THE8COUNT

Monticello, Georgia, 2012

Scare Quotes (and behind the scenes)

Catskill, New York

I don't recall encountering the term scare quotes when I was an English Major nearly fifty years ago. Quotation marks that were used not to indicate a quotation were referred to as false, or emphasis, quotes. I kind of like the scare word instead. But the internet-driven rampant overuse of false quotes for emphasis seems ill-advised. Junk mail and junk ads on otherwise-worthwhile websites are probably the worst offenders, but one expects those to be illiterate. It's also somehow weird to see this infecting off-line vernacular communication.

On the behind the scenes front, tomorrow will be three weeks out from surgery. I'm still exhausted. It seems that spending a couple hours reading a non-fiction book from the new release shelves at the library requires about an equal time back asleep. At least I was able to drive to the library and select a book a few days ago. Driving somewhere to look for some pictures is still out of the question. This may be progress, but the pace is glacial.

Chamber of Commerce

Bluefield, West Virginia

GOURMET MURRAY

Montreal, Quebec, Canada

HOMEFRONT

New York, New York

Also, another entry in the "Peace" series at Martin Storz blog, The Public Eye.

PROFSTINAL INSTALATION AVALIBLE

Waterbury, Connecticut

MASSSUNDAY

Housatonic, Massachusetts