METAMFIEZOMAIOPHOBIA: the fear of mimes, clowns, and people in disguise

January 27, 2012

We’re all aware of various phobias which affect people.  Some people are frightened by dogs, snakes, height, crowds or small enclosures.   There is plenty reported about these phobias, and they common themes in literature, drama and movies.  I can identify with a couple of them and you may also. But when I stumbled across the [...]

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DOPPELGANGER: ghost-like apparition of one’s “other self”

January 26, 2012

In common parlance a doppelganger is a person who is so identical in looks to another person (think Tina Fey/Sarah Palin) that it is uncanny.   I have a friend  who looks so much like me that we are frequently confused by people.  We both go to the same coffee shop so it happens all the [...]

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STRIVEN: to have pursued something with energy and tenacity

January 25, 2012

The marathon runner crossing the finish line is the most vivid illustration of someone who has striven.  After months and months of training and preparation, the runner puts the last effort of a 26.2 mile, grueling race behind (him) and thrusts his body across the line, sometimes collapsing, having given his last ounce of energy [...]

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PRESIDENTIAL: having the demeanor one expects in a U.S. President

January 24, 2012

I forced myself to watch the Republican Debate from Tampa last night.  It wasn’t quite the circus it’s been with a stageful of potential candidates.  Now that it’s down to two major contenders and two pretenders it’s a more manageable scene.  That’s not to discount the importance of Ron Paul and Rick Santorum, who I [...]

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PLURALIA TANTUM NOUNS: nouns that don’t have a singular form

January 23, 2012

Did you ever see a trouser?  Or a scissor?   Those are words that only appear in the English language (as nouns) in the plural form.   There is no singular form for them.  It is a phenomenon known in linguistics as pluralia tantum, a Latin term which means “plurals only.” It is one of those interesting [...]

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CULL: to remove flawed or unwanted items

January 22, 2012

In the past few days Republicans have been said to be about the process of  culling the ranks of prospective candidates for their nominee for President.   It may well describe the process of sorting out the field, but I doubt that cull is a good word to describe the process. Cull is a term used [...]

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ALLEGORY: a symbolic representation of a concept

January 21, 2012

An allegory is a visualization of an idea.   Does that sound complicated?  It’s not. Blind Justice, the statue shown in today’s illustration, is a perfect example of an allegorical symbol.  It is an artistic representation of a concept, that true justice is blind to such things as race, creed, place of origin, gender, economic status, [...]

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PRIEST: not quite the same thing as “minister”

January 20, 2012

Tonight a friend, Diane,  will be ordained a Priest in the Episcopal Church.   An Episcopal Bishop will place his hands on her head and other ordained Priests will crowd around her and place their hands on her at the same time.  It is a very moving ritual, tracing its elements to ancient traditions of the [...]

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OBDURATE: hard-hearted, unmoved, obstinate

January 19, 2012

People do change their minds.   Adults learn that there are times when it is appropriate to take a different tack because you have received additional information that makes your original thought inappropriate or inaccurate.  Children have to learn that, and it is the responsibility of adults to model that behavior. For children it is hard [...]

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NEWTISMS: not so profound comments from the Republican contender

January 18, 2012

    This won’t take long. The news this morning is full of reports about potential Republican Presidential Candide Newt Gingrich and his comments about the way the President is handling the Iran threat situation.   In strong, blatant criticism, Gingrich declares that the President is dangerous, the most dangerous President of the United States he [...]

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