Gryphon's Word of the Day, March 31, 2007

The word of the day for March 31, 2007 is “guttering” — transitive verb 1 : to cut or wear gutters in. 2 : to provide with a gutter. intransitive verb 1 a : to flow in rivulets b of a candle : to melt away through a channel out of the side of the cup hollowed out by the burning wick. 2 : to incline downward in a draft <the candle flame guttering>. noun 1 : material for a trough along the eaves to catch and carry off rainwater. b : a low area (as at the edge of a street) to carry off surface water (as to a sewer) c : a trough or groove to catch and direct something <the gutters of a bowling alley>.

 

Lloyd was using a detached high-pressure hose nozzle to open a drain path through the maple blossoms that the rain brought down. Water was spilling over the edge of the gutter directly over the front steps. Anyway, he tip-toed on the edge of the porch, using the corner post as support. Then, just as the downspout opened up, he lost his grip on the nozzle. (Don't be alarmed, folks, just the nozzle.)

 

So yesterday, between the rain spats, he had to climb a ladder to rescue his nozzle from the downspout. I’m somewhat glad he didn’t wait for me to spot for him. Watching the first operation was scary enough. He didn’t tell me that he had also taken one of the toilet plungers up the ladder to ensure the spout was clear.

 

The quote for today is from Richard Matheson (b. 1926), U.S. screenwriter, and Roger Corman. Roderick Usher (Vincent Price), The House of Usher, staring at a candle as he discusses the madness in his family (1960):

 

Two pale drops of fire. Guttering on the vast consuming darkness. My sister and myself. Shortly they will burn no more.

 

;^)  Jan

Tags: guttering

Gryphon's Word of the Day, March 30, 2007

The word of the day1 for March 30, 2007 is “auditory” — noun 1 archaic : AUDIENCE. 2 archaic : AUDITORIUM. 

Rae sent me a quip: “The trouble with life is there's no background music.” This reminded me of my favorite cartoon episode of Danger Mouse. It seems that Wolfgang Amadeus Schwartz stole the background music so everyone would have to listen to his. (Example: Bach’s “Toccata and Fugue in D Minor” segueing into ”It’s Now or Never.”) So Danger Mouse and his sidekick, Penfold the Hamster, received a tape from THE VAULT, allowing them to have music as they find and defeat Schwartz. At one point they skated through a forest to “Skater’s Waltz.” They escaped from the bad guy’s prison by playing the “1812 Overature.” Good stuff like that. 

Lloyd’s cell phone has Debussy’s “Claire de Lune” as the ring tone, but I always thought it would be nice to have the “Empire March” from Star Wars for him to play for his theme song. (No Cyb, you can’t have that as the processional for the wedding.) I don’t know what I would want played for my entrances—certainly not the songs that get stuck in my head for days on end. Oh, wait, maybe that is Life’s background music. If so I want a change of disk jockey. 

The quote2 for today is from Tom Brown (1663-1704).Laconics: 

     In the reign of Charles II. a certain worthy divine at Whitehall thus addressed himself
     to the auditory at the conclusion of his sermon: “In short, if you don’t live up to the
     precepts of the Gospel, but abandon yourselves to your irregular appetites, you must
     expect to receive your reward in a certain place which ’t is not good manners t
     mention here.” 

;^)  Jan

Tags: auditory

Jan's Word of the Day, March 29, 2007

The word of the day for March 29, 2007 is“diachronic” — adjective : of, relating to, or dealing with phenomena (as of language or culture) as they occur or change over a period of time.

I do love historical romances, especially those set in Regency England. The latest one I have read—Miss Marcie’s Mischief, by Lindsay Randall (Zebra Books, 1995)—is fairly poor in the research department. For one thing, the hero, going incognito as “Cole Coachman,” is referred to more than once as “nè Marquess of Sherringham.” That’s not so bad, he might have been born posthumously, therefore entitled to the name from birth. However, the author lovingly describes his two older brothers, whose successive deaths lead to his “ascension” to the title.

This is not the worst example of research poverty I have seen. I always liked the one pointed out by my sister involving a woman trekking from Wales to Scotland in the 1100’s by herself, eating “wild potatoes” as she went. Wild onions I can accept. Potatoes didn’t show up in Britain until after Columbus made his famous voyage nearly 400 years later. Not only that but my sister reminded me that potatoes do not grow wild anywhere. Which is probably a good thing, because feral potatoes in Europe would have been something like kudzu, only tastier.

The quote for today is from Oscar Wilde(1854–1900), Anglo-Irish playwright, author. Gilbert, in “The Critic as Artist,” pt. 1, Intentions (1891):

     Whatever, in fact, is modern in our life we owe to the Greeks. Whatever
     is an anachronism is due to mediaevalism.

