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The maritime elements were disaffected
The Salvation Army op shop near my office has got a new window display. They always have a headache-inducing sign that says "All items in window are not for sale", and they usually accompany that with an item and a slightly baffling religious sign inspired by the item. A recent highlight has been the model bridge built out of matchsticks with its "Jesus built a bridge out of two planks and three nails" sign, which... yeah, all right, I see where they're going with that. Today they had a chess board - one of those on its own little table - with a sign saying "After the game is over, the king and the pawn go back in the same box". So, um, yes, I think there's something in that for all of us.
Making it Religious Affairs Monday, World Youth Day in Sydney has finished. I don't think that something should call itself a World Youth Day if it goes on for the best part of a week. That's not a day at all, is it? But it's over now, so the Pope is on his way home and I'll never have to see that stupid WYD SYD logo ever again. I did like the ABC's photo of a wall of bishops though, particularly the number of them who are either asleep or yawning.
( I bet the ones who forgot their pointy hats were cross )
Are you excited about the Olympics? We were discussing them at lunch. One of my colleagues said she was so excited that she's put the date in her Outlook calendar. (I hope the organisers have done that too. I like the idea of a reminder popping up, "Olympics due in 15 minutes" and someone smacking his head, all "oh, that's what's on today".) My other colleague said her family was so excited that they're going to buy a new plasma TV for the occasion, which... well, settle down. That's a bit enthusiastic, isn't it? I said I hadn't give them any thought at all and was unlikely to make any special viewing preparations... so, not at all excited, really. I mean, it would be different if I were competing, but that's probably not going to happen. I dare say it's a bit late to take up gymnastics now.
Writing a report at work today, we had need to get out the style guide to settle a dispute (about the fine distinction between assumption and presumption). The guide also offers the helpful suggestion to use plain language wherever possible. As it says, "it is better to write 'the sailors were rebellious' rather than 'the maritime elements were disaffected'". Better perhaps, but not nearly as entertaining.
Making it Religious Affairs Monday, World Youth Day in Sydney has finished. I don't think that something should call itself a World Youth Day if it goes on for the best part of a week. That's not a day at all, is it? But it's over now, so the Pope is on his way home and I'll never have to see that stupid WYD SYD logo ever again. I did like the ABC's photo of a wall of bishops though, particularly the number of them who are either asleep or yawning.
( I bet the ones who forgot their pointy hats were cross )
Are you excited about the Olympics? We were discussing them at lunch. One of my colleagues said she was so excited that she's put the date in her Outlook calendar. (I hope the organisers have done that too. I like the idea of a reminder popping up, "Olympics due in 15 minutes" and someone smacking his head, all "oh, that's what's on today".) My other colleague said her family was so excited that they're going to buy a new plasma TV for the occasion, which... well, settle down. That's a bit enthusiastic, isn't it? I said I hadn't give them any thought at all and was unlikely to make any special viewing preparations... so, not at all excited, really. I mean, it would be different if I were competing, but that's probably not going to happen. I dare say it's a bit late to take up gymnastics now.
Writing a report at work today, we had need to get out the style guide to settle a dispute (about the fine distinction between assumption and presumption). The guide also offers the helpful suggestion to use plain language wherever possible. As it says, "it is better to write 'the sailors were rebellious' rather than 'the maritime elements were disaffected'". Better perhaps, but not nearly as entertaining.