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Friday, January 28, 2022

Open Thread – The Richness of English

I got a great chuckle from this email from Mudflatter Butch:

This is really inspiring for people fascinated by the richness of the English language. Please know that I didn’t make any of this up, but am merely passing along the work of scholars more assiduous than myself.

Did you know that the words “race car” spelled backwards still spell “race car”?

And that “eat” is the only word that, if you take the first letter and move it to the last, spells its own past tense, “ate”?

But wait. There’s more!

And if you rearrange the letters in “Tea Party Republicans,” and add just a few more letters, it spells: “Shut up you free-loading, progress-blocking, benefit-grabbing, resource-sucking, violent hypocrites, and deal with the fact that you nearly wrecked the country under Bush, and that our president is black, so get over it.”

Isn’t that interesting?

Comments

comments

Comments
38 Responses to “Open Thread – The Richness of English”
  1. Bretta says:

    Where’s the like button? I want to push it, like, a thousand times.

    • Bretta says:

      $he surely doesn’t look pregnant in that picture, but it is the coat she wore during the last four months of her “pregnancy with Tri-G”.

  2. scout says:

    Shelter from this storm named Irene, I wish all you lil’ east coast mudpups.

    • Zyxomma says:

      Thank you, Scout. I’m in Zone C, where we don’t get evacuated unless it’s Category 3 or higher. In yesterday’s open thread, I and others gave comprehensive instructions on how to pack a go-bag. I bought a wind-up/solar radio today, so I have all the necessaries.

      One thing that I didn’t mention yesterday was what to do if one doesn’t have sufficient ice packs to put in the cooler. You can make improvised ice packs out of plastic zipper bags.

      Stay safe, mudpups. Health and peace.

      • benlomond2 says:

        If you can get dry ice, do so.. it lasts about a week, and can keep even your ice cream still frozen

        • Baker's Dozen says:

          Have you been through hurricanes–or earthquakes? Or perhaps one of those very rainy winters that just mudslides all utilities into oblivion?

          • benlomond2 says:

            all three!! Florida boy , California man… dry ice for frig/freezer, small generator for lights and TV/DVD player. water heater on gas…10 gal drinking water always on hand in garage, w/trash can that has small tent, blankets, old warm clothes for family members, dry and canned food ( oatmeal is a WONDERFUL thing ! ) and all the regular camping equipment . Can always rinse off in the hot tub…AND back up drinking water is in EVERY home… the toilet tank !! the pets can drink outta the fish pond if need be ( they do it any way !) and firewood for wood stove always here, 2nd gas tank for gas grill, and propane for the camp stove… pays to be prepared, so I can go out and enjoy the storms and such!

          • benlomond2 says:

            chortle… wife wants a bigger generator.. the one we have won’t handle her hair blower ! aaaaawwwwww!!!!! 🙂

      • leenie17 says:

        I was reading some comments on the News12 (local cable news) website and there are people who swear this storm is going to veer off to the east and will be no more than a little drizzle with a bit of a breeze. I hope that no first responders have to risk their lives to rescue these idiots when they suddenly figure out their lives are in danger and they should have left after all.

        I saw on the storm surge maps that my old house in Bellmore is in the Category 1/2 surge zone and under mandatory evacuation. It was right on a little bay and I lived on the ground floor, with my landlady upstairs. There was only a little bit of grass and a brick patio between me and the water once it breached the bulkhead, so whoever lives there now is looking at losing everything they own if the surge is more than a couple of feet.

        I used to work for LI State Parks so I can just imagine what my former colleagues are faced with, trying to protect what they can at the barrier beach parks. No doubt Jones Beach, Captree and Robert Moses will be under significant amounts of water by Sunday afternoon. The park managers and their assistants live in houses inside the parks so they have their homes to worry about in addition to their park facilities. The last time a storm this big hit Long Island (1938) it burst right through the barrier beach and created Shinnecock Inlet. It is certainly nothing to dismiss lightly.

