31 May 2006
America’s wild horses
"We have another opportunity to fight for the protection of America’s wild horses! Congressman Nick Rahall has once again introduced an amendment to the Interior Appropriations Bill, that was passed by the House, that will prohibit the use of tax dollars for the sale of wild horses to slaughter. This is our opportunity to undo the devastating Burns legislation and prevent the continued slaughter of wild horses. We have to speak up on behalf of our wild horses." Click title
The Word of the Day
pellucid \puh-LOO-sid\ adjective
*1 : admitting maximum passage of light without diffusion or distortion
2 : reflecting light evenly from all surfaces
3 : easy to understand
Example sentence: The coastal waters were clean and pellucid, allowing us to easily identify the marine life on the ocean floor.
Did you know? "Pellucid" ultimately derives from the Latin "lucere" ("to shine"), which in turn contains the root "luc-" ("light"). "Pellucid" is formed from "per" ("through") plus "lucidus" ("lucid, clear"). "Pellucid" has many shining relatives in English. Among the offspring of "lucere" are "translucent" (essentially, "clear enough to allow light to pass through"), "elucidate" ("to make clear, explain"), "lucent" ("luminous" or "clear"), and of course "lucid" itself (which can mean "shining," "mentally sound," or "easily understood"). Another related word is "Lucifer" (literally, "light-bearer"). Other relatives -- such as "lackluster" ("lacking brightness"), "illustrate" (originally, "to make bright"), and "lustrous" ("shining" or "radiant") -- trace from the related verb "lustrare" ("to brighten"). Clearly, "pellucid" is just one of a family of brilliant terms.
*1 : admitting maximum passage of light without diffusion or distortion
2 : reflecting light evenly from all surfaces
3 : easy to understand
Example sentence: The coastal waters were clean and pellucid, allowing us to easily identify the marine life on the ocean floor.
Did you know? "Pellucid" ultimately derives from the Latin "lucere" ("to shine"), which in turn contains the root "luc-" ("light"). "Pellucid" is formed from "per" ("through") plus "lucidus" ("lucid, clear"). "Pellucid" has many shining relatives in English. Among the offspring of "lucere" are "translucent" (essentially, "clear enough to allow light to pass through"), "elucidate" ("to make clear, explain"), "lucent" ("luminous" or "clear"), and of course "lucid" itself (which can mean "shining," "mentally sound," or "easily understood"). Another related word is "Lucifer" (literally, "light-bearer"). Other relatives -- such as "lackluster" ("lacking brightness"), "illustrate" (originally, "to make bright"), and "lustrous" ("shining" or "radiant") -- trace from the related verb "lustrare" ("to brighten"). Clearly, "pellucid" is just one of a family of brilliant terms.
BOHICA
"His brother's approval ratings are in the cellar, and that whole dynasty thing doesn't help. But don't underestimate Jeb Bush's prospects as a future presidential contender, says former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich." Click title
30 May 2006
Crusades, Round 2
The Scriptures say, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6) The Scriptures do not say, "Train up a child in the way he should blow away the people of God as well as infidels: and when he is old enough, he will go out and do some killing." Click title for alarming article
The Word of the Day
mettlesome \MET-ul-sum\ adjective : full of vigor and stamina : spirited
Example sentence: The mettlesome bronco kicked and bucked, but the rider kept his balance and rode him out.
Did you know? The 17th-century adjective "mettlesome" (popularly used of spirited horses) sometimes appeared as the variant "metalsome." That's not surprising. In the 16th century and for some time after, "mettle" was a variant spelling of "metal" -- that is, the word for substances such as gold, copper, and iron. ("Metal" itself dates from the 14th century and descends from a Greek term meaning "mine" or "metal.") The 16th century was also when "metal" -- or "mettle" -- acquired the figurative sense of "spirit," "courage," or "stamina." However, by the early 18th century, dictionaries were noting the distinction between "metal," used for the substance, and "mettle," used for "spirit," so that nowadays the words "mettle" and "mettlesome" are rarely associated with "metal."
Example sentence: The mettlesome bronco kicked and bucked, but the rider kept his balance and rode him out.
Did you know? The 17th-century adjective "mettlesome" (popularly used of spirited horses) sometimes appeared as the variant "metalsome." That's not surprising. In the 16th century and for some time after, "mettle" was a variant spelling of "metal" -- that is, the word for substances such as gold, copper, and iron. ("Metal" itself dates from the 14th century and descends from a Greek term meaning "mine" or "metal.") The 16th century was also when "metal" -- or "mettle" -- acquired the figurative sense of "spirit," "courage," or "stamina." However, by the early 18th century, dictionaries were noting the distinction between "metal," used for the substance, and "mettle," used for "spirit," so that nowadays the words "mettle" and "mettlesome" are rarely associated with "metal."
29 May 2006
The Word of the Day
oriflamme \OR-uh-flam\ noun : a banner, symbol, or ideal inspiring devotion or courage
Example sentence: "My [word-a-day] calendar had become an oriflamme, inspiring me to try out my new grasp of the language, non-stop." (May Brown, _Times Colonist_ [Victoria, BC], January 5, 2003)
Did you know? The original "oriflamme" was the banner of Saint Denis, a patron saint of France who is said to have been the first bishop of Paris. Middle English speakers referred to this red or reddish orange banner using the Middle French term "oriflamble," from Old French "ori flambe," meaning "small flag." From the 12th to the 15th centuries, French kings carried the banner into battle as a way of inspiring their troops. This tactic met with such success that, by 1600, English speakers were using "oriflamme" to refer to any group's rallying symbol.
Example sentence: "My [word-a-day] calendar had become an oriflamme, inspiring me to try out my new grasp of the language, non-stop." (May Brown, _Times Colonist_ [Victoria, BC], January 5, 2003)
Did you know? The original "oriflamme" was the banner of Saint Denis, a patron saint of France who is said to have been the first bishop of Paris. Middle English speakers referred to this red or reddish orange banner using the Middle French term "oriflamble," from Old French "ori flambe," meaning "small flag." From the 12th to the 15th centuries, French kings carried the banner into battle as a way of inspiring their troops. This tactic met with such success that, by 1600, English speakers were using "oriflamme" to refer to any group's rallying symbol.
28 May 2006
The Word of the Day
cavalier \kav-uh-LEER\ adjective
1 : debonair
*2 : marked by or given to offhand and often disdainful dismissal of important matters
Example sentence: "I'm tired of the cavalier way you brush off my concerns," Mom said, "so I'm taking away the car keys until you start listening to me."
