English Language & Usage: Multi-Layered Discourse Room

Jon Purdy

12:00 AM

I like them, but they make my stomach unhappy.

user19161

When your stomach is unhappy, the toiletbowl is happy.

Jon Purdy

“Mmmyumyumyumpooyumyum,” said Toilet.

Mahnax

Jon Purdy

“Eurgh what,” said Jon as he NOPEd away.

user19161

@Mahnax Where did you get that?

Mahnax

12:05 AM

@JasperLoy I made it.

user19161

My favourite Nicolas Cage movie is Ghost Rider.

user19161

I like Eva Mendez in that movie too.

user19161

I think the sequel is showing.

Mahnax

I hated Ghost Rider.

C'étais très bête.

aedia λ

Ghostwriter (TV series)

Ghostwriter is an American television program created by Liz Nelson and produced by the Children's Television Workshop (now known as Sesame Workshop) and BBC One. It began airing on PBS on October 4, 1992, and the final episode aired on February 13, 1995. The series revolves around a close knit circle of friends from Brooklyn who solve neighborhood crimes and mysteries as a team of young detectives with the help of an invisible ghost. The ghost can communicate with the kids only by manipulating whatever text and letters he can find and using them to form words and sentences. The series...

Mahnax

12:07 AM

Oh, I must have offended him.

aedia λ

I liked Ghost Writer...

Mahnax

@Jasper I'm sorry, I don't mean to offend you.

Jon Purdy

@aediaλ Ghostwriter was one of my favourite shows when I was little! It’s also one of my favourite songs (by RJD2).

Mahnax

12:25 AM

Oh, I went looking through my grade history on our online marking system, clicked "Phys. Ed. 9," and found this:

Cerberus

Haha!

Mahnax

These are purely lack of effort.

Cerberus

3/12 is probably quite low, no offence.

Mahnax

@Cerberus It is 25%!

But I never tried in that class. I am a rather good runner.

Cerberus

Sounds low.

My friend maxed it out.

Mahnax

12:27 AM

Cerberus

What is that?

Mahnax

It is very low! 100 is perfect, 50 is pass, 80+ is honours.

@Cerberus exercise.about.com/od/abs/ss/abexercises_10.htm

Cerberus

OK.

I seem to remember I got 10.

aedia λ

Gotta run! See y'all!

Mahnax

Bye!

Cerberus

12:28 AM

But my friend also told me it depends on the version, and the hall.

@aediaλ Bye!

Mahnax

Here the halls are called gymnasia.

Cerberus

Ah, nice.

Mahnax

Yes.

Cerberus

Gymnasium is a type of school here, where you get Latin and Greek.

Mahnax

@Cerberus Ah, interesting.

Cerberus

12:30 AM

In ancient Athens, philosophy lessons often took place in wrestling schools (gymnasia).

Cf. China in 1900, where boxers were quasi-intellectuals.

Mahnax

Cerberus

Hence the Boxer Revolt.

Mahnax

100% in grade 9 computers, oh yeah.

Cerberus

@Mahnax Better!

Mahnax

@Cerberus Oh, interesting.

@Cerberus Thanks! That was a class that I actually tried in.

Cerberus

12:31 AM

Good.

Now take a Latin class and try.

Mahnax

For example, I got 87% in Phys. Ed. 10, because I tried.

Cerberus

Good.

Mahnax

It is very hard to get over 90% in P.E. here.

Cerberus

Yeah?

I got a 9 too.

Rounded up.

Mahnax

Marks are calculated like so: 25% is skill, 30% is teamwork, 45% is effort.

Cerberus

12:32 AM

Oh, God.

That sucks!

Mahnax

@Cerberus That about sums it up...

Cerberus

Thank God we only had tests and individual lab work (which was a piece of cake anyway).

Mahnax

That's my Foods mark.

Cerberus

Food!?

I want food!

Mahnax

Yes, cooking class!

Cerberus

12:34 AM

Oh! Funny.

We don't have that here.

