me: hey brain. i need some words for this executive summary of science
brain: blargh. blarghityblooooooooop
me: no, brain, smart sounding real words
brain: THE!
me: n..
brain: The and insofar cancer inclusion jump progress recur of 14 ELEPHANT
me: ... ctrl + s
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Fantasy and Writing Excuses
Lately, I've been listening to a whole lot of this really awesome writing advice podcast. It's called Writing Excuses hosted (voiced?) by Brandon Sanderson, Howard Taylor and Dan Wells, all of whom are successful authors.
I have read Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn trilogy and Warbreaker. The really great thing about Sanderson is that his magic systems are structured and totally new. That's not something you see everyday in the fantasy genre. He's also the guy who was chosen to finish Robert Jordan's work.
Dan Wells wrote the trilogy beginning with I Am Not A Serial Killer. I did a previous blog on it here. Summary: It's amazing.
I never read Howard Taylor's webcomic but i've heard good things. It's called Schlock Mercenary.
My point here is that writing fantasy and science fiction requires skill and craft just like writing anything else. Hopefully, this translates to it having some sort of real value as reading material. All the people who dismiss speculative fiction and sneer about how they read "real literature" bug me because they don't seem to understand that.
I get the feeling that fantasy isn't taken seriously. "Duh", you say. And that's the problem right there. The attitude toward speculative fiction one of low standards and condescension. Even the science fiction community rags on fantasy. But some fantasy is REALLY FUCKING GOOD. I'll admit, some is ridiculously fucking bad. (Write another shitty vampire romance, and I will cut you.) Still, saying that fantasy is unintelligent or just wish fulfillment just says to me that you really don't know much about the genre.
Anyway, it's a pretty funny podcast, and even though I'm not a writer, it's interesting to listen and see stories and the art of storytelling in new ways.
I have read Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn trilogy and Warbreaker. The really great thing about Sanderson is that his magic systems are structured and totally new. That's not something you see everyday in the fantasy genre. He's also the guy who was chosen to finish Robert Jordan's work.
Dan Wells wrote the trilogy beginning with I Am Not A Serial Killer. I did a previous blog on it here. Summary: It's amazing.
I never read Howard Taylor's webcomic but i've heard good things. It's called Schlock Mercenary.
My point here is that writing fantasy and science fiction requires skill and craft just like writing anything else. Hopefully, this translates to it having some sort of real value as reading material. All the people who dismiss speculative fiction and sneer about how they read "real literature" bug me because they don't seem to understand that.
I get the feeling that fantasy isn't taken seriously. "Duh", you say. And that's the problem right there. The attitude toward speculative fiction one of low standards and condescension. Even the science fiction community rags on fantasy. But some fantasy is REALLY FUCKING GOOD. I'll admit, some is ridiculously fucking bad. (Write another shitty vampire romance, and I will cut you.) Still, saying that fantasy is unintelligent or just wish fulfillment just says to me that you really don't know much about the genre.
Anyway, it's a pretty funny podcast, and even though I'm not a writer, it's interesting to listen and see stories and the art of storytelling in new ways.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
The Borders have Fallen!
So Borders (the bookstore) has filed chapter 11 bankruptcy. Borders has announced that the payment to publishers for books ordered before yesterday will be tied up in the bankruptcy business. The orders from after the filing will be paid. They also say that the stores that remain open will continue to operate pretty much as normal.
But the publishing companies may be less than confident in Borders right now, so I've heard some speculation that there might be fewer of each book and a slightly reduced selection. Hope not.
Since publishers wont be paid, authors might have some trouble being paid too (even though the publishers should really have pay them unless they got a really fucked up contract), and here's where my dilemma begins.
I'm the kind of bookgeek who goes to her favorite authors' signings and reads their blogs, (in my defense, these are some people who know how to write and communicate well, unlike the majority of the internet). I'd like to buy their books in a context where they will actually get paid, rather than having the money dump into some black hole of courts and tax people. I also love Borders with a strange unholy fire. Not really, but I really do like my local Borders.
Assuming you're like me, what should we do?
If we buy from someone other than Borders, the publishers and authors definitely get paid, but Borders will continue as a sinking ship.
If we buy from Borders, we can hope that the book we buy was ordered after yesterday. But even if it isn't, buying from Borders helps them get out of this gigantic hole they've gotten themselves into, and that's good for the industry as a whole, right? Not having a gigantic Barnes and Noble eating Borders' entire market share and crushing all in its path? Yay competition?
I have an additional issue:
There is a book I want that is available on the Borders site and on Amazon at a discount (>50%). This discount is not available at the store. Should I buy it online? Or should I pay full price to Borders to do a tiny little part to help since I do actually want it to stay afloat?
I suppose that 15 or 30 bucks really isn't going to make a huge deal either way. My book, being expensive and hardback, means about a dollar something, maybe, to an author. Yeah, it doesn't make huge deal... sort of like in that way where a vote doesn't really make a huge deal either way in the US government... Stand by your choices and up for your beliefs, fellow members of the masses!
