English Language & Usage: Multi-Layered Discourse Room

KitFox

19:00

Another fool can also do it?

Gigili

Yes? Aha.

"The fools who write the text books of advanced mathematics [...]", I'd flag that as offensive.

Matt Эллен

I'd flag it as self referential

2

cornbread ninja

@Gigili I saw a new face in your post

so I tried to extrapolate

TRiG

I really should spend more time here.

KitFox

We are pretty awesome.

Matt Эллен

19:13

it's true

cornbread ninja

I'd like to have British post codes explained to me.

Matt Эллен

what about them?

I don't really know the details but they just mark areas

cornbread ninja

Do the letters have significance?

Matt Эллен

the first two letters are the postal area, e.g. OX is oxford

I'm not sure about the last two letters

cornbread ninja

in the US, they are all five digits and increase roughly from the northeast to the west coast

I'm looking at WV16 6NN

Highley, Shropshire

Matt Эллен

19:18

16 means it's far from the centre of postal area

cornbread ninja

heh

@MattЭллен our phone numbers used to work like this

Matt Эллен

@cornbreadninja crazy! we have geographic area codes for our landlines, but they're not spelling related

cornbread ninja

►

Matt Эллен

WV is for Wolverhampton

cornbread ninja

that conveniently shows both versions

Matt Эллен

19:20

@cornbreadninja hehehe, bless them

cornbread ninja

technically, they still work!

Mahnax

@Gigili Mine is at -4 in each, or something like that.

cornbread ninja

many numbers in that area still have an NXX of 931, which equals WE-1 on the DTMF

well, the rotary too

@MattЭллен I saw it and thought of West Virginia

@Mahnax your visions?

Mahnax

@cornbreadninja Uh, yes.

Matt Эллен

> There is a special postcode for letters to Father Christmas: SAN TA1.

2

Mahnax

19:24

@MattЭллен Ours is H0H 0H0.

2

Matt Эллен

:D

cornbread ninja

@Mahnax sorry. I like to test my powers of deduction.

Mahnax

@cornbreadninja OK.

cornbread ninja

@Matt thank you for the post code lesson :)

Matt Эллен

no trouble! There's more at wikipedia

KitFox

19:30

OK, who wants more Macy?

Matt Эллен

Me!

KitFox

foxfirekitty.wordpress.com/2012/06/12/on-the-verge

Gigili

Me too!

KitFox

Same password, meowkitty.

And the question is, does Macy convincingly go from tense to relaxed in the newest section?

Gigili

I looked up over a million words, to understand the previous one.

KitFox

19:33

Is that OK? Or are you annoyed?

cornbread ninja

@MattЭллен postcode gangs 0_0

Cerberus

►

This is what Dutch cops look like.

Gigili

The question is, will Macy marry Mark?

KitFox

@Gigili I highly doubt it.

@Cerberus Oh man it hurt my head when they switched to Dutch.

Matt Эллен

@cornbreadninja that's what I thought :D

Cerberus

19:38

@KitFox How dare you insult our national pride! You are hereby arrested!

KitFox

Sweeet.

Mahnax

Somehow, I knew she would say something like that.

KitFox

Ah!

What's going on with my chat!?

What is going on with this thing?

Matt Эллен

I was pung for no reason

and again!

KitFox

That was messed up!

Matt Эллен

19:41

what happened?

Mahnax

What happened?

KitFox

I don't know.

Matt Эллен

jinx!

Mahnax

Jinx.

Bah.

Matt Эллен

metajinx

KitFox

19:42

I was over in The Overlook and I could see Mahnax's message.

Mahnax

Woah.

KitFox

But when I came over here, I couldn't see it.

Matt Эллен

:O

KitFox

And the star wall was blank, but then I refresh and everything was back.

Matt Эллен

there's gremlins in these here chats

KitFox

19:42

But I still couldn't see Mahnax's message, except over in The Overlook.

It kinda freaked me out.

Matt Эллен

maybe the overlook saw it before Mahnax typed it...

