Category Archives: Language

Going, going, … gone

Posted on June 10, 2012 by Gandalfe

The Dodo never had a chance. He seems to have been invented for the sole purpose of becoming extinct and that was all he was good for.” ~ Will Cuppy Who remembers typewriters, 8 track players, and disco? So much … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Everyday Science, Guides, Health and wellness, Language, Lifestyle, Research, Social Media, Technology, United States | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Epic Libraries of the Rich and Famous

Posted on August 23, 2011 by Gandalfe

I am an avid bibliophile with books strewn all over my house. As we move towards the digital divide, I wonder if paper libraries will become just a memory like stone tablets. So when I saw this collection of “20 … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Culture, Education, Hobbies, Language, library, Photograph, Vintage | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Measuring Music Tempo ~ How fast is fast?

Posted on May 12, 2011 by Gandalfe

A music forum noob recently asked me how fast a piece marked Allegro should be played. It got me to thinking that I should place this here in case my source disappears, which btw happens more times than you might … Continue reading →

Posted in Band, Big Band, Classical, Education, Forum, Language, Music, Reference, Wikipedia | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Poodle-fakers and Scrimshankers

Posted on November 26, 2008 by Gandalfe

50 of your favorite words from the BBC… I’m told there are a lot of sesquipedalians out there. I’m surrounded at work by word people such are most writers and editors. The BBC asked for “your favourite words and were … Continue reading →

Posted in Language, Slang | 7 Comments

The Final Word: Good punctuation brings periods of happiness

Posted on September 28, 2008 by Gandalfe

“An exclamation mark is like laughing at your own jokes.” – Scott Fitzgerald I thought I was the only one with bad comma karma. But Craig Wilson of USA Today writes in “The Final Word: Good punctuation brings periods of … Continue reading →

Posted in Humor, Language | 2 Comments

MSDN: Writing wrongly wins man top dishonor

Posted on August 16, 2008 by Gandalfe

This stuff just tickles me.  :o) “Theirs was a New York love, a checkered taxi ride burning rubber, and like the city their passion was open 24/7, steam rising from their bodies like slick streets exhaling warm, moist, white breath … Continue reading →

Posted in Humor, Language, Writing | 5 Comments

DoshDosh: How to Say Nothing in 500 Words (A Lesson on Writing)

Posted on July 14, 2008 by Gandalfe

This is a good read on a number of levels. I started out reading this thinking, “Yes, why don’t more bloggers know this!” I ended up realizing I’d slid into some of the traps that come from being a lazy … Continue reading →

Posted in Language, Writing | 3 Comments

Chops, a definition

Posted on October 17, 2007 by Gandalfe

Most people, even musicians have trouble keeping up with the slang in the industry. So there is a lot of misinformation out there. And there are so many hobbyist types who guess like they know what the real answer is … Continue reading →

Posted in Jazz, Language, Slang | 2 Comments