Bent out of Shape by Robin Reid

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09-JUL-2008	Robin Reid

Bent out of Shape

Rancho Bernardo, CA

Not being a parent or married and in good health, I don’t have many things to worry about. So I tend to perseverate on more arcane things. For example for some time I have been concerned about the state of American English. For example things like “Toys R Us” or the myriad of instances of people turning nouns into verbs like the slogan, “A New Way to Office.” These examples barely scratch the surface. Semantic drift is rampant: an example of this is how the meaning for the word gay has changed in the past 50 years.!

Now on top these burdens, I am now examining how the 50 States of these United States got their shape! In other words I’m a bit bent out of shape that our States were not always the same shape.

Maybe that is an idle concern. However living here in California raises the specter of our being rent in half, burned to crisp, or mud-sliding into a quagmire. Anyway, I’m reading this new book and posting my PaD July 9th.

Canon EOS 40D ,Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM
1/15s f/4.0 at 20.0mm iso800 hide exif

Full EXIF Info
Date/Time	09-Jul-2008 19:17:11
Make	Canon
Model	Canon EOS 40D
Flash Used	No
Focal Length	20 mm
Exposure Time	1/15 sec
Aperture	f/4
ISO Equivalent	800
Exposure Bias
White Balance
Metering Mode	matrix (5)
JPEG Quality
Exposure Program	shutter priority (2)
Focus Distance

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royalld		12-Jul-2008 17:07
LOL... you should try having a conversation in the neighborhood where I grew up.

Ian York		11-Jul-2008 15:25
I am so glad you used “American English” in your description I was once asked by a rather large Texan, to “Speak English Boy” I pointed out that I was speaking English, and had being doing so all my life And it was in fact it was he who was mangling the “English Language” with some off shore American version .. Even though I was only about 11 or 12 at the time, I was pretty incensed with this guy, as we were standing in Trafalgar Square in the middle of the British Capital city.

laine82		10-Jul-2008 20:31
I can only hear Henry Higgins 'ere ...:>) Song: Why Can't the English? Henry Look at her, a prisoner of the gutter, Condemned by every syllable she ever uttered. By law she should be taken out and hung, For the cold-blooded murder of the English tongue. Eliza Aaoooww! Henry imitating her Aaoooww! Heaven's! What a noise! This is what the British population, Calls an elementary education. Pickering Oh, Counsel, I think you picked a poor example. Henry Did I? Hear them down in Soho square, Dropping "h's" everywhere. Speaking English anyway they like. You sir, did you go to school? Man Wadaya tike me for, a fool? Henry No one taught him 'take' instead of 'tike! Why can't the English teach their children how to speak? This verbal class distinction, by now, Should be antique. If you spoke as she does, sir, Instead of the way you do, Why, you might be selling flowers, too! Hear a Yorkshireman, or worse, Hear a Cornishman converse, I'd rather hear a choir singing flat. Chickens cackling in a barn Just like this one! Eliza Garn! Henry I ask you, sir, what sort of word is that? It's "Aoooow" and "Garn" that keep her in her place. Not her wretched clothes and dirty face. Why can't the English teach their children how to speak? This verbal class distinction by now should be antique. If you spoke as she does, sir, Instead of the way you do, Why, you might be selling flowers, too. An Englishman's way of speaking absolutely classifies him, The moment he talks he makes some other Englishman despise him. One common language I'm afraid we'll never get. Oh, why can't the English learn to set A good example to people whose English is painful to your ears? The Scotch and the Irish leave you close to tears. There even are places where English completely disappears. In America, they haven't used it for years! Why can't the English teach their children how to speak? Norwegians learn Norwegian; the Greeks have taught their Greek. In France every Frenchman knows his language fro "A" to "Zed" The French never care what they do, actually, as long as they pronounce in properly. Arabians learn Arabian with the speed of summer lightning. And Hebrews learn it backwards, which is absolutely frightening. But use proper English you're regarded as a freak. Why can't the English, Why can't the English learn to speak?

Gail Davison		10-Jul-2008 19:52
Yay for you Robin... keep at it.

JW		10-Jul-2008 19:19
Oh and thanks for "perseverating on the arcane things! for us - keep it up and let us know what you find out! LOL!

JW		10-Jul-2008 19:12
Winston Churchill once said "This is the sort of English up with which I will not put!" or as we young people say "Wozzup? Wot U stressing 'bout? Chat is cool, init?"

Cindi Smith		10-Jul-2008 16:58
LOL at Coleen and you! I don't get it either! Guess we must be getting old! Your hair looks like it is standing on end over the book!

Guest		10-Jul-2008 16:35
That book is making your hair stand on end, Robin!

Dan Chusid		10-Jul-2008 14:50
I'm proud to say I can still spell "antidisestablishmentarianism". Just don't ask me to define it though.

Debbie Blackburn Beierle		10-Jul-2008 04:42
Very appropriate concern! I realize, when conversing with PBasers from other countries, how MUCH SLANG is in our language. I've tried to change my style!!!! Now for the silly side of life....................leave it to YOU to be bent out of shape!!! LOL Keep us laughing, Robin!

Coleen Perilloux Landry		10-Jul-2008 03:27
It drives me up the wall how words are used these days. However, do they expect children to learn to spell--unless they have spell check. The word that is irritating me the most in New Orleans now is "uptick" and the Mayor uses it all the time. Please someone send me a sentence with uptick.