Honey is the only food that does not spoil. There's no need to refrigerate it and it can be stored unopened, indefinitely, at room temperature in a dry cupboard. It was used in many ancient Egyptian medicines and is so well preserved that when some very ancient honey was found in the tombs of Egyptian Pharaohs it was said to be still edible by scientists.
Friday, 30 November 2012
SONG OF THE DAY: 90's
1) Watch the music video
2) Close your eyes and listen to the lyrics
3) Read the song lyrics
4) Read the song lyrics whilst listening to the music video at the same time
2) Close your eyes and listen to the lyrics
3) Read the song lyrics
4) Read the song lyrics whilst listening to the music video at the same time
Ride - Vapour Trail
WORD FOR THE DAY
Your word for today is: merry-andrew, n. and adj.
merry-andrew, n. and adj.
Pronunciation: Brit. /ˌmɛrɪˈandruː/, U.S /ˌmɛriˈændru/
Forms: 16 merry andree, 16– merry-andrew, 17 mery andrew. Occurs with varying word division, and with capitalization of the first or second element or of both.
Etymology: < merry adj. + the male forename Andrew (see Andrew n.).
Associated as a proper name with Bartholomew Fair, as in the following quots., probably from the performances of a particular entertainer whose persona was that of a fool, and who became the subject of at least one ballad (see quot. 1680) and perhaps a puppet show (see quot. 1668):
1668 S. Pepys Diary 29 Aug. (1976) IX. 293, I..took her and Mercer and Deb to Bartholomew-fair, and there did see a ridiculous, obscene little stage-play called ‘Mary Andrey’, a foolish thing but seen by everybody.
1680 (title of ballad) The unfortunate lover: or, Merry Andrew's sad and wofull lamentation for the loss of his sweetheart Joan.
c1680 Descr. Bartholomew-Fair, Arch Merry Andrew will rend out his voice: Though his looks are but simple, & his actions the same,..By playing the fool he does get store of Coyn.
1691 R. Ames Lawyerus Bootatus & Spurratus 4 Let's..step to Fair of Bartlemew..Here Merry-Andrew with his Babble, Diverts the crouds of gaping Rabble.
Claimed by Thomas Hearne (1678–1735) in preface to his edition of Benedictus Abbas (1735) to have been originally applied to Andrew Boorde (c1490–1549), English physician and author. However, there is no supporting evidence for this theory.
A. n.
1.
a. A person who entertains people with antics and buffoonery; a clown; a mountebank's assistant.
1677 W. Sherlock Answer Scandalous Pamphlet 69 As ridiculous..as it would be very gravely to confute Tom Thumb, or merry Andree, of a Town Lampoon.
1684 Dryden Epil. Univ. Oxf. in Misc. Poems 266 Th' Italian Merry-Andrews took their place, And quite Debauch'd the Stage with lewd Grimace.
1697 Dryden Ded. Æneis in tr. Virgil Wks. sig. d1v, This is like merry Andrew on the low Rope, copying lubberly the same Tricks, which his Master is so dextrously performing on the high.
1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones IV. xii. viii. 248 He found the Master of the Puppet-show belabouring the Back and Ribs of his poor Merry-Andrew.
1768 J. Cremer Jrnl. 19 July in R. R. Bellamy Ramblin' Jack (1936) 167 To Zant Town like Mery Andrews on a Stage.
a1818 M. G. Lewis Jrnl. W. India Proprietor (1834) 51 The John-Canoe is a Merry-Andrew..bearing upon his head a kind of pasteboard house-boat.
1851 G. Borrow Lavengro (1893) lii. 202 Listening to the jokes of the merry-andrews from the platforms in front of the temporary theatres.
1881 Cent. Mag. Nov. 32/1 Nothing could be more strange than to see maskers, with the heads of camels, of apes, of devils, and merry-Andrews, kneeling thus before the passing sacrament.
1940 R. Gibbings Sweet Thames run Softly xiv. 113 They behaved with all the effrontery of merry andrews at a carnival.
1991 L. Norfolk Lemprière's Dict. (1992) 573 Mountebanks and their merry-Andrews, gambling-house captains and combination-boys ply their trades as the mob floods west through Fetter Lane and Lincoln's Inn Fields.
b. In extended use: a fool, an idiot; a joker.
1694 A. Wood Life & Times (1894) III. 458 (note) To make your self the merry andrew of the company [you] did venter upon a person freely to expose him to scorne.
1772 tr. J. F. de Isla Hist. Friar Gerund I. 488 Those who are not sought out as the Merry-Andrews of the pulpit.
1827 T. Carlyle J. P. F. Richter's Leben in Edinb. Rev. June 187 Richter is a man of mirth, but he seldom or never condescends to be a merry-andrew.
1910 ‘H. H. Richardson’ Getting of Wisdom vii. 70 She grew cautious, and hesitated discreetly before returning one of those ingenuous answers, which, in the beginning, had made her the merry-andrew of the class.
1990 Twenty Twenty July 59/2 Nineteen forty-seven found him partying with the deported Lucky Luciano in Cuba, in company with merry-andrews like hit-man Albert Anastasia.
†2. In pl. Low-quality playing cards. Also Merry Andrew playing cards. Obs.
1759 Pennsylvania Gaz. 4 Jan. 3/1 Lately imported from London.., common 4d cadus, merry Andrew playing cards, broad and narrow incle and filletting tapes, [etc.].
1866 in Stationer & Fancy Trades Register 1 Sept. in Trans. Philol. Soc. (1867) 63 The different qualities of cards are distinguished as Moguls, Harrys, Highlanders, and Merry Andrews.
