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Dictionary offers all new options
English is a language of adaptation. The language itself is a conglomeration of already-established dialects, and has continued to grow as it assimilates itself to jargon, new technology and conversational fads. It’s a beautiful thing, in that the way we converse with one another is through a breathing, growing idiom that changes just as frequently as the rest of the world around us does.
As our language grows, new words and phrases are often passed along through oral communication — one person says something, another thinks it sounds good and begins saying it, and so on, and so on, and so on. Before you know it, half the country is using the new lexicon, and it begins to become accepted.
But there’s a final stamp of approval that’s necessary for a word to really become accepted in our society — inclusion in the granddaddy of all lists of approved English words, the Merriam-Webster Dictionary.
Tricia Titus, our news editor and my fellow lover of the English language, always sends me the new list of words as soon as Merriam-Webster posts them. We always share a chuckle at some of the new ones that made the cut, and pontificate on others that will soon follow.
Yeah, we’re dorks. We know that. But we have fun, anyway.
This year’s list, for instance, includes “Bollywood” — a reference to Bombay being the center location for filming movies in India. It’s a term that has been used very frequently for several years now, and now has the stamp of approval by Merriam-Webster, and that’s good enough for me.
Also making the cut this year is “crunk.” This is a term that has been applied to rap music from the South — largely the Atlanta area — that has a different sound to it than traditional rap. There is a lot of repetitive lyrics, a party-like beat and usually quite a bit of screaming. It’s like deadline at the Coastal Point, without the foaming of the mouth and threats of jumping out a window.
But I’m not going to spend the rest of this column picking on Susan Lyons ...
Also entering our official lexicon this year is DVR, or digital video recorder. The craze really kicked off when TiVo burst on to the scene and offered television viewers the ability to record their shows without tapes, and to watch recorded programs while something else was being recorded. The DVR has grown in both technology and popularity, and the inclusion of the word into the dictionary was probably a no-brainer. Today’s DVRs now allow people to record more than one show at once, while watching another recorded show. That allows me to sit at home all night and watch re-runs of the 2002 World Series of Poker while recording two separate Angelina Jolie movies at the same time.
Man, this is truly a wonderful age.
The war in Iraq has also brought a few acronyms into everyday language, and Merriam-Webster has identified that. Both IED (improvised explosive device) and RPG (rocket-propelled grenade) have made their way from the headlines in newspapers to the inside of our dictionary, and I’d have to say that I wish neither of those words existed.
But that’s for another day.
Another rather aggressive word that made the cut this year is “smackdown” — a term that got much of its popularity when connected to the antics of professional wrestling, but at its base means to knock somebody down by striking him or her. Isn’t it a little scary that we need so many words to describe hurting somebody?
On the flip side of hurting somebody, there is loving somebody. On the flip side of love, we have “speed dating” — an event where a bunch of single people get together and spend a predetermined amount of time one-on-one with a member of the opposite sex before moving on to the next person. Judging by my own past history, that means that I could have been rejected by a record number of women in a record amount of time had I ever gone that route.
Because we obviously didn’t have enough words to describe something that is really big, the dictionary decided this year to include “ginormous.” It seems a little superfluous to combine “gigantic” and “enormous” to form a whole new word, but I guess that’s not too big of a streach. Get it? See, what I did was combine “stretch” and “reach” to formulate a whole new ...
But I digress.
Anyway, I have a lot of stuff to do, so we’re going to cut off the column at this point. There’s this really big movie out of Bollywood that’s getting ginormous press, so I have to schedule my DVR to record it now. Also, I was listening to this crunk song where a guy said he is going to give a smackdown to some other dude, because he hit on his girlfriend at a speed dating event.
Hey, it beats watching IEDs and RPGs on CNN, right?
Beebe is using the right logic
Rumors have been running rampant that Beebe Medical Center had changed its mind about using a 10-acre lot along Route 26 for a medical center in our community. Well, the rumors were a little bit off — thankfully.
Instead, Beebe picked up an additional 12.8 acres behind that lot, and plan on being able to grow their services as this community continues to grow in the future. This is the exact kind of foresight, logic and common sense that has also been exhibited locally in ... not enough areas.
