Diary of a Word Nerd

Vocab for Donald Trump: Bloviating Megalomaniac

Posted on August 26, 2015 by Julia Tomiak / 12 Comments

I usually avoid political discussion, but my husband and I heard such a colorful description of Donald Trump last week that I had to share it here. Actually, Hubby looked it up first! I’m so proud.

If you’re interested in learning new and interesting words, join the Wondrous Words Wednesday meme with Kathy of Bermuda Onion. Comment on words you find there, and add your own post to the mix. It’s fun. And nerdy.

In an August 20, 2015 NPR story on Donald Trump’s immigration plan, Mark Krikoria, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, said that Trump’s immigration policy was the most thorough of all the GOP candidates next to Marco Rubio’s plan. He also said, that although he favors strict immigration law, he’s no fan of Trump:

I mean, look, he’s a bloviating megalomaniac. But he has, in fact, made a significant contribution to the immigration debate.

I know what a megalomaniac is, but “bloviating” intrigued me.

bloviate \’blō- vē-āt\ verb, perhaps an irregular form of “blow”
To speak or write verbosely or windily

megalomaniac \me-gə-lō-ˈmā-nē- ak\ noun
One who suffers from a mental disorder marked by feelings of unlimited importance and power

Word Nerd Workout

Oh boy, there are so many wordy things we could do here. Can you name other megalomaniacs? Or how about a synonym for bloviate? Hint: see my post on loquacious. 😉 Have fun with this one!
An easy choice for megalomaniac: Adolf Hitler. Let’s hope we don’t see any other megalomaniacs rise to power any time soon.

By the way, under the entry for megalomaniac on the Merriam-Webster site, most people state that they looked up megalomania because of Donald Trump.

Don’t forget to visit Kathy’s site for more interesting words.

Thanks for getting nerdy with me today!

Improving grammar/Improving vocabulary/Words and Technology

Why You Shouldn’t Bother With Proofreading

Posted on August 21, 2015 by Julia Tomiak / 9 Comments

Lately I’ve noticed a troublesome trend: people aren’t proofreading much anymore. From emails to, heaven forbid, newsletters from school, I keep finding misspellings and typos. Apparently, the fine art of proofreading is losing favor in our culture. Here are five reasons why you shouldn’t waste your time proofreading either.

Reasons to NOT Proofread

You are perfect. You don’t make mistakes, so you don’t need to check your work. ‘Nuff said.
Other people have more time than you and won’t mind taking a few extra minutes to translate your confusing prose. You sent a reminder for a meeting on Tuesday October 3, when the 3rd is actually a Wednesday? No worries. Everyone loves a mystery.
Blame it on technology with a disclaimer at the end of all of your correspondence. Something like “please excuse any auto correct errors.” This will show that you’re aware of the mistakes in your writing, just unwilling to make the effort to fix them. That will impress your readers.
Important people like potential employers, donors, or clients will overlook your lack of attention to detail when you request a job, money, or their business. Hey, people these days are generous. They don’t care about your work ethic or focus on professionalism. They just need to know how awesome you are.
You can better spend your time doing things like watching NetFlix or checking Instagram. We’ve all got to prioritize.

Can you think of any other reasons why people should (not) proofread? Sarcastic responses welcome.

Thank you to Dana at Kiss My List for inspiring this piece with her blog post Ten Posts I Would Never Write and to the wickedly sarcastic mama who wrote this genius letter to her kids.

And, if you don’t like the satirical, please see this article on why sarcasm is good for you.

Thanks for joining in the jabs!

Improving vocabulary

Vocab from The Forgotten Garden: Antipodean

Posted on August 19, 2015 by Julia Tomiak / 9 Comments

Do you like to learn new words? You’re in the right place! For Wondrous Words Wednesday, readers share words they’ve learned from books. Join the fun with Kathy at her Bermuda Onion blog.

I’m hoping to finish The Forgotten Garden for book club this week. Kate Morton fills her novel with rich prose, as well as a few words that require visits to Webster’s. Here’s a quote:

It was one of those desperate antipodean spells where the days seem strung together with no gaps between.

Antipodean \aen tip ǝ ‘di ǝn\ adjective from the Greek antipodes, literally meaning with the feet opposite

Situated at opposite sides of the earth
Diametrically opposed
Of or related to Australia or New Zealand

I’m guessing Morton meant the last meaning in this sentence, as her story starts in Australia.

Word Nerd Workout

Can you think of a synonym for antipodean? I’m suggesting contrary. Your turn, and don’t forget to visit Kathy’s site to learn more interesting words.

Thanks for getting nerdy with me today!

Julia

Awesome Young Adult Books/Favorite Authors/How to encourage reading/Recommended kid lit

Four Book Recommendations from a Literary Festival

Posted on August 14, 2015 by Julia Tomiak / 4 Comments

One recent summer Saturday, I dragged my children to the Radford Reads Literary Festival. As with any worthwhile adventure, a few things surprised us.

When we pulled up to the festival, the first thing we saw was a large sign for Sno Cones. My daughter voiced my thoughts: “Are you kidding me? We’re at a literary festival and they can’t spell snow?” Turns out, Sno Cone is a trade name, like Kleenex or Kool Aid. So, in the name of capitalism, we must accept creative spelling. (Yeah, it makes me twitch too.)
Can you see Darth Paper or Princess Label Maker? I can.

