Below you will find several groups of words or phrases. The members of each group have something in common. Can you determine the commonality? Enjoy, and maybe learn—I did.
1. Tango, Delta, Papa, Lima.
2. Nassau, Mulligan, Tennis, Checkmate.
3. Gordon Ashe, Anthony Morton, Michael Halliday, Norman Deane.
4. Hawthorn, Peach, Strawberry, Jujube
5. Silurian, Permian, Ordovician, Devonian.
6. Polynices, Tydeus of Calydon, Hippomendon, Amphiaraus.
7. Viminal, Caelian, Quirinal, Aventine.
8. Observer, Optimist, Peacemaker, Performer.
9. Phyllite, Schist, Slate, Gneiss.
10. Asparagus, Aloe, Leek, Trillium.
11. Sawm, Zakah, Shahadah, Salah.
12. Niccolo Paganini, Moliere, Agatha Christie, Vincent Van Gogh.
13. Iguazu, Helena, Fincha, Mardalsfossen.
14. Pat Sullivan, Matt Leinart, Doak Walker, Reggie Bush.
15. Windsor, Grand Isle, Essex, Lamloille.
16. Locusts, Murrain, Lice, Darkness.
17. Euterpe, Thalia, Calliope, Polyhymnia.
18. Chet, Vaisakh, Jeth, Harh.
Answers: 1) Members of the radio phonetic alphabet used to eliminate ambiguity in communication; T, D, P, and L specifically.
2) These sporting words are derived from foreign climes as described in Chapter 13 of Thou Improper Thou Uncommon Noun by Willard R. Espy. ( Clarkson N. Potter, Inc. 1978) Nassau is a golf term originating from the Bahamian island of Nassau. It refers to a match in which winning the first nine holes awards one point; winning the second nine awards one point; and, winning all 18 holes awards an additional point. Mulligan, another golf term, receives its name from an Irishman who apparently had a “poor memory.” It is a stroke not counted on the score card. The word tennis is derived from (Britannica version) the French tenez, meaning “hold.” Another origin theory attributes the word to the name of the Egyptian town of Tinnis which was known for producing the cloth from which tennis balls were made. Checkmate—yes, chess is considered a sport—evolved from the Persian-Arabic Shah-mat which means “The Shah (king) is dead.”
3) These are some of the 20 different pseudonyms used by mystery/thriller writer John Creasey who wrote over 600 books, including “The Toff” one of my favorite series.
4) All are members of the Rose Family (Rosaceae). See http://theseedsite.co.uk/ for more information.
5) These are Periods, in no particular order, in the Paleozoic Era, dating from 550 - 250 million years ago. The two Periods omitted were Carboniferous and Cambrian.
6) Four of the Seven Against Thebes are named. When Oedipus was banished his two sons, Eteocles and Polynices, were to take turns ruling Thebes. Eteocles refused to cede the throne to his brother when the time came for him to do so. Seven champions, including Polynices, joined together to wrest the kingdom from Eteocles. Extra credit if you can name the other three.
7) These are four of the Seven Hills of Rome. The others are Palatine, Capitoline, and Esquiline.
8) These are four of the nine personality types that comprise the Enneagram. This system of Eastern mysticism also includes Leader, Guardian, Romantic, Helper, and Achiever types.
9) The four are types of metamorphic rocks. This type of rock has been changed due to heat and pressure. The other classifications of rocks are igneous and sedimentary.
10) These are members of the Lily Family of plants which generally have bulbs or other storage organs, long thin leaves, six petals, six stamens, and a seed capsule which forms inside the flower. Liliaceae are monocotyledons that have only one seed leaf. See “theseedsite” noted above, because frankly I don’t have a clue.
11) These are four of the five Pillars of Islam, in no particular order. Sawm requires abstaining from bodily pleasures from sunup to sundown during Ramadan. Zakah demands the paying of alms to the poor. Shahadah is the belief in the oneness of Allah (God) and that Muhammad is his Prophet. Salah requires believers to pray five times each day while facing Mecca. The fifth Pillar is Hajj that requires at least one pilgrimage to Mecca for all Muslims capable of doing so.
12) Each of these famous musicians, writers, and artists suffered from epilepsy.
13) All are famous waterfalls. Iguazu is in Argentina & Brazil, Helena is in New Zealand, Fincha is to be found in Ethiopia, and Marddasfossen (North and South) are in Norway.
