Bill W

The term "xiphoid" comes from the Greek word "xiphos", which means "sword" or "straight sword". The xiphoid process, a small, triangular-shaped bone at the lower end of the sternum, is named after its sword-like appearance. The adjective "xiphoid" first appeared in English in the mid-1700s, with the earliest evidence from the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) being from 1747 in the writing of S. Glass. The term is most commonly used in anatomy to describe the :xiphoid process, the cartilage- and bone-tipped part of the sternum at the bottom of the rib cage. a borrowing from Latin "xiphoides", ultimately deriving from the Greek word for "sword". The xiphoid process helps support muscles and ligaments in your chest and abdomen, but it's possible to live without it. It's what healthcare providers call a vestigial structure. Examples of "xiphoid" used in a sentence: "Just to the bottom of the xiphoid process," Ms. Boyle said. "Actually, the “lump” is the xiphoid process, the quarter-size cartilaginous end of the bony sternum." "The two little girls were united from the xiphoid cartilage to the umbilicus." "On examination, she had an abdominal protrusion between the xiphoid process and the umbilicus that contained the small bowel."

The word "xylophone" is derived from the Greek words ξύλον (xúlon) (meaning "wood") and φωνή (phōnḗ) (meaning "sound, voice"), so literally "the sound of wood"). The name was coined in Europe in the 19th century to describe the wooden bars that make the instrument's sound. According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the first known use of the word "xylophone" in English was in the 1860s, specifically from a 1866 edition of the British literary magazine Athenaeum. Other sources corroborate this, citing the same year or a similar 1865-1870 range for the word's introduction into the English language, with the instrument itself having earlier origins in Africa and Asia. Examples of "xylophone" used in a sentence: "Percussion is composed of sleigh bells, tambourine, xylophone and kettle drums." "The more the strings sound acid-toned and the piano xylophone-like, the better." "In the 16-second clip, five chickens peck at a xylophone nailed to a wall in their coop." "The xylophone is a percussion instrument, made of wooden bars with ronators underneath." "A xylophone is played using mallets made of rubber, acrylic, or plastic to strike the bars and produce the sound." "The xylophone typically has a range of three to four octaves."

Have you ever been caught in a situation where you've been engaged by a very chatty person in a very awkward situation that was impossible to escape, and worst of all, they wouldn't leave you alone, even though you refused to respond to them? If you have, then you might be able to identify with this awkward and somewhat tense conversation between two people, and if you haven't ever found yourself in a similar predicament, then read this short-story and determine how you might have reacted.

Although I've never done it, I suppose it would be very difficult to write a story using only dialogue and not being able to add descriptions, observations, or explanations. I very much enjoyed this and can appreciate the thought behind it, since I've been roped into conversations with chatty persons before that I had no intention of communicating with. Some people just won't take 'no' or silence as a response to their constant prying. I don't know how I missed this story during the Tribute to Carlos, but nicely done.

This thought provoking poem about the sun points out that their are many different ways we can think about and appreciate the sun, depending on the time of day or the time of year.

If you're looking for a story that is creative, well written, and creepily horrifying, then this short story is probably for you. Might the narrator have been affected due to a previous night of heavy drinking, that's a possibility, and might reading it have a delayed uncontrollable reaction, very likely. And if you don't already have arachnophobia that situation might change after reading this spooky tale with a bit of tension breaking humor tossed in.

This story was very creative, thought provoking, and well written. I spent a lot of my youth with an uncle who suffered from arachnophobia, which unfortunately rubbed off on me when I was younger. due to the fact that I was around him so often. Luckily, I outgrew my fear when I got older, so 1now I don't have a problem with spiders, as long as their body (minus legs) is not the size of a quarter (US currency) or larger. For that reason, I enjoyed this story very much, although the concept was horrifying.

Nothing like messing up a few spiders. I'm not sure of the purpose behind that experiment, but it seemed a bit cruel.

None where I live either and I didn't celebrate myself! Guess I'm stuck eating the candy I bought for the trick-or-treaters! 😁 Quote @wildone: You know what? I could use another hour of sleep tonight Yep, me too!

The word "xenolith" comes from two Greek words" xenos (ξ𝜉𝜈𝜊𝜍), meaning "foreign" or "strange", and lithos (λίθος) meaning "stone". Therefore, xenolith literally translates to "foreign stone" or "foreign rock". This name accurately describes the geological term for a rock fragment that is foreign to the igneous rock in which it is embedded. According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the word "xenolith" was first used in English in 1894 by the geologist and anthropologist William Sollas. This aligns with information from other dictionaries, such as Merriam Webster, which also notes its first known use in 1894. Examples of "xenolith" used in a sentence: "The geologist found a xenolith of granite within the basalt, a fragment from a deeper layer of the Earth's crust." "The volcanic ash contained chunks of xenoliths, which were pieces of mantle and crust from the eruption." "However, rare xenoliths of sedimentary rocks occur in the granite." "The parental magma for pyroxenite xenoliths could be derived from the partial melting of the asthenosphere with continental crust material involvement and of the upper lithospheric mantle."

Damn, now that's scary for Halloween!

Kudos, @Inkognito. I loved this amazing poem that sums up the anthology "Creature Feature".

