Writers, editors, photogs, and bloggers share tips, leads, ideas, news, gripes. PR reps/journos ISO press releases/trips, see also "PR/Marketing." Opinions stated are not necessarily those of Tripatini.
What do you wear to Seven Magic Mountains?
Seven Magic Mountains is an art installation located in the Nevada desert, and the weather can be quite hot and dry. Therefore, it is recommended to wear comfortable and breathable clothing, such as shorts, t-shirts, and sandals or sneakers. You may also want to bring a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen to protect yourself from the sun. It's also a good idea to bring a bottle of water to stay hydrated. While there is no strict dress code, it's important to dress appropriately for the weather and…
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Comments
Great comments on the OMG-in-the-dictionary phenomenon, guys. I just checked, BTW, in Merriam-Webster.com and found that they too include all these abbreviations. And I think (do correct me if I'm wrong) that dictionaries have long included important or frequently used abbreviations and acronyms. But that doesn't make them words. They are abbreviations used in writing. I doubt even the hippest text messager would say "O-M-G" in conversation, unless s/he were being intentionally cute or obnoxious. And IMHO, to be a full-fledged word with all rights and responsibilities inherent thereto, a word must be used, or potentially usable, in spoken language. Now, I know some of you are going to say that the passé simple in French is a verb tense only used in literary writing, and yes, I'll agree, these are bona-fide words nonetheless. But abbreviations are different... aren't they?
Hang on, what am I saying?? I've caught myself using "re" instead of "about" in conversation, as in, "What'd you think re that email I sent you yesterday?" Like it or not, we're on a slippery slope. The beast is out of the box, and he ain't going back in. Fact is, "re" may well knock "about" into the "archaic" category of the dictionary 50 years from now. Is that a good, a bad, or a neutral thing? I'm still trying to figure that one out; but I won't deny that language has to evolve; otherwise we'd all still be speaking Old English, and if you've ever taken a look at Beowulf, you know that's no picnic.
You're right Ed. I was leery about posting this because I don't want to see like I'm shilling for anyone, gawd knows we all get enough weird, out-of-context marketing pitches. But I think there is value to her conference. Are you guaranteed sales? No. But you are guaranteed access that is otherwise unavailable to 98% of freelancers.
I also admire that it's somewhat arbitrary. If don't meet Maren's standards, you don't get a foot in the door.