Tuesday, September 30, 2003

We'll Miss Ya Jerry

Jerry Stockfisch, a great friend and an amazing writer, just informed the Biz Team he is taking a job up at the Trib.'s Tallahassee office. His wife works for the gov. up there and made the decision that it's easier to be together than traveling back and forth.

We'll miss ya Jer. Feel free to come visit us any time. :-)

Fall stops by Florida

Today is beautiful here in Central Florida. The temp. was in the low 70's when I walked out the front door this morning. In the summer we are lucky if it hits the 70's in the middle of the night. And it is only supposed to be in the low 80's today.

I love this time of the year when the humidity calms down and the temperature dips a bit. I love it when it is cool enough to snuggle under a blanket in the evenings while watching a movie or reading a good book.

The only bad part? Old people from Canada start arriving shortly and decide they must drive slowly on the Interstate. And that they have to drive during rush-hour when everyone is trying to get home from work.

But I won't think about that yet. Right now the weather is nice and I'm enjoying it!

Question of the day:
What's your ideal weather conditions?
My A. Clear sunny days with highs in the 70's and lows in the 50's. (Can't get too cold you know, my hair HATES really cold weather as do I.)

Monday, September 29, 2003

Coffee, Coffee, Coffee!!!!!!

Well, I am 1/2 way through a lovely cup of coffee. (It was a flavored version that someone brought in, and that's the main reason I am drinking it, cause the stuff here normally is gross.)

"I feel happy!" As said in a Monty Pythonesq way. :-)

It's amazing how perky I feel now. I just know I will crash and burn later tonight, but I don't care, I feel good now.

Man I sound pathetic!

Question of the Day Returns!

After a strange week last week I am bringing back the daily question for a second trial run.

Q. What's your favorite holiday of the year?
Sarah's A. Christmas. I love all the family traditions and the decorations and the lights. Something about a Christmas tree gets me smiling.

Another One Bites the Dust

I finished reading The Mammy by Brendan O'Carroll Saturday. It is the first in the Agenes Browne trilogy. This books was so funny at times I found myself laughing outloud. Now I've moved onto the second book The Chisellers. I am enjoying it too. I'm sure it won't be too long till I finish this one.

Movie Weekend

Friday night hubby and I stayed in and watched the Godfather III. We have had the trilogy for a while now and finally got around to watching this one. You know it's like 3 hours so you have to have actual time set aside.
It wasn't as good as the first two, being it was made so many years apart. But I did enjoy it. There was the intensity, the great music and Al Pachino (in my mind you can't go wrong with Pachino). Now there is the multiple hours of extras to watch.

On Saturday we saw Secondhand Lions. What a nice movie. Lots of great storytelling, a beautiful setting and superb acting from Michael Cain, Robert Duvall and a favorite of mine Haley Joel Osment. It is very funny at times and touching at others. I could see myself owning this one on DVD. I left the theater smiling.

Friday, September 26, 2003

How Sarah Got Her Groove Back?

I have been feeling Blah for a while now. Let down of vacation time gone by, turning 29 and looking back at what I have done with myself (or not really) and mourning the one year anniversary of the death of my brother. All this in a few short weeks.

I am not sure what happened this morning, but once I got out of bed (it was really overcast Ok) and started my day, for some reason I felt a little better. I have been mulling over what to write about recently for a small feature for 3 weeks and this morning it just came. I even got to allow myself to go out to lunch today with Skippy and his fab. significant other Britt and had a great time. I found myself smiling more than not.

Is it because it is Friday? I don't know. I'm not sure how or why I seem to have got my groove back, but I have.

Groovey!

Thursday, September 25, 2003

Journalism's Objectivity?

Below is an article written by Suzie Siegel, a former Tampa Tribune reporter and editor who now lives in Texas. She wrote this article about the myth of journalists objectivity for the Jouralism and Womens Symposium's newsletter. It is excellent. I have placed the text below because it was sent to me in an e-mail. If you don't want to read it that's cool. But I encourage you to read it.

