Michael Gates's Blog, page 65
September 2, 2013
Word of the Day: sudoriferous
What's "the word I'm thinking of" this Labor Day? It's....
sudoriferous [soo-duh-RIF-er-us] (adjective)
Producing or secreting sweat
"'It is absurd to expect a man of my capabilities to engage in sudoriferous efforts,' declared Dr. Smith as the Major handed him a shovel. He considered any physical labor beneath him, much to the annoyance of the shipwrecked crew."
~~~
Be forewarned; the Google images for this word are icky.
sudoriferous [soo-duh-RIF-er-us] (adjective)
Producing or secreting sweat
"'It is absurd to expect a man of my capabilities to engage in sudoriferous efforts,' declared Dr. Smith as the Major handed him a shovel. He considered any physical labor beneath him, much to the annoyance of the shipwrecked crew."
~~~
Be forewarned; the Google images for this word are icky.
August 29, 2013
Flying or Falling?
It's often hard to tell. You can do both at once -- metaphorically speaking.
Flying of Falling?
It's often hard to tell. You can do both at once -- metaphorically speaking.
August 28, 2013
Brain Dump
Important Safety Information about QUALMIZONE
QUALMIZONE is not right for everyone, including introverts, who have reported uncontrollable karaoke and moonwalking impulses when taking QUALMIZONE, as well as anyone with delusions of grandeur, or women who are crabby, cranky, or who may become cranky. Your doctor should do sanity tests before and during treatment with QUALMIZONE to monitor the associated intermittent hysteria. Unexplained satyriasis or nymphomania could be a sign of a rare but popular side effect and should be reported to your friends, acquaintances and coworkers right away. Elevated sleaze levels have been reported with QUALMIZONE; be sure to tell your doctor if you are taking any resulting crap. Side effects: The most common side effects are anal hiccups, incompetence, silliness, and compulsive blogging.
QUALMIZONE is not right for everyone, including introverts, who have reported uncontrollable karaoke and moonwalking impulses when taking QUALMIZONE, as well as anyone with delusions of grandeur, or women who are crabby, cranky, or who may become cranky. Your doctor should do sanity tests before and during treatment with QUALMIZONE to monitor the associated intermittent hysteria. Unexplained satyriasis or nymphomania could be a sign of a rare but popular side effect and should be reported to your friends, acquaintances and coworkers right away. Elevated sleaze levels have been reported with QUALMIZONE; be sure to tell your doctor if you are taking any resulting crap. Side effects: The most common side effects are anal hiccups, incompetence, silliness, and compulsive blogging.
August 26, 2013
LInk Mania: Zentences
"Our tragicomic dialogue can make everything beautiful"
At zentences, you can generate a seemingly endless number of gnomic pearls (as above) and rhetorical questions (requires Flash). They might even serve as prompts for quirky essays (or daydreams), if you're a philosophical sort. Examples:
Sanity approaches the infinite?
Diligence has its roots in the earth.
Silence is seen by the Third Eye.
Perserverance seems to be a mad dance of electrons.
Wonder feels warm?
The Garden of Eden cannot be a majority decision.
That last one struck me. I don't think the "Garden of Eden" (meaning paradise, nirvana, utopia or even "the good life") can ever be defined by a majority. We all have to find our own little island of satisfaction, even if it takes a lifetime. Your heaven might be my hell, or purgatory. And vice versa.
~~~
Meanwhile....
How to Be Yourself
At zentences, you can generate a seemingly endless number of gnomic pearls (as above) and rhetorical questions (requires Flash). They might even serve as prompts for quirky essays (or daydreams), if you're a philosophical sort. Examples:
Sanity approaches the infinite?
Diligence has its roots in the earth.
Silence is seen by the Third Eye.
Perserverance seems to be a mad dance of electrons.
Wonder feels warm?
The Garden of Eden cannot be a majority decision.
That last one struck me. I don't think the "Garden of Eden" (meaning paradise, nirvana, utopia or even "the good life") can ever be defined by a majority. We all have to find our own little island of satisfaction, even if it takes a lifetime. Your heaven might be my hell, or purgatory. And vice versa.
~~~
Meanwhile....
How to Be Yourself
August 25, 2013
Word of the Day: habile
What's "the word I'm thinking of"? Today, it's....
habile [HAB-ihl] (adjective)
Generally able or adroit; handy
Professor Allenby fixed the roof himself, and thought he'd proved "habile" with a hammer and nails. Then the first rains came.
~~~
Nice word, but I don't think I'd trust a handyman who said he was "habile with a hammer".
habile [HAB-ihl] (adjective)
Generally able or adroit; handy
Professor Allenby fixed the roof himself, and thought he'd proved "habile" with a hammer and nails. Then the first rains came.
~~~
Nice word, but I don't think I'd trust a handyman who said he was "habile with a hammer".
August 22, 2013
Random Sequence
Will watched a troop of ants scuttle across the train platform's miniature moonscape. They seemed to be dragging crumbs toward a crack in the concrete. He ticked off a list of adjectives in his head: mindless, obsessive, disgusting. He had a sudden urge to drop the heavy stack of paper flyers he was holding and kill them all.
--from "The Burden" (by me), originally published by Ululation.com
--from "The Burden" (by me), originally published by Ululation.com
August 21, 2013
Head Rattle
I.Let's say a wormhole appeared under your sofa. Would you be tempted to jump in, not knowing where you'd come out on the other side? I'm "reading" a novel about that very subject. In the book, many people feel tempted and jump in, never to return. Which led me to an interesting thought: Don't we all end up in a hole, sooner or later, never to return?
II.I have shelved any near-future plans I may have had to visit the Pyramids.
III.Hello, NSA analyst. I hope this blog brightens your day. C-4 Semtex.
II.I have shelved any near-future plans I may have had to visit the Pyramids.
III.Hello, NSA analyst. I hope this blog brightens your day. C-4 Semtex.
August 20, 2013
Link Mania
"The Codex Seraphinianus was written and illustrated by Italian graphic designer and architect Luigi Serafini during the late 1970s. The Codex is a lavishly produced book that purports to be an encyclopedia for an imaginary world in a parallel universe, with copious comments in an incomprehensible language. It is written in a florid script, entirely invented and completely illegible, and illustrated with watercolor paintings."
You can read more about this strange book and see examples of the Bosch-like illustrations here. It shares some similarities with the famous (infamous?) Voynich Manuscript.
T'would be an interesting volume to possess in full-color print, if it didn't cost "from $600" on Amazon....
You can read more about this strange book and see examples of the Bosch-like illustrations here. It shares some similarities with the famous (infamous?) Voynich Manuscript.
T'would be an interesting volume to possess in full-color print, if it didn't cost "from $600" on Amazon....
August 19, 2013
Word of the Day: coriaceous
What's "the word I'm thinking of"? Today, it's....
coriaceous [kor-ee-AY-shuss](adjective)
Having the appearance of leather
"After so many decades at sea, Captain Smyth's coriaceous face told a salty story, punctuated by two oceanic eyes."
Don't forget your sunscreen....
coriaceous [kor-ee-AY-shuss](adjective)
Having the appearance of leather
"After so many decades at sea, Captain Smyth's coriaceous face told a salty story, punctuated by two oceanic eyes."
Don't forget your sunscreen....
