Monthly Archives: October 2009

Having WORDS with Sprint WebCapTel

  By John Rea-Hedrick | October 28, 2009 - 12:38 pm | Randomness
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The importance of the words we use in everyday communication could hardly be understated.  While body language, context, vocal intonation, pitch, etc. are significant factors in interpreting intended or implied meaning, the words themselves are the common-language root of our vocal communication.  For people in the hearing impaired and Hard of Hearing (HOH) community, however, understanding spoken words can be a constant challenge.  While they may get the gist of what someone else is saying, much of the nuance, and at times the actual content of the message, can be lost in translation. (more…)

I’m not a fan of movie trailers

  By John Rea-Hedrick | October 27, 2009 - 5:14 pm | Randomness
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Let’s consider for a moment that going to the movies is like going on a trip, which in many ways it exactly what it is.

So, you’re planning to take this trip and it’s one you’ve really been wanting to take.  You’ve read or heard a little about it from others who have already been there to whet your appetite.  Maybe some of your friends have even gone recently and told you what a great time they had.  Okay, so now you’re really excited! (more…)

YA Highway – WIP into Haiku

  By John Rea-Hedrick | October 22, 2009 - 7:30 am | Randomness
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The writing folks at YA Highway have issued an invitation on their blog to turn your writing work-in-progress into a Haiku.  This was too much fun to resist (and who would want to?).  So here is mine!  Well, actually two of mine.  Since I am working on a series I’ve written one about the first book and one about the series as a whole.

Let me know what you think!

Book 1: Raven Academy

Boy finds he’s a part
of a world outside of time
and trouble’s brewing.

Citadel of Kidrodell

A world outside time,
Improving from our mistakes,
’Laws of Hist’ry’ win?

 

Do Not Stand Forward of Line While Bus is in Motion

  By John Rea-Hedrick | October 21, 2009 - 4:40 pm | Writing
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For Christmas last year my wife bought me a copy of a The Practice of Poetry: Writing Exercises From Poets Who Teach.  It’s a collection of essays and exercises intended to challenge and inspire writers (not just poets) at all literary levels.  I’ve only recently begun to work my way through it.  Typically I can only make time to do this when the hopper managing my ‘free-time lottery’ kicks out the writing self-improvement ball.  Unfortunately, (more…)

Social networking websites: They’re sharing more than you think

  By John Rea-Hedrick | October 16, 2009 - 10:11 am | Randomness
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I recently discovered something very surprising (perhaps even a little disturbing) while reading an article on Mashable about Twitter.  What I found, however, had nothing to do with Twitter or anything to do with the article itself.  What concerned me was what I saw in one of the advertisements.

I admit, as a Firefox user, one of my favorite Add-ons is one that suppresses advertisements so I never even see them rendered on the page.  This, however, was *technically* not an advertisement, so it showed up.  But before you assume this is another raving blog post about the scourge of intrusive on-line advertising, hogging bandwidth and cluttering up the Internet with stuff most people read around or closed as soon as they find and click on the ‘X’, let me assure you, this is not one of those. (more…)

My Family’s H1N1 (Swine Flu) Adventure

  By John Rea-Hedrick | October 14, 2009 - 7:37 am | Family Time
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(from a social network perspective)

My family of six and I recently dealt with and survived a full on “smackdown” with the swine flu.  So for anyone out there who may be panicking, getting H1N1 doesn’t mean you necessarily die.  While it IS the nastiest flu ever to hit our family, it didn’t last forever, although we’re still actively dusting off some of its lingering effects.

It began with our 4YO (our youngest) on a Sunday (more…)

It’s National Poetry Day

  By John Rea-Hedrick | October 8, 2009 - 4:51 pm | Poetry
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I’m home caring for a flu-ridden family today, but thanks to Twitter (and @heatherwpetty). I learned that today is National Poetry Day!

I blogged earlier this week that when I’m writing fiction and caught up in word dissection, I find switching to formal poetry helps me to get it out of my system.  It also leaves me with some new poetry.  So in the spirit of National Poetry Day I’ve decided I’d share some of my poetry here.

Your comments are welcome, just remember . . . I’m a poetry amateur so be gentle if you must be brutal!

Thanks!

If you want to follow my future poetry postings just click on the Poetry category link.