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00:42
@Cerberus I visit every other day. There are obvious improvements on all accounts, but even so it's all on borrowed time. Still, two weeks ago we didn't know if he'd survive the last week, while this week the parents are planning to rebuild the bathroom on the ground floor for easy access by a disabled, so that alone shows a certain expectation of how much time he still has, or has again. Also, Kit will be happy to know that I did bake muffins. Also played piano. And did some garden work, even.
01:16
@KitFox If you bought the Season Pass, you get all the DLC for free. It's about like a whole new game.
@2048 players:
It took a lot of work to make our tiny little game, but not much to clone it. Our feelings, and how we made Threes: http://asherv.com/threes/threemails/
01:46
> Especially when people called Threes, a game we poured over for nearly a year and a half, a clone of 2048.
Excuse me . . . pored over.
Heh, I saw that too.
Not the first time I've seen that error this week either.
Is it too much to ask for people to be literate? They used to be, you know. Back in the day. wistful sigh
This is where I usually drag out irregardless.
> But why is Threes better? It’s better for us, for our goals.
But not, apparently, better for the market.
Another group of coders getting a hard lesson in marketing.
Why not just say: "Coke is better for the Coca-Cola company. So buy it, and not Pepsi! Thank you for your support."
01:50
> All tolled, we sent 570 emails in this email thread.
OK, I hate them. I'm going to play 2048 and not threes. There, I said it.
4
"All tolled"—indeed.
@Robusto Wait, that's not a valid marketing strategy?
Seriously, they act like they invented numbers.
I agree
@DavidM Well, yes it is. It's called begging.
Hi, David!
01:53
@Robusto Or advertising.
@BraddSzonye Please, call me Dave
LOL
Hi, Dave!
@DavidM Except advertising has the advantage of not making sense.
It's funny to me that I chose David as my screen name. I almost always go by Dave.
@Robusto True
@DavidM "I'm sorry, Dave, but I'm afraid I can't do that."
@Robusto Ha!
Or Hal for that matter.
01:54
Hal is not over 9000, by the way.
@BraddSzonye You got my last one right ......
How about this
2
Q: What is is called when you count the letters in an acronym, name or word with an ordinal multiplier?

David MIn English, we frequently look at an acronym and name multiple repeated letters using an ordinal multiplier. For example: Automobile Association of America - AAA is read as Triple-A. National Association for the Advancement of Colored People - NAACP is read as N Double-A CP Aamco Transmi...

@DavidM Ha, I like it. I upticked you — into a 3! How's that for sacrifice?
@Robusto Trebled it.
I'm building a cutting board.
Epic fail today
@DavidM That will keep those boards from getting away.
Most of the joints broke when I resawed them
01:57
See, that's your mistake right there. You can point to it.
I had to glue them individually and I hope they stick this time ...
I'm not used to being a rank amateur at things . . .
Ha! Lawler made a typo.
> Since writing is itself arbitrary, and represents so little of language, linguists don't bother inventing terminology for all its little crochets.
Is he really talking about needlework?
!!define crochet
@BraddSzonye crochet Needlework made by looping thread with a hooked needle.
02:00
He's actually right.
Crochets are also little hooks
It's used in that manner.
I don't think he's talking about hooks. He's talking about whimsical notions.
1. an odd fancy or whimsical notion.
I'm sure that's what he really means.
That was sort of what I meant.
in The Bridge, 20 mins ago, by badp
@mbr I think the actual takeaway is in the incredibly detailed transcripts they posted on their site of how Threes became Threes, with their design discussions, changes and labour
02:01
It's a little thing to hang your notions on . . .
@DavidM What a fanciful notion you have there.
Just don't freak out when he starts talking about the subjunctive.
takes hold of self
@BraddSzonye OMG! He HATES the subjunctive. He also hates written language.
(IIRC, tchrist once wrote an excellent explanation of what Prof Lawler means when he says it doesn't exist)
02:03
Oh, and apparently I am a racist . . .
3
A: Gender neutral term for "maiden name"?

David MBirth name is completely gender neutral, but it might be confusing out of context. Pre-married name will provide context in addition to being gender neutral. Or even née and né which are derived from French meaning born. They are past participle of naître (to be born). But, as most Americans w...

