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Tools for Poets

Tue, 07 Nov 2006 11:30:26 GMT

clipped by: skwirlinator

Tools for Poets - Rhyming dictionaries & other references

Need a rhyming word for the line you’re working on? The outline for a poetic form you want to try? We’ve selected links to the online tools you need when you’re polishing a poem.

Alcor Rhyming Dictionaries
Alcor is a small Australian firm that has created rhyming dictionaries in 20 languages, from Afrikaans to Yiddish, all of which you can try online.

AnalogX Rhyme
There are lots of system & music tools at AnalogX, including this free, downloadable Windows program which will suggest rhymes for any of 100,000 words.

Ansme.com Rhyming Dictionary
The dictionaries at Ansme.com will give you rhyming words sorted according to number of syllables, definitions, words with similar sound patterns, antonyms, synonyms & other relations among words, or translations of single words.

Glossary of Poetic Forms
If you’re into sonnets or pantoums, haiku or limericks, visit our glossary, which is stocked with concise definitions of various kinds of formal poetries, with links for further reading.

Online Etymology Dictionary
Douglas Harper’s Online Etymology Dictionary is a labor of love, “a map of the wheel-ruts of modern English” compiled from a whole library of source dictionaries -- a free & wonderful resource for musing poets who wish to follow their words’ trails through historical usage.

Visual Thesaurus
The Visual Thesaurus offers the same browsing pleasures as Roget’s, but rather than flipping pages to follow the trails of related words, you watch the words dance on your screen & explore the branching linguistic paths by clicking. (This is a commercial site, intended to sell subscriptions, but you can try out the online edition for free.)

Online Rhyming Dictionary
WriteExpress would like to sell you the CD version of their rhyming dictionary, but will let you use their online rhymer free. Bookmark this page for the next time you are stumped for the right rhyme: end rhymes, beginning rhymes, double or triple rhymes are all here.

Tags: tools for poets, about, rhyming dictionaries, sonnets, pantoums, haiku, limericks, formal poetries, poetry

National Novel Writing Month

Tue, 07 Nov 2006 18:02:09 GMT

clipped by: skwirlinator
clipper's remarks: About National Writing Month

Clip Source: fictionwriting.about.com

Profile of National Novel Writing Month

From Ginny Wiehardt,
Your Guide to Fiction Writing.
FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now!

National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) basics: National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) was begun in Oakland, CA, in 1999, with the idea of getting writers to tackle a big project and of raising money for children's libraries in Southeast Asia. Over the years, it's grown from 21 participants and six winners to 59,000 participants and 9769 winners. To win, writers must write an entire novel from scratch (50,000 words) in one month.

How to participate: Sign up online starting October 1 or each year. Start writing November 1, and "write like crazy for thirty days." If you succeed in writing 50,000 words by midnight November 30, you may send your novel to them to have the words counted, and your name will be added to their list of winners.

NaNoWriMo novels that have been published: Many NaNoWriMo books have gone on to be published by presses such as Warner Books, Ballantine, and Berkley Books. One novel, Sarah Gruen's "Flying Changes" was even a New York Times-bestseller. Other books include Rebecca Agiewich's "Breakup Babe," Dave Wilson's "The Mote in Andrea's Eye," and Gayle Brandeis's "Self Storage."

Number of libraries built by NaNoWriMo money: Fifty percent of all proceeds generated by NaNoWriMo go to children's libraries in Southeast Asia. Ten have been created as of 2005 (three in Cambodia, seven in Laos). Proceeds from 2006 will go to build libraries in Vietnam.

Examples of Metaphor Writing in the Third Person Examples of Assonance round character November Short Story Contests

Clip Source: z.about.com

Fanfic Writing Advice from Fanfic Writers - 6/19/01

Tags: national novel writing month, 50k words, nanowrimo, novels, authors, writers, publish, winners, about

Meet George Walker Bush

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 02:37:03 GMT

clipped by: skwirlinator
clipper's remarks: US President 2001-
Governor of Texas 1995-2000
Alfalfa Club 1996
Bohemian Grove
Delta Kappa Epsilon Fraternity
Skull and Bones Society
Arbusto Energy Founder
Baker Botts Mailroom (summer job)
Alfalfa Party candidate for US President
Time Man of the Year 2000
Time Man of the Year 2004
Time 100 Radical Gambler
Appendectomy 1956
Driving While Intoxicated Kennebunkport, Maine (Sep-1976)
Larceny stole a Christmas tree
Draft Deferment: Vietnam
Born-Again Christian 1986
Assassination Attempt by Vladimir Arutyunian, Tbilisi, Georgia (10-May-2005)
Secret Service Codename Tumbler
Dubya Ranch Hand Nov-2000
Dubya Nickname Dubya, Bushie
Bush Family

Clip Source: www.nndb.com

George W. Bush

Born: 6-Jul-1946
Birthplace: New Haven, CT

Gender: Male
Religion: Methodist
Race or Ethnicity: White
Sexual orientation: Straight
Occupation: Head of State
Party Affiliation: Republican

Nationality: United States
Executive summary: 43rd US President

Father: George H.W. Bush
Mother: Barbara Bush
Brother: Jeb Bush (Governor of Florida)
Brother: Neil Bush
Brother: Marvin Bush
Sister: Doro Bush
Sister: Robin Bush (b. 20-Dec-1949, d. 11-Oct-1953)
Wife: Laura Bush (m. 5-Nov-1977 in Midland, TX)
Daughter: Jenna Bush (b. 25-Nov-1981)
Daughter: Barbara Bush (b. 25-Nov-1981)

