Simple songs sung by groups on long bus rides (enroute to field trips, competitive sporting events, etc.) Usually with repeating and escalating verses.
A clapping game is type of usually cooperative (ie non-competitive) game which is generally played by two players and involves clapping as accompaniment to singing or reciting a rhyme. Clapping games are found throughout the world and similar games may be known throughout large areas with regional variation. In European and influenced cultures clapping games are thought of as girls' games, though boys and adults play as well. Claps commonly included in patterns are clapping one's own hands, clapping both hands of a partner, and clapping one hand of a partner, generally across such as the right hand of each player. The clapping may include other activities such as thigh slapping, or a final move such as touching the ground and freezing.
A word search, word find, word seek, word sleuth or mystery word puzzle is a generic word game that consists of seemingly random letters arranged in a grid, that usually has a rectangular shape. The object of the game is to find and mark all of the words hidden in the grid. The words may have been placed horizontally, vertically or diagonally. They may have been written backwards or not. Often a list of the hidden words is provided, but more challenging puzzles may let the player figure them out. Many word search puzzles have a theme to which all the hidden words are related.
Word searches are commonly found in daily newspapers and puzzle books.
A jigsaw puzzle is a tiling puzzle that requires the assembly of numerous small, often oddly shaped, interlocking and tessellating pieces. Each piece has a small part of a picture on it; when complete, a jigsaw puzzle produces a complete picture.
Jigsaw puzzles were originally created by painting a picture on a flat, rectangular piece of wood, and then cutting that picture into small pieces with a jigsaw, hence the name. John Spilsbury, a London mapmaker and engraver, is credited with commercialising jigsaw puzzles around 1760
A sliding puzzle, sliding block puzzle, or sliding tile puzzle challenges a player to slide usually flat pieces along certain routes (usually on a board) to establish a certain end-configuration.
A sliding block puzzle prohibits lifting any piece off the board. This property separates sliding puzzles from rearrangement puzzles. Hence finding moves, and the paths opened up by each move, within the two-dimensional confines of the board, are important parts of solving sliding block puzzles.
War is a card game for two or more players. It uses a standard Western fifty-two-playing card deck. It is most often played as a children's game, because of its simplicity. The cards are divided evenly, with each player's cards remaining face-down. Each player shows his or her top card; whoever has the highest card takes the other cards shown and places them at the bottom of his or her deck. Aces can be high or low, which should be decided before the game begins. In case of a tie, each player plays three face-down cards and one face-up card, and these face-up cards decide who will receive all the cards. This is called a "war". If there is another tie, the process is repeated, etcetera. In all cases of ties, face-down cards are exposed before being collected. In some variations, smaller numbers of face-down cards are played (for example, one card is placed face down, while the second is played face up). In one blood-thirsty variation, the number of face-down cards equals the pip value of the cards, with face cards being ten and ace eleven.
The player who gets all the cards is the winner. In one variation, a set number of ties won will decide.
Slapjack, also known as Slaps is a simplistic card game, generally played among children. It can often be a child's first introduction to playing cards.
Gameplay is as follows: a 52-card deck is divided into face-down stacks as equally as possible between all players. One player removes the top card of his stack and places it face-up on the playing surface within reach of all players. The players take turns doing this in a clockwise manner until a Jack is placed on the pile. At this point, any and all players may attempt to slap the pile to obtain it; whoever covers the stack with his hand first takes the pile and adds it to the bottom of his stack. Gameplay continues with hands of this sort until one player has acquired all of the cards.
Guts is a comparing card game, or family of card games, related to poker. Guts is a gambling game involving a series of deals of 2 or 3 cards, ranked similarly to hands in poker. The betting during each deal is simple : all players decide whether they are "in" or "out", and announce this at the same time. Each deal has its own showdown, after which the losers match or increase the pot. A round of the game ends when only one person stays in and wins the pot. One of the characteristics of guts is that the pot grows geometrically. As it can double or more each round, pots of 50 or 100 times the original ante are possible.
Jumping the broom is an African American phrase and custom relating to wedding ceremonies. In some African-American communities, recently married couples will end their ceremony by jumping together or separately over a broom. This practice dates back at least to the 19th century.
One particular scholar, Alan Dundes, claims that the practice originated among English Roma people better known as Gypsies. Wiccans and Roma are among the groups who developed their own style of a broom jumping tradition. The Welsh also had a centuries-old custom called priodas coes ysgub, or "broom-stick wedding" alluded to in Dundes' work.
_Wikipedia
This practice has been embraced by some tradtions of Wicca in modern times and is sometimes the culmination of the handfasting ritual. This act symbolizes entering a new life together.
Handfasting is a term used in Wicca/Witchcraft to refer to the rite of marriage. It is a pagan custom to bind together the hand of each of the marrying partners with a length of cord or a sash. This symbolizes the joining of the two as one.
Watchers are beings who guard the portals that link the worlds together. In some Wicca/Witchcraft traditions they are viewed as a spiritual race, a set of deities, or as spirits of the four elements. The Watchers are associated with the four quarters of North, South, East and West. In some traditions the Watchers are associated with the four elements of Earth, Air, Fire and Water. They are also linked to each solstice and equinox, as well as to a specific star. North is Fomalhaut, the east is Aldebaran, the south is Regulus, and the west is Antares.
_Raven Grimassi, Encyclopedia of Wicca and Witchcraft
In video games, an overworld (sometimes called world map or map) refers to a high-level view of the fictional world within the game. The world map often contains a collection of towns and other locations (often called dungeons or levels) such as caves, mountains, and forests. When the player enters one of these locations, the world map display is replaced by the local geography of the selected element. In many games, the player is able to travel on the world map; in other games, the player uses the world map to select their next location.
A mock-Yiddish expression, "Ische ga bibble?", which was purported to mean "I should worry?" but actually is not Yiddish and contains no Yiddish words.
Well Dressing is a custom practised in rural England in which wells, springs or other water sources are decorated with designs created from flower petals. The origins of the tradition are alternatively said to lie in pagan tradition or in giving thanks for the purity of the water drawn from certain wells during the period of the Black Death.
The will-o'-the-wisp, sometimes will-o'-wisp or ignis fatuus (modern Latin, from ignis ("fire") + fatuus ("foolish"), plural ignes fatui) refers to the ghostly lights sometimes seen at night or twilight — often over bogs. It looks like a flickering lamp, and is sometimes said to recede if approached. The term will-o'-the-wisp comes from wisp, a bundle of hay or straw sometimes used as a torch, and will-o' ("Will of").
The folklore phenomenon will-o'-the-wisp (will of the wisp) is sometimes referred to as Jack o' lantern (Jack of the lantern), and indeed the two terms were originally synonymous. In fact the names "Jacky Lantern" and "Jack the Lantern" are still present in the oral tradition of Newfoundland. These lights are also sometimes referred to as "corpse candles" or "hobby lanterns", two monikers found in the Denham Tracts. They are often called spooklights or ghost lights by folklorists and paranormal enthusiasts in the United States. Sometimes the phenomenon is classified by the observer as a ghost, fairy, or elemental, and a different name is used.
Tar-Baby was a doll made of tar and turpentine, used to entrap Br'er Rabbit in the second of the Uncle Remus stories. The more that Br'er Rabbit fought the Tar-Baby, the more entangled he became. In contemporary usage, a tar baby refers to any "sticky situation" that is only aggravated by efforts to solve it.
"Thumbelina" (Danish: Tommelise) is a fairy tale by the Danish poet and author Hans Christian Andersen. Like the English folk tale "Tom Thumb" and the French literary fairy tale "Le Petit Poucet" by Charles Perrault, "Thumbelina" tells the story of a tiny human being. For some, the tale demonstrates Andersen's identification with the social outsider. The tale was first published in 1835 and was republished during the author's lifetime.
Among certain indigenous people in the United States and Canada, including for example the Oneida, earth is known as Turtle Island from their myth in which all of creation is on the back of a large turtle.
It just sits there waiting for someone to use it. It says "0 Wordies list". I have put a few words in the limbo of "0 Wordies List"..usually because of accidental misspelling.
Smoketrees, particularly Cotinus coggygria, are popular garden shrubs. Several bronze or purple-leaved cultivars of Cotinus coggygria have been selected, with warm pink inflorescences set against purple-black foliage; the commonest in commerce are 'Notcutt's Variety' and 'Royal Purple'. When brought into cultivation together, the two species will form hybrids; some garden cultivars are of this parentage.
Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides) closely resembles its namesake (Usnea, or beard lichen). However, Spanish moss is not biologically related to either mosses or lichens. Instead, it is a flowering plant in the family Bromeliaceae (the bromeliads) that grows hanging from tree branches in full sun or partial shade. Formerly ; this plant has been placed in the genera Anoplophytum,Caraguata and Renealmia. It ranges from the southeastern United States (Southern VA and eastern MD) to Argentina, growing wherever the climate is warm enough and has a relatively high average humidity.
The plant consists of a slender stem bearing alternate thin, curved or curly, heavily scaled leaves 2-6 cm long and 1 mm broad, that grow vegetatively in chain-like fashion (pendant) to form hanging structures 1-2 m in length, occasionally more. The plant lacks roots and its flowers are tiny and inconspicuous. It propagates both by seed and vegetatively by fragments that blow on the wind and stick to tree limbs, or are carried by birds as nesting material.
It can grow so thickly on tree limbs that it gives a somewhat "gothic" appearance to the landscape, and while it rarely kills the trees it lowers their growth rate by reducing the amount of light to a tree's own leaves. It also increases wind resistance, which can prove fatal to a tree in hurricanes.
Polygonatum (King Solomon's-seal, Solomon's Seal) is a genus of about 50 species of flowering plants within the family Ruscaceae, formerly classified in the lily family Liliaceae.
Some species of this genus have medicinal properties, and some (in particular P. sibiricum) are used as a tisane in traditional Chinese medicine, which is called dungulle in Korea.
Some Polygonatum shoots are edible, cooked like asparagus, as are the roots - after appropriate treatment - being a good source of starch
Shepherd's Purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris) is originally from Europe, but has become very common in many parts of the world. Its name derives from Latin and means "little box", "purse of the shepherd". This name refers to the capsule in the shape of a shepherd's purse, which is also its common name.
Shepherd's Purse grows in gardens, lots, fields, waste grounds, and embankments with soils that are not too dry and that provide enough sunshine.
This is rather a small plant, growing to 6-20 cm high. Its fine stalks spread along the main stem. The basal leaves are lanceolate and dentate. The white flowers are arranged in loose racemes. They are radially symmetrical with four petals.
What makes this plant so special is its seed capsule. This heart-shaped fruit is a flat and triangular pod. It is attached to the stalk by its pointed end, projecting erect.
Paprika (パプリカ) is a Japanese animated science fiction film, based on Yasutaka Tsutsui's 1993 novel Paprika, about a female research psychologist involved in a project to develop a device that will permit therapists to help patients by entering their dreams.
The film was directed by Satoshi Kon, animated by Madhouse Studios and produced and distributed by Sony Pictures Entertainment.
Cortaderia selloana, commonly known as Pampas Grass or Uruguayan Pampas Grass, is a tall grass native to southern South America, including the pampas after which it is named, and Patagonia.
Pampas grass is a tall grass, growing in dense tussocks that can reach a height of 3 m. The leaves are evergreen, long and slender, 1–2 m long and 1 cm broad, and have very sharp edges (so they should be handled with care). The leaves are usually bluish-green, but can be silvery grey. The flowers are produced in a dense white panicle 20–40 cm long on a 2–3 m tall stem.
Paso Doble or pasodoble is a lively style of dance to the duple meter march-like pasodoble music. It actually originated in southern France, but is modeled after the sound, drama, and movement of the Spanish bullfight. Paso doble means "two step" in Spanish.
Patent leather is leather that has been given a high gloss, shiny finish. The original process was developed by Newark, New Jersey–based inventor Seth Boyden in 1818 with commercial manufacture beginning September 20, 1819. His process used a linseed oil–based lacquer coating. Modern patent leather usually has a plastic coating.
A pâtisserie is a French bakery that specializes in pastries and sweets. In France, it is an official title that only bakeries that employ a maître pâtissier (master pastry chef) may use. The pâtissier is an artist who wants his or her creations to be as individual as they are, which is the reason for so many variations in French pastry shops and in pâtisserie recipes. Often found in partnership with a boulangerie, pâtisseries are a common sight in towns and villages in France.
The term pâtisserie also refers to the pastries produced by a pâtissier. Mass-produced pastries are also sometimes called pâtisserie.
In ballet, a pas de deux (French, step/dance for two) is a duet in which ballet steps are performed together. It usually consists of an entrée, adagio, two variations (one for each dancer), and a coda.
A tomte 'tɔ`m:tɛ or nisse 'nìs:ɛ is a mythical creature of Scandinavian folklore originating from Norse paganism. Tomte or Nisse were believed to take care of a farmer's home and children and protect them from misfortune, in particular at night, when the housefolk were asleep. Tomte is the common Swedish name, derived from his place of residence and area of influence: the house lot or tomt. The Finnish name is "tonttu". Nisse is the common name in Norwegian, Danish and the Scanian dialect in southernmost Sweden.
Butter Brickle ice cream was introduced to the world by the Blackstone Hotel in Omaha, Nebraska in the 1920s. The flavoring and the candy bar were produced by the Sioux Falls, South Dakota company, Fenn Bros. Ice Cream and Candy Co., until the company was liquidated in the 1970s, when the trademark and formula were sold to the makers of the Heath bar. A remnant of the name remains in "Heath Bits 'o Brickle Toffee Bits," sold by The Hershey Company, which acquired the Heath assets in 1996.
Butter Brickle ice cream is currently sold by at least a couple of ice-cream makers with the name Butter Brickle being used under license.
A tart fruit sauce made by cooking down fresh whole cranberries in a simple syrup.
Commercial jellied cranberry sauce is shaped like a cylinder due to the shape of steel cans that contain the sauce. Some cranberry sauces contain gelatin. Most are a mixture of cranberry, water and high fructose corn syrup.
In ancient Indo-European mythologies, various goddesses or demi-goddesses appear as a triad, either as three separate beings who always appear as a group (the Greek Moirae, Charites, Erinnyes and the Norse Norns) or as a single deity who is commonly depicted in three aspects (Greek Hecate). Often it is ambiguous whether a single being or three are represented, as is the case with the Irish Brighid and her two sisters, also called Brighid, or the Morrígan who is known by at least three or four different names. In most ancient portrayals of triple goddesses, the separate deities perform different yet related functions, and there is no obvious difference in their ages. In Wicca and related Neo-pagan religions, the Triple Goddess is, along with the Horned God, held in particular reverence, and her three aspects are most often portrayed as being of different ages: Maiden, Mother and Crone.
A development of the club, a mace consists of a strong, heavy wooden, metal-reinforced, or metal shaft, with a head made of stone, copper, bronze, iron or steel. The head is normally about the same or slightly thicker than the diameter of the shaft and can be shaped with flanges, or knobs to allow greater penetration of armour. The length of maces can vary considerably. The maces of foot soldiers were usually quite short (two or three feet). The maces of cavalrymen were longer and better designed for blows from horseback. Two-handed maces could be even larger.
A long barrow is a prehistoric monument dating to the early Neolithic period. They are rectangular or trapezoidal earth mounds traditionally interpreted as collective tombs. Long barrows are also typical for several Celtic, Slavic, and Baltic cultures of Northern Europe of the 1st millennium AD.
Live oak or evergreen oak is a general term for a number of unrelated oaks in several different sections of the genus Quercus that happen to share the character of evergreen foliage.
The name live oak comes from the fact that evergreen oaks are still green and "live" in winter, when other oaks are dormant, leafless and "dead"-looking. The name is used mainly in North America, where evergreen oaks are widespread in warmer areas, along the Atlantic coast from Virginia to Florida, west along the Gulf Coast to Texas and across the southwest to California and southwest Oregon.
When the term live oak is used in a specific rather than general sense, it most commonly refers to the Southern live oak (the first species so named), but can often refer to other species regionally.
Lauds is one of the two "major hours" in the Roman Catholic Liturgy of the Hours. It is to be recited in the early morning hours, preferably near dawn.
Lyndon Baines Johnson (August 27, 1908 – January 22, 1973), often referred to as LBJ, was the thirty-sixth President of the United States from 1963 to 1969.
Claudia Alta "Lady Bird" Taylor Johnson (December 22, 1912 – July 11, 2007) was First Lady of the United States from 1963 to 1969, having been the wife of U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson.
Hildebrand is Old German and in Old Norse the form is Hildibrandr. The word Hild means battle and brand means sword. Hildebrand was one of the warrior kings the German and Scandinavian hero songs are known for. Hildebrand figures in three famous songs: in the Old High German Hildebrandslied, the Middle High German Nibelungenlied, and in the Old Norse song Hildebrand's death in �?smundar saga kappabana (called Hildibrandr). He also appears as Hildiger in Gesta Danorum.
Fresh, new comb is sometimes sold and used intact as comb honey, especially if the honey is being spread on bread rather than used in cooking or to sweeten tea. Honeycomb is edible all by itself, and has been called "the beekeeper's lunch".
The Gibson Hummingbird is an acoustic guitar model produced by the Gibson Guitar Corporation.
Unlike the other flat-top Gibson acoustics, the Hummingbird was Gibson's first square-shoulder dreadnought, similar to the dreadnoughts produced by C.F. Martin & Company. Introduced in 1960, the Hummingbird was Gibson's second-most expensive acoustic guitar, behind the Gibson J-200, until the introduction of the Gibson Dove in 1962, (a blend between the Hummingbird and the J-200.) The Hummingbird, features a Mahogany back and sides, a decorative pickguard with a hummingbird design, and split-parallelogram Mother of Pearl fretboard and headstock inlays, Spruce top and Rosewood bridge. The standard finish is cherry sunburst, although some natural finish models were produced. The Gibson Hummingbird was winner of Acoustic Guitar's Player's Choice Award for the Dreadnought Category in 2000, and was described thus: "The Hummingbird has a very wide range of sound, from gutsy and loud, to sweet and soft. Superb for all styles of playing, whether just chording or playing intricate solo's".
According to Christian mythology, the Holy Grail was the dish, plate, or cup used by Jesus at the Last Supper, said to possess miraculous powers. The connection of Joseph of Arimathea with the Grail legend dates from Robert de Boron's Joseph d'Arimathie (late 12th century) in which Joseph receives the Grail from an apparition of Jesus and sends it with his followers to Great Britain; building upon this theme, later writers recounted how Joseph used the Grail to catch Christ's blood while interring him and that in Britain he founded a line of guardians to keep it safe. The quest for the Holy Grail makes up an important segment of the Arthurian cycle, appearing first in works by Chrétien de Troyes. The legend may combine Christian lore with a Celtic myth of a cauldron endowed with special powers.
A gingerbread house also called the "witch's house" was encountered by Hansel and Gretel.
This is also the term for a gingerbread cookie dough dessert house covered with a variety of candies and icing that are popular Christmas decorations, typically built by children with the help of their parents.
Easter eggs are specially decorated eggs given to celebrate the Easter holiday or springtime. The oldest tradition is to use dyed and painted chicken eggs, but a modern custom is to substitute chocolate eggs, or plastic eggs filled with confectionery such as jellybeans. These eggsare often hidden, supposedly by the Easter Bunny, for children to find on Easter morning.
_Wikipedia
Also Easter egg (Media)
A virtual Easter egg is an intentional hidden message or feature in an object such as a movie, book, CD, DVD, computer program, or video game. The term draws a parallel with the custom of the Easter egg hunt observed in many western nations.
The whitebeams are members of the Rosaceae family, in genus Sorbus subgenus Aria. They are deciduous trees with simple or lobed leaves, arranged alternately. They are related to the rowans (Sorbus subgenus Sorbus), and many of the endemic restricted-range apomictic microspecies of whitebeam in Europe are thought to derive from hybrids between S. aria and the European rowan S. aucuparia; some are also thought to be hybrids with the Wild Service Tree S. torminalis, notably the Service Tree of Fontainebleau Sorbus latifolia in French woodlands.
The best known species is Common Whitebeam Sorbus aria, but several other species from Europe and Asia in particular are widely cultivated as ornamental trees.
Hunt's Snack Pack is a brand of individually packaged single-serving snacks, specifically, shelf-stable pudding and gels. The product line was introduced in 1968.
In the food processing industry, shelf-stable means that a typically refrigerated product has been altered so it can be safely stored and sold in sealed container at room temperature while still having a "useful" shelf life.
Various food preservation techniques are used to extend a food's shelf life. Decreasing the amount of available water in a product, increasing its acidity, or irradiating or otherwise sterilizing the food and then sealing it in an air-tight container, can all extend a food's shelf life without significantly changing its taste or texture.
_Wikipedia
Ingredients:Vanilla flavor pudding:
Non-fat milk, water, sugar, modified corn starch, partially hydrogenated soybean oil, less than 2% of: salt, sodium stearoyl lactylate, natural and artificial flavor, yellow 5, yellow 6.
If you are going to take the time to bake something essentially from scratch why would you want to start with a product that has hydrogented fat and the ability to sit on your shelf without spoiling? What do you think that does in your arteries?
I see these in the woods in early spring here in Wisconsin and I love them but I never knew this charming folkname! I have only known them as bellwort.
Uvularia is a genus of plants in the family Uvulariaceae, sister to the lily family (Liliaceae). They are commonly called Bellworts, Bellfowers or Merrybells. This unusual flower is found in April and May, often on wooded slopes or in ravines and it spreads by stolons or stoloniferus rhizomes. The plants are usually 18 to 24 inches (45–60 cm) in height and bear one or two flowers which hang downward from the axils of the leaves.
L.M. Montgomery was my very first favorite author as well. I have read all of her books, novels and short story collections and her journals and her poetry collections. I adore her.
The name bleeding heart describes the unique flowers, which resemble tiny pink or white hearts with drops of blood at the bottom. Dicentra eximia has a fernlike bluish-green foliage, while Dicentra spectabilis has a palmately-compound leaf. Dicentra formosa, the Western Bleeding Heart, is very similar to Dicentra eximia.
reesetee, I don't understand the concept of tags. Can you please shed some light?How do they function? What is their purpose? I am obtuse...now there's a word. Thank you.
I am happy to meet you. We may be kindred spirits. Have you read any other books by L.M. Montgomery? They are full of wonderful old forgotten words that thrill the romantic heart. Are you new to Wordie? I'm rather new myself.
The definition of “natural flavor�? under the Code of Federal Regulations is: “the essential oil, oleoresin, essence or extractive, protein hydrolysate, distillate, or any product of roasting, heating or enzymolysis, which contains the flavoring constituents derived from a spice, fruit or fruit juice, vegetable or vegetable juice, edible yeast, herb, bark, bud, root, leaf or similar plant material, meat, seafood, poultry, eggs, dairy products, or fermentation products thereof, whose significant function in food is flavoring rather than nutritional�? (21CFR101.22). Both artificial and natural flavors are made by “flavorists�? in a laboratory by blending either “natural�? chemicals or “synthetic�? chemicals to create flavorings.
Example: the flavoring derived from the perineal (anal) sacks of the male civet cat can be listed as a natural flavoring. "Natural" is a form of newspeak.
A strawberry or grape flavored food may say that it contains "natural flavors" but that does not mean it contains grape or strawberry as it seems to imply.
A bouillon cube (US) or stock cube (UK) is dehydrated broth (bouillon in French) or stock formed into a small cube (about 15 mm on a side). It is made by dehydrating vegetables, meat stock, a small portion of solid fat (such as hydrogenated oil), salt (usually well over 50%) and seasonings (usually including monosodium glutamate) and shaping them into a small cube.
There is no fixed specification for hot dog meat, with pork and beef being the most popular ingredients. Less expensive hot dogs typically contain some pork, but are primarily chicken, due to the low cost and availability of mechanically separated chicken. Hot dogs are generally regarded as unhealthy insofar as most have high sodium, fat and nitrate content.
corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, water, contains 2% of less of caramel color, salt, natural and artificial maple flavor, cellulose gum, preservatives, ascorbic acid, sodium benzoate, sodium dexametaphosphate, mono and diglyceride.
Cool Whip is made of water, corn syrup and high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated coconut and palm kernel oil (CPKO), sodium caseinate, vanilla extract, xanthan and guar gums, polysorbate 60 (glycosperse), and beta carotene
Hawaiian Punch is the name of a brand of fruit punch drinks (containing 5% fruit juice) owned by Dr Pepper/Seven Up, Inc. (DPSU). It was created in 1934 by A.W. Leo, Tom Yates, and Ralph Harrison as an ice cream topping; customers later discovered that it made an appealing drink when mixed with water.
_Wikipedia
Only 5% real fruit juice and mom's give it to their kids like it's good for them.
Hydrox is a brand name for a successful cream-filled chocolate sandwich cookie which debuted in 1908 and was manufactured by Sunshine Biscuits. Its unusual name was formed from those of the atomic elements which make up pure water. Some accounts report the Oreo — introduced in 1912 — was inspired by the Hydrox.
Lik-m-aid candy has been on the market in the United States since April 1942. It came in small pouches similar to a sugar packet and was available in several fruit flavors. See SweeTarts. It is now sold as Fun Dip and comes with an edible dipping stick.
SweeTarts are sweet and sour candies invented by J. Fish Smith, the owner of Sunline. The tablets were created using the same recipe as the already popular Pixy Stix and Lik-M-Aid in response to parents' requests for a less-messy candy. In 1963, SweeTarts were introduced with the same flavors as the popular Pixy Stix: cherry, grape, lemon, lime, and orange.
The Sunline company was later bought by Rowntree Mackintosh, of the United Kingdom, which was, in turn, taken over by Nestlé. Nestlé rolled the SweeTarts family of candies into the already-existing Willy Wonka Candy Company family of brands.
Shalom (שָ�?לוֹ�?) is a Hebrew and Jewish word meaning peace, Nothing missing, Nothing broken, wellbeing, and complete, and used to mean hello, and goodbye. As it does in English, it can refer to either peace between two entities (especially between man and God or between two countries), or to the well-being, welfare or safety of an individual or a group of individuals. It is also used as a greeting to either say hello or farewell, and is found in many other expressions and names.
Mett�? (P�?li) or Maitrī (Sanskrit) means unconditional and unattached loving kindness. It is one of the ten p�?ramit�?s of the Therav�?da school of Buddhism, and the first of the four Brahmavih�?ras. The mett�? bh�?van�? (cultivation of mett�?) is a popular form of meditation in Buddhism.
The object of mett�? meditation is to cultivate loving kindness (love without attachment, non-exclusive love) towards all sentient beings.
In the TV show All in the Family and the spin-off show The Jeffersons, Sherman Hemsley played George Jefferson and Isabel Sanford played his wife Louise Jefferson.
On the TV series All in the family Sally Struthers played Gloria Bunker-Stivic, the Bunkers' college-age daughter, married to Michael Stivic, played by Rob Reiner.
All in the Family is an acclaimed American situation comedy that was originally broadcast on the CBS television network from January 12, 1971 to April 8, 1979. In September 1979, the show was revamped, and given a new title, Archie Bunker's Place. This version of the sitcom lasted another four years, ending its run in 1983. Carroll O'Connor played Archie Bunker, frequently called a "lovable bigot," an assertively prejudiced blue-collar worker. Jean Stapleton played Edith Bunker.
The Cosby Show is an American television sitcom starring Bill Cosby, first airing on September 20, 1984 and running for eight seasons on the NBC television network, until April 30, 1992. The show focused on the Huxtable family, an upper-middle class African-American family living in a brownstone building in Brooklyn, New York. The patriarch was the very playful, humorous, and fun-loving Heathcliff "Cliff" Huxtable, an obstetrician, played by Bill Cosby. The matriarch was his just as playful, yet very eloquent, elegant, and assertive wife, attorney Clair Hanks-Huxtable, played by Phylicia Rash�?d.
Gilligan's Island is an American TV sitcom originally produced by United Artists Television. It aired for three seasons on the CBS network, from September 26, 1964 to September 4, 1967. The show followed the comic adventures of seven castaways as they attempted to survive and ultimately escape from a previously uninhabited island where they were shipwrecked and stranded.
Bob Denver played Gilligan, the bumbling, accident-prone crewman of the S.S. Minnow.
Alan Hale, Jr. played Jonas Grumby, the "Skipper".
Airing from 1978 to 1984, the original series Fantasy Island starred Ricardo Montalban as Mr. Roarke, the enigmatic overseer of a mysterious island somewhere in the Pacific Ocean, where people from all walks of life could come and live out their fantasies, albeit for a price.
Roarke was known for his white suit and cultured demeanor, and was initially accompanied by an energetic sidekick, Tattoo, played by the diminutive Hervé Villechaize.
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In was an American sketch comedy television program which ran for 140 episodes from January 22, 1968 to May 14, 1973. It was hosted by comedians Dan Rowan and Dick Martin and was broadcast over NBC.
The Song of Hiawatha is an 1855 epic poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow based on the legends of the Ojibway Indians. The Song tells a legend of Hiawatha and his lover, Minnehaha.
Running Bear is a song written by J.P. Richardson (aka The Big Bopper) sung most famously by Johnny Preston in 1959. Preston first sang the song in 1959 with background vocals by Richardson and George Jones, and it was #1 on January 23, January 30 and February 6, 1960.
Running Bear tells the story of Running Bear, a "young Indian brave", and Little White Dove, an "Indian maid", who fall in love with each other on first sight. The two are separated by two factors:
Their tribes' hatred of each other.("Their tribes fought with each other / So their love could never be.")
A raging river, which also serves as a metaphor for their other separation.
The two, desiring to be together despite their obstacles and the risks for navigating the river, dive into the raging river to unite. After sharing a passionate kiss, they are pulled down by the swift current and drown. The lyrics tell the rest: "Now they'll always be together / In their happy hunting ground."
The love story of Pyramus and Thisbe, not really a part of Roman mythology, is actually a sentimental romance. It is briefly summarized by Hyginus (Fabulae 242) and more fully elaborated in Ovid (Metamorphoses 4).
Oberon, also Auberon, King of Shadows and Fairies, is best known as a character in William Shakespeare's play, A Midsummer Night's Dream, written in the mid-1590s. He is Consort to Titania, Queen of the Fairies.
"The Owl and the Pussycat" is a famous nonsense poem by Edward Lear, first published in 1871. It features four anthropomorphised animals (the owl, the pussycat, the 'piggy-wig' and a turkey) and revolves around the love between the title characters, who are married by the Turkey in the final stanza (of three).
Marie Curie (born Maria Skłodowska, also known as Marie Curie-Skłodowska; November 7, 1867 – July 4, 1934) was a physicist and chemist of Polish upbringing and, subsequently, French citizenship. She was a pioneer in the field of radioactivity, the first twice-honored Nobel laureate (and still the only one in two different sciences) and the first female professor at the University of Paris.
She was born in Warsaw, Congress Poland, Russian Empire, and lived there until she was 24. In 1891 she followed her elder sister to study in Paris, where she obtained her higher degrees and conducted her scientific work. She founded the Curie Institutes in Paris and Warsaw. She was the wife of fellow-Nobel-laureate Pierre Curie and the mother of a third Nobel laureate, Irène Joliot-Curie.
M-80s are a class of large firecrackers, sometimes called salutes. M-80s were originally made in the early 20th century by the U.S. Military to simulate bombs; later, they were manufactured as fireworks. Traditionally, M-80s were made from a small red cardboard tube approximately 1½ inches (3.8 cm) long and 9/16–5/8 inches (1.4–1.6 cm) in diameter, with a Visco fuse coming out of the side, holding approximately 2½–3 grams of pyrotechnic flash powder.
Cherry bombs are exploding fireworks, usually round, approximately one inch (2.5 cm) in diameter, and colored red with a green fuse. They contain a core made of explosive flash powder, a layer of sawdust, and a coating of sodium silicate. They are powerful enough to cause very serious injury. Historically, the cherry bomb contained approximately .75 grams of a chlorate/sulfur/aluminum flash powder making it substantially less powerful than most larger firecrackers like the M-80 and silver salute.
After lighting the small tablet, the firework starts smoking and a 2-foot snake of ash is expelled. They stay on the ground and do not emit sparks, flares, any form of projectiles, or any sound. They do emit a yellowish smoke.
Sodium bicarbonate which produces carbon dioxide gas and sugar forming carbon containing ash, are common chemicals used for this kind of firework.
The Catherine wheel (also Catharine wheel, pinwheel) is a type of firework consisting of a powder-filled spiral tube, or an angled rocket mounted with a pin through its centre. When ignited, it rotates quickly, producing a display of sparks and coloured flame.
The firework is named for the wheel on which St. Catherine was martyred.
Roman candle is a type of firework, with a long, thick paper tube that contains layers of "stars" and lifting charges. When ignited, pyrotechnic stars shoot from the tube one at a time.
A bottle rocket is a very small skyrocket. A typical bottle rocket consists of a rocket engine attached to a stabilizing stick. The user can place the stick in an empty bottle (hence the name), and ignite the rocket engine; the mouth of the bottle guides the stick, stabilizing the rocket in its first moments of flight.
These rockets have been made at least since the early decades of the 20th century, and in many countries, including Japan, China, and Macao. The older type of bottle rocket was typically a black powder skyrocket with a motor about two inches (5 cm) long and up to 0.375 inch (9 mm) diameter, mounted on a thin bamboo splint and often having a small report charge.
Modern bottle rockets are small and very cheap. They are often sold by the gross.
Wow...much more than we need to know. I remember trying to sew with this stuff in home-ec.
Bias tape or bias binding is a narrow strip of fabric, cut on the bias (UK cross-grain). The strip's fibers, being at 45 degrees to the length of the strip, makes it stretchier as well as more fluid and more drapeable compared to a strip that is cut on grain. Many strips can be pieced together into a long "tape." The tape's width varies from about 1/2" to about 3" depending on applications. Bias tape is used in making piping, binding seams, finishing raw edges, etc. It is often used on the edges of quilts, placemats, and bibs, around armhole and neckline edges instead of a facing, and as a simple strap or tie for casual bags or clothing.
Commercially available bias tape is available as a simple bias tape, single-fold bias tape, and double-fold bias tape. Single-fold bias tape is bias tape that is folded in half lengthwise on its center line, wrong side together, and pressed. Double-fold bias tape is single-fold bias tape where each half is again folded in half lengthwise (to the center fold), wrong sides together, and pressed.
Midge Hadley is a fictional doll character in the Barbie line of toys by Mattel. She was first released in 1963. She was marketed as Barbie's best friend. No Midge dolls were sold for the rest of the vintage years after the 1960s.
She was re-introduced in 1988 as part of the play line, though two vintage reproduction dolls were made specifically for collectors in 1993 and 1998. The dolls sold in this time period usually had red hair, often with freckles, and her eye color was usually blue or green. Also in the period, Wedding Day Midge was sold, with the groom being Allan Sherwood. Allan had been marketed as Midge's boyfriend in the vintage years.
Allan Sherwood is a fictional doll character who is part of the Barbie line of toys by Mattel. Created in 1963 and first introduced to the market in 1964, Allan was designed to be the boyfriend of Barbie's friend, Midge. He was also created to be Ken's "buddy." He is currently the only male friend of Ken to be given a surname. The early Allan dolls usually had red hair and brown eyes. Like Ken, Allan was an 11 1/2" doll with straight arms and straight legs. Unlike the first Ken dolls, he had molded hair. A bent-leg Allan doll later appeared. After 1965, no more vintage Alan dolls were produced, but he later returned two times.
In 1991, Alan made his first return for a wedding line when he and Midge were married. The spelling of Allan's name changed to Alan at this time.
In the TV series, The X-Files, FBI agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) are tasked with investigating the "X-Files": marginalized, unsolved cases involving paranormal phenomena. Mulder plays the role of the "believer", having faith in the existence of aliens and the paranormal, while Scully is a skeptic.
Bewitched is an American situation comedy originally broadcast on ABC from 1964 to 1972. The show stars Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick York (1964–1969), Dick Sargent (1969–1972), and Agnes Moorehead. The main characters were Samantha and Darrin Stevens...a witch and a human who were married.
I Dream of Jeannie is an American sitcom with a fantasy premise. Produced by Screen Gems, it originally aired from December, 1964 to January, 1970 on NBC. The show ran for five seasons and produced 139 episodes. The first season consisted of 30 episodes filmed in black and white and since colorized. The other 109 episodes were filmed in color. The show has continued to air in reruns ever since. The show starred Barbara Eden as a female genie (Jeannie), and Larry Hagman as an astronaut, Captain Tony Nelson, who becomes her master, with whom she falls in love and eventually marries.
Sharon and Susan were twin sisters separated at birth who met accidentally at summer camp in the 1961 Disney film The Parent Trap. Both sisters were played by Hayley Mills. The film was based on a book by Erich Kästner (Das Doppelte Lottchen, or Lottie and Lisa). In the remake in 1998 the sisters were named Hallie and Annie and were played by Lindsay Lohan.
Patty and Cathy Lane were "identical cousins" on The Patty Duke Show. Both characters were played by Patty Duke.
The Patty Duke Show is an American sitcom which ran on ABC from September 18, 1963 until May 4, 1966, with reruns through August 31, 1966. The show was created as a vehicle for rising star Patty Duke, who had recently won an Academy Award for The Miracle Worker. A total of 104 episodes were produced, most written by Sidney Sheldon.
Dudley Do-Right was the eponymous hero of a segment on The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show which parodied early 20th century melodrama and silent film (by using only a piano as a musical background) in the form of the Northern genre. Dudley Do-Right was a Canadian Mountie who was always trying to catch his nemesis Snidely Whiplash, invariably without success. He romantically pursued Nell Fenwick, the daughter of Inspector Fenwick, the head of the Mountie station.
Heckle and Jeckle was a theatrical cartoon series created by Paul Terry, and released by his own studio, Terrytoons. The characters were a pair of identical magpies who calmly outwitted their foes in the manner of Bugs Bunny, while maintaining a mischievous streak reminiscent of Woody Woodpecker. Their names were inspired by Robert Louis Stevenson's famous novella Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
One magpie spoke with a British accent, while the other spoke with a Brooklyn dialect.
Pixie and Dixie and Mr. Jinks is a Hanna-Barbera cartoon that featured as a regular segment of the television series The Huckleberry Hound Show from 1958 to 1962. It starred two mice, Pixie and Dixie, and a cat, Mr. Jinks (a.k.a. Jinksy). Pixie was voiced by Don Messick, and Dixie and Mr. Jinks were voiced by Daws Butler. Dixie, appropriately, talked with a southern twang.
The Kendalls were a U.S. country music duo, which had a number of hits during the late 1970s and early 1980s. The duo consisted of Royce Kendall (born September 25, 1935 in St. Louis, Missouri; died May 22, 1998) and his daughter Jeannie Kendall (born October 30, 1954 in St. Louis, Missouri). Their first single for the label, a cover of the Kitty Wells hit "Making Believe", charted only making the Top 80 (possibly due to competition from Emmylou Harris' cover of "Making Believe", which hit the U.S. country charts around the same time). However, it was their second single, a "cheating" song called "Heaven's Just a Sin Away", that proved to be their breakthrough. The song topped the country charts and was also a minor crossover pop hit, and won the 1978 Grammy for Best Country Vocal by a Duo or Group. Subsequent hits included "Just Like Real People", "It Don't Feel Like Sinnin' to Me", "Sweet Desire", "You'd Make an Angel Want to Cheat", and a cover of Dolly Parton's "Put it Off Until Tomorrow". (Jeannie Kendall's powerful soprano has often been compared to Parton's.)
Porky Pig is an Academy Award-nominated animated cartoon character in the Warner Bros. Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series of cartoons. He was the first character created by the studio to draw audiences based on his star power, and the animators (particularly Bob Clampett) created many critically acclaimed shorts using the fat little pig. Even after he was supplanted by later characters, Porky continued to be popular with moviegoers and, more importantly, the Warners directors, who recast him in numerous everyman and sidekick roles. He is known for his signature line at the end of each short, "Th-th-th-that's all folks!" Petunia Pig is an animated cartoon character in the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series of cartoons from Warner Bros. She looks much like her boyfriend, Porky Pig, except that she wears a dress and has braided black hair (which she originally did not have).
Petunia was introduced by animator Frank Tashlin in the 1937 short "Porky's Romance".
Chip 'n' Dale are two fictional, animated chipmunks created by The Walt Disney Company. Their names are a pun based on the name "Chippendale."
According to Disney, Chip is the logical schemer, and Dale is the dumb schemer. An easy way to visually tell them apart is that Chip has a small black nose and one centered protruding tooth, whereas Dale has a big red nose and his two prominent canines exposed.
The Dana Girls was a series of mystery books produced by the Stratemeyer Syndicate and published by Grosset & Dunlap until 1979. The Dana Girls series was the brainchild of American author Harriet Stratemeyer Adams, who sought to capitalize on the popularity of both the Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys books created by her father's syndicate. The first four books were written by Leslie McFarlane who also wrote nineteen of the first twenty-five volumes in the Hardy Boys series. The rest of The Dana Girls books were written by Adams and by Mildred Wirt Benson, who also wrote many of the early volumes in the Nancy Drew series. The series' principal characters are Louise and Jean Dana, teenage orphans who attend the fictional Starhurst School for Girls in Penfield, not far from their hometown of Oak Falls. They are sleuths just like Nancy Drew.
Nancy Drew's boyfriend Ned Nickerson is introduced in volume seven, The Clue in the Diary and appears in nearly every story. He frequently appears at Nancy's mystery sites across the United States, despite the fact that he is a student at Emerson University in the next town. He is so enamored by Nancy that he frequently allows her to control the relationship, which gets him into trouble several times. He often changes their plans together to pursue her sleuthing. Ned is always there for Nancy but knows mysteries are very important priority in her life so he remains very patient and aids her in solving mysteries.
Faline is a female deer in Felix Salten's novel Bambi, A Life in the Woods and its sequel, Bambi's Children as well as in the Walt Disney movies Bambi and Bambi II based on the book. First shown as a fawn and later as an adult doe, Faline's role is as Bambi's girlfriend and later mate.
There, gangerh...I made it so you can also add words to this list if you so desire...tell me if it doesn't work. We can work on it together if you like.
Chad and Jeremy were a singing folk rock duo in the 1960s, comprising Chad Stuart (born David Stuart Chadwick, 10 December 1941, Windermere, Cumbria) and Jeremy Clyde (born Michael Thomas Jeremy Clyde, 22 March 1941, Dorney, Buckinghamshire). They were part of the "British Invasion", a large influx of British rock and pop musicians to the American music scene.
The duo's first single, "Yesterday's Gone", was their only real UK hit. However, Chad and Jeremy's sensitive, strings-backed sound held a greater appeal in America, where they perhaps benefitted from an early 1960s strain of commercial folk music. Their second single, "A Summer Song", hit #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1964. Follow-ups "Willow Weep For Me" and "Before and After" reached the top 20, and altogether Chad and Jeremy had seven U.S. Top 40 hits during 1964-66.
Spin and Marty was a popular series of TV shorts that aired as part of the Mickey Mouse Club. There were three serials in all, starting with The Adventures of Spin and Marty in 1955. This series of 25 ten-minute episodes set at the Triple R Ranch, a boys' summer camp, was followed by two sequels - The Further Adventures of Spin and Marty (1956) and The New Adventures of Spin and Marty (1957), both of which also aired during the Mickey Mouse Club.
From the 1967 song Niki Hoeky recorded by P.J. Proby among others and written by Jim Ford and Pat and Lolly Vegas. Contains a few Cajun references and this line, "Get hip to the consultation of the boolawee."
I'd love to know what it means. Anyone?
Could this be a mispronunciation of the word "Boogalee" which simply means a cajun?
Fais do-do is a name for a Cajun dance party, originating before World War II. According to Mark Humphrey's notes from the Roots n' Blues CD "Cajun Dance Party - Fais Do-Do", the parties were named for "...the gentle command ('go to sleep') young mothers offered bawling infants." He quotes early Cajun musician Edwin Duhon of the Hackberry Ramblers, "She'd go to the cry room, give the baby a nipple and say, 'Fais do-do.' She'd want the baby to go to sleep fast, 'cause she's worried about her husband dancing with somebody else out there."
'Do-do' itself is a shortening of the French verb dormir (to sleep), used primarily in speaking to small children. Comparable to the American English "beddy-bye", it is still commonly used by French-speaking people.
