A few weeks ago, Paige tweeted about a site called SaveTheWords.org, and since then, I've been a woman possessed. The site is powered by the Oxford Dictionary, and features words that have been stricken from new editions. They do this with the idea that if people learn, remember and use them, the words will be saved.
Well never have I heard a more romantic idea. I understand that dictionaries are intended to reflect the current lexicon--words that people know, use and understand. Sometimes words get dropped from our speech, or lose their applicability to modern life. Language is an ever-evolving thing, and its changes should be reflected in the Bibl, uh I mean, dictionary. Each year, dictionaries add thousands of word. The 11th edition of Merriam Webster saw the addition of "drama queen" and "supersize" and "gastric bypass." This year they added "webinar" and "mental health day." Talk about reflecting cultural shifts. The most recent Oxford revisions added the words "mentee" and "celebutante."
But what about the words that were stricken? The thought of them disappearing makes me sad and anxious. It's like thinking about out of print books. People took the time to write and read them, and as the copies become rarer and harder to find, those works get lost and forgotten. SavetheWords says 90 percent of speech is communicated through 7,000 words.
That's not enough.
Go there and add to your vocabulary, work them into conversation. Or else I will be very misquemed.
Showing posts with label Internet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Internet. Show all posts
Friday, May 1, 2009
Friday, April 17, 2009
Is Simon Cowell's soul more tender than mine?
It can be so lonely when you're on the wrong side of a trend. Trust me, I've been there more than once. Many of my peers had closets full of Beanie Babies before fifth grade, and sure, I had a few, but frankly, they were too small to hug, too limp to assume much of a personality, and I was always a little overanxious about whether I should keep the tags on in anticipation of the millions that could await me in the future. I've never put my hair in a side ponytail, didn't feel threatened by Y2K, and haven't seen an episode of Lost, 24, or even Seinfeld. Better still, after four years at SU, I still have never donned a pair of leggings.
Which brings me to this Susan Boyle craze. In case you're entirely oblivious to pop culture, her audition from Britain's Got Talent has been all over the Internoodle, and I mean all over it. If you're just resurfacing after a weeks-long coma, let me first say it's great to have you back! Second, you can view the clip here. She sings beautifully, and apparently this is groundbreaking news for everyone because HOW COULD SUCH A LOVELY VOICE COME OUT OF SUCH AN ORDINARY-LOOKING PERSON?
Ms. Boyle is showing up in the Trends on Twitter. A fan site was created. Her name is the second fastest-growing search term in the world; there is talk that she might be the biggest YouTube sensation ever. Debates are flaring up about whether she should be made over, if it's true that she's never been kissed, blah blah blah.
I just don't get it. Columns at HuffPo and Boston.com go to great lengths to explain the phenomenon, and have me wondering if I'm the only one in the world who didn't have an earthshattering revelation when I saw the clip. There seem to be two basic schools of thought on the Boyle Bonanza:
1) When she shuffled out in her frumpy dress and nervously told the world that she lives with cats and volunteers with the church, the audience expected another formulaic "Let's-laugh-at-the-freak-show-with-big-dreams-and-a-small-brain" audition that would leave the audience giggling and the contestant humiliated. But lo! When we heard her sing, everyone realized how shallow they were for assuming a somewhat awkward, but otherwise regular-looking person wouldn't have anything to offer. Oh the soaring heights of humanity! We met the depths of our shallowness and then basked in the glory of a shared humanity!
Or...
2) We all relate to Susan. She reminds us we all have something to offer, even if as the Boston.com post quotes, "Without classic good looks, without work, without a spouse, living in a small town, people like Susan Boyle may not seem particularly 'important.'" That is, we all feel like Susan on the inside. And we all feel loved when the world welcomes us with open arms. Journey style.
Well okay. That's nice. Maybe I feel underwhelmed because I assumed she would sing well when I saw a link to the video. I still can't help but feel like I'm missing out on some of the life-affirming ecstasy that everyone else seems to be experiencing when they watch it. Will someone help me? Are people so sad that a spirited Scottish woman with a sublime singing voice can offer the perfect mix of escapism and hope to put the spring back in their steps? Have Lindsay and Britney disappointed us all so sorely that we want to handpick a new icon from the common folk? Or is this society's rejection of airbrushed, hungry models in favor of someone who looks like the neighbor we wave at but don't really talk to?
It's possible I've put too much though into all of this.
