I can admit I'm a huge nerd when it comes to spelling and grammar. I think this is why I don't like to text message; it's hard to be grammatically correct. Luckily, I found a website that covers everything. The good 'ole dictionary.com came through for me again. Instead of choosing a word and discussing it this time, I will just share this new found resource to use as a resource. In the word faq (frequently asked questions) section linked from the homepage, their are answers to every question normal people would have, such as the difference between there, their, and they're and examples of oxymorons. One of the funnier questions was where the "G" in G string comes from. What!? Who cares.
Another question I liked was: What English words have no vowels?
Dictionary.com answer is: English words containing all consonants include: brr, crwth, cwm, hmm, mm, nth, pfft, pht, psst, QT (meaning 'quiet'), shh, and tsktsk (and some of them have plurals). Words with only vowels are: aa, ai, aiaiai, eau, euouae, oe.
I use hmm all the time but haven't heard of any of the others. Maybe another day I'll look them up and share but for now, this random factoid will have to satisfy the cravings for knowledge. I've learned lately that the things I most enjoy learning are the random things that no one cares about. Trivia questions, movie one-liners. This is the information true intellectuals want, right? Maybe not, but it's fun. Another day I'll share the story about the only infix in the English language. It's fuck. And I'll tell you what that means on another day. I'm exhausted and can't think real straight.
Saturday, April 7, 2007
Monday, April 2, 2007
On this day.
In 1956, As the World Turns premiered on U.S. television as the first half-hour serial drama. (According to Wikipedia) This was fifty-one years ago and the show is still running, but as a whole hour. It's unbelievable to me that a show can last this long and still have a plot, but on another note, the actors and plot lines have probably changed so much over the years to fit into the social changes that watching an original episode would be completely foreign to loyal ATWT fans. Soap operas are by all means a genre of their own, but this is just amazing. I wonder how many different characters, marriages, babies, chick fights, etc. have appeared over the past fifty-one years of this show. I'm sure it would be easy to find out how much has changed on the show, but I don't care that much. I thought it would be interesting to share, and that's as far as my interest goes.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Whiskey or Whisky. Both please.
I like to think I have a decent attention to detail, but in reality, it kind of sucks. A few days ago at work, while mindlessly staring at the liquor bottles strategically lined up on a shelf above my head, I noticed a difference in spelling on whisk(e)y. I asked the managers and bartender what the deal was. Luckily, Steve, my favorite bartender knew what the difference was.
He said:
Whiskey is American whiskeys, aka burbon.
Whisky is Canadian, Irish and Scottish, aka Scotch.
The next day, a joke was made about a particular whisk(e)y that I hadn't heard of before St. Patrick's Day. The person I was talking to said it was Irish and I said, no it's not, it's spelt with an E, so it's American, based on my prior trivia information. We both looked at the bottle and when, oohhh. Imagine my thrill in explaining to Mr. smart bartender that he was wrong. We then concluded that, for sure:
Whiskey is American/burbon, and Irish.
Whisky is Canadian and Scotch.
Oh, but wait a minute, Maker's Mark uses "whisky" and it's made in Kentucky. What the hell. So, final conclusion is as previously stated and Maker's is the exception to the rule. Their are always exceptions to rules in spelling and grammar so why should this be any different. If anyone notices any other exceptions, let me know. It's all too confusing, but fun bar trivia when the facts are straight.
He said:
Whiskey is American whiskeys, aka burbon.
Whisky is Canadian, Irish and Scottish, aka Scotch.
The next day, a joke was made about a particular whisk(e)y that I hadn't heard of before St. Patrick's Day. The person I was talking to said it was Irish and I said, no it's not, it's spelt with an E, so it's American, based on my prior trivia information. We both looked at the bottle and when, oohhh. Imagine my thrill in explaining to Mr. smart bartender that he was wrong. We then concluded that, for sure:
Whiskey is American/burbon, and Irish.
Whisky is Canadian and Scotch.
Oh, but wait a minute, Maker's Mark uses "whisky" and it's made in Kentucky. What the hell. So, final conclusion is as previously stated and Maker's is the exception to the rule. Their are always exceptions to rules in spelling and grammar so why should this be any different. If anyone notices any other exceptions, let me know. It's all too confusing, but fun bar trivia when the facts are straight.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Mahi Mahi.
