Z for ZYGOLOGY

Zygology is a rare term that describes the general science of 'joining and fastening' (source). I couldn't find anything more about that. Not sure what we're joining or fastening in zygology . . . it reminds me of the word zygote and suddenly this whole definition gets very disturbing. 

Another zippy z_ology word

Zoopsychology: A branch of psychology that studies animal psychology.

Well that's it folks the 2013 A-Z Challenge is now 
DONE!

I just want to take a quick moment to thank you all for being such awesome A-Zers, for stopping by, commenting, and sharing a laugh or two. And a special thank you to all you guys who continued to comment these last few days while I was gone  (✿◠‿◠). Unfortunately,  I didn't get a chance to visit my blogging buddies and new followers as much as I wanted this month. I'll make up for it soon.

I also want to thank everyone involved hosting/organizing this year, It's been one crazy month, but I'll have more to say about the challenge in my reflections post. For now I'm taking a little break--I'm still on vacation! And yes, I did bring my laptop, wip(s), books, and editing with me. Good or bad I am still a writer, even on vacation.

Ze End!

:D

Y for YOGURTOLOGY

Another short post because Y is the dark abyss of ologies. 

However, I did find this--

A yucky Y_ology word

well not really yucky

Yogurtology is not a field of study. It is however, a chain store that sells frozen yogurt and ice cream and is apparently the "bees-knees." They also claim to be the art and science of frozen yogurt (source). They're located in many different parts of the U.S. but unfortunately, I've never come across one. However, I may have to wander in if I come across a Yogurtology shop while on vacation. Oh about that, I'm on vacation. Yep. This is a pre-scheduled post (hopefully I didn't mess it up) and if everything is going according to plan (which rarely happens), I should either be on a beach towel in front of the Gulf of Mexico, or standing in some sort of crazy long line with my kids at Disney World. 

Um, that really won't be necessary. I just came here for ice cream (o_O).
(source: Yogurtology fb page)

Anyone bare to eat at Yogurtology?  Sounds like it sure would hit the spot. What spot I have no idea. In fact, I have no idea what the hell I'm saying anymore . . . "slqkmfjei? mqfj2eio kdjsq*ù!" 

Thanks for stopping in everyone. Only one more day left!

:D

X for XENOBIOLOGY

Xenobiology is the study of alien lifeforms and is a subdiscipline withing the Xenological sciences. It is often referred to as Astrobiology, a word coined in 1954 by science fiction writer Robert Heinlein in his work The Star Beast. Due to the fact no extraterrestrials have been found, xenobiology has been described as a "science in search of a subject." 

Another XXX  X_ology word

Xylology: The branch of dendrology treating of the structure of wood.

And that's it for today. Wish I had more for you guys, but X is a difficult letter. Those of you doing the A-Z challenge, did you find the post for X easy or difficult to write? Anyway, hang in there, you're in the final stretch! :D   

W for Whoology

These last few posts are going to be fairly short for a few reasons. One, finding 'ologies is becoming more and more difficult near the end of the alphabet. Second, I'm officially on vacation! Au revoir cold French weather. Hell-o hot Orlando, Florida. But rest assured, I will be visiting blogs--right after I'm done puking from riding the spinning tea cups and forced to recuperate a few days on the beach, sipping away on something fruity with a cocktail umbrella in it. (;

Now, on with our wicked W_ology word

Ok, so whoology isn't a real scientific 'ology, but I couldn't resist. Plus, would you believe W is one of those letters that is seriously lacking in ologies. Good thing I happened on this book, because really, need I look any further? 

Description from BBC Shop website: 

The official miscellany, celebrating 50 years of Doctor Who.
Who are the members of the Doctor’s family? What are the 20 best ways to defeat a Dalek? What are the galactic coordinates of Gallifrey?

Packed with amazing facts, figures and stories, Who-ology is an unforgettable journey through fifty years of Doctor Who. Test your knowledge of the last Time Lord and the worlds he’s visited, from Totters Lane to Trenzalore. Get lost in guides to UNIT call signs, the inner workings of sonic screwdrivers and a complete list of Doctor Who monsters and their creators.

