iPod Essentials #47: "Thunder Road"--Bruce Springsteen

Tim Russert loved Bruce Springsteen. Yesterday viewers of MEET THE PRESS saw a heartfelt tribute to Mr. Russert as only The Boss could sing it. "Thunder Road," along with the other songs on BORN TO RUN, talk of desperation and strength amid a working-class existance.

Hopefully, wherever Tim Russert is now he's on another kind of road, one that is peaceful.

Big Tim & Me

Like so many other Americans, I was shocked and saddened to learn of the sudden passing of Tim Russert, the astute and congenial host of MEET THE PRESS. I used to watch this show every Sunday morning. While I read my Sunday edition of the LOS ANGELES TIMES, I would listen to him ask intelligent questions to politicians and political figures.

What I admired most about Mr. Russert is that he would not take politicians' attempts to talk around answers or to evade questions. He appreciated directness. Unfortunately, few political journalists have the courage to ask questions. Mr. Russert never sought to placate his audience or his guests, the way true journalists should.

My Sunday mornings will never be the same.

iPod Essentials #46: "A Beautiful Morning"--The Rascals

This song has such a sleepy, lazy day feel to it, especially when you are off for a week, like I am right now. It encourages the listeners to go outside and live and pay attention to surroundings. We sure don't do that enough, do we? We're too busy. Lazy days--we don't have enough of them.

Editing

These are a few tips on editing your work. I'm finding that too many students and authors don't pay enough attention to this valuable process. Often, they also can't be bothered to proofread, either.

1. Every word you write must account for something in each sentence. Don't use fillers, like "you know" or "due to the fact that."

2. Choose your words carefully. There's a big difference between "John walks," "John strides," and "John meanders."

3. Commas--the most misunderstood punctuation mark. Do not use them like periods--to end sentences. That is not their job. Their job is to indicate a temporary pause to the reader so that the reader can catch a mental breath before continuing to read.

4. If you don't have one, invest in a good grammar handbook. My fave is Lynn Aaron's LB BRIEF. It's affordable and concise.

Keep writing, but please take the time to edit and proofread your work.