How to donate beer to the Society for News Design silent auction in STL

The Society for News Design is collecting items for the SND Foundation silent auction. To learn more about that, check out Things you can donate to the Society for News Design silent auction in STL. One of the things they’re looking for is a golconda of beer. Know a good beer that you can’t get in St. Louis? Ship it to the auction.

They have a good start but need your help by Sept. 10th. So, you’ve got this week, folks.

Here’s what to do:

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1. Identify a microbrew you like

It can be a beer from a micro-brewery down the street, or a place you found on vacation.

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2. Get 6-packs of said beer

Some microbreweries will let you buy 6-packs online.

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3. Send your beer to St. Louis!

Send to:

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Attn: Laura Black, Newsroom

900 N. Tucker Blvd.

St. Louis, MO 63101

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4. Tell your buddies

Talk up your beer donation to your friends when perusing the auction. Tell them it’s made with unicorn tears.

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The Society for News Design is seeking any support from SND members, their publications and friends to provide donations. All money raised goes to supporting the Foundation’s work helping educate and inspire future generations of visual journalists, from research to travel grants and scholarships.

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Things you can donate to the Society for News Design silent auction in STL

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The Society for News Design

Things you can donate to the Society for News Design silent auction in STL

The Society for News Design’s convention and workshop in St. Louis is less than four weeks away. SND is collecting items for the SND Foundation silent auction and looking for any support from SND members, their publications and friends to provide donations. All money raised goes to supporting the Foundation’s work helping educate and inspire future generations of visual journalists, from research to travel grants and scholarships.

They have a good start but need your help by Sept. 10th. So, you’ve got this week, folks.

Here are some things you can donate:

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Micro-brewed beers from all over the world

Send us six-packs of the best micro-brews you know, whether they come from your neck of the woods or someplace else you’ve liked. More information on that here.

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Gift certificates

We’ll take gift cards and certificates to any businesses or services that are nationally available.

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Unique design, crafts, photos, pages, prints or artwork

This, of course, includes historic newspaper pages. Framed, ideally.

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Travel packages

Have a time share? A weekend get-away nearby? Donate it!

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Local flair

Pull together a package of your local favorite items. See if you can beat Steve Dorsey’s “Detroit Hustles Harder” package from last year. If we get a flair package from Salina, Kan., I will donate $100. Even if I don’t win the bid. The onus is on you, Kansans.

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Sports or collectable paraphernalia

We especially love signed work.

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Consulting or creative service time

Looking to get your name “out there”? This could be a good marketing opportunity for you.

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Software or hardware

iPads are always welcome!

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How to donate beer to the Society for News Design silent auction in STL

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My moot point against Rick Springfield and “Jessie’s Girl”

Happy Birthday to Rick Springfield, who turns 62 on Tuesday. He is best remembered for his 1981 song, “Jessie’s Girl.” And best known to my friends as the guy who spawned my now defunct war on the word “moot.”

When I was a copy editing intern, my friend and I bonded over stories of our favorite pet peeves and word misuses. I had the pedestrian ones everyone has: “their/there/they’re” and “you’re/your.” But my friend one-upped me with her distaste for Rick Springfield and his use of the word moot.

I was intrigued. Why would this bug a copy editor? In the song, Rick declares his love for his friend’s girlfriend. He says, “I want to tell her that I love her, but the point is probably moot.”

That use of the word is acceptable in the vernacular, but according to Merriam-Webster, the word has two meanings:

  1. open to question : debatable : subjected to discussion : disputed
  2. deprived of practical significance : made abstract or purely academic

Similarly, the definitions from the OED:

  1. Originally in Law, of a case, issue, etc.: proposed for discussion at a moot (MOOT n.1 4). Later also gen.: open to argument, debatable; uncertain, doubtful; unable to be firmly resolved. Freq. in moot case, [moot] point.
  2. N. Amer. (orig. Law). Of a case, issue, etc.: having no practical significance or relevance; abstract, academic. Now the usual sense in North America.

“Jessie’s Girl” used the word in its second meaning: not worth debating, already decided, irrelevant, etc. But that wasn’t the FIRST definition given in the dictionaries, and upon later, research, it wasn’t necessarily the original definition of the word.

According to TheFreeDictionary.com:

The adjective moot is originally a legal term going back to the mid-16th century. It derives from the noun moot, in its sense of a hypothetical case argued as an exercise by law students. Consequently, a moot question is one that is arguable or open to debate. But in the mid-19th century people also began to look at the hypothetical side of moot as its essential meaning, and they started to use the word to mean “of no significance or relevance.” Thus, a moot point, however debatable, is one that has no practical value. A number of critics have objected to this use, but 59 percent of the Usage Panel accepts it in the sentence The nominee himself chastised the White House for failing to do more to support him, but his concerns became moot when a number of Republicans announced that they, too, would oppose the nomination. When using moot one should be sure that the context makes clear which sense is meant.

