forthright
Forthright
The Growlery
In girum imus nocte et consumimur igni
Windsor
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The Phrontistery
Being forthright Who is this creature known as forthright? What is the nature and character of this mortal man masquerading behind this adjective-cum-cognomen? Are we alone in the universe? For the answers to at least two of the preceding questions, read on! If you are looking for any of the following: 1) Dry, context-free recitations of daily events 2) Poorly coded HTML quizzes posted haphazardly 3) Someone whose woes and bitterness rival those of Job, and therefore make you feel good about your own sorry life 4) Frequent use of the words 'teh', 'bling', and/or 'kawaii' ... then you've come to the wrong place, buster. If, on the other hand, you enjoy: a) hemi-demi-semi-intelligent conversation and commentary on social, linguistic, and political issues b) the pretentious ramblings of an occasionally clever raconteur c) an insider's sometimes-bitter, sometimes-surreal perspective on contemporary academia d) lists that are exactly four items long, no more, no less then you may be in for a treat! I am Stephen Chrisomalis, anthropologist, linguist, historian, and all-around numbers guy. I finished my Ph.D. in anthropology at McGill University in 2003, and, after teaching for a few years in Toronto and Montreal, have landed at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, teaching anthropology and linguistics. My book, Numerical Notation: A Comparative History (Cambridge, 2010) is a cross-cultural comparison of all past and present systems for writing numbers graphically, such as Roman numerals, Hindu-Arabic numerals, and the like (around 100 different systems on five continents over 5000 years, at last count). This enormous scope explains the excessive page length, and potentially explains my present lack of sanity. I've had a couple of major journal articles published based on parts of my thesis; the BBC did a nice piece on one of my papers a while back. If you want to learn more about my academic life, you might read my curriculum vitae. I am Canadian, currently living in Windsor, Ontario (although I work in Detroit, Michigan). I happen to think that despite its problems, my country is a damn fine place to live. I have a strong interest in Canadian politics and society, and post often on news pieces and social issues that catch my attention. Politically, I'm rather left of centre (though not militantly or orthodoxly so), but I am a very strong advocate for freedom of expression and tolerance for diverse opinions, so feel free to speak your mind. I do ask that you be respectful of others as a matter of common courtesy and to keep discussions on-topic. I am married to a very fine specimen of the female of the sub-species Homo sapiens sapiens, curtana, a condition which was thrust upon me very willingly in 2000. My wife posts rather more frequently than I do, and on many of the same subjects, often more cleverly. If you are at all interested in my musings, I can with no qualms send you in her direction, and she will be as happy to entertain you as I will. Together, we are the progenitors of Arthur, a largely benign but sometimes cranky Level 5 Human, and whom we are busily indoctrinating into our cult of bookish geekery. I am the proud creator, steward, and insidiously wicked mind behind The Phrontistery, a web site devoted to the study of obscure English words, vocabulary enhancement, word lists on various topics and other linguistic oddities. A brief look around the site will demonstrate (as if such were necessary) the extent of my obsessive mania for English words and vocabulary. I post fairly often on linguistic issues, wordplay, and related subjects, or post mocking commentary on people who email me regarding the Phrontistery, but I'm not a "grammar nazi" or a vile prescriptivist. As long as you are able to string a few words together coherently, you're welcome in my blogspace. I am a gamer. For more than a score of years, and more campaigns than I care to recount, I have been an active participant in role-playing games, especially but not limited to Dungeons and Dragons. With the recent move to Windsor, my gaming has been curtailed for at least the next year or so, but I expect it will pick up at some point. I post occasionally on gaming-related topics, and am currently writing a serialized set of notes on gaming theory. I believe that the acquisition and spread of knowledge is the highest form of human endeavour. I believe that there is no contradiction between the pursuit of excellence and the pursuit of equity. I believe that humans are a ridiculous and sometimes pathetic species, but nevertheless capable of true progress given the proper catalyst. I believe that reason is a great tool, but like any tool, capable of misuse. I believe in an ethical science and morality without orthodoxy. And now, I believe that this introduction is finished.
