tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88687094178306963612024-03-05T07:29:23.028-06:00The Puzzling Mind of Jason RunnelsWhere Puzzles Meet WritingJason Runnelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16656622649601360477noreply@blogger.comBlogger79125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8868709417830696361.post-56659208595474595622012-09-15T00:00:00.000-05:002012-09-15T00:00:05.306-05:00The Rubik's Cube & Writing<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEE8gqfMDI25mNFX8AEEGvbLeLaK6UGATrTCGTK4nz8aPYztrQUOZJEmBQVXsVUgH0NZFBf7Z_Y_7tWLqa4_WwUsMT_isM-p-yjzI5y8dmV45cOEw1VLkIo5YG_YSskX8ZMwy0ItIZo3M/s320/Hiatus_PhotoCube.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://walyou.com/customized-photo-rubiks-cube/"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Buy One</span></a></td></tr>
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It's hard to believe I have been blogging about the Rubik's Cube and writing for over two years. Especially since I never thought it would last much beyond my "<a href="http://jasonrunnels.blogspot.jp/2010/12/10-ways-writing-is-like-rubiks-cube.html">10 Ways Writing is Like the Rubik's Cube</a>" post.</div>
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This blog began mostly out of curiosity. Just how far could I stretch it? Could I continue to make new connections between something so technical and something else so abstract?</div>
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I'm happy to say, yes. The ideas continue to come. This is part of the creative process and I love it. Making connections that were not there before. Uncovering personal truths by challenging myself and pushing the limits.</div>
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I feel like I have accomplished my goals here. But being the kind of person who enjoys pain and thrives on challenges, I must set new goals. Truthfully, I'm not sure exactly where those new, lofty goals lie. And thus, I will be taking a hiatus from my blog for a few months while I figure it out.</div>
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Honestly, I never thought I would have any visitors to the blog -- let alone followers. Thank you. I am grateful to all of you and your wonderful comments. I look forward to reengaging with you all very soon!</div>
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I also never thought I would write a novel in 30 days or be able to solve the Rubik's Cube blindfolded. But none of that would have been possible without the discipline of blogging and encouragement from the writing community. I hope you will be encouraged to set new and higher goals for yourself, too.</div>
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Thank you for your support. See you soon!</div>
Jason Runnelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16656622649601360477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8868709417830696361.post-23879795820983339272012-09-06T00:00:00.000-05:002012-09-06T00:00:04.791-05:0013 Examples of Evidence for Evolution<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhujiT5nyeGPGMgVKeZG2-Qj_1aqRm1682sUKq8pNtg_ulCiaJU4wpkw5DBhm9UsmK8aNC8XVkLbyNAYrEcEuxi8Bg0g02ZErNk91DmH-GTtjzdxCa6y2W2GYgi0dMXG1dD25vSBMqXdLQ/s1600/Human_Evolution.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhujiT5nyeGPGMgVKeZG2-Qj_1aqRm1682sUKq8pNtg_ulCiaJU4wpkw5DBhm9UsmK8aNC8XVkLbyNAYrEcEuxi8Bg0g02ZErNk91DmH-GTtjzdxCa6y2W2GYgi0dMXG1dD25vSBMqXdLQ/s400/Human_Evolution.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<u><b><span style="font-size: small;">13 Examples of Evidence for Evolution</span></b></u></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">1. The independent arrival of useful traits. For example, the wing in insects, birds, and bats. Or, the complex eyeball in humans and squids.<br /><br />2. The human appendix, tail bone, wisdom teeth, goose bumps, and male nipples.<br /><br />3. Vestigial organs in others. Whales have 'leftover' hind leg bones. The eyeballs of the blind cave fish, Astyanax mexicanus, and penguins' wings are other examples.<br /><br />4. Fossil evidence.<br /><br />5. Drug-resistant Tuberculosis.<br /><br />6. Pesticide-resistant insects.<br /><br />7. Dog breeding. (The Great Dane, the Chihuahua, and the Dingo.)<br /><br />8. The Flounder and other flat fish. The eyeball on the "bottom" travels to the "top" of its head.<br /><br />9. Flu vaccinations. Every year.<br /><br />10. Modern transitional examples. From the eye spots of flatworms to the primitive eye of the nautilus.<br /><br />11. Nylon eating <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nylon-eating_bacteria">bacteria</a>.<br /><br />12. A peacock's ridiculous tail.<br /><br />13. DNA. No, you are not a monkey, but you do share genes with a pea plant.</span></div>
Jason Runnelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16656622649601360477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8868709417830696361.post-34516739291173772762012-09-01T12:00:00.000-05:002012-09-01T12:00:04.346-05:00Am I Missing Something?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzr6cUt9RDDzSfZj8ICGnehWF6OA8_PlVysT40jJ7O3tiL_VKbhD3iAh4cIUSQedX7bgg2xqu18tm5WQ6AIIG77n1dBZEFtwA115mcqEWYVm83hq6zADPtFvgcCoSZjxMojr_t31yuYSI/s1600/MissingSomething.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzr6cUt9RDDzSfZj8ICGnehWF6OA8_PlVysT40jJ7O3tiL_VKbhD3iAh4cIUSQedX7bgg2xqu18tm5WQ6AIIG77n1dBZEFtwA115mcqEWYVm83hq6zADPtFvgcCoSZjxMojr_t31yuYSI/s400/MissingSomething.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm still fascinated by the Rubik's Cube even though it's been around now for more than 30 years. It's such a complete and unique puzzle. And it's satisfying to the very end.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>But what if you didn't realize a piece was missing until the very end?</b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wouldn't you feel just a little cheated?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, I had similar feelings after finishing the book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Miss-Peregrines-Home-Peculiar-Children/dp/1594744769"><b>Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children</b></a>, by Ransom Riggs. I don't normally write book reviews, but this is such a unique and interesting book that I feel compelled to share my thoughts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The story is told by 16 year old, Jacob Portman, but is also told through a series of strange, vintage photographs interspersed throughout the book. On their own, the pictures are quite interesting and fun to flip through. The cover art picture, featuring a levitating girl, and the book's title were enough to hook me. Overall, it's an intriguing book and <b>I recommend it</b>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I read the Kindle version, so I probably did not get the full experience had I read the print version, but for me, the screen display of the pictures was sufficient. If you're really into the visual experience, then I suggest buying or loaning the print book.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The narrative story can stand on its own without the benefit of the photographs. But the pictures really do enhance the overall experience of the story. It's a fun and quirky book.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Summary</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The story revolves around the murder of Jacob's grandfather and the adventure Jacob embarks on to learn the truth about his grandfather's strange childhood. But the story is really more fantasy than murder mystery. It may be dark at times, but it's also not scary, so your tweens won't have nightmares reading it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jacob is just like any teen and doesn't fit in anywhere. Nobody quite understands him except for his quirky grandfather -- who just may be losing his mind. They have a special bond and his grandfather always tells Jacob fanciful tales about the children he lived with at an orphanage in England before World War II.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jacob is older now and is no longer convinced by the poorly altered old photographs that "prove" that these children had supernatural talents. Jacob assumes the children were special because, like his grandfather, they were Jewish refugees of the war. Thus, Jacob is </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">saddened by his grandfather's dementia and increased paranoia of the "monsters" from his past.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is not until Jacob's grandfather is brutally killed by a strange looking animal that Jacob begins to wonder if those fanciful stories may somehow be true. Jacob is called to adventure by his grandfather's cryptic dying words and seeks out the old orphanage.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">His family assumes Jacob is losing his mind out of guilt for not being able to save his grandfather's life. With the encouragement of his psychiatrist, Jacob visits Wales to find answers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Thoughts</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I really enjoyed the prose of the book and thought it flowed well. There is a passage where all these years later, Jacob walks into his </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">grandfather's dilapidated orphanage expecting some ancient crime scene, "...but all I found were rooms that had become more outside than inside." There is a nice visual style to the writing and the main story elements flowed naturally. Although the story line weaves its way through unusual hoops, it's easy to suspend disbelief and just go with the story.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course the book is peppered with the strange photographs, too. I appreciate the challenge it must have been for the author to brilliantly spin a truly unique story around the dozens of photographs. This was like a writing prompt on steroids. Just take an album of weird and random photographs and make a story out of it. I love this about the book. I love even more that it's a good story and not just that he incorporated all of the photographs.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The story was well written for a debut novel and had great promise. I found myself guessing about what might happen in the next chapter and then the next. However, the piece that I was left missing was the ending. I was disappointed in the ending because there was no satisfying resolution.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'll admit the question of Jacob's grandfather's death was solved -- so technically that's a resolution -- but that's not enough given all of the build up of the story's main adventure. Too many unresolved and unanswered questions remain and then the story simply fades to black. It's rumored that a sequel is in the works, but not everybody wants to go to the next book to see how things play out. I certainly don't.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just like the Rubik's Cube missing a corner piece, I felt the last pages were missing from this book. I wanted more -- not from a sequel -- but from this book. On the one hand, I usually feel if you don't have a sufficient ending, then you don't really have a complete story. However, this book is so fascinating, unique, and interesting in its premise and how it's executed, that I still recommend reading it.</span>Jason Runnelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16656622649601360477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8868709417830696361.post-18524121473141426452012-08-23T00:00:00.000-05:002012-08-23T16:41:02.400-05:0013 Suckier Things About Travel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC_J9r9-W00KwdedXRLQsqdZJtxsZi-Tnk31eVPA9pKPfdJIDbSW9cbflIjlWaTtImF93FkDyo-7dkP7sZNXy-p8PUOm7Lv9olMRII_qPvKLpVC548JiD9-jkZOvIC6Jb6XCym2nZ1rSQ/s1600/CubaGallery_TravelSuckier.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC_J9r9-W00KwdedXRLQsqdZJtxsZi-Tnk31eVPA9pKPfdJIDbSW9cbflIjlWaTtImF93FkDyo-7dkP7sZNXy-p8PUOm7Lv9olMRII_qPvKLpVC548JiD9-jkZOvIC6Jb6XCym2nZ1rSQ/s400/CubaGallery_TravelSuckier.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You caught me. I <b><i>say</i></b> I love to travel.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But what I really mean is I like to <b><i>be </i></b>in different and strange places. Nobody really <b><i>likes</i></b> to travel these days.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">And if you're forced to endure the ordeal that business travel has become I pity you.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">This post is dedicated to you. Let's commiserate!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>13 Crappy Things About Travel That Have Only Gotten Worse in Recent Years</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. <u>Airport security</u>. The illusion of safety. Now we have body scanners. If body scanners are intended to detect items not picked up by metal detectors, and vice versa, why doesn't the TSA march us through <strong><em>both</em></strong>?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">2. <u>No free meals</u>. Remember when you'd get a free sandwich for coast-to-coast flights?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">3. <u>Airline baggage fees</u>. Every airline now charges for checked bags depending on your status.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">4. <u>Overhead bins</u>. The overhead bins for carryon luggage are smaller and crammed fuller than ever before.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">5. <u>Packing</u>. You are now forced to allocate your toiletries into Petri dish-sized containers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">6. <u>Standby</u>. Have a change of plans? Want to get home before that terrible storm rolls through? Unless you have earned a mid- to high-tier status, you will now be charged a hefty fee (~$75) to standby for an earlier.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">7. <u>Mileage status</u>. Your travel miles earn you fewer perks.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">8. <u>Mileage status (again)</u>. Should you lapse in status for one year, the next year you're deported to the end of the line. Hello, boarding group 11 and 12!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">9. <strong><em><u>Delays</u></em></strong>. The airlines will try to sell you the idea they have improved on-time performance. Just look at our shiny new statistics. What they don't tell you is they measure their performance by an inflated "travel time" not actual flight time. They don't even need to burn extra fuel to make up the time in the air. The extra padding ensures an "on-time" arrival for most flights with a late departure.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">10. <u>Common courtesy</u>. Passenger courtesy has declined significantly. People push and shove to board so they can pack their sprawling belongings into the overhead bins. These also happen to be the same folks eager to slam down into full recline without checking for a laptop or sore knees pressed into their seatback.