In Western societies, the guinea pig has enjoyed widespread popularity as a household pet since its introduction by European traders in the 16th century. Their docile nature, their responsiveness to handling and feeding, and the relative ease of caring for them, continue to make the guinea pig a popular pet. Organizations devoted to competitive breeding of guinea pigs have been formed worldwide, and many specialized breeds of guinea pig, with varying coat colors and compositions, are cultivated by breeders.
"Guinea pig" is also used as a metaphor in English for a subject of experimentation; this usage became common in the first half of the 20th century. Biological experimentation on guinea pigs has been carried out since the 17th century.
The cavy (also commonly called the Guinea pig after its scientific name) is a species of rodent belonging to the family Caviidae and the genus Cavia. Despite their common name, these animals are not pigs, nor do they come from Guinea. They are native to the Andes, and while no longer extant in the wild, they are closely related to several species that are commonly found in the grassy plains and plateaus of the region. The guinea pig plays an important role in the folk culture of many indigenous South American groups, especially as a food source, but also in folk medicine and in community religious ceremonies. Since the 1960s, efforts have been made to increase consumption of the animal outside South America.
Thanks reesetee, I just fleshed out Mollusque's word a bit because I have enjoyed these unusual artforms in the past and not many people know about them.
I have a book that shows wonderful examples of sailor's valentines. I had forgotten about them until you mentioned them.
Sailors' Valentines were brought home from a sailor's voyage at sea for his loved one during the early 1800s. They consisted of octagonal wooden boxes with intricate shell designs on them. The idea that sailors were able to make these on their ships is unlikely. Most "Sailors' Valentines" originated from the Barbados area, an important seaport during this period. Most historians believe the women on Barbados made the Valentines with local shells or shells brought to them from Indonesia, and sold them to the sailors.
Today, antique and reproduced "Sailor's Valentines" are sought for their beauty and uniqueness. Many Sailors' Valentines, both new and old can be found on the Island of Nantucket, Massachusetts.
Foxfire is the term for the bioluminescence created in the right conditions by a few species of fungi that decay wood. The luminescence is often attributed to members of the genus Armillaria, the Honey mushroom, though others are reported, and as many as 40 individual species have been identified. On the suggestion of Benjamin Franklin it was used for light in the Turtle, an early submarine. In the novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, the characters of Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer use foxfire as a source of light in order to dig a tunnel.
Zoisite is a calcium aluminium hydroxy sorosilicate belonging to the epidote group of minerals. Its chemical formula is Ca2Al3(SiO4)(Si2O7)O(OH). Zoisite is named after the Slovene scientist Baron Sigmund Zois von Edelstein, who realized that this was an unknown mineral when it was brought to him by the mineral dealer Simon Prešern, who had discovered it in the Saualpe mountains of Carinthia in 1805. Transparent material is fashioned into gemstones while translucent-to-opaque material is usually carved into sculptural works. The latter is sometimes shot through with ruby crystals, which are completely opaque and unsuited to use as gems, yet are well colored and contrast strikingly against the green matrix of the zoisite.
Sugilite (also known as luvulite) is a relatively rare pink to purple cyclosilicate mineral with the complex chemical formula: KNa2(Fe,Mn,Al)2Li3Si12O30. Sugilite crystallizes in the hexagonal system with prismatic crystals. The crystals are rarely found and the form is usually massive.
Sugilite was first described in 1944 by the Japanese petrologist Ken-ichi Sugi (1901-1948) for an occurrence on Iwagi Islet, Japan where it is found in an aegirine syenite intrusive stock. It is found in a similar environment at Mont Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, Canada.
Catlinite, or pipestone, is a type of argillite (metamorphosed mudstone), usually brownish-red in color, which occurs in a matrix of Sioux quartzite. Because it is fine-grained and easily-worked, it is prized by Native Americans for use in making sacred pipes commonly referred to as peace pipes. Pipestone quarries are located and preserved in Pipestone National Monument in the southwest corner of Minnesota, and at the Pipestone River in Manitoba, Canada.
The term Catlinite came into use after the American painter George Catlin visited the quarries in Minnesota in 1835; but it was Philander Prescott who first wrote about the rock in 1832, noting that evidence indicated that American Indians had been using the quarries since at least as far back as 1637.
The mineral marcasite, sometimes called white iron pyrite, is iron sulfide (FeS2). Marcasite is often mistakenly confused with pyrite, but marcasite is lighter and more brittle. Specimens of marcasite often crumble and break up due to the unstable crystal structure, and it is this crystal structure that is the main difference between marcasite and pyrite. Though marcasite has the same chemical formula as pyrite, it crystallizes in a different crystal system, thereby making it a separate mineral.
Marcasite can be formed as both a primary or a secondary mineral.
As a primary mineral it forms nodules, concretions and crystals in a variety of sedimentary rock, such as at Dover, Kent, England, where it forms as sharp individual crystals and crystal groups, and nodules in chalk.
Chrysocolla (hydrated copper silicate) is a mineral, (Cu,Al)2H2Si2O5(OH)4·nH2O. It is of secondary origin and forms in the oxidation zones of copper ore bodies. Chrysocolla has an attractive blue-green colour and is a minor ore of copper, having a hardness of 2.5 to 3.5. It is also used as an ornamental stone. It is typically found as glassy botryoidal or rounded masses and crusts, or vein fillings. Because of its light color, it is sometimes confused with turquoise. Commonly it occurs only as pourous crusts unsuitable for gem use, but high quality, gem grade chrysocolla can be translucent and is highly prized.
The name comes from the Greek chrysos, "gold", and kolla, "glue", in allusion to the name of the material used to solder gold, and was first used by Theophrastus in 315 BCE.
Smithsonite, or zinc spar, is zinc carbonate ZnCO3, a mineral ore of zinc. Historically, smithsonite was identified with hemimorphite before it was realised that they were two distinct minerals. The two minerals are very similar in appearance and the term calamine has been used for both, leading to some confusion. The distinct mineral Smithsonite was first described in 1832 and named for British chemist and mineralogist, James Smithson (1754-1829), whose estate financed the Smithsonian Institution.
Smithsonite is a variably colored trigonal mineral which only rarely is found in well formed crystals. The typical habit is as earthy botryoidal masses. It has a Mohs hardness of 4.5 and a specific gravity of 4.4 to 4.5.
I have a couple of these stones, one male and one female, as ridiculous as that may sound...it boggles my mind that someone can have a registered trademark for an element of Nature.
Boji® stones are concretions composed of either iron sulfide, i.e pyrite and marcasite, or in some cases jarosite, which are found in outcrops of the Smoky Hill Chalk Member of the Niobrara Formation within Gove County, Kansas. They are typically associated with thin layers of altered volcanic ash, called bentonite, which occur within the chalk comprising the Smoky Hill Chalk Member. A few of these concretions enclose, at least in part, large flattened valves of inoceramid bivalves. The "female" Boji® stones are smooth concretions, which range in size from a few millimeters to as much as 12 mm (6 inches) in length. Most of these concretions are oblate spheroids in shape. The "male" Boji® stones are small polycuboidal pyrite concretions, which are as much as 7 cm (0.23 foot ) in diameter (Hattin 1982). These concretions will explode if thrown in a fire. Also, when they are either cut or hammered, they produce sparks and a burning sulfur smell.
Tiger's eye (also Tigers eye, Tiger eye) is a chatoyant gemstone that is usually yellow- to red-brown, with a silky luster. It is a fibrous silicified crocidolite (blue asbestos), a classic example of pseudomorphous replacement. An incompletely silicified blue variant is called Hawk's eye. A member of the quartz group, its physical and optical properties are identical or very near to those of single-crystal quartz.
Soda jerk (or soda jerker) is the name for the person — typically a youth — who works the soda fountain in a drugstore. The term refers to the person who made an ice cream soda. This was made by putting flavored syrup into a specially designed tall glass, adding soda water and, finally one or two scoops of ice cream. The result was served with a long handled "soda spoon" and straws. The name soda jerk came from the jerking action the server would use on the soda fountain handle when adding the soda water. Very few drugstores still serve ice cream and soda, which reached its peak in the 1940s.
A small eating establishment, common in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, often within a drug store or other business, serving soda beverages, ice cream, and sometimes light meals.
The ice cream soda, float or spider (as referred to in Australia and New Zealand) is a treat that is typically made by mixing ice cream with either a soft drink or flavored syrup and carbonated water. The microscopic bubbles present in the ice cream act as "nucleation sites" which trigger the formation of large bubbles of carbon dioxide. The drink originated in the United States in the late 19th century.
Frozen custard is a cold dessert similar to ice cream, made with eggs in addition to cream and sugar. It typically contains 10% butterfat and 1.4% egg yolk.
Using a process called overrun, air is blended into the mixture of ingredients until its volume increases by approximately 20%. By comparison, ice cream may have an overrun as large as 100% - meaning half of the final product is composed of air. The high percentage of butterfat and egg yolk gives frozen custard a thick, creamy texture and a smoother, softer consistency than ice cream. Frozen custard is most often served at 26 degrees Fahrenheit (a full 16 degrees warmer than the 10 degrees Fahrenheit at which ice cream is served).
A s'more is a traditional campfire treat popular in the United States and Canada, consisting of a roasted marshmallow and a slab of chocolate sandwiched between two pieces of graham cracker.
S'mores are associated with recreational camping. Part of the enjoyment of this simple dessert is the way in which it is made on such camping trips. A marshmallow is skewered on the end of a long stick and held just above the campfire until (according to personal preference) its outer surface starts to brown, char, or even catch fire. Once heated, the inside of the marshmallow becomes soft. The marshmallow is quickly pinched off its stick with the waiting graham crackers, one of which has a piece of chocolate on it (typically a section of a Hershey's Milk Chocolate bar). Ideally, the heat from the roasted marshmallow partially melts the chocolate into a gooey mess.
S'more appears to be a contraction of the phrase, "some more". Because once you have one you always want s'more.
The Cream Puff is one of the main attractions at the Wisconsin State Fair. Since their introduction in 1924, cream puffs have grown to be a signature Fair item, selling more than 365,000 annually. The Wisconsin State Fair dairy bakery operates around-the-clock during the Fair to meet the ever-growing insatiable demand.
Some fairgoers wait all year for a chance to indulge in the rich sweetness of a State Fair cream puff. They are made from the ingredients Wisconsin is famous for — milk, cream, butter and eggs. These cream puffs are huge not dainty like their cousin the profiterole.
Cannoli are Sicilian pastry desserts. The singular is cannolo, meaning “little tube�?, with the etymology stemming from the Latin "canna", or reed. Cannoli originated in Sicily and are an essential part of Sicilian cuisine. They are also popular in Italian American cuisine.
Cannoli consist of tube-shaped shells of fried pastry dough, filled with a sweet, creamy filling usually containing ricotta cheese (or alternatively, but less traditionally, sweetened blended with some combination of vanilla, chocolate, pistachio, Marsala wine, rosewater or other flavorings.
The versions Americans are most familiar with tend to involve variations on the original concept. This is possibly due to adaptations made by Italians who immigrated to the U.S. in the 1900s and discovered limited availability of certain ingredients. The cannoli sold in Italian-American bakeries today usually still contain ricotta, but mascarpone is a less common alternative. Sometimes the filling is a simple custard of sugar, milk, and cornstarch. In either case, the cream is often flavored with vanilla or orange flower water and a light amount of cinnamon. Chopped pistachios, semi-sweet chocolate bits, and candied citrus peel or cherries are often still included, dotting the open ends of the pastry. Chocolate sprinkles are sometimes used as a garnish for cannoli in the United States.
Crème brûlée (French for "burnt cream"; pronounced /ˌkrɛm bru�?ˈleɪ/ in English) is a dessert consisting of a rich custard base topped with a layer of hard caramel, created by burning sugar under a grill, or with a blowtorch or other intense heat source. It is usually served cold in individual ramekins.
The custard base is normally flavoured with just vanilla, but it can be enhanced with chocolate, a liqueur, fruit, etc. Sometimes the hardened sugar on top will be given a Maillard reaction, or caramelization, by igniting a thin layer of liqueur sprinkled over the top.
Crème caramel, flan, or caramel custard is a rich custard dessert with a layer of soft caramel on top, as opposed to crème brûlée, which is custard with a hard caramel top.
Both 'crème caramel' and 'flan' are French names, though 'flan' more commonly means a custard tart in French. The dish has spread across Europe and the world, and is known as 'flan' in Spanish-speaking countries. In the United States, the dish is now best-known in a Latin American context, so is called flan; in Europe, it is generally known as crème caramel.
In Louisiana when one cooks just about anything, from say gumbo to etouffe to a pot of beans, they use what is called the trinity...onion, celery and bellpepper. Chopped and sauteed.
There are lots of recipes for crab cakes and they're all yummy.
Lump crabmeat, sauteed trinity (chopped celery, onion and bell pepper), a little garlic, a little cayenne, salt and pepper and a very little oregano and thyme, some bread crumbs and some mayonnaise...fry up neat little palm size flattened cakes in a blend of extra virgin olive oil and butter.
Many baby boomers remember the wildly popular JAMS shorts of the 1960s and 1980s. JAMS were closely associated with the California and Hawaii surf scenes. The JAMS brand still exists, and has grown into today's Jams World clothing and accessories line.
_Wikipedia
Growing up in southern California among surfers I know this word as a generic term spelled without capital letters. It was used for any baggy knee length swim shorts with drawstring waist that came in loud floral patterns. Jams is short for pajamas and the comfort of pajamas is implied.
Ska is linked with punk in my mind for many reasons The Mighty Mighty Bosstones being one of them. See Free Associate
Ska (pronounced /ska/ or in Jamaican Patois /skja/) is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s and was a precursor to rocksteady and reggae.
Ska combined elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues. It is characterized by a walking bass line, accented guitar or piano rhythms on the offbeat, and in some cases, jazz-like horn riffs. In the early 1960s, ska was the dominant musical genre of Jamaica, and it was also popular with British mods. Many skinheads, in various decades, have also enjoyed ska (along with reggae, rocksteady and other genres). Music historians typically divide the history of ska into three periods: the original Jamaican ska scene of the 1960s, the 2 Tone ska revival that started in England in the late 1970s, and the third wave ska movement, which started in the 1980s.
Fine textured, light green, tuft-forming sedge with a fine fibrous root system. It is found in wet prairies, bogs and marshes. Flower/seed head is a small, round, bristly structure found at the tip of the culum or blade.
Barkcloth is a soft, thick, slightly textured fabric so named because it has a rough surface like that of tree bark. This barkcloth is usually made of densely woven cotton fibers. Historically, the fabric has been used in home furnishings, such as curtains, drapery, upholstery, and slipcovers. It is often associated with 1950s and 1960s home fashions.
Equisetum is a genus of vascular plants that reproduce by spores rather than seeds. The genus includes 15 species commonly known as horsetails and scouring rushes. It is the only living genus in class Equisetopsida, formerly of the division Equisetophyta (Arthrophyta in older works), though recent molecular analyses place the genus within the ferns (Pteridophyta). Other classes and orders of Equisetopsida are known from the fossil record, where they were important members of the world flora during the Carboniferous period.
Forbs are herbaceous flowering plants that are not graminoids (grasses, sedges and rushes). The term is frequently used in vegetation ecology, especially in relation to grasslands, to refer to broad-leaved (dicot) herbs. Forbs represent a guild of plant species with broadly similar growth form, which in ecology is often more important than taxonomic relationship.
In addition to its use in ecological studies, the term forb may also be used for subdividing popular guides to the wildflowers of a region, together with other categories such as ferns, grasses, shrubs and trees. This approach is not followed in formal regional floras, which are usually organised taxonomically.
My Little Pony is a line of colorful toy ponies marketed primarily to young children and produced by the toy manufacturer Hasbro. It was introduced in 1981. "My Little Pony" became immensely popular during the 80s, at one point even outselling Mattel's Barbie.
Barrel of Monkeys is a toy game first created by Lakeside Toys in 1965. Today it is produced by the Milton Bradley Company. Milton Bradley's editions consist of a toy barrel in either blue, yellow, red, or green. The barrel contains 12 monkeys, their color usually corresponding to the barrel's color. The instructions on the bottom of the barrel state "Dump monkeys onto table. Pick up one monkey by an arm. Hook other arm through a second monkey's arm. Continue making a chain. Your turn is over when a monkey is dropped." In addition to these basic instructions, the barrel also contains instructions for playing alone or with two or more players.
Raggedy Andy is a boy rag doll, the friend of Raggedy Ann. The character was created by Johnny Gruelle in 1920. Raggedy Andy wears blue pants that button to a plaid shirt with a collar and a bow tie. He has the characteristic red and white striped legs and orange yarn hair. He wears a sailor cap. He has the famous "I love you" heart on his chest just as Raggedy Ann does.
Raggedy Ann was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame in 2002. Raggedy Andy joined her in 2007.
A squirt gun (or water pistol or water gun) is a type of toy designed to shoot water. It works on the same principle as a spray bottle. The body of the toy is essentially a container for water, and the "trigger" is attached to a pump which squirts water out of a tiny hole at the "muzzle."
Candy Land is a simple racing board game. It has become a cultural icon in the U.S., where it is often the first board game played by children because it requires no ability to read and only minimal counting skills.
The game was designed in the 1940s by Eleanor Abbott, while she was recovering from polio in San Diego, California.
The game was bought by Milton Bradley Company (now owned by Hasbro) and first published in 1949.
A December, 2005 article in Forbes magazine analyzed the most popular American toys by decade, with help from the Toy Industry Association. Candy Land led the list for the 1940-1949 decade.
Clue is a crime fiction board game originally published by Waddingtons in the United Kingdom in 1948. It was devised by Anthony E. Pratt, a solicitor's clerk and part-time clown from Birmingham, England. It is now published by the United States game and toy company Hasbro, which acquired its U.S. publisher Parker Brothers as well as Waddingtons.
The game is set in a mansion, with the board divided into different rooms. The players each represent a character who is a guest staying at this house, whose owner, Dr. Black (Mr. Boddy in the North American version), has been found murdered. Players attempt to solve the murder. The solution to the murder requires the three components of Suspect, Weapon, and Room.
The Koosh ball is a toy ball, unique in its possession of rubber filaments around a center core as opposed to a smooth, consistent surface. (see photo.)
The Koosh ball was developed in 1986 by Scott Stillinger to be easy for his daughter and son (5 and 8 years old respectively) to hold and throw. It was named after the sound it made when it landed. Stillinger started the OddzOn Products Inc. company with his brother-in-law, Mark Button (who had previously been a marketing manager for Mattel), in 1987 in order to sell it. The Koosh ball was one of 1988's hot Christmas toys, appealing considerably to all ages. The company later expanded their product line to include 50 other Koosh-related products, including keyrings, baseball sets, and yo-yos. The number of Koosh Balls sold is estimated to be in the millions.
The ball consists of approximately 2000 natural rubber filaments, and has been released in a variety of color combinations.
Liddle Kiddles is a range of toy dolls produced by Mattel that was introduced in 1965 and by 1966 they began to hit the store shelves. Until then most of the dolls were 8" to 12" fashion dolls or baby dolls, so these tiny Kiddles with their large heads were quite different. They became so popular that other toy companies tried to produce their own versions of the Liddle Kiddle to cash in on Mattel's success.
The original Kiddle doll was made of a soft vinyl with painted facial features and rooted hair that could be combed. The first, second, and thired series (bigger bodies as collectors call them) range from 2 3/4" to 3 1/2."
The bigger bodies ( first 10 dolls) are designed to resemble typical neighborhood children at play. The name Liddle Kiddles was actually taken from the words little kid. Each of the first 24 dolls had detailed clothing and accessories that perfectly matched their theme and size. Wire skeletons inside the vinyl bodies enable the dolls to be posed and reposed realistically.
Pop beads are made of polyethene and other soft plastics. A knob at one end fits into a corresponding hole on a neighboring bead to link together and create necklaces and bracelets. They came in many colors and were a fad during the late 1950s and early 1960s. Vintage sets fetch good prices. Fisher-Price made a large colorful type of pop beads called Snap-Lock beads.
Breyer Animal Creations (or just Breyer), a division of Reeves International, is one of the oldest model animal companies to date. The company specializes in model horses, although various wildlife and domestic animal models have been made in the past. It's model horses are some of the most renowned model horses in the hobby, being as the models are both inexpensive and realistic. It manufactures well over 5 million models annually.
The company specializes in realistic, scale animal models made from cellulose acetate. Most of the company's products focus on model horses and the tack and accessories (such as stables, barns, grooming implements) that accompany horse care.
Each horse is cast in a mold, then the seams are sanded and polished. Markings and color patterns are usually obtained by using a stencil, although most older models were airbrushed by hand, with markings such as undefined socks or a bald face merely left unpainted. Most detailing, such as eyewhites (common on 1950s and 1960s models and enjoying a resurgence in modern models), brands, or other individual markings are painstakingly handpainted.
Boohbah is a 2004 television show aimed at children between three and six years old. It premiered in 2003 on ITV in the United Kingdom, and on 19 January 2004 in the United States on PBS.
The Boohbahs are five furry, gumdrop-shaped creatures played by actors in full body costumes. Their thick, shimmery fur sparkles with tiny lights; their Kewpie doll style heads are hairless and feature big eyes with rows of lights for eyebrows. They do not speak, but instead make noises like squeaks, squeals, and clicks. The Boohbahs can retract their heads into their furry necks. Each Boohbah is a different color. They are:
Humbah (Yellow)
Zumbah (Purple)
Zing Zing Zingbah (Orange)
Jumbah (Blue)
Jingbah (Pink)
The Boohbahs can fly; part of their routine is to assemble into a circle, holding hands like skydivers. Each then emits a different musical note as a flash of colored light (matching the Boohbah's color) is sent out from their heads to a central point.
Spirograph is a registered trademark of Hasbro, Inc., for a geometric drawing toy.
The Spirograph produces mathematical curves of the variety technically known as hypotrochoids and epitrochoids.
The Spirograph was invented by British engineer Denys Fisher who exhibited it in 1965 at the Nuremberg International Toy Fair. It was subsequently produced by his company. Distribution rights were acquired by Kenner, Inc., which introduced it to the United States' market in 1966.
Etch A Sketch is a registered trademark for a mechanical drawing toy manufactured by the Ohio Art Company.
An Etch A Sketch resembles a thick, flat gray screen in a plastic frame, and is equipped with two knobs on the front of the frame in the lower corners. The knobs move a stylus that displaces gray powder on the back of the screen, leaving a dark line as the stylus is moved. The knobs can thus be used to create lineographic images. One knob moves the stylus horizontally, and the other vertically.
Introduced near the peak of the Baby Boom, the classically simple Etch A Sketch is one of the best-known toys of that generation, and remains popular to this day.
Weebles is a trademark for several lines of children's toys originating in Hasbro's Playskool division on July 23, 1971. Shaped like eggs with a weight at the fat, or bottom end, they wobble when pushed, but never fall completely over, hence the name. Some Weebles were designed to look like humans.
The popular catchphrase, "Weebles wobble but they don't fall down", was used in advertising during their rise in popularity in the 1970s and during the relaunch in the 2000s.
A summertime outdoor water fun toy manufactured by Wham-o.
The toy was a seven-foot plastic hose attached to an aluminum water-jet nozzle. The nozzle was covered with a bellshaped plastic head with a silly expression. The toy was attached to a regular garden hose and when the water was turned on it danced and spun and squirted water over a wide and unpredictable area.
The Water Wiggle was voluntarily recalled by Wham-o and all manufacturing stopped in 1978 because of two separate deaths of children due to drowning.
SuperBall (originally "Super Ball") is an example of a bouncy ball invented by Norman Stingley, and manufactured by Wham-O in 1965. It is an extremely elastic ball made of Zectron, which contains the synthetic rubber polymer polybutadiene, vulcanized with sulfur at a temperature of 165 degrees Celsius and at a pressure of 80 atmospheres. The Super Ball has an amazingly high coefficient of restitution. Dropped from shoulder level, Super Ball snapped nearly all the way back; thrown down, it could leap over a three-story building.
After watching his kids play with a Super Ball, Lamar Hunt, founder of the American Football League, coined the term Super Bowl.
A ticker-tape parade is a parade event, held in a downtown urban setting, allowing the jettison of large amounts of shredded paper products from nearby office buildings onto the parade route, creating a triumphal effect by the snowstorm-like flurry.
The term originated in New York City after a spontaneous celebration held on October 29, 1886 during the dedication of the Statue of Liberty and is still most closely associated with New York City. The term ticker-tape referred originally to the use of the paper output of ticker tape machines, which were remotely-driven devices used in brokerages to provide updated stock market quotes. Nowadays, the paper products are largely waste office paper that have been cut using conventional shredders. The city also distributes paper confetti.
In New York City, ticker-tape parades are not annual events but are reserved for special occasions. Soon after the first such parade in 1886, city officials realized the utility of such events and began to hold them on triumphal occasions, for extraordinary events, and to honor heads of state.
A slap bracelet (or snap bracelet) is a bracelet consisting of layered, flexible stainless steel bi-stable spring bands sealed within a colorful fabric cover. The bracelet can be straightened out, creating tension within the springy metal bands. The straightened bracelet is then slapped against the wearer's forearm, causing the bands to spring back into a curve which wraps around the wrist, securing the bracelet to the wearer. The slap bracelet was a popular fad among children, pre-teens and teenagers in the early 1990s and was available in a huge number of then-popular patterns and colors.
The original "Slap Wrap" bracelet was invented by Stu Anders & Phil Bart at Main Street Industries, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
Baton twirling was popular among little girls in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Since then classes are available to young kids in much the same way as dance lessons are. A twirling baton was considered a toy even though it was also an instrument used by adults in marching bands.
The word tricycle has been in use since the early 19th century and stems from the Greek tri (treia), meaning three, and kyklos, meaning a circle or wheel. The abbreviation trike has been in use since 1883.
The most common type of tricycle today is the child's toy pedal tricycle.
Alphabet Block sets were wooden blocks with primary colored letters, numbers, and pictures. The best were embossed (not just printed) on 1 3/4" basswood blocks. Some sets were sold in wooden wagons pulled by a string.
A slot car (sometimes, slotcar) is a powered miniature auto or other vehicle which is guided by a groove or slot in the track on which it runs. A pin or blade extends from the bottom of the car into the slot. Though some slot cars are used to model highway traffic on scenic layouts, the great majority are used in the competitive hobby of slot car racing or slot racing.
Hot Wheels is a brand of die cast toy car, introduced by American toymaker Mattel in 1968. It was the primary competitor of Matchbox until 1996, when Mattel acquired rights to the Matchbox brand from Tyco.
The original, and now famous, Hot Wheels logo was designed by California artist Rick Irons, who at that time worked for Mattel.
Little Golden Books is a popular series of children's books. The first 12 titles were published October 1, 1942.
The Little Golden Books, which initially sold for 25¢, were published by Simon and Schuster in cooperation with the Artist and Writers Guild, Inc.
Western Printing and Lithographing Company in Racine, Wisconsin, was Simon and Schuster's partner in the Little Golden Books venture. Western handled the actual printing. In 1958, Simon and Schuster sold its interest in Little Golden Books to Western.
Ownership and control of the series has changed several times since. In 2001, Random House acquired Golden Books for about 85 million dollars.
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These are small picture books with cardboard covers and characteristic gold foil spines.
Crayola Crayons were invented by cousins Edwin Binney and C. Harold Smith. Binney's wife Alice coined the word "Crayola" by combining the French word for chalk (craie) and the "ola" part of "oleaginous" (oily).
The first box of Binney & Smith crayons, produced in 1903, sold for a nickel and contained eight colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet, brown, and black. While it was widely known that the 8 count box was the box they initially sold their crayons in, they carried a full line of boxes in different sizes and colors for many uses.
Matchbox is a die cast toy brand currently owned by Mattel, Inc. Matchbox toys were so named because the original models were packed in boxes similar in size and style to boxes of matches. The series became so popular that the Matchbox name was once widely used by the public as a genericized trademark for all die cast toy cars measuring approximately 2.5 inches (6.5 cm) in length, regardless of brand. In the 1970s, Matchbox switched to the more conventional, plastic and cardboard "blister packs" used for other die cast cars such as Hot Wheels, although the box style packaging was re-introduced for the collector market in recent years, particularly successfully with the release of the "35th Anniversary of Superfast" series in 2004.
Lionel Corporation's trains, produced from 1901 to 1969, are the most famous toy trains in the United States and among the most famous in the world. Lionel Trains were inducted in the National Toy Hall of Fame in 2006.
The National Toy Hall of Fame is a hall of fame that recognizes the contributions of toys and games that have sustained their popularity for many years. Established in 1998, the National Toy Hall of Fame is in the Strong Museum (now the Strong - National Museum of Play) in Rochester, New York.
Thirty-nine toys have been enshrined in the National Toy Hall of Fame.
Corn pone (sometimes referred to as "Indian pone") is a type of cornbread, made of a thick, malleable dough made of cornmeal or hominy grits, shaped by hand and then baked or fried in butter, margarine, lard or bacon grease. Corn pone has been a staple of Southern U.S. cuisine, and has been discussed by many American writers, including Mark Twain. Typically corn pone is formed in two to three inch oval shapes and features a crunchy and/or chewy texture.
The term "corn pone" is sometimes used as a noun to refer to one who possesses certain rural, unsophisticated peculiarities ("he's a corn pone"), or as an adjective to describe particular rural, folksy or "hick" characteristics (e.g., "corn pone" humor). The term is sometimes intended as a pejorative, often directed at persons from rural areas of the southern and midwestern U.S.
reesetee, I wish we had Picadoos when I was a kid...we just had the boy stuff...to make cars and boats and snakes and bugs. Picadoos sound much cooler.
A prairie skirt is an American style of skirt, an article of women's and girls clothing.
Prairie skirts are slightly flared to very full, with one or more flounces (deep ruffles) or tiers, and are often worn over a ruffled eyelet or lace-trimmed petticoat. They were introduced to fashion by Ralph Lauren in his fall 1978 Western-themed collection.
Prairie skirts are so-called after their resemblance to the home-sewn skirts worn by pioneer women in the mid-nineteenth century, which in turn are a simplified version of the flared, ruffled skirts characteristic of high-fashion dresses of the 1820s.
In keeping with their design inspiration, traditional prairie skirts are usually made of "country" fabrics such as denim and flowered calico. Prairie skirts are a staple of women's western wear, and very full prairie skirts are worn for square dancing.
Mid-calf length, button-front denim prairie skirts with a single flounce, worn with a petticoat that was slightly longer than the skirt, became a mainstream fashion in the 1970s and early '80s following Lauren's introduction.
Creepy Crawlers is the best-known name associated with an activity toy made by Mattel beginning in 1964. A more generic term for the toy is "Thingmaker".
A Thingmaker toy consists of a series of die-cast metal molds, into which are poured a liquid chemical substance called Plasti-Goop, which came in many colors and varieties. The mold is then heated atop an open-face electric hot plate oven. The Plasti-Goop is cured by the heat, and when cooled, is removed from the mold, forming solid, rubbery replicas.
The concept of the Thingmaker was actually introduced in 1963, as part of Mattel's "Vac-U-Maker" set. This omnibus toy combined the new "molds and Plasti-Goop" technology with the existing "Vac-U-Form" machine, which molded simple sculptures by heating thin sheets of plastic, then using a vacuum pump to form the softened plastic over hard plastic forms. Following this introduction period, the Thingmaker portion was "spun off" as a separate set, and the "Creepy Crawlers" line began in earnest.
Mattel produced many Thingmaker sets as follow-ups to the original "Creepy Crawlers" throughout the 1960s, utilizing a variety of themes, aimed at both boys and girls.
Creepy Crawlers is the best-known name associated with an activity toy made by Mattel beginning in 1964. A more generic term for the toy is "Thingmaker".
A Thingmaker toy consists of a series of die-cast metal molds, into which are poured a liquid chemical substance called Plasti-Goop, which came in many colors and varieties. The mold is then heated atop an open-face electric hot plate oven. The Plasti-Goop is cured by the heat, and when cooled, is removed from the mold, forming solid, rubbery replicas.
The concept of the Thingmaker was actually introduced in 1963, as part of Mattel's "Vac-U-Maker" set. This omnibus toy combined the new "molds and Plasti-Goop" technology with the existing "Vac-U-Form" machine, which molded simple sculptures by heating thin sheets of plastic, then using a vacuum pump to form the softened plastic over hard plastic forms. Following this introduction period, the Thingmaker portion was "spun off" as a separate set, and the "Creepy Crawlers" line began in earnest.
Mattel produced many Thingmaker sets as follow-ups to the original "Creepy Crawlers" throughout the 1960s, utilizing a variety of themes, aimed at both boys and girls.
Shrinky Dinks were invented in 1973 by Kate Bloomberg and Betty Morris from Wisconsin. The first kits were manufactured by the major toy companies of the time such as Milton Bradley, Colorforms, Western Publishing and Skyline Toys. The shrink plastic is still available from many retailers and can be used for anything from charms to pins.
Prior to heating, the thin, flexible polystyrene plastic sheets can be coloured with felt-tip pens, colored pencils or crayons and cut into shapes. When heated in the oven or with a heat gun, the plastic shrinks by about 5/8ths and becomes thicker and more rigid, while retaining the colored design.
Although Shrinky Dinks is considered to be an arts and crafts product for children, many adult crafters find the product to be suitable for jewelery making and other projects.
When you turn a tight nut too hard with your wrench and it suddenly lets go and your knuckles slam into the machine you are working on and graze the skin. Ow!
Cimaruta (Chee-Mah-Roo-Tah): Also called Mallocchio, Spring of Rue, Jettatura, Witch’s Charm, and Cima di Ruta. A very ancient protective charm dating back to 4500-3000 B.C.E., depicting a bird, fish, serpent, and spiral.
Steeped in history and witchcraft, a version of the Cimaruta, or Italian Witch Charm, was mostly used in ancient Italy. “Cimaruta,�? means “spring of rue�? and the branches of the charm are the branches of that most sacred plant. From the rue branches at each end is a sprout; out of the sprout comes forth many occult symbols, such as the key, dagger, blossom, and moon. All Cimaruta are different according to region of origin, and the symbols vary. Some of the variations include: a rose, a hand holding a wand or sword, a flaming heart, a crescent moon, a snake, an owl, a plumed Medieval helmet, a Vervain flower blossom, a dolphin, a cock, and a crow.
The Cimaruta was always made of silver, and was traditionally double-sided. The Cimaruta was often placed upon the breasts of infants, as a protection (evoking the goddess Diana whom ancient Roman women gave offeings to for an easier childbirth). Before it became popular among the common people, it was used by witches as a sign of membership in the Witch-cult. The Cimaruta charm was used by the Society of Diana, the Old Religion of the Witches, in the past centuries, and many Italian witches still wear them. Because most Cimaruta charms are fairly large - some almost 4 inches across - not only can it be worn around the neck but it can also be hung above any door, on the wall, and near any sacred altar space. However, Cimaruta are rare and can be very difficult to find. A few can be found on Internet shops and in some physical shops that carry witchcraft supplies.
Astral projection (or astral travel) is a paranormal interpretation of an out-of-body experience achieved either awake or via lucid dreaming or deep meditation. The concept of astral projection assumes the existence of another body, separate from the physical body and capable of traveling to non-physical planes of existence. Commonly such planes are called astral, etheric, or spiritual. Astral projection is often experienced as the spirit or astral body leaving the physical body to travel in the spirit world or astral plane.
The astral plane, also called the astral world or desire world, is a plane of existence according to esoteric philosophies, some religious teachings and New Age thought. Although the word "astral" is often associated with New Age ideas, this term was also used historically by alchemists. In the late 19th and early 20th century the term was popularised by Theosophy, especially as developed by Annie Besant and C. W. Leadbeater, and later Alice Bailey. In this cosmology, the astral is the first metaphysical plane beyond the physical, but is "denser" than the mental plane. The astral plane is also sometimes termed the world of emotion or world of illusion, and corresponds to Blavatsky's Kamic Plane.
According to Occult, Theosophical, and New Age teachings, the astral plane can be visited consciously with the astral body through means of meditation and mantra, lucid dreaming, or other forms of training and development.
The Akashic records (Akasha is a Sanskrit word meaning "sky", "space" or "aether") is a term from Hinduism that was incorporated into Theosophy denoting a collection of mystical knowledge encoded in a non-physical plane of existence. The records are supposed to contain all knowledge, including all human experience, of the history of the Cosmos. The Akashic records are metaphorically described as a library and are also likened to a universal computer or the 'Mind of God'. The records are supposed to be constantly updated. The concept originated in the theosophical movements of the 19th Century, and remains prevalent in New Age discourse.
A sigil (pronounced /'sɪdʒ.ɪl/ or /'sɪg.ɪl/; pl. sigilia or sigils) is a symbol created for a specific magical purpose. A sigil is usually made up of a complex combination of several specific symbols or geometric figures each with a specific meaning or intent.
The term sigil derives from the Latin sigilum meaning "seal," though it may also be related to the Hebrew סגולה (segulah meaning "word, action or item of spiritual effect"). The old Norse binding rune is an example of the idea. A sigil may have an abstract, pictorial or semi-abstract form. It may appear in any medium -- physical, virtual, or mental. Visual symbols are the most popular form, but the use of aural and tactile symbols in magic is not unheard of.
The Hand of Glory is the dried and pickled hand of a man who has been hanged, often specified as being the left (Latin: sinister) hand, or else, if the man were hanged for murder, the hand that "did the deed."
According to old European beliefs, a candle made of the fat from a malefactor who died on the gallows, virgin wax, and Lapland sesame oil (the candle could only be put out with milk), and the hand having come from the said hanged criminal, lighted and placed in the Hand of Glory (as in a candlestick) would have rendered motionless all persons to whom it was presented. (In another versions the hair of the dead man is used as a wick, also the candle is said to give light only to the holder.) The Hand of Glory also purportedly had the power to unlock any door it came across.
The legend is traceable to about 1440, but the name only dates from 1707. It was originally a name for the mandrake root (via French "mandragore" and thus, "maindegloire" - "hand of glory") that became conflated with the earlier legend. The confusion may have occurred because mandrakes are said to grow beneath the bodies of hanged criminals.
Worry dolls, or trouble dolls, are very small dolls originally made in Guatemala. A person who cannot sleep due to worrying can place a worry doll under the pillow; the doll is thought to worry in the person's place, thereby permitting the person to sleep. In the morning the children wake up without their worries, which have been taken away by the dolls during the night. The dolls are about 1/2 inch (13 mm) tall and handmade from cotton, wood and cardboard.
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I have dozens of these and hence, very few worries. They come in both male and female attire and a wide variety of colored fabrics are used in creating them.
The Wild Hunt was a folk myth prevalent in former times across Northern, Western and Central Europe. The fundamental premise in all instances is the same: a phantasmal group of huntsmen with the accoutrements of hunting, horses, hounds, etc., in mad pursuit across the skies or along the ground, or just above it. It is often a way to explain thunderstorms.
The hunters may be the dead, or the fairies (often in folklore connected with the dead). The hunter may be an unidentified lost soul, a deity or spirit of either gender, or may be a historical or legendary figure like Dietrich of Berne, the Danish king Valdemar Atterdag, Satan, Odin (or other reflexes of the same god, such as Alemannic Wuodan in Wuotis Heer of Central Switzerland, etc.), or Arawn. Women may also be the hunters, as in related cult of Diana or Holda . The hunt is often for a woman, who is captured or killed, or a moss maiden.
It has been variably referred to as the Wild Hunt, Woden's Hunt, the Raging Host (Germany), Herlathing (England), Mesnee d'Hellequin (Northern France), Cŵn Annwn (Wales) Cain's Hunt, Ghost Riders (North America), Herod's Hunt, Gabriel's Hounds, Asgardreia (Asgard ride) and even in Cornwall "the devil's dandy dogs."
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Jane Yolen wrote a wonderful children's book called The Wild Hunt that does the legend proud and brings it into the modern world with skill and originality.
The Tuatha Dé Danann ("peoples of the goddess Danu", pronounced /tu�?ˈəhə dʲɛ�? danˈən) are a race of people in Irish mythology. In the invasions tradition which begins with the Lebor Gabála Érenn, they are the fifth group to settle Ireland, conquering the island from the Fir Bolg.
They are thought to derive from the pre-Christian gods of Ireland. When the surviving stories were written, Ireland had been Christian for centuries, and the Tuatha Dé were represented as mortal kings and heroes of the distant past, but there are many clues to their former divine status. A poem in the Book of Leinster lists many of the Tuatha Dé, but ends "Although the author enumerates them, he does not worship them." Goibniu, Creidhne and Luchta are referred to as Trí Dé Dána ("three gods of craftsmanship"), and the Dagda's name is interpreted in medieval texts as "the good god." Even after they are displaced as the rulers of Ireland, characters such as Lugh, the Morrígan, Aengus and Manannan appear in stories set centuries later, showing all the signs of immortality.
In Irish mythology the aos sí (older form, aes sídhe), pronounced "ess shee", are a powerful, supernatural race comparable to the fairies or elves of other traditions. They are variously believed to live underground in the fairy mounds, across the western sea, or in an invisible world that coexists with the world of humans.
In the Gaelic languages, the "people of the mounds" are also referred to in Irish as the daoine sídhe ("deena shee"), and in Scottish Gaelic as the daoine sìth or daoine sìdh. They are variously believed to be the ancestors, the spirits of nature, or the goddesses and gods themselves.
Tylwyth teg is a common Welsh name for fairies, which means "the fair folk." Sometimes called "bendith y mamau" which means "a mother's blessing" and is a euphemism for these fairies in Glamorganshire. Their king is said to be Gwyn ap Nudd. They are associated with the lake, Llyn y Fan Fach in south Wales.
Calling fairies by a favorable name "fair folk" or "mother's blessing" was hoped to avert kidnapping in which the faeries would typically leave a sickly changeling child in the place of the healthy child they had stolen.
These fairies were described as fair-haired and as loving golden hair. They were said to covet mortal children with blond or fair hair. They are usually portrayed as benevolent but capable of mischief. They are neither entirely good or completely evil, unlike the Selee and Unselee (See also seelie and unseelie.) In their benevolent capacity, they might, for example, reward a woman who kept a tidy house with gifts of silver.
The Tylwyth Teg are said to fear iron and unbaptized children could supposedly be protected from them by placing a a poker over their cradle.
Gwlad y Tylwyth Teg is a Welsh name for fairy-land.
William Butler Yeats, in Irish Fairy and Folk Tales, divided them into the Trooping Fairies and the Solitary Fairies. Katharine Mary Briggs noted that a third distinction might be needed for "domesticated fairies" who live in human household, but such fairies might join with other fairies for merry-making and fairs.
The trooping fairies contained the aristocracy of the fairy world, including the Irish Daoine Sídhe. They were known as trooping faeries because they traveled in long processions, such as the one from which Tam Lin was rescued. But the trooping fairies also included other fairies of lesser importance; a trooping fairy could be large or small, friendly or sinister.
The Welsh fairies, Tylwyth Teg, and the Irish Sídhe were usually not classified as wholly good or wholly evil.
Unlike the trooping fairies, solitary fairies live alone and are inclined to be wicked and malicious creatures, except for the brownie who is said to help with household chores.
Two of the most prominent categories of fairies, derived from Scottish folklore, are the division into the Seelie Court and the Unseelie Court.
The Unseelie (Unholy) Court consisted of the malicious and evilly-inclined fairies. Unlike the Seelie Court, no offense is necessary to bring down their assaults. As a group (or "host"), they would appear at night and assault travelers, often carrying them through the air, beating them, and forcing them to commit such acts as shooting elfshot at cattle.
Two of the most prominent categories of fairies, derived from Scottish folklore, are the division into the Seelie Court and the Unseelie Court. The Seelie (Blessed or Holy) Court was seen as more beneficent toward humans. They were known to seek help from humans, to warn those who had accidentally offended them, and to return human kindness with favors of their own. Still, a fairy belonging to this court would avenge insults and could be prone to mischief. The most common time of day to see them was twilight.
The Irish Dullahan (also Durahan, Gan Ceann) is a type of unseelie faerie. It is headless, usually seen riding a headless black horse and carrying his head under one arm. The head's eyes are massive and constantly dart about like flies, while the mouth is constantly in a hideous grin that touches both sides of the head. The flesh of the head is said to have the color and consistency of moldy cheese. The dullahan's whip is actually a human corpse's spine, and the wagons they sometimes use are made of similarly funereal objects (e.g. candles in skulls to light the way, the spokes of the wheels made from thigh bones, the wagon's covering made from a worm-chewn pall). When the dullahan stops riding, it is at where a person due to die is. The dullahan calls out their name, at which point they immediately perish.
