Stories

“Is it a graphic novel or comic?”

When readers see the book full of animation, it is quite an obvious question. Graphic novels and comic books are not synonyms of each other. So, instead of mixing these terms, you should focus on learning the difference. Due to it, you will get an idea of what you want.

In terms of illustration, storytelling, and format, there is an immense difference between graphic novels and comic books. With this knowledge, you will come to know which one is perfect for you: Graphic novels or Comic Books. Are you also one of those who get confused between these two? If yes, so, let us focus on knowing how these two are different from each other.

What is a graphic novel?

By reading its name, you will get the idea that this novel illustrates the story through illustration. This novel consists of three phases: starting, middle, and end.

It provides the unique kind of resolution that readers expect from the novel. This resolution makes graphic novels substantive as compared to comic books.

What are the different characteristics of graphic novels?

Graphic novels consist of similar characteristics to traditional stories. Here is the list of different elements:

• Crystal clear beginning, middle segment, and end.
• Character development consists of personal journeys
• Thematic Messaging
• Accurate dialogue, including the narration

The graphic novel utilizes the images for storytelling narration boxes for elaborating the story.

5 best graphic novels that you must consider

There are below-mentioned graphic novels that you should read for enhancing your knowledge:

• Maus by the Art Spiegelman
• Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons
• Ghost World and Ice Haven by Daniel Clowes
• 100 bullets by Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso

What is a comic book?

A comic book is categorized as an excerpt from the larger serialized narrative explained by the illustration. Some of the most prominent comic book publishers are Archie Comics, DC Comics, and Marvel Comics.

These publishers and other firms issued various books. Additionally, you will also observe the sequential art in the magazines or the newspaper column. Here is the list of notable comic books:

• Superman
• The Amazing Spider-Man
• Wonder Woman
• Batman
• Archie
• The X-men
• The Sandman, and many more

You can invest your quality of time in reading these books and gain knowledge from their stories. Additionally, you can also download the comics on RARBG.

With the help of the information mentioned earlier, you get a little bit of an idea about the list of differences between graphic novels and comic books.

Difference between the Graphic Novel and Comic Books:

By reading the below-mentioned information, you will get a crystal-clear idea about the differences.

• Interpretation

Graphic Novels- The story was published as a book but represented in the comic strip format.

Comic- This magazine consists of a sequence of comic strips.

• Sizes

Graphic novels come in any size, while the standard size of comic books is 6.5″ x 10″. Additionally, graphic novels are extended, and comics are shorter. So, if you want to enjoy short stories, you can go for the comic option.

• Characters

Both these consist of complex characters and have detailed backstories. Along with backstories, inner conflicts are also mentioned in the graphic novel and comics.

• Frequency

Comic books are produced with a higher frequency as compared to graphic novels. Comics have accurate launching schedules that are arrived on a weekly or monthly basis.

• Popularity

Perception varies from person to person. Both are equally popular and have great stories. So, it relies upon what you want. For the kids, comics are better. There are different categories of comics as per the age of kids. In short, you have plenty of options when it comes to comic books.

You have a separate list if you want the comic for the above 8-year-old kid. On the other hand, you will get various options for kids of age more than 4. As a result, you can consider multiple options as per your kids’ preferences to get plenty of benefits.

Aside from it, comics are popular in different countries as the origin of Anime and Manga is from Japan, but these are prominent across various other countries. Both of these are popular and have a special place in an individual’s life in terms of popularity.

Now you get an idea about how graphic novels are different from comic books. So, whenever you want to read books, you should choose between graphic novels and comic books.

There are different ways to select the best comic books; you can check their art, theme, popularity, etc.

Final Verdicts

So, now you can easily buy either graphic novels or comic books without getting confused at the book shop. If you want a more visual appearance, you should opt for a graphic novel; otherwise, you can select comic books.

 

 

 

Have you ever wished you could crack open a book and find the answer to all of life’s questions? Some of our most pressing questions are existential, and others are practical “everyday” questions. You might not be able to find the book with all the answers, but you can get the help you need for many of life’s questions via counseling.

There’s long been a stigma in the United States against various types of counseling, but we’ve since stepped into an age of enlightenment and are learning the importance of mental health and personal growth. There are many different types of counseling, and in this brief article, we’ll discuss three of the most common. Continue reading to learn about these different types of counseling and how they can help you.

1. Admissions/Career Counseling

One of the most important decisions you’ll make in your life is which career path to follow. Indeed, many people have to make that decision more than once, and that’s okay. It’s not always easy to find a job that makes you happy and pays your bills, but career counselors specialize in helping people to find their niche. They can help you with anything related to finding the right job, from assessing your skills and showing you what jobs are a good fit, to helping you cope with work-related stress.

