Photo Credit: Chris Whitney
Location: Alabama Hills/Eastern Sierra, looking East at sunset
Without leaps of imagination or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities. Dreaming, after all is a form of planning.
-- Gloria Steinem
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Tibbetts Brook Park in Yonkers, NY
Photo Credit: June Marie Sobrito
Location: Tibbetts Brook Park in Yonkers, NY
You have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life.
-- Winston Churchill
Barrow Falls Rd. Abbot, ME.
Photo Credit: Tracy Crawford
Location: Barrow Falls Rd. Abbot, ME.
Be as beautiful as you can be, for yourself first, and then to anyone else with enough good sense to see it, too.
-- Maya Angelou
Los Altos, California
Photo Credit: Lydia Joubert
Location: Los Altos, California
Do anything, but let it produce joy. Do anything, but let it yield ecstasy.
-- Henry Miller
Anchorage, Alaska
Photo Credit: Cindy Zackowitz
Location: Anchorage, Alaska
One kind word can warm three winter months.
-- Japanese Proverb
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Quotes
“Imagination is the highest kite that one can fly.” -- Lauren Bacall
“Out of damp and gloomy days, out of solitude, out of loveless words directed at us, conclusions grow up in us like fungus: one morning they are there, we know not how, and they gaze upon us, morose and gray. Woe to the thinker who is not the gardener but only the soil of the plants that grow in him.” -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“Don't dream it, be it.” -- Frankenfurter, Rocky Horror Picture Show
“Let your soul stand cool and composed before a million universes.” -- Walt Whitman
“Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather.” John Ruskin
“Out of damp and gloomy days, out of solitude, out of loveless words directed at us, conclusions grow up in us like fungus: one morning they are there, we know not how, and they gaze upon us, morose and gray. Woe to the thinker who is not the gardener but only the soil of the plants that grow in him.” -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“Don't dream it, be it.” -- Frankenfurter, Rocky Horror Picture Show
“Let your soul stand cool and composed before a million universes.” -- Walt Whitman
“Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather.” John Ruskin
Words of the Day
Recalcitrant \rih-KAL-sih-truhnt\, adjective:
Stubbornly resistant to and defiant of authority or restraint.
If they lingered too long, Clarice hurried them along in the same annoyed way she rushed recalcitrant goats through the gate.
-- Kaye Gibbons, On the Occasion of My Last Afternoon
Even then it took a sympathetic bankruptcy judge to convince a group of recalcitrant lenders that it was in their best interest to drop their opposition.
-- "So Far So Good", New York Times, May 18, 2009
This recalcitrant fellow was the only dissenter in an otherwise unanimous recommendation.
-- Sherwin B. Nuland, "Indoctrinology", New Republic, February 19, 2001
Cogitate \KOJ-uh-tayt\, intransitive verb:
1. To think deeply or intently; to ponder; to meditate.
2. To think about; to ponder on; to meditate upon; to plan or plot.
As she waited in the prison anteroom to be admitted, Bitsey read background file clippings from NEWS Magazine's morgue and cogitated on the idea of knowing one's exact date of death beforehand.
-- Dewey Gram, The Life of David Gale
Elliot seems to have been a serious type, given to New Year's Eves reading Shakespeare and cogitating on the sermon preached at his grandfather's funeral.
-- James Reaney, "They partied like it's 1899", London Free Press, January 3, 1999
Doc Leach shifted his pipe from one corner of his mouth to the other and blinked a couple of times. That meant he was cogitating.
-- Monty Roberts, The Man Who Listens To Horses
ratiocination \rash-ee-ah-suh-NAY-shun; rash-ee-oh-\, noun:
The process of logical reasoning.
For all their vaunted powers of ratiocination, grand masters of chess tend to be a skittery lot.
-- "People", Time, October 26, 1987
The adventures of Sherlock Holmes proved so popular that it became a given that mystery tales should include a sleuth who investigates a murder or other crime, and by virtue of intelligence, ratiocination and perseverance solves a case that initially seemed unsolvable.
-- Maxim Jakubowski, "A beginner's guide to crime fiction", The Guardian, October 29, 1999
Anticipating Sir Arthur Conan Doyle by more than 20 years, an American physician named John Babbington Williams was scribbling stories extolling the fictional exploits of James Brampton, a New York detective with uncanny gifts of observation and ratiocination.
-- Marilyn Stasio, "Guilt's Companion ", New York Times, December 26, 2008
solicitous \suh-LIS-uh-tuhs\, adjective:
1. Manifesting or expressing care or concern.
2. Full of anxiety or concern; apprehensive.
3. Extremely careful; meticulous.
4. Full of desire; eager.
He does not appear to have suffered from homesickness, although the suspicion that this might have been due to the unsatisfactory nature of his 'home' life seems belied by the tone and content of his letters; he makes frequent and solicitous inquiries after not only Mabel and his mother but also his father.
-- Matthew Sturgis, Aubrey Beardsley: A Biography
She was often solicitous of her daughter's feelings and intense reactions, trying to shield her from emotional trauma.
-- Adrienne Fried Block, Amy Beach, Passionate Victorian
He . . . was excessively solicitous, constantly apologizing for the car's poor suspension, the heat, the state of the roads, and the insane behavior of other drivers.
-- John Case, The Genesis Code
He was also solicitous of my health and would notice when I was tired or under great strain.
-- Cartha D. "Deke" DeLoach, Hoover's FBI
fatuous \FACH-oo-uhs\, adjective:
1. Inanely foolish and unintelligent; stupid.
2. Illusory; delusive.
Publishers persist in the fatuous belief that a little hocus-pocus in the front flap blurb will so dazzle readers that they'll be too dazed to notice the quality of what's on the pages inside.
-- "A night in the city", Irish Times, October 7, 1997
No enquiry, however fatuous or ill informed, failed to receive his full attention, nor was any irrelevant personal information treated as less than engrossing.
-- Michael Palin, Hemingway's Chair
A hundred feet or so below him people were milling around, some of them beginning to look up expectantly. Clearing space for him. Even temporarily calling off the wonderful and completely fatuous hunt for Wockets.
-- Douglas Adams, The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Stubbornly resistant to and defiant of authority or restraint.
If they lingered too long, Clarice hurried them along in the same annoyed way she rushed recalcitrant goats through the gate.
-- Kaye Gibbons, On the Occasion of My Last Afternoon
Even then it took a sympathetic bankruptcy judge to convince a group of recalcitrant lenders that it was in their best interest to drop their opposition.
-- "So Far So Good", New York Times, May 18, 2009
This recalcitrant fellow was the only dissenter in an otherwise unanimous recommendation.
-- Sherwin B. Nuland, "Indoctrinology", New Republic, February 19, 2001
Cogitate \KOJ-uh-tayt\, intransitive verb:
1. To think deeply or intently; to ponder; to meditate.
2. To think about; to ponder on; to meditate upon; to plan or plot.
As she waited in the prison anteroom to be admitted, Bitsey read background file clippings from NEWS Magazine's morgue and cogitated on the idea of knowing one's exact date of death beforehand.
-- Dewey Gram, The Life of David Gale
Elliot seems to have been a serious type, given to New Year's Eves reading Shakespeare and cogitating on the sermon preached at his grandfather's funeral.
-- James Reaney, "They partied like it's 1899", London Free Press, January 3, 1999
Doc Leach shifted his pipe from one corner of his mouth to the other and blinked a couple of times. That meant he was cogitating.
-- Monty Roberts, The Man Who Listens To Horses
ratiocination \rash-ee-ah-suh-NAY-shun; rash-ee-oh-\, noun:
The process of logical reasoning.
For all their vaunted powers of ratiocination, grand masters of chess tend to be a skittery lot.
-- "People", Time, October 26, 1987
The adventures of Sherlock Holmes proved so popular that it became a given that mystery tales should include a sleuth who investigates a murder or other crime, and by virtue of intelligence, ratiocination and perseverance solves a case that initially seemed unsolvable.
-- Maxim Jakubowski, "A beginner's guide to crime fiction", The Guardian, October 29, 1999
Anticipating Sir Arthur Conan Doyle by more than 20 years, an American physician named John Babbington Williams was scribbling stories extolling the fictional exploits of James Brampton, a New York detective with uncanny gifts of observation and ratiocination.
-- Marilyn Stasio, "Guilt's Companion ", New York Times, December 26, 2008
solicitous \suh-LIS-uh-tuhs\, adjective:
1. Manifesting or expressing care or concern.
2. Full of anxiety or concern; apprehensive.
3. Extremely careful; meticulous.
4. Full of desire; eager.
He does not appear to have suffered from homesickness, although the suspicion that this might have been due to the unsatisfactory nature of his 'home' life seems belied by the tone and content of his letters; he makes frequent and solicitous inquiries after not only Mabel and his mother but also his father.
-- Matthew Sturgis, Aubrey Beardsley: A Biography
She was often solicitous of her daughter's feelings and intense reactions, trying to shield her from emotional trauma.
-- Adrienne Fried Block, Amy Beach, Passionate Victorian
He . . . was excessively solicitous, constantly apologizing for the car's poor suspension, the heat, the state of the roads, and the insane behavior of other drivers.
-- John Case, The Genesis Code
He was also solicitous of my health and would notice when I was tired or under great strain.
-- Cartha D. "Deke" DeLoach, Hoover's FBI
fatuous \FACH-oo-uhs\, adjective:
1. Inanely foolish and unintelligent; stupid.
2. Illusory; delusive.
Publishers persist in the fatuous belief that a little hocus-pocus in the front flap blurb will so dazzle readers that they'll be too dazed to notice the quality of what's on the pages inside.
-- "A night in the city", Irish Times, October 7, 1997
No enquiry, however fatuous or ill informed, failed to receive his full attention, nor was any irrelevant personal information treated as less than engrossing.
-- Michael Palin, Hemingway's Chair
A hundred feet or so below him people were milling around, some of them beginning to look up expectantly. Clearing space for him. Even temporarily calling off the wonderful and completely fatuous hunt for Wockets.
-- Douglas Adams, The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
FACT OF THE DAY
Puffer fish
A puffer fish inflates its body with water into a spherical shape in order to defend itself. When the puffer fish is distended, it can barely move, but its spines and size make it practically impossible to attack. When it is lifted out of the water, it can still inflate with air as a defense. In Japan, the puffer fish is called fugu and the meat is considered a delicacy. However, puffer fish contain a highly toxic substance in the liver and intestines, so unless the preparation is done very carefully, the meat can be deadly; about 100 people die annually in Japan from eating puffer fish. The puffer fish is one of the few fish species that can blink and close its eyes. It also goes by the name swellfish or blowfish.
Co-op City
Co-op City, in the Bronx, New York, is the largest cooperative housing complex in the United States. It consists of 15,372 apartments and houses more than 60,000 residents. Co-op City opened on December 10, 1968 with the purpose of keeping middle-class people from moving out of the city and into the suburbs.
Clown
A clown is a character of pantomime and circus, known by the distinctive makeup and costume, ludicrous antics, and buffoonery. The earliest ancestors of the clown flourished in ancient Greece and Rome; they were bald-headed buffoons who performed in farces and mime, parodying the actions of more serious characters and sometimes pelting the spectators with nuts. The clown formed part of the acts of medieval minstrels and jugglers but was not considered a professional comic actor until the late Middle Ages when traveling entertainers imitated the antics of the court jesters. The traditional whiteface makeup of the clown was likely introduced by the character of Pierrot (or Pedrolino), the French clown with a bald head and flour-whitened face who first appeared during the latter part of the 17th century. Coulrophobia is the fear of clowns.
Pineapple
The pineapple is the safest kind of fruit to eat because its thick skin protects it from pesticides, bugs, and surface bacteria. Bananas and mangoes are also safe because of the thickness of their skins. Washing fruit helps eliminate pesticides, but some pesticide residue is absorbed into the flesh of the fruit or plant.
Equatorial Guinea
The small west-central African nation of Equatorial Guinea is the only African nation whose official language is Spanish.
Blood types
Blood typing is the classification of an individual's blood in terms of distinctive inherited antigenic characteristics associated with the red blood cells. Karl Landsteiner, an Austrian-American immunologist and pathologist, developed the ABO blood group system in 1901. Blood group identification has become indispensable in connection with blood transfusion, because the blood groups of recipient and donor must be the same or compatible. The ABO blood group system is broken down into four major groups: type A, type B, type O, and type AB. In the United States, the following population percentages correspond to each blood group: type O - 46%; type A - 40%; type B - 10%; type AB - 4%.
Atmosphere
Without the atmosphere, it would be impossible to live on earth. The atmosphere's layers form a "blanket" around the earth, protecting us from dangerous rays of the sun and from the cold of outer space. The atmosphere contains the air that we breathe, water vapor, and dust. Air contains carbon dioxide and nitrogen, vital for life, and water vapor forms the clouds that bring rain. The atmosphere is held in place by the pull of the earth's gravity and extends to about 1,250 miles above the earth.
Kites
The first flying machine was a kite, flown about 3000 years before people got into the air. A basic kite consists of a frame covered with material, launched and held in the air by the upward push of wind currents but controlled from the ground. The Chinese were flying kites long before the first recorded reference to a wooden bird kite in 500 BC. Kites through time have had religious significance, have been used to estimate distance, and helped Benjamin Franklin prove the electrical nature of lightning.
Contact lenses
A contact lens is an artificial lens designed to fit over the cornea of the eye in order to correct vision. The first contact lenses, invented in 1887 by Adolf Fick, were made of glass and were used to correct astigmatism. It was not until the development of sophisticated optical instruments and plastic materials in 1948 that the modern-day contact lens was invented by Kevin Tuohy.
Cullinan Diamond
Diamond is the world's hardest substance. The largest gem-quality diamond in the world is the Cullinan Diamond, found in 1905 at the Premier Diamond Mining Company in South Africa. In rough-cut form, the Cullinan Diamond weighed 3,106 carats. It has been cut into 9 large stones and over 100 smaller ones, some of which are among the British Crown Jewels.
Dead Sea
The Dead Sea is actually a landlocked salt lake between Israel and Jordan. Its name goes back to about 323 BC. The Dead Sea is the world's saltiest body of water. While no fish can survive in the salty waters, the Dead Sea is not in fact "dead," but contains salt-loving microorganisms that thrive in this environment. The shore of the Dead Sea is also the lowest dry point on the earth's land surface at about 1300 feet below sea level. Salt and other minerals are extracted from the Dead Sea in vast quantities for use in the chemical industry.
A puffer fish inflates its body with water into a spherical shape in order to defend itself. When the puffer fish is distended, it can barely move, but its spines and size make it practically impossible to attack. When it is lifted out of the water, it can still inflate with air as a defense. In Japan, the puffer fish is called fugu and the meat is considered a delicacy. However, puffer fish contain a highly toxic substance in the liver and intestines, so unless the preparation is done very carefully, the meat can be deadly; about 100 people die annually in Japan from eating puffer fish. The puffer fish is one of the few fish species that can blink and close its eyes. It also goes by the name swellfish or blowfish.
Co-op City
Co-op City, in the Bronx, New York, is the largest cooperative housing complex in the United States. It consists of 15,372 apartments and houses more than 60,000 residents. Co-op City opened on December 10, 1968 with the purpose of keeping middle-class people from moving out of the city and into the suburbs.
Clown
A clown is a character of pantomime and circus, known by the distinctive makeup and costume, ludicrous antics, and buffoonery. The earliest ancestors of the clown flourished in ancient Greece and Rome; they were bald-headed buffoons who performed in farces and mime, parodying the actions of more serious characters and sometimes pelting the spectators with nuts. The clown formed part of the acts of medieval minstrels and jugglers but was not considered a professional comic actor until the late Middle Ages when traveling entertainers imitated the antics of the court jesters. The traditional whiteface makeup of the clown was likely introduced by the character of Pierrot (or Pedrolino), the French clown with a bald head and flour-whitened face who first appeared during the latter part of the 17th century. Coulrophobia is the fear of clowns.
