Quote of the week goes to (drum roll, please!) witness for the prosecution against George Zimmerman, 19 year old Rachel Jeantel! Not only did she change her story but when she was asked to read a certain document, she said: "I don't read cursive." What? I hope she is not representative of most 19 year old kids! Ain't she got no book learnin'?
Now for the serious stuff. Maybe the Frosty gulping idiot from Wendy's and Rachel should check this out although they would probably fall asleep instantly; that is if they are even capable of reading anything that even relates one iota toward academics.
PROPER GRAMMAR AND
SPELLING DO MATTER
I read a column recently by a guy named David Goodloe. You have never heard of him and neither had I
until recently and only because he and I are on the same wavelength when it
comes to using proper grammar and spelling in written pieces.
Since I do a lot of blog writing that reaches the public via
the electronic media plus hard copy pieces through newspapers like the Scottsdale Republic and Arizona Republic, I try my best to be
accurate with my tenses, spelling, and other forms of grammar.
Goodloe makes some interesting comments about good grammar and
speech usage. One is to never use abbreviations like BTW and IMO. I’m old fashioned enough that I still believe
expressions like “by the way” and “in my opinion” should be spelled out. Unfortunately, in this high speed world we
have, it usually takes too much time for many to do it the proper way.
A comical example of the above comes from the original movie
of “The Odd Couple.” Oscar
was complaining to Felix about the fact that he left notes for Oscar on Oscar's
pillow. Then he quoted one: "We are all out of corn flakes. FU." He glared at Felix. "It took me three hours
to figure out 'FU' was 'Felix Ungar.' "
The only time you will find me guilty of using abbreviations
is in informal notes. I’m not adverse to
using an occasional “LOL” when writing informal notes to friends but you’ll
probably never see me use anything else even as simple as ROFL or LMAO. Those items just indicate laziness plus I am
sure there are some people out there (the “codger factor”) who have no idea
what they mean.
Then we have the “emoticons.” Do we really need little faces typed from
colons, semi-colons, and parentheses to indicate the writer’s mood when they
send a message to you? Even worse are
the ones that are supplied to us by certain email sites.
Should I even get into the misuses of “their," “they’re,” and “there”? How about “your” and “you’re?” I still get messages, from people who should
know better, where all these forms are used incorrectly.
A lot of people are just plain sloppy these days when they
write. If they are corrected, they
simply say “It doesn't matter; you know what I mean.” It should matter as good grammar and spelling
are a hallmark of intelligence and if one has a doubt as to what is correct
they should follow the words of the two kids who used to exist in a monthly
magazine from “World Books”: “We never guess; we look it up.”
103 comments:
Warning... Grammar Police check point 1 mile ahead.
..good luck Jim, BTW- my middle name is not Tom- however "Felix Unger" I can work with that..
For instance when I say..
"Thank you Republican Senate for bringing people out of the shadows and giving them an inside advantage over the citizens"..
sincerely yours..
Felix Unger.
..thanks again for the inspiration.
I remember that Odd Couple episode! Laughed my head off! FU!
Jim, you wouldn't believe the horrific grammatical mistakes I've seen in resumes. And in business documents. And in business emails. I cringe, and have pretty much given up trying to gently and respectfully suggest the correct way of writing. It's a losing battle.
The one grammatical mistake that makes me scream? "I" versus "me."
The incorrect sample is "she gave the money to him and I:" it should be "to him and me." Etc. And it's such a simple litmus test: take away the 'him and' part, and read the sentence with just the "I" or "me."
Don't even get me started on "its" versus "it's" ...
I think you have to take in consideration we have a completely balkanized society in 'merica.
For instance that cursive challenged 19 year old high school senior speaks the Queens Creole I would assume, I only wish the cross examination would have allowed her to read some nice block print to show us what he capabilities are.
Let's see, 12 or 13 years of public education at under 10K a year works out to a lot of taxpayer money being squandered- and from what I can tell she is one of the better educated students graduating today.
..at least she knew the word cursive.
hehe.. been waiting two years to work the phrase "Queen Creole" into the conversation.. (gotta hurry before someone beats me to it)..
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/4988091/couple-died-having-sex-against-window-which-broke.html
This is the very reason I checked my windows to make sure they were not from some cheap Chinese glass company.
I had a cold sweat nightmare one night of this "unhappy ending" happening to me.
I simply have no false concept of "Normality Bias" to cloud my thinking I guess.
Thankfully my glass was all manufactured in Mexico where they still take the concept of temper strength seriously.
Impulsive youngsters caught up in a moment of passion simply have less to worry about in Arizona than some in some slap dab section eight apartment project in China.
..we should all take a moment and thank our leaders in Phoenix for making this state what it is.. thank you Jan Brewer, thank you Senator McCain and thank you Senator Flake.. job well done.
.. sincerely, Felix.
Rachel Jeantel is a prime example of 50 years of liberal public education.
I think most kids learn cursive in the 3rd or 4th grade.
Looking at her on the witness stand I guess she didn't take Michelle Obama's advice to eat healthy.
Middy,
"Tom"? Waht am I missing?
Glo,
Was that also on the TV version? I remember it in the movie with Lemmon and Matthau. Either way, it was a great line.
It's one of the only times I can remember the movie characters and the TV version actors (Randall, Klugman)both being excellent.
Jack Lemmon was always a special favorite to me. He was outstanding as Ensign Pulver in "Mr. Roberts." I loved the way he dodged meeting the captain (James Cagney) for a year and a half even though they were on the same ship!
Glo,
I know what you mean and if you say something they will just shrug and say "Oh, you know what I mean."
I feel like saying what it mean is, "you are stupid!"
Another fave is the mistaken use of apostrophes in quantities "He said it hundred's of times." It makes me want to ask "Just what is it that hundred's possesses?"
In today's world, no one cares.
Middy,
Love the "Queen's Creole" line and you used the possessive correctly! Good job.
Did you see that Rachel? Wow, what a sad excuse she was. I also was surprised she said "cursive". It shows she knows what she doesn't know.
Maybe she should have said "I can read readin' but I can't read writin'"
Those witnesses today look good for Zim; they better get some reinforcements ready in every city though if he gets off.
Middy,
What a way to go! Pleasure and death within seconds of each other. Who the hell in their right mind does it against a window pane?
That's what walls and beds are for.
Mike,
The whole thing is such a joke. Schools are getting away from cursive which is bad enough but I don't think she could have learned it under any circumstances.
I remember being able to write various letters in kindergarten. They had all the letters of the alphabet showing the lower and upper cases on the wall and I wasn't sure what they were at 4 but I liked copying them.
This idiot is 19 and "can't read cursive." Get ready for another member on the Florida welfare rolls.
So now we need to spell everything out? BTW, this is an informal writing forum for me, Jim. IOW, I like to practice writing the way that I speak but I can class it up if I want. I can still fly thru a grammar & reading comprehension test without even a refresher though. In fact, I have done so lately.
The way I use them, acronyms & otherwise shortened words are merely for brevity. I believe that they originated from the practice of texting -- extra characters cost more money -- but I rarely use them that way myself. But, hey, at least you didn't go specifically after my ampersands.
So how do you feel about the Paula Deen quote: "I is who I is and I'm not changing." I bet that bothered you more than her admission that she used the word "nigger" back in the 1980s...Am I right?
On Paula Dean I kinda like that modified Popeye the Sailor man approach, shows her good cultural upbringing..
If you're (did I get that one right?) looking for "fair" you need to go to Pomona in August as we used to say in the land of milk and unicorns.
Once these bastards set their hooks in you they won't let go.
The gang infested L.A Co. Fair is held in Pomona for all those not familiar with the lay of the land.
..ah yes, back to the Land of Confusion.
Alec Baldwin, noted horse's ass went on another apparently drug fueled tirade at a funeral..
.."Baldwin started by writing, “Someone wrote that my wife was tweeting at a funeral. Hey. That’s not true. But I’m gonna tweet at your funeral.”
Sounds like Alec has NFL thug envy..
Lowering standards is what they do best, move over Joe DiMaggio- America has a new type of hero.
I think the nation got along a lot better before the "thought police" got any real power, wouldn't you agree Cj.
