This week, in the spirit of coopetition, I'm glad to have O Ceallaigh as my Wednesday Guest.O Ceallaigh was asked to define Hyperthermia.
HYPERTHERMIA, n. 1. A word meaning “sunstroke”, used socially to label persons with million-dollar indebtedness from medical schools and separate them from persons with million-dollar indebtedness from other causes.
2. The impossible dream of the Maine resident in January. There’s a reason why the entire population of the “The Way Life Should Be” state could be transported to Miami, or Phoenix, or Los Angeles, and disappear without trace.
3. Jenna Howard’s avatar. See BRAGGADOCIO.
Hyperthermia! Get yourself to bed,
With cooling fans, and packs upon your head;
An icy drink, and shelter from the sun
That hangs in the sky – or perhaps the one
That’s bling bling blinging on the television screen,
Or blooming, artful blooming from the magazine
For which you drained the plastic sunshine
From your wallet; used e-cash to line
The pockets of American Idol’s marketers,
Or the nip and tucking, breast enhancing shysters
Who declare that what you have is perfect rot,
They and only they define what’s hot.
But perhaps unwitting wisdom’s on that screen;
For when you wish too close upon a star,
The wax will melt, and the feathers fling
From your arms while you fall flailing, long and far.
About O Ceallaigh: O Ceallaigh, my soul brother, has several sites one of which is The New Millennium Devils Dictionary, which updates Ambrose Bierce's The Devil's Dictionary with modern definitions. Just to make a distinction, the format is different from this site's: where here the exercise is to update Bierce's definitions, on O Ceallaigh's site the work is more fully original and modern, emphasizing, although not exclusively, words which weren't current in Bierce's time. I both enjoy and admire O Ceallaigh's approach and the wit behind his definitions. The Preface and Introduction to that site are worth reading as well, please note the disclaimer "All wrongs deplored." In addition to The New Millennium Devil's Dictionary, O Ceallaigh writes other material including The Killer Dialogues of Dude and Dude, Observations (essays, poetry and stories,) and essays on Science, Belief and Society. All of this can be accessed from O Ceallaigh's home blog, O Ceallaigh's Felloffatruck Productions.
O Ceallaigh is a biologist who specializes in single-celled marine organisms with an emphasis on measuring the effects of global warming. We can all be thankful that global warming is now measurable enough that O Ceallaigh has time to write for our entertainment. It's a special kind of arrangement to be both a satirist and scientist, studying the most threatening results of the matters he satirizes. O Ceallaigh was kind enough to share at the lay level some of the work he does and it's very interesting, looking at developments between and among types of marine protozoans in general with an eye toward understanding the systemic effects of environmental change. By the way, y'all, the avatar is a Neoparamoeba, which O Ceallaigh informs us "kills salmon and lobsters. Maine fishermen don’t have to go to the movies to fear The Blob.” For more on his professional career, you can see his lab's website here.
How to be a future guest on this site: Well folks, it's happened again. I'm fresh out of guests so some of you who may have been thinking about might find this a good time to shake off your doubts, straighten your backs and just write me a short note saying you've changed and you're ready to face whatever this beautiful world has to offer. Just send an email to dpascover at mac dot com. On a future Wednesday, after posting that week's guest, I'll send you an email with a word to define. You'll be expected to return your definition along with a graphic representing either your definition or yourself by the following Saturday. The only rules are no profanity and no novels, please. And whatever I make up at the last minute.
Actonbell, you're excused on account of you may as well be. Unless you wanted to surprise me. *sigh*
49 comments:
Nicely done O Ceallaigh!
Hyperthermia: Are you feeling hot, hot, hot
Doug, if you manage to score Actonbell as a guest, I'll be jealous! (hint hint Actonbell). :)
Unbelievable, Doug's guest is the person who inspires Doug. Not sure what that means exactly, but I'm sure there's something profound in it.
O Ceallaigh, I won't challenge your assertion that Maine fisherman don't have to go to the movies....
