FIRST THINGS FIRST
Today on NPR they said that American officials expected an "upsurge" of violence in Iraq. When lesser lights like Fox News used this word, I ignored it. When NPR uses it, it concerns me. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition (2000) defines "surge" thus:
INTRANSITIVE VERB: 1. To rise and move in a billowing or swelling manner. 2. To roll or be tossed about on waves, as a boat. 3. To move like advancing waves: The fans surged forward to see the movie star. 4. To increase suddenly: As favorable reviews came out, interest in the software surged. 5. To improve one's performance suddenly, especially in bettering one's standing in a competition. 6. Nautical To slip around a windlass. Used of a rope.
TRANSITIVE VERB: Nautical To loosen or slacken (a cable) gradually.
NOUN: 1. A heavy billowing or swelling motion like that of great waves. 2a. Wave motion with low height and a shorter period than a swell. b. A coastal rise in water level caused by wind. 3. The forward and backward motion of a ship subjected to wave action. 4. A sudden onrush: a surge of joy. 5. A period of intense effort that improves a competitor's standing, as in a race. 6. A sudden, transient increase or oscillation in electric current or voltage. 7. An instability in the power output of an engine. 8. Astronomy A brief, violent disturbance occurring during the eruption of a solar flare. 9. Nautical a. The part of a windlass into which the cable surges. b. A temporary release or slackening of a cable.
I think it is clear from these definitions that "upsurge" is redundant. All surges except the nautical use imply or state an increase (to rise…, to increase suddenly…, a sudden onrush, etc.) Sadly, the same dictionary defines "upsurge" as "to surge up." When I am the defender of the intelligent use of the language, we all have problems.
STRANGE COUPLINGS
They say politics make strange bedfellows, but it seems that reality does the same thing. In order, we have the Finnish ambassador to Japan trying to tie the two countries together, black homosexuals seeking help from black churches for their civil rights struggle, and Spaniards from Japan. Sure, I am lacking an article about gay Republicans, but it was a busy week, and these just fall in my lap—I don't seek them out.
In the first event, the Japan Times reported on the statements made by the Finnish ambassador on the occasion of Finland's independence day. Proving that there is not much to talk about when Finland comes up, the ambassador pointed out that it was only nine hours by airplane from Japan to Finland, and that "When you come to Finland, it is nature that welcomes you, whether it is winter or summer, nature is all around you." Glad to know that nature doesn't pack it in for the season in winter.
The Washington Post had an article about the attempts of black gays and transgenders (what the kids used to call trannies) to gain support from black churches for what the gays see as the continuation of the civil rights struggle. Now, I don't suspect that people who don't feel that the civil rights struggle is yet won (i.e. many leaders of black churches) are looking to embrace a cause historically not popular in the black community (gays and trannies). Still, I love the image of a a bunch of six foit black trannies going to the black church from the Blues Brothers to make their case. Priceless!
The Japan Times came through again with an article about the surname "Japon" in Span. Apparently, in the 17th century a delegation of Japanese was sent to Europe to check things out. They went to Seville, and on to Rome. Some of them settled near Seville instead of continuing to travel. Thus, there are approximately 650 people named "Japon" in the area. The excellent thing is that, "a pediatrician said he saw blue spots on many Japon infant buttocks. The so-called Mongolian spot is a feature of every Japanese baby." Wow, they MUST be Japanese! Spots on the ass and everything.
POOR KALININGRAD
The Moscow Times periodically reports on the status of Kaliningrad. This city was Königsberg in Prussia, but was seized by the Soviets in the aftermath of World War II. It is now an "exclave" from Russia, separated by Poland and Lithuania from Russia. Where a more dynamic society than the Russians might have been able to turn this into a Hong Kong in the Baltic, with free trade driving development, the Russians have just about killed the area. Thus, it is probably good news that the Russians have allowed direct train service from Kaliningrad to Berlin, traveling though Polish Gdynia. As Poland and Lithuania join the European Union, it may be that the Russians are willing to see Kaliningrad integrated into a regional economy that includes its historic ties to the west, rather than its more recent ties to the east. In this, Putin may be creating a Window to the West like Peter the Great did with St Petersburg. We'll see.
FINALLY...
I am still reading Constantine's Sword. However, with the holiday season upon us, I felt duty-bound to tell anyone planning to give it is a gift that it is terrible. The historical connections are tenuous, the author is a self-hating whiner (although I hate him too, so I guess I can't blame him for that), and the thesis is WAY overblown. Reading this book, you'd think that Christianity's unfortunate history with Jews was actually a 2000 year conspiracy focused on nothing but hurting Jews. It is just out of all proportion to the historical record. Just terrible.
