Today's 1000: Guest Contributor

Fistful of Words is happy to present our very first guest contributor:




Lauren Friedman is the creator and illustrator of My Closet in Sketches, a blog devoted to the hand-drawn renderings of her most inspired outfits. Based upon the credo, "Always An Excuse To Dress Up," Lauren believes that every person deserves to look his or her best, no matter the occasion. She sketches, photographs, and styles from her home in Washington, D.C.

How to Read Magazines and Why

by Elaine Dunaway

Harold Bloom once presumed to tell discerning readers around the world How to Read and Why; though I lack his credentials, I am here to tell you, discerning blog-follower, How to Read Magazines and Why. While this may sound mildly less impressive, I assure you it is far more enjoyable and may even prove more useful for your everyday existence.

Let’s start with the how and move to the why. I first suggest that you trek down to your local bookseller and spend a good thirty minutes perusing the magazine racks. Take a walk through the entire magazine selection and pull out everything which seems remotely interesting to you. Then, find a cozy little corner and spend roughly five minutes looking at each of the magazines you’ve assembled. This will a) cause you to genuinely look at a large swath of magazine types and b) give you a greater sense of which magazines you might want to take home with you.

Today's 1000

An Oldman Thanksgiving tradition: Banana Pudding.

To all of the FoW readers:

 I wish you good food, good company, and long naps.

Happy Thanksgiving from Fistful of Words.

FoW Campfire Conversations: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallow Review Part II

By Dee Jarvis, Panache Imagery
[CC-BY-SA-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)],
via Wikimedia Commons

The final installment of FoW’s Campfire Conversations on Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallow feature the final thoughts from Thomas Hokum. The Harry Potter nerds wrap up their discussion on despair, animation, and all things Deathly Hallows.

Today's 1000

Not sure if I'm supposed to laugh or be a little afraid.

FoW Campfire Conversations: Deathly Hallows Review Part I

By Dee Jarvis, Panache Imagery
 [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)],
via Wikimedia Commons

Having now seen Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, FoW's resident Harry Potter nerds decide to weigh in with their opinions about the movie. Elaine and T.S. continue their discussion about despair from the HP7 preview. Hokum’s thoughts will come tomorrow in Part II. Please enjoy:

Elaine Dunaway: Okay, so instead of giving a cohesive review of the movie, I thought I would start us out by pointing out topics which I think could use some further discussion. These are things which I loved, hated, found interesting, or didn't even see coming.

When Bad Pictures Happen To Good People

The author's actual high school graduation photo.

By: Erica Thomas

There was a time in my life when I was totally unconcerned with appearance. Weird considering I'm the family's mirror athlete.

Flash back to high school. I was a free spirited vegetarian who decided a Mia Farrow haircut was just what I needed to really express my wanna- be- in- the- 60's personality. Makeup? Ha. Personal style? I mock you.

This all collided one day in the picture on the right. Yes, that's me in the ill fitting red coat and rat tail latched on to that column like a gnome, my experiment gone horribly awry. And would you believe, dear reader, that I was only seventeen years old when this picture was taken? It is, unfortunately, true.

More terrifyingly, I walked around in public like this for quite sometime. Thank God I went to a special school, otherwise I would have been mocked to death.

FoW Campfire Conversations: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallow Preview Part II

Welcome to Fistful of Words’ first ever Campfire Conversations. We tried to approximate the discussion of hot topics in this unoriginal, yet immensely fun, medium. For the FoW Campfire discussion, one writer picks a topic and then emails their thoughts on the subject to some of our other authors. A discussion ensues via email until all the questions are answered, everyone gets bored, or one of us has to do actual work. Our topic is the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I.

[Spoiler Warning! This preview contains discussion events from the entire Potter book series including the ending].

T.S. Oldman: Apparently, Hokum and Elaine believe that I am opining for Part I of the Deathly Hallows to be a mix between Clockwork Orange and the scene where Bambi’s mother dies (one of the most gut-wrenching hopeless moments in all of film). Since I am not that dark and twisted, I guess I should clarify my point.

