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Sat 11 Sep, 2004 08:45 am
From this week's "World Wide Words"
Quote:PLASTIC SNOW An article in the New Scientist this week about the
pollution caused by disposable plastic bags gave several names for
the visual pollution of bags that have been blown by the wind and
caught in trees. The Irish term for this white flapping plastic is
"witches' knickers", while in China it's "white pollution" and in
South Africa "the national flower". We don't seem to have a name
for it in the UK, though we do use the Irish one on occasion. What
names, if any, are common in other countries?
Any thoughts for the UK? Or the US?
Any other impudent recent coinages?
All contributions welcome.
(Edited to remove geographical ambiguity--and to attribute the original quote to Michael Quinion of
http://www.worldwidewords.org )
Noddy, I think I have a name for the plastic garbage snared by trees. Let's call it treetritus. I think it's a perfect name. Years from now, perhaps on a talk show where the subject matter is "Treetritus -- What can be done?" and the host turns to one of the participants and inquires, "Does anyone know where the term treetritus originated?" One of the guests will lean back in his chair and say "Ah, good question, Phil. Treetritus was born on Able2Know, on Saturday, Sept. 11th, 2004. It was a joint effort between, I believe her name was Noddy, and a fellow by the name of Gustav Ratzenhofer. They're both dead now, killed by the Bush Amdinistration in the early part of 2006, but their contribution to humanity, the naming of plastic stuck in trees, shall live forever.
where they artifical trees Gus, or that organic PVC stuff.
Oh, and one more thing, Noddy. Here's an interesting article about two brave young men who took up the fight against the subject matter at hand.
Once they were treetritus warriors
I'm not sure I understand your question, Dys.
I'm trying, believe me, but sleep deprivation has clouded my thought process.
Please.... ask again. Perhaps in small, one syllable words.
Tryagain--
Thanks for pointing out my fuzzy attribution. I like "Pommy pants"--that has possibilities.
Gus--
You and I, together, immortal? The Mind Boggles.
I think I read about the heroic Treetitus Warriors in The New Yorker.
Bush in 2006? Wash your mouth out with catsup.
Dys--
I admire a man who deals in specifics.
ENGLISH....
I JUST WANT TO know if what will i do as an english teacher to effectively handle the dfebate in our classroom...
please send me an email containing some information on how to handle the debate iin our classroom..thanks
Ely--
Welcome to A2K.
Perhaps you'd be better off starting a new thread with your debating problem--this one is old and weary.
You might be a bit more specific. How old are your students? What will the debating topic be? Have you Goggled for information?
Good luck.
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