I fight a losing battle, it seems. It is an ancient struggle that takes no prisoners and everyone fights it. It is the Coffee vs. Tea War. Today I have found an opponent on the Tea side. He is my old friend and I call him Retsam.
Me: Where are you from and why do you like tea?
Retsam: I'm from London, England. I prefer tea because of the delicious taste, the fact that coffee makes me ill, and tea is healthy for you!
Me: Don’t you feel that you are biased because you are from ‘Tea Country’?
Retsam: Not at all! We're a very multi-drink society! We have coffee outlets such as Starbucks and Costa Coffee here, amongst other brands.
Me: But are they as successful as tea places?
Retsam: They're very, very successful. But people still buy tea from places like ASDA (the British version of Wal-Mart)
Me: Walmart, so good the British had to have a version of their own
Retsam: Yes. Well, Wal-Mart owns ASDA, you see.
Me: If, say, Sarah Palin were to promote coffee, would you switch your position?
Retsam: That depends. If she were to promote frappachinos from Starbucks, I'd be there like a shot!
Me: Let me write that down in my battle planbook.
Retsam: Very well.
Me: So what makes frappachinos different from regular coffee for you?
Retsam: They're iced and tasty. And they don't make me feel ill in the way that regular coffee does.
Me: So you are a staunch Tea Supporter, besides going to the Coffee Side for Frappachinos?
Retsam: Yes. I am very definitely a Tea Supporter!
Me: What made you become a Tea Supporter? Was it the scones?
Retsam: Yes! I was brought up on Tea from a very early age.
Me: So you admit to being brain washed.
Retsam: Yes.
Me: Did Kreia or Palin brainwash you?
Retsam: Both did.
Me: What did they bribe you with?
Retsam: Cookies, chocolate, and powah!
Me: What if I offered you cookies, chocolate, and powah to be a Coffee Supporter?
Retsam: Hmm. Interesting.
Me: I will wrap up this interview now and we can discuss my last offer later. Any last words?
Retsam: I love my Tea! You're officially invited to a Tea Party too!
Thank you again, Retsam, for allowing me to interview you! Though I might not take you up your offer...
Friday, January 21, 2011
Thursday, January 20, 2011
The Host Rant (Part 6)
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Wednesday, January 19, 2011
First Person POV
I am one of the few, the proud, the people who can write in the first person point of view. I don't know what it is with me, but I'm the opposite of most people. You see, most writers (non-professional) seem to not be able to comprehend writing in the first person POV (Point Of View).
One person says it seems like you're roleplaying. That is actually one of the reasons I like writing in the First Person POV. I get to be in the action. Does this mean I always write my main character as this super powered person. Nope. One story I wrote I managed to have a helpless woman (don't worry, I've written other stories with a strong female character) in her nightgown fight off a vampire-like creature.
It also seems like first person is childish to some people. I don't know why a POV, any, would have to be childish. I can understand not liking it, but I don't write to a child audience. And some famous writers (H.P.Lovecraft and Edgar Allen Poe, to name a few) wrote in the First Person POV.
I think a downside of First Person POV is the fact that if you don't have a good/interesting main character people will want to murder your main character. If you have a bad/uninteresting main character the reader will probably be cursing your name. I've read some books/stories where the main character is bad (Wanderer from The Host by Stephenie Meyer) and others where the main character is good (Harry Dresden from The Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher).
I feel like First Person POV doesn't get enough love. It's as though, when I'm writing, that I'm practicing something that has gone out of style a long time ago. If you don't like the First Person POV really look at it. It has its ups and down.
Why don't I write in Third Person POV? It just gives me too many options. First Person POV allows me to focus.
One person says it seems like you're roleplaying. That is actually one of the reasons I like writing in the First Person POV. I get to be in the action. Does this mean I always write my main character as this super powered person. Nope. One story I wrote I managed to have a helpless woman (don't worry, I've written other stories with a strong female character) in her nightgown fight off a vampire-like creature.
It also seems like first person is childish to some people. I don't know why a POV, any, would have to be childish. I can understand not liking it, but I don't write to a child audience. And some famous writers (H.P.Lovecraft and Edgar Allen Poe, to name a few) wrote in the First Person POV.
I think a downside of First Person POV is the fact that if you don't have a good/interesting main character people will want to murder your main character. If you have a bad/uninteresting main character the reader will probably be cursing your name. I've read some books/stories where the main character is bad (Wanderer from The Host by Stephenie Meyer) and others where the main character is good (Harry Dresden from The Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher).
I feel like First Person POV doesn't get enough love. It's as though, when I'm writing, that I'm practicing something that has gone out of style a long time ago. If you don't like the First Person POV really look at it. It has its ups and down.
