Michael Gates's Blog, page 26
September 14, 2015
Link Mania: Is it "beer o'clock" yet?
From bants to manspreading: what's new in the oxforddictionaries.com
When it's "beer o'clock" is it also "wine o'clock"?
~~~
23 emotions people feel but can’t explain
Such as "chrysalism": The amniotic tranquility of being indoors during a thunderstorm.
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12 pronunciations to help you avoid embarrassment in literature class
If you live in Schenectady you won't have too much trouble pronouncing "synecdoche".
~~~
7 Deep and Darkening Words Only Those Who Love the Night Will Understand
Writing a story about vampires? This list might help. But they forgot "mesonoxian" [mez-oh-NOX-ee-an] (adjective) [TWITO, page 88]: pertaining to midnight.
When it's "beer o'clock" is it also "wine o'clock"?
~~~
23 emotions people feel but can’t explain
Such as "chrysalism": The amniotic tranquility of being indoors during a thunderstorm.
~~~
12 pronunciations to help you avoid embarrassment in literature class
If you live in Schenectady you won't have too much trouble pronouncing "synecdoche".
~~~
7 Deep and Darkening Words Only Those Who Love the Night Will Understand
Writing a story about vampires? This list might help. But they forgot "mesonoxian" [mez-oh-NOX-ee-an] (adjective) [TWITO, page 88]: pertaining to midnight.
September 10, 2015
Random Sequence: hugger-mugger
"First, her father slain:
Next, your son gone; and he most violent author
Of his own just remove: the people muddied,
Thick and unwholesome in their thoughts and whispers,
For good Polonius' death; and we have done but greenly,
In hugger-mugger to inter him...."
--William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, Act IV
Scene V
hugger-mugger (adjective) = secretly
Or...someone who mugs people but then gives them a hug? "Sorry, sweetie, but I need the money!"
Next, your son gone; and he most violent author
Of his own just remove: the people muddied,
Thick and unwholesome in their thoughts and whispers,
For good Polonius' death; and we have done but greenly,
In hugger-mugger to inter him...."
--William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, Act IV
Scene V
hugger-mugger (adjective) = secretly
Or...someone who mugs people but then gives them a hug? "Sorry, sweetie, but I need the money!"
September 9, 2015
September 8, 2015
Story Cubes 7: Fish Tale
"I suppose dreams are the key to unlocking our repressed thoughts," Jacob said. "But why do I keep dreaming about a fish?" he wondered. "I took a nap earlier today, and it happened again. It seems so real. It's disturbing. I'd rather just keep snoring away and not have any dreams."
"What happens in the dream?" the psychiatrist asked. "Are you in it?"
"Yes, my hand reaches out for a stick, some kind of magic stick -- a wand. I wave it and a beautiful fish appears, swimming in midair. It makes me happy at first, but then, after a while, I feel sad."
"Why?"
"The fish is dying. Maybe because it's not in the water. It suddenly starts sinking toward the floor, heading right down, straight as an arrow. Plop! I pick up the fish, and it feels all slimy. It's dead."
"Hmmm," the psychiatrist said. "What does that suggest to you?"
"That I'm a fish out of water?" Jacob mused.
"I think you may have something there. But our time's up for this session."
"Here's my credit card," Jacob said. As the psychiatrist took the card, he could not help noticing a slight fishy smell emanating from Jacob's fingers.
"What happens in the dream?" the psychiatrist asked. "Are you in it?"
"Yes, my hand reaches out for a stick, some kind of magic stick -- a wand. I wave it and a beautiful fish appears, swimming in midair. It makes me happy at first, but then, after a while, I feel sad."
"Why?"
"The fish is dying. Maybe because it's not in the water. It suddenly starts sinking toward the floor, heading right down, straight as an arrow. Plop! I pick up the fish, and it feels all slimy. It's dead."
"Hmmm," the psychiatrist said. "What does that suggest to you?"
"That I'm a fish out of water?" Jacob mused.
"I think you may have something there. But our time's up for this session."
"Here's my credit card," Jacob said. As the psychiatrist took the card, he could not help noticing a slight fishy smell emanating from Jacob's fingers.
