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Dear Wordies:The WORD regrets that it is offline until Monday, March 16. We have been furloughed without pay because of budget shortfalls at Utah State University stemming from cuts ordered by the Utah Legislature. It’s not that we don’t have words or work to do—Lord knows we DO!—but the university is shut down this week.
Until we return, we revert in all hope and good faith to Tom Stoppard, who wrote, “Words are sacred. They deserve respect. If you can get the right ones in the right order, you can nudge the world a little.”
Keep nudging, WORDsters!
Ted
Dear friends....
ReplyDeleteResponse from WORD victims...
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You sure you're not just on spring break?
Non-union workers had our week of furlough in Jan/Feb. We were allowed to space it out a day at a time if we wished. Could be another one later this year and one already planned for 2010. With the P-I's demise, I'm just happy they think we'll be here in 2010.
Seattle Times
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Jesus, Ted, this is serious! Education is the last thing they should be cutting.
All the best,
Brad, Christian Science Monitor
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“We believe in education and the future of our town
And the children that we serve from day to day.
Whenever there’s a need, we always go the extra mile.
God knows we do it for the love, not for the pay.”
--From Rise as One by Joe Jencks, songwriter, singer, organizer.
I thought it appropriate for journalists as well.
Robyn Lydick
Staff Writer
Colorado Community Newspapers
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Hi! Everyone at Arizona State must take two weeks of furlough before the end of June, staggered. It's a good time to be retired! Bob (recovering dean)
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WELL...that xplains everything.
Thank you Ted, I'll keep writing!
-Ali
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Good luck, Ted.
TonySeton@QualityNewsNetwork.com
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Are you freaking kidding me?????
Lisa
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Hang in there, my friend.
JS
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Ted:
Welcome to the reality of the newspaper world today. Methinks too many newspapers and reporters believe their plight is all the online world’s fault.
-- Ken Robertson
Executive editor
Tri-City Herald
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Can't they furlough the army instead and just stop killing people for a week? Unbelievable.
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Work is not dependent on getting paid. Although it's nice to get paid for our work, the pay doesn't define who you are or the work you do. Be encouraged.
Anne
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This hiatus will give you time to hone your humor skills.
JUST KIDDING!!!
JS
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Such craziness- can't say we are sorry to be out of the loop! Speaking of craziness, we hear your dept. is to be merged with Lang/Phil/Speech. Geez, what will they call it? are you two really bummed about it or is there any advantage?
pam
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Where do we file our protests over the sad miscarriage of fiscal responsibility that has left us, not just speechless, but wordless???
c
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Really? Utah State is shut down for a week because of budget cuts? If I were a student, I'd be demanding a rebate.
Hurry back, Ted.
Bennett Hall
Special Projects Editor
Corvallis Gazette-Times
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Ted, I know the furlough is unpleasant,and as a former college professor, I can imagine what it means to lose weeks of income. I wish you and your University success in dealing with this--well, what do we call it, wordsmith, recession is too weak and depression just may be a bit too strong . . . .The President of the University of North Carolina ia also talking of furloughs, and our govenor has mentioned the same. I'm beginning to see furloughs as a temporary step that will be much better than the alternatives.
Impelled by a situation in our family, I wrote an op-ed piece that appeared in the News & Observer on March 1, and have received more comment than for all the others I ever wrote put together, many of people I don't know, and all positive. If you've mind to, you can look it up at http://www.newsobserver.com/opinion/columns/story/1423569.html . And strange to say, the title online isn't at all like the one in the paper issue, which was: "Spreading the Sacrifice" and even had a drawing of hands reaching out to one another and a subtitle: "Economic Salvation Lies in Embracing the Common Good."
Our son, with one son in college and the other approaching colleage, lost his 17-year-job at IBM last month. I wish IBM had tried some other measures rather than dismissing almost 3000 employees.
It's a tough time. I surely wish you well. (And yes, I'll miss your wonderful words and look forward to their return!_)
Sally Buckner
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Sorry, sniff, sadness.
Have a wonderful time working for nothing. I know that's what ou'll do,
because that's what I'd do. Unless they locked the campus gates.
peace be upon you.
hodges
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Is your "donation" tax deductible??? Just a thought . . . :-)
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O.M.G. !
R U OK?
Struck wordless,
--A.
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To all the WORDfriends:
ReplyDeleteThanks for the good thoughts. Retooling over furlough--how's this sound:
"Yo, ugly. You want I should Supersize the fries with that???"
Thank gawd for a global economy.
Ted "SuperZise" Peez