Suborned by words

lily-prongs: “we read to know we are not alone”

Wed, 22 May 2013 02:25:50 -0500

lily-prongs:

“we read to know we are not alone”

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Wed, 22 May 2013 02:05:33 -0500

nevver: What we’re reading

Wed, 22 May 2013 01:37:59 -0500

nevver:

What we’re reading

Wed, 22 May 2013 01:36:38 -0500

Characters With Eyeglasses

Wed, 22 May 2013 00:30:40 -0500

ghostflowerdreams:

I came across a writer wanting advice when it comes to characters that wear glasses. They want to be realistic and write a main character that actually needs them and isn’t just wearing glasses because they’re a “nerd” or to make them look “smart”.

So I’m writing this to help answer their question, since I do wear glasses and I know the great and not so great things about wearing them.

People get glasses because they need them in order to see properly. Their eyesight is poor and they squint a lot because it’s a struggle to see things clearly. Just keep in mind that not every person’s eyesight is the same.

Some only need glasses to read. Others may need them because they are short sighted — myopia, which means that near objects are seen clearly without glasses but distant objects are blurred. The further away the object are, the more blurred they will be. While others need them because they are long sighted — hypermetropia/hyperopia, which refers to people who find it harder to see near objects but are better at seeing objects far away.

I’m near sighted. When I was younger I would have to sit in the front row because that was the only way I could see the black board clearly. Sometimes when I had to sit in the back I would ask a classmate near me if I could copy their notes and they would kindly let me see it.

I knew I needed glasses but I was reluctant to get them until my eyesight started to become a bigger problem for me: it was interfering with my education. The first time I got them I was surprise at how clear and detail everything was. It was like watching a HD television after being so use to the basic crappy and blurry television.

Everyone’s first time wearing glasses is like that, being amazing at the clarity in their eyesight. Of course, every first timer is also told by the Optometrist that it takes some time for their eyes to adjust to wearing glasses and getting use to wearing them. That is why people get a headache when using them because their eyes are trying to get use to not being overwork anymore. They could finally relax now that you have glasses.

Now, what many don’t know is that there are some pros and cons to wearing glasses just as there is for many things in life. Some people like to wear contacts instead of glasses while others prefer it the other way around, and then there are those that use both for different situations.

Glasses

The Cons:

Glasses can be irritating for the ears and nose.

They fog up.

Not ideal to be wearing for sports or certain activities (such as roller coasters, bungee jumping, swimming, martial arts, skydiving, kissing, paintball, etc.)

They can slide off, especially when looking down.

Peripheral vision is distorted.

They can be easily smudge.

Rain and/or snow will make it difficult to see.

You have to buy a prescription sunglasses if you want your eyes protected from the sun, especially when driving. Note: Transitions lenses don’t change in the car because the windshield blocks UV rays.

Hard to fit under 3D glasses, ski goggles, sunglasses and lab glasses.

Glasses give off a reflection and glare, especially at night (unless you have an anti-reflection coating).

Fear that they’ll break while you’re wearing them and have pieces of it damage your eyes/face.

It’s a bit difficult to put on makeup with glasses on.

Depending on the glasses, they can’t be worn with certain hats

The Pros:

They last longer.

Easy to put on.

Easy to find then contacts.

Makes a person look sophisticated.

There are many designs and style of glasses to choose from.

Can correct astigmatism better.

They don’t have to be constantly clean like contacts do (and it’s cheaper to clean, as well as easier to do).

Objects that would damage eyes can often bounce off glasses (such as a pebble).

They don’t require frequent replacement purchases, and are cheaper in the long run.

They pose zero risk for infection or eye irritation.

If in an emergency they can be use to start a fire.

Your Character and Glasses

Now when it comes to writing about a character that wear glasses keep in mind why they need them and what kind of glasses do they have. Is the frame and style of their glasses Wayfarer, Aviator, Cat-eye, Round, Square, Rectangle, Rounded, Oval or Wrap? Maybe they can’t afford the more stylish frames so they have to get a basic version of one of those? Also, keep in mind the shape of the character’s face because one of the main factors of knowing which glasses to get is knowing what frame can compliment their face.

