WE WILL ALL LAUGH AT GILDED BUTTERFLIES

Enter, Megan Fox. Turn to expose tatoo. Which states "we will all laugh at gilded butterflies". Purpose? Intent? Permanent?

Well, as usual I don't have answers. Actually, I think Megan Fox is in a tv series. Which one, I don't know. I know absolutely nothing else about her. I don't understand the quote or the reference. The mantra or the philosophy.

But I was wondering, what would I have tattoed on my shoulder? Not that I'm an ape or anything, but I'd probably have to shave to make way for the tat. I mean if you have a tat, you want folks to see it. Why else would she turn like that?

So if I'm getting one, I want people to read it clearly from afar. They shouldn't have to wade through foilage to get to my message to the world.

So what would I say? Maybe, "don't get one of these". Or "look on the other side if you want to learn how to keep an idiot occupied". Of course, that would require two tats--one for each side.

I think I've decided. Just one word. "Bugsy". I don't think anybody would mess with someone who had that tatooed on his shoulder.

PDA: Public Display of Affection

At Safeco Field in Seattle recently, an usher requested that two females not kiss in public. A mother with small children had complained. Of course it made national news and was reported in USA Today.

"They're just behind the times," was the explanation given by an ACLU type organization spokesman. Notice I didn't use the awkward spokesperson term in current PC. Notice also that I didn't include two females in the picture I chose to accompany this entry. So what's my point?

Many times being behind the times is good. Turning the clock back is not a bad thing at all. We're tolerant now of things that we shouldn't be. And if there's no intolerance at all, then how far are we from anarchy?

Now wait a minute, you say. You make a colossal leap from two lesbians kissing in public to anarchy in the streets. Well, not quite.

"We're not allowed to," used to be a deterrent imposed by parents, teachers, and society. I'm not sure if it extended to ushers at ballparks.

There are announcements made that no bad language is allowed. If someone uses obscene language, they can be asked to leave. This rule was put into effect to make the game enjoyable for children and adults.

Which is worse? Language or PDA? PDA of heterosexuals or PDA of homosexuals?

"We're not allowed." It's still a pretty good parameter.

WHY BATTY?

Our Sunday School teacher is a retired English Prof. at ASU currently enroll in Phoenix Seminary. And he knows words and origins and deviations. In addition to much scripture. And literature.

Which is to say that I admire his knowledge and love of learning. You see while I wonder about things, he'd research and have an answer. Maybe if he started a blog...

So what am I pondering today? Bats, batty and where did we get such descriptions and notions that emanate from the word?

For one thing, why is it a baseball bat? Does it come from a shortened version for baton? But why? Why not a board or a shortened version-- a boa? Or does it come from batter? As one who bats a ball. But no one bats a ball on purpose; they hit it; thus, a hitter. Finally, where did battery come from, that is, the term used for pitcher and catcher? Why not spark plugs? Or distributor caps?

Why did bats get such a bad rap in the first place? Having bats in the belfry is not a good thing. Nor is being batty. Also dingbat is kinda double crazy. That is, dingy and batty.

Even Batman. Why does he hang around with Robin anyway? It seems there are lots of women that like him. And if it's just a man comaraderie thing, then there are lots of cooler superheroes to hang with.

At least the Batmobile is cool and gives some dignity to the bat world.