Word For the Day, Tuesday, July 19, 2005

July 19, 2005 | Slip 18

[Slip18]

Thursday, April 7, 2005

In order that we might all raise the level of discourse and expand our language abilities, here is the daily post of “word for the day”. Rules: Everyone must leave a post using the “word of the day”; in a sentence. The sentence must, in some way, relate to the news of the day.

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Subbie Slip has her whip, handcuffs and legcuffs today.

The rest of the stuff is locked up in my drawer. I’m just letting all the new students know that we behave as if we were ladies and gentlemen in here. Those two words “as if” can get you an A if you make the subbie laugh.

Tussel/Tussel

Verb/noun:
Pronunciation: tus/el
Etymology: I don’t know.

1) (verb) To struggle, especially roughly or violently: scuffle. Syn: wrestle
2) (Noun) A physical contest or struggle: scuffle
3) A rough argumentor struggle against difficult odds for success.

Good Morning Class. Welcome to School!

[Slip18]

I'm so happy for you!!!

[Slip18]

You owe me a keyboard, Grimmy.

[secret garden]

Are you sorry to see the hamster go? They are notorious for being bad-tempered biters. Maybe because they are usually given to little kids too immature to handle them correctly.

[secret garden]

Excellent opprobious summation of the clinton years.

[secret garden]

The phrase "Was it a Titleist?" always makes me think of Costanza and Kramer, telling the story of the beached whale.

[Robert A Cook PE]

As I understand it, the Russel Bldg has two (or three!) gyms (for the Congresscritters), Post Office(s), several underground (restricted) parking garages, several restaurants, couple of TV studios, several printing rooms, ......

Very, very posh .... Of course.

[Robert A Cook PE]

Good point! The rewards are (Constantly!) going to the rule-breakers, who had already disregarded the "stated rules" of the School and (fellow "adults").

Though, of course, the rule-breakers (evil ones) are condemned first.

[secret garden]

Good one, Grim!

[MoochPooch]

"How would you like to tussel with Russell?" was the ad long ago for a western starring the amply endowed Jane Russell. (Anyone remember the title?)

[Dutchgirl]

A smiley face for you from your friendly neighborhood milblog!

[Cowman]

Well, You know what they say. Spell Check Is fir Sissies!

[Gabz]

Cool info! Thanks.

I like Koonyz - don't like King anymore, and haven't in a long time.

[RikaStrom]

It's nice to see that the young seargent who was coerced into shaking the Beast's hands over a Thanksgiving holiday, won't get into a tussel about it, now that he is out of the military.

Photo of U.S. Soldier in Iraq Shaking Hands With Senator Hillary Clinton--But Not Willingly-Truth!

[Texan5]

I'm finally home-

The current political tussel
Between Karl Rove and the 'rats
Has the latter behaving
Like a pack of spoiled brats

They want Karl to go away
So Plame's attention seeking screed
Won't bring to light the ugly truth-
That her husband did the deed

He did it for attention
And his fifteen minutes of fame
And since wifey wasn't "covert" any more
Everyone already knew her name

[NicknamedBob]

Sorry I've missed most of the discussion today, but I did want to say re: Harry Potter, that I have to side with Hobbes on this.

Rowling's stories are about magic. Who uses magic?

She had to talk about witches in the story as those are the only ostensibly human creatures who use magic.

She could have used faeries or elves as the protagonists, but then it would not have been the same story, a story of a boy who was burdened by his ordinaryness, "I'm just Harry..." -- until he discovered some hidden strengths.

It's a story about growing up, which means that you may occasionally have to break the rules that have been laid down, if something more important, like someone's life, is on the line. Grown-ups make these decisions all the time -- it is growth for children to face the dilemma and choose the right course.

Had J.K. chosen to write about flying, she might have used birds ... "Jonathan Livingston Seagull", but she chose magic. And why?

Because many people today treat the world around them as if it were one of magic anyway, treating the map as the territory, and imbuing artifacts with arcane mystery.

She wanted to teach them about magic, not about witches.

Insofar as they think about magic, people tend to think that there is good magic and bad magic. She goes to great pains to try to illustrate that love and sacrifice are stronger than greed and lust for power. And you'll note that none of those four things are inherently magical.

Many are put off by the apparent corollary between the power of magic, and the power of spirituality. Does God use magic?

We teach our children with crayons and bright images before we deal with long words in black and white -- it is no more complicated than that.

[NeoCaveman]

Noted theologian and democrat class clown Howard Dean reveals the Bible says nothing about homosexual marriage

You mispelled assclown.

[OESY]

Your new free form poetry is awfully hard to follow. Heck, I couldn't even find one rhyme.

[patton]

;)

[NicknamedBob]

She could have used faeries or elves as the protagonists,
But then it would not have been the same story,
A story of a boy who was burdened by his ordinaryness,
"I'm just Harry..." -- until he discovered some hidden strengths.

Yeah, you're right! It's pretty lame.

I have to consciously suppress sometimes,
That well-trained tendency to speak in rhymes.

[Gabz]

WOW..........just WOW