Apr 01 2010
For most, optimists are people who always see the proverbial glass as half-full. In truth, however, optimism is not a passive way of looking at life – it is an active, daily choice. Read on to learn about the word, ‘optimism’ and how to apply it to your own life. The dictionary definition of optimism …
Mar 25 2010
What kind of a name is “ampersand,” anyway? Where did this funky symbol come from? Why does it mean, “and,” and where is it still used? All these questions and more are here for the and-swering. (pun intended) The ampersand as a symbol comes rather directly from the Latin et, meaning “and.” In fact, the …
Mar 24 2010
My Top 20 signs you’re a writer. You know you’re a writer if: proofreading… by monsterpants 20. You settle down for some light reading, and your friend asks you what subject you’re studying for. 19. You feel the same way about a cracked book spine as you do about a cracked Venetian vase (despite the …
Mar 18 2010
Why, you little… Ever felt like you could say more by not finishing your sentence? Sometimes silence speaks volumes. There is a word for everything, and that includes the art of not using words – welcome to aposiopesis. Enjoy the silence by Könrad Coming from the Classical Greek, aposiopesis means literally, “becoming silent.” In English, …
Mar 16 2010
In the beginning, communication was hindered by distance. Now, all that stands in the way of universal communication is language. As computers and their programs grow faster and smarter, even this barrier is falling. Join me as we take a brief snapshot of the budding industry of real-time translation. Online translation went mainstream (in the …
Mar 12 2010
It’s already annoying enough dealing with the Bluetooth People. You know the ones – talking to thin air, sometimes even right at you (ugh), while they’re on the phone. But that’s nothing compared to what’s coming: people having a full phone conversation by silently moving their mouths. Yes, it’s being developed, and here are the …
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