English Language & Usage: Multi-Layered Discourse Room

KitFox

12:00 AM

But now I have to figure out what happens at the end.

Since that would make him a good guy.

I guess I'm writing a silly book.

Joseph Weissman

Silly books are wonderful, and absolutely not something shameful.

KitFox

So I've got this annoying thing where I have been playing Lego Indiana Jones, and instead of the Indiana Jones theme stuck in my head, it keeps transmuting into the Voltron theme. That is seriously messed up.

Joseph Weissman

(That was earnest, actually -- I love Carroll, Lear, etc.)

KitFox

I should think every woman would want to marry a man named Ernest.

That's encouraging. Thank you.

I need a good villainous name as well. Like comic book villain, but a name that is remotely plausible as a real name, like Dr. Doom.

I probably should have figured this out weeks ago.

Joseph Weissman

Just write it with stand-in working names, if you have the basic idea. Go back in later and fix them.

KitFox

12:06 AM

It will be more inspirational if I have a good name, I think.

Dr. Rupert Jones.

Joseph Weissman

Dr. Malignant McSadist.

David Wallace

@KitFox I can't take credit for this, but how about Professor Dunkelschwarz?

Joseph Weissman

Genius!

KitFox

Dark black?

Dunkelblau sounds a little eviller.

Cerberus

Casimir da Lorca.

Henry Storm.

Ernest Fledermaus.

KitFox

12:10 AM

Dr. Rupert Storm.

David Wallace

@KitFox only if he were in the Navy

KitFox

Dr. Otto Evil von Evildoing

Joseph Weissman

Rupert Storm, and his buddy, Otto Drang?

Cerberus

Haha.

KitFox

Professor Max von Sydow.

Cerberus

12:12 AM

And his cousins Kristoff Blut and Werner Boden?

KitFox

Haha

Joseph Weissman

Rupert Maximilien von Stormsdown

KitFox

Rupert sounds pretty evil.

Cerberus

Down with von?

Joseph Weissman

Yeah, I'm unhappy with it, too.

David Wallace

12:12 AM

Ewald von Sterben

KitFox

Maximilien von Stormskrieg.

Cerberus

That sounds a bit made-up.

KitFox

Perfect.

What's von again? Of?

Cerberus

Yes.

Usually indicates nobility.

KitFox

Rupert von Sturmspiek.

Cerberus

12:14 AM

But "Stormskrieg" is not really something that could be a name.

KitFox

Oh, now I'm getting creeped out.

Joseph Weissman

How about an RR? "Rupert von Rugersturm" or something.

David Wallace

Theodor Medvjed.

Joseph Weissman

Eeesh.

That's a good one.

Cerberus

Alfred Blitzkrieg.

Joseph Weissman

12:15 AM

I love it.

KitFox

Alfonso Dethenschuf.

Cerberus

Or simply:

Vyacheslav Molotov

Vyacheslav Mikhailovich Molotov (; – 8 November 1986) was a Soviet politician and diplomat, an Old Bolshevik and a leading figure in the Soviet government from the 1920s, when he rose to power as a protégé of Joseph Stalin, to 1957, when he was dismissed from the Presidium (Politburo) of the Central Committee by Nikita Khrushchev. He served as Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars (Premier) from 1930 to 1941, and as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1939 to 1949 and from 1953 to 1956. Molotov served for several years as First Deputy Premier in Joseph Stalin's cabinet. He retired...

Joseph Weissman

Derleft Sturmkraft.

KitFox

Ooooh. Sturmkraft.

Me likey.

Sturmkräft.

Cerberus

...

KitFox

12:17 AM

What?

The umlaut makes it extra evil.

Cerberus

That wouldn't be a last name.

And the umlaut is I think just incorrect.

KitFox

Extra evil.

Cerberus

But I suppose it needn't be realistic.

Joseph Weissman

It would only be suitable for a very silly story.

KitFox

Rupert Sturmkräft.

Evil genius.

Cerberus

12:18 AM

It sounds like a typical German name in a Hollywood film.

Which is not a bad thing.

KitFox

Well. I mean. Constance Dexter. So.

Cerberus

Wouldn't John Jones be funny?

Or Rupert Fox.

KitFox

No.

Not funny names.

Joseph Weissman

Rupert sounds slightly Jewish to me, maybe "Jonah Rupert Sturmberg"?

Cerberus

Jonah Rupert von Sturmberg zu Drangboden.

KitFox

12:21 AM

Jeff Sturmspiekengotterdammerung.

Joseph Weissman

Conspicuous Roberto Stormtamer von Bieber

KitFox

Or Kenneth Donnerkrieg zum Hellebore.

Kyle Gotterspeise von Mecklenburg und Fiskill zu Kreigammon.