1867 D. P. Fry Playing-card Terms in Trans. Philol. Soc. 55 Andrews, Merry Andrews, playing-cards of the fourth or lowest class or quality.
B. adj.
(attrib.).
That is or resembles a merry-andrew; characteristic of a merry-andrew; foolish.
1678 A. Behn Sir Patient Fancy v. i. 90, I am made a John A-Nokes of, Jack-hold-my-staff, a Merry Andrew Doctor to give Leander time to marry your Daughter.
1689 Answer to Two Papers 25 So..Reverend a Prelate..whom he stiles, in a sort of a Merry-Andrew-Vein, Church of England Apostle and Captain of her Life-Guard.
1798 D. Rivers Lit. Mem. Living Authors I. 119 The jokes and merriment of this merry-andrew philosopher.
1816 Sporting Mag. 47 177 Scroggins made some merry-andrew tricks to save his wind.
1825 T. Hook Sayings & Doings 2nd Ser. I. 196 The merry-andrew dresses of the younger branches of the family not very distinctly marking the difference of their sexes.
1847 A. Smith Christopher Tadpole (1848) xlix. 422 A poor fellow who went about the country in the merry-Andrew line.
1909 Daily Chron. 25 Sept. 7/4, I confess that affair with the merry-andrew chap upset me a bit.
Derivatives
merry-ˈandrewism n. rare buffoonery, clownishness.
1836 Fraser's Mag. 13 37 Nothing is more distasteful..than the undiscriminating Merryandrewism of an ingrained vulgarian.
merry-ˈandrewize v. rare (intr.) = merryandrew v.
1861 T. L. Peacock Gryll Grange viii, Arch-quacks have taken to merry-andrewizing in a new arena.
†merry-Andrew-like adv. Obs. rare
1787 J. Wolcot Lousiad ii, in Wks. I. 238 Turn it [sc. thy wig] inside out, And wear it, Merry-Andrew like, about.
merry-andrew, n. and adj.
Pronunciation: Brit. /ˌmɛrɪˈandruː/, U.S /ˌmɛriˈændru/
Forms: 16 merry andree, 16– merry-andrew, 17 mery andrew. Occurs with varying word division, and with capitalization of the first or second element or of both.
Etymology: < merry adj. + the male forename Andrew (see Andrew n.).
Associated as a proper name with Bartholomew Fair, as in the following quots., probably from the performances of a particular entertainer whose persona was that of a fool, and who became the subject of at least one ballad (see quot. 1680) and perhaps a puppet show (see quot. 1668):
1668 S. Pepys Diary 29 Aug. (1976) IX. 293, I..took her and Mercer and Deb to Bartholomew-fair, and there did see a ridiculous, obscene little stage-play called ‘Mary Andrey’, a foolish thing but seen by everybody.
1680 (title of ballad) The unfortunate lover: or, Merry Andrew's sad and wofull lamentation for the loss of his sweetheart Joan.
c1680 Descr. Bartholomew-Fair, Arch Merry Andrew will rend out his voice: Though his looks are but simple, & his actions the same,..By playing the fool he does get store of Coyn.
1691 R. Ames Lawyerus Bootatus & Spurratus 4 Let's..step to Fair of Bartlemew..Here Merry-Andrew with his Babble, Diverts the crouds of gaping Rabble.
Claimed by Thomas Hearne (1678–1735) in preface to his edition of Benedictus Abbas (1735) to have been originally applied to Andrew Boorde (c1490–1549), English physician and author. However, there is no supporting evidence for this theory.
A. n.
1.
a. A person who entertains people with antics and buffoonery; a clown; a mountebank's assistant.
1677 W. Sherlock Answer Scandalous Pamphlet 69 As ridiculous..as it would be very gravely to confute Tom Thumb, or merry Andree, of a Town Lampoon.
1684 Dryden Epil. Univ. Oxf. in Misc. Poems 266 Th' Italian Merry-Andrews took their place, And quite Debauch'd the Stage with lewd Grimace.
1697 Dryden Ded. Æneis in tr. Virgil Wks. sig. d1v, This is like merry Andrew on the low Rope, copying lubberly the same Tricks, which his Master is so dextrously performing on the high.
1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones IV. xii. viii. 248 He found the Master of the Puppet-show belabouring the Back and Ribs of his poor Merry-Andrew.
1768 J. Cremer Jrnl. 19 July in R. R. Bellamy Ramblin' Jack (1936) 167 To Zant Town like Mery Andrews on a Stage.
a1818 M. G. Lewis Jrnl. W. India Proprietor (1834) 51 The John-Canoe is a Merry-Andrew..bearing upon his head a kind of pasteboard house-boat.
1851 G. Borrow Lavengro (1893) lii. 202 Listening to the jokes of the merry-andrews from the platforms in front of the temporary theatres.
1881 Cent. Mag. Nov. 32/1 Nothing could be more strange than to see maskers, with the heads of camels, of apes, of devils, and merry-Andrews, kneeling thus before the passing sacrament.
1940 R. Gibbings Sweet Thames run Softly xiv. 113 They behaved with all the effrontery of merry andrews at a carnival.
1991 L. Norfolk Lemprière's Dict. (1992) 573 Mountebanks and their merry-Andrews, gambling-house captains and combination-boys ply their trades as the mob floods west through Fetter Lane and Lincoln's Inn Fields.
b. In extended use: a fool, an idiot; a joker.
1694 A. Wood Life & Times (1894) III. 458 (note) To make your self the merry andrew of the company [you] did venter upon a person freely to expose him to scorne.
1772 tr. J. F. de Isla Hist. Friar Gerund I. 488 Those who are not sought out as the Merry-Andrews of the pulpit.
