tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5837660608809488753.post4362926133933819765..comments2024-03-28T20:53:49.167-04:00Comments on The Adventures of Roberta X: Linguistic Patrol: Fetch Me A Willow SwitchRoberta Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09956807794520627885noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5837660608809488753.post-34778268509980217352009-11-16T21:06:36.062-05:002009-11-16T21:06:36.062-05:00Hmm - as late as 1950, many men dressed for lodge ...Hmm - as late as 1950, many men dressed for lodge meetings - and for bowling. Some men wore a snappy fedora as they played "roll a bowl a ball, a penny a pitch." <br /><br />Unfortunately, the advent of television put an end to most social activities.<br /><br />On a more modern note, I have also observed the linguistic peccadilloes of television's minikins. I attribute it to the extreme thinness of their world, painted as they are on a phosphor coated window. Or the inside of an LED screen. They are in reality no more than Flatlanders. <br /><br />But, as my old boxing buddy Willie Weichert used to say about the Legislature, "Those people blow as much smoke as a wet wood fire in a high wind." <br /><br />StrangerStrangernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5837660608809488753.post-14021568141657373362009-11-16T20:22:31.600-05:002009-11-16T20:22:31.600-05:00It is disconcerting that a number of you seem to b...It is disconcerting that a number of you seem to be purposely misusing the word in question after Bobbi's rant. :-)<br /><br />Do you want her to come after you with that willow switch? I know from personal experience that you don't want to be on the receiving end of one of those.Bruce B.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5837660608809488753.post-7468958832086822252009-11-16T19:09:25.335-05:002009-11-16T19:09:25.335-05:00A new reason for me to yell at the talking heads? ...A new reason for me to yell at the talking heads? Good. I've gotten bored with reminding them (oh, if only they could hear me!) that not everything has to be a "situation." It is fine to have thunderstorms without it being a "thunderstorm situation," and there's no good reason that a simple collision must be elevated to the lofty station of "an accident situation."Wayne Conradhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10595005905880642013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5837660608809488753.post-737444005450997662009-11-16T16:45:23.690-05:002009-11-16T16:45:23.690-05:00Also sprach Rob K: "Is it language rot, or la...<i>Also sprach</i> Rob K: "Is it language rot, or language cannibalism?"<br /><br />It is the Endarkenment.Kenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04780425923108876647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5837660608809488753.post-24434131974353300632009-11-16T14:04:21.996-05:002009-11-16T14:04:21.996-05:00One of my favorites:
Hd Qrs. Army in the Field
...One of my favorites:<br /><br />Hd Qrs. Army in the Field<br /> Camp near Donelson, Feby 16th<br /><br />Gen. S.B. Buckner,<br /> Confed. Army,<br /><br /> Sir: Yours of this date proposing Armistice, and appointment of Commissioners, to settle terms of Capitulation is just received. No terms except an unconditional and immediate surrender can be accepted.<br /><br /> I propose to move immediately upon your works.<br /> I am Sir: very respectfully<br /> Your obt. sevt.<br /> U.S. Grant<br /> Brig. Gen.Fuzzy Curmudgeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03802539927743643041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5837660608809488753.post-23688056220559352022009-11-16T13:42:18.301-05:002009-11-16T13:42:18.301-05:00I miss Bill Safire, in more ways than one. "M...I miss <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Safire" rel="nofollow">Bill Safire</a>, in more ways than one. "Mr. Language Person" must be rotating at high RPM these days.<br /><br />Is that hot fudge on the free ice cream, lovely one?samhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06266828722290789801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5837660608809488753.post-28822070307092619802009-11-16T13:16:40.343-05:002009-11-16T13:16:40.343-05:00I find this so concerning, I think I'm utterly...I find this so concerning, I think I'm utterly decimated! I think I'll go have a chocolate martini, to calm down.<br /><br />Is it language rot, or language cannibalism?Rob Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15604826633798229422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5837660608809488753.post-24558577894530909432009-11-16T12:16:49.290-05:002009-11-16T12:16:49.290-05:00I find it very concerning that your TV's inhab...I find it very concerning that your TV's inhabitants are disembodied, floating heads that nest in the walls inside Ayn Rand novels.<br /><br />Something about the whole thing just sends a shiver up my spine.Donhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15824445546892392815noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5837660608809488753.post-27441167347354226402009-11-16T11:31:29.383-05:002009-11-16T11:31:29.383-05:00Ah yes, the grand old business correspondence conv...Ah yes, the grand old business correspondence conventions!<br /><br />"In re yours of the fifth inst., yours to hand and beg to rep... brackets...<br /><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0020640/quotes" rel="nofollow">We have gone over the ground carefully</a>, and we seem to believe, i.e., to wit, e.g., in lieu, that, uh, despite all our... precautionary measures which have been involved..."Old Grouchhttp://oldgrouch.mee.nunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5837660608809488753.post-1070320708474207972009-11-16T09:11:01.326-05:002009-11-16T09:11:01.326-05:00They were about up to the limit on "troubling...They were about up to the limit on "troubling," you see.<br /><br />Thank you for the explanation of ul./inst./pent. It's one of those things I should oughta have looked up long ago but never did.<br /><br />Recently, another blogger I read posted stills from (I think it was) the original <i>Scarface,</i> with Boris Karloff bowling just before someone killed him. He, and nearly everyone else in the place, was wearing <i>a three-piece suit.</i><br /><br /><i>Bowling.</i><br /><br />That old guy on the porch, shaking his cane at the whippersnappers? That's gonna be me, thirty years from now (if I am spared).<br /><br />I'm not sure it isn't me already.Kenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04780425923108876647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5837660608809488753.post-73642442014906379982009-11-16T09:08:37.643-05:002009-11-16T09:08:37.643-05:00"The trajectory of that electric airship is v..."The trajectory of that electric airship is very disconcerning," said Tom Swift.<br /><br />You mean like that?<br /><br />wv: listan<br /><br />Why is my airship listan to starboard?Turk Turonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02648721047835980871noreply@blogger.com