Expanding Words Volume One

apparatchik (n) an official in a large organization, typically political. derogatory- member of a party apparat.

atavism (n) the reappearance of a characteristic in an organism after several generations of absence, usually caused by a chance recombination of genes.

cicerone (n) a guide who gives information about antiquities and places of interest to sightseers.

euphony (n) the quality of being pleasing to the ear, especially through a harmonious combination of words.

felicific (adj) relating to or promoting increased happiness.

folderol (n) trivial or nonsensical fuss.

indexicality (n) in pragmatics and linguistics, the features of a language that refer directly to the circumstances or context in which the utterance takes place.  

obstreperous (adj) noisy and difficult to control.

scrofulous (adj) of, relating to, or affected with scrofula. having a diseased, run-down appearance; morally contaminated.

tsuris (n) trouble or woe; aggravation.

Long Reads September 26th

Reviews and Responses to Naomi Wolf’s newest book, Vagina

Laurie Penny at New Statesman: http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/laurie-penny/2012/09/problem-naomi-wolfs-vagina

Zoe Heller at The New York Review of Books: http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2012/sep/27/pride-and-prejudice/?pagination=false

(favorite sex positive feminist writer) Jaclyn Friedman at Prospect: http://prospect.org/article/vagina-myth

Katha Pollitt at The Nation: http://www.thenation.com/article/169888/naomi-wolfs-vagina-no-carnations-please-were-goddesses#

Wrap Up: Feminist Hate Read Panel at The Millions: http://www.themillions.com/2012/09/the-feminist-hate-read-book-club-reads-naomi-wolfs-vagina-a-new-biography.html

Thoughts on the Serendipity of Traveling: http://killingthebuddha.com/mag/dispatch/serendipity/

Ex-Pats Seeking Community: http://thoughtcatalog.com/2012/what-happens-when-you-live-abroad/

Ladies, the Republican Party is not your friend (more from Katha Pollitt): http://www.thenation.com/article/169630/women-who-love-republicans-who-hate-them

Review of Michael Chabon’s Telegraph Avenue: http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2012/oct/11/imaginary-friends/?pagination=false

Review of Junot Diaz’s new short story collection:

http://www.themillions.com/2012/09/the-you-in-yunior-junot-diazs-this-is-how-you-lose-her.html

Reflections on Salman Rushdie’s new memoir:

http://www.themillions.com/2012/09/salman-the-messenger.html

Indonesia’s Anti Corruption Curriculum:

http://devpolicy.org/educating-against-corruption/

http://edukasi.kompasiana.com/2012/05/08/gila-kurikulum-pendidikan-korupsi/

http://www.tabloidjubi.com/jayapura/8939-kurikulum-anti-korupsi-bukan-solusi

On new documentary “The Artist is Present” and performance artist Marina Abramovic:

Juliet Jacques at New Statesman: http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/art-and-design/2012/09/marina-abramovic-artist-present

Francine Prose at New York Review of Books: http://www.nybooks.com/blogs/nyrblog/2012/sep/06/marina-abramovic-when-art-makes-us-cry/

Interview by Andrew Goldman for NYTimes Magazine: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/17/magazine/the-devil-in-marina-abramovic.html?_r=0

http://the-talks.com/interviews/marina-abramovic/