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#51201 01/02/02 04:18 PM
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Ooooh! Do we now Dr. Bill Cleopatra call?

No...more like Norm Crosby, the malapropic comic. I think that was the good Doctor's malapropism for "moon you!"


#51202 01/02/02 05:13 PM
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I believe the preferred pronunciation of the planet's name is with the accent on the first syllable.
Which creates a different, unfortunate anatomical homonym.


#51203 01/02/02 05:21 PM
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the preferred pronunciation of the planet's name is with the accent on the first syllable

Didn't used to be. It changed overnight when the astronomers discovered a ring around it. Seriously. I was there. I heard it with my own ears. The thought of Walter Cronkite saying "Ring around Uranus" was just too much and some proactive censor caught it, no doubt. Ring around the collar was well known in advertising circles at the time.


#51204 01/02/02 05:26 PM
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No asp in my bosom, please! And, naturally I was using the nice pronunciation of the planet's name. But making sure that Geoff's subtlety did not make his jest unappreciated.


#51205 01/03/02 01:09 AM
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Indeed, Dr. Bill, my intent was as AnnaStrophic stated. The mental image the headline produced in me was of a gibbous display with (that planet) in the middle of it. Odd that it occurred at the time of the ancient Saturnalia! Such Lunatics they were to make such an Earthy comment, which sent the Mercury shooting up in my sphygmomanometer. (Oohhh, try saying that after a couple of pints!)


#51206 01/03/02 01:12 AM
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But there are two-humped moons. I've seen 'em.

Where? At the drive-in theatre, perhaps?


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keiva: the preferred pronunciation of the planet's name is with the accent on the first syllable
faldage: Didn't used to be. It changed overnight when the astronomers discovered a ring around it. Seriously. I was there. I heard it with my own ears.

Faldage, I'm conflicted. On the one hand, I vaguely recall that story now that you mention it (and I too originally learned the planet's name with the accent on the second syllable). On the other hand, my 1963 Websters lists the first-syllable accent as the preferred pronunciation -- and googling indicates that the rings weren't discovered until 1977.
http://ringmaster.arc.nasa.gov/uranus/uranus.html


#51208 01/03/02 01:39 AM
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Dear Geoff: Watch the screen.


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And the planet is now called Urinous.


#51210 01/03/02 02:11 AM
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Dr Bill, I suspect that's what Keiva was suggesting in his post. In a much more subtle[read:white] manner than you did, of course.

royalties are in the mail, E!





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