+ Square Faces - Recommend oval and round frames. Glasses with temples that are center set or that connect at the top of the frame. Butterfly shaped glasses. Avoid geometric and square shaped frames, as well as low-set temples or color accents on the bottom of the frames that draw emphasis to the chin.

+ Oval Faces - Recommend square, rectangular and geometric shapes which add angles to soft curves. Avoid frames that are too large for your features..

+ Oblong Faces - Recommend tall frames help create a shorter face. Broad glasses with an accented top rim or decorative temple that adds width. Avoid small frames that are out of proportion and short frames that accentuate face length.

+ Round Faces - Recommend angular and geometric frames that sharpen facial features. Rectangular and horizontal styles makes faces appear longer and thinner. Upswept frames that draw attention to top of face. Glasses with temples that connect at the top of the frame add length. Avoid small frames that are out of proportion and short frames that accentuate face length.

+ Diamond Faces - Recommend upswept styles like cat eyes that emphasize the cheek bones. Oval frames that maintain balance and rimless styles that allow cheek bones to shine. Avoid narrow frames that draw attention to narrow eye line.

+ Heart Faces - Recommend bottom-heavy frames that add width to lower face. Styles with low-set temples to draw attention downward. Narrow, round frames that soften the forehead. Avoid top-heavy styles that draw attention upward. Decorative temples that accentuate the broad upper face.

+ Triangle Faces - Recommend semi-rimless frames that accentuate the upper face. Top-heavy styles styles that balance the width of the jaw. Frame bottoms that angle inward. Avoid low-set temples that widen the jaw and narrow frames that are out of proportion.

Be Aware Of Your Characters That Wear Glasses

Most writers tend to forget that there are issues that those specific characters can face because they wear glasses. For example, what if your character is cooking a stew? As they are stirring the pot it wouldn’t be surprising to see that their glasses start to fog up, causing them to be temporarily blind until they move away. Or maybe it’s raining and it’s making it difficult for them to see things clearly?

Another thing that all people with glasses experience is that they sometimes can’t see where they put their glasses when they took them off, even if it’s out in plain view. They either find someone to help them or they have to pat around to find them.

Also, if a character was transported into an alien world where eyeglasses are unheard of then don’t be surprise that they’ll attract attention for wearing them. It’s not just the character with glasses that you have to keep in mind but the characters around them as well. How would they react to your character? Are they the type that like to try on people’s glasses? Do they find the glasses the character is wearing strange because nothing like it exist in their society/world/time period?

What if your character is learning how to fight with swords, daggers or any other type of weapon? Glasses can sometimes get in the way when it comes to certain activities. If a character had to roll on the ground to get away from a swipe of a sword, they can loose their glasses like that. Or their glasses can get knock off and break. It also gets in the way if they had to swim.

Is your character absent minded? Or are their glasses so lightweight that they forget they are even wearing them? If so, then they might have a habit of forgetting they are still wearing their glasses when they are about to shower or go for a swim. Is your character always aware of their own glasses, so much that they put their glasses away when they’re doing activities that can cause them to break? Did they learn how to fight or do things by relying on their other senses because they can’t always use their eyesight knowing that it’s poor?

There’s a reason why I listed the pros and cons for wearing glasses. It’s moments like that, where the writer has to keep in mind about their characters that wear glasses. It’s not only realistic but another way to bring your character to life. It allows the readers who don’t wear glasses to understand more about those that do and those who do wear them to feel a connection with that character, sympathizing with them.

The same can be said for those that wear contacts lenses. So here’s the pros and cons for them. And remember to keep in mind if your character wears them when you write your story.

Contact Lenses

The Cons:

Need to learn how to put them on and to take them off.

Needs to be cleaned regularly.

Can’t sleep with them in.

Hard to find if lost.

Can’t open eyes completely underwater.

