[PRCo] Re: New Math

[Edward H. Lybarger]

Yes, it is frequently misused.  The original meaning has been totally
ignored.  We are an ignorant people when it's convenient, aren't we?

-----Original Message-----
From: pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org
[mailto:pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org]On Behalf Of
Joshua Dunfield
Sent: Sunday, February 11, 2007 2:17 PM
To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
Subject: [PRCo] Re: New Math



Ed Lybarger wrote:
> Quote of the Week, as reported in the Post-Gazette:
> from Al Biehler, PA Secretary of Transportation (and Port Authority
> graduate), about the appropriateness of PAT's proposed service cuts:
>
> "But that shouldn't be anywhere near 25 percent, he said, because it would
> nearly decimate the nation's 15th largest transit system."
>
> If you never before knew that 10 was greater than 25, maybe you want to
call
> Al and ask him to explain it.

These days, "decimate" is often used to mean "nearly destroy", rather than
in the precise historical sense.  You might say the original usage has been
decimated.

-j.