Week 4

This past week has been hard since I've been so sick. Last week started out OK. The fire story wasn't too difficult and I liked writing the reflection so you could see why I made certain decisions. By Wednesday night though I was feeling very tired and sick, and it's only gotten worse. I missed out on Friday's class, but as long as it was just a tutorial on iMovie, I think I will be fine. I've used the program before for fun and for a 30-minute class film. We will have to arrange something later this semester so I can make up the interview assignment. Let me know if you would like a doctor's note.
I also need to get notes from someone in class for Monday's lecture. I was in the emergency room with a 105-degree fever the night before so I was too tired and miserable to walk across campus.
I'm getting bored of being in bed, but I can't bring myself to do anything besides lie here. I have to take advantage of every small spurt of energy to get some work done.
I did find an interesting article yesterday online. It was called "Bye-Bye Blogger" and it was in the NY Times Sunday Magazine. It isn't a news article. Actually, it's a simple Q&A. It stood out to me though because we have been talking about interviews and how it is important to have good follow-up questions, instead of just a list that you ask in order. "Bye-Bye Blogger" was an interview with Lee Siegel, the New Republic writer who posted anonymous blog comments about himself and his enemies. I found the Times reporter's questions very hard-hitting.

Deborah Solomon asked: You yourself comfortably adopted a false persona when you had Sprezzatura comment about one of your critics that he “couldn’t tie Siegel’s shoelaces.” Doesn’t that show great immaturity on your part?

Siegel: I am too childlike to be immature.

Instead of accepting that answer and moving on, Solomon called him on it and asked, "Is that just doublespeak?" Another time after a confusing answer, Solomon asked, "What are you talking about?" I enjoyed the interview because Solomon kept slamming this guy. She proved herself as a journalist, while degrading one who made a big mistake.
In response to Siegel's explanation of his book title, Solomon said:

The title “Falling Upwards” seems to have acquired an additional and unintended meaning now that you yourself have taken a professional fall.

Siegel: Just a couple of feet. I didn’t fall out the window. I fell off my chair. I fell from my chair onto the floor.

Solomon: Which suggests you were not at a great height to begin with.

Oh, that's a burn.