;^)  Jan

Tags: diachronic

Gryphon's Word of the Day, March 28, 2007

The word of the day for March 28, 2007 is “gustnado” — noun ; a meteorological phenomenon that combines features of a dust devil and a tornado, being a vortex several hundred feet high that develops on the leading edge of a thunderstorm. (From the MSN Encarta Dictionary)

My co-workers are discussing golf. This is a “first liar never has a chance” form of recreation. Since our city is known for the strength and duration of the wind, many of the stories relate to the “greatest golf shot against the wind.” Personally, I’m with the comedian calling himself Honest John. On the subject of Tiger Wood’s impact on society because of his golfing prowess, HJ said, “Who cares? It’s freakin’ golf. Without the ball and club it’s just walking.”

Nevertheless, there’s something endearing about those who will wear plaid plus-fours and argyle socks while engaging in their chosen activity. Endearing does not come to mind when the same persons attempt their activities in gale force winds, snow deeper than the diameter of the ball or rain with accompanying lighting. I will allow you to choose your own epithet for such persons.

The quote for today is from Clara Barton (1821–1912), U.S. Civil War nurse and founder of the American Red Cross, in a letter dated March 7, 1888, written to orator Robert G. Ingersoll (1833-1899), urging him to speak on behalf of the residents of Mount Vernon, Illinois, whose town had been ravaged by a tornado the month before. As quoted in Angel of the Battlefield, ch. 13, by Ishbel Ross (1956).:

     Long ago I added to the true old adage of “What is everybody’s
     business is nobody’s business,” another clause which, I think, more
     than any other principle has served to influence my actions in life. That
     is, “What is nobody’s business is my business.”

:^) Jan

Tags: gustnado

Gryphon's Word of the Day, March 27, 2007

The word of the day1 for March 27, 2007 is “synapse” — noun : the point at which a nervous impulse passes from one neuron to another.

 

Hopefully, I never laughed at old people portrayed as absent-minded. Between the scientific explanation that the hormones that keep the synapses synapping diminish as we grow older, and the more comprehensible explanation that the brain is a finite space that at some point must lose old information to make way for new, there’s plenty of explanation for lost keys, lost memories, lost skills.

 

Jeanie complains that her synapses are not as synappy as they once were. After yesterday’s uproar about the missing suspenders, and my own lapses into incoherency in the face of reason, I think we’re all in trouble. My husband often accuses me of remembering everything. This may be true, but sometimes it takes a while to dredge the memory out of the archives. As long as I can remember more than he does, I figure I’m all right.

 

The quote2 for today is from John Searle (b. 1932), U.S. philosopher. “Is the Brain’s Mind a Computer Program?” Scientific American (January 1990):

One can imagine a computer simulation of the action of peptides in the hypothalamus that is accurate down to the last synapse. But equally one can imagine a computer simulation of the oxidation of hydrocarbons in a car engine or the action of digestive processes in a stomach when it is digesting pizza. And the simulation is no more the real thing in the case of the brain than it is in the case of the car or the stomach. Barring miracles, you could not run your car by doing a computer simulation of the oxidation of gasoline, and you could not digest pizza by running the program that simulates such digestion. It seems obvious that a simulation of cognition will similarly not produce the effects of the neurobiology of cognition.

;^)  Jan

Tags: synapse

Gryphon's Word of the Day, March 26, 2007

The word of the day1 for March 26, 2007 is “serendipity” — noun : the faculty or phenomenon of finding valuable or agreeable things not sought for; also : an instance of this.

 

Lloyd asked me to look for his cane in my car. The last time I remember seeing it was on our way home on Saturday. He had folded it and put it on the back seat of the car. I looked this morning and couldn’t find it, which means it has slid up under the seat, or he removed it to his car or in the house.

 

Meanwhile, he asked me to look for the tan suspenders he had taken off his pants last night. Normally, he lays them on the bed table, but they weren’t there. He found two other sets of suspenders: one the wrong color, the other in need of repair. He decided to wear the black ones. However, by the time I was ready to walk out the door, he had found the tan ones on the shelf beside the dresser. I didn’t even snicker. I’ve found myself putting the milk in the freezer and the ice cream in the refrigerator too many times not to sympathize.

 

The quote2 for today is from Jay W Lorsch, professor, Harvard Business School, quoted in “For a Company Chief, When There’s a Whim There’s Often a Way” Wall Street Journal 1 Oct 84:

I think a lot more decisions are made on serendipity than people think. Things come across their radar screens and they jump at them.

;^)  Jan

Tags: serendipity

Open Letter to the Flint Hills Tourism Coalition

Sirs:

How nice to get your note. I'll be glad to put a link to your site in my blog. I don't have a whole lot of skill at this, so right now it's just a bit of text with the link inserted. Maybe when I get better at it I'll put in a picture of Wiley Coyote (a tree on the east side of the Turnpike at the 100 mile mark that used to look like WC hunched over a bomb-shaped bush--alas, fire and ice have taken away all likeness to the cartoon character). Maybe a view of cattle around the lookout on K-177 would be more comprehensible.