Which brings me to this Susan Boyle craze. In case you're entirely oblivious to pop culture, her audition from Britain's Got Talent has been all over the Internoodle, and I mean all over it. If you're just resurfacing after a weeks-long coma, let me first say it's great to have you back! Second, you can view the clip here. She sings beautifully, and apparently this is groundbreaking news for everyone because HOW COULD SUCH A LOVELY VOICE COME OUT OF SUCH AN ORDINARY-LOOKING PERSON?
Ms. Boyle is showing up in the Trends on Twitter. A fan site was created. Her name is the second fastest-growing search term in the world; there is talk that she might be the biggest YouTube sensation ever. Debates are flaring up about whether she should be made over, if it's true that she's never been kissed, blah blah blah.
I just don't get it. Columns at HuffPo and Boston.com go to great lengths to explain the phenomenon, and have me wondering if I'm the only one in the world who didn't have an earthshattering revelation when I saw the clip. There seem to be two basic schools of thought on the Boyle Bonanza:
1) When she shuffled out in her frumpy dress and nervously told the world that she lives with cats and volunteers with the church, the audience expected another formulaic "Let's-laugh-at-the-freak-show-with-big-dreams-and-a-small-brain" audition that would leave the audience giggling and the contestant humiliated. But lo! When we heard her sing, everyone realized how shallow they were for assuming a somewhat awkward, but otherwise regular-looking person wouldn't have anything to offer. Oh the soaring heights of humanity! We met the depths of our shallowness and then basked in the glory of a shared humanity!
Or...
2) We all relate to Susan. She reminds us we all have something to offer, even if as the Boston.com post quotes, "Without classic good looks, without work, without a spouse, living in a small town, people like Susan Boyle may not seem particularly 'important.'" That is, we all feel like Susan on the inside. And we all feel loved when the world welcomes us with open arms. Journey style.
Well okay. That's nice. Maybe I feel underwhelmed because I assumed she would sing well when I saw a link to the video. I still can't help but feel like I'm missing out on some of the life-affirming ecstasy that everyone else seems to be experiencing when they watch it. Will someone help me? Are people so sad that a spirited Scottish woman with a sublime singing voice can offer the perfect mix of escapism and hope to put the spring back in their steps? Have Lindsay and Britney disappointed us all so sorely that we want to handpick a new icon from the common folk? Or is this society's rejection of airbrushed, hungry models in favor of someone who looks like the neighbor we wave at but don't really talk to?
It's possible I've put too much though into all of this.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Stuff You Should Know: Internet Treasures
Months have passed since I last brought you an honest-to-goodness edition of Stuff You Should Know. So here I am. This week's focus is on sites I've dug up on the Internoodle, just a few little things I think you need to see.
1) Sickdujour! On a whim, I started following the user sickdujour on Twitter last week. I soon realized that each day this guy features a rare disease or disorder on his blog, and boy, are they gruesome. If you've ever found yourself engrossed in the surgical removal of a 500-pound tumor, or fantasize about interviewing Tree Man's team of doctors, you'll love this blog. He features diseases I've never heard of, but will undoutedly make great conversation at the next cocktail party. That is, if I want to get vomited on/asked to leave. Check out his entry on freakish growths trapped in the gastrointestinal tract... but only if you have a strong stomach. (Don't yell at me, I warned you.) Each entry is presented in easy-to-read, digestible little nuggets, ending in a 0-10 ranking on lethality and disturbing scales. The perfect thing to read over your morning coffee. Looks like the blog has only been around for a few weeks, but sickdujour has already won a dedicated reader in me.
2) I make no bones about the fact that I love a good parenting blog. Sure, I have no kids, and frankly don't want any, but reading merry stories about the trials and tribulations of parenthood is endlessly entertaining. I do love kids, and maybe if I just continue to read about other people's, I'll be able to avoid the gentle tug of my maternal instincts until it's too late! Anyway. One of my favorite bloggers is Jim at Sweet Juniper!, who writes beautifully about being a stay-at-home dad in Detriot. The tender stories and pictures of his two kids will make your heart melt. But some of my favorite entries are his stories about what he finds on his walks around the city. He adroitly juxtaposes the odd and aching pairings of dilapidation and economic depression with beautiful public parks, museums, and neighborhoods, all of which go undiscovered in a city that most of the country wrote off as a lost cause. But today I wanted to feature his "Terrifying Nixon-Era Children's Books" tag, where he scans in books from the 60s and 70s that are perplexing to say the least. Seeing books like these makes me wonder if I should try my hand at my long-forgotten dream of book publishing. If they can do it, I can, right? Here's the complete collection. Scroll through, and let me know your favorite book.
