To blog is to know the very essence of the inane, but nonetheless entertaining, art of the written word. You can blog out loud. Yes, BLOG OUT LOUD! You can blog in Color…why certainly—COLOR—oh, wait, that is loud color…it reminds me of a dress I saw on a manikin in a store window at the mall last evening…but, I must not digress---yet. Can you blog in an intellectual style with class and dignity… why, of course, you can my fine fellow…but then why would you want to do something such as that?
“Blog” is taken from the term “web log” meaning to write-talk (a neosphere expression to explain a manner of communication via the internet—e-mail messages qualify as write-talk) in whatever fashion strikes your fancy on the internet so as to fill cyberspace with woeful tales, comic relief, and to advertise whatever it is you would like to sell. Most of all, I suspect, blogs sell the author—to themselves. I bet that doesn’t make sense to you. If, in fact, it does not make sense to you, it means one of two things…either you are extremely well adjusted, as is your family…no dysfunction in your house…or you have never blogged. (Blog is technically defined thusly: · read, write, or edit a shared on-line journal · web log: a shared on-line journal where people can post diary entries about their personal experiences and hobbies.)
It seems obvious, given the situation, “web log” is such a horribly long term and so difficult to say that someone actually shortened it to “Blog.” (Can you say facetious boys and girls?) Our lives are so full we must use terms like G-B indicating a garbage bowl, or E-V-O-O…meaning of course, extra virgin olive oil. Does it really save you so much time to say E-V-O-O rather than extra virgin olive oil that it is worth the effort to program it into our brains? The same principle applies to words such as air conditioner…it has become the AC. The television has become the TV. Your identification is known as your ID.
Why do we humans do that?
Do what?
Make short words out of long words even when is just as easy to say the original word. Oh. Perhaps just to save time in our overly-busy word world.
Think about nicknames—why is Hank a nickname for Henry? How is Jack any shorter than John? How did it come about that Bill is a nickname for William…Why not Will or Willie, or how did we get Peggy or Peg as a nickname for someone named Margaret? Why do we have nicknames anyway? Now do you see how silly we humans really are? But it goes on….
Then there are acronyms such as NATO—“North Atlantic Treaty Organization”, SCUBA—“Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus, WHO—“World Health Organization, LASER—“Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation,” let's not forget NASA--"National Aeronautics and Space Administration," and SNAFU …did you know that SNAFU is an acronym? This term was actually given birth by the military…it is an acronym for the phrase “Situation Normal All [Fouled] Up.” Meaning of course, a normal situation has taken a bad turn by whatever means, and is now no longer normal, as anticipated, or desired. Well, I can see why we would need an acronym for that seemingly oxymoronic observation. But then, at the time it was created, I sure it made sense to someone. Actually SNAFU makes more sense just in and of itself—once you are oriented* in the manner intended for its original use. (Now, does that sound as if it should be included somewhere in the Federal tax code? You know, the one issued by the IRS!)
Like many other acronyms, SNAFU has been adopted into civilian language and used as a stand alone word to mean a complication or problem. Another word, all though not an acronym, which was taken from the military, is accouterment or accoutrement, meaning an accessory or piece of equipment associated with a specific object, task, or role. 2. a piece of military equipment carried by soldiers in addition to their standard uniform and weapons. But, you knew that already, didn’t you?
Acronyms are commonly written using be all upper case letters, but as we take them into our communication as common words we change them. SCUBA has become scuba used mainly to mean just diving and performing underwater, LASER we call laser—a light that has nearly magical properties…there are many people who do not realize both of these words are acronyms.
No wonder we blog—our lives have become so complicated and time often runs amok—now there is a word to add to your repertoire—“amok” has a cool sound, doesn’t it? Even the dictionary definition is cool: amok (adverb) meaning out of control in a very frenzied way or confusedly in or into a confused or disorganized state OR (adjective) frenzied or out of control as run amok—to become out of control, especially in a frenzied way—we need a time to take control back and mellow for a while.
I must admit blogging, or web logging, is a wonderful way to be creative, communicate, and relieve stress…betcha never thought about it being therapeutic! For whatever reason each individual writes or reads….a blog by any name at all would be just as sweet!
So—blog on souls of merriment--blog on!
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Footnote:
Footnote:*…which brings to mind…you are never “orientated” even though you may attend an “orientation” class or meeting….you are only “oriented,” While I am at it, please note…. you did not go acrossed the road—you either went “across” the road or, you simply "crossed" the road…why? To get to the other side!
