Word For The Day, Tuesday, August 12, 2003

The Verbivores | 8/12/03 | Teacher

[RikaStrom]

In order that we might all raise the level of discourse and expand our language abilities, here is the daily post of “word for the day”. Rules: Everyone must leave a post using the “word of the day”; in a sentence. The sentence must, in some way, relate to the news of the day. Practice makes perfect.....post on....

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attenuate \at*ten*u*ate\, verb; adjective
attenuating, attenuates, attenuated; intransitive verb
attenuation; noun

1. To make slender, fine, or small: The drought attenuated the river to a narrow channel.
2. To reduce in force, value, amount, or degree; weaken: Medicine attentuated the fever's effect.
3. To lessen the density of; rarefy.
4. Biology: To make (bacteria or viruses) less virulent.
5. Electronics.: To reduce (the amplitude of an electrical signal) with little or no distortion.
6. To become thin, weak, or fine.
7. Reduced or weakened, as in strength, value, or virulence.
8. Botany: Gradually tapering to a slender point.

We may reject and reject till we attenuate history into sapless meagerness. --Sir F. Palgrave

Etymology: [Latin attenu re, attenu t- : ad-, ad- + tenu re, to make thin (from tenuis, thin. See ten- in Indo-European Roots).]

[RikaStrom]

Good Morning Students. Welcome to class!

Class is now in session. The rules are simple; you get a grade if you use the WFTD in a sentence, haiku, limerick, or quatrain. You get a "+" if you make a link, or make the teacher laugh, or you offer the appropriate bribes. I hold the grade book; the whip and chair.

"We need to know more about how long this feature (the dome) has been in existence. If it's been there for quite a while, perhaps it's relatively stable and doesn't pose any significant hazard."

They are talking about a volcano that is in Yellowstone Lake. Apparently, no one ever told it that just because you've been dormant for a while means you're relatively safe. There has been no good tracking data on any such phenomena, we've only been really monitoring things for the last 100 years or so, the Earth is older than that by an order of a magnitude. Such cavalier comments of "no significant hazard" show a certain attenuation of understanding. In the scheme of things, if that puppy blows in the next 20 years, that's SOON! But then again, to be fair, it may not do anything for another 20,000 years. I would just hate to bet the pot on it not doing something, I would be more inclined to bet that it will do something, and something spectacular at that. Although if it erupts, we can kiss Seattle goodbye.

Explosive find, of the volcano kind.

Arrogant, with no contemplation
Leads to a gargantuan eruption
More thought; less attenuation
Might save a Yellowstone vacation!

[RikaStrom]

Morning Gang

[secret garden]

Hi!

[RikaStrom]

Morning Gang

[RikaStrom]

Morning Gang

[xsmommy]

nmoring

[RikaStrom]

Morning Gang

[RikaStrom]

Well good morning Miss Garden... and how is school for the kiddies? ;-)

[hobbes1]

!

[xsmommy]

nice pome, miss rika.

[RikaStrom]

Morning Pet.... How is your beautiful puppy, did xschildren take him out?

[RikaStrom]

Morning Tiger!

[Conspiracy Guy]

Present

[RikaStrom]

Thanks. :-)

[xsmommy]

yes he did, thanks. at xsbrownie's behest, i got him some of the frosty paws, doggie ice cream. he ate with great relish. later, however, he barfed on the couch.... maybe he is lactose intolerant?

[Laura Earl]

Here

[hobbes1]

i got him some of the frosty paws, doggie ice cream. he ate with great relish. later, however, he barfed on the couch

Well of course he barfed, silly. What kind of nut puts Relish on ice cream.....

[secret garden]

They had a wonderful half day yesterday and are off today, so we are taking them out to breakfast. The full days start tomorrow. The person who writes these schedules has an attentuated grasp on logic. :-)

[xsmommy]

God i hate those schedules!!! the schedulers are INSANE!

[xsmommy]

hm