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]

How exciting about Mr. D....The WFTD thread sounds like it is just up his alley. They do neat things over there....I can often put the word in a sentence but linking it to a current event - well I just can't think quick enough....They always have lots of links, too, to former WFTD so you can just peruse till you find a word you like....I think they cut up a bit on Fridays (sorta like silly word day) but the rest of the week it is quite serious.

So we will be on the lookout for a new poster...WVNan is trying to sign up her friend K. too....

[Mixer]

Sorry so late to the thread today. I had a crazy mixed up day so no need for the mixed up signature. Hope everyone had a great day.

Happy Anniversary Mayor

[daisyscarlett]

Hi Mixer. Did Pippin's Texas yell get you here? lol.....Thanx for checking in. We did note that it was Mayor's FReeper anniversary and some wished him well....Hope you have a better day tomorrow...

[Mixer]

Also I am sorry I replied before before I knew we were having a word of the day thread so I am now going to contribute to it : )

Congratulations to all Americans that are trying to put forth their best effort to catch the DC sniper. There have been many leads and these leads help bring the authorities closer to catching this/these monster(s)

Hope everyone is safe and sound and taking care of their loved ones.

[Mama_Bear]

I'm finally here! Sorry to be so late with my congratulations to our featured FReepers today.

Anniegetyourgun, RikaStrom, and Bella Bru, thank you for your dedication. You are FR's Finest and your contributions to this website are very much appreciated.

[Mama_Bear]

That is such a pretty graphic you made for our featured FReepers. :-)

[Mixer]

Hope you have a better day tomorrow...

Thanks for wishing me a better tomorrow Daisy. Tomorrow will be great. I forgot to mention that I am going to Florida to see Mickey Mouse for 4 days :-) I will be on FR in the AM and then not again until Next Tuesday. Please ping me to all of the threads though because I want to try and read some of them when I come back.

[RikaStrom]

Thank you, and I'm glad you've enjoyed our thread. Stop in and say Hi. :-)

[lodwick]

I'll burn some candles for your time with Mickey...have a blast. ;-)

[RikaStrom]

The mad hacker and hackerette.... LOL, I love them.

[RikaStrom]

You are most welcome WVNan. Stope in any time. I think I will have to sit down this weekend and do another review thread. I am way behind on the links. :-)

[Diver Dave]

Ah, school daze. I remember it well... at least the principal's office. One of my FRiends from school...

[lodwick]

"The more I see of the
representatives of the people,
the more I admire my dogs."

Alphonse de Lamartine

I don't know Alphonse, but I like him. Nice job with your home page...don't bother with mine, honestly, don't bother.

[lodwick]

[RikaStrom]

LOL Miss Slip.

Did you remember to tell Daisy that links, limericks, and laughter usually get the A+es and that puns, poems and proliferating alliteration get the snortles and snickers?

[Mixer]

hehe....thanks lodwick

[daisyscarlett]

Hi Lori....what cute bears for our star teachers today....Thanks so much and it is great to see you....as always...

[daisyscarlett]

Wow...have fun in the Majic Kingdom..Not to worry, you are on our permanent ping list-the one that is etched in stone...lol....Be safe

[RikaStrom]

I think they cut up a bit on Fridays (sorta like silly word day) but the rest of the week it is quite serious.

Ut oh, I do believe I have to take the blame for the Friday words. I sort of was having a bad week, and err.. hmmm, welll.... (scuffing toe), I picked bacchic and bacchinalia as the WFTD. It sort of grew from there.

We won't discuss when I used anorchous and blissom as WFTDs. LOL

[RikaStrom]

Thank you Mama_Bear. Those little bears are adorable. :-)