|
SubscriptionsSites I Read
|
|
|
|
| I want to say a few words about the twelfth podcast. I find the episode about the difference between abbreviations, acronyms and initialisms. That means two new words :) I researched a bit, and I found that acronyms and initialisms are abreviations, the only difference being that the former canot be pronounced as a word (such as FBI, CIA) and the latter can be pronounced as a word (AIDS, NASA). Judit's essay wasn't a surprise, I already know she is a brilliant writer 
| | |
| Today I've read an article on Newsweek about the first exoplanet that has similar abilities as our Earth.
This planet is called Gliese 581c, because it orbits the Gliese 581 star system. Its radius is 50 percent bigger than Earth's, its mass is 5 times larger, and it's 14 times closer to its star as Earth from the Sun, but Gliese 581 is 50 times fainter (feebler ) than the Sun, so the surface temperature is just enough for the planet to have water in a liquid state and thereby sustain life. So far it is the first habitable planet outside the solar system, and it's a mere 20,5 light years away - not a great distance in the universe.
| | |
| Sorry I didn't write for a while...
I just discovered a (not so new, but) good way to learn new words. Few of you may remember, that I won the second 'Word of the Week' contest. My prize was a poem collection from Gary Snyder. His poems are rather hard to understand but indeed are good. But because the unusual words he uses make a good ground for me to learn new words.
Vocabulary wizard page
© Balogh József
I've chosen Kyoto: March for this Vocab wizard page. Unfortunately I can't write it down due to the copyrights.
Here are the unknown words:
feeble: deficient in physical strength, faint
warbler: a small passerine songbird
plum: an edible, fleshy stone fruit, often of a dark red or purple colour
buds: a newly formed leaf or flower that has not yet unfolded
dove: a pigeon, especially one smaller in size
twangs: to produce a sharp vibrating sound
tangle: a complicated or confused state or condition
Despite it was hard, I've written some sample sentences with the words.
| | |
| Vocabulary wizard page
© Balogh József
I've read the article "The Quiet Miracle" in TIME Europe, and those were the words unknown to me:
ineffably -> ineffable: too great or intense to be expressed, inexpressible
mundane: practical and ordinary, esp to the point of dull familiarity
cajole: to persuade (somebody) with flattery or deception.
carnage: great slaughter, e.g. in battle
hatched -> to cause to hatch (give birth to, etc.)
sovereignty: said of a nation The ability to make its own laws and control its own resources.
ripe: ready for action or effect; prepared
bemused -> bemuse: to confuse or bewilder, especially regarding emotional matters.
vigorous: physically strong and active
curdled-> curdle: to separate (tear?) into curds or lumps and liquid
dithering-> dither: to be uncertain or unable to make a decision about doing something
concomitant: accompanying, esp in a subordinate or incidental way
timid: lacking in courage or confidence
I've written some sentences with the words I learned.
The news nowadays are about ineffably violent things.
The new sci-fi movies often feature things not mundane.
World War I was an unnecessary carnage.
Arguing is the concomitant of living together.
The employee cajoled himself into the boss' grace.
Switzerland is a sovereign land.
The grape ripes in autumn.
The mind of the intoxicated is heavily bemused.
The human body is vigorous until about the age of 50.
Children are often timid.
| | |
| Now here's a story for ya...
Yesterday we walked to my bride's and from there we wanted to take some food to her grandmother. When we got there, my bride's sister and her boyfriend were there, and they offered us that they'd take us to grandma. But then they made up their mind, and decided not to go, but he'd given me the car keys. He has a Suzuki, and damn, I hate that brand. But anyway, i took his car, and we paid a visit to grandma. We had a little chat, and then we wanted to go home. Wanted, because the car wouldn't start. After the sound of the starter motor (or the slight absence of it) I guessed that the accumulator is empty. Then I checked the lights, and yes, they were on. Don't be so oblivious like me, because you will end up in situations like this. Okay, I phoned my dad if he could take of car to haul it in (needless to say, we were almost in the middle of nowhere). He came, and told me that leaving the lights on can drain the battery in half an our in a Suzuki. After we forced the car to start, I dove it around the town for a time, and we decided not to tell this to Sanyi (the owner of the car) :D
| | |
|