Pineapple
The pineapple is the safest kind of fruit to eat because its thick skin protects it from pesticides, bugs, and surface bacteria. Bananas and mangoes are also safe because of the thickness of their skins. Washing fruit helps eliminate pesticides, but some pesticide residue is absorbed into the flesh of the fruit or plant.
Equatorial Guinea
The small west-central African nation of Equatorial Guinea is the only African nation whose official language is Spanish.
Blood types
Blood typing is the classification of an individual's blood in terms of distinctive inherited antigenic characteristics associated with the red blood cells. Karl Landsteiner, an Austrian-American immunologist and pathologist, developed the ABO blood group system in 1901. Blood group identification has become indispensable in connection with blood transfusion, because the blood groups of recipient and donor must be the same or compatible. The ABO blood group system is broken down into four major groups: type A, type B, type O, and type AB. In the United States, the following population percentages correspond to each blood group: type O - 46%; type A - 40%; type B - 10%; type AB - 4%.
Atmosphere
Without the atmosphere, it would be impossible to live on earth. The atmosphere's layers form a "blanket" around the earth, protecting us from dangerous rays of the sun and from the cold of outer space. The atmosphere contains the air that we breathe, water vapor, and dust. Air contains carbon dioxide and nitrogen, vital for life, and water vapor forms the clouds that bring rain. The atmosphere is held in place by the pull of the earth's gravity and extends to about 1,250 miles above the earth.
Kites
The first flying machine was a kite, flown about 3000 years before people got into the air. A basic kite consists of a frame covered with material, launched and held in the air by the upward push of wind currents but controlled from the ground. The Chinese were flying kites long before the first recorded reference to a wooden bird kite in 500 BC. Kites through time have had religious significance, have been used to estimate distance, and helped Benjamin Franklin prove the electrical nature of lightning.
Contact lenses
A contact lens is an artificial lens designed to fit over the cornea of the eye in order to correct vision. The first contact lenses, invented in 1887 by Adolf Fick, were made of glass and were used to correct astigmatism. It was not until the development of sophisticated optical instruments and plastic materials in 1948 that the modern-day contact lens was invented by Kevin Tuohy.
Cullinan Diamond
Diamond is the world's hardest substance. The largest gem-quality diamond in the world is the Cullinan Diamond, found in 1905 at the Premier Diamond Mining Company in South Africa. In rough-cut form, the Cullinan Diamond weighed 3,106 carats. It has been cut into 9 large stones and over 100 smaller ones, some of which are among the British Crown Jewels.
Dead Sea
The Dead Sea is actually a landlocked salt lake between Israel and Jordan. Its name goes back to about 323 BC. The Dead Sea is the world's saltiest body of water. While no fish can survive in the salty waters, the Dead Sea is not in fact "dead," but contains salt-loving microorganisms that thrive in this environment. The shore of the Dead Sea is also the lowest dry point on the earth's land surface at about 1300 feet below sea level. Salt and other minerals are extracted from the Dead Sea in vast quantities for use in the chemical industry.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
New Words
bonhomie \bah-nuh-MEE\, noun:
A good nature; pleasant and easy manner.
That bonhomie which won the hearts of all who knew him.
-- Washington Irving, Oliver Goldsmith
And what of the salesman's fabled bonhomie, the Willy Lomanesque emphasis on the importance of being liked?
-- "How to Manage Salespeople", Fortune, March 14, 1988
I would carefully study the exploits of positive role models like Peter Gabriel, Jimmy Carter, and Alec Baldwin, and attempt to emulate their radiant bonhomie.
-- Joe Queenan, My Goodness: A Cynic's Short-Lived Search for Sainthood
Nonplus \non-PLUHS\, transitive verb:
To cause to be at a loss as to what to think, say, or do; to confound; to perplex; to bewilder.
Mr Esswis had promptly negotiated an arrangement between himself, the owner of the sprayer and the owner of the sheep, nonplussing the other two farmers by accepting full blame of the straying animal, as long as unpleasantness and paperwork could be avoided.
-- Michel Faber, Under the Skin: A Novel
I told him that to many people she is one of the best sculptors alive, but he seemed nonplussed by the thought.
-- Jed Perl, Eyewitness: Reports from an Art World in Crisis
She had grown a good deal in the last six months, and an amount of thinking had gone on in that young head which would have astonished him greatly could he have known it all, for Rose was one of the children who observe and meditate much, and now and then nonplus their friends by a wise or curious remark.
-- Louisa May Alcott, Eight Cousins
gallimaufry \gal-uh-MAW-free\, noun:
A hodgepodge; jumble; confused medley.
Today bilingual programs are conducted in a gallimaufry of around 80 tongues, ranging from Spanish to Lithuanian to Micronesian Yapese.
-- Ezra Bowen, "For Learning or Ethnic Pride?", Time, July 8, 1985
We have the same eyes dark and chestnut hair. But I am a lame gallimaufry and she remains perfect.
-- Barbara Kingsolver, The Poisonwood Bible
Maran reports the daily jostlings and thrivings in a public school with 3,200 students, 185 teachers, 45 languages, a principal and five vice principals, five safety monitors, 62 sports teams and a gallimaufry of alternative programs, clubs and cliques.
-- Colman McCarthy, "A Writer Goes Back to School", Washington Post, August 20, 2001
Gallimaufry, originally meaning "a hash of various kinds of meats," comes from French galimafrée, from Old French, from galer, "to rejoice, to make merry" (source of English gala) + mafrer, "to eat much," from Medieval Dutch maffelen, "to open one's mouth wide."
roborant \ROB-uh-ruhnt\, adjective:
1. Strengthening; restoring vigor.
noun:
1. A strengthening medicine; a tonic; a restorative.
A major field study of the effect of pollen extracts on the common cold and its roborant . . . effects in 775 Swedish military recruits did not give unequivocal results in relation to the prophylactic effect of the preparation used against the common cold.
-- James P. Carter, Racketeering in Medicine
That day, I felt the need of a roborant after my ghost-ridden night, and I swigged down two doses.
-- William Least Heat Moon, River Horse
Roborant derives from the present participle of Latin roborare, "to strengthen," from robur, roboris, "strength."
myrmidon \MUR-muh-don; -duhn\, noun:
1. (Capitalized) A member of a warlike Thessalian people who followed Achilles on the expedition against Troy.
2. A loyal follower, especially one who executes orders without question.
He risked assassination, torture or . . . retaliation, the defining signatures of Mr. Milosevic and his ultranationalist myrmidons.
-- Bruce Fein, "Follow U.S. war crimes advice?", Washington Times, May 10, 2001
I felt quite sure that the myrmidon on duty in Gadsby Row would tell you all about my visit.
-- Georgette Heyer, Behold, Here's Poison
The best hotel, and all its culinary myrmidons, were set to work to prepare the feast.
-- Charles Dickens, Little Dorrit
intrepid \in-TREP-id\, adjective:
Fearless; bold; brave; undaunted; courageous; as, an intrepid soldier; intrepid spirit.
But the stubborn descendants of the twenty-one intrepid people who plowed through the mountains in search of the sea to the west avoided the reefs of the melodic mixup and dancing went on until dawn.
-- Gabriel Garcia Marquez, One Hundred Years of Solitude
Not as energetically, certainly, as Walt-- who was intrepid, who flung his body into every new circumstance with faith and grace and with temerity.
-- John Irving, The World According to Garp
Britain's World War I-era prime minister, David Lloyd George, whom Jones had once served as an aide, said the intrepid journalist might have been killed because he "knew too much of what was going on."
-- Associated Press, "Diary That Helped Expose Stalin's Famine Displayed", New York Times, November 13, 2009
malleable \MAL-ee-uh-buhl\, adjective:
1. Capable of being extended or shaped by beating with a hammer, or by the pressure of rollers; -- applied to metals.
2. Capable of being altered or controlled by outside forces; easily influenced.
3. Capable of adjusting to changing circumstances; adaptable.
His image for his own imagination is the acid, the catalyst, that is mixed in to make the gold malleable, and is then wiped away.
-- "Nothing is too wonderful to be true", Times (London), June 7, 2000
The natives proved less malleable and far less innocent than the Europeans imagined, so much so that early colonial history is filled with countless stories of monks who met hideous deaths at the hands of their flocks.
-- Juan Gonzalez, Harvest of Empire
I think his request was just a vainglorious way of expressing the basic belief of behaviorism: that children are malleable and that it is their environment, not innate qualities such as talent or temperament, that determines their destiny.
-- Judith Rich Harris, The Nurture Assumption
rusticate \RUHS-tih-kayt\, intransitive verb:
1. To go into or reside in the country; to pursue a rustic life.
transitive verb:
1. To require or compel to reside in the country; to banish or send away temporarily.
2. (Chiefly British). To suspend from school or college.
3. To build with usually rough-surfaced masonry blocks having beveled or rebated edges producing pronounced joints.
4. To lend a rustic character to; to cause to become rustic.
Ezra holds out in London, and refuses to rusticate.
-- T. S. Eliot to Conrad Aiken, "21 August 1916", The Letters of T. S. Eliot: Volume I, 1898-1922 edited by Valerie Eliot
For the longest time, we're stuck in a cabin hewn out of the ground in a parcel of woods as the boys hide and mend; for another, we rusticate on a farm bounded by fields that must be tilled by the hard labor of man and beast.
-- Stephen Hunter, "When Johnny Doesn't Come Marching Home", Washington Post, December 17, 1999
Czechoslovak Communists would imprison or rusticate those who had been active in the Prague Spring.
-- Charles S. Maier, Dissolution
provender \PROV-uhn-duhr\, noun:
1. Dry food for domestic animals, such as hay, straw, corn, oats, or a mixture of ground grain; feed.
2. Food or provisions.
It turns out that he and thousands of other German immigrants have been acting as pre-invasion intelligence-gatherers, ensuring that "the German Army knew almost to a bale of hay what provender lay between London and the coast."
-- Niall Ferguson, The Pity of War
Frances Trollope, Captain Marryat, Colonel Basil Hall and Charles Dickens in 1842 all commented on the way Americans wolfed down their provender as fast as possible, cramming the cornbread in their sloppy maws and, worse, doing so in grim silence, punctuated only by the noise of slurps, grunts; scraping knives and hacking coughs.
-- Simon Schama, "Them and US", The Guardian, March 29, 2003
benison \BEN-uh-suhn; -zuhn\, noun:
Blessing; benediction.
In the beginning, Gibran's small estate was worth some $50,000, benison enough for a village of ten thousand souls.
-- Stefan Kanfer, "But is it not strange that elephants will yield -- and that The Prophet is still popular?", New York Times, June 25, 1972
Yet to be with him was a benison, a curiously exhilarating and anarchic experience, as the lightning celerity of his thought processes took you on a kind of helter-skelter ride of surreal non-sequiturs, sudden accesses of emotion and ribald asides, made all the more bizarre for being uttered in those honeyed tones by the impeccably elegant gent before you.
-- Simon Callow, "A life full of frolics", The Guardian, May 19, 2001
martinet \mar-t'n-ET\, noun:
1. A strict disciplinarian.
2. One who lays stress on a rigid adherence to the details of forms and methods.
His insistence on strict discipline began to earn him a reputation among his men as an unfeeling martinet.
-- Michiko Kakutani, "Still Pondering the Myth Of Custer's Last Stand", New York Times, May 28, 1996
At first, the recruits hate and fear the sergeant, but gradually they come to realize that he's been turning them into soldiers. It is the example of this unlovable martinet, not the "Good Joe" who replaces him, that will help them survive in combat.
-- Anthony Quinn, "Revolutionary Dead Ends", New York Times, April 29, 2001
Players coached by him have cursed the day they ever set sight on such a merciless martinet.
-- Gerry Thornley, "Chief architect oversees grand plan", Irish Times, February 19, 2000
affable \AF-uh-buhl\, adjective:
1. Easy to speak to; receiving others kindly and conversing with them in a free and friendly manner.
2. Gracious; benign.
Nonetheless, in view of the fact that Leon stated in the warrant that I was good-looking, cheerful and affable, they exhorted me to make myself appear to be taciturn, melancholy and ugly.
-- Susana Rotker (Editor), The Memoirs of Fray Servando Teresa De Mier
Johnny's father, while strict with his children, usually was affable and relaxed.
-- Paul C. Nagel, John Quincy Adams
There was even more joking than usual Saturday afternoon; he seemed to be in a particularly affable mood.
-- "Presley Treats Fans to His Best", New York Times, July 21, 1975
A good nature; pleasant and easy manner.
That bonhomie which won the hearts of all who knew him.
-- Washington Irving, Oliver Goldsmith
And what of the salesman's fabled bonhomie, the Willy Lomanesque emphasis on the importance of being liked?
-- "How to Manage Salespeople", Fortune, March 14, 1988
I would carefully study the exploits of positive role models like Peter Gabriel, Jimmy Carter, and Alec Baldwin, and attempt to emulate their radiant bonhomie.
-- Joe Queenan, My Goodness: A Cynic's Short-Lived Search for Sainthood
Nonplus \non-PLUHS\, transitive verb:
To cause to be at a loss as to what to think, say, or do; to confound; to perplex; to bewilder.
Mr Esswis had promptly negotiated an arrangement between himself, the owner of the sprayer and the owner of the sheep, nonplussing the other two farmers by accepting full blame of the straying animal, as long as unpleasantness and paperwork could be avoided.
-- Michel Faber, Under the Skin: A Novel
I told him that to many people she is one of the best sculptors alive, but he seemed nonplussed by the thought.
-- Jed Perl, Eyewitness: Reports from an Art World in Crisis
She had grown a good deal in the last six months, and an amount of thinking had gone on in that young head which would have astonished him greatly could he have known it all, for Rose was one of the children who observe and meditate much, and now and then nonplus their friends by a wise or curious remark.
-- Louisa May Alcott, Eight Cousins
gallimaufry \gal-uh-MAW-free\, noun:
A hodgepodge; jumble; confused medley.
Today bilingual programs are conducted in a gallimaufry of around 80 tongues, ranging from Spanish to Lithuanian to Micronesian Yapese.
-- Ezra Bowen, "For Learning or Ethnic Pride?", Time, July 8, 1985
We have the same eyes dark and chestnut hair. But I am a lame gallimaufry and she remains perfect.
-- Barbara Kingsolver, The Poisonwood Bible
Maran reports the daily jostlings and thrivings in a public school with 3,200 students, 185 teachers, 45 languages, a principal and five vice principals, five safety monitors, 62 sports teams and a gallimaufry of alternative programs, clubs and cliques.
-- Colman McCarthy, "A Writer Goes Back to School", Washington Post, August 20, 2001
Gallimaufry, originally meaning "a hash of various kinds of meats," comes from French galimafrée, from Old French, from galer, "to rejoice, to make merry" (source of English gala) + mafrer, "to eat much," from Medieval Dutch maffelen, "to open one's mouth wide."
roborant \ROB-uh-ruhnt\, adjective:
1. Strengthening; restoring vigor.
noun:
1. A strengthening medicine; a tonic; a restorative.
A major field study of the effect of pollen extracts on the common cold and its roborant . . . effects in 775 Swedish military recruits did not give unequivocal results in relation to the prophylactic effect of the preparation used against the common cold.
-- James P. Carter, Racketeering in Medicine
That day, I felt the need of a roborant after my ghost-ridden night, and I swigged down two doses.
-- William Least Heat Moon, River Horse
Roborant derives from the present participle of Latin roborare, "to strengthen," from robur, roboris, "strength."
myrmidon \MUR-muh-don; -duhn\, noun:
1. (Capitalized) A member of a warlike Thessalian people who followed Achilles on the expedition against Troy.
2. A loyal follower, especially one who executes orders without question.
He risked assassination, torture or . . . retaliation, the defining signatures of Mr. Milosevic and his ultranationalist myrmidons.
-- Bruce Fein, "Follow U.S. war crimes advice?", Washington Times, May 10, 2001
I felt quite sure that the myrmidon on duty in Gadsby Row would tell you all about my visit.
-- Georgette Heyer, Behold, Here's Poison
The best hotel, and all its culinary myrmidons, were set to work to prepare the feast.
-- Charles Dickens, Little Dorrit
intrepid \in-TREP-id\, adjective:
Fearless; bold; brave; undaunted; courageous; as, an intrepid soldier; intrepid spirit.
