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"When you're in jail, a good friend will be trying to bail you out. A best friend will be in the cell next to you saying, 'Damn, that was fun'." Groucho Marx

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Vocabulary Time Part 9

October 10, 2008 by Jack Steiner

It is vocabulary time again. Here is part one, part two, part three, part four, part five, part 6, part seven and part eight. As always we’ll try not to repeat ourselves.

Abligurition– n.[L. abligurito, fr. abligurire to spend in luxurious indulgence; ab + ligurire to be lickerish, dainty, fr. lingere to lick.]
Prodigal expense for food. [Obs.] Bailey.
Anililagnia– an attraction to older women.
Armsaye: the armhole in clothing.
Euneirophrenia: peace of mind after a pleasant dream.
Suppedaneum: foot support for crucifix victims.
Adfenestration
: V. The act of entering through a window, usually surreptitiously.
Vatic–adj.Of or characteristic of a prophet; oracular.

Filed Under: Vocabulary, Words, Writing

Vocabulary Time Part 8

June 23, 2008 by Jack Steiner

It is vocabulary time again. Here is part one, part two, part three, part four, part five, part 6 and part seven. As always we’ll try not to repeat ourselves.

Also, I noticed that I made a mistake last time and didn’t list the definition of the words alongside them. I’ll rectify that lower down in the post. Here are your new words:

Otiant– idle; resting.
machicolation– n. apertures in parapet or floor of gallery for firing upon persons below. machicolate, v.t. furnish with these
Secern– To discern as separate; discriminate.
prothalamion -A song in celebration of a wedding; an epithalamium.
a capite ad calcem–From head to heel.
ad internecionem– To extermination.
Abusus non tollit usum-Wrong use does not preclude proper use.
ad captandum vulgus-To attract or to please the rabble.

From part seven

Ollendorffian– in the stilted language of foreign phrase-books.
gerascophobia–a morbid, irrational fear of, or aversion to, growing old.
bathysiderodrophobia–the fear of subways, undergrounds or metros.
hormephobia-Fear of shock.
cacoethes loquendi– the irresistible urge to speak.
cacoethes scribendi-.the irresistible urge to write

Filed Under: Vocabulary, Words, Writing

Vocabulary Time Part 7

April 29, 2008 by Jack Steiner

It is vocabulary time again. Here is part one, part two, part three, part four, part five and part 6. It is probably time to provide a list of the words that have graced your computer screen. You’ll be able to find it beneath the current words.

Here are your new words:

Ollendorffian
gerascophobia
bathysiderodrophobia
hormephobia
cacoethes loquendi
cacoethes scribendi

And here is a list of the past vocabulary words we used.

saudade
Scaturient
Walpurgisnacht
barlafumble
defalcate
Dactylonomy
recrudesce
videlicet
temerarious
Tentiginous
Urinator
usufruct
Jackpudding
Jobbernowl
nikhedonia
quidnunckery
mancinism
macroverbumsciolist
mastigophorer
matutolypea
xenodochiophobia


Xenodochium
Knobstick
effulgence
divaricate

Filed Under: Vocabulary, Words, Writing

Writer’s Block- Do You Stop Blogging

April 9, 2008 by Jack Steiner

I recently received an email in which I was asked if I ever suffer from writer’s block and if so, do I stop blogging. The answer is that like everyone else I have moments in which I suffer from writer’s block.

Sometimes I just can’t seem to think of what to blog about. Since I am not paid to blog I don’t spend a lot of time worrying about it. I don’t have to worry about whether I’ll lose readers because of poor quality or because the topic is poor. Of course I prefer to have good topics and great quality, but that is a side issue.

The second form of writer’s block is the one that I find to be far more pernicious. Instead of struggling to come up with a topic I struggle to write what I consider a quality post. The writing doesn’t flow. It is stilted, awkward and lacks any sort of rhythm.

