More laughter from poetry Hal, thank you. Which allows me to bring you this
piece of important news, remembering that Rumsfeld's 'verses' have been
collected & published, so I think it fits here.
Doug
>Rumsfeld Ramble Wins 'Foot in Mouth' Award
>Mon December 1, 2003
>
>LONDON (Reuters) - Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's curious statement at
>a press briefing was named on Monday as the year's most baffling comment by
>a public figure.
>
>Rumsfeld, usually renowned for his uncompromising tough talking, was awarded
>the "Foot in Mouth" award for a confusing message which probably left his
>audience in the dark as to its meaning, Britain's Plain English Campaign
>said.
>
>"Reports that say something hasn't happened are interesting to me, because
>as we know, there are known unknowns; there things we know we know,"
>Rumsfeld told the briefing.
>
>"We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are
>some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns -- the ones
>we don't know we don't know."
>
>John Lister, spokesman for the campaign which strives to have public
>information delivered in clear, straightforward English, said: "We think we
>know what he means. But we don't know if we really know."
>
>Rumsfeld, whose boss President Bush is often singled out by language critics
>for his sometimes unusual use of English, took the booby prize ahead of a
>bizarre effort from actor-turned politician Arnold Schwarzenegger.
>
>"I think that gay marriage is something that should be between a man and a
>woman," was the odd statement from the new California Governor.
>
>Previous holders of the award include U.S. actress Alicia Silverstone and
>British chancellor Gordon Brown. Last year's winner was actor Richard Gere.
>
Douglas Barbour
Department of English
University of Alberta
Edmonton Alberta Canada T6G 2E5
(h) [780] 436 3320 (b) [780] 492 0521
http://www.ualberta.ca/~dbarbour/dbhome.htm
I do not limit myself: I imitate
many fancy things such as the dull red
cloth of literature, its mumbled griefs
Lisa Robertson
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