17 February 2009
I Apologize for Apologizing
Click on the title link above, and read all the way down to the second letter. I'm in complete agreement with that guy.
10 February 2009
Why They Teach "Connotation" in Copy Editor School
Oh those sports guys.
(Thanks to Doug Fisher at commonsensej.blogspot.com.)
07 February 2009
Masked Intruders Roaming The White House Grounds - washingtonpost.com
Masked Intruders Roaming The White House Grounds - washingtonpost.com: "'The idea of raccoons on the White House grounds gives us great pause,' spokesman Bill Burton said."
Yes, he said that.
Yes, he said that.
04 February 2009
All in the Detals
I miss the group brain! Hi, copy comrades; hope you're all coping without me. I'm lonely.
Best typo ever:
Best,
jd
Best typo ever:
Best,
jd
25 Reasons to Be OK Without a Job (for Now)
25. I’ve been looking for a reason to play with the Bullet I rec’d for xmas. The thing on the infomercials, y’know, for food. Dinner in ten seconds. If I get good at it, maybe I can make dinner so fast, I’ll gain time. Also, I can become an advanced Formanizer. With the food processor and mixer that I also rec’d, I can learn to work magic in the kitchen.
24. Finally, there’s time to alphabetize the DVDs. The CDs. The spices. Stand back, I’m an English language professional.
23. Dance lessons.
22. Uh … OK, who the frak do I think I’m kidding? I’m going to go take over the little room and unpack my home office stuff …
25 goals to consider for the next two weeks of salaried vaca
Obviously this is brainstorming and I’ll need to prune to reasonable levels; that said, I’ll try to steer clear of the seemingly impossible. No ‘learn to fly.’
1. write something original every day, surely you can do that
2. a project a day, or if project is too much, one definible step. Today, set up the sewing station to make a mole with the backup child. Something to do with science class…? With the machine up already, mend something. See? Project.
3.longer walkies…though not today, because now that the snow stopped and what fell mostly melted, it looks really soggy, and because today is your wake up and feel sorry for yourself and get it out of the way day
4. clean up diets around these parts. Tie teenager to chair and forcefeed vegetables.
5. a chunk of organizing every day, tho this needs planning in detail (this is something long overdue, all planned for 2008 and carried out before and after vit D deficiency among other things, so the house is partially done, maybe more than halfway)
6. the essays, my dear, the essays. Stop and Think. Jump Off a Cliff. Always Bet on the Spotted Horse. This can be done, or at least brainstormed. I put it here instead of work work because it’ll be more fun than work
7. try not to obsess about the job search. You need some time off too, or some time to focus on life and all its possibilities.
8. leave the house every day; go somewhere different if you can, somewhere you’ve never been if at all possible (though maybe not today, see #3 for excuse). Savage Mill. All the libraries in Howard. All the Starbucks in Howard. Lake Kittamaqundi and Centennial Lake. All those stores in Balto you never make time for.
9. purge/sync online and offline address books; remove Elsevier phone from personal records at creditors; maybe this should go on the organizing list
10. wear your stupid guard during the day if you have to, you moron, ouch
11. keep track; that will help, it really will
12. LPs—all those bloody scratched up LPs. Do some projects, organize the tools, record some music.
13. make lists of 25 things until head explodes
14. do some Art Homework every day (see #8)
15. learn some Chinese curses, ta ma de
16. go to the national portrait gallery on a weekday and just walk around for like 4 hours (see #14)
17. read
18. set up calendar
19. write three new chapters, conform at least the first seven with outline as it stands, clean out all old notes for Moon
20. quit smoking, oh yeah, this should come first
21. reorganize kitchen storage
22. barter for some wood
23. mending
24. find map of paths
25. clean jewelry
Well, that’s 25 things to think about. I wrote something today, and cleaned out the office closet, and read a little; it’s a start.
jw
24. Finally, there’s time to alphabetize the DVDs. The CDs. The spices. Stand back, I’m an English language professional.
23. Dance lessons.
22. Uh … OK, who the frak do I think I’m kidding? I’m going to go take over the little room and unpack my home office stuff …
25 goals to consider for the next two weeks of salaried vaca
Obviously this is brainstorming and I’ll need to prune to reasonable levels; that said, I’ll try to steer clear of the seemingly impossible. No ‘learn to fly.’
1. write something original every day, surely you can do that
2. a project a day, or if project is too much, one definible step. Today, set up the sewing station to make a mole with the backup child. Something to do with science class…? With the machine up already, mend something. See? Project.
