I've made some changes to the look of the blog. Mainly, there's no green anymore which is super. The verdict is still out. I'll probably know in the next few days if I feel good about this template and color scheme.
It's true that it took longer than I originally anticipated to update "The Wire." I took a bit of a hiatus during the holidays. I couldn't help it. Sometimes you just need time to unwind. Plus, I was going through my typical overload that results from this time of year when I have 80 friends in town and I want to see every single one individually, but that's just not possible. We also had some early deadlines the past few weeks for the Enterprise and other Heritage newspapers, so that added to the drama.
But I am back, and I am so strong. I am ready for 2010. Hopefully the year brings with it some good things. Hopefully it also brings some trouble, because that's always fun.
Ok, now it's time for some linkspam. Lots of things going on in the entertainment world these days, but also lots of important news headlines that I think you should be up to date on. Check it out below:
Interest in body scanners return following terrorist attempt on Detroit Northwest Airlines flight
Mark Mardell supplies an outside perspective on US political climate and health care
EW: Does Avatar's so-so story matter? I've read many reviews on the recently released box office smash, and I've seen it. James Cameron is a sap, but he knows pacing and ambiance like no one else... except maybe Peter Jackson on a good day. This is an interesting perspective on the possible permanence of the whole 3D IMax experience, which coincidentally gives me nausea.
James Cameron announces plans for Avatar trilogy? No surprise there. Hollywood loves a good series.
Oscar season approaches, and with that Dave Karger predicts the Oscar nods. I'm sort of disappointed by how few of the top movies I've actually seen this year. I was trying to save money by renting movies instead, but now I'm sort of regretting that decision.
Heartbreakers hits movie theaters Jan. 8. I love a good Ethan Hawke vampire film.
Sex and the City 2 trailer released. As if they haven't gotten enough money out of this. But knowing me and my huge fandom, there will be a pre-movie cocktail and dessert party at my place! P.S. This teaser trailer, true to form, tells nothing of the movie's premise.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Anyone feel like a makeover?
I'm a girl and Daniel is a boy, so that means it's time for MAKEOVER!!! WOOT!
I'm going to change how this blog looks soon.... very soon. No offense to Daniel, but I don't care for green. I don't have anything against it. In fact, I love green in the real world because I have an affinity for trees. But I don't like it on my blogs. It reminds me too much of Spartan country, and THAT my friends we CANNOT have.
Stay tuned to see the end result when I peel back the velvet curtain.
I'm going to change how this blog looks soon.... very soon. No offense to Daniel, but I don't care for green. I don't have anything against it. In fact, I love green in the real world because I have an affinity for trees. But I don't like it on my blogs. It reminds me too much of Spartan country, and THAT my friends we CANNOT have.
Stay tuned to see the end result when I peel back the velvet curtain.
Oh my gosh look it's the coolest girl ever!
Hi I'm Jana. I'm the new one... Daniel's replacement as copy editor as he traipses over there to Chelsea and Dexter.
I wrote a column this week to introduce myself. Head over there if you haven't read it. It will give you all the details.
Basically this is where I will share tidbits and stories and comments that I would not otherwise share with the community. This is where I will be blunt, honest, and post cute pictures of puppies just for the sake of doing so... because that's what blogs are for. I will occasionally use nerd verbiage. That means sometimes I'm going to use words used in the online gaming world (MOAR, lul, lollerskates, obv, imo, etc.), but you'll get used to them. I find they add a certain something. One day I'll post a reference guide.
I encourage you to comment if for no other reason than people rarely do so. Yet, those bloggers over there in Ann Arbor do it every day five times a day and they GET AWAY WITH IT. We can do better. I challenge you to do better.
I'll also try to post lots of community photos up here that might not necessarily make it into the paper. Hopefully then you can all DL the pics and go home happy.
On a side note, I have a weakness for surveys. Those forwarded chain mails that circulate with questions like "If you were a crayon, which color would you be?" (I would be maroon) are one of my favorite pastimes. That means that sometimes they're going to make it onto this blog. I'll spare you usually because there can be too much of a good thing, but I just wanted to warn you. Let's cherish that together as we get to know one another.
I also will share my favorite websites from time to time. My sense of humor isn't the cleanest of the pack, but I can pick a good comedic website like the best of them. I share these for no other reason than to promote being easy going and having a laugh. They're good for you, I hear.
The first one up for sharing is a nice little website called the Doghouse, which can be found at www.thedoghousediaries.com. Look, I even embedded the url into the name in case you're too lazy to reopen a separate window or tab in your browser. Just click that word up there and you'll see. OH... YOU'LL SEE.
I wrote a column this week to introduce myself. Head over there if you haven't read it. It will give you all the details.
