Posted in A&I

The Word Nerd on the Letter ‘E’

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contributed by Connie Kent

The letter ‘e’ is the most common vowel in the English language.

Challenged to make a sentence without once using the letter ‘e,’ Michael Madhusudan Dutt, a nineteenth century Bengali poet and playwright responded:

“I doubt I can. It’s a major part of many words. Omitting it is as hard as making muffins without flour. It’s as hard as spitting without saliva, napping without a pillow, driving a train without tracks, sailing to Russia without a boat, washing your hands without soap. And anyway, what would I gain? An award? A cash bonus? Bragging rights? Why should I strain my brain? It’s not worth it.”

Classes, Games and Parties

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submitted by Sarah Karnatz

Sign-up sheets are in the notebooks at the Manor Front Desk. Spaces may still be available after the initial sign-up date.

Sun July 9, 11 am – 3 pm

Kona Shave Ice Truck – Towers & both villages – Open to all residents

Sun July 9, 6:00 – 7:00 pm

Sing Along with Joyful Voices – Auditorium – Open to all residents

Mon July 10, 9:30 – 11:30 am

Inquiring Minds: Field trip to Weather Station – Bus loads at 9:30 – Sign ups Mon 6/26

Wed July 12, 3:00 – 5:00 pm

Saucy Concert in the Park – Remotion Winery – Lower Forty – Open to all residents

Fri July 14, 10:00 am – 12:30 pm

Inquiring Minds: Field trip to Science Works Museum in Ashland – Bus loads at 10 am – Sign ups Fri 7/12

Fri July 14, 12 noon – 1:00 pm

Links and Drinks – Plaza 2nd floor patio – Sign up at Manor front desk

Sun July 16, 6:00 – 7:00 pm

Root beer floats, Sing- along and Dance Party with Jennifer Bulat – Auditorium – Open to all residents

Mon July 17, 2:30 pm

Trivia with Roberta Bhasin and Julie Crites – Auditorium – Sign ups Mon 7/03

Tues July 18, 11:00 am – 2:00 pm

Kona Shave Ice Truck – Behind the pool – Staff only

Wed July 19, 9:30 am – 12:30 pm

Inquiring Minds: Field Trip to Genealogy Society – 2 levels: beginners and intermediate – Bus loads at 9:30 for beginners; at 12:45 pm for intermediates – Sign ups Wed 7/05

Fri July 21, 10:00 – 11:30 am

Crafts and Games with Connie Ivy – Auditorium – Sign ups Fri 7/07

Sun July 23, 6:00 – 7:00 pm

Banana Splits and Sing Along with Rita Reitz – Auditorium – Open to all residents

Mon July 24, 10:00 – 11:30 am

Inquiring Minds: Greeting Card Making with Eleanor Lippman & Rita Derbas – Deschuttes Room – Sign ups Mon 7/10

Wed July 26, 4:30 – 6:00 pm

Marco Polo – an active water game – Pool – Sign ups Wed 7/12 for participants – Open to all residents as observers (swimsuits optional)

Thurs July 27, 11 am – 3 pm

Kona Shave Ice Truck – Towers & both villages – Open to all residents

Fri July 28, 9:00 – 10:30 am

Inquiring Minds: Fire Truck Show & Tell with Medford Fire Department – Manor Pocket Lot – Sign ups Fri 7/14

Fri July 28, 12 noon – 1:00 pm

Links and Drinks – Plaza 2nd floor Patio – Sign up at Manor front desk

Concerts and Performances July – August 2023

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submitted by Mary Jane Morrison

Manor Auditorium 7-8 p.m.  

Events listed in italics are tentative

Programming subject to change.    Programs will NOT be broadcast on Channel 900.     
                              Manor Express available until 9 p.m.  

 

TUESDAY         07/11         Grace Angelucci Troupe: “It’s Hell to be a Woman” musical excerpts

Thursday           07/13        Liam O’Neil:  piano

TUESDAY          07/18       Eric Hiett:  Magic Show

Thursday           07/20       Vanessa Finney/Mark Hamersly:  vocal/guitar

Thursday           07/27        Jon Galfano:  piano/guitar/vocal

Thursday           08/03       TBA

TUESDAY           08/06       Eric Poppick/Jane Harris:  videos

Thursday            08/10        Tommy Graven:  American Indian flutes

Thursday            08/17         Tim Church Trio   

Thursday            o8/24         Chihuahua Desert:  Western Fiesta

 

 

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The Word Nerd on Puns and Noodles

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battered into submission by Tom Conger

The Roman emperor’s wife hates playing hide and seek because wherever she goes, Julius Caesar.

