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TAMPA, Fla. Amid the jeers, chants and sometimes vulgar signs Monday at the protests against Republicans, demonstrators reserved an extra level of derision for one, simple word: Texas.

Yes, the Lone Star State.

So often a point of pride for displaced Texans across the country, the state was reduced to a punch line as protesters marched in muggy temperatures and rains spinning off of Tropical Storm Isaac.

The reporting mission Monday morning seemed simple enough: find a demonstrator from Texas and chronicle the trip to Florida for the anti-convention rallies.

The problem was that there were no Texans to be found, especially with the expected crowd of 5,000 cut to a couple hundred by the bad weather and perhaps the heavy police presence.

I asked the Occupy Wall Street folks. I asked the group fighting to save the beleaguered U.S. Postal Service. I asked those marching in support of everything from immigration rights to gay rights to womens rights.

One youngish protester in full black garb offered, I have relatives in Texas. A middle-aged woman said warily, George W. Bush is a Texan and others had far worse things to say about him.

Most just seemed bemused by the thought that a red-blooded Texan would join their cause, never mind the states tradition of independence and occasional dissidence.

And more than a few eyed with disgust my Dallas Morning News press credential, replete with a Lone Star flag background.

That was until I met Ramy Khalil, 36, a socialist who grew up in Houston and still has a 713 phone number.

More here:
Tom Benning’s Quick Take: ‘Texas’ a dirty word among protesters at Republican convention

When Gov. Pat Quinn came to Peoria last week to tout a piece of legislation expanding access to childhood immunizations, he sat at a table inside Kroger at 9219 N. Lindbergh Drive and signed his name on some official-looking papers.

In fact, it looked for all the world like he was signing the actual legislation, making it law during his stop here.

Not so much. In fact, he faked plenty of people out by conducting what we later discovered was a mock bill signing - what his press staff called a "ceremonial signing."

We're told that he does this routinely during flyarounds, when he hits multiple cities in a day to promote what his office determines is a major piece of legislation that they want to highlight.

"We do it with important bills," spokeswoman Brooke Anderson said by phone Friday, noting that the legislation would make it easier for kids to get state-mandated shots to prevent illness prior to the start of the school year. It lets pharmacists administer the shots to kids middle school age where previously they could only give them to youngsters age 14 and up.

Granted, appearing in multiple communities in one day practically guarantees press coverage of a piece of legislation. But does anyone think it's the ceremonial aspect of it - the signing of a name while sitting at a table - that's the important part, that shines the light on the issue? Isn't it the issue itself that matters? Or is it the fact that the governor thinks it's important enough to devote an entire day to it?

Plus, it'd be nice to make it clear that something that looks like a bill signing and sounds like a bill signing isn't really a bill signing. (C.K.)

Location, location, location

There was also a bit of snark going around about the location Quinn chose for the mock signing.

A grocery in Far North Peoria isn't considered the epicenter of need for childhood immunizations, or an area crying out for more people who can administer them.

See the original post here:
Word on the Street: Quinn bill signing: rinse and repeat

PEPPER PIKE Feminism is not a dirty word, according to Julie Zeilinger, founder of the blog the FBomb (thefbomb.org).

And it is a little Fd up that some people think that it is.

Zeilinger, 19, is a sophomore at Bernard College at Columbia University in New York City. She grew up in Pepper Pike and went to Hawken School. The feminists first novel, A Little Fd Up: Why Feminism is Not a Dirty Word, was published this year by Seal Press.

Zeilingers interest in feminism is not a fad or phase.

I grew up in a feminist household, Zeilinger said. I was raised to believe in equality for others.

This moral belief, Zeilinger said, is at the root of feminism.

It was not until middle school that Zeilinger was introduced to feminism. She was meeting with her guidance advisor, who Zeilinger mentions was awesome. Her advisor told Zeilinger to check out author Jessica Valentis book, Full Frontal Feminism: A Young Womans Guide to Why Feminism Matters, and her blog Feministing.com.

Reading Valentis book and blog sparked Zeilingers interest in feminist concepts such as gender equality and human and reproductive rights.

It is depressing that we do not learn more about the feminist movements in high school, Zeilinger said.

Her prescription to this depressing reality was to start her blog the FBomb in 2009. There were no other blogs to fuel conversations about feminism among teenage women.

Read more here:
'Feminism is not a dirty word': Pepper Pike teenager's first book takes solid look at positives of feminist movement

If youre using an e-reader while enjoying a craft beer and dropping the occasional F-bomb, youre the very definition of modern times.

Merriam-Websters Collegiate Dictionary has unveiled the new words included in this years edition. Most are buzzwords everybody throws around but cant define. My friend the flexitarian said her dietary choices reached a tipping point when society became so obesogenic. It was a game changer.

My nine loyal readers may remember that at times like these I convene the Word Crimes Tribunal, which seeks to root out misuses of the English language. The trouble is, language isnt static: It evolves to describe a changing world. So, as much as we might like to lament seeing trendy catch phrases earn Merriam-Websters endorsement, our choices are like that of a rafter caught in a raging torrent: Go with the flow or be swept away.

New words are needed to describe new things. Thats why sexting, geocaching and energy drink will appear in the dictionary this year. But then there are annoyingly trendy terms that catch on and achieve such common usage that the wordsmiths at Merriam-Webster have little choice but to give in. The Word Crimes Tribunal would love to bury shovel-ready, but its hard to blame the word nerds for adding that oft-used term to the dictionary.

The real game changer among this years new terms, other than game changer, is F-bomb. The term was popularized in the 1990s by basketball coach Bobby Knight, who lobbed F-bombs with artistry, like a point guard deftly flicking an entry pass into the post. The term later went mainstream thanks to public use by Dick Cheney and Joe Biden. Apparently theres something about the vice presidency that moves a man to dabble in obscenity.

