A breathtaking achievement
Research has led to the discovery of the heaviest element yet known to science. The new element, Governmentium (Gv), has one neutron, 25 assistant neutrons, 88 deputy neutrons, and 198 assistant deputy neutrons, giving it an atomic mass of 312 ...:
George Orwell would understand:
CLEVELAND -- It's no secret that schools need volunteers in order to do more for students, but one proposed law would make it a requirement for parents to volunteer at their child's school.
Parent Darlene Boyd has been volunteering at her grandchildren's school for six years. If the state legislature passes House Bill 519, she'll have a lot of company.
I know I have a lot of pet peeves for someone who cautions against being overly fussy about language and grammar, but here's another one:
Depending on who you believe, Indiana could be close to hiring its next basketball coach or the situation could still be in the early interview stages.
Another language pet peeve:
The Clintons are barnstorming Indiana, with six stops today and Thursday in a push to win this state's May 6 primary election.
Clean up you're writing; Tuesday will be National Grammar Day, and I is watching you:
I confess: I'm one of those people who cares about the difference between a gerund and a participle, between a restrictive and non-restrictive relative clause. This puts me in a tiny minority of deranged grammatical eccentrics -- people you should generally try to avoid.
But I have converted from my former life as a grammar prosecutor.
But my head is already full!
Are you a locavore who decries the tapafication of restaurants or a latte liberal on the fence about Billary? No matter, the explosion of new words in the English language is enough to make you want to bury your head under a blankie or run off to Godzone.
I know how some of you have been criticizing me. As an editorial writer and blogger, I merely deal in rhetoric. All I do is insult people and ideas -- just words. To do any real damage, I would need to be an elected official or robber-baron businessman with real power. Those who really want to create havoc in the world need to support those who can act, not just those who can spout angry words.
A couple of thoughts prompted by the passing of Earl Butz:
1. Could his forced resignation have been a factor in Jimmy Carter's defeat of Gerald Ford?
The ensuing political firestorm created a dilemma for Ford. Butz's popularity in Midwestern farm states was a crucial asset to the president, who was in the middle of a tight election campaign against his Democratic challenger, former Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter.
This is a blog. It has words. I write them. You read them. The words should all be short, and the sentences, too. That way, you will be able to understand what I am saying. That is good. Big words are bad. Long sentences are wrong. Big words and long sentences make communication harder. We do not want that. We want to keep things simple. If not, we will be sad. I won't be saying what I mean to. You won't be hearing what you need to. We both will have failed. That is not good. Let's not do it.
A lot of people will probably be making fun of this. I am the government! I can even control the language:
Oct. 2 (Bloomberg) -- Brazil's Federal District Governor Jose Roberto Arruda ``fired'' the present participle from his administration, citing inefficiency.
