A.Word.A.Day -- AWADmail Issue 1218

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AWADmail Issue 1218

A Compendium of Feedback on the Words in A.Word.A.Day and Other Tidbits about Words and Language

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From: Anu Garg (words@wordsmith.org)
Subject: nomophobia

How do you feel about cell phones or lack of them, I asked our readers this week. The responses illustrate the full human spectrum from nomophilic dependence to digital asceticism. Here’s a selection.

I have dreams/nightmares of losing the PHONE. Freud would say, it’s a fear of losing one’s identity as our entire lives are rooted in this electronic relationship.
-Gregg Rosner, West Fenwick Island, Delaware (rosnerfoto gmail.com)

I finally received a cellphone as a gift from my daughter last week. I use it to message her and check the weather. My first cellphone!
-Mary Berman, Kolonia, Micronesia (mary.k.berman.163 gmail.com)

Still have not succumbed to owning a mobile phone :) Not interested or tempted in the least.
-Ilene Eagle, Baltimore, Maryland (neshermom comcast.net)

I’m old, as well as old-fashioned, but I wish cell phones would all evaporate or stop working. It’s so annoying to see people just glued to their phones all the time. I have no nomophobia about my phone (even though I do have one), but a much greater fear that our president has no fear of laws since he seems to ignore them.
-Susan Jones, Canton, Connecticut (susandjones27 me.com)

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At 1 am a fire alarm sent all of us on the second floor of this retirement home scuttling in our robes and pajamas to stand by the exit door awaiting rescue. We were slightly calmed by the lack of any smell of smoke. The deafening alarm screamed for over twenty minutes! We began to talk about what we had or had not grabbed on our way out. Since we were left there for over an hour, it was a long and delightful conversation. I, age 96, was the only one who brought a phone, but we couldn’t decide whom to call! Three had grabbed their glasses, but I, almost blind with macular degeneration, left mine behind and clung to the walls. No one remembered their hearing aids. I alone had grabbed my wallet. It had only $17 but all my ID. My expectation of dying any moment had spurred me to help my remains be identified for my children. When a startled, shy young fireman in full regalia found us, he explained that an electrical short had triggered the alarm. There was no fire and we could go back to bed, but I couldn’t sleep. It is of concern that we were forgotten for so long. I notice that I am now meticulous about keeping my phone charged and my cash supply larger. I also notice that we who chatted through that fire scare are now friendlier with each other.
-Marybeth Webster, Grants Pass, Oregon (marybwebs gmail.com)

I served on the murder grand jury in DC ten years ago and discovered that the gum-shoe investigations and scientific forensics portrayed on CSI, Law & Order, and other police procedurals are a myth. Forget fingerprints, DNA and probing interrogations. Most of the culprits were arrested by learning where they were at a given time using cell phone data and then, if necessary, accessing the city’s ubiquitous network of surveillance cameras to capture the suspects at or leaving the scene of the crime. (I don’t have a cell phone myself.)
-Allen Hengst, Washington, DC (ahengst verizon.net)

Well, my nomophobia is pretty severe, to the point that not knowing where my phone is can trigger a full-fledged panic attack. But then again, for me, the phone is an assistive device for my deviant neurospicy glitches. Sure, I play games and scroll the internet on it, but its true value to me lies in note taking, alarm and timer setting, and calendar applications that allow me to function like an actual adult human being. It’s no wonder I freak out almost as much at misplacing my phone as my glasses.
-Kathryn Smith (via website comments)

I came of age when having a (gasps) landline extension in one’s household was considered an extravagant luxury and a one-minute call from LA to NY cost $1 (in 1950s money)! Having left coastal SoCal just as the Motorola flip phone became the new status gadget in Malibu, I moved to a remote Sierra ranching community where “call waiting” was still in the offing, the internet was years from Al Gore’s initiative, and cellular reception was (and remains) nonexistent.
Consequently, I’ve never had a cell phone and don’t want one, even as they become increasingly compulsory for navigating the daily exigencies of the modern urban/suburban environment. On the rare occasions I do venture into the Big City for provisions, I’m horrified by the blind faith people seemingly put in the benevolence of their electronic masters. One good solar flare or cyber villain’s flick of a switch, and society is effectively kaput. I shudder to think what has happened in the space of just one generation to the general public’s sense of spatial orientation, ability to reason independently, and psychic survival without a screen in front of their face. But hey, progress amirite?
-Allena Hansen, Caliente, California (dvsntt bnis.net)