Did you know? According to a dictionary prepared by Thomas Blount in 1656, a cavalier was "a knight or gentleman, serving on horseback, a man of arms." That meaning is true to the history of the noun, which traces back to the Late Latin "caballarius," meaning "horseman." By around 1600, it had also come to denote "a roistering swaggering fellow." In the 1640s, English Puritans applied it disdainfully to their adversaries, the swashbuckling royalist followers of Charles I, who sported longish hair and swords. Although some thought those cavaliers "several sorts of Malignant Men, . . . ready to commit all manner of Outrage and Violence," others saw them as quite suave -- which may explain why "cavalier" can be either complimentary or a bit insulting.
1 : debonair
*2 : marked by or given to offhand and often disdainful dismissal of important matters
Example sentence: "I'm tired of the cavalier way you brush off my concerns," Mom said, "so I'm taking away the car keys until you start listening to me."
Did you know? According to a dictionary prepared by Thomas Blount in 1656, a cavalier was "a knight or gentleman, serving on horseback, a man of arms." That meaning is true to the history of the noun, which traces back to the Late Latin "caballarius," meaning "horseman." By around 1600, it had also come to denote "a roistering swaggering fellow." In the 1640s, English Puritans applied it disdainfully to their adversaries, the swashbuckling royalist followers of Charles I, who sported longish hair and swords. Although some thought those cavaliers "several sorts of Malignant Men, . . . ready to commit all manner of Outrage and Violence," others saw them as quite suave -- which may explain why "cavalier" can be either complimentary or a bit insulting.
27 May 2006
The Word of the Day
expiate \EK-spee-ayt\ verb, transitive
1 : to extinguish the guilt incurred by
*2 : to make amends for
intransitive : to make expiation
Example sentence: "It seemed to me that I was hurried on by an inevitable and unseen fate to this day of misery, and that now I was to expiate all my offences at the gallows...." (Daniel Defoe, _Moll Flanders_)
Did you know? "Disaster shall fall upon you, which you will not be able to expiate." That ominous biblical prophecy (_Isaiah_ 47:11 RSV) shows that "expiate" was once involved in confronting the forces of evil as well as in assuaging guilt. The word derives from "expiare," Latin for "to atone for," a root that in turn traces to the Latin term for "pious." "Expiate" originally referred to warding off evil by using sacred rites, or to using sacred rites to cleanse or purify something. By the 17th century, Shakespeare (and others) were using it to mean "to put an end to": "But when in thee time's furrows I behold, / Then look I death my days should expiate" ("Sonnet 22"). Those senses have since become obsolete, and now only the "extinguish the guilt" and "make amends" senses remain in use.
travesty \TRAV-uh-stee\ noun
1 : a burlesque translation or literary or artistic imitation usually grotesquely incongruous in style, treatment, or subject matter
*2 : a debased, distorted, or grossly inferior imitation
Example sentence: The new movie is a travesty of a documentary, likely to appeal only to the lowest sense of humor.
Did you know? "Travesty," which first appeared in print in English as a noun in 1674, comes from the French verb "travestir," meaning "to disguise." The word's roots, however, wind back through Italian to Latin. That ancient tongue includes the verb "vestire," a verb meaning "to clothe" or "to dress." "Vestire" is the ancestor of "travesty" and a number of other English words, including "transvestite," "divest," and "investiture." "Travesty," incidentally, can also be a verb meaning "to make a travesty of" or "to parody"; the verb predates the noun in English by a single year.
1 : to extinguish the guilt incurred by
*2 : to make amends for
intransitive : to make expiation
Example sentence: "It seemed to me that I was hurried on by an inevitable and unseen fate to this day of misery, and that now I was to expiate all my offences at the gallows...." (Daniel Defoe, _Moll Flanders_)
Did you know? "Disaster shall fall upon you, which you will not be able to expiate." That ominous biblical prophecy (_Isaiah_ 47:11 RSV) shows that "expiate" was once involved in confronting the forces of evil as well as in assuaging guilt. The word derives from "expiare," Latin for "to atone for," a root that in turn traces to the Latin term for "pious." "Expiate" originally referred to warding off evil by using sacred rites, or to using sacred rites to cleanse or purify something. By the 17th century, Shakespeare (and others) were using it to mean "to put an end to": "But when in thee time's furrows I behold, / Then look I death my days should expiate" ("Sonnet 22"). Those senses have since become obsolete, and now only the "extinguish the guilt" and "make amends" senses remain in use.
travesty \TRAV-uh-stee\ noun
1 : a burlesque translation or literary or artistic imitation usually grotesquely incongruous in style, treatment, or subject matter
*2 : a debased, distorted, or grossly inferior imitation
Example sentence: The new movie is a travesty of a documentary, likely to appeal only to the lowest sense of humor.
Did you know? "Travesty," which first appeared in print in English as a noun in 1674, comes from the French verb "travestir," meaning "to disguise." The word's roots, however, wind back through Italian to Latin. That ancient tongue includes the verb "vestire," a verb meaning "to clothe" or "to dress." "Vestire" is the ancestor of "travesty" and a number of other English words, including "transvestite," "divest," and "investiture." "Travesty," incidentally, can also be a verb meaning "to make a travesty of" or "to parody"; the verb predates the noun in English by a single year.
26 May 2006
Noisy, Wiggling Ears Explained
By Jennifer Viegas, Discovery News May 24, 2006
Human ears can wiggle and make noise, and now researchers have a better understanding of how these unusual processes work.Since ear wiggling involves complex coordination of facial muscles,
Human ears can wiggle and make noise, and now researchers have a better understanding of how these unusual processes work.Since ear wiggling involves complex coordination of facial muscles,
25 May 2006
The Word of the Day
georgic \JOR-jik\ adjective : of or relating to agriculture
Example sentence: "Lanford Wilson has created yet another remarkable play... a fascinating tale of a georgic Midwestern community and the secrets lurking beneath the surface of its bucolic hum." (_Adweek_, March 25, 2004)
Did you know? The adjective "georgic," which dates from the first half of the 18th century, derives by way of Latin "georgicus" and Greek "georgikos" from the Greek noun "georgos," meaning "farmer." That noun, in turn, was formed by a combination of the prefix "geo-" (meaning "earth") and "ergon" ("work"), the latter of which gave us words such as "allergy" and "ergonomics." The noun sense of "georgic," which dates from the early 16th century, refers to a poem that deals with the practical aspects of agriculture and rural affairs. The standard for such poems, Virgil's _Georgics_, is responsible for its name. The poem, written between 37 and 30 B.C., called for a restoration of agricultural life in Italy after its farms fell into neglect during civil war.