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">11. <u>Flight options</u>. Fewer and fuller flights mean you have fewer alternatives when they cancel your original flight for "mechanical" reasons. Don't fret! You may receive a discounted, $99 hotel voucher to the dirty airport hotel room of your choice.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">12. <u>Hotel pillows</u>. I'm pretty sure the only reason the pillows in the hotels are worse than in years past is because they are the same pillows. Does <strong><em>anyone</em></strong> like feather pillows?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">13. <u>Toilet paper (yes, I went there)</u>. Any time your toilet tissue crinkles, you know you're in for an uncomfortable stay. To make matters worse, this rough (cheap) toilet paper somehow has been designed to ensure frugality and rips off into individual squares.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong><em>Do you think traveling has gotten better or worse in recent years?</em></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><em>Thank you CubaGallery on Flicker for the great photo!</em></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span>Jason Runnelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16656622649601360477noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8868709417830696361.post-31937075533236258222012-08-15T00:00:00.000-05:002012-08-15T00:00:05.635-05:00Yuvi's Zalkow's Fear & Failure Experiment<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today's post is dedicated to author, Yuvi Zalkow, whose work I first read in the literary magazine <a href="http://glimmertrain.stores.yahoo.net/issue78spring.html">Glimmer Train</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I immediately loved reading his quirky voice and was delighted when I rediscovered him through his wonderful blog and hilarious <a href="http://yuvizalkow.com/tag/im-a-failed-writer/">Failed Writer</a> videos.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">It's hard to refer to Yuvi as a "<em>failed</em>" writer since his debut novel was released earlier this week. But that hasn't done much to ease his mind.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Even in the midst of his <a href="http://yuvizalkow.com/book/">book launch</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">–</span></span> <em><strong>the very definition of success for most writers</strong></em> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">–</span> h</span>e discusses his fears. As a way to commiserate with other writers about fear, he started the <a href="http://yuvizalkow.com/general/fear-failure-experiment/">Fear & Failure Experiment</a>. I'm showing support for </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Yuvi by sharing some of my own fears. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">In the past, I have talked about failure and quitting, (<strong><a href="http://jasonrunnels.blogspot.com/2012/06/go-ahead-quit-its-not-taboo.html">Go Ahead, Quit! It's Not Taboo</a></strong>) but this time I'm going to talk about my <u>fear of failure</u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">– </span></span><strong><em>not just quitting outright</em></strong>. For me, fear of failure is a terrifying issue. And as usual, I will discuss this in two parts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong><u>A Puzzling Fear</u></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">You probably know by now, but I have a puzzling reputation to uphold. It didn't take me long to conquer the major Rubik's puzzles without much difficulty. But not long ago, I decided to discard the safety nets and find a new challenge that would put my reputation on the line.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I sent away for a Crazy 3x3 Cube (pictured above). Now this puzzle is not stocked at your local Toys "R" Us. It looks like the result of an apple corer and a Rubik's Cube getting into a fight. Undeterred, I thought, "<strong>How hard could this be? It just has a few more pieces in the centers than a normal Rubik's Cube.</strong>"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />It turns out those tiny pie-shaped pieces brought me to the brink of insanity.<br /><br />I bought this puzzle when it was first released so I didn't have the luxury of cheating with YouTube tutorials. I was on my own. My plan was to very carefully experiment with different tricks and techniques I had learned from the other Rubik's puzzles. Starting with a solved Crazy 3x3 Cube I thought I could simply determine which techniques I could adapt. But before I gathered any meaningful data points, the entire puzzle was scrambled beyond belief. I had inadvertently jumped into the unknown.<br /><br />It took the entire first night just to get it to the state pictured above. It may have <strong><em>appeared</em></strong> to be nearly solved, but there were still 24 pieces out of place. It was past midnight, I had no plan, and I had to work the next day.<br /><br />For the record, I did not give a second thought to the cube until well after 5pm that following day. However, a cursory glance through my internet history at lunch just might have shown a frantic search for a video tutorial to solve these tiny pie-shaped pieces. It was torture.<br /><br />When I finally got my hands back on this crazy cube I had a primal urge to determine how the pie-shaped pieces moved about the cube. I felt like Newton and would invent Calculus if need be.<br /><br />I spent the evening scribbling notes and trying to chart positions. It was a terrible and cruel shell game. Pieces moved, but I could not decipher the patterns. <em>That's it!</em> I told my wife. <em>I cannot figure this one out. This is the hardest puzzle I have ever tried to solve. I cannot do it. It's over.</em><br /><br />I went to bed defeated. <strong>I had failed.</strong> Was I even worthy of calling myself a puzzler?<br /><br />On the third evening, I reluctantly picked up the crazy cube. There was one sequence of moves I rarely used on the normal Rubik's Cube. I gave it a try. For some reason, something clicked in my brain and I realized that there might be a way to isolate a pair, or three, or four pieces at a time. If the pie-shaped pieces could be isolated, they could be swapped with others. I scribbled more notes and eventually made progress.<br /><br />It was painful, but before midnight on that third night I solved the Crazy 3x3 Cube.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong><u>Writing Fear of Failure</u></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">There is no such happy ending with my writing. I'm still paralyzed by the fear of failing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">For the past several years I have been "<strong><em>working on my craft</em></strong>". I have told myself that I'm not ready to publish yet because I have more groundwork to lay. That's not true.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Yes, I will always work on my craft and continue to evolve as a writer until I die. But that's not the reason why I haven't seriously submitted my work for publication yet.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong>It's fear.</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">It's the same fear Yuvi has reading in public. It's the same fear I had my first day of Kindergarten. What if no matter how hard I try they don't like me?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">What if after years of writing and <em><strong>learning</strong></em> to write I never get anything published? What if my main character is unsympathetic? What if my critical plot twist doesn't convince the editor? What if my voice simply isn't compelling? What if my first novel isn't commercially viable? What if my writing is derided at epic levels like EL James'? What if my ending is predictable?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I don't know how to get over my fears of failing as a writer. Sometimes I feel like I'm defeated before I have even started. Like that second night with the Crazy 3x3 Cube. Maybe I don't have that <em><strong>it</strong></em> factor. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I'm inspired by people like Yuvi who persisted and journeyed on through over 600 rejections. But he's special. He has found his voice. He has found success. He <em><strong>is</strong></em> a writer. He <em><strong>is</strong></em> an author now.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I'd love to open my 601st response letter and finally find success. But I need to get over my fear of failure because the first 600 submission letters aren't going to mail themselves.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong><em>What about you? How do you deal with fear and failure?</em></strong></span>Jason Runnelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16656622649601360477noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8868709417830696361.post-66779579403218961432012-08-09T00:00:00.000-05:002012-08-09T00:00:01.011-05:00The Puzzling Mind Clip Show <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlgbprpGEo2JJyKSR7OijX5Tghjz-twBNGVY8LZk0J7qn1BoivKdeGazj55DXef0xu4S0a2t0z1yFSitP4CJVUff74kpjzmHCeJR7cdUovN4iStb8bgOR3lUqNtyeTxT5fyDffTrXmVt8/s1600/HistoryRepeat_Cyaniona.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" kda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlgbprpGEo2JJyKSR7OijX5Tghjz-twBNGVY8LZk0J7qn1BoivKdeGazj55DXef0xu4S0a2t0z1yFSitP4CJVUff74kpjzmHCeJR7cdUovN4iStb8bgOR3lUqNtyeTxT5fyDffTrXmVt8/s400/HistoryRepeat_Cyaniona.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Sometimes it's nice to reminisce and be reminded of funny, exciting, or profound moments from the past.</span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Television studios use clip shows to do thi<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">s <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">–</span> a</span>lthough the practice has become rare.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Clip shows are not always a Best Of show. They can also be a convenient way to bring audiences up to speed on things they may have missed in past episodes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Sometimes history is worth repeating.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Today, I'm bringing you my blog clip show. Here are 13 posts compiled from the archives.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Please don't be shy and feel free to leave a comment anywhere. I love to hear from you.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://jasonrunnels.blogspot.com/2010/12/10-ways-writing-is-like-rubiks-cube.html">10 Ways Writing is Like the Rubik's Cube</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://jasonrunnels.blogspot.com/2010/08/are-you-afraid-of-process.html">Are You Afraid of Process?</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://jasonrunnels.blogspot.com/2011/12/thursday-13-why-youre-not-published.html">13 Reasons Why You're Not Published</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://jasonrunnels.blogspot.com/2011/09/do-you-need-deadline.html">Do You Need a Deadline?</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://jasonrunnels.blogspot.com/2011/08/dont-do-what-youre-told.html">Don't Do What You're Told!</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://jasonrunnels.blogspot.com/2011/06/its-journey-not-destination.html">It's the Journey, Not the Destination</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://jasonrunnels.blogspot.com/2012/05/story-structure-and-rubiks-cube.html">Story Structure and the Rubik's Cube</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://jasonrunnels.blogspot.com/2012/06/go-ahead-quit-its-not-taboo.html">Go Ahead, Quit! It's Not Taboo.</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://jasonrunnels.blogspot.com/2012/07/rubiks-cube-and-great-gatsby.html">The Rubik's Cube and The Great Gatsby</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://jasonrunnels.blogspot.com/2012/01/short-stories-like-gag-me-with-spoon.html">Short Stories? Like, Gag Me With a Spoon!</a></span><br />
<a href="http://jasonrunnels.blogspot.com/2012/01/trick-to-writing-revealed.html"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The Trick to </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Writing <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">–</span> Revealed</span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://jasonrunnels.blogspot.com/2012/02/billions-of-free-story-ideas-at-your.html">Billions of Free Story Idea<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">s <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">–</span> At</span> Your Fingertips!</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://jasonrunnels.blogspot.com/2012/07/13-popular-novels-gone-dirty.html">13 Popular Novels Gone Dirty</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">And if you haven't checked out my latest Rubik's Cube writing post you're in for a treat. This one really does require audience participation: </span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://jasonrunnels.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-rubiks-cube-writing-promptetition.html">The Rubik's Cube Writing Promptetition</a>. If you're a writer, then you should share something with the world.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Thank you for stopping by!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><em>Thanks to Cyaniona on Flickr for the great photo!</em></span>Jason Runnelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16656622649601360477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8868709417830696361.post-7233011822669409122012-08-01T00:00:00.000-05:002012-08-01T00:00:06.099-05:00The Rubik's Cube Writing Promptetition<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDh2O3kj-PGug_ZUe2R0qU7snTx0Y863tsaN2gzHeOkw3qhetZtJPQWdFvRvnf2_vEwEELD6FiFiP4FW1BdXLU__-3ZvnXwp7M19NO6CWUUw-NptQa8M0jz0pF_FAg9bmizGqIAaKqw_8/s1600/Argonone_Lights.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDh2O3kj-PGug_ZUe2R0qU7snTx0Y863tsaN2gzHeOkw3qhetZtJPQWdFvRvnf2_vEwEELD6FiFiP4FW1BdXLU__-3ZvnXwp7M19NO6CWUUw-NptQa8M0jz0pF_FAg9bmizGqIAaKqw_8/s400/Argonone_Lights.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Practice makes perfect. Sometimes you just need help getting started.<br />
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Speedcubers perfect their ability to solve the <a href="http://www.rubiks.com/" target="_blank">Rubik's Cube</a> by being flexible and adapting to different scrambled states for each solve.<br />
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In competition, participants are given a scrambled cube that has been turned at least 25 times. This ensures that everyone is presented with a fair starting point.<br />
