This end of year 2013 features the international and domestic USA kerfuffle, from a not politically correct "ducks dynasty" patriarch, to the USA named for this President universal "Health Care" roll out, and predictions of more than a disaster yet coming for this new "Health Care" yet in a 2014 kerfuffle of unsigned young healthys who are avoiding insurance which is the opposite to the sick and infirm who are clamoring and signing up for their new better insurance.
It's sure to be more of a kerfuffle when according to some the guarantee in this 200 page plus law includes a guarantee to the health care insurance providers that USA taxpayers will pay to bail them out when all the sick and old very sick take up all the premiums with no healthys to prop them up—and that was a run on mouthful.
This is a major disturbance ongoing and coming up, but there's also a fuss about the NSA spying on allies amidst a clamor from civil rights advocates, plus such strange bedfellows like Oregon's Udall and Rand Paul, please, it's noisy when some prominents who are part of the big money in Silicon Valley are doing a cacophony chorus with the notorious Google who collects everyone who has private data with such impunity, and theYahoo that still spies on my e-mails with notices that my session is timed out, also Facebook that uses friends' data to put on ads that speak to their likes, gosh, it's a din that fuddles me.
By now it is obvious that a kerfuffle is of British origin, and is opposite to calm, peace, and tranquility—though when you go back in history and find out that their empire building was the building of states with no rhyme or reason that are now doing worldwide jihad in countries with ethnics at war with each other—and when they, the Brits decided to dissolve their ownership, the rest of the world was left with the mess of more than a kerfuffle.
As I've noted before words and meanings have meaning to our 21st century of daily uncertainty, be it the weather or something that evades the control of a global society, and I don't know about you, but for me that makes life less than than tranquil.
Monday, December 23, 2013
Monday, December 9, 2013
the world is somnolent
This word, somnolent, has such a ringing sound that it's easy to believe this is a word of action toward matters of great importance.
Though in truth, that word is lacking any action, it's like death has come and the world is too tired to care. That the world is somnolent, and now sleep comes as the worst of suffering nears, the world is engaged in material considerations, the toys, the "bling" of the rich who have so much they are indolent, but they wake up fast enough if someone takes what they covet as theirs.
We all live in a time that is somnolent, it's a "let's kick the can down the road," and thus the world sleeps until the explosions hit the prestigious wherever they call home, then the somnolent who are reveling do sound the alarm, and it's loud enough to wake up the world.
That's when we'll have a war, but I think this time the global society will become somnolent because everyone will be blown up, and it will a time for an eternal sleep from which a somnolent world will never wake up.
I've sounded the doomsday horn, but we are now a Western civilized world that craves fantasy in our action films, literature with dragons and heroes that can surmount all obstacles, let's bring back an awakened global society that tends to its own nation by nation rebuilding, and mend our own fences before we seek to rebuild what is not ours.
The word somnolent will never signal action, it's a state that the world has to avoid.
Though in truth, that word is lacking any action, it's like death has come and the world is too tired to care. That the world is somnolent, and now sleep comes as the worst of suffering nears, the world is engaged in material considerations, the toys, the "bling" of the rich who have so much they are indolent, but they wake up fast enough if someone takes what they covet as theirs.
We all live in a time that is somnolent, it's a "let's kick the can down the road," and thus the world sleeps until the explosions hit the prestigious wherever they call home, then the somnolent who are reveling do sound the alarm, and it's loud enough to wake up the world.
That's when we'll have a war, but I think this time the global society will become somnolent because everyone will be blown up, and it will a time for an eternal sleep from which a somnolent world will never wake up.
I've sounded the doomsday horn, but we are now a Western civilized world that craves fantasy in our action films, literature with dragons and heroes that can surmount all obstacles, let's bring back an awakened global society that tends to its own nation by nation rebuilding, and mend our own fences before we seek to rebuild what is not ours.
The word somnolent will never signal action, it's a state that the world has to avoid.