There is no way to bar the road against a dullahan--all locks and gates open on their own when it approaches. Also, they do not appreciate being watched while on their errands, throwing a basin of blood on those who dare to do so (often a mark that they're among the next to die), or even lashing out the watchers' eyes with their whips. Nonetheless, they are frightened of gold, and even a single gold pin can drive a dullahan away. The myth may have inspired the Headless Horseman in The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.
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In the Disney film "Darby O'Gill and the Little People", a dullahan makes an appearance as the coachman of the cóiste-bodhar (death coach).
The cóiste bodhar is a legendary Death Coach. It is an ancient legend of Ireland. The spectral black coach sometimes driverless and sometimes driven by a dullahan, is pulled by black horses, or headless horses, or skeletal horses and comes to pick up the souls of the newly dead.
This is depicted in a very satisfying way in the 1959 Walt Disney film, "Darby O'Gill and the Little People."
Can you imagine? In 1962 my mother bought me a pair of powder blue patent leather flats to wear for Easter, along with a powder blue dress and a skimmer
Shocking Pink, (also called neon pink) is bold and intense. Fashion designer Elsa Schiaparelli popularized this color in 1936, naming it shocking pink; it was the color of the box her perfume called Shocking Pink came in (the box was shaped like the torso of film star Mae West).
"This intense magenta was called shocking pink in the 1930s, hot pink in the 1950s, and kinky pink in the 1960s.
Baby blue is a lighter shade of cyan and a shade of blue. It is known as a pastel color.
The first recorded use of baby blue as a color name in English was in 1892.
In Western culture, the color baby blue is often associated with baby boys (and pastel pink for baby girls), particularly in clothing and linen and shoes. This is a recent tradition, however, and until the 1940s the convention was exactly the opposite: pink was considered the appropriate for boys as the more masculine and "decided" while blue was the more delicate and dainty color and therefore appropriate for girls.
Powder blue may refer to two different colors. Originally, it referred to a dark blue color, but it has since come to refer to a pale blue color (perhaps resulting from confusion over the word's origin), possibly because the name reminded people of baby powder and so people thought of it as a color similar to baby blue. The original color is now called dark powder blue.
Star anise, star aniseed, badiane or Chinese star anise, (Chinese: 八角, pinyin: b�?jiǎo, lit. "eight-horn") is a spice that closely resembles anise in flavor, obtained from the star-shaped pericarp of Illicium verum, a small native evergreen tree of southwest China. The star shaped fruits are harvested just before ripening. It is widely used in Chinese cuisine, in Indian cuisine where it is a major component of garam masala, and in Malay/Indonesian cuisine. It is widely grown for commercial use in China, India, and most other countries in Asia. Star anise is an ingredient of the traditional five-spice powder of Chinese cooking.
Water wings, also called floaties, arm bands and swimmies, are a device to help a wearer float in water and learn to swim.
Water wings are typically cylindrical inflatable plastic bands that are inflated and worn on the upper arm. When the wearer is in water, the air inside the water wings provides buoyancy on account of its far lower density than the water. Although often thought of as a child's floatation device, water wings are also available in adult sizes.
Although water wings are popular among small children, swimming experts caution against using them, because although water wings help the child to float, they do not prevent him/her from accidentally going under water and potentially drowning. Waterwings are not a life-saving device. Mistaking them for one can create a potentially fatal false sense of security.
The carambola is a species of tree native to Indonesia, India and Sri Lanka and is popular throughout Southeast Asia Trinidad Malaysia and parts of East Asia. It is also grown in Dominican Republic, Brazil, Peru, Ghana, Guyana, Samoa, Tonga, Taiwan, French Polynesia, Costa Rica and Australia. Carambola is commercially grown in the United States in south Florida and Hawaii. Its fruit, the carambola, more popularly known as star fruit, but also coromandel gooseberry, kamranga, or five finger, is a golden-yellow to green berry. When cut across it shows a 5-pointed (sometimes 6-pointed or 7-pointed) star shape, hence the name, "star fruit." Star fruits are crunchy, and have a slightly tart, acidic, sweet taste, reminiscent of pineapples, apples, and sometimes kiwi fruit. The fruits are a good source of vitamin C. Its seeds are small and brown. They consist of a tough outer skin and a tangy white inside.
There are two varieties of star fruit - acidulate and sweet. The tart varieties can often be identified by their narrowly spaced ribs. The sweet varieties usually have thick fleshy ribs.
The fruit starts out green, and goes to yellow as it ripens, though it can be eaten in both stages.
Individuals with kidney trouble should avoid consuming the fruit, due to the presence of oxalic acid. Juice made from carambola can be even more dangerous due to its concentration of the acid.Fatal outcomes after ingestion of star fruits have been described in uraemic patients.
A chocolate star is a small milk chocolate candy extruded in the shape of a starburst, manufactured in the United States by Brach Candy Company. Sold in bulk and in family size bags.
Swim caps were made of rubberized fabric during the early 20th century. By the 1920s they were made of latex. The earliest chin strap caps were know as "aviators style" as they resembled the strapped leather helmets of flyers of the day. During the 1940s swim caps became scarce as rubber was needed for war materials. It was a lucky girl who had a swim cap to protect her "wave" ( hair style) during that period. The permanent wave hairstyle took time to obtain and was expensive, so many women wanted to protect their hair while swimming. The 1950s saw decorated caps come into vogue, and during the 1960s colorful flower petal swim caps became popular.
In English folklore, Jack Frost appears as an elfish creature who personifies crisp, cold, winter weather; a variant of Father Winter (AKA "Old Man Winter").
Tradition holds Jack Frost responsible for leaving frosty crystal patterns on windows on cold mornings (window frost or fern frost).
Residential housing comprised of or based upon the geodesic dome...reportedly much better suited to withstanding high winds such as those found in hurricanes than conventional housing.
A geodesic dome is an almost spherical structure based on a network of great circles (geodesics) lying approximately on the surface of a sphere. The geodesics intersect to form triangular elements that have local triangular rigidity and yet also distribute the stress across the entire structure. It is the only man-made structure that becomes proportionally stronger as it increases in size. When completed to form a full sphere, it is known as a geodesic sphere. Of all known structures made from linear elements, a geodesic dome has the highest ratio of enclosed volume to weight.
The first dome that could be called "geodesic" in every respect was designed just after World War I by Walther Bauersfeld, chief engineer of the Carl Zeiss optical company, for a planetarium to house his new planetarium projector. Some thirty years later R. Buckminster Fuller further investigated this concept and named the dome "geodesic" from field experiments with Kenneth Snelson and others at Black Mountain College in the late 1940s. Although Fuller cannot be said to be the first inventor, he exploited and developed the idea, receiving a U.S. patent.
An octagon house is an eight-sided house. A unique fad in residential architecture, they were particularly popular during the mid-19th century in the United States.
The sistrum was a sacred instrument in ancient Egypt. Perhaps originating in the worship of Bast, it was used in dances and religious ceremonies, particularly in the worship of the goddess Hathor, with the U-shape of the sistrum's handle and frame seen as resembling the face and horns of the cow goddess. It was also shaken to avert the flooding of the Nile and to frighten away Set. Isis in her role as mother and creator was depicted holding a pail symbolizing the flooding of the Nile, in one hand and a sistrum in the other. The goddess Bast too is often depicted holding a sistrum, symbolizing her role as a goddess of dance, joy, and festivity.
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The sistrum is also used in rites to propitiate the goddess Sekhmet.
The sod house or "soddy" was a corollary to the log cabin during frontier settlement of the United States and Canada. The prairie lacked standard building materials such as wood or stone; however, sod from thickly-rooted prairie grass was abundant. Prairie grass had a much thicker, tougher root structure than modern landscaping grass.
Construction of a sod house involved cutting patches of sod in rectangles, often 2'×1'×6" (600×300×150mm) long, and piling them into walls. Builders employed a variety of roofing methods. Sod houses could accommodate normal doors and windows. The resulting structure was a well-insulated but damp dwelling that was very inexpensive. Sod houses required frequent maintenance and were vulnerable to rain damage. Stucco or wood panels often protected the outer walls. Canvas or plaster often lined the interior walls.
The tallgrass prairie is an ecosystem native to central North America, with fire as its primary periodic disturbance. In the past, tallgrass prairies covered a large portion of the American Midwest, just east of the Great Plains, and portions of the Canadian Prairies. They flourished in areas with rich loess soils and moderate rainfall of around 30 to 35 inches (760 to 890 mm) per year.
A Yule log is a large log which is burned in the hearth as a part of traditional Yule or Christmas celebrations in some cultures. It can be a part of the Winter Solstice festival or the Twelve Days of Christmas, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, or Twelfth Night.
The expression "Yule log" has also come to refer to log-shaped Christmas cakes, also known as "chocolate logs" or "Buche de Noel"
Without realizing it I have just posted a potato word as well...sweet potato...a term of endearment for my grandson...seeing this word it makes me think of him as my potato bairn.
The sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas), commonly called a yam in parts of the United States (especially in the southern and western portions of the country; this terminology causes some confusion with true yams), is a crop plant whose large, starchy, sweet tasting tuberous roots are an important root vegetable. The young leaves and shoots are sometimes eaten as greens. The sweet potato is only distantly related to the potato (Solanum tuberosum). It is even more distantly related to the true yam (Dioscorea species) which is native to Africa and Asia. Thus, a sweet potato and a yam are in fact different foods.
The bodhrán (pronounced /ˈbɔ�?rɑ�?n/ or /ˈbaʊrɑ�?n/; plural bodhráns or bodhráin) is an Irish frame drum ranging from 25 to 65cm (10" to 26") in diameter, with most drums measuring 35 to 45cm (14" to 18"). The sides of the drum are 9 to 20cm (3½" to 8") deep. A goatskin head is tacked to one side (although nowadays, synthetic heads, or new materials like kangaroo skin, are sometimes used). The other side is open ended for one hand to be placed against the inside of the drum head to control the pitch and timbre. One or two crossbars, sometimes removable, may be inside the frame, but this is increasingly rare on professional instruments.
The drum is usually played in a seated position, held vertically on the player's thigh and supported by his or her upper body and arm (usually on the left side, for a right-handed player), with the hand placed on the inside of the skin where it is able to control the tension (and therefore the pitch and timbre) by applying varying amounts of pressure and also the amount of surface area being played, with the back of the hand against the crossbar, if present. The drum is struck with the other arm (usually the right) and is played either with the bare hand or with a lathe-turned piece of wood called a "bone", "tipper", "beater", or "cipín". Tippers were originally fashioned from a double-ended knuckle bone, but are now commonly made from ash, holly or hickory.
A frame drum is a drum that has a drumhead diameter greater than its depth. Usually the single drumhead is made of rawhide or man-made materials. Shells are traditionally constructed of bent wood (rosewood, oak, ash etc.) scarf jointed together; plywood and man-made materials are also used. Some frame drums have mechanical tuning and on many the drumhead is stretched and tacked in place. It is the earliest skin drum known to have existed. Examples are found in many places and cultures.
Visible from Earth as a hazy band of white light that is seen in the night sky, arching across the entire celestial sphere, the visual phenomenon of the Milky Way (as seen in the night sky) originates from stars and other material which lies within the galactic plane.
The Milky Way looks brightest in the direction of the constellation of Sagittarius, toward the galactic center. Relative to the celestial equator, it passes as far north as the constellation of Cassiopeia and as far south as the constellation of Crux, indicating the high inclination of Earth's equatorial plane and the plane of the ecliptic relative to the galactic plane. The fact that the Milky Way divides the night sky into two roughly equal hemispheres indicates that our Solar System lies close to the galactic plane. The Milky Way has a relatively low surface brightness, making it difficult to see from any urban or suburban location suffering from light pollution.
Some sources hold that, strictly speaking, the term Milky Way should refer exclusively to the observation of the band of light, while the full name Milky Way Galaxy, or alternatively the Galaxy should be used to describe our galaxy as an astrophysical whole.
Trundle beds (or truckle beds) are usually considered a pair of beds, one slightly smaller than a twin bed that is on rollers or casters so that it may be put beneath the upper twin bed for storage. Trundle beds allow for two separate beds to be available when necessary, but do not require the space constantly. It is a space-saving idea. The lower bed on some trundle beds can "pop-up" to be the same height as the bed they are stored beneath, creating a larger bed that may be used for guests.
The Bunny Hop is a novelty dance that was created at Balboa High School of San Francisco in 1952. It is a social dance mixer, sometimes also referred to as a "party" or "dance party" dance.
The dance has been generally done to Ray Anthony's big band recording of the song. Ray Anthony's single release of the "Bunny Hop" featured another novelty dance classic, the "Hokey Pokey" on the B side.
The Mudpuppies are a family of aquatic salamanders.
The mudpuppy family, Proteidae, is divided into two genera - the mudpuppies proper, Necturus with six North American species, and Proteus with one European species. They represent an ancient group, dating from the time of the dinosaurs.
In contrast to more familiar amphibians such as frogs, mudpuppies never lose their gills during maturation from the tadpole into the adult stage-- beneficial since they will spend their entire lives underwater.
A limnic eruption, also referred to as a lake overturn or exploding lake, is a rare type of natural disaster in which CO2 suddenly erupts from deep lake water, posing the threat of suffocating wildlife, livestock and humans.
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I can't help it...an exploding lake...what a concept.
A meromictic lake has layers of water which do not intermix. In ordinary, "holomictic" lakes, at least once each year there is a physical mixing of the surface and the deep waters. This mixing can be driven by wind, which creates waves and turbulence at the lake's surface, but wind is only effective at times of the year when the lake's deep waters are not much colder than its surface waters. In a "monomictic" lake, this mixing occurs once a year; in "dimictic" lakes, the mixing occurs twice a year (typically Spring and Autumn), and in "polymictic" lakes the mixing occurs several times a year. In meromictic lakes, the layers of the lake water remain unmixed for years, decades, or centuries.
Occasionally carbon dioxide (CO2) or other dissolved gasses can build up relatively undisturbed in the lower layers of a meromictic lake. When the stratification is disturbed, as could happen due to an earthquake, a limnic eruption may result.
A playa; also known as an alkali flat, sabkha, or salt flat; is a dry lakebed, generally the shore of, or a remnant of, an endorheic lake. Such flats consist of fine-grained sediments infused with alkali salts. Their surface is generally very dry, hard and smooth in the summer months, but wet and very soft in the winter months. Playas are small, round depressions in the surface of the ground. A playa lake is formed when rain fills this hole with water, creating a small lake. Playas can also form when the water table intersects the surface and water seeps into them.
A tar pit, or more properly asphalt pit, is a geological occurrence where subterranean bitumen leaks to the surface, creating a large puddle, pit, or lake of asphalt.
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The La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles are so cool.
The La Brea Tar Pits (or Rancho La Brea Tar Pits) are a famous cluster of tar pits located in Hancock Park in the urban heart of Los Angeles, California, United States. Asphalt (colloquially termed tar, which in Spanish is termed brea) has seeped up from the ground in this area for tens of thousands of years, forming hundreds of sticky pools that trapped animals and plants which happened to enter. Over time, the asphalt fossilized the remains. The result is an incredibly rich collection of fossils dating from the last ice age.
Remote viewing (RV) is the purported ability for a person to gather information on a remote target that is hidden from the physical perception of the viewer and typically separated from the viewer at some distance, a form of extra-sensory perception.
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An interesting subject that the CIA has dabbled in.
The fetch (Anglo-Saxon fæcce; also known as fylgja), is a person's guardian spirit or familiar. The fetch is an attendant spirit that is bound to someone through the process of their naming until their death. The fetch is held "to appear as an animal resembling one's disposition or as a member of the opposite sex". If the fetch is perceived in animal form, it will most often assume this form. Fetches may take the form of: wolves, bears, cats, hawks, eagles, sea faring birds, and livestock. The fetch is hailed to be perceived by those with second sight. The fetch usually controls the allocation of one's mægen (spiritual energy) in accordance with one's wyrd. The fetch also records an individual's actions and intentions within their personal wyrd. Fetchs are recorded as fleeing the wicked in The Eddas.
Wyrd is a concept in Anglo-Saxon and Nordic culture roughly corresponding to Fate. It is ancestral to Modern English weird, which has acquired a very different signification. The cognate term in old Norse is Urðr, with a similar meaning, but also personalized as one of the Norns, Urðr (anglicized Urd). The concept corresponding to "fate" in Old Norse is Ørlǫg.
The Well of Urd is the holy well, the Well Spring, the source of water for the world tree Yggdrasil.
Uncle Tupelo was an alternative country music group from Belleville, Illinois, active between 1987 and 1994. Jay Farrar, Jeff Tweedy, and Mike Heidorn formed the band after the lead singer of their previous band, The Primitives, left to attend college. The trio recorded three albums for Rockville Records, before signing with Sire Records and expanding to a five-piece. Shortly after the release of the band's major label debut album Anodyne, Farrar announced his decision to leave the band due to a soured relationship with his co-songwriter Tweedy. Uncle Tupelo split on May 1, 1994, after completing a farewell tour. Following the breakup, Farrar formed Son Volt with Heidorn, while the remaining members continued as Wilco.
I wanted to list gardenia before but I was having an Alzheimer's moment and I couldn't think of the name of the flower that was given to me as a corsage when I was taken to my first formal dance. So I turned on the TV and started watching Turner Classic Movies and The Maltese Falcon was playing. The very first scene that came up features Mary Astor wearing a gardenia.
The birthday cake is traditionally highly decorated, and typically covered with lit candles when presented, the number of candles signifying the age of the celebrant. The person whose birthday it is makes a silent wish and then blows out the candles. If done in one breath, the wish is supposed to come true (but only if the person keeps the wish to himself or herself). It is also common for the "birthday boy" or "birthday girl" to cut the initial piece of the cake as a newlywed couple might with a wedding cake. If the knife touches the bottom, or when withdrawn from the cake comes out with pieces of cake adhering to it, the birthday boy or girl may have to kiss the nearest person of the opposite sex.
One's golden birthday, also called a champagne birthday, is the day when the age someone turns is the same as the day in the month he or she was born. For example, someone born on January 31st would celebrate his or her golden birthday when he or she turns 31. According to the Dictionary of American Regional English, this meaning is most prevalent in Wisconsin and eastern Minnesota, although it is used elsewhere.
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I'm from Wisconsin and today is my nephew Alexander's golden birthday.
Astolat is a legendary city of Great Britain named in Arthurian legends. It is the home of Elaine, "the fair maiden of Astolat", and of her father Sir Bernard and her brothers Lavaine and Tirre. The city is called Shallott in many cultural references, derived from Alfred Lord Tennyson's poem "The Lady of Shallott".
Chapter nine of Sir Thomas Malory's book Le Morte d'Arthur identifies Guildford in Surrey with the legendary Astolat:
And so upon the morn early Sir Launcelot heard mass and brake his fast, and so took his leave of the queen and departed. And then he rode so much until he came to Astolat, that is Guildford; and there it happed him in the eventide he came to an old baron’s place.
The Lady of the Lake is the name of several related characters who play integral parts in the Arthurian legend. These characters' roles include giving King Arthur his sword Excalibur, taking the dying king to Avalon after the Battle of Camlann, enchanting Merlin, and raising Lancelot after the death of his father. Different writers and copyists give her name variously as Nimue, Viviane, Niniane, Nyneve, and other variations.
The Tradition: The evil Sir Brian of the Isles lived at Dolorous Guard. It was a dangerous enchanted place where passing knights by would find themselves obliged to fight two sets of ten knights at the two gates. They were never successful and were locked up in the nearby Dolorous Prison, while memorial gravestones marked their demise. Victims included Sirs Yder, Guivret, Yvain of Leonel, Cadoain, Kehedin, Kay Le Strange, Girflet, Dodinel, Taulas, Mador, Galegantin, Gawain and King Arthur's illegitimate son, Sir Loholt. Eventually, with the help of several magical shields, Sir Lancelot defeated the mystical knights and released all the prisoners. Sir Brian fled to Pendragon Castle and Lancelot took on Dolorous Guard as his new home. However, in order to free the castle residents completely from their enchantment, Lancelot had to stay there for forty consecutive nights. His many adventures, of course, kept him away and his new vassals became quite annoyed. So he descended, through the castle chapel, into a cave beneath where he defeated a huge monster and won the keys to unlock the enchantment from a damsel dressed in copper. The menacing gravestones magically disappeared and Lancelot decided to rename the place asJoyous Guard.
Sotto voce (literally "under voice"), an Italian expression, means to speak under one's breath or to speak confidentially. In music, a dramatic lowering of the vocal or instrumental tone -- not necessarily pianissimo, but with a hushed quality. May also denote muttering in theatrical or film scripts. Actual translation means "Soft Voice".
Beau Brummell, né George Bryan Brummell (7 June 1778, London, U.K. – 30 March 1840 (aged 61), Caen, France), was the arbiter of men's fashion in Regency England and a friend of the Prince Regent. He established the mode of men wearing understated, but fitted, beautifully cut clothes, adorned with an elaborately-knotted cravat.
Beau Brummell is credited with introducing and establishing as fashion the modern man's suit, worn with a tie. He claimed five hours to dress, and recommended that boots be polished with champagne. To wit, his style of dress was known as dandyism.
Comfort food is typically inexpensive, uncomplicated, and easy to prepare. Many people turn to comfort food for familiarity, emotional security, or special reward.
Comfort foods are typically composed largely of simple or complex carbohydrate, such as sugar, rice, refined wheat, and so on.
The term "comfort food" was added to the Webster's Dictionary in 1972.
Pronounced Koodie-moose by my son when he was 2 years old. I am sad to say that now that his son is two years old, the caboose is a thing of the past and even though my grandson LOVES trains...he knows nothing of the wonders of the koodie-moose.
A caboose (North American railway terminology) or brake van or guard's van (British terminology) is a manned rail transport vehicle coupled at the end of a freight train. Although cabooses were once used on nearly every freight train in North America, their use has declined and they are seldom seen on trains, except on locals and smaller railroads.
The caboose provided the train crew with a shelter at the rear of the train. From here they could exit the train for switching or to protect the rear of the train when stopped. They also used windows to inspect the train for problems such as shifting loads, broken or dragging equipment, and overheated journals (hotboxes). The conductor kept records and otherwise conducted business from a table or desk in the caboose. For longer trips the caboose provided minimal living quarters.
I admit it! I eat Velveeta on occasion. Are you ready for this? Broiled on hamburger buns! Served with Campbell's tomato soup with a pat of butter floating in the middle...It's a nostalgia thing. My arteries were probably hard by kindergarten thanks to Mom's cuisine.
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English, from Latin stola, from Greek stolē equipment, robe, from stellein to set up, make ready
Date: before 12th century
1 : a long loose garment : robe
2 : an ecclesiastical vestment consisting of a long usually silk band worn traditionally around the neck by bishops and priests and over the left shoulder by deacons
3 : a long wide scarf or similar covering worn by women usually across the shoulders
Gypsophila (Baby's-breath; Gypsophila) is a genus of about 100 species of flowering plants in the family Caryophyllaceae, native to Europe, Asia and north Africa. Many species are found on calcium-rich soils, including gypsum, whence the name of the genus. Some species are also sometimes called "baby's breath" or simply, "Gyp", among the floral industry. Its botanical name means "lover of chalk", which is accurate in describing the type of soil in which this plant grows.
They are herbaceous annual and perennial plants growing to 5-120 cm tall. The leaves are opposite, linear to narrow triangular, often falcate (sickle-shaped), 1-7 cm long and 2-8 mm broad. The flowers are produced in large inflorescences, which may be either dense or open and lax; each flower is small, 3-10 mm diameter, with five white or pink petals.
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I love the trade name of gypsophila paniculata: Bristol Fairy
Brigadoon is a musical with a book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe.
It tells the story of a mysterious Scottish village that appears for only one day every hundred years, though to the villagers, the passing of each century seems no longer than one night. The enchantment is viewed by them as a blessing rather than a curse, for it saved the village from destruction. According to their covenant with God, no one from Brigadoon may ever leave, or the enchantment will be broken and the site and all its inhabitants will disappear into the mist forever. Two American tourists, lost in the Highlands, stumble upon the village just as a wedding is about to be celebrated, and their arrival has serious implications for the village's inhabitants.
Lerner's book was based on a much older German story by Friedrich Gerstäcker about the mythical village of Germelshausen that fell under an evil magic curse.
Neverland (also called Never-Never-Land, Never Land and other variations) is the fictional island and dream world featured in the play Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up by Scottish writer J. M. Barrie, his subsequent novel Peter and Wendy, and later works by others. While sojourning in Neverland, people may cease to age; therefore, Neverland is often seen as a metaphor for eternal childhood (and childishness), immortality, and escapism. In the earliest drafts of Barrie's play, the island was called Peter's Never Never Never Land. When the play was first performed in 1904, the island was referred to as the Never Never Land. In the 1923 published version, it was shortened to the Never Land. In the 1911 novel, it was spelled as one word: the Neverland.
Peter led Wendy Darling and her brothers to Neverland by flying "second to the right, and straight on till morning," though it is stated in the novel that Peter made up these directions on the spot to impress Wendy. In the 1953 Disney film, Peter Pan, the word "star" is added to the directions Peter speaks, "second star to the right, and straight on till morning."
The novel explains that Neverlands are found in the minds of children, and although they are "always more or less an island", and they have a family resemblance, they are not the same from one child to the next. For example, John Darling's "had a lagoon with flamingos flying over it" while his little brother Michael's "had a flamingo with lagoons flying over it".
The Virginia reel is a folk dance that dates from the 17th century. Though the reel may have its origins in Scottish country dance and the Highland reel, and perhaps have an even earlier influence from an Irish dance called the Rinnce Fada, it is generally considered to be an English country dance. The dance was most popular in America from 1830-1890 and was first published in England (1865).
The Virginia reel was a popular dance, and in each area there would be slight differences. This has given rise to a large number of dances called the Virginia reel. All of the versions have certain similarities, such as the reel figure.
In Victorian and Edwardian times, for the wealthy and mid-tier classes, a nursery was a suite of rooms at the top of a house, including the night nursery, where the children slept, and a day nursery, where they ate and played. The nursery suite would include some bathroom facilities and possibly a small kitchen. The nurse (nanny) and nursemaid (assistant) slept in the suite too, to be within earshot of the sleeping children. The schoolroom might also be adjacent, but the governess, whose job it was to teach the children, would not be part of the nursery; she would have her own bedroom, possibly in another wing. Fictional portrayals of nurseries abound, for example in the writings of Kipling and E. Nesbit; perhaps the most famous nursery is that in Mary Poppins, or the nursery in J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan.
: a large eel-shaped fish (Electrophorus electricus) of the Orinoco and Amazon basins that is capable of giving a severe shock with its electric organs
Despite its name it is not an eel at all but rather a knifefish.
Brass beds are beds in which the headboard and footboard are made of brass; the frame rails are usually made of steel. Brass beds can be made of 100 per cent brass or of metals that have been brass plated. The brass used in making brass beds is usually 70 per cent copper and 30 per cent zinc; however, the ratio of metals varies between manufacturers.
In the 1800s, having a brass bed was a status symbol and sign of wealth. When America's oldest maker of brass beds made his first in 1855, Charles P. Rogers built a workshop in New York City using early mass production techniques, bringing very high quality to an affordable price levels. His firm Charles P. Rogers, Inc. is still in New York making beds over 150 years later. It is estimated that more than half the beds he ever made are still in use or museums. The prestige and popularity of brass beds grew during the 19th and 20th centuries to the point where sales surpassed those of wooden beds. Because of their timeliness and range of styles, brass beds are the beds of choice for people renovating historic homes.
I would sit up on his work bench and watch him making jigs and tying flies for his fishing hobby. Instead of attempting conversation with a child he would grill me on words and I would have to parrot them back with their meanings for later exhibition in front of "company." Upon reflection, kind of odd but I loved it and I still love words. So, thanks, Dad.
my father taught it to me when I was five...he got a kick out of me saying it...he taught me the word perpendicular the same day and I had to recite the meaning of that word...he didn't hold me to the meaning of the "longest" word.
The Gila Monster (pronounced /ˈhi�?lə/, HEE-la), Heloderma suspectum, is a species of venomous lizard native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. It is a heavy, slow moving lizard, up to 60 cm (2 feet) long, and is the only venomous lizard native to the United States. Its skin has the appearance of black, pink, orange, and yellow beads, laid down in intricate patterns. These beads are small bony plates that form scales, and are known as osteoderms.
In 2005 the US Food and Drug Administration approved a drug for the management of type 2 diabetes, Byetta (exenatide), a synthetic version of a protein derived from the Gila monster's saliva. The effectiveness is due to the fact that "The lizard hormone is about 50 percent identical to a similar hormone in the human digestive tract, called glucagon-like peptide-1 analog, or GLP-1, that increases the production of insulin when blood sugar levels are high. Insulin helps move sugar from the blood into other body tissues where it is used for energy. The lizard hormone remains effective much longer than the human hormone, and thus its synthetic form helps diabetics keep their blood sugar levels from getting too high.
The ghost in the machine is British philosopher Gilbert Ryle's derogatory description for René Descartes' mind-body dualism. The phrase was introduced in Ryle's book The Concept of Mind, written in 1949, to highlight the perceived absurdity of dualist systems like Descartes' where mental activity carries on in parallel to physical action, but where their means of interaction are unknown or, at best, speculative.
The Wicker Man was a large wicker statue of a human allegedly used by the ancient Druids for human sacrifice by burning it in effigy, according to Julius Caesar in his Commentarii de Bello Gallico (Commentary on the Gallic Wars). In modern times the figure has been adopted for festivals as part of neopagan-themed ceremonies, notably without the human sacrifice element.
Caesar's words are looked on with skepticism by some scholars, who claim a lack of corroborating evidence and point out that the general, as the leader of the Gauls' enemies, may have just been repeating a sensationalistic rumor as propaganda to encourage his supporters back home.
Today, a wicker man is burned as part of neopagan festivities, especially Beltane, a rite of spring. Wicker men are tall, humanoid wooden structures, woven from flexible sticks such as those of willow as used in wicker furniture and fencing.
This song is still a popular Organized Labor song in the United States and is sung on picket lines and at rallies and other group endeavors.
Joe Hill, born Joel Emmanuel Hägglund, and also known as Joseph Hillström (October 7, 1879 – November 19, 1915) was an American radical songwriter, labor activist and member of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), also known as the Wobblies. He was executed for murder after a controversial trial. After his death, he became the subject of several folk songs. Joe Hill was memorialized in a tribute poem written about him c. 1930 by Alfred Hayes titled "I Dreamed I Saw Joe Hill Last Night", sometimes referred to simply as "Joe Hill". Hayes's lyrics were turned into a song in 1936 by Earl Robinson.
In Western culture the White Stork is a symbol of childbirth. In Victorian times the details of human reproduction were difficult to approach, especially in reply to a younger child's query of "Where did I come from?"; "The stork brought you to us" was the tactic used to avoid discussion of sex. This habit was derived from the once popular superstition that storks were the harbingers of happiness and prosperity, and possibly from the habit of some storks of nesting atop chimneys, down which the new baby could be imagined as entering the house.
The image of a stork bearing an infant wrapped in a sling held in its beak is common in popular culture. The small pink or reddish patches often found on a newborn child's eyelids, between the eyes, on the upper lip, and on the nape of the neck are sometimes still called "stork bites". In reality they are clusters of developing veins that soon fade.
Mukluks are a soft boot traditionally made of reindeer skin or sealskin and were originally worn by Arctic natives, including the Inuit and Yupik.
The word "mukluk" is of Yupik origin, from maklak, the Bearded Seal.
Mukluks weigh little and allow hunters to move very quietly. They may be adorned with pompons and beads and may be lined with furs such as rabbit, fox and raccoon.
Bruce is a song that went to #27 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1985 and was recorded by Rick Springfield. The song is about Rick Springfield bumming out that people confuse him with Bruce Springsteen. Ha! As if!
The song Kookie, Kookie (Lend Me Your Comb) by Edward Byrnes and Connie Stevens went to #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1959. It was a song about a character (played by Byrnes) on the TV show 77 Sunset Strip that ran from 1958 to 1964.
Civet cats are perhaps best known for the scrapings of their perineal glands, which produce a musky substance used in high-end fragrances.
The substance has also traditionally been used in "Civet absolute," an ingredient in the food additives used to add butter, caramel, and rum flavorings to sweets.
Jean by Oliver went to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1969. This is a song from the soundtrack of the film The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and was written by Rod McKuen who also recorded it.
I have a little school singing book from the early 1950s and it has this same song in it but they use the name of Aunt Nancy. I think Rhoda and Rhodie sound better.
My kids were brought up with a folk song called Go Tell Aunt Rhodie, about a grey goose who died in the mill pond a 'standing on her head. Is this the same song?
Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte is the title song of the soundtrack for the film of the same name. It was recorded by Patti Page in 1965 and went to #8 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The metaphor of the silver bullet applies to any straightforward solution perceived to have extreme effectiveness. The phrase typically appears with an expectation that some new technology or practice will easily cure a major prevailing problem.
The term originates from folklore. Traditionally, the silver bullet is the only kind of bullet for firearms that is effective against a witch, vampire, monster, or a person living a charmed life.
The best known magical creature which is vulnerable to a silver bullet is a werewolf. The werewolf's vulnerability to silver actually dates back to the legend of The Beast of Gévaudan in which a gigantic Wolf is killed by a person wielding a gun loaded with silver bullets.
In different traditions, silver is thought to be the metal associated with the moon and with the human soul. It is likely that these associations have contributed to the legend of the silver bullet.
Cabin fever is a condition that produces restlessness and irritability caused from being in a confined space. The actual term is slang for a claustrophobic reaction that takes place when a party is isolated and/or shut in, alone or together, for an extended period.
The term possibly originated in the United States at the time when settlers would be snowed into their log cabins and had to wait for the spring thaw in order to travel to town. Another possible source for this phrase could be that during an outbreak of some disease, people who had a fever were confined to a cabin as a quarantine. Most likely, the phrase may be associated with ocean-crossing sailing ships in which passengers had to endure weeks and months of slow travel while living in cramped cabins below deck.
Maple syrup can also be processed into a wide variety of candy or confections including granulated or molded maple sugar, molded soft-sugar candy, maple cream, maple fondant, and "Jack Wax" or "Maple on Snow."
My favorite is molded maple sugar...semi-hardened maple sugar cooked down from maple syrup, molded into (usually) maple leaf shapes. Melts quickly in the mouth and has an surprisingly creamy consistency.
Rock candy (also called rock sugar) is a type of confectionery composed of relatively large sugar crystals. Homemade rock candy is commonly formed by allowing a supersaturated solution of sugar and water to crystallize onto a string or some other surface suitable for crystal nucleation. Heating the water before adding the sugar allows more sugar to dissolve and thus produces larger crystals. Crystals form after several days. Food coloring is often added to the mixture to produce colored candy.
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Excerpt from Big Rock Candy Mountain by Harry McClintock
On a summer day in the month of May a burly bum came hiking
Down a shady lane through the sugar cane, he was looking for his liking.
As he roamed along he sang a song of the land of milk and honey
Where a bum can stay for many a day, and he won't need any money
Oh the buzzin' of the bees in the cigarette trees near the soda water fountain,
At the lemonade springs where the bluebird sings on the Big Rock Candy Mountains
Turbinado sugar, also known as turbinated sugar, is a type of sugar cane extract. It is made by steaming unrefined raw sugar. Turbinado sugar is similar in appearance to brown sugar but paler, and in general the two can be exchanged freely in recipes. A popular brand name is Sugar in the Raw.
Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.), a member of the Chenopodiaceae family, is a plant whose root contains a high concentration of sucrose. It is grown commercially for sugar.
The sugar beet is directly related to the beetroot, chard and fodder beet, all descended by cultivation from the sea beet.
Beet sugar accounts for 30% of the world's sugar production.
Well, I made a corrected entry...but this word has a nice ring to it. What is it called when Treeseed not only can't spell but can't see the light of day? A Phosmoron.
A prosphoron (Greek: Π�?όσφο�?ον, Offering) is a small loaf of bread used in Orthodox Christian ritual The plural form is prosphora(Π�?όσφο�?α).
A prosphoron is made up of two separate round pieces of dough which are placed one on top of another and baked together to form a single loaf. This double-loaf represents the two natures of Christ: human and divine. Before baking, each prosphoron is stamped with a seal usually bearing the image of a cross with the Greek letters IC XC NIKA ("Jesus Christ conquers") around the arms of the cross. This impression is baked into the bread and serves as a guide for the priest who will be cutting it.
To me it brings up the image of a butterfly and seems like a nick name that someone innocent and childlike would use for a butterfly.
Also it seems like it could mean someone "mingling" at a party, in a sincere way, only hurried by circumstance. Like a hostess who wants to be able to spend at least a few minutes with everyone at her party.
A pork barrel, literally, is a barrel in which pork is kept. The term is more commonly used as a political metaphor for the appropriation of government spending for projects that are intended primarily to benefit particular constituents or campaign contributors. This usage originated in American English.
Eureka (Greek "I have found it") is an exclamation used as an interjection to celebrate a discovery.
It is most famously attributed to the ancient Greek scholar Archimedes; he reportedly said "eureka!" when he stepped into a bath and noticed the water level rise -- he suddenly understood that the volume of water displaced must be equal to the volume of the part of his body he had submerged. This meant that the volume of irregular objects could be calculated with precision, a previously intractable problem. He is said to have been so eager to share it that he leapt out of his bathtub and ran through the streets of Syracuse naked.
An epicanthal fold, epicanthic fold, or epicanthus is a skin fold of the upper eyelid (from the nose to the inner side of the eyebrow) covering the inner corner (medial canthus) of the human eye. The epicanthal fold is present in people of East Asian and Southeast Asian descent, as well as other ethnic groups including some Native Americans and Africans. Epicanthal folds may also be seen in young children of any race before the bridge of the nose begins to elevate.
The term "epicanthal fold" refers to a visually categorized feature; however the underlying physiological reason and purpose for its presence in any given individual may be entirely different.
All humans initially develop epicanthal folds in the womb. Some children lose them by birth, but epicanthal folds may also be seen in young children of any ethnicity before the bridge of the nose begins to elevate. They may persist where birth is pre-term, and sometimes also where the mother is alcoholic.
Epicanthal folds can cause a child's eyes to appear crossed, a scenario known as pseudostrabismus.
In many caucasian backgrounds and other groups who don't commonly possess the trait, the presence of the epicanthal fold can be a symptom of fetal alcohol syndrome, chromosomal disorders such as Down syndrome, Cri du Chat syndrome, or pre-term birth.
Pseudostrabismus is the false appearance of crossed eyes. When the eyes are actually crossed or not completely aligned with one another it is called strabismus. Pseudostrabimus generally occurs in infants and toddlers whose facial features are not fully developed. The bridge of their nose is wide and flat. With age, the bridge will narrow and the folds in the corner of the eyes will go away. This will cause the eyes to appear wider, and thus not have the appearance of strabismus. To detect the difference between strabismus and pseudostrabismus use a flashlight to shine into the child's eyes. When the child is looking at the light a reflection can be seen on the front surface of the pupil. If the eyes are aligned with one another then the reflection from the light will be in the same spot of each eye. If strabismus is present then the reflection from the light will not be in the same spot of each eye.
Ploidy is the number of homologous sets of chromosomes in a biological cell. The ploidy of cells can vary within an organism. In humans, most cells are diploid (containing one set of chromosomes from each parent), but sex cells (sperm and egg) are haploid. In contrast, tetraploidy (four sets of chromosomes) is a type of polyploidy and is common in plants, and not uncommon in amphibians, reptiles, and various species of insects.
Both men and women can be witches, brujos and brujas respectively. Brujos is the plural term that can mean either a group of male witches or both male and female witches. The female witch is considered the most powerful, and traditional brujos believe that the female passes down the sacred bloodline or spiritual bloodline (matriarchal lineage). This means that the line is inherited from a female but ends with a male.
The word bruja is believed to derive from bruxa, which is from the Celto-Iberian dialect in Spain evolving to what is known today as Gallego. It shares its roots with Portuguese. The present day Portuguese use the term bruxa. The original meaning is roughly, evil or unwholesome night-bird, but has evolved both in Portuguese and in Spanish to mean simply 'witch'.
The Dweller on the Threshold refers to an invisible malevolent entity that attaches to a human being. The term was first used by Bulwer-Lytton in his novel Zanoni.
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One explanation is that provided by Alice Bailey on Esoteric astrology, "From ancient recesses of the memory, from a deeply rooted past, which is definitely recalled, and from the racial and the individual subconscious (or founded and established thought reservoirs and desires, inherited and inherent) there emerges from individual past lives and experience, that which is the sumtotal of all instinctual tendencies, of all inherited glamours, and of all phases of wrong mental attitudes; to these, (as they constitute a blended whole) we give the name of the Dweller on the Threshold. This Dweller is the sumtotal of all the personality characteristics which have remained unconquered and unsubtle, and which must be finally overcome before initiation can be taken. Each life sees some progress made; some personality defects straightened out, and some real advance effected. But the unconquered residue, and the ancient liabilities are numerous, and excessively potent, and - when the soul contact's adequately established - there eventuates a life wherein the highly developed and powerful personality becomes, in itself, the Dweller on the Threshold.
Cauliflower ear (also hematoma auris or perichondrial hematoma) is a condition most common among wrestlers, rugby players, mixed martial artists, and boxers. If the external portion of the ear suffers a blow, a blood clot or other fluid may collect under the perichondrium. This separates the cartilage from the overlying perichondrium that is its source of nutrients, causing the cartilage to die. This leads to a formation of fibrous tissue in the overlying skin. When this happens, the outer ear becomes permanently swollen and deformed, thus resembling a cauliflower.
Kewpid agrees with Weart, quoted in Wikipedia article:
Later in 1946, the Operation Crossroads nuclear bomb tests were described as having a "cauliflower" cloud, but a reporter present also spoke of "the mushroom, now the common symbol of the atomic age." Mushrooms have traditionally been associated both with life and death, food and poison, making them a more powerful symbolic connection than, say, the "cauliflower" cloud.
Bible codes, originally known as Torah codes, are information patterns said to exist in encrypted or coded form in the text of the Bible, or, more specifically, in the Hebrew Torah, the first five books of Old Testament. The existence of these codes has been a topic of research by Old Testament scholars and students of Kabbalah for over a thousand years, and in more recent times have been a topic of study by modern mathematicians. In the mid-17th century influential mathematician Blaise Pascal, widely regarded as the "father of probability science" and "father of the modern computer" summarized his view in a one sentence assertion in his philosophical Pensées, concluding that "The Old Testament is a cipher."
Gematria (Rabbinic Hebrew גימטריה gēmaṭriy�?, from the Greek γεωμετ�?ία; English since the 17th century) is the numerology of the Hebrew language and Hebrew alphabet, and is used by its proponents to derive meaning or relative relationship. Several forms can be identified: the "revealed" form, which is prevalent in many forms of Rabbinic Judaism, and the "mystical form," a largely Cabbalistic practice. The word itself comes from the Greek word 'geometry' and the concept or system is the same as the Greek isopsephy and the Arabic Ḥis�?b al-Jummal. There is also a gematria of Latin-script languages, dating from the early Middle Ages, and very possibly back into Roman times, too. Recent times have also seen an emergence of new gematrias, though these lack a length of exploration that more ancient versions have seen.
The most common form of gematria is used occasionally in the Talmud and Midrash and elaborately by many post-Talmudic commentators. It involves reading words and sentences as numbers, assigning numerical instead of phonetic value to each letter of the Hebrew alphabet. When read as numbers, they can be compared and contrasted with other words.
The Augur (pl: augurs) was a priest and official in the classical world, especially ancient Rome. His main role was to interpret the will of the gods by studying the flight of the birds (flying in groups/alone, what noises they make as they fly, direction of flight and what kind of birds they are), known as "taking the auspices." The ceremony and function of the augur was central to any major undertaking in Roman society--public or private--including matters of war, commerce, and religion.
The derivation of the word augur is uncertain; ancient authors believed that it contained the words avi and gero --Latin for "directing the birds"--but historical-linguistic evidence points instead to the root aug-, "to increase, to prosper."
The words daemon, dæmon, are Latinized spellings of the Greek δαίμων (daimon), used purposely today to distinguish the daemons of Ancient Greek religion, good or malevolent "supernatural beings between mortals and gods, such as inferior divinities and ghosts of dead heroes" (see Plato's Symposium), from the Judeo-Christian usage demon, a malignant spirit that can seduce, afflict, or possess humans.
