TO PUT IT SIMPLY…
I think by now we’ve all heard the old adages of “don’t use a five-dollar word if a 50-cent one will do the job,” or “don’t send a ten-dollar word to do the job of a two cent one.”
I like five and ten dollar words. I’m not ashamed to admit it. I’m comfortable around them. To me, they feel like home and sometimes these words might come to me before their “everyday” more “pedestrian” counterparts might. Case in point, I might be more apt to use the word “viable” than possible or “supercilious” in place of haughty, perhaps “laconic” might be more to the point than “to the point” is. I get them, I understand them, and use them freely perhaps even at times when a simpler word could’ve painted the same picture or communicated the same thought. However, as with everything else there are times when such an expansive vocabulary may not do you any good or when the insertion of a “fancy” word or term may leave you looking more like a fool than a former undefeated spelling bee champ.
I’m not talking about being embarrassed by accidently misusing or mispronouncing a word. That happens with as much frequency as a celebrity heading to rehab, all day you hear and read verbal and written misfires. I’ll probably do it at least ten times within this column entry alone. So no, it’s not the potential humiliation of being corrected by a “Grammar Nazi or” a “career scholar.”
No, what I’m referring to is when a person either purposely or unknowingly bulldozes into another person with a rapid-fire succession of S.A.T Prep Course worthy vocabulary lists posing as thoughts that they then bring to life in one poorly thought out but all too quickly vocalized sentence. It may be a sentence of literary perfection–one replete with enough connotations, allegory, and nuances that would make any English Lit Professor weep with pride—however, if you decided to impose your laudable vocabulary upon someone who you more than likely knew would not understand what you said or were about to say then playing the part of a fool serves you right.
I recently witnessed this type of scenario in its full glory in a very public scenario (more…)
“SECRETLY” CANADIAN…
So, I’ve slowly come to the conclusion that I’m secretly Canadian.
No, I’m not responsible for bringing you fantastic tunes from Antony and the Johnsons, Gardens and Villa, Here We Go Magic, jj, The War on Drugs, Yeasayer, etc. Nope, I’m not that Secretly Canadian.
Despite my new-found Canadian identity, I don’t yet have a habit of turning on a hockey game everywhere I go, nor do I know hockey stats. Although, I do actually enjoy going to hockey games and must admit that the sound of the puck and hockey sticks hitting the ice is one of my favorites, right up there with the sound of a baseball bat cracking a baseball. I just can’t sit and watch hockey on tv (surprisingly though, I can sit for hours sometimes completely engrossed in a baseball game – wonder how I’d fare watching paint dry?) . I also don’t go around measuring things in grams, kilometers, nor Celsius (9 degrees Celsius just sounds so horrible compared to the 48 degrees Fahrenheit L.A. is currently experiencing).
So why do I think I’m now a Canadian? (more…)
I UNDERSTAND…
It seems that in this day in age ruled by social media, we have turned into a nation of “relators.” A “like” indicates that you feel the same way that a poster‘s vent of the day/hour/minute or can at least sympathize. As I have stated many other times, and most recently in my post last week about “feelings setting values,” I possess no shortage of empathy. Therefore, I myself am no exception when it comes to relating.
The phrase “I know” comes out of my mouth without much thought more often than I care to share. What I mean by “I know” is not that I know everything, far from it. The day I know everything is the day I’ll figure out how to move to Mars, where I might still be challenged by having to figure out and learn new things. When I respond with my all too commonplace “I know,” what I’m truly saying is “I understand.” I can see where you’re coming from and I genuinely mean it. I am not so self-absorbed that I can’t step outside of myself to see how you are feeling. I see it all too well , possibly even before you uttered the complaint or voiced your irritation. However, for the most part I respect privacy so I won’t address it unless I feel you really might need to discuss it. More importantly I understand why you might be disgruntled, miffed, or sullen.
“I know” comes out quite easily; however, I can’t seem to make the phrase “I understand” a regular part of my vocabulary as to me it is usually those that utter that phrase that actually don’t at all get it. It’s like the older adults (more…)
A NEW SET OF VALUES
Setting your values by your emotions…
That sounds like it should be some kind of warning, doesn’t it? CAUTION. Sets Values by Emotions.