:^) Jan

Tags: shameless plug, Flint Hills Tourism Coalition

Gryphon's Word of the Day, March 25, 2007

The word of the day for March 25, 2007 is “hubris” — Pronunciation: 'hyü-br&s, Function: noun : exaggerated pride or self-confidence.

 

Went to see Pride this afternoon. There is no connection to the televised movie Proud, which I reviewed in January, except that the cast of each is mainly Afro-American. Pride is a sports story (swimming)—one of those in which you know the home team will win the championship after overcoming all odds. The name stars are Bernie Mac and Tom Arnold, but the protagonist of the story is played by Terrance Howard—who at least looks like a swimmer.

 

We chose to see Pride because Lloyd taught swimming at Kellom Pool in Omaha during the late 50’s and early 60’s. This was the pool closest to the “projects”: right on 24th Street, the main street through the Black neighborhood. He truly enjoyed life guard duty and teaching swimming and diving. The movie brought back many good memories for him.

 

The quote for today is from Stephen Vizinczey (b. 1933), Hungarian novelist, critic. repr. In Truth and Lies in Literature (1986). “One of the Very Few,” Times (London, May 11, 1968):

 

As both capitalist and communist states—not to mention the technological world—have evolved under the illusion that men purposefully built them, ideological optimism seeps into every niche of our lives. It is made worse by mass culture which feeds our most destructive illusions, fostering the belief that if we’re only justified (and who isn’t?) if we only calculate things correctly, if we only do the right thing (and who doesn’t?) then the future must yield the desired results. There must always be a way. And so hubris turns to false certainties, everyone expects to be a winner, and each morning is a mind-blowing surprise.

 

;^) 

Tags: hubris

Gryphon's Word of the Day, March 24, 2007

The word of the day for March 24, 2007 is “surrogate” — noun 1 a : one appointed to act in place of another : DEPUTY b : a local judicial officer in some states (as New York) who has jurisdiction over the probate of wills, the settlement of estates, and the appointment and supervision of guardians. 2 : one that serves as a substitute. 3 : SURROGATE MOTHER.

 

I had another word in mind, but lost it driving home through the Flint Hills. The Hills are between us and Kansas City. The are the closest thing we have to real scenery here in Kansas. I truly can’t imagine why the Pioneer women crossed the Plains, especially Kansas and Oklahoma. They were fairly ill equipped to live in such changeable weather. Yes, I realize that the women probably went without the heavy corsetry in vogue those days after the first day’s march. Still, open fires are not the easiest thing to cook over in long skirts—in the wind.

 

That’s not the real reason I’m writing about the Flint Hills though. We were in KC to see Cyb and Ryan. It was time to get the plans for their October wedding started. We’ve got the overview sorted out and delegated some of the tasks. Cyb has some lists and timetables to keep her on track. I’m trusting Ryan’s mom—as she lives closer—to nag and help with shopping. Sometimes it seems that eloping was a heck of a lot easier.

 

The quote for today is from Lt Gen Alfred M Gray, US Marine Corps:

 

I don’t run democracy. I train troops to defend democracy and I happen to be their surrogate father and mother as well as their commanding general.

 

;^)  Jan

Tags: surrogate

Gryphon's Word of the Day, March 23, 2007

The word of the day for March 23, 2007 is “subsonic” — adjective 1 : of, relating to, or being a speed less than that of sound in air. 2 : moving, capable of moving, or utilizing air currents moving at a subsonic speed. 3 : INFRASONIC .

A new machine is going into the shop area across the distribution aisle from us. This is a state of the art machine and also a very large one. They dug a hole big enough for a municipal swimming pool and then filled it with concrete. The rebar alone took a couple of weeks to set and weld.

Today I don’t know exactly what it is they are doing, but it shakes the entire building, somewhat like the woofers in the car next to yours at the red light. This has been going on all day. I’m glad I will be out of it in a few minutes, because my hair has been standing on end for the past hour or two.

The quote  for today is from William Shakespeare (1564–1616), British dramatist, poet. Macbeth, in Macbeth, act 5, sc. 5:

It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury;
Signifying nothing.

;^)  Jan

Gryphon's Word of the Day, March 22, 2007

The word of the day for March 22, 2007 is “tourist” — noun 1 : one that makes a journey for pleasure or culture. 2 : TOURIST CLASS.

 

I’ve been looking at maps. Lloyd wants to see Tim in a couple of months, so I get to plan the trip. If it were up to Lloyd we would just get in the car and drive to exhaustion. Don’t bother with reservations we can sleep in the car if we can’t get a room. Well, I’m a cranky traveler. Several years back I decided that if I have to travel, we will have a plan. If the plan doesn’t work, we can always change it.

 

Mind you if it can be changed, Lloyd will do it. He’s already decided that we’ll be close enough to San Francisco to go there. Now he’s trying to get me to get on a train for the trip. And he would like to go through Yellowstone. And can’t we stop in Elko, NV? And he’d really like to go through Tucson. It is apparently my job to say, “Not this trip.”