Saturday, November 23, 2013
the new treaty with Iran makes me think of the word meretricious
A first in diplomacy with Iran seems to be welcomed and heartily applauded by the President of the United States and the many foreign ministers who had set their signatures to this first accord to, as the President said, keep the world safe, yet is this not a meretricious agreement, as words can phrase something to please, and yet lack the substance necessary but allow Iran to claim what were frozen funds perhaps to continue what they are doing, and Europe will lift their sanctions as they had no other alternative with no funds to advance to keep the world safe.
This meretricious treaty is perhaps superficially significant, for the meaning of this word is applied to the falsely attractive, and to what seems to be yet isn't.
Time will tell, as will history, but then the beginning of what turned out to be the German advance on a clueless world that had believed in diplomacy as a solution to a country's ambition to dominate the world had come out of yet one more meretricious treaty aimed to keep the world safe.
This meretricious treaty is perhaps superficially significant, for the meaning of this word is applied to the falsely attractive, and to what seems to be yet isn't.
Time will tell, as will history, but then the beginning of what turned out to be the German advance on a clueless world that had believed in diplomacy as a solution to a country's ambition to dominate the world had come out of yet one more meretricious treaty aimed to keep the world safe.
Sunday, November 10, 2013
another emotionless unfathomable word, ineffable
The word, ineffable seems so benign, like someone who hides who they are by putting on another cloak, a blanket of sorts that will cover the truth.
Yet, ineffable, is a description of something that we are not capable of expressing in words.
Something not to be uttered, perhaps a Judeo-Christian Biblical admonition about what can be said and referred to, in other religions
ineffable is what an interpreter determines is permissible to speak of and about.
And then another meaning of this word, ineffable, refers to something too great, powerful or beautiful to be expressed. So why is this a word?
There is no doubt that ineffable is used to note that what it refers to must not or cannot be told to others—so here is a word that puts a gag on verbal or written communication, and when you use ineffable you have to make sure that whatever you want to say cannot be said.
Ineffable is also a word that lends itself to a charade.
This word ineffable is a good word to use in this 21st century of too much discourse and too much communication. What do you think? Is this a word that you would never when you "tweet" or "text"? Perhaps this is a word that needs to be used to get some silence, then we can hear ourselves think about the issues that need thinking about.
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Yet, ineffable, is a description of something that we are not capable of expressing in words.
Something not to be uttered, perhaps a Judeo-Christian Biblical admonition about what can be said and referred to, in other religions
ineffable is what an interpreter determines is permissible to speak of and about.
And then another meaning of this word, ineffable, refers to something too great, powerful or beautiful to be expressed. So why is this a word?
There is no doubt that ineffable is used to note that what it refers to must not or cannot be told to others—so here is a word that puts a gag on verbal or written communication, and when you use ineffable you have to make sure that whatever you want to say cannot be said.
Ineffable is also a word that lends itself to a charade.
This word ineffable is a good word to use in this 21st century of too much discourse and too much communication. What do you think? Is this a word that you would never when you "tweet" or "text"? Perhaps this is a word that needs to be used to get some silence, then we can hear ourselves think about the issues that need thinking about.
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Monday, November 4, 2013
Inchoate is more than a word that lacks emotion...
I don't know about you, but I find words that I am not familiar with when I read The New York Times newspaper—it doesn't matter which section, but the journalists writing in this newspaper can be erudite and acquaint me with words that I'd like to use, but I don't.
When I write something for public consumption, I want to communicate facts plus emotions. As a writer, my need to communicate is the same whether I am communicating with fiction or about a non-fiction subject like travel, and when I'm speaking to someone, I'm not out to show them that I have a BA in English summa cum laude and my vocabulary is better than theirs.
But then I'm not a journalist employed by a major newspaper that doesn't have to dumb down articles—yet I think it's a good idea to treat readers as if all of them are highly intelligent with substantial vocabularies, rather than stupid dummies who aren't ready to tax their minds.
Though when writing a book, it's different, since a writer of books wants to sell them, and the audience pool has to be considered.
And sadly, in this 21st century the secondary collages that lack the student pool of the Ivy League Universities have to teach basic reading and math skills since the standard high school education in the US of A is no longer considered world class. But to get back to the word, inchoate, this is a word without the sounds that form an emotional punch, it's a matter-of-fact kind of word.
