23. Profligate

Barron's online cover story, September 19, 2011, "Goodbye, Family Fortune" by Michelle Slatalla addresses the issue of the super-rich squandering their inheritances. She wrote,

"But in some families, education may not be enough to prevent profligate heirs from spending every penny.

What is the meaning of profligate?
 

Profligate: shamelessly immoral; licentious

22. Ululate

From CBS News online celebrity circuit, 9/27/11 Dancing with the stars recap by Chris Matyszczyk:

“It's official," ululated Inaba. "Rob Kardashian is a better dancer than Kim Kardashian."

What is your impression of the tone of the article?
 

Ululate: howl or wail loudly

21. Perfect Storm

In light of comments made at the trial of MJ's doctor and the intense media coverage, I suspect 'perfect storm' will become a common phrase. For example, CNN's report on 9/27/11:

"Chernoff also says the evidence will show Michael Jackson gave propofol to himself, without Dr. Conrad Murray's consent or knowledge. He argues that the combination of lorazepam and propofol created a lethal "perfect storm.""

Merriam-Webster online Dictionary defines "perfect storm" as a critical or disastrous situation created by a powerful concurrence of factors; it was first used in 1936.

20. Leverage

From NASA's website, 9/14/11

Extracted from article, NASA Announces Design for New Deep Space Exploration System

“This specific architecture was selected, largely because it utilizes an evolvable development approach, which allows NASA to address high-cost development activities early on in the program and take advantage of higher buying power before inflation erodes the available funding of a fixed budget. This architecture also enables NASA to leverage existing capabilities and lower development costs by using liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen for both the core and upper stages. Additionally, this architecture provides a modular launch vehicle that can be configured for specific mission needs using a variation of common elements.”

Can you suggest another word that could be used here?

 Leverage: to exert power; advantage

19. Unassailable

In her Remarks at the High-Level Meeting on Nutrition to the UN in NYC on 9/20/11, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said,

"Now, I know that you’ve covered a lot of this ground already and will continue to do so in the consultations tomorrow and afterwards, so let me simply say this: The United States is firmly committed to our investments in global nutrition, and we believe fervently that improving nutrition for pregnant women and children under two is one of the smartest investments we or anyone can make. The science for this is unassailably clear: When we ensure that women and children receive essential nutrients within the 1,000-day window, we can set youngsters on a better path toward lifelong health. When we miss that window, children can suffer both physical and cognitive damage that cannot be reversed."

Can you suggest a synonym that would be equally emphatic?
 

Unassailable: not open to attack or assault

18. Prestidigitation

In his review of I.B.M.'s art exhibition "Think" at Lincoln Center, Edward Rothstein (NY Times, 9/23/11) wrote:

But what is this show meant to be? Partly, it is corporate public relations. We learn about I.B.M.’s astonishing accomplishments over a century, its researchers creating what is now commonplace: UPC bar codes, magnetic strips holding data on cards, computer hard drives. I.B.M. scientists have received Nobel Prizes, performed molecular prestidigitation and won chess and “Jeopardy!” games with pioneering examples of artificial intelligence.

Is Rothstein complimenting IBM's scientists?
 

Prestidigitation: sleight of hand

#17. Justice

Given recent events (referring to Troy Davis' execution on 9/21/11), there has been much discussion about justice.

What does justice mean to you?

Write (or ponder) a response in which you discuss your views on the subject above and explain your reasoning for the position you take. Also discuss what events or experiences shaped your position.

 

Justice: moral principle of determine just/moral/fair conduct

#16. Tranche

There has been much discussion in the media about Greece’s need for another tranche of money. 

For example, on CNN’s Online News 9/20/11, “Eurozone finance ministers have approved the latest tranche of emergency help for the Greek economy.”

What is the meaning of ‘tranche?’

 Tranche: a portion or installment

#15. Brinkmanship

Headline, BBC News, 9/19/11 (online - Middle East):

"Yemen unrest: A deadly game of elite brinkmanship" by Ginny Hill.

What do you think will be the main theme of the article?
 

Brinkmanship: the technique or practice of maneuvering a dangerous situation to the limits of tolerance or safety in order to secure the greatest advantage, especially by creating diplomatic crises

#14. Analytical Writing

An occasional look at the past helps one to focus more clearly on the future.

Write a response in which you discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the statement and explain your reasoning for the position you take. In developing and supporting your position, you should consider ways in which the statement might or might not hold true and explain how these considerations shape your position.

#13. Sesquipedalian

Maureen Dowd, NY Times op-ed columnist, wrote on 9/17/11 in "Eggheads and Blockheads,"

“Having grown up with a crush on William F. Buckley Jr. for his sesquipedalian facility, it’s hard for me to watch the right wing of the G.O.P. revel in anti-intellectualism and anti-science cant.”

What is the opposite of sesquipedalian?
 

