Usage: Amused vs. Bemused

Note the meanings of these two different words (Merriam-Webster):
amused: pleasantly entertained or diverted
bemused: marked by confusion or bewilderment, lost in thought or reverie

Too many writers are using bemused to mean amused. They are not interchangeable, at least for now.

To muse means to be absorbed in thought. If you are comfortable with your Latin prefixes, a- means not, so amused means not absorbed in thought. You are being entertained instead. The be- prefix has a lot of meanings, mostly to do with making things more complicated. So you may be over-thinking something if you’re bemused.

Trick to Remember
Bemused is similar to bewildered and befuddled.
Amused makes you say ah! ooh!

Marijuana: The Unbiased Truth About the World’s Most Popular Weed by Kevin P. Hill

Marijuana: The Unbiased Truth About the World’s Most Popular Weed by Kevin P. Hill

☆☆☆☆
Nonfiction – Science, Medicine, Drugs

This is a very informative book by a marijuana addiction doctor. The first part is the science and facts about marijuana, the second part is about the debate about legalization in America, and the third part is overcoming addiction for yourself or loved ones. This third part didn’t apply to me, so I skimmed that part more. I’m not a fan of biology, but I am interested in physiology and pharmacology. I also wanted to get more information about legalization policies. Here are some key points I found interesting:

● Marijuana is addictive, though less addictive than other substances. (I didn’t know it was considered a nonaddictive drug.)

● Far more people are addicted to marijuana than opioids. In fact, the vast majority of prescription opioid users (like myself) are using them responsibly. To say we have an “opioid epidemic” is an exaggeration.

Considering the substantial number of people who use marijuana and become addicted, it is puzzling that we hear more about the potential dangers of opioid use than the risk of addiction to marijuana. This is especially true when we consider that the number of Americans affected by marijuana is so much greater than the number affected by opioids, including heroin. The same holds true for methamphetamine and other illicit drug use.

● Marijuana use in teens causes a permanent drop in IQ. (I have a friend who saw this firsthand with her students. She teaches high-risk, criminal teens.)

● Marijuana today is far more potent than that used in the 60s, 70s, and 80s. Baby boomers and middle-aged adults who used in then may think it’s not a big deal and not realize that it’s different now.

In those decades, the average THC content was about 1-2 percent. The latest average THC content established in the United States is 13 percent. … Also, keep in mind that marijuana with a THC content in the range of 27 percent can be purchased.

● “Medical marijuana” is not the same as cannabinoid drugs. There are already FDA-approved cannabinoid drugs available in every state. Medical marijuana means using a medical excuse to use ordinary THC-rich marijuana, which has not showed promising uses for medical conditions. It’s also usually smoked, which is never healthy for you.

According to a 2011 story in the Huffington Post, by 2011 Denver had more medical marijuana dispensaries than it had Starbucks coffee shops. It seems very unlikely that there is a greater medical need for marijuana in Denver than the recreational consumption of coffee products.

As a fan of  personal liberty, I lean in favor of decriminalization and legalization. However, implementing sound policies that prevent abuse and misuse by children is still a tricky process. There’s still a lot to learn, and it seems like a good idea to observe Colorado and Washington for a while and learn from them before doing the same in other states.

Overall, a good, informative book if you are interested in the subject.

Spelling: Recreate vs Re-create

This is an interesting one. In general, hyphenated prefixes are frowned upon (nonprofit but non-native). In this case, the hyphen is used to distinguish between two words that are pronounced differently but otherwise spelled the same.

Recreate is the verb form of recreation. It isn’t used very much, so nobody really thinks about it.

Re-create is to create again. This is a much handier word than recreate.

Trick to Remember
Without a hyphen, the word is pronounced REC-ree-ate (as in recreation). With a hyphen, the re is separated from the c and so is pronounced ree-cree-ATE.

Warbreaker

Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson
☆☆☆☆ Fantasy – High, Epic

So, what do an atheist god, a pacifist warrior with a sentient sword, an all-powerful being with no real power, a charismatic mercenary, and two princess sisters have to do with each other? Not much, at first. A long time ago, one nation broke into two. Now, war seems inevitable. Can it be stopped?

When the book opens, the seemingly unconnected characters are introduced and set up like chess pieces. You don’t really relate to any of them and don’t know who to root for. Gradually, the big picture becomes clear. This is typical of Sanderson.

Here, the magic system, culture, and theology are based around color. The world building is deep and thorough. Watch the characters closely — no one is whom they appear to be. It’s a creative, humorous, and epic tale, brilliantly crafted, about what it really takes to be a hero.

Usage: Farther vs Further

Guess what? These two words are not interchangeable.

Farther is for distance: The store is farther than the school. You have to run farther than that.

Further is for degree: We need more money to further the cause. I will look into the matter further.

Trick to Remember
Farther is for things that are far.
Further is related to furthermore and metaphorical distances.

Usage: Uninterested vs. Disinterested

This is an issue I’m seeing a lot in published books, which have presumably passed by editors. Disinterested has become a trendy word in books the last few years. However, it does not mean the same as uninterested.

Uninterested means one is not interested in something; indifferent.

Disinterested means one is impartial and unbiased; lacking a conflict of interest.

You want a judge to be disinterested but not necessarily uninterested. You will rarely, if ever, see disinterested outside of legal contexts.

Trick to Remember
If something is uninteresting, you are uninterested in it. If you are disinterested, you are distancing yourself from the interested parties in a conflict.

Sourcery by Terry Pratchett

Sourcery (Discworld #5; Rincewind #3) by Terry Pratchett

Fantasy, Satire

Here we have the third book featuring Rincewind (and the Luggage). The plot of this story is secondary to the quirkiness of the characters and the settings. There’s Sourcery vs. Magic and some spoofing off the Arabian Nights. I was getting a little tired of it by the end. But it was still funny, and I found some favorite bits to quote:

“I meant,” said Ipslore bitterly, “what is there in this world that truly makes living worthwhile?”
Death thought about it.
CATS, he said eventually. CATS ARE NICE.

“It’s vital to remember who you really are. It’s very important. It isn’t a good idea to rely on other people or things to do it for you, you see. They always get it wrong.”

“If failure had no penalty, success would not be a prize.”

“I’m not going to ride on a magic carpet!” he hissed. “I’m afraid of grounds!”
“You mean heights,” said Conina. “And stop being silly.”
“I know what I mean! It’s the grounds that kill you!”