When I was a working journalist, a few newsroom critics accused me of pushing a feminist agenda.
They were right.
My agenda was to improve conditions for women inside our newsroom and coverage of women inside our pages. But opponents saw a feminist agenda as more subversive – a breach in their belief that journalists must be objective.
They were right about that, too, but didn’t realize they were not objective, either.
They thought that being a feminist made me biased. It didn’t occur to them that not being a feminist was also a political stance. No one is neutral. You challenge the system, or you support it, even if it’s just with your silence and inaction.
Feminist philosophers have challenged objectivity. If journalists stopped pursuing it, they might have a shot at diversity, and maybe even truth.
In Just the Facts: How “Objectivity” Came to Define American Journalism, David Mindich traces its rise in the 19th century. Journalism took on the methods of science: detachment, nonpartisanship, reliance on facts, and balance.
Journalists make some exceptions for columns and features, but for news, they are supposed to put aside feelings, biases, beliefs, experiences, cultural norms, values – everything that makes them an individual. But what if people can’t catalog everything that has influenced them? What if a residue of prejudice remains? What if they can’t tease apart mixed feelings?
Stories are more than lists of facts; journalists describe what they perceive. They often interpret what others say. They use their judgment to decide which issues and events to cover, whom to quote, which quotes to use, what material to include, what photos or film to shoot, how to edit it, how to play the story, etc.
They are not scientists staring into a petri dish. News coverage influences stories. How can journalists be objective when they are part of the action?
Those who think objectivity is an impossible ideal may still strive to be fair and balanced. But they, too, must make subjective decisions about whom to quote, which arguments have merit, etc. Outside their writing, they can express feelings and opinions as much as they like – as long as their bosses don’t mind and the public doesn’t find out. “Fair and balanced” is in the eye of the beholder. Exhibit A: the Fox News Channel.
More than a decade ago, Sandy Nelson lost her reporting job because she worked for gay rights on her own time. The state Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Tacoma (Washington) News Tribune, saying it had a right to maintain “the appearance of objectivity.”
The myth of objectivity has become the dirty little secret of the profession.
Before the 20th century, many newspapers trumpeted biases to attract readers who shared their views or wanted another opinion. Now, when few cities have more than one daily newspaper, and a few corporations monopolize the media, it makes sense to claim objectivity.
Media owners want readers, viewers and listeners to think they can get all sides, all viewpoints, from just one source. And they do not want to offend advertisers. This translates into a lowest-common-denominator journalism that supports the status quo.
By continually cutting staff, the bosses leave little time for in-depth pieces. Those focus more on individual wrongdoing than systematic issues. The media pulls down powerful people from time to time, but does little to challenge the system that bestows that power. Thus, a journalist may vow to nail a politician, but is unlikely to say, “I’m going to expose capitalism.”
A publisher blew up one day because I wrote on the longevity of Ms. magazine and another story on the growth of feminist bookstores, including a local one, for the features section. He complained there was too much feminism in the paper that day.
But bosses don’t have to yell to make their point. Often when I wrote on controversial issues, I received little feedback. If I featured an alligator farm, however, I was praised for my writing and humor.
Many journalists accept and reinforce the norms of the culture, both in and outside the newsroom. Welcome to “The Matrix.”
In the past, for example, most believed domestic violence was a personal problem, with no larger implications for society. The women’s movement drew attention to domestic violence. Nevertheless, media coverage rarely links it to sexism – beliefs that men are superior and have a right to control women.
Another example: Editors questioned whether a gay colleague could cover issues of sexual orientation. Heterosexuals were considered unbiased, even though many of the men ridiculed gays.
The myth of objectivity breeds cynicism. Journalists who wanted to change the world find they can’t be advocates. They try to make stories fair to the point of quoting the usual extremist, even when they know those arguments can be picked apart. But who has time or space for that? The truth be damned.
The myth of objectivity also counteracts diversity. If any good journalist can be objective, if they can produce fair stories, why seek employees with different backgrounds, experiences, etc.?
Many feminists rely on differences when reporting information. Donna Haraway, writing in Simians, Cyborgs, and Women, says people shouldn’t mimic 19th-century scientists who thought of themselves as apart and invisible from that which they studied. People must connect with other points of view. No one view can encompass all perspectives.
Consider a team assembled for a disaster. It may include a person who knows business, one familiar with the neighborhood, one who’s bilingual, one who has experience with such a disaster, and one good at getting colorful details. They may file from different locations, at different times. People putting together footage or rewriting copy know the situation will change.
That’s how journalists could envision their business in general. They can gather only pieces of the truth, in hopes of creating as complete a picture as possible. They need people who look differently, not just ones who look different. They must recognize that they aren’t looking at the picture; they’re in it.

The "Biscuit" is Great!

Finished Seabiscuit: An American Legend the other night. Just as the newly engaged Cherie Jacobs said, the book was great. Author Laura Hillenbrand did a wonderful job of helping those uninitiated in horse racing understand it. By reading her words you can clearly see the races and intimatly get to know the people who surrounded The Biscuit.

