etymology of clowns

trustycoffeemug
the word clown is believed to come from the low german cloyne, which refers to a boorish person of unrefined manners; it is possible, although less likely, that this may derive even further from the latin term colonus, meaning one who is a colonist (implicitly a rural and provincial type).

such biting contempt for the intelligence of the lower classes is surprisingly common in the english language; the word "boor" probably derives from the same source as the dutch "boer" (farmer), the term "villain" similarly may derive from a term for a rural laborer (i.e., one who worked the fields on a villa), and so on. even in modern england, the term "common," as in "commoner," can be seen as a mild insult casting aspersions on one's taste.

that's really it. sorry, i made this page by accident. mixed up the terms etymology and taxonomy. interesting, tho.

god

thelostghostofnietzsche
A concept which is a paradox always forms around.

Everyone wants to do God's work. Everyone blame God for their problems. But God works in mysterious ways.

Thus either God does nothing but evil or man doing God's job does evil. But if the last statement true no one know what God does this it is impossible for anyone to blame God or do his work because we have no clue what he does.

the finger

trustycoffeemug
a wonderfully obscene and versatile hand gesture consisting of a balled fist save for one raised middle finger, knuckles facing the target of your ire.

symbolically represents a visiting ambassador from a faraway land rich in all the ***loves*** I don't give.

perseverance

the devils dictionary
A lowly virtue whereby mediocrity achieves an inglorious success.

"Persevere, persevere!" cry the homilists all,
Themselves, day and night, persevering to bawl.
"Remember the fable of tortoise and hare —
The one at the goal while the other is — where?"
Why, back there in Dreamland, renewing his lease
Of life, all his muscles preserving the peace,
The goal and the rival forgotten alike,
And the long fatigue of the needless hike.
His spirit a-squat in the grass and the dew
Of the dogless Land beyond the Stew,
He sleeps, like a saint in a holy place,
A winner of all that is good in a race.
—Sukker Uffro

scanlation

orikami
(n.) the fan-made art of scanning, translation, and editing of comics from one language to another (usually with Japanese manga; usually without author permission but hopefully taken in good faith).
ostensibly, derived by combining 'scanning and translation', but works just as well with 'scanning and collation'. two portmanteaus with one word, though a pretty clunky one, all in all.

(also: manga)
(also: good faith)

(also: portmanteau)
(also: two birds with one stone)
(also: vegans, don't crucify me)

urbanity

the devils dictionary
The kind of civility that urban observers ascribe to dwellers in all cities but New York. Its commonest expression is heard in the words, "I beg your pardon," and it is not inconsistent with disregard of the rights of others.

The owner of a powder mill
Was musing on a distant hill —
Something his mind foreboded —
When from the cloudless sky there fell
A deviled human kidney! Well,
The man's mill had exploded.
His hat he lifted from his head;
"I beg your pardon, sir," he said;
"I didn't know 'twas loaded."
—Swatkin

(also: The Devil's Dictionary)

doctor

trustycoffeemug
a title typically bestowed upon one highly trained in the practice of medicine and restorative health treatments. typically found either in a hospital or a golf course

for the highly trained in other fields, the label is still typically applicable but nobody is ever gonna use it. sorry.

thanksgiving

trustycoffeemug
an autumnal holiday celebrated in the americas (both the united states and canada, though on different days) to commemorate any of the following:

1) the historical colonization of the americas (possibly including the displacement of the indigenous people)
2) overeating
3) enduring the presence of family

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