In economics, the term boom and bust refers to the movement of an economy through economic cycles.
The boom and bust cycle describes the cycle of economic upswings and downswings in the business economy and is considered inseparable from capitalism.
According to most economists, an economic boom is typically characterized by an increased level of economic output, a corresponding increase in aggregate demand, falling unemployment, and often, a rise in the inflation rate. During busts, or recessions, aggregate demand is low, inflation decreases, unemployment rises and national income falls. In extreme recessions deflation (a sustained fall in the general price level) may occur.
I have seen this word used as a generic term for a manmade ecological catastrophe, as in "We've got to clean up the river and stop the mill from dumping here. This thing is turning into a Chernobyl."
The most popular of Jewish folk dances/Israeli folk dances. It is usually performed to Jewish folk songs/Israeli folk songs, typically to the music of Hava Nagila.
To start the dance, everybody forms a circle, holding hands, and steps forward toward the right with the left foot, then follows with the right foot. The left foot is then brought back, followed by the right foot. This is done while holding hands and circling together in a fast and cheerful motion to the right. Large groups allow for the creation of several concentric circles.
"Hava Nagila" (הבה נגילה in Hebrew) is a Hebrew folk song, the title meaning "Let us rejoice". It is a song of celebration, especially popular amongst irreligious Jewish and Roma communities. In popular culture, it is used as a metonym for Judaism, and is a staple of band performers at Jewish festivals.
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When I was growing up in southern California in the early 1960s we were taught this song in public school physical education class along with a dance. The dance and the song together were called "The Hava Nagila" but the dance was actually the Horah.
The bathing machine was a device, popular in the 19th century, which was intended to allow people to wade in the ocean at beaches without violating Victorian notions of modesty. Bathing machines were in the form of roofed and walled wooden carts which would be rolled into the sea. Some had solid wooden walls; others had canvas walls over a wooden frame.
The bathing machine was part of sea-bathing etiquette which was more rigorously enforced upon women than men, but was expected to be observed by people of both sexes among those who wished to be considered "proper".
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I really urge you to read the rest of the Wikipedia entry for this contraption and see the pictures. Who knew?
Sheepshead is a card game related to the Skat family of games, originating in Central Europe in the late 1700s under the German name Schafkopf. Although Schafkopf literally means "sheepshead", the term is actually derived from Middle High German and referred to playing cards on an overturned barrel (from kopfen, meaning playing cards, and Schaff, meaning a barrel).
Sheepshead is played by two to eight players, where the variant with five players is the most common, by far. In the United States, Sheepshead is most commonly played in Wisconsin, which has a strong Germanic population.
Orange blossom is a traditional flower at weddings and its use dates back to the Crusades. It is believed to have been used by the Saracens to symbolise chastity and purity and the evergreen leaves are a symbol for everlasting love. A traditional ingredient of love potions
In architecture, a flying buttress, or arc-boutant, is usually on a religious building, used to transmit the thrust of a vault across an intervening space (which might be an aisle, chapel or cloister), to a buttress outside the building. The employment of the flying buttress means that the load bearing walls can contain cut-outs, such as for large windows, that would otherwise seriously weaken the vault walls.
The purpose of a buttress was to reduce the load on the vault wall. The majority of the load is carried by the upper part of the buttress, so making the buttress as a semi-arch provides almost the same load bearing capability, yet in a much lighter as well as a much cheaper structure. As a result, the buttress flies through the air, rather than resting on the ground and hence is known as a flying buttress.
The name phaeton derives from a Greek mythological character, Phaethon, who almost set the world on fire with his reckless driving. This type of carriage was made of wicker, making it quite lightweight. The Phaeton was intended for pleasure driving.
He drove a great roomy, double "phaeton" drawn by two satin bay horses.
A maraschino cherry is a preserved, sweetened cherry, typically made from light-colored sweet cherries such as the Royal Ann, Rainier, or Gold varieties. The cherries are first preserved in a brine solution (usually sulfur dioxide or alcohol), then soaked in a suspension of food coloring, sugar syrup, artificial and natural flavors, and other components. Maraschino cherries dyed red are typically almond-flavored, while cherries dyed green are usually peppermint-flavored.
The name maraschino refers to the marasca cherry and the maraschino liqueur made from it, in which maraschino cherries were originally preserved. They were, at first, produced for and consumed as a delicacy by royalty and the wealthy. Today they are a common dessert and drink garnish. Carmine, the coloring agent commonly used as a food dye, is derived from the cochineal insect.
This an old "company bread" and I'm not sure of its origins but I know it was old in my grandmother's day. It is a dessert quick bread containing walnuts, chocolate morsels, and most importantly cherries, maraschino cherries in particular. It is usually served at Christmastime. There are many recipes for Bishop's Bread on the Internet. Try making one.
The Antidoron (Greek: Ἀντίδω�?ον, Antíd�?ron) is ordinary, blessed, but non-eucharistic and non-consecrated, leavened bread seen in Eastern Orthodox and other Christian churches. It comes from the remains of the loaves of bread (prosphora) from which portions are cut for consecration as the Eucharist during the Divine Liturgy. Eastern Catholic Churches of the Byzantine Rite also follow the practice of blessing and distributing antidoron.
Pandowdy - It is a deep-dish dessert that can be made with a variety of fruit, but is most commonly made with apples sweetened with molasses or brown sugar. The topping is a crumbly type of biscuit except the crust is broken up during baking and pushed down into the fruit to allow the juices to come through. Sometimes the crust is on the bottom and the desert is inverted before serving. The exact origin of the name Pandowdy is unknown, but it is thought to refer to the deserts plain or dowdy appearance.
A buckle is a type of cake made in a single layer with berries added to the batter. It is usually made with blueberries. The topping is similar to a streusel, which gives it a buckled or crumpled appearance.
Crisps and Crumbles - Crisps are baked with the fruit mixture on the bottom with a crumb topping. The crumb topping can be made with flour, nuts, bread crumbs, cookie or graham cracker crumbs, or even breakfast cereal. Crumbles are the British version of the American Crisp.
Betty or Brown Betty - A Betty consist of a fruit, most commonly apples, baked between layers of buttered crumbs. Betties are an English pudding dessert closely related to the French apple charlotte. Betty was a popular baked pudding made during colonial times in America.
noun. a sheer silk or rayon crepe of dull texture.
My note: Often with a crinkled look.
The New York Times of August 8, 1918, reporting on the wedding of President Woodrow Wilson's daughter Alice Wilson had this to say:
"The bride wore a gown of white Georgette crepe embroidered in beads and silk threads, made over satin. The skirt was short, with a panel in the back. Her tulle veil, which formed a train, was held with a coronet of rare old lace, loaned by Mrs. Woodrow Wilson, and the orange blossoms were those worn by the sisters of the bridegroom at their weddings."
The umiak, umiaq, umiac, oomiac or oomiak is a type of boat used by the Inuit for transportation. Its name means "woman's boat," as opposed to the kayak, which means "man's boat".
The Gibson Girl was the personification of the feminine ideal as portrayed in the satirical pen and ink illustrated stories created by illustrator Charles Dana Gibson during a twenty year period spanning the late nineteenth and early twentieth century in the United States.
The Gibson Girl was tall, slender yet with ample bosom, hips and bottom in the S-curve torso shape achieved by wearing a swan-bill corset. The images of her epitomized the late nineteenth and early 20th-century Western preoccupation with statuesque, youthful features, and ephemeral beauty. Her neck was thin and her hair piled high upon her head in the contemporary bouffant, pompadour, and chignon ("waterfall of curls") fashions.
The tall, narrow-waisted ideal feminine figure was portrayed as multi-faceted, always at ease and fashionable. Gibson depicted her as an equal and sometimes teasing companion to men.
: any of numerous rather large leaf-eating scarab beetles (subfamily Melolonthinae) that fly chiefly in late spring and have larvae that are white grubs which live in soil and feed chiefly on the roots of grasses and other plants —called also june beetle
Cup and ring marks or cup marks are a form of prehistoric art found predominantly in the upland parts of the British Isles but also in some parts of continental Europe.
They consist of a concave depression, no more than a few centimetres across, pecked into a rock surface and often surrounded by concentric circles also etched into the stone. Sometimes a linear channel called a gutter leads out from the middle.
The decoration occurs as a petroglyph on natural boulders and outcrops and also as an element of megalithic art on purposely worked megaliths such as the slab cists of the Food Vessel culture, some stone circles and passage graves such as the clava tombs and on the capstones at Newgrange.
Linnea borealis or americana, Caprofoliaceae, also known as twinflowers. Pink or white bell-shaped flowers of the honeysuckle family, which grow in terminal pairs. They bloomfrom late June to early August.
In addition to the basin and pitcher for washing the hands and face, washstands often had a roller or peg on the side for a towel and a cupboard underneath for the chamber pot.
A rug made with left-over scraps of fabric or from the remants of old clothes. In modern times made of new fabric. Long ropes are braided together from the scraps then the ropes are stitched together in an oval or round shape. See Braided rug example here
In square dancing allemande is a series of moves where dancers face their corners and turn around each other 360 degrees, dropping the handhold at the end as the dancers rejoin their respective partners. A lot of people in square dancing spell this "alamand." The caller usually calls out "allemande left" or "allemande right".
'Right and Left Grand', also known as 'Grand Right and Left', is a square dance move in which all eight dancers in the set, moving in a circular fashion, execute a series of four alternating hand pull-bies (right pull by, left pull by, right pull by, left pull by). Men (or gents) travel counter-clockwise around the ring, and ladies travel clockwise. The result is that all dancers end up half way across the set facing the same person they started with.
Dosado (also written do-sa-do) or Dos-a-dos (also written dos a dos) or do-si-do (also written do si do) is a basic dance step in such dances as square dance, contra dance, polka, various historical dances, and some reels.
The term is a corruption of the original French term dos-à-dos for the dance move, which means "back to back", as opposed to "vis-à-vis" which means "face to face".
It is a circular movement where two people, who are initially facing each other, walk around each other without or almost without turning, i.e, facing in the same direction (same wall) all the time. In most cases it takes 6-8 counts to complete.
A tectonic plate (also called lithospheric plate) is a massive, irregularly shaped slab of solid rock, generally composed of both continental and oceanic lithosphere. Plate size can vary greatly, from a few hundred to thousands of kilometers across; the Pacific and Antarctic Plates are among the largest. Plate thickness also varies greatly, ranging from less than 15 km for young oceanic lithosphere to about 200 km or more for ancient continental lithosphere (for example, the interior parts of North and South America).
A stratovolcano, also called a composite volcano, is a tall, conical volcano composed of many layers of hardened lava, tephra, and volcanic ash. These volcanoes are characterized by a steep profile and periodic, explosive eruptions.
A debutante (or deb) (from the French débutante, "female beginner") is a young lady from an aristocratic or upper class family who has reached the age of maturity, and as a new adult, is introduced to society at a formal presentation known as her "debut" or "coming out". Originally, it meant the young woman was eligible for marriage, and part of the purpose was to display her to eligible bachelors and their families with a view to marriage within a select upper class circle. This traditional event varies by region, but is typically referred to as a debutante ball if it is for a group of debutantes. A lone debutante might have her own "coming out party", or she might have a party with a sister or other close relative.
Out behind the woodpile or in some cases the wood shed is where your pa takes you to get a lickin', sometimes with a hick'ry switch. It is also the subject of a wonderful poem called The Wood-pile by Robert Frost.
A device that signals when a fish hits on your line. A flag "tips up" when the fish strikes and gives you the freedom to leave the fishing hole for a moment. (Possibly to drink beer or to warm up in the shanty.)
Mississippi State Penitentiary, also known as Parchman Farm, is the oldest prison and the only maximum security prison in the state of Mississippi, USA. It is located on 18,000 acres (73 km²) in Parchman, Mississippi, and was built in 1901.
A number of bluesmen have been imprisoned in Parchman Farm and the prison features in a number of blues songs such as "Parchman Farm".
"Parchman Farm" is the title of songs about Mississippi State Penitentiary, known as Parchman Farm, a hard time prison because of the Trusty system which was later outlawed.
There have been a number of blues songs written about Parchman Farm and several Blues musicians were imprisoned there, including Bukka White (who wrote "Parchman Farm Blues"), and Eddie 'Son' House. In 1939, folklorist Alan Lomax recorded White and others at Parchman Farm for the Library of Congress. (Louisiana's Angola Prison Farm had a similar musical impact.)
Mose Allison created a much-covered version of "Parchman Farm". It has been covered by Blues Project, Cactus, Michael Chapman, Blue Cheer, Ray Condo, Rick Derringer, Georgie Fame, The Kingston Trio, John Mayall, Johnny Winter and others.
one of two identical single beds usually placed side by side in a single bedroom. Many married couples slept in twin beds in the 1940s and 1950s for the sake of "decency" and also individual comfort
A splitting maul (or mall) is a heavy, long-handled hammer used for splitting a piece of wood along its grain. One side of it is identical to a sledge hammer and the other side is an axe. In parts of England the word denotes a tool with a very heavy wooden head, used for splitting wood in conjunction with a metal wedge. This tool is also known as a beetle; there is a well known pub on the Thames at Goring called the Beetle and Wedge.
A small, usually five piece set of tools that is kept by the fireplace or woodstove to use in the management of the fire. Pieces include the rack which the tools are hung on, a small dust broom, a small ash shovel, a prod or poker, a hook or sometimes a set of tongs. Often made of cast iron.
A potbelly stove is a cast iron wood burning stove, round with a bulge in the middle. They were designed to heat large spaces and were often found in train stations or one-room schoolhouses.
_Wikipedia
We used to have an old potbelly stove in our garage that my dad used to burn papers in. He also used it to warm up the garage when he was out there working on the car.
In cooking, a cook stove is a very basic stove heated by burning wood or fossil fuels. Cook stoves are the most common way of cooking and heating food in developing countries.
_Wikipedia
When I was growing up this is what we called the large cast iron wood stove in my grandma's kitchen.
Herpes simplex type 1 is usually the cause of common nonsexually transmitted cold sores.
_Wikipedia
Herpes is a disease of the nerve endings and the frequent blowing or whiping of the nose during a cold can irritate the skin around the mouth and nose which can irritate nerve endings already afflicted with the dormant virus and cause it to become active. Sunburns can have the same effect.(My personal observations.)
While both oral and genital herpes are characteristically "nuisance infections" that are not life-threatening, cold sores (on the face) can cause rare severe or fatal disease if they travel to the eyes or brain.
_Wikipedia
(I say that it is for this reason that one should be careful that one's doctor does not misdiagnose a cold sore as impetigo as happened to my ex-husband.0
The Varicella zoster virus (VZV) is one of the eight herpes viruses known to affect humans (and other vertebrates). Multiple names are used to refer to same virus, creating some confusion. Varicella virus, zoster virus, human herpes 3 (HHV-3), and Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV) all refer to the same viral pathogen. The disease caused by this pathogen is called chickenpox or Varicella disease during the initial infection. A reactivation of the infection is commonly called shingles, herpes zoster or simply zoster.
Comments by treeseed
Show previous 200 comments...
treeseed commented on the word bus song
Simple songs sung by groups on long bus rides (enroute to field trips, competitive sporting events, etc.) Usually with repeating and escalating verses.
Example:
Ninety Nine Bottles of Beer
Ninety nine bottles of beer on the wall
Ninety nine bottles of beer
Take one down
Pass it around
Ninety eight bottles of beer on the wall
Ninety eight bottles of beer on the wall
Ninety eight bottles of beer
Take one down
Pass it around
Ninety seven bottles of beer on the wall
Ninety seven bottles of beer on the wall
Ninety seven bottles of beer
Take one down
Pass it around
Ninety six bottles of beer on the wall
also
The Ants go marching song
February 18, 2008
treeseed commented on the word clapping game
A clapping game is type of usually cooperative (ie non-competitive) game which is generally played by two players and involves clapping as accompaniment to singing or reciting a rhyme. Clapping games are found throughout the world and similar games may be known throughout large areas with regional variation. In European and influenced cultures clapping games are thought of as girls' games, though boys and adults play as well. Claps commonly included in patterns are clapping one's own hands, clapping both hands of a partner, and clapping one hand of a partner, generally across such as the right hand of each player. The clapping may include other activities such as thigh slapping, or a final move such as touching the ground and freezing.
_Wikipedia
February 18, 2008
treeseed commented on the word word search
A word search, word find, word seek, word sleuth or mystery word puzzle is a generic word game that consists of seemingly random letters arranged in a grid, that usually has a rectangular shape. The object of the game is to find and mark all of the words hidden in the grid. The words may have been placed horizontally, vertically or diagonally. They may have been written backwards or not. Often a list of the hidden words is provided, but more challenging puzzles may let the player figure them out. Many word search puzzles have a theme to which all the hidden words are related.
Word searches are commonly found in daily newspapers and puzzle books.
_Wikipedia
February 18, 2008
treeseed commented on the word jigsaw puzzle
A jigsaw puzzle is a tiling puzzle that requires the assembly of numerous small, often oddly shaped, interlocking and tessellating pieces. Each piece has a small part of a picture on it; when complete, a jigsaw puzzle produces a complete picture.
Jigsaw puzzles were originally created by painting a picture on a flat, rectangular piece of wood, and then cutting that picture into small pieces with a jigsaw, hence the name. John Spilsbury, a London mapmaker and engraver, is credited with commercialising jigsaw puzzles around 1760
_Wikipedia
February 18, 2008
treeseed commented on the word sliding puzzle
A sliding puzzle, sliding block puzzle, or sliding tile puzzle challenges a player to slide usually flat pieces along certain routes (usually on a board) to establish a certain end-configuration.
A sliding block puzzle prohibits lifting any piece off the board. This property separates sliding puzzles from rearrangement puzzles. Hence finding moves, and the paths opened up by each move, within the two-dimensional confines of the board, are important parts of solving sliding block puzzles.
_Wikipedia
February 18, 2008
treeseed commented on the word go fish
Go Fish, also called Fish, is a simple card game popular among children. It is usually played by two to four players.
_Wikipedia
February 18, 2008
treeseed commented on the word war
War is a card game for two or more players. It uses a standard Western fifty-two-playing card deck. It is most often played as a children's game, because of its simplicity. The cards are divided evenly, with each player's cards remaining face-down. Each player shows his or her top card; whoever has the highest card takes the other cards shown and places them at the bottom of his or her deck. Aces can be high or low, which should be decided before the game begins. In case of a tie, each player plays three face-down cards and one face-up card, and these face-up cards decide who will receive all the cards. This is called a "war". If there is another tie, the process is repeated, etcetera. In all cases of ties, face-down cards are exposed before being collected. In some variations, smaller numbers of face-down cards are played (for example, one card is placed face down, while the second is played face up). In one blood-thirsty variation, the number of face-down cards equals the pip value of the cards, with face cards being ten and ace eleven.
The player who gets all the cards is the winner. In one variation, a set number of ties won will decide.
_Wikipedia
February 18, 2008
treeseed commented on the word slapjack
Slapjack, also known as Slaps is a simplistic card game, generally played among children. It can often be a child's first introduction to playing cards.
Gameplay is as follows: a 52-card deck is divided into face-down stacks as equally as possible between all players. One player removes the top card of his stack and places it face-up on the playing surface within reach of all players. The players take turns doing this in a clockwise manner until a Jack is placed on the pile. At this point, any and all players may attempt to slap the pile to obtain it; whoever covers the stack with his hand first takes the pile and adds it to the bottom of his stack. Gameplay continues with hands of this sort until one player has acquired all of the cards.
_Wikipedia
February 18, 2008
treeseed commented on the word guts
Guts is a comparing card game, or family of card games, related to poker. Guts is a gambling game involving a series of deals of 2 or 3 cards, ranked similarly to hands in poker. The betting during each deal is simple : all players decide whether they are "in" or "out", and announce this at the same time. Each deal has its own showdown, after which the losers match or increase the pot. A round of the game ends when only one person stays in and wins the pot. One of the characteristics of guts is that the pot grows geometrically. As it can double or more each round, pots of 50 or 100 times the original ante are possible.
_Wikipedia
February 18, 2008
treeseed commented on the word womb
Any dark, recessed place of emergence..as a cave or cauldron, especially in a symbolic use as in ritual.
February 18, 2008
treeseed commented on the word jumping the broom
Jumping the broom is an African American phrase and custom relating to wedding ceremonies. In some African-American communities, recently married couples will end their ceremony by jumping together or separately over a broom. This practice dates back at least to the 19th century.
One particular scholar, Alan Dundes, claims that the practice originated among English Roma people better known as Gypsies. Wiccans and Roma are among the groups who developed their own style of a broom jumping tradition. The Welsh also had a centuries-old custom called priodas coes ysgub, or "broom-stick wedding" alluded to in Dundes' work.
_Wikipedia
This practice has been embraced by some tradtions of Wicca in modern times and is sometimes the culmination of the handfasting ritual. This act symbolizes entering a new life together.
February 18, 2008
treeseed commented on the word handfasting
Handfasting is a term used in Wicca/Witchcraft to refer to the rite of marriage. It is a pagan custom to bind together the hand of each of the marrying partners with a length of cord or a sash. This symbolizes the joining of the two as one.
See also jumping the broom
February 18, 2008
treeseed commented on the word skyclad
Naked, as for rituals in some traditions of Wicca or other pagan traditions
February 18, 2008
treeseed commented on the word watchtower
Watchtowers are evocational symbols of spiritual beings known as the Watchers or the Grigori (in Strega.)
February 18, 2008
treeseed commented on the word watcher
Watchers are beings who guard the portals that link the worlds together. In some Wicca/Witchcraft traditions they are viewed as a spiritual race, a set of deities, or as spirits of the four elements. The Watchers are associated with the four quarters of North, South, East and West. In some traditions the Watchers are associated with the four elements of Earth, Air, Fire and Water. They are also linked to each solstice and equinox, as well as to a specific star. North is Fomalhaut, the east is Aldebaran, the south is Regulus, and the west is Antares.
_Raven Grimassi, Encyclopedia of Wicca and Witchcraft
See also watchtower
February 18, 2008
treeseed commented on the list oddball-opposites
How about overworld?
February 18, 2008
treeseed commented on the word overworld
In video games, an overworld (sometimes called world map or map) refers to a high-level view of the fictional world within the game. The world map often contains a collection of towns and other locations (often called dungeons or levels) such as caves, mountains, and forests. When the player enters one of these locations, the world map display is replaced by the local geography of the selected element. In many games, the player is able to travel on the world map; in other games, the player uses the world map to select their next location.
_Reference.com
February 18, 2008
treeseed commented on the word nine
In the 2007 film The Nines, a demigod
February 18, 2008
treeseed commented on the word ishkabibble
A mock-Yiddish expression, "Ische ga bibble?", which was purported to mean "I should worry?" but actually is not Yiddish and contains no Yiddish words.
_Wikipedia
February 18, 2008
treeseed commented on the word watchtower
see watcher
February 18, 2008
treeseed commented on the word well-dressing
Well Dressing is a custom practised in rural England in which wells, springs or other water sources are decorated with designs created from flower petals. The origins of the tradition are alternatively said to lie in pagan tradition or in giving thanks for the purity of the water drawn from certain wells during the period of the Black Death.
_Wikipedia
February 18, 2008
treeseed commented on the word wight
Also a ghost or spirit that haunts a barrow
barrow wight
February 18, 2008
treeseed commented on the word will o' the wisp
The will-o'-the-wisp, sometimes will-o'-wisp or ignis fatuus (modern Latin, from ignis ("fire") + fatuus ("foolish"), plural ignes fatui) refers to the ghostly lights sometimes seen at night or twilight — often over bogs. It looks like a flickering lamp, and is sometimes said to recede if approached. The term will-o'-the-wisp comes from wisp, a bundle of hay or straw sometimes used as a torch, and will-o' ("Will of").
The folklore phenomenon will-o'-the-wisp (will of the wisp) is sometimes referred to as Jack o' lantern (Jack of the lantern), and indeed the two terms were originally synonymous. In fact the names "Jacky Lantern" and "Jack the Lantern" are still present in the oral tradition of Newfoundland. These lights are also sometimes referred to as "corpse candles" or "hobby lanterns", two monikers found in the Denham Tracts. They are often called spooklights or ghost lights by folklorists and paranormal enthusiasts in the United States. Sometimes the phenomenon is classified by the observer as a ghost, fairy, or elemental, and a different name is used.
_Wikipedua
February 18, 2008
treeseed commented on the word tar baby
Tar-Baby was a doll made of tar and turpentine, used to entrap Br'er Rabbit in the second of the Uncle Remus stories. The more that Br'er Rabbit fought the Tar-Baby, the more entangled he became. In contemporary usage, a tar baby refers to any "sticky situation" that is only aggravated by efforts to solve it.
_Wikipedia
February 18, 2008
treeseed commented on the word thumbelina
"Thumbelina" (Danish: Tommelise) is a fairy tale by the Danish poet and author Hans Christian Andersen. Like the English folk tale "Tom Thumb" and the French literary fairy tale "Le Petit Poucet" by Charles Perrault, "Thumbelina" tells the story of a tiny human being. For some, the tale demonstrates Andersen's identification with the social outsider. The tale was first published in 1835 and was republished during the author's lifetime.
_Wikipedia
February 18, 2008
treeseed commented on the word tump
bowl barrow
February 18, 2008
treeseed commented on the word turtle island
Turtle Island is the English language translation of many Native American tribes' terms for the continent of North America.
_Wikipedia
See turtle
February 18, 2008
treeseed commented on the word turtle
Among certain indigenous people in the United States and Canada, including for example the Oneida, earth is known as Turtle Island from their myth in which all of creation is on the back of a large turtle.
February 18, 2008
treeseed commented on the word shoon
THE RUIN
Walter de la Mare
When the last colours of the day
Have from their burning ebbed away,
About that ruin, cold and lone,
The cricket shrills from stone to stone;
And scattering o’er its darkened green,
Bends of the fairies may be seen,
Chattering like grasshoppers, their feet
Dancing a thistledown dance round it:
While the great gold of the mild moon
Tinges their tiny acorn shoon.
February 18, 2008
treeseed commented on the word sibyl
In many cases supernatural, mythical beings or humans born of such beings who have the gift or curse of prophesy.
February 18, 2008
treeseed commented on the word features
gangerh,
It just sits there waiting for someone to use it. It says "0 Wordies list". I have put a few words in the limbo of "0 Wordies List"..usually because of accidental misspelling.
February 18, 2008
treeseed commented on the word smoketree
Smoketrees, particularly Cotinus coggygria, are popular garden shrubs. Several bronze or purple-leaved cultivars of Cotinus coggygria have been selected, with warm pink inflorescences set against purple-black foliage; the commonest in commerce are 'Notcutt's Variety' and 'Royal Purple'. When brought into cultivation together, the two species will form hybrids; some garden cultivars are of this parentage.
Also called purple smoketree
February 18, 2008
treeseed commented on the word spanish moss
Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides) closely resembles its namesake (Usnea, or beard lichen). However, Spanish moss is not biologically related to either mosses or lichens. Instead, it is a flowering plant in the family Bromeliaceae (the bromeliads) that grows hanging from tree branches in full sun or partial shade. Formerly ; this plant has been placed in the genera Anoplophytum,Caraguata and Renealmia. It ranges from the southeastern United States (Southern VA and eastern MD) to Argentina, growing wherever the climate is warm enough and has a relatively high average humidity.
The plant consists of a slender stem bearing alternate thin, curved or curly, heavily scaled leaves 2-6 cm long and 1 mm broad, that grow vegetatively in chain-like fashion (pendant) to form hanging structures 1-2 m in length, occasionally more. The plant lacks roots and its flowers are tiny and inconspicuous. It propagates both by seed and vegetatively by fragments that blow on the wind and stick to tree limbs, or are carried by birds as nesting material.
It can grow so thickly on tree limbs that it gives a somewhat "gothic" appearance to the landscape, and while it rarely kills the trees it lowers their growth rate by reducing the amount of light to a tree's own leaves. It also increases wind resistance, which can prove fatal to a tree in hurricanes.
_Wikipedia
February 18, 2008
treeseed commented on the word sabbat
In Wicca a sabbat is a holiday. There are eight sabbats and they have different names depending on the tradition.
Commonly called:
Samhain, Yule, Imbolc, Ostara, Beltane, Litha, Lughnasadh, Mabon
February 18, 2008
treeseed commented on the word solomon's seal
Polygonatum (King Solomon's-seal, Solomon's Seal) is a genus of about 50 species of flowering plants within the family Ruscaceae, formerly classified in the lily family Liliaceae.
Some species of this genus have medicinal properties, and some (in particular P. sibiricum) are used as a tisane in traditional Chinese medicine, which is called dungulle in Korea.
Some Polygonatum shoots are edible, cooked like asparagus, as are the roots - after appropriate treatment - being a good source of starch
_Wikipedia
February 18, 2008
treeseed commented on the word shepherd's purse
Shepherd's Purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris) is originally from Europe, but has become very common in many parts of the world. Its name derives from Latin and means "little box", "purse of the shepherd". This name refers to the capsule in the shape of a shepherd's purse, which is also its common name.
Shepherd's Purse grows in gardens, lots, fields, waste grounds, and embankments with soils that are not too dry and that provide enough sunshine.
This is rather a small plant, growing to 6-20 cm high. Its fine stalks spread along the main stem. The basal leaves are lanceolate and dentate. The white flowers are arranged in loose racemes. They are radially symmetrical with four petals.
What makes this plant so special is its seed capsule. This heart-shaped fruit is a flat and triangular pod. It is attached to the stalk by its pointed end, projecting erect.
_Wikipedia
February 18, 2008
treeseed commented on the word paprika
This is the film I meant:
Paprika (パプリカ) is a Japanese animated science fiction film, based on Yasutaka Tsutsui's 1993 novel Paprika, about a female research psychologist involved in a project to develop a device that will permit therapists to help patients by entering their dreams.
The film was directed by Satoshi Kon, animated by Madhouse Studios and produced and distributed by Sony Pictures Entertainment.
_Wikipedia
February 18, 2008
treeseed commented on the word paprika
Cool 2006 anime film about dreams.
February 18, 2008
treeseed commented on the word pampas grass
Cortaderia selloana, commonly known as Pampas Grass or Uruguayan Pampas Grass, is a tall grass native to southern South America, including the pampas after which it is named, and Patagonia.
Pampas grass is a tall grass, growing in dense tussocks that can reach a height of 3 m. The leaves are evergreen, long and slender, 1–2 m long and 1 cm broad, and have very sharp edges (so they should be handled with care). The leaves are usually bluish-green, but can be silvery grey. The flowers are produced in a dense white panicle 20–40 cm long on a 2–3 m tall stem.
_Wikipedia
February 18, 2008
treeseed commented on the word pan
god
February 18, 2008
treeseed commented on the word paso doble
Paso Doble or pasodoble is a lively style of dance to the duple meter march-like pasodoble music. It actually originated in southern France, but is modeled after the sound, drama, and movement of the Spanish bullfight. Paso doble means "two step" in Spanish.
_Wikipedia
February 18, 2008
treeseed commented on the word patent leather
Patent leather is leather that has been given a high gloss, shiny finish. The original process was developed by Newark, New Jersey–based inventor Seth Boyden in 1818 with commercial manufacture beginning September 20, 1819. His process used a linseed oil–based lacquer coating. Modern patent leather usually has a plastic coating.
_Wikipedia
February 18, 2008
treeseed commented on the word boulangerie
bread bakery
Compare with pâtisserie
February 18, 2008
treeseed commented on the word pâtisserie
A pâtisserie is a French bakery that specializes in pastries and sweets. In France, it is an official title that only bakeries that employ a maître pâtissier (master pastry chef) may use. The pâtissier is an artist who wants his or her creations to be as individual as they are, which is the reason for so many variations in French pastry shops and in pâtisserie recipes. Often found in partnership with a boulangerie, pâtisseries are a common sight in towns and villages in France.
The term pâtisserie also refers to the pastries produced by a pâtissier. Mass-produced pastries are also sometimes called pâtisserie.
_Wikipedia
February 18, 2008
treeseed commented on the word hydrox
I agree with you, skipvia...the name always reminds me of bleach
February 18, 2008
treeseed commented on the word pas de deux
In ballet, a pas de deux (French, step/dance for two) is a duet in which ballet steps are performed together. It usually consists of an entrée, adagio, two variations (one for each dancer), and a coda.
_Wikipedia
February 18, 2008
treeseed commented on the word pancake
Pancake is a form of makeup developed for use in filming. In early Technicolor films, for example, to prevent the actors' faces from looking green.
_Wikipedia
February 18, 2008
treeseed commented on the word nana
pet name for grandmother
The name of the Newfoundland dog in J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan
February 18, 2008
treeseed commented on the word nasturtium
yummy and pretty in salads
February 18, 2008
treeseed commented on the word nisse
See tomte
A tomte 'tɔ`m:tɛ or nisse 'nìs:ɛ is a mythical creature of Scandinavian folklore originating from Norse paganism. Tomte or Nisse were believed to take care of a farmer's home and children and protect them from misfortune, in particular at night, when the housefolk were asleep. Tomte is the common Swedish name, derived from his place of residence and area of influence: the house lot or tomt. The Finnish name is "tonttu". Nisse is the common name in Norwegian, Danish and the Scanian dialect in southernmost Sweden.
_Wikipedia
February 18, 2008
treeseed commented on the word nocturn
Historically, Nocturn is a very old term applied to night Offices and, since the Middle Ages, to divisions in the canonical hour of Matins.
February 18, 2008
treeseed commented on the word butter brickle
Butter Brickle ice cream was introduced to the world by the Blackstone Hotel in Omaha, Nebraska in the 1920s. The flavoring and the candy bar were produced by the Sioux Falls, South Dakota company, Fenn Bros. Ice Cream and Candy Co., until the company was liquidated in the 1970s, when the trademark and formula were sold to the makers of the Heath bar. A remnant of the name remains in "Heath Bits 'o Brickle Toffee Bits," sold by The Hershey Company, which acquired the Heath assets in 1996.
Butter Brickle ice cream is currently sold by at least a couple of ice-cream makers with the name Butter Brickle being used under license.
_Wikipedia
February 18, 2008
treeseed commented on the word jellied cranberry sauce
Vague memories of cranberries, water and high fructose corn syrup
See cranberry sauce
February 18, 2008
treeseed commented on the word cranberry sauce
A tart fruit sauce made by cooking down fresh whole cranberries in a simple syrup.
Commercial jellied cranberry sauce is shaped like a cylinder due to the shape of steel cans that contain the sauce. Some cranberry sauces contain gelatin. Most are a mixture of cranberry, water and high fructose corn syrup.
February 18, 2008
treeseed commented on the word crone
Wisewoman, post-menopause, a term of honor
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the word triple goddess
In ancient Indo-European mythologies, various goddesses or demi-goddesses appear as a triad, either as three separate beings who always appear as a group (the Greek Moirae, Charites, Erinnyes and the Norse Norns) or as a single deity who is commonly depicted in three aspects (Greek Hecate). Often it is ambiguous whether a single being or three are represented, as is the case with the Irish Brighid and her two sisters, also called Brighid, or the Morrígan who is known by at least three or four different names. In most ancient portrayals of triple goddesses, the separate deities perform different yet related functions, and there is no obvious difference in their ages. In Wicca and related Neo-pagan religions, the Triple Goddess is, along with the Horned God, held in particular reverence, and her three aspects are most often portrayed as being of different ages: Maiden, Mother and Crone.
_Wikipedia
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the word crone
One aspect of the triple goddess in Wicca
See also maiden and mother
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the word mother
One aspect of the triple goddess in Wicca
See also maiden and crone
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the word maiden
One aspect of the triple goddess in Wicca
See also mother and crone
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the word mace
a weapon
A development of the club, a mace consists of a strong, heavy wooden, metal-reinforced, or metal shaft, with a head made of stone, copper, bronze, iron or steel. The head is normally about the same or slightly thicker than the diameter of the shaft and can be shaped with flanges, or knobs to allow greater penetration of armour. The length of maces can vary considerably. The maces of foot soldiers were usually quite short (two or three feet). The maces of cavalrymen were longer and better designed for blows from horseback. Two-handed maces could be even larger.
_Wikipedia
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the word long barrow
A long barrow is a prehistoric monument dating to the early Neolithic period. They are rectangular or trapezoidal earth mounds traditionally interpreted as collective tombs. Long barrows are also typical for several Celtic, Slavic, and Baltic cultures of Northern Europe of the 1st millennium AD.
_Wikipedia
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the word live oak
Live oak or evergreen oak is a general term for a number of unrelated oaks in several different sections of the genus Quercus that happen to share the character of evergreen foliage.
The name live oak comes from the fact that evergreen oaks are still green and "live" in winter, when other oaks are dormant, leafless and "dead"-looking. The name is used mainly in North America, where evergreen oaks are widespread in warmer areas, along the Atlantic coast from Virginia to Florida, west along the Gulf Coast to Texas and across the southwest to California and southwest Oregon.
When the term live oak is used in a specific rather than general sense, it most commonly refers to the Southern live oak (the first species so named), but can often refer to other species regionally.
_Wikipedia
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the word lauds
Lauds is one of the two "major hours" in the Roman Catholic Liturgy of the Hours. It is to be recited in the early morning hours, preferably near dawn.
_Wikipedia
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the word lyndon and lady bird
Lyndon Baines Johnson (August 27, 1908 – January 22, 1973), often referred to as LBJ, was the thirty-sixth President of the United States from 1963 to 1969.
Claudia Alta "Lady Bird" Taylor Johnson (December 22, 1912 – July 11, 2007) was First Lady of the United States from 1963 to 1969, having been the wife of U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson.
_Wikipedia
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the word beefaroni
We used to call this barfaroni when we were kids.
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the word hildebrand
Battle sword
Hildebrand is a character from German legend.
Hildebrand is Old German and in Old Norse the form is Hildibrandr. The word Hild means battle and brand means sword. Hildebrand was one of the warrior kings the German and Scandinavian hero songs are known for. Hildebrand figures in three famous songs: in the Old High German Hildebrandslied, the Middle High German Nibelungenlied, and in the Old Norse song Hildebrand's death in �?smundar saga kappabana (called Hildibrandr). He also appears as Hildiger in Gesta Danorum.
_Wikipedia
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the word honeycomb
Fresh, new comb is sometimes sold and used intact as comb honey, especially if the honey is being spread on bread rather than used in cooking or to sweeten tea. Honeycomb is edible all by itself, and has been called "the beekeeper's lunch".
_Wikipedia
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the word dreadnought
See Hummingbird
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the word hummingbird
Also a guitar
The Gibson Hummingbird is an acoustic guitar model produced by the Gibson Guitar Corporation.
Unlike the other flat-top Gibson acoustics, the Hummingbird was Gibson's first square-shoulder dreadnought, similar to the dreadnoughts produced by C.F. Martin & Company. Introduced in 1960, the Hummingbird was Gibson's second-most expensive acoustic guitar, behind the Gibson J-200, until the introduction of the Gibson Dove in 1962, (a blend between the Hummingbird and the J-200.) The Hummingbird, features a Mahogany back and sides, a decorative pickguard with a hummingbird design, and split-parallelogram Mother of Pearl fretboard and headstock inlays, Spruce top and Rosewood bridge. The standard finish is cherry sunburst, although some natural finish models were produced. The Gibson Hummingbird was winner of Acoustic Guitar's Player's Choice Award for the Dreadnought Category in 2000, and was described thus: "The Hummingbird has a very wide range of sound, from gutsy and loud, to sweet and soft. Superb for all styles of playing, whether just chording or playing intricate solo's".
_Wikipedia
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the word holy grail
According to Christian mythology, the Holy Grail was the dish, plate, or cup used by Jesus at the Last Supper, said to possess miraculous powers. The connection of Joseph of Arimathea with the Grail legend dates from Robert de Boron's Joseph d'Arimathie (late 12th century) in which Joseph receives the Grail from an apparition of Jesus and sends it with his followers to Great Britain; building upon this theme, later writers recounted how Joseph used the Grail to catch Christ's blood while interring him and that in Britain he founded a line of guardians to keep it safe. The quest for the Holy Grail makes up an important segment of the Arthurian cycle, appearing first in works by Chrétien de Troyes. The legend may combine Christian lore with a Celtic myth of a cauldron endowed with special powers.
_Wikipeida
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the word grail
Arthurian
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the word glyph
symbols representing the signs of the zodiac and the planets and their geometric aspects or relationships
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the word gingerbread house
A gingerbread house also called the "witch's house" was encountered by Hansel and Gretel.
This is also the term for a gingerbread cookie dough dessert house covered with a variety of candies and icing that are popular Christmas decorations, typically built by children with the help of their parents.
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the word gingerbread
Also heavily, gaudily, and superfluously ornamented
Commonly used in reference to late 19th century Victorian architecture
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the word folk
The Folk or The Good Folk are respectful terms for fairies.
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the word foxglove
Name from "folks glove"...The Folk being a respectful term for fairies
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the word fondant
Used as a frosting/icing for cakes
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the word familiar
animal, magic
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the word easter egg
Easter eggs are specially decorated eggs given to celebrate the Easter holiday or springtime. The oldest tradition is to use dyed and painted chicken eggs, but a modern custom is to substitute chocolate eggs, or plastic eggs filled with confectionery such as jellybeans. These eggsare often hidden, supposedly by the Easter Bunny, for children to find on Easter morning.
_Wikipedia
Also Easter egg (Media)
A virtual Easter egg is an intentional hidden message or feature in an object such as a movie, book, CD, DVD, computer program, or video game. The term draws a parallel with the custom of the Easter egg hunt observed in many western nations.
_Wikipedia
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the word whitebeam
The whitebeams are members of the Rosaceae family, in genus Sorbus subgenus Aria. They are deciduous trees with simple or lobed leaves, arranged alternately. They are related to the rowans (Sorbus subgenus Sorbus), and many of the endemic restricted-range apomictic microspecies of whitebeam in Europe are thought to derive from hybrids between S. aria and the European rowan S. aucuparia; some are also thought to be hybrids with the Wild Service Tree S. torminalis, notably the Service Tree of Fontainebleau Sorbus latifolia in French woodlands.
The best known species is Common Whitebeam Sorbus aria, but several other species from Europe and Asia in particular are widely cultivated as ornamental trees.
_Wikipedia
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the word crescents
Pillsbury meets the croissant and cans it.
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the word crisco
Shortening with hydrogented or partially hydrogenated fat. Especially the butter flavored kind.
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the word hydrox
I agree. They weren't as sweet and the filling didn't taste so much like Crisco.
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the word snack pack
Hunt's Snack Pack is a brand of individually packaged single-serving snacks, specifically, shelf-stable pudding and gels. The product line was introduced in 1968.
In the food processing industry, shelf-stable means that a typically refrigerated product has been altered so it can be safely stored and sold in sealed container at room temperature while still having a "useful" shelf life.
Various food preservation techniques are used to extend a food's shelf life. Decreasing the amount of available water in a product, increasing its acidity, or irradiating or otherwise sterilizing the food and then sealing it in an air-tight container, can all extend a food's shelf life without significantly changing its taste or texture.
_Wikipedia
Ingredients:Vanilla flavor pudding:
Non-fat milk, water, sugar, modified corn starch, partially hydrogenated soybean oil, less than 2% of: salt, sodium stearoyl lactylate, natural and artificial flavor, yellow 5, yellow 6.
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the word bisquick
If you are going to take the time to bake something essentially from scratch why would you want to start with a product that has hydrogented fat and the ability to sit on your shelf without spoiling? What do you think that does in your arteries?
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the word strawflower
Helichrysum bracteatum is my favorite, especially for autumn flower arrangements.
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the word sno balls
I hate myself for loving you.
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the word bellwort
See also merrybells
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the word merrybells
I see these in the woods in early spring here in Wisconsin and I love them but I never knew this charming folkname! I have only known them as bellwort.
Uvularia is a genus of plants in the family Uvulariaceae, sister to the lily family (Liliaceae). They are commonly called Bellworts, Bellfowers or Merrybells. This unusual flower is found in April and May, often on wooded slopes or in ravines and it spreads by stolons or stoloniferus rhizomes. The plants are usually 18 to 24 inches (45–60 cm) in height and bear one or two flowers which hang downward from the axils of the leaves.
_Wikipedia
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the user reesetee
Hello again my dear reesetee...I have figured out tags... I think.
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the user anydelirium
L.M. Montgomery was my very first favorite author as well. I have read all of her books, novels and short story collections and her journals and her poetry collections. I adore her.
