Originally posted by \
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LOL, but as you know Laurie, I have cats. I see it as much to keep cat hair out of the paint. Besides, I only clear up when I end a build.
Ian MComment
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Just shows how fickle human beings are Ian. Could not work like that.
I have to have a clean sheet as this gives me the clean start every time. I get very annoyed looking for a a pair of tweezers or the last bit I snipped from the sprue.
All brushes segregated in types. Glue just to the right hand front etc.
Laurie
PS why are tweezers referred to as a pair. Tweezers are referred to in the plural even if they are singular. Take one leg away and they have lost their tweezers designation do they become a tweezer who has lost his tweezer.
.Comment
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LMAO!Originally posted by \
You should see my Otis, over 4 ft nose to tail!
Li'll bugger!
Where's he hidden my paint brushes?!!!!!Comment
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The same reason we refer to a 'pair of trousers' or a 'pair of sunglasses' etc. English is weird. I'll let this link tell the story:Originally posted by \
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/502/why-do-we-say-a-pair-of-pants-when-theres-only-one-of-them
First of all, let's note there is a class of objects that are thought to consist of two independent but connected parts, usually identical or at least similar to each other. In addition to pants and trousers, there are eyeglasses, scissors, tweezers, shears, pliers, and so on.
The terms for these objects are always plural in form, and they are usually referred to as "a pair of ...." This usage goes back to at least 1297 AD, when we have the expression "a peire of hosen."
The implication is that the two parts are separable in some sense, and in fact a pair of hose can often mean two separate pieces. (True, you can't separate tweezers, but I never claimed the English language was rational.)
In contrast to trousers, a shirt is thought of mainly as a covering for the torso, and may or may not have sleeves. Hence no pair.
The "pair of ..." designation is somewhat arbitrarily applied. At one time it was common to speak of a pair of compasses (for drawing), a pair of nutcrackers, or a pair of bellows. But I would venture to say that in the U.S., at least, these expressions are dying out.
On the other hand, we do speak of a pair of panties, even though panties aren't really a pair of anything, having (usually) no legs. But clearly this is merely an extension of the expression, "pair of pants."Comment
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C'mon guys! No point trying to make sense of the English language!
Reasons why the English language is so hard to learn:
1) The bandage was wound around the wound.
2) The farm was used to produce produce.
3) The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.
4) We must polish the Polish furniture.
5) He could lead if he would get the lead out.
6) The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.
7) Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present.
9) When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.
10) I did not object to the object.
11) The insurance was invalid for the invalid.
12) There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.
13) They were too close to the door to close it.
14) The buck does funny things when the does are present.
15) A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer.
16) To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.
17) The wind was too strong to wind the sail
18) After a number of injections my jaw got number.
19) Upon seeing the tear in the painting I shed a tear.
20) I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.
21) How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend?
By the way...there is no egg in eggplant nor ham in hamburger; neither apple nor pine in pineapple.
English muffins weren't invented in England or French fries in France. Sweetmeats are candies while sweetbreads aren't sweet nor breads.
Quicksand works slowly, boxing rings are square and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig. And why is it that writers write but fingers don't fing, grocers don't groce and hammers don't ham?
If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn't the plural of booth beeth?
One goose, 2 geese. So one moose, 2 meese? Doesn't it seem crazy that you can make amends but not one amend. If you have a bunch of odds and ends and get rid of all but one of them, what do you call it? Is it an odd, or an end?
If teachers taught, why didn't preachers praught? If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat? In what language do people recite at a play and play at a recital? Ship by truck and send cargo by ship? Have noses that run and feet that smell?
How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites? You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language in which your house can burn up as it burns down, in which you fill in a form by filling it out and in which, an alarm goes off by going on.
English was invented by people, not computers, and it reflects the creativity of the human race, which, of course, is not a race at all.
That is why, when the stars are out, they are visible, but when the lights are out, they are invisible.
P.S. - Why doesn't "Buick" rhyme with "quick"?
GernComment
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Well that certainly clears that up Joe.
LaurieComment
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Because it's frrom oop north http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bewick
While we are on Buick, the American use of English may be frowned upon from the purists but in many ways I think they have simplified it and made more sense of what is a typically very tricky language. Still not convinced about 'zee' vs 'zed' though. Generational thing.Comment
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Sigh...I just read ALL of this.Originally posted by \Comment
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Or Joe haitch or aitch. Also the Americanisation adding an ing on the end of English words for no apparent reason.Originally posted by \
Now back to make over. What a mess did not realise how much I had accumulated.
LaurieComment
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Quickly and calmly get out the house and phone a zoo and police!!Originally posted by \LMAO! You should see my Otis, over 4 ft nose to tail!
Li'll bugger!
Where's he hidden my paint brushes?!!!!!
Sent from me to youComment
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That's big for a cat!Originally posted by \LMAO! You should see my Otis, over 4 ft nose to tail!
Li'll bugger!
Where's he hidden my paint brushes?!!!!!
GernComment
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Me to lolOriginally posted by \
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