October 2007

Thirteen Observations About Life

October 31, 2007

Thirteen Observations About Life Gardening Rule: When weeding, the best way to make sure you are removing a weed and not a valuable plant is to pull on it. If it comes out of the ground easily, it is a valuable plant. The easiest way to find something that you lost in your house is to […]

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Wordless Wednesday

October 30, 2007

A happy 1990 Halloween: My father, whose birthday was October 30, bouncing a happy little frog (my youngest nephew) on his knee. That little frog celebrated his 18th birthday last Thursday, October 25. Topics: Wordless Wednesday

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The Power of Words and Need for Restraint

October 29, 2007

Everyone who knows me or reads my personal blog knows that I am a fanatic for “The Sopranos.” (And yes, I’m still mourning the series and hoping that David Chase really does have a movie planned.) Nearly all of the characters used extremely rough and vulgar language from time to time, depending upon the plot […]

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Photo Hunt: Pink

October 26, 2007

As we were driving west on Interstate 80 out of Davis, I snapped this photo of the sun setting over the hills because I thought the pink skyline was beautiful. [tags]Photo Hunt[/tags] Topics: Photo Hunt

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Four for Friday Edition No. 6

October 26, 2007

Q1 — What is one of your favorite words?

Hope.

Q2 — How do react when you are out in public and approached by someone carrying a clipboard asking for your signature on a petition or requesting that you participate in a survey?

I try to avoid walking by them. If I can’t and they manage to ask me to sign, I politely decline while continuing to walk.

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Thirteen More “Lesser Known” Helpful WordPress Plugins

October 24, 2007

Thirteen More “Lesser Known” Helpful WordPress Plugins Here are thirteen more useful plugins for your consideration: 1. Admin Theme Preview Want to try out a new theme but do not want to make it live and visible to readers while you consider whether to implement and/or modify it? This is a must-have plugin! It allows […]

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Life in the Blogosphere: Comment Moderation or Censorship?

October 22, 2007

There’s an ongoing discussion among bloggers concerning comments. Every so often, the dialogue intensifies before going to the back burner again, only to be revived periodically. In the process, volumes have been written about why the vast majority of readers do not leave comments on blogs and how to encourage them to do so. Many […]

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Wordless Wednesday

October 16, 2007

One way to keep the sun off your face when you’re attending an afternoon college football game was demonstrated by this UC Davis Aggies fan at the Davis — Cal Poly game on Saturday, October 13, 2007. Topics: Wordless Wednesday

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The Most Common Spelling Errors

October 14, 2007

Spelling errors are one of my all-time peeves. Why? Because in a matter of seconds, you can refer to a dictionary to see if you are spelling a word correctly. I believe that taking the time to double-check a word’s correct spelling not only evidences a writer’s respect for his/her readers, but also for him/her […]

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Reading Project: Fat is a Feminist Issue (Week One)

October 14, 2007

Although originally published in 1978, the main theme and sub-theses of Fat is a Feminist Issue, by Susie Orbach, are as timely today as then. In fact, its message is even more relevant and critical to women’s health in an era when bodies “have almost come to define the way our lives can be lived.” We are preoccupied and obsessed with our bodies and, increasingly, “women are not realizing how quickly their lives have become dominated by” concerns about their size and the desire to be a perfect example of what the popular culture, i.e., predominantly the mainstream media, food, fashion, and diet industries, decrees attractive.

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Four for Friday Edition No. 5

October 12, 2007

Q1 — Death and Taxes: When a successful business or corporation shows an interest in relocating to a new city, town or municipality, if the business in question employs a fair amount of people or generates a significant amount of business or prestige for the local area, city officials will often woo or entice the […]

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Friday’s Feast #164

October 11, 2007

Appetizer

When was the last time you were surprised?

About five minutes ago when I walked into my house, sat down to read my e-mails, and saw that Ann Coulter once again opened her insensitive, bigoted mouth. You might think that, given my profession, I would not be surprised by such behavior. But the opposite is true: Just when I think I’ve heard it all …
Coulter draws fire over remarks about Jews
Conservative author offends CNBC host Donny Deutsch with comment

From CNBC and MSNBC

Oct. 11, 2007

Conservative author Ann Coulter finds herself in the middle of a firestorm once again after remarks on a CNBC television show in which she said Jews need “to be perfected” and suggested the nation would be better off if it were all-Christian.

Appearing on “The Big Idea” with host Donny Deutsch on Monday, she said Christians were tolerant of racial diversity but that it “would be a lot easier” for Jews if they were to become Christians.

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Reading Project: Fat is a Feminist Issue

October 11, 2007

I previously mentioned that I would be writing about “Fat is a Feminist Issue” by Susie Orbach. When I read this book nearly 25 years ago, it was a life-changing experience. I have gone back and read parts of it from time to time over the years, but decided that it is time to re-read it in its entirety and write about it here, so I purchased the January 2006 revised edition. Originally, published in 1978, the book has been updated and reissued numerous times.

I invite you to read with me and join in a discussion of the book.

Each Sunday, I will write about successive sections of the book. I am not breaking it into chapters because there are only seven and each is packed with so much information that I think the discussion should be focused upon smaller segments.

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Wordless Wednesday #9

October 9, 2007

That’s me in 1961 at the age of four with my older sister. Note you can see our father’s reflection in the glass as he snaps the photo in front of the living room window of what is now my house. My mother sewed those dresses for us and I still have mine: It is […]

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Wordless Wednesday

October 9, 2007

My mother died October 13, 2005. In some ways, it’s hard to believe it’s been that long. But it also seems like much longer than two years have elapsed. This is the last photo taken … with the four people who mattered most to her. Topics: Wordless Wednesday

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The Generous Spirit of the Blogging Community

October 7, 2007

You can’t pinpoint its exact location on a map, so you can’t get in your car and drive to it. You can’t take your dog for a walk in it. And you can’t describe it by establishing borders and confining it within those markers.

Nonetheless, be assured that the blogging community is just that. A neighborhood.

And just as in our traditional, physical neighborhoods, our blogging neighbors are frequently willing to lend a helping hand, offering support and assistance when we need it.

Today, I want to draw your attention to two of my blogosphere “good neighbors” who went out of their way to help improve the value of my property, Colloquium.

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To Comma or Not to Comma: The Answer

October 7, 2007

To comma or not to comma. That is the question. Whether ’tis nobler and appropriate to place a comma after “and” and “or” when writing a list of three or more items. It is known as the “serial” comma. “There is no consensus among writers or editors on the use of the serial comma,” according […]

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Friday’s Feast #163

October 4, 2007

Appetizer

On a scale of 1–10 with 10 being highest, how much do you look forward to your birthday?

I have a love-hate relationship with my birthday because it is December 21: So close to Christmas that insensitive friends have often carelessly written “P.S. Happy Birthday” in Christmas cards, it is difficult to plan celebrations because everyone is busy with Christmas parties and events, and as a child, I felt cheated because I never had a classroom party (my birthday was always during what was known in those days as “Christmas break”). Thankfully, by the time my kids started school, teachers had “wised up” and all kids whose birthdays fell during breaks picked another day for an “un-birthday” classroom celebration.

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