Reference Books Reviewed: Associated Press Stylebook

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When you write, you likely find yourself wrestling with questions. I certainly do, everything from the proper form of abbreviations to the placement of apostrophes. Ideally, you want to get past those questions quickly, so you can focus on the message, not the writing.

Among the tools that helps us answer questions quickly and consistently are stylebooks: those manuals that recommend certain styles or usage. They come in a number of flavors and you may wish to have all of them on hand. But, more importantly, select one and use its recommendations consistently.

This week we look at the Associated Press Stylebook, a useful and frequently-cited reference work for writers.

As the title suggests, it comes from the people at the Associated Press (AP) wireservice, and serves journalists and mass-media writers. By way contrast, the Chicago Manual of Style (to cite another important reference book) serves academics and others who write formally, as well as book writers, editors, and publishers.

The AP Stylebook emphasizes usage of commonly cited names, events, and language. For example, under the listing for assassin, it explains the proper use of three similar concepts: 'assassin,' 'killer,' and 'murderer' (in case you were wondering, the AP book defines an assassin as a politically motivated killer, a killer as anyone who kills with any motive, and a murderer as a killer who has been convicted in a court of law).

Since journalists must contend with the pressure of deadlines, this book is laid out like a dictionary, with the entries in alphabetical order. Each entry is brief and deals with issues that journalists would face in everyday writing.

Many entries provide a standard for capitalization, spelling, use of abbreviations, and other useful information. Rules for grammar can be found under headings such as 'Possessives'.

Incidentally, many other news organizations, in the U.S. and other countries, have their own style guides. In Canada, for example, there's the Canadian Press stylebook. So, if you're writing for a particular wire-service or news organization, check to see if they have their own style guide.

The Associated Press Stylebook comes in two flavors: 'The Associated Press Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law,' and 'The Associated Press Stylebook and Libel Law.' The latter is as readily available as the former. Check your bookstore for details.

Robert F. Abbott offers three free chapters from his book, A Manager's Guide to Newsletters: Communicating for Results at http://www.managersguide.com/free-sample.html He also offers free subscriptions to Abbott?s Communication Letter, a free newsletter that helps you enhance your career through improved business communication, at http://www.abbottletter.com/

The Florida Handbook 2005-2006 (Book Review)

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There is so much to learn and to know about Florida that even the not-so-recent newcomers and residents of several years like me rejoice when they find "The Florida Handbook 2005-2006" in their hands. This book's 820 pages have been compiled by Allen Morris (now deceased) and Joan Perry Morris, both Florida historians and authors.

From the members of The Executive Branch of the State of Florida to noted residents and people who wrote or had anything to do with the history of Florida, all biographies and photographs are meticulously put together throughout the book. In addition, information on major state agencies and Florida's budget are offered in detail. I was surprised to read the clearly written main points of the Sunshine Amendment and the Sunshine Law.

For those who may be curious, Sunshine Amendment provides a right of access to governmental proceedings at both the state and local levels. It gives a constitutionally guaranteed right of access to residents and the Sunshine Law applies to all discussions or deliberations as well as the formal action taken by a board or commission. Almost all state and local public bodies are covered by the open meetings requirements with the exception of the judiciary and the state Legislature.

After the Executive Branch, the book continues with the Judicial System and the local governments of the state, followed by Artists Hall of Fame, Great Floridians, Symbols of the State, Florida forts, Native Americans, Early Florida Cemeteries, Floridians at War, Florida Counties, Florida Literature, Everglades, Exotic Plant and Animal Species, Climate and Weather, Sports in Florida, Florida Forests,State Parks, Citrus Production and Processing, Florida Mineral Industry, Fish and Wildlife, General Farming (Trucking, Crops, and Livestock), Public Education, Highways (Trails to Turnpikes), Notable Bridges, Scenic Drives, Size and Structure of Florida, People, Economy, Utilities, Motor Vehicle and all related services, Elections and a few lists and charts.

To the end of the book, Florida's Constitution with all its articles and amendments are added. The book has an index as well.

It was interesting to read that Florida became a state on February 11, 1845, and the county I live in--St. Lucie--was accepted as the 25th county on March 14, 1844. Then it was accepted again, after its creation for the second time, as the 46th county on May 25, 1905. Floridians, surely, have a special way of doing things.

Inside the book, all the noted individuals of the state are given detailed biographies with photographs. As a bonus, some wonderful old and new photographs decorate the book in black and white.

