CALL ME SNAKE

Heard this on the streets of Nashville, Tennessee (2nd Avenue, the “Honky-Tonk district,” to be exact), as two shady characters engaged in what passes (around these parts) for learned discourse:

Man One (casual, though masking an obvious interest): Is he tall?

Man Two (barely audible, without looking up): Not so as you’d notice it.

I’d stake my life on the accuracy of that transcript, despite the errors that often creep into the reporting process. Why the certitude? Because I’m particularly fond of that turn of phrase, “not so as you’d notice it,” and hearing those words–especially when uttered correctly, with just the right level of indifference–snaps my nervous system into a heightened state of attention. I’d like to see that expression brought back into widespread usage. If you agree, and want to be part of the solution, rather than part of the problem, try using it at least once a day, in different contexts and among different people. With your help, and this shared vision to guide us, we can create a revolution in popular parlance that’s not been seen, or heard, since “where’s the beef?” Now that’s something everyone can get behind.