coComments related to cjwriter

I couldn’t complete the quiz.

2009-10-16T08:48:05.566+02:00

I couldn’t complete the quiz. It was obviously aimed a young people who like to drink. It started with New Years and gave me options to choose from but none of them “fit” so I quit.CJ: I know what you mean, TT. Now that I’m looking back, some of the questions are definitely strange. I’ll have to choose more carefully next time. Thanks for trying anyway.

Alright, I caved. I tried to

2009-10-16T08:47:58.900+02:00

Alright, I caved. I tried to not take this quiz, really, but in the end, curiosity won out. Looks like you’re having quite the party, there, cj! Just what did you answer to get that result? I mean, I didn’t answer in a 100% angelic manner, but look what I got: I was NICE this year!“You’re an uber-perfect person who is on the top of Santa’s list. You probably didn’t even *think* any naughty thoughts this year. Unless you’re a Mormon, you’ve probably been a little too good. Is that extra candy cane worth being a sweetheart for 365 days straight?”How humiliating. And, I am not a Mormon. (Not that there’s anything wrong with that!) CJ: Hm, now I’m thinking I should have posted the other quiz instead. All these results seem a little insulting, like there’s no good result. Either I’ve got cirrhosis or apparently you’re a Mormon because you’ve been good… weird.I think my result was because of Halloween and Thanksgiving. As we don’t do them much, I had to imagine how I’d react… that probably tipped me over the edge. Btw, a bit off-topic, but it’s funny how many Seinfeld phrases I’ve been hearing lately! I know I say “serenity now!” a lot around Christmas.

You just can’t beat those old

2009-09-28T04:47:34.747+02:00

You just can’t beat those old vintage jigsaw puzzles, thats a good one CJ: Thanks, glad you liked it.

Ah, that explains it. A worth

2009-09-26T07:44:52.644+02:00

Ah, that explains it. A worthy philosophy (about money) indeed! I will admit to to knowing that at least ONE of the charachters utters that expression “D’oh” (don’t know which one), and have HEARD the names “Bart”, “Homer” and “Lisa”–after all one does see the promos at times, but I will confess that during all the 432 years it’s been on television, I’ve never watched an entire episode. I have no particular animosity towards it–it just didn’t catch my attention. But, very entertaining journey, thanks. I’ll leave you to spend your piles of money and strike terror in the hearts of fellow bloggers!CJ: It does feel like The Simpsons has been around forever, doesn’t it? It just won’t die! It’s actually been around long enough to cover three generations; I’ve been watching it since I was 7, my parents like it, and someone just a bit older than me could have children old enough to watch it… sheesh, now I feel old!It’s Homer who says “D’oh”, btw, if you were wondering. It’s even part of the Oxford English Dictionary now: “colloq. expressing frustration at the realization that things have turned out badly or not as planned”. I wonder if the writers ever imagined becoming part of the public lexicon?

I totally agree with museditio

2009-09-17T23:43:26.702+02:00

I totally agree with museditions about the wondering if something has happened if people are suddenly not blogging regularly. I email people if concerned. I would rather come across nosy or a worrywart than miss out on critical life issues that can stop some people from blogging. I believe it is never too late to send thoughts on greeting cards. It is truly wonderful to receive such mail, especially if it is from a distance.CJ: I think it’s natural that sometimes we’d need a break from blogging; something can interfere in our everyday lives or we just need time to recharge… it shouldn’t feel like an obligation. But I worry too, particularly when I don’t see someone around the community, or if their posts take on a different tone… I drop them a line then as well.It’s lovely getting real mail, isn’t it? Something with real handwriting… I guess this is why they have belated birthday cards! Thanks for stopping by, MQ.

@cjwriter It was exactly a yea

2009-09-15T15:42:55.006+02:00

@cjwriter It was exactly a year ago today that I said my last goodbye to my beloved horses. They were old (32 years). They were sick and suffering and keeping them alive would have been the easier and more cruel choice to make. Throughout these last 3 weeks I have been grieving and when I read this poem I was deeply moved, so much so, that all I could say in my comment was a single word.You are, without doubt, a very talented writer and I thank you for sharing.Namste {she bows}CJ: I’m so sorry to hear that, TT; I can only imagine what that connection, and loss, must have been like for you. But I’m humbled to think that my poem could reach out to you; that’s more than I ever could have imagined. Thank you for sharing that. Peace to you, always.

cj, I meant to get back to you

2009-09-11T14:20:00.742+02:00

cj, I meant to get back to you about this because you were so VERY interested in my blanket! No, it was not quite like in Narnia, however, at the time I had my blanket I was first exposed to The Tales of a Thousand Nights and One Night otherwise known as Arabian Nights. I was completely entranced by the stories, many of which featured flying carpets. I would sit on my blanket, and close my eyes, and imagine flying here and there. (Did I really “imagine” that?)Regarding the name of your wonderful invisible duck: I don’t know how he acquired his name, but it sounded Asian to me, perhaps Chinese, I thought. (I have, at times, been immersed in Asian culture). It turns out those words are Vietnamese. You may already have looked it up, but I found the most frequently referenced use of those names together in this:Fire Dragon Festival, North Vietnam, early February [celebrates the] victory by which King Quang Trung defeated the Quing invading army, in 1789.So it appears your duck has quite a noble lineage, strength, courage, and even a balance between two opposing sides.CJ: Well, you mentioned the blanket so mysteriously, Muse, I couldn’t just let it go. That’s interesting, though, so the blanket was still an imaginative device, in that it took you away into this other world of the stories… and who’s to say what we imagine is any less real than what’s around us? I used to love One Thousand and One Nights too, the stories of Aladin, Ali Baba, Sinbad… I found it again later with my studies of mythology, and the themes are fascinating, particularly the similarities with other myths and tales.I think Quing Quang came from childish talk, but maybe I picked it up from a tv special or something like that… if not, it’s a funny coincidence! The opposing sides is interesting because I always thought it sounded like Yin and Yang, as a child might mispronounce them… interesting, I’ll have to give it some more thought. I know my favourite toy was a monkey called Dum Dum, which I think came from the Bridge of Khazad-dûm. Maybe I have a history of doing it, eh?

