Category: Uncategorized
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Year Ends
Amuse-bouche: Freezer burn Old news Jumbo shrimp Living sacrifice Butthead –Miscellaneous oxymorons Today’s Wonderful Word: “aleatory.” Definition: relating to or denoting music or other forms of art involving elements of random choice (sometimes using statistical or computer techniques) during their composition, production, or performance. Etymology: Aleatory evolved to mean “of uncertain outcome, depending on a…
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Two Puzzling
Amuse-bouche: “They wanted to check with Dr. Robert before sending.” “Who’s that?” “Don’t act stupid, you’ve known Dr. Robert for years.” “Right, but who’s Cindy?” Today’s Wonderful Word: “iiwi.” Definition: a Hawaiian bird with a red body, black wings, and a pinkish-red curved bill “Alright! Another one down.” I clicked the edge piece into its…
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un deux trois cat
Today’s quote: “Silence is the sleep that nourishes wisdom.” – Francis Bacon They’re everywhere. And they’re smarter than us. This is Vaïana. She’s amazing. She knows a few tricks. During one particular training session, she was working on “stand,” where the goal was for her to stand on her hind legs. I performed the “stand”…
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Exhibiposition
Amuse-bouche: I’m stressed because I can’t pick my fingernails because they’re all too short because I pick them when I’m stressed. Today’s Wonderful Word: ” boondocks.” Definition: a remote rural area. Variation: “(the) boonies” Etymology: “Boondocks” was first adopted into English during the U.S. military occupation of the Philippines in the early 1900s, from the…
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CYM
Today’s quote: Colors, like features, follow the changes of the emotions. – Pablo Picasso This article changed my life. https://science.howstuffworks.com/primary-colors.htm What is the true set of primary colors? It’s not red, yellow, and blue, like you’ve been taught. Well, it is, actually. It’s not red, green, and blue, like how the TVs operate, except it…
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the old barn
Today’s expression: “Those who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.” Meaning: People who are morally questionable shouldn’t criticize others. (Origin) Inhaling is like swallowing a mouthful of water through my nose. It’s another scorcher. Flakes of dead and dying grass ride heat waves up from the ground where my shoes set them free, up…
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Mastery of 5 skills in 10 years
Today’s quote: “If people knew how hard I worked to get my mastery, it wouldn’t seem so wonderful at all.” – Michelangelo Here’s something I did one day I was bored. I hopped on Excel (because what else is there to do when bored?) and made a productivity tracker. A schedule or planner that, when…
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New Year
Amuse-bouche: Whole piece. An oxymoron. Today’s Wonderful Word: “panacea.” Definition: an answer or solution for all problems or difficulties. Etymology: “Panacea” comes from a Greek word meaning “all-healing. Example: The new software claims to be a panacea for productivity issues, but its effectiveness remains to be seen. Happy New Year I didn’t get a haircut…
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Surreal
Today’s expression: La letra con sangre entra. This piece is surreal. The artist: Francesca Woodman. The title: Untitled The location: Rome The date: sometime in 1977 or 1978 Such a clever title. This photo makes me want to rock climb. She’s suspended, weightless, supported by her fingers with help from her forearms. The chair is in…
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Some art
Today’s quote: “Are you really sure that a floor can’t also be a ceiling?” – M. C. Escher Here’s one of my favorite paintings: Le petit bras de la seine à Argenteuil The balance and framing of the river makes me tilt my head one way and then the other. My eyes roam from the…
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Synesthesia
Today’s expression: “to be swamped.” Meaning: Extremely busy, to the point of being overwhelmed, overburdened, or overworked. Example: “I work 10 hours a day and then attend classes and do homework for 8 hours a day. I’m totally swamped.” Example: “We’ve been absolutely swamped ever since the famous actor mentioned our company in one of his…
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Tessellate
Today’s expression: “We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.” Meaning: Let’s not talk about that problem right now. We may or may not see the problem come into reality in the future, so we will only address it if it does. Alternative: Let’s cross that bridge when we get there. Tessellation: A tessellation…
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Wall Ball (Part 3)
Today’s expression: “Do something at the drop of a hat.” Meaning: To do something without having planned beforehand. It’s now the end of the second full week of WB Month. Let’s take a look at the basics of how to play. But first, if you missed the introduction and the information you need to know…
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Cistercian numerals
Today’s expression: “Call it a day.” Meaning: to decide to stop working on something Example: “I’m exhausted. Let’s call it a day.” You’ve heard of Roman numerals, and you may have heard of Arabic numerals, but have you heard of Cistercian numerals? (Every time I’ve typed “numeral” so far, including this time, I accidentally started…
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Misc.
Today’s quote: “It’s always impossible until it’s done.” -A quote on the wall of an office building somewhere. Does today’s quote actually make any sense? It’s confusing as all get-out. Just like the phrasal verb “get-out.” Or is that a phrasal noun? Anyway. You know when you pack a bag with a few changes of…
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Knick Knacks
Today’s quote: “Creativity takes courage.” – Henri Matisse Here’s a little art project I did. Some notes: Two items are removed each time. The snake rotates slightly each time. The bronze Ace of spades in the top-left is a lighter. It’s ready to light the firework. Between the 4th and 5th photos, the dice are replaced with…
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A man named Odd
Amuse-bouche: You don’t have to talk fast to fast talk. Today’s Wonderful Word: “apricity.” Definition: the warmth of the sun in winter. There once was a man whose name was Odd. He wasn’t sure why his parents gave him that name. It caused him problems all his life, and he never liked it. One day,…
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Cheerios
Today’s expression: “Through thick and thin.” Meaning: under all circumstances, no matter how difficult. In good times and in bad times. Despite all obstacles or adversities. Cheerios have been with me through thick and thin. A bowl a day keeps the doctor away. This heart-healthy cereal is made with 100% whole grain oats. Cheerios’s motto:…
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Leave the door a jar.