3) I was devastated last December when John Marshall announced his blog News Gems, published through the Society of Professional Journalists, would close. It was a consistent resource for some of the finest writing in print and on the Web, and I always came across articles I never would have seen otherwise.
While it's by no means a replacement, I was heartened to see The New York Times relaunch their Ideas blog this week, now calling it Idea of the Day. They say, "As suggested by the new name, we’re streamlining the blog to a single post daily, to highlight one article or current of thought on the Web that, out of a wealth of reading choices, seems worth your attention for its relevance, thoughtfulness, provocativeness or quality. We’ll also recommend additional readings at the bottom of each morning’s post."
In the era of a lighting-paced news cycle, I love to see any publication seize the opportunity for depth and research in its reporting, even if that comes in a quick write-up and list of links. Taking the time to look at one issue closely, and encourage readers to delve into it thoughtfully and critically might be at the heart of good media practices of the future. Party on, New York Times.
1) Sickdujour! On a whim, I started following the user sickdujour on Twitter last week. I soon realized that each day this guy features a rare disease or disorder on his blog, and boy, are they gruesome. If you've ever found yourself engrossed in the surgical removal of a 500-pound tumor, or fantasize about interviewing Tree Man's team of doctors, you'll love this blog. He features diseases I've never heard of, but will undoutedly make great conversation at the next cocktail party. That is, if I want to get vomited on/asked to leave. Check out his entry on freakish growths trapped in the gastrointestinal tract... but only if you have a strong stomach. (Don't yell at me, I warned you.) Each entry is presented in easy-to-read, digestible little nuggets, ending in a 0-10 ranking on lethality and disturbing scales. The perfect thing to read over your morning coffee. Looks like the blog has only been around for a few weeks, but sickdujour has already won a dedicated reader in me.
2) I make no bones about the fact that I love a good parenting blog. Sure, I have no kids, and frankly don't want any, but reading merry stories about the trials and tribulations of parenthood is endlessly entertaining. I do love kids, and maybe if I just continue to read about other people's, I'll be able to avoid the gentle tug of my maternal instincts until it's too late! Anyway. One of my favorite bloggers is Jim at Sweet Juniper!, who writes beautifully about being a stay-at-home dad in Detriot. The tender stories and pictures of his two kids will make your heart melt. But some of my favorite entries are his stories about what he finds on his walks around the city. He adroitly juxtaposes the odd and aching pairings of dilapidation and economic depression with beautiful public parks, museums, and neighborhoods, all of which go undiscovered in a city that most of the country wrote off as a lost cause. But today I wanted to feature his "Terrifying Nixon-Era Children's Books" tag, where he scans in books from the 60s and 70s that are perplexing to say the least. Seeing books like these makes me wonder if I should try my hand at my long-forgotten dream of book publishing. If they can do it, I can, right? Here's the complete collection. Scroll through, and let me know your favorite book.
3) I was devastated last December when John Marshall announced his blog News Gems, published through the Society of Professional Journalists, would close. It was a consistent resource for some of the finest writing in print and on the Web, and I always came across articles I never would have seen otherwise.
While it's by no means a replacement, I was heartened to see The New York Times relaunch their Ideas blog this week, now calling it Idea of the Day. They say, "As suggested by the new name, we’re streamlining the blog to a single post daily, to highlight one article or current of thought on the Web that, out of a wealth of reading choices, seems worth your attention for its relevance, thoughtfulness, provocativeness or quality. We’ll also recommend additional readings at the bottom of each morning’s post."
In the era of a lighting-paced news cycle, I love to see any publication seize the opportunity for depth and research in its reporting, even if that comes in a quick write-up and list of links. Taking the time to look at one issue closely, and encourage readers to delve into it thoughtfully and critically might be at the heart of good media practices of the future. Party on, New York Times.
Friday, February 27, 2009
My brother's a genius and I just blog.
I'm a failure. My second stab at 20 posts in 30 days was a catastrophe; I only posted ten entries! My computer crashed, I realized I was enrolled in classes and had a plethora of assignments due, and also was busy with several quarterlife crisis moments along the way. Time was scarce, and so was inspiration. Last time I tried a blogging blitz. my life was defined by dreams of McLatte, slave labor at the intern desk, and my absurd devotion to a particularly shameful ABC reality show. I had more to write about and definitely more time to do it. But no excuses. Let's pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and get back to the hard-hitting, thought-provoking material you've come to expect from Catherine the Greatest.
