Why does flammable and inflammable mean the same thing?

In response to last week's question, “Why does flammable and inflammable mean the same thing? ”, my neighbor Al knows that it is “Because we stole everyone else’s language, as in “bow in bow tie and bow of a ship” etc. It gives lawyers something to argue about.”

Instead of stealing, my engineering and rafting friend Steve thought “Because someone was ‘burning one’ when they made up the words.”

My friend Richard recalled the late, great George Carlin asking, "Why do we have 'flammable,' 'inflammable,' and 'noninflammable'? Either it flamms or it doesn't!"

Richard added that both words are adjectives that mean the same thing. In common use, however, when something is "flammable," this means it can be easily set on fire. When something is "inflammable," this is taken to mean that it is self-combustible (i.e., can catch fire without an external heat source). A good example of inflammable is any vehicle manufactured by Ford, which invented the spontaneous (as opposed to "internal") combustion engine. (NOTE: Of the 7 or 8 vehicles I know of that caught fire, all but one were Fords.)”

My friend Tracey, touting her degree in English, explained “Because flammable means able to set on fire. Inflammable means able to inflame. In this instance, 'in' does not mean not.” My sailing buddy Scott added, “for clarity's sake it is advisable to use only flammable to give warnings.” (see post-script for more info) Yet my dad’s beach buddy Bob writes, “Not really. One burns from the outside and the other from the inside.”

My sailing and writing buddy Rich wrote, “These two words are perfect example of things being made more difficult than need be. In these cases I choose to blame the French.

My college roomie John summed this up by saying, “Either way, if you have to think about it, you might bet burned.”
Please share your thoughts about "things that make you go 'Hmmm' ":

Are there any prefixes for prefix? from my son Zak

Live well...laugh often..be happy and have a good week…

If Darwin is right, why are so many unevolved humans still around?

In response to last week's question, “If Darwin is right, why are so many unevolved humans still around?”, my observant neighbor Dick noted, “because the NFL needs linemen.” My neighbor Al wrote, “We don’t eat our young, and there is no open season for stupid people are two reasons.” And my running friend Tony teased, “Because genetics doesn't have a conscience but does have a sense of humor!”

My optimistic quality mgmt friend Marya explained that “Earth would just not be as much fun if everyone was EVOLVED. Besides, it's so much fun to argue Darwin with the most religiously conservatives of the world (G-d went click and everything was here......fossils are the devil's handy work you know)!

My sailing friend Scott asked, “Should I take that as a personal slight?”

My friend Richard noted, “Someone has to qualify for employment in the mortgage business.”

“Evolution, by definition, is a never-ending process,” wrote my birthday bud Jon. “Even the most evolved are still evolving.” My college roomie added, “it may take a few generations for slower humans to evolve.” To this, my friend Marlene noted “All of us have evolved, but not necessarily from the same backgrounds. Look around you on a train or bus or even at a convention and you have to wonder from whence some of the humans came.” “We’re all a work in progress, added my “Dialog in the Dark” buddy Tracey.

My technology friend Steve wrote, “Because the politicians make laws to keep them safe so they can live and breed and keep them in office.” My movie-loving friend Alan added, “Who would run for office? aka where we would we get politicians from?” It’s so self-perpetuating, that my dad’s beach buddy Bob noted, “They are now in the White House .”

And my starboard-heeling sailing friend Kurt wrote, “Approximately 50% of humans evolved to the point at which Compulsive Compassion Disorder set in. This causes them to protect and preserve the weaker links. We call that 50% Liberals.” (Remember, this is all in fun.)

Please share your thoughts about "things that make you go 'Hmmm' ":

Why does flammable and inflammable mean the same thing?

Live well...laugh often..be happy and have a good week…

Is it insulting to tuna that there's a chicken-of-the-sea, but no tuna-of-the-land?

In response to last week's question, “Is it insulting to tuna that there's a chicken-of-the-sea, but no tuna-of-the-land?”, my engineering friend Blair thought, “No. It’s like when you call ‘MIT, the Georgia Tech of the North.’ What a compliment!”

