WOTD by Gryphon

VIOLENCE

I emphatically do not recommend the movie, Shadowboxer, starring Cuba Gooding, Jr. and Helen Mirren. The opening scene is of a small boy taking up a gun with a silencer while listening to a man and and woman—presumably his parents—in a physical altercation. After the credits run, things don’t get any better. My husband turned it off when it became evident that there would be torture of a sexual nature.

Instead we watched While You Were Sleeping, without a doubt my favorite Sandra Bullock movie. It does get a bit draggy in the middle, but Glynis Johns and the late Peter Boyle head up a great cast of supporting players. The most violent thing in the movie is when Peter Gallagher’s character falls onto the train tracks and Bullock’s character has to save him from being run over.

The word of the day for January 18, 2007 is “violence” — Pronunciation: \ˈvī-lən(t)s, ˈvī-ə-\ Function: noun
Date: 14th century
1 a: exertion of physical force so as to injure or abuse (as in warfare effecting illegal entry into a house) b: an instance of violent treatment or procedure. 2: injury by or as if by distortion, infringement, or profanation : outrage. 3 a: intense, turbulent, or furious and often destructive action or force [the violence of the storm]. b: vehement feeling or expression : fervor ; also : an instance of such action or feeling. c: a clashing or jarring quality : discordance. 4: undue alteration (as of wording or sense in editing a text).

Our quote for today is from Margery Allingham, Death of a Ghost, 1934:

When the habitually even-tempered suddenly fly into a passion, that explosion is apt to be more impressive than the outburst of the most violent amongst us.

;^)

SECURITY

A co-worker is taking a class for composite manufacturing. This comprises fiberglass layup and resin impregnation, for those of you who are mechanically declined. She was complaining that the class leader is not concerned with inhalation of fiberglass or resin fumes, nor with proper instruction on use of the various tools necessary for the work. When they saw that no inhalation masks had been provided, she and another co-worker who is taking the course went looking for enough to outfit the whole class.

I’d be leery these days of an instructor who was not concerned with safety. One wonders what other shortcuts are built into the teaching process? It’s on a much larger scale than the woman who provides the recipe for her famous cake with one ingredient missing.

The word of the day for January 17, 2007 is “security” — Pronunciation: \si-ˈkyu̇r-ə-tē\
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural se·cu·ri·ties
Date: 15th century
1: the quality or state of being secure: as a: freedom from danger : safety. b: freedom from fear or anxiety. c: freedom from the prospect of being laid off [job security]. 2 a: something given, deposited, or pledged to make certain the fulfillment of an obligation. b: surety. 3: an instrument of investment in the form of a document (as a stock certificate or bond) providing evidence of its ownership. 4 a: something that secures : protection. b (1): measures taken to guard against espionage or sabotage, crime, attack, or escape. (2): an organization or department whose task is security.

Our quote for today is from Willa Cather (1873 - 1947):

No one can build his security upon the nobleness of another person.

;^)

INUNDATE

My friend Carol, who lives in Colorado, said this past weekend they got another three inches of snow on top of the four feet already on the ground. I gotta tell you those Colorado folks know how to deal with snow. I think the only month they are not likely to get snow—at least in the mountains—is August. So they know how to stock up and hunker down when they are snowed in.

My sister said she had heard an interview with a woman from the West Coast who had gotten stranded in Kansas City with her six children during the weekend storm because the buses were not going east—St. Louis being snow-locked. Bad enough the woman has the kids with her, you say; however, on this trip her family had also been snowbound in Salt Lake City and in Denver. Although I wish her well and pray she gets safely where she’s going sometime soon, I don’t think I want to get on a bus with that woman.

The word of the day for January 16, 2007 is “inundated” — Pronunciation: \ˈi-(ˌ)nən-ˌdāt\
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form(s): in·un·dat·ed; in·un·dat·ing
Etymology: Latin inundatus, past participle of inundare, from in- + unda wave — more at water
Date: 1590
1 : to cover with a flood : overflow 2 : overwhelm [was inundated with phone calls].

Our quote for today is from Adrienne Rich (b. 1929), Storm Warnings (l. 12–14):

Weather abroad
and weather in the heart alike come on
Regardless of prediction.

;^)

HISTORICITY

Happy Martin Luther King Day (observed). Let’s start with the fact that I understand why labor unions had to come into existence, and why they have evolved into what they are today. However, I do wish they would all get together and stop pushing for Monday holidays. It is getting so that every holiday except Thanksgiving and the Winter Recess—which is another kettle of fish—is celebrated over a weekend including Monday.

