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Column 8
Sydney Morning Herald
Friday March 26, 2010
"Please tell Jan Twomey," asks Richard Ramsden, of Mosman (peculiar pets' names, Column 8, Tuesday), "that I used to have a cat called Trouble. I was naturally disposed to go looking for it."Still with Jan and her nameless menagerie: "I loved the story about Dudgeon and Umbrage," writes Helen Wright, of Paddington. "But perhaps something simpler for the children's sense of humour? When I was growing up in South Coogee there was a family who had two dogs and a cat. Bach, Offenbach and Debussy.""In an article in Wednesday's Herald, reference is made to an American financial commentator noting that 'folks could care less about' a new regulatory body," notes David Rydon, of Elizabeth Bay. "This raises a question. Here we seem to say 'couldn't care less' which, although a double negative, seems to better express the real meaning of the attitude of the speaker. Which is correct?"We are, David."During a recent canoe lesson one of our high school girls was bitten by an insect and went into a fairly dramatic performance of over-reaction," reports Paul Fraser, of Cambewarra. "My colleague checked with the accompanying teacher: 'Is she anaphylactic?' The teacher replied: 'No, her name's Sophie'."The birthday saga rolls on - "My wife and I think this is a special year for us," writes David Crowley, of Runcorn, Queensland. "She was born in 1954 and turned 56 this year. I was born in 1956 and turn 54 this year. But I have a friend who turns 60 this year, and considers himself to be 'a middle man'. He was born on 15/6/50, which he claims is the middle day of the middle month of the middle year of the century."We may have to lift the needle on this weird birthday business, especially after hearing this, from Daniel Smith, of Chippendale: "I was born in '45 and one day in '78 I was 33 and a third. I claim these numbers as records." It's rather sobering to think that no readers under the age of 30 would have the faintest idea why this is amusing.More on yesterday's suggestion that oddities are best served in pairs, this time from Bill Connolly, of Newington, who writes: "Some place names have their overall weirdness ramped up by their proximity to other places. Jefferson county in western Pennsylvania, for instance, rejoices in having adjacent villages named Panic and Desire.""Driving past the Iron Duke Hotel in Alexandria," reports John Swanton, of Botany, "I spotted the sign 'Friday Night - Fatt Lipp'. I assume it is a band, but you never know.""In what seems to be a cross between real estate speak and free expression," writes Neil Burnside, "a Narooma agent, who will remain nameless because it's a small town, has a house for sale on the top of the hill and in the most prominent position looking out to the ocean, with a sign in the front garden noting its 'unsuppressed views'."Column8@smh.com.au(no attachments please).Phone 9282 2207 fax 9282 2772. (include name, suburb, daytime phone)
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