding the world around us.
I loved this joke's mockery of science specifially and of our deductive abilities in general. Do we really infer correctly from the picture we see? From the data?
Of course there is a reason this joke came to mind; a reason I'm talking about reasoning -- I've been reading about 'racist science' lately.
Naturally, scientists investigating such matters go to great lengths to sound as impartial and as dry and as disinterested as they can. They present the data and the conclusions. They don't care what the conclusions are, they're not racist.
Well, I wonder if some of these scientist aren't like the scientist in my dad's joke...
Categories: science
When my friends would come over, my dad always tried to be 'cool' by holding my friends in the hallway, not letting them continue to my room, and telling them a joke or two or three.
I'd cringe and try to hurry things, being quite rude when I think about it today. My friends, so polite, always laughed. It never dawned on me that the jokes were actually funny (well... having heard them so many times).
Well, today I'll share one of these jokes with you that somehow made more of an impression with me. Unlike my dad, however, I'm the worst joke teller, so please bear with me while I struggle here:
Uploaded on October 20, 2005by wiccked
A scientist performs an experiment. He takes a spider and tears off two of its legs.
"Go," he tells the spider and the spider goes.
The scientist makes a note in his log and tears off another pair of legs.
"Go," says the scientist and the spider goes.
He makes another note in the log and repeats the process until he tears off the last pair of legs.
"Go," the scientist says but the spider doesn't move. The scientist makes the following note in his log:
'Conclusion: A spider with no legs can't hear.'
This joke appealed to me on so many levels, but first and foremost was the statement it made about us, humans, and our cockiness. Our assumptions, our presumtions of understanding the world around us.
I loved this joke's mockery of science specifially and of our deductive abilities in general. Do we really infer correctly from the picture we see? From the data?
Of course there is a reason this joke came to mind; a reason I'm talking about reasoning -- I've been reading about 'racist science' lately.
Naturally, scientists investigating such matters go to great lengths to sound as impartial and as dry and as disinterested as they can. They present the data and the conclusions. They don't care what the conclusions are, they're not racist.
Well, I wonder if some of these scientist aren't like the scientist in my dad's joke...
Categories: science
Friday, October 21, 2005
A Wash Post Befitting Cultural Dilution
Lance wrote a beautiful post Playing Dead in it he starts by reminding us how we used to play dead when we were kids (remember?) and continues by asking how many of us still do it. Play dead, that is.
Having the emotional complexity of a donkey, I took what Lance said to mean something slightly different than what he did, and only realized this as I continued reading his post. While Lance talked about our personal emotions, I thought of society's.
I mentioned pop-culture and art in previous posts, touching-not touching on the subject of cultural dilution. I also always promised a post on the matter but never actually wrote one.
My reasons for never writing one, you ask?
a) I was still trying to decide whether the perceived dilution is a generational thing rather than an absolute thing (as much as absolute things exist).
b) I lacked an angle.
c) I felt inadequate, ill-equipped and definitely not knowledgeable enough to tackle the matter.
Reason 'c' still exists and probably will never go away.
Reason 'a' - jury's still out.
Reason 'b' was solved. Lance gave me the angle - is our society playing dead, pretending not to feel thus diluting our culture?
However, since I still feel inadequate to analyze, criticize and (most probably) judge our society, maybe you can help me to decide on 'a.' Personally, I feel the dilution exists, yet when I read new good books, watch new good movies, go to a new amazing art show, I wonder.
I have no doubt that generational dilution exists just as it existed in previous generations. I remember the story my mother used to tell me about the radio. When she was a child for example, her parents would not bring a radio into the house for fear of the kids getting hooked on it and other familiar reasons we would today attribute to, I don't know, Nintendo.
Similarly, while the artistic domain with its four basic forms of visual art, 'word' art, musical art and performing art remain, it spills over today into the entertainment domain, hence the dilution as the lines between art and entertainment get blurred (as per one of my favourite blogs).
But culture isn't just art. Culture is the comprehensive activities of society in the form of manners, morals, customs, laws and a whole slew of other things. Issues that I admit I have my (sometimes strong) opinions on but that alas are too many to list here.
The end result?
A very dissatisfying post that doesn't really say much and that feels more like a wash.
Categories: culture, art, writing
Having the emotional complexity of a donkey, I took what Lance said to mean something slightly different than what he did, and only realized this as I continued reading his post. While Lance talked about our personal emotions, I thought of society's.
I mentioned pop-culture and art in previous posts, touching-not touching on the subject of cultural dilution. I also always promised a post on the matter but never actually wrote one.
My reasons for never writing one, you ask?
a) I was still trying to decide whether the perceived dilution is a generational thing rather than an absolute thing (as much as absolute things exist).
b) I lacked an angle.
c) I felt inadequate, ill-equipped and definitely not knowledgeable enough to tackle the matter.
Reason 'c' still exists and probably will never go away.
Reason 'a' - jury's still out.
Reason 'b' was solved. Lance gave me the angle - is our society playing dead, pretending not to feel thus diluting our culture?
However, since I still feel inadequate to analyze, criticize and (most probably) judge our society, maybe you can help me to decide on 'a.' Personally, I feel the dilution exists, yet when I read new good books, watch new good movies, go to a new amazing art show, I wonder.
I have no doubt that generational dilution exists just as it existed in previous generations. I remember the story my mother used to tell me about the radio. When she was a child for example, her parents would not bring a radio into the house for fear of the kids getting hooked on it and other familiar reasons we would today attribute to, I don't know, Nintendo.
Similarly, while the artistic domain with its four basic forms of visual art, 'word' art, musical art and performing art remain, it spills over today into the entertainment domain, hence the dilution as the lines between art and entertainment get blurred (as per one of my favourite blogs).
But culture isn't just art. Culture is the comprehensive activities of society in the form of manners, morals, customs, laws and a whole slew of other things. Issues that I admit I have my (sometimes strong) opinions on but that alas are too many to list here.
The end result?
A very dissatisfying post that doesn't really say much and that feels more like a wash.
Categories: culture, art, writing
Wednesday, October 19, 2005
The MP3 Breast Implant and other news
Okay, no one ever reads my news posts (I think), so I figured I'd start with something that is eye-catching.