Can cause irritability in smoky rooms.

Can be costly buying contacts and solutions.

Need to renew prescription yearly.

Can be easily tear if not careful.

The eyes can become dry out when wearing them.

It can cause damage to the eye if a speck of dirt is between the lens and the surface of your eye.

They get uncomfortable after wearing them for a long time.

Beware of getting an infection if lenses aren’t clean properly.

People who have a history record of recurrent severe allergic reactions or eye infections may not be suitable to wear contact lenses.

Can’t wear if the environment is dirty or dusty.

Need to be careful when putting makeup on, especially the eye makeup.

The Pros:

No one can tell you’re wearing contacts (it offer natural eyesight without distortion, glare, or poor peripheral vision).

No additional weight on your face, and no readjusting like you have to so with glasses.

Perfect for sports and other activities.

Can customize the contacts by making them colored

The field of view is larger

No fogging

They will not fall off easily.

Can still see if it’s raining or snowing.

Easier to put on makeup.

I HAVE AN AMAZING IDEA

Tue, 21 May 2013 18:09:58 -0500

pampoovey:

IT IS AN IDEA I HAD A WHILE BACK BUT IT IS ACTUALLY KIND OF FLESHING ITSELF OUT:

Manic Pixie Dream Girls as a narrative are kind of universally reviled, correct? I was thinking one day like, how do you make one AWESOME? Because movies featuring MPDGs are never ever about the MPDG herself, because she is not a person, she is an idea. And because we only see her through the eyes of fuckin Zack Braff or whatever, she is basically a blank slate.

My instinct is always to turn a blank slate character into something violent and dark and awful, so why not make her secretly terrifying??? Not in an existential way, but in a badass spysassin way.

BASICALLY MY MOVIE GOES LIKE THIS:

Read More

mayra-quijotesca: vegetablog: Pineapple Coconut Ice Cream one...

Tue, 21 May 2013 17:54:47 -0500

mayra-quijotesca:

vegetablog:

Pineapple Coconut Ice Cream

one small pineapple, cored and roughly chopped (or three short lil cans of pineapple chunks)

1/2 cup coconut milk

1/2 cup fine white sugar

1 tbsp lime juice

Freeze the pineapple until solid. When you open your can of coconut milk, there will be a thick layer of white solid with thinner milk underneath. Mix these two layers together until it makes a creamy milk, then measure out a half cup of this for the coconut milk. Put everything in a blender and blend until it looks like a really thick smoothie. You’ll probably need to scrape down the sides a few times. Put into a tupperware thing and leave in freezer for like an hour. This makes it the best consistency~ When you put it back in the freezer for a long time, it gets hard to spoon out so let it thaw a little before serving again.

This looks excellent, but would I be able to use the same amount of almond or soy milk instead of coconut milk?

This website gives coconut milk substitutes; although it is mainly oriented toward curry dishes, I think you should be able to use the dairy substitutes they provide without a problem.

This website confirms my suspicions by providing a cream/milk-to-coconut conversion: “Substitute one cup of light coconut milk for one cup regular or 2% dairy milk and one cup regular coconut milk for one cup half-and-half or cream.”

And this website has a post by someone who actually made ice cream with almond milk and concluded: “The almond milk version does miss the creamy mouth feel of regular ice cream. The almond milk mixture is more like frozen ice milk; but it is dairy-free and tasty enough. I also made a batch of blackberry ice cream this weekend and what can I say, it was excellent. In comparison, the almond milk recipe was okay, but didn’t knock any socks off.” So it looks like almond milk (and soy milk?) may not be fatty/creamy enough to produce a superior ice cream.

I checked a couple of other pineapple ice cream recipes, like this one here and they all tend to use a combination of milk, cream, and eggs for their dairy content.

What is cool about using coconut milk (aside from the classic pairing of the pineapple and coconut flavors) is that it makes this recipe vegan-friendly. If you don’t object to using animal products, you should feel free to substitute other dairy products in the recipe. Unfortunately, most vegan pineapple ice creams tend to use coconut milk as a fat source and I don’t know enough about ice cream or vegan ingredients to suggest a vegan substitute.

