Aug. 24th, 2007

i want there to be a noun form for "sardonic." in fact, i'd be even happier if there were at least three: one to name a sardonic person (i know, but "smartass" doesn't quite cover it); one to name a specific sardonic artifact (whether textual, spoken, or acted), in the spirit of "oh, that play? it's a satire."; and one to name the state of being, speaking, or acting sardonic itself. (the latter two could be the same word, much like "satire" serves similarly dual roles, while we have "satirist" to refer to the person who produces satire.) i even looked up "sardonic" on dictionary.com, to see if there might exist some archaic noun form of which i have been persistently ignorant. nope. nada. here's what the experts say:

sar·don·ic: characterized by bitter or scornful derision; mocking; cynical; sneering: a sardonic grin.

ok, yup, glad to know i've had the right definition in my head all these years... but wait, what's this?

[Origin: 1630–40; alter. of earlier sardonian (influenced by F sardonique) < L sardoni(us) (< Gk sardónios of Sardinia) + -an; alluding to a Sardinian plant which when eaten was supposed to produce convulsive laughter ending in death] (emphasis added)

how cool is that? a plant. you eat it. you laugh convulsively. and then you die. (has jack kevorkian heard about this?)

in other news, i'm completely smitten with [livejournal.com profile] glaucon's kitty, iphigeneia. she's very saucy, with sleek black fur, and she likes to sit on my lap and purr while i'm reading. it's kinda like having a pet again, except i don't have to scoop her poop because she's not actually "mine." win-win!
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RWPM

Aug. 24th, 2007 09:48 am
arguchik: (Default)
READING: finishing up gibson's spook country this morning, a review copy of which was thoughtfully procured for me by [livejournal.com profile] bcstillman. i like it...though i don't have a lot more to say about it than that. i'm working with foucault's stuff on biopower today, so i have a bunch of his books propped open all over my desk. i don't feel like listing them all, and i'm not reading them in the usual sense of that word, so much as mining very specific sections of them for the concepts i need, and for pithy, quotable passages.

WEARING: short-ish tan cargo pants and a black knit top that's vaguely polo-ish, only sexier (imo). i gather from the tag that it was manufactured by/for mossimo, though i bought it for $3 at a thrift store on capitol hill (the one in seattle, not the one that hides cheney's bunker).

PLANNING: tonight, helping my friend L celebrate the end of her summer job and her impending return to law school, where she will complete her third and final year. yay, her! tomorrow...much remains unsettled, but i want to stop by [livejournal.com profile] maeveh's housewarming party. i have to email her for the address. there is also talk of going to the sculpture garden with [livejournal.com profile] glaucon and [livejournal.com profile] evernanon, which i would very much like to do. i've been meaning to go look at it, be in it, etc. sunday, who knows? i'll be up to my usual shenanigans, no doubt. perhaps i'll invent a new shenanigan. monday i'm taking a train to portland!!! where i will see my friend tim, whom i haven't seen in ages!!! and attend the bodyworlds exhibit with him!!! i'm very excited about all of this!!! i hope you can tell!!!

MAPPING: so [livejournal.com profile] beneluxboy, who's on my friends list and who makes infrequent but thought-provoking and interesting posts, told me about this LJ "map your friends list" thing. here's the info:

I'm trying to get all my Livejournal friends' locations plotted on a map - please add your location starting with this form.
Username:
(Then get your friends to!)


now you, too, can put yourself on a map. my map. if you dare. bwaaaahahahaha!
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sorry to post so much today. if you're hipper about the youtubes than i (which wouldn't be saying much), you've probably already seen this, but it's really funny.

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