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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Community Comment archive for Nov. 2012

FRIDAY, NOV. 30, 2012

A Word A Day -- cathexis

Good afternoon, Netizens... November 30, 2012 Word of the Day cathexis \kuh-THEK-sis\ DEFINITION noun : investment of mental or emotional energy in a person, object, or idea EXAMPLES "The veil that hides Laura and her eyes, her hair, her smile (and its counterpart, the glove…

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THURSDAY, NOV. 29, 2012

A Word A Day -- famish

Good afternoon, Netizens... November 29, 2012 Word of the Day famish \FAM-ish\ DEFINITION verb 1 : to cause to suffer severely from hunger 2 : to suffer for lack of something necessary EXAMPLES "Set him breast-deep in earth and famish him, / There let him…

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WEDNESDAY, NOV. 28, 2012

On bravery and grace...

Good morning, Netizens... This has been a rough month around our household. Suzie's mother passed away which came as no surprise as her husband of 60-some years, Suzie's father, had passed away not long before. Isn't it poignant that, when married couples have been together…

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A Word A Day -- hortative

Good afternoon, Netizens... November 28, 2012 Word of the Day hortative \HOR-tuh-tiv\ DEFINITION adjective : giving exhortation : serving to advise or warn EXAMPLES The candidate's hortative style of speaking appealed to some voters but led others to dismiss him as a blowhard. "But it's…

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TUESDAY, NOV. 27, 2012

My Grace

I was reading an interview with writer Anne Lamott in the November 24, 2012 Spokesman-Review, regarding her book, Help. Thanks. Wow. (http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/nov/24/divine-connections/) I haven’t even read her book, however, I immediately realized that Help, Thanks, Wow is the way I got through this past summer.…

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A Word A Day -- vapid

Good morning, Netizens... November 27, 2012 Word of the Day vapid \VAP-id\ DEFINITION adjective : lacking liveliness, tang, briskness, or force : flat, dull EXAMPLES The movie was billed as a gripping political thriller but turned out to be a vapid film with a slow…

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MONDAY, NOV. 26, 2012

A Word A Day -- sederunt

Good morning, Netizens... November 26, 2012 Word of the Day sederunt \suh-DEER-unt\ DEFINITION noun : a prolonged sitting (as for discussion) EXAMPLES "This letter is a report of a long sederunt ... at Davos Platz, Dec. 15, 1880." — From a letter by Robert Louis…

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SUNDAY, NOV. 25, 2012

A Word A Day -- numen

Good morning, Netizens... November 25, 2012 Word of the Day numen \NOO-mun\ DEFINITION noun : a spiritual force or influence often identified with a natural object, phenomenon, or place EXAMPLES We were in a village that had hardly changed in a thousand years, and we…

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SATURDAY, NOV. 24, 2012

Never On A Sunday

I really hate what the holidays have become - so materialistic. Everybody's on a shopping frenzy for Christmas presents today (Black Friday) for items that are almost guaranteed to be put in a yard sale next summer, or high up in a closet, or deep…

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Associated Press

The Grand Experiment...

Good morning, Netizens... Good morning, Netizens... Yesterday was an experiment. Shoppers stand in line outside a Best Buy department store before the store's opening at midnight for a Black Friday sale, Thursday, Nov. 22, 2012, in Arlington, Texas. Black Friday, the day when retailers traditionally…

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A Word A Day -- obdurate

Good morning, Netizens... November 24, 2012 Word of the Day obdurate \AHB-duh-rut\ DEFINITION adjective 1 a : stubbornly persistent in wrongdoing b : hardened in feelings 2 : resistant to persuasion or softening influences EXAMPLES I pleaded with my boss for a second chance, explaining…

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FRIDAY, NOV. 23, 2012

A Word A Day -- yahoo

Good morning, Netizens... November 23, 2012 Word of the Day yahoo \YAH-hoo\ DEFINITION noun : a boorish, crass, or stupid person EXAMPLES Henrietta had a few choice words for the yahoo who blocked her driveway with his pickup truck. "'The night watchman down there picked…

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THURSDAY, NOV. 22, 2012

The Turkey and the Chicken 

Posted by Jeanie November 2008. When my sons were 8 and 9, they were in Boy Scouts and we had the annual bake sale/raffle, Wednesday before Thanksgiving. I remember this day very well. I had $6.00 to my name and knew I couldn't possibly afford…

