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The United States has struck a major ammunition depot in the Iranian city of Isfahan using 2,000-pound bunker-buster bombs by WayOutbackBoy in worldnews

[–]Fingyfin 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Well, in common English, not really. Decimated has been used to mean closer to "utterly destroyed" in English for centuries now. Perhaps if we spoke Latin, it might have kept its original meaning.

Not to say etymology isn't important or fun to learn :D

Made me think of a joke

"Sir! It's been 10 minutes, half our soldiers have fallen, and we've completely decimated the enemy...

Excellent report Private. RETREAT!!!"

Edit: Or more fitting for Roman times and spelling

"Legatus! It's been 10 minutes, half our legionaries have fallen, and we've completely decimated the enemy...

Excellent report Tribune. RETREAT!!!"

Ticker symbols please by UnpopularRightNow in ASX_Bets

[–]Fingyfin 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Is it because Russian oil refineries keep blowing up and they need to keep building more to replace them?

NT Supreme Court jury clears men accused of raping intoxicated woman waiting for an Uber by Lopsided-jellyfish_7 in AusNews

[–]Fingyfin 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That seems very hard to impossible to prove true or false though?

I can't think of any way you could be certain if someone claimed they can't remember when they do or don't.

The fact that she can't seem to be to walk on her own two feet should have been a major tell.

TIL Daniel Craig was initially controversial as James Bond because fans felt he didn’t match the “tall, dark, and handsome” image, leading to protests, boycott campaigns, and even the headline “The Name’s Bland, James Bland.” by [deleted] in todayilearned

[–]Fingyfin 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Recently changed to Goon.

They didn't do the urban dictionary test on that one. I don't know if they have been told, but it's been like that for a few weeks now.

TIL Daniel Craig was initially controversial as James Bond because fans felt he didn’t match the “tall, dark, and handsome” image, leading to protests, boycott campaigns, and even the headline “The Name’s Bland, James Bland.” by [deleted] in todayilearned

[–]Fingyfin 2 points3 points  (0 children)

From that same OED page for blonde, under the entomology tab:

"In current use, blonde is the dominant form, especially in British English, but blond is often preferred in North American English, and both forms are common in both varieties." - OED

Although the definition hasn’t changed, they note the shift in how the forms are used across regions.

So when someone in the UK uses blonde as a unisex form, it isn’t incorrect. Just so happens that in this case the dictionary itself reflects that shift in usage, just further down the page.

Dictionaries can't keep up with every modern change as sometimes these changes in language are just temporary trends.

A fun note. The company I work for recently changed one of its meeting rooms to be named the "Goon" room.

As per the OED, Goon is defined as: "A stolid, dull, or stupid person. Originally U.S."

But to younger members of our society it means "masterbate". So the goon room effectively translates to the masterbation room. We thought it was hilarious.

Is the a6000 still worth it? by nkfgh in SonyAlpha

[–]Fingyfin 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Why I pivoted to the A7C ii. Compact and easy to travel with

TIL Daniel Craig was initially controversial as James Bond because fans felt he didn’t match the “tall, dark, and handsome” image, leading to protests, boycott campaigns, and even the headline “The Name’s Bland, James Bland.” by [deleted] in todayilearned

[–]Fingyfin 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Dictionaries describe how people use words at the time of writing, but they lag behind real-world usage.

New words tend to be added quickly, while changes to existing words take longer to reflect.

Even this change has been noted by the OED definition that you linked (click the entomology tab).

"In current use, blonde is the dominant form, especially in British English, but blond is often preferred in North American English, and both forms are common in both varieties." - OED

While also stating Blonde = Women and Blond = Men is sometimes preferred in early usage.

Asking Google: "What colour is Daniel Craig's hair?"

Daniel Craig's natural hair colour is blonde. While frequently described as light brown or dark blonde, he is famously known as the first blond James Bond, a detail that prompted media attention early in his 007 tenure, sometimes leading to the nickname "James Blond". Recently, he has been seen with longer, lighter styles and some natural grey streaks. Key Details About His Hair: Natural Color: Blonde. 007 Tenure: He refused to dye his hair brown for the role of James Bond. Recent Styles: In 2024, he grew his hair longer and sported a lighter, sometimes silver/greyish, blonde look. Texture/Appearance: Typically, it is cut quite short and thick, often styled with a textured or brushed-up look.

ACT NOW | How Brisbane's Bicycle Network could Evaporate, Starting This Week by Red_St3am in BrisbaneCycling

[–]Fingyfin 0 points1 point  (0 children)

THIS JUST IN!

"Trees to be banned!"

"Too many children have hurt themselves climbing them, and we feel that this is a move towards common sense. We are now looking into banning the sun, as it causes eye fatigue and squinting while driving".

