So, I've been getting some free time in my schedule, and I've been gearing up to do some projects. I have a few stories I've kept on the back burner for awhile, and I feel it should soon be time to write them. Yes, I said soon.
I've been working on some heavy stuff for my classes, and am thus unable to do much creative work at this time. However, I hope to start soon, because I have been informed of a nifty website called Fan Story. Basically you can review other people's works and summit your own works into contests to win money. However, to be able to summit anything, you must first be a paying member. It's a small fee, but I do not have the writing time to justify that.
However. Starlight Ponderings has gotten a face-lift. I was tried of the old look, and wanted to update it somehow. So, I did some Googling and found eBlogTemplates.com. They offer dozens of free templates, and I found Aspire to be to my likings. I think it really gives that feeling I wanted with Starlight Ponderings, after I edited the template slightly.
So, I am writing to say I will soon be writing, and that if I can find more worthwhile templates, my blogs might all be receiving updates. I will tell you there will be some planned changes happening soon. Until then, God Bless.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Friday, September 19, 2008
Word 2007, I Have Conquered You!
It's past midnight. I should be in bed. Instead, I'm writing a paper. I should be writing that paper, but I wanted to post about this small victory I had over Microsoft Word 2007 tonight. What I loved about the past versions of Word is that they allowed you to have your rulers on the sides of the problem. Controlling things like the indent and the borders of a document was very simple.
However, I lost my last version of Word when my now former roommate (thanks Alex) decided to "fix" things on my computer. He had to reinstall Windows before it was over. The good thing is that we had the foresight to back up my important files. The bad part was that this version of XP came with Microsoft Office 2007 and all of its features. My beloved ruler disappeared. Sure, I could simply hit the space bar five times for every new paragraph, but I am not a barbarian.
So, I went months hitting the space bar five times every time I indented a paragraph. As an English major, this got old, fast. I was not very happy. Yet, then it happened. I found the exact option I was looking for! My beloved ruler hath been restored to me! Now I can present my indent and never have to worry about it again. Also, I have learned of new features that I did not know Word 2007 had, and I'm oddly looking forward to playing with them at a later date. Now back to the paper I should have written earlier.
However, I lost my last version of Word when my now former roommate (thanks Alex) decided to "fix" things on my computer. He had to reinstall Windows before it was over. The good thing is that we had the foresight to back up my important files. The bad part was that this version of XP came with Microsoft Office 2007 and all of its features. My beloved ruler disappeared. Sure, I could simply hit the space bar five times for every new paragraph, but I am not a barbarian.
So, I went months hitting the space bar five times every time I indented a paragraph. As an English major, this got old, fast. I was not very happy. Yet, then it happened. I found the exact option I was looking for! My beloved ruler hath been restored to me! Now I can present my indent and never have to worry about it again. Also, I have learned of new features that I did not know Word 2007 had, and I'm oddly looking forward to playing with them at a later date. Now back to the paper I should have written earlier.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Chit Chat And Other Idle Words
Lately I've been reading Walden by Henry David Thoreau. He talks a lot about getting in touch with a more spiritual type of life and living more simply, not being so wrapped up in the wants of the material world.
One thing many people credit to Mr. Thoreau is his careful use of words. My professor, Dr. Vaughn is so in love with this book that I believe he would marry it if it were a woman. He's always caroling on about how careful and thoughtful Thoreau is with what he says.
I don't believe it for one second. Thoreau throws in poetry in the oddest places and it usually seems like the lines do not belong. In the chapter entitled "Visitors," he details what it was like having visitors in his cabin. One such visitor was a Canadian who apparently read some Homer, so Thoreau read some Homer to the chap. This is all well and good, but Thoreau seems to find justification to throw in what he read, word for word. Then he starts talking about how simple and natural the Canadian was, which had nothing to do with the verses at all!
Really, becoming an English major will indeed drive me to my insanity, one way or another. I have also been broken of that phase of not writing in my books. My Critical Approaches to Literature professor, Dr. Martin, has made it painfully clear that I have no hope of surviving in his class or as a teacher if I do not write in my books. Now I find myself underlining and otherwise marking passages in all my books for class. This is something I would have never done before this year.
Alas, this is not may point! Not for this post any way. I think we use too many words to say too little. Like Thoreau, we add meaningless things that have nothing to do with what we mean. I know that I do the same thing. I have led people on to think what I did not want them to with my saying too much. I have had girls believe I liked them, and guys believe I hated them, all because I waste words. This is a horrible trend, one I mean to stop, hopefully, someday.
One thing many people credit to Mr. Thoreau is his careful use of words. My professor, Dr. Vaughn is so in love with this book that I believe he would marry it if it were a woman. He's always caroling on about how careful and thoughtful Thoreau is with what he says.
I don't believe it for one second. Thoreau throws in poetry in the oddest places and it usually seems like the lines do not belong. In the chapter entitled "Visitors," he details what it was like having visitors in his cabin. One such visitor was a Canadian who apparently read some Homer, so Thoreau read some Homer to the chap. This is all well and good, but Thoreau seems to find justification to throw in what he read, word for word. Then he starts talking about how simple and natural the Canadian was, which had nothing to do with the verses at all!
Really, becoming an English major will indeed drive me to my insanity, one way or another. I have also been broken of that phase of not writing in my books. My Critical Approaches to Literature professor, Dr. Martin, has made it painfully clear that I have no hope of surviving in his class or as a teacher if I do not write in my books. Now I find myself underlining and otherwise marking passages in all my books for class. This is something I would have never done before this year.
Alas, this is not may point! Not for this post any way. I think we use too many words to say too little. Like Thoreau, we add meaningless things that have nothing to do with what we mean. I know that I do the same thing. I have led people on to think what I did not want them to with my saying too much. I have had girls believe I liked them, and guys believe I hated them, all because I waste words. This is a horrible trend, one I mean to stop, hopefully, someday.
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