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Monday, 11 September 2023

Favourite images countdown (5 to 1)


Throughout the life of this blog I have presented images, mostly not mine to be honest, that I hoped would distil the topic they "fronted", yet resonate with the emotion or memory I associate with each.

Obviously I have favourites (though I'm not always sure why) and thought you may like to see my personal top 5 gathered here, each with a link to the topic they portray


The dog no-one wants




















Rejected - more powerful as you zoom in















Love is a fearsome master














Truly God's own county














The real deal - lovely



























I hope you enjoyed reviewing my top 5 images. To countdown again from 15 Click here.

Oh I just remembered this image



















and this image of course.


RIP Ma'am (G S T King)


Sunday, 10 September 2023

Word of the day - INCONTROVERTIBLE

The word today is Incontrovertible 

Incontrovertible is an adjective and means the following:

- Impossible to dispute and or unquestionably true (or false).

- Cannot be denied, logically challenged or disproved.



Incontrovertible I'd say!


To say that an actual dead parrot is dead is incontrovertible.
That night follows day is incontrovertible.
To say the earth is flat is incontrovertibly not true.
Readers of my blog give me incontrovertible pleasure.

If you need more start here or here.

There is an index of words of the day.

If you are brave or foolish enough to dig into the different types of words in English, try this.

Favourite images countdown (10 - 6)

Throughout the life of this blog I have presented images, mostly not mine to be honest, that I hoped would distil the topic they "fronted", yet resonate with the emotion or memory I associate with each.

Obviously I have favourites (though I'm not always sure why) and thought you may like to see images 10 to 6 of my top 15, each with a link to the topic they portray.


The gentlest of souls




















Lovely picture, interesting topic




















Memories for pain and pleasure











Helping hands can stop helping















Secret love is the hardest to bear








I hope you enjoyed reviewing my favourite images from 10 to 6. Time for the top 5!


Saturday, 9 September 2023

Favourite images countdown (15 to 11)

Throughout the life of this blog I have presented images, mostly not mine to be honest, that I hoped would distil the topic they "fronted", yet resonate with the emotion or memory I associate with each.

Obviously I have favourites (though I'm not always sure why) and thought you may like to see my personal top 15, starting with 15 to 11 gathered here, each with a link to the topic they portray.

My other top favourite images will come soon.



Park rain my most popular poem

















My favourite cartoon





















This one certainly got me
















Depression and loneliness are bedfellows
























(An Actor) Painful times

























I hope you enjoyed reviewing my favourite images from 15 to 11 and will also review 10 to 6.

Tuesday, 5 September 2023

Words


There are few songs about words but here is one.








Words are created, they come, they go, they return (sometimes with a different meaning or intent) and they communicate, explain, entertain and perplex, sometimes all at once; but the place and context of their use can change what they actually mean or what is inferred by others.

Here's my real life experience of a word being used out of its place.

Friends and I got into a conversation with locals in a pub in Glasgow, talking about the top speed we had each achieved on motorcycles gone-by, when a fight ensued over one word out of its geographical place.

In Hull, where I was born, the contraction of "could not" is "cunt", e.g. "Ya cunt do that" (You could not do that). This is but one of a few contractions, local to Hull, that I remember.


Wunt - would not                  (I wunt do that) 
Ya      - you                              (Ya wunt want to fail) 
Sharnt - shall not                  (I sharnt tell you again)
Carnt - can not and cannot (I carnt tell you about it)
Shunt - should not.               (I shunt do that)


Back to my story....

I said to someone, in response to his preposterous claim, "ya cunt do that on a ... ", but he got, "ya cunt" and struck me in the face with, "who's you callin' a cunt yer bastard?". I was floored (literally) at the power of one word out of its place (of Hull).

There are not many songs about words but here is one.

I though this an interesting point about words.

Monday, 4 September 2023

Word of the day - SCHADENFREUDE

The word today is Schadenfreude

This is a bit of a departure for us today as this is actually a German word, not from my native English.

Schadenfreude is a noun and means the following:

- A pleasure derived from the misfortune of others (1 or more).

- Satisfaction when something untoward happens to someone else.



Ooooh that's a pity!













This word came into (German) use in the 18th century.
It is not known how many languages it has been absorbed into.
The English word "gloat" or phrase "to gloat" comes closest.

I wonder if there are degrees of schadenfreude, or bounds beyond which its expression is deemed to be in bad taste or "verboten" (another German word adopted into English).