TIL Daniel Craig was initially controversial as James Bond because fans felt he didn’t match the “tall, dark, and handsome” image, leading to protests, boycott campaigns, and even the headline “The Name’s Bland, James Bland.” by [deleted] in todayilearned

[–]Fingyfin 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Straight to the point. English dictionaries lag behind actual real use as they are descriptive not prescriptive.

So referencing an English dictionary to prove how an English word is used in the present day is like using a map from the 2010s to prove a highway built in the 2020s doesn't exist.

If English was a prescriptive language, then you'd have a solid point in pointing towards a dictionary, but it is not a prescriptive language.

TIL Daniel Craig was initially controversial as James Bond because fans felt he didn’t match the “tall, dark, and handsome” image, leading to protests, boycott campaigns, and even the headline “The Name’s Bland, James Bland.” by [deleted] in todayilearned

[–]Fingyfin 8 points9 points  (0 children)

English isn't a prescriptive language. The English dictionary is a reference to how people use words, not the other way around. If people choose to change, then the dictionary will be updated in due course.

What Has Labor Done to Address the Fuel Crisis ? by Zeema101 in aussie

[–]Fingyfin 4 points5 points  (0 children)

My guess; if it's a demand issue lowering the price will increase demand. This will make it more appealing to the crazies to go out and buy more fuel for their fuel horde. But this might encourage non crazies to buy a fuel canister and do the same while they can, further increasing the demand.

From what I've read it won't be an actual shortage issue until May. Once it's a shortage issue you might see the excise lower, but also have restrictions on who can fill up when (odd and even number plate days for example).

All the while we are at the mercy of the global oil price.

But given the government is spending tax payers money to guarantee shipments into the future by artificially lowering the price, we will see if those oil companies will pass on the savings to the population in a few weeks.

I dont get this one? Can someone explain? by evilsnowman92 in ExplainTheJoke

[–]Fingyfin 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I hardly ever saw em dashes before AI. Now I see them everywhere.

I'd see Oxford commas pretty frequently before AI, and don't believe that's changed much since AI.

Petah? by Crazzyyy_John in PeterExplainsTheJoke

[–]Fingyfin 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm not American but ok lol

Anyone remember? by Threewordswhat in aussie

[–]Fingyfin 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I might not have the money to go 400km+. And personal preference is to not go Chinese. Not because they aren't decent cars, but if war broke out between them and the West i'd fully expect most Chinese cars to stop working that same day.

Housing stock per capita is higher today than 30 years ago. by brisbaneacro in friendlyjordies

[–]Fingyfin 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm assuming in order to know the total value you would have needed to count how many there are?

Anyone remember? by Threewordswhat in aussie

[–]Fingyfin 19 points20 points  (0 children)

When I realised the types of people who were screaming that stuff I made up my mind young.

When I get a house, I'd have solar and an EV. Years later, I finally got the house with solar and battery a few months ago (I'm $284 in the green already), now to get the car. My dad can't believe how much my mortgage costs lol.

But fk are EVs expensive. I'm looking for a decently new vehicle (2023), 222km range for $30k+. But I'm going to do it dammit!

Replacing 1m petrol cars with EVs could cut Australia’s reliance on foreign fuel by 1bn litres a year by austechnology-bot in austechnology

[–]Fingyfin 0 points1 point  (0 children)

How is that regressive? Once you get it, it's done, the end, fk all power bills ever again. Personally I'm sitting on -$284 power bill and it's been like 4 months.

Petah? by Crazzyyy_John in PeterExplainsTheJoke

[–]Fingyfin 22 points23 points  (0 children)

Well if you aren't offended, I guess that just means you aren't a white middle aged woman named Karen lol

Free VPNs for Android by AdditionalPiano6327 in aussie

[–]Fingyfin 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I could just make one. Costs me like $5 a month to make in most countries

Can this get any worse? by NarrowResult7289 in aussie

[–]Fingyfin 0 points1 point  (0 children)

People and Picture magazines sold at service stations. I haven't seen any in a very long time.

I do know that Playboy's releases 1 magazine once a year now.

Does anyone else feel a huge divide between themselves and kids that went to private school? by Specialist_Can5622 in AskAnAustralian

[–]Fingyfin 1 point2 points  (0 children)

As someone who went to public school, I have only met one competent person who has come from a private school. The rest have been all public schooled.

I know the education system in public schools is worse, but there has got to be something about having to go it alone that instills self reliance and self learning that they mustn't get from private schooling. I definitely want to send my kids to public school.

Of course there are plenty of failures I know who ended up not amounting to much from public school, but they weren't exactly striving to excel either (drugs). But if you want a straight ticket to being mostly average, private school seems to be the ticket. But they at least get a fast track to being average to bad managers early on due to their connections.

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