Maybe now that you're hooked, you'd be interested in reading the other interesting stuff I found today:
In environment: Scientists: Natural Disasters Becoming More Common
In space: Venus Express set for liftoff
In health: International stem cell bank open
In quantum computing: Qubit link could pave the way for world's most powerful computers
In Nature: 'Zombie worms' found off Sweden
Exploding Rocks Dredged from Seafloor
In WTF: Nintendo in McDonald's wi-fi deal
Categories: science, space, health
According to UK tabloid the Sun - ever watchful for life-enhancing technology, especially when it's got a big jubs angle - BT Laboratories bod Ian Pearson reckons breast implants may as well do something useful if they're to be permanently installed, rather than just looking decorative.You can read the rest here.
Accordingly, he's proposed sticking an mp3 player in one dug, and a storage chip in the other. Quite how playback is achieved we're not quite sure*, but it may well involve the listener burying his or her head in the cleavage for a full stereo effect.
Maybe now that you're hooked, you'd be interested in reading the other interesting stuff I found today:
In environment: Scientists: Natural Disasters Becoming More Common
In space: Venus Express set for liftoff
In health: International stem cell bank open
In quantum computing: Qubit link could pave the way for world's most powerful computers
In Nature: 'Zombie worms' found off Sweden
Exploding Rocks Dredged from Seafloor
In WTF: Nintendo in McDonald's wi-fi deal
Categories: science, space, health
Monday, October 17, 2005
Oh, Joy - My second tag ever
Okay, this time the tag subject is one that is very dear to my heart - Joy!
Holly Lisle started the tag and Carter, Jean and Heather all decided I needed more tag practice.
Lucky for me this is a subject I can never tire of.
Well, it just so happens that the last (and only) time I've used the word joy in a post was in the context of the "joy of reading". I can't believe how appropriate that is. Makes me joyful...
Just to make sure this wasn't the only mention of happiness in my blog, I've checked happy (the other words aren't my style):
Seems I didn't need to look that hard for joy in my life and that it doesn't take much to make me happy - reading, writing, internet access, peace and quiet, etc. I was happy to see the numerous times I've mentioned I was happy. Other than the above sentences I found, there were many more happies in the comments, from me, and occasionally from others.
Last, but not least, I even wrote a post about happiness not too long ago: Meditation, Happiness and Mind Control. It's one of the posts I love the most and one I am most proud of even though it didn't seem to create as much interest.
Now for the tagging part, let's see:
Liz, Gina, Yzabel, rdl, Terry
(Eric, Cavan and Trée this is the second tag I'm not tagging you because I'm certain you'd ignore me... :)
Oh, and if anyone wishes to ignore me - no worries. Feel free...
Search your blog for the word "joy" used in the context of "happiness." If you cannot find the word in your weblog, you may use any of the select list of synonyms below.
joy - amusement, bliss, cheer, comfort, delectation, delight, ecstasy, elation, exaltation, exultation, exulting, felicity, gaiety, gladness, glee, good humor, gratification, happiness, hilarity, humor, jubilance, liveliness, merriment, mirth, pleasure, rapture, regalement, rejoicing, revelry, satisfaction, wonder
If your weblog does not include a built-in search engine, then you can use Google to search it only for the word you wish to find.
If you’ve found the word and it was not used facetiously or sarcastically, good for you. All you need to do is link to your earlier entry, and write a few words about that joyous moment. If, however, you have no joy (whole words only) in your weblog, you must dig deep in your soul and find something wonderful in your life right now. One little thing that fills you with warmth, that bubbles you over with quiet happiness, or tickles you with its good-hearted hilarity, or makes you glad you just took a breath, and are getting ready to take another. It doesn't have to be anything big. A smile someone gave you; your cat on your shoulder; the way the light angles through your window and casts rainbows on your floor. All it has to be is something genuine, something real, something that matters to you.
Because we all need joy in our lives, and need to take the time - from time to time - to recognize it. And sometimes, we need to pass it on.
Even if we're a big pain in the ass when we do.
When you've dealt with your own joy, pass the quest on to five other bloggers.
Categories: meme, misc
Holly Lisle started the tag and Carter, Jean and Heather all decided I needed more tag practice.
Lucky for me this is a subject I can never tire of.
Well, it just so happens that the last (and only) time I've used the word joy in a post was in the context of the "joy of reading". I can't believe how appropriate that is. Makes me joyful...
Just to make sure this wasn't the only mention of happiness in my blog, I've checked happy (the other words aren't my style):
I was so happy; the sky was the limit.
For me, for now, I'm so happy to be sitting again in my office, at my desk, typing away at my keyboard with my familiar computer and -- without a soul around.
I never thought I would be so happy to be back - yey!
I'm usually a happy person...
I'm so happy to be home again.
I've submitted what I needed to submit and while I'm not happy about my overall progress, I'm happy that I've at least accomplished this.
That makes me happy.
Most times I'm happy because I choose to be.
I'm happy to report I was too busy writing at night to update you.
Seems I didn't need to look that hard for joy in my life and that it doesn't take much to make me happy - reading, writing, internet access, peace and quiet, etc. I was happy to see the numerous times I've mentioned I was happy. Other than the above sentences I found, there were many more happies in the comments, from me, and occasionally from others.
Last, but not least, I even wrote a post about happiness not too long ago: Meditation, Happiness and Mind Control. It's one of the posts I love the most and one I am most proud of even though it didn't seem to create as much interest.
Now for the tagging part, let's see:
Liz, Gina, Yzabel, rdl, Terry
(Eric, Cavan and Trée this is the second tag I'm not tagging you because I'm certain you'd ignore me... :)
Oh, and if anyone wishes to ignore me - no worries. Feel free...
THE SEARCH FOR JOY
Search your blog for the word "joy" used in the context of "happiness." If you cannot find the word in your weblog, you may use any of the select list of synonyms below.
joy - amusement, bliss, cheer, comfort, delectation, delight, ecstasy, elation, exaltation, exultation, exulting, felicity, gaiety, gladness, glee, good humor, gratification, happiness, hilarity, humor, jubilance, liveliness, merriment, mirth, pleasure, rapture, regalement, rejoicing, revelry, satisfaction, wonder
If your weblog does not include a built-in search engine, then you can use Google to search it only for the word you wish to find.
