New shows I’m watching this fall

• Heroes
• Shark
• Smith
• Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
• ’til Death

What is your site worth?

This website is worth
What is your website worth?

In contrast, SpyroHints.com is worth $2,981.

But my World of Warcraft guild’s Web site is worth $10,640. Holy mackerel.

Pedantic word(s) of the day

I see a lot of people using “flaunt” as a synonym for “flout.” Most of these people, in fact, don’t seem to be aware of the word “flout.”

Now, it turns out that so many people have used “flaunt” to mean “flout” over the years that this meaning — practically an antonym — has crept into the dictionary definition, albeit at #4.

flaunt  /flÉ”nt/ Pronunciation Key – Show Spelled Pronunciation[flawnt] Pronunciation Key – Show IPA Pronunciation
–verb (used without object)
1. to parade or display oneself conspicuously, defiantly, or boldly.
2. to wave conspicuously in the air.
–verb (used with object)
3. to parade or display ostentatiously: to flaunt one’s wealth.
4. to ignore or treat with disdain: He was expelled for flaunting military regulations.
–noun
5. the act of flaunting.
6. Obsolete. something flaunted.

flout  /flaÊŠt/ Pronunciation Key – Show Spelled Pronunciation[flout] Pronunciation Key – Show IPA Pronunciation
–verb (used with object)
1. to treat with disdain, scorn, or contempt; scoff at; mock: to flout the rules of propriety.
–verb (used without object)
2. to show disdain, scorn, or contempt; scoff, mock, or gibe (often fol. by at).
–noun
3. a disdainful, scornful, or contemptuous remark or act; insult; gibe.

Since we’re using the language with, by far, the most words of any, picking the most-precise word for a given meaning is a luxury we can easily afford.

So don’t make me flout you upside the head.

The new HesperiaStar.com – The first full week

An unplanned side effect of going to the new format at the Hesperia Star site is that it’s boosted my story count quite a bit. I turned in 10 stories this week, including some my usual length, and others shorter and more in line with a Daily Press story. My only goal was to make sure there was new news every weekday, to give a reason for people to come back and to get those ad-counters spinning.

After getting spammed the second day, we haven’t seen any since, although I expect to get more soon.

At the city council meeting this week, I ran into a few people who had already seen that we were five days a week online. And they’ll tell two friends, and they’ll tell two friends, and soon, everyone will be using Prell shampoo. (I think it was Prell.)

Tiger on the town

You’ve probably heard it on the news by now, but a tiger briefly got loose from its cage today in Hesperia:

• Tiger Escapes Handler Before Photo Shoot
• Tiger on the loose in Hesperia