Friday On My Mind - The Easybeats

philology

philology \ fi-LOL-uh-jee \ noun

1. Obsolete  the love of learning and literature.
2. the study of literary texts and of written records, the establishment of their authenticity and their original form, and the determination of their meaning.
3. (especially in older use) linguistics, especially historical and comparative linguistics.

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It might be an obsolete term, but I don't think a love of learning and literature will ever become obsolete and will disappear from my own life only after the day I die. The Internet is a weird thing, but it's also a wonderful tool for learning.

How The Sun Sees You

Interesting - and chilling - video about the importance of wearing sunscreen.

desiderium

desiderium noun, plural desideria [des-i-deer-ee-uh]

1. an ardent longing, as for something lost.

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I often long for things I've lost - money I've blown, old friends who have moved away or died, the trust of people I care about, but the thing I miss the most is my youth.

Oh, not ALL of it, just the best parts, like playing ball and feeling full of energy and the thrill of being totally in love. I don't miss waking up and having a zit on the end of my nose or worrying about grades or if my girlfriend was starting to like someone better than she did me.

So...I miss the sports and enthusiasm but not the rest of the teen angst. I'm pretty sure that wasn't "love" I was feeling at the time, either, but simply a product of raging hormones.

Mine aren't raging these days, but they're still there.  I'm missing someone to prove it to, though.

Music Makes Me Young(er)

You are in Your Musical 50s

The music you love never goes out of style - it's classic. You tend to only listen to the very best. Your taste in music may be mainstream at this point in your life, but that's a good thing. You can make a playlist that everyone loves. You tend to stick with artists you know these days, but if you find a new artist that you do like, you know it right away. Your favorite music is creative, moody, and subtle. You don't need a song to overwhelm you in order to appreciate it.

How Old Is Your Taste in Music?

Pro But Not Con

You can't name a folder "con" in Microsoft Windows.

Special Deliveries

After seeing all the complaining on Amazon about shipments arriving damaged, I now understand why. This only affirms my decision to NOT get Amazon Prime;  my stuff is shipped via the good ol' USPS and it might get to me later, but it's always in one piece.  

At least it's not drop kicked to the top of my house.

My Paperback Sharona

Brilliantly done mash-up of The Beatles' "Paperback Writer" and The Knack's "My Sharona".

On Second Thought....

From the Quote of the Day module in the right-hand column:

I often regret that I have spoken; never that I have been silent.
 - Publilius Syrus

When I first read this, I thought it would make a great post for my Facebook wall, but just after I posted it, I thought about it some more and deleted it. Why?

Well, there ARE times I wish I had said something but didn't.  I should have stood up for guys back in school who were getting bullied by older kids, should have said something when I have been insulted or received poor service from clerks and waitresses,  should have said something when someone was spreading lies or malicious gossip...but I didn't, and in most of those cases I regret that more than the times I said something I shouldn't have.

brusque

brusque [bruhsk; especially British broosk] adjective

abrupt in manner; blunt; rough

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I like this word, although I sometimes don't like brusque people; they are often brusque to the point of being rude and callous.

Love Is Like Oxygen - Sweet

What the Flock?

A group of flamingos is called a flamboyance.

klatsch

klatsch [klahch, klach] noun

a casual gathering of people, especially for refreshments and informal conversation: a sewing klatsch.

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This is a word I knew; the times I've seen it, it's almost always been used referring to neighborhood housewives gathering together in the mornings after their husbands have gone to work and their children are off at school, a "coffee klatsch" . It also comes to mind when I see groups of older men who congregate in various restaurants around town.

I reckon there's more gossip going on in the latter.

AKA Phalanges

You have no muscles in your fingers.(or thumbs)

taradiddle

taradiddle tar·a·did·dle [tar-uh-did-l] noun Informal

1. a small lie; fib.
2. pretentious nonsense.

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I've never seen nor heard this word used.

And that's no taradiddle.

It's My Party - Lesley Gore

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Several years ago, a young couple with two small girls moved in a few doors down. I became good friends with them and I absolutely adored their girls, Dusty and Wendy. (my mom said their names sounded like a weather report.)

The guy told me when his oldest girl was being potty trained, she'd cry for no good reason.  "Why are you crying?" he'd ask her in frustration.

"It's my potty and I'll cry if I want to." he said she said.

Yep, that's a groaner.

Going Down Under

You Should Travel to Oceania

You're looking for a good time without too much fuss. The beautiful scenery of Australia and New Zealand are calling you. You'll love skiing, surfing, snowboarding, and swimming while you're down under.  You'll probably make some great friends along the way too! You aren't the type who has to see it all on a vacation. In fact, if you find the perfect spot, you're likely to stop for a while. For you, it is all about the journey and never about the destination. Your best trips never end!

Where Should You Travel To?

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When I think of places in the world I'd love to visit, Australia and New Zealand are at the top of the list. I don't think I'd want to ski, surf, snowboard while there and I damn sure ain't going swimming...not with the huge great white sharks in the area.  (shudder) I'd also watch my step while in Australia - there are snakes there that make Texas rattlers look like garden snakes.

That said, there's not a lot of places I'd want to go in Australia - I'd want to see the Great Barrier Reef - by boat - the Sydney Opera House and the massive geological formation Uluru (aka Ayers Rock).  I wouldn't want to climb that last, not only because it's sacred to the aboriginal people, but also because I'm getting too old.  It also might sound crazy to some, but I've also wanted to go to Coober Pedy, a small opal mining town where most of the homes are underground. (I dunno why, just sounds neat.)I'd also love to see an Australian rules football match.

I'd really look forward to seeing New Zealand - I have a great online friend who lives there and the travel/nature shows I've seen of the country prove that it's a land of great beauty and lovely people.  Offhand, I couldn't tell you any great monument or awesome natural wonder there, but I think I'd enjoy just traveling around to smaller towns, enjoying the countryside and meeting the "real" people.

Oh, Rats!

Rats eat or otherwise spoil 20% of the world's food supply every year.

I'm Not Happy

I used to love this song...

...the first thousand times I heard it.

Live Wire - AC/DC

Baby Boom

More people are born in August than any other month.

My Yin & Yang

You Are Contemplative

You have yellow yin. You are a very clear and methodical thinker, especially when others are pessimistic. You aren't necessarily an optimist, but more than anyone else, you can envision how things may go right. You have green yang. You have a youthful, playful bent to the way you live your life. You are always open to growth and opportunity. You seek out balance and harmony in your life. You try to avoid getting too much of any one thing... even a good thing.

The Yin Yang Test

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Yellow yin and green yang? I hope penicillin will clear that up.

Along Came a Spider

From Lockerdome.com

Nothing here?

Sorry, but a spider and its web ain't exactly "nothing".   I shuddered so much when I opened the 404 page the govt. seismograph registered an earthquake here in town. 

I know it's called the "world wide web" but I didn't think it would be one literally.

Are You Crying Yet?

Honest Trailers - Forrest Gump

I love this movie, celebrating its 20th anniversary since being released, but this is literally laugh-out-loud funny.

Well, it was for me, anyway.  Your mileage may vary.

Forrest Gump on IMDB.

gibbosity

gibbosity \ gi-BOS-i-tee \ noun

1. a protuberance or swelling.
2. the state of being gibbous.

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This is a good word to know; when someone rudely mentions my beer belly (not from beer, though), I can say "No, it's my gibbosity!".

Not sure if a pregnant woman could use that, though.

Highest Flyer

The Rüppell's vulture is considered to be the highest-flying bird, with confirmed evidence of a flight at an altitude of 11,300 m (37,000 ft) above sea level.