Tag Archives: rhetoric

Queen’s English Profaned?

Posted on March 1, 2020 by JMN

“Voters of color will decide if Bernie Sanders or Joe Biden prevail.” (Headline to an article by Steve Phillips at theguardian.com, 3-1-20) There’s only the slightest chance that it should not be “prevails” instead of “prevail,” since the conjunction is … Continue reading →

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Treading Fashion Pastures

Posted on February 21, 2020 by JMN

It might be nice if schools of fashion were insulated from the culture so as to indulge in questionable tomfoolery on the runway with impunity, but it isn’t so. Every so often a mess is stepped in. Someone in charge … Continue reading →

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You Can Pick Your Battles, Not Your Wars

Posted on January 21, 2020 by JMN

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/jan/21/crushed-by-brexit-how-labour-lost-the-election My title is what I extrapolate from the tersely cogent remark attributed to an anonymous Labour Party strategist: “In the end, you can’t just fight a battle and ignore your opponent. You can’t just say: ‘We’re fighting at sea’, … Continue reading →

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“Pretty Ugly”

Posted on January 16, 2020 by JMN

This tweet contrasts so starkly with the seriousness of the actual situation with Iran,” said Ben Rhodes, a former top national security aide to Mr. Obama. “We are in the midst of a roiling crisis with Iran that is largely … Continue reading →

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Horseback Love

Posted on December 25, 2019 by JMN

… The queen’s addresses tend to be broad, anodyne and even a little opaque. “The problem with Yorkie [the Duke of York] is he can be very arrogant and petulant. I think that’s down to insecurity.” [Former palace official] Two … Continue reading →

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Kingsize Inference

Posted on December 15, 2019 by JMN

… Parties that either oppose Brexit or want to rethink Britain’s departure won 52 percent of the total votes cast, while the Conservatives and other pro-Brexit parties won only 46 percent. “Boris is part of the establishment,” [Thomas Wright, director … Continue reading →

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Mouth of the Gun

Posted on November 27, 2019 by JMN

On 10-1-17 a killer shot dead 58 people in a Las Vegas concert venue and injured 500. An ammo dealer sold the killer hundreds of incendiary tracer rounds which he didn’t use in the spree. The dealer’s lawyer says the … Continue reading →

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Boot Edge Edge

Posted on November 16, 2019 by JMN

… He acknowledged that his success may have irked those who have seen years of presidential campaign planning tossed aside by his rise. “I’m not going to comment,” he said, “on the emotions of my competitors.” (Reid J. Epstein and … Continue reading →

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Precise, Forceful, Formal, Direct, Powerful

Posted on November 14, 2019 by JMN

A letter to the NYTimes is signed by Roxana Robinson, former president of the Authors Guild, and 32 other writers. It exhorts The Times to “use precise and forceful language that reveals the struggle in which we now find ourselves.” … Continue reading →

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Tofu vs. Jerky

Posted on October 23, 2019 by JMN

Cheryl Thompson has a salutary take on bromides about the “strength of diversity” that are jawboned from various bully pulpits. Diversity is also tough, challenging and sometimes outright frustrating because it requires listening, being open to what you don’t know, … Continue reading →

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