Apple #440: Complete TV Schedule for 2010 Winter Olympics

Today I was trying to find out which Olympic events were being televised at which times.  You would not think this should be a difficult question to answer, but I discovered that it is.

In past years, NBC has done an excellent job of listing which events were going to be televised when and on what channel.  For some reason, this year, they decided to make their website TV schedule so that you have to mouse over each time slot on each individual day, or you can look at the full schedule but only for a single day at a time.  You can also search by individual sport, but it'll only tell you the same really general stuff like, "Apolo Ohno returns to the ice for the 500 m live" (that happens on the 24th, by the way).  Their schedules don't always tell you exactly which of the Alpine Skiing events is happening, for example, or whether both men's and women's competitions are happening on that day.


I am not trying to say that this blog entry is in any way sanctioned by NBC. I'm only saying this is where I looked first, where I wish I had found the information I was after, and where I got some of the information I used below. You can also click on the logo and go directly to NBC's TV listings if you like.


I thought, surely someone else would have put this together.  I looked around and I found some schedules that local newspapers had put together of a few days' worth of events.  I also found Mahalo's TV Schedule, which makes everything easy to read and it's very simplified.  So if you don't want a whole lot of detail, but you want to know which events are on NBC throughout the Olympics, check their page.

I, of course, want more detail.  I found the official list of events posted by the official Vancouver Olympics folks. If you have a friend or relative who's competing in the Olympics, this is a great place to go and see when, in Vancouver time, they're actually competing.  But this page does not tell you when these specific events will be televised.


I am not trying to say that this blog entry is in any way sanctioned by the people running the Vancouver 2010 Olympics. I'm only saying this is another place I looked for the information I sought, another place where I wish I had found the information I was after, and where I got some of the information I used below. You can also click on the logo and go directly to the official schedule of events in Vancouver if you like.


So, yours truly decided to marry the official Vancouver events with NBC's TV schedule to give you a detailed list of everything that will be televised on all basic channels from now through the end of the Olympics.

  +
Again, NBC and Vancouver 2010 have not seen or approved this entry at all.  This is merely a visual way of demonstrating how I made the schedule listed below.


CAVEATS:

• These times are Eastern Standard Times.  Your broadcast times may vary.

• (medal) means that the event will reach its medal conclusion in this time slot. There may also be qualifying heats or rounds before that, but a medal winner will be determined at some point in that time period.

• Weather has a way of screwing things up.  Games and events might have to be delayed and broadcast at another time.  I have no way of anticipating those alterations.

• It's possible that your cable schedule and channels might be different than mine.  Double-check your listings before staking your life on DVR'ing something as it's listed here.

• I didn't list HD channels because all they said they were going to do was show highlights.  If you've got HD channels and you want to watch highlights there, check your listings.

• Not every event that occurs in a given day is broadcast on the day that it happens.  Usually they pick it up later, like at 1:30 in the morning of the following day.  So if an event appears at the end of the day's schedule as having occurred but not having been listed, check the following day's schedule and you'll probably find it there. 

Here's the schedule.  I've made internal links that will jump to each day within this schedule.  Or if you want the entire schedule to keep by your television and DVR, click on the title of this entry and then print out the whole thing.  Enjoy the Olympics!

Monday, February 15
Tuesday, February 16
Wednesday, February 17
Thursday, February 18
Friday, February 19
Saturday, February 20
Sunday, February 21
Monday, February 22
Tuesday, February 23
Wednesday, February 24
Thursday, February 25
Friday, February 26
Saturday, February 27
Sunday, February 28

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15

12:00 a.m. – 4:00 a.m. NBC

Replay of Previous Primetime

Pair figure skating, short program

Speed skating, Women’s 3000 m (medal)

Luge, Men’s singles (medal)

Freestyle skiing, Men’s moguls (medal)

3:00 a.m. – 5:30 a.m. MSNBC

Hockey, Women’s US vs. China replay

1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. NBC

Cross Country skiing, Women’s 10 km free (medal)

2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. NBC

Snowboarding, Men’s cross

4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. NBC

Cross Country Skiing, Men’s 15 km free (medal)

5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. MSNBC

Hockey, Women’s Canada vs. Switzerland

8:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. NBC

Pairs Figure Skating free skate (medal)

Snowboarding, Men’s cross finals (medal)

Speed Skating, Men’s 500 m (medal)

Alpine, Men’s Skiing downhill (medal)

Other events that occur but are not listed:

Hockey, Women’s Sweden vs. Slovakia

Luge, Women’s singles

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16

12:30 a.m. – 2:00 a.m. NBC

Luge, Women’s singles

Medal ceremonies

2:00 a.m. – 5:00 a.m. NBC

Replay of Previous Primetime

Pairs Figure Skating free skate (medal)

Snowboarding, Men’s cross finals (medal)

Speed Skating, Men’s 500 m (medal)

Alpine, Men’s Skiing downhill (medal)

3:00 a.m. – 5:30 a.m. MSNBC

Hockey, Women’s Canada vs. Switzerland replay

12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. USA

Curling, Men’s round robin session 1, includes US vs. Germany

3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. NBC

Biathlon, Women’s 10 km pursuit (medal)

Biathlon, Men’s 12.5 km pursuit (medal)

3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. USA

Hockey, Men’s USA vs. Switzerland

5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. CNBC

Curling, Women’s round robin session 1 includes US vs. Japan

5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. MSNBC

Hockey, Women’s US vs. Russia

8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. CNBC

Hockey, Men’s Canada vs. Norway

8:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. NBC

Figure Skating, Men’s short program

Snowboarding, Women’s cross (medal)

Speed Skating, Women’s 500 m (medal)

Alpine Skiing, Men’s super combined downhill

Alpine Skiing, Men’s super combined slalom (medal)

10:00 p.m. – 12:30 a.m. CNBC

Hockey, Women’s Finland vs. China

Other events that occur but are not listed:

Luge, Women’s singles (medal)

Curling, Men’s round robin session 2 including US vs. Norway

Hockey, Men’s Russia vs. Latvia

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17

12:30 a.m. – 2 a.m. NBC

Luge, Women’s singles (medal)

12:30 a.m. – 2:30 a.m. CNBC

Hockey, Men’s Russia vs. Latvia

2:00 a.m. – 5:00 a.m. NBC

Replay of Previous Primetime

Figure Skating, Men’s short program

Snowboarding, Women’s cross (medal)

Speed Skating, Women’s 500 m (medal)

Alpine Skiing, Men’s super combined downhill

Alpine Skiing, Men’s super combined slalom (medal)

2:30 a.m. – 5:00 a.m. CNBC

Hockey, Men’s Canada vs. Norway

Hockey, Women’s Finland vs. China

Curling, Men’s round robin session 2 including US vs. Norway

3:00 a.m. – 5:30 a.m. MSNBC

Curling, Men’s round robin session 2 including US vs. Norway

12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. USA

Curling, Women’s round robin session 2 including US vs. Germany

3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. NBC

Cross Country skiing, Women’s sprint classic (medal)

Cross Country skiing, Men’s sprint classic (medal)

3:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. MSNBC

Hockey, Men’s Finland vs. Belarus

5:00 – 8:00 p.m. CNBC

Curling, Men’s round robin session 3 including US vs. Switzerland

5:30 – 8:00 p.m. MSNBC

Hockey, Women’s Canada vs. Sweden

8:00 p.m. – 10 p.m. CNBC

Hockey, Men’s Sweden vs. Germany

8:00 p.m. – 8:30 pm NBC

Speed Skating, Men’s1000 m (medal)

8:30 p.m. – 11:30 pm NBC

Alpine Skiing, Women’s downhill (medal)

Snowboarding, Men’s halfpipe (medal)

Short Track, Women’s (medal)

10:00 p.m – 12:30 a.m. CNBC

Hockey, Women’s Slovakia vs. Switzerland

Other events that occur but are not listed:

Luge, Doubles (medal)

Curling, Women’s round robin session 3

Hockey, Men’s Czech Republic vs. Slovakia

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18

12:00 a.m. – 1:30 a.m. NBC

Short Track, Men’s 1000 m

Short Track, Women’s (medal)

Luge, Doubles (medal)

Medal ceremonies

12:30 a.m. – 2:30 a.m. CNBC

Hockey, Men’s Czech Republic vs. Slovakia

1:30 a.m. – 5:00 a.m. NBC

Replay of Previous Primetime

Alpine Skiing, Women’s downhill (medal)

Snowboarding, Men’s halfpipe (medal)

Short Track, Women’s (medal)

2:30 a.m. – 5:00 a.m. CNBC

Curling, Women’s round robin session 3

Hockey highlights

12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. USA

Curling, Men’s round robin session 4 including US vs. Denmark

3:00 a.m. – 6:00 a.m. MSNBC

Curling, Women’s round robin session 4 ?