Who-ology is an utterly unique tour of space and time.

*****

Other wacky W_ologies I just made up

Wannabewriterology: The study of people who want to be writers but who suck at it. I've been one of their prime test subjects.

Woohooology: The study of woo-hooing with excitement after getting an agent or publishing contract.

Wookieeology: The scientific study of the Wookie.

Wienerology: The study of the Oscar Mayer wiener and associated paraphernalia  and not of the other one you're thinking about . . . gutter brain. :P

Wienermobile (source)

*****
What are your w_ologies? Any Dr. Who fans out there? What's your favorite Dr. Who quote? Do you want/have this book?

V for VEXILLOLOGY

Vexillology is the "scientific study of the history, symbolism, and usage of flags. It is formally defined by the International Federation of Vexillological Associations (FIAV) constitution as "the creation and development of a body of knowledge about flags of all types, their forms and functions, and of scientific theories and principles based on that knowledge."

The term was conceived in 1957 by the U.S. scholar and vexillologist Whitney Smith and first appeared in print in 1959. It was originally considered a sub-discipline of heraldry (Smith 12), and is still occasionally seen as such. A person who studies flags is a vexillologist; a person who designs flags is a vexillographer; and any person who simply likes, admires, or enjoys flags is a vexillophile.  (wikipedia)

Here are a few flags (not all are country flags) I find aesthetically pleasing: 

Turkmenistan, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Philippine, 

Papua New Guinea, Republic of Macedonia, Macau, New Mexico, 

Bhutan, American Samoa,  Kiribati

Kenya, Japan, Hong Kong

USA

And this I found interesting:

Real origin of the French Flag HERE

Other valuptious V_ology words

Vermeology: A discourse or treatise on worms. That part of zoology which treats of worms; helminthology.

Vinology: The study of wine and wine-making. I study the art of wine-drinking, a very indepth field of study called 'winoology'. *Hiccup*

Volcanology: Volcanology (also spelled vulcanology) is the study of volcanoes, lava, magma, and not the study of Mr. Spock--I hear Trekkies booing across the blogosphere.

Vulvology: The study of vagina, specifically, the vulva.

V is also for--VACATION!
Yes, I'm almost officially on Vacation. 
Tomorrow to be exact. 
For a little over 2 weeks. 
I'm excited, but mostly stressed out just thinking about traveling (with my kids) and taking the plane (please, please let it be a safe flight). Did I mention I'm a bit stressed about flying? No? Well, I am. Strange thing is, I've done a lot of flying in my life, but as I get older it stresses me out more. A lot. Anyway, all that to say, the rest of my posts will be pre-scheduled (assuming I didn't mess up the settings) and I'll be checking in on you guys as soon as I get to the hotel. Happy AZing!

U for Ufology

Ufology is a vast field of study and associated activities dealing with information pertaining to unidentified flying objects (UFOs). UFOs have been subject to various investigations over the years by governments, independent groups, and scientists.  

July 2nd is World UFO Day. It's a day people gather and watch the skies for UFOs. The goal is to raise awareness of the Roswell findings and to gain support in forcing governments to "tell the truth about earthly visits from outer space aliens." To date, World UFO Day is celebrated in:

Austria, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Korea, Netherlands, Nigeria, Poland, South Africa, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States. (source)

Other uninteresting U_ology words

Urenology: The study of rust molds' (source)

Uronology: That part of medicine which treats of urine. 

T for TIMBROLOGY

Timbrology is the study of postage stamps, derived from the French word timbre, meaning postage stamp. Timbrology is also known as Philately. The study of stamps is more than just stamp collecting, it is also the study of postal history and other related items not necessarily involve the stamp collections. It is possible to be a philatelist without owning any stamps. For instance, the stamps being studied may be very rare, or reside only in museums. Don't laugh, but I have a huge stamp collection from all over the world and some of my stamps are over 40 years old. Yes, I'm a dork with a lifetime membership.

The stamp pictured below is called the Treskilling Yellow. It is expected to sell at £5 million. It was printed in yellow by mistake, and should in fact have been green, which makes it very rare. Click HERE if you want to know more about this little yellow piece of paper worth millions.