One meaning refers to something factually stated—imperfectly formed—yet another meaning has a sinister connotation—the suspicion that all is not well could refer to what is being said by a governmental authority, and is not the full truth.
What do you think about this word, is it a word you would use to describe someones behavior, or a way of telling someone that the real truth is being kept from you??
Let me hear from about other words you know of that lack emotion but have a deep descriptive meaning.
When I write something for public consumption, I want to communicate facts plus emotions. As a writer, my need to communicate is the same whether I am communicating with fiction or about a non-fiction subject like travel, and when I'm speaking to someone, I'm not out to show them that I have a BA in English summa cum laude and my vocabulary is better than theirs.
But then I'm not a journalist employed by a major newspaper that doesn't have to dumb down articles—yet I think it's a good idea to treat readers as if all of them are highly intelligent with substantial vocabularies, rather than stupid dummies who aren't ready to tax their minds.
Though when writing a book, it's different, since a writer of books wants to sell them, and the audience pool has to be considered.
And sadly, in this 21st century the secondary collages that lack the student pool of the Ivy League Universities have to teach basic reading and math skills since the standard high school education in the US of A is no longer considered world class. But to get back to the word, inchoate, this is a word without the sounds that form an emotional punch, it's a matter-of-fact kind of word.
One meaning refers to something factually stated—imperfectly formed—yet another meaning has a sinister connotation—the suspicion that all is not well could refer to what is being said by a governmental authority, and is not the full truth.
What do you think about this word, is it a word you would use to describe someones behavior, or a way of telling someone that the real truth is being kept from you??
Let me hear from about other words you know of that lack emotion but have a deep descriptive meaning.
Saturday, October 26, 2013
Saturday, October 19, 2013
Saturday, October 12, 2013
Saturday, October 5, 2013
Saturday, September 28, 2013
Saturday, September 21, 2013
Saturday, September 14, 2013
Sunday, September 8, 2013
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
"egregious" isn't a pleasant kind of word…
I would use "egregious" as
a derogatory description of someone's conduct, even a falsifying of what is not
true that is an "egregious" offense.
This descriptive word, "egregious," can related to a bias, perhaps in politics, or in writing about an event that is subjectively cited as an example of malfeasance, though in this 21st century of media prominence "egregious," is that which exposes what is also a subjective view of something that has taken place or will take place that is not going to bring a good result. The use of "egregious" can lend itself to scandals and actions that are damaging to a person's reputation—in politics, something of a common occurrence in our permissive cultural scheme of interpreting what is right and what may no longer be wrong, that is if measured by substance of some sort.
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The subjective use of
"egregious" lends itself to an expose about what may even be a
criminal act, the breaking a trust that is implicit, perhaps in a government
agency where breaches of the law took place.
This descriptive word, "egregious," can related to a bias, perhaps in politics, or in writing about an event that is subjectively cited as an example of malfeasance, though in this 21st century of media prominence "egregious," is that which exposes what is also a subjective view of something that has taken place or will take place that is not going to bring a good result. The use of "egregious" can lend itself to scandals and actions that are damaging to a person's reputation—in politics, something of a common occurrence in our permissive cultural scheme of interpreting what is right and what may no longer be wrong, that is if measured by substance of some sort.
I believe this way of interpreting
good and bad is an "egregious" perversion of a moral stance that is
no longer immoral in the opinion of those who set the standards for what is
good and bad.
Is it any wonder that growing up in
this 21st century is more of a confusion—there are no rules to point
toward a standard of behavior that may be considered as not
"egregious."
*to find out more about my writing and works please visit my other blogs:
http://www.nomorenotcomfortablehotels.blogspot.comand my Authors Guild maintained websites:http://www.cynthialynn.org
the "nadir" is a word that indicates…
When "nadir" is set out as
a terminology, this word indicates a celestial sphere point that is directly
opposite and vertical from an observer.
Though the use of this word,
"nadir," is a descriptive of a relationship that has gone from good
to bad, and can be downright unpleasant if the "nadir" slides to a
bottoming out, even to mean a destruction of what was built, like an industry
of some sort. Yet, a "nadir"
can be a way to indicate that something is on the way to extinction.