3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. NBC

Biathlon, Women’s 15 km (medal)

3:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. USA

Hockey, Men’s Canada vs. Norway

3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. NBC

Snowboarding, Women’s halfpipe

5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. CNBC

Curling, Women’s round robin session 4 including US vs. Denmark

5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. MSNBC

Hockey, Women’s US vs. Finland

8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. CNBC

Hockey, Men’s Canada vs. Norway

8:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. NBC

Figure Skating, Men’s free skate (medal)

Snowboarding, Women’s (medal)

Alpine Skiing, Women’s super combined downhill

Alpine Skiing, Women’s super combined slalom (medal)

Speed Skating, Women’s 1000 m (medal)

10:00 p.m. – 12:30 a.m. CNBC

Hockey, Women’s Russia vs. China

Other events that occur but are not listed:

Biathlon, Men’s 20 km (medal)

Skeleton, Women’s

Skeleton, Men’s

Curling, Men’s round robin session 5 including France vs. Canada

Hockey, Men’s Slovakia vs. Russia

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19

12:30 a.m. – 2:00 a.m. NBC

Skeleton, Men’s (medal)

Skeleton, Women’s

Biathlon, Men’s 20 km (medal)

Medal ceremonies

12:30 a.m. – 2:30 a.m. CNBC

Hockey, Men’s Slovakia vs. Russia

2:00 a.m. – 5:00 a.m. NBC

Replay of Previous Primetime

Figure Skating, Men’s free skate (medal)

Snowboarding, Women’s (medal)

Alpine Skiing, Women’s super combined downhill

Alpine Skiing, Women’s super combined slalom (medal)

Speed Skating, Women’s 1000 m (medal)

2:30 a.m. – 5:00 a.m. CNBC

Curling, Men’s round robin session 5 including France vs. Canada

Biathlon, Men’s 20 km (medal)

3:00 a.m. – 5:00 a.m. MSNBC

Curling, stated as Men’s but Women’s round robin session 4 teams are listed

12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. USA

Curling, Women’s round robin session 5 including Russia vs. US

3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. NBC

Cross Country skiing, Women’s 15 km Pursuit (medal)

Recap of Men’s Figure Skating from Thursday

3:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. MSNBC

Hockey, Men’s Belarus vs. Sweden

5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. CNBC

Curling, Men’s round robin session 6 including France vs. US

8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. CNBC

Hockey, Men’s Czech Republic vs. Latvia

8:00 p.m. – 11:30 p.m. NBC

Ice Dancing, compulsory

Skeleton, Women’s (medal)

Ski Jumping individual

Alpine Skiing, Men’s Super-G (medal)

10:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m. CNBC

Curling, Women’s round robin session 6 including Denmark vs. Canada

Other events that occur but are not listed:

Hockey, Men’s Finland vs. Germany

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20

12:00 a.m. – 1:00 a.m. CNBC

Curling, Women’s round robin session 6 including Denmark vs. Canada (continued)

12:00 a.m. – 1:30 a.m. NBC

Medal ceremonies and recap

12:00 a.m. – 3:00 a.m. MSNBC

Hockey, Men’s Finland vs. Germany

1:30 a.m. – 5:00 a.m. NBC

Replay of Previous Primetime

Ice Dancing, compulsory

Skeleton, Women’s (medal)

Ski Jumping individual

Alpine Skiing, Men’s Super-G (medal)

3:00 a.m. – 6:00 a.m. MSNBC

Curling, Men’s round robin session 6 including France vs. US

12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. MSNBC

Curling, Men’s round robin session 7 including Sweden vs. US

1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. NBC

Freestyle Skiing, Women’s aerials

2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. NBC

Ski Jumping individual (medal)

3:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. MSNBC

Hockey, Men’s Norway vs. Switzerland

4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. NBC

Cross Country skiing, Men’s 30 km Pursuit (medal)

5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. CNBC

Curling, Women’s round robin session 7 including US vs. Great Britain

7:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. MSNBC

Hockey, Men’s Slovakia vs. Latvia

8:00 p.m. – 11:30 p.m. NBC

Alpine Skiing, Women’s Super G (medal)

Short Track, Men’s 1000 m (medal)

Speed Skating, Men’s 1500 m (medal)

Bobsled 2-man

10:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m. CNBC

Curling, Men’s round robin session 8

Other events that occur but are not listed:

Short Track, Women’s 1500 m (medal)

Hockey, Women’s TBA

Hockey, Men’s Germany vs. Belarus

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21

12:00 a.m. – 1:00 a.m. NBC

Short Track, Women’s 1500 m (medal)

Medal ceremonies

12:00 a.m. – 1:00 a.m. CNBC

Curling, Men’s round robin session 8 (continued)

12:00 a.m. – 3:00 a.m. MSNBC

Hockey, Men’s Germany vs. Belarus

1:00 a.m. – 5:30 a.m. NBC

Replay of Previous Primetime

Alpine Skiing, Women’s Super G (medal)

Short Track, Men’s 1000 m (medal)

Speed Skating, Men’s 1500 m (medal)

Bobsled 2-man

3:00 a.m. – 6:00 a.m. MSNBC

Curling, Men’s round robin session 7 including Sweden vs. US

12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. NBC

Freestyle Skiing, Men’s cross (medal) – new to Olympics

12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. MSNBC

Curling, Women’s round robin session 8 including Canada vs. US

1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. NBC

Biathlon, Men’s 15 km mass start (medal)

3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. NBC

Hockey, Men’s Russia vs. Czech Republic

5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. CNBC

Curling, Men’s round robin session 9 including US vs. Great Britain

7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. MSNBC

Hockey, Men’s Canada vs. US

7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. NBC

Ice Dancing, original dance

Alpine Skiing, Men’s giant slalom (medal)

Bobsled 2-man

Speed Skating, Women’s 1500 m (medal)

10:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m. CNBC

Curling, Women’s round robin session 9 including US vs. Sweden

11:30 p.m. – 12:30 a.m. NBC

Biathlon, Women’s 12.5 km mass start

Medal ceremonies

Other events that occur but are not listed:

Hockey, Men’s Sweden vs. Finland

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22

12:00 a.m. – 12:30 a.m. NBC (continued)

Biathlon, Women’s 12.5 km mass start

Medal ceremonies

12:00 a.m. – 1:00 a.m. CNBC (continued

Curling, Women’s round robin session 9 including US vs. Sweden

12:00 a.m. – 3:00 a.m. MSNBC

Hockey, Men’s Sweden vs. Finland

12:30 a.m. – 4:30 a.m. NBC

Replay of Previous Primetime

Ice Dancing, original dance

Alpine Skiing, Men’s giant slalom (medal)

Bobsled 2-man

Speed Skating, Women’s 1500 m (medal)

3:00 a.m. – 5:30 a.m. MSNBC

Curling, Women’s round robin session 9 including US vs. Sweden

12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. USA

Curling, Men’s round robin session 10 including Canada vs. US

3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. NBC

Cross Country skiing, Men’s sprint free (medal)

Cross Country skiing, Women’s sprint free (medal)

3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. USA

Hockey, Women’s TBA

5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. CNBC

Curling, Women’s round robin session 10

8:00 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. CNBC

Hockey, Women’s TBA

8:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. NBC

Ice dancing, free dance (medal)

