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March 18, 2005
Even More Questions, Queries, Posers
This time, from Andy:
1) Easy one first - do you think the Clintons have any redeeming features? That's a joke, right? Ummm, let's see. They did start the process of dragging Arkansas kicking & screaming into the 20th century when Bill was governor. That's about the nicest thing I can think of off the top of my head.
2) I assume you were driven into law? What drove you? A 1990 Geo Metro. Oh sorry, you meant 'what drove me' not 'what I drove'. Funny thing, I always wanted to be a veterinarian. I've always had a natural rapport with animals, and loved the science involved. But by the time I was able to go to college, my health problems wouldn't allow me to do that. I discovered the law in one of the first night classes I took, and figured with my love of reading, writing & research it would be a good fit. Representing children combines all of that (kids aren't much different from animals really), which is why, I guess, I have such a passion for it.
3) Arkansas and Kansas share the majority of letters. Why the difference in pronuniciation? Can you believe people here still fight over that? According to this, we kept the "official pronunciation..."that received by the French from the Native Indians, and committed in writing by the French word representing the sound; and in accordance with same it should be pronounced in three syllables, with the final 's' silent, the 'a' in each syllable with the Italian sound, and the accent on the first and last syllables." This traditional form "ARKansaw" was made official by the Arkansas state legislature in 1881."
According to this , Kansas also came from the French word "after the Kansas, Omaha, Kaw, Osage and Dakota Sioux Indian word "KaNze" meaning, in the Kansas language "south wind"."
Basically, I think it comes down to we kept the French pronunciation and Kansas didn't. Arkansas was settled primarily by the French and other law-avoiding citizens, you know. Fun factoid I ran across recently while reading some early territorial documents: The first lawyer in Arkansas practiced for several years until it was discovered he wasn't a bona fide lawyer at all. If I remember correctly, he was then prosecuted & run out of the state. Many of our so-called 'founding fathers' had similarly interesting backgrounds....which is why early Arkansas history is so fascinating.
4) Do you think you could beat me at Scrabble? ;) And why. I dunno if I could beat you, but I bet I could give you a run for your money. I have a huge vocabulary and I can spell.
5) Top five modern divas are...?
1. Hillary Clinton
2. Martha Stewart
3. Madonna
4. Star Jones
5. Our cat
Ooh, bonus question: do I join the local pub football team? Yes. Idle hands are the devil's workshop. Plus you can use those great totally British lines like "Right. Well, I'm off for a scrum. Ta."
Thanks! Those were tons of fun.
Posted by Rita at March 18, 2005 08:27 AM