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McSweeney’s writer and former mental_floss intern Hari Raghavan used to write a morbid little column called Vocab Rehab, where we tried to help people remember impressive words through tricks and memorable sentences. We canned the column because it got so many complaints. This one from April 17th seems to have two lessons from Hari: the definition of the word saguaro, and the importance of practicing plant safety on holidays.
saguaro (n.)
a tall, columnar cactus of dry areas of the southwestern U.S. and Mexico
USE IT IN A SENTENCE!
Unable to find a suitable tree on such short notice, Julie and Ricardo set up a saguaro in their living room, which led to unforeseeable and disastrous consequences on Christmas morning when their children came running heart-first down the stairs.
Comments (15)
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You’re getting a complaint from me right now. Dropping it because of that would be silly. If someone doesn’t like a little dark humor, then they don’t deserve to ruin it for the rest of us.
posted by Dave on 12-25-2008 at 5:21 am
People complained because of a little macabre humor? They obviously aren’t Tim Burton fans! I’d hate to see what people said about that Edward Gorey post a few months ago.
There’s nothing wrong with wearing black on your funny bone. :D
posted by Allison on 12-25-2008 at 10:23 am
people complained? really? i’d love to see that column rehashed.
fitting recaptcha: injured eysler
posted by wntctrlmyslf on 12-25-2008 at 11:30 am
I loved Vocab Rehab. It should be reinstated.
posted by Peter on 12-25-2008 at 12:14 pm
A vote for reinstatement.
posted by luckyluckygirl on 12-25-2008 at 2:13 pm
I’m sorry I entered the modern age of technology late and missed this article =(
another vote for reinstatement.
oh, and i hope everyone has a happy pagan-influenced, commercially-driven, capitalistic wintertime gift-giving season.
i call mine christmas, but, you know…
trying to be PC.
(merry christmas!)
posted by MamaBug on 12-25-2008 at 3:34 pm
I also vote for reinstatement.
It sounds a little Decemberist-y
posted by Jordan on 12-25-2008 at 10:26 pm
Wow, I’d forgotten about that awesomeness. Bring Vocab Rehab back, by all means.
posted by Johnny Cat on 12-26-2008 at 1:52 am
I can’t believe that MF would bend to that kind of peer pressure. Bring back vocabulary development to the masses. Those who choose to complain will benefit from the mental exercise of writing in.
Reinstate now!
posted by speech therapist on 12-26-2008 at 9:16 am
Its difficult for me to see how that could be offensive. It’s funny! bring it back!
posted by Shawn on 12-26-2008 at 11:21 am
Vocab rehab embodies the character of Mental Floss and should have not been eliminated just to try to confirm with some proper politically correct standard. I too vote for reinstatement.
posted by Travis on 12-26-2008 at 11:50 am
Lame to cancel it because of complaints. Bring it back, please!
posted by Andrej on 12-26-2008 at 1:45 pm
I would like to complain about the people who complained about Vocal Rehabbed. Why won’t anybody stop them?
posted by Jim Strathmeyer on 12-26-2008 at 5:21 pm
Really? Come on. That’s brilliant! MORE!
posted by Michaelpagz on 12-26-2008 at 6:30 pm
Another vote for reinstatement!
reCaptcha: punishment truck
posted by Mayra on 12-26-2008 at 8:06 pm