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Even if every competitor were presented with the exact same starting point, let's say:</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">L' R F2 D2 L' D F B' L F' U' D2 F R' U' L' B2 D2 L' D' U2 F' L D2 L</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">you would get wildly different results. For example, this particular scramble may produce the World Record solve of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3v_Km6cv6DU">5.66</a> seconds </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">–</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"> or the embarrassing 39 seconds with my lethargic hands.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">(<b>Nerd alert</b>: The code above simply defines the sequence of turns to perform on the cube to mix it up. L for left face clockwise, R for right face clockwise, etc.)</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">In any case, there are <a href="http://www.cubetimer.com/" target="_blank">websites </a>that generate these random scrambles that give you a starting point for any particular solve attempt. It's a nice way to get an apples-to-apples comparison for timed competitions.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><u><b>Now when we write</b></u>, we don't always have a convenient starting point. So today, I am giving you a writing prompt. It's always fun to see the variety of different things writers come up with when given the exact same prompt.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Your goal is to write a story, a scene, a description </span><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">– </span><span style="font-size: small;">anything really </span><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">–</span><span style="font-size: small;"> based on the following prompt. Post your results in the comments below. Please try to keep it to approximately 100 words.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><u><b>Prompt:</b></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Start your piece with the following sentence:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>With the marching band eager to storm the field, she fumbled with the Rubik's Cube trying to shield her nakedness from the stadium lights.</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The Rubik's Cube Promptetition emphasizes challenging yourself rather than besting others. Also, this is not a timed event </span><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">– unless you want it to be. And although this is not judged officially, you just might win praise from me or other participants.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Have fun and Go!<i> </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>Thanks to Argonone on Flickr for the picture!</i></span><i><b><br /></b></i></div>Jason Runnelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16656622649601360477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8868709417830696361.post-58440635551232496662012-07-26T00:00:00.000-05:002012-07-26T00:00:00.028-05:0013 Popular Novels Gone Dirty<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEp7E38bY_1CHbdA5KZfR3vX88Qnhb3e1YDNtwTQjDCL0d4TGSjc-OCSAA2fOaYFOZw5VSofd31SBo_gC9AL2OtP8MvflYByM9H9_5buyltd1vdciuBtKjfWYAaKELvi9H6Xr7M4AjUjM/s1600/ParentalAdvisory.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEp7E38bY_1CHbdA5KZfR3vX88Qnhb3e1YDNtwTQjDCL0d4TGSjc-OCSAA2fOaYFOZw5VSofd31SBo_gC9AL2OtP8MvflYByM9H9_5buyltd1vdciuBtKjfWYAaKELvi9H6Xr7M4AjUjM/s400/ParentalAdvisory.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You Have Been Warned!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For some reason 50 Shades of Grey gets a lot of attention in the media these days. It's not like erotic novels are something new.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In fact, I'm pretty sure E.L. James was inspired by these other well-known novels before the censors got to work.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Me? I just like how these long-lost titles sound. But then again I snicker when I hear the word, <a href="http://jasonrunnels.blogspot.com/2012/01/13-words-that-sound-naughty-but-really.html" target="_blank">masticate</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><u>13 Popular Novels Gone Dirty</u></strong></span><br />
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Son Also Rises</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A Tail and Two Titties</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Great Gasping</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Girl with the Dragon Taboo</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Mount of Monte Cristo</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Adventures of Sure Cock Holmes</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Bi-Curious Case of Benjamin Butt-Man</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On Her Majesty's Secret Servicing</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Lord of the Cock Rings</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Brave Nude Girl</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Alice Tugged</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A Midsummer's Night Ream</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Harry Potter and the Gobbler Gets Tired</span></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong>Actual titles we have to live with:</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><em>1. The Sun Also Rises, 2. A Tale of Two Cities, 3. The Great Gatsby, 4. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, 5. The Count of Monte Cristo, 6. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, 7. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, 8. On Her Majesty's Secret Service (James Bond), 9. The Lord of the Rings, 10. Brave New World, 11. Atlas Shrugged, 12. A Midsummer's Night Dream, 13. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire</em> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">And a bonus: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Bone</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong><em>Did I miss any?</em></strong></span><br />
<br />Jason Runnelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16656622649601360477noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8868709417830696361.post-13367171767654537392012-07-15T00:00:00.000-05:002012-07-15T00:00:04.745-05:00Don't Hate 50 Shades of Grey<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjHmpoAp4GR1dfy-DGlAWevE6aPccb2uXbc8nxAA_I8XScxOAfz8k7Z8R6915QfwmZhRaUwPnU7OVgBJfeejQ-VtCC5vVkXVz83hF6OyP-V7ELVFBbPTjAHbv7N4Tje_9D8ss3Otg0s8s/s1600/50ShadesGrey_Square-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjHmpoAp4GR1dfy-DGlAWevE6aPccb2uXbc8nxAA_I8XScxOAfz8k7Z8R6915QfwmZhRaUwPnU7OVgBJfeejQ-VtCC5vVkXVz83hF6OyP-V7ELVFBbPTjAHbv7N4Tje_9D8ss3Otg0s8s/s400/50ShadesGrey_Square-1.jpg" width="383" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Square-1</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Perhaps you've heard the hype surrounding the recent phenomenon. Maybe you can't understand why it's so popular.</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some say the quality is poor.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Others point to its awkwardness.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And is it really so original?</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm talking about the Square-1 of course.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Square-1 is a twisty puzzle.</span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I like twisty puzzles.</i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When solved, The Square-1 ends up as a six-sided colored cube. <i>Yep, I'm a cuber, keep going.</i></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Square-1 offers a unique challenge and it changes shapes when it's scrambled. </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Again, sounds like something right up my alley.</i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Yet, I don't particularly <i>like</i> this puzzle. But I don't hate it either.</b></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Square-1 is sliced through the middle on a diagonal axis that makes it rather different to solve than other puzzles like the Rubik's Cube.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I could <b><i>appreciate</i></b> what the Square-1 set out to do as a puzzle. You turn faces. You attempt to move pieces around the puzzle. And you try to match all of the colors on each side. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For me, it was a bit more painful to solve, but it had me <b><i>intrigued</i></b>. I was hooked. The Square-1 had that something to keep me at it until I was done with it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And that was why I didn't set my Square-1 ablaze after I discovered it's not so much like the Rubik's Cube after all.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let's move on to the </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">recent phenomenon, </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fifty-Shades-Grey-Book-Trilogy/dp/0345803485" target="_blank">50 Shades of Grey</a>, and see if there's something to appreciate in it, too.</span></b><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love it or hate it, this novel by E.L. James has become wildly popular.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm <i><b>not</b></i> going to jump on the bandwagon and write a scathing (or praising) review of the book. I really just want to point out there may be a lesson we can all glean from its popularity.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sure the grammar may be awkward and the dialogue trying. And there are already scores of blogs and websites dedicated to bashing the book. But none of that academic stuff really matters. It's not the writing style. It's not the subject matter.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There must be <i><b>something else </b></i>between the covers that connects with so many people.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Identification</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of the biggest reasons for the popularity of this novel is character identification.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When you identify with characters in a story it's easier to suspend disbelief. It's easier to ignore minor author annoyances. You really just want to find out what happens to the characters. Am I saying everybody who loved the book is into Sadomasochism? </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No. To identify with a character is not the same as imitating the character.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But what woman hasn't felt undesirable at some point and think she's not beautiful? It can create a longing to feel desired and told you're beautiful.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Could this craving in Anastasia, the main character, be one of the things readers connect so deeply with?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And of course Christian Grey is a layered character in the novel -- it's called 50 Shades of Grey after all. He's controlling, but he wants to be accepted too. People can identify with these basic character struggles even if they do not share all of their specific traits or feelings.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I really think the lesson here is the </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">character identification in 50 Shades of Grey is what strikes a chord that resonates so deeply with a lot of people.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>Why do you think it's so popular?</i></b></span>Jason Runnelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16656622649601360477noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8868709417830696361.post-89822276112899490192012-07-12T00:00:00.001-05:002012-07-12T00:00:06.245-05:0013 Things I Did In San Francisco Last Week<div style="text-align: left;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCWFOhmpVB2RZOD_yosF4DWWd_mPnvCJ-KveVLlEtYgBCyZMZmTjKiaxV52C7AzImvcIbu5aSvdkLDX31XhvDWqbj93wVPlAqsAok2ErpXg704SjZLNiPbqC_JOfTHKf40BgA-Mhr662o/s1600/redwood-trailclosed2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCWFOhmpVB2RZOD_yosF4DWWd_mPnvCJ-KveVLlEtYgBCyZMZmTjKiaxV52C7AzImvcIbu5aSvdkLDX31XhvDWqbj93wVPlAqsAok2ErpXg704SjZLNiPbqC_JOfTHKf40BgA-Mhr662o/s400/redwood-trailclosed2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A Redwood crashed through our intended bridge.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I just got back from a trip to San Francisco. Apparently the Bay Area didn't get the memo on the heat wave! It was 50 degrees cooler on the Fourth than it was in Chicago.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is true whether Mark Twain said it or not, <i><b>"The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco."</b></i></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Other than the blustery weather, it was an action-packed and beautiful trip.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are <b>13 Things I Did in San Francisco Last Week</b>:</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. Took a fortune cookie factory tour in Chinatown and ate piping hot fortune cookies.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. Hiked through the Muir Woods Redwoods forest on an alternate trail because a behemoth had fallen and smashed through the bridge on the main hiking trail. My quads cursed me for taking the steeper detour.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. Shivered watching the Fourth of July fireworks over the Golden Gate Bridge.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. Got sunburned on the tops of my hands on a cloudy day that barely climbed above 60 degrees.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5. Rode a bike across the Golden Gate Bridge</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">–</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> hence the sunburn.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6. Ate lunch and drank wine in Napa Valley after touring the Jelly Belly factory. After enduring a questionable jazz rendition of Roxanne I wished I was back at the Jelly Belly factory instead.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7. Found free parking for dinner in San Francisco.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8. Watched buffalo (bison) graze in the city's Golden Gate Park.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">9. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Drove for hours and hours through the winding expanse of Golden Gate National Recreation Area.</span><span style="background-color: white;"></span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">10. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Drove down Lombard Street and up Twin Peaks.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">11. Saw dolphins at Fort Point</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">–</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> at the base of the Golden Gate Bridge.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">12. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ate wonderful cassoulet with a nice Bordeaux. The last time I ate this dish was almost five years ago</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">– </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">in Toulouse, France. Oh, and I also had fantastic Chinese (<i>obviously</i>), Korean, and Indian food.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">13. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Witnessed illegal firework transactions on the streets of Chinatown. </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(This did <b>not </b>occur in the vicinity of Grant and Washington streets.)</i><br />