But the stubborn descendants of the twenty-one intrepid people who plowed through the mountains in search of the sea to the west avoided the reefs of the melodic mixup and dancing went on until dawn.
-- Gabriel Garcia Marquez, One Hundred Years of Solitude
Not as energetically, certainly, as Walt-- who was intrepid, who flung his body into every new circumstance with faith and grace and with temerity.
-- John Irving, The World According to Garp
Britain's World War I-era prime minister, David Lloyd George, whom Jones had once served as an aide, said the intrepid journalist might have been killed because he "knew too much of what was going on."
-- Associated Press, "Diary That Helped Expose Stalin's Famine Displayed", New York Times, November 13, 2009
malleable \MAL-ee-uh-buhl\, adjective:
1. Capable of being extended or shaped by beating with a hammer, or by the pressure of rollers; -- applied to metals.
2. Capable of being altered or controlled by outside forces; easily influenced.
3. Capable of adjusting to changing circumstances; adaptable.
His image for his own imagination is the acid, the catalyst, that is mixed in to make the gold malleable, and is then wiped away.
-- "Nothing is too wonderful to be true", Times (London), June 7, 2000
The natives proved less malleable and far less innocent than the Europeans imagined, so much so that early colonial history is filled with countless stories of monks who met hideous deaths at the hands of their flocks.
-- Juan Gonzalez, Harvest of Empire
I think his request was just a vainglorious way of expressing the basic belief of behaviorism: that children are malleable and that it is their environment, not innate qualities such as talent or temperament, that determines their destiny.
-- Judith Rich Harris, The Nurture Assumption
rusticate \RUHS-tih-kayt\, intransitive verb:
1. To go into or reside in the country; to pursue a rustic life.
transitive verb:
1. To require or compel to reside in the country; to banish or send away temporarily.
2. (Chiefly British). To suspend from school or college.
3. To build with usually rough-surfaced masonry blocks having beveled or rebated edges producing pronounced joints.
4. To lend a rustic character to; to cause to become rustic.
Ezra holds out in London, and refuses to rusticate.
-- T. S. Eliot to Conrad Aiken, "21 August 1916", The Letters of T. S. Eliot: Volume I, 1898-1922 edited by Valerie Eliot
For the longest time, we're stuck in a cabin hewn out of the ground in a parcel of woods as the boys hide and mend; for another, we rusticate on a farm bounded by fields that must be tilled by the hard labor of man and beast.
-- Stephen Hunter, "When Johnny Doesn't Come Marching Home", Washington Post, December 17, 1999
Czechoslovak Communists would imprison or rusticate those who had been active in the Prague Spring.
-- Charles S. Maier, Dissolution
provender \PROV-uhn-duhr\, noun:
1. Dry food for domestic animals, such as hay, straw, corn, oats, or a mixture of ground grain; feed.
2. Food or provisions.
It turns out that he and thousands of other German immigrants have been acting as pre-invasion intelligence-gatherers, ensuring that "the German Army knew almost to a bale of hay what provender lay between London and the coast."
-- Niall Ferguson, The Pity of War
Frances Trollope, Captain Marryat, Colonel Basil Hall and Charles Dickens in 1842 all commented on the way Americans wolfed down their provender as fast as possible, cramming the cornbread in their sloppy maws and, worse, doing so in grim silence, punctuated only by the noise of slurps, grunts; scraping knives and hacking coughs.
-- Simon Schama, "Them and US", The Guardian, March 29, 2003
benison \BEN-uh-suhn; -zuhn\, noun:
Blessing; benediction.
In the beginning, Gibran's small estate was worth some $50,000, benison enough for a village of ten thousand souls.
-- Stefan Kanfer, "But is it not strange that elephants will yield -- and that The Prophet is still popular?", New York Times, June 25, 1972
Yet to be with him was a benison, a curiously exhilarating and anarchic experience, as the lightning celerity of his thought processes took you on a kind of helter-skelter ride of surreal non-sequiturs, sudden accesses of emotion and ribald asides, made all the more bizarre for being uttered in those honeyed tones by the impeccably elegant gent before you.
-- Simon Callow, "A life full of frolics", The Guardian, May 19, 2001
martinet \mar-t'n-ET\, noun:
1. A strict disciplinarian.
2. One who lays stress on a rigid adherence to the details of forms and methods.
His insistence on strict discipline began to earn him a reputation among his men as an unfeeling martinet.
-- Michiko Kakutani, "Still Pondering the Myth Of Custer's Last Stand", New York Times, May 28, 1996
At first, the recruits hate and fear the sergeant, but gradually they come to realize that he's been turning them into soldiers. It is the example of this unlovable martinet, not the "Good Joe" who replaces him, that will help them survive in combat.
-- Anthony Quinn, "Revolutionary Dead Ends", New York Times, April 29, 2001
Players coached by him have cursed the day they ever set sight on such a merciless martinet.
-- Gerry Thornley, "Chief architect oversees grand plan", Irish Times, February 19, 2000
affable \AF-uh-buhl\, adjective:
1. Easy to speak to; receiving others kindly and conversing with them in a free and friendly manner.
2. Gracious; benign.
Nonetheless, in view of the fact that Leon stated in the warrant that I was good-looking, cheerful and affable, they exhorted me to make myself appear to be taciturn, melancholy and ugly.
-- Susana Rotker (Editor), The Memoirs of Fray Servando Teresa De Mier
Johnny's father, while strict with his children, usually was affable and relaxed.
-- Paul C. Nagel, John Quincy Adams
There was even more joking than usual Saturday afternoon; he seemed to be in a particularly affable mood.
-- "Presley Treats Fans to His Best", New York Times, July 21, 1975
Quotes
That’s all you can do. Good luck! Smile.
“Wisdom too often never comes, and so one ought not to reject it merely because it comes late.” -- Felix Frankfurter
“Mere communion with nature, mere contact with the free air, exercise a soothing yet comforting and strengthening influence on the wearied mind, calm the storm of passion, and soften the heart when shaken by sorrow to its inmost depths.”
-- Alexander von Humboldt
“Every man and woman is born into the world to do something unique and something distinctive and if he or she does not do it, it will never be done.” -- Benjamin E. Mays
“Never regret. If it's good, it's wonderful. If it's bad, it's experience.” -- Victoria Holt
“Is not the sky a father and the earth a mother, and are not all living things with feet or wings or roots their children?” -- Black Elk
“Treasure this day and treasure yourself. Truly, neither will ever happen again.”
Ray Bradbury
“When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around.” Willie Nelson
“Gratitude is the memory of the heart.” -- Jean Baptiste Massieu
“If you can't fly then run, if you can't run the walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.” Martin Luther King Jr
“Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.”
George Bernard Shaw
“Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love." Lao Tzu
“Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.”
-- Thomas H. Huxley
“Wisdom too often never comes, and so one ought not to reject it merely because it comes late.” -- Felix Frankfurter
“Mere communion with nature, mere contact with the free air, exercise a soothing yet comforting and strengthening influence on the wearied mind, calm the storm of passion, and soften the heart when shaken by sorrow to its inmost depths.”
-- Alexander von Humboldt
“Every man and woman is born into the world to do something unique and something distinctive and if he or she does not do it, it will never be done.” -- Benjamin E. Mays
“Never regret. If it's good, it's wonderful. If it's bad, it's experience.” -- Victoria Holt
“Is not the sky a father and the earth a mother, and are not all living things with feet or wings or roots their children?” -- Black Elk
“Treasure this day and treasure yourself. Truly, neither will ever happen again.”
Ray Bradbury
“When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around.” Willie Nelson
“Gratitude is the memory of the heart.” -- Jean Baptiste Massieu
“If you can't fly then run, if you can't run the walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.” Martin Luther King Jr
“Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.”
George Bernard Shaw
“Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love." Lao Tzu
“Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.”
-- Thomas H. Huxley
To Act Like the Rich, Be Frugal
Sheyna Steiner
Friday, December 4, 2009
This article is part of a series related to being Financially Fit
If you want to be rich, you need to stop acting like you have money in the bank and start living beneath your means. That's the message in the most recent book from Thomas J. Stanley, author of "The Millionaire Mind" and the "The Millionaire Next Door."
Bankrate asked Stanley to explain what's fueling America's hyper-consumptive ways and unquenchable thirst for top-shelf brand vodka -- among other indulgences.
Q: In your book "Stop Acting Rich...and Start Living like a Real Millionaire," you say that rich people don't necessarily act the way that the rest of us might think they do. In fact, millionaires are more likely to be extremely frugal. Why is that?
A: There are many factors that explain frugality among the rich.
First, their parents tended to be not only frugal, but well-disciplined. Most millionaires today came from middle-class backgrounds. Their parents were not wealthy, but somewhat comfortable. Millionaires tell me that they never felt embarrassed by where they lived or the type of home they had. To a considerable degree, it is the uniquely American upward socioeconomic mobility that fuels much of the hyper-consuming engine of the market for luxury goods, prestige products, upscale brands, expensive homes and so on.
Beyond income, one's vocation has much to do with accumulating wealth. Educators, engineers, business owners and retail store managers have a tendency to live below their means and to be quite efficient in transforming their income into wealth.
It is the home/neighborhood environment that most explains one's ability to accumulate wealth. It may be useful for people to understand that there are 1,138,070 millionaire households living in homes valued under $300,000. This is far more than the 403,211 who live in homes valued at $1 million or more.
Q: You describe different levels of wealth in the book. There are the glittering rich, the income (statement) affluent and the balance sheet affluent.
A: The glittering rich make up a small fraction of 1 percent of the household population. They have a minimum annual household income of seven figures and a net worth of eight figures and more. They are extremely wealthy people, and they spend accordingly.
But, as I said in "Stop Acting Rich," no matter what they spend their money on, it is just a fraction of their overall net worth. In other words, even the glittering rich spend below their means. There are no more than 80,000 glittering rich households in a nation of more than 115,000,000 households.
The income statement affluent are those with high incomes and relatively low levels of net worth. They are not very productive in transforming their incomes into wealth. Many of the people in this category are highly compensated physicians, attorneys and executives. Many are driven to hyper-consume by their need to display high social status.
Farmers are found in high concentrations among the segment I refer to as balance sheet affluent. The balance sheet affluent are highly productive at transforming their income into wealth.
Among the most productive of this group are educators, engineers, owners of small businesses, and as mentioned, farmers.
Q: Who is buying most of the top-shelf brand vodkas, extravagant cars and homes and why?
A: The question of "who" really has two answers.
Status products and homes are more likely purchased by people who have higher incomes. Look at three socioeconomic measures: net worth or wealth, household income and the market value of a home. Which of these variables is best at predicting consumption of the items mentioned? The value of a home ranks first, income ranks second and wealth ranks third.
Again, while it is true that the people at the upper level of these measures have a higher propensity to consume prestige products, it is not necessarily the most significant market.
For example, most prestige makes of cars -- 86 percent -- are driven by nonmillionaires. Yes, people with very high incomes, high levels of wealth are more likely to drive status automobiles. But in sheer numbers, the largest consumer segment for pricey cars, vodkas and homes is not the millionaire population, it is the aspirationals. These are people who think they are acting rich via their adoption of prestige brands, but in most cases they are only acting like each other.
Why do these people act this way? In large part, they are trying to imitate economically successful people. They take their cues from Hollywood and the advertising industry. The problem is that most aspirationals know few, if any, really wealthy to emulate.
Would they still continue to drive prestige makes of cars if they knew that the No. 1 make of automobile among millionaires is the Toyota? Along these lines, would they still crave living in a $1 million home when they find out that nearly three times more millionaires live in homes valued at under $300,000 than live in those valued at $1 million or more?
Q: Should financial freedom be everyone's ultimate goal, and where does that leave the people whose life goals are simply to have some of the trappings of wealth, such as the nice house in the tony suburb and a European sports car?
A: America is often referred to as the land of the free. But most people in this country are not really free. They are tied to debt and a treadmill existence in terms of earning a living.
At this moment, our federal government has promised future social benefits in excess of $50 trillion. That figure is approximately the same amount of the total personal wealth held by Americans.
In the future, it is very likely that the government will not be able to provide the promised social benefits to our seniors. The typical household in the United States has a net worth of just over $90,000. That is about the same annual cost of a decent quality nursing home.
Also, if home equity and equity in motor vehicles is netted out of the $90,000, then the typical household's net worth drops down to about $30,000. That is only about 60 percent of the typical household's annual income. Therefore, it should be everyone's goal to provide for their economic future by being fiscally responsible.
Otherwise, what will happen when millions of seniors are no longer able to work and have little or no wealth accumulated? Many of them will become completely dependent upon their adult children or become destitute. The money that they spent on the trappings of wealth yesterday (the house in a tony suburb or a European sports car) will not pay for tomorrow's food, clothing and shelter (possibly a nursing home).
Q: How do you recommend that people become prosperous if they would prefer to get off the consumer treadmill?
A: The simplest way is to live below one's means.
The typical household should be able to put away 5 percent of their annual income while they are in their 30s, 10 percent when they are in their 40s, and 20 percent when they are in their 50s.
This is also related to satisfaction with life overall. There is a highly significant correlation between satisfaction in life and living in a home and neighborhood which are easily affordable.
What is a good rule if you are determined to become wealthy?
The market value of the home you purchase should be less than three times your household's total annual realized income. Also, if you are not yet wealthy, but want to be someday, never purchase a home that requires a mortgage that is more than twice your household's annual realized income.
Q: Do you have a sense that American consumer values are shifting from aspirational luxury purchases that seemed to be heavily marketed in the early 2000's asset bubble days to more frugal ones?
A: No, I don't think that the values are shifting.
The only reason that people aren't spending as much as they did prior to the current economic meltdown is that they don't have as much money to spend right now. We are a nation of hyper-consumers. We encourage our children to major in consumption and minor in frugality!
The smartest people in the world are in the marketing and advertising industries in this country. How else can you explain that 300 different brands of vodka coexist in our domestic market? In 2009, about 2.3 million American seniors will pass away. What did they do with the more than $2 trillion in income that they earned in their lifetimes?
I estimate that only 2.3 percent will leave behind a gross estate (all assets included) of $1 million or more. What did the other 97.7 percent of the decedents do with all of their income? If they did not save their income, invest it or allocate it to things that appreciate, where did the money go?
Beyond the basic necessities, an awful lot of it was spent on things, many things that now reside in landfills and thrift shops. We are and will continue to be a culture of hyper-consumption.
Friday, December 4, 2009
This article is part of a series related to being Financially Fit
If you want to be rich, you need to stop acting like you have money in the bank and start living beneath your means. That's the message in the most recent book from Thomas J. Stanley, author of "The Millionaire Mind" and the "The Millionaire Next Door."
Bankrate asked Stanley to explain what's fueling America's hyper-consumptive ways and unquenchable thirst for top-shelf brand vodka -- among other indulgences.
Q: In your book "Stop Acting Rich...and Start Living like a Real Millionaire," you say that rich people don't necessarily act the way that the rest of us might think they do. In fact, millionaires are more likely to be extremely frugal. Why is that?
A: There are many factors that explain frugality among the rich.
First, their parents tended to be not only frugal, but well-disciplined. Most millionaires today came from middle-class backgrounds. Their parents were not wealthy, but somewhat comfortable. Millionaires tell me that they never felt embarrassed by where they lived or the type of home they had. To a considerable degree, it is the uniquely American upward socioeconomic mobility that fuels much of the hyper-consuming engine of the market for luxury goods, prestige products, upscale brands, expensive homes and so on.
Beyond income, one's vocation has much to do with accumulating wealth. Educators, engineers, business owners and retail store managers have a tendency to live below their means and to be quite efficient in transforming their income into wealth.
It is the home/neighborhood environment that most explains one's ability to accumulate wealth. It may be useful for people to understand that there are 1,138,070 millionaire households living in homes valued under $300,000. This is far more than the 403,211 who live in homes valued at $1 million or more.
Q: You describe different levels of wealth in the book. There are the glittering rich, the income (statement) affluent and the balance sheet affluent.
