Let's Thank Johannes Gutenberg for Desktop Publishing, eBooks & more

In my opinion, the name of Johannes Gutenberg is probably as well known as Albert Einstein.

Gutenberg revolutionized the printing process by creating moveable type around 1439 and his methods were used in the printing industry until the prototype Linotype hot-metal typesetting machine was introduced in 1886. (Note: the Linotype inventor, Ottmar Mergenthaler, is less well-known than Gutenberg.)

The Linotype typesetting machine revolutionized and dominated the print industry until the invention of phototypesetting around the 1940s.

You can learn about the history of the Linotype hot-metal typesetting machine in the marvelous movie: Linotype Film at http://www.linotypefilm.com.

Learn about the development of phototypesetting in Hot Metal to Cold Type, a film in the online history of the printed word at PrintngFilms.com

Unfortunately, I have been unable to find a film history of The Compugraphic 7500 phototypesetting machine which was one of several phototypesetting machines popular with small newspapers and graphic shops in the 1970s.

Compugraphic introduced a modular typesetting unit just as personal desktop computers were being introduced by Apple and IBM in the 1980s. Eventually, typesetting and some printing functions became the mainstay of personal computers.

More links:

History of Compugraphic

http://www.prepressure.com/prepress/history/events-1970-1979

My First Curbside Find

It's not much, just a clothes hanger, but it's my first curbside usable find.

I have friends who find marvelous curbside items, so I keep trying to improve my ability to see value in items other people don't want.

My First Crepes with two different outcomes

I had probably read the recipe below several times. But, when it came to making the crepes, I forgot some of the steps, like refrigerating the batter. Plus, I don't have a blender.

I won't mention the other mistake because things turned out ok, sorta.

Basic Crepes
Adapted from: http://www.chow.com/recipes/28467-basic-crepes

Ingredients:
1 cup AP flour
1/8 tsp of salt
1/8 tsp of sugar
1 1/2 cups of milk (I used light)
2 eggs
butter or olive oil as needed.

Process:
Mix dry ingredients.
Add milk slowly.
Stir with a fork to smooth lumps of batter.
Add 2 eggs.
Mix thoroughly.

Lightly coat bottom of small skillet with butter or olive oil.
Pour about 1/4 - 1/2 cup of batter into skillet.
Tilt skillet to make batter cover entire bottom of skillet.
Cook on medium-high until crepe edges brown.
Flip crepe and cook the other side for about 30-45 seconds.
Slide the cooked crepe onto a dinner plate.
Make crepes until batter is used up.

Here's where my recipe went awry. Sometimes I added a little too much batter and got a thick crepe. Sometimes, I got a very thin crepe. Cooking time for each crepe varied.

I got 6 large crepes of varying thicknesses. If all the crepes had been thin, I would probably have gotten a few more crepes.

Fillings:

Sliced Strawberries mixed with Whipped Topping
In a bowl, add tbspn of sliced strawberries, mix in a tbspn of topping.
Add 1-2 spoonfuls of mixture to center of crepe.
Fold each side of crepe over the filling.

Sliced Mushrooms (canned) and Grated Cheese
Add tbsp of canned sliced mushrooms (drained) to one side of crepe.
Top with 1-2 tbspns of grated cheese.
Sprinkle with ground black pepper and a few shakes of paprika.
Warm up in microwave for 10 seconds on high to melt cheese a bit.
Fold crepe in half.

Surprisingly, I used a thin crepe with the strawberry filling and it tasted okay. Then, I tried a thicker crepe with the mushroom and cheese filling and it tasted great.

There is an art to cooking and it takes practice. So, my crepe recipe needs tweaking, a lot.

Update on new hot plate: I can control the temperature better with this new hot plate. It has six temperature settings, though I still think in terms of simmer, medium, medium-high temperatures.

