Saturday, July 23, 2005

The VRP Strikes Back


In an update that’s long overdue, here’s everything you’ve been dying to know about the renowned Vocabulary Reclamation Project:


It’s still alive. That’s right; the VRP’s shelf life has always been excellent, and despite the fact that I’ve neglected it, the blog is now rising phoenix-like from the ashes. Ebullient as always.

It’s new and improved. Having noted the desires expressed by many to “join up,” “play a part,” “change my life,” etc., I’ve taken a few steps to make that possible in a hands-on way. How will this happen? Keep reading.

It’s still got ‘tude. In the face of our cliché-loving culture, the VRP is not known for backing down. This loveable tenacity has not changed. The blog is still prepared to chastise poor vocabularies wherever they may lurk.

(Before you go on, be sure you grasp the VRP's basic concept. Essentially, it's meant to be a loose affiliation of defiantly well-spoken people.)

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So, how does this work?

Step One.

To “officially” join the Vocabulary Reclamation Project, simply display one of the banners below on your site or blog. Accompany the graphic with a link back to this site. Then proceed to post (and speak) with audacity and verve, knowing the VRP community is waiting to back you up.

(Out of pity, it may be a good idea to pithily explain especially scintillating words, as in this example. Some grateful individuals may also wish acknowledge the VRP’s influence with a brief comment at the end of exceptionally eloquent posts.)

Step Two.

Once you’ve got a banner and link, send me a note at ariellindsay@.msn.com and I’ll add you to the VRP blogroll, soon to be visible in the right sidebar. Thereafter, not only will you know where to turn for lucid, to-the-point writing, you’ll also have the considerable joy of seeing your own site listed among those of other brave counter-cultural souls.

In the meantime, blog on. And remember: Eloquence is its own reward.

(Note: More buttons below.)

3 Comments:

Blogger AJ said...

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

11:45 PM  
Blogger Andrew Simone said...

I feel we ought to ban all words that end with "-ize" unless there is just cause in using them. Reason being, "utilize" is a usless and asinine word. The same people who "utilize" are often found to be "empowered."

Jacques Barzun wrote a great essay called "English as she is not taught in 1953 published in a collection name Writing, Editing, and Publishing: Essays Explicative and Hortatory

6:12 PM  
Blogger AJ said...

You might have a point there, seeing as how the "empowered" often have an artificial air about them.

"Just cause" is a theme that deserves a lot of play on this blog.

For example, when am I justified in pulling out one of my favorite adjectives - quintessential? Clearly, it's not for everyday use...

8:02 AM  

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