Sesquipedalian: given to using long words

#12. Verbal Reasoning

The passage below is the concluding paragraph from, "Tell Me Where It Hurts," by Heather Kovich published in Guernica's September online issue.

Does the author imply any action on the part of the reader? If yes, what?

"Doug’s story could be any of ours. He went to college, worked hard, and had a family. His illness, not the disability system, destroyed this life. But the system didn’t help him put it back together with the dignity or autonomy he would have liked. Because Social Security will eventually run out of money, it will be forced to change. When it does, it will be an opportunity to fix the holes, to coordinate agencies and better counsel beneficiaries so that they can use the skills they have, and the skills they can acquire to rebuild their lives."

#11. Snarky

In her column on 9/10/11, Maureen Dowd, NYTimes op-ed columnist, wrote,

"In case reporters were too dense to get the point, Eric Cantor’s office underlined it in an unsubtle press release. The headline, “Cantor, House Republicans Strike New Tone, Focus On Areas Of Common Ground,” acknowledged that the snarky, obstreperous old tone wasn’t working for them"

Why is this word used so often in political discussions lately?
 

Snarky: testy or irritable

#10. Analytical Writing

Analyze this weight loss product advertisement to discern the advertiser’s claim.

Write a response in which you discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the claim AND the reason on which that claim is based.

#9. August vs raucous

On 9/8/11, Howard Finneman (Huffington Post) in his comments on Pres. Obama's 'jobs' speech wrote,

"Addresses to joint sessions of Congress are supposed to be august, stately and somber affairs, but the president turned it into a raucous and lively mixture of a campaign stump speech and a college-style debate on the floor of the British House of Commons."

Are these words appropriate in this context?

August: majestic; eminent

Raucous: harsh; strident

#8. Sublime

In Peter Travers' review of the movie 'The Help' published in Rolling Stones, he wrote,

"The actors are sublime. Start with the brilliant Viola Davis (Doubt) as Aibileen Clark, the housekeeper who's helped raise 17 white children for various families but is still reeling from the accidental death of her only son."

 What imagery does the use of this word portray?
 

Sublime: elevated or lofty in thought

#7. Achievement Gap

In an article in the Boston Globe, "A shift in state college grants" by M. Carmichael on 9/6, she wrote,

"Governor Deval Patrick is expected to announce today that for the first time in decades, Massachusetts is awarding some money to public colleges and universities based on their plans to boost academic performance, rather than on how many students they enroll.

The money will go mostly to schools that proposed strategies to raise graduation rates, strengthen science instruction and career development, and close achievement gaps among minorities."

What's your perspective on the achievement gap? Write about it.

#6. Excoriate

On 9/2/11, Jack Mirkinson posted on the Huffington Post,

"Keith Olberman excoriated President Obama on his Friday show for halting the impending toughening of environmental regulations against smog."

Can you suggest a synonym?

 

Excoriate: to denounce or berate severely

#5. Intractable

From 9/2/11 NY Times, "In Russia, Harsh Remedy for Addiction Gains Favor" by Seth Mydans,

"Most experts in drug treatment condemn this approach as a primitive, brutal and ineffective way to address the problem, saying that addiction is a much more complex and intractable challenge and that simply drying out cannot bring a lasting cure."

What is the meaning of 'intractable?'

Intractable: not easily controlled or directed

#4 - Political Posturing

President Obama in his weekly address on 9/3/11 re extending the transportation bill said,

At the end of September, if Congress doesn’t act, funding for our roads and bridges will expire.  This would put a stop to highway construction, bridge repair, mass transit systems and other important projects that keep our country moving quickly and safely.  And it would affect thousands of construction workers and their families who depend on the jobs created by these projects to make ends meet.
Usually, renewing this transportation bill is a no-brainer.  In fact, Congress has renewed it seven times over the last two years.  But thanks to political posturing in Washington, they haven’t been able to extend it this time – and the clock is running out.

Is 'political posturing' negative or positive?

#3 Concede

From Scott Beason's USA Today 8/30/11 editorial titled, "We're protecting our citizens:"

"Illegal-immigration policy is an emotionally charged issue, and passions run high on both sides. Most reasonable people concede the need to secure the borders. For that matter, most people agree that the federal government should enforce its laws."

Suggest a synonym for concede....

Concede: to acknowledge as true; admit; yield

#2. Picayune and Procrustean

Michael Cooper, in 8/30/11's NYT's article, responding to criticism of new road signs proposed by the President opined, "If its strictures are sometimes mocked as picayune and procrustean..., they are designed to make driving safer by helping aging drivers read traffic signs more easily, especially at night."

Do you know what is talking about?

 

Picayune: of little value; trivial

Procrustean: tending or designed to produce conformity by violent or ruthless methods

#1. Road warriors

I'm starting with an easy phrase...

In describing readers who recognized her from her little photo in Delta's Sky magazine, the editor said, "Some serious road warriors."

Do you know the meaning of this phrase within this context? Suggest an appropriate synonym.