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the word chicory
beautiful blue wayside flower, often seen growing among Queen Anne's Lace
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the word bleeding hearts
The name bleeding heart describes the unique flowers, which resemble tiny pink or white hearts with drops of blood at the bottom. Dicentra eximia has a fernlike bluish-green foliage, while Dicentra spectabilis has a palmately-compound leaf. Dicentra formosa, the Western Bleeding Heart, is very similar to Dicentra eximia.
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the user reesetee
reesetee, I don't understand the concept of tags. Can you please shed some light?How do they function? What is their purpose? I am obtuse...now there's a word. Thank you.
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the user anydelirium
I am happy to meet you. We may be kindred spirits. Have you read any other books by L.M. Montgomery? They are full of wonderful old forgotten words that thrill the romantic heart. Are you new to Wordie? I'm rather new myself.
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the word thyme
Lovely quote, lovely book. I'm pleased to meet you.
This is a pretty list. Please feel free to poke around in my Faery Dust lists...there are many flowers hiding in them.
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the word natural flavoring
The definition of “natural flavor�? under the Code of Federal Regulations is: “the essential oil, oleoresin, essence or extractive, protein hydrolysate, distillate, or any product of roasting, heating or enzymolysis, which contains the flavoring constituents derived from a spice, fruit or fruit juice, vegetable or vegetable juice, edible yeast, herb, bark, bud, root, leaf or similar plant material, meat, seafood, poultry, eggs, dairy products, or fermentation products thereof, whose significant function in food is flavoring rather than nutritional�? (21CFR101.22). Both artificial and natural flavors are made by “flavorists�? in a laboratory by blending either “natural�? chemicals or “synthetic�? chemicals to create flavorings.
Example: the flavoring derived from the perineal (anal) sacks of the male civet cat can be listed as a natural flavoring. "Natural" is a form of newspeak.
A strawberry or grape flavored food may say that it contains "natural flavors" but that does not mean it contains grape or strawberry as it seems to imply.
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the word tater tots
Ingredients:
potatoes, vegetabe oil (sunflower, canola, soybean, and/or cottonseed), salt, yellow corn flour, onions, dextrose, disodium dihydrogen pyrophosphate, natural flavoring
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the word bouillon cube
A bouillon cube (US) or stock cube (UK) is dehydrated broth (bouillon in French) or stock formed into a small cube (about 15 mm on a side). It is made by dehydrating vegetables, meat stock, a small portion of solid fat (such as hydrogenated oil), salt (usually well over 50%) and seasonings (usually including monosodium glutamate) and shaping them into a small cube.
_Wikipedia
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the word hot dog
There is no fixed specification for hot dog meat, with pork and beef being the most popular ingredients. Less expensive hot dogs typically contain some pork, but are primarily chicken, due to the low cost and availability of mechanically separated chicken. Hot dogs are generally regarded as unhealthy insofar as most have high sodium, fat and nitrate content.
_Wikipedia
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the word twinkie
Ingredients:
Enriched Wheat Flour (enriched with ferrous sulphate (iron), B vitamins (niacin, thiamine mononitrate B1, ribofavin B12 and folic acid))
Sugar
Corn syrup
Water
High fructose corn syrup
Vegetable and/or animal shortening (containing one or more of partially hydrogenated soybean, cottonseed or canola oil, and beef fat.)
Dextrose
Whole eggs
2% or less of:
Modified corn starch
Cellulose gum
Whey
Leavenings (sodium acid pyrophosphate, baking soda, monocalcium phosphate)
Salt
Cornstarch
Corn flour
Corn syrup solids
Mono and diglycerides
Soy lecithin
Polysorbate 60
Dextrin
Calcium caseinate
Sodium stearol lactylate
Wheat gluten
Calcium sulphate
Natural and artificial flavors
Caramel color
Sorbic acid (to retain freshness)
color added (yellow 5, red 40)
_Wikipedia
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the word lucky charms
25% of the cereal's volume comes from the "marbits" or multi-colored marshmallow bits in "magical shapes"
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the word log cabin syrup
You thought this was maple syrup. Right?
Here's the contents from the back of the bottle:
corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, water, contains 2% of less of caramel color, salt, natural and artificial maple flavor, cellulose gum, preservatives, ascorbic acid, sodium benzoate, sodium dexametaphosphate, mono and diglyceride.
Now...what's in a bottle of maple syrup?
100% maple syrup (you know, from a tree)
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the word cool whip
Cool Whip is made of water, corn syrup and high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated coconut and palm kernel oil (CPKO), sodium caseinate, vanilla extract, xanthan and guar gums, polysorbate 60 (glycosperse), and beta carotene
_Wikipedia
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the word hawaiian punch
Hawaiian Punch is the name of a brand of fruit punch drinks (containing 5% fruit juice) owned by Dr Pepper/Seven Up, Inc. (DPSU). It was created in 1934 by A.W. Leo, Tom Yates, and Ralph Harrison as an ice cream topping; customers later discovered that it made an appealing drink when mixed with water.
_Wikipedia
Only 5% real fruit juice and mom's give it to their kids like it's good for them.
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the word oreo
See also Hydrox
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the word hydrox
Hydrox is a brand name for a successful cream-filled chocolate sandwich cookie which debuted in 1908 and was manufactured by Sunshine Biscuits. Its unusual name was formed from those of the atomic elements which make up pure water. Some accounts report the Oreo — introduced in 1912 — was inspired by the Hydrox.
_Wikipedia
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the word lik-m-aid
Lik-m-aid candy has been on the market in the United States since April 1942. It came in small pouches similar to a sugar packet and was available in several fruit flavors. See SweeTarts. It is now sold as Fun Dip and comes with an edible dipping stick.
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the word sweetarts
SweeTarts are sweet and sour candies invented by J. Fish Smith, the owner of Sunline. The tablets were created using the same recipe as the already popular Pixy Stix and Lik-M-Aid in response to parents' requests for a less-messy candy. In 1963, SweeTarts were introduced with the same flavors as the popular Pixy Stix: cherry, grape, lemon, lime, and orange.
The Sunline company was later bought by Rowntree Mackintosh, of the United Kingdom, which was, in turn, taken over by Nestlé. Nestlé rolled the SweeTarts family of candies into the already-existing Willy Wonka Candy Company family of brands.
_Wikipedia
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the word aloha
Aloha in the Hawaiian language means affection, love, peace, compassion, mercy, goodbye, and hello, among other sentiments of a similar nature.
_Wikipedia
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the word shalom
Shalom (שָ�?לוֹ�?) is a Hebrew and Jewish word meaning peace, Nothing missing, Nothing broken, wellbeing, and complete, and used to mean hello, and goodbye. As it does in English, it can refer to either peace between two entities (especially between man and God or between two countries), or to the well-being, welfare or safety of an individual or a group of individuals. It is also used as a greeting to either say hello or farewell, and is found in many other expressions and names.
_Wikipedia
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the word mett�?
Mett�? (P�?li) or Maitrī (Sanskrit) means unconditional and unattached loving kindness. It is one of the ten p�?ramit�?s of the Therav�?da school of Buddhism, and the first of the four Brahmavih�?ras. The mett�? bh�?van�? (cultivation of mett�?) is a popular form of meditation in Buddhism.
The object of mett�? meditation is to cultivate loving kindness (love without attachment, non-exclusive love) towards all sentient beings.
_Wikipedia
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the word bugs
Hi John,
I'm trying to add "good & plenty" and have gotten the application error message a couple times. Is it because of the ampersand?
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the word george and louise
In the TV show All in the Family and the spin-off show The Jeffersons, Sherman Hemsley played George Jefferson and Isabel Sanford played his wife Louise Jefferson.
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the word michael and gloria
On the TV series All in the family Sally Struthers played Gloria Bunker-Stivic, the Bunkers' college-age daughter, married to Michael Stivic, played by Rob Reiner.
See Archie and Edith
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the word archie and edith
All in the Family is an acclaimed American situation comedy that was originally broadcast on the CBS television network from January 12, 1971 to April 8, 1979. In September 1979, the show was revamped, and given a new title, Archie Bunker's Place. This version of the sitcom lasted another four years, ending its run in 1983. Carroll O'Connor played Archie Bunker, frequently called a "lovable bigot," an assertively prejudiced blue-collar worker. Jean Stapleton played Edith Bunker.
_Wikipedia
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the word cliff and clair
The Cosby Show is an American television sitcom starring Bill Cosby, first airing on September 20, 1984 and running for eight seasons on the NBC television network, until April 30, 1992. The show focused on the Huxtable family, an upper-middle class African-American family living in a brownstone building in Brooklyn, New York. The patriarch was the very playful, humorous, and fun-loving Heathcliff "Cliff" Huxtable, an obstetrician, played by Bill Cosby. The matriarch was his just as playful, yet very eloquent, elegant, and assertive wife, attorney Clair Hanks-Huxtable, played by Phylicia Rash�?d.
_Wikipedia
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the word gilligan and the skipper
Gilligan's Island is an American TV sitcom originally produced by United Artists Television. It aired for three seasons on the CBS network, from September 26, 1964 to September 4, 1967. The show followed the comic adventures of seven castaways as they attempted to survive and ultimately escape from a previously uninhabited island where they were shipwrecked and stranded.
Bob Denver played Gilligan, the bumbling, accident-prone crewman of the S.S. Minnow.
Alan Hale, Jr. played Jonas Grumby, the "Skipper".
_Wikipedia
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the word thurston and lovey
On the TV show Gilligan's Island, Mr. and Mrs. Howell were two of the characters.
Jim Backus played Thurston Howell, III, the greedy millionaire.
Natalie Schafer played Eunice "Lovey" Wentworth Howell, Thurston's wife.
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the word mr. roarke and tattoo
Airing from 1978 to 1984, the original series Fantasy Island starred Ricardo Montalban as Mr. Roarke, the enigmatic overseer of a mysterious island somewhere in the Pacific Ocean, where people from all walks of life could come and live out their fantasies, albeit for a price.
Roarke was known for his white suit and cultured demeanor, and was initially accompanied by an energetic sidekick, Tattoo, played by the diminutive Hervé Villechaize.
_Wikipedia
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the word jack and kyle
Jack Black and Kyle Gass make up the comedy and rock music duo Tenacious D.
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the word rowan and martin
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In was an American sketch comedy television program which ran for 140 episodes from January 22, 1968 to May 14, 1973. It was hosted by comedians Dan Rowan and Dick Martin and was broadcast over NBC.
_Wikipedia
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the word zager and evans
Nooo! The crawling....the chewing....arrrggghhhh!
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the word john smith and pocahontas
Legend has it that Pocahontas saved the life of John Smith. Her actual husband was John Rolfe.
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the word hiawatha and minnehaha
The Song of Hiawatha is an 1855 epic poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow based on the legends of the Ojibway Indians. The Song tells a legend of Hiawatha and his lover, Minnehaha.
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the word running bear and little white dove
Running Bear is a song written by J.P. Richardson (aka The Big Bopper) sung most famously by Johnny Preston in 1959. Preston first sang the song in 1959 with background vocals by Richardson and George Jones, and it was #1 on January 23, January 30 and February 6, 1960.
Running Bear tells the story of Running Bear, a "young Indian brave", and Little White Dove, an "Indian maid", who fall in love with each other on first sight. The two are separated by two factors:
Their tribes' hatred of each other.("Their tribes fought with each other / So their love could never be.")
A raging river, which also serves as a metaphor for their other separation.
The two, desiring to be together despite their obstacles and the risks for navigating the river, dive into the raging river to unite. After sharing a passionate kiss, they are pulled down by the swift current and drown. The lyrics tell the rest: "Now they'll always be together / In their happy hunting ground."
_Wikipedia
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the word pyramus and thisbe
The love story of Pyramus and Thisbe, not really a part of Roman mythology, is actually a sentimental romance. It is briefly summarized by Hyginus (Fabulae 242) and more fully elaborated in Ovid (Metamorphoses 4).
_Wikipedia
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the word oberon and titania
Oberon, also Auberon, King of Shadows and Fairies, is best known as a character in William Shakespeare's play, A Midsummer Night's Dream, written in the mid-1590s. He is Consort to Titania, Queen of the Fairies.
_Wikipedia
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the word gingham dog and the calico cat
Characters in the poem The Duel by Eugene Field.
Excerpt from The Duel:
The gingham dog and the calico cat
Side by side on the table sat;
'T was half-past twelve, and (what do you think!)
Nor one nor t' other had slept a wink!
The old Dutch clock and the Chinese plate
Appeared to know as sure as fate
There was going to be a terrible spat.
(I was n't there; I simply state
What was told to me by the Chinese plate!
February 17, 2008
treeseed commented on the word owl and the pussycat
"The Owl and the Pussycat" is a famous nonsense poem by Edward Lear, first published in 1871. It features four anthropomorphised animals (the owl, the pussycat, the 'piggy-wig' and a turkey) and revolves around the love between the title characters, who are married by the Turkey in the final stanza (of three).
_Wikipedia
February 16, 2008
treeseed commented on the word maiden, mother, crone
Aspects of the Triple Goddess in Wicca
February 16, 2008
treeseed commented on the word marie and pierre curie
Marie Curie (born Maria Skłodowska, also known as Marie Curie-Skłodowska; November 7, 1867 – July 4, 1934) was a physicist and chemist of Polish upbringing and, subsequently, French citizenship. She was a pioneer in the field of radioactivity, the first twice-honored Nobel laureate (and still the only one in two different sciences) and the first female professor at the University of Paris.
She was born in Warsaw, Congress Poland, Russian Empire, and lived there until she was 24. In 1891 she followed her elder sister to study in Paris, where she obtained her higher degrees and conducted her scientific work. She founded the Curie Institutes in Paris and Warsaw. She was the wife of fellow-Nobel-laureate Pierre Curie and the mother of a third Nobel laureate, Irène Joliot-Curie.
_Wikipedia
February 16, 2008
treeseed commented on the word firecracker
See also M-80
February 16, 2008
treeseed commented on the word m-80
M-80s are a class of large firecrackers, sometimes called salutes. M-80s were originally made in the early 20th century by the U.S. Military to simulate bombs; later, they were manufactured as fireworks. Traditionally, M-80s were made from a small red cardboard tube approximately 1½ inches (3.8 cm) long and 9/16–5/8 inches (1.4–1.6 cm) in diameter, with a Visco fuse coming out of the side, holding approximately 2½–3 grams of pyrotechnic flash powder.
_Wikipedia
February 16, 2008
treeseed commented on the word cherry bomb
Cherry bombs are exploding fireworks, usually round, approximately one inch (2.5 cm) in diameter, and colored red with a green fuse. They contain a core made of explosive flash powder, a layer of sawdust, and a coating of sodium silicate. They are powerful enough to cause very serious injury. Historically, the cherry bomb contained approximately .75 grams of a chlorate/sulfur/aluminum flash powder making it substantially less powerful than most larger firecrackers like the M-80 and silver salute.
_Wikipedia
February 16, 2008
treeseed commented on the word black snake
Black snakes are a type of outdoor firework.
After lighting the small tablet, the firework starts smoking and a 2-foot snake of ash is expelled. They stay on the ground and do not emit sparks, flares, any form of projectiles, or any sound. They do emit a yellowish smoke.
Sodium bicarbonate which produces carbon dioxide gas and sugar forming carbon containing ash, are common chemicals used for this kind of firework.
_Wikipedia
February 16, 2008
treeseed commented on the word catherine wheel
The Catherine wheel (also Catharine wheel, pinwheel) is a type of firework consisting of a powder-filled spiral tube, or an angled rocket mounted with a pin through its centre. When ignited, it rotates quickly, producing a display of sparks and coloured flame.
The firework is named for the wheel on which St. Catherine was martyred.
_Wikipedia
February 16, 2008
treeseed commented on the word roman candle
Roman candle is a type of firework, with a long, thick paper tube that contains layers of "stars" and lifting charges. When ignited, pyrotechnic stars shoot from the tube one at a time.
_Wikipedia
February 16, 2008
treeseed commented on the word bottle rocket
A bottle rocket is a very small skyrocket. A typical bottle rocket consists of a rocket engine attached to a stabilizing stick. The user can place the stick in an empty bottle (hence the name), and ignite the rocket engine; the mouth of the bottle guides the stick, stabilizing the rocket in its first moments of flight.
These rockets have been made at least since the early decades of the 20th century, and in many countries, including Japan, China, and Macao. The older type of bottle rocket was typically a black powder skyrocket with a motor about two inches (5 cm) long and up to 0.375 inch (9 mm) diameter, mounted on a thin bamboo splint and often having a small report charge.
Modern bottle rockets are small and very cheap. They are often sold by the gross.
_Wikipedia
February 16, 2008
treeseed commented on the word bias tape
Wow...much more than we need to know. I remember trying to sew with this stuff in home-ec.
Bias tape or bias binding is a narrow strip of fabric, cut on the bias (UK cross-grain). The strip's fibers, being at 45 degrees to the length of the strip, makes it stretchier as well as more fluid and more drapeable compared to a strip that is cut on grain. Many strips can be pieced together into a long "tape." The tape's width varies from about 1/2" to about 3" depending on applications. Bias tape is used in making piping, binding seams, finishing raw edges, etc. It is often used on the edges of quilts, placemats, and bibs, around armhole and neckline edges instead of a facing, and as a simple strap or tie for casual bags or clothing.
Commercially available bias tape is available as a simple bias tape, single-fold bias tape, and double-fold bias tape. Single-fold bias tape is bias tape that is folded in half lengthwise on its center line, wrong side together, and pressed. Double-fold bias tape is single-fold bias tape where each half is again folded in half lengthwise (to the center fold), wrong sides together, and pressed.
_Wikipedia
February 16, 2008
treeseed commented on the word barbie and ken
See also Midge and Allan
February 16, 2008
treeseed commented on the word midge and allan
Midge Hadley is a fictional doll character in the Barbie line of toys by Mattel. She was first released in 1963. She was marketed as Barbie's best friend. No Midge dolls were sold for the rest of the vintage years after the 1960s.
She was re-introduced in 1988 as part of the play line, though two vintage reproduction dolls were made specifically for collectors in 1993 and 1998. The dolls sold in this time period usually had red hair, often with freckles, and her eye color was usually blue or green. Also in the period, Wedding Day Midge was sold, with the groom being Allan Sherwood. Allan had been marketed as Midge's boyfriend in the vintage years.
Allan Sherwood is a fictional doll character who is part of the Barbie line of toys by Mattel. Created in 1963 and first introduced to the market in 1964, Allan was designed to be the boyfriend of Barbie's friend, Midge. He was also created to be Ken's "buddy." He is currently the only male friend of Ken to be given a surname. The early Allan dolls usually had red hair and brown eyes. Like Ken, Allan was an 11 1/2" doll with straight arms and straight legs. Unlike the first Ken dolls, he had molded hair. A bent-leg Allan doll later appeared. After 1965, no more vintage Alan dolls were produced, but he later returned two times.
In 1991, Alan made his first return for a wedding line when he and Midge were married. The spelling of Allan's name changed to Alan at this time.
_Wikipedia
February 16, 2008
treeseed commented on the word mulder and scully
In the TV series, The X-Files, FBI agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) are tasked with investigating the "X-Files": marginalized, unsolved cases involving paranormal phenomena. Mulder plays the role of the "believer", having faith in the existence of aliens and the paranormal, while Scully is a skeptic.
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February 16, 2008
treeseed commented on the word peter and mary jane
Peter Parker (Spider-Man) and Mary Jane Watson
February 16, 2008
treeseed commented on the word gladys and abner kravitz
A retired couple living across the street from Samantha and Darrin Stevens on the TV show Bewitched.
February 16, 2008
treeseed commented on the word endora and maurice
Endora and Maurice were the parents of Samantha on the TV show Bewitched. Endora was a witch and Maurice was a warlock.
February 16, 2008
treeseed commented on the word samantha and darrin
Bewitched is an American situation comedy originally broadcast on ABC from 1964 to 1972. The show stars Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick York (1964–1969), Dick Sargent (1969–1972), and Agnes Moorehead. The main characters were Samantha and Darrin Stevens...a witch and a human who were married.
_Wikipedia
February 16, 2008
treeseed commented on the word jeannie and tony
I Dream of Jeannie is an American sitcom with a fantasy premise. Produced by Screen Gems, it originally aired from December, 1964 to January, 1970 on NBC. The show ran for five seasons and produced 139 episodes. The first season consisted of 30 episodes filmed in black and white and since colorized. The other 109 episodes were filmed in color. The show has continued to air in reruns ever since. The show starred Barbara Eden as a female genie (Jeannie), and Larry Hagman as an astronaut, Captain Tony Nelson, who becomes her master, with whom she falls in love and eventually marries.
_Wikipedia
February 16, 2008
treeseed commented on the word shiva and shakti
Shiva represents the unmanifest and Shakti the manifest.
February 16, 2008
treeseed commented on the word virgin
Thinking of feta cheese made me think of Fatima and then Our Lady of Fatima and then The Blessed Virgin and hence...virgin. See Free Associate
February 16, 2008
treeseed commented on the word royce and jeannie kendall
I LOVE Heaven's Just a Sin Away. They were really into the cheatin' songs.
February 16, 2008
treeseed commented on the list i-m-terrible-with-names
How 'bout youngster?
February 16, 2008
treeseed commented on the word sharon and susan
Sharon and Susan were twin sisters separated at birth who met accidentally at summer camp in the 1961 Disney film The Parent Trap. Both sisters were played by Hayley Mills. The film was based on a book by Erich Kästner (Das Doppelte Lottchen, or Lottie and Lisa). In the remake in 1998 the sisters were named Hallie and Annie and were played by Lindsay Lohan.
February 16, 2008
treeseed commented on the word patty and cathy
Patty and Cathy Lane were "identical cousins" on The Patty Duke Show. Both characters were played by Patty Duke.
The Patty Duke Show is an American sitcom which ran on ABC from September 18, 1963 until May 4, 1966, with reruns through August 31, 1966. The show was created as a vehicle for rising star Patty Duke, who had recently won an Academy Award for The Miracle Worker. A total of 104 episodes were produced, most written by Sidney Sheldon.
_Wikipedia
February 16, 2008
treeseed commented on the word dudley do-right and nell fenwick
Dudley Do-Right was the eponymous hero of a segment on The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show which parodied early 20th century melodrama and silent film (by using only a piano as a musical background) in the form of the Northern genre. Dudley Do-Right was a Canadian Mountie who was always trying to catch his nemesis Snidely Whiplash, invariably without success. He romantically pursued Nell Fenwick, the daughter of Inspector Fenwick, the head of the Mountie station.
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February 16, 2008
treeseed commented on the word heckle and jeckle
Heckle and Jeckle was a theatrical cartoon series created by Paul Terry, and released by his own studio, Terrytoons. The characters were a pair of identical magpies who calmly outwitted their foes in the manner of Bugs Bunny, while maintaining a mischievous streak reminiscent of Woody Woodpecker. Their names were inspired by Robert Louis Stevenson's famous novella Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
One magpie spoke with a British accent, while the other spoke with a Brooklyn dialect.
_Wikipedia
February 16, 2008
treeseed commented on the word pixie and dixie
Pixie and Dixie and Mr. Jinks is a Hanna-Barbera cartoon that featured as a regular segment of the television series The Huckleberry Hound Show from 1958 to 1962. It starred two mice, Pixie and Dixie, and a cat, Mr. Jinks (a.k.a. Jinksy). Pixie was voiced by Don Messick, and Dixie and Mr. Jinks were voiced by Daws Butler. Dixie, appropriately, talked with a southern twang.
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February 16, 2008
treeseed commented on the word royce and jeannie kendall
The Kendalls were a U.S. country music duo, which had a number of hits during the late 1970s and early 1980s. The duo consisted of Royce Kendall (born September 25, 1935 in St. Louis, Missouri; died May 22, 1998) and his daughter Jeannie Kendall (born October 30, 1954 in St. Louis, Missouri). Their first single for the label, a cover of the Kitty Wells hit "Making Believe", charted only making the Top 80 (possibly due to competition from Emmylou Harris' cover of "Making Believe", which hit the U.S. country charts around the same time). However, it was their second single, a "cheating" song called "Heaven's Just a Sin Away", that proved to be their breakthrough. The song topped the country charts and was also a minor crossover pop hit, and won the 1978 Grammy for Best Country Vocal by a Duo or Group. Subsequent hits included "Just Like Real People", "It Don't Feel Like Sinnin' to Me", "Sweet Desire", "You'd Make an Angel Want to Cheat", and a cover of Dolly Parton's "Put it Off Until Tomorrow". (Jeannie Kendall's powerful soprano has often been compared to Parton's.)
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February 16, 2008
treeseed commented on the word bruce and patti
Bruce Springsteen and Patti Scialfa, bandmates and husband and wife
February 16, 2008
treeseed commented on the word porky pig and petunia pig
Porky Pig is an Academy Award-nominated animated cartoon character in the Warner Bros. Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series of cartoons. He was the first character created by the studio to draw audiences based on his star power, and the animators (particularly Bob Clampett) created many critically acclaimed shorts using the fat little pig. Even after he was supplanted by later characters, Porky continued to be popular with moviegoers and, more importantly, the Warners directors, who recast him in numerous everyman and sidekick roles. He is known for his signature line at the end of each short, "Th-th-th-that's all folks!" Petunia Pig is an animated cartoon character in the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series of cartoons from Warner Bros. She looks much like her boyfriend, Porky Pig, except that she wears a dress and has braided black hair (which she originally did not have).
Petunia was introduced by animator Frank Tashlin in the 1937 short "Porky's Romance".
_Wikipedia
February 16, 2008
treeseed commented on the word chip 'n dale
Chip 'n' Dale are two fictional, animated chipmunks created by The Walt Disney Company. Their names are a pun based on the name "Chippendale."
According to Disney, Chip is the logical schemer, and Dale is the dumb schemer. An easy way to visually tell them apart is that Chip has a small black nose and one centered protruding tooth, whereas Dale has a big red nose and his two prominent canines exposed.
_Wikipedia
February 16, 2008
treeseed commented on the word louise and jean dana
The Dana Girls was a series of mystery books produced by the Stratemeyer Syndicate and published by Grosset & Dunlap until 1979. The Dana Girls series was the brainchild of American author Harriet Stratemeyer Adams, who sought to capitalize on the popularity of both the Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys books created by her father's syndicate. The first four books were written by Leslie McFarlane who also wrote nineteen of the first twenty-five volumes in the Hardy Boys series. The rest of The Dana Girls books were written by Adams and by Mildred Wirt Benson, who also wrote many of the early volumes in the Nancy Drew series. The series' principal characters are Louise and Jean Dana, teenage orphans who attend the fictional Starhurst School for Girls in Penfield, not far from their hometown of Oak Falls. They are sleuths just like Nancy Drew.
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February 16, 2008
treeseed commented on the word nancy drew and ned nickerson
Nancy Drew's boyfriend Ned Nickerson is introduced in volume seven, The Clue in the Diary and appears in nearly every story. He frequently appears at Nancy's mystery sites across the United States, despite the fact that he is a student at Emerson University in the next town. He is so enamored by Nancy that he frequently allows her to control the relationship, which gets him into trouble several times. He often changes their plans together to pursue her sleuthing. Ned is always there for Nancy but knows mysteries are very important priority in her life so he remains very patient and aids her in solving mysteries.
_Wikipedia
February 16, 2008
treeseed commented on the word raggedy ann and raggedy andy
See Raggedy Ann
See Raggedy Andy
February 16, 2008
treeseed commented on the word bambi and faline
Faline is a female deer in Felix Salten's novel Bambi, A Life in the Woods and its sequel, Bambi's Children as well as in the Walt Disney movies Bambi and Bambi II based on the book. First shown as a fawn and later as an adult doe, Faline's role is as Bambi's girlfriend and later mate.
February 16, 2008
treeseed commented on the list what-a-concept
There, gangerh...I made it so you can also add words to this list if you so desire...tell me if it doesn't work. We can work on it together if you like.
February 16, 2008
treeseed commented on the word chad and jeremy
Chad and Jeremy were a singing folk rock duo in the 1960s, comprising Chad Stuart (born David Stuart Chadwick, 10 December 1941, Windermere, Cumbria) and Jeremy Clyde (born Michael Thomas Jeremy Clyde, 22 March 1941, Dorney, Buckinghamshire). They were part of the "British Invasion", a large influx of British rock and pop musicians to the American music scene.
The duo's first single, "Yesterday's Gone", was their only real UK hit. However, Chad and Jeremy's sensitive, strings-backed sound held a greater appeal in America, where they perhaps benefitted from an early 1960s strain of commercial folk music. Their second single, "A Summer Song", hit #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1964. Follow-ups "Willow Weep For Me" and "Before and After" reached the top 20, and altogether Chad and Jeremy had seven U.S. Top 40 hits during 1964-66.
_Wikipedia
February 16, 2008
treeseed commented on the word spin and marty
Spin and Marty was a popular series of TV shorts that aired as part of the Mickey Mouse Club. There were three serials in all, starting with The Adventures of Spin and Marty in 1955. This series of 25 ten-minute episodes set at the Triple R Ranch, a boys' summer camp, was followed by two sequels - The Further Adventures of Spin and Marty (1956) and The New Adventures of Spin and Marty (1957), both of which also aired during the Mickey Mouse Club.
_Wikipedia
February 16, 2008
treeseed commented on the list what-a-concept
Certainly, gangerh. Thank you. Please feel free to offer any other suggestions that come to mind.
February 16, 2008
treeseed commented on the user skipvia
Hey skipvia, I guess great minds think alike...I think we both entered Paul and Paula at the exact same second.
February 16, 2008
treeseed commented on the word rob and amber
The two Survivor contestants that got married and went on to be contestants on The Amazing Race.
February 16, 2008
treeseed commented on the word fais do-do
Yep.
February 16, 2008
treeseed commented on the word april stevens and nino tempo
Ahhh...that's so nice.
February 16, 2008
treeseed commented on the word the mention of your name turns a flicker into a flame
I LOVE "Misty Blue"...and also love the Minnie Riperton song you referenced. Nice groove, gangerh.
February 15, 2008
treeseed commented on the word boolawee
From the 1967 song Niki Hoeky recorded by P.J. Proby among others and written by Jim Ford and Pat and Lolly Vegas. Contains a few Cajun references and this line, "Get hip to the consultation of the boolawee."
I'd love to know what it means. Anyone?
Could this be a mispronunciation of the word "Boogalee" which simply means a cajun?
February 15, 2008
treeseed commented on the word fais do-do
Fais do-do is a name for a Cajun dance party, originating before World War II. According to Mark Humphrey's notes from the Roots n' Blues CD "Cajun Dance Party - Fais Do-Do", the parties were named for "...the gentle command ('go to sleep') young mothers offered bawling infants." He quotes early Cajun musician Edwin Duhon of the Hackberry Ramblers, "She'd go to the cry room, give the baby a nipple and say, 'Fais do-do.' She'd want the baby to go to sleep fast, 'cause she's worried about her husband dancing with somebody else out there."
'Do-do' itself is a shortening of the French verb dormir (to sleep), used primarily in speaking to small children. Comparable to the American English "beddy-bye", it is still commonly used by French-speaking people.
_Wikipedia
February 15, 2008
treeseed commented on the word morske prasa
My guinea pig in 4th grade was named Molly. Even Flapjack and Crunchy are better than that.
February 15, 2008
treeseed commented on the word guinea pig
See cavy
In Western societies, the guinea pig has enjoyed widespread popularity as a household pet since its introduction by European traders in the 16th century. Their docile nature, their responsiveness to handling and feeding, and the relative ease of caring for them, continue to make the guinea pig a popular pet. Organizations devoted to competitive breeding of guinea pigs have been formed worldwide, and many specialized breeds of guinea pig, with varying coat colors and compositions, are cultivated by breeders.
"Guinea pig" is also used as a metaphor in English for a subject of experimentation; this usage became common in the first half of the 20th century. Biological experimentation on guinea pigs has been carried out since the 17th century.
_Wikipedia
February 15, 2008
treeseed commented on the word cavy
The cavy (also commonly called the Guinea pig after its scientific name) is a species of rodent belonging to the family Caviidae and the genus Cavia. Despite their common name, these animals are not pigs, nor do they come from Guinea. They are native to the Andes, and while no longer extant in the wild, they are closely related to several species that are commonly found in the grassy plains and plateaus of the region. The guinea pig plays an important role in the folk culture of many indigenous South American groups, especially as a food source, but also in folk medicine and in community religious ceremonies. Since the 1960s, efforts have been made to increase consumption of the animal outside South America.
_Wikipedia
February 15, 2008
treeseed commented on the word vaguity
I don't think this is a real word but I read it today in a political column talking about the content of Barak's speeches. It's somehow fitting.
February 15, 2008
treeseed commented on the word sailor's valentine
Thanks reesetee, I just fleshed out Mollusque's word a bit because I have enjoyed these unusual artforms in the past and not many people know about them.
February 15, 2008
treeseed commented on the word sailor's valentine
View some Sailor's Valentines
February 15, 2008
treeseed commented on the word sailor's valentine
I have a book that shows wonderful examples of sailor's valentines. I had forgotten about them until you mentioned them.
Sailors' Valentines were brought home from a sailor's voyage at sea for his loved one during the early 1800s. They consisted of octagonal wooden boxes with intricate shell designs on them. The idea that sailors were able to make these on their ships is unlikely. Most "Sailors' Valentines" originated from the Barbados area, an important seaport during this period. Most historians believe the women on Barbados made the Valentines with local shells or shells brought to them from Indonesia, and sold them to the sailors.
Today, antique and reproduced "Sailor's Valentines" are sought for their beauty and uniqueness. Many Sailors' Valentines, both new and old can be found on the Island of Nantucket, Massachusetts.
_Wikipedia
February 15, 2008
treeseed commented on the word confinement
19th century Victorian era term for pregnancy
February 15, 2008
treeseed commented on the word lying in
A 19th century Victorian era term as "during her lying in she has been having help with the household duties."
February 15, 2008
treeseed commented on the word stranger in a strange band
Valentine Michael Smith teams up with Marilyn Manson
February 15, 2008
treeseed commented on the word the secret harden
In which Dickon hopes no one saw that tent in his trousers
February 15, 2008
treeseed commented on the word foxfire
Foxfire is the term for the bioluminescence created in the right conditions by a few species of fungi that decay wood. The luminescence is often attributed to members of the genus Armillaria, the Honey mushroom, though others are reported, and as many as 40 individual species have been identified. On the suggestion of Benjamin Franklin it was used for light in the Turtle, an early submarine. In the novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, the characters of Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer use foxfire as a source of light in order to dig a tunnel.
_Wikipedia
February 15, 2008
treeseed commented on the list what-a-concept
Thank you, gangerh.
February 14, 2008
treeseed commented on the word clinchpoop
This is a word I will use at a perfect moment...it will lie in the weeds just waiting.
Love it!
February 14, 2008
treeseed commented on the word angels and lemons
Ha! I love this one.
February 14, 2008
treeseed commented on the word proffer
Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
Pronunciation: \ˈprä-fər\
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form(s): prof·fered; prof·fer·ing \-f(ə-)riŋ\
Etymology: Middle English profren, from Anglo-French profrer, proffrir, porofrir, from por- forth (from Latin pro-) + offrir to offer
Date: 14th century
: to present for acceptance
February 14, 2008
treeseed commented on the word fosterage
Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
noun
Date: 1614
1 : the act of fostering
2 : a custom once prevalent in Ireland, Wales, and Scotland of entrusting one's child to foster parents to be brought up
February 14, 2008
treeseed commented on the word zoisite
Zoisite is a calcium aluminium hydroxy sorosilicate belonging to the epidote group of minerals. Its chemical formula is Ca2Al3(SiO4)(Si2O7)O(OH). Zoisite is named after the Slovene scientist Baron Sigmund Zois von Edelstein, who realized that this was an unknown mineral when it was brought to him by the mineral dealer Simon Prešern, who had discovered it in the Saualpe mountains of Carinthia in 1805. Transparent material is fashioned into gemstones while translucent-to-opaque material is usually carved into sculptural works. The latter is sometimes shot through with ruby crystals, which are completely opaque and unsuited to use as gems, yet are well colored and contrast strikingly against the green matrix of the zoisite.
_Wikipedia
February 14, 2008
treeseed commented on the word sugilite
Sugilite (also known as luvulite) is a relatively rare pink to purple cyclosilicate mineral with the complex chemical formula: KNa2(Fe,Mn,Al)2Li3Si12O30. Sugilite crystallizes in the hexagonal system with prismatic crystals. The crystals are rarely found and the form is usually massive.
Sugilite was first described in 1944 by the Japanese petrologist Ken-ichi Sugi (1901-1948) for an occurrence on Iwagi Islet, Japan where it is found in an aegirine syenite intrusive stock. It is found in a similar environment at Mont Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, Canada.
_Wikipedia
February 14, 2008
treeseed commented on the word pipestone
Catlinite, or pipestone, is a type of argillite (metamorphosed mudstone), usually brownish-red in color, which occurs in a matrix of Sioux quartzite. Because it is fine-grained and easily-worked, it is prized by Native Americans for use in making sacred pipes commonly referred to as peace pipes. Pipestone quarries are located and preserved in Pipestone National Monument in the southwest corner of Minnesota, and at the Pipestone River in Manitoba, Canada.
The term Catlinite came into use after the American painter George Catlin visited the quarries in Minnesota in 1835; but it was Philander Prescott who first wrote about the rock in 1832, noting that evidence indicated that American Indians had been using the quarries since at least as far back as 1637.
_Wikipedia
February 14, 2008
treeseed commented on the word marcasite
The mineral marcasite, sometimes called white iron pyrite, is iron sulfide (FeS2). Marcasite is often mistakenly confused with pyrite, but marcasite is lighter and more brittle. Specimens of marcasite often crumble and break up due to the unstable crystal structure, and it is this crystal structure that is the main difference between marcasite and pyrite. Though marcasite has the same chemical formula as pyrite, it crystallizes in a different crystal system, thereby making it a separate mineral.
Marcasite can be formed as both a primary or a secondary mineral.
As a primary mineral it forms nodules, concretions and crystals in a variety of sedimentary rock, such as at Dover, Kent, England, where it forms as sharp individual crystals and crystal groups, and nodules in chalk.
_Wikipedia
February 14, 2008
treeseed commented on the word chrysocolla
Chrysocolla (hydrated copper silicate) is a mineral, (Cu,Al)2H2Si2O5(OH)4·nH2O. It is of secondary origin and forms in the oxidation zones of copper ore bodies. Chrysocolla has an attractive blue-green colour and is a minor ore of copper, having a hardness of 2.5 to 3.5. It is also used as an ornamental stone. It is typically found as glassy botryoidal or rounded masses and crusts, or vein fillings. Because of its light color, it is sometimes confused with turquoise. Commonly it occurs only as pourous crusts unsuitable for gem use, but high quality, gem grade chrysocolla can be translucent and is highly prized.
The name comes from the Greek chrysos, "gold", and kolla, "glue", in allusion to the name of the material used to solder gold, and was first used by Theophrastus in 315 BCE.
_Wikipedia
February 14, 2008
treeseed commented on the word barite
See desert rose
February 14, 2008
treeseed commented on the word selenite
Selenite, satin spar, desert rose, and gypsum flower are the four crystalline varieties of gypsum.
_Wikipedia
February 14, 2008
treeseed commented on the word smithsonite
Smithsonite, or zinc spar, is zinc carbonate ZnCO3, a mineral ore of zinc. Historically, smithsonite was identified with hemimorphite before it was realised that they were two distinct minerals. The two minerals are very similar in appearance and the term calamine has been used for both, leading to some confusion. The distinct mineral Smithsonite was first described in 1832 and named for British chemist and mineralogist, James Smithson (1754-1829), whose estate financed the Smithsonian Institution.
Smithsonite is a variably colored trigonal mineral which only rarely is found in well formed crystals. The typical habit is as earthy botryoidal masses. It has a Mohs hardness of 4.5 and a specific gravity of 4.4 to 4.5.
_Wikipedia
February 14, 2008
treeseed commented on the word boji stone
I have a couple of these stones, one male and one female, as ridiculous as that may sound...it boggles my mind that someone can have a registered trademark for an element of Nature.
Boji® stones are concretions composed of either iron sulfide, i.e pyrite and marcasite, or in some cases jarosite, which are found in outcrops of the Smoky Hill Chalk Member of the Niobrara Formation within Gove County, Kansas. They are typically associated with thin layers of altered volcanic ash, called bentonite, which occur within the chalk comprising the Smoky Hill Chalk Member. A few of these concretions enclose, at least in part, large flattened valves of inoceramid bivalves. The "female" Boji® stones are smooth concretions, which range in size from a few millimeters to as much as 12 mm (6 inches) in length. Most of these concretions are oblate spheroids in shape. The "male" Boji® stones are small polycuboidal pyrite concretions, which are as much as 7 cm (0.23 foot ) in diameter (Hattin 1982). These concretions will explode if thrown in a fire. Also, when they are either cut or hammered, they produce sparks and a burning sulfur smell.
_Wikipedia
February 14, 2008
treeseed commented on the word crocidolite
Pronunciation: \kr�?-ˈsi-də-ˌlīt\
Function: noun
Etymology: German Krokydolith, from Greek krokyd-, krokys nap on cloth (akin to Greek krekein to weave) + German -lith -lite — more at reel
Date: 1835
: a lavender-blue or light green mineral of the amphibole group that occurs in silky fibers and in massive form and is a type of asbestos.
_Wikipedia
February 14, 2008
treeseed commented on the word pseudomorph
Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
Pronunciation: \ˈsü-də-ˌmȯrf\
Function: noun
Etymology: probably from French pseudomorphe, from pseud- + -morphe -morph
Date: 1849
1 : a mineral having the characteristic outward form of another species
2 : a deceptive or irregular form
February 14, 2008
treeseed commented on the word tiger's eye
Tiger's eye (also Tigers eye, Tiger eye) is a chatoyant gemstone that is usually yellow- to red-brown, with a silky luster. It is a fibrous silicified crocidolite (blue asbestos), a classic example of pseudomorphous replacement. An incompletely silicified blue variant is called Hawk's eye. A member of the quartz group, its physical and optical properties are identical or very near to those of single-crystal quartz.
_Wikipedia
February 14, 2008
treeseed commented on the word remote viewing
Yes, seanahan, that's exactly what I meant.
February 13, 2008
treeseed commented on the word susie q
Susie Q went to #27 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1957, recorded by Dale Hawkins.
In 1968 Creedence Clearwater Revival took it to #11.
It appears on the Rolling Stones album 12X5.
February 13, 2008
treeseed commented on the word susie
Susie Q went to #27 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1957, recorded by Dale Hawkins.
In 1968 Creedence Clearwater Revival took it to #11.
It appears on the Rolling Stones album 12X5.
February 13, 2008
treeseed commented on the word suzie q
See Susie Q
February 13, 2008
treeseed commented on the word hardy har har
Usually sarcastic response meaning one does not share in the humor
February 13, 2008
treeseed commented on the word soda jerk
Soda jerk (or soda jerker) is the name for the person — typically a youth — who works the soda fountain in a drugstore. The term refers to the person who made an ice cream soda. This was made by putting flavored syrup into a specially designed tall glass, adding soda water and, finally one or two scoops of ice cream. The result was served with a long handled "soda spoon" and straws. The name soda jerk came from the jerking action the server would use on the soda fountain handle when adding the soda water. Very few drugstores still serve ice cream and soda, which reached its peak in the 1940s.
_Wikipedia
February 13, 2008
treeseed commented on the word soda fountain
A small eating establishment, common in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, often within a drug store or other business, serving soda beverages, ice cream, and sometimes light meals.
_Wikipedia
February 13, 2008
treeseed commented on the word ice cream soda
The ice cream soda, float or spider (as referred to in Australia and New Zealand) is a treat that is typically made by mixing ice cream with either a soft drink or flavored syrup and carbonated water. The microscopic bubbles present in the ice cream act as "nucleation sites" which trigger the formation of large bubbles of carbon dioxide. The drink originated in the United States in the late 19th century.
_Wikipedia
February 13, 2008
treeseed commented on the word frozen custard
Frozen custard is a cold dessert similar to ice cream, made with eggs in addition to cream and sugar. It typically contains 10% butterfat and 1.4% egg yolk.
Using a process called overrun, air is blended into the mixture of ingredients until its volume increases by approximately 20%. By comparison, ice cream may have an overrun as large as 100% - meaning half of the final product is composed of air. The high percentage of butterfat and egg yolk gives frozen custard a thick, creamy texture and a smoother, softer consistency than ice cream. Frozen custard is most often served at 26 degrees Fahrenheit (a full 16 degrees warmer than the 10 degrees Fahrenheit at which ice cream is served).