I believe in limited cooperation. I give it away freely.
Hi O Ceallaigh! Nice to meetcha. Good write up as usual Doug.
I just want to see what happens when you click on the wheelchair thingie next to the word verifier.
I do this in the spirit of coopetition. Someone else might do it first...or maybe someone has...
Ah so! If you click on it, it talks to you, giving you numbers. Any good accountant can do the keypad blindfolded, so it's one way of doing the verifier if you're visually impaired.
Sorry. What were we talking about? Oh, yeah! Doug and some guy in Maine, O Ceallaigh, are HOT HOT Hot.
Wow O Ceallaigh: All that and an Icarus reference to boot. Love it.
Berkeley! O Ceallaigh is in Berkeley! (Obviously I went to his site.) Well, then, why're you complaining about January in Maine? I deplore that. I like Maine.
I'm done now. For the day.
gee, that TLP, what a chatterbox. I could hardly get a word in edgewise!! :-)
hi O'Cealleigh, nice to meet you. we need more satirical scientists, explaining the world.
very nice intro Doug.
Doug, has everyone on your blogroll been a Wednesday guest?
Oh anyone who uses my avatar in their definition is a friend for life!
Smokin' hot!
Sizzlin' hot! (licks fingers and presses it to her tush)
Grr baby grr!
Oh me likey this definition indeed.
Oooh...Fal is in my word verification. I should let him know!
Fun stuff, guys!
My affection for the phrase
"fell off a truck" is limited somewhat by the fact my mum told me that is how I came to be in her possession.
Lucy, there is a question in my quiz yesterday just for you, also, whatever it is giving you all that energy, I need some, you can even overcharge.
I am shocked, shocked I say, that a woman of Aconbell's wit, wisdom and character would be so selfish as to deny you the help and us the enjoyment of a definition.
Tsk, tsk
(Well, Doug, I did what I could, alternately hit up the idiot, he always seems to have something to say)
Good morning, Actonbell! And thanks, I think you'll like O Ceallaigh's site.
Sar, please. One beggar per corner.
Pia, the movies come to them. And the horror novels, too.
Thanks, TLP. I heard numbers which was weird. I wonder how and who that helps. Oh, smart!
Mutha, O Ceallaigh's a smart dude. They don't give away PhDs for nothing unless you're in the movies or politics or something. Mike Tyson only has one.
See, TLP! This is what happens when you stop writing on your own blog!
Not everyone, Kyahgirl, although everyone who's been a guest is there. I think.
Jenna, when I saw that I had a feeling you'd be doing the sizzling finger thing.
I can see how that might depress your natural appreciation, Logo. And I try not to hit people up, preferring to sit around wistfully. Waiting, waiting. I'd be delighted to hear from Village Idiot, though.
Hey Doug, thanks for giving this seaweed stomper a chance to sound off. This is a great site and I’m right pleased to be here.
COOPETITION, n. When Old MacDonald’s chickens have a grievance.
Actonbell, give the guest slot a go. Doug makes it painless. And I’m partial to green stilettos.
Sar, I hope so, some day. Everyplace I’ve been the last few months, it’s been damp, damp, damp.
Pia, this sounds like a dodgy interaction between Maine and Long Island. I’ll have to check it out. And speaking of inspiration, thou with the hits and the news feature (congratulations!) … see “green”, above.
TLP, home base is Maine. I’m on sabbatical at Berkeley. Right now I’m commuting. And you thought your gas bill was high.
Thanks Mutha. From a fatha. The Daedalus Club is having a soaring party this weekend. See you there?
Kyahgirl, thanks, I do try. People tell me this all the time (“you’re very trying”). In today’s political and social climate, you will see more and more of us publicly proclaiming our explanations. Spare change, spare change … Your support is appreciated.
Jenna, come over here and say that. Habiliments optional.
Ouch, logo! Did they show you the bruises? Our elder one came into this world with a flat top, we used to tell her that was from the rock she was born under. (Just kidding.)
