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Diabolically Arcane

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Demonym Derby

20 March, 2015

A word challenge before we begin a placename game. This comes from Kerry via email:  What do you call a tweeter (or blog poster) who gatecrashes the chat, gets all sweary & upset because you don't share their views, then humphs off in a state of hurt or outrage?

Phew. Plenty to fit into one word. So far the shortlist - beyond troll - is Trollum (after Gollum) and the adjective of pestulant. Any other nominees?

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Now for the name game - two in fact:

1. Can you create a comical Oz demonym? To whet the wits, consider Lismoron, Yassman, Thredbogan, Bondiver, Cobarman (and Cobarmaid) & Perthling.

2. And keeping geographic, what might be an Oz town's funny offshore twin? If the Shire of Bland is hoping to connect with Dull, Ohio (seriously), then what other alliances may be on the agenda? What about:

Orange & Valencia

Mascot & Manchester (think beds...)

Dandenong & Antwerp

Hay & Grasmere

You get the geo-gist. Have fun with all three brain-ticklers.

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If you missed my riddle chat with Richard Fidler, then feel free to slurp the podcast at http://ab.co/1I9t1x5

Text-speak is creeping into Scrabble. Where do you sit?
OBVS I'm fine with it
Entrenched stuff - like LOL and OMG - but no more.
Words With Friends, maybe. Scrabble, no
Let the 'real' dictionaries decide first
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