14) These gentlemen are Heisman Trophy winners: Sullivan in 1971, Leinhart in 2004, Walker in 1948, and Bush in 2005.
15) All are counties in Vermont.
16) Those listed are four of the ten plagues the Lord sent to the Egyptians after they refused Moses’s demand to free the Hebrews from slavery. See Exodus 7 – 11.
17) Euterpe is the Muse of lyrical poetry and flute music. Thalia is the Muse of comedy and pastoral poetry. Calliope is the Muse of epic poetry. Polyhymnia is the Muse of sacred songs. Look up the other five yourself!
18) The four are the first four months of the Sikh calendar year which begins in the western month of March. The rest of the months, in order, are: Sawan, Bhadar, Asu, Katik, Maghar, Poh, Magh, Phalgan.
Now, that wasn’t so bad. How did you do? A score of six or more is really good.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Sunday, March 13, 2011
I'm A Changed Woman
For the past several decades I have been trying to overcome my animal instincts while aiming my intellect towards the heavens; but no more. I’ve been bumped from Sagittarius and must now call myself an Ophiuchus, at least when I learn how to spell it. My new zodiac sign has been wedged in between Scorpio and Sagittarius. It is pronounced “oh few cuss.” I’ll wager more than a few Sagittarians are cussing about it.
A thirteenth zodiac sign has entered the picture. It is unclear whether the name is based on the ancient Egyptian responsible for the pyramids, Imhotep, or if the model for this constellation is the ancient Greek mythological healer, Asclepius. A quick search for information on Imhotep tells of his prowess as architect and builder. The Greeks and Romans borrowed him, associating Imhotep with their first "doctor" Asclepius. Obviously something was lost in the translation.
Greek mythology tells of Asclepius killing a snake that was about to attack him. A second snake enters the picture with a magical herb in its mouth. This snake administers the herb to the dead snake thereby reviving it. Dr. Asclepius appropriates the healing herb and brings all sorts of dead Greeks back to life thus rendering Hellenic Health Care insolvent. Asclepius found a way to make mankind immortal and Zeus wasn’t having any of that. Zeus renders Asclepius dead. Because only the Doc knew about the herb there is no one to bring him back to life. His manuscript “Magic Mushrooms and Medicinals They Don’t Want You to Know About” was destroyed in the ensuing lightning bolt. However all was not in vain; Zeus honors Asclepius by placing him in the heavens as a new constellation. [Apparently this is a big honor.] Both Imhotep and Asclepius are pictured holding two snakes. The modern symbol for this is the caduceus, symbol of the medical profession. Ophiuchus means serpent holder in classical Greek.
But what does Ophiuchus mean in 21st century English? Astrologers are divided as to whether or not they will even bother to include the 13th sign. It all depends on whether they follow the western tradition of a tropical zodiac governed by the seasons or the eastern tradition which is based on the constellations. Hey, Asclepius gave his all to become a constellation. The least the lazy louts can do is to acknowledge him. Astronomer [read, actually does the math] Parke Kunkle noticed that some time ago the Earth’s position has shifted relative to the Sun, thus adding to the original 12 zodiac signs denoted by the ancient Babylonians. Apparently all the stargazing newspaper astrologers never actually look at the stars, only at their paychecks.
No definitive characteristics have been assigned to the 13th zodiac sign. Some of the more resourceful stargazers are combining selected traits that belong to Scorpios and Sagittarians. Heretofore I have been idealistic, profound, trustworthy, witty, instinctive, and good at organizing. [Adieu.] As a Sagittarian I have also been described as optimistic , a lover of horses [very funny], strong willed [moi?], outspoken, rebellious, and quick to anger. Those of you who know me well know that the latter qualities are not the character traits of the Sagittarian you have come to know and love…
The new “Me” remains idealistic and intuitive while adding charismatic to the list. Supervisors will find me a joy to work with. [Show of hands from current and past supervisors who secretly feel Zeus had a point.] I will continue to pursue higher education, possibly with a view to starting career as architect. I understand that pyramid building is a lucrative, if somewhat chancy, profession--just ask Bernie Madoff. Or maybe I’ll become a doctor like Asclepius and heal the ills of mankind. New powers granted to the Ophiuchian include the ability to interpret dreams and have premonitions—handy for pyramid building. As an Ophiuchian I will demand absolute freedom to explore new ideas and to become a flamboyant dresser and a poet of some repute. My new life will be dedicated to a lifelong quest for knowledge and wisdom as I reach for the Stars, at least for their investment portfolios.
