tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237761122024-03-12T20:17:40.629-05:00Written WordsThoughts and ideas about writing, in books, magazines, the Web, blogs, social networks, and in advertising and business communication — don't be afraid to add your opinion.Scott Buryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05061034006121401082noreply@blogger.comBlogger467125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23776112.post-86379352391215169102015-04-07T07:51:00.000-05:002017-02-21T09:02:41.054-05:00Check out the new look<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzNAyilKSx9Uz_lC_6455pC-XfN66FpmDf-b7FANLtfXToFhlaBrz0CMWfLzbUs_ucm3yIK-_3nhDaqrDCNNyc5rew_EIko0uqUr65_dIN_LzSW0QGKPXjZKmJ2yrCiCaLjUa9/s1600/wordpress_laptop_vert_Titanas-e1303321068775-1024x709.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzNAyilKSx9Uz_lC_6455pC-XfN66FpmDf-b7FANLtfXToFhlaBrz0CMWfLzbUs_ucm3yIK-_3nhDaqrDCNNyc5rew_EIko0uqUr65_dIN_LzSW0QGKPXjZKmJ2yrCiCaLjUa9/s1600/wordpress_laptop_vert_Titanas-e1303321068775-1024x709.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">
Written Words has moved from the worthy Blogger platform to Wordpress. Along with that, as you will see, it sports a new, cleaner look and new functionality. I like the white space, the categories for blog posts and the ability to search through the blog. I hope you do, too.</div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">
<a href="http://writtenword.ca/wordpress/2015/04/do-you-like-the-new-look/">Come over, take a look and leave a comment telling me what you think</a>.</div>
<h3 style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif;">
Why make the change?</h3>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">
The most important difference now is, the Written Words blog is an integral part of my revamped Written Word Communications Company website, <a href="http://writtenword.ca/">writtenword.ca</a>. Since I started the blog years ago—in 2006!—I have wanted to integrate into the website. But mostly because i wasn't willing to invest the time into figuring out how, I never did—until now.</div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">
A couple of months ago, I began an effort to update the <a href="http://writtenword.ca/">writtenword.ca</a> website. I quickly found that cheap or free web layout programs usually are not that easy to use, and worse, are not reliable. Freeway Express, for example, is free, but it inexplicably changed the names of all my image files. If all I wanted to do were to create a nice website that sat on my desktop computer, it was great. But when it came to uploading it to my domain host, well … I’ll tell you about that in a future post, where I review the software in detail.</div>
<br /></div>
Scott Buryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05061034006121401082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23776112.post-10257762967529942952015-03-23T06:57:00.002-05:002015-03-26T12:05:36.627-05:00Onboarding, buying-in and re-skinning: Gerunds gone wild<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="p1">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmG9v329tUfpqM8nwAlWLngAhGd4OEnZUiNj5YfRJu_ck6IVkUklJhMaWeUKvR16D50oCRHgqsgD9XSf3pIP4TQ6OwcNM8DsENPm9FwCFs4q1d168zYVd1zjln25kQ1OCX8ykf/s1600/stefan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmG9v329tUfpqM8nwAlWLngAhGd4OEnZUiNj5YfRJu_ck6IVkUklJhMaWeUKvR16D50oCRHgqsgD9XSf3pIP4TQ6OwcNM8DsENPm9FwCFs4q1d168zYVd1zjln25kQ1OCX8ykf/s1600/stefan.jpg" height="320" width="315" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image courtesy NBC</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today’s hottest buzzword is: “onboarding.”</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A group of corporate Internet professionals has “onboarding” an official part of a major, inter-departmental project, as in “The onboarding phase will continue until buy-in has been obtained from a significant majority of players in this space.”</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Do you see what they’ve done here: defined one buzzword with another in a passive sentence that avoids telling the reader who or what is responsible for the action.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After I pulled my attention away from that disaster of a sentence, my next thought was “What’s the difference between ‘onboarding’ and ‘boarding’?”</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS4bXBNf3xw2wPUc5xWLSKcuVl1HCBZ38cay6wyd8_-hhgVhgvi" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS4bXBNf3xw2wPUc5xWLSKcuVl1HCBZ38cay6wyd8_-hhgVhgvi" /></a></div>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Onboarding—also known as “on-boarding”—means committing to a process. If someone needs others to “onboard,” it means the success of the process or project depends on the commitment of those involved. In other words, you cannot just accept what’s going on—you have to contribute some effort to make the process work. </span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You become a part of the process when you onboard. It suggests something more active than “buy-in.”</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Buy-in has been a trending buzzword for a few years, now. “We have to obtain buy-in to the new paradigm.” I still prefer “accept” or “agree.” But of course, when you buy in—or even better, when you get someone else to buy in, you’re talking or writing like one of the cool kids.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But the best new jargon term I heard has to be “re-skinning.” It means changing the visual appearance of a website or Web page so that it matches an established look. The word revives the concept of “skins” from at least 10 years back—I remember being able to choose different skins, or combinations of colours and icons for various websites or programs.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The most interesting thing about “re-skinning” is that the current meaning is the opposite of the original meaning of the root word. “Re-skinning” means putting a new look, or “skin” over an underlying structure, while not so long ago, to “skin” something meant <i>removing </i>the skin, or outer layer.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So what’s wrong with buzzwords?</span></span></h3>
</div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The trouble with buzzwords is that they lead to confusion. Usually, most people can glean the meaning of any new buzzword. However, someone whose first language is not English can get the wrong idea, especially with a word like “re-skinning” that reverses the original meaning. </span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Worse, though, is the creeping application of buzzwords to new things. Take the term “off-line.” It means “disconnected,” typically from the Internet and other electronic media. At one time, it meant not operating, as a paper mill being off-line. But in meetings, people will often say “Let’s take that off-line” to mean “Let’s talk about those details just between the two of us, and not bog down this meeting for all these other folks.”</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Re-skinning” is an example, where to “skin” something is being applied to more and more things. I can understand using it to describe covering or decorating a physical product, but today it’s more often used for websites and apps.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And when a buzzword creeps into more uses, it gets used everywhere. Remember “busters” in the 1980s? After the movie Ghostbusters became a hit, dustbusters started advertising more and more. Then snack advertisers described their treats as “hunger busters.” The nadir always comes when politicians get involved, and the Progressive Conservative party in Ontario called themselves “Grit busters,” referring to the nickname for the Liberal party, “grits.”</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I just dread the day when people tell me they’re on-boarding to getting re-skinned at the outlet mall.</span></span></div>
</div>
Scott Buryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05061034006121401082noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23776112.post-9021514559248698932015-03-16T03:56:00.000-05:002015-03-16T03:56:00.087-05:00Think of the children: what will happen if they learn sex exists?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<!--[if !mso]>
<style>
v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-CA</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-language:JA;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.cbc.ca/1.2993389.1426212032!/fileImage/httpImage/image.JPG_gen/derivatives/original_300/agincourt-protest.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i.cbc.ca/1.2993389.1426212032!/fileImage/httpImage/image.JPG_gen/derivatives/original_300/agincourt-protest.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo courtesy cbc.ca</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial;">News item: </span><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;">Ontario sex
ed: Protesters disrupt school meeting</span></b><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></h4>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Protesters turned out in force at a
Scarborough school Thursday night, disrupting efforts by two
local MPPs to discuss Ontario's new sex ed curriculum. </span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The information session at Agincourt Collegiate
Institute was cut short when demonstrators moved inside — chanting "We say
no" at MPPs Soo Wong and Bas Balkissoon. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The new curriculum has drawn criticism
from some parents and religious groups who say it is too explicit for young children. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A group of loud parents protested
against the new Ontario health and physical education curriculum at a public
meeting in Toronto this past week. They carried signs that bore phrases like:</span></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Too early, too soon”</span></span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #262626; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Our children, our choice”</span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The ruckus drew media attention, of
course. One of the protesting parents asked: "Can you justify to me why a
Grade Six needs to know about masturbation? Can you answer that?"</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Today on a newsstand near you</span></h4>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQrJoc3rqsEGc-09-vzLrH70eo8cFihup6BA1kJQcVcR7X_NJQI3PWzxlbczJZiR5S-EpvI-Zg8PZ0AZOmFlzwg79ZNFESh0hLwO8ow8rUrBgsNTWGdZYuVXjmGpq2Zu3WIRu2/s1600/cosmoblue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQrJoc3rqsEGc-09-vzLrH70eo8cFihup6BA1kJQcVcR7X_NJQI3PWzxlbczJZiR5S-EpvI-Zg8PZ0AZOmFlzwg79ZNFESh0hLwO8ow8rUrBgsNTWGdZYuVXjmGpq2Zu3WIRu2/s1600/cosmoblue.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some of the cover headlines on the current edition of <i>Cosmopolitan</i>:</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">63 Secrets to
Better Orgams—Get Over the Edge!</span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I Like High-End Sex Parties—and I’m
Not a Weirdo.</span></span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last issue: </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSOB-x-rCjjDPVhKA8qPIYTDDb-QXAlXUK6sTdOvQp5Qo_so1l5O_p1k4fRubMPGmIdn2hntIPiek0MOZ2t4pOmblq_vvLcRZnWSnq8S13sGPpA9OLjynVQOb110OiIP9z8e8x/s1600/cosmoRed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSOB-x-rCjjDPVhKA8qPIYTDDb-QXAlXUK6sTdOvQp5Qo_so1l5O_p1k4fRubMPGmIdn2hntIPiek0MOZ2t4pOmblq_vvLcRZnWSnq8S13sGPpA9OLjynVQOb110OiIP9z8e8x/s1600/cosmoRed.jpg" height="320" width="244" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cover lines: </span></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How I solved our sex issue</span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How to touch a naked man: 16 Naughty Strokes
That Will Send Him Over the Edge.</span></span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Apparently, an orgasm is like falling off a
cliff at <i>Cosmopolitan</i>.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From the current issue of <i>Women’s Health
</i>magazine: </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMUEsrKVPioT88YK4xnFLfc6FjkyT-QYcN0xfpPhfVn8VeVf6V7k_wvIUs3vGv8DoJGR3_G9qYmxGZTkv_whBHWfa88g22p4WfrvEuU5vBff5bmhYhAjx-XZGBDurdIpl_jL6h/s1600/womenshealth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMUEsrKVPioT88YK4xnFLfc6FjkyT-QYcN0xfpPhfVn8VeVf6V7k_wvIUs3vGv8DoJGR3_G9qYmxGZTkv_whBHWfa88g22p4WfrvEuU5vBff5bmhYhAjx-XZGBDurdIpl_jL6h/s1600/womenshealth.jpg" height="255" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“T<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">he positions men prefer most”—a how-to guide.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Unlike porn magazines, which are, at least
where I live, out of reach and sight of children, these magazines are all the
most popular, biggest-selling women’s magazines. Most are regularly displayed
in racks beside the check-outs of grocery and drugstores. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Kids see them all the time, and whether or
not they ask Mom “What’s an orgasm?” they’re going to wonder. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And they’re going to get the information
somewhere.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The connected generation</span></span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Kids today get most of their information
today not from parents or school, but from the Internet, and they’re accessing
it through mobile devices.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVjXzUhmrNRrm5Y8CVSSXe6N6LmeRSHBx2oy7oypzTPHCsqtCW17qgOWo5xRIHQzp4vxSxbDRQ2948fH3SExHP2jfIii0W-KYogWKsZUalkYSPbJuClF1HDGGPB6GjxVqw_LRB/s1600/ShapeMag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVjXzUhmrNRrm5Y8CVSSXe6N6LmeRSHBx2oy7oypzTPHCsqtCW17qgOWo5xRIHQzp4vxSxbDRQ2948fH3SExHP2jfIii0W-KYogWKsZUalkYSPbJuClF1HDGGPB6GjxVqw_LRB/s1600/ShapeMag.jpg" height="320" width="235" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>Cover line: "The best hour for <br />amazing sex"</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In other words, when they have questions,
they go for answers to the Internet first. And they probably won’t look up
Cosmo or Women’s Health. They’re more likely to get misinformation from
irresponsible like soft porn sites or, worse, the Centre for Canadian Values.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It’s the same argument that led to sex ed
in schools in the 70s: kids are getting bad information about sex from
uninformed sources—the “kids in the schoolyard” argument. That’s why it’s
important to give children correct information based on facts before they hear
misinformation and outright lies.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The big lie succeeds</span></span></h3>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Big Lie technique is simple: if you
want a large number of people to believe something that’s not true, make it as
big, as ridiculous as you can, and keep repeating it. Political opponents of
the Ontario government are using it in the pointless sex-ed debate have floated
the phrase that under the new Health and Physical Education curriculum, Grade 6
students will the “taught masturbation.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That’s the phrase used by a former reporter
from the defunct Sun News TV channel on an online rant against the curriculum.
“Taught masturbation.” Not “taught about masturbation” or “taught the
definition of masturbation.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Phrasing it this way is clearly meant to
evoke the idea of a teacher showing students how to masturbate. But the
curriculum says that among the physical and health education concepts Grade 6
students will learn, is:</span></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; font-size: 11pt;">“Things like wet dreams or vaginal lubrication are
normal and happen as a result of physical changes with puberty. Exploring one’s
body by touching or masturbating is something that many people do and find pleasurable.
