You’ve heard of the nocebo effect, right?

By John Brown | March 4, 2008 - 12:58 pm |March 4, 2008 Zing

We all know about the placebo effect. Well, here’s its ugly brother. nocebo (no-SEE-bo) noun: A substance producing harmful effects in someone because it is believed to be harmful, but which in reality is harmless. [From Latin nocebo (I will harm), from nocere (to harm). Modeled after placebo (I will please).] Both groups who received →

Suckling pig

By John Brown | March 3, 2008 - 2:54 pm |March 4, 2008 Zing

3 Comments

This from a gal I know who’s been touring Spain… I ate a quarter of a suckling pig today. I feel like a monster for eating such a young animal; a rotund, content, sleepily sluggish, well fed monster. If you’re going to kill an animal, kill it when it’s young. It so much more barbaric →

Bloodless Grammarians

By John Brown | March 1, 2008 - 10:05 pm |March 4, 2008 Zing

Comments Off

I’m beginning a study of linguistics. Well, an author’s study, which is different from getting a degree or anything like unto it. I’m looking for what’s useful for a specific project. And when I want to know about a subject, I’ve found it’s best to start with the juveniles and encylopedias so I can get →

The path to?

By John Brown | February 28, 2008 - 8:48 pm |February 28, 2008 Zing

Comments Off

Is this not delicious? I found it on istockphotos.com and couldn’t stay away. I want to be on that trail. I want to know what’s around that bend. Holy moly, the feeling of this photo is just marvelous. So I bought a copy. It’s by stellalevi. Zing, Baby!

Breaking News!!

By John Brown | February 27, 2008 - 6:29 pm |February 28, 2008 Zing

Comments Off

Someone has managed to photograph the pot at the end of the rainbow My wonderful wife just forwarded me this breaking photograph Alas, another dream shattered.