Michal refuses to weigh the notion of enlarging his trifling Fiction Corpus with a few decent science fiction stories; cites fatigue

Posted:⚒ 30༚♐²⁶/₂₄♀

I trust in the feasibility of harnessing English as a global standard. I don't regard highly the enervatingly inanimate model by which English is taught.

Improving a person's finesse for a language isn't like creating a safer parachute. A language - a spoken tongue - is not merely a tool that you can teach yourself to exploit with greater amounts of precision. A shared tongue can not be dissociated from the competing values of a tribe of people of which it is a description. A language isn't recited; it happens - and keeps happening as long as a circle of people keeps using it.

To make a person recite English is to strip her of its cultural context. A proper instructor must create a strategy for introducing it; the wisest pupil goes out to seek it.

A dictionary has the potential to be an influential tool. A decent dictionary will describe words on the basis of a specific corpus, a set of writing of varying scope and consistency. A corpus might contain everything from a book about literature to a bunch of fantasy fiction. I created my "mammoth" Fiction Corpus in order to form a different sort of dictionary based on the ability of one man to tell a story in myriad forms. It is a labor of love and listening.

I have sculpted a million words and I have catalogued them, reshaping them - not merely to teach the English tongue but to promote the human spirit, and to provoke that soul or spirit not just to recite but to happen.

Michal's Dictionary Navigation — whose
how
what
where
when
who
why
which
A Better Way to Define English: Grouped into Eight Types of Words
Type 3 Answers the Question, "What?"
The 8 types of words can be associated with the days of the week in the Acceptance calendar. Tuesday, or Family Day, or Prayers Day respresents the "What"

it7440
something696
nothing453
anything323
everything212
whatever118

Previous title — whose
how
what
where
when
who
why
which
A Better Way to Define English: Grouped into Eight Types of Words
Type 3 Answers the Question, "What?"
The 8 types of words can be associated with the days of the week in the Acceptance calendar. Tuesday, or Family Day, or Prayers Day respresents the "What"

it7440
something696
nothing453
anything323
everything212
whatever118

Samples of Fiction from Michal's Corpus

Michal's Fiction Corpus of Acceptance Literature (FiCAL) is presented under the Bare Bottom imprint. It is currently comprised of six bodies of work, each representing a different pillar of culture and incorporating a wide variety of writhing styles.

If you're wondering...

How do I use this?

Just click on a title to see examples of "fiction" from a particular work. You'll stay on the same spot on the page, only the Table of Contents will disappear. To get back to the Table of Contents just click next to the image of the Bare Bottom imprint where it says "Back to Samples of Fiction: Table of Contents."“And...?”

In the case of common words, a Table of Frequency and a Table of Collocation provide numerical information about how many times a word appears in its original or modified form and with which words. It can help to give you an idea of how common words are used and in what contexts. Find them in the "Common Words of English" part of the Education section.“Ok.”

Why a Fiction Corpus?

The popular understanding of the word "fiction" and its complement "non-fiction" is a reflection of the cultural influence of a classification system. The Dewey Decimal System is responsible for separating "fiction" from all other work and categorizing it by author's name. This has influenced the popular idea of fiction as a narrative that tends to be "untrue" and the product of an individual's fantasy, a bias compounded by modern art's century-long obsession with abstraction, surrealism and self-expression.“So...?”

My idea of fiction rests on the idea that art doesn't have to be factual to be a true reflection of our existence. Adam and Eve didn't have to exist as two individuals 700 generations ago for them to be true portraits of two human beings trying to work together.“And...?”

The Bible is a Fiction Corpus. It is a body of writing that isn't overly concerned with facts and yet its words carry weight. It was written by many different authors living in different places with different audiences in mind, yet everyone gleans something from it.“Right...”

In preparing my fiction corpus, I have striven to see the world through the eyes of others. Through the eyes of my Adams and Eves I hope that you too will glean some truth about our existence. At the very least you will learn some more about how one man can use the English language.“Ok.”

Who are you, Michal?

I'm just a guy who makes art. And if you're interested in making a solid investment in an aesthetic that supports our present and future welfare, then I will help you look for something that you can buy.“How...?”

Everybody makes. Everybody sells. Some people know how to protect their interests. Some better than others. Few people know how to listen. Listening to somebody means considering their interests as if they were your own. Going out and doing something to satisfy another person's interest is how we build a strong economy. Without a strong economy, democracy collapses.“And...?”

