by: Sean M.Clarke
You have read volumes about ghosts and have browsed hundreds of websites to devour more information on ghosts, but have you ever wondered how many types of ghosts there are? The fact is that there are various types of ghosts out there and all these are minutely described and documented by the Spiritual Science Research Foundation (SSRF).
The Spiritual Science Research Foundation has undertaken extensive research on ghosts in order to demystify this widespread phenomenon and help people in recognising and treating the adverse effects caused by ghosts through proven methodology according to the science of Spirituality.
At the outset, it is important to note that while we use the phrase ghosts (demons, devils, negative energies, etc.) as a collective noun to cover the entire gamut of negative energies, there is a vast difference between the lower order ghosts and higher order ghosts such as subtle sorcerers (maantriks) from the sixth and seventh region of Hell. They differ according to their spiritual strength. Ghosts primarily use their spiritual strength to harm humanity.
The generic types of ghosts as identified by the Spiritual Science Research Foundation in ascending order of hierarchy as well as power and strength are:
• Common ghost
• Demons
• Black serpent
• Female goblin
• Jaakhin
• Witch
• Spirit
• Subtle sorcerer
The Hierarchy among Ghosts
There is a hierarchy among ghosts which is based on their spiritual power or strength. Ultimately all ghosts are controlled by subtle sorcerers (maantriks).
Basic shape and form of types of ghosts
The spiritual principle that word, touch, form, taste, smell and its associated energy coexist is also true with ghosts. Depending on their type of energy, they take up generic forms. These forms can however change, depending on what the ghost is trying to achieve. For example, if the ghost is trying to intimidate, it will take up an intimidating form, whereas if it is trying to fool a spiritual healer it may take a form of an angel or a positive energy. They can also take the form of our departed ancestors thus misleading psychics and the people who come to psychics to enquire about departed relatives. This is true in almost all cases.
How does one become a Ghost in the first place?
When a person dies only his physical body ceases to exist. His subtle body however continues to exist and moves on to the other regions of the Universe. Some of these subtle bodies become ghosts. Most ghosts have unfulfilled desires such as cravings for sex, alcohol, revenge, etc. or derive pleasure out of exerting control over and tormenting humans and other subtle bodies. The subtle body of a person after physical death is defined as a ghost if their characteristics and intentions match the above. There is no special process as such which they go through to become a ghost.
How does a Ghost become a particular type of Ghost?
The main reason behind a person becoming a certain type of ghost is due to their predominant personality trait and their predominant thought at the time of death. For example people involved in adversely affecting humanity at large are more likely to become subtle sorcerers (maantriks). On the other hand excessive worldly desires and constantly thinking ill about others may culminate in one becoming a Common Ghost (Bhoot) after death.
Summary
The most reliable way of reducing the risk of being affected or possessed by the various types of ghosts, is undertaking spiritual practice as per the 6 basic principles of spirituality. Spiritual practice and spiritual healing remedies, coupled with personality defect removal and eradication of ego are the tools to access supreme protection from God that insulates one from the attack of ghosts as well as helps us proceed to higher regions in the afterlife.
Visit SSRF’s website to explore more on the salient features of the various types of ghosts, view subtle drawings and pictures of various types of ghosts and discover how they can affect our lives:
Link
Friday, May 15, 2009
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
“Ghost Radio” My Review
I finally finished “Ghost Radio”, a very disturbing book of altered states of consciousness and reality. Perhaps of a spirit world or at least a parallel universe, where focus changes and your past may not be real. In the last five years I have often been made aware of such things by family members scoffing at my very clear memories of an event, which they claim never happened or at least not that way. After dozens of such episodes, who would not question their own reality?
Many times, what I confess are very real dreams, occur to me to be possible memories. If this can happen in dreams, perhaps one’s reality awake is merely an altered state…a dream. At least the dead don’t come to visit. I think I have had only one dream where I was “visited” by the dead…good old dad. He looked like a zombie, and left when I told him he was dead and to go away. Of course I have always stayed away from dark things like Tarot Cards, Ojai boards, séances and the like. No dead people I want to speak to! Why would you? It is enough to make one shudder!
And yet, writing this makes me remember another personal ghost story. I stayed at my maternal grandmothers house two weeks every summer, when I was little. The summer after my grandpa died, I am pretty sure he came to visit. I liked sleeping on the screened porch, where it was cool. Before going to sleep, I always locked the screen door, and yet when I got up to use the bathroom or just awoke, it was always unlocked. Finally, getting a little nervous, hey I was about 9 yrs old; I went inside to the bedroom to sleep. Even then I could “feel” someone nearby. I assumed then, and now, it was my grandpa watching over me. I can’t remember ever telling my mom or grandma that story. I guess I have more ghost stories than I thought. Uh huh.
The real "Ghost Radio", give a listen:
Many times, what I confess are very real dreams, occur to me to be possible memories. If this can happen in dreams, perhaps one’s reality awake is merely an altered state…a dream. At least the dead don’t come to visit. I think I have had only one dream where I was “visited” by the dead…good old dad. He looked like a zombie, and left when I told him he was dead and to go away. Of course I have always stayed away from dark things like Tarot Cards, Ojai boards, séances and the like. No dead people I want to speak to! Why would you? It is enough to make one shudder!
And yet, writing this makes me remember another personal ghost story. I stayed at my maternal grandmothers house two weeks every summer, when I was little. The summer after my grandpa died, I am pretty sure he came to visit. I liked sleeping on the screened porch, where it was cool. Before going to sleep, I always locked the screen door, and yet when I got up to use the bathroom or just awoke, it was always unlocked. Finally, getting a little nervous, hey I was about 9 yrs old; I went inside to the bedroom to sleep. Even then I could “feel” someone nearby. I assumed then, and now, it was my grandpa watching over me. I can’t remember ever telling my mom or grandma that story. I guess I have more ghost stories than I thought. Uh huh.
The real "Ghost Radio", give a listen:
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Do you like scary stories? Here is my scary story!
My scary story!
I am currently reading a novel called “Ghost Radio” by Leopoldo Gout. It is a spooky story of voices in the static of radio waves on dark lonely nights. It made me think of this genre. I have read Stephen King, Dean Koontz, and several others, but normally don’t view scary stories as entertainment. I am not sure why, perhaps I am scared. Perhaps I have experienced a dark scary moment or two!
Herein follows a true story. When I was about 21 or 22, a college senior, going through my first divorce, dreading the military draft and other stressful thing of a young life, it happened.
One night I had a dream, the first of many in the decades to come. I was in a disturbing dark place in my dream, a basement, graveyard, woods, etc. “It” began to come after me, darkness, deeper and blacker than the night. A maligned presence, that scarred me to wake up screaming. After a few episodes, my landlady, a nurse, who I also woke up, told me to ask it what it wanted. Huh? I could only imagine it pointing a bony finger at me as shouting “You!” in a gravely voice! What if it was Death, the Reaper? No way.
After a year of widely spaced and increasingly urgent yelling, ”It” kept getting closer to catching me. By then I had moved on, graduation was almost upon me. The draft had been settled by “winning” a high lottery number, never to be called up. I had met a wonderful girl, who eventually became my second wife and mother of my eldest daughter.
Before those nicer times, however, the strangest nightmare of all transpired. Once again, I woke in a cold sweat, strangling in my screams, my girlfriend tried to comfort me. Now fully awake, I noticed I was blind. I could not seem to see my hand in front of my face in the chill, dark room. This was even stranger because the streetlight was just outside my apartment, and normally my room was fairly light. The real strange part was that my now wide-awake girlfriend, also couldn’t see in the pitch black either. OK, I was beyond scared here; it felt to me like a “thing” was taking the light, life, and air from me. I yelled for it to go away and leave us alone. I told my future wife I loved her. Almost instantly the darkness and smothering feel was gone, the streetlight came through the windows. We never spoke about that night much after that. While many dreams of the dark shifting “thing” continued, three or four times per year, for the next 40 years, I never had one quite like that, ever again.
I graduated from college, we moved to Colorado, got married, had our daughter and was happy. On my wife’s 21st birthday, she had a sudden, fatal aneurysm and died. I became a single parent and the loneliness of those days can still be felt. I often wonder to this day, if “It” chose her instead of me. I will always wonder.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Do You Know The Benefits Of Drinking Black Tea?
In 1827 "theine" was discovered. It had close to the same effects as caffeine in coffee and we actually know it as black tea caffeine. As time went on it was discovered that it was actually tantamount to caffeine and so the term has been dropped.
By drinking black tea caffeine a person can receive relief from fatigue. It has been shown to be a stimulant, to increase speed in reaction time, increase alertness, and to improve concentration.
There are also some physical effects. It stimulates the digestive juices, the kidneys, and the metabolism. This means it could help the body eliminate toxins. It also helps the person have an increase in mental alertness, shortens reaction time, and it improves how efficient our reaction time is. Our muscle action is improved, the heart and respiratory system is stimulated, and more oxygen is brought through the body.
A very new study indicates that caffeine can improve brain power performance, reduces the risk of heart disease and many other diseases. Since this is a new study it will need to be confirmed by others before others will jump on its band wagon but for now it looks promising for caffeine. There are still some known bad effects of caffeine if consumed in large quantities. It can lead to heart palpitations, shortness of breath, and insomnia.
There is a difference in the caffeine found in black tea as in comparison to the caffeine found in coffee. That is because there is a lesser amount of caffeine found in black tea. There is about a half or a third as much in black tea as there is in the same amount of coffee. In this way then, you are a lot more unlikely to get too much caffeine when drinking black tea as in comparison to coffee.
There is a confusing aspect in black tea though. When measured in its dry form coffee actually contains less caffeine than tea. When prepared though, coffee contains more caffeine.
