MS Word 2003 - How to Create and Use a Customized Dictionary?

Microsoft Word comes with a powerful dictionary and spell checker. It is very easy to add new words to MS's default customary dictionary (file name: CUSTOM.DIC) as well.

When MS comes across a word that is not in this default dictionary, the right-click pop-up menu asks whether you'd like to "Add to Dictionary". Click that option and you are done. The new word is added to CUSTOM.DIC. Next time, MS will know how to correct the misspelling of that particular word.

But sometimes, when you are writing about a very esoteric subject, or perhaps when you are using many foreign words or jargon, or working on a temporary project, you may want to keep the default custom dictionary as is and create your own project-specific customized dictionary. When the project is done, you may want to remove it from your computer altogether.

***** How to create your own customized dictionary?

1. Launch your Note pad, or non-MS Word writing program. (MS Word unfortunately inserts a lot of invisible code to the text which might affect your dictionary list in unpredictable ways.)

2. Enter all your special words, one word per line. Make sure to enter multi-word phrases one word per line. After you type in each word, press Enter and go to the next line.

3. Give your special dictionary a name that ends with ".dic" (For example, "SoccerDictionary.dic") and save it to C:Documents and SettingsApplication DataMicrosoftProof

***** How to launch and use your customized dictionary?

1. Open the text that you would like to spell check by using your customized dictionary.

2. Select Tools > Options.

3. Select the Spelling & Grammar tab.

4. Click Custom Dictionaries button to display the Custom Dictionaries dialog box. You will see your newly created dictionary is listed in there, right next to the CUSTOM.DIC.

5. Check the check-box of your customized dictionary (if you like, IN ADDITION to the CUSTOM.DIC. It would not hurt.) Do NOT remove "CUSTOM.DIC" since that would impact all the other MS documents that have already used it.

6. While you are here, you can also modify the content of any listed dictionary by selecting it and clicking the Modify button. You can easily add new words in this fashion.

7. Click OK and return to your main document.

Now when you do a spell check (F7), Word will suggest alternatives not only from its default dictionary but from the custom dictionary that you have created as well.

Alternatively, when you right click your mouse over a word that has a red underline, Word will suggest alternatives not only from its default dictionary but from your customized dictionary as well.

You can create and use as many similar customized dictionaries as you like. And when you are done with that special project, you can just simply turn them off at Tools > Options > Spelling & Grammar > Custom Dictionaries.

If you think you'll never again use that special set of terminology, you can also delete a customized dictionary altogether from the C:Documents and SettingsApplication DataMicrosoftProof folder.

Press Releases - Your Headline Has To Be Great!

Start your press release with a great headline that will convince the media to read further. "The headline of a press release has one job and one job only," according to press release guru Paul Hartunian. "The only job of a press release headline is to force the reporter to keep reading. The headline has no other job. Don't force your press release headline to do anything more than force the reporter to keep reading. That's a big enough job!"

In press releases, headlines are critical. They're the first, and often the only, thing the media reads. If your headline doesn't immediately grab the reader's attention, your release usually won't be read.

To seize the media's attention, link your headlines to:


1) Money,


2) Sex,


3) Health,


4) Controversy.

Remember to grab the media by looking at and reacting to what is in the news! The media does not care about you or your book.They care about how good an interview you are, how you react to something that is going on now- and they want you to help their audience and or readers-

Do your homework! Read magazines, newspapers every day- and watch several TV shows every day- including Today, GMA and CBS Early Show. Couldn't hurt to watch Oprah too!

Make sure that you know everything you can about the reporter before you speak to him or her. Read all that they have written- do a google search- know where there went to school...
Be prepared!

Excerpted from Author 101: Bestselling Book Publicity, by Rick Frishman and Robyn Spizman; http://www.author101.com

Go to http://www.author101.com to get your free "Million Dollar Rolodex"

5 Ways To Be More Efficient in 3d Studio Max

If you have ever used 3d Studio Max you know that using the software can be challenging. Many problems can arise that interfere with efficiently using the software. Getting used to the graphical user interface, lighting, texturing and rendering all pose their challenges. Even the experienced users can find themselves stuck trying to remember 3d Studio Max's comprehensive interface or waiting hours for a render. Because of these problems, efficiency can suffer and many users can find themselves taking three or four more steps than needed. Luckily there are ways to become more efficient using 3d Studio Max.

