I walked out of the mall like I was a real bad ass. Once I was in my truck, I slammed the door starting the engine peeling away from my parkin spot.

The “purposive” man ... does not love his cat, but his cat’s kittens; nor, in truth, the kittens, but only the kittens’ kittens, and so on forward forever to the end of cat-dom. For him jam is not jam unless it is a case of jam to-morrow and never jam to-day.

Somehow I do not believe that knowing Hmong culture or language is a prerequisite to being a scholar or learned person. Of course, I would expect a Hmong languist to speak Hmong at the level of expertise required at his level of training. However, I would not apply the same to a Hmong mathematician, physicist, doctor, or any professional whose area of expertise is unrelated to Hmong culture or language.

But if you’re determined to reply, tip your hat to the ever-classy Dionne Warwick —— pre-Psychic Friends Network, anyway —— and tell the rude catcaller: “Walk on By.”