It is common and is not harmful and is one way of learning about your body.”</span></span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Why </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">should</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> a Grade 6 student learn that?</span></div>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">News item: </span></span></h4>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2964268/Woman-watching-50-Shades-Grey-Mexico-arrested-masturbating-movie-theater.html#ixzz3UNA1v3wN"><b>Woman,
33, watching 50 Shades of Grey arrested for masturbating at movie theater in
Mexico during S&M-filled drama</b></a></span></span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Because the word comes up in mass media, in
social media and in the schoolyard. Because in a year, that 12-year-old will be
13 and masturbation will move from a word on a screen to reality.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4w5Z566-PTsH3r5vWbsZjsR6X7zgMlBjqweU0b8lTEvisOO7_yInEdUq7O7PdI4kHKL4qkeyBu8hD9BeAYIc6F1x9SYgxVeGy2o32krx9jvYckZLvPo7lgPOq3gnzjG-w0SJa/s1600/glamourcover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4w5Z566-PTsH3r5vWbsZjsR6X7zgMlBjqweU0b8lTEvisOO7_yInEdUq7O7PdI4kHKL4qkeyBu8hD9BeAYIc6F1x9SYgxVeGy2o32krx9jvYckZLvPo7lgPOq3gnzjG-w0SJa/s1600/glamourcover.jpg" height="320" width="235" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>Cover line: "Is Everyone Sexting <br />Without Me?</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If schools cannot teach facts that children
will need in their life, then where will they learn it?</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span><br /><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(Mis)Information is everywhere</span></span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A lot of parents, understandably, want to control the information their children get. The trouble is, that's a futile effort. Kids are getting more information than ever before, all the time. The only thing we as parents can do is make sure that we give them correct information about the most important things in their lives.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span><br /><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What do you think about this? What do you think about teaching children about sex—not how to do it, but that it exists. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And I would be interested to hear from those who oppose the sex education parts of the health and physical education curriculum: what do you think will happen if a young child learns about sex?</span></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
Scott Buryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05061034006121401082noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23776112.post-63521522260077259202015-03-09T04:00:00.000-05:002015-03-09T04:00:04.828-05:00The Phantom Menace: Don't start with background<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.inspired-ground.com./wp-content/uploads/2014/06/star-wars-episode-i_zps070fbd47-e1403802223656.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.inspired-ground.com./wp-content/uploads/2014/06/star-wars-episode-i_zps070fbd47-e1403802223656.jpg" height="241" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Title: A proposal to supply Acme Corp. with Blagfly Macroscopic Flange</b> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Background</b>: In 20187, Ignati and Wilhelmina Lightblack noticed the diminishing return on investment of industrial-size household powersource applications for lightsabres. The siblings engaged upon a ten-year research project into the optimal application of flange technology in lightsabres. A side enquiry into the efficiency of something something something dark side ...</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That's what was wrong with <i>The Phantom Menace </i>— Chapter One of the <i>Star Wars</i> epic. It was all background.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No one wants to read background. If they do read it, it's because they thought they had to.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One element that made the first <i>Star Wars </i>movie work (Episode Four, "A New Hope") was that it started with action and immediately put the audience into a fully realized universe. That's also part of the appeal of <i>The Hobbit</i> (the book) and George RR Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series. The authors have developed complete, consistent worlds, and all the elements they present fit together consistently.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In other words, the author has done the background research, but doesn't force it on the audience.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This principle applies just as well to non-fiction and business communications like proposals and reports. No one wants to wade through background information. They want the point, first. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Luke Skywalker did not stop to read the history of the Trade Federation, the blockade of Naboo, the destruction of the Jedi Order and the establishment of the Empire. No. His reaction to Princess Leia's message was "She's beautiful. I have to help her by finding Obi-Wan Kenobi." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thesis first, background later</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Recently, I received a number of reports and proposals that begin with extensive background. </span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Page after page of background. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.socmedsean.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/your-blog-sucks-you-should-quit-baby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.socmedsean.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/your-blog-sucks-you-should-quit-baby.jpg" /></a></span></div>
</blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The authors felt that the audience could not understand the thesis without knowing the background. That's intuitively correct, but the idea falls apart on the quickest analysis.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No matter what the document is, it's competing for its audience's time and attention not just with other documents and reports, but with other media (including Facebook). Before anyone decides whether to invest time in reading a report, no matter how long or short —in fact, before they decide to invest time in anything — they do a quick return-on-investment calculation: will this be worth it? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Before they start reading, the audience needs to know why they should, and the only way they can make that calculation is if you tell them what their payoff will be. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Start with the point — the end of your argument. "Your company needs our flanges." Then provide the reasoning that backs it up.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.telepresenceoptions.com/images/hologram_starwars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.telepresenceoptions.com/images/hologram_starwars.jpg" height="221" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Like Princess Leia: "You have to help us, Obi-Wan Kenobi. You're our last hope." Thesis statement first, then the reasoning. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Problem, solution</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"But what about the problem-solution approach?" you ask. "Isn't that a good way to structure a proposal?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks for asking. Indeed, it is a good way to set up a proposal, as well as many other kinds of documents. Even a novel. But you should not front-load it with a long description of the problem. Show the oppression, quickly describe why it's a problem, and then show the reader the promised land.</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Problem</b>: We cannot tell who is coming to our website, nor what they look at most.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Solution: Lungbreath web analytics software will track who comes to the site, from where, and specifically which pages they spend the most time on. This will allow us to target sales messages and ultimately increase revenue.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Problem</b>: Dirty Bill's restaurants have far too many rats in the kitchen. Not only will the health department shut us down if we cannot get the rat count below municipal standards by next month, the rats are eating so much of our inventory, we are losing money.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQcWgo2vFvv6nqtjENS86sNcxkIZ7fZu61bRqSfsbzh90fNKcQA" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQcWgo2vFvv6nqtjENS86sNcxkIZ7fZu61bRqSfsbzh90fNKcQA" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Solution</b>: Batta's Better Mouse-Traps® will reduce the rat population in the kitchen by 50 percent in the first month, which will bring the restaurants within Health Department standards. Thus, we will stay in business! </span></blockquote>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Write it in reverse</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I often find that the best way to do this is to write the introduction last. As the writer, you may find it easier to write the background first. This helps you to understand the situation and its context. For example, you could describe how you first noticed the problem, explain how big a problem it is, and outline what would be the long-term impacts of not addressing the problem. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You could introduce statistics that show the history of the problem, perhaps linking it to causes and factors that have an impact.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But this comes in the main body of your report. From that analysis, you can write an analysis of the impact of the problem. In business terms, this means how much it costs. Then you could present alternative solutions, and describe their potential impacts and costs. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Finally, you describe the best solution, in your considered and researched opinion, and make a recommendation. That's called the conclusion. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>After</i> you have finished writing the conclusion, you can write the introduction. Summarize the conclusion. State the solution first, then the problem and the cost of the problem.</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Batta Corp.'s Better Mouse-Traps® will solve the increasing rat problem that the Dirty Bill restaurant chain has been experiencing this past year. This modest investment will not only save each location $2,000 per month in food inventory, it will prevent the Public Health Department from closing us down.</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That gets the readers' attention. They'll want to read more after that. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.dailyclimate.org/tdc-newsroom/2014/05/05fotos/Floating-768.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.dailyclimate.org/tdc-newsroom/2014/05/05fotos/Floating-768.jpg" height="140" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Scott Buryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05061034006121401082noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23776112.post-19021382020261277572015-03-02T03:00:00.000-05:002015-03-02T03:00:23.209-05:00The anti-sex brigade lies again, hurrah, hurrah — the Ontario sex ed curriculum<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last week, the Ontario government published
its revised health and physical education curriculum, which includes updated
sexual education content.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://energeticcity.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/65940-thumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://energeticcity.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/65940-thumb.jpg" height="276" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image courtesy energeticcity.ca</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The update is actually titled <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 1–8: Health
and Physical Education</i>. There is a separate curriculum for high school,
grades 9 to 12. It covers much more than sex, in fact, all forms of health,
including safety, physical activity and hygiene.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The sexual component elicited opposition
from the usual groups. The most prominent groups in this opposition use the Big
Lie strategy to get more attention and rope uninformed people into joining
their side.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For example, Charles McVety of the
Institute for Canadian Values call the curriculum “nothing more than an
indoctrination vehicle to teach children a new way of thinking about gender.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Campaign Life—whose main goal is to stop
abortion—is worried about teaching grade 1 students the proper names of body
parts. This is what it says on its website as a problem with the curriculum,
which is not all that different from the draft brought out in 2010:</span></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">“</span><span style="background: white; color: black;">Below are some shocking excerpts
from the 2010 curriculum that the Education Ministry had posted online…Graphic
lesson on sexual body parts including ‘penis’, ‘testicles’, ‘vagina’, ‘vulva’
and more.”</span></span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background: white; color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is
what the curriculum actually says: </span></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Specific expectations</b></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>C1. Understanding Health Concepts</i></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">By the end of Grade 1, students
will: …</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Human Development and Sexual Health</b></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">C1.3 identify body parts, including
genitalia (e.g., penis, testicles, vagina, vulva), using correct terminology
[PS]</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Teacher prompt</b>: “We talk about all
body parts with respect. Why is it important to know about your own body, and
use correct names for the parts of your body?”</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Student</b>: “All parts of my body are a
part of me, and I need to know how to take care of and talk about my own body.
If I’m urt or need help, and I know the right words, other people will know
what I’m talking about.”</span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I don’t know about you, but I don’t
see a problem with that. And “penis” and “vagina” are words we can hear
regularly on prime-time TV today.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi18AKZeXtp93ND62PxrJh6Y9ruqcam7HRA-Mn_6v0LRoZOTatisGSrJjT2XEOi89mSIQtBrEj_LBmPS8KYIPQiZGdnmbg7ScPdgDbMVCDJbQI8bh3mklTVqzDGld6Cq5tOo08E/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-03-01+at+3.39.43+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi18AKZeXtp93ND62PxrJh6Y9ruqcam7HRA-Mn_6v0LRoZOTatisGSrJjT2XEOi89mSIQtBrEj_LBmPS8KYIPQiZGdnmbg7ScPdgDbMVCDJbQI8bh3mklTVqzDGld6Cq5tOo08E/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-03-01+at+3.39.43+PM.png" height="320" width="245" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Campaign Life are also concerned that the
curriculum </span></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">“</span><span style="background: white; color: black;">Will
normalize homosexual family structures and homosexual ‘marriage’ in the minds
of 8-year-olds, without regard for the religious/moral beliefs of families.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is what the curriculum actually says
about homosexual relationships for grade 3 students, who are 8 or 9 years old:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">By the end of Grade 3, students will: …</span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">C1.3 identify the characteristics of health
relationships (e.g. accepting differences, being inclusive, communicating
openly, listening, showing mutual respect and caring, being honest) and
describe ways of overcoming challenges (e.g. bullying, exclusion, peer
pressure, abuse) in a relationship [IS]</span></span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Teacher prompt</b>: “Consider different types
of relationships — with friends, siblings, parents, other adults — and think
about the kinds of behavior that help to make those relationships healthier.
What can you do if you are having problems with a relationship?”</span></span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Importantly, in Grade 1, the curriculum also
aims to teach kids this concept:</span></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">demonstrate the ability to recognize
caring behaviours (e.g., listening with respect, giving positive reinforcement,
being helpful) and exploitive behaviours (e.g., inappropriate touching, verbal
or physical abuse, bullying), and describe the feelings associated with each
[IS]</span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let’s look at the curriculum:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">C3.3 </span>describe how visible differences (e.g., skin, hair, and eye colour,
facial features, body size and shape, physical aids or different physical
abilities, clothing, possessions) and invisible differences (e.g., learning abilities,
skills and talents, personal or cultural values and beliefs, gender identity,
sexual orientation, family background, personal preferences, allergies and
sensitivities) make each person unique, and identify ways of showing respect
for differences in others [PS, IS]</span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Campaign Life says that part of the
curriculum means Ontario schools </span></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">w</span><span style="background: white; color: black;">ill teach the disputed theory of
‘gender identity’ as if it were fact. This is the notion that whether you're a
boy or a girl does not necessarily relate to your physical anatomy. It is
merely a ‘social construct’. Gender is ‘fluid’ according to this theory, and
any little boy can decide that he is actually a girl, if that's the way he
feels in his mind, or vice-versa. </span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="background: white;">Note: The potential for causing serious sexual confusion
in the minds of children is very real with this teaching.”</span></span></span></blockquote>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: black;">Of
course, Campaign Life does not point out that there is no evidence for the
theory that teaching children the theory of fluid gender identity harms them in
any way.</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Another thing that this organizations do
not point out in their protests against the curriculum is their own agenda.
They’re very conservative, stridently anti-gay and against any sexual content
in any education. In fact, reading their material, I get the strong sense
they’d be happier if no one ever talked about sex, ever.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Another big lie: no parents were consulted
on the development of the new curriculum. </b>In fact, consultations with parents,
students, teachers, faculties of education, universities, colleges and other
groups started in 2007. Granted, most of that was prior to the 2010 draft, but
there isn’t much difference. And there have been consultations since. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Parents have had a lot of opportunity to
weigh in on the issue. And in the meantime, the world has moved on and become
even more sexually explicit.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Here’s another big lie:</b> Brian Lilley of the
conservative website TheRebel says that “in grade 6, they want to start
teaching masturbation.” Those were Lilley’s words: “they want to start teaching
masturbation.” Not “about masturbation.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lie. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lilley deliberately constructed his
sentence that way. He is trying to create an image in his audience’s minds of a
teacher teaching grade 6 students, 11- and 12-year-olds, how to masturbate.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Don’t worry. They already know how. And so
do you, Lilley.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The concept of masturbation occurs once in
the curriculum. This is what the Grade 6 curriculum says about it:</span></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Things like wet dreams or vaginal
lubrication are normal and happen as a result of physical changes with puberty.
Exploring one’s body by touching or masturbating is something that many people
do and find pleasurable. It is common and is not harmful and is one way of
learning about your body.”</span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Have a problem with that, Lilley? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Big lies. Expect the anti-sex brigade to keep
repeating them, because we all know the Big Lie strategy works.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Even in this sexually explicit age, we’re
still squeamish about sex.</span></span></h4>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I know sex is either boring or dirty.”</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">— I’m An Adult Now, The Pursuit of
Happiness, 1986</span></span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sex’s dirtiness and the shame imposed on my
generation around sex — and earlier generations, too — fuels the titillation,
fascination and explicitness over sex. Despite the sexual revolution of decades
past, we’re still squeamish about it. Especially religious communities, who cannot
get away from telling people about the kind of sex they should have.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">By the way, as a parent, I really resent
groups like the Institute of Canadian Values presuming to dictate to my kids
whom they can marry. As far as values go, I think these are Canadian values:
accepting differences, being inclusive, communicating openly, listening,
showing mutual respect and caring, being honest. Where did I see those? Oh, yes
— in the Ontario Health and Physical Education Curriculum for Grade 1.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What age is appropriate?</span></span></h4>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d4/Learning_to_Drive_(6926000084).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d4/Learning_to_Drive_(6926000084).jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With every other topic, we teach people
information before they start the activity, so they know what to expect and can
take the right steps to protect themselves against inadvertent harm. We teach
kids safe behavior near water before we teach them to swim. We teach teens the
rules of the road in a classroom before we let them get behind the wheel of a
car. So why should we not teach facts about sex before they’re of an age to be
sexually active?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I remember when my kids came home from
their first sex-education classes, in grade 3 or 4 — I can’t remember, offhand,
which it was. Their reaction? “Gross!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No danger that they were going to indulge
in premature sexual activity in school. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The biggest lie is that, without sexual
education in school, parents can “protect” their children against harm by
keeping ideas and expressions about sex away from them. The reality is that our
society is awash in sexual messages. The biggest movie is Fifty Shades of Gray,
based on the book that broke all kinds of sales records of its own. Every time
I go to the grocery store, the magazines at the check-outs invariably bear at
least one headline about having “mind-blowing sex.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And kids in school have all sorts of wrong
ideas about sex, ideas that can be harmful. Many high school-age people believe
that by having only oral and anal sex, they’ll remain virgins. Some believe
that oral sex cannot expose you to sexually transmitted diseases. We owe our
kids clear, correct information about health, which, despite anyone’s squeamishness,
includes sex.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I don’t think children are harmed by facts.
