A quote that has long been attributed to Marie Antoinette, although historians have generally concluded that she never said that.
Rousseau published in his work "Confessions" (1770) a story of a "great princess" who asked why the peasants were so upset; when told that they had no bread, the princess flippantly said "Qu'ils mangent de la brioche". Marie Antoinette was only fourteen at the time, unknown to the world, and was not even in France at the time.
Rousseau published in his work "Confessions" (1770) a story of a "great princess" who asked why the peasants were so upset; when told that they had no bread, the princess flippantly said "Qu'ils mangent de la brioche". Marie Antoinette was only fourteen at the time, unknown to the world, and was not even in France at the time.
The story of the ignorant, callous princess uttering "Let them eat cake" was around for a century before Marie Antoinette was even born. Contrary to saying such a statement, Marie Antoinette once wrote to her family: "It is quite certain that in seeing the people who treat us so well despite their own misfortune, we are more obliged than ever to work hard for their happiness. The King seems to understand this truth."
by Lorelili January 26, 2011
Get the Let them eat cake mug.An adorable little domestic animal of the feline persuasion, which "cat" is usually referred to.
Can be obnoxious sometimes, but mainly in a playful/cute way. Intelligent, independent, demure, cuddly... and viscious fighters should a fight build up. A mainly carnivorous animal, cats keep your home free of pesky animals, and especially rodents.
Birds, for better or worse, won't build their nests near your house.
As adorable as they are, cats aren't as sweet and gentle as they may seem... they look rather annoyed when they hear themselves called "pookums", "widdle cutums" and other similar names.
But it is fun watching them bat at insects or dangling strings, attacking your blanket-covered toes in the morning, one or more kitties curled up on the couch...
Can be obnoxious sometimes, but mainly in a playful/cute way. Intelligent, independent, demure, cuddly... and viscious fighters should a fight build up. A mainly carnivorous animal, cats keep your home free of pesky animals, and especially rodents.
Birds, for better or worse, won't build their nests near your house.
As adorable as they are, cats aren't as sweet and gentle as they may seem... they look rather annoyed when they hear themselves called "pookums", "widdle cutums" and other similar names.
But it is fun watching them bat at insects or dangling strings, attacking your blanket-covered toes in the morning, one or more kitties curled up on the couch...
Taffy, a big orange tabby, and Nite (night), a smaller "tuxedo" cat, are cuddle up in their basket... suddenly an owner comes in.
Owner: "He-wo! Good morning my widdle diddymses!"
The cats look up, rather indignant.
Owner: "Did my widdle poi tats sweep o tay, did 'em? Did 'em? How's my widdle kitty pusses?"
Taffy and Nite look at each other and puke simultaneously.
Taffy: This is one disturbed girl, isn't she?
Nite: Darn straight. Somebody tell her to shut up.
Owner: "He-wo! Good morning my widdle diddymses!"
The cats look up, rather indignant.
Owner: "Did my widdle poi tats sweep o tay, did 'em? Did 'em? How's my widdle kitty pusses?"
Taffy and Nite look at each other and puke simultaneously.
Taffy: This is one disturbed girl, isn't she?
Nite: Darn straight. Somebody tell her to shut up.
by Lorelili February 16, 2007
Get the cat mug.An Arawak slave woman who featured prominently in the Salem Witch Trials.
Her true origins are unknown, but she was brought to Barbados as a slave by adolescence and she was eventually purchased by businessman turned minister, Samuel Parris, and would later be brought to Salem Village, Massachusetts, and serve the Parris family, including caring for the children.
In early 1692, Elizabeth "Betty" Parris, age 9, and her cousin, 11-year-old Abigail Williams, began acting strangely, and several other girls in the community soon displayed the same symptoms. Convinced that it was witchcraft, the fanatical Parris grilled his daughter and niece until they named Tituba as the witch who afflicted them; as an Arawak slave woman in a Puritan community, she was very obvious and an easy target.
After the testimonies of Sarah Good and Sarah Osborne, who both denied harming anybody, Tituba's testimony (probably to avoid any more trouble) confirmed the fears of the village: she had been coaxed by a mysterious man in black to sign her name in his book, offering her magical powers in exchange for her soul. Tituba claimed that her name and those of Osborne and Good were among a list of six other names that she could not see; this confession was like Pandora's box had opened.
Her true origins are unknown, but she was brought to Barbados as a slave by adolescence and she was eventually purchased by businessman turned minister, Samuel Parris, and would later be brought to Salem Village, Massachusetts, and serve the Parris family, including caring for the children.
In early 1692, Elizabeth "Betty" Parris, age 9, and her cousin, 11-year-old Abigail Williams, began acting strangely, and several other girls in the community soon displayed the same symptoms. Convinced that it was witchcraft, the fanatical Parris grilled his daughter and niece until they named Tituba as the witch who afflicted them; as an Arawak slave woman in a Puritan community, she was very obvious and an easy target.
