Clipmarks | Paris Clips

12 Writing Tips From George Orwell

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 18:14:30 GMT

clipped by: missangelyss

George Orwell has earned the right to be called one of the finer writers in the English language through such novels as 1984 and Animal Farm, such essays as “Shooting an Elephant,” and his memoir Down and Out in Paris.

George expressed a strong dislike of totalitarian governments in his work, but he was also passionate defender of good writing. Thus, you may want to hear some of George’s writing tips.*

A scrupulous writer, in every sentence that he writes, will ask himself at least four questions, thus:

What am I trying to say?
What words will express it?
What image or idiom will make it clearer?
Is this image fresh enough to have an effect?

And he will probably ask himself two more:

Could I put it more shortly?
Have I said anything that is avoidably ugly?

One can often be in doubt about the effect of a word or a phrase, and one needs rules that one can rely on when instinct fails. I think the following rules will cover most cases:

Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.
Never use a long word where a short one will do.
If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.
Never use the passive where you can use the active.
Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.
Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.

* From “Politics and the English Language” by George Orwell.

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Tags: writing

The Internet Black Hole That Is North Korea

Thu, 26 Oct 2006 14:57:20 GMT

clipped by: haraya
clipper's remarks: No clipmarks for them?

Clip Source: www.nytimes.com

the stark realities of life in North Korea were perhaps most evident in a simple satellite image over the shoulder of Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld during an Oct. 11 briefing. The image showed the two Koreas — North and South — photographed at night.

The South was illuminated from coast to coast, suggesting that not just lights, but that other, arguably more bedrock utility of the modern age — information — was pulsating through the population.

The North was black.

This is an impoverished country where televisions and radios are hard-wired to receive only government-controlled frequencies. Cellphones were banned outright in 2004. In May, the Committee to Protect Journalists in New York ranked North Korea No. 1 — over also-rans like Burma, Syria and Uzbekistan — on its list of the “10 Most Censored Countries.”

That would seem to leave the question of Internet access in North Korea moot.

At a time when much of the world takes for granted a fat and growing network of digitized human knowledge, art, history, thought and debate, it is easy to forget just how much is being denied the people who live under the veil of darkness revealed in that satellite photograph.

While other restrictive regimes have sought to find ways to limit the Internet — through filters and blocks and threats — North Korea has chosen to stay wholly off the grid.

Julien Pain, head of the Internet desk at Reporters Without Borders, a Paris-based group which tracks censorship around the world, put it more bluntly. “It is by far the worst Internet black hole,” he said.

Tags: internet, technology, korea, censorship, information, web, politics, government, news, photographs, satellite, society, media, asia

Natural-born painkiller found in human saliva

Tue, 14 Nov 2006 18:39:49 GMT

clipped by: BitDrifter

Clip Source: www.newscientist.com

Saliva from humans has yielded a natural painkiller up to six times more powerful than morphine, researchers say.

The substance, dubbed opiorphin, may spawn a new generation of natural painkillers that relieve pain as well as morphine but without the addictive and psychological side effects of the traditional drug.

When the researchers injected a pain-inducing chemical into rats’ paws, 1 gram of opiorphin per kilogram of body weight achieved the same painkilling effect as 3 grams of morphine.

The substance was so successful at blocking pain that, in a test involving a platform of upended pins, the rats needed six times as much morphine as opiorphin to render them oblivious to the pain of standing on the needle points.

“Its pain-suppressive effect is like that of morphine,” says Catherine Rougeot at the Pasteur Institute in Paris, France, who led the research. “But we have to test its side effects as it is not a pure painkiller,” she says. “It may also be an anti-depressive molecule.”

Tags: pain, pain killer, medicine, medical, medication, health, science, technology, saliva, biology

Steal my content, please!

Sat, 15 Dec 2007 14:09:31 GMT

clipped by: ericskiff
clipper's remarks: I completely agree with Scoble on this one, although I can understand why people who make their living directly from their creations have a hard time letting go of the fear of giving away at least some of the rights to their content.

Cory Doctorow began releasing all of his literary work under creative commons licenses years ago, allowing people to freely download and distribute his work under some light provisos. I downloaded and read "Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom" on my palm pilot, freely and legally, and was hooked.

Because of that, I've read a huge amount of his writing, become a mammoth fan, and will likely purchase every book he publishes. I've also published everything I've written, shot, and produced under a similar license.

While that certainly hasn't brought me traditional commercial success, it has definitely accelerated serendipity countless times for me, and if you trace out the effects of those 'lucky' events, it's helped shape both my career and life.

Clip Source: scobleizer.com

I was just reading feeds before heading to the second day’s events at LeWeb3 conference in Paris. Along comes Susan Mernit’s blog, who quotes Lane Hartwell, who is pissed that people steal her photographs. She’s decided to take all of her Flickr photos out of the public eye.

Me? I’m the opposite of Lane. I WANT YOU to steal my content. In fact, next year I’m going to do stuff to make all my content available via Creative Commons license so you can use it whereever and whenever, including my video shows. I’d like a credit, yes, but don’t demand it. I’d rather just add to the human experience and if that means that other people make money off of my work, so be it.

