Change, But Not For the Better

Yesterday I was challenged by Matt Trevithick to create more original work and to be less of a cranky pants. The odd and gusty Leanne suggested I post more bunny pictures and use bigger words so that for more smart I should look. Or something.


Fine.

mirl, v.

Pronunciation: Brit. /məːl/,  U.S. /mərl/,  Sc. /mərl/

Forms:  18– mirl,   19– mirrel,   19– mirrl. 

Etymology: < the unattested Norn reflex of the early Scandinavian word represented by Swedish regional myrla, Danish regional myrle, both in sense ‘to swarm, teem’, of uncertain origin: perhaps < the Scandinavian base of Old Swedish myr ant (see mire n.²) + the Scandinavian base of Old Swedish -la -le suffix 3; with the development of sense compare Middle French, French fourmiller to swarm, teem (1587), (of the skin, etc.) to crawl like ants (1575) <  Middle French formier to crawl like ants, swarm, teem, tingle, twinkle (11th cent. in Old French in form fromier; <  classical Latin formīcāre (of the skin) to crawl like ants (see formicate v.)) + -iller, frequentative suffix. Compare mirr v.

Sc. National Dict. s.v., suggests that the word may have been influenced in form by semantically similar verbs; compare e.g. whirl v., twirl v.¹

 Shetland.

 1.  intr. To move lightly and briskly; to twirl around; to shimmer, quiver, tremble

a1838  J. Jamieson MSS (National Libr. Scotl. MS 22–1/12) XII. 194 To Mirl, to move rapidly around

1886  J. J. H. Burgess Sketches 64 Da stars wis mirlin' i' da lift as if dey wir trimblin' wi' cowld.

1932  A. Horsbøl tr.  J. Jakobsen Etymol. Dict. Norn Lang. in Shetland II. (at cited word), He is mirlin wi' joy.

1958 Shetland News 30 Dec. 4 Mirlin laek a russi-foal.

1979  J. J. Graham Shetland Dict. (at cited word), Da peerie lass was mirlin wi excitement as shö opened da parcel.

2005  C. De Luca Smootie comes ta Lerrick 5 Da lichts o Bressa wis mirlin on da Soond.

 2.  trans. To shake, cause to quiver.

1900 Shetland News 5 May 7/1 He pointid at da yow an' lamb lyin' apon his fore knees sookin' awa' an' mirrlin' his tail.

1932  A. Horsbøl tr.  J. Jakobsen Etymol. Dict. Norn Lang. in Shetland II. (at cited word), De lamb is mirlin its feet.

Derivatives

 

 ˈmirling adj.

1932  A. Horsbøl tr.  J. Jakobsen Etymol. Dict. Norn Lang. in Shetland II. at Mirl, Mirlin, trembling, quivering, shaking.

1933  J Nicolson Hentilagets 15 A mirrlin coorteen reeks across da lift.

1976  R. Bulter Shaela 44 Risin in a mirlin shooer‥da waari fleas.

Alberta Girl, She's Not Clear on the Concept

She's big-boned gal from southern Alberta (probably not, but it's a fun song) and she's not clear on the concept.

Meet @Albertagrl, she's "a blue Albertan (what other kind is there)! Proud DE-NIER. Proud WRP supporter."

I'm only an Albertan by birth,  but I'm pretty sure not every Albertan is a redneck. I do appreciate that her denial of science is right up front though. No dog whistles from this western gal.


Onto the funny.

This morning, Kady O'Malley, a respected reporter on The Hill, commenting on some damn committee or another, tweeted "...Peter Julian! Who probably should take some of the blame for not giving the rest of us a heads up on today's meeting." This was apropos of the public not being informed that 3 Ministers were appearing before the subcommittee. The veteran reporter tweeted that "Seriously, you do NOT sneak triple ministerial appearances on massive budget bills onto the agenda at the last second."

Sounds fair to me, but I'm a crazed lefty and like things out in the open.

Enough of the preamble, on with the comedy.

Concerned citizen Albert Girl responds to Kady that she "Didn't know that *media* were Part of gov't committee and required to be informed? #unelectedmediaoppositionparty"

Oh snap (that's how the kids say it, right?). Alberta Girl has nailed Kady right in her elitist Blackberry.

O'Malley responds that "...I think the public DOES have the right to be informed on what its government, and parliamentary committees, are doing."

Ms. Girl? "Public doesn't expect media to be part of meeting"

I'm confused. Ms. Alberta Girl thinks we, the public, should know what's going on in the meetings, but she doesn't think the media should be present to record the meeting. I must be missing something here. Maybe Ms. Girl can shed some light on this point.

"So who asked Journos to be public *proxy*? Because, I would like some balanced representation, please!"

Oh.

That was a long way to go to find out the store's closed.

OT, how do you like the colour formatting? I think it makes the posts look like the ravings of a lunatic, or a disgruntled logger with a manifesto burning a hole in his sock drawer. I hope you do too.