This is my nth time in making a blog. I have other blogs in the web, some I update from time to time, others have already been rubbish in the bowels of the internet. I’m sure it’s there, it’s just that I could no longer remember their domain names or where the hell I posted them.
But, worry no more, I’m planning to update and keep this blog as long as I can (hopefully, its life will last longer than 3 months. keep your fingers crossed). Before I proceed to some serious and not-so-serious matters, allow me to reason out why I chose EPISTAXIS MAXIMUS as my blog title.
Epistaxis. Literally.
I did not intend to name the blog as Epistaxis Maximus but only Epistaxis. Why epistaxis? Because I’m fond of making other people’s noses bleed (not that I punch them; not in a violent, destructive sort-of way and fyi, Epistaxis is the medical term for nose-bleed which I will explain in full scientific detail later).
My friends would often taunt me that I make their noses bleed every time I blurt out a useful or useless information or trivia about something they/we are currently talking about or simply just something out of the blue. Some would simply gesture holding noses while some would overtly say nosebleed and act as if they would die from it.
Before I befuddle all of you as to why saying something trivial, unusual, unknown or geeky cause nosebleeds, I must clarify this must be understood in a cultural context. The Filipino culture that is. Because I am a Filipino.And if you’re not one you might read nosebleed in a different context, hence my definition below:
Nosebleed is Filipino slang for something exceedingly difficult or takes so much effort that it makes your nose bleed.
It is used in the context that someone is offering unnecessary, unneeded, or unusual information or fact about anything under the sun that it takes a more than higher intellect for one to practically grasp the idea. Or simply, sheer geekiness.
It is also often used in the context of someone trying to conduct a conversation in straight English and struggling mightily with it. Or it could be talking in straight, non-stop, hifalutin English.
An image of the human species sampling his own blood caused by Epistaxis.
Perhaps, I might have gotten the eponymous title of “nosebleed” due to my love and interest for trivia, factoids and useless information. I was always my grade school and high school contestant to trivia quiz bees and general information tourneys. Not to mention the fact that I love HISTORY especially the ancient civilizations. My eyes would literally light up every time I read or watch something interesting about those topics.
As for maximus, i just added it up to complete my blog name since epistaxis is already taken. Maximus (alternative spelling maximos) is a name formed from the Latin term for “greatest” or “largest.” Thus it is a superlative describing the degree or level of nosebleed — simply GREATEST NOSEBLEED.
As for its scientific explanation, it’s wikipedia that I have to thank for:
Epistaxis (or a nosebleed in plain English) is the relatively common occurrence of hemorrhage from the nose, usually noticed when the blood drains out through the nostrils. There are two types: anterior (the most common), and posterior (less common, more likely to require medical attention). Sometimes in more severe cases, the blood can come up the nasolacrimal duct and out from the eye. Fresh blood and clotted blood can also flow down into the stomach and cause nausea and vomiting.
Perhaps the most well-known Epistaxis-related death was that of Attila the Hun. He drank a colossal amount of alcohol on his wedding night after his parley with Pope Leo I, suffered a nosebleed in his sleep and was suffocated by the blood.
I’m planning to add more info but I hesitated. Don’t want to flood the entire web on my first serious post. I know, there will be plenty of time to do that on my next posts.
So now, you know.
Epistaxis Maximus 