2010 Random Chat

[thingirl]

OK, so I know hair isn't a subject that guys in general get, but...

OK, so I just cut off 10 inches of my hair and donated it to Locks of Love. The frightening thing is that it still comes down to my shoulders.

[texlaw1992]

The wife has her own salon, so I know the organization quite well.

Congrats TG, it'll grow back and the people to whom you donated will be very happy.

[Oldschool]

Way to go about getting a new "do" Thingirl. :D Stand repped.

[thingirl]

Thanks to all!

[Young Ned]

Good for you, thingirl, that was a really sweet thing to do. :)

And people say there's no hope for the younger generation... :rolleyes:

[thingirl]

There is hope for me yet. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJwlmb4V-0Y) :)

[Scarbrow]

Curious thing, that organization. I never heard of it before.

I will have to cut mine a little bit soon now... it's been growing unchecked for almost two years now and could do with some work. It's the first time in my life I've grown my hair this long. I can almost get it all in a single ponytail, though I've gotten accustomed to use a pirate-like headscarf. Black of course

[zmflavius]

Taking this off another random tangent...
The semi-barbaric King of an ancient land utilized an unusual form of administering justice for offenders in his kingdom. The offender would be placed in an arena where his only way out would be to go through one of two doors. Behind one door was a beautiful woman hand-picked by the king and behind the other was a fierce tiger. The offender was then asked to pick one of the doors, without knowing what was behind it. If he picked the door with the woman behind it, then he was declared innocent but was also required to marry the woman, regardless of previous marital status. If he picked the door with the tiger behind it, though, then he was deemed guilty and the tiger would rip him to pieces.
One day the king found that his daughter, the princess, had taken a lover far beneath her station. The king could not allow this and so he threw the offender in prison and set a date for his trial in the arena. On the day of his trial the suitor looked to the princess for some indication of which door to pick. The princess did, in fact, know which door concealed the woman and which one the tiger, but was faced with a conundrum - if she indicated the door with the tiger, then the man she loved would be killed on the spot; however, if she indicated the door with the lady, her lover would be forced to marry another woman, a woman that the princess deeply hated and believed her lover has flirted with. Finally she did indicate a door.





The suitor opened the door the princess indicated.






What was behind the door?

[texlaw1992]

A brand new car!

[Oh wait, sorry, I was thinking "The Price is Right." Never mind.]

[Oldschool]

Texlaw you mean Let's Make A Deal don't you?

And ZM "my answer"....

It was nearly a year after the occurrence of that event in the arena of the semibarbaric king known as the incident of the lady or the tiger, that there came to the palace of this monarch a deputation of five strangers from a far country. These men, of venerable and dignified aspect and demeanour, were received by a high officer of the court, and to him they made known their errand. "Most noble officer," said the speaker of the deputation, "it so happened that one of our countrymen was present here, in your capital city, on that momentous occasion when a young man who had dared to aspire to the hand of your king's daughter had been placed in the arena, in the midst of the assembled multitude, and ordered to open one of two doors, not knowing whether a ferocious tiger would spring out upon him, or a beauteous lady would advance, ready to become his bride. Our fellow citizen who was then present was a man of supersensitive feelings, and at the moment when the youth was about to open the door he was so fearful lest he should behold a horrible spectacle that his nerves failed him, and he fled precipitately from the arena, and, mounting his camel, rode homeward as fast as he could go."

"We were all very much interested in the story which our countrymen told us, and we were extremely sorry that he did not wait to see the end of the affair. We hoped, however, that in a few weeks some traveller from your city would come among us and bring us further news, but up to that day when we left our country no such traveller had arrived. As last it was determined that the only thing to be done was to send a deputation to this country, and to ask the question: 'Which came out of the open door, the lady or the tiger?'"

When the high officer had heard the mission of this most respectable deputation, he led the five strangers into an inner room, where they were seated upon soft cushions, and where he ordered coffee, pipes, sherbet, and other semibarbaric refreshments to be served to them. Then, taking his seat before them, he thus addressed the visitors.

"Most noble strangers, before answering the question you have come so far to ask, I will relate to you an incident which occurred not very long after that to which you have referred. It is well known in all regions hereabout that our great king is very fond of the presence of beautiful women about his court. All the ladies in waiting upon the queen and royal family are most lovely maidens, brought here from every part of the kingdom. The fame of this concourse of beauty, unequalled in any other royal court, has spread far and wide, and had it not been for the equally wide spread fame of the systems of impetuous justice adopted by our king, many foreigners would doubtless have visited our court."

"But not very long ago there arrived here from a distant land a prince of distinguished appearance and undoubted rank. To such a one, of course, a royal audience was granted, and our king met him very graciously, and begged him to make known the object of his visit. Thereupon the prince informed his Royal Highness that, having heard of the superior beauty of the ladies of his court, he had come to ask permission to make one of them his wife."

"When our king heard this bold announcement, his face reddened, he turned uneasily on his throne, and we were all in dread lest some quick words of furious condemnation should leap from out his quivering lips. But by a mighty effort he controlled himself, and after a moment's silence he turned to the prince and said: 'Your request is granted. Tomorrow at noon you shall wed one of the fairest damsels of our court.' Then turning to his officers he said: 'Give orders that everything be prepared for a wedding in the palace at high noon tomorrow. Convey this royal prince to suitable apartments. Send to him tailors, bootmakers, hatters, jewellers, armorers, men of every craft whose services he may need. Whatever he asks, provide. And let all be ready for the ceremony tomorrow.'"

" 'But, your Majesty,' exclaimed the prince, 'before we make these preparations, I would like -'

" 'Say no more!' roared the king. 'My royal orders have been given, and nothing more is needed to be said. You asked a boon. I granted it, and I will hear no more on the subject. Farewell, my prince, until tomorrow noon.'"

[Oldschool]

"At this the king arose and left the audience chamber, while the prince was hurried away to the apartments selected for him. Here came to him tailors, hatters, jewellers, and every one who was needed to fit him out in grand attire for the wedding. But the mind of the prince was much troubled and perplexed."

" 'I do nut understand,' he said to his attendants, 'this precipitancy of action. When am I to see the ladies, that I may choose among them? I wish opportunity, not only to gaze upon their forms and faces, but to become acquainted with their relative intellectual development.'"

" 'We can tell you nothing,' was the answer. 'What our king thinks right, that will he do. More than this we know not.'"

" 'His Majesty's notions seem to be very peculiar,' said the prince, 'and, so far as I can see, they do not at all agree with mine.'"

"At that moment an attendant whom the prince had not noticed came and stood beside him. This was a broad shouldered man of cheery aspect, who carried, its hilt in his right hand, and its broad back resting on his broad arm, an enormous cimeter, the upturned edge of which was keen and bright as any razor. Holding this formidable weapon as tenderly as though it had been a sleeping infant, this man drew closer to the prince and bowed."

" 'Who are you?' exclaimed his Highness, starting back at the sight of the frightful weapon.'"

" 'I,' said the other, with a courteous smile, 'am the Discourager of Hesitancy. When the king makes known his wishes to any one, a subject or visitor, whose disposition in some little points may be supposed not wholly to coincide with that of his Majesty, I am appointed to attend him closely, that, should he think of pausing in the path of obedience to the royal will, he may look at me, and proceed.'"

"The prince looked at him, and proceeded to be measured for a coat."

"The tailors and shoemakers and hatters worked all night, and the next morning, when everything was ready, and the hour of noon was drawing nigh, the prince again anxiously inquired of his attendants when he might expect to be introduced to the ladies."

" 'The king will attend to that,' they said. 'We know nothing of the matter.'"

" 'Your Highness,' aid the Discourager of Hesitancy, approaching with a courtly bow, 'will observe the excellent quality of this edge.' And drawing a hair from his head, he dropped it upon the upturned edge of his cimeter, upon which it was cut in two at the moment of touching."

"The prince glanced, and turned upon his heel."

"Now came officers to conduct him to the grand hall of the palace, in which the ceremony was to be performed. Here the prince found the king seated upon his throne, with his nobles, his courtiers, and his officers standing about him in magnificent array. The prince was led to a position in front of the king, to whom he made obeisance, and then said:
" 'Your majesty, before I proceed further -'

"At this moment an attendant, who had approached with a long scarf of delicate silk, wound it about the lower part of the prince's face so quickly and adroitly that he was obliged to cease speaking. Then, with wonderful dexterity, the rest of the scarf was wound around the prince's head, so that he was completely blindfolded. Thereupon the attendant quickly made openings in the scarf over the mouth and ears, so that the prince might breathe and hear, and fastening the ends of the scarf securely, he retired."

"The first impulse of the prince was to snatch the silken folds from his head and face, but, as he raised his hands to do so, he heard beside him the voice of the Discourager of Hesitancy, who gently whispered: 'I am here your Highness.' And, with a shudder, the arms of the prince fell down by his side."

"Now before him he heard the voice of a priest, who had begun the marriage service in use in that semi-barbaric country. At his side he could hear a delicate rustle, which seemed to proceed from fabrics of soft silk. Gently putting forth his hand, he felt folds of such silk close behind him. Then came the voice of the priest requesting him to take the hand of the lady by his side; and reaching forth his right hand, the prince received within it another hand, so small, so soft, so delicately fashioned, and so delightful to the touch, that a thrill went through his being. Then, as was the custom of the country, the priest first asked the lady would she have this man to be her husband; to which the answer gently came, in the sweetest voice he had ever heard: 'I will."'

"Then ran raptures rampant through the prince's blood. The touch, the tone, enchanted him. All the ladies of that court were beautiful, the Discourager was behind him, and through his parted scarf he boldly answered: 'Yes, I will.'"
"Whereupon the priest pronounced them man and wife."

"Now the prince heard a little bustle about him, the long scarf was rapidly unrolled from his head, and he turned, with a start, to gaze upon his bride. To his utter amazement, there was no one there. He stood alone. Unable on the instant to ask a question or say a word, he gazed blankly about him."

"Then the king arose from his throne, and came down, and took him by the hand."
" 'Where is my wife gasped the prince.'"

" 'She is here,' said the king, leading him to a curtained doorway at the side of the hall."

" 'The curtains were drawn aside, and the prince, entering, found himself in a long apartment, near the opposite wall of which stood a line of forty ladies, all dressed in rich attire, and each one apparently more beautiful than the rest.'"
"Waving his hand toward the line, the king said to the prince: "There is your bride! Approach, and lead her forth! But, remember this: that if you attempt to take away one of the unmarried damsels of our court, your execution will be instantaneous. Now, delay no longer. Step up and take your bride.'"

"The prince, as in a dream, walked slowly along the line of ladies, and then walked slowly back again. Nothing could he see about any one of them to indicate that she was more of a bride than the others. Their dresses were all similar, they all blushed, they all looked up and then looked down. They all had charming little hands. Not one spoke a word. Not one lifted a finger to make a sign. It was evident that the orders given them had been very strict."

" 'Why this delay?' roared the king. 'If I had been married this day to one so fair as the lady who wedded you, I should not wait one second to claim her.'"

"The bewildered prince walked again up and down the line. And this time there was a slight change in the countenances of two of the ladies. One of the fairest gently smiled as he passed her. Another, just as beautiful, slightly frowned."

" 'Now,' said the prince to himself, 'I am sure that it is one of those two ladies whom I have married. But which? One smiled. And would not any woman smile when she saw in such a case, her husband coming toward her? Then again, on the other hand, would not any woman from when she saw her husband come toward her and fail to claim her? Would she not knit her lovely brows? Would she not inwardly say 'It is I! Don't you know it? Don't you feel it? Come!' But if this woman had not been married, would she not frown when she saw the man looking at her? Would she not say inwardly, "Don't stop at me! It is the next but one It is two ladies above. Go on!" Then again, the one who married me did not see my face. Would she not now smile if she thought me comely? But if I wedded the one who frowned, she could restrain her disapprobation if she did not like me? Smiles invite the approach of true love. A frown is a reproach to a tardy advance. A smile -"

" 'Now, hear me!' loudly cried the king. 'In ten seconds, if you do not take the lady we have given you, she who has just been made your bride shall be made your widow.'"

"And, as the last word was uttered, the Discourager of Hesitancy stepped close behind the prince and whispered: 'I am here!'"

"Now the prince could not hesitate an instant; he stepped forward and took one of the two ladies by the hand."
"Loud rang the bells, loud cheered the people, and the king came forward to congratulate the prince. He had taken his lawful bride."

" 'Now, then," said the officer to the deputation of five strangers from a far country, "when you can decide among yourselves which lady the prince chose, the one who smiled or the one who frowned, then I will tell you which came out of the open door, the lady or the tiger!"

At the latest accounts the five strangers had not yet decided.

_________________________


The answer.....


And ZM it looks like you have read The Lady, or the Tiger (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lady,_or_the_Tiger%3F).

Not to mention Batman's writers (starts at about 5:40 - 6:10 to 6:20 is a dead on reference) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGhMKzwpnGU&feature=related)

And for the record although I recognized it and knew the title I gotta give credit to the linked wiki page for the Batman reference which was pretty easy to find on YouTube.

And lastly but not least important, "my" response is from the "sequel" - Stockton's The Discourager of Hesitancy.
(http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Discourager_of_Hesitancy)

[texlaw1992]

I actually remember a teacher reading that "sequel" to us many years ago - must have been elementary school or junior high. Still no resolution to the dilemma.

[Oldschool]

Next.....


In the movie "Pulp Fiction" what's in the briefcase? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulp_Fiction_%28film%29#The_mysterious_briefcase) ;)

Also, http://www.snopes.com/movies/films/pulp.asp

And let's not forget the diamonds from Tarantino's "Resevoir Dogs". ;)

[Snake]

Next.....


In the movie "Pulp Fiction" what's in the briefcase? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulp_Fiction_%28film%29#The_mysterious_briefcase) ;)

Also, http://www.snopes.com/movies/films/pulp.asp

It contains a light bulb that glowed. I think thats right. I can't remember what color it was though.

[Badstench]

His soul... as evidenced from the opening sequence of the movie... the bandage on the back of his neck.

Oh, move accomplished and Telecom got me conected to the internet quickly. I'm Back!

