Bart King's Blog, page 250
January 6, 2011
Six Ways Readers Can Help Their Favorite Writers!
A writer named Simon Wood came up with his "Five Ways Readers Can Help Their Favorite Writers" list. Here it is, edited slightly and with one addition:
By Mo Riza
1. Buy a book. I know it's a given, but if you want to keep your favorite writers in business, you have to buy a book.
2. Borrow a book from the public library. If the library doesn't have it, request it. This helps not only the writer, but also the libraries.
3. Write a review. It doesn't have to be an in-depth critical analysis or high school book report. Just a few sentences giving a title a thumb's up is good. Then put it up on Amazon, Barnesandnoble.com, etc.
4. Tell a friend. Word of mouth is gold. If you like a writer or a book, tell someone about it!
5. Buy another book. Don't be one those people who say "yeah, I read a book once." It won't hurt to do it again and writers will thank you for it.
6. Read. Even if you're not buying a book, checking out a book, writing book reviews, or talking about books, just READ. It can only change you and your world for the better.
By Mo Riza
1. Buy a book. I know it's a given, but if you want to keep your favorite writers in business, you have to buy a book.
2. Borrow a book from the public library. If the library doesn't have it, request it. This helps not only the writer, but also the libraries.
3. Write a review. It doesn't have to be an in-depth critical analysis or high school book report. Just a few sentences giving a title a thumb's up is good. Then put it up on Amazon, Barnesandnoble.com, etc.
4. Tell a friend. Word of mouth is gold. If you like a writer or a book, tell someone about it!
5. Buy another book. Don't be one those people who say "yeah, I read a book once." It won't hurt to do it again and writers will thank you for it.
6. Read. Even if you're not buying a book, checking out a book, writing book reviews, or talking about books, just READ. It can only change you and your world for the better.
January 5, 2011
Jordan McCabe has basketball skills.
This video just gets better as it goes.
Drake University: D+
Maybe Drake University should have picked something else to show its academic advantages?I also like this explanation of why a big D+ isn't such a bad idea:
Our experience ... suggests that the kind of students whom we want to attract to Drake easily understand and appreciate the irony of the D+, and that it is having the intended effect of encouraging students to find out more about what makes Drake so special.So D+ is actually cool!
January 3, 2011
Stupefied!
This is an ad. It stars former boxing champ Buster Douglas. The purpose of this ad is to sell a service called SafeAuto. But if you gave a preschool class a camera but no script, and then came back in an hour, their ad would STILL be better than this one!
It's in Quebec.
In the old days of speaking French, "haha" described something unexpected . . . like laughter on a traffic sign! (Saint-Louis-du-Ha! Ha! city site here.)
January 2, 2011
Sometimes, you have to avert your eyes.
I don't like many ads. But I like this ad!
January 1, 2011
Deep Questions for the New Year!
Each year over at the Explainer, the staff share questions that they can't (or won't!) answer. Here are my favorites!
1.) If the entire U.S. was put up for sale, what would be the total asking price on the open market?
2.) Are all languages equally lip-readable?
3.) I've always pondered why boys like having sticks. Whether it be walking down a hiking trail with a stick they picked up or running a stick across a white picket fence, boys have a knack for having a stick. Is there some kind of explanation for this behavior?
4.) Why aren't bathtubs bigger? I can never fully fit in mine.
5.) Hi. I was sucking some helium today and I'm really nervous. I did it at about 5:00 today, and it's 12:00. I just prayed to God to keep me safe. I felt my pulse on my wrist and it was normal. I just was wondering if it will hurt my older life? I am about 10 to 14 years of age.
6.) I was on the subway today and this question struck me: Why are old people always coughing?
7.) If a person is allergic to cats (common housecat allergies) would he also be allergic to a lion?
December 31, 2010
Crayola Rockets?
Rocket enthusiast John Coker designed these large crayons that are capable of high speeds. Of course, this can lead to unfortunate situations.—Kid With Coloring Book: I need red for the fire engine.
—John Coker: 5 ... 4 ... 3 ...
—Kid (reaching): Let's see, the red crayon is right there...
—John Coker: 2 ... 1 ... Liftoff!
—Kid: AAAAAAAAAHHHHH!
—John Coker: Look at that rocket go. Pretty impressive, right? Hello? Are you okay?
Photo from here.
December 30, 2010
I have a good idea!
So you're doing a live broadcast from a snowy hill. For your sign-off, you're going to put down your microphone and sled away! But DON'T wrap the microphone's cord around your leg. It's attached to your cameraman!
What's amazing about this is that after the cameraman completely wipes out, some kids think it's a good idea to throw snowballs at him. Hasn't he suffered enough? (The reporter was Lidia Camon, BTW.)
What's amazing about this is that after the cameraman completely wipes out, some kids think it's a good idea to throw snowballs at him. Hasn't he suffered enough? (The reporter was Lidia Camon, BTW.)
