Word of the Day

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8

Amalgam

[ə-MAL-ɡəm]Part of speech: noun

Origin: greek, late 15th century

• A mixture or blend.
• An alloy of mercury with another metal, especially one used for dental fillings.

Examples of Amalgam in a sentence

• The menu at her party was an amalgam of snack foods and fancy baked goods.
• The mark of old-fashioned dental fillings is the silver fillings amalgam, which might need to be replaced.

About Amalgam

The origin of amalgam goes back to the Greek word “malagma,” which means an emollient. An emollient today is a skin softener, so the definitions have changed over the years. Your emollient may likely be an amalgam (mixture) of ingredients, but every amalgam is not an emollient.

Did you Know?

Amalgam can be used to describe a mixture or blend of any materials, but the technical medical and dental definition strictly concerns mercury, blended with another metal. Mercury is an element that can be dangerous to humans, but it’s found to be safe when used as part of the dental amalgam.

Saturday's Prompt

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

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Reading Material - Daily Prompt - Saturday Prompt

[pfrye.livejournal.com]

Napoleon knocked on Illya’s door, his arms full of take out from their favorite Chinese restaurant Chang’s.  He had come over for their traditional after affair dinner.  He tilted his head and listened at the door.  No footsteps but there was a faint sound of the shower.  

Smiling, he took out his key and unlocked his friends door.  Turning off the alarm system he entered, locked up after himself and made his way through the crowded apartment to the small kitchen where he deposited the take out.

“It’s just me!” he yelled, “Dinner is here!”

“I’ll be out in a few” 

 Grabbing a glass from the counter he poured himself a scotch from the bottle that Illya kept for him. Taking his drink he made his way into the crowded living room.  He was always amused at his partners apartment.  Even though he could afford to live in a much nicer location, a larger place, he preferred his book and record filled flat in the Village. Illya had told him once that it reminded him of Moscow. He felt more at home here than in more luxurious surroundings.

Napoleon took a sip of his drink and began to look over the books on his partners overflowing book shelves.  There were many titles, many languages, tomes of science, philosophy, history and the only novels were classics.  He frowned as he noticed an old, water stained paper book on an upper shelf.  It’s Cyrillic print faded. It was obviously well read and used.  His curiosity piqued he reached for it to take it down from the shelf. 

“I wouldn’t if I were you!”  Illya’s voice rang out from close behind him.  Startled Napoleon dropped the book which fell open, revealing a crudely cut out section behind the cover.  A Makarov nestled in the book fell out to the floor.

Illya picked up the pistol and the book.  Putting it back in it’s hiding place he slid the book back into it’s place on the shelf.   

“Dinner?” he questioned.

“Ah, IK, do you want to explain that?”

“No.”

“Dinner it is then”  Turning he and his partner went to the kitchen to enjoy their meal.  Napoleon knew that the Makarov in the book was just another mystery that he’s have to live with.     

Just a Snippet of Something I Think Might Go Somewhere...

[alynwa.livejournal.com]

“You can keep looking, Illya,” Napoleon said as he reclined on the almost paper – thin mattress he’d been sleeping on for the past two nights, “but I really think we’re going to have to wait for Mark and April to find us.  I managed to let HQ know our whereabouts just before we were captured and they haven’t moved us anywhere, so they’ll be here I estimate within five hours.”

“If you want to just lie back and await rescue, be my guest,” his prickly partnered replied as he continued to inspect the walls of the cell, “A lot of unpleasantness can happen in five hours and I would prefer to be in one piece.  Aut viam inveniam aut faciam.  Sorry, that means…”

“’I shall find a way or make one.’”  He was about to say something else, but when Illya stopped what he was doing to stare at him with wide eyes, he glared at the blond instead.  “What’s that look for?” he demanded.

“Nothing.  I was just surprised, is all.”

Napoleon sat up, anger etched on his face.  “You really do think I’m stupid.”

The reddening Russian said, “No, Napoleon, I do not think you are stupid.”

“Just stupid compared to you. Admit it: You were shocked I knew that Latin saying!”

Before Illya could answer, the sound of gunfire erupted not too far away.  They both recognized the sounds of Walther pistols and knew their rescue was at hand.

Napoleon reached for both cots and turned them over so they would have a barrier between them and the plastic explosive he knew would be used to force the door open.  He reached out and none too gently yanked his partner down beside him.  “We are so not done with this discussion,” he growled.