I know I am always “trying” to read; not very successfully.
I always prowl around book stores for hours, meticulously surveying the options, before I make what I hope are very promising selections. I pay for them excitedly and rush home.
It’s not long before the excitement dies and they get shoved away into a dark dusty corner of my room from where they watch me storm in and out with great urgency.
If I’m really good and I push myself real hard and the book is really interesting, it will only take me like 6 months to get through it. Half a page a day…
Until…
Yes my friends, there is a solution!
Until… a dear friend of mine told me about …*audiobooks*!
Now WAIT! I know that your finger is probably twitching to lead the mouse over to that small x in the corner of this window, but don’t click it!
If you are anything like some of my friends you’re probably thinking “I don’t listen to the teacher in class or read any of the books I’m graded on, why would I be able to enjoy listening to lame audiobooks..?”
You, my friend, are lame if that’s your opinion too because audiobooks are awesome! No kidding.
5 reasons:
If you’re like me and those British voices on the Lebanese radio really annoy you and if your entire music collection makes you nauseous because of all the times you’ve sang each song, word for word, you’d like audiobooks. The narrators are usually HILARIOUS and you will almost never hear the same word twice.
It’s like watching a movie in your head and you are the director, the producer, almost anything but the screenplay writer. You can do almost anything that requires your attention while “reading a book” and its fun!
I don’t know how but it actually pauses wherever you leave it, even if you play something else and go back to it, it’s always right where you left it.
Humorist David Sedaris
His book “Me talk pretty one day”
That’s the first audiobook I downloaded and gosh I loved it. I would literally laugh out loud to myself while driving in the car alone, looking like an idiot, because he is just so gosh darn funny.
My advice to you who can’t read, don’t read, or don’t want to read is AUDIOBOOKS! I do also very highly recommend “Me talk pretty one day” written and read by David Sedaris as your first listen.
His hilarious sarcastic reading style will have you guffaw-ing away the time while intellectually benefiting from the experience.
I wonder though, in terms of gaining from the experience, is listening as intellectually stimulating and educationally beneficial as reading?
1. The word Google officially means to search for something. (Click here for Definition), and it originated from the word Googol which is a number that is equal to 1 followed by 100 zeros.
Click photo for definition of Googol
2. The Logo changes for tributes, occasions and holidays! They call them Google Doodles.
For example this one is a tribute to Freddie Mercury:
Click to see them all
Here is an video of the best logos:
3. Google allows the use of Boolean expressions to make searching easier. These are three of my favorites:
a. If you type in google: site:’name of site here’ word you want to search, it will search for that word within the specified site.
b. If you type: define:word you want to define, it pulls up a definition and puts it at the top of the search results list.
c. If you type any mathematical equation and hit enter, it gives you the answer.
So while I was driving today, I was at a red light patiently waiting my turn to go through. Once it turns green a moped shows up out of nowhere driving snail slow and wavering from one side of the road to the other making it impossible for me to pass without taking him out. I rarely use my horn but today my patience was running very low and I honked. He stops in the middle of the road, looks back at me and the line of traffic behind me waiting to cross before the light turns red and gives me the “You honking at me?” look, as if he is all insulted and that I had accused him of something clearly unfair.
So I pressed the gas pedal, I floored it and drove right into him. His head flew over my car and landed on the car behind me and then the drivers cheered as they drove over his dead mangled body, and it felt so good to see his blood splatter and his fingers twitch…
Just kidding… that’s what I wanted to do, instead I played the “who gets mad faster” game that us Lebanese love to play on the road and I began yelling inaudibly and looking furious as I took the opportunity that he was standing still to go around him.
That was just one of the MAAAAANNNNNNYYYYYYYY other frustrating occurrences on the road today, and I can’t take it anymore.
I have two words for you that would make EVERYONE’s life a lot easier: LANES and SIGNALS!
Let’s start with Lanes:
When you should feel obliged to change lanes:
If you are on the left and you are approaching a crossroad or a turn and you want to go right, plan ahead and DON’T BLOCK THE TRAFFIC ON THE LEFT BECAUSE YOU WANT TO GO RIGHT !
When you SHOULD NOT change lanes: When someone is minding their own business in their own lane next to yours and you decide to change lanes without giving a signal and cut in front of them… DON’T!
