English Language & Usage: Multi-Layered Discourse Room

Kitḫ

12:00 AM

"A systematic critique of the assumptions underlying theories of consciousness"

Speldosa

@Kitḫ Now we're talking.

user19161

@Speldosa No we are only typing.

Speldosa

:)

@Kitḫ That's the more general conclusion though.

Kitḫ

"A critical analysis of premises underpinning certain theories of consciousness, such as the ill-conceived Integrated Information Theory of Consciousness"

Makes it high-falutin'

Speldosa

Haha :)

Seriously, I love it. I don't think I would be taken very seriously though :)

Kitḫ

12:05 AM

Probably not.

But if you deflated it, it'd be pretty good.

user19161

I can only deflate a balloon.

Kitḫ

"A systematic critique of the assumptions underlying theories of consciousness including the Integrated Information Theory of Consciousness"

Speldosa

Or maybe "exemplified through a discussion of the IITC"?

Kitḫ

Oh yes! I like that.

It's getting a bit longish though.

Speldosa

I thought they were supposed to be long and complicated :)

Kitḫ

12:08 AM

Well, generally longer than others. Fewer than 25 words is good.

Speldosa

Why is the word "systematic" necessary?

"A critique of some assumptions underlying theories of consciousness, exemplified through a discussion of the Integrated Information Theory of Consciousness"

Kitḫ

It's not.

Speldosa

"A critique of some assumptions underlying scientific theories of consciousness, exemplified through a discussion of the Integrated Information Theory of Consciousness"

user19161

Bravo!

Kitḫ

Pretty good. Good enough for your first draft anyway.

OK, I have to get my boy to bed. Later!

Speldosa

12:11 AM

Yeah, only problem is that I'll be handing it the paper in about 24 h so, yeah :)

But I agree. It's pretty good to sleep on at least.

Kitḫ

You are just now writing your thesis?

And it's due tomorrow?

user19161

Maybe only the title left.

Kitḫ

And the abstract...

user19161

Then no problem. 5 min is enough...

Kitḫ

BTW, you wrote "plead" where you meant "plea" in the last sentence.

Now really, I have to go. Later!

Speldosa

12:12 AM

@Kitḫ Thanks for your help!

Good night!

user19161

@Speldosa No, only her boy is sleeping, not her.

user19161

Oh but goodnight still applies though.

Speldosa

@Kitḫ Oh, thanks. I wasn't aware there was a difference between the two.

user19161

@Speldosa "Plead" is a verb while "plea" is a noun.

Speldosa

Aha. So, it refers to the same thing?

user19161

12:15 AM

@Speldosa Yes, you plead someone with a plea.

Speldosa

@JasperLoy Thanks, I get it now.

@Kitḫ I'm writing the title and the abstract and it's due tomorrow night.

It's probably enough time.

Speldosa

12:28 AM

@JasperLoy I just read the word "bed" and made some assumptions and extrapolations based on that information.

Kitḫ

12:54 AM

@Speldosa Oh, just the title and abstract? That's plenty of time.

Matt Эллен

10:09 AM

general reference

0

Q: Aeronautical equivalents of the nautical terms "port" and "starboard"

Are there any aeronautical terms for left and right sides of a plane, essentially equivalent to their nautical counterpart terms of port and starboard for the respective left and right sides of a seaworthy vessel?

Matt Эллен

12:12 PM

are questions requesting resources on topic?

0

Q: Words Ending in -ed that aren't Past Participles

I'm currently trying to find a list of words that end in -ed; clearly, most of the words that end with such a suffix are past participles or adjectives derived from them. For the moment, the only words I've found that end in -ed and that aren't past participles are: Red Bed Is there any place ...

adjectives past-participle ending

Cerberus

Hey.

Matt Эллен

hi @Cerberus :)

Cerberus

@MattЭллен I don't know. I rarely understand the rather strict yet arbitrary limits that seem to be upheld on these sites. I'd be fine with it.

Nice avatar!

Is it...a cloned sperm cell?

Matt Эллен

@Cerberus :D nah it's just some head with crazy hair flying through space and time

@Cerberus thanks!

Cerberus

Hmm almost the same thing!

Matt Эллен

12:16 PM

almost...?

:D

Cerberus

Well, you know.

Matt Эллен

Yeah, I suppose.

Cerberus

Hey, which island is larger: Britain or Taiwan?

