Mind On Drift - Poem

Mind On Drift...

Time in the yard.
Cooling down from Summer, and I can feel it in the air.
Eager leaves are already dancing to the ground, life's boldness is waning.
The stillness of the coming season settles into my mind.
iPod on shuffle.
Mind on drift.

Word Wednesday - IQ and You

There are certain words, that if you are going to use them, you should really know what they mean. Today’s example includes three words with related, but quantifiable, different meanings. Read on, dear reader and just feel the brain matter expanding.

Our words are: Moron, Imbecile and Idiot. According to a very old and not necessarily contemporary dictionary of mine, these words reflect classifications of mental aptitude related to a person’s IQ.

Idiot = < 25 IQ
Imbecile = 25-50 IQ
Moron = 50-75 IQ

Therefore, while it may make sense to proclaim, “Don’t be an idiot, you moron!” Stating, “You’re a moron, you idiot,” would be a compliment – of sorts. Which begs the question, which is worse, a moronic idiot, or an imbecilic moron?

Aren’t you glad you stopped by?

Word Wednesday - Boldly

bold   [bohld] adjective, -er, -est.
1.not hesitating or fearful in the face of actual or possible danger or rebuff; courageous and daring: a bold hero.

Ok...wait for it... "To boldly go where no man has gone before."

You knew it was coming. Right?

Word Wednesday - Dowager

dowager \ DOU-uh-jer \  , noun;
1.An elderly woman of stately dignity, especially one of elevated social position.
2.A woman who holds some title or property from her deceased husband, especially the widow of a king, duke, etc.

dowager - Everything about the new teacher - her southern accent, stilted attitude, fine clothing and proud dignity - screamed a single word that is as rarely used as her kind seen: dowager.

Antonym - see image

Anti-Dowager

Word Wednesday - Pettifog

pettifog \ PET-ee-fog \  , verb;
1.To bicker or quibble over trifles or unimportant matters.
2.To carry on a petty, shifty, or unethical law business.
3.To practice chicanery of any sort.

Pettifog - While I understand your limited interest, don't pettifog all day. It is unbecoming.

Word Wednesday - ad rem

ad rem \ ad REM \  , adverb, adjective;
1.Without digressing; in a straightforward manner.

ad rem - adding no remnants of over used slogans or rhetoric, he composed a well crafted ad rem response.

Word Wednesday - Vilipend

vilipend   \ vil-UH-pend \  , verb;
1.To regard or treat as of little value or account.
2.To vilify; depreciate.

Vilipend - He was the worse of chauvinistic villains, taking ever opportunity to vilipend women!

Word Wednesday - Birr

birr \bur\, noun:
1. Force; energy; vigor.
2. Emphasis in statement, speech, etc.
3. A whirring sound.

Birr - "What's that birr?" she asked with a birr.

Word Wednesday - Bleb

bleb  \ bleb \  , noun;
1. A bubble.
2. Medicine/Medical.  A blister or vesicle.

Bleb : Was it Don Ho that sang about those tiny blebs?

Word Wednesday - Alate

alate  \ EY-leyt \  , adjective, noun;
1.Having wings; winged.
2.Having membranous expansions like wings.

noun: The winged form of an insect when both winged and wingless forms occur in the species.

Alate - Again, I was a late arrival. Oh, how often I wish to be an alate human to speed my travels.