Isn't it great how ruminate and ruminant sound so much alike?
(This random thought comes from remembering reading William Safire's column this past Sunday, in which he used cud as a metaphor, and then felt compelled to explain it. I wanted to write the above back to him, but he didn't have a comment link, so …)
And yeah, I probably wouldn't be so intrigued by this thought had I had a proper grounding in Latin.
You may now go back to doing whatever it is you were doing.
6 comments:
Of course this calls to mind far better, from the great DW:
"Why are increment and excrement so different?
Because you excrement in increments?
Safire is another G. Wills who likes to use "big" words, then feels compelled to explain to his "stupid" readers. See: Full of myself II
In v. ex: You know what they say about answering rhetorical questions, TUA!
;^)
But moving on, I'm going to violently disagree with your take on my boy Bill. True, Safire is a bit self-aggrandizing. (I think you have to be, to be a columnist.) True, he has a long history of spouting a political point of view that is anathema to any right-thinking person. (And by right, I mean left, of course.)
But I truly love his defense and celebration of the English language. Even if I sometimes quibble with him about particulars. (Someday, I'll post CCs of my letters to him, for the betterment of none of humankind.)
In an age where suits, both of the political and business persuasion, compete to see who can do the most damage to a most precious resource, he will always be, at least in this narrow realm, a hero to me.
I passed English with the best D- they had, so no quarrel from me.:) I've found the quickest route to communication between any two individuals is for both to express themselves in plain words both can understand.
Brendon, I do not wish to see anyone deprived of healthy, brainless fun.:) Therefore Sir, consider yourself TAGGED, and follow the instructions precisely, as punishment for nonconformity is a Poop Sandwich!
Mention of a poop sandwich always brings to mind this old aphorism:
The more bread you got, the smaller the percentage of shit you have to eat.
Tagging responsibilities fulfilled.
Still thinking about how to contribute to the high level poop sandwich discussion.
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