This Week In Words (11-5-06)

Writing

Bildungsroman >n. a novel dealing with one person’s formative years or spiritual education. –Origin German, from Bildung ‘education’ + Roman ‘a novel.’ Fusain >n. a crumbly, porous type of coal resembling wood charcoal, used in drawing. –Origin late 19th cent.: from French, literally ‘spindle tree,’ also ‘fine charcoal’ (made from the spindle tree).  Kaffiyeh >n. a

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Why Forks Are Better Than Men

Just for Laughs

Here’s a bonus Friday funny list.  Ginger Churchill, from my writing group, has posted Why forks are better than men. My favorite is #3 – You don’t care if your roommate uses the same one the next day.  I might quibble over #8 – They do whatever you want and don’t expect a kiss in return.  Some people may take

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Personal Robotic Chef

Speculative Science

Of all the time and labor services that have entered homes in the last one hundred years, it seems to me that the kitchen has been most revolutionized.  We prep after pulling the food from our fridge, wash up in the sink, saute on the cooktop, reheat in the microwave, and cleanup in the dishwasher.

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November–National Write Like a Mad Man Month

Writing

I’ve always thought the contest a cool idea, though I’ve never taken the challenge. I’m afraid I’m too mercenary to devote a whole month to a novel I’m quite confident would have such major flaws that it would never make it inside an editor’s office, let alone onto his desk. But I have a friend who writes a novel

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Craft – Binge

Crafting Pieces

Karen plopped down on her bed.  Laura nudged her feet to make her move, then sat beside her.  Both girls stared at the heaping pile of candy at the foot of the bed. “So . . .” Laura said.  “The party’s over, Sheila won, and she also got Matt.” Karen laughed, almost a sob.  “But

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Apex Halloween Contest

Writing

Well, my entry was not a winner.  Ah, well.  Congratulations to Ben Vincent for the first place win, Carrie Laben for the runner up, and all the folks who recieved an honorable mention.  I look forward to reading Ben’s story in Apex Digest.

Dividing Up the Halloween Spoils

Home in the Rookery

Every year the kids come home from tramping the neighborhood with a mother-load of candy.  Since they’re young, cute, and smile brightly, they seem to suck candy to them like magnets to metal. If they’re to avoid showing off bright smiles to the dentist as he drills their mouths full of holes something has to be done

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Fritz Lang’s Metropolis

3 CommentsMovies

This is on many top movie lists, and amongst the movies considered ‘must see’ for sci fi fans.  So I watched it.  And without a doubt, it is the worst movie I have ever seen. First, just to be fair, the pros: I found the the portrayel of early 20th century fears insightful, especially the anti-technology and

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A Flood of Comments

Blogging

I’ve been thinking a lot about blogs that enable comments vs. those that don’t.  Mine has fallen into the latter category up to date, because I was concerned that managing comments would take time or be awkward.  But yesterday Nancy tried to leave a comment and wasn’t able too.  My one comment! So I’ve decided to

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