Freestyle Skiing, Men’s aerials

Ski Jumping team (medal)

10:30 p.m. – 1:00 a.m. CNBC

Curling, Men’s round robin session 11 including US vs. China

Other events that occur but are not listed:

Hockey, Women’s TBA

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23

12:00 a.m. – 1:00 a.m. CNBC

Curling, Men’s round robin session 11 including US vs. China (continued)

12:30 a.m. – 2:00 a.m. NBC

Hockey, Men’s elimination round TBA

Medal ceremonies

2:00 a.m. – 5:00 a.m. NBC

Replay of Previous Primetime

Ice dancing, free dance (medal)

Freestyle Skiing, Men’s aerials

Ski Jumping team (medal)

3:00 a.m. – 5:30 a.m. MSNBC

Curling, Men’s round robin session 11 including China vs. US

12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. USA

Curling, Women’s round robin session 11 including US vs. China

3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. NBC

Speed Skating, Men’s 10,000 m (medal)

Biathlon, Women’s 4x6 km relay (medal)

Freestyle Skiing, Women’s cross

3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. USA

Hockey, Men’s elimination round TBA

5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. CNBC

Curling, Men’s round robin session 12 including Canada vs. China

8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. CNBC

Hockey, Men’s elimination round TBA

8:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. NBC

Figure Skating, Women’s short program

Freestyle Skiing, Women’s cross (medal)

Bobsled, Women’s

Nordic Combined (medal)

10:00 p.m. – 12:30 a.m. CNBC

Hockey, Men’s playoffs

10:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m. MSNBC

Curling, Women’s round robin session 12 including Switzerland vs. US

Other events that occur but are not listed:

Hockey, Men’s playoffs TBA

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24

12:00 a.m. – 1:00 a.m. MSNBC

Curling, Women’s round robin session 12 including Switzerland vs. US (continued)

12:30 – 2:00 a.m. NBC

Recap of Figure Skating, Women’s

Medal ceremonies

12:30 – 2:30 a.m. CNBC

Hockey, Men’s playoffs TBA

2:00 a.m. – 5:00 a.m. NBC

Replay of Previous Primetime

Figure Skating, Women’s short program

Freestyle Skiing, Women’s cross (medal)

Bobsled, Women’s

Nordic Combined (medal)

3:00 a.m. – 5:30 a.m. MSNBC

Curling, Women’s round robin session 12 including Switzerland vs. US

3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. NBC

Hockey, Men’s quarterfinals

5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. MSNBC

Curling, tiebreaker rounds

7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. CNBC

Hockey, Men’s quarterfinals

8:00 p.m. – 11:30 p.m. NBC

Short Track, Men’s 500 m

Short Track, Women’s 3,000 m relay (medal)

Bobsled, Women’s (medal)

Alpine Skiing, Women’s Giant slalom (medal)

Cross Country skiing, Men’s 4x10 km relay (medal)

Freestyle Skiing, Women’s aerials (medal)

10:00 p.m. – 12:30 a.m. CNBC

Hockey, Men’s quarterfinals

Other events that occur but are not listed:

Speed Skating, Women’s 5000 m (medal)

Short Track, Women’s 1000 m

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25

12:00 a.m. – 12:30 a.m. CNBC

Hockey, Men’s quarterfinals (continued)

12:00 a.m. – 1:30 a.m. NBC

Short Track, Women’s 1000 m

Speed Skating, Women’s 5000 m (medal)

Medal ceremonies

12:30 a.m. – 2:30 a.m. CNBC

Hockey, Men’s quarterfinals

1:30 a.m. – 5:00 a.m. NBC

Replay of Previous Primetime

Short Track, Men’s 500 m

Short Track, Women’s 3,000 m relay (medal)

Bobsled, Women’s (medal)

Alpine Skiing, Women’s Giant slalom (medal)

Cross Country skiing, Men’s 4x10 km relay (medal)

Freestyle Skiing, Women’s aerials (medal)

3:00 a.m. – 5:30 a.m. MSNBC

Curling, Men’s tiebreaker round

12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. USA

Curling, Women’s semifinals

2:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. MSNBC

Hockey, Women’s bronze medal game (medal)

3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. NBC

Preview of Figure Skating, Women’s free skate

Cross Country skiing, Women’s 4x5 km relay (medal)

5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. CNBC

Curling, Men’s semifinals

6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. MSNBC

Hockey, Women’s gold medal game (medal)

8:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. NBC

Figure Skating, Women’s free skate (medal)

Freestyle Skiing, Men’s aerials (medal)

Nordic Combined, individual 10 km (medal)

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26

12:30 a.m. – 2:00 a.m. NBC

Recap of figure skating

Medal ceremonies

2:00 a.m. – 5:00 a.m. NBC

Replay of Previous Primetime

Figure Skating, Women’s free skate (medal)

Freestyle Skiing, Men’s aerials (medal)

Nordic Combined, individual 10 km (medal)

3:00 a.m. – 6:00 a.m. MSNBC

Curling, Women’s semifinals

12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. USA

Curling, Women’s bronze medal game (medal)

3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. NBC

Hockey, Men’s semifinals

3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. MSNBC

Speed Skating, Men’s team pursuit

Speed Skating, Women’s team pursuit

6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. CNBC

Curling, Women’s gold medal game (medal)

8:00 p.m. – 11:30 p.m. NBC

Alpine Skiing, Women’s slalom (medal)

Short Track, Men’s 500 m (medal)

Short Track, Men’s 5000 m relay (medal)

Short Track, Women’s 1000 m (medal)

Bobsled 4-man

9:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. CNBC

Hockey, Men’s semifinals

Other events that occur but are not listed:

Biathlon, Men’s 4x7.5 km relay (medal)

Snowboarding, Women’s PGS (medal)

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27

12:00 a.m. – 1:30 a.m. NBC

Snowboarding, Women’s PGS (medal)

Biathlon, Men’s 4x7.5 km relay (medal)

1:30 a.m. – 5:00 a.m. NBC

Replay of Previous Primetime

Alpine Skiing, Women’s slalom (medal)

Short Track, Men’s 500 m (medal)

Short Track, Men’s 5000 m relay (medal)

Short Track, Women’s 1000 m (medal)

Bobsled 4-man

3:00 a.m. – 5:30 a.m. MSNBC

Curling, Men’s semifinals

12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. USA

Curling, Men’s bronze game (medal)

1:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. NBC

Speed Skating, Men’s pursuit (medal)

Speed Skating, Women’s pursuit (medal)

Snowboarding, Men’s PGS

Cross Country skiing, Women’s 30 km mass start (medal)

6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. CNBC

Curling, Men’s gold medal game (medal)

8:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. NBC

Figure Skating exhibition gala

Alpine Skiing, Men’s slalom (medal)

Bobsled 4-man (medal)

Snowboarding, Men’s PGS (medal)

10:00 p.m. – 12:30 a.m. MSNBC

Hockey, Men’s bronze medal game (medal)

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28

12:00 a.m. – 12:30 a.m. MSNBC

Hockey, Men’s bronze medal game (medal) (continued)

1:02 a.m. – 4:02 a.m. NBC

Replay of Previous Primetime

Figure Skating exhibition gala

Alpine Skiing, Men’s slalom (medal)

Bobsled 4-man (medal)

Snowboarding, Men’s PGS (medal)

3:00 a.m. – 6:00 a.m. MSNBC

Curling, Men’s gold medal game (medal)

6:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. MSNBC

Figure Skating exhibition gala

12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. NBC

Cross Country skiing, Men’s 50 km mass start (medal)

Medal ceremonies

3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. NBC

Hockey, Men’s gold medal game (medal)

7:00 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. NBC

Closing Ceremonies


Sources
NBC TV listings
Vancouver 2010 Olympic Schedule

Apple #439: Dull Knives

I have an 8-inch chef's knife that I got for Christmas a few years ago.  I know nothing about knives.  I've never sharpened this knife because 1) for years the only knife sharpener I've owned is a strange thing on the back of my can opener and I don't trust it to do a good job; 2) I've heard that some knife sharpeners can do worse damage than not sharpening a knife at all; 3) this knife intimidates the heck out of me; 4) I know nothing about knives.

