> This unique system of enlisting foreign nationals, primarily Asian men, to serve in domestic and food service positions would remain in place for the next 100 years.
> In 1901, President William McKinley signed an executive order allowing the U.S. Navy to recruit hundreds of native non-naturalized Filipinos to serve in domestic and food service positions. As a result of these territorial acquisitions and McKinley’s executive order, hundreds of Filipinos and other Asian nationals would join the Revenue Cutter Service in the ratings of steward, cook and boy.
> However, in 1947, the United States and Republic of the Philippines signed an agreement allowing the U.S. to once again recruit citizens of the Philippines for voluntary enlistment in the U.S. military. Enlisting Philippine nationals for domestic service on Coast Guard cutters continued for another 20 years, however, these men could choose to change to a non-food service rating or pursue an officer’s commission after gaining citizenship. Finally, in 1971, this practice was discontinued and all enlisted ratings were opened to Filipinos that qualified by means of education, prior experience and security qualifications.
I didn't understand why that was the case, so asked the (ex-)officer/docent who was nearby. He pointed out the 1947 change, and added that previously black men were the stewards, but since integration in the military opened up other jobs, fewer black men wanted to be a steward.
I understand what it means, but my brain is breaking in the same way it would when navigating a double/triple negative.
Amongst our weaponry are such diverse elements as fear, surprise and an almost fanatical devotion to Oxford's...
(I'll lead myself out)
The word “almost” is also pretty funny though, if you think about it (literally “all most”).
Personally I’ve never been a fan of “all but Z” as a phrase — I prefer “[very] nearly Z”.
The most common usage of this form is probably the idiom “It’s all over but the shouting,” meaning a foregone conclusion that still has some steps to go through before it becomes official. Historically, this phrase comes from electioneering where there is only one viable candidate standing for office: The competition is practically completed, but the actual voting (the ‘shouting’) has not yet occurred to ratify this result.
It's extra tortured because of the "literally", and the original "all but" is an odd phrase to start with, but in the end I knew exactly what it mean and didn't even blink at it.