Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition, is to have about 100 new entries. Here are some that I found of particular interest.
1. air quotes n pl (1989) : a gesture made by raising and flexing the index and middle fingers of both hands that is used to call attention to a spoken word or expression
2. dark energy n (1998) : a hypothetical form of energy that produces a force that opposes gravity and is thought to be the cause of the accelerating expansion of the universe
3. dirty bomb n (1956) : a bomb designed to release radioactive material
4. dwarf planet n (1993) : a celestial body that orbits the sun and has a spherical shape but is too small to disturb other objects from its orbit
5. edamame n (1951) : immature green soybeans usu. in the pod
6. malware n (1990) : software designed to interfere with a computer’s normal functioning
7. mental health day n (1971) : a day that an employee takes off from work in order to relieve stress or renew vitality
8. netroots n pl (2003) : the grassroots political activists who communicate via the Internet esp. by blogs
9. norovirus n (2002) : any of a genus of small round single-stranded RNA viruses; specif: Norwalk Virus
10. phytonutrient n (1994) : a bioactive plant-derived compound (as resveratrol) associated with positive health effects
11. subprime adj (1995) 1: having or being an interest rate that is higher than a prime rate and is extended esp. to low-income borrowers 2: extending or obtaining a subprime loan
12. webinar n (1998) : a live online educational presentation during which participating viewers can submit questions and comments
According to the Merriam-Webster web site, all new dictionary entries are now available online, and the 2008 print update of Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition, is to be available in bookstores September 1, 2008. Both feature new words and phrases that M-W determined have successfully become part of the mainstream English language through prolonged and widespread usage in a variety of publications.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
M-W's new entries
Fresh for 2008: Merriam-Webster's New Entries
Have you ever washed down a plate of edamame with some prosecco while lounging in your infinity pool with a few pescatarian friends after a long day at the racino rubbing elbows with wing nuts? The words in bold are just a few examples of the over 100 new entries Merriam-Webster has added to our annual update of Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate® Dictionary, Eleventh Edition. To keep you busy until September 1st—when the print version of North America’s best-selling dictionary is available in stores and through your favorite online bookseller—spend some time getting to know the new additions here at Merriam-Webster Online. Use the site’s search function to look up the above words, as well as well as the following: dark energy, pretexting, soju, subprime, and webinar. For more information, please click here for a complete press release.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/#news_2
MERRIAM-WEBSTER HONORS LYRICALLY MISUNDERSTOOD LADY MONDEGREEN
Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate® Dictionary 2008 Update Now Available Online
SPRINGFIELD, MA, July 7, 2008—If you have ever misheard a song or poem and come up with your own version of the words, you are already familiar with the concept of the "mondegreen," one of over 100 new words included in the annual update of Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate® Dictionary, Eleventh Edition. Mondegreen—noun defined as a word or phrase that results from a mishearing of something said or sung—was first coined by author Sylvia Wright in 1954, when she wrote an article for Atlantic magazine confessing to a childhood misinterpretation of the Scottish ballad "The Bonny Earl of Moray." When she first heard the lyric "they had slain the Earl of Moray and had laid him on the green," she felt terribly sorry for the "poor Lady Mondegreen." The tradition has been going strong ever since, from "The ants are my friends," a mangling of "The answer, my friends," by Bob Dylan, to "There’s a bathroom on the right," a bungling of "There’s a bad moon on the rise," by Creedence Clearwater Revival.
To celebrate the release of this year’s new entries, Merriam-Webster OnLine (Merriam-Webster.com) is inviting the general public to submit their own favorite mondegreens—both original and overheard. Submissions are due now through July 25th, with favorites being revealed and featured online the week beginning July 28th.
2008 also features more than a few words from the growing field of culinary arts, from prosecco (a sparkling Italian wine) and soju (a Korean vodka distilled from rice) to edamame (immature green soybeans) and pescatarian (a vegetarian whose diet includes fish). Current societal trends are reflected in this year’s entries, as well. According to John Morse, Merriam-Webster’s president and publisher, webinar is "one more example of the significant ongoing trend for electronic technologies to add words to the language." Morse also comments on another, more ominous term: "Norovirus being added is part of an ongoing effort to cover terms from virology that we think the public may need to know about. Not a happy job, but one that lexicographers have to do."
All new dictionary entries are now available online, and the 2008 print update of Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate® Dictionary, Eleventh Edition will be available in bookstores across the country September 1st, 2008. Both will feature this fresh crop of new words and phrases that have successfully become part of the mainstream English language through prolonged and widespread usage in a variety of publications.
Have you ever washed down a plate of edamame with some prosecco while lounging in your infinity pool with a few pescatarian friends after a long day at the racino rubbing elbows with wing nuts? The words in bold are just a few examples of the over 100 new entries Merriam-Webster has added to our annual update of Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate® Dictionary, Eleventh Edition. To keep you busy until September 1st—when the print version of North America’s best-selling dictionary is available in stores and through your favorite online bookseller—spend some time getting to know the new additions here at Merriam-Webster Online. Use the site’s search function to look up the above words, as well as well as the following: dark energy, pretexting, soju, subprime, and webinar. For more information, please click here for a complete press release.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/#news_2
MERRIAM-WEBSTER HONORS LYRICALLY MISUNDERSTOOD LADY MONDEGREEN
Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate® Dictionary 2008 Update Now Available Online
SPRINGFIELD, MA, July 7, 2008—If you have ever misheard a song or poem and come up with your own version of the words, you are already familiar with the concept of the "mondegreen," one of over 100 new words included in the annual update of Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate® Dictionary, Eleventh Edition. Mondegreen—noun defined as a word or phrase that results from a mishearing of something said or sung—was first coined by author Sylvia Wright in 1954, when she wrote an article for Atlantic magazine confessing to a childhood misinterpretation of the Scottish ballad "The Bonny Earl of Moray." When she first heard the lyric "they had slain the Earl of Moray and had laid him on the green," she felt terribly sorry for the "poor Lady Mondegreen." The tradition has been going strong ever since, from "The ants are my friends," a mangling of "The answer, my friends," by Bob Dylan, to "There’s a bathroom on the right," a bungling of "There’s a bad moon on the rise," by Creedence Clearwater Revival.