1827 T. Carlyle J. P. F. Richter's Leben in Edinb. Rev. June 187 Richter is a man of mirth, but he seldom or never condescends to be a merry-andrew.
1910 ‘H. H. Richardson’ Getting of Wisdom vii. 70 She grew cautious, and hesitated discreetly before returning one of those ingenuous answers, which, in the beginning, had made her the merry-andrew of the class.
1990 Twenty Twenty July 59/2 Nineteen forty-seven found him partying with the deported Lucky Luciano in Cuba, in company with merry-andrews like hit-man Albert Anastasia.
†2. In pl. Low-quality playing cards. Also Merry Andrew playing cards. Obs.
1759 Pennsylvania Gaz. 4 Jan. 3/1 Lately imported from London.., common 4d cadus, merry Andrew playing cards, broad and narrow incle and filletting tapes, [etc.].
1866 in Stationer & Fancy Trades Register 1 Sept. in Trans. Philol. Soc. (1867) 63 The different qualities of cards are distinguished as Moguls, Harrys, Highlanders, and Merry Andrews.
1867 D. P. Fry Playing-card Terms in Trans. Philol. Soc. 55 Andrews, Merry Andrews, playing-cards of the fourth or lowest class or quality.
B. adj.
(attrib.).
That is or resembles a merry-andrew; characteristic of a merry-andrew; foolish.
1678 A. Behn Sir Patient Fancy v. i. 90, I am made a John A-Nokes of, Jack-hold-my-staff, a Merry Andrew Doctor to give Leander time to marry your Daughter.
1689 Answer to Two Papers 25 So..Reverend a Prelate..whom he stiles, in a sort of a Merry-Andrew-Vein, Church of England Apostle and Captain of her Life-Guard.
1798 D. Rivers Lit. Mem. Living Authors I. 119 The jokes and merriment of this merry-andrew philosopher.
1816 Sporting Mag. 47 177 Scroggins made some merry-andrew tricks to save his wind.
1825 T. Hook Sayings & Doings 2nd Ser. I. 196 The merry-andrew dresses of the younger branches of the family not very distinctly marking the difference of their sexes.
1847 A. Smith Christopher Tadpole (1848) xlix. 422 A poor fellow who went about the country in the merry-Andrew line.
1909 Daily Chron. 25 Sept. 7/4, I confess that affair with the merry-andrew chap upset me a bit.
Derivatives
merry-ˈandrewism n. rare buffoonery, clownishness.
1836 Fraser's Mag. 13 37 Nothing is more distasteful..than the undiscriminating Merryandrewism of an ingrained vulgarian.
merry-ˈandrewize v. rare (intr.) = merryandrew v.
1861 T. L. Peacock Gryll Grange viii, Arch-quacks have taken to merry-andrewizing in a new arena.
†merry-Andrew-like adv. Obs. rare
1787 J. Wolcot Lousiad ii, in Wks. I. 238 Turn it [sc. thy wig] inside out, And wear it, Merry-Andrew like, about.
Thursday, 29 November 2012
BRITISH ETIQUETTE: PAYRISES
As a general rule, there are very few workers who believe that they are over-paid. Asking for a pay rise is a tricky issue that requires tact and thought.
THINKING THURSDAY
“The construction of Europe is an art. It is the art of the possible.”
Jacques Chirac
Jacques Chirac
SONG OF THE DAY: 80's
1) Watch the music video
2) Close your eyes and listen to the lyrics
3) Read the song lyrics
4) Read the song lyrics whilst listening to the music video at the same time
James - All Sit Down
I'll sing myself to sleep
A song from the darkest hour
Secrets I can't keep
Inside of the day
Swing from high to deep
Extremes of sweet and sour
Hope that God exists
I hope I pray
Drawn by the undertow
My life is out of control
I believe this wave will bear my weight
So let it flow
Oh sit down
Sit down next to me
Sit down, down, down, down, down
In sympathy
Now I'm relieved to hear
That you've been to some far out places
It's hard to carry on
When you feel all alone
Now I've swung back down again
It's worse than it was before
If I hadn't seen such riches
I could live with being poor
Oh sit down
Sit down next to me
Sit down, down, down, down, down
In sympathy
Those who feel the breath of sadness
Sit down next to me
Those who find they're touched by madness
Sit down next to me
Those who find themselves ridiculous
Sit down next to me
Love, in fear, in hate, in tears
Down
Down
Oh sit down
Sit down next to me
Sit down, down, down, down, down
In sympathy
Oh sit down
Sit down next to me
Sit down, down, down, down, down
In sympathy
Down
2) Close your eyes and listen to the lyrics
3) Read the song lyrics
4) Read the song lyrics whilst listening to the music video at the same time
I'll sing myself to sleep
A song from the darkest hour
Secrets I can't keep
Inside of the day
Swing from high to deep
Extremes of sweet and sour
Hope that God exists
I hope I pray
Drawn by the undertow
My life is out of control
I believe this wave will bear my weight
So let it flow
Oh sit down
Sit down next to me
Sit down, down, down, down, down
In sympathy
Now I'm relieved to hear
That you've been to some far out places
It's hard to carry on
When you feel all alone
Now I've swung back down again
It's worse than it was before
If I hadn't seen such riches
I could live with being poor
Oh sit down
Sit down next to me
Sit down, down, down, down, down
In sympathy
Those who feel the breath of sadness
Sit down next to me
Those who find they're touched by madness
Sit down next to me
Those who find themselves ridiculous
Sit down next to me
Love, in fear, in hate, in tears
Down
Down
Oh sit down
Sit down next to me
Sit down, down, down, down, down
In sympathy
Oh sit down
Sit down next to me
Sit down, down, down, down, down
In sympathy
Down
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
"There are those that do and there are those that talk about what they know how to do."