Why don't I write in Third Person POV? It just gives me too many options. First Person POV allows me to focus.
The Host Rant (Part 5)
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Monday, January 17, 2011
Complaining Online
Oh, boy, is this ever a rich ground to talk about. For awhile this didn't really concern me until a friend on Facebook started to really complain. I understand if someone is having a bad day. Heck, I get depressed at random so I understand feeling down.
The difference comes with not doing anything about your depression. This person says she/he suffers from depression and so can't help it. However, I know people with depression who struggle but survive and are able to cope. This person disregarded any help that was given to him/her. I told my story and someone gave her story.
What did we get for helping this person? Being told that we were mean and bad people. Finally I wrote this person off as an attention seeker.
Like people who troll, lots of people like to complain about everything for attention. What is disgusting about this is that people will pity the attention seeker. It's like they expect the person to really be telling the truth when it's obvious that the person is just seeking attention.
The difference comes with not doing anything about your depression. This person says she/he suffers from depression and so can't help it. However, I know people with depression who struggle but survive and are able to cope. This person disregarded any help that was given to him/her. I told my story and someone gave her story.
What did we get for helping this person? Being told that we were mean and bad people. Finally I wrote this person off as an attention seeker.
Like people who troll, lots of people like to complain about everything for attention. What is disgusting about this is that people will pity the attention seeker. It's like they expect the person to really be telling the truth when it's obvious that the person is just seeking attention.
True Grit (2010)
I've been wanting to see this movie for a little while now. I then heard a bunch of good reviews and was finally able to go see it.
Title: True Grit
Medium: Movie
Director: Ethan and Joel Coen
Starring: Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, and Hailee Steinfeld
Released: 2010
Rating: 5/5
Basic Plot: Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld) gets Rooster Coggburn (Jeff Bridges) to help her track and murder her father's killer.
Mattie Ross
This girl just steals the show. Her character is supposed to be fourteen years old but she acts more mature than I did at that age. Even adult characters are surprised that such a young girl can show such control. Hailee Steinfeld does an excellent job at portraying this character. She is able to be mature without seeming too mature. Mattie is still able to appear like a real teenager at times.
Transitions
The transitions are done very good in this movie. The montage portion I liked very much and wished it could've gone on a little longer. Though it going on longer would've slowed the pace down too much.
The Tracking
You are never shown where the murderer is so you are put right in the middle of the tracking. Showing where the murderer is would've ruined the excellent tension the movie had. When the murderer is finally shown the scene is dramatic because you don't expect it.
Grandma Turner
This character is a small one that made me laugh a little. Mattie Ross is staying in a room with Grandma Turner who turns over and takes all the covers. I have been in a situation where I had to share a bed with someone who snored loudly.
Final Thoughts
This movie was as good as expected. I loved the tension in this movie. In any work of fiction I like tension. Tension provides a good sense of the conflict. I don't like works where you can't feel any tension (Chronicles of Narnia series for example, but just the book versions). If you're looking for a beautiful movie with a good plot and execution, you should see this movie.
Title: True Grit
Medium: Movie
Director: Ethan and Joel Coen
Starring: Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, and Hailee Steinfeld
Released: 2010
Rating: 5/5
Basic Plot: Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld) gets Rooster Coggburn (Jeff Bridges) to help her track and murder her father's killer.
Mattie Ross
This girl just steals the show. Her character is supposed to be fourteen years old but she acts more mature than I did at that age. Even adult characters are surprised that such a young girl can show such control. Hailee Steinfeld does an excellent job at portraying this character. She is able to be mature without seeming too mature. Mattie is still able to appear like a real teenager at times.
Transitions
The transitions are done very good in this movie. The montage portion I liked very much and wished it could've gone on a little longer. Though it going on longer would've slowed the pace down too much.
The Tracking
You are never shown where the murderer is so you are put right in the middle of the tracking. Showing where the murderer is would've ruined the excellent tension the movie had. When the murderer is finally shown the scene is dramatic because you don't expect it.
Grandma Turner
This character is a small one that made me laugh a little. Mattie Ross is staying in a room with Grandma Turner who turns over and takes all the covers. I have been in a situation where I had to share a bed with someone who snored loudly.
Final Thoughts
This movie was as good as expected. I loved the tension in this movie. In any work of fiction I like tension. Tension provides a good sense of the conflict. I don't like works where you can't feel any tension (Chronicles of Narnia series for example, but just the book versions). If you're looking for a beautiful movie with a good plot and execution, you should see this movie.
jashycam 5
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