Listening to: A little Christmas!
Reading: Jewels of the Sun Nora Roberts
Weather: 60 and cloudy
Trivia: What were the largest crocodiles that ever lived?
According to the fossil record, the largest crocodilians that ever existed were the gigantic Deinosuchus ("terrible crocodile"), which lived during the late Cretaceous (85 to 66 million years ago). These giant semi-aquatic predators may have grown as long as 15 meters (50 feet). During that time, a shallow sea called Tethys covered much of what is
now the central United States. Deinosuchus lived in swamps and estuaries along the edges of the Tethys Sea, where it was probably able to capture and devour even large dinosaurs.
Deinosuchus was a distant ancestor of modern crocodiles and alligators. Few fossils of it have been found, but one skull is almost six feet long (two meters).
Cool word: kleptocracy [n. klep-TOK-ruh-see]
A kleptocracy is a government that is run by thieves, or characterized by rampant greed and corruption. The first part of the word is from Greek kleptein (to steal), which also forms part of kleptomania (compulsive thievery). The suffix -ocracy is from the French -cratie, originally from Greek kratos (strength, power). Today, that suffix refers to any organization that governs or rules.
Here are more forms of government:
* democracy: by the people, from Greek demos (people)
* meritocracy: by those deemed most deserving (meritorious)
* bureaucracy: composed of a hierarchy of non-elected officials
* autocracy: by one person who holds absolute power
* theocracy: by a religious institution or authority
* hagiocracy: by holy men or saints
Lazyish
Today was a productive day, but in a lazy kind of way.
I basically spent the whole day in my nightgown (I did shower, as it takes a couple days to get the city grime out of your pores).
But nightgown or not, I managed to crank out two reports. These suckers take ages when I’m alert, but of course today I was tired and kept drifting off into La-la Land, so they took even longer than usual to write. But they got done, and I think they were well done. At least I know I put a lot of thought into the two of them.
Two down, three to go -- before Friday. Doubtful, doubtful!
I also spent a nice chunk of the day fielding phone calls.
Inquiring minds needed to know about my day yesterday. Of course I have to keep in mind who I’m talking to, as not everyone gets the full blow-by-blow report. My mother and brothers have no idea that Michael is part of the scenario. Nor do they need to know at this point. I’ll probably spring it on them someday, but until that time…… well, lets just say they get the edited version.
Dee and Cathy, on the other hand, get the full version. I have the need to retell the story so I can relive it anyway, so it works for me. Actually I think they want to hear the whole thing. Dee has come a long way in that respect.
So that was all.
But it was a good day in spite of how quiet it was. Still basking in the glow of yesterday.
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