WORD FOR THE DAY
Your word for today is: geotag, n.
geotag, n.
Pronunciation: Brit. /ˈdʒiːə(ʊ)taɡ/, U.S. /ˈdʒioʊˌtæɡ/
Etymology: < geo- comb. form + tag n.1 Compare geotag v., geotagged adj.
An item of metadata which assigns a geographical location to a digital photograph or other item of digital content.
1996 Business Wire (Nexis) 29 July, Vicinity will provide a free ‘GeoTag Server’ that allows anyone to add a GeoTag to an entity on the WWW.
2003 Economist (Electronic ed.) 15 Mar. 19 The ideal solution would be to embed a ‘geotag’ or ‘geocode’ in pages containing geographical content, to make geographical queries possible.
2006 Pop. Sci. Sept. 85/1 You can go back and add geotags to existing shots using Flickr, Google Earth and a tool called Flickrmap.
2011 K Jennings Maphead xi. 225 Geotags may sound like a small change—just a latitude and a longitude on a Facebook status, big deal!—but they have the potential to revolutionize the web.
geotag, n.
Pronunciation: Brit. /ˈdʒiːə(ʊ)taɡ/, U.S. /ˈdʒioʊˌtæɡ/
Etymology: < geo- comb. form + tag n.1 Compare geotag v., geotagged adj.
An item of metadata which assigns a geographical location to a digital photograph or other item of digital content.
1996 Business Wire (Nexis) 29 July, Vicinity will provide a free ‘GeoTag Server’ that allows anyone to add a GeoTag to an entity on the WWW.
2003 Economist (Electronic ed.) 15 Mar. 19 The ideal solution would be to embed a ‘geotag’ or ‘geocode’ in pages containing geographical content, to make geographical queries possible.
2006 Pop. Sci. Sept. 85/1 You can go back and add geotags to existing shots using Flickr, Google Earth and a tool called Flickrmap.
2011 K Jennings Maphead xi. 225 Geotags may sound like a small change—just a latitude and a longitude on a Facebook status, big deal!—but they have the potential to revolutionize the web.
Wednesday, 28 November 2012
BRITISH ETIQUETTE: DRESS
Being smart is strategic and professionalism loses impact without professional-looking clothing to match...
Make sure your dress fits in. If everyone else comes to work in jeans, then don't insist on wearing a suit.
If the office policy is to wear suits, then you must do so.
Check what colleagues wear and take the lead from everyone else to see if ties are de rigeur.
Think about the day ahead: meetings with clients may require some more thought than a quiet Friday.
Inappropriate dressing is very counterproductive. Girls who wear very short skirts, sheer fabrics or low-cut or cropped tops may find that their professionalism is called into question and they may not be taken seriously in the workplace.
If in doubt about the propriety of a certain garment, then remember that if you have to think about it, then it's probably not appropriate.
Policy can vary from company to company, but wherever you work, be assured that dress-down policy does not mean that 'anything goes'.
'Smart casual' is an often-used expression. This usually means smart denim; no sportswear; nothing that might be construed as beachwear, such as shorts.
If you feel more comfortable wearing a suit, then you could do so. But remember that refusing to join in and conform to a dress-down policy may be construed negatively by an employer or by fellow colleagues.
SONG OF THE DAY: 70's
1) Watch the music video
2) Close your eyes and listen to the lyrics
3) Read the song lyrics
4) Read the song lyrics whilst listening to the music video at the same time
Chic - Le Freak
Ah, freak out!
Le freak, c'est chic
Freak out!
Ah, freak out!
Le freak, c'est chic
Freak out!
Ah, freak out!
Le freak, c'est chic
Freak out!
Ah, freak out!
Le freak, c'est chic
Freak out!
Have you heard about the new dance craze?
Listen to us, I'm sure you'll be amazed
Big fun to be had by everyone
It's up to you, it surely can be done
Young and old are doing it, I'm told
Just one try and you too will be sold
It's called 'Le Freak', they're doing it night and day
Allow us, we'll show you the way
Ah, freak out!
Le freak, c'est chic
Freak out!
Ah, freak out!
Le freak, c'est chic
Freak out!
Ah, freak out!
Le freak, c'est chic
Freak out!
Ah, freak out!
Le freak, c'est chic
Freak out!
All that pressure got you down
Has your head been spinning all around?
Feel the rhythm, check the rhyme
Come on along and have a real good time
Like the days of Stomping at the Savoy
Now we "freak," oh, what a joy
Just come on down to the 54
Find your spot out on the floor
Ah, freak out!
Le freak, c'est chic
Freak out!
Ah, freak out!
Le freak, c'est chic
Freak out!
Ah, freak out!
Le freak, c'est chic
Freak out!
Ah, freak out!
Le freak, c'est chic
Freak out!
Now freak
I said freak
Now freak
All that pressure got you down
Has your head been spinning all around?
Feel the rhythm, check the rhyme
Come on along and have a real good time
Like the days of Stomping at the Savoy
Now we "freak," oh, what a joy
Just come on down to the 54
Find your spot out on the floor
Ah, freak out!
Le freak, c'est chic
Freak out!
Ah, freak out!
Le freak, c'est chic
Freak out!
Ah, freak out!
Le freak, c'est chic
Freak out!
Ah, freak out!
Le freak, c'est chic
Freak out!
Ah, freak out!
Le freak, c'est chic
Freak out!
Ah, freak out!
Le freak, c'est chic
Freak out!
...