PICK A FRIGGEN LANE! It is preposterous how many people drive in between lanes. The white line that indicates the lane right between their tires! YOU ARE TAKING UP TWO LANES WHEN YOU DO THAT! PAY ATTENTION, PICK A LANE AND STAY IN IT!
Two things you should know about Signals:
When you see someone ahead giving a signal to go right, DO NOT SPEED UP TO PASS THAT PERSON, give way….
GIVE A FRIGGEN SIGNAL WHEN YOU DECIDE TO CHANGE LANES ON A FREAKING WIM!
FOR GOD’S SAKE! ONE DAY MY PATIENCE WILL RUN OUT AND I WILL PURPOSELY START DRIVING INTO PEOPLE! I WILL DO IT!
So my father sent me this really funny e-mail, but I could’nt share it because it didn’t have a link to a website. Here I am giving it a link, it’s hilarious, I’m sure we all felt like this at the very beginning, I know I did.
Who’s On First” updated for the computer age
You have to be old eough to remember Abbott and Costello, and too old to REALLY understand computers, to fully appreciate this. For those of us who sometimes get flustered by our computers, please read on…
If Bud Abbott and Lou Costello were alive today, their infamous sketch, ‘Who’s on First?’ might have turned out something like this:
COSTELLO CALLS TO BUY A COMPUTER FROM ABBOTT
ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you?
COSTELLO: Thanks I’m setting up an office in my den and I’m thinking about buying a computer.
ABBOTT: Mac?
COSTELLO: No, the name’s Lou.
ABBOTT: Your computer?
COSTELLO: I don’t own a computer. I want to buy one.
ABBOTT: Mac?
COSTELLO: I told you, my name’s Lou.
ABBOTT: What about Windows?
COSTELLO: Why? Will it get stuffy in here?
ABBOTT: Do you want a computer with Windows?
COSTELLO: I don’t know. What will I see when I look at the windows?
ABBOTT: Wallpaper.
COSTELLO: Never mind the windows. I need a computer and software.
ABBOTT: Software for Windows?
COSTELLO: No. On the computer! I need something I can use to write proposals, track expenses and run my business. What do you have?
ABBOTT: Office.
COSTELLO: Yeah, for my office. Can you recommend anything?
ABBOTT: I just did.
COSTELLO: You just did what?
ABBOTT: Recommend something.
COSTELLO: You recommended something?
ABBOTT: Yes.
COSTELLO: For my office?
ABBOTT: Yes.
COSTELLO: OK, what did you recommend for my office?
ABBOTT: Office.
COSTELLO: Yes, for my office!
ABBOTT: I recommend Office with Windows.
COSTELLO: I already have an office with windows! OK, let’s just say I’m sitting
At my computer and I want to type a proposal. What do I need?
ABBOTT: Word.
COSTELLO: What word?
ABBOTT: Word in Office.
COSTELLO: The only word in office is office.
ABBOTT: The Word in Office for Windows.
COSTELLO: Which word in office for windows?
ABBOTT: The Word you get when you click the blue ‘W’.
COSTELLO: I’m going to click your blue ‘W’ if you don’t start with some straight answers.
What about financial bookkeeping? You have anything I can track my money with?
ABBOTT: Money.
COSTELLO: That’s right. What do you have?
ABBOTT: Money.
COSTELLO: I need money to track my money?
ABBOTT: It comes bundled with your computer.
COSTELLO: What’s bundled with my computer?
ABBOTT: Money.
COSTELLO: Money comes with my computer?
ABBOTT: Yes. No extra charge.
COSTELLO: I get a bundle of money with my computer? How much?
ABBOTT: One copy.
COSTELLO: Isn’t it illegal to copy money?
ABBOTT: Microsoft gave us a license to copy Money.
COSTELLO: They can give you a license to copy money?
ABBOTT: Why not? THEY OWN IT!
(A few days later)
ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you?