One of the most impressive parts was the chapter she talks about the jockies and the horrible life they lived in the early 20th Century. They earned very little money and were subject to having to constantly reduce their weight so they could make the correct mount weight that a horse would be assigned. They did crazy things to keep their weights down to between 100-110 pounds for the most part. They were in constant danger but had no health insurance and when they did get hurt it was lucky if they were able to be taken to the hospital immediately or at all. And if they were hurt, they couldn't show it for fear the owners wouldn't let them ride.

I was amazed at how big Seabiscuit's races were. In 1938 this horse had more headlines than the president of the United States and Hitler. It was like the Super Bowl every time he stepped onto the track.

Even if your not a horse race fan I would reccomend this book. It is a good read. Now I will have to get myself to the movies.

My next book is Brendan O'Carroll's The Mammy. He is the author of The Young Wan that I read earlier. I am looking forward to another funny book on Agnes Browne. The book is based in Dublin and centers around Agenes who just lost her husband in a car accident and now has to raise 7 children. I'll let you know how it goes.

Oh, go read Seabiscuit!

Wednesday, September 24, 2003

One Year Ago Today.

One year ago today my family lost a son and a brother, a cousin, a nephew, a grandson.

One year ago today many lost a friend, a confidant, a leader, an organizer, a listener.

One year ago today my brother Paul died unexpectedly. One year ago today parts of my family's hearts died too.

It still hurts. A lot.

There are so many times I read things or hear things I would have wanted to make sure I told him. Jokes and goofey stories and breaking news that I thought I would have heard first only to be told he knew. Although the one thing I didn't get to tell him before he died is how much I thought of him. How much he meant to me. How much I love him.

Paul I miss and love you.



Tuesday, September 23, 2003

It's Happy Birthday Around the World!

Here's how to wish others a Happy Birthday from other countries:
French Joyeux Anniversaire !
German Alles Gute zum Geburtstag
Italian Buon Compleanno!
Portuguse Feliz aniversario!
Spanish ¡Feliz Cumpleaños!
and for those who can pronounce these:
Korean 축 생일!
Chinese 生日快乐!
and
Japanese 誕生日おめでとう!


And I want to thank my co-workers for the lovely cake...it was tasty. (The trick to getting the chocolate cakes - get the cake on the way into work, they go first.) It was very yummy though...Thanks!

The Madisonness Must End

Gene Weingarten's Sunday column from the Washington Post was great. It is about the trend of naming children names that shouldn't be names. Madison is the name he uses as the main example. I have to say hooray Gene, I have been thinking those things for a long time.

Check out his column here.

They Say It's My Birthday!

Yes, it is true, today is my birthday. I am now officially 29. I can't believe I had to type that, 29. The last year in my 20's, although my Uncle Mike would say I am now in my 30th year, but I am not ready for that one.

Besides being the first day of Fall, here's some famous people who share my birthday:

Singer Ani DiFranco (1970)
Actor Jason Alexander from Seinfeld fame (1959)
The boss and singer Bruce Springsteen (1949)
Actor Micky Rooney (1920)


Some important things that have happened on September 23 through out the ages are:

1642 The first commencement at Harvard College in Cambridge, MA, was held.
1779 John Paul Jones, commander of the American warship Bon Homme, was quoted as saying, "I have not yet begun to fight!"
1780 John Andre, a British spy, was captured with papers revealing that Benedict Arnold was going to surrender West Point, NY, to the British.
1806 The Lewis and Clark expedition reached St. Louis, MO, and ended the trip to the Pacific Northwest.
1838 Victoria Chaflin Woodhull was born. She became the first female candidate for the U.S. Presidency.
1939 Sigmund Freud died in London. He was recognized as the founder of psychoanalysis.
1952 Richard Nixon gave his "Checkers Speech." At the time he was a candidate for U.S. Vice President.
1962 New York's Philharmonic Hall opened. It was the first unit of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. The hall was later renamed the Avery Fisher Hall.
1974 Sarah Anne Knupke was born in Ft. Wayne, Indiana at about 7 in the morning.
1990 Iraq publicly threatened to destroy Middle East oil fields and to attack Israel if any nation tried to force it from Kuwait.
1991 U.N. weapons inspectors find documents detailing Iraq's secret nuclear weapons program. The find in Baghdad triggered a standoff with authorities in Iraq.
1993 The Israeli parliament ratified the Israel-PLO accord.
1999 A 17-month-old girl fell 230 feet from the Capilano Suspension bridge in North Vancouver, British Columbia. The girl had bruises, but no broken limbs from the fall onto a rocky ledge.