Cobourg District Collegiate Institute West
McMaster University
McGill University
University of Toronto
Wayne State University
abaci
abacus
academia
achewood
agnosticism
alphabets
anagrams
ancient civilizations
ancient history
anthropology
antiquity
archaeology
atheism
bach
baroque music
bibliophilia
blackadder
blue oyster cult
books
canada
classical music
cobourg
coffee
cognition
communitarianism
cross-cultural studies
curtana
d&d
democratic socialism
diablotin
dictionaries
douglas hofstadter
dream theater
dungeons and dragons
electoral reform
epigraphy
epistemology
etymology
family guy
fantasy
firefly
fugues
futurama
games
gaming
geeks
george r. r. martin
handel
historical linguistics
history
history of mathematics
history of science
history of technology
iron maiden
j.r.r. tolkien
j.s. bach
jethro tull
john brunner
john varley
jorge luis borges
jrr tolkien
king of the hill
language
languages
led zeppelin
lewis carroll
lexicography
lexicons
liberalism
libraries
linguistics
lipograms
longpig
lord of the rings
lotr
mcgill university
metallica
montreal
monty python
neal stephenson
numbers
numerals
obscure words
ontario
oulipo
perseity
philip k. dick
pkd
politics
progressive metal
progressive rock
proportional representation
puns
puzzles
reading
reincarnation
robert silverberg
role playing games
role-playing
role-playing games
roleplaying
rpgs
rush
sci-fi
science fiction
scientific realism
scrabble
simpsons
something positive
spatchcock
stanislaw lem
surrealism
ted chiang
the simpsons
tolkien
tool
toronto
trivia
trivial pursuit
umberto eco
university of toronto
unusual words
ursula k. le guin
vocabulary
wigu
word games
wordplay
words
world creation
writing systems
yngwie malmsteen
caille
Caille
Compelled To Play On
prolixfootle
Dr. Panzer-Morph, 'cleanser' of societal parasites
The Journal of Prolix Footle
keolah
Keolah
Keolah's Journal
ladyiolanthe
Lady Iolanthe
balthcat
Balthaxar T. Cat
The Ubiquitous Mr. Catgrove
mellybean71
alliensis
יצחק מייסטר
Roses are red; Violets are blue; All of my base are belong to you.
moonandtree
I don't mind getting lost in a dream.
petrusplancius
Pinacotheca Petri Plancii
ancarett
A work in progress
Ancarett's Aerie
partiallyclips
pclips
PartiallyClips, the LiveJournal
zakarntson
Zak ak ak
sollitaire
Sollitaire
Trading in my talents by the mouthful.
peterchayward
Peter C. Hayward
Peter C. Hayward's Livejournal.
brief_therapy
Just say the first thing that comes to mind...
celandineb
Celandine Brandybuck
Celandine's Chronicle
punkinelf
Punk'n Elf
dakiwiboid
Fabled Apteryx
Nowhere Near New Zealand
gats
Peter
buhfly
Nothing to see here, move along.
