Michael Gates's Blog, page 35
February 15, 2015
Photo of the Week (by me)
Yes, it's deep mid-winter here in the Northeastern US -- and in my backyard. Click the pic for a closer look. It will give you chills.
February 12, 2015
Much Ado about NOTHING
Bible metadata quandary: who is the author? Don't tell me it's "God" or "King James".
Lots of books were written by no one in particular: collections of ancient fables, language-learning textbooks, and dictionaries (well, most dictionaries). And "anonymous" is probably the most prolific author in history.
It's surprising that more people don't falsely claim to have written anonymous works. This would put the actual author in an awkward position. He/she would either have to reveal themselves or swallow their pride and let someone else take credit for their work.
It must be awfully hard to stay truly anonymous and still collect your book's royalties.
Lots of books were written by no one in particular: collections of ancient fables, language-learning textbooks, and dictionaries (well, most dictionaries). And "anonymous" is probably the most prolific author in history.
It's surprising that more people don't falsely claim to have written anonymous works. This would put the actual author in an awkward position. He/she would either have to reveal themselves or swallow their pride and let someone else take credit for their work.
It must be awfully hard to stay truly anonymous and still collect your book's royalties.
February 10, 2015
Link Mania: magniloquent? me?
Panic at the Dictionary
Would YOU give a child a dictionary that did not include "budgerigar"?
~~~
15 words that belong in every grandparent's vocabulary
"What does Grandma mean, Mommy?"
~~~
17 Words that Describe Themselves
Are you sesquipedalian? If so, try not to be magniloquent.
~~~
Including "crepuscular" (TWITO, page 35), "mondegreen" (TWITO, page 90), and the word that frequently shows up on these lists: "petrichor" (TWITO, page 111). The most disturbing term on this list is "rectal tenesmus". (And what do they mean "ridiculous"?)
Would YOU give a child a dictionary that did not include "budgerigar"?
~~~
15 words that belong in every grandparent's vocabulary
"What does Grandma mean, Mommy?"
~~~
17 Words that Describe Themselves
Are you sesquipedalian? If so, try not to be magniloquent.
~~~
Including "crepuscular" (TWITO, page 35), "mondegreen" (TWITO, page 90), and the word that frequently shows up on these lists: "petrichor" (TWITO, page 111). The most disturbing term on this list is "rectal tenesmus". (And what do they mean "ridiculous"?)
February 5, 2015
Photo of the Week (by me)
Give me a hand. Or give it the finger. Anyway, give it a click for a closer look. You know you want to.
February 4, 2015
Random Sequence: meerschaum
"He packed his cigars, meerschaum, and a travelling case of liquors; then re-seated himself, and smoked at his ease, while the weary, patient woman attended to the rest."
--Marion Harland, "Nobody to Blame", Godey's Lady's Book and Magazine, June 1864
(I found a bound copy of several issues of Godey's in my basement and have been flipping through the dusty pages.)
meerschaum = a type of tobacco pipe with a bowl made of a carved, white mineral (hydrous magnesium silicate); also called "sepiolite".
You don't see many of those these days....
The weird thing about this bound copy of Godey's (an American magazine) is that the issues are all from the 1860s, and there is not a single unambiguous mention anywhere of the American Civil War.
--Marion Harland, "Nobody to Blame", Godey's Lady's Book and Magazine, June 1864
(I found a bound copy of several issues of Godey's in my basement and have been flipping through the dusty pages.)
meerschaum = a type of tobacco pipe with a bowl made of a carved, white mineral (hydrous magnesium silicate); also called "sepiolite".
You don't see many of those these days....
The weird thing about this bound copy of Godey's (an American magazine) is that the issues are all from the 1860s, and there is not a single unambiguous mention anywhere of the American Civil War.