An example of this word,
"nadir," can also be indicative of a diminution to zero, and is best
used when a historian wants to indicate what may have occurred at a certain
point in history. The use of "nadir" can be a historian's subjective means of working in a particular slant, or the theme point to the article or book that is being written. The use of "nadir" can influence the outcome of an account of history that may be inaccurate, yet in reporting about history, a historian takes a point of view, which is permissible as the work is an account of history, which is necessarily subjective. Whereas, if a a historical account is in a textbook which is studied as part of a school curriculum, the use of "nadir" should be accurate.
*to find out more about my writing and works please visit my other blogs:
http://www.nomorenotcomfortablehotels.blogspot.comand my Authors Guild maintained websites:
http://www.cynthialynn.org
this word, "dichotomize," doesn't sound like what it means…
The simplicity of the word, "dichotomize,"
is not apparent when this word "dichotomize" is used in a sentence.
The fact is that
"dichotomize" is an easy way to say what can be a subjective
viewpoint about a particular topic, since "dichotomize" is to divide
something that can be indicative of what may not be a god result.
To divide or "dichotomize"
can be a way of eliminating classes of measurement with regard to economic
status, and then this could a way to falsely report a result of what is
measured.
I believe that when a scientific or
economic report is issued by an authority to "dichotomize" is to set
about to deceive the reader or entity that may be the recipient of what is a
deliberate intent to "dichotomize" what shouldn't be set into a
division. This word,
"dichotomize," can be a means used to diminish the importance of a
classes or groups of individuals—like a census that is not accurate, and thus
can lead to less representation for a particular group.
Again, it is with words like "dichotomize," and all words that are a means of communication which opinions and even political outcomes are subject to a subjective use of words rather than to adhere to the meaning in the English dictionary, which is an impartial arbitrator of what is at the heart of a fair, and unbiased media. As it stands in this 21st century, the opposite is what is at the heart of our means of communication, and now words can be weapons.
*to find out more about my writing and works please visit my other blogs:
http://www.nomorenotcomfortablehotels.blogspot.com
and my Authors Guild maintained websites:
http://www.cynthialynn.org
http://wordsplusmeanings.blogspot.com
the use of the word, "tautology," can be teaching…
A teacher could use this word to
help a student who is writing a paper that needs correction, as when redlined
with the word, "tautology" indicates repetition of a word or a theme.
This word, "tautology" is
descriptive too, as anyone who is a beginner at something is a
"tautology" which can be unflattering if applied to someone who
believes they are experienced.
Yet on the whole
"tautology" is not disparaging, just puzzling to anyone who has never
used this word in their vocabulary of often used words, which is to indicate a particular
thought or opinion. "Tautology" could be a good word to use when the occasion arises,
or when the need is to impress a teacher with a good command of language, and that
could inspire a better grade in a course that might be a student's best
strength.
I like words that offer a better
means of communication and adds to a writer's means to communicate thoughts and themes, the ordinary simple words can be so repetitive,
and thus a pertinent example of "tautology."
*to find out more about my writing and works please visit my other blogs:http://www.nomorenotcomfortablehotels.blogspot.com
http://www.cynthialynn.org
http://www.wordsplusmeanings.blogspot.com
this word, "apocryphal" is a dismissive…
The use of the word
"apocryphal" is opinion laden when used to identify what may or may
not be true, thus this is a 21st century "apocryphal" when
applied to a group or a political purpose.
This word when Capitalized is to indicate what may be authoritatively not so as the source of Apocrypha that has an "apocryphal" to point out, and the user of this word, "apocryphal" has an agenda that may be devious and not easily spotted by a questioning reader or listener.
Yet for some reason this word, "apocryphal" is not often used in popular speech, and when it is, this way its used is more scholarly in manner of use, which then indicates someone who is an authority that believes the authenticity of what is termed "apocryphal" is doubtful.
This word "apocryphal"
should be used more often by the media, but it isn't due to the uncommonness of
a word that few readers will bother to look up in the dictionary, perhaps it is the fact that readers tend to accept the authority of a writer if the writer has a reputation as a columinist, and even more so if it is a journalist writing an article.