Anyone?

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Tue, 21 May 2013 17:15:58 -0500

deducecanoe: bendingthewillow: deducecanoe: Ok come on u...

Tue, 21 May 2013 17:08:52 -0500

deducecanoe:

bendingthewillow:

deducecanoe:

Ok come on u guize. This is officially out of hand.

This is officially the best.

Best at being out of control? Yes. lol

Foreign Words We Could Use in English

Tue, 21 May 2013 17:04:55 -0500

Foreign Words We Could Use in English:

nevver:

Kummerspeck (German)
Excess weight gained from emotional overeating. Literally, grief bacon.

Shemomedjamo (Georgian)
You know when you’re really full, but your meal is just so delicious, you can’t stop eating it?

Tartle (Scots)
The nearly onomatopoeic word for that panicky hesitation just before you have to introduce someone whose name you can’t quite remember.

Mamihlapinatapai (Yaghan language of Tierra del Fuego)
This word captures that special look shared between two people, when both are wishing that the other would do something that they both want, but neither want to do.

Backpfeifengesicht (German)
A face badly in need of a fist.

Iktsuarpok (Inuit)
You know that feeling of anticipation when you’re waiting for someone to show up at your house and you keep going outside to see if they’re there yet?

Pelinti (Buli, Ghana)
Your friend bites into a piece of piping hot pizza, then opens his mouth and sort of tilts his head around while making an “aaaarrrahh” noise. The Ghanaians have a word for that. More specifically, it means “to move hot food around in your mouth.”

Greng-jai (Thai)
That feeling you get when you don’t want someone to do something for you because it would be a pain for them.

Mencolek (Indonesian)
You know that old trick where you tap someone lightly on the opposite shoulder from behind to fool them? The Indonesians have a word for it.

Faamiti (Samoan)
To make a squeaking sound by sucking air past the lips in order to gain the attention of a dog or child.

Gigil (Filipino)
The urge to pinch or squeeze something that is irresistibly cute.

Yuputka (Ulwa)
A word made for walking in the woods at night, it’s the phantom sensation of something crawling on your skin.

Zhaghzhagh (Persian)
The chattering of teeth from the cold or from rage.

Vybafnout (Czech)
A word tailor-made for annoying older brothers—it means to jump out and say boo.

Fremdschämen (German)
; Myötähäpeä (Finnish)
The kindler, gentler cousins of Schadenfreude, both these words mean something akin to “vicarious embarrassment.”

Lagom (Swedish)
Maybe Goldilocks was Swedish? This slippery little word is hard to define, but means something like, “Not too much, and not too little, but juuuuust right.”

Pålegg (Norweigian)
Sandwich Artists unite! The Norwegians have a non-specific descriptor for anything – ham, cheese, jam, Nutella, mustard, herring, pickles, Doritos, you name it – you might consider putting into a sandwich.

Layogenic (Tagalog)
Remember in Clueless when Cher describes someone as “a full-on Monet…from far away, it’s OK, but up close it’s a big old mess”? That’s exactly what this word means.

Bakku-shan (Japanese)
Or there this Japanese slang term, which describes the experience of seeing a woman who appears pretty from behind but not from the front.

Seigneur-terraces (French)
Coffee shop dwellers who sit at tables a long time but spend little money.

Ya’arburnee (Arabic)
This word is the hopeful declaration that you will die before someone you love deeply, because you cannot stand to live without them. Literally, may you bury me.

Pana Po’o (Hawaiian)
“Hmm, now where did I leave those keys?” he said, pana po’oing. It means to scratch your head in order to help you remember something you’ve forgotten.

Slampadato (Italian)
Addicted to the UV glow of tanning salons? This word describes you.

Zeg (Georgian)
It means “the day after tomorrow.” OK, we do have “overmorrow” in English, but when was the last time someone used that?