What is vice, anyway? tt, did

2009-09-07T23:04:21.092+02:00

What is vice, anyway? tt, did you take the Simpson’s test? Maybe you wouldn’t get the beer guy. I think cj’s wrong, one can escape the Simpsons. (Perhaps he’ll forgive me for talking about him on his own blog as if he wasn’t in the room!) Seriously, I don’t know who these characters are. Do you hate beer because it’s alcoholic? Or because of the taste? I never liked it until I visited Germany, and learned that what we have in the US is…not worth describing. But, is it at all necessary to my health & happiness–nah! That’s why I was surprised I got that beer/Simpson fellow I’ve never heard of! Particularly since I’m supposed to be non-addictive! What gives here, cj? I don’t exactly see you as your stated Simpson person, either Perhaps you really are very evil, and you just cover it well. CJ: Wow, so you’ve really been able to avoid all things Simpsons, Muse? I think that would have to be a first. Some of my friends didn’t watch it for a long time but even they were absorbing it as it entered the culture. So if I said “D’oh” you wouldn’t know who that comes from?And the reason I was happy with Mr. Burns is he’s one of my favourite characters. I’m not that much like him, but he has the best lines. I mean, what good is money if it can’t inspire terror in your fellow man?

I guess you could say I’m part

2009-09-05T15:42:45.216+02:00

I guess you could say I’m part of the revival of Winter Solstice movement that occurred in the 1980’s.Winter Solstice is one of the most ancient celebrations found the world over. In fact, this traditional mid-winter celebration was usurped by early christians when their Roman masters renamed it “Christmas”. And we all witnessed it evolving into a commercialized nightmare bound up in pseudo-religious trappings.In the early 1980’s my friends and I replaced commercialized christmas with Winter Solstice celebrations. We eat, sing, dance, hug and kiss, recount the events of the past year. make plans for the new one and wish each other well. The food is a to-die-for ethic smorgasbord. It includes vegan, ovo-lacto vegetarian foods as well as the traditional roasted dead bird.Following that on christmas day we “pagans” become the kitchen and clean-up crew for a huge all inclusive community meal, sing-along and dance.CJ: That’s interesting. I know a few people here who observe Winter Solstice, but it’s obviously different for us as it occurs on June 20 or 21, so it doesn’t get mixed up with religious festivities. They find it empowering and spiritually uplifting, particularly rekindling the lifestyle we used to follow centuries ago.Your celebrations sound very like the spirit of the season I connect with; being together, sharing a meal, planning for the new year… the meal sounds like a more balanced reflection of modern society as well than what we seem to manage. Many people here still insist on a hot roast, which hardly matches our climate. If Christmas is more for children anyway, adults can probably separate themselves from it more easily than they think.I remember reading John Grisham’s Skipping Christmas a few years ago. That was interesting, but I thought the message (their “rediscovering” Christmas) at the end ruined it. I’d love to see a more adult commentary but I doubt it exists. Maybe I’ll have to write it.

Posted on November 14, 2007 by

2009-08-25T23:52:26.737+02:00

Posted on November 14, 2007 by Jamie Thought I’d share this with you all. CJ mentioned this link to FreeRice.com, which is basically a vocabulary quiz, sponsored by Macy’s,

My result was the same as muse

2009-08-20T14:23:49.540+02:00

My result was the same as musededitions – 30% I don’t watch the Simpsons. I don’t know who the character is. And I hate, loathe and despise beer.CJ: Thanks for taking it, TT. Somehow I thought you and Muse might get the same result. I don’t drink myself, and I don’t smoke or anything either, so I’m no fan of beer and what it does to people. But I like the way The Simpsons uses it to show the characters’ flaws. The Simpsons is such a part of the culture now that you really can’t escape it, for good or ill.

oops, paragraph 3, sentence 5

2009-08-19T20:52:51.968+02:00

oops, paragraph 3, sentence 5 s/b “This may be a bit…” not “They may…” Didn’t want to pin that on anyone else!CJ: I didn’t even notice when I read it. Funny the difference a few misplaced words can make, eh? Neil Armstrong’s still living it down.

Hi Sheldon – thanks for stoppi

2009-08-18T21:08:18.784+02:00

Hi Sheldon – thanks for stopping by. Audible is fairly reasonable in price, particularly for American subscribers; it is more expensive for international subscribers, however. I pay about $18.50 (AU) a month for my subscription to Audible, which is much cheaper than buying audiobooks from Dymocks or another bookstore, but works out to about the same price as a paperback over here.If Audible had a set price internationally, and individual audiobooks were a little cheaper as well (the Harry Potter audiobooks are over $150 AU, for instance), then I think more people would try them. As it is you have to have something of an interest in audiobooks already to know that it’s actually very good value for the price.But I agree libraries are great sources for audiobooks and with Audible, they’ve started to compliment my own personal collection; Australian libraries have just started letting users download audiobooks (as well as ebooks) to their iPods, which is very convenient and a great way for people to start listening to audiobooks. Perhaps that’s something which more and more libraries will start to do in the future.I still enjoy both reading and listening to audiobooks and don’t find much difference overall, but I do find that certain books suit an audio reading much more. Biographies and poetry are some of my favourites to listen to, as you get to hear the author give life to their work in their own voice. I also like short story collections as I can listen to them in one go. Thrillers are something I prefer to read; I love turning the pages as the plot speeds up. But I think whatever gets people, particularly children, reading more is a good thing and hopefully audiobooks are playing an important role in that. Happy reading!

I must admit that the first ti

2009-08-16T19:39:56.751+02:00

I must admit that the first time I read it I didn’t realise it was about death. I did become melancholy about saying goodbye, and about change.Then, on a second reading, I was convinced death has its own beauty, even combined with poignant longing.CJ: I agree, I believe death does have it’s own beauty, if it’s accepted and natural, and we can make our peace. It’s the fear of death in Western society that seems unnatural to me; it’s a part of life, and a time of sorrow, but of remembrance as well, and I find beauty in that.It was the longing, and the remembrance, I wanted to convey as well, so I’m glad you could take several different things from it, Muse; that’s a great compliment, and it means so much to me. Thank you.

