Language Overflow

AIQ

00:16

Is it weird how some people are like "I am doing so well, the sun is out and it's so beautiful", while I am praying for rain/snow/storm something like that

Anonymous

I love the rain.

2

AIQ

Do all of you eat turkey on Christmas day?

Anonymous

00:39

Nope.

Anonymous

I never eat turkey.

2

AIQ

I see, do you make anything out of the ordinary for Christmas time?

Or New Years?

AIQ

01:01

So, who came up with this wig hat? It doesn't feel right wearing this! Mother of dragons

New Meta Question

0

Q: How do I remember a word if it's too fancy to use and too rare to come across it very often?

Sorry if this site is not meant for such questions, it's not yet entirely clear to me what is and what's not. For example, lately, I came across the Latin expression 'bona fide'. I don't remember I've seen it before (so, I suppose, it's used relatively rarely) but if I do encounter it in speech o...

discussion

0

Q: How do I remember a word if it's too fancy to use and too rare to come across it very often?

For example, lately, I came across the Latin expression 'bona fide'. I don't remember I've seen it before (so, I suppose, it's used relatively rarely) but if I do encounter it in speech or writing, I want to know what it means. All those word cards, notes — all that is crap, based on my experienc...

discussion

AIQ

01:17

Wow, didn't know jingoism is derogatory aaaaahaaha

Eddie Kal

01:31

I cook turkey the same way I cook chicken. To me it's just another source of protein.

I had a ton of turkey around Thanksgiving.

AIQ

03:32

@EddieKal, did you mean to write "omissable" and not "omissible"? The former does not appear in dictios, the latter is there in Collins and MW (but not Cambridge).

@EddieKal How? grilled? or do you like curry?

Eddie Kal

@AIQ Great catch! Thank you. I originally wrote "omittable" but it gave me pause as it didn't sound right to my ear.

Grilled, fried, stir-fried.

I luuuuve curry. Different kinds. My most recent favorite is bhuna. I also cook butter chicken a lot

M.A.R.

07:06

The starred messages are so random o.O

I love Tim Curry

AIQ

Who is that?

userr2684291

08:24

Good answer, snailplane. I used Anki a lot for my German when I needed it and it definitely helped.

But I'll say I spent ... a huge amount of time on it. Like entire days, weeks, a couple months. It was pretty intensive what I did.

CowperKettle

08:54

If your left hand is cut then your right hand is left.

CowperKettle

09:58

"So the world is tiny compared to the universe" (Donald Trump)

AIQ

10:18

I made a joke in my answer. And that seemed to have bothered someone. Do we always have to be formal? It was a harmless joke, it reminded me of my childhood.

It isn't like my answer is wrong or anything...

userr2684291

11:47

@CowperKettle The world can be used to refer to Earth.

@AIQ I saw your joke, but it seemed kinda out of place, even though it's predominantly kids who play tag.

AIQ

I know ... anyways, not a big deal. Thanks!

Eddie Kal

14:38

@AIQ British actor

@M.A.R. I never understand the fandom that The Rocky Horror Picture Show enjoys

M.A.R.

@EddieKal No, he's just an all around funny guy

I'm not a big fan of any particular thing he's done, except maybe It

But his outlandish accent and expressions, he's a bloody gem!

Eddie Kal

fair enough

That movie is the only context I know him in

M.A.R.

Read of the day:

20

Q: Does ascending one step burn 0.1 kcal of energy?

The Tsukuba Express Akihabara station has 0.1 kcal markings painted on the steps up from the platform. Is this accurate? Obviously it's going to depend on the person but broadly speaking do you burn approximately 0.1 kcal per step? The top step is 4.0 kcal. Pretty depressing and makes me feel...

physical-fitness

Eddie Kal

Lol escalators too crowded?

This is superfluous, because in Japan half the escalator is always reserved for people who need to run up (or down) the steps

user8718165

16:14

Hello everybody :-)

How are you all?

M.A.R.