The other day I had a guest ask whether mahi mahi was dolphin or shark. I said, "It's mahi." To my surprise, I later found out we were both correct. Mahi is a dolphin-fish, not Flipper like we usually think when someone mentions dolphins, but a fish. Flipper the dolphin is a mammal and mahi is a fish, but dolphin fish is correct. I had eaten mahi mahi before and had no idea it was a species related to dolphins. Luckily I didn't make fun of this lady for her question because she was partially correct, but when she said dolphin i was thinking, Isn't it illegal in some way to serve dolphins? Apparently not completely, as Flipper isn't making an appearance as Friday night's special, but the mahi, usually with a mediterranean-style salsa, is a regular special. Dolphin, the fish, not mammal, is mahi, get it? Good.
Here is the excerpt from Wikipedia.
Mahi-mahi
The Mahi-mahi, Coryphaena hippurus, also known as dolphin-fish, dolphin, dorado, or lampuki (in Maltese), are surface-dwelling ray-finned fish found in off-shore tropical and subtropical waters worldwide. They are one of only two members of the Coryphaenidae family, the other being the Pompano dolphinfish. The name "mahi-mahi" ("strong-strong" in Hawaiian), particularly on restaurant menus, has been adopted in recent years to avoid confusing these fish with dolphins, which are mammals. They are also commonly known as maverikos.
Mahi-mahi have a lifespan of no more than three to four years. Sport catches average 7 to 13 kg (15 to 28 pounds). They seldom exceed 15 kg (33 pounds), and any Mahi-mahi over 18 kg (39 pounds) is exceptional. Mahi-mahi have compressed bodies and long dorsal fins extending almost the entire length of their bodies. Their anal fins are sharply concave. They are distinguished by dazzling colors: golden on the sides, bright blues and greens on the sides and back. Mature males also have prominent foreheads protruding well above the body proper. When they are removed from the water, the fish often change between several colors, finally fading to a muted yellow-grey upon death.
Mahi-mahi are carnivorous, feeding on flying fish, crabs, squid, mackerel, and other small fish. They have also been known to eat zooplankton and crustaceans.
Mahi-mahi are highly sought game fish throughout their range because of their beauty and fighting ability. Their flesh has excellent flavor and firm texture. Mahi-mahi have become popular restaurant fare in many areas, sometimes eaten as a substitute for swordfish because, having scales, they are considered kosher, as well as halal by Shia and Sunni Muslims.
Costa Rica, Ecuador, Japan, and the United States are the primary countries capturing and exporting Mahi-mahi (30,000 to 40,000 tons are harvested annually worldwide), and Europe, Japan, the United States, and the Caribbean region are the primary consumers.
One of the fastest-growing fish, Mahi-mahi are fast swimmers as well, with an estimated top swimming speed of 50 knots. Mahi-mahi spawn in warm ocean currents throughout much of the year; and its young are commonly found in sargassum weed.
Here is the excerpt from Wikipedia.
Mahi-mahi
The Mahi-mahi, Coryphaena hippurus, also known as dolphin-fish, dolphin, dorado, or lampuki (in Maltese), are surface-dwelling ray-finned fish found in off-shore tropical and subtropical waters worldwide. They are one of only two members of the Coryphaenidae family, the other being the Pompano dolphinfish. The name "mahi-mahi" ("strong-strong" in Hawaiian), particularly on restaurant menus, has been adopted in recent years to avoid confusing these fish with dolphins, which are mammals. They are also commonly known as maverikos.
Mahi-mahi have a lifespan of no more than three to four years. Sport catches average 7 to 13 kg (15 to 28 pounds). They seldom exceed 15 kg (33 pounds), and any Mahi-mahi over 18 kg (39 pounds) is exceptional. Mahi-mahi have compressed bodies and long dorsal fins extending almost the entire length of their bodies. Their anal fins are sharply concave. They are distinguished by dazzling colors: golden on the sides, bright blues and greens on the sides and back. Mature males also have prominent foreheads protruding well above the body proper. When they are removed from the water, the fish often change between several colors, finally fading to a muted yellow-grey upon death.
Mahi-mahi are carnivorous, feeding on flying fish, crabs, squid, mackerel, and other small fish. They have also been known to eat zooplankton and crustaceans.
Mahi-mahi are highly sought game fish throughout their range because of their beauty and fighting ability. Their flesh has excellent flavor and firm texture. Mahi-mahi have become popular restaurant fare in many areas, sometimes eaten as a substitute for swordfish because, having scales, they are considered kosher, as well as halal by Shia and Sunni Muslims.
Costa Rica, Ecuador, Japan, and the United States are the primary countries capturing and exporting Mahi-mahi (30,000 to 40,000 tons are harvested annually worldwide), and Europe, Japan, the United States, and the Caribbean region are the primary consumers.
