Playing Dead — A Life or Death Strategy

The Human Condition

One of my fish likes to play dead.  He’s an algae eater, and occasionally sits at the bottom, his body swaying and his eyes glazed over, for all the world like a fish that’s beginning to rot. As a strategy, playing dead can have life-saving advantages.  Just look at a few aggression triggers: Competition for resources —

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This Week In Words (12-3-06)

Writing

Ailurophile >n. a cat lover.  Dacha >n. a country house or cottage in Russia, typically used as a second or vacation home. –origin mid 19th cent.: Russian, originally ‘grant (of land).’  Inexorable >adj. impossible to stop or prevent: the seemingly inexorable march of new technology. — (of a person) impossible to persuade by request or

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Counting Down to Christmas

Home in the Rookery

Every year in households with children a clamor goes up around Nov. 30th, or Dec. 1st or 2nd. “Can we open it?!  Can we?!  I should be first–  No, it’s my turn!” Parents dig out the advent calenders and begin the countdown from 1 to 25.  For them the time will fly . . . the To

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Top Ten Reasons To Visit the South Pole

Just for Laughs

10 – You’ve always wanted tap-happy feet. 9 – You’re craving frozen fish sticks. 8 – Your old boy/girlfriend moved to Greenland and you need a little more space. 7 – Your snowman melted last week and you want to build another. 6 – You went to Australia, but they threw you out. 5 – Your favorite song is ‘White Christmas’. 4 – The last

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Picking Up a Bit of Russian

Home in the Rookery

No, I’m not talking about a hot Russian love interest, nor the latest and most expensive caviar.  I’m speaking of the language, but I think it would be easier to pick up the guy and the fish eggs. My Russian soon-to-be sister-in-law is joining the family here in America this winter, and we thought it

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Pros and Cons of Writing Groups

4 CommentsWriting

The long awaited opinionated non-dictated . . . okay, I’ll stop.  Here’s my list; feel free to share your own insights.  Pros: A writing group can be a motivation boost and make you accountable for how much writing you’re getting done.  They cheer for you when success strikes, and understand how even small recognition in the field can be

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All I Want For Christmas Is a Weird Gadget

Home in the Rookery

The newest, coolest way to find funky gifts for all those impossible people on your gift list, firebox has every kind of nick-nack or novelty item.   I found the gadgets and tech toys to be the most fun.  Check out the spinning, flashing mopods that keep you informed of calls, the slim SwissCard, for those of us who hate bulging

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Craft – Trapped

Uncategorized

Jill rested the bucket on the stair before her and gasped for breath.  These things were getting seriously heavy, and Mom wasn’t done yet.  She coughed.  The dust in the basement seemed to be sticking to her lungs. She lifted the handle again and braced herself for the load. The handle cracked.  Her hand slipped.  The

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This Week In Words (11-26-06)

Writing

Impecunious >adj. having little of no money: a titled but impecunious family.  Onomatopeic >n. the formation of a word from a sound associated with what is named (e.g., cuckoo, sizzle). –the use of such words for rhetorical effect. Winnow >v. 1 blow a current of air through (grain) in order to remove the chaff. –remove

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