Buying 4Occupy is buying for democracy. Don't give your money to somebody who's ruining it. There's no such thing as cheap democracy, quick democracy, or easy democracy. There's good, solid, complete democracy and the tyranny of feudalism. Let's not mix the two. Let's not buy everything on the cheap. Let's not create another tyrant and enslave ourselves because it was easier not to think about what we were doing. Let's protect our interests. Let's listen.“Ok.”

Who's really behind this site?

Have you ever been to one of those post-it-yourself retail websites where there's a really attractive top-seller ready to give you tips on how you can be a top-seller too?“Uh...”

Have you ever been to a "job" interview where you sit in a line, walk through one door, get hired as a contractor and walk out another door, so that the other applicants don't realize that everyone's getting "hired" to work in the same market?“Maybe...”

The internet is full of people who are ready to exploit your ignorance. They are people who want to make money at the expense of our economy. They are cheats.“And...?”

I, Michal, am behind this site. Not some fat plutocrat exploiting my image. I like to do things the right way. I like to work with people who take the time to do things right.“Why...?”

I used to work for a company that didn't do things the right way. My labor was exploited because of mismanagement. That company was the United States Postal Service, an independent agency of the United States Government that is ultimately controlled by Congress. I'm mad because if the Federal Government can exploit labor, who is going to stop every other cheat from doing it?“Labor Unions...?”

Don't say labor unions. I went to my labor union and they did nothing. They ignored me because labor unions aren't democracies. Holding a free and fair election for a "representative" once in a blue moon does not equal people ruling. Democracy means open government. It means we the public need to accept the hard work. It's the only way to secure liberty and equality.“Ok.”

What's the difference between use and usage?

Definition-wise, not much. But the -age suffix is ultimately French in origin and with most things French, at least in American eyes, the immediate thought is that of something precious and arcane whose value should be judged very carefully. This is in contrast to the word France, which is associated with a beautiful place. Thus people in France or from France are beautiful, warm, kind people. Generous even. Unlike French people who suck. Unless you're frenching, in which case you're only sometimes sucking.“And...?”

Along those lines, usage means you're in bed. Use means you're just heavy petting. Also notice that common people, like common words, get used...whereas "proper" things make "appearances." Whether or not you are being exploited is a different story. Exploitation is what happens when somebody uses you or your property without listening to you. Listening is what happens when you consider another person's needs as if they were your own. You don't have to satisfy those needs. All you need to do is consider them. So many of us can't even do that.“So...?”

Help stop exploitation. Buy 4occupy. Buy a better world. Whether or not you feel you can afford to buy art, consider joining my protest. I want to guarantee every working man and every working mother on this planet a 15-day universal holiday. But I can't. Only we can do that. We have to work together. We have to accept the idea that everyone deserves time for himself and we need to build that time into a new kind of calendar. We have to give peace it's own day. We have to make love something you can't avoid. We have to make even the most miserly cold-hearted capitalist among us say that he cashed his check on Love Your Neighbor Day. There won't be any other way to say it once the Acceptance Calendar is widely adopted.“Ok.”

Back to Usage of What: Table of Contents

Usage of What in Death to McDonalds

An aerial view of Dodger Stadium in the foreground, with an imaginary partially submerged Los Angeles behind — A story bible for a comic book series set in a post climate-change California narrated by eight characters who live through a natural disaster that sinks Los Angeles and triggers a war with an expansionist Mexican government covertly supported by China.

Frame #917

reddit is used to strip clubs. she knew exactly what to order. and i dont mean a lap dance. or the hot wings. i mean a table with a view.

Sprint "Iphone" Case

5 August, 4:59 PM

Frame #437

bieber - jayce's sisters flying in from reno. ill tell you what. watch the trailer park today. ill do it tomorrow. you can cover the club. deal.

Sprint "Iphone" Case

30 July, 11:32 AM

Frame #2664

im spending money left and right. and i still need a wedding present. what was our last big catch. goldman sachs. im not sure he even counts.

Sprint "Iphone" Case

24 August, 12:53 PM

Frame #562

i found out what kc and i have in common. jenny calls it our good looks. there is an uncanny resemblance. and i thought hed have my charm.

Sprint "Iphone" Case

1 August, 1:31 PM

Frame #263

i know what it is. i work with two women. jcpenney in the field. expedia in the office. reddit is like a combo of both. the efficiency scares me.

Sprint "Iphone" Case

28 July, 1:20 PM

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Usage of What in The Gospel of Jesus H.

A picture of the planet Mars — An experimental science fiction Christology that makes Jesus the hard boiled narrator of his own early years on a bizarro earth made dark by volcanic ash and informally ruled by a man from Mars who sells bottled air.

