Comments on: Mind at the end of its tether http://crookedtimber.org/2007/07/10/mind-at-the-end-of-its-tether/ Out of the crooked timber of humanity, no straight thing was ever made Mon, 13 Feb 2012 08:43:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: sara http://crookedtimber.org/2007/07/10/mind-at-the-end-of-its-tether/comment-page-1/#comment-203410 sara Thu, 12 Jul 2007 00:24:15 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/07/10/mind-at-the-end-of-its-tether/#comment-203410 This quote is terrible to begin with, even before "per say" -- several buried metaphors poke out their rotting and promiscuously mixed limbs. "Leash" suggests dogs or other animals; "invigorate" is also a biological metaphor, but "exhausted engines" is mechanical. I'm envisioning China Miéville's steampunk creatures (the Remade, humans with mechanical augments) This quote is terrible to begin with, even before “per say”—several buried metaphors poke out their rotting and promiscuously mixed limbs. “Leash” suggests dogs or other animals; “invigorate” is also a biological metaphor, but “exhausted engines” is mechanical. I’m envisioning China Miéville’s steampunk creatures (the Remade, humans with mechanical augments)

]]> By: Henry (not the famous one) http://crookedtimber.org/2007/07/10/mind-at-the-end-of-its-tether/comment-page-1/#comment-203282 Henry (not the famous one) Wed, 11 Jul 2007 13:33:35 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/07/10/mind-at-the-end-of-its-tether/#comment-203282 Similar point: fifty years ago, under the Basic Steel Agreement, grievances went to arbitration either before Permanent Umpires or Ad Hoc Arbitrators, whom the Steelworkers immediately renamed Odd Hacks, Similar point: fifty years ago, under the Basic Steel Agreement, grievances went to arbitration either before Permanent Umpires or Ad Hoc Arbitrators, whom the Steelworkers immediately renamed Odd Hacks,

]]> By: bad Jim http://crookedtimber.org/2007/07/10/mind-at-the-end-of-its-tether/comment-page-1/#comment-203257 bad Jim Wed, 11 Jul 2007 08:07:05 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/07/10/mind-at-the-end-of-its-tether/#comment-203257 When questioned, my brother-in-law admitted he thought one was expected to tow the line (yo, yo, heave ho). I wonder whether those who've seen the "Dog Whisperer" videos find "a new leash on life" suddenly appealing or utterly appalling. When questioned, my brother-in-law admitted he thought one was expected to tow the line (yo, yo, heave ho).

I wonder whether those who’ve seen the “Dog Whisperer” videos find “a new leash on life” suddenly appealing or utterly appalling.

]]> By: "Q" the Enchanter http://crookedtimber.org/2007/07/10/mind-at-the-end-of-its-tether/comment-page-1/#comment-203203 "Q" the Enchanter Tue, 10 Jul 2007 19:39:36 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/07/10/mind-at-the-end-of-its-tether/#comment-203203 Delightful, dearieme. Thanks for clarifying. Delightful, dearieme. Thanks for clarifying.

]]> By: dearieme http://crookedtimber.org/2007/07/10/mind-at-the-end-of-its-tether/comment-page-1/#comment-203197 dearieme Tue, 10 Jul 2007 19:17:58 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/07/10/mind-at-the-end-of-its-tether/#comment-203197 "q": it was my father's attempt to improve on "in vino veritas". He liked Moselle too. “q”: it was my father’s attempt to improve on “in vino veritas”. He liked Moselle too.

]]> By: JR http://crookedtimber.org/2007/07/10/mind-at-the-end-of-its-tether/comment-page-1/#comment-203171 JR Tue, 10 Jul 2007 17:47:02 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/07/10/mind-at-the-end-of-its-tether/#comment-203171 Leash on life and per say in one sentence- a record. Matt Yglesias is famous for these- he awaits things with baited breath, for example, and then he gets hooked. If you like this sort of thing, you should read Language Log, a linguists' blog, which has named them "eggcorns" - among them do process, inclimate weather, with flying collars, nip it in the butt. See their eggcorn database at http://eggcorns.lascribe.net/ Leash on life and per say in one sentence- a record. Matt Yglesias is famous for these- he awaits things with baited breath, for example, and then he gets hooked.

