The original artwork for this strip is available for purchase.
Notes: The original is black-and-white — color was added digitally after scanning.
The original artwork for this strip is available for purchase.
Notes: The original is black-and-white — color was added digitally after scanning.
“Doesn’t make it not stupid” can mean, eliminating abbrieviations, “Does not make it not stupid.” Should I say it should be different? Maybe if “Doesn’t make it smart.” For all my expertise in the English language, I’m actually also half Estonian; and speak Russian for my other genetic half being from such an origin.
Were it not words spoken by a character, you’d be correct. However, quotes may violate strict grammar rules; the character may indeed have spoken thus, and accurate portrayal of the character’s words is considered more relevant than correct grammar.
Now the question becomes “Wouldn’t Ozy typically have used correct grammar instead of a double-negative?” And that can only be answered by Ms. Simpson.
Actually, if one parses that sentence it is grammatical — “because X doesn’t make it Y”, where Y = “not stupid”. Any re-wording of that sentence to avoid that apparent double negative lessens its impact; Ozy knows exactly what he is saying. And anyway, the “rules” of English grammar are *guidelines* not rules; usually a double negative is confusing (it isn’t, here) so best avoided. There are even times when an infinitive must be split! and years ago I had to argue very strongly with a journal editor before she gave in and let me keep a sentence referring to “the third alternative” when my work had shown that the first two alternatives were impossible.
One could have said in a less ambiguous way, “Being a time honored tradition doesn’t keep it from being stupid.”
Takes all those “nots” out of it that gives it a redundant feel.
The recipe calls for bacon bits. Final and clinching proof that Llewellyn is not a vegetarian.
Well, it says “soy bacon bits” – and even if it didn’t, what most people refer to as bacon bits (Bacos and the like) are actually vegan.
The recipe calls for SOY bacon bits. He’s vegetarian.
So they do eat pigs..
Ozy did a quick recovery from yesterdays hair cut.
Notice Llewellyn can withstand a BOILING bath.
The perks of being a dragon
Leave out the soap, Llewellyn, it’ll taste better! And bathe beforehand.
Strips like this and the preceding arc are what I really like about the strip. The sheer fun of it all