Word of the Week #5

Word: Nebulosity
Source: A Tour of the Monuments of Passaic New Jersey. Robert Smithson: The Collected Writings
How it was used: "Everything about the site remained wrapped in blandness and littered with shiny cars-- one after another they extended into a sunny nebulosity."
Definition: 1. A cloud or haze; hazy 2. (of a concept or idea) Something that is unclear, vague, or ill-defined. (n.)
My sentence: As a began to lose consciousness, the world around me turned into a opaque nebulosity.

Copy Edit the World

Words in red are errors

1. Ninersnation.com: "I recall hearing somewhere that McCloughan (or maybe it was Nolan) didn't hav much interest in doling out big cash for guards, thus the reason Justin Smiley walked."
Correction: The word "hav" is misspelled. It should be "have". (2 points)

2. Cancun Taqueria Menu: "* Includes your choice of one ;:;rtree. All entrees are serve w / rice choice of beans, corn or flour tortillas, Queso fresco, Guacamole, nopales salad, chips and a salsa bar."
Correction: The word ";:;rtree" is completely messed up. It is supposed to say "entree".
(4 points)

3. Butter Restaurant Menu: " DUCK, GOOSE AND CRIPSY PORK "CRACKLIN" SALAD"
Correction: The word "cripsy" is misspelled and is supposed to be "crispy". I was very surprised when I saw this considering the chef who owns this restaurant is very well-known.
(4 points)

Beer Truck Exercise (revised)

A beer truck caught fire on the Bay Bridge just after 1 p.m. yesterday, causing the California Highway Patrol to shut down all of the bridge's eastbound lanes.

According to the CHP, neither the driver of the truck, nor any other drivers were injured.

Traffic was clogged for around 45 minutes along a number of Bay Area freeways due to stranded drivers getting out of their vehicles.

The burned truck was finally cleared from the roadway just before 6 p.m.

Word of the Week #4

Word: Stagflation
Source: MSNBC.com
How it was used: And if you have inflation in a recession, you get stagflation, the disease that left the U.S. economy and stock market in ruins throughout most of the 1970s.
Definition: An inflationary period accompanied by rising unemployment and lack of growth in consumer demand and business activity. (n.)
My sentence: The stagflation period that we are currently experiencing in the U.S. is full of inflation and job loss.

Telling Details (revised)

As I walked through the double-doors at Starbucks, I noticed the refreshing smell of coffee, the all so common background noise of blenders, and heard the quiet chatter of my peers around me.

I saw what looked to be a couple sitting down on a comfortable sofa near me-- both the man and woman keeping in constant contact as they enjoyed their coffee and muffins.

While observing these people was also struck by the sights and sounds of the rain leaving its mark on the building. A collection of water ran down the window sills as I heard the popping noise of the water droplets bouncing off the roof.

Word of the Week #3

Word: Poignant
Source: HOW TO WRITE TELEVISION NEWS
How it was used: It is often what makes a story poignant and interesting.
Definition: 1. pungently pervasive 2. deeply affecting 3. pleasurably stimulating (adj.)
My sentence: After reading the poignant article in the newspaper, I was inspired to follow it's message.

Word of the Week #2

Word: Dint
Source: Everything They Had: Sports Writing from David Halberstam
How it was used: " He has had very good players, by dint of George Steinbrenner's passion to win, and his players are by and large, mature, unusually self-reliant men (especially when calibrated on the Richter Scale of contemporary athletic maturity..
Definition: 1. archaic 2. force power (n., transitive verb)
My sentence: I knew that I should not talk back to my teacher, by dint of her failing me.

Journal Writing #1- My favorite writing

The article that I chose to discuss is from a compilation of sports articles written by the journalist David Halberstam. After reading this article, I realized that I could read it over and over again until my eyes begin to hurt. Growing up as a basketball player and fan throughout the 1990's, there was always one iconic figure who stood out above the rest. This man was Michael Jordan. The main reason I love this article and writer is because of the unique writing style Halberstam uses. Most sports articles are known for simply eliciting the facts to the reader- the score, the lineup, who played well, and who did not. Halberstam, however, is far different, telling a story and evoking emotion out of the reader.

In the article, Say it aint so, Mike, Halberstam perfectly depicts the intimidation I get from Jordan's larger than life persona. " I realize, having watched him for many seasons from a distance, and up close in what was at the time his final season, that the most dangerous thing in the world is to tell Michael he can't do something-- he almost surely will then go out and prove you wrong, just for the pleasure of that, of humiliating not merely opposing defenders, but writers as well."

Halberstam goes on to reveal his opposition of Jordan's return to the NBA after his magical season with the 1998 Chicago Bulls. The main reason why I love his writing is his ability to convey an argument that I agree with through his story telling language and style.

Author: David Halberstam
Book Title: Everything They Had, Sports Writing From David Halberstam
Page: 206
Date of Publication: 2008

Word of the Week #1

Word: backlog (n.)
Definition: An accumulation of something, esp. uncompleted work or matters that need to be dealt with.
Sentence: It exhausted the allocation each of the last four years within six months as the money went to pay a backlog of claims.
Source: States struggle to fund crime compensation. www.msnbc.com
My Sentence: My procrastination led to many hours of working on a backlog of homework.