If you’ve found the word and it was not used facetiously or sarcastically, good for you. All you need to do is link to your earlier entry, and write a few words about that joyous moment. If, however, you have no joy (whole words only) in your weblog, you must dig deep in your soul and find something wonderful in your life right now. One little thing that fills you with warmth, that bubbles you over with quiet happiness, or tickles you with its good-hearted hilarity, or makes you glad you just took a breath, and are getting ready to take another. It doesn't have to be anything big. A smile someone gave you; your cat on your shoulder; the way the light angles through your window and casts rainbows on your floor. All it has to be is something genuine, something real, something that matters to you.
Because we all need joy in our lives, and need to take the time - from time to time - to recognize it. And sometimes, we need to pass it on.
Even if we're a big pain in the ass when we do.
When you've dealt with your own joy, pass the quest on to five other bloggers.
Categories: meme, misc
Boring Admin Stuff
I've decided not to wait until my new template is ready before updating my links.
The template that some of you were kind enough to comment on was a table, which wasn't my first choice, so now I've reverted back to floating 3-col CSS template. And it's not that easy. At least not for me. But I'm stubborn when it comes to such things.
If any of you linked to my template page, thank you, but there's no need. Really. It will be deleted or just used as an experimental coding page for me.
I hope I didn't mess up my links since I'm doing it manually. Please let me know if I did. It was just an oversight if you used to be there and you no longer are.
The joy tag will be the next post. Promise :)
Categories: blogging, coding, misc
The template that some of you were kind enough to comment on was a table, which wasn't my first choice, so now I've reverted back to floating 3-col CSS template. And it's not that easy. At least not for me. But I'm stubborn when it comes to such things.
If any of you linked to my template page, thank you, but there's no need. Really. It will be deleted or just used as an experimental coding page for me.
I hope I didn't mess up my links since I'm doing it manually. Please let me know if I did. It was just an oversight if you used to be there and you no longer are.
The joy tag will be the next post. Promise :)
Categories: blogging, coding, misc
Saturday, October 15, 2005
Dark Matter in Art, in Writing
It's been a while since we talked science, and don't you worry, we'll get to writing too.
Today, I finally caught up on some of my science news of the past week.
Seems that I missed a lot of news about Dark Matter. To those unfamiliar, a quick explanation from Wikipedia:
One news item I missed seems to have given the final proof:
Now let's switch gears. You may recall that two posts ago I questioned what is art. I claimed that art is beyond skill and beyond creativity. I claimed that art is something that combines all of these but I was hard pressed to find an exact definition. Then, in my comments, ObilonKenobi said that art is more than the sum of its parts.
Well, I think that's just it. What makes art art? What makes a good book art? Dark Matter.
That invisible, undetectable something that helps bind the sentences, the paragraphs, the ideas, the plot, the characters in a way that is more than simply the sum of its parts. Something we cannot necessarily pinpoint or see but that we can identify its existence when it is present. It helps bring a good book together and hold it there in what we call a work of art.
Maybe if scientists one day find a way to 'see' dark matter, that would also be the day in which we'll find a way to identify artistic dark matter.
Categories: writing, science, art
Today, I finally caught up on some of my science news of the past week.
Seems that I missed a lot of news about Dark Matter. To those unfamiliar, a quick explanation from Wikipedia:
In cosmology, dark matter refers to hypothetical matter particles, of unknown composition, that do not emit or reflect enough electromagnetic radiation to be detected directly, but whose presence can be inferred from gravitational effects on visible matter such as stars and galaxies.Just to explain it a little bit further, or more plainly perhaps (and those who know better are welcome to add and correct), it was argued back in 1933 by Zwicky that the gravity of cluster galaxies is insufficient to hold it together, and that there must therefore be additional gravity from dark matter, or otherwise the cluster would fly apart.
One news item I missed seems to have given the final proof:
[...]an Israeli cosmologist showed that the existing model of elliptical galaxies was wrong, proving that dark matter was there all along.(Of course that this still isn't a smoking gun, but it is sufficient to continue assuming in dark matter's existence).
Now let's switch gears. You may recall that two posts ago I questioned what is art. I claimed that art is beyond skill and beyond creativity. I claimed that art is something that combines all of these but I was hard pressed to find an exact definition. Then, in my comments, ObilonKenobi said that art is more than the sum of its parts.
Well, I think that's just it. What makes art art? What makes a good book art? Dark Matter.
That invisible, undetectable something that helps bind the sentences, the paragraphs, the ideas, the plot, the characters in a way that is more than simply the sum of its parts. Something we cannot necessarily pinpoint or see but that we can identify its existence when it is present. It helps bring a good book together and hold it there in what we call a work of art.
Maybe if scientists one day find a way to 'see' dark matter, that would also be the day in which we'll find a way to identify artistic dark matter.
Categories: writing, science, art
Friday, October 14, 2005
My First Tag Ever
I've never been tagged so this is quite exciting.
Here are the rules as they were passed to me by Jean:
1. Delve into your blog archive.
2. Find your 23rd post (or closest to).
3. Find the fifth sentence (or closest to).
4. Post the text of the sentence in your blog along with these instructions. Ponder it for meaning, subtext or hidden agendas.
5. Tag five people to do the same.
I already mentioned my luck two posts ago. Well, this time is no different:
My 23rd post - Classical Reading - consisted of one (that's 1) sentence only:
So I went to my 22nd post - Beginnings are Hard, Endings are Even Harder - Part II - and found a fifth sentence there. Hold your breath - it's a beaut:
I couldn't leave it at that, this being my first tag and all, so I tried my 24th post (the instructions do specify: "Find your 23rd post (or closest to).").
My 24th post was about writing discipline. I should be able to find a good 5th sentence here. So here goes:
As for meaning, subtext or hidden agenda - well... er... yeah... - I'm a pretty straight forward person, so I couldn't find any subtext or hidden agenda, and the meaning isn't worth repeating really.
Jean had such a beautiful post and meaning (go read), and I have the above. What can I do???