*to find out more about my writing and works please
visit my other blogs:
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http://www.nomorenotcomfortablehotels.blogspot.com
and my Authors Guild maintained websites:
http://www.cynthialynn.org
http://www.nomorehotels.org
my recent fiction novel The Haunting And Paradise Taxi (print ISBN 9780615685 print and E-book Nook available at BarnesandNoble.com http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-haunting-and-paradise-taxi-cynthia-lynn/1114061302?ean=2940044602069 + E-book Smashwords Edition ISBN 9780989053600 available at Apple https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/haunting-paradise-taxi/id666549806 ; and Sony E-books
"treacly" is more than a descriptive word
The fact that a word like
"treacly" is not often used doesn't mean that this word should be put
on the dictionary list of unpopular words, "treacly" can be used to
mystify the reader of this word when it is used in a sentence.
The meaning of "treacly" can be an uncomplimentary description when
"treacly" is applied as a characterization of an individual as this
word indicates the mental determination of an individual's attachment to
something which may be too sentimental—also, to indicate the quality of
something or someone's appearance, but then "treacly" may be
mystifyingly obtuse as an indication of what may be less than good.
Though "treacly" is not a
popular word, it is definitely on my list of subjective words that are prone to
giving a hefty dose of opinion when applied to someone unkindly. I count this word as a journalist's tendency toward
a heavy hand when setting about to frame the emphasis of the article, which
would be then about the personality of the person mentioned in the article,
which casts an aspersion against this individual.
A word like "treacly" does
have a meaning and can connote what the writer has in mind, and the obscurity
of "treacly" points that out to the reader who will certainly be
encouraged to look it up.
*to find out more about my writing and works please visit my other blogs:
http://www.parismystic.tumblr.com
http://www.clarissaauthorsguild.tumblr.com
http://www.nomorenotcomfortablehotels.blogspot.com
and my Authors Guild maintained websites:
http://www.cynthialynn.org
http://www.nomorehotels.org
my recent fiction novel The Haunting And Paradise Taxi (print ISBN 9780615685 print and E-book Nook available at BarnesandNoble.com http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-haunting-and-paradise-taxi-cynthia-lynn/1114061302?ean=2940044602069 + E-book Smashwords Edition ISBN 9780989053600 available at Apple https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/haunting-paradise-taxi/id666549806 ; and Sony E-books
a word like "pleasure" can be a measure of sorts…
The "pleasure" as this
word indicates can mean a state of gratification, which is something that may
be unnecessary to life itself, but nevertheless a source of extreme happiness.
The measuring of this word,
"pleasure," can come from what someone does to achieve it, and in
this 21st century the "pleasure" principle is paramount in
the cultural scheme of things, and depending on an individual's status,
someone's "pleasure" can elevate to setting a trend.
I think that what brings about imitation
can be to the bad, as then "pleasure" can also mean excess of what is
so pleasing, and to accord "pleasure" a paramount in one's life may
lead to a result that is the opposite of "pleasure." A writer of fiction can aptly use "pleasure"
as a theme in a story about someone's lifestyle and the extremes that injur
those around that person—a non-fiction writer or journalist can use "pleasure,"
to codify use of this word in their work.
http://www.parismystic.tumblr.com
http://www.clarissaauthorsguild.tumblr.com
http://www.nomorenotcomfortablehotels.blogspot.com
and my Authors Guild maintained websites:
http://www.cynthialynn.org
http://www.nomorehotels.org
my recent fiction novel The Haunting And Paradise Taxi (print ISBN 9780615685 print and E-book Nook available at BarnesandNoble.com http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-haunting-and-paradise-taxi-cynthia-lynn/1114061302?ean=2940044602069 + E-book Smashwords Edition ISBN 9780989053600 available at Apple https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/haunting-paradise-taxi/id666549806 ; and Sony E-books
that word, "force," speaks and says volumes…
A "force" can mean a
strength that causes a change of some sort, and the word, force,"
intimates what may or may not be true.
That word, "force," can
speak of and mean another kind of strength that has to do with character and
morality, which can make this word, "force," be more than it would be
if it were capitalized to make "force" relevant to the natural world
around us that can produce weather patterns to devastate and destroy.
