Posts by Lyndon Hood

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  • Word of the Year 2007,

    I thought the word for this is was 'malapropism'.

    I suppose it's a species of malapropism (or possibly just a more homely version of the technical term).

    The best ones being so close you only notice when people get to writing them down, and being mostly non-standard versions of phrases or cliches rather than misunderstands of particular words - this might make a difference.

    Another game is phrases where the words have stayed the same but the meaning has migrated. For instance 'the exception that proves the rule', which Bierce(?) insists should be in the sense of being put to the proof - tested - and, probably, failing.

    I recall there's proverbs like that; for the time being they escape me.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1115 posts Report

  • Hard News: The Clamour to Cringe,

    I'd replaced the zeitgeist story with a (they say) changed version of the google release before I saw about the bamping. I had a look in case I was going to have to rain on the whole parade, but it's still there.

    Let's bamp, bampers.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1115 posts Report

  • Hard News: Farce About,

    I missed this... Hillary apparently let YouTube pick a campaign song. Also lower down in the article, the bit I was searching for:

    Ronald Reagan’s 1984 campaign briefly used Bruce Springsteen’s Born in the USA until the musician put a stop to it. Springsteen is an active Democrat whose song was a lament to lost jobs.

    ... and other trivia.

    HIllary went with 'You and I (Were Meant to Fly)', the Celine Dion song that was also Air Canada’s Theme Music. And announced this in a Sopranos take-off web video.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1115 posts Report

  • Word of the Year 2007,

    For those seeking inspiration, here's the Google zeitgeist for New Zealand in 2007.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1115 posts Report

  • Hard News: Farce About,

    Clock-blocked?

    music on the DVD and in Clocks were both in F minor

    WIkipedia has 'E flat Mixolydian' which following the links would apparently be based on A flat major.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1115 posts Report

  • Hard News: Farce About,

    he should have had 'Nowhere Man' by the Beatle

    Someone reminded me recently that in his day Jim Bolger got in trouble getting sung that song by school kids.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1115 posts Report

  • Radiation: Making a list,

    American public always want a tragedy with a happy ending

    ...using google takes a little effort, even.

    I did like the line that time on the Simpsons: "It started like Romeo and Juliet, but it end in tragedy!"

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1115 posts Report

  • Word of the Year 2007,

    freshly minted currency

    Minted?

    I have a whole bunch of mint in my back garden if you're buying.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1115 posts Report

  • Hard News: Ambition,

    I don't suppose there is a link to the speech?

    Cunliffe: Keynote speech at the Digital Summit 2.0

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1115 posts Report

  • Hard News: Opening a canned worm factory,

    My favourite inanity of Gordon Copeland's is actually economic. He wants to sell down SOEs to pay for tax cuts.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1115 posts Report

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