We were discussing something totally relevant to US History in APUSH today (yeah, that was sarcasm) and I zoned out for a while...then when I decided to zone back in, I heard my teacher say, "Just because you're innocent doesn't mean you're ignorant. I'm not any happier now that I know so many things. In fact I'm saddened by some of the things I know."
For some reason, the truthfulness of this observation really hit me.
I love knowledge and I crave it the acquisition of it, but knowledge can be so depressing. Knowledge has sometimes been described as the great equalizer. Why do we sometimes look down on others who may not know certain things, whose society may seem primitive to our own? I think this is more applicable to history as opposed to nowadays. Who are we to say that we are the better society because we're more "technologically advanced"? Are we really any better off than other cultures who don't have the conveniences of modern day medicine, our living standards, etc? The meaning of life consists of happiness and making others happy. Happiness isn't something that comes with material possessions.
Gosh this world is screwed up.
And the above paragraph was all over the place. It's difficult to find fluidity within my thoughts anymore. It's too spastic. Ahhh.
Knowledge is power. Power corrupts. Join quiz bowl and become evil.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Wickedly Wondrous Words
Words are wonderful.
What I love the most about some words is how they can contain a whole concept within just a few letters. If that didn't make any sense, I hope the following words (and their awesomeness) clarify any confusion you may have. And if you do know what I mean by the previous statement, does it seem obvious? A discernible bit of information? Rather a stupid observation?
Tintinnabulation: the jingling of bells. It's six syllables long, which is actually longer than saying "the bells jingled", but it's extremely fun to say and type.
Beek: To bask or warm in the sunshine or before a fire. I had no idea that this word actually existed until today. It's Dictionary.com's word of the day. Isn't it fabulous?
Antebellum: before or existing before the war, especially the American Civil War. I think of Gone With the Wind.
Anachronism: something or someone that is not in its correct historical or chronological time, esp. a thing or person that belongs to an earlier time. I prefer to use this word in its adjective form, anachronistic.
Defenestration: to throw out a window. I like this word AND the mental image I conjure when I hear this word. Ha. Hahaha. (Although it's probably not that funny if you're the one being defenestrated. Is anyone else thinking of Prague right now?)
Orthoepy: the study of proper pronunciation. My reaction when first seeing this word was, "Oh my gosh, that exists?!?"
Vellicate: to touch (a body part) lightly so as to excite the surface nerves and cause uneasiness, laughter, or spasmodic movements. Once again, my reaction was, "There's a word for that??"
Confabulation: the act of confabulating; conversation; discussion. It's 9467 times more fun to say "confabulation" than discussion or conversation.
Premorse: having the end irregularly truncate, as if bitten or broken off. I imagine something (mostly a rock) with jagged edges, symbolic of a bigger idea.
Fantod: state of extreme nervousness or restlessness.
Do you get what I mean? Some words are more than just an adjective or an action. They're an idea completely embodied within a word, an entire concept expressed so wholly in a matter of several letters. They sum up so much so perfectly.
I love words.
What I love the most about some words is how they can contain a whole concept within just a few letters. If that didn't make any sense, I hope the following words (and their awesomeness) clarify any confusion you may have. And if you do know what I mean by the previous statement, does it seem obvious? A discernible bit of information? Rather a stupid observation?
Tintinnabulation: the jingling of bells. It's six syllables long, which is actually longer than saying "the bells jingled", but it's extremely fun to say and type.
Beek: To bask or warm in the sunshine or before a fire. I had no idea that this word actually existed until today. It's Dictionary.com's word of the day. Isn't it fabulous?
Antebellum: before or existing before the war, especially the American Civil War. I think of Gone With the Wind.
Anachronism: something or someone that is not in its correct historical or chronological time, esp. a thing or person that belongs to an earlier time. I prefer to use this word in its adjective form, anachronistic.
Defenestration: to throw out a window. I like this word AND the mental image I conjure when I hear this word. Ha. Hahaha. (Although it's probably not that funny if you're the one being defenestrated. Is anyone else thinking of Prague right now?)
Orthoepy: the study of proper pronunciation. My reaction when first seeing this word was, "Oh my gosh, that exists?!?"
Vellicate: to touch (a body part) lightly so as to excite the surface nerves and cause uneasiness, laughter, or spasmodic movements. Once again, my reaction was, "There's a word for that??"
Confabulation: the act of confabulating; conversation; discussion. It's 9467 times more fun to say "confabulation" than discussion or conversation.
Premorse: having the end irregularly truncate, as if bitten or broken off. I imagine something (mostly a rock) with jagged edges, symbolic of a bigger idea.
Fantod: state of extreme nervousness or restlessness.
Do you get what I mean? Some words are more than just an adjective or an action. They're an idea completely embodied within a word, an entire concept expressed so wholly in a matter of several letters. They sum up so much so perfectly.
I love words.
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