Don't know about the rest of yas (hee hee), but this Friday night has been better than last. Were you thrown for a loop last week by having 2 weeks? Felt like we had all the time in the world to get the stuff together.
It's official: my home printer has gone belly up! Argh.
Enjoying the Lanham (?) readings. It's one thing to read about mistakes as in Hale. I like the example of the paramedic method for revising.
Loved the LARD FACTOR formula. My husband does not understand why I laughed at the formula.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Friday, February 22, 2008
Seriously, 250 words?
My writing is wordy. I know this about myself and am content to live my life this way. Telling a friend's story in less than 250 words is way restrictive!
I'm not trained as a writer or a designer and, to some extent, feel a bit out of my element. Yet writing has played a large part of my professional career. The more I challenge myself, the better I get. But a part of my personality is being an "informer." (No, not informant.) When I tell a story, I want my listener's experience to as close as possible to mine. This means giving context.
This latest assignment is challenging for the informer in me. In fact, it's turning out very different from my initial vision.
I'll accept this as another path towards improvement. In all honesty, telling someone's significant story in 250 words does not do the story justice.
I'm not trained as a writer or a designer and, to some extent, feel a bit out of my element. Yet writing has played a large part of my professional career. The more I challenge myself, the better I get. But a part of my personality is being an "informer." (No, not informant.) When I tell a story, I want my listener's experience to as close as possible to mine. This means giving context.
This latest assignment is challenging for the informer in me. In fact, it's turning out very different from my initial vision.
I'll accept this as another path towards improvement. In all honesty, telling someone's significant story in 250 words does not do the story justice.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
"Done"
Well, one part of proj1 is finished. For now. Just sent my content to Stephanie. The content underwent major edits after the draft posted below. Upon closer review, I noticed my angst of contrasting two oranges came out in the tone and style. The navel orange piece was light-hearted and playful. By contrast (ha!), the blood orange piece sounded more serious and, well, unfun.
Did anyone else find it difficult to limit your content to under 200 words? After researching both oranges I wanted to share all the tidbits.
For the 'seeing' part of the assignment, I was surprised it was difficult to find decent photos of navel oranges. In the end, I'm happy that all of the photos I used and the color palette used by the store, all go very nicely together. Ended up using a gourmet store called Balducci's. Their logo works better with the type of design I had in mind.
Looking forward to seeing everyone else's finished product this Saturday.
Did anyone else find it difficult to limit your content to under 200 words? After researching both oranges I wanted to share all the tidbits.
For the 'seeing' part of the assignment, I was surprised it was difficult to find decent photos of navel oranges. In the end, I'm happy that all of the photos I used and the color palette used by the store, all go very nicely together. Ended up using a gourmet store called Balducci's. Their logo works better with the type of design I had in mind.
Looking forward to seeing everyone else's finished product this Saturday.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Overheard in My House
http://www.overheardinnewyork.com/ is the site I mentioned in class. Some hilarious reading on there. It's not all G-rated. Wait, almost none of it is g-rated!
Who needs to go to New York to overhear something funny? My mom was visiting yesterday. This is part of her quote:
Mom: I'm game! I LOVE sausages!
Who needs to go to New York to overhear something funny? My mom was visiting yesterday. This is part of her quote:
Mom: I'm game! I LOVE sausages!
Sunday, February 10, 2008
WWF Smackdown - Navel vs. Blood
We ran out of time during our small group review. I'm posting my content drafts here. Please feel free to comment on them. Thanks for any suggestions you can provide!
I chose to compare/contrast the navel orange with/to the blood orange. My originals weighed in around 230 words so I reworked them a bit. Without the consumer info at the bottom, they're around 195.
Washington Navel Orange
Why does this orange have a belly button? After peeling one of these sweet, seedless oranges, have you sat staring at the mini-segments wondering, “Am I supposed to eat them?”
The unique appearance stems from an underdeveloped conjoined twin, a mutation existing since the mid-1800s. The mutation does not outshine the simple truth about this fruit: cold or room temperature, sliced or peeled, solo or paired with chocolate yogurt, this peel-and-eat, travels-well fruit is the best orange to eat fresh.
Navel oranges aren’t the only in the orange family whose name calls to mind the human body. Another orange from the sweet orange variety is the blood orange, so named for its blood-red flesh. With the same peel and eat allure, the blood orange is known for its sweet taste. Some people may pause at the names, then the appearance, but all would do well to grab either for a refreshing, citrus taste packed with Vitamin C.
With a similar growing season (late fall through early spring), the navel and blood oranges are interchangeable in recipes calling for orange rind, flesh, or slices for garnishes. Experiment with throwing a medley of both in a salad with vinaigrette.
How to Select: As with other oranges, a good navel orange should feel heavy for its size. The rind should be shiny. Avoid oranges that feel puffy.
Price: $1/each
Health Benefits: Vitamin C
Blood Orange
As one of the most popular table fruits in Italy, the blood orange has a sweet, deep orange flavor with hints of raspberry.
A member of the sweet orange family, the red flesh sets the blood orange apart from other oranges, in more than one way. Oranges are known for their vitamin c content and a navel orange is a quick way to get your daily dose. If it’s antioxidants you want and the highest vitamin c content or all oranges, put down the navel and pick up the blood orange.