[Oldschool]

Congrats Badstench and kudos to Telecom.

Are you back in full or are you still "on the move"?

[Badstench]

Apart from some necessary shopping to outfit my new apartment, I'm back in full.

[thingirl]

Sweet! Welcome back!

[texlaw1992]

Enjoy the new flat.

[texlaw1992]

Or so my auto dealer insisted today.

I go in for my fourth oil change and tire pressure check. I wait for over an hour and they tell me my car is done.

The lady behind the counter says "Asif?"

I said "No."

She says "The sheet says your Asif Mustafa."

I said "You won't find a Jewish person on this planet named Asif Mustafa. You got me, I'm one of those Jewish Al Quaeda sleeper agents."

She insists I'm Asif, I show her my license and "free oil changes for life" card to the contrary.

Two senior management types come over and pour over the computer.

Apparently someone named Asif came in for service and his Vin number was close to mine. Someone mistyped it and my data showed, so they naturally thought my data was wrong and retyped everythng as Asif. I had to wait nearly 45 minutes for them to switch everything back to my information.

They gave me a substantial discount, but it'd better not happen again.

[thingirl]

Ohh, sorry. That sound annoying.

[texlaw1992]

Incredibly annoying. They told me they adjusted the tire pressure, but when I went out to the car, the light was still on. To their credit, I heard the manager who gave me the discount go out into the garage and told the mechanics that one of them "needs to move his *** and find out why the tire pressure light is still on. Turns out you have to dsrive it for a bit before the sensor adjusts auttomatically, which they did for me, but it's still annoying.

[scout1idf]

Since no one objected to the Annual Random Chat Thread, would it be possible to remove the Poll?

I don't know why, but the poll bothers me....

If not, that's ok too.

[texlaw1992]

I just saw a commercial where they ask if the Geico Gecko is from England, someone else says they thought he was from Australia, and he replies "Actually I'm from ..."

My guess is New Zealand - what do you think Badstench?

[Badstench]

Gieco is the Spanish spelling of Gecko.

A Gecko is a small lizard type creature thought to be a missing link between reptile and amphibian; it is toothless and has padded feet with suckers, which makes it able to scale any surface. Geckos belong to the same order as Skinks.

I got the above from Google.

Here are the facts according to Badstench:

In the Maori language, geckos are known as mokomoko. This translates to English as "Little one".

There are different species of gecko living in New Zealand, the rarest of which came to light recently when a couple of guys tried to smuggle a few specimens out of the country; they had stuck them into plastic tubes and taped the tubes around their stomachs.

The question begs, Why would they do that? The answer is... because these geckos are an endangered species that fetch big prices from people with a gecko fetish. And, even though zoos are meant to be legitimate, certain animals create interest to visitors, and visitors create dollars.

The short answer is, "yes", the diamondback gecko is a New Zealand native, but there are also geckos in Australia.

This is beside the point.

I don't know if you heard this bit of news in America, but it's been big in New Zealand and Norway. A group of young guys from Norway came to New Zealand on a hunting trip, which is fine if they'd stuck to shooting deer and rabbits and possums.

But they actually filmed themselves shooting protected birds... endangered species... and then they posted the film on Youtube.

Now... New Zealand has a beef with Norway regarding their acceptance to whale hunting, but relations between the two countries are, otherwise, strong.

But... when the Youtube movie became public knowledge, all environmental shit broke loose. There are no reciprocal laws between New Zealand and Norway, but it has been promised that if those guys foot in New Zealnd again, they will be arrested.

As for the geckos shoved down the pants of the guy who tried to smuggle them out of the country, he was fined and deported.

http://www.doc.govt.nz/conservation/native-animals/reptiles-and-frogs/lizards/geckos/

[Oldschool]

I wonder if that's setting it up to go with a new voice since they fired the voice over artist.

When I first saw it I envisioned something completely outta left field with some sort of funny explanation.

Although I just stumbled on this, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqQC0Q022eQ&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAsE9wIrDHQ&feature=related

Definitely a lot of potential for the answer.

[Young Ned]

I wonder if that's setting it up to go with a new voice since they fired the voice over artist.

When I first saw it I envisioned something completely outta left field with some sort of funny explanation.

Well, they've already changed the voice at least once since they started doing this series of commercials. Originally he did have an Aussie or NZ accent, but then they switched him to a British accent. (Or maybe it was the other way around, I forget.) I always wondered if the voice changed because they changed ad agencies or something like that.

So this latest commercial, where they interrupt him just before he says where he's actually from, is a rather cute reference to this change. My wife and I were both amused when we saw it.

Although I just stumbled on this, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqQC0Q022eQ&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAsE9wIrDHQ&feature=related

Definitely a lot of potential for the answer.

That first video really misses the point. First, they only took excerpts from the ads where he sounds British; apparently they'd forgotten or didn't have access to the ones where he sounds Aussie. Then, many of the words they claim are specifically British are in fact common usage in Australia, too, I believe.

The second video is amusing, but doesn't really answer the question at all. In fact, it muddies it further, because the guy who says he "grew up with" the gecko sounds American.

Where is the gecko really from? The world may never know...

[Scarbrow]

Gieco is the Spanish spelling of Gecko.

Well I'm not going to argue with the rest of the comment, but the Spanish spelling of Gecko is just Geco (http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geco).

From wiktionary (http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/geco) it seems it's "geco" in Italian too. Sadly the pronunciation is not shown on the international phonetic alphabet (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Phonetic_Alphabet) (and I don't know enough of it to try), but since Spanish is at least easy to pronounce once you get the sounds right, it's a strong "g" like the spanish "J" of "jamón" (which if I'm correct after looking at the wikipedia article is represented precisely as [j] on the IPA). The "c" it's pronounced like the english "ck" so it ends up being pronounced more-or-less the same, given the different language idiosyncrasies.

On a completely unrelated note, I've stripped the poll as requested, and kept a reference at the result as a mod edit on the first post by Elrond.

On an even-less-related note, I've added two new custom BBCodes to the forum, both of them explained on forum updates on a few minutes.

[scout1idf]

.....I've stripped the poll as requested, and kept a reference at the result as a mod edit on the first post by Elrond.

On an even-less-related note, I've added two new custom BBCodes to the forum, both of them explained on forum updates on a few minutes.

Thanks for both.

[thingirl]

Shark Bait Ooh-ha-ha!!!!!!! (I should probably take a break from grinding before it turns me even MORE wacky. :))

A8lmrOfeL-8

[zmflavius]

There's a new remake of an old Romance of the Three Kingdoms TV show.

My dad somehow got videos of every episode before half the episodes were aired.:p

[thingirl]

*Sigh* I should really stop abbreviating stuff. Especially when I'm actually talking to someone.

TG: *Exploring the Realms. Found an extremely rare Artifact* "Shuuu-weeeet!!!! I just found 12 BMs in a crypt!!!!"
TG's mom: "Uhhh...." -_-
TG: "Oh, sorry. Not like that. I forgot you don't know Sryth's alphabet soup. BM is short for Battle Marker. It's a form of currency."

[Young Ned]

*Sigh* I should really stop abbreviating stuff. Especially when I'm actually talking to someone.

TG: *Exploring the Realms. Found an extremely rare Artifact* "Shuuu-weeeet!!!! I just found 12 BMs in a crypt!!!!"
TG's mom: "Uhhh...." -_-
TG: "Oh, sorry. Not like that. I forgot you don't know Sryth's alphabet soup. BM is short for Battle Marker. It's a form of currency."

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v735/Old_Ned/lol.gif

Just imagining your mom's face when you said that...

[smv1973]

*Sigh* I should really stop abbreviating stuff. Especially when I'm actually talking to someone.

TG: *Exploring the Realms. Found an extremely rare Artifact* "Shuuu-weeeet!!!! I just found 12 BMs in a crypt!!!!"
TG's mom: "Uhhh...." -_-
TG: "Oh, sorry. Not like that. I forgot you don't know Sryth's alphabet soup. BM is short for Battle Marker. It's a form of currency."

Your lucky she did not want to take you to the doctors and have you checked out after she heared 12 BM's.

[thingirl]

She's used to me saying weird stuff like that. And then I showed her when I turned it in at the Library and showed her "See? Battle Markers- BMs.".

[scout1idf]

Is the game lagging for everyone or is it just me.

I was fighting in a MP and it was taking forever for the screen to load.

Sent the GM an E-Mail about it.....

[scout1idf]

Is the game lagging for everyone or is it just me.

I was fighting in a MP and it was taking forever for the screen to load.

Sent the GM an E-Mail about it.....

The GM couldn't find anything wrong but the lag seemed to go away for the most part. Probably my ISP....

[Dariel]

Actually, I've been lagging a lot too recently.. It's definitely not my laptop/browser. Everything else is lag-free

[zmflavius]

The GM's ISP maybe?

[scout1idf]

Actually, I've been lagging a lot too recently.. It's definitely not my laptop/browser. Everything else is lag-free
Next time you get an extended lag, send the GM an E-Mail (in game or regular, regular is what I send so you have a better chance for a response when it's resolved).

I sent him one a couple years ago and he found that the server was about to crash. It save him along with the rest of us a lot of trouble.

[thingirl]

I'm going on a trip to the lake tomorrow. I'm going with a few other friends from Church. One of the Middle School Student Leaders and his family invited the Student Leaders to their lake house over the weekend. I'm leaving early tomorrow morning and will get back Sunday. I've got to go and finish packing and stuff.

Happy weekend to all!!!

[Dariel]

Heh, nice. Have fun! :)

[thingirl]

Uggh. I am so red. Like, the color of a nice red apple. If you go out on a boat for 12 hours, remember to re-apply sunscreen more than once.

Other than being sunburned, it was AWESOME!!!! Glad to be home though.

[Oldschool]

Seriously, this isn't one of my shenanigans.

If what you're trying ain't helping.... an old-timer remedy I USED to scoff at.

Best remedy I've found for sunburn - forget the commercial ones or even aloe. You might smell like a pickle though.

Vinegar - I've always used white dunno if cider works although I've heard it does.

You can either put it on directly - I've found a spray bottle on just the burned areas works best and drip dry don't towel off. Or use a compress of sorts. And I have added it to the bath and "sponged" in it. You don't need or want a lot of water for the dilution factor. But this doesn't seem to work as good.

I'm just kidding about smelling like a pickle it seems to go away fairly quickly. And in case you (or anyone else) thinks I'm pulling a fast one although I haven't done one an internet search should confirm/deny it.

Of course if it's really bad see a professional.

Good luck and hope you feel better soon.

[scout1idf]

I'll confirm that it works. I always used cider vinegar since that's all my mother had in the house.


Now for the disclaimer.


I wouldn't use vinegar if you have 2nd degree sunburn (blisters) or worse. I don't know if it would hurt (you) or not, but I wouldn't try it. Seek out something at the pharmacy (ask the pharmacist) or your doctor for a burn that bad.

[Lightwielder]

I'll confirm that it works. I always used cider vinegar since that's all my mother had in the house.


Now for the disclaimer.


I wouldn't use vinegar if you have 2nd degree sunburn (blisters) or worse. I don't know if it would hurt (you) or not, but I wouldn't try it. Seek out something at the pharmacy (ask the pharmacist) or your doctor for a burn that bad.

Correct, scout. I have the First Aid Merit Badge, and it specifically said that various lotions, oil, and vinegar are NOT good for bad burns of any kind.

I can't remember if it said whether or not it was bad for minor burns, though.

[spencer]

Aloe Vera is good too, but I would go with the vinegar, first

[thingirl]

Vinegar? Seriously? I would have NEVER though of that. Why does it work? (Sorry, science brain in overdrive right now...)

[scout1idf]

Vinegar? Seriously? I would have NEVER though of that. Why does it work? (Sorry, science brain in overdrive right now...)

I don't know why, I'm just glad it does. **sitting here with a burn on my shoulders and back**

[thingirl]

Face. Legs. Shoulders. But as you can all tell, my fingers are fine. :)

Mom won't let me try the vinegar. :(

[scout1idf]

Face. Legs. Shoulders. But as you can all tell, my fingers are fine. :)

Mom won't let me try the vinegar. :(
Tell her that it's for your french fries...;)

[thingirl]

Huh?

[racey]

I know quite a few people who use vinegar on their french fries. I personally don't care for it.

[spencer]

Since this is random chat, I will list the things that I like to eat with vinegar

Turnip or seasoned greens
Brussels sprouts
Spinach (cooked)
cole slaw
broccoli
Submarine sandwiches (with oil, of course)
Steamed, fried or boiled cabbage
cheap macaroni and cheese ( I used to eat spinach and Kraft Mac and cheese (not together)) and the vinegar would run into the mac and cheese, and now I like it that way.

There are probably more things, but that is all for now.

[scout1idf]

Huh?
Vinegar on french fries is awesome, especially if it's fries from the county fair.

[Dariel]

Since this is random chat, I will list the things that I like to eat with vinegar

Turnip or seasoned greens
Brussels sprouts
Spinach (cooked)
cole slaw
broccoli
Submarine sandwiches (with oil, of course)
Steamed, fried or boiled cabbage
cheap macaroni and cheese ( I used to eat spinach and Kraft Mac and cheese (not together)) and the vinegar would run into the mac and cheese, and now I like it that way.

There are probably more things, but that is all for now.

I approve of all of those. :D I don't know why, I really like steamed cabbage... And broccoli. XD

[Doolipalally]

Since this is random chat, I will list the things that I like to eat with vinegar

Turnip or seasoned greens
Brussels sprouts
Spinach (cooked)
cole slaw
broccoli
Submarine sandwiches (with oil, of course)
Steamed, fried or boiled cabbage
cheap macaroni and cheese ( I used to eat spinach and Kraft Mac and cheese (not together)) and the vinegar would run into the mac and cheese, and now I like it that way.

There are probably more things, but that is all for now.

Wow, that's just broadened my culinary horizons.

Are we talking malt vinegar or wine vinegar?

I love malt vinegar on chips (that's 'fries' to you lot!). The burger van when I was a student used to know me as 'Miss double vinegar'. Can't get malt vinegar over here so I'm using wine vinegar, but it's just not the same.