THREE THINGS YOU THINK YOU UNDERSTAND BUT YOU REALLY DON'T.
My older brother James is a physics major doing graduate solar research at Penn State. He understands everything about science, machines and technology. I feel that he was born with this knowledge. He definitely didn't it get it from my parents, and his teachers were generally too busy collecting squirrels for pets (that really happened) or making their students write letters to other students on boats (that also really happend). He just knows everything. More than once I have called him with a question like "How do microwaves work?" or "How are electrical fires started underground? Where is the electricity in relation to the sewer system and subways in a big city?" And he always knows! How does he have such extensive knowledge about everything from kitchen appliances to sanitation systems?! My brother is so smart! He's always been a patient teacher with me, but I think he knows that my liberal-arts word-oriented brain will never be receptive to his techy, nerdy lessons. So here's a list of things, many of which he has thoroughly explained to me multiple times, that I still do not understand.
3. Aviation. I should probably go to the library and check out a book on the Wright brothers, because it is unfathomable to me that someone said, "Hey, let's take a giant weighty machine and propel it through the air." And sure, I have come across the word "aerodynamics" before, but don't lie, you don't really understand how planes work either. And don't tell me to go to howstuffworks.com. I've been there. I can read and understand it, but there is still a voice in the back of my head whispering, "This is pretend." Hundreds of people pile into a large metal object and soar through the air. WHAT?!
2. Space. One day I am going to write an opinion piece about all of the conflicting emotions I have about NASA. The fact that $18 billion dollars a year goes into that program astonishes me, and frankly I feel that the folks over at NASA could be screwing us all over and no one would be the wiser. Huh, Pluto's not a planet? Erm okay. What's that? Water on Mars? Maybe so! They could tell us Whitey Bulger was found on the moon, and who are we to say, "That's not possible"?
Remember when the Columbia shuttle exploded because of the damaged tile? NASA knew the piece broke off, but didn't really look into it, despite the persistent pleas of a chief engineer who was on his game. Also, it was Martin Luther King weekend, so people were out of the office, and didn't feel like investigating the matter. How do you send a SPACESHIP out into the solar system, and then just put your feet up and take a three-day weekend? I wrote about this topic before, but my indignant rage has not subsided in the least. Also while we're talking about Space... that "picture" of the Milky Way... is not really pictures of the Milky Way. Didn't you ever stop to think how they could possibly photograph a galaxy we're allegedly a part of? They're just pictures of other spiral-armed galaxies that science nerds imagine the Milky Way could be like. How deceptive. I feel cheated. Next time I see an astronomer, I am giving them the wickedest wedgie.
1. The Internet. James has tried to explain this to me forever, but I still don't get it, and don't lie, you don't either. Tell me, when you send an e-mail, where does it go? How can governments block sites in certain countries? When you get a virus that paralyzes your entire computer by releasing hundreds of "trojans," what is that? The Internoodle is one of life's greatest mysteries, but unlike space, I am grateful for it on a daily basis. I imagine all of its processes to be similar to what happened in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, when Mike TV puts his candy bar in the machine, and it breaks into tiny pieces, and is put back together again. If this is not how the Noodle works, then don't tell me because I don't want to hear it. In my tiny brain, the Internet is sort of a cross between Humpty Dumpty and chocolate. On a related note, fax machines are ridiculously far beyond my comprehension. How does the phone send an image?!? On another related note: phones...so much easier to understand when there were actual wires and cables. Alexander Graham Bell would have a stroke if we told him about cell towers.
What don't you understand? You can say it; I am clearly in no position to judge.
THREE THINGS YOU THINK YOU UNDERSTAND BUT YOU REALLY DON'T.
My older brother James is a physics major doing graduate solar research at Penn State. He understands everything about science, machines and technology. I feel that he was born with this knowledge. He definitely didn't it get it from my parents, and his teachers were generally too busy collecting squirrels for pets (that really happened) or making their students write letters to other students on boats (that also really happend). He just knows everything. More than once I have called him with a question like "How do microwaves work?" or "How are electrical fires started underground? Where is the electricity in relation to the sewer system and subways in a big city?" And he always knows! How does he have such extensive knowledge about everything from kitchen appliances to sanitation systems?! My brother is so smart! He's always been a patient teacher with me, but I think he knows that my liberal-arts word-oriented brain will never be receptive to his techy, nerdy lessons. So here's a list of things, many of which he has thoroughly explained to me multiple times, that I still do not understand.
