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]

Dutchess will be so happy to hear that, as will many of our other posters. Pet adoption is wonderful....and very successful, too.

[lodwick]

Ya gotta love nude twits. Thanks for the review. ;-)

[daisyscarlett]

Oh lordy, I remember those very huge heeled shoes that the nuns were. Bet it hurt more than a stilleto would...But, as you say, it did the trick (for a while at least, lol).

[WVNan]

He just better remember I have first dibs on the computer at home....

LOL..you've created a monster. Time for that second computer.

[daisyscarlett]

Okay, gang...Do not adjust your sets...there is nothing wrong with your computer. Since I goofed this a.m. and did not post the beginning graphics of the thread, I am going to make up for it, sort of, and post each of the five groups of Veterans now, one group at a time. Billie worked hard and lovingly on these collages and I know many of us like to review them from time to time anyway...

Here is the first group...

TOP: Logos, SwedeGirl's hubby, Neil E Wright, FallGuy, 1John, Sneakypete MIDDLE: T'wit, COB1, LadyX, Dick Bachert, 68-69TonkinGulfYatchClub BOTTOM: YankeeinSC, Delta21, JoeSixPack1

[antivenom]

You are one of the greatest!

[RikaStrom]

OMG! LOL, I meant to say twists! Oh dear. At least I didn't leave the "w" out of that word too!

[daisyscarlett]

Here is Finest Group 2 of Part I:

TOP: Bosniajmc, AFVetGal, Archy, A Navy Vet MIDDLE: 4TheFlag, Aeronaut, 68Grunt, Xinga BOTTOM: Codger, AAABest, Clinton's A Liar, Duke809, dcwusmc

[daisyscarlett]

Group 1, Part 3...

TOP: mc5cents, Norb2569, LBGA's son, VanJenerette MIDDLE: Jim Robinson, KJenerette, davidosborne, KG9Kid BOTTOM: gwmoore, Equality7-2521, SAMWolf

[WVNan]

No sign of Heathcliff and it's cold out. I pray he is safe and warm somewhere.

[RikaStrom]

Thank you AV.

I saw that you did your class last night. Please tell me that YOU understoon everything. Do you know what district you have?

[daisyscarlett]

Part IV, Group l:

TOP: porgygirl, Phil V., MudPuppy, NorCoGOP MIDDLE: RaceBannon, OneidaM, rdb3, jwTexian BOTTOM: USMC Vet, TheMayor, Vineyard, rhododogma

[Slip18]

"At least I didn't leave the "w" out of that word too!"

Now everyone will know how we get in trouble at WFTD!

[WVNan]

daisy, I don't know whether I mentioned it or not, but I would like my hubby's picture on the next bunch. It's on my profile page.

[lodwick]

;-)

Hoping that you, and Annie, and Bella have had a nice day in the Spotlight - it's been great getting to know you a little bit better. JL

[RikaStrom]

Thanks again for caring for those who depend on us.

:-)

Breeds don't matter to me, I will find one a year or so, maybe a little older, about 30ish pounds, maybe more, and female... maybe two.

I'm probably going to the pound on Fri at lunch to start the prep work. You have to fill out an application and be approved for adoption.

[WVNan]

I take it back. It's vanished off my profile page. I would have to send it again.

[Slip18]

"Please tell me that YOU understoon everything."

Miss Rika, are you working on a glass of wine? LOL!

If so, good for you!

Did I congratulate you on your award? Congratulations, and thanks for being the best teach ever!

[daisyscarlett]

I realize that this is not nearly as impressive as it is when it is posted correctly at the beginning with the color tables etc, plus I cannot really repost the opening with our mission statement and JimRob's photo but this is my attempt at rectifying my goof from this a.m.

Thank you for your patience and we now bring you back to your scheduled programming,...lol...

Part 5, Group 1

TOP: spectr17, RightOnline, SERE_Doc, Tet68 MIDDLE: FutureSnakeEater, RightOnline's wife, CIApilot, Clamper1797 BOTTOM: usmcobra, onedoug, DiverDave, Joe6-pack

[lodwick]

Yep, many of us here are not near smart enough to hang with you guys on the WFTD thread, but most of us know the difference between twists, twits, tits, and its.

Thanks for dropping to say Hi to your friends, and please, don't be a stranger here. ;-)