Other than that I use different sorts of vinegar sometimes in a stew or salad dressing, but I've never tried it with vegetables! Except come to think of it it does sort of merge with the peas when I do fish & chips & peas, and that is kind of nice...

[Lightwielder]

I love malt vinegar on chips (that's 'fries' to you lot!).

It is so much fun to talk about the differences between European and American speech(and spelling, too). Perhaps it's just me, but it's thoroughly amusing whenever it's brought up.

[spencer]

Wow, that's just broadened my culinary horizons.

Are we talking malt vinegar or wine vinegar?

I love malt vinegar on chips (that's 'fries' to you lot!). The burger van when I was a student used to know me as 'Miss double vinegar'. Can't get malt vinegar over here so I'm using wine vinegar, but it's just not the same.

Other than that I use different sorts of vinegar sometimes in a stew or salad dressing, but I've never tried it with vegetables! Except come to think of it it does sort of merge with the peas when I do fish & chips & peas, and that is kind of nice...

It is primarily wine vinegar. I totally forgot about malt vinegar, which I love on fish and while I still prefer ketchup for my fries (chips), when the malt vinegar gets onto them, I do like it as well.

[kudegras]

Good recipe using vinegar.
1-5lb pork shoulder
2-onion chopped
2 - large carrots chopped
2-celery stalks chopped
1/2 cup-white wine vinegar
1/2 cup-white wine
1/2 cup-pork broth
4 tablespoons salt/pepper/paprika
Braise in large dutch oven at 325 degrees for 4-5 hours. Remove from oven and let sit 30-45 minutes before serving. Easy and freakin delicious.

[Doolipalally]

Good recipe using vinegar.
1-5lb pork shoulder
2-onion chopped
2 - large carrots chopped
2-celery stalks chopped
1/2 cup-white wine vinegar
1/2 cup-white wine
1/2 cup-pork broth
4 tablespoons salt/pepper/paprika
Braise in large dutch oven at 325 degrees for 4-5 hours. Remove from oven and let sit 30-45 minutes before serving. Easy and freakin delicious.

Sounds good, but what's a dutch oven?

[Oldschool]

They're cast iron - similar to a frying pan but deeper and without a handle. They also come with a lid. The lid is designed so that it can hold coals as the dutch oven comes from colonial times or earlier - it came from Europe (presumably The Netherlands) I'm guessing. I've seen models with little stubby legs on 'em and flat on the bottom as well.

EDIT: Figured there was a probably a "separated by a common language" issue so I googled. Seems like the British translation would be casserole dish not to be confused with the Yank casserole dish which is normally a glass contraption.

Also very popular with camping outdoor cooking - around here where I live anyway.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_oven

And in the "never knew that category".

WARNING: It may also fall under the "too much information", "EEWWWW!!!" and several other categories.

[/URL][url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_oven_%28practical_joke%29 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_oven_%28practical_joke)

[Doolipalally]

Ah, right. I thought we were talking about a kind of oven, which to me is the thing you put the cooking pot inside - would you say 'stove'? (EDIT: no, looking again at kudegras' recipe I guess you'd call it an oven as well :))

Anyway, turns out I have a Dutch oven, which I know as my Le Creuset cast-iron casserole pot (like this one (http://cookingfortwo.about.com/od/reviewsrecommendations/fr/Dutchoven.htm)). So that's me sorted :)

[Oldschool]

Well here you would put the Dutch oven in the stove's oven. ;) Although many Dutch oven dishes can be cooked in it on top of the stove. And I have heard both a stove referred to as a range as well as just the top (burners). Clear as mud, eh.

[Doolipalally]

lol - and that's before you start talking about the hob, the rings and the Aga...

[spencer]

Regardless, the recipe sounds good, I think I will give it a whirl.

[spencer]

Another vinegar dish that I really enjoy.

I peel and slice cucumbers and add vinegar and just a touch of splenda, dill spice and salt and pepper, delicious.

For variety, you can add onions, tomatoes, cilantro and other spices, too.

[Doolipalally]

Another vinegar dish that I really enjoy.

I peel and slice cucumbers and add vinegar and just a touch of splenda, dill spice and salt and pepper, delicious.

For variety, you can add onions, tomatoes, cilantro and other spices, too.

*goes and looks up 'splenda'*

I'm learning a lot today! :D

[spencer]

LOL, I used to add a pinch of sugar, but we have almost none in the house, we use splenda for almost everything that calls for sugar :)

[Young Ned]

Ah, right. I thought we were talking about a kind of oven, which to me is the thing you put the cooking pot inside - would you say 'stove'? (EDIT: no, looking again at kudegras' recipe I guess you'd call it an oven as well :))

"Stove" is the entire appliance, with burners on top and an oven below. Also sometimes called a range, especially by companies selling high-end near-professional versions like Wolf and Viking. (I'm not sure, but "range" may also be a regional variation.)

[Oldschool]

Range may indeed be regional Young Ned as it's fairly common here - more common among older folks.

Found this interesting, http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-ran1.htm

And occasionally (here at least) you hear cookstove which differentiates it from the woodstove (strictly for heating). Again that's more common among older folks.

And lets not forget stove as a verb, as in "the door was locked so he stove it in". Which iirc comes from stave as in staves of a barrel that you sometimes stave (stove) in.

[Oldschool]

Stumbled across this and thought I'd pass it along.

Some really neat stuff.

http://www.likecool.com/cate-Home.html

[Young Ned]

And occasionally (here at least) you hear cookstove which differentiates it from the woodstove (strictly for heating). Again that's more common among older folks.

Interesting. Definitely not something you hear much in urban areas.

And lets not forget stove as a verb, as in "the door was locked so he stove it in". Which iirc comes from stave as in staves of a barrel that you sometimes stave (stove) in.

Right, "stave" is the present tense, "stove" is the past tense. Another way I've heard it used is that you might have a small snack to "stave off" the hunger pangs until dinnertime. I don't know if there's any connection to "staves", the old plural of "staff". ("Staffs" is accepted in modern usage.)

[zmflavius]

Shortest IQ test ever.

IQ Test. (http://www.iqtestforfree.com/)

Tell me what you think.

[Dariel]

Oh darn. They got me again. :p

[Young Ned]

Shortest IQ test ever.

IQ Test. (http://www.iqtestforfree.com/)

Tell me what you think.

Hardy-har-har. :rolleyes:

Sorry, I'm not a big fan of being gratuitously insulted.

[spencer]

I went for it as well...but it was only 300 seconds.

[thingirl]

Oh, come on, at least tell me how many I got right.

[spencer]

Oh, come on, at least tell me how many I got right.

Um, I think it does tell you. I scored a 67, which, I believe, would be 6/9, not sure though.

[zmflavius]

Actually, it's always 67. The entire test is a joke. I'm pretty sure some questions don't have right answers.

[spencer]

actually, it's always 67. The entire test is a joke. I'm pretty sure some questions don't have right answers.



doh!!!!

[Doolipalally]

Hardy-har-har. :rolleyes:

Sorry, I'm not a big fan of being gratuitously insulted.

Yep, that was my reaction too.

I didn't take this test because I was looking for accurate information about my intelligence. I took it because I had an idle five minutes, you'd posted the link, and if someone posts a link they think is interesting it seems polite to follow up on it. So no, not the biggest laugh I've ever had, more like a complete waste of time.

[Lightwielder]

Yep, that was my reaction too.

I didn't take this test because I was looking for accurate information about my intelligence. I took it because I had an idle five minutes, you'd posted the link, and if someone posts a link they think is interesting it seems polite to follow up on it. So no, not the biggest laugh I've ever had, more like a complete waste of time.

I'm not even into regular IQ tests. The word "pedant" exists for a reason. Knowledge is useless if you cannot properly apply it. THIS is how I judge intelligence; not how much you know, but how well you use what you know. Many people, even some with college degrees, are still considered idiots because they don't learn the valuable skills and traits widely respected by employers and other particular figures.

On the other hand, one person I actually know has earned the respect of many employers, due to his outstanding work ethic and properly applying the skills he DOES know, yet he never even finished high school.

This is why I never measure intelligence by how technically knowledgeable you are, but by the way you apply the knowledge you know.

[Doolipalally]

I'm not even into regular IQ tests. The word "pedant" exists for a reason. Knowledge is useless if you cannot properly apply it. THIS is how I judge intelligence; not how much you know, but how well you use what you know. Many people, even some with college degrees, are still considered idiots because they don't learn the valuable skills and traits widely respected by employers and other particular figures.

On the other hand, one person I actually know has earned the respect of many employers, due to his outstanding work ethic and properly applying the skills he DOES know, yet he never even finished high school.

This is why I never measure intelligence by how technically knowledgeable you are, but by the way you apply the knowledge you know.

I agree, but I'm not sure what this has to do with the issue at hand, which is whether Zm's link is funny or not.

[Lightwielder]

Oh, I didn't realize that was the topic at hand. You commented about it being a waste of time, and I was expressing that I consider most IQ tests to be a waste of time, real or not. I responded to your comment, specifically.

Yeah, I hit that wall again. The wall of "It was relevant in my head, but unfortunately it doesn't always connect in the heads of others until I explain it." I get that more than you know.

Well, this IS Random Chat, I suppose. This thread exists just for that reason, that it doesn't always have to be (or seem) relevant. :)

[Doolipalally]

Yeah, I hit that wall again. The wall of "It was relevant in my head, but unfortunately it doesn't always connect in the heads of others until I explain it." I get that more than you know.

Ah, that wall. I know it well! :)

[thingirl]

Yeah, I hit that wall again. The wall of "It was relevant in my head, but unfortunately it doesn't always connect in the heads of others until I explain it." I get that more than you know.

Oh, I hate that wall. It's more of an enemy to me that spellcheck. :)

[scout1idf]

I just took a short walk through the old forum and noticed that some of the old members (the missing ones) avatars are now inactive.

I know that with the old forum a link was necessary for a custom picture, but it makes me wonder if they are truly gone from the game/forum or if they were doing house cleaning on the source site and didn't realize that they removed it?

One that stands out is Subzero.

As I think about it, I've been thinking of dumping my "My Space" account which will end my avatar on the old forum as well.

That thought makes me sad in a way.

To preserve "my image", I may see about adding the picture to my site and linking it from there. Or just let my connection to the old forum die while the new one grows.......

[Oldschool]

My avatar was also inactive a few months ago so I reloaded another one. Didn't give it much thought but now that you mention it quite a few members avatars are inactive on the old forum.

[Lightwielder]

Partial lunar eclipse visible right now. Started at 3:17 PST, and it is AWESOME! I wish I had a camera.

If you couldn't tell, I really like the moon.

I hear that there's a full lunar eclipse coming up in December, and my Birthday is before then, so I might be able to get a really good camera for such an event. Probably be out all night getting good shots of all the phases.

Oh, well, we'll see what the future holds!

[Lightwielder]

I sense a disturbance in the force...Thingirl's disappeared.

[scout1idf]

I sense a disturbance in the force...Thingirl's disappeared.
The whole forum has seemed 'dead' lately, and I don't mean just on the weekend.

Where is everybody???

I noticed several times on the game as well that there weren't many active players.

I suddenly feel...... so... alone.....


EDIT:

Currently there are 107 playing right now.

I feel a little better......

[Lightwielder]

The whole forum has seemed 'dead' lately, and I don't mean just on the weekend.

Where is everybody???

I noticed several times on the game as well that there weren't many active players.

I suddenly feel...... so... alone.....


EDIT:

Currently there are 107 playing right now.

I feel a little better......

Yeah, I know how that feels. It goes through those phases occasionally.

But it's even stranger that Thingirl seems to have disappeared. And not just for the weekend, either. It's been longer than that.

At least I'm here.

[thingirl]

Who's gone? I'm not gone. Am I? No, I seem to be all here. I think. Maybe. Not sure about my brain. :p

For some reason Sryth just hasn't been as addicting for me as it used to be. And so I've been playing other games, most of which are full screen games with no easy "screen toggle" that I like using. So I'm not on the internet, so I don't visit my favorite haunt.

And I've been busy. This week is my Church's VBS (Vacation Bible School) and I'm helping with snacks for... Oh... 200+ kids. That includes preparing and delivering them. VBS runs Sunday-Thursday. And then Middle School camp is this week too, July 1st-6th. Not sure when I get back. Probably the 7th. Hmm, can I go that long without posting and not blow up? We'll see...

EDIT: To put this in perspective, today is about the 5th time ever that the "new posts" search has more than one page for me. And it's never been more than two... :p :rolleyes:

[zmflavius]

(Translated from the Original French)


Two Eagles Descend From the Sky


Two Brothers collapse in the North and the West


The Great Leader Succumbs


And the Third War Begins At Last


–Nostradamus, First published on September 11, 1335

What do you think?

[texlaw1992]

I've been playing Playstation games lately and so have not had as much time for Sryth, although I make a point of logging on to the game and the forum at least once a day. I hooked up the PS3 recently that I bought for the wife in December and discovered that a game I really liked for the PS2 was now up to version 3 on the PS3 (I did not even know there was a version 2, which I'm playing now). It gets addictive.

None of Nostradamus' "prophecies" have ever come true. I'm not holding my breath on the one Zm posted.

TG, why worry about planning for snacks for VBS - just tell the kids G-d will provide if they've been good (lol). On a more serious note, I commend you for your volunteerism.

[zmflavius]

I've been playing Playstation games lately and so have not had as much time for Sryth, although I make a point of logging on to the game and the forum at least once a day. I hooked up the PS3 recently that I bought for the wife in December and discovered that a game I really liked for the PS2 was now up to version 3 on the PS3 (I did not even know there was a version 2, which I'm playing now). It gets addictive.

None of Nostradamus' "prophecies" have ever come true. I'm not holding my breath on the one Zm posted.

TG, why worry about planning for snacks for VBS - just tell the kids G-d will provide if they've been good (lol). On a more serious note, I commend you for your volunteerism.

Yeah...when was the last time flying things descended from the sky to knock down two twins?

[Young Ned]

Yeah...when was the last time flying things descended from the sky to knock down two twins?

You say that as if something like it happened just recently, but it's not ringing any bells for me.

