Recently, I read a manuscript's first chapter. It was another book about teenage girls and vampires. I wanted to scream. There are just too many books and stories now written on this subject. Too many. I admit that I have read the 'Twilight' series. I refuse to read another vampire book on the same subject.
This happened when the 'Harry Potter' series came out. Many wannabe writers wrote about the very same subject, or suddenly were experts on Harry Potter, witches and wizards, and even how to ride a broom. I say, if you want to be a writer -you must be a creative person! Use your own stories brewing in your head.
I can be a rebel, yet a team player. I decided, therefore, to write a story about vampires. I have written my own take on vampires and humans in short story form. (Those of you who know me know I rarely write short stories, as I have the gift of gab in writing).
You will notice a new tab titled Short Story. I have posted my story there. I hope you enjoy reading it.
LHR
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Speech Recognition
I am still getting used to my Windows 7 laptop and loving every minute of it. I wasn't happy with XP or Vista, but I do love Windows 7. There is a lot to learn with it.
I discovered a fun program - speech recognition. Remember Scottie in Star Trek when they went back in time? He was talking to the computer and couldn't get it to respond. Well, that's speech recognition. I took the tutorial and like magic, Hewli (that's right. I named my laptop) did everything and typed everything I said.
How fun thought I. Now I can talk and the computer will just type for me.
How well is this going? You ask. Good question. Let's take a look. I will say 'Good morning. What a wonderful day.' Here is Hewli's interpretation:
I've Morning Gary at Live all wonderful AAt limitation point
Gary was when I said 'period.' limitation point is when I said 'exclamation point.'
The tutorial suggested reading to the program often, so it learns to recognize my words. Alas, but I think Hewli is somewhat deaf and reading won't help much. I will continue to work with this program as I find it fascinating and hate to give up. I am not one who likes to lose.
A big part of the problem is my microphone. It works well when I read my poetry or writings aloud to record and play back, but it is not recommended for Speech Recognition. I am planning to buy a recommended one and a hearing aid for Hewli.
My next attempt will be to use Windows 7 program for blogs.
For now, Hewli and I say:
Have a Good day
L A R (should be LHR, but not too bad this time. It did get the Have a Good day right, except for the capital G lol)
I discovered a fun program - speech recognition. Remember Scottie in Star Trek when they went back in time? He was talking to the computer and couldn't get it to respond. Well, that's speech recognition. I took the tutorial and like magic, Hewli (that's right. I named my laptop) did everything and typed everything I said.
How fun thought I. Now I can talk and the computer will just type for me.
How well is this going? You ask. Good question. Let's take a look. I will say 'Good morning. What a wonderful day.' Here is Hewli's interpretation:
I've Morning Gary at Live all wonderful AAt limitation point
Gary was when I said 'period.' limitation point is when I said 'exclamation point.'
The tutorial suggested reading to the program often, so it learns to recognize my words. Alas, but I think Hewli is somewhat deaf and reading won't help much. I will continue to work with this program as I find it fascinating and hate to give up. I am not one who likes to lose.
A big part of the problem is my microphone. It works well when I read my poetry or writings aloud to record and play back, but it is not recommended for Speech Recognition. I am planning to buy a recommended one and a hearing aid for Hewli.
My next attempt will be to use Windows 7 program for blogs.
For now, Hewli and I say:
Have a Good day
L A R (should be LHR, but not too bad this time. It did get the Have a Good day right, except for the capital G lol)
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Drowning in Blogs
If you are like me, there are just too many friends' blogs to read. I sometimes don't hear about a new posting until my friend sends notice of it. There are times I fall far, far, far behind in my readings.
Well, thanks to Google (Google, you've done it again) I can organize all the blogs I'm following in one place: Google Reader. It is so simple to use. I have already begun to list my favorite blogs. There is much more to Google Reader, but for now just keeping track of my blogs solves a major problem.
With Google Reader, you can mark the blogs you've read. There is one problem that I have run into. I cannot figure out how to post a comment from Google Reader. From other members' help questions, this is a common problem. I can, however, click 'Like', add the blog to my blog as a link, publicly share my opinions on the blog, add new blogs easily, and delete blogs just as easily.
Time has been a problem for me this winter, what with health issues and family concerns. Thanks to Google, I now have easy access to blogs I want to follow.
To set up Google Reader, just go to Google.com. Click on 'more' for more options and set up an account. If you've never used Google, once you are at Google.com, slide your mouse along the upper left. The options will appear. Once you've set up your account for Google Reader, then you too can organize blogs you want to follow.
Thank you, Google, for Google Reader!
LHR
Well, thanks to Google (Google, you've done it again) I can organize all the blogs I'm following in one place: Google Reader. It is so simple to use. I have already begun to list my favorite blogs. There is much more to Google Reader, but for now just keeping track of my blogs solves a major problem.
With Google Reader, you can mark the blogs you've read. There is one problem that I have run into. I cannot figure out how to post a comment from Google Reader. From other members' help questions, this is a common problem. I can, however, click 'Like', add the blog to my blog as a link, publicly share my opinions on the blog, add new blogs easily, and delete blogs just as easily.
Time has been a problem for me this winter, what with health issues and family concerns. Thanks to Google, I now have easy access to blogs I want to follow.
To set up Google Reader, just go to Google.com. Click on 'more' for more options and set up an account. If you've never used Google, once you are at Google.com, slide your mouse along the upper left. The options will appear. Once you've set up your account for Google Reader, then you too can organize blogs you want to follow.
Thank you, Google, for Google Reader!
LHR
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