The knife in question:

Cuisinart 8-inch stainless steel chef's knife.  The thing I've been cutting myself with lately.
(Available from Cuisinart for $28)


I like this knife for smashing garlic because of the width of its blade.  I also like to use it for chopping stuff, like onions or nuts, because the curvature of the blade helps me get more motion and speed going and I can really move through the pile of stuff on the cutting board.

But in the past week, I have cut myself with this knife, twice.  Badly.  The first time I was thinking I was all Top Chef while I was chopping onions and my ring finger somehow sneaked under the blade and zappo! I cut it right open beneath the nail.  Man, that hurt.  Bled a lot, too.  Over a week later it's still tender, and there's a red line across my finger where the cut has mostly healed.  I'd take a picture of it to show it to you but right now it's covered by a bandage because I cut that finger again.

This time I was slicing raw turnips (mmm, turnips!  Snappy!).  If you've ever cut a turnip, you know how unyielding they are.  So I was bearing down on a slice that was fatter than I wanted, stupidly trying to slice it again.  I was even thinking I was holding the turnip slice in a dangerous way.  I must have had my hand underneath the slice with the tips of my fingers pointing upwards, steadying it, while I was bringing the knife down into the slice.  That seems crazy but that's how I must have been doing it.  Sure enough, the knife slipped and whappo! sliced open the tip of my ring finger, middle finger, and index finger.  Yeah, pointer man got it too.

Once upon a time long ago I had to go to the emergency room because I'd accidentally cut myself so badly with a kitchen knife that I had to get stitches.  That time, I was cutting orange slices.  The nurse in the ER said, as she was pushing the needle into my finger, "I bet it was a bad knife, too, wasn't it?"  I said yes.  It was a crappy serrated thing I had gotten in a dime store or someplace like that.  She said, "It's the dull knives that do the most damage.  As soon as you get home, throw that thing away."  I did exactly as she said.

So I'm thinking that maybe this fancy-pants knife is dull and therefore dangerous.  I'm thinking it's time for me to acquire some knife knowledge.  The future of my fingers seems to be at stake.


Is Your Knife Dull?

• There are a couple of tests to see if your knife has gone dull.  One is to use the knife to slice a piece of paper at its edge.  If the paper only crumples under the knife, it is super dull.  If the knife cuts the paper, but the cut is jagged and shows signs of tearing, the knife is dull.  What you want is for the knife to cut the paper easily and for its cut to be smooth with no signs of tearing or pulling. 

• The second test is the tomato test. Lay the knife sharp edge down on a ripe tomato with its skin on.  Don't press down but let the weight of the knife be the source of pressure against the tomato.  Slide the knife back and forth about half an inch or so.  If the knife penetrates the skin and makes a cut, it's sharp enough.  If the knife only rubs against the skin, it's too dull.

• Another way to tell is by regular use of the knife.  If, while you're cutting vegetables, you find you have to press down hard to get the thing to work, your knife is too dull.

• My knife, as it turns out, was a miserable failure at cutting the paper.  It acted more like a hammer than a knife and crumpled the edge of the paper. If I stabbed the paper and then drew the knife down, it made a cut, but it looked more like a tear.  I don't have a ripe tomato at the moment, but I've been aware for some time that I've had to push hard to get it to cut through vegetables, especially ones with tougher skins.  

• The fact that I've been pushing hard with my knife may be why the first injury to my ring finger still hurts--besides cutting the skin perhaps I also bruised it with the force of the knife.

Why Dull Knives are Bad

• People tend to be afraid of sharp knives.  That's a good thing; you should treat them with caution.  But you're more likely to injure yourself with a dull knife.

• A sharp knife will cut food quickly and easily with far less pressure.  One stroke and ffft! the thing is cut.

• With a dull knife, you'll tend to push down on it harder to force it to cut.  You'll be gripping that turnip hard and bearing down with the knife.  But that dull knife isn't going to slice through that turnip as easily. Instead, it's more likely to glance off the surface of the turnip, and since you're gripping that turnip hard you're less likely to move your hand out of the way and bingo, you've cut yourself.

How to Sharpen a Knife

• It's true that those sharpeners on the back of can openers are no good.  They usually throw off sparks, which means the sharpener is removing red-hot pieces of metal, which in turn means that the knife is being overheated, which will weaken the metal.  If you don't see sparks, you may smell a sort of metallic, burning odor, which amounts to the same thing.  Don't use those.

• Those sharpening steel things that you get with a knife block don't actually sharpen a blade.  In fact, they "unfold" the edge.  

• When you use a really sharp knife, the edge is so fine that the pressure of cutting with it causes that edge to fold.  That's what makes the edge dull. 

• The sharpening steel thing will unbend that fold and make it stand up again.  But this happens only when the person using the sharpening steel thing is really good at it.  Even then, the folded part is now weakened from having been bent and unbent.  It will probably fold over again really soon, after as few as 10 cuts of the knife, or it may break off altogether.  

An example of a "sharpening" steel.  But these things don't actually sharpen.  They'll "unfold" a knife's edge, but you have to use these pretty much every time you use the knife, you have to know what you're doing, and it still might not even make the knife do what you want it do.
(This happens to be a J.A. Henckels 9-Inch Poly Sharpening Steel)

• What you want is an actual sharpener.

• Specifically, you want a sharpener that doesn't wobble as it's drawn across the blade.  A wobbling sharpener will create an edge that's not uniform. Instead the edge will sort of wander, and you'll have some spots that will seem dull and others that will seem sharper.  A consistent edge is better than a precision edge.

• If you're adept at sharpening and you know what you're doing, you can use free-form sharpeners like water stones or sharpening rods.  But if you're like most people, you're not skilled at knife sharpening, nor do you want to spend months learning how to do it.

• In that case, you want a tool that's going to hold the knife steady for you and put a good edge on the knife for you.

• There are lots of inexpensive, hand-held, non-electric tools. Some of them require you to hold the tool stable and draw the knife through it, while with others you hold the knife steady and draw the tool over the knife.  Personally, I think holding the knife steady would give me more consistent results, but that may be a matter of individual preference.

• Because there are lots of cheap sharpeners out there, lots of them aren't very good.  You want to look for a tool that's going to keep the knife as steady as possible, which usually means some sort of built-in guide or stabilizer.  You also want the abrasive method to be as sharp and precise as possible.  

I left this photo big so you could see the little channel thing where you put the knife blade.  See those criss-crossing metal triangles?  Those are the abrasives that will sharpen the knife.  But they will sort of part back when you place the knife in there, and they'll help keep the knife in place as you draw it through, as will the black plastic things.  This sharpener from Smith's is one that comes well-recommended.
(Photo from Cookography)

• Some people say to use only sharpeners with 100% diamond abrasives, but others say that it doesn't have to be that intense.  These latter folks say that if you have something that's less immediately abrasive, that's okay because you need to sharpen your knives often anyway, and regular sharpening is better than a super-sharp edge that dulls quickly and doesn't get sharpened again for a long time.

• The downside to hand-held sharpeners in general is that it may take quite a while to sharpen an especially dull blade.  If the blade has little divots in it, a hand-held sharpener won't deal with those.

• If you do go for a hand-held sharpener, read up on them first and find ones that have gotten lots of positive recommendations. 

My mom gave me this hand-held sharpener for Christmas. With this, you hold the knife steady and draw the sharpener over the knife. It has those criss-crossing abrasive blades in there, which in this case are made of tungsten carbide.  I tried it on my way-dull knife, and I could definitely see and feel little metal bits coming off of it.  After many passes with this sharpener, my way-dull knife did better at the paper test, but still not great. This sharpener seems pretty low-rent, both in its design and its $10 price tag. But 187 out of 235 people gave it 5 stars, and a lot of people say they like this better than their electric sharpeners.  I tried its companion product, a scissor sharpener, on a really old pair of scissors, and that worked great. So it could be that this knife just needs serious help.
(To be specific, this is the AccuSharp 001, and it's going for $9.94 on Amazon)

• Electric sharpeners used to be bad news because they'd wear a knife down lickety split without even sharpening it.  All they did was grind off bits of the knife but never gave a sharp edge.

