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Ray Haddad Regular user Mansfield Center, Connecticut 151 Posts 
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On 2002-06-03 22:00, Peter Marucci wrote: For someone who takes exception to being referred to as old, you surely can prove your age rapidly by mentioning the Bowery Boys. Sorry, I couldn't help but see the irony here. Then again, I, too, remember the Bowery Boys. Sigh....... Best Always, Ray |
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Peter Marucci Inner circle 5389 Posts
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Yes, indeed, whatever happened to that mangler of the language Norm Crosby? (Well, there wasn't a lot left after his beloved Dodgers left Brooklyn, 'way back when.)
And, Ray, I didn't realize the Bowery Boys dated me that much! But I guess so! My favorite Gorcey quote: Being interviewed on the Johnny Carson show, Gorcey was asked how he felt when his old friend Groucho Marx's marryied an ex-wife of Gorcey's. Leo replied something to the effect that "he's still a friend; but now I look at him as my husband-in-law." Great stuff! cheers, Peter Marucci showtimecol@aol.com |
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Bird Brain Regular user 161 Posts
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I know what u mean, dude! Lol! I hate that! My friend said that one can have an entire conversation by using just one word: dude. I guess that's where the true beauty of the english language comes out, as one word can mean so many different things just by the way you say it. Dude. DUDE! (in a scared voice.) DUDE! (I think it's time to leave!) DUDE! (Here come a BUNCHA writers to run me THRU with pens!) Dude, Bird Brain
Yes I know my enemies
They're the teachers who taught me to fight me Compromise, conformity, assimilation, submission Ignorance, hypocrisy, brutality, the elite All of which are American Dreams, All of which are American Dreams |
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Peter695 Regular user 102 Posts
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Norm's correctified rambulations were encapsulated in an irsupressable enthusiasm and puntuated by his calcification of a thick, Brooklyn accent.
Personally, I don't mind 'popular' expressions such as; "like" and "dude". A relaxed application of structure and rules (syntax) in a casual setting, doesn't bother me. I guess it comes under "cultural expression" or "popular culture" to my mind. So it's valid. Yes, I understand that I'm probably in the minority. Peter |
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Jim Morton Veteran user 361 Posts
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All of which ?begs the question? (actually, does anyone even know how to use THAT phrase correctly? Like, basically, I don?t think so)? does anyone care anymore? "Begs the question" used to mean an argument that uses what it is trying to prove as its basis for proof. It still means that as far as most dictionaries are concerned, but nowadays it is usually used as a synonym for "raises the question." I once pointed this out in a newsgroup and was called a prig. William Safire wrote a column on the subject a couple years back, so at least I'm in good company. 
Jim |
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John Regular user 153 Posts
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I was just talking with a colleague who writes with passion and power. He tries to write only with "anglo-saxon" words - tough, short, and concrete. Well crafted words evoke and create experience. Playwright Tom Stoppard writes: "Get the right words in the right order and you can nudge the world a little, or write poems that children will speak after you when you are dead."
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Matt Graves Special user Huntsville, Alabama (USA) 504 Posts
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You should hear the kind of language my Grandma uses when she hears somebody on TV saying "like"; I don't think it would be considered very proper either!
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Bird Brain Regular user 161 Posts
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On 2002-06-03 09:44, Platt wrote: Dear folks, With all due respect, and said in the kindest tone possible, I think that we should put people's feelings before spelling and grammar errors. I understand that this is just a discussion. However, I feel that it's getting to the point of comparing people's cars and homes. Some of us don't have the "money" to buy a nice car, some of us just have "money from a different country", etc. Respectfully, Bird Brain
Yes I know my enemies
They're the teachers who taught me to fight me Compromise, conformity, assimilation, submission Ignorance, hypocrisy, brutality, the elite All of which are American Dreams, All of which are American Dreams |
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maurile Regular user San Diego 102 Posts
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On 2002-06-04 01:04, Thomas Wayne wrote: "There is no such thing as good writing. There is only good rewriting." -- Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis |
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John Clarkson Special user Santa Barbara, CA 749 Posts
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[quote]On 2002-06-05 11:09, Jim Morton wrote:
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... This brings to mind one of my favorite quotations. In fact, I have made a business card of it that I use at conventions for fellow teachers of English to speakers of other languages: "Correct English is the slang of prigs who write history and essays. And the strongest slang of all is the slang of poets." -- George Elliot, "Middlemarch" (1872).
John D. Clarkson, S.O.B. (Sacred Omphaloskeptic Brotherhood)
Cozener "There is nothing more important to a magician than keeping secrets. Probably because so many of them are Gay." —Peggy, from King of the Hill (Sleight of Hank) |
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DarryltheWizard Loyal user 238 Posts
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Mark Twain once pointed out, " The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and the lightning bug." I've had a few books on ventriloquism and magic published over the years- a fact that has made me a lover of words. As a lover of words, the finding of that right word is a barbaric joy, a sensuous personal excitement that can hardly be described. The situation here is analogous to the experience of an elderly minister instructing a class of ten-year olds in catechism.