 

The quote for today is from Terry Pratchett, The Colour of Magic:

 

Tourist, Rincewind decided, meant "idiot".

;^)  Jan

Tags: tourist

Gryphon's Word of the Day, March 21, 2007

The word of the day for March 21, 2007 is “syzygy” — Pronunciation: 'si-z&-jE, noun : the nearly straight-line configuration of three celestial bodies (as the sun, moon, and earth during a solar or lunar eclipse) in a gravitational system.

 

Jeanie is a new reader of WOTD. She gave me this word, claiming that someone used it in a Scrabble® game. She must play with people like my husband, who will invent words just to get points. If you call him on the word, he will say, ”Look it up.” He is that lucky that 90 times out of a hundred there is a word spelled like that. I say “lucky” because he normally can’t spell worth beans. As I have probably mentioned we don’t play Scrabble® anymore—just too many opportunities to quarrel.

 

Since Scrabble® is out, we play Chinese checkers—which as far as I’m concerned is little better than tic-tac-toe—or dominoes. Nevertheless, I rarely win against Lloyd at either one. It has gotten to the point that unless he wins by a large margin, he doesn’t feel that he has won at all. As an alternative, maybe I’ll invite him to set up my telescope at the little park behind Campus High School to view the moon and whatever else is hanging in the sky. We’ve gone sky-watching before to see comets and meteor showers.

 

The quote for today is from Hugh Elliott, Standing Room Only, 04-18-2006:

 

You can call it the 'Perfect Moment' when the universe aligns and the music in your head actually matches the music outside and all is well.

;^)  Jan

Tags: syzygy

Gryphon's Word of the Day, March 20, 2007

The word of the day1 for March 20, 2007 is “vernal” — adjective 1 : of, relating to, or occurring in the spring <vernal equinox> <vernal sunshine>. 2 : fresh or new like the spring; also : YOUTHFUL.

“Spring has sprung and the sap is running,” to quote a game offered as a Junior High mixer. The vernal equinox is today: at 7:07AM CDT. I’m not going to try to set any eggs on end. The last time I saw that done, the perpetrator set the egg up in a mound of salt and then gently blew the salt away leaving just enough to hold the egg.

The weather liar claims it will rain on and off all week, which is much needed. At the moment there is much thunder and lightning. I was trying to explain “raining pitchforks and buckets” to one of our Romanians, but he looked really blank. So I tried “raining cats and dogs, with poodles in the road.” He just shook his head and walked away—but he was smiling.

The quote2 for today is from John Milton (1608–1674), British poet. Paradise Lost (l. Bk. IV, l. 264–268):

The birds their quire apply; airs, vernal airs,
Breathing the smell of field and grove, attune
The trembling leaves, while universal Pan,
Knit with the Graces and the Hours in dance,
Led on th’ eternal Spring.

;^)  Jan

1 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.
2 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.

Tags: vernal, word of the day, quote for the day, humor

Gryphon's Word of the Day, March 19, 2007

The word of the day1 for March 19, 2007 is “sanguinary” — adjective 1 : BLOODTHIRSTY, MURDEROUS <sanguinary hatred>. 2 : attended by bloodshed : BLOODY <this bitter and sanguinary war -- T. H. D. Mahoney>. 3 : consisting of blood <a sanguinary stream>.

Apparently, this was our weekend for extremely violent movies. Late yesterday evening, I watched a portion of what was apparently episode three of a series (by the Lifetime Channel) based on the characters from Tanya Huff’s Blood novels. I must say I was not impressed with the movie. It was a mish-mash of occult practices loosely related to the vodun religions: more specifically, zombies and their friends. I have always disliked the “puppet master” theory of bad behavior. Making zombies the culprits for evil is just not right.

Of course, movie makers and non-fiction publishers have never been known to let facts get in the way of a good story. Also, while I rather like Huff’s writing, her Blood novels remind me of the old Kolchak series, where Darrin McGavin met and dealt with the monster of the week. I much prefer her Sing the Quarters and Valor series.

The quote2 for today is from William Shakespeare (1564–1616), British dramatist, poet. Tyrell, in Richard III, act 4, sc. 3, l. 1-3:

The tyrannous and bloody deed is done,
The most arch deed of piteous massacre
That ever yet this land was guilty of.

;^)  Jan

1 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.
2 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.

Tags: sanguinary, word of the day, quote for the day, humor

Gryphon's Word of the Day, March 18, 2007

The word of the day1 for March 18, 2007 is "gratuitous" - adjective 1 a : given unearned or without recompense. b : not involving a return benefit, compensation, or consideration. c : costing nothing : FREE. 2 : not called for by the circumstances : UNWARRANTED <gratuitous insolence> <a gratuitous assumption>.