Read comments.
He lost me at his doctrinaire insistence that English has only two tenses. My attitude: whatever.
@Robusto Last night I dreamed I was a teepee. The night before I dreamed I was a wigwam . . .
Mar 20 at 16:01, by Robusto
Q. What do you call a black guy who flies an airliner?
A. A pilot, you racist!
@Robusto Old joke.
Yes. It's seven days old at least.
02:04
That's like what do you call an anesthesiologist in a 3 piece suit?
I would call that provincial rather than racist
The defendant.
@BraddSzonye Or, over-generalizing.
But my favorite part: I'm a German living in NZ . . . Americans are . . .
Bite my shiny metal ass.
I resisted the urge to finish my statement about the social contract.
@DavidM What do you call a woman who practices the rhythm method of birth control? Mom!
@Robusto Hahahahahaha! Good one.
BTW- Anesthesiologist in a 3-piece suit - the defendant.
What do you call the guy who graduates last in his class in medical school? Doctor!
02:06
teylyn is usually pretty cool, probably just overstated her case there a bit.
@BraddSzonye Eh . . .
@BraddSzonye I'd love to read that if you ever find the link
1 min ago, by David M
Bite my shiny metal ass.
It's a valid point, not assuming that something is OK just because some folks are ignorant.
On the other hand, part of correctness is usage, so eh.
My point was that it didn't carry the potential stigma.
02:07
@terdon Lemme see if I can find it.
10
A: How is the English Subjunctive Composed?

tchristIn response to the originally posed question, John Lawler wrote a somewhat amusing, (pedantically) accurate, but highly confusing comment, one which I feel deserves translation and further elaboration into something more resembling an actual answer. John said: A useful and concise conception...