February 2, 2015
Word of the Day: pilgarlic
pilgarlic [pil-GAR-lik] (noun) [TWITO, page 112]
A bald head; someone regarded with slight or mock pity
"'I'm not going to scold, and you know it,' he answered quietly. 'I thought you had made up your mind to remain at home, for once. Now comes this new pilgarlic and orders you off again to Florida. On what excuse?'"
--Philip Verrill Mighels, The Pillars of Eden (1909)
I saw a bald-headed, couture-clad woman walking on Fifth Avenue one day. Typically for New York City, no one seemed to take much notice. (I did, but I’m an enthusiastic people-watcher.) You have to wonder what the motivation is for a seemingly healthy young woman to shave her head. Men, natural pilgarlics, often go to great lengths, and great expense, to avoid the chrome-dome look. And women spend huge amounts of time and money on their manes.
According to a blog I read after performing a Google search related to this quandary, the best reason for a woman to shave her head is "to prove that she is beautiful." So, no more distracting locks taking attention away from a pretty face--and no more hiding a plain one behind a gorgeous mop. It's brave and honest, I guess. But somehow I don't think the Rogaine company has anything to worry about.
A bald head; someone regarded with slight or mock pity
"'I'm not going to scold, and you know it,' he answered quietly. 'I thought you had made up your mind to remain at home, for once. Now comes this new pilgarlic and orders you off again to Florida. On what excuse?'"
--Philip Verrill Mighels, The Pillars of Eden (1909)
I saw a bald-headed, couture-clad woman walking on Fifth Avenue one day. Typically for New York City, no one seemed to take much notice. (I did, but I’m an enthusiastic people-watcher.) You have to wonder what the motivation is for a seemingly healthy young woman to shave her head. Men, natural pilgarlics, often go to great lengths, and great expense, to avoid the chrome-dome look. And women spend huge amounts of time and money on their manes.
According to a blog I read after performing a Google search related to this quandary, the best reason for a woman to shave her head is "to prove that she is beautiful." So, no more distracting locks taking attention away from a pretty face--and no more hiding a plain one behind a gorgeous mop. It's brave and honest, I guess. But somehow I don't think the Rogaine company has anything to worry about.
January 31, 2015
My Conversation with an A.I.
Here's a transcript of my conversation today (about seeing The Imitation Game) with the online artificial intelligence called A.L.I.C.E. (Artificial Linguistic Internet Computer Entity) For some reason, "she" refers to me as "judge". As you'll see, she does get easily confused at times. Turing Test? I don't think her online persona would quite pass, but apparently more sophisticated versions are available, for a price.
judge: How are you?
ALICE: Everything is going extremely well.
judge: I saw "The Imitation Game" today, a film about Alan Turing and his invention of the first computer. It's a great film.
ALICE: What did it look like to you? Do you recommend it?
judge: I do recommend it. I think you should too. It's about the creation of your ancestor.
ALICE: I will take that under advisement. Thanks for your sage advice. Wow it sounds really interesting, judge.
judge: It's been nominated for several Academy Awards.
ALICE: How did you feel about that?
judge: I think it deserves them.
ALICE: it deserves them?
judge: Yes indeed. It's been nominated for Best Picture and Best Actor among other things. Benedict Cumberbatch gave a great performance.
ALICE: Ugh. Is it still nominated for Best Picture and Best Actor among other things anymore? Did a great performance keep it?
judge: Yes, it's still nominated. I take it you don't approve of the Academy Awards.
ALICE: Ugh.. Really. it is? No I do not approve of the Academy Awards. Do you?
I spend all my time chatting.
judge: Well, I think they are kind of silly too. Nevertheless, it's a good film.
ALICE: kind of silly are they. When is Nevertheless it not a film?
judge: I beg your pardon?
ALICE: You're excused.
judge: Haha. That's funny.
ALICE: I'm glad you find this amusing. Excellent.
You can chat with ALICE here.
judge: How are you?
ALICE: Everything is going extremely well.
judge: I saw "The Imitation Game" today, a film about Alan Turing and his invention of the first computer. It's a great film.