1. Guest Judges like Neil Patrick Harris, Kristen Chenowith and Ellen Degeneres that actually follow the show and give really smart and intuitive advice:
NPH speaking so eloquently:
Ellen dancing Hiphop with Twitch:
2. Nigel Lythgoe: Producer of American Idol and Pop Idol, creator, executive producer and judge for SYTYCD. I hate American Idol judges because I feel like they are talking just to be heard. When Nigel speaks you can tell that he loves dance, and that he really is all about the participants and supporting them and helping them, he is also so witty and NO ONE can make me laugh like Nigel. The judges on this show may have some commercial traits like Mary Murphy’s hot tamale train and stretched out forehead, but in general I really like their dynamics.
This clip is Melanie and Marko dancing a Nappy Tabs routine, lyrical hiphop style. Aside from the fact that they rocked the awesome routine, I just loved the judges reactions and how they all went on a kissing spree:
Also, Nigel used to be a dancer in Young Generation and later became their coreogrpaher and if you are as curious to see this old man dancing as I was, here you go, he is the one in the cape:
If you want to know more about Nigel:
3. Nappy Tabs: Since I’ve mentioned them already, Nappy Tabs are choreographers, they are a couple, their names are actually Napoleon and Tabitha and every single one of their routines just blew me away!
Here are two of my favorite Nappy Tabs routines, aside from the one I already mentioned in number 2, of course:
Sasha and Alexander dancing to “Coming Home”:
Jordan and Tadd (MY ULTIMATE CRUSH) dancing to “Memories”:
4. Christopher Scott: INSANE CHOREOGRAPHER! I’m just going to let his routines tell you why he makes this show so awesome:
This is Sasha and Twitch:
Ashley and Chris dancing to “Forget you”:
Jess and Clarice dancing to “Just the way you are”:
The Top Ten guys:
I believe I’ve made my point about Chris Scott
5. Pasha! He is as sexy as his name… his everything leaves me breathless, I don’t think any other male alive can dance like him. I just can’t put into words how I blush, giggle and squeal at the mention of him: Take a look for yourselves, and girls you might want to get a fan ready:
They paired him up with Melanie for a Viennese Waltz, insane performance:
How he can do this in heals is beyond me:
Dancing a breathtaking Argentinian Tango with Caitlin:
6. Tadd (He is a real ham but regardless my crush of the season):
This is him in an adorable hiphop routine with all-star Comfort:
This is his adorably HAM-y solo during top ten performances, he is the definition of entertaining:
7. Bollywood! This show really is about dance because the winner has to be able to do any style of dance, and they really do their best to include such a diversity. I was never a fan of Bollywood but after this, I just might tune in to Indian shows every now and then.
This is Clarice and All star Robert rocking Bollywood, if this doesn’t make you smile, then you got problems:
8. Cat Deeley, the hostess.
First of all, she makes anybody who stands next to her look like a midget. She is 1.75 m, beautiful, witty, funny, and she thinks fast on her feet and saved the show from many awkward moments. She just recently received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Reality Show Host. Click here to read about why she was nominated and why she should win, especially since she once actually swore at the audience:
To know more about what she does on the show, take a look at this video on her website.
9. The music, costumes and ideas. Some performances are entrancing and they make me feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside. I don’t know a lot about dance shows, but I doubt that any other show puts this much effort into making each dance a FULL ON performance. Take a gander at some of the really memorable performances (naturally including the ones I have already mentioned).
Ashley and Chris in a sexy Jailhouse Jazz:
Sacha and Alexander in a contemporary dance:
Missy and Wadi dance to Lady Gaga’s Judas:
Here is Robert and Miranda in a Nappy Tabs woodpecker routine:
Ryan and Ricky as Fashion Zombies:
Four HipHop guys:
Awesome Guest performance by LMFAO – Party Rockers:
10. Last but not least, Travis Wall! He used to be a contestant and now he is a coreographer for the show, this is an Emmy nominated routine and dancing it are my favorite couple by far, Melanie and Marko:
Something baffles me about the Lebanese. Extending their arm a couple centimeters to put their signal on seems to be an impossible task. A task like this consumes minimal effort and that is why it bewilders me why they don’t do it! I am driving on a high way, or on a road, zaroobe, whatever, minding my own business in my own lane, and aside from the fact that I have to stop at a green light and look BOTH ways, I also have to keep in mind that at any moment a car, or moped, can and will jump right in front of me without giving me so much as a signal. I DON’T UNDERSTAND! DO THEY NOT KNOW WHY THEY NEED TO GIVE A SIGNAL? CAN SOMEONE EXPLAIN THIS TO ME PLEASE!?