Seriously, what's wrong with maiden name? I really have a problem seeing your problem. — Robusto 35 secs ago
I usually write that people who find offense where none is proffered cannot fulfill their half of the social contract and should be immediately put to death.
@Robusto It's not good for men.
@DavidM I don't read that as her taking offense.
@DavidM I should think a guy who changes his name to his husband's wouldn't mind calling his old name "maiden" . . .
@BraddSzonye No, not the OP. Teylyn
02:10
What, can ships not have maiden voyages now as well?
@Robusto Ships are always she
@DavidM Yes, that's who I was talking about.
@BraddSzonye She called me a racist.
Also: “Some definitions of racism also include discriminatory behaviors and beliefs based on cultural, national, ethnic, caste, or religious stereotypes.”
@BraddSzonye Thanks!
02:11
Yes. And Russia has a motherland while Germany has a fatherland. Ultimately, who gives a squirrel fart?
@BraddSzonye All of the wrong ones . . .
No, she said that assuming that Americans are ignorant is a racist attitude, which is something different.
Racism is racism. Jingoism is jingoism. Etc.
We damn well know Americans are ignorant. We don't have to assume anything.
@BraddSzonye She said I wrote a racial slur ABOUT MY OWN PEOPLE!
02:12
@BraddSzonye Yes, but it is still an absurd statement. Assuming that native speakers of language X are ignorant of language Y is perfectly reasonable. Why not?
And I say that as an American.
@DavidM Now how's calling them a race? :P
I said that most Americans don't know French.
@terdon ?
02:13
@Robusto I don't even want to see that, though I think I have.
né(e) is a loan word.
@teylyn #1, racial slur? Since when are Americans a race? #2, I AM AN AMERICAN!, #3, People who take offense where none is proffered are unable to fulfill their half of the social contract. If you are so easily offended, cut your internet connection, turn off your TV, and burn your books. — David M 12 hours ago
It's English.
@DavidM so just joking 'cause you said "My people" which brought associations of native Americans. Nothing serious here.
@terdon Ah.
02:14
@BraddSzonye yes, but the gender difference between ne and nee (sorry, no accents) is not
Also, consider that you may be taking offense where none was proffered.
@BraddSzonye Saying I made a racial slur is offensive.
@terdon It's . . . a classic.
@BraddSzonye I understand.
02:15
I am NaN.
I was pointing out that its use is not as loaded as "maiden" which implies things like virginity, etc.
@Robusto Crap, you made me watch it again. Yeah, I remember. Depressingly funny.
Gotcha.
Pointing out that something you said could be construed as racism is not an attack, it's a suggestion that if you don't approve of racism, that you should reconsider the opinion.
02:16
@RegDwigнt OK so I guess this news is as good as it gets. Which still sucks. Bravo for baking muffins, at least you get to spend more time together. Take care.
@DavidM I happen to disagree, for what it's worth.
Still, calling Americans anything is hardly racist. Chauvinist, prejudiced, nationalist etc sure, but racist?
@BraddSzonye That is a legitimate statement which I fully support.
@Cerberus taps the starboard
(Also, née doesn't really substitute for maiden name.)
02:17
@BraddSzonye True.
@BraddSzonye Pretty close, why not?
Hence it was third on my list.
It's used the same as born in English, as in “Sir Elton John, born Reginald Dwight.”
You wouldn't say that Sir Elton's née is Reginald.
Ah, yes, but that includes maiden names.
@BraddSzonye I offered it as a substitute for designation . . .
I didn't say it was equivalent.
02:19
@Robusto What about it?
By the way, could I get some more from you guys (@DavidM in particular) about this:
@Cerberus I'm America-bashing.
Laura - do not edit posts that are less than an hour old. Simple. Don't do it. — Joe Blow 19 hours ago
Eh, it's a pet peeve of mine when people offer SWRs that don't fit the original context (unless you show how to modify the context to make it fit)
Oh haha.
02:20
Ah . . .
@Robusto Are you trying to usurp my title??
Because one of the requirements for a SWR is that you have to provide the specific context.
If I see a simple typo, I'll go in and edit, why in the world not? Granted, hers might have been a bit too much but, typos?
@Cerberus Think of it as an homage.
I wrote a post. And, while I was editing it 2 minutes later, I saw a conflicting edit.
