brainiac wrote:
... people speak not in words which they mean, but instead in a series of figures of speech or clichés (e.g. the execrable 'worst case scenario').

Interesting how subjective some of these things are.

I have no problem with the "WCS" phrase, because to me it clearly states that what is about to be described is a worst-that-could-happen version of a given situation, ...and not one of a presumable number of other possibilities.

I.e., we buy fire-insurance to cover a "WC" scenario/situation, rather than an ordinary or "BC" one. ;-)

I can understand buying insurance, lest the worst befall you. You might even call that the 'worst case'; but scenario's are for theatre directors, and the phrase uses four extra syllables just to repeat, nearly, the meaning of 'case'. The worst 'outcome' or 'event' costs only two syllables and is clearer. Overuse of 'scenario' is an example of the desperate search for the longest way to say something simple, in order to sound more plausible when lying, or less illiterate. A poverty of ideas, and of the vocabulary to express them, is indicated by this extended verbal vomiting. Good communicators are succinct, and that means efficiency in words, syllables, and meaning.

Sorry to be ranting so far off-topic. That's my last grammar grumble.

brainiac wrote:
...an example of the desperate search for the longest way to say something simple, in order to sound more plausible when lying, or less illiterate.

Sorry to be ranting so far off-topic. That's my last grammar grumble.

Aw c'mon, ...surely you aren't going to ease off now? ( Oops, I mean "at this point in time". :-)

Don't give up, ... at this point in (post-20th)time, in contrast to the recent near-decade, there is at least the POTENTIAL for some trickle-down literacy.

brainiac wrote:
I can understand buying insurance, lest the worst befall you. You might even call that the 'worst case'; but scenario's are for theatre directors, and the phrase uses four extra syllables just to repeat, nearly, the meaning of 'case'. The worst 'outcome' or 'event' costs only two syllables and is clearer. Overuse of 'scenario' is an example of the desperate search for the longest way to say something simple, in order to sound more plausible when lying, or less illiterate. A poverty of ideas, and of the vocabulary to express them, is indicated by this extended verbal vomiting. Good communicators are succinct, and that means efficiency in words, syllables, and meaning.

Sorry to be ranting so far off-topic. That's my last grammar grumble.

bah

might i suggest a reading of constance hale's "sin and syntax," which shows us that english grammar is a world in flux, and that school-marm adherence to rules might bind down your creativity. (not that there aren't patent mistakes to be made in english... like periods at the end of interrogative sentences.)

edit: patent mistake made in spelling

abam wrote:
might i suggest a reading of constance hale's "sin and syntax," which shows us that english grammar is a world in flux, and that school-marm adherence to rules might bind down your creativity. (not that there aren't patent mistakes to be made in english... like periods at the end of interrogative sentences.)

edit: patent mistake made in spelling

Should we, or should we not add complete indifference to capitalization to this 2-example beginning of a "patent mistake" list?

Assuming a right to an individual opinion, I opine that creativity, if/when it intereferes with sensible communication of meaning, is counter-productive to the basic function of language.

I'm guessing that "school marm"-ism suggests "blind" or thoughtless and rigid rule-following, so I agree that that is undesirable, ...but to generally(!) follow rules arrived at by a consensus understanding of how best to "say something", in order that the intended audience will be
enlightened, rather than confused, seems wise.

I also feel strongly that extra credit should be given for increased sentence-length.

Succinctness? Succinctness? We don' need no stupid succinctness! :-)

If a thing is NOT simple, and an attempt is made to express it simply, what has been expressed is a different (or incomplete) thing.

Are there other-than-English contemporary grammars that are not "in flux"?

IAC, if someone comes up with a new way to say something, with an easily discernable meaning, ...I'm down with that! ;-)

[Over and out. The OT guilt is becoming unbearable.]

Ok, I've searched around and didn't find much, so does anyone know why the 5d mark ll is STILL back ordered??

TomTSP wrote:
Ok, I've searched around and didn't find much, so does anyone know why the 5d mark ll is STILL back ordered??

Not sure if this is what you're getting at ...
http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/747864

By the way, regarding the shutter noise, Here are my two videos, where I show the shutter sound:

1st - is regular shooting. It makes some Buzz, but it is beraly noticeable behind the mirror slaps: http://www.flickr.com/photos/arsenitim/3532242558/ (on YT: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2YeQlFhyec)
2nd - This is Live View with silent mode 2 enabled. I release the shutter btn after ~1sec. after the shutter click. In this example the bu is better noticeable, being seperated from mirror flaps and shutter click: http://www.flickr.com/photos/arsenitim/3531430561/ (on YT: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXNhJaV8ZhA)

Still not sure if I need to take the camera to canon service (it is quite far from me so I have to be sure it is worth it)

Assuming a right to an individual opinion, I opine that creativity, if/when it intereferes with sensible communication of meaning, is counter-productive to the basic function of language.

Indeed. A speaker who doesn't care whether I understand him is not saying anything I care to understand.

that was clever. wash it down with some wittgenstein-flavoured chomsky.

Isn't this thread kinda old ?

kewlcanon wrote:
Isn't this thread kinda old ?

Yes, this is why we like it. You can always learn from history

Fred Relaix wrote:
kewlcanon wrote:
Isn't this thread kinda old ?

Yes, this is why we like it. You can always learn from history


History shows that people don't learn from it.

alundeb wrote:
History shows that people don't learn from it.

Did you say this? It's a great quote. Can I borrow it? I think it's funnier as "history teaches us that people don't learn from it".

brainiac wrote:
alundeb wrote:
History shows that people don't learn from it.

Did you say this? It's a great quote. Can I borrow it? I think it's funnier as "history teaches us that people don't learn from it".

The credit usually goes to Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel for that quote, but he won't claim his rights anymore. Your version is even better than his

I just bought the 5D mark II. I am shooting with a 50mm 1.4 USM. When I attach the lens and look through the viewfinder, I can't see the entire viewfinder because there is a dark ring that surrounds its edges. It does not affect my pictures, but I am worried that something might be wrong. Right now I don't have another lens to test it with. Has anyone else experienced this or can anyone explain what is going on here? Thank you so much!

Ryan, you might want to post your own new thread on the canon forum, not here in the 5D2 master thread. You'll find your answer more easily that way.

Adam

thanks adam. sorry about that.

Do you have a filter and a hood on the 50mm? It may pick up part of the hood in the viewfinder.