Nothing, I guess, except fulfill the last part of the tag and tag five other people:
-Easywriter - cause her sentence will be full of subtext Okay, so Easywriter's been tagged for this one (popular lady), so instead I'm tagging...
- Jennifer - cause I know she'll enjoy it the most
- Patry - cause her sentence will be full of meaning
- Pat - cause she's bound to have a hidden, cynical agenda (and probably get pissed at me ;)
- Lee - just to bug him (Lee posted his tag on an earlier date. He thought he could avoid detection. Well, tough. Lee's post where he did indeed tag five others.
- AriadneK - cause I'm curious to see what "fumed" her on that day :)
Alas, I'm limited to five.
Categories: misc, meme
Here are the rules as they were passed to me by Jean:
1. Delve into your blog archive.
2. Find your 23rd post (or closest to).
3. Find the fifth sentence (or closest to).
4. Post the text of the sentence in your blog along with these instructions. Ponder it for meaning, subtext or hidden agendas.
5. Tag five people to do the same.
I already mentioned my luck two posts ago. Well, this time is no different:
My 23rd post - Classical Reading - consisted of one (that's 1) sentence only:
I've posted this list of sites where I read classics online on my other blog, but it's also important for writers to read the classics.Then a link to another post.
So I went to my 22nd post - Beginnings are Hard, Endings are Even Harder - Part II - and found a fifth sentence there. Hold your breath - it's a beaut:
But no worries, it's not so much.
I couldn't leave it at that, this being my first tag and all, so I tried my 24th post (the instructions do specify: "Find your 23rd post (or closest to).").
My 24th post was about writing discipline. I should be able to find a good 5th sentence here. So here goes:
When professional and successful writers keep emphasizing the importance of writing, they don't mean only for the sake of practicing and improving, they also mean for the sake of discipline.I can breathe again, now that's much better.
As for meaning, subtext or hidden agenda - well... er... yeah... - I'm a pretty straight forward person, so I couldn't find any subtext or hidden agenda, and the meaning isn't worth repeating really.
Jean had such a beautiful post and meaning (go read), and I have the above. What can I do???
Nothing, I guess, except fulfill the last part of the tag and tag five other people:
-
- Jennifer - cause I know she'll enjoy it the most
- Patry - cause her sentence will be full of meaning
- Pat - cause she's bound to have a hidden, cynical agenda (and probably get pissed at me ;)
- Lee - just to bug him (Lee posted his tag on an earlier date. He thought he could avoid detection. Well, tough. Lee's post where he did indeed tag five others.
- AriadneK - cause I'm curious to see what "fumed" her on that day :)
Alas, I'm limited to five.
Categories: misc, meme
Thursday, October 13, 2005
Art
Yesterday I spent about four hours discussing different issues with six other people, the oldest was in his later 60s, and the youngest in her early 20s. One thing just led to another, you know how it goes.
We started off talking about a horrendous case where an 11-year-old-boy was turned into a sex slave to six other boys aged 12-16. We tried to understand the seemingly increasing numbers of these cases, so we discussed education and parental ability to control over internet/TV. This led us to discuss the effectiveness of tough laws as a deterrent effect, which led us in turn to Singapore and corporeal punishment.
And so the conversation continued with different views expressed until we reached the subject of art, and more specifically - what is art?
Before I continue telling the rest of the discussion and what we finally agreed on, or what I agreed on, I want to digress, because not too long ago in my post about my
poet friends we started discussing what is art right here.
Pat Kirby said:
Lee Carlon also had something to say about the subject (in reply to my complaint about extreme abstract art):
There were other great comments there especially from Eric.
I agreed with what was said above; I simply refuse to accept everything and anything that someone calls art as art.
And so back to my great conversation from yesterday. We mentioned how fashion can affect art or what is perceived as art and aesthetics. We mentioned how skillful street portrait painters aren't necessarily artists despite their high skill level. We mentioned how the context matters - Once "something" is in a museum it becomes art.
We tried to get to a definition we were comfortable with and here is what we agreed on:
Art is something made by a human with intent behind it and that follows certain rules of aesthetics. It has to be combine skill and creativity.
Two things follow from this:
1) What is aesthetics?
2) A skillful artist who knows the rules can break them and create something very artistic. In the manner of Picasso's examinations of paintings, or a good author who breaks grammar rules intentionally.
I realize I'm opening a can of worms here, but - opinions?
Categories: writing, art
We started off talking about a horrendous case where an 11-year-old-boy was turned into a sex slave to six other boys aged 12-16. We tried to understand the seemingly increasing numbers of these cases, so we discussed education and parental ability to control over internet/TV. This led us to discuss the effectiveness of tough laws as a deterrent effect, which led us in turn to Singapore and corporeal punishment.
And so the conversation continued with different views expressed until we reached the subject of art, and more specifically - what is art?
Before I continue telling the rest of the discussion and what we finally agreed on, or what I agreed on, I want to digress, because not too long ago in my post about my
poet friends we started discussing what is art right here.
Pat Kirby said:
I respect any art form (except maybe freaky modern art where a guy puts a toilet seat in a corner and calls it Man's Frustration or something equally un-pithy).In response to my question if the example she gave was for real, she replied:
I think I saw the toilet seat thing, looong ago, in Newsweek article about an art exhibition. I think art is the manipulation of one thing into...I dunno, something else. The idea that someone can "artfully" (ha) array toilets or other furnishings, affix some philosophical significance to the arrangement and call it art...offends me.
Lee Carlon also had something to say about the subject (in reply to my complaint about extreme abstract art):
As for the art thing, it's how you arrange the triangle and the square in relation to each other that counts.
Done right, and with the correct understanding of colour, light, shading and composition, a simple triangle and a square could represent man's continuing struggle to dominate his environment and attempts to come to terms with his own human-ness, coupled with the...
No I'm sorry, you're right. It's nonsense.
There were other great comments there especially from Eric.
I agreed with what was said above; I simply refuse to accept everything and anything that someone calls art as art.
And so back to my great conversation from yesterday. We mentioned how fashion can affect art or what is perceived as art and aesthetics. We mentioned how skillful street portrait painters aren't necessarily artists despite their high skill level. We mentioned how the context matters - Once "something" is in a museum it becomes art.