Joseph Weissman

How about a one-word ominous name? Like a god or ancient hero or something.

Cerberus

If you want real hardcore, go "von und zu".

Joseph Weissman

"Agamemnon"

Cerberus

12:25 AM

Johann von und zu Berg.

@JosephWeissman No last name?

KitFox

@JosephWeissman Not bad.

Darius.

Xerxes.

Joseph Weissman

Well, like a codename. They would probably still have a real name.

Cerberus

Could work.

!!

Look!

---------->

KitFox

Wo?

Cerberus

Jonas Stein!

KitFox

12:26 AM

Yeah?

Cerberus

Has just entered the room.

That's a good name.

Jonas Stein

i got my first down vote in few minutes. Do you have a suggestion for me how to avoid more/ improve my question? I can not see a mistake english.stackexchange.com/q/89616/28969

KitFox

It's not very evil.

Cerberus

Just wait.

KitFox

And he needs help.

Cerberus

12:27 AM

Hi Jonas, welcome!

KitFox

Hi @Jonas. Let me see.

Let me give it a little edit for you.

Cerberus

@JonasStein I like your question, but our rules can be a bit strict at times.

You can read them in the FAQ.

english.stackexchange.com/faq

They're not my rules, but we have to work with them.

Jonas Stein

@Cerberus thank you. I guess my name is rather uncommon outside of germany.

Cerberus

It would be perfectly normal in Holland!

I think the issue with your question is that you don't explain why you think your title might be wrong or bad.

At least it isn't clear to me.

KitFox

Here, I made some edits.

0

Q: Correct headline for a chapter in a scientific document "Investigated Specimen"

I am searching for an appropriate headline in scientific document. The chapter is named "Investigated Specimen" at the moment. In the chapter I describe crystals that I have investigated. I feel that "Investigated Specimen" is not clear or appropriately descriptive. Would "Samples Used in the E...

Cerberus

12:31 AM

Ah!

KitFox

You might want to add what field you are in.

Let me think a moment about your actual question.

This is part of the Methods section, right?

Or a thesis chapter?

Jonas Stein

@KitFox ah ok thank you. I think I get an idea of what you mean

Cerberus

Okay, so is the main reason why you (potentially) wanted a different title that you were wondering whether there wasn't an existing conventional title?

KitFox

@Cerberus Well, I put those words in his mouth.

Jonas Stein

Although I read the FAQ this section of the SX network seems to be very difficult to handle

Cerberus

12:34 AM

@KitFox Yeah, exactly, so I was wondering whether that was it. It could very well be.

tchrist

I am getting ticked at coleopterist’s spelling questions.

Stay tuned.

KitFox

@Cerberus Well, I think that may be the only way it is going to be on-topic.

Cerberus

"But please, don’t ask any questions about the following topics. They are out of scope for this site.

Proofreading ("are there any mistakes?"), unless the source of concern is clearly specified
Writing advice or critique requests (see Writers.SE instead—note critique requests must meet their criteria)
...
Naming, including naming programming variables/classes"

^ From the FAQ.

KitFox

Yeah, that's why I tagged it terminology and put the focus on accepted convention.

Cerberus

@KitFox Yeah, I think you're right.

KitFox

12:36 AM

There are standard terms in scientific papers and if I could clear my head and focus, I could probably remember them.

Cerberus

That, or he would need to explain a bit more why he isn't happy about his title.

Don't you think Bill's examples sound OK?

Jonas Stein

do you think my question would fit better in writers.se?

KitFox

@JonasStein No.

I can ask though, if you don't get a good response here.

But if it gets closed, ping me here and I will see if we can migrate it there, OK? Don't just ask a new question over there.

Cerberus

(Hmm I like the word "siege" to describe a problematic marriage. That is exactly the right metaphor.)

KitFox

@JonasStein Is this for a thesis chapter?

Jonas Stein

12:39 AM

yes

KitFox

@JonasStein Did you prepare the crystals?

David Wallace

Would it be appropriate to try chemistry.stackexchange.com, since this is about technical jargon in a narrow field?

KitFox

@DavidWallace Possibly. I could ask. What do you think @Jonas?

David Wallace

Do we consider crystallography to be a branch of chemistry, or something separate?

KitFox

Oh F'x is one of the Chemistry mods. I did not know that.

@DavidWallace I think it could apply to any scientific research discipline, not just a narrow field, but I am not sure.

David Wallace

12:43 AM

No, not all scientific discipla have specimens.

Jonas Stein

@KitFox yes i prepared the crystals and made dielectric investigations and experiments with neutrons

KitFox

@DavidWallace All the ones that count do.

@JonasStein Is all that described in this chapter?

