No comment. :rolleyes:

Do it got ya'll listed? For that money I want the whole redneck works! :smack:

Busterb, you can contact the OED, and suggest that it be included if its not already. I don't have time to run down to my public library to check, but I wouldn't be surprised if the term were included. You can also get a month's on-line subscription to it for a mere $29.95 which I just might give myself as a Christmas present. Its the only dictionary I have ever sat down and actually read! Its very, very cool and the term "dictionary" hardly begins to describe it!

:hide: Did I spell something wrong or make a grammatical errror? I'm really confused and have a feeling I might be being made fun of, or I might just be misunderstanding what the hell you're talking about...Either way, please explain :confused:

From the OED website:


The Oxford English Dictionary is the accepted authority on the evolution of the English language over the last millennium. It is an unsurpassed guide to the meaning, history, and pronunciation of over half a million words, both present and past. It traces the usage of words through 2.5 million quotations from a wide range of international English language sources, from classic literature and specialist periodicals to film scripts and cookery books.

The OED covers words from across the English-speaking world, from North America to South Africa, from Australia and New Zealand to the Caribbean. It also offers the best in etymological analysis and in listing of variant spellings...

As the OED is a historical dictionary, its entry structure is very different from that of a dictionary of current English, in which only present-day senses are covered...

The OED is a wonderful work for someone who loves words and their meanings like I do. I may be rotten at spelling, but I love the history and meaning of the words which make up the English language. The OED gives each word in English a new depth and meaning. The print version contains 20 volumes.

It is far from "a stupid dictionary." But most people wouldn't know this, since few people have ever encountered the OED. It was one of my most fav reference tools when I still worked as a librarian.

Etymology is cool.

It's a very large, stupid dictionary.

The average Native English Speaker* uses about 5K words on a regular basis.

I respect the OED. It is the motherlode of wordage. It can be considered overkill, however.

I'm reminded of the very thick book described by Mrs. Premise (or perhaps Mrs. Conclusion) about how to put your budgie down called "How to Put Your Budgie Down." The OED would serve admirably as the book with which to hit your budgerigar.





* According to the first website I found via Google that actually answered that question. This number may be suspect because they are trying to sell a tool that will increase your number of words in regular usage.

The knowledge trove that is Wikipedia says that most native English speakers have a vocabulary of about 30K words. The disparity in numbers leads me to presume that the folks on the high end had grandparents with subscriptions to The Reader's Digest.

Damn! It would take you 20 volumes to squash the thing? Why not just shoot it? Remind me to never be left alone in a room with THAT bird! :mg:

Damnnit! I got the blues. I hate this.

I feel very, very lonely and sad. And, I would do just about anything to NOT feel this way. I wonder how staceyv is doing.

Its snowing here. It will quickly turn to rain (experience, not pessimism) but while it lasts its wonderful. I can't spread anything but the words to you as it doesn't photograph well (and you probably get much better snow where you are) but its about the only thing shifting my blues at the mo.

Am going to walk home for once, across the wide & windy waste of the park, and fell glad to be alive. Or cold. Which is the one that makes your fingers tingle again?

I hate that feeling, too, Brianna. Are you on anti-depressants? Sometimes they can work wonders and there's no shame in taking them. We all have tough spots that we go through.

Hope you are feeling better today. :comfort:

Funny bone.

It's been windy as [insert euphemism] here for 3 days. I hate the wind. It makes me nervous and sucks the air out of your lungs when you go outside.

[a bean packers convention]

Hehehe, funny.

I have fairly been described as windy.

[BigV]

cute. I sometimes warn my audience that I talk a mile a minute with gusts up to ninety.

Nope. I think this dictionarily defined diversion came from a typo of Marichiko's.

My solutions to this situation are
1) get a pet
2) learn to play a musical instrument
3) have a good cry
Perhaps one or more of these would work for you, too?

She sure is a cutie. I wish her good luck and healing for her emotions. Bless you, Kitty, the puppy dog, bless you. :apaw: And, peace.

I'm already getting the best dog on earth . ;)

Have you consulted with Rikki Tikki Tabby about this new addition to the family (if RTT starts playing around with a crochet needle I'd get a bit worried, if I were you....)

:lol2: :notworthy

I have hidden all my crochet hooks for the duration, although I did find the beginnings of a mysterious afgan which I promptly disposed of in the nearest police call booth!

