This column was conceived and intended for last week's paper, but it did not get transferred to my computer and thus not to the paper's email.

I had decided to let it die.

But on Jan. 9 I attended the installation of 2017 officers for the Dawson County Woman's Club, and the incoming president, Georgann Schmalz, chided me for not writing regular columns.

Thus I decided that since she had agreed to serve in that capacity for a second time, I should not be too lazy to dust off my previous intentions.

So here are my "almost plagiarisms" -- comments that have been made by others.

In a recent column I had expressed appreciation for a number of retiring county leaders but realized that somehow I omitted outgoing Sheriff Billy Carlisle. Actually, I have admired and been grateful to Billy not only during his decades of being our top law enforcement official but even in his previous positions. I have known him as a friend and almost-neighbor (when he married Cathy Chappell). Yes, Billy, God blessed Dawson County with your devotion and service.

I know that all that and more was said in the front page story of the Jan. 4 paper. I just wanted to say "Amen."

Also in that paper Tom Crawford's column covered several items which I had intended to applaud. One was a reiteration of my gratitude that voters rejected the constitutional amendment which would have authorized a state takeover of low-performing public schools

He also praised Gov. Nathan Deal's veto of two measures passed by the State Legislature: the so-called "religious freedom" bill, which I felt was unnecessary and probably discriminatory; the other was a bill that would allow firearms on college campuses, which I consider definitely dangerous. So, thank you, Mr. Crawford, for saying it well.

Those two bills may be reintroduced during the 2017 session, but if so I sincerely hope they will be defeated. I will, as I did last year, send that message to my legislators.

The rest of that unwritten column comes from a friend who often shares with me some e-mails and articles that he finds humorous and/or thought-provoking. This one is entitled "Paraprodoskians"; I don't know who initiated these, but I don't claim to be the author.

A paraprodoskian is a figure of speech n which the latter part of a sentence or phrase is surprising or unexpected and is frequently humorous. I hope you will enjoy. (1) Where there's a will, I want to be in it. (2) Since light travels faster than sound, some people appear bright until you hear them speak. 3) If I agreed with you, we'd both be wrong. (4) Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit; wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad. (5) To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research. (6) I didn't say it was your fault, I said I was blaming you. (7) In filling out an application, where it says "In case of emergency, notify..." I answered "a doctor." (8) I used to be indecisive but now I'm not so sure. (9) Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car. (10) I'm supposed to respect my elders but it's getting harder and harder for me to find one now.

But perhaps you're never too old to learn something stupid.