(Occasional) Word of the Day: Sybarite

O. noticed this fantastic word (highlighted) while perusing the website of the Domestic Minx:

For I am a hedonist, a sybarite, a voluptuary and a bon vivant!
And proud of it too.

Unsure of this word, O. looked it up.

Here’s the def: a person addicted to luxury and pleasures of the senses

And if you want to hear it pronounced out loud, check it out on the online talking dictionary. And while you’re checking out the online talking dictionary, DO NOT get hooked on making it say naughty words as O. so often does. However, DO make it say the word ‘hogwash.’ You’ll be glad you did.

(comic courtesy of Toothpaste for Dinner)

No More Redheads? NOOOOOOOOO!

Has the time of the red head expired?

We certainly hope not! O. has always had an affinity for redheads – and for one – aptly nicknamed “Big Ginger” in particular. So he was quite disturbed this evening when he read this story courtesy of National Geographic.

Redheads set for extinction

Peter Beattie, Nicole Kidman and Michael Voss are. So were William Shakespeare, Christopher Columbus and Queen Elizabeth the First.

But the future doesn’t look bright for people with ginger hair.According to genetic scientists redheads are becoming rarer and could be extinct in 100 years.

The current National Geographic magazine reports that less than 2 per cent of the world’s population has natural red hair – created by a mutation in northern Europe thousand of years ago.

Global intermingling, which broadens the availability of possible partners, has reduced the chances of redheads meeting and so producing little redheads of their own.

Although it takes only one red-haired parent to produce ginger babies, two redheads obviously creates a much stronger possibility.

Some experts warn redheads could be gone as early 2060, but others say the gene can be dormant in the reproductive system for generations before returning.

National Geographic says the gene at first had the beneficial effect of increasing the body’s ability to make vitamin D from sunlight. However, today’s carriers are more prone to skin cancer and have a higher sensitivity to heat and cold-related pain.

This makes O. incredibly sad! His dearly departed mom had deep, beautiful auburn hair, as did one of his former loves, and MeanRed, who is one of O.’s dearest friends. KTPP also has red hair, but hers comes out of a bottle. (And yeah, O. just went there.)

What’s to come of future Prince Harry’s? Nicole Kidmans (before she became a living robot with white skin and hair)? Christina Cedenos? Jessica Rabbits? Vincent van Goghs? Tori Amos’? Lulus? Marcia Cross’? The superhot Paul Bettanys?

This is a tragedy of epic proportion! Who wants a world of just blondes and brunettes?

Boooring.

We can send a man to the moon. We can explore the depths of the oceans. We saved the bald eagle from extinction.

It’s time to save the redheads.

For the love of Jesus, Satan, and the Flying Spaghetti Monster – let’s stop this tragedy before it happens!

Ha Ha! You’re Old.

This instant message conversation between O. and his friendly neighbor Mikel (a fantastic 40something) was just too good to not share.

O.: Hey!

Mikel: Hey, how are you?

O.: Doing great. I am SO glad to hear from you!

Mikel: Why?

O.: Well, I was watching the news, and I saw we’re in a heat advisory. The newswoman said that concerned citizens should be checking on the elderly and making sure they’re ok, so I’m doing my civic duty by checking on you.

:: Few moments pause ::

Mikel: Fuck you, O. Smartass

Not the Prom King Anymore

August 22 is a day that O. has been both anticipating and dreading for a few weeks now.

The pencils are sharpened. The new computer has been ordered. And $240 on two measley books has been spent.

Tomorrow – August 22 – is O.’s first day of school.

After completing his master’s of management degree and graduating in May 2007, O. had pretty much decided that he’d be done with school for one year, then he’d begin his Ph.D.

But the allure of learning called to him like Bali Ha’i, as it so often has in the past.

And when a new, exciting master’s degree in computer education piqued his interest in early July, he knew that he could not resist.

But being the sponge that O. is – or as some like to call it a glutton for punishment – he also wanted to achieve another goal.

O. wants to learn Spanish.

O. was adopted when he was a wee baby, and approximately four years ago, he found out that his biological father was from Mexico; his mother is German-Irish. And since that time period, learning Spanish has been something he has desired so greatly to do.

Call it a connection to a part of him that he’s just getting to know. Call it a grasp at a paternal relationship he’ll never know. Call it the pursuit of an enigmatic part of O.’s own psyche.

But he’s taken the bull by the horns.

Tomorrow, O. will sit in a classroom full of 18-22 year old students.

He won’t know any of them.

They won’t know that he was the prom king.  And wouldn’t care.

He’s not young anymore. He’s an adult learner.

It won’t be the same as college was the first time – which is good and bad.

He’ll have to get by on charm, good looks, and a bit of sheer dumb luck.

And he’ll do it.

O. will be terrified, but in one year, his Spanish will be fanstastic.

And in two, master’s degree numero dos will have been earned.

Time to go – O. has syllabi to read!

High School Flashback – Mushroom Style

O. spent HOURS playing Super Mario Brothers 3 while he was in middle/high school.

Such fun.

Well, some smartie pants has shown that he can complete the entire game in 11 minutes exactly. It’s a fun little flashback.