[Lightwielder]

You say that as if something like it happened just recently, but it's not ringing any bells for me.

I can't tell if you're being sarcastic, Young Ned, but I think Zm is referring to 9-11 and the Twin Towers.

However...
Two Brothers collapse in the North and the West

...It doesn't say anything about twins.

[Doolipalally]

I have a lot of respect for Nostradamus. It's not everyone who can come up with absolute twaddle that sounds like it actually means something and is applicable to all sorts of situations if you want it to be so.

[Lightwielder]

I have a lot of respect for Nostradamus. It's not everyone who can come up with absolute twaddle that sounds like it actually means something and is applicable to all sorts of situations if you want it to be so.

Yeah, well, there's a fine line between genius and madness, I hear. The difficult part is figuring out which side he was on.

[Young Ned]

I can't tell if you're being sarcastic, Young Ned, but I think Zm is referring to 9-11 and the Twin Towers.

Nope, completely lacking in sarcasm. Thanks for the explanation!

I have a lot of respect for Nostradamus. It's not everyone who can come up with absolute twaddle that sounds like it actually means something and is applicable to all sorts of situations if you want it to be so.

Heh, astrologers do it every day.

[thingirl]

There's a reason I couldn't care less about my horoscope... And I'm thinking of a video where someone wrote up the same horoscope for 20 kids and they all thought it applied to them. I can't find it though.

TG, why worry about planning for snacks for VBS - just tell the kids G-d will provide if they've been good (lol). On a more serious note, I commend you for your volunteerism.

Yeah, try saying that to the snack coordinator... And I'm not planning or "cooking" I'm bringing the snacks to the kids.

[Doolipalally]

Heh, astrologers do it every day.

Yeah, but I still think he deserves extra kudos - I mean, your average newspaper astrologer only has to come up with stuff that sounds like it applies to the personal lives of whoever's reading. Nostradamus managed to come up with stuff that sounds like it could be relevant to global politics several hundred years later. Mind you, if we'd stopped using animal symbolism for leaders and countries a lot of it wouldn't work so well.

[Scarbrow]

Yeah, but I still think he deserves extra kudos - I mean, your average newspaper astrologer only has to come up with stuff that sounds like it applies to the personal lives of whoever's reading. Nostradamus managed to come up with stuff that sounds like it could be relevant to global politics several hundred years later. Mind you, if we'd stopped using animal symbolism for leaders and countries a lot of it wouldn't work so well.

hmmm... maybe the reason is that Nostradamus never bothered to say something along the lines of "you'll have a nice day, but take care of your stomach" which just sounds... cheap. Instead, he went for the big metaphors. And as there are not so many of them people use to think there are, it's not strange they make sense somehow, somewhere.

This is also related to the human nature, which makes us try to connect everything together because we think in terms of links. If something happens (at the same time or immediately after) some action we took, we naturally tend to believe it was our action which caused the other action, even when that's completely irrational (like a thunder caused by a clap of your fingers). We even have to check (by doing it again) that we didn't cause the effect. This psychological mechanism also makes us try to explain every effect's cause, even when its only cause of pure chance and randomness. And thus, superstition (including "future prediction") is born.

Dissecting the Nostradamus verse, we find:
* Two Eagles Descend From the Sky. The name used (eagles) may imply the two things may be regal in nature (or more literally, able to fly). Since they "descend from the sky" this could also mean some angelic beings (from heaven), or even spaceships (from outer space). Or they could mean any falling aircraft. Remember that strange sequence of weird aircraft accidents we had a year or two ago? Hey, thinking about aircraft, since they "descend" we could assume they do it gracefully, that is, two planes just take down. With two kings or queens on them, for the best effect.
* Two brothers collapse in the North and the West. Since no reference point is given, this could mean almost any place in the world. There are few things that cannot be at the North and the West of something, if you get East and South enough. The "brothers" may imply two objects or two beings that are in close relationship. They also can be two things similar in nature, purpose, or function. And "collapse" may mean collapse (for buildings), death (for people), fall (for empires) etc. To illustrate this point, if we take our reference point in Greece, this line could very well refer to the "fall" in Fascism of Italy and Germany on WWII.
* The Great Leader Succumbs. Supposing this refers to a person, the immediate question is: to what? A disease, an assassination attempt, natural death? Or more metaphorically, to what influence? Despotism, communism, corruption?. Or politically, this could just mean a leader is deposed (or dethroned, since it's so Great) and anoother one take his or her place.
* And the Third War Begins At Last. This is a famous line. Famous because after 1945 the world's worst nightmares center around the idea of a WWIII. Even if 65 years have already passed, even if the world is more connected than ever, and is implausible that a big country can fall today without all the others suffering. Even if there has never been a longer (at least, on the Northern and Western parts of the world) and most peaceful period, we still fear it. The war that will end all wars. But even to this line I will say: where in the world says it will be the Third "World" War? This may mean several historic conflicts that have had three (and more) stages. I won't try to give examples, since my historic knowledge is quite limited, but I'll just add a link. Behold, the Second Millenium Conflicts (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:2nd-millennium_conflicts) category on the mighty Wikipedia! And after a two-minute browse, the Hundred Years War (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Hundred_Years%27_War) may have already fulfilled this role.

So, to summarize my point:
If you can't see the "prediction" until the "event" has already taken place, there was no prediction to start with.

[Young Ned]

Yeah, but I still think he deserves extra kudos - I mean, your average newspaper astrologer only has to come up with stuff that sounds like it applies to the personal lives of whoever's reading. Nostradamus managed to come up with stuff that sounds like it could be relevant to global politics several hundred years later. Mind you, if we'd stopped using animal symbolism for leaders and countries a lot of it wouldn't work so well.

So, to summarize my point:
If you can't see the "prediction" until the "event" has already taken place, there was no prediction to start with.

Exactly. Basically, Nostradamus succeeded by being even vaguer than astrologers, to the point where anything he said could be taken to mean almost anything. And all the Capital Letters made the things he said seem Especially Significant. (Plus, he deliberately made them as obscure as possible -- to avoid arguments with religious fanatics, according to his Wikipedia article (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nostradamus) -- by writing them "using 'Virgilianized' syntax, word games and a mixture of other languages such as Greek, Italian, Latin, and Provençal", so nobody could figure out what the predictions were in the first place.)

So I think his real achievement was in marketing himself to the public... or should that be "to the Public"? ;)

[Young Ned]

Reading this thread again, I just wanted to add a little more regarding this:

And the Third War Begins At Last. This is a famous line. Famous because after 1945 the world's worst nightmares center around the idea of a WWIII. Even if 65 years have already passed, even if the world is more connected than ever, and is implausible that a big country can fall today without all the others suffering. Even if there has never been a longer (at least, on the Northern and Western parts of the world) and most peaceful period, we still fear it. The war that will end all wars. But even to this line I will say: where in the world says it will be the Third "World" War? This may mean several historic conflicts that have had three (and more) stages. I won't try to give examples, since my historic knowledge is quite limited, but I'll just add a link. Behold, the Second Millenium Conflicts (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:2nd-millennium_conflicts) category on the mighty Wikipedia! And after a two-minute browse, the Hundred Years War (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Hundred_Years%27_War) may have already fulfilled this role.

Very good point. "Third War" does not necessarily have to mean "World War III", especially since not everybody even agrees on the name of World War II. As Dooli pointed out in a recent blog post (http://flyingtriffid.wordpress.com/2010/06/10/victory-day/), WWII is referred to in Russia as "the Great Patriotic War".

[Doolipalally]

Reading this thread again, I just wanted to add a little more regarding this:



Very good point. "Third War" does not necessarily have to mean "World War III", especially since not everybody even agrees on the name of World War II. As Dooli pointed out in a recent blog post (http://flyingtriffid.wordpress.com/2010/06/10/victory-day/), WWII is referred to in Russia as "the Great Patriotic War".

Cripes, I've been outed :)

[Young Ned]

Whoops, sorry, should I not have posted that link? I thought I remembered you posting about your blog here when you first started it.

[thingirl]

*Walks in after almost a week away*

Wow, a week? That long and I haven't died from keyboard withdrawal? Anyway...

I've mostly lost my voice from singing so loud, I'm sunburned, and I'm about ready to collapse from exhaustion after multiple days of getting up a 7am and going to bed at 12 am or later. IT WAS AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[spencer]

*Walks in after almost a week away*

Wow, a week? That long and I haven't died from keyboard withdrawal? Anyway...

I've mostly lost my voice from singing so loud, I'm sunburned, and I'm about ready to collapse from exhaustion after multiple days of getting up a 7am and going to bed at 12 am or later. IT WAS AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Welcome back :)

[Doolipalally]

Whoops, sorry, should I not have posted that link? I thought I remembered you posting about your blog here when you first started it.

No problem - I hadn't mentioned it, but it's not a secret! :)


Welcome back TG!

[texlaw1992]

FYI, while I doubt it was mentioned in the display you viewed, most of the "weapons" displayed during the Victory Day parade in Soviet times were just cardboard mockups of large missiles and so forth to make the USSR seem much more powerful than it really was. I'm not sure if modern-day Russia has continued that tradition or not.

[Doolipalally]

FYI, while I doubt it was mentioned in the display you viewed, most of the "weapons" displayed during the Victory Day parade in Soviet times were just cardboard mockups of large missiles and so forth to make the USSR seem much more powerful than it really was. I'm not sure if modern-day Russia has continued that tradition or not.

I'd be interested to know where you came across that information. It's definitely not true now - let's face it, you've got journalists from around the world within spitting distance of these things. And whereas I didn't see the parade myself, my other half went and saw a passing ICBM. I think he'd be able to tell the difference between a cardboard mock-up and the real thing.

To be honest, I'd be a bit surprised if it were true in Soviet times. Big metal tubes without active warheads, maybe. Anything less would have been horribly risky, given that the parades were captured on film, and witnessed at close range by all sorts of people.

You can see the 1965 parade at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lb86tu9W3hM. Have to say they don't look like cardboard to me, though as the commentator says, we've no way of knowing if they were fully functional.

[texlaw1992]

I probably should have said "mockups" rather than "cardboard mockups." The point is that a number of the missiles and so forth were just dummies in Soviet times. It was fairly widely publicized after the collapse of the USSR and former generals went on record about it. I doubted that modern-day Russia continued that tradition, at least not on the record (lol).

[Young Ned]

Welcome back, TG! Glad you had fun. Where were you again? Some kind of camp?

I probably should have said "mockups" rather than "cardboard mockups." The point is that a number of the missiles and so forth were just dummies in Soviet times. It was fairly widely publicized after the collapse of the USSR and former generals went on record about it. I doubted that modern-day Russia continued that tradition, at least not on the record (lol).

Considering Russia's the nation that originated the Potemkin village (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potemkin_village), it's a more venerable tradition than you probably realized. But yes, I doubt they've continued it...

[thingirl]

I went to Panama City Beach. :cool: And my room was beach front. :cool: But the first day we had a double red flag. :( The pool was nice though :). My Youth Group stayed at Laguna Beach Christian Retreat (http://www.christiancamp.com/).

One of my favorite experiences was in Worship. We finished one song and it was quiet enough to hear that it had started raining. And not just raining, someone split open the bottoms of the clouds. The Worship leader was like "hey guys, check this out!" and then started playing the next song (Cannons (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_GNVWAo1pY) by Phil Wickham). The band played for about 10 seconds then "It's falling from the clouds / A strange and lovely sound / I hear it in the thunder and rain". Awesome.

[Badstench]

The following is fact, and has no interest or bearing on anything whatsoever except... well, I thought it might tickle Oldschool's funny bone.

Next week, I'm flying from Auckland back to the province in New Zealand where my extended family hales from. The main point of this trip is to check on my son (if you'll remember, I posted about him in another thread where I mentioned that I had set him up with some work experience on a vineyard).

The second reason to visit my old stomping-ground is to re-acquaint myself with my niece, Anika, who recently had her first birthday. (You might also remember that I mentioned about moving house not long ago. Dooli filled in for me with the birthdates thread.)

Before I moved house to become a single occupant of the worst house in the most expensive suburb of Auckland, I was sharing a place (and costs) with my brother, his partner and their baby. (Okay, Oldschool... it's not funny yet, but bear with me.) I was present while my niece went from a new-born to a tummy-wriggler to a crawler. I love that kid.

I moved about seven weeks ago, and my brother moved back to the province of our origin, taking his family with him. At first, I thought how wonderful it would be to have my own life back; to live in a place that didn't smell of pooey diapers, or have to be worried about safety issues surrounding a baby.

It is wonderful, but at the same time, I miss the little critter!

The third reason for going home is to catch up with friends from my youth. I don't know if I've got any left, because, apart from the odd phone call and facebook exchange, I haven't kept in touch all that often... I haven't been a very good friend. I want to change that.

This still isn't funny. I'm rambling too much, so I'll get to the point...

I live in Auckland City, which is central to the greater Auckland area, which actually encompasses four cities (the other three have unpronounceable Maori names). The province I come from is only one hour's flight south and east, or 5-6 hours by car.

It has the name, Hawk's Bay.

(You can laugh now, Oldschool!)

[Lightwielder]

Perhaps a little too much buildup, methinks; though the story was appreciated, nonetheless.

[Badstench]

My name is Judge Fury. behind that name is a handler who calls himself Badstench. Behind that name is a human from a world called "Earth".

What sort of name is "Earth", eh?

It sounds like a noise made by a drunk adventurer when he's up-chucking beneath a table in the Adventurer's Collective.

"Earth, earth.... spit... ick... earth"

Let's disect the meaning of "earth"!

Apart from the given, which is the name given by the inhabitants of the third planet from the star called Sol, it also means '"dirt"

Very nice!

Imagine this.... a higher intelligence flies umpteen light years across the galaxy to greet an alien intelligence, and when they get here after a millenium of cryo-stasis and playing interminable games of scrabble, the first person they meet is an astronaut from a planet called "dirt".

No... we actually meant "Earth!"

Oh.. okay... so, according to your wisdom, as displayed by the All-Encompassing wiki... you come from the burrow of a subterranean mammal?

No, no. You have that backwards. The subterranean mammal makes a home in the earth.