Matt Эллен

Britain

Cerberus

Ah.

By much?

Matt Эллен

12:17 PM

Taiwan is more the size of Ireland

Cerberus

Hmm OK.

Matt Эллен

ok, apparently it's about a third the size of Ireland, by area

Cerberus

Wow!

It is bigger in my mind.

Matt Эллен

mine too!

Taiwan is half the area of Sri Lanka

Cerberus

Hmm yes, I tested it by scrolling the map from Taiwan to Ireland.

A highly scientific test.

Matt Эллен

12:20 PM

:D

According to wikipedia, Taiwan is about the same size as, dramatic pause The Netherlands!

List of countries and outlying territories by total area

This is a list of the world's sovereign states and their dependent territories by total area, including the entities listed on the ISO standard ISO 3166-1. The figures represent total areas, covering land and inland water bodies (lakes, reservoirs, rivers). Some entries may also include marine internal waters (coastal waters). Territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zones are not included. The total land area of the world is , about 29.1% of the Earth's surface area. All generally recognised sovereign states are on this list. Territories that are not integral, such as dependent territ...

Cerberus

@MattЭллен No way! That's weird.

Matt Эллен

@Cerberus That's what I thought. I guess we'll have to measure it for ourselves! do you have a tape measure to hand?

Cerberus

Hmm let me get one.

But wait, I'd have to measure the colonies too.

Matt Эллен

so, who gets South Africa? ;)

Cerberus

Heh.

You take it.

Matt Эллен

12:27 PM

Apparently they don't want to be a colony. How disappointing

mmmm lunch

Cerberus

Yay!

Fools.

Matt Эллен

12:56 PM

mmmmm sandwiches. Peanut butter, honey and ground ginger is a good filling. Cheese spread and chives is adequate.

Kitḫ

Hey, I had a nice surprise today...I am only 124 rep from 10K.

Matt Эллен

golly!

Kitḫ

@MattЭллен Mmmm. Sandwiches.

Matt Эллен

@Kitḫ the power is so close!

I just broke 4K today :)

Kitḫ

~~Bwa ha ha ha ha!~~

Oops. I should wait until I have it before the maniacal laughter.

Matt Эллен

12:59 PM

:-D You don't want to spoil it.

Kitḫ

I like your new avatar.

Matt Эллен

Thanks!

I doodled it last night

I'd had the idea for it at work. It's sort of representative of what I imagined, but not quite. It's not glowy enough.

Kitḫ

Is it a supersperm with pie chart eyes?

Matt Эллен

@Kitḫ lol, you and Cerberus!

49 mins ago, by Cerberus

Is it...a cloned sperm cell?

49 mins ago, by Matt Эллен

@Cerberus :D nah it's just some head with crazy hair flying through space and time

Kitḫ

Well, it's obviously not a regular sperm; too many flagellae.

Matt Эллен

1:05 PM

obviously!

Kitḫ

Could be a truncated neuron...

Matt Эллен

that's a good one!

Kitḫ

All reception and no deception.

That should be my new motto.

Matt Эллен

:D

Kitḫ

Oh! Speaking of which, I meant to post another suggestion for my gf's derby name. BRB

Hey, wanna help?

user19161

1:08 PM

@Cerberus I was the first to comment on it. Yay!

Matt Эллен

Hi @JasperLoy :)

user19161

@MattЭллен It does look spermy to me.

Matt Эллен

but it's blue and has red eyes! sperm don't have eyes, and I hope they're not blue.

Kitḫ

It's not really oblong enough to be spermatozoa either. Also, wrong color.

So about the derby name.

Matt Эллен

@JasperLoy I think the people of this room all have a one track mind ;)

@Kitḫ Yes?

Kitḫ

1:11 PM

Any ideas?

Matt Эллен

Tasha the Basher

I'm not good at names

Kitḫ

But, puns, Matt, that's all they are. Surely you are good at puns?

Matt Эллен

Oh! yes, I'm good at puns

Kitḫ

Miss Behavin'?

Helen Damnation?

Matt Эллен

@Kitḫ Surely someone must have that one?

@Kitḫ Pretty good

Kitḫ

1:13 PM

Oh yes. I'm just giving a few examples.

Matt Эллен

oh!

Kitḫ

I suggested The Belladonna Bruiser just now.

She'd prefer something with Jug in it, but Juggernaughty is already taken.

Or Bee.