        I’m not a religious person by any stretch of the imagination, but I think I might make an exception and say a few heartfelt prayers for the people on Long Island and everyone in the path of Irene.

        Be careful, everyone, and stay safe.

  3. leenie17 says:

    THIS is what needs to happen at all the town hall meetings held during the recess by Republican members of Congress. A woman confronted Chris Gibson of NY about why he signed Grover Norquist’s anti-tax pledge.

    “You didn’t sign this on my behalf. You didn’t ask me,” noted one constituent. “You didn’t ask me. We are your constituents, not Grover Norquist,” she added to resounding applause.

    http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2011/08/26/305451/citizen-slams-gop-rep-over-anti-tax-pledge-we-are-your-consituents-not-grover-norquist/#comment_link

    • Zyxomma says:

      leenie17, that link didn’t work, but I really wanted to see it. This one should work:

      http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2011/08/26/305451/citizen-slams-gop-rep-over-anti-tax-pledge-we-are-your-consituents-not-grover-norquist/

    • Kath the Scrappy says:

      course I wanted to hear more from that town meeting. This was pure fun, the dude got an earful! Be sure to read the whole description.

      Town Hall 4:59min
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0w-eY-B6ew

      Congressman Chris Gibson says he represents all the citizens of New York’s 20th District. At a Town Hall in Millerton, NY, on August 23, 2011, several of his constituents challenge him effectively on this point. Gibson has voted with the extreme right wing Republicans since he was elected last year. He was among those who held hostage the good credit of the United States, to preserve low tax rates for the very wealthy. …

      • 1smartcanerican™ says:

        Thanks for sharing this link. However, I was unable to listen to the full youtube video as I was getting incensed. I guess I best not attend any town hall meetings or I may end up in jail or institutionalized as an out-of-control gibbering idiot! These repubs really get me upset as they are truly committed to Grover Nordquist’s plan without even thinking about the people it impacts. No one voted GN into office. He is not an elected official. He has no legal standing to be involved in our politics. But these repubs follow him slavishly. Our government is so damn dysfunctional at the moment. I hope that the 2012 elections balance out our congress and rid us of the fury of the Religious Right (read Dominionists/theocrats/corporatists).

  4. Cassie Jeep says:

    That just made my day! Thank you Mudflatter Butch and AKM!

    I needed this today…got bottled water, batteries in the “transistor” radio and anxiously awaiting Irene’s arrival and quick departure from NC and hoping she’ll go out to sea, rather than North along the coast.

  5. Mo says:

    In case you missed it at PoliticusUSA…

    http://www.politicususa.com/en/gay-barbarians-glitter-bachmann-clinic

    An impressive level of grassroots costuming and choreography, eh? Sure beats cheap 18th century re-enactor getups and misspelled signs.

  6. bubbles says:

    warning. please do not hurt yourselves laughing. put down beverages before you click on this link.
    Mudflats is not responsible for anything. ever. also *adults only*:

    http://mxrk.net/redphone/2011/1/2/71-two-steps-forward.html

  7. merrycricket says:

    Finally a wonderful day off. So good to know I don’t have to do anything. My plan is to sit in my garden and soak up some vitamin D.

  8. Were you aware that the Virginia earthquake occurred precisely where two old fault lines colluded and the damage wasn’t noticeable until after Obie was elected Potus.The fault lines were Bush and Cheney’s Faults and like the majority of damage under B and C was designed to show up long after our worst natural disaster left office in 2009?

  9. Jeanabella says:

    Do you have any idea when you will post the parts of the “Bailey Book”?
    Thanks,

    Jeanabella

  10. Jaybee48 says:

    Rearrange the letters in “Sarah Palin” and you get “Piranha Sal”.

    How appropriate!

  11. thatcrowwoman says:

    A colleague of mine is a proud tea party member, and he’s also a member of our teachers’ union (thatcrowwoman can be quite persistent, er, persuasive. Senate Bill 6 brought Many conservatives into the union, also, too). We actually get along, finding common ground in doing what’s best for our students, and agreeing to disagree and respectfully debate when it comes to politics. A sense of humor helps us both get along.