To celebrate the release of this year’s new entries, Merriam-Webster OnLine (Merriam-Webster.com) is inviting the general public to submit their own favorite mondegreens—both original and overheard. Submissions are due now through July 25th, with favorites being revealed and featured online the week beginning July 28th.
2008 also features more than a few words from the growing field of culinary arts, from prosecco (a sparkling Italian wine) and soju (a Korean vodka distilled from rice) to edamame (immature green soybeans) and pescatarian (a vegetarian whose diet includes fish). Current societal trends are reflected in this year’s entries, as well. According to John Morse, Merriam-Webster’s president and publisher, webinar is "one more example of the significant ongoing trend for electronic technologies to add words to the language." Morse also comments on another, more ominous term: "Norovirus being added is part of an ongoing effort to cover terms from virology that we think the public may need to know about. Not a happy job, but one that lexicographers have to do."
All new dictionary entries are now available online, and the 2008 print update of Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate® Dictionary, Eleventh Edition will be available in bookstores across the country September 1st, 2008. Both will feature this fresh crop of new words and phrases that have successfully become part of the mainstream English language through prolonged and widespread usage in a variety of publications.
M-W new words
http://valleywag.com/5022982/merriam+websters-new-dictionary-words-for-2008
owen@valleywag.com
New words for M-W's
M-W new dictionary words for 2008
malware, netroots, and webinar
There are to be 100 or so new words in the M-W 2008 Merriam-Webster's 2008 edition, due September 1. Here are 25 of them.
Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate® Dictionary, Eleventh Edition
2008 Copyright
New Entries
1. air quotes n pl (1989) : a gesture made by raising and flexing the index and middle fingers of both hands that is used to call attention to a spoken word or expression
2. dark energy n (1998) : a hypothetical form of energy that produces a force that opposes gravity and is thought to be the cause of the accelerating expansion of the universe
3. dirty bomb n (1956) : a bomb designed to release radioactive material
4. dwarf planet n (1993) : a celestial body that orbits the sun and has a spherical shape but is too small to disturb other objects from its orbit
5. edamame n (1951) : immature green soybeans usu. in the pod
6. fanboy n (1919) : a boy who is an enthusiastic devotee (as of comics or movies)
7. infinity pool n (1992) : an outdoor swimming pool having an edge over which water flows into a trough but seems to flow into the horizon
8. jukebox musical n (1993) : a musical that features popular songs from the past
9. kiteboarding n (1996) : the sport of riding on a small surfboard that is propelled across water by a large kite to which the rider is harnessed
10. malware n (1990) : software designed to interfere with a computer’s normal functioning
11. mental health day n (1971) : a day that an employee takes off from work in order to relieve stress or renew vitality
12. mondegreen n [fr. the mishearing in a Scottish ballad of “laid him on the green” as “Lady Mondegreen”] (1954) : a word or phrase that results from a mishearing of something said or sung
13. netroots n pl (2003) : the grassroots political activists who communicate via the Internet esp. by blogs
14. norovirus n (2002) : any of a genus of small round single-stranded RNA viruses; specif: Norwalk Virus
15. pescatarian n (1993) : a vegetarian whose diet includes fish
16. phytonutrient n (1994) : a bioactive plant-derived compound (as resveratrol) associated with positive health effects
17. pretexting n (1992) : the practice of presenting oneself as someone else in order to obtain private information
18. prosecco n (1881) : a dry Italian sparkling wine
19. racino n (1995) : a racetrack at which slot machines are available for gamblers
20. soju n (1978) : Korean vodka distilled from rice
21. subprime adj (1995) 1: having or being an interest rate that is higher than a prime rate and is extended esp. to low-income borrowers 2: extending or obtaining a subprime loan
22. supercross n (1983) : a motorcycle race held in a stadium on a dirt track having hairpin turns and high jumps
23. Texas Hold ’em n (1995) : poker in which each player is dealt two cards facedown and all players share five cards dealt faceup
24. webinar n (1998) : a live online educational presentation during which participating viewers can submit questions and comments
25. wing nut n (ca. 1900) 3 slang : one who advocates extreme measures or changes : radical
owen@valleywag.com
New words for M-W's
M-W new dictionary words for 2008
malware, netroots, and webinar
There are to be 100 or so new words in the M-W 2008 Merriam-Webster's 2008 edition, due September 1. Here are 25 of them.
Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate® Dictionary, Eleventh Edition
2008 Copyright
New Entries
1. air quotes n pl (1989) : a gesture made by raising and flexing the index and middle fingers of both hands that is used to call attention to a spoken word or expression
2. dark energy n (1998) : a hypothetical form of energy that produces a force that opposes gravity and is thought to be the cause of the accelerating expansion of the universe
3. dirty bomb n (1956) : a bomb designed to release radioactive material
4. dwarf planet n (1993) : a celestial body that orbits the sun and has a spherical shape but is too small to disturb other objects from its orbit
5. edamame n (1951) : immature green soybeans usu. in the pod
6. fanboy n (1919) : a boy who is an enthusiastic devotee (as of comics or movies)
7. infinity pool n (1992) : an outdoor swimming pool having an edge over which water flows into a trough but seems to flow into the horizon
8. jukebox musical n (1993) : a musical that features popular songs from the past
9. kiteboarding n (1996) : the sport of riding on a small surfboard that is propelled across water by a large kite to which the rider is harnessed
10. malware n (1990) : software designed to interfere with a computer’s normal functioning
11. mental health day n (1971) : a day that an employee takes off from work in order to relieve stress or renew vitality
12. mondegreen n [fr. the mishearing in a Scottish ballad of “laid him on the green” as “Lady Mondegreen”] (1954) : a word or phrase that results from a mishearing of something said or sung
13. netroots n pl (2003) : the grassroots political activists who communicate via the Internet esp. by blogs
14. norovirus n (2002) : any of a genus of small round single-stranded RNA viruses; specif: Norwalk Virus
15. pescatarian n (1993) : a vegetarian whose diet includes fish
16. phytonutrient n (1994) : a bioactive plant-derived compound (as resveratrol) associated with positive health effects
17. pretexting n (1992) : the practice of presenting oneself as someone else in order to obtain private information
18. prosecco n (1881) : a dry Italian sparkling wine
19. racino n (1995) : a racetrack at which slot machines are available for gamblers
20. soju n (1978) : Korean vodka distilled from rice
21. subprime adj (1995) 1: having or being an interest rate that is higher than a prime rate and is extended esp. to low-income borrowers 2: extending or obtaining a subprime loan
22. supercross n (1983) : a motorcycle race held in a stadium on a dirt track having hairpin turns and high jumps
23. Texas Hold ’em n (1995) : poker in which each player is dealt two cards facedown and all players share five cards dealt faceup
24. webinar n (1998) : a live online educational presentation during which participating viewers can submit questions and comments
25. wing nut n (ca. 1900) 3 slang : one who advocates extreme measures or changes : radical
Friday, July 11, 2008
Taza, Aladdins
Taza
28601 Chagrin
Woodmere, Ohio 44122
Aladdin's Corporate
14518 Detroit
Lakewood, Ohio 44107
28601 Chagrin
Woodmere, Ohio 44122
Aladdin's Corporate
14518 Detroit
Lakewood, Ohio 44107
Gratitude, Barb, Sac, conf
1. Grateful to God and all who help me get through a day
2. Grateful to Barb for getting through her undergrad work - AM GETTING EMOTIONAL AGAIN. What can I do to tell her how happy and grateful I am?
3. Grateful that Sac put my name into book on emails from moms
4. Grateful to conference sessions
Who/What: Howard Rheingold, Keynote Speaker (author, blogger, critic, speaker)
Why: The speaker explores how current technologies are impacting and changing the way we conduct business and govern, as well as how we meet and live. Mobile phones, computers, and wireless Internet are technologies considered by the technology consultant speaker.
Impact: What present and emerging technologies could we use to deliver content to users and more effectively and efficiently do our work is a question worth asking. Using computers to deliver content, conducting virtual meetings, establishing virtual communities, and telecommuting are ways in which technology impacts how we conduct business and do work. How to use these even more effectively and efficiently in the future is the challenge. Toyota treating suppliers as a network, IBM opening their systems to others, and Lilly having a place for open discussion of issues are examples of use of technologies to conduct business in new ways.
Who/What: Content Analysis Tools and Structured Authoring (Neil Perlin)
Why: Structured authoring is content that has structure. It involves a consistent structure and consistent content. Perlin argues that the more consistent the content, the easier it is to write, read, process, and translate. Text analysis tools help create the consistent content by spotting inconsistencies. This session presented a working definition of structured authoring. Perlin notes that these efforts can help support content management.
Impact: Use of consistent terminology through our style guide and controlled vocabulary are examples of techniques that help provide consistent content while maintaining consistent structure through our architecting and tagging activities.
Who/What: Content Management Systems: Why Can't I Just Pick One? (Alan Houser)
Why: Content management systems vary in type, purpose, and features. The types covered in this session included learning content management and enterprise content management.
Impact: Finding out about these systems and how they apply in our organization can help us support our organization before and during deployment, throughout the decision of how to implement and when.
Who/What: XML the Easy Way (Tom Aldus)
Why: How to move unstructured content to DITA was covered. This included how to take Framemaker documents and using FrameMaker 8 convert them to DITA XML. Aldus notes that DITA is an XML structure and with DITA everything is a topic.
Impact: Awareness of this capability of Framemaker could be valuable. Awareness of the idea that content management can also be handled on a small scale in simple applications, using simple spreadsheets and Word files could also be useful.
Who/What: Building Your Content Management Skills (Ann Rockley)
Why: Covered an understanding of what skills are required for successful content management and learning how to gain an understanding and experience in these skills. Rockley notes that with CM the effort is 10% technical, 40% process control, and 50% governance.
Impact: We are already training to make us aware that we need to analyze architecture and usability as nothing is “out of the box” with content management. Rockley noted that 30% of CM initiates fail because people “do not think through requirements” – something we in our group are trained to address properly.
Who/What: Preparing for Successful Content Management (Robert Hanna)
Why:
The session addressed what to consider while going down the road to content management. This includes how to prepare the team for deployment.
Steps to consider before going down the road of technology acquisition that is still far off on the horizon were presented to include – prepare the team, prototype, business case, vendor selection, roll out, and review.