The dirt?

Umm... yes, but it's the dirt that belongs to earth, see?

Vaporise these people. They're idiots!

[Doolipalally]

'Soil' is a much better synonym for 'earth' than 'dirt'. 'Dirt' could be earth, could be dust, could be any kind of grime. 'Earth' is the ground of our planet, the soil which enables us to grow food. Depending on what kind of star-travelling aliens we end up with, they might well understand that.

And 'Earth' is just what it's called in English. Depending on who the aliens end up talking to, they might hear it referred to as 'Terra'', or 'Ay' or 'Bumi' or 'Ngwedi', none of which sound like the noise of a drunken adventurer under a table to me (although admittedly 'Ay' might sound like an adventurer who's just been flamed by Ildraria). (I found a list of planets' names in different languages here (http://nineplanets.org/days.html). It's quite fun.)

And I just looked up the meaning of 'Zemlya', which is the Russian/Croatian/Polish for Earth, and it translates as 'land'. Which may be a bit of an inaccurate way to describe the planet, given all the wet stuff, but at least isn't really dirty.

(This seems more like general waffle than adventure chat to me. Could someone move these posts to the random chat department?)

[thingirl]

I'd just call it Thulcandra and see what happens. (Thulcandra and the proper name for Earth in C. S. Lewis's Space Trilogy.) Although, whatever it's called, I'm not really one for "The Silent Planet", am I? :)

[Lightwielder]

(This seems more like general waffle than adventure chat to me. Could someone move these posts to the random chat department?)

Uh, does the word "waffle" mean the same in Moscow than it does in America? Over here, it's a food we eat. I've never heard "waffle" used to mean "chatter."

(Oh, and since this is Random Chat, a random thanks to Thingirl for giving me my 150th rep.)

[Oldschool]

Don't know about Moscow as I think that's a Brit term.

I'm guessing it's akin to the American "waffle" as in prattle on about something. As in....

He can't make a decision about that. All he can do is waffle back and forth about it.

Makes me wonder about other terms for the waffle you eat as well as pancake/flapjack/etc...

If I recall correctly one of "me rugger mates" ;) terms for pancake was dropped scone. And if I've got it right that's because scones are cooked in the oven but a dropped scone is dropped on a frying pan/griddle.

And while I'm on breakfast fare.....

I don't know about Brits in general but the ones I've knew take bacon to a whole 'nother level. Not just the ways it's cooked but the ways it's cut (emphasis on ways plural). The guys I played rugby with found a local butcher shop that knew how to cut stuff "English style" (for lack of a better term). You ain't had bacon till you've had "English bacon". Variety and um um good being the key words, not to mention the fact that it's not just referred to simply as "bacon".

And lets not forget bangers aka sausage links. Or bangers and mash.

I know I've mentioned that those guys could play rugby and drink - but they could cook and eat as well.

Gee I'm hungry all of a sudden. :)

[Badstench]

"waffle" is also used in New Zealand. When you're "waffling", you're talking without saying anything, dithering verbally, not saying anything of relevance or importance.

we also eat waffles, though these are not unlike "pikelets", which are not unlike pancakes. My very favourite breakfast is French toast with grilled bacon and banana smothered in maple syrup, sprinkled with icing sugar and garnished with grapes. The bacon has to be cut as detailed below...

When I was in the US and wanted a breakfast of bacon and eggs, I was flummoxed to receive bacon strips. Where I come from, you get served rashers of bacon... with the fat and the rind still attached. Is this how your rugby friends like theirs, Oldschool?

[Oldschool]

I recall them using the term rasher - iirc a very lean irregular sliced version of our bacon with ham attached. I also think it was called back bacon which is different than streaky bacon (our version). That was one of the reasons they liked that butcher's shop because he knew how to cut bacon and other meats they way they wanted. And truthfully looking back on it some of the cuts were probably the same or similar enough that it may have been because there wasn't any language barriers to hurdle. Or the fact that they wouldn't have to explain the cut they wanted.

I also recall a stew (with different variations - regional I'm guessing) where everything was cut flat like bacon and served on a plate. I know it was a traditional dish and had a very specific name - just can't recall the particulars. As well as some bacon "pies".

And like here they used bacon in other dishes. A few that I can recall are oysters wrapped in bacon as well as prunes and some type of sausages. Often served together in different combos and with other dishes. The bacon wrapped sausages were referred to a "pigs in a blanket". I probably only recall that one because here "pigs in a blanket" are hot dogs surrounded by biscuit dough. And like many times when we had those "separated by a common language" moments a good-natured and lively discussion would ensue over the proper use of language and our "perversion" of it, lol.

They called American bacon "streaky" because it's cut from the belly and marbled/streaked with fat. While they didn't shun it it was considered the "lower class" of bacon.

And streaky slices is about the extent of what we call bacon (at least locally). We have other bacon but we call it Canadian bacon - again similar to rashers in that it's lean but it's usually circular and really not prepared/used as bacon. More as a cold cut/sandwich meat. And we have fatback here which is almost pure fat as well as pork loin (very lean) both of which we don't really consider bacon.

One American innovation from Texlaw's part of the country is chicken or country fried bacon. Another is the Bacon Explosion which is popular at game/tailgating parties.

[Doolipalally]

Sorry, Lightwielder - didn't think before using that term. Badstench described that use of 'waffle' perfectly.

Re 'bacon' - I usually use the word on its own, and I mean a rasher of bacon, which is a slice of back bacon. Personally I cut the fat off before eating it, which is why I'm not keen on streaky bacon. Not sure what you mean by 'with ham attached', Oldschool? For me, bacon's bacon and ham's ham - different ways of preparing the meat.

(Oysters wrapped in bacon? That's a new one on me! But then, oysters are fairly rare in the UK. 'Pigs in a blanket' I recognise, though I don't think I've ever eaten it.)

Oddly enough, I was thinking about bacon in America last night while watching the opening credits of 'Dexter'. The meat which gets fried for breakfast in the credits looks to me like some sort of thick-cut gammon (which is a sort of ham). Would you call that bacon? If so, what kind?

[Oldschool]

Well by ham I just meant lean pork which we often call ham and eggs.

Just took a look at the opening of Dexter (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8lXO8jj1Ns&feature=player_detailpage#t=39s). We wouldn't call that bacon. It looks like either like a slice of country ham (http://www.hollyeats.com/images/South/Todds-CountryHamEggs.jpg) or a breakfast pork chop (http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2585/3981679365_878dc18c68.jpg).

Or as you put it "gammon".

Separated by a common language indeed, lol.

[Doolipalally]

Interesting. 'Country ham' looks like bacon to me! :)

[Badstench]

Okay... more "bacon" chat. In New Zealand, bacon is predominantly sliced... a 'rasher' by proper name.

Bacon encompasses the same meaning as steak, yet there are many different cuts of steak taken from different areas of the beast it is obtained from... rump steak, sirloin steak, blade steak, scotch fillet, etc. Some are good frying steak, some are better for stewing, some are only fit for mincing.

I am familiar with shoulder bacon, middle bacon, lean bacon and... erm... that's about it, though all types of bacon differ from pork steaks. Again, depending on the part of the body the bacon is obtained, the texture, taste, cooking consistency is affected.

[scout1idf]

This is the Bacon (http://baconhaikus.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/bacon-05.jpg) that I know.

And this is Ham (http://images.businessweek.com/ss/07/01/0111_cloned_foods/image/ham_01.jpg) as I know it.

[Doolipalally]

Agree with you on the ham!

I'd also call the bacon bacon, but I'd probably call it streaky bacon.

[Badstench]

Anyway... just to ham it up... pffft... more on curious expressions.

I once had a relationship with an american girl, and when she got angry with me one day, I said... "it's no use throwing a wobbly!"

She stopped, looked at me and said... "what?"

When I explained to her about the meaning of "wobbly", she fell over laughing, whereupon our argument was forgotten and we proceeded to have a very nice evening (I won't detail how).

"Wobbly", in the context of my sentence, means... "throwing a tantrum born from frustration, an inability to react appropriately where a display of anger would suffice." In other words, it's like waving your hands in the air in exasperation while having an incoherent rant.

You "Throw a wobbly"!

[Doolipalally]

Interesting how many of these NZ and UK expressions are the same. We also throw wobblies. Occasionally someone may have a hissy fit, which is more or less the same thing.

[Oldschool]

While we don't throw wobblies we do throw hissy fits or sometimes a hissy.

[spencer]

Oldschool, you gazumped me. I am trying to think of another similar term, but the only ones the come to mind are

Don't get so wadded, or Don't have a meltdown.

[thingirl]

We have some Missionaries at our church the next few weeks. They're from the UK. And the comment of one of the kids (High School) who went to England with them on a missions trip was "You think 'England, U.S. We both speak English.' Yeah, not so much..."

I agree!

[Oldschool]

Oldschool, you gazumped me. I am trying to think of another similar term, but the only ones the come to mind are

Don't get so wadded, or Don't have a meltdown.

Well we also have meltdowns as well as "he/she went nuclear". But for the other, our versions include (all interchangeable btw) are don't get your panties/drawers in a wad/bunch .

Iirc there's a Brit equivalent about getting your knickers twisted and/or in a knot.

I'm thinking hissy is a play on hysterical.

EDIT: How'd I forget this one. "Don't get your bowels in an uproar."

[Lightwielder]

EDIT: How'd I forget this one. "Don't get your bowels in an uproar."

That sounds.....painful. :(

[Oldschool]

From users online.....

Most users ever online was 48, 04-30-2010 at 08:50 PM.
Oldschool, scout1idf+, shadowblack*+, Silk+, smv1973+

I'm feeling a bit out of place guess I'll temporarily drop the "Old" and go with just "School". :rolleyes:;)

[Scarbrow]

I can't remember for my life if we had a thread for announcing renewals, but I just signed on for one more year. That's the third time I've signed on (and thus the second time I renewed my subscription) .

It's also the first time I've "donated", by selecting the "80 Extra ATs" option. It's a nice discount. I'm still deciding which character will get them. I originally wanted to train Maressea to the level of Krylinym and make her my main, but since nowadays I play so little (my last login to the game was a month ago, to give you a picture), that sounds like too much work. Or maybe that's the excuse I need to really engage again with the game.

Either way, with that donation I have signed my will to keep with you for (at least) a year more.

Today is also my last day on my current job (I'm being transferred to another work site, but I'll still work for the same company), and I have absolutely no idea what their Internet access policy will be, so I can't assure I'll be able to play Sryth at work time (and that has been my main source of Internet time for the last three years). What I'm trying to say is: I'll be here, if only from time to time, but now I still can't predict when. Wish me luck with my new job :)

[thingirl]

Good luck! I wish you well. :)

[Oldschool]

Congrats and thanks on the renewal as we all benefit from the GMs gainful employment. :)

And good luck on the new job. You didn't say so I'm wondering if it requires you to move.

[Scarbrow]

Well, in fact it doesn't force me to move. My current job is like 16 km from my home, the new one will be around 20 km. Commuting time will likely increase, but just for 10-15 minutes each day.

However, i will move shortly, because of some problems with my almost-wife. We're working to solve them, and part of the strategy includes me moving out of our common home to let time and a little distance help us to value what we have. It's a sad thing we've come to this. We've been together for a little more than seven years now (and yes, it's a time when many couples face serious problems on their relationship) and now it feels like all of that time and energy and lots of things we've built together is at risk.

The fact that this move happens at the same time of my change of workplace has kept me occupied (and very much so) over the last few weeks. I even got hooked to Ogame again (it's an online drug, I swear to you, and I already knew since I had just left it when I found Sryth), and that further reduces my available time.

PS: Didn't plan to let out all of this, but you asked...

[Oldschool]

You've certainly got a full plate. And good luck with the domestic situation.

[scout1idf]

Congrats and thanks for the renew!

Congrats and good luck on the new job, I hope it is fulfilling!

But mostly, good luck on your relationship. They can be (very) hard sometimes but are a very important part of life.

[Oldschool]

For those of us interested in such events today marks the anniversary of man's first steps on the Moon.

From wikipedia's page on Neil Armstrong...


At the bottom of the ladder, Armstrong said "I'm going to step off the LEM now" (referring to the Apollo Lunar Module (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_Lunar_Module)). He then turned and set his left boot on the surface at 2:56 UTC July 21, 1969.[40] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Armstrong#cite_note-39) Then spoke the famous words "That's one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind."

[scout1idf]

If you ever get the chance, the museum (http://ohsweb.ohiohistory.org/places/nw01/index.shtml) is nice.

[scout1idf]

Guest|4 min ago|Registering That's wonderful to see

[Young Ned]

I can't remember for my life if we had a thread for announcing renewals, but I just signed on for one more year. That's the third time I've signed on (and thus the second time I renewed my subscription).

It's also the first time I've "donated", by selecting the "80 Extra ATs" option. It's a nice discount. I'm still deciding which character will get them.

Glad to hear we'll continue to have you around. BTW, you can split up those ATs between multiple characters now; the game now asks how many you want to collect when your character goes in to the building with the blue door to collect them.

Good luck with the new job, and I hope things work out between you and your ladyfriend.

For those of us interested in such events today marks the anniversary of man's first steps on the Moon.

Sweet. Thanks for reminding me, Oldschool. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v735/Old_Ned/icon_cool.gif

[Doolipalally]

Good luck with everything, Scarbrow. It sounds like you have a lot of things to juggle - never easy!

We seem to be in step - I've just renewed for the second time as well, and I also took the 80 AT option :)

[texlaw1992]

Si Espana gana futbol mundo, todos son posibles.

Edit: Translation - Good luck Scarbrow. If Spain can win "world football," everything is possible.

[Badstench]

Donde esta la elephante.... that's the only spanish I know. I think I just asked for directions to the nearest elephant.

[thingirl]

Good luck, Scarbrow! I can't say more than that because I've never had a job or been in a relationship with a boy. :)

@Badstench: Yes, you did. Dora (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dora_the_Explorer) and common sense taught me that. :)

Can we please keep this in English? I mean yeah, the person you're typing to knows Spanish, but does everyone?