KitFox

So @Matt, did you read it yet?

Mahnax

@MattЭллен gasps

Devilry!

Matt Эллен

@KitFox I was on my second read through when I was mysteriously pung

one mo, I'll start again

KitFox

You are so studious.

Mahnax

19:44

I saw that…

Matt Эллен

it looks like I'm not in the overlook, to me at least, but I am there

KitFox

I can see you there.

Matt Эллен

@KitFox I enjoyed it. Ada and Danny are quite quirky. Ada seems a bit like a robot :D

@KitFox oh, good

KitFox

@MattЭллен Yes, good.

Did Macy seem tense at first, but then more relaxed as she spent more time with Ada?

Matt Эллен

KitFox

19:48

Huh.

Mahnax

Wow.

Matt Эллен

@KitFox yes. Like waiting for her to pick a cup gave Macy time to relax a bit

Mahnax

It just hit me that "The Overlook Hotel" is a hotel in The Shining.

…which contains the line "all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy."

Matt Эллен

:D

KitFox

I'd like to convey that Macy felt something both in that Ada took the time to look for a cup she liked and also in the particular cup that Ada chose. Does it seem that way?

Mahnax

19:50

Silly me.

Matt Эллен

@KitFox yes. I couldn't initially tell if Macy regretted letting her choose, but I think the smile and the invitation make it clear

KitFox

It was those two things that really made her feel like maybe there was something more human about Ada, and less creepy.

So Ada not just taking the first cup = respect from Macy, and Ada picking Macy's special cup = liking.

Almost as if it were a test.

Mahnax

Were either of you here when a guy asked about finding reliable editors online yesterday?

Matt Эллен

@KitFox OK, yes. I can see that.

Gigili

@Mahnax I was.

Mahnax

19:54

@Gigili Well, it turns out that I'll actually be editing for him.

KitFox

OK, I have to jet. Later peeps! And thanks for reading @Matt!

Matt Эллен

no worries! safe travels :)

Mahnax

Bye @Kit! As usual, I'm enjoying your Macy story.

Gigili

@Mahnax Oh, everyday?

Mahnax

@Gigili No, just this once.

That I know of, that is.

Maybe he will need help again in the future.

Gigili

19:59

@KitFox Have fun. The story is very interesting, almost as interesting as something really interesting, to be clear.

user19161

@Gigili The font looks nice.

Mahnax

I'm going to fetch some tea.

Back soon!

user19161

@Mahnax I think I will go make some tea as well!

user19161

20:14

I wonder whether ELU will exist 10 years from now...

Matt Эллен

good question

I hope it will

but in a better state than now. More experts and knowledgeable enthusiasts, less ESL

user19161

Ah so now with 20k I can vote to delete answers as well, amazing!

skullpatrol

@MattЭллен Without ESL the language would grow much more slowly...

Matt Эллен

That doesn't really make sense

skullpatrol

The letter "S" in ESL stands for "second"...

does it make sense now?

user19161

20:24

@skullpatrol It made sense to me from the start.

Matt Эллен

@skullpatrol I know what ESL is. I don't see what relevance it has to anything I said previous

user19161

@MattЭллен The language growing means more people speaking it.

KitFox

Actually, more people speaking it contributes to its stability.

Matt Эллен

@JasperLoy that is still irrelevant to my point, but thanks for pointing out the obvious

KitFox

Well, I mean, I think. We could always ask @Kosmo.

Matt Эллен

20:29

heh :D yeah

KitFox

I'm pretty sure a linguist told me that language evolves faster in smaller populations.

Or something.

Hi, for a minute.

Matt Эллен

Hi!

KitFox

Is everybody done reading the latest? I'm going to pull it back to draft form.

OK, I'll be back later.

Mahnax

@JasperLoy I changed my mind and made a smoothie instead, I'll have tea later.

Matt Эллен

@KitFox CU

Mahnax

20:37

@JasperLoy Hopefully!

