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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

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SATURDAY, NOV. 24, 2012

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

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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MONDAY, NOV. 12, 2012

A Word A Day -- biddable

Good evening, Netizens... November 12, 2012 Word of the Day biddable \BID-uh-bul\ DEFINITION adjective 1 : easily led, taught, or controlled : docile 2 : capable of being bid EXAMPLES "The twins are well-behaved children, biddable, meek, neat about their clothes, and always mindful of…

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SUNDAY, NOV. 11, 2012

A Word A Day -- flotsam

Good evening, Netizens... November 11, 2012 Word of the Day flotsam \FLAHT-sum\ DEFINITION noun 1 : floating wreckage of a ship or its cargo; broadly : floating debris 2 a : miscellaneous or unimportant material b : debris, remains EXAMPLES The young couple's apartment was…

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SATURDAY, NOV. 10, 2012

Horsey-attack-ads

Political advertising...

Good evening, Netizens... There is nothing I love more than good old-fashioned political donnybrooks, and boy we just had a series of dandies over the last few weeks. From the governor's race to that of the President of the United States and all the Initiatives…

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A Word A Day -- dissemble

Good evening, Netizens... November 10, 2012 Word of the Day dissemble \dih-SEM-bul\ DEFINITION verb 1 : to put on a false appearance : to conceal facts, intentions, or feelings under some pretense 2 : to hide (something) under a false appearance 3 : to put…

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FRIDAY, NOV. 9, 2012

A Word A Day -- kaput

Good morning, Netizens... November 09, 2012 Word of the Day kaput \kuh-PUT\ DEFINITION adjective 1 : utterly finished, defeated, or destroyed 2 : unable to function : useless 3 : hopelessly outmoded EXAMPLES Shortly after Richard retired as CEO, the firm went kaput. "We humans…

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THURSDAY, NOV. 8, 2012

A Word A Day -- stem-winder

November 08, 2012 Word of the Day stem-winder \STEM-wyne-der\ DEFINITION noun 1 : a stem-winding watch 2 : one that is first-rate of its kind; especially : a stirring speech EXAMPLES Stuart is a stem-winder as a defense attorney. "In his 48-minute stem-winder Wednesday, the…

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WEDNESDAY, NOV. 7, 2012

Pie and coffee memorial...

Good evening, Netizens... The memorial for Marty Hibbs will be held on Veteran's Day, November 11th, at 3:30 PM at the Perry Street Cafe. According to Marty's son, this gathering is being slated as a “pie and coffee” memorial. How utterly familiar and perfect. I…

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A Word A Day -- comestible

Good morning, Netizens... November 07, 2012 Word of the Day comestible \kuh-MESS-tuh-bul\ DEFINITION adjective : edible EXAMPLES The November issue of the magazine was filled with recipes for an old-fashioned Thanksgiving feast, including candied yams, homemade cranberry sauce, mincemeat pie, and other comestible delights. "This…

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TUESDAY, NOV. 6, 2012

A Word A Day -- bugbear

Good morning, Netizens... November 06, 2012 Word of the Day bugbear \BUG-bair\ DEFINITION noun 1 : an imaginary goblin or specter used to excite fear 2 a : an object or source of dread b : a continuing source of irritation : problem EXAMPLES The…

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MONDAY, NOV. 5, 2012

A Word A Day -- gorgonize

Good morning, Netizens... November 05, 2012 Word of the Day gorgonize \GOR-guh-nyze\ DEFINITION verb : to have a paralyzing or mesmerizing effect on : stupefy, petrify EXAMPLES Dave joked that his boss's angry glare could gorgonize an employee in mid-complaint. "Izzy asked Sol why he…

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