Comments for Being the Blog of Rebecca Kuder

Comment on Stammering on NPR by rebeccakuder

rebeccakuder — Sat, 19 May 2012 00:18:41 +0000

Thanks, Trish, for the dialogue. My taste in music is mine, idiosyncratic as anyone’s, and I’m no music critic. And you’re right; the way David Dye speaks has nothing to do with the content of his program. I am likely romanticising to a time when everything on the radio (and lots of other things) seemed more organic and less planned to elicit some sort of response… Those were the days! As they say.

Oh right, Google! I should have thought of that. :)

Thanks again for stopping by!

Comment on Stammering on NPR by Trish Hundhausen

Trish Hundhausen — Fri, 18 May 2012 16:13:34 +0000

Rebecca, yes, clearly. You can turn the radio on or off. ;)
1) As far as information about speech habits are concerned, I recommend trying “Google.” I’m sure you’ll find the information you seek.
2) Regarding people stammering on purpose–that seems highly unlikely. I know the ways in which many intelligent people struggle with such things. It’s typically something people fight to correct, since often, peers can be brutally unkind in these matters. That said, people certainly do pick up habits from others–including habits/patterns of speech.
3) I did pick up that you are a fan of Terry Gross (speaking of gushing). Your comments regarding David Dye’s stammer, suggesting that he perhaps has copied the cadence of Terry Gross, strike me as petty conjecture. And I fail to see what stuttering and/or stammering has to do with his choice in music (or current AAA format/public radio music and programming), or his journalism skills–and for that matter–whether or not you approve. I have no need to defend David Dye, his skills, or his style. Hard news is obviously not his style, and he has never claimed otherwise. That’s not the point of the show.

Now; obviously, I don’t know you, nor do I know how superb your personal taste in music might be, but that’s neither here nor there. It’s the abject criticism that leaves something to be desired.

Comment on Stammering on NPR by rebeccakuder

rebeccakuder — Fri, 18 May 2012 13:27:32 +0000

Hi Trish,
Clearly, many people love David Dye and his programming. My main problem with him is his fawning boosterism of music that I usually find quite mediocre. (Which is says more about current AAA format/public radio music and programming than David Dye, sadly.) And as I said, I love “Fresh Air” and Terry Gross. You’re right–Ira Glass is more a hesitant/choppy cadence, which definitely adds texture to his storytelling.

I’d love to see the studies you reference: “There are plenty of studies indicating that (a reasonable amount of) stammers and pauses in speech actually force the audience to listen more intently–and as it turns out, more information is retained by the listener. ” If there are web links you can share, please do. If people are stammering on purpose, simply because it’s trendy, or because other successful radio people do it, that would bother me. Pauses for dramatic effect are another thing, and I agree they can be very effective.

The beauty about radio is that you can turn it on (and up, if you’d like) and I can turn it off. :) Cheers, and thanks for posting!

Comment on Stammering on NPR by Trish Hundhausen

Trish Hundhausen — Thu, 17 May 2012 18:01:28 +0000

Huh. I found your blog because I happen to like David Dye’s style, and incidentally, I find his stammer style to be engaging. Evidently, I’m not the only one, seeing as how he’s been successfully hosting World Cafe since 1991. I am also a big fan of Terry Gross, who has been doing Fresh Air since 1975. ;) Ira Glass-whom I also love–doesn’t so much stammer, but rather, uses pregnant pauses. There are plenty of studies indicating that (a reasonable amount of) stammers and pauses in speech actually force the audience to listen more intently–and as it turns out, more information is retained by the listener. There are countless examples of highly intelligent and thoughtful speakers who pause or stammer. My simple advice on the subject is–don’t be so simple. Get over it. Focus on content, and be less pedantic. In the long run, I think you’ll be glad you did.

Comment on Stitches by David Small (how to deal with eyes) by rebeccakuder

rebeccakuder — Tue, 15 May 2012 17:45:06 +0000

Fiction is good, too! I requested it. Thanks for the recommendation!

Comment on Stitches by David Small (how to deal with eyes) by Chris

Chris — Tue, 15 May 2012 16:05:33 +0000

Retraction — American Born Chinese isn’t a memoir, but it (still) is a really good graphic novel…..

Comment on In The Skin of A Lion by rebeccakuder

rebeccakuder — Tue, 15 May 2012 13:22:46 +0000

Phil, thanks for finding the post! I’m glad to hear of others, too–I was just yesterday thinking, hmm…should I use this book again for this fall’s class? Your comment must be a sign that yes I should. And yes, so many of those images haunt me, too.

Comment on In The Skin of A Lion by phil

phil — Tue, 15 May 2012 13:19:19 +0000

I am so happy to find people who like this book. This is by far my most favorite book of all time. It changed the way I looked at literature and writing. It’s simply spellbinding. Scenes from this book have remained in my head for always… a nun falling off a bridge, a little boy drawn to moths in the kitchen window, two women drawing a man psychically and then running off into the rain, Alice picking up the wrong bag which has a bomb in it, blowing up a hotel, Alice and Patrick reading to each other in her flat, so much beauty in these pages…

Comment on Stitches by David Small (how to deal with eyes) by rebeccakuder

rebeccakuder — Tue, 15 May 2012 13:18:59 +0000

Hi Chris,
You recommended Fun Home to me, which opened this beautiful can of worms! Though I’d already been obsessed with Lynda Barry, too. I will check the others out. I just got this from the library: http://davidsmallbooks.com/catalog.php?t=eulalie_large&p=0 and can’t wait to read it. I do love his illustrations. Thanks!

Comment on Stitches by David Small (how to deal with eyes) by Chris

Chris — Tue, 15 May 2012 12:27:07 +0000

I loved Stitches — as well as Blankets and Fun Home from that linked list. Just started reading Alison Bechdel’s follow up to Fun Home — Are You My Mother? — which I hear is just as good. Great stuff. (Also, in the YA department, check out American Born Chinese – also v.v.good.) And yes, do check out David Smalls’ picture books — he’s my favorite illustrator working today…. or at least, one of them.