02:20
@Robusto Besides, you're overestimating the rest of the world!
@Robusto I'll join that party! I'll bring my passport!
Then I had to rollback.
Ah, homages I will accept.
It was a PITA.
@DavidM Ah, OK, that's annoying, yeah
02:21
As for the racist thing, keep in mind that non-Americans may not see it as such a bold accusation.
I rest my case.
@terdon Racism is become the opposite of democracy: where to many people the latter means "anything good", the former now means "anything bad".
@Cerberus I know, it bugs me.
I politely told her that it was bad form to edit something which was still warm
02:21
@Cerberus Exactly.
@terdon Good.
@BraddSzonye nods
@BraddSzonye Perhaps. But, much as Prof John said about whom tonight, don't use it unless you are 110% sure it is correct.
For the record, I am not a racist. Some of my best friends are Americans.
4
@DavidM It was the hour and with respect to typos specifically that I was wondering about. I mean, if I see a post of yours with a simple typo, would you really rather I comment than fix it? Personally, I'd rather you edit if you see one on a post of mine.
@DavidM lol
@DavidM For the record, you are clearly losing the race war.
@terdon I never mind having my post edited. Just not thirty seconds afterwards. I typically edit as I go. Sometimes its easier to see your errors after you publish them.
02:25
@DavidM Ah, yes, that one I know.
@Robusto Oh, is there a race war now? That's a healthy notion.
Or is it a race condition? If it's a condition, maybe we can do something about it. Take a vaccine. Get a little exercise.
I got irritated because she did it like three times in the space of 5 minutes. And, it was interrupting my flow on fixing my own post.
@DavidM Agreed.
OK, so we agree that if I see a post of yours from a week ago that has a silly typo, you'd rather I just fix the typo instead of leaving you a comment right?
02:25
@DavidM To mash up your claim with Lawler’s, don’t assume that a non-American talking about racism is insulting you unless you’re 110% sure they meant it. ;)
@DavidM yeah, and silly edits, all true
@Robusto It is the human condition, which is incurable.
As for the rapid editing thing, I'm totally with you.
@terdon Yes, please.
@Cerberus OK, good.
02:26
@BraddSzonye You know you're consorting with a known racist!
@Cerberus What happened to death as a remedy?
Same here of course, it bugs me when people with the rep to edit just point out mistakes instead of fixing the damn things.
But you'd better be 110 % sure your edit is an improvement!!
Eh, if you're only racist about American ignorance, it could be worse.
We're all a little racist.
I try to keep mine in check.
18 mins ago, by David M
I usually write that people who find offense where none is proffered cannot fulfill their half of the social contract and should be immediately put to death.
02:27
By the way, the whole concept of racism is a bit American, so that guy's rant was more than a little bit ironic (excusez le mot).
^^^^^ THAT!
Racism is simply not quite as sensitive a subject in many other places of the world.
I presume that in context racist meant unfairly discriminatory
(We don't have as much of a race "issue" in Europe, because there are fewer people of other races, I think.)
@BraddSzonye Well that and my well documented hatred of Tazmanians.
02:28
@BraddSzonye Yeah, that's the usage I object to. But w'evs, it's just a word, I guess. breathes deeply
@Cerberus Yeah, we did a better job killing them I guess. How nice for us.
There was a question on that subject very recently.
@terdon Hehe. Or, rather, we didn't have many slaves here.
@BraddSzonye I answered that one, too.
Somebody objecting to the use of racism to refer to national discrimination.
02:29
@Cerberus Swarte Piet?
@Cerberus Uh, have you been to London? Or Paris?
We shipped and used our slaves elsewhere.
@DavidM Zwarte Piet is no slave!
@Cerberus That's not the way I heard it . . .
Retrocon . . .
He was invented after slavery.
@Robusto true story: a friend was in the Princeton cafeteria talking so a girl he met. G: So, where'ya from? F: I'm from Athens Greece. G: Really? Wow! I only knew about Athens Georgia. Oookay, so my friend replies F: Oh, well, I'd never heard of Athens, Georgia. G: Really? They don't teach you American geography in Africa?
02:30
3
Q: If a person holds prejudice against people because of their nationality, would that be considered racist?