1. Learn hotkeys
This may seem like an obvious one, but using hotkeys are the quickest way to efficiency in 3ds Max. You should learn the hotkeys for anything you consistently do in 3ds Max. The best way to learn a hotkey is to literally stop what you are doing, and actually learn the hotkey. Write it down and keep a cheat sheet near your workstation. Eventually using hotkeys will become second nature to you. For example of the top of my head I know that ALT W will maximize your view port, T, L, F, and P will toggle to top, left, front and perspective view, M will bring up the material browser, and F10 brings up the render scene dialogue box. If you only learn 2 hotkeys though, learn CTRL Z (undo) and CTRL S (save), not only is this good habit, but doing this will immediately save you a lot of time.

2. Save often.
Again, I am stating the obvious but computers crash a lot. Get used to saving often, every 5 minutes. One of the biggest mistakes made is not saving work. Imagine working hours on a model and then suddenly having 3ds Max crash. Now imagine that you never saved your work. You either have to start all over or rely on 3d Studio Max's autoback feature. Being the good 3d Artists that you are though, you saved your project every 5 minutes. Now you aren't at the mercy of 3d Studio Max's autobacking feature and you can continue working on your model.

3. Save Multiple Versions
There are several reasons to save multiple versions of your work. One reason is that 3ds Max files can sometimes get corrupted in the process of saving work. Once this happens, it is impossible to ever open that file again. Another reason is that it is a good way to keep phases of your work. Anytime I am doing a detailed project, I usually have 11 versions of the same project. This is useful if you have messed up and you are too far to go back using undo. You can just simply go back to a former version. If 11 versions seems a bit much for you, can also save 3 different versions and alternate overwriting each version every time you save. Doing this can save yourself a lot of heartache and tears.

4. Make good use of your computers memory
3d Studio max is definitely a powerful program that can handle tons of complex mathematical equations. Learn what you computer can handle. If you have a supercomputer that can handle tons of raytracing and advanced lighting then use it. If you know your computer will crash with too much advanced effects, then try to avoid using those. Not only learn the limitations of your computer but learn to compromise when render time is taking too long. If you can barely tell the difference between a 30 second render and a 3 minute render, then you should probably go with the 30 second render.

5. Practice, Practice, Practice
The best way to become more efficient in 3d studio max is to just simply practice. The more you get involved in the program, the more you will learn. For example, the first time you model a human face it may take you 3 weeks. By the fifth time you might be able to do it in 2 hours, because you already know where you are going, 5 steps ahead. Write down anything that might help you in the future. Eventually you will have a lot of information committed to memory through repetition and you will be extremely efficient.

These are just a few of many tips to help increase efficiency in 3ds max. Remember the more you can do to eliminate unnecessary steps, the easy your life will become.

Love Poems -- 5 of the Best

Love poems, an emotional phrase that gives all of us some deep thoughts, weather you like lyrics or not. As you are reading this I assume that you like poetry. Do you read or listen? I like to do both. Beautiful written texts are always remarkable reading. On the other hand...listening to a verse by a master narrator is also delightful. This article is about poems on audio books. You will also find some quotes from the authors.

The Sonnets by William Shakespeare

There is no grading in this listing but I felt I had to start with Shakespeare's The Sonnets. They serve as one of the most beautiful romantic love poems ever written and also give us an idea of the mind of the genius behind these captivating words.

William Shakespeare quote:

"Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate:
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And summer's lease hath all too short a date."

If Thou Must Love Me

This is Elizabeth Barrett Browning's appeal to her lover to adore her only for herself, and not for any qualities that may fade away.

Quote by Elizabeth Barrett Browning:

"Who so loves believes the impossible."

My Love Is Like A Red, Red Rose

Robert Burns's well-known ode blessing the eternal power of true romance.

Quote by Robert Burns:

"O, my luve's like a red red rose That's newly sprung in June: O my luve's like the melodie That's sweetly played in tune."

The Passionate Shepherd to His Love
Christopher Marlowe's emotional appeal to his truelove to escape with him and live a romantic country-life with him.

Quote by Christopher Marlowe:

"Who ever loved that loved not at first sight?"

12 Valentines Poems

12 Valentines Poems is actually a small collection of romantic poesy as it's best.
There are twelve specially selected favorite's. To mention some of them; Edward Fitzgerald's meditations from The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, Edward Lear's comic verse The Owl and The Pussycat, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, John Donne's The Sunne Rising and lines from John Milton's Paradise Lost, Robert Herrick's Delight in Disorder and Shakespeare's Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer's Day.

Listening and reading love poems can be a great source of joy. However, there is actually one better way to use these words by masters: Read the poem to your dear one yourself. Get inspired and surprise your love with a passionate sonnet by Shakespeare this evening.

