Global Trickster

Recently I have come to accept that the only way I will develop my writing, the only way I will feel accomplished, is if I start by writing something everyday. It might not be much, or even relevant to the world, but it feels necessary. And then I see this contest that is going on here, http://www.nanowrimo.org where you have to write a 50,000 word novel in one month. Nov. 1st to Nov. 30th. The purpose isn’t to create a work of art, but to simply produce. So, here I have a combination of events; my decision to write more, the month of my birthday, and this “contest”. So yeah, I am thinking about it. I have many ideas, none that I think will feel the gaping wound of 50,000 words. But well see. What about my thesis? Still will work on that, and this kind of output will help me focus I feel. So, its the first day, I think I have my idea. More on this later.

[tags] writing, novel, contest, month [/tags]

Tags: to-be-filed by Monkey King
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“Scientist report that introducing only four genes to adult cells is
sufficient to convert them to something that looks and acts remarkably
like an embryonic stem cell. Although some of the details need to be
worked out, if this technique is generally applicable, it may allow the
production of an essentially unlimited supply of stem cells. There is a
subscription-only report, and Ars Technica’s science journal describes the results in some detail for those without subscriptions.”

If this turns out as they say, this could be an amazing step in our capabilities to heal. This bypasses the religious issues that have blocked us for so long. However, the key question is, will we use this knowledge correctly? Well see…

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Pitchfork Feature: Column: Get That Out of Your Mouth #27:

Column: Get That Out of Your Mouth #27 The Next Gonzo Journalism Column by Chris Dahlen I keep hearing the same gripe from the critics of the critics of pop culture: Today’s writers eat it. Nobody knows how to cover music, or movies, or video games, or any of the other media that matter. We need someone to swoop in and save us: We need a new Lester Bangs, or a new Hunter S. Thompson– one of those guys who made criticism and alternative journalism seem so vital back in the 1960s and 70s. Where they hell did they go?

Interesting article on the current state of writing and journalism. The problem with asking “where is the next gonzo writer?” is that you can not “teach” gonzo, hell. i’m not even sure you can use the term. I can see New Journalism, maybe Alternative Journalism, being used. But even these are similiar to a newer concept of Citizen Journalism. True, Hunter was a journalist, but far from the traditional sense. I feel that its more an issue of, you have it, or you don’t. Sure, writing can be taught, even well. But “gonzo” is personal, it has to come from both the teaching, and something inside of you, which is why alternative journalism can have so many interesting styles.

[tags] journalism, writing [/tags]

Tags: Uncategorized by Monkey King
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Got the book, Classroom Blogging by David Warlick. So far it says everything I already thought…sigh. It will be a great resource, I need to find my own path and voice though.

I’m almost finished with Clockwork Muse, as recommended by Clancy at Culture Cat. I plan on implementing the various suggestions, such as the writing schedule and division of work into chapters, however, since changing my thesis idea, I’m back into the reading stages, so its difficult to create an outline and time schedule until I have a firm grip of my sources. I need to hurry though, waited too long, time is slipping away.

[tags] rhetoric, thesis, books [/tags]

Tags: Uncategorized by Monkey King
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I’ve started up my new reading list, based on my new (and last I swear) idea for the thesis. Went to the Seattle Central Library, very impressive. Never seen a library quite like it. However, I was disappointed that I couldn’t find several of the texts I was looking for. Perhaps that was from lack of preparation on my part. Better luck next trip.

we’ve got blog
-anthology of essays on blogs and their influence

The End of Books- Or Books Without End? Reading Interactive Narratives
J. Yellowlees Douglas
- focuses primarily on hypertext and interactive reading narratives, via the year 2000, however, seems to have some historical relevance.

The Critical Difference: Essays in Contemporary Rhetoric of Reading
Barbara Johnson
- another essay anthology. meant to oil the old synapses and get me back into the academia mindset.

Also several articles I’m hoping to find the online, full-text versions.

[tags] thesis, rhetoric, books, library reseach [/tags]

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Finding a lot in reference to what I’m looking at with the thesis. So created another Google notebook, linked here and to the left, that will have copies of my findings. There is a reading list section, examples, etc. The Kairos journal has been a nice inspiration, forgot about it for a while. Its interesting because the concept of kairos ties in a bit with what I’m looking at web 2.0 for, the kairic nature of the technology if you will.

[tags] thesis, kairos, rhetoric [/tags]

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Ok, this is something horrifying I came across on boingboing.net

CHOAK PEAR. Figuratively, an unanswerable objection: also a machine formerly used in Holland by robbers; it was of iron, shaped like a pear; this they forced into the mouths of persons from whom they intended to extort money; and on turning a key, certain interior springs thrust forth a number of points, in all directions, which so enlarged it, that it could not be taken out of the mouth: and the iron, being case-hardened, could not be filed: the only methods of getting rid of it, were either by cutting the mouth, or advertizing a reward for the key, These pears were also called pears of agony.

Maybe this should be done with all politicians.

[tags] torture, oddity, good idea [/tags]

Tags: Uncategorized by Monkey King
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Some links to a few films from some of history’s most unique wordsmiths. Both Borges and William S. Burroughs both contributed an amazing influence on both literature and culture with ideas that were often ahead of their time. Their ideas shattered our passive view of reality in favor of a more surreal and, honestly, more interesting world. They in turn influenced many other thinkers who have taken the seed of those ideas and developed their own worlds. I highly suggest reading some of their works.

Burroughs
Borges

[tags] Borges, William S. Burroughs, literature, movies, postmodern [/tags]

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I’ve replaced the links to my reading list with something called the Google Reader. This is an RSS collector that I can organize, and then neatly place a summary of on my page, (see the upper right box) I’m still experimenting, so well see how this works. I might put the links back up, not sure. You can read the articles in it by clicking on them, or if you want to see the full reading list, just click on the “Read in Google Reader” which takes you to my collection. Don’t forget the Google Notebook will also include links/info that is not listed here. (categorized of course)

[tags] Google, Web 2.0, social bookmarking, blog [/tags]

Tags: to-be-filed by Monkey King
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Anyone who doesn’t know who this is should really start reading at this link, then read some of his work.

On the one hand, Bucky is a model of potential for those distopian pessimist such as myself. A man who actually believed that he could make changes, that there was a glimmer of hope for survival of our species.

On the other hand, many of the amazing ideas he had have not been given the appropriate amount of time and thought by the “leaders” of the “spaceship earth” (his term) Thus strengthening my prayers of doom I recite each night before sleep.

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