Snowflake Method

I recently used the Snowflake method to plot out and begin a book. It was a large amount of work up front. I spent 3 hours a day for 4 days, plus a few more hours working through the process to have all of the synopsis, outlines and other items required to make the Snowflake method work.

The Snowflake method was created by Randy Ingermanson. I've worked through all the steps, except writing the final draft, and I have to say that I like beginning a book with the Snowflake method.

Previously I was a true pantser. It took me a while to even accept the snowflake method. I really didn't want to sit down and do so much pre-work. Now I think the next time will be easier and I will most likely use this new method.

So What's It Gonna Be?

Earlier today I was having a discussion with @mckhubbs about various subjects. The later a quote from @i140 - Jason Nunnelley - got me thinking. His tweet was, "The story of Ghandi's introduction to Christianity is a harsh example of bad Christians happening to good people." Unfortunately this happens all too often, bad Christians happen to good people.

Too much judgment without cause. In my conversation with @mckhubbs abortion was brought up. We both agreed that we were anti-abortion but Pro-Choice. What does that mean? It does sound weird. I wish that we lived in a world where abortion didn't happen. All those cute little babies who lose their chance at life. But on the other side there are irate parents, judgmental friends, impossible situations and hateful people who take advantage of others. Abortion shouldn't be used as birth control. Some people do, but others feel that they have no other option because the people around them are mean.

If abortion activist would take all their passion, all of their power and their might and turn it to helping women and young girls then maybe true progress could be made. Real education about sex and what happens to your body if you have an abortion, not the just use a condom and totally unemotional advice they give in school. Too bad that people have to take sides. Taking sides makes it worse for everyone. No one is helped when you scream at them that they are wrong. Real, useful dialogue is what people need. Dialogue that leads to compassion and compassion that leads to improvement in quality of life.

I know there are people out there who will bash me over this message, I know them, hell, I'm related to one. But Jesus' most important commandment was to Love. All too often we respond with hate instead of love. Some people need to start showing compassion and get down off of their high horse.

Curious Movie

I watched the Curious Case of Benjamin Button last night. I hated it. Why, it was about two selfish people who were way too selfish to really help those who they love, or accept the help of those they love.

Relationships are hard. If they were easy then there were be no divorce, but too many people give up on their partner. They let pride block their lover from helping them. Instead of admit that they need help, or that they screwed up they react with anger, shunning those who love them. This movie was the epitome of two people who's behavior is a reminder of why they don't deserve happiness.

I hope people learn to be more loving with each other. Learning to live in acceptance and harmony instead of hate and anger.

Freedom Of Choice

Recently there was a twitter post about colleges like Brigham Young University restricting the internet. The poster made a comment that BYU's restriction is like the Chinese government restricting their citizens. I beg to differ. The USA is all about freedom, and in that freedom we had the right to choose where we go to college. In the USA we have the freedom to be conservative or liberal. We can choose to allow access to TV, YouTube, and video games or we can decide to remove them from our lives and send our kids to schools that don't offer TV, YouTube or video games. That's what freedom is about. The right to choose what services we will take advantage of and what services we will ignore. Forcing people to be one way, either conservative or liberal takes away their freedom to choose.

Comparing BYU's policy to the Chinese government was wrong. In China the students don't have the right to up and leave their university and attend at another university where YouTube isn't banned. In the USA we can pick and choose, in China their lives are run by the government and they have no freedoms. Last week on the 20th anniversary of Tiananmen Square, more people were locked up, restricted or run out of town. While we sit in our plush coffee houses sipping $4 coffee the Chinese people have no freedom, no access, and no rights. Comparing BYU's policy to China's policy is irresponsible.

Spread the What?

I'm surprised and amazed at how hateful people are. People will think nothing about spewing hate filled words towards anyone online. They think that they are immune to retribution, but that isn't true. The worst retribution won't come from the outside, or from others, it will come from themselves. All their vile negativity will build up in their thoughts and they won't be able to suppress the urge to be nasty to those closest to them. They will ruin their marriages, their children, their relationships with co-workers and friends. They will damage their health with the hate that they live with every day.

At some point people lost the common decency to not say mean things. Rudeness is addictive and like any drug you can't escape without drastic change. Some people will whine because they had a bad childhood, or some traumatic event happened. Been there, done that, so you can come out of a bad situation and not be rude. You have a choice to wake up everyday and be nice or you can be a jerk. The only difference is that if you are nice then that niceness will come back to bless you, your rudeness will be a beacon to all telling them to treat you like crap.

If you are on Twitter I suggest you follow @iconic88 Spread the love because mean people suck.

Jonas Dance Off

This is too funny.



I have no idea why, but it really is just too funny.

Obama Blocks Service Men From Speaking - No Free Speach

I received an email today. And it reported a disturbing fact - However, after doing some research the email was debunked as being false. Watch what you forward. Here's the email with the incorrect assertion.

I wanted to give ya'll some disturbing information on our wonderful president. I work with the Catch-A-Dream Foundation (www.catchadream.org) which provides hunting and fishing trips to childen with life-threatening illnesses. It is a great program needless to say. This past weekend we had our annual banquet/fundraiser event in Starkville. As part of the program, we had scheduled Sgt. 1st Class Greg Stube, a highly decorated U.S. Army Green Beret and inspirational speaker who was severely injured while deployed overseas and didn't have much of a chance for survival.
Greg is stationed at Ft. Bragg and received permission from his commanding officer to come speak at our function. Everything was on go until Obama made a policy that NO U.S. SERVICEMAN CAN SPEAK AT ANY FAITH-BASED PUBLIC EVENTS ANYMORE. Needless to say, Greg had to cancel his speaking event with us. Didn't know if anyone else was aware of this new policy.

Wonder what kind of news we all will receive next?

Charlie Stokes
Area Agronomy Agent/County Director MSU Extension Service
517 Hwy. 145 N. Ste.1
Aberdeen, MS 39730
Phone: 662-369-8683
Fax: 662-369-3682
E-mail: charlies@ext.msstate.edu
"Remember, Freedom Isn't Free"

If you go to Snopes you will find out that all isn't true in this email. Don't be fooled by misleading information. I also want to reference this article on About which finds this rumor false. And last but not least, this article in a newspaper announcing the change in events.

Assigning a scape-goat for hatred of one man isn't right. Find out the truth before you believe the lies.