I like what mechanics wear, overall.

If you are being chased by a pack of taxidermists, do not play dead.

I tried to steal spaghetti from the shop, but the female guard saw me and I couldn’t get pasta.

My friend told me he was going to a fancy dress party as an Italian island. I said to him, “Don’t be Sicily.”

I don’t know what you call a small spillage from a pen but I have an inkling.

My grandfather invented the cold air balloon but it never really took off.

I hate funerals, I’m not a mourning person.

I used to work in a shoe-recycling shop. It was sole-destroying.

When she saw her first strands of gray hair, she thought she’d dye.

A boiled egg is hard to beat.

 Once you’ve seen one shopping center, you’ve seen a mall.

 It’s hard to explain puns to kleptomaniacs because they always take things literally.

I’m a big fan of whiteboards. I find them quite remarkable.

Yesterday, a clown held the door open for me. It was such a nice jester.

Becoming a vegetarian is a huge missed steak.

The other day she tried to make a chemistry joke, but got no reaction.

It’s funny England doesn’t have a kidney bank, but has a Liverpool.

Acupuncture is a jab well done.

When a clock is hungry, it goes back four seconds.

 

Euphemisms

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by Connie Kent

Words matter. If I call an activist a “freedom fighter,” you can tell I approve of his activity. If I call him a “terrorist,” you know I don’t. And you know not only how I feel, but also how I hope you feel or how I want you to feel. “Freedom fighter” is a euphemism; “terrorist” is a dysphemism.

A euphemism substitutes a pleasant, mild, or indirect word for a more accurate or direct one that might be offensive. English raconteur Quentin Crisp called euphemisms “unpleasant truths wearing diplomatic cologne.” Here are some examples:

What we say

What we mean
Passed away; gone to his reward/ to the other side; danced his last dance Died
Celestial Departure Death
Not the sharpest crayon in the box Stupid
Powder my nose/ go to the bathroom/ answer a call of nature Urinate or defecate
Lavatory/ washroom/ rest room/ ladies room/ powder room Toilet
Correctional Facility Prison
Doing time In prison
Pleasantly plump/ love handles/ portly/ stout Fat
Go all the way Have sex
Vertically challenged Short
Put to sleep/ put down Euthanize
Under the influence/ tipsy/ a bit worse for wear Drunk
Break wind Fart
Between jobs Unemployed
Over the hill/ senior citizen Old
A little thin on top Bald
Montezuma’s revenge Diarrhea
Character lines Wrinkles
Perspire Sweat
Wardrobe malfunction Oops!
In a family way Pregnant
Sanitation engineer Garbage man

Dysphemism is the opposite of euphemism. Dysphemism is substitution of a harsh or offensive word for a neutral one in order to make something or someone sound negative, bad, or unlikeable. It is meant to shock or offend. If a euphemism is a shield to protect our sensibilities, a dysphemism is a sword to wound them.

For example, a person who died might have “passed away” (euphemism) or “kicked the bucket” (dysphemism). One’s spouse could be his/her “better half” or a “ball and chain.” Here are some other examples:

Bureaucrat Government employee
Tree hugger Environmentalist
Nerd Engineer or IT specialist
Pig Police officer
Cancer stick Cigarette
Pre-owned Used
Nutcase Mentally ill

So choose your words carefully. And listen carefully, too, to the ways others – including news casters – choose their words.

Three Poems

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by Ray Teplitz

Ray Teplitz was a long-time resident of RVM who made many contributions to the community.  A former physician, he provided advice and support to Health Services at RVM, and made significant contributions to developing the Health Center and its services in their present form.  However, he had many other interests and skills, among which was poetry.  He participated in, and acted as leader of, the RVM Poetry Group, and many of his works can be found in the Group’s archives in the RVM library.  A small selection is presented below.

 

Concerts and Performances

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submitted by Mary Jane Morrison

ENTERTAINMENT  & EVENTS  June 2023 — July 2023 

Manor Auditorium 7-8 p.m.  