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<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Have you been to San Francisco or the Bay Area? What was your favorite part?</b></i>Jason Runnelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16656622649601360477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8868709417830696361.post-5450330279458186172012-07-01T00:00:00.000-05:002012-07-01T00:01:48.819-05:00The Rubik's Cube and The Great Gatsby<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Great-Gatsby-Scott-Fitzgerald/dp/0743273567" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsRn59CHHBG84riKUSTjnnAszg4rUNW0jY9OqZVoY7ufdSYpsc2CuIdDLOwclo4szdeSZj0UVTxHfy_VHqgg9uWObFJiE7M-d8Ld0yuY65Thu318yk_1SBE39AL9QwG2bcByyGRlSg4Qo/s400/GreatGatsbyCover.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Practice makes perfect, but v</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ersatility spawns greatness.</span></b><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I became a <i>serious</i> cuber when I finally accepted t</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">he truth of this statement.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No single method of so</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">lving the <a href="http://www.rubiks.com/" target="_blank">Rubik's Cube</a> </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 115%;">–</span><span style="background-color: white;"> no matter how perfect </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 115%;">–</span><span style="background-color: white;"> w</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ill give you insight to truly master the cube.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Believe it or not, there are scores of methods for solving the Rubik's Cube. Some are optimized for speed, others for ease of learning, and yet others to use the fewest possible moves.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It wasn't until I learned a method to solve the Rubik's Cube <i><b>blindfolded</b></i>, that I understood things on a more profound level.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Solving the cube sighted is rather reckless. While you focus on one portion of the cube, you don't really care what happens to the majority of the other pieces. And you have the freedom to 'wing it' and decide what to do next after each move.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But solving the Rubik's Cube blindfolded is a huge departure. You are constrained in what you can do because you must keep track of the original position of every piece. You must take great care </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">to move each piece into its correct location. This requires meticulous planning.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Many of the lessons I learned from my blindsolving method could be applied to my normal, sighted method.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>What about writing lessons?</b></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm willing to bet F. Scott Fitzgerald achieved his greatness because of similar lessons he learned along the way.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">His first two novels were significantly character-driven and somewhat lengthy. A stark contrast to his masterpiece, The Great Gatsby. But if you look at what was happening in his life prior to that you'll see some of his versatility coming through.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He had been struggling financially and began writing short stories to make ends meet. He later wrote a play called The Vegetable. Each of these experiences heavily influenced what would become The Great Gatsby.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He no doubt applied some of the lessons he learned writing short stories. And this produced the concise novel we have come to love. But also, you can see the influence of having written a structured play. The Great Gatsby is a</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> very plot-driven novel</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, if you write novels, try writing short stories. If you need help writing dialogue, try writing a play. If you write romance, try writing an action thriller.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are countless techniques and methods for writing. Each one has something special to make you a more versatile writer. And don't worry if any one particular piece doesn't work </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">–</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> just remember Fitzgerald's The Vegetable was a commercial failure. But it led to his most recognized achievement.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>What unexpected writing lessons have you discovered?</i></b></span>Jason Runnelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16656622649601360477noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8868709417830696361.post-34215891954890232342012-06-28T00:00:00.000-05:002012-06-28T00:00:03.224-05:00Burning Through 13 Books<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie6d_-I00uw-bNkaGXZpJXB3ol54m2iC3rCCmpKAO7SkRGVWZ3chrpCHNwVJHj-hrCMQAUeWlDrUWzT3m99dRYy207VDYt6ZLKBs9nqTdnYSn9dWZAO9P4nTnt6iWvHvMwwjIuD1zKUO4/s1600/pcorreia_BooksBurnThrough.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie6d_-I00uw-bNkaGXZpJXB3ol54m2iC3rCCmpKAO7SkRGVWZ3chrpCHNwVJHj-hrCMQAUeWlDrUWzT3m99dRYy207VDYt6ZLKBs9nqTdnYSn9dWZAO9P4nTnt6iWvHvMwwjIuD1zKUO4/s400/pcorreia_BooksBurnThrough.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have been burning through books lately. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since I'm not yet up to speed on <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/" target="_blank">GoodReads</a>, I'll use this post to share 13 books I've read recently.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I just reached the end of this one earlier this evening so I'll kick things off here:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>1. </b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Shelter-Holly-Lin-No-ebook/dp/B004HO5VQI/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb_t" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">No Shelter (Holly Lin) </a>by Robert Swartwood</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Very solid thriller with a well developed female protagonist. The pacing in Part II was too slow and I felt a bit impatient waiting for more to develop. Fortunately the chapters are short and read quickly. Once through her 'daily life' section, there was a bigger payoff.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over all it was well written and definitely a page-turner. If you like over-the-top, kick ass female characters, then Holly Lin is for you.</span><br />
<b style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Good for a debut novel. Recommended.</b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>2. </b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Snuff-Chuck-Palahniuk/dp/0385517882" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Snuff </a>by Chuck Palahniuk</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I like Chuck, but this was like a bad porno script </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">–</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and not in a funny, ironic way. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Not recommended.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>3. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sloppy-Seconds-Tucker-Leftovers-ebook/dp/B00769T77U" target="_blank">Sloppy Seconds: The Tucker Max Leftovers</a> </b>by Tucker Max</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm almost embarrassed to admit to reading this, but it was free. I saw it was from the I Hope They Sell Beer in Hell guy and thought I'd see what all the hoopla was a few years back since I never read that. This one was mildly entertaining. Somewhat humorous. Certainly obnoxious and juvenile. I think the "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fratire" target="_blank">fratire</a>" moniker for the genre is dead on.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Not recommended</b> (unless you are a </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">pubescent </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">boy).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>4. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kitchen-Confidential-Adventures-Culinary-Underbelly/dp/0060934913" target="_blank">Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly</a></b> by Anthony Bourdain</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I like the guy's travel show. He's full of snark and loves to drink. Who knew he could write? This is a great book and very interesting. This is how to write memoir.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Highly Recommended.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>5. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Abysmal-Brute-ebook/dp/B001NPDNZA/ref=tmm_kin_title_0" target="_blank">The Abysmal Brute</a></b> by Jack London</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Inspiring story about boxing and corruption.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Recommended.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>6. </b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Old-Man-Sea-ebook/dp/B000FC0SH8/ref=tmm_kin_title_0" target="_blank"><b>The Old Man and the Sea</b> </a>by Ernest Hemingway</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It won the Pulitzer Prize for a reason. It's short. It's great. Perfect before the trip to Cuba.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Highly Recommended.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>7. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Coding-Isis-ebook/dp/B00746OGV2" target="_blank">Coding Isis</a></b> by Davis Roys</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pretty good techno-thriller. The story was pretty solid and fast paced, but there were some minor distractions. Mainly the fact that all of the characters use British <span style="line-height: 19px;">colloquialisms, especially since it's set in Washington D.C. Otherwise, well-written.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Decent debut. <b>Recommended.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>8. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lion-Lamb-Hunted-Psychological-ebook/dp/B006HWXKD4/ref=tmm_kin_title_0" target="_blank">The Lion, the Lamb, the Hunted</a></b> by Andrew E. Kaufman</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I loved this book. It's a psychological thriller. Patrick, the main character is easy to identify with and very likable </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">–</span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> even though the story opens at his mother's funeral and he's basically spitting on her grave. Hooked. You've got to read more.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You get two parallel stories with Patrick investigating a toddler's murder and the back story of him being abused by his mother. It's multi-layered and it works wonderfully. Great twists and turns that are surprising in the best possible way.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This ranks as the best book I have read so far this year.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Highly, Highly Recommended!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>9. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Baby-Shark-ebook/dp/B007OWO1WU/ref=tmm_kin_title_0" target="_blank">Baby Shark</a></b> by Robert Fate</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Decent revenge thriller. The premise is unique. A strong female protagonist seeking revenge for the murder of her pool hustler father. It's set in the 50s, although at times I was having to force myself to suspend disbelief.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well-written, but only average over all. Penn of Penn & Teller highly recommends the book, but I'm pretty sure it's mainly because he's friends with the author.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Recommended</b> if you like this genre or strong female MCs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>10. </b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pandemic-ebook/dp/B004UJUBTW" target="_blank"><b>Pandemic</b> </a>by Jesse F. Bone</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is actually a short story, but I like the premise so much I included it here </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">– </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">also I read it on my Kindle, so that counts as an eBook, right?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This SciFi story was written in the 60s so it was a little difficult to read the dated prose. Also, not terrific writing, but again the premise was really cool. Read it and see why.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Recommended.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>11. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Eyes-Dragon-Stephen-King/dp/0451166582" target="_blank">The Eyes of the Dragon</a></b> by Stephen King</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stephen King doing young adult fantasy. This was a reread and it reminded me why I liked this story so much.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Highly Recommended.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>12. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Good-Omens-Neil-Gaiman/dp/0441003257" target="_blank">Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch</a></b> by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I gave up halfway through. I just couldn't do it. I know it's supposed to be some sort of classic for fans of fantasy, but it's one of the few books I've given up on.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Don't Bother!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>13. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Touch-Elmore-Leonard/dp/0060089598" target="_blank">Touch</a></b> by Elmore Leonard</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you're looking for the Elmore Leonard who writes gritty Crime Novels, then you're in the wrong place with this story. I love those other novels, but Touch is by far my favorite Leonard novel so far.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This young stigmatic seems to perform miracles </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">– </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">or are those simply coincidences? It doesn't matter. Lots of people want to exploit him. And it wouldn't be a Leonard novel without the wacky cast of characters including con men and outlandish priests.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Highly, Highly Recommended!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>Any significant book you've read so far this year?</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanks to P</span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">correia on Flickr for the nice photograph!</span></span></i>Jason Runnelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16656622649601360477noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8868709417830696361.post-65030463473967705692012-06-21T00:00:00.000-05:002012-06-21T00:00:10.315-05:0013 Single-Use Kitchen Gadgets<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2L1bsPBZRP8_9yfAH5hkcqilyV3dPhKOVP4NWatgIZm5jsDsLQN6efmL1dk7MXEuRKNu43lxhuAxkaHw388trsfHqKMcyBzv2tgy3DSaYX69jkHwKjZQUJBewzvkJoa2Sw5AArIGNx-8/s1600/TheBananaBunkerFruitBasket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2L1bsPBZRP8_9yfAH5hkcqilyV3dPhKOVP4NWatgIZm5jsDsLQN6efmL1dk7MXEuRKNu43lxhuAxkaHw388trsfHqKMcyBzv2tgy3DSaYX69jkHwKjZQUJBewzvkJoa2Sw5AArIGNx-8/s400/TheBananaBunkerFruitBasket.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Protect Your Bananas Before It's Too Late!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>13 Single-Use Kitchen Gadgets</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Banana Bunker</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/old-fashioned-apple-peeler-and-corer/" target="_blank">Apple peeler</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bread maker</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cake stand</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Waffle maker</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.thinkgeek.com/homeoffice/kitchen/ae2d/?cpg=ogpla&source=google_pla&gclid=CLqylraf3rACFUQUKgodiXH51g" target="_blank">Onion goggles</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">French Fry slicer</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lettuce knife - ordinary knifes cause browning</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hamburger press</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pasta dryer</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Orange peeler - I love this thing.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Panini maker</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Emson-Bacon-Wave-Microwave-Cooker/dp/B0016P1AFM" target="_blank">Bacon Wave</a> (As Seen On TV)</span></li>
</ol>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And because I'm in a silly mood, here's a bonus item to help parents clean up in the kitchen (it's a baby mop):</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwUdkZope99nFi-8Pk2SFmk-vWB-hsR8_uT7AjLG1o6oDJTTXNWiyUSoTqvEpaItaMfdNtxDEcvbrqvoddgaJpQqRJqwIRp3cwKUWt24G4yZGs_zDcz0EtizDXFzE7GxgMNeed1ueC-9c/s1600/TheBabyMop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwUdkZope99nFi-8Pk2SFmk-vWB-hsR8_uT7AjLG1o6oDJTTXNWiyUSoTqvEpaItaMfdNtxDEcvbrqvoddgaJpQqRJqwIRp3cwKUWt24G4yZGs_zDcz0EtizDXFzE7GxgMNeed1ueC-9c/s400/TheBabyMop.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>Do you have a favorite kitchen gadget to share?</b></i></span>Jason Runnelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16656622649601360477noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8868709417830696361.post-25193432683396309972012-06-15T00:00:00.000-05:002012-06-15T00:00:09.670-05:00Old Habits Die Hard<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTH3d_dYz2cEZQQFIriPljxuHakg96RymJhQuOjzBSY6d8zF9VjKtvBpG4iQlwb0dxLd1shmxPuQ0WHa_N01XXj3I1U85sXwK0cKALjxNDfiP0O51Si1KKzZduoVLbL6CuA4e3C2mYEiU/s1600/Cigarette_Sudipto_Sarkar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTH3d_dYz2cEZQQFIriPljxuHakg96RymJhQuOjzBSY6d8zF9VjKtvBpG4iQlwb0dxLd1shmxPuQ0WHa_N01XXj3I1U85sXwK0cKALjxNDfiP0O51Si1KKzZduoVLbL6CuA4e3C2mYEiU/s400/Cigarette_Sudipto_Sarkar.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm haunted by old habits.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It would be easier if I could start over with a clean slate. But I'm tainted by the past.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even if I find a better way to do something, I can't seem to break that old habit.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>The Rubik's Cube</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's been a few years since I first learned a method to solve the Rubik's Cube. I slogged away using one of the most inefficient, although straightforward methods for solving the cube. But I've learned a great deal since then.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Like most things in life, it's not until <i><b>after</b></i> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">you've mastered the basics that you learn useful shortcuts. But for me, I always gravitate back to the method I've been using since the beginning. Although I have graduated to more advanced concepts that are clearly faster and more efficient, I inevitably revert to what I know.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My brain will pleads, "Just do, F, R, U', R', U', R, U, R', F'!" But muscle memory kicks in, ignores that voice in my head, and my fingers just move according to the beginner's playbook. It's something I cannot turn off. It's something I'm too comfortable with.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I'm in the zone, I just do what comes naturally, right or wrong. It's a force of habit.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Writing Habits</u></b><br />The same goes for writing.<br /><br />When I'm in the writing zone, it's really difficult to keep track of all of the tricks and techniques that make good writing great. <i>Or in my case, bad writing good.</i><br /><br />One of my habits is writing scores of description and exposition with no real purpose in the scene. Being enamored with the genius of your own prose is such a novice thing to do, but I can't help it. Even if I know I should be thinking about things like conflict or establishing character, that beautiful prose wins out.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Perhaps you have a habit of using the same words over and over again. <i>Perhaps I'm guilty of it right now.</i> The truth is, it doesn't really matter <i>while </i>you're in the zone, as long as you apply all of the tips and tricks and lessons <i>afterward</i>, when you edit.<br /><br /><b>Your turn. When you're in the writing zone, what bad habits are you haunted by? </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Thank you to Sudipto Sarkar on Flickr for the image!</i></span>Jason Runnelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16656622649601360477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8868709417830696361.post-66008537122958830092012-06-07T00:00:00.000-05:002012-06-07T00:00:01.131-05:0013 Foods I Can Live Without<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRmmMZ4OG4SFgeS0J43_6iLmEwR0tVYTOvcRMNFjTOGh4mb3a01Yd_4RAeYHSAGw9-HPafG_nlaf3us794ZNK2dOTkaI8i-u5K8gfdNJeC6eMz00E9staQ4Tyb2QdPADQmjqZJsaZ7ZVk/s1600/Velveeta_PaulMalon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRmmMZ4OG4SFgeS0J43_6iLmEwR0tVYTOvcRMNFjTOGh4mb3a01Yd_4RAeYHSAGw9-HPafG_nlaf3us794ZNK2dOTkaI8i-u5K8gfdNJeC6eMz00E9staQ4Tyb2QdPADQmjqZJsaZ7ZVk/s400/Velveeta_PaulMalon.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How can you know pleasure if you've never experienced pain?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ho</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">w can you know love if you've never experienced hate?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And how can you know what foods you'll never eat again if you've never delved into the bowels of American cuisine? <b><i>(Yes, pun intended.)</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now don't get me wrong, this is <b><i><u>not</u> a list of foods I <u>hate</u>.</i></b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've eaten everything on this list. I've <b><i>enjoyed</i></b> at least half of everything here at some point.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But those data points have been recorded. I can move on with my life. And if I never have to revisit any of these foods <span style="line-height: 115%;">–</span> or food-like substances <span style="line-height: 115%;">–</span> again, I will still lead a fulfilling life.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>13 Foods I Can Live Without</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>1. Velveeta "Cheese"</b> - Seriously, what's the molecular makeup of this stuff? I'm pretty sure it's <b><i>not</i></b> organic. Until some grad-student researcher concludes that it's a legitimate food item, I've had enough. But...if Kraft decides to go with the 1960s style packaging seen above, I just might get back on the wagon. Delicious!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>2. Spam</b> - Yes, I know this meat-like product is very popular in Hawaii. But have you ever pan fried this stuff? Your kitchen fills up with that blue <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burnout_(vehicle)" target="_blank">burnout </a>smoke of a drag race. Forget about your arteries, what about your lungs?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>3. Ground Bologna</b> - Is this really any better than Spam? Or right, it's <i><b>spreadable</b></i>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>4. Powdered Milk</b> - Trust me, this is not good on <b><i><u>any</u></i></b> cereal.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>5. Hamburger Helper</b> - Hey, I was a broke college student - and yes, this was way before Pink Slime was even a glimmer in the eye of the public consciousness.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>6. Anything with Cream Cheese</b> - Yes, this includes cheese cake.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>7. Ham and Cheese Hot Pockets</b> - Okay, think deli-meat and nacho cheese calzone, but made with puff pastry, not pizza dough. And now Hot Pockets are made with '<a href="http://www.hotpockets.com/nutrition/RealCheese.aspx" target="_blank">real cheese</a>' </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">–</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> whatever that means!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>8. Grape-Nuts</b> - An alleged 'health food' cereal. It's really like pouring milk over a bowl of gravel </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">–</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> not very healthy for my teeth.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>9. Foie Gras</b> - This is a fattened duck liver and it's very popular in France. I have eaten it in France. It's supposed to be a delicacy. PETA, you'll be happy to know I do not like it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>10. Those glistening mashed potatoes at the Lone Star Steakhouse in Jackson, Michigan</b> - When you've managed to transform ordinary produce into something born out of a high school science fair, you've gone too far with the heavy cream and butter.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>11. Cream of Mushroom Soup-based dishes</b> - Really? Do I even need to elaborate?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>12. Lou Malnati's Pizza</b> - This Chicago-style pizza is famous for having a layer of thick sausage spread across its entire diameter. Yes, it's blasphemy for somebody writing from Chicago, but I can still do without it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>13. Chicken in a Biskit</b> - <i>Full disclosure:</i> These are actually delicious. I loved these crackers throughout my college years. But now I've got things like blood pressure and cholesterol to consider. I</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">magine taking a buttery Ritz Cracker and dousing it with the seasoning packet from Chicken Ramen Noodles. Delicious. But also Heartburn City. (By the way, I still do eat Ramen Noodles.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>What foods would you be happy to do without?</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>Thank you to Paul Malon on Flickr for reminding us how awesome the 60s were!</i></b></span>Jason Runnelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16656622649601360477noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8868709417830696361.post-5246184397043094262012-06-01T00:05:00.000-05:002012-06-01T00:05:00.535-05:00Go Ahead, Quit! It's Not Taboo.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlpzbpDAJck6aZNA3L31ojUNdGaYCJbc2KicAHhaYBG4uxbpI1AkZSKkub8Z2ask9lkdSFeLv9z8hkkjiM_hvQdxlbHbnRjCvVqidR0epdDZEUlBk3PcF58rIkKVeKYQrl76jM-2_rFA0/s1600/SuperSquare-1_GiveUp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlpzbpDAJck6aZNA3L31ojUNdGaYCJbc2KicAHhaYBG4uxbpI1AkZSKkub8Z2ask9lkdSFeLv9z8hkkjiM_hvQdxlbHbnRjCvVqidR0epdDZEUlBk3PcF58rIkKVeKYQrl76jM-2_rFA0/s400/SuperSquare-1_GiveUp.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Super Square-1</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I admit it. I gave up.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, defeat is not really my thing, but sometimes it's just better to tuck your tail between your legs and move on.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To be specific, I gave up on a puzzle. Yeah, that's the one.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's not that there was anything wrong with this <b><i>particular</i></b> puzzle. In fact, based on my love for twisty puzzles, like the <a href="http://www.rubiks.com/" target="_blank">Rubik's Cube</a>, there's every reason why I <i><b>should</b></i> have stuck with it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But I couldn't. This one simply wasn't right for me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Perhaps it was because I could not adapt and apply the same techniques I was already familiar with. I don't know, but it felt completely foreign to me. So with scores of other puzzles under my belt, this one stands alone. Unsolved. Abandoned.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But why should I dwell on it? Does it really diminish the value of the other cubes I have solved? Does it really diminish how I perceive myself as The Puzzling Mind?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Who cares?