Public Affairs

It’s not brain surgery. It’s not rocket science. But the results of not proofreading – or even “spell-checking” can be just as devastating. The Lyndon B. Johnson School of … at the University of Texas learned the hard way. Read the sordid details.

In SPINE of myself

Like everyone, I don’t have time to “play” online.

I have too much on my plate – or in this case, too much on my bookshelf.

But then I think, what harm could it do to take 5 minutes and create another piece of spine poetry?

in-SPINE-ering

More midnight meanderings in the bookshelf. 

Spineless!

It was so much fun creating “spine poetry” yesterday that I just had to do it again. And I will probably keep doing it, so that when my husband says, “Why do you keep all these book?” I’ll have a really good reason.

(Not that I need one.)

Christian Science revealed

‘Fathermothergod’ a fabulous, painful memoir of faith

Posted by Jami Carpenter, Las Vegas Review-Journal guest reviewer
Wednesday, Sep. 14, 2011 at 05:00 AM

I’ve read many books about people finding themselves through religion or breaking free from their religious upbringing. In “Secret Ceremonies,” Deborah Laake tries to makes sense of herself and her Mormon faith. Anne Lamott’s “Traveling Mercies” and “Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith” explore Christianity. Barbara Kingsolver’s “The Poisonwood Bible” tells the story of a Baptist preacher and his family spreading the word in the Congo jungle. In Geraldine Brooks’ “People of the Book,” we are taken on a journey in search of a rare book of Judaism.

I had not, however, read anything — fiction or non — involving Christian Science, until “fathermothergod,” Lucia Greenhouse’s very painful and very personal account of growing up within this lesser-known faith. Like many, I had heard that Christian Scientists do not believe in medicine; they do not visit doctors or take any prescriptions, even over-the-counter pain relievers. But I never knew why. Greenhouse explains to us and tries to understand herself, first through a child’s eyes, and then as a young woman, why her own parents — both educated and intelligent — not only condoned the tenets of the religion, but dedicated their lives, and the lives of their three children, to its practice.

To onlookers, the Greenhouse family is “normal”: The children attend school, birthday parties, sleepovers, summer camp. The family is well-dressed, well-fed, well-mannered. Yet internally, Lucia struggles to accept her parents’ belief system, confronted time and again with information contrary to the teachings. Finally, faced with their own mother’s “error in thinking” (the Christian Science explanation for illness), Lucia and her siblings rebel against their parents in an attempt, though futile, to save their mother’s life, and in the process, lose their father’s acceptance.

Though “fathermothergod” is Greenhouse’s story, it resonates with anyone wanting to understand another’s beliefs, or trying to understand his or her own.

To Have and Have Not

A fellow grammarian recently complained about the misuse of “have/had.”  Like nails on a chalkboard, she can’t stand hearing, “I had went …” and “I had did …,” and neither can I. It seems like a no-brainer to me, but maybe it’s worth reviewing for those who still have trouble!

But rather than identify verbs, auxiliary verbs, past participles, etc., (I can imagine eyes glazing over!), I think it’s best to simply give some helpful hints. So …

Say the sentence with – and then without – the “have/had.” If the sentence works without “have/had,” don’t use it! If the sentence doesn’t make sense without it, well then, keep it.

I had went to the concert. I went to the concert. (Without, don’t you agree?)
I had gone to the concert. I gone to the concert. (With, of course!)

I have did everything you asked. I did everything you asked. (X-nay have.)
I have done everything you asked. I done everything you asked. (The “I’s” have it!)

So there you have it. I hope everyone has seen the light!