Week 8

Word of the Week: Effigy

The word effigy was found in an article by USA Today about the condition with Libya. It was found in a Feb. 27 article titled “Libya rebels gear up for fight in city near capital.” The story can be found by clicking on the following link:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2011-02-27-libya-zawiya_N.htm

The word was found in the sentence that stated, “An effigy of the Gadhafi hung from a light pole in the city’s main square.” Effigy in this sentence sounds like it means some sort of banner or poster that symbolizes some sort of political or religious expression.

Effigy-[MF effigie, fr. L effigies, fr. Effingere to form, fr. ex- + fingere to shape – more at DOUGH] –an image or representation esp. of a person.

            The word was interesting because I like the way it sounds, and it seemed somewhat familiar like I might of heard someone used it before.

Catch of the Week:

I recently received a wedding invitation from my brother who will be getting married soon. The invitation stated, “Your invited.”  That grammar mistake immediately caught my attention. The invitation should have stated “You’re invited.” Whoever wrote the message used the possessive form of the word instead of using the contraction that can also be stated as “You are.”

Headline Challenge:

I found an article from The Gainesville Sun with the headline “GPD major's family thanks his rescuers.”  The article can be found by clicking on the following link:

http://www.gainesville.com/article/20110211/COLUMNISTS/110219852/1020/news01?Title=GPD-major-s-family-thanks-his-rescuers&tc=ar

Improved headline: Family thanks rescuers for quickness

Favorite passage of the week:

My favorite passage of the week comes from an article by Rick Bragg, which was published in the St. Petersburg Times on Sept. 1, 1991 titled “The Story of Dirty Red.”  The lead states “The neighborhood has low rent and no trees, a leaky bucket of a place where dreams seem to run right on through.” I really like this line because it vividly paints a picture of the setting.  The place is obviously a public housing complex where people have dreams of things that are much bigger than the picture they see every day in their environment.  

Cutline 1

Boy Shield

Muhammed Badwan, a Palestinian 13-year-old boy is tied to an Israeli security vehicle. He was grabbed by officers after he was caught throwing stones with other teenagers and used a shield to prevent any further damage to the vehicle by demonstrators.

Hummer and Bus

A 2006 Humvee slams into the back of a Centerville School Bus carrying five students. The crash occurred Saturday afternoon at around 3 p.m. at the intersection of Portry Avenue and 15 Street.

Week 7

Word of the Week: Avert

The word was founded on an article by the New York Times on Feb. 18 with the headline “Bahrain Turmoil Poses Fresh Test for White House.” The article can be found by clicking on the following URL:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/18/world/middleeast/18bahrain.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=Bahrain%20Turmoil%20Poses%20Fresh%20Test%20for%20White%20House&st=cse

The word “avert” was used in a way that suggested that it meant to obtain or acquire something. I found the word interesting because the word was not only foreign to me, but it was also short. It seemed to be a novice word that I wouldn’t have an issue remembering in the future if I chose to use it more frequently. According to Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, Avert can mean 1: “to turn away or aside (as the eyes) in avoidance.” It can also mean 2: “to see coming and ward off: Avoid.”

Catch of the Week

In Walmart, there is a sign that states “less than 10 items.” It should actually say “fewer than 10 items” because it is referring to a discrete number.

Headline Challenge

The following headline would be considered a duh headline:

“Witness stops robbery.”  

The headline can be found at the Gainesville Sun website by clicking on the following link:

http://www.gainesville.com/article/20110219/ARTICLES/110219392/1169?Title=Witness-stops-robbery

Revised Headline: “Man stops teen robbery”

Favorite Passage of the Week:

I found the lede of an article found on Friday’s edition of the New York Times to be interesting. The article stated “After a couple of days in this part of rural Alabama, it is hard to complain about a dropped iphone call or a Cee Lo video that takes a few seconds too long to load.”

It was a clever lede, because it gives us a glimpse of everyday technological problems that are often encountered by Americans, and it foreshadows what the story is about and the issue that people living in Coffeeville Alabama must encounter.

You can access the article by clicking on the following link:  

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/18/us/18broadband.html

Guv

Fort Lauderdale Government

-Fort Lauderdale Police Department

-Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue
-Fort Lauderdale Building Department

-Fort Lauderdale Parking and Fleet Services Office

-Fort Lauderdale Parks and Recreation Department

-Fort Lauderdale Department of Economic Development

Broward County Government

-County Attorney

-County Auditor

-Elections Supervisor

-Property Appraiser

-Sherriff’s Office

-Planning Council

-Assistant County Administrator

-County Administrator

-Deputy County Administrator

-Office of Medical Examiner and Trauma Services

-Office of Public Communications

-Office of Intergovt. Affairs and Prof. STNDS

-Assistant to County Administrator

-Office of Management and Budget

-Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau

-Office of Economic and Small Business Development