Today

Today in 1891 Henry Miller, author best known for his explicit treatment of sexual relationships (Tropic of Cancer, Tropic of Capricorn, Sexus, Plexus, and Nexus, is born. And today in 1932 Radio City Musical Hall, one of the great Art Deco theatres of the world, opens.

Today

Today, in 1906, the first full-length motion picture, The Story of the Kelly Gang, premiers in Melbourne, Australia.

Today

Today in 1906, Reginald Aubrey Fessenden presented the first radio broadcast.
And today, in 1822, Clement Moore composed his "A Visit from St. Nicholas"--more popularly known as The Night Before Christmas.

Ethics

An article in today's New York Times reports that at least 12 educators were involved in helping students cheat on their science laboratory reports. The chancellor's office, says the Times, called the actions "unacceptable" and was trying to determine appropriate disciplinary measures. Has Chancellor Klein never heard the words "you're fired"? My guess is that absolutely nothing will happen to these educators; they'll be back in the classrooms and administrative offices with hardly a slapped wrist. It makes you wonder if teaching ethics in public speaking and other communication courses isn't coming a bit late in the education of Quintilian's orator-citizen.

Pubic Speaking Idea

In the middle of this feud between Rosie and the Donald, I thought it might be interesting in a public speaking course or even in an argumentation course, to analyze this "debate". It might prove a useful break from all the serious topics all are dealing with.

Today

Today, in 1989 famed dramatist Samuel Beckett died in Paris. And in 2000 Madonna and Guy Ritchie were married in Scotland.

Today

Today, Benjamin Disraeli, author, statesman, and Prime Minister of Great Britain, is born in 1804.

Today

Today in 1928, the Ethel Barrymore Theatre opens in New York at 243 W. 14th Street.

Today

Today, in 1953, Robert Andrews Millikan, Nobel prize winning physicist for his contributions to the study of electornics and the photoelectric effect, dies.

Today

Today, in 1856, Sir Joseph J. Thomson, Nobel prize winner who discovered the electron which made possible 20th century advances in electronic communications, is born.

Today

Today, in 1903, Wilbur and Orville Wright each piloted the first heavier than air machine; Wilbur lasted in the air for 57 seconds and traveled 852 feet. And then came ear phones and movies and CD players (in planes and in cars and in buses) and destroyed some great opportunities for interpersonal communication.

Today

Today, in 1901, influential anthropologist Margaret Mead is born.

Today

Today, in 1791 the Bill of Rights, the first 10 amendments to the Constitution, was adopted. The first amendment guaranteed freedom of religion, speech, and press among other rights.

And today, in 1875, the first advertisment for female typists appeared in The Nation--prior to this time typists were all men.

Today

The Boston Gazette begins publicatin in 1719.

Nonverbal Communication

An interesting take on nonverbal communication that's likely to spark some good interaction in the classroom.

Today

Today, in 1819 Daniel Webster (1782-1852), one of the great orators in American history, delivers his argument in the Dartmouth College Case, one of his most famous speeches. Webster also attended Dartmouth as a student where he took a class in declamation (aka pubic speaking).

e-mail

There are lots of articles on the dos and don'ts of e-mail but this one, I think, is especially to the point.

Communication Apprehension

An interesting complement to our texts' discussions of communication apprehension.

I Worry

I worry. A small article in the NYTimes (12/9/06, p. B8) notes that Thomas Nelson Publishers will now require that authors must agree with the Nicene Creed and Philippians 4:8. Is this a test for a well-written book? For a book that should or should not be published? To my mind, this makes Thomas Nelson, not a publisher, but a public relations press.

Today

Today in 1745 John Jay, one of the founders of the country, was born. And in 1939, Douglas Fairbanks died. And, for you Pennsylvanians, today, in 1787, Pennsylvania ratified the Constitution.