2010 YWPA Dinner & Silent Auction Set for May 20th

On May 20, 2010, the Zonta Club of Halifax will hold their annual dinner and silent auction, which features a beautifully prepared four-course dinner, the winner of the 2010 Young Women in Public Affairs (YWPA) Award and entertainment by pianist John Boudreau.

Proceeds from the auction will be committed Zonta’s local service projects, including local community organizations such as Alice Housing, Bayers Westwood Family Resource Centre and Marguerite Centre, as well as the Zonta Club of Halifax Education Fund, which funds the YWPA Award.

Donors will receive special recognition in the event program, and we would be pleased to place business cards and/or information brochures beside items on the auction viewing tables. As a registered charity, the Zonta Club of Halifax Education Fund will issue tax receipts to both donors and winning bidders.

Established in 1951, the Zonta Club of Halifax has been and continues to be involved in many service projects aimed at improving the status of women. Education, with its far reaching effects and benefits, is the cornerstone of their efforts. The Zonta Club of Halifax is part of Zonta International, a worldwide service organization of executives in business and the professions working together to advance the status of women. For more information about Zonta International, visit http://www.zonta.org/.

To purchase tickets ($50 per plate or $400 for a table of eight), visit www.visualconceptz.ca or contact Kathryn Patterson at 225-3953. To learn more, visit www.zontadistrict1.org/halifax_ns/ or contact Mrs. Patterson.

Titz 'n Glitz 2010 Looking for Event Chair

Titz 'n Glitz wants a powerful and passionate woman to tighten up her bra straps and sling Titz 'n Glitz into shape for 2010!

You are passionate about raising money for breast cancer survivors in financial need and you are someone who can attract and recruit a fabulous team of SUPERWOMEN with the skills and enthusiasm to create a fabulous 14th Gala Event!

We know you're out there. We know you've considered it. We know you can do it!

For more information about this exciting volunteer opportunity, please visit www.titznglitz.com

Please forward you resume with references to:

Christina Fisher
145 Conrad Road
RR #2 Hubbard's NS B0J 1T0
tina.fisher(at)sympatico.ca

To Infinitively Split…

If you play Trivial Pursuit, you know about the grammatical error featured in the opening credits of Star Trek. The famous line “to boldly go where no man has gone before” contains the split infinitive “to boldly go” (where the adverb “boldly” splits the infinitive “to go”). While the line remains mostly unaltered throughout Star Trek’s many incarnations, it gets “corrected” in the first episode of the series Enterprise, in a recorded speech by warp drive inventor Zefram Cochrane: “To go boldly where no man has gone before.” Doesn’t have quite the same ring, does it?

The prescriptive rule against split infinitives was created in response to its growing usage in the 19th century. While no one was clearly identified as the creator of said rule, there were many writers who supported the edict. According to Bache (1869), "The to of the infinitive mood is inseparable from the verb.” Of like mind, Raub (1897) states, "The sign to must not be separated from the remaining part of the infinitive by an intervening word.” There were perhaps as many who denounced the restriction. But the rule took hold of public consciousness by the early 20th century, gaining a firm toe hold in academia and the media.

Trying to correct a split infinitive will sometimes cause problems. The aforementioned “to boldly go” converts well enough into “to go boldly.” The altered phrase might not have as much panache (if only because the original is so strikingly familiar), but it does carry the same meaning.

By contrast, consider the following (with the first line containing the split infinitive “to slowly remove” and the remaining lines as possible “solutions”):

1. “She decided to quickly remove all split infinitives from her writing.”
2. “She quickly decided to remove all split infinitives from her writing.”
3. “She decided to remove quickly all split infinitives from her writing.”
4. “She decided to remove all split infinitives quickly from her writing.”
5. “She decided to remove all split infinitives from her writing quickly.”

While the meaning is most often unaffected (e.g. making quick changes to the writing), line #2 instead describes a quick decision. Furthermore, line #s 3-5 come across as clunky.