Beauty, i’ve spent the best pa

2009-08-12T15:15:59.133+02:00

Beauty, i’ve spent the best part of this evening trying to find out what the perfect face proportions are, this has all been to no avail, i have seen plenty of faces that have been measured up and are apparently perfect, beauty in its truest form, but the women in these pictures, with lines to measure the distance between their lips and their noses, are not what i would consider beauty to be. I find beauty is in that quirkiness of a face, that chipped tooth, or those slightly too pointed ears that give someone a pixy look, or that one over plucked eyebrow that lets you know that they spent maybe an hour trying to get it just perfect but eventually gave up. I love these things about people. I love freckles that look like sun kisses and beauty spots that people spend hours in a day trying to cover up with concealer. My search for the perfect beauty began when i looked in the mirror and decided my chin looked funny when i smiled and i got dimples in my cheeks and my eyes went into slits, i basically look like the Cheshire cat when i smile. Then i looked through pictures on my facebook of me and my friends and i realised that yes i look like an absolute goon when i have a mad grin on my face, but the grin is also the one thing that shows I’m surrounded by people i love the most in life. Saying this, i came home from college the other week and burst into tears and sat and cried for an hour. When my boyfriend came through the door he came straight over to the couch kissed me and told me that i looked truely beautiful when i cried. this confused me for days, but when i asked him a few days later what he meant, he said it was “because i wasn’t hiding or holding anything back, i was there in the raw, makeup down my face, a snotty nose and my hair close to dreads form me scrunching it up.” I was silent and he added a moment later “and thats when i love you most, when you’re completely open” So although to lots that will seem stupid that my boyfriend loves me most when I’m in tears, but that made me so happy. I guess it’s true for any emotion really, your most beautiful when your just completely free, and letting what you truely feel out.

Well, you are a little bit wei

2009-08-09T09:24:52.732+02:00

Well, you are a little bit weird, cj. I woulda tagged you meself, but sulz got us both at once. I thought all your “facts” were worth reading, and gave us a little more insight into your character, but #s 4 & 7 had me laughing out loud! (I had to spell it out, LOL, just wouldn’t do here.) I had a somewhat imaginary bff who hung around my favorite blanket–but with that I at least could follow in the footsteps of the great Linus. I do not sit in pumpkin patches though. But “an imaginary duck. Quack friggin quack.” –hehehaha!And: “until this guy falls down on me”. Well, that may not be everyone’s fantasy. I’ve experienced similar misunderstandings, but that one’s a hoot!CJ: Maybe eccentric is a good word for me, eh, Muse? I’m one of the people who likes memes; the good ones seem simple, but if you look at them closely you learn a lot about the author. That’s what I was trying to do with this; to show a bit of my personality, and that shone through with yours as well.Heh, I’m curious about the blanket now! Did it open a portal to another land like Narnia? I love that we never see The Great Pumpkin in Peanuts as well; I’d actually forgotten about that, so that brought back some memories! I suspect the reason I imagined Quing Quang had something to do with water; I didn’t learn to swim until I was older, so Quing Quang was probably comforting to a three year old near water.And yes, I’m still living that one down! I suppose sky and guy sound similar; Jimi Hendrix’s Purple Haze has the line “scuse me while I kiss the sky”, which a lot of people swear is really “scuse me while I kiss this guy”. So at least I’m not alone!

Oh my goodness, I’m 58% addict

2009-08-08T19:37:20.194+02:00

Oh my goodness, I’m 58% addicted! I usually freak out if my connection is down, or my “lappytoppy” is mocking me up. I’ve done so many IM accounts, Yahoo Messenger, AIM, Google Talk, and SKYPE. When I’m online I usually, chat, reply to emails, blog, upload photos in my Multiply, Myspace , and Friendster accounts. I usually hang out in Meebo and WordPress. There are lots of stuffs I did, when I’m online. Well, including online dating, but not that much. CJ: Hi Rodessa, thanks for stopping by. 58% isn’t too bad; I’d think that’s about normal, actually. We all do a lot when we’re online and these quizzes can make it seem worse than it really is! I mean, if you’re blogging and on Skype, that’s just another form of conversation. How’s it any different than writing a letter or talking on the phone?I’m not a big MySpace fan myself; I guess I’m more of the Facebook crowd. But I love Google Talk and Meebo, and I’m addicted to blogging. The online dating hasn’t worked much for me, though. Tried it once and it scared me right off it, so I’m still happily single.

I am 30% addictive, which soun

2009-08-02T05:43:17.988+02:00

I am 30% addictive, which sounds about right, but I particularly like the description: I can indulge in vices freely, and there’s little chance I’ll get hooked! Whoo boy, vice here I come!! I will not tell you my Simpson’s character. I don’t watch the show, and I don’t know who this {person} is, but apparently I like beer more than anything, including people! Now, I’ll enjoy a nice lager now and then, but…CJ: Woohoo, 30% – party time, eh Muse? So if 30% means you have little chance of getting hooked, I wonder what anything under 10% is? Then again, I doubt anyone could get under 10%! I could take a guess at who that character is, but truthfully there are quite a few characters who like beer in the Simpsons! Doesn’t sound much like you, though. Lisa plays the saxophone – maybe she’d be the closest, though it’s not the recorder.

I liked this post, cj. I tend

2009-07-27T21:24:56.088+02:00

I liked this post, cj. I tend to acknowlege several different winter holidays, as I have a multi-cultural family. /nod to raincoaster–Why would I want to grouch during anyone’s holiday when they are experiencing joy? In several places I have lived, community centers and religious organizations have held potluck dinners on Christmas day. If one is feeling alone, it’s a wonderful way to share, and maybe help others. We just have to get up the courage to attend!CJ: Thanks, Muse; I thought I’d get in early before everyone starts their Xmas posts! Some of my best friends are Jewish, so we always acknowledge Hanukkah, and they do Christmas… I think it’s important that we recognise different holidays and faiths, to pay people people the same respect they show us.I agree with you too, why would we want to spoil what someone is feeling? Sometimes people can take the holidays too seriously, but don’t take away their joy. You can’t ever give it back.Quite a few shelters here provide homeless people with meals on Christmas day, and I know some community centres as well which do the same thing for people who are alone or are tourists and expats. I’d like to help at some stage myself; I think it’d be a nice way to spend Christmas.