I doubt there was anyone being harmed leaving well enough alone, but I can nearly bet you there are a lot of people that she employed that are now wishing the thought police would have cut them a break.
How would you like to have a job where something like this happens to your boss, and through no fault of your own you find yourself looking for work in a bad economic environment- and for what?
Not everything in life has to be noticed, not every wrong can be corrected without doing a lot more damage in the process.
She got lynched just like Zimmerman is probably going to get lynched, "it doesn't have to be right to be real".
CJ,
Nobody has to do anything; it just depends on if they give a damn about what others think of their ability to express themselves in an intelligent manner.
In most cases around friends, it may not matter that much what they think but I sure wouldn't put BTW on a resume or use the term during an interview.
People who know better use the correct forms of communication and make sure their tenses, punctuation, and spelling are correct. It's good manners and shows respect for the English language to get it right.
First impressions are lasting.
CJ,
As far as Paula Deen, I've never been a fan but I think she got a bad deal and shouldn't have cried and apologized.
In her case, she has millions of dollars and at 66 can easily retire and say the hell with it. When one is in that situation, they probably aren't worried about proper grammar.
Down south they overlook that stuff anyway.
Middy,
Someone is going to kick Baldwin's ass good and proper one of these days. He definitely has anger management problems.
Yeah.. probably should have been Queen's Creole instead of Queens Creole eh?
I should have paid better attention in Grammar School- is there such a thing as Grammar School any more?
Even the whole phrase 'by the way' all spelled out & properly used has no place on a resume. That phrase in particular conveys a certain degree of familiarity in conversation that has no place on a piece of well produced technical writing like a resume. And I would never include one of your favorite phrases -- LOL or 'laugh out loud' -- on a resume either, Jim.
Yeah, I suppose we got along better back before the PC police & sensitivity training, Middy. At least for a few decades between those times in our history when saying the word "nigga" out loud was cause for termination & the cancellation of TV & book deals, & the cause for the organization of knuckle dragging posses with torches & knotted ropes. But as always, correlation does not necessarily equal causation, therefore, I am not sure why that is.
I do know this tho: I more on the side of Paula Deen before she opened her mouth over & over again & then even made Popeye the Sailor Man sound like her mental superior. Even 80yo seamen is more literate than Paula Deen (misspelling intended).
I think therefore I is...
Yes, Queen's Creole shows the possession of one queen while Queens Creole would need an apostrophe after "Queens" to indicate possession by more than one queen. The plural of queen is "queens" as you put it.
Here is usage of all three forms:
"It was not the King's Creole; it was the Queen's creole."
"The three queens worked together to make the "Queens' Creole."
"The creole was made by the queens.
Barb the teacher assures me I am correct. Teachers are handy as hell to have around the house; especially when they are gorgeous!
That's my problem, I shoulda slept with the English teacher.
Imagine the possibilities.
Well mike Michelle would tell you to just imagine how Rachel would look if they hadn't gotten McDonald's restaurants to get rid of the Happy Meal..
Liberals never admit a damn thing nor do they take any responsibility for their string of failures.
Luckily I am not filling out a resume, just getting ready for the two minute drill.
Well (never start a sentence with that word, same thing applies with the word "And", a rule I violate regularly with impunity) the courtroom really should be no place to critique someone's grammar, it should be a focused attempt to derive the truth of the matter.
Ito seemed to be trying to keep some order to the Simpson trial, I don't see the same thing going on here.
Allowing the Martin family access to the trial and denying the Zimmermans the same, overcharging the incident like this should set off alarms on both sides of the trial but they seemed content to just have the publicity continue.
Bottom line....(a phrase never properly used in a legal document or resume but perfectly acceptable in a familiar narritave)- lol (same guidelines) we no longer have an impartial justice system in America in much the same manner as we no longer have a viable education system in America yet the opposition will argue both to the bitter end.
Keep in mind the only felony prosecution resulting from the Simpson trial was Mark Furman on a technical entrapment charge- that's how justice is served in LA..
Oh, we are at the checkpoint already.. "your papers please"- you do have your papers don't you?
Middy..um...revealing statement that...
Your English teacher was..... Mr. Kotter ;-)
BTW Cj, you didn't comment on the point I made about all the potential collateral damage done to the support staff for her production.
Is this a matter of principle and purpose or does it have it's roots in envy and destruction due to her position in society and just wanting to take the opportunity to strike out against a successful white person?
She shouldn't have to defend herself from a two bit liberal lynch mob in the first place- her fans were not offended and neither was anyone else for that matter.
Conservatives seek equality by lifting others, Liberals want equality by making everyone needy.
..Yet that obvious axiom is argued by the left in spite of it being in everyone's face.
..welcome to the new normal- this is what fundamental transformation looks like with a liberal agenda.
With all the moisture in Baja it appears the monsoon is merely waiting for the high at the four corners area to break down..
It look like you might get some sprinkles in the east mountains soon- waiting for the Haboobs to start.
"BTW Cj, you didn't comment on the point I made about all the potential collateral damage done to the support staff for her production." I must have missed it, Middy. Did you say it here or somewhere else? Because a quick CTRL+f only turned up one instance of the phrases "collateral damage" & "support staff" on this board &, altho you apparently think that I live to comb thru your comments looking for nuggets to rail against, the honest to god truth is that most of the time I just don't read most of what you write.
"...does it have it's roots in envy and destruction due to her position in society and just wanting to take the opportunity to strike out against a successful white person?" JHC, Middy, for somebody so obviously educated & intelligent, you sure are simpleminded.
You know, I would spell my positions all out for you again but I already know that it would do absolutely no good. Suffice to say that I barely knew who Paula Deen is before all this crap hit the news & then, as usual, I was thinking it is pure stupidity to be stressing over something so silly that she apparently said once three decades ago.
To put it simple enough for even you to understand, Middy, I do not care if Paula Deen is made out of money or not. She has absolutely zero effect on me or my life. What I tend to rail against is people expressing in comments that they are voting in ways that have a negative impact on me & my circumstances -- same as you all do -- as well as expressing condemnation of anybody who dares to disagree. Besides, from what I know of the Deep South & its politics, I believe Paula Deen is probably a card carrying Democrat. Of course, having loads of money often changes one's voting habits...BUT, from what I have seen & heard of Paula Deen now, I don't think she is bright enough to change her political preference based on what is good for her. Good God, she isn't even bright enough to keep her mouth shut in her own best interest.
And of course I always think about workers such as Paula Deen's support staff. When the subject comes up, that is. Hopefully, they will be able to quickly be re-employed. Luckily, they have some valuable experience in a field that is still in high demand.
..."I doubt there was anyone being harmed leaving well enough alone, but I can nearly bet you there are a lot of people that she employed that are now wishing the thought police would have cut them a break.
How would you like to have a job where something like this happens to your boss, and through no fault of your own you find yourself looking for work in a bad economic environment- and for what?"
I made that comment last night at 10.33 pm in direct response to your comment.
When you make a statement like
..I do know this tho: I more on the side of Paula Deen before she opened her mouth over & over again & then even made Popeye the Sailor Man sound like her mental superior. Even 80yo seamen is more literate than Paula Deen (misspelling intended).
I think therefore I is..."
I got the wrong impression you didn't care for her- of course the fact that she represents success and in light of your previous years of ranting against "the rich" has clouded my thinking much the same way yours evidently is when you say "the honest to god truth is that most of the time I just don't read most of what you write".
As to her brightness.
I have no idea what bearing that should have on an obvious overt attempt to destroy her personally.
as long as it's not you eh?
.."What I tend to rail against is people expressing in comments that they are voting in ways that have a negative impact on me & my circumstances"-
does that mean you don't think anyone should have voted "no" on Obamaphones and "free healthcare for everyone"?
I guess the biggest difference is I do read your comments.
I'm surprised no one has a comment about the employer at Wendy's and the frosty machine.
There is a link on the first line. It's a helluva piece.
Been too busy picking at scabs and double chekcikng my spelling.