Example sentence: "Lanford Wilson has created yet another remarkable play... a fascinating tale of a georgic Midwestern community and the secrets lurking beneath the surface of its bucolic hum." (_Adweek_, March 25, 2004)
Did you know? The adjective "georgic," which dates from the first half of the 18th century, derives by way of Latin "georgicus" and Greek "georgikos" from the Greek noun "georgos," meaning "farmer." That noun, in turn, was formed by a combination of the prefix "geo-" (meaning "earth") and "ergon" ("work"), the latter of which gave us words such as "allergy" and "ergonomics." The noun sense of "georgic," which dates from the early 16th century, refers to a poem that deals with the practical aspects of agriculture and rural affairs. The standard for such poems, Virgil's _Georgics_, is responsible for its name. The poem, written between 37 and 30 B.C., called for a restoration of agricultural life in Italy after its farms fell into neglect during civil war.
24 May 2006
The Word of the Day
pointillistic \pwann-tee-YIS-tik\ adjective
1 : composed of many discrete details or parts
*2 : of, relating to, or characteristic of pointillism or pointillists
Example sentence: The painting was done in a pointillistic style.
Did you know? In the late 19th century, Neo-Impressionists discovered that contrasting dots of color applied side by side would blend together and be perceived as a luminous whole when seen from a distance. With this knowledge they developed the technique of pointillism, also known as divisionism. It was in the 1920s that the adjective "pointillistic" finally needled its way into the English language -- first, as a word describing something having many details or parts, such as an argument or musical composition; then, as the adjective referring to the art of pointillism and its artists, the pointillists.
1 : composed of many discrete details or parts
*2 : of, relating to, or characteristic of pointillism or pointillists
Example sentence: The painting was done in a pointillistic style.
Did you know? In the late 19th century, Neo-Impressionists discovered that contrasting dots of color applied side by side would blend together and be perceived as a luminous whole when seen from a distance. With this knowledge they developed the technique of pointillism, also known as divisionism. It was in the 1920s that the adjective "pointillistic" finally needled its way into the English language -- first, as a word describing something having many details or parts, such as an argument or musical composition; then, as the adjective referring to the art of pointillism and its artists, the pointillists.
23 May 2006
The Dog Whisperer
"Americans work against Mother Nature, and that's why dogs don't listen . . ." Click title
The Word of the Day
hortative \HOR-tuh-tiv\ adjective : giving exhortation : advisory
Example sentence: Amy suspected that her hortative letter to her son about the values of hard work and education would be ignored in the swirl of freshman partying, but she sent it anyway.
Did you know? "We give nothing so freely as advice," observed French writer Duc de La Rochefoucauld in 1665. "Hortative" and "exhort" (meaning "to urge earnestly") are two words that testify to our eagerness to counsel others. Both trace to the Latin "hortari," meaning "to urge." "Hortative" has been used as both a noun (meaning "an advisory comment") and as an adjective since the 17th century. The noun is now uncommon, but it makes an appearance now and then, as in a 1992 article in The New York Times : "Facing directly into the camera, Mr. [Ross] Perot chronicled what he called the decline and potential fall of the American economy, keeping up a steady stream of hortatives as he went along. 'Let's just raise the hood and go to work!' he said. 'Let's just link arms and go do it!'"
Example sentence: Amy suspected that her hortative letter to her son about the values of hard work and education would be ignored in the swirl of freshman partying, but she sent it anyway.
Did you know? "We give nothing so freely as advice," observed French writer Duc de La Rochefoucauld in 1665. "Hortative" and "exhort" (meaning "to urge earnestly") are two words that testify to our eagerness to counsel others. Both trace to the Latin "hortari," meaning "to urge." "Hortative" has been used as both a noun (meaning "an advisory comment") and as an adjective since the 17th century. The noun is now uncommon, but it makes an appearance now and then, as in a 1992 article in The New York Times : "Facing directly into the camera, Mr. [Ross] Perot chronicled what he called the decline and potential fall of the American economy, keeping up a steady stream of hortatives as he went along. 'Let's just raise the hood and go to work!' he said. 'Let's just link arms and go do it!'"
22 May 2006
Diet Linked to Twin Births
Over the last 30 years, the number of twin births has nearly trebled. This rise seems to have followed the introduction of in vitro fertilization and a preference for having children later in life. But in the mid-1990s, doctors began limiting the number of embryos transferred in the course of in vitro fertilization and still the proportion of twin births rose. Now new research seems to show that bovine growth hormone in the food supply may be responsible. 
We are such arrogant stupid fuckers to think we could toy with Mother Nature and have no consequences. Click the title for the story.
We are such arrogant stupid fuckers to think we could toy with Mother Nature and have no consequences. Click the title for the story.The Word of the Day
bricolage \bree-koh-LAHZH\ noun : construction achieved by using whatever comes to hand; also : something constructed in this way
Example sentence: Knowing that the motor was assembled from a hasty bricolage of junk parts, Raphael had little hope that it would run effectively.
Did you know? According to French social anthropologist Claude Levi-Strauss, the artist "shapes the beautiful and useful out of the dump heap of human life." Levi-Strauss compared this artistic process to the work of a handyman who solves technical or mechanical problems with whatever materials are available. He referred to that process of making do as "bricolage," a term derived from the French verb "bricoler" (meaning "to putter about") and related to "bricoleur," the French name for a jack-of-all-trades. "Bricolage" made its way from French to English in 1966, when Levi-Strauss's _The Savage Mind_ was translated from his native tongue to ours. Now it is used for everything from the creative uses of leftovers ("culinary bricolage") to the cobbling together of disparate computer parts ("technical bricolage").
Example sentence: Knowing that the motor was assembled from a hasty bricolage of junk parts, Raphael had little hope that it would run effectively.
Did you know? According to French social anthropologist Claude Levi-Strauss, the artist "shapes the beautiful and useful out of the dump heap of human life." Levi-Strauss compared this artistic process to the work of a handyman who solves technical or mechanical problems with whatever materials are available. He referred to that process of making do as "bricolage," a term derived from the French verb "bricoler" (meaning "to putter about") and related to "bricoleur," the French name for a jack-of-all-trades. "Bricolage" made its way from French to English in 1966, when Levi-Strauss's _The Savage Mind_ was translated from his native tongue to ours. Now it is used for everything from the creative uses of leftovers ("culinary bricolage") to the cobbling together of disparate computer parts ("technical bricolage").
19 May 2006
18 May 2006
The Word of the Day
disparate \DISS-puh-rut\ adjective
1 : containing or made up of fundamentally different and often incongruous elements
*2 : markedly distinct in quality or character
Example sentence: James often complained about the disparate expectations for himself and his younger sister, who was required to do far fewer chores than he was.
Did you know? Have you ever tried to sort differing objects into separate categories? If so, you're well prepared to understand the origins of "disparate." The word, which first appeared in English in the 15th century, derives from "disparatus," the past participle of the Latin verb "disparare," meaning "to separate." "Disparare," in turn, comes from "parare," a verb meaning "to prepare." Other descendants of "parare" in English include both "separate" and "prepare," as well as "repair," "apparatus," and even "vituperate" ("to berate or scold severely"). Incidentally, "disparate" can also be a noun meaning "one of two or more things so unequal or unlike that they cannot be compared with each other" (it's usually used in the plural).
