It looks like I may be starting another blog, this time for the local paper. It's unpaid (sad face), but it gets my name out there (I hope) and keeps me in the habit of and accountable in my writing and reporting. There's actually some kind of contract I have to read sign and return, which I shall pore over to see if I agree with the terms.
I'd better be careful about overextending myself; I still need to make time to do more job-hunting, despite the freelancing and the temp job I think I will be starting sometime next week, if all goes well. The bills are coming due and I am going broke.
To paraphrase a quote from the film "Short Circuit": Need income!
Yeah. I'm kind of a nerd.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Obama is a rockstar
Today, I watched the inauguration of Barack Obama, the 44th president of the United States and the first African American to hold the office via various live streams (CNN.com, Yahoo.com courtesy of ABC, and the BBC.com) and was amazed at the proceedings.
Of course, the obvious moment of history-in-the-making was not lost on me, but the rockstar reception for Mr. Obama as he took his place before reciting the oath of office surprised me. I suppose I should not have been surprised, as it seems the "O-BA-MA!" chant has become almost de rigueur at his appearances.
Notwithstanding, the apparent orderliness of the crowd surprised me even more. Yes, I know the security was tight and it was COLD, but I like to think that nobody wanted to ruin the once-in-a-lifetime occasion for themselves or anyone else. I'm sure there were moments of unruliness and there may have been protestors out there somewhere; in fact, I desperately hope that if there were, the news outlets covered them, too. Just because the inauguration seems to have been the moment 'everyone' had been waiting for, it's no excuse for limiting all aspects of coverage to only the picturesque images of public inspiration.
And most of all, I was pleasantly surprised to see and hear President Obama stumble a little as he repeated Chief Justice Roberts' recitation of the words of the oath of office. Right then, Mr. Obama appeared a little excited, nervous and as perfectly human and flawed as everyone else. It heartened me to be reminded that whatever his confident exterior is at any other time, he's just a guy with a really important job, and that he needs a lot of support (in addition to much-needed and guaranteed criticsm) to perform it well. Regardless of what anyone says about his predecessor, Mr. Bush, that is also what I liked about him. Yes, I laughed at his gaffes and yes, I was indignant at his apparent arrogance, but the fact that he acknowledged and all but embraced his flaws, allowed me to have a little more compassion for the man than many of my acquaintances did.
Mr. Obama is not perfect; he is not the answer to all our problems or the savior of the U.S. and the world. He might be a rockstar, but as we all know, rockstars have problems of their own (see also Axl Rose, Metallica, Michael Jackson, Ozzy, Elton John, etc). Let's not put him on too high a pedestal, so we won't be too angry at how far he falls in our estimation and so he can't lose touch with the people he has sworn to serve.
Of course, the obvious moment of history-in-the-making was not lost on me, but the rockstar reception for Mr. Obama as he took his place before reciting the oath of office surprised me. I suppose I should not have been surprised, as it seems the "O-BA-MA!" chant has become almost de rigueur at his appearances.
Notwithstanding, the apparent orderliness of the crowd surprised me even more. Yes, I know the security was tight and it was COLD, but I like to think that nobody wanted to ruin the once-in-a-lifetime occasion for themselves or anyone else. I'm sure there were moments of unruliness and there may have been protestors out there somewhere; in fact, I desperately hope that if there were, the news outlets covered them, too. Just because the inauguration seems to have been the moment 'everyone' had been waiting for, it's no excuse for limiting all aspects of coverage to only the picturesque images of public inspiration.
And most of all, I was pleasantly surprised to see and hear President Obama stumble a little as he repeated Chief Justice Roberts' recitation of the words of the oath of office. Right then, Mr. Obama appeared a little excited, nervous and as perfectly human and flawed as everyone else. It heartened me to be reminded that whatever his confident exterior is at any other time, he's just a guy with a really important job, and that he needs a lot of support (in addition to much-needed and guaranteed criticsm) to perform it well. Regardless of what anyone says about his predecessor, Mr. Bush, that is also what I liked about him. Yes, I laughed at his gaffes and yes, I was indignant at his apparent arrogance, but the fact that he acknowledged and all but embraced his flaws, allowed me to have a little more compassion for the man than many of my acquaintances did.
