Weight-Loss-Wednesday: Week 1

One week down, nine to go!

To keep healthy and combat obesity we are recommending a popular program called 5-2-1-0. The guidelines are easy (as easy as 5-2-1-0); just do the following on a daily basis:

Eat at least 5 fruits and vegetables.
Limit yourself to 2 hours of recreational screen time.
Get at least 1 hour of physical activity.
Do not drink sugary drinks (0 Sugar).

Hit the Space Bar ONCE

A few weeks ago I read something that really floored me, that something I had learned at the tender and impressionable age of twelve was completely wrong. I learned that hitting the space bar twice after the period was not only incorrect, but Satan is creating a new circle of hell for those who unleash two spaces upon the world.

The article (linked here) was by Rob W. Hart on the Novel Publishing Group, LLC website. In it he breaks the news that you only need to hit the space bar once when you end a sentence.

I've shared this new revelation with others and most -- no, no scratch that -- all of them were just as shocked. I'm hoping that I can get a reprieve from Beelzebub with the, "everybody else is doing it," excuse, but I think my other shortcomings will still sink me.

At first, I wanted to understand why. After searching around the best explanation I've found is that this stems from typewriters. With early typewriters every character filled the same amount of space. Whether it be a skinny 'i' or an extra wide 'w', it consumed the same amount of space. In modern language, they took the same amount of pixels. Because of this, a period-space-beginning of next sentence was too close and the typeset caused readers having problems recognizing the beginning of a new sentence. However, with modern computers this is no longer a problem so the double-space-bar rule no longer applies.

Sorry folks, that is the best I could find. I have trouble buying this theory because you would think the capital letter at the front of the new sentence would have been a clue.

I then wondered who else believes this. Short answer: the pros. All of the styled guides prescribe to the single striking of the space bar. When you talk to the elitists, they are all in favor of one space. It is actually so well known that I can't believe I haven't even heard about the debate surrounding this topic.

I also wondered if anybody would care. After all, I've been sending out email and story submission one after another breaking this rule and nobody has ever questioned it. Not even a yellow sticky note saying, "I fixed your double-space issues." Nothing!

But it isn't these people I will be submitting manuscripts to when I want to be taken seriously. So while most people will not care, those who would care are the ones I need to impress. And I've noticed since trying out this rule nobody has written back criticizing me for being too lazy to hit the space bar twice.

That said, I'm trying to repent. After this many years of hitting the space bar twice I'm finding it very difficult to get out of the habit. Rob W. Hart insists it is a piece of cake, but I have yet to unlearn this habit. I seem to be developing a new habit, and that is hitting space-space-backspace. Arg!!

I resolve to become a one-space-bar advocate. This is going to be an uphill battle for me, and that hill is going to be full of wraiths wielding chain saws and the latest editions of the Chicago Manual of Style. I don't care, this will be a battle I will win or die trying! RAWR!!!

WHO'S WITH ME?!?!?

(And, yes, that is my keyboard)

Poetry Schmoetry Blogfest & Janitors by Tyler Whitesides

Here is my entry for the Poetry Schmoetry Blogfest that is being ran by Shelly Brown, the winner of my 50 follower contest. Poetry isn't my common M.O., but I promised I would participate. She recently did a review on Tyler Whitesides, who is coming out with a book called Janitors Since I finished reading and enjoying it just the other day I figured I would base my poem as a review of his book.

So here it is!

Why You Should Read Tyler Whiteside’s Janitors

By James Duckett

I just read a fantastic book,
I’ll try not to give much away;
I’ll review it in a poem
Instead of a boring ol’ essay.

The book is named Janitors
It is written by Tyler Whitesides,
Here is a glimpse of the fun and excitement
That this entertaining book provides.

It has magical brooms,
It has magical mops,
It has a substitute teacher,
And a scene with some cops.

It has government officials,
From the mysterious B.E.M.,
Who recruits Spencer Zumbro
To fight warlocks who are against them.

With the aid of a cleaning glove
A girl named Daisy Gates,
And a flashlight to find an item
That leads him to dire straits.

There are mean little creatures
Hiding everywhere in schools,
They attack students who are smart
And turn them into fools.

There is a cabbage smelling teacher
That does little to help out,
There is a bully that causes trouble
In this book he is there throughout.

You’ll read as Spencer and Daisy
Do all everything they can,
To save the day and by the end
No doubt you’ll be a fan.

Because there is a lesson in here
A lesson that is true,
That honesty is the best policy –
Be truthful to those around you.

Tell the truth in all circumstances
Don’t ever turn to lies,
Good things never happen
To those who compromise.

So pick up this book
Sit back, and enjoy the ride,
Without a doubt you’ll be hooked
To the story that is inside.