Perhaps the staff at Merriam-Webster can relate. No doubt theyve dropped a few F-bombs watching as the dictionary has struggled to remain relevant in the Internet age. Think about it: When is the last time you picked up a dictionary? Or a phone book? Oh, and that set of World Books on the shelf? Look under O for obsolete.

Still, whether in print or online, dictionaries are trying desperately to keep up with the times. Merriam-Webster and competitors such as Oxford University Press hustle to include new terms such as mash-up and cloud computing. This call to mind soccer moms indulging midlife crises by shopping at The Gap. Should we add life coach to the dictionary so that we appear hip? And also, do these skinny jeans make my butt look big?

This years additions also include man cave, brain cramp and bucket list. Also new to this years dictionary are the Oprah Winfrey-inspired aha moment and the Stephen King-popularized earworm, which refers to a song you cant get out of your head. If you dont think new words are serious business, consider that when Mutual of Omaha tried to use aha moment, Oprah sued. The case was settled out of court. Perhaps when it considered the wisdom of engaging in battle with the worlds richest woman, Mutual of Omaha had an aha moment.

Sometimes I feel like convening the Word Crimes Tribunal and casting judgment against such newfangled vernacular. I like to think of the dictionary as a gated community designed to keep out the riffraff.

But then I remember that part of our languages charm is its grassroots populism. If the use of a word, even a misuse, grows common enough, eventually itll become accepted. Anyone who regularly visits Facebook can see its only a matter of time before your becomes accepted as an alternative to youre. Also, you can look for irregardless to become officially synonymous with regardless any day now.

Originally posted here:
Calling all word nerds

Refinery blast kills 26 in Venezuela, dozens hurt Refinery blast kills 26 in Venezuela, dozens hurt An explosion has rocked the Amuay refinery in Venezuela, and an official says at least seven people are dead and dozens injured. A huge explosion rocked Venezuela's biggest oil refinery and unleashed a ferocious fire Saturday, killing at least 26 people and injuring more than 80 others in the deadliest disaster in memory for the country's key... Chevrolet Sonic recalled to fix wiper fluid issue Chevrolet Sonic recalled to fix wiper fluid issue General Motors Co. is recalling nearly 45,000 of its 2012 Chevrolet Sonic subcompact cars because of a defect that could prevent washer fluid from spraying on the car's windshield. General Motors Co. is recalling nearly 45,000 of its 2012 Chevrolet Sonic subcompact cars because of a defect that could prevent washer fluid from spraying on the car's windshield. Airline rules on clothing are usually vague Airline rules on clothing are usually vague By The Associated Press Rules for how airplane passengers should dress are often vague. Airline employees usually decide whether someone's clothing is offensive. By The Associated Press Rules for how airplane passengers should dress are often vague. Airline employees usually decide whether someone's clothing is offensive. Police kill gunman outside Empire State Building Police kill gunman outside Empire State Building A laid-off clothing designer fatally shot an executive at his former company outside the Empire State Building on Friday, setting off a chaotic showdown with police in front of one of the world's best-known... Jeffrey Johnson hid behind a car in his business suit and tie near the Empire State Building, waiting for the man he blamed for costing him his job. He put a gun to the executive's head and fired five times, then walked... SKorean court rules Samsung didn't copy iPhone SKorean court rules Samsung didn't copy iPhone A South Korean court ruled Friday that technology giants Apple Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co. both infringed on each other's patents, and ordered a partial ban of their products in South Korea. The court also... South Korean phone maker Samsung won a home court ruling Friday in its global patent battle against Apple and its popular iPhone and iPad devices. Best Buy pays up to lure new CEO Best Buy pays up to lure new CEO Best Buy is paying up for a turnaround. Best Buy is paying up for a turnaround. UPS restructures pensions, sees 3Q charge of $896M UPS restructures pensions, sees 3Q charge of $896M UPS is restructuring pension liabilities for about 10,200 of its workers, and will book related costs of nearly $900 million in the third quarter. UPS said Friday that it is restructuring pension liabilities for about 10,200 of its workers, and will book related costs of nearly $900 million in the third quarter. Euro weakens against dollar on ECB plans Euro weakens against dollar on ECB plans The euro is falling against the dollar because of worries that it may take longer than expected for the European Central Bank to announce its plans to ease the region's debt crisis. The euro fell against the dollar Friday because of worries that it may take longer than expected for the European Central Bank to announce its plans to ease the region's debt crisis. Va. man pleads guilty in $15M bank fraud case Va. man pleads guilty in $15M bank fraud case A southeast Virginia developer and restaurateur is facing up to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to federal bank fraud charges. A southeast Virginia developer and restaurateur is facing up to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to federal bank fraud charges. News Summary: Bernanke sees room for Fed to act News Summary: Bernanke sees room for Fed to act By The Associated Press FED CAN DO MORE: Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke makes clear in a letter to a House lawmaker that he thinks the Fed can do more to bolster the economic recovery and... By The Associated Press FED CAN DO MORE: Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke makes clear in a letter to a House lawmaker that he thinks the Fed can do more to bolster the economic recovery and help... By The Associated Press

A WORD FROM BERNANKE: Stocks opened lower, then rose after a letter surfaced from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke suggesting the central bank might do more to try to prop up the economy.

WILL THEY OR WON'T THEY? Investors have been looking for clues all week about what the Fed plans to do. They hope that the bank's annual conference next week in Jackson Hole, Wyo., will provide some clarity.

CLOCK IS TICKING FOR GREECE: The Greek prime minister said his country needs more time to put in place spending cuts that Germany is demanding in exchange for bailout money. Some leaders in Germany are growing impatient with debt-stricken Greece.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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News Summary: A word from Bernanke moves market