One of the fastest-growing fish, Mahi-mahi are fast swimmers as well, with an estimated top swimming speed of 50 knots. Mahi-mahi spawn in warm ocean currents throughout much of the year; and its young are commonly found in sargassum weed.
Tuesday, March 6, 2007
It's true, I read it on Wikipedia.
For those of you/us unaware, wikipedia is an online encyclopedia in which readers have the ability to change information or add something. While incorrect information may exist, people are pretty good about editing each other in what I've read. The best part is that it's written in everyday style of speech and easy to understand. I vaguely remember reading something about teachers having issues with students using wikipedia as a reputable source when writing papers. As an ex-journalism student, I see the teachers' point, but yet see the validity in allowing anyone to report. Bias exists in everything we read or write, so this isn't an exception. All students should do their own fact-checking with other, possibly more reputable sources, anyway, so I say let them use it. This is besides the main reason for this post. I was browsing around and clicking "random article" on the right side-bar to find something fun to write about. I kept seeing town information and thought to type my hometown in the search box. I didn't really expect to find anything good. Here is what it said.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osakis%2C_Minnesota
Osakis, Minnesota
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Osakis is a city in Minnesota, United States. The population was 1,567 at the 2000 census.
Location
The main part of Osakis is in Douglas County, but a small part of the city extends into Todd County. Osakis is situated on the southwest shore of Lake Osakis, on Minnesota State Highway 27. Osakis is about one mile from exit 114 of Interstate 94.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.5 km² (2.1 mi²). 5.2 km² (2.0 mi²) of it is land and 0.3 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (5.63%) is water.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 1,567 people, 661 households, and 405 families residing in the city. The population density was 301.0/km² (779.4/mi²). There were 760 housing units at an average density of 146.0/km² (378.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.15% White, 0.13% African American, 0.38% Native American, 0.70% Asian, and 0.64% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.64% of the population.
There were 661 households out of which 26.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.2% were married couples living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.7% were non-families. 34.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 22.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.84.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.0% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 21.4% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 29.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 90.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,833, and the median income for a family was $38,864. Males had a median income of $28,819 versus $20,000 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,212. About 5.6% of families and 9.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.1% of those under age 18 and 13.7% of those age 65 or over.
While this is hardly fun or interesting information, I was kind of surprised at some of the statistic, like that 38.7 % of households were nonfamilies. I know a lot of the Osakis populations and I don't think I know anyone in a nonfamiy household. Also, the income information was shocking but yet not at the same time. Not, because cost of living is relatively low, so it's all relative. One statistic that I think is wrong is the racial makeup. According to these statistics, 1.85 % of the population of Osakis are not white. To most, this would be a really small portion of the population but I think it's inflated. I do not know one non-while resident of Osakis. Maybe a summer traveler or two, but resident. I'm not sure about that. The nonwhite residents must be in hiding because they aren't accepted by the small-town mentality. Sad but possibly true. On a lighter note, in addition to books and words, wikipedia randoms is a new topic of discussion.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osakis%2C_Minnesota
Osakis, Minnesota
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Osakis is a city in Minnesota, United States. The population was 1,567 at the 2000 census.
Location
The main part of Osakis is in Douglas County, but a small part of the city extends into Todd County. Osakis is situated on the southwest shore of Lake Osakis, on Minnesota State Highway 27. Osakis is about one mile from exit 114 of Interstate 94.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.5 km² (2.1 mi²). 5.2 km² (2.0 mi²) of it is land and 0.3 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (5.63%) is water.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 1,567 people, 661 households, and 405 families residing in the city. The population density was 301.0/km² (779.4/mi²). There were 760 housing units at an average density of 146.0/km² (378.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.15% White, 0.13% African American, 0.38% Native American, 0.70% Asian, and 0.64% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.64% of the population.
There were 661 households out of which 26.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.2% were married couples living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.7% were non-families. 34.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 22.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.84.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.0% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 21.4% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 29.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 90.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,833, and the median income for a family was $38,864. Males had a median income of $28,819 versus $20,000 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,212. About 5.6% of families and 9.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.1% of those under age 18 and 13.7% of those age 65 or over.
While this is hardly fun or interesting information, I was kind of surprised at some of the statistic, like that 38.7 % of households were nonfamilies. I know a lot of the Osakis populations and I don't think I know anyone in a nonfamiy household. Also, the income information was shocking but yet not at the same time. Not, because cost of living is relatively low, so it's all relative. One statistic that I think is wrong is the racial makeup. According to these statistics, 1.85 % of the population of Osakis are not white. To most, this would be a really small portion of the population but I think it's inflated. I do not know one non-while resident of Osakis. Maybe a summer traveler or two, but resident. I'm not sure about that. The nonwhite residents must be in hiding because they aren't accepted by the small-town mentality. Sad but possibly true. On a lighter note, in addition to books and words, wikipedia randoms is a new topic of discussion.
