Saturday, December 31, 2005
Bushisms of the Year!
Came across this article in my country's daily and thought it'll be good to share something rather, silly, on the last day of the year. So while some of us (ie. me) are burning our brains and hearts out by thinking about the year that is about to pass down into history, a bit of mirth is not ill-timed and definitely not unwelcomed.So laugh on.
Call it the wrong phrase at the wrong time, but "Brownie, you're doing a heckuva job" was named as US President George W. Bush's most memorable phrase of 2005.
The ill-timed praise of a now disgraced agency head became a national punchline for countless jokes and pointed comments about the administration's handling of the Hurricane Katrina disaster, and added to the President's reputation for verbal gaffes and clumsy turns of phrase.
My Paul Payack, president of Global Language Monitor, a non-profit group that monitors language use, says Mr Bush's statement in support of the then-director of the Federal Emergency Agency may be remembered for years.
"The 'Brownie' quote leads our 2005 list of Bushisms - memorable phrases or new words coined by the President."
Ten days after Mr Bush verbally patted Mr Michael Brown on the back, Mr Brown resigned.
Mr Payack said President Bush may be the foremost White House creator of new words, citing such past efforts as 'misunderestimate' (to seriously underestimate) and 'embetter' (to make emotionally better).
And a few others:
"See, in my line of work you got to keep repeating things over and over and over again for the truth to sink in, to kind of catapult the propaganda."
Mr Bush explaining his communication strategy last May
"I think I may need a bathroom break. Is this possible?"
Mr Bush asked in a note to Secretary of State Condolezza Rice during a United Nations Security Council meeting in September
"In terms of timetables, as quickly as possible - whatever that means."
The President on his timeframe for passing Social Security legislation in March
Reuters [featured in The Straits Times Dec 31, 2005]
lux at 5:58 pm
Friday, December 02, 2005
dulling of the buds
I have lost my appetite for over a month and for those who have seen and known me, this is not the most welcomed state I should be in. I have been eating out of necessity more than out of pleasure, which is not doing justice to the food. Afterall it is a blessing that I can eat whatever, wherever and whenever I want to.I have been craving some foods back home but now that I have it, I find myself staring at them, sight being the only sense that is fulfilled.
There is hardly any real appetite to satiate.
But the company really makes up for it all. Having a meal remains awesome because of family and friends, to share the same space and the same food, is much to be thankful for. To have the strength and sustenance to hold conversations and lend physical and emotional support for each other -
yet somehow I wish I can appreciate my food as much as the act of sharing it.
lux at 2:25 pm