Senate

SENATE, n. A body of elderly gentlemen charged with high duties and misdemeanors.

2006 Update: The upper, or least lower, house of Congress, established to protect the right of minorities to discriminate.

Sar split town but contributed a story to Doug Drones On on the way past the mailbox. You all share her spirit, but I have her larynx. Come hear her keep it short.

Sycophant

SYCOPHANT, n. One who approaches greatness on his belly so that he may be commanded to turn and be kicked. He is sometimes an editor.

2006 Update: A quiet sort who pretty much kept to himself, the nicest guy in the world who always got all his work done, always had something nice to say to everyone and never gave anyone a bit trouble before this.

2. The second-smartest guy in the room.

Note: 10 demerits to anyone commenting today on the quality of this blog or its author. You guys are cleverer than that.

Special Guest Wednesday

This week, it's my pleasure to have my friend, Brian as a Wednesday guest.

Brian was asked to define Rhyme.

RHYME, n. A political slogan designed to entice moral outrage.
(Done the crime, must do the time)
(Our borders are porous, vote for Rep. Morris)
(To support gay marriage, is a cultural miscarriage).
(Children we see, reject Plan B)

RHYME, v.
The teleprompter reveals,
the stories that are real,
the sound and the fury,
the eyes look bleary,
only one hundred left
but don't be bereft
if you call without fail
they'll still be on sale.

About Brian: Brian introduced himself here on May 15 of this year, courageously speaking ill of Tom Cruise. Since then, his comic poetry and wit have become such persistent features of this site it's hard to believe he hasn't been here all along. We've all come to expect the rhyming pentecost he so often delivers and exemplified in this week's definition. Putting together so many rhymed words in a coherent message requires a vocabulary the author of this here dictionary can only aspire to.

Brian writes several blogs. The oldest is Truth is Freedom which began as showcase for Brian's always evident sensitivity and compassion in this case directed towards a young girl who'd been mistreated. Since that time his site has been a place for poetry, sharing and parody. I'm told there is an extension of this guest post, project A-Z, waiting for us over there. New posts on this blog are mainly Wednesdays and Fridays.

Cue the parental advisories: To extend the poetry, Brian created a site for poetry (some of which is intended for an adult audience,) My Muse, My Poetry, My Life. Dewy Knickers started life as a character in a parody on Truth is Freedom and Brian channels her still on her own site. Dewy's site, like the others contains various types of creative writing, but is centered on questions that Dewy asks other women about their thoughts on various matters. By some magic, women open up and express their opinions and feelings there. This site posts daily, Monday through Saturday.

The most striking thing about Brian is his relationship with his wife, Diane. Both suffer from significant disabilities and have healed together as one soul in two skins. Diane appears often on his site as a supporter and nurturer. Brian always honors her with appreciation. Ladies, if you want this kind of romance in your life, it all happens at the office coffee pot.

Thanks to Brian for bringing his poetry here.

How to be a future guest on this site: 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.

I will be contacting previous guests who regularly comment here to repeat in no particular order. Previous guests who haven't been much heard from since their guest post should recontact if they would like to repeat.

Acephalous

ACEPHALOUS, adj. In the surprising condition of the Crusader who absently pulled at his forelock some hours after a Saracen scimitar had, unconsciously to him, passed through his neck, as related by de Joinville.

2006 Update: Democratic.

ACK! Happy Birthday, Mama! Today's word was not inspired by you! I thought today was the 7th!

Arbitration

ARBITRATION, n. A patent medicine for allaying international heat, designed to supersede the old-school treatment of blood-letting. It makes the unsuccessful party to the dispute hate two or more nations instead of one- to the unspeakable advantage of peace.

2006 Update: A formula for prevention of conflagaration by adding a prelate to litigation, where a litigant and a legatee agree to appointed referee because resolution of an allegation benefits by simplification.

The Big Happy Family

Story #56, The story of a wholesome little girl and her precious little dog.

To hear the story, join the family for dinner.






To read the story, pet the family dog.

And, on the topic of big happy families, happy birthday to Actonbell the Magnificent!

This week in The Prattler, "Cross of Air."

Ambrosia

AMBROSIA, n. The diet of the Gods- the modern peanut.

2006 Update: The sweet soufflé served to salesmen or a bowlful of broth to a beggar. Your grandmother's cooking after a long visit graveside.

Shoddy

SHODDY, n. (vulgus) A term that expresses the status of a large part of our society, and furnishes a weakly page of matter to many of our time-serving dailies.

2006 Update: adj. Unprecise. Made in haste to be suffered at leisure as war, peace, love or lexicography.

Special Guest Wednesday

This week, I'm delighted to have as my guest Bookworm aka Tok'ra aka Haras Pikachu Pez. After her mother's guest appearance last week, Bookworm was asked to define Self-defense.

SELF-DEFENSE, n. Fudging the truth for your own benefits.
The first punch but not the first move.

About Bookworm aka Tok'ra aka Haras Pikachu Pez: Bookworm is the first born of Dddragon's daughters by a foot. The (comparatively) good twin has proven that the gene for hectic is dominant and is a trumpet player, shakespearean actress, international purveyor of peace, Dance Dance Revolution prodigy, Stargate fan and impending driver, God help us all. Poor Dddragon. Poor, poor Dddragon. Bookworm's appearance here marks an important point in the history of Waking Ambrose. As of now, each and every blogging Pez has now graced this site as a Wednesday Guest (except maybe one. I'll have to check.)

Bookworm, as her name suggests, is a thoughtful and curious sort. For a long time, the main feature on her blog, The Bookworm's Nook was a weekly series in which she would describe a situation from her classes and/or life, invoke a good quote by a great mind on the topic, and ask her readers for their opinions. These features always provoked an interesting discussion. At other times her site, like her sister, Goa'uld's, has been a place for video game reviews, book reviews, and a partial diary. Oh, and I'm sure she'll be delighted for me to point out that you can read about (some of) her weird habits, here. Just as a teaser, the child has a shoelace fetish.

Not surprisingly, given her lineage, Bookworm is a funny, considerate, brainy, talented and insightful young person. None of which will protect you from door dents if you park your car on the street in South-Central Pennsylvania about 6 months hence. Remember, kids, don't drill and drive.

Oh, heck! I almost forgot that today is Waking Ambrose's day to search for intelligent life.

And on Tok'ra's day, too.

How to be a future guest on this site: 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.

I will be contacting previous guests who regularly comment here to repeat in no particular order. Previous guests who haven't been much heard from since their guest post should recontact if they would like to repeat.

Nirvana

NIRVANA, n. In the Buddhist religion, a state of pleasurable annihilation awarded to the wise, particularly to those wise enough to understand it.

2006 Update: The place of punishment for a life without transgression.

Rabbit, Rabbit, E'ryone!