Although, if we're switching languages.... Привет, Дули :)

[Doolipalally]

Although, if we're switching languages.... Привет, Дули :)

Привет, худая девушка :)

Just survived an encounter with a Russian locksmith, but only cos I had a translator available on the end of a phone. Sometimes it feels like I'm running to stand still with this language learning business.

[thingirl]

Oh, I bet. Grammar is... Well.... almost worse than my English spelling. Oh, and don't even get me started on spelling....

It's hard learning a second language!

[spencer]

Best of luck to you, Scarbrow, with your new position and with resolving the issues with your almost wife. I am glad that you have renewed and will be around at least some of the time.

[Scarbrow]

@all
Thank you all for your kind wishes. They're very much appreciated

@texlaw1992
About the recent World Cup (commonly referred in Spain just as "el Mundial"), I must be one of the 5 out of 25,000,000 Spanish men to absolutely not care at all about it (that makes me in league with 90% of the Spanish women, BTW). Well, I cared in fact: I wished Spain will fail ASAP, so they would just shut up about the whole thing. I don't know in other countries, but here it's almost like a tradition to show national pride and joy (specially in sport related ocasions, what basically means football) through the simple act of honking the whole night while driving wildly, shouting, waving flags and blowing horns. In short, not very nice for quiet types like me. It's not just inmature, it's uncivil. So I wanted my national team to lose so as I had not to suffer another one of those nights. You can guess my joy: the last two matches, I simply went to cinema to drown outside noises.

And now I've vented enough repressed frustration at my football-obsessed compatriots (panem et circenses all around), I'll correct your phrase: "Si España gana el mundial de fútbol, todo es posible".

@Badstench
Since I'm in a spellchecking mood, I'll correct yours too: "¿Dónde está el elefante?" would be the correct writing.

@Thingirl
Heh. Spelling? I would defy you to learn proper Spanish, then, with its tildes. It's considered one of the hardest languages in the world to master, because of the verb conjugation. Not to mention anybody born in a country with a "to be" (or equivalent) verb has a lot of problems learning to distinguish between the verbs "ser" and "estar", since both mean "to be" in certain situations. Not to mention the compound forms of the verbs use the very, very irregular verb "haber". And our nifty personal gender pronouns, only matched (and bested) in complexity by the German ones.

When I get to the moment of learning my third language, I'll go with Japanese.

[thingirl]

Spanish? Who said I'm taking Spanish? If my parents make me drop Russian, I'm going with French.

[texlaw1992]

Buena suerte otra vez Scarbrow, y gracias por la correcion.

[Good luck again Scarbrow, and thanks for the correction]

Dooli's line about the locksmith reminded me of the old joke in Soviet times:

A Russian man calls the State for a locksmith.

Official: The locksmith will arrive two years from next Thursday.

Man: That won't work. The plumber's coming then (lol).

[Scarbrow]

Spanish? Who said I'm taking Spanish? If my parents make me drop Russian, I'm going with French.

I meant Spanish is a difficult one too, at least to completely master. I have no clue about Russian, although since I traveled to Greece the cyrillic alphabet seems almost a little more understandable. It still makes no sense to me, though

[thingirl]

I can read most stuff. I just can't comprehend most of it or spell what I know.

[Young Ned]

Interesting, Scarbrow; around here Spanish has a reputation of being a very easy language to learn. (Being a glutton for punishment, though, I took German instead in school.) Admittedly, "easy to learn" is not the same as to "easy to master" -- it could be very easy to get started in it, but much more difficult to master the nuances.

Was learning English easy or difficult for you? I'm always impressed by how fluently you express yourself in it; I studied German for four years or so and never did get much past basic conversational level.

[scout1idf]

......I studied German for four years or so and never did get much past basic conversational level.

I lived there (Germany) for 18 months and barely got past ordering a beer and some food.;)

[Oldschool]

Took French throughout high school. Unfortunately, I've forgotten much of it. And I know a smattering of Spanish and Italian.

However I am very fluent in "Hillbilly" being a native speaker and all. ;)

[thingirl]

However I am very fluent in "Hillbilly" being a native speaker and all. ;)

Is that the same a southern? :) I'm starting to crack the "language barrier" - after almost a year :p. Although, I still get weird looks if I ask someone to "get me a pop". Sorry, but it's either "pop" or the brand name or MAYBE "soda", but not "coke".

And then there's trying to understand the missionaries from England...

[spencer]

Welp,

I ain't too sure of nothin', 'cept if you ask somebody around here for a pop, you just might get one where you weren't expectin' it :)

[Oldschool]

Is that the same a southern? :) I'm starting to crack the "language barrier" - after almost a year :p. Although, I still get weird looks if I ask someone to "get me a pop". Sorry, but it's either "pop" or the brand name or MAYBE "soda", but not "coke".

And then there's trying to understand the missionaries from England...

LOL Spencer. :)

Well pop is somewhat common here but "coke" is more or less the term used for any cola drink. Pop is more commonly used by "the Yankees up north while "coke" is more common amongst the Rednecks down south". ;) We have more than our fair share of genericized trademarks here it seems. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_generic_and_genericized_trademarks


Actually TG I guess that's a matter of perspective and how technical one wants to get. While West Virginia is 'pretty much smack dab in the middle' of Appalachia its geography also puts it on the fringes of other locations. From wikipedia, The unique position of West Virginia means that it is often included in a wide variety of geographical regions, including the Upland South (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upland_South), the Southeastern United States (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southeastern_United_States) and often the Northeastern United States (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northeastern_United_States). Notably, it is the only state which entirely lies within the area served by the Appalachian Regional Commission (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appalachian_Regional_Commission), which is a common definition of "Appalachia".[4] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Virginia#cite_note-ARC_service_area-3) For these reasons, West Virginia is often considered simultaneously the northernmost Southeastern state, the southernmost Northeastern state, the westernmost Mid-Atlantic state and the easternmost Midwestern state.While Appalachian English is a recognized dialect that is spoken here so is the Southern American dialect. And speaking from personal experience there are numerous sub-dialects. Sometimes several exist within a small geographical location. It's often easy for fellow hillbillies to recognize one another when away from home 'thusly'.

And while I'm still engaged in some self-effacing humor some of you might find these entertaining as all get out (or think WTF :) ). I'm sure Texlaw will get some mileage outta 'em.

A PBS documentary. Pure reality TV folks before it became popular. And not too much hamming it up for the cameras either. And there's other clips on YouTube as well. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0h3a7MmMss&feature=fvw

That began as a follow up to a feature on Jesco's father D. Ray White from a film on American folk dancing - "Talking Feet".

Seems it spiraled - some would say outta control. :rolleyes: Definitely has a "cult" status now. Many famous actors, musicians, etc... have referenced Jesco in their works. And I'd feel remiss if I didn't acknowledge Jesco's fellow Boone County native and supposed influence Hasil Adkins (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hasil_Adkins) who is also considered to have "cult status".

That documentary bred a spin off and an appearance on Roseanne as well which was featured in the film - Jesco Goes to Hollywood.

And more recently there has been yet a third spin off - another documentary. This one focuses on some more of the clan. Again reality TV for the most part although there seems to be some hamming it up on this one. http://www.wildandwonderfulwhites.com/trailer/

And here's a movie based loosely on the the above. http://www.moviestrailer.org/white-lightnin-movie-trailer.html

[texlaw1992]

"American English," "Hillbilly" and "Southern Drawl" are distinct dialects, and some might even say distinct languages (lol).

There is also a difference between the "Tennessee Twang" and "Southern Drawl." I still remember many years ago waiting in line at Opryland to ride the newly-opened "Thunder River" (I think it's closed now). Anyway, the line was very long, so I asked one of the attendants how long the ride was. She said "35 minutes," so I thought ok, that's why the line's so long. I later learned she was saying "3-5" (lol).

You can always tell a midwesterner by the use of the term "pop" for coke or soda. You can also tell Hoosiers think everything is a "hoot," although to TG's credit I do not recall her using that term on here.

For some good hillbilly dialog, read "L'il Abner" or watch the SNL sketch "Appalachian Emergency Room" (inside joke for those who've seen the sketch, no, don't ask Oldschool how it got there, lol).

[texlaw1992]

Not meaning to post twice, but both TG and I were wondering where he went. It's been over a week.

Edit: Still no sign of ZmFlavius. I wonder if something happened to him in RL?

[thingirl]

You can also tell Hoosiers think everything is a "hoot," although to TG's credit I do not recall her using that term on here.

Not really. I can't remember anyone saying "That's a hoot". Maybe because I'm "from the city", but...

[scout1idf]

Originally Posted by texlaw1992 http://srythforum.com/images_sryth/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://srythforum.com/showthread.php?p=37812#post37812)
You can also tell Hoosiers think everything is a "hoot," although to TG's credit I do not recall her using that term on here.
Not really. I can't remember anyone saying "That's a hoot". Maybe because I'm "from the city", but...
I live less than 20 miles from Indiana and work with many Hoosiers. I can't say that I have ever noticed the word 'hoot' being used.

But, to me the use of 'hoot' sounds kinda southern so maybe up here at the top of the state, they don't say it much if at all.

[spencer]

Well, there are terms "hoot and holler" and give a hoot, don't pollute....I think the first is distinctively Southern, I think the second was from a national advertising campaign back in the 1970's using Smoky the Bear as the "spokesperson"

[texlaw1992]

The "hoot" campaign involved an owl, not Smoky the Bear. I cannot remember the owl's name (or if it even had one), but I'm sure someone here knows.

Edit: Thanks for the info about "Woodsy Owl." I don't think I ever knew its name before now.

[scout1idf]

The "hoot" campaign involved an owl, not Smoky the Bear. I cannot remember the owl's name (or if it even had one), but I'm sure someone here knows.
Here you go.... (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodsy_Owl)

[spencer]

The "hoot" campaign involved an owl, not Smoky the Bear. I cannot remember the owl's name (or if it even had one), but I'm sure someone here knows.

DOH!! You are right of course. Smoky the Bear was the only you can prevent forest fires "spokesperson" Thanks for the correction, tex.

[scout1idf]

I wonder what happened with the screen shots we sent in?

If you look at the shots on the main page, they all show the new screen but are all by a character called Adventurer.

[Young Ned]

Data point: Both my wives have used the expression that something or other "is a real hoot", and they're both Midwesterners; the first was from Illinois (small towns, not Chicago), and the second is from Milwaukee, Wisconsin (but spent a fair bit of time in Minnesota, too).

[crazyjay13]

im back anyone remember me

[texlaw1992]

Ned has two wives - must be fun being a Mormon (lol).

[thingirl]

It's waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy y to hot down here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Oh, wow, it's down to 95° (F)."

"Oh, the heat index is only 105°."

But yesterday (I think) it was 95° with a heat indes of, get this, one hundred TWENTY!!!!!! degrees!!! Yes, you heard me: 120° F.

Yeah. Hopefully the power won't go out again because of over-use of ACs...

[texlaw1992]

... it was over 100 degrees today, and even at 9:30 pm tonight (after the sun went down) it felt like it was at least 100 degrees. Ah, the joys of summer on the Gulf Coast in the era of global warming.

[Young Ned]

It was officially 65 F here in Oakland today, but it was sunny with no wind and felt more like 70. I almost regretted wearing my light jacket.

[Scarbrow]

In Switzerland I've slept with a duvet all days saved one, outside temperature from 12º C to 18º C (53-65 F). Now back in Madrid we have 32-40º C (90-104 F). Sure it's hot, but I'm used to it. It's good to be home again. Sleeping on just briefs and channel nº 5 (lol) it's a small price to pay.

@texlaw1992
Maybe zmflavius just went to vacation?

@Young Ned
Speaking a little bit of Spanish is easy, you just have to read all letters aloud. Pronunciation is a little bit more tricky (I still have to hear a foreigner say "gazpacho", or for what matters "extranjero" without revealing himself as that). But the real problem lies with verbs, conjugations, gender pronouns and suffixes. Even when they've been living in the country for years, most foreigners make little mistakes here and there with the genders or the verbal times. I'll have to admit, however, that learning German, with almost the same verb problems + the declination ones, is asking for trouble. I know just a little bit of it, and pronouns drive me crazy. Even if I'm used to gender-specific pronouns, the "neutral" gender is just a little bit too much.

About how easy was for me to learn English, it was a rather complicated process. I learned English in school (or at least, I was taught English, what is not quite the same) for many years, but I didn't really started to understand it until I started to read long stories, dictionary in hand. And that was on 1997, when I got my first Internet connection (at my tender 15 years).
Of course, my first (low) instincts drove me to the absolutely NSFW parts of the web. There I discovered long and short stories, of varied quality but of unmistakable interest to the teenage me. The Spanish equivalents were in diapers by then- mind, they still are-, so I just dedicated long hours to reading, and reading, and reading a lot more, until I was able to do it without dictionary (a real relief, I must admit). After I was able to correctly read at almost half my Spanish reading rate (which is nonetheless quite fast) I turned from erotica to fanfiction.
At first Final Fantasy fanfiction (I love those games) was my choice, but then I stumbled upon Lara Croft fanfiction (you know, there are novels out there of a very acceptable quality, even if the original "Lara Croft: Tales of Beauty and Power" has been offline since 2004 (http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.tobap.co.uk/) - hooray for the Internet Archive) and later to Harry Potter fanfiction (http://www.fictionalley.org/), which ultimately proved to be what I needed to expand my vocabulary.
My writing skills, however, were not up to the reading ones until 2007. I'm proud to say the Sryth Wiki (along with wordreference.com) was my tutor on that. Not so long ago, you were the one who corrected my grammar, Young Ned, remember? And of course, the forum, both the old and the new one. I've read so much (and written a little bit too) that I'm almost comfortable thinking in English, but even now, wherever I spend a week away, I doubt again, as I lose practice. As now - this post is taking me forever to write.
Finally, speaking is still not my forte - should you see me in person, you'll discover all my fluency is just the result of having time to compose the sentences the way I want. Could also be that I'm quite a good speaker in Spanish (I read since I was 3 years old), so I'm not really satisfied nor comfortable if I'm not able to express myself to the utmost accuracy. That's why I still enjoy to be corrected - every day is a lesson.