</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our society puts too much emphasis on 'winning' anyway. <i>Right, Charlie Sheen?</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sometimes 'winning' is just realizing when you've reached your limit. Or realizing when you are not progressing any further.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Sometimes quitting is the right thing to do. The smart thing to do.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Take this story I have been working on for six months. It's been written, edited, and rewritten countless times. I turn it over in my head and struggle with why it's not working. I cannot seem to get it right. I can't get this particular story <span style="line-height: 115%;">–</span> d</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">one.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Nothing feels right.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The voice doesn't sound like me. The characters feel uneasy. The story resolves itself, but not profoundly. In short, it's a mess. But something has me clinging to this failure.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Why can't I let it go? Is it really so wrong to shelf a story?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Well, I'm going to do something taboo!</b> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I quit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There, I said it. I quit. I'm going to quit this story.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And look, I'm still here!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Society may scorn me, but I don't need its approval, or its permission. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I quit, because if I stay hung up on this futile story, I will never move on to others. I'm going to accept defeat with this piece and simply move on. I'm going to learn from this. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This particular story isn't right for me. And I'm not going to dwell on it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This feels great! What a relief! Life is too short to worry about what people may think. Get over it! If you're a writer, write. If you're a puzzler, solve puzzles. Not everything is going to work. Not everything is going to feel quite right. That's part of the process.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I give you permission. If it doesn't feel right, <b>give up</b>. Quit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>Are you hung up on something for the wrong reasons? Please share your experience in the comments.</i></b></span>Jason Runnelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16656622649601360477noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8868709417830696361.post-19151990483157388662012-05-24T00:00:00.000-05:002012-05-24T00:10:46.897-05:0013 Things About Cuba<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCaeLQNvObxCXw9J_9IRNxmHPA_Bb4mJbZ0QcVty6VGRwfxReVk0tPqiiL-hYG3jFv1bnFJn0A10mq5eZmlcAF8TCByncDqYu5fBscSxyUGkXsIT0_QT5o_w8kO2CdEgmRXP5gkx21OWE/s1600/CubanRubiksCube.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCaeLQNvObxCXw9J_9IRNxmHPA_Bb4mJbZ0QcVty6VGRwfxReVk0tPqiiL-hYG3jFv1bnFJn0A10mq5eZmlcAF8TCByncDqYu5fBscSxyUGkXsIT0_QT5o_w8kO2CdEgmRXP5gkx21OWE/s400/CubanRubiksCube.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of the gifts I left behind in Cuba.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last week I was fortunate enough to have traveled to Cuba legally as a U.S. citizen. So naturally, I thought it would be fitting to share a few things about Cuba and my experience there before everything changes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>13 Things About Cuba</b></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>1.</b> If I'm going to talk about Cuba, I have to begin with the </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-center;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malec%C3%B3n,_Havana" target="_blank">Malecón </a>in Havana. For our trip, we stayed at the Hotel Nacional de Cuba right on the </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-center;">Malecón. All I can say is, what famous American from the early- to mid-1900s did <b><i>not </i></b>stay there? Frank Sinatra, <i><b>check</b></i>. Ernest Hemingway, <b><i>check</i></b>. Ava Gardner - who eventually ended up swimming naked in Ernest Hemingway's pool - <b><i>check</i></b>.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-center;">Now, back to the </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-center;">Malecón, the boardwalk and break wall along the sea coast. Not surprising, the first thing you notice are the cars. These are not the shiny, classic American cars kept under tarps in your uncle's garage only to be rolled off of a flatbed trailer into a Cracker Barrel parking lot car show. No, these cars are driven. And just like everything else in Havana, the cars can be seen in various states of repair. Being enveloped in black clouds of exhaust, you'll realize just how old some of these cars really are.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-center;">The </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-center;">Malecón is a boardwalk. But much more interesting than the one in Venice Beach or Myrtle Beach. I ran along the </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-center;">Malecón at different times of the day and always encountered the same thing: <b>people</b>. People fish, walk, and hang out on the break wall. In the evenings and weekends, vendors and artists set up stands. While I ran on the old, pockmarked surface, I could only think of coral. The </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-center;">Malecón teamed with schools of colorful people. Beautiful.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-center;"><b>2.</b> Workers in the famous Cuban Cigar factories are allowed to have three cigars each day. These are not the high quality items reserved for sale. Inexperienced apprentices generally hand-roll these cigars using lower quality leaves with tears or imperfections. Hand-rolling cigars takes practice, and practice makes perfect. So why waste an otherwise good thing?</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-center;">Although their three cigars may be rejects by Cuban quality standards, not all tourists know that. While on the factory tour, a worker on a bathroom break peeked from around a corner and waved his three cigars at me. It was clear he wanted me to make him a deal.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-center;"><b>3.</b> Many of the beautiful buildings in Havana are in dire need of renovation - and much has already begun. The facades can be dull and colorless old concrete. But like a flower pushing through the sidewalk, the vibrancy of the Cuba shines through. From the pastel colored classic cars, to the lively clothing styles, to the bright artwork, Cuba will capture your heart - even on a cloudy day.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji7lS5DTeClLnJagRhrotp8hBGQBwiAPecoKg7IUkELV-Sus2lasGYkkIg5snXyaXFnOUwm4NykOSNLeKpE1D1MomtpeCf_Z75P2jV0wP7OlMxQIzX-eD-Gc9xv4AsQEu_qkp_vJqvum8/s1600/CubaCollage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji7lS5DTeClLnJagRhrotp8hBGQBwiAPecoKg7IUkELV-Sus2lasGYkkIg5snXyaXFnOUwm4NykOSNLeKpE1D1MomtpeCf_Z75P2jV0wP7OlMxQIzX-eD-Gc9xv4AsQEu_qkp_vJqvum8/s400/CubaCollage.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-center;"><b>4.</b> According to recent new articles, President John F. Kennedy ordered one thousand Cuban cigars before he signed the U.S. trade embargo into law.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-center;"><b>5.</b> During our visit to an elementary school in Havana, somebody asked about the graduation rate of school children. The administrators were a bit perplexed because they claim that all students graduate. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-center;">Prior to the Cuban Revolution in 1959, the literacy rate was about 60-70%. Today, according to UNICEF, it is 100%.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-center;"><b>6.</b> Through a combination of the Embargo and the collapse of the Soviet Union, organic farming is the only method of farming possible. The lack of chemicals and farming machinery forced Cuban to innovate. Necessity is the mother of invention. (Since Cuba has been so successful with organic farming, it makes you wonder why produce at Whole Foods is so expensive.)</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-center;"><b>7.</b> After Castro nationalized businesses and private property, most people argue that the best Cuban chefs fled to the United States. If you want great Cuban food, stay in the United States.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-center;">But this wasn't necessarily my experience. If you avoid the tourist restaurants in Havana - where these chefs try to cater to a warped interpretation of Western tastes - you will find wonderful food. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-center;">Make sure you eat in at least one <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paladar" target="_blank">paladar</a>, a small restaurant set up in a private residence.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-center;"><b>8.</b> Many of the old American and Russian cars in Cuba have a yellow Ferrari emblem displayed on the sides. Cubans are resourceful and creative. They are proud of their cars but authenticity does not always factor in when it comes to maintaining their cars.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>9.</b> An American, William Alexander Morgan, fought alongside Che Guevara in the Cuban Revolution against Cuban dictator Batista. Morgan held the rank of Comandante. He was later executed by Castro.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>10.</b> In 2009, an open air peace concert was held in Havana's Revolutionary Square. Our guide said 1.2 Million people attended and even the police enjoyed the free Latin Music concert.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>11.</b> Expect to tip a lot of people while visiting. Local guides and hotel employees all work for tips. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cubans in Havana are generally very friendly toward Americans. But just like any tourist area in the world, beware of hustlers. Everyone wants your money.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>12.</b> Ernest Hemingway is Cuba and Cuba is Ernest Hemingway. In the village of Cojimar, the setting for The Old Man and The Sea, a bust is on display that was created from the boat propellers of local fishermen. Cubans loved, and still do love, their Papa Hemingway.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>13.</b> As shown in the picture above, these Cuban children really appreciated gifts. Baseball hats and baseballs are great gifts to give in exchange for a family's hospitality. I wanted to give something unique and memorable. Hopefully the few <a href="http://www.rubiks.com/" target="_blank">Rubik's Cubes</a> I gave away won't frustrate too many Cuban children.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>What comes to mind when you think about Cuba?</i></b></span>Jason Runnelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16656622649601360477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8868709417830696361.post-65850249683715531972012-05-15T00:00:00.000-05:002012-05-15T00:11:35.068-05:00Maybe They're Just Not Interested<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhArlclAlya92r4Rs6hyS2E03VC1aJjtr8rsOKlegCML41EBLmtuqI3I9LXvdUOdaX1kC6dg3UwW8OXMWRyNVYMguxFmcTeZX-fpBlt4o7LYZRUgq4T8UBwZCWo7MVdNCRDBQd09DjscTs/s1600/Indifferent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhArlclAlya92r4Rs6hyS2E03VC1aJjtr8rsOKlegCML41EBLmtuqI3I9LXvdUOdaX1kC6dg3UwW8OXMWRyNVYMguxFmcTeZX-fpBlt4o7LYZRUgq4T8UBwZCWo7MVdNCRDBQd09DjscTs/s400/Indifferent.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm a show-off. I can't help it. But I'm not alone. Because I know at least once in your childhood you have said, "Hey Mom, look at me!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Face it. Everybody likes to be the center of attention. Unfortunately, not everybody can be your Mom. Therefore, some people simply won't be impressed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I learned this lesson the hard way just after I learned to solve the <a href="http://www.rubiks.com/" target="_blank">Rubik's Cube</a>. Every chance I got, I demonstrated my new skill to everybody. Well, the problem was that I didn't figure out how to solve the Rubik's Cube until adulthood. Now, if I were still 8 years old, perhaps the story might be different, but most working adults have no interest in seeing another so-called adult playing with a toy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even still, I found a small percentage of people who were genuinely fascinated with my Rubik's Cube abilities. They truly appreciated what I was doing. They actually cheered me on. I had found my ideal audience.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Find your target audience.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now think about your writing for a moment. At some point you need to accept the fact that you cannot please everybody. This is a fact. This is a guarantee. But don't sweat it!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some people simply are not going to be interested in your writing. <b>They are not your target audience. </b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Try to ignore the naysayers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The great thing about writing fiction is there are so many different styles, genres, subjects, and lengths to write; you are bound to find readers to please. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When you <i><b>do</b></i> find your target audience, they will clamor for your writing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Remember not every reader out there is going to be like your Mom, but they do exist. So keep writing!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>Have you ever felt discouraged targeting your writing to the wrong audience?</i></b></span>Jason Runnelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16656622649601360477noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8868709417830696361.post-67633096684974001342012-05-10T12:00:00.000-05:002012-05-10T12:00:00.912-05:00The Boy With Thirteen Toes<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6-jhK8Ikd1VvWxKMtaZv3BneW4AMA664H7Ip9jsxP2AYnEpvEYvN3o87HxFY8rfLLHP5p9udUbOSkqCdW8v16BjIb09sHK8kKbrkny_9nInG5RsLa65tMITdhx9cikTHsvE4vHoQMILQ/s1600/serenityphotographyltd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6-jhK8Ikd1VvWxKMtaZv3BneW4AMA664H7Ip9jsxP2AYnEpvEYvN3o87HxFY8rfLLHP5p9udUbOSkqCdW8v16BjIb09sHK8kKbrkny_9nInG5RsLa65tMITdhx9cikTHsvE4vHoQMILQ/s320/serenityphotographyltd.