I’ve found that the more I give away my content, the more magical stuff happens to me anyway and if that means my photos or writings or videos get used in some way that I don’t really like, well, that’s a risk I’m willing to take. Lane obviously is not.

Anger Over Paris Story

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 11:46:23 GMT

clipped by: CrazyRedHead

Clip Source: en.wikipedia.org

Clip Source: media.guardian.co.uk

Did the release of Paris Hilton from a Los Angeles jail merit the media attention it received? That question reached a critical point for one US cable news presenter when she refused to read out the lead item on a popular morning breakfast show.

"I have an apology," presenter Mika Brzezinski told the host of MSNBC's Morning Joe programme, "and that is for the lead story. I hate this story. I don't think it should be the lead.

Taunted by her co-presenters, Brzezinski proceeded to tear up the script, attempting to set light to it before finally putting it through a shredder. "You have changed the world," mocked host Joe Scarborough."Yes I have," replied Brzezinski, "at least my world."

Throughout the exchanges Brzezinski appeared angry at the inclusion of the item as the lead in the morning's news

She took a cigarette lighter from a fellow presenter and tried, but failed, to set light to the sheaf of papers.

Brzezinski was shown with her head in her hands.

Tags: news, paris hilton, entertainment

Libraries this beautiful..Oh God!

Sun, 20 Apr 2008 10:32:32 GMT

clipped by: mugofcoffee
clipper's remarks: I love books and even browsing books in such an exotic atmosphere must be a real blessing! sigh...

Clip Source: www.boredstop.com

Strahov Theological Hall - Original Baroque Cabinets

Strahov Theological Hall; Statue of John the Evangelist Holding a Book

Strahov Philosophical Hall

Abbey Library St. Gallen, Switzerland

Biblioteca Angelica, Rome, Italy

Biblioteca do Palacio e Convento de Mafra I, Lisbon Coast, Portugal

Biblioteca Palafoxiana, Puebla, Mexico

Bibliotecha de la Real Academia De La Lengua, Madrid, Spain

Bibliotheque Alencon, Normandy, France

Bibliothéque Nationale de France, Paris, France

Bodlein Library, Oxford University, England

Boston Copley Public Library, Boston, USA

British Reading Room, British Museum, London, England

Casanatense Library, Rome, Italy

Cathedral Library, Kalocsa, Hungary

Dutch Royal Archives Library, Netherlands

El Escorial Library, San Lorenzo, Spain

Frederick Ferris Thompson Memorial Library, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, New York, USA

Handelingenkamer Tweede Kamer Der Staten-Generaal Den Haag, the Hague, Netherlands

Tags: books, pictures, library, beautiful.

The World Reacts in picture to Obama's victory

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 12:22:58 GMT

clipped by: balthazarus
clipper's remarks: A modern hero? no doubt he stirs the heart of many.

Clip Source: www.nytimes.com

The World Reacts

Mr. Obama's Kenyan relatives and Africans across the continent celebrated his victory

Clip Source: www.nytimes.com

Mama Sarah, president-elect Barack Obama's step-grandmother

Clip Source: www.nytimes.com

Kenyans celebrated Senator Barack Obama's election victory

Clip Source: www.nytimes.com

Filipinos celebrated with cutouts of Mr. Obama

Clip Source: www.nytimes.com

The refrain from Mr. Obama's campaign, "Yes We Can," is written on the window of the American Book Centre in Amsterdam.

Clip Source: www.nytimes.com

London's Evening Standard newspaper produced a special edition

Clip Source: www.nytimes.com

French and U.S. supporters cheered Mr. Obama's victory on the streets of Paris.

Clip Source: www.nytimes.com

A group of Kashmiri students celebrated Mr. Obama's victory, and appealed to him to resolve the dispute over the Himalayan region between India and Pakistan.

Clip Source: www.nytimes.com

Kuwaiti investors watched Mr. Obama giving his victory speech on a television at the Stock Exchange in Kuwait City

Clip Source: www.nytimes.com

Palestinians watched Mr. Obama's acceptance speech from a coffee shop in Gaza.

Clip Source: www.nytimes.com

Serena Hotel in Kabul, Afghanistan

Clip Source: www.nytimes.com

Students in Jakarta, Indonesia

Clip Source: www.nytimes.com

U.S. Embassy in Beijing

Clip Source: www.nytimes.com

An audience gathered in Hong Kong

Clip Source: www.nytimes.com

Delhi

Tags: obama, elections, world

10 Most Fascinating Tombs in the World

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 21:24:57 GMT

clipped by: JohnWaterman

Clip Source: www.neatorama.com

Newgrange

the world’s oldest surviving building

Tana Toraja

the bones are offered cigarettes or various offerings

Westminster Abbey

Newton’s grave

Giza Necropolis

Valley of the Kings

Catacombs of Paris

Terracota Army

the burial ground of Qin Shi Huangdi

Capuchin Catacombs of Palermo

Sedlec Ossuary

Taj Mahal

the most beautiful mausoleum

Bonus:

Here is another one that didn’t quite make the list:

City of the Dead in Northern Ossetia, Russia

Local legends have it that in the 18th century, a plague swept through Ossetia. The clans built quarantine houses for sick family members, who were provided with food, but not freedom to move about, until death claimed their lives. A slow and painful way to go, indeed.

