Don’t you hate when people say that word wrong? Well, I do. And you should too. I spelled it wrong just so that, if you are one of those people, you'd see how silly it looks. Sound it out, people.
Well, I am officially unemployed again. May 30 was my last Sunday at this church. I’ve had a great time, but I’m ready to go back to being an extremely un-famous musician with a “how will my bills get paid this month” life.
Many of you have been asking about the Rudy’s jingle. All I can tell you is that I’ve turned it in and it’s been approved. I really don’t know when it will be online and/or on the radio and/or on TV. But you can be that I’ll post updates here about it. I ain’t shy about such things.
In the meantime, I’ve got lots going on. Here’s a list of the stuff coming up soon.
June 14-17: I’m doing a children’s camp for this church.
June 18: I’m doing a concert for this church in Houston on that Friday evening. My pal Johnny Simmons will join me on percussion.
June 20-25: I’m going to Nashville for various co-writing sessions with writers out there.
July 4: I’m leading worship for this church in Arlington, TX.
July 12-16: I’ll begin recording/producing a record for these super-talented people.
July 17: I’ll be doing a benefit concert in Houston with this guy. More info here.
July 25: I’ll be leading worship for this church in San Antonio.
So, let me know if you want more info on any of the concert/worship dates, and pray for me as I write in Nashville. As many of you know, I would really love to be more of a “songwriter” by trade. I’ve already been blessed that a significant chunk of my income is from my writing, but I’d really love to have that be my “main deal,” so that I could travel only a little. I still love leading worship and doing house concerts and such, but I don’t like leaving my hot wife and my awesome kids at home, and we can’t afford a tour bus.
One last thing: I’d like to book some house concerts around the DFW and San Antonio dates listed above. I’ll post something specific about this later in the week, but if you’re interested in hosting a DFW or SA show in July, please let me know.
That’s all for now.
Showing posts with label why don't people know how to talk?. Show all posts
Showing posts with label why don't people know how to talk?. Show all posts
Monday, June 7, 2010
Monday, July 14, 2008
Despite my noble and heartfelt efforts...
...people still don't know how to talk.
It started innocently enough, with a well-intentioned -- but cluttered and somewhat confusing -- little phrase that many of us seemed forced to utter from time to time:
"What it is, is..."
I understand. Really, I do. They're wanting to know what it is, and we want them to know that we hear them asking what it is, and we really want to tell them what it is. So it just seems necessary to say "is" twice, right there in a row like that. It's a conundrum, I agree. No hard feelings. Let's move on. No need to dwell on the past.
But then something happened. We apparently got really used to saying "is" twice in a row like that. We started thinking that every time we said "is," once wasn't enough. It seemed to us, in our moronic, linguistically-challenged ignorance, that "is" was no longer a strong enough word to merely utter once. If we want to tell people what something is, we have to say "is, is."
And so we find ourselves here:
"But the reality is, is that..."
People, listen to me. This is stupid. Stop. Public speakers, preachers, especially. You're the main culprits here. Pace yourselves. Don't throw out unnecessary is's. I know you're always wanting to tell us what the reality is. I appreciate that. This is your bread-and-butter. First you tell us how crazy and dumb some widely held belief is (and we all try to pretend that none of us hold to that crazy-dumb belief, even though we so do). Then you tell us What the Reality Is. This is your big moment.
"But the reality is..." Cue dramatic music, every head bowed, blah blah blah.
But you get so excited, and you forget something; something very simple: The reality simply is. The reality isn't is is.
I think this might be Clinton's fault. I mean, W butchers some serious words, but it was Slick Willie who first called into question the meaning of "is." I mean, who could blame the poor man, at a time like that, all caught with his pants down and such.
But hey, however we got there, I don't care. I'm not here to dwell on the past. I'm not concerned with was. I'm concerned with is.
The reality is that people don't know how to talk. But don't worry. I'm here to help.
Also, I write songs too as well.
It started innocently enough, with a well-intentioned -- but cluttered and somewhat confusing -- little phrase that many of us seemed forced to utter from time to time:
"What it is, is..."