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Special Thanks to Serenity Photography on Flickr</i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The Boy With Thirteen Toes</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A boy was born with thirteen toes,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No wetting mucus lined his nose.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He never grew to six feet tall,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And learned to walk before he crawled.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He lurched and hitched and dragged his leg,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One special shoe, soft as a beer keg.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Toes ached and bruised, shoved into that shoe,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What in the world do you think you might do?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To curse the sky would make much sense,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yet this boy wore a bright smile as his defense.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />Jason Runnelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16656622649601360477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8868709417830696361.post-27606748987367091712012-05-01T00:30:00.000-05:002012-05-01T00:30:02.634-05:00Story Structure and the Rubik's Cube<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio9gANea5H-RIY-bzTqAQxYXprD2ZHr1zdxhnIvbH_plPsEfm9ETh7WgHZ8qm4h3TvIE-Szd1E2DCckNDO792Wop_r4oY-MuQgiPZZgTfG7Vo5mpq8Uxugkn_rOSl5evHlQkTFVhChr-Q/s1600/Rubiks_Story.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio9gANea5H-RIY-bzTqAQxYXprD2ZHr1zdxhnIvbH_plPsEfm9ETh7WgHZ8qm4h3TvIE-Szd1E2DCckNDO792Wop_r4oY-MuQgiPZZgTfG7Vo5mpq8Uxugkn_rOSl5evHlQkTFVhChr-Q/s320/Rubiks_Story.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What can the <a href="http://www.rubiks.com/">Rubik's Cube</a> teach you about story structure? Everything you need to know to create dramatic stories! Here's how.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Using the rule of threes.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Most people learn a layer-by-layer method when they first learn to solve the Rubik's Cube. </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Simply put, you solve the cube like stacking layers of a wedding cake. Solve the first layer, then the middle layer, and then the last layer. Poof. It's solved! Easy as 1,2,3.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVSmTegsooNlmHD7kc7lT8kc0uTgVGXTUiM1em1cf5KVFDOtUpdlzhKLcLPdMV23TuaNqphU7Khprh8ZAypCtIgGjxkNQtOJbqZY7nw9YMdvH_bNoEVw9WQKaaAthzDeFxGXEdjZmPg6E/s1600/LayerByLayer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="68" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVSmTegsooNlmHD7kc7lT8kc0uTgVGXTUiM1em1cf5KVFDOtUpdlzhKLcLPdMV23TuaNqphU7Khprh8ZAypCtIgGjxkNQtOJbqZY7nw9YMdvH_bNoEVw9WQKaaAthzDeFxGXEdjZmPg6E/s200/LayerByLayer.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Most stories can also be broken down into three main parts.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You probably know that a story has a beginning, a middle, and an end. Obviously! But, what this <b><i>really</i></b> means is that a story must have the following three fundamental elements:</span><br />
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">A conflict</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">Character(s) struggling to overcome the problem</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">The resolution (either won or lost)</span></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">That's it. Include these basic elements and you have the most common story structure.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">For example:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH0EVeFnfMeoug3195Wh2_yKnT6bMxvnsTtVtZvL0VzuxQlstqo-ZNAg34W0ZFB1E18W2j5x9huJKUyZmfHLHjqdAaLACdxsA7hCMdt_NUJgl18CtMuC5i-x7xKuC6vUh_poLoDlQxQYw/s1600/Conflict.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH0EVeFnfMeoug3195Wh2_yKnT6bMxvnsTtVtZvL0VzuxQlstqo-ZNAg34W0ZFB1E18W2j5x9huJKUyZmfHLHjqdAaLACdxsA7hCMdt_NUJgl18CtMuC5i-x7xKuC6vUh_poLoDlQxQYw/s1600/Conflict.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b><u>What is the conflict?</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I must solve this puzzle, but there are 43,000,000,000,000,000,000 possible ways to further mess it up.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLcNdfx3UHuiXmeNU8c1z4wIC4Owf0F3d7a1Iq4esN9DY5zCi4PoaUdEO2Ti048r9ZSjGr118ZaUzG-5bF6IjBAeWEZ6IyhU4WhmqqeyE3JXUIkIRewrLB4JdBTCYb50vd_mkbn-13eeI/s1600/Struggle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLcNdfx3UHuiXmeNU8c1z4wIC4Owf0F3d7a1Iq4esN9DY5zCi4PoaUdEO2Ti048r9ZSjGr118ZaUzG-5bF6IjBAeWEZ6IyhU4WhmqqeyE3JXUIkIRewrLB4JdBTCYb50vd_mkbn-13eeI/s1600/Struggle.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b><u>What is the struggle?</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I plan to solve the puzzle one layer at a time. Complications arise. If I try to solve the pieces in the middle layer, I risk messing up the first layer pieces.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkcJ06KwX9q7NP_-b52MZWjQiuL3qHIbthgK3AGTmFPMtLlwzJfTp6ZpcXEmwOqncRoxqgdTJrAc-baKSARTuRoDRAsDz7dkFiKSHj3eK69RKkjqhagu9TBNgWrynPEha0TFS3xr-NxvQ/s1600/Resolution.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkcJ06KwX9q7NP_-b52MZWjQiuL3qHIbthgK3AGTmFPMtLlwzJfTp6ZpcXEmwOqncRoxqgdTJrAc-baKSARTuRoDRAsDz7dkFiKSHj3eK69RKkjqhagu9TBNgWrynPEha0TFS3xr-NxvQ/s1600/Resolution.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b><u>What is the resolution?</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">My actions bring me to a turning point. I now have two layers solved. Here, the stakes are highest. With every move to solve the remaining pieces, I might have to start over from the beginning. I am fully committed and must risk it all to move forward. I will reach a final resolution. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">On the one hand, I may achieve my goal and solve the cube successfully. On the other, I may not, and I chuck it against the wall in frustration. Either way: "The End". The story is resolved.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">You'll find these three elements in almost every classic story, from "Romeo and Juliet" to "Cinderella". The amazing thing about Shakespeare is he didn't even have the Rubik's Cube as a guide and yet he still wrote masterful stories.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b><i>If you found this helpful, please comment below or share on Twitter or Facebook.</i></b></span>Jason Runnelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16656622649601360477noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8868709417830696361.post-54246642918187957102012-04-26T00:07:00.000-05:002012-04-26T00:07:00.551-05:0013 Reasons Why I Hate Jet Lag<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhsXokWqZgqqwe0reKcrDOjlxFQgtjk4j7ZpMNNKyvfD5r8xQvYR7UCU7FY9boFFwmSzjMOGgEhubjwXx5Ged7JlEZc4GRd330Ce_o9EzxQHI71WclV622TMrf-xT-Ah0UrtiBR1E2xpk/s1600/jhhwild.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhsXokWqZgqqwe0reKcrDOjlxFQgtjk4j7ZpMNNKyvfD5r8xQvYR7UCU7FY9boFFwmSzjMOGgEhubjwXx5Ged7JlEZc4GRd330Ce_o9EzxQHI71WclV622TMrf-xT-Ah0UrtiBR1E2xpk/s400/jhhwild.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. I become a Zombie...but not in a cool, action-adventure way.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. My feet swell (and smell).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. I wake up way too early. I want to sleep during dinner.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. And vice versa.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5. There is no semblance of normal digestion.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6. The cultural differences can be trying. (For example, even though my body has excused itself from consciousness, I must endure the five-hour European dinner.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7. My stomach growls at weird times during the day and night.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8. I simply cannot think. <i>How do I set this hotel alarm clock?</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">9. I can't exercise without feeling drunk...not in a good way.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">10. On a business trip, I end up working both shifts.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">11. I can't sleep in the cramped economy seat on the nine-hour return flight.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">12. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yhw si it os fidfuictl to froodpear hwne oyu'er ejtalgged?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">13. I swish a gallon of mouthwash and yet, my breath still smells like I've been eating fermented animal intestines in a Turkish prison for the past twenty years.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>What do you hate about traveling?</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Thanks to jhhwild on Flickr for the picture!</i></span>Jason Runnelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16656622649601360477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8868709417830696361.post-47009888099185589012012-04-15T00:30:00.000-05:002012-04-15T00:30:01.241-05:00How To Write Fiction<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvY29FAqsjZUUTGhTzQg3n0Pu-gnh39wDHvpGhH1mEZ14wNC-M01Nz8KZbVJ9VYswQfEQRVqtoTl3sP40XEG98Je4NhwthDn2-BRcKKy9LizvZ9U5RhrAEyc9ppdYFCzQe0aFj3I4R69k/s1600/DontOverThink.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvY29FAqsjZUUTGhTzQg3n0Pu-gnh39wDHvpGhH1mEZ14wNC-M01Nz8KZbVJ9VYswQfEQRVqtoTl3sP40XEG98Je4NhwthDn2-BRcKKy9LizvZ9U5RhrAEyc9ppdYFCzQe0aFj3I4R69k/s400/DontOverThink.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This image originally appeared in my <a href="http://jasonrunnels.blogspot.com/2011/01/dont-overthink-it.html" target="_blank">Don't Over Think It</a> post.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>If you don't know what you're doing then everything seems impossible.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Take the <a href="http://www.rubiks.com/" target="_blank">Rubik's Cube</a>. When you open the package, an "instructional booklet" will fall out. It may as well be a booklet on Quantum Theory printed in Aramaic. Really, it's supposed to be a booklet of hints to make solving the Rubik's Cube achievable. Fun even.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It won't take long to realize that booklet is useless. If you persist and don't smash the cube into a million tiny pieces, then you will eventually discover a "Beginner's Method" to solving the Rubik's Cube. These</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> are all over the Internet. These methods actually used to appear in book</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">s <span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">–</span> (</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">you know, those paper thingies).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It may seem awkward at first, but the instructions provide a series of tried and true steps and before you know it, Viola! You have a solved cube. But there are many different ways to skin a cat.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have studied many different methods over the past few years. This gives me a lot of flexibility to adapt different tricks and techniques for each situation. I achieve the same end state, a solved cube, but I'm not forced to do it the same way every time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The same is true for writing.</span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you don't know what you're doing, getting published may seem impossible.</b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When you first become serious about being a "published" author, it's natural to start with the tried and true. What did Stephen King and Nora Roberts do to get published? The real question to look at is what did they do to create fascinating stories for their readers?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But don't get too confident too soon. Learning about character development is one thing, but don't expect to be able to put 20-30 three-dimensional characters into your story right away. You'll need to focus on the craft at first.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What works for King or Roberts, might not work for you. And that is just fine. Don't just try to emulate their processes either. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There's a lot of talk in the writer community about outlining or not outlining. Writing every day or only on the weekends. Editing as you go or not looking back until you have a completed draft.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The truth is. It really doesn't matter how you get there. You need to allow yourself to understand what works for you. For any given situation. You may be experienced writing romance but trying to sell thrillers. You need flexibility.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, whether you use a "Beginner's Method" straight out of a writing craft book, or an "Advanced Method" gleaned from the likes of King or Roberts, you will find some basic and universal truths. These truths are what makes writing worth reading. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That's why Nora Roberts has published more books than I have probably read in my lifetime.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>What is the best writing lesson you have learned?</i></b></span>Jason Runnelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16656622649601360477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8868709417830696361.post-85182808393442385822012-04-12T01:00:00.000-05:002012-04-12T01:00:07.672-05:00Death and Taxes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_UP0md8ClzAdOAKjQ4NxcvTCLQLITEOk-2abEfa5EqFMyCwQzT8baWm0ye6SEDv2hcUBKlJq_zSReHBlwb3JugjKHAqaKi3ffHM_V24sbzx5vHQjv-0R8xvCFfeJfd1pKg_UPNaJjVr8/s1600/Faerie+Girl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_UP0md8ClzAdOAKjQ4NxcvTCLQLITEOk-2abEfa5EqFMyCwQzT8baWm0ye6SEDv2hcUBKlJq_zSReHBlwb3JugjKHAqaKi3ffHM_V24sbzx5vHQjv-0R8xvCFfeJfd1pKg_UPNaJjVr8/s320/Faerie+Girl.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With Tax Day looming in the U.S., I thought it would be fitting to write about something more certain than taxes: <b>Death</b>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today I bring you thirteen actual ways people have died.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course, this is the Internet, and I also write fiction, so don't believe everything you read here </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">– </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">at least not in this post.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Although I do write fiction, I certainly did not make up any of these stories. True stories are often stranger than fiction. And these thirteen were the most interesting to me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you don't agree, well, what else would you rather be doing</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">– </span></span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>your taxes</i></b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">?</span><br />