Princess Marzipan
cheesymarzipan
Marzipan
less Cheese than Marzipan these days
majicke
Majicke
Majicke's Journal
vtwiking
lefties place
grrm
George R.R. Martin
Not A Blog
a2utodidact
ahhtwodyedack
incommune
Marie Raven
Incommune
kiad
Mlle. Kïad Auguſt Arkhangel'sk
A Kïadic Pilgrimage
couchpatatas
ang bumangga, talo
madam_minnie
Madam Minnie
Random Acts of Lunacy
viragostonewall
Aleksei Ivanovitch
Aboard the Forever Ship
urbanminstrel
Clear Words Editing
On the Other Side
shugenja
墨色
A Cynic Without A Doubt
lettucethink
Jacob Elliot Warren
H Y P 3 R G R 4 P H I A
shinshokuinsane
There is Stuff Here
loki_of_aesir
ozarque
chalepa_ta_kala
Emily
A Secret History
orangepoppy
Orange Poppy
ravensnow
Alexandra
Devil's Candy
sultrysong
Edna
Sultry Song's
nightlysparks
sunshine
amenez-y-moi
eldritchhobbit
Amy H. Sturgis
Redecorating Middle-earth in Early Lovecraft
sashajwolf
Sass
bread and roses
etvoilamadame
q_pheevr
Q. Pheevr
A Roguish Chrestomathy
code_delphi
Jason
Code Delphi
freakwoman
Pretentia
neurotic_orchid
Pamela's Random Thoughts
andsaca369
Miiru
Unprotected Textual Intercourse
evlocke
Katje van Loon
Mount Impri
vbseth
Done with the world
Orphaned by Indifference
paleshadow
Dallan Lantagil, Invictus
The Book of Pale Shadows
coerciveutopian
Where my spleen would be vented had I a spleen to vent
cyrenafame
Quinn Edward Burns
those less meaningful
anghara
AlmaNews
icaruslaughing
Melya the Brave
Bride of the Lindorm King
quettalinde
The Pencil of Irony
aghrivaine
Rum, Sodomy, and the Lash: Pick Two
Quotidian Loveliness
eldritch00
Some Kind of Stranger
The Atrocity Exhibition
pasley
Pasley
Pasley Patterns
hazelsnowgrl
Hazelsnowgrl
"....a beautiful ride."
pyr8queen
totg_kabu
Andrew Urquhart
burning_purple
Meandering Through Life Perplexed
ipanicked
key
Why'd YOU say Burma?
generickid
sms_uhm_uva
Christopher Lynn
I'm not the man, I'm just His representative.
ekatarina
Heather S
A Jack of Many Trades
angevin2
the cold genius
...yet I'll hammer it out
iterum
Arcane Lap Risk
elzebrook
Not-So-Secret Librarian
My Halo is Slightly Askew
sammee42
Sammee's Musings Online
missmousy
Queen of the Backwards Rodeo
Starship Juno
wytetygryss
Lady M
Wytetygryss' Rumblings
cordilleran2
Cody Vladimir Burkett
The very model of a modern Major-General
ymf
fish
femme covert
araenel
sadie whitecoat
the days drag me away
shoomlah
Claire Hummel
Shoom'lah Timete
ilarafoxauthor
Brittani
It's better to find something to fight for, than something to die for.
elanya
Elanya
shinashi
Shinashi
former_pirate
四面楚歌
mace_hammerhand
Mace's Thoughts
ezlizard
Rick
Living in teh Nerdvana
youngwilliam
Useless
Although It's Spelled Wrong, My Name's Up in Lights
gnolyn
Geodyssey
urban_homestead
Urban Homestead
The Urban Homestead
huanhua
rebelduck
Jackie
DUCKS IN THE WIND
stephen_daniels
litotease
Grace
Graceland
whatifoundthere
Diacritical Hit
Onward... and awkward!
wyld_dandelyon
Dandelyon's Worlds
the_lich
I Am Not A Lich
bellebass
Lizzilyk
do you understand my monologue?
iconsbycurtana
Icons by Curtana
sfeley
Steve Eley
Having Fun
winterfield
Atavistic Viking
arunthol
Loopy
Grumblings
norton_gale
down the hills and round the bends
Norton Gale
wererogue
Ian Hatch
Rotten Circuits
nou
Kake
I know it's wonky and I don't care
karaden
Yarn Girl, the terror that knits in the night
[Calculating the Mathematics of Sunshine]
ianmcorvidae
Ian's Blog
thalia_seawood
thalia
eytan_bernstein
Eytan Bernstein
Eytan Bernstein's Journal
kandake
Candiss
Adversaria
crowleycrow
John Crowley
John Crowley Little and Big
measured_words
Measured Words
ginny_t
Too cute for evil
Welcome to Ginny's Teahouse
jayyy
<33 उज्जायी
rapunzels_tears
Maureen
Down From Our Heads Veils Fell
kiitos
gymnetia_host
shenlo
Rich
Brainworms
thatpirategirl
Tracy
A Pirate's Life for Me
jpdeni
Deni
lemur_man
crunchy jazz
mid-falutin'
eljuno
El Juno
El Juno's Fair and Balanced Livejournal
jones_casey
cleaning up so well
quivering anew
haggisthesecond
I Haggis
kethrim
Bethany
My Mind
rabidsamfan
Still on the Quest
stannerz
Stanley (A.K.A. Shanleigh)
Real men have two BAWLS
shadow_truths
Shadow Truths
glenniebun
Glenn
The Story of G-Money: Rambling Monologues and Self-Indulgent Prose
d2leddy
David
Temet Nosce
saoilsinn
Sinn
Mischief Managed
bete_noire
beware of cheap imitations.
