Tuesday, December 03, 2002
email exchange between cap and i:
me:
i looked up the word "lenticular" today on dictionary.com. the definition was :
(1) Shaped like a biconvex lens. (2) Of or relating to a lens.
i started wondering the origin of the word, trying to think of what roots were at play here and whatnot and then i saw this little addendum to the definition: "Resembling a lentil in size or form; having the form of a double-convex lens." resembling a lentil. duh.
cap:
Two nice vivid uses in geology (a bed, --usually sedimentary-- that thins away in all directions) and in hydrology (as when a lens of meltwater floats on seawater).
"lens, lentis" is an odd word for Latin. Like "gens, gentis' was it inherited from Etruscan? If the very name-word were older than Latin, so would be the eating of the plant itself. So,if it arrived in Middle English via French "lentille" does that mean the Anglo-Saxons didn't commonly grow lentils?
me:
lentils always bring a very specific scene from my life to mind:
picture it, boston, 1998/9. my father and mother came on a rare visit to see me in boston. we went to the local supermarket where they would do their good patent-ly duty of loading me up with groceries. we're walking down the aisles and my father picks up a packet of dry lentils. "here, get these." he says, adding that "they're good and good for you!" i explain to him that i don't really cook, and when i do, i wouldn't go through all of the preparations that lentils require. he said that that was all nonsense, and that i should actually get two packets, explaining the whole cooking process (that i already know from having seen both my parents do it numerous times) of soaking them in water, boiling them, etc. i again explained to my father that i wouldn't do that, since i don't really cook, and when i do i cook food that can be made quickly. looking satisfied he announces "good, then we'll get you lentils!" and throws two packets in my cart. when i moved out a year later i still had both packets, which i gave to my friend hannah (along with any other food that would have otherwise gotten thrown out). i doubt that she has cooked them either.
cap:
Too bad you weren't hardedged enough to guide them past the foie gras tins (Open. Spoon out of tin). "Hah! Foie gras! Can't have lentils without foie gras! (Toss in cart)
My New York gay training I guess.
me:
i looked up the word "lenticular" today on dictionary.com. the definition was :
(1) Shaped like a biconvex lens. (2) Of or relating to a lens.
i started wondering the origin of the word, trying to think of what roots were at play here and whatnot and then i saw this little addendum to the definition: "Resembling a lentil in size or form; having the form of a double-convex lens." resembling a lentil. duh.
cap:
Two nice vivid uses in geology (a bed, --usually sedimentary-- that thins away in all directions) and in hydrology (as when a lens of meltwater floats on seawater).
"lens, lentis" is an odd word for Latin. Like "gens, gentis' was it inherited from Etruscan? If the very name-word were older than Latin, so would be the eating of the plant itself. So,if it arrived in Middle English via French "lentille" does that mean the Anglo-Saxons didn't commonly grow lentils?
me:
lentils always bring a very specific scene from my life to mind:
picture it, boston, 1998/9. my father and mother came on a rare visit to see me in boston. we went to the local supermarket where they would do their good patent-ly duty of loading me up with groceries. we're walking down the aisles and my father picks up a packet of dry lentils. "here, get these." he says, adding that "they're good and good for you!" i explain to him that i don't really cook, and when i do, i wouldn't go through all of the preparations that lentils require. he said that that was all nonsense, and that i should actually get two packets, explaining the whole cooking process (that i already know from having seen both my parents do it numerous times) of soaking them in water, boiling them, etc. i again explained to my father that i wouldn't do that, since i don't really cook, and when i do i cook food that can be made quickly. looking satisfied he announces "good, then we'll get you lentils!" and throws two packets in my cart. when i moved out a year later i still had both packets, which i gave to my friend hannah (along with any other food that would have otherwise gotten thrown out). i doubt that she has cooked them either.
cap:
Too bad you weren't hardedged enough to guide them past the foie gras tins (Open. Spoon out of tin). "Hah! Foie gras! Can't have lentils without foie gras! (Toss in cart)
My New York gay training I guess.
# posted by Sweatpants Money : 12/03/2002 02:15:00 PM