Today’s expression: “Leave the door ajar.” *places a jar next to the door and whispers, “I’m leaving this for you.” Explanation: You could leave a door ajar by leaving it open, or you could leave a door a jar by giving it a wide-mouthed cylindrical container made of glass or pottery and typically having a…
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My first million dollars
Amuse-bouche: My first million dollars Today’s Wonderful Words: Coins and bills from my collection: Silver dollars $2 bills Wheat penny from 1906 Pennies National Parks quarters Foreign currencies Nickel from 1943 Dollar and half-dollar coins Buffalo nickels from the 1930s Misc Answer to Saturday’s riddle: A+
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Typewriter
Today’s quote: “Knowledge speaks but wisdom listens.” This is my typewriter. It’s an Olympus Traveller de Luxe S probably from the 70s. I’ve had it for a couple years now. It shipped to me from the UK, tightly wrapped and sufficiently padded in a sturdy box packed by an Etsy seller. Learning the ins and…
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An urban art structure
Today’s expression: “icing on the cake.” Meaning: An additional benefit or positive aspect to something that is already considered positive or beneficial. This is my favorite urban art structure. Of the many pictures I took of the tower, this one turned out best. The colors in the sky are magnificent. And the icing on the…
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I’m color blind.
Today’s quote: “No, I’m not color blind. I know the world is black and white.” – John Mayer, Stop This Train I’m color blind. The photo below looks like only a bunch of dots to me. Don’t get me wrong. I know the dots are different colors. Duh. Some are black and others are grey. Just…
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Aliens
Today’s expression: “To be on the fence.” Meaning: To be unable to make up one’s mind. Example: “Are you going to eat your fries?” “I don’t know. I keep picking up one to eat and then setting it back down. I’m on the fence about whether I’ll finish them.” What would you do if you…
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Slow children at play
Today’s expression: « Quand le vin est tiré il faut le boire. » Literal translation: “When the wine is drawn, you have to drink it.” Or “When the wine is drawn, it must be drunk.” Meaning: “When you start something, finish it.” Okay class, today we’re going to talk about a sign we’ve all seen…
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Solving a cube
Today’s expression: « on ne peut avoir le beurre et l’argent du beurre. » Definition: « on ne peut pas tout avoir ; il faut choisir dans la vie » Literal translation: You can’t have butter and the money from butter. Equivalent expression in English: You can’t have your cake and eat it too. Follow…
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Keyboard Shortcuts for PC
Amuse-bouche: Life without music would b flat. Today’s Wonderful Word: “petrichor.” Definition: a distinctive scent, usually described as earthy, pleasant, or sweet, produced by rainfall on very dry ground. Etymology: Petrichor is based on two Ancient Greek words: pétros, meaning “stone,” and īchṓr, the name of an ethereal fluid that the gods of Greek mythology…
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Thanks Giving
Amuse-bouche: A frog hopped into a bank to ask for a loan. As the frog approached the teller’s counter, he noticed her nametag read, “Patricia Whack.” “Hello, Ms. Whack,” the frog said. “My name is Kermit Jagger, son of Mick Jagger, and I’m interested in taking out a loan for $50,000 to buy a boat.” …
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Nature vs. Nurture (Part 2)
Today’s quote: “Father, is a person’s destiny a thing like a cloud flowing with an inescapable flow? Or can a person choose the flow he wishes? I still don’t know the answer to this. Either way, the destination may be the same in the end. However, by choosing to live like the latter, a person…
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Nature vs. Nurture (Part 1)
Today’s quote: “Genius is nothing more nor less than childhood recaptured at will.” – Charles Baudelaire Nature is what we think of as pre-wiring and is influenced by genetic inheritance and other biological factors. Psychological researchers who take an extreme nature position publish articles on “nativism.” Nurture is generally understood as the influence of external…
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How media is social(?)
Today’s quote/proverb: A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Origin: Thomas Reid’s Essays on the Intellectual Powers of Man (1786) included this line: “In every chain of reasoning, the evidence of the last conclusion can be no greater than that of the weakest link of the chain, whatever may be the strength…
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How social is media(?)
Today’s expression: “To beat around the bush.” Meaning: To stall, waste time, and/or avoid saying what you mean, usually because it is uncomfortable. Origin: In medieval times, hunters hired men to beat the area around bushes with sticks in order to flush out game taking cover underneath. They avoided hitting the bushes directly because this…
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Navigating samediqqch.com
Today’s expression: « se mélanger les pinceaux » Literal translation: to mix up paintbrushes Figurative translation: To get confused / to get muddled up / to make a mistake Origin: « Se mélanger les pinceaux » was first used to describe the phenomenon of one’s legs getting twisted up, causing them to lose their balance.…
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Welcome
Today’s Wonderful Word: « samediqqch » I’m sure you’re wondering what samediqqch means. Let me take you to its origin. « …parce que tu commences à te mélanger les pinceaux. » I caught the end of the first guy’s sentence as I passed on the sidewalk en route to the Boulangerie Aux Délices de Saint…
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