Why Did I Think Of That?

I won't do it.

2009-09-26T06:12:00.003-05:00

I will NOT do it.
I will stand my ground on this.
It is, I believe, a matter of highest principle.

I believe, as I am sure you do, that when a language dies and gives up its words, they are released into the public domain – a Creative Commons license, if you will.

When the English language decides to adopt and take as its own one of these at adrift words, it becomes English, in toto, owning no allegiance to its former state. When in English, do as the English speakers do.
My good friends I refuse to accept the stare decisis on this.   To me, English is a place where Latin teachers dare not tread.

I do not do this out of an ignorance of Latin -- I was enriched with four years of Latin. Cicero and I have stared each other in the metaphorical eye. (I will not even brag here of two additional years among the Greek language which gives its words away with no covenants - open source as it were.)

I merely have a problem with purveyors of Latin telling me how English should be used, as if, once spoken in Latin, it is now de iure, ad infinitum.

No, I will not say "data are."   I know it marks me as a common man.   "Datum is, Data are," scholars will scold me from latin lecterns. Quo iure?
I stand fast.   Praesto et persisto!

Does one say "fish are good for you?" No, because fish can not trace there lineage to Caesar or Cato.
"Fish is good." we all entone.   Fish here is a construct of the mind neither plural nor singular.

Why is there "sand" on a beach, and not "sands" as in the "sands of time." Common usage becomes correct usage.

My words will be spoken as the English-tongued speak and they will not of latine dictum.

I believe there is data to support me.
-steve buser

Missing the point

2009-09-24T21:46:00.000-05:00

So I am at the BIG STORE, doing what I like to do -- touching all the electronics. Suddenly nature makes an unannounced call. That is if you don't consider this sudden urge an announcement -- it is more like a demand.

I proceed politely to the restroom, proud of myself for not knocking over anything (of importance).

Then I see the sign on the door. "No Merchandise Beyond This Point."

Duh. Like I am going to the restroom to shop for merchandise?

Let see, I'll have two rolls of toilet paper and three squirts of soap.

I think their missing the point

Hey, smile. :)))
--steve buser

Unpaper my life

2009-09-23T21:40:00.003-05:00

I pulled up to the gas pump the other day, opening my gas cap and starting to maneuver through the menus.

Then it asked the question. "Do you want a receipt?"

The only answers possible were "Yes" and "No"

Where was the "email it to me" button. Sure, I want to keep track my expenditures. It is just that I do not want anymore paper in my life.

The inbox is my filing system. My paradigm. When are the gas companies going to get this?

Why did I think of that?

--steve buser