This is how you do...

A good personal essay is just like a historic moment where you know exactly where you were when it happened. With a personal essay, you remember exactly what it was saying. I have been so wrapped up in the collection of these personal essay from college students in 2007, reading one after another. The hyperlinked one however was one that I felt had to be shared.

The point of this blog is to show pieces that could use some editing or atleast editor's better judgment. But sometimes it is just as important to share the work that is perfect all its own.

If I ever had to teach a class how to do a personal essay this example would be spotlighted, because it does precisely what a personal essay should: (and I didn't know what a personal essay should do until I read it) it takes something that the reader cares tremendously about and frames it in a way that could captivate anyone.

http://essay.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/09/26/university-days/

That's more like it..

http://www.chicagotribune.com/

So in response to last week's JSonline critiques, I feel JSonline could benefit from a quick look at what the Chicago Tribune did when they revamped a little less than a year ago. BE SIMPLE. And when you think you have gone simple enough-make it even more basic.

I enjoy the Chicago Tribune look-the simplicity of something you would find on blogspot, with the content of a solid news source. In fact of the major newspapers, I think it is one of the best. Not only that...we actually know what we are reading from. Unlike JS, there is a clear indication (in the headline banner). That we are reading the official website of the Chicago Tribune.

Links are clear and sections are divided evenly. I know we are in the digital age, but I don't benefit from 35 pictures and 4 moving advertisements jumping out at me on a homepage.

Take a lesson Journal Sentinel-It's all about being digitally simple.

MU loves Al

"Years of Shame" leads to personal shame

http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/11/the-years-of-shame/

Paul Krugman's 9/11 outburst (I won't even call it an article) was a nice way undermine what should normally be an important memorial day for Americans. The piece has created alot of buzz amongst critics, including Rudy Giuliani, who Krugman calls a "fake hero." I didn't lose anyone close to me in 9/11 but I'm not sure how fiery I would be about this if I did. Sometimes, no most of the time, the minority opinion has value. Without a minority, there would never even be a majority. But Krugman is not in a minority, he is in an elite class with his opinion. A class of maybe 15 people who can give new meaning to the term "Douchebaggery." If it even is a term.

It's a class of people whose opinions really don't matter because they don't do anything good for anyone. What is Krugman's point? I can't imagine reading this and going "wow you know what he's right." And I don't say that because of the opinion Krugman supports, I say that because of the absence of any substantial evidence to back up his points. On the flip side I don't see anyone who shares Krugman's view reading this and going "wow, finally someone said what I have been thinking! And was able to do it in only 150 words!"

Don't you get the impression Krugman was just sleepwalking in his office or something and sat down to ramble...and then fell back asleep 2 minutes and 20 seconds after he started writing.

And then you have to love the last line that this "patriot of democracy and true heroism" chose to pen.

"I'm not going to allow comments on this post, for obvious reasons."

~KAG