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Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

Paperback
400 pages
Barnes and Noble Classics
ISBN: 9781593081287


Wuthering Heights is the novel of classic English literature authored by Emily Brontë in 1847. It tells the story of a passionate love, yet one flawed, like so many love stories, between Heathcliff and Catherine. Heathcliff was an orphan raised by Catherine's father on the moors of northern England. The father, over time, favors him more than his two children and they resent Heathcliff. Although, Catherine and Heathcliff soon become inseperable as great friends and thier friendship grows into love.

Hindley, the brother, continues to hate and abuse Heathcliff to the point that the once orphaned boy moves away and returns three years later from America a wealthy man. Heathcliff finds that Catherine married a wealthy land owner, so he himself marries Cathy's sister-in-law so that one day he will inherit Thrushcross Grange. He ends up making everyone's life miserable as his had been and at one point also inherits Wuthering Heights where more misery awaits. Wuthering Heights is full of engaging characters with many flaws who find themselves in turbulent relationships.

Oil from Gulf Spill Could Power 43K+ Vehicles

The BP oil spill has reached more than 4 million barrels of crude. This equals roughly 168 million gallons that have spilled into the Gulf and significantly exceeds the Exxon Valdez disaster.

"As of June 9, 2010, if all the oil from the Deepwater Horizon spill in the Gulf of Mexico had been used for fuel, it could have powered 38,000 cars, and 3,400 trucks, and 1,800 ships for a full year," according to University of Delaware Prof. James J. Corbett. As stated in the article, "That's based on the estimated spill rate of 19,000 barrels of oil per day."

• By May 31 (41 days after the spill), the lost energy could have fueled one freight truck on 17 trips across all 4 million miles of U.S. highway.

• Transportation activities consume about two-thirds of all petroleum in the United States -- more than 20 billion barrels per day, according to Corbett.

Check out other facts about the gulf spill in the article. And on google.

Child-Sized Tablet Computers

The philanthropic organization One Laptop per Child (OLPC) never quite managed to hit its price point for its "$100 laptop," but now the organization is sketching a concept for a $75 tablet computer that it hopes will further decrease power consumption and pioneer the first flexible LCD display. "A tablet computer holds some practical advantages.

Because the keyboard is presented as touch-screen display, like those on the iPhone and iPad, there's no keyboard for a kid to break. Equally important for an organization hoping to reach kids in remote corners of the world, a tablet also allows unlimited customization of keyboards for minor languages and dialects. The existing XO ships with any of 17 different keyboards, but that's hardly enough; India alone has 33 languages."

More on Tablet computers.

Ways to Improve as a Writer

There are many ways to improve as a writer. The strategies are only limited by your desire and the willingness to work hard and set reasonable goals. When you continue to write you'll continue to improve as a writer as long as you give an honest effort and keep to the goals. The best thing to do is to just sit down and write. Even if the writing isn't so great it will always improve as the writer imrpoves.

Practice is most immportant, as is patience. The one thing next to writing that's very important is reading. Read your own writing, then the works of others, doing so first for enjoyment and then the second time to study how that author wrote the scenes and plot, developed the characters and created the settings.

It's also a great thing to write about what you know. And like with any research, you can also write what you don't know about, but have an interest in. When researching, also take notes on the details that you might not include in the story. Building on your knowledge is important, even if it all won't be read on the page. This can bring an in depth experience to the manuscript that it would otherwise lack had the other facts not been known.

When researching, also be sure to observe. It's in your surroundings that observation and awareness can be an important factor in your writing. It adds to the realism of the sights, sounds and smells that a character might encounter. Be sure to read your work aloud, as words sound different when read than just thought. Print a copy of the work and review it with a pen, because this approach also offers a different perspective than from only reading from a screen.

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

Hardcover
256 pages
Tor Books
ISBN: 9780765317384


In Ender's Game it's the year 2250 and the human race is threatened by a third world war from an alien race. The governments have formed a World Goverment seperated into two parts: the Hegomony (Communist) and the Polemarch (Democrocy/Theocracy). To keep the earth's population controlled, by law, all families are restricted to having only two children. For the Wiggin's family, their first two children were highly skilled, yet Peter was much to selfish and Valentine, the daughter, too compassionate. For the government, these traits weren't suitable for their purposes so they allowed the Wiggins to have a third child. This child the parents named Ender and one who was exactly what was needed.