@All
You should really read the last two or three pages with the eyes of a foreigner - I can understand most of it, but as I lack almost all connotations, I can barely tell apart one talking style from another, much less assign them to geographies.

EDIT: I just browsed a bit the Internet Archive copy of the Lara Croft site and it lacks the stories themselves - a pity, but I still keep an offline copy, if somebody has curiosity. Sarah Crisman was my favourite author back then - a very talented woman.

[spencer]

It was officially 65 F here in Oakland today, but it was sunny with no wind and felt more like 70. I almost regretted wearing my light jacket.

LOL, this is the closest that I have ever come (OK, not really) to giving someone a negative rep. It is just as hot in East Tennessee as TG was whining about it being in Memphis. Today, the heat index, temp + humidity effect is supposed to be around 110F.

[thingirl]

Still the same over here by the Mighty Mississip. :) Cloudy, 92°F, Feels Like: 110°. :( 10-day forcast shows and average high of 99 and an average low of 76. And that's not counting the humidity...

And I mowed the grass today. I don't think I'm dead. Or drowned in my own sweat. And I know the grass isn't 1.5 inches high anymore.

Thank God for AC.

[spencer]

We're gettin' a real gully-worsher here in East Tennessee 'bout now.

[texlaw1992]

...and likely to be so until November.

Speaking of ZmFlavius, after 2-1/2 weeks he finally popped by the rp to say he was somewhere without an internet connection and would be back in a week. Good to hear from him as I was really starting to think something happened to him in RL. If he is on vacation, I'd be very surprised that he didn't drop a short note on the rp before leaving given where we are in the scenario. Both TG and I were wondering.

[Oldschool]

Well this is Random Chat....

OK, as of this posting, I am in a godforsaken hole in the middle of nowhere (which has virtually no internet except for this one rare connection I got). To make matters worse, a bear ate all my notes. I will definitely be back in civilization in...5 days at the max.


A bear ate all his notes...... LOL!!!! Hopefully he's joking.....

Speaking of bears...... That reminds me, just please bear (groan intended) with me......

Kind of like the old Adventures of Superman TV show with George Reeves when the bad guys shoot him and he stands there and lets the bullets deflect off of him 'cause well hell he's Superman. But then they empty the gun and throw it at him and he DODGES it like it's gonna hurt him. :rolleyes:;)

Starts about 5:20 and the rest is pretty good (especially 4:10'ish or so), http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txSRslPm8so&feature=related

Kinda like when they say if a bears chasing you climb up a tree......

Hmmm.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrgoPMODyOU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOMkNngVr9s

[texlaw1992]

It appears that Basil Marceaux.com did not win the Republican nomination for Governor of Tennessee. If ever someone truly was representative of the modern Republican Party, he was (lol).

His videos are on Youtube and played on the Colbert Report for those unfamiliar with him.

[Young Ned]

About how easy was for me to learn English, it was a rather complicated process. I learned English in school (or at least, I was taught English, what is not quite the same) for many years, but I didn't really started to understand it until I started to read long stories, dictionary in hand. And that was on 1997, when I got my first Internet connection (at my tender 15 years).
Of course, my first (low) instincts drove me to the absolutely NSFW parts of the web. There I discovered long and short stories, of varied quality but of unmistakable interest to the teenage me.
Amazing how teenage boys are the same the world 'round. Of course, we didn't have the internet back in my day -- heck, my family didn't even have a VCR until I was in... I think late high school. So I had to work a lot harder to satisfy my salacious urges.

The Spanish equivalents were in diapers by then- mind, they still are-,
Not quite sure what you mean by that. The Spanish equivalents are... immature compared to the English ones? As in, not as sophisticated or full-featured, or what?

so I just dedicated long hours to reading, and reading, and reading a lot more, until I was able to do it without dictionary (a real relief, I must admit).
I'm sure that was a relief. It's always good to have one hand free while reading porn erotica. ;)

My writing skills, however, were not up to the reading ones until 2007. I'm proud to say the Sryth Wiki (along with wordreference.com) was my tutor on that. Not so long ago, you were the one who corrected my grammar, Young Ned, remember? And of course, the forum, both the old and the new one.
I remember occasionally tweaking some of your phrasing, but even then they were usually minor changes. I haven't spent much time in the wiki at all for the last year, so I hadn't noticed whether your writing was requiring less of that -- although come to think of it, it's been a long time since I noticed any problems in your forum posts, so that does show you've made progress. Practice makes perfect!

I've read so much (and written a little bit too) that I'm almost comfortable thinking in English, but even now, wherever I spend a week away, I doubt again, as I lose practice. As now - this post is taking me forever to write.
Finally, speaking is still not my forte - should you see me in person, you'll discover all my fluency is just the result of having time to compose the sentences the way I want.
Heh, even in my native language I'm not an especially quick speaker -- I don't "think fast on my feet", especially when something unexpected comes up. I remember during one work project years ago, one of the other programmers on the project was a guy with a very domineering personality, and I found that when I was having a technical disagreement with him, it went much better for me if we conducted the argument in email rather than in person, as I had time to think about the issue and better compose my answers to his arguments. Of course, he always wanted to have a meeting about technical issues rather than deal with them in email... http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v735/Old_Ned/icon_cool.gif

LOL, this is the closest that I have ever come (OK, not really) to giving someone a negative rep.
Heh-heh-heh... http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v735/Old_Ned/twisted.gif

Kind of like the old Adventures of Superman TV show with George Reeves when the bad guys shoot him and he stands there and lets the bullets deflect off of him 'cause well hell he's Superman. But then they empty the gun and throw it at him and he DODGES it like it's gonna hurt him. :rolleyes:;)

Starts about 5:20 and the rest is pretty good (especially 4:10'ish or so), http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txSRslPm8so&feature=related

I also like how, when he gets in a fistfight, he dodges a lot of the blows rather than letting the bad guys break their hands hitting him. What a nice guy! http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v735/Old_Ned/icon_cool.gif

[spencer]

Feeling el8ted about this general xp :)

Experience 1,088,888

[Scarbrow]

Not quite sure what you mean by that. The Spanish equivalents are... immature compared to the English ones? As in, not as sophisticated or full-featured, or what?

Both, and more. They are usually shorter, poorly written, and quite immature on its views (ok, that's applicable for both in many cases). I'm not saying the English storytelling is inherently superior to Spanish one, but...

1) Even now the USA comprehends a fairly high percentage of Internet users. Access in Spain and South America wasn't as common then, and even now it's somehow limited to the younger people. More people means higher chances of a better writer coming up.
2) Spanish is often badly mistreated by its own speakers. I find this is specially often the case when the writer is from South America. Sometimes it's the case of just too many local expressions or slang, but other times it's a matter of bad grammar and nonexistent punctuation. And since I'm a cultured reader on my own language, those details matter a lot to me.
3) Vocabulary. This could be biased, since I know (even now) a lot more Spanish words than English ones, but I almost always end up thinking many short stories are just a compilation of "and then he... and then she... and then he... " ad nauseam. Not to mention the IKEA Erotica (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/IKEAErotica) part (warning, that's a link to TvTropes, I just lost five hours trying to find it, view at your own time's risk :D)
4) Long stories. I've never, ever found a Spanish story comparable, even roughly, to Sugar Domino (http://stobblehouse.com/arthome/index.html) (it used to be free on the web on those days). I mean, free, long, well-worked stories. Novels.

[...]although come to think of it, it's been a long time since I noticed any problems in your forum posts, so that does show you've made progress. Practice makes perfect!
Thank you, but remember it was 2007 when I arrived. I needed correction much more often then.

[...] I don't "think fast on my feet", especially when something unexpected comes up.
I also have that problem to some degree. When I'm ready, and on a talking mood, I can answer quite quickly, and even with appropriate puns. However, when I'm concentrated on another thing (specially when it's technical, since those topics absorb me the most) I have a hard time noticing even simple innuendos.

[texlaw1992]

There is significant difference between Spanish as spoken in Spain (Castillian?) and Spanish as spoken in much of Latin America. I would call it the loose equivalent of the English spoken in the UK versus the English spoken in the US (one Austrian I met years ago in Mexico City put it well: "You don't speak English, you speak American!")

It's funny that when a European says "I speak a little English," they're often virtually fluent. On the other hand, when an American says, "I speak a little Spanish," they maybe know "Hola" and "Adios." I think most of us would consider those such as Scarbrow and Mak "fluent" in English even though it's not their first language. They don't need to be so humble about it (lol).

[Oldschool]

2) Spanish is often badly mistreated by its own speakers.

Sounds familiar.

Texlaw you make a good comparison about what most Americans see as speaking a little of another language versus what folks from other countries perceive.

And it never ceases to amaze me that many people (many Americans I hate to say) perceive non native speakers of their language (in my experience "American" English) as dumb because of their "use" of the language. Usually grammatically, etc... they are more adept than most native speakers it's just the accent, use of idioms, etc...

And they seem to completely forgot the fact that these folks know at least two languages fluently.

[thingirl]

I went to an Archery tournament. I came in 2nd. Out of 2. But hey, I had fun!!! And I was guaranteed 2nd place. There were only two teen girls, and the other has been shooting for 4 years, whereas I've only been shooting less than one.

[Oldschool]

Well if she makes the Olympics or Nationals, etc... you can always say I came in second in an archery tournament behind so and so. ;)

And the main thing is as you said you had fun.

[Elrond]

Well if she makes the Olympics or Nationals, etc... you can always say I came in second in an archery tournament behind so and so. ;)

Don't lose hope in TG, Oldschool. If she practices archery as much as she writes (used to write) on this forum; she'll win an Olympic medal.

Congrats, TG, on going to the tournament and competing. Good luck beating the field next time out.

[thingirl]

Don't lose hope in TG, Oldschool. If she practices archery as much as she writes (used to write) on this forum; she'll win an Olympic medal.

No. If I practiced that much, I'd be dead from overworking.

Congrats, TG, on going to the tournament and competing. Good luck beating the field next time out.

Thank you. :)

[Oldschool]

That may not came across as intended Elrond. Pardon me and no offense intended TG.

And Elrond you make a good point.

[Oldschool]

Just noticed this.....

Congrats on your new forum title Shadowblack - Master of Lore. Very appropriate by the way.

[Elrond]

A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck New Zealand's South Island, knocking out power, damaging roads and ripping facades off buildings in Christchurch, the country's second-largest city.

Badstench, I hope you and your are well. And I hope that this passes with minimal loss and suffering to Kiwi's. Peace!

[texlaw1992]

I don't think the quake was anywhere near Badstench, fortunately.

They also had a plane crash on the same south island.

Not a good day to be a Kiwi.

[Badstench]

Major disruptons in NZ's 2nd largest city... infrastructure affected, people made homeless, etc... no lives lost, so as far as disasters go, we were lucky.

Auckland (where I live) is far enough away to have been unaffected.

However, it gave me a timely reminder that I've been procrastinating about getting a survival kit together in case just such a disaster should happen where I live. It's recommended to keep enough food and bottled water ferreted away for a minimum of three days... plus a battery operated radio (with batteries), a torch (with batteries) and/or candles (with matches), a first aid kit, and anything else you can think of that you use every day (like toilet paper, etc).

Next payday I'll get onto that!

Thanks for the concern.

[texlaw1992]

They tell us to do the same things for hurricanes. I've actually assembled one, although I'm far enough west of Houston proper that even a severe storm like Ike only caused power loss for a few hours. The rest of the Houston area did not fair as well.

Fortunately NZ had no fatalities due to strict building codes, but my best wishes to the Kiwis for a full and speedy recovery.

[scout1idf]

I wonder what happened to SMV1973?

Any DDO players seen him over there?

I noticed he has fallen off the HoC as well.

[Oldschool]

My DDO time is more limited than my Sryth time but I haven't noticed him on over there. However iirc his main DDO character is in another guild and on another server than mine.

[Lightwielder]

I saw him hanging around on Sryth Forum a few days ago, so he was probably checking in, but I'm not sure he posted or anything.

[Badstench]

You know it's gonna be a crap day when you wake up... correction... when you're woken up by a clap of thunder and all you hear is rain lashing the roof, and when you leave the house to go catch the bus, you open your umbrella and the wind blows it inside out and basically makes it a piece of junk, and so you have to resort to wearing that silly cap you bought in a fit of madness on a different rainy day, the one that makes you look like a 45-year old homie without the 'cool' (which reminds you that you never learned how to do that back-handed, finger-tip gripping hand shake) and everything conspires to make you the exact amount of time to miss your bus by seconds, and as you watch it pull away without you a passing car splashes a puddle in your direction and then you're standing on the footpath in the rain with wet shoes... deep breath... and you have to wait 20 minutes till the next bus comes while knowing it will take 25 minutes to get home and back with a pair of dry shoes so you don't, and the next bus is running 10 minutes late so you could have got dry shoes afterall but you didn't and now you're late for work and everyone else has filled their water bottles from the cooler already so you get the warm left-overs, and the boss gives you a quizzical look as you pass him and he says...

"What are you doing here? I thought you had the day off?"

Sucks to be me!

[texlaw1992]

It seems everyone is fated to have more than a few days like that in life. Hopefully the rest of the day went better. Look at it this way - hopefully now you've reached your quota.

I went through a week several years ago where nothing went right. When I realized it was only Thursday, I wanted to crawl into bed and not come out again until Monday. By the same token, once the bad week passed, the next week went very well. So hang in there.

[Oldschool]

Sorry Badstench but LMAO........ not at your predicaments but the images you so expertly convey. Been there and done [some of] that. It's really 'nice' when you get one of those big ass oversized high dollar stadium umbrellas blown out backwards while you're being blown across a parking lot in full view of folks waiting out the storm under an awning watching...... :rolleyes:

Like Texlaw said hang in there. And as a show of middle age support have a rep when allowed.

Still chuckling at the 45 year old cap wearing 'homie' without the cool image sporting an inverted umbrella. ;)

[spencer]

It seems everyone is fated to have more than a few days like that in life. Hopefully the rest of the day went better. Look at it this way - hopefully now you've reached your quota.