1 : containing or made up of fundamentally different and often incongruous elements
*2 : markedly distinct in quality or character
Example sentence: James often complained about the disparate expectations for himself and his younger sister, who was required to do far fewer chores than he was.
Did you know? Have you ever tried to sort differing objects into separate categories? If so, you're well prepared to understand the origins of "disparate." The word, which first appeared in English in the 15th century, derives from "disparatus," the past participle of the Latin verb "disparare," meaning "to separate." "Disparare," in turn, comes from "parare," a verb meaning "to prepare." Other descendants of "parare" in English include both "separate" and "prepare," as well as "repair," "apparatus," and even "vituperate" ("to berate or scold severely"). Incidentally, "disparate" can also be a noun meaning "one of two or more things so unequal or unlike that they cannot be compared with each other" (it's usually used in the plural).
Who is the highest-ranking female official in the Catholic Church, and what is her title?
Mary Ann Glendon has been called "the highest-ranking woman in the Catholic Church" by one archbishop. Click title
"It's very much like the Anita Bryant 'Save Our Children' campaign of the '70s,"
Anita Bryant's anti-gay "Save the Children" campaign is making a comeback, says a political observer due to speak Monday at a research conference in Philadelphia on gay parenting. Click title
17 May 2006
The Word of the Day
cerebrate \SAIR-uh-brayt\ verb : to use the mind : think
Example sentence: Jane is apt to cerebrate at length before making even minor decisions.
Did you know? When you think of the human brain, you probably think of the cerebrum, the large, fissured upper portion of the brain that is recognized as the neural control center for thought and sensory perception. In 1853, Dr. William Carpenter thought of the cerebrum when he coined "unconscious cerebration," a term describing the mental process by which people seem to do the right thing or come up with the right answer without conscious effort. People thought enough of Carpenter's coinage to use it as the basis of "cerebrate," though the verb refers to active thinking rather than subconscious processing. "Cerebrate," "cerebrum," and the related adjective "cerebral" all derive from the Latin word for "brain," which is "cerebrum."
Example sentence: Jane is apt to cerebrate at length before making even minor decisions.
Did you know? When you think of the human brain, you probably think of the cerebrum, the large, fissured upper portion of the brain that is recognized as the neural control center for thought and sensory perception. In 1853, Dr. William Carpenter thought of the cerebrum when he coined "unconscious cerebration," a term describing the mental process by which people seem to do the right thing or come up with the right answer without conscious effort. People thought enough of Carpenter's coinage to use it as the basis of "cerebrate," though the verb refers to active thinking rather than subconscious processing. "Cerebrate," "cerebrum," and the related adjective "cerebral" all derive from the Latin word for "brain," which is "cerebrum."
16 May 2006
Word Of The Day
dilettante \DIL-uh-tahnt\ noun
1 : an admirer or lover of the arts
*2 : a person having a superficial interest in an art or a branch of knowledge : dabbler
Example sentence: "He continued a dilettante, never quite abandoning his art, but working at it fitfully, and talking more about it than working at it." (William Dean Howells, _The Rise of Silas Lapham_)
Did you know? If someone calls you a dilettante, they're probably not too impressed with your devotion to your art. But "dilettante" didn't always have the disparaging tone that it has today. "Dilettante" is an Italian word, derived from "dilettare," meaning "to delight." In the 18th century, a dilettante was simply a person who delighted in the arts. Later, the term came to refer to someone who cultivates an art as a pastime without pursuing it professionally -- that is, an amateur. From this meaning developed the somewhat negative meaning that the word carries today, indicating a person who dabbles in an art or subject but is not truly devoted to it.
1 : an admirer or lover of the arts
*2 : a person having a superficial interest in an art or a branch of knowledge : dabbler
Example sentence: "He continued a dilettante, never quite abandoning his art, but working at it fitfully, and talking more about it than working at it." (William Dean Howells, _The Rise of Silas Lapham_)
Did you know? If someone calls you a dilettante, they're probably not too impressed with your devotion to your art. But "dilettante" didn't always have the disparaging tone that it has today. "Dilettante" is an Italian word, derived from "dilettare," meaning "to delight." In the 18th century, a dilettante was simply a person who delighted in the arts. Later, the term came to refer to someone who cultivates an art as a pastime without pursuing it professionally -- that is, an amateur. From this meaning developed the somewhat negative meaning that the word carries today, indicating a person who dabbles in an art or subject but is not truly devoted to it.
15 May 2006
DNA of Criminals' Kin Cited in Solving Cases
Cops would solve more crimes if they expanded their use of the nation's DNA fingerprinting system to test close relatives of known criminals, according to a research report that raises novel and difficult civil liberties issues. Click title
The Word of the Day
sedulous \SEJ-uh-luss\ adjective
1 : involving or accomplished with careful perseverance
*2 : diligent in application or pursuit
Example sentence: Daphne was a sedulous student whose hard work and determination earned her a number of college scholarships.
Did you know? No fooling -- the word "sedulous" ultimately comes from the Latin "se dolus," which literally means "without guile." Those two words were eventually melded into one, "sedulo," meaning "sincerely" or "diligently," and from that root developed the Latin "sedulus" and the English "sedulous." Don't let the "sed-" beginning mislead you; "sedulous" is not related to words such as "sedentary" or "sedate" (which derive from the Latin verb "sedere," meaning "to sit"). "Sedulous" types are not the sedate or sedentary sort. They're the hardworking types Scottish author Samuel Smiles must have had in mind when he wrote in his 1859 book _Self-Help_, "Sedulous attention and painstaking industry always mark the true worker."
1 : involving or accomplished with careful perseverance
*2 : diligent in application or pursuit
Example sentence: Daphne was a sedulous student whose hard work and determination earned her a number of college scholarships.
Did you know? No fooling -- the word "sedulous" ultimately comes from the Latin "se dolus," which literally means "without guile." Those two words were eventually melded into one, "sedulo," meaning "sincerely" or "diligently," and from that root developed the Latin "sedulus" and the English "sedulous." Don't let the "sed-" beginning mislead you; "sedulous" is not related to words such as "sedentary" or "sedate" (which derive from the Latin verb "sedere," meaning "to sit"). "Sedulous" types are not the sedate or sedentary sort. They're the hardworking types Scottish author Samuel Smiles must have had in mind when he wrote in his 1859 book _Self-Help_, "Sedulous attention and painstaking industry always mark the true worker."
14 May 2006
Locations of my last 100 visitors
This is so cool to have folks from all over the world stop by. I wish I could put names and faces to these places. But I can't so I'll just say thanks for visiting.