Mr. Obama is not perfect; he is not the answer to all our problems or the savior of the U.S. and the world. He might be a rockstar, but as we all know, rockstars have problems of their own (see also Axl Rose, Metallica, Michael Jackson, Ozzy, Elton John, etc). Let's not put him on too high a pedestal, so we won't be too angry at how far he falls in our estimation and so he can't lose touch with the people he has sworn to serve.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
At least they're still employed
The New York Times reported on its Web site today that Gannett, the parent company of USA Today, will be sending thousands of its employees home for a week without pay. This decision, coming as it does amidst an industry-wide economic shake-up, is part of the company's strategy to cut costs without cutting staff. Even Craig A. Dubow, the chairman, president and chief executive of the company is not exempt.
I almost applied to one of the Gannett papers, but didn't because I would have had no way to get to or from work. Although it seems that "last hired, first fired" will be inapplicable in this situation (so far), perhaps for me it's all for the best in terms of my personal development.
You know, the whole building confidence, taking initiative, truly knowing one's capabilities and talents thing?
Yeah, that.
I almost applied to one of the Gannett papers, but didn't because I would have had no way to get to or from work. Although it seems that "last hired, first fired" will be inapplicable in this situation (so far), perhaps for me it's all for the best in terms of my personal development.
You know, the whole building confidence, taking initiative, truly knowing one's capabilities and talents thing?
Yeah, that.
Friday, January 9, 2009
First freelancing assignment!
One evening a couple of weeks ago, I stopped by the office of a local quarterly magazine to ask about the freelance opportunities I saw mentioned on its website. The graphic designer, who was the last person left in the office, gave me the editor's business card and advice on how and when best to contact her.
I followed her advice, sending off an e-mail query on Dec. 30, after the publication deadline for the last issue along with clips of my work.
Yesterday, the editor called, raving approvingly about my clips, particularly the somewhat twisted nut graf of one of my magazine articles. She interviewed me over the phone and gave me two assignments on the spot with a February deadline and asked if I would consider copyediting as well.
The sun broke through the clouds, warming the earth into spring with birdsongs and blooms; the angels began to sing and I rose into the sweet, rose-scented air.
OK, not really, but that's how I felt.
This morning my editor (I can say that now!) sent me the contact information for my subject, and I called to make interview appointments. One my subjects still hasn't returned my call, but that's fine; I'll phone tag her next week. The other said, "How about in half an hour?" And that, my friends, is why you should always dress for work even when you are working from home. I showered and dressed in record time, and got to the location just in time. Lucky me, it was within walking distance from home.
On the way, while I was scribbling away in my notebook, jotting down questions to ask, the president of the local chapter of the NAACP stopped me, pegging me for a journalist and gave me information about upcoming events. I think he hopes I will cover the events or otherwise report on them. I just might, pitching it to the local paper as a stringer assignment.
AND, at the interview site, the publisher of the magazine showed up. We were introduced by my interview subject, which was a little AWKWARD! (The publisher didn't know I'd been brought on yet.) But it was all good.
Now, after the interview, I just have to write the article (a short one) but first, I have to find the "so what?"-- the story that's hidden in all the information.
I followed her advice, sending off an e-mail query on Dec. 30, after the publication deadline for the last issue along with clips of my work.
Yesterday, the editor called, raving approvingly about my clips, particularly the somewhat twisted nut graf of one of my magazine articles. She interviewed me over the phone and gave me two assignments on the spot with a February deadline and asked if I would consider copyediting as well.
The sun broke through the clouds, warming the earth into spring with birdsongs and blooms; the angels began to sing and I rose into the sweet, rose-scented air.
OK, not really, but that's how I felt.
This morning my editor (I can say that now!) sent me the contact information for my subject, and I called to make interview appointments. One my subjects still hasn't returned my call, but that's fine; I'll phone tag her next week. The other said, "How about in half an hour?" And that, my friends, is why you should always dress for work even when you are working from home. I showered and dressed in record time, and got to the location just in time. Lucky me, it was within walking distance from home.
