Posted in A&I

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.

June in the Library

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Historical Fiction

by Anne Newins
Library volunteer Debbie Adler is a historical fiction fan who has created the bibliography for this month’s table display.  According to Debbie, “Historical fiction presents a story set in the past, often during a significant time period which may be an important part of the setting as well as the plot.  It may include fictional characters, well-known real life figures, or a mixture of the two.  Authors of historical fiction usually pay close attention to the details of their stories, such as the physical environment, clothing, or dialogue to ensure that they fit the novel’s time period.
In historical fiction, famous events often appear from points of view and/or occurrences that were not recorded in history.  In some books, the historical event or time period complements a story’s narrative, forming a framework and background for the characters’ lives.  In other cases, historical fiction can be mostly true, but the names of people and places have been altered.”
Below is a sampling of some of Debbie’s favorite books:
Sweetness of Water, by Nathan Harris
All the Light We Cannot See, by Anthony Doerr
This Tender Land, by William Kent Krueger
Beneath a Scarlet Sky, by Mark Sullivan
The Phone Booth at the Edge of the World, by Laura Imai (shelved under Imai) Messina
The White Lady, Jacqueline Winspear
A Gentleman in Moscow, by Amor Towles
The Samurai’s Garden, by Gail Tsukiyama
The library volunteers were sad to lose Lynda Hanson, a long time volunteer who died recently.  Her technical skills helped ensure that the library software system operated smoothly.
Elly Cannon, a former library volunteer, also was instrumental in making significant improvements to the RVM library operations several years ago. She is pictured below inspecting some of this month’s offerings.

Events & Opportunities: May 2023 – July 2023

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RVM  May 2023 — July 2023 

ENTERTAINMENT  & EVENTS

Manor Auditorium 7-8 p.m.  

    Programs will NOT be broadcast on Channel 900     

                              Programming subject to change  

 

Notice: Since the planned renovation of the Manor Dining Room has been postponed to early 2024, we expect to continue to schedule programs in the auditorium for the remainder of 2023.              

 2023

 

Thursday           05/11        YSSO:  Chamber groups

Thursday           05/18       Jon Gaifano:  piano/vocal

Thursday           05/25       Miller/James:  “When America Comes of Age”

Thursday           06/01       The Grapefruits:  piano/horn

TUESDAY         06/06       Joyful Voices

Thursday           06/08       La Forza Trio:  piano/clarinet/bassoon

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

 

 

A Rising Star Entertains at the Manor

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by Robert Mumby

Iryna Kudielina has given three concerts to date at the Manor: first with other students of Dr. Alexander Tutunov, Professor of Music and Artist in Residence, at Southern Oregon University; then with Dr. Tutunov, followed by a solo performance; then on April 6 she played with Dr. Brian Hall and Dr. Tutunov. Her performances drew rave reviews from our residents and they look forward to her return this summer with a new trio she has formed.

Iryna at the Manor Auditorium.


Iryna was born in the Ukraine and started playing piano when she was six years old. She studied music throughout her school years and then attended the Kotlyarevsky Kharkiv National University of Arts where she graduated with honors. In 2019 Iryna won the Erasmus+ Project Competition and then moved to Porto, Portugal, to study at the Superior Conservatory. Returning to Ukraine and her alma mater, she took the position staff accompanist and worked as an accompanist in the Kharkiv Secondary Specialized Music School.

In 2022 she was invited to return to Portugal to obtain a Master’s degree in Piano Performance. She won two first prizes in piano competitions. Currently, thanks to the SOU Foundation, Dr. Tutunov and others, Iryna was able to come to SOU to work on an advanced degree in piano performance under Dr. Tutunov.

April in the Library

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by Anne Newins

Normally, the notices of the Manor Library’s monthly book displays begin with a description of the theme.  However, volunteers are being celebrated during April and this time we will begin by recognizing one of RVM’s exceptional volunteers who also supports first responders.

Harry Cure is an outstanding example.  He serves with the County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue (S.A.R.) Team; seven years here in Jackson County and seven years in Deschutes County in their Dryland, Water, and Snow units.  In one example he was involved in a 1:00 a.m. rescue of a missing skier on Mt. Ashland with snowmobiles, snowcats, and snowshoes needed. He also was involved in the snow rescue of a hunting couple who had been lost for three days in the Prospect area.  Missing persons range from young children to Alzheimer’s patients.
S.A.R. is a state mandated responsibility of the Sheriff’s Office.  It requires six months of training before acceptance plus 24 hour on-call readiness.  Team members ride horses, camp, and endure temperature and other weather  extremes.  They hike, drive A.T.V.s,  climb up cliffs and down caves, and participate in rope rescues.  Team members also may be involved in urban events.  In addition they are technically astute, using navigational aids, global positioning systems (G.P.S.), and various computer programs.
The Manor book collection has little to offer specifically about volunteers, but has a number of books about first responders.  Bibliographer Janice Williams has identified a number of fiction and non-fiction books about firefighters, zoo keepers, search and rescue dogs, E.R. Nurses, soldiers, and others.  Below are some intriguing titles:
The Winter Soldier, by Daniel Mason
Young Men and Fire, by Norman MacClean
The Zookeeper’s Wife, by D. Ackerman
The Rescue, by Nicholas Sparks
The Death of a Nurse, by M. C.Beaton
Kudos to all of our real volunteers and first responders!  Pictured is Harry Cure.