27 Jul 2011

Language


I’m going to be a bit controversial now.

As some one that is interested in the written word I am interested in language. I like utilising expressive language, and using odd, uncommon and out dated words.  I like inventing words like ‘gloatification’, which is the act of gloating including physical action, such as pointing or gesticulating. 
That’s why I am interested in this recent article:


The article is about Warren Bowers a homosexual primary school teacher who has banned the word “gay” from his class because he feels that its current use is a form of prejudice. Mr. Bowers says:

"It does need to be explained that homophobic language is not OK ... it's kind of a last bastion of accepted prejudice."

I note that 2011 has been an interesting year so far for the gay community.

12 Jan 2011 – A gay Christchurch couple say homophobic slurs and repeated attacks have forced them to close their bakery.

President Barack Obama has formally signed off on ending the ban on gays serving openly in the US military. 

Gay marriage is legal in New York State

And in July it has been 25 years since the homosexual law reform bill came in to being in New Zealand. 

As a child of the 80’s I can remember the cold war on TV, President Regan and Margaret Thatcher and the threat of the big red button, advertisements for fallout shelters. I also recall a conversation at a High School economics class in which the teacher asked us what we should do about the AIDS epidemic.  You couldn't shoot infected gay people as then they’d bleed infected blood everywhere. The general consensus was that the infected gay community should be gassed so it would not spread.  

Shocking? Now it seems so. That a teacher would discuss something as awful as mass murder with kids seems appalling. And yet that was the mentality of many at the time.

Are we seeing a resurgence of that homophobic mindset with a new generation?  I don’t think so. From what I can observe this new generation have adapted the word ‘gay’ as an adjective for dumb. I don’t doubt that the origin for this adaptation has its roots in prejudice, but whatever the origin, for a whole generation it now has a new meaning quite separate to gay identity.

For example my partner caught her daughter using it. When my partner pointed out that the character (and I believe the actor) Kurt from Glee, one of her daughter’s favourite TV shows was gay, and using that word negatively would be upsetting to him, she instantly stopped using gay. But until then she had not made the connection because the word meant something entirely different to her.

This is reflected in the Stuff article.  amongst students its use was endemic. One said, quote:

"It's not good if someone is using it as an offensive word to someone ... but if you're just talking about if the teacher gives you extra homework, that shouldn't be as bad."

Being a teenager is difficult. So I can only imagine being a gay or lesbian teenager must be dreadfully difficult at times. I don’t know what is worse, being bullied or experiencing your (new) identity being associated with being dumb or lame by your friends and peers.

However while I sympathise with the gay community about this situation I do think the horse has bolted. I doubt that banning the word “gay” from the class room will help educate children to understand that using gay as a negative term could be hurtful to a gay student or a student with gay friends or family. In fact by banning it aren’t you insinuating that the word is negative? Only profanity was banned when I was at school.

Language evolves all the time. As indicated by a recent North and South magazine article regarding the meaning of the word viral. The medical profession may have to utilise a new word to describe viral, as its meaning is being convoluted. And I suspect that is what we are seeing now. The use of the word gay to describe something a “dumb” has been fairly prevalent for years and doesn’t seem to be going away.

I don’t know what this means for the gay community. It may mean that the gay kids of today might re-invent themselves through a new word? I honestly can’t say. Only time will tell.

I do think though that a better way to educate children would be through frank and open discussion leading to understanding rather than a ban.

24 Jul 2011

Competition

Greetings to you on this wild and fearful night.

Just a wee post to inform you I am trying out for a writing competition run by the Sunday Star times. I am hoping that by coming out of my shell  and submitting some of my work, that it will lead to an exciting change of lifestyle.
Certainly one which has me writing fiction for pleasure, not just to ease the minds of my clients.