After my last experience at an author event, I wanted to arrive early to see successful kidlit authors Tom Angleberger (Origami Yoda series) and CeCe Bell (El Deafo). However, when Tom and CeCe set up to present, the tent cleared out. I was shocked! Origami Yoda is a best-selling series, and El Deafo won the Newberry and the Eisner Awards this year. Tom and CeCe (who happen to be married) were excellent speakers, despite the small crowd. Tom entertained us with his humorous drawings and quick wit, and CeCe sweetly shared how difficult it was to live with a disability as a child.
My kids loved it! Even when we sat through a panel discussion on deep topics, like death, debilitating illness, and the struggles of aging. My children listened, not one electronic device in sight, while Dick Wall shared the touching life lessons he and his wife learned during her struggle with breast cancer and the daunting task of writing her memoir. Carol Wall died last year, so Dick is on tour now, promoting her story. I worried that the kids would find these discussions disturbing or boring, but they were fascinated (except for the 8 year old; I kept him happy with a Sno Cone).

Here are some book suggestions, inspired by the festival.

Poop Fountain, book #1 of The QwikPick Papers, Tom Angleberger, middle grade fiction. My kids loved the Origami Yoda books, and Fountain leads off another series filled with geeky characters and a good bit of potty humor. Tom told us at his presentation that he was the weirdest kid at his middle school. (Don’t we all feel that way in middle school? ), and his characters hilariously reflect his experiences. His books include tons of illustrations to break up the text, so they’re great for middle grade readers, especially those a bit reluctant to read.
CeCe Bell explains how hard it was to tell people that she was deaf.

El Deafo, CeCe Bell, middle grade fiction. CeCe lost her hearing as a young child, and her graphic novel uses humor and honesty to describe how hard it is to be different. A great read for encouraging empathy.
Mr. Owita’s Guide to Gardening, Carol Wall, memoir When Carol and Dick Wall moved to Roanoke, they hired an African man to take care of their garden. He ended up teaching them about so much more than plants. I can’t wait to read this book. Here’s a great piece of wisdom from Mr. Owita:

The ground in winter holds a thousand lovely secrets.

The Last Order, Angela Caldwell, YA Fantasy. I learned about the Radford Reads Literary Festival through my new-found writing friend Angela. I must admit, I haven’t read Order yet, but the reviews on Goodreads enthusiastically recommend The Last Order for it’s gripping plot and characterization. The premise: A strong, fiercely driven girl must solve a mystery and save her village in this adventure set in medieval times. Sounds great to me! This cover is gorgeous.

Have you ever been to a literary festival? What did you learn? Got any good books to share?

Improving vocabulary

What Does Fecund Mean?

Posted on August 12, 2015 by Julia Tomiak / 11 Comments

My daughter told me the other day that I was a slow reader. This from the girl who has spent many hours this summer lounging on her bed consuming novels. I’m not unhappy about her extensive time spent reading. Just jealous.

I had to defend my reading rep. “I’m actually a fast reader. I just don’t have time to read because of” I circled my arm, indicating all my offspring in the minivan “you people.”

Maybe one day this week I won’t do anything (no cleaning, chauffeuring, or dinner prep) but read. I have a 550 page novel to finish before book club next Tuesday. It could be nice. If I hadn’t been so fecund in my 30s, perhaps, dear daughter, I’d have more time to read.

Which leads me to my wondrous word for today. If you like learning new words, join Kathy’s Wondrous Words Wednesday meme. Bloggers share words from their reading or just interesting ones they’ve found.

My word comes from The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton, the 550 page whopper I mentioned above. It’s part mystery, part historical fiction, part fairy tale. So far, at page 297, an enjoyable story.

I came across fecund in this sentence and felt I should know it:

The smell was the first thing to hit her, damp and fecund, and rich with animal droppings.

Fecund /’fe-kǝnd/ adj, from the Latin fecundus, fruitful

Fruitful in offspring or vegetation
Intellectually productive or inventive to a marked degree

Yes, this mother of four should definitely know this word.

Word Nerd Workout

Can you name a synonym for fecund? (besides fruitful) Join in the Wondrous Words Wednesday fun. Don’t forget to visit Kathy’s site to learn more interesting words.

Thanks for getting nerdy with me!

Julia

Improving vocabulary

What’s an IPA?

Posted on August 7, 2015 by Julia Tomiak / 5 Comments

It’s a little nutty around here. School starts next week, so we’re trying to pack in trips to the beach, lake, and water park. We met the teachers yesterday and realized we needed two inch binders not one inch, so back to Staples we go. (Just so you know, the school posted the need for one inch binders on its website!) We’re hosting two parties this weekend, both with the “It’s NOT the end of Summer!” theme, even though my kids start classes August 11.

Needless to say, I have neglected my writing time.

So today’s post reflects my life: it will be brief and about beer.

Honestly, I don’t like beer. People told me I would acquire the taste in college, but I didn’t. (Even at a nationally ranked party school like UVA.) But my husband enjoys a beer while he grills or after mowing. Although watered down American has been his top choice, lately he’s been experimenting. He’s learned he does NOT like IPAs. And of course, I had to ask

What does IPA stand for?

He knew: India Pale Ale.

But here’s the funny part: It’s British beer. Seems like a mystery to me. Word nerd to the rescue!

The history behind India Pale Ale (IPA)

Photo Credit: Bernt Rostad via flickr CC-BY

According to the website Hop and Wine Beverage, the British developed IPA beer during their attempt to colonize India. Traditional beer spoiled on the long sea voyage from England to India. The beer needed more alcohol and hops, which both act as preservatives, to survive the trip without refrigeration. Supposedly, George Hodgson of East London’s Bow Brewery developed the first IPA. It was extremely bitter, but it didn’t spoil on the trip to India.

Even though we now have refrigeration, IPAs endure. They are strong, bitter, and not for everyone (including hubby). Hop and Wine Beverage recommends pairing them with strong tasting foods such as spicy curries or salty dishes.

Do you know any interesting history about another drink, alcoholic or not? Please share in the comments below.

Thanks for stopping by!

Julia