1 United States Washington, District of Columbia
2 Ireland Dublin
3 United States
4 United States Indianapolis, Indiana
5 United States Temple, Texas
6 Greece Na Smrni, Attiki
7 United States Poughkeepsie, New York
8 Greece Na Smrni, Attiki
9 Australia Sydney, New South Wales
10 Argentina
11 Australia Armadale North, Victoria
12 United States
13 United States
14 United States Sunnyvale, California
15 United States Nashville, Tennessee
16 Greece Athens, Attiki
17 United States Sunnyvale, California
18 United States Los Angeles, California
19 United States Portland, Oregon
20 Greece Athens, Attiki
21 United States
22 Greece Athens, Attiki
23 Australia Sydney, New South Wales
24 United States Buffalo, New York
25 United States Medford, Massachusetts
26 United States Charleston, South Carolina
27 South Africa Parow, Western Cape
28 Australia Sydney, New South Wales
29 United States Cohoes, New York
30 United States Poughkeepsie, New York
31 United States
32 United States
33 Turkey Istanbul
34 Singapore Singapore, Dakar
35 United States Poughkeepsie, New York
36 Malaysia Alur Gajah, Melaka
37 United States Hibbing, Minnesota
38 Canada Ottawa, Ontario
39 United States
40 United States Hibbing, Minnesota
41 United States Chicago, Illinois
42 United States Trenton, Michigan
43 United States Hibbing, Minnesota
44 United States Washington, District of Columbia
45 United States
46 United States Washington, District of Columbia
47 Greece Athens, Attiki
48 United States Mililani, Hawaii
49 Australia Sydney, New South Wales
50 Australia Auburn, Victoria
51 Norway Ljan, Oslo
52 United States
53 United Kingdom Stevenage, Norfolk
54 United States Phoenix, Arizona
55 Canada Markham, Ontario
56 United States Yorktown Heights, New York
57 United States San Leandro, California
58 United States Boston, Massachusetts
59 United States Troy, New York
60 Canada Beamsville, Ontario
61 United States Marshfield, Massachusetts
62 United States Marshfield, Massachusetts
63 Canada Markham, Ontario
64 United States Sunnyvale, California
65 Australia Sydney, New South Wales
66 United States Puyallup, Washington
67 United States
68 France Paris, Ile-de-France
69 Sweden Storuman, Vasterbottens Lan
70 Hong Kong Central District
71 United Kingdom Egham, Slough
72 United States Sunnyvale, California
73 United States Hibbing, Minnesota
74 United States Charleston, South Carolina
75 GreeceAthens, Attiki
76 United States
77 Norway Brevik, Akershus
78 United States Indianapolis, Indiana
79 United Kingdom London, Lambeth
80 United States Chicago, Illinois
81 United States West Roxbury, Massachusetts
82 Philippines Manila
83 United States Tampa, Florida
84 Norway Mo I Rana, Nordland
85 Netherlands Blaricum, Noord-Holland
86 United States
87 United States Wilmington, North Carolina
88 Norway Oppegrd, Akershus
89 United States Phoenix, Arizona
90 United States Cordova, Tennessee
91 United States Charleston, South Carolina
92 Canada Markham, Ontario
93 United States Atlanta, Georgia
94 United States
95 Portugal Porto
96 United States Indianapolis, Indiana
97 United States Logan, Utah
98 United States Brooklyn, New York
99 United StatesSycamore, Illinois
100 United States Midland, Michigan
1 United States Washington, District of Columbia
2 Ireland Dublin
3 United States
4 United States Indianapolis, Indiana
5 United States Temple, Texas
6 Greece Na Smrni, Attiki
7 United States Poughkeepsie, New York
8 Greece Na Smrni, Attiki
9 Australia Sydney, New South Wales
10 Argentina
11 Australia Armadale North, Victoria
12 United States
13 United States
14 United States Sunnyvale, California
15 United States Nashville, Tennessee
16 Greece Athens, Attiki
17 United States Sunnyvale, California
18 United States Los Angeles, California
19 United States Portland, Oregon
20 Greece Athens, Attiki
21 United States
22 Greece Athens, Attiki
23 Australia Sydney, New South Wales
24 United States Buffalo, New York
25 United States Medford, Massachusetts
26 United States Charleston, South Carolina
27 South Africa Parow, Western Cape
28 Australia Sydney, New South Wales
29 United States Cohoes, New York
30 United States Poughkeepsie, New York
31 United States
32 United States
33 Turkey Istanbul
34 Singapore Singapore, Dakar
35 United States Poughkeepsie, New York
36 Malaysia Alur Gajah, Melaka
37 United States Hibbing, Minnesota
38 Canada Ottawa, Ontario
39 United States
40 United States Hibbing, Minnesota
41 United States Chicago, Illinois
42 United States Trenton, Michigan
43 United States Hibbing, Minnesota
44 United States Washington, District of Columbia
45 United States
46 United States Washington, District of Columbia
47 Greece Athens, Attiki
48 United States Mililani, Hawaii
49 Australia Sydney, New South Wales
50 Australia Auburn, Victoria
51 Norway Ljan, Oslo
52 United States
53 United Kingdom Stevenage, Norfolk
54 United States Phoenix, Arizona
55 Canada Markham, Ontario
56 United States Yorktown Heights, New York
57 United States San Leandro, California
58 United States Boston, Massachusetts
59 United States Troy, New York
60 Canada Beamsville, Ontario
61 United States Marshfield, Massachusetts
62 United States Marshfield, Massachusetts
63 Canada Markham, Ontario
64 United States Sunnyvale, California
65 Australia Sydney, New South Wales
66 United States Puyallup, Washington
67 United States
68 France Paris, Ile-de-France
69 Sweden Storuman, Vasterbottens Lan
70 Hong Kong Central District
71 United Kingdom Egham, Slough
72 United States Sunnyvale, California
73 United States Hibbing, Minnesota
74 United States Charleston, South Carolina
75 GreeceAthens, Attiki
76 United States
77 Norway Brevik, Akershus
78 United States Indianapolis, Indiana
79 United Kingdom London, Lambeth
80 United States Chicago, Illinois
81 United States West Roxbury, Massachusetts
82 Philippines Manila
83 United States Tampa, Florida
84 Norway Mo I Rana, Nordland
85 Netherlands Blaricum, Noord-Holland
86 United States
87 United States Wilmington, North Carolina
88 Norway Oppegrd, Akershus
89 United States Phoenix, Arizona
90 United States Cordova, Tennessee
91 United States Charleston, South Carolina
92 Canada Markham, Ontario
93 United States Atlanta, Georgia
94 United States
95 Portugal Porto
96 United States Indianapolis, Indiana
97 United States Logan, Utah
98 United States Brooklyn, New York
99 United StatesSycamore, Illinois
100 United States Midland, Michigan
13 May 2006
WTF?