And my horoscope for today reads:

You are sincere, helpful and always concerned about everyone else. You are dedicated and loyal and can easily find a solution to any problem that may crop up.

Monday, September 22, 2003

Chocolate...

Just finished watching the movie Chocolate. Makes you want to chow down on some. What a great movie. I highly recommend it. Just make sure there is some chocolate in the house, you are going to want to have some when it's over.

Birthday Week

I am at home today enjoying a day off in honor of my birthday. Usually I take the day off from work but since it is Tuesday this year I thought it would be nice to have a 3 day weekend. In honor of the occasion of the week of my 29th birthday there will be extra tidbits about the week I was born and birthday fun in general.

And here's today's birthday-themed question:

What is your favorite birthday cake flavor?

My answer: Chocolate frosting and yellow cake, but chocolate on top of chocolate is always nice too.

Friday, September 19, 2003

Another Congrats!

A BIG congratulations to good friend Roy Coe on getting his first BIG job out of college! The main speaker at his graduation hired him. We are very proud of you Roy, we will have to have a drink soon to celebrate!

Awwww!

A priceless quote from co-worker and new father Andrew Meadows:

"You don't know what it's like to write a song until you have a baby, you don't know the kind of things that have come out of my mouth recently.

To which my and the newly engaged Cherie Jacobs said awww! And she responded. "Andrew that's the kind of thing that makes women all schmoopy!"

My Question of the Day

Happy Friday! And in observance of this great day of the week here's my question of the day:

For $20,000 would you go for three months without washing, brushing your teeth, or using deodorant? You could not explain your reason to anyone. (Assume that there would be no long-term effect on your career.)

Movie Night

Watched Real Genius last night. It is one of my hubby's fav. movies and I have to say I enjoy it too. It's another college movie but it's about the super smart kids at an exclusive science and technology school. There are lots of silly pranks but with a twist, like turning the hall into an ice skating rink with a substance that evaporates or wiring a guys braces so he thinks God is talking to him. It's silly but it makes for a good time. And being it's from 1985 it is really fun to see all the old computer equipment, clothes and Laslo, the guys who lives in Mitch and Chris's closet.

Thursday, September 18, 2003

My Question of the Day

If you could have been present for any event in history what would it be and why?

Wednesday, September 17, 2003

New Feature

Sarah Says introduces Sarah's Question of the Day. I'm looking to start converstations with an interesting or different question.

Sept. 17, 2003:

If a movie were made about your life, what would the theme song be?

Congrats!

A big congratulations to good friend Jennifer "Ziggy" Ziegler for getting her first "real" job after college. She worked really hard and went through many hard times in the past few years. Just wanted to let you know I am proud of ya (as if you don't know).

Tuesday, September 16, 2003

Your job stink?

Ok, I will admit my job isn't the best, but in the scheme of things it ain't too bad. After reading this article I think mine is ok. Check out some of the job titles...if you don't get a chuckle out of it, I don't know what makes you laugh.

Cry Babies!

The first group of patients to receive medical marjuana in Canda want their money back because it tastes disguesting. Check out this story. What do they want? The primo stuff? It's from the government, what do they expect?

Recall Vote Delay!?

I see that the California governor's recall has been postponed to March? No!! That means we will have to keep hearing about it. Can't we make it stop?

Monday, September 15, 2003

Congrats!

A BIG congratulations to co-worker Cherie Jacobs and now fiancee Bill on getting engaged while on their romantic trip to Colorado last week. She didn't tell anyone, saying that she was waiting for the observant reporters to see it and comment. One did. I noticed a ring, but because of my tiredness I was trying to figure out if it was her right or left hand I noticed. I made a note to check in the afternoon, but my boss Katrina beat me to the punch.

I am so happy for ya girl! He's definitely a keeper!

Monday again?

I can't believe it's Monday again. It was not easy to get out of bed for sure. From having family home to graduation festivities to having a cold that hasn't completely left me yet I am tired to say the least.

When is it nap time?

Friday, September 12, 2003

Yuck

Not feeling well today. Cold got the best of me and I am taking it easy today.

Thursday, September 11, 2003

Hungry?

Added Tribune editor of fun stuff Jeff Houck to the list of cool people. If you're a little hungry for a good ole' time this is the place. Go and visit his Side Salad.

Way to go!

Tonight, good friend and bro-in-law's brother, Roy Coe, will graduate from ITT Technical Institute with a specialty in computer assisted drawing. He has worked very hard and done very well. We are all proud of you and know you will go far!