Ender is sent to military school where his talents surpass all other students'. At his Battle School Ender is trained in war tactics by using game simulations, though he doesn't like violent conflicts. His talent, above everyone else's is his capability to understand combat strategy and therefore wins every time. The Sci-Fi aspect only offers a setting and is likely not to influence the reader. This novel focuses on human emotions, who we are as both individuals and as a society. Among the characters are moral dillemas, rivalries, and thought provoking situations that we can all relate to.

An Invisible Touch for Mobile Devices

It seems easy enough to control mobile devices with just a touch of the screen, but research is finding that requires no use of a touch screen or keyboard to be functional. An "imaginary interface" is implemented during phone conversation by the speaker using hand or finger movements by tracing shapes into the air. "The idea of interacting with computers through hand gestures is nothing new.

Sony already sells EyeToy, a video camera and software that capture gestures for its PlayStation game consoles; Microsoft has developed a more sophisticated gesture-sensing system, called Project Natal, for the Xbox 360 games console." Andy Wilson, a senior researcher at Microsoft, notes that the interface draws on the fact that people naturally use their hands to explain spatial ideas. "That's a quite powerful concept, and it hasn't been explored," he says. "I think they're onto something."

More on this article

Writing Discipline

Sitting down and making yourself write is not always fun and even in the process of writing it still isn't always enjoyable. Writing is work, but with practice and patience it can develop into a rewarding experience that becomes less difficult. A good strategy is to write a certain number of pages a day or have a goal of a number of words each day. Whether these pages turn out great or not so great, the fact is that they were written and can always be improved.

Another goal can be to write a chapter or two a week and in several months a novel will be on its way to completion. There are countless ways of achieving writing goals and just like with writing, these strategies require creativity and then the discipline to see them through. It might even require switching strategies on a weekly or monthly basis. If this can be done, then your writing will get done.

Green Health Optimal for Good Mental Health

A new study in the American Chemical Society's journal Environmental Science & Technology is investigating "how much 'green exercise' produces the greatest improvement in mood and sense of personal well-being?" The answer is the right one for people who have little tim ein their schedule's to exercise. It only takes as little as five minutes of being outdoors, whether on a nature trail, gardening, or bicycling to benefit mental health.

Jules Pretty and Jo Barton explain in the study that "green exercise is physical activity in the presence of nature. We know from the literature that short-term mental health improvements are protective of long-term health benefits," Pretty said. "So we believe that there would be a large potential benefit to individuals, society and to the costs of the health service if all groups of people were to self-medicate more with green exercise," added Barton.

Although economic benefits could be substantial, policy makers have the challenge of adopting outdoor physical activity as public policy. Even if it consists of five minutes. "Policy frameworks that suggest active living point to the need for changes to physical, social and natural environments, and are more likely to be effective if physical activity becomes an inevitable part of life rather than a matter of daily choice."

More on Green Health

Complete What You Write

It's always fun to start a new writing project but what at first seems exciting can quickly turn into work. With the lack of enthusiasm, boredom can set in. There is no substitute for diligent work and keep focused on the goal of completing a manuscript. Writing is a lot of work and can be rewarding, but not without the effort and determination to see the project completed. It also takes strategy to overcome the boredom and lackluster task of writing page after seemingly endless page. Always think of a different approach and mindset when you start that next page or need to finished that chapter.

If you're bored with your story, so will the reader find themselves skipping to the exciting scenes. And never neglect the middle of the story, because it hold as much importance as the beginning and end. It takes discipline to sit and create those sentences that seem elusive or difficult to get into the right wording. With time this becomes easier as more practice is achieved and the writing goals toward and within the story are realized. Also, don't wait for inspiration to strike because you'll be waiting quite a long time to finished the story if you mostly rely on this. And the muse usually happens when you're already writing and in the flow of the words and scene. Remember this the next time you sit and start typing away.

