Month: January 2016

One Word: Twangled

Twangled – seriously? Yes, “twangled” is a real word. An odd, quirky, playful word, with a self-mocking tone that makes it fun to use (sparingly). No, I hadn’t heard it before either. Here’s how it came to my attention: Recently I posted a list of various ways my full name (“Gary Leland Matthews”) could be…

January 17, 2016
What’s More Practical Than Being Happy?

Nothing! This principle — the practicality of happiness — was first impressed upon me some years ago during a meeting of the Knoxville Baha’i assembly. We had decided to send a gift as a token of appreciation to a wonderful lady who had provided heroic service to the community. An assembly member named Betty suggested…

January 15, 2016
All the Candidates’ Anagrams

It’s that joyful season when anagram freaks (like me) dig deep to see what things we can spell by reshuffling letters in the names of leading candidates for President of the US of A. Break out your Scrabble blocks, and let’s begin. First, a note: When anagramming public figures, I shoot for humor – ideally…

January 14, 2016
One Word: Turmeric

The word “turmeric” fascinates me. So, for that matter, does the actual spice — as distinct from the word. Here’s the scoop: Turmeric powder ranges in color from bright yellow to deep orange. It has a pungent, gingery-peppery flavor and is a main component of curry. Because of its color, it’s sometimes called “Indian saffron”.…

January 13, 2016