Today's 1000

 See seven states. Plus goats. And gnomes.

FoW Campfire Conversations: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Preview Part I

Welcome to Fistful of Words’ first ever Campfire Conversations.  For years, the hub of interesting conversation in the workplace has wandered from the break room to instant messenger programs. Our contemporaries probably spend surprisingly large chunks of their workday discussing their lives or the latest pop culture phenomenon over Gchat or Facebook, when they’re not watching YouTube videos of course. Honestly, how are we still a productive society?

We tried to approximate the workplace discussion of hot topics in this unoriginal, yet immensely fun, medium. For the FoW Campfire discussion, one writer picks a topic and then emails their thoughts on the subject to some of our other authors. A discussion ensues via email until all the questions are answered, everyone gets bored, or one of us has to do actual work. The number of writers in a conversation can vary from two to all six of our current contributors.

So, enjoy our conversations that occur when we should be working. Chances are you should be working right now as well. But who are we to judge?

Topic: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I will be released at midnight tonight November 18^h.  In honor of the seventh and final installment being released in two parts, this FoW Conversation will come in two parts. We will have a two part preview of the movie posted today discussing themes, topics, and hopes for the movie. Check back in on Sunday for a review of the film in the same Campfire format.

T.S. Oldman, Thomas Hokum, and Elaine Dunaway were brave enough to declare their inner Harry Potter nerd by making public their emailed thoughts before and after the film.

Cam Jong Ill? Why the NCAA is on The Clock with the Cam Newton Investigation




A view of Jordan Hare Stadium in Auburn, AL where Cam Newton
has played amidst an ongoing NCAA investigation the last several weeks.



By T.S. Oldman

It happened moments before Cameron Newton began celebrating Auburn’s win over the University of Georgia on Saturday afternoon and then trotted into the locker room. In fact, it happened at the exact moment the game clock struck double zero in the Oldest Rivalry in the South with Auburn having just been crowned SEC West Champions. At 7:36 PM EST, the NCAA went on the clock.

Today's 1000

Something to think about the next time a really cute dog tries to lick you in the face.

A Fistful of Fashion: Making it New

Fashion: Bringing joy to the masses since who knows when.

Not too many weeks ago, a couple of friends and I went on a road trip to Austin, Texas to visit one of our close friends. While there, we had the opportunity to go vintage clothes shopping. In general, I'm a little wary of previously-owned clothes: thrift stores don't usually jive with me (people usually only donate that which cannot be sold at consignment shops or e-Bay) and I don't usually have the best of luck at the consignment stores around my house, either. However, having read about Austin's great vintage scene from Jane Aldridge of seaofshoes.com, I was excited to try my hand at scouring the vintage stores for some gems. It turns out, I had the best of luck at this great store named Cream Vintage. Here, I share with you three outfits I made from vintage components I bought in Austin. I hope you enjoy!

Cinema – The Savior of Literature?

by Thomas Hokum

The crappiness of Hollywood screenplays has long sent directors to the fiction section of their local Barnes and Noble for new projects. If you haven’t noticed this trend, then you’re probably illiterate. While the results have been mixed, on average, these book-adapted television shows and movies are usually decent to good. That’s saying something when you take stock of how many bad movies get made. (This is a good site to get updated on recent and upcoming adaptations.)

I would go so far as to say the best movies, particularly in recent years, are almost always book adaptations of some form. Take a second and think about your own top ten list and how many of the titles were books first. Shawshank Redemption? The Godfather Series? Scarface? …The Princess Bride (Come on, you know you loved it. I mean, it had Andre the Giant, how could you not.) I could go on forever, but instead I’ll just give you a good Top 100 link here. I’m convinced Christopher Nolan found a long forgotten novel that Inception was based on.

Today's 1000

 

 

 

Six Feet Under Pub & Fish House, Atlanta, Georgia

 Those girls, those girls, those lovely seaside girls,
All dimples, smiles, and curls — your head it simply whirls!
They look all right, complexions pink and white;
They've diamond rings and dainty feet,
Golden hair from Regent Street,
Lace and grace and lots of face — those pretty little seaside girls.