I understand. Really, I do. They're wanting to know what it is, and we want them to know that we hear them asking what it is, and we really want to tell them what it is. So it just seems necessary to say "is" twice, right there in a row like that. It's a conundrum, I agree. No hard feelings. Let's move on. No need to dwell on the past.
But then something happened. We apparently got really used to saying "is" twice in a row like that. We started thinking that every time we said "is," once wasn't enough. It seemed to us, in our moronic, linguistically-challenged ignorance, that "is" was no longer a strong enough word to merely utter once. If we want to tell people what something is, we have to say "is, is."
And so we find ourselves here:
"But the reality is, is that..."
People, listen to me. This is stupid. Stop. Public speakers, preachers, especially. You're the main culprits here. Pace yourselves. Don't throw out unnecessary is's. I know you're always wanting to tell us what the reality is. I appreciate that. This is your bread-and-butter. First you tell us how crazy and dumb some widely held belief is (and we all try to pretend that none of us hold to that crazy-dumb belief, even though we so do). Then you tell us What the Reality Is. This is your big moment.
"But the reality is..." Cue dramatic music, every head bowed, blah blah blah.
But you get so excited, and you forget something; something very simple: The reality simply is. The reality isn't is is.
I think this might be Clinton's fault. I mean, W butchers some serious words, but it was Slick Willie who first called into question the meaning of "is." I mean, who could blame the poor man, at a time like that, all caught with his pants down and such.
But hey, however we got there, I don't care. I'm not here to dwell on the past. I'm not concerned with was. I'm concerned with is.
The reality is that people don't know how to talk. But don't worry. I'm here to help.
Also, I write songs too as well.
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Again, I Ask, Why Don't People Know How to Talk?
It’s time for another edition of “Why Don’t People Know How to Talk?”, which is just one of the many services provided, at no charge, by the generous and philanthropic staff at Ross King World Tour. We do this because we care.
We also do this because people don’t know how to talk, and that really chaps us.
Today’s word is “regardless.” That’s the word: regardless. It sort of means “either way,” or “no matter what.” You can go here to get the real definition. We don’t do that kind of thing here at the Ross King World Tour Office. We just do things like planning World Tours and discussing the destructive ramifications of a nation full of people who don’t know how to talk. What have you.
Anyway, the word is “regardless.” That’s the word.
Regardless.
Not “irregardless.”
“Irregardless,” if one were to say it in a sentence, would mean “not-regardless,” which really doesn’t make any sense. I suppose “regarding” is the closest thing to an actual word that works if you’re looking to say “not-regardless.” But most people use “irregardless” to mean “regardless.” See, that’s a problem. Because you’re using two words that should, by their composition, be opposites, and making them synonyms. It’s like saying, “I was trying to speak properly, but I realized that I non-couldn’t because I’m so not-un-brainless.”
If you ever actually said that sentence, you should most certainly follow it with something like “Boo-ya!” or “I just blew your mind.” That way everyone would think you were really a carefree, unhinged genius, and not a not-non-moron.
Now, if you do in fact use the word “irregardless” to intentionally mean “regarding,” then go ahead and keep doing it (even though you’re wasting a syllable and mucking up what could be a decent, God-pleasing sentence). But otherwise, stop. You’re embarrassing yourself and those around you.
Oh, and just in case some of you are wondering how this grammatical abomination entered our culture, here’s my theory.
Irrespective. That’s a word that basically means “regardless.” See how close it is to “irregardess”? That “irre” is really the kicker. But honestly, I’ve heard the word “irrespective” used maybe a half dozen times in my whole life, and all those times it was used by people who are so smart that they probably never talk to people who would say “irregardless,” because their huge brains would melt from the sheer pinheaded audacity of hearing it. These are two groups of people who simply do not socialize with one another. So I don’t know how the confusion happened. It really amazes me that folks are even allowing the two words to get mixed up. Maybe they met at the Super Bowl Half Time Show. Those shows always have weird combinations of people. It’s always like “The Keebler Fudge Fritter Super Bowl Half-Time Show Presents Limp Bizkit, Clay Aiken, and Bono, performing ‘I Shot the Sheriff,’ accompanied by the Ugandan Children’s Choir.” It’s always eccentric and surprising. And lame. So maybe words are meeting there as well, getting thrown together on grammatical blind dates, having one night stands and producing bi-polar verbal offspring.