3.longer walkies…though not today, because now that the snow stopped and what fell mostly melted, it looks really soggy, and because today is your wake up and feel sorry for yourself and get it out of the way day
4. clean up diets around these parts. Tie teenager to chair and forcefeed vegetables.
5. a chunk of organizing every day, tho this needs planning in detail (this is something long overdue, all planned for 2008 and carried out before and after vit D deficiency among other things, so the house is partially done, maybe more than halfway)
6. the essays, my dear, the essays. Stop and Think. Jump Off a Cliff. Always Bet on the Spotted Horse. This can be done, or at least brainstormed. I put it here instead of work work because it’ll be more fun than work
7. try not to obsess about the job search. You need some time off too, or some time to focus on life and all its possibilities.
8. leave the house every day; go somewhere different if you can, somewhere you’ve never been if at all possible (though maybe not today, see #3 for excuse). Savage Mill. All the libraries in Howard. All the Starbucks in Howard. Lake Kittamaqundi and Centennial Lake. All those stores in Balto you never make time for.
9. purge/sync online and offline address books; remove Elsevier phone from personal records at creditors; maybe this should go on the organizing list
10. wear your stupid guard during the day if you have to, you moron, ouch
11. keep track; that will help, it really will
12. LPs—all those bloody scratched up LPs. Do some projects, organize the tools, record some music.
13. make lists of 25 things until head explodes
14. do some Art Homework every day (see #8)
15. learn some Chinese curses, ta ma de
16. go to the national portrait gallery on a weekday and just walk around for like 4 hours (see #14)
17. read
18. set up calendar
19. write three new chapters, conform at least the first seven with outline as it stands, clean out all old notes for Moon
20. quit smoking, oh yeah, this should come first
21. reorganize kitchen storage
22. barter for some wood
23. mending
24. find map of paths
25. clean jewelry
Well, that’s 25 things to think about. I wrote something today, and cleaned out the office closet, and read a little; it’s a start.
jw
03 February 2009
One More Thought or Not
Conflict is a necessary part of life. Tension upon the strings of a violin can make majestic music. The critical mass of two hydrogen atoms trying to occupy the same space fuels the sun that nourishes everything.
This is a good time to begin something.
I seem to stray further and further from my guiding theme. Alas, I've needed to vent just a little today, and the family has had their own other worries. This at least feels like sharing.
I'll get back to scolding others soon enough.
To tide us all over, here's a link: NYT Error
This is a good time to begin something.
I seem to stray further and further from my guiding theme. Alas, I've needed to vent just a little today, and the family has had their own other worries. This at least feels like sharing.
I'll get back to scolding others soon enough.
To tide us all over, here's a link: NYT Error
02 February 2009
Drained
I'm exhausted. Two and a half weeks of roller coaster emotions, and I'm surprised I hung on as well as I did. No real question why my back hurts.
So I have nothing left, and I just discovered that Warren Lapine is back in business. My initial reaction was to write about the news, and I have plenty to say about it. Some readers might know why. Others will have to wait, because I cannot think two thoughts in a row about the same subject right this minute.
But I'll be back.
jw
So I have nothing left, and I just discovered that Warren Lapine is back in business. My initial reaction was to write about the news, and I have plenty to say about it. Some readers might know why. Others will have to wait, because I cannot think two thoughts in a row about the same subject right this minute.
But I'll be back.
jw
The Worst Is Over
So, my job was eliminated. I'll miss the place it was, my office for two and a half out of the last three years, and I'll miss the people a lot more. I'll be able to stay in touch with many of them, which helps. And I have a couple of leads on new work, so I'm really OK.
Wish I could do more to help all the others being laid off today. I was number two or three, so I didn't get to hang out and find out what happened to everyone else. I have an awful feeling my department is in for it. Very sad.
Like I said, I'll miss the folks, but I'm ready to move on to a new challenge.
I'll be looking for work in Columbia, Md., part or full time. My background is in writing and editing but I have many related skills. I'm also available for freelance writing and editing gigs. You know where to reach me.
I hope everyone else is having a better day. It sure is beautiful outside! I stopped at the library on the way home for a book about making better presentations (you can post a slide presentation along with a resume in some spots now, so I figured why not?), but I think I'll take a little walk before settling down to more work! The ick in the kitchen can wait.
Best, jw
Wish I could do more to help all the others being laid off today. I was number two or three, so I didn't get to hang out and find out what happened to everyone else. I have an awful feeling my department is in for it. Very sad.
