Things I never understood.

[bill718]

* Why do overlook and oversee mean opposite things?

* If the rank of Major is higher than the rank of Lieutenant, then why does a
Lieutenant General have 3 stars and a Major General have only 2 stars?

* If something is beside the point, then what is in front of the point?

 

[1srelluc]

Because the rank was originally “Sergeant Major-General.” “General” as an English language military rank is based on French grammatical structure, ie, “General” is a descriptive modifier. This usage still survives today in titles like surgeon general or judge advocate general.

It comes down from days when the vast majority of an army’s soldiers were levies raised by nobility as part of their duty to a sovereign. The regiments were raised and officered by nobility and in effect “loaned” to the sovereign.

The crown would place Royal officers directly over all these regiments, so they were “general” officers, not belonging to any regiment but having responsibilities for the entire army and commission direct from the sovereign. The Quartermaster-General was in charge of the army’s supplies, etc.

Over all was the “Captain-General,” the captain (in the sense of a commanding officer) of the whole army. A captain’s second in command is his lieutenant, so the “Lieutenant-General.” Subordinate to the Lieutenant-General would be one or more Sergeants-Major-General, who were responsible for discipline and well being of the common soldiers.

By the 18th century in English speaking armies, the title had evolved into Major General and was simply a lesser grade of General Officer. - Andy Burns/ historian

Yeah, that was about as clear as mud but I get it.

 

[midcan5]

LOL 'According to researchers, humor comes in four types. Which of these you lean towards can act as a window into your psychological well-being.'

What Your Sense of Humor Says About Your Mental Health

According to researchers, which of these four humor styles you lean towards can act as a window into your psychological well-being.

www.discovermagazine.com

"We are all rational in our own eyes. We are irrational only from the perspective of another person whose concept of rationality is different from ours." Awdhesh Singh

 

[TroglocratsRdumb]

Be my little general
brigadier general
major general
lieutenant general
general

 

[1srelluc]

U S Grant was not made full General till 1866. Even though he commanded all Union forces he was a Lt. General.

ULYSSES S. GRANT: AMERICA’S SECOND THREE-STAR GENERAL​

Ulysses S. Grant: America's Second Three-Star General | HistoryNet

Colorized Grant in 1867, he received his grade of General of the Armies of the United States (four star) in 1866....The grade never existed before.....He was followed by Sherman and then Sheridan.

 

[CrusaderFrank]

LOL 'According to researchers, humor comes in four types. Which of these you lean towards can act as a window into your psychological well-being.'

What Your Sense of Humor Says About Your Mental Health

According to researchers, which of these four humor styles you lean towards can act as a window into your psychological well-being.

www.discovermagazine.com

"We are all rational in our own eyes. We are irrational only from the perspective of another person whose concept of rationality is different from ours." Awdhesh Singh

Stuff that's funny makes me laugh

 

[JoeMoma]

Stuff that's funny makes me laugh

You laugh at gay people?

 

[DGS49]

Why do you drive on a parkway and park on a driveway?

Why to English refer to a parking lot as a "car park"? Do their cars recreate there?

Why do the English say, "Leff-tenant" instead of Lieutenant?

Why do WE say "Kernel" instead of Colonel?

 

[CrusaderFrank]

You laugh at gay people?

When they're funny, sure!

 

[JoeMoma]

When they're funny, sure!

If they are gay, then they are funny.