CeleritasWould it be considered racist if a store owner believes all Canadians are thieves and does not let any Canadians into his store? Racism pertains to discriminating based on race, and (correct me if I'm wrong) Canadians are not a race. What would be an appropriate word to describe an individual suc...

@Cerberus I thought he was representative of the St. Nicholas's slaves.
@terdon Hahaha.
I don't know what's worse, that she thought Athens was in Africa or that she expected African kids to be taught US geography.
@DavidM Nope. Some people in the 21th century are trying to find such a connection. But he was always just a servant.
His clothes aren't those of a slave. He is an important character with the power to punish white children.
@Cerberus I can accept that.
02:31
@Robusto Yeah, that and the time I overheard an American couple visiting a medieval castle (true story): "Oooo it's gorgeous! Yeah, and it's gonna be even better when it's finished!"
@Cerberus What is the 21th century? How do you pronounce it?
The Archbishop of Turkey is a rather cool guy for handing out presents, though.
I hate seeing stupid stereotypes personified dammit.
@terdon Oh, now come on. Why don't you pull the other one, it's got bells on it.
@Robusto That's like the opposite of truth.
Falth
02:32
@Robusto I kid you not, I swear!
The only real argument I have ever heard that made sense was that the rings he has come to wear in his ears bear a resembles to certain rings worn by American slaves.
Well, OK, 2nd hand, but the 2nd hand was my girlfriend of the time who came running home to wake me up and tell me the story.
@Robusto It's this thing that people like Putin are trying to push back.
@terdon I love it!!
Sometimes you think you've reached the bottom of the barrel on people's stupidity, but then you lift up that barrel . . .
My favorite stupid American moment: Overheard in McDonald's in Prague: "Quick, go to that cashier, she speaks English!"
02:33
:)
Hmm that's not so stupid?
@DavidM Ask her if she'll take a Czech!
@Robusto Ow.
Just to clarify, I'm half Greek half American, I got stupid Greek stories galore too,
If the other ones don't speak English?
Or am I stupid?
02:34
Or do Brits spell it Czeque?
@Robusto Ow
I can go on pun-ishing you all night.
@Cerberus McDonald's only hires cashiers who speak English.
Worldwide.
@Cerberus What are the chances of a McDonalds cashier in any European country (except perhaps Italy, France and Spain) does not speak English?
@DavidM Really?
My friend had to guide tourists around Knossos. This woman asked her husband about the year 500 BC, "is that Before Columbus?".
02:35
@terdon AFAIK, yes.
@DavidM Oh...well, how is one supposed to know that?
Did you hear about the American couple who adopted a French baby? They wanted to learn how to speak French.
@Cerberus It's freaking McDonald's. It's practically the US Embassy.
@terdon I honestly have no idea! I rarely go there.
@Cerberus Oh man... I actually had a (very intelligent) gfriend who asked me whether the christian church we were standing in was built in 100 bc or ad.
@Cerberus Yeah, same here.
02:36
@DavidM Their protections don't extend to cattle, though.
I try to go there in every country I visit that has one.
@Robusto True
In her defense, I'd spent the day filling her head with Ancient Greece and she was kind of cross-eyed by that point.
I find it amusing.
I stay away from McDonalds anywhere I go.
@DavidM Why?
02:36
They have some interesting differences everywhere. I like looking at how they adapt to local culture. It's not for the food.
@terdon Hehe nice. I can actually empathize with that, it is like, your mind just isn't thinking.
Play me out.
@DavidM I took that as a given.
I'm not afraid to admit that I like their food. But, I don't consider it haute cuisine, either.
02:37
@terdon You can do that to us anytime!
I take my kids there because its one of the few places I know they'll eat something.
@Robusto That's a really nice little tune, lyrics haven't kicked in yet.
@DavidM As long as it's hawt it don't have to be haute.
@DavidM Huh why won't they eat other food?
Whoops, go to post an answer and whole pages whiz by.
0
A: If a person holds prejudice against people because of their nationality, would that be considered racist?

Bradd SzonyeThe definition of racism is very fuzzy, partly because the definition of race itself is fuzzy, partly because the definition of discrimination is fuzzy, and partly because racism and other kinds of bigotry tend to go hand in hand. While most conceptualizations of racism include the notion of ...

02:38
@Cerberus They're 5 years old and very picky.
I see.
I dragged my parents to a McDonalds in New York when I was 15 'cause I wanted to sample the "original article"
@BraddSzonye I up voted that crap.
They even took me poor dears. They're vegetarians.
@terdon You'd have to go to California in the 1950s to sample the original article.
02:39
McDonald's was like a party to us when we were little, because we were absolutely not allowed to go there ever. So when we were, it was like the forbidden fruit.
Thanks :)
Only 79 more points and I get super powers!
@BraddSzonye I actually objected more to the characterization of my statement as a racial slur than her objection to form . . . if that makes sense?
@Cerberus It's the kind of party Zwart Piet would throw.
@BraddSzonye I know, I've been up voting your lousy answers just to help push you over.
@BraddSzonye I have always thought that particular usage to be specific to AmE
02:40
@DavidM I totally understand!
@BraddSzonye Oh noes! I shall have to vote you down everywhere in order to protect the Eluverse from your potential tyranny!
Damn, I don't agree with that take but since it's for a good cause, have a +10
AmE: Racism: Someone says something you don't like.
@BraddSzonye They're not that super. Trust me.
02:41
@Robusto He throws around unholesome food, to be sure!
@Cerberus ...
@DavidM No serial upvoting or they might go all Superman 2 on me!
spelling
@BraddSzonye Not serial.
I just see your answers, read them to make sure they're not baseless crap, and up vote.
Oh, and they deserve it, too.
Heh, thanks for the faint praise. :D
I do on rare occasions post baseless crap.
02:42
@BraddSzonye I am tempted to protect that potential cesspool...
Honestly, I've enjoyed a lot of your answers. So, when I see you as the last person to post, I typically read it.
If you liked that one, check this one out.
Especially on days like today when I haven't had enough sleep.
@DavidM Yeah, I do the same with several people.
I might, uh, also do it for a couple of people I don't like so much.
@Cerberus Doesn't seem necessary yet, stop flexing your muscles.
02:43
Fine, I'll start re and extracting my claws instead...
Oh, as in protect the question to keep the riff raff out?
@Robusto I really like the guitar, very sweet. Not a big fan of Rap/Hip hop though, when they stop singing and start talking I tend to switch off.
I'm just disappointed that you haven't answered my ordinal multipliers question yet.
Yeah to prevent new answers by new users from being posted.
But it's actually not so bad, yet.
I took a look at it. Nothing came to mind immediately.
02:44
@BraddSzonye Excuse me, I have to serial down vote you now.
@Cerberus Yeah, the answers aren't awesome, but they're not terrible either.
@DavidM What's your question?
@BraddSzonye Uhuh.
@terdon I'm more eclectic than that. Still, @Cerb can unerringly find music that makes my skin crawl.
@Robusto Oh, yeah? Like what?
4
Q: What is is called when you count the letters in an acronym, name or word with an ordinal multiplier?

