Have you ever had a conversation with a person that takes you to that zone where you find yourself somewhere between laughter and tears? Where part of you wants to roll on the floor laughing and the other part of you wants to crawl under the carpet in vicarious embarrassment? Where you find the task of keeping a straight face about as challenging as jumping into a swimming pool without getting wet?
I just had one of those moments. I must not disclose the name of said other person, nor the gender, nor any other characteristic. I must leave it to your imagination.
It’s nearing day’s end on a Friday, and I’m having a business conversation with the other person about next week’s schedule. With work left to be done, we agree to pick up where we left off on Monday. It’s at this point that I realize that Monday is Columbus Day. The convo went something like this:
Me: “Let’s continue this on Monday. Wait… I think Monday is Columbus Day. Hold on a second. Let me make sure we’re gonna be open.”
Other Person: “I know the banks and Post Office are closed, but I’m pretty sure most businesses don’t have Columbus Day off. I think they moved them all to Presidents day.“
A portrait of St. George doubles as a scene of him fighting a dragon. What’s cool is that the image is recursive; the smaller image of the horse-mounted George also depicts the dragon fight.
Source: Sandro Del-Prete
Taken last night from the bluff at lower White Point.
Well, the words aren’t confused, but sometimes people who use them are. Avoid confusing the following words:
- The CAPITOL building…is situated in the CAPITAL city.
- The STATUE had such STATURE…there was a STATUTE to protect it.
- Members of the COUNCIL…mocked the lawyers for their COUNSEL.
- It is my guiding TENET…to overcharge my TENANTS.
- Each business was a DISCRETE entity…so we had to be DISCREET.
- A judge should be DISINTERESTED…but never UNINTERESTED.
- The arrival of the EMINENT scientist…was thought to be IMMINENT.
- I tried to AFFECT the jury’s decision…the EFFECT of which was a fine.
- They FLAUNTED the fact…that they FLOUTED the law.
- I was asked to FORWARD…the new FOREWORD I had written.
- One should be WARY…of driving when WEARY.
- I took a PEEK at the mountain PEAK…which had PIQUED my curiosity.
- Poor weather meant the GUERILLAS shot…the GORILLAS in the mist.
- Due to the RAIN throughout her REIGN…the Queen grips her REINS.
- After FLOUNDERING about…he FOUNDERED beneath the waves.
- The school PRINCIPAL…is a woman of few PRINCIPLES.
- The vehicle delivering STATIONERY…was STATIONARY in the rush-hour traffic.
- The COMPLIMENTARY wine…COMPLEMENTED the fish perfectly.
- The police could not ELICIT a confession…about his ILLICIT activities.
- The STRAIT of Hormuz…is far from STRAIGHT.
- There was an ORDINANCE…against firing any ORDNANCE.
- His company was INTOLERABLE…because he was so INTOLERANT.
- Building SITES are splendid SIGHTS…so we CITE them in our guide.
Source: Schott’s Original Miscellany, Bloomsbury, 2003.
How well do you know the United States? Take the quiz.
I scored 80%. A solid B student in U.S. History, I guess. I feel really embarrassed about the Susan B. Anthony one. English and Math were always my better subjects.
My answers below: [click to continue…]
There you go again
So much better than last year.
Catch you in ’08.