If you like this sort of thing, you should read Language Log, a linguists’ blog, which has named them “eggcorns” – among them do process, inclimate weather, with flying collars, nip it in the butt. See their eggcorn database at http://eggcorns.lascribe.net/

]]> By: "Q" the Enchanter http://crookedtimber.org/2007/07/10/mind-at-the-end-of-its-tether/comment-page-1/#comment-203156 "Q" the Enchanter Tue, 10 Jul 2007 16:24:57 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/07/10/mind-at-the-end-of-its-tether/#comment-203156 Yes, the leash of dark satanic Millian liberalism. And dearieme, clearly the <i>correct</i> typo is "post hack ergo propter hack." Yes, the leash of dark satanic Millian liberalism.

And dearieme, clearly the correct typo is “post hack ergo propter hack.”

]]> By: Danielle Day http://crookedtimber.org/2007/07/10/mind-at-the-end-of-its-tether/comment-page-1/#comment-203129 Danielle Day Tue, 10 Jul 2007 14:27:40 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/07/10/mind-at-the-end-of-its-tether/#comment-203129 I keep running into homonyminous misspellings by people who really should know better-- or should that be "no better". I barely/bearly notice the too/to their/there weather/whether it's/its things any more. How common. Lately, i ran into sole/soul, which raises all kinds of interesting questions. I guess there should be a context-checker ("did you really mean…?") up there in the Spell Check menu. Don't they teach this stuff in school any more. It seems that if it <i>sounds</i> like it, it's ok. I keep running into homonyminous misspellings by people who really should know better—or should that be “no better”. I barely/bearly notice the too/to their/there weather/whether it’s/its things any more. How common. Lately, i ran into sole/soul, which raises all kinds of interesting questions.

I guess there should be a context-checker (“did you really mean…?”) up there in the Spell Check menu. Don’t they teach this stuff in school any more. It seems that if it sounds like it, it’s ok.

]]> By: dearieme http://crookedtimber.org/2007/07/10/mind-at-the-end-of-its-tether/comment-page-1/#comment-203123 dearieme Tue, 10 Jul 2007 13:27:53 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/07/10/mind-at-the-end-of-its-tether/#comment-203123 Post hock, propter hock. Post hock, propter hock.

]]> By: Alex http://crookedtimber.org/2007/07/10/mind-at-the-end-of-its-tether/comment-page-1/#comment-203115 Alex Tue, 10 Jul 2007 12:50:18 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/07/10/mind-at-the-end-of-its-tether/#comment-203115 Obviously, neocons would consider a <em>leash</em> a source of invigoration. Isn't it just what you'd expect of them? Obviously, neocons would consider a leash a source of invigoration. Isn’t it just what you’d expect of them?

]]> By: nnyhav http://crookedtimber.org/2007/07/10/mind-at-the-end-of-its-tether/comment-page-1/#comment-203103 nnyhav Tue, 10 Jul 2007 11:55:16 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/07/10/mind-at-the-end-of-its-tether/#comment-203103 The trade of sugar resulted in the cornmodification of human life. (<a href="http://ecommons.uwinnipeg.ca/archive/00000007/01/buesink-faber.pdf" rel="nofollow">whence</a>) The trade of sugar resulted in the cornmodification of human life. (whence)

]]> By: alwsdad http://crookedtimber.org/2007/07/10/mind-at-the-end-of-its-tether/comment-page-1/#comment-203101 alwsdad Tue, 10 Jul 2007 11:49:16 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/07/10/mind-at-the-end-of-its-tether/#comment-203101 Yesterday I learned what Nixon thought of Fred Thompson and today I'm reading Chuck Colson. Is this one of those "flashbacks" the high school drug counselors warned us about? Yesterday I learned what Nixon thought of Fred Thompson and today I’m reading Chuck Colson. Is this one of those “flashbacks” the high school drug counselors warned us about?

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