Bond-James Bond. Daniel Craig is not urbane, suave and debonair. I suppose that's fitting for Casino Royale where Bond is just starting out as 007. Dame Judi Dench is lovely as M. I always thought she (Dame Judi) would be the woman to play my mother-that sort of no-nonsense, knows where everyone is going wrong and willing to let them know.

This latest Bond movie certainly beats the 1967 version of CasinoRoyale all hollow. The earlier version had about five Bonds running amok, including Peter Sellers, David Niven and Woody Allen, of all people. It was little better than the MikeMyers spoofs. This latest version has some continuity, albeit along with much violence, gratuitous fire, people climbing buildings and leaping about as though they were in a chop-socki movie, sexual torture and collapsing buildings. This version is updated, so much so that Lloyd said at one point, "This film is about the cell phones, right?" Lloyd also said that, although he had been prepared to dislike it, Casino Royale turned out to be a decent movie.

The quote2 for today is from Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862), U.S. philosopher, author, naturalist. "A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers" (1849), in The Writings of Henry David Thoreau, vol. 1, p. 375, Houghton Mifflin (1906):

     The gifts of Heaven are never quite gratuitous.

;^)  Jan

1 Unless otherwise attributed, 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.

2 Unless otherwise attributed, the quote is from either Bartleby: Great Books on Lineor The Quotation Pages and is used by permission.

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

NOTICE: Unique Reclamation Project yard art for sale.


Tags: gratuitous, word of the day, quote for the day, humor

The word of the day1 for March 17, 2007 is “asterisk” — noun : the character * used in printing or writing as a reference mark, as an indication of the omission of letters or words, to denote a hypothetical or unattested linguistic form, or for various arbitrary meanings.

Happy St. Pat’s and top of the morning to you. We get our paper in the morning. I usually bring it into the house before I get into my car. Consequently, the only thing I read first thing in the morning is the headlines through the blue plastic data prophylactic our carrier provides. After work, I like to read the local news and the comics section. The amusement afforded by each is usually about even. Lloyd points out articles in the other sections that he thinks I need to read.

Although the comics are printed in the WichiTalk magazine section on weekdays, on Saturdays they are printed in the “Faith and Values” section (presumably for those of us who read the funnies religiously). No matter where the funnies are printed, they are always accompanied by the horoscopes. Since I read these, in effect, a day late, I get to read all of them and pick the one that fits my day. For instance, it's no wonder I had a bad day; Scorpio describes what happened better than Capricorn and got only two of five stars.

The quote2 for today is from Stanley Turecki (20th century), U.S. psychiatrist. The Emotional Problems of Normal Children, ch. 9 (1994):

     How can you tell if you discipline effectively? Ask yourself if your disciplinary
     methods generally produce lasting results in a manner you find acceptable.
     Whether your philosophy is democratic or autocratic, whatever techniques you
     use—reasoning, a “star” chart, time-outs, or spanking—if it doesn’t work, it’s
     not effective.

;^)  Jan 

1 Unless otherwise attributed, 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.

2 Unless otherwise attributed, 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.

Tags: asterisk, word of the day, quote for the day, humor

Gryphon's Word of the Day, March 16, 2007

The word of the day1 for March 16, 2007 is “lassitude” — noun 1 : a condition of weariness or debility : FATIGUE. 2 : a condition of listlessness : LANGUOR.

Usually, Lloyd and I play Chinese checkers or dominoes (sometimes both) after supper. This last week, I’ve been too sleepy of an evening to play. He doesn’t mind playing while I’m asleep; the outcome doesn’t usually change. Still I get annoyed when he flicks my nose to tell me it’s my turn.

I thought at first it might be sitting outside in the wind that causes my lassitude, but I have not been outside much this past week. Maybe I need a tonic or eight hours of uninterrupted sleep.

The quote2 for today is from Robertson Davies (b. 1913), Canadian novelist, journalist. repr. In The Enthusiasms of Robertson Davies (1990). “The Writer’s Week,” Toronto Daily Star (March 28, 1959):

Many a promising career has been wrecked by marrying the wrong sort of woman. The right sort of woman can distinguish between Creative Lassitude and plain shiftlessness.

;^)  Jan

1 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.
2 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.

Tags: lassitude, word of the day, quote for the day, humor

Gryphon's Word of the Day, March 15, 2007

The word of the day1 for March 15, 2007 is “ecdysiast” — noun : STRIPTEASER.

Joe Redner, owner of a Tampa, FL, strip club is running for city council. He promises to give free entry to his business to anyone who brings in his/her “I voted” sticker. This is, according to Redner, a $20 dollar value: the cost of the cover (or in this case, uncover) charge. His motivation was the low voter turnout of sixteen percent in the primary election.

Now this is perfectly legal, according to the Florida Division of Elections, since Redner is trying to get out the vote by making his offering impartially to all voters. His opposing candidate, Gwen Miller, said that although she did not intend to match her rival’s generosity—she said, “I haven’t anything to give away—she felt that any legal ploy that got voters to the polls was a good idea. I think I need to re-read Carl Hiaasen’s Striptease for his take on Florida’s political situation apropos the ecdysiast trade.