"How would you like to have a job where something like this happens to your boss, and through no fault of your own you find yourself looking for work in a bad economic environment..." Seriously, Middy? Have you really forgotten that I did lose my job as well as all the value of my decades of work experience due to circumstances completely outside of my control & due to no fault of my own? AND at an age when most of you were contently putting the finishing touches on your retirement plans, I found myself on my ass -- without the abundant opportunities you all took for granted & almost too old to reinvent myself in a job market where what few opportunities still existed went to others for completely superficial reasons...but reinvent myself I did (just not to same level as I would have been able to before the economy collapsed around me & my hard earned experience went out of style) -- & burning thru what little I had managed to accumulate in my life.
Meanwhile, I have had to endure your completely misguided bull shit for years upon years. Yes, I could walk away forever. I know that. But giving up is completely out of character for me &, besides, once upon a time we did have some good times. Didn't we? So I keep thinking that maybe one of these days you'll remember that I am not all bad. And I thank heaven that I do not have to live with you. That last item alone makes my life so much better.
What other ideas were you demanding that I defend myself against? Oh, yeah, apparently because I made some fun of Paula Deen's obvious lack of intellect & grammatical class, now somehow I hate her because she is a rich white women, right? Whatever you want to think, Middy. I will never be able to change your mind. I guess that's because you have me pegged as a poor white woman & you obviously hate me for that. And, of course, since you are a hateful person, I must be one too. Like I said tho, whatever...Your personal problems have only slightly more impact on my life than the obvious shortcomings of Paula Deen so I am positive that I can walk away from this with no loss of skin off my back whatsoever.
Feel better?- it's always easier to blame someone for your misery than look in the mirror.
No one chose where or when to be born, no one chooses their parents.. but they certainly can choose which way they want to go in life.
Your vocation collapsing wasn't due to strong arm tactics.
The industry changed forever and it sure didn't happen in one week, same as Kodak and Polaroid.
I changed vocations in my late forties because I looked into my future and saw it needed a new direction, you ignored the signs and partied on just like you ignore the sure signs this economy- which due to the corrosive nature of liberalism- is finished for the rest of everyone here's lifetime.
However you remain belligerent and spiteful in the face of overwhelming evidence, flailing at tar baby after tar baby of straw man arguments they put in your way.
You remind me of someone who just couldn't vote for a ticket with Sarah Palin on it because she was stupid, pointing out death panels in Obamacare, the folly of green energy along with a lot of other traps of liberalism and look what we got.
..those who ignore history..
I voted for McCain/Palin in 2008, asshole. And I probably would have voted a Republican ticket again in 2012 if the candidates hadn't alienated me in one of the debates & proven themselves to be the greater of two evils. If you weren't so busy trying to bury me under your projected personal problems, you would remember that. But of course I is just a poor white woman...And we is always after your money. Aren't we all?
I have better things to do now so I am going to check out of this bitch fest. Come Monday, I have to go to work again & earn a honest living &, until then, I am sure I can find some cleaning to do that will be so much more productive than all this. FTR, tho, I do not blame anybody for my personal circumstances. That's what you do. You blame Obama, you blame liberals in general ... you even think that I had something to do with your personal misery.
You poor thing! There, that's as far as my charitable feelings for you go. After that, trash in, trash out...You may own a nicer, more expensive bed than me, but then you shit in it. And at least I can still sleep comfortably in my own bed each night. God knows, I have certainly earned & continue to earn that privilege.
CJ, what did the Republican candidates do that alienated you and made you vote for Obama?
Mike, CJ has stated before that Paul Ryan said in the debate that he wanted to take away her social security.
I challenged her on this ridiculous assertion several times, she never responded to my challenge, (red flags still strewn about the field)
Pretty sure CJ knows that was never proposed or stated by anyone, but it's hard for hear to hear clearly with that GIGANTIC CHIP on her shoulder obscuring and deflecting the actual sound waves...
What does any of this have to do with bullying tactics of the left?
I'm not here to defend Paula Dean, just American values, tradition and the rule of law- her civil rights and therefore your own civil rights including the freedom of expression is what is at stake here.
There is a right to speak your opinion expressly guaranteed by the Constitution.
There is no right to have your opinion accepted by others found in the Constitution.
So do you support the Constitution or not? because that is the issue at stake.
All liberal tactics come from the same evil root, and it's the same bad actors meddling with honest folk again and again whether it's over saying the word nigger thirty years ago or a group of people demanding the banning of the word Christmas and demanding the tearing down of war memorial crosses.
As I said, at this moment we live in a deliberately balkanized nation with no common American centric goals.
The argument is lost when you resort to calling people who disagree with you an asshole Cj- you have done it again.
Too bad you don't actually read what I say, when I wrote.. "You remind me of someone who just couldn't vote for a ticket with Sarah Palin on it because she was stupid,"
that isn't saying it was you- I might have been talking about someone else so you don't get a pass.
After all it wasn't even in cursive script, just easily understandable block print.
..if the shoe fits..
Going into the sixth year of this one would think everyone would be tired of "the new normal" by now.
This Paula Dean issue is another diversion from unchecked government growth which is taking the air out of the private sector room.
Every time we start to get focused, another one of these diversions lead us off on another dead end chase.
Meanwhile the rule of law gets trashed, the debt mountain increases and it's getting hard to tell the white flag waving Republi-puke party from the globalist monsters in Washington.
She would be smart to forget about the past and focus on building a consumer appreciated business like her restaurant chain- I think tv has pretty much ran it's course by now anyway- same as the NFL/Gangland football league has.
Also she has an excellent defamation of character based Civil Rights lawsuit on a silver platter and plenty of deep pocket fools with damages out the wahzoo to sue on this matter- and I hope she buries them.
Just like Zimmerman should sue NBC and win big time.
NBC has a lot riding on this case in Florida.
Just got back on the Internet! Lightning strike took out some electronics and appliances a few days ago.
Globalists. Yep.
I had to know why President Obama is in Africa and it's about trade agreements.
Have you seen the prices of new computers in Walmart? A few hundred bucks for an HP? Nice. But why?
Is it because the Chinese control the Congo? Is it because there might be an internal power struggle when Nelson Mandela passes the rainbow bridge?
And my washer quit, so I'm airing my dirty laundry on the laptop. No really. I got my underwear draped over the screen now. It hides all those grammatical errors.
I'd like bat-shyt crazy for $100.dollars, Alex.........
Thank God you weren't hurt in that attack by our enemy in the ongoing "war on lightning".
hell, I was just kidding around the other night- didn't think..
no tornados eh?
You don't have one of those crazy white streaks in your hair like my uncle Famooz got when he got struck.
..all he would ever do after that was mutter about crop circles and strange lights in the sky.
But the war on lightning isn't foolishness like the other cultural wars, lightning actually generates ozone which kills baby seals.
I saw it on Oprah.
you aren't going to start cussing again are you Rick?
I was wondering why everyone was misspelling Paula's name..
all this time I thought she was Jimmy Dean's widow..
..not even close eh?
Ah.....Another status quo Saturday! I think that although I have some opinions on these comments I will let sleeping dogs lie.
Broke a hundred over here today.. not talking about my golf game, another day or two and it's going to feel like Summer.
How would you like a dose of 1880's Phoenix in July?- or for that matter a July in Cincy in the 1800's.
tough people those Americans were.
It's best to let sleeping dogs be.
I don't understand the meaning of a "Status Quo Saturday." I guess you mean me. Thanks, Jim. That's sweet of you.
This is normal.
Jim,
Not to be too vulgar, but I guess I have to be: please get rid of that crazy FUCK once and for all! You are going to lose the intelligent and decent people who enjoy this blog.
PROUD, CJ has always been a bit touchy about "HER" Social Security. She must think the government has some special account just for her.
guess I shouldn't tell her I'm getting my first SS check in November and she's helping to pay for it.
Mike...after she said that, I realized she really believed she head Ryan (and or Republican nominee) say he was wanting to deprive her of her S/S, I reminded her that first off, the V/P makes, nor enacts any legislation. Then I asked her tho post one instance where Ryan or any Republican ever offered a bill wanting to stop people who paid in and wished to remain in the current (going bankrupt) system.
After that, and aside from CJ spouting how goddamn tough she thinks she is ....
It's been ****CRICKETS***
Prolly cause there is /was never any bill proposed by anyone that sought to eliminate or deprive her and her generation of any benefits she's paid in or entitled to...
