Thought you'd like to know the latest.
--Two Hands Clapping in Manhattan
Dear Two,
Prudie, like you, is watching these developments with fascination. Perhaps, if successful, Mr. Fishbein might take the Slate staff to dinner--and you, too, of course.
--Prudie, mischievously
Dear Prudie,
Perhaps you backed down a bit too quickly with Mike regarding the "Have a nice day" silliness. This offends almost as much as that other staple, "How are you?"--my retort to which is usually "Do you have half an hour?"
How am I? Well, perhaps you wish to hear about my problems, but I don't think so. I find such linguistic tics simply sloppy semantics.
--Careful in Washington, carefully
Dear Care,
Prudie is grateful for your linguistic support, though on the question of what is required by the question "How are you?" she is more forgiving. Perhaps because her mother taught her years ago that "How are you?" is a greeting, not a question.
UPDATE: Oklahoma Officials Revise Tornado Death Toll Down to 24
Tornado Survivor Finds Her Missing Dog in the Rubble of Her Home During a TV Interview
How Many People Have Been Killed by Guns Since Newtown?