From a personal standpoint, my attention was directed to the section on Florida literature written by Helen Muir. The first known work written in Florida is "Fontaneda's Memoir" in fifteenth century. In this section, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, Hemingway, Audubon, John Muir, Henry James, Stephen Crane, W.C. Bryant, J.F. Cooper, Harriett Beecher Stowe, Kirk Monroe, Marjorie Stoneman Douglas, Zola Neale Hurston, Michael Shaara, Joy Williams, Laurence Shames and the writers and journalists who came after them and who have had anything to do with Florida are given their places. In 1994, Robert Frost Poetry Celebration was established, and The International Book Fair in downtown Miami is celebrating its 23rd opening in November 2006. As the writer says, "As Florida grows, so grows its literature."

I came across this book in a Borders bookstore. When I wanted to send it as a Christmas Gift to a friend from online, I couldn't find it in Amazon or in another online bookstore. The book as the 30th Biennial edition is published by Peninsular Publishing Company with ISBN 0976584603.

The Florida Handbook 2005-2006 can be a fine edition to any school, home, or public library because of its meticulously compiled information and priceless photographs.

Joy Cagil is an author on http://www.Writing.Com/ which is a site for Writers. Her education is in linguistics. She is an avid reader.

FFL Kit - Review

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The F.F.L. kit has been put together by people that are F.F.L. holders to help you through the entire process of getting your license. They have put together a kit with everything you need in one place and they take you by the hand through the complicated process of applying for your license.

F.F.L. kit has all the instructions and help to walk you through the process of getting your application approved the first time . The kit also has E-mail support for those times that your stuck and need help. They also provide you with a wholesalers list, so that way you can buy guns at greatly reduced prices as soon as your application is approved. The F.F.L. kit offers a 60 day money back guarantee.

The only thing the F.F.L. kit will not do for you is fill out the forms and pay the A.T.F. fees for the license. There is no way to get around this. The fee for a dealers license is $200.00 and it is good for 3 years, the renewal fee for your license is only $90.00 for the next 3 years. You must have a location for conducting business or collecting Curios & relics. This is where you will have the guns shipped to and take position of them. The location can be your home.

I have been told bad stories about people that have applied for their F.F.L. license and only to have their application delayed or denied by making mistakes. Then I found the F.F.L. kit website that is run by actual F.F.L. holders which had all the forms, great support, and detailed instructions, my application was approved in just 24 days. I decided to write this article about this kit to help others decide about using them to get their own F.F.L.

The FFL kit can o just that, help you apply the right way the first time. You will find all the information and instructions to do everything right. Read more facts about the FFL kit at. http://newgundealers.blogspot.com/

The Perfect Book For SAT Or ACT Prep

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Grammar books have certainly changed since this reviewer last looked at one. Sramek has written the suitably titled The Great Grammar Book. What stands out about the book is its layout. With a workbook style she covers all the regular topics, but very well. Starting with the Diagnostic Test in the beginning she instructs and informs with trivia and fresh exercises testing the material taught.

The Diagnostic Test is not easy and does test the basic ability of the reader. However, it does provide immediate support in showing the correct answers. The subsequent chapters strengthen the weaknesses revealed with this test. Each chapter is divided in to a statement of the rules, examples of these rules and exercises to reinforce the rules. Finally, the review exercises and the "Final Chapter Review" test the reader on all the topics thoroughly.

Remarkably, Sramek has introduced examples and exercise sentences that are both new and interesting as they stand. "George Washington created the Purple Heart in 1792, making it the nation's oldest military decoration," reveals a trivia tidbit that keeps the attention of the reader (pg. 73 for the exercise. This is the corrected version for those interested). Under Parentheses, one of the examples is something this reviewer didn't know, another bit of trivia, "In 1898 (fourteen years before the Titanic tragedy) Morgan Robertson wrote the novel Futility, about the largest ship ever built hitting an iceberg in the Atlantic on a cold April night." This book is filled with interesting facts in Sramek's efforts to keep the subject lively and the reader interested in completing the lessons.

The chapters follow the standard topics, but she ends the book with the most practical chapter of all "Successful Writing Skills." Sramek condenses the whole book into a series of explanations and exercises utilizing the lessons taught in the first part to "practice, practice, practice." The particular instruction and exercises enhance what comes before while using practical applications to emphasize each section. This chapter is good for students and the obvious reason for the book. This chapter is also very good for refreshing skills using proper grammar for others outside of the education sphere.

