Overmod I always had the idea that 'co-conspirator' was supposed to tar Nixon with the implicit backhanded brush of being 'one of the active conspirators' -- a construction very similar to 'co-educational students' as a kind of disparagement of their full conspiratorial-cabal status. But Liddy is right that using the same Latin prefix twice in a row is poor, as the joint sub-rosa shared spirit is already inherent in 'conspirator' -- there is no need to add that they conspired together, together. Aside of course for the implied semantics... It's not quite up to the 'I don't understand the foreign-language precessor' of something like 'please RSVP', but if we're going to expect the true stickler's oak-leaf cluster on our sniper jackets, we should indeed recognize it for what it is. And, while we're on the subject of stickling, for the love of God the word is spelled 'conspirator'!
I always had the idea that 'co-conspirator' was supposed to tar Nixon with the implicit backhanded brush of being 'one of the active conspirators' -- a construction very similar to 'co-educational students' as a kind of disparagement of their full conspiratorial-cabal status.
But Liddy is right that using the same Latin prefix twice in a row is poor, as the joint sub-rosa shared spirit is already inherent in 'conspirator' -- there is no need to add that they conspired together, together. Aside of course for the implied semantics...
It's not quite up to the 'I don't understand the foreign-language precessor' of something like 'please RSVP', but if we're going to expect the true stickler's oak-leaf cluster on our sniper jackets, we should indeed recognize it for what it is.
And, while we're on the subject of stickling, for the love of God the word is spelled 'conspirator'!
Johnny
And just how does "He's making money hand over fist!" make any sense? As far as punctuation, what drive's me crazy is the wrong use of apostrophe's. I see it all the time. For example, a tire store near me had a sign that said (and I quote) Blow out sale on winter tire's.
54light15 And just how does "He's making money hand over fist!" make any sense? As far as punctuation, what drive's me crazy is the wrong use of apostrophe's. I see it all the time. For example, a tire store near me had a sign that said (and I quote) Blow out sale on winter tire's.
I noticed the practice of using an apsotrophe with an ess when forming a plural many years ago, and wondered if teachers no longer understood the use of apostrophes in the same manner that I was taught. Did this change come in when grammar schools became elementary schools?
The one place where I use an apostrophe after an "s" that's not possessive is if I'm talking about plurals of a model. If you didn't, some might think it's part of the model number. An example is GP38's or Boeing 767's.
OvermodTaken as exactly half this width is the letter "N" (and this corresponds to 'half the capital letter height') -- so we have en quads and en dashes. Note that two of the "N" quads Tree mentions will equal one "M" quad.
Can't forget 3-to-em and 4-to-em spaces, plus brass (1 point) the copper (1/2 point) spaces.
I usually use 3-to-em spaces between words in sentences, unless I'm trying to shorten up a line of type to fit in the composing stick, in which case I'll substitute 4-to-em spaces. The brass and copper are used to add space between words for the same purpose.
There are 5- and 6-to-em spaces, and I may even have some as much of the type I have was purchased used.
Sometimes getting a form to lock up properly can be a real challenge when using several sizes and fonts. Add an engraving (picture) and it can be a real headache.
No one wants to "pi" a form (ie, have it fall apart on the floor).
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
Conductor, engineer, firefighter and typesetter. Renaissance man!
Impressive.
What else?
Lithonia Operator Conductor, engineer, firefighter and typesetter. Renaissance man! Impressive. What else?
I believe he's also a ham.
_____________
"A stranger's just a friend you ain't met yet." --- Dave Gardner
Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.
Currently fire chief (41 years FF, around 15 with a white hat), EMT (38 years), ham (Amateur Extra), president of the county firefighters association, sit on the county fire/EMS advisory board, the regional EMS council, and the board of directors (and one of the founders) of the local not-for-profit ambulance, as well as being a trustee for one of the local amateur radio groups.
May sound great, but I have to keep a calendar so I know where I have to be tomorrow. And there are days when I have to choose between two or three things. A whole week without a meeting is a luxury.
54light15And just how does "He's making money hand over fist!" make any sense?
It seems to me that that's backward like "head over heels." "Fist over hand" makes a little more sense since one person holds the money in a closed fist and drops it into another's open hand. Of course, the implication is that he's making money fast, and I don't know where the speed comes in.
Maybe Larry remembers.
Paul of Covington Maybe Larry remembers.
Google is a wonderful thing...
It comes from nautical roots - hauling on a rope you'd move your unencumbered hand over your fist to get a new handhold - "fist." Hand over fist.
Of course, if you're raising a sail, etc, you'd want to do that quickly.
Nowadays (as usual) it's all about money - hauling in money quickly.
An aside - Some years ago (quite some, actually) I was working with my cousins on a haying job. I was on vacation, actually, but hanging with them also meant I brought home some money for said work. After finishing up one day the group of us were headed back to our homes (on foot) and started to weave a group yarn. Each of was a representative type from history/ancient times - warriors, etc. The exact details escape me now, but I do recall that I was a scribe, writing history.
Paul of Covington Lithonia Operator Conductor, engineer, firefighter and typesetter. Renaissance man! Impressive. What else? I believe he's also a ham.
I believe he is a member of the ARRL.
DeggestyYes, he is a ham--
Well, I do also volunteer at our local PBS station, and have been known to appear in front of the camera versus my usual spot behind it, as a camera operator...
Nothing like standing in front of a TV camera knowing there could be many thousands of viewers watching you... In two countries (never mind the Internet presence).
tree68An aside - Some years ago (quite some, actually) I was working with my cousins on a haying job. I was on vacation, actually, but hanging with them also meant I brought home some money for said work. After finishing up one day the group of us were headed back to our homes (on foot) and started to weave a group yarn. Each of was a representative type from history/ancient times - warriors, etc. The exact details escape me now...
Would this refresh your memory?
My mother loved this show, and so did I. Thanks for reminding me.
Overmod Would this refresh your memory? My mother loved this show, and so did I. Thanks for reminding me.
Excellent! Different time, same lack of understandings.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
tree68It comes from nautical roots - hauling on a rope you'd move your unencumbered hand over your fist to get a new handhold - "fist." Hand over fist. Of course, if you're raising a sail, etc, you'd want to do that quickly.
Well I'll be dagnabbed! I found out years ago that quite a few expressions come from nautical terms. One that comes to mind is "all the way to the bitter end." The bitt is a strong post at the bow that is used to make fast a mooring or anchor line. When you drop anchor and let out the line, when you have let it all out, you have come to the bitter end.
Overmod Thanks for reminding me.
Thanks for reminding me.
To which, of course, the currently accepted response is 'no problem'.
So pulling on a rope quickly equates to making money? Hmm ...
54light15So pulling on a rope quickly equates to making money? Hmm ...
It did for sailors - keeping the sail sheet at the optimum, kept the vessel sailing at its best speed for the conditions, handling the lines hand over fist to adjust the sail was the way it was done. Matey! Rrrrrgggg!
BaltACD 54light15 So pulling on a rope quickly equates to making money? Hmm ... It did for sailors - keeping the sail sheet at the optimum, kept the vessel sailing at its best speed for the conditions, handling the lines hand over fist to adjust the sail was the way it was done. Matey! Rrrrrgggg!
54light15 So pulling on a rope quickly equates to making money? Hmm ...
Just to keep things interesting, the Great Lakes have their own nautical terms distinct from salt water terms, the most obvious example is that a 1000' ore carrier is an ore boat.
CSSHEGEWISCH Just to keep things interesting, the Great Lakes have their own nautical terms distinct from salt water terms, the most obvious example is that a 1000' ore carrier is an ore boat.
"Lake boat" is a pretty universal term, along with "lakers." Then there's the "salties."
Here's another sailing ship term I don't understand. "Irish pennant." Any ideas what it means?
Well, when I was in the Marines an "Irish pennant" referred to a loose thread (or threads) hanging from the seam of a uniform shirt or trowsers. To be trimmed off immediately, I should add!
I comes from the nautical slang term for a loose line or loose or untidy part of a sailing ship's rigging.
As far as Great Lakes mariners terms are concerned, since the lake boat crews came from the farms and towns along the lakes, and not from the seaports along the coasts, they developed their own nautical terms unique to the lakes.
Comes from the sense of 'pennant' as a house flag proudly flying the identity of a ship or signaling something.
The Irish often being perceived as sloppy, any loose piece of rigging or material 'flying like a pennant flag' would be deemed an "Irish pennant".
Needlessly racist in our current PC climate, btw.
Then there's the old railroader's slang for potatoes, "Murphys."
And the stanza from the Northern Pacific's "Great Big Baked Potato Song..."
Oh you Great Big Baked Potato, you're Irish through and through,
The Great Big Baked Potato, it's really good for you!
York1 In college in the early 70s, I made quite a bit of money typing papers for students. I charged 15¢ a page. I could do 5 - 6 pages an hour, depending on footnotes, etc. Of course, the college bar charged 15¢ for a glass of draft beer. Funny how that worked out.
In college in the early 70s, I made quite a bit of money typing papers for students. I charged 15¢ a page. I could do 5 - 6 pages an hour, depending on footnotes, etc.
Of course, the college bar charged 15¢ for a glass of draft beer. Funny how that worked out.
Oh My Gosh York 1!
I did the same thing. I charged 50 cents/page for spelling and grammar corretions.
I taught myself to type in the 8th grade. I used my friend's sister's typewriter and her high school typing text book. My first job after college was as a clerk-typest. It was the only job opening at the time. Six months later I was promoted to a managerial position. When personal computers came along, I was one of the few in magagement that could use one, mostly because of my typing skill. Within ten years the clerk-typest positions were gone because management were given computers. My peers who could not type struggled which affected their job performance which was reflected in their compensation and promotions.
Expressman's Kid ...mostly because of my typing skill.
Indeed - I remember when "keyboarding" classes were all the rage, and so very necessary.
I took typing in 10th grade - the class was almost all girls. It was rather like guys taking home ec - quite rare. I was probably thought of just that much less by others account having taken it.
Even though I actually failed one marking period, and never really reached the desired WPM, the class remains probably one of the most valuable that I took in high school. I guess I had some fortuitous foresight.
Expressman's KidI taught myself to type in the 8th grade.
tree68I took typing in 10th grade - the class was almost all girls.
In high school in the late 60s, my high school made everyone in the college track take typing. (College track -- I haven't thought about that description in long time.)
At the time, I hated it, but I was, and still am, very thankful. It's pretty amazing that I can still type pretty well without ever looking at the keyboard.
The one thing I didn't learn that I wish I had was the numerical keypad.
York1 John
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