The quote2 for today is from George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950), Anglo-Irish playwright, critic. (1903). Man and Superman, “The Revolutionist’s Handbook,” The Bodley Head Bernard Shaw: Collected Plays with their Prefaces, vol. 2, ed. Dan H. Laurence (1971):

Democracy substitutes election by the incompetent many for appointment by the corrupt few.

;^)  Jan

1 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.
2 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.

Tags: ecdysiast, word of the day, quote for the day, humor

Gryphon's Word of the Day, March 13, 2007

The word of the day1 for March 13, 2007 is “classify” — transitive verb 1 : to arrange in classes <classifying books according to subject matter>. 2 : to assign (as a document) to a category.

I dreamed last night that my sister had been chosen to participate in a televised game show. If anyone would be a good contestant on a game show, it would be my sister. As a research librarian, she gets to look up all sorts of things that don’t impinge directly on her day-to-day. I, on the other hand, have definite categories to my interests. Sometimes I surprise myself when watching Jeopardy, but if the category is about network TV shows after about 1975, for instance, I rarely even understand the clue.

I woke up before my sister went on the game show. She was grumbling about the odds and trying to explain some mathematical equation that would illustrate her chances of actually winning. Don’t worry, DJ, as long as they don’t put Ken Jennings on against you, you’ll do all right.

The quote2 for today is from Roland Barthes (1915–1980), French semiologist. inaugural lecture, Jan. 7, 1977, Collège de France; repr. In Barthes: Selected Writings (1982). Lecon (1978):

Language is legislation, speech is its code. We do not see the power which is in speech because we forget that all speech is a classification, and that all classifications are oppressive.

;^)  Jan

1 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.
2 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.

Tags: classify, word of the day, quote for the day, humor

Gryphon's Word of the Day, March 11, 2007

The word of the day* for March 11, 2007 is “rubbish”— noun 1 : useless waste or rejected matter : trash. 2 : something that is worthless or nonsensical <few real masterpieces are forgotten and not much rubbish survives — William Bridges-Adams>.

This evening, the neighbor from across the street brought us a plastic, free-standing rack that will hold rakes and other garden implements. He offered to help Lloyd clean out the garage because he—the neighbor—also has some cabinets he would like us to take off his hands.

I don’t know whether he is just a compulsive neatnik, or whether he just wants to help the old folks out. We really should clean out the garage and throw away a lot of things like dull/broken rusty drill bits and other tools that haven’t been touched, let alone used for eons. Also dabs of spackle and car wax that dried in their containers years ago. Still it feels like we are being pushed. There’s no rush; The kids can box it up and send it all to the dump when we’re gone.

The quote† for today is from Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882), Lecture, March 3, 1884, in Amory Hall, Boston, Massachusetts. “New England Reformers,” Essays, Second Series (1844).

     Many a reformer perishes in his removal of rubbish,—and that
     makes the offensiveness of the class. They are partial; they are not equal to
     the work they pretend. They lose their way; in the assault on the kingdom of
     darkness, they expend all their energy on some accidental evil, and lose their
     sanity and power of benefit.

;^)  Jan

* Unless otherwise attributed, 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.

† Unless otherwise attributed, 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. 

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Tags: rubbish, word of the day, quote for the day, humor

Gryphon's Word of the Day, March 10, 2007

The word of the day1 for March 10, 2007 is “raptor” — noun  1 bird of prey. 2 : a usually small-to-medium-sized predatory dinosaur (as a velociraptor or deinonychus)

Hawks look really funny when they are on the ground. The way to Claudia's had about one hawk every five to ten miles. Most of them were in trees, but at least two of them were walking around, either just having made a kill or having just missed. They reminded me of Popeye in the cartoons.

The Canadian geese heading north have nothing to fear from the hawks in the vicinity. Most of the redtails are not large enough to take out one of those geese, who don't even look up from eating the winter wheat greening up in the fields. Then again, the Canadian geese are large enough and aggressive enough to take on a full grown human and make him unball his fist.

The quote2 for today is from Tiruvalluvar (c. 5th century A.D.), Tamil sage, poet. repr. Calcutta, Y.M.C.A. Publishing House (1958). The Sacred Kural, translated from the Tirukkural of Tiruvalluvar by H.A. Popley, vs. LIII.7 (1931):

     The crow does not hide its prey, but calls for others to share it;
      So wealth will be with those of a like disposition.

;^)  Jan

1 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.
2 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.

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Tags: raptor, word of the day, quote for the day, humor

Gryphon's Word of the Day, March 9, 2007

The word of the day1 for March 9, 2007 is “couture” — noun 1 : the business of designing, making, and selling fashionable custom-made women's clothing. 2 : the designers and establishments engaged in couture. 3 : the clothes created by couture.