We tried to get to a definition we were comfortable with and here is what we agreed on:
Art is something made by a human with intent behind it and that follows certain rules of aesthetics. It has to be combine skill and creativity.
Two things follow from this:
1) What is aesthetics?
2) A skillful artist who knows the rules can break them and create something very artistic. In the manner of Picasso's examinations of paintings, or a good author who breaks grammar rules intentionally.
I realize I'm opening a can of worms here, but - opinions?
Categories: writing, art
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
100 Blogs in 100 Days
I can't believe it!
The Blog Herald featured little me in their 100 Blogs in 100 Days and of course it had to be my luck that it happened while I was away and I missed it. So here it is: Day 45: All Kinds of Writing.
My first reaction was jubilation naturally, but then I couldn't stop laughing (still am) at my luck. How could I not? I was featured on The Blog Herald, as Milly, while I was on a few different excruciating flights. That's me. Always a day late...
Oh, well. At least I'm featured and I even got the whopping number of five (that's 5!) visits from the Herald.
Must be my punishment for harassing the nice sales lady for half an hour yesterday when I was in the Milan airport about the right kind of Limoncello and grappa. Not to mention how I raided the Lindt sales guys who just kept giving me more samples (or was it me demanding more samples?). And they all had that adorable Italian accent.
Alas, Italy wasn't my final destination, but I'm here and I'm connected and I hope to have a more meaningful post by the end of the day. In fact, I started writing one on the plane, but the plane had an "engineering problem" and the lights went out, including the movie screen. So there I was, without a light to read or a movie to watch and with my laptop out of juice. I ended up staring at the back of the seat in front of me for over four hours. No wonder I took my frustration out later at the duty free.
Thank you all for coming to visit while I was away and commenting on my new template. I see I still have some work to do...
Raising a Limoncello glass now - To Friends!
The Blog Herald featured little me in their 100 Blogs in 100 Days and of course it had to be my luck that it happened while I was away and I missed it. So here it is: Day 45: All Kinds of Writing.
My first reaction was jubilation naturally, but then I couldn't stop laughing (still am) at my luck. How could I not? I was featured on The Blog Herald, as Milly, while I was on a few different excruciating flights. That's me. Always a day late...
Oh, well. At least I'm featured and I even got the whopping number of five (that's 5!) visits from the Herald.
Must be my punishment for harassing the nice sales lady for half an hour yesterday when I was in the Milan airport about the right kind of Limoncello and grappa. Not to mention how I raided the Lindt sales guys who just kept giving me more samples (or was it me demanding more samples?). And they all had that adorable Italian accent.
Alas, Italy wasn't my final destination, but I'm here and I'm connected and I hope to have a more meaningful post by the end of the day. In fact, I started writing one on the plane, but the plane had an "engineering problem" and the lights went out, including the movie screen. So there I was, without a light to read or a movie to watch and with my laptop out of juice. I ended up staring at the back of the seat in front of me for over four hours. No wonder I took my frustration out later at the duty free.
Thank you all for coming to visit while I was away and commenting on my new template. I see I still have some work to do...
Raising a Limoncello glass now - To Friends!
Saturday, October 08, 2005
One for the Road
This weekend is Thanksgiving long weekend here in Canada.
I read Shirazi's post about Ramadan, and I read Carter's post about Rosh Hashana. Yom Kippur will be on Wednesday/Thursday.
I just found it interesting that this year all three holidays/important days were in such close proximity. Maybe this is the year that things will change... world peace... who knows?
In the next few days (probably until Wednesday), I won't be able to post. I might still have internet access until Monday though.
I know that some of you, being the sneaky people that they are ;), have already discovered my template test site. If you feel like it, please have a look and tell me what you think template experiment.
I haven't updated my blogroll in a while, but it will be done when the new template is up and running. Please be patient with me.
And in case you get bored:
Categories: quiz, misc, games
I read Shirazi's post about Ramadan, and I read Carter's post about Rosh Hashana. Yom Kippur will be on Wednesday/Thursday.
I just found it interesting that this year all three holidays/important days were in such close proximity. Maybe this is the year that things will change... world peace... who knows?
In the next few days (probably until Wednesday), I won't be able to post. I might still have internet access until Monday though.
I know that some of you, being the sneaky people that they are ;), have already discovered my template test site. If you feel like it, please have a look and tell me what you think template experiment.
I haven't updated my blogroll in a while, but it will be done when the new template is up and running. Please be patient with me.
And in case you get bored:
- Games:
- Daily Puzzle I found through Cool Beans Mama
- Samorost - a simple point and click web game.
- What's Your 2005 Summer Anthem?
- What Muppet are you? - I'm Gonzo the Great of course.
- How Boyish or Girlish Are You? - I'm 60% Boyish and 40% Girlish
- What Does Your Birth Date Mean?
- What Kind of American English Do You Speak?
- the spacefem.com html color quiz
Quizzes:
Sources:
Shaken & Stirred
Ramblings from the Desert
Rantings and Ravings
Death by Absurdity
Renegade Mom
Categories: quiz, misc, games
Friday, October 07, 2005
For Word Lovers
No, not MS Word. Just words.
I found an article today about Weird and wonderful vocabulary from around the world.
Apparently, this guy, Adam Jacot de Boinod, wrote this book - The Meaning of Tingo: And Other Extraordinary Words from Around the World
where he collected words that have no direct translation in English. Some of them very culturally specific and some are just specific. For example: tingo--from the Pascuense language of Easter Island--means "to borrow objects from a friend's house, one by one, until there's nothing left".
Some of my favourites:
Update: Trée actually used all these words in a reply to my comment in his FNF: East and West post. You have to check it out. I couldn't stop laughing.
Update 2: Eric started a new blog called Teh Blog Father in which he reviewed this post. Go here.
Anyone is welcome to submit to Teh Blog Father to be reviewed. Don't wait - go check it out and submit your post!
Categories: writing, words
I found an article today about Weird and wonderful vocabulary from around the world.
