Today's the day
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Re: Today's the day
For another point of view, see an anonymous article on Superfine English in The Cornhill Magazine, new series, Vol. V (July to December 1885), pp. 626-635:
Your true prig of a pedant goes immensely out of his way to be vastly more correct than other people, and succeeds in the end in being vastly more ungrammatical, or vastly more illogical, or both at once. The common pronunciation, the common idiom, the common meaning attached to a word, are not nearly good enough or fine enough for him: he must try to get at the original sound, at the strict construction, at the true sense, and he always manages to blunder upon something far worse than the slight error, if error it be, which he attempts to avoid in his superfine correctness....And this leads us on to a second habit of the microscopic critic, which I venture to describe as the Etymological Fallacy. Your critic happens to know well some one particular language, let us say Greek or Latin; and so far as the words derived from that language are concerned (and so far only) he insists upon every word being rigidly applied in its strict original etymological meaning. He makes no allowance for the natural and beautiful growth of metaphor, and the transference of signification, which must necessarily affect the usage of all words in the course of time....For the truth is, it is quite useless for any one man to set himself up single-handed against the irresistible march of nations. Languages grow and are not made; they are the outcome of deep-seated popular forces, and the meanings which the people impose upon words are the meanings they have got to bear in the long-run, whether the pedants like it or no....One word as to the general underlying principle which pervades all these manifestations of superfine English. They are all alike the result of taking too much trouble about mere expression. Just as self-consciousness in manner produces the affected airs and graces, the poses and attitudes, the laughs and giggles, of Miss Jemima, so self-consciousness in modes of expression produces the absurd over-particular nicety of the national schoolmaster and the educated pedant.
Quite
Your true prig of a pedant goes immensely out of his way to be vastly more correct than other people, and succeeds in the end in being vastly more ungrammatical, or vastly more illogical, or both at once. The common pronunciation, the common idiom, the common meaning attached to a word, are not nearly good enough or fine enough for him: he must try to get at the original sound, at the strict construction, at the true sense, and he always manages to blunder upon something far worse than the slight error, if error it be, which he attempts to avoid in his superfine correctness....And this leads us on to a second habit of the microscopic critic, which I venture to describe as the Etymological Fallacy. Your critic happens to know well some one particular language, let us say Greek or Latin; and so far as the words derived from that language are concerned (and so far only) he insists upon every word being rigidly applied in its strict original etymological meaning. He makes no allowance for the natural and beautiful growth of metaphor, and the transference of signification, which must necessarily affect the usage of all words in the course of time....For the truth is, it is quite useless for any one man to set himself up single-handed against the irresistible march of nations. Languages grow and are not made; they are the outcome of deep-seated popular forces, and the meanings which the people impose upon words are the meanings they have got to bear in the long-run, whether the pedants like it or no....One word as to the general underlying principle which pervades all these manifestations of superfine English. They are all alike the result of taking too much trouble about mere expression. Just as self-consciousness in manner produces the affected airs and graces, the poses and attitudes, the laughs and giggles, of Miss Jemima, so self-consciousness in modes of expression produces the absurd over-particular nicety of the national schoolmaster and the educated pedant.
Quite
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Re: Today's the day
Well...at 7am...it's looking like the Americans too are willing to take a leap into the unknown and elect Tumpnewcastle wrote:Just like Brexit really...Horus wrote:The bottom line is that if people opt for change it will be Trump, if they realise the risks and opt for same old, same old politics then it will be Clinton.
I wonder if the Americans will make any more sense of the pre-vote garbage and appreciate there are"risks"
Interesting times ahead.
- carrie
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Re: Today's the day
Just for those who are still in bed,it looks like Trump is going to win. God bless ?America, they are going to need it!
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Re: Today's the day
Saturday 20th February 2016:
"Only in America eh?....
Ps: bet some 'bright spark will remind me that this is Egypt, bet the Yanks vote in that nutter Trump!
"Only in America eh?....
Ps: bet some 'bright spark will remind me that this is Egypt, bet the Yanks vote in that nutter Trump!
"The Salvation of Mankind lies in making everything the responsibility of All"
Sophocles.
Sophocles.
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Re: Today's the day
So much for that hackneyed phrase "the will of the people"
It seems entirely possible that, once again, the 'popular vote' might be overturned by the US electoral system.
