Now just over a month officially into the season, it finally seems to be blooming with possibilities…
A humourous piece in the current issue of Toastmaster magazine illustrates the difficulty many of us have in conversational responses without contingencies.
The author focuses on the common crutch word ‘but’, all too often used as an appendage to a reply which begins with ‘yes’ or ‘yeah’. Many of us feel the urge to qualify our rejoinders. If we do, that may be either with a positive or a negative bent. (more…)
Technically, only one day a year…
A couple of past tongue-in-cheek articles from Toastmaster magazine inspire a launch point for observing some foibles in our use of the English language.
First of all, consider my use in the first line of ‘tongue-in-cheek’. Have you consciously tried to maintain this juxtaposition physically? Not only is it uncomfortable, it’s rather difficult to focus on doing much else while so engaged – although the effort can serve as an alternative tongue strengthening exercise in speech preparation, so you could conclude that there is a silver lining. (more…)
The end of Leap Year February is on the horizon, so time to ‘march’ on with updated clichés (with originals in italics):
News item: The mayor of Coquitlan, British Columbia, stated in a recent interview that he wore the same suit (with occasional dry cleanings) for fifteen months, and no one noticed, at meetings or other gatherings; when asked if this would contrast strongly with the reaction a woman would receive if she tried to do the same thing, he concurred.
Imagine if this ‘male advantage’ applied in other ways… (more…)
For those of us coping with life in cold & snowy climes, especially after a snowmageddon…
the watch of time 
TOP 10 Omitted Census Questions
It’s census time. Notwithstanding a google search implying Canadians are showing ‘enthusiasm’ since its launch via mail this week leading to a huge influx of internet traffic, one suspects this is primarily for one or both of two reasons: to make sure one is not part of the 25% selected for the long version; and to get it over with. (Perhaps a follow-up email could verify this by census.) As seemingly intrusive as questions are, there remain many unexplored areas… (more…)
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Humour, Social & political humour, Top 10, Uncategorized
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