"Padding" versus Original Writing

For all my writer friends (and those friends that would like to become writers), some thought by Lewis Carroll, from his Preface to Sylvie and Bruno well worth thinking about:

I am telling all this, in no spirit of egoism, but because I really believe that some of my readers will be interested in these details of the 'genesis' of a book, which looks so
simple and straight-forward a matter, when completed, that they might suppose it to have been written straight off, page by page, as one would write a letter, beginning at the beginning; and ending at the end.

It is, no doubt, possible to write a story in that way: and, if it be not vanity to say so, I believe that I could, myself,--if I were in the unfortunate position (for I do hold it to be a real misfortune) of being obliged to produce a given amount of fiction in a given time,--that I could 'fulfil my task,' and produce my 'tale of bricks,' as other slaves have done. One thing, at any rate, I could guarantee as to the story so produced--that it should be utterly commonplace, should contain no new ideas whatever, and should be very very weary reading!

This species of literature has received the very appropriate name of 'padding' which might fitly be defined as 'that which all can write and none can read.'

As I try to avoid padding, I hope I can produce something original.

Spammed by Fake Journals

I have been debating myself on whether I should publish this in this blog or not, but then I think it is a good idea to avoid people falling into some traps (although, honestly, I hope nobody actually takes such a blatant fake invitation seriously).

This morning I received an e-mail to my university address (bolds mine):

Dear Author

As a general chair of GESTS, I am happy to invite you for the acceptance of your paper to be published in the GESTS International Transactions.

The GESTS is a nonprofit academic society organized by voluntary members around the world since 2002. Every month, we publish the GESTS international transactions which are the regular paper journals on CSE and CSP, written by noble authors in more than 50 different countries.

This e-mail has been sent only to the authors who chose as a high quality paper that had been accepted as one of two parts of GESTS international transactions as follows:

[blah blah blah]

Important dates for publication of the GESTS international transactions are :
- an improved paper and copyright format by June 26, 2009,
( http://www.gests.org/gests-full.rtf )
- the acceptance notification within ten days receiving your paper,
- the registration format with fees by June 29, 2009,
- the publication of GESTS International journal by June 30, 2009,
- and delivery start from GESTS to authors by July 8, 2009.


If you have a new paper or an improved version to be issued in GESTS international transactions, please, send us the final camera-ready version by June 26, 2009. At least one author of each paper must be accomplished with the registration.

We are looking forward to see your contributions at GESTS.

Sincerely yours,

Dr. Bruce M. Bae, a general chair of GESTS,
http://www.gests.org/

Point of notice: first, they never mention any paper of mine (or at least some attempt to make it look as if I had actually contacted them for publishing my research). Second, the whole acceptance/publication process takes merely two weeks! and even better, I am supposed to pay for publication even better the acceptance notification has been received.
They claim to be non-profit, but publishing a paper costs 250 dollars, which seems like a good way to improve your CV if your research goes nowhere.

And Microsoft Research...

Maybe I shouldn't be surprised, but I cannot believe that the Microsoft Research guys come all the way to IJCAR only to speak about MS products. No research, no techniques, nothing! Simply describing the names of their products and giving a small (and faulty) demo, without any meat in it.
Oh, well.

It turns out that I am English!

I have for a long time claimed that I am not a typical mexican. But now it turns out that I am so untypical as a mexican, as to become a typical english!
Let me explain myself.
I am now around three quarters through Watching the English, a social-anthropology book by Kate Fox. While she describes lots of things applicable to human-kind as a whole, there are several traits that she regards as "unique to the english"; and I actually fall into most of them.
As a simple example I can include the continuous use of hidden irony whenever I write, speak or whatever, always associated with what she calls "understatements" and the "Importance-of-NOT-Being-Earnest" rule. More of this, I have no sense of dressing style when there are no fixed rules for it, just as she claims english men are, and I do not regard food as a fundamental part of my life.
Being more detailed, I would be a perfect-match middle- to upper-middle-class english, thanks to the fact that the class system in England does not depend on the income, but rather on the raise and education - otherwise, I would rather fit in the working-class scale, given my student life. This means that I am both "posh" and "naff" at the same time, depending on who you ask.
Oh, now that I think about it, I have also very undeveloped social skills, complain silently of whatever I don't like - but never to whom I should complain -, make (and like) ordered queues, and have a complete disregard whatsoever of money-talks.
There is only one thing that I can think of that differentiates me from englishmen: my secret love for albures - I don't mean regular stupid puns, but rather the real, hardcore albures one can only find in Mexico, and that I do laugh or change my face when I use this sutil humour, rather than keeping a complete straight face as english people do.
Oh, well, I suppose it is just my way of being extravagant in order to fit in the social scene. I better go back to my castle and work in my garden. Typical!.

To the lady in blue dress and red bag

To the lady in blue dress and red bag travelling a parallel route from Aix to Leipzig. I don't even know your name -- I really wish I had asked -- but if you ever read this, I have to thank you for making up my day. It was indeed a great way to both, finish my trip to Aix, and celebrate a late-birthday.
As you may have seen now, I am very easy to please. Just a small smile, or that simple exchange of words made me feel happy back at home... and a lot less lonely. So, once again, thank you for the small details.
And in case you are wondering, I don't usually approach strangers that way. It took me seven hours or repeatedly seeing you to make me take the plunge.