Here are the details and conditions of the competition:

SUNDAY STAR-TIMES SHORT STORY COMPETITION 2011 TERMS & CONDITIONS
1. Information on how to enter and prizes form part of these terms and conditions. By participating, entrants agree to be bound by the terms and conditions.
2. Entry is open to New Zealand permanent residents only. Employees and immediate families of Fairfax Media Sundays, Random House New Zealand, Whitcoulls and agencies associated with the Promotion are ineligible to enter. However existing Random House authors are eligible to enter.
3. To enter the “Sunday Star-Times Short Story Competition”, entrants must complete the official entry form which can be downloaded from www.shortstory.co.nz until the 26th August and send with your manuscript to: Sunday Star-Times Short Story Competition, PO Box 1074, Auckland 1140.
4. The “Sunday Star-Times Short Story Awards” commences on July 3, 2011 and closes on Friday August 26, 2010.
5. The maximum length of entries is 3000 words.
6. All entries must be received no later than 5pm on Friday August 26, 2011; otherwise the entry will not be accepted. The Sunday Star-Times takes no responsibility for lost, damaged, misdirected, late, illegible or incomplete entries.
7. All entries must be accompanied by a manuscript, typed in English, double-spaced and on one side of A4 paper only.
8. There is no limit to the number of entries an individual may submit but each entry must be submitted individually and each entry must be accompanied by a completed 2011 entry form.
9. No previous top 10 finalist stories will be accepted.
10. All personal information is to be printed on a separate cover page, with only page numbers and story title on all other pages.
11. Cover page of the Secondary School division entries must include student’s year number, school’s name, address and English teacher’s name.
12. No electronic submissions will be accepted.
13. Entries may not contain any photographs or illustrations.
14. Once an entry is submitted, the manuscript is final. The entry cannot be withdrawn and no alterations can be made to it.
15. Manuscripts will not be returned to the entrants and must be submitted by the author (except Secondary School entries which can be submitted by teachers on behalf of the author with the authors consent).
16. The Secondary School Division is open only to secondary school students. Entrants must be enrolled and attending a secondary school in New Zealand up to August 29, 2011.
17. Stories must be the original work of the entrant alone and no entry may have been published or broadcast, or submitted for publication or broadcast, or entered into any other competition until after November 1, 2011.
18. The Best Unpublished Writer will be selected from the Open Division entries submitted by writers who are “unpublished”. The Sunday Star-Times definition of an unpublished writer is one who has not had a fiction work appear in trade book format. This means that the writer has not had fiction work appear in a widely circulated book format available for sale to the general public.
19. All entries submitted remain the property of the entrant. However, the Sunday Star-Times and Random House the right to publish the winning and highly commended manuscripts of the Open Division and Secondary School Division entered without fee.
20. The prize for the winners in each division is as follows:
Open Division - 1st prize - $5000 cash, story published in the Sunday Star-Times and $500 worth of books from Random House; 2nd prize - $2000 cash, story published in the Sunday Star-Times and $300 worth of books from Random House; 3rd prize - $1000 cash, story published in the Sunday Star-Times and $200 worth of books from Random House. Secondary School Division 1st prize: $1000 cash, story published in the Sunday Star-Times, work experience day at Random House (to be taken day immediately after awards ceremony) PLUS $500 worth of Random House books and a $500 Whitcoulls gift card for the finalist’s school. 2nd prize: $500 cash, story published in the Sunday Star-Times PLUS $300 worth of Random House books and a $300 Whitcoulls gift card for the finalist’s school. 3rd prize: $250 cash, story published in the Sunday Star-Times PLUS $200 worth of Random House books and a $200 Whitcoulls gift card for the finalist’s school.
Best Unpublished Writer - Random House experience with key members of the company, including time with time with a Random House editor and $200 worth of books from Random House. 
21. Winners will be announced in the Sunday Star-Times and on the Sunday Star-Times website (www.shortstory.co.nz) on November 9, 2011. Unsuccessful entrants will not be contacted.
22. The awards ceremony (by invitation only) will be held in Auckland on October 28, 2011. The Sunday Star-Times will provide assistance to the six finalists to cover the costs (return domestic flights and one nights’ accommodation on the evening of the awards ceremony) in attending the awards ceremony, at the Sunday Star-Times’ sole discretion. This does not include airport transfers or meals or any other charges of a personal nature.
23. The finalists' names, entry details, biographical information and photographs will be required by Fairfax Media and will be used for promotional purposes without compensation. You consent to this use of your details by entering the competition. 