Basically this is where I will share tidbits and stories and comments that I would not otherwise share with the community. This is where I will be blunt, honest, and post cute pictures of puppies just for the sake of doing so... because that's what blogs are for. I will occasionally use nerd verbiage. That means sometimes I'm going to use words used in the online gaming world (MOAR, lul, lollerskates, obv, imo, etc.), but you'll get used to them. I find they add a certain something. One day I'll post a reference guide.
I encourage you to comment if for no other reason than people rarely do so. Yet, those bloggers over there in Ann Arbor do it every day five times a day and they GET AWAY WITH IT. We can do better. I challenge you to do better.
I'll also try to post lots of community photos up here that might not necessarily make it into the paper. Hopefully then you can all DL the pics and go home happy.
On a side note, I have a weakness for surveys. Those forwarded chain mails that circulate with questions like "If you were a crayon, which color would you be?" (I would be maroon) are one of my favorite pastimes. That means that sometimes they're going to make it onto this blog. I'll spare you usually because there can be too much of a good thing, but I just wanted to warn you. Let's cherish that together as we get to know one another.
I also will share my favorite websites from time to time. My sense of humor isn't the cleanest of the pack, but I can pick a good comedic website like the best of them. I share these for no other reason than to promote being easy going and having a laugh. They're good for you, I hear.
The first one up for sharing is a nice little website called the Doghouse, which can be found at www.thedoghousediaries.com. Look, I even embedded the url into the name in case you're too lazy to reopen a separate window or tab in your browser. Just click that word up there and you'll see. OH... YOU'LL SEE.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Merry Christmas from AAA
This past week, I was met with an unpleasant surprise in my mailbox. My car insurance company decided now would be a good time to notify me that they cancelled my insurance and that it is illegal to drive without insurance. This isn't for lack of paying. Infact, I always pay on time or before deadline, and I have never had a problem with AAA since I first enrolled two years ago.
I shouldn't say "never." Since everything is automated nowadays, if the computer does not process your check at 12:01 a.m. the day it's due, it automatically sends you a cancellation notice. This is quite irritating. And, because I know I paid my bill, I just ignored it. Big mistake. Sure enough, the incompetent people at AAA cancelled my insurance.
After spending 40 minutes on the phone with a representative, he nor his supervisor could figure out why the system cancelled me. Of course it couldn't be as simple as hitting a button to reinstate my policy. No, the computer apparently won't let you do that unless the customer pays the $17 reinstatement fee.
So, after informing me of the fee, despite being innocent of this whole thing, I was left with no option other than to pay. Of course, I can file a grievance, but those probably go in the "dead mail" pile at the post office along with kids' Santa letters.
Two days later I got a call from a AAA representative informing me that they were correct in billing me $17. Apparently when I moved, the system told them that my car insurance payment should be more, and it took it upon itself to pro-rate the $17 from my last bill. This whole unforunate set of circumstances cost me my insurance for a day and a massive headache.
Though AAA was wrong, somehow I owe them an extra $17 and can look forward to a higher insurance bill in January.
I shouldn't say "never." Since everything is automated nowadays, if the computer does not process your check at 12:01 a.m. the day it's due, it automatically sends you a cancellation notice. This is quite irritating. And, because I know I paid my bill, I just ignored it. Big mistake. Sure enough, the incompetent people at AAA cancelled my insurance.
After spending 40 minutes on the phone with a representative, he nor his supervisor could figure out why the system cancelled me. Of course it couldn't be as simple as hitting a button to reinstate my policy. No, the computer apparently won't let you do that unless the customer pays the $17 reinstatement fee.
So, after informing me of the fee, despite being innocent of this whole thing, I was left with no option other than to pay. Of course, I can file a grievance, but those probably go in the "dead mail" pile at the post office along with kids' Santa letters.
Two days later I got a call from a AAA representative informing me that they were correct in billing me $17. Apparently when I moved, the system told them that my car insurance payment should be more, and it took it upon itself to pro-rate the $17 from my last bill. This whole unforunate set of circumstances cost me my insurance for a day and a massive headache.
Though AAA was wrong, somehow I owe them an extra $17 and can look forward to a higher insurance bill in January.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
As time goes by
One of my favorite passages in the Bible reads, “To everything there is a season…” The verse can be found in Ecclesiastes 3:1. It can also be found in the 1965 song “Turn, Turn, Turn” by The Byrds.
The premise of the passage and the song basically says that there is a time and place for everything, and all good things must eventually come to an end.
Recently I was asked by Heritage Newspapers to consider moving forward with my career and take on the challenge of community point person and copy editor for two newspapers in the Heri-tage Newspapers West cluster –– The Chelsea Standard and Dexter Leader.