Gigili

Is it people from lower economic status or economical?

simchona

The first one

Gigili

Thank you.

simchona

"Economical" is an adjective describing basically how efficient something is

For example, a hybrid vehicle

Gigili

Aren't we describing the status or whatever it is?

Ah, how efficient something is. Noted.

Cerberus

20:43

@KitFox I believe there is no consensus about this, or at least it varies per population.

Gigili

Does this make sense to you: "Stomach is the home of all pains"?

No?

Yes?

Pretty much?

Not really?

Matt Эллен

It is syntactically sound

Gigili

And?

Matt Эллен

I don't know what you want it to mean precisely. If I append the to the beginning: "The stomach is the home of all the pains" then that means all pains live in the stomach, I would rephrase that to "The stomach is home to all pain". Without the definite article then Stomach is some place, like London.

Gigili

That makes sense, thank you.

Matt Эллен

20:53

no problem :)

oh gods, that child is so noisy

shouldn't it be asleep? it's nearly 10pm.

oh, there are two of them

howling like puppies

Matt Эллен

21:21

@Cerberus what do you make of this?

user19161

@Mahnax You can make your own smoothie? Amazing!

user19161

@MattЭллен Where?

Matt Эллен

next door. they seem to have gone to bed now, thankfully :)

@Cerberus here's a rebuttal

Mahnax

@JasperLoy How is it amazing?

user19161

@Mahnax Er, well because I don't know how to make one.

Matt Эллен

21:32

bed time for me

user19161

@MattЭллен Good night!

Mahnax

@MattЭллен Bye!

user19161

@Mahnax So are you meeting Gigili next week?

Mahnax

@JasperLoy Do you have a blender?

@JasperLoy It's possible.

user19161

@Mahnax No, I have done zero cooking in my life, and don't intend to in the near future.

Mahnax

21:34

@JasperLoy Hm, that's a shame.

Smoothies are, as they say, delicious and nutritious.

user19161

@Mahnax So your exams finish this Fri?

Mahnax

@JasperLoy Yep! I'm studying for my last one now, actually.

user19161

@Mahnax How was the math paper?

Mahnax

@JasperLoy Pardon?

user19161

@Mahnax Oh you are not taking math this sem?

Mahnax

21:36

@JasperLoy No, I took it last semester.

user19161

@Mahnax Oh I forgot you don't take every subject every sem. A different system.

user19161

I would prefer to take classes in every subject every sem in school I think.

Mahnax

Actually, once I start IB, I will take all the subjects for the full year.

Four one day, the other four the next.

Switching back and forth between "days".

user19161

Anyway, I think I'll chat here a few more days and then not log in after this month.

Mahnax

Aw, really?

user19161

21:40

Yep. I will continue to work on my recovery.

Mahnax

OK. Well, keep in touch, y'hear?

user19161

Yep.

Mahnax

Alright.

user19161

Are you looking forward to your hols?

Mahnax

Yes.

I can't wait to learn more languages.

user19161

21:42

Hmm OK. You may wish to study more math too.

Mahnax

Yes, I have my mum's Statistics textbook to work through.

user19161

Oh? Your mum did statistics?

Mahnax

It's part of the Uni program she's doing.

user19161

Statistics is not something I would enjoy though.

Mahnax

No?

user19161

21:43

My knowledge of statistics is limited to high school level.

Mahnax

Ah, I see.

user19161

Anyway, if you do math in uni in future, you will know that the three main branches of pure math are roughly algebra, analysis and geometry.

user19161

They study structures, limits and space respectively, to summarise.

Mahnax

Interesting.

I should get back to studying, though.

user19161

Yes, good luck!

Mahnax

21:46

Thanks!

Cerberus

21:58

@MattЭллен Ouch...that is...long!!

> “The fundamental shift in principals and morality is about who gets to control and exploit the work of an artist. The accepted norm for hudreds of years of western civilization is the artist exclusively has the right to exploit and control his/her work for a period of time.”

Copyright is fairly new.

The greatest works of art were created when there was no copyright.

Science and art flourished.

