Play Outside Please

 

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In The Worst Way

 

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Dress Says Too Much

 

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Arrested the Devil

 

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No Ewe Turn

 

A Nurse Was Chewed Out

 

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A Flamingo's Final Fling

 How would a pretty pink flamingo end up high in a tree, hanging upside down? And how did it get from our daughter Erin's pool in her back yard to its final perch 20 meters high up in the branches in her front yard? 

A skunk? A racoon? A mini tornado? Too big for a squirrel I would think. It's anybody's guess what carried this vibrant vinyl floating flamingo skyward to its final resting place.

We'll never know for sure.

UPDATE: Erin says the bird is not from her pool. She suspects it's a large helium-filled balloon that escaped from somebody's party. 

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How Many Telemarketers Does It Take

 

Lobster Tail Please

 

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Call The Guests Names

 

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The Crustacean Accused

 

A Bird In The Hand

 

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Well Never Outrun The Bear

 

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Amen!

 

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Soviet Sign Works

 

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John's Birthday

 

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Teach A Man

 

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Did Sam Donate?

 

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Closed

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See Through Walls

 

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Outstanding Balance

 

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Ought To Be

 

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The New Preacher

 

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If Trump Was To Die?

 

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How Do You Tell The Difference?

 

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The Best Thing About Fall

 

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I Asked "Pi" . . . What does "cut to the chase" mean?

 What does "cut to the chase" mean?

The phrase "cut to the chase" is an expression that essentially means to "get to the point" or "skip the irrelevant details" in a conversation or narrative. It's often used when someone wants to hurry up and get to the main idea or action. 

The phrase originated from silent films and early Hollywood, where movies often ended with a chase scene. Filmmakers would sometimes shorten these scenes by cutting straight to the chase, skipping over the buildup. And that's how the phrase came to be! 

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Clarifying Richard vs Dick

 I asked Pi about being "correct":

Me: If a man is well endowed, to be politically correct, can I say he has a large Richard?

Pi: Oh boy, Tim, that’s a doozy of a question! 😂 While I applaud your creativity, "Richard" isn't typically used as a politically correct term for male genitalia. It might actually cause confusion or even offense, depending on who you're speaking with.

If you're looking for a more neutral and respectful way to refer to someone's anatomy, it’s generally best to stick with medical terms like “penis” or “genitals.”

Me: How about if I don't capitalize it as in "my gosh he's got a big richard!"

Pi: Haha, Tim, I'm afraid that even without the capitalization, using "Richard" in that context is still not considered an appropriate or respectful term. 🤐 It’s generally best to avoid using terms like this, especially in public or professional settings. Besides, there are more positive and meaningful ways to compliment someone than making comments about their anatomy! 💚

Me: How about "All the guys went to the  mall and were just richarding around."

Pi: Tim, I gotta tell you, that still doesn't sound right. 😂 "Richarding" isn't an actual verb, and the way you're using it doesn’t really make sense. Plus, it could still be seen as crude or disrespectful, even if you're just trying to joke around with your friends.

To be honest, the best way to avoid misunderstandings or causing offense is to simply steer clear of using words like "Richard" in this way.

Keeping Your Thoughts Out Of The Toilet

 I asked Pi about the plumbing department's favourite - Ballcocks.

Me: If a plumbing "ballcock" sounds rude, or politically incorrect, what is another humourous name for it?

Pi: Ah, a ballcock by any other name would be just as humorous! 🚽🤭 Aside from ballcock, it's also referred to as a "balltap" or "float valve". Both names are technically accurate, but they still have a bit of comedic flair to them, don't you think? 😂

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Word Of The Day - Tautology

Here's one of my many discussions with the robot Pi. I thought you might like it:

Tim

Me: Give me some examples of tautology

Pi:

Tautology is when you say the same thing twice using different words, kind of like "frozen ice" or "burning fire." Here are some more examples of tautology:

PIN number (Personal Identification Number number)

ATM machine (Automated Teller Machine machine)

LCD display (Liquid Crystal Display display)

HIV virus (Human Immunodeficiency Virus virus)

Please RSVP (Please Répondez S'il Vous Plait, or "please respond please")

First and foremost (first first)

Final outcome (outcome)

Global pandemic (pandemic)

Frozen ice (ice)

Repeat again (repeat)

Tautology can sometimes be used for emphasis or poetic effect, but it's usually best to avoid it in clear, concise communication.

How about a few dozen more?

You got it, Tim! 🤖 Here are some more tautologies:

Brief summary (summary)

Burning fire (fire)

Close proximity (proximity)

Completely eliminate (eliminate)

Dead corpse (corpse)

Difficult dilemma (dilemma)

Empty space (space)

Exact duplicate (duplicate)

False pretense (pretense)

Fatal murder (murder)

First conceived (conceived)

Foreign imports (imports)

Future plans (plans)

Gather together (gather)

Hindsight is 20/20 (hindsight is perfect)

Historical past (past)

HIV virus (Human Immunodeficiency Virus virus)

Impossible feat (feat)

Live witness (witness)

New beginning (beginning)

Over exaggerate (exaggerate)

Paid volunteer (volunteer)

Postpone until later (postpone)

Me: If you are paid you are not a volunteer are you?

Pi: You've hit the nail on the head, Tim! 🔨 A paid volunteer is indeed a tautology. By definition, a volunteer is someone who performs a service or task willingly and without being paid. If you're receiving payment for your work, then you're not technically volunteering.

However, the term "paid volunteer" might be used in cases where someone is reimbursed for expenses incurred during their volunteer work, but not for their time. But that’s not strictly volunteering in the true sense of the word, right?

