RSS Feed #1 (“the” conflict of “the”)

While searching for RSS feeds, I skimmed over one that really caught my attention.  I am always interested in what is going on in other people’s minds.  Because of my curiosity towards people’s thoughts, I spent most of my RSS feed reading in the “Opinions & Columns” section after subscribing to the “L.A. Times.” 

            Under the category of   “Opinions & Columns,” I came across a news feed titled “Only in L.A.|Steve Harvey.”  This catchy title made me want to read on.  Strangely, this entire news feed was conflict all over the word “the.”  Apparently in Los Angeles, when speaking about freeways they say “the” before the freeways number “(i.e. “the” 405).”

            The writer of this feed posted comments from people who where concerned on using “the” in their freeway titles.  One reply stated, “Adding the word ‘the’ is superfluous and annoying.”  ‘The’ topic seemed funny to me, all this controversy over a simple little word, what’s the point, it’s just a word?  Some people were more serious on the “the” topic, stating that one man’s son went off to college in L.A. and came back saying “the” referring to freeways.  Outraged by what the man had heard come out of his son’s mouth, he told his son that he wasn’t going to tolerate that language in his house!  The content in this feed was very interesting, to think that all the problems going on in the world and these people are complaining on the way other people talk. What is this world coming to?  However I did enjoy reading this feed.

            The writer had a well organized style. Information listed into short paragraphs which kept me reading on and interested, also had pictures to illustrate his purpose in disliking L.A. lingo.  The author was humorous with his writing and illustrating.  One image was a sign saying “Ramp Closed PERMANENTLY June 16 2008 to August 16 2008.”  If it was permanently closed, why would it be back open in August? 

            In the L.A. Times, figured there would be more interesting feeds like this one, therefore I kept the L.A. Times in my reader.  By reading this feed, I’ve decided to make my own writing on more interesting or humorous topics, I found that those are easier and more fun to read.