The reason for this is somehow related to the processing. It also has something to do with where the tea leaf is grown, the particle size that is used in the tea bag, the way that the tea leaf is cut, and the method and length of brewing or steeping.
It has also been shown that the amount of caffeine per leaf has something to do with where the leaf is located on the plant. The lower the leaf is on the plant the more caffeine it contains. This is because the lower the leaf the more mature it is and the more phytochemicals and substances that naturally occur in the plant.
Black tea has a higher caffeine level than other teas. It is believed to be caused by the way that it is processed. It undergoes full oxidation which does make it have a stronger taste than other teas as well.
Source: http://www.articlecircle.com/ - Free Articles Directory
By drinking black tea caffeine a person can receive relief from fatigue. It has been shown to be a stimulant, to increase speed in reaction time, increase alertness, and to improve concentration.
There are also some physical effects. It stimulates the digestive juices, the kidneys, and the metabolism. This means it could help the body eliminate toxins. It also helps the person have an increase in mental alertness, shortens reaction time, and it improves how efficient our reaction time is. Our muscle action is improved, the heart and respiratory system is stimulated, and more oxygen is brought through the body.
A very new study indicates that caffeine can improve brain power performance, reduces the risk of heart disease and many other diseases. Since this is a new study it will need to be confirmed by others before others will jump on its band wagon but for now it looks promising for caffeine. There are still some known bad effects of caffeine if consumed in large quantities. It can lead to heart palpitations, shortness of breath, and insomnia.
There is a difference in the caffeine found in black tea as in comparison to the caffeine found in coffee. That is because there is a lesser amount of caffeine found in black tea. There is about a half or a third as much in black tea as there is in the same amount of coffee. In this way then, you are a lot more unlikely to get too much caffeine when drinking black tea as in comparison to coffee.
There is a confusing aspect in black tea though. When measured in its dry form coffee actually contains less caffeine than tea. When prepared though, coffee contains more caffeine.
The reason for this is somehow related to the processing. It also has something to do with where the tea leaf is grown, the particle size that is used in the tea bag, the way that the tea leaf is cut, and the method and length of brewing or steeping.
It has also been shown that the amount of caffeine per leaf has something to do with where the leaf is located on the plant. The lower the leaf is on the plant the more caffeine it contains. This is because the lower the leaf the more mature it is and the more phytochemicals and substances that naturally occur in the plant.
Black tea has a higher caffeine level than other teas. It is believed to be caused by the way that it is processed. It undergoes full oxidation which does make it have a stronger taste than other teas as well.
Source: http://www.articlecircle.com/ - Free Articles Directory
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Apocalyptic Literature
Weather or not you may believe in the End Times, Armageddon, the Apocalypse, or the prophetic date of 12-21-12, many others do. As that prophetic date approaches, there exists a genre of Literature for folks to explore for entertainment and perhaps critical knowledge.
The entire genre of literature is as old as literature itself, for example “The Bible”, full of prophecy, doom & gloom, and hope! I have read hundreds of books in this subject area in the last four decades, and can always find some new, interesting point that differs from the rest.
Forty years ago the themes centered around nuclear war, asteroid strikes, alien invasion, etc. Since the late 1990’s terrorism, war of the worlds, ageless conspiracies, etc. have been added to the mix.
While entertaining, both as books and when made into films with lots of special effects, the themes also bring to light certain skills about survival.
Two of my favorites, “Malevil” and “Farnham’s Freehold” explore core survival skills following a nuclear war. With N Korea, Pakistan, and Iran saber rattling, such a scenario isn’t that far fetched.
Regardless of the “catastrophe” involved, the will to survive and survival skills necessary to accomplish the act are similar. These attributes are the main importance, at least to me, when reading this type of literature. Perhaps it is because I pride myself in having many of these skills.
Here are just a few books I have read in the last forty years, there are many more.
Farnham’s Freehold
Malevil
Lucifer’s Hammer
Alas, Babylon
Why reinvent the wheel, here is a great list:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_apocalyptic_and_post-apocalyptic_fiction
The entire genre of literature is as old as literature itself, for example “The Bible”, full of prophecy, doom & gloom, and hope! I have read hundreds of books in this subject area in the last four decades, and can always find some new, interesting point that differs from the rest.
Forty years ago the themes centered around nuclear war, asteroid strikes, alien invasion, etc. Since the late 1990’s terrorism, war of the worlds, ageless conspiracies, etc. have been added to the mix.
While entertaining, both as books and when made into films with lots of special effects, the themes also bring to light certain skills about survival.
Two of my favorites, “Malevil” and “Farnham’s Freehold” explore core survival skills following a nuclear war. With N Korea, Pakistan, and Iran saber rattling, such a scenario isn’t that far fetched.
Regardless of the “catastrophe” involved, the will to survive and survival skills necessary to accomplish the act are similar. These attributes are the main importance, at least to me, when reading this type of literature. Perhaps it is because I pride myself in having many of these skills.
Here are just a few books I have read in the last forty years, there are many more.
Farnham’s Freehold
Malevil
Lucifer’s Hammer
Alas, Babylon
Why reinvent the wheel, here is a great list:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_apocalyptic_and_post-apocalyptic_fiction
Friday, April 17, 2009
All you wanted to know about copywriting
Writing,Copywriting,Career
It is not uncommon to see copywriting related assignments flooding online market these days. There are no prizes for guessing the reasons behind it. In this age of fast moving life, knowledge and technology sells like hot cakes. In a way, copywriting is one such aspect that combines knowledge and technology very well. You may ask how? In a layman term, copywriting can be defined as a process of writing texts that are often used to publicize a person, business, an opinion or an idea. The content thus written has to be real and not available across other mediums.
These days, copywriting tasks are available online too. One look at popular freelancing sites like Scriptlance and GetAFreelancer will give you an indication as to how these jobs are taking bulls by horn in the virtual market. Whichever medium you find a copywriting task; the purpose behind them would be to create a text that in a way will persuade a section of audience in buying a viewpoint, service or even a product. They can also be used to divert an audience’s view point or notion to a particular belief. Copywriting texts are widely used in website content, jingle lyrics, mail advertisements, slogans, press releases, taglines and so on. What’s more, they can also be manifested in emails, letters, commercials, billboards and other types of advertising mediums.
Can copywriting be rewarding?
Copywriting can be one most lucrative career one can pursue either online or otherwise. If you are a fresh copywriter, you can grow from being an assistant earning around $25,000 to being a creative director commanding a price of $175,000 a year. Copywriting being a creative and a dynamic field requires you to be on your toes most of the time.
Even if you are an online copywriter, opportunities are plenty. A number of well known freelancing websites including GetAFreelancer and Scriptlance posts copywriting jobs in hundreds everyday. Here too, you can expect to make lots of money. You can work on them either part-time or full-time. It is also not necessary for you to have a high qualification. However, if you have flair for writing and are creative will help. Many individuals are already pursuing their online careers in copywriting and the list includes home based housewives, corporate professionals and so on. Though the price you can command for your work could be low to start with; it is bound to increase substantially as you gain experience and good reviews.
If you are planning to enroll yourself in one of these or both sites to embrace copywriting as a career, do so without any delay. With little persistence, hard work and dedication you can achieve success even beyond your imagination. The amount of money you could end up making will not even help settle your past dues but also enable you to make a living out of it. You can easily support your family through the income you make by doing online copywriting tasks. While few of the sites on the internet require you to pay a small upfront fee, GetAFreelancer and Scriptlance are free to join.
Praveen Pai is an expert online writer: http://www.amazines.com/view_author.cfm?authorid=70857&#AuthorArticles
It is not uncommon to see copywriting related assignments flooding online market these days. There are no prizes for guessing the reasons behind it. In this age of fast moving life, knowledge and technology sells like hot cakes. In a way, copywriting is one such aspect that combines knowledge and technology very well. You may ask how? In a layman term, copywriting can be defined as a process of writing texts that are often used to publicize a person, business, an opinion or an idea. The content thus written has to be real and not available across other mediums.
These days, copywriting tasks are available online too. One look at popular freelancing sites like Scriptlance and GetAFreelancer will give you an indication as to how these jobs are taking bulls by horn in the virtual market. Whichever medium you find a copywriting task; the purpose behind them would be to create a text that in a way will persuade a section of audience in buying a viewpoint, service or even a product. They can also be used to divert an audience’s view point or notion to a particular belief. Copywriting texts are widely used in website content, jingle lyrics, mail advertisements, slogans, press releases, taglines and so on. What’s more, they can also be manifested in emails, letters, commercials, billboards and other types of advertising mediums.
Can copywriting be rewarding?
Copywriting can be one most lucrative career one can pursue either online or otherwise. If you are a fresh copywriter, you can grow from being an assistant earning around $25,000 to being a creative director commanding a price of $175,000 a year. Copywriting being a creative and a dynamic field requires you to be on your toes most of the time.
Even if you are an online copywriter, opportunities are plenty. A number of well known freelancing websites including GetAFreelancer and Scriptlance posts copywriting jobs in hundreds everyday. Here too, you can expect to make lots of money. You can work on them either part-time or full-time. It is also not necessary for you to have a high qualification. However, if you have flair for writing and are creative will help. Many individuals are already pursuing their online careers in copywriting and the list includes home based housewives, corporate professionals and so on. Though the price you can command for your work could be low to start with; it is bound to increase substantially as you gain experience and good reviews.
If you are planning to enroll yourself in one of these or both sites to embrace copywriting as a career, do so without any delay. With little persistence, hard work and dedication you can achieve success even beyond your imagination. The amount of money you could end up making will not even help settle your past dues but also enable you to make a living out of it. You can easily support your family through the income you make by doing online copywriting tasks. While few of the sites on the internet require you to pay a small upfront fee, GetAFreelancer and Scriptlance are free to join.
