Stop What You’re Doing and Read This - Book Review

What follows are ten essays written by writers, publishers, scientists and other reading advocates who tell their version of how reading can transform a reader’s brain, mind, and soul. I loved the idea of this book when the publisher offered me a copy because I cannot convince people to read. I wish I could, but I have no idea how to do it. I can simply speak my own experience. “Why  should you read?” I might say to a non-reader. “Well, because I  have read, and it’s gotten into me somehow. I feel connected to the booming life of history. I feel embedded in words that generations will read long after I’m gone, and generations have read long before I existed. I’m in the conversation now, and I want to remain plugged into it. I’m empathetic now. I’m calmer. I’m no longer a solitary mind steeping in self-doubt and fear and the longing for joy; I am one of a whole soul of people who feels just like me. That is why you should read. To be part of that.” This is what I say over and over when people ask me why they should read, and it never elicits transformation. It actually puzzles people who see literature as a waste of time and readers as self-gratifying “bookworms”.

And it seems so insubstantial. All of the essays in Stop What You’re Doing and Read This!, while told in different styles and from different points of view, ultimately support the final essay, which is highly technical and discusses how the brain works when one is reading, and what can happen to the brain if one does not exercise it by reading deeply enough, not to simply take in knowledge and spit it back out, but to analyze it, form a conclusion, and support that conclusion as an individual and newborn thought inspired by reading but created in the mind of the reader. This final essay warns readers that to fail to think deeply actually weakens the brain, and that technology which offers readers short-cuts in deep thinking will have grave effects on the minds of those new souls entering our 21st century who will form tomorrow’s leaders. The final essay seems to plea with all those who have read the prior essays and can say, “Yes, yes. I love literature too. I can see the point of reading.”

“You love literature? Then we need you. We need to figure out where to go in the 21st century: how to save literature, keep it vital, and retrain the human brain to receive it, not docilely, but richly. We need you to fight with us. Teach your children. Train your brains. Do not fade into technology. Do not become lazy readers. Literature is too rich to die this death, and it will not die if we refuse to become passive. If literature affects life as deeply as we have laid out in this book, then the changing dynamics of literature will deeply alter life. We must be prepared for this and face it intellectually.” (The above quote is me analyzing and paraphrasing.) Many of the essays in the collection offer personal anecdotes about the life of a reader which demonstrate the enriching power of literature. I enjoyed these but felt far more energized by the essays that discuss the effect of the tools of writing on the brain.

My favorite essay in the collection was by far “The Right Words in the Right Order” by Mark Haddon. He dissects how words and their placement creates effects within the mind of the reader. For example, “Sad.” What a small word for the depth that is true sadness. Writers, poets take that intense longing, and that tiny little word, and combine it with other words that create rhythms that pierce the very soul, and readers feel  what the word cannot truly demonstrate. We live it because it is universal. As a new-budding writer, I found this essay particularly fascinating. Haddon addresses how writers create an illusion of life with just the alphabet,  and why it works. He also compares literature to its more popular cousin these days, film: “Stop reading right now. Look around you. It doesn’t matter if you’re lying in bed or sitting in a crowded tube carriage. This is what film can’t do. The sense of being inside  looking out,  of seeing a world that belongs to everyone but is nevertheless yours alone.” Mark Haddon - “The Right Words in the Right Order” (Essay #5).

DIY Electronic Project - A Wireless Microphone

Are you a “do it yourself” project enthusiast? If you are this is for you! First, building the circuit! This circuit is a popular phantom powered circuit based on the Schleps Design. It is a very easy and very clean circuit. The biggest trick with building it for a wireless microphone is laying it out on the perfboard. There’s not much space to get everything into the body. Follow the layouts and you should be fine. The microphone capsule has an internal fet and biasing, two large parts aren’t needed. The capsule I’ve chosen for this project is a Projects Unlimited capsule – 6538 L-R. It’s a great capsule and I have found the sonic quality to rival the famous Panasonic WM-61AY capsules. You can choose to use Panasonics here instead, if you like without changing anything else on the circuit.

With steel wool, lightly buff the copper side of the perfboard. This will mean that the soldering will be better. Then, with snippers, carefully cut a rectangle on the perfboard, more diy projects. Slide the board into the aluminum tube to make sure it goes in. File the edges of the perfboard smooth if it doesn’t fit. The fit should be snug.  This is very important: make sure that no metal edges of the perfboard touch the aluminum body – only the fiberglass portion. If you cut too much, try again (you should have plenty of perfboard). Stuff the board (build the circuit). The Resisters will go in vertically. That means that one leg stays straight while the other is bent in a 180 degree loop. Use bits of the snipped resister and capacitor legs to act as the bridges from one hole to another. Everything should be very straightforward. Make sure to note the + and – of the capacitors and Zeners.

