Word of the Day: SYLVESTRAL

Word of the Day: sylvestral [SYL-vess-truhl] (adjective), TWITO, page 144. Pertaining to trees. "Xavier, lost in a thicket, was nevertheless awed by the sylvestral beauty of the canopy overhead."


Photo by me!

A Brobdingnagian Splotch

Jupiter, brobdingnagian gasbag of the solar system, has a gargantuan red spot. And when I say gargantuan, I mean titanic. A few planets, including Earth, could spin within its roiling vortex, which, to me, looks irate. Yes, Zeus is livid, who knows why, but he confines his fury to a single splotch, a hurricane of ire, gigantic to us but a pinwheel to him, while clouds of happier thoughts glide by in serene bands. If only we could all have our own red spot, a mental whirligig to confine our churning agitation to, while peace reigns in the rest of our sphere.

Photo of the Week: OK (by me)

OK...why not?

Photo of the Week: Them (by me)

No, these aren't fish heads.

Photo of the Week: Marblehead

From my visit to Barrow Mansion. I like her hat.

Photo of the Week (by me): Urban Buddha

OM....

Photo of the Week (by me): eeffoc?

Inspired by my favorite TV show, which is coming back in 2017. Click the pic for a closer view. You have nothing better to do.

Photo of the Week (by me): Ganesha

Guess who/what? Click for a closer view. You know you want to.

Photo of the Week (by me): Buddha Stone

Inspired by a meditation class I'm taking. Stare at it while you concentrate on your breathing. You know you want to.

Photo of the Week: Winter Is Here (by me)

This is the rock pile in my backyard. Don't ask me why I have a rock pile in my backyard, but click on the pic for a closer view. You know you want to.

Photo of the Week: Bricks (by me)

Because moss. In December. Click for a closer view. You have nothing better to do.

Photo of the Week: Lonely Tree (by me)

This aint no Christmas tree. Click for a closer view. You know you want to....

Photo of the Week: Skeleton (by me)

Click for a closer view...unless you're scared?

Photo of the Week: Looking Down (by me)

This is me and my son at New York City's One World Trade Center Observatory, standing 102 stories above street level and looking down (at a high-definition video screen, silly!). Click the pic for a scarier close-up.

Word of the Day: fissiparous

What's the word I'm thinking of? Today, it's...

fissiparous [fih-SIP-er-us] (adjective) [TWITO, page 54]

Tending to break apart

"This endless multiplication of somatic cells has been going on under the eyes of numerous observers for forty years. What observer has watched for forty years to see whether the fissiparous multiplication of Protozoa does not cease? What observer has watched for one year, or one month or one week?"
--Herbert Spencer, "Professor Weismann's Theories", in Popular Science (1893)

Cactus wound (fissiparous):

(photo by me)

Photo of the Week: Mummy (by me)

Photo by me; mummy by artist Norman Kirby. Click the pic for an even scarier view.

Photo of the Week: Hercules Chained (by me)

This thing is strong! Maybe that's why it's called Hercules.

Word of the Day: gallimaufry

What's the word I'm thinking of? Today, it's...

gallimaufry [gal-uh-MAW-free] (noun) [TWITO, page 59]

A hodgepodge, a jumble, or a confusing medley


Photo by me. Long story.

Photo of the Week: Empty Waders

I don't know why I snapped this picture at the local flea market. And maybe you don't know why you want to click it for a better view. But you do.

Word of the Day: ostrobogulous

What's the word I'm thinking of? Today, it's...

ostrobogulous [os-tro-BOG-yoo-luss] (adjective) [TWITO, page 105]

Something weird, bizarre, unusual or pornographic

"Mother doesn't want to go to the movies, She calls them agglomerations of ostrobogulous fantasies."


The furry tea cup ("Object", 1936) is by artist/surrealist Meret Oppenhieim. I saw it at the Museum of Modern Art a couple of days ago. Photo by me.