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February 13, 2008
treeseed commented on the word peanut butter cookies
Peanut butter cookies are a cookie dating back to the early 1930s.
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They have a characteristic criss-cross pattern on top made by pressing down with a fork first one way, then the other, overlapping.
Some people like to sprinkle them with table sugar and then place a Hershey's kiss in the center before baking.
February 13, 2008
treeseed commented on the word s’mores
A s'more is a traditional campfire treat popular in the United States and Canada, consisting of a roasted marshmallow and a slab of chocolate sandwiched between two pieces of graham cracker.
S'mores are associated with recreational camping. Part of the enjoyment of this simple dessert is the way in which it is made on such camping trips. A marshmallow is skewered on the end of a long stick and held just above the campfire until (according to personal preference) its outer surface starts to brown, char, or even catch fire. Once heated, the inside of the marshmallow becomes soft. The marshmallow is quickly pinched off its stick with the waiting graham crackers, one of which has a piece of chocolate on it (typically a section of a Hershey's Milk Chocolate bar). Ideally, the heat from the roasted marshmallow partially melts the chocolate into a gooey mess.
S'more appears to be a contraction of the phrase, "some more". Because once you have one you always want s'more.
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February 13, 2008
treeseed commented on the word cream puff
The Cream Puff is one of the main attractions at the Wisconsin State Fair. Since their introduction in 1924, cream puffs have grown to be a signature Fair item, selling more than 365,000 annually. The Wisconsin State Fair dairy bakery operates around-the-clock during the Fair to meet the ever-growing insatiable demand.
Some fairgoers wait all year for a chance to indulge in the rich sweetness of a State Fair cream puff. They are made from the ingredients Wisconsin is famous for — milk, cream, butter and eggs. These cream puffs are huge not dainty like their cousin the profiterole.
February 13, 2008
treeseed commented on the word cannoli
Cannoli are Sicilian pastry desserts. The singular is cannolo, meaning “little tube�?, with the etymology stemming from the Latin "canna", or reed. Cannoli originated in Sicily and are an essential part of Sicilian cuisine. They are also popular in Italian American cuisine.
Cannoli consist of tube-shaped shells of fried pastry dough, filled with a sweet, creamy filling usually containing ricotta cheese (or alternatively, but less traditionally, sweetened blended with some combination of vanilla, chocolate, pistachio, Marsala wine, rosewater or other flavorings.
The versions Americans are most familiar with tend to involve variations on the original concept. This is possibly due to adaptations made by Italians who immigrated to the U.S. in the 1900s and discovered limited availability of certain ingredients. The cannoli sold in Italian-American bakeries today usually still contain ricotta, but mascarpone is a less common alternative. Sometimes the filling is a simple custard of sugar, milk, and cornstarch. In either case, the cream is often flavored with vanilla or orange flower water and a light amount of cinnamon. Chopped pistachios, semi-sweet chocolate bits, and candied citrus peel or cherries are often still included, dotting the open ends of the pastry. Chocolate sprinkles are sometimes used as a garnish for cannoli in the United States.
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February 13, 2008
treeseed commented on the word crème brûlée
Crème brûlée (French for "burnt cream"; pronounced /ˌkrɛm bru�?ˈleɪ/ in English) is a dessert consisting of a rich custard base topped with a layer of hard caramel, created by burning sugar under a grill, or with a blowtorch or other intense heat source. It is usually served cold in individual ramekins.
The custard base is normally flavoured with just vanilla, but it can be enhanced with chocolate, a liqueur, fruit, etc. Sometimes the hardened sugar on top will be given a Maillard reaction, or caramelization, by igniting a thin layer of liqueur sprinkled over the top.
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February 13, 2008
treeseed commented on the word flan
See crème caramel
February 13, 2008
treeseed commented on the word crème caramel
Crème caramel, flan, or caramel custard is a rich custard dessert with a layer of soft caramel on top, as opposed to crème brûlée, which is custard with a hard caramel top.
Both 'crème caramel' and 'flan' are French names, though 'flan' more commonly means a custard tart in French. The dish has spread across Europe and the world, and is known as 'flan' in Spanish-speaking countries. In the United States, the dish is now best-known in a Latin American context, so is called flan; in Europe, it is generally known as crème caramel.
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February 13, 2008
treeseed commented on the word basenji
Basenji dogs yodel.
February 13, 2008
treeseed commented on the word etouffe
a spiced Cajun stew of crayfish and vegetables, normally served with rice
February 13, 2008
treeseed commented on the word trinity
In Louisiana when one cooks just about anything, from say gumbo to etouffe to a pot of beans, they use what is called the trinity...onion, celery and bellpepper. Chopped and sauteed.
February 13, 2008
treeseed commented on the word crab cake
There are lots of recipes for crab cakes and they're all yummy.
Lump crabmeat, sauteed trinity (chopped celery, onion and bell pepper), a little garlic, a little cayenne, salt and pepper and a very little oregano and thyme, some bread crumbs and some mayonnaise...fry up neat little palm size flattened cakes in a blend of extra virgin olive oil and butter.
I serve them with corn/tomato salsa.
February 13, 2008
treeseed commented on the word parody
Yea! Uselessness is back!
February 13, 2008
treeseed commented on the word bull sedge
Bull sedge sounds like a minced oath.
February 13, 2008
treeseed commented on the word jams
Many baby boomers remember the wildly popular JAMS shorts of the 1960s and 1980s. JAMS were closely associated with the California and Hawaii surf scenes. The JAMS brand still exists, and has grown into today's Jams World clothing and accessories line.
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Growing up in southern California among surfers I know this word as a generic term spelled without capital letters. It was used for any baggy knee length swim shorts with drawstring waist that came in loud floral patterns. Jams is short for pajamas and the comfort of pajamas is implied.
February 13, 2008
treeseed commented on the word ska
Ska is linked with punk in my mind for many reasons The Mighty Mighty Bosstones being one of them. See Free Associate
Ska (pronounced /ska/ or in Jamaican Patois /skja/) is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s and was a precursor to rocksteady and reggae.
Ska combined elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues. It is characterized by a walking bass line, accented guitar or piano rhythms on the offbeat, and in some cases, jazz-like horn riffs. In the early 1960s, ska was the dominant musical genre of Jamaica, and it was also popular with British mods. Many skinheads, in various decades, have also enjoyed ska (along with reggae, rocksteady and other genres). Music historians typically divide the history of ska into three periods: the original Jamaican ska scene of the 1960s, the 2 Tone ska revival that started in England in the late 1970s, and the third wave ska movement, which started in the 1980s.
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February 13, 2008
treeseed commented on the word bebb's oval sedge
also called Bebb's Sedge
Carex bebbii
Fine textured, light green, tuft-forming sedge with a fine fibrous root system. It is found in wet prairies, bogs and marshes. Flower/seed head is a small, round, bristly structure found at the tip of the culum or blade.
Bloom period May and June
Height 24-36"
February 13, 2008
treeseed commented on the word fringed sedge
Carex crinita
Tuft forming sedge with stolons. Flower/seed head is long, thin and fuzzy, born along the culum or blade.
Bloom period May-August
Height 24-60"
February 13, 2008
treeseed commented on the word parody
uselessness...that one was actually more hilarious. Thanks.
February 13, 2008
treeseed commented on the word cambric
excerpt from Scarborough Fair/Canticle - Paul Simon/Art Garfunkel, 1966
Tell her to make me a cambric shirt
(On the side of a hill in the deep forest green)
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme
(Tracing a sparrow on snow-crested ground)
Without no seams nor needlework
(Blankets and bedclothes the child of the mountain)
Then she'll be a true love of mine
(Sleeps unaware of the clarion call)
February 12, 2008
treeseed commented on the word barkcloth
Barkcloth is a soft, thick, slightly textured fabric so named because it has a rough surface like that of tree bark. This barkcloth is usually made of densely woven cotton fibers. Historically, the fabric has been used in home furnishings, such as curtains, drapery, upholstery, and slipcovers. It is often associated with 1950s and 1960s home fashions.
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February 12, 2008
treeseed commented on the list public-list-prairie-grasses
Are you including sedges on this list?
February 12, 2008
treeseed commented on the word horsetail rush
Equisetum is a genus of vascular plants that reproduce by spores rather than seeds. The genus includes 15 species commonly known as horsetails and scouring rushes. It is the only living genus in class Equisetopsida, formerly of the division Equisetophyta (Arthrophyta in older works), though recent molecular analyses place the genus within the ferns (Pteridophyta). Other classes and orders of Equisetopsida are known from the fossil record, where they were important members of the world flora during the Carboniferous period.
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February 12, 2008
treeseed commented on the word forb
Forbs are herbaceous flowering plants that are not graminoids (grasses, sedges and rushes). The term is frequently used in vegetation ecology, especially in relation to grasslands, to refer to broad-leaved (dicot) herbs. Forbs represent a guild of plant species with broadly similar growth form, which in ecology is often more important than taxonomic relationship.
In addition to its use in ecological studies, the term forb may also be used for subdividing popular guides to the wildflowers of a region, together with other categories such as ferns, grasses, shrubs and trees. This approach is not followed in formal regional floras, which are usually organised taxonomically.
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February 12, 2008
treeseed commented on the word parody
SofG...that was hilarious! Thanks.
February 12, 2008
treeseed commented on the word my little pony
My Little Pony is a line of colorful toy ponies marketed primarily to young children and produced by the toy manufacturer Hasbro. It was introduced in 1981. "My Little Pony" became immensely popular during the 80s, at one point even outselling Mattel's Barbie.
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February 12, 2008
treeseed commented on the word rocking horse
A rocking horse is a child's toy, usually shaped like a horse and mounted on rockers similar to a rocking chair.
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February 12, 2008
treeseed commented on the word barrel of monkeys
Barrel of Monkeys is a toy game first created by Lakeside Toys in 1965. Today it is produced by the Milton Bradley Company. Milton Bradley's editions consist of a toy barrel in either blue, yellow, red, or green. The barrel contains 12 monkeys, their color usually corresponding to the barrel's color. The instructions on the bottom of the barrel state "Dump monkeys onto table. Pick up one monkey by an arm. Hook other arm through a second monkey's arm. Continue making a chain. Your turn is over when a monkey is dropped." In addition to these basic instructions, the barrel also contains instructions for playing alone or with two or more players.
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February 12, 2008
treeseed commented on the word raggedy andy
Raggedy Andy is a boy rag doll, the friend of Raggedy Ann. The character was created by Johnny Gruelle in 1920. Raggedy Andy wears blue pants that button to a plaid shirt with a collar and a bow tie. He has the characteristic red and white striped legs and orange yarn hair. He wears a sailor cap. He has the famous "I love you" heart on his chest just as Raggedy Ann does.
Raggedy Ann was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame in 2002. Raggedy Andy joined her in 2007.
February 12, 2008
treeseed commented on the word squirt gun
A squirt gun (or water pistol or water gun) is a type of toy designed to shoot water. It works on the same principle as a spray bottle. The body of the toy is essentially a container for water, and the "trigger" is attached to a pump which squirts water out of a tiny hole at the "muzzle."
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February 12, 2008
treeseed commented on the word candy land
Candy Land is a simple racing board game. It has become a cultural icon in the U.S., where it is often the first board game played by children because it requires no ability to read and only minimal counting skills.
The game was designed in the 1940s by Eleanor Abbott, while she was recovering from polio in San Diego, California.
The game was bought by Milton Bradley Company (now owned by Hasbro) and first published in 1949.
A December, 2005 article in Forbes magazine analyzed the most popular American toys by decade, with help from the Toy Industry Association. Candy Land led the list for the 1940-1949 decade.
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February 12, 2008
treeseed commented on the word clue
Clue is a crime fiction board game originally published by Waddingtons in the United Kingdom in 1948. It was devised by Anthony E. Pratt, a solicitor's clerk and part-time clown from Birmingham, England. It is now published by the United States game and toy company Hasbro, which acquired its U.S. publisher Parker Brothers as well as Waddingtons.
The game is set in a mansion, with the board divided into different rooms. The players each represent a character who is a guest staying at this house, whose owner, Dr. Black (Mr. Boddy in the North American version), has been found murdered. Players attempt to solve the murder. The solution to the murder requires the three components of Suspect, Weapon, and Room.
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February 12, 2008
treeseed commented on the word koosh ball
The Koosh ball is a toy ball, unique in its possession of rubber filaments around a center core as opposed to a smooth, consistent surface. (see photo.)
The Koosh ball was developed in 1986 by Scott Stillinger to be easy for his daughter and son (5 and 8 years old respectively) to hold and throw. It was named after the sound it made when it landed. Stillinger started the OddzOn Products Inc. company with his brother-in-law, Mark Button (who had previously been a marketing manager for Mattel), in 1987 in order to sell it. The Koosh ball was one of 1988's hot Christmas toys, appealing considerably to all ages. The company later expanded their product line to include 50 other Koosh-related products, including keyrings, baseball sets, and yo-yos. The number of Koosh Balls sold is estimated to be in the millions.
The ball consists of approximately 2000 natural rubber filaments, and has been released in a variety of color combinations.
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February 12, 2008
treeseed commented on the word liddle kiddles
Liddle Kiddles is a range of toy dolls produced by Mattel that was introduced in 1965 and by 1966 they began to hit the store shelves. Until then most of the dolls were 8" to 12" fashion dolls or baby dolls, so these tiny Kiddles with their large heads were quite different. They became so popular that other toy companies tried to produce their own versions of the Liddle Kiddle to cash in on Mattel's success.
The original Kiddle doll was made of a soft vinyl with painted facial features and rooted hair that could be combed. The first, second, and thired series (bigger bodies as collectors call them) range from 2 3/4" to 3 1/2."
The bigger bodies ( first 10 dolls) are designed to resemble typical neighborhood children at play. The name Liddle Kiddles was actually taken from the words little kid. Each of the first 24 dolls had detailed clothing and accessories that perfectly matched their theme and size. Wire skeletons inside the vinyl bodies enable the dolls to be posed and reposed realistically.
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February 12, 2008
treeseed commented on the word pop beads
Pop beads are made of polyethene and other soft plastics. A knob at one end fits into a corresponding hole on a neighboring bead to link together and create necklaces and bracelets. They came in many colors and were a fad during the late 1950s and early 1960s. Vintage sets fetch good prices. Fisher-Price made a large colorful type of pop beads called Snap-Lock beads.
February 12, 2008
treeseed commented on the word breyer horse
Breyer Animal Creations (or just Breyer), a division of Reeves International, is one of the oldest model animal companies to date. The company specializes in model horses, although various wildlife and domestic animal models have been made in the past. It's model horses are some of the most renowned model horses in the hobby, being as the models are both inexpensive and realistic. It manufactures well over 5 million models annually.
The company specializes in realistic, scale animal models made from cellulose acetate. Most of the company's products focus on model horses and the tack and accessories (such as stables, barns, grooming implements) that accompany horse care.
Each horse is cast in a mold, then the seams are sanded and polished. Markings and color patterns are usually obtained by using a stencil, although most older models were airbrushed by hand, with markings such as undefined socks or a bald face merely left unpainted. Most detailing, such as eyewhites (common on 1950s and 1960s models and enjoying a resurgence in modern models), brands, or other individual markings are painstakingly handpainted.
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February 12, 2008
treeseed commented on the word boohbah
Boohbah is a 2004 television show aimed at children between three and six years old. It premiered in 2003 on ITV in the United Kingdom, and on 19 January 2004 in the United States on PBS.
The Boohbahs are five furry, gumdrop-shaped creatures played by actors in full body costumes. Their thick, shimmery fur sparkles with tiny lights; their Kewpie doll style heads are hairless and feature big eyes with rows of lights for eyebrows. They do not speak, but instead make noises like squeaks, squeals, and clicks. The Boohbahs can retract their heads into their furry necks. Each Boohbah is a different color. They are:
Humbah (Yellow)
Zumbah (Purple)
Zing Zing Zingbah (Orange)
Jumbah (Blue)
Jingbah (Pink)
The Boohbahs can fly; part of their routine is to assemble into a circle, holding hands like skydivers. Each then emits a different musical note as a flash of colored light (matching the Boohbah's color) is sent out from their heads to a central point.
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February 12, 2008
treeseed commented on the word spirograph
Spirograph is a registered trademark of Hasbro, Inc., for a geometric drawing toy.
The Spirograph produces mathematical curves of the variety technically known as hypotrochoids and epitrochoids.
The Spirograph was invented by British engineer Denys Fisher who exhibited it in 1965 at the Nuremberg International Toy Fair. It was subsequently produced by his company. Distribution rights were acquired by Kenner, Inc., which introduced it to the United States' market in 1966.
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February 12, 2008
treeseed commented on the word etch a sketch
Etch A Sketch is a registered trademark for a mechanical drawing toy manufactured by the Ohio Art Company.
An Etch A Sketch resembles a thick, flat gray screen in a plastic frame, and is equipped with two knobs on the front of the frame in the lower corners. The knobs move a stylus that displaces gray powder on the back of the screen, leaving a dark line as the stylus is moved. The knobs can thus be used to create lineographic images. One knob moves the stylus horizontally, and the other vertically.
Introduced near the peak of the Baby Boom, the classically simple Etch A Sketch is one of the best-known toys of that generation, and remains popular to this day.
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February 12, 2008
treeseed commented on the word weebles
Weebles is a trademark for several lines of children's toys originating in Hasbro's Playskool division on July 23, 1971. Shaped like eggs with a weight at the fat, or bottom end, they wobble when pushed, but never fall completely over, hence the name. Some Weebles were designed to look like humans.
The popular catchphrase, "Weebles wobble but they don't fall down", was used in advertising during their rise in popularity in the 1970s and during the relaunch in the 2000s.
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February 12, 2008
treeseed commented on the word water wiggle
A summertime outdoor water fun toy manufactured by Wham-o.
The toy was a seven-foot plastic hose attached to an aluminum water-jet nozzle. The nozzle was covered with a bellshaped plastic head with a silly expression. The toy was attached to a regular garden hose and when the water was turned on it danced and spun and squirted water over a wide and unpredictable area.
The Water Wiggle was voluntarily recalled by Wham-o and all manufacturing stopped in 1978 because of two separate deaths of children due to drowning.
February 12, 2008
treeseed commented on the word super ball
SuperBall (originally "Super Ball") is an example of a bouncy ball invented by Norman Stingley, and manufactured by Wham-O in 1965. It is an extremely elastic ball made of Zectron, which contains the synthetic rubber polymer polybutadiene, vulcanized with sulfur at a temperature of 165 degrees Celsius and at a pressure of 80 atmospheres. The Super Ball has an amazingly high coefficient of restitution. Dropped from shoulder level, Super Ball snapped nearly all the way back; thrown down, it could leap over a three-story building.
After watching his kids play with a Super Ball, Lamar Hunt, founder of the American Football League, coined the term Super Bowl.
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February 12, 2008
treeseed commented on the word ticker-tape parade
A ticker-tape parade is a parade event, held in a downtown urban setting, allowing the jettison of large amounts of shredded paper products from nearby office buildings onto the parade route, creating a triumphal effect by the snowstorm-like flurry.
The term originated in New York City after a spontaneous celebration held on October 29, 1886 during the dedication of the Statue of Liberty and is still most closely associated with New York City. The term ticker-tape referred originally to the use of the paper output of ticker tape machines, which were remotely-driven devices used in brokerages to provide updated stock market quotes. Nowadays, the paper products are largely waste office paper that have been cut using conventional shredders. The city also distributes paper confetti.
In New York City, ticker-tape parades are not annual events but are reserved for special occasions. Soon after the first such parade in 1886, city officials realized the utility of such events and began to hold them on triumphal occasions, for extraordinary events, and to honor heads of state.
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February 12, 2008
treeseed commented on the word slap bracelet
A slap bracelet (or snap bracelet) is a bracelet consisting of layered, flexible stainless steel bi-stable spring bands sealed within a colorful fabric cover. The bracelet can be straightened out, creating tension within the springy metal bands. The straightened bracelet is then slapped against the wearer's forearm, causing the bands to spring back into a curve which wraps around the wrist, securing the bracelet to the wearer. The slap bracelet was a popular fad among children, pre-teens and teenagers in the early 1990s and was available in a huge number of then-popular patterns and colors.
The original "Slap Wrap" bracelet was invented by Stu Anders & Phil Bart at Main Street Industries, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
_Wikipedia
February 12, 2008
treeseed commented on the word gee whiz
a minced oath for Jesus
February 12, 2008
treeseed commented on the word punk
I saw the Leaves several times and they RULED!
February 12, 2008
treeseed commented on the word little bluestem
I think this is a beautiful name.
February 12, 2008
treeseed commented on the list public-list-prairie-grasses
I love this list! With your interest in these grasses I assume you have stood upon the tallgrass prairie...it is an unforgettable experience.
February 12, 2008
treeseed commented on the word little golden book
Skipvia, I am checking some forums and I will try to locate the title for you.
February 12, 2008
treeseed commented on the word prairie
Lots of stotting and pronking going on out on the prairie. Be there or be square. See free-associate.
February 12, 2008
treeseed commented on the word baton
Baton twirling was popular among little girls in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Since then classes are available to young kids in much the same way as dance lessons are. A twirling baton was considered a toy even though it was also an instrument used by adults in marching bands.
February 12, 2008
treeseed commented on the word tricycle
The word tricycle has been in use since the early 19th century and stems from the Greek tri (treia), meaning three, and kyklos, meaning a circle or wheel. The abbreviation trike has been in use since 1883.
The most common type of tricycle today is the child's toy pedal tricycle.
_Wikipedia
February 12, 2008
treeseed commented on the word alphabet blocks
Alphabet Block sets were wooden blocks with primary colored letters, numbers, and pictures. The best were embossed (not just printed) on 1 3/4" basswood blocks. Some sets were sold in wooden wagons pulled by a string.
February 12, 2008
treeseed commented on the word slot car
A slot car (sometimes, slotcar) is a powered miniature auto or other vehicle which is guided by a groove or slot in the track on which it runs. A pin or blade extends from the bottom of the car into the slot. Though some slot cars are used to model highway traffic on scenic layouts, the great majority are used in the competitive hobby of slot car racing or slot racing.
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February 12, 2008
treeseed commented on the word hot wheels
Hot Wheels is a brand of die cast toy car, introduced by American toymaker Mattel in 1968. It was the primary competitor of Matchbox until 1996, when Mattel acquired rights to the Matchbox brand from Tyco.
The original, and now famous, Hot Wheels logo was designed by California artist Rick Irons, who at that time worked for Mattel.
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February 12, 2008
treeseed commented on the word little golden book
Little Golden Books is a popular series of children's books. The first 12 titles were published October 1, 1942.
The Little Golden Books, which initially sold for 25¢, were published by Simon and Schuster in cooperation with the Artist and Writers Guild, Inc.
Western Printing and Lithographing Company in Racine, Wisconsin, was Simon and Schuster's partner in the Little Golden Books venture. Western handled the actual printing. In 1958, Simon and Schuster sold its interest in Little Golden Books to Western.
Ownership and control of the series has changed several times since. In 2001, Random House acquired Golden Books for about 85 million dollars.
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These are small picture books with cardboard covers and characteristic gold foil spines.
February 12, 2008
treeseed commented on the word crayola crayon
Crayola Crayons were invented by cousins Edwin Binney and C. Harold Smith. Binney's wife Alice coined the word "Crayola" by combining the French word for chalk (craie) and the "ola" part of "oleaginous" (oily).
The first box of Binney & Smith crayons, produced in 1903, sold for a nickel and contained eight colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet, brown, and black. While it was widely known that the 8 count box was the box they initially sold their crayons in, they carried a full line of boxes in different sizes and colors for many uses.
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February 12, 2008
treeseed commented on the word matchbox car
Matchbox is a die cast toy brand currently owned by Mattel, Inc. Matchbox toys were so named because the original models were packed in boxes similar in size and style to boxes of matches. The series became so popular that the Matchbox name was once widely used by the public as a genericized trademark for all die cast toy cars measuring approximately 2.5 inches (6.5 cm) in length, regardless of brand. In the 1970s, Matchbox switched to the more conventional, plastic and cardboard "blister packs" used for other die cast cars such as Hot Wheels, although the box style packaging was re-introduced for the collector market in recent years, particularly successfully with the release of the "35th Anniversary of Superfast" series in 2004.
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February 12, 2008
treeseed commented on the word lionel trains
Lionel Corporation's trains, produced from 1901 to 1969, are the most famous toy trains in the United States and among the most famous in the world. Lionel Trains were inducted in the National Toy Hall of Fame in 2006.
The National Toy Hall of Fame is a hall of fame that recognizes the contributions of toys and games that have sustained their popularity for many years. Established in 1998, the National Toy Hall of Fame is in the Strong Museum (now the Strong - National Museum of Play) in Rochester, New York.
Thirty-nine toys have been enshrined in the National Toy Hall of Fame.
_Wikipedia
February 12, 2008
treeseed commented on the word corn pone
Corn pone (sometimes referred to as "Indian pone") is a type of cornbread, made of a thick, malleable dough made of cornmeal or hominy grits, shaped by hand and then baked or fried in butter, margarine, lard or bacon grease. Corn pone has been a staple of Southern U.S. cuisine, and has been discussed by many American writers, including Mark Twain. Typically corn pone is formed in two to three inch oval shapes and features a crunchy and/or chewy texture.
The term "corn pone" is sometimes used as a noun to refer to one who possesses certain rural, unsophisticated peculiarities ("he's a corn pone"), or as an adjective to describe particular rural, folksy or "hick" characteristics (e.g., "corn pone" humor). The term is sometimes intended as a pejorative, often directed at persons from rural areas of the southern and midwestern U.S.
_Wikipedia
February 12, 2008
treeseed commented on the word thingmaker
reesetee, I wish we had Picadoos when I was a kid...we just had the boy stuff...to make cars and boats and snakes and bugs. Picadoos sound much cooler.
February 12, 2008
treeseed commented on the word prairie skirt
A prairie skirt is an American style of skirt, an article of women's and girls clothing.
Prairie skirts are slightly flared to very full, with one or more flounces (deep ruffles) or tiers, and are often worn over a ruffled eyelet or lace-trimmed petticoat. They were introduced to fashion by Ralph Lauren in his fall 1978 Western-themed collection.
Prairie skirts are so-called after their resemblance to the home-sewn skirts worn by pioneer women in the mid-nineteenth century, which in turn are a simplified version of the flared, ruffled skirts characteristic of high-fashion dresses of the 1820s.
In keeping with their design inspiration, traditional prairie skirts are usually made of "country" fabrics such as denim and flowered calico. Prairie skirts are a staple of women's western wear, and very full prairie skirts are worn for square dancing.
Mid-calf length, button-front denim prairie skirts with a single flounce, worn with a petticoat that was slightly longer than the skirt, became a mainstream fashion in the 1970s and early '80s following Lauren's introduction.
_Wikipedia
February 12, 2008
treeseed commented on the word vac-u-form
See also Thingmaker and Creepy Crawlers
February 12, 2008
treeseed commented on the word thingmaker
Creepy Crawlers is the best-known name associated with an activity toy made by Mattel beginning in 1964. A more generic term for the toy is "Thingmaker".
A Thingmaker toy consists of a series of die-cast metal molds, into which are poured a liquid chemical substance called Plasti-Goop, which came in many colors and varieties. The mold is then heated atop an open-face electric hot plate oven. The Plasti-Goop is cured by the heat, and when cooled, is removed from the mold, forming solid, rubbery replicas.
The concept of the Thingmaker was actually introduced in 1963, as part of Mattel's "Vac-U-Maker" set. This omnibus toy combined the new "molds and Plasti-Goop" technology with the existing "Vac-U-Form" machine, which molded simple sculptures by heating thin sheets of plastic, then using a vacuum pump to form the softened plastic over hard plastic forms. Following this introduction period, the Thingmaker portion was "spun off" as a separate set, and the "Creepy Crawlers" line began in earnest.
Mattel produced many Thingmaker sets as follow-ups to the original "Creepy Crawlers" throughout the 1960s, utilizing a variety of themes, aimed at both boys and girls.
_Wikipedia
February 12, 2008
treeseed commented on the word creepy crawlers
Creepy Crawlers is the best-known name associated with an activity toy made by Mattel beginning in 1964. A more generic term for the toy is "Thingmaker".
A Thingmaker toy consists of a series of die-cast metal molds, into which are poured a liquid chemical substance called Plasti-Goop, which came in many colors and varieties. The mold is then heated atop an open-face electric hot plate oven. The Plasti-Goop is cured by the heat, and when cooled, is removed from the mold, forming solid, rubbery replicas.
The concept of the Thingmaker was actually introduced in 1963, as part of Mattel's "Vac-U-Maker" set. This omnibus toy combined the new "molds and Plasti-Goop" technology with the existing "Vac-U-Form" machine, which molded simple sculptures by heating thin sheets of plastic, then using a vacuum pump to form the softened plastic over hard plastic forms. Following this introduction period, the Thingmaker portion was "spun off" as a separate set, and the "Creepy Crawlers" line began in earnest.
Mattel produced many Thingmaker sets as follow-ups to the original "Creepy Crawlers" throughout the 1960s, utilizing a variety of themes, aimed at both boys and girls.
_Wikipedia
February 12, 2008
treeseed commented on the word vac-u-form
Vac-U-Form was a toy made by Mattel in the 1960s. It enabled you to melt a sheet of styrene plastic and quickly make a mold of a toy car, boat, etc.
February 12, 2008
treeseed commented on the word shrinky dinks
Shrinky Dinks were invented in 1973 by Kate Bloomberg and Betty Morris from Wisconsin. The first kits were manufactured by the major toy companies of the time such as Milton Bradley, Colorforms, Western Publishing and Skyline Toys. The shrink plastic is still available from many retailers and can be used for anything from charms to pins.
Prior to heating, the thin, flexible polystyrene plastic sheets can be coloured with felt-tip pens, colored pencils or crayons and cut into shapes. When heated in the oven or with a heat gun, the plastic shrinks by about 5/8ths and becomes thicker and more rigid, while retaining the colored design.
Although Shrinky Dinks is considered to be an arts and crafts product for children, many adult crafters find the product to be suitable for jewelery making and other projects.
_Wikipedia
February 12, 2008
treeseed commented on the word knuckle replacement
Surgical replacement of knuckle joints damaged by rheumatoid arthritis using various types of artificial joints.
February 12, 2008
treeseed commented on the word knuckle buster
When you turn a tight nut too hard with your wrench and it suddenly lets go and your knuckles slam into the machine you are working on and graze the skin. Ow!
February 12, 2008
treeseed commented on the word fetch-light
A single moving light said to appear as a warning of impending death. Also called dead man's candle.
February 11, 2008
treeseed commented on the word cimaruta
Cimaruta (Chee-Mah-Roo-Tah): Also called Mallocchio, Spring of Rue, Jettatura, Witch’s Charm, and Cima di Ruta. A very ancient protective charm dating back to 4500-3000 B.C.E., depicting a bird, fish, serpent, and spiral.
Steeped in history and witchcraft, a version of the Cimaruta, or Italian Witch Charm, was mostly used in ancient Italy. “Cimaruta,�? means “spring of rue�? and the branches of the charm are the branches of that most sacred plant. From the rue branches at each end is a sprout; out of the sprout comes forth many occult symbols, such as the key, dagger, blossom, and moon. All Cimaruta are different according to region of origin, and the symbols vary. Some of the variations include: a rose, a hand holding a wand or sword, a flaming heart, a crescent moon, a snake, an owl, a plumed Medieval helmet, a Vervain flower blossom, a dolphin, a cock, and a crow.
The Cimaruta was always made of silver, and was traditionally double-sided. The Cimaruta was often placed upon the breasts of infants, as a protection (evoking the goddess Diana whom ancient Roman women gave offeings to for an easier childbirth). Before it became popular among the common people, it was used by witches as a sign of membership in the Witch-cult. The Cimaruta charm was used by the Society of Diana, the Old Religion of the Witches, in the past centuries, and many Italian witches still wear them. Because most Cimaruta charms are fairly large - some almost 4 inches across - not only can it be worn around the neck but it can also be hung above any door, on the wall, and near any sacred altar space. However, Cimaruta are rare and can be very difficult to find. A few can be found on Internet shops and in some physical shops that carry witchcraft supplies.
_Wikipedia
February 11, 2008
treeseed commented on the word astral projection
Astral projection (or astral travel) is a paranormal interpretation of an out-of-body experience achieved either awake or via lucid dreaming or deep meditation. The concept of astral projection assumes the existence of another body, separate from the physical body and capable of traveling to non-physical planes of existence. Commonly such planes are called astral, etheric, or spiritual. Astral projection is often experienced as the spirit or astral body leaving the physical body to travel in the spirit world or astral plane.
_Wikipedia
February 11, 2008
treeseed commented on the word astral plane
The astral plane, also called the astral world or desire world, is a plane of existence according to esoteric philosophies, some religious teachings and New Age thought. Although the word "astral" is often associated with New Age ideas, this term was also used historically by alchemists. In the late 19th and early 20th century the term was popularised by Theosophy, especially as developed by Annie Besant and C. W. Leadbeater, and later Alice Bailey. In this cosmology, the astral is the first metaphysical plane beyond the physical, but is "denser" than the mental plane. The astral plane is also sometimes termed the world of emotion or world of illusion, and corresponds to Blavatsky's Kamic Plane.
According to Occult, Theosophical, and New Age teachings, the astral plane can be visited consciously with the astral body through means of meditation and mantra, lucid dreaming, or other forms of training and development.
_Wikipedia
February 11, 2008
treeseed commented on the word akashic records
The Akashic records (Akasha is a Sanskrit word meaning "sky", "space" or "aether") is a term from Hinduism that was incorporated into Theosophy denoting a collection of mystical knowledge encoded in a non-physical plane of existence. The records are supposed to contain all knowledge, including all human experience, of the history of the Cosmos. The Akashic records are metaphorically described as a library and are also likened to a universal computer or the 'Mind of God'. The records are supposed to be constantly updated. The concept originated in the theosophical movements of the 19th Century, and remains prevalent in New Age discourse.
_Wikipedia
February 11, 2008
treeseed commented on the word rue
folkname herb-of-grace
Among the Strega, Italian witches, a most sacred herb, see cimaruta
"A sprig of rue was used to sprinkle holy water during High Masses during the Medieval period."
_Encyclopedia of Wicca and Witchcraft, Raven Grimassi
February 11, 2008
treeseed commented on the word sigil
A sigil (pronounced /'sɪdʒ.ɪl/ or /'sɪg.ɪl/; pl. sigilia or sigils) is a symbol created for a specific magical purpose. A sigil is usually made up of a complex combination of several specific symbols or geometric figures each with a specific meaning or intent.
The term sigil derives from the Latin sigilum meaning "seal," though it may also be related to the Hebrew סגולה (segulah meaning "word, action or item of spiritual effect"). The old Norse binding rune is an example of the idea. A sigil may have an abstract, pictorial or semi-abstract form. It may appear in any medium -- physical, virtual, or mental. Visual symbols are the most popular form, but the use of aural and tactile symbols in magic is not unheard of.
_Wikipedia
February 11, 2008
treeseed commented on the word hand of glory
The Hand of Glory is the dried and pickled hand of a man who has been hanged, often specified as being the left (Latin: sinister) hand, or else, if the man were hanged for murder, the hand that "did the deed."
According to old European beliefs, a candle made of the fat from a malefactor who died on the gallows, virgin wax, and Lapland sesame oil (the candle could only be put out with milk), and the hand having come from the said hanged criminal, lighted and placed in the Hand of Glory (as in a candlestick) would have rendered motionless all persons to whom it was presented. (In another versions the hair of the dead man is used as a wick, also the candle is said to give light only to the holder.) The Hand of Glory also purportedly had the power to unlock any door it came across.
The legend is traceable to about 1440, but the name only dates from 1707. It was originally a name for the mandrake root (via French "mandragore" and thus, "maindegloire" - "hand of glory") that became conflated with the earlier legend. The confusion may have occurred because mandrakes are said to grow beneath the bodies of hanged criminals.
_Wikipedia
February 11, 2008
treeseed commented on the word worry doll
Worry dolls, or trouble dolls, are very small dolls originally made in Guatemala. A person who cannot sleep due to worrying can place a worry doll under the pillow; the doll is thought to worry in the person's place, thereby permitting the person to sleep. In the morning the children wake up without their worries, which have been taken away by the dolls during the night. The dolls are about 1/2 inch (13 mm) tall and handmade from cotton, wood and cardboard.
_Wikipedia
I have dozens of these and hence, very few worries. They come in both male and female attire and a wide variety of colored fabrics are used in creating them.
February 11, 2008
treeseed commented on the word wild hunt
The Wild Hunt was a folk myth prevalent in former times across Northern, Western and Central Europe. The fundamental premise in all instances is the same: a phantasmal group of huntsmen with the accoutrements of hunting, horses, hounds, etc., in mad pursuit across the skies or along the ground, or just above it. It is often a way to explain thunderstorms.
The hunters may be the dead, or the fairies (often in folklore connected with the dead). The hunter may be an unidentified lost soul, a deity or spirit of either gender, or may be a historical or legendary figure like Dietrich of Berne, the Danish king Valdemar Atterdag, Satan, Odin (or other reflexes of the same god, such as Alemannic Wuodan in Wuotis Heer of Central Switzerland, etc.), or Arawn. Women may also be the hunters, as in related cult of Diana or Holda . The hunt is often for a woman, who is captured or killed, or a moss maiden.
It has been variably referred to as the Wild Hunt, Woden's Hunt, the Raging Host (Germany), Herlathing (England), Mesnee d'Hellequin (Northern France), Cŵn Annwn (Wales) Cain's Hunt, Ghost Riders (North America), Herod's Hunt, Gabriel's Hounds, Asgardreia (Asgard ride) and even in Cornwall "the devil's dandy dogs."
_Wikipedia
Jane Yolen wrote a wonderful children's book called The Wild Hunt that does the legend proud and brings it into the modern world with skill and originality.
February 11, 2008
treeseed commented on the word tuatha dé danann
The Tuatha Dé Danann ("peoples of the goddess Danu", pronounced /tu�?ˈəhə dʲɛ�? danˈən) are a race of people in Irish mythology. In the invasions tradition which begins with the Lebor Gabála Érenn, they are the fifth group to settle Ireland, conquering the island from the Fir Bolg.
They are thought to derive from the pre-Christian gods of Ireland. When the surviving stories were written, Ireland had been Christian for centuries, and the Tuatha Dé were represented as mortal kings and heroes of the distant past, but there are many clues to their former divine status. A poem in the Book of Leinster lists many of the Tuatha Dé, but ends "Although the author enumerates them, he does not worship them." Goibniu, Creidhne and Luchta are referred to as Trí Dé Dána ("three gods of craftsmanship"), and the Dagda's name is interpreted in medieval texts as "the good god." Even after they are displaced as the rulers of Ireland, characters such as Lugh, the Morrígan, Aengus and Manannan appear in stories set centuries later, showing all the signs of immortality.
_Wikipedia
February 11, 2008
treeseed commented on the word sidhe
In Irish mythology the aos sí (older form, aes sídhe), pronounced "ess shee", are a powerful, supernatural race comparable to the fairies or elves of other traditions. They are variously believed to live underground in the fairy mounds, across the western sea, or in an invisible world that coexists with the world of humans.
In the Gaelic languages, the "people of the mounds" are also referred to in Irish as the daoine sídhe ("deena shee"), and in Scottish Gaelic as the daoine sìth or daoine sìdh. They are variously believed to be the ancestors, the spirits of nature, or the goddesses and gods themselves.
_Wikipedia
February 11, 2008
treeseed commented on the word tylwyth teg
Tylwyth teg is a common Welsh name for fairies, which means "the fair folk." Sometimes called "bendith y mamau" which means "a mother's blessing" and is a euphemism for these fairies in Glamorganshire. Their king is said to be Gwyn ap Nudd. They are associated with the lake, Llyn y Fan Fach in south Wales.
Calling fairies by a favorable name "fair folk" or "mother's blessing" was hoped to avert kidnapping in which the faeries would typically leave a sickly changeling child in the place of the healthy child they had stolen.
These fairies were described as fair-haired and as loving golden hair. They were said to covet mortal children with blond or fair hair. They are usually portrayed as benevolent but capable of mischief. They are neither entirely good or completely evil, unlike the Selee and Unselee (See also seelie and unseelie.) In their benevolent capacity, they might, for example, reward a woman who kept a tidy house with gifts of silver.
The Tylwyth Teg are said to fear iron and unbaptized children could supposedly be protected from them by placing a a poker over their cradle.
Gwlad y Tylwyth Teg is a Welsh name for fairy-land.
_Wikipedia
February 11, 2008
treeseed commented on the word trooping fairies
William Butler Yeats, in Irish Fairy and Folk Tales, divided them into the Trooping Fairies and the Solitary Fairies. Katharine Mary Briggs noted that a third distinction might be needed for "domesticated fairies" who live in human household, but such fairies might join with other fairies for merry-making and fairs.
The trooping fairies contained the aristocracy of the fairy world, including the Irish Daoine Sídhe. They were known as trooping faeries because they traveled in long processions, such as the one from which Tam Lin was rescued. But the trooping fairies also included other fairies of lesser importance; a trooping fairy could be large or small, friendly or sinister.
The Welsh fairies, Tylwyth Teg, and the Irish Sídhe were usually not classified as wholly good or wholly evil.
Unlike the trooping fairies, solitary fairies live alone and are inclined to be wicked and malicious creatures, except for the brownie who is said to help with household chores.
_Wikipedia
February 11, 2008
treeseed commented on the word unseelie
Two of the most prominent categories of fairies, derived from Scottish folklore, are the division into the Seelie Court and the Unseelie Court.
The Unseelie (Unholy) Court consisted of the malicious and evilly-inclined fairies. Unlike the Seelie Court, no offense is necessary to bring down their assaults. As a group (or "host"), they would appear at night and assault travelers, often carrying them through the air, beating them, and forcing them to commit such acts as shooting elfshot at cattle.
_Wikipedia
February 11, 2008
treeseed commented on the word seelie
Two of the most prominent categories of fairies, derived from Scottish folklore, are the division into the Seelie Court and the Unseelie Court. The Seelie (Blessed or Holy) Court was seen as more beneficent toward humans. They were known to seek help from humans, to warn those who had accidentally offended them, and to return human kindness with favors of their own. Still, a fairy belonging to this court would avenge insults and could be prone to mischief. The most common time of day to see them was twilight.
_Wikipedia
February 11, 2008
treeseed commented on the word dullahan
The Irish Dullahan (also Durahan, Gan Ceann) is a type of unseelie faerie. It is headless, usually seen riding a headless black horse and carrying his head under one arm. The head's eyes are massive and constantly dart about like flies, while the mouth is constantly in a hideous grin that touches both sides of the head. The flesh of the head is said to have the color and consistency of moldy cheese. The dullahan's whip is actually a human corpse's spine, and the wagons they sometimes use are made of similarly funereal objects (e.g. candles in skulls to light the way, the spokes of the wheels made from thigh bones, the wagon's covering made from a worm-chewn pall). When the dullahan stops riding, it is at where a person due to die is. The dullahan calls out their name, at which point they immediately perish.
There is no way to bar the road against a dullahan--all locks and gates open on their own when it approaches. Also, they do not appreciate being watched while on their errands, throwing a basin of blood on those who dare to do so (often a mark that they're among the next to die), or even lashing out the watchers' eyes with their whips. Nonetheless, they are frightened of gold, and even a single gold pin can drive a dullahan away. The myth may have inspired the Headless Horseman in The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.
_Wikipedia
In the Disney film "Darby O'Gill and the Little People", a dullahan makes an appearance as the coachman of the cóiste-bodhar (death coach).
February 11, 2008
treeseed commented on the word cóiste-bodhar
The cóiste bodhar is a legendary Death Coach. It is an ancient legend of Ireland. The spectral black coach sometimes driverless and sometimes driven by a dullahan, is pulled by black horses, or headless horses, or skeletal horses and comes to pick up the souls of the newly dead.
This is depicted in a very satisfying way in the 1959 Walt Disney film, "Darby O'Gill and the Little People."
February 11, 2008
treeseed commented on the word woggle
A wonderful picture book by Adrienne Adams called A Woggle of Witches shows a woggle to be a group of witches.
February 11, 2008
treeseed commented on the word powder blue
Can you imagine? In 1962 my mother bought me a pair of powder blue patent leather flats to wear for Easter, along with a powder blue dress and a skimmer
with a powder blue ribbon hatband and streamers.