Apparently, this guy, Adam Jacot de Boinod, wrote this book - The Meaning of Tingo: And Other Extraordinary Words from Around the World
where he collected words that have no direct translation in English. Some of them very culturally specific and some are just specific. For example: tingo--from the Pascuense language of Easter Island--means "to borrow objects from a friend's house, one by one, until there's nothing left".Some of my favourites:
- KOSHATNIK Russian - A dealer in stolen cats.
- BUZ-BAZ Ancient Persian - A showman who makes a goat and monkey dance together.
- GRILAGEM Brazilian Portuguese - The practice of putting a live cricket into a box of newly faked documents, until the insect's excrement makes the paper look convincingly old.
- SEIGNEUR-TERRASSE French - Someone who spends time, but not money, at a café.
- NYLENTIK Indonesian - To flick someone with the middle finger on the ear.
- LATAH Indonesian - Uncontrollable habit of saying embarrassing things.
- DESIR Malay - The sound of sand driven by the wind (isn't that poetic?)
Update: Trée actually used all these words in a reply to my comment in his FNF: East and West post. You have to check it out. I couldn't stop laughing.
Update 2: Eric started a new blog called Teh Blog Father in which he reviewed this post. Go here.
Anyone is welcome to submit to Teh Blog Father to be reviewed. Don't wait - go check it out and submit your post!
Categories: writing, words
Top Ten Questions Writers Ask
Poets & Writers brings us Top Ten Questions Writers Ask.
This is a great resource for the newbie to the publishing world. It's short, succinct and comprehensive. It's a good start.
For the more seasoned writer it can serve as a quick reminder.
Categories: writing, publishing
This is a great resource for the newbie to the publishing world. It's short, succinct and comprehensive. It's a good start.
For the more seasoned writer it can serve as a quick reminder.
Categories: writing, publishing
Thursday, October 06, 2005
New Sci-Fi Magazine - New Market
I can't believe I missed the announcement on September 29th but a friend emailed me this:
Card Debuts Web Magazine
From Tobias Buckell
Via Scifi.com
Via Card's site
Categories: writing, publishing, markets, science-fiction, magazines
Card Debuts Web Magazine
Multiple award-winning SF author Orson Scott Card told SCI FI Wire that he will be helming a new online genre fiction magazine, Orson Scott Card's Intergalactic Medicine Show.
[...]
Card said that he considers new writers to be the lifeblood of the magazine, and Medicine Show will be accepting submissions from authors after the first issue appears. "We're paying 6 cents a word, up to $500, in the ballpark for a professional publication," he said. The first issue of Orson Scott Card's Intergalactic Medicine Show will debut Oct. 15.
From Tobias Buckell
No word about how to submit, though through the grapevine and message boards at Hatrack River, his personal site, it looks like graduates of his workshop are making some sales there.
Via Scifi.com
Via Card's site
Categories: writing, publishing, markets, science-fiction, magazines
Retro Car
Okay, I'm not a big car enthusiast, but this was just too cool not to share.
In Nissan's new model - Pivo - the cabin rotates 360 degrees. This means that if you drove this car and had to drive in reverse, instead of turning your head and twisting your body, you could just turn the cabin.
Other features:
- 3 seats
- electric
- cool dashboards gadgets and other new features.
Articles (each one with a different picture):
New concept car: a rotating egg on wheels
NISSAN AND ARTIST MURAKAMI TEAM UP TO UNVEIL PIVO
Nissan's new concept car: a rotating egg on wheels
Wednesday, October 05, 2005
Another Angle on Copyright Issues and Ebooks
{{{288 words}}}
First Yahoo!
You could just tell it wasn't going to be long before Yahoo! dipped it's hand into digitizing books.
Yet, I always had a soft spot for Yahoo! and even now they haven't disappointed me.
Instead of going head first into the fray, banging whoever is in its way like Google did, Yahoo! chose to digitize public domain books or those books whose copyright owners have given permission. Very different from Google's negative option where all books will be digitized unless authors specifically asked not to digitize their books.
And what's the difference between Yahoo!'s collection and, say, Project Gutenberg?
Not much except it allied itself with Adobe and others to perhaps give a better service.
Articles:
Yahoo jumps on the library bandwagon
Yahoo! follows Google into print minefield
Yahoo to digitize public domain books
Second - Digital Music vis a vis Ebooks
I don't know if you heard yesterday, but digital music sales soared in the first half of 2005, up 259 percent compared to the first half of 2004.
At the same time, physical media sales went down by about 6%.
Books and music are two different things of course. While music lends itself to being digitized, a print book doesn't (have you ever tried scanning a whole book?)
And yet, we can see by example that the fight against piracy is taking effect and while actual CD sales decreased, digitized media sales increased, offsetting somewhat the decline in CD sales. But more importantly perhaps is that people actually bought digital music as opposed to downloading it online. Could it be that the education helped?
Regardless, I think this shows great hopes for ebooks and for containing piracy in the digital world.
Articles:
Legal music downloads soar as CD sales fall
Digital music revenues soar
Digital music sales triple
Categories: writing, publishing, ebook
First Yahoo!
You could just tell it wasn't going to be long before Yahoo! dipped it's hand into digitizing books.
Yet, I always had a soft spot for Yahoo! and even now they haven't disappointed me.
Instead of going head first into the fray, banging whoever is in its way like Google did, Yahoo! chose to digitize public domain books or those books whose copyright owners have given permission. Very different from Google's negative option where all books will be digitized unless authors specifically asked not to digitize their books.
And what's the difference between Yahoo!'s collection and, say, Project Gutenberg?
Not much except it allied itself with Adobe and others to perhaps give a better service.
Articles:
Yahoo jumps on the library bandwagon
Yahoo! follows Google into print minefield
Yahoo to digitize public domain books
Second - Digital Music vis a vis Ebooks
I don't know if you heard yesterday, but digital music sales soared in the first half of 2005, up 259 percent compared to the first half of 2004.
At the same time, physical media sales went down by about 6%.
Books and music are two different things of course. While music lends itself to being digitized, a print book doesn't (have you ever tried scanning a whole book?)
And yet, we can see by example that the fight against piracy is taking effect and while actual CD sales decreased, digitized media sales increased, offsetting somewhat the decline in CD sales. But more importantly perhaps is that people actually bought digital music as opposed to downloading it online. Could it be that the education helped?