Praveen Pai is an expert online writer: http://www.amazines.com/view_author.cfm?authorid=70857&#AuthorArticles
Friday, April 10, 2009
God is God
Strangely after two years of not having this video function, on this "Good Friday", I am proud to show my first flash video, "God is God". Enjoy.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Eulogy Writing: The Origins of Funeral Eulogy Poems
People almost exclusively associate a funeral eulogy or elegy with the passing of a friend or loved one. While it is true that the modern versions are indeed most often used to lament someone's death, the two distinct literary styles have a long and surprising history.
A Eulogy is used to describe nearly any speech or writing that pays tribute to a person or people that have recently passed away. The word is derived from the two Greek words for "you" and "word." Eulogies can also be used to praise a person that is still alive; this type of eulogy is often used at birthdays and other special occasions. While eulogies are considered appropriate in most funeral situations, some cultures and religions, like Catholicism prefer not to include them in services.
The elegy dates back to classical Greek poetry. The elegiac meter contains two lines, known as a couplet and combines many of these couplets to create the funeral poem.
One of the most influential early elegiac writers was Callimachus whose writings had dramatic impact on such classic Roman poets as Catullus, Propertius, Tibullus and Ovid. Catullus' 85th poem is one of the better know Latin elegies. Written for his lover, Lesbia, the poem expresses conflicting emotion of both love and hatred:
"odi et amo. quare id faciam, fortasse requiris?
nescio, sed fieri sentio et ecrucior."
"I hate and I love. Why do I do this, you might ask?
I know not, but I feel it happening and I am tortured"
The feeling of helplessness express here is still very prevalent in modern elegies.
Elegiac poetry was originally championed as simply a way to express the beauty and grandeur of what we consider a classic roman epic poem in a shorter but equally noteworthy manner. Eventually, Roman authors also began to use the elegiac form to express strong emotion as well as tell stories. The use of elegiac poetry is evidenced in some of the works of Ovid, Propertius and others who used it to tell stories like the origin of Rome and the Temple of Apollo.
It was some of the English poets like Lord Tennyson and Thomas Gray that gave the elegy the characteristically somber tone we are now accustomed to. "Lady of Shalott" by Tennyson retained the elegiac tone and paired the praise it offered with a very mournful tone. Gray's "Elegy Written in a Country Courtyard" inspired many poets of the time to take up the elegy. Most of these other poets used the format to express solitude and mourning in a very general way.
Poets of the Romantic era attempted to use elegiac poetry in a lyrical way. Samuel Taylor Coleridge claimed the elegy was "most natural to the reflective mind." After the Romantic period, however, the elegy became more and more synonymous with lamentation. Eventually, the form settled into its common modern use as a way to mourn and celebrate the dead.
The eulogy and elegy both have a long, varied history that has led them to become the most popular poetry form for expressing loss, love and sorrow. Though they differ in origin, age and versatility, both forms of funeral lamentation can be a touching and heartfelt tribute to a newly departed loved one. These memorial poetry formats can be used as a farewell or a way to help the bereaved find comfort and closure in incredibly difficult times. Whether used in a speech, obituary or epitaph, eulogies and elegies are beautiful ways to find the beauty in sadness, the laudation in mournful observance.
~Ben Anton, 2008
Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com
About the Author:
We invite you to read more about finding a meaningful funeral service poem for a eulogy or memorial service. Visit our site to learn how you can use eulogy poetry and life stories to help a loved one with grief.
A Eulogy is used to describe nearly any speech or writing that pays tribute to a person or people that have recently passed away. The word is derived from the two Greek words for "you" and "word." Eulogies can also be used to praise a person that is still alive; this type of eulogy is often used at birthdays and other special occasions. While eulogies are considered appropriate in most funeral situations, some cultures and religions, like Catholicism prefer not to include them in services.
The elegy dates back to classical Greek poetry. The elegiac meter contains two lines, known as a couplet and combines many of these couplets to create the funeral poem.
One of the most influential early elegiac writers was Callimachus whose writings had dramatic impact on such classic Roman poets as Catullus, Propertius, Tibullus and Ovid. Catullus' 85th poem is one of the better know Latin elegies. Written for his lover, Lesbia, the poem expresses conflicting emotion of both love and hatred:
"odi et amo. quare id faciam, fortasse requiris?
nescio, sed fieri sentio et ecrucior."
"I hate and I love. Why do I do this, you might ask?
I know not, but I feel it happening and I am tortured"
The feeling of helplessness express here is still very prevalent in modern elegies.
Elegiac poetry was originally championed as simply a way to express the beauty and grandeur of what we consider a classic roman epic poem in a shorter but equally noteworthy manner. Eventually, Roman authors also began to use the elegiac form to express strong emotion as well as tell stories. The use of elegiac poetry is evidenced in some of the works of Ovid, Propertius and others who used it to tell stories like the origin of Rome and the Temple of Apollo.
It was some of the English poets like Lord Tennyson and Thomas Gray that gave the elegy the characteristically somber tone we are now accustomed to. "Lady of Shalott" by Tennyson retained the elegiac tone and paired the praise it offered with a very mournful tone. Gray's "Elegy Written in a Country Courtyard" inspired many poets of the time to take up the elegy. Most of these other poets used the format to express solitude and mourning in a very general way.
Poets of the Romantic era attempted to use elegiac poetry in a lyrical way. Samuel Taylor Coleridge claimed the elegy was "most natural to the reflective mind." After the Romantic period, however, the elegy became more and more synonymous with lamentation. Eventually, the form settled into its common modern use as a way to mourn and celebrate the dead.
The eulogy and elegy both have a long, varied history that has led them to become the most popular poetry form for expressing loss, love and sorrow. Though they differ in origin, age and versatility, both forms of funeral lamentation can be a touching and heartfelt tribute to a newly departed loved one. These memorial poetry formats can be used as a farewell or a way to help the bereaved find comfort and closure in incredibly difficult times. Whether used in a speech, obituary or epitaph, eulogies and elegies are beautiful ways to find the beauty in sadness, the laudation in mournful observance.
~Ben Anton, 2008
Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com
About the Author:
We invite you to read more about finding a meaningful funeral service poem for a eulogy or memorial service. Visit our site to learn how you can use eulogy poetry and life stories to help a loved one with grief.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Friday, March 13, 2009
Write Around Portland
Anthologies
Write Around Portland is proud to publish the powerful, engaging writings of our workshop participants at the end of each network in high-quality and unique and anthologies. Our anthologies are professionally designed by Precious Bugarin. Proceeds from anthology sales support Write Around Portland workshops.
Our new anthology, Now/Past/Future, featuring writers from our fall 2008 workshops is now available!
Anthologies are available for $12 through our office (plus postage and handling, if you would like them mailed) - please us at 503.796.9224 for details. Anthologies are also available at the following bookstores for $12:
http://www.writearound.org/index.html
Broadway Books – 1714 NE Broadway, Portland
In Other Words – 8 NE Killingsworth, Portland
Looking Glass Books – 7983 SE 13th, Sellwood
Powell's City of Books – 10th & W. Burnside and powells.com
Powell's Books on Hawthorne - 3723 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland
Reading Frenzy – 921 SW Oak, downtown Portland
St. John's Bookseller - 8622 N. Lombard, Portland
Talking Drum Bookstore/Reflections Coffeehouse – 446 NE Killingsworth at MLK, Portland
Wallace Books - 7241 SE Milwaukie, Sellwood
In spring 2009 (date TBA), can also be checked out at the following Multomah County Libary branches:
Capitol Hill, Gregory Heights, Gresham, Holgate, Midland, North Portland, Rockwood, St. John's, Woodstock and Central. You can also request a copy at the branch closest to your home.
Previous anthologies may also be purchased directly from Write Around Portland for $12 each (plus postage and handling). Please call our office to place an order - 503.796.9224.
Now/Past/Future (Fall 2008)
And We Flew (Summer 2008)
A Rare and Necessary Time (Spring 2008)
See the Water Rise/Ver Las Aguas Subir (Fall 2007)
Unexpected Metaphors (Summer 2007)
Called to Speak Stories/Inspirado a Contar Cuentos (Spring 2007)
Echoes (Fall 2006)
City. Night. Sky. (Summer 2006)
When You Were 15 (Spring 2006) - in partnership with Reclaiming Futures/Multnomah County - download at whenyouwere15.org
Behind Me the Sun (Spring 2006)
The Sparkle in the Grit (Fall 2005)
I Feel This Truth (Spring 2005)
Everyday Revolutions (Fall 2004)
Walking on Slant (Spring 2004)
Stillness is the Opening (Fall 2003)
All & Sundry (Summer 2003)
Gifted with a Twisted Verb (Spring 2003)
The Roots of All the City's Lamps (Fall 2002)
Where the Mirror Explodes (Summer 2002)
I Say What Is Real (Spring 2002)
Your Body And Warm Earth (Fall 2001)
To Pay My Way With Stories (Summer 2001)
The Silence Underneath All Sounds (Spring 2001)
The Pedestal of Everything Wonderful (Fall 2000)
Finding The Formula (Summer 2000)
A New Garden (Spring 2000)
A Light to Reach (Fall 1999)
A City of Words (Summer 1999)
Reflections in Ink (Spring 1999)
Write Around Portland is proud to publish the powerful, engaging writings of our workshop participants at the end of each network in high-quality and unique and anthologies. Our anthologies are professionally designed by Precious Bugarin. Proceeds from anthology sales support Write Around Portland workshops.
Our new anthology, Now/Past/Future, featuring writers from our fall 2008 workshops is now available!
