A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....10-16-02

Billie and daisyscarlett

[daisyscarlett]

The Free Republic Forum has approximately 14 "Daily Threads". Today, we are happy to SPOTLIGHT one of them, along with its founder, anniegetyourgun, and its current teacher, RikaStrom.

The mission of the Word for the Day Thread is to raise the level of discourse and expand language abilities. The Rules are simple: Everyone who chooses to post must leave a post using the "word of the day" in a sentence. The sentence must, in some way, relate to the news of the day.

Anniegetyourgun started the Word for the Day thread on 2-10-01. Click here to read that first thread .

Anniegetyourgun called the thread "Word For The Day" because she planned to "teach" a daily class. She developed a Freeper school scenerio-establishing the routine, monitoring responses, setting the rules, "grading" the results, etc. She did "lesson planning" the night before and opened the school house door every morning at 7 am PST. Soon the WFTD thread took on the feel of a cyberclassroom. Since AGYG is not a teacher by profession, this was quite an accomplishment!

Being as Freepers have such creative minds, one thing led to another. They soon had things like "recess" bells, lunchroom time (complete with tuna croquettes), JimRob as principal, and Show and Tell days. They even fancifully created teachers of other classes at FR School. (BTW, ultimately, the Spanish teacher ran off with the German teacher!) They also had running jokes about the school nurse, as many of the guys in the class presumed she was beautiful and were always coming down "ill" for some reason!

There have always been special weeks at WFTD, such as "graduate level" word weeks, a week of some of the latest words added to the English language (neologisms), Spring Break vacation week, etc. One weekend, they had an open house on FR so people could find out more about WFTD – complete with student work being "displayed". During the summer of 2001, there was a "WFTD Summer Camp" at Camp Lotsawords -. lotsafun was had at Camp Lotsawords - including pranks!

In the real world, at least two homeschool mothers on FR have used the WFTD thread for their children everyday.

anniegetyourgun
Freeper since 11-24-00

"In Her Own Words"

"I hate to say it, but it seemed to me that there was a need on FR to perhaps 'upgrade' the language, spelling, grammar, word usage, etc. Rather than insult folks by saying so, I thought I might try a forum that would allow people to expand their vocabulary, explore word origins, and generally try things out."

"The thrill for me was to find so many on FR who are truly gifted writers, people with excellent imaginations, those with incredible senses of humor who were always making me laugh out loud at my desk, even a student who wrote the FR school song."

"I had to stop in May (2001) due to schedule changes and RikaStrom took over. I was so relieved because the 'students' had become so close and I hated to see it die out."

"I had a blast with WFTD. I believe it has contributed to the 'persona' of FR. Why, we've even seen BIG name journalists use the WFTD in an article they wrote within a day or two of it coming up on our thread. Coincidence? U decide!"

Just in case you are wondering, that is not really a photo of anniegetyour gun shown above. Anniegetyourgun says she "actually looks like a cross between Marsha (of Brady Bunch) and Joey Heatherton - if you can imagine them in their mid-forties!"

RikaStrom
Freeper since 11-10-00

RikaStrom's Profile Page leads off with the following:

"I am the current 'teacher' for WFTD, the FReeper school of vocabulary and inventive verbiage. This school was the creation of Anniegetyourgun.

If you have a sense of humor, please come on in. If you are part of the 'short bus' group, you can come in too. My students need targets for their verbal veracity. We thank the talented Registered for our school logo!"

Miss Rika took over posting the WFTD thread during the Spring Break thread in 2001. At the time, "that particular thread was keeping me sane." So she decided that she would step right up and continue to post the thread after it became impossible for Miss Annie to continue. She has been posting the WFTD thread for over a year and a half.

RikaStrom, who is also very active FReeping with the Houston Chapter of FR, recently started a new job and does not have the time luxury that she experienced at her previous position. Student Bella_Bru is now sharing teaching duties with Miss Rika. Mistress Bella does one week, Miss Rika does one week. This new arrangement began around September 10, 2002.

Here are two links to memorable threads suggested by Miss Rika.

Word for the Day Review 4-24-01

Word for the Day Review 6-04-01

THANK YOU, ANNIEGETYOURGUN
THANK YOU, RIKASTROM

YOU ARE TWO OF FR'S FINEST

THIS WEEK'S THREADS

10-14-02 Molly Pitcher

10-15-02 Dutchess

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' The guy's good, folks!

Thanks, Mixer!

     1) Click on the graphic to open the Calendar.
     2) Once there you can click on any month and even click to the right to go into next year. Once you are in the month that you joined FR you will need to click on the number in the calendar and then an add item screen will come up.
     3) In the next box enter your name in the "Calendar Text" field and then click on submit.
     4) If any of the screens fail to load simply click on refresh in your browser and that will usually fix it.
     5) If all else fails or simply if you want me to do this for you send me an FReepmail and I will gladly do it for you. ~Mixer

[daisyscarlett]

slubberdegullion

Great word...I would imagine that is one of the kinder words used by FReepers to describe Teddy Kennedy...lol...

[lodwick]

My Spell Checker

Eye halve a spelling chequer,
It came with my pea sea.
It plainly Marx four my revue
Miss steaks eye can knot sea.
Eye strike a quay and type a word
And weight four it two say
Weather eye am wrong oar write
It shows me strait a weigh.