My neighbor Al realized that “tuna that haven’t been caught don’t know about Chicken of the Sea. Only the ones that have made it to land might be.” To this, my friend Tracey wrote, “I think the more pressing question is whether fish get insulted.”

My friend Patty understands that “Tunas are thick skinned (pun?) and pretty laid back. It’s doubtful they really care about marketing tag lines. Chickens, on the hand, love marketing but would surely balk at “tuna of the land”. While my birthday bud Jon wrote, “Chickens don't understand the whole concept,” my cousin Wes added, “Chickens think it’s a compliment when we say ‘it tastes like chicken’.”

“The Tuna-of-the-Land is called Congressman Charles B. Rangel (D-NY)” wrote my dad’s beach buddy Bob. Ouch. My friend Stephanie wrote, “All fish are now known as ‘sea kittens,’ thanks to PETA, who is singlehandedly trying to save sea kittens from hungry kitten-loving children.”

My sports-fan friend Richard knew, “There is a "tuna of the land": Bill Parcells, the former Giants/Patriots/Jets/Cowboys coach. His nickname is "Tuna." Not really germane: there was an album by R.E.O. Speedwagon titled "You Can Tune a Piano, But You Can't Tuna Fish."

Please share your thoughts about "things that make you go 'Hmmm' ":

If Darwin* is right, why are so many unevolved humans still around?

Live well...laugh often..be happy and have a good week…

Hal

*Happy notes: Charles Darwin's 200th Birthday is Thu, Feb 12, 2009 – the exact day that Abraham Lincoln was born. It will also be the 150th Anniversary of the publication of Darwin’s famous book, On The Origin of Species.

How does the guy who drives the snowplow get to work in the mornings?

In response to last week's question, “How does the guy who drives the snowplow get to work in the mornings?”, my neighbor Stan responded, “being a Georgia resident for 50+ years, what is a snow plow?”

For those exposed to the season elements of the North, my neighbor Al wrote, “Well since I used to drive a snow plow in Buffalo, NY …… I’m sworn to secrecy.”

My road-designing civil engineer friend Bob suggested “He must park the plow at home, eh?” The skipper of the Melges 24 I race with, Tony, confirmed this, “Having lived in Canada I know this one! He takes the plow home at night.” But playing the role of the suburban homeowner, my friend Lisa wrote, “I expect this would be in violation of most neighborhood association covenants. Hope he doesn't have to spend the night!!”

My sailing friend Scott and friend Bill both knew, that “like my parents did growing up, he walks. In waist deep snow. Uphill. Both ways.” My writing friend Kathleen added, “he walks miles across a mountain through three foot snows" like my grandparents did to get to school (although they were from Ireland where it rarely ever snows and really has no mountains.) So maybe Scottie beams him in.”

My friend Richard noted, “He walks a mile in someone else's snowshoes.”
My running partner’s husband Ted wrote, “Having lived in Buffalo NY for 10 years, I have seen this many times. There are numerous methods- Snow Shoeing, Dog Sledding, Tobogganing, Xcountry Skiing, Snowmobiling, and of course my favorite--a yellow Piper Cub on skis!”

My birthday bud Adam and running buddy Tony noted “snow mobile,” which my college roomie John reminded me that “in Alaska, it’s a snow machine - I believe that is what Ms Palin called them.” My friend Tracey responded, “On his Zamboni. Duh!” Adam added, “Snowshoe or skiing? Haven't you noticed how "fit" the drivers usually are from 12oz curls!?

My up-the-hill Colorado cousin Wes wrote “Actually they get called into work before it starts to snow.” That’s not as much fun, though.

Please share your thoughts about "things that make you go 'Hmmm' ":

Is it insulting to tuna that there's a chicken-of-the-sea,
but no tuna-of-the-land? from Tracey & Kevin’s son Jacob

Live well...laugh often..be happy and have a good week…

Hal

Happy notes: Happy Groundhog Day and remember Fri, Feb 6 is Bob Marley’s birthday.