Anthologies are available for $12 through our office (plus postage and handling, if you would like them mailed) - please us at 503.796.9224 for details. Anthologies are also available at the following bookstores for $12:
http://www.writearound.org/index.html
Broadway Books – 1714 NE Broadway, Portland
In Other Words – 8 NE Killingsworth, Portland
Looking Glass Books – 7983 SE 13th, Sellwood
Powell's City of Books – 10th & W. Burnside and powells.com
Powell's Books on Hawthorne - 3723 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland
Reading Frenzy – 921 SW Oak, downtown Portland
St. John's Bookseller - 8622 N. Lombard, Portland
Talking Drum Bookstore/Reflections Coffeehouse – 446 NE Killingsworth at MLK, Portland
Wallace Books - 7241 SE Milwaukie, Sellwood
In spring 2009 (date TBA), can also be checked out at the following Multomah County Libary branches:
Capitol Hill, Gregory Heights, Gresham, Holgate, Midland, North Portland, Rockwood, St. John's, Woodstock and Central. You can also request a copy at the branch closest to your home.
Previous anthologies may also be purchased directly from Write Around Portland for $12 each (plus postage and handling). Please call our office to place an order - 503.796.9224.
Now/Past/Future (Fall 2008)
And We Flew (Summer 2008)
A Rare and Necessary Time (Spring 2008)
See the Water Rise/Ver Las Aguas Subir (Fall 2007)
Unexpected Metaphors (Summer 2007)
Called to Speak Stories/Inspirado a Contar Cuentos (Spring 2007)
Echoes (Fall 2006)
City. Night. Sky. (Summer 2006)
When You Were 15 (Spring 2006) - in partnership with Reclaiming Futures/Multnomah County - download at whenyouwere15.org
Behind Me the Sun (Spring 2006)
The Sparkle in the Grit (Fall 2005)
I Feel This Truth (Spring 2005)
Everyday Revolutions (Fall 2004)
Walking on Slant (Spring 2004)
Stillness is the Opening (Fall 2003)
All & Sundry (Summer 2003)
Gifted with a Twisted Verb (Spring 2003)
The Roots of All the City's Lamps (Fall 2002)
Where the Mirror Explodes (Summer 2002)
I Say What Is Real (Spring 2002)
Your Body And Warm Earth (Fall 2001)
To Pay My Way With Stories (Summer 2001)
The Silence Underneath All Sounds (Spring 2001)
The Pedestal of Everything Wonderful (Fall 2000)
Finding The Formula (Summer 2000)
A New Garden (Spring 2000)
A Light to Reach (Fall 1999)
A City of Words (Summer 1999)
Reflections in Ink (Spring 1999)
Monday, March 2, 2009
"Burn the Floor"
"Burn the Floor"..........I got to see this in person back in Detroit, Michigan at the Fox Theater! I got this music and recognized the dance tune from this show. It was one of the best live shows I've seen. If you get a chance to see this in your town, please do, or it is also on DVD. This is the finale!
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Sacrifice
The "War of Terror", the "Economic Depression/Recession" and all other social issues...where is the sacrifice? From the dawn of history, sacrifice for the common good has been essential for civilization, nations, businesses, and families to suffer through hard times.
Yet, during these current pressing times, where is the sacrifice? Sure, people are losing their homes, jobs, income, and retirement investments. But not by choice, not by self-sacrifice so that others may survive. Major company’s layoff thousands daily. How many would be laid off if all employees took a 25% pay cut, so that all may continue to work? Where are the people voluntarily offering to pay more in taxes so that projects, social services, and tax funded employees can weather the storm?
Citizens claim to be "Christians, Muslims, Jews, or other tenants of major or minor religions each holy day, but in practice, few follow their faith to serve others. Worldwide in the last 100 years people have become so self-centered, in their own little issues that helping others before self are merely a means to get on talk shows or reality television.
Sacrifice could be the solution for all of humanity to overcome war, poverty, homelessness, unemployment, and all the ills of civilization. "The rights of the many do indeed outweigh the rights of a few." From a numbers view I would say it requires more than a tithe of 10% or 15%. I would estimate as much as 50% of an individual’s time/money/assets/help for the good of the group society, or mankind. OK, now that your jaw has fallen into your lap, think about what everyone would get from such an arrangement. If 50% of your efforts and time go to help others, then 50% of their time/efforts go to help you, help your community, your nation, your world. It seems like a win-win situation, a no brainer.
Will it be done...probably not. Should it be done, of course, the survival of mankind demands it.
The End is on the horizon...sacrifice for others is the only solution!
Yet, during these current pressing times, where is the sacrifice? Sure, people are losing their homes, jobs, income, and retirement investments. But not by choice, not by self-sacrifice so that others may survive. Major company’s layoff thousands daily. How many would be laid off if all employees took a 25% pay cut, so that all may continue to work? Where are the people voluntarily offering to pay more in taxes so that projects, social services, and tax funded employees can weather the storm?
Citizens claim to be "Christians, Muslims, Jews, or other tenants of major or minor religions each holy day, but in practice, few follow their faith to serve others. Worldwide in the last 100 years people have become so self-centered, in their own little issues that helping others before self are merely a means to get on talk shows or reality television.
Sacrifice could be the solution for all of humanity to overcome war, poverty, homelessness, unemployment, and all the ills of civilization. "The rights of the many do indeed outweigh the rights of a few." From a numbers view I would say it requires more than a tithe of 10% or 15%. I would estimate as much as 50% of an individual’s time/money/assets/help for the good of the group society, or mankind. OK, now that your jaw has fallen into your lap, think about what everyone would get from such an arrangement. If 50% of your efforts and time go to help others, then 50% of their time/efforts go to help you, help your community, your nation, your world. It seems like a win-win situation, a no brainer.
Will it be done...probably not. Should it be done, of course, the survival of mankind demands it.
The End is on the horizon...sacrifice for others is the only solution!
Thursday, February 19, 2009
10 Universities Offering Free Writing Courses Online
Here is another helpful article. The link has many more, writing related content.
Whether you are currently writing professionally or are looking to break into the field, formal writing courses can help you to hone your skills. If you don't have the money or the time for campus-based courses, there are plenty of universities offering free writing courses online.
1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (mit.edu)
Introduction to Fiction
Writing and Reading Short Stories
Advanced Essay Workshop
MIT offers dozens of free undergraduate and graduate writing courses online through its MIT OpenCourseWare initiative. Course topics include everything from writing fiction, poems and essays to analyzing all forms of literature. Lecture notes, videos, suggested reading lists and more will help you to become the writer you've always wanted to be. No registration is required.
2. Utah State University (usu.edu)
Intro to Writing Academic Prose
Intermediate Research Writing
Technology for Professional Writers
Utah State University's Department of English publishes three free courses devoted to the art of writing through the school's OpenCourseWare program. The courses are extensive and may take up to 16 weeks to complete if you study at the average pace. No registration is required. Courses are similar to the courses that might be found in a professional writing degree program.
3. Open University (open.ac.uk)
Fiction Writing Course
Descriptive Writing Course
Essay Writing Course
The UK's largest academic institution, Open University, offers a number of different writing courses through their OpenLearn website. The free curriculum includes both undergraduate and graduate level writing courses that are available to everyone regardless of country of origin. No registration is required.
4. University of Utah (utah.edu)
Introduction to Shakespeare
Introduction to Creative Writing
The University of Utah's English Department offers free courses to self-learners around the world. Currently, there are only two free writing courses. Both offer strong preparation in their topic and are built for beginners. No registration is required.
5. Western Governors University (wgu.edu)
Rhetorical and Critical Writing
Language and Communications
Literature Course - Parts I and II
Western Governors University has made free course materials available through an open content license. There are several free writing courses courtesy of the university's Liberal Arts Department. All courses are split into convenient self-study modules. No registration is required.
6. Purdue University (owl.english.purdue.edu)
Pattern and Variation in Poetry
Proofreading Your Writing
Conquering the Comma
Purdue University brought their writing lab to life online in 1994 to offer a writing resource to students no matter where they were located. Online Writing Lab (OWL) materials are now free to everyone regardless of location or student status. The OWL site offers writing instruction, grammar and usage information, individualized help from tutors and much more. No registration is required.
7. Steven Barnes' UCLA Writing Course (lifewrite.com)
9-Week Introduction to Screenwriting Course
Best selling author and screenwriter Steven Barnes offers a free version on his website of the writing class he has been teaching for many years at UCLA. The course offers in-depth instruction on writing, which is why Barnes suggests completing each part of the nine-week course one week at a time. Nevertheless, the course can be downloaded all at once. No registration is required.
8. News University (newsu.org)
Cleaning Your Copy
Beat Basics and Beyond
Covering Breaking News
News University has a solid e-learning program designed to provide training to journalists and other professional writers. Most of the courses offered at News U are free, especially those that are self-directed. Courses cover everything from writing and editing to reporting and ethics. News U also offers a newsletter, a blog and other great resources. Registration is required, but the course is free for everyone.
9. E-Zine University (ezineuniversity.com)
Writing Clearly and Effectively
Conquering Confusing Words
Quick Ways to Clean Up Your Writing
E-Zine University offers quite a few courses written by Internet publisher Kate Schultz and visiting professors. Although the courses offered at E-Zine University are designed mainly for web writers and e-zine writers, they would be helpful to almost any scribe. Courses are very short and don't take much time to complete. No registration is required.
10. Wikiversity (wikiversity.org)
Introduction to Web Writing
Technical Writing Courses
Narrative Dialog Editing
Wikiversity is an active learning project that encourages people to create and benefit from online courses and tutorials. There are currently several different writing courses that can be found at Wikiversity, many of which focus on technical writing. Although these courses vary in length and content, there's something for everyone. No registration is required.
http://education-portal.com/articles/10_Universities_Offering_Free_Writing_Courses_Online.html
Whether you are currently writing professionally or are looking to break into the field, formal writing courses can help you to hone your skills. If you don't have the money or the time for campus-based courses, there are plenty of universities offering free writing courses online.
