Read that again?

[Trebuchet]

Isn't the Titanic itself trash? Just not modern.

Even that depends on your definition of "modern". It's not yet 100 years old, therefore not an antique. As an idle thought, I suppose it's just as well Titanic burned coal, rather than petroleum.

[Jens]

There's an article on the New Scientist web site with the title:

"Ancient Greeks spotted Halley's comet"

Considering that Halley's comet comes every 75 years, that Greek civilization lasted more than 75 years, that Halley's comet is easily visible to the naked eye, and that the ancient Greeks didn't have electric street lights, I'd say that's a fairly safe bet!

I think they probably meant "Documentation found that ancient Greeks spotted Haley's Comet."

[Jeff Root]

It wasn't easily visible to the naked eye the last time it came by.
I only saw it for a few seconds. (The eyepiece of my binoculars
pushed one of the lenses out of my glasses, apparently because
the lens shrank in the 10 degree F (or was it -10 degrees? I think
it was minus) air, and by the time I had the lens back in (luckily I
had my eyeglass screwdriver with me) the others had enough of
the cold and were ready to drive back into town.

Fuzzy little blob. Least-interesting-looking comet I've seen.

Why did you edit your post to add typos?

-- Jeff, in Minneapolis

[Extravoice]

This might not really qualify for the intent of the OP, but I'll post it anyway.

I recently installed a new cable modem with battery backup feature from my ISP. Unfortunately, the backup feature isn't working properly. I sent a message to the help desk asking for advice and describing the troubleshooting steps I had already taken.

The response I got was that the modem "should not be used in that manor."

While I appreciated the compliment, I hardly think that taking the modem outdoors would help much.

[Gillianren]

No, it's just your house that they don't like. You can use it somewhere else.

[Extravoice]

I kind of like the fact they called my house a manor, though.

Perhaps I'll mow the estate this weekend.

[NEOWatcher]

This might not really qualify for the intent of the OP, but I'll post it anyway.

Yep; it qualifies. And it's funny too.

Perhaps I'll mow the estate this weekend.

Aha; that's the answer. Maybe it's really a "Mowed 'em".


Some are just obviously wrong words. What ever happened to proofreaders and editors?
Hampton woman finds latex fingertips in a bottle of Dr. Pepper
"It was awful to think that someone could have possibly lost two figures on a Dr. Pepper line and...

and
Police in Illinois probe blast that decapitated man
Police on Tuesday said an explosion was heard in the area about 3:53 a.m. and residents thought it was a blown transmitter.

[Gillianren]

Some are just obviously wrong words. What ever happened to proofreaders and editors?

They don't get hired anymore. They cost more than spellcheck.

[NEOWatcher]

That's my point. I've always understood that an editor or even a proofreader was there to see if the words made sense. Otherwise they would be call spell checkers (in the same manner/manor as fact checkers)

[Gillianren]

I get that. I'm just saying that it's a purely financial decision.

[NEOWatcher]

Well; considering I meant it more as a rhetorical question in the first place, it's probably not worth discussing.

[Spoons]

As the adjudicator of sexy discussions, I'm putting this one to bed.

[Gillianren]

It's just something I really resent. I've just taken on a new grammar student, and I admire that he cares enough to learn. He cares about spelling, too, but that's harder to teach. I'd have to start with etymology.

[NEOWatcher]

Two semi-trucks crash on Turnpike

Police said a trucker traveling west bound slammed into the back of another 18-wheeler, causing the first truck to tip and spill steel pipes over the road.
The second truck—carrying diesel fuel--also crashed and...

Is it possible for one semi to slam into the back of another and not crash?

On a side note: they say both will be charged, but don't say how it happened or if/why the first truck was stopped.

[Fazor]

It's a pet-peeve of mine when a newspaper article contradicts itself.

Officer Shot at Celebration

Police Chief Mike Navarre is classifying the incident as "a shooting investigation." He's not calling it an accidental shooting and not calling it purposeful, but there's a lot of investigating to be done.

. . . few paragraphs of nothing real interesting, then . . .

The accidental shooting happened at shift change and both officers were on duty.

Hrmph.

[NEOWatcher]

I start to wonder if they do it on purpose to see if people are paying attention.

Here's another one.
Woman uses iPad to help deliver own baby

Husband, Mike, called 911 and a dispatcher talked the OKC attorney through child birth.
EMSA medics arrived just in time to finish the job

So; she didn't try to deliver her own baby.

At least they started with...

You can't always count on technology [...]

