This provided me with a real springstone to learn this new position

This gem was heard by the (un)Civil Professor of Malaphors, Martin Pietrucha.  This is a congruent conflation of “springboard” and “stepping stone”,  both describing something that launches a career or activity.  The word “springstone” reminded Martin of an old 80s EP record, Bruce Springstone: Live at Bedrock, which has a couple of songs on it done by the fictional Bruce Springstone who mashes up Springsteen and the Flintstones.  Great listening if you have never heard it:

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