Back then, we zealous 22-year-old copy editors thought that the first definition should be the primary definition and that it must be Rick Springfield’s fault for the opposite definition. In our minds, the word had meant  “disputed, debatable and open to discussion” until the very moment he released “Jessie’s Girl” as a single.

From that moment on, I adopted my friend’s dislike for Rick Springfield. I disparaged him whenever I heard him.

On a movie soundtrack…


On a jukebox…

This went on for about four years. Then, I became more accepting of the changing nature of words. Many people will say “podium” when they mean “lectern.” “Presently,” which meant “in the immediate future,” became an acceptable substitute for “currently.” If we were really sticklers for word use, Otis Redding’s “(Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay” would really be “(Sittin’ On) The Pier Of The Bay.” The dock, which can mean “landing pier,” also means the water right around the pier.

But we’ve forgiven those deviations and have even incorporated them into our language. And, as language evolves, it’s important to recognize what people will understand and won’t understand. If most people know “moot” to mean “irrelevant” and “not debatable,” then I’m fighting a losing battle if I try to use the original meaning. Language evolves, and so I had to evolve as well.

So I had to find another reason to mock Rick Springfield.

For more on the word “moot,” check out this blog post on Talk Wordy To Me.

WEB COMIC: The conversation many journalists hate, pt. 1

I sometimes wonder what it would be like if we were all so cavalier to introduce our grievances about topic X as soon as we learn about someone’s allegiance to said topic. Or how inappropriate it would be if we talked about a stranger’s recently deceased relatives the way we talk about their recently laid-off colleagues.

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Web Comic: 10 Reasons You Should Hire A Journalist

I can haz iPhone alarm?

I’m sure you’ve heard about the mishap with the iPhone alarms by now:

When a bug kept iPhone and iPod touch alarms from sounding on Jan. 1 and Jan. 2, Apple suggested that those having trouble should set recurring alarms, and that the alarms would fix themselves by Jan. 3, the first work day of 2011.

But users are still reporting problems with the alarms Monday morning. The term “iphone alarm problem” was trending high on Google as those who overslept stumbled to their computers to figure out what was wrong.

If this is the worst thing in 2011, I think we’ll be fine. More than fine.

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UPDATE

I just tested one of my alarms that’s set up to go off every day, and it worked. I also tested a one-time alarm that’s set up to never repeat, and it also worked. So, in Pat Garvin’s world, the alarms work once again.

Web Comic: Ya Know It Gets Cold In Boston, Right?

It’s been a month and a few days since I moved to Boston. It’s a great city, with a golconda of opportunities. There’s an active arts community. The umpteen colleges and universities provide no end to the conversations I get to overhear on the bus and at coffee houses. And the Red Sox are discussed every day, even in the off-season.

But one thing trumps those things in the perception of Boston.

“Ya know it gets cold, right?”

I’ve long hated “Ya know (fill in the blank),” but now, I fight the urge to scream whenever I hear it. Because it gets cold here, ya know.

Web Comic: Thanks, Roger Ebert!

So, on Monday of this week, I got a Facebook message that one Roger Ebert posted one of my web comics on his Facebook page. It was the one where I took Jill Geisler’s 10 Reasons to Hire a Journalist and added some of my own personality.

I’ve gotten lots of feedback on that comic, and have been so humbled by it. But to get a living legend such as Roger Ebert to even see it, let alone re-post it, was pretty satisfying.

I still can’t tell if he liked it — all he wrote was, “This is not a joke. A trained newspaperman thinks a great many other people are not…real…sharp.” But hey, he posted it. So, thanks, Roger!

Special thanks to my friends Katie and Josh for tipping me off. If you’re looking for freelancers in New Orleans (or elsewhere), look up Katie Ide and Josh Crank. SEO, copy editing, writing, saving the world… they can do it all.

And, of course, Jill Geisler continues to be awesome. And really sweet and nice.

Web Comic: Facebook is Leaking Our Info? OMG!

By now you’ve heard about the Facebook privacy breach in which certain apps had been transmitting user IDs to advertising and Internet-tracking companies. And by now you’ve probably heard that the cochairmen of the House Bipartisan Privacy Caucus have some questions for Facebook about said privacy breach.

In essence, though, for those of you who missed it:

…the 10 most popular applications on Facebook transmitted users’ IDs to outside companies. Advertisers and other companies could then use such information to build databases on the users and target advertisements to them or sell that information to a third party.

Even careful Facebook users who restricted access to their accounts were affected if they used these apps. It is unclear how long the problem has existed.

Got it? Good.