New Fingermark Analysis for Crime Scenes

Just when you think that CSI can't get any more advanced, this article tells that, "A new technique to analyse fingermarks from crime scenes has the potential to give crucial additional details about a suspect such their medications, diet and the time at which they accidentally left the fingermark."

It goes on to say, "These extra details can be important background information in a criminal investigation, especially if the suspect's fingerprint is not on the police database. It is hoped the technique will compliment current fingermark detection techniques and assist in criminal investigations.

"A fingermark is made up of material from the surface of the skin and from gland secretions, which can be detected and analysed. Conventionally, fingermarks found at the scene of a crime are lifted, often using a powder, and are compared with prints on a police database to identify a suspect."

Read more about Fingermark Analysis

The Adventures of Langdon St. Ives by James Blaylock

Hardcover
Subterranean Press
Pages 500
ISBN: 9781596061705


Jacketflap description:
So begins the first chronicle in the long and often obscure life of Langdon St. Ives, Victorian scientist and adventurer, respected member of the Explorers Club and of societies far more obscure, consultant to scientific luminaries, and secret, unheralded savior of humankind. From the depths of the Borneo jungles to the starlit reaches of outer space, and ultimately through the dark corridors of past and future time, the adventures of Langdon St. Ives invariably lead him back to the streets and alleys of the busiest, darkest, most secretive city in the world -- London in the age of steam and gaslamps, with the Thames fog settling in over the vast city of perpetual evening. St. Ives, in pursuit of the infamous Dr. Ignacio Narbondo, discovers the living horror of revivified corpses, the deep sea mystery of a machine with the power to drag ships to their doom, and the appalling threat of a skeleton-piloted airship descending toward the city of London itself, carrying within its gondola a living homunculus with the power to drive men mad....

This omnibus volume contains the collected Steampunk stories and novels of James P. Blaylock, one of the originators of the genre, which hearkens back to the worlds of Jules Verne and H.G. Wells, a world where science was a work of the imagination, and the imagination was endlessly free to dream.

Tips for Critiquing

Critiquing is similar to editing, but doesn't have to be as in-depth a process and usually is done by someone else. Some of the aspects to look for when critiquing is the POV (point of view), consistency, characterization, plot, sentence structure, dialog and dialog attribution, active and passive voice, pacing, and so on. There are many things a reader can find in a manuscript that needs to be improved, but once the writer becomes familiar with these, it won't seem as a challenge to correct. Critique or writers' groups are a great way to have both your writing improved and your knowledge of critiquing methods strengthened.

Keep a consistent POV for one character in each scene. Sometimes I've heard to have one POV per chapter. Either one is good, but just have one character's view at a time so as not to confused the reader.

Throughout the manuscript make sure that the scenes, events and characters are consistent with the flow of the storyline. All aspects should make sense.

For characterization, the characters should be believable and that their actions and words/dialog match what type of character they are. Dialog attribution such as "said" or "asked" is commonplace and should be used instead of descriptive words that are best left for the action.

The plot should remain consistent throughout the story. The first chapter should begin in the middle of the action or at least not begin from the beginning. Good sentence structure is written to match the pacing of the story such as using short sentences for quick and action driven scenes. The descriptive scenes can be longer for a slower pace, yet always moving the story forward.

Using active voice instead of passive voice when possible is a great way to keep the readers' interest and the pacing quick.

Self-Powered Flexible Electronics

Technology is everywhere today and it's only a matter of time before an even more user-friendly aspect of many of these devices becomes self-powered. What would make this possible is via touch-responsive nano-generator films that could powered touch screens. The same screens that are found in smart phones, laptops and tablet computers. When a screen flexes under a user's touch this is what will activate the electrical energy needed.

It's still about five years from the market and as stated in the article, "The field is young, and some major challenges remain. The power output of a single piezoelectric nanowire is quite small (around a picowatt), so harvesting significant power requires integrating many wires into a large array; materials scientists are still experimenting with how to engineer these screens to make larger devices."

It's great to know that one day we won't have to reply on power outlets or batteries to recharge our tech devices that will instead be continually charged as we use them.

More tech info on this article: Flex Electronics.

