Sarita Bonita

Foreign Words We Could Use in English

Tue, 21 May 2013 23:59:11 -0400

Kummerspeck (German)
Excess weight gained from emotional overeating. Literally, grief bacon.

Shemomedjamo (Georgian)
You know when you’re really full, but your meal is just so delicious, you can’t stop eating it?

Tartle (Scots)
The nearly onomatopoeic word for that panicky hesitation just before you have to introduce someone whose name you can’t quite remember.

Mamihlapinatapai (Yaghan language of Tierra del Fuego)
This word captures that special look shared between two people, when both are wishing that the other would do something that they both want, but neither want to do.

Backpfeifengesicht (German)
A face badly in need of a fist.

Iktsuarpok (Inuit)
You know that feeling of anticipation when you’re waiting for someone to show up at your house and you keep going outside to see if they’re there yet?

Pelinti (Buli, Ghana)
Your friend bites into a piece of piping hot pizza, then opens his mouth and sort of tilts his head around while making an “aaaarrrahh” noise. The Ghanaians have a word for that. More specifically, it means “to move hot food around in your mouth.”

Greng-jai (Thai)
That feeling you get when you don’t want someone to do something for you because it would be a pain for them.

Mencolek (Indonesian)
You know that old trick where you tap someone lightly on the opposite shoulder from behind to fool them? The Indonesians have a word for it.

Faamiti (Samoan)
To make a squeaking sound by sucking air past the lips in order to gain the attention of a dog or child.

Gigil (Filipino)
The urge to pinch or squeeze something that is irresistibly cute.

Yuputka (Ulwa)
A word made for walking in the woods at night, it’s the phantom sensation of something crawling on your skin.

Zhaghzhagh (Persian)
The chattering of teeth from the cold or from rage.

Vybafnout (Czech)
A word tailor-made for annoying older brothers—it means to jump out and say boo.

Fremdschämen (German)
; Myötähäpeä (Finnish)
The kindler, gentler cousins of Schadenfreude, both these words mean something akin to “vicarious embarrassment.”

Lagom (Swedish)
Maybe Goldilocks was Swedish? This slippery little word is hard to define, but means something like, “Not too much, and not too little, but juuuuust right.”

Pålegg (Norweigian)
Sandwich Artists unite! The Norwegians have a non-specific descriptor for anything – ham, cheese, jam, Nutella, mustard, herring, pickles, Doritos, you name it – you might consider putting into a sandwich.

Layogenic (Tagalog)
Remember in Clueless when Cher describes someone as “a full-on Monet…from far away, it’s OK, but up close it’s a big old mess”? That’s exactly what this word means.

Bakku-shan (Japanese)
Or there this Japanese slang term, which describes the experience of seeing a woman who appears pretty from behind but not from the front.

Seigneur-terraces (French)
Coffee shop dwellers who sit at tables a long time but spend little money.

Ya’arburnee (Arabic)
This word is the hopeful declaration that you will die before someone you love deeply, because you cannot stand to live without them. Literally, may you bury me.

Pana Po’o (Hawaiian)
“Hmm, now where did I leave those keys?” he said, pana po’oing. It means to scratch your head in order to help you remember something you’ve forgotten.

Slampadato (Italian)
Addicted to the UV glow of tanning salons? This word describes you.

Zeg (Georgian)
It means “the day after tomorrow.” OK, we do have “overmorrow” in English, but when was the last time someone used that?

Cafune (Brazilian Portuguese)
Leave it to the Brazilians to come up with a word for “tenderly running your fingers through your lover’s hair.”

Koi No Yokan (Japanese)
The sense upon first meeting a person that the two of you are going to fall in love.

Kaelling (Danish)
You know that woman who stands on her doorstep (or in line at the supermarket, or at the park, or in a restaurant)
cursing at her children? The Danes know her, too.

Boketto (Japanese)
It’s nice to know that the Japanese think enough of the act of gazing vacantly into the distance without thinking to give it a name.

L’esprit de l’escalier (French)
Literally, stairwell wit—a too-late retort thought of only after departure.