• Now, however, electric sharpeners are made to be much more precise.  In fact, a good electric sharpener can sometimes "rehabilitate" a knife that's got issues besides dullness.

• Electric sharpeners usually keep the whole sharpening process more stable, the good ones can handle lots of different types of blades, and it won't matter whether you're left- or right-handed.

• They work much more quickly than a hand-held sharpener -- which means a bad sharpener can screw up a knife that much more quickly.  For this reason, if you're going to go electric, you're going to have to be willing to pay extra for a decent one.

• Again, do your research and find an electric sharpener that comes well-recommended. With this type of tool, quiet operation is an important indicator.  If the thing is loud, that probably means it's grinding away too much material.

This electric sharpener, the Chef's Choice M130, got 197 reviews on Amazon, 145 of which were 5-star. This thing has 100% diamond abrasives, it can sharpen pretty much any type of blade including serrated blades, and it automatically adjusts to the angle the blade requires.  The three slots are progressive and, used one after the other, result in "hair-splitting sharpness."  It'll set you back $150 on Amazon.

• Another option is to take your knives somewhere to have them sharpened professionally.  The plus side here is that -- if you've done your homework -- you can be confident that the sharpener has done a good job.  The down side is that if you rely on someone else to do it, you're less likely to have your knives sharpened as often as you should.

• You might be thinking, so why bother with all this?  Why not use those "never-needs-sharpening" knives?  Because, in short, those knives are crap.  They have serrated edges, which would turn a typical knife sharpener to mincemeat.  And serrated edges do, in fact, grow dull over time.  When these get dull, they're even more dangerous than a traditional blade because now you've got all sorts of little dull edges that can cut your skin and instead of making one cut, they'll sort of chew and grind up your skin.  

• That time I cut my finger and had to get stitches?  That was from a serrated knife.  Don't use those.  Or if you do, make sure you have a way to sharpen them.

These serrated knives look like el cheap-o bad news to me.  Sure, the "awesome colors" make it easy to find them in the drawer, and yes, they come with a little sheath to keep the blade from getting dulled when in the drawer. But they look like the handle could snap off at any time and what happens to that non-stick coating when you try to sharpen it? Major bad news, methinks.
(Knives available for $12.89 each from Delight.com)


Knife Maintenance

• There are some things you can do so that your knives stay sharp longer.

• Don't store them willy-nilly in a drawer with other metal cutlery.  The knife will get bumped against other metal objects which will dull the knife quickly.  Store a knife in a butcher's block or on a magnetized rack or in its storage case where it won't interact with anything else.

• The harder the surface you cut on, the faster the knife will go dull.  Polyethylene or polypropylene boards are best.  Wooden cutting boards are next best.  Acrylic boards, glass, stainless steel, granite, marble -- all these surfaces will dull your knives in a hurry.

 
An example of a polyethylene cutting board.  They're pretty standard, available all over the place.  This one goes for $10 on Amazon.

• Don't scrape chopped food off the cutting board into the pan using the knife edge.  Flip the knife over and use the back of the knife to do this.

• Sharpen your knives regularly.

The whole time I've been working on this entry, a line from a Louise Erdrich novel has been going through my head.  Karl Adare, an untrustworthy knife salesman, knocks at Celestine's door.  She knows he means nothing he says, but she buys his knives anyway.  When he comes back again, before they wind up in bed together, she says to him, "Your knives are duck bait."

I hope for your safety's sake that no one can say of you, "Your knives are duck bait."


Sources
Sharpening Supplies.com, What Is Sharp?
everything2.com, How to test if a knife is sharp
Chef's Choice, Knives & Knife Sharpeners: Myths & Facts
Ken's Knife and Scissor Knowledge
Cookography, Knife Sharpening for Real People

Apple #438: Words Without Opposites

Every time I encounter the words "nonchalant," "incognito," or "nonplussed" (it's in one of the Harry Potter books), I think, "Can someone be chalant?" or  "I go cognito all the time," or  "I wonder if I'm ever plussed."

In other words, these words are built to suggest that they ought to have opposites.  But they don't. 


These light bulbs are clearly opposites to each other. Both are light bulbs, but one is light, the other dark; one right side up, the other upside down. This is what you expect from certain words, too. Alike in all things, except opposites. Friendly, unfriendly. Sensitive, insensitive. But some words do not have a corresponding opposite.
(Painting by Michael Naples)


For some time now, I've been keeping a list of words that don't have opposites.  I recently went looking for more than I could think up on my own, and in so doing, I realized that there are a lot of them.  I decided to list them for you here.

Some are not on my list, though other people have included them on their lists of words without opposites. In those cases I haven't included such words because I think they do have opposites, they're just not used that often.  "Uncouth" is one that gets mentioned a lot.  But I have seen "couth" used in print, in older British books.

Another type of word I didn't include is one which does have other applications of its root word, though not necessarily an opposite.  For example, I considered including "detention" or "detain," but there are words that use that -tain root such as "retention" or "attain." They aren't exactly opposites of "detain," but they're close enough and there are enough of them, I decided that "detain" wasn't oddball enough to make the cut.

Instead of merely listing these words and boring the socks off you, I thought I'd give you the definition, an example of how the word is used in a sentence, and then its non-existent potential opposite in another sentence.

This is another one of those entries that I don't really expect you to read in its entirety but rather to skim and pluck out whatever catches your eye.


decrepit -- in disrepair; broken down (de "down" + crepare "to break")

I had to ride that nasty old decrepit bus for a whole hour.
versus
Gee, your house is so brand new and crepit!


defenestrate -- to throw out the window (de "down" + fenestra "window")

I feel so lousy, I'm going to defenestrate myself.
versus
What lovely Shrinky Dinks! I'm going to fenestrate them so the sun can shine through them.


Legos depicting the First Defenestration of Prague, 1419, when three people were thrown out of a window during a fight about religion. They landed in a pile of manure and survived.
(Photo from Brickshelf)


A fenestrated wreath?
(Photo from eHow)


defunct -- having ceased to exist or function (de "off" + fungi "duty")

That old Apple 2e is now defunct.
versus
My iPod is totally funct, man!


depraved -- hopelessly corrupted by vice (de "completely" + pravus "crooked")

Reefer Madness is a movie that depicts teenagers who become depraved after smoking marijuana.
versus
After the hardened criminal did his time in jail, he emerged a praved man.


deprive -- to take away from (de "away" + privare "belonging to oneself")

When their house burned down to the ground, the Arson family was deprived of all their possessions.
versus
Everyone in their town pitched in with donations, so within a few short weeks, the Arsons were comprived with food, clothing, and furniture.


despair -- to abandon hope (de "without" + sperare "hope")

When Chuck Nolan found himself stranded on a desert island, he despaired of ever being rescued.
versus
Once he caught his own fish and made a friend out of Wilbur the volleyball, his mood improved so much, he could even look at the photo of his girlfriend with spair.

[Edit: one vigilant Apple reader suggests "aspire" as the opposite of "despair," which would bump poor despair off this list.]



destitute -- so poor as to lack all resources for subsistence (de "away" + stare "to stand." I think the sense here is that you're so poor and you have so little, you stand away from everyone else.)