The combination of the sweet and colorful flesh makes for a more versatile ingredient in recipes. While the navel is restricted to garnishes, zesting, and flavorful accompaniments, the blood orange is out adding visual appeal and stronger flavors to a wider variety of dishes and drinks. Unlike the navel orange’s juice, which must be used quickly before it turns bitter, juice from a blood orange can be used in cocktails or enjoyed alone. Go for a new taste experience by adding it to chutneys or on roasted meats. Find simple ways to enhance the visual appeal of salads and drinks. Let its taste and color inspire you. Enjoy it as a stand-alone snack for a more interesting flavor profile than the common navel orange.
How to Select: As with other oranges, a good navel orange should feel heavy for its size. The rind should be shiny. Avoid oranges that feel puffy.
Price: $1.69/each
Health Benefits: Antioxidants, Vitamin C
I chose to compare/contrast the navel orange with/to the blood orange. My originals weighed in around 230 words so I reworked them a bit. Without the consumer info at the bottom, they're around 195.
Washington Navel Orange
Why does this orange have a belly button? After peeling one of these sweet, seedless oranges, have you sat staring at the mini-segments wondering, “Am I supposed to eat them?”
The unique appearance stems from an underdeveloped conjoined twin, a mutation existing since the mid-1800s. The mutation does not outshine the simple truth about this fruit: cold or room temperature, sliced or peeled, solo or paired with chocolate yogurt, this peel-and-eat, travels-well fruit is the best orange to eat fresh.
Navel oranges aren’t the only in the orange family whose name calls to mind the human body. Another orange from the sweet orange variety is the blood orange, so named for its blood-red flesh. With the same peel and eat allure, the blood orange is known for its sweet taste. Some people may pause at the names, then the appearance, but all would do well to grab either for a refreshing, citrus taste packed with Vitamin C.
With a similar growing season (late fall through early spring), the navel and blood oranges are interchangeable in recipes calling for orange rind, flesh, or slices for garnishes. Experiment with throwing a medley of both in a salad with vinaigrette.
How to Select: As with other oranges, a good navel orange should feel heavy for its size. The rind should be shiny. Avoid oranges that feel puffy.
Price: $1/each
Health Benefits: Vitamin C
Blood Orange
As one of the most popular table fruits in Italy, the blood orange has a sweet, deep orange flavor with hints of raspberry.
A member of the sweet orange family, the red flesh sets the blood orange apart from other oranges, in more than one way. Oranges are known for their vitamin c content and a navel orange is a quick way to get your daily dose. If it’s antioxidants you want and the highest vitamin c content or all oranges, put down the navel and pick up the blood orange.
The combination of the sweet and colorful flesh makes for a more versatile ingredient in recipes. While the navel is restricted to garnishes, zesting, and flavorful accompaniments, the blood orange is out adding visual appeal and stronger flavors to a wider variety of dishes and drinks. Unlike the navel orange’s juice, which must be used quickly before it turns bitter, juice from a blood orange can be used in cocktails or enjoyed alone. Go for a new taste experience by adding it to chutneys or on roasted meats. Find simple ways to enhance the visual appeal of salads and drinks. Let its taste and color inspire you. Enjoy it as a stand-alone snack for a more interesting flavor profile than the common navel orange.
How to Select: As with other oranges, a good navel orange should feel heavy for its size. The rind should be shiny. Avoid oranges that feel puffy.
Price: $1.69/each
Health Benefits: Antioxidants, Vitamin C
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Which one of these is not like the other?
Was that one of the games in "Highlights?"
As I do research on navel (also known as Washington Navel and Bahia) and blood oranges, my mind is wandering into the world of compare and contrast. Not too far in to Proj 1 and I have myself playing a mind game.
How can you compare without contrasting? If I write "the flesh of a navel orange is in segments, just as a blood orange," is it not natural to start wondering what makes them different? If you write only about the similarities of two items, does your reader yearn to know why they are different?
It will all be straightened out as I draft my fruit cards. For tonight, I'll stop my research with this thought: if by comparing two items you silently lead someone to want to know the contrasts, can you ever compare without any contrast?
As I do research on navel (also known as Washington Navel and Bahia) and blood oranges, my mind is wandering into the world of compare and contrast. Not too far in to Proj 1 and I have myself playing a mind game.
How can you compare without contrasting? If I write "the flesh of a navel orange is in segments, just as a blood orange," is it not natural to start wondering what makes them different? If you write only about the similarities of two items, does your reader yearn to know why they are different?
It will all be straightened out as I draft my fruit cards. For tonight, I'll stop my research with this thought: if by comparing two items you silently lead someone to want to know the contrasts, can you ever compare without any contrast?
Sunday, February 3, 2008
what's exotic?
So one definition for coconut suggests it's a fruit:
The fruit of the coconut palm, consisting of a fibrous husk surrounding a large seed.
Wondering if coconut is exotic enough? One of my favorite dishes is sticky rice with coconut milk and bananas. Great combination.
The fruit of the coconut palm, consisting of a fibrous husk surrounding a large seed.
Wondering if coconut is exotic enough? One of my favorite dishes is sticky rice with coconut milk and bananas. Great combination.
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