July. Long hot days, the Fourth of July, and the Tour de France. Absolutely one of my favorite months, and I have really become hooked on the "3-week bike race" over the years. It is nice to have Lance Armstrong back in the saddle. The race is much bigger than any one rider, but his success over the last decade has brought improved television coverage in the U.S. The race has moved to the mountains this weekend, and riders will start to be sorted out quickly. While Lance is looking strong, most media and casual fans don't realize his role is likely to be one of a helping teammate this year after so many years of being a team leader. This could still change based on how everyone on team Astana performs, but his presence makes the Tour more interesting either way. While Lance rides for a Kazakstan based team, there are two American teams in the race this year: Columbia-HTC and Garmin Slipstream.
Fun fact: Armadillos always give birth to four identical young -- the only mammal known to do so. New words for Webster's Collegiate Dictionary
Many of you probably saw the brief article about the 100 new word added to the dictionary for 2009. I have always liked words, so I thought I would highlight a few of the new ones that caught my eye:
--Carbon footprint: the amount of carbon emitted by something during a given period.
--Locavore: one who eats foods grown locally whenever possible.
--Staycation: vacation spent at home or nearby.
--Frenemy: one who pretends to be a friend but is actually an enemy.
--Vlog: a blog that contains video material.
--Webisode: an episode especially of a TV show that may or may not have been telecast but can be viewed at a Web site.
--Green Collar: of, relating to, or involving actions for protecting the natural environment.
--Flash mob: a group of people summoned (as by e-mail or text message) to a designated location at a specified time to perform an indicated action before dispersing.
--Frenemy: one who pretends to be a friend but is actually an enemy.
--Vlog: a blog that contains video material.
--Webisode: an episode especially of a TV show that may or may not have been telecast but can be viewed at a Web site.
--Green Collar: of, relating to, or involving actions for protecting the natural environment
--Flash mob: a group of people summoned (as by e-mail or text message) to a designated location at a specified time to perform an indicated action before dispersing.
I also found a few interesting ones that were recently added to the Oxford English Dictionary:
Muggle n. In the fiction of J.K. Rowling: a person who possesses no magical powers. Hence in allusive and extended uses: a person who lacks a particular skill or skills, or who is regarded as inferior in some way.
Blamestorming n. A method of collectively finding one to blame for a mistake no one is willing to confess to. Often occurs in the form of a meeting of colleagues at work, gathered to decide who is to blame for a screw up.
Threequel n. The third film, book, event, etc. in a series; a second sequel.
Cyber slacking v. Spending one's employer's Internet and email facilities for personal activities during working hours.
Frankenfood n.Derogatory, a food that contains genetically modified ingredients.
Prebuttal n. A rebuttal for an accusation before it is made.
Blamestorming n. A method of collectively finding one to blame for a mistake no one is willing to confess to. Often occurs in the form of a meeting of colleagues at work, gathered to decide who is to blame for a screw up.
Threequel n. The third film, book, event, etc. in a series; a second sequel.
Cyber slacking v. Spending one's employer's Internet and email facilities for personal activities during working hours.
Frankenfood n.Derogatory, a food that contains genetically modified ingredients.
Prebuttal n. A rebuttal for an accusation before it is made.
I especially like Frankenfood. It should be very useful. And lastly, here are a few words that did not make the cut this year:
E-Jacko-lipse, noun: when one famous person's death overshadows the death of other famous people.
Hiking the Appalachian Trail, verb: spending some "alone time" with a friend in Argentina.
Grillfriend, noun: similar to bromance, a grillfriend is a guy you hang around with mainly for his skill at producing delicious, charred vittles.
Palindrone, noun: The sound former Alaskan governors make attempting to justify their strange actions, and it makes no sense backwards either.
Hiking the Appalachian Trail, verb: spending some "alone time" with a friend in Argentina.
Grillfriend, noun: similar to bromance, a grillfriend is a guy you hang around with mainly for his skill at producing delicious, charred vittles.
Palindrone, noun: The sound former Alaskan governors make attempting to justify their strange actions, and it makes no sense backwards either.
KFedup: the reflex you feel when you hear another custody story about Kevin Federline or Britany.
Obamanomics: The over-spending of taxpayers' dollars to gain control of private businesses, and dispense billions to the poor, while over-taxing everyone else (until all are poor).
Intexticated: Driving while texting...the way the driver doesn't pay attention and is swerving all over the road, slowing down or speeding up.
Hopenchange: Vague promises of making the world a better place, followed by doing basically the same thing others before you did.
Snacktivities: Individual or group efforts to obtain non-meal sustenance (e.g. going to DQ).
Obamanomics: The over-spending of taxpayers' dollars to gain control of private businesses, and dispense billions to the poor, while over-taxing everyone else (until all are poor).
Intexticated: Driving while texting...the way the driver doesn't pay attention and is swerving all over the road, slowing down or speeding up.
Hopenchange: Vague promises of making the world a better place, followed by doing basically the same thing others before you did.
Snacktivities: Individual or group efforts to obtain non-meal sustenance (e.g. going to DQ).
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1 comment:
hahaha bout time vlog made it in there!
I really enjoyed reading this, and I agree, the tour is much more entertaining now that Lance is back
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