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Carpal Tunnel
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I know we've had similar threads in the past, but I thought it would be fun -- nay, cathartic -- to go through the litany again.
What inspired this was Richard Lederer's appearance on NPR radio's Sunday newsprogram, All Things Considered; the same Lederer who entertained some of us AWADers last week with his wit and wisdom, peppered with puns and nonsense.
One of the peeves brought up by a caller is one we've discussed before: the usage of "decimate" to mean "obliterate," rather than "to kill one in ten." Lederer allowed as how language changes hi Faldage & tsuwm! and he'd feel pretty silly saying something like "We had an infestation of gypsy moths in the back yard but I'm relieved to say they only decimated my fruit trees."
Bring 'em on! What are some of y'all's pet peeves?
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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The use of acronyms for which a translation is not readily available.
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Joined: Dec 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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We had an infestation of gypsy moths in the back yard but I'm relieved to say they only decimated my fruit trees.
It should perhaps be noted that if the gypsy moths decimated Mr. Lederer's fruit trees in the manner of the original definition of the word (in Latin, I might add) they would have killed ten percent of the trees and shipped the other ninety percent off to other orchards.
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Joined: Aug 2001
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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What are some of y'all's pet peeves?Well, though I feel badly to say this, Anna and Faldage, I perhaps have less pet peeves than both of you. Edit: ps to Anna and Helen: well, I had to find a pair somewhere to make reference to the misuse of "both", where the proper word is "each". 
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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keiva, David and Besty are my new bestist friends, since yesterday-- so you leave them alone!
meanwhile, someone else was peevish today--- this is from the NYtimes Metropolitan Diary-- and since i know some of you hate to visit the site.. i have copied it here.. its not really word related.. but it is about pet peeves
MY PET PEEVE
I have this pet, his name is PEEVE,
I've asked him several times to leave.
He says, "I'll go, I will, I swear,"
but he's not going anywhere.
Perhaps you've had the chance to meet —
he walks quite slowly down the street,
and stomps his feet down as he walks,
yelling in a phone, he talks.
He rarely says "thank you," never "please."
He disregards R.S.V.P.'s.
He likes to tell how much he earns
and doesn't signal when he turns.
He gets close when he's in line,
thinks 10 percent for tip is fine.
When the bill comes, he runs to hide.
He wears sunglasses while inside.
If you see Peeve playing with his hair
Or barking "Who's this?" into the phone,
Please tell him to use the right side of the stair
And for goodness' sake, to leave me alone.
Martha E. Stewart
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Carpal Tunnel
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Martha E. StewartGeez, Helen, you'd think Martha would be content sticking to her empire of chintz and soufflés. and thanks for that remark - I don't like to engage a lawyer unless absolutely necessary 
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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http://f2.org/humour/language/nonsense.html#Cumberbunce makes the point in its last two lines: I thought all people understood
The difference 'twixt 'might' and 'could'!to which I would add I wish all folks would understand
The difference 'twixt 'may' and 'can'!
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Joined: Dec 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Is the phrase pet peeve.
Well, that and people who drive as though I weren't the only person on the road, but that goes without saying.
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Joined: Oct 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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what really get my goat, is when people fail to stop talking, when i am trying to interupt!
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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People who drive as though the speed limit is the recommended minimum speed. Where are the police when I'm driving sane and the other guys aren't?
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