"'She's a domestic,' I said. He laughed his head off. 'That's right, boy: they cook and clean and take out your garbage and you'll find out the rest when you're older.' He started walking away laughing. 'Wait!' I yelled. 'What about the story?'

– Verse 60 from the chapter called Childhood

Heavy and colorful make-up was popular. Men wore make-up - not nearly as much as women, and especially young girls, but they wore it. Hair dyes were somewhat less popular; they were colorful, but more restrained. Men were clean-shaved. Women wore long hair and dressed it.

– Verse 19 from the chapter called Childhood

Go to the city and go crazy - that's what the Man says. It's true: you lose your mind. You start thinking differently. You start voting for different parties - usually the ones that offer the most benefits.

– Verse 145 from the chapter called Childhood

If your father had known that, he might have had his lieutenants wait: they were his only family, and, despite their self-respect, they were definitely not Capitalists - but neither was your father, for that matter - or at least, he didn't feel like one. In real terms, he was very much a Capitalist, a recent Capitalist; but no matter how recent one's fortune, if there was a fortune, there was a Capitalist. New Capitalists were not made all the time - in fact, for the established Capitalist, the only thing more exciting than new capital was a new Capitalist. You never knew what to expect. He or she might destroy you; he or she might make you very rich: he or she might make you a Supercapitalist. Then you would thank him or her. But if he or she destroyed you, then you might just commit murder. And the penalty for killing a Capitalist was death. The penalty for killing a Supercapitalist was bankruptcy and death. It was known to happen quite often, even among Capitalists.

– Verse 21 from the chapter called Childhood

The women of Earth in those days were hysterical for hand-tinted photographs: they collected them like mad. Your maternal grandmother, Tomiko Panzer-Tank (your grandfather's second wife), who was Japanese, had the greatest collection of Japanese hand-tinted photographs in the world; her photochromes were also very impressive, but these were somewhat less highly regarded. Color prints were nice, but original hand-colored photographs were gold; daguerreotypes and calotypes were priceless - absolutely priceless - if they were painted, of course. If they weren't painted, they were merely interesting.

– Verse 15 from the chapter called Childhood

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Usage of What in Sex for Children

A drawing of a man between a woman's legs in front of another man in a hospital bed — A literature book narrated by a pair of siblings on either side of the Atlantic whose profoundly weird sexual experiences pose a serious challenge to their traditional understanding of mathematicians, marriage, gay young men and God.

It started innocently enough: I was living in that townhouse on Prospect Street, right at that point in the road where, after sloping its way down for blocks, it curls upward for a while before leveling off. My kitchen provided an excellent view of this dip, and during my residency I was able to spot many unsuspecting acquaintances as they were in the process of crossing the intersection there. It was after dark one night when I spotted Macy in the light of the streetlamp. I called him over. After exchanging greetings, he asked whether I had enjoyed last night's party. I said yes, "what a wonderful way to celebrate the end of the production; we had such an excellent cast." He agreed and pointed out the virtues of several cast members - until finally, it was necessary to interrupt. "Macy," I said, "you're getting cold. Come inside and have a drink."

– Title 1, Regarding Peaches and Bananas, Part 2, Section 7, Trying to Kiss, Paragraph 1

When Nike was not around, he was not there to balance things, or to talk about theatre for that matter, which is what he would always do, and which Macy would rarely mention on his own, probably for being sick of it. However that was one of the few topics I felt comfortable enquiring about, and though Macy and I were able, gradually, to wean ourselves away from Nike, we relied at first on our experience in Austria. But because of the nature of that experience, and also my failings as a conversationalist, this made matters a bit more lopsided than I desired.

– Title 1, Regarding Peaches and Bananas, Part 2, Section 5, Falling in Love, Paragraph 2

As for Indiana, remember that these feelings are not completely subconscious, though the bulk of them may indeed permeate the fabric of her thinking. And don't forget Albert. I have no idea what he is feeling, although I can imagine the kind of stress that can come from having to deal with a woman like Indiana everyday. She is not the only person under pressure, and as much as I would like to believe that they cause themselves more stress than any outside force, I don't think that's necessarily true. Thankfully, we are not subject to so many unkind forces. I am grateful for that; and I'm sympathetic: they are good people and I like them, warts and all.

– Title 2, Regarding the Romaniac, Part 1, Section 5, Warts, Paragraph 4

Perhaps I was to blame; my memory does give me the impression that, after a certain point, it was I who habitually engaged Macy with my own dissertation. But that is trivial; if he had so desired he could have changed the course of conversation whenever he wanted. I do recall one time when I seemed to be boring him; I remember asking if I were boring but I don't remember what he said.