After the testimonies of Sarah Good and Sarah Osborne, who both denied harming anybody, Tituba's testimony (probably to avoid any more trouble) confirmed the fears of the village: she had been coaxed by a mysterious man in black to sign her name in his book, offering her magical powers in exchange for her soul. Tituba claimed that her name and those of Osborne and Good were among a list of six other names that she could not see; this confession was like Pandora's box had opened.
Although portrayed as an African slave in many dramatizations, the historical Tituba was actually a First Nations slave, most likely Arawak.
While there is little contemporary evidence, the legend is that Tituba entertained her young wards with tales of her life in Barbados, tales involving magic. As the winter continued, Tituba grew bolder and began demonstrating magic tricks for the girls, including a divination method in which an egg white was suspended in a glass of water and the shapes that it made were interpreted.
By this time, other girls and young women from the village were coming to these secret meetings. Their excitement was mixed with guilt, for they knew that this was forbidden; during one divination, the egg settled into what looked like the shape of a coffin, an image that snapped their nerves.
While there is little contemporary evidence, the legend is that Tituba entertained her young wards with tales of her life in Barbados, tales involving magic. As the winter continued, Tituba grew bolder and began demonstrating magic tricks for the girls, including a divination method in which an egg white was suspended in a glass of water and the shapes that it made were interpreted.
By this time, other girls and young women from the village were coming to these secret meetings. Their excitement was mixed with guilt, for they knew that this was forbidden; during one divination, the egg settled into what looked like the shape of a coffin, an image that snapped their nerves.
by Lorelili August 02, 2011
Get the Tituba mug.1. Holding the power, status, and authority of a monarch: a hereditary leader of a country.
2. Of or relating to people of royal rank and their families, collectively.
3. Informally used to describe entertainers whose offspring at least try to follow in their parents' footsteps; some succeed and some don't, but this "royalty" is merely entertainment and they generally bear little political power outside of voicing their own opinions.
2. Of or relating to people of royal rank and their families, collectively.
3. Informally used to describe entertainers whose offspring at least try to follow in their parents' footsteps; some succeed and some don't, but this "royalty" is merely entertainment and they generally bear little political power outside of voicing their own opinions.
Many nobles across the land were related by blood or marriage to royalty... and many of them wanted the crown, ready to walk over anybody to capture it.
Many peasant women cunningly sought flings with the king, establishing a link with royalty through their children... and very well could have kept the royal family healthier by giving them a more diverse genepool.
Liza Minnelli, Janet Jackson, Moon Unit Zappa, Drew Barrymore, and Miley Cyrus are a few members of entertainment royalty.
Many peasant women cunningly sought flings with the king, establishing a link with royalty through their children... and very well could have kept the royal family healthier by giving them a more diverse genepool.
Liza Minnelli, Janet Jackson, Moon Unit Zappa, Drew Barrymore, and Miley Cyrus are a few members of entertainment royalty.
by Lorelili January 18, 2011
Get the royalty mug.A subsistence pattern distinguished by intensive gardening. Essentially small-scale farming, growing all manner of vegetables, fruits, herbs, and other plant products.
In societies that subsist on horticulture, there is a strong association with matrilineal families; daughters inherit the land from their mothers. The men clear a patch of forest for a garden and the women take over. This is usually accomplished by slash-and-burn.
The most important relationship in a horticultural society is usually the bond between brother and sister (as opposed to between father and son in many farming societies); a woman marries and her husband is recognized as the father of her children, husband and wife generally live separately and the main father figure for her children is their maternal uncle.
In societies that subsist on horticulture, there is a strong association with matrilineal families; daughters inherit the land from their mothers. The men clear a patch of forest for a garden and the women take over. This is usually accomplished by slash-and-burn.
The most important relationship in a horticultural society is usually the bond between brother and sister (as opposed to between father and son in many farming societies); a woman marries and her husband is recognized as the father of her children, husband and wife generally live separately and the main father figure for her children is their maternal uncle.
Among the societies that practice horticulture are the Maroons of Suriname, the Mosuo and Naxi of China, and numerous indigenous peoples in Indonesia and the Americas, like the Iroquois, Navajo, Hopi, Zuni, and Zapotec. All of these nations are traditionally matrilineal.
by Lorelili November 07, 2012
Get the horticulture mug.When an animal (humans included) is so horny and eager to mate, that they'll hump whoever comes along.
Some people think that only females experience this state, but male animals also have a reputation for being achingly randy.
Some people think that only females experience this state, but male animals also have a reputation for being achingly randy.
"Great...! Just great! We forgot to neuter our cat, and now she's in heat! I can't stand the howling!"
"While in Frankfurt (appropriately), I once asked a German storekeeper for a 'heißer Hund'- literally 'a hot dog.' He burst out laughing, as 'heißer Hund' in German suggests a dog in heat." -Richard Lederer
"While in Frankfurt (appropriately), I once asked a German storekeeper for a 'heißer Hund'- literally 'a hot dog.' He burst out laughing, as 'heißer Hund' in German suggests a dog in heat." -Richard Lederer
by Lorelili February 05, 2006
Get the in heat mug.Originally meant joyful, vibrant, and full of life.