Keyswalletphone or phonewalletkeys! An action or moment rolling in our consciousness as we pat purse or pocket(s).
-KartaPurkh Khalsa, Kansas City, Missouri (kartapurkh.khalsa gmail.com)

Nowadays, I use my smartphone frequently for ongoing conversations with ChatGPT. I wish he had a better name, like Albert or something! There’s always some question or other that pops to mind, whether personal or professional, that I need to educate myself on. For instance, this past week, I got really interested in the functioning of the mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC)! Both from a personal and professional standpoint.
-Denise Duma, Barcelona, Spain (deniseduma gmail.com)

I owned a cell phone once, way back when they were far too big to fit in one’s pocket. I kept it in the glove compartment of my car for emergency use. I took my car in for servicing and was unaware that the phone was stolen while in the dealer’s parking lot. After six months I finally noticed some strange long distance calls on our phone bill. Only then did I check to find the phone missing from the glove compartment. The phone company would only reimburse for one month of the charges, understandably. I haven’t owned a cell phone since that time, and am happier, and most probably healthier, for it.
-Susan Jackson, Connecticut (sgjackson46 icloud.com)

While not blissfully untouched, I am fortunate to have never owned a smartphone, due to a bet with a dear friend that began in 2010. The terms have adjusted to accommodate careers (work phones permitted, yes, but using them for personal matters, no; iPods for music playing, but no data so no Googling on the fly, et cetera) while the impetus remains: we both avowed we would never have one after seeing the social wreckage phones caused at the end of our college career. We have proven ourselves right, and I believe neither of us would have it any other way, though she is free to lose, of course! We both navigate life with phones that flip open, only to text and call. Nomophobia is a no-nomophobia.
-Kaitlin Butler, Brooklyn, New York (kaitlin.m.butler gmail.com)

I’m an 89-year-old woman, and I panic if I don’t know where my phone is. This was never a problem with the one that used to be tied to the wall.
-Dale Powell, Spring Valley, California (dalenp50 icloud.com)

When our landline phone became too undependable for various reasons, we caved and bought two flip phones. We refuse to get “smart” phones as we saw what those did to friends and family. They all now lack the ability to have meaningful conversations since their eyes are glued to the phone screens. We are dinosaurs perhaps, but we do not walk around staring at a screen and are happier for it! Also, what we pay for service on our flip phones for a year is less than friends and family pay for one month.
-Glen and Alice Davis, Blacksburg, Virginia (glalice earthlink.net)

I don’t actually fear my phone; I just hate it. It’s a smartphone (I’m told) and is much smarter than I am.
-Frances M Hendry, Nairn, Scotland (francesmhendry2704 gmail.com)

A few years ago someone stole my phone from my hostel room during Christmas holidays. Since then I am more afraid of losing my phone. I keep checking my bag several times a day. Bought a heavy phone because it is easier to know if I lose it.
-Utthara Priyadarsi, Kerala, India (uttharapriyadarsi11 gmail.com)

I have a mobile phone but it is not a smartphone. It makes and receives phone calls, sends and receives texts and has a camera and a few other small offline facilities, but no internet connection. I consequently rarely look at it and sometimes forget to switch it on for a whole day. This does not mean I am a technophobe. I’ve been writing computer code since I was 24 in 1960. It means I value privacy.
-Jim Fisher, Luton, UK (ejf jimella.co.uk)

We are an old couple, ages 64 and 71, and we don’t own a smartphone at all. When we travel, we use a flip-phone which is very simple, but it connects us to the people we want to visit and/or to emergency vehicles. When we walk downtown, if we see people coming toward us and not paying attention to other folks on the sidewalk, I stick my hands in my pockets with my elbows out. If they walk into my elbows, that’s their fault!
-Holly Eliot, Ann Arbor, Michigan (heliot umich.edu)

If my smartphone was a sword, it would clearly be two-edged. I use it as much as anyone as both a necessity and a convenience, but try not to be too rude to others in my presence, oblivious to my surroundings, or overly dependent on it. What if it was lost, stolen, damaged, or simply ran out of battery power? But it’s a losing battle. My older daughter, an actress with a baby, is in DC for two months in a production of “Guys and Dolls”. I am going down from the New York area a couple of days a week to help with the baby when her husband is teaching college part-time in another city. To open the door of her extended-stay furnished apartment, I have to use an app on my phone and hold it up to the door! Why can’t I have a key card!?
-Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com)

From: Joel Mabus (jmabusguitar sbcglobal.net)
Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--nomophobia

The word nomophobia immediately made me recall an old song by Jimmie Rodgers, titled Never No Mo’ Blues (3 min., lyrics) from 1928. Jimmie Rodgers was dying a slow painful death from tuberculosis and pushing himself to record more records in his newly-popular “blue yodel” style -- so that after his death his wife and child would have some income from royalties. Retired early from his railroad job because of TB, he is remembered as “The Singing Brakeman” and -- being the first person inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame -- is officially revered as the Father of Country Music.

