Discussion Groups / English Usage / April 2007

Can a possessive come along with a particle?
The following phrases are examples:
"I just bought a new car, but two days later I found out that THE
CAR'S MIRROR was broken"

John Betjeman's poem "Pot Pourri from a Surrey Garden" begins:
       Miles of pram in the wind and Pam in the gorse track,
Can someone please explain the meaning of "Miles of pram in the wind"

Minimifidianism is "having the smallest possible degree of belief".
Where does the root mifidian come from?

http://tinyurl.com/ybtdyp
-Ramon

I know the meanings of "Mulatto" and "Quadroon", but I've never heard
those words in casual conversation.
What is the polite word to call someone of  mixed heritage? I heard in
the media of  "light black" but never "dark white".

According to the Daily Mail, her diet has led to her bust shrinking, I
think...
"But when Spears stepped out in LA in a lavender sundress with a
plunging neckline, it was clear that her weight loss has also taken a

I just read in a student paper "This is an amazing response on his
half." I think the student was thinking of "on his behalf," although
what he meant was "on his part." Anybody ever seen this peculiar
expression before?

When someone explained the necessity of postponing some work, he
said,'I will do it when in a less muddled state of mind.'
Does the phrase ' in a muddled state of mind' imply some connection
with (oriental)spiritualism, buddhism,etc,  or is it just an

In North Europe
In northern Europe
Do they mean the same?
Thanks!

By special request, some of our animals which
live in our house with us!
http://www.purlgurl.net/aue/animal_house.jpg
This is upstairs just outside our bedroom. My husband

A fox put in charge of the hen house - from a story in today's
newpaper:
http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=518541
MIT Admissions Dean Resigns; Admits Misleading School on Credentials

I am still vague about "Handling fee".
Is it just for ordering something online? I do not know why we have to
pay this fee because when we order something, that is the saler's
responsibility to deal with any labor associated with processing the

The Sydney Morning Herald carried this story, which it seems the
Japanese police have now denied:
http://www.smh.com.au/news/unusual-tales/baaking-mad-japan-scam/2007/04/27/11774
59927942.html
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What's the origin of "arf arf"?
I thought is was from the 1970s, possibly from a TV programme. The
only dictionary reference I've found is from the Urban slang
dictionary at http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=arf+arf

I'm off for a week or so, which I wouldn't ordinarily mention, but
this time I have a boink scheduled for this coming Tuesday with
several of AUE's finest, San Francisco Bay Division.  I don't expect
to be able to read and post to AUE for the duration of the trip, so I