1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (mit.edu)
Introduction to Fiction
Writing and Reading Short Stories
Advanced Essay Workshop
MIT offers dozens of free undergraduate and graduate writing courses online through its MIT OpenCourseWare initiative. Course topics include everything from writing fiction, poems and essays to analyzing all forms of literature. Lecture notes, videos, suggested reading lists and more will help you to become the writer you've always wanted to be. No registration is required.
2. Utah State University (usu.edu)
Intro to Writing Academic Prose
Intermediate Research Writing
Technology for Professional Writers
Utah State University's Department of English publishes three free courses devoted to the art of writing through the school's OpenCourseWare program. The courses are extensive and may take up to 16 weeks to complete if you study at the average pace. No registration is required. Courses are similar to the courses that might be found in a professional writing degree program.
3. Open University (open.ac.uk)
Fiction Writing Course
Descriptive Writing Course
Essay Writing Course
The UK's largest academic institution, Open University, offers a number of different writing courses through their OpenLearn website. The free curriculum includes both undergraduate and graduate level writing courses that are available to everyone regardless of country of origin. No registration is required.
4. University of Utah (utah.edu)
Introduction to Shakespeare
Introduction to Creative Writing
The University of Utah's English Department offers free courses to self-learners around the world. Currently, there are only two free writing courses. Both offer strong preparation in their topic and are built for beginners. No registration is required.
5. Western Governors University (wgu.edu)
Rhetorical and Critical Writing
Language and Communications
Literature Course - Parts I and II
Western Governors University has made free course materials available through an open content license. There are several free writing courses courtesy of the university's Liberal Arts Department. All courses are split into convenient self-study modules. No registration is required.
6. Purdue University (owl.english.purdue.edu)
Pattern and Variation in Poetry
Proofreading Your Writing
Conquering the Comma
Purdue University brought their writing lab to life online in 1994 to offer a writing resource to students no matter where they were located. Online Writing Lab (OWL) materials are now free to everyone regardless of location or student status. The OWL site offers writing instruction, grammar and usage information, individualized help from tutors and much more. No registration is required.
7. Steven Barnes' UCLA Writing Course (lifewrite.com)
9-Week Introduction to Screenwriting Course
Best selling author and screenwriter Steven Barnes offers a free version on his website of the writing class he has been teaching for many years at UCLA. The course offers in-depth instruction on writing, which is why Barnes suggests completing each part of the nine-week course one week at a time. Nevertheless, the course can be downloaded all at once. No registration is required.
8. News University (newsu.org)
Cleaning Your Copy
Beat Basics and Beyond
Covering Breaking News
News University has a solid e-learning program designed to provide training to journalists and other professional writers. Most of the courses offered at News U are free, especially those that are self-directed. Courses cover everything from writing and editing to reporting and ethics. News U also offers a newsletter, a blog and other great resources. Registration is required, but the course is free for everyone.
9. E-Zine University (ezineuniversity.com)
Writing Clearly and Effectively
Conquering Confusing Words
Quick Ways to Clean Up Your Writing
E-Zine University offers quite a few courses written by Internet publisher Kate Schultz and visiting professors. Although the courses offered at E-Zine University are designed mainly for web writers and e-zine writers, they would be helpful to almost any scribe. Courses are very short and don't take much time to complete. No registration is required.
10. Wikiversity (wikiversity.org)
Introduction to Web Writing
Technical Writing Courses
Narrative Dialog Editing
Wikiversity is an active learning project that encourages people to create and benefit from online courses and tutorials. There are currently several different writing courses that can be found at Wikiversity, many of which focus on technical writing. Although these courses vary in length and content, there's something for everyone. No registration is required.
http://education-portal.com/articles/10_Universities_Offering_Free_Writing_Courses_Online.html
Friday, February 6, 2009
My Latest Reads
Three books I recommend for the fans of horror, the supernatural, and conspiracy are "Adam" by Ted Dekker, "House of Bones" by Graham Masterton, and "The Book of Lies" by Brad Meltzer.
"Adam" is another supernatural based thriller involving the FBI, a serial killer, demons, and the usual Dekker twists. It is dark, creepy, not overly gory, and sustains one's interest till the end. I liked it.
"House of Bones" was an unusual pick because it is a relatively short (236 pages)and while hardcover, almost the size of a paperback, set in almost Large Print, which I liked for late night reading. It takes place in contemporary England, and the main creepy characters are Druids. It was intriguing, and a great short read. I'll be doing some research of Druids and ancient sites of England, inspired by this book.
"The Book of Lies" written by the author of "The Book of Fate" is one of my favorite themes, religious/political conspiracies. The Thule Society (Aryan/Nazis) want the Mark of Cain from the bible story for their own power and glory. It also included "Superman" and his creator as part of the central plot. What fun!
"Adam" is another supernatural based thriller involving the FBI, a serial killer, demons, and the usual Dekker twists. It is dark, creepy, not overly gory, and sustains one's interest till the end. I liked it.
"House of Bones" was an unusual pick because it is a relatively short (236 pages)and while hardcover, almost the size of a paperback, set in almost Large Print, which I liked for late night reading. It takes place in contemporary England, and the main creepy characters are Druids. It was intriguing, and a great short read. I'll be doing some research of Druids and ancient sites of England, inspired by this book.
"The Book of Lies" written by the author of "The Book of Fate" is one of my favorite themes, religious/political conspiracies. The Thule Society (Aryan/Nazis) want the Mark of Cain from the bible story for their own power and glory. It also included "Superman" and his creator as part of the central plot. What fun!
Friday, January 30, 2009
Social Networking --A New Paradigm
Another option for writers is "Social Networking". Sites include most interests, from friends to business. Not the NY Times, but always a good place to give your opinion.
One of the innovations in the internet space is social networking. Organizations are taking a fresh view on its scope for marketing communication and positioning to selling. The time has come to get into SOCIAL NETWORKING BAND WAGON.
“Social Network” was first coined by JA Barnes in 1954 classic, Class and Committees in a Norwegian Island Parish. It generally denotes “ a map of the relationships between individuals, indicating the ways in which they are connected through various social familiarities ranging from casual acquaintance to close familial bonds”.
Management Science Research has long studied to understand social networks mainly in the area of organizational behavior and human resource management. The internet has given a new twist to social networks. Time-constrained citizens are becoming social “netizens” with a vengeance. Relationships are sought online from like minded persons across the globe. We call these social networking sites.
Some of the popular social networking sites are: MySpace.com ,orkut, B-YANKS, etc. Unlike a traditional website or an email service , these sites resemble a real-life club. People can join different clubs depending on their affiliations. People look for relationships in these sites rather than pure information or plain vanilla communication. A music lover can form a group of “like tasted” individuals who can chat, discuss and share files ( both text and video). Most of these sites are free. Unlike a traditional site, these sites allow for greater interaction. Many users, use the space to be in touch with their near and dear ones..
There is a change in the electronic media consumption habits. Even as social networking sites expand, there are some interesting trends that can be observed. One of them is that adult and youth users vary in their usage pattern of social networks. While Orkut and B-Yanks are common choice for both age groups, youth seek more variety with such sites. The best part about these sites is that some of them like B-yanks also provide with free mobile email access, uploading & viewing videos and chat facilities. That means you can remain connected with your friends and relatives through your mobile phone. You can chat, view text and videos of your dear ones, all at the same time without having the need to go to your PC.
Social networking sites are expanding at 30% per annum. As they do so, the type of sites and the people who use them are also changing. Sites like MySpace, Face Book, Mypopcorn, etc remain popular with a bias towards music, films and relationships. While others like B-Yanks is more popular amongst all age groups for its free web and mobile based services include chat, music, video uploads ,free email access and much more.
Various organizations across the world are trying to get into the Social Networking Band Wagon as they find such sites as lucrative places for tracking down the market trend. It could also be an experimental communication channel for trendy youth. After the Dotcom burst, many marketers and business managers have given up on the internet.. Although Google is successful and echoes of Yahoo users are heard at times, a business manager is the most unlikely face in that Internet loving crowd. . For many business marketers , social networking sites are the best places where they can get closer or catch hold of their customers and that too, free of cost. Instead of costly surveys, experiments and focus group discussions, they can log on to the social networking site and look for the customer opinion on their products. It is always pleasant to catch a customer unaware and when he is most relaxed.
This article is printed from http://www.selfgrowthtest.com
One of the innovations in the internet space is social networking. Organizations are taking a fresh view on its scope for marketing communication and positioning to selling. The time has come to get into SOCIAL NETWORKING BAND WAGON.
“Social Network” was first coined by JA Barnes in 1954 classic, Class and Committees in a Norwegian Island Parish. It generally denotes “ a map of the relationships between individuals, indicating the ways in which they are connected through various social familiarities ranging from casual acquaintance to close familial bonds”.
Management Science Research has long studied to understand social networks mainly in the area of organizational behavior and human resource management. The internet has given a new twist to social networks. Time-constrained citizens are becoming social “netizens” with a vengeance. Relationships are sought online from like minded persons across the globe. We call these social networking sites.
Some of the popular social networking sites are: MySpace.com ,orkut, B-YANKS, etc. Unlike a traditional website or an email service , these sites resemble a real-life club. People can join different clubs depending on their affiliations. People look for relationships in these sites rather than pure information or plain vanilla communication. A music lover can form a group of “like tasted” individuals who can chat, discuss and share files ( both text and video). Most of these sites are free. Unlike a traditional site, these sites allow for greater interaction. Many users, use the space to be in touch with their near and dear ones..
There is a change in the electronic media consumption habits. Even as social networking sites expand, there are some interesting trends that can be observed. One of them is that adult and youth users vary in their usage pattern of social networks. While Orkut and B-Yanks are common choice for both age groups, youth seek more variety with such sites. The best part about these sites is that some of them like B-yanks also provide with free mobile email access, uploading & viewing videos and chat facilities. That means you can remain connected with your friends and relatives through your mobile phone. You can chat, view text and videos of your dear ones, all at the same time without having the need to go to your PC.