A: The glittering rich make up a small fraction of 1 percent of the household population. They have a minimum annual household income of seven figures and a net worth of eight figures and more. They are extremely wealthy people, and they spend accordingly.
But, as I said in "Stop Acting Rich," no matter what they spend their money on, it is just a fraction of their overall net worth. In other words, even the glittering rich spend below their means. There are no more than 80,000 glittering rich households in a nation of more than 115,000,000 households.
The income statement affluent are those with high incomes and relatively low levels of net worth. They are not very productive in transforming their incomes into wealth. Many of the people in this category are highly compensated physicians, attorneys and executives. Many are driven to hyper-consume by their need to display high social status.
Farmers are found in high concentrations among the segment I refer to as balance sheet affluent. The balance sheet affluent are highly productive at transforming their income into wealth.
Among the most productive of this group are educators, engineers, owners of small businesses, and as mentioned, farmers.
Q: Who is buying most of the top-shelf brand vodkas, extravagant cars and homes and why?
A: The question of "who" really has two answers.
Status products and homes are more likely purchased by people who have higher incomes. Look at three socioeconomic measures: net worth or wealth, household income and the market value of a home. Which of these variables is best at predicting consumption of the items mentioned? The value of a home ranks first, income ranks second and wealth ranks third.
Again, while it is true that the people at the upper level of these measures have a higher propensity to consume prestige products, it is not necessarily the most significant market.
For example, most prestige makes of cars -- 86 percent -- are driven by nonmillionaires. Yes, people with very high incomes, high levels of wealth are more likely to drive status automobiles. But in sheer numbers, the largest consumer segment for pricey cars, vodkas and homes is not the millionaire population, it is the aspirationals. These are people who think they are acting rich via their adoption of prestige brands, but in most cases they are only acting like each other.
Why do these people act this way? In large part, they are trying to imitate economically successful people. They take their cues from Hollywood and the advertising industry. The problem is that most aspirationals know few, if any, really wealthy to emulate.
Would they still continue to drive prestige makes of cars if they knew that the No. 1 make of automobile among millionaires is the Toyota? Along these lines, would they still crave living in a $1 million home when they find out that nearly three times more millionaires live in homes valued at under $300,000 than live in those valued at $1 million or more?
Q: Should financial freedom be everyone's ultimate goal, and where does that leave the people whose life goals are simply to have some of the trappings of wealth, such as the nice house in the tony suburb and a European sports car?
A: America is often referred to as the land of the free. But most people in this country are not really free. They are tied to debt and a treadmill existence in terms of earning a living.
At this moment, our federal government has promised future social benefits in excess of $50 trillion. That figure is approximately the same amount of the total personal wealth held by Americans.
In the future, it is very likely that the government will not be able to provide the promised social benefits to our seniors. The typical household in the United States has a net worth of just over $90,000. That is about the same annual cost of a decent quality nursing home.
Also, if home equity and equity in motor vehicles is netted out of the $90,000, then the typical household's net worth drops down to about $30,000. That is only about 60 percent of the typical household's annual income. Therefore, it should be everyone's goal to provide for their economic future by being fiscally responsible.
Otherwise, what will happen when millions of seniors are no longer able to work and have little or no wealth accumulated? Many of them will become completely dependent upon their adult children or become destitute. The money that they spent on the trappings of wealth yesterday (the house in a tony suburb or a European sports car) will not pay for tomorrow's food, clothing and shelter (possibly a nursing home).
Q: How do you recommend that people become prosperous if they would prefer to get off the consumer treadmill?
A: The simplest way is to live below one's means.
The typical household should be able to put away 5 percent of their annual income while they are in their 30s, 10 percent when they are in their 40s, and 20 percent when they are in their 50s.
This is also related to satisfaction with life overall. There is a highly significant correlation between satisfaction in life and living in a home and neighborhood which are easily affordable.
What is a good rule if you are determined to become wealthy?
The market value of the home you purchase should be less than three times your household's total annual realized income. Also, if you are not yet wealthy, but want to be someday, never purchase a home that requires a mortgage that is more than twice your household's annual realized income.
Q: Do you have a sense that American consumer values are shifting from aspirational luxury purchases that seemed to be heavily marketed in the early 2000's asset bubble days to more frugal ones?
A: No, I don't think that the values are shifting.
The only reason that people aren't spending as much as they did prior to the current economic meltdown is that they don't have as much money to spend right now. We are a nation of hyper-consumers. We encourage our children to major in consumption and minor in frugality!
The smartest people in the world are in the marketing and advertising industries in this country. How else can you explain that 300 different brands of vodka coexist in our domestic market? In 2009, about 2.3 million American seniors will pass away. What did they do with the more than $2 trillion in income that they earned in their lifetimes?
I estimate that only 2.3 percent will leave behind a gross estate (all assets included) of $1 million or more. What did the other 97.7 percent of the decedents do with all of their income? If they did not save their income, invest it or allocate it to things that appreciate, where did the money go?
Beyond the basic necessities, an awful lot of it was spent on things, many things that now reside in landfills and thrift shops. We are and will continue to be a culture of hyper-consumption.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
City-states of ancient Greece
city-states of ancient Greece
Control of ancient Greece was not unified but divided among a number of independent city-states. Argos, Athens, Corinth, Rhodes, Sparta, and Thebes were the major city-states that dominated Greece and influenced civilization at the time.
Control of ancient Greece was not unified but divided among a number of independent city-states. Argos, Athens, Corinth, Rhodes, Sparta, and Thebes were the major city-states that dominated Greece and influenced civilization at the time.
Dominant and recessive Characteristics
Dominant characteristics are physical characteristics that are likely to be passed on to children while recessive characteristics are ones that are less likely to be passed on. Some dominant characteristics known to scientists are: curly hair, dark hair, non-red hair, normal skin pigmentation, brown eyes, near- or far-sightedness, broad lips, large eyes, short stature, nervous temperament, A or B blood group, Rh-positive blood. Some recessive characteristics known to scientists are: straight hair, light hair, red hair, albinism, blue or gray eyes, normal vision, thin lips, small eyes, tall stature, calm temperament, O blood group, Rh-negative blood.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Eagle Mountain Lake in Fort Worth Texas
Photo Credit: Robert Plaskota
Location: Eagle Mountain Lake in Fort Worth Texas
Some stories don’t have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what’s going to happen next. Delicious ambiguity…
-- Gilda Radner
Dry ice
dry ice
Dry Ice is the trademark for carbon dioxide in its solid form, frozen at -109.3° F or -79.5° C. It is primarily used as a refrigerant. Dry Ice does not melt but goes directly from a solid to a gas in a process called sublimation. It is generally accepted that French chemist, Charles Thilorier, was the first to record the appearance of it in 1835. The Dry Ice Corporation of America first trademarked the name Dry Ice in 1925.
Dry Ice is the trademark for carbon dioxide in its solid form, frozen at -109.3° F or -79.5° C. It is primarily used as a refrigerant. Dry Ice does not melt but goes directly from a solid to a gas in a process called sublimation. It is generally accepted that French chemist, Charles Thilorier, was the first to record the appearance of it in 1835. The Dry Ice Corporation of America first trademarked the name Dry Ice in 1925.
innocuous \ih-NOK-yoo-uhs\, adjective:
innocuous \ih-NOK-yoo-uhs\, adjective:
1. Harmless; producing no ill effect.
2. Not likely to offend or provoke; as, "an innocuous remark."
Furthermore, the public, not knowing how to interpret certain facts and figures, may end up unfairly vilifying a company that uses only innocuous traces of a certain toxic chemical.
-- "Can Selfishness Save the Environment?", The Atlantic, September 13, 2000
Maybe Grandpop misunderstood that perfectly innocuous remark and thought the man said "smell." Anyway his temper crackled and exploded.
-- John McCabe, Cagney
Anything that reeks beyond a city block is an invisible snarling dog with unknown intentions, even if, in the right context, the smell itself would be innocuous. Therefore, people complain.
-- Luca Turin, What You Can't Smell Will Kill You, New York Times, January 21, 2007
Innocuous is from Latin innocuus, from in-, "not" + nocuus, "harmful," from nocere, "to harm." It is related to innocent, formed from in- + nocens, nocent-, "harming, injurious, hence criminal, guilty," from the present participle of nocere. Less common is the opposite of innocuous, nocuous.
Dictionary.com Entry and Pronunciation for innocuous
1. Harmless; producing no ill effect.
2. Not likely to offend or provoke; as, "an innocuous remark."
Furthermore, the public, not knowing how to interpret certain facts and figures, may end up unfairly vilifying a company that uses only innocuous traces of a certain toxic chemical.
-- "Can Selfishness Save the Environment?", The Atlantic, September 13, 2000
Maybe Grandpop misunderstood that perfectly innocuous remark and thought the man said "smell." Anyway his temper crackled and exploded.
-- John McCabe, Cagney
Anything that reeks beyond a city block is an invisible snarling dog with unknown intentions, even if, in the right context, the smell itself would be innocuous. Therefore, people complain.
-- Luca Turin, What You Can't Smell Will Kill You, New York Times, January 21, 2007
Innocuous is from Latin innocuus, from in-, "not" + nocuus, "harmful," from nocere, "to harm." It is related to innocent, formed from in- + nocens, nocent-, "harming, injurious, hence criminal, guilty," from the present participle of nocere. Less common is the opposite of innocuous, nocuous.
Dictionary.com Entry and Pronunciation for innocuous
Cheetah
Cheetahs are long-legged, swift-running wild cats of Africa and southwest Asia, with solid black round or oval spots. The cheetah is the fastest animal on land and can reach a top speed of 71 mph, which it can maintain for about 10-20 seconds. Cheetahs are hunters and eat a variety of small- to medium-sized animals. The name "cheetah" comes from a Hindi word meaning "spotted one" or from the Sanskrit word chitraka. The cheetah is the second most social cat behind the lion. It cannot roar, but can purr like a cat.
turbid \TUR-bid\, adjective:
turbid \TUR-bid\, adjective:
1. Muddy; thick with or as if with roiled sediment; not clear; -- used of liquids of any kind.
2. Thick; dense; dark; -- used of clouds, air, fog, smoke, etc.
3. Disturbed; confused; disordered.
Although both are found in the same waters, black crappies usually prefer clearer, quieter water, while white crappies flourish in warmer, siltier and more turbid water.
-- Tim Eisele, "Crappie Facts", Capital Times (Madison, Wisconsin), May 8, 1998
Rough or smooth, the Irish Sea at Blackpool is always turbid. Beneath the murk float unspeakable things.
-- David Walker, "Is Labour right to end its affair with Blackpool? YES says David", Independent, March 26, 1998
Wesley's mind seems at this time to have been in a turbid and restless state.
-- W. B. Stonehouse, The History and Topography of the Isle of Axholme
Turbid comes from Latin turbidus, "confused, disordered," from turba, "disturbance, commotion."
Dictionary.com Entry and Pronunciation for turbid
1. Muddy; thick with or as if with roiled sediment; not clear; -- used of liquids of any kind.
2. Thick; dense; dark; -- used of clouds, air, fog, smoke, etc.
3. Disturbed; confused; disordered.
Although both are found in the same waters, black crappies usually prefer clearer, quieter water, while white crappies flourish in warmer, siltier and more turbid water.
-- Tim Eisele, "Crappie Facts", Capital Times (Madison, Wisconsin), May 8, 1998
Rough or smooth, the Irish Sea at Blackpool is always turbid. Beneath the murk float unspeakable things.
-- David Walker, "Is Labour right to end its affair with Blackpool? YES says David", Independent, March 26, 1998
Wesley's mind seems at this time to have been in a turbid and restless state.
-- W. B. Stonehouse, The History and Topography of the Isle of Axholme
Turbid comes from Latin turbidus, "confused, disordered," from turba, "disturbance, commotion."
Dictionary.com Entry and Pronunciation for turbid
Antarctica
Antarctica is home to the coldest place on earth. In 1983, scientists recorded the coldest temperature ever, -128.6° F, in Vostok, which has an average temperature of -72° F. Antarctica has no permanent human habitation, but does have an average summer population of 4,000 people and an average winter population of 1,000 people. No single nation controls any part of the continent, although seven countries have made territorial claims to parts of it. No such claim has been made by the U.S. The Antarctic Treaty was established to regulate international relations with respect to Antarctica; forty-four countries, comprising about two-thirds of the world's population, have acceded to it. Its main objectives are to demilitarize Antarctica so it remains peaceful and to promote international scientific cooperation on the continent. Under the Antarctic Treaty, no territorial claims are to be recognized, disputed, or established.
La Mesa, CA
Photo Credit: Nick Chill
Location: La Mesa, CA
Success is going from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.
-- Winston Churchill
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Prescott, AZ
Photo Credit: Michael Kriskovic
Location: Prescott, AZ
The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance.
-- Alan Watts
Eggs
Eggs are among the most versatile ingredients used in cooking - a part of pasta, cookies, cakes, pastries, sauces, etc. - and can be cooked in a great variety of ways. They can be served plain or with an array of garnishing ingredients, sauces, or other accompaniments. The nutritive value of eggs ensured they would become part of the human diet all over the world from the earliest times; they are also associated with rites and traditions such as Lent and Easter. Egg sizes are Jumbo, Extra Large, Large, Medium, Small and Peewee. Several factors influence the size of an egg, the major factor being the age of the hen: as the hen ages, her eggs increase in size. The breed of hen from which the egg comes is a second factor, and weight of the bird is another. Pullets significantly underweight at sexual maturity will produce small eggs.
refulgent \rih-FUL-juhnt\, adjective:
refulgent \rih-FUL-juhnt\, adjective:
Shining brightly; radiant; brilliant; resplendent.
If Moore was not quite a burned-out case, his once refulgent light flickered only dimly in his sad last years.
-- Martin Filler, "The Spirit of '76", New Republic, July 9, 2001
With its improbable towers tilting against themselves and its titanium sheathing in full refulgent glow, it brings on a question that the world has not enjoyed asking itself since the first moon landings: If this is possible, what isn't?
-- Richard Lacayo, "The Frank Gehry Experience", Time, June 26, 2000
To the Renaissance, they [the Middle Ages] were nothing but a dank patch of history, a barren stretch of time between luminous antiquity and an equally refulgent present.
-- Justin Davidson, "On the Record", Newsday, January 19, 1997
Refulgent comes from the present participle of Latin refulgere, "to flash back, to shine brightly," from re-, "back" + fulgere, "to shine."
Shining brightly; radiant; brilliant; resplendent.
If Moore was not quite a burned-out case, his once refulgent light flickered only dimly in his sad last years.
-- Martin Filler, "The Spirit of '76", New Republic, July 9, 2001
With its improbable towers tilting against themselves and its titanium sheathing in full refulgent glow, it brings on a question that the world has not enjoyed asking itself since the first moon landings: If this is possible, what isn't?
-- Richard Lacayo, "The Frank Gehry Experience", Time, June 26, 2000
To the Renaissance, they [the Middle Ages] were nothing but a dank patch of history, a barren stretch of time between luminous antiquity and an equally refulgent present.
-- Justin Davidson, "On the Record", Newsday, January 19, 1997
Refulgent comes from the present participle of Latin refulgere, "to flash back, to shine brightly," from re-, "back" + fulgere, "to shine."
Monday, September 7, 2009
Earth's Crust
earth's crust
Although more than 80 elements occur naturally on the earth, the bulk of it is made of iron (35%), oxygen (28%), magnesium (17%), and silicon (13%). By taking rock samples from the earth's interior, geologists have been able to understand the earth's chemical makeup. The earth's outer layer of rock (crust) varies in thickness. Beneath the oceans, it is 4-7 miles thick, but it stretches up to 43 miles under mountain ranges.
Although more than 80 elements occur naturally on the earth, the bulk of it is made of iron (35%), oxygen (28%), magnesium (17%), and silicon (13%). By taking rock samples from the earth's interior, geologists have been able to understand the earth's chemical makeup. The earth's outer layer of rock (crust) varies in thickness. Beneath the oceans, it is 4-7 miles thick, but it stretches up to 43 miles under mountain ranges.
acquiesce \ak-wee-ES\, intransitive verb:
acquiesce \ak-wee-ES\, intransitive verb:
To accept or consent passively or without objection -- usually used with 'in' or 'to'.
