On Brian's recommendation, I am reading the very entertaining Word Freak, about Scrabble maniacs who, when not competing at tournaments, hang out in coffeeshops, belch loudly and yell out things incomprehensible to even Jeopardy Prizewinners, such as: "GUACAMOLE with an F!" And their friends respond "CAMOUFLAGE!" or "TRANSMEDIA with an M!" : "MASTERMIND!". Pair isograms -- which have two of each letter, are also offered: AACCEEHHNNPP is HAPPENCHANCE and EEIINNSSTT is INTESTINES. MEGACHIROPTERAN has an anagram: CINEMATOGRAPHER. So does HISTRIONICS: TRICHINOSIS. Lordy. I was thrilled the time my father and I, in a game of Anagrams, stole from each other, successively: MILES, LIMERS, MILLERS, MILLINERS, MILLIONAIRES. It was the best sequence of my anagrams career thus far -- four thefts is good. But this is nothing compared to calisthenics the people in this book put their alphabets through. I'm glad I haven't met them so I can still enjoy these games.

LINK | 11:03 PM | TB

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