I'm sitting in the cafeteria at Luther Seminary and someone dropped some glass shattering into a plethora of glass shards. This reminded me of a similar situation that happened to me.
When I was at Normandale, I dropped a bottle of pop which as-ploded. Deeply embarrassed, I helped clean it up, grabbed a new soda, and moved to the cashier to pay.
Pointing at the spot where my mess had been, I say, "I'd like to pay for that." "No," he replied,"you have to pay for that." Confused, I said, "That's what I said, 'I'd like to pay for that.'" Looking quite pissed off, he said, "You still have to pay for that." Realizing my defeat, I gave up trying to pay for it. "OK?!" I said as I handed him the money covering my mistake and my purchases.
I avoided his line for the rest of my tenure. He was an angry man.
Yet another pointless post. I hope all is well with you all.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Sunday, November 01, 2009
Nouns and Verbs
I am sick of people misusing the English language.... part 1.
I understand that taking a noun and turning it into a verb can strengthen the sentence. However, when it happens consistently, it cheapens any use of the word entirely.
I have been to too many weddings where the couples "covenant" each other. For crying out loud, MAKE a covenant. Do they not think that by creating a bond they are doing something more important than screwing up the English language? I know that covenant is officially a verb now in newer dictionaries, but I wholly refuse to use it that way. Another verbed noun is to gift. I hear this and I cringe.What's most interesting to me is the fact that I "text," "friend" people on facebook, "re-gift," and "verb" various other nouns, but for some reason "gift" and "covenant" are verboten.
With neologisms abounding in this post-modern world, I'll either have to adapt or be pissed off. It's obvious which I've chosen.
I understand that taking a noun and turning it into a verb can strengthen the sentence. However, when it happens consistently, it cheapens any use of the word entirely.
I have been to too many weddings where the couples "covenant" each other. For crying out loud, MAKE a covenant. Do they not think that by creating a bond they are doing something more important than screwing up the English language? I know that covenant is officially a verb now in newer dictionaries, but I wholly refuse to use it that way. Another verbed noun is to gift. I hear this and I cringe.What's most interesting to me is the fact that I "text," "friend" people on facebook, "re-gift," and "verb" various other nouns, but for some reason "gift" and "covenant" are verboten.
With neologisms abounding in this post-modern world, I'll either have to adapt or be pissed off. It's obvious which I've chosen.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Month and Assistance
I feel so silly. I haven't written in over a month and the future appears to be bleak as well. NAtional NOvel WRiting MOnth is coming up in a few weeks and I desperately wanted to contribute, but I realize that I have no interest in writing a crappy novel (It would be crappy if I wrote it). I do, however, have an interest in writing two other things. The first is really a series of articles about music and worship, the second is music.
The later one is more ambiguous because I have a lot of ideas floating in my head. I could write something that would get published. I could write for my handbell group. I could write for choir. The list goes on.
So, that's what I'm going to do. Write a ton of music, but not until Dec. It's slower at school, but busier at work. I could do it in January, but there's a family vacation in the middle and I won't have access to my computer, a keyboard, etc. So I will have my own NAMUWRIMO, in December.
Now here's the rub. NANOWRIMO has rules. Therefore, I need rules. Well, I need rules otherwise I won't do any of it. For NANOWRIMO, the competitor writes 50,000 words (750 pages) in 30 days. It has to be new material, no rewrites, etc. It doesn't explicitly state that a collection of short stories is outlawed, but it is implied.
I don't care to write a novel-length piece of music (i.e. a symphony), so that last implied rule is a kicker to me. Should I just tell myself that I need 750 pages (12,000 measures at 16m. a page) of music in any form? That's 400 measures a day!
I seriously need to rethink that. Well, I have a month and a bit to decide the rules. I think 400 measures a day are inequivalent to the 5-6 pages a day for the novel.
Your thoughts?
The later one is more ambiguous because I have a lot of ideas floating in my head. I could write something that would get published. I could write for my handbell group. I could write for choir. The list goes on.
So, that's what I'm going to do. Write a ton of music, but not until Dec. It's slower at school, but busier at work. I could do it in January, but there's a family vacation in the middle and I won't have access to my computer, a keyboard, etc. So I will have my own NAMUWRIMO, in December.
Now here's the rub. NANOWRIMO has rules. Therefore, I need rules. Well, I need rules otherwise I won't do any of it. For NANOWRIMO, the competitor writes 50,000 words (750 pages) in 30 days. It has to be new material, no rewrites, etc. It doesn't explicitly state that a collection of short stories is outlawed, but it is implied.
I don't care to write a novel-length piece of music (i.e. a symphony), so that last implied rule is a kicker to me. Should I just tell myself that I need 750 pages (12,000 measures at 16m. a page) of music in any form? That's 400 measures a day!
I seriously need to rethink that. Well, I have a month and a bit to decide the rules. I think 400 measures a day are inequivalent to the 5-6 pages a day for the novel.
Your thoughts?
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