Fun with Swine Flu and Rhyming

May 1st, 2009

Given the slightly OOC news reporting about and around the old Swine Flu this past week I felt compelled to post the following facebook status:

Frank Lattuca Swine Flu? More like WHINE Flu….geez. Actually WINE Flu sounds like something Susan and I get routinely on a Saturday morning….PINE Flu is another name for allergies? Help me out here people….

Thankfully my friends enjoy puns as well, and this is what we came up with:

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A Fake Essay

April 16th, 2009

Being a teacher can be a bit…daunting.  It’s quite a shock when 18, 19, even older students hand in work that is frankly…very poorly written.  Clearly last minute.  The product of not only not taking care but, sadly, a reflection of their high school experience as well.  Teaching mostly freshmen I’m generally at that front line of “this is no longer acceptable, it’s time to grow up” work.  I try and laugh it off usually, but the other day it really got me down.  So I wrote the following essay in the style of some of the more…troubling…essays I’ve received.  Nothing in here is from any paper a student gave me, nor is it really intended to insult-a look back at my work at the age of 18 would probably reveal at least similar, of not the same, shock. 

Someday I’ll post some of my “hall of fame” quotes from papers, but for now if you want to know what grading papers can be like, take the following and multiply it by 15 papers.  Enjoy.

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What “Read More” means..

March 27th, 2009

I’ve been told that some people are missing the “read more” link at the end of a post. So if you thought the short story was about two paragraphs long-look again. You can click on the link that says “read more” to read…well…more.

Why do this?  Well if you visit the site proper, I don’t want the entire screen eaten up by one post-so it just looks prettier.  If you get this in your RSS feed, you probably won’t even see the “read more” link-you’ll probably just get the whole post.  If you’re not sure, click through.

That said-don’t be fooled!  Look carefully, for it doth say read more, and so you shall.  Let’s practice, shall we?

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Housekeeping: Comments fixed

March 26th, 2009

Okay you can leave comments now, although I will likely be spammed a bit until I can find a proper Captcha checker.

But you no longer need a code to post.

Author Notes: Apples

March 25th, 2009

Note:  Read the Short Story before you read this, as some of my notes will undoubtedly ruin the story for you.  This is just a post where I can explain some things that I think need explaining-and to field questions of a more specific nature about the story.

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Short Story: Apples

March 24th, 2009

Author’s Note: I consider this a complete story that maybe only needs some further editing. Questions and comments are very much welcomed. If you wish to share this story with others, please send them the link-don’t repost it. At least not any more than the first few lines. 

Apples

 

“Is this a bad time?  You seem a bit hung up.” 

 

It was the first thing said in what seemed an eternity.  The Traveler approached the hill from the East, stepping through the poor and the sick and the bereaved as he came.  The clouds following behind him held a great dark rain, lightning and thunder-but no relief.  The heat mixed with the stench of those surrounding the hill and it would take more than a storm to wash it clean.  For one in particular, the rain would come too late to matter.  The Traveler simply would not notice.

 

There was no reply. Ignored, the Traveler took an obnoxious and unnecessarily loud crunch of the shiny green apple in his hand.

 

 

 

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Welcome to TSL-Creative!

March 24th, 2009

Hi!  Welcome to the new Soft Lounge Blog-Creative.  For a bit of information as to what to expect here, check out the “About Page.” 

After you’ve read that, leave some comments here and let me know what you think, what you want and what we should do!

Upcoming stories/creations include:  The only short story I’ve ever been proud to write, some characters I don’t quite know what to do with and my ideas for a BSG Porn. 

No.  Seriously.