>Yes, language and the wonderful manipulations of words are beautiful things. So are civility and grace and sophistication.

I give you 2 out of 10 for those last two sentences. I would say that civility and grace are often desirable, but not necessarily beautiful things. Sophistication looks redundant – did you add that just because it sounded good?

One has to wonder why your sensibilities are pricked by plain language, yet when Petersen asks Meester if he is “tight like a tiger” all you can manage is a lack luster “I get it”. Methinks, if anything you do not get it. Because if indeed you do get it then someone needs to pass you a toilet roll so that you can wipe your face!

>--What you might consider "off color", someone else might see as "spice" ...
>I wonder if Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake had similar thoughts? ;)

No doubt that is what you call a sophisticated argument.