The Minnesota Senate race is finally settled, and former Saturday Night Live comedian Al Franken has been declared the winner.

At a press conference outside his home in Minneapolis, I was more than a bit surprised when Franken, known for his sharply clever comedy writing, said:

“So even though Franni and I are thrilled and honored by the faith that Minnesotans have placed in me, I’m also humbled,” he said, “not just by the closeness of this election, but also by the enormity of the responsibilities that come with this office.”

Oh! The enormity!

Surely not?

Contrary to common use, “enormity” isn’t really about size at all. It may sound as though it means “enormousness,” but in careful usage it does not.

“Enormity” actually means outrageousness or extreme wickedness. (I’m pretty sure that the dictionary meaning doesn’t encompass the New England usage of “wicked:” “Being Senator is a wicked cool job!”)

So, let’s see. Does the new Senator mean:

“…the extreme wickedness of the responsibilities that come with this office?”

or perhaps

“…the outrageousness of the responsibilities that come with this office?”

I certainly hope it is not the former. That would be such a disappointment, although certainly not to, say, Rush Limbaugh. The second choice might apply if Senator Franken uses his maiden speech on the Senate floor to try out some new, blue stand-up material.

Oh! The enormity!

As soon as I heard the breaking news yesterday afteroon that pop giant Michael Jackson had died in Los Angeles, I began to wonder how soon it would be before the rumors and conspiracy theories started to circulate

I only had to wait until early this morning, when I received an email from my son. Now, he was writing about his expectation that these tales would soon surface. But I began to wonder whether this thought was already common. What was in the air?

So I just Googled “Michaek Jackson fake death” and Google returned 321,000 (!) results.

Let’s just let that sink in for a moment.

Less than 18 hours after Michael Jackson’s death was announced, hundreds of thousands of people already believe that he’s still alive somewhere. (Hanging out at the 7/211 with Elvis, perhaps?)

There are news reports about it, blog entries, and even polls: Do you think Michael Jackson is really dead?”

So far, a lot of these stories are on spoof news sites, but it’s already popped up on the New York Daily News, Los Angeles Times, MTV and Rolling Stone websites.

RIP, Michael Jackson? Not bloody likely.

“Hope,” a digital giclee, has been selected for the current show at The Gallery at Second Stage Studios.

It honors the many women I know who have survived breast cancer, and one, my best friend Nancy, who did not. I support breast cancer research (I took part in an Avon 3-Day Walk a few years ago) and wanted to add my support to the Breast Health Center at Women and Infants for all the wonderful work they do. I will be donating all of my share of the sales price of $60 to this cause.

The artists’ reception will be held on Sunday, April 5, from 1-4p. see you there!

O! mighty harbinger of treasured Spring

Which from the Olde Towne ventures bravely forth

And carries in its hold each needful thing

From winter’s icebound warehouse in the north.

We wait until the day is near half done

To see the journey start, the great door rise

And streams of light as from a midnight sun

Presage the moving giant’s glowing eyes.

At last! We hear the engine’s mighty boom.

The door goes up! Our faith, an ember small

And precious in the season of our gloom,

Is burning now. Then comes the mighty call:

“Make way! We leave for the City of Palms!”

And we are soothed by training season balms.

Could the word “swill” be making a comeback?

Several news reporters and commentators quoted President Obama’s sentence in his inaugural address that used the word. It’s probably one of the very best sentences in what was a thoughtful, considered, and well-delivered speech.

I generally like recycling, especially the recycling of useful bits. So it’s nice to see a useful old word come back into use, especially one as descriptive and direct as this.

This even gives me a bit of hope that, perhaps, a President who is not afraid to call things by their real names will not be afraid to do the real things that need doing.

Did I hear our new President use the word “swill” in his inaugural speech?

We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.

Yes, indeed I did! I think the only other person I’ve ever heard use that marvelously descriptive word is my grandmother, and I know I’ve never heard it in a public speech before.

“Swill” is quite an old word, deriving from the Old English swillan, and means liquid or partly liquid food for animals, especially kitchen refuse given to swine. It can be traced back to at least 900CE, when swillan had the meaning or “to wash” or “to gargle.” The more modern noun usage traces back to the mid 16th century. (Sources: Random House Unabridged Dictionary and Online Etymology Dictionary)

How refreshing it is to have a President who uses words so deftly and calls things by their right names!

I’m busy re-designing my portfolio site, so the visuals for my projects are on hiatus. They’ll reappear as I re-create all my pages as part of a content management system.

If you’re looking for anything in particular, please email me at carol@thedigitalartist.com.