R.M. ArceJaeger's Blog, page 22
November 23, 2011
Manners: Elbows on the Table
You have probably been told at least once in your life, "No elbows on the table!" This popular admonition leaves many wondering, "Why not?"
The real answer has nothing to do with your elbows at all, but with your back — that is to say, with your posture. For a long time, proper posture was considered to be extremely important. You stood with your back straight, you sat with your back straight, etc.
If you sit or stand with proper posture, then your elbows automatically relax at your sides. But ...
November 16, 2011
Transgenders Held to Two Standards
It was a move of absolute genius.
Andrea Jones, a transgender woman from Tennessee, went into DMV to change the gender on her license. After braving the DMV's notorious lines, Jones was informed that she would not be allowed to change "his" gender on her card, even though she possessed the proper supporting documentation.
In response, Jones stepped outside the building and removed her shirt. DMV called the police, who arrested Jones for "indecent exposure."
This clearly illustrates the...
November 2, 2011
Halloween Candy Clean-Up
Ok, I admit it. I went trick-or-treating.
Yes, some people might say I'm a little too old, but what can I say? It's free candy!
It was a nearly perfect evening. The weather wasn't too cold for my Native American costume, the hills we had to climb were exhilarating but not steep, and the streets weren't too crowded. The only shadow occurred towards the end of the evening.
The shadow of a candy wrapper.
It was lying there in the middle of the drive, an empty Snickers wrapper, all shiny gold and...
October 4, 2011
Publishing Date Set!
An official publishing date has finally been set for my upcoming book, Robin. Barring some unforeseen catastrophe, the book WILL be released on November 1, 2011. As you can imagine, this makes me very nervous. I've spent the last year breathing and dreaming this book, and now the time has come to release it into the wild (or rather, to all my wild readers!) and I feel much like a parent whose child is leaving for college — relieved to finally have them out of the nest, but hesitant and...
September 22, 2011
Uglies
Book Summary | Profanity | Sexuality | Violence | Religion | Writing Style | Overall Review | Recommended For
Book SummarySweet Sixteen has an all-new meaning in this futuristic society, where children are born "ugly" (that is to say, normal) and on their sixteenth birthday they get a life-changing operation that makes them gorgeous. "New pretties," as they are now called, spend their days having parties and shooting fireworks and having a good time. Tally can't wait...
September 15, 2011
Failing Our Founding Fathers: Separation of Truth and State
Are people so afraid of the Truth that the mere mention of God is enough to set them howling to Court?
I mean, consider Santa Claus. Most people over age 10 do not believe in Santa Claus. Yet no one cares if teachers read their students "The Night Before Christmas," or put a picture of Santa Claus on their classroom door, or pass out Santa Claus stickers. But they will sue a teacher (see original story here) for having a banner that reads "In God We Trust" (the phrase on our national...
September 11, 2011
The Hunger Games
Book Summary | Profanity | Sexuality | Violence | Religion | Writing Style | Overall Review | Recommended For
Book SummaryNorth America is a ruined nation with twelve districts and one Capitol. Long ago the districts tried to rebel against the Capitol, and now to keep them in line the Capitol forces them to provide two "tributes" (a boy and a girl) to the annual Hunger Games. Here the contestants are thrown into an arena where they must battle each other to the death on...
August 30, 2011
Jumbled Judgements: The Inconsistencies in our Justice System
I love America and I love our court system, but the lack of standardized punishments for convictions really drives me up the wall. Consider the recent case of 15-year old Anthony Stewart, who will receive a 6 year sentence for stealing 7 cents (see original story here). There are serial rape offenders who do not even receive 6 year sentences! Consider the following discrepancies:
A hit-and-run driver kills a man. Gets 2 years in prison. (Story here)A man rapes three minors. Gets 10 years...August 27, 2011
California Caverns – A Poem
Today I did a quick-write poem about California Caverns, where I work part-time. By quick-write, I mean that I've made no edits to this poem and kicked it out pretty fast. The limitations I placed on it was that each line had to rhyme with every other line, and I couldn't use a rhyming word twice, and I couldn't use a dictionary/thesaurus/other reference to think up words — I could only use my head. This is what I came up with:
Don't take a fright
If your guide turns off the light
We promise...
August 10, 2011
Pepsi Throwback a Definite Comeback!
I was hooked by the third sip.
The first time I tasted Pepsi Throwback, I thought…this is interesting. The second sip sparked the thought: it's all right, kind of like a cross between Pepsi and Coke, but with a sweet aftertaste. By the third sip, I was converted.
Understand, I've been a Coca-Cola addict ever since I was small, and I like Pepsi nearly as much. But seconds after breaking the seal on my first bottle of Pepsi Throwback, I vowed never to drink Pepsi again unless Throwback wasn't an ...