Other turbulent T_ology words

Tartarology: a doctrine about Hell and punishment in the afterlife. You know who's an expert about Hell and the horrors that happens in the pit? Dean Winchester. He's actually been there and back. *swoon*

Telmatology: a branch of physical geography that studies wet lands, as marshes or swamps.


Tsiology: The study of tea, usually in the form of a treatise.

Trichology: From Greek "hair" is the branch of dermatology that deals with the scientific study of the health of hair and scalp. Trichology can be used in forensic studies of hairs to find suspects. Forensic trichology can determine the approximate age, body mass, race, and other important traits of the hair's owner. If you watch enough CSI you would know this. (;

Thanatology: The scientific study of death. It investigates the mechanisms and forensic aspects of death, such as bodily changes that accompany death and the post-mortem period, as well as wider social aspects related to death. It is primarily an interdisciplinary study offered as a course of study at numerous colleges and universities. The word is derived from the Greek language. In Greek mythology, Thanatos "death" is the personification of death.

Tegestology: Derrived from a Latin term defined as the practice of collecting beermats or coasters, with practitioners known as tegestologists.

The record by the way, is over 100 beermats.

S for SCATOLOGY

Scatology is the study of feces. Scatological studies allow one to determine a wide range of biological information about  a creature, including its diet and subsequently where it has been. It also provides information about health and disease such as tapeworms. 

I studied scat and used the science of scatology for pest identification years ago (don't you just love how sciency that all sounds when all it really means is--I knew my shit back then). For those who may not know, I used to work in the pest management industry as an entomologist. Identifying the proper pest species is vital to the success of any integrated pest management program (duh!). Sometimes, identification came down to identifying fecal pellets your client handed you in a zip-lock bag (and that's if you're lucky). The droppings vary among different rat species and you don't control an infestation of Rattus norvegicus if your dealing with Rattus rattus. And believe it or not, in dry environments, American cockroach droppings can be confused with mouse droppings by the untrained eye. And you certainly don't want to get these two pest species mixed up, especially not in front of your client. Ok, well I think that's it with the below-the-belt posts. I know it's been nuts since my P post!

Other scary S_ology words

Sarcology: The study of the soft parts of the body. This includes myology, angiology, neurology, and splanchnology.

Satanology: The study of Satan.

Selenology: The scientific study of the moon, its movements in the heavens, kinetic influences it has upon other astronomical bodies as well as the effects it receives. 

Sexology:  The interdisciplinary scientific study of human sexuality. This includes human sexual interests, behavior, and function. The term does not generally refer to the non-scientific study of sex, such as political analysis or social criticism. In modern sexology, researchers apply tools from several academic fields, including biology, medicine, psychology, statistics, epidemiology, sociology, anthropology, and criminology. Sexologists also study sexual development (puberty), sexual orientation, the development of sexual relationships, as well as the mechanics of sexual intercourse. This field also includes the study of the sexualities of specific groups, such as the disabled, child development, adolescents, and the elderly. Sexologists additionally study sexual dysfunctions, disorders, and variations, including such widely varying topics as erectile dysfunction, anorgasmia, and pedophilia.

Sitiology: The study of diet and nourishment. 

Spongology: The science and study of the sponges. Not the moldy ones soaking in your kitchen sink, the ones living in marine environments, like Sponge Bob. Yes, this is the study of Sponge Bob. 

Stigmeology: The study of punctuation.

Stomatology: The branch of medicine relating to the mouth and mouth disease. Practiced by physicians as a medical specialty in the early 20th century in the United States, these concerns are now largely handled by dentists.

R for RUMPOLOGY

(((((: Hey guys, I'm posting R early because I'll be on the road all day Saturday and Sunday. My apologies for not being able to visit this weekend, but I will catch up on Monday. I also want to thank you for the encouraging comments you guys left in my last post. 

You all are amazing. :)))))

Rumpology is fortune telling by reading people's butts. Also called "Bottom Reading." 

"What? Are you serious?"

"Unfortunately, yes."

"Ugg, that's gotta be a total bummer of a job."

"May I continue?"

"Oh, right. Sorry." 