Businesses like this for two reasons. Workers have three days mandated so that presumably they won’t take four. People who are not at work tend to shop. Of course, what really happens with a three day weekend looming is that people take the day before “to avoid the traffic.” Alternatively, they take Tuesday off to allow for hangover reduction.

The word of the day for January 15, 2007 is “historicity” — noun : historical actuality.

Our quote for today is from Napoleon Bonaparte (1769 - 1821):

History is the version of past events that people have decided to agree upon.

;^)

SUBLIMATE

At 18 degrees F. it is difficult to remember that the high temperature Thursday was 70 degrees F. Friday morning, the streets were icy—the sort of ice that results from a light snow melting and freezing in a thin glaze. By Friday noon, the roads were as dry as though the ice had never existed. However, the temperature continued to drop and the snow continued so that by Friday evening the roads were mostly slush covered. I DO love winter so.

To occupy our idle hours during the (projected) snowy weekend, I rented some movies. Inside Man we had seen before, but it is good action/suspense even knowing the ending. Same for Firewall, which I wanted to watch with the captions—not that I’m hard of hearing ;^) but the actors mumble and whisper so these days. Or when one watches British films, the music swells over the conversation. We also watched Proud, the story of the USS Marshall, the first United States ship manned by African-American sailors. A bit slow in places, for a war film, but Ossie Davis and the historicity of the film is worth the rental price.

The word of the day for January 14, 2007 is “sublimate” — transitive verb 1: chemistry to cause (a solid or gas) to change state without becoming a liquid. 2 a: To modify the natural expression of (a primitive, instinctual impulse) in a socially acceptable manner. b: To divert the energy associated with (an unacceptable impulse or drive) into a personally and socially acceptable activity. intransitive verb : chemistry to transform directly from the solid to the gaseous state or from the gaseous to the solid state without becoming a liquid.

The quote for today is from William Shakespeare (1564–1616), King Richard, in Richard II, act 4, sc. 1, l. 260:

O that I were a mockery king of snow,
Standing before the sun of Bolingbroke,
To melt myself away in water drops!

;^)

RAUCOUS

I was dreaming a great movie plot as I woke up this morning. It would probably have to be a Disney movie, as the principles were two early-teen girls. They were on their way to a Swiss finishing school: one with her parents, the other with a “minder.” The train on which they were riding had a car full of murder-detective game participants. A group of German soccer fans/players occupied the dining car. There was some mystery about an empty vase one of the girls carried, and something about having matching cameras. Then at a stop where the girls were allowed out for a bit of exercise, they were involved in an attempted kidnapping, thwarted by the soccer enthusiasts who were only too glad to have an excuse for a fight.

I woke up before a good denouement, but given the set-up, I can think of several good endings. So if y’all see this in a Disney movie next year, you’ll know where they got the plot.

The word of the day for January 13, 2007 is “raucous” — adjective 1 : disagreeably harsh or strident : hoarse [raucous voices]. 2 : boisterously disorderly [a...raucous frontier town — Truman Capote].

Our quote for today is of Aneurin Bevan (1897–1960), British Labour politician. Quoted in Michael Foot, Aneurin Bevan, vol. 1, ch. 10 (1962):

His ear is so sensitively attuned to the bugle note of history that he is often deaf to the more raucous clamour of contemporary life.

;^)

EUPHONIOUS

On the occasion of one’s birthday, people insist on singing “Happy Birthday” to one. I do it myself. I’m not going so far as to say that my co-workers are musically untalented. However, I will say that it is a Good Thing that they have regular employment here at the Company.

The “Happy Birthday” song is rarely played on the air. It’s copyrighted for another dunamany years. Royalties—as far as I know—are paid to Michael Jackson. That’s right, Jackson (or his agents) bought the rights along with a whole slough of other tunes from Apple Corps (Yep! The Beatles) years ago. If the rights haven’t been sold to pay for legal bills, Jackson still gets paid everytime the jingle airs on the radio or gets included in a movie. Boggles my mind.

The word of the day for January 12, 2007 is “euphonious” — adjective : pleasing to the ear.

Our quote for today is from John Cage (1912 - 1992):

If you develop an ear for sounds that are musical it is like developing an ego. You begin to refuse sounds that are not musical and that way cut yourself off from a good deal of experience.