Mahnax

Okay, last one that I'm uploading.

Cerberus

Heh.

Nice.

Mahnax

It's just so nostalgic, you know?

And thanks.

So far my marks this semester are 91 in Bio, 96 in French.

Cerberus

What's nostalgic?

Mahnax

@Cerberus Me too, I'm so hungry.

Cerberus

12:36 AM

As long as there is no hint of butter in it, barf.

Mahnax

Nostalgia is a "sentimental longing or wishing for the past."

Cerberus

Yes, I know that.

Mahnax

@Cerberus What?

Cerberus

But to what did you attach that predicate?

Mahnax

@Cerberus Looking through my marks from last year.

Cerberus

12:37 AM

@Mahnax I'm nauseous from all the butter in my cookies.

@Mahnax Ah OK.

Mahnax

Specifically, looking at the details and remembering the individual assignments.

@Cerberus Aww.

Shouldn't have eaten so many, naughty boy. This is why your mother regulated the cookie jar traffic.

Cerberus

Heh.

But I had to clean the dough off my fingers!

Mahnax

There is a sink, with running water, and hopefully some soap nearby.

Cerberus

But then I'd have had to touch the handle with fatty fingers.

And waste the dough.

Mahnax

You could have scraped the dough off and made a mini-cookie.

Cerberus

12:40 AM

How?

It was sticky.

I don't know.

Good.

Fine, fine. You win.

Ergo I had no choice but to eat the dough.

Mahnax

I suppose...

What about napkins? You could have wiped your hands with those, or used them to turn on the sink without touching it.

Or even both.

Cerberus

12:42 AM

And waste the paper?

Mahnax

Napkins are meant to be used thusly.

Cerberus

And the dough?

Mahnax

Ergo it is not a waste of paper.

@Cerberus It is a minuscule amount, if it's not even enough for a mini-cookie.

Cerberus

It is a waste if it was unnecessary to use them.

@Mahnax Perhaps so.

In any case, my platters were full.

Mahnax

@Cerberus Well, it would have been necessary in order to avoid a stomach-ache.

Cerberus

12:43 AM

I suppose...

In hindsight...

Mahnax

There will be a next time, I hope.

Cerberus

Perhaps, but it won't be soon!

Mahnax

So you can learn from your mistakes and apply your newfound stomachache-preventing tactics.

@Cerberus Haha.

Cerberus

You're assuming too much rationality.

What do you do when you see fresh dough?

How can you not eat it?

Mahnax

I eat it, but I have a strong stomach.

I have not vomited in over a decade. My stomach is strong. QED.

Cerberus

12:46 AM

Excellent.

I rarely need to either.

Only lots of alcohol can do that.

Mahnax

Haha.

tsks

Cerberus

And that happened to me maybe twice or thrice in my entire life.

Mahnax

Oh, well, that's better than it being an every-Friday-night thing.

Cerberus

Protip: if you ever sink so low, don't hold it up, but get it over with as soon as possible. Don't think the feeling will subside.

Even better, always drink in moderation.

But you may slip once a decade.

Mahnax

If I do end up liking alcohol, moderation will be good idea #1.

Cerberus

12:49 AM

Yeah.

It's not that hard.

The hardest thing if if people offer you beer when you're in a heated conversation. You won't pay attention and you will just accept.

Mahnax

Hmm.

I don't think I will like beer.

Cerberus

No?

Why not?

Mahnax

It smells bad.

I haven't tasted it though, so I don't know.

Cerberus

It is sort of an acquired taste.

Try it when you're thirsty and tired.

And it needs to be ice-cold.

Hmm...

Mahnax

Hm, sometime.

Cerberus

12:51 AM

And it is most appealing in a glass.

Mahnax

My parents said they might start letting me drink at home, but I'm not sure if that's going to happen.

user19161

@Mahnax No I just left the room to install Ubuntu. You worry too much. Be careful, don't worry too much or you will go nuts!

Cerberus

Or no?

Mahnax

@JasperLoy Oh, good.

