pencil-whip (UNCLASSIFIED)

[Mullins, Bill AMRDEC]

Classification:  UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE

It looks like the pencil whipper rented the car in his name, then gave
the keys to the marine.  So the marine had a car without a valid
contract.  So long as he doesn't get in a wreck or pulled over, and
turns the car in on time, it'll work.  Of course, the pencil whipper is
paying for the usage of the car.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: American Dialect Society
> [mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On Behalf Of Larry Scroggs
> Sent: Friday, February 08, 2008 8:46 AM
> To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
> Subject: pencil-whip
>
> ---------------------- Information from the mail header
> -----------------------
> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       Larry Scroggs <larry at SCROGGS.COM>
> Subject:      pencil-whip
> --------------------------------------------------------------
> -----------------
>
> I am a subscriber to the ADS-L mailing list and enjoy reading
> the posts to the list. I am an elementary school teacher in
> El Paso, Texas and was raised as a military brat before
> pursuing a military career myself.
>
> Yesterday, in another newsletter I receive,  I read a term I
> have only heard in the military... pencil-whipped. The quote
> was: "The next morning they arrived at the airport to find
> that  after another delay, the flight had been
> canceled...again.  Panic time now. 4 new Marines gonna be
> late. A man near the  counter overheard their plight.  Took
> them to a rental car  counter, pencil whipped the contract,
> since he is a frequent  driver. Gave the oldest Marine the
> keys and contract. Told they  to drive careful, be safe, turn
> the car in and SEMPER FI."
>
> In the military I always heard the term "pencil-whipped" used
> to mean doing the paperwork  so as to cover up not performing
> a task. For example "Instead of going to the rifle range and
> qualifying with my weapon, the company clerk just
> pencil-whipped the qualification paperwork for me." If so,
> what is the meaning of "pencil whipped" in the quote above?
> The quote seems to infer that he faked the paperwork but is
> faking a car rental contract by a customer possible?
>
> I would be interested in anyone's input on this. Thanks.
>
> Larry
>
>
>
> Larry
> Larry at Scroggs.com
> El Paso, Texas, USA
> "I think the purpose of life is to be useful, to be
> responsible, to be honorable; to be compassionate. It is,
> after all, to matter: to count, to stand for something, to
> have made some difference that you lived at all." -- Leo C. Rosten
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
>
Classification:  UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE

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