Social networking sites are expanding at 30% per annum. As they do so, the type of sites and the people who use them are also changing. Sites like MySpace, Face Book, Mypopcorn, etc remain popular with a bias towards music, films and relationships. While others like B-Yanks is more popular amongst all age groups for its free web and mobile based services include chat, music, video uploads ,free email access and much more.
Various organizations across the world are trying to get into the Social Networking Band Wagon as they find such sites as lucrative places for tracking down the market trend. It could also be an experimental communication channel for trendy youth. After the Dotcom burst, many marketers and business managers have given up on the internet.. Although Google is successful and echoes of Yahoo users are heard at times, a business manager is the most unlikely face in that Internet loving crowd. . For many business marketers , social networking sites are the best places where they can get closer or catch hold of their customers and that too, free of cost. Instead of costly surveys, experiments and focus group discussions, they can log on to the social networking site and look for the customer opinion on their products. It is always pleasant to catch a customer unaware and when he is most relaxed.
This article is printed from http://www.selfgrowthtest.com
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
How to Write Articles Quickly
One of the best ways to promote your website or blog is through article marketing. Learning to write articles quickly is a skill you have to master to accomplish this.
Many website owners make article writing a lot more complicated than it has to be. When writing for websites, remember first of all that people online are scanning web pages, not reading every word, so there is no need to spend hours making every word perfect.
Your content isn’t going to be totally unique, no matter what you write about. Every topic you can think about has already been written about by someone else. Think about it – every newsworthy event is covered by CNN, NBC, ABC, etc. Every network and every newspaper are all covering the exact same event or topic, just in different words.
The fact is, there are no new topics. Your job is to take what’s already been written and improve on it by injecting your own comments and personality.
One way to do research quickly is by inputting the topic you want to write about into a search engine. Choose three or four matches and read these articles thoroughly, taking notes.
Or, other places for quick research include article directories, forums and yahoo answers. By reading what people are asking in yahoo answers, you will learn what information people are looking for.
Amazon.com provides some great tools for quick research. By choosing a few top-selling books on a given topic, you can research quickly by browsing a book’s table of contents, the back cover of the book and even an excerpt.
Once you have taken sufficient notes, it’s time to put your article together. Write an outline of the important points you want to make in your article. Then write the article without looking back at the other articles. This is nothing more than the same work you did in high school writing book reports. Most of us have written quite a few book reports in our lifetime, and in those days many of us put ourselves through the unnecessary stress of cutting it too close to deadlines. That means we already know how to write and research quickly!
Basically, we need to decide what we’re going to accomplish and when. If we intend to write an article a day, then we have to stay glued to our computer until we complete that task. If we want to get it done in half an hour or less, this is another goal to work toward. Practice will definitely lead to improvement.
Article marketing is one of the best forms of free advertising there is. Learning to write articles quickly is an easily learned skill that will help us get the most out of article marketing.
About The Author
Valerie Dansereau is a banker turned entrepreneur and is the owner of http://www.work-at-home-parenting.com. For a free report showing you how to make $1,000 a month, even without your own website, Click here.
Many website owners make article writing a lot more complicated than it has to be. When writing for websites, remember first of all that people online are scanning web pages, not reading every word, so there is no need to spend hours making every word perfect.
Your content isn’t going to be totally unique, no matter what you write about. Every topic you can think about has already been written about by someone else. Think about it – every newsworthy event is covered by CNN, NBC, ABC, etc. Every network and every newspaper are all covering the exact same event or topic, just in different words.
The fact is, there are no new topics. Your job is to take what’s already been written and improve on it by injecting your own comments and personality.
One way to do research quickly is by inputting the topic you want to write about into a search engine. Choose three or four matches and read these articles thoroughly, taking notes.
Or, other places for quick research include article directories, forums and yahoo answers. By reading what people are asking in yahoo answers, you will learn what information people are looking for.
Amazon.com provides some great tools for quick research. By choosing a few top-selling books on a given topic, you can research quickly by browsing a book’s table of contents, the back cover of the book and even an excerpt.
Once you have taken sufficient notes, it’s time to put your article together. Write an outline of the important points you want to make in your article. Then write the article without looking back at the other articles. This is nothing more than the same work you did in high school writing book reports. Most of us have written quite a few book reports in our lifetime, and in those days many of us put ourselves through the unnecessary stress of cutting it too close to deadlines. That means we already know how to write and research quickly!
Basically, we need to decide what we’re going to accomplish and when. If we intend to write an article a day, then we have to stay glued to our computer until we complete that task. If we want to get it done in half an hour or less, this is another goal to work toward. Practice will definitely lead to improvement.
Article marketing is one of the best forms of free advertising there is. Learning to write articles quickly is an easily learned skill that will help us get the most out of article marketing.
About The Author
Valerie Dansereau is a banker turned entrepreneur and is the owner of http://www.work-at-home-parenting.com. For a free report showing you how to make $1,000 a month, even without your own website, Click here.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Web Writing Maestro - From Idea to Income
Want to make great money from your Web writing? You need a process which you can use repeatedly, so that your income increases each month. The secret is to keep everything simple: just do what YOU can do, and leave the rest to others.
The More Products You Write and Sell Online, the More Money You Make
When you begin your Web writing career, you soon realize that the real money is in selling your own products. However, this seems intimidating. How do you get a project online? How do you make money from it?
Remember that the secret is to keep it simple. No one knows everything. The Web is so huge and complex that it's impossible to master every aspect. Therefore, you out-source whatever you can't do, or find difficult or unpleasant.
For example, let's say that you want to start a new blog on marine aquariums. It's your hobby, you love it, and you know that since people are searching for information on this topic, a blog would be profitable. But you don't know how to buy a domain name and hosting, or how to install a blog. So out-source it. You should be able to get it done in a few hours for under $50.
Now let's look at your "idea to income" process. You can use this to write a constant stream of ebooks, reports, blogs, courses, classes, and seminars on any topic you choose.
1. Choose a Project
First comes the idea. I like to give myself a month from idea to income. Choosing a project which will be profitable takes longest. Once you have a possibility, check whether others are selling similar products. Try to estimate whether they're making money, and how much. (If you don't know how to do this, you know what to do now: out-source it, and get a competitive intelligence report.)
2. Get It Online
Next, create your product. Yes, you're a writer, but once you've written the outline, and the introduction, the project is solid. You can now out-source the rest of the project if you wish, or you can write it yourself. I like to write all my own projects, because I enjoy it.
Once the project's done, write a sales page and set up payment processing. (Yes, hire it done, if you don't know how.)
3. Promote It
No product sells itself. Promote it via advertising, using both paid and free methods.
4. Make Money
This final step takes care of itself. Keep promoting your product, and then get ready to create another one.
So there you have a process you can use to create products and make money: use it and prosper from your Web writing.
Want to learn more about Web writing and creating your own products to sell? Sell Your Writing Online NOW at http://sellwritingnow.com/Home/training.html is complete training in Web writing which opens the door to unlimited opportunities. Subscribers call it "the best thing I've ever done." You'll discover how to write and sell articles, ebooks and Web sites for profit, and much more.
For free weekly writing information sent to your Inbox, subscribe to Angela's Fab Freelance Writing Ezine at http://www.freelancewritingezine.com/ and receive "Write And Sell Your Writing: The Power-Write Report" immediately.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Angela_Booth
The More Products You Write and Sell Online, the More Money You Make
When you begin your Web writing career, you soon realize that the real money is in selling your own products. However, this seems intimidating. How do you get a project online? How do you make money from it?
Remember that the secret is to keep it simple. No one knows everything. The Web is so huge and complex that it's impossible to master every aspect. Therefore, you out-source whatever you can't do, or find difficult or unpleasant.
For example, let's say that you want to start a new blog on marine aquariums. It's your hobby, you love it, and you know that since people are searching for information on this topic, a blog would be profitable. But you don't know how to buy a domain name and hosting, or how to install a blog. So out-source it. You should be able to get it done in a few hours for under $50.
Now let's look at your "idea to income" process. You can use this to write a constant stream of ebooks, reports, blogs, courses, classes, and seminars on any topic you choose.
1. Choose a Project
First comes the idea. I like to give myself a month from idea to income. Choosing a project which will be profitable takes longest. Once you have a possibility, check whether others are selling similar products. Try to estimate whether they're making money, and how much. (If you don't know how to do this, you know what to do now: out-source it, and get a competitive intelligence report.)
2. Get It Online
Next, create your product. Yes, you're a writer, but once you've written the outline, and the introduction, the project is solid. You can now out-source the rest of the project if you wish, or you can write it yourself. I like to write all my own projects, because I enjoy it.
Once the project's done, write a sales page and set up payment processing. (Yes, hire it done, if you don't know how.)
3. Promote It
No product sells itself. Promote it via advertising, using both paid and free methods.
4. Make Money
This final step takes care of itself. Keep promoting your product, and then get ready to create another one.
So there you have a process you can use to create products and make money: use it and prosper from your Web writing.
Want to learn more about Web writing and creating your own products to sell? Sell Your Writing Online NOW at http://sellwritingnow.com/Home/training.html is complete training in Web writing which opens the door to unlimited opportunities. Subscribers call it "the best thing I've ever done." You'll discover how to write and sell articles, ebooks and Web sites for profit, and much more.
For free weekly writing information sent to your Inbox, subscribe to Angela's Fab Freelance Writing Ezine at http://www.freelancewritingezine.com/ and receive "Write And Sell Your Writing: The Power-Write Report" immediately.
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Wednesday, January 7, 2009
2008
I checked my Library log on Monday, to see how many books I've read through the year 2008, and was surprised to see 113+!.