@user8718165 Hi!

Doing great, you?

user8718165

@M.A.R. So nice to meet you :-)

@M.A.R. I'm fine too.

M.A.R.

Nice to meet you too

I didn't realize I was such an important person

user8718165

@M.A.R. Everybody is important :-)

M.A.R.

Importance is overrated

What's NOT overrated is the physical ed test I have tomorrow

user8718165

16:19

@M.A.R. Is it? I feel all the people I meet to be important. :-)

M.A.R.

An abstract label we assign to ourselves and others (but mostly ourselves) to justify our compartmentalization of our attention to other people

I used a long word so I must be right

user8718165

@M.A.R. Christmas is just a couple of days away. Greeting to everyone :-)

@M.A.R. yeah :-)

M.A.R.

So people are as important as we make them, making this an arbitrary distinction for most purposes

user8718165

@M.A.R. Actually I'm a bit stuck on a sentence. Could we please discuss it?

M.A.R.

What's less arbitrary is how good a fellow is.

I mean, we can agree @userr is a good fellow. Except when he's trolling me.

@user8718165 Sure

user8718165

16:22

@M.A.R. Yeah... I promise I'm not trolling you :-)

M.A.R.

As long as it doesn't end up being nonsensical, erm, more nonsensical than other things I say, I'm good

@user8718165 No, I don't mean you, the @userr2684291 guy

user8718165

@M.A.R. yeah... I share this opinion too.

@M.A.R. okay :-)

M.A.R.

@user8718165 So . . . what about the sentence do you wanna discuss?

user8718165

@M.A.R. I wanted to ask if we could say "This is(was) the way it was done.". The "is" version seems a bit more natural to me. But the sentence has a past tense in it too. So does "was" also apply?

M.A.R.

Both work, sure.

user8718165

16:27

@M.A.R. ah... so sorry. I misplaced the "was" in question.

Apologies :(

M.A.R.

If you're explaining a procedure, like a cooking recipe to someone, and you're gonna get right on it after you've done the explaining . . .

Whoops, OK

I was beginning to give a speech

user8718165

@M.A.R. okay...

@M.A.R. sure... I'm worried about your time :)

M.A.R.

Hmm, both versions sound OK to me, again. "This is how we did it" vs. "This was how we did it"

user8718165

@M.A.R. I'm happy to listen to you.

M.A.R.

Though I guess they're used in different contexts, and go for slightly different reactions

user8718165

16:30

@M.A.R. I'm actually worried because we're talking about something in the past. Moreover it isn't an universal truth... That's bugging me.

M.A.R.

So if a convicted felon is explaining to the cops how he hid the stolen money from the bank, he would end it in "this is how we did".

user8718165

@M.A.R. okay...

M.A.R.

But if my grandma is explaining to my mother how she cooked this special meal with traditional spices, a practice no longer being used, she would say "this was how we did it"

I guess there's a lot of overlap though, and people usually aren't that careful more than what their mind suggests them to say

user8718165

@M.A.R. okay. Thank you very much for your time :-)

@M.A.R. Yeah. The two versions seem to almost convey the same meaning.

@M.A.R. Got it now. Thanks :-)

M.A.R.

You're welcome

Uh, I need to go do some studying. BBL

user8718165

16:36

@M.A.R. sure. See you.

AIQ

17:00

My god M.A.R. is a beast.

Really I could listen to them all day.

So Eddie Kal has been visiting this chat room quite often now. We are getting more people here, which is fun.

But not fun when everyone's bashing me aahaha

AIQ

18:39

I didn't know people hunt and eat mountain lions

damn

MeatEater TV Web Exclusive: Steven Rinella Hunts Mountain Lions in Idaho

►

I don't know how I feel about this.

AIQ

19:16

-16

Q: Update: an agreement with Monica Cellio

Stack Overflow and Monica Cellio have come to an agreement. We believe that Ms. Cellio was not acting with malicious intent. We believe she did not understand all of the nuances and full intent and meaning of our Code of Conduct and was confused about what actions it required and forbade. We ac...

support featured moderators moderator-removal

What is with people acting so robotic?