Web Comic: The Stages of Coming Out

Today, Oct. 11th, is National Coming Out Day in the U.S. (It’s tomorrow, the 12th, in the United Kingdom). Rob Eichberg and Jean O’Leary, who began National Coming Out Day in 1988, encouraged all people, of all sexual orientations, to “take your next step” in living openly and powerfully.

A lot has happened since that first Coming Out Day. Many college campuses have pride groups that have made it a huge event. They offer support to people in all stages of coming out, and encourage those still in the beginning of the process by telling them that they are not alone.

In researching creating this web comic, I found several sources, some of which overlapped:

I stuck primarily with the top link, but did branch out a few times. I take no political stance with this, and any views you’ll find elsewhere on those sites are not mine.

So, without further ado, enjoy!

I discovered through research (and personal experience) that these stages can be experienced in this general order, but can be experienced multiple times and in different orders. Thus, I did not put them in a numbered order.

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The comic is in jest, but this stage can be painful. From EmptyClosets:

At the beginning of every person’s coming out process is a period where that person begins to question his or hers heterosexual identity. This typically happens when a person realizes that he/she is attracted to members of the same sex. They begin to ask themselves the question, “Am I really straight?” It takes some people years to answer that question, where others take less time. Most people are shocked and scared to think that they are not be straight and, therefore, many people deny that they might be lesbian, gay or bisexual. Some people never move on from this stage and live their lives as heterosexuals.

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Most of the resources agreed that this stage is marked by loneliness. More questions come: “Am I really gay? What would that mean? What does being gay look/feel like?”

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The individual begins to come to terms with who he or she is, but might not fully identify with a label, if at all.

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From Psychpage.com:

This stage entails feeling good about oneself, seeking out positive relationships with other gays or lesbians, and feeling satisfied and fulfilled.

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This. Is. Terrifying. But hopefully, it will be only because of your fears and not because of how people react. The reactions can span the spectrum from anger and disbelief to total acceptance. You might be surprised as to who is accepting and who is shocked.

From EmptyClosets:

If you feel that you are currently in this stage, do not feel obligated to come out to everyone yet. Take your time and think before you tell. Throughout your coming out process some people will take the news well and some will take it harshly. During the first few stages of coming out harsh reactions to your news will hurt worse than if you waited until later. Again, this site is just a set of general guidelines. It is important that you listen to your intuition and only do what feels comfortable to you. Play it safe, but be sure to find support somehow.

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With the sense of shame gone, the individual will approach what makes him or her different with a sense of pride. Some will be taken aback by this new sense of confidence in the individual and accuse him or her of being “militant.”

From EmptyClosets:

You will most likely be less shy about your sexuality… You will begin to feel more comfortable talking about your sexuality and will most likely come out to more of your friends. In this stage you will also begin to meet and become friends with other lesbians, gays and bisexuals. You will most likely begin to explore gay and lesbian culture by visiting bars, clubs and other hangouts.

In most of these later stages, the resources mention the continued importance of gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender people seeking comfort in others like them.

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From Psychology Today:

At this stage of integration, the “them and us” concept breaks down. Gays and lesbians begin to understand that not all heterosexuals are homophobes.

Although, that understanding can from in earlier stages.

After a while, you’ll think of yourself as being more than just LGBT. From About.com:

You might have a more holistic view of yourself and feel equally comfortable in straight and GLBT environments. Your identity is integrated with all aspects of yourself.

The process won’t completely end, as your life’s cast of characters is never static. From EmptyClosets:

In this stage, being lesbian, gay or bisexual becomes just another part of who you are. There will always be new people in your life that you will have to come out to, so in a sense the process of coming out never really ends. However, in this final stage coming out becomes less of an issue and more of a part of life.

These steps only scratch at some of the emotions and situations experienced when coming out. Each person does it differently, and in different orders. Most of these resources all say that there’s no “right way” to do it. So, if you’re beginning your process or further along in your “coming out” journey, these are just fluid guidelines.

Web Comic: Why I Don’t Have Pets (Yet)

Happy St. Francis of Assisi Feast Day!

Who’s he, you ask? Well, he’s the patron saint of animals, of course! Every year on October 4 (or the weekend closest to it), many churches offer ceremonies to bless animals. At my parish growing up, people mainly brought dogs, but I’ve heard that other churches have people bringing cats, birds, iguanas, fish, turtles, frogs, wookiees and more. Perhaps a sarlacc or a rancor, even.

Anywho, in honor of those of you who have pets, I brushed off my very first web comic that I created in January but never posted. Until now, of course.

Additionally, I don’t have animals/aminals because:

  • My building doesn’t allow animals.
  • I’ve realized I’m allergic to things that shed.
  • I work weird hours and can’t always count on when I’ll be home.

When I settle down with someone, I imagine we’ll get a dog or something so our kids won’t hate us later. Until then, I’m without a pet.