Strange Phenomenon: Use of the Word "Epic"

The new hot word is apparently "epic."  Let's visit the definition according to dictionary.com.

–adjective Also, ep·i·cal.

1. noting or pertaining to a long poetic composition, usually centered upon a hero, in which a series of great achievements or events is narrated in elevated style: Homer's Iliad is an epic poem.

2. resembling or suggesting such poetry: an epic novel on the founding of the country.

3. heroic; majestic; impressively great: the epic events of the war.

4. of unusually great size or extent: a crime wave of epic proportions.

–noun

5. an epic poem.

6. epic poetry.

7. any composition resembling an epic.

8. something worthy to form the subject of an epic: The defense of the Alamo is an American epic.

9. ( initial capital letter ) Also called Old Ionic. the Greek dialect represented in the Iliad  and the Odyssey,  apparently Aeolic modified by Ionic.

Spectacular word, I agree.  But recently, so misused!  Examples from the MTV music awards (I know, the bastion of intelligent life form...):

1.  Preface to a two minute interview with Lady Gaga:  Coming up, an epic exclusive interview with Lady Gaga.  

2.  Describing the 2010 MTV music award stage as "epic."

I'm sure they didn't mean a long poetic composition.  That leaves us with majestic, impressively great, or of unusually great size or extent. I'm all about words, I love word.  Just don't associate great words with the less than great, please?

Strange phenonmenon: Cracker Barrel

I recently ate at Cracker Barrel for the first time.  When I arrived, I was confused about why so many people were sitting out on the "porch" in rocking chairs, and then realized they weren't just hanging out, they were waiting to get in to eat!  And it was packed inside.  It's my understanding that this is not unusual.  I'm not sure what is is about the store packed with overwhelming amounts of knick-knacks and country store paraphernalia and the underwhelming quality of "country" food that draws such a crowd.  I do know that my stomach hurt terribly after the meal. Road trip pit stop?  Maybe, but not likely for me!  Dinner date destination?  Never again!

Probation for Wheat Ridge man who shot alleged thieves

Probation for Wheat Ridge man who shot alleged thieves - The Denver Post

 I have mixed feelings about this article.  On one hand, as a person and as a former defense attorney, I am happy that this 81-year-old man got unsupervised probation.  On the other, I have to wonder how much of race and status plays into the results of this situation.  Older white male vs. young hispanic (guessing from the names) hoodlums.  I get that they were stealing his stuff.  But this was not a violent crime on their part, and he coldly shot at them as they were driving away.  The media handling of this case says it all: Months after burglary victim charged with attempted murder, two theft suspects arrested - The Denver Post.

"Two theft suspects, who for months remained free of charges even as an elderly man who said he tried to stop them from stealing his trailer faced an attempted-murder charge for shooting at them, were arrested Friday."  First of all, rest assured, they were never not going to charge the two men, it's Jeffco.  Secondly, it wasn't a burglary, it was a theft.  It's actually different.  I'm not condoning theft, obviously, but wow, Denver Post, could you be any more transparent about where your bias stands? 

Afghan Boys Are Prized, So Girls Live the Part

Being a woman is a terribly difficult task since it consists principally in dealing with men. 

  - Joseph Conrad

Afghan Boys Are Prized, So Girls Live the Part

There was a bit of a Facebook buzz about this article.  It was fascinating, sad, and disturbing at the same time.  I understood the part of me that felt unsettled and uncomfortable that young girls must masquerade as boys in order to have the same rights and benefits.  Another part of me almost loved the daring and somewhat rebellious nature of this system: boys get all the privileges?  Fine, I'll be a boy then.  Perhaps this is the romantic in me, but it seems like there is something strangely empowering about this fiction.  It gives these girls a chance to see what life can be like, and a chance to taste opportunity.  It's also fascinating how the culture just accepts this practice and if someone dresses like a boy and has a boy's name, it's just accepted, even by those who know it's not real.  The saddest part of the article is when the return to "womanhood" comes about.  I suppose that's when the reality of all the inequity really sinks in. 

Letter to the Internet: Adobe Flash Player

Dear Adobe Flash Player,

Why do you insist on being updated nearly every day?  Why do you threaten to cause instability to my Firefox browser if I do not update my flash player?  Do you have so many problems that you have to constantly be fixing yourself?  I'm tired of updating and just don't understand.  Half the time you still don't work right anyway.

-Angela