The lyrics below show that he co-wrote the popular “Never No Mo’ Blues” with Elsie McWilliams. She co-wrote (or actually wrote) many of his most popular songs, but she insisted he take 100% credit for royalties. She was the sister of Jimmie’s wife, Carrie, and Elsie was determined to help the Rodgers family have some income after he died. Which was in 1933, five years after this song.

Elsie McWilliams played piano, and could read (and write) music, which Jimmie could not. She was present at nearly all of his recording sessions, but not “on mic.” She lived to a ripe age of 89, working as a church pianist for many years, passing away in 1985, fifty-two years after Rodgers died. She now has her own Wikipedia page. (So they won’t forget her name no mo’.)

I like to think of her as the Godmother of Country Music.

Joel Mabus, Portage, Michigan

From: Francis Clarke (fjc3354 gmail.com)
Subject: Partocracy

Surely, since Independence in 1965, Singapore must qualify as a partocracy!? It is only in recent times that there was anyone on the opposition bench. In earlier days, the few elected to the opposition were either in gaol or banished to Pulau Ubin.

Francis Clarke, Chifley, Australia

From: MaryAnne Glazar (maryanneglazar48 gmail.com)
Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--opsomania

Tiramisu has always been better to me than either husband I had.

MaryAnne Glazar, Berkeley, California

From: Duncan Howarth (duncanhowarth aol.com)
Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--onychophagy

You’re doubtless aware of Will Rogers sending his onychophagous niece a postcard of the Venus de Milo with the message: “See what happens if you don’t stop biting your nails.”

Duncan Howarth, Maidstone, UK

From: Antony Cecil-Wright (antony.cw gmail.com)
Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--onychophagy

As an occasional nail biter, I suggest that for many of the 600 million, onychophagy is more a matter of practicality than obsession. A nail breaks but where are my scissors? I left them in the car of course and the clippers are in the bathroom. What to do? Just have a chew.

Antony Cecil-Wright, Southampton, UK

From: Kim Hays(kim.n.hays gmail.com)
Subject: mycophile

Mushroom hunting is an autumn pastime for thousands in Switzerland. There are stations where you can take your collected mushrooms to have them checked by experts, who ensure they are safe to eat.

Kim Hays, Bern, Switzerland

From: Connie Brown (conniebrown shaw.ca)
Subject: Mycophile

Found this delightful specimen and many like it in Tofino Oct 2023.

Amanita muscaria aka fly agaric or fly amanita

Connie Brown, Victoria, Canada

From: John Ingle (j.ingle verizon.net)
Subject: mycophile

And then there’s the Phallus impudicus, which has its own interesting etymology. This one is at a stage that might be called Sylvan erectus.

John Ingle, Lovettsville, Virginia

From: Alex McCrae (ajmccrae277 gmail.com)
Subject: mycophile and opsomania

About a month ago on my daily Van Nuys, CA, neighborhood morning walk I stumbled upon this very species of mushroom, “Chicken of the Woods” (Laetiporus). I’d seen this multi-lobed, orangey mushroom once before at El Dorado Nature Park in Long Beach, CA. So, I knew immediately what fungus species it was. I was tempted to lop off a few lobes and pan-fry them in butter. But I did not. Better safe than sorry.

As a kid growing up in 1950s Toronto, Good Humor brand’s Creamsicles, with their yummy orange/vanilla sherbet flavor, were one of my guilty pleasures. So, this summer I was delighted to discover Tillamook’s Orange and Cream ice cream. Surprisingly, it has almost the same Creamsicle-like creamy texture and orange/vanilla flavor that I so fondly recall from my youth. Unfortunately, of the wide variety of Tillamook ice creams marketed in my area, Orange & Cream turns out to be the least available. My opsomania grows even stronger. Ha!