February 11, 2008
treeseed commented on the word hot pink
A bright neon almost magenta shade of pink, see also shocking pink
February 11, 2008
treeseed commented on the word shocking pink
Shocking Pink, (also called neon pink) is bold and intense. Fashion designer Elsa Schiaparelli popularized this color in 1936, naming it shocking pink; it was the color of the box her perfume called Shocking Pink came in (the box was shaped like the torso of film star Mae West).
"This intense magenta was called shocking pink in the 1930s, hot pink in the 1950s, and kinky pink in the 1960s.
_Wikipedia
February 11, 2008
treeseed commented on the word baby blue
Baby blue is a lighter shade of cyan and a shade of blue. It is known as a pastel color.
The first recorded use of baby blue as a color name in English was in 1892.
In Western culture, the color baby blue is often associated with baby boys (and pastel pink for baby girls), particularly in clothing and linen and shoes. This is a recent tradition, however, and until the 1940s the convention was exactly the opposite: pink was considered the appropriate for boys as the more masculine and "decided" while blue was the more delicate and dainty color and therefore appropriate for girls.
_Wikipedia
February 11, 2008
treeseed commented on the word powder blue
Powder blue may refer to two different colors. Originally, it referred to a dark blue color, but it has since come to refer to a pale blue color (perhaps resulting from confusion over the word's origin), possibly because the name reminded people of baby powder and so people thought of it as a color similar to baby blue. The original color is now called dark powder blue.
_Wikipedia
February 11, 2008
treeseed commented on the word star anise
Star anise, star aniseed, badiane or Chinese star anise, (Chinese: 八角, pinyin: b�?jiǎo, lit. "eight-horn") is a spice that closely resembles anise in flavor, obtained from the star-shaped pericarp of Illicium verum, a small native evergreen tree of southwest China. The star shaped fruits are harvested just before ripening. It is widely used in Chinese cuisine, in Indian cuisine where it is a major component of garam masala, and in Malay/Indonesian cuisine. It is widely grown for commercial use in China, India, and most other countries in Asia. Star anise is an ingredient of the traditional five-spice powder of Chinese cooking.
_Wikipedia
February 11, 2008
treeseed commented on the word waterwings
Water wings, also called floaties, arm bands and swimmies, are a device to help a wearer float in water and learn to swim.
Water wings are typically cylindrical inflatable plastic bands that are inflated and worn on the upper arm. When the wearer is in water, the air inside the water wings provides buoyancy on account of its far lower density than the water. Although often thought of as a child's floatation device, water wings are also available in adult sizes.
Although water wings are popular among small children, swimming experts caution against using them, because although water wings help the child to float, they do not prevent him/her from accidentally going under water and potentially drowning. Waterwings are not a life-saving device. Mistaking them for one can create a potentially fatal false sense of security.
_Wikipedia
February 11, 2008
treeseed commented on the word star fruit
Also seen as starfruit
The carambola is a species of tree native to Indonesia, India and Sri Lanka and is popular throughout Southeast Asia Trinidad Malaysia and parts of East Asia. It is also grown in Dominican Republic, Brazil, Peru, Ghana, Guyana, Samoa, Tonga, Taiwan, French Polynesia, Costa Rica and Australia. Carambola is commercially grown in the United States in south Florida and Hawaii. Its fruit, the carambola, more popularly known as star fruit, but also coromandel gooseberry, kamranga, or five finger, is a golden-yellow to green berry. When cut across it shows a 5-pointed (sometimes 6-pointed or 7-pointed) star shape, hence the name, "star fruit." Star fruits are crunchy, and have a slightly tart, acidic, sweet taste, reminiscent of pineapples, apples, and sometimes kiwi fruit. The fruits are a good source of vitamin C. Its seeds are small and brown. They consist of a tough outer skin and a tangy white inside.
There are two varieties of star fruit - acidulate and sweet. The tart varieties can often be identified by their narrowly spaced ribs. The sweet varieties usually have thick fleshy ribs.
The fruit starts out green, and goes to yellow as it ripens, though it can be eaten in both stages.
Individuals with kidney trouble should avoid consuming the fruit, due to the presence of oxalic acid. Juice made from carambola can be even more dangerous due to its concentration of the acid.Fatal outcomes after ingestion of star fruits have been described in uraemic patients.
_Wikipedia
February 11, 2008
treeseed commented on the word chocolate star
A chocolate star is a small milk chocolate candy extruded in the shape of a starburst, manufactured in the United States by Brach Candy Company. Sold in bulk and in family size bags.
February 11, 2008
treeseed commented on the word swim cap
Swim caps were made of rubberized fabric during the early 20th century. By the 1920s they were made of latex. The earliest chin strap caps were know as "aviators style" as they resembled the strapped leather helmets of flyers of the day. During the 1940s swim caps became scarce as rubber was needed for war materials. It was a lucky girl who had a swim cap to protect her "wave" ( hair style) during that period. The permanent wave hairstyle took time to obtain and was expensive, so many women wanted to protect their hair while swimming. The 1950s saw decorated caps come into vogue, and during the 1960s colorful flower petal swim caps became popular.
_Wikipedia
February 11, 2008
treeseed commented on the word fern frost
Fernlike patterns formed on windows by ice crystals in very cold weather.
See Jack Frost
February 11, 2008
treeseed commented on the word jack frost
In English folklore, Jack Frost appears as an elfish creature who personifies crisp, cold, winter weather; a variant of Father Winter (AKA "Old Man Winter").
Tradition holds Jack Frost responsible for leaving frosty crystal patterns on windows on cold mornings (window frost or fern frost).
_Wikipedia
February 11, 2008
treeseed commented on the word dome home
Residential housing comprised of or based upon the geodesic dome...reportedly much better suited to withstanding high winds such as those found in hurricanes than conventional housing.
February 11, 2008
treeseed commented on the word geodesic dome
A geodesic dome is an almost spherical structure based on a network of great circles (geodesics) lying approximately on the surface of a sphere. The geodesics intersect to form triangular elements that have local triangular rigidity and yet also distribute the stress across the entire structure. It is the only man-made structure that becomes proportionally stronger as it increases in size. When completed to form a full sphere, it is known as a geodesic sphere. Of all known structures made from linear elements, a geodesic dome has the highest ratio of enclosed volume to weight.
The first dome that could be called "geodesic" in every respect was designed just after World War I by Walther Bauersfeld, chief engineer of the Carl Zeiss optical company, for a planetarium to house his new planetarium projector. Some thirty years later R. Buckminster Fuller further investigated this concept and named the dome "geodesic" from field experiments with Kenneth Snelson and others at Black Mountain College in the late 1940s. Although Fuller cannot be said to be the first inventor, he exploited and developed the idea, receiving a U.S. patent.
_Wikipedia
February 11, 2008
treeseed commented on the word octagon house
An octagon house is an eight-sided house. A unique fad in residential architecture, they were particularly popular during the mid-19th century in the United States.
_Wikipedia
February 11, 2008
treeseed commented on the word cantrip
Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
Pronunciation: \ˈkan-trəp\
Function: noun
Etymology: probably alteration of caltrop
Date: 1719
1chiefly Scottish : a witch's trick : spell
2chiefly British : hocus-pocus
February 11, 2008
treeseed commented on the word sistrum
The sistrum was a sacred instrument in ancient Egypt. Perhaps originating in the worship of Bast, it was used in dances and religious ceremonies, particularly in the worship of the goddess Hathor, with the U-shape of the sistrum's handle and frame seen as resembling the face and horns of the cow goddess. It was also shaken to avert the flooding of the Nile and to frighten away Set. Isis in her role as mother and creator was depicted holding a pail symbolizing the flooding of the Nile, in one hand and a sistrum in the other. The goddess Bast too is often depicted holding a sistrum, symbolizing her role as a goddess of dance, joy, and festivity.
_Wikipedia
The sistrum is also used in rites to propitiate the goddess Sekhmet.
February 11, 2008
treeseed commented on the word sod house party
"House party? I told you I wasn't going to another house party. I've got one thing to say on the subject!"
February 11, 2008
treeseed commented on the word sod house
The sod house or "soddy" was a corollary to the log cabin during frontier settlement of the United States and Canada. The prairie lacked standard building materials such as wood or stone; however, sod from thickly-rooted prairie grass was abundant. Prairie grass had a much thicker, tougher root structure than modern landscaping grass.
Construction of a sod house involved cutting patches of sod in rectangles, often 2'×1'×6" (600×300×150mm) long, and piling them into walls. Builders employed a variety of roofing methods. Sod houses could accommodate normal doors and windows. The resulting structure was a well-insulated but damp dwelling that was very inexpensive. Sod houses required frequent maintenance and were vulnerable to rain damage. Stucco or wood panels often protected the outer walls. Canvas or plaster often lined the interior walls.
_Wikipedia
February 11, 2008
treeseed commented on the word tallgrass prairie
The tallgrass prairie is an ecosystem native to central North America, with fire as its primary periodic disturbance. In the past, tallgrass prairies covered a large portion of the American Midwest, just east of the Great Plains, and portions of the Canadian Prairies. They flourished in areas with rich loess soils and moderate rainfall of around 30 to 35 inches (760 to 890 mm) per year.
_Wikipedia
February 11, 2008
treeseed commented on the word yule log
A Yule log is a large log which is burned in the hearth as a part of traditional Yule or Christmas celebrations in some cultures. It can be a part of the Winter Solstice festival or the Twelve Days of Christmas, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, or Twelfth Night.
The expression "Yule log" has also come to refer to log-shaped Christmas cakes, also known as "chocolate logs" or "Buche de Noel"
_Wikipedia
February 11, 2008
treeseed commented on the word buche de noel
Yule log cake
February 11, 2008
treeseed commented on the word potato barn
Without realizing it I have just posted a potato word as well...sweet potato...a term of endearment for my grandson...seeing this word it makes me think of him as my potato bairn.
February 11, 2008
treeseed commented on the word sweet potato
The sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas), commonly called a yam in parts of the United States (especially in the southern and western portions of the country; this terminology causes some confusion with true yams), is a crop plant whose large, starchy, sweet tasting tuberous roots are an important root vegetable. The young leaves and shoots are sometimes eaten as greens. The sweet potato is only distantly related to the potato (Solanum tuberosum). It is even more distantly related to the true yam (Dioscorea species) which is native to Africa and Asia. Thus, a sweet potato and a yam are in fact different foods.
_Wikipedia
A term of endearment that I call my grandson.
February 11, 2008
treeseed commented on the word bodhrán
The bodhrán (pronounced /ˈbɔ�?rɑ�?n/ or /ˈbaʊrɑ�?n/; plural bodhráns or bodhráin) is an Irish frame drum ranging from 25 to 65cm (10" to 26") in diameter, with most drums measuring 35 to 45cm (14" to 18"). The sides of the drum are 9 to 20cm (3½" to 8") deep. A goatskin head is tacked to one side (although nowadays, synthetic heads, or new materials like kangaroo skin, are sometimes used). The other side is open ended for one hand to be placed against the inside of the drum head to control the pitch and timbre. One or two crossbars, sometimes removable, may be inside the frame, but this is increasingly rare on professional instruments.
The drum is usually played in a seated position, held vertically on the player's thigh and supported by his or her upper body and arm (usually on the left side, for a right-handed player), with the hand placed on the inside of the skin where it is able to control the tension (and therefore the pitch and timbre) by applying varying amounts of pressure and also the amount of surface area being played, with the back of the hand against the crossbar, if present. The drum is struck with the other arm (usually the right) and is played either with the bare hand or with a lathe-turned piece of wood called a "bone", "tipper", "beater", or "cipín". Tippers were originally fashioned from a double-ended knuckle bone, but are now commonly made from ash, holly or hickory.
_Wikipedia
February 11, 2008
treeseed commented on the word frame drum
A frame drum is a drum that has a drumhead diameter greater than its depth. Usually the single drumhead is made of rawhide or man-made materials. Shells are traditionally constructed of bent wood (rosewood, oak, ash etc.) scarf jointed together; plywood and man-made materials are also used. Some frame drums have mechanical tuning and on many the drumhead is stretched and tacked in place. It is the earliest skin drum known to have existed. Examples are found in many places and cultures.
_Wikipedia
February 11, 2008
treeseed commented on the word milky way
Earth is located in the Milky Way Galaxy.
Visible from Earth as a hazy band of white light that is seen in the night sky, arching across the entire celestial sphere, the visual phenomenon of the Milky Way (as seen in the night sky) originates from stars and other material which lies within the galactic plane.
The Milky Way looks brightest in the direction of the constellation of Sagittarius, toward the galactic center. Relative to the celestial equator, it passes as far north as the constellation of Cassiopeia and as far south as the constellation of Crux, indicating the high inclination of Earth's equatorial plane and the plane of the ecliptic relative to the galactic plane. The fact that the Milky Way divides the night sky into two roughly equal hemispheres indicates that our Solar System lies close to the galactic plane. The Milky Way has a relatively low surface brightness, making it difficult to see from any urban or suburban location suffering from light pollution.
Some sources hold that, strictly speaking, the term Milky Way should refer exclusively to the observation of the band of light, while the full name Milky Way Galaxy, or alternatively the Galaxy should be used to describe our galaxy as an astrophysical whole.
_Wikipedia
February 11, 2008
treeseed commented on the word trundle bed
Wynken and Blynken are two little eyes,
And Nod is a little head,
And the wooden shoe that sailed the skies
Is a wee one's trundle bed.
So shut your eyes while mother sings
Of wonderful sights that be,
And you shall see the beautiful things
As you rock in the misty sea,
Where the old shoe rocked the fishermen three:
Wynken,
Blynken,
And Nod.
Excerpt from Wynken, Blynken and Nod by Eugene Field
February 11, 2008
treeseed commented on the word trundle bed
Trundle beds (or truckle beds) are usually considered a pair of beds, one slightly smaller than a twin bed that is on rollers or casters so that it may be put beneath the upper twin bed for storage. Trundle beds allow for two separate beds to be available when necessary, but do not require the space constantly. It is a space-saving idea. The lower bed on some trundle beds can "pop-up" to be the same height as the bed they are stored beneath, creating a larger bed that may be used for guests.
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February 11, 2008
treeseed commented on the word bunny hop
The Bunny Hop is a novelty dance that was created at Balboa High School of San Francisco in 1952. It is a social dance mixer, sometimes also referred to as a "party" or "dance party" dance.
The dance has been generally done to Ray Anthony's big band recording of the song. Ray Anthony's single release of the "Bunny Hop" featured another novelty dance classic, the "Hokey Pokey" on the B side.
_Wikipedia
February 11, 2008
treeseed commented on the word mudpuppy
The Mudpuppies are a family of aquatic salamanders.
The mudpuppy family, Proteidae, is divided into two genera - the mudpuppies proper, Necturus with six North American species, and Proteus with one European species. They represent an ancient group, dating from the time of the dinosaurs.
In contrast to more familiar amphibians such as frogs, mudpuppies never lose their gills during maturation from the tadpole into the adult stage-- beneficial since they will spend their entire lives underwater.
_Wikipedia
February 11, 2008
treeseed commented on the word limnic eruption
A limnic eruption, also referred to as a lake overturn or exploding lake, is a rare type of natural disaster in which CO2 suddenly erupts from deep lake water, posing the threat of suffocating wildlife, livestock and humans.
_Wikipedia
I can't help it...an exploding lake...what a concept.
February 11, 2008
treeseed commented on the word meromictic
A meromictic lake has layers of water which do not intermix. In ordinary, "holomictic" lakes, at least once each year there is a physical mixing of the surface and the deep waters. This mixing can be driven by wind, which creates waves and turbulence at the lake's surface, but wind is only effective at times of the year when the lake's deep waters are not much colder than its surface waters. In a "monomictic" lake, this mixing occurs once a year; in "dimictic" lakes, the mixing occurs twice a year (typically Spring and Autumn), and in "polymictic" lakes the mixing occurs several times a year. In meromictic lakes, the layers of the lake water remain unmixed for years, decades, or centuries.
Occasionally carbon dioxide (CO2) or other dissolved gasses can build up relatively undisturbed in the lower layers of a meromictic lake. When the stratification is disturbed, as could happen due to an earthquake, a limnic eruption may result.
_Wikipedia
February 11, 2008
treeseed commented on the word playa
A playa; also known as an alkali flat, sabkha, or salt flat; is a dry lakebed, generally the shore of, or a remnant of, an endorheic lake. Such flats consist of fine-grained sediments infused with alkali salts. Their surface is generally very dry, hard and smooth in the summer months, but wet and very soft in the winter months. Playas are small, round depressions in the surface of the ground. A playa lake is formed when rain fills this hole with water, creating a small lake. Playas can also form when the water table intersects the surface and water seeps into them.
_Wikipedia
February 11, 2008
treeseed commented on the word tar pit
A tar pit, or more properly asphalt pit, is a geological occurrence where subterranean bitumen leaks to the surface, creating a large puddle, pit, or lake of asphalt.
_Wikipedia
The La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles are so cool.
The La Brea Tar Pits (or Rancho La Brea Tar Pits) are a famous cluster of tar pits located in Hancock Park in the urban heart of Los Angeles, California, United States. Asphalt (colloquially termed tar, which in Spanish is termed brea) has seeped up from the ground in this area for tens of thousands of years, forming hundreds of sticky pools that trapped animals and plants which happened to enter. Over time, the asphalt fossilized the remains. The result is an incredibly rich collection of fossils dating from the last ice age.
_Wikipedia
February 11, 2008
treeseed commented on the word concretion
Lake Superior concretions are really beautiful. Most of them are spheroid or like a grouping of spheres. Most have concentric rings on their surface.
February 11, 2008
treeseed commented on the word remote viewing
Remote viewing (RV) is the purported ability for a person to gather information on a remote target that is hidden from the physical perception of the viewer and typically separated from the viewer at some distance, a form of extra-sensory perception.
_Wikipedia
An interesting subject that the CIA has dabbled in.
February 11, 2008
treeseed commented on the word fetch
The fetch (Anglo-Saxon fæcce; also known as fylgja), is a person's guardian spirit or familiar. The fetch is an attendant spirit that is bound to someone through the process of their naming until their death. The fetch is held "to appear as an animal resembling one's disposition or as a member of the opposite sex". If the fetch is perceived in animal form, it will most often assume this form. Fetches may take the form of: wolves, bears, cats, hawks, eagles, sea faring birds, and livestock. The fetch is hailed to be perceived by those with second sight. The fetch usually controls the allocation of one's mægen (spiritual energy) in accordance with one's wyrd. The fetch also records an individual's actions and intentions within their personal wyrd. Fetchs are recorded as fleeing the wicked in The Eddas.
_Wikipedia
February 11, 2008
treeseed commented on the word wyrd
Wyrd is a concept in Anglo-Saxon and Nordic culture roughly corresponding to Fate. It is ancestral to Modern English weird, which has acquired a very different signification. The cognate term in old Norse is Urðr, with a similar meaning, but also personalized as one of the Norns, Urðr (anglicized Urd). The concept corresponding to "fate" in Old Norse is Ørlǫg.
The Well of Urd is the holy well, the Well Spring, the source of water for the world tree Yggdrasil.
_Wikipedia
February 11, 2008
treeseed commented on the word anodyne
The name of a great album by Uncle Tupelo.
Uncle Tupelo was an alternative country music group from Belleville, Illinois, active between 1987 and 1994. Jay Farrar, Jeff Tweedy, and Mike Heidorn formed the band after the lead singer of their previous band, The Primitives, left to attend college. The trio recorded three albums for Rockville Records, before signing with Sire Records and expanding to a five-piece. Shortly after the release of the band's major label debut album Anodyne, Farrar announced his decision to leave the band due to a soured relationship with his co-songwriter Tweedy. Uncle Tupelo split on May 1, 1994, after completing a farewell tour. Following the breakup, Farrar formed Son Volt with Heidorn, while the remaining members continued as Wilco.
_Wikipedia
February 11, 2008
treeseed commented on the word images
This is awesome, John! Thanks.
February 11, 2008
treeseed commented on the word synchronicity
I wanted to list gardenia before but I was having an Alzheimer's moment and I couldn't think of the name of the flower that was given to me as a corsage when I was taken to my first formal dance. So I turned on the TV and started watching Turner Classic Movies and The Maltese Falcon was playing. The very first scene that came up features Mary Astor wearing a gardenia.
February 11, 2008
treeseed commented on the word birthday cake
The birthday cake is traditionally highly decorated, and typically covered with lit candles when presented, the number of candles signifying the age of the celebrant. The person whose birthday it is makes a silent wish and then blows out the candles. If done in one breath, the wish is supposed to come true (but only if the person keeps the wish to himself or herself). It is also common for the "birthday boy" or "birthday girl" to cut the initial piece of the cake as a newlywed couple might with a wedding cake. If the knife touches the bottom, or when withdrawn from the cake comes out with pieces of cake adhering to it, the birthday boy or girl may have to kiss the nearest person of the opposite sex.
_Wikipedia
February 11, 2008
treeseed commented on the word labradorite
Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
noun
Etymology: Labrador Peninsula, Canada
Date: 1814
: an iridescent feldspar used especially in jewelry
February 11, 2008
treeseed commented on the word birthstone
Merriam-Webster Dictonary:
noun
Date: 1907
: a gemstone associated symbolically with the month of one's birth
February 11, 2008
treeseed commented on the word sotto voce
Skipvia...I never heard that song but I do love the Deep Purple cheese of April Stevens and Nino Tempo.
February 11, 2008
treeseed commented on the word funny bone
Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
noun
Etymology: from the tingling felt when it is struck
Date: 1840
1 : the place at the back of the elbow where the ulnar nerve rests against a prominence of the humerus
2 : a sense of humor
I just gave my funny bone a whack and there was surprisingly little humor in the humerus.
February 11, 2008
treeseed commented on the word golden birthday
One's golden birthday, also called a champagne birthday, is the day when the age someone turns is the same as the day in the month he or she was born. For example, someone born on January 31st would celebrate his or her golden birthday when he or she turns 31. According to the Dictionary of American Regional English, this meaning is most prevalent in Wisconsin and eastern Minnesota, although it is used elsewhere.
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I'm from Wisconsin and today is my nephew Alexander's golden birthday.
February 11, 2008
treeseed commented on the word astolat
Astolat is a legendary city of Great Britain named in Arthurian legends. It is the home of Elaine, "the fair maiden of Astolat", and of her father Sir Bernard and her brothers Lavaine and Tirre. The city is called Shallott in many cultural references, derived from Alfred Lord Tennyson's poem "The Lady of Shallott".
Chapter nine of Sir Thomas Malory's book Le Morte d'Arthur identifies Guildford in Surrey with the legendary Astolat:
And so upon the morn early Sir Launcelot heard mass and brake his fast, and so took his leave of the queen and departed. And then he rode so much until he came to Astolat, that is Guildford; and there it happed him in the eventide he came to an old baron’s place.
_Wikipedia
February 11, 2008
treeseed commented on the word lady of the lake
The Lady of the Lake is the name of several related characters who play integral parts in the Arthurian legend. These characters' roles include giving King Arthur his sword Excalibur, taking the dying king to Avalon after the Battle of Camlann, enchanting Merlin, and raising Lancelot after the death of his father. Different writers and copyists give her name variously as Nimue, Viviane, Niniane, Nyneve, and other variations.
_Wikipedia
February 11, 2008
treeseed commented on the word joyous guard
The Tradition: The evil Sir Brian of the Isles lived at Dolorous Guard. It was a dangerous enchanted place where passing knights by would find themselves obliged to fight two sets of ten knights at the two gates. They were never successful and were locked up in the nearby Dolorous Prison, while memorial gravestones marked their demise. Victims included Sirs Yder, Guivret, Yvain of Leonel, Cadoain, Kehedin, Kay Le Strange, Girflet, Dodinel, Taulas, Mador, Galegantin, Gawain and King Arthur's illegitimate son, Sir Loholt. Eventually, with the help of several magical shields, Sir Lancelot defeated the mystical knights and released all the prisoners. Sir Brian fled to Pendragon Castle and Lancelot took on Dolorous Guard as his new home. However, in order to free the castle residents completely from their enchantment, Lancelot had to stay there for forty consecutive nights. His many adventures, of course, kept him away and his new vassals became quite annoyed. So he descended, through the castle chapel, into a cave beneath where he defeated a huge monster and won the keys to unlock the enchantment from a damsel dressed in copper. The menacing gravestones magically disappeared and Lancelot decided to rename the place as Joyous Guard.
February 11, 2008
treeseed commented on the word sotto voce
Sotto voce (literally "under voice"), an Italian expression, means to speak under one's breath or to speak confidentially. In music, a dramatic lowering of the vocal or instrumental tone -- not necessarily pianissimo, but with a hushed quality. May also denote muttering in theatrical or film scripts. Actual translation means "Soft Voice".
_Wikipedia
February 10, 2008
treeseed commented on the word beau brummell
Beau Brummell, né George Bryan Brummell (7 June 1778, London, U.K. – 30 March 1840 (aged 61), Caen, France), was the arbiter of men's fashion in Regency England and a friend of the Prince Regent. He established the mode of men wearing understated, but fitted, beautifully cut clothes, adorned with an elaborately-knotted cravat.
Beau Brummell is credited with introducing and establishing as fashion the modern man's suit, worn with a tie. He claimed five hours to dress, and recommended that boots be polished with champagne. To wit, his style of dress was known as dandyism.
_Wikipedia
From It's Still Rock 'n Roll to Me by Billy Joel:
How about a pair of pink sidewinders
And a bright orange pair of pants
Well, you could really be a Beau Brummell baby
If you just give it half a chance
Don't waste your money on a new set of speakers
You get more mileage from a cheap pair of sneakers
Next phase, new wave , dance craze, anyways
It's still rock and roll to me.
February 10, 2008
treeseed commented on the word comfort food
Comfort food is typically inexpensive, uncomplicated, and easy to prepare. Many people turn to comfort food for familiarity, emotional security, or special reward.
Comfort foods are typically composed largely of simple or complex carbohydrate, such as sugar, rice, refined wheat, and so on.
The term "comfort food" was added to the Webster's Dictionary in 1972.
_Wikipedia
Usually home-cooked with attendant memories
February 10, 2008
treeseed commented on the word caboose
Pronounced Koodie-moose by my son when he was 2 years old. I am sad to say that now that his son is two years old, the caboose is a thing of the past and even though my grandson LOVES trains...he knows nothing of the wonders of the koodie-moose.
A caboose (North American railway terminology) or brake van or guard's van (British terminology) is a manned rail transport vehicle coupled at the end of a freight train. Although cabooses were once used on nearly every freight train in North America, their use has declined and they are seldom seen on trains, except on locals and smaller railroads.
The caboose provided the train crew with a shelter at the rear of the train. From here they could exit the train for switching or to protect the rear of the train when stopped. They also used windows to inspect the train for problems such as shifting loads, broken or dragging equipment, and overheated journals (hotboxes). The conductor kept records and otherwise conducted business from a table or desk in the caboose. For longer trips the caboose provided minimal living quarters.
_Wikipedia
February 10, 2008
treeseed commented on the word velveeta
I admit it! I eat Velveeta on occasion. Are you ready for this? Broiled on hamburger buns! Served with Campbell's tomato soup with a pat of butter floating in the middle...It's a nostalgia thing. My arteries were probably hard by kindergarten thanks to Mom's cuisine.
February 10, 2008
treeseed commented on the word stole
Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
Pronunciation: \ˈst�?l\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English, from Latin stola, from Greek stolē equipment, robe, from stellein to set up, make ready
Date: before 12th century
1 : a long loose garment : robe
2 : an ecclesiastical vestment consisting of a long usually silk band worn traditionally around the neck by bishops and priests and over the left shoulder by deacons
3 : a long wide scarf or similar covering worn by women usually across the shoulders
February 10, 2008
treeseed commented on the word picture hat
Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
noun
Date: 1887
: a woman's dressy hat with a broad brim
February 10, 2008
treeseed commented on the word hue
Interesting notes on the obsolete word "hue"Click HERE
See also hue and cry
February 10, 2008
treeseed commented on the word loving cup
Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
noun
Etymology: from its former use in ceremonial drinking
Date: 1812
1 : a large ornamental drinking vessel with two or more handles
2 : a loving cup given as a token or trophy
February 10, 2008
treeseed commented on the word baby's breath
Gypsophila (Baby's-breath; Gypsophila) is a genus of about 100 species of flowering plants in the family Caryophyllaceae, native to Europe, Asia and north Africa. Many species are found on calcium-rich soils, including gypsum, whence the name of the genus. Some species are also sometimes called "baby's breath" or simply, "Gyp", among the floral industry. Its botanical name means "lover of chalk", which is accurate in describing the type of soil in which this plant grows.
They are herbaceous annual and perennial plants growing to 5-120 cm tall. The leaves are opposite, linear to narrow triangular, often falcate (sickle-shaped), 1-7 cm long and 2-8 mm broad. The flowers are produced in large inflorescences, which may be either dense or open and lax; each flower is small, 3-10 mm diameter, with five white or pink petals.
_Wikipedia
I love the trade name of gypsophila paniculata: Bristol Fairy
February 10, 2008
treeseed commented on the word brigadoon
Brigadoon is a musical with a book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe.
It tells the story of a mysterious Scottish village that appears for only one day every hundred years, though to the villagers, the passing of each century seems no longer than one night. The enchantment is viewed by them as a blessing rather than a curse, for it saved the village from destruction. According to their covenant with God, no one from Brigadoon may ever leave, or the enchantment will be broken and the site and all its inhabitants will disappear into the mist forever. Two American tourists, lost in the Highlands, stumble upon the village just as a wedding is about to be celebrated, and their arrival has serious implications for the village's inhabitants.
Lerner's book was based on a much older German story by Friedrich Gerstäcker about the mythical village of Germelshausen that fell under an evil magic curse.
_Wikipedia
February 10, 2008
treeseed commented on the word neverland
Neverland (also called Never-Never-Land, Never Land and other variations) is the fictional island and dream world featured in the play Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up by Scottish writer J. M. Barrie, his subsequent novel Peter and Wendy, and later works by others. While sojourning in Neverland, people may cease to age; therefore, Neverland is often seen as a metaphor for eternal childhood (and childishness), immortality, and escapism. In the earliest drafts of Barrie's play, the island was called Peter's Never Never Never Land. When the play was first performed in 1904, the island was referred to as the Never Never Land. In the 1923 published version, it was shortened to the Never Land. In the 1911 novel, it was spelled as one word: the Neverland.
Peter led Wendy Darling and her brothers to Neverland by flying "second to the right, and straight on till morning," though it is stated in the novel that Peter made up these directions on the spot to impress Wendy. In the 1953 Disney film, Peter Pan, the word "star" is added to the directions Peter speaks, "second star to the right, and straight on till morning."
The novel explains that Neverlands are found in the minds of children, and although they are "always more or less an island", and they have a family resemblance, they are not the same from one child to the next. For example, John Darling's "had a lagoon with flamingos flying over it" while his little brother Michael's "had a flamingo with lagoons flying over it".
_Wikipedia
February 10, 2008
treeseed commented on the word reel
The Virginia reel is a folk dance that dates from the 17th century. Though the reel may have its origins in Scottish country dance and the Highland reel, and perhaps have an even earlier influence from an Irish dance called the Rinnce Fada, it is generally considered to be an English country dance. The dance was most popular in America from 1830-1890 and was first published in England (1865).
The Virginia reel was a popular dance, and in each area there would be slight differences. This has given rise to a large number of dances called the Virginia reel. All of the versions have certain similarities, such as the reel figure.
_Wikipedia
February 10, 2008
treeseed commented on the word nursery
In Victorian and Edwardian times, for the wealthy and mid-tier classes, a nursery was a suite of rooms at the top of a house, including the night nursery, where the children slept, and a day nursery, where they ate and played. The nursery suite would include some bathroom facilities and possibly a small kitchen. The nurse (nanny) and nursemaid (assistant) slept in the suite too, to be within earshot of the sleeping children. The schoolroom might also be adjacent, but the governess, whose job it was to teach the children, would not be part of the nursery; she would have her own bedroom, possibly in another wing. Fictional portrayals of nurseries abound, for example in the writings of Kipling and E. Nesbit; perhaps the most famous nursery is that in Mary Poppins, or the nursery in J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan.
_Wikipedia
February 10, 2008
treeseed commented on the word electric eel
Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
noun
Date: 1794
: a large eel-shaped fish (Electrophorus electricus) of the Orinoco and Amazon basins that is capable of giving a severe shock with its electric organs
Despite its name it is not an eel at all but rather a knifefish.
_Wikipedia
February 10, 2008
treeseed commented on the word brass bed
Brass beds are beds in which the headboard and footboard are made of brass; the frame rails are usually made of steel. Brass beds can be made of 100 per cent brass or of metals that have been brass plated. The brass used in making brass beds is usually 70 per cent copper and 30 per cent zinc; however, the ratio of metals varies between manufacturers.
In the 1800s, having a brass bed was a status symbol and sign of wealth. When America's oldest maker of brass beds made his first in 1855, Charles P. Rogers built a workshop in New York City using early mass production techniques, bringing very high quality to an affordable price levels. His firm Charles P. Rogers, Inc. is still in New York making beds over 150 years later. It is estimated that more than half the beds he ever made are still in use or museums. The prestige and popularity of brass beds grew during the 19th and 20th centuries to the point where sales surpassed those of wooden beds. Because of their timeliness and range of styles, brass beds are the beds of choice for people renovating historic homes.
_Wikipedia
February 10, 2008
treeseed commented on the word perpendicular
This is the 1st "big" word my dad taught me.
I would sit up on his work bench and watch him making jigs and tying flies for his fishing hobby. Instead of attempting conversation with a child he would grill me on words and I would have to parrot them back with their meanings for later exhibition in front of "company." Upon reflection, kind of odd but I loved it and I still love words. So, thanks, Dad.
February 10, 2008
treeseed commented on the word antidisestablishmentarianism
bluebirdcry,
my father taught it to me when I was five...he got a kick out of me saying it...he taught me the word perpendicular the same day and I had to recite the meaning of that word...he didn't hold me to the meaning of the "longest" word.
February 10, 2008
treeseed commented on the word gila monster
Gila monsters rule!
The Gila Monster (pronounced /ˈhi�?lə/, HEE-la), Heloderma suspectum, is a species of venomous lizard native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. It is a heavy, slow moving lizard, up to 60 cm (2 feet) long, and is the only venomous lizard native to the United States. Its skin has the appearance of black, pink, orange, and yellow beads, laid down in intricate patterns. These beads are small bony plates that form scales, and are known as osteoderms.
In 2005 the US Food and Drug Administration approved a drug for the management of type 2 diabetes, Byetta (exenatide), a synthetic version of a protein derived from the Gila monster's saliva. The effectiveness is due to the fact that "The lizard hormone is about 50 percent identical to a similar hormone in the human digestive tract, called glucagon-like peptide-1 analog, or GLP-1, that increases the production of insulin when blood sugar levels are high. Insulin helps move sugar from the blood into other body tissues where it is used for energy. The lizard hormone remains effective much longer than the human hormone, and thus its synthetic form helps diabetics keep their blood sugar levels from getting too high.
_Wikipedia
February 10, 2008
treeseed commented on the word ghost in the machine
The ghost in the machine is British philosopher Gilbert Ryle's derogatory description for René Descartes' mind-body dualism. The phrase was introduced in Ryle's book The Concept of Mind, written in 1949, to highlight the perceived absurdity of dualist systems like Descartes' where mental activity carries on in parallel to physical action, but where their means of interaction are unknown or, at best, speculative.
_Wikipedia
February 10, 2008
treeseed commented on the word afrit
See also afreet
February 10, 2008
treeseed commented on the word afreet
Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
noun
Etymology: Arabic ʽifrīt
Date: 1786
: a powerful evil jinni, demon, or monstrous giant in Arabic mythology
Also seen as afrit
February 10, 2008
treeseed commented on the word wicker man
The Wicker Man was a large wicker statue of a human allegedly used by the ancient Druids for human sacrifice by burning it in effigy, according to Julius Caesar in his Commentarii de Bello Gallico (Commentary on the Gallic Wars). In modern times the figure has been adopted for festivals as part of neopagan-themed ceremonies, notably without the human sacrifice element.
Caesar's words are looked on with skepticism by some scholars, who claim a lack of corroborating evidence and point out that the general, as the leader of the Gauls' enemies, may have just been repeating a sensationalistic rumor as propaganda to encourage his supporters back home.
Today, a wicker man is burned as part of neopagan festivities, especially Beltane, a rite of spring. Wicker men are tall, humanoid wooden structures, woven from flexible sticks such as those of willow as used in wicker furniture and fencing.
_Wikipedia
February 10, 2008
treeseed commented on the word joe hill
I Dreamed I Saw Joe Hill Last Night
This song is still a popular Organized Labor song in the United States and is sung on picket lines and at rallies and other group endeavors.
Joe Hill, born Joel Emmanuel Hägglund, and also known as Joseph Hillström (October 7, 1879 – November 19, 1915) was an American radical songwriter, labor activist and member of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), also known as the Wobblies. He was executed for murder after a controversial trial. After his death, he became the subject of several folk songs. Joe Hill was memorialized in a tribute poem written about him c. 1930 by Alfred Hayes titled "I Dreamed I Saw Joe Hill Last Night", sometimes referred to simply as "Joe Hill". Hayes's lyrics were turned into a song in 1936 by Earl Robinson.
_Wikipedia
February 10, 2008
treeseed commented on the word stork
In Western culture the White Stork is a symbol of childbirth. In Victorian times the details of human reproduction were difficult to approach, especially in reply to a younger child's query of "Where did I come from?"; "The stork brought you to us" was the tactic used to avoid discussion of sex. This habit was derived from the once popular superstition that storks were the harbingers of happiness and prosperity, and possibly from the habit of some storks of nesting atop chimneys, down which the new baby could be imagined as entering the house.
The image of a stork bearing an infant wrapped in a sling held in its beak is common in popular culture. The small pink or reddish patches often found on a newborn child's eyelids, between the eyes, on the upper lip, and on the nape of the neck are sometimes still called "stork bites". In reality they are clusters of developing veins that soon fade.
_Wikipedia
February 10, 2008
treeseed commented on the word earl
Goodbye Earl, Dixie Chicks, 1999
February 10, 2008
treeseed commented on the word alison
Alison, Elvis Costello, 1977
February 10, 2008
treeseed commented on the word mukluks
Mukluks are a soft boot traditionally made of reindeer skin or sealskin and were originally worn by Arctic natives, including the Inuit and Yupik.
The word "mukluk" is of Yupik origin, from maklak, the Bearded Seal.
Mukluks weigh little and allow hunters to move very quietly. They may be adorned with pompons and beads and may be lined with furs such as rabbit, fox and raccoon.
_Wikipedia
February 10, 2008
treeseed commented on the word valerie
Valerie, Steve Winwood, 1987
February 10, 2008
treeseed commented on the word sheila
Oh Sheila by Ready for the World went to number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1985.
February 10, 2008
treeseed commented on the word tracy
The song Tracy, recorded by The Cuff Links, went to #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1969.
February 10, 2008
treeseed commented on the word rhiannon
Rhiannon (Will You Ever Win), Fleetwood Mac, 1976
February 10, 2008
treeseed commented on the word davy crockett
The Ballad of Davy Crockett went to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1955 for Bill Hayes.
It also charted well that same year for Fess Parker and for Tennessee Ernie Ford, topping out at #5.
February 10, 2008
treeseed commented on the word louie
Brother Louie, The Stories, #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 in 1973
February 10, 2008
treeseed commented on the word clyde
The Ballad of Bonnie and Clyde by Georgie Fame went to #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1968. It is from the film Bonnie and Clyde
February 10, 2008
treeseed commented on the word eddie
Eddie My Love was recorded by both the Fontane sisters and the Chordettes in 1956
February 10, 2008
treeseed commented on the word chloe
Chloe, Elton John, 1981
February 10, 2008
treeseed commented on the word sloopy
Hang On Sloopy, The McCoys, 1965
February 10, 2008
treeseed commented on the word angelia
Angelia, Richard Marx, 1989
February 10, 2008
treeseed commented on the word amanda
Amanda, Boston, 1986
Amanda, Waylon Jennings, 1980
February 10, 2008
treeseed commented on the word amie
Amie, Pure Prairie League, 1975
February 10, 2008
treeseed commented on the word alfie
Alfie recorded by Cher in 1966 and Dionne Warwick in 1967 is from Alfie, a 1966 British film starring Michael Caine.
February 10, 2008
treeseed commented on the word amos moses
Amos Moses, Jerry Reed, 1971
February 10, 2008
treeseed commented on the word axel
Axel F, Harold Faltermeyer, 1985, from the film Beverly Hills Cop, named for Eddie Murphy's character in the film, Axel Foley
February 10, 2008
treeseed commented on the word bruce
Bruce is a song that went to #27 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1985 and was recorded by Rick Springfield. The song is about Rick Springfield bumming out that people confuse him with Bruce Springsteen. Ha! As if!
February 9, 2008
treeseed commented on the word kookie
The song Kookie, Kookie (Lend Me Your Comb) by Edward Byrnes and Connie Stevens went to #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1959. It was a song about a character (played by Byrnes) on the TV show 77 Sunset Strip that ran from 1958 to 1964.
February 9, 2008
treeseed commented on the word larry
Hats Off to Larry, Del Shannon, 1961
February 9, 2008
treeseed commented on the word geronimo
Geronimo's Cadillac, Michael Murphy, 1972
February 9, 2008
treeseed commented on the word george
George Jackson, Bob Dylan, 1972
February 9, 2008
treeseed commented on the word fernando
Fernando, Abba, 1976
February 9, 2008
treeseed commented on the word lollipop
My Boy Lollipop, Millie Small, 1964
February 9, 2008
treeseed commented on the word mickey
Mickey, Toni Basil, 1982
February 9, 2008
treeseed commented on the word liberty valance
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, Gene Pitney, 1962. From the 1962 film of the same name.
February 9, 2008
treeseed commented on the word stagger lee
Stagger Lee, Lloyd Price, 1959
February 9, 2008
treeseed commented on the word tom
Tom Dooley, Kingston Trio, #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1958
February 9, 2008
treeseed commented on the word ringo
The spoken word song Ringo recorded by Lorne Greene, went to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1964 and was about the real life gunslinger Johnny Ringo.
February 9, 2008
treeseed commented on the word teddy
The song Teddy by Connie Francis went to #17 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1960.
February 9, 2008
treeseed commented on the word billie joe
Ode to Billie Joe, 1967, Bobbie Gentry
February 9, 2008
treeseed commented on the word albert
The song Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey, performed by Paul and Linda McCartney, went to #1 on the Billboard Hot 11 in 1971.
February 9, 2008
treeseed commented on the word scotty
The cringe-worthy Watching Scotty Grow, 1971, Bobby Goldsboro
February 9, 2008
treeseed commented on the word civet cat
Civet cats are perhaps best known for the scrapings of their perineal glands, which produce a musky substance used in high-end fragrances.
The substance has also traditionally been used in "Civet absolute," an ingredient in the food additives used to add butter, caramel, and rum flavorings to sweets.
from http://www.slate.com/id/2093538/
I have read elsewhere that civet cat perineal glands are also used in creating some artificial grape flavoring for sweets and soft drinks.
February 9, 2008
treeseed commented on the word arizona
Arizona is a song that went to #10 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1970, recorded by Mark Lindsay, formerly of Paul Revere and the Raiders
February 9, 2008
treeseed commented on the word aubrey
Aubrey, 1973, Bread
February 9, 2008
treeseed commented on the word jude
I read somewhere, donkey's years ago, that "Jude" is actually Julian Lennon. I wonder if there is any truth to that.
February 9, 2008
treeseed commented on the word merseybeat
(archaic) A name for the characteristic style of music produced by pop groups from Merseyside between 1958 and 1964, typified by the Beatles.
_Wiktionary
See More on Merseybeat
February 9, 2008
treeseed commented on the word aunt rhoda
I love Lonnie Donegan but I've never heard his Aunt Rody. I'd like to do so.
February 9, 2008
treeseed commented on the word niki hoeky
Niki Hoeky, 1967, P.J. Proby
February 9, 2008
treeseed commented on the word nadia
Nadia's Theme (The Young and the Restless), 1976, Barry DeVorzon and Perry Botkin, Jr.
February 9, 2008
treeseed commented on the word maria
Take a Letter, Maria by R. B. Greaves went to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1969.
