Guacamole Girl

Word of the Week

 

Guerrilla: irregular soldier, usually politically motivated: a member of an irregular paramilitary unit, usually with a political objective such as the overthrow of a government. Guerrillas usually operate in small groups to harass and carry out sabotage.

The origins of this word are from the Spanish guerra, meaning war. However, it's interesting how the word is being used these days. In many contexts, it has lost the overtones of violence, while retaining the idea of stealth or working undercover e.g…..

Guerrilla marketing: the use of unconventional, especially labour-intensive, methods to promote and sell products (hadn't heard of this before, but it's in msn dictionary)

Guerrilla preaching: as promoted by Stuart. Perhaps he will supply a definition.

Guerrilla gardening: groups of people going out at night to wage "war against the neglect of public space" – I would secretly love to do this! There's something very appealing about sneaking around quietly doing the opposite of sabotage. Imagine going to sleep overlooking a patch of wasteground, then waking up the next day overlooking a garden – excellent.

Any more peaceful guerrilla stuff going on out there?

Word of the Week

Defenestration: to throw someone or something out of a window

 

Haven't heard this word in a while, so I thought I'd share it with you & challenge you to use it in your speaking or writing this week.

It can be taken literally (as in Jezebel in 2 Kings 9), particularly referring to political dissent, as in the Defenestrations of Prague, but also figuratively. I came across it in DC Confidential by Christopher Meyer where he refers to "the defenestration of Margaret Thatcher" in 1990. I presume that wasn't meant literally!

Here's a thought: Could it also refer to those who desert their trusty PC for the wonders of Apple Mac?

I'll leave you to work that one out.

Coming soon: review of Mr Bean's holiday, plus new music from an unsigned band.