History Schmistory: January 28. “Dear Horace, I just had a happy accident.”
Saturday, January 28, 2012
1754: The first use of the word “serendipity” in the English language is noted in a letter from Horace Walpole to Horace Mann. A letter between Horaces! Walpole said he formed it from the Persian fairy tale The Three Princes of Serendip, whose heroes “were always making discoveries, by accidents and sagacity, of things they were not in quest of”. Mann convinced Walpole to truncate the fledgling term from the original; “Serendipity-doo-dah.”
MarcoWord (Finnish): Hyvaa joulua (Merry Christmas)
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Today’s MarcoWord (Finnish): Hyvaa joulua. Merry Christmas. “Hyvaa joulua! Finland, Finland, Finland, that the country for me; pony trekking or camping, or just watching TV. ”
MarcoWord (Greek): Kala Christouyenna! (Merry Christmas)
Friday, December 23, 2011
Today’s MarcoWord (Greek): Kala Christouyenna!. Merry Christmas. “Kala Christouyenna!! Did you know the “X” in Xmas comes from the Greek letter “chi” which represents ‘Christ?’ Well, it does 
!”
MarcoWord (Irish): Nollaig Shona Dhuit (Merry Christmas)
Friday, December 23, 2011
Today’s MarcoWord (Irish): Hyvaa joulua. Merry Christmas. “Nollaig Shona Dhuit, fellow Irish-speaking person.”
MarcoWord (French): Joyeux Noël (Merry Christmas)
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Today’s MarcoWord (French): Joyeux Noël. Merry Christmas. “Joyeux Noël, my French friend. Whoa, change one letter and ‘French friend’ looks like ‘French Fried!’ Cool!”
MarcoWord (German): Fröhliche Weihnachten (Merry Christmas)
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Today’s MarcoWord (German): Fröhliche Weihnachten. Merry Christmas. “Fröhliche Weihnachten! Can I pay in Euros?”
Deadword of the Day: Ensorcelled
Monday, October 24, 2011
Ensorcelled: Enchanted, bewitched, fascinated.
As in: Marco is ensorcelled by the ambiance of Halloween. Also generally terrified.
Deadword of the Day: Waesucks
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Waesucks: Alas! Oh, the pity.
As in: Waesucks to be you!
Deadword of the Day: Smittlish
Monday, October 17, 2011
Smittlish: Contagious.
As in: Don’t come any closer, I’m smittlish!
