Website Found: LitDrift (A Nifty Literature Site)

I actually heard about this site through the University of Florida's English Graduates listserv, but recently the folks at LitDrift contacted me regarding posting something about them, and so here I am.

I became a follower of LitDrift the second I saw the site, for several reasons. First, it's a site about literature, and generally speaking, if it's about literature, I'm in. Second, they have a feature called "free book Fridays" in which they give away a book to one lucky commenter...every Friday. Free books? Every week? Again, I'm in. Third, the posts are actually quite good, discussing everything from books to writing from all directions (they've really got their bases covered). There are writing prompts (daily, apparently), tips, videos, and all sorts of other goodies at LitDrift.

LitDrift isn't limited to the three things that drew me in, though. They talk about all manner of things there of relevance to literature-oriented folks, and the posts are, in my opinion, of quality. If you're interested in a new site focused on literature, I suggest checking them out. I like the site and some of you might like it too.

Website Found: A History of Communications

It's not every day that you find a chronology of every major communications advancement in human history. But that's what this website is all about, or at least this page anyway.

What is it?
A History of Communications is the pet project of Nathan Shedroff, who apparently has not only a lot of time on his hands (the current version took him close to five years to put together), but a lot of patience. The project is an ongoing attempt to chronicle human advancements in methods of communication from paleolithic writings to cell phones.

Why is it cool?
Why isn't it cool? If you've ever wondered just how we've advanced over the thousands of years we've been writing and talking, then this enormous chronology puts everything together for you. You can now see where the intersection between the creation of the Internet and the evolution of the computer is. The only downside as of now is that the timeline is incomplete. It's extensive, but missing everything that occurred after 1998 and small bits and pieces here or there between what Nathan already has laid out. But, that's really sort of irrelevant at this point, because at five years of work, this list is extensive enough to deserve a good look.

So, go check it out and satisfy your historical curiosity (he also has a whole bunch of other strange stuff on his site, in case you're interesting in poking around).

Website Found: Secret and Complex Literatures

I had at one point been mulling around in my head an idea for a young adult fantasy/science fiction novel centered around the Voynich Manuscript, a mysterious collection of pages written in an unknown and undecipherable language accompanied by bizarre illustrations. Presumably it's one of those incredibly clever creations that we'll likely never understand, since the person who wrote it died before it was found. The problem for me was finding a book that put all of the pages of the Voynich Manuscript into one place, but without all the writing of an author discussing it crammed between the pages or in the margins.

With that in mind, I present to you Secret and Complex Literatures.

What is it?
Secret and Complex Literatures, which needs a different name, by the way, is a fascinating site filled with ancient texts, strange invented languages/alphabets, obscure and relatively forgotten elements of ancient writing, and, of course, the Voynich Manuscript. If you're interested in invented languages by people other than Tolkien, particularly people you might not have known had invented languages, this is certainly a site for you.

Why is it cool?
Well, aside from the fact that it's a site that puts all this wonderful stuff right in front of your face, it includes a section of thirty-six beautiful manuscripts, a page of ambigrams, a page of calligraphies/micrographies/calligrams, six palimpsest manuscripts, twenty-three variations of secret writings and invented languages, and much more (Voynich, for example). It's all there. Fantasy fans will love this site, I imagine, because it puts all this wonderful stuff in one place; no need to Google search it (unless you want to know more about a particular item). The only downside is that much of the site is written in French, but that shouldn't deter you.

Give this site a look and let me know what you think!

Website Found: Blade Runner Insight

I'm a Philip K. Dick fan, to say the least, and while I don't consider Blade Runner to be an entertaining film, I think as far as aesthetic value is concerned, it is top notch. Blade Runner Insight is a website I stumbled onto a while ago and I've been meaning to put it up in my Website Found feature.

What is it?
Blade Runner Insight is a website dedicated to the analysis of the film. It's not a fan site, per se--certainly not in the sense that you will find gushing fan raves over the latest director's edition or anything of that sort--but it is a site with a mission to expand upon the already well-rehearsed criticism of the film.