The other meanings can be more
hazardous when human beings are not in agreement, such as a gathering of
strength to bring about a certain desired result in a moment where there is no
agreement about a particular issue, and then a more benign meaning to indicate
that "force" is associated with a group that performs a particular
job.
Thus, this word, "force," can mean
more than it may seem to indicate, and this means a reader should determine how the use of
this word, whether by a journalist or by a writer of fiction,
nonfiction, functions in the work which uses it.
*to find out more about my writing and works please
visit my other blogs:
http://www.parismystic.tumblr.comhttp://www.clarissauthorsguild.tumblr.com
http://nomorenotcomfortablehotels.blogspot.com
and my Authors Guild maintained websites:
http://www.cynthialynn.org
http://www.nomorehotels.org
my recent fiction novel The Haunting And Paradise Taxi (print ISBN 9780615685 print and E-book Nook available at BarnesandNoble.com http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-haunting-and-paradise-taxi-cynthia-lynn/1114061302?ean=2940044602069
E-book Smashwords Edition ISBN 9780989053600 available at Apple https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/haunting-paradise-taxi/id666549806 and Sony E-books
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
"compromise" can be a word which appeals…
The effort which the word,
"compromise," brings about appeals to the conciliatory among us, and
there's nothing wrong with what happens when the meaning of this word is about
a shared concession.
Another meaning of the word,
"compromise," has to do with melding more than one different
thing—but then the word, "compromise" does also bring about a change
that may not be to the good of everyone concerned, which is often problematical
for those with strong views about a certain issue, which is then a degrading of
principles.
Nevertheless, "compromise"
is not based on a subjective view when a discussion ensues as it comes to using
this word, "compromise," as the subject of a journalistic examination
of exactly what was done to effect a "compromise." Though in fiction, an author can take
liberties with the way "compromise is used in the plot and theme of the
work.
*please visit my fiction character blogs http://www.clarissaauthorsguild.tumblr.com and http://www.parismystic.tumblr.com print
book ISBN 9780615685 available at BarnesandNoble.com/E-book Smashwords Edition ISBN
9780989053600 available at Apple /BarnesandNoble Nook/Sony/Kobo—comforttotravel@less$ blog and Authors Guild maintained website + another Authors Guild maintained website for my destination city E-book series
Monday, August 12, 2013
"leak" is a word that has a plaintive tonal…
This word, "leak," oddly
means more than to enter through an opening through some fault or mistake, a
"leak" is about letting a substance in or out, which sets the tonal
for this word.
The subjective view of this word,
"leak," is about letting something become known, and this meaning can
often bring an upheaval due to what is open that once was closed, but then a
"leak" permits something to escape that would ordinarily do so
without the "leak."
Another meaning of the word,
"leak," is to give information to a source surreptitiously, and the
media in this 21st century is a prime source for what may be hidden
or not available information—but then the use of this word becomes a source for
dispute, and brings about what may be good or bad, depending on the
interpretation of what this "leak" is all about.
In the proper context using the word, "leak," in a story is a valid journalistic effort to tell the tale of what was done to "leak," and thus how the "leak" took place, and who did it, then to state for what purpose is either quoted from the one who becomes the subject of the story, or the telling of what is known about the one who perpetrated the "leak." The subjective use of "leak" in any article is apparent when the use of supposition is part of the story. Check out how "leak" is the lead of a story which when told is an honest account of what is known, but nothing that is heresay can be part of the lead, though what may or may not be true can be presented in just that context.
*please visit my fiction character blogs by the heroine of THE HAUNTING AND PARADISE TAXI, and the ghostly Max of my recent novel The Haunting And Paradise Taxi (print ISBN 9780615685 available at Amazon.com/E-book Smashwords Edition ISBN 9780989053600 available at Apple/BarnesandNoble Nook Smashwords Edition/Sony/Kobo—my comforttotravel@less blog and my Authors Guild maintained website + my Authors Guild maintained website for my destination city E-book series
this word, "prejudice," is a manipulative one…
The use of this word,
"prejudice," belies what may not be an injury or damage from a
judgment or action.