Actually, one reason I picked Rikki is that he came from a household which includes two dogs, so I'm hoping he will not be too stunned when the puppy arrives. I've raised puppies and kittens together and never had a problem. It can be difficult when an adult animal must suddenly cope with a member of the opposite species. I think the two young 'uns will sort it out, though. If not, there's always the crochet hooks!

Fired yesterday afternoon.

Aftershocks to follow.

Oh my word - really sorry to hear that.
Good luck for everything to follow.

Wow, BigV. That sucks!

Want to talk about it?

Hang in there.

Really man, hang in, you're one of the good guys so stay cool, all will work out in time.

Good luck V, I hope this turns out to be a good thing for you.

Oh, BigV--I am so sorry. Change is so very difficult, but, for me, even when it's been a horrible bitch, it's been GOOD (in hindsight--)

---look. This sucks so much--right at Christmas. We are here for you. UT is right-you ARE a good guy. Chin up.

Wow, V. That's harsh - right before the holidays. Your profile says computer wrangler. Is this going to be a big deal for you, or is it just a matter of polishing up the resume?

Chin up brother.

WHAT? Oh, my God! I am so sorry! Your employer must be an idiot. Tell us who you worked for so we can send them anonymous hate mail. What a rotten thing to do right before Christmas! The jerks could have waited until December 26th, anyhow. Oh, too bad! :eek:

That sucks. Good luck.

I'm really sorry, V. I hope this turns out to be a blessing in disguise.

Getting a better job is the best revenge. The resources of the Cellar are at your service.

Getting fired sucks. Getting a new job rocks.

Matter of time, BigV, matter of time.

BigV, you're in my thoughts.

Some years back, losing a job was the best thing that ever happened to me. I hope that it can be for you.

Holy Shit! Bummer, man. Fired or laid off?
Post coordinates, after your safely clear, and we'll see what we can do about an air strike.....we're testing Apaches all the time.

You're the 5th person that's told me they lost their job this week. What the hell is going on? I know it's W's fault somehow.

This may be your "big break". You sound like you know your computer stuff, have the personality and language skills, plus a good attitude. You'll be OK, I'm sure of that. After the ripples settle down you'll find a better position.

Of course you may choose to be a goat farmer or run Radar's campaign.
Whatever, you'll do it with style......Big V style. :thumb:

Everything they're saying is right on the money. You will work again. This is an unscheduled vacation. Lining up with Advent could be a blessing in disguise for someone who wants to observe the season in a Christian manner. Make straight the way. blessings man it will be ok.

BigV, are you ok?

Oh bugger! Good luck BigV. Damn. Shit.

I echo wolf. I'm living proof also, I just started a good job a week ago after losing a good one a year ago. It was scary and very depressing at times, but right now I feel a lot better about my working future that I have in the last ten years. You'll get there too. (And it wouldn't have been a whole year, but I worked six months in between, at a suck job that I thought would work into a good one....)

It's true, it IS getting tough out there, but you'll make it through this ok. Keep us updated, and if you get bitchy or whiny, ya got a place to vent!

Anyone heard from BigV - no posts since Friday's bad news....

I haven't heard from him and I did PM him on Friday, too...hope all is ok...

Eek..good luck, BigV. Hope you land on your feet. Check in and let us know you're okay.

I am so hoping this isn't a you been on the cellar at work so you're fired story...

Adding to the chorus
Senior V, wishing you the best during this tough time.

The thread killer returns to the scene of the crime.

OK, glad to know you're still alive.....but that post was a tease. :stickpoke

Sorry to hear about you losing your job .

Now whats the skinny minnie ????
Whats the haps chap ????
Whats the deal McNeal ???







Did they catch you surfing for Goat porn again ?????
( just kidding dude )

Hell with that. I'll include my name and address.

I've seen V lurking. Wonder when we'll get an update? :confused:

Yes, I've seen V lurking, too. I wish he would post and tell us he's surviving or going postal or whatever. It always helps to get feedback from your friends, my friend.

And I'm with Patrick, I'd proudly sign my real name and address on any hate mail directed toward your former employer as long as it didn't boomerang back on you.

Speak, Big V! :(

I am here.

I have been unable to completely disconnect myself from this community, though the news was a terrible blow, and I have written very little in the interim. I have been quite democratic in my silence. Practically no one has heard from me. Please do not feel as though I have singled you (plural) out for shunning. I am still processing all the changes the news has wrought.