TRiG

@Cerberus Folk music is an interesting case in point.

Cerberus

Exactly.

Sonic The Hedgehog

23:07

I finished my exams week ago; I did well except for World Language and Math.

Got 62 on World Language Exam; I didn't even wanted to learn World Language but those... "guys" made me learn it for 2 years.

Mahnax

Hello Sonic.

It's nice to see you again!

Sonic The Hedgehog

hey.

I might exit out any moment; my mom needs to use my computer soon.

Mahnax

OK.

Sonic The Hedgehog

Her's got totaled after being used for 6 years; 6 years on a used laptop.

Mahnax

I am in the middle of my exams.

Sonic The Hedgehog

23:10

At School?

Mahnax

@SonicTheHedgehog That's not too shabby.

@SonicTheHedgehog Well, I'm not literally in one right now.

I have one on Friday, and I had one yesterday.

Sonic The Hedgehog

Ah.

Mahnax

I am 3 edits away from Copy Editor now.

Sonic The Hedgehog

That reminds me of a stupid rumor I heard.

Mahnax

Oh?

Sonic The Hedgehog

23:11

When I was a young hedgehog, a rumor was going around that I was home-schooled; even though I attended that school.

Mahnax

Tch.

I've heard far too many people claim such a thing to believe it.

Sonic The Hedgehog

?

Mahnax

I see someone say that on the Internet quite frequently.

Sonic The Hedgehog

No, no. I assure you.

I'm not jesting.

Mahnax

It's actually a meme, apparently.

Sonic The Hedgehog

23:14

I was not THAT popular.

Mahnax

weknowmemes.com/2012/05/…

Sonic The Hedgehog

?

There is a site for memes?

Mahnax

There are many.

Sonic The Hedgehog

...Whats the point?

I mean, of making a website of memes.

Waste of time, ain't it?

Mahnax

Yes, it is.

Sonic The Hedgehog

23:15

Next, one would write a book about memes.

"101 ways on how to make a meme".

Mahnax

I posted it to illustrate my point, though.

Sonic The Hedgehog

A bestseller if I ever heard one.

Mahnax

I can die happy now.

Sonic The Hedgehog

Whee.

Right in my self-esteem.

Lol.

Mahnax

Haha.

Gigili

23:17

@Mahnax Oh, congrats. That's quite something.

Mahnax

@Gigili Thanks!

simchona

@SonicTheHedgehog Your spelling has quite improved

It's just a matter of time before someone posts a question on ELU about the "right in the childhood" meme

And then we need to explain it all

Mahnax

I move that any question about memes be closed upon sight.

All in favour?

Good.

simchona

AYE.

Sonic The Hedgehog

@sim ah, yes.

Sorry for sudden exit.

Accidently pressed few buttons.

Mahnax

23:19

Well, now that I've attained Copy Editor, I might go study some more.

Well, according to the review tab, I have it.

I haven't actually received the badge yet.

Sonic The Hedgehog

Then wait till you receive it.

Mahnax

@SonicTheHedgehog then*

simchona

@SonicTheHedgehog It wasn't me this time!

Sonic The Hedgehog

Ack. Than vs. Then.

@sim what do you mean?

simchona

@SonicTheHedgehog I didn't correct you. Even though I wanted to.

Mahnax

23:23

@SonicTheHedgehog Do you not remember how you became rather frustrated with her?

Sonic The Hedgehog

Ah. so long ago.

yeah. XD

Quiz Time.

Are you guys afraid of Jeff Atwood?

Oh, and I have to go soon.

Mom is badgering me.

Mahnax

@SonicTheHedgehog Afraid of him?

No.

There is no reason to fear him.

Sonic The Hedgehog

Ok.

Others?

...They are oddly silent.

K, gotta go.

Cya.

Mahnax

Bye!

Journeyman Geek

lol

@Mahnax: i think there's a script that updates badges

augh. darned unfamiliar keyboard

Mahnax

23:30

@JourneymanGeek Yeah, I think so too.

I think it runs every 15 minutes, IIRC.

