Tag

George Carlin

“Super” as Adjective: Not Always So Super

“He’s So Supercilious”: Compliment or Dis? Normally, when you think of the adjective “super,” you think in terms of . . . superlatives (see my point?). Examples include the Super Bowl; the Superdome (home of the New Orleans Saints football team); “Super size me!” (McDonalds old slogan — used to be the food; now, all...
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The Various Meanings of “That’s Rich!”

“That’s Rich” may not have the protean meanings of some other phrases, like “Shut Up!!” or “Hot Dog!” See, “Shut Up!” Has 9 Different Meanings? Shut Up!! (No, YOU Shut Up!)”; and “The Many Guises of ‘Hot Dog.'” But, it has more definitions than you might initially guess: One.  Caloric. “That chocolate mousse is rich.” Two....
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If “Colloboration” is Good, Why Are “Colloborators” Bad?

Somebody has to keep the George Carlin spirit alive. In that vein, I offer up the inherent contradiction between “collaboration” (“They all collaborated on the winning science project”), and at least one accepted definition of “collaborator” (“He was a collaborator during the occupation”). Maybe it’s just a generational thing(?) . . . See also, “You’re...
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Why Is Calling Something (or Someone) “Tasteless” an Insult?

The Color Taste of Water Water usually doesn’t have a taste, and people don’t object to that. Ditto for celery. So why is calling something — like a comment, a work of art, or an article of clothing — “tasteless” a dis? “Taste-Free” vs. “Tasteless” Clearly, what the speaker intends to say is, “in bad taste.”...
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“Hmmm, That House Sure Looks Familiar . . .”

‘Vúja de’: the strange feeling that somehow, this has never happened before. –George Carlin I suppose the flip side of stumbling across a new listing you instantly recognize is, seeing one that you know looks familiar, but can’t quite place. Or, driving past such a house. In the case of this Fern Hill home (above),...
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Castle or Dump? Depends on the Agent (& Their Agenda)

Realtor Double Standards “Have you ever noticed that their stuff is shit and your shit is stuff?” –George Carlin Whether a home is a dump or a castle can depend on who the agent is, and their relationship to the property. So, I’m aware of a few Twin Cities agents who are rather infamous for finding...
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