Mojo Matrix

Word Definition: Gimcrack

2008-04-29T21:26:00.002-06:00

A showy, but utterly useless object. Also known as a Macbook Pro:)

Word Definition: Effusive

2008-01-23T16:04:00.000-06:00

lacking in reserve; unrestrained in emotional display.

Word Definition: Vicissitude

2007-12-03T12:04:00.000-06:00

A change in fortune or a change in condition.

Word Definition: Sciolism

2007-11-04T18:13:00.000-06:00

Knowing only superficial information.

Word Definition: Agitprop

2007-08-23T04:47:00.000-06:00

Propaganda, disseminated through witter, dramatic, visual and auditory arts. Mostly pro-communist messaging.

Quote: Disreali & Statistics

2007-06-30T18:22:00.000-06:00

"there are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics" -- Disraeli

Word Definition: Polymath

2007-05-25T17:20:00.000-06:00

person of varied learning

Word Definition: Redolent

2007-05-25T17:18:00.000-06:00

exuding fragrance; or evocative, reminiscent.

Word Definition: Insouciant

2007-05-25T16:38:00.000-06:00

casual; unconcerned; relaxed.

Word Definition: Furtive

2007-05-22T12:33:00.000-06:00

sly, secretive, characterized by stealth.

Word Definition: Compersion

2007-05-02T10:16:00.000-06:00

Opposite of jealousy. Being happy that a lover (or long-term partner) is fulfilled in loving relationship with another.

Term most often used to describe positive feelings experienced by practitioners of polyamory in this situation.

The adjective frubbly and the noun frubbles are sometimes used in the poly community to describe the feeling of compersion.

Word Definition: Refractory

2007-04-23T10:22:00.000-06:00

Being disobedient due to stubbornness; contumacity
Ability to endure high temperatures and/or pressures

Latin root: refractarius meaning stubborn, which in turns originates form refragari meaning 'to oppose'.

Wilde Quote

2007-04-05T12:35:00.000-06:00

Only the shallow know themselves

Oscar Wilde

Word Definition: Jingoist

2007-04-01T16:48:00.000-06:00

An extreme zealot driven by patriotism and nationalism
Warmonger; political figure that advocates war and incites strong negative sentiment toward other nations to drum up public support for war.

Can you think of one (or two) present day examples? ;)

[Note: I've known and loved this word for a number of years, but have been spelling it wrong until now - sorry to everyone I have misinformed previously.]

Word Definition: Luddite

2007-04-01T16:44:00.000-06:00

An opponent of technological advances.
Group of English workmen in the 19th century that destroyed the machines that displaced their jobs.

Word Definition: Abecedarian

2007-03-28T19:05:00.000-06:00

[pronounced: A-b-c-darian]

novice learning basics of a discipline
Sect of 16th century Anabaptists from Germany that found human knowledge contemptible. Instead they believed God would enlighten select believers through visions.

Word Definition: Contumacity

2007-03-28T18:59:00.000-06:00

Stubborn disobedience; rebelliousness.

Word Definition: Munificence

2007-03-28T18:56:00.000-06:00

Magnanimity; great generousity.

Word Definition: Jocund

2007-03-28T18:44:00.000-06:00

Gay as in high-spirited. (Yes, gay does still mean that as well).

Word Definition: Basilisk

2007-03-28T08:00:00.000-06:00

Exceptional [mythical] creature, so deadly that inhaling its breath is lethal. It resembles the Cockatrice differing in that it has two heads. The second at the extremity of its tail. It is occasionally referred to instead as an Amphisien Cockatrice (or simply Amphisien) due to this extra head and resemblance to the Cockatrice.

The only way to kill this creature is to show it its own reflection.

Word Definition: Cockatrice

2007-03-28T07:56:00.000-06:00

Small lizard which is one of the most lethal [mythical] creatures. It has the head, neck, and chest of a rooster, wings of a bat and tail of a lizard.

It's glance would kill instantly, it's breath could break stone. The most effective way that brave men slew this beast, or it's counterpart, the Basilisk, was to show it its own reflection.

Teabag Quote

2007-03-28T07:52:00.000-06:00

Women are like teabags. We don't know our true strength until we are in hot water!

Eleanor Roosevelt

Favorite Buddha Quote

2007-03-19T22:15:00.000-06:00

Ennui has made more gamblers than avarice, more drunkards than thirst, and perhaps as many suicides as despair.

Word Definition: Phlegmatic

2007-02-05T08:57:00.000-06:00

Devoid of emotion.
Pertaining to phlegm

Interesting, but not necessarily useful tidbits

2006-04-17T18:06:00.000-06:00

100 things we didn't know this time last year

The title link is an article from 12/30/05 on BBC's website, but thought it was interesting. It is slightly UK-specific, but many of the items are universal. Namely the following items were my favorite (if you would like a summary) in order of my preference:

My favorite...
11. One in 10 Europeans is allegedly conceived in an Ikea bed.

8. Devout Orthodox Jews are three times as likely to jaywalk as other people, according to an Israeli survey reported in the New Scientist. The researchers say it's possibly because religious people have less fear of death.

My mum will certainly appreciate this one...
72. A towel doesn't legally reserve a sun lounger - and there is nothing in German or Spanish law to stop other holidaymakers removing those left on vacant seats.

19. The = sign was invented by 16th Century Welsh mathematician Robert Recorde, who was fed up with writing "is equal to" in his equations. He chose the two lines because "noe 2 thynges can be moare equalle".

Just Another Year Syndrom (JAYS)

2006-01-01T02:16:00.000-06:00

So this is it. The big moment when everything changes. I can have a clean slate and start making the same mistakes all over again. Or is it? What makes the beginning of the first minute in a new calendar year so great anyway?

I suppose I don't owe any taxes yet - hooray!

L. and I stayed in this (or is it last?) New Year's Eve watching two movies - one of which was so awful it doesn't warrant thinking about ever again, let alone discussing it. The other was a thoughtful, yet melancholic Iraqi-Iranian joint venture called "Turtles Can Fly", which I thoroughly recommend to those searching for a more meaningful way to spend 2 hours than watching the latest Hollywood non-Oscar calliber junk.

I suppose I must be mellowing with old age. Gone are the days that I long to be drunk at midnight on New Year's Eve and here are the days that I long to watch independent film in my flying cat pjamas and slippers. I suppose some things change and others (like making the same mistakes all over again every year) will remain the same. Note the aptness of that last sentence for this domain name. Or will they? After all Greek and Turkish Cypriots were recently able to cross the "green line" after decades of no progress. IBM (which is synonymous with PC hardware) sold their PC Division to the Chinese. Afghanistan is on its way to being a democracy (if you believe the western press that is).

So this year my resolution is to think the impossible as much as (im)possible.

Note: This posting was converted from an older blog.