Charleston, SC
Mostly Sunny Today 79° Tonight 59°
South St Paul, MN
Light Rain Today 47° Tonight 41°
Mostly Sunny Today 79° Tonight 59°
South St Paul, MN
Light Rain Today 47° Tonight 41°
The Word of the Day
mordant \MOR-dunt\ adjective
*1 : biting and caustic in thought, manner, or style : incisive
2 : burning, pungent
Example sentence: As the guest of honor at the charity roast, Jacob good-naturedly received the mordant remarks directed at him by his friends, family, and colleagues.
Did you know? The etymology of "mordant" certainly has some bite to it. That word, which came to modern English through Middle French, ultimately derives from the Latin verb "mordere," which means "to bite." In modern parlance, "mordant" usually suggests a wit used with deadly effectiveness. "Mordere" puts the bite into other English terms, too. For instance, that root gave us the tasty "morsel" ("a tiny bite"). But nibble too many of those and you'll likely be hit by another "mordere" derivative: "remorse" ("guilt for past wrongs"), which comes from Latin "remordere," meaning "to bite again."
*1 : biting and caustic in thought, manner, or style : incisive
2 : burning, pungent
Example sentence: As the guest of honor at the charity roast, Jacob good-naturedly received the mordant remarks directed at him by his friends, family, and colleagues.
Did you know? The etymology of "mordant" certainly has some bite to it. That word, which came to modern English through Middle French, ultimately derives from the Latin verb "mordere," which means "to bite." In modern parlance, "mordant" usually suggests a wit used with deadly effectiveness. "Mordere" puts the bite into other English terms, too. For instance, that root gave us the tasty "morsel" ("a tiny bite"). But nibble too many of those and you'll likely be hit by another "mordere" derivative: "remorse" ("guilt for past wrongs"), which comes from Latin "remordere," meaning "to bite again."
12 May 2006
The Word of the Day
peccadillo \pek-uh-DIL-oh\ noun : a slight offense
Example sentence: Michael's thank-you note to his hostess was sincere and touching; his only peccadillo, however, was addressing her by her first name instead of "Mrs. Buchanan."
Did you know? "The world loves a spice of wickedness." That observation by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow may explain why people are so willing to forgive peccadilloes as youthful foolishness or lapses of judgment. The willingness to overlook petty faults and minor offenses existed long before English speakers borrowed a modified version of the Spanish "pecadillo" at the end of the 16th century. Spanish speakers distinguished the "pecadillo," or "little sin," from the more serious "pecado," their term for a sin of magnitude. And these Spanish terms can be traced back still further, to the Latin verb "peccare," meaning "to sin."
Example sentence: Michael's thank-you note to his hostess was sincere and touching; his only peccadillo, however, was addressing her by her first name instead of "Mrs. Buchanan."
Did you know? "The world loves a spice of wickedness." That observation by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow may explain why people are so willing to forgive peccadilloes as youthful foolishness or lapses of judgment. The willingness to overlook petty faults and minor offenses existed long before English speakers borrowed a modified version of the Spanish "pecadillo" at the end of the 16th century. Spanish speakers distinguished the "pecadillo," or "little sin," from the more serious "pecado," their term for a sin of magnitude. And these Spanish terms can be traced back still further, to the Latin verb "peccare," meaning "to sin."
11 May 2006
From the mouth of
Not over my dead body will they raise your taxes. -- George W. Bush Ontario, CA 01/05/2002
10 May 2006
Do Something Great
"These days, he regularly sends groups of employees to the Toyota plant to learn from them. “They are an unbelievable company. Toyota believes that everyone’s goal is to do something great for society. That’s why they allow us into their plant and donate their time to teach us kaizen.” The term kaizen refers to a collection of lean manufacturing methods including continuous improvement, just-in-time inventory, and other manufacturing and business strategies. “We’ve even moved to a stand-up office for greater efficiency,” Paul explained “and are now moving toward a paperless office as well.”
This Cracked Me Up
Scraping to fill the shelves of the Bush library
By Derrick Z. Jackson, Globe Columnist
May 10, 2006
IN THE Texas competition for the George W. Bush Presidential Library, Click title
By Derrick Z. Jackson, Globe Columnist
May 10, 2006
IN THE Texas competition for the George W. Bush Presidential Library, Click title
The Word of the Day
eolian \ee-OH-lee-un\ adjective : borne, deposited, produced, or eroded by the wind
Example sentence: For her senior project, Erin is studying the effects of eolian erosion on the desert environment.
Did you know? When Aeolus blew into town, things really got moving. He was the Greek god of the winds and the king of the floating island of Aeolia. In the _Odyssey_, Homer claims Aeolus helped Odysseus by giving him a favorable wind. Aeolus also gave English speakers a few terms based on his name, including "eolian" (also spelled "aeolian"), an adjective often used for wind-sculpted geological features such as caves and dunes, and "aeolian harp," an instrument that makes music when the wind blows across its strings.
Example sentence: For her senior project, Erin is studying the effects of eolian erosion on the desert environment.
Did you know? When Aeolus blew into town, things really got moving. He was the Greek god of the winds and the king of the floating island of Aeolia. In the _Odyssey_, Homer claims Aeolus helped Odysseus by giving him a favorable wind. Aeolus also gave English speakers a few terms based on his name, including "eolian" (also spelled "aeolian"), an adjective often used for wind-sculpted geological features such as caves and dunes, and "aeolian harp," an instrument that makes music when the wind blows across its strings.
Ceiling fans
"Ceiling fans, by the way, can be used year-round. In the summer months, use the ceiling fan in the counter-clockwise direction. The inflow produced by the ceiling fan creates a wind-chill effect, making you "feel" cooler. In the winter, reverse the motor and operate the ceiling fan at low speed in the clockwise direction. This produces a gentle updraft which forces warm air near the ceiling down into the occupied space. Remember to adjust your thermostat when using your ceiling fan to realize additional energy and money savings." Click title
09 May 2006
Lately
Number 4 cat, Sammy, had 2 orange kittens.
- I named them Apple and Banana.
- Holly named them Angus and Bodacious.
- Aggie and Bo are getting very plump.
- It was really 2:30 am on Friday.
- I bonked my head on the grab bars.
- I stayed on the floor for about an hour before calling for help.
- EMS guys had me up in 5 minutes.
- I have a colorful eye.