An orphan who grew up with no family, the little foundling was completely destitute.
versus
Bill Gates is a stitute money-bags.


disconsolate -- incapable of being comforted (dis "away" + consolare "comfort")

At the news that she could not get tickets to the Hannah Montana show, Trixie was disconsolate.
versus
I am consolate, you know, so get over here and give me a hug.


disgruntled -- in a state of sulky annoyance (dis "very" + gruntle or grunt "grumble")

When he was told he would have to go with Trixie to the Hannah Montana concert, Trixie's father was very disgruntled.
versus
The employees took the news that they would have to work overtime for two weeks very well. They were not at all gruntled.


disheveled -- rumpled, in disarray (des "apart" + chevel "hair")

When Skip came inside after wrestling with his pet grizzly bears, he looked most disheveled.
versus
After spending two hours getting ready for the Hannah Montana concert, Trixie finally announced that she was fully sheveled and ready to go.


dismantle -- to take apart into its pieces; to tear down the walls (des "away" + manteler "cloak")

Angry at Dirk for the amount of time he spent fooling with his iPod, Wilhelmina dismantled it.
versus
Skip spent three days mantling his Legos Death Star.



dismay -- despair in the face of obstacles; fear or apprehension (de intensifier + ex + magare "divest of power or ability")

When Skip first opened the box that held the Legos Death Star, the sight of so many thousands of little pieces filled him with dismay.
versus
However, when he began working on it and he saw that it wasn't that hard to assemble after all, he was filled with may.


disrupt -- to throw into disorder; break in on (dis "apart" + rumpere "to break")

Children! Stop disrupting this class or I shall have to beat you with erasers and put you in detention!
versus
Thus threatened, the children all scurried back to their desks and the class was rupted within a few moments.


feckless -- generally incompetent (feck "effective" + less "not")

Clark Griswold wants to decorate his house for Christmas, but he's completely feckless.
versus
Martha Stewart, though, she's a really feck decorator.


imbecile -- person of subnormal intelligence (in "not" + baculum "stick." Here the sense is "weak, or feeble, as unsupported by a stick." Except the weakness became specifically that of intelligence.)

Don't hire that imbecile plumber again! He connected our toilet to the sink!
versus
Stephen Hawking proved his becilic prowess in his famous book, A Brief History of Time.


impeccable -- flawless (in "not" + pecare "to sin")

Audrey Hepburn was impeccable in her dress, demeanor, and speech.
versus
Amy Winehouse is so peccable, it's hard to look at her sometimes.


Impeccable
(Photo from the thoughtscream)


Peccable?
Photo from Dvorak Uncensored)


impetuous -- impulsive; characterized by sudden action without much thought (in "into" + petere "to aim for, rush at")

Those two impetuous kids ran off to Vegas and got married even though they'd known each other only three days.
versus
The seasoned couple in their fifties petuously considered their options before deciding to take a stroll together.
 

impoverished -- made poor (in "in" + paupertas "poverty")

After Swifty O'Deuce gambled away his family's savings, they were impoverished.
versus
When Lucky Besterd won the lottery, he and his whole family became unpoverished.


inane -- lacking all sense or substance (inanem "empty, void, worthless, useless")

The one political party thought that all the bills proposed by the other political party were so inane they weren't even worth the paper they were printed on.
versus
The idea proposed by the six year-old child, however, was the anest thing any of the politicians had ever heard.


incessant -- occurring so often as to seem to be without interruption (in "not" + cessare "cease")

Trixie's pleas to be allowed to go to the Hannah Montana concert were incessant.
versus
Her father wished that the songs of Hannah Montana that Trixie played in her room would be cessant.


inchoate -- only partially in existence; half-formed (alteration of inchoare, which comes from in "on" + cohum "strap fastened to the oxen's yoke." As in, before you can begin, you have to fasten the strap to the oxen's yoke. Presumably, if it's inchoate, you haven't hooked the strap to the ox yet.)

She opened her mouth to explain, but as her ideas were still only inchoate, very little of what she said made sense.
versus
The bank robber's plan to steal all the cash was so choate, he and his buddies never got caught.

[Edit: that same vigilant Apple reader sent me this article about Justice Antonin Scalia's battle against the word "choate," and how it has persisted in lawyer-lingo in spite of him.]


incognito -- cloaked; hiding one's identity (in "not" + cognoscere "to know")

Donning a long black wig, sunglasses, buck teeth, and a trench coat, the starlet was so incognito, all the paparazzi ignored her.
versus
No matter what the Incredible Hulk did to try to disguise himself, he would always be cognito.


Even though he's wearing a trench coat, sunglasses, and a fedora, Johnny Depp is still cognito.
(Photo from OK!)


incommunicado -- without the means or ability to communicate (in "not" + communicare "to share")

Dude, I can't talk to you when I'm in detention because I'm supposed to be incommunicado.
versus
Sneaky Fumblethumbs, the worst spy on the planet, always told everyone where he was going and what he was doing; he was always communicado.


incorrigible -- incapable of responding to correction (in "not" + corrigere "to correct")

After failing to remember for the thousandth time to wipe his feet before coming inside, his mother clutched her hair and yelled, "Skip, you're incorrigible!"
versus
My puppy, Fred, is so smart and corrigible, he learned five new tricks in one day.


indelible -- cannot be erased (in "not" + delere "to destroy")

Little Maisie wrote all the bad words she knew on the living room wall in great, big letters with indelible ink, which made her parents decide to tear down that wall and turn the two rooms into one.
versus
Phil discovered when his hard drive crashed just how delible all that data was. 


indigent -- poor; lacking the necessities (in "not" + egere "to lack")

Even now, a lot of children growing up in Appalachia are indigent.
versus
What could you ever get Donald Trump for Christmas?  He's totally outdigent.


indignation -- righteous anger (in "not" + dignus "worthy." In other words, you think the other person isn't worthy of something, and that ticks you off.)

When Matilda was given the medal for first place in the relay even though she'd come in second, all the parents of the other children hollered at the referee in indignation.
versus
Realizing that the referee had made a mistake, Matilda handed the medal to the true first place winner, who thanked her with dignation.


indolent -- lazy (in "not" + dolare "pain." As in, if you don't take any pains or trouble to do anything, you're lazy.)

Yawning, his feet up on the coffee table, indolent Dirk changed the channels on the TV instead of doing any of his chores.
versus
Meanwhile, Wilhelmina dolently cleaned and scrubbed the entire downstairs of the house.


indomitable -- cannot be subdued (in "not" + domare "to tame")

In Superbowl X in 1976, the Pittsburgh Steelers were indomitable.
versus
Contrary to what many people thought, the Indianapolis Colt's in tonight's Superbowl proved to be domitable. (Go, Saints!)


Drew Brees (left) and his team the New Orleans Saints turned out to be the indomitable ones.  Peyton Manning (right) and his Indianapolis Colts proved to be domitable.
(Photo from Gambling 911)


ineffable -- defying expression; too sacred to be spoken (in "not" + ex "out" + fari "speak")

Many Jews believe that God is so sacred and ineffable, they will not write or speak His name.
versus
Graffiti artist Hip Hop Willy effed his name all over the place.


inept -- generally incompetent (in "not" + aptus "apt")

Although Arthur Fumbletoes took lessons and tried as hard as he could, he remained inept at ice skating.
versus
Kristi Yamaguchi is superept at ice skating.


inert -- incapable of motion; often used to describe non-reactive gases (in "not" + artus "skill")

After the wise guy knocked Private Eye Malloy on the back of the head with the butt of his gun, Malloy lay on the floor inert.
versus
Susie Homemaker was entirely too ert for her sister Loafula's taste as she went about the house vacuuming, dusting, cooking, and doing the laundry.


infernal -- inhabitant of hell (infernus "lower regions")

My dad often says he can't hear what people are saying because of all the infernal machines in the house.
versus
Penitents who strive to improve themselves in the eyes of God hope that, after death, their souls are sent to regions outfernal.
 

inhibition -- conscious exclusion of unacceptable thoughts or behaviors (in "in" + habere "to hold")

Sly Steve Playsaround slipped Lucinda Batshereyes another drink, hoping that with enough liquor, she would lose her inhibitions and go home with him.
versus
Lucinda knew exactly what Sly Steve was up to, though, and she redoubled her efforts to stay hibited.


insidious -- beguiling but harmful; undermining secretively (in "in" + sedere "to sit," as in, to sit and wait in ambush)

