Word For the Day, Thursday, August 14, 2003

The Verbivores | 8/14/03 | Teacher

[RikaStrom]

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. Practice makes perfect.....post on....

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scintilla \sin-TIL-uh\, noun
scintillant; adjective

1. A tiny or scarcely detectable amount; the slightest particle; a trace
2. A spark; a flash.
3. Miniscule

In victory, they must hold on to at least a scintilla of humility, lest they get too cocky -- and ripe for a takedown.
--Bill Breen, "'We are literally trying to stop time,'" Fast Company, May 2000

Etymology: Latin scintilla, "a spark, a glimmer, a faint trace." Also from scintilla is the verb scintillate, "to sparkle."

[anniegetyourgun]

Ah yes, those scintilla fish....little guys that swim around in big schools.

Oh dear, can you tell I've been missing too many of Ms. Rika's classes?

[Hegewisch Dupa]

unthinking animals driven by instinct and smell?

Hi!

[anniegetyourgun]

I know better - you have the ability to think, reason, and exercise self-control. Well, okay...in your case....at least most of the time....

[white rose]

If any of you had even a scintillant desire to visit Malaysia, this story may cause you to reconsider that thought.

Oh, and let me warn you about Scotland, as well, while I'm at it.

[Slip18]

Of course, it's okay. I e-mailed the photos to Miss Rika, but they kept getting returned. After the 5th one, I quit! Either I have the wrong e-mail address or I'm a totally blooming idiot with not a scintilla of intelligence. But you got yours! LOL!

Got the WFTD in there. Heheheheheh!

[Slip18]

Ain't the naked W a cutie? I saw the photos last night.

[Slip18]

I love it! Blog wars. Sounds like something out of "The Hobbit" or "Star Trek."

[Slip18]

"now m'darlin' we be takkin in whatever yer leetle heart be desirin'!"

Did you just get back from a foreign country? I detect a scintilla of an accent.

[honeygrl]

I don't think the smarty pants scientists have figured out why they do it. I just know I've read a ton of articles about the various animals they've found that appear to be homosexual in the wild. I think the monkeys were the biggest shock to them.

[camle]

aw didje now? and wooodja have a scintilla of an idee jess which one??

[mikrofon]

Wife of Attilla --> Scintilla the Hon

[Slip18]

You've missed waaaaaaaay too many classes, Annie. Right now your GPA is for the birds or whales or whatever we're discussing today. LOL!

[xsmommy]

she looks weird with teeth. i liked braces better. she is mad bc she has to go back next week for the retainer and wear it day AND night. oh well.

[Slip18]

Ireland? But I can't tell if it's a Northern or Southern accent. I guess it depends on what color you were wearing.

[xsmommy]

what are we shopping for? can i come?

[xsmommy]

: ( the lawyer bashing. will it ever end ; )

[Slip18]

My BIL, who raises homing pidgeons, has a cage for the Lesbos. They produce eggs without a mate. The Lesbos aren't very good racers either.

[Gabz]

she looks weird with teeth. i liked braces better.

what a mean mommy you are.

I remember when I got my braces off.....less than a month after graduation pix had been take....the jagoff orthodontist had the nerve to say to me I should have told him and he would have taken them off in time for the pix.

I was only supposed to wear the dang things for 18 months, had them on for more than 3 years and then 2 more with the retainer and within two years the gap in my front teeth, which the braces were supposed to have fixed was back in all it's prominent glory.

[honeygrl]

Just a few examples (and because I find it weird):

"This is true of bottlenose dolphins, which are not known to form heterosexual pair bonds, but which do in fact form homosexual pair bonds, including sex, and often lasting for life."

"In animals in which "bachelor groups" form, such as bison, gazelles, antelope, sage grouse and Guinean cocks-of-the-rock, it is not uncommon for same sex pair bonds to form and last until one or the other member of the pair departs the relationship and breeds. It is also not uncommon for homosexual preference to form among members of such bachelor groups; when offered the opportunity to breed unencumbered with members of the opposite sex or the same sex, they choose the same sex."

"In animals with a seasonal breeding pattern, homosexuality can even be seasonal. Male walruses, for example, often form homosexual pair bonds and have sex with each other outside of the breeding season, but will revert to a heterosexual pattern during the normal breeding season."

species / percent homosexual / percent bisexual / percent heterosexual
silver gulls (females) 10 / 11 / 79
black headed gulls (both sexes) 22 / 15 / 63
Japanese macaques (both sexes) 9 / 56 / 35
bonobo chimpanzees (both sexes) 0 / 100 / 0
galahs (both sexes) 44 / 11 / 44

source: Bruce Bahemihl, Ph.D., Biological Exhuberance: Animal Homosexuality and Natural Diversity, St. Martin's Press, 2000

[xsmommy]

ohhhh looky who is here....no more sodomous doggies?