Hmm. Thanks to the magic of translate Google I'm going to just go ahead and coin this one: Rückwirkendneid. (Oooh, as a special bonus, they threw in an umlaut!) That would be Google-German for "retroactive envy." Close enough for my purposes, espcially with that extra-Teutonic umlaut.
What things beget Rückwirkendneid in the husk of my heart? Oh, let's see. There's a short list of novels I wish I had written (Elizabeth Knox's Mortal Fire, Jasper Fford's The Eyre Affair, and Kate Atkinson's Life after Life). And inventions -- like my pal K, I wish I had been the one to figure out that sun-protection neck gaiters were going to be a thing. Also, I wish I had invented Tervis Tumblers because they make people so happy. And also, this website devoted to a collection of cool musical covers also kind of does it to me too. Tell me what gives you Rückwirkendneid (comment below) and I will send the top three responses (or perhaps the first three! or maybe the three regular contributors who have commented on past posts!) a super-neato prize. Or anyway a "prize." Past winners have received things like paperback novels, handmade soaps, and lunch at my favorite Chinese place.
7 Comments
Lois
10/3/2014 03:17:45 am
I invented the cooler on wheels, just didn't have the wherewithal to manufacture it!
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Amy
10/9/2014 01:09:00 pm
Lois
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Mathew Dalton
10/3/2014 07:54:43 am
I wish I had invented sliced bread....for obvious reasons.
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Amy
10/9/2014 01:09:58 pm
Mathew
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Ed Salva
10/5/2014 04:31:46 pm
Thanks for an article that got me thinking.
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Amy
10/9/2014 01:14:13 pm
Ed
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Amy
11/18/2014 01:23:22 am
Hey players -- I popped some fabulous prizes into the mail yesterday. If they are transformed into something plasticky or cheesy in transit, blame the U.S. Postal Service.
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