Why is it cool?
Well, if you're interested in reading and commenting on deeper discussions of the Blade Runner film, then this site is definitely for you. The site is run partly as a blog (with news and information added into the mix) and partly as a forum (not an actual forum, but as a forum) for the authors to present their arguments and thoughts. The archives are considerably extensive, thus providing, I think, plenty of material to keep you interested during their occasional lulls in posting.

Check out this fascinating site and satiate that Blade Runner hunger you have in your lower intestine (because it's much more interesting to think of hunger in your lower intestine than in your stomach).

Website Found: Anthem, the Musical

The wonderful thing about randomly surfing the interwebs is that sometimes you find something so cool it's hard to believe it exists. Case in point is this website for Anthem, the Musical.

What is it?
You know that book by Ayn Rand called Anthem? Well, apparently somebody thought it would be a good idea to turn it into a musical, and this website is all about it.

Why is it cool?
Well, what isn't cool about it? It's a website all about a musical version of Ayn Rand's Anthem. It doesn't get much cooler than that, right? Okay, so maybe you don't know what book I'm talking about; if that is the case, then just take note that someone loved a single book enough to turn it into a musical.
The website has sample audio to listen to, which has a sort of 80s rock sound in to vocals, which is interesting, and several pages with information about the musical, including: The Story, The Characters, Creative Team, Media, and Contact pages.

If you like Ayn Rand's work, this website could change your life (maybe, or maybe not). If you don't know Ayn Rand's work (I've never read any), then this page should be a testament to the awesomeness of literature, because only a book (the musical Wicked was also based on a book, by the way) could bring something like this to life. Or someone who really likes musicals (or both).

Enjoy!

Website Found: Forbidden Library

I figure since it's a new year and there are bound to be a whole slue of new book bannings and burnings across the country, this would be a most fitting website!

What is it?
The Forbidden Library is a website featuring only books that have been banned at one time or another, with short commentary on each of the books explaining the reasons behind any past or present banning (at least the ones known).

Why is it cool?
I'm not sure if this section of this post is even necessary. If you've even wondered why people have banned a particular book, this is probably the place to go. Books are listed by title or by author (there are also an about page, censorship quotes page, mailbag page, other sites page, and credits page). You'd be surprised what books have been banned and for what reasons, too! Books have been banned in the past even though the challengers never read whatever it was they were trying to ban! Talk about idiocy!

Give it a look. It's a cool site and might prove interesting for a reading list for your kids or just for yourself (recommended for kids, since corrupting our youth while they're still young is much better than waiting until they are almost adults; books are "evil" after all).

How to User Twitter: 10 Things For All Beginners

...or how to not be annoying on Twitter!

Twitter isn't only a quick-blogging utility, but a social network that connects people all across the net, and even connects bloggers to their readers. That last bit is important, because for some reason folks are much more willing to communicate with you on Twitter than they are on your blog. Perhaps it's because Twitter is easy to use, or perhaps it's because when you're on Twitter you're talking about other stuff and it's an opportunity for readers to get to know you a little better. Whatever the reason, whether your followers or the people you want to follow you are readers, bloggers, random Interwebs people, family, or friends, you need to understand how to use Twitter properly so you don't become one of those folks that just about everyone ignores. The following are some good pointers you should follow when starting your Twitter account:

1. Don't pick a name that is impossible to remember.
   Sdooiuv2407asdlj is not a good choice for a Twitter name. Seriously. It might have some sort of ridiculous significance to you (or not, if you're a bot), but to the rest of it is says "hey, I don't care that my Twitter makes me look like a poorly coded piece of computer software." Pick a name that allows people to identify with you. Mine is my actual name and others I know use their online aliases or even silly names that are at least readable.
2. Post before you do anything else.
   Unless you were asked specifically to join Twitter from someone you know, and thus want to follow the person who referred you, do not go around following people on Twitter if you haven't posted. Most people with some sort of common sense will ignore you. You may very well be someone really interesting and worthy of their attention, but think of it like a job interview. If you show up to the interview wearing cheap cologne, a wife-beater, and moldy Dockers, do you really have to wonder why you didn't get the job? You've called and called for two weeks, but nobody has called you back. Why you?
   First order of the day is to post a bit.
3. Post useful stuff.
   This is a difficult concept, I know, but important nonetheless. While you might read #2 and think, "Well, if I just post ten posts about how I don't understand Twitter, that will count," most people will take that to mean that you either don't care or have nothing interesting to say. The vast majority of us, including myself, started using Twitter without any idea what we were doing. It's okay. But don't expect people to follow you if all you post is annoying "I'm confused" stuff.
   Additionally, when you do start posting more, shall we say, thoughtfully, you should try to make those posts interesting somehow. If you're a funny person, maybe tell a quick joke. If not, talk about something that might be interesting to fellow Twitter users.
4. Connect your Twitter to your blog.
   This is built into Twitter, which is quite awesome. Do it if you have a blog. It's a great way to get a boost in traffic and to start short conversations through the Twitter network! But make sure to post other things as mentioned in #3.
5. Do not post loads and loads of links.
   Don't. Period. It's okay to connect your Twitter to your blog (as in #4), but if all you do is post links to things, particularly the same thing, then expect people to avoid you like the plague. It's annoying and probably should be illegal. If you want to spam, fine, but leave all of us alone with it.
6. Do not repeat yourself over and over and over.
   Yes, you can say things a few times, but if all you do is repeat yourself like a parrot repeats a dying man's final words, then expect people to become annoyed with you as quickly as America gets fed up with its B-list celebrities. Offering the same content repeatedly does not work in the same way as brainwashing. If we didn't like it the first dozen times, we're probably not going to like it the next ten thousand times you try shoving it down our throats.
   
7. Follow people with similar interests or people you know first.
   It's best to follow folks you know first (even if it's an Internet acquaintance) and then start looking for folks within your niche. You don't have to follow this one, but I find that following folks you know first proves beneficial for increasing your follower count.
   Additionally, following folks within your niche (whatever that niche may be) produces a lot of dialogue and introduces you to new faces. You don't have to follow a lot of them, which will be discussed shortly, but getting to know folks within your field of interest is a great way of finding people who aren't necessarily interested in the same thing, but share other interests. Such folks can also have nothing to do with your niche, but prove interesting anyway.
   
8. Don't blanket-follow on Twitter or anything similar.
   By "blanket-follow" I mean following mass quantities of people all across the Twitter-verse. While it's great to go around finding new friends, it isn't necessarily a good thing. Think of Twitter as being a new form of instant messaging. If you randomly start messaging people, they're not very likely to listen to you and probably will block you, right? Well, same basic concept. Take it easy. Add a few people here or there, but don't add dozens and dozens of them every day. This doesn't apply to people who follow you first.
   
9. Learn the lingo.
   Each individual post is a "tweet" and, depending on who you're talking to, Twitter users are known as "Twits." That last one is not an insult, so don't be afraid to use it. There are bound to be all sorts of slang terms I don't even know, and likely new ones will arise in the future. The big ones, however, are the ones you'll see all the time: "tweet" and "Twits." Don't sound like one of those old guys who has no clue what the on-button on a computer is.
10. Twitter is about dialogue.
    True, Twitter may have been created as a way for folks to post short blurbs about their lives, but it's become much more than that now. The entire point of Twitter is to provide a different way for folks to communicate with one another. If you want to be successful on Twitter, even moderately so, then you need to be active and engaging in conversation. Don't be a social hermit. If you want to be a social hermit, stop coming on the Internet. There's no such thing as privacy on here anyway...
    

There you have it. Anything you think I should have put on here instead of something else?

Website Found: PhD Comics

I keep stumbling upon this site and think it is worth mentioning here.

What is it?
PhD stands for Piled Higher and Deeper and is essentially a great source of post-graduate ridicule. The humor found there is pretty much focused on the stereotypes of post-graduate research and humorously crushing the dreams of graduate hopefuls everywhere--like me.