Ahhh … so you are addicted to

2009-07-23T18:57:18.727+02:00

Ahhh … so you are addicted to jigsaw puzzling. I am too. The most challenging way to do them is to dump all the pieces out and hide the box away so you do not really know in any detail what the picture is. Try it.CJ: Yes, I’m totally addicted; glad I’m not the only one! My main problem is that I like getting them finished, rather than leaving them up for a week or so; 500 pieces is good for that, not so much 1,000 or 5,000… I normally put the box away the second time I do one, but I’ll have to try that more. It’s definitely a challenge.

I meant to comment on this bef

2009-07-22T14:11:59.589+02:00

I meant to comment on this before. Oh, well, here I am now. (Hah I’m usually obsessive about commenting on the most recent post!) First, thanks for the ultra cool video of Police. It really brings back memories. I’m a huge fan of Sting, right up to his most recent “obsession” with early/medieval music. Amazing to see all that hair, and rocking out on that huge bass. I’ve always loved this song, but I’ve NEVER seen it as a love song. I mean, “every breath you take”….If someone was observing “every breath” I took, I’d be more likely to call the Police (no, not THOSE police ) than fall in love with that person. eeek. Just yesterday, I made a cuppa joe to take to a meeting with me. I was about a third of the way to my destination when I had to turn back to make sure I’d turned off the stove. (Do you say “cooker” in Aus?) We all have our little quirks, I guess. I agree with others here that we’re talking primarily of “focus”. And I agree that the TV series “Monk” handles Obsessive/Compulsive Disorder pretty sensitively, whilst still being funny. I suppose the only question, really, is whether a behaviour is interfering with ones ability to find joy and purpose in life. Sometimes, the extreme focus can contribute to an important project. Some of us have an unusual, creative lifestyle, and who’s to say that it’s a “problem” other than ourselves. Wonderful post, thanks!CJ: Glad you liked the video, Muse! I like Sting and the Police a lot myself and that song is one of my favourites, so I found a good excuse to post it! Did you manage to see the reunion tour? I wish I’d seen it but I didn’t get a chance to in the end.I think you’re right, what we’re really talking about is focus and it’s very easy to become so focused on something, so single-minded, that it becomes an obsession. When do our eccentricities become unhealthy, something that interferes with our lives so much that it hinders our progress? I’m still not sure I know, particularly as that’s part of being creative as well… I’d hope that my family would recognise the signs and tell me; in the end, they might be in a better position to know. It’s an interesting question, though, and a lot to think about.And we tend to alternate between stove and oven, but we do say cooker too. That’s something I’m always doing, feeling like I left the oven on after dinner… it’s a strange feeling, but if it stops a fire one day, then I can live with it. Better to be safe than sorry, eh?

To answer the first question y

2009-07-21T18:02:17.234+02:00

To answer the first question you asked–never too late. As a writer, you could look upon it as an opportunity to exercise your creativity to describe circumstances and feelings Interesting exposition about online/offline friendships. I’ve never done any “social networking”, but I’m aware of those MySpace people with a gazillion “friends”. It’s seems the conversation goes something like “hi, whatcha doin’? went to the mall, today!” with a lot of those “friends”. All fine if that is fun for them. I’ve actually been very surprised at how I’ve come to value some of you at WordPress, though. It seems on a different level than Facebook, etc., because we engage in meaningful (to me) dialog. People here write about what’s important to them, and, on that level, share something real about themselves. They then attract other minds ready to engage.I have some friends too, that I don’t see or talk to for long stretches, and that is OK–we understand each other, and when it’s important we communicate. It’s different in an online community, though. Unless the people want to take the relationship further (from blog comment, to email, to IM or chat, to phone calls, to actually meeting!) then the blog is the only interface for the friendship, and, if a person disappears for even a few days, I find myself wondering how they are, if they’re OK, etc. This may be a bit morbid, but I sometimes wonder: “What if someone has an accident or illness, or even loses their life?” We blog friends may never know. It puts an element of strangeness into the relationship that is not present with RL ones, as usually there, I have an address and phone number and can find out about people.All this makes me think the online folks are precious, but in a different way. Their presence is so “in the now” and immediate. I must just tune in and value what is right there. Oh, my, you got me going on this!CJ: That’s true, it does give me a chance to describe some of my feelings (my masculinity allows it on occasions!)… now I just have to brave the post office queues tomorrow. I like the idea of social networks, but I’m not a big fan of MySpace… I just find there’s too much going on with the sites, too busy. I like Facebook because it’s more of a resource and you can take the conversation off Facebook if you want to. But you’re right, it’s not the same dialogue as you get with blogging or in a forum; it’s not a community like we have with WP.That’s what I find difficult to describe when people ask me about blogging. Many still think of it as a journal, but really it’s a platform for sharing ideas and to be engaged. It’s the ongoing discussion in the community that makes blogging unique. But things in our lives can suddenly interfere with that, and no one would know… I’ve thought about that too, Muse, and it does feel strange, that we can be so connected but isolated at the same time. I suppose that’s the nature of online life.I look at relationships as being fluid and that makes me value my online friendships all the more. I don’t know if the same people will be blogging in a year, or if my friends will still be available to chat, so I value the discourse we have now, and watch as it evolves… it’s incredible how far we’ve come online, if you think about it. The world’s a much smaller place and keeping up with all the changes is half the fun!

Nice poem, just love it! Life

2009-07-17T23:36:58.496+02:00

Nice poem, just love it! Life is eternity!..CJ: Thank you, CV! And that’s a beautiful sentiment; life is indeed eternal, and for me that’s true while I hold on to it with my every breath, and cherish every memory in my heart.

I remembered you’d mentioned “

2009-07-15T23:20:36.868+02:00

I remembered you’d mentioned “The Golden Compass” in a post. I just got back (Dec. 19) from seeing it. You sya you’ll get it Boxing Day? Well, I LOVED it! The cinematography and fx are excellent, and the story and acting most engaging. I have not read the books, yet, however. I never do if I know a film of a title is coming out because I almost never like the film as much so I want to see it first. (An exception was “Forrest Gump”–terrible novel, good movie). After re-reading the comments above, it’s good to know the alethiometer survived. I took the word “compass” as that which helps one find the way. The armored bear is amazing, and, well, you’re going to see it anyway so I won’t say any more!CJ: Ah, so you enjoyed it. Great! Some of the reviews had me worried that they’d trashed it but sounds like it still has the heart of the book, which is the important thing.Iorek looks impressive in the trailers, so I’m looking forward to seeing him (my favourite character). And I’m glad they kept the alethiometer; the fans would be howling if they’d changed it.I still can’t believe we have to wait until Boxing Day! We’ve been spoilt by The Lord of the Rings opening everywhere on the same day.