This begs the question of how to handle these situations. The answer for me is simple. I never stop writing. Writing takes practice. It doesn’t matter if I can’t seem to get it out, I keep pushing. Sooner or later I find my way again.

Let me clarify a few things.

My first rule of blogging is to read other blogs. Read, read, read and then read some more. The blogosphere is full of some wonderful writers. Some of them are simply amazing. Simple, eloquent, powerful pieces of writing are all around us. Expose yourself to them and you begin to learn how to adopt some of their tricks for your own use.

The second rule of blogging is to write even when you feel like you cannot. Write, write, write and then write some more. Technically you should take a moment to review and rewrite your posts. As my long time readers know this is something that I rarely do. It is probably a mistake on my part, I could certainly improve my posts.

The third rule of blogging is to write with passion about something that you are passionate about. It is not profound. It is not all that insightful and I am not the first person to say this, but if you like what you are writing about it will come out in your writing.

I don’t want to get caught up in writing about rules. I have an issue with authority. I don’t like rules, I often break them so why should I list them. Instead let me share another idea/thought with you. Music inspires me. I often find that I can break through whatever challenge is facing me by playing music.

Music is a language unto itself. Obviously I like to share that with you. Right now I am listening to Daler Mehndi. I haven’t the foggiest idea what he is singing about, but it has a nice beat and he has passion. That is a good combination.

One more suggestion for you. If you really enjoy writing I encourage you to purchase a few books that you can use to help build your vocabulary. It is another good way of finding ways to break through those tougher moments. I have a few of these books.

Words That Make a Difference And How To Use Them In A Masterly Way- Robert Greenman
Rare Words- Jan Leighton
The Highly Selective Thesaurus For The Extraordinarily Literate- Eugene Ehrlich

They have all been very useful. I would suggest that you be judicious in your use of them. That is, it is good to expand your vocabulary but don’t let new words spoil your natural rhythm and flow. Introduce new words slowly and it will sound natural. Insert too many at once and you can come off sounding like a pretentious fob.

Well, it is after midnight here so I think that we’ll call it a night. See you all in the A.M.

Filed Under: Blogging, Writing

Working On A Post

April 9, 2008 by Jack Steiner

I am working on a couple of different posts right now. Since they’re not quite where I want them to be I am going to go with the default post of what I am listening to right now.

Always on My Mind– Elvis Presley
Suspicious Minds–Elvis Presley
Did I ever mention that occasionally I dress up in a white Elvis Jumpsuit and pretend to be him. And when I am not playing Elvis I pretend to be Evil Knievel. 😉
In The Ghetto–Elvis Presley
Strangers in the Night -Frank Sinatra
“Autumn Leaves“-Frank Sinatra
You and I–Michael Bublé
Heroes– David Bowie
Young Americans– David Bowie
Shema Israel– Sarit Haddad
Al Kol Eyleh– Joe
This next one is for my neighbor’s kid.
Ani Yachol– Ron Shoval Subliminal ve Hazel
Tikva (Hope) [Subtitled]–Subliminal & The Shadow

Filed Under: Music, Writing

Vocabulary Time Part 6

February 8, 2008 by Jack Steiner

It is vocabulary time again. Here is part one, part two, part three, part four and part five.

xenodochiophobia

the fear of foreign hospitality (worry about foreign hotels)

Xenodochium
n.

(a) (Class. Antiq.) A house for the reception of strangers. (b) In the Middle Ages, a room in a monastery for the reception and entertainment of strangers and pilgrims, and for the relief of paupers. [Called also Xenodocheion.]

Knobstick
n.

1. One who refuses to join, or withdraws from, a trade union. [Cant, Eng.]

2. A stick, cane, or club terminating in a knob; esp., such a stick or club used as a weapon or missile; a knobkerrie.

effulgence \i-FUL-juhn(t)s\, noun:
The state of being bright and radiant; splendor; brilliance.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]

divaricate
To diverge at a wide angle; spread apart.

Filed Under: Vocabulary, Words, Writing

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