08 May 2006
Episcopalians elect bishop, avoid rift
Kim Curtis, Associated Press 
published Sunday, May 7, 2006
SAN FRANCISCO -- The Episcopal Diocese of California averted another churchwide showdown over the role of gays in their denomination when delegates rejected three openly gay candidates for bishop Saturday. Click title
A True eBay Crime Story
It was the scandal that rocked the internet. A seemingly worthless painting sold on eBay in early 2000 for $135,805 -- all because buyers believed it might be the work of the 20th-century abstract painter Richard Diebenkorn.
It wasn't. Click title
The Word of the Day
febrile \FEB-ryle\ adjective : marked or caused by fever : feverish
Example sentence: "He discovered febrile symptoms, and ... all farther resistance became in vain; and she was glad to acquiesce, and even to go to bed, and drink water-gruel." (Sir Walter Scott, _The Heart of Midlothian_)
Did you know? Not too surprisingly, "febrile" originated in the field of medicine. We note its first use in the work of the 17th-century medical reformer Noah Biggs. Biggs used it in admonishing physicians to care for their "febrile patients" properly. Both "feverish" and "febrile" are from the Latin word for "fever," which is "febris." Nowadays, "febrile" is used in medicine in a variety of ways, including references to such things as "the febrile phase" of an illness. And, like "feverish," it also has an extended sense, as in "a febrile emotional state."
Example sentence: "He discovered febrile symptoms, and ... all farther resistance became in vain; and she was glad to acquiesce, and even to go to bed, and drink water-gruel." (Sir Walter Scott, _The Heart of Midlothian_)
Did you know? Not too surprisingly, "febrile" originated in the field of medicine. We note its first use in the work of the 17th-century medical reformer Noah Biggs. Biggs used it in admonishing physicians to care for their "febrile patients" properly. Both "feverish" and "febrile" are from the Latin word for "fever," which is "febris." Nowadays, "febrile" is used in medicine in a variety of ways, including references to such things as "the febrile phase" of an illness. And, like "feverish," it also has an extended sense, as in "a febrile emotional state."
06 May 2006
The Word of the Day
apple-polish \AP-ul-pah-lish\ verb
*1: to attempt to ingratiate oneself : toady
2: to curry favor with (as by flattery)
Example sentence: Edna really wanted the internship working with the professor over the summer, so she took his course and apple-polished a bit.
Did you know? It began innocently enough -- a shiny apple for the teacher, a young student's gift (OK, bribe) given in the hope that classroom high jinks would be forgotten or forgiven. The college students of the 1920s tried a more sophisticated version of the trick, polishing professorial egos with compliments in the hopes of getting a better grade. Because of its similarity to the "apple for the teacher" practice, college students dubbed that grade-enhancement strategy "apple-polishing." But the idea quickly lost its luster and by 1935 the verb "apple-polish" had picked up negative connotations. Nowadays, the apple-polisher (academic or otherwise) is viewed in the same much-maligned class as the toady, sycophant, and bootlicker.
*1: to attempt to ingratiate oneself : toady
2: to curry favor with (as by flattery)
Example sentence: Edna really wanted the internship working with the professor over the summer, so she took his course and apple-polished a bit.
Did you know? It began innocently enough -- a shiny apple for the teacher, a young student's gift (OK, bribe) given in the hope that classroom high jinks would be forgotten or forgiven. The college students of the 1920s tried a more sophisticated version of the trick, polishing professorial egos with compliments in the hopes of getting a better grade. Because of its similarity to the "apple for the teacher" practice, college students dubbed that grade-enhancement strategy "apple-polishing." But the idea quickly lost its luster and by 1935 the verb "apple-polish" had picked up negative connotations. Nowadays, the apple-polisher (academic or otherwise) is viewed in the same much-maligned class as the toady, sycophant, and bootlicker.
05 May 2006
A car that could save the planet—fast
"So how do you build the EV of the future on a six-figure budget when GM couldn't do it with more than $1 billion? For starters, you get all the basic parts off the shelf." Click title.
04 May 2006
Hungary workers get shock at bottom of rum barrel
BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Hungarian builders who drank their way to the bottom of a huge barrel of rum while renovating a house got a nasty surprise when a pickled corpse tumbled out of the empty barrel, a police magazine website reported. Click title
The Word of the Day
mien \MEEN\ noun
*1 : air or bearing especially as expressive of attitude or personality : demeanor
2 : appearance, aspect
Example sentence: Professor Hart's cool and gallant mien was appealing to some students and off-putting to others.
Did you know? Like its synonyms "bearing" and "demeanor," "mien" means the outward manifestation of personality or attitude. "Bearing" is the most general, but now usually implies characteristic posture, as in "a woman of regal bearing." "Demeanor" suggests attitude expressed through outward behavior in the presence of others; for example, "the manager's professional demeanor." "Mien" is a somewhat literary term referring to both bearing and demeanor. "A mien of supreme self-satisfaction" is a typical use. "Mien" and "demeanor" are also linked through etymology. "Mien" arose through the shortening and alteration of the verb "demean," which is also the root of "demeanor." (In this case, "demean" means "to conduct or behave (oneself) usually in a proper manner," not "to degrade." That other "demean" is a distinct word with a different etymology.)
*1 : air or bearing especially as expressive of attitude or personality : demeanor
2 : appearance, aspect
Example sentence: Professor Hart's cool and gallant mien was appealing to some students and off-putting to others.
Did you know? Like its synonyms "bearing" and "demeanor," "mien" means the outward manifestation of personality or attitude. "Bearing" is the most general, but now usually implies characteristic posture, as in "a woman of regal bearing." "Demeanor" suggests attitude expressed through outward behavior in the presence of others; for example, "the manager's professional demeanor." "Mien" is a somewhat literary term referring to both bearing and demeanor. "A mien of supreme self-satisfaction" is a typical use. "Mien" and "demeanor" are also linked through etymology. "Mien" arose through the shortening and alteration of the verb "demean," which is also the root of "demeanor." (In this case, "demean" means "to conduct or behave (oneself) usually in a proper manner," not "to degrade." That other "demean" is a distinct word with a different etymology.)
Why Kent State is important today
By Michael Corcoran | May 4, 2006
THIRTY-SIX years ago today, Ohio National Guardsmen shot 13 college students at Kent State University who were protesting US incursions into Cambodia as part of the Vietnam War. Nine victims survived, including one who is confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life. Four students -- Jeffrey Miller, Allison Krause, Bill Schroeder, and Sandy Scheuer -- were killed. Click title
THIRTY-SIX years ago today, Ohio National Guardsmen shot 13 college students at Kent State University who were protesting US incursions into Cambodia as part of the Vietnam War. Nine victims survived, including one who is confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life. Four students -- Jeffrey Miller, Allison Krause, Bill Schroeder, and Sandy Scheuer -- were killed. Click title
King Tut's Penis Rediscovered
May 3, 2006 — King Tutankhamun's rediscovered penis could make the pharaoh stand out in the shrunken world of male mummies, according to a close look into old pictures of the 3,300-year-old mummified king. Click title
03 May 2006
A Suspect Chemical in Plastic Bottles and Cans
A chemical that can disrupt hormones is in almost all canned foods, but should you be worried? If you consume canned soups, beans and soft drinks, organic or not, you also may be swallowing residues of a controversial chemical called bisphenol A (BPA) that can leak out of the can linings into your food. Click title
02 May 2006
The Word of the Day
vendetta \ven-DET-uh\ noun
1 : a feud between different clans or families : blood feud
*2 : an often prolonged series of retaliatory, vengeful, or hostile acts or exchange of such acts
Example sentence: From the day the ants swarmed over Gram's apple pie in her own kitchen, their eradication took the form of a personal vendetta -- she vowed to exterminate them at any cost.
