I am used to finding inspiration and consolation from Scripture, particularly the Mass readings. Except when they come up with readings such as we had for this morning. Here is the link from the USCCB site. To say that all three readings hit a sour note is an understatement. They aren't an example of the Scriptures "afflicting the comfortable" but of God seeming not to be God.
Wednesday, August 7, 2019
Pronunciation
We upper Midwesterners - or at least I - consider the words "bury", "berry", and "Barry" to be homonyms. In an online discussion group a few years ago, a New Yorker, or it may have been the resident of a Mid-Atlantic state, or perhaps a New Englander (sorry, I don't remember exactly where she was from, except that it was east of the Appalachians and north of Chesapeake Bay) expressed amazement; she pronounces each one differently.
I was on a business call this morning in which a participant, reaching for a metaphor, referred to the price of Gala apples (and, as at least one person on the call had never heard of Gala apples I should clarify that Gala apples are a variety or cultivar of apples, just like Delicious or Macintosh). She pronounced "gala" in such a way that the first syllable sounded like the first syllable in "golly". I replied, pronouncing it the way that I think it's pronounced, with the first syllable sounding like "gay". A third person chipped in, pronouncing "Gala" in such a way that the first syllable rhymed with "pal". I guess regional variations are legit, and there is no one way to pronounce anything (although I concede the possibility that I'm just flat-out wrong, and no other literate being says "gay-la").
I also speak with many people from outside the US in my work. This morning, a colleague in India, in referring to a person whose name is Merrill, pronounced it in such a way that it sounded to me as though he was referring to "Metal" or perhaps "Medil". As I didn't know a Mr. Metal or Mr. Medil, I asked him to spell it, and another American had to interject an explanation. I felt awkward, and feared that my Indian colleague had lost face. My Indian colleagues are astonishingly multilingual, as there are something like 200 languages spoken in India, and they are justly proud of their ability to communicate with many people in many languages.
No profound point to this, except that speaking and hearing are more complicated than we think, and as the world shrinks, we need to be willing to stretch ourselves.
I was on a business call this morning in which a participant, reaching for a metaphor, referred to the price of Gala apples (and, as at least one person on the call had never heard of Gala apples I should clarify that Gala apples are a variety or cultivar of apples, just like Delicious or Macintosh). She pronounced "gala" in such a way that the first syllable sounded like the first syllable in "golly". I replied, pronouncing it the way that I think it's pronounced, with the first syllable sounding like "gay". A third person chipped in, pronouncing "Gala" in such a way that the first syllable rhymed with "pal". I guess regional variations are legit, and there is no one way to pronounce anything (although I concede the possibility that I'm just flat-out wrong, and no other literate being says "gay-la").
I also speak with many people from outside the US in my work. This morning, a colleague in India, in referring to a person whose name is Merrill, pronounced it in such a way that it sounded to me as though he was referring to "Metal" or perhaps "Medil". As I didn't know a Mr. Metal or Mr. Medil, I asked him to spell it, and another American had to interject an explanation. I felt awkward, and feared that my Indian colleague had lost face. My Indian colleagues are astonishingly multilingual, as there are something like 200 languages spoken in India, and they are justly proud of their ability to communicate with many people in many languages.
No profound point to this, except that speaking and hearing are more complicated than we think, and as the world shrinks, we need to be willing to stretch ourselves.
Tuesday, August 6, 2019
Tax dollars at work
I've written in the past about the annoyances of owning landlines and their tendency to be called by telemarketers who interrupt my work day. Mostly because of inertia, and despite what I threatened last year, we still haven't canceled our landline. Telemarketers still call from time to time, almost always spoofing another number. Recently they've been spoofing local numbers in the community.
The bishops on the shootings
The horror felt by the American bishops grew palpably with each successive mass shooting over the last few days.
Monday, August 5, 2019
Shootings
I have a lot to share regarding the mass shootings from the past week. It's going to take me some time to pull it together. So until then, here is a Catholic thought for the day: the right to life takes priority over 2nd Amendment rights.
We conservatives are known to enunciate the principle, "The right to life is the foundational human right, upon which all other human and civil rights depend." Usually, we articulate that tenet, which I accept as true, in discussions about abortion. But it applies to all other life issues as well - including the right not to be shot by a mass shooter.
We conservatives are known to enunciate the principle, "The right to life is the foundational human right, upon which all other human and civil rights depend." Usually, we articulate that tenet, which I accept as true, in discussions about abortion. But it applies to all other life issues as well - including the right not to be shot by a mass shooter.
Friday, August 2, 2019
Thursday, August 1, 2019
Cat Fights and Pit Bull Drama
I got up this morning to a cat fight. Perpetrated by real cats, not politicians. (I'll get to the debate in a minute).
I didn't actually watch the debate last night. We watched an episode of the French tv series, Origines, which I recommend. It has English subtitles.
So this morning I caught up on what the pundits said about the debate.
I didn't actually watch the debate last night. We watched an episode of the French tv series, Origines, which I recommend. It has English subtitles.
So this morning I caught up on what the pundits said about the debate.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)