tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post7149805712634481735..comments2024-03-29T10:10:40.315-05:00Comments on Every goddamn day: 03/29/24: Like illness, Mr. COVID Answer Man lingersNeil Steinberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11468057838260476480noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-54637745428637782572020-10-14T15:52:03.807-05:002020-10-14T15:52:03.807-05:00New York's "L" train wasn't desi...New York's "L" train wasn't designated that until 1985, over a hundred years since they'd been using the term El.<br /><br />The strongest argument for 'L' in Chicago is that it's *always* been officially named that. Years ago, I had assumed it was some kind of '60s space-age terminology tweak. <br /><br />The strongest argument for El that it makes more sense, being the actual way you begin to spell Elevated. Another point in its favor is that it requires one less keystroke to type, if you're using the official single-quotation marks for 'L'. Most important, however, is the fact that I like it. ; )<br /><br />Mr. Savage contends that El is the choice of some of Chicago's most celebrated authors and poets, so that's good enough for him. Jakashnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-61543039747230123202020-10-14T15:28:04.584-05:002020-10-14T15:28:04.584-05:00Regarding mask-wearing, I saw a segment on CNN tha...Regarding mask-wearing, I saw a segment on CNN that was sadly hilarious. Folks who claim masks CAUSE more cases of COVID. These pitiable individuals were interviewed, and the answers ranged from "....because the masks force too much carbon dioxide back into your lungs" to "well, the COVID in the atmosphere actually gets trapped back into the mask and infects you". When asked how one of these looney conclusion was arrived at, one person answered, in all sincerity, "Logic".SandyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14070366627628604352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-1668516170083321432020-10-14T14:53:57.559-05:002020-10-14T14:53:57.559-05:00I'm pretty sure that long ago, whenever I mig...I'm pretty sure that long ago, whenever I might have had occasion to mention the elevated railway system, I would refer to it as the "el," without the capital E.<br /><br />johntatehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10088632798195131329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-22069822483034710972020-10-14T13:03:06.885-05:002020-10-14T13:03:06.885-05:00NYC's subway uses 'El", because they ...NYC's subway uses 'El", because they have a subway line called "L". <br />We just use "L".Clark St.https://www.blogger.com/profile/09634234069783123180noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-27621709063174270022020-10-14T12:21:06.536-05:002020-10-14T12:21:06.536-05:00Dear Mr. Covid Answer Man: How do you explain to t...Dear Mr. Covid Answer Man: How do you explain to the ordinary American Joe/Josephine how my wearing a mask, even though it doesn't directly prevent particles of virus that others might be emitting from infecting me actually (through the magic of probability) does in fact make me safer? By the way, one of my literary heroes, H.L. Mencken put probability theory in the same category with astrology and tea reading; and he didn't even have to grapple with Marilyn Vos Savant's tricky question of whether changing one's choice of curtain in a game show did or did not enhance one's chances of winning a special prize rather than a joke gift.<br /><br />johntatehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10088632798195131329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-69193074623656177422020-10-14T11:53:05.772-05:002020-10-14T11:53:05.772-05:00Though it seems counter-intuitive, one should alwa...Though it seems counter-intuitive, one should always switch. That was a fun MVS analysis. Jakashnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-49138802765982111512020-10-14T11:51:00.939-05:002020-10-14T11:51:00.939-05:002 observations and a question.
Too late for the p...2 observations and a question.<br /><br />Too late for the print edition, but your anwer to Not Quite Contrite today is a little off at the end: "no how monstrous and callous a traitor."<br /><br />I see that you part company with your esteemed professorial buddy, Bill Savage, in going with the "official" designation for Chicago's mostly-elevated railway, 'L'. Personally, though I know it's wrong, I admire his bull-headed insistence on using El, which seems more quaint to me.<br /><br />Dear Mr. COVID Answer Man: Was that gorgeous tree atop the blog today found on a random street in the leafy, suburban paradise? I seldom encounter such choice autumn exemplars in the city. (Hopeful that MCAM can branch out from his specific area of expertise to address this query.)Jakashnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-75462813697012193422020-10-14T08:48:59.635-05:002020-10-14T08:48:59.635-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.tatehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10088632798195131329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-55163919081563751502020-10-14T07:40:53.638-05:002020-10-14T07:40:53.638-05:00Thank you Mr. Coevid answer man.
I've begun t...Thank you Mr. Coevid answer man. <br />I've begun to hear the term "virus fatigue". Does this refer to the feeling you have after or before you contract it? FMEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06829632906445535928noreply@blogger.com