Here is a word that has gone through the wringer in the past few decades. Originally it meant a monstrous offense or excessive wickedness (American Heritage). However, its similarity to the word enormous has caused it to be used by an ever growing number of people to mean immense size. With all things language, attempting [...]
Archive for 14 August 2007
Enormity
Posted: 14 August 2007 in UncategorizedTags: ancient ruins, angkor, etymology, language, language change, linguistics
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Inbred Mice and Appalachia
Posted: 14 August 2007 in UncategorizedTags: appalachia, linguistics, medicine, mice, north vs south, quotes, racism, stereotypes, stupid scientists, stupidity
Wired has a story on the fact that almost all the mice used in laboratory research today are descended from a few inbred mice about a hundred years ago. It seems like there are advantages to having inbred mice in terms of experimental control, which may have been part of the original motivation. The fewer [...]