On the way, while I was scribbling away in my notebook, jotting down questions to ask, the president of the local chapter of the NAACP stopped me, pegging me for a journalist and gave me information about upcoming events. I think he hopes I will cover the events or otherwise report on them. I just might, pitching it to the local paper as a stringer assignment.
AND, at the interview site, the publisher of the magazine showed up. We were introduced by my interview subject, which was a little AWKWARD! (The publisher didn't know I'd been brought on yet.) But it was all good.
Now, after the interview, I just have to write the article (a short one) but first, I have to find the "so what?"-- the story that's hidden in all the information.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Plausible plagiarism?
Yesterday, the New York Times posted a story on its Web site about a well-known inspirational writer, Neale Donald Walsch, who admitted to plagiarizing an essay written ten years ago by Candy Chand about her son's Christmas pageant.
In his defense, according to the NYT article, Walsch says that "over the years I had it memorized" and "internalized it as my own experience" and that "I am chagrined and astonished that my mind could play such a trick on me."
Chand's response: “Quite frankly, I’m not buying it.”
And you, Dear Reader: are you buying his explanation?
How likely is it to you that any adult, let alone a professional writer, could fall victim to such a mental trick? I'm not asking if it's possible (the mind is an amazing, mysterious and powerful organ), but if it's plausible.
In his defense, according to the NYT article, Walsch says that "over the years I had it memorized" and "internalized it as my own experience" and that "I am chagrined and astonished that my mind could play such a trick on me."
Chand's response: “Quite frankly, I’m not buying it.”
And you, Dear Reader: are you buying his explanation?
How likely is it to you that any adult, let alone a professional writer, could fall victim to such a mental trick? I'm not asking if it's possible (the mind is an amazing, mysterious and powerful organ), but if it's plausible.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Considering other options
Nearly all my life, family members and friends have told me I'd make an excellent teacher. Of course, I doubted and denied any such possibility. After all, just because they think I'd be good at something doesn't mean I'd like it.
I'm having second thoughts now.
The reason everyone believes that "ME = great teacher," is because I spent a lot of time doing just that -- teaching in some form. In high school, I was a tutor. One of my jobs in college was as a writing coach. Preschoolers, kindergarteners and children up to third grade were my charges at church. I was even a private tutor/teacher for two elementary-level children. I even trained new employees at several of my jobs. Somehow, I always seem to end up teaching somebody something.
That, and the fact that I have, as one friend says, "the patience of God." (Sweet of him to say so, although I know better!)
Perhaps the solution is not to go back to school for teacher certification so I can teach at a public school or teaching at a private school. Traditional teaching takes up a person's entire life -- that's why it's considered a calling, not just a career (many of my friends and several family members are/were teachers) -- and I admit to being too selfish to make that kind of commitment to other people's kids. However, being a teacher's aide or assistant might be just the ticket. And depending on the class, I'd still get to work with words in a kind of editing capacity.
Hm...
I'm having second thoughts now.
The reason everyone believes that "ME = great teacher," is because I spent a lot of time doing just that -- teaching in some form. In high school, I was a tutor. One of my jobs in college was as a writing coach. Preschoolers, kindergarteners and children up to third grade were my charges at church. I was even a private tutor/teacher for two elementary-level children. I even trained new employees at several of my jobs. Somehow, I always seem to end up teaching somebody something.
That, and the fact that I have, as one friend says, "the patience of God." (Sweet of him to say so, although I know better!)
Perhaps the solution is not to go back to school for teacher certification so I can teach at a public school or teaching at a private school. Traditional teaching takes up a person's entire life -- that's why it's considered a calling, not just a career (many of my friends and several family members are/were teachers) -- and I admit to being too selfish to make that kind of commitment to other people's kids. However, being a teacher's aide or assistant might be just the ticket. And depending on the class, I'd still get to work with words in a kind of editing capacity.
Hm...
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