 

Yesterday evening, Lloyd found the photo of Cyb that I wanted. I gave him two of the shoeboxes that house the bulk of our photo collection last night before I went to get my haircut. By the time I came back, he had set about five photos aside that seemed likely. My instructions had been to find the photo of Cyb, approximately age three, in a light green Easter dress.

 

 

Besides the photo in question, Lloyd found one of her, age five in a dark blue dress with ruffles; one, age 10, in silver stripes; one, age two in pink; one, age four in a blue and silver sequined dance tutu. Still he found the one I wanted, so I now I can show Cyb what kind of Easter dress Caitlin needs this year—an impossible task to find a replica. However, I have no doubt that Caitlin will be cute in whatever she wears Easter Sunday.

 

The quote2 for today is from Christian Lacroix (b. 1951), French fashion designer. Quoted in Observer (London, December 27, 1987):

 

Haute Couture should be fun, foolish and almost unwearable.

 

;^)  Jan

 

1 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.
2 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.

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Tags: couture, word of the day, quote for the day, humor

Gryphon's Word of the Day, March 8, 2007

The word of the day1 for March 8, 2007 is “democracy” — noun 1 a : government by the people; especially : rule of the majority b : a government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving periodically held free elections. 2 : a political unit that has a democratic government. 3 capitalized : the principles and policies of the Democratic party in the United States <from emancipation Republicanism to New Deal Democracy -- C. M. Roberts>. 4 : the common people especially when constituting the source of political authority. 5 : the absence of hereditary or arbitrary class distinctions or privileges

 

It struck me this morning that we are going about the Iraq business all wrong. If we want them to have Democracy, we need to tell them that they are not ready for it. We need to pull all our troops and civilian contractors out (before the British do, according to a Wichita, KS pundit, so we can blame the “loss” of Iraq on them). Then we tell Iraq that their president has just been upgraded to Pasha-King-High-Panjandrum. His word must be perceived as even more repressive than Hussein’s rule ever was. We must keep telling the Iraqis they can’t have democracy. They won’t be allowed to vote on anything because they can’t agree on anything anyway.

 

Arm everybody, including women and children capable of carrying a weapon. Mention to Turkey, Afghanistan, Kuwait, etc., that they might want to watch their borders for possible refugees. Offer the bordering states help in watching the borders (We do such a good job of that.) Then just watch. Either the Iraqis will kill one another off, or they will get it together and form a democracy just to prove us wrong.

 

The quote2 for today is from Oscar Wilde (1854–1900), first published in The Fortnightly Review (Feb. 1891). “The Soul of Man Under Socialism” (1895):

 

Democracy means simply the bludgeoning of the people by the people for the people.

 

;^)  Jan

 

1 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.

2 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.

Tags: democracy, word of the day, quote for the day, humor

Gryphon's Word of the Day, March 7, 2007

The word of the day1 for March 7, 2007 is “piracy” — noun 1 : an act of robbery on the high seas; also : an act resembling such robbery. 2 : robbery on the high seas. 3 a : the unauthorized use of another's production, invention, or conception especially in infringement of a copyright b : the illicit accessing of broadcast signals.

 

This is because of the movie, Deep Rising, which Lloyd and I watched on cable last night. It was sort of an amalgam of Aliens, The Posieden Adventure, Lost, Tremors and Ghost Ship. Most of the characters in the show could be characterized as pirates. They were certainly all out for the Main Chance, as were the writers and the rest of the movie crew. Although the characters played by Treat Williams, Famke Janssen and Kevin O’Connor survived to the end credits, you can tell that none of them will come to a good end. (The end line of the movie is, “Now what?!”)

 

Wonderful special effects abound with slimy gooshiness, skeletal remains and slightly off-color gore. Anthony Heald looks like a low-rent Nick Nolte. The dialogue was smarmy. The heroine manages to change clothes while escaping the monsters. Bombardier Ski-Doos get a big plug. Still, after a slow building start, the end is edge of the seat watching.

 

The quote2 for today is from Henry Brooks Adams (1838–1918), Letter, July 11, 1905, to Brooks Adams. Letters, Vol. 2, ed. Worthington Chauncy Ford, Houghton Mifflin (1938):

 

As for piracy, I love to be pirated. It is the greatest compliment an author can have. The wholesale piracy of Democracy was the single real triumph of my life. Anyone may steal what he likes from me.

 

;^)  Jan

 

1 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.
2 The quote is from either Bartleby: Great Books on Line or The Quotation Pages and is used by permission.

 

P.S.:

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Tags: piracy, word of the day, quote for the day, humor

Gryphon's Word of the Day, March 6, 2007

The word of the day1 for March 6, 2007 is “temerity” — noun 1 : unreasonable or foolhardy contempt of danger or opposition : RASHNESS, RECKLESSNESS. 2 : an act or instance of temerity.

