Monday, February 27, 2017

Mental Library: Critical Lenses: Archetypal Lens

Good Day, Friends.

Before we start, I just wanted you to know that I could be reading right now. Instead of writing this. In all honesty, I should be doing homework. Any way, I will not be getting enough sleep tonight. Please realize how much I love you all.

Today, we are talking about the archetypal lens. I wrote a post about what archetypes are here. The archetypal lens looks at how archetypes influence the text, or what archetypes are used to suggest. For example, the color white is used to symbolize innocence. If you are reading a book in which a girl wears a white dress when she is young, and gradually stops wearing white, you can use that information to uphold the argument that she experiences the stages of loss of innocence. Also, archetypes can be used to help the other lenses.

Many archetypes can be seen in fairy tales.

There are so many parts of the archetypal lens. I should really just do a series on the archetypal lens specifically.

Friday, February 24, 2017

Topic (Genre) of the Month: Heroes

Hello, Friends.

We're kind of running out of ideas for Genre of the Month, so instead I'm going to pick a topic for the month. There are probably lots of lesser known genres also, so we're just combining the two.

Today's topic is heroes. Have you read any good books with heroes in them lately? What makes them a hero? Why?

Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Creative Complex: Character Constructing: Noses and Ears

Hello, Friends!

These are both very odd topics, so that's why I'm combining them into one post. When you are creating characters, you often think of eyes and hair. These are both great topics, so does anyone really care about noses and ears? Maybe, maybe not. At least you can describe them well if need be, or for your own references.

Ears:

-Shape
Although you might not know it, ears come in tons of different shapes. The next time you're at the mall, or waiting in line at the doctors office, see if you can notice some people's ears.

-Size
Big or small? Medium? Are some parts larger than others?

-Tilt
How are they tilted?

Nose:

-Shape
I believe there are more nose shapes than ear shapes.

-Size
This, again, is self-explanatory.


Spruce Nogard

Attributions:
https://pixabay.com/en/girl-black-afroamerican-model-1868930/
https://pixabay.com/en/baby-handle-tiny-father-family-428395/
https://pixabay.com/en/ear-listen-person-human-auricle-1355652/
https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2012/10/22/20/20/human-62517_960_720.jpg
https://pixabay.com/en/left-ear-hear-human-biology-conch-308715/

Monday, February 20, 2017

On My Mind: The Postmodern Paradox

Hello, Ideologists!

Today, I'm going to ask you the postmodern paradox. If you haven't heard of postmodernism, I am writing a blog series on it, so you can just search "postmodernism" in the search box and find it. For the specific post that relates to today, click here.

Anyways: The postmodern paradox:

Postmodernists believe truth is relative.
This reminds me of the song "Paradox" from Pirates of Penzance.

However, if truth is relative, then doesn't that also mean the people who believe in absolute truth are correct?

But, how can truth be relative if truth is absolute?

Therefore, the postmodern paradox.

Spruce Nogard
Attributions:

Saturday, February 18, 2017

Recipe: Egg in a Hole

Hello, Friends!

Today, we just have a quick recipe that can be breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Egg-in-a-holes are overeasy eggs in the middle of a piece of bread. Here's the recipe:

Supplies:
-Eggs
-Butter (or a butter substitute)
-Bread
-Frying pan
-Spatula
-Stove

Directions:

1) Put a chunk of butter in the frying pan. Turn the burner on to 5. Or, you could do it a different way (see next step!).

2) Cut a square hole in the middle of the piece of bread. It should be big enough to fit the egg. It takes practice to know how big the hole should be. Just keep trying. :) Now, butter ONE side of the bread. If you want, you could just keep the burner off, and butter both sides of the bread. It doesn't really matter. Also butter the little piece of bread you cut out of the middle.

3) If you haven't already, turn the burner on. Place the piece of bread and mini bread (the cut out piece) on the burner. If you only buttered one side put the buttered side face up.

4) Now, crack the egg in the hole in the bread. Try not to break the yoke. If you do, though, that's okay. It will still taste good, even though it might taste slightly different. The only way you'll get better at it is to keep trying!


5) Now, check routinely to see if the other side is done. It's done when it looks crispy and golden brown. Another indicator of this is if the top of the egg white starts to turn white. Now comes the hard part. Flip it. You have to flip it with keeping the egg yolk intact. This is hard, but again, if you mess up, it'll still taste good. The second side takes considerably less time than the first, so beware!

6) Flip onto a plate, and you can dip the mini bread in the egg yolk if you want. Enjoy!