Glo....anybody ever tell you how frkin sexy you are when you talk all dirty and vulgar like that? (he said headin for a cold shower)
CJ deserves her Social Security check. She paid for it all her life. It's her right and no one should intimidate her. It's not free money. It's money that she paid and it's due to her.
Disability is the same way. Move to China if you don't like it.
I'll take batshyt crazy for $500, Alex!
<<<>>
(((((what is a Kepple?)))))
Here is exactly what Paul Ryan said: "Look, when I look at these programs, we've all had tragedies in our lives. I think about what they've done for my own family. My mom and I had my grandmother move in with us who was facing Alzheimer's. Medicare was there for here, just like it's there for my mom right now who is a Florida senior. After my dad died, my mom and I got Social Security survivors benefits, helped me pay for college, it helped her go back to college in her 50s where she started a small business because of the new skills she got. She paid all of her taxes on the promise that these programs would be there for her. We will honor this promise. And the best way to do it is reform it for my generation. You see, if you reform these programs for my generation, people 54 and below, you can guarantee they don't change for people in or near retirement, which is precisely what Mitt Romney and I are proposing."
Read it well because the next time certain people act all ignorant &/or pretend that I don't back my claims up, I'm going to tell you to look it up yourself.
Hey, John, you are mighty tough yourself...As soon as you believe I am no longer around. Those crickets you keep claiming to hear are between your own two ears.
And I see that Middy is still posting cheap shots too...Hey, sweetheart, if you feel so put upon & personally abused by me calling a spade a spade (or an asshole an asshole) that you feel that I am abridging your constitutional rights to have an opinion, then why don't you try not jumping all over me first when I post an opinion here? I mean, I was posting my opinion of what I thought of Paula Deen spectacle & you countered with this crap,
"Is this a matter of principle and purpose or does it have it's roots in envy and destruction due to her position in society and just wanting to take the opportunity to strike out against a successful white person?" Now, my pejoratives may be a lot more succinct than yours, but I believe hit the nail on the head there. Besides, there is no real argument to win or lose here but, even if there was, you started the crap with me.
Morning. The coffee's hot.
Social Security will eventually lead to privatization ... but only for those 54-years and younger. It's the only way they can make sell the legislation.
I have read that some investors are pulling their money and going with individuals with good ideas to make corporations. Investors did the same thing in the Great Depression Wall Street bankers are artificially keeping the numbers high, but for how long? I guess as long as the SEC keeps looking the other way like they did with Madoff.
CJ is right on a number of points.
Why did you make fun of the victim in your opening monologue then?
.."So how do you feel about the Paula Deen quote: "I is who I is and I'm not changing." I bet that bothered you more than her admission that she used the word "nigger" back in the 1980s...Am I right?"
just what is that supposed to mean?- I read it as you are calling her another ignorant cracker from the South- pretty much like me, correct?
But I let it pass until you doubled down on your private choice of bigotry with a real zinger..
"I do know this tho: I more on the side of Paula Deen before she opened her mouth over & over again & then even made Popeye the Sailor Man sound like her mental superior. Even 80yo seamen is more literate than Paula Deen (misspelling intended)."
So I didn't jump down your throat immediately as you say I did.
BTW (with apologies) the correct word seems to me as it should have been Seaman instead of Seamen, plural nouns seem to fight with singular quantifiers..
but I won't quibble- it's not my nature, I didn't spend my time correcting grammar of inmates for the same reason.
So just quit whining every time someone calls you on your obvious bias against anyone who has earned two nickles to rub together- you have a long history of doing just that.. it's the longest running road show this side of Nickey Sticks or whatsername..
You also seem to have the opinion that your opinion is of more valuable than every one else's, predictably you never seem to want to discuss or defend your opinion just engage in another round of name calling and personal destruction- just like the guy you voted for does.
See the root of your problem is you just don't read others thoughts, you admitted that.
Instead you just project what you think you should be reading and tee off from that point.
CJ....nice quote, now where exactly does Ryan say he wants to do anything to stop you from getting your just deserts?
You seem to be the one who can't read well, sure you can read, but you have a bias filter that translates things like "We will honor this promise" into greedy rich guys wanting to take advantage of professional victims like you.
BTW...matters not if you are here whining, my comments and my sentiments are the same. Save your "I'm one tough bitch" act for someone who might buy it? (AKA, other professional (Democrat) victims...
I have my problems with Paul Ryan but it has nothing to do with his observations on a social security system that is headed for sure destruction.
The deliberate metastasizing of all those permanently unemployable disability claims is directly attributable to a five year plan of stagnation and crony capitalism.
Disability is the fastest growing industry in America today thanks to zero GNP growth, no growth which is directly attributable to an expanding federal government and draconian regulation..
The communist you voted for is now shutting down the coal industry just like he promised, wait until the costs of energy skyrocket and we suffer brown outs, will you admit a problem at that point?
chicken or egg?- they are inseparable in this instance, actually it's the entire hen house that is on fire.
It's instructive to note how the media is trying to defend this Rachel the star witness.
Now they are calling her multilingual, I guess English is not her first language.
It's amazing how far people will go to cover for lying under oath.
But they have a lot invested, the corrupt media carried the water for the President in an attempt to ignite a race war while in the process of electioneering, and as a result are now looking like they should be charged along with the State of Florida instead of "Zimmerman the Jew" for their part in the obstruction of justice and the manufacturing of evidence.
"Professional victim"
I like that; has a good ring to it and certainly applies.
Poor Rachel but it may not turn out too bad for her. In today's screwed up world where people like her can have a zero IQ yet cash in, nothing surprises me.
Let's see.....hmmmmm....How about an MTV series called "Miami Shore" where Rachel can play a kind of black Snooki. Or, maybe they can have a reality show where she goes in search of a teacher who will teach her how to read cursive.
It amazes me how that piece of crap Trayvon can get the support he gets. Two witnesses back Zimmerman's story and his injuries and clothing support his self defense. It's a good thing he is a Hispanic or the sh-t would really be hitting the fan about how the "honkey" beat up that poor defenseless little 12 year old in those phony photos; not the 175 pound muscle bound gold toothed gangsta.
Oh, for the love of peace. I am not a victim, professional or otherwise, nor have I ever acted that way. Do not let your professional victimizer buddies spin me that way in your eyes too, Jim.
There are plenty of things that I am good at & one of them is refusing to lay down & take the beating they are always trying to put on me. Refusing to let your victimizer buddies push me underwater, so to speak, as they are always trying to do when I speak my mind from a slightly different POV. I always fight back.
Another thing I am good at is keeping my head above water in sucking, swirling economic waters as I did following the huge whirlpool that opened up very near me in 2008...As you should be able to see, I am still holding my own despite the fact that I need to keep swimming for a least another decade before I may be able to retire on a beach somewhere. But believe you me, when my time comes, I am gonna find that beach & use it, the same way you all have, come hell or high water.
Another thing that I have done in my life, extraordinarily well I should add, is raise a kid. Despite the fact that I found myself doing it as a single parent because I made an unwise choice in partners when I was still fairly young & naive, I took full responsibility for that choice & always did what I needed to do to make certain that my son had a roof over his head & food to eat -- all the essentials -- PLUS, I provided him a good role model by always working to support us both...Even while trying to better myself by going back to school in the early 90s when he was entering his teen years. And, yep, those teen years temporarily derailed my plans. But I did move away from the press back then & into the age of electronic printing production because of my newly acquired skills.
I just did not see the nearly complete collapse of the printing industry coming the way that Middy always points out that I should have. That is very easy for him to say, isn't it? He has never had to swim in the same inner-tube as me to save his life...And is there a single person on this board right now who can honestly say that they have achieved the same level of success as a single parent that I have achieved in my life? Yeah, it didn't exactly come with a retirement plan & I am still struggling to find one now that retirement plans have gone out of style...But I did have a big perq in the ability to see the product of my labor grown up & work & start a family of his own. And I still don't feel like a victim. Instead, I feel proud of my achievement...
...So here is what I believe about what Paul Ryan said in the debate that I quoted:
Paul Ryan stated that he & Mitt Romney were proposing to "reform" social security insurance (SSI) in such a way as to practically take away the ability of people my age & younger to ever receive the benefits that we too have been promised & that we too have paid for in order to "honor this promise" for people aged 55+...And that right there is why I used my constitutional right to vote for the other candidates. Period.