Regardless, I think this shows great hopes for ebooks and for containing piracy in the digital world.
Articles:
Legal music downloads soar as CD sales fall
Digital music revenues soar
Digital music sales triple
Categories: writing, publishing, ebook
Tuesday, October 04, 2005
Name the Nobel Prize Winners
In this "game" you're supposed to identify the Nobel prize winner from a partial photo.
I recognized four and I think I also know who two others are. The rest - I have no idea. Can you do better?
Slate Magazine will award the winner with "a Slate hat and a signed copy of The Genius Factory: The Curious History of the Nobel Prize Sperm Bank
, by Slate Deputy Editor David Plotz."
Link
Categories: game, misc
I recognized four and I think I also know who two others are. The rest - I have no idea. Can you do better?
Slate Magazine will award the winner with "a Slate hat and a signed copy of The Genius Factory: The Curious History of the Nobel Prize Sperm Bank
, by Slate Deputy Editor David Plotz."Link
Categories: game, misc
Monday, October 03, 2005
Solar Eclipse
{{{163 words}}}
We love the mysterious and the supernatural, one might say, yet a solar eclipse isn't supernatural. It is very natural, only in a super, grand way.
I react the same way to any eclipse and I can't understand why. I read fantasy knowing very well it is just that. Why then do I bother? What is it that attracts me to a world I don't live in? What is it that attracts all of us?
If you want to read a beutiful magical eclipse experience, please read Yzabel's description in the comments.
There's also a pretty picture in the Guardian.
Uploaded on October 3, 2005
by Vedia
Categories: science, writing
In one of my previous posts I mentioned that there would be a solar eclipse today over Europe, Africa and parts of Asia.
What is it about a solar eclipse that still excites us?
Why does it still seem magical? Mystical?
I can understand that for our ancestors this was a disturbing phenomenon, but why is it still so enchanting for us? Don't we all know it's only one object in the way of another. Nothing more to it. Is all!
We love the mysterious and the supernatural, one might say, yet a solar eclipse isn't supernatural. It is very natural, only in a super, grand way.
I react the same way to any eclipse and I can't understand why. I read fantasy knowing very well it is just that. Why then do I bother? What is it that attracts me to a world I don't live in? What is it that attracts all of us?
If you want to read a beutiful magical eclipse experience, please read Yzabel's description in the comments.
There's also a pretty picture in the Guardian.
Uploaded on October 3, 2005
by Vedia
Categories: science, writing
Sunday, October 02, 2005
Just Because Atwood Does It Doesn't Mean You Can Too
{{{182 words}}}
I'm finally out of my Reading Slump, and am happily reading Oryx and Crake
by Margaret Atwood
. I'm really enjoying it.
Of course, I'm reading as a writer as Karen so well noted, so I pay attention to writing techniques and methods (without the joy of reading being spoiled though).
First I noted that Atwood wrote the novel in present tense which is by itself different from your usual run-of-the-mill novel. Then I noticed that Atwood used other writing devices not often found in mainstream. Somewhat experimental writing I would say.
What if this was Atwood's first novel? Do you still think it would have been published? Would it have been published as it is now, without being butchered?
I think that what established writers can "get away" with is very different from what a first-timer can. I think that if this was someone's first novel, they'd never publish it. Too risky. Too experimental. At most, they'd "edit" it completely.
(Please don't take it as an attack an Atwood, quite the opposite. It's more of a criticism of the publishing world).
Categories: writing, publishing
I'm finally out of my Reading Slump, and am happily reading Oryx and Crake
by Margaret Atwood. I'm really enjoying it.Of course, I'm reading as a writer as Karen so well noted, so I pay attention to writing techniques and methods (without the joy of reading being spoiled though).
First I noted that Atwood wrote the novel in present tense which is by itself different from your usual run-of-the-mill novel. Then I noticed that Atwood used other writing devices not often found in mainstream. Somewhat experimental writing I would say.
What if this was Atwood's first novel? Do you still think it would have been published? Would it have been published as it is now, without being butchered?
I think that what established writers can "get away" with is very different from what a first-timer can. I think that if this was someone's first novel, they'd never publish it. Too risky. Too experimental. At most, they'd "edit" it completely.
(Please don't take it as an attack an Atwood, quite the opposite. It's more of a criticism of the publishing world).
Categories: writing, publishing
Movie Stars As My Characters
{{{360 words}}}
This was Cavan's question: What would be your Dream Cast?
That is, what actors would you choose to play the characters in your novel?
I bet Cavan had no idea how much time I needed to think about it.
Not being very visual, this question took me places I wasn't familiar with. I had the big picture in my head but not the details. I knew how I want my characters to look in general, or I had a specific thing in mind, like big nose or large breasts, but not everything.
Also, the big difference was that I find film stars to look unreal, very plasticky, if you know what I mean.
Even after a long hard thought, I wasn't successful.
Here are my (incomplete) choices:
The gals:
- Protagonist - Holly Marie Combs (Piper Halliwell from the show Charmed). Holly is one of the most natural beauties I've seen on TV or on the big screen. She's also not impossibly skinny. She looks normal.
- Secondary heroine - Renée Zellweger - both my heroine and Rene are hotties. Need a blond too.
- Minor female characters - Tina Majorino who can play the geek well, Emily Perkins who can be my disturbed smart dyke, and I still need to think of one more.
The guys -
- Antagonist - Chris Martin (another pic), vocalist of Coldplay. He's good-looking enough without being Brad Pitt. (When I was looking for a picture I found out he's married to Gwyneth Paltrow and that they have a kid - pop-culture trivia.)
- Actually, I couldn't come up with any movie stars for the rest of my guy crew. They're all too pretty. I need a good-looking guy with a pronounced nose for example. The only guys I can think of are rock stars, not movie stars. Rock stars tend to look more real. I'd have Chris Cornell and Kurt Cobain (we are talking fantasy here, right?) and Eddie Vedder just to complete the grunge trio. So Cornell can be the Don Juan, Kurt can be the lover, and Eddie the disturbed smart guy.
This was a very good exercise for me. Recommended.
Categories: wrirting, characters
This was Cavan's question: What would be your Dream Cast?
That is, what actors would you choose to play the characters in your novel?
