assorted comments

[Doug Harris]

Jim (Landau): I saw a young man who's gifted in numbers on TV a couple of
weeks ago. One of his 'party tricks' was to memorize and recite pi to ten
thousand decimal points. Even _he_ would have trouble remembering (were
it possible to compile a number) the countless times one has sent the note
without the report!!
--
Now, having said that, I'd like to add a comment spawned by my above
comment: What's happened, lately, to cause the phrase 'a couple of (days, or
whatever)' to morph into 'a couple (days or whatever)'? Why has the
preposition disappeared, in this phrase?
--
Also... a parent of one of my wife's kindergarten kids in the Bronx a few
years ago gave her first born the first name 'Admiral'. Her second born was
named 'General'. I believe, but can't swear to it, that they were named
after specific officers. Admirable as was her intent, one has to imagine
that, in the general school population, both those kids have suffered no end
of ribbing.
(the other) doug
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Don't feel bad, Dr. Gray.  I just sent my boss an e-mail saying "here is my
report, a week early"---and forgot to attach the report.

    - Jim Landau

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The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org

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The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org