Matt Эллен

Jug or Bee?

hmmmm

Kitḫ

Yes. Preferably.

Although she also liked one of my other suggestions: Kitten KaBoomBoom.

Matt Эллен

Damsel of Distress

Kitḫ

1:17 PM

Oooh. Like it.

Oh, and she liked Jubilee Killin' Spree.

Matt Эллен

oh yeah! Good one

想的不一样

I am in.

user19161

@想的不一样 Yes. You already have.

Kitḫ

@想的不一样 Qing jin, qing zuo.

Which I'd write in hanzi, if I could remember them.

想的不一样

nvm.

Kitḫ

1:24 PM

请进请坐 maybe?

Oops. That's the wrong jin.

Xièxiè or 谢谢

Mei guanxi.

thank you?

Yes.

Yes.

1:26 PM

I can remember one word!

Kitḫ

Then you're welcome.

@MattЭллен Great job!

Matt Эллен

:D

想的不一样

:d

Kitḫ

没关系

Boy, my Chinese is rusty. And it takes forever to type.

想的不一样

~~I think we should not spam the room.~~

Kitḫ

1:27 PM

Xiangdebuyiyang?

Think not the same?

Oh. Think different?

想的不一样

yepp.

btw,I am also beginner in Chinese.I spent my whole childhood in Silicon Valley shifted here recently :P

I am of 14 only.

Kitḫ

What's your first language?

想的不一样

English.

and yours?

Kitḫ

English also.

想的不一样

What is the meaning of Kitḫ?

Kitḫ

1:35 PM

Kith means countrymen, I think.

Or clansmen, as in kith and kin.

My name is actually Kit, though.

想的不一样

Ok.

Are you technical guy?

Kitḫ

We added funny letters to our names back in August to celebrate EL&U's birthday.

Sort of like a tattoo, I guess. :)

Matt Эллен

:D

Kitḫ

@想的不一样 Hmm. In what sense?

Ouch.

想的不一样

Means what do you do?

Is it hurts you?

Kitḫ

1:40 PM

Reminds me of the trouble we had back then that lead to that question.

@想的不一样 Oh. I am a programmer.

user19161

@Kitḫ led

想的不一样

Which language?

Kitḫ

@JasperLoy Hmm. Maybe.

想的不一样

This fox is yours in gravatar?

Kitḫ

@想的不一样 SQL and VB.Net mostly.

Getting coffee. BRB.

想的不一样

1:42 PM

Ok.

Kitḫ

@想的不一样 Oh but yes...it was a birthday present. A kit is a baby fox, you see.

想的不一样

Is kit with you right now?

user19161

@Kitḫ I am a lunatic.

user19161

By the way what does "sincerely yours" at the end of a letter really mean?

user19161

Does it mean the letter is written for "you"?

Matt Эллен

1:47 PM

@JasperLoy Yours sincerely

user19161

@MattЭллен Ya, so what is it?

Matt Эллен

@JasperLoy I was just correcting the order of the words.

user19161

@MattЭллен I know, but my question remains.

Matt Эллен

It literally means that you belong to the other person, sincerely

I'm not sure if it has any meaning these days beyond a sign off platitude for formal letters

user19161

1

Q: The correct syntax for "I/We remain" at the end of the letter

I want to sign off a letter with the following: Letter text. We remain, Sincerely yours, Mr Person Head of Accounting Is this correct usage? Isn't this like having 2 salutations? Is it ok to have 2 salutations?

syntax salutation

user19161

1:51 PM

I ask because of this question which I answered possibly from ignorance.

Matt Эллен

Well, formal letters should only ever end "Yours sincerely" or "Yours faithfully". "We remain sincerely yours" is not something that should be put in a formal letter.

If the letter is not formal then the wording doesn't matter

user19161

Anyway I deleted my answer.

Matt Эллен

it's a dupe question, in my mind

user19161

I am never good at writing letters because I don't follow the usual rules. I can only write love letters.

user19161

I changed my avatar. Please refresh browser.

user19161

1:55 PM

You should see some green trees now.

Matt Эллен

in a rapeseed field?

user19161

Yes, and I didn't know it is called that.

Matt Эллен

I think it's called "Oil seed rape"

Ah, my mistake "oilseed rape"

or rapeseed

user19161

Looks like the same field!

Matt Эллен

:D

yeah, rapeseed fields all look alike!

Kitḫ

2:00 PM

@MattЭллен Pretty.

