Greetings,

If you've been getting a bit edgy, watching the Olympics, and seeing all those Aussie faces this past week ... fear no more. The swimming is just about finished and athletics are starting ... (oh dear, did I really say that?)

Regardless of who's winning, you certainly have to admire the event itself. It's been a mammoth production in anyone's language, hasn't it?

Our little Peninsula is feeling very chuffed - Leisel Jones, Tarnee White  and Geoff Huegill are all from here and all even went to the same school (can you imagine what that's going to do for enrolments!) Geoff's dad died from a heart attack about ten years ago and he went to live with Ken Wood and his family, (Ken is the coach who has had such amazing result with these kids) so it's lovely to know that they're all being rewarded like this.

I've been gnashing my teeth with many of the commentators, though, and have lost count of the number of times I've heard one say something like, "...he's bought a great deal of polish to his performance ..." Now, unless this unfortunate competitor has been to the shop to buy some beeswax, what he has done, is brought some polish to his performance (come to think of it, that sounds just as silly).

It's really very easy to remember which word to use: if you buy something, then you've paid your money and bought it - lock, stock and barrel.

If you tell friends you're going to bring something to the party, then you had better make sure you've brought it with you. 

Just remember the two R's go together - bring and brought.

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This week's quiz: 

Eliminate the wrong word:

1. Remember that it takes two to tangle / tango.

2. Each speaker stood at the podium / lectern to deliver a speech.

3. Send that parcel priority-paid to extradite / expedite it.

4. The song always illicits / elicits images of Christmas for me.

5. His company has taken the same tact / tack.

6. A questionnaire on the perspective / prospective candidates' views on tax would help.

7. He introduced evidence to refute / rebut the opposition's case.

8. he always seems to hone / home in on the relevant details.

9. We watched helplessly as the ship floundered / foundered.

10.Our teacher wanted to appraise / apprise us of the situation before the exam.

What's in  a name?

Scott and Peter had applied for jobs at a large company and had
to take an intelligence test.    They each found the test a breeze,
except that they admitted to being momentarily stumped by the
final question: "Name a 14 letter word for someone in charge
of a plant."  

"How did you answer that last one?" asked Scott. "I was a bit
puzzled at first, but then I thought of Superintendent."

"I think I got it right too," said Pete, "but I wrote down
Horticulturist."

Thanks to LaVonne for this little object lesson in definitions!

And to Leo for this:

"Just to establish some parameters," said the professor, "Mr. Nichols, what is the opposite of joy?"

"Sadness," said the student.

"And the opposite of depression, Ms. Biggs?"

"Elation."

"And you sir, how about the opposite of woe?"

"I believe that would be giddy up."

Last week’s quiz:

Pair each of these words with a synonym (similar meaning) in the list below:

sanctuary, equivalent, repudiate, meticulous, conditional, scandalous, repression, potential, redemption, solemn

1. over-scrupulous - METICULOUS

2. latent- POTENTIAL

3. awesome - SOLEMN

4. refuge - SANCTUARY

5. restraint - REPRESSION

6. salvation - REDEMPTION

7. shameful - SCANDALOUS

8. renounce - REPUDIATE

9. contingent - CONDITIONAL

10.tantamount - EQUIVALENT

Since the Olympics are still flavour of the month, here are some of the classic questions that were asked of the Sydney Olympic Committee via their Web site, and answers supplied where appropriate.

Q: Will I be able to see kangaroos in the street? (USA)
A: Depends on how much beer you've consumed...

Q: It is imperative that I find the names and addresses of places to contact for a stuffed porpoise. (Italy)
A: I'm not touching this one...

Q: Are there any ATMs in Australia? Can you send me a list of them in Brisbane, Cairns, Townsville and Hervey Bay? (UK)

Q: Where can I learn underwater welding in Australia? (Portugal)

Q: Do the camels in Australia have one hump or two? (UK)

Q: Can I wear high heels in Australia? (UK)
A: This HAS to have been asked by a blonde...

Q: Can you tell me the regions in Tasmania where the female population is smaller than the male population? (Italy)
A: Yes. Gay nightclubs.

Q: Do you celebrate Christmas in Australia? (France)
A: Yes. At Christmas.

Q: Can I drive to the Great Barrier Reef? (Germany)
A: Sure, if your vehicle is amphibious.

Q: Can you give me some information about hippo racing in Australia? (USA)
A: What's this guy smoking, and where do I get some?

Q: Are there supermarkets in Sydney and is milk available all year round? (Germany)
A: Another blonde?

Q: Please send a list of all doctors in Australia who can dispense rattlesnake serum. (USA)
A: I love this one...there are no rattlesnakes in Australia.

Q: Which direction is North in Australia? (USA)
A: Face North and you should be about right.

Q: Can you send me the Vienna Boys' Choir schedule? (USA)
A: Americans have long had considerable trouble distinguishing between Austria and Australia.

Q: Are there places in Australia where you can make love outdoors? (Italy)
A: Yes. Outdoors.

Chuckle ... the nice thing is that everyone is so-o-o interested!

~ * ~

Word of the week: Limophoitos n. Insanity brought on by lack of food. A condition occurring in older teenages after about ten o'clock at night, causing them to do strange things after the rest of the family have gone to bed, such as eating eight slices of cheese on toast while watching rap videos.

Tautology of the week: Commentator, giving away the team game-plan: "If they can get their swimmers into the lead and keep them there, they should win!"

A Latin phrase to call out while you're watching the tennis (or any ball games really):

Paulo praeter regionem est! (It's just out!)

Regards,

Jennifer

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