BTW, I am not asking for anything that most of you all haven't already or are soon to receive. I am not demanding any benefits that I haven't been paying for decades now. AND I am not, not, NOT begrudging you what you have. I honestly do not care if you are well off or wealthy or filthy rich...As long as it is not obvious that you earned your status by dishonest means that is. But, to the best of my knowledge, that doesn't apply to anybody here. And, even if it did apply, all I would do about it is express an opinion which, according to Middy, is my right...So why, why, WHY am I always the bad guy in these arguments? Why am I always being spun as a card carrying, lazy benefit sucking, poor liberal victim that hates white rich people? HUH?
Like I said before, I always fight back. That does not make my a victim, Jim.
And, while you are down here, why don't you all consider honoring the SSI promise to me? To people my age & younger? Or giving yours up so that the SSA can honor its promise to me? Could it actually be that you are actually hateful of people that haven't achieved retirement yet??? I mean, that is the reasoning that you have been using against me.
If Paul Ryan wants to give up his SSI, good for him. He actually admitted to receiving benefits from SSI early in his life & using them to attend college in the same little speech...Which gave him a huge advantage that he himself had never paid for. Besides, Paul Ryan is now a politician & we all know who is paying for his benefits & wages, even as we speak.
Now look at what you have done, you have inspired a normally lucent guy like Rick into is wearing sackcloth and throwing ashes in the air babbling on and on like some horsebar jukebox.
Listening to you two logs on a fire is like listening to an old Jewish couple commiserating life's aches and pains.
Like I told my doctor the other day that when you tell people about your misery eighty percent don't give a shit and nearly twenty percent are glad- he agreed.
It's better to just not bring it up.
.."Oh the dangling conversation and the superficial sighs"- wouldn't that be a nice break from non stop acrimony..
maybe in Missouri, the show your ass state.
At least Rick and CJ bring the same amount of sense to the conversation... NONSENSE!
Ryan plan never sought to end SA/S bennies to folks CJ's age, it went something like this:
***Rep. Paul Ryan, (R-WI) the ranking Republican on the budget committee, recently detailed the Republican plan for Social Security that preserves the existing program for those 55 or older. For younger people the plan "offers the option of investing over one-third of their current Social Security taxes into personal retirement accounts, similar to the Thrift Savings Plan available to federal employees*
IMPORTANT...Please note the use and placement of the word: "optional"
What does it matter now ?
Middy,
We speak the things that matter
with words that must be said
Can our malices be worthwhile?
Is the theatre really dead?
Really it doesn't matter, they lost, we lost.
The whole thing is built like a house of cards and will collapse no matter what now, just a matter of how long they can keep putting off the inevitable.
Fighting over the future of Social anything is like watching gulls fight over a bucket of KFC bones left on the beach.
.."I am just a poor boy
Though my story's seldom told
I have squandered my resistance
For a pocket full of mumbles such are promises
All lies and jests
Still a man hears what he wants to hear
And disregards the rest"
..and the beat goes on.
one of my favorite songwriters.
.."Not that there is anything wrong with that!"
Middy, what this country should do is what Chile did in the 1980's, privatize Social Security. People have their own accounts and can invest their money any way they want.
Imagine instead of the government stealing your money the whole time you worked you could invest that money.
SS, Medicare and SSI disability is heading for a train wreak in the near future. 10,000 baby boomers are retiring every day and signing up for SS and in some cases both SS and Medicare.
10 million people are on disability and who knows how many on Medicaid. These programs are doomed to failure because not enough people are paying into the system.
CJ, the government promised you SS benefits and if you don't get them then blame the government for a promise they didn't keep. Hope you have a good 401k at work.
My kids are all in their 30's and they realize that when they retire SS and Medicare won't be there that's why they put money into 401K's and other investments.
Mike, how much will it cost to create this program? You apparently have the figures. How many billions of dollars will it take to switch over all Social Security accounts to private bank accounts?
How much will it cost for the legal crew to create the bill to pass this legislation? As well as time taken to read it. Committee discussions. The final drafts, duplicated for each and every legislator to ignore at their leisure.
It's gonna happen, Mike. You're right. But it's not a panacea for all your woes.
"... then blame the government for a promise they didn't keep." EXACTLY! Now you're getting it, Mike. Except, unlike you guys, I didn't just blame the government in general, I voted against the candidates that were proposing to break that promise to me. And, unlike in 2008, I voted for the winning team. Not gloating because I actually do not feel so great about my choice -- the lesser of two evils is still evil -- but, honestly, it may even work in my favor in the long run because the next time we get the chance to vote for president, I'll be in the demographic that the GOP was pandering to during the last election by making yet another promise to keep SSI coming for people aged 55+.
Good for you & your 30yo kids, Mike. I am telling my 32yo the same thing. I am also telling him to work on staying married because, unlike me, he found himself a decent spouse & is now helping to provide for & raise a child...SEE? They are already doing better than I was at the same age & I am completely okay with that. In fact, I am proud of all three of them.
NOPE. I am still struggling to find a job with a retirement plan, Mike. I believe I already mentioned that. But I am still trying. I am still applying & even recently took a test for a paraprofessional certificate which should be arriving by mail any day now. I am also working on rebuilding some employment credibility by maintaining the same job. It's a low paying job with zero benefits...But at least I am holding my own now. Next month will be my one year anniversary.
I am ignoring the rest of you all. At least until you all get over your insatiable need to take shots at me every time you think I am on the defensive. Well, except for Glo. She has more class than all of you all put together & I do believe that she earned it. I am still wishing you lots of luck with the book, Glo.
Rick, the Chile privatization plan didn't cost the government much. people are required to put 10% into a private account that is invested in the country's economy.
CJ, I'm glad to hear your son is doing well. We all want our kids to do well.
Many of us have been divorced because we didn't pick the right spouse the first time. My first marriage only lasted 3 years.Actually 2 1/2 since the divorce took 6 months.
We had a daughter that was 2 when we divorced and I paid child support for 16 years which I didn't mind.
At least you have the joy of seeing your son and his family. I haven't seen my daughter since she was 16. She's now 37.
I wish you well in your job quest. Hope you get one with benefits.
A job with benefits? That's the reason for outsourcing, isn't it?
Can I have bat-shyt crazy for one thousand, Alex!
Not to change this subject but in case you haven't seen this, our buddy Obama is trying his best to piss off his sweethearts at the mainstream press.
Common sense is inborn, it can not be learned, so maybe that is why this excuse for a president keeps shooting himself in the foot?
Oops! my error, I suggested that he may touch a gun by inferring "shoot". I hope his feelings weren't hurt.
I love this, his disapproval today at Real Clear is -3.9%.
Attaboy, Barry. Keep pissing off your supporters!
http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Journalism/2013/06/30/Obama-Tells-U-S-Media-to-Behave
Actually the "benefits" package idea was a product of a growing and competitive market.
Now that there is a permanent glut of a labor pool in the face of increasing robot infested manufacturing, there is no real incentive to offer anything more than what market forces dictate- and part of those market forces now include working for thirty hours a week thanks to Obamacare.
Pax Obama.
As Jim told me, there are simply too many people.. and what's worse is they are mostly mindless eaters who's only value is in their vote.. that ought to send a chill down any thinking Obama supporter's spine, if they had one or were able to actually think rationally.
Once they are no longer critical to the socialist agenda and have no leverage, guess what?
In a zero growth environment with thirty million new laborers on the way- I doubt the jobs market will be robust for a very long time.
Outsourcing is primarily a result of runaway regulations driving energy costs up and jobs off shore.
..of course the McDonald's career path is somewhat unaffected by off shoring- dead end career paths leading nowhere are part of the new normal- that is if you can stomach watching people shove offal in their pie hole every day.
..and as we can see even those dead end jobs are becoming out of the reach for a large section of the inhabitants of Obamaville.
America did pick bat shyte crazy for a lot more than a thousand..
they bet their future and lost.
Thanks, CJ. And I wish you all the luck in the world. It's a bitch being upwards in age and having to scramble to find a decent job. I was actually lucky in that after 'that company' canned me after 19 years, I had friends in the company that were able to bring me in as a contractor. My 4-year anniversary of canning is Wednesday, actually. I have given up trying to get back into the compnay as a 'real' employee. One can only take so much rejection, and although I have zero benefits as a contractor, I am lucky to be working and able to pay for minimal health/dental insurance on my own.