Another World

Yesterday seemed like a day-long episode of the Twilight Zone. First there was the sighting of Sly Stallone in the Italian Market, then yesterday evening, I went with Bridgette to deliver a painting of mine that recently sold to the client's home. Most of the time, people will pick up work from the gallery, but once in a while, she'll deliver the piece(s) herself. She'd called me Tuesday afternoon and asked me if I wanted to go along to meet the purchasers and I said yes. I'm always interested in who is buying my works and where they wind up. Anyway, this particular client lives in Moorestown, NJ. Bridgette and I drove up, almost got lost, but made it in time to meet the guy and his wife at their place. During the last part of our drive, it's getting darker and the houses are getting bigger, and bigger, and yeah, you get the idea. The mail boxes are almost half-a-block away from the houses in this particular development. The good thing is that the houses are not the ugly, cookie-cutter homes you normally see in suburban, and increasingly, urban, developements. It also wasn't a gated community. Nonetheless, the neighborhood seemed, well, sterile and cold, and not just from the weather last night. I'm too used to seeing people walk around at night and standing there looking at these places, I couldn't imagine much life happening there, despite the obvious presence of people in their homes. Maybe it was the newness of everything. From the looks of it, these houses haven't been up for long, a few months at the most. The lawns were also a little too green.

At first, we were afraid that we had the wrong place, but luckily, Bridgette's instincts were on target. The wife opened the door, toting one of her young sons and let us in, painting in tow. As expected, the inside was as big as it looked. The husband was in the kitchen and after getting settled, the wife showed us around the house. It was big, but modest in style and very relfective of the owners. Bridgette and I kept looking at each other every time she showed us room after room. We didn't even make it to the third floor. There wasn't time for that anyway since Bridgette had another meeting last night and the client had a dinner to get to. We chose the best spot for the work and hung it. I've always wondered who lived in places like this and I got to find out last night. This couple, at least, was very nice and down-to-earth. They're genuinely into collecting contemporary work and very curious. They asked a lot of good questions and aren't into art just for the hell of it. I have gotten to meet other collectors of my work, but most of the time, that was at the gallery. I like connecting with the people who buy my work, but I felt a huge disconnect lifestyle-wise. I couldn't imagine living in a suburban development and having a place that requires having people come in and clean. There's no way they do their own house-keeping in a home that big. Everything was too new, also. I need a good mix of old and new where I live. Overall, it was a good experience. I liked meeting the couple and they are enjoying the painting and paying for it, so everybody benefits. 

Are You Always on the Run?

Mineral makeup is the answer! If you are like billions of women around the state it looks as though we are constantly on the run. Between work, errands, shopping, school activities, household events, doctor's appointments... there really is never adequate clip to acquire it all done. Usually taking attention of yourself, especially how you look, is one of the last things on the listing and often doesn't acquire done at all. Well, it doesn't have got to be that way. There is a fast and easy solution to having natural and beautiful looking skin. It's called mineral makeup. Mineral constitution is fast emerging as a favourite among American women as we go more than aware of what we are putting on our tegument and how that personal effects how we look. Not all Mineral Makeups are alike but pure mineral constitution is non-comedogenic and hypoallergenic with no unreal chemicals, additives or animate being by-products, waxes or fillers. It is actually lulling and healing to the tegument and is the lone constitution recommended by plastic surgeons and dermatologists followers surgical tegument and facial treatments. Not only is pure vitamins and minerals constitution actually good for your tegument it supplies first-class insurance while feeling lightweight-like you're not wearing any constitution at all. It gives you natural, healthier and little looking skin.

For the adult female on the go, the benefits of mineral constitution are many. The newest mineral makeups come up in a pressed expression so there is no mess. And no clip wasted cleaning loose minerals off of your countertops or flooring or changing your shirt (again). Pressed mineral constitution is also very easy to apply. A few speedy brushwood shots in any way and you're done. Some mineral makeups come up in convenient powder compacts so you can just throw them in your bag and go. But mineral constitution is very H2O resistant and, even through a strenuous workout, doesn't rub off. So there is usually no demand to reapply your constitution at all throughout the twenty-four hours economy you cherished time. Mineral constitution also have a natural SPF 15. So, unless you take to, there is no demand to add an further sunscreen to your constitution modus operandi, economy you clip and money. A pure mineral constitution is also extremely versatile. The colours can be worn on the cheeks, lips or eyes so coordinating your constitution is a snap. And there is no demand to pass money on respective constitution products. Because mineral constitution blends with your skin's ain facial oils, it doesn't have got got to fit exactly like regular constitution so you don't have to worry about limit lines or purchasing a new constitution every clip your suntan deepens or lightens a shade. With all the fantastic benefits of pure natural mineral constitution in clip and money savings, it really is the perfect solution for the woman on the run!