So many books, so little time!
2009, my goal is 150.
So many books, so little time!
2009, my goal is 150.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
The Daemon...eBook to Hardcover
Science fiction, and the concept of eBook publishing have come together in this new book to be released on 1-8-09. I will be putting it on hold at the local library.
Editorial Reviews,From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. Originally self-published, Suarez's riveting debut would be a perfect gift for a favorite computer geek or anyone who appreciates thrills, chills and cyber suspense. Gaming genius Matthew Sobol, the 34-year-old head of CyberStorm Entertainment, has just died of brain cancer, but death doesn't stop him from initiating an all-out Internet war against humanity. When the authorities investigate Sobol's mansion in Thousand Oaks, Calif., they find themselves under attack from his empty house, aided by an unmanned Hummer that tears into the cops with staggering ferocity. Sobol's weapon is a daemon, a kind of computer process that not only has taken over many of the world's computer systems but also enlists the help of superintelligent human henchmen willing to carry out his diabolical plan. Complicated jargon abounds, but most complexities are reasonably explained. A final twist that runs counter to expectations will leave readers anxiously awaiting the promised sequel. (Jan.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Review
“Suarez’s riveting debut would be a perfect gift for a favorite computer geek or anyone who appreciates thrills, chills and cyber suspense.…A final twist that runs counter to expectations will leave readers anxiously awaiting the promised sequel.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Greatest. Techno-thriller. Period. Suarez presents a fascinating account of autonomous, logic- based terrorism, incorporating current and anticipated technologies to create a credible and quite clever story. Experts have long feared the Internet doomsday scenario; the Daemon is arguably more terrifying.”
—William O’Brien, Director of Cybersecurity and Communications Policy, The White House
“Daemon is the real deal—a scary look at what can go wrong as we depend increasingly on computer networks.”
— Craig Newmark, Founder Craigslist
“[Daniel Suarez] is the best author of tech fiction since Bruce Sterling and Neal Stephenson. Buy everything he writes.”
— John Robb, futurist & Author of Brave New War
“Daemon is better than early Tom Clancy...The tech is invoked with inside knowledge, the writing is better, and deeper issues are explored with greater imagination.”
— Stewart Brand, Founder Whole Earth Catalog & co-founder the Long Now Foundation
“An exciting book that will force you to think about where we are heading as a 'wired' society. It will keep you guessing. You will not want to put it down, and you will not want it to end. It doesn't get much better than that.”
— Steven Winningham, Former CIO, Gap Inc; EVP, Virgin Entertainment Group
http://thedaemon.com/
Friday, January 2, 2009
Something Old, Seems New
I was sifting through some old documents and found some writing I did many years ago.
My mindset was very different then: grim, depressed, dark and moody. One piece titled "Solitude", made little sense now, but I liked the end for some reason:
"The sounds, the words, the wonder of just thinking;
thought without direction, momentary aberrations of time and space;
amazement of imaginary journeys."
The unusual aspects of finding this today was in conjunction with several "Left Behind" movies I watched recently , and a book I am currently reading, "Kéthani" by Eric Brown. Journeys through time and space have always interested me.
My mindset was very different then: grim, depressed, dark and moody. One piece titled "Solitude", made little sense now, but I liked the end for some reason:
"The sounds, the words, the wonder of just thinking;
thought without direction, momentary aberrations of time and space;
amazement of imaginary journeys."
The unusual aspects of finding this today was in conjunction with several "Left Behind" movies I watched recently , and a book I am currently reading, "Kéthani" by Eric Brown. Journeys through time and space have always interested me.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Start a Story with a Brainstorm Draft by Lawrence Roth
I have had a couple of my stories published; therefore I boldly offer my advice on how to write stories. I put together a story structure tool for myself to use when I begin to brainstorm a story. This helps me to outline a story, develop a protagonist and an antagonist, and to eventually write a story.
This story structure tool was mostly adopted from the screenplay guidelines developed by Syd Field. I have added my own touch and modified the guidelines for writing a story. I have also changed the structure to reflect four acts instead of three. Syd Field actually does discuss a four act structure but he still calls it a three act structure. In Syd Field's structure he designates an Act 2a and an Act 2b which I converted to Act 2 and Act 3. Here is the structure with definitions that I use:
Act I. Provocation
Opening The opening summarizes and sets the tone of the story.
Catalyst The catalyst is an inciting incident that will change the direction of the protagonist's life.
First Plot Point The first plot point is a surprising development that will radically change the protagonist's life and force him or her towards confrontation with the antagonist.
First Pinch The first pinch is an incident that addresses the main conflict and increases barriers between the protagonist and his or her goal.
Act II. Escalation
Middle Plot Point The middle plot point is a reversal of fortune or revelation that changes the direction of the story further decreasing the protagonist's ability to reach his or her goal.
Second Pinch The second pinch is an incident, similar to the first pinch, that address the main conflict and increases barriers between the protagonist and his or her goal.
Act III. Confrontation
Last Plot Point The last plot point is the incident that forces the protagonist to finally confront the antagonist.
Showdown The showdown is where the protagonist has the final battle with the antagonist and either wins or loses.
Act IV. Resolution
Resolution The resolution demonstrates how the issues of the story are resolved.
Epilogue The epilogue ties up the loose ends of the story and brings closure.
I define a basic story as being about a protagonist who must confront an antagonist to achieve a goal. Therefore, to start the process of brainstorming a story I decide on a name for my protagonist and a name for my antagonist. Then I decide what the goal is.
After outlining the main events in my story I start what I call the Brainstorm Draft. The problem I have had in the past is that I have started writing many stories but encountered the inevitable writer's block and did not finish the stories.
In the Brainstorm Draft I write the story from beginning to end using the outline as a guide. When I come across writer's block and find logic gaps in the transition from one event to another I keep writing regardless.
I have written several Brainstorm Drafts where Acts I, II, III and IV have no logical transition between them. For example I started one story that began with a character in a warehouse distribution center with the next event having the character being trapped in an underground tunnel beneath a mansion. How did the character get from one place to other?
I did not know at the time and I did not care. I did use the outline I had established to give direction to the story. I do not worry about making a logical transition until I write the rough draft.
In the Brainstorm Draft if I need a character in a warehouse in one event and then in a tunnel in the next event then that is what happens with or without a logical explanation. The reason I do this is to get the story written.
The Brainstorm Draft does two things for me: It helps me develop the characters and the story. The brainstorm session which can actually take a few hours each day for a couple of weeks is by far the most fun. This is when the characters come to life for me. I get to know the characters and their little personality quirks. I also develop a better sense of the story. I visualize the events and locations where the story takes place. It is after the Brainstorm Draft that the real work begins. This involves putting the rough draft together, editing and making names for the additional characters born within the brainstorm draft.
Therefore, brainstorming a Brainstorm Draft gets the main events from the outline written down, develops characters and prepares the story for a rough draft.
About the Author
Lawrence Roth in an independent web developer who owns and maintains rothline.com. Lawrence has worked on various e-commerce and website projects. Lawrence writes articles and stories to submit to online publications.
This story structure tool was mostly adopted from the screenplay guidelines developed by Syd Field. I have added my own touch and modified the guidelines for writing a story. I have also changed the structure to reflect four acts instead of three. Syd Field actually does discuss a four act structure but he still calls it a three act structure. In Syd Field's structure he designates an Act 2a and an Act 2b which I converted to Act 2 and Act 3. Here is the structure with definitions that I use:
Act I. Provocation
Opening The opening summarizes and sets the tone of the story.
Catalyst The catalyst is an inciting incident that will change the direction of the protagonist's life.
First Plot Point The first plot point is a surprising development that will radically change the protagonist's life and force him or her towards confrontation with the antagonist.
First Pinch The first pinch is an incident that addresses the main conflict and increases barriers between the protagonist and his or her goal.
Act II. Escalation
Middle Plot Point The middle plot point is a reversal of fortune or revelation that changes the direction of the story further decreasing the protagonist's ability to reach his or her goal.
Second Pinch The second pinch is an incident, similar to the first pinch, that address the main conflict and increases barriers between the protagonist and his or her goal.
Act III. Confrontation
Last Plot Point The last plot point is the incident that forces the protagonist to finally confront the antagonist.
Showdown The showdown is where the protagonist has the final battle with the antagonist and either wins or loses.
Act IV. Resolution
Resolution The resolution demonstrates how the issues of the story are resolved.
Epilogue The epilogue ties up the loose ends of the story and brings closure.
I define a basic story as being about a protagonist who must confront an antagonist to achieve a goal. Therefore, to start the process of brainstorming a story I decide on a name for my protagonist and a name for my antagonist. Then I decide what the goal is.
After outlining the main events in my story I start what I call the Brainstorm Draft. The problem I have had in the past is that I have started writing many stories but encountered the inevitable writer's block and did not finish the stories.
In the Brainstorm Draft I write the story from beginning to end using the outline as a guide. When I come across writer's block and find logic gaps in the transition from one event to another I keep writing regardless.
I have written several Brainstorm Drafts where Acts I, II, III and IV have no logical transition between them. For example I started one story that began with a character in a warehouse distribution center with the next event having the character being trapped in an underground tunnel beneath a mansion. How did the character get from one place to other?
I did not know at the time and I did not care. I did use the outline I had established to give direction to the story. I do not worry about making a logical transition until I write the rough draft.
In the Brainstorm Draft if I need a character in a warehouse in one event and then in a tunnel in the next event then that is what happens with or without a logical explanation. The reason I do this is to get the story written.
The Brainstorm Draft does two things for me: It helps me develop the characters and the story. The brainstorm session which can actually take a few hours each day for a couple of weeks is by far the most fun. This is when the characters come to life for me. I get to know the characters and their little personality quirks. I also develop a better sense of the story. I visualize the events and locations where the story takes place. It is after the Brainstorm Draft that the real work begins. This involves putting the rough draft together, editing and making names for the additional characters born within the brainstorm draft.
