It's MAILBAG MONDAY!!

This is a compilation of several emails I have received:

Dear Ann,

You tend to use words that I do not know the meaning of in your writing and speech.  What good is your commentary if I can't understand what you are saying?  I suspect you are just using big words to show off.

Signed,
More Than One Guy

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Dear MTOG-

You are right - I do have a rather sizeable vocabulary, and am not afriad to use it.  I acquired my vocabulary, and continue to acquire new words and phrases, from reading.  I was taught long ago that there is no such thing as two words with exactly the same meaning - in other words, there are no true "synonyms".  Every single word in the English language has a unique meaning.  Therefore, when we speak or write and translate our thoughts and feelings into words, there is only ever ONE word that conveys the EXACT meaning we are trying to make.  Because I have a relatively large vocabulary, I can pin down EXACTLY what it is that I am trying to say most of the time.  I like having that ability.  I'm a big believer in the notion that a person should say what they mean, and mean what they say.

Here is my advice: If you come across a word or phrase that I have used that you are unfamiliar with, your best bet is the website www.Dictionary.com .  I use www.Dictionary.com almost every day to check definitions and spellings of words.  So, instead of me watering down my prose, why don't you take the opportunity to enrich yours? 

To any youngsters who may be reading, or to the parents of youngsters, let me dispell a horrible untruth that is rampant on college campuses.  SPELLING AND GRAMMAR DO COUNT.  I think that spelling and grammar should be graded in every class, in every subject.  To not do so is cheating the student.  People judge you by your writing, like it or not.  Illiteracy is not becoming.  I can tell you stories about receiving emails from one of the BIGGEST names in the cattle business years ago - and instantly losing all respect for the man because his spelling was so bad as to render his emails almost completely incomprehensible.

My brother can tell a story about a kid he was in college with at K-State.  This kid was an Animal Science major and was wrapping up his degree.  He had completed the entire course load in animal slaughter, and was highly skilled in the abattoir.  He drafted his resume and sent it out to an array of firms.  My brother happened to see his resume while visiting in the commons room and asked to look at it.  To my brother's horror, the word "carcass" was spelled "CARCUS" throughout the resume.  My brother desperately asked if the resumes had been sent out yet - and the kid replied that they had.

So, there you go.  A little off-topic, but an important idea, especially for young people.

And finally, am I "showing off" when I flex my vocabulary?  Honestly, yes.  I willfully choose to use flowery language whenever appropriate.  I reckon I wouldn't have thousands of people per day reading my various blog postings if my writing was vapid and insipid.  You can look up "vapid" and "insipid" at www.dictionary.com , and then use them in a sentence this week!  I'm sure you'll get a chance!

Forecasters are killing the North American Cattle Industry.
"Global warming" is a complete fraud designed to advance the cause of socialism and enslave humanity.
Abortion is the murder of an innocent human being and is never justified under any circumstance whatsoever.
Every human being is a question, to which the ONLY answer is Jesus Christ.