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Subject:Re[2]: THE MOST UNKINDEST CUT From:"Arlen P. Walker" <Arlen -dot- P -dot- Walker -at- JCI -dot- COM> Date:Fri, 12 May 1995 08:10:00 -0600
The above is certainly blatant and obvious. I get a chuckle out
of less obvious examples. One of my favorites is "factoid". What exactly
is a factoid? The dictionary defines the suffix oid to signify as or like
something but not the same as that something. I infer that a factoid must
be as or like a fact but not a fact! The only thing that I can think of
that is as or like a fact but not a fact is a plausible lie.
I think in current use the term "Factoid" is akin to "trivia." In other words,
when CNN shows a "Factoid" before the commercial, they are presenting a fact,
with no accompanying interpretation, and they are making no claims about its
importance as "news" nor completeness in coverage of the subject.
Have fun,
Arlen
Chief Managing Director In Charge, Department of Redundancy Department
DNRC 124
Arlen -dot- P -dot- Walker -at- JCI -dot- Com
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