2) Close your eyes and listen to the lyrics
3) Read the song lyrics
4) Read the song lyrics whilst listening to the music video at the same time
Chic - Le Freak
Ah, freak out!
Le freak, c'est chic
Freak out!
Ah, freak out!
Le freak, c'est chic
Freak out!
Ah, freak out!
Le freak, c'est chic
Freak out!
Ah, freak out!
Le freak, c'est chic
Freak out!
Have you heard about the new dance craze?
Listen to us, I'm sure you'll be amazed
Big fun to be had by everyone
It's up to you, it surely can be done
Young and old are doing it, I'm told
Just one try and you too will be sold
It's called 'Le Freak', they're doing it night and day
Allow us, we'll show you the way
Ah, freak out!
Le freak, c'est chic
Freak out!
Ah, freak out!
Le freak, c'est chic
Freak out!
Ah, freak out!
Le freak, c'est chic
Freak out!
Ah, freak out!
Le freak, c'est chic
Freak out!
All that pressure got you down
Has your head been spinning all around?
Feel the rhythm, check the rhyme
Come on along and have a real good time
Like the days of Stomping at the Savoy
Now we "freak," oh, what a joy
Just come on down to the 54
Find your spot out on the floor
Ah, freak out!
Le freak, c'est chic
Freak out!
Ah, freak out!
Le freak, c'est chic
Freak out!
Ah, freak out!
Le freak, c'est chic
Freak out!
Ah, freak out!
Le freak, c'est chic
Freak out!
Now freak
I said freak
Now freak
All that pressure got you down
Has your head been spinning all around?
Feel the rhythm, check the rhyme
Come on along and have a real good time
Like the days of Stomping at the Savoy
Now we "freak," oh, what a joy
Just come on down to the 54
Find your spot out on the floor
Ah, freak out!
Le freak, c'est chic
Freak out!
Ah, freak out!
Le freak, c'est chic
Freak out!
Ah, freak out!
Le freak, c'est chic
Freak out!
Ah, freak out!
Le freak, c'est chic
Freak out!
Ah, freak out!
Le freak, c'est chic
Freak out!
Ah, freak out!
Le freak, c'est chic
Freak out!
...
WISE WEDNESDAY GRAMMAR: CLASSIFICATION ACCORDING TO NUMBER OF STATEMENTS (CONTRACTED SENTENCES)
Part 2.
ANALYSIS OF SENTENCES.
CLASSIFICATION ACCORDING TO NUMBER OF STATEMENTS.
CONTRACTED SENTENCES.
365. Some sentences look like simple ones in form, but have an essential part omitted that is so readily supplied by the mind as not to need expressing. Such are the following:-
"There is no country more worthy of our study than England [is worthy of our study]."366. As shown in Part I. (Sec. 333). the expressions of manner introduced by like, though often treated as phrases, are really contracted clauses; but, if they were expanded, as would be the connective instead of like; thus,-
"The distinctions between them do not seem to be so marked as [they are marked] in the cities."
To show that these words are really omitted, compare with them the two following:-
"The nobility and gentry are more popular among the inferior orders than they are in any other country."
"This is not so universally the case at present as it was formerly."
"They'll shine o'er her sleep, like [as] a smile from the west [would shine].
From her own loved island of sorrow."
This must, however, be carefully discriminated from cases where like is an adjective complement; as,- "She is like some tender tree, the pride and beauty of the grove;" "The ruby seemed like a spark of fire burning upon her white bosom."
Such contracted sentences form a connecting link between our study of simple and complex sentences.
Reference
An English Grammar 1896 by W. M. Baskervill & J. W. Sewell
WORD FOR THE DAY
Your word for today is: revenant, n. and adj.2
revenant, n. and adj.2
Pronunciation: Brit. /ˈrɛvᵻnənt/, /rəvəˈnɑ̃/, U.S. /ˈrɛvənənt/, /ˌrɛvəˈnɑnt/
Etymology: < French revenant person who returns after a long absence (1690), spirit returned from the dead (1718; compare esprit revenant (1690)), spec. uses as noun of present participle of revenir to return (see revenue n.).
N.E.D. (1908) gives the non-naturalized pronunciation (rəvənaṅ) /rəvənɑ̃/.
Borrowing of the corresponding French feminine form revenante is also sometimes found, e.g.:
1827 T. J. Dibdin Reminisc. I. vi. 110 She will however frequently make her appearance in this narrative, not as a revenante, but prior to the period of her final departure.
1950 R. Macaulay World my Wilderness xxxii. 234 Did it stab and stir his senses, did he desire her still, the intruder, the revenante, returned to trouble him?
A. n.
1. A person who returns from the dead; a reanimated corpse; a ghost. Also fig.
1823 Q. Rev. July 460 The apparition of a dead man is termed a Gienganger, that is to say, a revenant, one who ‘gangs again’
1828 Scott Fair Maid of Perth i, in Chron. Canongate 2nd Ser. III. 20 Nor of taking the fatal leap, had my revenant the slightest recollection.
1871 J. R. Lowell My Study Windows 105 The opposition to which he belonged [was] a helpless revenant from the dead and buried Colonial past.
1880 J. H. Shorthouse John Inglesant II. xiii. 274 The yellow glamour of the sunset..clothed in transparent radiance this shadowy revenant from the tomb.
1910 J. C. Lawson Mod. Greek Folklore & Anc. Greek Relig. 407 If the devil in possession of the corpse chose to agitate it and drive it out of the grave, the dead demoniac was at once a revenant.
1958 Times 24 Nov 12/2 Leonard Salzedo has written the concerto for this revenant among solo instruments.
2004 Believer Oct. 69/1 Vampires..seem to be few and far between. They are such specialized revenants when compared to ghosts.
