In journalism school the iconic prof “Shoe” told us he’d flip through the newspaper until something made him say “what the hell????” Then he’d write his column. I say that like 12 times a minute now.
Replies
IKJHYF In fact, I've launched a pub on Medium just for writers to do that! LOL
feb 1, 2025, 7:54 pm • 2 0 • view
Loved the class I took with that guy. Thanks for the memory, though I get that was not the point of this!
jul 6, 2025, 9:15 pm • 0 0 • view
Wow, it’s amazing to meet someone else who knew him here! I wish we had a lot more journalists like him now.
jul 6, 2025, 9:19 pm • 1 0 • view
Ditto all that. Dude was iconic. I still remember one comment on an assignment that came back to me in seeping red ink on that maddening yellow copy paper: “This is not altogether rotten work.” And I was among those in that class he actually liked!
jul 6, 2025, 9:54 pm • 0 0 • view
Oh, yeah, that was high praise! Thing I remember most was his comment when I overstated as “shouted” the vocal volume of a longish quote from an interview subject: “A most unlikely shout.” Dead on, and the memory still stings!
jul 6, 2025, 10:11 pm • 1 0 • view
But it’s also kind of a point of pride now, isn’t it? I mean, his “critiques” were kind of genius. I always have felt weirdly proud to have warranted his blistering attention.
jul 6, 2025, 10:19 pm • 0 0 • view
Absolutely. I think that one memory helped me to avoid the temptation to exaggerate…well, I was about to say a million times.
jul 6, 2025, 11:02 pm • 1 0 • view
I’m too old too comfortably say LOL, but … LOL.
jul 6, 2025, 11:19 pm • 0 0 • view
On a slow day.
jun 2, 2025, 7:34 pm • 1 0 • view
Amen to that.
jun 2, 2025, 7:54 pm • 0 0 • view
The challenge is zeroing in on the ripest, most absurd target. That’s Trump’s political strategy — create so much chaos that no one knows what to respond to first. The media liked him until the chaos of Trump II and the threat of a neutered free press. It’s dangerous to play footsy with a tyrant.
mar 6, 2025, 4:13 pm • 1 0 • view
At least 12 times a day
aug 29, 2025, 4:20 pm • 0 0 • view
I’ve never cursed more in my entire life than I have in the last 8 months. I’ve been using the F word as an adjective, an adverb, a noun, and a verb. I’m telling you I’ve finally realized cursing is cathartic! I just have to make sure not to do it within earshot of my grandkids. 😂😜☮️💙💔
aug 13, 2025, 8:00 pm • 0 0 • view
We don’t have grandkids yet, but I don’t like to think of some of the stuff my daughter’s heard as I’m looking at my phone😊
aug 13, 2025, 8:12 pm • 1 0 • view
Ironically, up until Trump I rarely cursed. Maybe when I stubbed my toe, or some idiot almost Rams into me on the Expressway, but other than that- Nope. Now every 5 minutes it’s What the F_CK! I do think it’s an important stress release. It sounds weird, I know. Gummies help too. My nerves are shot
aug 13, 2025, 8:17 pm • 0 0 • view
Are you sure you're saying "Hell"? Just doing some fact checking.
mar 7, 2025, 9:22 pm • 1 0 • view
🤣I am, and he was. But yeah, other words too.
mar 7, 2025, 10:03 pm • 1 0 • view
Ripe hunting grounds for wild ideas, thoughts, and posts.... with well aimed barbs, remarks, and pointed.... uh, points, I suppose.
apr 18, 2025, 8:45 pm • 0 0 • view
Yes! I miss Shoe and his lethal barbs. And actually flipping through well-written old-school local papers.
apr 18, 2025, 9:11 pm • 1 0 • view
Haha, I totally understand you. Sometimes the news is so shocking, I don't know whether to laugh or cry I also think to myself almost every minute, 'What the hell is going on
aug 15, 2025, 12:59 am • 0 0 • view
I don’t think I could write as many columns a day if I followed this rule of thumb. Used to, but not for at least the last 8 years—if not longer.
jan 16, 2025, 4:25 pm • 0 0 • view
Couldn’t agree more. The supply of outrage is limitless now.
jan 16, 2025, 4:44 pm • 1 0 • view