Yet "prejudice" can be
what may be thought of as an irrational thought and action, as well as a
judgment and opinion, which I think sets this word at the top of certain news
transmissions by recognized TV channels and newspapers in articles that may
depict a subjective use of this word, "prejudice," to incite
and inflame emotions.
I believe a word like
"prejudice," connotes more of a meaning by its use in defining
impressions, which does make "prejudice" a very 21st century word
often cited during the turmoil of events that may take place seemingly
haphazardly. This word "prejudice" connotes a judgment, and if "prejudice" is used in a article that purports to be impartial, then the writer is not setting out a truthful account of what may be a headline grabbing story. The honest way a journalist uses words can be compared to the safeguards that allow someone accused of a crime to claim Miranda rights. If a journalist uses the word alleged in the context of prejudice, then be assured that this is a honestly told story of something that has occured and merited the space devoted to telling the tale.
*please visit my fiction character blogs by the heroine of THE HAUNTING AND PARADISE TAXI, and the ghostly Max of my recent novel The Haunting And Paradise Taxi (print ISBN 9780615685 available at Amazon.com/E-book Smashwords Edition ISBN 9780989053600 available at Apple/BarnesandNoble Nook Smashwords Edition/Sony/Kobo—my comforttotravel@less blog and my Authors Guild maintained website + my Authors Guild maintained website for my destination city E-book series
the word "slant" sounds opinionated…
This word "slant" is about
going in a certain direction, the meaning points exactly in that direction,
which fits into my idea of the use of writing to bring about a very subjective
view of events, which is great when used in a fiction word, but not as a journalistic story by an author who has an agenda.
The meaning of "slant"
extends this meaning which is to turn from a line or level point, and extends
to interpretation with a certain or special interest, though can be defined as
especially dishonestly distorting almost to the point of what some might
believe borders on falsifying, with use of impression or belief underlying what
is written, is not journalism.
Sadly, today what passes for
journalism is to abuse words to incorporate this use of "slant" which
now in our 21st century world is allowed with impunity—looking up the meaning of words is the best way to protect your impartiality when a volatile subject is in the media spotlight. Too many stories that make headlines are revved up with explosive subject matter. Yet when those same words are contained in impartial dictionary, and subject to the light of reality, it can be simple to determine whether or not a headline is the purpose of the story. And the use of a word that can cause emotions to cloud the truth bring attention to the story, which is an attempt toward creating a "slant."
*please visit my fiction character blogs by the heroine of THE HAUNTING AND PARADISE TAXI, Clarissa Max and the ghostly Max of my recent novel The Haunting And Paradise Taxi (print
ISBN 9780615685 available at Amazon.com/E-book Smashwords Edition ISBN
9780989053600 available at Apple/BarnesandNoble Nook Smashwords Edition/Sony/Kobo—my comforttotravel@less blog and my Authors Guild maintained website + my Authors Guild maintained website for my destination city E-book series
Sunday, August 11, 2013
the word "cracker" has many meanings but when it is capitalized yet another…
*NOTICE TO MY BLOG READERS:
this is a weekly blog about words
that I find are indicative of the 21st century use of words as
subjective and often used to obliquely as well as violently to express opinion, but for the next 3
months I will not be blogging on that weekly schedule—instead I will post 12
blog weeks at the same time, though the posts will be separate and should be read
on that basis.
In an unfortunate way, I was
included in what I believe was another person's misunderstanding about this
word, "cracker," which I have realized was an emotional and
judgmental use of the word "Cracker" applied to posting a negative review
about the Kindle E-book version of recently published novel.
The negative review for my novel was rife with an
accusation, racist, and the entire review was prominently displayed on my book's Amazon site as one of the
3 reviews readers have posted about my book.
Though I am planning a trip do read my travel related blog for more information , I was not focused on checking my book sale site for new
review posts. But this weekend I was
shocked when a friend e-mailed me with the news about a negative review of my
book that I soon realized was associated with locale of my story. The locale is set in an area of northwest
central Florida known as "Cracker country," and as well, in my cast
of characters are some "Cracker" descendants.