Cotisuelto (Caribbean Spanish)
A word that would aptly describe the prevailing fashion trend among American men under 40, it means one who wears the shirt tail outside of his trousers.

Packesel (German)
The packesel is the person who’s stuck carrying everyone else’s bags on a trip. Literally, a burro.

Hygge (Danish)
Denmark’s mantra, hygge is the pleasant, genial, and intimate feeling associated with sitting around a fire in the winter with close friends.

Cavoli Riscaldati (Italian)
The result of attempting to revive an unworkable relationship. Translates to “reheated cabbage.”

Bilita Mpash (Bantu)
An amazing dream. Not just a “good” dream; the opposite of a nightmare.

Litost (Czech)
Milan Kundera described the emotion as “a state of torment created by the sudden sight of one’s own misery.”

Luftmensch (Yiddish)
There are several Yiddish words to describe social misfits. This one is for an impractical dreamer with no business sense.

nevver: Patti Smith I LOVE PATTI.

Mon, 20 May 2013 13:04:00 -0400

nevver:

Patti Smith

I LOVE PATTI.

Tight Spot by David Byrne

Mon, 20 May 2013 10:58:38 -0400

Tight Spot by David Byrne

kateoplis: Robert Montgomery

Wed, 15 May 2013 01:04:55 -0400

kateoplis:

Robert Montgomery

utnereader: Why Build a Border Wall? Barriers are invariably...

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 10:58:01 -0400

utnereader:

Why Build a Border Wall?

Barriers are invariably justified in the language of security—the country must be protected from the terrorists, drug cartels, insurgents, or suicide bombers lurking on the other side. Despite the external focus of these justifications, these walls and fences are actually the result of internal reasoning, from establishing sovereignty over ungoverned or unruly lands, to protecting internal wealth, to preserving cultural practices from the influence of other value systems. The decision to build the 664-mile barrier along the U.S.-Mexico border, although often presented as primarily in response to drug-related violence and terrorism, is largely due to these internal factors. Keep reading.

hellogiggles: LOL

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 14:15:40 -0400

hellogiggles:

LOL

shortformblog: hypervocal: “We are trying to be provocative in...

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 16:04:23 -0400

shortformblog:

hypervocal:

“We are trying to be provocative in the best use of that term.” –Jon Rubin, Conflict Kitchen co-director

GREAT story we just posted about Conflict Kitchen, a Pittsburgh restaurant that only serves food from countries in conflict with the USA. Check this out, a great concept, and some great quotes.

“Reaction’s been great,” Rubin says when asked the obvious. “There’s never been this kind of food in Pittsburgh, and we didn’t know whether people would be into that. But people are starving for food and diversity.”

Such an amazing idea.

shortformblog: usatoday: Secretary of State John Kerry’s...

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 15:57:10 -0500

shortformblog:

usatoday:

Secretary of State John Kerry’s tweets will end in JK.

Really.

(via The Daily Caller)

Just kidding.

How to discuss politics with friends, v2

Fri, 23 Nov 2012 17:42:18 -0500

How to discuss politics with friends, v2:

What is the actual question being discussed? We often stumble into political discussions, seeded by one fact or recent news. As the discussion gets rolling, there are different perspectives on what the actual question being discussed is. Taking a moment to restate the question, or issue, clarifies for everyone exactly what the discussion is about. It sounds silly, but asking “what are we arguing about?” forces everyone to more clearly state their position, or what they think is the core point of disagreement, which can only elevate the quality of discourse.

What do you actually know? We hear factoids third hand and draw large conclusions supporting our pet theories. We rarely read the studies mentioned in the news, or examine the sources of articles we read online as the concept of confirmation bias, where we cherry pick facts we like and call it research, is a human failing. This means we rarely have the depth of understanding to match our emotions. Poking at our sources and recognizing how many assumptions are being made, or both sides, disarms conversations. It’s easy to misconstrue facts or manipulate data and having volumes of it means nothing, as both sides have ample ammunition.