It can be painful, though: I had to get a new crown and three fillings two weeks ago, and that put me out of pocket around $1,700.
I am two years, two months, and 15 days away from being able to colect early SS (which I've paid into for 38 years), but if I can keep working I will for awhile.
Another 'lucky' thing is that I never got married or had children, and that freed me up for a lot of bills that families had to pay. Sometimes I have very minor regrets, but not usually.
And I try to only take potshots at ONE person who has invaded this blog with perniciously irrelevant and stupid comments. It ain't you.
Middy,
...the McDonald's career path is somewhat unaffected by off shoring- dead end career paths leading nowhere...
Right now I'm thinking of the clown in that Wendy's photo taking a pull off the frosty machine. Hopefully, he is a rarity and that most McDonald's workers are those Ph D's who can't find anything else to do in this economy.
Meanwhile, let's hop the press follows O's instructions to "behave."
Glo,
I was actually lucky in that after 'that company' canned me after 19 years, I had friends in the company that were able to bring me in as a contractor.
Glo, I wouldn't call it "luck." You are an intelligent person and probably wouldn't have been brought back as a contractor if you weren't intelligent and hadn't been a good employee.
Even though you were let go, it probably was more of an austerity move than because you weren't cutting it. Either that or the boss's daughter needed a job and you lost the coin flip for who was going to get canned. That's the part of life that isn't fair.
Marriage and family can be good or bad depending on those involved. It certainly isn't for everyone. Nothing wrong with being single all your life; there are still plenty who do that. I've seen a lot of married people who sure wish they had your lifestyle!
I've known you since 2006 and if I had to describe you I might say "Glo has been up, she has been down, but she always manages to land on her feet."
I agree, Jim. It would appear that Glo did a good job and was noticed by people who went out and started firms of their own.
Sometimes the wrong avocation was chosen. Video is just like writing a story, but in moving pictures.
Glo should get a video camera. It's easier to visualize your writing as a movie then. And that's the point of writing a book, isn't it?
Filmmaker Johnno Zee, once having worked for Fleetwood Mac, said that my work is better suited for print, than video. True, but my new work is written specifically for video.
So there is a difference. It looks different in the mind than it does when you act it out.
Yeah, "luck" is a funny thing, isn't it, Glo? As with most things & conditions in this day & age, how well you fare & what you make of yourself in life is actually a fine, murky mixture of the effort you put into your endeavors, especially the important things that you do with an end goal in mind, as well as your circumstances & the opportunities that are available to you, especially those opportunities you recognize & act upon, plus a little luck...But of all of those factors, luck seems to be the one single factor that can take everything you ever worked for away. Luck is also the factor that can make all the effort you put into a project worthwhile.
Take your book, for instance. I know for a fact how hard it can be to write a good story & I can only project how much more effort it would take to produce a whole book. It may not exactly be hard labor, like digging a ditch or a mine, but it does require a lot of time & thought & even creative emotional investment...But then, if the book just doesn't sell, is it necessarily your fault? I would not hesitate to say, "No. Not your fault." I would say that, after all effort you undoubtedly invested in producing a quality book, you still need lotsa luck. And I wish you well.
As far as getting married & having kids goes, that's a whole 'nother can-o-worms. I tend to believe it is mostly about making choices -- wise or unwise, whether you know what you are doing at the time or not... -- & then what you do after the choice has been made & completely consummated. In fact, that is the most important part. But there may be some luck involved there too...For instance, what would you call it if after I had made my choice, before he could do anymore damage, my criminal ex had been run down by a Mack truck? Luck? Maybe it was just my luck that my ex was never run down by a Mack truck...But I am gonna choose now not to dwell on that.
I have heard that seven out of ten professional hit man truckers prefer a Mack Titan or Terrapro, I guess it's some inside the baseball aspect of that industry I am not familiar with..
But the Mack truck has been the hand's down first choice of professional hit men since the late thirties when Al Capone's gang put the Mack truck and the Thompson machine gun companies on the map so to speak.
Truckers all across the fruited plain know that if a guy drives a Mack for a living, he means business.
One of the great bands in Kansas City when we lived there in the 60s, 70s, and 80s was Gary Mack and the Mack Truck.
In the truck business Mack has always seemed to be the standard by which all others aspire to be. Hence, expressions like "He looks like he just got run over by a Mack truck" were common.
So I take it that Glo is in a depressive writer state and that's why she's cussing. Life sucks. You're not dead yet ... that sucks worse sometimes, huh?
At least you're not blacklisted from making a decent living. Aren't you living in Scottsdale? Then you're at the top of the pile, aren't you?
Why don't you make yourself a literary agent? Charge new writers money to make them famous. All they care about is the zip code.
Rick, I am far, FAR from a depressive state! I'm thoroughly happy with my life and eagerly looking forward to the next 60 years (well, maybe only 30, preferably). No, I don't live in Scottsdale; I live in Carefree, and I got there by working my butt off for almost 40 years (so far). Top of the pile? Hardly. Not even close, unless you consider top of the pile to be in a good emotional, financial, and healthy state. I've got a brother, sister-in-law, sister, friends, and two dogs that I love and who love me back.
Bottom line: I love my life. Maybe that truly is the top of the pile.
Glo, I'd say that you are truly at the top of the pile. You have it all.
I am the stereotypical writer. The starving artist. I am the eternal outcast. The black sheep of the family. Dead wife. Bad health.
Hey, but I've got a studio in my barn! I kayak with other disabled folks. Go to church with good people.
Carefree sounds like a wonderful place to be in life. It sounds like you, Glo.
BTW, I went to my bank. They're gonna pass the application through the board and see about mortgaging the farm. It is going against Desert Ghost's advice, but the VA is doing more blood tests to find out the health problem. If it's cancer, I really have no intention of having it treated.
I mean ... why? People with good lives and families have a reason to go on. It's the purpose for life.
I'm like Mozart, Einstein, and other brilliant people who are used, but didn't do well in a world that makes no sense to me.
You'll do as a writer, Glo. Start looking into self-publishing on the Internet through your own website. You can control your own sales. Publish a chapter at a time like Stephen King did. Set up a PayPal account and take donations. Some people pay nothing and others pay hundreds of dollars.
My oldest brother, he's the only one who talks to me. He's smart like Jim.
The key to happiness is not money you save but the attitude you develop in life.
I am more comfortable than I deserve but I don't feel that I have taken anything away from anyone else to get where I am.
My mom referred to those type of people who were always caught up in the class envy game as having "dog in the manger attitude".
Being born in America was a gift worth more than any fortune in the rest of the world at one time, sadly I see our culture as becoming just another part of the global kulturesmog that is choking the humanity out of the species.
..nice day tho eh?
It's said that the coming war will be between Those Who Care and Those Who Don't.
I've got this Rocksmith game and PS3/Xbox are changing the world with this interactive REAL guitar game.
Everyone who tries it, begins learning guitar. And Fenders are making some really nice starter guitars for a good price. In Scottsdale.
We have Rocksmith in the studio and now we have a group of people who want to play it on the big screen. Yep. Recent converts to music education.
I'm trying to igore the global kulturesmog that is choking the humanity out of the species.
Nice day. And cool.
God has blessed me with good friends. You guys ... then there's Billy Arr and Edgel Groves Sr.. Dell Mack. They were my heroes from way back when I was so poor that we couldn't afford pebbles in our shoes.
Here's a very funny video that my friend, Johnno Zee did for Dell Mack and Hit House Recording. "Bigfoot, Sasquatch, Yeti." http://youtu.be/4H9z-7hjgfk
Well that makes sense, I guess I agree with everything you said Rick. I believe you have finally gotten through..at least now I get it.
..So can you tell us more about Stevie and how she messed with your mind?
Middy,
What? Rick is a friend of Stevie Nicks? I never knew that.
Speaking of the importance of good grammar, here is a suggestion from Robert Half Associates regarding grammar among other things that should be obvious:
One area where people get into trouble? Flip communication. When you're emailing a potential employer, your tone shouldn't come off as casual as a quick text or instant message. Include a greeting and salutation (as with an old-fashioned letter) and avoid slang, text abbreviations and spelling and grammar errors. Good phone manners count, too.