This book is definitely well targeted by the marketing department of Avon Press. Students preparing for SATs and ACT will benefit greatly. However, another marketing arm could be pursued with the businesses world. All persons who communicate via the written word would do well to review this book and work through the exercises. This reviewer is recommending this as a practical guide for any one that writes on a regular basis.

Book received from publisher for review.

I Read the Encyclopedia - Have You?

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Not long ago, I was discussing the concept of knowledge with someone who had read the encyclopedia, something I myself had once done. Indeed, I also read an interesting book "Know it All" by A.J. Jacobs, it's fun to read you might want to read it, the author read the encyclopedia and then wrote about his adventure. Funny, since I read, or skimmed through and read the Encyclopedia Britannica, Dictionary and all the "Tell me Why Series" as a kid and teen.

Are you a know-it-all, if not apparently you could be, if you go and read the encyclopedia yourself. How long with this take? Well as a kid it took me 5-6 years, as I read a little at a time. But it's worth doing, and this experience assisted me in college, as I was able to read the text books prior to the class starting. Of course it really pissed off the teachers when I asked questions about things not yet covered in the class. Ha ha ha, I think I drove them nuts?

What benefits will you get if you read the encyclopedia, well you'll be able to have higher level conversations about history, civilizations and industry than you normally would. You will be able to grasp concepts faster too. It should make you a faster and better reader and it will help you in the formation of thoughts when you go to write something. The thing I like about it is that you can have fun telling people that you did it, but it might also give you away as a nerd? Ha ha ha. Think on this.

"Lance Winslow" - Online Blog Content Service. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/.

The Oxford Essential Writer's Reference (Book Review)

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As a long time devotee of Oxford publications, there is one small reference book I carry with me whenever I travel. This book, "The Oxford Essential Writer's Reference," fits neatly into a carry-on bag or a medium-sized purse. For so small a size, the aid this book can give to writers is tremendous.

These words in the prologue "A helpful way to think of this book is as a literary Swiss Army Knife" are very true, because so much is neatly arranged in this 368 page paperback. Just a quick look at the chapter headings is enough proof of this book's usefulness.

The book has nineteen chapters:

1 Grammar, Punctuation, Spelling, and Usage guides

2. A List of the Most Commonly Used Foreign Words and Phrases

3. 100 Tricky Usage Problems and Pitfalls Explained

4. 100 Rare Fifty-Cent Words and Their Meanings

5. 125 Synonym Studies

6. Proofreader's Marks and What They Mean

7. Common Citation Styles

8. A List of Clich?s to Avoid

9. A List of Common Rhetorical Devices, Poetic Meters, and Forms

10. A Quick Guide to All the Plays of Shakespeare

11. A Timeline of Great Works of Literature in English

12. Biblical Quotes, Characters, and Books of the Bible

13. Major Mythological Characters

14. A List of Great Print Resources

15. A List of Writers' Advocacy Organizations

16. How to Copyright Your Work

17. A common-Sense Guide to Manuscript Formats

18.Great Websites for Writers

19. Forms of Address for Letter Writing

The few introductory paragraphs or one or two pages at the beginning of each chapter make some enjoyable reading on their own.

I found every part of the book to be indispensable, but synonym studies can be very useful to novice writers who may not have grasped the nuances in the meanings of some words. For example, on page 173, the differences between the words "get, acquire, attain, gain, obtain, procure, secure" are succinctly explained.

In the "Quick Guide to Shakespeare" after a two-page introduction to Shakespeare, each play's title, date, and theme are given, as well as one or two famous quotations and a list of characters. It is not an in-depth study of Shakespeare by any means, but it is a quick reference one can glance at when the heavier tomes are not within reach.

The Bible Quotations are given as book, chapter, and verse, after a few paragraphs that point to the importance of the Bible as the reference source by the most famous writers.

Published by Berkley with ISBN: 0425206890, "The Oxford Essential Writer's Reference" is also easy on the wallet. Listed to be sold for $6.99 in the bookstores, from online it can be bought new for about four dollars.

Whether a student, a novice or an experienced writer, or a person who has an interest in the language arts, "The Oxford Essential Writer's Reference" is a valuable book.

Joy Cagil is an author on http://www.Writing.Com/ which is a site for Writers. Her education is in linguistics.

Books on Masons - Fraternity in Freemasonry

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"Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram,
but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father
of nations have I made thee."