I bet Cavan had no idea how much time I needed to think about it.
Not being very visual, this question took me places I wasn't familiar with. I had the big picture in my head but not the details. I knew how I want my characters to look in general, or I had a specific thing in mind, like big nose or large breasts, but not everything.
Also, the big difference was that I find film stars to look unreal, very plasticky, if you know what I mean.
Even after a long hard thought, I wasn't successful.
Here are my (incomplete) choices:
The gals:
- Protagonist - Holly Marie Combs (Piper Halliwell from the show Charmed). Holly is one of the most natural beauties I've seen on TV or on the big screen. She's also not impossibly skinny. She looks normal.
- Secondary heroine - Renée Zellweger - both my heroine and Rene are hotties. Need a blond too.
- Minor female characters - Tina Majorino who can play the geek well, Emily Perkins who can be my disturbed smart dyke, and I still need to think of one more.
The guys -
- Antagonist - Chris Martin (another pic), vocalist of Coldplay. He's good-looking enough without being Brad Pitt. (When I was looking for a picture I found out he's married to Gwyneth Paltrow and that they have a kid - pop-culture trivia.)
- Actually, I couldn't come up with any movie stars for the rest of my guy crew. They're all too pretty. I need a good-looking guy with a pronounced nose for example. The only guys I can think of are rock stars, not movie stars. Rock stars tend to look more real. I'd have Chris Cornell and Kurt Cobain (we are talking fantasy here, right?) and Eddie Vedder just to complete the grunge trio. So Cornell can be the Don Juan, Kurt can be the lover, and Eddie the disturbed smart guy.
This was a very good exercise for me. Recommended.
Categories: wrirting, characters
Saturday, October 01, 2005
Things I Find Interesting, Just the Facts
An early novel written by Breakfast at Tiffany's author Truman Capote is to be published after being found last year.
Experts fear birds will carry the virus across borders
A flu pandemic could happen at any time and kill between 5-150 million people, a UN health official has warned.
Commenting on the list, writer David Herman criticises its strong male content, querying the whereabouts of the new generation of female intellectuals.
If you plan to be anywhere in Europe, Africa or parts of western and southern Asia on Monday, Oct. 3, you will be treated to a solar eclipse.
An update about my pop-culture post: Some poor sod actually reached my post after searching "Paris Hilton" Pregnant. I can't imagine his/her disappointment when reading my views about pop-culture and realizing that any information about Paris Hilton's pregnancy is miles away from this blog.
Categories: misc
Question About Writing Markets
I used to list writing markets (for freelance, short fiction, novels etc.) and writing contests here.
Would anyone be interested in this? Should I bring back this feature?
I don't mind doing this, I have an extensive DB, but at the same time I wouldn't want to waste my time if no one cares.
Categories: writing, markets, publishing, blogging
Would anyone be interested in this? Should I bring back this feature?
I don't mind doing this, I have an extensive DB, but at the same time I wouldn't want to waste my time if no one cares.
Categories: writing, markets, publishing, blogging
Friday, September 30, 2005
More Blogging Issues - This Time It's Personal
In my previous post, Meditation, Happiness and Mind Control, Virginia from Sumptuosity asked me to share some information about myself. It got me thinking. What kind of information am I willing to share?
I discovered that I'm not willing to share much online in terms of personal details, but I am willing and in fact am sharing quite a bit. My thoughts. Which is more than I share with most of my non-bloggy friends, save a couple of my very best, of course.It's not that I'm two different people, it's just that I see it as two different forms of expression. But I'm always me.
This whole thing led to another thought that Carter planted in my head when he asked Why am I blogging?
I've realized that it's not that easy to answer.
The reasons why I started blogging are very different from the reasons I'm blogging now. And even now I'm not one-hundred percent sure.
I think that one of the main reasons I blog is the immediate feedback re my writing. Not just the writing itself, but the subjects I choose, the way I discuss them and the angle I take. I make mental notes about what I see (maybe I should make actual notes). Some things I take to heart and change according to what I find works better, that is if it works for me too - like subject matter, but some things I don't - like the pictures I choose.
I see that many of you put your full names on your blog and regard your blog as self promotion (in addition to other things I'm sure). I also see some who use aliases, but then feel more comfortable discussing some personal details. Do you give it any thought? Did you decide on boundaries you wouldn't cross?
Karen, the Fantasy Scribe had another take on the matter.
Other questions Carter asked in his post:
- Do you post your first draft or edit?
I edit. Not very successfully I might add. And only if not inebriated, I should say. - Why? - asked and answered above.
- How much time do you spend thinking about and preparing a post before it goes online?
I'll give you one of my favourite answers - that depends. It depends on the topic and on the time I have. - Anything else you'd like to add? - asked and answered above.
Categories: writing, blogging
Shonky Coding or Markuping
As some of you may know I've been working on my template.
You see, I want to add many more things to my sidebar, but alas, I have only one sidebar with little room left in it. So I want another one.
At the moment, the third column keeps coming at the bottom right of the second column, the one to its left. Be it another sidebar or the main content. I've tried both ways.
(I don't want to go the table route, but I may have to.)
If anyone has seen a good template for that, please let me know.
I've been waiting for quite a while to use the word shonky. I believe it's Australian in origin. I've learnt it from Lee who challenged me to use it in a post of my own. So here it is and I hope I used it right...
From freesearch
(Now I'm going to find out how to my shame I was the only one who had to look shonky up.)
Categories: blogging, coding, words
You see, I want to add many more things to my sidebar, but alas, I have only one sidebar with little room left in it. So I want another one.
At the moment, the third column keeps coming at the bottom right of the second column, the one to its left. Be it another sidebar or the main content. I've tried both ways.
(I don't want to go the table route, but I may have to.)
If anyone has seen a good template for that, please let me know.
I've been waiting for quite a while to use the word shonky. I believe it's Australian in origin. I've learnt it from Lee who challenged me to use it in a post of my own. So here it is and I hope I used it right...
From freesearch
shonky
adjective AUSTRALIAN ENGLISH INFORMAL
of low quality
(Now I'm going to find out how to my shame I was the only one who had to look shonky up.)
Categories: blogging, coding, words
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