Michal's mulling over the potency of strengthening his puny Fiction Corpus with a non fiction book; cites fatigue

Posted:⚒ 30༚♐²⁶/₂₄♀

I don't doubt the soundness of legislating English as the international community's second language. I do doubt the debilitating approach by which English is taught.

Boosting a person's skills with a language isn't like producing a more informative newspaper. A language - a spoken language - is not just an instrument that you can teach yourself to wield with greater amounts of precision. A language can't be riven from the professed knowledge of a group 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.

Teaching a person to recite English is to deprive her of its cultural context. A proper teacher must have a strategy for introducing it; the smartest student goes out to seek it.

A dictionary has the potential to be an influential tool. A decent dictionary will describe a language on the basis of a specific corpus, a set of writing of various size and consistency. Such a corpus could contain everything from a book about literature to a set of drama plays. I burnt many candles laboring on my "trifling" Fiction Corpus in order to form a unique sort of dictionary based on the ability of one man to tell a story in many different forms. It is a labor of love and listening.

I have drawn up a million words and I have inspected them, reframing them - not just to teach the English language but to promote the human spirit, and to provoke that soul or spirit not just to recite but to happen.

Michal's Dictionary Navigation — act
fuel
artifact
place
time
person
fetish
kind
A Learner's Dictionary: Common Words in English
A Time is the Common Word that Answers the Question, "When?"
The most frequently used words in Michal's Corpus that represent common times
night367
morning203
year74
hour72
week64
christmas26

Previous title — act
fuel
artifact
place
time
person
fetish
kind
A Learner's Dictionary: Common Words in English
A Time is the Common Word that Answers the Question, "When?"
The most frequently used words in Michal's Corpus that represent common times
night367
morning203
year74
hour72
week64
christmas26

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 Time: Table of Contents

Usage of Time 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 #3627

im in the boat. in a quiet little corner. time to hit the water.

Sprint "Iphone" Case

9 September, 8:11 PM

Frame #3235

time to get lost on my way to the bathroom. lets see what the kitchen staff looks like.

Sprint "Iphone" Case

3 September, 11:29 AM

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Usage of Time 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.

"The Lonely Planet," I said, "was a ghost wolf, with big, black eyes, a black nose, and blackness inside his ears. The rest of him was white and gray - except for his paws: those were black too - and inside his mouth, when he opened it, which wasn't very often, you could see his black tongue. Those were the parts that really existed: they were black because they were real - the rest of his body was like fog: if you tried to touch it, your hand would disappear inside - but, if you touched his nose, you would feel it, cold and wet on your fingertip. If you poked his eyes, you would feel the black jelly pushing your fingers back. If you stuck your finger inside his ear, you could stroke it; but the outside was like mist: if you tried to touch it, you would blow it away. Sometimes, when the wind blew really hard, you could see it blowing away his body."

– Verse 157 from the chapter called Childhood

Oh, that Moochka was a lady alright: if you treated her well, she would treat you back. Your father had her wrapped around his little finger: he could whistle from a hundred meters - farther, if he were upwind - and she would come, like a dog. People were amazed; nobody else could do it: she wouldn't pay attention. When time for milking came around, your father would enter the cowshed, whistle, and Moochka would turn around. First, she would have to lick his hand. Then, he would give her a whole ear of corn, pat her on the head, and, most important of all, sweep her with a broom, from head to tail, right along her back, as gently as possible. Then, sidestepping, she was by the wall, ready for action.

– Verse 142 from the chapter called Childhood

Back to Usage of Time: Table of Contents

Usage of Time 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's in the pit of the wild cherry too - or at least most kinds; but then it's not always in the pit, you know: the leaves of wild black cherry kill animals all the time." The poor girl with the peach orchard, noticing that her conversation was being hijacked, promptly offered her own interesting factoid, mentioning how nectarines would sometimes magically appear on peach trees. "But I thought nectarines were peaches." And so they were, as Nike had to explain to me; the point was that even though they were the same species, nectarines were a special variety, et cetera, and would not otherwise appear on the same tree if not for such and such a process, which the girl endeavored to explain to me.

– Title 1, Regarding Peaches and Bananas, Part 2, Section 8, Partying with Intellectuals, Paragraph 3, Clauses 8-12

The problem was that by now the twitching had moved from my eyes, by way of my knees, to the rest of my body, until my entire person seemed to be shaking hysterically, and all that Macy could do was try and soothe me from the opposite side of the room, since he didn't dare approach. Furthermore, every time I succeeded in calming my body, the shock I was feeling would outflank me, and out of nowhere I'd be overwhelmed with tears. As soon as these abated, once more, I'd find myself shaking hysterically. It was very frustrating.

– Title 1, Regarding Peaches and Bananas, Part 2, Section 7, Trying to Kiss, Paragraph 9

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Usage of Time 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.

"There's not enough time," said Junior. "We have to pull him out."

– from “A Horse Named Clutch Bag,” an inspiring story featuring a bunch of horses

"You realize raising thoroughbreds is a useless and despicable pastime. It causes needless suffering to the animals." Junior was speechless. Nyota kept going. "I don't mean to insult you. I just wonder if you know what you're doing. I care very much for horses. My uncle was a breeder."

As shocked as he was, somewhere in the bottom of his mind, Junior appreciated Nyota's passion. She was a principled woman. That was sexy.