Like I said, I'll miss the folks, but I'm ready to move on to a new challenge.
I'll be looking for work in Columbia, Md., part or full time. My background is in writing and editing but I have many related skills. I'm also available for freelance writing and editing gigs. You know where to reach me.
I hope everyone else is having a better day. It sure is beautiful outside! I stopped at the library on the way home for a book about making better presentations (you can post a slide presentation along with a resume in some spots now, so I figured why not?), but I think I'll take a little walk before settling down to more work! The ick in the kitchen can wait.
Best, jw
01 February 2009
Don't Stand on Buried Chicken
'Just Stop It' might be Rule 1 in the 1-step program, but a long and winding road led me to that insight. For years, I compiled other sets of rules to live by, ones I thought made sense only to me and started out as a joke, anyway. But people have asked me for copies, and as I get older, I take them more seriously me own self.
I started to post my expanded rules for living on Facebook, just a whim, a self-generated list like those my backup child is so enamored of, but I'll give it a trial run here first.
A Baker's Dozen Rules for Living
1. If your vehicle stalls on the tracks, run toward the train to avoid flying debris.
2. Pause often to tidy your area.
3. Dress in layers.
4. Seek higher ground.
5. When all else fails, punt.
6. In the event of an emergency, break glass.
7. Remember the rules.
8. Conserve energy.
9. Never eat more at one meal than you can hold in two hands.
10. Along with the quest for consistency, an enlightened tolerance should be practiced.
11. All lies are true.
12. Measure twice, cut once.
13. Don't stand on a wolf's chicken.
Notes:
9. A corollary for the one-handed: Never eat anything larger than your head.
10. This is the true copy editor's code.
13. Whereas the rule is probably self-explanatory, think of this as commentary: From a book about animal behavior, the upshot of the story is that if you have a wolf for a pet, you're an idiot, but if you do have a wolf for a pet, and the wolf gets hold of a chicken and buries it for later, and you go and stand on the spot where your pet wolf buried his chicken, you shouldn't expect the wolf to be all mellow about it. The wolf will feel threatened even if you don't know you're standing on the chicken. Maybe Rule 13 should be don't stand on buried chicken.
Ciao, jw
I started to post my expanded rules for living on Facebook, just a whim, a self-generated list like those my backup child is so enamored of, but I'll give it a trial run here first.
A Baker's Dozen Rules for Living
1. If your vehicle stalls on the tracks, run toward the train to avoid flying debris.
2. Pause often to tidy your area.
3. Dress in layers.
4. Seek higher ground.
5. When all else fails, punt.
6. In the event of an emergency, break glass.
7. Remember the rules.
8. Conserve energy.
9. Never eat more at one meal than you can hold in two hands.
10. Along with the quest for consistency, an enlightened tolerance should be practiced.
11. All lies are true.
12. Measure twice, cut once.
13. Don't stand on a wolf's chicken.
Notes:
9. A corollary for the one-handed: Never eat anything larger than your head.
10. This is the true copy editor's code.
13. Whereas the rule is probably self-explanatory, think of this as commentary: From a book about animal behavior, the upshot of the story is that if you have a wolf for a pet, you're an idiot, but if you do have a wolf for a pet, and the wolf gets hold of a chicken and buries it for later, and you go and stand on the spot where your pet wolf buried his chicken, you shouldn't expect the wolf to be all mellow about it. The wolf will feel threatened even if you don't know you're standing on the chicken. Maybe Rule 13 should be don't stand on buried chicken.
Ciao, jw
Scott's on the Preliminary Stoker Ballot!
This is an anti-Just Stop It post. To Scott, I say Never Stop It!
The Future Doesn't Exist
Which is why it's so hard to shape. Nothing exists but now, and even now exists not out there but in here. Nothing we "see" is real in the way we think it is.
Just thought I'd point that out now that I've found a job opening I'm excited about.
Time to tend the fire...it's Imbolc and spring is coming.
Cheers, jw
Just thought I'd point that out now that I've found a job opening I'm excited about.
Time to tend the fire...it's Imbolc and spring is coming.
Cheers, jw
31 January 2009
Three Years Later...
My life is vastly different, better in many ways, and the future is different too. So I'm starting again here, at my favorite blog address, because why not? I joined Facebook this week, updated my participation on Linked In, and in general geared myself up for the probability I will be part of this Monday's new statistics on layoffs. What do you want to bet we pass last week's totals?