Microwave Popcorn

I adapted my recipe from:
http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2012/09/microwave-popcorn-no-bag-required.html

Ingredients:
1/4 cup unpopped corn kernels
a dab of water
Large glass casserole bowl with lid

Update: 4/18/20 - my casserole dish broke, now I use a empty saltine cracker box. Works great.  Just don't add water.

Process:
Add corn kernels to a cup.
Add a dab of water.
Stir kernels so they all get wet.
Put kernels into casserole dish.
Cover and microwave on high for 7-8 minutes.
Note: kernels start popping after about 4 minutes. Stop cooking when the popping stops.

Only about 10 kernels did not pop.

It always amazes me that such a small amount of kernels make so much popcorn.

I seasoned the cooked popcorn with grated parmesan cheese.

Writing Workshop: Forms of Short Stories

Forms of Fiction -- Short Stories (In Progress)

Flash Fiction (Microfiction) -- 1,000 words or less.

Anecdote -- like a parable, a brief realistic narrative that makes a point.

Parable -- a brief realistic narrative that makes a point.

Fable -- succinct tales with an explicit moral like Aesop Fables.

Fairy Tales -- 

Tale -- short form of storytelling to portray a moral or lesson, may highlight a cultural or religious perspective. Narration, summary and coincidence may play major roles in story. Similar to oral tradition.

(from: http://theeditorsblog.net/2015/03/13/writing-novels-vs-telling-tales/)

Vignette -- short, impressionistic scenes that focus on one moment or give particular insight into a character, idea, or setting. 

A vignette describes a short composition that can nevertheless display a high degree of compositional skill. Vignettes appear both as stand-alone pieces, similar to flash fiction, and as components of longer stories or plays. Brevity is the key to an effective vignette, though many writers find it valuable to establish a wider context for their works.

Read more : http://www.ehow.com/how_2060077_write-vignette.html

Essay --

eShort -- 12-150 pages usually part of a series, perspective may be of a known story but from other characters pov

Short Story -- 1,000 - 20,000, 1,000 - 7,5000

see Alice Munro stories

• Usually in narrative prose, part of oral storytelling. Small cast of characters, to evoke a single effect or mood. Use of plot, resonance....
• exposition - setting, situation, main characters
• complication - event that introduces conflict
• rising action -
• crisis -- point where conflict is at the highest
• resolution -- conflict is resolved
• focus -- often on one incident
• single plot
• single setting
• short period of time

Short Fiction -- 3,000 - 15,000 words

Novellas/Novelettes -- longer short stories

Writing Workshop: A Sampler of Types of Writers

Writing Workshop -- Kick Writers' Block to the Curb with Seven Easy Exercises

Seven Writing Exercises

1. Spontaneous Writing Exercise -- select a word and write without caring about punctuation, grammar, plot or organization for five minutes.

2. Writing Prompts

     -- Write a letter to your Writers Block to say good bye.

-- You are cleaning out the attic, garage or closet and find....

-- Make a list of story titles you’d like write.

-- Write about the most beautiful place you have ever been.

3. Try a different genre. Write a:

     -- poem

     -- essay

     -- article

     -- biography of local person

     -- short story

4. Go through your photographs/mementos. Pick one. Write a story about it.

5. Take a walk. Look at the houses, businesses and landscape. Think about who lives or works there. Write a short story about your impressions.

6. Write about something you have knowledge of or an expertise.

7. Write something every day.

After you’ve done a few exercises. Pick something you have written in the last few months.

Edit it. Polish it. Submit it to:

-- an online publication (check their submission guidelines).

-- to a short story contest.

-- post on your blog.

-- an agent, or

-- collect other stories/articles/poems etc., and self-publish your own collection.

Action begets Action

Sources:

Type Away Writer's Block: iPad Edition by Jodie Nelson

7 Creative Writing Prompts to Spark Your Writing -- Writers Digest

A 12-Day Plan of Simple Writing Exercises -- Writers Digest

Creative Writing Exercises by Lisa Binion