There are also counseling companies that help prospective students with the college admissions process. These college advisors can help you with filing for financial aid, completing applications, and other steps crucial to the admissions process.

2. Psychotherapy

One thing we’ve learned in recent decades is the importance of mental health. In the past, treatment plans were invasive and in many cases, even abusive. Today, there is a much greater acknowledgment of the importance and sensitivity of mental health issues, and as a result, there has also been a seismic shift in diagnosis and treatment.

One change in mental health services is there’s been a shift toward psychotherapy as a means of treatment. Psychotherapy is talk therapy in that it uses conversation as a means of helping patients develop healthy coping skills. There’s individual counseling as well as group counseling, giving the mental health providers and patients the ability to choose the best setting for their unique needs.

3. Family Counseling

Family relationships can be straining at times. Indeed, few people can get under our skin like those we love most, and that’s why family counseling is another one of the most common types of counseling. The best thing about family counseling is it can teach you and your family members how to communicate and listen more effectively.

Life is hard, and it doesn’t come with an instruction manual. The good news is that there is a counselor for everything, from mental health to career choices. Seeking professional help might cause you to have to step out of your comfort zone, but outside your comfort zone is where people grow the most. Furthermore, counselors have many of the answers that we wish were in life’s instruction manual.

Career counseling, psychotherapy, and family counseling are three of the most common and helpful types of counseling. A simple search online will yield results for the top counselors in various disciplines in your area. In other words, help is there—you merely have to look for it. The chances are you’ll feel a little better after the first appointment with your counselor, and your quality of life will continue to improve as you follow your treatment plan. Counseling can be an essential part of complete wellness. It’s great that modern health recognizes the importance of personal growth.

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A North Carolina nurse working in the COVID-19 unit at a long-term care facility won a $1 million jackpot!

The nurse, Terri Watkins, had entered the $300,000,000 Supreme Riches second-chance drawing but didn’t really think she would actually win. Not surprising; the chances of winning a lottery, even a second-chance lottery, is not very high!

Winners of second-chance drawings receive a phone call or email notifying them that they have won.

And when the nurse got the call of good news, she could not believe her eyes, and she thought she was being scammed. And to be honest, I would think the same – it is unbelievable!

But it was true, Terri Watkins won the North Carolina Education Lottery’s Supreme Riches second-chance lottery drawing last week!

“You’re telling a story. I don’t believe you.” Watkins said in a phone conversation with the NC Education Lottery representative who was informing her of her delightful win.

“I thought that it was a scam. I was a little upset actually!” she said in a press release. “I thought that it was not real, couldn’t be real. It’s still something that I really don’t believe, I’m still in some shock here.”

Terri Watkins was the lucky one who was chosen from more than 513,000 entrants in the state’s “Supreme Riches” second-chance drawing, the North Carolina education lottery said in a press release. Apparently, it was the fourth and the final second-chance drawing for the scratch-off – talk about luck!

Watkins claimed her prize the following day at lottery headquarters in Raleigh, according to the release.

The healthcare worker said she was thankful for the money, especially after her exhausting work at the nursing home during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

She definitely deserved the lottery after the diligent and hard work that goes into being a nurse – especially at a time like this when it is the most needed.

“Just seeing some of the things that I’ve had to see, I am very thankful.” She said. “I had been praying for something to help me with this situation. It really is a great thing. I’m very blessed.”

It warms my heart to see people so happy, especially after the very challenging year that 2020 was, and what 2021 continues to be up till now, unfortunately, due to the presence of the coronavirus.

Terri Watkins had the option to either take home the $1 million prize in the form of yearly payments of $50,000, or a one-time payment of $600,000. She opted for the latter and took home $424,500 after taxes, according to the lottery.

Watkins is still unsure of what she is going to with the money, and still needs time to plan it, but noted she “would love a new home.”

“I’m just going to take it slow and easy and figure out what I’m going to do,” she said.

Don’t blame her – there are so many things you can do with so much money that you just have to calm down and think about what you are going to do first and what you are going to do next!

More about Lottery

The probability of winning the lottery is 1 in 13,983,816.

To get yourself a lottery ticket, either go to your nearest store, or you can buy it online.

To find more details regarding lottery – lottery tickets and lottery results – head on over to the Lottery Parakeet and you will get all you need to know!

Who knows, you might end up being as lucky as this nurse, and win yourself a second-chance jackpot, or even better, a lottery ticket?

Don’t wait!

 

One of the reasons A Christmas Story is so well-loved is because of its unique style of storytelling. In A Christmas Story, there’s a bit of a main plot, where Ralphie Parker is hoping for a BB gun. However, there are also a variety of short subplots. Here are all the most well-known moments that take place in the house from A Christmas Story.

