Thursday 30 October 2008
Wednesday 29 October 2008
Stella Starlight
I am having a conversation with Stella Starlight. When I need her she emerges from the internet ether. We hang out, we drink tea, we braid each other's hair. We listen to each other and we don't judge. When we're not together, Stella travels through the ether, where she investigates paranormal phenomenon with an empathic heart and sturdy ankles.
Monday 27 October 2008
Bible Effulgent
I search-engined (I'm trying to phase out 'googled') the word "effulgent" - because the esoteric obsession of a true obsessive never ceases. I was very excited to find a reference to effulgent on a website which lists the occurrence of words in the bible (bibletab.com). There is exactly one occurrence of effulgent (in the Darby Bible):
Luke 9:29 "And as he prayed the fashion of his countenance became different and his raiment white and effulgent."
Yeah.
I was also pleased to discover 'Pungent Effulgent'; the first album by psychedelic instrumental band Ozric Tentacles. The Ozrics (as they are known by fans) formed in 1984 and have released 29 albums despite never having major label backing.
Yeah.
Luke 9:29 "And as he prayed the fashion of his countenance became different and his raiment white and effulgent."
Yeah.
I was also pleased to discover 'Pungent Effulgent'; the first album by psychedelic instrumental band Ozric Tentacles. The Ozrics (as they are known by fans) formed in 1984 and have released 29 albums despite never having major label backing.
Yeah.
Sunday 26 October 2008
Paranoid/Interrogation
Paranoid. I once had a boss who I found a bit creepy. I can't explain why. He was polite and there was nothing inappropriate in his behaviour. Maybe the moon was in the seventh house and Jupiter aligned with Mars*. Whatever the reason, I started to believe that he could read my mind. It was a vague notion at first, but it grew stronger. I eventually decided I needed to prove it one way or the other. So I waited until he was looking away from me, absorbed in his work, then I made a really loud scream in my head. Nothing. He didn't flinch. Even if he knew I was going to scream he would have moved a little; it was a very loud scream.
Of course now that I'm thinking about it, I'm beginning to wonder if maybe he could switch off his mind reading ability. Maybe he didn't have it turned on when I screamed...
Interrogation. One of my friends was sitting in the passenger seat of my car while I was reversing it out of a car park. She asked me a fairly innocuous question. I replied by revealing to her a piece of information I didn't want known. Then I nearly crashed the car.
*"...then peace will guide the planets and looovve will steer the stars: this is the dawning of the age of Aquarius, the age of Aquariuuuss, Aqaaaariius, Aqaurius..."
Of course now that I'm thinking about it, I'm beginning to wonder if maybe he could switch off his mind reading ability. Maybe he didn't have it turned on when I screamed...
Interrogation. One of my friends was sitting in the passenger seat of my car while I was reversing it out of a car park. She asked me a fairly innocuous question. I replied by revealing to her a piece of information I didn't want known. Then I nearly crashed the car.
*"...then peace will guide the planets and looovve will steer the stars: this is the dawning of the age of Aquarius, the age of Aquariuuuss, Aqaaaariius, Aqaurius..."
Sunday 19 October 2008
More Effulgent
I feel I can't go on until I've completely understood my obsession with the word 'effulgent'.
It began, many years ago, while I was watching an episode of Buffy, the Vampire Slayer. One of the characters, William, who was known for his bad poetry, used 'effulgent' in a poem he wrote for his true love, Cecily. Sometime after this he became a vampire (Spike) and she became a vengeance demon (Halfreck). So it all worked out nicely. Here is the poem:
"My heart expands.
'Tis grown a bulge in it,
Inspired by your beauty, effulgent."
William the Bloody*
Breathtaking. It outshines even Vogon poetry. And, with a ludicrous flourish, it speaks the truth. Being in love can feel like your internal organs have expanded, and are being squashed together, and are constricting your blood flow. Your mind is also affected; your thoughts become obsessive and misshapen, and drift away from reality. I've heard it said that it can be difficult to distinguish between a person who is insane and a person who is in love.
So, I can't help but to be in love with effulgent for being such an excellent word to use in bad poetry about love (beautiful and bulging).
*This poem was actually written by Douglas Petrie for the episode 'Fool for Love'
It began, many years ago, while I was watching an episode of Buffy, the Vampire Slayer. One of the characters, William, who was known for his bad poetry, used 'effulgent' in a poem he wrote for his true love, Cecily. Sometime after this he became a vampire (Spike) and she became a vengeance demon (Halfreck). So it all worked out nicely. Here is the poem:
"My heart expands.
'Tis grown a bulge in it,
Inspired by your beauty, effulgent."
William the Bloody*
Breathtaking. It outshines even Vogon poetry. And, with a ludicrous flourish, it speaks the truth. Being in love can feel like your internal organs have expanded, and are being squashed together, and are constricting your blood flow. Your mind is also affected; your thoughts become obsessive and misshapen, and drift away from reality. I've heard it said that it can be difficult to distinguish between a person who is insane and a person who is in love.
So, I can't help but to be in love with effulgent for being such an excellent word to use in bad poetry about love (beautiful and bulging).
*This poem was actually written by Douglas Petrie for the episode 'Fool for Love'
Saturday 18 October 2008
Less Empty
I setup this blog so I could make comments on other blogs. I wasn't intending to write anything. But I found myself staring at the empty page; all blank and lifeless. I felt compelled to fill it. Since I can't fill it with chocolate or alcohol, I'll have to fill it with words. Also, I feel a bit voyeuristic and leech-ish reading other people's blogs but not writing my own.
Effulgent (the name of this blog) is a strange word. My dictionary (the Australian Concise Oxford Dictionary) tells me that it means "radiant; shining brilliantly". I think 'effulgent' sounds incredibly painful, like it might explode. Perhaps the only way for something to become radiant or to shine brilliantly is for it to explode.
13. I added 13 to the title because blogger wouldn't let me have just effulgent. I like the number 13. It's the date of my birth (a Tuesday, not a Friday - though I turned 13 on a black Friday - groovy). I also like it because it's a prime number. My brothers were also born on prime numbers, 7 and 11. I think this is significant. And there are 3 of us, and 3 is a significant number (and a prime). Interesting. Or, for anyone who isn't me, not interesting.
Effulgent (the name of this blog) is a strange word. My dictionary (the Australian Concise Oxford Dictionary) tells me that it means "radiant; shining brilliantly". I think 'effulgent' sounds incredibly painful, like it might explode. Perhaps the only way for something to become radiant or to shine brilliantly is for it to explode.
13. I added 13 to the title because blogger wouldn't let me have just effulgent. I like the number 13. It's the date of my birth (a Tuesday, not a Friday - though I turned 13 on a black Friday - groovy). I also like it because it's a prime number. My brothers were also born on prime numbers, 7 and 11. I think this is significant. And there are 3 of us, and 3 is a significant number (and a prime). Interesting. Or, for anyone who isn't me, not interesting.
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