emmon shea
New York nerd methodically read the entire unabridged dictionary
Emmon Shea, 37, has just written a book based on his having devoured the 20-volume Oxford English Dictionary, 59m words. He said he improved his vocabulary a bit (like "unbepissed," meaning, er, well, "not urinated upon"), and he was sometimes thrilled ("I would wake up and start reading at three in the morning because I was so excited"). But he also got a little deranged in demeanor from time to time, and he learned so many new words that he forgot common ones, and we're still shaky on whether it's possible that someone like this can have a "girlfriend," though he says she exists and was supportive. The Times (London)
Emmon Shea, 37, has just written a book based on his having devoured the 20-volume Oxford English Dictionary, 59m words. He said he improved his vocabulary a bit (like "unbepissed," meaning, er, well, "not urinated upon"), and he was sometimes thrilled ("I would wake up and start reading at three in the morning because I was so excited"). But he also got a little deranged in demeanor from time to time, and he learned so many new words that he forgot common ones, and we're still shaky on whether it's possible that someone like this can have a "girlfriend," though he says she exists and was supportive. The Times (London)
Comments
I wonder if he ran into pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis during his reading experience?
Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 10/06/08 at 09:12 AM
I don't doubt that she exists and was supportive. After all, that meant she could go out and get some from anyone she wanted!
Posted by KW in Dallas, TX on 10/06/08 at 09:50 AM
Expat -- that was a bonus word in my 6th grade spelling book! Supposedly the longest word in the English language (beating out the more popular antidisestablishmentarianism).
Posted by BikerPuppy on 10/06/08 at 11:12 AM
Of course his girlfriend was supportive. He threatened to deflate her!
Posted by BikerPuppy on 10/06/08 at 11:18 AM
I agree with avmayes. In fact her name must be Mary...5-finger Mary that is.
Posted by Madd Maxx on 10/06/08 at 12:42 PM
Ah.... you Texans just HAVE to have everything BIG! Wait until Palin gets into the White House and splits Alaska into two states!
Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 10/06/08 at 01:10 PM
Big Gary - damn boy, I hope you don't talk like that in public. I'm an admitted dork-lover but even I would run screaming from that!
Posted by Jules in Connecticut on 10/06/08 at 01:12 PM
I'm kinda diggin' on Gary's response!
Posted by KW in Dallas, TX on 10/06/08 at 02:26 PM
Gary -- I'm just sayin' what I lernt in skool, ok??? And if it was in my spelling book, it's the gospel truth!
Posted by BikerPuppy on 10/06/08 at 03:46 PM
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