2. A person who returns to a place.
1867 Q. Rev. Oct. 348 All through the day I saw revenants from the army pour in.
1886 E Lynn Linton Paston Carew viii, They would not visit this undesirable revenant with his insolent wealth and discreditable origin.
1895 Daily News 31 Aug. 4/7 The undergraduates, our fogey revenant observes, look much as they did.., in outward aspect.
1925 London Mag. Oct. 453/1 The old man's memory..was fickle... Sometimes the square seemed strange to this revenant, and sometimes it was so familiar as to cause a tightening of the throat.
1992 F. Kaplan Henry James iv. 108 He felt like a latecomer, a revenant to scenes already fully described by former travelers.
B. adj.2
That has returned from, or as if from, the dead; resembling or reminiscent of a ghost.
1897 M. N. Murfree Juggler v. 122 Glimpses of the moon might shadow forth spirits revenant, but for him memory only must serve.
1909 R. Brooke Let. 16 Apr. (1968) 166 It looks a little like Second Childhood, doesn't it? I think it is merely the first, revenant.
1972 Daily Tel. 12 May (Colour Suppl.) 61/1 In Eastern Europe..thousands of villagers still believe in the malignity of the revenant dead.
2005 Times Lit. Suppl. 18 Mar. 29/1 The Rt Revd Harries's attention is..on the emotional force of particular images of the suffering or revenant Christ.
revenant, n. and adj.2
Pronunciation: Brit. /ˈrɛvᵻnənt/, /rəvəˈnɑ̃/, U.S. /ˈrɛvənənt/, /ˌrɛvəˈnɑnt/
Etymology: < French revenant person who returns after a long absence (1690), spirit returned from the dead (1718; compare esprit revenant (1690)), spec. uses as noun of present participle of revenir to return (see revenue n.).
N.E.D. (1908) gives the non-naturalized pronunciation (rəvənaṅ) /rəvənɑ̃/.
Borrowing of the corresponding French feminine form revenante is also sometimes found, e.g.:
1827 T. J. Dibdin Reminisc. I. vi. 110 She will however frequently make her appearance in this narrative, not as a revenante, but prior to the period of her final departure.
1950 R. Macaulay World my Wilderness xxxii. 234 Did it stab and stir his senses, did he desire her still, the intruder, the revenante, returned to trouble him?
A. n.
1. A person who returns from the dead; a reanimated corpse; a ghost. Also fig.
1823 Q. Rev. July 460 The apparition of a dead man is termed a Gienganger, that is to say, a revenant, one who ‘gangs again’
1828 Scott Fair Maid of Perth i, in Chron. Canongate 2nd Ser. III. 20 Nor of taking the fatal leap, had my revenant the slightest recollection.
1871 J. R. Lowell My Study Windows 105 The opposition to which he belonged [was] a helpless revenant from the dead and buried Colonial past.
1880 J. H. Shorthouse John Inglesant II. xiii. 274 The yellow glamour of the sunset..clothed in transparent radiance this shadowy revenant from the tomb.
1910 J. C. Lawson Mod. Greek Folklore & Anc. Greek Relig. 407 If the devil in possession of the corpse chose to agitate it and drive it out of the grave, the dead demoniac was at once a revenant.
1958 Times 24 Nov 12/2 Leonard Salzedo has written the concerto for this revenant among solo instruments.
2004 Believer Oct. 69/1 Vampires..seem to be few and far between. They are such specialized revenants when compared to ghosts.
2. A person who returns to a place.
1867 Q. Rev. Oct. 348 All through the day I saw revenants from the army pour in.
1886 E Lynn Linton Paston Carew viii, They would not visit this undesirable revenant with his insolent wealth and discreditable origin.
1895 Daily News 31 Aug. 4/7 The undergraduates, our fogey revenant observes, look much as they did.., in outward aspect.
1925 London Mag. Oct. 453/1 The old man's memory..was fickle... Sometimes the square seemed strange to this revenant, and sometimes it was so familiar as to cause a tightening of the throat.
1992 F. Kaplan Henry James iv. 108 He felt like a latecomer, a revenant to scenes already fully described by former travelers.
B. adj.2
That has returned from, or as if from, the dead; resembling or reminiscent of a ghost.
1897 M. N. Murfree Juggler v. 122 Glimpses of the moon might shadow forth spirits revenant, but for him memory only must serve.
1909 R. Brooke Let. 16 Apr. (1968) 166 It looks a little like Second Childhood, doesn't it? I think it is merely the first, revenant.
1972 Daily Tel. 12 May (Colour Suppl.) 61/1 In Eastern Europe..thousands of villagers still believe in the malignity of the revenant dead.
2005 Times Lit. Suppl. 18 Mar. 29/1 The Rt Revd Harries's attention is..on the emotional force of particular images of the suffering or revenant Christ.
Tuesday, 27 November 2012
BRITISH ETIQUETTE: JOB INTERVIEWS
Notorious for striking fear into the hearts of even the most self-confident, interviews are a genuine opportunity for candidate and prospective employer to weigh each other up.
BOOK REVIEW: CHANGE BY DESIGN
START DESIGNING YOUR LIFE
Throughout Change by Design, the author tries to show that the designer’s skills can be applied to a wide range of problems—and also that these skills are accessible to a far greater range of people than may be commonly supposed. These two threads come together when we apply them to one of the most challenging problems of them all: designing a life. There is a big difference, though, between planning a life, drifting through life, and designing a life.
We all know of people who go through life with every step preplanned. They knew which university they would attend, which internship would lead to a successful career, and at what age they will retire. Unfortunately, this never works out as planned. And anyway, if you know the winner before the start, where’s the fun in the game?
