Horeshoes & Handgrenades ("almost" doesn't count, except for...)

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HORSESHOES AND HAND GRENADES

   George Bush used the phrase.  This appears to be popular in Texas and the Southwest.

1973, DOVE, gospel songs by Bill Landers including "Hand grenades and horseshoes."  Published at Waco, Texas.

1975, CLOSE DOESN'T COUNT, a novel by John Craig.

1977, HORSE SHOES AND HAND GRENADES: WESTERN HUMOR AND LIES, book by Neal Hughs.

25 April 1986, WALL STREET JOURNAL, pg. 1:  Close counts in horseshoes, hand grenades and politics.

1 May 1989, WALL STREET JOURNAL, pg. 1:  Players take turns throwing shoes, and those that encircle the stakes are "ringers," earning three points.  The shoe that lands closest to the stake earns one point.  Thus came the maxim, "Close only counts in horseshoes."

21 January 1991, THE NATION, pg. 44:  "Almost" only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.

February 1991, FIELD & STREAM, pg. 24:  ...as in the old adage, "almost" only counts in horse shoes and atom bombs.

1992, HORSESHOES AND HAND GRENADES, music cassette by Chris Mars.

27 January 1995, LOS ANGELES TIMES, pg. 5:  "Close usually only counts in hand grenades and horseshoes but sometimes it counts in politics..."

26 March 1995, LOS ANGELES TIMES, pg. 4:  It has been said that close counts only in horshoes and dancing, but a third activity could be added to the list: pricing mutual-fund shares.

25 May 1995, SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE (George Will syndicated column), pg. A25:  But as baseball people say (Red Barber?--ed.), close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.

1998, NEVER SAY NEVER, a recording that includes "Almost doesn't count" by Brandy (that kid from MOESHA).

1999, PROJECTILE POINTS, POTSHERDS, HORSESHOES, AND HAND GRENADES: EVIDENCE OF THE HUMAN LEGACY ON HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE FROM A CULTURAL RESOURCE SAMPLE SURVEY, OTERO COUNTY, NEW MEXICO, book by Chris Lowrey.


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RANDOM RANT

   There's a mouse in the microfilm room of the NYU Bobst Library!  I refuse to work under these conditions!