Friday, August 31, 2012
Posts resume Saturday
Posts resume Saturday! I'm getting ready for Labor Day weekend tomorrow (Friday.)
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Takes a while to recover from seething anger
Have recommenced working on my Kindle projects. Took me a while to want to get back into it, after the extremely annoying stuff from a few days ago...
Kindle really does annoy me. Not only do they not allow you to tell people - in a book forum - about your book, you're also not allowed to have a signature linking to your book.
And that's beyond the pale. What's wrong with having a signature link?
Nothing, except to the petty tyrants on these message boards -all of whom are extremely overweight or otherwise powerless, who thus like to come to message boards where they can throw their weight around (no pun intended). No one pays attention to them in their real lives, so they create an atmosphere where they can tell folks what to do.
Idiots.
Kindle really does annoy me. Not only do they not allow you to tell people - in a book forum - about your book, you're also not allowed to have a signature linking to your book.
And that's beyond the pale. What's wrong with having a signature link?
Nothing, except to the petty tyrants on these message boards -all of whom are extremely overweight or otherwise powerless, who thus like to come to message boards where they can throw their weight around (no pun intended). No one pays attention to them in their real lives, so they create an atmosphere where they can tell folks what to do.
Idiots.
Monday, August 20, 2012
Just what is spam?
I'm still seething about yesterday, when a bunch of idiots on an Amazon.com message board got all bent out of shape because some poor schmuck tried to tell them about his book.
I wish I'd posted this at the time, and it's too late now because I won't go back to the thread, it would infuriate me all over again to read their drivel.
The Amazon Kindle message boards are for discussing books. BOOKS. Books.
An author who has written a book therefore, and creates a post on Amazon's message board to announce that book, is not spamming. He - or she - is posting about a book in a book related forum.
If he was posting an ad for bras or hair restorer, in a book related forum, that would be spam, because bras and hair restorer have nothing to do with books.
But a newly published book? Why yes, that has everything to do with books.
I don't know why these idiots on these message boards can't see that.
It's not like it's two people standing around having a conversation,and some other guy comes up to them and says hey, read my book.
On a message board, each post has a title. You run your eye over the titles, and you open those posts that look appealing. You see a post for a book, published by it's author? GASP! Don't want to read it? Well, geez, then don't open it.
I wish I'd posted this at the time, and it's too late now because I won't go back to the thread, it would infuriate me all over again to read their drivel.
The Amazon Kindle message boards are for discussing books. BOOKS. Books.
An author who has written a book therefore, and creates a post on Amazon's message board to announce that book, is not spamming. He - or she - is posting about a book in a book related forum.
If he was posting an ad for bras or hair restorer, in a book related forum, that would be spam, because bras and hair restorer have nothing to do with books.
But a newly published book? Why yes, that has everything to do with books.
I don't know why these idiots on these message boards can't see that.
It's not like it's two people standing around having a conversation,and some other guy comes up to them and says hey, read my book.
On a message board, each post has a title. You run your eye over the titles, and you open those posts that look appealing. You see a post for a book, published by it's author? GASP! Don't want to read it? Well, geez, then don't open it.
Sunday, August 19, 2012
God I hate Amazon
Way back...last year I think, I started a thread on the Kindle message boards "Have you published a Non-fiction book? Tell us about it."
This was before Amazon decided that they'd let people publish their books to Kindle, but not let them tell anyone about it. "No "shameless self-promotion." I can't tell you how angry that phrase makes me.
I write books - good books. I have nothing to be ashamed about.
And how the hell are people going to know about my books if I'm not allowed to tell them - in a forum that people with Kindles read?
So today, some poor schmuck posts in that thread.... and some bitch named Topsy says, "You've all been reported to Amazon for breaking their rules."
I had that thread "tracked" so received a notice about it, so I go there and vent.
And five or six brainless airheads there get on my case - why do you think you deserve free advertising. Read the rules.
Idiots.
And of course they're getting instant action. All the prior posts in the thread are being deleted by Amazon. God forbid anyone should be able to advertise their books there.
I'm so mad I could spit.
This was before Amazon decided that they'd let people publish their books to Kindle, but not let them tell anyone about it. "No "shameless self-promotion." I can't tell you how angry that phrase makes me.
I write books - good books. I have nothing to be ashamed about.
And how the hell are people going to know about my books if I'm not allowed to tell them - in a forum that people with Kindles read?
So today, some poor schmuck posts in that thread.... and some bitch named Topsy says, "You've all been reported to Amazon for breaking their rules."
I had that thread "tracked" so received a notice about it, so I go there and vent.