February 9, 2008
treeseed commented on the word patches
Patches, 1962, Dickey Lee (about a girl)
Patches, 1971, Clarence Carter (about a boy)
February 9, 2008
treeseed commented on the word judy
Suite: Judy Blue Eyes by Crosby, Stills and Nash, 1969
Judy in Disguise (with Glasses) - John Fred and His Playboys, #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 in 1968
February 9, 2008
treeseed commented on the word josie
Josie by Donovan, 1966
Josie by Steely Dan, 1978
February 9, 2008
treeseed commented on the word joanna
Joanna, 1984, Kool and the Gang
February 9, 2008
treeseed commented on the word jean
Jean by Oliver went to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1969. This is a song from the soundtrack of the film The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and was written by Rod McKuen who also recorded it.
February 9, 2008
treeseed commented on the word iesha
Iesha by Another Bad Creation made it to #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1991.
February 9, 2008
treeseed commented on the word aunt rhoda
I have a little school singing book from the early 1950s and it has this same song in it but they use the name of Aunt Nancy. I think Rhoda and Rhodie sound better.
February 9, 2008
treeseed commented on the word aunt rhoda
My kids were brought up with a folk song called Go Tell Aunt Rhodie, about a grey goose who died in the mill pond a 'standing on her head. Is this the same song?
February 9, 2008
treeseed commented on the list songbirds
Oh, gangerh, I know what you mean about earworm! I am a pop music victim of serious earworm from waaaaay back!
This is a fun list.
February 9, 2008
treeseed commented on the word charlotte
Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte is the title song of the soundtrack for the film of the same name. It was recorded by Patti Page in 1965 and went to #8 on the Billboard Hot 100.
February 9, 2008
treeseed commented on the word hazel
Hooray for Hazel is a song by Tommy Roe that went to #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1966.
February 9, 2008
treeseed commented on the word holly
Holly Holy is a song by Neil Diamond that went to #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1969.
February 9, 2008
treeseed commented on the word helen
Helen Wheels, 1974, Paul McCartney
February 9, 2008
treeseed commented on the word gina
Gina, 1962, Johnny Mathis
February 9, 2008
treeseed commented on the word frankie
Frankie and Johnny, 1961, Brook Benton
also 1963, Sam Cooke and 1966, Elvis Presley
February 9, 2008
treeseed commented on the word fanny
Fanny (Be Tender with My Love), 1976, Bee Gees
February 9, 2008
treeseed commented on the word emma
Emma, 1975, Hot Chocolate
February 9, 2008
treeseed commented on the word elenore
Elenore, 1968, The Turtles
February 9, 2008
treeseed commented on the word diana
A song called Diana by Paul Anka went to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1957
February 9, 2008
treeseed commented on the word lisa
I'm Not Lisa, 1975, Jessi Colter
February 9, 2008
treeseed commented on the word jenny
The name Jenny figures in these two songs:
Jenny, Jenny, 1957, Little Richard
Jenny, Take a Ride!, 1966, Mitch Ryder
February 9, 2008
treeseed commented on the word desiree
Desiree, 1978, Neil Diamond
February 9, 2008
treeseed commented on the word dede dinah
DeDe Dinah, 1958, Frankie Avalon
February 9, 2008
treeseed commented on the word daisy jane
Daisy Jane, 1975, America
February 9, 2008
treeseed commented on the word clair
Clair, 1972, Gilbert O'Sullivan
February 9, 2008
treeseed commented on the word cindy
Cindy's Birthday, 1962, Johnny Crawford
February 9, 2008
treeseed commented on the word clementine
Clementine by Bobby Darin is a song that went to #21 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1960.
February 9, 2008
treeseed commented on the word carrie-ann
Carrie-Ann, 1967, The Hollies
February 9, 2008
treeseed commented on the word candida
Candida is the name of a song that went to # 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1973, by Dawn (before they became Tony Orlando and Dawn)
February 9, 2008
treeseed commented on the word elvira
Elvira, Oak Ridge Boys, 1981
February 9, 2008
treeseed commented on the word betty
Black Betty, 1977, Ram Jam (also covered by Tom Jones)
February 9, 2008
treeseed commented on the word beth
Beth, 1976, Kiss
February 9, 2008
treeseed commented on the word linda
Linda, 1963, Jan and Dean
Bella Linda, 1969, Grassroots
February 9, 2008
treeseed commented on the word yoko
Ballad of John and Yoko, 1969, The Beatles
February 9, 2008
treeseed commented on the word athena
Athena, 1982, The Who
February 9, 2008
treeseed commented on the word ariel
Ariel, 1977, Dean Friedman
February 9, 2008
treeseed commented on the word mary lou
Hello Mary Lou, 1961, Ricky Nelson (Written by Gene Pitney)
February 9, 2008
treeseed commented on the word allison
Allison Road, 1994, Gin Blossoms
February 9, 2008
treeseed commented on the word leah
Ah! Leah!, 1981, Donnie Iris
February 9, 2008
treeseed commented on the word abigail
Abigail Beecher, 1964, Freddie Cannon
February 9, 2008
treeseed commented on the word silver bullet
The metaphor of the silver bullet applies to any straightforward solution perceived to have extreme effectiveness. The phrase typically appears with an expectation that some new technology or practice will easily cure a major prevailing problem.
The term originates from folklore. Traditionally, the silver bullet is the only kind of bullet for firearms that is effective against a witch, vampire, monster, or a person living a charmed life.
The best known magical creature which is vulnerable to a silver bullet is a werewolf. The werewolf's vulnerability to silver actually dates back to the legend of The Beast of Gévaudan in which a gigantic Wolf is killed by a person wielding a gun loaded with silver bullets.
In different traditions, silver is thought to be the metal associated with the moon and with the human soul. It is likely that these associations have contributed to the legend of the silver bullet.
_Wikipedia
February 9, 2008
treeseed commented on the word cabin fever
Cabin fever is a condition that produces restlessness and irritability caused from being in a confined space. The actual term is slang for a claustrophobic reaction that takes place when a party is isolated and/or shut in, alone or together, for an extended period.
The term possibly originated in the United States at the time when settlers would be snowed into their log cabins and had to wait for the spring thaw in order to travel to town. Another possible source for this phrase could be that during an outbreak of some disease, people who had a fever were confined to a cabin as a quarantine. Most likely, the phrase may be associated with ocean-crossing sailing ships in which passengers had to endure weeks and months of slow travel while living in cramped cabins below deck.
_Wikipedia
February 9, 2008
treeseed commented on the word maple sugar candy
Maple syrup can also be processed into a wide variety of candy or confections including granulated or molded maple sugar, molded soft-sugar candy, maple cream, maple fondant, and "Jack Wax" or "Maple on Snow."
_http://www.baking911.com/candy/maple.htm
My favorite is molded maple sugar...semi-hardened maple sugar cooked down from maple syrup, molded into (usually) maple leaf shapes. Melts quickly in the mouth and has an surprisingly creamy consistency.
February 8, 2008
treeseed commented on the word rock candy
Rock candy (also called rock sugar) is a type of confectionery composed of relatively large sugar crystals. Homemade rock candy is commonly formed by allowing a supersaturated solution of sugar and water to crystallize onto a string or some other surface suitable for crystal nucleation. Heating the water before adding the sugar allows more sugar to dissolve and thus produces larger crystals. Crystals form after several days. Food coloring is often added to the mixture to produce colored candy.
_Wikipedia
Excerpt from Big Rock Candy Mountain by Harry McClintock
On a summer day in the month of May a burly bum came hiking
Down a shady lane through the sugar cane, he was looking for his liking.
As he roamed along he sang a song of the land of milk and honey
Where a bum can stay for many a day, and he won't need any money
Oh the buzzin' of the bees in the cigarette trees near the soda water fountain,
At the lemonade springs where the bluebird sings on the Big Rock Candy Mountains
February 8, 2008
treeseed commented on the word turbinado sugar
Turbinado sugar, also known as turbinated sugar, is a type of sugar cane extract. It is made by steaming unrefined raw sugar. Turbinado sugar is similar in appearance to brown sugar but paler, and in general the two can be exchanged freely in recipes. A popular brand name is Sugar in the Raw.
_Wikipedia
February 8, 2008
treeseed commented on the word sugar beet
Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.), a member of the Chenopodiaceae family, is a plant whose root contains a high concentration of sucrose. It is grown commercially for sugar.
The sugar beet is directly related to the beetroot, chard and fodder beet, all descended by cultivation from the sea beet.
Beet sugar accounts for 30% of the world's sugar production.
_Wikipedia
February 8, 2008
treeseed commented on the word phosphoron
I'm glad to hear that...such a nice word.
February 7, 2008
treeseed commented on the word phosphoron
Well, I made a corrected entry...but this word has a nice ring to it. What is it called when Treeseed not only can't spell but can't see the light of day? A Phosmoron.
Thanks, Mollusque.
February 7, 2008
treeseed commented on the word prosphoron
A prosphoron (Greek: Π�?όσφο�?ον, Offering) is a small loaf of bread used in Orthodox Christian ritual The plural form is prosphora(Π�?όσφο�?α).
A prosphoron is made up of two separate round pieces of dough which are placed one on top of another and baked together to form a single loaf. This double-loaf represents the two natures of Christ: human and divine. Before baking, each prosphoron is stamped with a seal usually bearing the image of a cross with the Greek letters IC XC NIKA ("Jesus Christ conquers") around the arms of the cross. This impression is baked into the bread and serves as a guide for the priest who will be cutting it.
_Wikipedia
February 7, 2008
treeseed commented on the word flutterby
To me it brings up the image of a butterfly and seems like a nick name that someone innocent and childlike would use for a butterfly.
Also it seems like it could mean someone "mingling" at a party, in a sincere way, only hurried by circumstance. Like a hostess who wants to be able to spend at least a few minutes with everyone at her party.
February 7, 2008
treeseed commented on the word pork barrel
A pork barrel, literally, is a barrel in which pork is kept. The term is more commonly used as a political metaphor for the appropriation of government spending for projects that are intended primarily to benefit particular constituents or campaign contributors. This usage originated in American English.
_Wikipedia
February 7, 2008
treeseed commented on the word eureka
Eureka (Greek "I have found it") is an exclamation used as an interjection to celebrate a discovery.
It is most famously attributed to the ancient Greek scholar Archimedes; he reportedly said "eureka!" when he stepped into a bath and noticed the water level rise -- he suddenly understood that the volume of water displaced must be equal to the volume of the part of his body he had submerged. This meant that the volume of irregular objects could be calculated with precision, a previously intractable problem. He is said to have been so eager to share it that he leapt out of his bathtub and ran through the streets of Syracuse naked.
_Wikipedia
February 7, 2008
treeseed commented on the word epicanthal fold
Please excuse me for putting all this technical jargon in here but I am saving this to share with my son later. My grandson has issues with this.
February 7, 2008
treeseed commented on the word epicanthal fold
An epicanthal fold, epicanthic fold, or epicanthus is a skin fold of the upper eyelid (from the nose to the inner side of the eyebrow) covering the inner corner (medial canthus) of the human eye. The epicanthal fold is present in people of East Asian and Southeast Asian descent, as well as other ethnic groups including some Native Americans and Africans. Epicanthal folds may also be seen in young children of any race before the bridge of the nose begins to elevate.
The term "epicanthal fold" refers to a visually categorized feature; however the underlying physiological reason and purpose for its presence in any given individual may be entirely different.
All humans initially develop epicanthal folds in the womb. Some children lose them by birth, but epicanthal folds may also be seen in young children of any ethnicity before the bridge of the nose begins to elevate. They may persist where birth is pre-term, and sometimes also where the mother is alcoholic.
Epicanthal folds can cause a child's eyes to appear crossed, a scenario known as pseudostrabismus.
In many caucasian backgrounds and other groups who don't commonly possess the trait, the presence of the epicanthal fold can be a symptom of fetal alcohol syndrome, chromosomal disorders such as Down syndrome, Cri du Chat syndrome, or pre-term birth.
_Wikipedia
February 7, 2008
treeseed commented on the word pseudostrabismus
Pseudostrabismus is the false appearance of crossed eyes. When the eyes are actually crossed or not completely aligned with one another it is called strabismus. Pseudostrabimus generally occurs in infants and toddlers whose facial features are not fully developed. The bridge of their nose is wide and flat. With age, the bridge will narrow and the folds in the corner of the eyes will go away. This will cause the eyes to appear wider, and thus not have the appearance of strabismus. To detect the difference between strabismus and pseudostrabismus use a flashlight to shine into the child's eyes. When the child is looking at the light a reflection can be seen on the front surface of the pupil. If the eyes are aligned with one another then the reflection from the light will be in the same spot of each eye. If strabismus is present then the reflection from the light will not be in the same spot of each eye.
_Wikipedia
See also epicanthal fold
February 7, 2008
treeseed commented on the word ploidy
Ploidy is the number of homologous sets of chromosomes in a biological cell. The ploidy of cells can vary within an organism. In humans, most cells are diploid (containing one set of chromosomes from each parent), but sex cells (sperm and egg) are haploid. In contrast, tetraploidy (four sets of chromosomes) is a type of polyploidy and is common in plants, and not uncommon in amphibians, reptiles, and various species of insects.
_Wikipedia
February 7, 2008
treeseed commented on the list •-de-rerum-natura
I'm not sure I understand what kind of words you are looking for, kewpid. I love diatoms. Would that be a word that would fit on your list?
February 7, 2008
treeseed commented on the user skipvia
Thanks so much for that classic toy article. Loved it!
February 7, 2008
treeseed commented on the word coconut mushroom cloud
Wow...I never heard of a coconut mushroom until I googled these...they look cute.
February 7, 2008
treeseed commented on the word strange
one of six flavors of quarks
February 7, 2008
treeseed commented on the word flavor
There are six different types of quark, usually known as flavors: up, down, charm, strange, top, and bottom.
February 7, 2008
treeseed commented on the word interference
Interference is the addition (superposition) of two or more waves that results in a new wave pattern.
_Wikipedia
February 7, 2008
treeseed commented on the word bruja
Female witch (Spanish)
Both men and women can be witches, brujos and brujas respectively. Brujos is the plural term that can mean either a group of male witches or both male and female witches. The female witch is considered the most powerful, and traditional brujos believe that the female passes down the sacred bloodline or spiritual bloodline (matriarchal lineage). This means that the line is inherited from a female but ends with a male.
The word bruja is believed to derive from bruxa, which is from the Celto-Iberian dialect in Spain evolving to what is known today as Gallego. It shares its roots with Portuguese. The present day Portuguese use the term bruxa. The original meaning is roughly, evil or unwholesome night-bird, but has evolved both in Portuguese and in Spanish to mean simply 'witch'.
_Wikipedia
.
February 7, 2008
treeseed commented on the word glamour
(n.)a physical illusion created by magic
February 7, 2008
treeseed commented on the word dweller on the threshold
The Dweller on the Threshold refers to an invisible malevolent entity that attaches to a human being. The term was first used by Bulwer-Lytton in his novel Zanoni.
_Wikipedia
One explanation is that provided by Alice Bailey on Esoteric astrology, "From ancient recesses of the memory, from a deeply rooted past, which is definitely recalled, and from the racial and the individual subconscious (or founded and established thought reservoirs and desires, inherited and inherent) there emerges from individual past lives and experience, that which is the sumtotal of all instinctual tendencies, of all inherited glamours, and of all phases of wrong mental attitudes; to these, (as they constitute a blended whole) we give the name of the Dweller on the Threshold. This Dweller is the sumtotal of all the personality characteristics which have remained unconquered and unsubtle, and which must be finally overcome before initiation can be taken. Each life sees some progress made; some personality defects straightened out, and some real advance effected. But the unconquered residue, and the ancient liabilities are numerous, and excessively potent, and - when the soul contact's adequately established - there eventuates a life wherein the highly developed and powerful personality becomes, in itself, the Dweller on the Threshold.
_Wikipedia
February 7, 2008
treeseed commented on the word noodle
See also pool noodle
February 7, 2008
treeseed commented on the word metropolis
In DC Comics, the Earth home of Superman
February 7, 2008
treeseed commented on the word gotham
Interesting, kewpid. Brings to mind Batman's Gotham City.
February 7, 2008
treeseed commented on the word mushroom cloud
That makes me think of psilocybin when you talk about mushrooms in lieu of the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge.
February 7, 2008
treeseed commented on the word cauliflower ear
Cauliflower ear (also hematoma auris or perichondrial hematoma) is a condition most common among wrestlers, rugby players, mixed martial artists, and boxers. If the external portion of the ear suffers a blow, a blood clot or other fluid may collect under the perichondrium. This separates the cartilage from the overlying perichondrium that is its source of nutrients, causing the cartilage to die. This leads to a formation of fibrous tissue in the overlying skin. When this happens, the outer ear becomes permanently swollen and deformed, thus resembling a cauliflower.
_Wikipedia
February 7, 2008
treeseed commented on the word mushroom cloud
Kewpid agrees with Weart, quoted in Wikipedia article:
Later in 1946, the Operation Crossroads nuclear bomb tests were described as having a "cauliflower" cloud, but a reporter present also spoke of "the mushroom, now the common symbol of the atomic age." Mushrooms have traditionally been associated both with life and death, food and poison, making them a more powerful symbolic connection than, say, the "cauliflower" cloud.
February 7, 2008
treeseed commented on the word bible code
Bible codes, originally known as Torah codes, are information patterns said to exist in encrypted or coded form in the text of the Bible, or, more specifically, in the Hebrew Torah, the first five books of Old Testament. The existence of these codes has been a topic of research by Old Testament scholars and students of Kabbalah for over a thousand years, and in more recent times have been a topic of study by modern mathematicians. In the mid-17th century influential mathematician Blaise Pascal, widely regarded as the "father of probability science" and "father of the modern computer" summarized his view in a one sentence assertion in his philosophical Pensées, concluding that "The Old Testament is a cipher."
_Wikipedia
February 7, 2008
treeseed commented on the word gematria
Gematria (Rabbinic Hebrew גימטריה gēmaṭriy�?, from the Greek γεωμετ�?ία; English since the 17th century) is the numerology of the Hebrew language and Hebrew alphabet, and is used by its proponents to derive meaning or relative relationship. Several forms can be identified: the "revealed" form, which is prevalent in many forms of Rabbinic Judaism, and the "mystical form," a largely Cabbalistic practice. The word itself comes from the Greek word 'geometry' and the concept or system is the same as the Greek isopsephy and the Arabic Ḥis�?b al-Jummal. There is also a gematria of Latin-script languages, dating from the early Middle Ages, and very possibly back into Roman times, too. Recent times have also seen an emergence of new gematrias, though these lack a length of exploration that more ancient versions have seen.
The most common form of gematria is used occasionally in the Talmud and Midrash and elaborately by many post-Talmudic commentators. It involves reading words and sentences as numbers, assigning numerical instead of phonetic value to each letter of the Hebrew alphabet. When read as numbers, they can be compared and contrasted with other words.
_Wikipedia
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word augur
The Augur (pl: augurs) was a priest and official in the classical world, especially ancient Rome. His main role was to interpret the will of the gods by studying the flight of the birds (flying in groups/alone, what noises they make as they fly, direction of flight and what kind of birds they are), known as "taking the auspices." The ceremony and function of the augur was central to any major undertaking in Roman society--public or private--including matters of war, commerce, and religion.
The derivation of the word augur is uncertain; ancient authors believed that it contained the words avi and gero --Latin for "directing the birds"--but historical-linguistic evidence points instead to the root aug-, "to increase, to prosper."
_Wikipedia
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word daemon
The words daemon, dæmon, are Latinized spellings of the Greek δαίμων (daimon), used purposely today to distinguish the daemons of Ancient Greek religion, good or malevolent "supernatural beings between mortals and gods, such as inferior divinities and ghosts of dead heroes" (see Plato's Symposium), from the Judeo-Christian usage demon, a malignant spirit that can seduce, afflict, or possess humans.
_Wikipedia
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word boom and bust
In economics, the term boom and bust refers to the movement of an economy through economic cycles.
The boom and bust cycle describes the cycle of economic upswings and downswings in the business economy and is considered inseparable from capitalism.
According to most economists, an economic boom is typically characterized by an increased level of economic output, a corresponding increase in aggregate demand, falling unemployment, and often, a rise in the inflation rate. During busts, or recessions, aggregate demand is low, inflation decreases, unemployment rises and national income falls. In extreme recessions deflation (a sustained fall in the general price level) may occur.
_Wikipedia
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word mushroom cloud
Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
noun
Date: circa 1909
: a mushroom-shaped cloud; specifically : one caused by the explosion of a nuclear weapon
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word easter grass
Shredded colored cellophane simulating grass that is used as a bed for candies in Easter baskets
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word chernobyl
See ghost town
I have seen this word used as a generic term for a manmade ecological catastrophe, as in "We've got to clean up the river and stop the mill from dumping here. This thing is turning into a Chernobyl."
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word ghost town
noun
Date: 1931
: a once-flourishing town wholly or nearly deserted usually as a result of the exhaustion of some natural resource
_Wikipedia
Also as the result of an ecological disaster as in the Love Canal neighborhood of Niagara Falls, New York or Chernobyl
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word gore with the wind
Great minds think alike, as the saying goes, reesetee.
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word demiurge
This sounds like it should mean "an accidental erection occurring during a massage or an examination by a female doctor"
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word horah
See also Hava Nagila
The most popular of Jewish folk dances/Israeli folk dances. It is usually performed to Jewish folk songs/Israeli folk songs, typically to the music of Hava Nagila.
To start the dance, everybody forms a circle, holding hands, and steps forward toward the right with the left foot, then follows with the right foot. The left foot is then brought back, followed by the right foot. This is done while holding hands and circling together in a fast and cheerful motion to the right. Large groups allow for the creation of several concentric circles.
_Wikipedia
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word hava nagila
"Hava Nagila" (הבה נגילה in Hebrew) is a Hebrew folk song, the title meaning "Let us rejoice". It is a song of celebration, especially popular amongst irreligious Jewish and Roma communities. In popular culture, it is used as a metonym for Judaism, and is a staple of band performers at Jewish festivals.
_Wikipedia
When I was growing up in southern California in the early 1960s we were taught this song in public school physical education class along with a dance. The dance and the song together were called "The Hava Nagila" but the dance was actually the Horah.
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word baggywrinkle
reesetee, I love this word and the name of your list on which it is found.
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word bathing machine
The bathing machine was a device, popular in the 19th century, which was intended to allow people to wade in the ocean at beaches without violating Victorian notions of modesty. Bathing machines were in the form of roofed and walled wooden carts which would be rolled into the sea. Some had solid wooden walls; others had canvas walls over a wooden frame.
The bathing machine was part of sea-bathing etiquette which was more rigorously enforced upon women than men, but was expected to be observed by people of both sexes among those who wished to be considered "proper".
_Wikipedia
I really urge you to read the rest of the Wikipedia entry for this contraption and see the pictures. Who knew?
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word muskellunge
Nickname: Muskie
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word sheepshead
Sheepshead is a card game related to the Skat family of games, originating in Central Europe in the late 1700s under the German name Schafkopf. Although Schafkopf literally means "sheepshead", the term is actually derived from Middle High German and referred to playing cards on an overturned barrel (from kopfen, meaning playing cards, and Schaff, meaning a barrel).
Sheepshead is played by two to eight players, where the variant with five players is the most common, by far. In the United States, Sheepshead is most commonly played in Wisconsin, which has a strong Germanic population.
_Wikipedia
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word lucifer's hamper
Before now I've never known anyone else that has read Lucifer's Hammer.
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word orange blossom
Orange blossom is a traditional flower at weddings and its use dates back to the Crusades. It is believed to have been used by the Saracens to symbolise chastity and purity and the evergreen leaves are a symbol for everlasting love. A traditional ingredient of love potions
_http://www.webwedding.co.uk/articles/traditions.htm
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word flying buttress
In architecture, a flying buttress, or arc-boutant, is usually on a religious building, used to transmit the thrust of a vault across an intervening space (which might be an aisle, chapel or cloister), to a buttress outside the building. The employment of the flying buttress means that the load bearing walls can contain cut-outs, such as for large windows, that would otherwise seriously weaken the vault walls.
The purpose of a buttress was to reduce the load on the vault wall. The majority of the load is carried by the upper part of the buttress, so making the buttress as a semi-arch provides almost the same load bearing capability, yet in a much lighter as well as a much cheaper structure. As a result, the buttress flies through the air, rather than resting on the ground and hence is known as a flying buttress.
_Wikipedia
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word gore with the wind
In which Al Gore tries to sell the idea of wind mill power to ease Global Warming
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word game show
Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
noun
Date: 1958
: a television program on which contestants compete for prizes in a game (as a quiz)
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word host horizon
In which an errant game show MC stumbles upon a mythical paradise
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word gravels with charley: in search of america
In which John Steinbeck and his poodle Charley take work in a quarry
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word phaeton
The name phaeton derives from a Greek mythological character, Phaethon, who almost set the world on fire with his reckless driving. This type of carriage was made of wicker, making it quite lightweight. The Phaeton was intended for pleasure driving.
He drove a great roomy, double "phaeton" drawn by two satin bay horses.
_From Pat of Silver Bush by L.M. Montgomery, 1933
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word maraschino cherry
A maraschino cherry is a preserved, sweetened cherry, typically made from light-colored sweet cherries such as the Royal Ann, Rainier, or Gold varieties. The cherries are first preserved in a brine solution (usually sulfur dioxide or alcohol), then soaked in a suspension of food coloring, sugar syrup, artificial and natural flavors, and other components. Maraschino cherries dyed red are typically almond-flavored, while cherries dyed green are usually peppermint-flavored.
The name maraschino refers to the marasca cherry and the maraschino liqueur made from it, in which maraschino cherries were originally preserved. They were, at first, produced for and consumed as a delicacy by royalty and the wealthy. Today they are a common dessert and drink garnish. Carmine, the coloring agent commonly used as a food dye, is derived from the cochineal insect.
_Wikipedia
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word bishop's bread
This an old "company bread" and I'm not sure of its origins but I know it was old in my grandmother's day. It is a dessert quick bread containing walnuts, chocolate morsels, and most importantly cherries, maraschino cherries in particular. It is usually served at Christmastime. There are many recipes for Bishop's Bread on the Internet. Try making one.
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word antidoron
The Antidoron (Greek: Ἀντίδω�?ον, Antíd�?ron) is ordinary, blessed, but non-eucharistic and non-consecrated, leavened bread seen in Eastern Orthodox and other Christian churches. It comes from the remains of the loaves of bread (prosphora) from which portions are cut for consecration as the Eucharist during the Divine Liturgy. Eastern Catholic Churches of the Byzantine Rite also follow the practice of blessing and distributing antidoron.
_Wikipedia
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word pandowdy
Pandowdy - It is a deep-dish dessert that can be made with a variety of fruit, but is most commonly made with apples sweetened with molasses or brown sugar. The topping is a crumbly type of biscuit except the crust is broken up during baking and pushed down into the fruit to allow the juices to come through. Sometimes the crust is on the bottom and the desert is inverted before serving. The exact origin of the name Pandowdy is unknown, but it is thought to refer to the deserts plain or dowdy appearance.
_Whatscookingamerica.net/History
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word buckle
A buckle is a type of cake made in a single layer with berries added to the batter. It is usually made with blueberries. The topping is similar to a streusel, which gives it a buckled or crumpled appearance.
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word crisp
See crumble
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word crumble
Crisps and Crumbles - Crisps are baked with the fruit mixture on the bottom with a crumb topping. The crumb topping can be made with flour, nuts, bread crumbs, cookie or graham cracker crumbs, or even breakfast cereal. Crumbles are the British version of the American Crisp.
_whatscookingamerican.net/History
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word brown betty
Betty or Brown Betty - A Betty consist of a fruit, most commonly apples, baked between layers of buttered crumbs. Betties are an English pudding dessert closely related to the French apple charlotte. Betty was a popular baked pudding made during colonial times in America.
_Whatscookingamerica.net/History/cobblerhistory.htm
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word chromo
Thefreedictionary.com:
n. pl. chro·mos Informal
A chromolithograph.
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word coronet
See Georgette crepe
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word tulle
See Georgette crepe
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word georgette crepe
from dictonary.reference.com:
noun. a sheer silk or rayon crepe of dull texture.
My note: Often with a crinkled look.
The New York Times of August 8, 1918, reporting on the wedding of President Woodrow Wilson's daughter Alice Wilson had this to say:
"The bride wore a gown of white Georgette crepe embroidered in beads and silk threads, made over satin. The skirt was short, with a panel in the back. Her tulle veil, which formed a train, was held with a coronet of rare old lace, loaned by Mrs. Woodrow Wilson, and the orange blossoms were those worn by the sisters of the bridegroom at their weddings."
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word whiffet
Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
noun
Etymology: probably alteration of whippet
Date: 1839
: a small, young, or unimportant person
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word umiak
The umiak, umiaq, umiac, oomiac or oomiak is a type of boat used by the Inuit for transportation. Its name means "woman's boat," as opposed to the kayak, which means "man's boat".
_Wikipedia
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word kalpa
Wow...that is so wonderful. Thank you for sharing that.
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word hoop skirt
A hoop skirt or hoopskirt is a women's undergarment worn in various periods to hold the skirt extended into a fashionable shape.
Hoop skirts typically consist of a fabric petticoat with casings to hold a stiffening material, variously rope, osiers, whalebone, steel or nylon.
Lightweight hoop skirts, usually with nylon hoops, are worn today under very full-skirted wedding gowns.
_Wikipedia
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word gibson girl
The Gibson Girl was the personification of the feminine ideal as portrayed in the satirical pen and ink illustrated stories created by illustrator Charles Dana Gibson during a twenty year period spanning the late nineteenth and early twentieth century in the United States.
The Gibson Girl was tall, slender yet with ample bosom, hips and bottom in the S-curve torso shape achieved by wearing a swan-bill corset. The images of her epitomized the late nineteenth and early 20th-century Western preoccupation with statuesque, youthful features, and ephemeral beauty. Her neck was thin and her hair piled high upon her head in the contemporary bouffant, pompadour, and chignon ("waterfall of curls") fashions.
The tall, narrow-waisted ideal feminine figure was portrayed as multi-faceted, always at ease and fashionable. Gibson depicted her as an equal and sometimes teasing companion to men.
_Wikipedia
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word man-about-town
Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
noun
Inflected Form(s): plural men–about–town \ˌmen-\
Date: 1734
: a worldly and socially active man
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word junebug
Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
noun
Usage: often capitalized J
Date: 1829
: any of numerous rather large leaf-eating scarab beetles (subfamily Melolonthinae) that fly chiefly in late spring and have larvae that are white grubs which live in soil and feed chiefly on the roots of grasses and other plants —called also june beetle
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word cup and ring marks
Cup and ring marks or cup marks are a form of prehistoric art found predominantly in the upland parts of the British Isles but also in some parts of continental Europe.
They consist of a concave depression, no more than a few centimetres across, pecked into a rock surface and often surrounded by concentric circles also etched into the stone. Sometimes a linear channel called a gutter leads out from the middle.
The decoration occurs as a petroglyph on natural boulders and outcrops and also as an element of megalithic art on purposely worked megaliths such as the slab cists of the Food Vessel culture, some stone circles and passage graves such as the clava tombs and on the capstones at Newgrange.
_Wikipedia
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word ticking
Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
noun
Etymology: 2tick
Date: 1649
: a strong linen or cotton fabric used in upholstering and as a covering for a mattress or pillow
See feather tick and bedtick
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word feather tick
A casing or bag made of ticking which is stuffed with feathers or goose down as a type of bedding or mattress.
See bedtick
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word bedtick
freedictionary.com:
n. 1. A tick or bag made of cloth called ticking, used for inclosing the materials of a bed.
See feather tick
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word honeysuckle
See Junebells
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word junebells
Linnea borealis or americana, Caprofoliaceae, also known as twinflowers. Pink or white bell-shaped flowers of the honeysuckle family, which grow in terminal pairs. They bloomfrom late June to early August.
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word washstand
In addition to the basin and pitcher for washing the hands and face, washstands often had a roller or peg on the side for a towel and a cupboard underneath for the chamber pot.
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word braided rug
Also called braid rug or rag rug
A rug made with left-over scraps of fabric or from the remants of old clothes. In modern times made of new fabric. Long ropes are braided together from the scraps then the ropes are stitched together in an oval or round shape. See Braided rug example here
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word morning star
Another name for Venus, see also evening star
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word evening star
Venus is known as the evening star and also as the morning star
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word knack
Some think knacks are natural born magical or paranormal or supernatural powers...uncanny knack...such as psychic ability
Orson Scott Card's series of novels called The Alvin Maker Series is full of characters with this type of knack.
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word wincey
This is the fabric that the famous Anne of Green Gables was wearing when she first arrived at the train station where Matthew met her.
"A child of about eleven, garbed in a very short, very tight, very ugly dress of yellowish-gray wincey."
_From Anne of Green Gables - L.M. Montgomery, 1908
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word replicant
A replicant is a bioengineered or biorobotic being created in the film Blade Runner (1982).
_Wikipedia
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word terminator
a cyborg assassin
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the list in-the-name-of-all-that-is-good-and-holy
Freemasons use the term the Architect or the Grand Architect...and there was that character in the Matrix trilogy by that name. Hmmm?
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word rose of sharon
The word wrath and the Grapes of Wrath (quite possibly my favorite book) brought to mind the wonderful character, Rose of Sharon. See Free Associate
Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
Etymology: Plain of Sharon, Palestine
Date: circa 1847
: a commonly cultivated Asian shrub or small tree (Hibiscus syriacus) having showy bell-shaped rose, purple, or white flowers
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the user sonofgroucho
Thank you for stopping by, S of G. It's a pleasure to be getting to know you...in this strange and fun way.
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word corner
In square dancing the lady on a man's left is his corner, and conversely the man on a lady's right is her corner. See also allemande
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word allemande
In square dancing allemande is a series of moves where dancers face their corners and turn around each other 360 degrees, dropping the handhold at the end as the dancers rejoin their respective partners. A lot of people in square dancing spell this "alamand." The caller usually calls out "allemande left" or "allemande right".
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word allemande
Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
noun
Usage: often capitalized
Etymology: French, from feminine of allemand German
Date: 1685
1: a musical composition or movement (as in a baroque suite) in moderate tempo and duple or quadruple time
2 a: a 17th and 18th century court dance developed in France from a German folk dance b: a dance step with arms interlaced
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word right and left grand
'Right and Left Grand', also known as 'Grand Right and Left', is a square dance move in which all eight dancers in the set, moving in a circular fashion, execute a series of four alternating hand pull-bies (right pull by, left pull by, right pull by, left pull by). Men (or gents) travel counter-clockwise around the ring, and ladies travel clockwise. The result is that all dancers end up half way across the set facing the same person they started with.
_Wikipedia
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word dosado
Dosado (also written do-sa-do) or Dos-a-dos (also written dos a dos) or do-si-do (also written do si do) is a basic dance step in such dances as square dance, contra dance, polka, various historical dances, and some reels.
The term is a corruption of the original French term dos-à-dos for the dance move, which means "back to back", as opposed to "vis-à-vis" which means "face to face".
It is a circular movement where two people, who are initially facing each other, walk around each other without or almost without turning, i.e, facing in the same direction (same wall) all the time. In most cases it takes 6-8 counts to complete.
_Wikipedia
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word beau
In square dancing, the dancer in the left-hand position, relative to his (or her) partner. See belle
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word belle
In square dancing, the dancer in the right-hand position, relative to his (or her) partner. See beau
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word tectonic plate
A tectonic plate (also called lithospheric plate) is a massive, irregularly shaped slab of solid rock, generally composed of both continental and oceanic lithosphere. Plate size can vary greatly, from a few hundred to thousands of kilometers across; the Pacific and Antarctic Plates are among the largest. Plate thickness also varies greatly, ranging from less than 15 km for young oceanic lithosphere to about 200 km or more for ancient continental lithosphere (for example, the interior parts of North and South America).
from http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/dynamic/tectonic.html
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word stratovolcano
A stratovolcano, also called a composite volcano, is a tall, conical volcano composed of many layers of hardened lava, tephra, and volcanic ash. These volcanoes are characterized by a steep profile and periodic, explosive eruptions.
_Wikipedia
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word effluvia
Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
noun
Inflected Form(s): plural ef·flu·via also ef·flu·vi·ums
Etymology: Latin effluvium act of flowing out, from effluere
Date: 1651
1: an invisible emanation; especially : an offensive exhalation or smell
2: a by-product especially in the form of waste
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word eluviation
Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
Pronunciation: \(ˌ)ē-ˌlü-vē-ˈ�?-shən\
Function: noun
Etymology: eluvial of eluviation (from e- + -luvial—as in alluvial) + -ation
Date: 1899
: the transportation of dissolved or suspended material within the soil by the movement of water when rainfall exceeds evaporation
— elu·vi·al \ē-ˈlü-vē-əl\ adjective
— elu·vi·at·ed \-ˈlü-vē-�?-təd\ adjective
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word alluvial fan
Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
noun
Date: 1873
: the alluvial deposit of a stream where it issues from a gorge upon a plain or of a tributary stream at its junction with the main stream
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word fry bread
Also seen as "frybread"
Two great memories of mine:
Navajo fry bread with red beans and rice at a small market stand in Monument Valley and a thin hungry Indian dog with which to share them.
Oneida fry bread with sugar and cinnamon at the big summer pow-wow on the reservation in Oneida, Wisconsin
See fry bread here.
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word debutante
See deb
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word debut
See coming out party
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word coming out party
A debutante (or deb) (from the French débutante, "female beginner") is a young lady from an aristocratic or upper class family who has reached the age of maturity, and as a new adult, is introduced to society at a formal presentation known as her "debut" or "coming out". Originally, it meant the young woman was eligible for marriage, and part of the purpose was to display her to eligible bachelors and their families with a view to marriage within a select upper class circle. This traditional event varies by region, but is typically referred to as a debutante ball if it is for a group of debutantes. A lone debutante might have her own "coming out party", or she might have a party with a sister or other close relative.
_Wikipedia
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word come out
Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
intransitive verb
Date: 13th century
1 a: to come into public view : make a public appearance b: to become evident
2: to declare oneself especially in public utterance
3: to turn out in an outcome : end up
4: to make a debut
5 a: to openly declare one's homosexuality b: to openly declare something about oneself previously kept hidden —often used with as
— com·ing–out \ˌkə-miŋ-ˈau̇t\ noun or adjective
— come out with
1: to give expression to
2: publish
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word woodpile
Out behind the woodpile or in some cases the wood shed is where your pa takes you to get a lickin', sometimes with a hick'ry switch. It is also the subject of a wonderful poem called The Wood-pile by Robert Frost.
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word tip-up
See a classic wooden tip-up here
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word tip-up
(noun)
a piece of ice-fishing tackle
A device that signals when a fish hits on your line. A flag "tips up" when the fish strikes and gives you the freedom to leave the fishing hole for a moment. (Possibly to drink beer or to warm up in the shanty.)
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word parchman farm
I went straight to the Parchman Farm from delta. Ain't never done no man no harm. See Free Association
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word parchman farm
Mississippi State Penitentiary, also known as Parchman Farm, is the oldest prison and the only maximum security prison in the state of Mississippi, USA. It is located on 18,000 acres (73 km²) in Parchman, Mississippi, and was built in 1901.
A number of bluesmen have been imprisoned in Parchman Farm and the prison features in a number of blues songs such as "Parchman Farm".
"Parchman Farm" is the title of songs about Mississippi State Penitentiary, known as Parchman Farm, a hard time prison because of the Trusty system which was later outlawed.
There have been a number of blues songs written about Parchman Farm and several Blues musicians were imprisoned there, including Bukka White (who wrote "Parchman Farm Blues"), and Eddie 'Son' House. In 1939, folklorist Alan Lomax recorded White and others at Parchman Farm for the Library of Congress. (Louisiana's Angola Prison Farm had a similar musical impact.)
Mose Allison created a much-covered version of "Parchman Farm". It has been covered by Blues Project, Cactus, Michael Chapman, Blue Cheer, Ray Condo, Rick Derringer, Georgie Fame, The Kingston Trio, John Mayall, Johnny Winter and others.
_Wikipedia
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word duck call
Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
noun
Date: 1872
: a device for imitating the calls of ducks
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word twin bed
a single bed
one of two identical single beds usually placed side by side in a single bedroom. Many married couples slept in twin beds in the 1940s and 1950s for the sake of "decency" and also individual comfort
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word dentures
As a child, my grandmother's dentures in a glass of water on the nightstand used to traumatize me.
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word junket
My grandmother used to make junket for dessert. It was kind of gross, like runny pudding.
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word junk mail
Postal mail used in direct marketing
Spam: electronic junk mail
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word worthless junk trip
1. any trip to the Dollar Store or one in which nothing of interest is purchased
2. a trip on a small Chinese boat where the fishing cormorants do not succeed
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word beetle
See splitting maul
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word splitting maul
A splitting maul (or mall) is a heavy, long-handled hammer used for splitting a piece of wood along its grain. One side of it is identical to a sledge hammer and the other side is an axe. In parts of England the word denotes a tool with a very heavy wooden head, used for splitting wood in conjunction with a metal wedge. This tool is also known as a beetle; there is a well known pub on the Thames at Goring called the Beetle and Wedge.
_Wikipedia
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word log splitter
a hydraulic machine used to quickly split logs for fire wood
If you are as careless as my ex-husband it can be used to split fingers, too.
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word oriflamme
What a cool word!
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word fields
Ha ha! That's a fine mind you have there, sionnach!
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word creosote
Creosote is the sticky resin left behind in the stovepipe when wood is burned. It can build up and cause chimney fires.
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word fire screen
Merriam-Webster Dictonary:
noun
Date: 15th century
: a protective screen before a fireplace
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word coal hod
also called a coal scuttle
also used for wood or ash
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word scuttle
coal or fireplace scuttle also called a coal hod
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word face cord
Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
noun
Date: circa 1926
: a unit of wood cut for fuel equal to a stack 4 × 8 feet with lengths of pieces from about 12 to 16 inches
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word fireset
A small, usually five piece set of tools that is kept by the fireplace or woodstove to use in the management of the fire. Pieces include the rack which the tools are hung on, a small dust broom, a small ash shovel, a prod or poker, a hook or sometimes a set of tongs. Often made of cast iron.
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word kindling wood
small pieces of dry wood or sticks used to start a fire
In our house these are stored in the kindling box right next to the woodstove.
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word potbelly stove
A potbelly stove is a cast iron wood burning stove, round with a bulge in the middle. They were designed to heat large spaces and were often found in train stations or one-room schoolhouses.
_Wikipedia
We used to have an old potbelly stove in our garage that my dad used to burn papers in. He also used it to warm up the garage when he was out there working on the car.
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word cook stove
In cooking, a cook stove is a very basic stove heated by burning wood or fossil fuels. Cook stoves are the most common way of cooking and heating food in developing countries.
_Wikipedia
When I was growing up this is what we called the large cast iron wood stove in my grandma's kitchen.
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word guitar picking nose
the sound of a guitar being played badly, as in "That's a guitar picking nose!"
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word chamber pot plant
a poorly tended marijuana plant that is dwarfed or unhealthy...schwag
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word cold sore
Herpes simplex type 1 is usually the cause of common nonsexually transmitted cold sores.
_Wikipedia
Herpes is a disease of the nerve endings and the frequent blowing or whiping of the nose during a cold can irritate the skin around the mouth and nose which can irritate nerve endings already afflicted with the dormant virus and cause it to become active. Sunburns can have the same effect.(My personal observations.)
While both oral and genital herpes are characteristically "nuisance infections" that are not life-threatening, cold sores (on the face) can cause rare severe or fatal disease if they travel to the eyes or brain.
_Wikipedia
(I say that it is for this reason that one should be careful that one's doctor does not misdiagnose a cold sore as impetigo as happened to my ex-husband.0
February 6, 2008
treeseed commented on the word varicella zoster
The Varicella zoster virus (VZV) is one of the eight herpes viruses known to affect humans (and other vertebrates). Multiple names are used to refer to same virus, creating some confusion. Varicella virus, zoster virus, human herpes 3 (HHV-3), and Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV) all refer to the same viral pathogen. The disease caused by this pathogen is called chickenpox or Varicella disease during the initial infection. A reactivation of the infection is commonly called shingles, herpes zoster or simply zoster.
_Wikipedia
See impetigo
February 5, 2008
treeseed commented on the word impetigo
Certain forms of herpes can be and are frequently misdiagnosed as Impetigo. Make sure to question your doctor. See cold sore
February 5, 2008
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