From Merriam-Webster.
Peculate
Pronunciation: ‘pe-ky&-“lAt
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form(s): -lat·ed; -lat·ing
Etymology: Latin peculatus, past participle of peculari, from peculium: a bit of money, a small property.
Date: 1802
: EMBEZZLE
– pec·u·la·tion – /”pe-ky&-‘lA-sh&n – noun
– pec·u·la·tor – ‘pe-ky&-“lA-t&r – noun
We are looking for an overseas partner into whose account the sum of US$31,000,000.00 will be paid by telegraphic transfer.
posted by latiolais at 0800
Comments Off on 30 APR 03
Things Ray Says #16:
"It wasn’t me. It was my good twin."
(Insert rimshot here.)
posted by latiolais at 0800
Comments Off on 29 APR 03
"Moral principle is a looser bond than pecuniary interest."
Abraham Lincoln
Iloinen Maanantai!
posted by latiolais at 0800
Comments Off on 28 APR 03
The Memphis Zoo received a pair of Giant Pandas. The pandas are named Le Le and Ya Ya. If I hadn’t heard about it on All Things Considered, I wouldn’t have realized that they were Cajun pandas.
Mais, you put that bamboo in your gumbo, ‘ti. Talk about good, bruh.
posted by latiolais at 0800
Comments Off on 26-27 APR 03
A card trick.
I’m right handed and wrote the instructions that way. If you’re left handed, swap hands.

The effect of this sleight is that a card…

…appears to magically rise out of the deck.

Hold the deck in your left hand with the bottom card facing your audience. Grip the deck in a manner that allows the top card will slide freely. Place your right index finger on top of the deck. When your right hand is hidden behind the deck extend your right pinky and hold its tip against the back of the top card.

Push the top card up with your pinky tip. It can be raised and lowered in this manner. From the audience’s point of view the card appears to rise unaided from the deck and return.
Keep your movements smooth and natural. Practicing with a mirror will allow you to see the sleight from the audience’s point of view. Speaking while performing (magicians call this “running patter”) will further distract the audience from the fraud that you’re perpetrating before their eyes.
Portions of this post have been brought to you by means of electronic transcription.
posted by latiolais at 0800
Comments Off on 25 APR 03
My mother and her sisters had to take a bus to another town to attend junior high and high school. Mr. Hebert drove the bus for a long time. My grandfather once asked Mr. Hebert if the kids ever gave him trouble. Mr. Hebert said that occasionally they would act up, but if any trouble started he would stop the bus, open the door, and tell the kids to take it outside. They would usually settle down and the bus would soon be on its way.
Mr. Hebert also said that the one time that this didn’t work was with my Aunt Loquacious (my Loquacious Sister is named for her). Aunt Loquacious had gotten into a fight with a set of twins. The twins’ mother would become my grandfather’s second wife; small world. Mr. Hebert used his standard tactic and expected things to settle down. Don’t expect things to settle down with Aunt Loquacious. She hopped off of the bus and told Mr. Hebert:
"Let ’em off one at a time! I’ll whip both their asses!"
Bring it on!
posted by latiolais at 0800
Comments Off on 24 APR 03