(this zeitgeist sucks)
chrisbrahm
Fallout of the Mind
oh_the_ironing
Paul is dead man, miss him, miss him
crimsonpickle
Chad Bryan Robb
elspeth47
Elizabeth
lisasmall
Small Blawg
sault
AP Saulters
Sewing machines and empty artillery shells
bellesayuri
Suzzi
everywhere i go, damn there i am.
cupnjava
bikerbar
tricycle
amaena
/home/amaena
wordweaverlynn
Stone of stumbling and rock of offense
Every stone a story, like a rosary
fayanora
The Djao'Mor'Terra Collective
Fayanora - The Djao'Mor'Terra Collective
rocking_thing
The Rocking Thing
doctor_roffles
Aaron M.
to seek a newer world
spottylogic
Spotty Logic
I'm razzled AND dazzled!
shanmonster
The ShanMonster
Because Nudity is Only Skin-Deep
ghastlymess
Nicholas Nicholas Nicholas Paine
I'm not sure. I think someone might have eaten it.
ithryn
Chris
kimkali
KimKali
A personal army of butterflies
tricky_hot_trev
fritzleonhardt
Wearing body parts like hats since 1998
n2cole
nicole
jacksonpublick
Publick Nuisance
sorceror
Cerebus
cruciverb62
breyeght
Kate
Maybe We Just Misread
owldaughter
Autumn
Owldaughter
touchagrae
Cailin Liath
Lost in the Shadows
beaglebot
Beag
Random Synapse Firings
blienky27
Rear Admiral Snuffleupagus, Esq.
If You're Still Free, Start Running Away
makingmudpies
Can you dig it?
Curtana
Tales and Dreams
modnareno
verlaine
Cityish Alt-ish Fortyish
Postironic Brain
lyfesgood
Life Is Good
erzebet
Erzebet Barthold
est deus in nobis
fearsclave
Fearsclave
Notes From The Streamside...
dyddgu
Dr. Bee
Beejournal
ckwasteublag
pr1ss
Priss
Prisstopolis
swestrup
Unifying Contradiction
fantasticprizes
Skippy MC
dinosaur whisperers Inc & the missing hyperlink
delineavit
jere7my
The Burgess Shale
writingjen
The malapert bookworm
secret_history
The Secret History
literal_alchemy
panda pants
Literal Alchemy
jteethy
Startling Stories
a_d_medievalist
Dog paddling away
izmeina
The Emerald Serpent
The Lair of the Emerald Serpent
tsuyokunaritai
tsuyoku naritai
jonahsmama
normanrafferty
Reverend Rafferty
Standard Palm-Heat Activation of the Suction Device
owlfish
S. Worthen
S. Worthen | Weblog
haikujaguar
M. C. A. Hogarth
Stardancer News
bookwyrm_com
Bookwyrm
circuit_four
"And I realized I did want a drink, after all."
blackbuffet
Black Buffet
knitmeapony
Blooming in the dark
It's a shot of dumb idea with a bad plan chaser
lady_librarian
Stephanie
Fluent Blarney
xypharan
Xypharan
meallanmouse
the lightning mouse
dreamer_easy
Kate Orman
Dreamer Easy
debaclypsenow
DebaclypseNow
otheronetruegod
The Other One True God
There's a twinkle in his eye
mktgurl
Mktgurl's Madness
sidus_carmen
Starsong & Stormwinds
nmccoy
Nathan McCoy
mialuthien
Mia
Linguaphile's lair
halfmoon_mollie
All Lights Burning Bright
cassandre
Cassandre
miseri
Chris H.