I guess the people in Yarnell and Prescott haven't suffered enough with the devastating fire and the loss of 19 firefighters now Obama is going to send that idiot Joe Biden to Prescott for the services next week. Just what they need.
Hey Jim,
In my side business creating/updating resumes and other documents, I always provide my clients with a list of do's (I know - no apostrophe!) and don'ts. I alos created a communication seminar for one of my teams where I work. Here are a few of the tips for witten communciation:
The verb tense does not match the noun (e.g., plural noun, singular verb)
Forgetting to put ‘a’ (an indefinite article) or ‘the’ (a definite article) in front of the noun
Not using Spellcheck!
Switching i.e. and e.g. (and forgetting to put a comma after either one): i.e., means ‘that is to say,’ and e.g., means ‘for example’
Being inconsistent with periods at the end of bulleted points––some have them, some don’t: select your standard and be consistent
Using a possessive single- or double-quote (‘ or “) before an ‘s’ when writing a plural noun (PFA’s is incorrect; PFAs is correct)
Using inconsistent verb tenses; i.e., mixing present tense with past tense
Using ‘their’ when the subject is a single noun; e.g., “a person needs their space:” person is singular, and their is plural––the accurate version would be “a person needs his or her space” (‘his’ is the accepted possessive if the gender is not known or is generic)
Using a single hyphen with spaces on either side to split a thought; i.e., this is incorrect: “I thought – and this is only me – that;’ correct: “I thought––and this is only me––that”
Using punctuation after the italic; e.g., incorrect: “I knew it”. Correct: “I knew it.” This applies to all punctuation, including periods, commas, colons, etc.
Forgetting to put a period after etc
Not hyphenating multiple-word adjectives; incorrect––a 1 year assignment; correct––a 1-year assignment. The exception is if the first word ends in ‘ly:’ correct: newly discovered; incorrect: newly-discovered
The sentence fragment before the word ‘however’ is delimited by a comma rather than a semi-colon; incorrect––“she was ready, however he was late;” correct––“she was ready; however, he was late”
Do not write fragmented sentences. Every sentence needs a subject and a predicate.
Do not confuse "its" and "it's." "Its" is the possessive form of "it," whereas "it's" is a contraction for "it is."
Don’t confuse ‘your’ with ‘you’re:’ the first is a possessive, and the second is a contraction of ‘you are’
More confusion: They're is a contraction for "they are," there is a place, their is possessive.
Be careful of mismatched verb tenses associated with the same sentence subject. "He pulled the pin and throws the grenade" is not a good sentence.
Me, Myself, and I: One of the most common causes of grammatical pain is the choice between “me” and “I.” Too often people use “I” when they should use “me,” because since “I” sounds stilted and proper, it must be right, right? Nope. The easy way to get this one right is to simply remove the other person from the sentence and then do what sounds correct. You would never say “Give I a call,” so you also wouldn’t say “Give Chris and I a call.” Don’t be afraid of me. And whatever you do, don’t punt and say “myself” because you’re not sure whether “me” or “I” is the correct choice. “Myself” is only proper in two contexts, both of which are demonstrated below:
Many consider Chris a punk, but I myself tolerate him. Which brings me to ask myself, why?
Do not solely rely on Spellcheck to find your mistakes: proofread your content. The following sentence is incorrect, but Spellcheck would not find the error:
Are you inferring that I’m an idiot?
Structurally, the sentence is fine; however, the verb should be implying, not inferring: someone
implies something to you; you infer something from that person.
Similarly, this sentence is incorrect but would not be designated as so by Spellcheck:
John and Bill were life-long friends.
The correct word would be lifelong, no hyphen.
And here are a few verbal communication tips whether you're on the phone or in person:
Stay Focused: Sometimes it’s tempting to bring up past seemingly related conflicts when dealing with current ones. Unfortunately, this often clouds the issue and makes finding mutual understanding and a solution to the current issue less likely, and makes the whole discussion more taxing and even confusing. Try not to bring up past hurts or other topics. Stay focused on the present, your feelings, understanding one another and finding a solution.
Listen Carefully: People often think they’re listening, but are really thinking about what they’re going to say next when the other person stops talking. Truly effective communication goes both ways. While it might be difficult, try really listening to what your partner is saying. Don’t interrupt. Don’t get defensive. Just hear them and reflect back what they’re saying so they know you’ve heard. Then you’ll understand them better and they’ll be more willing to listen to you.
Try To See Their Point of View: In a conflict, most of us primarily want to feel heard and understood. We talk a lot about our point of view to get the other person to see things our way. Ironically, if we all do this all the time, there’s little focus on the other person’s point of view, and nobody feels understood. Try to really see the other side, and then you can better explain yours. (If you don't 'get it,’ ask more questions until you do.) Others will more likely be willing to listen if they feel heard.
Respond to Criticism with Empathy: When someone comes at you with criticism, it’s easy to feel that they’re wrong, and get defensive. While criticism is hard to hear, and often exaggerated or colored by the other person’s emotions, it’s important to listen for the other person’s pain and respond with empathy for their feelings. Also, look for what’s true in what they’re saying; that can be valuable information for you.
Own What’s Yours: Realize that personal responsibility is a strength, not a weakness. Effective communication involves admitting when you’re wrong. If you both share some responsibility in a conflict (which is usually the case), look for and admit to what’s yours. It diffuses the situation, sets a good example, and shows maturity. It also often inspires the other person to respond in kind, leading you both closer to mutual understanding and a solution.
Use “I” Messages: Rather than saying things like, “You really messed up here,” begin statements with “I”, and make them about yourself and your feelings, like, “I feel frustrated when this happens.” It’s less accusatory, sparks less defensiveness, and helps the other person understand your point of view rather than feeling attacked.
Look for Compromise Instead of trying to ‘win’ the argument, look for solutions that meet everybody’s needs. Either through compromise, or a new solution that gives you both what you want most, this focus is much more effective than one person getting what they want at the other’s expense. Healthy communication involves finding a resolution that both sides can be happy with.
Take a Time-Out: Sometimes tempers get heated and it’s just too difficult to continue a discussion without it becoming an argument or a fight. If you feel yourself or your partner starting to get too angry to be constructive, or showing some destructive communication patterns, it’s okay to take a break from the discussion until you both cool off. Sometimes good communication means knowing when to take a break.
Don’t Give Up: While taking a break from the discussion is sometimes a good idea, always come back to it. If you both approach the situation with a constructive attitude, mutual respect, and a willingness to see the other’s point of view or at least find a solution, you can make progress toward the goal of a resolution to the conflict. Unless it’s time to give up on the relationship, don’t give up on communication.
yeah.. now that's what I'm talkin' about!.
and all dat spell checkin' too.
Kracker.
.."consistency"..
if you can fake that, you got it made..
(sorry, I know that was wrong).
Middy, are you saying it might be true that I'm friends with Stevie? That's silly. Why in the world would a woman that rich and famous wish to be friends with someone like me?
Holy crap, Glo can write. It's gonna take me an hour to decipher that. Wait one.
Okay, Glo's second comment had good tips that I can use and I am certainly trying to improve upon my in-person and phone manners. Staying focused.
I'm not feeling so good today, but thanks for being nice. Jimmy and Middy in their own little ways. Glo explaining things that I'm not real good at doing. Instruction is good.
Glo,
Everyone should hard copy your two comments for reference but we live in a world where a lot of people take the "Oh, you know what I mean" attitude if they are corrected.
They don't realize that they are "dumbing themselves down" with statements like that and that it is important to be correct; especially if one is job hunting.
Thanks for taking the time to post those rules. It's just one more reason why I always say that I don't worry about you having to go on relief when you get laid off. You always find a way to land on your feet.
Probably the most common error I see is from those who don't know when to use the apostrophe correctly. One former blogger was always using it for a plural when in fact he was changing the plural to possessive by inserting it as in "I'll call you in ten minute's."
Notice I said "former blogger."
Former Blogger and misusing an apostrophe. I'll take Sons of Nazi's for five hundred, Alex.
Still sick as a dog. I took two Exhedrin (sp?) last night and I've been sick all day long.
