I discovered an entirely awesome site the other day: www.bookmooch.com. Basically, if you've got some books you're finished reading (or ones you'd like to toss) and know of a few others you'd like to take a crack at, this site is for you. The idea is that you collect points for mailing your old books to people who want them, then use your points to have others send books to you. I've joined and mailed out two books so far. Unfortunately, mailing around can get expensive. Thus, you have to consider a few questions before you commit: 1) what would happen to your books if you weren't sending them to willing readers? 2) how do you feel about being a part of an international book-reading community? 3) is it important that the books you read are purchased new? 4)is it worth the time/effort/money?
I'm a big supporter of libraries. That said, I f*cking love actually 'owning' the books I read (mostly). I'm perfectly content to have piles of novels lining the walls of my apartment. Still, the personal collection grows to ridiculous proportions and every few months I'm forced to donate a pile to family, friends, the Sally Ann, etc. Well, not that I don't love those jerks, but I'm also somewhat of a selfish person. If I can secure this type of trade (my books for yours), then why not? Worst case scenario and I don't receive any books in return, I'm still sending out books I'm done reading to people who want them. And that's not too bad at all.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Argh!
What do vegetarian zombies say?
Graiiiiins!
What do vampire zombies say?
Veiiiiiinss!
Zombies.
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2009/08/18/zombie-attack-infection-model-research.html
Graiiiiins!
What do vampire zombies say?
Veiiiiiinss!
Zombies.
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2009/08/18/zombie-attack-infection-model-research.html
Let's wrestle this city to the ground.
Last night I hosted a tapas themed get-together. Well, it originally started with tapas but my already lax definition continued to expand to accommodate any yummy ideas that sprang to mind. Some of the highlights were blue cheese stuffed cherry and grape tomatoes, pulled pork curry, rosemary and black olive focaccia, roasted garlic, and coriander cream. There weren't many leftovers so I consider the evening a success.
While Friday was a superb kick-start to the weekend, the real highlight for me lies at the 2009 Ottawa Folk Festival. Back in my undergrad days in Fredericton, New Brunswick, I was introduced to Joel Plaskett. Though I saw him as an opener for Sam Roberts, it was Joel who really made the ticket worthwhile. Since then I've seen him as often as possible in a number of cities throughout the Maritimes and Ontario. A few of his best (in my opinion) have even made their way onto my 'top fifty favourites of all time.' Enjoy!
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Write on, friends.
Kurt Vonnegut
Eight rules for writing fiction:
1. Use the time of a total stranger in such a way that he or she will not feel the time was wasted.
2. Give the reader at least one character he or she can root for.
3. Every character should want something, even if it is only a glass of water.
4. Every sentence must do one of two things -- reveal character or advance the action.
5. Start as close to the end as possible.
6. Be a sadist. Now matter how sweet and innocent your leading characters, make awful things happen to them -- in order that the reader may see what they are made of.
7. Write to please just one person. If you open a window and make love to the world, so to speak, your story will get pneumonia.
8. Give your readers as much information as possible as soon as possible. To heck with suspense. Readers should have such complete understanding of what is going on, where and why, that they could finish the story themselves, should cockroaches eat the last few pages.
-- Vonnegut, Kurt Vonnegut, Bagombo Snuff Box: Uncollected Short Fiction (New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons 1999), 9-10.
(As found at http://www.troubling.info/vonnegut.html)
Eight rules for writing fiction:
1. Use the time of a total stranger in such a way that he or she will not feel the time was wasted.
2. Give the reader at least one character he or she can root for.
3. Every character should want something, even if it is only a glass of water.
4. Every sentence must do one of two things -- reveal character or advance the action.
5. Start as close to the end as possible.
6. Be a sadist. Now matter how sweet and innocent your leading characters, make awful things happen to them -- in order that the reader may see what they are made of.
7. Write to please just one person. If you open a window and make love to the world, so to speak, your story will get pneumonia.
8. Give your readers as much information as possible as soon as possible. To heck with suspense. Readers should have such complete understanding of what is going on, where and why, that they could finish the story themselves, should cockroaches eat the last few pages.
-- Vonnegut, Kurt Vonnegut, Bagombo Snuff Box: Uncollected Short Fiction (New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons 1999), 9-10.
(As found at http://www.troubling.info/vonnegut.html)
It killed the cat.
I'm a big fan of people watching. I'd like to say that it's because I'm curious, but I'm sure most people would just call it nosey. It's probably why I enjoyed being a lifeguard; getting paid to sit and observe as people disappear into their own little, wet worlds, oblivious to those on the towers being paid to keep them safe. Not that I'm trying to glorify the profession (job?) either, I mostly just scooped out band-aids and had small children throw up on me. Still, it's kind of a free pass for eavesdropping and casual observation.
Yesterday on the bus I did some people listening. One woman talked about how sad she is that her local department store no longer carries LA Gear shoes. Apparently, she used to buy herself a pair at the start of every summer. She liked her footwear as white and clean as possible, you see.
