acronyms, gotta love 'em

in the three months that i've been working in the DC metropolis (also known as my cozy cubicle), i've learned quite a large number of things. many are good and useful, most are interesting, a lot are ridiculous, and a few too many make me guffaw in wonder at how our government functions.

here's the best example:
the PATRIOT Act. yup, that 2001 law passed by dear bush jr. after 9/11.. having something to do with security and privacy and combatting terrorism. yes indeed-y, the patriot act is/was/will always be an interesting piece of legislation. when i first heard about it way back when, i found it oh-so-patriotic that well.. duh.. it was named the "patriot" act. how cute. in the past few months however, i've come across it numerous times and soon began to wonder why it was always written as the PATRIOT act. why the capitalization? is that really necessary? i guessed that maybe PATRIOT just got more attention, focus, and emphasis than patriot.

yeah right. if only life was that simple. nooooooooooo waaaaaaaaaay georgie. i can't keep this bottled in any longer -- i have to share!

why PATRIOT? because it stands for something. oh yeah, that's right -- believe it. i pay an inordinate amount of federal taxes so that someone can make PATRIOT an acronym, not just a plain 'ole name.

P.A.T.R.I.O.T. : Provide Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism.

and that, my friend, is your lesson for this september monday.