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.

Talk Like a Pirate Day 2006

Next to Halloween, this might be my favorite holiday of the year: Talk Like a Pirate Day!

Here’s the explanation from the A Word A Day mailing list this weekend:

Every September 19 people around the world celebrate International Talk Like a Pirate Day. It’s been marked on all continents — even Antarctica. Why? Because it’s fun, it’s anarchic. Its very whimsy — trying to get everyone on the planet to talk like a stereotypical Caribbean buccaneer on the same day each year — sets it apart from other holidays.

The holiday had its genesis during a racquetball game between John Baur and Mark Summers, two friends in Albany, Oregon. It was a private joke that went around the world. The rest is, if not history, at least a good story, which you can read at their Web site http://www.talklikeapirate.com.

A note — I’ve often heard people talk about pirates’ “cockney accents.” Wrong! The stereotypical pirate has a Cornish accent, based on the performance of Long John Silver by actor Robert Newton in the 1950 Disney version of “Treasure Island”. He was from Cornwall, and his over-the-top performance and native accent are the reason people think that’s what a pirate sounded like. Of course, pirates came from all nationalities. But the pop culture image is firmly embedded, and Robert Newton is the reason why.

Here in Hesperia, Sultana High School is celebrating Spirit Week this week, in the lead-up to their homecoming football game, and each day, the kids dress up in a different theme. Today’s theme? Pirates, by thunder! There be hope for this generation yet, I reckon.

Arrrr …

• Find out your pirate name at the Long John Silver’s site. Just call me “Scabby Obadiah,” arrrrrr.

Soft drink sizes

So, I ordered small sodas at two different fast food restaurants today (give me a break; it’s deadline day) and both times, they came back tiny. At Burger King, in fact, they gave me a child’s size drink.

I can no longer figure out drink sizes at fast food places. Large has somehow turned into Super Big Gulp bladder-buster size, and medium is now what once was large. I guess that’s so that people feel like they’re getting more for their buck, when soda syrup is incredibly cheap for a restaurant.

What I don’t get, though, is why they’re scaling back to an insane degree with small drinks, which I’d hoped would be what the old medium size was. Is this some sort of weird passive-aggressive fast food restaurant chain behavior or something?

What’s Your Blogging Personality?

Your Blogging Type is Logical and Principled

You like to voice your well thought out opinions on your blog. And if someone doesn’t what you write, you really don’t care! Serious and blunt, sometimes people take your blog the wrong way. But you’re a true and loyal friend to those who truly get you.

So, in other words, I’m sort of like a Labrador Retriever that can type.