Sunday, March 25, 2007

discoveries

While searching for goofy images to convert into a smallish sidebar ad for my book (something you, Dear Reader, might consider sticking on your blog if you feel so inclined), I stumbled upon a page by Vladimir Tikhonov, whose interests seem, in some ways, to parallel my own. In terms of religious studies, I mean-- not scatology. I'll be slapping a text link to his site on my sidebar.

Also of interest is this essay I found. It's by a self-described Mexican Catholic attending the University of Alberta. The essay relates his experience at a four-day Buddhist prayer retreat on Cheju Island.

Another discovery along the way: Bob the Angry Flower explains "its" versus "it's." Thank God someone tackled this.


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4 comments:

  1. Thanks, Bob the Angry Flower! I see the cute "ess" on that little bit just a lot more clearly now.

    I still have a question for "Bob's Quick Guide," though. Is "Bob's" a possessive or a contraction?

    I hope that this isn't a really stupid question. I guess that its a risk, but every risk presents us with it's opportunity.

    Jeffery Hodges

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  2. On the essay on the meditation: the kneeling position he describes was used as a punishment in the Ghanaian school in which I taught while in the Peace Corps. I don't think even the headmaster, who had no qualms about handing out punishments (caning was another common punishment, and he caned students on a regular basis) ever made anyone kneel for more than an hour. So, reading the essay, I was right there with his mind, thinking "Why would you put yourself through that?" He has more guts than I would even aspire to.

    On its vs. it's: Shucks. I know the usage; I was hoping for an explanation of the reason for the usage, a rationale. Or at least an explanation of the origins of the convention. Given that "its" as the possessive violates the normal rule for singular possessives.

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  3. Singular possessive pronouns don't use an apostrophe with the ess. Think of "his" or "hers."

    But now, you've got me wondering about the history of the apostrophe.

    Jeffery Hodges

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  4. I've found some material on the apostrophe and have blogged on it today.

    Jeffery Hodges

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    ReplyDelete

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