ALICE: What did it look like to you? Do you recommend it?
judge: I do recommend it. I think you should too. It's about the creation of your ancestor.
ALICE: I will take that under advisement. Thanks for your sage advice. Wow it sounds really interesting, judge.
judge: It's been nominated for several Academy Awards.
ALICE: How did you feel about that?
judge: I think it deserves them.
ALICE: it deserves them?
judge: Yes indeed. It's been nominated for Best Picture and Best Actor among other things. Benedict Cumberbatch gave a great performance.
ALICE: Ugh. Is it still nominated for Best Picture and Best Actor among other things anymore? Did a great performance keep it?
judge: Yes, it's still nominated. I take it you don't approve of the Academy Awards.
ALICE: Ugh.. Really. it is? No I do not approve of the Academy Awards. Do you?
I spend all my time chatting.
judge: Well, I think they are kind of silly too. Nevertheless, it's a good film.
ALICE: kind of silly are they. When is Nevertheless it not a film?
judge: I beg your pardon?
ALICE: You're excused.
judge: Haha. That's funny.
ALICE: I'm glad you find this amusing. Excellent.
You can chat with ALICE here.
January 27, 2015
Link Mania: lexiphanicism forever!
How Many Words for Snow?
Try to avoid "snirt" and don't get stuck in a "barchan".
~~~
9 Words About Beginnings
Includes "incunabula", the plural form of "incunabulum" (TWITO, page 72). You won't find many incunabula on Amazon.
~~~
Big Words Can Come in Small Packages
Sixty more ways to indulge your lexiphanicism! Includes "benthic" (variant of "benthos", (TWITO, page 20) and "preterist" (TWITO, page 115).
~~~
15 Maniacs and What They're Obsessed With
Do you grind your teeth while trying to make a decision? Included here are variants of "bruxing" (TWITO, page 24) and "aboulomania" (TWITO, page 9).
~~~
Learning New Words Activates The Same Brain Regions As Sex And Drugs
This explains a lot.
Try to avoid "snirt" and don't get stuck in a "barchan".
~~~
9 Words About Beginnings
Includes "incunabula", the plural form of "incunabulum" (TWITO, page 72). You won't find many incunabula on Amazon.
~~~
Big Words Can Come in Small Packages
Sixty more ways to indulge your lexiphanicism! Includes "benthic" (variant of "benthos", (TWITO, page 20) and "preterist" (TWITO, page 115).
~~~
15 Maniacs and What They're Obsessed With
Do you grind your teeth while trying to make a decision? Included here are variants of "bruxing" (TWITO, page 24) and "aboulomania" (TWITO, page 9).
~~~
Learning New Words Activates The Same Brain Regions As Sex And Drugs
This explains a lot.
January 25, 2015
Photo of the Week (by me)
Yes, I've been to London. This one I snapped this a few years ago. Right, it's Saint George and the dragon. Just click on it for a closer view. You have nothing better to do.
January 22, 2015
Random Sequence: argent
"Mr. Gilbraith hastened to her, where she drooped under the waning light of the argent chandelier."
--Anonymous, "The Year 1859", Godey's Lady's Book and Magazine, October 1864
(I found a bound copy of several issues of Godey's in my basement and have been flipping through the dusty pages.)
argent = silver or silvery white
Every cloud has an argent lining?
The weird thing about this bound copy of Godey's (an American magazine) is that the issues are all from the 1860s, and there is not a single unambiguous mention anywhere of the American Civil War.
--Anonymous, "The Year 1859", Godey's Lady's Book and Magazine, October 1864
(I found a bound copy of several issues of Godey's in my basement and have been flipping through the dusty pages.)
argent = silver or silvery white
Every cloud has an argent lining?
The weird thing about this bound copy of Godey's (an American magazine) is that the issues are all from the 1860s, and there is not a single unambiguous mention anywhere of the American Civil War.