Being surrounded by so many “creative” types, who many a time seem to breathe, eat, drink, and sleep passion that warning may not be so easily dismissed as who knows what kind of values might be set in the midst of all of that emoting. Emoting in large doses is great for songs and works of art, but perhaps not so much for daily life. The general population may not be quite so prepared for it.
I recently heard a line that stayed with me. It was by an A-List actress who is somewhat known for her philanthropic work. While I may not look to Hollywood for morals and ethics, the statement did catch my attention as it was re-iterating some of my own sentiments as well as that of many others with whom I associate with. The statement was in response to Robert Kegan’s, PhD, a developmental psychologist who is currently the William and Miriam Meehan Professor in Adult Learning and Professional Development at Harvard University, thought that (and forgive me if I don’t paraphrase the exact words), “ If we truly see another person, we take the risk of being recruited to their welfare.”
Her response was, “My feelings really teach me what my values are.”
I can relate.
However, I also viewed it and continue to view it as a response which could be deemed as potentially dangerous propaganda. (more…)
TONIGHT AT 11PM (PST) A SPECIAL NIGHTTIME ‘AT THE TAVERN’ W/AMANDA JONES & SIRIA
Last week, Amanda Jones and Siria Contreras decided to bring you a Part I of a II Parter At the Tavern observing the men of Country Music a.k.a “Saluting the Boys of Country.” Last week, Ms. Amanda Jones brought you her picks (scroll to bottom for play list).
Today, you get a special late Wednesday Night At the Tavern and Part II of this two-part show featuring Siria’s picks.
LISTEN TODAY AT 10:30 PM ON www.intraffikradio.com or click here
Siria’s Play List is as follows (order may vary during live show slightly):
1. Sheb Wooley - “Texas Tango”
2. Ernest Tubb – “Thanks A Lot”
3. Ernest Tubb – “Jealous Loving Heart”
4. Conway Twitty – “Ballad of Forty Dollars”
5. Wayne Hancock – “Your Love and His Blood”
6. Elvis Presley – “I’m Left, You’re Right, She’s Gone”
7. The Statler Brothers – “Flowers on the Wall”
8. Shooter Jennings – “4th of July”
9. Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson – “I Can Get Off (On You)”
10. Kris Kristofferson – “Help Me Make it Through the Night”
11. Bobby Bare, Jr. – “Sad Smile”
12. Paul Burch – “Saturday Nights”
13. Randy Travis – “Is It Still Over?”
14. Rodney Crowell – “She’s Crazy For Leaving”
15. Bill Kirchen – “Get a Little Gonner”
16. Mark Chesnutt – “Woman”
17. Blake Shelton – “Who Are You When I’m Not Looking”
18. Dierks Bentley – “I Wanna Make You Close Your Eyes”
19. Dwight Yoakam – “Sad, Sad Music”
20. Gary Allan – “Smoke Rings in the Dark”
21. Travis Tritt – “Modern Day Bonnie and Clyde”
22. Clay Walker – “Boogie ‘Til the Cows Come Home”
23. Easton Corbin - “The Way Love Looks”
24. Josh Ritter – “Right Moves”
25. The Sadies – “One Million Songs”
and this week, we’ll be closing out with Flogging Molly’s “Drunken Lullabies”
PART I PLAYLIST (AMANDA JONES’ PICKS)
1.Johnny Cash – “I Still Miss Someone”
2. Keith Urban – “Days Go By”
3. Kenny Rogers – “The Gambler”
4. Ryan Adams -”Please Do Not Let Me Go”
5. Wilco – “Jesus, Etc.”
6. George Strait – “Cowboys Like Us”
7. Johnny Cash – “Luther Played the Boogie”
8. Merle Haggard – “Branded Man”
9. Elvis Costello – “I Hope You’re Happy Now”
10. Elvis Presley – “My Baby Left Me”
11. John Doe – “Darling Underdog”
12. Buck Owens – “Under the Influence of Night”
13. George Jones – “She Thinks I Still Care”
14. Hank Williams – “Howlin’ at the Moon”
15. Hank Williams – “Hey, Good Lookin’ ”
16. Vince Gill – “This New Heartache”
17. Brad Paisley – “You Need a Man Around Here”
18. Garth Brooks – “We Shall Be Free”
19. Hank Williams, III – “Moonshiner’s Life”
20. Restavrant – “Natural History”
(and of course signature closing song: Dropkick Murphys – “Kiss Me I’m Shitfaced”)