Matt Эллен

@Kitḫ :) like Jasper's avatar.

user19161

@MattЭллен Thank you.

Matt Эллен

We get fields of this everywhere in spring

Kitḫ

4

Q: What does the "yours" in "yours sincerely" mean?

"Yours" is usually a possessive pronoun with an implicit noun. What is the implicit noun in the case of "yours sincerely"?

meaning pronouns letter-writing

Oh yes, I see it now. Pretty avatar, @Jasper.

@MattЭллен What do they smell like?

user19161

@Kitḫ I think it is stupid to write "yours sincerely" now that I know it literally means "I am your sincerely", because I don't want to belong to anyone.

user19161

2:03 PM

All these years I thought it meant "this letter is yours" instead of "I am yours".

user19161

I think the person who invented this is really stupid. Possibly a lunatic as well.

Kitḫ

"I am truly your friend" is stupid?

Matt Эллен

@Kitḫ hayfever. Kinda sweet, not much to the smell (you could call it delicate, I suppose), flowery maybe, fresh too.

user19161

@Kitḫ But that's not what it sounds like. And I think it's superficial to say even that to everyone you write a letter to.

Kitḫ

Well, I don't say that to everyone I write a letter to.

@MattЭллен Kind of like a field of daisies and dandelions?

user19161

2:07 PM

I just noticed that I never use "Yours sincerely" or its variations when I wrote paper letters to my friends in the past. I would say something else.

Kitḫ

I usually close with "As always" to friends.

Matt Эллен

@Kitḫ Yes, like that. :)

user19161

Nowadays I only write emails, no need for paper letters to overseas friends anymore.

user19161

I kind of miss writing paper letters. They seem more personal than emails because you use your handwriting.

Matt Эллен

You could always write paper letters to your friends

it might be fun!

user19161

2:11 PM

Aye, but I would prefer to save on the postage!

user19161

And also delivery would take weeks.

Matt Эллен

ah

but you could become know as a man of letters!

you might become a historical figure

Kitḫ

*an historical figure

user19161

I hope so too. Maybe in future there will be miracles in my life and I would indeed become historical!

Kitḫ

giggle

user19161

2:14 PM

@Kitḫ * giggles

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

@Kitḫ Nonsense! "an historical" only works if you pronounce it 'istorical, in which case I insist you spell it that way

Matt Эллен

@Kitḫ I considered an, but I settled on a because I was pronouncing the H

Kitḫ

@JasperLoy No, just one.

@MrShinyandNew安宇 Hence the giggling.

user19161

@MrShinyandNew安宇 Aye, it's all in the pronunciation.

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

@Kitḫ Hence the mock indignant blustering! :)

Matt Эллен

2:15 PM

@Kitḫ oh you! :D

Kitḫ

@MattЭллен It's funny; I hear this pronounced "an historical" even when the aitch is um, pronounced.

Matt Эллен

I think some people say an historical, and pronounce the H. It makes it easier

user19161

Our new friend west certainly looks historical!

Kitḫ

@MrShinyandNew安宇 * An hence

@MattЭллен We do it that way when we are pretending to be British.

Matt Эллен

:D

Kitḫ

2:16 PM

light bulb Pretending to be British...

scribbles notes

Matt Эллен

I do it when I'm pretending to be educated

Kitḫ

:D

user19161

Most of education is useless.

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

@Kitḫ I insist that you spell it B'i'ish

user19161

I wish they taught us how to cook in school instead.

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

2:17 PM

@JasperLoy I learned to cook in school

Kitḫ

You didn't learn to cook in school?

user19161

@MrShinyandNew安宇 Good school!

Matt Эллен

We had "Home Ec." classes at school, they taught us cookery and sewing

and knitting, but I can't knit

user19161

@Kitḫ No.

Kitḫ

@MrShinyandNew安宇 But I don't pronounce it that way! I pronounce it Throatwarbler Mangrove!

I learned cooking in school, and from my parents.

Also sewing and keeping house (laundry and dishes).

And first aid.

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

2:19 PM

@JasperLoy It was a decent school but as Kit mentioned, there are home economics (Now called... I forget... we don't call it Home Ec anymore) classes in many north american high schools. Frankly I think it should be mandatory for everyone to take one semester of it.

Kitḫ

It's something like Life Skills.

I don't remember.