Gen. 17:5

From the moment he is initiated as an Entered Apprentice, a Mason is instructed upon the importance of remaining free. The initiate quickly learns that freedom is a quality of life that the Craft takes very seriously. Each Mason is informed at some early point in his Masonic career that he must endeavor for the remainder of his life to be the sole sovereign over his earthly destiny. He also learns that from a political perspective, while Freemasonry abstains from generally expressing preferences, the Craft emphatically endorses liberty, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of association and a free public education for all citizens.

In his Books on Masons Albert Pike wrote that where two or several of these sovereignties associate, the State begins, requiring each to relinquish a portion of his personal sovereignty. (Morals and Dogma). However, even in the act of relinquishment, the individual gains, for he participates in the establishment of a union whose ties shall never be dissolved. That union is called fraternity, a word that conveys both a definition of unity, as well as an understanding about how to accomplish human unification.

The Masonic meaning of fraternity is quite likely much different than the meaning you acquired while attending school. In colleges across the nation, campuses abound with fraternities that offer male students social acceptance, camaraderie, fellowship and a central place or house to sleep, study and party. Women are not left out, for most of those campuses offer the same environment to female students through an assortment of sororities. Many who join Freemasonry have at one time also been members of such fraternities, as well as other social fraternal organizations, such as the Moose or Elks lodges. While certainly not denouncing or demeaning any of those fraternities that perform many valuable services to the societies in which their members live, the meaning of fraternity to the Craft is profoundly philosophical.

Lamenting about how communities of seemingly good people could quickly morph into vicious, death-dealing armies, Manly P. Hall wrote Books on Masons and about a new fraternal order he hoped would eventually sweep the world. In his book entitled Lectures on Ancient Philosophy, Hall called his new order the gospel of identity. The premise for his new gospel was that all life forms are the manifestations of one God. Using that premise, Hall expanded his thinking to include the notion that all people were evolving to one identity, one government and one new world order. Such thinking foretold of a new age and, indeed, the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite entitled its publication The New Age. It foretold the fulfillment of a Masonic hope - a brotherhood of man under the fatherhood of God.

Hall's gospel of identity, while subject to denunciation as fanciful thinking, at best, or, at worst dangerous in its promotion of forsaking individual freedoms, is relevant to each one of us when considered in light of lessons set forth in the Holy Bible. As a teaching drawn from the First Great Light of Masonry, its significance in shaping individual conduct must be carefully considered. In the book of Genesis, God calls forth Abram from among the masses and upon finding him worthy changes his name and promises that, "In you all the nations of the earth shall be blessed." (Gen. 17:5). That covenant was not with many people on behalf of many nations, but with one holy and worthy man on behalf of all men.

The meaning of fraternity to Freemasons at least includes the notion that as members of the nations referred to in scripture, we are also heirs of the benefits God has promised -...all nations of the earth shall be blessed. But, what does Freemasonry teach us about how we are to be blessed? What, if anything are we to do? Cain slew his brother Abel and, as we are informed, was condemned to wander the world. The sons of Jacob through their brother Joseph into a well and left him to die. They suffered the ravages of famine and death as a consequence. To the contrary, the men described in the Holy Writings who treated their brethren well were, in turn, treated well by God and Nature. To us as Masons, the lesson is evident: treat your brother as you would have him treat you - then you will be blessed.

But the concept of one Abraham being the father of all nations also teaches us valuable lesson about how man is expected to live, especially when compared with the lessons taught us by Nature. We believe as men that equality is the foundation to human liberty. But, true equality in all things leads to chaos and disorder where jealousies and personal interests push aside justice, compassion and love. The equality taught us in Masonry holds that all men of all aptitudes shall have equal opportunities in life. Freemasonry teaches tolerance of other opinions - it does not teach that harmony and freedom are achieved when the presence of all opposing opinions forces mankind into a moral gridlock. If, as it has been said, Hermeticism is the true philosophical ancestor of Freemasonry, then we must harken to the lessons of that credo - varying ideas and opinions must be synthesized into a cohesive structure whereby all men are free to equally pursue each and every opportunity providence has made available to us.