That would make “irregardless” the unplanned love-child of Irrespective and Regardless.
It’s just a theory.
Oh, and I realize I’m mixing metaphors. All the bad communication of the world is making me loopy and incoherent.
Anyway, that’s it. Regardless. It means “either way.” Irregardless. It means “please punch me in the larynx really hard.” Hopefully that’s not too confusing.
Go into the world, now, young Jedi, and speak properly. If you don’t, you run the risk of looking like an ignoramus, regardless of your actual intelligence.
You’re welcome.
We also do this because people don’t know how to talk, and that really chaps us.
Today’s word is “regardless.” That’s the word: regardless. It sort of means “either way,” or “no matter what.” You can go here to get the real definition. We don’t do that kind of thing here at the Ross King World Tour Office. We just do things like planning World Tours and discussing the destructive ramifications of a nation full of people who don’t know how to talk. What have you.
Anyway, the word is “regardless.” That’s the word.
Regardless.
Not “irregardless.”
“Irregardless,” if one were to say it in a sentence, would mean “not-regardless,” which really doesn’t make any sense. I suppose “regarding” is the closest thing to an actual word that works if you’re looking to say “not-regardless.” But most people use “irregardless” to mean “regardless.” See, that’s a problem. Because you’re using two words that should, by their composition, be opposites, and making them synonyms. It’s like saying, “I was trying to speak properly, but I realized that I non-couldn’t because I’m so not-un-brainless.”
If you ever actually said that sentence, you should most certainly follow it with something like “Boo-ya!” or “I just blew your mind.” That way everyone would think you were really a carefree, unhinged genius, and not a not-non-moron.
Now, if you do in fact use the word “irregardless” to intentionally mean “regarding,” then go ahead and keep doing it (even though you’re wasting a syllable and mucking up what could be a decent, God-pleasing sentence). But otherwise, stop. You’re embarrassing yourself and those around you.
Oh, and just in case some of you are wondering how this grammatical abomination entered our culture, here’s my theory.
Irrespective. That’s a word that basically means “regardless.” See how close it is to “irregardess”? That “irre” is really the kicker. But honestly, I’ve heard the word “irrespective” used maybe a half dozen times in my whole life, and all those times it was used by people who are so smart that they probably never talk to people who would say “irregardless,” because their huge brains would melt from the sheer pinheaded audacity of hearing it. These are two groups of people who simply do not socialize with one another. So I don’t know how the confusion happened. It really amazes me that folks are even allowing the two words to get mixed up. Maybe they met at the Super Bowl Half Time Show. Those shows always have weird combinations of people. It’s always like “The Keebler Fudge Fritter Super Bowl Half-Time Show Presents Limp Bizkit, Clay Aiken, and Bono, performing ‘I Shot the Sheriff,’ accompanied by the Ugandan Children’s Choir.” It’s always eccentric and surprising. And lame. So maybe words are meeting there as well, getting thrown together on grammatical blind dates, having one night stands and producing bi-polar verbal offspring.
That would make “irregardless” the unplanned love-child of Irrespective and Regardless.
It’s just a theory.
Oh, and I realize I’m mixing metaphors. All the bad communication of the world is making me loopy and incoherent.
Anyway, that’s it. Regardless. It means “either way.” Irregardless. It means “please punch me in the larynx really hard.” Hopefully that’s not too confusing.
Go into the world, now, young Jedi, and speak properly. If you don’t, you run the risk of looking like an ignoramus, regardless of your actual intelligence.
You’re welcome.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Question: How many times can one man rock the same town?
Answer: At least three. but probably a lot more when you consider that I only rock that town one semi-filled living room at a time.