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

@Kitḫ All I really remember from Home Ec was learning enough to know that if I had to, I could cook. Eventually I learned some more on my own and by watching my mother.

Matt Эллен

we didn't do first aid, sadly. there were a couple of lessons on it, but nothing rigorous. How to put someone into the recovery position, and how to give artificial respiration

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

@MattЭллен better than nothing

Matt Эллен

@MrShinyandNew安宇 aye, but it was so long ago I can't remember it

Kitḫ

2:21 PM

I think we actually got certified, but I'm not sure. I was certified as a Basic Aid instructor eventually, so I had taken a lot of those classes.

Hmm. Stupid sentence.

user19161

@matt I can't believe your message got 6 stars while the one I requested to be starred got 0.

Matt Эллен

God damn those words and their ordering!

Kitḫ

I'm still unhappy with it.

Maybe I'll just delete the whole thing.

Matt Эллен

@JasperLoy I didn't request stars... I starred it 6 times myself! ;)

3

I'm proving the bug is fixed

@Kitḫ rewriting history!

Kitḫ

I do that sometimes. Didn't I mention I work at Minitruth?

user19161

2:23 PM

I will write my sentence here again for it to be starred.

2

user19161

A tan is good cos it is not a sin.

Kitḫ

@MattЭллен See how I did that?

Matt Эллен

@Kitḫ I see what you did there :D

user19161

Now my other sentence is starred. You should star the other one.

user19161

@MattЭллен I am trying to think who the 6 people are.

Matt Эллен

2:27 PM

@JasperLoy me!

Kitḫ

Oh, damn.

Matt Эллен

what's up?

user19161

The sky.

Kitḫ

Jun 2 at 19:39, by Kit

@Robusto Sh*t! Work! I knew I forgot something today.

Matt Эллен

oh dear

Kitḫ

2:40 PM

Oh my geezis. The project lead took "color coding" to the extreme...

Matt Эллен

he's painted each brick in the building?

Kitḫ

How can three of these be priority 1?

Matt Эллен

@Kitḫ what's he done?

Kitḫ

He coded everything on the sheet.

I asked for priority items to be highlighted.

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

Just focus on everything across the board, they're all your top priority

Kitḫ

2:46 PM

I guess he figured he needed a range.

@MrShinyandNew安宇 Exactly.

Matt Эллен

I see. How... accurate? of him

Kitḫ

I just deleted the column with the user credentials though.

And then re-arranged the entire spreadsheet.

Cerberus

He should have called the class "high priority" instead of "priority 1".

Kitḫ

This is giving me a headache.

Matt Эллен

virtual head rub

Cerberus

2:47 PM

You have my sympathy.

Kitḫ

I should have said "use the Defcon system."

Cerberus

Or something else to the same effect in less pretty words.

Matt Эллен

since none of the items are a threat to America, they're all Defcon 1?

It makes work more leisurely

Kitḫ

Defcon 1 is scramble jets and drop nukes, so no.

You mean Defcon 5.

Matt Эллен

oh, I thought it was the otherway around

I do

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

2:49 PM

What you should do is find some internet website that will suck away all his time, thus distracting him from annoying you.

Kitḫ

Frigging non-superpower countries and their lack of lingo.

Matt Эллен

English.SE?

Cerberus

No!

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

Maybe he should go to StackOverflow and try to earn mod rep

Cerberus

@MrShinyandNew安宇 Not this website!

Kitḫ

2:50 PM

@MrShinyandNew安宇 guffaw

I am tearing up. That is a great plan.

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

he can show the world his awesome programming-fu

Matt Эллен

LOLCATS!

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

my worst time-sink is tvtropes but there's no "game" there.

Kitḫ

War Metal Tyrant.

But anyway, he is too busy doing everyone else's work.

Matt Эллен

@Kit you answered that meta question too quickly :p

Kitḫ

2:53 PM

He was actually in the conference room the other day, advising the facilities guys on how best to install the overhead projector.

@MattЭллен I don't know what you mean. :P

Cerberus

Thank goodness. How else would the overhead-projector guys know how to install the overhead projector?

Matt Эллен

@Kitḫ I mean my answer is now superfluous! :D

Kitḫ

@Cerberus And how would the electricians know how to run the wires? It's crazy what they let people do unsupervised these days.

And because we have this: "Complete text of email request / detailed description of call" as a column, I can't read the stupid spreadsheet. We need a better system than a fracking Google doc!

Cerberus

It's too big?