Why is it cool?
PhD has a lot of great features for graduates with an MA or PhD., for one, which is completely useless to me at this point (but will be useful some day). Their comic section features a huge archive of comics, some of which are downright hilarious. I particularly like how they make humor with graphs.
Additionally the site features book versions of the comic, "Grad Gear" (t-shirts and the like), and a job section where folks with MAs or PhDs can potentially find work. There is also a forum.

So check it out. It's a neat little site and the comic is pretty funny!

(Don't click the read more, there isn't any more after this!)

Website Found: Michael Komarck

What is it?
Michael Komarck is an artist you probably know, just not necessarily by name (he's done the covers for books like The Summoner by Gail Z. Martin, Bitterwood by James Maxey, and more) and today's website is his website (just click his name). Not much to say other than this is where you can find out about the artist.

Why is it cool?
Aside from the News section, you can also see a portfolio on his work, which includes cover art, interior art, and other art that he's done, such as art for collectible card games and what. You can also buy prints (signed or unsigned) and contact the author directly.

Beautiful artwork from a fantastic artist. Check it out!

(Don't click the read more, there isn't any more after this!)

Website Found: American Monsters

What is it?
American Monsters is a website with a far larger scope than the name suggests. Gathered there is a huge supply of useful information on cryptozoology, or, for those that don't know what that is, the "scientific" study of the unknown and mysterious creatures on this planet (such as Loch Ness, Big Foot, and creatures that we know for a fact actually exist--as in physical evidence like a dead body). The website features:

• Monsters page which divides creatures by type (such as avian, hairy, and hybrid). WHen you click a specific type it takes you to another page that lists reported incidents with creatures that fit into that category.
• A map that allows you to click icons representing certain monsters, which brings up on the world map several dots representing known sightings. This is actually pretty neat. You'd be amazed how widespread some creatures are as far as sightings are concerned.
• Sightings form that allows you to report your own sightings of the unknown.
• Vanguard and Pioneers pages, which provides detailed information about folks, new and old, who have either participated in the expansion of cryptozoological knowledge or perhaps had some sort of ancient connection to it (such as a Saint; yup, a Saint).
• A gallery of images, a media guide for finding out about programming of interest in your area, a skeptics page, a forum, a links page, and a store.
  

Why is it cool?
I'm particularly impressed by the organization of the website, though it could use with expanding their knowledge base. Still, considering it has a forum for discussion and potential for being a comprehensive site for all you need to know about Big Foot and his friends.

Give it a look.

(Don't click the read more, there isn't any more after this!)

Website Found: Worlds Without End

It's called Worlds Without End.

What is it?
A website featuring most anything an SF/F literature nut can want. It has:
--A section about the top books in SF/F at any given moment, revolving around books that have won or been nominated for major awards and featured novels.
--A section about authors, which lists nominations and wins, has featured authors, and loads of information about the folks that keep our imaginations soaring.
--A section about publishers, which is basically like the books section, just about publishers instead.
--A forum.
--A store, featuring products for Worlds Without End.
--An extensive resources sections, which lists magazines, conventions, and just about anything else you can imagine in relation to SF/F literature.

Why is it cool?
Because it is a remarkably well put-together website with a lot of valuable information for fans of SF/F literature. The owners have certainly put a lot of work into making it look professional and easy to navigate. Plus, it's nice to know one of my favorite authors is pretty high up on the list of great authors.

So, check this site out!
(Don't click the read more, there isn't any more after this!)

Website Found: Uchronia

It's called Uchronia: The Alternate History List.

What is it?
A website featuring extensive information on works of alternate history.
Includes:
--Lists of novels, anthologies, reference texts, and series that are printed in English and other languages.
--Extensive introduction page which talks about the genre of alternate history, among other things. Plus there is a forthcoming page that lists all the works coming up, obviously.
--Also is the home of the Sidewise Awards, which are given to the best novel and short form pieces of the year.

Why is it cool?
If you're looking for a new alternate history stuff, this is probably the best place to go. Plus, it has its own awards. That's cool in my book.

So check it out!

(Don't click the read more, there isn't any more after this!)