Therefore, brainstorming a Brainstorm Draft gets the main events from the outline written down, develops characters and prepares the story for a rough draft.
About the Author
Lawrence Roth in an independent web developer who owns and maintains rothline.com. Lawrence has worked on various e-commerce and website projects. Lawrence writes articles and stories to submit to online publications.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Just Another Day
Before he sank into the black obscurity of unconsciousness, all Sam remembered was a blinding flash of white light and a wave of heat.
He woke up slowly, wondering if he was dead or alive. Then the pain hit him, along with the realization that, yes, he was alive. Alive and pinned under the rubble of bricks, plaster, and the other various debris from whatever buildings used to tower over the spot where he now lay.
Sam was an ex-soldier, Special Forces...a sniper in Vietnam. He had felt pain in the past and somehow knew that nothing was broken. Huge puddles of his blood were not evident, his vision was a little blurred, and his hearing was kinda shot. But all in all, he felt OK considering.
He began to move his arms and legs, and slowly the pile of bricks fell off him in clouds of dust. He made several attempts to stand upright, and finally caught his balance. It was about that moment he looked up and noticed the mushroom cloud of a nuclear explosion, about ten miles to the east, rising black-orange higher and higher in the pale blue sky. Sam sat back down.
He gazed slowly around trying to get a fix on where he was. Then throught the rubble, he noticed a glint of light, bright and golden. It was a cross sitting erect, by itself among the bricks and dust. ST Michael The Archangel Church. That was what had fallen on him...or saved him.
To be continued
He woke up slowly, wondering if he was dead or alive. Then the pain hit him, along with the realization that, yes, he was alive. Alive and pinned under the rubble of bricks, plaster, and the other various debris from whatever buildings used to tower over the spot where he now lay.
Sam was an ex-soldier, Special Forces...a sniper in Vietnam. He had felt pain in the past and somehow knew that nothing was broken. Huge puddles of his blood were not evident, his vision was a little blurred, and his hearing was kinda shot. But all in all, he felt OK considering.
He began to move his arms and legs, and slowly the pile of bricks fell off him in clouds of dust. He made several attempts to stand upright, and finally caught his balance. It was about that moment he looked up and noticed the mushroom cloud of a nuclear explosion, about ten miles to the east, rising black-orange higher and higher in the pale blue sky. Sam sat back down.
He gazed slowly around trying to get a fix on where he was. Then throught the rubble, he noticed a glint of light, bright and golden. It was a cross sitting erect, by itself among the bricks and dust. ST Michael The Archangel Church. That was what had fallen on him...or saved him.
To be continued
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Bookstores For Sale
Two blocks from my apartment, in the basement of an old church, is a used bookstore for sale. At best, it is disorganized chaos, mismatched fixtures, with lots of room for improvement. The location is good, on the streetcar line and is located in the "Cultural District" which also contains, the university, state history museum, theaters and the art museum.
In most places I have lived, in other states, there was always at least one small, independent bookstore, usually a used bookstore. A few were more interesting than others, depending on size and type of books. Most had little or no seating for perusing, narrow aisles, and were dimly lit. But, they did have a certain unique character.
The owner of this particular bookstore claims to own over 350,000 books in storage! The content various and is mostlu paperbooks, but he also has an on-line presence. In researching this post, many are in this category, but there seems to be "niche" marketers specializing in rare/antique, textbooks, technical books, adult books, christian, new age, mystery, etc. I would imagine the local market would determine in part the specialty if any the bookstore would fill.
In addition some of these retailers, double as "gift shops" and related merchandise. My opinion would be to stick to just books.
There seem to be books available on start-up, wholesale buying (several companies use Abe books for pricing) http://www.abebooks.com/ . Many advice on buying a bookstore are available in E-book format as well. Have any of you readers ever bought, owned, or thought of buying a bookstore? I'd like to hear from you.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bookstore
In most places I have lived, in other states, there was always at least one small, independent bookstore, usually a used bookstore. A few were more interesting than others, depending on size and type of books. Most had little or no seating for perusing, narrow aisles, and were dimly lit. But, they did have a certain unique character.
The owner of this particular bookstore claims to own over 350,000 books in storage! The content various and is mostlu paperbooks, but he also has an on-line presence. In researching this post, many are in this category, but there seems to be "niche" marketers specializing in rare/antique, textbooks, technical books, adult books, christian, new age, mystery, etc. I would imagine the local market would determine in part the specialty if any the bookstore would fill.
In addition some of these retailers, double as "gift shops" and related merchandise. My opinion would be to stick to just books.
There seem to be books available on start-up, wholesale buying (several companies use Abe books for pricing) http://www.abebooks.com/ . Many advice on buying a bookstore are available in E-book format as well. Have any of you readers ever bought, owned, or thought of buying a bookstore? I'd like to hear from you.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bookstore
Thursday, November 20, 2008
My "Red" Grandma
My Finnish grandmother came to America in 1905, along with several brothers and sisters. They settled in Northern Minnesota. As long as I can remember, she told me wonderful stories about homesteading and the adventures of my grandfather, hunting, trapping, and enduring the cold dark winters of the Superior National Forest.
Eventually she met my grandfather and they settled on a homestead of 80 acres. My grandfather worked in the Mesabi Range Iron Mines, and they once lived in the town of Sparta, now named Gilbert. I was told they once had a small store and my grandmother taught school.
My father was born in 1915, and in 1916, the union workers at the mines went on strike, and eventually most were blackballed. I’ve assumed my grandpa was among them.
In 1917 my grandparents and toddler father, left Minnesota and their homestead, and returned to Finland, evidently to take part in the “Glorious Revolution”, the Finnish Civil War. They were Bolsheviks...Reds..Communists...and they lost. An uncle on my grandfather’s side became a member of Parliament from the Communist Party, renamed the Social Democratic Party.
In 1922 my grandparents and father returned to the USA, only to find their homestead in Minnesota, looted or burned down. (Was it retaliation perhaps for the strike and union membership?). Grandmother’s brothers and sisters lived in the Syracuse, NY area, so they moved there. My grandfather worked at the Sanderson Steel Mill, which eventually became Crucible Steel, the remainder of his work life.
In 1929, I was told my father (age 15), had been photographed for the local Syracuse newspaper, climbing a flagpole to attach the Russian Communist flag. You see, my father, was also a Communist. This was at one of the numerous Communist Youth Camps that flourished in New York State at this time. Upon reflection, this appears to be the “Camp” I spent many a summer at from my birth, to the birth of my oldest daughter, roughly from 1948 – 1972 swimming, water skiing, hiking, watching bonfires and when old enough, drinking beer.
In 1936 my grandma ran for Congress of the United States, as a member of the Communist Party, in Central NY. She lost. Her name, however, is cited in the “House on Un-American Activities Committee Hearings, 1955”. (McCarthy hearings)
I only found out about some of this recently, through research, and first heard of the Communist Party membership in 1976 from my father, when they visited the birth of my second daughter. I find it strange that they kept this “family secret” from me all those years, but it does explain some things I always wondered about. For example, the bronze table lamp my grandmother kept in her closet. It was the stature of “Mother Russia”. She also had an old crank RCA phonograph, and many 33 rpm records (like new), one being the Russian National Anthem. My sister and I were somehow forbidden to learn Finnish (perhaps my mother’s doing?). But my father, grandparents and their friends often spoke it.
It is all rather amazing. My grandma, who was only 5 feet tall and weighed at most 110 pounds, who made me pudding and baked Finnish breads, like Puula, told me stories about their life in Minnesota, and entertained me with her little parakeets through the years, all named “Cherri”. I have had two parakeets, one blue and one green. I named them both “Cherri”.
My little Finnish Grandma loved me unconditionally. She always got incredibly excited if I brought her violets, a simple gift, or even a visit as often as I could. I miss her terribly, even after the 25 years since she passed away.
Once she was a feisty young agitator, a socialist, a communist, a revolutionary……she was my “Red” grandma!
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Research Libraries
I sometimes visit University Libraries, and have used several in the past for thesis research. Upon a recent visit to Portland State University Library, as I wandered through various subject areas and book stacks, I noticed that most of the books were 40+ years old.
That seemed strangely outdated. When writing my thesis in Grad School, my second draft, being a couple of years from the original, caused my advisor to suggested I insert fresher information/research sources.
Why then would a major university library maintain 40+ year old books? Of course some subjects, hard sciences like physics, chemistry, and or mathematics would change quickly. Literature, of course, contains many "classics" and would cover centuries. Social Sciences, would at first thought, have a slightly longer time frame than hard science to be considered out of date for research.
Is there any rule of thumb? Why yes, there seems to be.
http://www.marygrove.edu/library/tutorial/research/tutorial12a.asp
I would guess that the main reason for not purging these old materials and replacing them with new, is funding. It would seem though, that current research materials would be a high priority for any major university library. The fact that many research items have gone "digital", may decrease the demand for material in "book" form.
That seemed strangely outdated. When writing my thesis in Grad School, my second draft, being a couple of years from the original, caused my advisor to suggested I insert fresher information/research sources.
Why then would a major university library maintain 40+ year old books? Of course some subjects, hard sciences like physics, chemistry, and or mathematics would change quickly. Literature, of course, contains many "classics" and would cover centuries. Social Sciences, would at first thought, have a slightly longer time frame than hard science to be considered out of date for research.
Is there any rule of thumb? Why yes, there seems to be.
http://www.marygrove.edu/library/tutorial/research/tutorial12a.asp
I would guess that the main reason for not purging these old materials and replacing them with new, is funding. It would seem though, that current research materials would be a high priority for any major university library. The fact that many research items have gone "digital", may decrease the demand for material in "book" form.
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