And yes, this weekend, we are ready to party!

Remember

Just a reminder to take to a moment sometime today to remember those innocent people who lost their lives 2 years ago today in New York, at the Pentagon and in a field in Pennsylvania. It's a time for reflection and prayer. Amen and God Bless America. And don't forget to hug and tell those you love what they mean to you every day because you don't know the day that will be your or their last.

Wednesday, September 10, 2003

The Blog Gods Own Me!

25 %

My weblog owns 25 % of me.
Does your weblog own you?


Well according to this little quiz I am owned 25 percent by my blog. That's a lot, I was thinking maybe 5 or 6 percent. Thanks to Jeff Houck's Side Salad for pointing this little quiz out.

Update!

If I would have read the paper that I work at this morning I would have seen that Simon and Garfunkel WILL be coming to Tampa! Waiting for ticket info.

Parsely, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme!

Just in! Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel will begin a 28 city North American tour starting in Oct. outside of Detroit. You can see the story at MSN.com here! I hope they come to Tampa! WoooHoo!

Friend Found

I got an e-mail from an old friend from high school and college, Glen Owens. He said he had yahoo'ed my maiden name and Sarah Says popped up. I'm not sure why that popped up since I don't use my maiden name here, but it did.
We both used to frequent computer bulletin boards (before the Internet took hold) to chat with others and play games. He hung out and had a good ol' time. I've added his on-line journal to my list of favorites. To give you a heads up, he is currently dealing with the prospect of bone cancer and will be getting some very important test results soon. Glen my prayers are with you in this most important time.

Tuesday, September 09, 2003

Uggh!

Seems that my lovely hubby has thoughtfully given me the cold that he had last week. At least at the moment I am not blowing my nose every 2 minutes. Even using Puffs Plus with the lotion your nose gets mighty sore. I'm not sure if it is making the transition to my chest or not, but my ears keep popping, and I'm not sure what that means. But I'm still on the vacation high for the moment.

I am also happy because my favorite football team gave out a big but whoopin' on the Philly Eagles last night on Monday night football. It wasn't pretty, but in the end the Bucs did the job!

Monday, September 08, 2003

What I Say Out Loud?

What do you folks say about having a sound clip that accompanies Sarah Says when you open the site? Something like... "Welcome to Sarah Says.." or "Sarah Says Today.."

What do you guys think??

It's the Day After..

The day after vacation is over. What a day. I spent more than 2 hours trying to get through 437 e-mails (most of them SPAM by the way), too many phone messages and a pile of mail. And I almost found my desk! Oye! But I still have the vacation glow. I am rested still and refuse to have a bad day. They can start tomorrow.

Forgot to mention last night that I got a piano yesterday! Thanks to my sister's in-laws Paul and Linda for giving it to me and helping me get it from there to my parents who are storing it until we leave the apartment hopefully next year.
And big thanks to Roy who christened his brand new truck by hauling it across town. NO I was not going to move a piano to the second floor if I didn't have to. All it needs it some TLC (I'm stripping the paint) and a tuning and I have a great piano. What's so cool is that it is from the 40's (in-law's dad's mothers piano!) and it's in great shape otherwise. I am sooo excited! I have to read about wood stripping and then I'll get started! Couldn't say no to a free piano.

Sunday, September 07, 2003

New book..

I'm reading Seabiscut now. Yes, the same one in the movies. It is great so far. Will let you know what comes of it. Check out the link under what I'm reading now for more info. at Amazon.com.

Friday, September 05, 2003

I've Found Waldo!

In case anyone is wondering I know exactly where Waldo is. Central Florida! A tiny berg near Gainsville. It is famous for being a speed trap. Luckily someone bought a billboard and put Waldo is a Speed Trap! I came away unscathed.

Tuesday, September 02, 2003

Howdy From J-Ville

Am enjoying my stay with my 2 sisters. Drove around the beach area a lot today and got to see where both worked. Sister 2 (Karen) has a cushy office with a door! Imagine that! A door! And Sister 1 (Laura) works at the ultra-posh Pontre Viedra club as a cook where she makes yummy things. I have photos but am having technical difficulties so I can't get them up yet...trying later.

Just checking in to say hi! Vacation RULES!

Monday, September 01, 2003

Sarah Says Gets a New Look!

I've got the blues! Thanks to my Dad for figuring out all those annoying color codes in this system I now no longer have the burnt oranges. Let me know what you think.

Just about to be leaving for a visit with my sisters in Jacksonville. Should be fun. Will be taking photos and checking it.

Happy Labor Day!