188 Step Hero's Journey (Monomyth) - Screenwriting, Story Structure Secrets 2

FORWARD

The 188 stage Hero's Journey (Monomyth) is the template upon which the vast majority of successful stories and Hollywood blockbusters are based upon. In fact, ALL of the hundreds of Hollywood movies we have deconstructed (see URL below) are based on this 188+ stage template.

Understanding this template is a priority for story or screenwriters. This is the template you must master if you are to succeed in the craft.

[The terminology is most often metaphoric and applies to all successful stories and screenplays, from The Godfather (1972) to Brokeback Mountain (2006) to Annie Hall (1977) to Lord of the Rings (2003) to Drugstore Cowboy (1989) to Thelma and Louise (1991) to Apocaplyse Now (1979)].

THERE IS ONLY ONE STORY

THE 188 STAGE HERO'S JOURNEY:

a) Attempts to tap into unconscious expectations the audience has regarding what a story is and how it should be told.

b) Gives the writer more structural elements than simply three or four acts, plot points, mid point and so on.

c) Gives you a tangible process for building and releasing dissonance (establishing and achieving catharses, of which there are usually four).

d) Tells you what to write. For example, at a certain stage of the story, the focus should be on the Call to Adventure and the micro elements within.

ABRIDGED TIPS, EXCERPTS AND EXAMPLES:

(simply go to http://www.screenplay-structure.com/ or http://www.story-structure.org/ for full details)

*****Elixir*****

The Elixir is now developed or further made explicit (post Trial 3 and the conquest of the Outer Challenge). The Hero (as well as the audience) are reminded of the rewards of completing the Journey: In Transamerica (2005), Bree and Toby arrive at the Gender Pride party in Dallas.

Threshold Guardian. As normal, the Threshold Guardian must be passed. In Transamerica (2005), Marianne welcomes them to the Gender Pride party.

World of Elixir. In Transamerica (2005), we meet the characters at the Gender Pride party. In Matrix (1999), we meet the other gifted children.

*****Antiheroes and Romantic Challenges*****

Where the Hero evolves, the Antihero devolves. So it is not unusual to find that the Antihero starts off with a close personal relationship that devolves (whereas the Hero most often starts off with a polarized Romantic Challenge that gradually evolves). In The Godfather (1972), Michael and Kay are initially close but their relationship devolves toward the end. In Scarface (1983) Tony and Elvira ultimately separate.

*****Mirror*****

Symbolism is an underrated aspect of storytelling. A mirror is an often used symbol, that demonstrates the Hero's self analysis at the stage of the Ordinary World. In Bonnie and Clyde (1967), Bonnie look at herself in the mirror. In An Officer and a Gentleman (1983), Zach looks at himself in the mirror.

*****Demonstrating the Magical Gift*****

It is not unusual for the Mentor or Hero to have to demonstrate the Magical Gift. In Brokeback Mountain (2005), Jack uses the gun to shoot the wolf. This often also substitutes as a foreshadow of the coming real use of the Magical Weapon, which is where some obstacle is overcome.

*****Lack of Commitment*****

The Hero, even though he (or she) may be willing, does not often commit to the Journey easily. In Bonnie and Clyde (1967), Bonnie wants to know what armed robbery is like.

*****Conscious Decision*****

The Conscious Decision is a staple of the Hero's Journey and Transformation. The Hero explicitly states that he (or she) will embark on the Journey and Transformation. This is expressed in a number of ways. In Bonnie and Clyde (1967), Clyde asks Bonnie whether she wants to stay in West Dallas, carry on waitressing and dating truck drivers or go with her.

188 Step Hero's Journey (Monomyth) - Brokeback Mountain (2005)

FORWARD

The 188 stage Hero's Journey (Monomyth) is the template upon which the vast majority of successful stories and Hollywood blockbusters are based upon. In fact, ALL of the hundreds of Hollywood movies we have deconstructed (see URL below) are based on this 188+ stage template.

Understanding this template is a priority for story or screenwriters. This is the template you must master if you are to succeed in the craft.

[The terminology is most often metaphoric and applies to all successful stories and screenplays, from The Godfather (1972) to Brokeback Mountain (2006) to Annie Hall (1977) to Lord of the Rings (2003) to Drugstore Cowboy (1989) to Thelma and Louise (1991) to Apocaplyse Now (1979)].

