A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....10-16-02

Billie and daisyscarlett

[daisyscarlett]

The Free Republic Forum has approximately 14 "Daily Threads". Today, we are happy to SPOTLIGHT one of them, along with its founder, anniegetyourgun, and its current teacher, RikaStrom.

The mission of the Word for the Day Thread is to raise the level of discourse and expand language abilities. The Rules are simple: Everyone who chooses to post must leave a post using the "word of the day" in a sentence. The sentence must, in some way, relate to the news of the day.

Anniegetyourgun started the Word for the Day thread on 2-10-01. Click here to read that first thread .

Anniegetyourgun called the thread "Word For The Day" because she planned to "teach" a daily class. She developed a Freeper school scenerio-establishing the routine, monitoring responses, setting the rules, "grading" the results, etc. She did "lesson planning" the night before and opened the school house door every morning at 7 am PST. Soon the WFTD thread took on the feel of a cyberclassroom. Since AGYG is not a teacher by profession, this was quite an accomplishment!

Being as Freepers have such creative minds, one thing led to another. They soon had things like "recess" bells, lunchroom time (complete with tuna croquettes), JimRob as principal, and Show and Tell days. They even fancifully created teachers of other classes at FR School. (BTW, ultimately, the Spanish teacher ran off with the German teacher!) They also had running jokes about the school nurse, as many of the guys in the class presumed she was beautiful and were always coming down "ill" for some reason!

There have always been special weeks at WFTD, such as "graduate level" word weeks, a week of some of the latest words added to the English language (neologisms), Spring Break vacation week, etc. One weekend, they had an open house on FR so people could find out more about WFTD – complete with student work being "displayed". During the summer of 2001, there was a "WFTD Summer Camp" at Camp Lotsawords -. lotsafun was had at Camp Lotsawords - including pranks!

In the real world, at least two homeschool mothers on FR have used the WFTD thread for their children everyday.

anniegetyourgun
Freeper since 11-24-00

"In Her Own Words"

"I hate to say it, but it seemed to me that there was a need on FR to perhaps 'upgrade' the language, spelling, grammar, word usage, etc. Rather than insult folks by saying so, I thought I might try a forum that would allow people to expand their vocabulary, explore word origins, and generally try things out."

"The thrill for me was to find so many on FR who are truly gifted writers, people with excellent imaginations, those with incredible senses of humor who were always making me laugh out loud at my desk, even a student who wrote the FR school song."

"I had to stop in May (2001) due to schedule changes and RikaStrom took over. I was so relieved because the 'students' had become so close and I hated to see it die out."

"I had a blast with WFTD. I believe it has contributed to the 'persona' of FR. Why, we've even seen BIG name journalists use the WFTD in an article they wrote within a day or two of it coming up on our thread. Coincidence? U decide!"

Just in case you are wondering, that is not really a photo of anniegetyour gun shown above. Anniegetyourgun says she "actually looks like a cross between Marsha (of Brady Bunch) and Joey Heatherton - if you can imagine them in their mid-forties!"

RikaStrom
Freeper since 11-10-00

RikaStrom's Profile Page leads off with the following:

"I am the current 'teacher' for WFTD, the FReeper school of vocabulary and inventive verbiage. This school was the creation of Anniegetyourgun.

If you have a sense of humor, please come on in. If you are part of the 'short bus' group, you can come in too. My students need targets for their verbal veracity. We thank the talented Registered for our school logo!"

Miss Rika took over posting the WFTD thread during the Spring Break thread in 2001. At the time, "that particular thread was keeping me sane." So she decided that she would step right up and continue to post the thread after it became impossible for Miss Annie to continue. She has been posting the WFTD thread for over a year and a half.

RikaStrom, who is also very active FReeping with the Houston Chapter of FR, recently started a new job and does not have the time luxury that she experienced at her previous position. Student Bella_Bru is now sharing teaching duties with Miss Rika. Mistress Bella does one week, Miss Rika does one week. This new arrangement began around September 10, 2002.

Here are two links to memorable threads suggested by Miss Rika.

Word for the Day Review 4-24-01

Word for the Day Review 6-04-01

THANK YOU, ANNIEGETYOURGUN
THANK YOU, RIKASTROM

YOU ARE TWO OF FR'S FINEST

THIS WEEK'S THREADS

10-14-02 Molly Pitcher

10-15-02 Dutchess

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' The guy's good, folks!

