Joe's sitting next to me watching Battlestar Galactica. Now, though I'm not a fan of the show - I've never successfully stayed awake during an episode before, I've been asking questions on and off throughout this one. And what I've learned so far is this: Joe can't misuse the word "decimated".

Part of me rejoices at this - I'm married to a man as ( Read more... )

Since ranting has been on my mind this week (thanks totherealljidol ), I did a search in the global OED (thanks, Harvard) for the meaning of "rant". Below is what it turned up. I find it interesting that several of the results are for languages other than English. I also quite like the idea of a rant being a jig. Hurrah for dancing!

Finally--before I let you get ( Read more... )

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[Update - am trying to remember to use the cuts. Please remind me when I forget!]

I stumbled upon this discussion of myth and folktale while reading up for The Dead Wife. It's really an interesting read, though it's important to bear in the mind that the paper it's excerpted from is from 1900, and that some of the ideas/principles herein are no ( Read more... )

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We’re all familiar with this word-chances are if you’ve never been called a geek, you’ve at least called someone else a geek. It’s even fast becoming common practice to say, after admitting a particular kind of knowledge, “Yep, I just geeked myself”. Attitudes about the term vary; some people proudly proclaim their geekdom, almost as if hoping to ( Read more... )

There needs to be a sarcasm font. Seriously. Without a special sarcasm font, how will I know when to laugh at Mike Huckabee? How will the non-scientific-speaking public learn that “Yeah, the eye, that’s great proof of ID?” is not a vote in their favour?

Fortunately, I have a solution. From this day forth, I declare GEORGIA sarcasm font.
Note: If ( Read more... )

The Oxford English Dictionary is my go to guide for all things etymological. It’s the most loved book in my collection, and I often fantasise about having the full twenty-six volumes at my disposal, any time of the day or night. (I find the dictionary soothing during my occasional bouts of insomnia ( Read more... )