*On a side note, if you make another egg-in-a-hole right after the first one and the pan is still on, it will take much less time than the first.

**Another side note: The longer you cook it, the more solid the egg yolk turns.

Enjoy a nutritious and delicious meal!

Spruce Nogard

Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Creative Complex: The Electronic World

Hello, Friends!

The other day, we were listening to the Tron soundtrack, and it made me think of this question:

What would you do if you were trapped inside a video game?

Which video game would you be trapped in?

What would be some challenges about that specific video game?

How would you get out?
Spruce Nogard
Attributions:

Monday, February 13, 2017

Dragons: Features: Teeth

Hello, Dragons.

Today's topic is teeth. Dragon teeth are really almost the same as dragon claws, so if you want to know more about what dragon claws are like, here's a link to my post on it.

However, dragon teeth can have many properties.

Are they poisonous?

Do they burn?

Are they ice cold?

What else can you think of?

Spruce Nogard
Attributions:
https://pixabay.com/en/book-magic-book-mystical-1949491/ 
https://pixabay.com/en/winter-ice-fence-frozen-snow-1943616/ 
https://pixabay.com/en/gas-flames-stove-burner-fire-blue-1938298/

Saturday, February 11, 2017

Gardening: Nifty Trick: Blossom End Rot and Epsom Salt

Hello, Friends!

If you are looking on most people's bright side, it is almost spring! (Or you can pretend it is.) I actually get kind of sad around spring. I wish it was winter, with the crisp air, snow, and. . . well, I'm not exactly sure why.

Back to today's topic, though: Epsom Salt.

Have you ever heard of blossom end rot? It happens to a few plants, but the one I've had experience with is tomatoes.

Blossom end rot is when the blossom end of a tomato turns black and mushy, which can be a result of magnesium or calcium deficiency, according to sfgate.com. Thankfully, however, blossom end rot is not caused by pests. Yay!

An easy fix to blossom end rot is by applying Epsom Salts. (The kind you use for feet baths, etc.)

Just apply one tablespoon around the base of the plant when it first appears, or if you know your soil is lacking these nutrients, and maybe once more if needed. And that's it!

Do be careful, though, because Epsom salt can leak into water sources, so don't use too much of it, or use it for a long time.

Sorry, I couldn't find pictures of tomatoes with blossom end rot or Epsom salts for free, and I don't know where my pictures (if I took any) are.

Source: http://homeguides.sfgate.com/epsom-salt-tomato-plant-blossom-rot-58658.html

Wednesday, February 8, 2017

Creative Complex: Music

Hello, Fairies!

Again, sorry this post is up late (I am writing this on February 10th. . . .ignore the "actual" date of this post.) I will try my best to do my posts on time, but sometimes I just don't have time.

Today, write around music.

(I'm listening to Riverdance right now.)
Spruce Nogard
Attributions:
 

Monday, February 6, 2017

Books: Favorites: Here, There Be Dragons

Good Day, Friends!

I can't believe it's taken me this long to talk about Here, There Be Dragons. By the way, I'm sorry for the nearly week-late post (I'm writing this on February 10th, despite what the date says.).

Anyways, Here, There Be Dragons is about three young adults, as in just entering college to partially through college, who meet one night almost on accident. You see, they were brought together by a murder. Soon, they meet a mysterious man, with a mysterious book, and embark on a journey both old and new, familiar and fresh.

I can't tell you too much about this book without giving it away, so you'll just have to read it. :)

I loved the characters, and if you've read the book, you'll know why I like them so much. I wish I could say more, but it's really for your own good, you know. I know some of you would just read the spoilers anyways. One thing I can tell you is it was really fun and different to have young adults be the main characters.

Also, the author, James A. Owen, is the illustrator as well, and his illustrations are beautiful. There are illustrations throughout the book, even though it is a YA novel. (Similar to the cover illustration.)

Have you read Here, There Be Dragons? Post about it in the comments!

Spruce Nogard
Attributions:

Wednesday, February 1, 2017

Creative Complex: Future

Hello, Friends!

Today, you wake up in a completely new place. Everything is metal and there are doctors all around you. You grab a nurse walking by.

"Where am I?" you ask.

She smiles. "You're finally awake, Patient Number 6,890! You are in the Professatorial Medical Center for Time Managation Issues. You've been asleep for nearly three centuries."

Your eyes grow wide. "What?" The last thing you remember is walking into a forest, following a hint of elusive music. . .

What happens next?

Spruce Nogard
Attributions: