Two Steps

Good morning!

This post will be necessarily brief (and sorry it's late. Computer is being a dink again). You see, I had planned to take the day off from writing, but I was listening to epic music on my way into work today, specifically Two Steps From Hell, specifically this song:

And images and ideas exploded in my head, and I have to get them down before I forget them. Bye then!

Isabelline

A pale brownish-yellow colour; from Isabelle, a princess of this name.

- Charles Annandale's Dictionary of the English Language, 1897

The archduke Albertus, who had married the infanta Isabella, daughter Philip II, King of Spain, . . . determined to lay siege to Ostend [Belgium], then in the possession of the heretics. His pious princess, who attended him in that expedition, made a vow that till it was taken she would never change her clothes.

- Joseph Taylor's Antiquitates Curiosae, 1819

Contrary to expectation, it was three years before the place was reduced, in which time the linen of her highness had acquired a hue which . . . was much admired and adopted by the court fashionables under the name of "Isabella color." It is a whitish yellow, or soiled buff - better imagined than described.

- Frank Stauffer's THe Queer, the Quaint, the Quizzical, 1882.

Fluffy Friday ... I Think Not.

I was going to bore you all with a bit of fluff about my writing.

Then I read this article. I cried. Those amazing, brave people. I am in awe of them. They are heroes in every way, shape and form.

I don't believe in God, but today I am praying. I don't have faith in humanity, but today I am humbled before it. The Fukushima 50 (200, really) have my heart and my prayers. Spare yours.

On that note, there are many things people around the world are doing to help. An amazing composer, Thomas Bergersen, one of the musical geniuses behind Two Steps from Hell, is releasing a few singles from his upcoming and highly anticipated (by me, at least) album, Illusions, early on iTunes. 100% of the proceed from these early purchases will go to the Red Cross to help with the crisis in Japan. I tend not to throw the word 'genius' around lightly, so when I say he's amazing, then you have to understand that I mean he's A-MAZ-ING with multiple exclamation marks.

Yesterday, I mentioned Writers for the Red Cross. I'm mentioning them again. Do check them out. It's a brilliant organisation.

Google is getting in on the action with a donation line available via this site. The link is also permanently plastered to the top banner of this blog.

There are many other ways you can help. Watch this if you need a little inspiration.

I am heartened by the compassion and action people have taken in response to the crisis in Japan. Humans have never been my favourite species. Truth is, I prefer spiders most of the time. However, sometimes, when I see the things I mentioned above, I think there's hope for us after all.

On that note, here's today's Forgotten English:

Basket of Chips:

A metaphor for a pleasant experience, perhaps because a supply of chips gives promise of a good fire.

- Richard Thornton's American Glossary, 1912

I think this is quite appropriate. Have a wonderful weekend everyone!