#acerbic

[pratchettquotes]

Having washed and dressed in his own private bathroom,* Moist went to see his wife, practising his smile on the way and endeavoring to look cheerful. You never knew with Adora Belle.** She could be quite acerbic. After all, she ran the whole clacks system these days.

Terry Pratchett, Raising Steam

* Separate bathrooms of course being the key to any happy marriage.

** "Spike" to her fond husband. Her brother had called her Killer, but he meant it in a nice way.

[100gayicons]

Rex Reed has died at the age of 87. He had been a film critic since the 1960s, with his last review in November 2025 - nearly 60 years of acerbic (aka bitchy) remarks. He was often criticized for inaccuracies in his reviews and for making disparaging comments about an actor’s appearance.

Reed occasionally acted in films. In 1970, he appeared in “Myra Breckenridge” - a black comedy about a man who undergoes a sex change operation - Reed played the part of “Myron” and Raquel Welch played the part of “Myra”. They appeared in a few fantasy sequences together.

Like Truman Capote, Reed was one of those people you knew was gay without asking. Reed spoke about being gay in a 2018 interview:

“Love is not something that I've been really good at. I think people are intimidated by people with opinions… It would be nice, though, to find somebody who's really handy with a wheelchair, because that day is coming."

(Eight years later but who’s counting?)

[graveyard-guardian]

wow! thats edgy

[daily-cool-words]

Today's word of the day is...

Acerbic

[Adjective]

Definition: Sharp and forthright, especially about a manner of speaking.

Example Sentence: Dick's acerbic wit was just one of the things that made him so well-liked.

[little-trifles]

Latin Derivatives: Acerbic

Adj - Harsh in temper or words

acer, acris, acre - sharp, fierce

[miqojak]

21. What kind of relationships do they tend to intentionally seek out versus actually cultivate? What kind of social contact do they prefer, and why?

She...seems to gravitate to other people with a burden like hers - broken people who've healed themselves, or those who haven't and might find themselves in flux (that she could influence), though I don't think she'd like to term it so much 'broken' as...'people with sharp edges,' like her. Though she doesn't 'gravitate' so much as people sometimes actually want to get to know her...and once she's past her suspicion/paranoia (this takes forever), then that's what she gravitates to: those who see, and accept her. And it's important that they be honest about and with themselves, as well. People with a sharp mind, who still know how to make mischief are top notch, in her book. Especially if they can keep pace in a verbal spar (....or be a good sport when they lose, and not threaten her >_>). The 'why' of it all is likely that...that's all she knows. She's had a screwed up life, and wasn't really socialized at all, and doesn't believe in altruism as a concept, either. It's hard for her to want to establish relationships, when all she sees is someone who wants to use her for one reason, or another...and some bad shit with people she let in went down last year that only reinforced that mindset. Getting it through her head that you're not that is rough, thanks to her paranoia. So, she ends up preferring to stay at arm's length, interject with snide insights, and occasionally be lured in with philosophical debate. Or more snide commentary from others.

[bappychaps]

Fugazi - '13 Songs'

CD - 1990 Dischord Records

[sleepydrummer]

I didn't leave, I ran away.

Alan Sillitoe, The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner