Tag: Literature

The Map Adjacent To These Words Is Absolutely, Positively False!

If you’re here because someone snookered you with this phoney map, please consider sharing my post of Facebook or Twitter to let your friends know too.

Meteorologists-Predict-Record-Shattering-Snowfalls-Coming-Soon-Bread-Milk-Prices-Expected-To-Soar-

Someone posted the map at the top of this entry to my Facebook page. It’s bull. There’s no truth to it.

It was published by Empire News. Click a little farther and you learn what Empire News is.

Empire News is a satirical and entertainment website. We only use invented names in all our stories, except in cases when public figures are being satirized. Any other use of real names is accidental and coincidental.

But that’s not how it’s presented. Each story is a series of lies, but without the irony or other elements normally associated with satire.

In the Onion, for instance, there’s a certain point in every story when you say, “I get it.” There’s no “I get it” moment at Empire News. There is no clever.

It’s awful because this is actionable information presented as if it was a fact. This is just sport lying. It’s quite legal, protected by our constitution, but it’s wrong.

There are ways to earn a living I’d never consider because they’re so distasteful. Empire News is an example.

My Good Deed For The Night

Seeing those families made me feel really good. It was like a magical quilt with every shape, size and color of student included. This is very much a city where immigrants flock. The UC Irvine program attracts even more diversity. Call me nuts, but many of these new Americans inspire me.

IMAG1160

I’m doing some more work for UC Irvine Extension. They’re “how to” videos for potential students. Tonight I attended graduation ceremonies to get some students on camera.

IMG_20140617_205704The school planned for around 800 at the Student Center but needed extra chairs.

Lots of proud families. Extension isn’t exactly like the rest of UCI. There are many non-traditional students learning to get ahead at work. Motivated students. Grown-up students. Many brought large families to share this momentous occasion.

Let me hit pause for a sec.

Seeing those families made me feel really good. It was like a magical quilt with every shape, size and color of student included. This is very much a city where immigrants flock. The UC Irvine program attracts even more diversity. Call me nuts, but many of these new Americans inspire me.

I was sitting on my butt on the floor on a riser waiting for things to get started. Two cameras were set to shoot.

A man in a light colored suit, carrying a “phablet,” walked up. He spoke perfect English with a heavy accent. The man was obviously concerned about something.

He wanted to know if he would have access to the video after we were done? I told him yes, it would be online, but I could see his worry was still there. He walked away.

I saw him as the graduation walk was beginning. By now I had figured out what he wanted. He was at the ceremony alone. He needed documentation.

IMAG1158“Would you like me to take some pictures,” I asked? And I did.

He is Ali Khan. The photo is for his mother, in Pakistan.

You tell me how she will feel when she sees these shots?

What a great payoff for something I was glad to do. Good deeds are often their own reward.