Dreary diary,
Checking The Shore Journal used to be a Sunday afternoon tradition at UR News headquarters, "The Landfill."
No more. This thing has evolved into a daily (hourly?) quicker than you can say "Live Cam." Methinks The Shore Journal has rapidly become what was referred to in the '60s as "a happening."
For today's Generation Xers (reminiscent of "The Beat Generation" of the '30s), the definition of "a happening" is as much a foreign expression as "Cooking on the front burner." The word "schmuck" evolved into "jerk", "turkey" became a variation on "loser."
Having nothing better to do, one supposes, the Capitol Hill Characters (not a sports team) believes what this country needs is "a national language,'' after all, we do have a national bird we almost made extinct.
The odds-on language favorite is "English."
"Blimey! What a jolly good notion old chaps. About time you people in the colonies learned to be civilized."
Few people would take offense with "blimey,'' often preceded by "well."
They might is if they were to read this dictionary entry: interj. [Brit.] an exclamation of surprise, wonder, etc. Etymology [contr. < (God) blind me]
Sure, literally translated, "schmuck'' is Yiddish for penis. But calling someone who is behaving like a jerk a schmuck sounds so much more suave than another alternative, the more commonplace "prick."
Of course, all these disparaging words -- and many others -- can be found in Webster's New World Dictionary Third College Edition. This particular book is the bible of The Associated Press. I have it on CD-ROM and in hard copy. Tools of the trade.
If you find language as fascinating as I do, then P The Elder (under exclusive contract to The Shore Journal) is a must visit. Learning has more to do with the teacher than it does the subject matter or the equipment -- regardless of your age or previous experiences. (I humbly suggest this is also a daily possibility outside the classroom.)
But words are not just words. Often, it's a matter of how they are spoken. Yours truly has been called "an old sonofabitch'' and considered it high praise. Likewise, the same words have provoked a fight or two.
Got to go. Donna just said it's 4 a.m. and time to quit. I should listen to her more often.
One last thought. In today's The Daily Times, reporter Brian Ponder reports on the latest development in the "We're just one big happy family" charade going on at the Smallsberry City Hall. Good stuff.
The Boz (a Charles Dickens' alias) has some info to share also. Remember, you read it here first that Carolyn Hall would be the new president of the City Council.
Later.
June 12, 1996 John Bozman All Rights Reserved
Tell me what you want to read in this column.