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#24060 03/22/01 06:20 PM
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Now, can you draw a circle and mark its center with a point without drawing its radius or taking the pencil off the paper?


#24061 03/22/01 06:26 PM
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"Rollerinaesque" or, for ease of pronunciation, "Rollerinaresque," after a West Village celebrity of some years back, means something like "as joyously wierd as a Cinderalla on roller skates."

To this I add my own, "Rollerinarex" to name her any emulator.


#24062 03/22/01 06:29 PM
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But what is that saying? Any technology that is sufficiently complicated, is indistinguishable from magic?


#24063 03/22/01 06:34 PM
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the very, very best description of the news media I have ever seen!

"Schnelle Geiste[r?]" meaning quick spirits or quick minds--rendered as a phrase and regarding some news media that might yield up "quick of spirit, slow of mind."


#24064 03/22/01 06:35 PM
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Come again? I don't follow. :)


#24065 03/22/01 06:36 PM
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Snozzcumbers and Frobscottle. How about a book full of wonderful nonsense words. The story is The BFG (big, friendly giant) by Roald Dahl. Read this story to any child between 6-12 and laugh til you cry.


#24066 03/22/01 07:01 PM
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Dooflop

My mother-in-law's word, the equivalent of thingamabob or doojiggy.


#24067 03/22/01 07:01 PM
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How is a light switch (and remotely) turning a light on or off different from magic?

well its different because most of us, in school, are taught to construct a basic circuit with a flash light, battery and a switch-- and while many might not get the finer points of electricial engineering-- we learn light switchs aren't magic.

but some technology-- (lots of technology) is beyond most humans understanding-- Like MRI's-- we sort of know what they do-- but it no where near as clear to us how its done (quantum physics!)-- we accept it-- but it is a form of magic...

how many science fiction stories have as a premise-- a society that is surrounded by technological wonders-- and they don't know how they work? or how to repair them? I can do simple electrical stuff-- but I wouldn't pass the the "Union test" to qualify as an electrican-- If there was a something to serious interrupt our society-- how many of us really understand how grocery store scanners work? or computers? or a light switch?

This board tend to be well educated-- and I would be very glad to be stranded with most of you-- but I watch Jay Leno-- and his Jay walking--when he goes out in the street and ask simple questions... most people, if not idiots, are ignorant! (I don't think it is just Americans--we just have the best educated idiots.)



#24068 03/22/01 07:14 PM
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Dooflop - My mother-in-law's word, the equivalent of thingamabob or doojiggy.

I'm also very partial to "framistat" to mean the same thing. I've got a friend who, when confronted with something that's not working, usually declares "This framistat appears to have a bent flange." Which is another funny word.


#24069 03/22/01 07:19 PM
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"This framistat appears to have a bent flange."

At which point, I am likely to say, "rassa-frasha-trashin beezlebop!", the household equivalent of extended diatribe.


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