Impact: We are already working toward getting cooperation in acceptance of change and working in a new environment in anticipation of new technology acquisition and deployment that is far off in the future. This includes recoding current information in anticipation of new technology acquisition that is far off on the horizon. Continuation of such acceptance would be in order.
Who/What: Using Content Management to Improve Content Quality (Steve Manning)
Why: A content management system can be an effective way to manage documents after content is created. But content management can also apply to the content creation process and can help improve the quality of documentation.
Impact: Our group can continue to address when creating content how best to handle information as to whether text should be a concept, task, or reference, improving the content itself as we transition to content management. A possible application for our group is to consider which documents to convert to content management first, an application we are already considering. For example, begin the conversion process with the documents that are used the most.
Who/What: Real World Content Management (Steve Manning)
Why: Good content management in real applications relies on content models, reuse, XML, and management of the creation process for predictable content. Issues such as version control and who is allowed to change content are also critically important.
Impact: This is a good reminder of the issues we are working on, including the best practices of addressing making content predictable (establishing a pattern), planning reuse, planning repositories, remembering the goal of the right content, format, time, and audience.
Who/What: Vendor Panel, Successful Content Management (Ann Rockley, Moderator)
Why:
Granularity is an important issue as groups decide, for example, the number of files a content management program will involve. A single publication, instead of being in one file will involve many files. How granular should chunks be – a sentence, paragraph, or procedure – is an important consideration. This decision on granularity impacts the number of files in the content management system overall.
Providing enough time for the transition to content management is important. For example, Ann Rockley said you should not expect to have your content management system in place in 6 months.
Governance is a very important issue to success of a content management system, according to several panel members.
Impact: Our group is in line with many of the concerns expressed. Governance issues are addressed with our style guide. We are addressing granularity as we tag. We have considered not moving too fast.
Who/What: Developing New Skills: Ten Things You Can Learn to Move Your Career Forward
(Mark Lewis)
Why: The speaker provided his take on things to learn and understand to make an ongoing contribution to your employer and profession. Using desktop publishing and word processing and being able to communicate in your native language may not be the only skills helpful in your office or to advance yourself as a professional content expert. Relying on experience and current skills may not be enough to help your organization and career.
Impact: Items from the list to consider:
Learn more about DITA, XML, topic-based architecture, project management, podcasting, blogging.
Learn a new diagramming tool.
Volunteer to test a Web site, write a review, and/or produce help for the site.
Get published.
Earn certifications.
Volunteer to do work for an organization (for example, work on an STC Web site or newsletter).
.
2. Grateful to Barb for getting through her undergrad work - AM GETTING EMOTIONAL AGAIN. What can I do to tell her how happy and grateful I am?
3. Grateful that Sac put my name into book on emails from moms
4. Grateful to conference sessions
Who/What: Howard Rheingold, Keynote Speaker (author, blogger, critic, speaker)
Why: The speaker explores how current technologies are impacting and changing the way we conduct business and govern, as well as how we meet and live. Mobile phones, computers, and wireless Internet are technologies considered by the technology consultant speaker.
Impact: What present and emerging technologies could we use to deliver content to users and more effectively and efficiently do our work is a question worth asking. Using computers to deliver content, conducting virtual meetings, establishing virtual communities, and telecommuting are ways in which technology impacts how we conduct business and do work. How to use these even more effectively and efficiently in the future is the challenge. Toyota treating suppliers as a network, IBM opening their systems to others, and Lilly having a place for open discussion of issues are examples of use of technologies to conduct business in new ways.
Who/What: Content Analysis Tools and Structured Authoring (Neil Perlin)
Why: Structured authoring is content that has structure. It involves a consistent structure and consistent content. Perlin argues that the more consistent the content, the easier it is to write, read, process, and translate. Text analysis tools help create the consistent content by spotting inconsistencies. This session presented a working definition of structured authoring. Perlin notes that these efforts can help support content management.
Impact: Use of consistent terminology through our style guide and controlled vocabulary are examples of techniques that help provide consistent content while maintaining consistent structure through our architecting and tagging activities.
Who/What: Content Management Systems: Why Can't I Just Pick One? (Alan Houser)
Why: Content management systems vary in type, purpose, and features. The types covered in this session included learning content management and enterprise content management.
Impact: Finding out about these systems and how they apply in our organization can help us support our organization before and during deployment, throughout the decision of how to implement and when.
Who/What: XML the Easy Way (Tom Aldus)
Why: How to move unstructured content to DITA was covered. This included how to take Framemaker documents and using FrameMaker 8 convert them to DITA XML. Aldus notes that DITA is an XML structure and with DITA everything is a topic.
Impact: Awareness of this capability of Framemaker could be valuable. Awareness of the idea that content management can also be handled on a small scale in simple applications, using simple spreadsheets and Word files could also be useful.
Who/What: Building Your Content Management Skills (Ann Rockley)
Why: Covered an understanding of what skills are required for successful content management and learning how to gain an understanding and experience in these skills. Rockley notes that with CM the effort is 10% technical, 40% process control, and 50% governance.
Impact: We are already training to make us aware that we need to analyze architecture and usability as nothing is “out of the box” with content management. Rockley noted that 30% of CM initiates fail because people “do not think through requirements” – something we in our group are trained to address properly.
Who/What: Preparing for Successful Content Management (Robert Hanna)
Why:
The session addressed what to consider while going down the road to content management. This includes how to prepare the team for deployment.
Steps to consider before going down the road of technology acquisition that is still far off on the horizon were presented to include – prepare the team, prototype, business case, vendor selection, roll out, and review.