[NEOWatcher]

Elderly Woman, 45 Dogs Killed In Mobile Home Fire

Firefighters found the bodies of 70 of the woman's 45 dogs scattered throughout the home.

The intro says the original story had a body count of 70 dogs and was updated to 45, but that still doesn't explain the sentence.


Elmo Attacked At Guitar Store

According to Winter Park police Lt. Wayne Farrell, he said he has never seen an Elmo attack in his 37 years of experience.

What about Big Bird, or Oscar, or Kermit?
Something tells me that the reporter put a little extra "flair" on what the Lt. said since it isn't a direct quote.


Man Files Complaint Over Bikini-Clad Police Officer

In the complaint, Spilca said the two officers who chased him were wearing bikinis and had guns tucked into their shorts. The women were off-duty Albuquerque Police Department officers assisting an on-duty officer, the complaint stated.

Why does this remind me of "The Meaning Of Life, Part VII: Death"?*

* I would post a reference, but this is a family board.

[HenrikOlsen]

Why does this remind me of "The Meaning Of Life, Part VII: Death"?*

* I would post a reference, but this is a family board.

Here's The Meaning Of Life, Part VII: Death I think you're misremembering what it reminds you of.

I do BTW know the one you mean but can't remember the specifics of where it's from.

[NEOWatcher]

There were a few skits in that portion of the movie.

[Tog]

Here's The Meaning Of Life, Part VII: Death I think you're misremembering what it reminds you of.

I do BTW know the one you mean but can't remember the specifics of where it's from.

It's from the Meaning of Life. Specifically, the very end of the film where a man is allowed to choose the way in which he dies. I don't recall if it's the very last bit in the film, or if the fish make one more appearance after it.

[Jeff Root]

I'll reveal my ignorance: Is that Monty Python or Douglas Adams?
Or would knowing that before seeing it be a spoiler?

-- Jeff, in Minneapolis

[Tog]

The Meaning of Life is a Monty Python movie. I don't think it can really be a spoiler, but the specifics are also not really openly BAUT friendly. If you want, I can PM you the details of the scene.

[Extravoice]

It's the time of the year when my mailbox gets filled with catalogs.

One, called "The Lakeside Collection," is selling "Holiday Initial Flags With Stake" with the following features:

* A festive green bow adorns the vibrant berry wreath.
* A capital initial printed design with embroidered gold accents personalizes the flag (12-1/2" x 18").
* The flag comes complete with a black metal stake (36" x 15" overall) for display.
* Select from 10 intials.

That's right, you only get to choose from the letters, A, B, C, D, H, J, M, R, S & W.

[Gillianren]

Wait. My (legal) first name starts with the most common letter in the English language, and I can't get an unattractive flag with that initial on it?

[Fazor]

Wait. My (legal) first name . . .

You say that like you're covering for the fact that you have an illegal first name. Hmm. *Heads off to INTERPOL.*

[Gillianren]

Well, there's the name I actually use, after all.

[Tog]

That's right, you only get to choose from the letters, A, B, C, D, H, J, M, R, S & W.

The A can be used to make a V and a Y.
The B can be turned in to an E, F, I and L.
Two C's or a C and D can make a G, O or Q.
The H can make a K and T.
The M is almost an N already.
The R can be a P.
The S and H can make a U.
And the W or M can do X and Z.

No problem.

[Tobin Dax]

Wait. My (legal) first name starts with the most common letter in the English language, and I can't get an unattractive flag with that initial on it?

Unfortunately, all three of my initials are on that list. It is rather odd that yours isn't.

[Van Rijn]

It's the time of the year when my mailbox gets filled with catalogs.

One, called "The Lakeside Collection," is selling "Holiday Initial Flags With Stake" with the following features:

* A festive green bow adorns the vibrant berry wreath.
* A capital initial printed design with embroidered gold accents personalizes the flag (12-1/2" x 18").
* The flag comes complete with a black metal stake (36" x 15" overall) for display.
* Select from 10 intials.

That's right, you only get to choose from the letters, A, B, C, D, H, J, M, R, S & W.

Either I'm missing something, or this is incredibly stupid. I'm trying to figure out what I would do with these things. If I was self-absorbed enough to try, I couldn't spell out my initials or my name. I couldn't wish someone "PEACE" or "HAPPY HOLIDAYS" or "MERRY CHRISTMAS" or "HAPPY NEW YEAR" I couldn't do this year or next in roman numbers (MMX or MMXI). Perhaps there are some religious references that elude me?

Does anyone have any ideas of anything you could do with them other than putting them on a bonfire?

[Spoons]

And what about poor ol' Kwanzaa?