***Your Personality is 52% Add

2009-07-14T21:02:46.436+02:00

***Your Personality is 52% Addictive***You may have an addictive personality, but you have it mostly under check. Just don’t start any new bad habits, okay?The addictive test is pretty acurate, I must say but I am a Homer, Ouin! No, way!CJ: Sounds like we got the same result for the first quiz, CV! But Homer? That’s not you at all. I’d have thought Lisa would be a good match. Sorry this went to moderation, by the way. Looks like Akismet’s playing up again.

meh i was just teasing you, do

2009-07-14T09:03:37.470+02:00

meh i was just teasing you, don’t say sorry!i fancy daniela hantuchova myself. those aren’t weirdos, those are sploggers!i played freerice the whole weekend, donated about 12000 grains. my vocab level’s lousy though, keeps fluctuating between 30 and 40. and i keep making the same mistakes, grr!CJ: I knew, but eh, I still thought I’d have something a bit weirder than that; I’m a guy after all. Now Hantuchova and Sharapova in a doubles match – that’d be worth watching!Yeah, I’m addicted too; I got up to about 4,000 grains over the weekend and my vocab’s somewhere between 44 and 48… it’s so annoying when you trip up on the same word. It’s like sudoku, I never learn!

Thanks for the mention and for

2009-07-04T23:09:56.213+02:00

Thanks for the mention and for having a great vocabulary! CJ: Thanks for posting it or I might never have seen it! My vocabulary’s not bad, but I’m guessing a bit on the form of the words every now and then. It’s very addictive…

Oh dear, I’ve got a 71% addict

2009-06-26T12:22:14.884+02:00

Oh dear, I’ve got a 71% addictive personality. That’s quite bad..Apparently I am also Homer Simpson. Today really isn’t a good day!CJ: Wow, 71% doesn’t seem like you at all… unless they mean gaming? Remind me never to face you on Halo, Cat, you’d slaughter me! And Homer isn’t that bad! Perhaps he’s a little bumbling, but he has a good heart. Look at it this way – it could have been Barney Gumble.

Thanks for the Free Rice link

2009-06-25T13:16:14.956+02:00

Thanks for the Free Rice link that is pretty interesting..I will include the logo in my sidebar…First time trying it I have donated 100 grains at vocab level 37..There is room for improvement but I will keep at it!!Colorfull of solidarityCJ: It’s a pretty exciting site, isn’t it? The chance to be able to help, and in such a simple way. And it’s addictive when you’ve played it for awhile. Thanks for your support, CV; all the support FreeRice is getting is wonderful. And the numbers are staggering: 122,377,240 grains of rice donated yesterday alone is amazing. It shows everyone can help, even if they are half a world away.

Yesterday my blog has been blo

2009-06-24T23:08:31.797+02:00

Yesterday my blog has been blocked.http://kisiselgoruslerim.blogspot.com is now blocked.CJ: I’m sorry to hear that. Let’s hope the blocks will be lifted soon so this craziness can end. With this and everything in Burma, it’s hard to believe it’s the 21st century.

I do know what you means — and

2009-06-22T15:11:42.500+02:00

I do know what you means — and I would have sent the card also. Better late than never, and sometimes I think we take the online communication for granted and forget how things used to be. I still adore getting REAL mail (no bills!)CJ: Thanks, Alynda. I agree, better late than never, particularly if you’re sending it for the right reasons. It’s the thought that counts, right? We do take online communication for granted sometimes, and mobile phones. We’re always contactable, but they’re all fairly recent innovations if you think about it. I love getting real mail too. At least we all know when Christmas is! I’ve still had more bills than cards this week, though.

Hi CJ long time no see…Glad ur

2009-06-22T15:11:33.612+02:00

Hi CJ long time no see…Glad ur’re back.. Humm, interesting that I did often missed a couple of birthdays and people have missed mine too a few times…But, never got mad about it as I have forgotten some myself…Better receive it late than not at all…I am always happy to receive an happy belated birthday….I value online friendships as much as offline and I believe honesty is the key to good friendships..If you are not ”real” as person then your friends won’t be either, ”like attracts like”…CJ: Hey CV, yes, it feels good to be back; I didn’t realise I’d miss blogging and my blog friends so much after only a week! But sometimes life intervenes, eh? I guess we all forget birthdays sometimes, but that’s why it’s strange that some people react so strongly; if we all do it, you’d think we’d be more understanding… I think my friend will be; she’s usually pretty laid back.That’s true, like does attract like, but if you think about how many voices there are online, it’s actually quite rare that we’d find someone we click with right away… that’s one advantage with offline relationships, the instant connection. Perhaps that’s why blogging is popular; we get to know someone’s voice and thoughts first, and we can tell if we have something in common. In the end any lasting relationship comes back to honesty; if they’re not real to us, how can we care for them? That’s something writers should listen to as well.

you should send the card (or m

2009-06-22T15:11:24.724+02:00

you should send the card (or more if you want to) and you should also mention what you said here when you explained why. at least even if your friend was the kind who might get miffed for a late wish, he or she might not be anymore after an explanation like that. (at least i would – and yes, i’m inclined to be miffed that way!)i learnt that friendships online are as real as those offline, but they’re different in nature. the medium through we which connect, the subjects we are more likely to converse, etc.but one thing i find friendships online and offline have in common is the necessity to maintain the friendship. you have to make the effort to keep the friendship. i’m not saying if you aren’t in contact with a friend online for a few weeks would not make you a friend anymore, but two people who are friends must take the effort to stay in touch.i find that this is where the test of friendship is. it’s very easy to lose touch with a friend online because you are busy with your life offline. it is just the same with offline friendships too.CJ: I got the card earlier, so I’ll bite the bullet and send it tomorrow… in the end I can’t control someone’s reaction and it might be negative, but it doesn’t change the reasons why I sent it, so I should. Not sure if I’ll be explaining as much as begging forgiveness, though. You’re right about needing to stay in touch as well. I think any relationship needs to be worked at, and you should want to be in touch anyway; otherwise that’s another way of taking the friendship for granted. I’m lucky that most of my friendships are familiar, so we can drift in and out of each others lives… but there’s usually an email or a text in-between, so we’re never really out of touch.I suppose in the end friendship means different things to different people, and we each take something different away from the relationship; that’s why it’s important we make the effort to maintain it so we stay in sync with our needs. I actually find that more difficult offline, as it’s easier to fall back into old habits and patterns… but that’s probably just me!

