Oh Mr. Obama! How could you?
My wife, Ali, and I sometimes play the game of celebrities we'd like to invite round for tea.
Bradley Walsh is on the list.
So is Richard Osman.
Then there's Stephen Fry.
Countless others, who simply come across as nice people who do good - or at least, do no harm.
High on the list is that nice President Obama, who would, of course, be welcome to bring Michelle along.
(His successor as President is not so high on the list. Neither is Andrew Windsor).
Likeable as he is, Barak Obama - did some years ago commit the copywriters' carnal sin.
Referring to his successor's failings in dealing with the pandemic, he said,
"It has been an absolute chaotic disaster when that mindset -- of 'what's
in it for me' and 'to heck with everybody else' -- when that mindset is operationalized in our government."
Pass the smelling salts.
Mr. President, where did that word come from?
Why say 'operationalized' when you could have said, 'applied'?
I make that 6 syllables versus 2.
In other words, you used three times as much time and energy than you need have done.
Just imagine what you could have done with all that extra time?
Short words are always best.
They're more environmentally friendly.
To speak them or write them takes less time and energy.
To hear and understand them is more economical.
Everyone's a winner.
The American Z versus the British S
We English can be pretty precious about our 's', often bemoaning the lack of culture shown by the upstarts across the pond who have the temerity to substitute a 'z'.
How dare they?
Bad news, I'm afraid, my fellow Brits. Our American friends are using the original form, introduced originally by the Greeks. It was the French who influenced us to switch to 's'.
So you see - perhaps we shouldn't be quite so precious after all.
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