Discussion Groups / English Usage / February 2004

I've always used "don't care to [verb]" to mean something like "don't want
to [verb]", usually an understatement for something like "want not to
[verb]".  But I've lately heard some people use "don't care to [verb]"
where I'd use "don't mind [verb]ing", quite the opposite meaning ...

Lately I read the drama "The ecstasy of Rita Joe" by the Canadian
playwright George Ryga (*1932). The play was first performed in 1967.
On page 41 I came across a so-called "split infinitive":
--- The WITNESSES do not see her and the testimony takes on the air of

Wrt:
---------
"I have known a great deal of the trouble of annuities; for my mother
was clogged with the payment of three to old superannuated servants by

In a German book about post-war Germany, I found several quotations (in
English) from American diplomats mentioning "West Europe". I had only
heard "Western Europe" before.
Is "West Europe" an acceptable variant, an older variant, or is it maybe

'Missing - Tuxedo cat'

Hello nice guys...
I had founded a project about the Linux-Kernel:
http://kickino.org/kernel-project/
But I had less time to translate all that conent into English. :-(

I receive my everyday newspaper at about 7 am.   (Meaning: "daily
newspaper")   Correct?
I receive my newspaper every day ay 7 am. (Meaning: "7 days a week and
beyond")  Correct?

I am looking for authoritative literary examples of "would" being used to
express a past habitual action, e.g.:
"As I child I would be crying all the time", or "When we lived there, we
would walk along the promenade every night"

ok, in my family ( Northern Italian ) we're always using this word
"scuch" to mean "to tease or annoy".  as in "don't scuch your sister"
i've never heard this anywhere else.  can anyone shed some light on

Mentally wrestling with the correct usage of 'an' or 'a' before a word
beginning with the letter 'u'...
Normally, since 'u' is a vowel, the answer would be to use 'an'.
But...  the word (universal, in this case) doesn't *sound* like it

A thief who broke into a church was caught because traces of wax found
on his clothes,__________ from the sort of candles used only in
churches.
A. had come    B.coming     C.come         D.that came

I just had a talk with UPS customer service.  I told them "If I come
to pick it (the package) up, where should I go to?"  Now I'm off the
phone, I'm thinking, should I have said "If I came to pick it up ..."
The idea is from the structure "If I were you, ..."

What an abomination. I've just heard it in connection with the local
discovery of a rare Roman coin by a 'metal detectorist' ie the person who
swings the 'metal detector'. Couldn't call them both 'metal detectors'
apparently even though they are.

Many of us have been concerned by the Bush administration's use of the
"Patriot" act to pretend that the US Constitution does not exist -- even
for American citizens -- should someone in the administration take a
dislike to them.

"Period from 08/AUG/03 to date" Or "Period from 08/AUG/03 to today"?
Which one is the correct one?  Any differences in meaning?
Please help!!!
Thank you very much for your assistance.