25. The judges’ decision regarding the winners’ is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

So I will be considering, mulling, pondering, drinking, and asking advice as to my submission.

Me looking for inspiration

I might even post it on here.

Wish me luck!

16 Jul 2011

How my mind works....read this if you dare!

So at work we have to fill out this annual assessment form. You probably have to do something similar, as HR in either the public or private sectors inflict this upon the workers of our fair country.

I hate them.

Mostly because I am rubbish at talking myself up. Happy to point out to the lords and masters who else is doing a stirling job, but when asked what I have done I sort of adopt a shoe scuffing, embarrassed sort of stance and start mumbling.

So in our particular department we have a six month check to ensure you are  on track with meeting the various efficiencies , and then a end of year summary.  There are various sections and targets and things. You end up reading through what they want you to write about and discuss how you did or didn't achieve for that particular competency.

We end up writing something along the lines of :

"Despite the various changes that have affected our team over the last six months, and the challenges that those changes presented, I have consistently met my targets."

Basically a lot of BS.

So what has this to do with writing?

I had to complete mine before 5pm yesterday. So I opened  up the document and stared at the first of six sections desperately trying to get motivated to talk about how wonderful I am etc.  So I did the usual things; had a cup of tea, looked at the sky, and then at the ceiling, then at my colleagues, had a glass of water, checked my emails, went to the bathroom. And then I started to procrastinate.
So as I stared at my monitor and contemplated whether I exhibited sufficient integrity in using the team stapler, my mind wandered. And I thought to myself
"What if a  knight had to suffer through all the PC bureaucracy and red tape that modern workers have to.

And I came up with this:


SECTION 4: Full Year Assessment

Record ye the full year assessment, providing details and evidence against both the objectives and capabilities areas for each expectation. Lie not, and may God have mercy on your soul.

1.  Did ye do duty by God, your lord, land, and name?
Did Ye achieve what Ye needed to achieve?
Vassals Comments:

I drank, I sang, I defeated the forces of evil. Good times! Do I regret them? Well of course I have some regrets, but verily I look to the future.
Lieges Comments:
RATING
Like a peasant
Met by the grace of God
Well met sir
Huzzah
Did Ye demonstrate the required behaviours?
Vassals Comments:

Honour, integrity, loyalty. I took no bread from the poor, and paid my shilling to mother church. I never struck an orphan nor offended a lady.
Lieges  Comments:
RATING
Needs A thrashing
Squire
Knightly
Outstanding
2.  Battle
Did Ye achieve what Ye needed to achieve?
Vassals Comments:
At the battle of Mosswoth field I defeated the Baron of shieden and ransomed him for 12 gold guineas. I also took the head of Carl of Wesson while taking the field in a charge against their foot.  I lost barely a score of souls that day and they fled the field. Huzzah!
Lieges  Comments:
RATING
Like a peasant
Met by the grace of God
Well met sir
Huzzah
Did Ye demonstrate the required behaviours?
Vassals Comments:
I never struck a foe from behind nor unarmed. I carried my ladies favour and did not take another.  My honour remains strong, and I spent the guineas on a new pup for myself and a sheath of silver and silks for my lady
Lieges  Comments:
RATING
Needs A thrashing
Squire
Knightly
Outstanding
3.  Chivalry
Did Ye achieve what Ye needed to achieve?
Vassals Comments:
Verily my poetry was lacking. But who did not did not enjoy my rousing recital of “my one true loves a sailing ship!” huzzah
Lieges  Comments:
RATING
Like a peasant
Met by the grace of God
Well met sir
Huzzah
Did Ye demonstrate the required behaviours?
Vassals Comments:
Well I suspect that I drank far too much wine before performances. I guess I am not one for the scribes table. I will endeavour to do better in the future
Lieges  Comments:
RATING
Needs A thrashing
Squire
Knightly
Outstanding
4.  Tourney
Did Ye achieve what Ye needed to achieve?
Vassals Comments:
Lieges  Comments:
RATING
Like a peasant
Met by the grace of God
Well met sir
Huzzah
Did Ye demonstrate the required behaviours?
Vassals Comments:

I groomed my horse every day myself.  While some use their page I prefer to care for Conquistador myself. Although I must confess around strangers as he can be kind of “bitey”. Still he is a solid companion; nay may I say a true friend.
Lieges  Comments:
RATING
Needs A thrashing
Squire
Knightly
Outstanding
5.  Courtly performance
Did Ye achieve what Ye needed to achieve?
Vassals Comments:
Sadly my midyear plan for trying to use the foot work I adopt in battle to improve my dancing was an abysmal failure.  I fear I just do not understand this modern music nor dance with its scarves and frippery.
Lieges  Comments:
RATING
Like a peasant
Met by the grace of God
Well met sir
Huzzah
Did Ye demonstrate the required behaviours?
Vassals Comments:
I twirled, I frolicked, I tipperied. But my two right feet appear to be better set for the blood stained mud of battle.
Lieges  Comments:
RATING
Needs A thrashing
Squire
Knightly
Outstanding

10 Jul 2011

Update

So a wee bit of a mid afternoon update.

I have complete a piece for my brother. He Plays a game, I won't go into too much detail about it, but he wanted me to assist with my writing skills and imagination. Well he has it now and I am curious to see what the outcome was? Wait and see I guess

Just finished The Gun Seller again. It is one of my favorite books and I recommend it to anyone. Funny and very re-readable, which you don't get with a lot of novels.

Nothing to do with writing, or everything depending on it, but my latest distraction from my writing is Echo Bazaar.  A browser game set in imaginary Victorian London. Available to those on Facebook and Twitter. Beware highly fun and addictive.

My Wellington family, which consists of my flatmate, my partner and her daughter have decided to do the Brownie badges. Now this may seem a little odd.  But then well I am a wee bit odd so maybe no unexpected.

 Anyway we are doing it as it is a fun way to get out of the house and do different things in winter. For example we visited Karoi cemetery today which was where Sir Peter filmed Braindead. Which I like to think has become one of the classic Zombie movies of our time. On an interesting point there was a legal wrangle over filming at the cemetery. I will explain this in more detail once my partner is close so I get the legalese correct. But Braindead  is now part of NZ law, which I find cool.

If you are curious about the brownie badges check out My life as a soap opera  http://65by30.blogspot.com/
her blog is cool.

Today one of my challenges is to write up a game. So while my flatmate watches Gnomeo and Juliet, which if you like animated movies I recommend, I will create a board game. So I think it will have a monkey and zombies. Wish me luck

4 Jul 2011

Choices

Evening

I choose new movies to watch mostly on mood like most people. But what attracts me to movies is generally

  • cast
  • writer/director
  • story
  • visuals
in no particular order.

For example a film with John Cusack, Nathan Fillian, William Hurt, Jean Reno, Helen Mirran or Chiwetel Ejiofor looks appealing. 

Rather than a film with a one of the Wayans brothers or one of my most disliked actors Rob Snieder. I am not even sure if that's how you spell his name, but I don't care enough to check. 


There are directors I like; Mr. Hitchcock, Clint Eastwood, David Mamet,  The Coen brothers, Luc Besson and many more. 


I also really enjoy a good old rubber monster or Gorman masterpiece like Death race 2000. 

Currently I am on the hunt for a copy of The Fall  2006 

I couldn't recomend it as I havn't seen it. But it looks magnificent!


I wonder what lures you to new films? An actor, a good story, the comfort of a romantic comedy with familiar a list stars, spectacle, or the promise of viscera?


Why don't you tell me something that makes you reach for that a particular DVD or would make you brave the cold to see a particular film?