Sunday, March 4, 2007
Denotation vs. Connotation
From high school, or college, or somewhere in my educational career, I learned the difference between the denotation and connotation of a word. For some reason, this excites me.
Denotation-–noun
the explicit or direct meaning or set of meanings of a word or expression, as distinguished from the ideas or meanings associated with it or suggested by it; the association or set of associations that a word usually elicits for most speakers of a language, as distinguished from those elicited for any individual speaker because of personal experience. Compare connotation.
Connotation-–noun
the associated or secondary meaning of a word or expression in addition to its explicit or primary meaning: A possible connotation of “home” is “a place of warmth, comfort, and affection.” Compare denotation
(dictionary.com)
More understandibly, denotation is the dictionary definition of a word- what it really means- and connotation is an implied meaning or secondary thought associated with the word. The connotation can be a feeling associated with that word and this is where things get dangerous. For example, I say the word war and it can be read different ways. Some think of what war is, or past, present, future wars, etc. Others think of their families overseas and get emotional or defensive, which is ok. This is a problem for me as someone who learned to check every word written for spelling, accuracy, AP formatting, etc. Something writers need to be cognizant of are the underlying emotions are feelings associated with certain words. This is going to subconsciously lead people to make different assumptions about what is written. I realized in college that many people read/hear/see/learn new information and skew it to fit with their existing beliefs, values, etc. For example, in Anthropology 101, you learn many things that could be used to "show" that Catholicism (in my case) was false, or whatever. Most people turn the factoids into proofs that their current Catholic, etc. beliefs are true, where the other side is that people's beliefs change based on what's learned. I fit into the latter.
Back to the point, connotation is not only dangerous because of emotion involved, but because of the danger to society. Connotation are often the stereotypes. I say black, white, Hispanic, etc. and denotatively we have skin color differences, not race because again Anthropology will hopefully show a video where DNA testing showed their is more biological difference within a "race" than between "races." Hmm. Connotatively, we have racism, sexism, -ism, -ism, -ism. This is not only a hurtful to the people being stereotyped, it's a danger to society. How are women going to gain more status power when the word "woman" to many men connotatively means weak? How can Hispanics prove that they aren't necessarily lazy when we assume they are just because of their ethnicity? Hate crimes, war, and general misunderstanding often comes from stereotypes and connotations, and sadly, I don't see a solution besides education, which isn't practical or always effective.
In closing, connotations aren't all negative, as I've previously talked about. Having good memories of home, or feelings of safety associated with friends are positive. I left these out of the discussion because problems don't lie here. Problems lie within the negative. I am a very open-minded, articulate person and the first step in looking past negative connotations is to be aware of them. If you are stereotyping someone, recognize it and ask yourself why you are. Did their behavior lead you to it or was it a straight feeling you had based on their looks, etc. Being aware and open will allow you to meet people who prove that stereoypes are called stereotypes and not facts because they aren't consistent. Meeting one person who goes against the stereotype will allow you to give everyone a chance to show their true colors before you judge them and categorize them. Tolerance, acceptance, understanding, sharing, learning, growing. That is what life is all about.
Authors Note: Please feel free to challenge what I say or add your own thoughts. I'm one person, who has thoughts and experiences which lead to my beliefs. Yours are different. Share them with me and let me learn the other side, or a different side. This sharing is what makes me a more well-rounded person.
Denotation-–noun
the explicit or direct meaning or set of meanings of a word or expression, as distinguished from the ideas or meanings associated with it or suggested by it; the association or set of associations that a word usually elicits for most speakers of a language, as distinguished from those elicited for any individual speaker because of personal experience. Compare connotation.
Connotation-–noun
the associated or secondary meaning of a word or expression in addition to its explicit or primary meaning: A possible connotation of “home” is “a place of warmth, comfort, and affection.” Compare denotation
(dictionary.com)
More understandibly, denotation is the dictionary definition of a word- what it really means- and connotation is an implied meaning or secondary thought associated with the word. The connotation can be a feeling associated with that word and this is where things get dangerous. For example, I say the word war and it can be read different ways. Some think of what war is, or past, present, future wars, etc. Others think of their families overseas and get emotional or defensive, which is ok. This is a problem for me as someone who learned to check every word written for spelling, accuracy, AP formatting, etc. Something writers need to be cognizant of are the underlying emotions are feelings associated with certain words. This is going to subconsciously lead people to make different assumptions about what is written. I realized in college that many people read/hear/see/learn new information and skew it to fit with their existing beliefs, values, etc. For example, in Anthropology 101, you learn many things that could be used to "show" that Catholicism (in my case) was false, or whatever. Most people turn the factoids into proofs that their current Catholic, etc. beliefs are true, where the other side is that people's beliefs change based on what's learned. I fit into the latter.
