Things I learned while looking up other things, 2021.8.11
Dear friends,
I talk about this a LOT (uh, as in the very last instance of this 'sletter), but (again) one of my favorite feelings in the entire world is finding that word. I am firmly of the belief that there is a word (or a set phrase, I'm not some kind of no-spaces lexical absolutist) out there for every possible referent. (And that if there isn't an extant word, one can certainly be coined.)
But it's still wonderful to find one of those words. That shock of recognition! (I think everyone feels this to some extent, or we wouldn't take such pleasure in sharing words like 'tsundoku', or 'defenestration', or 'petrichor'.)
Last week I found 'epexegesis'. Ironically, I spend quite a lot of my time searching for instances of epexegesis—where an obscure word or reference is immediately explained, in context, as I am doing RIGHT NOW—but somehow had never come across this word before! No matter, I have embraced it now and shall never give it up.
Other joyful things (as we sure could use some lately):
You really don't expect Saussurean references in Marvel movies (idk, maybe you do now?) but The Suicide Squad had this delightful interaction. (Also referenced in the first paragraph of this Atlantic piece in case the fickle YouTube algorithm removes that link.) The rest of the movie can only be described as 'adorably gory'?
Tonight is the first night of the Perseid meteor shower! If you're in a place with too much light pollution to really see them, you can watch a livestream (of course).
Supposedly, 'Max Ernst put an ax beside his sculpture to be used by the visitors “in case they did not like the object".' (Other versions of this story seem to say that visitors were 'invited' to destroy the art, as catharsis.)
Tomorrow is the birthday (observed) of S. R. Ranganathan, which is also National Librarian Day in India.
The guy who debunked the existence of the unicorn and also that lemmings were spontaneously generated by the air ("Where did all these lemmings come from? Oh, it's an atmospheric phenomenon.") also had a pet auk, and his drawing of it is the only one known to have been done from life.
And lastly, one of the first very good boys. (15/10)
Stay well!
Erin
I talk about this a LOT (uh, as in the very last instance of this 'sletter), but (again) one of my favorite feelings in the entire world is finding that word. I am firmly of the belief that there is a word (or a set phrase, I'm not some kind of no-spaces lexical absolutist) out there for every possible referent. (And that if there isn't an extant word, one can certainly be coined.)
But it's still wonderful to find one of those words. That shock of recognition! (I think everyone feels this to some extent, or we wouldn't take such pleasure in sharing words like 'tsundoku', or 'defenestration', or 'petrichor'.)
Last week I found 'epexegesis'. Ironically, I spend quite a lot of my time searching for instances of epexegesis—where an obscure word or reference is immediately explained, in context, as I am doing RIGHT NOW—but somehow had never come across this word before! No matter, I have embraced it now and shall never give it up.
Other joyful things (as we sure could use some lately):
You really don't expect Saussurean references in Marvel movies (idk, maybe you do now?) but The Suicide Squad had this delightful interaction. (Also referenced in the first paragraph of this Atlantic piece in case the fickle YouTube algorithm removes that link.) The rest of the movie can only be described as 'adorably gory'?
Tonight is the first night of the Perseid meteor shower! If you're in a place with too much light pollution to really see them, you can watch a livestream (of course).
Supposedly, 'Max Ernst put an ax beside his sculpture to be used by the visitors “in case they did not like the object".' (Other versions of this story seem to say that visitors were 'invited' to destroy the art, as catharsis.)
Tomorrow is the birthday (observed) of S. R. Ranganathan, which is also National Librarian Day in India.
The guy who debunked the existence of the unicorn and also that lemmings were spontaneously generated by the air ("Where did all these lemmings come from? Oh, it's an atmospheric phenomenon.") also had a pet auk, and his drawing of it is the only one known to have been done from life.
And lastly, one of the first very good boys. (15/10)
Stay well!
Erin
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