3. Aviation. I should probably go to the library and check out a book on the Wright brothers, because it is unfathomable to me that someone said, "Hey, let's take a giant weighty machine and propel it through the air." And sure, I have come across the word "aerodynamics" before, but don't lie, you don't really understand how planes work either. And don't tell me to go to howstuffworks.com. I've been there. I can read and understand it, but there is still a voice in the back of my head whispering, "This is pretend." Hundreds of people pile into a large metal object and soar through the air. WHAT?!
2. Space. One day I am going to write an opinion piece about all of the conflicting emotions I have about NASA. The fact that $18 billion dollars a year goes into that program astonishes me, and frankly I feel that the folks over at NASA could be screwing us all over and no one would be the wiser. Huh, Pluto's not a planet? Erm okay. What's that? Water on Mars? Maybe so! They could tell us Whitey Bulger was found on the moon, and who are we to say, "That's not possible"?
Remember when the Columbia shuttle exploded because of the damaged tile? NASA knew the piece broke off, but didn't really look into it, despite the persistent pleas of a chief engineer who was on his game. Also, it was Martin Luther King weekend, so people were out of the office, and didn't feel like investigating the matter. How do you send a SPACESHIP out into the solar system, and then just put your feet up and take a three-day weekend? I wrote about this topic before, but my indignant rage has not subsided in the least. Also while we're talking about Space... that "picture" of the Milky Way... is not really pictures of the Milky Way. Didn't you ever stop to think how they could possibly photograph a galaxy we're allegedly a part of? They're just pictures of other spiral-armed galaxies that science nerds imagine the Milky Way could be like. How deceptive. I feel cheated. Next time I see an astronomer, I am giving them the wickedest wedgie.
1. The Internet. James has tried to explain this to me forever, but I still don't get it, and don't lie, you don't either. Tell me, when you send an e-mail, where does it go? How can governments block sites in certain countries? When you get a virus that paralyzes your entire computer by releasing hundreds of "trojans," what is that? The Internoodle is one of life's greatest mysteries, but unlike space, I am grateful for it on a daily basis. I imagine all of its processes to be similar to what happened in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, when Mike TV puts his candy bar in the machine, and it breaks into tiny pieces, and is put back together again. If this is not how the Noodle works, then don't tell me because I don't want to hear it. In my tiny brain, the Internet is sort of a cross between Humpty Dumpty and chocolate. On a related note, fax machines are ridiculously far beyond my comprehension. How does the phone send an image?!? On another related note: phones...so much easier to understand when there were actual wires and cables. Alexander Graham Bell would have a stroke if we told him about cell towers.
What don't you understand? You can say it; I am clearly in no position to judge.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Trying your patience more than ever before
Soooo, have you guys looked through your spam folder lately? It's a treasure chest. I was flipping through mine earlier this week and was so delighted by what I found, I would be remiss to keep such pure joy from you.
Here are a few of my favorites:
Sender: Russian Brides
Subject: HAVE YOU SEEN THE WOMEN IN RUSSIA?!?!?!?! Click here and meet HOT Russian Woman.
Rebuttal: Well. I don't know about you guys, but when I read Sarah Plain and Tall in fifth grade, I fell in love with the idea of becoming a mail-order bride. I'm quite sure that's the exact opposite of what the author intended, as the idea of someone, well, you know, sending for you like I send for LLBean outerwear, isn't exactly the height of feminine liberation. But hey, I was 10, and it seemed like a good idea. If I was delivered and my new hubby didn't take a shine to me, it would be too late. And, once he saw how handily I could build sod houses and control plains fires, he'd learn to love me.
Note: I had seven of these Russian Bride e-mails on the first page of my spam folder. How does Google know me so well?
Subject: Peter Larry
Subject: We don't care about your score; you'll be approved.
Rebuttal: How nice of you, sir, but if I may say...not such a good idea for your business. Please see The Housing Bubble and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Year.
Sender: Resveratrol
Subject: Can you live to 150?
Rebuttal: Oh God, I hope not.
Sender: Sell Your Gold
Subject: Ed McMahon got top dollar for his unwanted gold. Learn to make instant cash with Cash4Gold.
Rebuttal: A great example of an advertiser targeting exactly the right audience. Every day after interminable hours of college classes, when I sit down to eat whatever frozen dinner entree was on sale that week, nestled inside several layers of threadbare clothes to keep me warm in a house that's nearly too expensive to heat, I sigh and think to myself, "I just have too much gold."
So everyone, take a look through your spam folder. You never know, maybe you'll find a wife.
