Sunday, November 30, 2008
Sunday, November 2, 2008
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:
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):
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):
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:
;^)
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!
;^)
Saturday, November 1, 2008
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):
;^)
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 :
;^)
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):
;^)
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.
;^)
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