Cerberus

@JasperLoy Wow you're almost as crazy with the OS reinstalling as I am!

Mahnax

12:53 AM

@JasperLoy Wait, Ubuntu? What about Debian?

You dare forsake your love?

user19161

@Mahnax I am still vacillating between the two actually.

Mahnax

le gasp

@JasperLoy Hmm, okay.

user19161

But I think I will try both Ubuntu 12.04 and Debian 7 later this year and then I will make another decision.

user19161

So my two recommendations are Debian Stable and Ubuntu LTS. Then you only need to reinstall once every two years.

Mahnax

Hmm. I'll stick with OS X 10.7 until July, at which point I will move up to OS X 10.8.

user19161

12:56 AM

@Mahnax Do you need to pay for it?

Mahnax

@JasperLoy Yeah, probably.

But it's like upgrading XP to 7 or something, you don't just get that for free.

user19161

@Mahnax I may have read somewhere that these Mac upgrades are pretty cheap.

user19161

But maybe that was another thing.

Mahnax

@JasperLoy They are now. Last one was under $30.

user19161

@Mahnax Ah good good.

Cerberus

12:57 AM

And how often do they come out?

user19161

Windows upgrades are expensive.

Mahnax

@Cerberus It varies, this one is coming out around a year after the last.

Supper, gotta run!

user19161

@Mahnax Enjoy!

user19161

@Mahnax That lion looks grand.

Cerberus

@Mahnax Ah OK.

Bye!

KitFox

1:18 AM

Holy crap. Senator Snowe is retiring, and won't seek re-election! This is huge news!

> As some of you know, I turned 65 last week and as I returned to Washington, I realized more clearly than ever that the polarization in Congress is preventing me from doing the one thing that matters to me – making a difference in finding solutions to the challenges we face as a state and a country.

> ... I have come to believe change in the toxic atmosphere will only come from pressure from the outside, from people who demand our government work on their behalf. Congress has not demonstrated it can reform itself.

Wow. I am really impressed, and also disappointed because she was a great moderate.

Mahnax

@KitFox Those are hard to find these days.

KitFox

She's one of those politicians who has really devoted her life to public service.

Mahnax

Ah, good. It's nice to hear that those still exist.

KitFox

It sounds like she is planning to take up lobbying as soon as possible.

Mahnax

I see. I am studying lipids at the moment. They aren't as exciting as proteins or carbohydrates, though.

Cerberus

1:26 AM

Oh, I'm sorry to hear that, though I don't know her.

@KitFox What kind of lobbying?

KitFox

"Carbs" ick. I hate that word.

And lipids are crucial to biology, young man!

Mahnax

Better?

@KitFox Oh, I know.

KitFox

@Cerberus I'm not really sure.

Cerberus

Hmm.

KitFox

@Mahnax Better than "carbs"? Carbohydrates. To distinguish them from carburetors.

Mahnax

1:28 AM

@KitFox Ah, yes.

Hmm, looks like condensation applies to multiple "molecules of life".

Cerberus

I agree.

So why are the papers talking about Santorum v. Romney all the time? Does either of them stand a chance against Obama?

KitFox

God, I hope not.

Mahnax

Santorum, apparently, is a religious dishbag.

Cerberus

I thought not, but perhaps I'm not up to date?

KitFox

@Mahnax Are you aware of the usurpation of his name?

Cerberus

1:30 AM

Dishbag? Haha, is that a euphemism for douchebag?

He usurped his name?

Mahnax

@Cerberus Yes.

Cerberus

Funny.

Mahnax

@KitFox What do you mean?

@Cerberus I made it up :D

KitFox

You guys don't know about Santorum's little Google problem?

Mahnax

Not in particular.

KitFox

1:31 AM

spreadingsantorum.com

I probably shouldn't provide that sort of link to a minor.

But you're 15, right?

Mahnax

@KitFox Yes.

I feel bad for laughing at that.