The insidious cancer spread throughout her lungs before anyone detected it.
versus
At the last surprise party he went to, Loud Larry did not even hide behind the couch but sidiously stuck his head out the front door and yelled to the birthday girl, "Hey! We're about to surprise you!"


insipid -- lacking interest, impact, or flavor (in "not" + sapidus "tasty")

Don't make me take another sip of your insipid soup.
versus
Her Hungarian goulash was the most sipid dish I've ever tasted.


insouciant -- blithely unconcerned, almost to the point of rudeness (in "not" + se soucier "to care")

Love-struck Wally struggled to bring armloads of shoes to the chair where his dear Felicity sat, and when he tripped and dropped the boxes of shoes everywhere, insouciant Felicity continued filing her nails.
versus
Martha Causemaven, determined to fight poverty, was to be seen without fail at the center of campus souciantly handing out flyers and begging people for their support and their donations.


intact -- undamaged; untouched, often in terms of a woman's virginity (in "not" + tangere "to touch")

The blushing bride emerged from the bridal chamber surprisingly intact.
versus
The groom's cheek, however, which had obviously been raked by fingernails, was clearly tact.


misgivings -- feelings of doubt or apprehension (mis "bad" + ghab "to take, hold")

Scooby Doo and the gang had all sorts of misgivings when they set foot in the old mansion that was rumored to be haunted.
versus
Everything went so smoothly for LuAnn from the time she put in a bid on the house until the day she closed, she had only givings about the prospect of moving in.



Shaggy and Scooby regularly state their misgivings in the beginning of this episode of the original Scooby-Doo cartoon.


misnomer -- incorrect or unsuitable name (mis "bad" + nomen "name")

Technically "The Daily Apple" is a misnomer for this blog, since I haven't posted entries on a daily basis in years.
versus
The Harry Potter books are full of characters with eunomers such as Severus Snape, Draco Malfoy, Bellatrix LeStrange, and Minerva McGonagoll.


nonchalant -- coolly unconcerned or indifferent (in "not" + chaloir "to have concern for" which is from calere "to be hot")

Private Eye Malloy nonchalantly flicked his cigarette into the gutter before following the bookie into the building.
versus
Martha Causemaven, shocked at Malloy's littering, ran to the gutter, plucked his cigarette butt out of it, and yelled after him chalantly, "Hey, Mister, you dropped this!"


nondescript -- lacking individual characteristics making it difficult to describe (non "not" + de "down" + scribere "to write")

I can't tell you what that robber looked like because he was completely nondescript.
versus
With his elephantine nose, prominent chin, two missing front teeth, and spiky bleached hair, the job candidate was entirely too descript.


nonpareil -- a disk of chocolate covered in beads of sugar; a model of excellence beyond par (non "not" + parilis "equal")

Those chocolates are so delicious and unlike anything I've ever tasted, they are nonpareil.
versus
I think they taste like any other boring old blob of chocolate. To me, they're completely pareil.

 
Nonpareils. That's what they're called, anyway.  It's a matter of opinion whether they are actually nonpareil or only just pareil.
(You can order these nonpareils from O'Shea's Candies for $13.50 a pound.)


nonplussed -- completely bewildered (non "not" + plus "further," specifically as in it is impossibly to be perplexed any further.

When Professor Turkentine tried to explain the theory of relativity, everyone in the class was nonplussed.
versus
When we read Stephen Hawking's much clearer explanation of it, however, we became plussed.


posthumous -- occurring after a person's death (originally, from posthumus, "last born" after the death of the father. Later it came to be post "after" + humus "earth" or after one is buried in the earth.)

Countless albums, CDs, and recordings of Jimi Hendrix's music have been issued posthumously.
versus
Which really only attests to the amount of work he did prehumously.


unbeknownst -- without one's knowledge (actually a vulgar formation of "unbeknown")

In the dark of night, Rufus sneaked up to Lila Jane's house with armloads of toilet paper unbeknownst to anyone in the house.
versus
When he got too carried away with flinging the toilet paper about and fell into a thorn bush, his shouts and howls made his pain beknownst to the entire neighborhood.


ungainly -- difficult to manage; lacking grace (un "not" + gegn "convenient, proper")

Jar Jar Binks' loping, ungainly walk is only one of the things wrong with that character.
versus
The sleek, two-year-old gelding ran at a gainly pace.


unkempt -- uncared for, slovenly (un "not" + kamb "comb")

Amy Winehouse and Courtney Love both seem to prefer the unkempt look.
versus
Trinity's hair in The Matrix is the epitome of kempt.


Trinity on the motorcycle with the keymaker.  Look how kempt her hair is, even while swerving about at top speed! In my alternate-vocabulary-universe, I'd go so far as to say it is the epitome of kemptitude.
(Photo posted by fangchu at Photobucket)


unswerving -- going directly ahead; dependable especially in loyalty (un "not" + swerven "to rove, stray")

The Knights of the Round Table swore their unswerving allegiance to King Arthur.
versus
Guinevere and Lancelot, however, were swerving in their loyalty when they sneaked off to have an affair.


untold -- an incalculable amount (un "not" + tella "to reckon or count")

The earthquakes in Haiti have wreaked untold damage to property and human lives.
versus
The money in Little Maisie's piggy bank is a told dollar and sixty-three cents.


untoward -- not in keeping with accepted standards of what is right or proper (un "not" + to "to" + wert "turn;" or turned away from)

That scoundrel's untoward behavior to young women is unacceptable and offensive.
versus
His brother's more gentlemanly way of addressing young women is toward and appreciated, if a bit boring.


unwieldy -- difficult to handle because of awkward shape or weight (un "not" + walth "power")

As a small boy Lancelot wrestled and strained to lift the large, unwieldy sword.
versus
Once he was a grown man, Lancelot found all manner of swords and weapons to be perfectly wieldy.


unruly -- unwilling to submit to restraint or discipline (un "not" + regere "to rule, guide, or straighten")

The unruly children continued to disrupt class, in spite of the threat of being beaten with erasers.
versus
Down the hall in another classroom, the ruly children quietly and neatly went about their work with nary a gruntle.


As I was coming up with those example sentences, I kept thinking of more words without opposites, and the list kept getting longer.  Finally I had to cut myself off.  So I'm sure you'll think of more words without opposites than I have listed here.


Sources
The Phrase Finder, Words with no opposite equivalent
World Wide Words, Unpaired Words
Wordnik, Opposites without (commonly used) opposites
Senator Jim Elliott, Queen City News, Montana Viewpoint: Words without opposites
Rink Works, Fun With Words, Words With No Positive Forms
OneLook and the dictionaries provided through it
Online Etymology Dictionary
Wordsmith.org, defenestrate

Apple #437: Blackberry Winter

I'm working on a fairly lengthy Apple entry that I hope you'll enjoy.  In the meantime, here's a brief one.

I heard a song on the radio yesterday about blackberry winter.  Reminded me I've always meant to look up that phrase.

• Blackberry winter happens in the spring when the weather has been getting warm and you think you're on your way to summer, and then snap! there's a sudden cold spell.

• It's so called because this usually happens around the time when the blackberries are in bloom.

Blackberries in bloom
(Photo by Ken Moore at The Carrboro Citizen)

• It's a phrase that's more common in the southern U.S. than anywhere else.

• I first encountered the phrase when I read the short story called "Blackberry Winter" by Robert Penn Warren.  The story is told from the point of view of a boy whose parents are going through hard times when a stranger arrives at their farm looking for work.  It's a terrific story with one of the best last lines I've ever read.

This collection of short stories is where I read "Blackberry Winter."  There's lots of other great stuff in here too.


There are lots of versions of songs called "Blackberry Winter."  Most of them on YouTube are jazz recordings. There's also an oldie sung by the Townsel Sisters.  But none of those are right.  I heard an acoustic version with one guy singing.  If I can find that song again, I'll post it.  But for now, it shall remain a mystery because I must go to bed.



You might also be interested in the Daily Apple entry on blackberries.


Sources
Wordsmith, A.Word.A.Day, Issue 131, August 14, 2004
Dave's Garden, Definition of blackberry winter

Apple #436: Groundhog Day

I can’t believe I haven’t done an entry yet on groundhogs or Groundhog Day.