As soon as a mist ache is maid
It nose bee four two long
An die can put the era rite,
Its rare lea ever wrong.
Eye have run this poem threw it,
And I'm shore your pleased two no
Its letter perfect awl the weigh -
My chequer tolled me sew!

[blackie]

Hi !!

Let's Roll !!

The RATS are in disarray...eradicate the rodents !!

Fire Democrats, Hire Republicans !!

GWB Is The Man !!

Snuff Saddam, NOW !!

Death To all Tyrant's !!

The Second Amendment...
America's Original Homeland Security !!

Freedom Is Worth Fighting For !!

Molon Labe !!

[lodwick]

The Effect of Alcohol

[ofMagog]

Although she denies tossing you overboard, you have to remember LadyX is somewhat protective of her kickapoo joy juice medicines and I understand you somehow got too close to her stash in one of your sleepwalking episodes.

My wife says to say "Hello!" to the psychoceramics and assures you she is doing fine (and is her usual demanding self). She says for those who do not understand Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) to go here.

[anniegetyourgun]

I pledge allegiance to the flag....

Isn't this beautiful?

[COB1]

"I already know you are smarter than the average bear!"

I think bears are one step above amoebas...........
(sniff) but thanks, anyway........(sniff)

[LadyX]

ofMagog has kindly posted more information you were seeking, TG, at # 205.

[daisyscarlett]

Seen any good movies lately? Did the Missus enjoy the Red Dragon?

[MeekOneGOP]

LOL !

[daisyscarlett]

Oh my yes, that flag is beautiful and would make a great pledge graphic. Have to resized but that should not be a problem....I will play around with it. Thanks...

[MeekOneGOP]

Congratulations, FReepers of the Day ! Keep up the great work.
I appreciate it and look forward to the pings to the WFTD !
Enjoy your day in the Spotlight !!

.......Rikastrom
Bella_Bru
Anniegetyourgun

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

Thank you very much for the ping and for remembering my question....... you are very thoughtful........!

[daisyscarlett]

Thanks for linking to this thread on the WFTD thread for today...hope some more students can stop by during recess....Turnabout is fair play...here is a link to today's WFTD where the wftd is

stentorian \sten-TOR-ee-un\, adjective:

1. Extremely loud; powerful; as, a stentorian voice.
2. Of or pertaining to a stentor; extremely loud; powerful; as, a stentorian voice; stentorian lungs.
3. Use of the voice.

Around his family, Sergeant Charles Mingus Sr. was easily angered and often violent and closemouthed the rest of the time, except when he gave orders in a stentorian voice that carried the assumption of command. --Gene Santoro, Myself When I Am Real: The Life and Music of Charles Mingus

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

If I looked at my pings in order, I would have answered this ping first......lol...... obviously, I don't.......

Thank you again for the information......my friend's Mother, who has been diagnosed with COPD, seems to be getting worse by the day.

[daisyscarlett]

TEACHING MATH......

Teaching Math in 1950:
A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of
production is 4/5 of the price. What is his profit?

Teaching Math in 1960:
A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of
production is 4/5 of the price, or $80. What is his profit?

Teaching Math in 1970: A logger exchanges a set "L" of
lumber for a set "M" of money. The cardinality of set "M" is
100. Each element is worth one dollar. Make 100 dots
representing the elements of the set "M." The set "C", the
cost of production contains 20 fewer points than set "M."
Represent the set "C" as a subset of set "M" and answer the
following question: What is the cardinality of the set "P" of
profits?

Teaching Math in 1980: A logger sells a truckload of lumber
for $100. His cost of production is $80 and his profit is $20.
Your assignment: Underline the number 20.

Teaching Math in 1990:
By cutting down beautiful forest trees, the logger makes $20.
What do you think of this way of making a living? Topic for
class participation after answering the question: How did the
forest birds and squirrels "feel" as the logger cut down the
trees? There are no wrong answers.

Teaching Math in 2002:
A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of
production is $120. How does Arthur Andersen determine
that his profit margin is $60?

Teaching Math in 2010:
El hachero vende un camion carga por $100. La cuesta de
production es . . .

[lodwick]

Verdad. ;-)

Excellent job today - thanks.

[daisyscarlett]

Here is how one student at WFTD used stentorian in a current events sentence...today

"Gee, you'd think it was an election year, the way the Dems are speaking in stentorian tones of tax cuts." And she had a link to the dem tax cuts story...Cool, doncha think...Neat thread...

[Slip18]

Why Daisy, that was a lovely sentence.

I'm sure Miss Rika won't mind me doing this: By the powers vested in me to be a Substitute Teach, you get an A for your sentence and a plus for your linkage to the WFTD.

You've got yourself an A+, young lady!

[lodwick]

A woman is just getting out of the shower when the doorbell rings. Her husband, heading to the shower himself, asks her to see who's at the door, so she wraps herself up in a towel and runs downstairs.

When she opens the door, there stands her next-door neighbor, Rob. Before she can say a word, Rob says, "I'll give you $500 to drop that towel you have on."

After thinking for a moment, the woman drops her towel and stands naked in front of him. He looks for a few seconds, hands her $500, and leaves.

Excited about her earnings, the woman puts the towel back on and runs upstairs. Her husband yells out from the shower, "Who was that?" "It was Rob from next door," she replied."



"Great," the husband says. "Did he say anything about the $500 dollars he owes me?"