Like any good design team, we can have a sense of purpose without deluding ourselves that we can predict every outcome in advance, for this is the space of creativity. We can blur the distinction between the final product and the creative process that got us there. We can learn how to take joy in the things we create. We can work within the constraints of our own natures—and still be agile, build capabilities, iterate. We can conduct experiments, make discoveries, change our perspectives.
Think of today as a prototype. What would you change?
SONG OF THE DAY: 60's
1) Watch the music video
2) Close your eyes and listen to the lyrics
3) Read the song lyrics
4) Read the song lyrics whilst listening to the music video at the same time.
Etta James - I'd rather go blind
Something told me it was over
When I saw you and her talkin'
Something deep down in my soul said, 'Cry, girl'
When I saw you and that girl walkin' around
Whoo, I would rather, I would rather go blind, boy
Then to see you walk away from me, child, no
Whoo, so you see, I love you so much
That I don't wanna watch you leave me, baby
Most of all, I just don't, I just don't wanna be free, no
Whoo, whoo, I was just, I was just, I was just
Sittin here thinkin', of your kiss and your warm embrace, yeah
When the reflection in the glass that I held to my lips now, baby
Revealed the tears that was on my face, yeah
Whoo and baby, baby, I'd rather, I'd rather be blind, boy
Then to see you walk away, see you walk away from me, yeah
Whoo, baby, baby, baby, I'd rather be blind...
2) Close your eyes and listen to the lyrics
3) Read the song lyrics
4) Read the song lyrics whilst listening to the music video at the same time.
Etta James - I'd rather go blind
Something told me it was over
When I saw you and her talkin'
Something deep down in my soul said, 'Cry, girl'
When I saw you and that girl walkin' around
Whoo, I would rather, I would rather go blind, boy
Then to see you walk away from me, child, no
Whoo, so you see, I love you so much
That I don't wanna watch you leave me, baby
Most of all, I just don't, I just don't wanna be free, no
Whoo, whoo, I was just, I was just, I was just
Sittin here thinkin', of your kiss and your warm embrace, yeah
When the reflection in the glass that I held to my lips now, baby
Revealed the tears that was on my face, yeah
Whoo and baby, baby, I'd rather, I'd rather be blind, boy
Then to see you walk away, see you walk away from me, yeah
Whoo, baby, baby, baby, I'd rather be blind...
THE TUESDAY BUSINESS CORNER :
Many of us have to prove that our way’s best.
This could be a salesperson convincing a customer to buy from them; an interviewee persuading an employer to choose them; a team influencing the Board to invest in their initiative instead of the alternatives.
And it can be tempting to ‘prove’ your worth by discussing the intricate details of how you will do the job.
But this just proves what you’ll do, not that it’ll work. It’s like someone saying “here’s my 5-step process for getting a date on a Friday night” and then going into lots of detail about each one. But when you ask “does it always work?” they reply “no, never”.
So, to prove your approach works, use one/more of:
Case studies: tell a story of when you’ve done something similar before. Start your description with the results you caused, not the work you did, since that’s the thing they’re most interested in
Testimonials/references: obtain written/verbal endorsements from credible people you’ve delivered similar results for. Again, start with the results and work backwards
Talk about something that shows you have new insights to help them deliver exceptional results (a good test: you want the other person to think “well I had never thought it about that”)
List all the initiatives/companies/customers you’ve delivered similar results with
Give the total results you’ve caused i.e. add them all up
Once they know that you deliver results, you’ve earned the right to discuss your process. After all, if someone said “I can help you find love on a Friday night. My approach has a 100% track record; and here are three case studies, two testimonials and a reference”, your response will be “Sounds great. How do you do that?”
Action Point
Identify when you next have to prove your way is best. Then choose one/some of the above to show you will definitely deliver results (this is very different to explaining the steps you’ll be taking).
Know people who'd benefit from reading this Tip? Please forward it on, and introduce them to our Blog :)
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
"Customers don't expect us to be perfect but they do expect us to put things right when they go wrong ............ immediately."
WORD FOR THE DAY
Your word for today is: ramentum, n.
ramentum, n.
Pronunciation: Brit. /rəˈmɛntəm/, U.S. /rəˈmɛn(t)əm/
Inflections: Plural ramenta.
Etymology: < classical Latin rāmentum fragment scraped off, shaving < rādere to scrape (see raze v.) + -mentum -ment suffix.
†1. A fragment scraped off, a shaving. Formerly also: a tiny particle, an atom. Chiefly in pl. Obs.
1658 J. Ray Jrnl. 20 Aug. in Remains (1846) 124 Common or rain water falling upon a stone doth continually carry away some insensible ramenta or atoms of it.
1678 R. Cudworth tr. Aristotle in True Intellect. Syst. Universe i. iii. 115 Those Ramenta that appear in the Air when the Sun-beams are transmitted through Cranies.
1700 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 22 897 Her urine during the paroxysm tinged with blood, and in it bloody ramenta.
1740 G. Cheyne Ess. Regimen 5 Earth..being probably the Ramenta or abrasions of the other elements.
1776 tr. G. van Swieten Comm. Boerhaave's Aphorisms (new ed.) VI. 314 These are the..ramenta, or shavings, as they are called by Hippocrates.
1834 S. Cooper Good's Study Med. (ed. 4) I. 73 Sir Gilbert Blane.considers the salivary glands as one of the outlets for the ramenta of the bones.
1845 A. Clissold tr. E. Swedenborg Principia I. ii. ix. 334 Obtain the iron: which like the ramenta of all iron will approximate and elevate itself toward the magnet.