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A Word A Day -- cloister

Good morning, Netizens... November 22, 2012 Word of the Day cloister \KLOY-ster\ DEFINITION verb : to confine in or as if in a cloister : to shut away from the world EXAMPLES Julie declared that she was going to cloister herself and study as hard…

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WEDNESDAY, NOV. 21, 2012

A Word A Day -- prestigious

Good morning, Netizens... November 21, 2012 Word of the Day prestigious \preh-STIJ-us\ DEFINITION adjective : having an illustrious name or reputation : esteemed in general opinion EXAMPLES She has become the youngest author ever to receive this prestigious literary award. "Check the results that year…

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TUESDAY, NOV. 20, 2012

A Word A Day -- tartar

Good morning, Netizens... November 20, 2012 Word of the Day tartar \TAHR-ter\ DEFINITION noun 1 : a person of irritable or violent temper 2 : one that proves to be unexpectedly formidable EXAMPLES "Strange that one whom I have described hitherto as so timid and…

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MONDAY, NOV. 19, 2012

A Word A Day -- lambaste 

Good morning, Netizens... November 19, 2012 Word of the Day lambaste \lam-BAYST\ DEFINITION verb 1 : to assault violently : beat, whip 2 : to attack verbally : censure EXAMPLES The coach loudly lambasted Danny in front of the whole team for showing up late…

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SUNDAY, NOV. 18, 2012

A Word A Day -- pertinacious

Good morning, Netizens... November 18, 2012 Word of the Day pertinacious \per-tuh-NAY-shus\ DEFINITION adjective 1 a : adhering resolutely to an opinion, purpose, or design b : perversely persistent 2 : stubbornly tenacious EXAMPLES He has spent his entire adult life as a pertinacious and…

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SATURDAY, NOV. 17, 2012

A Word A Day -- misnomer

Good morning, Netizens... November 17, 2012 Word of the Day misnomer \miss-NOH-mer\ DEFINITION noun 1 : the misnaming of a person in a legal instrument 2 a : a use of a wrong or inappropriate name b : a wrong name or inappropriate designation EXAMPLES…

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FRIDAY, NOV. 16, 2012

Is this the closure we have been promised? 

Good morning, Netizens... Paraphrasing one of those woefully-hackneyed movies you often encounter on various Western TV channels once said, “Yesterday was a good day for a hanging.” That's because Karl Thompson, AKA Karl the Klubber, was sentenced yesterday for the beating death of Otto Zehm…

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A Word A Day -- ratiocination

Good morning, Netizens... November 16, 2012 Word of the Day ratiocination \rat-ee-oh-suh-NAY-shun\ DEFINITION noun 1 : the process of exact thinking : reasoning 2 : a reasoned train of thought EXAMPLES "There was very little ratiocination involved; very little intellect came into play." — From…

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THURSDAY, NOV. 15, 2012

A Word A Day -- unwieldy

Good morning, Netizens... November 15, 2012 Word of the Day unwieldy \un-WEEL-dee\ DEFINITION adjective : not easily managed, handled, or used (as because of bulk, weight, complexity, or awkwardness) : cumbersome EXAMPLES The futon mattress was heavy and unwieldy, and the only effective way to…

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WEDNESDAY, NOV. 14, 2012

A Word A Day -- watershed

Good morning, Netizens... November 14, 2012 Word of the Day watershed \WAW-ter-shed\ DEFINITION noun 1 a : a dividing ridge between drainage areas b : a region or area bounded peripherally by a divide and draining ultimately to a particular watercourse or body of water…

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TUESDAY, NOV. 13, 2012

The Gathering for Marty Hibbs...

Good evening Netizens... On Veteran's Day a coffee and pie memorial was held at the Perry Street Cafe for the late Marty Hibbs. Approximately 50 people attended, coming from all walks of life, from a wide diversity of places, a diverse cross-section of interests and…

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A Word A Day -- eructation

Good morning, Netizens... November 13, 2012 Word of the Day eructation \ih-ruk-TAY-shun\ DEFINITION noun : an act or instance of belching EXAMPLES Excessive eructation is a common side-effect of that particular medication. "Granted, American political campaigns since 1789 have often been vicious, with presidential candidates…

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Spokesman-Review readers blog about news and issues in Spokane written by Dave Laird.



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