Spelling is important

There's not a good way to commit a spelling error. But some spelling errors are more shameful than others. My initial blog posts prompted a couple of messages from readers, pointing out errors in my biography. Sheesh. How embarrassing.

And then there's the Greensboro News-Record. Warren Buffett bought the paper and naturally, it was a page one story. The name of the new boss was spelled incorrectly in the headline. I would hate to be that journalist.

Names are tricky business. Last names are passed down from one generation to the next and can't be changed without going to court. First names are a different story.

It's deadline time for this yearbook adviser. One of my tasks is to help proofread captions for each double page spread. And after a 45-minute session this morning, I can sympathize with the headline writer. And I can suggest that parents ponder carefully the decision to craft a name from imagination. This will create a lifetime of difficulty for the child. I would also advise parents to choose a conventional spelling for the name of the child.

Of course, all of this advice is too late for this year's book. That's what the ibuprofen is for.

Peterson Publications writer wins prize for proofing

Jen Clark wins proofing prize

• 
  I received a message from a former student this week:
  

  
  

  I'll be surprised if I'm the first to point it out ... but there's a typo in your biography on the blog.

  "I'm not a trendsetter, but I'm trying to at least now what's going on the world."

  should be:

  "I'm not a trendsetter, but I'm trying to at least KNOW what's going on the world."

  unless you did that on purpose ... then yes. I must be the first and I deserve a prize!

  
  

  
  

  I've know Jen for nearly 20 years. She was one of the students who helped launch a student magazine at Dodge City Community College while she was a student there from 1994 to 1996. She wrote. She took photographs. She designed pages for newspaper and magazine. She taught herself HTML. She once worked for Rob Curley. She can edit copy. She understands the importance of using tact and diplomacy.
  
  And this is her prize for being the first person to point out a typo in the biography of my brand new blog. 
  

  
  

It's a challenge to print photographs

Students learned to print in Digital Photography today. In earlier years, I used to make sure the chemicals were mixed the day before so that they were all at uniform temperature. We went through the process of loading the negative, opening up the aperture to focus, stopping the aperture down for printing. Students learned about the importance of making test strips and how critical timing was. Today the emphasis is on a series of menus. It's critical to pay attention to the menus. And as always, it's important to start early. It always takes longer than you think to make a print, whether it's in a darkroom or with a photo printer.

It was disjointed. The computer that is used to project on the screen couldn't connect to the photo printer. I had to replace ink in the middle of the class session. There were challenges and troubleshooting.

But I have yoga tonight.

There's not enough time to learn it all

It started with hearing friends talk about "Downton Abbey." And then my husband gave me a tablet for Christmas. One of the promotions with the tablet expires Jan. 24. I had a couple of hours of free time about 10 days ago.

The rest of the story is a downward spiral into compulsive behavior associated with good books or good television. I have battled the draw of the written word before. There have been many occasions when I have forced myself to drive past the library without stopping for a book because I can't have the temptation around when there are other demands. I'm in one of those phases right now.

However, I am still fighting with the demon of dramatic television. The good news is that after a 10-day marathon, I finished watching the first two seasons last night. I managed this while watching the Jayhawks set a new winning streak record.

It was an accomplishment.