The word "ethics" comes from the Greek word ēthikós (ethical) and êthos (character), and the Latin ethice. Its origins relate to custom, habit, and character, meaning the study of morals or character. The term is strongly associated with Aristotle's work, Ta Ethika (The Ethics), which focused on moral philosophy. The noun "ethics" was first used in English during the Middle English period, with the Oxford English Dictionary finding evidence from before 1425. The word traces back to the Middle English term "ethik" and was partly borrowed from the Old French "éthique" and Latin "ethica". The noun "ethics," was specifically used to refer to "the science of morals" around 1600. The singular noun ethic is from before 1387, in a translation by John Trevisa. The English word "moral" also has a related root, coming from the Latin mores, meaning "customs". To be ethical means to act in a way that aligns with moral principles, focusing on what is right, fair, and honest, even when no one is watching. It involves making decisions based on values like integrity, respect, and responsibility, and is guided by both personal beliefs and societal standards. While laws tell you what you must do, ethics guide what you should do. Examples of "ethic" used in a sentence: "But a strong work ethic was instilled in him at an early age." "I loved their work ethic and determination." "I know the determination and work ethic he has always had to make sure he does the job right." "The reality is that democracy prefers to adopt its own ethic." Examples of "ethics" used in a sentence: "We set up the ethics committee with two chambers." "Its members are bound by a rigid code of ethics which includes confidentiality." "Refugee workers said such action was a violation of medical ethics." "It is common to distinguish between personal and social ethics." "He told the police that he had thought honestly about the ethics of what he was doing."

A charming story about a cat and a bird and the formation of an unusual friendship.

A charming tale about the creation of an unusual friendship. It pays to be nice, because Zipi now has a friend and Skee did not die. A lesson we can all learn about kindness.

This is a marvelous short story that sheds a light on how delicate the balance of nature can be. It is wonderfully written with vivid descriptions, and a touching storyline. If you love nature, then I have a strong feeling that you'll fall in love with this enchanting short story, the same way I did!

Beautifully done, Tim. Native Americans and other ancient cultures around the world have always been more in tune with nature than modern mankind. As I finished reading this story, my mind wandered to what is happening in Brazil with the destructions of rain forests due to the commercial interests of cattle farmers, commercial farming (like soy production), logging and mining who are more interested in their own bottom lines. And Brazil is not unique. Unfortunately, we're having to battle with our government in the US to prevent them from chopping down old growth forests for commercial gain. I'm sorry that I got off on a tangent, so now I wish to thank for this truly wonderful and thought provoking story.

The word "predicate" comes from the Latin praedicatum, meaning "that which is said of the subject". It derives from the verb praedicare, meaning "to proclaim" or "declare publicly," which is a combination of prae- ("before" or "forth") and dicare ("to proclaim" or "say"). The meaning of "that which is asserted" or "declared about a subject" was first used in logic before entering grammar. The word passed from Latin into French as predicat. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the noun "predicate" was first used in English in the mid-15th century, while the verb "predicate" first appeared in the mid-1500s. The noun "predicate" was first recorded in the mid-15th century, used as a term in logic to describe "that which is said of a subject" (e.g., went home in John went home ). The verb "predicate," meaning "to declare, assert, or affirm that something is true," is first recorded in the mid-1500s, specifically from 1552 in the writings of Richard Huloet. The grammatical sense of the word "predicate" emerged later, in the 1630s.

A cute and romantic story with likeable characters in a highly unusual situation. If you like the idea of love at first sight, then this short story should be right up your alley. Enjoy!

I'm afraid that @drsawzall beat me to the punch. When I saw the title of the story I thought you were going to have them meet on the dancefloor while doing the Funky Chicken, which would have been so uncool and unromantic. I'm glad it was only the name of his chicken oriented restaurant. Anyway, I loved it, Chris. Very romantic!

This is a horrifying and thought provoking tale that might give you nightmares for quite a while, if you're not careful. What would you do if you woke up in a dark, seemingly endless void with no obvious means of escape? Everything you attempt to free yourself from that horrid place fails and nothing seems right or the way it should be, so would you just give up or would you keep trying? If you want to discover what happens to Dave then you'll have to read this captivating short story, but make sure you're in a well lit room as you do so.

What a terribly horrifying fate, first to be trapped in a dark, endless void, and then to attempt an escape that led who knows where. Dave had only been there a short time, Elijah slightly longer, but Mitchell had been trapped there for 54 years. Can you imagine being trapped in a place like that in nearly total darkness, with no companionship or possibly only one other person, for eternity. Even this new and terrifying world they find themselves in now has to be better than where they were. Even that catlike reptilian creature probably couldn't kill them, if they're already dead, and possibly only send them into the next portal in the hereafter. It seems that Dave had been killed in a traffic accident, Elijah in a headfirst fall from his roof, and Mitchell during the Viet Nam war, so if this is the afterlife or what to expect after death, such as entering different dimensions or different realities forever, then I'd prefer that death merely leads to total oblivion.

A tale as old as time. A boy knows he cannot live up to his father's expectations, and even though he has other qualities that would be just valuable to offer, his father will not relent. Therefore, the boy sets out to prove himself, but how will that venture end. If you want to find out, then you'll have to read this enchanting story to find out, and I have a strong suspicion that you will be glad you did,

A truly enchanting story, Aaron. I loved it. Jermyn reached a higher level of humanity and Dremex has found a companion and ended his isolation. A wonderful use of the theme.

Oh, Goodie. More stories to read.