WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL - AT 7:32 P.M. ET:  We love stories about language here, but don't do enough of them.  This one, from Britain, in defense of English (remember English?) is just terrific:

LONDON, Dec. 8 (UPI) -- Britain's Plain English Campaign awarded its "Foot in Mouth" prize to an official who said people should look "round corners more thoroughly."

Business Secretary Peter Mandelson was given the campaign's satirical "award" for his use of language while discussing lawmakers' expenses, Politics.co.uk reported Tuesday.

"Perhaps we need not more people looking round more corners, but the same people looking round more corners more thoroughly to avoid the small things detracting from the big things the prime minister is getting right," Mandelson said.

The Plain English Campaign also awarded a Golden Bull to the Department for Health for a statement reading: "Primary prevention includes health promotion and requires action on the determinants of health to present disease occurring. It has been described as refocusing upstream to stop people falling in the waters of disease."

COMMENT:  The people who are writing the health "reform" bill in the Senate might be eligible for one of these commendations.  I'd love to hear other nominations from readers. 

And what about those warning labels on prescription drugs?  "There's a slight chance of death..."

December 9, 2009