 

I’ve been reminding people all last week and this that I am not omniscient. That’s right; I cannot know everything. I have been lucky that, in my career as answer-person. When I don’t really know—or have forgotten—the answer, I’ve gotten really good at making up something plausible. Much of the time I do get it right. Still, I am very careful to preface any bogus response with “IN MY OPINION.”

 

Sometimes I have to think about it a bit, so I go off on a rambling discourse to help me think. If my querant’s eye begin to glaze over, I know they have heard enough. When I haven’t a clue, time to make up an answer, or time for research, I usually give the questioner the source I would use and tell them to let me know what they find out. I learn all sorts of things that way.

 

The quote2 for today is from Titus Livius (Livy) (59 B.C.–A.D. 17), Histories, XXVIII, 42:

 

Temerity is not always successful..

 

;^)  Jan

 

1 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.
2 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.

 

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Tags: temerity, word of the day, quote for the day, humor

Gryphon's Word of the Day, March 5, 2007

The word of the day1 for March 5, 2007 is “retrospective” — adjective 1 a (1) : of, relating to, or given to the act or process or an instance of surveying the past. (2) : based on memory <a retrospective report> b : being a retrospective <a retrospective exhibition>. 2 : affecting things past : RETROACTIVE <retrospective laws>. 3 : relating to or being a study (as of a disease) that starts with the present condition of a population of individuals and collects data about their past history to explain their present condition.

 

In honor of Lloyd’s birthday today, we went to watch Zodiac Sunday. It was very well done—a mystery and suspense movie. Actually, the main reason we went to see it was that the action took place mostly in San Francisco. There is one good shot of the Golden Gate Bridge, the main draw for Lloyd. They also had a nice sequence of the TransAmerica Tower going up to show passage of time.

 

Every time a date flashed on the screen, Lloyd and I said things to the effect of “That’s when we were living in San Bernardino. That’s when we lived in West Sacramento and were going down to San Francisco nearly every weekend.” Living in California had some very creepy moments, including the time we went out on a picnic with another couple and their child whom we had just met. He mentioned that they intended to move out to this ranch, which was owned by a guy named Spahn, with his friend Charley. Since we were not interested in furthering the acquaintance, Lloyd and I never saw them again. That was about six months before the Tate/La Biancamurders. Shudder!

 

The quote2 for today is from Vladimir Nabokov (1899–1977), Lolita: A Screenplay, foreword (1974).

 

Complacency is a state of mind that exists only in retrospective: it has to be shattered before being ascertained.

 

;^)  Jan

 

1 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.
2 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.

Tags: retrospective, word of the day, quote for the day, humor

Gryphon's Word of the Day, March 4, 2007

The word of the day* for March 4, 2007 is “perilous”— adjective : full of or involving danger or risk <a perilous journey>.

It’s Claudia’s birthday. We had to send her present to her. Somehow one feels the mail will go through even when civilians don’t dare. I suppose it’s rather cavalier to not worry about the delivery people, but as Super Chicken used to say, “You knew the job was dangerous when you took it, Fred.”

One thing we sent to Claudia was not really a birthday present. It is a pair of rubber pliers that will take broken light bulbs out of the socket safely. She has had a non-functioning bulb in the dining room chandelier for some time, not wanting to break the bulb completely for fear of electrical repercussion. This little tool is supposed to take care of all that. I expect a full report soon.

The quote† for today is from Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882), “Wealth,” The Conduct of Life (1860).

     The sea, washing the equator and the poles, offers its perilous
     aid, and the power and empire that follow it.... “Beware of
     me,” it says, “but if you can hold me, I am the key to all the lands.”

;^)  Jan

* Unless otherwise attributed, 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.

† Unless otherwise attributed, 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.

Tags: perilous, word of the day, quote for the day, humor

Gryphon's Word of the Day, March 3, 2007

The word of the day* for March 3, 2007 is “migratory” — adjective 1 : of, relating to, or characterized by migration 2 : wandering, roving.

 

We have seen several robins in the neighborhood, back from South America this past week. The cardinals have been threatening one another for rights to the maple out front and the neighbor’s walnut tree. The walnut is not quite as desirable because the squirrels, who are year round residents think of it as theirs.

 

Although we tried to make our annual birthday pilgrimage for Claudia and Lloyd to celebrate their birthdays (being Sunday and Monday this year) we were dissuaded by the weather. Wes said they only got a few inches of snow, but the wind was fierce. Claudia lives barely twelve miles north, but they got nearly a foot of snow. Jo didn’t go to Iowa this weekend for the same reason. I think the birds need access to the Weather Channel.

 

The quote† for today is from William Shakespeare (1564–1616), Lear, in King Lear, act 3, sc. 2, l. 1-3.

 

     Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks! rage, blow!
     You cataracts and hurricanoes, spout
     Till you have drenched our steeples, drowned the cocks!

 

;^)  Jan

 

* Unless otherwise attributed, 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.

† Unless otherwise attributed, 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.

Tags: migratory, word of the day, quote for the day, humor