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ImageSMART TALK
by Dr. Winton "Windy" Prolix

BABY CHICKS:  Now that spring (not Spring) is upon us, at least here in Underbelly, Texas, we at the Institute for the Linguistically Impaired must prepare for the rush of patients who gush over baby chicks.  We like to go into town and ask them at Johnson's Feed Store whether they'll have any old chicks for sale this year.  Behind the counter, Mrs. Johnson always gets a little huffy.

Not that we have anything against gushing.  We do it, too, but they're chicks, which means baby chickens.  Baby chicks means baby baby chicks.  Maybe egg cartons should say baby chicks instead of eggs.

The same giddy redundancy occurs in baby kittens and baby puppies.  They're so nice we say it twice - hmm, why don't we say baby child? - as in kitty cats, puppy dogs, pussy cats, baby calves, and young foals.

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