Impact: We are already working toward getting cooperation in acceptance of change and working in a new environment in anticipation of new technology acquisition and deployment that is far off in the future. This includes recoding current information in anticipation of new technology acquisition that is far off on the horizon. Continuation of such acceptance would be in order.
Who/What: Using Content Management to Improve Content Quality (Steve Manning)
Why: A content management system can be an effective way to manage documents after content is created. But content management can also apply to the content creation process and can help improve the quality of documentation.
Impact: Our group can continue to address when creating content how best to handle information as to whether text should be a concept, task, or reference, improving the content itself as we transition to content management. A possible application for our group is to consider which documents to convert to content management first, an application we are already considering. For example, begin the conversion process with the documents that are used the most.
Who/What: Real World Content Management (Steve Manning)
Why: Good content management in real applications relies on content models, reuse, XML, and management of the creation process for predictable content. Issues such as version control and who is allowed to change content are also critically important.
Impact: This is a good reminder of the issues we are working on, including the best practices of addressing making content predictable (establishing a pattern), planning reuse, planning repositories, remembering the goal of the right content, format, time, and audience.
Who/What: Vendor Panel, Successful Content Management (Ann Rockley, Moderator)
Why:
Granularity is an important issue as groups decide, for example, the number of files a content management program will involve. A single publication, instead of being in one file will involve many files. How granular should chunks be – a sentence, paragraph, or procedure – is an important consideration. This decision on granularity impacts the number of files in the content management system overall.
Providing enough time for the transition to content management is important. For example, Ann Rockley said you should not expect to have your content management system in place in 6 months.
Governance is a very important issue to success of a content management system, according to several panel members.
Impact: Our group is in line with many of the concerns expressed. Governance issues are addressed with our style guide. We are addressing granularity as we tag. We have considered not moving too fast.
Who/What: Developing New Skills: Ten Things You Can Learn to Move Your Career Forward
(Mark Lewis)
Why: The speaker provided his take on things to learn and understand to make an ongoing contribution to your employer and profession. Using desktop publishing and word processing and being able to communicate in your native language may not be the only skills helpful in your office or to advance yourself as a professional content expert. Relying on experience and current skills may not be enough to help your organization and career.
Impact: Items from the list to consider:
Learn more about DITA, XML, topic-based architecture, project management, podcasting, blogging.
Learn a new diagramming tool.
Volunteer to test a Web site, write a review, and/or produce help for the site.
Get published.
Earn certifications.
Volunteer to do work for an organization (for example, work on an STC Web site or newsletter).
.
Gratitude, vacation
1. Thank you to God and all who help me get through a day
2. Grateful that Barb completed her undergrad work, gets published, likes studying tetrahymena - NOW I AM GETTING EMOTIONAL!
3. Grateful Sacha is in China and arrived ok
4. Grateful that 4 July holiday was good
I feel compelled to write about the trip to Florida over the July 4 weekend.
What I Did on My Summer Vacation
Friday, July 4 is when we flew out of Cleveland and arrived at Shell Point Village (near Sanibel) in the early evening. Weather was good. USA3000 was good also and not an empty seat was there on our flight.
Shell Point Village people are very friendly. Dinner was at a seafood place near Shell Point Village, with fireworks heard in the distance (it was after all the 4th of July). Seafood place was on the water and what some could call romantic. Dinner included lobster bisque and grouper with a salad and rice. This was the first meal since Taza. We survived and enjoyed even tho' Taza did cross my mind a couple of times.
Saturday, after a nice (al fresco) brunch of fruit, hash browns, salad, etc. at one of the Shell Point Village restaurants, we drove to Cape Coral Health Care Center and visited with Don Wagner until dinner around 5. He is in his usual good spirits. We talked a lot about Barbara and Sacha. He said the Poconos is a place where people get married and honeymoon.
Saturday night, it was Sanibel and Captiva, with their lush vegetation and really, well, quite impressive everything. It is hard to know where to begin. The causeway itself is a wonderful drive. The vegetation on both sides of the single road leading down the island is very thick and beautiful. I am happy we drove all the way down to Captiva. This is probably the prettiest part of Florida that I have seen. It had a subtropic/tropic feel to it.
Sunday, it was Warm Mineral Springs. Many people there that day spoke Russian. We were told at the front desk that the restaurant served American and Polish food but I thought many of the dishes could pass for Russian (blini, cabbage rolls, borscht). The vegeterian entree selections were very good. The springs itself is not as warm as I expected. These springs are different from others I have been to in Arkansas and Utah. These springs are not HOT springs. They are WARM springs. I am very happy that I went. It was a most interesting experience.
Sunday night it was dinner with Wags again. We brought him Chinese. He ordered the General Tao chicken combination plate. Rick ordered the chicken chow mein combination plate. I ordered vegetable lo mein. We spent most of the evening talking but also watched a little of 60 Minutes when the story about the penny was on. The huge flat-panel TV in Wags' room (a gift from a friend) speaks of how much people like him. We brought him a Charlie Wilson's War DVD and hope to send him I'm Not There, Sweeney Todd, and The Office (first and second season). Mama Mia once it comes out would be a good choice also. So far he has not seen any of these. Don explained a lot more about his experiences as an English teacher and his education in general, getting his undergrad and grad degrees at Notre Dame.
There is a lot more to tell. More details are to come unless I fall asleep.
2. Grateful that Barb completed her undergrad work, gets published, likes studying tetrahymena - NOW I AM GETTING EMOTIONAL!
