Mikhail Epstein's definitions
chronosome n (Greek khronos, time + Greek soma, body; cf. chromosome) Ð a unit of historical heredity, in contrast with a chromosome as a unit of biological heredity; a mental code of a historical period that is transmitted to next generations through styles, traditions and unconscious influences ("cultural air").
The chronosomes of the early 20th c. avant-garde have reached the generation of the 1960s and shaped its political views and artistic styles.
Nabokov's novel "Invitation to a Beheading" bears many Kafka's chronosomes, even if the author claims to have never read Kafka.
Nabokov's novel "Invitation to a Beheading" bears many Kafka's chronosomes, even if the author claims to have never read Kafka.
by Mikhail Epstein November 13, 2003
Get the chronosome mug.happicle n (happy + diminutive suffix Ðicle, like in "particle," "icicle") Ð a particle of happiness, the smallest unit of happiness; a single happy occurrence or a momentary feeling of happiness.
There is no happiness in this world, but there are happicles. Sometimes we can catch them, fleeting and unpredictable as they are.
Like photons, happicles have zero mass at rest--the inertial mass that we identify with happiness. Happicles just flash and go out in passing. They may be as transitory as a fragrance in the air, or a yellow falling leaf, or a glance of a passerby on the street.
Happicles make life worth of living, even in the absence of stable happiness.
Like photons, happicles have zero mass at rest--the inertial mass that we identify with happiness. Happicles just flash and go out in passing. They may be as transitory as a fragrance in the air, or a yellow falling leaf, or a glance of a passerby on the street.
Happicles make life worth of living, even in the absence of stable happiness.
by Mikhail Epstein November 8, 2003
Get the happicle mug.defriend smbd v , transitive de + friend; cf. befriend - to break off friendly relations (with smbd).
He defriended me a year after we met, with no reason or explanation. He just stopped calling, period.
I want to defriend you. Ð What's wrong? - I need something more than friendship from you. I need love.
I want to defriend you. Ð What's wrong? - I need something more than friendship from you. I need love.
by Mikhail Epstein November 2, 2003
Get the defriend mug.egonetics, n. (ego+net+ics)
weaving a network of self-references, increasing one's presence on the internet.
Egonetics is different from "ego surfing" - a search of one's own name on the internet (using search engines). Egonetics
is an active electronic dispersal of your name, making links to your homepage, entering various interactive sites and
open forums. It can be done for the sake of an idea or a commercial promotion, but in absence of ideological
or professional motifs, this is a narcissistic case of egonetics.
weaving a network of self-references, increasing one's presence on the internet.
Egonetics is different from "ego surfing" - a search of one's own name on the internet (using search engines). Egonetics
is an active electronic dispersal of your name, making links to your homepage, entering various interactive sites and
open forums. It can be done for the sake of an idea or a commercial promotion, but in absence of ideological
or professional motifs, this is a narcissistic case of egonetics.
I am afraid that my colleague uses her office hours for egonetics.
He is not an egoist in the traditional sense, he is simply an egonetic.
He is not an egoist in the traditional sense, he is simply an egonetic.
by Mikhail Epstein November 16, 2003
Get the egonetics mug.It is difficult for Mary to make up her mind. Not that she is indifferent to her admirers but she is now at the point of equiphilia.
Sometimes equiphilia is dangerously close to indifference. Equal love to many means no love at all.
Sometimes equiphilia is dangerously close to indifference. Equal love to many means no love at all.
by Mikhail Epstein November 6, 2003
Get the equiphilia mug.infopause n. (information + pause)
staying away from computers, newspapers and other sources of information in order to recover from informational stress.
staying away from computers, newspapers and other sources of information in order to recover from informational stress.
The infopause may take from several minutes to several months, depending on the gravity of the initial affliction.
Every business should introduce at least two five-minute infopauses during the working day. All computers and all lights are off. This will refresh employees' ability to process new information.
Every business should introduce at least two five-minute infopauses during the working day. All computers and all lights are off. This will refresh employees' ability to process new information.
by Mikhail Epstein November 15, 2003
Get the infopause n. (information + pause) mug.ghostalgia n. (ghost + Gr. algos, pain, grief, distress; cf. nostalgia) Ð a mystical longing or wistful affection for ghosts, angels, miracles, aliens, and other otherworldy characters and mysterious phenomena.
Ghostalgia is a form of nostalgia in that we experience the other world as our genuine lost home.
I am agnostic, but sometimes I feel ghostalgic.
On the eve of deep historical crises, ghostalgia can grip the souls of entire nations.
I am agnostic, but sometimes I feel ghostalgic.
On the eve of deep historical crises, ghostalgia can grip the souls of entire nations.
by Mikhail Epstein November 15, 2003
Get the ghostalgia mug.