</span></span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They’re harmed when facts are hidden from
them. For centuries, abusers have gotten away with sexually exploiting children
partly because the shame that their victims felt prevented them from talking
about it, from reporting it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If we can talk openly and honestly about
sex, without shame, the same way we talk about any other health topic — the way
we talk about healthy food, for example — then maybe the next generation will
have fewer sexual problems and healthier lives.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Denying facts won’t help that.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What do you think?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-CA</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-language:JA;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Scott Buryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05061034006121401082noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23776112.post-18536946185731432302015-02-23T02:30:00.000-05:002015-03-09T23:07:03.947-05:00How to avoid awful committee writing: Go back to the beginning<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://joneshousecreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Screen-Shot-2013-01-10-at-11.36.28-PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://joneshousecreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Screen-Shot-2013-01-10-at-11.36.28-PM.png" height="226" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“A camel is a horse designed by a
committee.” That’s been attributed to more than one person, and it’s an
excellent way to describe written documents that get approved by authorities who
are more concerned about things other than the content of the documents
themselves. In other words, documents produced by corporations and governments.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Recently, I’ve found some especially great
examples of terrible writing. I’ve changed a few words to protect the guilty,
without affecting the weight of its awfulness.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Many participants in consultations
expressed the view that fostering a change in attitudes and behaviours is
necessary to counter the culture of instant gratification and its impact on
health. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That sentence is overloaded, cramming
several ideas into one string of words: changing attitudes, which are distinct
from behaviours; instant gratification as a culture; and health. As if that’s
not enough, the Select Committee of Awful Writing Creation and Promotion
(SCAWCP) jammed in the superfluous phrases “participants in consultations,”
“expressed the view” and “fostering a change.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Committees that review and approve writing
seem to prefer passive sentences—the kind of sentence that doesn’t tell you who
or what performed the action. I think that’s because the people on these
committees either don’t want to take responsibility for the actions described,
or don’t want to give anyone else credit.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Take this example:</span></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some positive results were reported from
initiatives that help individuals reflect on personal values, set goals and
take concrete steps to align their behaviours with their values and personal
goals. </span></span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Committee writing often shows chains of words
and phrases, placed so that readers cannot tell which is most important. Again,
this probably results from the competitive nature of committees—no one is
willing to let another’s idea take prominence over their own.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Participants in the consultations noted
that many people are uncomfortable talking about colon health and that there is
a stigma associated with getting help to improve health understanding, which
has been a barrier to building their health knowledge.</span></span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What is that sentence about—the
consultations, colon health, a social stigma, understanding of health or
barriers to knowledge? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here’s a string of adjectives. Maybe
they’re all equally important to the plan, but SCAWCP apparently thinks a
subject is not important:</span></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With a focused plan that is inclusive,
relevant and accessible, the aim is to help patients understand the Internet and
take steps that will enable them to use online resources to their best
advantage.</span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://f.tqn.com/y/buddhism/1/W/O/A/-/-/confused.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://f.tqn.com/y/buddhism/1/W/O/A/-/-/confused.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I feel sorry for the documents I took these
sentences from. I imagine they began as good sentences, and then successive
approvers stretched, contorted, twisted and mangled them beyond recognition. I
don’t know what they even mean, anymore.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That’s the problem—neither did the
committee. The people who had approval authority over these documents did not
have the same objectives. The committees expected a single document to achieve
different, sometimes competing goals.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What’s the solution? As always, go back to
the beginning and get a GRIP:</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Goal—why are you writing this
sentence, this paragraph, this document? What do you want your readers to do
after they read your document? Before you start writing, state the goal
clearly. Keep it in mind while you are editing, reviewing or approving any
document.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;">Examples of goals: </span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;">propose
a strategy </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">sell more products</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">explain how to save money.</span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Reader—whom is this document
for? What do they know, what do they need to understand, what motivates them?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Idea—the thesis statement, the most
important idea in your document. Try this: “You have to only one sentence to tell
me what your document says.”</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Plan—the other ideas that
support or prove the main idea. Put them in the order that will take the reader
from your thesis statement to fulfilling your goal.</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If your goal is to improve understanding of
colon health, for example, you need to know who your readers are, what they
know about colon health now, what they need to learn, and what would interest
them in reading about their colons. Then you need to organize the information
so that these particular readers can follow it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However, getting an executive’s approval on
your idea for a strategy to improve the public’s knowledge of colon health takes
a very different document. Its goal would to get a signature or an approval to
spend some resources, the reader would be one person or a small group of
people, and the thesis would be something like: “We need to spend X dollars on
this strategy so that this organization will benefit in the following
particular way.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Writing well is not easy, but it’s not
complex, either. It’s a matter of keeping the basic rules in mind. The next
time you submit your writing for approval, remind the review committee about
your goal, reader and thesis.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-CA</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-language:JA;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Scott Buryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05061034006121401082noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23776112.post-3639077483753587842015-02-09T02:30:00.000-05:002015-02-09T02:30:02.788-05:00Do on-screen keyboards change the way we write?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.dumblittleman.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/pencil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.dumblittleman.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/pencil.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f1f1f1; color: #888888; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; text-align: left;">Image via Flickr Creative Commons<br />(Caleb Roenigk) </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c9/Apple_iPad_Event03.jpg/300px-Apple_iPad_Event03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c9/Apple_iPad_Event03.jpg/300px-Apple_iPad_Event03.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="mw-mmv-author" style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #555555; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.6000003814697px; line-height: 24.480001449585px; text-align: start;">Image via Wikimedia under by Creative Commons<br />by M<a class="external text" href="http://flickr.com/photos/40134069@N07" rel="nofollow" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;">att Buchanan</a>.</span><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #555555; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.6000003814697px; line-height: 24.480001449585px; text-align: start;"> O</span><span class="mw-mmv-source" style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #555555; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.6000003814697px; line-height: 24.480001449585px; text-align: start;">riginally posted to <b><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Flickr" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Flickr">Flickr</a></b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On the bus last week, I was standing behind someone typing on a tablet. She was using the on-screen touchpad keyboard. Not that I was spying or anything (honest!), I watched how she typed an accented é: she touched the e “key” for an slightly extended time—less than a second—until a menu of accented characters appeared on the screen above the keypad, then slid her finger to her choice.</span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Seeing it in action started me thinking: is on-screen typing, as done on touch-screen computers, changing the way we write?</span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We all learn to write, or print, with a stylus directly marking a surface: pencil on paper, crayon on colouring book, brush on parchment. </span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Since the invention of the typewriter in the 1860s, the technology of writing has been a kind of remote control, separating the action of our fingers from the results. Press a key on a typewriter, and the attached type bar strikes the ribbon and impresses it onto the paper. </span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Since then, typing technological development has progressively increased the distance between actions and results. To create this post, I am tapping my fingers on a wireless keyboard. I can’t imagine how many digital transformations occur to make the characters I am typing appear on the screen in front of my eyes. It’s only after I hit the Print button that the printer, two metres from the keyboard, puts marks on paper.</span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But I won’t print this particular essay. I’ll edit and proofread it on-screen, and then post it on this blog, hosted on a server hundreds or thousands of kilometres from this screen and keyboard. Or maybe it’s next door—I have no way of knowing. </span></span></div>
<div class="p2" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cohort21.com/mardimichels/files/2014/01/Typewriter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://cohort21.com/mardimichels/files/2014/01/Typewriter.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f1f1f1; color: #888888; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; text-align: left;">Image via Flickr Creative Commons <br />(Stan Wiechers)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Closing the gap between action and consequence</span></b></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Typing on a touch screen brings actions closer to results. There is still a separation, of course, as the keypad is at the bottom of the screen and the words may be at the top, but still, it’s closer than the typewriter allowed.</span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Standing on the bus in rush hour, I was fascinated by the woman typing on the touch-screen. I wondered: is her writing experience different?</span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Personally, I don’t like typing on a touch screen. There is no physical or kinetic feedback from a touch screen, unlike with a keyboard, where I can feel the key depress and spring back. </span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Also, using the touch pad on my iPad shrinks the display of the writing I’m doing. I like to be able to see the words I’ve written. So I have a Bluetooth keyboard to write with my iPad, re-establishing that remote action of the old-fashioned typewriter.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">An area to research</span></b></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Does bringing the result, the mark on the writing surface, closer to the motion of our fingers make typing on a touch screen closer to writing with a pencil on paper?</span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And if it does, will that have an effect on the way that we write? Will it affect the words we choose, the way we construct phrases and sentences?</span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Will we be able to tell a book written on a touch-screen from a book created with a typewriter?</span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I can imagine someone getting a doctoral degree on this by analyzing documents written with a stylus on paper with those created on a computer using a standard word processor, and others written using a touch screen. And I’d be fascinated to see the results.</span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What do you think? If you use a touch screen for anything, do you find the writing experience different? Do you like typing on a touch screen?</span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Do you think that the touch screen changes the way you write?</span></span></div>
</div>
Scott Buryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05061034006121401082noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23776112.post-24754312854196214452015-01-26T03:00:00.000-05:002015-01-26T03:00:08.027-05:00What is freedom of speech? Opinion or bullying and mocking?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #4d4f51; line-height: 18pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Guest post by award-winning, bestselling author Samreen Ahsan </span></b></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #4d4f51; line-height: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuJLjqic1pYSIi0tsN2YC3siBO52UjHK7WRhl870mXVZPjZBtmzyXcV1hoeFkUU_enSFdpVoKzoGe_xOL52CzZ9mCdpjVEQNnI6gi0xVj1M5qfHwGPAm906rLI4VrG1065lkAE/s1600/Samreen_author.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuJLjqic1pYSIi0tsN2YC3siBO52UjHK7WRhl870mXVZPjZBtmzyXcV1hoeFkUU_enSFdpVoKzoGe_xOL52CzZ9mCdpjVEQNnI6gi0xVj1M5qfHwGPAm906rLI4VrG1065lkAE/s1600/Samreen_author.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #4d4f51; line-height: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our
world is trending on controversial hashtags these days: be it #JeSuisCharlie,
#PeshawarAttack or #IWillRideWithYou. We all have our own opinions and
thoughts—but what exactly does “freedom of speech” mean?</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #4d4f51; line-height: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #4d4f51;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Is
it having the right to express an opinion on something that you observe or
read, or is it the power to criticize someone on the basis of their religion,
nationality or colour? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #4d4f51;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To
me, it is simply the power to generate your idea and raise your voice for
justice.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #4d4f51;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I’d
like to emphasize that I’m not here to criticize any theory or ideology.
Everyone in this world has the right to believe in their own ways and no one
has the right to mock them. God gave us the freedom of making our own decisions
and taking charge of situations. He never asked us to rely on Him for every
act. True, there are certain things that are in His hands (like our life and
death) but on the journey from life to death, He has given us the power. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #4d4f51;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And
what are all we doing here with that power? Just passing discriminatory remarks
about each other and bullying in an immature way. Sure, it boils your blood if
someone bullies your faith or ridicules your religion, but does that mean you
should take out the sword and cut his throat? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #4d4f51;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I
believe that everyone has the right to form his expression, yet I also believe
that if you know something will offend a certain group, why take that path?
There are other ways to make your magazine popular...is it necessary to choose
the sensitive path? Make it more controversial just to get fame or some buzz?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #4d4f51;">Religion has always been a sensitive topic. Be it
Jesus, Moses or Muhammad, I don’t think anyone should criticize someone’s
belief system or the way they respect someone. Freedom of speech does NOT mean
criticizing and mocking! It means you have the right to give your opinion on
any matter without ridiculing someone’s ideology. And how do you do that? Work
on the idea of<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><em><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #4d4f51; padding: 0in;">think-before-you-speak</span></em><span style="color: #4d4f51;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #4d4f51;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On
the other hand, I also believe that one should not react to someone’s
criticism. I’m a practicing Muslim—why didn’t I react to Charlie Hebdo’s
cartoons? Does that mean I don’t love my Prophet or I’m not sincere about
Islam? NO! I believe no matter how much any other person criticize or mock,
they cannot ruin Muhammad’s honor and dignity. He was chosen to be the last
prophet and the religion and revelation of God is completed in him. So if
someone picks Muhammad as a topic of criticism, it’s his mindset and his
mindset own problem. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #4d4f51;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If I
respect Jesus and follow Muhammad, I don’t expect the entire world to think the
way I think and respect the way I respect. God is the one who gave us free
will, so He is the one to give us freedom of expression. Everyone has the right
to make an opinion. And this mocking won’t harm my faith and my honor toward
Muhammad. It’s how God picked him. No one can cause dishonor because God
honored him. We are not the ones to avenge Muhammad because his dignity is NOT
going anywhere. He was and is a most noble man ever created.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #4d4f51;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Quran says:<span class="apple-converted-space"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #4d4f51; padding: 0in;">“We prescribed for them a life
for a life, an eye for an eye, a nose for a nose, an ear for an ear, a tooth
for a tooth, an equal wound for a wound”</span></em></span></blockquote>
</div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #4d4f51;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">but it also says:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #4d4f51; padding: 0in;">“if anyone forgoes this out of
charity, it will serve as atonement for his bad deeds. Those who do not judge
according to what God has revealed are doing grave wrong.”</span></em></span></blockquote>
</div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #4d4f51;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When we are taking revenge—are we sure if it is
eye-for-an-eye, or are we taking the entire head with it? When you try to form
an opinion about Islam or Muslim practices, do you have an idea that incidents
can occur as a backlash? Mocking Muhammad, hurting people’s belief for NO
reason, in the name of “freedom of speech” or for the sake of fun, is not a
mature act. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfZrgjaN2XG1n68EwIb943JnkAuPsbtiCcVhJOCZiYkGlM_81Wlkw9-oRk3sIiYXhVgLlpmebfbLi2hrYAyORteN_5davo1Lyp4loKs7MawKo-VyAHtthl-2sc5ZShbOjWoR9j/s1600/Think.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfZrgjaN2XG1n68EwIb943JnkAuPsbtiCcVhJOCZiYkGlM_81Wlkw9-oRk3sIiYXhVgLlpmebfbLi2hrYAyORteN_5davo1Lyp4loKs7MawKo-VyAHtthl-2sc5ZShbOjWoR9j/s1600/Think.jpg" height="182" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #4d4f51;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I’m a proud Muslim, I’m NOT oppressed. My religion gives
me the right to practise how I want and how much I want because it has taught
me that I will be going in my own grave and will be responsible for my own
deeds. No one has the right to drag me to the mosque and pray five times. I’m
responsible for myself. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #4d4f51;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anyone
can stand up and take out a sword; anyone can raise the voice and bully the
other. We are not thinking about the collateral damage resulting from these
revenges. Our governments are spending millions of dollars on nuclear weapons, ready
to kill each other, while people around the globe are dying of exposure or the lack
of food and clean water. It’s a shame to all of us!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #4d4f51;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We all have to live in this world till the Day of
Judgement so why not make it a more tolerable and peaceful place to live in?
When our house is burned, we don’t curse the fire or reason behind it. We try to
either extinguish the fire or save what we can. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #4d4f51;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Being a Muslim, I condemn all these acts these
Jihadists or unknown people are doing in the name of Islam. This is NOT Islam.
Islam means peace and Jihad means fighting the demon in you first. Muhammad was
dishonored during his time in Mecca and Medina, but he never raised his voice
to kill anyone who disgraced him. There was NO blasphemy at that time. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #4d4f51;">Muhammad always stayed on this Quranic verse:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><em><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #4d4f51; padding: 0in;">“To you be your religion, and
to me my religion”</span></em><span style="color: #4d4f51;">. And I think we should all follow this verse, whether
Muslim, Christian, Jew or any other faith. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 22.5pt; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #4d4f51;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Remember,
there’s a very fine line between an opinion and bullying. What is your freedom
of speech?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-CA</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:8.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:107%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Samreen Ahsan is the award-winning author of the "Silent Prayer" series, <i>A Silent Prayer</i> and <i>A Prayer Answered, </i>paranormal stories based on Islamic concepts.</span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">WINNER OF READERS’ FAVORITE 2014 INTERNATIONAL BOOK AWARDS</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">WINNER OF 2014 LOS ANGELES BOOK FESTIVAL</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">WINNER OF 2014 PARIS BOOK FESTIVAL</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">WINNER OF 2014 HOLLYWOOD BOOK FESTIVAL</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">HONORABLE MENTIONS OF 2014 NEW YORK BOOK FESTIVAL</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">History, art and literature are her passions. "I love digging out information about prophecies, divine miracles and paranormal events that are mentioned in history and holy books, that don’t sound possible in today’s modern world.</span><span class="s1"></span></div>
<div class="p2" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Since childhood, I have been into reading and writing–and yes, it can’t happen without imagination, which luckily has no boundaries. Dance and music are also pastimes I enjoy, as well as reading romance fiction. I love to travel and explore historical cities."</span></span></div>
<div class="p3" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="s1"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Samreen-Ahsan/e/B00D5FZILI/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1"></a></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Samreen Ahsan lives in Toronto, Canada.</span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Visit her </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.samreenahsan.com/" target="_blank">website</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">follow her on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=368354511&authType=NAME_SEARCH&authToken=Xt7j&locale=en_US&srchid=54944041421727229223&srchindex=1&srchtotal=8&trk=vsrp_people_res_name&trkInfo=VSRPsearchId%3A54944041421727229223%2CVSRPtargetId%3A368354511%2CVSRPcmpt%3Aprimary" target="_blank">Linkedin</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">follow her on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/samauthorcanada" target="_blank">@SamauthorCanada</a></span></li>
</ul>
</div>
Scott Buryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05061034006121401082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23776112.post-84373183345683921312015-01-19T02:00:00.000-05:002015-01-19T02:00:03.957-05:00It’s prognostication season<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.commdiginews.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Janus-TheRevSteve.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.commdiginews.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Janus-TheRevSteve.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Creative Commons</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Every
January, pundits put on their Janus masks to look back and forward at the same
time and make predictions about the year to come. They try to give their words
as much gravity as they can, but if we look at history, we see they’re somewhat
less reliable than the weather.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some of the
most prominent, and repeated predictions I have read for this year:</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Interest
rates will finally go up after a decade at near zero. The prevailing prediction
is that the Federal Reserve, the central bank of the US, will raise its rates
in the second quarter—but maybe sooner, depending on the performance of the US
economy—which will prompt the Bank of Canada to move its rate up at its regular
rate-setting, which it hasn’t done for the past 34 rate-setting meetings, or
seven years. I have lost count of the number of times some economist or pundit
has predicted that “interest rates have to go up sooner or later.”<br /><br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">On
the other hand, big, bad investment bank Morgan Stanley has just announced
there’s a “subjective probability of one in three that the Bank of Canada cuts
interest rates in 2015. That terminology is interesting: a “subjective
probability.” The closest translation to clear language I can come up with is
it’s the writer’s personal feeling.<br /><br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Oil
prices may keep falling and there’s no telling when they’ll stop. Over the past
couple of months, we’ve been treated to successive economists in expensive
suits saying “if the price of a barrel of crude goes below $80—$70—$60…” It’s
now under $50, and the latest prediction is that the floor will be $43 before
prices start to go up again. Of course, this comes from the same expensive
suits, Morgan Stanley, who put forth their “subjective probability” about
Canadian interest rates.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The falling
price of oil will have far-reaching effects on economies around the world. In
Canada, the conservative government has delayed its budget for at least a month
to give it more time to “gather data.” This after eight years of betting the
economy on oil and other raw resource extraction industries, at the expense of
manufacturing industries. Talk about all your eggs in one basket. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRr8zNKeQH7wKbydb4I4CF7IaLBRc7PQLTdmKc9cB3sd0VbmBZqrA" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRr8zNKeQH7wKbydb4I4CF7IaLBRc7PQLTdmKc9cB3sd0VbmBZqrA" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />How is it
they didn’t see this coming?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Economists
have poor track record when it comes to short-range predictions, especially for
the coming year. The price of oil is the best example. It has followed a
classic bubble pattern: a steep rise followed by steeper decline. It’s happened
so many times in the past, in so many other sectors, that it astounds me that
no one saw this coming.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-CA</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:8.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:107%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Predictions?
Maybe they’re useless, when it comes to the economy. From now on, when I read
another prediction about the economy, I’m just going to laugh.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Scott Buryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05061034006121401082noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23776112.post-22555415362122826532015-01-12T02:30:00.000-05:002015-01-12T02:30:01.345-05:00Word of the week: offend<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://destinationjustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Freedom-of-expression-CanStockPhoto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://destinationjustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Freedom-of-expression-CanStockPhoto.jpg" height="243" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: CanStockPhoto under creative commons licence</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Where is the line between the right to free
expression and the responsibility to respect others?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There’s a debate going on now about whether
media outlets should republish the cartoons from <i>Charlie Hebdo</i> that enraged three
men in France enough to kill 25 people at the magazine and at a kosher grocery
store, and wound another 20.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In Canada, several newspapers, most of them
French-language, republished the cartoons. Most English-language newspapers,
however, did not. The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">New York Times’</i>
editor changed his mind twice about the issue, ultimately deciding not to
publish them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The French language side of the Canadian
Broadcasting Company, Radio-Canada, published them on its website. The English-language service made a point of not doing so. David Studer, CBC's director of
journalistic standards and practices, said that there was no need to publish
the cartoons to understand the story, and that since CBC would not have
published them before the shootings, there was no reason to publish them after.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last Friday, the lunchtime radio call-in
program in my home town debated the issue. Most of the callers, Muslim or not,
agreed with the sentiment that the cartoons should not be published because
they are offensive, particularly those that depict the prophet Muhammed in
sexual situations.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Think
of the children!</span></span></b></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One caller who identified herself as a
Muslim said that “I am trying to raise my children to respect Muhammed, and how
can they when they see images like that?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Protecting children is important. In
Canada, 344 people drowned in 2012. Open water can be dangerous for anyone.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How do we protect children against
drowning? We teach them swimming and water safety. As a result of increased
numbers of children enrolled in swimming lessons, the drowning statistics for
children under age 18 has been declining steadily. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Automobile accidents claim thousands of
lives every year. Yet we teach children to drive cars. We acknowledge that the
danger is best met and mitigated by teaching people how to deal with real
danger.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But we have such a different attitude when
it comes to offence, insult or criticism of figures that some people revere. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Why? What could happen to the Prophet were someone
to criticize him? I haven’t seen any harm come to Islam itself as a result of
cartoons. And don’t imagine that the murders were somehow divine retribution.
That was the action of three angry, petulant and ultimately immature young men
who decided on their own to react to an insult with deadly force. The same way
a playground bully will use force to react to an insult.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I understand that people do not like to be
offended. But we all have a choice when it comes to offensive material: we
don’t have to look. No one has to look at pornography. No one has to read
satire. You don’t have to read or watch <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Last Temptation of Christ</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In a pluralistic, egalitarian society,
which is what we are trying to build in the West, we respect each other’s right
to practise any religion we choose, as long as we’re not harming anyone else.
But your right to respect your religion does not trump my right to express my
ideas. And if I feel the need to criticize a religious leader, that’s my right.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">To my Muslim friends: if you are afraid of
being offended, do not scroll any lower. I am going to republish some of the
offensive cartoons from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Charlie Hebdo</i>.
Not gratuitously, not just to make fun of a revered man, but as part of a
question I want candid answers to.</span></span></blockquote>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"></span></div>
<h3>
<b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Are you offended by this?</span></span></b></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUBwQPpw7mm7n2ZyHJitXD6vyAw8dcNr4bnZiy1RP-7Cc8Ks-hOI4d6xFRnLLhU8Nsn4802pgrPWsMft7y_cwCNoPfZusoCusU0Y8RQyv2yOruO0JwUqfdM5YyykxnelIAOQa3/s1600/CharlieHebdoCartoon.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUBwQPpw7mm7n2ZyHJitXD6vyAw8dcNr4bnZiy1RP-7Cc8Ks-hOI4d6xFRnLLhU8Nsn4802pgrPWsMft7y_cwCNoPfZusoCusU0Y8RQyv2yOruO0JwUqfdM5YyykxnelIAOQa3/s1600/CharlieHebdoCartoon.png" height="320" width="263" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Personally, I think this is funny, riffing
on a scene from a Brigitte Bardot film. I think it’s important to poke fun at
revered figures, because it allows us to question our leaders, to hold them to
account, and to question our own assumptions. We need to do this every so
often, so we can make certain we are not being hypocrites.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And really, we are seeing a man’s bare ass.
How does that hurt anyone? Even if it’s not beautiful, it’s not harmful. We’ve
all seen someone’s bare ass at some point in our lives, and we’re none the
worse for it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How about this one? </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEClXtrtuXwjJu5hjhemG_w3IlXh0kjIn0Xr9N24hJFtGmJW-71cH8I2hMknxrTfJ7AyT-csIyoWQMIjKJH-7_LDCrjVPpYUj0mR-xN789p9oS9Ipl-PjYC819VMSd-LbCwBkj/s1600/IntouchablesCover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEClXtrtuXwjJu5hjhemG_w3IlXh0kjIn0Xr9N24hJFtGmJW-71cH8I2hMknxrTfJ7AyT-csIyoWQMIjKJH-7_LDCrjVPpYUj0mR-xN789p9oS9Ipl-PjYC819VMSd-LbCwBkj/s1600/IntouchablesCover.jpg" height="320" width="251" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It’s a reference to the
film “Intouchables,” about a disabled, rich white man who hires a poor black
man to care for him. The dialog bubble means “We must not be mocked.” Is it
funny? Does it offend you? Tell me in the Comments section.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And what about this one? </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiybJ719Bx5G1cS_YdcXCcia_4UYbSP44NIVraxKkM1ZvWFEdBvHFY2nk-51TEnMpHsaVnyg6sR7Tvg7Zh4MZrh9ki8s4wAMpSVOreOEOf5M-k56UUHEbeQ8Cp38cOPngxSs_aJ/s1600/CharlieHebdo-pope.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiybJ719Bx5G1cS_YdcXCcia_4UYbSP44NIVraxKkM1ZvWFEdBvHFY2nk-51TEnMpHsaVnyg6sR7Tvg7Zh4MZrh9ki8s4wAMpSVOreOEOf5M-k56UUHEbeQ8Cp38cOPngxSs_aJ/s1600/CharlieHebdo-pope.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What do you think?</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-CA</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-language:JA;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Even if it is disrespectful, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Charlie Hebdo</i> did not harm anyone or
anything. And here’s a suggestion to those who did feel offended and
disrespected: consisder satire like <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Charlie
Hebdo’s </i>like a vaccination. If you can deal with the disrespect and come up
with a response—one that does not involve violence or repression—maybe your
faith will be stronger for it.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Scott Buryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05061034006121401082noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23776112.post-16671962880934661692015-01-07T20:59:00.001-05:002015-01-08T06:58:38.028-05:00Charlie Hebdo: On the front lines in the war on freedom of expression<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1fkwQoOjDkxZISUnXdzb5nhkLMOMCpZiMGW5AOMiouF0vHZpPyZrNEuO1zluWAsnQ0h_wm1juqrZjWs3aiHiGNjykpGseLlQ7wHmuKvPKT3nb0l0_m4o6xwC7YKM1aICMdh67/s1600/JeSuisCharlie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1fkwQoOjDkxZISUnXdzb5nhkLMOMCpZiMGW5AOMiouF0vHZpPyZrNEuO1zluWAsnQ0h_wm1juqrZjWs3aiHiGNjykpGseLlQ7wHmuKvPKT3nb0l0_m4o6xwC7YKM1aICMdh67/s1600/JeSuisCharlie.jpg" height="221" width="400"></a></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There is a
world-wide, religious war going on right now, even though Western, democratic
and governmental leaders don’t want to admit it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It’s not a
war prosecuted by all Muslims, not by any stretch. But it is a war, a campaign
against freedoms the West purports to stand for: freedom of thought, freedom of
expression, freedom from arbitrary exercises of force and authority.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">According
to news </span></span><br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">sources, after three men with assault rifles murdered 12 people and
wounded another 20 at the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Charlie Hebdo</i>
offices in Paris today, one yelled “Allahu akbar!” and one yelled “Hey! We
avenged the prophet Muhammad! We killed Charlie Hebdo.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Apparently,
these murderers were offended by the satirical magazine’s cartoons depicting,
and making fun of Muhammad. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This isn’t
the first instance of this kind of thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Charlie Hebdo’</i>s offices were
firebombed in 2011 following the magazine’s cover with a cartoon of Muhammad on
the cover. In Islam, any depiction of Muhammad is forbidden. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thing is,
France is not governed by Islamic law. The magazine’s editor, Stéphane
Charbonnier, who was killed in the attack, once said he did not live under
Sharia law.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And
neither, thankfully, do I. I am happy to live in a secular, pluralistic
society, one which allows each person to follow whatever religion or philosophy
they wish, and which allows me to express myself as I wish.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But back to
the war on expression and on democracy, freedom of expression and secular
humanism. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">In 2005,
the Danish newspaper </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; line-height: 107%;">Morgenavisen Jyllands-Posten</span></i><span style="background: white; color: #333333; line-height: 107%;">, or Morning Jutland Post<span class="apple-converted-space">,
published cartoons of Muhammad, setting off a storm of protest that escalated
into violence, attacks on churches and nuns and more than 200 deaths.</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; line-height: 107%;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><br></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Boko Haram
continues to kidnap children in Nigeria in the name of its perverted conception
of Islam. The name of the group apparently translates to “western education is
forbidden.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Islamic
State organization, also known as ISIS and ISIL, continues its war in Syria,
Iraq and the Levant with the goal of establishing a caliphate, a religious
state ruled by strict, fundamentalist Islamic law—which includes rejection of
secular law, the embrace of violence to achieve religious goals and death for
anyone who leaves Islam. It’s also known for beheading aid workers and
journalists.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Those are
just a few examples. And the threat against freedom of expression isn’t carried
out only by people who think they’re Muslim. Christians in the US and Canada
have been known to ban <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Huckleberry Finn</i>
by Mark Twain, and various school boards have from time to time banned books
that represent same-sex couples or homosexual relationships. China jails<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>members of Falun Gong; Cuba jails dissidents
who dare criticize the government.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Granted, banning
books is not as extreme as the murders of journalists, writers and other artists.