3. Grateful Sacha is in China and arrived ok
4. Grateful that 4 July holiday was good
I feel compelled to write about the trip to Florida over the July 4 weekend.
What I Did on My Summer Vacation
Friday, July 4 is when we flew out of Cleveland and arrived at Shell Point Village (near Sanibel) in the early evening. Weather was good. USA3000 was good also and not an empty seat was there on our flight.
Shell Point Village people are very friendly. Dinner was at a seafood place near Shell Point Village, with fireworks heard in the distance (it was after all the 4th of July). Seafood place was on the water and what some could call romantic. Dinner included lobster bisque and grouper with a salad and rice. This was the first meal since Taza. We survived and enjoyed even tho' Taza did cross my mind a couple of times.
Saturday, after a nice (al fresco) brunch of fruit, hash browns, salad, etc. at one of the Shell Point Village restaurants, we drove to Cape Coral Health Care Center and visited with Don Wagner until dinner around 5. He is in his usual good spirits. We talked a lot about Barbara and Sacha. He said the Poconos is a place where people get married and honeymoon.
Saturday night, it was Sanibel and Captiva, with their lush vegetation and really, well, quite impressive everything. It is hard to know where to begin. The causeway itself is a wonderful drive. The vegetation on both sides of the single road leading down the island is very thick and beautiful. I am happy we drove all the way down to Captiva. This is probably the prettiest part of Florida that I have seen. It had a subtropic/tropic feel to it.
Sunday, it was Warm Mineral Springs. Many people there that day spoke Russian. We were told at the front desk that the restaurant served American and Polish food but I thought many of the dishes could pass for Russian (blini, cabbage rolls, borscht). The vegeterian entree selections were very good. The springs itself is not as warm as I expected. These springs are different from others I have been to in Arkansas and Utah. These springs are not HOT springs. They are WARM springs. I am very happy that I went. It was a most interesting experience.
Sunday night it was dinner with Wags again. We brought him Chinese. He ordered the General Tao chicken combination plate. Rick ordered the chicken chow mein combination plate. I ordered vegetable lo mein. We spent most of the evening talking but also watched a little of 60 Minutes when the story about the penny was on. The huge flat-panel TV in Wags' room (a gift from a friend) speaks of how much people like him. We brought him a Charlie Wilson's War DVD and hope to send him I'm Not There, Sweeney Todd, and The Office (first and second season). Mama Mia once it comes out would be a good choice also. So far he has not seen any of these. Don explained a lot more about his experiences as an English teacher and his education in general, getting his undergrad and grad degrees at Notre Dame.
There is a lot more to tell. More details are to come unless I fall asleep.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
4 Seasons, resume
1. Grateful to God and all who help me get through a day
2. Grateful that there is hope that Four Seasons will return our lawnmower
3. Grateful to look forward to movies like I'm Not There, Mama Mia, The Kite Runner, and Sweeney Todd
Four Seasons - Wickliffe - 440 943- 1809
Resume update
Background Summary
Writer, editor, and communicator with a broad base of experience in developing instructions, procedures, manuals, web pages, HTML, help, business communications, medical/scientific/technical manuscripts, grants, standards. Edited documents and conducted workshops/courses on a variety of topics. Over 10 years in a medical imaging environment and contract/freelance/consulting work with a wide range of clients.
Professional Experience/Client List
Contract/Freelance/Technical Writer/Instructor (present, ongoing since 1980) - Provide technical communication-related services for clients such as:
* School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Department of Pathology - Technical writer for scientific grants (neuroscience and aging related) and National Prion Surveillance Center
* Cleveland Clinic Foundation (Office of Clinical Interfaces) - Documentation consultant (2003-4)
* Professional Development Institute, Workforce and Economic Development Division - Instructor in Technical Communications certification program (2002)
* Allen Bradley division of Rockwell International - Contract technical writer
Senior Information Developer, Rockwell Automation (2004-present) Wrote documentation for users of factory automation equipment, managing multiple priorities and evolving departmental processes over time
* Developed conceptual, reference, and task-type technical content elements and entire information products as defined in departmental models and guidelines
* Worked with a variety of functions and levels of personnel in marketing, engineering, quality, and other disciplines to gather and interpret source information
* Used the hardware and software product itself to gather information, obtain a customer perspective, and verify that content elements are complete and accurate
* Worked closely with teams to apply standard analyses to define content elements and design information products according to department model; created/provided oversight on developing graphical elements/illustrations
* Wrote article with another department member for trade publication describing the content reuse program initiated by the group to include working in task forces and implementing change at a pace where current deliverable commitments were met with success
Senior Technical Writer, Philips Medical Systems (1990-1997) Wrote documentation for medical imaging products including medical imaging workstations, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanners, medical imaging laptop, investigational applications such as advanced cardiac imaging
* Supported FDA submissions for products such as new MRI systems, medical imaging workstation, cardiac imaging applications, clinical spectroscopy, MEG sources imaging
* Developed, edited, and produced first-ever applications guides concerning use of medical imaging techniques, working with clinical applications groups and research scientist
* Developed literature on investigational medical imaging techniques including brain imaging, clinical spectroscopy, brain attack lesion/tissue intensity imaging, and cardiac imaging
* Designed and produced, as part of a team, two online help systems, one HTML based, for clinical users of medical imaging equipment
* Wrote departmental style guide, presented writer's workshops, organized and conducted surveys of users of medical imaging equipment
* Recruited and supervised student interns
Senior Standards Engineer, Philips Medical Systems (1997-2002) Developed technical manuscripts/work instructions/standards on subjects including: user and service publications (developing a corporate template), technical reports, invention disclosures, patents applications, engineering logbooks, environmental practices, product specification practices, architectural practices, precautionary statement formats, grounding practices, equipment labeling, paint standards
* As corporate committee chairperson promoted use of international/industry/internal standards
* Developed manuscripts by working with inter-company functions such as Engineering, Regulatory Affairs, Law Department, Service, and Information Technology
* Supported project management initiatives, assisted in project management database administration
* Provided IT support for web pages on life cycle management, corporate engineering standards, corporate policies and procedures, and enterprise project management (Artemis)
* Assisted management with development of corporate policies and procedures
Educational, Professional, and Volunteer Activities
* M.S., Technical Communication Management, Mercer University, School of Engineering
* B.A., Education, University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana
* Attended Annual Conferences of the Society for Technical Communication (STC) throughout 2008 (Philadelphia, New York, Atlanta, Dallas, Washington D.C., Toronto, Anaheim, Cincinnati, Chicago). Presented papers in Dallas, Washington D.C., Cincinnati, and Chicago. Attended Crucial Communicator conference in Cleveland in 2003.
