tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post4248271042557145840..comments2023-11-10T04:17:00.492-05:00Comments on View From The Porch: More annoyances...Tamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07285540310465422476noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-51288003951254689442010-10-04T21:59:37.002-04:002010-10-04T21:59:37.002-04:00I do abhor the abuse of the word "transparent...I do abhor the abuse of the word "transparent" when used in context of human (or even political) activity.<br /><br />Transparent means it can be seen through, that vision isn't obstructed. Glass (when clear) and air are transparent; at times so is water.<br /><br />The process a political or other organization uses to achieve a task is largely ephemeral and metaphysical. There is literally nothing there to be seen. When you want visibility into the workings of a group, when you want assurance that rules and ethics inform the action, then you want visibility into the workings of the group. Back in the day we talked about such thing as shedding light on questionable dealings, we passed sunshine laws to assure that meetings and agreements were conducted according to law, courtesy, and with fairness to those involved.<br /><br />"Open and honest", I think, would be more what I really want to know about Congressional and Presidential actions. Open so that they stop organizing their shenanigans away from the press and scrutiny of the average citizen, and outside the legal bounds of the law and accepted (expected) practice. And honest in a way that is fair to all.<br /><br />Leave transparency to the overhead projector crowd.Brad K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/18378344866487206569noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-71996649647101221952010-10-04T21:53:14.190-04:002010-10-04T21:53:14.190-04:00I bet that y'all would even disagree that The ...I bet that y'all would even disagree that The One's minions toad the line!Mark Matisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-25233486630660858982010-10-04T21:28:41.528-04:002010-10-04T21:28:41.528-04:00@ Steve Skubinna,
Um, "teeth gritter"? ...@ Steve Skubinna,<br /><br />Um, "teeth gritter"? Using an invented phrase that is a bit of creative verbing is a surprising thing to do in a vent about improper word usage.<br /><br /><br />@ Ferret,<br /><br />There is a difference between precision and accuracy; I fight it myself.<br /><br />That is, I can lay out a board and read the tape measure to precisely 3 and 13/64ths of an inch, which is moderately precise. But if I didn't get the end positioned correctly, I might miss the more accurate measure of 4 1/4th inches (on a piece 4 5/16ths long). The 4 1/4th measure is much more accurate, though less precise.<br /><br />Precision in language has its place. Accuracy - getting the measure, the content - closer to correct is the important part.<br /><br />Word usage and even the discussion of how sloppy people are about word usage and word choice, vs. why we should care - that happens all the time at Daily Writing Tips, http://www.dailywritingtips.com/.<br /><br />Please don't confuse strict or correct language skills with clear or cogent thinking, nor with value nor worth of a person. A dude with impeccable language skills might still be worthless as snot on a doorknob at herding cows. Metaphorically speaking.Brad K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/18378344866487206569noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-53835027330659624832010-10-04T14:02:35.561-04:002010-10-04T14:02:35.561-04:00"Lay your hat down and lie down beside it.&qu..."<i>Lay</i> your hat down and <i>lie</i> down beside it."<br /><br />And don't get me started on people's using first person pronouns rather than possessive pronouns before gerunds.<br /><br />Dictionary.com = a wretched nest of muddle-headed descriptivists.Weetabixhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06106614092497408546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-49053992860734632802010-10-02T12:31:21.689-04:002010-10-02T12:31:21.689-04:00Steve,
That was last Sunday. :)Steve,<br /><br />That was <a href="http://booksbikesboomsticks.blogspot.com/2010/09/pet-peeves.html" rel="nofollow">last Sunday</a>. :)Tamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07285540310465422476noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-62441653460806337362010-10-02T12:03:04.756-04:002010-10-02T12:03:04.756-04:00Lately I see references to "tow the line.&quo...Lately I see references to "tow the line." That one's a major teeth gritter for me.Steve Skubinnanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-55482530447965844282010-10-01T19:21:15.174-04:002010-10-01T19:21:15.174-04:00Rouge is a cosmetic, a rogue is a person of dishon...Rouge is a cosmetic, a rogue is a person of dishonest or unprincipled behavior, or person/thing that behaves in some unpredictable way.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-80011854957425306482010-10-01T16:33:31.855-04:002010-10-01T16:33:31.855-04:00Dear God! If I hadn't been married to the L&a...Dear God! If I hadn't been married to the L&T for the last 40 years I would make you an offer I wish you wouldn't refuse. Bless your little snarky posterior for airing this to the hoi polloi.<br /><br />Would you consider associate-wife status? (Just a joke - L&T would terminate me with extreme prejudice - and then consider my good taste.... She's an English major).The Old Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09854776544931267722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-36891192730288464432010-10-01T16:18:31.726-04:002010-10-01T16:18:31.726-04:00"I will never entirely forgive psychologists...."I will never entirely forgive psychologists.<br /><br />Well, for lots of things...but especially for permanently disabling the simple "'affect' is a verb and 'effect' is a noun" rule."<br /><br />Actually that has helped me understand the concepts better.<br /><br />Then again, English is not my native tongue and my wife is a psychologist.<br /><br />TerryAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-47770732462848891812010-10-01T16:08:25.838-04:002010-10-01T16:08:25.838-04:00Jake:
Maybe "golf" is a verb at diction...Jake:<br /><br />Maybe "golf" is a verb at dictionary.com but it's only a noun in Webster's 9th.<br /><br />Jon B.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-2216938213945472482010-10-01T14:47:15.128-04:002010-10-01T14:47:15.128-04:00Anon with the "mountaintop", was that sa...Anon with the "mountaintop", was that satire, or did you mean "piqued", which refers to curiosity?<br /><br />And then there's this one: "Woken up". There's no such word as "woken". One either "woke up", awakened", or "was awakened". But I see this all the time, even in novels now.Crotalusnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-69838061178603324272010-10-01T14:39:53.787-04:002010-10-01T14:39:53.787-04:00Too many times they don't think to use two ins...Too many times they don't think to use two instead of to when they are counting.Crotalusnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-74848355764648865612010-10-01T13:56:54.566-04:002010-10-01T13:56:54.566-04:00Jon B.:
Unlike "football" or "hocke...Jon B.:<br />Unlike "football" or "hockey", "golf" is actually a verb as well as a noun.<br /><br /><i>golf: -verb (used without object) 3. to play golf.</i> [<a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/golf" rel="nofollow">Dictionary.com</a>]<br /><br />I'm not sure if "golfing" is a proper conjugation of the word or not, but "Are you going to go golf today?" would actually be a correct usage of the word.Jake (formerly Riposte3)https://www.blogger.com/profile/02976718318892210404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-50794801060759377052010-10-01T13:47:31.808-04:002010-10-01T13:47:31.808-04:00Yep, that's what I get for believing my spell-...Yep, that's what I get for believing my spell-checker, as it refused to accept the correct word.Willhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00722792638246578812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-34112366108399367402010-10-01T13:37:33.555-04:002010-10-01T13:37:33.555-04:00I tend to rag on people who insist upon using the ...I tend to rag on people who insist upon using the word "golf" as a verb. As in "You going golfing today?" I answer "No. I think I'll go play golf."<br /><br />I wouldn't "go golfing" any more than I'd "go baseballing" or "go hockeying".<br /><br />Jon B.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-31345947976317074212010-10-01T13:32:27.514-04:002010-10-01T13:32:27.514-04:00"Mike Hammer drinks beer because I can't ..."Mike Hammer drinks beer because I can't spell cognac." -Mickey SpillaneEd Skinnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09332424242231481277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-69023716892198917732010-10-01T12:22:25.971-04:002010-10-01T12:22:25.971-04:00@pax
This is my embarrassed face.
I knew it look...@pax<br /><br />This is my embarrassed face.<br /><br />I knew it looked wrong when I wrote it this morning, but I could not warp it around correctly in my brain.<br /><br />I blame it on a lack of coffee.Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03357420829928075512noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-34350973275555325502010-10-01T12:18:42.648-04:002010-10-01T12:18:42.648-04:00You have peaked my interest in homonym murdering.You have peaked my interest in homonym murdering.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-73210200520816450142010-10-01T11:58:46.120-04:002010-10-01T11:58:46.120-04:00These discrete senses of various words often leave...These <em>discrete</em> senses of various words often leave people confused, even those who <em>discreetly</em> wish others would use the words correctly.paxhttp://www.corneredcat.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-22287433217264381662010-10-01T11:58:09.326-04:002010-10-01T11:58:09.326-04:00I will never entirely forgive psychologists.
Well...I will never entirely forgive psychologists.<br /><br />Well, for lots of things...but especially for permanently disabling the simple "'affect' is a verb and 'effect' is a noun" rule.lelnethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08600824544185328505noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-42484878751224626522010-10-01T11:55:43.675-04:002010-10-01T11:55:43.675-04:00You pay premiums to companies that insure your veh...<em>You pay premiums to companies that <b>insure</b> your vehicle, thus allowing you to <b>ensure</b> your boss you can get back and forth to work. </em><br /><br />Um, no.<br /><br />You You pay premiums to companies that <i>insure</i> your vehicle, to <em>ensure</em> that you will have working wheels, so that you may <em>assure</em> your boss you can get back and forth to work.<br /><br />You assure other people, while you ensure that certain actions take place.paxhttp://www.corneredcat.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-31086344551333286932010-10-01T11:25:52.121-04:002010-10-01T11:25:52.121-04:00I get very tired of people speaking of "The r...I get very tired of people speaking of "The right to <i>bare</i> arms".BobGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15405172215849046373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-57271242390838076772010-10-01T11:24:24.843-04:002010-10-01T11:24:24.843-04:00I once had an accident wherein I rear-ended a litt...I once had an accident wherein I rear-ended a little old lady who had slammed on her brakes due to someone ahead of her doing the same.<br /><br />The policeman who wrote the ticket cited me for "following to close." <br /><br />After I thought about it a while, I decided that even if I brought up the grammatical error in court, the ticket would still accurately describe what I had done.Mikeenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-41686179460012448082010-10-01T11:19:27.628-04:002010-10-01T11:19:27.628-04:00I fancy myself as having a better-than-average com...I fancy myself as having a better-than-average command of the English language (for what it's worth) and there is a serious problem I have noticed with others' gross negligence in their use of language on the internet.<br /><br />I have caught myself on more than a few occasions having to stop for a moment to think about my use of a particular word, in spite of my usage having been correct.<br /><br />I think that comes from having seen the same set of words constantly and consistently misused. It's like the lie which is told often enough becomes the truth. I have to agree with others on here with regard to the horror of seeing such egregious errors making their way into print media.<br /><br />Perhaps a retreat into classic literature or at least, pre-1990's printings of contemporary writing could be the answer.Ferretnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-87384333189676716762010-10-01T11:10:17.699-04:002010-10-01T11:10:17.699-04:00To quote a simple version of this I saw on faceboo...To quote a simple version of this I saw on facebook. "THEY'RE going THERE with THEIR friends. It's called grammar."<br /><br />(if there is a face eating monkey on the loose, maybe I should loose the monkey eating dogs.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com