A 'rump reading' is performed by a rumpologist who examines crevices, dimples, warts, moles, and folds of a person's buttocks in much the same way a chirologist would read the palm of the hand. 

"Um, warts? Oh, that can't be a good sign."

"No, I suppose not. Can you please stop interrupting now? I'm getting behind."  

This practice not only exists, but certain rumpologists get paid butt-loads of money for their rump readings. According to astrologer Jackie Stallone, rumpology is known to have been practiced in ancient times by the Babylonians, Indians,  Ancient Greeks, and Romans. (Asstonishing) But bare in mind, she has yet to provide any evidence for this claim. (Source).  So who is this Jackie Stallone anyway? Only actor Sylvester Stallone's mother. (o_o)  

"Can I ass you a quick question?"

"That's not even funny."

"Not even a little?"

"No."

"Well that's cheeky of you."

"Stop."

"I'm hungry for halibut. You?"

"Stop it!"


Now, where was I? Oh yes, rumpologists have a variety of theories as to the meaning of different posterior characteristics and can preform rumpology either by sight, touch or by using buttock prints. 

"Off to the xerox machine I go!" 

*eye-roll, shakes head*

In addition to live readings, Jackie Stallone will perform circus tricks buttock readings using e-mailed digital photographs, and has claimed to predict the outcome of Presidential elections and Oscar awards by reading the bottoms of her two pet Doberman Pinschers.

"WTF?"

"Yeah, I'm actually behind you on this one."

According to Mom Stallone, the left and right buttocks reveal a person's past and future, respectively, although she has also commented that "The crack of your behind corresponds to the division of the two hemispheres of the brain."

"Bam! Proof people really do have their head up their ass!"

"You're butting into this post--AGAIN!" 

"Sorry. You're right. It's not good for us to be butting heads like this."

"Aaahhh! You're such a pain in my--"

"Ass?"

"Out!"

*Takes deep breath*  According to blind German clairvoyant and rumpologist, Ulf Beck, "an apple-shaped, muscular bottom indicates someone who is charismatic, dynamic, very confident and often creative. A person who enjoys life. A pear-shaped bottom suggests someone very steadfast, patient and down-to-earth." The British rumpologist Sam Amos also uses shape to diagnose personality, and claims that "A round bottom indicates the person is open, happy and optimistic in life. However, a flat bottom suggests the person is rather vain and is negative and sad." 

"That is the stupidest thing I have ever heard. Although, I'd probably feel better if my ass was perky and "apple-shape" perfect. Does my butt look flat to you?

*Throws post notes into the air* "That's it. I've hit bottom. I give up."

"Awww. Don't feel bad. This post really isn't all that it's cracked up to be. On a side note, do you think Jensen Ackles needs a rump reading? I'm thinking about another career change. . . "

Other random R_ology words

Rabdology: Method of performing arithmetical operations using Napier's bones. Graduated rods called Napier's bones are used to perform multiplication quickly.

Rheology: The science dealing with the deformation and flow of matter. 

                                         

Q for QUINOLOGY

Or--Q for Quickie

which is probably a good thing after our 

super  l  o  n  g   P-post yesterday.  

Confession time. 

I'm freaking oooouuutttt. 

Today is my last pre-written posts. I had up to Q finished with R and S in rough shape before the challenge. So after this post, I've essentually got  nothing left--zilch. Hence, me freaking out. And since the start of the challenge, I've done nothing to stay ahead of the game. Yes, it's my fault. Yes, I'm a procrastinator, and yes I constantly live in the state of freaking the holy hell out.  But, that's my problem. I'll still manage to bring you the best of the best of ologies, well except for today. Turns out Q is slim pickings as far as -ologies go. Quinology was all I could find that was semi-serious. I guess it's better than Q for Qtipology (which I just made up but you never know, maybe it does exist).  But look on the bright side, at least you get a quickie today, and that starts with Q! 

Quinology is the science that deals with the cultivation of the cinchona tree. There are 38 different species in the genus Chinchona that yields  C _2 0  H _2 4  N ₂  O _2 ,  an alkaloid called quinine. Quinine is important because it is used in the medical field to treat malaria.