* Associate Fellow of Society for Technical Communications, newsletter and academic relations co-chair, judge in publications competition at international level (2000/1 and 2001/2-lead judge) and local level 1993-2002, co-chair of competitions committee 2001/2, judged in high school competition 2001/2
* Member of working group, IEEE committee on revising standard for developing of software user documentation (IEEE 1063)
* Attended technical writing seminar at M.I.T.
* Freelance/contract technical translator (Russian) - Cleveland Crane & Engineering, Combustion Engineering Industrial products
* Corporate contact for Komen Race for the Cure, 2005-2008, organized Rockwell's team; member of fundraiser team for Friends of Euclid Creek, 2008; worked with Mayfield city schools as judge in science fairs and coach for Science Olympiads (ongoing)
Papers and Publications (representative)
* "Quality and Information Product Development," Proceedings, Annual Conference of the Society for Technical Communication, Arlington VA, 1999.
* "The Virtual Classroom: Real-life Experiences of Distance Learners," Proceedings, Annual Conference of the Society for Technical Communication, Arlington VA, 1999. (with S. Gonzalez, B. Roberts, R. Roberts).
* "Web Delivery of Corporate Policies and Procedures," Proceedings, Annual Conference of the Society for Technical Communication, Arlington VA, 2001. ( Also presented as "Moving Documents to a Corporate Intranet" at Technicom conference, Northeast Ohio STC, Cleveland, Ohio, 1999.)
* "Seven Steps to Successful Online Help," Intercom, 2006 (featured as one of the three most requested articles in the last 10 years) and Intercom (feature article), Society for Technical Communications, Arlington VA, November 1996. (with R. Caldanaro and M. Nichols).
* "Using Visual Techniques to Enhance Usability," Proceedings, Annual Conference of the Society for Technical Communication, Arlington VA, 1993.
* "Issues in Designing, Implementing, and Developing Online Help," Proceedings, Annual Conference of the Society for Technical Communication, Arlington VA, 1993.
* "Usability Inspection of Technical Communication," in Carol M. Barnum, Usability Testing and Research, Pearson Education, Inc., The Allyn and Bacon Series in Technical Communication, New York, ISBN 0- 205 - 315 19-4, 2002.
Coursework (Continuing Education)
* Information Development Process
* Usability Evaluation Process
* Online Information Development
* Cognition and Learning Theory
* Internationalization of Technical Communication
* Interactive Hypermedia
* Interactive Multimedia
* Human Resource Issues in Technical Communication
* Introduction to Factory Automation and various related courses
* MRI Technologist Training
* Project Management (Baldwin Wallace College)
* Benchmarking/Customer Surveying/Continuous Quality Improvement Processes
* Rhetoric and Teaching of Writing, HTML (certified by Brain Bench)
Computer Skills
* Adobe Acrobat, Framemaker, and Illustrator
* Artemis Enterprise Project Management
* Corel Office Suite (WordPerfect, Presentations), Corel Draw
* Frontpage, Unix
* MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, Access), Powerpoint
* Visio, Endnote
2. Grateful that there is hope that Four Seasons will return our lawnmower
3. Grateful to look forward to movies like I'm Not There, Mama Mia, The Kite Runner, and Sweeney Todd
Four Seasons - Wickliffe - 440 943- 1809
Resume update
Background Summary
Writer, editor, and communicator with a broad base of experience in developing instructions, procedures, manuals, web pages, HTML, help, business communications, medical/scientific/technical manuscripts, grants, standards. Edited documents and conducted workshops/courses on a variety of topics. Over 10 years in a medical imaging environment and contract/freelance/consulting work with a wide range of clients.