KitFox

This explains the origin: thestranger.com/seattle/SavageLove?oid=14422

It has been the ultimate revenge on people like him.

Cerberus

Eww.

KitFox

And you have given me great glee to spread the news to you, so that you can share it with others.

Cerberus

Ehh that is unlikely.

Mahnax

1:36 AM

Same here.

KitFox

sigh

Cerberus

In any case, I guess Obama must be very pleased.

If Santorum beats Romney.

Mahnax

People my age don't give a rat's glass about American politics.

Cerberus

No?

Mahnax

Nope.

KitFox

1:37 AM

But they like that kind of gross out stuff, right?

Mahnax

Some do.

Not the ones that I hang around, though.

Cerberus

The thing is, most of the news is completely uninteresting; but who wins in the end is somewhat interesting.

Mahnax

We are an elite group of less-foolish teenagers.

Cerberus

Haha.

All groups consider themselves the elite.

Even teenagers.

Otherwise it's no fun.

KitFox

So speaking of elite, may I share a story about my son with you?

Mahnax

1:38 AM

Sure!

settles in

Oh, just a sec.

grabs cookies

Hahah

Hahaha…

You perv...

1:39 AM

Very nice Freudian slip.

Cerberus

Your own children!

KitFox

It was a typo!

Cerberus

Freudian, as Bob said.

Mahnax

@KitFox You misspelled Freudian slip.

Cerberus

So where is this provocative story that we were promised?

KitFox

1:42 AM

I am talking to my husband. Just a sec.

OK. So we're hiding in his "cave" under the blankets and he tells me not to worry because he use a remote control for his bots to defeat the bad guys.

He says when it is time to turn out the lights, he will send the bots to get the bad guys.

Now, we read two books, and then it is time for lights out, so he says, "Hang on, Mommy, we'll need to coordinate our attack."

Cerberus

Haha.

KitFox

"I have two bots (shows me his fingers), no wait five bots (shows me all five), so they'll get the bad guys."

Mahnax

Cute, haha.

Cerberus

So you have a remote as well?

KitFox

"OK, ready?" He throws the covers off.

"Oh, wait" Pulls the covers back over.

Cerberus

1:46 AM

Haha.

Mahnax

Indecisive, sounds about right.

KitFox

"I don't know if they'll obey my commands if I don't look like them. Let's put on our bot armor."

"Here, I'll help you."

Cerberus

Wow, he was well prepared.

Mahnax

He's thought this through well.

KitFox

We put on our bot armor, and he throws of the cover again.

"OK, take out your weapon. Now pull it in front like this it goes peeow peeow. Push it from the back it goes pow pow. Ready? Give me cover!"

Runs over to the light switch, turns off the light, runs all the way around the room ducking and bobbing and then jumps back on the bed and yanks the covers back over our heads.

Mahnax

1:49 AM

Haha.

KitFox

"Phew, Mommy. Thanks for covering me. I think we got them all."

Sonic The Hedgehog

Aww.

Cerberus

Haha great.

KitFox

And then..."Listen, Mommy. Do you hear that? I think it's the Sinister Hundred Bots coming to attack us."

Mahnax

Bravo!

Cerberus

1:50 AM

What a literary epithet!

KitFox

"Oh, no, what shall we do? It's time for stories and sleep. You'll have to tell them to go away until tomorrow night, OK?"

He says, "Um, they're naughty bad guys, Mommy. They will keep me up all night."

He thinks a minute.

"Wait, I've got a plan."

I love his plans, I really do.

Mahnax

So do I, thus far!

Cerberus

He already knows how to play you perfectly.

KitFox

"Here's what we do. I will trace these buttons on the wall in the correct sequence. Then there will be sleeping gas, and they will have to go to sleep until tomorrow."

"That's a great idea, honey."

Sonic The Hedgehog

Heh.

KitFox

1:53 AM

"OK, you back me up on the auxiliary computer."

Mahnax

"Now we need to go on a quest to find the sequence!"

Oh.

Cerberus

Haha.

KitFox