Posts by James Francis

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  • Island Life: What it don't get, I can't use.,

    Here's a possible Friday afternoon bit of fun: you are a media manager for Key (or Helen Clark). They've been asked to pick their favourite book, but they're too busy in Parliament and delegate the job to you. Yikes! What would you pick to convey the right image of your boss? Something local, not too edgy, not too niche? What would it be?

    For John Key, Keri Hulme's famous book, "The Bonus People"

    (Apologies, Keri)

    St John's, Newfoundland • Since Nov 2006 • 121 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: So far from trivial,

    Is it defamation to call him a douchebag?

    The douchebag might not be best pleased.

    St John's, Newfoundland • Since Nov 2006 • 121 posts Report Reply

  • Island Life: Abusage,

    Sorry, acceptable to label it a crime.

    St John's, Newfoundland • Since Nov 2006 • 121 posts Report Reply

  • Island Life: Abusage,

    Is 'ye' really non-existent? (He scrambles for the dictionary). He recites woodenly: archaic plural form of 'thou' And, ha, you're right,'pseudo-archaic form of 'the'

    Yes, the pseudo makes it an acceptable crime.

    St John's, Newfoundland • Since Nov 2006 • 121 posts Report Reply

  • Island Life: Abusage,

    It's an olde but goode.

    St John's, Newfoundland • Since Nov 2006 • 121 posts Report Reply

  • Island Life: Abusage,

    Carol, I saw Spellbound. We'd taken our young daughter to see a movie - any movie; it was the school holidays. We saw the name Spellbound and thought it might be some child-pleasing magic or witchy thing. It wasn't. I didn't see the sign, CONGRADULATIONS. I wsih I had. I think young daughter might have been complaining at that stage about there not being enough magic, witchery etc.

    St John's, Newfoundland • Since Nov 2006 • 121 posts Report Reply

  • Island Life: Abusage,

    I'm working on weaning myself off. Step one has been trying to stop wincing every time someone says 'different to'.

    Emma, I'm sorry, it's genetic. You cannot stop worrying about these things.

    And if you can then it's probably the end of civilization.

    St John's, Newfoundland • Since Nov 2006 • 121 posts Report Reply

  • Island Life: Abusage,

    James, I think the word around these parts is "pendant" if I 'm not mistaken...

    Pendant. I like the way you used ellipses to leave it hanging.

    St John's, Newfoundland • Since Nov 2006 • 121 posts Report Reply

  • Island Life: Abusage,

    Of course, if I'm being really pedantic, I would point out that I missed the question mark at the end of the second sentence.

    St John's, Newfoundland • Since Nov 2006 • 121 posts Report Reply

  • Island Life: Abusage,

    Thank you, Emma.

    Has anyone here read the book, "Ex Libris" by Anne Fadiman. It's a delightful series of essays about books and the love of books. She has one where she writes about her and her family's trait of unerringly spotting literals and grammatical errors. I read it and realised that I was not alone! (A sad realisation.) Some people call us pedants but we know better.

    St John's, Newfoundland • Since Nov 2006 • 121 posts Report Reply

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