Cinchona pubescens - flowers
source Wikipedia commons

And that's a wrap!

I'm sure you guys can make up with some great q_ology words. :D 

Happy Friday.
Enjoy your weekend.
Try to get out of the house and do something fun.
Get into trouble. 
Then blog about it.
(: 

P for PONEROLOGY

Ponerology is a a branch of theology that studies the doctrine of evil and is an interdisciplinary study of social issues. This discipline gathers data from psychology, sociology, philosophy, and history to account for such phenomena as war, ethnic cleansing, genocide, and terrorism. Łobaczewski adopted the term from the branch of theology dealing with the study of evil, a word derived from the Greek, poneros. According to Łobaczewski, all societies vacillate between "happy times," or times of prosperity. It is to be noted that happy times do not imply morally advanced times, as Łobaczewski makes clear that this happiness or prosperity may well be premised on the oppression of a target group (Source). 

Other prolific P_ology words

Parapsychology: The study of paranormal phenomena, including telepathy, precognition, clairvoyance, psychokinesis, near-death experiences, reincarnation and apparitional experiences. Interestingly enough, this filed of study is conducted in about 30 different countries through private institutions and universities (Source).

Parthenology: The part of physiology which deals with virginity . The study of virgins (Source).

Pelology: The study of mud and its therapeutic applications.

Phangonology: Having to do with collecting dolls. A plangonologist is a doll collector.

Philematology: The study of kissing.

Pogonology: The study or treatise on beards.

WARNING

THE FOLLOWING CONTAINS ADULT CONTENT 

Specifically, the repeated use of the word penis. 

All in the name of science of course, but still--

you have been warned. 

Penis.

Phallology: The scientific study of the penis.

The Icelandic Phallological Museum (Museum website) is located in Reykjavík, Iceland. Their mission statement is focused on enabling "individuals to undertake serious study into the field of phallology in an organized, scientific fashion." The museum houses the world's largest display of penises and penile parts. The collection compromises 280 penises from 93 species of animals. Of the penises on display, 55 were hacked off  taken from whales, 36 sliced off from seals and 118 broken off from land mammals. The museum's largest exhibit is of a blue whale's penis measuring 170 cm (67 in) long and weighting 70 kilograms (150 lb). It was dubbed "a real Moby Dick" by the Island Review. The real Moby Dick is only the front tip as the entire organ, when intact, would have been about 5m (16 ft) long and weighed about 350-450 kilograms (770-990 lb). (O_O) On the other hand, the collection also includes the 2 mm (0.08 in) penis bone of a hamster. This specimen can only be seen with a magnifying glass. The penis bone, often referred to as the baculum, is a bone found in the penis of most placental mammals. It is absent in humans, but present in other primates, such as the gorilla and chimpanzee. The bone aids sexual intercourse by maintaining sufficient stiffness during sexual penetration. The museum also features phallic art and crafts such as lampshades made from the scrotums of bulls. In addition, it claims that its collection also includes the penises of Icelandic elves and trolls called the Huldufólk. Trouble is, Icelandic folklore portrays such creatures as being invisible.  Ok then. Sounds legit to me.

In July 2011, the museum obtained its first human penis, one of four promised by would-be donors. Its detachment from the donor's body did not go according to plan and it was reduced to a greyish-brown shriveled mass pickled in a jar of formalin.*giggles* The museum continues to search for "a younger, bigger and better one." That's what she said. 

Founded in 1997 by retired teacher Sigurður Hjartarson, the museum is now run by his son Hjörtur Gísli Sigurðsson. It grew out of an interest in penises that began during Sigurður's childhood when he was given a cattle whip made from a bull's penis. Sigurður has described the collection as the product of "Thirty-seven years of collecting penises. Somebody had to do it." (Source)

O for ONEIROLOGY

Oneirology is the scientific study of dreams. It's an extensive field of research that quantitatively studies the process of dreaming. It looks for correlations between dreaming and our knowledge about the functions of the brain. It also attempts to understand how the brain works during dreaming as it pertains to memory formation and mental disorders. This is not to be confused with dream analysis, which aims to uncover the meaning behind dreams. 