For instance, just today I had another epiphany: I gave my job away. Certainly an argument for that analysis could be made. That stung. Like when Wile E. steps on the rake and it levers up and smacks him in the face. Only I got the bonus of having the little tweeting birdies shit in my eye as they twittered derisively in their mocking orbit.

*shrugs, inhales deeply, exhales*

No, I'm not bitter.

BigV, BigV-- *hugs*


Everything I write sounds so trite and stupid...but, the Universe loves you and knows what you need. You will be ok.

BigV, having been on the receiving end of a firing that I wasn't expecting, I know something about what you're feeling. I didn't handle it well, and in retrospect, the biggest mistake I made was allowing the defeat to sap my energy. It's okay to wallow around the house in your underwear for a day or two, but the sooner you rejoin society, the better off you'll be.

Do something -- any job. Swallow your stung pride (and this is the hardest part), and find ANYTHING that requires you to wake up in the morning, put on your shoes, and get somewhere by 8 a.m. to work for someone. Not a career-type job, necessarily, but something. You need the ritual, or else a worse ritual will take its place: sleeping till 11, drinking gallons of coffee, smoking bales of weed, surfing the net and playing games until 3 a.m. Or maybe that was just my ritual. But you get the idea.

When you're not working at the car wash/retail establisment/lawnmowing service, get your resume together and spam the living daylights out of every company you can think of. It feels nice to be able to quit the Walmart job to get back into your profession. The important thing is that when you go to interview, you have that aura of confidence and determination....hard to come by if you are slumming on the couch between interviews.


You can pull out of this. Good luck.

You nailed it, mrnoodle. Went through that myself. :blush:

OK, V. So you're going to wait for the dust to settle, you've found a better job and reestablished your self-esteem, before we get the skinny, huh?

Silly wabbit, we love you anyway. :grouphug:

I have mentioned in other threads my behavior regarding high stakes events, like tests, interviews, etc. I get increasingly nervous in the run up to the starting gun, then I'm ok. Like the tortuously slow and inexorable clanking ride to the top of the first hill on a (unknown, possibly unsafe, no safeties--gah, must stop--freakin myself out) rollercoaster, my stress level also rises.

Today I'm riding that train up up up. Submitting first application in a minute (or so).

I think I need to submit the app, *then* come back and post my verbiage for proofing, etc. I don't wish to procrastinate any further.

God.

At the top now, looking down from the front seat. The weight of the trailing cars is only momentarily delaying the inevitable...


Aaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

f*ckf*ckf*ckf*ckf*ckf*ckf*ckf*ckf*ckf*ckf*ckf*ckf*ckf*ckf*ckf*ckf*ckf*ck

I'm not hungry, not thirsty, don't have to pee, dog doesn't need walking, not expecting the mail for several hours, don't have anywhere to be or do just right now, and yet I can't get this on paper!!!

I am so frustrated/fearful/stressed that the impression I'll make will be not right enough that I sweat (understatement, that) the details right into a tight hard knot. I am paralyzed by perfection, or my search for it. I can't move. It's fuckin pathetic.

I hope to hell your talking about a resume or application and not a posting. :eyebrow:
Chill, man.
Now breathe...in...out..in..out.
OK, you can do this with your eyes closed. One word in front of the other. Go slow, build a rhythm, a cadence, left, right, left, right......
There, see how easy that is.....you're a natural.......you're... BIG V!

I worked my small smooth brain to the bone last night getting the resume ready for prime time. I *think* it's ready. I need one set of eyes to check for those invisible errors. For example, in final draft-3 last night, DaughterofV asked, "Dad, do you want a period at the end of this first paragraph?" :smack: That kind of stuff. In my estimation, it's a deal killer if you have a tyop on your stinkin resume. Seriously.

I found myself veryvery easily distracted yesterday on this issue. It's important, high stakes, professional stuff, and I couldn't deliver. I do think I have the product ready now though, and I will submit what I have this morning, regardless. Even more than my need for "perfection" is my need for "food", so I'll suppress my bad feelings about what I've written and concentrate on the 90% useful part and **deliver** that. Better mostly there than perfectly unsubmitted, y'know?

Yeah, then when someone who pissed you off is up for dish duty, you can get 'em back... :rolleyes:

Our lab is pretty small (7 people). We all clean up after ourselves. The one person who tends to leave her stuff to 'soak' for extended periods usually ends up with the dirty item(s) on her desk. Unwashed. That usually keeps her in line.

She is also the only one who leaves leftovers in the fridge long to mutate into unrecognizable.