Back to the point, connotation is not only dangerous because of emotion involved, but because of the danger to society. Connotation are often the stereotypes. I say black, white, Hispanic, etc. and denotatively we have skin color differences, not race because again Anthropology will hopefully show a video where DNA testing showed their is more biological difference within a "race" than between "races." Hmm. Connotatively, we have racism, sexism, -ism, -ism, -ism. This is not only a hurtful to the people being stereotyped, it's a danger to society. How are women going to gain more status power when the word "woman" to many men connotatively means weak? How can Hispanics prove that they aren't necessarily lazy when we assume they are just because of their ethnicity? Hate crimes, war, and general misunderstanding often comes from stereotypes and connotations, and sadly, I don't see a solution besides education, which isn't practical or always effective.
In closing, connotations aren't all negative, as I've previously talked about. Having good memories of home, or feelings of safety associated with friends are positive. I left these out of the discussion because problems don't lie here. Problems lie within the negative. I am a very open-minded, articulate person and the first step in looking past negative connotations is to be aware of them. If you are stereotyping someone, recognize it and ask yourself why you are. Did their behavior lead you to it or was it a straight feeling you had based on their looks, etc. Being aware and open will allow you to meet people who prove that stereoypes are called stereotypes and not facts because they aren't consistent. Meeting one person who goes against the stereotype will allow you to give everyone a chance to show their true colors before you judge them and categorize them. Tolerance, acceptance, understanding, sharing, learning, growing. That is what life is all about.
Authors Note: Please feel free to challenge what I say or add your own thoughts. I'm one person, who has thoughts and experiences which lead to my beliefs. Yours are different. Share them with me and let me learn the other side, or a different side. This sharing is what makes me a more well-rounded person.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Oh so many words.
My favorite word friend from work mentioned one of her favorite words is:
Extemporaneous- without advance preparation, impromptu, etc.
(dictionary.com)
I began to think about how I speak best. I don't like doing speeches based off of an essay I've written because in trying not to read off the page, I skip important information. However, I am awful at impromptu because I leave out too much information, both necessary and not. Even in trying to rehearse what points I wanted to make, I'd miss something big. This goes the same way in having conversations with friends, or telling stories or having serious conversations about the state of the relationship with significant others. I replay the information over and over and when it comes time to actually speak, I say something completely different and lose the point I wanted to make. My husband commented the other day that he reads my blogs and everything I say makes sense and is organized. He asked why I can't speak the same way. Maybe it's nerves, maybe it's thinking too far ahead when speaking, or maybe it's something else. It's so easy to think about the way a conversation will work, but when you add another person into the mix, it becomes completely extemporaneous and you're trying to keep with the conversation and what they are saying without losing sight of what you need to say. That's why I write things down and then I read it to them and say this is what I need to say, which isn't extemporaneous at all. I'm not a good extemporaneous speaker and I envy those who are. I would have a whole lot less stress right now if I were.
Extemporaneous- without advance preparation, impromptu, etc.
(dictionary.com)
I began to think about how I speak best. I don't like doing speeches based off of an essay I've written because in trying not to read off the page, I skip important information. However, I am awful at impromptu because I leave out too much information, both necessary and not. Even in trying to rehearse what points I wanted to make, I'd miss something big. This goes the same way in having conversations with friends, or telling stories or having serious conversations about the state of the relationship with significant others. I replay the information over and over and when it comes time to actually speak, I say something completely different and lose the point I wanted to make. My husband commented the other day that he reads my blogs and everything I say makes sense and is organized. He asked why I can't speak the same way. Maybe it's nerves, maybe it's thinking too far ahead when speaking, or maybe it's something else. It's so easy to think about the way a conversation will work, but when you add another person into the mix, it becomes completely extemporaneous and you're trying to keep with the conversation and what they are saying without losing sight of what you need to say. That's why I write things down and then I read it to them and say this is what I need to say, which isn't extemporaneous at all. I'm not a good extemporaneous speaker and I envy those who are. I would have a whole lot less stress right now if I were.
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