THERE IS ONLY ONE STORY

THE 188 STAGE HERO'S JOURNEY:

a) Attempts to tap into unconscious expectations the audience has regarding what a story is and how it should be told.

b) Gives the writer more structural elements than simply three or four acts, plot points, mid point and so on.

c) Gives you a tangible process for building and releasing dissonance (establishing and achieving catharses, of which there are usually four).

d) Tells you what to write. For example, at a certain stage of the story, the focus should be on the Call to Adventure and the micro elements within.

ABRIDGED TIPS, EXCERPTS AND EXAMPLES:

(simply go to http://www.screenplay-structure.com/ or http://www.story-structure.org/ for full details)

*****Hero's Backstory*****

The Mentor or Supernatural Aid often knows a lot about the Hero. In Bonnie and Clyde (1967), Clyde knows all about Bonnie - the guys, the café, wondering how she is going to get away from it.

*****The Changing*****

Progression through the Cave of the First Threshold is demonstrated. In Brokeback Mountain (2005), "...that's more than I spoke in a year...."

*****Guardians of the Sword*****

The Sword is not easily Seizable. In Brokeback Mountain (2005), Ennis waits by the window and Jack arrives late.

*****Inner Caves*****

Whether in the Inner Cave of the First Threshold or the Trials or beyond, it is a place where Inner Challenges reveal themselves. In Straw Dogs (1971), Amy flirts with the boys outside. And David remarks, "....you act like you're fourteen....."

*****Push to the Inner Cave*****

Pushes and Pulls are underestimated, even symbolically. In Brokeback Mountain (2005), Jack doesn't mind switching, "...We both ought to be in this camp...."

*****Inner Resolve*****

With the coming of the Inner Resolve, the Hero says goodbye to his Old Self and the Old World. In Brokeback Mountain (2005), Ennis drives away and this will be the last time they see each other.

Michael Pollan and The Idea of Garden

Michael Pollan is a prolific writer. He is living at an old farm in Cornwall Bridge, Connecticut. Michael Pollan is the author of many interesting and brilliant books, such as 'Second Nature: A Gardener's Education', 'A Place of My Own: The Education of an Amateur Builder', 'The Botany of Desire: A Plant's-Eye View of the World' and 'The Idea of a Garden'.

The book consists of stories where people retell what they have heard. Including historical and current issues and giving several genres, 'The Idea of a Garden' challenges people to investigate more attentively the variety of environments that we are surrounded by, the complication features of those environments, and our attitude to them.

In his book Michael Pollan proposes a metaphor that is appropriate to the environment issues – a nature as a garden. For Pollan gardening is not only the very act of this action but it is also the interaction with the nature and its sources. This kind of a metaphor gives local answers according to local conditions. This notion assumes anthropocentrism as inevitable process, while accepting people's interdependence with life, health and survival. Moreover, it values other life forms' wildness, for example, the wildness of water, air and soil. People interact with the nature and have 'misunderstandings' with it. In other words, this battle could be won or could be lost. Everything depends on the humanity – on the moderate usage of land resources, on the attentive approach to environmental issues and timely solutions.

The garden metaphor makes the demarcation between the intervention of humanity and the nature intervention giving examples of the second one for creating the balance in nature. However, Michael Pollan points out the significance of culture as a phenomenon and as a part of the garden preservation. This is the culture, which is used for teaching people how to live in harmony with nature, how to share the experience of past generations. It has its history in which there are numbers of mistakes that we should remember and avoid for making this world a garden of nature.

Summarizing, our land is a garden, which must be protected. This underlines the necessity for conservationists to be more serious in the issues of protecting wildlife and natural habitat and to present their ideas to a wide audience.

The Italian Letter, Bush & Cheney at War

The Italian letter

With love from Italy

To Mr. VP Cheney

Dear Dick, hear ye

The intelligence

You've been hunting

Ferociously for at CIA

Your frequent visits

Have been noticed

Your deep yearnings

Haven't been dismissed

We've got some docs

You cannot resist.