– Title 1, Regarding Peaches and Bananas, Part 2, Section 5, Falling in Love, Paragraph 4, Clauses 1-3

As charming as it must seem now, I have to confess I was not in the best mood to accommodate Macy's excitement over having recognized me. Truth be told, I could hardly remember in what context we had met on campus, and his efforts to describe this or that party were not proving fruitful. But of course he was handsome, and exceedingly charming. In fact, I made a remark to my companion some time later that week, complimenting Macy's amazing control over his own face, and after I explained to her that I meant his ability to draw on a multitude of expressions, each very appropriate, and sometimes quite telling for a given circumstance, she had to agree completely.

– Title 1, Regarding Peaches and Bananas, Part 2, Section 4, Meeting a Man in Austria, Paragraph 2

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Usage of What in Tsiga Tsiga Tsiga

Bullets whizzing by a statue of Nikola Tesla — A collection of stories featuring a sexy Parisian ghost, a spooky Moon base full of vagina-faced aliens, a policeman with an Irish name, a truck full of watermelons, a flautist, and a man who has to see another man about a diseased horse.

"She was dressed like a nun?"

"A veil and a-what's it? A wimple: she was wearing a wimple."

"You think she's a nun?"

"I don't think so."

"Why not?"

"I saw flesh."

"What do you mean?"

"I saw her hip."

"How?"

"It slipped out. It was gorgeous."

– from “Paris Is For Rapists, Too,” a ghost story featuring a nun

"Nice butt. What the hell does she want? Don't bend over! Crap. Let's go. Don't honk: I don't want to see that shit next to the window. Drive!"

"That was close."

"Unbelievable. Look at these babes. Is that a man?"

"I'm going to say, yes."

"What about the other one?

"The one flashing us? The one in white?"

"Look at those titties."

"You think she's a man?"

– from “Paris Is For Rapists, Too,” a ghost story featuring sex work

Luka's hands were the only thing holding up Nike's head. He pried apart his friend's eyelids. "If I take you to an ATM, can you get me the money? Just nod." He let go. The head collapsed onto Nike's shoulder. Luka lifted it up. He let go again. Again the head collapsed.

"Is that a yes? What's your pin number?"

– from “Paris Is For Rapists, Too,” a ghost story set in the Bois the Boulogne

"You realize she's my cousin. She doesn't put out?"

"What?"

"She won't let you in the ass?"

"No."

"I thought so."

"I'm not saying that."

"You want it in the ass-from her."

"I don't."

"She won't give it."

– from “Paris Is For Rapists, Too,” a ghost story featuring a frank discussion of the beautiful world of Paris

"It's your schlong in somebody else's donut hole. That's what counts. I'm telling you. These girls are the best. AJ, BJ-you think it doesn't mean something to a guy who has to pay? Whoa. Here we are. Look at this. What a crowd. There's a lot of people here. Did you see that? Oh, boy!"

"It is crowded."

– from “Paris Is For Rapists, Too,” a ghost story featuring the effects of poverty

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Usage of What in Sorry Ms. Jackson

Chiseled letters from an ancient stone tablet hanging on a wall — A real play. With drama in it. Talk fast. It takes two hours. Set in a guest house. In a small community. After a murder. Lots of suspicion. The characters learn to listen to each other. It's funny.

LESBIAN: A puritan.

ALICE: Straight-laced.

FLETCHER: A prude.

MS. JACKSON: That's exaggerating it a bit, wouldn't you say?

FLETCHER: Nevertheless, I didn't want old man Menzies thinking I was rooting his daughter-in-law. I certainly wasn't going to admit in open court that a pair of seven-year-old boys could shake me down.

ALICE: I was mugged once.

FLETCHER: What happened?

LESBIAN: Were you hurt?

ALICE: Not physically.

MS. JACKSON: You were threatened.

– ACT I, lines 137-146

FLETCHER: I'm glad you liked it.

LESBIAN: We happened to see your father looking down on us the whole time from a cliff.

FLETCHER: What do you mean?

LESBIAN: He was staring at us the entire morning from a cliff. I thought he was going to jump.

FLETCHER: He was just standing there?

LESBIAN: He was just standing there.

LUKE: I went up to him. He was only watching us bathe.

ALICE: I hope he liked it.

