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Mr. Cooper -- You are absolutely correct to note my rather pretentious use of Baedeker when "guide" would have perfectly sufficed. I was once accused--totally fairly--with "not wearing my erudition lightly." But, as a writer, I love the richness of the English language and try to employ the precise term if one exists, even at the cost of appearing moderately pretentious. My defense? Pretentious, moi?

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Keep on being erudite, Roger R Smith. I take it as a compliment and sign of respect that you believe most readers will either know your "big words" or will want to look them up. Perhaps you can help me convince people that 'reticent' does not mean 'reluctant.' Are you listening, NPR?

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I am neither reticent nor reluctant to note with optimism, albeit guarded, a sense of our easing away from the precipice to which recent historic events have pushed us-

so much so, that comments on Robert Hubbell’s excellent and thorough reportings have eased us into a place where discussions of erudition appear.

Oui?

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Mais oui, bien sur.

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Here’s an assignment while you sit pretentiously in detention. Read Cormac McCarthy’s most recent work, The Passenger. You might be challenged by his incredible depth of language, literature, science and more. After reading him you will hopefully never think I’ll of your efforts to find the right words. :)

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