;^)

CELEBRATE

Went over to Winchell’s Doughnuts first thing this morning to buy treats for the land sharks with whom I work. I told the sales clerk that it was my birthday. “And you have to buy your own doughnuts?” she asked. Yes, I said, I see it as an extension of Mother bringing treats to school for the child’s birthday. In general it’s easier not to depend on others to provide the festivities when you want to celebrate.

Since I was ten—and presumably safe to leave in the kitchen by myself—I’ve had to provide my own cake for the majority of my birthdays. There are memorable exceptions. Mother threw a surprize party for me on my sixteenth. I had been threatening to invite the church choir over after practice, so she arranged for some school friends to come over so I never made it to choir practice.

The word of the day for January 11, 2007 is “celebrate” — transitive verb 1 : to perform (a sacrament or solemn ceremony) publicly and with appropriate rites [celebrate the mass]. 2 a : to honor (as a holiday) especially by solemn ceremonies or by refraining from ordinary business. b : to mark (as an anniversary) by festivities or other deviation from routine. 3 : to hold up or play up for public notice [her poetry celebrates the glory of nature]intransitive verb 1 : to observe a holiday, perform a religious ceremony, or take part in a festival. 2 : to observe a notable occasion with festivities.

Our quote for today is from Lois McMaster Bujold, Mirror Dance, 1994 :

It's important that someone celebrate our existence... People are the only mirror we have to see ourselves in. The domain of all meaning. All virtue, all evil, are contained only in people. There is none in the universe at large. Solitary confinement is a punishment in every human culture.

;^)

MOBILITY

Cirque du Soleil announces a third date in Peerless Princess. Seems us back’rds folk here really do appreciate the finer things in life and managed to buy out the first two dates in record time. Lloyd and I are not going because he won’t go to see anything at the Coliseum, our largest local auditorium, on general principles.

I’m not fond of circuses myself, although we have taken the children to one or three of them. One of the things I like the least is the ringmaster’s role in hyping up the acts. All that “most dangerous feat” etc. designed to pump up one’s adrenaline. I know the feats are dangerous; I can’t carry my briefcase through the garage without getting hung up on the lawn mower or Lloyd’s car bumper. Circus people practice constantly and don’t attempt feats they haven’t perfected. Leave my adrenaline where it is and just let me enjoy the sight of people doing things I wouldn’t attempt.

The word of the day for January 10, 2007 is “mobility” — 1. The quality or state of being mobile. 2. The movement of people, as from one social group, class, or level to another: “There's been . . . restructuring of industry and downward mobility for Americans as a whole” (Lawrence W. Sherman).

Our quote for today is from George Eliot (1819 - 1880):

The important work of moving the world forward does not wait to be done by perfect men.

;^)

PAUCITY

“Be alert. The world needs more lerts.” As a bumper sticker motto, that makes excellent sense. Most bumper sticker mottoes do. Some however make you want to get out of the car at the stoplight and ask the driver what the heck his/her message means. Some of them make me want to get out and take a tire iron to the driver, but I always tell myself that the car is new to the driver, who hasn’t had a chance to remove the old stickers—s/he doesn’t really mean that.

The messages on most cars are political: the two-year-old campaign sticker and “Don’t blame me; I didn’t vote for Name”. Some are obscene—among which I include the little line drawings of children making water onto advertising logos, etc. and the silhouettes of (presumably) naked women. Some are personal: “My child is an honor student at Name of School or memento mori, “In loving memory of Name, 1956-2001.” Some are philosophical: anti-abortion, pro-ecology and religious.

The one of which I am still uncertain had a peace sign—circled crow’s foot—on the left and a cross—uncircled—on the right. The motto was “Choose which to follow.” Weellll, I suppose since the Prince of Peace said that He would come again with a sword, maybe that makes sense.

The word of the day for January 9, 2007 is “paucity” — 1 : smallness of number : FEWNESS. 2 : smallness of quantity : DEARTH.

Our quote for today is from Bertrand Russell (1872–1970), Unpopular Essays, “An Outline of Intellectual Rubbish,” (1950):

For my part I distrust all generalizations about women, favourable and
unfavourable, masculine and feminine, ancient and modern; all alike, I should say, result from paucity of experience.

;^)

LITERATE

A salute to my friend Rae who is now the coordinator for the literacy project run by Goodwill Industries Education & Training Center. She’s looking for volunteer tutors. I’d offer, but I know that I am not a good teacher. I have no patience.