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">13 Tales of Death Stranger Than Fiction</span></u></b><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 1919, twenty one people died during the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Molasses_Disaster" target="_blank">Boston Molasses Disaster</a>. A storage unit released over two million gallons of molasses creating a massive wave as high as 15 ft. devastating more than three city blocks.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jimi Heselden, the owner of the Segway company, died after careening over a cliff while on his<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">– </span></span>yes, Segway.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jogger, Robert Gary Jones, was killed when a small airplane making an emergency landing struck him from behind.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 1953, Frank Hayes became the only <b><i>deceased jockey to win a race</i></b> after he died of a heart attack while on his horse.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The war between humans and robots began in 1979 when Robert Williams became the <b><i>first known human to be killed by a robot</i></b>. He worked at a Ford Motor Company assembly plant.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 1980, Monica Myers, the mayor of Betterton, Maryland, drowned and died in a tank of raw sewage.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2009, Vladimir Likhonos died after dipping his chewing gum in explosives that he mistook for citric acid. He suffered massive injuries to his face when the <b><i>chewing gum exploded</i></b>.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 1995, a persistent man in Canberra, Australia shot himself three times with a pump action shotgun before he finally died. He first inflicted a non-fatal shot to the chest. Reloaded and blew away his jaw and throat. Not quite dead, he finished the job firing the final shot with his toes.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This death was like a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rube_Goldberg_machine" target="_blank">Rube Goldberg Suicide Machine</a>. Jacques LeFevrier of Normandy, France, attempted the most convoluted suicide I've ever heard of. He intended to hang himself with a rope by jumping off of a cliff over the frigid ocean. But first he drank some poison and set his clothes on fire. Oh yeah, he also had a gun and planned to shoot himself the moment he jumped off the cliff. Well, he missed himself with the bullet and it shot through the rope. He splashed into the water below putting out the flames. The impact, or the intense cold of the water, apparently induced vomiting, saving him from the poison. Witnesses on the beach rescued him, but he later died of hypothermia at the hospital.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have another winner in death! In 1927, J.G. Parry-Thomas, set a new land speed record of 171 mph despite being decapitated by his car's drive chain during the attempt.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2001, a Memphis Darwin Award Winner rushed to the Post Office to file his taxes before midnight. He attempted to beat a train and coincidentally collided, head on with another reckless driver also rushing to beat the train. Fortunately, nobody on the train was killed.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I will conclude the list with two writers who also died strange deaths. (I don't have nearly enough room here for writers who committed suicide.) The first is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sherwood_Anderson" target="_blank">Sherwood Anderson</a>. If you have studied writing as I have, you probably have read his short story, Hands. He died from a punctured colon after swallowing a toothpick at a party.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since the US Tax Code is so convoluted and mysterious, I thought it would be fitting to conclude with the death of Edgar Allan Poe. Poe died on October 7, 1849. Many theories have been postulated, yet the mystery of his death remains unsolved.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Please share this post if you found it interesting. Thanks for stopping by!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>Thank you, Faerie Girl on Flickr for the surreal photo.</i></b></span>Jason Runnelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16656622649601360477noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8868709417830696361.post-8007770582624257872012-04-05T00:00:00.000-05:002012-04-05T06:46:55.582-05:00Funny 13,000 Word Blog Post<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If a picture is worth a thousand words, then today's post should be worth at least 13,000. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Enjoy!</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyeKldyXpAxNvvsi_4KrKm3LoDgYUh5xfuzXOaXWvhqA8aQHu_9JzSrYtRHHFHNNPqc1ENiZF53qDIz93Zytk6jmQld2UEsAjTkE_5P1dfxodFhtW3riiE77NKK2buCHbQ3VReVB1u6yo/s400/ecWrites_Bra.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fabulous writer and blogger, <a href="http://www.ecwrites.com/" target="_blank">E.C. Stilson</a><br />(She's their left boob. Go check out her other <a href="http://www.ecwrites.com/" target="_blank">work</a>!)</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyeKldyXpAxNvvsi_4KrKm3LoDgYUh5xfuzXOaXWvhqA8aQHu_9JzSrYtRHHFHNNPqc1ENiZF53qDIz93Zytk6jmQld2UEsAjTkE_5P1dfxodFhtW3riiE77NKK2buCHbQ3VReVB1u6yo/s1600/ecWrites_Bra.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-YoLgR8ZtDv9qA_-hxjHtshvCyGC3T0caQI7tRw5K3HlDxxNJgTDerlSq4ZqyQ4IwdpED0y-b58qJMlZ0xBPULTqHJgOxCf10zpH3Iq-Jv4pGF33GbO9BV6FrIiz8jmuBLwy_sGv-RJU/s1600/CerealKiller.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-YoLgR8ZtDv9qA_-hxjHtshvCyGC3T0caQI7tRw5K3HlDxxNJgTDerlSq4ZqyQ4IwdpED0y-b58qJMlZ0xBPULTqHJgOxCf10zpH3Iq-Jv4pGF33GbO9BV6FrIiz8jmuBLwy_sGv-RJU/s400/CerealKiller.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRoEDuUxKFaS4HO2WRwKb9GBPMrd6NMhptFcx0tjPuD9VvGbUNC7JP-o7ndXb06M42XGdLLW8FfmnIIdNYs7KTPtcvjK26zgv7yeEYS6WsrOYQxEXuLuUVmzMR2_ys7XLo3Xy08MVoLKU/s1600/DirtyBabyCarrots.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRoEDuUxKFaS4HO2WRwKb9GBPMrd6NMhptFcx0tjPuD9VvGbUNC7JP-o7ndXb06M42XGdLLW8FfmnIIdNYs7KTPtcvjK26zgv7yeEYS6WsrOYQxEXuLuUVmzMR2_ys7XLo3Xy08MVoLKU/s400/DirtyBabyCarrots.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes, those are baby carrots!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">R2D2</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwsuVMWqZ_DMrpDkM64HmpGtRMx7bQn10eEFE_WFw-NiD-z0wc-fL1pDbpU5E7-y-Rpj2imYOLjfTR9UcC5Dpl2PnU4ddCkC6HpRS5XlTxdaQtQ-Ivgc-TyVyF9tfYlfTcS9mXEXn9cZI/s1600/EatGrandpa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwsuVMWqZ_DMrpDkM64HmpGtRMx7bQn10eEFE_WFw-NiD-z0wc-fL1pDbpU5E7-y-Rpj2imYOLjfTR9UcC5Dpl2PnU4ddCkC6HpRS5XlTxdaQtQ-Ivgc-TyVyF9tfYlfTcS9mXEXn9cZI/s400/EatGrandpa.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2GzxoxSAJypVRWwkb3PRQSONnfO2jgrxqwL7WOUUm0CUspy2qx0Z4ruT0cHrQ8XIY8oi4zaUcyWcqiSGIfJfzjxy4VdNWZT-xs8B68hr7MAfNTvxlCTEhdXBQX8dwPS2suWjVNqX_Cnw/s1600/DivideByZero2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2GzxoxSAJypVRWwkb3PRQSONnfO2jgrxqwL7WOUUm0CUspy2qx0Z4ruT0cHrQ8XIY8oi4zaUcyWcqiSGIfJfzjxy4VdNWZT-xs8B68hr7MAfNTvxlCTEhdXBQX8dwPS2suWjVNqX_Cnw/s400/DivideByZero2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mr. Disney, just what are those mice doing?</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ7phfiUxOQ9I5snsym0dIxokGmc_FAshTjVm73I8G9L_jA1W3ubA75uRPGU4yRShBK61wlLYlXgu_6-4yjnOQgFKeCA74Ta9thzfQtX9tR1-x7Y6slxWo4nJdkusfAxj5Wbf4ckYw_jU/s1600/Inflate_Pregnant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ7phfiUxOQ9I5snsym0dIxokGmc_FAshTjVm73I8G9L_jA1W3ubA75uRPGU4yRShBK61wlLYlXgu_6-4yjnOQgFKeCA74Ta9thzfQtX9tR1-x7Y6slxWo4nJdkusfAxj5Wbf4ckYw_jU/s400/Inflate_Pregnant.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjIvgLQTKwSzZfGMZJkfWz4lZRsJxP0pKR4DTuOGdl_JV9k853EMBMvXvANNDPf5WGHyU54UlOX9gls_SzFyt5yu4Xja85yJLY4NY4_yFDXA-GnySCWZ92BRUG1pcEI2UWFkv6QlzvfN0/s1600/KristenStewart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjIvgLQTKwSzZfGMZJkfWz4lZRsJxP0pKR4DTuOGdl_JV9k853EMBMvXvANNDPf5WGHyU54UlOX9gls_SzFyt5yu4Xja85yJLY4NY4_yFDXA-GnySCWZ92BRUG1pcEI2UWFkv6QlzvfN0/s400/KristenStewart.jpg" width="287" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Harry Potter vs. Twilight</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizH4zt80NOQvDpZepia8-4jShvAGlNHgJYqDUQvDZ4T0lZ1Y27t9y9BooWmHjus-l4GtFREdUALhe5VwxGwpfGAinuMohUYeoeJ7LoOqxqHSqKkH6fpitgDR7NmMR7djgP2nF1wBVA5_o/s1600/BirthAnnouncement.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizH4zt80NOQvDpZepia8-4jShvAGlNHgJYqDUQvDZ4T0lZ1Y27t9y9BooWmHjus-l4GtFREdUALhe5VwxGwpfGAinuMohUYeoeJ7LoOqxqHSqKkH6fpitgDR7NmMR7djgP2nF1wBVA5_o/s400/BirthAnnouncement.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Birth Announcement<br />It's a boy!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlVQ7Ipzp7XFTcu8Ybrzvss-H-kkGRuHsPplHbu-7PH61fyVivjUhIOIy5vyNzCmRG-3PG6l2qLvZbi0go9TnbwX-WGJZFQED_z6Kom2vloS2URlPhbogdZEX7l5EPn-6RzmMC_HO_mks/s1600/BoobScarf2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlVQ7Ipzp7XFTcu8Ybrzvss-H-kkGRuHsPplHbu-7PH61fyVivjUhIOIy5vyNzCmRG-3PG6l2qLvZbi0go9TnbwX-WGJZFQED_z6Kom2vloS2URlPhbogdZEX7l5EPn-6RzmMC_HO_mks/s400/BoobScarf2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Scarves</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiypCZ7m1jTk1xuBtRthAKs1N6ybsLxFa6mzUJYmApQxVsMVff7xd5qa0pVN3yd3wnU0uIXM5pVWHJq72y3fiMevFWE34vlUPhu1qtK-1W2U3N2n3hntVKh32v34LBi1FSU9BDvOSMqAIc/s1600/Hello.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiypCZ7m1jTk1xuBtRthAKs1N6ybsLxFa6mzUJYmApQxVsMVff7xd5qa0pVN3yd3wnU0uIXM5pVWHJq72y3fiMevFWE34vlUPhu1qtK-1W2U3N2n3hntVKh32v34LBi1FSU9BDvOSMqAIc/s640/Hello.jpg" width="492" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>If you found this amusing in any way, please send people my way!</i></b></span>Jason Runnelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16656622649601360477noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8868709417830696361.post-75954001187939656962012-04-01T00:09:00.000-05:002012-04-01T00:09:00.565-05:00Bigger Doesn't Mean Better <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRoLVgNpSfr4JNgOacJ8GsR6yLS6wYn7IOgt9ZhPkSBJphIevIyJxJD0UjyFhQG-r0LvIYkbTsuc2kd1ziXUH6ZdctW2x682CHfMVQ9utVhz_yu7-U8ZEGkVfpG0ORRs9OU7FQn352Qg0/s1600/TonyFisherGiantRubiksCube.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dea="true" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRoLVgNpSfr4JNgOacJ8GsR6yLS6wYn7IOgt9ZhPkSBJphIevIyJxJD0UjyFhQG-r0LvIYkbTsuc2kd1ziXUH6ZdctW2x682CHfMVQ9utVhz_yu7-U8ZEGkVfpG0ORRs9OU7FQn352Qg0/s400/TonyFisherGiantRubiksCube.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://tonyfisherpuzzles.net/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tony Fisher - Modifies Rubik's type puzzles</span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Somebody who's actually more obsessed with the Rubik's Cube!)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once you conquer the Rubik's Cube, you'll keep your eyes out for the next big thing in puzzling. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First it will be the Rubik's Revenge, or the 4x4. Then it will be the Professor Cube, or the 5x5. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next, feeling particularly confident, you'll send away for </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">a 7x7x7 cube. This puzzle has seven layers of tiny pieces in every dimension.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's so large, it bulges. You'd have a hard time convincing your Geometry teacher that this is in fact still a cube!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I actually have a 7x7 cube. What I quickly learned was that <strong><u>Bigger isn't always Better</u></strong>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Turning this puzzle is difficult because there are so many layers to deal with. It jams when the layers are not perfectly aligned and some of the small pieces can pop out. But the dramatic size is really the problem. It's simply too awkward and difficult to hold.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Once you get past the novelty of yet another variation on a similar theme, this enormous cube doesn't seem worth the hassle.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The same can be true with your writing. <strong><u>Bigger doesn't mean better.</u></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">As writers, we are inundated with all sorts of advice and it's difficult to know which lessons to heed. One piece of advice I often hear is along the <strong><em>Go Big or Go Home</em></strong> theme. You've got to hook readers and keep them hooked. That won't work with boring stories or boring characters.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The problem is that unpublished writers often interpret this to mean grandiose stories and characters. They err on the side of melodrama rather than creating compelling drama. So they will introduce more plot complexity. They will bring you bigger explosions on Page 1. They will bring you more stuff happening to characters we can't identify with.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">A car explodes on a busy street in the first chapter. A house explodes later. Eventually, you decide, there must be a nuclear explosion before it's all over.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">But really, your stories don't have to be grandiose. Readers can see right through gimmicks. When a reader abandons an action-packed story, it's usually because it's just become too awkward and unwieldy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Now, there is nothing wrong with explosions. But you can wow your reader with subtlety too. Think about how much more powerful it is for the reader to experience tension and suspense, rather than having their hair blown back.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">How would you make your story better than that last best seller? It's easy to think <strong><em>Bigger</em></strong>. But the reality is that publishers (and readers) want "<strong><em>the same, but different</em></strong>". By the same, this means doing what is tried and true for a genre. By different, this means original, but not melodramatic.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Tony Fisher (shown above) has been successful modifying Rubik's type puzzles because he is able to tap into what was successful with the original puzzle and still keep that essence with his various inventions.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong><em>What do you think? Is bigger better?</em></strong></span>Jason Runnelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16656622649601360477noreply@blogger.com2