Earplugs for sale

There’s something troubling about the fact that Virgin Megastore has earplugs for sale at their listening posts which, incidentally, play music way too loud on headphones.

Cash or credit?

Another British (?) peculiarity: you can pay with a credit card at most of the charity shops (think kirpputori) but newsagents seem to only accept cash.

Word 31: Aplomb

Every once in a while a game comes along that really breaks the mould. The role-playing action-adventure Primal achieves this with some aplomb.

aplomb (n) : great coolness and composure under strain; ”keep your cool” [syn: assuredness, cool, poise, sang-froid, self-possession] – source: Play (The Times) April 19–25 2003, p. 25

Word 30: Sartorial

Lindsey Hilsum’s sartorial style is not the only impressive thing about her excellent war reports.

sartorial (adj) 1: of or relating to the sartorius muscle 2: of or relating to a tailor or to tailoring – source: The Guardian 19.4.2003, p. 19

Language shock

Well it had to happen sooner or later. Friday was the first day I unexpectedly heard someone speaking Finnish. The feeling is really weird, a bit like being suddenly woken up in the middle of a dream. And it’s not that I wouldn’t hear Finnish spoken daily, cos I do (Sonja’s here as well, remember). It takes a minute to recognize the language but you can’t help noticing. I guess it’s caused by the same part of the brain that’s responsible for the cocktail party phenomenon, cos it only works with my native language. Not once have I felt surprised hearing someone speak English or whatever in Finland but this way round it’s a real shock.

Word 29: Surreptitious

Virtually all the unions were opposed, too, some openly, others in surreptitious ways, knowing their position was morally untenable.

surreptitious (adj) 1: marked by quiet and caution and secrecy; taking pains to avoid being observed; [syn: furtive, lurking, skulking, sneak(a), sneaky, stealthy] 2: conducted with or marked by hidden aims or methods – source: Hard Work p. 232

Studies really really over now

I just turned in the last two essays, a mere week late. The reception was better than I’d hoped for! So now I’m just keeping my fingers crossed and indulging myself in some serious slacking.

Word 28: Sine qua non

Artists and labels put out records whenever they felt like it, and hit singles – the sine qua non of album success today – were optional.

sine qua non (n) : a prerequisite [syn: essential condition] – source: The Sunday Times Magazine Feb 16, 2003, p. 28

Word 7: Itinerant

Itinerant fruit-pickers from the north, hippies and many a war veteran – of Korea, Vietnam, even the Second World War – all of whom were attracted by the free parking and the clement winters.

itinerant (adj) : Passing or traveling about a country; going or preaching on a circuit; wandering; not settled; as, an itinerant preacher; an itinerant peddler – source: Observer Magazine 23.3.2003, p. 25

Word 27: Supererogotary

For our purposes, the earthquake of 1971 was supererogotary, unnecessary, gilding the lily, as Hollywood has always been wont to die.

supererogatory (adj) : more than is needed, desired, or required – source: Easy Riders, Raging Bulls, p. 14

A Heartbreaking ∞ of Staggering Genius

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