Odds and Ends

Bahamian Cruises

Here are some pictures of the Bahamas that I just pulled up from a promotional website.

Looks pretty nice.  I haven't been there, but I'd consider visiting someday.

So what's the deal with the Bahamas?  Is it (are they) going broke?  Are cruise lines serving the Bahamas having a hard time attracting business?

I have been informed at least five times in robocalls THIS WEEK that that I have "won a free cruise for two to the Bahamas!"  Actually, over the last year, I probably have been notified 20 times that I have won such a trip.

Friends of ours have visited the Bahamas.  They had a great time, and I'm sure they weren't leading me on about that.

My worry is about the cruise.  If I signed up for the "free cruise," I would fear being stuck on a ship full of people with chirping voices like those of the irritating robocallers.

Unless I were willing to jump off the ship and swim possibly hundreds of miles to the nearest shore, there would be no way to escape.  Who needs that?

If any of my readers has taken  a "free cruise for two to the Bahamas!" and enjoyed it, I'd love to know more about the experience.

Until then, I'm staying home.

Further Evidence of the Decline of Traditional News Organizations

I Miss Copy Editors, Chapter 37 


I've grappled with to understanding how much to blame Trump's supporters for his rise.

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Sure, neither Chris Christie or Donald Trump were involved, but three Democratic presidential hopefuls engaged in a debate.
         Surely, neither Chris Christie nor Donald Trump was involved . . . .

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Although the currency zone’s economy is recovering, it has lagged far behind the U.S., and joblessness remains in double digits. . . .
       Could something "lag ahead" of something else?  Of course not.  Lag means lag, period.
       Also, the subject of the first clause is an economy; the contrast is not between one economy and the U.S., but between two economies.  
       Third, the location of "joblessness" is unclear.  How about this?
Although the currency zone's economy is recovering, it seriously lags that of the United States. Joblessness across the E.U. remains above 10 percent.

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During dismissal, the altercation escalated resulting in the fight.

        Needs at least a comma after "escalated," or, even better, an "and resulted"

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Politicians have always sought to manipulate the public. What's changed is that media is now not only a willing co-conspirator, they are often the driving force behind the manipulation. No longer seeing itself as responsible for reporting the truth, for getting the facts to the people, it has instead incentivized a scrum, a wild fight for attention in which anything that attracts an audience is fair game.

         "media is . . . a co-conspirator, they are often the driving force . . . seeing itself ...."  Sheesh
         This battle was lost long ago;  media is a plural noun but now is used as a singular noun.
          In the unfortunate diatribe above, the angry writer goes back and forth between the two,
          which discredits whatever point s/he is trying to make, at least with me.

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Sheridan, 41, who lived with his parents in the Skillman section of the township, was arrested when police allegedly found cocaine in his car hours after his parents deaths. Sheridan's car was parked outside his parent's home and the family was being questioned when the vehicle was searched.
          "after his parents' deaths" and outside his parents' home -- two deaths of two people who lived in the same house.

State Sen. Christopher "Kip" Bateman said at the time that lingering questions about the Sheridan case was part of the reason for Soriano's departure.
           "lingering questions . . . are"
         A plural subject requires a plural verb.

Just Funny

Due to intense drug trafficking and a corrupt government there has been no clear way for Mexico to reclaim one of their largest cities.
          One of its largest cities.   OTOH, can Mexico LOSE a city?  Has there been a border change?

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Action News spoke with one bystander who ran over and put pressure on the wound, trying to keep him calm.

          Because calm wounds really are better.

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There are really only three core reasons why an artist fails to make a living off of their craft.
        Off of is bad phrasing; the word at is a better substitute.  Plus an artist is one person; they and their are plural.  
        Try this: "why an artist fails to make a living at his or her craft."

       This writer graduated from UC, Berkeley.  Either he should demand his tuition back, or the school should repossess his diploma.

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Although the currency zone’s economy is recovering, it has lagged far behind the U.S., and joblessness remains in double digits. . . .
       Could something "lag ahead" of something else?  Of course not.  Lag means lag, period.
       Also, the subject of the first clause is an economy; the contrast is not between one economy and the U.S., but between two economies.  
       Third, the location of "joblessness" is unclear.  How about this?
Although the currency zone's economy is recovering, it seriously lags that of the United States. Joblessness across the E.U. remains above 10 percent.

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What construction projects will get in driver's way in 2016?
      My guess is that it will depend on the driver.

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A big dog can put its head on patients' beds and you can actually see them relax.
       Actually, it would be interesting to see beds relax.

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Companies that are doing well for several years in a row gather an aura that they are a "good company," and will continue to grow rapidly.  On the other hand, companies that have been tagged as losers for several years become tagged as "bad companies" that can't do anything right.
       Companies are either a "good company" or "bad companies."  Got it.

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If you were stranded in Chicago or Dallas or (heaven help you) the in-laws over the holidays, you might have the government to thank.
     If you were stranded in Chicago or Dallas or (heaven help you) with the in-laws over the 
holidays, you might have the government to thank.  
     Even corrected, this sentence sucks.


Who he?      

When he defaulted on the loans, he then lied to a Small Business Administration investigator, who was looking into the default since the SBA insured the loans, and said he made far less money then he was actually earning through his consulting company so he could settle the debt for less than he owed.