And five or six brainless airheads there get on my case - why do you think you deserve free advertising. Read the rules.
Idiots.
And of course they're getting instant action. All the prior posts in the thread are being deleted by Amazon. God forbid anyone should be able to advertise their books there.
I'm so mad I could spit.
Monday, August 13, 2012
Spelling bee over, time to get to work
I've got a new project that I've been thinking of, and I'm about to get started on it. Shouldn't take too long to write.
More details soon.
More details soon.
Sunday, August 12, 2012
60 is the new 40
On August 10, 2012, the Cheyenne chapter of the AARP hosted a seminar
called Gray Matters - which was free and provided a free lunch -
unfortunately fish and cheesecake, blech - from 4 to 6 was a reception
for all travelers who had come in for the AARP National Spelling Bee to
be held on the 11th.
I attended that and it was a lot of fun. The emcee introduced a few folks, we talked about words, there was a "mock" spelling bee (which only consisted of about 20 people getting up and being questioned on one word...) and so on. And there were finger foods there - Chinese food to be precise. Don't know where they got it from or if they cooked it on site (Little America is a hotel and resort where people come to play golf among other things) but it was delish.
The spelling bee started at the ungodly hour of 8:30 am (Well...8:30 is not so ungodly but I had to get up at the ungodly hour of 6:30 to get there in time for registration, etc.) It started with 4 rounds of 25 words each - which was a Written Test.
The first 25 words were extremely easy. They asked words like "Greetings" and "Navel" and "Mince." I suppose a few might have been considered difficult... "Animus" and "Lacuna."
The second 25 words were equally easy, but I did miss MUGWUMP.
I assume they did this just to help everyone settle the nerves and get new people used to what was going on. People had trouble hearing some of the words (hey, they were all over 50 and most over 60) and the Pronouncer would come down and tell them the word face to face and have them say it back, etc. Indeed, the Pronouncer did an excellent job.
Third round was where they started asking the difficult words.
I missed:
QUESTIONARY INERCALATE
TUATARA
SKOSH
VIRIDITY
WIMBLE
The fourth round was the real killer. I only got 12 out of 25 right. I missed:
FELICIFIC
DOVEKIE
FLYTING
NAPERY
COTYLEDONARY
WELTSCHMERRZ
OPPUGNER
AECIOSPORE
SYNCYTIAL
KNUR
IRIDIUM
TUYERE
HYOSCYAMINE
I then stayed for the Oral rounds and was joined by one of my friends from my Scrabble Club. (I think an audience could have assembled for the Written rounds, too. There were chairs there and family were in them...but I think most people only wanted to come see the Oral rounds where you actually saw the speller's faces as opposed to their backs, etc.)
Two of the people I met last night at the reception made it to the Orals. One of them it was his first trip to the Bee and he was successful his first time out. Made it through about 10 rounds. (In the Orals, you miss two words and you're out.) Another one was an elderly woman from Minnesota who also got through about 10 rounds before being knocked out.
There were three sisters and a brother who had come as a sort of family reunion. The eldest sister made it to the Oral rounds but was bounced after only two rounds. This was too bad and it was because she was a bit unlucky - she got two 6-syllable words in a row while some of the others were getting much easier ones (but still, not ones I could have spelled). But she was disqualified along with several other people in the same round, so hopefully she didn't feel too bad.
The words in the Oral Rounds were extremely difficult. Several times more difficult than the toughest words in the final round of the Written.
But, had I studied for a year, I think I could have handled them.
And it is my intention to study for a year and get into the Orals next year.
So, why is the title of this blog entry 60 is thenew 40?
Because it is.
People are living longer. You don't want to outlive your money and more importantly you don't want to outlive your sense of enjoyment of life. And learning new things every day is enjoyment and keeps the mind active.
The AARP Spelling Bee is held every year, and it gives you an excellent reason to travel to Cheyenne and see The Cowboy State. You'll meet lots of interesting people.
You do have to study.
I studied very desultorily for about a month...combine all the time I studied and it was about 10 hours. Not nearly enough, but then, I'm a good speller so the Written Rounds were relatively easy - except for that killer last round.
Why learn words that you'll never, ever say in real life?Well, because they're interesting. And the concepts of what you'll learn, you can apply in other areas. So it's a win win.
So start planning to live a long, healthy, active, intellectual life, and do it now, however old you might be!
I attended that and it was a lot of fun. The emcee introduced a few folks, we talked about words, there was a "mock" spelling bee (which only consisted of about 20 people getting up and being questioned on one word...) and so on. And there were finger foods there - Chinese food to be precise. Don't know where they got it from or if they cooked it on site (Little America is a hotel and resort where people come to play golf among other things) but it was delish.