Today on NPR they said that American officials expected an "upsurge" of violence in Iraq. When lesser lights like Fox News used this word, I ignored it. When NPR uses it, it concerns me. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition (2000) defines "surge" thus:
INTRANSITIVE VERB: 1. To rise and move in a billowing or swelling manner. 2. To roll or be tossed about on waves, as a boat. 3. To move like advancing waves: The fans surged forward to see the movie star. 4. To increase suddenly: As favorable reviews came out, interest in the software surged. 5. To improve one's performance suddenly, especially in bettering one's standing in a competition. 6. Nautical To slip around a windlass. Used of a rope.
TRANSITIVE VERB: Nautical To loosen or slacken (a cable) gradually.
NOUN: 1. A heavy billowing or swelling motion like that of great waves. 2a. Wave motion with low height and a shorter period than a swell. b. A coastal rise in water level caused by wind. 3. The forward and backward motion of a ship subjected to wave action. 4. A sudden onrush: a surge of joy. 5. A period of intense effort that improves a competitor's standing, as in a race. 6. A sudden, transient increase or oscillation in electric current or voltage. 7. An instability in the power output of an engine. 8. Astronomy A brief, violent disturbance occurring during the eruption of a solar flare. 9. Nautical a. The part of a windlass into which the cable surges. b. A temporary release or slackening of a cable.
I think it is clear from these definitions that "upsurge" is redundant. All surges except the nautical use imply or state an increase (to rise…, to increase suddenly…, a sudden onrush, etc.) Sadly, the same dictionary defines "upsurge" as "to surge up." When I am the defender of the intelligent use of the language, we all have problems.
STRANGE COUPLINGS
They say politics make strange bedfellows, but it seems that reality does the same thing. In order, we have the Finnish ambassador to Japan trying to tie the two countries together, black homosexuals seeking help from black churches for their civil rights struggle, and Spaniards from Japan. Sure, I am lacking an article about gay Republicans, but it was a busy week, and these just fall in my lap—I don't seek them out.
In the first event, the Japan Times reported on the statements made by the Finnish ambassador on the occasion of Finland's independence day. Proving that there is not much to talk about when Finland comes up, the ambassador pointed out that it was only nine hours by airplane from Japan to Finland, and that "When you come to Finland, it is nature that welcomes you, whether it is winter or summer, nature is all around you." Glad to know that nature doesn't pack it in for the season in winter.
The Washington Post had an article about the attempts of black gays and transgenders (what the kids used to call trannies) to gain support from black churches for what the gays see as the continuation of the civil rights struggle. Now, I don't suspect that people who don't feel that the civil rights struggle is yet won (i.e. many leaders of black churches) are looking to embrace a cause historically not popular in the black community (gays and trannies). Still, I love the image of a a bunch of six foit black trannies going to the black church from the Blues Brothers to make their case. Priceless!
The Japan Times came through again with an article about the surname "Japon" in Span. Apparently, in the 17th century a delegation of Japanese was sent to Europe to check things out. They went to Seville, and on to Rome. Some of them settled near Seville instead of continuing to travel. Thus, there are approximately 650 people named "Japon" in the area. The excellent thing is that, "a pediatrician said he saw blue spots on many Japon infant buttocks. The so-called Mongolian spot is a feature of every Japanese baby." Wow, they MUST be Japanese! Spots on the ass and everything.
POOR KALININGRAD
The Moscow Times periodically reports on the status of Kaliningrad. This city was Königsberg in Prussia, but was seized by the Soviets in the aftermath of World War II. It is now an "exclave" from Russia, separated by Poland and Lithuania from Russia. Where a more dynamic society than the Russians might have been able to turn this into a Hong Kong in the Baltic, with free trade driving development, the Russians have just about killed the area. Thus, it is probably good news that the Russians have allowed direct train service from Kaliningrad to Berlin, traveling though Polish Gdynia. As Poland and Lithuania join the European Union, it may be that the Russians are willing to see Kaliningrad integrated into a regional economy that includes its historic ties to the west, rather than its more recent ties to the east. In this, Putin may be creating a Window to the West like Peter the Great did with St Petersburg. We'll see.
FINALLY...
I am still reading Constantine's Sword. However, with the holiday season upon us, I felt duty-bound to tell anyone planning to give it is a gift that it is terrible. The historical connections are tenuous, the author is a self-hating whiner (although I hate him too, so I guess I can't blame him for that), and the thesis is WAY overblown. Reading this book, you'd think that Christianity's unfortunate history with Jews was actually a 2000 year conspiracy focused on nothing but hurting Jews. It is just out of all proportion to the historical record. Just terrible.
posted by David at 2:16 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home