Another woman talked about the importance of lawn chairs in the summer. At $6.99 per chair she couldn't understand why they weren't available at her local pool, which instead required patrons to bring their own seats. Recently she witnessed people forced to take turns sitting in a broken chair (how preposterous!) due to the lack of provided seating.
I'm not sure why I enjoy indulging in my curiosity. I do know, however, that it does not have to be in vain. I often turn it into a creative writing exercise: I'll select an individual and create a backstory. Sometimes I'll write it down, giving them a name and an explanation for why they are where they are, doing what they're doing. Other times it'll remain in my mind with snippets about their personality and purpose. Confession: Almost everyone I encounter becomes a potential character. I don't know if that's creepy or creative, but I do know that it's all the makings of good fiction.
Yesterday on the bus I did some people listening. One woman talked about how sad she is that her local department store no longer carries LA Gear shoes. Apparently, she used to buy herself a pair at the start of every summer. She liked her footwear as white and clean as possible, you see.
Another woman talked about the importance of lawn chairs in the summer. At $6.99 per chair she couldn't understand why they weren't available at her local pool, which instead required patrons to bring their own seats. Recently she witnessed people forced to take turns sitting in a broken chair (how preposterous!) due to the lack of provided seating.
I'm not sure why I enjoy indulging in my curiosity. I do know, however, that it does not have to be in vain. I often turn it into a creative writing exercise: I'll select an individual and create a backstory. Sometimes I'll write it down, giving them a name and an explanation for why they are where they are, doing what they're doing. Other times it'll remain in my mind with snippets about their personality and purpose. Confession: Almost everyone I encounter becomes a potential character. I don't know if that's creepy or creative, but I do know that it's all the makings of good fiction.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Directions
One day Alice came to a fork in the road and saw a Cheshire cat in a tree. "Which road do I take?" she asked. "Where do you want to go?" was his response. "I don't know," Alice answered. "Then," said the cat, "it doesn't matter."
-- Lewis Carroll
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Something smells, and this time it's not me.
I live on the top floor of a four-floor walk up. It's a narrow hallway up with poor ventilation, no air conditioning, and windows that don't open. If you decide to leave such items as recycling, sports equipment, or garbage, the odours can quickly accumulate. This is currently the case.
Now, I'm generally someone who avoids conflict whenever possible. I do, however, feel that it's important to take a stand when necessary. At the moment, I feel this is such an occasion. A couple of days of garbage smells would normally not be anything to turn your nose up (pun fully intended), but the summer heat has rapidly accelerated the rate of decomposition causing truly repugnant olfactory offense. The perpetrators are the third floor tenants and so I am required to pass up and down their trash pile several times a day. Though I try to hold my breath, it ultimately results in me dry heaving for at least a couple of minutes. These tenants are also new to the building so perhaps they are not aware of the etiquette as of yet. In any case, my roommates and I have come to the decision that something needs to be done. This something, is a note.
Unfortunately, I was out voted. My roommates have opted for the traditional "please take out your garbage -thanks" style where I would prefer something much more...amusing. Below is the note I drafted.
Dear Third Floor,
I hope this letter reaches you before it is too late.
As you may already be aware, the situation in this apartment building has become dire. Toxic garbage fumes have been seeping into our air supply for the past several days. The severity of these fumes has increased exponentially with the recent rise in temperature.
Some of us have choked and gagged while others still have developed strange powers. We have yet too realize the extent of these powers. We have yet to decide if we shall use them for good or for evil; for justice or for vengeance.
Should you choose to act, it would be best to remove the toxic garbage from the building before sides are chosen. Perhaps it will reverse the effects. Perhaps there is still time for us all.
Take heed of this warning. God speed, third floor.
I would ALWAYS prefer a letter like this. How about you?
Now, I'm generally someone who avoids conflict whenever possible. I do, however, feel that it's important to take a stand when necessary. At the moment, I feel this is such an occasion. A couple of days of garbage smells would normally not be anything to turn your nose up (pun fully intended), but the summer heat has rapidly accelerated the rate of decomposition causing truly repugnant olfactory offense. The perpetrators are the third floor tenants and so I am required to pass up and down their trash pile several times a day. Though I try to hold my breath, it ultimately results in me dry heaving for at least a couple of minutes. These tenants are also new to the building so perhaps they are not aware of the etiquette as of yet. In any case, my roommates and I have come to the decision that something needs to be done. This something, is a note.
Unfortunately, I was out voted. My roommates have opted for the traditional "please take out your garbage -thanks" style where I would prefer something much more...amusing. Below is the note I drafted.
Dear Third Floor,
I hope this letter reaches you before it is too late.
As you may already be aware, the situation in this apartment building has become dire. Toxic garbage fumes have been seeping into our air supply for the past several days. The severity of these fumes has increased exponentially with the recent rise in temperature.
Some of us have choked and gagged while others still have developed strange powers. We have yet too realize the extent of these powers. We have yet to decide if we shall use them for good or for evil; for justice or for vengeance.
Should you choose to act, it would be best to remove the toxic garbage from the building before sides are chosen. Perhaps it will reverse the effects. Perhaps there is still time for us all.
Take heed of this warning. God speed, third floor.
I would ALWAYS prefer a letter like this. How about you?
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