Why doesn't that depress me more?
I've already applied for a job I think I could love and seen an ad for another. Trying not to be excited about either, because why get worked up? I'm also going ahead with the business plan I've been fussing with for a couple of years, not to mention the massive fantasy novel ms. that keeps my imagination in gear and the anxiety at bay.
Long ago, I used to post what I was reading on my Web site, and I miss that, so...I'm reading Dead in Dallas, the second "True Blood" novel, for diversion, and a book about selling on eBay (determined to clean out the last of the bookstore stock still in storage). I'm avoiding reading a book about teaching your teen how to drive, which I need to do because it's coming up again for me, and my daughter is a different animal from my son. Whole new ballgame.
Speaking of which, spring training cannot start soon enough for me. This has been a dark winter.
OK, in keeping with my old title, I have something to share. It reminds me of an ad I saw today: someone wanted "a prove reader to be paid when the book is published!" Well, here you go--prove reading is important.
From Craig's List:
Reply to:
Date: 2008-12-23, 11:17AM EST
National cleaning company has an opening for a working evening janitorial-supervisor....
========
What do you suppose constitutes top pay for shit cleaning?
Cheers, jw
Why doesn't that depress me more?
I've already applied for a job I think I could love and seen an ad for another. Trying not to be excited about either, because why get worked up? I'm also going ahead with the business plan I've been fussing with for a couple of years, not to mention the massive fantasy novel ms. that keeps my imagination in gear and the anxiety at bay.
Long ago, I used to post what I was reading on my Web site, and I miss that, so...I'm reading Dead in Dallas, the second "True Blood" novel, for diversion, and a book about selling on eBay (determined to clean out the last of the bookstore stock still in storage). I'm avoiding reading a book about teaching your teen how to drive, which I need to do because it's coming up again for me, and my daughter is a different animal from my son. Whole new ballgame.
Speaking of which, spring training cannot start soon enough for me. This has been a dark winter.
OK, in keeping with my old title, I have something to share. It reminds me of an ad I saw today: someone wanted "a prove reader to be paid when the book is published!" Well, here you go--prove reading is important.
From Craig's List:
Top Pay for Evening Shit Cleaning Supervisor (Glen Burnie, MD)
Reply to:
Date: 2008-12-23, 11:17AM EST
National cleaning company has an opening for a working evening janitorial-supervisor....
========
What do you suppose constitutes top pay for shit cleaning?
Cheers, jw
23 December 2005
R.I. Couple Finds Rare Pear in Clam - NEWS - STRANGE - Comcast.net
RARE PEAR? R.I. Couple Finds Rare Pear in Clam - NEWS - STRANGE - Comcast.net: "R.I. Couple Finds Rare Pear in Clam"
15 November 2005
Amazon.com: Opposites: a Beginner's Book of Signs:
I asked Brainbench for "Learning" for Presentation Skills at a beginning level. It sent me to this book on Amazon. A board book. A children's board book. Sigh. Amazon.com: Opposites: a Beginner's Book of Signs
31 October 2005
Telegraph | News | Reclaim Hallowe'en as Lite-Nite, says bishop
Telegraph | News | Reclaim Hallowe'en as Lite-Nite, says bishop: "The Bishop of Bolton, the Rt Rev David Gillett, says that Hallowe'en was not originally an occult celebration but has picked up 'dangerous' traits over the centuries." But later in the article he admits the damn holiday has pagan roots. The article doesn't point out any difference. But as the referring page pointed out to me, "'tis the season for embarrassing hysterics over occultism and the cruel, intimidating tactics of devil-worshipping trick-or-treaters." Lite-nite? Jesus!
22 October 2005
24 September 2005
washingtonpost.com
Front page. Top hed: "Rita Slams Ashore..." Teaser lead: "With 120 mph winds in the region, authorities say the worst has probably yet to come."
Copy editor oversleep today?
Copy editor oversleep today?
18 September 2005
Pavilions - 2005 National Book Festival (Library of Congress)
For shame! From the National Book Festival website, the following typo: Pavilions - 2005 National Book Festival (Library of Congress): "Curatorial Viewpoint: C. Ford Peatross, Library of Congress Curator of Architecture, Design, and Engineering, will be in the pavilion showing visitors how they can again online access to unique drawings and other visual materials featured in his new book, Capital Drawings: Architectural Designs for Washington D.C., from the Library of Congress. The book will be available in the book sales tents on the festival grounds. Please see the site map for tent locations."
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