Alex McCrae, Van Nuys, California

Anagrams


	This week’s theme: There’s a word for it Nomophobia Partocracy Opsomania Onychophagy Mycophile	=	Oh-oh, how is a phone taboo?!? One party system A picky chef I gotta chomp or chew my nail Spore admirer
			-Dharam Khalsa, Burlington, North Carolina (dharamkk2 gmail.com)
=	Chaos promo Same party reign Meet heady potato chips’ fan boy Oho! Chew-worthy nail i.e. pick shroom	=	FOMO Sceptic “Hey does one party approach work?” Phagomania Oh, bite nails Hey, try shroom chowtime
	-Shyamal Mukherji, Mumbai, India (mukherjis hotmail.com)		-Julian Lofts, Auckland, New Zealand (jalofts xtra.co.nz)

Make your own anagrams and animations.

Limericks

Nomophobia

Nomophobia, it has been shown,
You might feel when you can’t use your phone.
You find yourself nervous,
Because there’s no service --
In this fear you are far from alone!
-Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com)

Now Donald, he doesn’t like rules.
He thinks those who follow them fools.
A true nomophobic,
His actions are so sick.
Constitution? He just ridicules.
-Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com)

“I’m doing my best to disrobe ya,
But it’s tough when you’ve got nomophobia,”
I said to my date.
“But it isn’t too late;
Put your phone down, and let’s find utopia.”
-Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com)

Partocracy

Some scoundrels, I’m sad to relate,
Redrew all the maps in their state.
“From now on we’ll win,”
Said Trump with a grin --
“Oh, isn’t partocracy great?!”
-Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com)

“Our stated belief in democracy
Is the ultimate height of hypocrisy!”
Laugh Repubs. In their caucus,
The cheering is raucous:
“Redistricting gives us partocracy!”
-Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com)

Opsomania

With a certain dessert he’s obsessed,
So he’s gone on a kind of a quest.
Opsomania’s why
He’s determined to try
All the cheesecakes he’s heard are the best!
-Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com)

“Eet’s for blood zat I have opsomania,
For I’m native to old Transylvania,”
Said the count. “And your type
Ees ze best! Ees not hype!
Come and show me your neck and I’ll drain ya!”
-Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com)

Onychophagy

Onycophagy’s nasty -- don’t do it!
When your finger’s infected, you’ll rue it.
To the doctor you’ll go,
And at that time you’ll know
With this habit disgusting, you blew it!
-Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com)

Said Anu, “I’m leaving here, Papaji;
Please don’t fret or take up onychophagy.
All the latest software
I can learn over there,
And I’m such a computer geek wannabe.”
-Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com)

Mycophile

The mycophile said, “These are good.
I picked them myself in the wood.”
But those mushrooms were bad,
And the meal that they had
Was toxic, it’s now understood.
-Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com)

My kids all have such different tastes!
Our kitchen sees long-term debates!
I’ve got one mycophile,
But my next-oldest chil’
Won’t let a ‘shroom close to his plates!
-Bindy Bitterman, Chicago (bindyeurekaevanston.com)

“As a healthy and sane mycophile,
I keep poisonous types all on file,”
Said the guide. “What we find
We can eat.” So they dined
On their haul, and collapsed in a pile.
-Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com)

Puns

“Yo doc, I ain’t got nomophobia-s!”
“Ah! My treatment has vorked!”
-Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com)

“I will deport all those who comb their hair from right to left!” vowed the candidate pushing to make our country a partocracy.
-Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com)

“We’ll defeat Athens and make all Greece a S-partocracy!” shouted the Peloponnesian War general.
-Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com)

Her fan club wanted her to run for office, saying that they’d support a Dolly Partocracy.
-Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com)

Young Billy wanted to be a policeman when he grew up. His parents encouraged his c-opsomania.
-Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station , New York (perrinjoan aol.com)

“Doc, I’m obsessed with tiny dogs that have long straight hair.”
“Ah! Zees ees classic case of Llasa Opsomania!”
-Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com)

“Thou art ic-onycophagy-oli and pasta!” the connoisseur of Italian food exclaimed to his delicious soup.
-Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com)

“Doc, my interest in invertebrates has left me obsessed with the current Speaker of the House.”
“Ah! A classic Mycophile.”
-Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com)

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

His mother had often said, When you choose an action, you choose the consequences of that action. She had emphasized the corollary of this axiom even more vehemently: when you desired a consequence you had damned well better take the action that would create it. -Lois McMaster Bujold, writer (b. 2 Nov 1949)

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