January 25, 2008

100 Words: Shoes

To buy shoes is always an ordeal. For some, overwhelming wanting has turned shoes into cultural legend. But not for me; to find shoes that fit is task enough. Each year or two, after my old pair could bear no more the abuses of the schoolyard. I stared down at my feet, they look pretty normal. The salesman returned, arms full of shoe-boxes. Here we go again.

I had but one pair of shoes, sneakers. I cringe as I watch cute black dresses limp along on legs that if not for their jilted stride and a veiled grimace would be sexy-long.

January 25, 2008January 25, 2008

Gyroscope: Definition

A gyroscope in operation with freedom in all three axes. The rotor will maintain its spin axis direction regardless of the orientation of the outer frame.

gy–ro–scope |ËˆjÄ«rÉ™ËŒskÅp|noun | a device consisting of a wheel or disk mounted so that it can spin rapidly about an axis that is itself free to alter in direction. The orientation of the axis is not affected by tilting of the mounting; so gyroscopes can be used to provide stability or maintain a reference direction in navigation systems, automatic pilots, and stabilizers.
ORIGIN mid 19th cent.: from French, from Greek guros ‘a ring’ + modern Latin scopium (see -scope ).
DERIVATIVES gy–ro–scop–ic |ËŒjÄ«rÉ™ËˆskÃ¤pik| adjective Â»Â« gy–ro–scop–i–cal–ly |ËŒjÄ«rÉ™ËˆskÃ¤pik(É™)lÄ“| adverb
[New Oxford American Dictionary]

100 Words: Gyroscope

January 25, 2008January 25, 2008

You were the one who ___, who _, who _. She sings the old songs, ___.

You were the one who played safe, who kept cool, who made peace instead of war.

—

She sings the old songs, though there is no-one there to sing along.