Brad Collins » General

Around “To Where”

Brad — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 20:56:58 +0000

When did “around” replace “regarding” or “with respect to”? And when did “to where” replace “so that” or “in order to”? Examples: “Remind me what you were saying around the quarterly report.” “There’s no forest so big to where they … Continue reading →

I Never Dreamt Of Such A White Christmas

Brad — Sat, 25 Dec 2010 15:14:30 +0000

I have lived all 35 of my years in Limestone County/Athens, Alabama. I never remember having snow on Christmas. The most we hope for around here is a wet Christmas, but never a white Christmas. Really, for most of us around here, “just like the ones I used to know,” is simply a bald-faced lie.

Well in outright protest against history, we awoke this morning to this:

Early morning snowfall

Snow-covered well

White Christmas on the front porch

Snowy swing set

We Southerners hardly know what to do with ourselves.

(Update: Evidently I have forgotten that we had snow on Christmas in 1989. Nevertheless, it was nothing like this.)

I Still Do

Brad — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 13:04:24 +0000

A decade ago this evening at about ten minutes after seven o’clock, I said, “I will.”

I still do.

Luv you, Dearest.

Obligation

Brad — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 16:13:01 +0000

My inconsistency has no bearing on your obligation.

Arden, Hannah, Whatever

Brad — Tue, 26 May 2009 12:00:23 +0000

Our two-year-old has finally begun to talk and build a vocabulary. Folks who know about this kind of thing tell me that the American English R is one of the most difficult sounds for kids to learn to enunciate.

As you can imagine then, Whitby has a difficult time pronouncing his older sister’s name, Arden. So he pronounces it “Hannah.” A natural and logical approximation, I’m sure you’ll agree.

A Good Thing

Brad — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 20:44:10 +0000

He who finds a wife finds a good thing, And obtains favor from the Lord. —Proverbs 18:22 (NKJV)

Hmm. Never says that about husbands. Coincidence?

Good Night

Brad — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 02:25:59 +0000

You have, for the last time, heard him say, with that trademark crack of a chuckle in his voice, “Paul Harvey … Good day!”

Good night, Mr. Harvey.

What Is …

Brad — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 02:38:55 +0000

It’s just hilarious to me what other people search on, and the suggestion technology at search engines like Google and Ask provide a glimpse of that—a small window into the average netizen’s mind—as well as some light entertainment:

Suggestions at Ask.com for "what is"

Madoff With(out) The Cash

Brad — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 18:27:40 +0000

Am I the only one who finds it humorous that the guy who ran a 25-year, $50 billion Ponzi scheme pronounces his last name “made off?”

Best Family Ever

Brad — Sat, 31 May 2008 02:45:40 +0000

My condolences go out to all of our competitors. I’m sure there were several in the running, but I’m afraid the contest is closed. In fact, I didn’t even know there was a contest until my three-year-old daughter proclaimed to my wife and me, “We’re the best family ever!”

I’d like to thank the Academy, Mom & Dad, my wife, …