Had a great show Friday in San Antonio. My third stop in SA on the still-going-strong Su Casa es Mi Casa tour. Big thanks to Tom and Heidi Duke, the hosts of the evening; and to Lauri Hahn, the hardest-working-woman-who-isn't-in-show-biz-but-sort-of-pretends-that-she-is, for coordinating and planning it.
My pal James Burdine, of the ridiculously talented Burdine family (you'll remember his brother from past shows and past CD's) accompanied me for the trip, rocking the percussion. James is a great musician/songwriter in his own right, and one of the coolest people on earth. Not to mention he's one of the few people I know who never judges me for having an encyclopedic knowledge of the Marvel Universe. If you don't know what I'm talking about, just let it go.
The show was a blast. It was pretty small -- maybe 15-20 people -- but we had a really amazing time, and I somehow walked away with more money than I usually do at gigs 20 times that size. It's really crazy how God keeps putting generous, giving people in my path. Long story there.
So that's that. I've got another show this Friday in Waco. If you're interested in that show, email me directly (ross@rosskingmusic.com) and I'll get you the info. I'm pretty sure there's room for a few extra folks.
Two more things.
First, I'm almost done with "Strange But True Vol 2," and it's a doozie. It features, among other things, Izod shirts, ethnic diversity, and trouble with the law. Sort of. You'll love it. Hopefully I'll have it up in a couple of days.
Second, I've decided to start a new tradition around here. I'm calling it "Why don't people know how to talk?" That's the tentative title. I reserve the right to change it. The basic idea is that I'll tell you about a word that people are always using incorrectly. And then we'll discuss why people don't know how to talk. Or something.
Here's the first one. You know those people that sell you a house or help you sell your house? They're called realtors. And you want to know something else, they're not called real-uh-tors. Here's a crazy idea: look at the spelling. Observe:
Real.
Tor.
Realtor.
Not this:
Real.
Uh.
Tor.
So there you go. Realtor. You're welcome. Why don't people know how to talk?
Had a great show Friday in San Antonio. My third stop in SA on the still-going-strong Su Casa es Mi Casa tour. Big thanks to Tom and Heidi Duke, the hosts of the evening; and to Lauri Hahn, the hardest-working-woman-who-isn't-in-show-biz-but-sort-of-pretends-that-she-is, for coordinating and planning it.
My pal James Burdine, of the ridiculously talented Burdine family (you'll remember his brother from past shows and past CD's) accompanied me for the trip, rocking the percussion. James is a great musician/songwriter in his own right, and one of the coolest people on earth. Not to mention he's one of the few people I know who never judges me for having an encyclopedic knowledge of the Marvel Universe. If you don't know what I'm talking about, just let it go.
The show was a blast. It was pretty small -- maybe 15-20 people -- but we had a really amazing time, and I somehow walked away with more money than I usually do at gigs 20 times that size. It's really crazy how God keeps putting generous, giving people in my path. Long story there.
So that's that. I've got another show this Friday in Waco. If you're interested in that show, email me directly (ross@rosskingmusic.com) and I'll get you the info. I'm pretty sure there's room for a few extra folks.
Two more things.
First, I'm almost done with "Strange But True Vol 2," and it's a doozie. It features, among other things, Izod shirts, ethnic diversity, and trouble with the law. Sort of. You'll love it. Hopefully I'll have it up in a couple of days.
Second, I've decided to start a new tradition around here. I'm calling it "Why don't people know how to talk?" That's the tentative title. I reserve the right to change it. The basic idea is that I'll tell you about a word that people are always using incorrectly. And then we'll discuss why people don't know how to talk. Or something.
Here's the first one. You know those people that sell you a house or help you sell your house? They're called realtors. And you want to know something else, they're not called real-uh-tors. Here's a crazy idea: look at the spelling. Observe:
Real.
Tor.
Realtor.
Not this:
Real.
Uh.
Tor.
So there you go. Realtor. You're welcome. Why don't people know how to talk?
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