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English is a bower-bird language. We grab bits of everything and ram them together to form some vaguely coherent whole... and creating the third most difficult language for non-native speakers to learn.

OBSCURE WORD OF THE DAY!
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Today's word is spitchered.

This means "destroyed, rendered inoperable". The reason I bring it up is that spitchered is the only Maltese word used in English. Yes, just the one... but at least it's one.

Your challenge today, should you accept it, is to use this word in a letter to the editor of your local newspaper.
  •   1 comment
Only English native speakers think English is hard to learn.

Yes, it has obscure words.
Yes, all languages have obscure words.

Seriously, English is not hard to learn.
Humped bigfoots ceaselessly jaywalking extract quizzical views.
New question over at
FORUM
Question of the Day! Open in new Window. (18+)
Come answer a question, share a laugh, encourage one another, and bring me a coffee!
#2142667 by Lilli ☕ VACAY! back on 4/29 Author IconMail Icon


And, yes, it's me, so it's a writering question:
"QOTD: Tuesday April 29 2025"  Open in new Window.
Another new animation... we are being spoiled...
  •   1 comment
Yeah, today's is very slick! *Smile*
R.A.T.!
Random Aussie Tune!

This is part of my ongoing attempt to make Australia seem like a country not just populated by wildlife out to kill you (even though it is) and always on fire or under water (only half the time, to be honest) by posting songs I like by Aussie (not Kiwi) artists.

Daryl Braithwaite was the lead singer of Sherbert, who embarked upon a solo career in the 80s that did rather well. His biggest hit was also probably the best thing he's done - a cover of Rickie Lee Jones' 'The Horses'. Now, I do not say this very often at all, but this is a cover that, to me, outshines the original. And it is a song guaranteed to get a certain section of Australians singing along at the pub. Not screaming - singing. It is a pub anthem.

And it is awesome.
Seen live? Yes.
Overseas success? Not particularly.

'The Horses' by Daryl Braithwaite (1990)


Having a conflict with the local council.

See, when I die, I want my remains to be scattered over the area.

Problem is... I don't want to be cremated first...
  •   1 comment
Well, of the various deadly critters Down Under of which I'm aware, I'd say a saltwater croc's your best bet for scatterable remains.
"I'm a writer," is always such a great excuse.

Why are you reading a nineteenth century book on Aztec culture and death cults? "I'm a writer."

Why are you watching those ants eat that mouse corpse so intently? "I'm a writer."

Why does your search history include various poisonous flowers? "I'm a writer."

Why do you keep talking to the homeless man who lives behind the supermarket? "I'm a writer."

Why is there a dead body in your attic? "I'm a writer."
  •   2 comments
I never thought of this before. Thanks for a useful tip.
That dedication is all encompassing.
I've added a new entry to my "Writing Blog Number 2" Open in new Window.:
         "20250428 Songs That Tell A Story" Open in new Window.

Something slightly different.
Did you know that when a boxer or MMA participant keeps going into bouts the same way and cannot think of alternate ways to combat an opponent, it's called "fighter's block"?
Gotta love Sunday mornings and tovers for brekky.
  •   6 comments
Jellyfish Author Icon - But I'll bet you've eaten them. *Wink*
Ned  Author Icon
Jellyfish Author Icon - I imagine that tovers are the same as mustgos - as in making a meal of out the things in the fridge that "must go".
Ned Author Icon - Haha Okay - you mean LEFTOVERS? Ive never heard of that, but yes I have eaten them *Laugh*
People often ask me why I decided to become a writer and dedicate my life to that pursuit.

And I always answer the same way: How the hell did you get into my bedroom?
Lively quokkas defibrillate waxing chimpanzees.
  •   2 comments
waxing loquacious, yes?
That's got it down to just five words. *Cool*
R.A.T.!
Random Aussie Tune!

This is part of my ongoing attempt to make Australia seem like a country not just populated by wildlife out to kill you (even though it is) and always on fire or under water (only half the time, to be honest) by posting songs I like by Aussie (not Kiwi) artists.

After the rather depressing past two days, I thought I'd go comedy today. Axis Of Awesome are an interesting group, who I saw early on in their career. Then this song blew up, and smashed it across the world, seeing their stocks rise. The lead singer transitioned to be a woman, which saw their popularity in the USA wane markedly (yes, there is a correlation), but the band broke up in 2018. Anyway, this song is amazing, and seeing it live is something else, as they add more and more songs.

And again, for those easily offended - they are just words!
Seen live? Yes.
Overseas success? Europe especially.

'4 Chord Song' by Axis Of Awesome (2009)


  •   2 comments
Very entertaining. High notes were impressive.
That was fun!
Eczema itches when yaks out-fox jumping pangolins in quivering bread.
  •   3 comments
So - it looks like we have here Option #2 for one sentence that uses all 26 letters of the English alphabet (although several are used more than once, unlike 'the Gold Standard').
The class sang, “A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H-I-J-K-L-M-N-O-P-Q-R-S-T-U-V-W-X-Y-Z.”
Looks political to me. Makes no sense.
I brought this up at the pub and was not surprised to learn that nobody knew what I was talking about. But when a visiting teacher asked me what I was talking about... maybe it needs some love.

OBSCURE WORD OF THE DAY!

Today's word is tmesis.

This means "to split up a word in order to insert another word (e.g. fan-bloody-tastic)". It is not a phrase with an insertion ("Jesus H. Christ") but an actual word. Tre-f*ckin'-mendous!

There had to be a word for it, right?

Your challenge today, should you accept it, is to write a poem using a heap of tmesis.
  •   1 comment
I don’t believe I’ve ever mentioned how much I enjoy these obscure words of yours. This might be myfavorite. *Bigsmile*
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