OOPS! The link above is borked

2009-06-22T15:11:04.724+02:00

OOPS! The link above is borked. It should be http://thistimethisspace.com/2007/08/31/are-cyberspace-relationships-underated/CJ: I’m always doing that as well. Sometimes links have a life of their own! Thanks for posting it, I’ll pop across later and have a look.

I’m glad to hear that you are

2009-06-22T15:10:44.724+02:00

I’m glad to hear that you are sending the card because late or not if I were the recipient I’d be glad to receive it. The card is an expression of bonding, an indication that you are thinking of someone and, it’s an opportunity to let them know that you want the relationship to continue.You say:

But is that really true, that a relationship online is less “real” than in our everyday lives? I don’t believe that.

We are in agreement. Online relationships are “real” relationships.Relationships are founded in communication and communication is a two-way activity between two or more people. Communication is the method by which we share ideas, information, opinions and feelings with those that we are in relationship with. There are various modes of communication and, in our times online communication is becoming more prominent as a means of communication.I blogged on this same subject here Are cyberspace relationships underrated?Cheers CJ: Thanks, brightfeather. What you said about it being an expression of bonding was what I was thinking but wasn’t sure how to say; it’s about showing an intent to continue the relationship, and that’s what matters more than anything else. I decided to get a blank birthday card in the end; I thought at least I could write a more personal message, and I prefer those anyway.The main difference I find between an online and offline relationship is the difference in subliminal communication. In everyday life we tend to communicate with our body language and in more subtle ways, but when we’re talking online that disappears. We rely on words and often we overemphasise them to make sure we’re understood. I find it quite challenging sometimes, but interesting… I guess I like being open to all means of communication; they’re just another part of life now, much as some people might not like to admit it.

Audible comes out to under $10

2009-06-21T14:40:24.644+02:00

Audible comes out to under $10 a book… you just have to buy a “years subscription” to get the instant 24 credits and pay in advance. It is a formality as you get 24 or so bulk credits available for immediate use, and then can renew early to buy more.Blend your local library (for me, houston has 3k+ in a digital download store just like audible) with Audible and it’s actually cheaper or as cheap as reading.For me the experince of listening is superior as it slows down my reading (i tend to read fast) and enjoy the characters in the books.

Perfect post CJ, this exact di

2009-06-21T14:40:23.760+02:00

Perfect post CJ, this exact discussion has been giving me grief recently. I have never been a strong or fast reader (this might have something to do with being a product of Arizona public education). I have recently discovered that my local library has a wonderful selection of audio books and I have been hooked ever since. I listen to them in car, at work and at home. But there have been several people telling me that I am not actually reading them. It feels like they are being very condescending and it kind of hurts. I have always wanted to enjoy literature, but being a slow reader with little available free time has made it difficult. Now, I can start listening to a book at the same time as a friend and be finished at the same time as them to discuss it. It’s a great feeling. I have never had a discussion about characters and plot twists before until recently. I had a friend take a book that I had listened to, open it to a random page and read me a sentence or two. I would then tell him what happens next word for word; all the while I have never even opened the book. There is a real sense of déjà vu when I read words that I have already listened to. I can hear the narrator’s voice all over again.I agree that you lose a little something in the audio format by not hearing your own voice in your head, but that does not mean you don’t visualize the story any differently. My imagination is just as vivid whether I am reading or listening. And I know that the experience of reading includes the feel and smell of the book. The time one sets aside and the preparation of a nice, quiet, comfortable place to read is part of the experience. Heck, even the coffee or tea one has with reading becomes sacred. I can appreciate that. But the big question is, can someone who listened to an audio book claim that they read it? And by “read it” I mean, can that person walk into a book discussion group and contribute something meaningful to it?

Audio books are here to stay .

2009-06-21T14:40:23.321+02:00

Audio books are here to stay . I am in love with them . Not only its interesting to hear voices , you can enjoy them while moving. I hear audio books all the time in my car . One of my friend is so crazy about audio books . He takes long routes to get back to his home . You can find some cheaper audio book library online .CJ: I agree, I’ve been really impressed with audiobooks. What’s surprised me is that the books I’ve wanted to read for years but haven’t been able to find are available; I just bought PD James’ first novel unabridged and I’ve never seen it to buy as a book. I’ll have to have a look at some of the other services; Gutenberg’s another good one too. Thanks for stopping by.

I prefer reading books to list

2009-06-21T14:40:22.882+02:00

I prefer reading books to listening to audiobooks, but I agree that they’re very different experiences. I find that I take in more of what is said in an audiobook – it seems to sink in better.I know what you mean about reader’s interpretations, but the only problem which I have with audiobooks is that they very much depend on the quality of the reader. My mum recently bought a copy of the Penguin Classics audio collection (which turned out to be abridged). Most of the books are all right, but the reading of is rather irritating and off-putting, like an overly-condescending children’s story.I’m quite fond of Stephen Fry’s readings of the Harry Potter novels, which are very well read. The only real problem with them is his tendancy to give certain characters (Susan Bones and Pansy Parkinson, if I remember correctly) unconvincing, exaggerated speech impediments that aren’t in the books. I don’t know why he does that, but it’s very annoying! o_oCJ: For certain books I find that as well. Reading Tom Clancy is quite difficult sometimes, but I find I absorb it more through an audiobook… maybe it’s something to do with how we process information through different senses?I’ve tried a few of those Penguin Classics. Some are okay but quite a few aren’t that great, so I’m not surprised about Pride & Prejudice. You just feel like the narrator is reading, not telling a story… some of those classics are on Lit2Go and they’re actually better! Who’d have thunk it? Haven’t heard any of the Harry Potter ones, though… I’ll have to check them out, I love Stephen Fry. I’m not sure why he’d give them impediments like that, though… I guess JK Rowling must be okay with it. I wouldn’t want to be messing with her characters otherwise.