Other odd O_ology words:
O_o

Omnibology: The study of motor buses. Which, let's be honest, is far less interesting than say, the study of motor boats.

Ombrology: The scientific study of rain. The branch of meteorology dealing with rain.

Onomatology (onomastics): The study of proper names of all kinds and the origins of names.

Orchidology: The study of orchids (thinking of you Misha Gericke!). (:

Osmology: The science of the sense of smell and the production and composition of odors.

N for NEPHOLOGY

I had a hard time choosing n_ology words for today. The list was relatively long, but nothing seemed exciting or weird enough for me. Most of it was related to the study of 'nano' (small) stuff, or 'neo' (new) stuff. *yawn* It's strange I'm just feeling off today, I don't know why. Maybe I'm going through the the mid-way challenge blues . . . which is odd seeing how these posts are prewritten and prescheduled.

Well what ever it is, I still feel uninspired. But, since I enjoy cloud watching (much better than people watching if you ask me), you guys are stuck with nephology today. Nephology is simply the branch of meteorology that deals with clouds.

Famous cloud quotes

Can you guys guess who said:

"Right up here, let's make a happy little cloud."

"I'm a little black rain cloud, of course."

Other naughty N_ology words:

Nerterology: (Rare) Any learning that pertains to the dead or the underworld.

Nostology: The study of senility; gerontology.

Numismatology: The science which treats of coins and medals, and their relation to history; numismatics.

Naology: The study of ecclesiastical buildings / sacred edifices.

**********

To the victims and families touched by the attacks in Boston yesterday, my deepest thoughts are with you. 

Someone please make the madness stop.

Stop the terror.

Stop the pain.

Stop the hate.

Just stop.

),:

M for MIXOLOGY

Spherification and foam techniques

in a cocktail called Sparkling Watermelon

(source: wikipedia)

Molecular Mixology is the study and process of creating cocktails using techniques of molecular gastronomy. This method allows for greater intensities and varieties of flavor and flavor combinations. It also allows for different alternatives of presentation and appearance of cocktails. (e.g., gels, powders, foams, atomised sprays). 

This is another field of science that fascinates me. I would have loved writing an entire post on this very subject, if I had had more time. . .  

I don't know about you, but I'd love to try a Sparkling Watermelon (picture above), it sounds and looks amazing. 

Other mighty fine M_ology words: 

Meconology:  The study of poppies and opium, usually in the form of a treatise. 

Momiology: The scientific study of mummies. 
I tried to dig up a little more on this one, but all I got was this simplistic definition. I really hope they mean the study of ancient Egyptian type of mummies. This reminds me, anyone see the movie The Mummy?  

Miasmology: The study of fog and smog, especially those affecting air pollution levels. It can also refer to the medical science branch that treats miasma (theory that certain diseases were caused by noxious "bad air").

L for LIPSOLOGY

Lipsology is the practice of analyzing the shape of a person's lips in order to discern their personality. This practice is similar to phrenology, palmistry, and graphology, which also examines certain physical traits as a means to deduce one's psychology and morality. However, this is nothing more than pseudoscience at best. 

Ok lipsologists, analyze this!

Other lovely L_ology words:

Latrinology: The study of latrine graffiti or the writings on restroom walls. 
I swear, I am not shi***** you. I guess someone has to document the scribbling of the shithouse poet. And besides, it's where I get the best material for my blog. 

Ludology: Usually referred to as game studies or gaming theory, is the study of games and gaming, especially video games. It is an academic discipline that deals with the critical study of games. More specifically, it focuses on game design, players, and their role in society and culture. Game studies is an inter-disciplinary field with researchers and academics from a multitude of other areas such as computer science, psychology, sociology, anthropology, philosophy, arts and literature, media studies, communication, theology, and more. (wikipedia)

Limacology: The study of slugs. One of you guys asked about this a few posts back. The answer is, yes.

Labology: The collection of beer and wine bottle labels. I'd be a terrible Labologist because when I drink beer, I can't help but pick at and peel off the label in strips that end up in a pile on the counter. Yeah, I'm one of those . . . 