It seems entirely possible that, once again, the 'popular vote' might be overturned by the US electoral system.
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Re: Today's the day
"The Salvation of Mankind lies in making everything the responsibility of All"
Sophocles.
Sophocles.
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Re: Today's the day
Just listening to Trump's victory speech.
Sounds much more balanced, mature even, than the rhetoric of his campaign.
Hopefully his conciliatory tone will translate into a presidency which transforms some of the orthodox, Wall Street-orientated. "establishment" nature of American policy.....without setting the place on fire
Sounds much more balanced, mature even, than the rhetoric of his campaign.
Hopefully his conciliatory tone will translate into a presidency which transforms some of the orthodox, Wall Street-orientated. "establishment" nature of American policy.....without setting the place on fire
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Re: Today's the day
If you'd put a few quid on him being president when Trump was confirmed as Republican candidate, I think you'd have got 150:1Who2 wrote:Saturday 20th February 2016:
"Only in America eh?....
Ps: bet some 'bright spark will remind me that this is Egypt, bet the Yanks vote in that nutter Trump!
Ah well.....
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Re: Today's the day
Mad Dilys wrote:What are the odds on him completing his term?
Pretty good, I'd have thought, with Republican majorities in both houses..
Assuming no sex or other scandals stick......
and that his Secret Service personal protection squad are on their toes
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Re: Today's the day
It has all happened before people so don't panic.
For anyone old enough to remember the "Not the nine o'clock news" programme people were just as surprised by Ronald Reagans victory, listen to the end of this sketch
For anyone old enough to remember the "Not the nine o'clock news" programme people were just as surprised by Ronald Reagans victory, listen to the end of this sketch
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Re: Today's the day
We just have to hope Trump is afflicted by Alzheimer's much earlier than Reagan - like in the next two months - and quietly forgets many of his campaign "promises"
- Horus
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Re: Today's the day
He was having an impact even before he was elected, as the votes were coming in the Mexican Peso had fallen by over 8% during the time I was watching.
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Re: Today's the day
President Putin has just been speaking and congratulated Trump and said he was looking forward to both countries having a better relationship, which cannot be a bad thing with the current situation.
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Re: Today's the day
I'm sure he isHorus wrote:President Putin has just been speaking and congratulated Trump and said he was looking forward to both countries having a better relationship, which cannot be a bad thing with the current situation.
What could be better for Russia than a man at the helm of US foreign policy who's keen to downgrade NATO.
- HEPZIBAH
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Re: Today's the day
All we need now is for Kim Jong Jung ( can't think how his name is spelt) of North Korea to be invited to the party.
Experience is not what happens to you;
it is what you do with what happens to you.
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it is what you do with what happens to you.
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- Horus
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Re: Today's the day
Well maybe not such a bad thing after all, current policies of sighting missiles along Russia’s borders, encouraging old Soviet buffer states to become allied to the West and thus making Russia feel threatened have not exactly done much for world peace or to ease tensions. Also Clinton’s plans to ring China with over 1000 nuclear missiles was hardly a tactic for having good relations with them. Then we have Clintons plan for a 'no fly zone' in Syria, excellent! and just who's MIG fighters will she be shooting down? As for downgrading NATO, that is entirely the fault of countries who want the protection, but are unwilling to pay their share of the cost. What he has said is that those who do not contribute should not expect to be protected by the US, ergo NATO, quite a fair comment in my opinion, after all does your car, home, medical or any other insurance policy still cover you if you have not paid the premium?newcastle wrote:I'm sure he isHorus wrote:President Putin has just been speaking and congratulated Trump and said he was looking forward to both countries having a better relationship, which cannot be a bad thing with the current situation.
What could be better for Russia than a man at the helm of US foreign policy who's keen to downgrade NATO.
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Re: Today's the day
Apparently the Iranian president was also unfazed by Trump's election.
Funny that Wasn't Trump ranting about the Iranian nuclear deal being a betrayal?
Russia & Iran know a confused "friend" when they see one
Funny that Wasn't Trump ranting about the Iranian nuclear deal being a betrayal?
Russia & Iran know a confused "friend" when they see one
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Re: Today's the day
At least our PM has had the good sense to congratulate him and to look forward to working with the “elected representative of the American people” unlike Hollond and Merkel who are being mealy mouthed and pooing their collective EU pants at what the future may hold for them.
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