"CASK829" wrote in message
...
Why is it that idiot reporters use the term "TARMAC"?


I worked my way through college working at various US airports, refueling
GA, and airlines. I never heard the word "tarmac" until some Brit used it
on TV and then it seemed like every Ted Baxter wannabe in the US picked up
the term to impress other Ted Baxter wannabes.

In the US the word should be "ramp." It seems to me that if the proper
terms are best defined by the people that are most directly related to the
use, then the word in the US should be "ramp."

Everytime I hear some idiot reporter in the US use the term I remember an
episode of the old Dick Van Dike Show. Rob and Laura have some reason to
call the police to investigate some matter at their home and when the police
officer shows up Rob is fumbling and trying to use "police lingo" to impress
the officer. As the cop leaves Rob declares "Mark 7", thinking that's how
cops sign off, not realizing that's just an artifact of the Dragnet TV show.

I fully expect to see some silly CBS reporter describing a lorry crash near
Denver or a shortage of water closets for new homes.



--

Scott

Like the archers of Agincourt, John O'Neill and the 254 Swiftboat Veterans
took down their own haughty Frenchman. - Ann Coulter