Yet, I understand the need for teachers—not just the formal kind in classrooms on schedules, but the person at the grocery store who offers tips on what to do with the papayas one is eyeing with misgiving. One of the things I do at work is explain to co-workers how one of the computer systems we use works. I don’t mind it too much, except when Dumb-as-rocks asks the same question three days in a row. Never mind that I tell them to write it down, they can’t find the scrap they wrote on, again. I get to thinking, “Where do they come from, and why do they send them to me?’

The word of the day for January 8, 2007 is “literate” — 1 a : EDUCATED, CULTURED b : able to read and write. 2 a : versed in literature or creative writing : LITERARY b : LUCID, POLISHED [a literate essay] c : having knowledge or competence [computer-literate] [politically literate].

The quote for today is from: Katharine Fullerton Gerould (1879–1944), Modes and Morals, ch. 7 (1920):

Conventional manners are a kind of literacy test for the alien who comes among us.

;^)

BELEAGUER

We've been going down to the city park on the river to feed the birds for the past few weeks. There are Canadian geese, mallard ducks, two breeds of gulls, starlings, pigeons, and crows. Usually we either buy the off-code bread from the bread outlet, but once in a while we buy a 50 lb. bag of game corn, which cost about the same per feeding. The game corn is probably better for the birds but the bread is easier to get.

Yesterday, the ungrateful gulls anointed the car while we were tossing out the corn. I suppose that's because the gulls prefer bread. In fact, if we toss out an entire slice of bread, the gulls will converge on whichever bird picks up the bread and a melee ensues. They don't do that when we feed corn. Perhaps they just like an excuse for a scrum.

The word of the day for January 7, 2007 is "beleaguer" - 1 : besiege 2 : trouble , harass[beleaguered parents] [an economically beleaguered city].

Our quote for today is from William Shakespeare (1564-1616):

When forty winters shall besiege thy brow
And dig deep trenches in thy beauty's field,
Thy youth's proud livery, so gaz'd on now,
Will be a tatter'd weed of small worth held.
Then being ask'd where all thy beauty lies,
Where all the treasure of thy lusty days,
To say, within thine own deep-sunken eyes
Were an all-eating shame and thriftless praise.
How much more praise deserv'd thy beauty's use
If thou couldst answer, 'This fair child of mine
Shall sum my count and make my old excuse,
Proving his beauty by succession thine!
This were to be new made when thou art old
And see thy blood warm when thou feel'st it cold.

;^)

EPIPHANY

We plan to take down our Christmas lights today. We would have done it yesterday, but it was raining-that fine mist that gets up under your umbrella no matter what. The day before was too windy. We live in Kansas; what else need I say.

There's a superstition that all the Christmas decorations should be down by Epiphany (Three Kings Day to those who know about such things) Probably started by some harried housewife who wanted to involve her family in the search and pack-up of all the ornaments and candles. How on earth do pine needles manage to hide until August, and then manifest in the middle of the living room carpet just before the in-laws arrive?

The word of the day for January 6, 2007 is "epiphany" - 1 capitalized : January 6 observed as a church festival in commemoration of the coming of the Magi as the first manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles or in the Eastern Church in commemoration of the baptism of Christ. 2 : an appearance or manifestation especially of a divine being. 3 a (1) : a usually sudden manifestation or perception of the essential nature or meaning of something. (2) : an intuitive grasp of reality through something (as an event) usually simple and striking. (3) : an illuminating discovery, realization, or disclosure. b : a revealing scene or moment.

Our quote for today is from Reginald Heber (1783-1826), Epiphany:

Brightest and best of the sons of the morning,
Dawn on our darkness, and lend us thine aid.

;^)

INSIPID

Rented M. Night Shymalan’s Lady in the Water last night. It’s listed as a horror movie. I suppose that for eight to twelve year-olds, one might consider this horror. There seems to be a trend in these PG-13 “horror” movies: The Ring, The Village, etc. They have some gruesome scenes—without the grue—but they are not bone chilling horror as the original The Haunting or Louis Jourdan as Dracula.

My husband, Lloyd, asked me this morning how LitW had ended; he must have fallen asleep. Will I buy the DVD? No, nor would I buy the sound track CD if such a thing exists. Ho hum!

The word of the day for January 5, 2007 is “insipid” — 1 : lacking taste or savor : TASTELESS [insipid food]. 2 : lacking in qualities that interest, stimulate, or challenge : DULL, FLAT [insipid prose].