Typical groundhog.

(Photo from Construction Lit Mag)

Real Groundhogs

• Groundhogs and woodchucks are the same thing.  They’re two different names for the same animal.

• Groundhogs are a type of marmot.  They’re in the same family with squirrels, prairie dogs, and chipmunks.

• Usually their fur is brown, but they may also be completely black.  More rarely, they may be all white (albino).

• They're stocky animals with flattened heads and brushy tails. Their legs are thick and strong and because they spend much of their time digging, they tend to waddle when they walk.

• They're slow runners, so they escape from predators (foxes, coyotes, dogs) by ducking into their dens.

• If cornered, they can be fierce fighters. There are lots of stories about particularly feisty groundhogs fighting off dogs as big as Lassie.

Groundhog and dog, squaring off. The groundhog won this round, perhaps only because the dog's owner corralled him and pulled him away.

(Photo from Hoarded Ordinaries)

• They make several noises. They grunt when they're happy; when they fight, they make a series of huffing, then squealing noises; and when a predator is approaching, they let out a high-pitched, warbling, chattering sound called a shrill. (Wav files are from HogHaven.)

• They also grind their teeth, and they make a sound like a low bark, but people don't know the purpose of this sound.

• In the spring and summer they spend the majority of their time eating.  They have to store up enough fat in order to survive the winter, when they hibernate.

• During these months, groundhogs hang out where they can find the most food, which happens to be in areas where woodlands meet open spaces, like fields, roads, or streams.

• They eat grasses and dandelions and clover and alfalfa as well as fruits and occasionally tree bark. They also find a gardener's vegetables very tasty. Because they have to eat like mad in the summer and fall in preparation for winter, they have destroyed many a farmer's crops.

• Another reason they have to keep eating is because their teeth don’t stop growing throughout their lives.  They have to keep chewing to keep their teeth worn down, or else their teeth will get way too big and possibly even kill them.

• Groundhogs' feet have little paw pads, and on their back feet, they have a thumb-like digit which makes their paws look very similar to human hands, except with those extra pads and the long, sharp claws.

I found some great photos of groundhog feet, but they have copyright notices all over them. So I can't show them to you here. But if you really want to see, and I recommend you look, check out this photo of a groundhog's front paw and this other photo of a groundhog's rear paw.

The tracks a groundhog makes.

(Image from University of Missouri Extension)

• With those sharp claws, groundhogs can and sometimes do climb trees. They can also swim.  But usually they stay on the ground.

• They have one den for summer and one for winter. The summer dens are relatively shallow, only 2 to 4 feet deep. They're built close to where they can find food, and often beneath structures like sheds or barns or garages.

• Winter dens are dug in dry areas and are several feet deep. This is where the groundhogs go after the first frost to hibernate, so the dens have to be deep enough to keep the animals below the frost line.

• While hibernating, the animal's heart rate plunges, and its body temperature is not much warmer than the temperature inside its burrow, about 39 to 40 degrees.

• Winter or summer, the dens usually have two entrances, one where they come and go most often, and a second, smaller one where they can look out and see if the coast is clear or sneak out and escape a predator who's interested in the den.

• Inside, the dens are lined with leaves and they are kept quite clean. There are rooms where the animals sleep and nurse their young, and a separate room which is essentially the bathroom. The groundhogs will wipe their feet before entering the den.

Cross-section of a groundhog's den.

(Drawing by Judith Moffatt, from Highlights Kids)

• In the spring, as soon as he emerges from hibernation, the male starts looking for a female. He walks from den to den until he finds a female who's interested. He mates with her and stays with her until she's ready to give birth. Then she kicks him out of the den to have her babies.

• She usually has about six cubs, which are born blind and helpless.

• She keeps him away from the cubs and won't let her near them. So he goes back to wandering from den to den, looking for another female. But most of them have already had their cubs and they run him off, too.

Groundhog Day

• The legend, which seems to have come to the U.S. with settlers from Germany (and the Germans may have gotten the tradition from Roman conquerors), is that if a groundhog wakes from hibernation, sees its shadow, and returns to its den, there will be six more weeks of winter.

• I’m not sure why Punxsutawney, PA became the center for Groundhog Day predictions, other than that a lot of Germans settled in Pennsylvania.  And the media might have had something to do with it.

• Punxsutawney Phil has been predicting the weather since 1887.  It wasn’t until 1966 when the ceremony of Phil emerging from his burrow at Gobbler’s Knob was made public.  Since then, it has become an increasingly popular media event.

• Now thousands of people descend on Gobbler's Knob, often as early as 3:00 in the morning or even the night before.  They wait outside in the cold until sunrise, around 7:00, when Phil makes his prediction.  I'm told there's a lot of drinking and shenanigans that go on in that 3 a.m. to 7 a.m. window. 

• In Punxsutawney on February 2, the groundhog is brought out of his “home” in a tree stump.  He’s held up next to the president of the Groundhog Club and supposedly he speaks his prediction in “groundhogese.”  The Groundhog Club President then announces Phil’s prediction to everyone else.

Punxsutawney Phil being held up by one of the members of the Inner Circle. That's what those guys in the top hats call themselves.

(Photo from mypunchbowlblog)

• Punxsutawney Phil almost always sees his shadow. Only 12 times out of the 109 years for which there are records did not see not see his shadow. In 1943, he didn't even come out of his hole. I don't blame him. There was a major war on that year.

• He's been seeing no shadow more often lately. 6 of those 12 times he didn't see his shadow were in the last 10 years. Maybe Punxsutawney Phil knows about global warming too?

• February 2 is what's known as a "cross-quarter" day, which means it's halfway between the winter solstice (the onset of winter) and the vernal equinox in March (the beginning of spring).  So by the calendar, February 2 is the dead middle of winter.

• As it happens, groundhogs don't really end their hibernation until after Feb. 2. Depending on how far south or north they live, they may wake up a week later, or not until March.

• What wakes them up is the change in the amount of daylight.

I plan to continue my celebration of Groundhog Day by watching, again, the movie of the same name, starring Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell.  I don’t think her character is all that charming or desirable, and that sort of dampens the movie for me.  But the rest of it, particularly the fact that the day repeats over and over and over until he apparently gets it right, is genius.  And I love Bill Murray.  He lets the groundhog drive.  Maybe if I watch the movie enough times, I’ll get to run off with him.

 

Okay, campers, rise and shine! Don't forget your booties cause it's cold out there today.

It's cold out there every day.  What is this, Miami Beach?

Not hardly. And you know, you can expect hazardous travel later today with that, you know, that, uh, that blizzard thing.

That blizzard-thing? That blizzard-thing. Oh, well, here's the report! The National Weather Service is calling for a "big blizzard thing!"

Yes, they are. But you know, there's another reason why today is especially exciting.

Especially cold!

Especially cold, okay, but the big question on everybody's lips...

-- On their chapped lips.

-- On their chapped lips, right. Do you think Phil is gonna come out and see his shadow?

Punxsutawney Phil!

That's right, woodchuck chuckers, it's

[in unison] GROUNDHOG DAY!

If you want to know how long Phil Connors actually lives Groundhog Day over again, The Movie Guy has come up with an estimate. The short answer: nearly 34 years.



P.S. How much wood could a wood chuck chuck?

• Though they can gnaw on bark, woodchucks don't actually eat that much wood, nor do they carry it around as beavers do. However, if they could carry it around, and if they used wood to fill one of their dens, they would have chucked about 700 pounds' worth of wood.

Sources

National Geographic, Animals, Groundhog (Marmota monax)

Groundhogs at HogHaven

Dr. Julia Spencer, Groundhogs.com

Cornell Chronicle, Groundhog day facts and factoids

Hinterland Who's Who, Mammal Fact Sheets: Woodchuck

IMDb, Groundhog Day (1993)
Groundhog Day, The Official Website of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club

Jason Patton's Groundhog Day page

Little note

Just updated my entry about J. D. Salinger with the latest news.