Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Gryphon's Word of the Day, Jan 17, 2007

The word of the day* for January 17, 2007 is “security” — noun 1 : the quality or state of being secure : as a : freedom from danger : SAFETY b : freedom from fear or anxiety c : freedom from the prospect of being laid off <job security>. 2 a : something given, deposited, or pledged to make certain the fulfillment of an obligation b : SURETY. 3 : an instrument of investment in the form of a document (as a stock certificate or bond) providing evidence of its ownership. 4 a : something that secures : PROTECTION b (1) : measures taken to guard against espionage or sabotage, crime, attack, or escape (2) : an organization or department whose task is security.

A co-worker is taking a class for composite manufacturing. This comprises fiberglass layup and resin impregnation, for those of you who are mechanically declined. She was complaining that the class leader is not concerned with inhalation of fiberglass or resin fumes, nor with proper instruction on use of the various tools necessary for the work. When they saw that no inhalation masks had been provided, she and another co-worker who is taking the course went looking for enough to outfit the whole class.

I’d be leery these days of an instructor who was not concerned with safety. One wonders what other shortcuts are built into the teaching process? It’s on a much larger scale than the woman who provides the recipe for her famous cake with one ingredient missing.

The quote† for today is from Willa Cather (1873 - 1947):

     No one can build his security upon the nobleness of another person.

;^)  Jan

* The definition is from either Merriam-Webster Online, 10th Edition or The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition and is used by permission.
† The quote is from either Bartleby: Great Books on Line or The Quotation Pages and is used by permission.

P.S.: Comments and word requests are welcome.

NOTICE: Unique Reclamation Project yard art for sale.

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