Can you effectively argue the opposing point-of-view? We forget that an argument is just a tool. In any complex issue, there are valid points on all sides. If you can’t effectively argue the other side’s point of view, you can’t claim to have seriously considered your own position, as you’ve never truly evaluated any alternative (or haven’t done it in years). Switching sides in a debate is a fantastic exercise: it forces you to use more intelligence and critical thinking than defending the same view year after year ever could.

What would convince you that you are wrong? If you can’t imagine any possible way to have a different opinion, then your imagination is limited, which likely makes you boring to talk with. If you can’t imagine the world being any other way, no matter how slim the possibility, then you are stuck in your own beliefs. You deny yourself the chance to have a new opinion. Worse, you likely confuse stroking your old well worn thoughts with the act of thinking up new ones.

Why do you believe what you believe? We assume we have great reasons for our opinions. This sometimes is not true. Maybe you believe what you believe because your parents did? That’s not a logical basis for believing anything, as it doesn’t involve any of your own thinking. It’s ok to believe in it anyway, but understanding why you believe will change the way you talk/defend/promote those beliefs.

Why are you interested in having a discussion about it? Is the goal to explore ideas and learn, or to compete?

What are you going to do about it? Assuming you’re right, and passionate about your views, why do you think discussing it with a friend will change anything? There are many ways to support political causes and campaigns, and investing your energy there will likely be more satisfying and have more of an impact. If you’re not willing to put your own energy behind something you claim to believe in, why should anyone else take your ideas seriously? We pretend so much is at stake in our position, but most of the time we don’t care enough to take action. Yelling at a friend is a very unproductive way to support your own beliefs.

Photo

Fri, 16 Nov 2012 20:18:14 -0500

Thats my boss. goldman: fulltimewithdental: You don’t get to...

Fri, 09 Nov 2012 16:02:52 -0500

Thats my boss.

goldman:

fulltimewithdental:

You don’t get to see the behind the scenes stuff all too often. Politics. So emotional.

Putting politics aside: one of the best things that you can have in any job - whether’s it’s building furniture or playing baseball or working for a presidential campaign - is a boss who cares about his employees, and makes you feel that what you are doing is important.

ShortFormBlog: Paul Ryan's initial likability: Not so likable, it turns out

Sun, 19 Aug 2012 18:01:55 -0400

ShortFormBlog: Paul Ryan's initial likability: Not so likable, it turns out:

shortformblog:

39% the percentage of folks polled by Gallup who gave Paul Ryan “excellent” or “pretty good” marks after he was picked

46% the percentage of folks who gave Sarah Palin similar marks after she was picked back in 2008 — obviously, that didn’t hold very well

47% the percentage of folks…

Victory! (Taken with Cinemagram)

Fri, 17 Aug 2012 01:47:42 -0400

Victory! (Taken with Cinemagram)

Hillary Clinton on Being Asked about Her Clothes

Wed, 15 Aug 2012 01:19:33 -0400

bostonreview:

Interviewer: Okay. Which designers do you prefer?

Hillary Clinton: What designers of clothes?

Interviewer: Yes.

Hillary Clinton: Would you ever ask a man that question?

Interviewer: Probably not. Probably not.

[Via UniteWomen.org; State.gov]

RIP Helen Gurley Brown

Tue, 14 Aug 2012 23:27:27 -0400

“Feeling insecure is good for you. It forces you to do something better, drives you to use all your talents.”

Read more: http://thegloss.com/culture/helen-gurley-brown-best-quotes-obituary-788/#ixzz23a86ysnO

smallmarginaleffects: gpoy last week

Thu, 26 Jul 2012 21:57:17 -0400

smallmarginaleffects:

gpoy last week

Taken with Instagram

Sat, 21 Jul 2012 23:40:02 -0400

Taken with Instagram

cinemagr.am (Taken with Cinemagram)

Sat, 21 Jul 2012 22:45:07 -0400

cinemagr.am (Taken with Cinemagram)

Cactus rides the CTA (Taken with Instagram)

Sat, 21 Jul 2012 11:43:15 -0400

Cactus rides the CTA (Taken with Instagram)

Photo

Sat, 14 Jul 2012 10:45:13 -0400