Flatter

FLATTER, v.t.  To impress another with a sense of one's own merit.  

The bungler boasts of his excellence-

His hearers yawn and nod;

The artist flatters his audience-

They shout: "He is a god!"

2008 Update:  To buy dearness at discount.

Frontispiece

FRONTISPIECE, n. A protuberance of the human face, beginning between the eyes and terminating, as a rule, in somebody's business.

2008 Update:  The portico of a bank or other important edifice, where hope is abandoned and sense surrendered.

The Mayoralty of Macedon

Episode I

To listen, click on Herodotus, this week's moderator.

Or flip a Macedonian coin to read this story.

Mfff

OK, today's post will go up later, maybe around 7PM TLPDT.

Libertine

LIBERTINE, n.  Literally a freedman; hence, one who is in bondage to his passions.

2008 Update:  Any man freer with his hand than with his opinion.

Lickspittle

LICKSPITTLE, n. A useful functionary, not infrequently found editing a newspaper. In his character of editor he is closely allied to the blackmailer by the tie of occasional identity; for in truth the lickspittle is only the blackmailer under another aspect, although the latter is frequently found as an independent species. Lickspittling is more detestable than blackmailing, precisely as the business of a confidence man is more detestable than that of a highway robber; and the parallel maintains itself throughout, for whereas few robbers will cheat, every sneak will plunder if he dare.

2008 Update:  A treasury secretary in need of a loan.

In Re The Environment

Yesterday I crossed the high Sierra.

The changes there would really scare ya:

Glaciers gone, Pines grown thin,

The only chill ran down my skin.

I've got no answer, though I meant to-

Is it just too close to Sacramento?

VAPOR, n. The substance of matter, a matter of substance.

Homiletics

HOMILETICS, n. The science of adapting sermons to the spiritual needs, capacities and conditions of the congregation.

So skilled the parson was in homiletics
That all his normal purges and emetics
To medicine the spirit were compounded
With a most just discrimination founded
Upon a rigorous examination
Of tongue and pulse and heart and respiration.
Then, having diagnosed each one's condition,
His scriptural specifics this physician
Administered — his pills so efficacious
And pukes of disposition so vivacious
That souls afflicted with ten kinds of Adam
Were convalescent ere they knew they had 'em.
But Slander's tongue — itself all coated — uttered
Her bilious mind and scandalously muttered
That in the case of patients having money
The pills were sugar and the pukes were honey.

—Biography of Bishop Potter

2008 Update:  The art of inspiring submission to the will of God, by turning it on a stranger.

I know I started with L-words, but Jim distracted me.

Lay-Figure

LAY-FIGURE, n. The number which represents a hen's periodical output of eggs.

2008 Update: A member of the laity, as opposed to the lieity.

Note to Jenn, Karma and TLP: I'll take the thought that came second.

Orpheus And The Blind Prophet

The Mayoralty of Macedon

Second Prelude. Click on Lyra to listen.

Or take a trip across the styx with Orpheus' lyre and your mouse's clicks.