Comments on: Note to the World http://www.sfsmith.com/blog/2006/12/20/note-to-the-world/ The dynamic new way to bore you with stories about what I watched on TV last night. Or stuff about Macs, libertarianism, prog rock, cockatiels, mountains, travel, science fiction, the Web, and what a totally awesome guy I would be if I were anything like I would like to think I am. Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:45:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Sandy http://www.sfsmith.com/blog/2006/12/20/note-to-the-world/#comment-999 Sandy Fri, 22 Dec 2006 16:58:52 +0000 http://www.sfsmith.com/blog/?p=470#comment-999 Nope. This is why people shouldn't abuse words. You can now say "The probe hit the surface" with no loss of clarity, and of course, "don't make me put the hizzle on you squah in the nuts" is also quite clear, and makes you seem all tough and stuff. Nope. This is why people shouldn’t abuse words. You can now say “The probe hit the surface” with no loss of clarity, and of course, “don’t make me put the hizzle on you squah in the nuts” is also quite clear, and makes you seem all tough and stuff.

]]> By: Dave-o-ramA http://www.sfsmith.com/blog/2006/12/20/note-to-the-world/#comment-998 Dave-o-ramA Thu, 21 Dec 2006 19:36:18 +0000 http://www.sfsmith.com/blog/?p=470#comment-998 Oh, and the reason the impacted-bowel form always seems adjectival in nature (wow, that's a cool word) is that it's an intransitive verb for an event that is rarely observed in action, but only detected after the fact. Oh, and the reason the impacted-bowel form always seems adjectival in nature (wow, that’s a cool word) is that it’s an intransitive verb for an event that is rarely observed in action, but only detected after the fact.

]]> By: Dave-o-ramA http://www.sfsmith.com/blog/2006/12/20/note-to-the-world/#comment-997 Dave-o-ramA Thu, 21 Dec 2006 19:33:43 +0000 http://www.sfsmith.com/blog/?p=470#comment-997 OK, but I reserve the transitive verb form for astronomical and astronavigational and other functionally similar events. Such as 'the probe impacted on the surface' and 'don't make me impact you squah in the nuts.' OK, but I reserve the transitive verb form for astronomical and astronavigational and other functionally similar events. Such as ‘the probe impacted on the surface’ and ‘don’t make me impact you squah in the nuts.’

]]> By: Sandy Smith http://www.sfsmith.com/blog/2006/12/20/note-to-the-world/#comment-996 Sandy Smith Thu, 21 Dec 2006 18:23:01 +0000 http://www.sfsmith.com/blog/?p=470#comment-996 No, I'm sorry, but when you abuse something, you get it taken away from you, and "impact" has been abused. Note that "impacted bowel" and other forms are only in adjectival or other forms. "Persons of color are impacted disproportionately by the policy" is just written by someone who needs a basic, and I mean *basic* writing course. "The policy disproportionately affects people of color." No, I’m sorry, but when you abuse something, you get it taken away from you, and “impact” has been abused. Note that “impacted bowel” and other forms are only in adjectival or other forms. “Persons of color are impacted disproportionately by the policy” is just written by someone who needs a basic, and I mean *basic* writing course.

“The policy disproportionately affects people of color.”

]]> By: Dave-o-ramA http://www.sfsmith.com/blog/2006/12/20/note-to-the-world/#comment-995 Dave-o-ramA Thu, 21 Dec 2006 18:11:36 +0000 http://www.sfsmith.com/blog/?p=470#comment-995 No no, 'persons' is the singular of 'peoples' As in: "I've got to stop Don Ignacio from oppressing all the peoples." "This persons is happy to hear that, senor Zorro." No no, ‘persons’ is the singular of ‘peoples’

As in:

“I’ve got to stop Don Ignacio from oppressing all the peoples.”

“This persons is happy to hear that, senor Zorro.”

]]> By: Dave-o-ramA http://www.sfsmith.com/blog/2006/12/20/note-to-the-world/#comment-994 Dave-o-ramA Thu, 21 Dec 2006 18:01:18 +0000 http://www.sfsmith.com/blog/?p=470#comment-994 Impact derives from the latin impactus, which is a form of the verb impingere. There is a long-standing verb form that means "to pack tightly together" as in "impacted bowel". There is also a form which is roughly a synonym of "impinge" only with a more forceful connotation - which makes sense based on it's latinate roots. Impact derives from the latin impactus, which is a form of the verb impingere. There is a long-standing verb form that means “to pack tightly together” as in “impacted bowel”.

There is also a form which is roughly a synonym of “impinge” only with a more forceful connotation - which makes sense based on it’s latinate roots.

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