If you need more start here or here or here especially.

There is an index of words of the day.

If you are brave or foolish enough to dig into the different types of words in English, try this.

Sunday, 3 September 2023

Word of the day - DISCOMBOBULATION

The word today is Discombobulation

Discombobulation is a noun and means the following:

- A feeling of embarrassment that leaves a person confused as to why.

- Suffering of confusion/disquiet/embarrassment without explanation.

- To be in a state of befuddlement without knowledge of why.


I am suffering discombobulation.










To suffer discombobulation you must be discombobulated.
You discombobulate someone for them to become discombobulated.
In conversation one may hear, "oh he discombobulates people".
It is not a state people usually enjoy or desire.

If you need more start here or here.

There is an index of words of the day.

If you are brave or foolish enough to dig into the different types of words in English, try this.

N.B. I am a fan of Rowan Atkinson's "Black Adder" series (though globally he may be better known as Mr Bean), but remembering one particular episode in which he used words to Dr Johnson (Robby Coltrane) that were difficult to comprehend, I looked-up Discombobulation and found this YouTube video of his.

Word of the day - DISPASSIONATELY

The word today is Dispassionately

Dispassionately is an adverb and means the following:

- To act or do something in a dispassionate manner: without emotion. 

- To think and act without influence of or regard to any emotion(s).











If you behave dispassionately then you are being dispassionate.
If you are dispassionate you may have emotions but not show them.
To act dispassionately others see cruelty, but the act is without malice.
A official hangman or executioner is expected to act dispassionately.

This entry was surprisingly difficult to finish because of the existence and validity of other words that all contained the word "passion" and that all seem to boil down to a meaning of "without passion".

I am thinking of the words: 
Discompassionate, Discompassionately, Dispassionate, Dispassionately, Uncompassionate, Uncompassionately, etc.

If you need more start here or here.

There is an index  of words of the day

If you are brave or foolish enough to dig into the different types of words in English, try this.

Saturday, 2 September 2023

Word of the day - CORNUCOPIA

The word today is Cornucopia

Cornucopia is a noun and means the following:

- A mythical goat horn of endless plenty used by Amalthea to feed Zeus.

- A inexhaustible source of choice of things: food, goods, opinions, etc.


Mythological horn of plenty used by Amalthea to feed Zeus










This world started life in Greek mythology but is still in use.
From Greek, via Latin "cornu copiae" we got to Cornucopia.
It has mutated in meaning from "horn of plenty" to loads of choices.

If you need more start here or here or here.

There is an index of words of the day.

If you are brave or foolish enough to dig into the different types of words in English, try this.

Friday, 1 September 2023

Word of the day - FLUMMOX

The word today is Flummox 

Flummox is a transitive verb and from research means the following:

- Confuse someone, not by deception, but make them feel bewildered.

- To make a person not understand something they hear or see.













A person is said to be flummoxed if you manage to flummox them. 
You do not need to be stupid/feeble-minded, to become flummoxed.
Perplex is different but similar, often interchangeable with flummox.
Ditto for flabbergast.

If you need more start here or here or this good site.

There is an index of words of the day.

If you are brave or foolish enough to dig into the different types of words in English, try this.


Thursday, 31 August 2023

Word of the day - NIGGARD

The word today is Niggard

Niggard is a noun and DOES mean the following:

- A miserly, greedy person who stints and supplies sparingly.

- A false bottom on a fire grate, to save fuel and yet impress guests.


A niggard is NOT a ni***r
















The word niggard is from the Middle-Ages and long predates nigger.
To be niggardly is to be acting like a niggard.
To be accused of being niggardly is not good, for any race/colour.
If someone is called a niggard they are NOT being called a nigger.
Finally, this is a word nearly extinct for lack of use and racial overtones.

If you need more start here or here.

There is an index of words of the day.

If you are brave or foolish enough to dig into the different types of words in English, try this.

Wednesday, 30 August 2023

Word of the day - CURMUDGEON

The word today is Curmudgeon

Curmudgeon is a noun and means the following:

- An ill-tempered person full of resentment or stubborn ideas.

- An avaricious and miserly person often churlish in behaviour.


You are all humbug













For some reason nearly always associated with men, but women can be.
To be a Curmudgeon is not a flattering (aka skin-flint-misery).

If you need more start here or here.

There is an index of words of the day.

If you are brave or foolish enough to dig into the different types of words in English, try this.