No emotion whatsoever ...

AIQ

20:08

I just realized that I have been asking "What are you taking?" to mean "What are you studying?" I heard a lot of people use the former, and I think that is how I picked it up. But I can't really find any entries in dictios stating "taking" = "studying" or "subject" or anything related.

AIQ

21:08

@M.A.R. Is that a sketch of you? In your profile pic?

M.A.R.

21:42

@AIQ No no, it's Jeff Lebowski from the movie The Big Lebowski.

Finding a reasonable tool to make a sketch of myself would require some mental effort and time

And well, I've got neither. Or at least I'm pretending that I've got neither

@AIQ It's been the worst disaster in the history of SO Inc. I bet. There's a lot of reading to be done if you want to understand people's reactions, but it's not going to be a joyful read at all

Lemme check the post, but I'd wager the reactions aren't unwarranted

New Meta Question

0

Q: How to search for an English word

I am a non-native English speaker/learner and one of the problem I have ever had was how should I search for an English word when I know it in my native language and I also know its meaning. Does anybody know if there are any online resources for helping me with that? Or do you have a specific/pe...

discussion

userr2684291

22:12

> 'Time of day' (now mainly preserved in negation, i.e. what someone won't give you if he doesn't like you) was a popular 17c. salutation (as in "Good time of day vnto your Royall Grace," "Richard III," I.iii.18), hence 'to give (one) the time of day' "greet socially" (1590s); earlier was 'give good day' (mid-14c.).

M.A.R.

@userr2684291 Bah. English used to make sense

userr2684291

From etymonline.com/word/time. I never would've guessed that was the case.

M.A.R.

@AIQ Actually, I take that back. Some folks there are being unreasonably emotional, from both sides.

userr2684291

I started watching that British show, Luther, but after spending 30 minutes covering my eyes and ears during the last episode, I had to stop watching.

AIQ

@M.A.R. Everyone roots for the underdog. It is a step towards the right direction. But the language of the "apology" is not really apologetic.

userr2684291

22:16

I admit it was partly because of the accent, however.

AIQ

wait underdog might not be the right word - but you get it.

What's it about? @userr2684291

M.A.R.

@AIQ Hah, if anything, Sara would be the Underdog in meta.SE

userr2684291

@AIQ Some kinda detective show.

M.A.R.

Positions of power aside, everything else is on Monica's side.

@userr2684291 Too much blood or too much Brexit?

userr2684291

But I don't understand why they had to fill it with horror elements.

M.A.R.

22:19

You see a bent dark-posing Elba on the poster and you don't expect horror elements?

AIQ

no I meant in the sense that it's one person against a company

M.A.R.

Shrug

But it's unfair to portray the events like they support Monica because shes's an underdog. They side with her because, well, she's right.

2

AIQ

I wonder what this means for ColleenV and J.R.

userr2684291

@M.A.R. Wouldn't know, I kept my eyes and ears covered.

AIQ

@M.A.R. Absolutely.

She is right.

What else you watch?

userr2684291

22:22

Me?

AIQ

yup

userr2684291

Nothing currently except docus on YouTube.

I can't find anything satisfactory. I've read a couple more detective books after my month-long spree, but I'm kinda sick of them now, lol.

Eddie Kal

I spilled Sprite on my desk by accident. And of course I wiped the desk top clean, or tried my best to. That was two days ago. Just now I ran my fingers along the edge of my laptop and it was wet and gooey. I lifted up the laptop. What do you know?

Apparently the laptop has been sitting in a pool of Sprite for two days

userr2684291

Yum.

Eddie Kal

I gave everything a scrub again, but it still feels sticky

so these words you are reading: from my sticky fingers to you

userr2684291

22:28

I can't unsee the stickiness now.

M.A.R.