High School: Phillips Academy Andover (1964)
University: BA History, Yale University (1968)
University: MBA, Harvard Business School (1975)

Rotten Library Page:
George W Bush

Risk Factors: Alcoholism, Dyslexia, Former Smoker, Appendicitis

Tags: george walker bush, about, nndb

Managing Student Stress

Tue, 07 Nov 2006 18:40:23 GMT

clipped by: skwirlinator

Clip Source: psychology.about.com

Managing Student Stress

Are midterms, class projects, or thesis papers stressing you out? While some stress is manageable, allowing it to build can lead to health problems, anxiety, and burnout. Students face a great deal of stress with tight deadlines, busy schedules, and tough tests, but keeping up with assignments and using good study habits can help minimize student stress. If you need to improve your study habits, these study tips for psychology students can help.

About's Guide to Stress Management, Elizabeth Scott, offers many great tips for dealing with student stress. If you need to lower your anxiety and cope with student stress, check out some of these great tips.

Stress Relievers for Students
These stress management tips are specifically geared toward busy students. Learn more about some quick and easy ways to reduce students stress.
Reduce Stress and Stay in School
Learn more about how to reduce test anxiety, develop stronger study skills, and succeed in school.
Top Ten Stress Relievers
Learn more about some proven ways of managing stress and reducing tension.

_{Photo courtesy Sanja Gjenero}

Psychology Offers

Stress Busters Deal with Stress Student Stress Geopathic Stress Occupational Stress What are offers?

Tags: managing student stress, about, stress management, tension, anxiety, students, help, emotions

Geotagging Photos

Tue, 07 Nov 2006 18:14:44 GMT

clipped by: skwirlinator

Clip Source: geography.about.com

Geotagging Photos

From Matt Rosenberg,
Your Guide to Geography.
FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now!

Geotagging (assigning a geographic location) to photographs has exploded in popularity recently, thanks to sites like Flickr, that allow users to geotag photos posted to the Flickr site. As of this writing, Flickr has more than 6.5 million geotagged photos that can be located using a map. Zooming in or searching for a specific place increases the odds that you'll see photos from a particular location. It is quite fun to zoom into your neighborhood to see what photos have been taken of what geographic features.

Today's New York Times reports on the growing popularity of geotagging in conjunction with GPS units that record geographic data about each photo taken. Additionally, in the latest version of Photoshop Elements, geotagging is part of the process of editing and publishing photos. About.com Guide to Graphics Software Sue Chastain describes the geotagging of photos in this new piece of software.

Tags: geotagging photos, 6.5 million geotagged photos, about, gps, mapping, tools

Stupid Quotes About Iraq

Tue, 07 Nov 2006 11:14:31 GMT

clipped by: skwirlinator

Clip Source: politicalhumor.about.com

Stupid Quotes About Iraq

25 Mind-Numbingly Stupid Official Statements About Iraq

1) "My answer is bring 'em on." —President George W. Bush, challenging militants attacking U.S. forces in Iraq, July 2, 2003 (Source)

2) "I think they're in the last throes, if you will, of the insurgency." --Vice President Dick Cheney, on the Iraq insurgency, June 20, 2005 (Source)

4) "My belief is we will, in fact, be greeted as liberators." –Vice President Dick Cheney, "Meet the Press," March 16, 2003 (Source)

5) "F**k Saddam, we're taking him out." –President Bush to three U.S. Senators in March 2002, a full year before the Iraq invasion (Source)

6) "Ladies and gentlemen, these are not assertions. These are facts, corroborated by many sources, some of them sources of the intelligence services of other countries." –Secretary of State Colin Powell, testifying about Iraq's chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons capabilities before the United Nations Security Council, Feb. 5, 2003 (Source)

7) "Freedom's untidy, and free people are free to make mistakes and commit crimes and do bad things." –Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on looting in Iraq after the U.S. invasion, adding "stuff happens," April 11, 2003 (Source)

8) "Major combat operations in Iraq have ended. In the battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed." –President Bush, standing under a "Mission Accomplished" banner on the USS Lincoln aircraft carrier, May 2, 2003 (Source)

9) "It's hard to conceive that it would take more forces to provide stability in post-Saddam Iraq than it would take to conduct the war itself and to secure the surrender of Saddam’s security forces and his army. Hard to imagine." –Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, testifying before the House Budget Committee prior to the Iraq war, Feb. 27, 2003 (Source)

Tags: stupid quotes about iraq, war, quotes, iraq, stupid, funny, humor, about

Simpsons' Iraq War Satire

Tue, 07 Nov 2006 11:07:14 GMT

clipped by: skwirlinator

Clip Source: politicalhumor.about.com

The Simpsons' Iraq War Satire

From Daniel Kurtzman,
Your Guide to Political Humor.
FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now!

Guide Rating -

Watch a clip from The Simpsons' annual Treehouse of Horrors XVII Halloween special, featuring a biting satire of the Iraq war.

Review:

Another reason why The Simpsons continues to be one of the best shows on television.

Available Formats:

YouTube Video

Tags: simpsons' iraq war satire, simpsons, iraq, war, satire, about, political humor, dan kurtzman

Heroes: Main Ten Characters' Profiles

Tue, 07 Nov 2006 10:58:16 GMT

clipped by: skwirlinator

Clip Source: scifi.about.com

Heroes: Main Ten Characters' Profiles

NBC's new Monday night show features a cast of dozens, but let's get started with the main ten people. Here are their vital stats, the connections to the other characters, and their current situation.