At the same time, sellers might acquiesce to mafia involvement in their business as a way of ensuring payment for goods: if the buyer defaults, the mafioso will collect.
-- Louis S. Warren, The Hunter's Game
The British were not prepared to acquiesce to the return of the Chinese to Tibet, and determined to counter the reassertion of Chinese influence.
-- Tsering Shakya, The Dragon in the Land of Snows
France would probably express regret that a military strike had become necessary, but would acquiesce in it.
-- Craig R. Whitney, "France Pushes for Last-Ditch Diplomatic Solution.", New York Times, February 20, 1998
Acquiesce comes from Latin acquiescere, "to give oneself to rest, hence to find one's rest or peace (in something)," from ad, "to" + quiescere, "to rest, to be or keep quiet."
To accept or consent passively or without objection -- usually used with 'in' or 'to'.
At the same time, sellers might acquiesce to mafia involvement in their business as a way of ensuring payment for goods: if the buyer defaults, the mafioso will collect.
-- Louis S. Warren, The Hunter's Game
The British were not prepared to acquiesce to the return of the Chinese to Tibet, and determined to counter the reassertion of Chinese influence.
-- Tsering Shakya, The Dragon in the Land of Snows
France would probably express regret that a military strike had become necessary, but would acquiesce in it.
-- Craig R. Whitney, "France Pushes for Last-Ditch Diplomatic Solution.", New York Times, February 20, 1998
Acquiesce comes from Latin acquiescere, "to give oneself to rest, hence to find one's rest or peace (in something)," from ad, "to" + quiescere, "to rest, to be or keep quiet."
Post Office
post office
The inscription on the New York Post Office Building at Eighth Avenue, "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds," is not the motto of the U.S. Postal Service. In fact, the U.S. Postal Service has no official motto. The sentence appears in the works of Herodotus, a fifth century BC Greek historian and writer, and describes the expedition of the Greeks against the Persians under Cyrus, which took place about 500 BC. The inscription was supplied by the architectural firm that designed the New York General Post Office.
The inscription on the New York Post Office Building at Eighth Avenue, "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds," is not the motto of the U.S. Postal Service. In fact, the U.S. Postal Service has no official motto. The sentence appears in the works of Herodotus, a fifth century BC Greek historian and writer, and describes the expedition of the Greeks against the Persians under Cyrus, which took place about 500 BC. The inscription was supplied by the architectural firm that designed the New York General Post Office.
sacrosanct \SAK-roh-sankt\, adjective:
sacrosanct \SAK-roh-sankt\, adjective:
1. Extremely sacred or inviolable.
2. Not to be entered or trespassed upon.
3. Above or beyond criticism, change, or interference.
The family was viewed as sacrosanct: divorce was highly unusual and children were expected to be grateful for the sacrifices that parents, who postponed their own gratifications in forming a family, made on their behalf.
-- Alan Wolfe, One Nation, After All
Espionage is about redefining Good and Evil, the violable and the sacrosanct.
-- Edward Shirley, Know Thine Enemy
In the good old days, things seemed simpler -- film was smart, television was dumb. Television would rot your brains, make your children fat, ruin your family by filling the sacrosanct dinner hour with "Happy Days" reruns.
-- Mary McNamara, "TV: It's good for you", The Prelude, Book VI, "Cambridge and the Alps", August 16, 2009
Sacrosanct comes from Latin sacrosanctus, "consecrated with religious ceremonies, hence holy, sacred," from sacrum, "religious rite" (from sacer, "holy") + sanctus, "consecrated," from sancire, "to make sacred by a religious act."
1. Extremely sacred or inviolable.
2. Not to be entered or trespassed upon.
3. Above or beyond criticism, change, or interference.
The family was viewed as sacrosanct: divorce was highly unusual and children were expected to be grateful for the sacrifices that parents, who postponed their own gratifications in forming a family, made on their behalf.
-- Alan Wolfe, One Nation, After All
Espionage is about redefining Good and Evil, the violable and the sacrosanct.
-- Edward Shirley, Know Thine Enemy
In the good old days, things seemed simpler -- film was smart, television was dumb. Television would rot your brains, make your children fat, ruin your family by filling the sacrosanct dinner hour with "Happy Days" reruns.
-- Mary McNamara, "TV: It's good for you", The Prelude, Book VI, "Cambridge and the Alps", August 16, 2009
Sacrosanct comes from Latin sacrosanctus, "consecrated with religious ceremonies, hence holy, sacred," from sacrum, "religious rite" (from sacer, "holy") + sanctus, "consecrated," from sancire, "to make sacred by a religious act."
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Yellowstone National Park
Photo Credit: Windy Torgerud
Location: Yellowstone National Park
Let life happen to you. Believe me: life is in the right, always.
-- Rainer Maria Rilke
diktat \dik-TAHT\, noun:
diktat \dik-TAHT\, noun:
1. A harsh settlement unilaterally imposed on a defeated party.
2. An authoritative decree or order.
Whether with the rapid reaction force or with the Bosnian government, the United States should vigorously support efforts to lift the siege of Sarajevo and help to piece back together a contiguous territory so that the Bosnian government can come to the bargaining table free of a Serbian diktat.
-- "Why Bosnia matters", Commonweal, July 14, 1995
And it would begin to encroach on another, more treasured, freedom: the right of the networks to broadcast what they choose independent of government diktat.
-- "Back to the smoke-filled room?", The Economist, February 25, 1995
Other important figures in the game said the problems would be better dealt with voluntarily than by diktat.
-- Denis Campbell, "Fifa back Vieira", The Guardian, September 22, 2002
Diktat comes from German, from Latin dictatum, neuter past participle of dictare, "to dictate." It is related to dictator.
1. A harsh settlement unilaterally imposed on a defeated party.
2. An authoritative decree or order.
Whether with the rapid reaction force or with the Bosnian government, the United States should vigorously support efforts to lift the siege of Sarajevo and help to piece back together a contiguous territory so that the Bosnian government can come to the bargaining table free of a Serbian diktat.
-- "Why Bosnia matters", Commonweal, July 14, 1995
And it would begin to encroach on another, more treasured, freedom: the right of the networks to broadcast what they choose independent of government diktat.
-- "Back to the smoke-filled room?", The Economist, February 25, 1995
Other important figures in the game said the problems would be better dealt with voluntarily than by diktat.
-- Denis Campbell, "Fifa back Vieira", The Guardian, September 22, 2002
Diktat comes from German, from Latin dictatum, neuter past participle of dictare, "to dictate." It is related to dictator.
Dice
Dice, the oldest gaming implements known to man, are small cubes whose sides are each marked with a different number of dots (spots) from one to six. Archaeological finds show that dice were used in ancient times and were originally magical devices used to divine the future. Cubical dice with markings practically equivalent to those of modern dice have been found in Chinese excavations from 600 BC and in Egyptian tombs dating from 2000 BC.
Zion National Park, Utah
Photo Credit: Matthew Wentz
Location: Zion National Park, Utah
Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul alike.
-- John Muir
Chess pieces
In chess, the king moves one square at a time in any direction. The bishop moves diagonally across the board, while the rook travels in straight lines but not diagonally. The pawn moves forward one square at a time, and the knight can jump over other pieces to a new position. The queen can move in any direction but cannot jump. The oldest recovered chess piece, found in Persia, is dated to 790 AD.
fecund \FEE-kuhnd; FEK-uhnd\, adjective:
fecund \FEE-kuhnd; FEK-uhnd\, adjective:
1. Capable of producing offspring or vegetation; fruitful; prolific.
2. Intellectually productive or inventive.
Wainscott's book is . . . focused squarely and surely on probably the most astonishingly fecund period in American theater history, 1914-1929.
-- James Coakley, Comparative Drama
In her first novel she portrays a lush, fecund landscape palpable in its sultriness and excess.
-- Barbara Crossette, "Seeking Nirvana", New York Times, April 29, 2001
Miss Ozick can convert any skeptic to the cult of her shrewd and fecund imagination.
-- Edmund White, "Images of a Mind Thinking", New York Times, September 11, 1983
Fecund comes from Latin fecundus, "fruitful, prolific." The noun form is fecundity.
1. Capable of producing offspring or vegetation; fruitful; prolific.
2. Intellectually productive or inventive.
Wainscott's book is . . . focused squarely and surely on probably the most astonishingly fecund period in American theater history, 1914-1929.
-- James Coakley, Comparative Drama
In her first novel she portrays a lush, fecund landscape palpable in its sultriness and excess.
-- Barbara Crossette, "Seeking Nirvana", New York Times, April 29, 2001
Miss Ozick can convert any skeptic to the cult of her shrewd and fecund imagination.
-- Edmund White, "Images of a Mind Thinking", New York Times, September 11, 1983
Fecund comes from Latin fecundus, "fruitful, prolific." The noun form is fecundity.
Yosemite National Park
Photo Credit: Steven Crum
Location: Yosemite National Park
National parks are the best idea we ever had. Absolutely American, absolutely democratic, they reflect us at our best rather than our worst.
-- Wallace Stegner
Marathon
marathon
The first modern marathon race was held at the Olympic Games in Athens, Greece in 1896 and covered a distance of 24.85 miles. The winner of this race was a Greek, Spiridon Louis, who ran the race in 2:58:50. The marathon honors the feat of a Greek soldier, Pheidippides, who, in 490 BC, ran approximately 25 miles from Marathon to Athens to deliver the news of the Athenian victory over the Persians - and then died. At the 1908 Olympic Games in London, the marathon distance was changed to 26 miles to cover the ground from Windsor Castle to White City stadium, with 385 yards added on so the race could finish in front of the royal family's viewing box. However, the official distance of the modern Olympic marathon race, 26 miles 385 yards, was not established until 1924. The Boston Marathon, one of the more famous marathon races, began in 1897.
The first modern marathon race was held at the Olympic Games in Athens, Greece in 1896 and covered a distance of 24.85 miles. The winner of this race was a Greek, Spiridon Louis, who ran the race in 2:58:50. The marathon honors the feat of a Greek soldier, Pheidippides, who, in 490 BC, ran approximately 25 miles from Marathon to Athens to deliver the news of the Athenian victory over the Persians - and then died. At the 1908 Olympic Games in London, the marathon distance was changed to 26 miles to cover the ground from Windsor Castle to White City stadium, with 385 yards added on so the race could finish in front of the royal family's viewing box. However, the official distance of the modern Olympic marathon race, 26 miles 385 yards, was not established until 1924. The Boston Marathon, one of the more famous marathon races, began in 1897.
abecedarian \ay-bee-see-DAIR-ee-uhn\, noun:
abecedarian \ay-bee-see-DAIR-ee-uhn\, noun:
1. One who is learning the alphabet; hence, a beginner.
2. One engaged in teaching the alphabet.
3. Pertaining to the letters of the alphabet.
4. Arranged alphabetically.
5. Rudimentary; elementary.
Columba's poem is fittingly 'abecedarian', each stanza starts with a subsequent letter of the alphabet -- a harbinger of the Scottish appetite for cataloguing, and delight in craft.
-- WN Herbert, "A rhyme and a prayer", Scotland on Sunday, December 10, 2000
While much of the work resembled abecedarian attempts of a novice choreographer, "Duet," sensitively danced by Jennifer A. Cooper and William Petroni, is surprisingly sophisticated in its careful deployment of formal thematic manipulations in the service of emotional expression.
-- Lisa Jo Sagolla, "Open 24 Hours Dance Company", Back Stage, September 1, 1998
The approach may seem abecedarian today, but his was among the first endeavors of the sort.
-- Jennifer Liese, "May 1973", ArtForum, May 2003
Abecedarian derives from Latin abecedarius, from the first four letters of the alphabet.
1. One who is learning the alphabet; hence, a beginner.
2. One engaged in teaching the alphabet.
3. Pertaining to the letters of the alphabet.
4. Arranged alphabetically.
5. Rudimentary; elementary.
Columba's poem is fittingly 'abecedarian', each stanza starts with a subsequent letter of the alphabet -- a harbinger of the Scottish appetite for cataloguing, and delight in craft.
-- WN Herbert, "A rhyme and a prayer", Scotland on Sunday, December 10, 2000
While much of the work resembled abecedarian attempts of a novice choreographer, "Duet," sensitively danced by Jennifer A. Cooper and William Petroni, is surprisingly sophisticated in its careful deployment of formal thematic manipulations in the service of emotional expression.
-- Lisa Jo Sagolla, "Open 24 Hours Dance Company", Back Stage, September 1, 1998
The approach may seem abecedarian today, but his was among the first endeavors of the sort.
-- Jennifer Liese, "May 1973", ArtForum, May 2003
Abecedarian derives from Latin abecedarius, from the first four letters of the alphabet.
Yellowstone National Park
Location: Yellowstone National Park
I can enjoy society in a room; but out of doors, nature is company enough for me.
-- William Hazlitt
carom \KAIR-uhm\, noun:
carom \KAIR-uhm\, noun:
1. A rebound following a collision; a glancing off.
2. A shot in billiards in which the cue ball successively strikes two other balls on the table.
3. To strike and rebound; to glance.
4. To make a carom.
5. To make (an object) bounce off something; to cause to carom.
The cart smashed into the steep hillside in explosive caroms and bounces, sending billows of dust and rock into the air.
-- Ev Ehrlich, Grant Speaks
Three blocks away, in the Rue des Jardiniers, four Moroccan children were kicking a filthy soccer ball up and down the street. It caromed off the parked cars, rolled into the gutter, was kicked again, leaving dirty blotches where it had smacked against the vehicles' fenders.
-- Philip Shelby, Gatekeeper
The anger caroms around in our psyches like jagged stones.
-- Randall Robinson, Defending the Spirit
Carom derives from obsolete carambole, from Spanish carambola, "a stroke at billiards."
1. A rebound following a collision; a glancing off.
2. A shot in billiards in which the cue ball successively strikes two other balls on the table.
3. To strike and rebound; to glance.
4. To make a carom.
5. To make (an object) bounce off something; to cause to carom.
The cart smashed into the steep hillside in explosive caroms and bounces, sending billows of dust and rock into the air.
-- Ev Ehrlich, Grant Speaks
Three blocks away, in the Rue des Jardiniers, four Moroccan children were kicking a filthy soccer ball up and down the street. It caromed off the parked cars, rolled into the gutter, was kicked again, leaving dirty blotches where it had smacked against the vehicles' fenders.
-- Philip Shelby, Gatekeeper
The anger caroms around in our psyches like jagged stones.
-- Randall Robinson, Defending the Spirit
Carom derives from obsolete carambole, from Spanish carambola, "a stroke at billiards."
U.S. Secret Service
The United States Secret Service was founded in 1865, as a branch of the United States Treasury Department, to prevent counterfeiting of U.S. currency. The permanent duty of protecting the President of the United States of America was established in 1901 following the assassination of President William McKinley in Buffalo, New York. In 1962, Congress expanded the protective duties of the Secret Service to include the Vice President. In 2003, the Secret Service became part of the United States Department of Homeland Security.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia
Photo Credit: Photo © 2009 by Stephanie Bart-Horvath
Location: Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia
And now here is my secret, a very simple secret; it is only with the heart that one can see rightly, what is essential is invisible to the eye.
-- Antoine de Saint-Exupery
delectation \dee-lek-TAY-shun\, noun:
delectation \dee-lek-TAY-shun\, noun:
Great pleasure; delight, enjoyment.
Example Quotes:
Even after the buffet had evolved into the more functional sideboard in the 18th century, lavish arrangements of silver and porcelain continued to be laid out for the delectation of guests at large dinners.
-- Pilar Viladas, "That's Entertaining!", New York Times, March 24, 2002
At other times she'll get so worked up by some pet poeticism that she forgets she's not writing just for her own delectation.
-- David Klinghoffer, "Black madonna", National Review, February 9, 1998
Example Sentences:
The smooth, quiet ride of his Prius made driving it a source of great delectation.
-- Brought to you by the 3rd Generation Prius
Delectation derives from Latin delectatio, from the past participle of delectare, "to please."