But they are indicative of the threat against a freedom and a right that I, and
many others, believe is fundamental to the society I live in and wish to live
in.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br></span></span></div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The logical clash</span></span></b></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I believe
that the overwhelming majority of Muslims and all people in the world do not
wish to impose their beliefs on other people, but are just trying to live their
lives. Unfortunately, there are always obnoxious assholes in every society who
believe they can tell other people what to do and think.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To me, and
I hope to others, the right to think freely and to express my thoughts freely
is fundamental, sacred and not to be infringed.<br><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPFeVzfK6wNkbVobH9dMQk7mHEIHDFINWTeNezYll9aMin38vQldmAzt3T2RIWtpUfI1S_iucZJk4yFdblpnRJExCjk-9Gs30yP2J-ETkMd2RDKsoL6cyiPQmyRSUmxEEF8FvI/s640/blogger-image-1256809952.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPFeVzfK6wNkbVobH9dMQk7mHEIHDFINWTeNezYll9aMin38vQldmAzt3T2RIWtpUfI1S_iucZJk4yFdblpnRJExCjk-9Gs30yP2J-ETkMd2RDKsoL6cyiPQmyRSUmxEEF8FvI/s640/blogger-image-1256809952.jpg"></a></div><br></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However, to
the murderers of Stéphane Charbonnier and the others at Charlie Hebdo, their
religious sensitivities trump freedom of speech and the right to life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br></span></span></div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The necessity of freedom</span></span></b></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Freedom of
expression is essential in a democracy, because history is replete with
tyrants, religious and otherwise, who repress expression to hide their misdeeds
and shortcomings. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But we can
take a narrower perspective. As a child, I learned how important it was to
tolerate teasing and insults. Reacting to an insult with anger only leads to a worse
opinion of the target of the insult in the eyes of others. The far better
reaction, the one that will be best for the original target of the insult, is
humour and to tease or insult right back. If you can be funny while doing so,
even better.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That’s a
lesson that those who get offended by criticism of their beliefs need to learn.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br></span></span></div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Where do you stand?</span></span></b></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is a
war, a war between hard-won freedom and the protection of elites—because what
ideas will be repressed, other than those that oppose the powerful?<o:p></o:p></span></span><br>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We who live
in open, democratic and (mostly) free societies, like France, Canada, the US and
other countries, and those who want to live in a free, open society, have to
make a decision: do we support free expression of ideas that we might find
personally offensive? Or do we think that some principles are so delicate that
they must be protected against insult?<o:p></o:p></span></span><br>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-CA</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:8.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:107%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In short,
do you agree with Voltaire: “I do not agree with what you have to say, but I’ll
defend to the death your right to say it”?</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Scott Buryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05061034006121401082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23776112.post-49550405670141193572015-01-07T15:53:00.000-05:002015-01-07T15:53:49.715-05:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7uPqC5abj5n1D3vzAlVHPuPxvS-XDmt1RYsqbsbMg8PZCq2IZWdFQ5TrX7fn7tCauYgI9UpHHF4wFbbT9g48LJlrmXqrJgxLeovobdHgsaFQPzgQXZsdIGqHj1NdGdkXyMX_7/s1600/JeSuisCharlie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7uPqC5abj5n1D3vzAlVHPuPxvS-XDmt1RYsqbsbMg8PZCq2IZWdFQ5TrX7fn7tCauYgI9UpHHF4wFbbT9g48LJlrmXqrJgxLeovobdHgsaFQPzgQXZsdIGqHj1NdGdkXyMX_7/s1600/JeSuisCharlie.jpg" height="356" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
Scott Buryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05061034006121401082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23776112.post-23541524313481557712015-01-05T11:42:00.000-05:002015-01-05T11:42:07.092-05:00Kristos Razdayetsya: A Ukrainian Christmas present<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTj17PWAsXmgF_7UHEVzkMqAxz_mGxq-ZLHF-4BMdRKPkdTvhrgZw" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTj17PWAsXmgF_7UHEVzkMqAxz_mGxq-ZLHF-4BMdRKPkdTvhrgZw" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ukrainian Christmas Even Paska and candle.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">January 6, as everyone knows, is "Ukrainian Christmas Eve." Actually, it's Christmas Eve according to the old Julian calendar.</span><div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So my Ukrainian Christmas present to readers, and to Ukrainians around the world, is an excerpt from my upcoming book, still unnamed, the sequel to Army of Worn Soles. This is the story of my late father-in-law, Maurice Bury, and his experience on the eastern front in World War II as a Red Army soldier.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This section is set in the autumn of 1944, when the Red Army was pushing the Germans out of the Baltics, and meeting stiff resistance.</span><div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div style="line-height: 120%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; page-break-before: always;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Niemen River (Border between
Lithuania and East Prussia)</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 120%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">October 10, 1944<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="line-height: 120%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 120%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The sun shone into Maurice’s eyes as the sergeant called a
halt. He leaned back and let his pack slide off his shoulders, then sat down,
grateful for a minute’s rest. The temperature had been dropping all day, and
Maurice’s nerves were pulled taught from the sounds of machine-guns and bombs
that grew ever closer as they marched. The Germans had retreated, but the boys knew
they were marching toward an enemy defensive position. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 120%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/88/Neman_river.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/88/Neman_river.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Niemen River, Lithuania. Image: Creative Commons</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="line-height: 120%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The flatland of Lithuania continued as far
as they could see, but maybe two hundred metres to the south, a shallow, broad river
valley across the plain. That was the source of occasional gun- and
cannon-fire.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 120%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 120%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“The Niemen. Across that is East Prussia.
Germany," said a young officer, passing by. “Don’t get too comfortable.
That’s where we’re heading.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 120%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 120%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">By sunset, the gunfire died down. The two
armies were stalemated, facing each other across the valley of the Nieman
River, also known as the Neman and, in local Lithuanian, the Nemaunus. When the
sky was dark, the officers quietly ordered the men in Maurice’s troop to move
to the fortifications the Red Army had already dug, fifty metres from the bank.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 120%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 120%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No one knew, no one told them, but Stavka,
the Soviet high command, had already tried to penetrate into East Prussia and
take the strategic fortress of Konigsberg. The Baltic Offensive had succeeded
in driving the Germans out of most of Estonia and Latvia and had finally taken
Riga back from the Germans. Soviet General Bagramyan had pushed the Third
Panzer Army down the Baltic coast, where they holed up in the town of Klaipeda,
which the Germans had renamed Memel in 1939. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 120%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 120%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With the town surrounded, the Soviets then
committed four armies to attack into East Prussia, driving for a line from
Gumbinnen to Konigsberg, fifty kilometres further south.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 120%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 120%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">General Erhard Raus’s Third Panzer Army
stopped the Red Army, though, and held it at the Neman River. The Stavka
decided to hold that position until it could bring in more reinforcements to
allow it to use its deep operations strategy. Maurice’s unit was just one part
of that strategy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 120%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 120%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The soldiers already at the river had dug
trenches and made fortifications a few metres back from the banks. Maurice’s
unit found a place to set up camp. The next morning, they settled into a new
routine: patrolling the fortifications, watching the enemy across the broad
river, firing a few shots across just to let the enemy know they were watching.
When their watch was over, they went back for food and snatched what sleep they
could.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 120%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 120%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At night, Maurice did not sleep much. He
knew he should have made the most of this break in the fighting, but he
couldn't relax. <i>Something big is going to happen soon</i>. One day near the
end of October, Maurice thought the officers seemed to be stirring more than
usual. In the evening, as the sun hit the horizon, the major called the junior
officers into a circle; then the lieutenant of Maurice’s unit, Vasilyev,
gathered the men. “We’re going to do some reconnaissance across the river,” he
said. “Find out where Fritz has his cannons, tanks, and most important,
supplies. Get the directions back to our gunners. You'll have to be smart,
quiet, and you can't lose your head, or we're all done for. The Major’s looking
for four men.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 120%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 120%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The sergeant, a tough old communist named
Nikolai Nikolaev, stepped in front of the unit. “Okay, with me, it will be
Oleh, Maurice and Mykhailo—it’s your turn, comrades." Maurice suddenly
felt as though his guts were wide, hollow and empty at the sound of his name.
Numbly he followed the sergeant and the other boys to the quartermaster’s
wagon. He felt another cold shock when he saw German uniforms lying on the
ground.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 120%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 120%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Get dressed, boys,” said the
quartermaster, leering.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Scott Buryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05061034006121401082noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23776112.post-52697749577779289802015-01-01T00:01:00.000-05:002015-01-01T00:01:00.133-05:00The best to you for 2015<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgTc_WyFd3_rPeAx-PF_CaK71DurfF-1eRZDHD5t2oh1ebyCRk_RL1MSFMQeygQWqZiXRjzsAawqlGVsS-yMG8FcY4GZnLsUZp9qLPAPToObdvrOnc4Rv6XgDq-aJkdFKMp265/s1600/Happy+New+Year+-+Creative+Commons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgTc_WyFd3_rPeAx-PF_CaK71DurfF-1eRZDHD5t2oh1ebyCRk_RL1MSFMQeygQWqZiXRjzsAawqlGVsS-yMG8FcY4GZnLsUZp9qLPAPToObdvrOnc4Rv6XgDq-aJkdFKMp265/s1600/Happy+New+Year+-+Creative+Commons.jpg" height="386" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Creative Commons</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
My best wishes to you for 2015. May you all be happy, healthy and successful in whatever you endeavour.</div>
Scott Buryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05061034006121401082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23776112.post-31343304447523726902014-12-29T14:51:00.001-05:002014-12-29T14:51:14.679-05:00Writing tip: Anniversary — an annual kind of word<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://rayorthodontics.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/Calendar%20256.png?itok=w1bMPrL7" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://rayorthodontics.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/Calendar%20256.png?itok=w1bMPrL7" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As the year
end and new year approach, I thought it was a good time to discuss a
year-related word and deal with something that has bothered me for a long time.</span></div>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></h4>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The word:
anniversary.</span></span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What bugs
me: the way too many people misuse it, as in “first-year anniversary,” or “ten-year
anniversary.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It bothers
me because the word “year” in unnecessary in this usage. According to the Oxford
dictionary, “anniversary” means <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“the yearly
return of a date on which an event took place in a previous year.” </span></span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">According
to some cursory and largely unnecessary research—all literate English speakers should
know this—it derives from two Latin words: “Annus” meaning “year” and “versus”
meaning “turned.” Thus, an anniversary is the turning of a year.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We can
speak (or write) correctly of the first, second, tenth or whateverth
anniversary of something. To write the “two-year anniversary” means “the two
year yearly return of the date.” It’s redundant.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Worse, I hear
this misuse from otherwise reputable and well-spoken sources, particularly on the
CBC radio. And you know what that could lead to: more and more people picking
up on that misuse. As English is a living language, common use becomes accepted
and adopted as correct. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Please,
join me in this effort: let’s say and write “first anniversary,” “tenth
anniversary” and so on, instead of “x-year anniversary”—or worse, “six-month
anniversary.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If we don’t
make this effort, this incorrect use will become correct. And I’ll be left
irritated by something that used to be wrong, but is now right. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Don’t you
hate that? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Have a happy, health and prosperous new year.</span></span></h4>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://goldenageoftelevision.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/pouring_champagne.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://goldenageoftelevision.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/pouring_champagne.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Scott Buryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05061034006121401082noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23776112.post-40744048037039805092014-12-22T04:00:00.000-05:002014-12-22T04:00:07.021-05:00Happy every holiday<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy holidays, all readers, whichever holiday you are celebrating, or not celebrating.</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I would also like to extend especially positive wishes to those who get very little attention at this time of year: those who choose or, or have to work on these days so many consider special. These are not just nurses and police officers, but also those forced to work because they just cannot afford to take time off.</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So take a moment to appreciate the people in the corner store, the drug store, the movie theatre, ski hill, gas station and anywhere else that might be open on your holiday.</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm not the first to remark on how many cultures have a special celebration at this time of year. Nor am I the first to notice that many have a celebration involving light when the days are shortest (in the northern hemisphere). So there is a lot more about our various celebrations that brings us together than drives us apart. </span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So please share these inclusive sentiments, readers. And have a happy, healthy and successful dark season. Unless you're in the southern hemisphere, where it's the bright season.</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And share a wish for a good, safe and peaceful new year.</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">*</span></div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy Yule</span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy Sadeh</span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy Kwanzaa</span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Merry Christmas</span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy Hanukkah</span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy Saturnalia</span></span></div>
<div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy Diwali (a little late)</span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="s1"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy Eid (a different time every year)</span></span></div>
</div>
Scott Buryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05061034006121401082noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23776112.post-58151276727848190792014-12-15T03:00:00.000-05:002014-12-15T03:00:02.841-05:00Technology weirdness: a warning and a tip<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i2.wp.com/blog.rescuetime.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/email-sux.jpg?resize=590%2C266" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i2.wp.com/blog.rescuetime.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/email-sux.jpg?resize=590%2C266" height="178" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Written Words has whined about
technological bugs before, but here’s a warning: <b>don’t always believe the
network when it tells you it does not recognize your password</b>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have gone through this problem
periodically: I come down to the computer in the morning, try to check my
email, and get a message that either the password is incorrect or that the
server does not recognize my outgoing (smtp) password.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This always mystifies me, because the email
had been working perfectly the night before. When this has happened in the
past, I have logged into the self-service site of the affected ISP and updated
my password. Then I have to go to all my devices that can access email and
change them, too. Then I have to update my secure, written list of all my
passwords, because there are only so many words that combine letters, numbers
and special characters, and don’t reference names of family, friends, pets or
places I’ve lived, and are easy to remember.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It’s a process bound to create confusion.
