Thinking Out Loud

Apostrophe Patrol - the Medical Files

I understand that nurses, doctors and hospital administrators receive training and education in very technical fields. But apparently their curriculum is a little light on grammar. I guess the third one could be correct . . .  if it was a really tiny hospital . . . with just one patient.

A simple message from a Gentle Soul.

At daycare they used to call son David a "gentle soul." Larry Horstdaniel, the Madison Street barber and sage, is a much older version of the same personality type. He's been at his present location for 48 years, and at another downtown location for 16 years before that.

Larry's wife, Barbara, passed away recently after several months of decline following a stroke. Larry's simple message on the shop door let his customers know.

I can't imagine how heavy his heart was as he wrote those few words to let his clients know why the barber pole was not rotating that day.

Godspeed, Larry.

 

 

 

Hi there. I'm an Introvert. See ya later.

 

Every test I've taken reveals I am an introvert. This explains why after city council debates and court appearances I would feel exhausted. Extroverts, on the other hand, are energized by such experiences. Susan Cain says it's OK. So the question is whether this blog post is intra or my attempt to be get out on the limb and be extra? Sorry. This is very exhausting. 

 

 

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"I need one of those Quick Claim Deeds"

 

Perhaps the most misunderstood document in the legal world is the humble quitclaim deed - referred to by many as "quick claim" deeds. Here's a quick tutorial to avoid embarrassment the next time you attend a real estate closing.

Let's start with the most potent deed -- the General Warranty Deed. These are what you find in most real estate transactions. The grantor (seller) warrants good title going all the way back to 1820 or whenever the land came out of the government's hands with a "patent." That warranty is not as scary as it might sound due to title insurance and multiple past transactions involving that parcel where title was scrutinized and blessed.

A Quitclaim Deed is at the opposite end of the spectrum. It warrants nothing. As the law professors say, "I'll give you a Quitclaim Deed to the Grand Canyon." That's because the grantor makes no guarantees whatsoever. So . . . . why have these deeds at all? Actually, quitclaim deeds play a vital role in the real estate world. They're used to confirm that the grantor has no further interest in the parcel. For example, a bank can release a mortgage with a Quitclaim Deed. In a divorce, when one spouse is awarded the home, the other spouse may be required to relinquish his or her interest in the home - typically with a Quitclaim Deed. I can release an easement or cancel a recorded sale contract with a Quitclaim Deed. I'm just saying "Whatever interest I have, if any, is yours, but I make no guarantees that I have any interest at all."

Now if you really want to impress your real estate agent or someone at a cocktail party, casually mention a Special Warranty Deed. These deeds only warrant that the grantor (seller) did not do anything to mess up the title while he was the owner. The grantor is not on the hook for any title defects arising prior to his ownership. Big companies like to convey with Special Warranty Deeds so the potential liability for old unknown defects are not carried on their books forever.

We do lots of real estate at CVDL. Call if we can help with your next purchase or sale. 

No No No to Yeah Yeah Yeah

For about ten years we had to endure the word "LIKE" in every sentence uttered by anyone under twenty.

"LIKE" (which used mean "similar to" or "to have some affection for") is now a meaningly syllable interposed between otherwise (hopefully) meaningful information. For example:

"LIKE, we went to Arris' Pizza and saw these guys and they were LIKE really awesome, so we LIKE started taliking to them and we found out they were LIKE from Wardsville."

Some extra words to give immature minds a chance to catch up with what's coming out of their mouths.Not a completely bad thing. Annoying but not rude.

But there us new linguistic trend that not just a filler. It is preemptive and arrogant. Allow me to call out the phrase:

"Yeah-Yeah-Yeah."

Note there is no comma or pause between these three rounds. They are fired like the triple tap they teach in conceal and carry classes. Pull the trigger three times and assess the target.

This three word jab is used any time a young person thinks he or she knows exactly what you're going to say, and he's has analyzed it, researched it, and your attempt to speak the next sentence is cut off without debate because he knows more about the topic than you can ever know.

Young people are so used to interjecting this rude interruption that they think nothing of it. Some pretty sophisticated people have adopted the habit. Sorry, but I have concluded it is observable mostly in young females but not exlusively so. It trended from snobs on the east coast but it's now prevalent here in flyover country.

So just stop.

Use little restraint with your verbal arsenal

and overstuffed ego. 

 

 

Apostrophe Patrol Reactivated.

It's always fun to poke at large companies that presumably have scads of educated executives who would approve everything. I guess there could be an argument that they intended to reflect lots of little Caesers running around, hence no possessive. Methinks Brutus would not agree and would take a knife to the VP in charge of advertising.

 

 

 

We're back.

So, walking our only grandchild, Colby, a precious little dog, and I noticed I had grabbed three comfortable things to wear (old tennis shoes, old slacks with cuffs - and DARK socks) and decided it was time to bring back High Street Beat.

There will still be some local events/issues and -- my passion, Apostrophe Patrol, but also some Second Half of Life stuff. More on that later. One hint: only when you're well in to the Second Half can you wear dark socks and tennis shoes and not really care! Hope you enjoy.