Great pleasure; delight, enjoyment.
Example Quotes:
Even after the buffet had evolved into the more functional sideboard in the 18th century, lavish arrangements of silver and porcelain continued to be laid out for the delectation of guests at large dinners.
-- Pilar Viladas, "That's Entertaining!", New York Times, March 24, 2002
At other times she'll get so worked up by some pet poeticism that she forgets she's not writing just for her own delectation.
-- David Klinghoffer, "Black madonna", National Review, February 9, 1998
Example Sentences:
The smooth, quiet ride of his Prius made driving it a source of great delectation.
-- Brought to you by the 3rd Generation Prius
Delectation derives from Latin delectatio, from the past participle of delectare, "to please."
Neckwear
Neckwear is a collective term for items worn around the neck. The earliest known version of the necktie was found in the massive mausoleum of China's first emperor, Shih Huang Ti, who was buried in 210 BC. The tie as we know it was first worn by men in the 18th and 19th centuries and evolved in the late 19th century to become an essential item of menswear.
Fun Facts
Smiles and Giggles
Stewardesses' is the longest word typed with only the left hand.
And 'lollipop' is the longest word typed with your right hand.
(Bet you tried this out mentally, didn't you?)
No word in the English language rhymes withmonth, orange, silver, or purple.
'Dreamt' is the only English word that ends in the letters 'mt'.
(Are you doubting this?)
Our eyes are always the same size from birth, but our nose and ears never stop growing.
The sentence: 'The quick brown fox jumps over the
lazy dog' uses every letter of the alphabet.
(Now, you KNOW you're going to try this out for accuracy, right?)
The words 'racecar,' 'kayak' and 'level' are the same whether they are read left to right or right to left (palindromes).
(Yep, I knew yo u were going to 'do' this one.)
There are only four words in the English language which end in 'dous': tremendous, horrendous, stupendous, and hazardous. (You're not possibly doubting this, are you ?)
There are two words in the English language that have all five vowels in order: 'abstemious' and 'facetious.'
(Yes, admit it, you are going to say, a e i o u)
TYPEWRITER is the longest word that can be made using the letters only on one row of the keyboard.
(All you typists are going to test this out)
A cat has 32 muscles in each ear.
A goldfish has a memory span of three seconds .
(Some days that's about what my memory span is.)
A 'jiffy' is an actual unit of time for 1/100th of a second.
A shark is the only fish that can blink with both eyes.
A snail can sleep for three years.
(I know some people that could do this too.!)
Almonds are a member of the peach family.
An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain.
(I know some people like that also . Actually I know A LOT of people like this!)
Babies are born without kneecaps. They don't appear until the child reaches 2 to 6 years of age.
February 1865 is the only month in recorded history not to have a full moon.
In the last 4,000 years, no new animals have been domesticated.
If the population of China walked past you, 8 abreast, the line would never end because of the rate of reproduction.
Leonardo Da Vinci invented the scissors
Peanuts are one of the ingredients of dynamite!
Rubber bands last longer when refrigerated.
The average person's left hand does 56% of the typing.
The cruise liner, QE 2, moves only six inches for each gallon of diesel that it burns.
The microwave was invented after a researcher walked by a radar tube and a chocolate bar melted in his pocket. (Good thing he did that.)
The winter of 1932 was so cold that Niagara Falls froze completely solid .
There are more chickens than people in the world.
Winston Churchill was born in a ladies' room during a dance.
Women blink nearly twice as much as men.
Stewardesses' is the longest word typed with only the left hand.
And 'lollipop' is the longest word typed with your right hand.
(Bet you tried this out mentally, didn't you?)
No word in the English language rhymes withmonth, orange, silver, or purple.
'Dreamt' is the only English word that ends in the letters 'mt'.
(Are you doubting this?)
Our eyes are always the same size from birth, but our nose and ears never stop growing.
The sentence: 'The quick brown fox jumps over the
lazy dog' uses every letter of the alphabet.
(Now, you KNOW you're going to try this out for accuracy, right?)
The words 'racecar,' 'kayak' and 'level' are the same whether they are read left to right or right to left (palindromes).
(Yep, I knew yo u were going to 'do' this one.)
There are only four words in the English language which end in 'dous': tremendous, horrendous, stupendous, and hazardous. (You're not possibly doubting this, are you ?)
There are two words in the English language that have all five vowels in order: 'abstemious' and 'facetious.'
(Yes, admit it, you are going to say, a e i o u)
TYPEWRITER is the longest word that can be made using the letters only on one row of the keyboard.
(All you typists are going to test this out)
A cat has 32 muscles in each ear.
A goldfish has a memory span of three seconds .
(Some days that's about what my memory span is.)
A 'jiffy' is an actual unit of time for 1/100th of a second.
A shark is the only fish that can blink with both eyes.
A snail can sleep for three years.
(I know some people that could do this too.!)
Almonds are a member of the peach family.
An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain.
(I know some people like that also . Actually I know A LOT of people like this!)
Babies are born without kneecaps. They don't appear until the child reaches 2 to 6 years of age.
February 1865 is the only month in recorded history not to have a full moon.
In the last 4,000 years, no new animals have been domesticated.
If the population of China walked past you, 8 abreast, the line would never end because of the rate of reproduction.
Leonardo Da Vinci invented the scissors
Peanuts are one of the ingredients of dynamite!
Rubber bands last longer when refrigerated.
The average person's left hand does 56% of the typing.
The cruise liner, QE 2, moves only six inches for each gallon of diesel that it burns.
The microwave was invented after a researcher walked by a radar tube and a chocolate bar melted in his pocket. (Good thing he did that.)
The winter of 1932 was so cold that Niagara Falls froze completely solid .
There are more chickens than people in the world.
Winston Churchill was born in a ladies' room during a dance.
Women blink nearly twice as much as men.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Turkey Run State Park, Indiana
Photo Credit: Jessica Reeder
Location: Turkey Run State Park, Indiana
Do not hurry. Do not rest.
-- Goethe
Muses
In Greek and Roman mythology, the muses were a group of sister goddesses whose cult was based on Mount Helicon in Greece. They were probably originally the patron goddesses of poets, who in ancient times were also musicians. However, they later influenced all liberal arts and sciences, hence their connection with such institutions as the "museum."
rictus \RIK-tuhs\, noun:
rictus \RIK-tuhs\, noun:
1. The gape of the mouth, as of birds.
2. A gaping grin or grimace.
A rictus of cruel malignity lit up greyly their old bony faces.
-- James Joyce, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man
His belly swelled grotesquely, his hands curled, his cheeks puffed out, his mouth contorted in a rictus of pain and astonishment.
-- Tony Horwitz, Confederates in the Attic
Then, as the sympathy and praise engulfed him, Hector would invariably roll over onto his back, legs in the air, his mouth twisted into an otherworldly rictus.
-- Bruce McCall, "Writers Who Were Really Dogs", New York Times, June 5, 1994
Rictus is from Latin rictus, "the open mouth," from ringi, "to show the teeth."
1. The gape of the mouth, as of birds.
2. A gaping grin or grimace.
A rictus of cruel malignity lit up greyly their old bony faces.
-- James Joyce, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man
His belly swelled grotesquely, his hands curled, his cheeks puffed out, his mouth contorted in a rictus of pain and astonishment.
-- Tony Horwitz, Confederates in the Attic
Then, as the sympathy and praise engulfed him, Hector would invariably roll over onto his back, legs in the air, his mouth twisted into an otherworldly rictus.
-- Bruce McCall, "Writers Who Were Really Dogs", New York Times, June 5, 1994
Rictus is from Latin rictus, "the open mouth," from ringi, "to show the teeth."
saturnine \SAT-uhr-nyn\, adjective:
saturnine \SAT-uhr-nyn\, adjective:
1. Born under or being under the astrological influence of the planet Saturn.
2. Gloomy or sullen in disposition.
3. Having a sardonic or bitter aspect.
His saturnine spirit appealed to younger bohemians who were anxious to make idols of an earlier generation's tormented souls, but even so, it cannot have been easy for Rothko always to be the pessimist among the optimists.
-- Jed Perl, review of Mark Rothko: A Biography by James E.B. Breslin, New Republic, January 24, 1994
A saturnine prison guard sits and broods -- and every now and then, gets up and shoots an unseen prisoner.
-- John Walsh, review of The Silence Between Two Thoughts, Independent, June 11, 2004
This captures perfectly the tone of his writing: saturnine, droll, with a fascinating, deliberate bureaucratic dowdiness.
-- Andrew Martin, "Class conscious", New Statesman, November 13, 2000
Saturnine comes from Saturn, in Medieval times believed to be the most remote planet from the Sun and thus coldest and slowest in its revolution.
1. Born under or being under the astrological influence of the planet Saturn.
2. Gloomy or sullen in disposition.
3. Having a sardonic or bitter aspect.
His saturnine spirit appealed to younger bohemians who were anxious to make idols of an earlier generation's tormented souls, but even so, it cannot have been easy for Rothko always to be the pessimist among the optimists.
-- Jed Perl, review of Mark Rothko: A Biography by James E.B. Breslin, New Republic, January 24, 1994
A saturnine prison guard sits and broods -- and every now and then, gets up and shoots an unseen prisoner.
-- John Walsh, review of The Silence Between Two Thoughts, Independent, June 11, 2004
This captures perfectly the tone of his writing: saturnine, droll, with a fascinating, deliberate bureaucratic dowdiness.
-- Andrew Martin, "Class conscious", New Statesman, November 13, 2000
Saturnine comes from Saturn, in Medieval times believed to be the most remote planet from the Sun and thus coldest and slowest in its revolution.
Spices
spices
A spice is any of the many aromatic, plant-derived substances that have a fragrant or sharp flavor and are used to season food. Most spices come from the East; the first to be introduced to Europe was pepper (from India), which long remained a rare and expensive commodity. The use of spices in cooking started with the Byzantines, probably to hide the fact that meat was spoiled or unflavorful. The "spice route" was important during the Crusades as well as later on when British and Dutch trading companies worked hard to make money by buying and selling spices. There are four basic kinds: fresh spices, ground spices, spice pastes, and whole dried spices.
A spice is any of the many aromatic, plant-derived substances that have a fragrant or sharp flavor and are used to season food. Most spices come from the East; the first to be introduced to Europe was pepper (from India), which long remained a rare and expensive commodity. The use of spices in cooking started with the Byzantines, probably to hide the fact that meat was spoiled or unflavorful. The "spice route" was important during the Crusades as well as later on when British and Dutch trading companies worked hard to make money by buying and selling spices. There are four basic kinds: fresh spices, ground spices, spice pastes, and whole dried spices.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Capistrano Beach California
Photo Credit: Jim Schick
Location: Capistrano Beach California
If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun…
-- Katherine Hepburn
Stockholm Syndrome
Stockholm Syndrome is the phenomenon in which a hostage begins to identify and sympathize with his or her captor. The word was coined by Nils Bejerot after a botched bank robbery in Stockholm, Sweden in 1973, in which it emerged that the hostages were more afraid of the police than of their captors.
reticent \RET-ih-suhnt\, adjective:
reticent \RET-ih-suhnt\, adjective:
1. Inclined to keep silent; reserved; uncommunicative.
2. Restrained or reserved in style.
3. Reluctant; unwilling.
His wispy eyebrows sit above eyes undimmed by more than forty years of serious scholarship; a tight-lipped smile suggests that there are many things he will not say about himself or his accomplishments. Indeed, he is almost painfully reticent about what most scholars now consider to be a monumental achievement in the field.
-- Marc K. Stengel, "The Diffusionists Have Landed", The Atlantic, January 2000
Within a circle of intimate friends, he's a very sociable person, says Russell Banks, another novelist, who has known Auster since 1977. "Outside of that circle, he's fairly shy and reticent."
-- "Case of the Brooklyn Symbolist", New York Times, August 30, 1992
People might be reticent to put a more sizable amount into their 401(k) because they're worried it will affect their lifestyle.
-- Alexandra Zendrian, "Feel The Retirement Burn", Forbes, July 29, 2009
Reticent comes from the present participle of Latin reticere, "to keep silent," from re- + tacere, "to be silent."
1. Inclined to keep silent; reserved; uncommunicative.
2. Restrained or reserved in style.
3. Reluctant; unwilling.
His wispy eyebrows sit above eyes undimmed by more than forty years of serious scholarship; a tight-lipped smile suggests that there are many things he will not say about himself or his accomplishments. Indeed, he is almost painfully reticent about what most scholars now consider to be a monumental achievement in the field.
-- Marc K. Stengel, "The Diffusionists Have Landed", The Atlantic, January 2000
Within a circle of intimate friends, he's a very sociable person, says Russell Banks, another novelist, who has known Auster since 1977. "Outside of that circle, he's fairly shy and reticent."
-- "Case of the Brooklyn Symbolist", New York Times, August 30, 1992
People might be reticent to put a more sizable amount into their 401(k) because they're worried it will affect their lifestyle.
-- Alexandra Zendrian, "Feel The Retirement Burn", Forbes, July 29, 2009
Reticent comes from the present participle of Latin reticere, "to keep silent," from re- + tacere, "to be silent."
Oeans
From space, our planet appears blue because the majority of its surface is covered by oceans and seas. There are five "great" oceans: the Atlantic, the Pacific, and the Indian, which all merge into the Southern Ocean around Antarctica, and the Arctic Ocean which comprises the northern parts of the Atlantic and Pacific. The deepest places on Earth are ocean trenches, where the ocean floor plunges so steeply that the waters above could easily swallow Mount Everest.
flout \FLOWT\, transitive verb:
flout \FLOWT\, transitive verb:
1. To treat with contempt and disregard; to show contempt for.
2. To mock, to scoff.
3. Mockery, scoffing.
The thorough training in the fine points of lyric writing that he has received from Hammerstein has made Sondheim highly critical of those lyricists who flout the basic techniques of the craft.
-- "Sondheim: Lyricist and Composer", New York Times, March 6, 1966
Seth and Dorothy were completely mystified by Janis's determination to flout as many social conventions as she could.
-- Alice Echols, Scars of Sweet Paradise
Who put your beauty to this flout and scorn
By dressing it in rags.
-- Tennyson, Idylls of the King
Flout comes from Middle English flouten, "to play the flute."
1. To treat with contempt and disregard; to show contempt for.
2. To mock, to scoff.
3. Mockery, scoffing.
The thorough training in the fine points of lyric writing that he has received from Hammerstein has made Sondheim highly critical of those lyricists who flout the basic techniques of the craft.
-- "Sondheim: Lyricist and Composer", New York Times, March 6, 1966
Seth and Dorothy were completely mystified by Janis's determination to flout as many social conventions as she could.
-- Alice Echols, Scars of Sweet Paradise
Who put your beauty to this flout and scorn
By dressing it in rags.
-- Tennyson, Idylls of the King
Flout comes from Middle English flouten, "to play the flute."
Yosemite Valley
Photo Credit: David 'Art' Wooten of Kandidz
Location: Yosemite Valley
The mirror of nature reflects my inner world, the essence of humanity, and the great, all-embracing expanse of life itself. Only when we connect to nature, engaged with nature, are we truly alive and vigorous. To really be alive, one must be under the sun, the moon, the shining stars and surrounded by the beautiful greenery and pure waters of the natural world.
-- Daisaku Ikeda
Poisonous plants for pets
poisonous plants for pets
While plants add a touch of color and fragrance to our daily lives, they also inject an element of danger into the lives of our pets. More than 700 plants have been identified as producing physiologically active or toxic substances in sufficient amounts to cause harmful effects in animals. Poisonous plants produce a variety of toxic substances and cause reactions ranging from mild nausea to death. Certain animal species may have a peculiar vulnerability to a potentially poisonous plant.