Of course, all is not perfect when a snake lurks in the grass. Ophiuchicans hate rules and do not suffer fools gladly. Expect sarcasm from my honeyed lips. There was some mention of a poison tongue. As an Ophiuchican I have the right to be arrogant, bored with the mundane, secretive and [spouse skip this part] a poor candidate for monogamous relationships. My “trust issues” prevent me from revealing more.
I am working hard to change from the modest moralist of Sagittarius. The “Real Me” has been a long time coming—approximately 3,000 years. One word of warning, you can totally forget about the snake handling stuff!
A thirteenth zodiac sign has entered the picture. It is unclear whether the name is based on the ancient Egyptian responsible for the pyramids, Imhotep, or if the model for this constellation is the ancient Greek mythological healer, Asclepius. A quick search for information on Imhotep tells of his prowess as architect and builder. The Greeks and Romans borrowed him, associating Imhotep with their first "doctor" Asclepius. Obviously something was lost in the translation.
Greek mythology tells of Asclepius killing a snake that was about to attack him. A second snake enters the picture with a magical herb in its mouth. This snake administers the herb to the dead snake thereby reviving it. Dr. Asclepius appropriates the healing herb and brings all sorts of dead Greeks back to life thus rendering Hellenic Health Care insolvent. Asclepius found a way to make mankind immortal and Zeus wasn’t having any of that. Zeus renders Asclepius dead. Because only the Doc knew about the herb there is no one to bring him back to life. His manuscript “Magic Mushrooms and Medicinals They Don’t Want You to Know About” was destroyed in the ensuing lightning bolt. However all was not in vain; Zeus honors Asclepius by placing him in the heavens as a new constellation. [Apparently this is a big honor.] Both Imhotep and Asclepius are pictured holding two snakes. The modern symbol for this is the caduceus, symbol of the medical profession. Ophiuchus means serpent holder in classical Greek.
But what does Ophiuchus mean in 21st century English? Astrologers are divided as to whether or not they will even bother to include the 13th sign. It all depends on whether they follow the western tradition of a tropical zodiac governed by the seasons or the eastern tradition which is based on the constellations. Hey, Asclepius gave his all to become a constellation. The least the lazy louts can do is to acknowledge him. Astronomer [read, actually does the math] Parke Kunkle noticed that some time ago the Earth’s position has shifted relative to the Sun, thus adding to the original 12 zodiac signs denoted by the ancient Babylonians. Apparently all the stargazing newspaper astrologers never actually look at the stars, only at their paychecks.
No definitive characteristics have been assigned to the 13th zodiac sign. Some of the more resourceful stargazers are combining selected traits that belong to Scorpios and Sagittarians. Heretofore I have been idealistic, profound, trustworthy, witty, instinctive, and good at organizing. [Adieu.] As a Sagittarian I have also been described as optimistic , a lover of horses [very funny], strong willed [moi?], outspoken, rebellious, and quick to anger. Those of you who know me well know that the latter qualities are not the character traits of the Sagittarian you have come to know and love…
The new “Me” remains idealistic and intuitive while adding charismatic to the list. Supervisors will find me a joy to work with. [Show of hands from current and past supervisors who secretly feel Zeus had a point.] I will continue to pursue higher education, possibly with a view to starting career as architect. I understand that pyramid building is a lucrative, if somewhat chancy, profession--just ask Bernie Madoff. Or maybe I’ll become a doctor like Asclepius and heal the ills of mankind. New powers granted to the Ophiuchian include the ability to interpret dreams and have premonitions—handy for pyramid building. As an Ophiuchian I will demand absolute freedom to explore new ideas and to become a flamboyant dresser and a poet of some repute. My new life will be dedicated to a lifelong quest for knowledge and wisdom as I reach for the Stars, at least for their investment portfolios.
Of course, all is not perfect when a snake lurks in the grass. Ophiuchicans hate rules and do not suffer fools gladly. Expect sarcasm from my honeyed lips. There was some mention of a poison tongue. As an Ophiuchican I have the right to be arrogant, bored with the mundane, secretive and [spouse skip this part] a poor candidate for monogamous relationships. My “trust issues” prevent me from revealing more.
I am working hard to change from the modest moralist of Sagittarius. The “Real Me” has been a long time coming—approximately 3,000 years. One word of warning, you can totally forget about the snake handling stuff!
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