My new position will become effective following the release of the Dec. 10 edition of The Manchester Enterprise. After two-and-a-half years serving the Manchester community, I will now begin a new challenge.
However, this column is not written to say goodbye. Though I will be leaving the community in some form, I want to assure our readers that I will continue to attend events, cover stories, visit with friends, and help out the new community reporter anyway I can, as time permits. I also hope that the Manchester Area Chamber of Commerce and the Manchester Fair Board will invite my band, Delirious Love, back again next year, to perform at various events in town.
One of my favorite childhood movies, “Masters of the Universe,” says it best: “Don’t say goodbye, say good journey.” I am not packing my bags and hitchhiking out of town down M-52. I will be around. And Heritage Newspapers will continue to have a presence in Manchester.
Many of our readers know our staff writer, Ed Patino. He has been with the newspaper for three years and will continue to report on Manchester sports and other events. He can still be reached at epatino@heritage.com.
Over the course of the last few weeks, I have been diligently filling in my replacement with the ins and outs of local service groups, community contacts for events and news, meeting times and places for township and village government, and keeping her up to speed on the issues facing our communities –– from the financial constraints of the Manchester Community Schools to the Gourley Farm versus Sharon Township lawsuit.
The community reporter assigned to Manchester beginning Dec. 11 will be my colleague Jana Miller. She is currently the sports reporter assigned to the Saline and Milan communities.
Jana is a smart, eager reporter who will have no problem jumping feet first into my position. I am confident that Ed, Jana and myself will make this transition as smooth as possible for Manchester.
In preparation for this transition, I will begin bringing Jana with me to Manchester this week to introduce her to the community. I hope everyone will extend her the support and patience I received when I first took the position as editor for the Manchester Enterprise in 2007.
Also during this transition time, I have offered my assistance to Jana. There is no doubt that it will take some time for her to fully immerse herself in the community. However, where time permits, I will work with her to make sure Manchester events, meetings and activities will receive coverage.
Over the past two-and-a-half years, I have enjoyed my time in Manchester. There are plenty of people to thank who have made working in such a small town a pleasant experience. Next week, in my final editorial column as copy editor for Manchester, I will attempt to wrap up as many loose ends as possible.
God bless.
The premise of the passage and the song basically says that there is a time and place for everything, and all good things must eventually come to an end.
Recently I was asked by Heritage Newspapers to consider moving forward with my career and take on the challenge of community point person and copy editor for two newspapers in the Heri-tage Newspapers West cluster –– The Chelsea Standard and Dexter Leader.
My new position will become effective following the release of the Dec. 10 edition of The Manchester Enterprise. After two-and-a-half years serving the Manchester community, I will now begin a new challenge.
However, this column is not written to say goodbye. Though I will be leaving the community in some form, I want to assure our readers that I will continue to attend events, cover stories, visit with friends, and help out the new community reporter anyway I can, as time permits. I also hope that the Manchester Area Chamber of Commerce and the Manchester Fair Board will invite my band, Delirious Love, back again next year, to perform at various events in town.
One of my favorite childhood movies, “Masters of the Universe,” says it best: “Don’t say goodbye, say good journey.” I am not packing my bags and hitchhiking out of town down M-52. I will be around. And Heritage Newspapers will continue to have a presence in Manchester.
Many of our readers know our staff writer, Ed Patino. He has been with the newspaper for three years and will continue to report on Manchester sports and other events. He can still be reached at epatino@heritage.com.
Over the course of the last few weeks, I have been diligently filling in my replacement with the ins and outs of local service groups, community contacts for events and news, meeting times and places for township and village government, and keeping her up to speed on the issues facing our communities –– from the financial constraints of the Manchester Community Schools to the Gourley Farm versus Sharon Township lawsuit.
The community reporter assigned to Manchester beginning Dec. 11 will be my colleague Jana Miller. She is currently the sports reporter assigned to the Saline and Milan communities.
Jana is a smart, eager reporter who will have no problem jumping feet first into my position. I am confident that Ed, Jana and myself will make this transition as smooth as possible for Manchester.
In preparation for this transition, I will begin bringing Jana with me to Manchester this week to introduce her to the community. I hope everyone will extend her the support and patience I received when I first took the position as editor for the Manchester Enterprise in 2007.
Also during this transition time, I have offered my assistance to Jana. There is no doubt that it will take some time for her to fully immerse herself in the community. However, where time permits, I will work with her to make sure Manchester events, meetings and activities will receive coverage.
Over the past two-and-a-half years, I have enjoyed my time in Manchester. There are plenty of people to thank who have made working in such a small town a pleasant experience. Next week, in my final editorial column as copy editor for Manchester, I will attempt to wrap up as many loose ends as possible.
God bless.
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