• The Leg Lamp

One of the subplots of the movie revolves around its most well-known prop: a leg lamp. Ralphie’s father, the Old Man, receives it as a prize for winning a contest. However, his mother hates it, eventually “accidentally” breaking it.

• Red Ryder BB Gun

The main crux of the movie is the fact that Ralphie wants a Red Ryder BB gun, becoming enamored with it after seeing it in the window of Higbee’s Department Store. However, everyone mocks him for it, telling him, “You’ll shoot your eye out!”

• Black Bart Attacks

As Ralphie continues to love the idea of having the BB gun, he fantasizes about using it to protect his family. An Old West-inspired scene occurs where he has to fend off attacks from the criminal Black Bart.

• Little Orphan Annie Decoder

Ralphie is a huge fan of the Little Orphan Annie radio show. He drinks gallons of Ovaltine to send away for the secret decoder, which will let him decode a special message at the end. However, he finds out that the secret message is just a commercial for Ovaltine.

• Christmas Tree

The Parker family bargains to get a great deal on a live Christmas tree, then decorates it and sets it in the front window. The problem is that the lights they used to decorate the tree go out as the unfortunate victim of a blown fuse.

• Furnace Soot

The Old Man and his fights with the furnace make up yet another subplot of A Christmas Story. At one point, the furnace starts blowing soot into the kitchen. He tries to go down the stairs, but slips on a pair of roller skates and falls all the way down them, cursing the whole way down.

• Hubcap Replacement

When the family car gets a flat tire, Ralphie tries to help replace it. However, when he drops one of the lug nuts, he repeats a word he’s learned from his father’s rants – according to him, it’s “the queen mother of dirty words.”

• Bathroom Soap

Ralphie’s mother overhears him saying this naughty word and takes him to the bathroom to clean his mouth out with soap. This has clearly happened more than once, as Ralphie states that he’s “quite the connoisseur of soap.”

• The Bunny Suit

As the family starts to open Christmas gifts, Ralphie gets gifts that vary in quality. One of the ones that he especially hates is a hot pink bunny suit, which his overbearing Aunt Clara gives him.

• Practice Target

Finally, Ralphie does actually get his BB gun. He sets up a target practice outside and goes out to shoot the new target. However, it ricochets off the target and strikes his glasses, causing him to worry for a moment that he actually has shot his eye out.

• The Bumpus’ Hounds

To top off their Christmas craziness, the Parkers find out that they can’t even eat their Christmas turkey. The neighbors, who are hillbillies with what Ralphie calls “smelly hounds,” accidentally let their dogs loose and the dogs end up eating the Parkers’ Christmas turkey.

Conclusion

The house of A Christmas Story is one of the most memorable settings of any Christmas movie; you can even go see the real house in Cleveland, Ohio. These are just a few of the most memorable things that happen in this movie home.

“Once upon a time,” This is perhaps one of the most famous phrases in the English language. One will often find that the eyes of a child or an adult who still is a child at heart, lighten up with excitement when he or she hears this phrase that is the typical opening for a story.

Stories, on the one hand, are the descriptions for a sequence of related events, told either verbally, via written text with or without accompanying imagery, or through films and documentaries.

On the one hand, are fictitious stories, the products of an author’s imagination, with fire breathing dragons, serial killers, love triangles, or anthropomorphized animals. The main genres of fiction are romance, crime, horror, historical fiction, and fantasy, with several sub-genres. Stories not borne from imagination and are at the end of the spectrum are actual, verifiable events that happened or are happening to real people, alive or dead. Non-fiction stories come in the form of biographies, memoirs, and essays, and they aim to either reveal a truth, resolve a controversy, or to provide an alternate perspective to an issue, to educate and inform or to demystify an intriguing character.

When a person writes an account of his/her own life, such an account is an autobiography. In contrast, a biography is an account of a person’s life written by another individual who, in most cases, is a close relative of the Subject of the story. A memoir is much like an autobiography; the difference is that a memoir details only specific memories from an individual’s life; it is not an account of a person’s entire life. As a result, a person may have several memoirs, each one chronicling different epochs in his/her life. The author of a memoir is referred to as a memoirist.

Reviews are Stories

A review is an assessment of a product, a person, or a service. It aims to effect change if necessary, as well as to educate potential clients. Reviews are not the products of an imaginative mind; a review is factual. Its basis is the experiences the reviewer has had with the product, person, or service in question. As a consequence, reviews will only hold water when the reviewer is the same person as the one whose experiences and opinions are propounded.