When the problem occurs again, and I have to enter the old passwords and then a
new password. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And it begs the question: why did the
server no longer recognize the password? I did not change it. It worked the
night before, but stopped the next morning. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The latest time this happened, I tried
re-entering the password, which did not solve the problem. I logged into the
webmail program, and that worked fine. So I called my service provider. After
waiting on hold, listening to lame music and enduring the repeated “We
apologize for any inconvenience” recording, I explained the situation to the
technician. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I looked at the email client, and an email
had come in while I was on hold. But clicking Get Mail still gave me the error
message that the server did not recognize my password.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I don’t see any problem on my end,” the
technician said. “Let me check something else.” She put me on hold for another
five minutes. When she came back, she suggested I try sending a test email.
“But don’t put ‘test’ into the message or subject line. We sometimes get
problems with that.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.hdiconnect.com/blogs/supportoperations/2014/11/~/media/2A0871784FA24F778AEC82CDCC2E929A.jpg?w=360&h=240&as=1" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.hdiconnect.com/blogs/supportoperations/2014/11/~/media/2A0871784FA24F778AEC82CDCC2E929A.jpg?w=360&h=240&as=1" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I did. And guess what? The message went
through.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I did not change any settings. I did not
reset the passwords. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“We are migrating our servers. Perhaps that
caused a glitch,” the technician suggested. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then, as if by magic, the email clients on
all my devices connected with the email server, and messages started coming in.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tip</span></span></b></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So here’s my tip: when you get an error
message that your email account information is wrong, and you know you didn’t change
anything, don’t go through the process of changing all your email passwords on
all your devices and remote connections. Call your ISP and just wait for a
while. See if an hour’s wait doesn’t solve the problem. Changing all your
passwords should be a last resort.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-CA</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-language:JA;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What about you techies? Do you have an
explanation for this, or alternative solutions?</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Scott Buryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05061034006121401082noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23776112.post-73332310160896846592014-12-08T07:02:00.001-05:002014-12-08T09:52:48.094-05:00Narrative is important for fiction, but bad for reality<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://scarletletterbible.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/RedSeaParting.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://scarletletterbible.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/RedSeaParting.png" height="201" width="400" /></a></div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Exodus, Christmas and other mythic
narratives</span></span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I’ve been reading a lot about “narrative”
in news and social media lately. Not as in literature, as in a story arc, but
narrative applied to public discourse about current events. The narrative of
global warming, for example, is now being derided by climate change deniers.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In other words, “narrative” is a story that
we use as a context to understand the world around us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The prospect of using a narrative appeals
to a writer like me. Stories are my bread and wine. And a narrative, a
consistent story arc, is essential to a work of fiction. A narrative is
particularly important to genre fiction, as it helps provide background
information: the underpaid detective who lives on his own because his work
prevents him from having a family life; the distant love interest who spurns
attachment because of a past trauma; boy-meets-girl; the odd couple; revenge.
There are only seven plots, said the ancient Greeks, and every story follows
one, or more of these basic seven narratives.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But I’m going to put it to you today, oh my
wonderful and valued readers, that narrative as a way to understand the real
world around us is caustic. Destructive.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some common narratives today</span></span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I realize that I have grown up accepting a
lot of narratives. The Christmas story, for one. Jesus Christ, the Son of God,
was born on December 25 in a manger in Bethlehem. It’s a powerful story, one
that drives so much of our culture and activity. But it has its flaws.
Historians who have looked at the story rationally point out that lambs are
born in spring, not in the winter, for example.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Still, it’s a powerful narrative—obviously.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Exodus narrative is the foundational
story of the Hebrew people and to a large extent of the modern state of Israel.
It’s another powerful narrative: God led the Hebrews out of Egypt to the
Promised Land. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">According to the Bible, hundreds of
thousands of Jews, along with all their livestock, left Egypt somewhere around
3,000 years ago, and after 40 years settled in Canaan, the Promised Land, after
being pursued by Pharoah. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Except that there is absolutely NO
architectural or other corroborating evidence of such a monumental event. It’s
a nice story, though.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Caustic narratives</span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Post-traumatic stress
disorder, or PTSD</b>—all soldiers returning from Afghanistan, or Iraq, or any
conflict, are permanently psychologically damaged. For a distressingly large
number, this is true, but it’s not universal. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Get tough on crime</b>—governments in the US
and in Canada like to use this one. According to the narrative, lax criminal
law enforcement, luxurious prisons and short jail sentences only encourage
crime, while long sentences and jails that are not desirable places to be will
discourage criminals from committing crimes. Except that experience has
demonstrated the opposite. If society’s goal is to reduce crime, then programs
that teach poor people skills and provide jobs, food and mental health care
have proven to be much more effective than being tough on crime.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_large/public/views-article/dollar_cut_up_1.jpg?itok=5I1QzPm-" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_large/public/views-article/dollar_cut_up_1.jpg?itok=5I1QzPm-" height="166" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Tax cuts</b>—none of their proponents call it
“trickle down economics” anymore, but the idea is the same: cutting taxes for
corporations and the wealthiest people will make them spend more, and thus
create jobs for the working and middle classes. Except this has never been
demonstrated to happen. If you remember, in the 2008 economic crisis, the
banks, those epitomes of the capitalist philosophy, demanded and got government
intervention to prevent their failing. The crisis and the TARP were examples of
Keynsian, interventionist economic policy at work, and the repudiation of
Milton Friedman’s hands-off ideas.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Narratives are great for fiction, for
novels. But they’re counterproductive as a way to look at the real world.
Instead of looking for a narrative, why don't we look at the world the way it really is? Look for facts, look for actual causes and effects. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How is narrative a problem? Let's consider one narrative that most people (not all) have abandoned: that humanity was created in one special moment and did not evolve from an earlier, different species of animal. A century and a half ago, the idea of evolution was largely rejected because it did not fit into the narrative most people had accepted because they'd been taught it as children by adults they respected. To accept the idea of evolution, the authorities and teachers said, was to disrespect those authorities.</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And yet, many years later, we have (mostly) accepted the fact of evolution, and those institutions that strove against the idea, the churches and schools and authorities, are still with us. Yes, they've changed; some have weakened, others have become stronger. </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But adhering to a narrative causes us to ignore facts that don't fit into it, and encourages choices that cause harm.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yes, narrative is important. But it's important to construct the narrative to fit reality, and when we learn new things, to change the narrative. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Narrative is a story, and as all writers know, the story can always change.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-CA</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-language:JA;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
Scott Buryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05061034006121401082noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23776112.post-11707514268294727612014-12-03T03:00:00.000-05:002014-12-03T03:00:12.283-05:00Thank you, audience, for growing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLi2M6HYYAnvEre2_BqrWwGCDpx-k0u8t-eQCP0vts2OcFjKqXztjTO1tbmgXrYQvbyBi0he45kUHgvUbgBoEsOPOnwXgpPJ9cYBHZVSjdSC6FS-zQZ2gGka53Ts7CJXDL3aXP/s1600/Mountains1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLi2M6HYYAnvEre2_BqrWwGCDpx-k0u8t-eQCP0vts2OcFjKqXztjTO1tbmgXrYQvbyBi0he45kUHgvUbgBoEsOPOnwXgpPJ9cYBHZVSjdSC6FS-zQZ2gGka53Ts7CJXDL3aXP/s1600/Mountains1.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The audience
for this blog has reached another record high point: in November 2014, more
than 20,000 people viewed a page. Three times during the month, daily numbers
reached or exceeded 1,000, and the all-time number is approaching 400,000. In
fact, I fully expect to reach that by next week. If things keep going the way
they have been, even without any more growth, it will have reached half a
million by June.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here’s the
graph from Blogger. You can see that I started blogging in March 2006, but I
didn’t post very much at first. I published seven posts in March, mostly reused
material like reviews of printers, cameras and other communications technology.
But by May, the frequency had dropped to once every week or two. I didn’t
publish anything in June, just once in August and nothing all that fall. I only
published six posts in all of 2008 and only one in 2010.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgTSkw0JclInbyiiOKLC5KKczhDmtDDdz9mgYA51CnQGM_1Sgv7UGE7HKqe_MZd_GeW7j7VcK6zWCcvbt9N7JlYgS9xEdWXPtr-zGqjwhJutkPGyAbFxcJgAI20RY0XOx0Lz7V/s1600/PageViewsGraph.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgTSkw0JclInbyiiOKLC5KKczhDmtDDdz9mgYA51CnQGM_1Sgv7UGE7HKqe_MZd_GeW7j7VcK6zWCcvbt9N7JlYgS9xEdWXPtr-zGqjwhJutkPGyAbFxcJgAI20RY0XOx0Lz7V/s1600/PageViewsGraph.JPG" height="211" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It’s not
surprising that my blog got little attention then. Why would anyone come when
there’s nothing new to see?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It wasn’t
until 2011 and I had finished writing my first novel, <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Bones-Earth-Dark-ebook/dp/B006PI0NRG/" target="_blank">The Bones of the Earth</a></i>, that I started blogging regularly. By that
fall, and most of the time since (with a few lapses, sorry) I was blogging at
least once a week. For a while there, I was doing three posts a week. And, not
surprising, that’s when pageviews started to climb.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That’s also
when I got my twitter account, and putting a link to my blog in most of my
tweets. Pageviews, driven by frequent announcements about posts and attracted
by new content, started to climb dramatically. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As you can
see from the graph, pageviews climbed in spurts. There’s the long, flat head
from 2006 to 2010, then a more or less steady rise through 2011, when pageviews
averaged around 6,000 per month—that’s 200 a day. There are peaks and valleys
from month to month, then another surge to another plateau around 10,000 per
month for most of 2012 and 2013.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And now, a
new high: from 13,734 pageviews in September 2014, to 16,548 in October to over
20,000 in November! And the pace so far in December (okay, I know we’re just
two days into it, but taking that as a trend) is over 700. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Getting the best help</span></span></b></h3>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.lisajeydavis.com/lisa-jey-davis-biography/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://www.lisajeydavis.com/wp-content/uploads/LisaJeyDavis_Enjoying-410x370.png" height="178" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What
accounts for that? I have to give some credit to <a href="http://www.lisajeydavis.com/lisa-jey-davis-biography/" target="_blank">Lisa Jey Davis</a>, also known as
<a href="http://www.mscheevious.com/" target="_blank">Ms. Cheevious</a>. In addition to being a kick-ass lady and always entertaining
writer and blogger, she’s an awesome social media consultant. She created some
Facebook pages and posts for me, and is doing some other mysterious things in
social media on my behalf. And since she started doing that, my numbers have
been climbing strongly. In addition, the <i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/armyofwornsoles" target="_blank">Army of Worn Soles</a></i> page she created
for me on Facebook now has over 100 likes. To me, that’s a lot. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The view from the peak</span></span></b></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I remember
being so excited in 2011 and 2012 as I watched my daily, monthly and “all-time”
pageview statistics climb. I remember thinking “Wow. Those statistics were
really pathetic before 2011, but now, this is serious.” I compared this to my
experience working on Canadian magazines (remember those things, printed with
ink on paper?) in the 1980s. Thirteen thousand readers per month was a
respectable, healthy readership for a “trade,” or industry magazine. With a
staff. And postage expenses. And here I was, getting those kind of numbers all
by myself.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A note here
about Google’s graph: the numbers I see today don’t jibe with my memory. And
the graph doesn’t show the odd-numbered years. You cannot see the statistics
for 2007, 2009, 2011 or 2013.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Why do I do it?</span></span></b></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Three times
a week required an effort and a devotion of time that were too great to
sustain. Other things, like writing novels, began to suffer. So I scaled back
to twice a week for a while, and now am pretty content with once per week.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now, if
there were only a way to make money from that. Don’t tell me about Google ads.