Editor's Note: This is the blog's 100th post!
Here are a few of my favorites:
Sender: Russian Brides
Subject: HAVE YOU SEEN THE WOMEN IN RUSSIA?!?!?!?! Click here and meet HOT Russian Woman.
Rebuttal: Well. I don't know about you guys, but when I read Sarah Plain and Tall in fifth grade, I fell in love with the idea of becoming a mail-order bride. I'm quite sure that's the exact opposite of what the author intended, as the idea of someone, well, you know, sending for you like I send for LLBean outerwear, isn't exactly the height of feminine liberation. But hey, I was 10, and it seemed like a good idea. If I was delivered and my new hubby didn't take a shine to me, it would be too late. And, once he saw how handily I could build sod houses and control plains fires, he'd learn to love me.
Note: I had seven of these Russian Bride e-mails on the first page of my spam folder. How does Google know me so well?
Subject: Peter Larry
Subject: We don't care about your score; you'll be approved.
Rebuttal: How nice of you, sir, but if I may say...not such a good idea for your business. Please see The Housing Bubble and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Year.
Sender: Resveratrol
Subject: Can you live to 150?
Rebuttal: Oh God, I hope not.
Sender: Sell Your Gold
Subject: Ed McMahon got top dollar for his unwanted gold. Learn to make instant cash with Cash4Gold.
Rebuttal: A great example of an advertiser targeting exactly the right audience. Every day after interminable hours of college classes, when I sit down to eat whatever frozen dinner entree was on sale that week, nestled inside several layers of threadbare clothes to keep me warm in a house that's nearly too expensive to heat, I sigh and think to myself, "I just have too much gold."
So everyone, take a look through your spam folder. You never know, maybe you'll find a wife.
Editor's Note: This is the blog's 100th post!
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Linkfest: Soft News
I've been remiss in blogging this week. Schoolwork picked up and my computer was back to its old troublesome tricks. Here are some things I've read or written(!) to keep you occupied until I come up with an original idea:
This Newsweek article investigates organ trafficking around the world, and most shockingly, at top hospitals in the United States. The good news? Your kidney can fetch a pretty penny. The bad news? ORGAN TRAFFICKING IS TERRIFYING. If breaking the law isn't your style, you could also sell your inner business on Craigslist. (At this rate, if I sell a bunch of my eggs, a kidney, and half my liver, I could make a real dent in paying back Sallie Mae.)
Can you tell that I like health reporting? Campus magazine What the Health allows me the honor of posting about health policy on their blog. This week, I ran off at the mouth about all of the recent food recalls and how the FDA and USDA totes don't care!
Earlier this week, I talked to Chris Myers Asch, co-founder of the U.S. Public Service Academy, for a story for my magazine class. In case you're unfamiliar, he has put forth a propsal to Congress for a four-year civil service academy, which will train students for government work. Tution is free, but graduates will be required to fulfill a five-year committment in the government sector. I think it's a great idea, and will undoubtedly bring more prestige, intellect, and energy to the public sphere. I've been following the Academy for a while, and it's gotten a lot of media attention recently. Keep your eyes peeled.
I have a love-hate relationship with Twitter. Mostly I love it, but there was a time when I was less than convinced about the wonders of the 140-character-or-less networking site. But whenever I stumble upon an awesome Twitter profile, like that of a fake Dr. Tobias Funke of Arrested Development, I fall in love all over again.
Speaking of loving people I don't know, my girl over at Dooce is preggo again. Just another good reason for you to start reading her too. (Hi, Meaghen.)
Paul recently reminded me of the wonderful oral history project, StoryCorps, through which people interview family and friends and ask them to tell a story about their lives. Thousands of stories that would otherwise be lost will be recorded for everyone to hear and stored in the Library of Congress. I heard one on the radio over the winter, in which a popular NPR reporter interviewed his mother. Her story was simple and sweet, but by the end of it, I was weeping behind the wheel of the minivan. Call me a softy, but I hope you find one that touches you too.
In honor of Valentine's Day, the International Herald Tribune is encouraging commenters to write "limericks of love" to their favorite public figures. They write, "Now's your chance to submit a cheering rhyme to a lonely public figure. It can be a sonnet, a love letter, or an ode to Alistair's eyebrows." Y'all know how much I love haikus and penning the occasional epic rhyme. I think it's great fun when papers do things like this.
And hey you, tell me what you've been reading.