Thanks, Mixer!

     1) Click on the graphic to open the Calendar.
     2) Once there you can click on any month and even click to the right to go into next year. Once you are in the month that you joined FR you will need to click on the number in the calendar and then an add item screen will come up.
     3) In the next box enter your name in the "Calendar Text" field and then click on submit.
     4) If any of the screens fail to load simply click on refresh in your browser and that will usually fix it.
     5) If all else fails or simply if you want me to do this for you send me an FReepmail and I will gladly do it for you. ~Mixer

[daisyscarlett]

Will the class please rise for the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.

I Pledge Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

[daisyscarlett]

[daisyscarlett]

The "word for the day" is Congratulations. Congratulations you two for a job well done.

[Eaker]

Most of Erika's best work comes straight out of a novel that I finally completed named................

Green Eggs and Ham!!!

Congrats Erika!!!!

Stay safe; stay armed.

[.45MAN]

Boy some people really get up early.Congrats RIKASTROM and thanks for your efforts on FR. Good morning daisyscarlett...

[.30Carbine]

How nice to see the founder and teachers of the Word for the Day thread honored here today! Thank you, diasyscarlett, for this report and for honoring one of FR's finest institutions.

Congratulations to FR's Finest:
anniegetyourgun, RikaStrom, and BellaBru!



Ask SeaDragon - or any of the WFTD boys - about the Janitor's Closet!




(See proof here that I actually attended class and was Numero Uno for a day!)

[MeekOneGOP]

Mornin', All !!

Have a cup while you FReep !

For those who prefer hot chocolate.....

[Aeronaut]

Good morning Daisy.

[Pippin]

Good Morning, Daisy!

I see you are featuring a thread I've never been to, but after reading your intro to it and the intro from AGYG and RikaStrom, I thing I'll go over there and check it out. besides, I need some language skills!

and congratulations AGYG and RikaStrom!

BTW: I won't be posting much during the day while I'm at work as They(My employers) are monitering what I type or post here.

So I'll say GOOD MORNING TO ALL WHO POST AND LURK ON THIS THREAD, MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL!

[Pippin]

Good Morning, Meekie! Have a great day!

[Pippin]

You have mail, Meekie! :^)

[anniegetyourgun]

Oh, thank you so much for the recognition - though the spotlight is largely on Rikachika who does a wonderful job (with help from substitute Bella)!

And how appropriate to open "class" today with the pledge!

[Iowa Granny]

Congratulations ladies for the recognition of your fine contributions to FR. I stand in awe of your talent and commitment.

Granny Hugs to both of you.

[ladtx]

In memory of my fellow Vietnam helicopter pilots who were killed in that war the following were lost on todays date. God bless them all.

1967 MAJ Michael F. Field -- 1/9 CAV 1 CAV, Age 30, Arlington, Virginia
1968 1LT James A. Crowley II -- 11 ACR, Age 23, Springfield, Massachusetts
1970 CPT Robert T. Wilson -- 335 AHC, Age 24, Dothan, Alabama
1972 1LT James D. Dugger Jr. -- 57 AHC, Age 25, Pottstown, Pennsylvania

IN THE SHADOW OF THE BLADE

SCOUTS OUT!

[JustAmy]

Happy Anniversary, Mr Mayor!!
We are so happy that you are a part of FR and the Finest Thread!

[JustAmy]

Good Morning, ladtx
It's sad that we could not have had another day with no losses. May God Bless your fellow helicopter pilots who were lost on today's date. God Bless and Comfort their Families.
Thank you again for remembering them and thank you for your service to our country. You are appreciated.
God Bless our Military, Past and Present.
God Bless America!

[RikaStrom]

Thank you Daisy. We're honored that you decided to spotlight us. :-)

[RikaStrom]

LOL, Thanks Eaker!

The librarian is going to expect to you to return that book now. She called and told me it had been overdue for 15 years. ;-)

[RikaStrom]

Thank you and you are welcome. :-)

[RikaStrom]

ROFLOL! .30 where did you get that pic?! That's going to get swiped.

Thanks .30, how's the hubby treating you?