Panoramic pics : quirky

Fri, 15 Feb 2008 19:05:40 GMT

clipped by: righthand

Clip Source: www.younggalleryphoto.com

“The Tours of the World”

BIOGRAPHY

Paolo Pellizzari, a Belgium-based Italian, made a name for himself with his panoramic work on India « A billion Indians » published by 5 Continents in Milan in 2000.
He subsequently travelled the world in search of « Human landscapes » whose portfolios
are distributed by Vu in Paris, Grazia Neri in Milan, and Polaris in New York. In 2004 he was awarded the Sportel Prize for the best sports book of the year for « Les Tours du Monde » (Tours of the world) in which he photographs the most exotic cycling races on the planet.
His work is regularly displayed in galleries in Turin, Milan, Paris and Brussels

Tags: photos

100 things we didn't know last year

Wed, 02 Jan 2008 18:28:11 GMT

clipped by: Bluephoenix4

Clip Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Brazil nuts are seeds encased in an outer shell that weighs more than 1kg.

Antony and Cleopatra were ugly.

Chimpanzees make their own spears for hunting.

Only about half of China's population can speak the national language, Mandarin.

There is mobile phone reception from the summit of Mount Everest.

Anti-Americanism began in Paris in the 18th Century.

Denmark is the happiest country in Europe; Italy the unhappiest

The secret to happiness is accepting misery

Peanuts can be made into diamonds

Renowned atheist Professor Richard Dawkins likes singing Christmas carols

The Australian town of Eucla has its own time zone

Gun ownership per person in Finland is the third highest in the world

IP addresses will run out in 2010

CO2 emissions from shipping are twice the level of aviation

Kryptonite exists

Dumbledore is gay

Woodwork lessons are known as "resistant materials" in schools

Zsa Zsa Gabor is related to Paris Hilton

In Iceland, 96% of women go to university

Newcastle is the noisiest place in England

Tags: trivia, facts, bbc, 2007

Arnold Schwarzenegger cold on Paris Hilton pardon plea

Thu, 10 May 2007 12:03:38 GMT

clipped by: usmc6531

Clip Source: www.londonnet.co.uk

Paris Hilton's pardon plea to California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has been laughed out of his office.

The hotel heiress appealed to her fans to sign a petition after she was sentenced to 45 days in jail for driving with a suspended licence and sent it to the actor-turned-politician.

But calls to Arnie's office inquiring about the petition were met with mockery.

The governor's press secretary, Aaron McLear, said:

"The petition will be treated no differently than any other request filed to the governor's office.

"The governor only acts in extraordinary circumstances."

Paris' mother Kathy Hilton is furious her daughter has been given a jail term.

She told USA Today: "This is pathetic and disgusting, a waste of taxpayers' money with all this nonsense. This is a joke."

Tags: paris hilton, politics, news

Pop Arts

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 16:06:28 GMT

clipped by: dakotayii
clipper's remarks: Enjoy

Clip Source: www.nuacco.com

Jack Nicholson:

Beatles:

Bjork:

Elton John:

Madonna:

Brad Pitt:

Julia Roberts:

Red Hot Chili Peppers:

Paris Hilton, Snoop Dog, Paul McCartney:

These amazing pictures were made by Pablo Lobato - the famous Argentinian artist. He sees celebrities in a special way, being able to pass resemblance in caricatures by drawing just a few lines - see for yourself:

Tags: art

3 Human Wonders Worth Seeing!

Sun, 10 Jun 2007 02:44:51 GMT

clipped by: leafwinder
clipper's remarks: I hope I can go to the third place.

Clip Source: blogs.ibibo.com

First Air Conditioned Bus Station-Dubai

The Millau viaduct is part of the
new E11 expressway connecting Paris and Barcelona and features the
highest bridge piers ever constructed. The tallest is 240 meters high
and the overall height will be an impressive 336 meters, making this
the highest bridge in the world.

Tags: photo, travel

Ancient snake with two legs

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 14:06:23 GMT

clipped by: invictus

Clip Source: news.bbc.co.uk

What was lost tens of millions of years ago is now found.

A fossil animal locked in Lebanese limestone has been shown to be an extremely precious discovery - a snake with two legs.

Scientists have only a handful of specimens that illustrate the evolutionary narrative that goes from ancient lizard to limbless modern serpent.

Researchers at the European Light Source (ESRF) in Grenoble, France, used intense X-rays to confirm that a creature imprinted on a rock, and with one visible leg, had another appendage buried just under the surface of the slab.

"We were sure he had two legs but it was great to see it, and we hope to find other characteristics that we couldn't see on the other limb," said Alexandra Houssaye from the National Museum of Natural History, Paris.

The 85cm-long (33in) creature, known as Eupodophis descouensi, comes from the Late Cretaceous, about 92 million years ago.

Unearthed near the village of al-Nammoura, it was originally described in 2000.

Tags: palaeontology, fossils, biology, reptiles, snakes, science