New Links

Question: Section 2's assignment for Claire's class (due Friday) requires that the original pitch letter be repurposed twice, so in total it becomes three letters? I think I may be somewhat confused.

On an unrelated note: I notice some new links have been put up in the sidebar - try and check them out if you get a minute.

(im)proper nouns

Today in copyediting, while discussing style sheets, the topic of proper nouns that are written without caps came up, for example, bpNichol, bell hooks and e.e. cummings.

I don't think I agree with what Mark said about the English language not changing to suit a particular person's eccentric preferences. I can't help but think of particular patterns and styles of English that exist outside of Canada, or even within Canada, that have their own quirks. If this were the case, then why are there different spellings of catalogue or analogue?

The decision to be a published person and keep your name in lower-case could be as simple as aesthetics, but it could also be something more. It could be that you don't view yourself as a proper noun, but simply as a noun. It could be more political than that, I'm not sure. I capitalize my own name, so I can't go into the reasons why I wouldn't.

Something to Consider

This article is of particular interest to me; it's a great example of how meaning in text and language are sometimes (always?) determined by our geography and the shared histories in that place. A friend of mine said she felt uncomfortable reading The Book of Negroes on pubic transit because she felt that she had to explain to her fellow passengers that she didn't personally use the term. Thoughts?

Happenings

Today the Gladstone Hotel is hosting award-winning author Rebecca Rosenblum as part of the This Is Not A Reading Series. This is a free event, beginning at 7pm. For more information about the series, click here.

Monday, September 29, OPIRG Toronto presents Naomi Klein on The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism. The event will be at 506 Bloor St. W. at Bloor Cinema. Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door. Tickets have been on sale since August 26, but may still be available at the Toronto Women's Bookstore (73 Harbord Street), OPIRG Toronto's office (563 Spadina Avenue), U of T Students' Union Office (12 Hart House Circle), and U of T Mississauga Students' Union Office (3359 Mississauga Road, North). I would call in advance before you wander over to get a ticket. The proceeds from this event go to support the communities of Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory and the Algonquins of Barriere Lake.

For more information on this and other events sponsored in part by the Toronto Women's Bookstore, click here.

For more information on The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism, click this link.