Friday, August 25, 2006

Standing on an island, desperately trying to hold back the rising tide of illiteracy

People. What gives?

The word 'vicious' meaning 'cruel; savage' is spelled VICIOUS. As in the rocker, 'Sid Vicious.' He wasn't born with that name, dears. He gave himself that name. He assumed it in order to impress upon his fans the savagery of his temperament. Poor Sid could not foresee that society would decline so steeply, after his spectacular demise, that his chosen last name would shortly be consistently mis-spelled upon the Internet, by hordes of people claiming to be functionally literate.

The word 'viscose' meaning 'having a heavy, gluey quality; glutinous' is spelled with an 's' in front of the 'c.' The word 'vicious' is not. Do you hear? It is NOT spelled with an 's' in front of the 'c.' 'S' before 'C' except after 'G' is NOT a grammar rule in any textbook.

This has been bothering Pretty Lady for months. Now back to our regularly scheduled vacation.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Definition:
Viscious- New word discovered by New York temporary expatriate Pretty Lady, now residing in Maine with froggies.- To be as thick with meanness as molasses.

Anonymous said...

You were absolutely right, I'm a freakin' genius with a sewing machine. Check out my blog for my second-ever project.

Pretty Lady said...

You guys are BOTH freakin' geniuses. I knew that word, 'viscious' had to have some deeply significant combinatory meaning, and I just couldn't get my brain all the way there.

And Mitzibel, you rock. You WILL be my designer, one day.

Anonymous said...

Why thank you, I'm feeling pretty damn proud of myself. I get to wear it tomorrow to the wedding of the youngest daughter of a guy who invented something jets need in order to fly. I'm planning on teaching him a lesson about who to invite to open-bar receptions ;)

And Morgan, that's just because you make your living painting word pictures, and naughty ones at that ;) I personally can't get *into* a story when the craftsmanship is shoddy; I would imagine that goes doubly in your field.

Anonymous said...

Thanks Pretty Lady, but it is so easy...there's left brain, there's right brain.....and then....uhhh...
uhhh. there is the gap in between. Guess where I live and get my info?
Mitzibel...good going. Tomorrow I have to learn production sewing. I am really hesitant and reticent but I need to fill a gap and learn. Oh well. Sewers of the world unite....Hmmm....did I mean sewers...or did I mean sewers....
well ...I guess one is already united so to speak...or at least connected everywhere underground.

Bob said...

Poor PrettyLady:

Trying to educate the masses. Tilting at windwills is a far better pastime.

Bob said...

Argh

"windmills"....