New Entries from the Urban Dictionary

“Words do two major things: They provide food for the mind and create light for understanding and awareness.” – Jim Rohn

In an effort to stay up-to-date with our ever-changing language, I periodically pay a visit to the Urban Dictionary. Here are a few of my favorite entries since the first of the year.

Echo boomer - the child of a Baby Boomer.

Verbal Handcuffs - When someone won't stop talking (usually about a subject you have no interest in). The talker has verbally forced you to stand there and listen, even though you have given many clues that you have checked out. Examples: vacant stares, looking at your watch, checking your phone, answering in short one word phrases.

Yawn Pong - A game played by tired people. In short, one person yawns and then the other person does. Should the original yawner yawn twice before the second person yawns once, player one has one point.

Redneck Teleprompter - Crib notes written on a public speaker's hand in order to remind him or her what to say during a speech or interview.

iphone effect - shortly after one person in the group brings out their iphone, the rest follow suit, ultimately ending all conversation and eye contact.

Time vampire - Something or someone who literally sucks your time like a vampire sucks blood.

Text-hole - Someone who texts on their cellphone in really inappropriate places, like movie theatres, concerts, plays, or during sex.

Mid-day crisis - when one is in a desperate need for a siesta because they become extremely tired in the afternoon and coffee isn't cutting it any longer.

Tivo timezone - A time period that lags behind real time; that is created by letting the tivo build up enough to skip commercials.

Head Splinter - A painfully annoying song that gets stuck in your head, in extreme cases, impeding everyday tasks.

I’d like to work some of these words into my novels but I’m afraid there may be lots of people that, like me before visiting the Urban Dictionary, would have no idea what I’m talking about.

Have you heard any new words lately? Do you have an entry for the Urban Dictionary?

Thanks for stopping by.

Tags: Rohn, Urban Dictionary,

Meme

I was tagged for a “meme” (rhymes with dream) this week by my friend and fellow author Tina Murray. I’m going to assume that I am not the only one that had never heard that term.

I looked through my approximately 2500 page, Second Addition, Random House Unabridged Dictionary, shocked that meme was not listed, (it’s never let me down before).

From my ‘research’ on the web, I learned the word became popular in 1976 when mentioned in the book, My Selfish Dream by Richard Dawkins.

The Urban Dictionary (http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=meme), defined meme as: an idea, belief or belief system, or pattern of behavior that spreads throughout a culture either vertically by cultural inheritance (as by parents to children) or horizontally by cultural acquisition (as by peers, information media, and entertainment media).

Or, in blogspeak, meme is an idea that is spread from blog to blog.

In this case, it’s a set of questions. So okay, I can be a good sport and play along. Here goes:

Getting Away With It (I’m not sure what this title has to do with the questions)
1) If you could live for a month in one world or time period from a novel you've read, which would you choose?
Because I like modern conveniences such as nice bathrooms, dishwashers, computers, etc., I wouldn’t want to go back in time. I haven’t read any futuristic books lately and since it would only be for one month, I’m going to select the elite world of the rich and famous of Naples, Florida, from Tina Murray’s soon to be released novel, which I was lucky enough to preview, A Chance to Say Yes.
2) If you could be one character from a comic book or fiction series, who would it be?
Wonder Woman. All those super powers could sure come in handy, she can fly without getting on an airplane and she does have a fantastic figure.
3) Where (in the real world) is your dream vacation spot?
Sanibel, Florida (I know, I seem to be hung up on Southwest Florida but it is Paradise)
4) Name a celebrity or TV personality whom you would like to have lunch with.
I’d probably pick Stephen King, but if George Clooney insisted on joining us, I wouldn’t turn him down.

Okay, now I’ve participated in a meme and it reminds me of a chain letter, so I think I’m probably done with them.

I only have a few additions to the blog list.
http://lakesparkfortmyers.blogspot.com/
http://sandylender.blogspot.com/
http://sirjohnnyray.blogspot.com/

Here are the participants so far (that I know about).
http://janekennedysutton.blogspot.com/
http://www.mbweston.blogspot.com/
http://oldavonladysorders.blogspot.com/
http://todaythedragonwins.blogspot.com/
http://www.greetingsfromthepolebarn.blogspot.com/
http://www.jamiesonwolf.blogspot.com/
http://www.achancetosayyes.blogspot.com/
www.alisonkent.com/blog
http://wokandpan.blogspot.com/
http://heidirubymiller.blogspot.com/
http://willifordblog.com/

If you're not on the meme list of participants above but you want to get in on the game, visit http://todaythedragonwins.blogspot.com/2008/03/meme-to-take-you-away-orthe-dragon.html for Sandy’s instructions. It’s easy.

Thanks for stopping by. See you next week.

Jane Kennedy Sutton
Author of The Ride (to be released by ArcheBooks Publishing)
janekennedysutton@gmail.com
http://janekennedysutton.googlepages.com/
http://www.authorsden.com/janesutton




Tags: The Ride, ArcheBooks, meme, Richard Dawkins, My Selfish Dream, Random House Dictionary, Urban Dictionary, Getting Away With It, : Tina Murray, Sandy Lender