Today's
word on journalism
May 12, 2009
The
Last WORD
The Fat Lady Sings, Off-Key, Drools
At about this time every year, like
the swallows to Capistrano or the
buzzards to Hinckley, Ohio, the WORD
migrates to its summer musing grounds
at the sanitarium —St. Mumbles
Home for the Terminally Verbose.
The reason is clear, and never moreso
than as this season —the WORD's
13th —peters out.
It's been a fraught year of high palaver
and eye-popping transition, both good
and not-so-much. An interminable presidential
campaign saga finally did end, and
in extraordinary and historic fashion.
Meanwhile, the bottom and everything
that's below the bottom fell out of
the economy, with families, homes,
entire industries and —of particular
interest to WORDsters and the civic-minded
—dozens of daily newspapers
("I don't so much mind that newspapers
are dying--it's watching them commit
suicide that pisses me off."
--Molly Ivins). . . all evaporating.
What replaces them, from the individual
to the institutional to the societal?
Are we looking at a future of in-depth
Tweeting?
As any newsperson or firehorse knows,
it's hard to turn your back on day-to-day
catastrophe --we just have to look
at the car wreck. But even the most
deranged and driven need a rest. As
philosopher Lilly Tomlin once observed,
"No matter how cynical you become,
it's never enough to keep up."
So this morning, as a near-frost hovered
over northern Utah, the unmarked van
pulled into the driveway and the gentle,
soft-spoken men in the white coats
rolled the WORD out of bed and into
a straitjacket for the usual summer
trip to St. Mumbles, where the blathering
one will be assigned a hammock and
fed soothing, healthy foods --like
tapioca, dog biscuits and salmon --while
recharging the essential muscles of
cynicism, outrage, sarcasm, social
engagement and high-mindedness, in
preparation for the next edition.
Summer well, friends.
Speak
up! Comment on the WORD at
http://tedsword.
blogspot.com/
Feedback
and suggestions--printable and otherwise--always
welcome. "There are no false
opinions."
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Aggies, here's how to house-hunt
like a pro
By Kelly
Greenwood
May 5, 2009 | For a lot of incoming USU freshmen, college
can be quite an adjustment. Physically, socially and
mentally, your world changes at the very moment you
wave good-bye to Mom and Dad. With all the changes you
encounter in your college years, there is one thing
you should be able to count on—home. That is, a home
away from home.
Finding a good place to live during college can be
challenging if you don't know where, or how, to look.
Some students end up moving a few times before finding
the "right" place. Some USU students I know
have slept on their friends' couches for a summer. It's
all part of the college experience, some might say.
However, to make the most out of your college experience,
it helps to live in a place that suits you and all those
wonderful facets that got you into college in the first
place.
As a single student who has lived in six (count 'em,
six) different places throughout her prolonged college
career (on the fifth year here, folks), I can offer
some seasoned advice to single USU students who are
house-hunting. Here are some things to consider on your
quest.
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1. Living in on-campus housing your first year
is a good idea. Face it, if you're a freshman,
you're probably feeling pretty clueless and lost.
Living in close quarters with a bunch of diverse
people will introduce you to new things, expand
your knowledge, help you build friendships and help
you become involved in school activities. USU offers
a lot of different
on-campus housing arrangements.
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2. Consider what kind of housemate you are and
the kind of roommates you'd prefer. Think about
this before throwing a group together to rent a
house. If you're very studious and can't stand loud
noise, you might not want to live in what could
turn into a party house. I experienced this first-hand.
Though I don't regret it now, I had a hard time
with it at first. All I'm saying is, be prepared
for the unexpected if you don't know who you're
living with before you move in with them.
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3. Get to know your potential landlord a little.
This is more important than you might think. Are
they humorless and will fine you $50 if the doorknob
breaks off accidentally? Are they unreliable or
are they accommodating? If they are with a realty
company, do some research on that company before
you seal the deal. I once had a really ditzy landlord
(seriously) who never gave me a straight answer
about anything. On several occasions, I woke up
to construction workers at my door at 8 a.m. without
any warning. Not good, my friends.
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4. Beware of scams. If you're trying to
buy or sell a rental contract online, be very wary
of transactions outside the U.S. There are a lot
of people in cyberspace who want large sums of your
money. You know those e-mails you get from Fifi
from the Ivory Coast whose father is dying and needs
your help transferring his money to U.S. banks?
Yeah, I once came very close to being scammed by
Fifi.
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5. One question: Can you afford the place?
Living within your means is a lot better than being
evicted because you're trying to live outside of
them.
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6. Safety first! You're a grown-up now,
so you have to watch your own back. When touring
a house or apartment, look for working smoke detectors,
gas and CO monitors, working door and window locks,
and non-explosive-looking appliances. (I was electrocuted
by turning on an old stove once. Trust me.) Also,
check out the breaker system—the ones with glass
knobs often appear in older houses and are dangerous
if you're not an electrician.
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7. Cleanliness is good. Don't live in a
cheap dump if you can help it. Things like mold
in the bathroom and asbestos in the ceiling will
make you very sick, so look for these things. Also
check for signs of rodent and insect infestation.
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8. Think of the amenities you like. Will
lack of a dishwasher cause you to throw dirty dishes
out the window? Do you have your own furnishings,
or do you need a place that's furnished? Can you
live without the Internet?
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9. Remember to have fun. College should
be a great experience, so try and make the best
of it wherever you end up living. Just don't get
electrocuted.
NW
MS
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