FLETCHER: Don't mind him. My father's a bit crazy. One time, I woke up in the middle of the night. It was about three in the morning. I saw him standing in front of a pine tree, trying to decide whether or not he should chop it down. This was three in the morning. There was absolutely no reason for him to chop it down. It was really quite bizarre.

– ACT I, lines 55-63

LUKE: Kissa kissa kissa ha!

Kissa kissa kissa ha!

Winna tee, winna tee.

Tee tee ta.

FLETCHER: What the devil was that?

LESBIAN: It's a haka dance developed by the Maori people of New Zealand. I didn't know Aussies could appreciate it.

LUKE: It's me old school chant - thanks to the junior rugby union.

GREY GOOSE: Your husband's been teaching it to me.

ALICE: That's what you do together. I thought you drank.

GREY GOOSE: Actually, I just challenged him to a drinking contest. He accepted.

– ACT I, lines 372-381

LUKE: What's the difference between the two?

MS. JACKSON: Bounty families are descendant from the original Bounty mutineers, who settled on Pitcairn Island-

FLETCHER: With their Tahitian consorts. I'm sorry. I meant their Tahitian wives. And their Tahitian slaves. I mean, their male Tahitian friends.

MS. JACKSON: The Pitcairner families are descendant-

FLETCHER: From three adventurers - to be more precise, from two ack-willy whalers and a soldier-of-fortune.

LUKE: That's a ridgy-didge pedigree. Too right!

FLETCHER: It gets better. Being a direct descendant of my namesake, Fletcher Christian, the illustrious chief of the mutiny on the Bounty, I am therefore descendant from the ancient rulers of the Isle of Man.

LUKE: A reg'lar Pommy!

FLETCHER: My father's mother was a Quintal. That means half of him is descendant from a drunken scoundrel who set his ship on fire, drove his wife to suicide, and threatened to kill the entire island population. That's not the side of the story we like to tell. We prefer the story of how John Jackson turned to Christianity and taught his children to read and write. Jackson, I'll have you know, was a Christian before he became a Jackson. He changed his name the moment the British rediscovered the island. My mother admires his cowardice so much, she did the same thing.

– ACT I, lines 93-101

KOKOMO: Of course I have.

FLETCHER: Mother's been spending way too much quality time with her lodger.

KOKOMO: What can we do?

FLETCHER: Nothing. All we can do is be quiet.

KOKOMO: We can be vigilant.

– ACT I, lines 41-45

Back to Usage of What: Table of Contents

Usage of What in Miscellaneous Dingbats

The title of the book at the end of a string of miscellaneous dingbats — A story book full of short fiction stories. An interesting bedtime mystery. A fairy tale. Science fiction romance. Adult life. Uninspiring gay fiction. Horror.

I don't know who to thank for my fate. I know God has a lot to do with it. As does Putin. And my own imagination. And the many friends of mine at university. And Barack. And Obama. And Khalifa.

– from “A Black Man in Moscow,” an inspirational story that describes what certain people go through, though hopefully you're not one of them

The Education Ministry was offering me a job. It was a teaching position at a village school. It was the only school for a large area. Children from many villages went there. Only one teacher taught there and he had literally drunk himself to death a week before. The Ministry was in a hurry to fill the position. Absolutely nobody was interested. I only had one question. I asked if the village was far from Moscow. The man behind the desk nodded his head. I accepted.

– from “A Black Man in Moscow,” an inspirational story that represents what certain people have gone through, though the details are fictional

Steve O attended the wedding. He fidgeted throughout the entire thing. Until the minister asked the congregation to speak if there was any objection. Or to forever hold their peace. Steve O closed his eyes. He stepped into the aisle and said, "I have an objection."

The minister was shocked. After a moment of silence he asked, "What is your objection?"

– from “A Finger Up The Bum,” a gay fiction story that doesn't try to accomplish much, but what you make of it is up to you

The day was bright when I left Moscow. I was in such a cheerful mood I had to stop myself from smiling. People were always telling me always to smile. People who never smile themselves. As if there's nothing wrong with a black man who's smiling. A black man who's always smiling looks like a fool like anybody else. I was foolish enough just doing what I was doing. I had to keep my face quiet. The entire bus ride I stared at my reflection in the window. I wanted to look confident without seeming too proud.

– from “A Black Man in Moscow,” an inspirational story that describes life as we know it, though hopefully it can change

What's going on in China is nothing new. The world has always been a machine. A giant pendulum clock. Time ticks. Fortunes rise on one side. Fall on the other. People at the bottom get crushed. China's just bigger. More obvious.

– from “Beautiful Branca,” a true story that was slightly embellished as far as I can remember