"Normal" is a dryer setting

[matril]

Just finished reading The Speed of Dark by Elizabeth Moon, the book about the autistic man in a sort of "Flowers for Algernon" vein. I liked it very much. I was deeply, personally affected by it because of my son, particularly because in the future world it's set in, he could be someone very much like the main character. But personal interests aside, it's a good book on its own merit. The protaganist is real, three-dimensional, someone who can be sympathetic without being pitied; who is strong and smart and insightful, and also happens to be autistic. The autism is a very integral part of his character, though, so it's heart-breaking to see him struggle with whether he wants to be "cured" or not. The meaning of "normal" is brought up again and again, and my favorite quote of the book is the subject title. I want to make an icon or a button out of it. It's so expressive. Well, the plot is pretty gripping, what with a scummy executive who's trying to exploit the autists in his group, and the tension between the protaganist and both those who care for him and those who resent him. No one is perfect, neither "normal" people nor autistic, and everyone is believable. The ending is satisfying, but very thought-provoking. I'm still not sure whether I'm happy about what happens or not, but it is a satisfying and fitting conclusion, and I won't soon forget my experience reading this book. I'm going to recommend it to everyone who asks me about books about autism, because it was more affecting for me than any non-fiction text. Which is ironic, because an actual autistic person would be much more likely to want non-fiction than fiction. I'm not autistic. But I hope I can understand, to some extent, those who are.

Comments

[camry-1.livejournal.com]

I have photoshop, but really only used Word to make this. Text box, add text, fiddle it around for font choice, font size and word placement, background fill color, and voila. Custom-made icon, just for you. :)

[matril.livejournal.com]

Oh, good. I'm pretty hopeless with most computer technology, and I don't have Photoshop, but I think I can handle that. I hope. ;)

[camry-1.livejournal.com]

What I said above is how to make your own text-only icon. To take this one, just right click on it, and save it on you r PC, like in "My Pictures" or on the desktop, any where easy to find. Then go to "manage userpics," and upload it as a new userpic- just click browse, find the saved image, and you're done. (And you can take everyone's cool icons this way.)

[matril.livejournal.com]

Hmm..I did that, and it saved as a bitmap file, which won't work as a userpic. Am I doing something wrong? Erg...

[camry-1.livejournal.com]

Which turned into a .BMP? Making one in word, or trying to take this?

[matril.livejournal.com]

Trying to take it.

[camry-1.livejournal.com]

Ok. When I right-click on an icon I want to "grab," I get a dialog box with a blue bar on top, that says "Save picture." Under that, in a gray area, it says "Save in:" and has a drop-down arrow. I click the drop-down arrow and browse around until I get to the place I want to save it. (I made an "Icons" folder in "My Pictures" which is in "My Documents." I usually stash icons there. Next it says "File name", which is easy. THEN, this is the important part it says "Save as type:" and has a drop-down arrow, offering choices. JPEG works for me. Once you select JPEG, you're ready to save, and upload the way you already know how. **Rubs hands and laughs maniacally** I've now taught you to steal icons!!! Tomorrow, the world!!! [/evil overlord voice.]

[matril.livejournal.com]

I must be broken. The only option it give me is BMP. That's only for the "normal" icon, though - most others work all right. Maybe I should just give up and go to bed.

[camry-1.livejournal.com]

I'm really sorry it doesn't work. I thought it'd be fun for you to have.

[matril.livejournal.com]

Oh, well...on the plus side, this entry has more comments than any other in my journal! Heh.