Posts filed under ‘Quotes’
Tweet with Caution
I may be one of the few people my age who does not Twitter. That is right. I do not tweet on a daily basis. Tweet, tweeet, tweeeeeeet!
While perusing the news, I read an interesting article at msnbc.com. With Twitter playing a key role in the dissemination of info during recent breaking news events, more and more questions arise concerning the role that Twitter will play in the future of media industries. Check out this quote included in the article:
“Twitter absolutely changes the media landscape,” said Ross Dawson, author and communications strategy analyst. “I like to refer to Marshall McLuhan’s description of media as `an extension of our senses.’ Now, Twitter is extending our senses to tens of millions of people who are often right on the scene where things are happening.”
Ah, part of me wishes I was still studying Communication. One can only imagine how many Ph. D. candidates and professors are attempting to learn more about the effects of this young media technology.
Twitter has both good and bad characteristics. Though it connects people, there is no guarantee that what is shared is accurate. For example, a stream of tweets claimed that Jeff Goldblum was dead. Hmmmm. I wonder who broke the news to Mr. Goldblum—who, by the way, is still alive and kicking?
Elf Cookies Take a Turn for the Worse
Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha!!!!!!!
I love reading the Onion. Stories that blatantly poke fun at the ridiculous streaks present in real scenarios.
This particular bit of fun relates to the stream of food product re-calls that litter the news every year. It seems that a Keebler Elf is short one finger. Here is a short piece of the crazy write-up:
“We estimate that fantasy-creature body fragments in foods such as cookies, crackers, and cereal account for no more than two parts per million,” Blosser said. “This is lower than the maximum allowed amount for insect parts and mouse hairs in equivalent products.”
The Second Time Around
This post’s title could refer to different situations. Lots of events are better the second time around. For the purposes of this post, set aside every dirty scenario that your warped mind came up with and focus on the basic building blocks of every sentence you have ever read or spoken.
English 101: The Second Time Around
I am forcing myself to try and relearn the valuable grammar and style lessons that managed to be pushed out of my memory to make space for something mindless, like movie quotes. As I trudge through The Elements of Style, I realize every word I write does not tell. If nothing else, Strunk and White declare that writing should be concise and clear; leave out superlatives. Hmmm. It is going to take effort to put this lesson into practice. I don’t know if you have noticed, but my writing is often unnecessarily wordy (take <– that sentence, for example).
To make light of my trepidation, I want to share with you some of my favorite passages from The Elements of Style. Believe it. Mr. Strunk has quite a biting sense of humor.
Comment about Nauseous and Nauseated
“The first means ‘sickening to contemplate’; the second means ‘sick at the stomach.’ Do not, therefore, say, ‘I feel nauseous,’ unless you are sure you have that effect on others.” (80)
Comment about Flammable
“An oddity, chiefly useful in saving lives. The common word meaning ‘combustible’ is inflammable. But some people are thrown off by the in- and think inflammable means ‘not combustible.’ For this reason, trucks carrying gasoline or explosives are now marked FLAMMABLE. Unless you are operating such a truck and hence are concerned with the safety of children and illiterates, use inflammable.” (71)
Mr. Potter Returns
“Mr. Potter, our new celebrity.”
- Snape [from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's (or Philosopher's) Stone]
I have been so caught up with my own life that I have forgotten to dedicate a post to Mr. Harry Potter.
Now, I begin my count down to the release of movie number 6.
To prepare myself for the flick, naturally, I am re-reading Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. I will laugh, I will cry… I will know exactly what parts of the movie are not quite accurate.
What can I say. This series has become a part of me. The world of HP has been a delight for me ever since I devoured the first book for my 2000 summer reading project [**funny thing is, I do not think my English teacher approved of my literature choice**]. I have read and re-read each book—I get swept away into the world J.K. Rowling created with every reading.
Yes, I am a fan of the movie adaptations… but I will always love the books more.
So here is to Mr. Potter!
“I would assume that you were going to offer me a refreshment,” Dumbledore said to Uncle Vernon, “but the evidence so far suggests that that would be optimistic to the point of foolishness.”
A third twitch of the wand, and a dusty bottle and five glasses appeared in midair. The bottle tipped and poured a generous measure of honey-colored liquid into each of the glasses, which then floated to each person in the room…
The Dursleys, after quick, scared looks at one another, tried to ignore their glasses completely, a difficult feat, as they were nudging them gently on the sides of their heads. Harry could not suppress a suspicion that Dumbledore was rather enjoying himself.
— Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, p. 48