2. Bot. A thin, brownish, membranous epidermal appendage on a stem or leaf, esp. of a fern; a scale.
1793 T. Martyn Lang. Bot. sig. Q2, Ramentum,..applied by Linneus to the small loose scales that are frequently found on the stems of vegetables.
1809 J. E. Smith Introd. Physiol. & Systematical Bot. (ed. 2) 227 Some Begoniæ bear on their leaves flat little straps called by authors ramenta, shavings, instead of cylindrical hairs.
1832 J. Lindley Introd. Bot. 41 Ramenta..are particularly numerous..upon the petioles and the backs of the leaves of Ferns.
1872 H. A. Nicholson Man. Palæontol. 480 Rhizomata..covered with hairs or ramenta.
1909 G. Klebs in A. C. Seward Darwin & Mod. Sci. 209 The scaly hairs, or ramenta, which clothe every part of the plant, are also like those of Ferns.
1919 Sci. Monthly July 25 The area between the leaf-scars is covered with two kinds of structures: the ramentum and the roots. The former, characteristic of most ferns, consists of brown chaff-like scales.
1943 Bot. Gaz. 105 208/1 Primordia of all leaves originate as small moundlike outgrowths among occasional young ramenta on the conical stem tip.
2002 Plant Physiol. & Biochem. 40 90/1 Apparent phenotypic differences, leaf color, size, lateral lines..and stem ramenta were recognizable.
ramentum, n.
Pronunciation: Brit. /rəˈmɛntəm/, U.S. /rəˈmɛn(t)əm/
Inflections: Plural ramenta.
Etymology: < classical Latin rāmentum fragment scraped off, shaving < rādere to scrape (see raze v.) + -mentum -ment suffix.
†1. A fragment scraped off, a shaving. Formerly also: a tiny particle, an atom. Chiefly in pl. Obs.
1658 J. Ray Jrnl. 20 Aug. in Remains (1846) 124 Common or rain water falling upon a stone doth continually carry away some insensible ramenta or atoms of it.
1678 R. Cudworth tr. Aristotle in True Intellect. Syst. Universe i. iii. 115 Those Ramenta that appear in the Air when the Sun-beams are transmitted through Cranies.
1700 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 22 897 Her urine during the paroxysm tinged with blood, and in it bloody ramenta.
1740 G. Cheyne Ess. Regimen 5 Earth..being probably the Ramenta or abrasions of the other elements.
1776 tr. G. van Swieten Comm. Boerhaave's Aphorisms (new ed.) VI. 314 These are the..ramenta, or shavings, as they are called by Hippocrates.
1834 S. Cooper Good's Study Med. (ed. 4) I. 73 Sir Gilbert Blane.considers the salivary glands as one of the outlets for the ramenta of the bones.
1845 A. Clissold tr. E. Swedenborg Principia I. ii. ix. 334 Obtain the iron: which like the ramenta of all iron will approximate and elevate itself toward the magnet.
2. Bot. A thin, brownish, membranous epidermal appendage on a stem or leaf, esp. of a fern; a scale.
1793 T. Martyn Lang. Bot. sig. Q2, Ramentum,..applied by Linneus to the small loose scales that are frequently found on the stems of vegetables.
1809 J. E. Smith Introd. Physiol. & Systematical Bot. (ed. 2) 227 Some Begoniæ bear on their leaves flat little straps called by authors ramenta, shavings, instead of cylindrical hairs.
1832 J. Lindley Introd. Bot. 41 Ramenta..are particularly numerous..upon the petioles and the backs of the leaves of Ferns.
1872 H. A. Nicholson Man. Palæontol. 480 Rhizomata..covered with hairs or ramenta.
1909 G. Klebs in A. C. Seward Darwin & Mod. Sci. 209 The scaly hairs, or ramenta, which clothe every part of the plant, are also like those of Ferns.
1919 Sci. Monthly July 25 The area between the leaf-scars is covered with two kinds of structures: the ramentum and the roots. The former, characteristic of most ferns, consists of brown chaff-like scales.
1943 Bot. Gaz. 105 208/1 Primordia of all leaves originate as small moundlike outgrowths among occasional young ramenta on the conical stem tip.
2002 Plant Physiol. & Biochem. 40 90/1 Apparent phenotypic differences, leaf color, size, lateral lines..and stem ramenta were recognizable.
Monday, 26 November 2012
PHONETICS: /uː/
In British English, the phonetic symbol /u:/ corresponds to the vowel sound in words like "moon", "do" and "June". It is called a long vowel.
While /u:/ is very similar to the Spanish letter "u", it is actually much longer, and some Spanish speakers may, at first, have difficulty distinguishing between the vowel sound in "move" and that of /ʊ/, as in "foot", which is shorter than the Spanish "u". Practice may therefore need to be given to help distinguish between words like "pull" and "pool" or "full" and "fool".
Some common words which practice this pronunciation include the following:
- with "ew": blew - brew - chew - crew - drew - screw - threw;
- with "o": do - lose - shoe - two - who - whose;
- with "oo": boot - choose - cool - fool - loose - moon - pool - root - school - soon - stool - tool;
- with "ou": soup - through - you;
- with "u": blue - flu - June - rule - sue - true;
- with "ui": bruise - cruise - fruit - juice - lawsuit - suit - suitable - suitcase;
- homophones: blew/blue - chews/choose - flew/flu - threw/through - too/two.
THE ABC's OF TEXT SPEAK
THE ABC's OF TEXT SPEAK
Have you ever watched children sending or receiving text messages on mobile phones or chat rooms, and not been able to understand a word of what's being said?
Help is at hand, with our simple textspeak translator below:
