The Art of Words

Too, too devastating

2013-06-18T19:42:00.000+01:00

More tautology. If you tell us how much destruction was caused by the flood, tornado or tsunami, there's no need to say it was "devastating". Every tree has been stripped of its leaves, after a devastating tornado in April 2011. (Telegraph March 2012)There was a catastrophic epidemic that killed 20,000 in Palermo alone. The catastrophic fire of 1917, which razed much of the city… (Spectator Nov

Tautology V

2013-06-16T23:28:00.003+01:00

At a decisive crossroads Tautology combined together in one single place, with a few extra additions. (See what I did there?) Ditch repetitive phrases like transformational change/new innovation/worldwide global firm, says @goodcopybadcopy. (And there's no need to tell us that conflicts are brutal, or tragedies terrible.)13 different sizes (if two of them were the same as each other, you’d

Yet More 70s Decor

2013-06-08T23:20:00.000+01:00

Wearing a tweed solar topee and a denim smock, you looked round your open plan living space and admired the: pottery owls (They’re back.) basketwork wallpaper in black and gold decoy ducks enamel advertising sign East European folk art Gingham (in brown, green and yellow) crocheted fungi mushroom guest towels brass bedstead stripped pine kitchen cream tiles decorated with tureens, mushrooms,

Badly Dressed Boy II

2013-06-08T22:47:00.000+01:00

1. trousers belted under a beer belly 2. sleeveless jersey3. tight trousers on older men 4. short-sleeved clerical shirt5. There is an upper age limit for shorts.6. long hair with a suit7. grey loafers8. shortie overcoat9. white nylon turtlenecks worn with sidewhiskers (late 60s)10. frilly evening shirt with velvet bow tie (late 60s)11. bottomless glassesMore fashion faux-pas here.

Buzz Words of 2013, First Instalment

2013-05-31T20:48:00.001+01:00

onesie (around 2012 but now everywhere in tones of horror) trust (Do you trust the BBC? Do we trust teachers? Can teachers teach if they don’t feel trusted?) brunt annoyingly overused week of Jan 1. (What is a brunt?) storyteller Something to do with selling and marketing, rather than Hansel and Gretel. "At 25, I was hired as a storyteller and media consultant for xxxx, exploring new ways to

Why Gay Marriage Is Wrong Part II

2013-05-31T09:57:00.002+01:00

[Former Archbishop of Canterbury] Lord Carey claims equal marriage opens door to polygamy and marrying your siblings. (@OwenJones84, May 31 2013) Earlier he said that we shouldn’t have equal marriage because some ethnic minorities are homophobic. (May 2013) “A lot of people are concerned marriage is being redefined, and they don’t think the Government should get involved. It is already a

Haiku 4

2013-05-30T19:19:00.001+01:00

I am everywhere, in the ocean which is my blood, in the hills which are my bones. August Strindberg A squirrel sits in a tree in Kelvingrove park, eating a Tunnock's teacake. @Greebobek/Bek Hobbes It's hello cat, but is it goodbye fundamentally flawed extension? Cowboy Trap 2013-05-28 If anyone spots the remains of a Peppa Pig cake in the Buckinghamshire area...it's ours. Btw does anyone

Music Genres

2013-05-24T18:28:00.002+01:00

Who listens to Everything but the Girl? Music for for social workers, teachers, probation officers and other disappointed minor functionaries of the state. (Anon) acid punk acid rock acid skiffle all the -cores: hardcore, grindcore, etc ambient lounge/chill apocalyptic folk-pop (@VictorianLondon) atmospheric gothic metal Balkan bangin' bootie breakhop chillwave dark ambient darkwave

Reasons to Be Cheerful 6

2013-05-23T12:08:00.000+01:00

I needed a man's signature in 1968 to take out a hire purchase agreement for a fridge, even though I was in a good permanent job. My boss was kind enough to help. (Friend HC writes) Interesting history fact about #Pope Francis' installation mass: for 1st time since Great Schism of 1054 leader of Orthodox Church is there. (‏@bensimmoneau) 1826 University College London founded It was the

Yet More Neologisms

2013-05-13T22:21:00.003+01:00

Nobody can write proper English any more and Americanisms are taking over and children should rote-learn grammar and – while people can think up locutions this vivid, there's no need to panic. While the rooms pay homage to every benighted cliché of postmodern kitsch, the bathrooms are strictly Travelodge. The hotel's crashing suggestiveness is less of a nudge and a wink than a right hook

Clichés

2013-05-12T20:27:00.001+01:00

The population has ballooned balloon: UKIP leaflet says that the local population has been "ballooning over the last decade". Nonsense. I've been once, and that was in Egypt. (Lord Beestonia/‏@Beeestonia, 28 April 2013) Leafing through some ancient magazines (How old does something be before you "leaf" through it rather than "flicking"? Got to be at least 20 years, I think.)

Outdated Slang IV

2013-05-12T18:01:00.002+01:00

Ecommerce will never work When did people stop saying... Any joy? canalise (popular 40s to 1960, then steep decline)cheerio (peaked 30s) destructive/constructive (constructive peaked 20s to 50s. Constructive criticism has been popular since the 30s.)Ecommerce will never work.for yonks (early 70s) from here on infull of the joys of spring (peaked 1900) give it up as a bad job (peaked 30s)

Inspirational Quotes No. 36

2013-05-06T21:03:00.001+01:00

Try not to be puneengy. I wish I'd known that. Do not be overly needy, do not stalk or bombard with phone calls or gifts, but do be warm and responsive and always interested in what interests your guy. (Amazon reviewer) I think the closest word would be pushy? or maybe clingy? needy? LOL. How bout all of them rolled together: puneengy. (xanga.com) Like most hysterics, her trump card is

Art Shows in London, Chichester and Paris

2013-04-29T22:46:00.000+01:00

Wellcome Collection, London Souzou: Outsider Art from JapanTo 30 June The 46 artists are residents and attendees of social welfare institutions across the main island of Honshu, and their work includes ceramics, textiles, paintings, sculpture and drawings. Musée d'Orsay, ParisThe Angel of the Odd (L’Ange du Bizarre). Dark Romanticism from Goya to Max ErnstTo 9 JuneArt inspired by 18th

Inspirational Quotes No. 35

2013-04-29T17:17:00.000+01:00

You still have to be quite brave not to do the stuff that everyone else does. (Jenny Éclair March 2013 Does she think that's ever going to change?) A large majority of respondents (83%) of the 2013 Guardian Adventures Happiness Survey said travel is very important to their happiness. In fact, in terms of making people happy travel was deemed more important than marriage and having a baby. (

Guys! It's 2013!

2013-04-24T17:22:00.000+01:00

So the future must have arrived. Do we become modern just because time passes? Is there a deadline for legalising equal marriage, ending racial abuse and learning grammar? If by “become modern” people mean “fulfill the liberal agenda”, it doesn’t just happen by itself – we have to do something about it. Guys! It’ll be 2014 soon! And we expect nothing less than gender equality – and hoverboards.

Inspirational Quotes Number 34

2013-04-23T23:23:00.001+01:00

Make space in your life and someone will fill it, when you're ready you'll give out the right vibes, you'll find someone when you're not looking - how long do you run the programme for? And can we see earlier results?She was in her early forties, so well within the bracket of maybe a bad "starter marriage", or a long relationship with a guy who wouldn't commit. (28dateslater.blogspot.com)Myy

Howlers Part 8

2013-04-23T17:02:00.003+01:00

An evil dilator mantle for mantel: In the name of curiosity, family heirlooms were dug out of closets and taken off the mantle for a night of discovery of the monetary value of antique items. (A mantle is a cloak; a mantel is a shelf above a fireplace.) marred for dogged: Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a debilitating illness that affects many people. It has been marred by controversy… (

Howlers Part 7

2013-04-23T16:43:00.002+01:00

I like Noah’s Arc and Occam’s laser (that’s ark and razor.) And some howlers are improvements:ballontine: galantine (menu)bazaar claims: bizarrebombfire: bonfiredefiantly: definitely dimaontee: diamanté (has many spellings, like cummerbund) feamle: femaleflureoscence for fluorescence (Daily Mail Sept 2011)fravorite: This is my persinal fravorite. (Amazon review of The Simpsons Sing the Blues)

Overheards III

2013-04-23T11:06:00.000+01:00

Look, Oscar, musical instruments! (Stoke Newington) On the 73: Kieran, you’re crying off your pirate makeup! (Actually I think it was “messing up”. ) What do you want for lunch, Phoenix? (Stoke Newington. Or it might have been "Felix".) In Stoke Newington, mother to child: We're going to have avocado, tomato and honey on toast for lunch! Child: Ooooooh! (Not absolutely sure about the honey

Junk Statistics? Part 2

2013-04-19T18:52:00.001+01:00

More common than Tories in Scotland These are not made up, unlike 81% of statistics. (Old joke.) ‏ #TUC poll 2012: on average people think 41% of Welfare budget goes to unemployed (truth - 3%) and fraud rate is 27% (truth 0. 7%) Tell all! (@GlenysKinnock, 7 Apr 2013 ) The differences between what people think about the welfare state and its reality are very striking. They believe that 41

Why Gay Marriage Is Wrong

2013-04-18T10:40:00.003+01:00

People come out with many arguments against gay marriage. It will lead to violence, it will weaken the social order, it will be divisive, it will upset people, it attacks religious freedom, it undermines the cornerstone of society, it threatens world peace. It "erodes" a lot of things, such as the rights of parents and churchgoers, our culture, morality, marital norms, the traditional

Whatever Happened To...? Part 20

2013-04-15T21:28:00.003+01:00

Ikebana alphabetti spaghettibeaded car-seat covers (80s)Body Mist (Weak scent that you sprayed all over your body. People thought it would do instead of deodorant.) books that told you what your doodles meant combinations (became onesies) couch-arm ashtrays in the shape of a saddle (with stirrups) counterculture crinoline lady doll to cover your spare loo roll (laughed off the stage)

More Hyperbole, Overstatement and Catastrophising

2013-04-13T19:10:00.000+01:00

Obscene earrings Catastrophising - predicting dire consequences and generally screaming before you're hurt. All women hate their bodies: Some women think they’re a bit overweight. We’re living in a police state: I’m afraid that if the government keeps chipping away at our civil liberties we’ll end up in a police state. All you need is confidence: It's a good idea to have some confidence.

More Confusibles

2013-04-12T12:58:00.000+01:00

Do you get confused between amaranth, nenuphar, asphodel and nephilim? I know I do. And even poets are bewildered. Amaranth is the flower that never fades, also known as love-lies-bleeding. (The leaves and seeds can be eaten.)A nenuphar is a waterlily.Asphodel is a flower found in the fields of Elysium, a paradise for the righteous dead according to Greek mythology.Ambrosia, according to the