Hi, Alexander!  Recently you wrote in a message to Ardith Hinton:   
      
             BTW, I thoroughly enjoy Terry Pratchett's characterizations.  AFAIC   
   Dallas has explained the meaning quite well... but I am taking the liberty of   
   adding some ideas & using the historical present tense here.   
      
      
      
   >>   "Master Young," ordered R. P. Tyler, "please get your   
   >>   mutt away from my Shutzi."   
      
      
             Mr. Tyler is distancing himself from the boy by addressing him in a   
   formal way while at the same time using derogatory slang ("mutt") in place of   
   Dog's name, although he describes his own pampered pooch as "my Shutzi".   
      
             Miniaturized dogs are often described as "toys"... but to those who   
   want a surrogate baby the fact that a full-sized dog of the same breed may be   
   far more intelligent is not an argument in favour of sharing their lives with   
   such an animal.  Personally, I'd take Dog over Shutzi any day... [grin].   
      
      
      
   ak>  Well, can you write me the part of the sentence after   
   ak>  "or" in your own words? Don't forget about "thank you   
   ak>  very much", at the end. :)   
      
      
             ... red eyes are not a symptom of rabies.  They may be seen in some   
   horror movies and children's cartoons, but the Tylers don't watch such things   
   (which they regard as trash) &/or don't admit to watching such things because   
   the folks they're trying to impress wouldn't approve.  If somebody happens to   
   know of a really good story... such as this one... in which red eyes indicate   
   (e.g.) that Dog doesn't like Mr. Tyler any more than Mr. Tyler likes Dog, the   
   Tylers don't want to hear about it.  In imitation of such people it has often   
   been said "My mind's made up.  Don't confuse me with facts!"   
      
             In echomail North Americans sometimes write "EOT [end of topic]" or   
   "end of discusssion" when they've given up trying to get through to the other   
   person(s).  In this example the Tylers end the conversation before it starts.   
   When my dinner guests offer to help in the kitchen I thank them for the offer   
   whether or not I choose to accept help.  But when the Tylers use conventional   
   phrases like "thankyou very much" I'm inclined to doubt their sincerity.  ;-)   
      
      
      
      
   --- timEd/386 1.10.y2k+   
    * Origin: Wits' End, Vancouver CANADA (1:153/716)