It's because I'm sizzlin', Doug. Super sassy sizzlin'.
Skipping over to blow kisses on o ceallaigh's (dude...could you pick an easier blog name to spell? Sigh) blog. Because I'm all about sharin' the love today.
Doug, Doug, Doug!
You can't sit around wistfully. Waiting, waiting.
Just make a roster, assign people a week and watch the spluttering, and hot potato passing. I could be vastly entertaining for you. Or... a really big headache.
Never mind.
Did I ever mention that I'm bossy? That's probably coming through :-)
of course, that should read 'it' could be vastly entertaining. I, on the other hand, am not in the entertainement business. (can making typos and other grammatical errors be considered an entertaining business?)
Hey Jenna, at least you have an excuse, Gaelic is an adventure at the best of times. You wouldn't believe how many variations there can be on a simple string like O'Kelly (my real handle). And this was before computer databases, credit card companies, and airline flight booking services banned the apostrophe. Aaargh.
O Ceallaigh, the pleasure was mine but you did leave the boots out front, right?
Jenna, those are about the sweetest words...
Kyahgirl, the headache part is pretty compelling. Plus, on occasion the first time I hear from someone is when they email to be a Wednesday guest. It's a great lurker trap. The only person I ever pressue is Actonbell because it's kind of a tradition and she has impressive sturdiness against this particular wind.
Besides, it wouldn't be right to give a hard time to, say, SHAYNA or, maybe, MASIL! This is, afterall, a coalition of the willing.
O Ceallaigh, nice work. Pleased to meet you.
It is a good thing you are wearing clothes under that little blue apron, which by the way looks like a loin cloth, or you would be or I would imagine you would be prone to hypothermia.
I love your guest Wednesday segment. Thanks for stopping by my blog too. Come by anytime.
I hate to say it but there's no such a word like hypertermia in the dictionary. I've already realized that the number of unkown words shoots up with your each appearance, Mr. O Ceallaigh...
I would really benefit from O Ceallaigh being written phonetically. I think I got the "O" part down, but the
"Ceallaigh" part has me stumped.
Jenna … mwhAH!
Kyah, you can ask? With all the dinero that have changed hands for the sake of blooper reels and magazine gaffes?
Cowgirl and Jamie, say “O’Kelly”. The handle really is O’Kelly, just the way St. Patrick (who spoke Latin) intended it. Don’t worry if the pronunciation isn’t exact. The Brits couldn’t hack it, help, they can’t hack their own tongue (cf. the six different ways Shakespeare spelled “Shakespeare”). No one not born speaking Irish really gets it right. Myself included.
Sonya, I’ll be visiting after work.
Ariel, you’re right. Hypertermia isn’t in the dictionary. Guess I’ll just have to fix that.
HYPERTERMIA, n. The termites that ate Chicago. No, that weren’t no eggplant.
And as for the unknown words, hey, why else do we keep academics around, eh?
Howdy, Cowgirl!
You know, Alice, I wouldn't have thought of that.
Thanks, Sonya. I'll be back.
Ariel, a little artistic license, please.
Got it now, J.D?
O Ceallaigh, keep it up. Pleasure sharing a blog with you today.
Hyperthermia: To become so agitated as to raise ones temperature.
Symptoms of hyperthermia include but are not limited to the following:
1) Change in eye color, usually red
2) Profuse sweating coupled with wild gesticulations
3) Throbbing vein in neck or forehead, sometimes both.
Alice, those are trousers. Stuck into the hip waders. Where this pic was taken (San Juan Islands, Washington), a loincloth would definitely not be advisable. Even in midsummer. Guess I'll have to get you out of darkest Manhattan and introduce you to a little fishing-type wildlife.
Australia?
VI. Put the magazine down. Slowly. Now nice and easy, back away. Take a deep breath. Another. Think calm. A nice calm beach with the sand and the waves and the sun, oh the sun, ... oops.
Anytime, Doug. Oh, you wanted people to stay here?