Yet I never dreamed or thought that anyone could take offense from the word, "Cracker," and apply the word, "racist," to my book to make conclusions that my novel is racist.
It happens that I did research about
this genuine Americana folkloric culture, and found nothing that related to my conception of plot or theme that would prompt racist accusations. Instead I found that these were hard working settlers
of the Florida swamp lands that cultivated a citrus industry which thrived, grew
and expanded throughout Florida. They
also planted ancient oak trees with large overreaching branches that my heroine
found were sheltering and protective against a world that had been hostile and unforgiving. Additionally, the "Crackers" were
avid church goers who were suspicious of strangers and could be zealots when it
came to accessing the moral standards of those they called "sinners."
All of this was applied to a plot that
featured a "big city" gal who is pink slipped out of a reporting career. She lands serendipitously in an
alien culture, then finds that women are relegated to inferior jobs in this
patriarchal town called Citrusville where men ruled the roost, a subplot theme
for my book.
This critique of "racist"
stung me, but then I understood that my blog about words was very appropriate
for a discussion about the dictionary meaning of this word,
"cracker," and what a word means, versus the emotional and obviously
gut wrenching reaction to the word, "Cracker" even when capitalized.
This the meaning of "cracker,"
according to the Merrium Webster Online
Dictionary, is a crackling or snapping noise, a dry crispy baked product,
and also a usually disparaging: a poor Southern white, and if capitalized (as I
used the Cracker word in my book) a native or resident of Florida or Georgia, a
nickname—yet the benign meaning and those that may have another emotional
reaction, says volumes about the 21st century aversion to certain
words with the depth of an emotional reaction that can be accusatory and even
hurtful to all concerned.
I urged the writer of the review of
my book, which referred to the book as "racist" and in which the reviewer
(purchaser of the E-book Kindle) wondered how such a book could be published,
to please read my blog about words. I
hope she will make a comment about her gut wrenching reaction to the use of a
word which was as defined by the dictionary "capitalized" and applied
as a reference to the locale of the story and some of the cast of characters,
especially those who congregated at Ed's Diner. I also encouraged this reviewer to give my
book a reread. The reviewer did note
that the book was interesting, that is until that word, Cracker," was used in my book, and I am sure that this reviewer will be interested in my subplot about women who want equality not only in the workplace.
My novel's heroine, Clarissa Max discovered
how to survive as a hack freelance writer, and tells the story of a haunting by
the ghostly Max who refuses to be dead and seeks to find her destiny lost by
playing mind games that bring about a change in direction for the heroine, who
tells her story about finding one door closed and discovering another door open to another
kind of life.
*my recent novel The Haunting And Paradise Taxi (print
ISBN 9780615685 available at Amazon.com/E-book Smashwords Edition ISBN
9780989053600 available at Apple/BarnesandNoble Nook/Sony/Kobo—blog by the ghostly Max who is haunting Clarissa and blog by heroine, Clarissa Max + my travel blog with the premise of comforttotravel@less$.
my AuthorsGuild maintained website and my new Authors Guild maintained E-book destination city series website .
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
hard is a nasty word...
This blog about Words replaces the opinionated blog, momma don't got no clothes, that I had to delete, because I have another blog comforttotravel@less$ , and, Google's blogger policy mandates a new Google e-mail account for each blog. So, now I've opened a new gmail account, and now, I'm once again trying to blog about words, and I am giving my blog audience the same "momma don't got no clothes" opinionated viewpoint about the words that I pick to talk about.
This word, "hard," illustrates the difficulty I had navigating Goggle's "nerdy" rule policy—to this writer who uses the left side of her brain these Google powers lack logic, yet they utilize what I like to call the "nerdy" right side of the brain, which has a logic all its own. Regardless, the "nerdy" logical isn't logical to my left side creative brain.
Another meaning for this nasty word, "hard," is, not easily penetrated and not yielding—other meanings include the various expressions used with hard, for instance, liquor, salts, etc. The word, "hard," also indicates firmness, which could have a punitive result, and that is why I think the word, "hard," is a nasty word.
Authors Guild maintained website for all my creative works
Authors Guild maintained website for my E-book destination cities travel guides
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