1241 Pandora’s Rehab

Sometimes it seems that people who put stuff out there have no idea what they’re saying. It’s either the words they use or they way they use them.
Like the other day. This headline in the newspaper. By people who write for a living and should know better. The headline read, “Pullman Police Arrest Robbery Suspect with Ax.”
Um, don’t police usually use guns when they arrest people? Are things so primitive in the wilds of Pullman that police have hatchets on their belts?
“Let’s see, do I have everything? Zip-cuffs, Taser, gun, hatchet...” Yeah, perfect if they have to chop down a tree to make a roadblock.
Here’s a headline idea. How about, “Ax-Wielding Suspect Arrested By Police.”
Another of my current amazements regarding word misusage is the name Pandora. I heard an ad the other day for the Pandora brand of Jewelry. There’s also the Pandora application you can get to hear free radio and new music over your smartphone.
But as I remember, the Greek myth of Pandora was a cautionary tale. Pandora was told not to open a certain box or dire consequences would ensue. And that made her tiny little mind so full of temptation she couldn’t resist. The imaginary appeal of what wonderful thing must be in the box made her dive in willy-nilly and open it.
All the sins and evils of the world were released. Greed, avarice, envy, hooking your smartphone to a free service that plants ads and supplies personal data to strangers, texting while driving, walking around all the time with earbuds in, wearing flashy jewelry while kids are starving.
And, oh yeah, the sin of not researching the origins of a name.
Pandora? You hardly know her...
America, ya gotta love it.