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From: Ann Andrusyszyn Subject: etiolate Def: 1. To make pale by preventing exposure to sunlight. 2. To make weak by stunting the growth of. 3. To become pale, weak, or stunted.
How wonderful -- a word describing the practice of growing spargel in Germany! As a Canadian Air Force family we had two postings to Baden-Soellingen, which is located cheek by jowl with the village of Hügelsheim. Hügie, as we Canucks fondly called it, is also known as Spargeldorf (spargel village) and every Spring the area surrounding the village and the Base was a geometric vision with the long straight hummocks of spargel fields stretching as far as the eye could see. Twice a day we would see the crop being tended -- the pristine whiteness of this delicious vegetable was ensured through keeping it protected from sunlight by carefully building up the hummock wherever the spargel tips cracked the surface of the soil. (Spargel is German for asparagus.)
From: Mark Gottsegen Subject: lignify Def: To convert into wood; To become wood or woody.
The word "lignify" was very neat to learn about as I have an abiding interest in lignin-containing papers. Astute artists and art conservators know that lignin is the source of the acidic deterioration of papers of all types. Once the deterioration begins it's impossible to reverse, although it can be arrested through various chemical applications. The best way to avoid the problem, of course, is to use rag papers (100% cotton or high-alpha cellulose) that are at least pH neutral and preferably buffered with an alkaline additive.
From: Victor Lund Subject: lignify
The etymology of lignify brings to mind the Italian phrase, "col legno" or with the wood, familiar to orchestral musicians, signifying that the string players are to turn their bows over and hit the strings with the wood of the bow to produce a distinctively percussive sound.
From: Tossi Aaron Subject: verbing of nouns
Some TV cooking shows say, "... we can plate it ..."
From: Rudy Rosenberg Subject: The magic of words
During WWII, from 1942 to 1944 I was hiding in Belgium, Brussels. The last 17 months were spent in a basement in a house of the capital. There was no reading material available except for a well worn copy of the French Larousse dictionary. I perused it valiantly; each word sending me on a chase for a new one. Although I was not allowed to go to school from the age of 12 to almost 14 the Larousse enriched my vocabulary day after day. Yes, indeed: The magic of words!

Now That Everyone Wants to Be a Geek, Lawyers Have Been Called Now geek is a term of endearment among acolytes of technology, imbued with golden marketing potential. Just how cool is geek? Any dweeb who dares to use the word in the computer business just might hear from Best Buy's lawyers. The world's largest electronics chain recently threatened online rival Newegg.com with legal action, arguing that its Geek On advertising slogan sounded too similar to Best Buy's cartoonishly nerdy tech support service, Geek Squad. Newegg responded by posting the cease-and-desist letter on Facebook this month—and self-described geeks everywhere blasted Best Buy for trying to commandeer a common word that has enjoyed a bigger metamorphosis than the ugly duckling. The Richfield, Minn., company has disputed more than a dozen geek-themed trademarks in the past decade, federal records show, including Rent a Geek, Geek Rescue and Speak With A Geek. Last year, it sent a letter to a Wisconsin priest who had put "God Squad" in a logo reminiscent of the Geek Squad's on the side of his Volkswagen beetle, the same kind of car driven by Best Buy's repairmen. Best Buy says the dispute was resolved amicably after the company offered to remove the logo from the priest's car and pay his legal fees. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304453304576391602625560250.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_MIDDLE_Video_Top

Contrary to what the new Jim Carrey movie might have you believe, the original children's book "Mr. Popper's Penguins" does not feature any soccer balls to the groin. The Free Library of Philadelphia is opening up its archives and giving "Popper" proponents an uncommon opportunity to see the original artwork of illustrator Robert Lawson. The central library's exhibit consists of three cases, containing 24 illustrations, showcasing Lawson's work. The illustrations are not the originals, but facsimiles in order to protect Lawson's works from the detrimental effects of fluorescent lights. Still, the illustrations hold the same power. The exhibit is near the children's department and will remain there until September. The exhibits and archival work done on the library's Lawson collection were made possible by the Council on Library and Information Resources' Hidden Collections grant. Written by Richard and Florence Atwater and published in 1938, "Mr. Popper's Penguins" is about a poor housepainter struck by wanderlust who is sent a penguin - named Captain Cook - by an exploring admiral. The Captain is lonely, so Popper brings in another - Greta - to keep him company and the two beget a family of tuxedoed birds. Special Collections Archivist Adrienne Pruitt said the library's official stance on the movie is that the movie will be great, if only because it will generate interest in the book. She tried to pull a copy for the exhibit, but they were all checked out of the children's department.
http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment/20110617_Philadelphia_library_exhibit_offers_inside_line_on__Popper_s_Penguins_.html

Synthetic leathers, at times made from plastics, are often used in clothing and fabrics. Artificial leather is marketed under many brands, including "leatherette," "faux leather", "Naugahyde" and "pleather". The term pleather ("plastic leather") is a slang term for synthetic leather made of plastic. The term was coined by Amy Bach, when working in New York for Millis clothing. Upon the arrival of a new line, a plastic leather, Amy needed a way to advertise the product to customers without calling it plastic. She thus came up with the term Pleather. A portmanteau of plastic and leather, the term is sometimes used derogatorily, implying a cost-cutting Ersatz for genuine hide. Besides cost, pleather may also be preferred because it is lighter than leather, or as an alternative to real leather citing reasons of animal cruelty. Pleather, being made of plastic, will not decompose as quickly. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_leather

FRANCE RECAP, PART TWO On June 5, we took a train from Beziers to Avignon and boarded the Viking Neptune for a one-week cruise on the Rhone and Saone Rivers. Highlights:
Arles Already important in the days of Ligurian tribes, it became a leading city in the 1st century A.D. In 1239 it was absorbed into Provence.
Avignon Someimes called the River City or The City of Violent Wind. Crew members passed out song sheets and we sang Sur le Pont d'Avignon in view of the bridge which was completed in 1188, repeatedly damaged, and abandoned in 1680.
Chateauneuf-du-Pape Village with 320 vineyards. The pope's home was abandoned when popes were no longer allowed in France. Germans stored weapons there during WWII, and blew up the home when Allied troops approached. One soaring wall is visible from afar.
Tain l/Hermitage Musee Palue, private collection of some of the works of artist Paul Palue (1920-2005) and his contemporaries.
Vienne Intellectual and artistic center for centuries. Under Roman rule, a town was created in the image of Rome. Most Roman monuments are still intact.
Lyon France's culinary capital http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0807/lyon-france-gastronomy-capital.html Situated at the confluence of the Rhone and Saone Rivers, with the Presqu'ile, or peninsula with its wall art and "secret" passageways, lying in between.
Beaune Hospices de Beaune Hotel-Dieux, charity hospital built in 1443 and used until 1971--retirement home has been retained. Visited wine cellar and heard a singer, without microphone or other electronic support, outside Hotel-Dieux.

Live music by pianist/singer daily. Four guest musicians (piano, singers, soprano and alto saxophone, dance) entertained with "Sound of Europe--Sound of France".
Kitchen crew sang one day while preparing lunch. Luckily, we were seated next to the kitchen and heard.
Double rainbow during dinner on 6/10, hot-air balloons practiced for festival the following day during dinner on 6/11