Just fling me over the fence

15Jun11

My first newspaper byline was an obituary. It was 1997 and I was working on the City Desk at the Star Tribune. “We’re short an obit writer today,” my friend Pam said. “Want to fill in?” I no longer remember the name of the deceased. But I do remember having to write a correction for […]

Filed under: Attempted humor, Friends and family, Minnesota, Paris, Psychology, Random thoughts, Weird news   |  15 Comments
Tags: attempted humor, cause of death, death by saguaro, death notices, editing, how we die, Johnny Depp, journalism, obituary, obituary writing, postaday2011, Psychology, Star Tribune, Utne Reader, writing

The violence of the bizarre

19Feb11

I’ve been trying to figure out a way to move to Paris, if only for a year or two. Alas, their unemployment is high, the immigration laws are getting tighter by the day, and they have protectionist hiring practices that favor French citizens (which I completely understand). But I think I may have happened upon […]

Filed under: Attempted humor, Grammar and usage, Paris, Psychology, Travel, Writing   |  2 Comments
Tags: France, French, humor, Johnny Depp, Paris, postaday2011, translation, Travel, writing