Oh c'mon Doug. Did you you reall think that I, the hostess with the mostess who encourages shameless promotion on her own site, was going to pass up the opportunity to shamelessly piggyback your targeted begging towards Actonbell, one of our shared favs?
Just be glad I'm not so shameless that I'd start actively soliciting your readers here in the comments (anyone...?) of your site (anyone...?) to Be My Buest (anyone...?) especially on your guest day (O Ceallaigh...?).
I am fascinated querido Doug! Gotta go over and check out our new friend...
Great job O Ceallaigh!
I must admit that I am fascinated way more by the problem and reality that is global warming. I grew up in southern Spain and as a child probably would have highs of 35 degrees Celsius... now, our highs go way into the mid forties and beyond and though many love the heat, it devastates me.... our planet is screaming for help and I am afraid not enough people are listening!
But I digress....
I must shut my bohemian mouth unless it becomes ultra clear how big a nut I can be...
Ay no! Off I go!
LOL O Ceallaigh! in the end we keep scientists to know things, right?
Oh! PS~ You defined Jenna! Oooweeee! Bohemians everywhere just looooveee Jenna! She is one fine Ladee indeed!
Maine: the state that dictates that vacationers not from Down East buy extra sweatshirts in July and August, and to remember to bring flannel pajamas the next time they go during the summer there.
Village Idiot, known pathogens include a 70 or below on Logo's quiz.
Not at all, O Ceallaigh. I brought you in to cull the herd a little.
Sar, whatever you'd like. Be my buest.
Smart dude, Miz B, and it's always helpful to hear about things from people who really understand them as opposed to say, the newspaper or a campaign slogan. No need to shut yourself off, the secrets been out.
Ariel, that's also why I'm a pioneer inviting one over.
Indeed, Miz B.
Dddragon, an extra definition. Take that, O Ceallaigh.
Well, cowgirl, thanks to their vigilance I'm sure gas will be back below $.79/gallon in no time.
Oh, Doug, you're makin' me blush. ;)
Don’t worry, Sar, I usually don’t pay much attention to people asking me to go out and play. Too much of a roller coaster ride. Even with training wheels.
Thanks, Miz B. The real trouble with global warming from the science side is, we know the planet’s growing warmer but we don’t really know why (we humans may only be a part of the problem, and possibly not even the main part), nor can we accurately predict what will happen because of it. Some people predict that Maine might actually freeze because of it. The planet will survive – the dinosaurs were perfectly happy living on a planet with no ice caps at all, and forests at the South Pole. Of course, most of us only get to hear about the extreme theories, the disaster scenarios. The honest debate doesn’t often hit the newspapers, and when it does it’s usually taken out of context by one side and used to bludgeon the other.
Jenna’s a fine lady indeed, which means she’ll be too fine for me. Again. Sigh.
Ariel, after thirty years in this business I’m principally impressed by what I don’t know. Most of what I thought I knew when I was younger has proven false or inadequate. This is why there are so few gurus with Ph.D.s.
Dddragon, that’s in a warm year. In others, it’s sou’westers, stocking caps, and mittens. It’s been known to snow.
Cowgirl, yes we do. It’s just that, sometimes, getting there is kinda messy.
Cull the herd, huh, Doug?
Keep movin', movin', movin',
Though they're disapprovin',
Keep them dogies movin' Rawhide!
Don't try to understand 'em,
Just rope and throw and grab 'em,
Soon we'll be living high and wide.
My heart's calculatin'
My true love will be waitin',
Be waiting at the end of my ride.
Move 'em on, head 'em up,
Head 'em up, move 'em out,
Move 'em on, head 'em out Rawhide!
Set 'em out, ride 'em in
Ride 'em in, let 'em out,
Cut 'em out, ride 'em in Rawhide.
O Kelly I can handle just fine. Thanks for unfreezing my brain.
Blogger is being unusually SLOW!! I am getting very HOT under the collar about this. Hyperthermia!!!
