Discussion Groups / English Usage / December 2006

Sorry for extreme OT. Peter (Moylan), my email to o...b... is bouncing:
I can send details if necessary.
Mike.

Could anyone tell me what the thingummies on top of Lego bricks are called?
"Nobs"?
Can't find it anywhere. Not even on Lego site itself. I'd appreciate your
trouble!

Breaking news -- of particular interest to, um, Buckwheat Soba. (Sorry,
I've been away for a while.)
-----
http://www.boston.com/business/globe/articles/2006/11/10/arguments_spread_thick/

"Cold enough to freeze the balls off
of a brass monkey" is a phrase of uncertain origin.
I am not sure where we left this.
The OED cited a nicified version to 1928,

I've compiled a list of links to renditions of Tony Cooper's
audio piece.  It's at http://preview.tinyurl.com/yenvtm *
Did I miss any?
*

Today's _Madam & Eve_:
   A: Everyone's tired of corruption!! So I'm standing here all day
      to make a statement!
   B: I'll give you ten bucks to rather not.

It's not even 101, it's elementary school level.
What do you call the ... (???) of water ?[colorless, odorless,
tasteless]
...(traits? characteristics?)

... or possibly hoolie.  This expression for a strong gale seems to be
quite common in the UK now, but doesn't get a mention in my
dictionaries (I've got the NSOED, not the OED).  Any suggestions as to
the origin of the phrase?

Which of the following is correct (assuming only one is)?
   1. I have less than 10 apples.
   2. I have fewer than 10 apples.
I'd guess at #1, because we're talking about amount:

Bedspreads, comforters, coverlets -- Let us
count the ways in which we may differentiate
thee from thy kin.
--                       ---------------------------------------------

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/11/30/ms_prod_launch/
--> In fact, some customers have been in touch with El Reg to
--> say they've already downloaded the whole shebang, and that
--> the "finished product is so much beta than the beta's".

 Is the sentence "Sounds like you are understanding correctly."
correct?
or it should be written "Sounds like you are understanding it right."
I am just trying to understand the usage of the words like "correctly",

I really wonder that "typewriter this time, I understand" could mean
here.
Could it be that in Sillerton Jackson's opinion, Lefferts prepares an
article (typewriting it) for publication, say on the dissolution of the

A quote from today's local newspaper:
"I detected a strong odor of the impurities of alcohol emitting from
the Defendant's breath"  (said by an Orlando police officer about an
arrest for disorderly intoxication.)

"Persent, go milk your cow!"