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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Community Comment archive for Jan. 2013

THURSDAY, JAN. 31, 2013

Jeffreys, his wife and girlfriend in jail...

Good morning, Netizens... A 73 count Federal indictment was unfurled against Gregory Jeffreys, his wife and ostensible girlfriend the other day, as I have often said would take place, and none too soon. I have been following the macabre trail of Jeffreys' financial dealings around…

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Words of the day -- jabberwocky

Good morning, Netizens... January 31, 2013 Words of the Day jabberwocky \JAB-er-wah-kee\ DEFINITION noun : meaningless speech or writing EXAMPLES "The salesman started spewing computer jabberwocky at me like an auctioneer. I understood about every sixth word he uttered."— From an article by Larry D.…

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WEDNESDAY, JAN. 30, 2013

Words of the day -- malafide

Good evening Netizens... January 30, 2013 Words of the Day mala fide \mal-uh-FYE-dee\ DEFINITION adverb or adjective : with or in bad faith EXAMPLES The company's board is accused of acting mala fide and with criminal intentions. "NTC analyzes each traveler's risk before departure to…

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Words of the day -- nomothetic

Good morning, Netizens... January 29, 2013 Words of the Day nomothetic \nah-muh-THET-ik\ DEFINITION adjective : relating to, involving, or dealing with abstract, general, or universal statements or laws EXAMPLES "Even the authors that emphasize the existence of cross-cultural differences ... acknowledge that a nomothetic characterization…

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MONDAY, JAN. 28, 2013

Words of the day -- gambit

Good evening, Netizens... January 28, 2013 Word of the Day gambit \GAM-bit\ DEFINITION noun 1 : a chess opening in which a player risks minor pieces to gain an advantage 2 : a remark intended to start a conversation 3 : a calculated move EXAMPLES…

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FRIDAY, JAN. 25, 2013

Pillow talk... 

Good morning, Netizens... Just as an aside, if you are contemplating your typical departure for work this morning, you might want to carefully consider your options in our lovely community. That's because overnight it rained, which promptly froze to the streets and sidewalks in many…

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Words of the day -- satiate

Good morning, Netizens... January 25, 2013 Word of the Day satiate \SAY-shee-ayt\ DEFINITION verb : to satisfy (as a need or desire) fully or to excess EXAMPLES After eating three pieces of pie and one of cake at the potluck, Jamie's sweet tooth was finally…

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THURSDAY, JAN. 24, 2013

Ah, the hell with it!

Good evening, Netizens... At age 67, after more than 40 years of packing around a pack or more of cigarettes in my shirt pocket, today is the third (going on the fourth) day since I had my last cigarette. The ashtrays are all emptied, and…

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Words of the day -- engage

Good evening, Netizens... January 24, 2013 Words of the Day engagé \ahn-gah-ZHAY\ DEFINITION adjective : committed to or supportive of a cause EXAMPLES Our next-door neighbor Michael, an engagé environmental activist, uses solar power to heat his home and drives a hybrid automobile. "George MacDonald…

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WEDNESDAY, JAN. 23, 2013

Gonzaga's Homeless Camp? 

Good morning, Netizens... It just goes to show you where everyone's priorities are. According to the talking heads of the local news organizations, Gonzaga students who were temporarily staying in the “tent city” in front of the Kennel in preparation for the big game with…

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Words of the Day-- fanfaronade

Good morning, Netizens... January 23, 2013 Words of the Day fanfaronade \fan-fair-uh-NAYD\ DEFINITION noun : empty boasting : bluster EXAMPLES Having grown weary of the former governor's fanfaronade and lack of concrete action, voters sent a clear message at the polls and elected his opponent…

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TUESDAY, JAN. 22, 2013

Words of the Day-- euchre

Good morning, Netizens... January 22, 2013 Words of the Day euchre \YOO-ker\ DEFINITION verb 1 : to prevent from winning three tricks in the card game euchre 2 : to cheat or trick EXAMPLES "'You fooled us good,' Frank confessed. 'After Northfield, Jesse knew we'd…

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MONDAY, JAN. 21, 2013

Words of the Day-- zarzuela

Good morning, Netizens... January 21, 2013 Words of the Day zarzuela \zahr-ZWAY-luh\ DEFINITION noun : a usually comic Spanish operetta EXAMPLES "The first major trip was leaving Spain, with my sister and our aunt, to travel by ship to Mexico, where my parents had set…