Split infinitives might be against the rules, but sometimes they can’t be avoided. If you can find a way to omit them or rephrase them, by all means do so. But don’t alter them at the expense of meaning.

Consider this bit of sage advice from the Fowler brothers: "The 'split' infinitive has taken such hold upon the consciences of journalists that, instead of warning the novice against splitting his infinitives, we must warn him against the curious superstition that the splitting or not splitting makes the difference between a good and a bad writer" (The King’s English, 1907).

In closing, remember this overall approach to grammar:

Learn the rules. Understand the rules. Then decide when, how and why to break the rules to best effect.

NOTE: A tip of the virtual hat to Wikipedia for the quotes used above.

Bring on the Bucket Brigade

We're in for a heavy dose of wind and rain overnight, which means I'll be keeping a close eye on the fireplace. Sooner or later, the water will work its way in, as it always does under such conditions.

The buckets are already in place, but I won't know if they're in the right places until later. That means I won't get to bed until after I can spot the drips or the rain stops, whichever comes first.

Note to self: earmark a few dollars for a pair of clover-shaped chimney caps, which are supposed to keep the rain out no matter which way the wind blows.

To Cap or Not to Cap

A few months ago, I participated in an impromptu editors’ discussion (via email) on the rules for capitalization of titles. We were trying to reach a consensus in terms of our in-house standard (we all work for a small publisher).

Titles such as president and secretary general can cause much confusion over whether or not to capitalize. However, The Chicago Manual of Style (CMS) contains explicit guidelines on the topic. For instance, consider the president of the United States. The following lists the correct usage of capitalization (or not):

• The president of the United States (unless used formally, such as in a citation or an introduction)
• President Barack Obama
• Barack Obama, president of the United States
• U.S. president Barack Obama

Another variation might be “the president Obama,” although I doubt that particular phrase is ever used.

Now let’s look at Captain Crunch (just for fun). If used as a substitute for Crunch’s name in a direct address, “Captain” is capitalized, e.g. “Hand me the spoon, Captain. We’re taking on milk.” But in general reference, he is simply “the captain.”

One aspect of the online debate that generated some discussion was the question of parents, e.g. when and if you should capitalize “mom” and “dad.” In the end, we agreed to treat the terms as titles. By that standard, when “mom” or “dad” was used in place of a person’s name in direct address, it should be capitalized. By contrast, if a term was used in indirect reference, it should not be capitalized.

• “Hey, mom, where did Sarah’s Dad go?” INCORRECT
• “Hey, Mom, where did Sarah’s dad go?” CORRECT

The CMS contains several pages of examples that can answer most capitalization questions…and any other usage and style questions you might have. The 15th Edition is currently available from Amazon.com for less than $35 US. That just might be the best $35 you spend this year.

No Real Surprises at SAG Awards

Watching the Screen Actors Guild Awards tonight was like watching a repeat of this year's Golden Globe Awards. Same nominees. Same winners. About the only thing different was the absence of The Hangover, which inexplicably did well at the Globes.

There were a few standout moments, though, especially Betty White's acceptance speech for her Life Achievement Award (and George Clooney's response to one of her comments).

After ignoring awards season for many years, I find myself paying closer attention this time around. Not much has changed, though. While there will always be the odd exception, the speeches still sound like laundry lists. The "losers" still grit their teeth and applaud.

And we still know who's going to win before the seal is broken.

Bird is the Word

With my crazy schedule, I find myself doing things out of order, from eating breakfast in the late afternoon to making dinner at midnight.

That's why I'm making another roast chicken dinner at this "unseemly" hour. Besides, the success of the last one reminded me how easy it actually is...with long-term benefits. The bird's not even done yet, but I'm already looking forward to the next batch of homemade soup.

Right now, I can hear the chicken sizzling in the oven. The aroma is just starting to drift in from the kitchen. And my tastebuds are puckering up for a juicy kiss.