Now it's used by ignorant (and often prejudiced) people to describe something that they don't like. It's especially common among teenage boys, who use it to look cool or to "hide" their insecurity about gay people.
Gay is now slang for a homosexual person, that is, somebody who is attracted romantically and sexually to people of their own sex.
Gay men are known as gays, while gay women are known as lesbians. And some bisexuals also identify as gay.
Up to 1 in every 10 adults is predominantly gay; everybody is somewhere in between the two extremes of heterosexual and homosexual.
Gay is sometimes, but not always:
-Living with AIDS.
-Living a promiscuous life.
-Acting very much like the opposite gender (very masculine women and very feminine men.)(When people think of these stereotypes, they're usually thinking about transsexual people or transgender people instead. Most of these people are straight and just happen to identify as the opposite gender.)
-All about sex.
Gays are perfectly normal people. Their only "difference" is that they (romantically) love somebody of their own sex. Aside from the cruel prejudice that they face because of who they love, they usually are able to live wonderfully full, happy lives.
Often, gays have reclamed old derogatory terms for them as terms of affection: fag and queen for the men, dyke for the women, etc... although they can still be used as insults by the bigoted.
Gays sometimes do imitate heterosexual gender roles (butch and femme) in their marriages (in every other way if not legal), but most do not; plenty of femmes pair up with other femmes, butches with other butches, androgynous and so forth. It's often remarkable how much their unions resemble heterosexual unions.
A man can be highly flamboyant and act and dress quite feminine, but sleeping with men is the last thing on this mind. Likewise, a man can be incredibly butch and swaggering, and yet he likes to sleep with men; being gay has to do with who you are attracted to sexually, not how masculine or how feminine you are.
Gay is not all about sex. Most gays are happy doing other things than sex. And most gays loathe the idea of molesting a child, contrary to the beliefs of ignorant people. (Almost all pedophiles are heterosexual)
And with marriage ending in so many divorces, then those in favor of marriage should be happy that there are people who want to get married and are willing to fight for that right. Gays have had to fight so much for the basic rights that straights take for granted.
Now it's used by ignorant (and often prejudiced) people to describe something that they don't like. It's especially common among teenage boys, who use it to look cool or to "hide" their insecurity about gay people.
Gay is now slang for a homosexual person, that is, somebody who is attracted romantically and sexually to people of their own sex.
Gay men are known as gays, while gay women are known as lesbians. And some bisexuals also identify as gay.
Up to 1 in every 10 adults is predominantly gay; everybody is somewhere in between the two extremes of heterosexual and homosexual.
Gay is sometimes, but not always:
-Living with AIDS.
-Living a promiscuous life.
-Acting very much like the opposite gender (very masculine women and very feminine men.)(When people think of these stereotypes, they're usually thinking about transsexual people or transgender people instead. Most of these people are straight and just happen to identify as the opposite gender.)
-All about sex.
Gays are perfectly normal people. Their only "difference" is that they (romantically) love somebody of their own sex. Aside from the cruel prejudice that they face because of who they love, they usually are able to live wonderfully full, happy lives.
Often, gays have reclamed old derogatory terms for them as terms of affection: fag and queen for the men, dyke for the women, etc... although they can still be used as insults by the bigoted.
Gays sometimes do imitate heterosexual gender roles (butch and femme) in their marriages (in every other way if not legal), but most do not; plenty of femmes pair up with other femmes, butches with other butches, androgynous and so forth. It's often remarkable how much their unions resemble heterosexual unions.
A man can be highly flamboyant and act and dress quite feminine, but sleeping with men is the last thing on this mind. Likewise, a man can be incredibly butch and swaggering, and yet he likes to sleep with men; being gay has to do with who you are attracted to sexually, not how masculine or how feminine you are.
Gay is not all about sex. Most gays are happy doing other things than sex. And most gays loathe the idea of molesting a child, contrary to the beliefs of ignorant people. (Almost all pedophiles are heterosexual)
And with marriage ending in so many divorces, then those in favor of marriage should be happy that there are people who want to get married and are willing to fight for that right. Gays have had to fight so much for the basic rights that straights take for granted.
-"Those flowers are so lovely in here! So bright and gay! Don't you think so?"
-"Yes! Quite nice to look at!"
Aw man, this computer is being gay! It won't let me print!
-"Scott... I have to tell you something very important...
-"What is it, Colin?"
-"I- I'm gay."
-"That makes two of us."
-"You are?!... Then are you comfortable knowing...?"
-"Knowing what?"
-"That I love you..."
-..."C'mere!"
-"Yes! Quite nice to look at!"
Aw man, this computer is being gay! It won't let me print!
-"Scott... I have to tell you something very important...
-"What is it, Colin?"
-"I- I'm gay."
-"That makes two of us."
-"You are?!... Then are you comfortable knowing...?"
-"Knowing what?"
-"That I love you..."
-..."C'mere!"
by Lorelili March 14, 2007
Get the gay mug.