While plants add a touch of color and fragrance to our daily lives, they also inject an element of danger into the lives of our pets. More than 700 plants have been identified as producing physiologically active or toxic substances in sufficient amounts to cause harmful effects in animals. Poisonous plants produce a variety of toxic substances and cause reactions ranging from mild nausea to death. Certain animal species may have a peculiar vulnerability to a potentially poisonous plant.
vet \VET\, transitive verb:
vet \VET\, transitive verb:
1. To provide veterinary care for (an animal).
2. To provide (a person) with medical care.
3. To examine carefully; to subject to thorough appraisal; to evaluate.
4. To practice as a veterinarian.
She was the right age (in her fifties), and her personal background had been vetted during the Senate confirmation hearings.
-- Eleanor Clift and Tom Brazaitis, Madam President
The "Stasi files law," as it is popularly known, also made it possible to vet parliamentarians for Stasi connections.
-- John O. Koehler, Stasi: The Untold Story of the East German Secret Police
Unlike, say, Bob Rubin (the Wall Street investment banker and incoming head of the National Economic Council), who probably needed half a law firm to vet his portfolio, I had no stocks or bonds.
-- George Stephanopoulos, All Too Human
Vet is short for veterinary or veterinarian, which comes from Latin veterinarius, "of or belonging to beasts of burden and draught," from veterinus, "of draught, of beasts of burden." The earlier sense was "to submit to examination or treatment by a veterinary surgeon," hence "to subject to thorough appraisal."
1. To provide veterinary care for (an animal).
2. To provide (a person) with medical care.
3. To examine carefully; to subject to thorough appraisal; to evaluate.
4. To practice as a veterinarian.
She was the right age (in her fifties), and her personal background had been vetted during the Senate confirmation hearings.
-- Eleanor Clift and Tom Brazaitis, Madam President
The "Stasi files law," as it is popularly known, also made it possible to vet parliamentarians for Stasi connections.
-- John O. Koehler, Stasi: The Untold Story of the East German Secret Police
Unlike, say, Bob Rubin (the Wall Street investment banker and incoming head of the National Economic Council), who probably needed half a law firm to vet his portfolio, I had no stocks or bonds.
-- George Stephanopoulos, All Too Human
Vet is short for veterinary or veterinarian, which comes from Latin veterinarius, "of or belonging to beasts of burden and draught," from veterinus, "of draught, of beasts of burden." The earlier sense was "to submit to examination or treatment by a veterinary surgeon," hence "to subject to thorough appraisal."
truckle \TRUHK-uhl\, intransitive verb:
truckle \TRUHK-uhl\, intransitive verb:
1. To yield or bend obsequiously to the will of another; to act in a subservient manner.
2. A small wheel or roller; a caster.
Only where there was a "defiance," a "refusal to truckle," a "distrust of all authority," they believed, would institutions "express human aspirations, not crush them."
-- Pauline Maier, "A More Perfect Union", New York Times, October 31, 1999
The son struggled to be obedient to the conventional, commercial values of the father and, at the same time, to maintain his own playful, creative innocence. This conflict could make him truckle in the face of power.
-- Dr. Margaret Brenman-Gibson, quoted in "Theater Friends Recall Life and Works of Odets," by Herbert Mitgang, New York Times, October 30, 1981
I am convinced that, broadly speaking, the audience must accept the piece on my own terms; that it is fatal to truckle to what one conceives to be popular taste.
-- Sidney Joseph Perelman, quoted in "The Perelman Papers," by Herbert Mitgang, New York Times, March 15, 1981
Truckle is from truckle in truckle bed (a low bed on wheels that may be pushed under another bed; also called a trundle bed), in reference to the fact that the truckle bed on which the pupil slept was rolled under the large bed of the master. The ultimate source of the word is Greek trokhos, "a wheel."
1. To yield or bend obsequiously to the will of another; to act in a subservient manner.
2. A small wheel or roller; a caster.
Only where there was a "defiance," a "refusal to truckle," a "distrust of all authority," they believed, would institutions "express human aspirations, not crush them."
-- Pauline Maier, "A More Perfect Union", New York Times, October 31, 1999
The son struggled to be obedient to the conventional, commercial values of the father and, at the same time, to maintain his own playful, creative innocence. This conflict could make him truckle in the face of power.
-- Dr. Margaret Brenman-Gibson, quoted in "Theater Friends Recall Life and Works of Odets," by Herbert Mitgang, New York Times, October 30, 1981
I am convinced that, broadly speaking, the audience must accept the piece on my own terms; that it is fatal to truckle to what one conceives to be popular taste.
-- Sidney Joseph Perelman, quoted in "The Perelman Papers," by Herbert Mitgang, New York Times, March 15, 1981
Truckle is from truckle in truckle bed (a low bed on wheels that may be pushed under another bed; also called a trundle bed), in reference to the fact that the truckle bed on which the pupil slept was rolled under the large bed of the master. The ultimate source of the word is Greek trokhos, "a wheel."
New England
New England is in the northeastern region of the United States. The six states that make up New England are Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. The region was named by Captain John Smith, who explored its shores in 1614 on behalf of some London merchants. New England was soon settled by English Puritans who believed in hard work and were happy to spend their time building new communities.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Lake Washington, Seattle
Photo Credit: Jeremy Garrett
Location: Lake Washington, Seattle
Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves. Do not now seek the answers, which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them. And the point is to live everything. Live the questions.
-- Rainer Maria Rilke
Poetry
Poetry is an intense form of literature, appealing directly to the emotions. In poetry, meaning is condensed to produce strong images, and words are arranged according to the pattern of their sounds, much like music. Children are attracted to such rhythms when they learn nursery rhymes. There are three main types of poetry, the oldest being epic - long narratives with a heroic or profound subject. Dramatic poetry is written for characters and can be performed on stage. Lyric poetry is the closest to songs, and these poems tend to be short and emotionally expressive.
stultify \STUHL-tuh-fahy\, verb:
stultify \STUHL-tuh-fahy\, verb:
1. To render useless or ineffectual; cripple.
2. To cause to appear stupid, inconsistent, or ridiculous.
3. Law To allege or prove insane and so not legally responsible.
The word "civilization" to my mind is coupled with death. When I use the word, I see civilization as a crippling, thwarting thing, a stultifying thing. For me it was always so. I don't believe in the golden ages, you see... civilization is the arteriosclerosis of culture.
-- Henry Miller
It's different play… they're so busy building, they don't realize," says Kling. Although she notes that companies like Lego produce praiseworthy technological games, some technology can "stultify" children, but then, she adds, so can some board games.
-- Mel Bezalel, "Fun and games - and more", Jerusalem Post, July 27, 2009
Stultify is from Late Latin stultificāre, "to make foolish."
1. To render useless or ineffectual; cripple.
2. To cause to appear stupid, inconsistent, or ridiculous.
3. Law To allege or prove insane and so not legally responsible.
The word "civilization" to my mind is coupled with death. When I use the word, I see civilization as a crippling, thwarting thing, a stultifying thing. For me it was always so. I don't believe in the golden ages, you see... civilization is the arteriosclerosis of culture.
-- Henry Miller
It's different play… they're so busy building, they don't realize," says Kling. Although she notes that companies like Lego produce praiseworthy technological games, some technology can "stultify" children, but then, she adds, so can some board games.
-- Mel Bezalel, "Fun and games - and more", Jerusalem Post, July 27, 2009
Stultify is from Late Latin stultificāre, "to make foolish."
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Iowa
Photo Credit: Glenda Dykstra
Location: Iowa
It is neither wealth nor splendor, but tranquility and occupation, which give happiness.
-- Thomas Jefferson
Bamboo
bamboo
Bamboo is a grass with more than 1,000 species. These vary in size, some plants being as small as one foot tall while others can grow up to 130 feet tall. Some species can grow one foot per day! Bamboo can be useful or decorative. It can be used for food and medicine as well as building material and furniture. Thomas Edison experimented with more than 100 varieties of bamboo when trying to come up with a filament for the first electric light bulb.
Bamboo is a grass with more than 1,000 species. These vary in size, some plants being as small as one foot tall while others can grow up to 130 feet tall. Some species can grow one foot per day! Bamboo can be useful or decorative. It can be used for food and medicine as well as building material and furniture. Thomas Edison experimented with more than 100 varieties of bamboo when trying to come up with a filament for the first electric light bulb.
perorate \PUR-uh-rayt\, intransitive verb:
perorate \PUR-uh-rayt\, intransitive verb:
1. To conclude or sum up a long discourse.
2. To speak or expound at length; to declaim.
These people don't talk, they perorate, pontificate, bombast.
-- Jean Charbonneau, "Biographer's quest becomes self-searching journey", Denver Post, January 28, 2001
Our mother favored a staccato, stand-up style; if our father could perorate, she could condense.
-- Annie Dillard, "The Leg In The Christmas Stocking: What We Learned From Jokes", New York Times, December 7, 1986
You may perorate endlessly.
-- Richard Elman, "A Rap on Race", New York Times, June 27, 1971
Perorate comes from Latin perorare "to speak at length or to the end," from per-, "through, throughout," + orare, "to speak."
1. To conclude or sum up a long discourse.
2. To speak or expound at length; to declaim.
These people don't talk, they perorate, pontificate, bombast.
-- Jean Charbonneau, "Biographer's quest becomes self-searching journey", Denver Post, January 28, 2001
Our mother favored a staccato, stand-up style; if our father could perorate, she could condense.
-- Annie Dillard, "The Leg In The Christmas Stocking: What We Learned From Jokes", New York Times, December 7, 1986
You may perorate endlessly.
-- Richard Elman, "A Rap on Race", New York Times, June 27, 1971
Perorate comes from Latin perorare "to speak at length or to the end," from per-, "through, throughout," + orare, "to speak."
Echo Park Lake, Los Angeles, California
Photo Credit: KK Condon
Location: Echo Park Lake, Los Angeles, California
Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.
-- T.S. Eliot
Magazine
The word magazine also means "storehouse," and all magazines are collections of articles (and advertisements!) published at regular intervals. Often, the content of magazines does not date as quickly as that of newspapers. Magazines are printed on longer-lasting paper and cover every imaginable topic, ranging from very specialized scientific journals to more general lifestyle and fashion magazines. Features are the staple of magazines and vary according to the type of magazine. These articles look at a particular subject in depth, often accompanied by photographs or illustrations. The first magazine published in America was "The American Magazine, or a Monthly View of the Political State of the British Colonies," edited by John Webbe and published in Philadelphia in 1741. It appeared just three days before Benjamin Franklin's "General Magazine and Historical Chronicle for All the British Plantations in America."
furbelow \FUR-buh-low\, noun:
furbelow \FUR-buh-low\, noun:
1. A pleated or gathered flounce on a woman's garment; a ruffle.
2. Something showy or superfluous; a bit of showy ornamentation.
In a season of ruffles, frills and furbelows, simple cuts in neutral shades stand out.
-- "Designers Head for Neutral Territory", St. Louis Post-Dispatch, February 27, 1997
Patience is required to get past some of the director's more baroque cinematic touches, decorating the story's dark center with visual furbelows . . . and aural gimmicks.
-- Lisa Schwarzbaum, "Movies: The Evil That Men Do", Entertainment Weekly, October 23, 1998
It is a story that, for all its hyper-animatedness, all its flips and furbelows of style, is confusing and wearisome.
-- Christine Stansell, "Details, Details", New Republic, December 10, 2001
Furbelow is perhaps an alteration of Italian faldella.
1. A pleated or gathered flounce on a woman's garment; a ruffle.
2. Something showy or superfluous; a bit of showy ornamentation.
In a season of ruffles, frills and furbelows, simple cuts in neutral shades stand out.
-- "Designers Head for Neutral Territory", St. Louis Post-Dispatch, February 27, 1997
Patience is required to get past some of the director's more baroque cinematic touches, decorating the story's dark center with visual furbelows . . . and aural gimmicks.
-- Lisa Schwarzbaum, "Movies: The Evil That Men Do", Entertainment Weekly, October 23, 1998
It is a story that, for all its hyper-animatedness, all its flips and furbelows of style, is confusing and wearisome.
-- Christine Stansell, "Details, Details", New Republic, December 10, 2001
Furbelow is perhaps an alteration of Italian faldella.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Torrance Beach, California
Photo Credit: Cathy Stancliffe
Location: Torrance Beach, California
All meaningful and lasting change starts first in your imagination and then works its way out. Imagination is more important than knowledge.
-- Albert Einstein
Birth Control Pill
The first commercially produced female oral contraceptive was introduced on August 18, 1960. The birth control pill was a major medical achievement: for the first time in history, women could safely and effectively control childbearing by taking a pill. Birth control pills are synthetic hormones that mimic the way real estrogen and progestin work in a woman's body. Since no new eggs are released by a woman on the pill, her body is tricked into believing she is already pregnant. The birth control pill had a major social impact on society. Its popularity also heightened the debate about the moral and health consequences of sex and promiscuity. Since the pill's introduction, it has been used by millions of women around the world. Male oral contraceptives are in the developmental stage.
propitious \pruh-PISH-uhs\, adjective:
propitious \pruh-PISH-uhs\, adjective:
1. Presenting favorable circumstances or conditions.
2. Favorably inclined; gracious; benevolent.
Example Quotes:
By the early 1500s rice was being planted on the Cape Verde island most propitious for agriculture, Santiago.
-- Judith A. Carney, Black Rice
It is hard to imagine a less propitious start to a marriage: in a single blow Vincent forfeited the trust of his wife, the respect of her family, and the means of his own support.
-- Matthew Sturgis, Aubrey Beardsley: A Biography
Example Sentences:
Though he didn't believe in luck, he considered the birth of the child propitious for the expedition's success.
-- Brought to you by the 3rd Generation Prius
Propitious derives from Latin propitius, "favorable."
1. Presenting favorable circumstances or conditions.
2. Favorably inclined; gracious; benevolent.
Example Quotes:
By the early 1500s rice was being planted on the Cape Verde island most propitious for agriculture, Santiago.
-- Judith A. Carney, Black Rice
It is hard to imagine a less propitious start to a marriage: in a single blow Vincent forfeited the trust of his wife, the respect of her family, and the means of his own support.
-- Matthew Sturgis, Aubrey Beardsley: A Biography
Example Sentences:
Though he didn't believe in luck, he considered the birth of the child propitious for the expedition's success.
-- Brought to you by the 3rd Generation Prius
Propitious derives from Latin propitius, "favorable."
Monday, August 17, 2009
Sierra Nevada, California
Photo Credit: Tioga Jenny
Location: Taken from the shore of Mono Lake on the east side of the Sierra Nevada, California
Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter, try again, fail again, fail better.
-- Samuel Beckett
dalliance \DAL-ee-uhns, DAL-yuhns\, noun:
dalliance \DAL-ee-uhns, DAL-yuhns\, noun:
1. Frivolous spending of time; dawdling.
2. Playful flirtation.
Do not, as some ungracious pastors do,
Show me the steep and thorny way to heaven;
Whiles, like a puff’d and reckless libertine,
Himself the primrose path of dalliance treads,
And recks not his own rede.
-- William Shakespeare, Hamlet
The acceptance of the role as artistic directors of the company is not a dalliance, she said yesterday. "It is an absolute, firm commitment."
-- Angela Bennie, "Blanchett: theatre job 'no dalliance'", Sydney Morning Herald, November 11, 2006
Dalliance comes from Middle English daliaunce, which is probably from Old French or Anglo-French.
1. Frivolous spending of time; dawdling.
2. Playful flirtation.
Do not, as some ungracious pastors do,
Show me the steep and thorny way to heaven;
Whiles, like a puff’d and reckless libertine,
Himself the primrose path of dalliance treads,
And recks not his own rede.
-- William Shakespeare, Hamlet
The acceptance of the role as artistic directors of the company is not a dalliance, she said yesterday. "It is an absolute, firm commitment."
-- Angela Bennie, "Blanchett: theatre job 'no dalliance'", Sydney Morning Herald, November 11, 2006
Dalliance comes from Middle English daliaunce, which is probably from Old French or Anglo-French.
baseball pitcher
baseball pitcher
The pitcher is vital to the game of baseball. Until a batter hits the ball, the game is a duel between the pitcher (and catcher) and the batter, which is repeated with each at bat. Until about 1870, the pitcher was merely a player assigned to put the ball in play by pitching it to the batter to hit. Now, of the 25 players on a major league club's normal active roster, eleven or twelve are pitchers, five of these being starting pitchers and the remainder constituting the bullpen or relief pitchers. Pitching demands more exact coordination of mental and muscular faculties and more continuous physical exertion than any other position in the game. On each pitch the pitcher is aiming at the strike zone, or a small part of it, 60 feet 6 inches away from the rubber on which his foot pivots in the act of pitching the ball. Pitchers use changes of speed, control (the ability to pitch to specific points in the strike zone), and different grips that affect the flight of the pitch in ord er to confound batters.