I have those, as you can see, and I haven’t gotten a penny. I’m not
complaining; that’s not why I write this blog.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“So why <i>do</i> you spend so much time on that blog
and on setting up tweets every day?” my lovely and supportive wife is fond of
asking. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I’ve used
the standard answers (that I am, umm, repurposing from consultants and self-described
authors’ advisors): “building the platform, raising my profile.” It’s partly
true, but as a method of driving book sales, well, I can’t say it’s had the
impact that other writers report. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But it does
show that I can get an audience. My writing is reaching important people: you.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thank you,
readers. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Scott Buryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05061034006121401082noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23776112.post-68656923001072333772014-11-30T02:30:00.000-05:002014-11-30T02:30:00.763-05:00iAi cover reveal: The Dark by David C. Cassidy<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8zXiFO8ova5HC9aOZqYz3FNFzrU2NE5HJWdFj_-hs2k9aPHhcJ8sGBKrVv018fNvk2QbLv_dQzRbxq62rq6R_qRqbMM1yPX-14hwppYIyqPuaNy6-H7ghCSdcvt8ylL6IAYc5/s1600/TheDarkFrontCover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8zXiFO8ova5HC9aOZqYz3FNFzrU2NE5HJWdFj_-hs2k9aPHhcJ8sGBKrVv018fNvk2QbLv_dQzRbxq62rq6R_qRqbMM1yPX-14hwppYIyqPuaNy6-H7ghCSdcvt8ylL6IAYc5/s1600/TheDarkFrontCover.jpg" height="640" width="423" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The multi-talented author David C. Cassidy has completed his third book. He's releasing <i>The Dark</i>, a very creepy, scary and riveting tale on December 15. It's available for pre-order on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dark-David-C-Cassidy-ebook/dp/B00Q7TTJ46/" target="_blank">Amazon</a> right now. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What's it about?</span></h3>
<br />
<div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>It
knows what you want. It knows what you need.</i></b></span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In
denial over his father’s death in a horrific accident, Kelan Lisk has grown
fearful and withdrawn. For this meek and bullied child, a burning desire to
tame a deadly sledding hill consumes him, drawing him inside a wondrous place
where anything is possible … including his father. But as this strange new
realm spills into this one, twisting an innocent boy into an agent of evil, the
world is forever changed, devoured by an even greater evil—the Dark.</span></span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Reviews
on Amazon:</span></span></h3>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Dean
Koontz would be proud of this writer.”</span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Exceptional
writing on a par with Stephen King.”</span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Readers
are at the mercy of a masterful storyteller.”</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">“Eloquent
and eerie … this is how a story should be written.”</span></span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm thrilled about this book and doubly proud of it, because I've been a fan of David Cassidy (the <a href="http://davidccassidy.com/">author, photographer and designer</a>, not the teen idol) since I discovered his first book, <i><a href="http://ow.ly/gsOr1">Velvet Rain</a></i>, and saw several of his gorgeous cover designs. In fact, I asked David to design the covers of both <i><a href="http://davidccassidy.com/2013/03/17/cover-reveal-scotty-burys-one-shade-of-red/">One Shade of Red</a></i> and <i><a href="http://davidccassidy.com/2014/06/05/cover-reveal-scott-burys-army-of-worn-soles/">Army of Work Soles</a></i>.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The other reason I am so proud of <i>The Dark</i> is that I edited the manuscript. I'm very happy with the way that worked out.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So check it out. And if you want a scary, creepy and excellent book to read over the holidays, or if you want to give one as a present, then this is what you're looking for.</span></div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
</div>
Scott Buryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05061034006121401082noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23776112.post-51074593081738420382014-11-24T15:26:00.000-05:002014-11-27T14:40:39.824-05:00Getting back to writing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEQ9UpbfBFarSbb8BYoFpF462trmsUNuvEcsChjG6gTx87zUQ0BHQdasIQfJ1EzrUyjPg9EZRaGS9L8vQm5KBLlW4Vc6d6R2M9sez793Szrgz_mHbuB_2_17sMBEy8eJKqAqJy/s1600/pencil-and-blank-page.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEQ9UpbfBFarSbb8BYoFpF462trmsUNuvEcsChjG6gTx87zUQ0BHQdasIQfJ1EzrUyjPg9EZRaGS9L8vQm5KBLlW4Vc6d6R2M9sez793Szrgz_mHbuB_2_17sMBEy8eJKqAqJy/s1600/pencil-and-blank-page.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Writing the first paragraph of anything is always difficult,
because there’s so much pressure. That first paragraph, even more so, the first
sentence, has to do so much: set the scene, get the story moving and grab the
reader’s attention. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But I took a lot of pleasure from that pressure last week
and wrote an opening for my next book, after a long period of spending my
writing time doing other things. Things that are rewarding and worthwhile, but
aren’t writing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpKHSXtLmZyIFBxMMlTN7dKP3iv_TC6E0TZbL40u4fUttJGrz30Jhap2tpk9d3nm9IAqrN3b0Vxhyphenhyphen9z1SbV880LYW8HkbU9r4BXuxNaE-TNpEOMd-SzpfMyILHPF5e3aOFkv_q/s1600/DarkCover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpKHSXtLmZyIFBxMMlTN7dKP3iv_TC6E0TZbL40u4fUttJGrz30Jhap2tpk9d3nm9IAqrN3b0Vxhyphenhyphen9z1SbV880LYW8HkbU9r4BXuxNaE-TNpEOMd-SzpfMyILHPF5e3aOFkv_q/s1600/DarkCover.jpg" height="200" width="131" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What have I been doing?</span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">editing three excellent and very different books
for colleagues, including David C. Cassidy, author of </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;"><a href="http://scottswrittenwords.blogspot.ca/2012/12/david-c-cassidys-velvet-rain.html">Velvet
Rain</a></i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;"> and the upcoming The Dark</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">traveling with my lovely and very tolerant wife
to France (well, that was just a week, but still)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">finalizing the print version of my latest book, </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Army-Worn-Soles-Scott-Bury-ebook/dp/B00L3CNE0M/">Army
of Worn Soles</a></i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">—print is much less tolerant of mistakes than e-books are</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">working on revamping my website, which sad to
say, still isn’t done.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In fact, my attempts to improve my website have so far had
the opposite effect: they’ve rendered it unviewable by any browser. Oh, I still
have the files, but I’ve done something in the coding that creates a looping
redirect. So for the past couple of weeks, my spare home-office time has been
taken up with researching cheap or free, yet easy-to-use HTML editors for the
Mac.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now, there are some excellent inexpensive programs, but I
found one that’s free, and that does (or purports to do) all the things I want
to have in my website. There’s something in me that just won’t let me shell out
80 buck US for something when I can almost the same thing for free. The
downside is that I had to start all over again to rebuild the site.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anyway, the revamped site is close to being done, and when
it is, this blog will look very different.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is a blog about
writing, not about being a cheapskate</span></b></h4>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b5/Clio-Mignard.jpg/220px-Clio-Mignard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b5/Clio-Mignard.jpg/220px-Clio-Mignard.jpg" height="200" width="162" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17.3185615539551px; text-align: left;">Clio</i><span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17.3185615539551px; text-align: left;"> by </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre_Mignard" style="background: none rgb(249, 249, 249); color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17.3185615539551px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;" title="Pierre Mignard">Pierre Mignard</a>. <br />
Source: Wikipedia </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thank you, muse of writing. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The writing. Well, last week, I pushed the website and
the book formatting aside for a while to return to writing. I know that I said
in June that I would have the sequel to <i>Army
of Worn Soles </i>out by December, and we all know that’s not going to happen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have had this nagging feeling that comes from knowing that
I have been putting off finishing the story of Maurice Bury, my late
father-in-law, and his experiences in the Second World War. Now, I feel so much
better that I have started to make progress again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is a very early draft, but here’s an opening:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Ukraine, January 1942</b></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wind blew the snow smooth, polishing surface of the lake to
a dull sheen under the full moon, and pushing drifts higher than a man along a
rough fence that shielded the railway. Beyond the rails, more snow weighed down
the boughs of close-growing fir trees and covered their trunks more than six
feet high.</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The moonlight made steam sparkle as a train emerged from the
forest to puff and groan slowly along the edge of the frozen lake. The engineer
squinted through the small forward window, which gave only an obstructed view.
Periodically, he would lean out the side window to peer at the track ahead, but
he could only bear the frigid air, the wind from the train’s forward motion,
and the smoke and cinders from the engine, for less than a minute before he had
to come back inside.</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He kept the train’s speed low and one hand on the brake
lever, despite the commands of the <i>Wehrmacht</i>
officers in the cars behind him. He knew the risks of going too fast in this
country. Besides snowdrifts over the tracks that could derail the train despite
the plows welded onto the front of the engine, the men he knew hid under the
dark boughs posed worse threats.</span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Army of Worn Soles</i>
chronicled Maurice’s drafting into the Red Army, his service as an officer as
the army retreated across Ukraine and his capture along with half a million
other men, his imprisonment and his escape along with the men in his command from
the POW camp. The second story is about his experiences after that: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">fighting in the underground resistance against Nazi Germany</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">being re-drafted by the Red Army</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">fighting across the Baltic states and then eastern Germany,
up to Berlin in May, 1945</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and finally, his narrow escape from the Red Army and Stalin’s
NKVD to return home to Canada, where he was born.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I think I’ve got it all mapped out now, and about 80 percent
of it is written. But I am having one problem, dear readers: the title. So I’m
turning to you. In the Comments section below, tell me which of the following
possible titles you think is the most grabbing:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Walking Out of War</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Walking Away from War</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Slipping Through Stalin’s Net</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>The Four-Sided War</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Worn Soles Home</i></span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I’m looking forward to your comments!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
Scott Buryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05061034006121401082noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23776112.post-12248990402925038402014-11-17T00:34:00.000-05:002014-11-18T17:25:52.315-05:00Writing tip: Break complex ideas into manageable chunks<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.writeonwendy.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/bldg-blocks_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.writeonwendy.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/bldg-blocks_2.jpg" height="200" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: Building Blocks by Myfear on Flickr. Creative Commons licence.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span id="goog_611260823"></span><span id="goog_611260824"></span>Periodically, my university student sons ask for writing advice for their assignments. Most recently, the elder asked for another word for "prelude" or "precursor."<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
What the Blond Raven wanted to do was describe how Algeria's experience in the 1990s, when a number of religious groups rebelled against the military government, was similar to the situation today in Syria.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Why not just say that?" I asked.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"That's not ... fancy enough for a university paper," he said.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"All right," I said, realizing that the situation screamed for improvisation. "Preface your paper with this:</div>
<div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
In defiance of the tacit pretentious approach to expression accepted in scholarly journals, henceforth this paper shall be written in style that all readers with an education beyond the sixth grade can understand.</blockquote>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Why is it that academic writing is purposely dense? Incomprehensible? Why does every sentence have to be dissected and reassembled to be taken seriously?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In other words, why can't academic papers attain the same standards of other forms of communication—why can't they be written in clear language?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Or to put it more plainly: why don't academics use clear writing?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
How about this one:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
As a result of these intermeshing trends, strengthening states through statebuilding programmes has come to be regarded by major donors as a central response to violent conflict and insecurity and a core element of peacebuilding programmes (and of development assistance). In the post-colonial states of the Global South, external peacebuilding operations are often faced </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
[Sorry, my fingers got tired there.] </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
not only with responding to the effects of vioent institutions coexising with other logics of authority, power, and order (ethnic, tribal, religious, criminal etc.). </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
(Source: Tarya Vayrynen, "Gender and Peacebuilding," in Oliver P. RIchmond's <i>Palgrave advances in peacebuilding,</i>University of St. Andrews, UK: Macmillan Palgrave, 2010).</blockquote>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Before you read it again, tell me: what was the beginning of the paragraph about?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
How about this winner from an article on nationalism: </div>
<div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
For present purposes, the two relevant cultural systems are the <i>religious community</i> and the <i>dynastic realm.</i> For<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> both of these, in their heydays, were taken-for-granted frames of reverence, very much as nationality is today. It is therefore essential to consider what gave these cultural systems their self-evident plausibility, and at the same time to underline certain key elements in their decomposition.</span></blockquote>
</div>
<div>
These two examples could so easily be written more clearly. I have always belived that the audience should be able to understand a text after reading it the first time. But if you cannot remember the beginning of the paragraph byt the time you get to the end, the writing fails. If you get lost in the maze of loosely connected clauses, it means the writer has not followed the first rule of writing: know your audience.</div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/84/KelpAquarium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/84/KelpAquarium.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Academic writing often runs into the problem of trying to cram too many ideas into one sentence. Broadely speaking, the job of the researcher is to find patterns and connections between facts and phenomenal. When they find connections and correlations, it's tempting to try to fit them all together in one sentence. The researcher gets excited: "Look how these ideas are connected! It makes so much sense, and together, they mean this!"</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We've all been there.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Stop. Breathe in through your nose, and blow out through your mouth. There. Now, you're relaxed.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It's not easy, but the solution is to think through, very carefully, what you're trying to say. Break it down into single sentences and the just write the connections in order, as simply as you can. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Sometimes, we need to express complex ideas. Sometimes, the connections among causes and effects are complicated. The solution is like project management: break the big, complicated mess up into smaller, manageable chunks. Deal with each one in turn, then move on to the next idea.</span></div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Like this: </div>
<div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The two cultural systems relevant today can be called the religious community and the dynastic realm. Each of these systems dominated different societies at different times in history. Where they did, the people in the societies they dominated took them for granted, in the same way people today take nationality <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">for granted </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">as a basis for states today. What gave these other cultural systems their plausibility? What were the key elements that unravelled them?</span></blockquote>
</div>
<div>
The Blond Raven is right. This is far too simple, too clear, for today's scholarly journals. Why, if everyone could understand these articles, why should they bother with expensive post-secondary education?</div>
</div>
Scott Buryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05061034006121401082noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23776112.post-73971023996425930032014-11-11T01:00:00.000-05:002014-11-11T01:00:08.683-05:00On Remembrance Day, in honour of all who served: Chapter 1, free<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today, November 11, 2014, is Remembrance Day in Canada, Veterans' Day in the US, Armistice Day in the UK. It's a day recognized under many names in countries around the world, marking the end of the First World War, called the "defining calamity of the 20th century."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That calamity, which took millions of lives and changed the perception of war, began 100 years ago.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In honour of all who served, I offer the first chapter of <i>Army of Worn Soles</i>, the true story of a Canadian drafted into the Soviet Red Army just in time to face Nazi Germany's invasion in 1941.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e9/Poppies_Field_in_Flanders.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e9/Poppies_Field_in_Flanders.jpg" height="263" width="400" /></a></div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Toc265058009"><span lang="EN-AU">Chapter 1:</span></a></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Toc265058009"><span lang="EN-AU">
Prisoner of War</span></a></span></h3>
<br />
<div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:RelyOnVML/>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-CA</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<div class="MsoSubtitle">
<span lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Kharkiv, October 1941</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="CSP-ChapterBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="CSP-ChapterBodyText" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Maurice
put the bottle on the ground beside him and took off his uniform shirt. He
spread it on the smoothest piece of ground he could find, then laid the bottle
near the officer’s insignia on the collar and pushed down. He rolled the bottle
over tattered, light-brown material until the lice cracked under the glass.
Back and forth, twice, three times. He felt a dull satisfaction at his first
pathetic victory in more than half a year. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="CSP-ChapterBodyText" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="CSP-ChapterBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The effort was exhausting. His
stomach ached and his throat burned with thirst. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="CSP-ChapterBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He slumped back until he leaned
against the barracks. Men in grey uniforms stood or walked across the cobbled
courtyard of the ancient castle. One came toward him, a slim man with light
brown hair and hazel eyes. He stopped in front of Maurice and leaned down.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="CSP-ChapterBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="CSP-ChapterBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Maurice? Is it you?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="CSP-ChapterBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="CSP-ChapterBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Breathing required effort. So did
looking up. Maurice had not eaten in days, but he still trusted his sight. He
knew the man with the light-brown hair and hazel eyes, even in a Wehrmacht
uniform. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="CSP-ChapterBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="CSP-ChapterBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Maurice?" the young man
said again. "What are you doing here?” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="CSP-ChapterBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="CSP-ChapterBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He couldn’t swallow. His mouth
held no moisture. “Dying. I’m starving to death.” Maurice closed his eyes and
hung his head. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="CSP-ChapterBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="CSP-ChapterBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bohdan crouched beside him. “You
got drafted?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="CSP-ChapterBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="CSP-ChapterBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Maurice made the effort to look
up at his old friend. “The Red Army made me a lieutenant. What the hell are you
doing here, and in a German uniform, Bohdan?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="CSP-ChapterBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="CSP-ChapterBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“The Germans kicked the Russians
out, something we couldn’t do. Why shouldn’t I join the winning side? And it's
‘Daniel’ now, not Bohdan.” He looked around to make sure no one noticed him, a
Wehrmacht officer, talking to a prisoner of war. “I’m glad you survived, that
you were captured instead of killed. The Germans killed a lot of Red soldiers.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="CSP-ChapterBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="CSP-ChapterBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I know. I was there.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="CSP-ChapterBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="CSP-ChapterBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bohdan looked around again.