Let me tell you how

They shall be passed

Let the British gov't

Be the scapegoat

The proverbial ass

Point to their intel

Expert discoveries

About Saddam Hussein

Buying quantities

Or attempts thereof

To secure uranium

The claim is a hoax

But by it we'll coax

The American people

To fear the most

Sensational ghost

Shock with scenarios

Possible probabilities

Forged debaucheries

Countless inaccuracies

Names and dates

Spelled incorrectly

Concoct it meticulously

Declare it nationally

Across every home TV

Before all of Congress

Shock, awe, and amaze

Leave them in a daze

Fearing for their lives

Imagining the inevitable

Though it will not be real

It will serve your purpose

Provide and position you

To move steadily on course

Enabling a huge war in Iraq

Years to procure oil and attack

Massive Halliburton contracts

A 300% increase in their stock

In Baghdad our troops will dock

First, just sell war aggressively

To Congress in Washington DC

Than bring the American people

To generously finance the story

Media conglomerates and papers

Mags, journals, profs, and authors

Before long, by reason of repetition

Everyone will swallow and believe

The lie will load you heavily for bear

The claim shall convincingly achieve

All you need to rally and cheer lead

Gather the troops and send forth

To battle the butcher of Baghdad

Take over where we left off with dad

Beware you Iraqis! Bush II is bad.

His assertions aren't nearly ironclad

But who needs truth when illusion

Works wonderfully with possibility

The faintest likelihood works good

Stirs sitting Congressmen to fight

The corrupt and obstruct administration

Will cook up tasty intel and do it right

Our cherry picking is Saddam's plight

Soon we'll be bombing deep into night

Uranium, uranus, your dirty little anus

Once we're secure in the theatre of war

With such minute details we'll not bore

Nor belabor ourselves with this anymore.

By then it is all about finding those WMD

Liberating the people of Iraq skillfully

Now slow down boys! Not too quickly.

Meanwhile the American people weary

Tired of war, watch Paris and Britney.

As they do Bush Co prepares to get paid

Get settled and cozy in Iraq for a decade

You know, help the Iraqis with food aid

Suck up and tap into their vast oil supply

Surely by now you know the reason why

Elisabetta Burba of Rome now does cry

Sit around kicking herself wondering why

She didn't reexamine the vile document

That was grossly manipulated to vent

Cheney & Bush's mandate for more

More war, oil, and arms contracts

Even Rove wanted Cheney hacked

Removed from the ticket in 2004

Realizing he is a warmonger whore

Ready to sell out for personal gain

Taking Saudis Thanksgiving leftovers

Assuring him more bloody oil dollars

After he leaves the White House

His maneuvering and profiteering

We the people are no longer feeling

"The British government has learned

That Saddam Hussein recently sought

Significant quantities of uranium from Africa."

Those 16 fatal words in President Bush's 2003

State of the Union address meant to frighten

Not enlighten, though our stomachs did tighten

To the smoking gun and mushroom cloud

Bush talking about terrorists bold and loud

Ambassador Joseph Wilson said that Niger

Had nothing of the sort for us to purport

Yet global intel rogues Bush did court

For bogus evidence on yellow cake, U3O8

The road to war a predetermined fate

Not by God, but by Cheney and Bush

False intel scandalous and amateurish.

Money First, Not

As a writer, you should not let money stall your progress, growth and development. I am speaking on this subject from personal experience. If one is not careful, their gifts and talents as a writer will be stalled while trying to reach for the golden carrot of money. Money can be a deception to development because one loses sight of the heart and purpose of putting you words on paper. I believe money will stall the best writer and the novice, if they are not careful. For a writer to grow and develop, they must put money in its place so that they can move forward and enjoy the love of the craft.

Money is the grand illusion too many writers. It causes some to seek the life of a dreamer who will not work at their craft. I am still angered when I think about the time I have waste looking for the silver dollar of the writing illusion. If the truth be told and research done you will find that only a few writers cash in big. Now that you have a better understanding of the matter, in my opinion, you should write for you own satisfaction. I am saying what many other writers have said; in short, do not quit your day job.

It is a tremendous waste of time to be preoccupied with thoughts grandeur, instead of writing. We all have just a certain number of days to live and than our natural body dies. The reality is that your time is more important than money. We should value our time to write as a precious gift from Yahweh which we must use to the fullest. Do not let your mind waste its time on things that are sometimes out of your control. Your justification must come from inside; this will give you the motivation to not waste time.

There is sometimes a state of depression that can happen to us as writers if we are constantly thinking about money. It is the money thoughts that can set you up for the downward thoughts of depression. To value your ability as a writer in terms of money, is to quickly head done the road to depression and deception. Never see yourself in terms of a money value. Depression happens when we do not have a true picture of reality. Realize, in life, some things happen by chance.

We must realize how priceless time is to our development, happiness and inner fulfillment as a writer. Money, in my opinion, is always secondary to several more essentials traits in the life of a writer. Money is not first thing for the genuine writer. Handle anyone who tells you money first, at arms length; they probably want to deceive you or exploit you. Always be a writer first and fore most.