Bug words

In an effort to practice writing in Chinese more often, I have once again gotten into the habit of putting a word of the day on my dry erase board at work. Last week was words with 虫 (insect).

Insect (or worm)
虫子 (chóng zi)

Amoeba
变形虫 (biàn xíng chóng) - I think this is really neat because a literal character-by-character translation would be “change shape bug”, and the amoeba is a pretty wild shape-shifter.

Insecticide
杀虫 (shā chóng) - Murder + Bug. How cool is the character 杀? The little x on top makes me think of how little kids draw dead things with Xs for eyes. Dead = murder.

Slug
小毛虫 (xiǎo máo chóng) - Little caterpillar, or literally: "little hair worm". I don't know what's up with this one, 'cuz we all know slugs aren't furry. But I didn't invent the language.

Tulip

Tulip
Originally uploaded by davethebad

The tulips have bloomed!

Little April Showers

Remember when cartoons used to look like artwork? This makes me want to see all the Disney films I grew up with.

Gone with the wind?

A puppy abducted by the wind and a pet psychic in the same story. A Hallmark channel movie (based on a true story) is inevitable.

WATERFORD TOWNSHIP, Mich. - A six-pound Chihuahua has been reunited with her owners after a 70-mph gust of wind picked the puppy up and tossed her out of sight.

Dorothy and Lavern Utley credit a pet psychic for guiding them on Monday to a wooded area nearly a mile from where 8-month-old Tinker Bell had been last seen. The brown long-haired dog was dirty and hungry but otherwise OK.

The Utleys, of Rochester, had set up an outdoor display Saturday at a flea market in Waterford Township, 25 miles northwest of Detroit.

An abusive relationship

Is the condition that you suck mightily, Google Reader?
I kinda hate you, yet there isn't anyone better to date.

Taco

Taco_7
Originally uploaded by davethebad

Taco sunning in the doorway.

Dogs looking like people

I'm supposed to post something new here, 'cuz no one likes the penis train in the previous post. But really, I got nothin'.

But here's a neat site. It's photos of dogs that look like people - wearing sweaters, sitting nicely, etc.

http://dogs-looking-like-people.tumblr.com/