insuperable

insuperable - adj - incapable of being passed over, surmounted or overcome; unsurmountable


Related to my current job, I am (unfortunately) no longer programming. The company has purchased what is (I think) a wonderful piece of software to allow non-technical users to develop fully working business plans (BPM). However, from the developer perspective, there isn't much to keep the interest. So, I'm sure I'll be in the job market again since I insist on being either a programmer or a manager of programmers.

Junoesque

Junoesque - adj - Having the stately bearing and imposing beauty of the goddess Juno.

andante

andante – adj, adv - Moderately slow and even.

Jeff, you missed this one, so I'm muscling in on your musical turf.

vitiate

vitiate - verb - to make faulty or imperfect; to render defective; to impair; to corrupt morally; to debase; to render ineffective

Is this inline with your opinion mentioned in your word today John?

demography

demography - n - The science of vital and social statistics, as of the births, deaths, diseases, marriages, etc., of populations.

I wish I could remember who first said that demography is destiny. It's one of those propositions that's so obviously true that it becomes a full-time job pretending it's not. Diversity, as the word is currently understood, has never been any nations greatest strength ever, anywhere or anytime. If the Bush-Kennedy amnesty passes congress, it will be the end of what's left of the United States.

flagitious

flagitious - adj - disgracefully or shamefully criminal; wicked; guilty of enormous crimes; corrupt; profligate

internecine

internecine - adj - Of or relating to conflict within a nation, an organization or a group; mutually destructive; involving or accompanied by mutual slaughter; deadly; destructive

Armageddon comes to mind.

I was reading this article (http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2007/05/28/100033867/index.htm) today which talks about patent Armageddon, a situation in which companies sue each other into oblivion over patent infringement issues.

In some ways the precipitation of hostilities during the Cold War could have been described in the same way.

Dire, no matter how you cut this one.

cui bono

cui bono - n - Utility, advantage, or self-interest considered as the determinant of value or motivation.

I couldn't find a really satisfactory definition. This is generally seen as a question and might best be translated as, "Who benefits?" or "Who profits?"

I'm campaigning for a new holiday: Siete de Junio, commemorating the French army's occupation of Mexico City in 1863.

doughty

doughty - adj - Marked by fearless resolution; valiant; brave

Back to the words.

redound

redound - verb - to have a consequence or effect; to return; to rebound; to reflect; to become added or transferred; to accrue


This word seems appropriate in light of the news of Natalie's impending departure for Houston as her husbands career moves to the next stage. Congratulations to both of them!

termagant

termagant - noun - a scolding, nagging, bad-tempered woman; a shrew

Can't think of anyone who would actually qualify, but a certain movie adapted from a play by Wm. Shakespeare does come to mind.

A 17th Century Exquisite

This just in from the art world: today's painting was long thought to show King Charles II's mistress Nell Gwynne. New evidence suggests that the woman portrayed was an earlier mistress, Barbara Villiers, justly considered one of the great beauties of the day.

dirndl

dirndl – n - A woman's dress with a close-fitting bodice and full skirt, commonly of colorful and strikingly patterned material, fashioned after Tyrolean peasant wear.

I'm back.

supplant

supplant - verb - to take the place of another, especially through intrigue or underhanded tactics; to take the place of and server as a substitute for

gregarious

gregarious - adj - tending to form a group with others of the same kind; seeking and enjoying the company of others

... or, as the saying goes, "birds of a feather flock together". Recently, however, this list has often felt like a list of one.

impugn

impugn - verb - to attack by words or arguments; to call in question; to make insinuations against; to oppose or challenge as false; to gainsay

I'm on a good pace for a word entry every-other-day. :-(

I'll try to do better, I've been real busy learning new stuff at work.

bedaub

bedaub - verb - to smudge over; to besmear or soil with anything thick and dirty; to overdecorate; to ornament showily or gaudily

Not something done to corn with butter. That would be daub. (get it! ;-)

condescend

condescend – v - To behave as if one is conscious of descending from a superior position, rank, or dignity; to stoop or deign to do something.

Wolf, one of your strengths as a teacher is that you were never condescending.

Today's Exquisite entry is my teenage dream girl Natalie Wood.

petit

petit - adj - small; petty; minor

I was on this kind of jury last week. We tried a case in which we found the defendant guilty on felony charges and sentenced him to a total of 11 years in prison. I promise the process felt anything but petit. Overall, it was a good experience though. I enjoyed being a part of the "system".

jingo

jingo – n - A person who professes his or her patriotism loudly and excessively, favoring vigilant preparedness for war and an aggressive foreign policy; bellicose chauvinist.

Sorry, I've been so busy lately I've had to neglect WoD. By the way, have you noticed there's never a Jeff around when you meed one?