I think I'll buy discounted off the Borders site. Yay Borders. *hug* Hopefully, the price difference only reflects the price of overhead and the costs of running a brick and mortar store, and the publishers and authors get paid eventually. And I think having more than one gigantic book superstore is a good thing for the industry. Competition's healthy. But more importantly, AMERICAN. >:O
...
:D
But the publishing companies may be less than confident in Borders right now, so I've heard some speculation that there might be fewer of each book and a slightly reduced selection. Hope not.
Since publishers wont be paid, authors might have some trouble being paid too (even though the publishers should really have pay them unless they got a really fucked up contract), and here's where my dilemma begins.
I'm the kind of bookgeek who goes to her favorite authors' signings and reads their blogs, (in my defense, these are some people who know how to write and communicate well, unlike the majority of the internet). I'd like to buy their books in a context where they will actually get paid, rather than having the money dump into some black hole of courts and tax people. I also love Borders with a strange unholy fire. Not really, but I really do like my local Borders.
Assuming you're like me, what should we do?
If we buy from someone other than Borders, the publishers and authors definitely get paid, but Borders will continue as a sinking ship.
If we buy from Borders, we can hope that the book we buy was ordered after yesterday. But even if it isn't, buying from Borders helps them get out of this gigantic hole they've gotten themselves into, and that's good for the industry as a whole, right? Not having a gigantic Barnes and Noble eating Borders' entire market share and crushing all in its path? Yay competition?
I have an additional issue:
There is a book I want that is available on the Borders site and on Amazon at a discount (>50%). This discount is not available at the store. Should I buy it online? Or should I pay full price to Borders to do a tiny little part to help since I do actually want it to stay afloat?
I suppose that 15 or 30 bucks really isn't going to make a huge deal either way. My book, being expensive and hardback, means about a dollar something, maybe, to an author. Yeah, it doesn't make huge deal... sort of like in that way where a vote doesn't really make a huge deal either way in the US government... Stand by your choices and up for your beliefs, fellow members of the masses!
I think I'll buy discounted off the Borders site. Yay Borders. *hug* Hopefully, the price difference only reflects the price of overhead and the costs of running a brick and mortar store, and the publishers and authors get paid eventually. And I think having more than one gigantic book superstore is a good thing for the industry. Competition's healthy. But more importantly, AMERICAN. >:O
...
:D
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Ice creams and cookieessss
Want to try/have/eat:
*All pictures were yanked off the sites/blogs. I have provided links. So you know... they're not mine and stuff. Duh.
Chewy Salted Hazelnut cookies
And someone else made freaking Nutella Lava Chocolate Cookies. Apparently, they're ooooozeygooey in the middle.
Bi-Rite Creamery has these crazy ice cream flavors, like Earl grey, Cinnamon and snickerdoodles, Roasted banana, Salted caramel, Ginger, Strawberry balsamic, Honey lavender... How are you not intrigued?
I also want to go to Paulette, which does macarons... Caribbean chocolate, Sweet wedding almond, Earl grey tea, Colombian coffee, Rose, Passionfruit..
So now I'm all:
omggggggahhhhh O_O.
This behavior is probably unhealthy.
But I don't want to stop.
*All pictures were yanked off the sites/blogs. I have provided links. So you know... they're not mine and stuff. Duh.
Chewy Salted Hazelnut cookies
And someone else made freaking Nutella Lava Chocolate Cookies. Apparently, they're ooooozeygooey in the middle.
Bi-Rite Creamery has these crazy ice cream flavors, like Earl grey, Cinnamon and snickerdoodles, Roasted banana, Salted caramel, Ginger, Strawberry balsamic, Honey lavender... How are you not intrigued?
I also want to go to Paulette, which does macarons... Caribbean chocolate, Sweet wedding almond, Earl grey tea, Colombian coffee, Rose, Passionfruit..
So now I'm all:
omggggggahhhhh O_O.
This behavior is probably unhealthy.
But I don't want to stop.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
On the subject of guys who complain because women wont love/have sex with them
Shut up.
No woman is ever doing something wrong by not sleeping with you.
Oh no she's been friends with you for forever but you've gotten nowhere? If you're in any way offended by this, YOU'RE AN ASSHOLE.
Being your friend doesn't mean she is doing something wrong by not utilizing her body to assuage your sexual frustrations. God forbid she actually be your friend.
And no, it's not true that girls only fall for assholes and that's why it sucks being a "nice guy". If assholes got girls, YOU'D BE GETTING LAID RIGHT NOW.
If you've never made a move on that friend-girl you're in love with, this is no one's fault but yours.
If you've made a move and she says no, accept this. If you can still be her friend (for real, JUST a friend), then that's great. If you cant and you need time, that's okay too. Go off and deal with that. Do NOT wait around and keep up a constant mild pressure on her to wear her down. Be aware of this if you're doing it. Then stop it immediately.
If you were never her friend to begin with but really are just hanging around in the hopes she'll sleep with you? You're a creep.
And a note based on a recent experience:
If you've just met a girl, refrain from making sex jokes or talking about sex on the first encounter. You will look like a creeper. It's like meeting someone and telling a racist or dead baby joke right away. That person will make assumptions on your character based on what you say.
And getting mad at someone else because they've been made uncomfortable by you is pathetic.
No woman is ever doing something wrong by not sleeping with you.
Oh no she's been friends with you for forever but you've gotten nowhere? If you're in any way offended by this, YOU'RE AN ASSHOLE.
Being your friend doesn't mean she is doing something wrong by not utilizing her body to assuage your sexual frustrations. God forbid she actually be your friend.
And no, it's not true that girls only fall for assholes and that's why it sucks being a "nice guy". If assholes got girls, YOU'D BE GETTING LAID RIGHT NOW.
If you've never made a move on that friend-girl you're in love with, this is no one's fault but yours.
If you've made a move and she says no, accept this. If you can still be her friend (for real, JUST a friend), then that's great. If you cant and you need time, that's okay too. Go off and deal with that. Do NOT wait around and keep up a constant mild pressure on her to wear her down. Be aware of this if you're doing it. Then stop it immediately.
If you were never her friend to begin with but really are just hanging around in the hopes she'll sleep with you? You're a creep.
And a note based on a recent experience:
If you've just met a girl, refrain from making sex jokes or talking about sex on the first encounter. You will look like a creeper. It's like meeting someone and telling a racist or dead baby joke right away. That person will make assumptions on your character based on what you say.
And getting mad at someone else because they've been made uncomfortable by you is pathetic.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Flyyy me to the moon... and my favorite versions of other old songs.
I've listed five songs in total and tried to focus on favorites that present the song in a way that is unlike most other renditions. They aren't necessarily the only worthwhile versions... but they're pretty fantastic.
Fly me to the moon - Tony Bennett.
I've always felt that this song belongs as a ballad. It's just that it always seemed kinda sad.
Cant take my eyes off of you - Muse
This particular live performance. The CD version's good. This is better.
Sway - Anita Kelsey (From Dark City's soundtrack)
This version feels kinda darker and a little unnerving as it beckons.
Over the rainbow - Taylor Matthews
The arrangement's really cool. This is the only full version I could find unfortunately, and you cant see how dorky, southern and cute he is.
Haha, okay so Liz called me out on it and I admit this next one's kind of a cheat.
"Singing in the rain", the original Gene Kelly performance is pretty much unbeatable.
So, I will call this my favorite old/new mashup.
Singing in the rain / Umbrella mashup - Gwyneth Paltrow and Glee
Eeeeee I love the dancing. And Harry Shum, Jr. :D
Fly me to the moon - Tony Bennett.
I've always felt that this song belongs as a ballad. It's just that it always seemed kinda sad.
Cant take my eyes off of you - Muse
This particular live performance. The CD version's good. This is better.
Sway - Anita Kelsey (From Dark City's soundtrack)
This version feels kinda darker and a little unnerving as it beckons.
Over the rainbow - Taylor Matthews
The arrangement's really cool. This is the only full version I could find unfortunately, and you cant see how dorky, southern and cute he is.
Haha, okay so Liz called me out on it and I admit this next one's kind of a cheat.
"Singing in the rain", the original Gene Kelly performance is pretty much unbeatable.
So, I will call this my favorite old/new mashup.
Singing in the rain / Umbrella mashup - Gwyneth Paltrow and Glee
Eeeeee I love the dancing. And Harry Shum, Jr. :D
Saturday, January 22, 2011
You know you're in trouble when the serial killer sounds like he's talking sense.
Dan Wells' I Am Not A Serial Killer is kinda fantastic.
It's shelved in horror, but while it's horrifying, it's not terrifying if that makes any sense.
John is a boy who knows he has many of the early indicators of a budding serial killer, so he's trying so very hard not to be one. Then someone else starts leaving bodies all over town.
The premise can sound similar to that of the tv show Dexter (based on the book Darkly Dreaming Dexter, which I haven't read) in that the protagonist has serial killer tendencies, but the two really aren't the same at all.
Maybe it's just because of differences in the media, or maybe it's the actor but I never really got Dexter. Wells really brings you in with John. He shows you the emotions in a boy who supposedly has none and it makes the book great.
I Am Not A Serial Killer is the first in a series of three books. The second is Mr. Monster, and the third is I Don't Want to Kill You.
I have also read Mr. Monster. I killed it (:D) in two days, and then the day after, I woke up and went "What in the Fuck did I just READ?!" I haven't read the third yet, but I plan on it.
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