I copied Glo's very good list of do's and don'ts for social behavior.
Rick, don't you remember what I told you about how when someone tells people how bad he is feeling or how he has some medical problem that eighty percent don't give a damn and the other twenty percent are glad?
-it's true..
Not going to get the response you so richly deserve anywhere and especially around these parts.
Common body language communication gaps to avoid (Part 1)
Our body language exhibits far more information about how we feel than it is possible to articulate verbally. All of the physical gestures we make are subconsciously interpreted by others. This can work for or against us depending on the kind of body language we use. Some gestures project a very positive message, while others do nothing but set a negative tone.
Holding Objects in Front of Your Body – a coffee cup, notebook, hand bag, etc. Holding objects in front of your body indicates shyness and resistance, such that you’re hiding behind the objects in an effort to separate yourself from others. Instead of carrying objects in front of you, carry them at your side whenever possible.
Checking the Time or Inspecting Your Fingernails – a strong sign of boredom. Never glance at the time when you’re speaking with someone. Likewise, completely avoid the act of inspecting your fingernails.
Picking Lint Off of Your Clothes – If you pick lint off of your clothes during a conversation, especially in conjunction with looking downwards, most people will assume that you disapprove of their ideas and/or feel uneasy about giving them an honest opinion. Leave the lint alone!
Stroking Your Chin While Looking at Someone – “I’m judging you!” People frequently stroke their chin during the decision-making process. If you look at someone while you’re stroking your chin, they may assume that you’re making a judgmental decision about them.
Narrowing Your Eyes – If you want to give someone the impression that you don’t like them (or their ideas), narrow your eyes while looking at them. It immediately places a scowling expression on your face. A slight narrowing of the eyes is an instinctual, universal expression of anger across various species in the animal kingdom (think about the angry expressions of tigers, dogs, etc.). Some people make the mistake of narrowing their eyes during a conversation as a reflex of thinking. Don’t send people the wrong message… don’t narrow your eyes. Or roll them.
Standing Too Close – This just makes people feel uncomfortable. Most people consider the 4 square feet of space immediately surrounding their body to be personal space. Cross this invisible boundary with good friends and intimate mates only.
Looking Down While in the Presence of Others – usually indicates disinterest. Sometimes it’s even interpreted as a casual sign of arrogance. Always look straight ahead and make eye contact when you see someone you know.
Touching Your Face During a Conversation – Face touching, especially on the nose, is commonly interpreted as an indication of deception. Also, covering up the mouth is a common gesture people make when they’re lying. Always keep your hands away from your face when you’re speaking.
Faking a Smile – another sign of deception commonly seen on the face of a fraud. A genuine smile wrinkles the corners of the eyes and changes the expression of the entire face. Fake smiles only involve the mouth and lips. It’s easy to distinguish between the two. Don’t force yourself to smile… unless it’s for the camera.
Leaning Away From Someone You Like – a sign of being bored and disinterested. Some people may also interpret it to mean: “I don’t like you.” People typically lean towards people they like and away from people they dislike. This is especially true when they are sitting around a table. If you lean away from someone you like, you’re sending them the wrong message.
Resting Hands Behind the Head or on the Hips – usually interpreted as a sign of superiority or bigheadedness. Only use these gestures when you’re in the presence of close friends.
Common body language communication gaps to avoid (Part 2)
Not Directly Facing the Person You’re Speaking To – This indicates a certain level of discomfort or a lack of interest. When we’re happily engaged in a conversation we face the person we’re speaking to with our feet and torso facing directly forward. When we’re unsure of the other person, or not completely committed to the conversation, we tend to angle our feet and torso to the side. Face directly forward during a conversation to give off the impression that you’re truly interested in what the other person is saying.
Crossing Your Arms – a sign of defensive resistance. Some people may also interpret it as a sign of egotism. Always try to keep your arms open and at your sides.
Displaying a Sluggish Posture – When you’re in an environment bustling with people your posture becomes an immediate telltale sign of your confidence and composure. Your stance literally makes a stand for you, delivering a clear message about how you should be treated. It can make a huge difference in the way strangers respond to you. Place your feet a comfortable distance apart, keep your shoulders pulled back, head up and greet people with direct eye contact and a firm handshake.
Scratching at the Backside of Your Head and Neck – a typical sign of doubt and uncertainty. It can also be interpreted as an indication of lying. Try to keep your hands away from your head when you’re communicating with others.
Messing With the Collar of Your Shirt – It screams: “I feel horribly uncomfortable and/or nervous!” Once again, keep track of your hands. Don’t fidget.
Increasing Your Rate of Blinking – a clear sign of anxiety. Some people start blinking their eyes really fast (in conjunction with an increased heart rate) when they get nervous. Since most people try to make eye contact, it becomes immediately obvious to others. Be cognizant of your blinking habits when you’re nervous, especially if someone is looking at you from a close proximity.
Slouching Your Shoulders – indicates low self-esteem. People associate perked-up shoulders with strong self-confidence. Always pull your shoulders back. Not only will you look more confident, you’ll feel more confident as well.
Propping Up Your Head with Your Hands – “I’m getting bored!” Never prop up your head with your elbows and hands during a conversation. Place your hands on the table in front of you and keep them at rest.
Wiping Sweaty Hands onto Your Clothes – a sign of frantic nervousness. If your hands are sweating, just let them sweat. Take a few deep breaths and try to relax.
Sitting on the Edge of Your Chair – a clear indication of being mentally and physically uncomfortable. It’s an apprehensive stance that will make others around you feel uncomfortable as well. Keep your rear end firmly planted on the surface of the seat. When you lean forward, use your back without moving your bottom.
Foot and Finger Tapping – usually indicates stress, impatience or boredom. Monitor your habits and practice keeping your limbs at rest.
Using Your Hands to Fidget with Small Objects – a pen, paper ball, etc. This is another sign of anxiety. It can also be interpreted as a lack of preparedness. It’s always best to keep your hands comfortably at rest when you’re in the presence of others.
Repeatedly Shifting Body Weight from Foot to Foot – This is another gesture that usually indicates mental and physical discomfort. People may also see this and assume that you’re ready to abandon the conversation, especially if you’re not directly facing them. Don’t shift your feet around more than once every 2 to 3 minutes.
Well Middy, you are right. People do not care and that's why President Obama is in office and you're not.
Sure, I give a few guitars away now and then (like the other day), but it's to help them to be smarter Americans.
When the government doesn't adequately fund education, one must find a way to make people be smarter Americans. The government likes stupid people. It's how politicians get reelected.
So in a way Middy, I'm worse than you in my uncaring, because I get a good reputation in my apathy.
Na you should keep at least one of those guitars around for stress relief- besides it sounds like you were just about to break out.
..(like I said, sincerity if you can fake it)...
Unresolved, uncontrollable stress leads to all sorts of anxiety and inner rage whether it's being suppressed or not.
..I don't want the last thing I remember of you being a u-tube taken under a bridge that looks like a Rochard test card.
Smart (not necessarily rich people) realize that they need some outlet in their life to deal with all of life's corrosive built in stressors, then do whatever it is that works like a deer on a salt lick.
..either that or my cat is way off base and just pulling my chain again.
I think I flunked Glo's multi level self awareness guidelines, I find it hard to take cleaning up my resume seriously sitting on the john enjoying my coffee.
Surprising neither Jim nor Gloria the fact is I didn't pay the slightest attention to grammar in elementary school.
Later on in life finding myself so far behind the rest of my long since grown elementary school classmates I decided it would be far easier to simply make my own rules..
..like (such as) leading a thought with two periods and further compound the violation with small case lettering,(attention whore?)
I break the rules like Hemmingway and other like minded, cat fearing people have always done before me.
Bottom line Rick, I like having you around, after all what good is a stick without a Pinata?
Thanks for volunteering to be the piñata, Middy. Although I don't actually wear the blindfold. Sorry bud.
Glo's webinar is very interesting. I find some parts useful and others ... well ... it is the Ozarks, isn't it?
Middy, you should drop by and help us make music soundtracks for the videos. Music education would be good for you, Middy.
Middy creates an excellent point.
In this world, you may alternately be the stick and the piñata, and possibly more often one or the other. Just a theory based on observation.
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