touching eternity
gnomi
Nomi
My mind, and the places it goes
mr_sadhead
Woodiness T. Scatological
E x p l o d i n g P l a s t i c E i s t e d d f o d d
quirks
Katilina
Nothing!
oldturtle13
Old Turtle
OldTurtle's Nest
fajrdrako
World enough and time
pezwerewolf
PezWerewolf
Pez' Place
joane
Joane
A Room of One's Own
labyrinthman
Some guy in a maze
Inside the Labyrinth
bookaddict88
Book Addict
Book Addict's Blog
rubberduckgrrl
RDG
RubberduckGrrl
oraien
оʁɑɪɛи
dsgood
Dan Goodman
Dan Goodman's journal
ebonypearl
Ebony's Pearls
persephonerose
Excavating by Moonlight
mindspillage
Kat
Mindspillage
jesusofgujrat
part time livejournal
adjusters league
intertext
the last visible dog
Between the Lines
ameritexican
Ameritexican
Break, Run, Trip, Fall...
jinni_x
jinni
The Unbearable Somethingness of Being
mousme
Work In Progress
Corner of Bourbon & Division
edheldim
madnicity
Madness in Hell City
foreordination
Ah! Look...
theempathogen
打って付けの麻薬
Introductory Empathic Theory
dandydand
Dan
Quoth the Server, "404"
ilanalynn
Ilana
The Tree of Life
jinian
hey love, I'm an inconstant satellite
Trilobite Pachinko
arielstarshadow
Starshadow
Dream a Little Dream
zamaxfield
Z.A. Maxfield
Z.A. Maxfield Writes
vess
Vess
waker_glass
Assorted, but not random
mr_josh
Josh
sam_t
Random Musings
sthira_sukha
Rose
Sthira Sukha
chaotique
Kubla Khan
Tectonic Lust
maggiebits
maggie
ovalayeahwhoa
Dead Funny
katehaney
Life with Teddy
chickenfeet2003
Kitten Kommissar
The Kitten Kommissar
rizen
Ted Reed
Scary Shit
ankhorite
Hamstress in the Garden of Eden
playboibuunie
Wanna piece?
helicon_jam
Marcie
Distraction Distracted
robes_of_earth
A modern girl in a 19th century world
The Blacksmith's Daughter
sarabethke
bridgetester
I am I
Eschew Obfuscation
janetmiles
Janet Miles, CAP-OM
Just Janet
xperiweb
todo
ghentz
GhentZ
nine ninjas in a hat
zastrazzi
Zastrazzi
Medieval Geek
skidspoppe
Coffee Shop Whore
Uncle Skids House of...
beatonna
Hark! A Vagrant
juniperus
Lisa
Buggre alle thisse for a larke.
dolique
Katie
her own small widgeon cries
asia_sky
Ember in the fire of the galaxy
Asia's Sky
ysabetwordsmith
Elizabeth Barrette
The Wordsmith's Forge
anxious4ts2
WTF
The Life of a Hardcore Harry Potter Fanatic
vureoelt
Raven
soulchanger
Sally
Soulchanger's Journal
oursin
Wandering Hedgehog
It's Always More Complicated
foms
andrewwyld
Andrew
Moments
atalanta
Yet so that the sun may operate through and cause the brimstone to fumigate ...
megthelegend
Meg
Unstoppable, dammit
kalquessa
The Cheese Elf
Parenthetical Peanutbutter
crystalwizard
crystalpyramid
Rigidly defined areas of doubt and uncertainty
rhoda_penmark
What Would You Give Me for a Basket of Kisses?
sassy
aesthetics of astonishment
fiachra
J.D. Spangler
Haecceity
n0deal
Lars-Erik Forsberg
What Really Matters?
oripeaux
The Person from Porlock
Sans Nouvelles de Shannon
mhw
Muddle-headed Kay
雪見オナニー
bartok
Once Upon a Time in the South Pacific.
snow_fall
Snowfall
Snowfall's Alcove
pyat
Pyat
Unspoilt by Progress
athelind
Your Obedient Serpent
"On The Other Claw...."
kenwalker
Ken Walker
A Song of Vice and Satire