If you would be wise, as King Solomon was wise, you must learn the thoughts and desires of your brethren, as well as the thoughts of the members of your family, neighborhoods, houses of worship and work places. As humans, we are first brought together to differ, then to listen to the difference and then to make a difference by coming to an agreement. It is sad that the word compromise has fallen into such disfavor in our world of today. To compromise a position means to some the very abdication of all that is correct in favor of all that is false. The arrogance of such an assumption is self-evident - no one has a right to make the assumption that his point of view is correct and yours is incorrect. We do, however, have the right, and indeed the obligation as human beings to advocate for the position we believe is most correct. But once the advocacy ceases, as a fraternity of God's children we then have the obligation to come to a peaceful agreement - to achieve compromise - to abide by the teachings of our Hermetic philosophy - to synthesize and harmonize.

Freemasonry does not free us as men from the responsibility of embracing the difficult task of discovering the right path that will lead us from chaos to confusion. Suffice to say, there is no silver bullet, or magic potion that will ease the way. The adjustment of mutual rights and mutual wrongs is as difficult for us as it is for nations around the globe who do not see eye-to-eye on much of anything. Freemasonry teaches us that the difference lies in how we feel about the human beings with whom we have differing opinions - and that is a feeling about others that must be learned, for we are quite naturally a very selfish lot and enjoy pandering to our own interests. How natural is it for an entire body of men to work industriously all of their lives and then to give of that wealth so that crippled children may be healed at no cost to them? Is it not more natural to spend what you have earned on yourself and also to chastise the poor for being poor? Freemasonry teaches us that fraternity is not about self-interest. Rather, it is all about someone other than you - a lesson that may take a lifetime to learn, if, indeed, it ever is truly learned.

If truth were to be told, humans have an extremely difficult time placing faith in other humans. When a medical doctor recommends a specific course of medical action, we generally want a second opinion. Before hiring a person to handle our money, we seek assurances that he or she is ethical, honest and, above all else, bonded! Masonry does not ask us to leave our common sense at home - asking for a second opinion and seeking assurances of honesty are prudent courses of conduct. That we are compelled to make them prudent courses of conduct precisely proves the truth about the difficulties we have we faith in others. Freemasonry offers you the tools to improve that faith through both understanding and working on behalf of fraternity.

Not all of the workings of fraternity are benign and harmonious. Threats to freedom do exist and are very real even in today's society. Wherever light exists in the world, darkness hides in the corner waiting for its opportunity to absorb the light. Demagoguery and despotism, two evils that Masonry has combated against for ages, still demands the Craft's attention. Where they exist, the pen of Masonry is expected to bring them to light; to accuse them; to prosecute them; and, to eliminate them as best as possible.

By nature, man is cruel. But, fraternity replaces cruelty with justice, compassion and love. By nature, man enjoys seeing others suffer. Fraternity builds hospitals, homes for the aged and clinics for children in need of learning how to speak. History reveals that man kills man for pleasure and political gain. Fraternity embraces all men - not just who think like us, or look like us - all men. Fraternity builds Masons by providing the network within which the gospel of identity may be preached and put into action. Masons build fraternity by forging a brotherhood of man under the fatherhood of God - by following in the footsteps of Abraham so that all nations will truly be blessed.

John Heisner is the author of several Books on Masons [http://masonicbooks.heisner.info/category/books-about-freemasons/books-on-masons/] that search out the esoteric meaning of the symbolism in Freemasonry as it has come down through history.

A Master Mason since 1968 Mr. Heisner served as Chaplain, Senior Deacon, Junior Warden, Senior Warden and Worshipful Master of Amity Lodge No. 442 in San Diego, California, and serves presently as an Inspector for Division IX of the Grand Lodge of California.

His Books on Masons [http://masonicbooks.heisner.info/category/books-about-freemasons/books-on-masons/] revolve around deciphering the symbols used in the lodge by the craft. He is a member of Scottish Rite Freemasonry in San Diego, where he currently serves as an officer in the Lodge of Perfection and has thrice been awarded the Albert Pike trophy for excellence in the performance of Scottish Rite ritual; a member of Al Bahr Shrine since 1976; a member of the York Rite Bodies, Knights Templar, Allied Masonic Degrees, York Rite College and the Knights of the Red Cross of Constantine. Mr. Heisner is also a member of the Societas Rosicruciana in Civitibus Foederatis.

Mr. Heisner has also been a practicing attorney in the State of California since 1973 and is currently a partner and trial specialist in a San Diego law firm where he emphasizes complex business litigation, trade secret litigation, real estate and probate litigation. He formerly served as an Assistant District Attorney, Deputy District Attorney and Special Assistant United States Attorney. As a criminal prosecutor, Mr. Heisner investigated and prosecuted organized crime, public official corruption and major fraud matters.