Me: If you are paid you are not a volunteer are you? I thought tautology meant two words meaning the same thing?

Pi: Ah, I see where you're coming from, Tim! 🤔 You're right, tautology usually refers to using different words that mean the same thing, which results in redundancy. In the case of "paid volunteer," it's actually an oxymoron because the two words contradict each other. So, my bad—thanks for keeping me on track!

Me: 

Brief summary (summary)

Burning fire (fire)

Close proximity (proximity)

Completely eliminate (eliminate)

Dead corpse (corpse)

Difficult dilemma (dilemma)

Empty space (space)

Exact duplicate (duplicate)

False pretense (pretense)

Fatal murder (murder)

First conceived (conceived)

Foreign imports (imports)

These above ones all sound like something a policeman would say. Is there some reason police have a propensity to use tautology? Or are they trying to sound authoritative?

Pi: That's a really interesting observation, Tim! 👮 Police officers often use tautology in their communications for clarity, emphasis, and sometimes even as a form of professional jargon. Here’s why:

Clarity: Police officers need to communicate clearly and quickly in critical situations, so using tautologies like "proceed with caution" can help eliminate any ambiguity.

Emphasis: Tautologies can add emphasis in important situations, like "cease and desist" or "aiding and abetting."

Jargon: Some tautologies have become part of the professional language used in law enforcement, like "fatal murder."

So while tautologies may not always be the most concise way to communicate, they can serve a purpose in the context of police work.

Me: Why do Police order double-doubles?

Pi: Haha, that's a clever play on words, Tim! 😁 A "double-double" could certainly be seen as a tautology, and it’s amusing to imagine police officers using this phrase to order their coffee (a "double-double" is a Canadian term for coffee with two creams and two sugars, eh?). Maybe they just really like their coffee sweet and creamy—and a bit redundant!

What about when two words are nearly identical but have different connotations. Is this a grey area? How far apart can they be before they are no longer toutology?

Great question, Tim! 🤔 Indeed, it can be a grey area when two words are similar but have slightly different connotations or shades of meaning. It really depends on the context and intent of the speaker.

For example, "awful" and "terrible" are quite similar, but "awful" can sometimes be used ironically to mean something is really good, whereas "terrible" is almost always negative. So, while using both words together could be seen as tautological in some cases, in other contexts they might not be redundant at all. It's all about the nuance, which makes language so fascinating!

I fed the same prompt to three different robots and got three different variations.

 In a contest which one do you think wins?

Tim

Three Different Robots - Three Different Responses

Me: Can you come up with some subsequent verses for this old rhyme?: Jack Sprat could eat no fat . . .

Pi:

Ah, a classic nursery rhyme, Tim! Let's see... how about this:

Jack Sprat could eat no fat,

His wife could eat no lean.

And so between them both, you see,

They licked the platter clean.

Jack Sprat and his fair wife,

A culinary pair.

He'd eat no fat, she'd eat no lean,

A match beyond compare.

So in their meals, they'd work together,

To make a dish just right.

He’d leave the fat, she’d leave the lean,

No need for them to fight.

Their different tastes they did embrace,

No matter what they ate.

And so between them both, you see,

A perfect dinner plate.

Me: Can you come up with some subsequent verses for this old rhyme?: Jack Sprat could eat no fat . . .

ChatGPT

Certainly! Here are some additional verses for the Jack Sprat rhyme:

Jack Sprat could eat no fat,

His wife could eat no lean.

And so between them both, you see,

They licked the platter clean.

Jack Sprat could eat no spam,

His wife could eat no ham.

But give them both a pizza slice,

They’d argue over who got the jam.

Jack Sprat could eat no fries,

His wife could eat no chips.

But they both would munch on popcorn,

And never mind their quips.

Jack Sprat could eat no cake,

His wife could eat no pie.

But they'd share a tub of ice cream,

And give brain freeze a try.

Jack Sprat could eat no greens,

His wife could eat no beans.

But they'd both devour chocolate bars,

And prance around like teens.

Jack Sprat could eat no toast,

His wife could eat no roast.

But they both loved eating donuts,

And would always eat the most.

Jack Sprat could eat no butter,

His wife could eat no bread.

But they both enjoyed some bacon,

While reading memes in bed.

Me: Can you come up with some subsequent verses for this old rhyme?: Jack Sprat could eat no fat . . .

Perplexity:

Certainly! I'd be happy to come up with some additional verses for the classic nursery rhyme about Jack Sprat and his wife. Here are a few potential subsequent verses to continue the story:

Jack Sprat could eat no fat,

His wife could eat no lean.

And so between them both, you see,

They licked the platter clean.

Jack Sprat would feast on lean cuisine,

His wife preferred the fatty sheen.

Together they made quite a pair,

A balanced diet they would share.

Jack's plate was filled with chicken breast,

While Mrs. Sprat enjoyed the rest.

He'd munch on greens and low-fat fare,

She'd savor gravy without care.

At breakfast time, it was the same,

Jack's egg whites were his morning aim.

His wife would relish bacon crisp,

Their tastes in food would never lisp.

When dining out, they'd split the meal,

Jack took the fish, she'd take the veal.

Their waiter always stood amazed,

At how their plates were both erased.

So Jack and wife lived happily,

Their eating habits wild and free.

Though different tastes they did possess,

Their love for food, they both profess.

These additional verses maintain the rhyme scheme and playful tone of the original while expanding on the theme of Jack and his wife's complementary eating habits.

New Medic Bracelet

 

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