Oh, <blodig Blodig> ... what do I do now? Yesterday's crossword puzzle and win a dictionary? I got nineteen already. I think I'll just take drugs instead.

I don't *really* smash things, of course. Much too controlled ... sorry, *refined* ... for that. And part of me remains amused by the meaninglessness of it all, while the other part thrashes and has fits.

Well, I didn't really find myself. But it was a novel experience - and a break from the usual obscure surrealists, quasi-Pynchonesque neo-dadaists, weird novelists, dirty-ish limericks, JessicaFischerQueen, and the like. I should do it more often.

<Dom>: <Like an invisible epileptic arachnoid, in a way...> heh - brilliant... Like a verse, with the alliteration.

Keeping up appearances...or...disappear?

<I'm stuck in cryptic crossword mode> I understand. I did my research. As did you.... Good grief...

A lot of dots in this post, which could indicate I am thinking, or puzzled, but primarily 'in wonder'.

PONG

<J-eff-Cue> Yes... Ooh Boy.

The Kib Caff has also been off limits, for me, for three years now... I once "advertized" there, which proved a not too good idea, obscuously. Well - the idea was passable.

Good to "see" you, too.

I do "mention" you, recently, on quite a few occasions, but did not visit here, by posting that is... So Jess asked me why...

I haven't answered yet, although I do know why, by now...and (coincidentally) was actually tempted to contact you, as I started to devour Spinoza (Ethica), upon Boomie's endorsement, and I realised I read it like "gefundenes fressen" one moment, to then have to chew long and hard, and go back, the next.

Anyhoo, I just "had Chinese at 2AM," which is a "phrase" that would puzzle "Ould Benedicte", I persume.

"Operation Jumbo - Dutch Panther found in Zoo dressed as Elephant!"

Transmammalism, at least. Lock these <Zoo Animals> up, I say.

They *are* locked up? Well lock 'em up *more*. Before they start forcing transmammalism on innocent children ... Peter and the Wolf ... Little Red Riding Hood ... Puss in Boots ... where will it end?

Ahem. I think my bible-reading escapade rather got to me there.

Heh-- I think the coast is clear eh? We are allowed to type *his* name without having our forums locked up.

BTW, did you see the link at <Eyal's> forum a few months ago, in which one of *his* mortal <real life> enemies proudly posted "proof" that *he* lost a big court settlement over the argument they were having right here at <CG.com>?

It seemed bizarre and far-fetched to me-- I even asked <Eyal> if the "official court decision" posted on the web link was <bona fide>.

It struck me that any of us could just use the formatting, font and typeface of any official document and post it on a website.

May your squabs remain plump this fine <Festivus Season>, and my best wishes to you in the <Festivus Feats of Strength>.

Up, Ireland!

I must say you've got me curious about this <Spinoza> felllow... I almost GOOGLED him, but the thought of looking at a <Wiki Summary> in order to know about an actual philosopher was too much for my frail stomach.

I think philosophers should actually be read, oddly enough.

At the very least, I'd rather rely on your summary of his ideas than those posted on <Wikipedia>.

Although I've been a fan of <Wikipedia> ever since I read that INTERNATIONAL NEWS STORY about how the <Dutch Civil Service> was having a fit because so many employees were spending all their work hours editing the <chess entries> on Wiki-- accurately, as it turned out-- instead of working on the <Rotterdam Werken> and other "werk" related activities.

- The failings jumped out and hit me, officer. How could a man be speeding, unless he were a bird?

<Niels> No argument about Latin - I studied it at school (we used to joke that our elderly teacher went back to ancient Rome for his holidays ... schoolboy humour). Later, studying Anglo-Saxon in college, I had a tutor who explained case endings with two Latin sentences:

Regina osculat porcam

and

Reginam osculat porca.

Where a pig and a queen kiss, but the question is who does the kissing. If I'd known more about the subject at the time I could have pointed out that kissing doesn't always have a subject and object. Even with pigs and queens.

Like you, Spinoza was a language wizard, a brilliant mathematician, and maufactured lenses for microscopes and such, to earn a living, while working on his Magnum Opus, Ethica...

One wonders what it is with people from that era being so productive, like for example Mr. J.S. Bach... They did rather, or surprisingly, well, considering the limitations.

IT'S GETTING LATE!!

heh

Actually I'm quite *bad* at languages generally: despite repeat exposure to five or six (all related) I can't speak any of them properly, and can only stumble through written text with serious dictionary help. I admit I can write (a sort of) English good enough, false modesty aside.