David MIn English, we frequently look at an acronym and name multiple repeated letters using an ordinal multiplier. For example: Automobile Association of America - AAA is read as Triple-A. National Association for the Advancement of Colored People - NAACP is read as N Double-A CP Aamco Transmi...

02:45
@Robusto I'm a music snob, cheerfully admit it.
@Cerberus What was that shit you linked last year?
@terdon There are so many kinds of music snobbery. Which are you?
@DavidM Ouch, I have no answer for you...
@Robusto Oh, that video I posted last year?
@Cerberus Prof John says there is no answer. And, then tried to get me with crochet hooks.
@Robusto The pseudo intellectual one. I tend to go for things that are musically intricate. Not exclusively, but those are the ones I really respect. Jazz for example.
@BraddSzonye there you go, enjoy!
Whoa! Sweet!
02:48
@DavidM Ah, yes, he doesn't like writing, paradoxically.
@Cerberus He detests the written form. It sometimes makes me laugh.
Yeah.
Now I have to figure out how to actually use the super powers.
There is a valid point; he then takes it, and exaggerates until it becomes a bit of a silly pet peeve.
@BraddSzonye Noo don't ban meee!
@Cerberus He can't, Sorry @BraddSzonye you just get stats and flags :)
02:50
@BraddSzonye I thought you were talking about this one . . .
0
A: Is there a word for hate against religions or a specific religion? Is there a single word for religious intolerance?

David MLet me preface this with, it was too long to be a comment, and I couldn't find an appropriate place to tack it on, anyway. I'm not expecting a flurry of up votes here (and hopefully not down votes either for the same reason). Not to put too fine a point on it, but yes there is a word: Hate. H...

@Cerberus Silly, I can't ban you without two other people holding my hands.
@terdon disappointed digital masochist look
@terdon I like jazz too. And classical. And many others.
But I like simple things too.
@BraddSzonye Your hands get in the way of your banning powers?
@Robusto Same here, and simple. What I want is the elusive "quality", just don't ask me how I define it. It is often, but not always, connected to technical excellency.
02:51
@BraddSzonye Congrats!
Thanks all!
Gotta go feed my cats and stuff, might be back later. Happy trails!
And, you were #3 this week!
@BraddSzonye Bye!
@Robusto Ah, yes, them I do like indeed. Though they do sometimes veer close to showing off. But boy can they play!
@BraddSzonye thanks for the tchrist link, been reading it, it's a very good read.
02:54
To the untrained eye, virtuosity always looks like showing off.
@Robusto Indeed.
Just throwing out some random cool shit:
Speaking of showing off... but it's not dammit!
Shit, that R&G is excellent, hadn't heard it.
02:57
@Cerberus Is gasoline expensive the in the Netherlands or does Royal Dutch Shell keep the prices down there? Someone was telling me that natural gas was very inexpensive there.
That's Ron Carter playing bass on the Hubert Laws track.
@Robusto Not there yet
^^ That's one of my favorite tunes of all time
@DavidM Petrol is like the most expensive in the world here.
Mostly because of taxes. Shell does nothing for us.
@Cerberus That's what I figured. But NG is really cheap?

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