What did you guys have for breakfast today? TLP, Kyahgirl, Cowgirl and many others that have more than three comments!!!
You make a girl go all hyperthermianically nuts. Chatterboxes the lot of you! :)
Great definitions today and what a wonderful Wednesday host this
o cailleigh is. I had to check his name twice and still am not sure I got it right! I need a sip of water, right now!
Good grief. Who the heck is calling me a lady?
Knock it off.
Next thing you'll know I'll have to behave.
Now shh...I'm watching Game 7.
Jamie, no problem. Now if only you could unfreeze mine.
A4g, there's been another crime wave in Connecticut, near the old Mark Twain estate.
Minka, thanks and don't worry. Call me anything but "Late for dinner" (that should be obvious from the photo).
Cowgirl, there must be something wrong with me (stop snickering), I can't stop talking and I don't drink coffee. Of course, there are three Coke bottles on my desk ...
Jenna, just remember. Sharks eat Flames. To see why, go home. Behaving's optional.
sign on karma's door:
Gone fishing
Wow, he really is your soul brother! How cool!
Cowgirl, could you have put the photo on a decal on the side of your truck? That would have been fantastic to drive around on biodiesel making fun of them.
I've read your blog, Jenna. Doubt it.
Efficient culling, O Ceallaigh. There's almost 50 comments here. Never trust a PhD to do a cowboy's job.
Jamie Dawn, that's maddening isn't it. I'm angry for you.
a4g, a conscience? I've read point five. It ain't tingeing that bad.
Minka, it rhymes with "teh"
*Salutes President Cowgirl*
Someone who hasn't read your blog, Jenna.
O Ceallaigh, just so's you stay dressed.
Come on back, Karma. I've endured one of your vacations already this year. That's all I've approved.
No argument here, Cowgirl.
Sure is, soul sister!
Hi O'Ceallaigh.
Good job on "hypothermia," but Dr. Weirsdo and I represent your remarks on academics.
You reminded me of this oldie: Son: Mom, I've become a Doctor of Philosophy.
Mother: But what kind of disease IS philosophy?
Oh Doug...a shot to the heart! lol. I suppose that's why I'm with the naughty ones in your links, hm?
I'm not a competition fun, they make little sense, but if there was a Comments Competition, the thread of these comments would take a first place. very amusing.
Cowgirl, that's why the Brits founded teatime - as in, no caffeine after teatime. And no beer before it ...
Thanks, ap3, that's a high compliment. Though my ears are much less flappy.
Mom, it's a social disease.
Jenna, I've got no clue why Doug's relegated you to the corner. Your modesty and propriety would make Jane Austen feel like a wanton. And if you believe that, I've got SUCH a deal on shares of the Golden Gate Bridge ...
Thanks ariel, we aim to please and so does Louise, so don't hide arms get sidearms at Ames Guns! (respectfully stolen from the Firesign Theatre, anno 1971)
*GASPETY GASP* Am I still not naughty enough to join Jenna in the naughty list? Dios mio! Incessant talk of genitals and my rights and my voice with some vulgarities thrown in must now be considered vanilla talk!
Who knew?
Hey big brotha... lil' sistah's gotta make some trouble! As for being on the naughty list.... so not kidding! ;-)
Douglas, the day I start spelling teh the way it is supposed to look, you´d get all worried and hyerthermiac on me!
...and I don´t really know what that entails, but I sure as heaven wouldn´t like to find out!
Weirsdo, I believe it's a palsy of the tongue, if you want to pass that along.
You know, Jenna, I know I had a rationale in mind when I set apart the language advisory but now I can't look at who's where and recall it.
O Ceallaigh, where did you get your ears done?
Ariel, it was a big fun day here, nem?
Miz B, you certainly belong in that number. I'll correct myself the next time I open my template.
Minka, a hyperthermic beagle is not a pretty sight. Thanks for your consideration.
O Ceallaigh, well done.
Nice find!
Thanks, Shi! How've you been?
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