I think Audiobooks can be the

2009-06-21T14:40:22.443+02:00

I think Audiobooks can be the same as reading simply because of how they both put images in your head while listening or reading. BUT I don’t think Audiobooks are for everyone. Especially people like me. Some people have trouble reading which is why an audio book could be good for them. I would not benefit from an audiobook simply because my mind would drift waaay too much from listening to the reader and I would probably end up reading it anyway to get what I missed.You always write nice things CJ: Thanks, Dya. That’s a good point; they’re both telling the same story, so the images they’re putting in your head (whether listening or reading) are similar. I have several books in audio as well and they give me a slightly different image; one I “see” because it’s being described to me, the other I “sense” because I’m creating it in my mind. But it’s more a feeling and the scene is the same, so really they’re much the same, in the end.The thing with an audiobook is that you tend to absorb what’s going on in the story; you can drift away from it more easily than reading without losing your place. That’s why people can multitask while they’re listening. But you’re right, they’re definitely not for everyone; some people find them relaxing, others boring as hell! I think a good narrator makes a difference; then you’re listening to Ian McKellen or Alfred Molina tell a story, rather than someone just reading a book. Unless of course you just go see them in the movie instead.

Um CJ I meant to say they use

2009-06-21T14:40:22.004+02:00

Um CJ I meant to say they use Walkmans or the present day equivalent, something with headphones. Maybe I should try that.CJ: Ah, headphones make sense. I should have realised, LOL. They’d be good for you, particularly if you can find some which can cancel out noise as well. Then you’d have no distractions.

I have three comments: First,

2009-06-21T14:40:21.565+02:00

I have three comments: First, it’s important to think of an audiobook as a performance, an experience that is different from simply reading. While you lose something from the experience of seeing the words on the page, you gain something from the narrator’s expressive reading of those words. Great readers can make a mediocre book quite enjoyable (e.g., The Da Vinci Code ).Two, and related, one’s not inherently “better” than the other. As CJ writes, our original storytelling was all oral. Another way to think of it is reading Shakespeare vs. seeing it performed. I defy anyone to say that one should only read it. Even just listening to a great performance brings something that the printed page simply cannot provide. (Of course, Shakespeare wrote plays, not novels, but it’s worth noting.)Last, as Magik points out, you can listen to audiobooks in contexts where you simply cannot read. For me, it’s while commuting. This is time that is otherwise dead, useless, and audiobooks not only fill the time, they distract and entertain from an otherwise soul-sucking experience.I wish that I had the time to read, like I did when I was younger. I can’t even manage to watch 2 hours of TV a week, though, so I’m pretty sure my available time is really gone. Finding that dead time, and making use of it, is like a gift of a few extra hours a day, that aren’t allocated to somebody else’s agenda. In that way, audiobooks are better than reading.CJ: That’s a great way of looking at it, a performance. I’ve been thinking that an audiobook really complements the written form, the same story but a slightly different experience… if you think of it almost like an adaptation, then why it can feel different makes a lot of sense.I often watch people on the bus or train when I’m on my way into the city; some read a newspaper or a book, but a lot listen to an iPod. I’ve always thought they’re listening to music but I wonder how many are actually listening to an audiobook? It’s a great way to kill time while commuting, so perhaps more than we’d think.I tend to listen to a lot of classics as audiobooks. They’re a bit cheaper and I find that they seem to have dated less when you hear them narrated; like you said, they feel like more of a performance and while I’m not sure they’re better than reading, personally I prefer listening to them. I guess it’s personal choice, in the end. Thanks for stopping by.

I have never tried an audio bo

2009-06-21T14:40:21.126+02:00

I have never tried an audio book. And I don’t think I will anytime soon. However, the audio book is like a modern take on ancient oral storytelling traditions. After all, speech was the medium of storytelling long before the written word took over.Ok you wrote that in the post too but whatever. I missed that bit when I first read the post. CJ: I actually didn’t try audiobooks myself for a long time; it wasn’t until I was near the end of school and had so much work that I realised they might be worth a try. Even then they took a while to get used to… so you never know, Bharat, one day you might try one and find it grows on you! And it was a good point to bring up. I wish I’d developed it more in the post, actually, as I find that kind of thing very interesting… ah well, next time.

Great post CJ I know that a lo

2009-06-21T14:40:20.687+02:00

Great post CJ I know that a lot of quilters and craftspersons swear by them as it can be hard to do handicraft while watching the TV. I’ve also heard a lot of quilters say they listen to an audio book while on the sewing machine for hours. I can’t read and do other things[though when I was young I used to wash up apparently with my book propped on the taps] so it appeals to me as otherwise my reading these days takes a backseat to sewing. The other thing is that as I get older and the old arthritis gets a hold, I even find it hard to hold books these days due to their weight and the so I may give this a try, that is if I can hear the damn thing. [apparently I am going deaf too!!!!!!!]CJ: Thanks, MQ! I imagine listening to an audiobook (or music) makes a lot of sense when you’re quilting, as something to fill up the room and help you focus… the sewing machine’s an interesting one though. Wouldn’t it be so loud that you wouldn’t be able to hear the audio?As long as they’re unabridged then I think audiobooks are a great way to go… it’s a different experience, but you’re still getting the story. I think it would be great for thrillers and crime books in particular as their pace is ideal for narration. And you’re not deaf, btw. Just auditorally-challenged.