Letter 4: Air Travel

Isabella –

This is going to be a quick one – there’s plenty to report but just not enough time to transmit it adequately. I write to you from the airport (that lovely tent-topped wonder) as I head out of state for a weekend conference. The school is sending me to a training on managing adults which is not, apparently, the same as managing a classroom of 14-year olds (who would’ve thought?) or the same as “herding cats” (to which we, as staff, often liken running a school). Speaking of school, our doors have been open for 27 months now, WOW. Anyway I’d say I’m excited for the training but you’d see right through my lie – as it’s now November, you know all too well that the slopes are open for business and there’s no where I’d rather be then bombing down a double black to Such Great Heights (The Postal Service version, not Iron & Wine). Next weekend…

Today's 1000

The Oceanaire, Atlanta, Georgia

“The snotgreen sea. The scrotum tightening sea.”

                                                                    - James Joyce 

A Black & White View of Brian Kelly, Notre Dame

By T.S. Oldman

In the wake of the tragic death of Declan Sullivan, the 20 year old Notre Dame videographer who was killed at the Irish football practice when his scissor lift blew over from 50 mph wind gusts, the college football world has been left to sort through blame and different shades of gray. We are left to parse out the subtleties of the word responsibility; the legal nuances of liability and the reasonable expectations of the in loco parentis principle.

How To Be A Non Tourist: Travel Guides

When I decided to start a mini travel series last month, I planned to highlight cool things to do in some of my favorite cities. Since I can’t possibly cover every cool thing to do in a major city, I’ve decided to share my favorite travel guide for planning an exciting, non tourist visit. 

But first, I want to address my previous post Non Tourist: New York. Apparently, my post got picked up by a hyperlocal blog. Some of the commenters blasted me for suggesting that people who want to do “tourist things” are stupid. Not so. My point was New York is more than Times Square and the Empire State Building. If these are the only places you visit then you’re missing out on what makes New York so great- the unique neighborhoods.  

Also, there is NEVER a reason to pay $16 for chicken fingers, especially not at TGI Friday’s in Time Square. New York can be quite affordable food wise.  $2.75 will get you two slices and a soda at the pizza joint on my block. You just have to be on the lookout for the non tourist deal! Check out my favorite travel guide after the jump.

Today's 1000

photo courtesy of suat eman

... hello, Winter.

Midtown West Doldrums, Part III

Virginia Highland was the answer, so we went.  

It was midnight, so it was still early in the night.  Most people were just getting to the bars.  We valeted across the street from Fontaine’s and did the tour between Moe’s and Joe’s, Fontaine’s, and the others.  Sam and Gabbi continued to drink, but Sam was winning the unspoken competition.  Gabbi had replaced her need for alcohol with her need for dancing.  She grabbed my hand, led me to the dance floor, and we danced until one in the morning.  I usually do not prefer dancing, but Gabbi makes it better.  

Today's 1000

Good bye, warm weather foliage...

On Fan Fiction



A logo for the fan fiction site www.fanfiction.net

by Elaine Dunaway


A confession: fan fiction has, at times, compelled me to stay awake until 3:00 a.m. multiple days in a row. You would do well to remember this for the remainder of my article.

For anyone who has never heard of fan fiction, let us begin with a quick description. Fan fiction is created when someone – and by someone, I mean anyone – becomes so obsessed with a given book or television series that he or she writes new stories that involve the characters of the book/series. Fan fiction exists for just about everything: Star Wars, Sherlock Holmes, Harry Potter, Twilight, Jane Austen novels, Bones, Lord of the Rings, Buffy etc. and, thanks to the internet, is easily accessible and free of charge. To give an idea of what a fan fiction might be like, let’s imagine that someone felt the urge to write a Harry Potter storyline in which Hermione and Harry end up falling in love instead of Harry and Ginny. Or, perhaps we would get a re-telling of the book through Ron’s eyes instead of Harry’s. Essentially, a fan fiction begins with the premise of “what if this were different” and then goes from there.