Emwok wrote:I think it's because of the teacher, but I am not enjoying chemistry at all. It's really complicated and the teacher's strong Indian accent doesn't help me understand things at all. SpaceChem looks really cool though!
You should try it - maybe it'll help with your chemistry class!
Emwok wrote:If guaranteed that you would get to do at least one thing on your bucket list, what one thing would you want it to be?
I don't have a bucket list. Why do I want a list of buckets?
However, there are two things I really want to do someday in the future. 1) have a novel published; 2) visit my family's ancestral lands in Scotland. I've been trying to work on #1. As for #2, I don't think it'll happen until after I get #1 taken care of....
Sstavix wrote:I recommend using a ruler (or the edge of the stencil) and a pencil to draw a very faint, straight line to indicate where the letters are supposed to line up at the bottom. Once you're done placing the letters, erase the faint line.
We actually did that. We even went a step further and drew top and bottom lines, and a center line so we'd have a reference for the lowercase. Still hard for me. -_- It looks nicer than me just painting letters, but it was a two hour process instead of two minutes.
Sstavix wrote:If you're referring to the PBS Mystery series, that show rocks! If you're referring to the books, I've only read a couple, but they were good, too. My wife loves both of them - especially since she considers them pretty much historically accurate (she's a huge stickler about that sort of thing).
It's my favorite PBS Mystery, by miles. I'm rewatching them now. ^_^ Sadly, I haven't read the books yet. My mom owned a set, but it's in storage and yet to be found.
Finding out one of your favorite authors had a book you didn't know about?
Chozon1 wrote:
Finding out one of your favorite authors had a book you didn't know about?
I've had that happen a couple of times. I've also had it happen when, after reading said book, you realize why the author has never made a big deal about it. More than likely, it's an early work with a different style - or even genre - than what made the author famous in the first place.
For example, David Eddings. He's famous for the Belgariad and Malloreon fantasy series... but before those he wrote a book called "High Hunt," about a modern day hunting expedition. No fantasy in it whatsoever - it was more of a thriller about cheating spouses and guys with guns... and really not that great of a read.
It can make a monster much less scary and even comical! ... or even more scary if it continues it's evil, destructive, bloodthirsty behavior even while looking goofy.
In either case, the results can be great! It all depends on how it's treated.
Shamefully, the author in question's book in question is actually new. Came out earlier this year. Though I have had the other scenario happen to me...
So which is worse: An author who's earlier unknown work is terrible, or an author who's continuation of the series is terrible?
Chozon1 wrote:
So which is worse: An author who's earlier unknown work is terrible, or an author who's continuation of the series is terrible?
The latter, definitely. The unknown author who writes a terrible book may simply be getting their feet wet and trying to find their niche, or audience, or both.
But the famous author whose later works are utter drivel? I think that they may be getting into the mentality of "I don't care if it sucks - if it has my name on it, it will sell." At that point, they're just "phoning it in." Sadly their audience seems to buy into this anyway, which only encourages it more...
For example, I know some people who think that Literature is defined as a novel that requires mediation (thinking about it, in other words) to understand. I say different. I say that Literature is best defined as a work of writing of novel length that inspires someone to think about the world differently.
For instance, a book that inspires someone to think about the plight of refugees differently than they did before counts as literature for me.
The reason I ask is that these same people who define literature as I described above specifically exclude genre fiction such as Sci-Fi seemingly because it can be understood simply. No, the difference between literature and non-literature to me is whether or not the writing inspires questions about my conceptions. Even if the resolution is to change nothing, inspiring me to question a belief, however briefly is what separates literature from, as these people would say, "drivel". It's what separates the mundane writings of simple fan-fiction from the work of a good writer.
Orson Scott Card said:
...a great many writers and critics have based their entire careers on the premise that anything that the general public can understand without mediation is worthless drivel. [...] If everybody came to agree that stories should be told this clearly, the professors of literature would be out of a job, and the writers of obscure, encoded fiction would be, not honored, but pitied for their impenetrability
I don't completely agree with his assessment that "obscure, encoded fiction" is necessarily bad, but wholeheartedly agree that because something is accessible does not make it any less worthy of study or impactful.
I've never heard of him, but the book series sounds interesting! I may have to check it out later. I'm reading "The Name of the Wind" right now - that's a pretty good book, too!
Deepfreeze32 wrote:So as a writer, what defines "literature" to you?
A novel-length book. Or a compilation of short stores. Or even a book of poetry, although I'm not a big fan of poetry. Any of those could be literature.
Deepfreeze32 wrote:For example, I know some people who think that Literature is defined as a novel that requires mediation (thinking about it, in other words) to understand. I say different. I say that Literature is best defined as a work of writing of novel length that inspires someone to think about the world differently.
For instance, a book that inspires someone to think about the plight of refugees differently than they did before counts as literature for me.
The reason I ask is that these same people who define literature as I described above specifically exclude genre fiction such as Sci-Fi seemingly because it can be understood simply. No, the difference between literature and non-literature to me is whether or not the writing inspires questions about my conceptions. Even if the resolution is to change nothing, inspiring me to question a belief, however briefly is what separates literature from, as these people would say, "drivel". It's what separates the mundane writings of simple fan-fiction from the work of a good writer.
Well, we can get into the discussion of what is "good" literature and "bad" literature. Certainly works that make you think or reconsider the world around you can be construed as "good" literature, while escapist fiction could be seen as "bad" literature (although I'd be less inclined to agree, as long as the writing was solid). But you'll probably get different definitions from different people, anyway. Example - I consider the works of Stephen King and Clive Cussler to be "bad" literature, primarily because they've fallen into the second category of what Chozon1 and I discussed a few posts above this one. They know that their works will sell, so they can just churn out crap and not really care.
Hugh de Singleton actually reminds me in many ways of Cadfael, and I believe the author places a reasonably high value on historicity. I don't read mysteries much, but I do enjoy those books. "The Name of the Wind" sounds interesting, though. ^_^ I do love me some Fantasy novels.
Chozon1 wrote:
The immortal struggle: Sci-Fi, or Fantasy?
Why should it be a struggle? There's nothing wrong with liking both!
I've seen very few examples where they can be combined successfully, though. The closest I think I've seen has been Robert Jordan's "Wheel of Time" series, but I'd be giving spoilers if I went into more detail.
Chozon1 wrote:Well, it's like the immortal "Harry Potter" versus "Lord of the Rings" struggle. You can't compare them either, but there's still a power struggle.
There's a Harry Potter vs. Lord of the Rings struggle? I've never heard of that....
In any case, if there is one, I would imagine that it would be like a little kid trying to attack grandpa. Or Harry trying to go after Gandalf. It's going to be a pretty short fight....
Chozon1 wrote:
Spreadsheet's make life easier?
Not if you're going to abuse apostrophes like that.
But yes, they can be quite handy. I use them often at work, actually.