I went through a week several years ago where nothing went right. When I realized it was only Thursday, I wanted to crawl into bed and not come out again until Monday. By the same token, once the bad week passed, the next week went very well. So hang in there.

I have learned that when the feces smacks the oscillating air pusher, there does not seem to be any quota. Having said that, Stenchy, at least you never have to live that morning over again.

[Badstench]

The rain let up for a few hours, but the leading edge of a storm has just arrived and it's bucketing down. Apparrently, this weather is going to be hovering over Auckland for the weekend, so I'm off to the DVD store to stock up on viewing material.

Please feel free to offer suggestions.

[Oldschool]

I hear the thriller The Square is good and I think it's just recently been released and if I'm not mistaken it's a flick from and/or set "down under".

The Book of Eli - haven't seen it yet but it looks good and I definitely want to see the Jeff Bridges movie that's been out for awhile. It's got Heart in the title and Bridges received an Oscar for it. It seems similar to Tender Mercies. And in a similar vein but instead of a Country Western it has a Wrestling twist The Wrestler. Most of these have been out awhile.

And I hear The Road is a good one to see. It starts Aragorn from LoTR.

Actually both The Road and The Square was just recently recommended to me and the other ones are off the top of my head.

Can't think of anything good I've seen recently.

EDIT: You may find this helpful, http://www.srythforum.com/showthread.php?p=40123#post40123

[Dariel]

I hear the thriller The Square is good and I think it's just recently been released and if I'm not mistaken it's a flick from and/or set "down under".

The Book of Eli - haven't seen it yet but it looks good and I definitely want to see the Jeff Bridges movie that's been out for awhile. It's got Heart in the title and Bridges received an Oscar for it. It seems similar to Tender Mercies. And in a similar vein but instead of a Country Western it has a Wrestling twist The Wrestler. Most of these have been out awhile.

And I hear The Road is a good one to see. It starts Aragorn from LoTR.

Actually both The Road and The Square was just recently recommended to me and the other ones are off the top of my head.

Can't think of anything good I've seen recently.

EDIT: You may find this helpful, http://www.srythforum.com/showthread.php?p=40123#post40123

I suggest you watch The Book of Eli first, it was a really good movie. He's awesome, too :P

[Lightwielder]

There's a great movie called "Fireproof." Perhaps you'll like it.

[Oldschool]

Hey Badstench sounds like me and you could use one of these. (http://vimeo.com/5198239) :rolleyes:;)

[Badstench]

I've seen both The Book of Eli and The Road.

Of the two, I actually preferred The Road.

Anyway, I picked up a few 'older' movies I haven't seen that should keep me entertained for the duration of this 'weather bomb'.

But I just found out that Kristanna Loken is making a guest appearance at Auckland's Armageddon (Sci-fi convention). She was the terminator in T3, though I remember her best as the hot chick in a Danish movie called The Curse of the Ring.

Anyway, she's one person I might turn into a stalker for, but I've also just discovered she's a lesbian, so no point really. :(

[texlaw1992]

Well, being a lesbian, doesn't that mean when she sees a beautiful woman, she wants to kiss her, romance her and take her home?

Mate, when you see a beautiful woman, do you want to kiss her, romance her and take her home?

Are you not therefore a lesbian as well? (lol)

[Young Ned]

Hey Badstench sounds like me and you could use one of these. (http://vimeo.com/5198239) :rolleyes:;)

Wow, impressive! Where can I get me one of those?

[Dariel]

Wow, impressive! Where can I get me one of those?

Right here. (http://www.senzumbrellas.com/)
Looks like it's only in Europe right now..:(

[Doolipalally]

Nope - it says "we’re currently available in stores all over the US, Canada, Benelux, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Japan." It just doesn't have an online store locator for the stores outside Europe yet.

No mention of Russia or the UK, though... :(

[Dariel]

Oh well, that just goes to show how much I don't pay attention XD
Those umbrellas look like they'd be awesome though. Maybe I could try floating like Mary Poppins...

[Elrond]

Philippe Croizon (born 1967 or 1968) is a French athlete and the first quadruple amputee to swim the English Channel.

Accident:
His amputations were required due to a severe electric shock accident which occurred in March 1994.[2] At the time, Croizon was employed as a steelworker at Fonderie du Poitou,[3] 26 years old and married, with one son; his wife was expecting a second child.[3] At his home in Saint-Rémy-sur-Creuse, Vienne, while standing on a metal ladder on the roof to work on a television antenna, Croizon received a severe electric shock from a high-voltage power line which earthed through the ladder,[2][3] to which he became adhered. Twenty minutes passed before a neighbour could raise the alarm. He was hospitalized in Tours, where doctors removed his left arm above the elbow, his right arm below the elbow, then his right leg above the knee. Surgeons had thought that the left leg could be saved, but when that also required removal, Croizon reported feeling "despair."

Preparations:
During his recuperation in the hospital, he saw a television programme about a female channel-swimmer, who Croizon said inspired him.[2][4] He began a regimen of swimming, training for over five hours per day with the Maritime Gendarmerie, the French marine police, in the sea near La Rochelle.[3] He experimented with different prosthetic limbs designed for swimming, with fins attached to the stumps of his legs.[3] One set of specially designed prosthetics cost €12,000, and are made from carbon and titanium.[4][5]
He wrote a book entitled J'ai décidé de vivre (I decided to live), using a speech-to-text computer system.[2] He also made a parachute jump.[2]
Croizon's preparations for the channel-swim attempt took 35 hours per week for two years; throughout the training period, he received letters of support from national politicians, including French president Nicolas Sarkozy.[6] It was during this period that he completed a swim from Noirmoutier to Pornic in less than five hours.[6]

Event:
On Saturday, 18 September 2010, at the age of 42, he swam across the English Channel in less than 14 hours.[7] He set off from Folkestone at 06:45, arriving at Cap Gris Nez at 20:13, a distance of 21 miles (34 km).[8][9] He reported feeling pain during the crossing, but said he was confident that he would complete it.

[thingirl]

I'm going to mostly dissapear for this week. I'm at my grandparents house. I obviously have internet access, but I'm not sure how much use I'll be able to make of it. :) Peace, all! :cool:

[Elrond]

I'm going to mostly dissapear for this week. I'm at my grandparents house. I obviously have internet access, but I'm not sure how much use I'll be able to make of it. :) Peace, all! :cool:

Have a nice vacation! And try not to miss out on the rest of AAM!

[Oldschool]

Don't worry TG we'll hold down the fort - enjoy your time with your grandparents.

[texlaw1992]

Enjoy your trip TG - I'll hold down the RP for you.

[Young Ned]

Have fun, TG! I'll miss you.

(And then when she returns and posts "I'm back!" I'll say "Oh, you were gone?") http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v735/Old_Ned/twisted.gif

[thingirl]

Oh. My. Gosh. My cousin is a minne verson of me. I didn't know that there was someone who liked talking more than me... I, at least, am quiet at times when I am not eating or sleeping!!!! I love her though. :)

[Elrond]

Oh. My. Gosh. My cousin is a minne verson of me. I didn't know that there was someone who liked talking more than me... I, at least, am quiet at times when I am not eating or sleeping!!!! I love her though. :)

Get her to sign up for the forum and see how fast she breaks your "posts" record :D

[thingirl]

I would, but...

1) She's more of a girly-girl, and isn't intrested in RPGs.
2) Her parents probably wouldn't let her.
3) She's in 1st grade.

[Young Ned]

I would, but...

1) She's more of a girly-girl, and isn't intrested in RPGs.
2) Her parents probably wouldn't let her.
3) She's in 1st grade.

All excellent reasons. :cool:

[texlaw1992]

I have my 25th high school reunion on Saturday (just 40 or so miles away). I'm curious to see how many people turn out compared to the 10th and 20th, which were larger events.

I've felt obligated to go since I was class valedictorian and thus the one person everyone "knew." It's nice to be a celebrity of sorts for a few hours.

Hold the fort over the weekend - I shall return.

[Doolipalally]

I have my 25th high school reunion on Saturday (just 40 or so miles away). I'm curious to see how many people turn out compared to the 10th and 20th, which were larger events.

I've felt obligated to go since I was class valedictorian and thus the one person everyone "knew." It's nice to be a celebrity of sorts for a few hours.

Hold the fort over the weekend - I shall return.

Hope it's a fun weekend! And since I've just looked up what a class valedictorian is, 25-year-belated congrats! ;)

[Oldschool]

It's nice to be a celebrity of sorts for a few hours.

Maybe the local paper will do a piece and you'll finally get some ink. ;)

Hope it's a fun weekend! And since I've just looked up what a class valedictorian is, 25-year-belated congrats! ;)

Ditto to what Dooli said - have fun and belated congrats. Interesting I would've thought that an interchangeable term. After a bit of googling it appears the other English version :rolleyes: is Dux. And the equivalent for Salutatorian is Semidux or Proxime Accessit.

Throwing the opposite equivalents into conversation (provided I could pronounce Proxime Accessit on the fly correctly, lol) could be interesting. :cool:

(http://www.oneriot.com/search?p=smarterfox&ssrc=also_search_on&spid=8493c8f1-0b5b-4116-99fd-f0bcb0a3b602&q=Salutatorian)

[Doolipalally]

Interesting I would've thought that an interchangeable term. After a bit of googling it appears the other English version :rolleyes: is Dux. And the equivalent for Salutatorian is Semidux or Proxime Accessit.


I'm learning lots today! :)

The reason I had to Google is that we don't have the concept in most of the UK, so we don't have the word for it. We don't graduate from high school, we just leave. You either leave at 16 after your GSCE exams, or at 18 after your A-level exams. Both GCSEs and A-levels are managed by external exam boards, so no-one in the school even knows who did best in any one subject, let alone all subjects. Schools often award prizes at annual speech days (at least, that's the old tradition - might be less common these days) but there's a selection of those, both for academic and other achievements, and they're not just awarded to the leaving class. The Scottish school system is different, and I don't know enough about it to comment!

I suppose at university they know who came 'top of the class' for each subject, but academic achievements like that are more likely to be rewarded with a prize than having to make a speech! It's all done by subject, anyway, rather than for the whole year, as we only tend to study one or maybe two subjects at university.

Hooray for a world of differences! ;)

[scout1idf]

Druids recognized as religion for first time in UK... (http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hpEOokUuF8O9TMlsnYqW0a5Wm8qgD9IJO1B00?docId= D9IJO1B00)

I noticed it yesterday in Time magazine at the dentist.


And the world advances.....

[Doolipalally]

Druids recognized as religion for first time in UK... (http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hpEOokUuF8O9TMlsnYqW0a5Wm8qgD9IJO1B00?docId= D9IJO1B00)

I noticed it yesterday in Time magazine at the dentist.


And the world advances.....

Lol - I looked at your post, saw the headline before I clicked on it, and thought 'Huh? Surely the Romans recognised Druidism as a religion way back when...'

Makes a lot more sense now I've read the story! Thanks for that one, Scout.

[texlaw1992]

Oldschool, I think if the press attends, I'd have to give them another "no comment."

I was just thinking how much easier it will be for TG to organize her high school reunions - she'll just look in the mirror (lol).

I leave this forum in your capable hands until Sunday.

[Young Ned]

Have fun, Tex! I always enjoy reunions.

[Oldschool]

Gotta go but I'll leave ya with this.

As a friend once put it.....

Only a bunch of West Virginian's would close down a major US highway and hold a picnic in the middle of it.....

Yep, today is Bridge Day,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkFCJgGHtJU

EDIT:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duYL5CoA_Ek

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtR0qJlWg7s&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cVMUZgZIzg

Under the bridge, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrKscRHec7o

And....... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_dXgp4dpAE

[texlaw1992]

This one was on a much smaller scale than the 10th and 20th. We were the last of the large graduating classes: 636 in our class, 624 of whom graduated at the same time. We had about 100 people show up for the 25th, but I think the 30th will be much bigger.

I tell you, after 25 years some of my former classmates still have no lives. When I drove in, the wife was in the back seat touching up her makeup. Apparently several people were watching for me and wanted to know if the class valedictorian has now become a chauffeur (lol).

I wound up taking the wife to the hotel around 9 and coming back for the rest of the reunion. I knew only a handful of people there, but of course all of them "knew" me, so I had very little alone time. It was nice to see the folks again. When we took pictures, several people jostled to be next to me, saying they never thought they'd be standing so close to the valedictorian (lol).

The funniest event was still the one that happened at the 20th. Our class had a set of identical twins who could not be more different: one was an honor student, the other a "druggie." Anyway, both were at the 20th, the "druggie" bombed out of her mind (I'd swear she'd been drinking since 9:00 am). She would not stop pawing at me (I actually had to tell her "will you please stop sitting in my lap"). Anyway, after a bit we noticed she was no longer around, so a group of us (including the "sane" sister) went looking for her. We saw some guy come out of the men's bathroom with her in tow, wiping her mouth. For her own protection took her to her room and left the door locked so she wouldn't get into more trouble.

Oddly enough, the wife of one of the attendees was from the UK. She confirmed (as per Dooli's post) that the UK system at one time did not have valedictorians. However, she said several years ago they did start naming valedictorians and salutatorians - her sister was the valedictorian of her class.

So, the next morning we went to Sunday brunch at a fancy hotel and then headed back to buy the step-grandbaby her first Halloween costume. All in all, a very fun weekend.

[Oldschool]

Nice post Texlaw and you're back just in time to start pumpkin growing, lol.

[Oldschool]

It's not often I'm at a loss for words but I just caught the first part of this on the news. Didn't realize the fallout and the aftermath till I did some Googling.

http://law.rightpundits.com/?p=2364

[Young Ned]

Hadn't heard of the Petkovs before reading that. What a pair of wankers! I'm surprised nobody's filed harassment charges against them yet.

[Elrond]

This is to congratulate one of the game's pioneer players, the one and only Paladin, on getting married. Bugger has been married for 3 weeks; and didn't have the time to post about it!!!!!

Here's to many, many years of happiness, love and contentment!

[Doolipalally]

Congratulations, Paladin! Here's wishing you many happy years. :)

[Oldschool]

Congratulations Paladin and Mrs. Paladin. :)

[scout1idf]

Congrats and welcome to the club!!


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