Amy, not On the Web on this occasion, but in Books, Words and Writing, has a posting (see below) linking to a site called Buzzwords , which claims to be dedicated to de-mystifying jargon. Buzzwords is a dictionary in which one can spend many a happy hour browsing.
Here's an example especially for Susan: "deja poo: The feeling that you've stepped in this bull before."
This is quite good: salad dodger: Someone who is overweight. "What does he look like?" "Well, he's a bit of a salad dodger."
I like this one: Boolean Approach: A decision-making process favored by business execs in which the answer is either "yes" OR "no." Also known as a "digital decision."
Amy also links to one of those quizzes which are just everywhere. This one is of some interest to me so I actually did it: "Which classic literary female character are you?" The only such character I ever remotely identified with was Jo March from Little Women (until she blew it by getting married), but I came out as Jane Eyre, same as Amy. Please put your outcomes in the comments-- are Amy and I soulmates or is there a mass consipracy to make us all Jane Eyre? (Both could be true.)
Link: Books, Words, And Writing: Warriors In the Battle Against Jargon.
Catherine Earnshaw... I knew it, it's me, Catheeee, come home now Oh, Oh ,oh oh,
Posted by: Minx | 24 May 2006 at 22:57
Deja poo! That I can relate to. Actually, it was a case of deja poo with the female literary character quiz too. I dutifully filled out the form but then couldn't figure out how to submit my answers. The site seems to have a sign-in mechanism, but of course I couldn't figure it out! I was concerned that if I pressed the matter I'd end up with a new blog or something!
Posted by: Susan Barr | 25 May 2006 at 05:22
Elizabeth Bennett! I'm surprised - I thought I'd get Catherine Earnshaw. I'm not too keen on Pride and Prejudice but I love Wuthering Heights. Apparently I got my answer because I'm independent and not afraid to say what I want. Which is true really!
Posted by: Marie | 25 May 2006 at 06:41
It told me I was Elizabeth Bennett. Which surprised me, because a different quiz confined to Jane Austen characters told me I was Elinor Dashwood. But anyway, there doesn't seem to be a Jane Eyre conspiracy.
Posted by: Carla | 25 May 2006 at 09:26
My mother is Beth March, so I don't think it's a conspiracy!
Posted by: Amy | 25 May 2006 at 12:26
Minx, I can definitely see you as Catherine Earnshaw!
I would prefer to have been Elizabeth Bennet than Jane Eyre becuase EB is so witty and independent, but I guess the truth is I am a bit of a boring academic.
Susan, the site is a bit horrid, I agree. When you click on the link, just ignore all that signing in stuff, you scroll down a little bit, and then you just start clicking on the little circles. That should do it -- I didn't sign in anyway. I look forward to reading how you come out.
I wonder if they had any other female characters in there? I note nobody has come out as Madame Bovary, just as well. And I wonder, Amy, if Beth March is one of the posssible answers?
Posted by: Maxine | 25 May 2006 at 18:47