The pitcher is vital to the game of baseball. Until a batter hits the ball, the game is a duel between the pitcher (and catcher) and the batter, which is repeated with each at bat. Until about 1870, the pitcher was merely a player assigned to put the ball in play by pitching it to the batter to hit. Now, of the 25 players on a major league club's normal active roster, eleven or twelve are pitchers, five of these being starting pitchers and the remainder constituting the bullpen or relief pitchers. Pitching demands more exact coordination of mental and muscular faculties and more continuous physical exertion than any other position in the game. On each pitch the pitcher is aiming at the strike zone, or a small part of it, 60 feet 6 inches away from the rubber on which his foot pivots in the act of pitching the ball. Pitchers use changes of speed, control (the ability to pitch to specific points in the strike zone), and different grips that affect the flight of the pitch in ord er to confound batters.
bowdlerize \BODE-luh-rise; BOWD-\, transitive verb:
bowdlerize \BODE-luh-rise; BOWD-\, transitive verb:
1. To remove or modify the parts (of a book, for example) considered offensive.
2. To modify, as by shortening, simplifying, or distorting in style or content.
The president did not call for bowdlerizing all entertainment, but stressed keeping unsuitable material away from the eyes of children.
-- "Conference a start toward loosening grip of violence", Atlanta Journal, May 12, 1999
His tempestuous high school years are touched upon in a delightful scene where the precocious Roy infuriates his English teacher by trying to restore some of Shakespeare's saucier lines to that classroom's bowdlerized study of Hamlet.
-- Herman Goodden, "A Few Scenes in the Life of Roy McDonald", London Free Press, December 7, 2000
Gershwin bowdlerized his original operatic vision of "Porgy," simplifying it for Broadway. In 1976, the Houston Grand Opera, led by David Gockley, revived the original vision.
-- Richard Scheinin, "Gershwin's genius vividly displayed in 'Porgy' at S.F. Opera", Mercury News, June 10, 2009
Bowdlerize derives from the name Thomas Bowdler, an editor in Victorian times who rewrote Shakespeare, removing all profanity and sexual references so as not to offend the sensibilities of the audiences of his day.
1. To remove or modify the parts (of a book, for example) considered offensive.
2. To modify, as by shortening, simplifying, or distorting in style or content.
The president did not call for bowdlerizing all entertainment, but stressed keeping unsuitable material away from the eyes of children.
-- "Conference a start toward loosening grip of violence", Atlanta Journal, May 12, 1999
His tempestuous high school years are touched upon in a delightful scene where the precocious Roy infuriates his English teacher by trying to restore some of Shakespeare's saucier lines to that classroom's bowdlerized study of Hamlet.
-- Herman Goodden, "A Few Scenes in the Life of Roy McDonald", London Free Press, December 7, 2000
Gershwin bowdlerized his original operatic vision of "Porgy," simplifying it for Broadway. In 1976, the Houston Grand Opera, led by David Gockley, revived the original vision.
-- Richard Scheinin, "Gershwin's genius vividly displayed in 'Porgy' at S.F. Opera", Mercury News, June 10, 2009
Bowdlerize derives from the name Thomas Bowdler, an editor in Victorian times who rewrote Shakespeare, removing all profanity and sexual references so as not to offend the sensibilities of the audiences of his day.
Steamboat
steamboat
On August 17, 1807, the first American steamboat trip took place on the Hudson River in New York. With about 40 people on board, Robert Fulton and Robert Livingston launched the "North River Steamboat" from New York City up the Hudson River to Albany, New York. The boat covered 150 miles in 32 hours (with an overnight stop) at an average speed of five miles per hour. Nicknamed "Fulton's Folly," it was in fact a total success.
On August 17, 1807, the first American steamboat trip took place on the Hudson River in New York. With about 40 people on board, Robert Fulton and Robert Livingston launched the "North River Steamboat" from New York City up the Hudson River to Albany, New York. The boat covered 150 miles in 32 hours (with an overnight stop) at an average speed of five miles per hour. Nicknamed "Fulton's Folly," it was in fact a total success.
undulation \uhn-juh-LEY-shuhn, uhn-dyuh-, -duh-\, noun
undulation \uhn-juh-LEY-shuhn, uhn-dyuh-, -duh-\, noun:
1. A regular rising and falling or movement to alternating sides; movement in waves.
2. A wavelike form, outline, or appearance.
3. One of a series of waves or wavelike segments.
Considering the difficulty of the golf course, the severe undulation of the greens, the magnitude of the event and the quality of the competition, Inkster ranked it as her greatest victory, particularly because she turned 42 last month.
-- Clifton Brown, "GOLF; One for the Ages, As Inkster Wins U.S. Open at 42", New York Times, July 8, 2004
Both works suggest depth; "Greenscreen" feels as if you could tumble into it, whereas "Mt. Shasta" depicts it via landscape. Even the hint at undulation achieved with subtle shifts in shadow echoes the mountain's shape.
-- Cate McQuaid, "An artist with breathtaking scope: Painter races from concept to caress", Boston Globe, January 17, 2008
Undulation is from Late Latin undula, "a small wave," diminutive of Latin unda, "wave."
1. A regular rising and falling or movement to alternating sides; movement in waves.
2. A wavelike form, outline, or appearance.
3. One of a series of waves or wavelike segments.
Considering the difficulty of the golf course, the severe undulation of the greens, the magnitude of the event and the quality of the competition, Inkster ranked it as her greatest victory, particularly because she turned 42 last month.
-- Clifton Brown, "GOLF; One for the Ages, As Inkster Wins U.S. Open at 42", New York Times, July 8, 2004
Both works suggest depth; "Greenscreen" feels as if you could tumble into it, whereas "Mt. Shasta" depicts it via landscape. Even the hint at undulation achieved with subtle shifts in shadow echoes the mountain's shape.
-- Cate McQuaid, "An artist with breathtaking scope: Painter races from concept to caress", Boston Globe, January 17, 2008
Undulation is from Late Latin undula, "a small wave," diminutive of Latin unda, "wave."
Friday, August 14, 2009
Los Osos, CA
Location: Los Osos, CA
Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air…
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson
celerity \suh-LAIR-uh-tee\, noun:
celerity \suh-LAIR-uh-tee\, noun:
Rapidity of motion or action; quickness; swiftness.
Though not in the best of physical form, he was capable of moving with celerity.
-- Malachy McCourt, A Monk Swimming: A Memoir
Furthermore, as is well known, computer technology grows obsolete with amazing celerity.
-- Alan S. Blinder and Richard E. Quandt, "The Computer and the Economy", The Atlantic, December 1997
The lightning celerity of his thought processes took you on a kind of helter-skelter ride of surreal non-sequiturs, sudden accesses of emotion and ribald asides, made all the more bizarre for being uttered in those honeyed tones by the impeccably elegant gent before you.
-- "A life full of frolics", The Guardian, May 19, 2001
Celerity is from Latin celeritas, from celer, "swift." It is related to accelerate.
Rapidity of motion or action; quickness; swiftness.
Though not in the best of physical form, he was capable of moving with celerity.
-- Malachy McCourt, A Monk Swimming: A Memoir
Furthermore, as is well known, computer technology grows obsolete with amazing celerity.
-- Alan S. Blinder and Richard E. Quandt, "The Computer and the Economy", The Atlantic, December 1997
The lightning celerity of his thought processes took you on a kind of helter-skelter ride of surreal non-sequiturs, sudden accesses of emotion and ribald asides, made all the more bizarre for being uttered in those honeyed tones by the impeccably elegant gent before you.
-- "A life full of frolics", The Guardian, May 19, 2001
Celerity is from Latin celeritas, from celer, "swift." It is related to accelerate.
Great Lakes
Lying between Canada and the U.S., the five Great Lakes cover a total of 95,096 square miles and contain one-fifth of the world's fresh water. Lake Superior is the world's largest freshwater lake. These lakes are linked to the Atlantic Ocean by the St. Lawrence Seaway, which enables ocean-going ships to use inland ports.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Madison Square Park in Manhattan
Photo Credit: Joana L
Location: Madison Square Park in Manhattan
Time you enjoyed wasting was not wasted.
-- John Lennon
furtive \FUR-tiv\, adjective:
furtive \FUR-tiv\, adjective:
1. Done by stealth; surreptitious; secret; as, a furtive look.
2. Expressive of stealth; sly; shifty; sneaky.
3. Stolen; obtained by stealth.
4. Given to stealing; thievish; pilfering.
He had always been more than willing to show me parts of [his notebook], whenever I asked him to; and naturally I had taken many furtive looks at its innermost pages when he wasn't around.
-- Michael Chabon, Werewolves in Their Youth
Exchanging furtive glances, they oozed a nervousness, perhaps in fear that some prewritten script would go awry.
-- Michael Bloomberg, Bloomberg by Bloomberg
Why did he keep looking around at all the other tables like that? It made him seem furtive, as if he didn't belong here, as if he were an intruder in so fine a place as this.
-- Mary McGarry Morris, Fiona Range
Furtive is from Latin furtivus, from furtum, "theft," from fur, "thief."
1. Done by stealth; surreptitious; secret; as, a furtive look.
2. Expressive of stealth; sly; shifty; sneaky.
3. Stolen; obtained by stealth.
4. Given to stealing; thievish; pilfering.
He had always been more than willing to show me parts of [his notebook], whenever I asked him to; and naturally I had taken many furtive looks at its innermost pages when he wasn't around.
-- Michael Chabon, Werewolves in Their Youth
Exchanging furtive glances, they oozed a nervousness, perhaps in fear that some prewritten script would go awry.
-- Michael Bloomberg, Bloomberg by Bloomberg
Why did he keep looking around at all the other tables like that? It made him seem furtive, as if he didn't belong here, as if he were an intruder in so fine a place as this.
-- Mary McGarry Morris, Fiona Range
Furtive is from Latin furtivus, from furtum, "theft," from fur, "thief."
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
8 Ways to Help Your Health Naturally
By Lucy Danziger, SELF Editor-in-Chief - Posted on Thu, Aug 06, 2009, 6:30 pm PDT
Happier, Healthier You
by Lucy Danziger, SELF Editor-in-Chief a Yahoo! Health Expert for Women's Health
Visit Women's Health Home »
I've always been a little squeamish about taking medicine. Blame my dislike of forced medicine as a kid, but if there's a way to treat an ailment without drugs, sign me up. I usually opt for an ice pack to treat postworkout soreness instead of a painkiller, and I try to get all my vitamins and nutrients from whole fresh foods (fruits, veggies, nuts and lean meats) rather than popping a pill. Maybe that's why I love these all-natural ways to help your health. Salud!
Soothe sinus trouble
If you're congested, headachy or feverish, it could be the start of a sinus infection. Boil a few white onions. Breathing in the stinky steam with your head under a towel for several minutes can help open stuffed-up nasal passages, plus onions have proven antiviral properties.
Strengthen your heart
A handful of nuts (particularly almonds or walnuts) can lower cholesterol and blood pressure. The snacks are high in heart-healthy monounsaturated fat and omega-3 fatty acids, which help reduce LDL ("bad") cholesterol and keep the walls of the arteries healthy and elastic. Nuts also naturally curb cravings: People who eat 2 ounces of almonds a day consumed less food at subsequent meals, researchers from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, report. They seem to curb my desire for sweets--the fatty-sugary treats like brownies or cookies I usually reach for when I'm in need of a sweet fix.
Stabilize your blood sugar
Sprinkle cinnamon on your latte: Consuming as little as 1/4 teaspoon daily helps reduce blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. The spice, which has insulin-enhancing compounds, also lowers triglycerides, LDL and total cholesterol.
Heal wounds
Honey can disinfect cuts and help them heal faster. The syrup contains an enzyme that produces hydrogen peroxide, which kills germs, as well as antioxidants that may reduce inflammation. Raw honey is the most effective, but even the variety in packets will work. Warm it in the microwave, apply a tablespoon to a gauze pad and secure with medical tape. Reapply daily.
Banish bad breath
Cinnamon-flavored chewing gum has been shown to reduce bad-breath-inducing bacteria by more than 50 percent, according to researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Prevent tummy trouble
Love sushi? Don't ignore the wasabi on your plate. Yes, it looks like Play-Doh, but the green paste, which is the Japanese version of horseradish, has antibacterial properties that can help stave off food poisoning. Swirl it into soy sauce (low sodium is best!) for a kick of flavor and tummy protection.
Avoid falling asleep at the wheel!
Put a drop of peppermint essential oil in a tissue, and inhale the scent while you're delayed in traffic or on a long, leisurely drive. Catching a whiff can help make you more alert as well as lessen frustration of being stuck at the wheel.
Happier, Healthier You
by Lucy Danziger, SELF Editor-in-Chief a Yahoo! Health Expert for Women's Health
Visit Women's Health Home »
I've always been a little squeamish about taking medicine. Blame my dislike of forced medicine as a kid, but if there's a way to treat an ailment without drugs, sign me up. I usually opt for an ice pack to treat postworkout soreness instead of a painkiller, and I try to get all my vitamins and nutrients from whole fresh foods (fruits, veggies, nuts and lean meats) rather than popping a pill. Maybe that's why I love these all-natural ways to help your health. Salud!
Soothe sinus trouble
If you're congested, headachy or feverish, it could be the start of a sinus infection. Boil a few white onions. Breathing in the stinky steam with your head under a towel for several minutes can help open stuffed-up nasal passages, plus onions have proven antiviral properties.
Strengthen your heart
A handful of nuts (particularly almonds or walnuts) can lower cholesterol and blood pressure. The snacks are high in heart-healthy monounsaturated fat and omega-3 fatty acids, which help reduce LDL ("bad") cholesterol and keep the walls of the arteries healthy and elastic. Nuts also naturally curb cravings: People who eat 2 ounces of almonds a day consumed less food at subsequent meals, researchers from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, report. They seem to curb my desire for sweets--the fatty-sugary treats like brownies or cookies I usually reach for when I'm in need of a sweet fix.
Stabilize your blood sugar
Sprinkle cinnamon on your latte: Consuming as little as 1/4 teaspoon daily helps reduce blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. The spice, which has insulin-enhancing compounds, also lowers triglycerides, LDL and total cholesterol.
Heal wounds
Honey can disinfect cuts and help them heal faster. The syrup contains an enzyme that produces hydrogen peroxide, which kills germs, as well as antioxidants that may reduce inflammation. Raw honey is the most effective, but even the variety in packets will work. Warm it in the microwave, apply a tablespoon to a gauze pad and secure with medical tape. Reapply daily.
Banish bad breath
Cinnamon-flavored chewing gum has been shown to reduce bad-breath-inducing bacteria by more than 50 percent, according to researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Prevent tummy trouble
Love sushi? Don't ignore the wasabi on your plate. Yes, it looks like Play-Doh, but the green paste, which is the Japanese version of horseradish, has antibacterial properties that can help stave off food poisoning. Swirl it into soy sauce (low sodium is best!) for a kick of flavor and tummy protection.
Avoid falling asleep at the wheel!
Put a drop of peppermint essential oil in a tissue, and inhale the scent while you're delayed in traffic or on a long, leisurely drive. Catching a whiff can help make you more alert as well as lessen frustration of being stuck at the wheel.
San Jose, CA, at Penitencia Creek Park
Photo Credit: Denise D. Greaves
Location: San Jose, CA, at Penitencia Creek Park
There are moments when one feels free from one's own identification with human limitations and inadequacies. At such moments one imagines that one stands on some spot of a small planet, gazing in amazement at the cold yet profoundly moving beauty of the eternal, the unfathomable; life and death flow into one, and there is neither evolution nor destiny; only Being.
-- Albert Einstein
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