A friend of mine who is a teacher was talking about their qualifications one day. They reflected on how times and qualifications have changed. Their original teaching license, issued perhaps thirty five years ago, said they were qualified to "teach elementary school, kindergarten and the retarded".

My friend reflected on how years of work with children with learning challenges had completely disabused any idea of using the word "retarded" ever again.

After years of loving everything about words, but struggling with scrabble (I'm the 3 letter queen), I have developed a serious addiction to the game. I play with a friend each week, and online every chance I get - several games at once. I still suck at it compared to hardcore players, but I'm improving. I dream of a chance to make a word like "haruspex".
Any other fans?

I would like to use this opportunity to thank the Observer and freelance writer Larke Turnbull for not only the article on Cindy Bourgeois, but the choice of language and thus a true and meaningful understanding of the transgendered.

What wording has me so overjoyed?

In the lead in, in large letters it reads "Rev. Cindy Bourgeois is the first known transgender person to be ordained in the United Church."

"Known".

In one word, it embraced.

Hey everyone, let's post some words of love. Focus on good vibrations in this place. I'll start things off with...

I came across this article after being inspired to search further by Crazyheart's biblical symbols thread. The author touches on a number of issues - myth in a literary context, symbolic language in an historical context and the loss of the richness of both in our modern context.

www.sporcle.com/games/common_english_words.php

I got 45 out of 100 -- I'm disappointed with myself.  I already gave up and saw the answer, so I can't do it again.

What's your score?

The following is the result of an odd journey into the meaning of some funny words pi'j'nn, or the vernacular pig eon as applied to the Roman corruption of many aboriginal languages. Such a thing wouldn't happen today would it? I invite question about some of the really odd expressions I found while on this trip to far inner space of the foreign portions of the mind (S'maritan)? Whatever it is hated by the militant factions ...