Events listed in italics are tentative

Programming subject to change.    Programs will NOT be broadcast on Channel 900.     
                              Manor Express available until 9 p.m.  

TUESDAY         06/06       Joyful Voices

Thursday           06/08       Rogue Valley Wind Quintet

Thursday           06/15       Nat Miller:  Lil Sumpins:  guitar/vocal

Thursday           06/22       Skip Bessonette:  guitar/vocal

Thursday           06/29       Scott Solterman:  easy listening piano

Thursday           07/06       Jon Hays:  piano

Thursday           07/13        Liam O’Neil:  piano

Thursday           07/20       Vanessa Finney/Mark Hamersly

Thursday           07/27        Jon Galfano:  piano/guitar/vocal

 

 

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Classes, Games and Parties

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submitted by Sarah Karnatz

Sign-up sheets are in the notebooks at the Manor reception desk

June 7

Emergency Preparedness, with Jens Larson & Bob Berger

1 pm – 2:30 pm

Auditorium

Open to all residents

June 8

Inquiring Minds: Field Trip to Rock Museum

9:15 am – 11:30 am

Bus confirmed for 24

Sign-ups required (24)

June 12

A Taste Of Germany, with Joseph Shaughnessy

4pm – 6pm

Sunrise Room

Sign ups required (48)

June 13

Inquiring Minds: Resident Tree Walk
with Resident Dave Dealy

10am -11:30am

Meet at the Flag Pole

Sign ups required (20)

June 15, 22,
29

Inquiring Minds: Math for your Amazement
presented by Irving Lubliner

10am – 11:30am

Applegate Room

Sign ups required (30)

June 19

Concert in the park w/ Mercy
featuring Lynda and Pebblestone winery

3pm -5pm

Lower 40

Open to all residents

June 20

Inquiring Minds: Out of our Faucets
with Cody Scoggins and Aaron Adachi

10am -11:30am

Deschutes Room

Sign ups required (45)

June 27

Inquiring Minds: Teen Music Theater of Oregon
presented by Stephen McCandless

10 am – 11:30 am

Sunrise Room

Sign ups required (55)

July

Inquiring Minds Summer Camp Month

July 1

Rods & Rides Hot Rod Car Show & BBQ Lunch

10am – 2pm

Plaza parking lot

Open to all residents

July 3

Kona Shave Ice Truck

11am – 2pm

July 3

For Staff: behind pool

July 9

Inquiring Minds: Campfire sing along with Joyful Voices

6pm – 7pm

Auditorium

Open to all residents

July 9

Kona Shave Ice Truck

11am – 2pm

towers & both villages

Open to all residents

May in the Library

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Royalty Behind the Scenes

by Anne Newins

Several residents suggested a display about royalty when King Charles III first ascended to the throne.  This was a promising idea, and so this May our display will coincide with King Charles III’s coronation on May 6, which promises to be quite the event.  If you haven’t been invited, the display may offer some consolation.

Although short on gilded carriages, the table will include a number of books, fictional and non-fictional, about British royalty.  Let’s face it, the last few generations have provided seemingly endless fodder for dysfunctional family dramas that far outweigh anything we hear about in other countries.  When did you last read a scandal about the Prince of Lichtenstein?  Or the King of Belgium?  Can you even name them?
The RVM library has acquired Prince Harry’s bestseller, Spare, which is available in both regular and large print.  Readers may want to place a reserve on the book, since it is circulating briskly.  Biographies of Princess Diana, Prince Charles, and Queen Elizabeth are on display.  Going a little further afield, histories of Cleopatra, Homer, the Romanov sisters and royalty from other countries may be explored.
Well known writers have written multiple fictional books about royalty, including Philippa Gregory, Alison Weir, and the acclaimed Hillary Mantel.  Mark Twain’s A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court is sure to amuse, as well as Josephine Tey’s  A Daughter of Time.  Thanks to Janice Williams for helping compile the bibliography.
Below is a photo of resident Tim Miller, a prince of a guy himself, perusing the display.

A Quilt is on Exhibit

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A Late 19th Century Crazy Quilt is now on display on the hallway wall by the Fiber Arts and Crafts room of the Manor. A deceased resident’s relatives donated the quilt to RVM but no historical information was provided. If anyone has any information about the quilt, please contact Karen Finley or Carole Chumbler.