WORD ABUSE

Tuesday, April 07, 2009

The following post was written by BJ Hoff. I agree with it completely and I am glad she wrote it. Please take the time to read it.

I'm not sure what to call this: a pet peeve, perhaps? It's not merely political correctness, although that's often part of the picture. It's not as simple as the misuse of words or phrases, although sometimes that's what it amounts to. It's not necessarily a deliberate ploy to undermine or soften a situation, or skirt an issue--except in politics, and then ... yes, there's that. Let's just say that it is a pet peeve and lump it all under the same umbrella for now.

The "it" I'm referring to appears frequently in the media, often initiated by politics or politicians, and sometimes by a kind of laziness or outright bias on the part of commentators and journalists. I'm referring to the annoying substitution and changes of perfectly legitimate words and phrases by others that seem, well ... inappropriate or meaningless or downright silly.

For example: the former "global war on terror" has recently ended, replaced by an "overseas contingency operation." Catchy, isn't it?

And then there's "investing" instead of "spending." And "terrorism" has become "man-caused disasters." "Enemy combatants" are no more: they're now "persons whom the President has the right to detain." Look for that one in the next update of your favorite dictionary.

We hear a lot these days about "bailouts," but more often they're just another part of the "stimulus plan." (Personally, I think "porkulus plan" says it all.)

Substituting an "unfortunate error" or "bad decision" is the new standard for sin. Politicians are especially fond of this one. But remember when sin was just ... sin?

We don't clean up our act any longer. We "move forward."

And I know this is trivial--so trivial I'm not even sure why it annoys me, but when a classy-looking, supposedly well-educated news reporter refers to police officers as "cops" or children as "kids" and a collective group of men and women as "guys" or an object of some particular interest as "this puppy," I get a strong urge to call out the slang police.

I know, I know--there's no hill to die on in any of this, but I said it was a pet peeve, didn't I?

I'll warrant you have a few of your own, right?

BLUE MONDAY MORNING COMING DOWN

Monday, April 06, 2009

Here it is--my first Blue Monday post.

The main reason I am posting this today is because smilingsal encouraged me to and I never want to disappoint her. Also, blue is my favorite color and books are one of my favorite things.

This first picture is of some of the blue books upstairs in my study. They are on a blue striped couch.

This second picture is of a few of the blue books in our family room. They are on a blue chair and a blue footstool.
I buy books for their content--not their color. But these are pretty blue books, aren't they?

THE TONE OF VOICE

Saturday, April 04, 2009

TEN BLACK MEN ALL AT ONE TIME

Ten black men on the basketball court all at one time. And that's the way it should be!

Why not? If these are the best basketball players around--and they are, then why shouldn't they be playing at the same time and against each other.

THIS IS THE AMERICAN WAY!

It will gripe me right down to the tip of my toes if we ever come up with some crazy law that requires teams to have a "balanced" squad. Like having to have a proportionate number of short, little white guys simply because we need to be fair and spread the fun around. This is crazy.

If it's basketball, baseball, football, working at McDonald's, being a firefighter or a policeman. Let the most qualified, prepared person play the game or have the job.

THIS IS THE AMERICAN WAY. OR AT LEAST IT USED TO BE!

BLOGGING QUESTIONS

Friday, April 03, 2009

You would think that after blogging for five years I would understand the mindset of a blogger. I don't! I just don't! I know that bloggers are just people and that people have different personalities and thank goodness they are not all like mine. But I still have questions.

So here goes:

If you went to the trouble to set up a blog, why do you only post once a week or once a month?

If you like comments on your blog--and maybe you don't, why don't you make more comments on the blogs you visit?

Why don't you check into your own blog even just once a day to see if somebody might have died and left you an inheritance and your blog is the only way they know to contact you?

Why do you write posts that are two and half miles long? Do you really expect anybody to read them?

Why with all the blogging that has been going on for so long does the word blogger get highlighted every time you type it, like it's a none word or something?

Well, this is enough questions for now. If you understand this to be negative and fault finding, I do not intend it that way. I honestly want to know the answers to these "silly" questions of mine. If you have the time, please help me with this. I will appreciate it. Will I sleep better at night? No, but I will feel better knowing you care enough about me to try to help me out. Thanks!

THE ART OF BEING POSITIVE

Wednesday, April 01, 2009

BOOK REVIEW--TEN POWERFUL PHRASES FOR POSITIVE PEOPLE

Successful businessman, philanthropist, and motivational speaker Rich DeVos has learned the value of maintaining a positive attitude and offering encouragement to others. In his book, Ten Powerful Phrases For Positive People, DeVos offers you the key he has discovered in unlocking the powerful potential of ten ordinary yet life-changing phrases. Simply by adding these phrases into your daily conversations you can help to build relationships, motivate achievement, instill confidence, and change attitudes in your work and family life.

Even before you get to the ten life-changing phrases DeVos writes about, you will learn a great deal from his splendid introduction to the book. He quotes Philippians 4:7-9 (NIV) "Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things." And then he says, "Think what our world would be like if everyone took these words to heart! That's why I wanted to write this book and why I think a positive message is so important in today's world."

If you are like me, you find it extremely difficult to be positive with all that's happening in today's world. What a mess! See what I mean? There I go, calling your attention to the mess we're in. It's easy for me to brush this off and say, "I'm not negative--just realistic." And there is some truth to that. But I also know the great value of living a positive life. This book has blessed me in many ways.

The ten positive phrases that DeVos talks about are: 1. "I'm wrong" 2. "I'm sorry" 3. "You can do it" 4. "I believe in you" 5. "I'm proud of you" 6. "Thank you" 7. "I need you" 8. "I trust you"
9. "I respect you" 10. "I love you." Not bad. Not bad at all!

Chuck Colson, founder of Prison Fellowship and bestselling author said of this book: "A great book by one of the wisest men I know. Rich's book gives ten invaluable phrases we ought to keep on the tips of our tongues." Paul Harvey, one of my heroes who just recently passed away said: "Americans need this book for inspiration and encouragement."

The simple act of offering a kind word can have the power to change lives in positive and profound ways.