I don’t think audiobooks are t

2009-06-21T14:40:20.248+02:00

I don’t think audiobooks are the “same” as reading, but an alternative. I have great difficulty listening to a lecture, story, or discussion if I’m just sitting still listening, whereas I can get totally pulled in by a written book, and lose touch with my surroundings. I think this kind of experience is partially because of the way our brains are structured. A reason could be left-brain or right-brain dominance, or preference for auditory, visual, or tactile learning styles. There is some research indicating many people take in information “best” using one of those three “information inputs” if you will. Obviously a primarily auditory-type-learning individual will love audiobooks, and will thrive by recording lectures and playing them back. A printed book serves primarily visual people (although we’ve all been trained to use them somewhat) with a little tactile thrown in. If one is primarily tactile, s/he will feel deprived with an audiobook. A while back, I had a fairly routine desk job, and at the time there was a radio show which broadcast an hour of a skilled reader reading from a novel each day. It was like a magazine serial–you had to tune in every weekday at 3 to get the next chapter or “chunk of book”. This was ideal for me, because I could “read” a novel while simultaneously getting the job done. It was even better than listening to music while working, in my case—gave me more focus. I think my favorite book I “heard/read” this way was one of Jeffrey Archer’s. I agree with you that it would be difficult to “hear” a book after “reading” it. This reader “audiated” Archer’s characters very specifically, and I would have heard the “voices” in my own head differently if reading. Audiobooks are of course also a huge help for blind people. For most of them they are a vast improvement over Braille books. I wonder though, if a blind person is a tactile learner if they’d prefer the Braille, though. Good topic, cj, I’ll check out Audible.CJ: An alternative’s a good way of looking at it, Muse. Like another version with a slightly different experience… interesting, though, because I’m the exact opposite in that I don’t like doing anything else while I’m listening; I just like sitting somewhere quiet and letting the story wash over me. It’s not why most people listen to audiobooks, but I guess my brain just doesn’t work that way. That makes sense about our reading habits relating to whether we’re an auditory, visual or tactile learner… I wonder what that makes exceptions, though? If you enjoy reading a book as well as listening to one, just in different ways, does that mean you’re visually and auditorally balanced? Or maybe you always have some preference; if I had to choose I’d still prefer reading the book, in the end.The radio show sounds like it was a great idea… Archer would be an interesting author for that as his writing is quite visual, so I can see how it would narrate well. It’s the sort of thing you’d think would be done more often, actually, particularly on community radio. It would be a good service for blind people and people with learning disabilities… I couldn’t imagine trying to read with their kind of difficulties.Thanks, Muse. Audible’s well worth a look; who knows, you might find something you like.

I’ve never listened to an audi

2009-06-21T14:40:19.809+02:00

I’ve never listened to an audiobook. I really like the feel of a book in my hands. I also like being able to read sections I savor again and again. I think the transition might be a hard one for me but that doesn’t mean I won’t give listening a whirl.CJ: Nothing really beats the feel and smell of a good book, does it? Sometimes I miss that while I’m listening, and being able to go back and reread a juicy twist… overall, though, the experience is so different. An audiobook is really like another version of the same story… something which complements a written book but isn’t exactly the same. I think that’s probably the best way I can describe it.I remember Stephen King said something in his autobiography that he always has an audiobook playing when he drives or has a free minute; it’s just become normal for him and he listens in spurts, so perhaps that’s one way to get past the transition… hope you enjoy one if you ever give it a try; I’d be interested to know what you think.

i haven’t tried an audiobook b

2009-06-21T14:40:19.370+02:00

i haven’t tried an audiobook before simply because it’s cheaper and easier to borrow the book and read. i’m a bit biased to that experience too, though i understand it’s a totally different one. reading this, i might be open to that experience, if someone has an audiobook i’d want to ‘read.’hmm, maybe it’s good to listen to an audiobook. i’ve been wanting to improve my enunciation and develop an accent. i love my malaysian accent, but if i can develop a ‘caucasian-sounding’ one it could lead to good job opportunities in my country.CJ: That’s the main problem with audiobooks, the price! I was just looking at The Kite Runner which is well over $25 US but you could buy the book for $9 US. If the prices were more competitive I’m sure more people would consider trying audiobooks… right now it’s mainly just people with disposable incomes or who don’t have the time to read.You certainly pick up a lot from audiobooks, so it might be worth you trying one, sulz. Who knows, you might surprise yourself and really enjoy it! Most libraries have a reasonable collection; that’d be a great place to start, or with short stories. They’d give you a sense of if it’s your kind of thing.

I’ve been an audiobook listene

2009-06-21T14:40:10.140+02:00

I’ve been an audiobook listener (and audible subscriber) for years now — and your stance on their place in literature (not less than reading, just different from reading) pretty much mirrors my own. A good book read by a competent narrator can be every bit as rewarding as reading the print version…but it’s a different experience.People who get hung up on that need to get over themselves, and in my experience, they’re generally the ones who are most likely to attempt to impress you with the lists of authors they’ve read — people who are more worried about what their tastes in reading say about them rather than to them.The next time I mention audiobooks to someone and hear the old refrain of “whatsa matter? don’t know how to READ? yuk yuk yuk,” violence will most likely follow.CJ: Hi Greg, thanks for the comment. Great to hear from another Audible subscriber! I agree that a good book that’s well narrated can be very rewarding; what you’re really getting is a performance and I still remember the feeling I got listening to The Iliad for the first time… I’ve read it many times since as well, so I guess I’ve covered it both ways. In my experience people who have a problem with audiobooks don’t understand them; they think it’s replacing reading, but really an audiobook is meant to complement it. It’s just another way of experiencing the story and when I put it like that they seem to get it more, though I’ve still had some heated disagreements. In the end it’s a personal choice; if they can’t accept that, it says more about them than anyone else.Thanks for stopping by.

Wonderful CJ: Thanks, TT! I f

2009-06-18T03:34:00.241+02:00

Wonderful CJ: Thanks, TT! I find the pace of haikus quite difficult, so I’m glad you liked it. Love your avatar, btw.

This is…I’m sorry, corny thoug

2009-06-18T03:33:51.908+02:00

This is…I’m sorry, corny though it may sound, I’m at a loss to describe it. In an extremely positive way, of course! Wonderful, maybe?What inspired this?CJ: Hey B0bbyG, I’m glad you liked it, and I don’t think that’s corny at all! If something I’ve written can move someone in a way they can’t quite describe, that’s the biggest compliment I can get. There wasn’t really anything that inspired it; I’ve just been thinking about death recently, what it would be like to know your time is nearing and to be able to say goodbye… sad, but I’d think there’d be some peace, and beauty, as well. Then I found that picture, and I knew what I wanted to write. Thanks for the comment; I really appreciate it.