Cafune (Brazilian Portuguese)
Leave it to the Brazilians to come up with a word for “tenderly running your fingers through your lover’s hair.”

Koi No Yokan (Japanese)
The sense upon first meeting a person that the two of you are going to fall in love.

Kaelling (Danish)
You know that woman who stands on her doorstep (or in line at the supermarket, or at the park, or in a restaurant)
cursing at her children? The Danes know her, too.

Boketto (Japanese)
It’s nice to know that the Japanese think enough of the act of gazing vacantly into the distance without thinking to give it a name.

L’esprit de l’escalier (French)
Literally, stairwell wit—a too-late retort thought of only after departure.

Cotisuelto (Caribbean Spanish)
A word that would aptly describe the prevailing fashion trend among American men under 40, it means one who wears the shirt tail outside of his trousers.

Packesel (German)
The packesel is the person who’s stuck carrying everyone else’s bags on a trip. Literally, a burro.

Hygge (Danish)
Denmark’s mantra, hygge is the pleasant, genial, and intimate feeling associated with sitting around a fire in the winter with close friends.

Cavoli Riscaldati (Italian)
The result of attempting to revive an unworkable relationship. Translates to “reheated cabbage.”

Bilita Mpash (Bantu)
An amazing dream. Not just a “good” dream; the opposite of a nightmare.

Litost (Czech)
Milan Kundera described the emotion as “a state of torment created by the sudden sight of one’s own misery.”

Luftmensch (Yiddish)
There are several Yiddish words to describe social misfits. This one is for an impractical dreamer with no business sense.

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Tue, 21 May 2013 16:50:11 -0500

hidden-agender: shorm: mycroft-queenofcake: iamjayse: thenerdfighterkid: slydig: tsarbucks: sl...

Tue, 21 May 2013 16:47:24 -0500

hidden-agender:

shorm:

mycroft-queenofcake:

iamjayse:

thenerdfighterkid:

slydig:

tsarbucks:

slydig:

dont be mean

be median or mode

damn math fandom bloggers

shut up we have a good range of jokes

this is our domain

guys we’re forgetting the point of this post and going off on a tangent

how did a three-word post cos this many puns

Truly it’s a cardinal sine.

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Tue, 21 May 2013 16:28:19 -0500

hereticarts: Social conditioning.

Tue, 21 May 2013 16:16:40 -0500

hereticarts:

Social conditioning.

bigshredder: the “hamlet spoilers” tag is a gem

Tue, 21 May 2013 16:13:08 -0500

bigshredder:

the “hamlet spoilers” tag is a gem

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Tue, 21 May 2013 15:59:54 -0500

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Tue, 21 May 2013 15:57:06 -0500

sourcedumal: girljanitor: innocent-bystanders-inc: nudiemuse: ...

Tue, 21 May 2013 15:47:41 -0500

sourcedumal:

girljanitor:

innocent-bystanders-inc:

nudiemuse:

princelesscomic:

girljanitor:

Self Evident Truths

S. Ross Browne

Ummm…I am so VERY into this right now!

But Black people in period or fantasy settings totally makes the stories unreal.

Also holy shit I love these.

How come I don’t run across this stuff regularly?

Because of racism and the retroactive erasure of POC in Medieval Europe. Pretty much the same reason you almost never see these works of art either unless you’re already looking for them:

But it’s SOOOOOOOOOOO UNREALISTIC TO SEE BLACK PEOPLE IN MEDIEVAL EUROPE!!!!

/sarcasm

misanthropic-librarian: moosejesus: bmoburns: preteenager: HOW DOES POPCORN EVEN DO THAT...

Tue, 21 May 2013 12:24:34 -0500

misanthropic-librarian:

moosejesus:

bmoburns:

preteenager:

HOW DOES POPCORN EVEN DO THAT THING

HERE I SHOW YOU THE THING

it’s like some kind of weird pokemon

What? Something is happening!

Congratulations! Your “Kernel” has evolved into “Popcorn!”

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Tue, 21 May 2013 12:18:01 -0500