Pragmatic Escapism

coaster : A person who originates from or inhabits a coastal area. (slang, dated) A prostitute, especially a white woman, plying her trade in Chinese port towns. (nautical) A sailor (especially the master or pilot of a vessel) who travels only in coastal waters. A merchant vessel that stays in coastal waters, especially one that travels between ports of the same country. (Canada, US) Short for coaster trout (“the brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) in Lake Superior and Maine”). [...] Agent noun of coast: one who coasts. (Australia, slang) An itinerant person who shirks work but still seeks food and lodging; a loafer, a sundowner. (US, winter sports) A person who uses a sled or toboggan to slide down a slope covered with ice or snow; a sledder, a tobogganist. Something that coasts or is used to coast. (dated) A small stand or tray, sometimes with wheels, used to pass something such as a decanter or wine bottle around a tabletop. (by extension) A small, flat or tray-like object on which a bottle, cup, glass, mug, etc., is placed to protect a table surface from drink spills, heat, or water condensation. (computing, slang) A useless compact disc or DVD, such as one that was burned incorrectly or has become corrupted. (US, informal) Short for rollercoaster. (US, winter sports) A sled or toboggan. Today, the last Thursday of September in 2021, is World Maritime Day, which is recognized by the United Nations to highlight the work of the International Maritime Organization and emphasize the importance of shipping and other maritime activities.

ischemia : (cardiology, pathology) Local disturbance in blood circulation due to mechanical obstruction of the blood supply (for example, embolism, thrombosis, or vasoconstriction). Today is World Heart Day, which was established by the World Heart Federation to highlight the fact that heart disease and stroke are the world’s leading causes of death, and the importance of heart health.

infobesity : (informal) Synonym of information overload (“the availability or supply of too much information, or a state of stress which results from it”) Today is the International Day for Universal Access to Information, which is recognized by the United Nations to emphasize the importance of public access to information.

psychocentric : (philosophy) Primarily focused on the mind or spirit, especially as opposed to the body. (psychology, tourism) Of a tourist: tending to avoid adventures and risks, preferring the familiar; self-inhibiting. psychocentric n (psychology, tourism) A tourist who tends to avoid adventures and risks, preferring the familiar. Today is World Tourism Day, which is recognized by the United Nations to raise awareness about tourism’s role in the international community and to demonstrate how it affects cultural, political, social, and economic values worldwide.

gravamen : A grievance complained of. (Anglicanism) A document sent by the Lower House of Convocation to the Upper House to inform the latter of certain grievances in the church. The essence or ground of a complaint. (by extension) The essence or most important aspect of a piece of writing, a point of argument, etc; the gist. (obsolete) A formal charge or complaint.

unloose : (transitive) (also figuratively) To loosen or undo (something that entangles, fastens, holds, or interlocks). (also figuratively) To relax or slacken (something that clasps or grips, such as the arms or hands). To free (someone or something) from a constraint; (figuratively) to release (something which has been suppressed, such as emotions or objectionable things). (archaic) To remove or take off (especially something undesirable). (intransitive) To become loose or come off. (also figuratively) To free from a constraint.

sward : (uncountable) Earth which grass has grown into the upper layer of; greensward, sod, turf; (countable) a portion of such earth. (countable) An expanse of land covered in grass; a lawn or meadow. (countable, obsolete) The upper layer of the ground, especially when vegetation is growing on it. (countable, obsolete except Britain, dialectal) The rind of bacon or pork; also, the outer covering or skin of something. sward v (transitive) To cover (ground, etc.) with sward. (intransitive) Of ground, etc.: to be covered with sward; to develop a covering of sward. [...]

like it's going out of style : (simile, informal) Of engaging in an activity: enthusiastically; to an excessive degree.

suburbia : (originally Britain) The suburbs as a whole and all that characterizes or pertains to them; (derogatory) the suburbs as encapsulated or represented by the typical characteristics or qualities of the people living there, especially complacency, conformity, conservativeness, dullness, etc. The song “Suburbia” by the English synthpop duo the Pet Shop Boys was released as the fourth single from their debut studio album Please on this day 35 years ago in 1986.

mooncake : A rich, dense Chinese pastry traditionally filled with lotus seed paste and nowadays with a variety of other fillings, usually eaten during the Mid-Autumn Festival (on the 15th day of the eighth month of the Chinese lunisolar calendar; early September to early October). 中秋節 (Zhōngqiūjié) or the Mid-Autumn Festival, during which mooncakes are traditionally eaten, falls on this day in 2021.