    Anyway, I saw Mr. T across the room during our first faculty meeting. He had a bright yellow bookbag with bold black letters: DON’T READ ME!!! Way to get the librarian’s attention, there, Mr. T. Gave myself whiplash from the double take I did. Mr. T got something out of the bag, and when I looked again I could read: DON’T TREAD ON ME!!! I was actually a bit relieved. 🙂

    I powered up my snark filter and thought, but did not Blurt! a barb about his stature. Mr. T is small and wiry, but he is a veteran, a voter, a union member, a tax paying citizen, and he has an amazing ability to reach and teach students in danger of expulsion. Most of the “at-risk” students in his program made huge learning gains and either graduated or are back in the GP (general population in edu-speak) on our campus. How wonderful it is that Mr. T uses his talents and skills and unique life experience to teach in a public high school, and to make a difference in so many lives. Thanks, Mr. T. You’re Too Good for the Tea Party, my friend.

    Friday.

    Be safe, everyone.
    Be Smart and be Careful.

    *wrapping wings around those in Irene’s path,
    wishing you shelter from the storm*

    thatcrowwoman

    • jimzmum says:

      Please thank him for me. I had years of wonderful help from teachers such as Mr. T, working so hard with children identified as at risk in the elementary level. What kind and giving souls. Have a day, ma’am!

    • benlomond2 says:

      TCW- maybe you should tell him about the double take… sounds like something he could use as a tool for his students….

    • I imagine after ten years of dumba$% dubya’s every child left behind disenfranchisement education programs,Mr. T has had plenty of experience working with at risk kids. I wish dems would adaopt “Don’t Tread On Me” but they would have to grow backbones first.

    • leenie17 says:

      I have a close friend who’s a very devout Christian (the kind that actually follows their faith instead of just talking about it) and we have an unspoken pact to not discuss politics because we know we are polar opposites. We do sometimes joke about our votes always cancelling each other out.

      During the 2010 campaign for Governor of NY, GOTP wingnut Carl Paladino was running against Andrew Cuomo. Palladino had some icky personal history and lots of scandals, along with some truly frightening policy ideas that kept me awake at night. He sent blatantly racist and s@xually explicit emails to hundreds of people, had a long-term affair with a former staffer which produced a daughter, threatened a reporter with violence for photographing his daughter (which the reporter had not done), made numerous anti-gay remarks, had made questionable business dealings and had hired staff members with a history of financial and legal problems. He was a wealthy businessman who was only concerned about the welfare of the corporate community, not the vast majority of NY residents. He was one of the most extreme candidates I’ve ever seen in mainstream NY politics.

      On Election Day, our school was closed for students but open for staff meetings. During our lunch break, a colleague brought up the subject of politics and who she was voting for. When asked, my friend responded that she has chosen the candidate that “most closely aligned with her values”. Although she didn’t say specifically, I am sure she voted for Paladino, even though there are few people who could be further from her core values than he was. The one and only issue that I’m sure swayed her? Abortion.

      I just can’t understand how soooo many people who are truly fiscally conservative and real Christians can support the GOTP when EVERYTHING the party stands for is against their values, EXCEPT for their stance on women’s reproductive rights. How can you overlook everything else and support them based on one single issue?

      • I don’t know. I don’t understand it either. I think it is something we are going to have to start asking our friends and family who seem to have blinders on to any issue but abortion. Maybe if we ask enough they will start to realize that life isn’t black and white (not intended as a remark on our President), and candidates shouldn’t be chosen on just one issue.

        But it seems to be something that separates Democrats and Republicans. We (Dems) are more willing to include everyone in the group while they (repubs) have long had a test that one has to pass to belong. In the last few years, their list is more strict and narrow than it’s ever been.

  12. Irishgirl says:

    Barbarian Flashmob Converts “Marcus Bachmann” in Glitter Baptism at Clinic

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wMYoLlpmF0&feature=player_embedded

  13. UpStateSC says:

    Love it! Shakespeare couldn’t have done better.