Monday, 28 August 2023

Word of the day - FRIPPERY

The word today is Frippery 

Frippery is a noun and from my research means the following:

- Something showy, trivial and not essential.

- Pretentious and indulgent show of excess or finery.

- Looking impressive but useless.



You exhibit Frippery by weaving things in your hair (Mr Richards).

A feather boa and a fur covered wallet are fripperies.


If you need more start here or here.

There is an index of words of the day.

If you are brave or foolish enough to dig into the different types of words in English, try this.

Saturday, 26 August 2023

Word of the day - FENDERSMITH

The word today is Fendersmith

Fendersmith is a noun (I think) and means the following:

- A designated role in (affluent) families, responsible for domestic fires.

- A Fendersmith sustains domestic fires, fireplaces and accoutrements.



A word identifying a role nearly defunct and slowly drifting into disuse.
Only royalty or extremely rich families now employ Fendersmiths.
To be a Fendersmith is a responsible role heading for extinction.

If you need more start here or here.

There is an index of words of the day.

If you are brave or foolish enough to dig into the different types of words in English, try this.

As a frivolous aside The Doors want you to light my fire.

Friday, 25 August 2023

Word of the day - LICKSPITTLE

The word today is Lickspittle 

Lickspittle is a noun and from my research means the following:

- A person who gives empty flattery for purely personal gain.

- A person deferring to others for self-serving reasons and favour.














To be called a lickspittle is a derogatory reference to your character. 
To be a lickspittle you may also be a toady, sycophant or arse-licker.
Politics is a natural habitat and breeding ground of lickspittles

If you need more start here.

There is an index of words of the day.

If you are brave or foolish enough to dig into the different types of words in English, try this.

Tuesday, 22 August 2023

A MOTHER SO COLD

Though I did not write the following poem I wish I had, for I admire its ability to express an obvious anger without any incitement to violence. Author PAUL ENGLAND is slowly documenting what we take to be his life’s experiences and I believe he deserves a wider audience.




A MOTHER SO COLD

Mother let me tell you
I don't give a fuck;
shit, I felt it too
when fathers place you took.

Am I a child you could not hold
you callous fucking cunt,
you call me cold!
shit, you've got some front.

For father told me this;
how ready you are to scold,
so excuse me all you people
if I am talking bold,
but mother said some shit
that went and touched my heart,
so I'll take her to my rhymes
and rip that bitch apart.

I'm crying while I write
‘cos this shit hurts to say
but I feel I have to write
‘cos the pain won't go away.

You see there is a line
but you crossed that long ago,
that day you got so selfish
and dad walked out the door.

So keep your love
and save it for another,
for what you've done to me:
you just can't be a mother.
PAUL ENGLAND Poet LAURENCEAUX England LAURENCEAU Lawrenceaux LAWRENCEAU Laureanceaux LAURANCEAU Lawranceaux LAWRANCEAU Loranceaux LORANCEAU Lorranceaux LORRANCEAU POETRY Prose POEMS Social Comments HUMOUR Humerous SMILE Smiling LAUGH Laughing LAFF Laffing CYNICAL Truism TRUISMS Welcome HULL Kingston-Upon-Hull Kingston Upon Hull KINGSTON-ON-HULL Kingston On Hull YORKSHIRE East Yorkshire HUMBERSIDE Yorkshire DEPRESSION ThisISUll FED-UP Pissed-Off LONELY Disgruntled DISSOLUSIONED Blue BLACK Thinking BLOG Blogger LYONEL

Monday, 21 August 2023

Word of the day - FEBRILE

The word today is Febrile 

Febrile is an adjective and from my research means the following:

- Feverish or having a high temperature, with irritability or distress.

- Overactive, too excited, or overwrought by emotion or imagination.







A person may be febrile if they are very sick.
A persons may be described as febrile if overly active/assertive.
To describe as person is febrile means they are being "over the top".

If you need more start here or here.

There is an index of words of the day.

If you are brave or foolish enough to dig into the different types of words in English, try this.

Sunday, 20 August 2023

Word of the day - MALLEABLE

The word today is Malleable 

Malleable is an adjective and from my research means the following:

- To be malleable is to be capable of being shaped or reformed.

- To be malleable a person exhibits flexibility or is easily influenced.








A person said to be malleable is being regarded as a soft touch.  

If you need more start here or here.

There is an index of words of the day.

If you are brave or foolish enough to dig into the different types of words in English, try this.