Actionable

[Ned Bedinger]

David Castro wrote:
> On Tue, Apr 8, 2008 at 6:08 PM, Nancy Allison <maker at verizon.net> wrote:
>> When did this word go from meaning "subject to or affording ground for an
>>  action or suit at law" to "something that can be acted on"?
>>
> This brings back a fond memory of my late friend (and Techwr-L member
> for many years), Martha Kolman-Davidson. She and I worked together
> from 1997-1999, but we remained friends from then on. A few years ago,
> I worked for a company that she had worked for (Modulant), and I asked
> her to review a document I had worked on, as she had prior knowledge
> of the company and product. (This was, of course, with management's
> permission.) We had used the "managementese" term actionable, and she
> alerted me to its original meaning. I actually *hadn't* know that, so
> it was yet another opportunity for me to learn something from Martha.
> I changed it. :-)
> 
> I sure miss having her around. Thanks for helping me to recall that
> happiness-is-a-warm-puppy thought!

Martha's email tag line is always one of my favorites.  It comes to mind 
and is so apt. Managed manatees, if I read for a thousand years I doubt 
I would be any closer to being in the right place at the right time to 
find such condensed literature.

Regards.