Journal 9

Word of the week: fugacious. I found this word while perusing racing stories, since I've been in St. Pete all weekend working the Grand Prix. The writer is talking about the debate about whether to cancel  Webster's New College World defines it as passing quickly away; fleeting; ephemeral. The origin is < L fugax (gen. fugacis) < fugere. American Heritage gives an origin of From Latin fugāx, fugāc-, from fugere, to flee.

Catch of the week: Alex "Tyson." This egregious error actually appeared in print in the St. Pete Times on Saturday.  In a column by Gary Shelton, he refers to Tyus as Tyson near the bottom of the story. I'm sure it was an innocuous typo, but it's still refreshing to see a paper as regarded as the Times make an error after having so many similar things happen in my stories at the Alligator.

Headline of the week: Hope for Japan solicits donations for victims. (More coming soon, gotta run.)

Passage of the week: This passage comes from fellow Alligator writer C.J. Pruner's editorial in Thursday's paper before UF took on BYU in the NCAA Tournament. It's a refreshing perspective leading up to what could have been, and probably was for some, a very contentious rematch.

While lighthearted swings at the Mormon faith may not come close to the same dirt-high level of burning scriptures or using a higher power’s name to justify the desecration of the memory of fallen soldiers, it’s still religious bigotry. These are human beings, some of whom you may be cheering alongside with on Thursday (Yes, there are Mormons in The Gator Nation). It’s fine to have qualms with their doctrine, but leave it in the pews come tip-off time.

Journal 8

Word of the week: detritus. Webster's New College World says the definition is fragments of rock produced by disintegration, abrasion, etc; or any debris. Origin: Latin, a rubbing away: see detriment. The American Heritage Dictionary also gives a French origin from détritus, from Latin dētrītus, from past participle of dēterere, to lessen, wear away; see detriment. The writer is using the word to detail the landscape in Benghazi after air strikes began today in Libya.

Catch of the week: Man seriously injured in Colfax hit-and-run. Correct AP Style is "hit and run" for a noun and "hit-and-run" for an adjective.  In this headline, the usage is clearly a noun, but the writer used the hyphenated adjective instead. The fact that it's an online hed makes it even less forgivable. There isn't a length restraint, so the writer could have used accident after "hit-and-run" but chose not to.

Headline of the week: Law school addition includes professional courtroom. Not bad, but not very DWI. I would go with "Addition at Levin opens, new courtroom attracts pros." The addition is more than just the courtroom, but the fact that it is already attracting lawyers is a big deal in my opinion.

Passage of the week:

"Corey?" called the drama teacher. "You ready, Corey?"

Corey didn't answer. He was focused on becoming George.

Being someone else is much easier than being himself.


Concise and carefully crafted. Lane DeGregory knows how to hit home with her words, and she does it again with this feature on an autistic actor.