K for KINESIOLOGY

Kinesiology is also known as human kinetics. It's the study of human movement. Kinesiology focuses on physiological, mechanical, and psychological mechanisms. Individuals specializing in kinesiology can work in research, the fitness industry, clinical settings, and in industrial environments. The word comes from the Greek words kinesis meaning and kinein meaning to move. The following clip does not relate much to kinesiology, but it is a fine example of human movement.

Other killer K_ology words:

Kalology: The study of beauty and the ways in which beauty influences society. Apparently, philosophers in the 19th century attempted to create a coding system to rate beauty and create a uniform system for evaluating it.

Want to know what else is beautiful? Kaleidoscopes. And guess what? Kaleidoscope is derived from the Ancient Greek kalos meaning "beautiful, beauty."

Kidology: The art or practice of deliberately deceiving or teasing people. (Source)

Koniology: the study of atmospheric dust and its effects.

Ktenology: The science of putting people to death. Dr. Leo Alexander (1905–1985) was an American psychiatrist, neurologist, educator, and author, of Austrian-Jewish origin. He was a key medical adviser during the Nuremberg Trials. Alexander wrote part of the Nuremberg Code, which provides legal and ethical principles for scientific experiment on humans. Alexander wrote several books on psychiatry and neuropathology, and coined the terms thanatology—defined as the study of death, and ktenology—the science of killing. (wikipedia)

****
My two children have a school function today that I've volunteered to help out with. IF I don't get mauled by a horde of kids, then I should be back later on this afternoon for comment sprints. :)

J for JAPANOLOGY

Today is going to be an extra short post because I could only find one interesting/serious J_ology word for my theme. Nonetheless, I'm happy to highlight, Japanology. As the word suggests, it's the study of Japanese culture, language, culture, history, literature, art, music, science, etc. It includes contemporary social sciences as well as classical humanistic fields. This is yet another subject I wish I had more time for. Having always been fascinated by Japanese culture, I hope one day I'll get the chance to go and visit.

Anyway, I came across this video and my kids and I really enjoy it. The song is by the very talented Hikaru Shirosu. I've listened to it many times and can actually sing along, sorta. My accent is probably horrendous, but I'm shiawasena! :D

And you know what? 
A haiku is a form of Japanese poetry. 

Sooooo, if you're feeling extra creative today . . . 

Write a short haiku

leave it in my comment box

promise no laughing

Arigatou!

ありがとう

(=

I for ICHNOLOGY

Ichnology is a branch of paleontology that focuses on the study of fossilized tracks, footprints, burrows and other traces as evidence of past life and is a way to describe an organism's behavior.

.

Other inspiring I_ology terms:

Irenology: is the study of peace and sometimes referred to as peace research and conflict studies. It's a social science field that identifies the causes and prevention of war, analyses violent and nonviolent behaviors, as well as peace-making strategies.  

More people need to study/practice this.

Iridology: Is an alternative medicine technique that inspects the iris of the eye (patterns, color and other characteristics) as an aid in determining a patient's health. Iridologists see the eyes as "windows" into the body's state of health.

Iridology iris eye chart. source: Wikimedia commons 

BONUS--because, well . . .you'll see. 

The eyes are the windows to the soul. And you know who has soulful eyes? Jensen Ackles. Am I biased because I find him incredibly sexy from any possible camera angle? Absolutely. But not only am I swooning over wall-poster worthy Jensen, I've also fallen for his character the wisecracking, funny, bad-boy Dean Winchester in the series, Supernatural. Is Dean the real reason I watch the show? You betcha. Dean is the only character I'll suffer through the scary moments just to watch. When it comes to scary/horror movies, I'm the one quaking in my bunny slippers, curled up in a ball on the couch, clutching onto my magic shield--the striped fuzzy blanket. Ha, just kidding, it's not striped. But you know what does have stripes? A tiger. I am so good at transitions. And because Dean is such a tiger himself,  Raawrrrr, and because this totally relates to this post, and quite possibly every other post I'll ever write, I give you Eye of the Tiger, lip-synced by Dean himself.

Dean Winchester you make me feel oh, so supernatural

****swoon****

It's his smile at the end that just makes me melt. 

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