IlluxCon

Greetings all. Sorry for the silence, but I've been having some technical difficulties, namely dropping WIFI in my room. After spending a few hours trying to maintain a connection for more than a few moments I gave it up and decided to see if I had better luck today. Yeah! I'm off and running! I flew over to Altoona, PA on Wednesday. It was a day full of airports and airplanes. Thankfully, there was nothing exciting to report. When I hit Dulles Airport, I hooked up with a few partners in crime, Ben Thompson, Daren Bader, and Rob Ruppel. I've had the pleasure the meet Ben and Daren before, but this was my first opportunity to meet Rob. What a wonderful party to travel with! Funny, and fantastic conversations. After climbing off the tiny prop plane in Altoona, we wandered our way over to the Ramada hotel. While checking in, we ran into Patrick and Jeannie Wilshire (my wonderful guests for this trip) and got the invite to a late dinner, but before that I updated my cartoon coloring pages baby :) Off we went with a contingent of artists and collectors. I had a blast! I made the mistake of sitting in the middle of the table, and surrounding myself by 18 gifted and talented folks. I struggled to hear every single conversation going on... I failed miserably. But is was hysterical what happens when you only hear half of a sentence every minute or so. It's amazing how inappropriate most conversations end of sounding! After dinner, it was time to hit the sack. Thursday started off bright and early. My room is near the dumpsters, and the garbage truck makes it's daily visit at 6 am, which is 3 am on my body clock. Off to breakfast... I found that Rob was also a early riser, and we had breakfast together. I have a confession to make. I'm a huge had of Rob's work. I cut my teeth on the work of Rob, Brom, Jeff Easley, Clyde Caldwell, and Larry Elmore back in my formative D&D years.

Rob was the only one of those guys I had not met in person, and I had trouble not just being a big fan boy around him. Like so many of the artists I know, he's just a down-to-earth guy, and has some great experiences and insights to share. I've really enjoyed having the opportunity to meet him. Shortly after breakfast it was off to the Discovery Center (Heritage Center? I've heard it called both names) for set up. True I didn't have anything to set up, but I helped haul a couple of boxes, and lent my opinion about how things should be hung...when someone was foolish enough to ask. I spent most of the day harrassing Lars Grant West. Lars is a wonderful guy, and as I found, easy to distract from the task of hanging his art. That gave me the opportunity to swing by every 1/2 an hour and comment about the fact that he only had one piece hanging... Yes, I can be cruel sometimes. I was a blast getting the chance to visit everyone again. Then it was time to get to work. Portfolio reviews! Just a few this evening, but it was a nice warm-up for the rest of the weekend. Here are a few pics from set-up on thursday. Vincent Villafranca shows off some of his wearable art. Ben Thompson getting the final touches finished on his booth. Rob Ruppel resting after the very strenuous act of hanging all his art on the wall...okay, so there wasn't a lot of pieces, but the giant "butt" was the talk of the set-up. Tom Kuebler mugging behind one of his amazing creations. Dave Seeley was busy doing all kinds of serious construction projects to bring some light to his corner (hopefully Sam will recover from his injuries quickly). Dave also provided an energetic sound track for the build and was awseome. Cyril Van Der Haegen takes a little time after setting up to get some work done. More to come...

The House of Frankenstein

One of my all-time favorite movies is The House of Frankenstein, released in 1944. It was the fifth of a series of movies about Frankenstein's monster and friends. The first was released in the 1930s. It was loosely based (and I mean loosely, they didn't even get the scientist's first name right) on Mary Shelley's novel. The Bride of Frankenstein was a direct sequel. It started where the first movie left off and described the events that occurred when the monster wants a bride. It deviates even more from the novel. In the third movie, Son of Frankenstein, Frankenstein's son returns to the castle to take over. The son is English. No explanation is given as to why he was raised in Britain. In Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman, the wolfman searches for Frankenstein's notes in order to cure himself of werewolfism. Finally in House of Frankenstein, everybody's favorite monsters of that time, the monster, a mad doctor, a hunchback and Dracula, are all together for the first time. The final movie in the series was House of Dracula, whose plot was similar to Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman, only it is Dracula who wants to be cured of vampirism. All of these movies are worth seeing and entertaining. The reason I liked House of Frankenstein best was the acting and the subplots. Note: if you intend to watch the movie, the next three paragraphs contain spoilers.