"How did you get here?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="CSP-ChapterBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="CSP-ChapterBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Like you said, we were captured,
the whole army, outside Kharkiv. They brought us here.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="CSP-ChapterBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="CSP-ChapterBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bohdan shook his head. “Are you
all right? I’ll see if I can bring you anything, but I have to be careful.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="CSP-ChapterBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="CSP-ChapterBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Maurice looked into his friend’s
eyes. “Get me out of here.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="CSP-ChapterBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="CSP-ChapterBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Set a prisoner free? Are you
crazy?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="CSP-ChapterBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="CSP-ChapterBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Bohdan—sorry, Daniel, you’re my
best friend. Or you were. If I ever meant anything to you, get me out.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="CSP-ChapterBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="CSP-ChapterBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Daniel—Bohdan, looked left and
right again. “I cannot let Red soldiers go,” he whispered.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="CSP-ChapterBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="CSP-ChapterBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Maurice took a dry breath. His
strength was almost gone. “You’re an officer in a victorious army. You have the
power. You can get me out, me and my boys. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="CSP-ChapterBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Daniel shook his head and stood.
“Stalin's going to surrender within six months, and then all the prisoners will
be freed. Hitler has promised freedom for all nations. We’ll all be free.
Ukraine will be free.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="CSP-ChapterBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="CSP-ChapterBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Maurice looked at the ground
between his splayed legs. He could no longer lift his head. “I can’t wait six
months. I can’t wait two days. If you wait, you’ll find a corpse. We’ll all be
dead. You have to get us out now.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="CSP-ChapterBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="CSP-ChapterBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Daniel hesitated. He looked
around the camp again, but no one paid attention. “So the Reds made you an
officer, did they? Where are your men? All dead?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="CSP-ChapterBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Somewhere, Maurice found the
strength to stand up again. He staggered to the barracks door, went in and
called his <i>odalenye</i>, the unit he commanded. “Step over here, boys.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="CSP-ChapterBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="CSP-ChapterBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Daniel followed Maurice inside,
and Maurice wondered if Daniel wasn’t breaking some regulation by entering
prisoners’ quarters unaccompanied by at least one guard. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="CSP-ChapterBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="CSP-ChapterBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Daniel scanned the room, taking
in the defeated, injured and starving men. No one threatened him. They did not
even move. Maurice realized when they saw Daniel, they saw their captor.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="CSP-ChapterBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="CSP-ChapterBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Daniel stepped out of the
barracks and waited outside the door. “I’ll see what I can do, Maurice. But
you’re on the wrong fucking side.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="CSP-ChapterBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="CSP-ChapterBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Maurice picked up the bottle and
returned to crushing the lice out of his uniform shirt. It was the only thing
he could do to reduce his misery. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="CSP-ChapterBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="CSP-ChapterBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He thought about the last time he
had seen Bohdan, before he became Daniel.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="CSP-ChapterBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="CSP-ChapterBodyText">
<i><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was in the gymnasium, the
pre-university school in Peremyshl. What used to be Poland. What a long,
strange, twisted path my life has followed. </span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="CSP-ChapterBodyText">
<i><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
<div class="CSP-ChapterBodyText">
<i><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">____</span></span></i></div>
<div class="CSP-ChapterBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="CSP-ChapterBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For more from <i>Army of Worn Soles,</i> click the cover image at the top of this blog.</span></span></div>
<div class="CSP-ChapterBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="CSP-ChapterBodyText">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Visit the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/armyofwornsoles">Worn Soles </a>page on Facebook.</span></span></div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
</div>
Scott Buryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05061034006121401082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23776112.post-83176990136785829292014-11-07T01:57:00.000-05:002014-11-07T01:57:00.262-05:00Deadly Company - a spooky tale that reveals an author's darker side<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">By Rosa Storm</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimW0ZircgUMmpV-jBiaQeWn8ZnaYIo7SiKerRCZffDwM3UzzTZzc9XVxzxbirq806hnz8C9VoBytIOc3GLM11Y2d-gdpEUoWikSg4U1d3pZU0GwXhP6D_m_v7SvDXxGIxaHI_2/s1600/DeadlyCompany.jpg" height="157" width="320" /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What does choosing your own name say about you? What about
when the chosen name is a mirror of the given name? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of my favourite indie authors is Cinta Garcia de la
Rosa, who wrote <i><a href="http://scottswrittenwords.blogspot.ca/2012/12/independent-book-review-funny.html">The Funny Adventures of LittleNani</a></i> for children. She has a distinct voice and style, and a sense of
humour that bubbles through the text. She’s not afraid to break through the “fourth
wall,” engaging directly and very effectively with the audience. No matter what
the subject, when you read Cinta, you see that she is enjoying the art of
writing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://cintascorner.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/cintablog.png?w=618" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://cintascorner.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/cintablog.png?w=618" width="159" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now she has turned to a subject very different from children’s
stories, under the name Rosa Storm. Does moving her second surname to the front
signify that she is bringing some suppressed characteristic to the fore?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And Storm: storms can be dark times. Rosa Storm’s newest story,
Deadly Company, is dark indeed. And very bloody. As Rosa Storm, Cinta Garcia may
be letting someone dangerous out to play. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Deadly Company is based on the Spanish Galician (as opposed
to the Polish Galician) legend of La Santa Campaña, the Holy Company also known
as “the night ones.” The legends tells of a procession of dead spirits wearing
hoods and carrying candles, led by a living person dressed in a hood and
carrying a cross and a cauldron of holy water. Their appearance means someone
nearby is close to death.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The person leading the procession can only be freed from
this duty if he or she finds some other living person to take over.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Deadly Company follows a well-worn path in reinvigorating an
old legend like this, involving teenagers, graveyards and spooky woods. But
what sets this story apart are Storm’s vivid descriptions, her realistic
characterization and that irrepressible sense of humour. This writer
understands children and young people, and I cannot help but think she must
have a vivacious presence in person. Yes, even though this is a spooky and gory
story, there are laughs as she describes her characters’ motivations and
reactions. Little details, like an errant tuna sandwich and the way the
characters interrupt a story-teller—breaking the fourth wall within the story—bring
the story to life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Deadly Company reveals two very different sides of this
writer’s personality. But most important, it’s a story that grabs your
attention and doesn’t let go until the last word.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4* (a few minor editing errors)</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Deadly-Company-Rosa-Storm-ebook/dp/B00OJ9LLKG/" target="_blank">DEADLY COMPANY</a>: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Based on the Spanish legend of La Santa Compaña (The
Holy Company), this story talks about the unknown and unexplainable things that
go bump in the night. When a group of teenagers decide to spend some time in
their hometown's graveyard, they didn't know they were going to learn about one
of the darkest periods in the history of their town. The souls of the dead,
hooded figures, and weird deaths combine in this chilling story of ancient
legends and facts.<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Visit Rosa Storm's </span><br />
<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Amazon <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Rosa-Storm/e/B00ODP6D0O/" target="_blank">Author page</a> </span></li>
<li><a href="http://cintascorner.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cinta's Corner</span></a></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br /></div>
Scott Buryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05061034006121401082noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23776112.post-29977083159612208972014-11-03T06:37:00.001-05:002014-11-03T06:39:22.671-05:00Two exciting new books from independent authors<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am excited that two good author friends
and iAi colleagues have just released new books, Mohanalakshmi Rajakumar and
Roger Eschbacher.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">First, Roger Eschbacher has published </span><span lang="EN-US"><i>Undrastormur</i>, a
children’s book about a young Viking named Eirik. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here is the blurb:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQHsxvJOa6_LUNHxH6NlRE9Kr38lVtsDfK2CeMU9b0BF7IZAv8QNU9etm9du07-DCQ_zEVSuNF0fvYnoY0egeCc0iyV7-bmvpI2Ggc2k7eqFSfwizvqoI9vez_9YQQyIVdsrfq/s1600/undrastormur+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQHsxvJOa6_LUNHxH6NlRE9Kr38lVtsDfK2CeMU9b0BF7IZAv8QNU9etm9du07-DCQ_zEVSuNF0fvYnoY0egeCc0iyV7-bmvpI2Ggc2k7eqFSfwizvqoI9vez_9YQQyIVdsrfq/s1600/undrastormur+cover.jpg" height="400" width="250" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Eirik has a problem. A lot of problems, actually. While out gathering
mushrooms, his small Norse village was overrun by nasty trolls with a taste for
human flesh. Now Eirik, the last surviving descendant of Drengur Darkbeard, a
powerful Viking galdrakarl or wizard, must undertake a perilous journey to find
the missing half of Drengur's iron staff. Only then can he save his neighbors
by calling down the undrastormur, a violent and powerful gift from Thor, the
god of thunder.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Find it on <a href="http://goo.gl/YXfZn3" target="_blank">Amazon</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4682adof_clW2x9tAhaGcw8-PAfQWKEopt8-owGZaaKWkt9rBDznfFXhWwiOPUSGFZuLpcbbeaseQGwfwvO8XfloDabRw_446Sn7k0lK3yzwAzjOOfyjWrJ31MwjZG2nvr2Ie/s1600/roger-portrait-small_DSC00275edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4682adof_clW2x9tAhaGcw8-PAfQWKEopt8-owGZaaKWkt9rBDznfFXhWwiOPUSGFZuLpcbbeaseQGwfwvO8XfloDabRw_446Sn7k0lK3yzwAzjOOfyjWrJ31MwjZG2nvr2Ie/s1600/roger-portrait-small_DSC00275edit.jpg" height="200" width="182" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is Roger’s third independently published book, following <i>Dragonfriend
(Leonard the Great, Book 1)</i> and its sequel, <i>Giantkiller</i>. He has also written
two other children’s books, <i>Road Trip </i>and <i>Nonsense! He Yelled</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Visit his <a href="http://www.rogereschbacher.com/" target="_blank">blog</a>. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Next, Mohanalakshmi Rajakumar has released <i>The Opposite of Hate</i>.</span></div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrgpLLpwsG1itt4_tnbRdkNLxbkonFRHsgXRhDiKbJ9nnHTQykcFg0V3cy-GzDA5ZBDtp6Y2GvjPYRKpRV4wUrK-zkT65B5KKN09sgxvsmv4otLDb6uj7Ik4O6RW_oHGCqRqWO/s1600/Opposite+of+Hate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrgpLLpwsG1itt4_tnbRdkNLxbkonFRHsgXRhDiKbJ9nnHTQykcFg0V3cy-GzDA5ZBDtp6Y2GvjPYRKpRV4wUrK-zkT65B5KKN09sgxvsmv4otLDb6uj7Ik4O6RW_oHGCqRqWO/s1600/Opposite+of+Hate.jpg" height="400" width="250" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18.75pt;">During the 1960s and 70s, more bombs were dropped on a landlocked
part of Southeast Asia than in any other war — and it wasn’t Vietnam. The
turbulent history of the Land of a Thousand Elephants, the Kingdom of Laos, is
the backdrop for this family saga, told as a historical novel. </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18.75pt;">The Opposite Of Hate </i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18.75pt;">opens a window onto
a forgotten corner of Southeast Asia and brings little known history to life
through vivid characters and settings which explore the cultural heritage of
Lao history.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; line-height: 18.75pt; margin: 0in 0in 18.75pt; orphans: auto; text-align: left; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black;">The Opposite Of Hate</span></i><span style="color: black;"> explores the
intersections of family, loyalty, and nationalism as Vientiane, the capital of
Laos, is being taken over by Communists. The political instability drives Seng,
a widowed engineer, to marry his best friend’s teenage daughter, Neela, so they
can escape re-education or even worse, death. The unlikely husband and wife
cross the Mekong River into Thailand as strangers.</span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Life
in the refugee camp brings surprises along with the grime. As they struggle for
survival, romances blossoms into an unplanned pregnancy. Seng and Neela get
their wish of immigrating to the United States. Succeeding in suburbia,
however, presents another unique set of challenges, ones that are not black and
white.</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">This
is a tale of intermingled violence, love and ambition.</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Seng
and Neela embody the historic cultural struggle of thousands who fled the
threats of communism only to face the challenges of democracy.</span></span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18.75pt;">Find
it on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OZGY56U" target="_blank">Amazon</a>.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjT5Yl1ivHfY7rfEJRJHtZobvD0TpWkUO82vjcR2wfSEsxNXbfx-1sLaK5FQYnVYQVTyDRe5ZJvQjabhJANSxsoX6p4Gss7p7ZRACaQAyYP1ukzykAXvNmxPH0dATlVUZH4WMn/s1600/Mohana2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjT5Yl1ivHfY7rfEJRJHtZobvD0TpWkUO82vjcR2wfSEsxNXbfx-1sLaK5FQYnVYQVTyDRe5ZJvQjabhJANSxsoX6p4Gss7p7ZRACaQAyYP1ukzykAXvNmxPH0dATlVUZH4WMn/s1600/Mohana2013.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18.75pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18.75pt;">Mohana is a member of both Independent Authors International and BestSelling Reads. Her books include <i>The Dohmestics, Love Comes Later</i>, <i>An Unlikely Goddess</i> and<i> From Dunes to Dior</i>. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Lora, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25px;">I</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 25px;">n addition to print titles, she has published five e-books including a mom-ior for first time mothers, </span><em style="color: #333333; line-height: 25px;">Mommy But Still Me</em><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 25px;">, a guide for aspiring writers,</span><em style="color: #333333; line-height: 25px;"> So You Want to Sell a Million Copies</em><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 25px;">, a short story collection, </span><em style="color: #333333; line-height: 25px;">Coloured and Other Stories</em><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 25px;">, and a novel about women’s friendships, </span><em style="color: #333333; line-height: 25px;">Saving Peace</em><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 25px;">, which was a semi-finalist in the Literary category of the 2012 Kindle Review of Books.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 25px;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #484848; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Visit her </span><a href="http://www.mohanalakshmi.com/" style="color: #dd363e; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 25px; text-decoration: none;">website</a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 25px;"> and blog.</span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #484848; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-CA</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-language:JA;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Scott Buryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05061034006121401082noreply@blogger.com4