Sunday, November 16, 2008

Willow's Weekly Word


"Oh my gosh, do you see that?!
Willow has a hangnail on the middle
finger of her left hand!"

I have seen the word avatar in the bloggyhood lately and wondered
about its etymology. An avatar is a computer user's representation of
himself/herself or alter ego, whether in the form of a three-dimensional
model used in computer games or a two-dimensional picture used on
Internet forums and communities, such as blogs and instant
messaging. It is an object representing the embodiment of the user.
The term avatar can also refer to the personality connected with the
screen name, or handle, of an Internet user. In English, the word has
come to mean "an embodiment, a bodily manifestation of the Divine."
However, the Sanskrit word "avatara" means "incarnation". So, in
other words, it is a a way of reinventing ourselves, isn't it?


Cynthia posted a fun site [CLICK HERE] where you can upload a photo
of yourself in a museum setting. Too fun! Thanks, Cynthia, I love these
kinds of silly things!

info from Wikipedia

34 comments:

  1. O dear, this is TOO fun! As you can see, I've used mine as my avatar. :)

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  2. Fun! I love that picture of you and it's perfect for a museum shot and your avatar!! Gotta pop over for a closer look...

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  3. So did you take care of the hangnail?

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  4. Hello Lady Willow !

    This very fun and nice...

    I'll try for me...

    (You are pretty on the photo, chuttt...)

    See You later !

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  5. Hi Willow, I tried it and I used my paintings and got the biggest kick. Thanks.

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  6. Ces, it's perfect for your paintings! Glad you had fun. :^)

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  7. Well that is fun and computers are so clever thesedays!

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  8. Link pilfered, played with and duly forwarded further afield.
    Thanks for the toy!
    I had seen my pictures in a museum before but the settings were nowhere that glamorous.

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  9. I thought I knew, but I wasn't really sure - so thanks! and by 'flurries' do you mean snow? oh my gosh! I'm so going to check out the little 'museum' trick.

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  10. What a great idea - that picture of you is splendid. I wonder if all the blogging lately about avatars is anything to do with the UK story about adultery and divorce on Second Life

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  11. Oh! I have to have a go at this, you look stunning hanging up there....

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  12. Love the lighting ... you are definitely museum quality!

    :-Daryl

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  13. Willow, Will there be photos of the transformation of the bat cave or will I need to pick up the latest issue of Architectural Digest?
    Thank you for the site...what fun!

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  14. You are in the Louvre Miss Willow! Fun Fun Fun!

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  15. Yes, I do believe that we are all about the business of reinventing ourselves... whether we admit it or not. Fascinating concept and word. And what an honor... you're museum quality!

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  16. Willow,
    Ah, a newly discovered DaVinci master piece and now it's hanging in the Louvre for all the world to enjoy, hang nail and all.
    rel

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  17. thanks for the word and definitions. You are looking quite sophisticated in the MOma next to Diane Arbus no doubt.

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  18. Yes, Blue Sky, I will post some "after" pix of the bat cave, when it's finally all put together. Soon now.

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  19. Your cheeks are so lovable and perfect setting for Louvre

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  20. What a fabulous way to waste more time in Blogland.......!!!

    I had to look up avatar when I first started selling on Etsy.

    By the way...I like your new av!

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  21. I love this picture of you. You look like a model. This does look like a fun deal. I must try it sometime. I hope you have a great week. I look forward to our stay in Italy with Lavinia.

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  22. I put one of my childhood pic's in the Louvre too. I might make one with my Yahoo! 360 Profile avatar. That would look cool.

    Sparky ♥ ∞

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  23. I once found a website like that where you could put your picture up on a building in Times Square in New York. It looked great!

    I must say, you look fabulous in a museum. A famous work of art. :-)

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  24. How amazing to see oneself at the museum!

    CJ xx

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  25. Loved it. Another term I have used but had no idea where it'd come from. I have an avatar in my yahoo e-mail account and this post has reminded me that I have to update it.

    Greetings from London.

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  26. Great weekly word, Willow. Love the museum photo idea. Thanks very much.

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  27. Good one--I love those museum shots--aren't they fun!? You look great up there, Willow!

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  28. I can't wait to make my own museum appearance! How fun. I love your new avatar, btw. Very sexy.

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  29. Oh i love that museum picture. How fun.My sister had to learn sanskrit growing up-ended up being a religious indoctrination cultish school --we had no idea. It made it in the papers and such.

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  30. Hi Willow! Thank you for this & I will go check it out as it seems like fun. - xue

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  31. I adore etymology... your blog is wonderful! I would love to become a lay-researcher in the etymology of cockney rhyming slang and Australian slang (there's a lot of crossover). I can't wait to follow your blogs!

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  32. That means I am short squat and yellow if my avatar is anything to go on....but I do smell good! xv

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Inject a few raisins of conversation into the tasteless dough of existence.
― O. Henry (and me)