The film focuses on the exploits of the vengeful Dr. Gustav Niemann, who escapes from prison with his cellmate, the hunchback Daniel, to which he promises to create a new, beautiful body. The two murder a traveling showman and take over his horror exhibit. To exact revenge on Hussmann, who had once caused his imprisonment, Niemann revives Count Dracula. Dracula seduces Hussmann's granddaughter-in-law and kills Hussmann himself, but in a subsequent chase, Niemann disposes of Dracula's coffin, causing the vampire to perish in sunlight. Niemann and Daniel move on to the flooded ruins of Castle Frankenstein, where they find the bodies of the Frankenstein Monster and Lawrence Talbot, the Wolfman, preserved in the frozen waters. Nieman thaws out the two and promises Talbot to cure him from werewolfism. However, in fact he is more interested in reviving the Frankenstein monster and exacting revenge on two former associates than in his promises to Daniel or Talbot. Talbot transforms into a werewolf and kills a man, arousing the villagers. Talbot is also envied by the hunchback Daniel as both love Ilonka, a gypsy girl. She has fallen in love with Talbot but is the object of Daniel's affection. Daniel reveals Talbot's curse to Ilonka but she is not deterred and promises to help him in fighting the curse.

Things enter a critical stage at night, as Niemann revives the Frankenstein monster and Talbot again turns into a werewolf. Talbot is shot by Ilonka with a silver bullet, thereby releasing him, but Ilonka is killed in the process. Daniel blames her death on Niemann and begins to choke him. The Frankenstein monster intervenes, throws Daniel out of the window, and carries the half-conscious Niemann outside, where the villagers begin to chase them and drive them into the marshes. There, both the monster and Niemann drown in quicksand. The movie had a superb cast as follows: Boris Karloff as Dr. Gustav Niemann, Lon Chaney, Jr. as Lawrence Talbot/The Wolfman, J. Carrol Naish as Daniel, Elena Verdugo as Ilonka, John Carradine as Dracula a. k. a. Baron Latos, Glenn Strange as the Monster, Anne Gwynne as Rita Hussman. J. Carrol Naish's performance is especially good as the lovesick hunchback in love with a gypsy girl, also well played by Elena Verdugo. Karloff and Carradine are also superb. And of course, Lon Chaney, as always, plays the werewolf with sympathy and pathos. Excellent acting by everyone in the cast. They deserved, but never received, Oscars. In fact the movie was panned by most critics. That's why I never listen to critics.

Programming Your Mind to Lose Weight

To lose weight fast is the unrealistic goal of many overweight people and is the main reason that frustration with any program they try. How to lose weight fast today with a very scientific process. There are strategies which you can find on Google that are designed to help you to lose the extra weight fast. You should reduce the number of calories, initially by 250 - 500 per day for the first week or until you stop losing weight for a few days. To reduce the calories substitute high calorie foods for the low fat variety. After a week you should further reduce your calorie intake by another 200 per day. Make sure that you have some high protein foods (milk, eggs, chicken, tofu, yogurt, cheese or roast beef). Our bodies are made of 90% water. All of our internal systems function better and our skin will look and feel better if we stay hydrated. Always drink plenty of water, reduce coffee, tea and especially soft drinks as well as reduce your salt intake. Cook vegetables without salt added to the water. To continue to lose weight fast you should begin a weight training program specific for you to maintain muscle. Initially when trying to lose weight fast, the body tends to lose muscle as well as fat. We only want to lose weight by losing fat. Your weight training program should be every second day.

On the alternate days you should develop an aerobic work out. This may simply be walking or swimming. Aerobic work outs only burn fat. Most exercises tend to be a combination of aerobic and anaerobic which means that you will burn both fat and carbohydrates. Whatever combination of diet and exercise you use you should never reduce your calorie intake below 1500 calories. Your body still needs energy to function. A good time to begin any exercise program that will help you to lose weight fast is to exercise first thing in the morning. First thing in the morning is good for a couple of reasons. It gets you moving, you feel an accomplishment before your day gets going, you have completed another goal for the day early on. Exercise can sometimes generate endorphons naturally. These make you feel great, that you can do anything. If you get them going first thing in the morning you will feel good all day. Later in the day it is easier to be distracted or persuaded to do something else during the time you had planned for exercise. Although you want to lose weight and with the best weight loss diet plan it can be done that way, it is better long term to lose weight slow. When you lose weight more slowly the lose weight tends to be maintained for longer periods. If you develop healthy eating and exercise habits you will be able to maintain your weight at your desired level.