The $28.2 million project that Beebe is undertaking is not only a significant investment on their part to become the dominant medical force in our community, it is also a concentrated effort on their part to let it be known that Beebe is in this for the long haul — and they will be consolidating their local services in one centralized location.
This is a significant event for our entire community. For years, the complaint heard most often behind overdevelopment was that there was little healthcare in our area — despite a demographic that features many elderly people. Well, the past few years has seen a dramatic increase in the number of doctors and specialists along Route 26, and throughout our area.
This investment by Beebe proves that this trend will only continue.
We applaud Beebe for their efforts in improving their medical services to this community, and trust that they will benefit from a community that takes prides in its volunteerism and penchant for helping out organizations.
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Both Fenwick Island and Bethany Beach have elections coming up, and that’s impressive enough.
All too often, towns don’t have enough candidates interested in running for town council seats, so the councils are simply filled by whoever wants to be there. Granted, the beach towns tend to have more candidates than the inland towns, but it’s still a great thing to see multiple people filing for a finite number of seats.
Decisions made by our town councils often mean much more to people in their day-to-day lives than even the decisions made by national, state and county politicians. Town officials can decide when restaurants close, what our taxes are and what services we gain. It’s important that residents of towns get their say as to who is making their biggest decisions.
Councilman says chaos on council must stop
Editor’s note: The following letter was addressed to the citizens of Ocean View and forwarded to the Coastal Point for publication.
On July 10, the town council held its monthly meeting. It was not one of Ocean View’s finest moments. It was a meeting where debate of an issue disintegrated into chaos. Rules of order were abandoned as two council members, Councilmen Amendt and Wichmann (to a lesser degree), lost all semblance of decorum. Their actions have brought this governing body into disrepute.
It is important for the citizens of Ocean View to know that the mayor, Councilman Nippes and [myself] were not a part of the chaos. Each continued to conduct the town’s business in a professional manner that followed the rules of order established by the town council.
Disagreement on issues, debate and even spirited debate are part of the American tradition. However, when the debate changes from focusing on the issues to personal attacks and name calling, a line has been crossed. The ability to govern is lost. Attempts to control the debate through threats and aggressive behavior bordering on intimidation is not acceptable and should not to be tolerated. This is the same type of behavior that street thugs use to rule the streets of many large cities.
Disregard and disrespect for the rules of order that govern town council meetings cannot be condoned. These are rules that enable opposing opinions to be heard and allow the free flow of ideas. These are rules that each councilman voted to approve.
Councilmen Amendt and Wichmann violated these rules numerous times on July 10. A sampling of the rules violated is as follows: Rule 12.2 — Conduct During Meetings from the Rules of Procedure of the Ocean View Town. From Mason’s Legislative Manual: Sec. 123.1 Use of Disorderly Words in Debate and Sec. 124.1 & .3 Personalities Not Permitted in Debate.
A review of the audio recording of the July 10 meeting was conducted. Time after time, Councilmen Amendt and Wichmann were out of order; making remarks that were meant to disparage fellow councilmen; interrupting others while they were speaking; yelling; borderline swearing; harassing the mayor in an attempt to intimidate him into voting their way and inciting the audience. This type of behavior must be condemned.
I request Councilmen Amendt and Wichmann to publicly apologize to the citizens of Ocean View, the Mayor, council members and all employees of the town of Ocean View. I also request that Councilmen Amendt and Wichmann make a public commitment that they will adhere to the rules of order in the future. If Councilmen Amendt and Wichmann fail to publicly apologize for their behavior, it will leave a wound on town council that will not heal easily. It will also tell the citizens of Ocean View that they believe their conduct is acceptable. You be the judge.
Whatever action Councilmen Amendt and Wichmann choose will not affect my efforts to ensure that town council continues to strive for “open and honest government that represents the citizens of Ocean View.” That has always been my agenda, and I see no reason to alter this quest. It is best that town council puts this ugly episode behind us and moves forward. It is important that we get on with the business of the town of Ocean View.
Councilman Roy Thomas
Ocean View Town Council
FOSCL campaign gets boost from restaurants
Editor:
On behalf of the Friends of the South Coastal Library (FOSCL) Capital Campaign, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Jerry Richard of Steakhouse 26; Jim Weisberger of Bethany Blues; and John Wingert of Magnolia’s for their generous support.