Reviews are stories. But for technicality, the argument goes thus; whoever gives a review is a reviewer. A reviewer is a memoirist, and a review is a memoir as it conforms with all that makes a memoir a memoir; it is a personal account of memories of a period in an individual’s life, and it aims to demystify, inform and educate, reveal a truth, and provide alternate perspectives.

In retrospect, a story describes an event or a sequence of related events. Ipso facto, a review does the same thing; it describes the event of interacting with the product, person, or service under review, and thus is it established that a review is also a story.

 

Photos are a great way to preserve memories and tell stories. Traditional albums are no longer your only option. Photo books are great. They save on space, they are convenient and easy to access. The following are some qualities that may help you distinguish good photo books from bad ones.

1. It Should Have a Specific Purpose

Your photo book should have a clear purpose. Do not stuff random photos in it. You may use your photo book to document specific events such as weddings, a baby’s milestones, or a family trip. If you need to document different memories, you should use different photo books.

2. Proper use of White Space

Even though it is important to have enough white space, do not overdo it. Even though you have the option to make your photo book long, it is not always necessary. You can have a good photo book without too much white space. A short yet detailed photo book saves you money and it is more captivating.

Resist the temptation to include all your good photos in a photo book. Use photos that best capture the message you intend to convey.

3. The Paper should be Good

A good photo book is printed on high-quality paper. If printers use low-quality paper, the entire photo book may look wrong. Low-quality paper does not hold ink well. It may look messy and dull. The adhesive should be of high quality as well.

4. Simplicity

A good photo book should be simple. Do not go overboard with your colors, photos, or designs. If there is too much going on, it may take attention away from the story you are trying to tell. Pay attention to the clarity, lighting, and brightness of your photos. You should only include the necessary photos.

5. Variety

If a photo book has too much of the same thing, it might get boring. The variety will make your photo book interesting. You don’t need to use the same background on every photo. Use different backgrounds that complement each other and do not shy from experimenting with different layouts.

6. It Should Appeal to Emotions

A good photo book should appeal to your emotions. It should tell a story. If a photo book has random or impersonal photos, it may not appeal to the senses. Customizing your photo book may give it the personality and uniqueness it needs. When designing a photo book, you should not be afraid to show your creativity. It is what will set the book apart from others.

Do you need help designing a photo book? You should consider working with Mixbook.com. It allows you to customize a photo book for any occasion. You can upload photos from everywhere including your Instagram, Facebook, computer, and SmugMug.

Mixbook is free and it allows you to start as many projects as you need. You will only pay for your printed books.

Everything is completely customizable. You can choose the size, cover style, and format that works for you. You even have the option to add your own logos and stickers.

If you are unhappy with your order, you can return it. Mixbook is popular because it is easy to use. You don’t need any special training to use it. The customer service is amazing and it is convenient.

 

As my good friend David Crawford often tells me, being a doctor is damn hard, it is in fact one of the most difficult jobs in the world. Despite the sheer volume of hard work and energy which a career like this requires, there are still thousands of people around the country who are signing up for med school with the dream of one day becoming a doctor. These doctors are signing up to make personal sacrifices, to invest massive amounts of time and energy into this career, and the question that I often ask David and some of our other friends who are working as doctors, is whether or not the career is worth it?

Dangers

There are many aspects of being a doctor that many of us just don’t see. For example the divorce rate amongst doctors is the highest for any profession, a direct result of the amount of hours which they must spend at the hospital and the emotional change which they go through as a result of doing this job. Personal sacrifice is huge and I’ve heard stories of cancelled honeymoons, canceled best man positions and doctors who have all but missed the most important years of their children’s lives. There is also the emotional turmoil which inevitably comes with witnessing death and injury on a daily basis.

Financial Reward

Doctors are the best paid profession in the country and it is true that there is huge earning potential in this job role. Something which many don’t realize however is that the big money really comes after the first 10 years in the career, and during those formative years the pay is really the same as teachers and fire officers receive. If you are prepared to stay the course and work your way up the career ladder then of course this is a career which is financially worth it.

The Reason Why It Is All Worthwhile

Every doctor who I have ever spoken to about this has told me that the career is absolutely worth it, regardless of the personal sacrifice and the problems that this job can create. It is not however the financial reward that is the reason behind why this is a job which they all considered to be worthwhile, but the personal reward which comes with knowing that they are providing one of the most important services to the community and the human race on the whole.

Whilst using a patient is of course sad, it is nothing compared with the joy and the pleasure of saving a child’s life, catching a disease early so that it can be cured or giving someone the use of their legs back after a catastrophic injury. The faces of the patients and the families of the patients in these situations are exactly why each and every doctor who I have spoken to, tells me that they wouldn’t swap their job for anything else in the world.