"What's the first step to the forgiveness of sin?" he asked expecting a routine answer. After a bumpy silence, one intrepid youngster burst out, "Well, first you gotta sin!" Exactly and reversely! If we would all discover the joy and love of words, the mechanics would follow naturally. I've seen flyers from magicians both young and old with you're spelled your ,it's for its . There are over 700 pairs and triplets of homonyms in our language, so let's put forth a Herculean effort to use at least a dozen or so correctly! I know my posts are far from perfect, but I usually end up in the edit mode before I submit them. Darryl the Wordwise Wizard 
DarryltheWizard
"Life without mystery is like a candle with a snuffed out flame." Albert Einstein |
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Huw Collingbourne Loyal user Devon, UK 201 Posts
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On 2002-06-01 12:37, Thomas Wayne wrote: Unfortunately, here in Britain this style of writing has become depressingly fashionable due to the advent of 'text messaging' (writing abbreviated messages using a mobile telephone). It is now quite common to read online messages containing expressions such as: 'lo m8', 'c u l8r' and 'ne1 4 10is?' (translation: 'hello, mate', 'see you later' and 'anyone for tennis?' - ok, I admit that I made up the '10is' part but I think you'll find it's in the spirit of the thing!) The first time you read messages like this they may seem funny. The hundredth time they are just irritating. Curiously many of us Brits like to think that we speak the Queen's English "more proper than what them Americans do". In fact, in my experience, this is not the case. Personally, while I hate sloppy English, I love slang. On that subject, does anyone know of any magical jargon that's crept into everyday language? best wishes Huw |
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Scott Cram Inner circle 2678 Posts
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My favorite re-occuring spelling errors, besides the 4/for and 2/too/two are their/they're/there and it's/its. You wouldn't believe how often I run across those in magic books!
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Huw Collingbourne Loyal user Devon, UK 201 Posts
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On 2002-07-31 15:12, Scott Cram wrote: On the subject of it's (and other crimes against the apostrophe), take a look at: The Apostrophe Protection Society http://www.apostrophe.fsnet.co.uk/ You see, we aren't the only ones who care... 
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Scott F. Guinn Inner circle "Great Scott!" aka "Palms of Putty" & "Poof Daddy G" 6586 Posts
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A big one that I keep seeing is "loose" when they mean to say "lose." "Loose" is the opposite of "tight." "Lose" is when you didn't win or you misplaced something.
"Love God, laugh more, spend more time with the ones you love, play with children, do good to those in need, and eat more ice cream. There is more to life than magic tricks." - Scott F. Guinn
My Lybrary Page |
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Ross W Inner circle UK 1779 Posts
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To return to Thomas's original post, a small correction is in order.
Prince's full name is not Prince Nelson Rogers, but Prince Rogers Nelson - something that sticks in my mind as a tabloid headline circa 1803: PRINCE ROGERS NELSON - Hardy "distraught" (With apologies to members whose knowledge of British maritime history renders it meaningless. It IS funny - honest!) |
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Ross W Inner circle UK 1779 Posts
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Guys - while we're on the subject, it's "recurring", not "re-occuring"!
Magical phrases that have passed into common use... 1. "Just like that!" (Catchphrase of Tommy Cooper) 2. Now you see it, now you don't 3. Keeping something up one's sleeve 4. Like a rabbit out of a hat 5. Er... 6. ...that's it. Ross |
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Harry Murphy Inner circle Maryland 5445 Posts
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There are several phrases that are currently in use including:
Hocus-Pocus (since the mid 1500’s) Fast and loose (ok really a gambling term but street “performers” augmented their money playing the game.) Smoke and mirrors (used recently by the media to describe Enron’s book keeping practices!) Even that old magic word “Abracadabra!” has made it into the popular vernacular and even found its way into a popular song a few years back. Houdini is sometimes used as a slang verb to describe a person getting out of a tight spot. And on and on…
The artist formally known as Mumblepeas!
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Peter Marucci Inner circle 5389 Posts
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Regarding Scott's nailing of "loose" and "lose", you could be a best-selling writer and still screw things up.
In The Godfather, author Mario Puzo refers to someone as "unloosening" his tie. Well, "unloosening" would mean the opposite of "loosening", which would be "tightening". And that is certainly not what Puzo meant. It's like "ravel", although most people today would say something like: "Let's unravel this problem." However, "ravel" means to pull apart as in a knitted sweater. "Unravel" would, therefore, mean to "knit". But, again, I don't think so! 
cheers, Peter Marucci showtimecol@aol.com |
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Huw Collingbourne Loyal user Devon, UK 201 Posts
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On 2002-08-01 13:27, Peter Marucci wrote: I was just nodding in agreement with Peter when I suddenly thought, "Hmmm... I wonder..." Anyway, surprisingly, this is what the Oxford English Dictionary has to say (I'll abbreviate - it does go on a bit!): Unloose: 1) To relax, slacken; 2) To set free from bonds; 3) To undo, untie, unfasten. Unloosen: (trans = Unloose, v.) (example 1672): "A cord fastened about my foot, which was tied to a great Chest, which though I could, I would not unloosen." (beats me what that's about - sounds like escapology!) Anyway, looks like you've just stumbled upon yet another example of that strange, slippery, misleading thing that is the English language... best wishes Huw |
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| The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » Food for thought » » Writing Gooder... does anyone care anymore? (0 Likes) | ||||||||||
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Posted: Jun 5, 2002 06:53 am 
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