Our quote for today is from Logan Pearsall Smith (1865–1946), “Life and Human Nature,” Afterthoughts (1931):

Happiness is a wine of the rarest vintage, and seems insipid
to a vulgar taste.

;^)

OBESE

According to the freebie calendar from the pharmacy, January is Weight Loss Month. Well, I’m all for that. I’m giving up chocolate as one of my New Year’s resolutions. Partly because I’m way too fond of the sugars and fats that go with chocolate to make it superb. I think sometimes that chocolate, like coffee, is just an excuse to mainline sugar and cream.

The other reason to eschew my favorite treat is that the chocolate producers haven’t convinced me that their goods are created entirely without slave labor. As someone once said, “You can’t stamp an origin on every bean.”

The word of the day for January 4, 2007 is “obese” — having excessive body fat.

The quote for today is from: Gwendolyn Brooks (b. 1917), “The Anniad”:

Think of sweet and chocolate,
Left to folly or to fate,
Whom the higher gods forgot,
Whom the lower gods berate;
Physical and underfed
Fancying on the featherbed ...

;^)

CATARRH

Lloyd and I have been nursing some sort of cold/sinus infection/allergy nastiness since our Christmas travels. Let me just say that the people who inform us that we have x many miles of intestine, skin, etc. have way underestimated the amount (and capacity) of sinus cavities. When the neighbor came over Saturday to watch the Cotton Bowl with Lloyd , he brought a box of tissues as a hostess gift.

Nebraska lost, but Lloyd didn’t weep too hard. He’s been in a sort of quasi-mourning since Tom Osborne retired from coaching. Oh well, there’s always next year.

The word of the day for January 3, 2007 is “catarrh” — inflammation of a mucous membrane; especially : one chronically affecting the human nose and air passages.

Our quote for today is from: John Webster (1580?–1634), The Duchess of Malfi:

DUCH. I forgive them: The apoplexy, catarrh, or cough o’ th’ lungs,
Would do as much as they do.
BOS. Doth not death fright you?
DUCH. Who would be afraid on ’t,
Knowing to meet such excellent company
In th’ other world?

;^)

ADAPT

Back to work today: dredging up passwords, putting up a new calendar, adjusting to the schedule. The nearest restrooms in the building are still under renovation, which means we have to trek a half block to and from the next nearest. Makes one plan one’s day a bit more carefully.

Looking at the paper on my desk, I can see that no fairy godmother waved a wand at my cubicle during the winter hiatus. Fortunately, we are all in the same boat on this one. “I’ve slept since then” is on everyone’s lips.

The word of the day for January 2, 2007 is “adapt” — to make fit (as for a specific or new use or situation) often by modification.

Our quote for today is from: Martha Beck, O Magazine, "Growing Wings", January 2004:

Any transition serious enough to alter your definition of self will require not just small adjustments in your way of living and thinking but a full-on metamorphosis.

;^)

REGENERATE

I have decided to restart my Word of the Day series. Yes this is late, but I'll catch up and we'll be up and running Several years ago this was an ongoing monologue with a word and its definition, a paragraph or two loosely connected to that word and a quote for the day. You have been chosen to receive this daily e-mail because I like you. I encourage you to comment, but please don’t use the Reply To All button, as others on the list may have smaller mailboxes and/or smaller tolerance of spammed stuff. If you don’t wish to be on the list, just let me know. It’s much easier to remove a name than one would think.

The word of the day for January 1, 2007 is “regenerate” — 1 : formed or created again. 2 : spiritually reborn or converted. 3 : restored to a better, higher, or more worthy state.

Our quote for today is from William Wordsworth, 1888, ECCLESIASTICAL SONNETS, IN SERIES, 1821-22:

XVII. CONVERSION

PROMPT transformation works the novel Lore;
The Council closed, the Priest in full career
Rides forth, an armed man, and hurls a spear
To desecrate the Fane which heretofore
He served in folly. Woden falls, and Thor
Is overturned; the mace, in battle heaved
(So might they dream) till victory was achieved,
Drops, and the God himself is seen no more.
Temple and Altar sink, to hide their shame
Amid oblivious weeds. "O come to me,
Ye heavy laden!" such the inviting voice
Heard near fresh streams; and thousands who rejoice
In the new Rite, the pledge of sanctity,
Shall, by regenerate life, the promise claim.

;^)

PRIMUS

I am moving all my WORD OF THE DAY blogs to this new blog. When I have done so to my satisfaction, I will close out and delete the old blogs.

;^)