Self-Editing

Editing is an important final step in the process of writing a manuscript before submitting it to an agent. Reading from a hardcopy instead of on the computer screen is a great way to catch any mistakes and this way a pen can be used to mark them and any notes. There are many rules to editing and listed are some of these to watch out for.

Keep a consistent POV (point of view) for one character in each scene. Sometimes I've heard to have one POV per chapter. Either one is good, but just have one character's view at a time so as not to confused the reader.

Look for repetition when editing and remove words or phrases that are seen often on the same page or even within the same chapter. Now and then I'll notice repittion of a certain phrase even if it occurs one hundred pages apart.

Keep the exclamation points, italics, and profanity to a minimum. Less is more in writing. No bold or underlining.

Since less is more is most effective try to keep the words and descriptions to a minimum for better impact and flow of reading.

Show instead of tell. Let the reader imagine the scene as it happens and show them through action or emotion.

When using the computer use spell check. Just make sure that you've used the words you mean to use, such as their, there or they're. ALthough written properly, the spell checker won't discern the meaning.

Use active words and voice whenever possible instead of the passive voice.

Read others' writing whether it's a book or someone's manuscript. Doing so will help you to see your writing in a different perspective and give you practice when self-editing.

Magic Windows: A New View; Video

With all the technology available today it's no surprise that simulated video screens would be an option in addition to the flat panels. This new product is an old idea from having been shown in entertainment media. As such, many have wondered what it'd be like to wake up to or just walk by a window to see a sight not otherwise seen outside their walls. This is what Winscape is all about. Bringing a different view by way of placing two frames or screens that appear to be windows on the wall and then hooking them to a computer. The software tracker puts the viewer in the right place at any distance or angle for a constant and realistic viewing experience.



The Winscape will be available in July for about $3,000. The article is at Magic Windows.

Onegin by Alexander Pushkin

Paperback
288 pages
Oxford University Press
ISBN: 9780192838995

Eugene Onegin (pronounced on-yay-gen) is Pushkin's classic lyrical novel and highly praised by Russians as one of their own favorite works of literature. Set in the early 19th century, the story centers around the title character and his relationships gone wrong with his neighbor, Vladimir Lensky, and Tatyana who is the sister of his neighbor's wife. Onegin and Vladimir confront each other over disagreement. Tatyana's love for Onegin is not returned and he tells her so, but when he finally realizes his love for her she is not in a position to return it.

Scene It, Heard It

There is a countless number of ways that a story can be written and for each the scenes are the pieces of the literary puzzle. Every scenes comprises the characters, events, plot, setting and action that drives the story to the next scene and so on. It's in this chain of events that every scenes gives the story purpose and a destination toward the final goal in the story. I think that every story written has some basis in actual life, even if it's in one scene or a combination of several elements that are added throughout the story. Everyday there are happenings and circumstances that we encounter that can always be found in a book.

The best and most creative stories can be inspired by the most mundane of events and situations, but the key factor in creating intriguing and exciting prose is in the content and craft of the scenes. Whether it's based on something that's viewed or heard during day to day events, these encounters can be a springboard for imaginative writing. Of course not just any everyday event is going to be right for a scene or that it should be included in a story, but can be considered if there's any glint of a interesting idea that can be used.

Sometimes what is heard and seen in an everyday circumstance can be salvaged for future writings if the current story won't allow for such an event. In writing it's said that less is more and to show and not tell what is happening in a story. In both of these cases, it is better to always try and write only what is neccessary and to let the reader experience what is both seen and heard for themselves, without the author interfering.

Dove Evolution Video

It's said that a picture speaks a thousand words, so for this video, well...watch for yourself.

Jumper by Steven Gould

Paperback
352 pages
Tor Books
ISBN: 9780812522372


This is a great read that's well written by Steven Gould who tells the story of a teen who is given an incredible ability and has to figure out how to deal with it. David, the main character, one day discovers by accident that he can teleport anywhere in the world just by thinking of his destination. He isn't sure why he can teleport, but he has fun trying to figure it out while he's robbing a bank, getting a girlfriend, finding his estranged mother and tracking down a group of terrorists who the FBI and police are also pursuing. David discovers that with his ability, life becomes both easier and more difficult for him, depending on the circumstance. As his ability develops he has to figure out the right choices to make.