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Words of the Day-- preen

Good morning, Netizens... January 20, 2013 Words of the Day preen \PREEN\ DEFINITION verb 1 : to groom with the bill 2 : to dress or smooth up : primp 3 : to pride or congratulate (oneself) on an achievement : to behave or speak…

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SATURDAY, JAN. 19, 2013

Words of the Day-- mentor

January 19, 2013 Words of the Day mentor \MEN-tor\ DEFINITION noun 1 : a trusted counselor or guide 2 : tutor, coach EXAMPLES The young man regarded the professor not only as a mentor, but as a good friend as well. "Every time a Strong…

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FRIDAY, JAN. 18, 2013

Words of the Day-- traduce

Good morning, Netizens... January 18, 2013 Word of the Day traduce \truh-DOOSS\ DEFINITION verb 1 : to expose to shame or blame by means of falsehood and misrepresentation 2 : violate, betray EXAMPLES At the apex of the journalist's career, a jealous rival attempted to…

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THURSDAY, JAN. 17, 2013

Words of the Day-- vernissage

January 17, 2013 Words of the Day vernissage \vair-nih-SAHZH\ DEFINITION noun : a private showing or preview of an art exhibition EXAMPLES Before the art auction, there will be a vernissage during which people can mingle with the artists and preview their work. "Art Basel…

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WEDNESDAY, JAN. 16, 2013

Former Acting Chief Stephens... 10 

Good afternoon, Netizens... There is a fair hue and cry about town over the former Acting Police Chief Scott Stephens being demoted from sitting atop the throne of the Spokane Police Department, to losing that position to banishing him entirely from the upper ranks of…

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Words of the Day-- inchmeal

Good morning, Netizens,.., January 16, 2013 Words of the Day inchmeal \INCH-meel\ DEFINITION adverb : little-by-little, gradually EXAMPLES The fog that had been concentrated over the valley dissipated inchmeal, revealing a quiet busyness in the small village below. "I glanced at my Luminox wristwatch. The…

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MONDAY, JAN. 14, 2013

Words of the Day-- taradiddle

Good morning, Netizens... January 14, 2013 Word of the Day taradiddle \tair-uh-DID-ul\ DEFINITION noun 1 : a trivial or childish lie : fib 2 : pretentious nonsense EXAMPLES "Even parents with the very best of intentions find themselves telling taradiddles to their offspring." — From…

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FRIDAY, JAN. 11, 2013

Oscar the Oven Mitt

I love names. I give names to everything – my car, my cat, my kids, spiders, clothes, and oven mitts. Actually, it’s my Mom’s doing. She started it. When we were growing up, Mom acquired an oven mitt in the shape of an alligator (or…

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Words of the Day-- realia

Good morning, Netizens... January 11, 2013 Word of the Day realia \ree-AL-ee-uh\ DEFINITION noun plural : objects or activities used to relate classroom teaching to the real life especially of peoples studied EXAMPLES Among the realia used for the class's lesson on World War II…

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THURSDAY, JAN. 10, 2013

A Word A Day -- Apollonian

Good morning, Netizens... January 10, 2013 Word of the Day Apollonian \ap-uh-LOH-nee-un\ DEFINITION adjective 1 : of, relating to, or resembling the god Apollo 2 : harmonious, measured, ordered, or balanced in character EXAMPLES His paintings exhibit a stately and Apollonian elegance, but too often…

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WEDNESDAY, JAN. 9, 2013

Words of the Day -- buttonhole 

Good morning, Netizens... January 09, 2013 Words of the Day buttonhole \BUT-un-hohl\ DEFINITION verb : to detain in conversation by or as if by holding on to the outer garments of EXAMPLES I'm sorry I'm late. I was buttonholed by a coworker just as I…

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TUESDAY, JAN. 8, 2013

Word of the Day -- ramify

Good evening, Netizens... January 08, 2013 Word of the Day ramify \RAM-uh-fye\ DEFINITION verb 1 : to split up into branches or constituent parts 2 : to send forth branches or extensions 3 : to cause to branch EXAMPLES "The people of Rafadh had decisions…

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



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