On a philosophical level, I'm all in favor of the natural evolution of language. But in practice, when the natural evolution of language is towards sloppier and less precise speech IT MAKES ME CRAZY WITH THE WRONGNESS.

Language tends to move in two different ways. A word takes a broader, more general meaning (cf., "fetish). Or a word takes on a more specific, narrower meaning. (Uh, cf., "soda" which used to be bicarbonate soda in all its forms and now means a bubbly soft drink.) It's just expanding (usually through some kind of metonymy where the particular represents the whole.) or contracting. I don't think of that as sloppiness.

I tend to be wary about talking about fetishism because people use the word sloppily. (See what I did there, Jess?) It's unpleasant banging up against other people's ill-formed notions of what that might mean, especially with something as intimate as sexuality. But my sexuality is bent off at an odd angle to societal norms. It has a kink in it, like a bent wire that is not properly grounded and is forming a circuit in an unintended way.

Certainly my bent was shaped by societal norms and cultural expectations but it was internalized. So my true north is not about my relationship to the baseline. I have a wacky compass.

And it's different from preferring brainy Jewish guys or scraped knuckles or an illiac crest. Magnetic North is always going to pull the needle in one direction for me. I can still go North by Northwest but I'm always aware of what my North is. It is not about a preference among a variety of choices. It is more the way my choices are made.

ooh, what brand is this, I need to exfoliate my legs like whoa.

Vortex, it's Origins, and the smell is amazing. The body souffle is quite lovely, too. Hydrating without being greasy.

When I worked at the Lancome counter at Dillard's in grad school, the Origins counter was right by, and my best friend worked there. We got a lot of freebies.

Origins has wonderful body and face care products, although their daily moisturizers don't have SPF. From Origins, I would rec the Ginger Souffle, the Incredible Spreadable Ginger scrub, Night-A-Mins night facial treatment and the Skin Diver mask w/ charcoal. Check them out at Origins.com.

Are you in Boston, Vortex? There's an Origin's store in Harvard Square.

Are you in Boston, Vortex? There's an Origin's store in Harvard Square.

Nope, DC. I can probably get it at Macy's or summat, right?

Love how the kink discussion moved into a linguistic one. Language change is fascinating (but I also like terms that are usefully specific).

I'd be tempted to document this and file a complaint after everything is over.

I would, too. That's unacceptable.

Buffistas who love English, a hivemind of your time:

Any recommendations on a GOOD Early Modern English dictionary?

Signed,
She who have to read tons of pages from the late 17th century (hey, it's fun).

Vortex, looks likes there's stores on Mass Ave, and on Conn Ave NW, in DC proper, and a couple in Arlington. There are also counters in, yep, Macy's.

I got a Burt's Bees tinted lip gloss yesterday, and now I can't find it. Thbbbpt.

Also, had a Buffista dream last night. Smonster and I, and someone else, amyth, I think, but didn't lay dream-eyes on her, were at some kind of cabin in the woods. Yay. We were on vacation, and I think maybe we had our kids (?!?) with us. But it was really hard to relax when there were hunters sitting around at the base of a big tree ten feet from the cabin. Not that I can't abide the existence of hunters - many of whom are responsible, and respectful of nature. But I don't want to be in the middle of buck season for a vacation spot, and these guys were drinking and cleaning their guns, like a living, breathing public service announcement.

But I don't want to be in the middle of buck season for a vacation spot, and these guys were drinking and cleaning their guns, like a living, breathing public service announcement.

Hmm, that's a little unsettling, to be sure.

Too bad you're not River, Hil. Because you could kill him with your brain.ETA: And I don't mind knowing that I used a word improperly, but it's sort of culture-wide at this point. I'll stop doing it, though.

Raq, much ~ma for your friend's brother.

Also, bonny, how is Niki doing today?