Archive for February, 2007
An analysis over the weekend in the Los Angeles Times lamented the reality that demand for stories about [tag]Anna Nicole Smith[/tag]’s death on its Web site prompted print edition editors to give the story front-page treatment the next day. James Rainey, the writer, saw a similar feeding frenzy across the media spectrum–from print to radio to TV and certain to Web–and with people rushing to sell items on eBay.
The writer attributed all of this to demand for information about her death as evidenced in the increase in Web hits, or visits, when articles and pictures were posted about Anna Nicole Smith following her Thursday demise. Celebrity death sells, evidently, even and especially with the often-troubled Ms. Smith.
But should writers and editors care about what people want to read as opposed to what they feel people should read in terms of importance and social value?
Full Story »
English is not a romance language, meaning its roots aren’t in ancient Rome, but our traditions still date back to the days of Caesar et al.
Take [tag]Valentine’s Day[/tag]. Despite its naming after Catholic saints (which one is hard to say, for two or more are candidates), Valentine’s Day may have its roots in Lupercalia, Feb. 15, when Roman young men ran through the streets naked.
Then what happened? Full Story »
An outfit called AGLOCO (A Global Community) will pay you to surf the Internet and will also pay you for those you sign up or refer, down to four levels below you. This is classic multilevel marketing.
All you have to do is install an innocuous [tag]AGLOCO[/tag] toolbar on your browser and use it to surf for up to five hours a month. When your five hours are up, you can turn it off until the next month. If you’re like me and you do a lot of surfing anyway, this is a nice little reward for your efforts.
How does AGLOCO make money itself? Through advertising, whose revenue it then shares with its surfers. Check it out. Here’s the link to AGLOCO. You’ve got nothing to lose.
Okay, the headline/title sounds promising, doesn’t it?
What I’m referring to here are the three parts of a well written piece, and I know this is going to sound rather mundane, but they are–the introduction, body and conclusion.
The point of success comes in how the writer approaches these elements, and that’s why you should read my articles on thesis statements and topic sentences in English Resources. The [tag]magic of three[/tag] is revealed in these articles.
Okay, the saying “24/7″ is not technically a word, but it still qualifies as a [tag]Notword [/tag]since it has become both uniquitous and meaningless. To wit: During the local morning sports talk radio program, a listener called in and told the host how great he was because he talked about football “24/7.”
Now, what exactly did he mean? I seriously doubt any living being does anything contiuously 24 hours a day, seven days a week, except breathe and live. If he meant “solely,” “a lot,” or “mostly,” Mr. Listener should’ve said that, but we’ve become so inured to bad and sloppy English that Notwords can replace and obfuscate clear English usages.
I say for the next 24 hours, try not to use Notwords. If not, then stay away from sports radio at least. You may pick up more bad habits.
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In preparation for the 2008 Olympics being hosted there, [tag]Beijing[/tag] officials have decided to eradicate bad English translations from public venues, including "Deformed Man" for handicapped restrooms and "Show Mercy to the Slender Grass," reports the Wall Street Journal.
For the next eight months, teams of linguistic monitors will scour the city’s nooks and crannies to eradicate bad English usages. (Can they come here next?)
Meanwhile, the site Engrish.com continues to run all manner of English flub-ups in pictorial display from all over Asia. It’s a fun read/view.
I’ve added a second personally written article to my English Resources section, this one dealing with how to focus your writing with a good [tag]thesis statement[/tag]. I’ll be following this up soon with tips on how to use the thesis statement to fill the body of your body in an organized and coherent (and persuasive) fashion.
I’ve added my first personally written article to my new section, English Resources, which is entitled “[tag]The Kitchen Sink Approach to Writing[/tag].” I’ll be following this up with articles on thesis statements, topic sentences and the five-paragraph paradigm before moving into more creative types of writing. Enjoy!
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