30 octubre 2010

webthings

thought one:

(from a blog)
“Smells detonate softly in our memory like poignant land mines, hidden under the weedy moss of many years and experiences... Hit a tripwire of smell and memories explode all at once. A complex vision leaps out of the undergrowth.” Diane Ackerman

Most nostalgic smells for you are...?

thought two: from another blog

The English language has 26 letters in the alphabet, [but 42-44 phonemes, or distinct sounds; eg: th, sh, ch, t, d, s, etc.]

The frequency of use of each letter is as follows:
A 8.17%
B 1.49%
C 2.78%
D 4.25%
E 12.70%
F 2.23%
G 2.02%
H 6.09%
I 6.97%
J 0.15%
K 0.77%
L 4.03%
M 2.41%
N 6.75%
O 7.51%
P 1.93%
Q 0.10%
R 5.99%
S 6.33%
T 9.06%
U 2.76%
V 0.98%
W 2.36%
X 0.15%
Y 1.97%
Z 0.07%
[i have no idea if this is true or not, but i think it corresponds to scrabble...]

thought three: from merriam-webster or somesuch
American English words stolen from Spanish:
[some i had never heard in either.]
burrito
embargo
chimichanga
gazpacho
mariachi
sombrero
alligator
canasta
bonanza
chinchilla
machismo
enchilada
pueblo
hacienda
fandango
quesadilla
flotilla
tornado
flamenco
vigilante
adios
cabana
gordita
peccadillo
filibuster
tortilla
vanilla
cilantro
fiesta
anchovy
mesa
ramada
junco
cafeteria
bongo
castanets
mantilla
oregano
lariat
chalupa
buffalo
renegade
langosta
alamo
barrio
cedilla
Argentine
bolivar
amarillo
cordovan
desperado
empanada
tomatillo
diablo
pochismo
sierra
olio
bolero
junta
duenna