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From: wa371@sdcc12.UUCP (Senior Gnome)
Newsgroups: net.flame
Subject: Irrelevant parameters.
Message-ID: <410@sdcc12.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 16-Jul-85 01:53:43 EDT
Article-I.D.: sdcc12.410
Posted: Tue Jul 16 01:53:43 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 19-Jul-85 02:47:03 EDT
Organization: Snow White's Council of Elves, San Diego
Lines: 16

Oxymorons remind me of another category: Irrelevant parameters, used
for dramatic effect.
     Example:  "A ten thousand gallon storage tank of HIGH OCTANE
     gasoline is burning out of control."
Here the fact that the gasoline is of high octane is totally irrelevant
because in open burning the lowest octane gasoline produces as much heat
and is as dangerous as the high octane variety.  (Only when burned in
a high compression engine can a difference in thermal efficiency be observed.)
     Example:  "A grisly CLAW hammer murder."
The fact that the hammer had a claw did not make it any more lethal.
Indeed, it is awkward to hammer with the claw end, because it is bent,
designed for pulling nails only.

Cheers,
Bernd <bear-nd>           *** hooray for USENET ***
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