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

The word of the day for April 25, 2007 is “technology” — noun 1 a : the practical application of knowledge especially in a particular area : ENGINEERING <medical technology> b : a capability given by the practical application of knowledge <a car's fuel-saving technology>. 2 : a manner of accomplishing a task especially using technical processes, methods, or knowledge <new technologies for information storage>. 3 : the specialized aspects of a particular field of endeavor <educational technology>.

 

We bought a color tv early in our marriage. It was top of the line, 19", Quasar (which meant something in those days, but like "chlorphyll" and "minty fresh" was soon attached to things to which it need not apply) We hauled that tv all over the western US for three years. Then the picture went wonky.

 

I took it to the repair shop. The electronics doc replaced a tube. I took it home. The picture went bad within a week. I took it back to the shop. "Tsk," he says, "This happens all the time. One tube gets replaced and the resulting increase in power makes the others that were on the verge of going bad do so. Twenty-one tubes! I think it was every tube but the big one. We sold it to someone shortly thereafter because we intended to move to Puerto Rico. I wonder if that tv is still working.

 

The quote for today is from Arthur C. Clarke (1917 - ), "Profiles of The Future", 1961 (Clarke's third law):

 

Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.

 

;^)  Jan

Tags: technology

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

The word of the day for April 25, 2007 is “prorogue” — transitive verb 1 : DEFER, POSTPONE. 2 : to terminate a session of (as a British parliament) by royal prerogative. : intransitive verb : to suspend or end a legislative session.

 

In Georgette Heyer’s The Great Roxhythe King Charles II uses prorogation on a fairly regular basis. Granted the man had great provocation. Plots and counter plots abounded then as now. The parliament at that time was still divided as to whether they wanted a commonwealth or a king, but they did bring him back from exile. Then they refused to support him monetarily in the style to which he wished to become accustomed. Therefore Charlie made side deals with anyone he thought might come up with the cash. This did not endear him to the public.

 

This sounds so familiar in the light of what is going on today. We are led to believe a thing or a situation is as advertised. Our representatives get a bill of some sort before congress and vote it in so it looks like they are doing something about it—but they don’t vote in any funding. After reflection they usually insisting on such strict accountability that the proponents of the bill either have to come up with new and more convincing proof, or they have to drop their schemes. I leave it to the reader to discern to which situations I refer.

 

The quote for today is from Mason Cooley (b. 1927), U.S. aphorist. City Aphorisms, Fifth Selection, New York (1988):

 

To postpone unpleasantness is human; to forget it is divine.

 

;^)  Jan

Tags: prorogue

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

The word of the day1 for April 24, 2007 is “conunundrum” — noun 1 : a riddle whose answer is or involves a pun. 2 a : a question or problem having only a conjectural answer b : an intricate and difficult problem.

Today is the saint day of Ivo, also known as St. Ives. The Patron Saints Index says of him:

     “Bishop. Hermit at Huntingdonshire, England. The city of Saint Ives (formerly Slepe), Huntingdonshire, England is named for him. His gravesite was lost for years, but in 1001 four bodies were uncovered in an unmarked grave; one bore a bishop's insignia. A local layman had a vision that this was the body of Ivo, and all four were translated to the Ramsey Abbey. A spring soon appeared near the site of their interment, its waters known for healing miracles. A later vision convinced the brothers at Ramsey to return the bodies of the three companions to Slepe.”

This is also the saint day of St. William Firmatus, who gave all his money to the poor and went on pilgrimages the rest of his life. This would certainly save him from the sin of avarice. His major miracle while alive was striking the ground—with his pilgrim’s staff, following Moses’ precedent one supposes—at Dardenay to provide a spring of water during a drought. He is now the patron of headache. This makes sense if you think about it too hard.

The quote2 for today is the traditional conunudrum:

     As I was going to St. Ives
     I met a man with seven wives.
     Each wife had seven sacks.
     Each sack had seven cats.
     Each cat had seven kits.
     Kits, cats, sacks wives:
     How many were going to St. Ives?

;^)  Jan

Tags: conundrum

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

The word of the day for April 23, 2007 is “horticulture” — noun : the science and art of growing fruits,vegetables, flowers, or ornamental plants. 