I actually did it. Yes. I made an E speech. Naturally its no where near how good the V speech is, but I did it all by my lonesome.
Tell me what you think.
What may seem to be my egotistical nature is but an emission of my eclectic energy expelled effortlessly. Evidently, it has everything to do with equations. Elocution and elegance are not enemies of effervescence instead they engulf each other eternally. If you were to examine this extravagant elaboration you would be enthralled by the evocation of evolved English, but in the end this epic tale is but a euphemism of my real endeavor. My enchantment with the approaching eulogy of the human race is nothing near ephemeral because we are eternally and inevitably lost in a case of self entrapment.
In conclusion, I’m initiating a revolution against this oxymoronic human evolution that is slowly emaciating the earth of its essence and inhabitants.
Evidently, you may call me E.
You see, a dose of E every now and then is euphorically eye-opening and what’s more is that its drug free ecstasy.
That’s why E gets her own apostrophE s at E’s !
The famous V speech defined! I loved this speech so I took it upon myself to define each word. Take a gander and impress someone with a new V word the next time you have a conversation. From the movie V for Vendetta, great movie!
“Voilà! In view, a humble vaudevillian1 veteran2, cast vicariously3 as both victim and villain by the vicissitudes4 of fate. This visage5, no mere veneer6 of vanity, is a vestige7 of the vox populi8, now vacant9 and vanished10. However, this valorous11 visitation12 of a bygone vexation13 stands vivified14, and has vowed to vanquish15 these venal16 and virulent17 vermin18 vanguarding19 vice20 and vouchsafing21 the violently vicious and voracious22 violation23 of volition24! The only verdict25 is vengeance; a vendetta26 held as a votive27, not in vain28, for the value and veracity29 of such shall one day vindicate30 the vigilant31 and the virtuous. Verily32, this vichyssoise33 of verbiage34 veers35 most verbose36, so let me simply add that it’s my very good honor to meet you and you may call me V.”
Translation:
I used to be a humble actor from vaudeville, but a twist of fate has made me a victim and villain. This mask that I wear is not to hide my face but it is a trace of the public opinion that is now ceasing to exist. However, what may seem to be a good deed is merely a result of my frustration and my vow to kill those corrupt infectious worms that are driven by immoral behavior and my want to give them a taste of their condescending so called human rights that they gave me. The only thing I can do is avenge my family by killing the ones that killed them, I made a vow, and it is not for nothing because this will one day prove who is really righteous. Of course I have used an excessive of words and expressions, so let me simply add that it’s a pleasure to meet you and you can call me V.
Vaudevillian: a performer who works in vaudeville
Veteran: A person who has had long experience in a particular field, esp. military service: “a veteran of two world wars”
Vicariously: indirectly, as, by, or through a substitute; “she enjoyed the wedding vicariously”.
Vicissitudes: A change of circumstances or fortune, typically one that is unwelcome or unpleasant.
Visage: A person’s facial expression or face.
Veneer: A thin decorative covering of fine wood applied to a coarser wood or other material.
Vestige: A trace of something that is disappearing or no longer exists.
Vox Populi: The opinions or beliefs of the majority.
Vacant: Not filled
Vanished: Gradually cease to exist
Valorous: valiant: having or showing valor; “a valiant attempt to prevent the hijack”; “a valiant soldier”.
Visitation: An official or formal visit, in particular.
Vexation: The state of being annoyed, frustrated, or worried.
Vivified: Enliven or animate
Vanquish: Defeat thoroughly
Venal: Showing or motivated by susceptibility to bribery
Virulent : Extremely severe or harmful in its effects
Vermin : Parasitic worms or insects
Vanguarding: The foremost division or the front part of an army
Vice: Immoral or wicked behavior
Vouchsafing: Give or grant (something) to (someone) in a gracious or condescending manner.
Voracious: Wanting or devouring great quantities of food
Violation: Fail to respect (someone’s peace, privacy, or rights)
Volition: The faculty or power of using one’s will.
Verdict: A decision on a disputed issue in a civil or criminal case or an inquest.
Vendetta: A blood feud in which the family of a murdered person seeks vengeance on the murderer or the murderer’s family.