Journeyman Geek

waits for the day to rollover ;p

Sonic The Hedgehog

turns out I have extra time.

-_-

They say English is one of the easiest languages to learn.

Easiest to learn.

But hardest to master.

Journeyman Geek

eheh

You never master it totally

Sonic The Hedgehog

I know.

frustrating fact.

Journeyman Geek

english is the scrappy little street dog of languages, you can get off the fleas, and put it in a ribbon, and it runs away and rolls in mud ;p

Sonic The Hedgehog

23:37

You have Dorvak keyboard or something? Why erratic typing?

I mean, I see no point in Dorvak.

Journeyman Geek

No, just using a computer with a different keyboard

Sonic The Hedgehog

My hands are already molded for Qwerty...

Journeyman Geek

not my laptop or mechanical keyboard

and i touchtype

Sonic The Hedgehog

Oh?

Ah, I see.

They are developing a new technology over there at Phone companies.

Mahnax

10 hours ago, by Robusto

English is a hard, ball-breaking language to learn. Even native speakers screw it up so much that it looks like a cow that got hit by a truck after five days of rotting on a Texas roadside. And that's the Disney version. The truth is even worse.

Sonic The Hedgehog

23:39

You are browsing internet with your smooth touch interface on you phone...

And then bam- you have text from someone.

Unless its a case of stalker or overbearing girlfriend, you'll have to reply.

Bazing - a keyboard forms over the half of the touch-screen.

Literally like bumps across the surface.

Mahnax

Oh, @JourneymanGeek, per MSO, the badge script may be run at 00:00 UTC each day.

Sonic The Hedgehog

Each bump representing a letter.

That's what they are trying to develop.

Mahnax

@JourneymanGeek Ah yes, I do as well.

Sonic The Hedgehog

Sheesh. That technology thing certainly gets faster everyday.

Mahnax

Once I start learning Russian, I will need to memorize the Russian keyboard layout.

All I know how to type is Пушка, and I'm not very quick.

Sonic The Hedgehog

23:42

@mahnax you are taking out my self-esteem one by one, you know that?

Mahnax

@SonicTheHedgehog Eh? Oh, I'm sorry.

Sonic The Hedgehog

Nah, I got used to it long time ago.

Mahnax

OK, I'm done.

Sonic The Hedgehog

I am currently trying to make a comeback.

Mahnax

On what, EL&U?

user19161

23:43

Yo @sonic.

Sonic The Hedgehog

Ok, here.

ಠ_ಠ

@Jasper Hey!

@mah ಠ▃ಠ

Mahnax

ଠ̬៝ଠ៝

Sonic The Hedgehog

ಠ_ರೃ

Mahnax

ଠ៝︿ଠ៝

Sonic The Hedgehog

ఠ_ఠ

Mahnax

23:46

ರೊ_ಕೊ

Sonic The Hedgehog

Wonder why Jasper suddenly left. Ah well.

Mahnax

My Kannada is better than yours, nyahhh.

Sonic The Hedgehog

Ծ_Ծ

@Mah My Korean is better than yours.

Mahnax

@SonicTheHedgehog Probably.

Sonic The Hedgehog

Who's nyahhh?

Mahnax

23:47

Noöne.

It's the sound I make when I stick out my tongue.

Sonic The Hedgehog

Strange.

That's not the sound I make.

Mahnax

To each their own.

Sonic The Hedgehog

In fact, I make no noise at all when I stick out my tongue.

Mahnax

I see.

Well, it's dinnertime for me.

Goodbye everyone!

Sonic The Hedgehog

What's for dinner?

Ah man.

too late.

Cya.

...So.

How's life?

Not much.

Sorry to hear that.

Eh, it's boring.

Oh is it?

So what do you do if you are bored?

Nothing.

Mostly brood.

Any form of entertainment?

Except for this computer.

Yes.

I see.

None.

Gigili

23:57

Yeees.

@Mahnax Enjoy!

Transcript for

English Language & Usage: Multi-Layer…