Each of these restaurants has recently held a “10 percent night” at their locations, giving FOSCL the opportunity to raise money and win new support from area residents for the enlargement of the South Coastal Library in Bethany Beach. Not only were these evenings a great and fun way for FOSCL to garner financial support, but they provided a venue for getting the word out to restaurant patrons about the campaign, and how it will provide a new and enriched facility for our community.
Additional revenue was generated at two of these events through a raffle, for which ticket purchasers could win a quilt generously provided to us by The CottonPatchers.
The Capital Campaign was kicked off in the fall of 2006 at the Harvest Ball, and since that time FOSCL has raised upwards of $1.3 million toward our final goal of $2.6 million. This type of progress has only been possible through the generosity of area residents, foundations, and businesses such as the restaurants mentioned above.
With their support and that of the entire community, FOSCL is confident that we will reach our ultimate goal: a new and beautiful facility that will bring so many new educational and programmatic opportunities to South Coastal residents of all ages.
So, once more, we say thanks to these area restaurants. We appreciate your commitment to our campaign.
Mary Lou Tietz, Development Director
FOSCL Capital Campaign
Frederick good for Fenwick Island
Editor:
I got a kick out of a Coastal Point article a few weeks back which quoted a current Fenwick town council member as being disappointed that Peter Frederick (mayor of Fenwick Island from 2002 until 2006) was getting back into the race for a seat on the new council. He stated that the council was getting along so well and working harmoniously together. Whenever a council or government group says that, watch out.
Doris Kearns Goodwin, in her recent non-fiction best seller “Team of Rivals,” tells how Abraham Lincoln’s cabinet of brilliant leaders having differing views led to lively cabinet meetings and thorough discussions of different approaches to the tough issues of that day.
Today, Fenwick Island needs proven leadership. We need innovative approaches. We need to hear and discuss alternatives. Fenwick Island needs Pete on our town council.
If you look at what he has done, you know what more he can do for Fenwick. We have the best beach in Delaware and Pete’s leadership enabled it. He worked with the congressional delegation, the Corps of Engineers and DNREC early and often to provide us with beach replenishment well ahead of Katrina and our neighbors to the north, and without a tax increase.
He personally negotiated with the Army Corps of Engineers to get the fence off the top of the dunes and onto the sides. The crossings (one handicapped), the benches and the $50,000 annual grant from the state for our beach patrol were principally due to Pete.
His experience in negotiating with federal, state and county agencies is needed. His success in managing this town for four years without a law suit and with compliant audits is needed.
What might the future of Fenwick hold with Pete back on our council?
• Relocate our recycling bins and town trash trucks outside the Fenwick Island town limits.
• Negotiate with county and state agencies to keep the growing number of shuttle buses from the many new developments along Route 54 off our streets and out of incorporated Fenwick.
• Add and expand the park and recreation facilities along the beach and a small boat ramp along the bay for use by town residents.
• Restore open dialogue between the Town Council and all residents.
• Carefully manage change so that aspects of the comprehensive plan can be implemented with minimal disruption.
• Limit the growth of outdoor dinning at our wonderful local restaurants to keep Fenwick a quiet and clean town.
The Fenwick town council needs Pete’s leadership, ideas, negotiating skills, experience and energy. For Pete’s sake, get out and vote on Aug. 4, and for Fenwick’s sake, vote for Frederick.
John L Rymer
Fenwick Island
Hocker’s Memory Walk team asks for support
Editor:
Hocker Organized Proud Employees (HOPE) for Alzheimers asks for community support in helping our new Memory Walk ’07 team raise donations to benefit many local programs for Alzheimer patients and caregivers.
Hocker’s Super Center and G&E employees are rallying together to support this cause as we all know someone touched by this terrible disease. We will be participating in this year’s Memory Walk ’07 (5K walk) being held in Rehoboth Beach on Sept. 29 and are planning many fundraisers to increase our donation and awareness to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Please support the Hocker/G&E team by purchasing “Forget-Me-Nots” at any register for just $1 each. We hope that you also support our hot dog sales, yard sale and bake sales planned for the next few months.
Team HOPE wants to show our community what can be accomplished when we work together.
Kim Blake and Ruth Ann Marvel
Team HOPE co-captains
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