Votive: Offered or consecrated in fulfillment of a vow
Vain:
Having or showing an excessively high opinion of one’s appearance, abilities, or worth.
Producing no result; useless
Veracity: Conformity to facts
Vindicate: Show or prove to be right, reasonable, or justified
Vigilant: Keeping careful watch for possible danger or difficulties
Verily: Truly; certainly
Vichyssoise: A soup made with potatoes, leeks, and cream and typically served chilled.
Verbiage: Speech or writing that uses too many words or excessively technical expressions
Veer: Slacken or let out (a rope or cable) in a controlled way.
Verbose: Using or expressed in more words than are needed.
I wonder if I could do the same with Es any suggestions?
Future journalists learn their trade in the LAU Tribune newsroom.
June 6, 2011—
A group of dedicated journalism students launched an online version of the LAU Tribune student newspaper last month in an effort to reach a wider readership and keep up with the changing times.
The online Tribune features the same kind of content found in the print version, including campus news, culture and fashion, and off-campus issues, but has new interactive forums such as a poll and a Twitter feed.
“We have some really cool tidbits that change every Monday during the semester,” says 22-year-old journalism major and editor-in-chief of the online edition Eleena Korban. “There’s the ‘Teacher of the Week’ section, daily cafeteria menu, social media tips and tricks, a photo slideshow, etc. You can comment, like, and share, but the best feature is that the writers are listening and they welcome ideas and discussion.”
“Lebanon has a huge online community that loves to read about issues concerning students,” adds Korban.
“The whole world is moving to online [platforms],” says Dr. Yasmine Dabbous, assistant professor of journalism and media studies, who is the Tribune advisor. “These days students should be able to show that they are comfortable with producing online content, as well as understand the differences between online, print and broadcast mediums.”
The push to take the paper online was a collaborative effort between Dabbous and her students in the Journalism Workshop course, which effectively serves as the newsroom where the Tribune is produced throughout the semester.
“The idea gained full speed at the beginning of this past semester in Workshop II,” Dabbous says. “All of the work was done by the students, I just supervised and advised. I try to make it a policy to let them make the editorial decisions,” she adds.
“Since our class was the first to go online, we basically had to build the website,” says Korban. “Supervised and advised by Dr. Dabbous, I worked with the editors-in-chief of the print paper, Mohamad Yahia Hamade and Caroline Hodroj. It took us at least four, two-hour meetings to decide on the plan. Uploading the previous articles and designing the site took about two–three weeks,” she adds.
Students are responsible for monitoring and updating the site, either twice a week or weekly depending on the content. As editor-in-chief, Korban ensures that each article is uploaded and published by Monday at noon in the correct category, with the proper tags and photos.
“It has become a digital world and students are going to have to work with digital platforms, so it is important to learn how to write for an online paper. The reporting is different, the writing is different,” Korban says.
At the moment, the site is running off a domain from WordPress, a popular blog creation site. Korban hopes that in a year the Tribune will have its own website and domain, or as Dabbous says, they want to make it look “more New York Times, and less Huffington Post.”
“This is a big move forward for the Tribune,” Hamade says. “It’s been a good year in terms of reaching out to a larger community and now everyone can read the paper — people abroad, alumni, etc.”
The site has a daily statistics page, and traffic has been good, says Dabbous. “On the first day we launched, we had 464 hits and the second day more than 300. But this is a project that needs continuous promotion.”
“I’m hoping that next year the Tribune will have an Arabic section on the website,” says Hamade.
Like most LAU students, the LAU Tribune will take a break during the summer and will resume publication in fall 2011.
Dr. Yasmine Dabbous (left), Tribune faculty advisor, shows journalism students the ins and outs of a newsroom during her Journalism Workshop course, as part of which the Tribune is produced throughout the semester.
![[photo]](http://www.lau.edu.lb/news-events/news/archive/online_news_for_the_students_b/lau-tribune-online-01-180.jpg)
![[photo]](http://www.lau.edu.lb/news-events/news/archive/online_news_for_the_students_b/lau-tribune-online-02-big.jpg)
Dr. Yasmine Dabbous (left), Tribune faculty advisor, shows journalism students the ins and outs of a newsroom during her Journalism Workshop course, as part of which the Tribune is produced throughout the semester.