The spelling bee started at the ungodly hour of 8:30 am (Well...8:30 is not so ungodly but I had to get up at the ungodly hour of 6:30 to get there in time for registration, etc.) It started with 4 rounds of 25 words each - which was a Written Test.
The first 25 words were extremely easy. They asked words like "Greetings" and "Navel" and "Mince." I suppose a few might have been considered difficult... "Animus" and "Lacuna."
The second 25 words were equally easy, but I did miss MUGWUMP.
I assume they did this just to help everyone settle the nerves and get new people used to what was going on. People had trouble hearing some of the words (hey, they were all over 50 and most over 60) and the Pronouncer would come down and tell them the word face to face and have them say it back, etc. Indeed, the Pronouncer did an excellent job.
Third round was where they started asking the difficult words.
I missed:
QUESTIONARY INERCALATE
TUATARA
SKOSH
VIRIDITY
WIMBLE
The fourth round was the real killer. I only got 12 out of 25 right. I missed:
FELICIFIC
DOVEKIE
FLYTING
NAPERY
COTYLEDONARY
WELTSCHMERRZ
OPPUGNER
AECIOSPORE
SYNCYTIAL
KNUR
IRIDIUM
TUYERE
HYOSCYAMINE
I then stayed for the Oral rounds and was joined by one of my friends from my Scrabble Club. (I think an audience could have assembled for the Written rounds, too. There were chairs there and family were in them...but I think most people only wanted to come see the Oral rounds where you actually saw the speller's faces as opposed to their backs, etc.)
Two of the people I met last night at the reception made it to the Orals. One of them it was his first trip to the Bee and he was successful his first time out. Made it through about 10 rounds. (In the Orals, you miss two words and you're out.) Another one was an elderly woman from Minnesota who also got through about 10 rounds before being knocked out.
There were three sisters and a brother who had come as a sort of family reunion. The eldest sister made it to the Oral rounds but was bounced after only two rounds. This was too bad and it was because she was a bit unlucky - she got two 6-syllable words in a row while some of the others were getting much easier ones (but still, not ones I could have spelled). But she was disqualified along with several other people in the same round, so hopefully she didn't feel too bad.
The words in the Oral Rounds were extremely difficult. Several times more difficult than the toughest words in the final round of the Written.
But, had I studied for a year, I think I could have handled them.
And it is my intention to study for a year and get into the Orals next year.
So, why is the title of this blog entry 60 is thenew 40?
Because it is.
People are living longer. You don't want to outlive your money and more importantly you don't want to outlive your sense of enjoyment of life. And learning new things every day is enjoyment and keeps the mind active.
The AARP Spelling Bee is held every year, and it gives you an excellent reason to travel to Cheyenne and see The Cowboy State. You'll meet lots of interesting people.
You do have to study.
I studied very desultorily for about a month...combine all the time I studied and it was about 10 hours. Not nearly enough, but then, I'm a good speller so the Written Rounds were relatively easy - except for that killer last round.
Why learn words that you'll never, ever say in real life?Well, because they're interesting. And the concepts of what you'll learn, you can apply in other areas. So it's a win win.
So start planning to live a long, healthy, active, intellectual life, and do it now, however old you might be!
Friday, August 10, 2012
No posts today
I'm participating in the AARP Spelling Bee held in Cheyenne on
Saturday, Aug 11. Today, Friday, there's a day-long "orientation," talk
about keeping active, and mock spelling bee, and I want to attend it.
Will let you know on Sunday how I did...I'm not expecting to win but I do hope to get out of the writtens into the orals. There are 60 participants which must be whittled down to 15 - done so by 4 rounds of 25 written words each. I should be able to beat out 45 people to get on to that platform for the oral round, even if I lose on the first question!
Well, we'll see.
Will let you know on Sunday how I did...I'm not expecting to win but I do hope to get out of the writtens into the orals. There are 60 participants which must be whittled down to 15 - done so by 4 rounds of 25 written words each. I should be able to beat out 45 people to get on to that platform for the oral round, even if I lose on the first question!
Well, we'll see.
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Something you've got to get used to: there's always something!
First I had to housesit my sister's house. She lives in downtown Cheyenne (I live 15 miles outside of Cheyenne) so I spent my time there driving around taking photos for my Cheyenne book. But it was ssssssssoooooo hot that I hardly got a third of what I wanted to get done, done. I'm also studying for the Aug 11 spelling bee - $1,000 prize so it's not peanuts...
Books are in the works, will share more later.
Books are in the works, will share more later.
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