Professional Experience/Client List
Contract/Freelance/Technical Writer/Instructor (present, ongoing since 1980) - Provide technical communication-related services for clients such as:
* School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Department of Pathology - Technical writer for scientific grants (neuroscience and aging related) and National Prion Surveillance Center
* Cleveland Clinic Foundation (Office of Clinical Interfaces) - Documentation consultant (2003-4)
* Professional Development Institute, Workforce and Economic Development Division - Instructor in Technical Communications certification program (2002)
* Allen Bradley division of Rockwell International - Contract technical writer
Senior Information Developer, Rockwell Automation (2004-present) Wrote documentation for users of factory automation equipment, managing multiple priorities and evolving departmental processes over time
* Developed conceptual, reference, and task-type technical content elements and entire information products as defined in departmental models and guidelines
* Worked with a variety of functions and levels of personnel in marketing, engineering, quality, and other disciplines to gather and interpret source information
* Used the hardware and software product itself to gather information, obtain a customer perspective, and verify that content elements are complete and accurate
* Worked closely with teams to apply standard analyses to define content elements and design information products according to department model; created/provided oversight on developing graphical elements/illustrations
* Wrote article with another department member for trade publication describing the content reuse program initiated by the group to include working in task forces and implementing change at a pace where current deliverable commitments were met with success
Senior Technical Writer, Philips Medical Systems (1990-1997) Wrote documentation for medical imaging products including medical imaging workstations, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanners, medical imaging laptop, investigational applications such as advanced cardiac imaging
* Supported FDA submissions for products such as new MRI systems, medical imaging workstation, cardiac imaging applications, clinical spectroscopy, MEG sources imaging
* Developed, edited, and produced first-ever applications guides concerning use of medical imaging techniques, working with clinical applications groups and research scientist
* Developed literature on investigational medical imaging techniques including brain imaging, clinical spectroscopy, brain attack lesion/tissue intensity imaging, and cardiac imaging
* Designed and produced, as part of a team, two online help systems, one HTML based, for clinical users of medical imaging equipment
* Wrote departmental style guide, presented writer's workshops, organized and conducted surveys of users of medical imaging equipment
* Recruited and supervised student interns
Senior Standards Engineer, Philips Medical Systems (1997-2002) Developed technical manuscripts/work instructions/standards on subjects including: user and service publications (developing a corporate template), technical reports, invention disclosures, patents applications, engineering logbooks, environmental practices, product specification practices, architectural practices, precautionary statement formats, grounding practices, equipment labeling, paint standards
* As corporate committee chairperson promoted use of international/industry/internal standards
* Developed manuscripts by working with inter-company functions such as Engineering, Regulatory Affairs, Law Department, Service, and Information Technology
* Supported project management initiatives, assisted in project management database administration
* Provided IT support for web pages on life cycle management, corporate engineering standards, corporate policies and procedures, and enterprise project management (Artemis)
* Assisted management with development of corporate policies and procedures
Educational, Professional, and Volunteer Activities
* M.S., Technical Communication Management, Mercer University, School of Engineering
* B.A., Education, University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana
* Attended Annual Conferences of the Society for Technical Communication (STC) throughout 2008 (Philadelphia, New York, Atlanta, Dallas, Washington D.C., Toronto, Anaheim, Cincinnati, Chicago). Presented papers in Dallas, Washington D.C., Cincinnati, and Chicago. Attended Crucial Communicator conference in Cleveland in 2003.
* Associate Fellow of Society for Technical Communications, newsletter and academic relations co-chair, judge in publications competition at international level (2000/1 and 2001/2-lead judge) and local level 1993-2002, co-chair of competitions committee 2001/2, judged in high school competition 2001/2
* Member of working group, IEEE committee on revising standard for developing of software user documentation (IEEE 1063)
* Attended technical writing seminar at M.I.T.
* Freelance/contract technical translator (Russian) - Cleveland Crane & Engineering, Combustion Engineering Industrial products
* Corporate contact for Komen Race for the Cure, 2005-2008, organized Rockwell's team; member of fundraiser team for Friends of Euclid Creek, 2008; worked with Mayfield city schools as judge in science fairs and coach for Science Olympiads (ongoing)
Papers and Publications (representative)
* "Quality and Information Product Development," Proceedings, Annual Conference of the Society for Technical Communication, Arlington VA, 1999.
* "The Virtual Classroom: Real-life Experiences of Distance Learners," Proceedings, Annual Conference of the Society for Technical Communication, Arlington VA, 1999. (with S. Gonzalez, B. Roberts, R. Roberts).
* "Web Delivery of Corporate Policies and Procedures," Proceedings, Annual Conference of the Society for Technical Communication, Arlington VA, 2001. ( Also presented as "Moving Documents to a Corporate Intranet" at Technicom conference, Northeast Ohio STC, Cleveland, Ohio, 1999.)
* "Seven Steps to Successful Online Help," Intercom, 2006 (featured as one of the three most requested articles in the last 10 years) and Intercom (feature article), Society for Technical Communications, Arlington VA, November 1996. (with R. Caldanaro and M. Nichols).
* "Using Visual Techniques to Enhance Usability," Proceedings, Annual Conference of the Society for Technical Communication, Arlington VA, 1993.
* "Issues in Designing, Implementing, and Developing Online Help," Proceedings, Annual Conference of the Society for Technical Communication, Arlington VA, 1993.
* "Usability Inspection of Technical Communication," in Carol M. Barnum, Usability Testing and Research, Pearson Education, Inc., The Allyn and Bacon Series in Technical Communication, New York, ISBN 0- 205 - 315 19-4, 2002.
Coursework (Continuing Education)
* Information Development Process
* Usability Evaluation Process
* Online Information Development
* Cognition and Learning Theory
* Internationalization of Technical Communication
* Interactive Hypermedia
* Interactive Multimedia
* Human Resource Issues in Technical Communication
* Introduction to Factory Automation and various related courses
* MRI Technologist Training
* Project Management (Baldwin Wallace College)
* Benchmarking/Customer Surveying/Continuous Quality Improvement Processes
* Rhetoric and Teaching of Writing, HTML (certified by Brain Bench)
Computer Skills
* Adobe Acrobat, Framemaker, and Illustrator
* Artemis Enterprise Project Management
* Corel Office Suite (WordPerfect, Presentations), Corel Draw
* Frontpage, Unix
* MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, Access), Powerpoint
* Visio, Endnote
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)