Just wrote a book review of Bleeding Sea, an excellent eco-thriller about an invasive species of algae that turns the ocean red and kills fish and humans alike.
Catastrophe porn appeals to me right now.
Musings and oozings (mostly about words) by Michael Gates
Just wrote a book review of Bleeding Sea, an excellent eco-thriller about an invasive species of algae that turns the ocean red and kills fish and humans alike.
Catastrophe porn appeals to me right now.
KAKISTOCRACY = government by the least suitable or competent citizens of a state
"Living in a kakistocracy is like being on a plane where the pilot insists that 'wings are overrated' and the co-pilot is busy googling 'how to fly.' Every decision feels like it was made by a committee of raccoons who stumbled upon the control room and thought, 'Let's press ALL the buttons!' It’s a special kind of government where competence is a liability, and the only job requirement is that you have no idea what you’re doing—but you’re incredibly confident about it." --Chat GPT
UNKED (adj) = strange, weird, or uncanny
British English, pronounced: un-ked.
"As the sun set behind the hills, the
small cottage at the edge of the forest took on an unked appearance, its
windows dark and uninviting. The wind whispered through the trees,
creating an eerie symphony that added to the sense
of unease. Alone in the gathering twilight, Sarah felt a chill run down
her spine, the unked atmosphere making her quicken her pace towards
home."
--Chat GPT
LAZARETTO (n) = an institution (such as a hospital) for those with contagious diseases
"After a week of binge-watching old pirate movies, Tim's imagination sailed away with the idea of converting his basement into a lazaretto-themed man cave. Complete with fake portholes, rum barrels, and a "Quarantine Zone" sign, his friends joked that anyone entering would need more than just a shot of grog to survive the evening unscathed." --Chat GPT
ECTOPLASM (n) = a substance that produces spirit materialization and telekinesis.
"The novel’s ectoplasm hovers between the realms of historical horror and cultural comedy." — Washington Post, 9 Nov. 2021
Arthur Conan Doyle believed in fairies:
https://tinyurl.com/2s38f8yw
EKPHRASIS (n) = a written description of or commentary on a visual work of art
"Hongo’s work embodies ekphrasis — his capacious mind roams across art forms." — Washington Post, 18 Mar. 2022
OMADHAUN (n) = a fool or nitwit. Irish slang word.
"Tom behaved like an omadhaun when he tried to fix the broken car engine with a hammer and a screwdriver." --ChatGPT
AETERNITATIS (n) = eternity or of eternity.
"The philosopher contemplated the mysteries of existence with a gaze that seemed to transcend time, as if he were connected to the aeternitatis of the universe." --ChatGPT
SIALOQUENT (adj) = tending to spray saliva while speaking
"The sialoquent professor could not understand why his pupils would not sit in the front row of the lecture hall." --Wiktionary
Oneiromancy = divination or fortune-telling based on the interpretation of dreams
"In the popular TV show American Gods, the character of Mr. Wednesday is known to possess the ability of oneiromancy, using dreams to guide his actions and gain an advantage over his enemies." --Chat GPT
All of my dreams are anxiety dreams about being lost or forgetting to go to class and then having to take the final. And my college days were decades ago.
TRUCULENT (adj) = hostile, aggressive, or defiant; difficult to deal with. "The truculent customer refused to leave the store, despite the manager's repeated requests." --Chat GPT
Omniloquent (adj) = able to talk about any and all subjects
"The keynote speaker was known for his omniloquent speeches that could captivate any audience, regardless of their background or interests." --ChatGPT