Philosopher, mathematician, and writer, Bertrand Russell, once said, "The
whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so
certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts." This week's
word describe people falling somewhere in between the spectrum. Can you
identify some of those around you in these words?

Pixillated was interesting - for a minute I thought it was a misspelling of "pixelated" meaning "distorted by digital resolution restrictions." A homonym is born!

The Russell quote rocks! Thanks for using it.

I was given a gift subscription to AWAD, and now I'm hooked.

Cheers,
Bryan

Pixillated was interesting - for a minute I thought it was a misspelling of "pixelated" meaning "distorted by digital resolution restrictions." A homonym is born!

On the topic of today's word, here is a whimsical question especially (but not exclusively) for BlanchePatch:

What is the largest individual organism in the world and where is it?

(OK, so it's two questions.)

And a big hello, Bryan--welcome!

Re:
What is the largest individual organism in the world and where is it?

I believe it's a fungus growing just underground - not sure of the location, maybe Pennsylvania?

It's a fungus, but it ain't in PA. Wanna try a lifeline? Maybe Sparteye knows.

IP

Inselpeter, you must be referring to the giant fungus found in the UP. But, I'm afraid that it has since been supplanted, by a similar one in - I think - the Pacific Northwest. Washington? Oregon?

I love "Oregon." No other state is just a couple of pencil squiggles away from being an herb! [huh? everyone says]

"Oregon." No other state is just a couple of pencil squiggles away from being an herb!

And Sparteye, did you know that our state's name, when correctly pronounced, is a homonym for something that may be played? (Any more specific, and I'd be giving it away completely.)

And Sparteye, did you know that our state's name, when correctly pronounced, is a homonym for something that may be played? (Any more specific, and I'd be giving it away completely.)

Going gutteral: played or played with?

cheer

the sunshine warrior

And Oregon could also describe a depleted gold mine! (When pronounced the usual incorrect way)

Oregon." No other state is just a couple of pencil squiggles away from being an herb!

And Sparteye, did you know that our state's name, when correctly pronounced, is a homonym for something that may be played?


"Oregon" should be pronounced as "Organ"?! Not even a schwa between the "r" and the "g"?! Or is this just my non-rhoticity confusing me again?

Oregon - organ

Organs come in three kinds: the harmonica, the kind the monkey trainer cranks by hand ,and the kind that fills an enclosure.

The schwa is optional - "organ" is quite acceptable. But we'll run you out of the state if you say Oree-Gone.

I can't stand it, she said, her lips twitching with repressed laughter:

Could people who live in Oregon be called Oreganisms?
OrGonads? What say, Geoff? [oh boy I'm asking for it now e]

The schwa is optional - "organ" is quite acceptable. But we'll run you out of the state if you say Oree-Gone

Thanks for that. I would never have said Oree-Gone, but it's nice to know that my schwa would be tolerated. I wonder if there are any USns on the board who cold guess the correct pronunciation of Gisborne, the town where my wife grew up. (Give it your best shot, Jackie)

who cold guess the correct pronunciation of Gisborne, the town where my wife grew up. (Give it your best shot, Jackie)

Here's a cold guess, Sweet Max: omnascient?

Even we would not pronounce "Gisborne" as "omnascient", but, yes.

The words to describe Gisborne: the name of one of Robin Hood's enemies, Sir Guy of Gisborne. A French sounding name, but I'll bet it was not pronounced the French way, the city having been named after Sir William Gisborne.

Aksherly, Bill if you be a Nu Englandah, you might just stand a chance of gettin' it right.

Could people who live in Oregon be called Oreganisms?
OrGonads? What say, Geoff? [oh boy I'm asking for it now e]

Well, Ms Grand and Glorious Poobah, them folks in Eye-O-Way call it Aura-Gone. Now that it's really upper Californica, they're right, the aura IS gone! Most folks say Ory-gun. The name may well derive from the French word, Ouragan, meaning hurricane. Lotsa French names hereabouts, thanks to the French fur trappers of days of yore. Lotsa wind, too, especially around Salem, the capital, when the legislature's in session.

the French fur trappers of days of yore
The days of yore are gone in Oregon.

Geoff, I've heard Oregon is derived from a Native American name for the Columbia River.

Here's an Oregon pronunciation quiz:
How is Owyhee pronounced? And what other place (completely unlike it) is it named for?

- Respecfully submittted by an Oregonism

Geoff, I've heard Oregon is derived from a Native American name for the Columbia River.

That's the other main theory, all right. Funny thing, nobody really knows for sure.

How is Owyhee pronounced? And what other place (completely unlike it) is it named for?

Pronounced just as it's spelled. As for the place, I'll guess it's the Sandwich Islands.

- Respecfully submittted by an Oregonism

If you're a real Oregonism, you host parasitic hydrophyllic organsims on your feet, and in the summer you don't tan, you rust! Remember the Oregon Un-greeting cards of the 1970s?

The days of yore are gone in Oregon?

Yore darned tootin' they is, sister! Why, the news travels so slow around these parts that the newspaper's called The Yoregonian, although some call it The Oregroanian.

That's the other main theory, all right. Funny thing, nobody really knows for sure.

Beg to differ. I think you will find a number of supporters of either one theory or the other do know for sure.

Geoff, I'm not sure it's fair for another Oregroanian to answer, but you are right about its origin. As for pronunciation, O - Wye - Hee. Named, I'm told by Oregon Field Guide, for a member of an early explorer's band who was from Hawaii.

if you be a Nu Englandah, you might just stand a chance of gettin' it right
------------------------------------------------------
Giz-bun ? Like Liz-bun ?

Giz-bun ? Like Liz-bun ?

Close enough, me ole china. Though here in Zild we is mighty fond of that there schwa thingy, so the "bun" in each of your examples would likerly be heard as b-schwa-n. Of course, if we were talking slowly, sso as to be understood by furriners, our schwa would probably sound like a "u"

if you be a Nu Englandah...

...you might be thought to speak Yiddish.