Had to stop on the way home for some more grass seed. The plant nursery personnel explain that eight pounds of fescue seed will do for an entire lawn. They don’t understand my husband’s psyche. He seems to think that one has to completely cover exposed dirt to get a good crop. Along with many-day-old bread to feed the ducks and washing the car every three days unless it is actively raining or below freezing temperature, I can accept this. I chalk it up to hobby expenses. It’s not as if I never splurge a bit on books, DVDs or framing photographs or artwork.

I turned the seed over to him and complained that I could not find my trowel to dig out some weeds coming up in my flowerbeds. I finally found the dandelion fork and had at the volunteers. It’s a tossup between elms, maples, mimosa and cottonwoods as to which is the most annoying. They all try to make a home among my flowers. I know where the walnuts come from, though.The squirrels bring them from across the street, bury them and forget them. I may have to start charging them storage.

The quote for today is from Jean Cocteau, Newsweek 16 May 55: 

      An artist cannot speak about his art any more than a plant can discuss horticulture.

;^)  Jan 

Tags: horticulture

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

The word of the day for April 22, 2007 is "fertility" - noun 1 : the quality or state of being capable of growing or developing. 2 : the birthrate of a population.

The wind is so high that I have decided not to go to the Renaissance Faire. Instead I went out for some movies on disc so Lloyd can sit with his feet up this afternoon. The shopping and then mowing the lawn afterward tired him out. I knew it would, but it does no good to protest. I came home to find the neighbor from across the street planting flowers in the tiny piece of dirt between our porch and the walk. I hadn’t meant to do anything to that part until after vacation, I told her. Well, Darlene said, since I’m going to be watering while you’re gone, I might as well make it worth my while. Bless her.

Lloyd’s watching The Magnificent Seven Ride, a sequel to The Magnificent Seven at the moment. Earlier, we watched The Children of Men: another extremely violent movie.The politics of why people were shooting at one another was hinted at, but never really explored in the movie. Mostly the plot is people being chased by both unknown persons and the (unspecified) authorities all over, for reasons barely explained. The big question is not do they make it to safety, but why the heck do we care.

The quote for today is from Germaine Greer (b.1939), Australian feminist writer. Sex and Destiny, ch. 2 (1984): 

     The management of fertility is one of the most important functions of adulthood. 

;^)  Jan 

Tags: fertility

Addendum to April 21, 2007

Since Lloyd and I will be going on vacation in two weeks, my sister, the librarian, has offered to produce a faux word of the day for my readers while I am away. Since she would just be e-mailing her product to my list, but not posting to the journal, I invite my regular blog readers to write me at gryphondear@aol.com so I can add their e-ddresses to the list. Otherwise, they will have to wait a couple of weeks until I can post her messages to Gryphondear's Word of the Day

;^) Jan

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

The word of the day  for April 21, 2007 is “merchandise” — noun 1 archaic : the occupation of a merchant : TRADE. 2 : the commodities or goods that are bought and sold in business : WARES.
 
Lloyd and I went shopping for last minute items of clothing we must have before we go on vacation in two weeks. We couldn't find any trousers in a color and size combination that fit him, so I'm off to the catalogues again. We did find a pair of decent shoes, though. The are black, pebble-grained leather with a rubberized sole. They look comfortable, but as my feet are much smaller than his, I'll never know from personal experience.

When we were newlyweds, he had occasion to buy himself a pair of huraches from a street vendor in the Los Angeles, CA, area. He brought them home extolling his wonderful bargain. "You can wear them around the house while I'm at work tomorrow and break them in for me," he said. I put my feet, shoes and all into his sandals and just looked at him. Sometimes subtle works really well.
 
The quote for today is from Senator DANIEL WEBSTER (1782–1852) remarks in the Senate in favor of continuing the charter of the Bank of the United States, March 18, 1834.—The Writings and Speeches of Daniel Webster, vol. 7, p. 89 (1903):
 
     Credit is to money what money is to articles of merchandise. As hard money
     represents property, so credit represents hard money; and it is capable of
     supplying the place of money so completely, that there are writers of distinction,
     especially of the Scotch school, who insist that no hard money is necessary for the
     interests of commerce. I am not of that opinion. I do not think any government
     can maintain an exclusive paper system, without running to excess, and thereby
     causing depreciation.
 
;^)  Jan

Tags: merchandise