This Newsweek article investigates organ trafficking around the world, and most shockingly, at top hospitals in the United States. The good news? Your kidney can fetch a pretty penny. The bad news? ORGAN TRAFFICKING IS TERRIFYING. If breaking the law isn't your style, you could also sell your inner business on Craigslist. (At this rate, if I sell a bunch of my eggs, a kidney, and half my liver, I could make a real dent in paying back Sallie Mae.)
Can you tell that I like health reporting? Campus magazine What the Health allows me the honor of posting about health policy on their blog. This week, I ran off at the mouth about all of the recent food recalls and how the FDA and USDA totes don't care!
Earlier this week, I talked to Chris Myers Asch, co-founder of the U.S. Public Service Academy, for a story for my magazine class. In case you're unfamiliar, he has put forth a propsal to Congress for a four-year civil service academy, which will train students for government work. Tution is free, but graduates will be required to fulfill a five-year committment in the government sector. I think it's a great idea, and will undoubtedly bring more prestige, intellect, and energy to the public sphere. I've been following the Academy for a while, and it's gotten a lot of media attention recently. Keep your eyes peeled.
I have a love-hate relationship with Twitter. Mostly I love it, but there was a time when I was less than convinced about the wonders of the 140-character-or-less networking site. But whenever I stumble upon an awesome Twitter profile, like that of a fake Dr. Tobias Funke of Arrested Development, I fall in love all over again.
Speaking of loving people I don't know, my girl over at Dooce is preggo again. Just another good reason for you to start reading her too. (Hi, Meaghen.)
Paul recently reminded me of the wonderful oral history project, StoryCorps, through which people interview family and friends and ask them to tell a story about their lives. Thousands of stories that would otherwise be lost will be recorded for everyone to hear and stored in the Library of Congress. I heard one on the radio over the winter, in which a popular NPR reporter interviewed his mother. Her story was simple and sweet, but by the end of it, I was weeping behind the wheel of the minivan. Call me a softy, but I hope you find one that touches you too.
In honor of Valentine's Day, the International Herald Tribune is encouraging commenters to write "limericks of love" to their favorite public figures. They write, "Now's your chance to submit a cheering rhyme to a lonely public figure. It can be a sonnet, a love letter, or an ode to Alistair's eyebrows." Y'all know how much I love haikus and penning the occasional epic rhyme. I think it's great fun when papers do things like this.
And hey you, tell me what you've been reading.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Assigned reading
A round-up from where I've been on the Internet and what you might have missed.
A Rolling Stone profile of David Foster Wallace, famed author who killed himself in September after decades of battling debilitating depression. This is the most thorough, well-researched, and beautifully written profile I've read in a while. The piece is long, but more than worth it. I read it in two sittings and cried at the end. It makes for an absolutely aching look at a life that ended in a way that seemed inevitable to everyone who knew him, which is the most heartbreaking aspect of the whole story. I get the sense that the writer absolutely nailed this story in a way that happens hardly ever.
Someone put together a Sarah Palin's greatest hits video on YouTube, which I posted originally, but then I listened to this, and found out it was real. I actually feel bad for our Alaskan mental midget:
New York Magazine compiled a photo slideshow of the best doggy Halloween costumes. You can be the judge about which dogs you feel most sorry for.
And this week's "What the fuck" science moment, scientists want to put robot ants on Mars to build houses for us.
A Rolling Stone profile of David Foster Wallace, famed author who killed himself in September after decades of battling debilitating depression. This is the most thorough, well-researched, and beautifully written profile I've read in a while. The piece is long, but more than worth it. I read it in two sittings and cried at the end. It makes for an absolutely aching look at a life that ended in a way that seemed inevitable to everyone who knew him, which is the most heartbreaking aspect of the whole story. I get the sense that the writer absolutely nailed this story in a way that happens hardly ever.
Someone put together a Sarah Palin's greatest hits video on YouTube, which I posted originally, but then I listened to this, and found out it was real. I actually feel bad for our Alaskan mental midget:
New York Magazine compiled a photo slideshow of the best doggy Halloween costumes. You can be the judge about which dogs you feel most sorry for.
And this week's "What the fuck" science moment, scientists want to put robot ants on Mars to build houses for us.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Love, Mom
Last week, my loyal reader (so what if there's only one?) Meaghen sent me a web site she thought I'd enjoy and suggested I send in a submission. It is called Postcards From Yo Momma, and I must say it is my favorite new voyeuristic/Found Magazine-esque site that I've come across lately. People send in e-mails/voicemails/texts from their mothers, and we get to read them. The site generally keeps a healthy mix of endearing, hilarious, and relatable maternal correspondences. My fan base (Hi, Meaghen) also happens to be a big fan of my own mother, affectionately known as Joanne, who has been known to pen a colorful missive in her time. Today, I bring you one of her more lively notes, written this morning while she was at home making soup and tending to the men who were coldheartedly cutting down some of my favorite childhood trees.
(It should be noted that in our Jon and Kate Plus 8 fanaticism, we have taken to signing e-mails with the names of the various children.) We're okay, I swear. Here it is:
Hello, wish you were here. Here is what's going on:
The Men in Trees are branching off in many directions
Right now they ain't high in my affections
The soup''s aboil
And still they toil
Despite my spirited objections
--Anonymous
I can't believe they are only charging 500 clams for all this. Things will look very different when you get home!
Guess what's playing in the background? That's right my intuitive little gemstone - Dancing with the Stars!!!! Surprise!!!
I have to work on the soup a little bit. Can't disappoint Lester. But I shall return!
All six yiddo "I gotta pee!" Gosselins
And here is one of my favorite recent entries from Postcards from Yo Mamma. I guess it's memorable to me because it sounds like something that could easily come from the warped brain of my own dear matriarch (love you!):
I believe we have a situation going on. Roy was outside over by the fence. That new Pomeranian was barking and Roy was crying a little bit. I think he likes her! We’ve got a Roymeo and Juliet thing perhaps. She (?) had her paws up on the deck, like a balcony, calling out to him. But they are the Capulets and we are the Montagues. She’s not getting her claws into our Roy! Cheeky thing. It’s good he’s going away for the weekend so he can forget about her.
Edit: I'M HALF WAY TO MY 20 POSTS IN 30 DAYS GOAL. Huzzah!
(It should be noted that in our Jon and Kate Plus 8 fanaticism, we have taken to signing e-mails with the names of the various children.) We're okay, I swear. Here it is:
Hello, wish you were here. Here is what's going on:
The Men in Trees are branching off in many directions
Right now they ain't high in my affections
The soup''s aboil
And still they toil
Despite my spirited objections
--Anonymous
I can't believe they are only charging 500 clams for all this. Things will look very different when you get home!
Guess what's playing in the background? That's right my intuitive little gemstone - Dancing with the Stars!!!! Surprise!!!
I have to work on the soup a little bit. Can't disappoint Lester. But I shall return!
All six yiddo "I gotta pee!" Gosselins
And here is one of my favorite recent entries from Postcards from Yo Mamma. I guess it's memorable to me because it sounds like something that could easily come from the warped brain of my own dear matriarch (love you!):
I believe we have a situation going on. Roy was outside over by the fence. That new Pomeranian was barking and Roy was crying a little bit. I think he likes her! We’ve got a Roymeo and Juliet thing perhaps. She (?) had her paws up on the deck, like a balcony, calling out to him. But they are the Capulets and we are the Montagues. She’s not getting her claws into our Roy! Cheeky thing. It’s good he’s going away for the weekend so he can forget about her.
Edit: I'M HALF WAY TO MY 20 POSTS IN 30 DAYS GOAL. Huzzah!
Friday, June 1, 2007
Stumbling and Fumbling
I usually frequent the same Web sites every time I am on the internet. Particularly blogs, newspapers, some entertainment sites. I often get bored mechanically typing the same URLs and checking Web sites that have few updates since the last time I visited. Ashley downloaded StumbleUpon, and told me I should get it, but I figured it would use more of my precious time I should dedicate to studying.
Well, it's summer now, and I have installed it into my browser. Stumble Upon allows users to fill out interests and preferences, and with a click of a button, brings them to fun and interesting sites they might not find otherwise. I've come across a lot of things, both entertaining and serious, worthwhile and silly, that have been highly enjoyable or very useful.
From fun jokes like this or beautifully moving photo essays like this, I almost always enjoy everyting Stumble shows me.
It's like channel surfing for the internet when you know you're going to love whatever channel it lands on. GET IT.
Well, it's summer now, and I have installed it into my browser. Stumble Upon allows users to fill out interests and preferences, and with a click of a button, brings them to fun and interesting sites they might not find otherwise. I've come across a lot of things, both entertaining and serious, worthwhile and silly, that have been highly enjoyable or very useful.
From fun jokes like this or beautifully moving photo essays like this, I almost always enjoy everyting Stumble shows me.
It's like channel surfing for the internet when you know you're going to love whatever channel it lands on. GET IT.
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