David Wallace

No, all the ones that count require mathematics.

Jonas Stein

@DavidWallace oh.. I should check that... perhaps in physics.sx? or here?

KitFox

Chemistry says they would go with the suggested answer.

@JonasStein Want me to check Physics? I thought you were doing chemistry, sorry.

Jonas Stein

12:44 AM

@KitFox you just asked for me in chemistry?

KitFox

@JonasStein I asked the Chem mods in the mod room.

Jonas Stein

thanks. Well its physics, but it should be the same there

David Wallace

But more importantly, did they say whether they found it an appropriate question for the chemistry site?

KitFox

I didn't actually ask if they wanted to migrate it. I asked if they could help. I'll ping the Physics mods too.

Jonas Stein

I missed a tag for "scientific english" or something like that

KitFox

12:48 AM

Yeah, I tagged it as terminology, but there should be a technical or something.

Anyway, the chem mod who was there suggested that F'x might be able to help. He does a lot of scientific writing.

I'm not sure when he comes in though.

David Wallace

Oh, in terms of an answer, there's nothing wrong with "specimens under investigation". The question is, which site (if any) does the question belong on.

KitFox

I wouldn't call crystals "specimens."

David Wallace

Why not?

KitFox

Specimen are biologic in my mind.

Cerberus

Because they are specimina?

KitFox

12:51 AM

Crystals ought to be samples.

Jonas Stein

I understood it the way that sample is more abstract and can be a set of specimen and a specimen is one definite thing. (but English is not my mother tongue)

David Wallace

@KitFox merriam-webster.com/dictionary/specimen disagrees

Joseph Weissman

Deleuze talks about "crystals of time" in his books about movies.

David Wallace

@JonasStein You're right. Did you investigate many specimens, or just one?

KitFox

@DavidWallace No it doesn't.

Jonas Stein

12:57 AM

10 crystals

David Wallace

@KitFox "a portion or quantity of material for use in testing, examination, or study" - that fits Jonas' crystals.

KitFox

@JonasStein Well, I've pung people who can hopefully help you. I'm off to play video games unless you have something else?

David Wallace

Why do I always think of Turandot when anyone says pung?

Jonas Stein

Can you give me a link for a good page about grammar checkers?

David Wallace

I can tell you everything you need to know about grammar checkers in three words.

Jonas Stein

1:02 AM

OK.. ;-)

David Wallace

Don't trust them.

Jonas Stein

how would you annotate a diagram? All words in usual lowercase notation, or first letter of nouns capitalized?

"Temperature of the Sample" or "temperature of the sample" or even "Temperature of the sample" in a picture, diagram or whatever

David Wallace

Do you mean in a caption under the diagram? Or a label within the diagram?

I would probably capitalise the first letter of a caption under a diagram; but write a label within a diagram entirely in lower case. But I am atypical. Many people use capital letters with gayer abandon than I.

Joseph Weissman

Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.

tchrist

@Robusto I guess it wanted me to use vŒus:

0

A: Plural forms which end in -x such as tableaux

The OED attests as occurring in English texts the following irregular -x noun plurals: aboideau > aboideaux bandeau > bandeaux bateau > bateaux bayou > bayoux beau > beaux bijou > bijoux bordereau > bordereaux bureau > bureaux château > châteaux chou > choux damoiseau > damoiseaux fabliau > fab...

David Wallace

1:11 AM

@JosephWeissman I'm going to RegDwight you.

Dec 16 '11 at 15:35, by Kitḫ

@MattЭллен "Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana."

Robusto

1:25 AM

@tchrist Not sure what the reference is.

David Wallace

But when I first heard it, the last word was doughnut, which makes far more sense.

Jonas Stein

1:41 AM

thanks again and bye

tchrist

2:13 AM

@Robusto Because last time you had amusing ideas about Ngrams’ advice to try changing the case of something.

cornbread ninja

@Mitch I kind of like the one dude's hair, but I wouldn't want to be seen next to it.

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

Disney bought Lucasfilm!

They are going to release new Star Wars movies!

And here I thought the franchise couldn't get any worse

Cerberus

2:55 AM

@Mr.ShinyandNew安宇 For one moment I feared you were happy there.

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

I'm trying to decide if I am happy or not.

In principle I hate Disney because they are forming a monopoly on culture.

It's even worse now. They own Marvel too

On the other hand, it's hard to imagine Star Wars getting any dumber than it already did with Lucas at its helm. The parts of Star Wars that he was least involved in are the best ones.

So maybe Disney will actually revive the franchise.

It's not like it hasn't already been pimped out for every possible revenue angle. I'm sure Disney can't do any worse in that regard.

Therefore they either keep it mediocre, which is status quo, or they make it better.

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