But so do you. And I'm in no position to judge your Dutch. And anyhow I 'do' stuff with language for a living.

<Well, I suppose you could *call* it living.> It's one of them nights, innit?

heh

Interestingly, there is a distinction made between a dead- and an "extinct" language, and even:

- an "endangered" language (langue menacée) -- http://www.ogmios.org/home.htm

Nope, I missed that one: but your report set me thinking. I 'think' it's safe to say that you, Niels and Eyal are among the smartest and sanest people around - I mean around anywhere. And yet all of you have become embroiled - as, admittedly, have I - in some class of <flame squabble> or <escalator skirmish>.

There are exceptions. Both <Saint Deffi the Wise> and <Morgan Who Must be *mack*> seem pretty ... eh, pretty immune to this sort of thing. Using totally different strategies, but boiling down, perhaps, to a Zen-like equanimity in the face of provocations. The secret, it seems, is not to be provoked in the first place. But even I get caught in that loop betimes, don't I?

If *people like us* [superior smirk] get caught in these escalator things, then, ehh, they must be *fierce dangerous squabs* and should be *banned forthwith* and everyone should have to use *green stairs* ...

Hang on, that's not what I mean to say at all, at all, that's just the words running away (aha!) with themselves. Verb elopement and transporting an <indefinite article> across international state boundaries ... no, no, hold up. Not a hold-up, neither a Dillinger nor a Derringer be ... dammit, what am I trying to say?

This. If *we* get drawn in, what's it like for those people who (a) don't know any better, or (b) actually enjoy it, the pugnacious vermin, or (c) allow their emotions to rule on a more-or-less permanent basis?

The mind boggles. But the heart toggles: it has a <dimmer switch> and can be controlled. I don't advocate a Vulcanesque denial of emotion - it isn't humanly possible and it's a stupid idea to even *try* - but I believe it's possible to let one's rational bits do most of the driving. So you can do a U-turn and swerve across the crash barrier (the 'car' is stolen anyway, from the likes of Shakespeare, Rembrandt, and Flann O'Brien) and drive away - pursued by both out-of-control metaphorical road-ragers and a convoy of <emotion police> - from the scene of the crime.

Cripes, there are so many mixed metaphors in there, it's like the result of a baggage handlers' strike in a Greek airport. Among other things, a METAFOR is a trolley.

Does any of that make sense? I mean, obviously (?!) cutting out the bits that aren't *meant* to make sense, but are just along for the verbal joyride. But the other bits - in theory, you'll know which ones - are intended to posit an argument.

Luckily, <English> is not on the list.

Although many, including (famously) <Orwell> have said so--

Ironically, the <Asian mangling> of English idiom has breathed new life into the language.

It's not just humorous-- it's also often poetic and more direct/understandable than conventional English idiom.

Examples from Downtown Daegu:

These are all signs on the outside of businesses:

<Dentist> "Guaranteed Infection Freed"

<Language School>: "Best Koreans by Koreans"

<Bookstore> "Wellbeing Stories"

<Plastic Surgery Clinic> "Face Doctors US Certification"

<Pet Store> "Free Love Companion"

HAHAHAAHAHA

Yes, quite right and in the "real world" as well where people have guns and armies.

Cornish aka Kernow is one I know of: something like Welsh and Breton, officially went extinct with the demise of an old lady named Dolly.

But - just as Dolly the Sheep was the first <cloned mouton> - so Cornish also started up again.

I could try a bad pun about the <Cornish Pasty> and the <Cornish Futurey> ... but this is the time of year for *presents*.

So if I can give the gift of a laff ... Bah! Humbug! Roast Tiny Tim for ten minutes, he hasn't a speck of flesh on him, the critter.

And some Indian Corn. With one <squabble> per person.

So I'm out of the game now, with my 4th CG subscription extension and that wunnerful Staunton set.

Good luck to whoever gets the last New in Chess subscription. Maybe I'll actually *pay* for one after all this.

I'm slightly in shock. Just a few hours ago <dzechiel> cracked the big one, and now I've gone and excluded myself from further wins. Like <MAJ>, but slower.

HAHAHAHAAHAH

heh

This is what you get for being <Best Written Kibbutzer> Dom....

Though I don't think you should <re-write youself> or anything.

Leave that to me.

I'm already well along in my <Totally Unauthorized <<<tell-all>>> Biography> of you.

I've already sold the film rights to <Universal>!!

<George Clooney> wanted the title role, but he was turned down at the last minute for "not being Irish enough."

Consequently, as many predicted, the role will <again> go to "The King of the Leprachauns."