– from “A Horse Named Clutch Bag,” an inspiring story featuring annoying people

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Usage of Time 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.

LUKE: If I can.

FLETCHER: Exactly.

LUKE: Do you know what I mean?

FLETCHER: No.

LUKE: Kokomo.

FLETCHER: Yes.

LUKE: I'm told that sometimes she takes clients.

FLETCHER: Is that right?

LUKE: Am I just bein' a drongo?

FLETCHER: Not at all. My father told you?

– ACT I, lines 747-756

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

KOKOMO: It is. I keep telling you that.

FLETCHER: Maybe for Catholics: you have thousands of years of ritual to fall back on: Popes and bishops to decide for you.

KOKOMO: That's not fair.

FLETCHER: I'm supposed to be my own priest.

KOKOMO: Maybe you should start praying.

FLETCHER: For what? For the will to become Catholic?

KOKOMO: You know what I am. You've taken the time to study what my faith requires. I'm overjoyed by that. I realize it angers you sometimes. You need to remember it isn't about priests or prayer or sacraments or the Bible or saints or miracles or doctrine or creed. It's not even about salvation. It's about sacrifice. If you, Fletcher Christian, are not willing to place yourself into the hands of God - to submit yourself to His Divine Mercy - then nothing else matters and there will never be any happiness between us.

FLETCHER: I see that.

KOKOMO: You don't see it.

FLETCHER: How can you tell?

– ACT I, lines 1342-1351

FLETCHER: If he came to you in penitence, would you accept him?

MS. JACKSON: That's difficult for me to say.

FLETCHER: It's not. Tell us. If he were sorry, would you forgive him?

MS. JACKSON: If he came to me repentant of his sins - I mean all of them - I would forgive him. I would consider allowing him to return to this house. Do you think I don't want him? I want him more than you could ever know. I want him in a way that, unfortunately, I have never had him. I won't settle for less than I deserve. That's all I'm going to say on the subject. It upsets me. Your father has behaved strangely in the past; as of late, his actions have been frightening me. Maybe it is the climate around here - I'm not going to take any chances.

(to KOKOMO) I want you to watch out for him, in case he should try to violate you.

FLETCHER: That is unwarranted.

MS. JACKSON: It may have taken a hundred and fifty years for another murder to occur, but we are not immune to rape. We need only bear witness to what took place on Pitcairn in recent times. Six men were found guilty of sexual offenses. That's almost the entire adult male population over there. I'm not going to let that happen around here - not while I'm alive. Do you understand? As soon as you're done with this mess, Kokomo, I would like these towels to go to the laundry. We have all of Lesbian's things to wash.

KOKOMO: I have a question, ma'am.

MS. JACKSON: Yes?

KOKOMO: Will our guest from New Zealand be staying with us for considerably longer than planned? If that's the case, I'm going to have to make a new schedule.

– ACT I, lines 1320-1329

ALICE: Did somebody die?

FLETCHER: Don't ask.

ALICE: Yes.

FLETCHER: Even if your husband had died?

ALICE: It would.

FLETCHER: I've been wanting to confess this for so long. The island makes it hard. Who would have understood me if I had spoken? My mother? I pay my penance every time I hear her cry. She has no idea what part I played in that fire. I can't help feeling that, if I had stopped it, this family would never have had the problems it's had. Nobody died in that fire except for me. It was my own soul burning. As far as the house is concerned, restitution's been made. As for me, who would not find my weakness and ignore it? for the sake of convenience if not for shame. Who would restore my strength from the ashes?

ALICE: Let it be me. I will restore you.

FLETCHER: This is why I've been pursuing you. I knew you'd never give in to me. I saw your strength the moment you arrived: its grace: its beauty. I fell in love with it. I desired it - not for myself, but for its ability to release me from this guilt.

ALICE: Let me release you, Fletcher Christian. I will make you whole again.

FLETCHER: You will forgive me my crime?

– ACT II, lines 184-193

Back to Usage of Time: Table of Contents

Usage of Time 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.

Sir Lewis reached the last problem. If a man loves a woman. This was Miss Day's problem. What are the chances that she will love him back. There were two seconds left on the clock. Sir Lewis started scribbling. 100 percent.

"Time," said the proctor.

– from “The Skirt on the Proctor,” a kid story about building love in an unforgiving world

I met family. I was introduced to a long lost uncle. Some cousins. Things were going great. Until I realized none of these people spoke Ukrainian. They spoke Moldovan. They assured me it was basically Romanian. It didn't help. All the books I had bought were for Ukrainian. All the time I wasted preparing for the trip was spent learning Ukrainian phrases. I was reduced to a repeating series of infantile gestures and nods of my head. I felt supremely embarrassed until the alcohol finally kicked in.

– from “The Most Idiotic Actress,” a fictional story based on somebody's real life as related to the author

So I was born one of three identical twins. Or triplets, I guess. Cause twins are two. So that was a big deal back then. I mean, triplets are born all the time now what with all the genetic testing and whatnot but back then it was a big deal. Cause it wasn't just our town that had the triplets. It was another town like right next door. You know. Two sets of triplets in one year. That was a big deal.

– from “The Testament of Publio Orazio,” a horror story without that much killing coming straight out of Roman mythology