I'm rewatching Breaking Bad, but I'm more of a movie guy.

userr2684291

@M.A.R. Good show. Give Better Call Saul a try as well. I think it's pretty watchable.

AIQ

Oookay, so I see ColleenV and our other mods know things that are classified. Yeah, I can't find details anywhere.

userr2684291

Oh wait, that Breaking Bad movie came out recently.

Eddie Kal

@AIQ What do you mean?

userr2684291

22:33

@EddieKal He means that [redacted]. Heh, [something] is my middle name, as they say.

Eddie Kal

@M.A.R. A lot of early Scorsese movies are expiring on Netflix by the end of the month/year. I will be binging on them before they go. So find me in the new year and I will be a Scorsese buff

lol

AIQ

@EddieKal What I am saying is that I think for regular users like me, some details of the matter is not available publicly. Mods who were involved in the private discussion know the full story.

So none of you watched Money Heist

userr2684291

I read that as Honey Moist.

AIQ

lol

userr2684291

It's that Brazilian soap opera, right?

AIQ

22:36

It's in Spanish, but it's a hell of a show

userr2684291

Looks interesting.

AIQ

NASA, America’s agency, already drives robots on Mars, but its Mars 2020 rover will carry a helicopter drone. Successful flight in Mars’s thin atmosphere would earn the country that invented aeroplanes the additional honour of being first to fly an extraterrestrial aircraft. Its imagery will also surely enthrall. - The Economist

userr2684291

Lol.

AIQ

@EddieKal Wait is that an "intentional sprite spill?" You know, Christmas is here, and so is boxing day, time for a new laptop!!!

Is this answer correct? ell.stackexchange.com/a/233258/77766

userr2684291

Yeah, that Sprite spill causing sticky fingers et al. is beginning to sound mighty suspicious all of a sudden. Not gonna say anything else on this topic, though.

AIQ

22:46

Google Ngram suggests otherwise

userr2684291

@AIQ Sorry to interrupt, but is this show something like Ocean's 11 or some such?

AIQ

You want me to tell you? No it's not like that. One watching it would actually get invested in the characters

it's a fine show

userr2684291

Like, is it a show that goes in that direction? It's not some sort of love drama thing with a soupcon of planning and stuff?

Ah...

AIQ

"love drama thing with a soupcon of planning and stuff?" omg this definition ...

It's about a heist - there is brilliant character development

userr2684291

Sounds super intriguing. I'll forward it to my mom when I get a chance.

AIQ

22:51

Lol

userr2684291

Haha.

@AIQ What do you think is wrong about that answer?

AIQ

Savage!

Both "as clear as" and "clear as" are correct

Astralbee said If you are finding examples where it [as] has been omitted, these are probably just examples of colloquial speech where care has not been taken.

userr2684291

I think when native speakers use the word technically, they mean "this assertion holds in formal writing, but otherwise you could use the alternative".

AIQ

I see, yes then that is fine.

Perhaps it would be worthwhile if they mentioned it somewhat like you did to remove any confusion

The way it is now sounds as if "clear as" version is only acceptable in speech

But it is also acceptable in informal writing.

userr2684291

And what is speech but... actual language as she is spoke.

AIQ

23:00

What is the best show you have ever seen?

userr2684291

It's always difficult single out a favorite. One day it's this, the other something else. I really liked Columbo, but Dexter is also a great show. Also, best how? I like Breaking Bad as a drama show, for example. It's kinda too dramatic, even. Not in a bad way, but I think it's not the best show to binge watch solely because of that.

AIQ

hmm I have watched Dexter, it's one of my all time favs. I watched only two and a half seasons of BB and then I got bored for some reason. But it's a classic.

userr2684291

As far as comedy goes, my vote goes to Blackadder. Also the old X Files were alright as some kinda mystery show (not saying the continuation isn't, I just haven't watched it).

@AIQ I can see that happening.

A good show to binge watch for me was Fargo, I think seasons 1 and 2.

I have only seen a couple of shows in full. I rarely binge watch stuff.

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