Did you know? "Vendetta" has been getting even in English since the mid-19th century. English speakers borrowed "vendetta," spelling and all, from Italian, in which it means "revenge." It ultimately traces to the Latin verb "vindicare," which means "to lay claim to" or "to avenge." That Latin word is also in the family tree of many other English terms related to getting even, including "avenge," "revenge," "vengeance," "vindicate," and "vindictive."
1 : a feud between different clans or families : blood feud
*2 : an often prolonged series of retaliatory, vengeful, or hostile acts or exchange of such acts
Example sentence: From the day the ants swarmed over Gram's apple pie in her own kitchen, their eradication took the form of a personal vendetta -- she vowed to exterminate them at any cost.
Did you know? "Vendetta" has been getting even in English since the mid-19th century. English speakers borrowed "vendetta," spelling and all, from Italian, in which it means "revenge." It ultimately traces to the Latin verb "vindicare," which means "to lay claim to" or "to avenge." That Latin word is also in the family tree of many other English terms related to getting even, including "avenge," "revenge," "vengeance," "vindicate," and "vindictive."
Prologue
There were four dogs behind the old stone and wrought iron fence surrounding the property. Black and tan Beaucerons. Some say French German Shepherds. Each had been the largest of a litter and selected to form the perfectly matched pack. Their eviscerated bodies were now splayed in four directions on the red brick drive as though they had failed in an attack from all sides by a force unyielding to their extensively trained guard behavior.
The gate was still open. Any passerby in the small close knit community could have driven in upon the scene, could have witnessed the atrocity, smelled the warm blood, heard the barks and shrieks and howls for surely this gory massacre could not have been quick or quiet. It would have been heard for several blocks, would have caused heart banging panic in adults and given any sleeping child nightmares for life. Would have and yet no calls had reported any unusual disturbances in the neighborhood at night. None who were questioned had been away from their homes for the weekend or out late for an evening of entertainment, returning in the wee hours a little too boozed, a little too sleepy, a little too unaware. There was no one to explain what lay hidden in the open among them.
The gate was still open. Any passerby in the small close knit community could have driven in upon the scene, could have witnessed the atrocity, smelled the warm blood, heard the barks and shrieks and howls for surely this gory massacre could not have been quick or quiet. It would have been heard for several blocks, would have caused heart banging panic in adults and given any sleeping child nightmares for life. Would have and yet no calls had reported any unusual disturbances in the neighborhood at night. None who were questioned had been away from their homes for the weekend or out late for an evening of entertainment, returning in the wee hours a little too boozed, a little too sleepy, a little too unaware. There was no one to explain what lay hidden in the open among them.
01 May 2006
Lab Lit
Scientists and Non-Scientists alike are welcome to LabLit.Com, a site dedicated to laboratory culture and its portrayal in media and fiction. The site seeks to debunk myths and tell the real story behind many scientific subjects often seen in entertainment and popular culture.
Visitors will find a host of fascinating articles, on subjects ranging from Female Scientists in Film, to a recent BBC Documentary on Acupuncture, to Science in Post-Modern Literature. Writers and Scientists are encouraged to submit their own work, or to simply enjoy the abundance of interesting information available on this cool site.
Visitors will find a host of fascinating articles, on subjects ranging from Female Scientists in Film, to a recent BBC Documentary on Acupuncture, to Science in Post-Modern Literature. Writers and Scientists are encouraged to submit their own work, or to simply enjoy the abundance of interesting information available on this cool site.
The Word of the Day
adduce \uh-DOOSS\ verb : to offer as example, reason, or proof in discussion or analysis
Example sentence: "Leon has made some pretty strong accusations here tonight," said Tim, "but he has adduced no convincing evidence in support of them."
Did you know? We won't lead you astray over the history of "adduce"; it is one of a plethora of familiar words that trace to the Latin root "ducere," which means "to lead." Perhaps we can induce you to deduce a few other "ducere" offspring if we offer a few hints about them. One is another term for kidnapping, one's a title for a British royal, and one's a process of abridging or consolidating something. Give up? They are "abduct," "duke," and "reduce," respectively. There are also many others, including "induce," which means "to persuade" or "to bring about."
Example sentence: "Leon has made some pretty strong accusations here tonight," said Tim, "but he has adduced no convincing evidence in support of them."
Did you know? We won't lead you astray over the history of "adduce"; it is one of a plethora of familiar words that trace to the Latin root "ducere," which means "to lead." Perhaps we can induce you to deduce a few other "ducere" offspring if we offer a few hints about them. One is another term for kidnapping, one's a title for a British royal, and one's a process of abridging or consolidating something. Give up? They are "abduct," "duke," and "reduce," respectively. There are also many others, including "induce," which means "to persuade" or "to bring about."
Bush challenges hundreds of laws
President cites powers of his office
By Charlie Savage, Globe Staff April 30, 2006
WASHINGTON -- President Bush has quietly claimed the authority to disobey more than 750 laws enacted since he took office, asserting that he has the power to set aside any statute passed by Congress when it conflicts with his interpretation of the Constitution.
Among the laws Bush said he can ignore are military rules and regulations, affirmative-action provisions, requirements that Congress be told about immigration services problems, ''whistle-blower" protections for nuclear regulatory officials, and safeguards against political interference in federally funded research. Click title for article
By Charlie Savage, Globe Staff April 30, 2006
WASHINGTON -- President Bush has quietly claimed the authority to disobey more than 750 laws enacted since he took office, asserting that he has the power to set aside any statute passed by Congress when it conflicts with his interpretation of the Constitution.
Among the laws Bush said he can ignore are military rules and regulations, affirmative-action provisions, requirements that Congress be told about immigration services problems, ''whistle-blower" protections for nuclear regulatory officials, and safeguards against political interference in federally funded research. Click title for article
Inspiration Junkies
Three guys in a beat-up RV have been collecting career advice from the likes of Michael Dell and Sandra Day O'Connor. Now they're spreading the gospel on college campuses across the country. Click title.
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