September 7, 2015
Word of the Day: ostrobogulous
What's the word I'm thinking of? Today, it's...
ostrobogulous [os-tro-BOG-yoo-luss] (adjective) [TWITO, page 105]
Something weird, bizarre, unusual or pornographic
"Mother doesn't want to go to the movies, She calls them agglomerations of ostrobogulous fantasies."
The furry tea cup ("Object", 1936) is by artist/surrealist Meret Oppenhieim. I saw it at the Museum of Modern Art a couple of days ago. Photo by me.
ostrobogulous [os-tro-BOG-yoo-luss] (adjective) [TWITO, page 105]
Something weird, bizarre, unusual or pornographic
"Mother doesn't want to go to the movies, She calls them agglomerations of ostrobogulous fantasies."
The furry tea cup ("Object", 1936) is by artist/surrealist Meret Oppenhieim. I saw it at the Museum of Modern Art a couple of days ago. Photo by me.
August 31, 2015
Photo of the Week (by me): Tailfins
I met this 1959 Chevy during the annual Madison-Bouckeville Antique Week in upstate New York earlier this month. It's not an antique car show, so I was surprised to see this well-preserved specimen of flamboyant mid-century styling there. I'm a fan of the the tailfin era, but those wings were a bit much, even for 1959.
August 30, 2015
Link Mania: Do you have 'cachet' or 'panache'?
7 Deep and Darkening Words Only Those Who Love the Night Will Understand
They forgot "mesonoxian" [mez-oh-NOX-ee-an] (adjective) [TWITO, page 88]: pertaining to midnight. Writing a story about vampires? This list might help.
~~~
Don’t Be a Ninnyhammer: 11 Old-Fashioned Words for Idiots
Including "jobbernowl" (TWITO, page 78) and "ninnyhammer" (page 96). My favorite here is "dunderwhelp".
~~~
16 Little Words and Phrases for Describing Small Amounts
Do you give a...hoot? Ouch, they forgot "pinch".
~~~
10 Words With Difficult-to-Remember Meanings
Nonplussed? Then you won't find this list dilatory. Do you have "cachet" or "panache"? Both? Wow....
They forgot "mesonoxian" [mez-oh-NOX-ee-an] (adjective) [TWITO, page 88]: pertaining to midnight. Writing a story about vampires? This list might help.
~~~
Don’t Be a Ninnyhammer: 11 Old-Fashioned Words for Idiots
Including "jobbernowl" (TWITO, page 78) and "ninnyhammer" (page 96). My favorite here is "dunderwhelp".
~~~
16 Little Words and Phrases for Describing Small Amounts
Do you give a...hoot? Ouch, they forgot "pinch".
~~~
10 Words With Difficult-to-Remember Meanings
Nonplussed? Then you won't find this list dilatory. Do you have "cachet" or "panache"? Both? Wow....
August 29, 2015
Open 'The Iron Box': Free Audiobook (and Free Kindle)
We interrupt our regularly scheduled cavalcade of ostrobogulous links and lexemes for this commercial message. My new audiobook (a short noir thriller with a 4-star customer review) is available from Amazon and Audible: The Iron Box. I have 25 FREE codes to distribute to anyone who would like to download and listen to this one-hour audiobook. Just leave a comment here and I'll send you a code.
You can also download the Kindle ediiton if you prefer to read. It's free on Kindle Unlimited: The Iron Box.
You can also download the Kindle ediiton if you prefer to read. It's free on Kindle Unlimited: The Iron Box.
August 27, 2015
Random Sequence: exsufflicate
"Exchange me for a goat,
When I shall turn the business of my soul
To such exsufflicate and blown surmises,
Matching thy inference."
--William Shakespeare, Othello, Act III, Scene 3
exsufflicate (adjective) = puffed up, windy, inflated
This word makes me think of a certain presidential candidate currently generating much media blather.
When I shall turn the business of my soul
To such exsufflicate and blown surmises,
Matching thy inference."
--William Shakespeare, Othello, Act III, Scene 3
exsufflicate (adjective) = puffed up, windy, inflated
This word makes me think of a certain presidential candidate currently generating much media blather.
