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kummini Re: computer stuff I do not think so! MatLab,which serves the purpose of academicians, gives most stupid answers to the question `why'.
Ok, Kummini, I give ! wow
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Especially for AnnaS, apologies if this a YART Max, YART y'all! hehehe*  (Meanwhile: thanks, Jackie, for leaping into the breach) "It is not unusual to find a strong, confident woman who thrives on progress and innovation. It is unusual, however, to find a strong, confident woman who tempers that toughness with a generous amount of grace and charm. Even more unusual is a woman with those traits who also clings to tradition, deeply treasures family and cherishes history and heirlooms. Unusual that is, unless you’re in the South where these women are everywhere." For more, if you can take it  : http://www.whatsouthernwomenknow.com--- *Ænigma wants Heidegger
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(shaped like sugar loaf mountain (Brazil?))Yep, Helen. Pão de Açucar, in Rio. But you already knew that 
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addict
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And some operating systems are much more literary in their messages. BEOS has a web browser called NetPositive (which I suppose might be available separately) which provides normal error messages but each one is accompanied with a haiku (Japanese three-part poem normally with 17 syllables.) And there are multiple haiku (see I remembered the plural) for the same situation. For example, for "Site not Found" you might get:
The website you seek is beyond our perception But others await.
or
With searching comes loss and the presence of absence The site is not found.
or
You step in the stream, But the water has moved on The site is not here.
Rod
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
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In reply to:
I've always wondered how the theatrical term "going blue" originated to describe the use of profanity onstage.
To make the air blue: a vigorous and plentiful use of cuss words. According to Charles Funk, the origination of the meaning is a matter of guesswork, but he traces the blue/obscene association back through associations with blue devils (1616) and the plague (1742). Joseph Roppolo, of Tulane University, associates the devil/blue meaning with blue blazes = hell, and hence to obscene.
On the other hand, I recall reading someone's explanation that the smokey atmosphere of the places in which obscene entertainment was presented lead to the blue association.
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A pal with a really wicked sense of humor sent me this: How good are you on "COMMON KNOWLEDGE?" No cheating! No looking around; no using anything on or in your desk. Can you beat 18 right? (The average.) Write down your answers and check after completing all the questions. Remember now no cheating! It is not as easy as it seems. Answers are at the end. Good luck!
1. On a standard traffic light, is the green on the top or bottom? 2. How many states are there? (Don't laugh, some people don't know) 3. In which hand is the Statue of Liberty's torch? 4. What 6 colors are on the classic Campbell's soup label? 5. What 2 letters don't appear on the telephone dial? (No cheating!) 6. What 2 numbers on the telephone dial don't have letters by them? 7. When you walk does your left arm swing w/your right or left leg? 8. How many matches are in a standard pack? 9. On the United States flag is the top stripe red or white? 10. What is the lowest number on the FM dial? 11. Which way does water go down the drain, counter-or clockwise? 12. Which way does a "no smoking" sign's slash run? 13. How many channels on a VHF TV dial? 14. Which side of a women's blouse are the buttons on? 15. On an NY license plate, is New York on the top or bottom? 16. Which way do fans rotate? 17. Whose face is on a dime? 18. How many sides does a stop sign have? 19. Do books have even-numbered pages on the right or left side? 20. How many lug nuts are on a standard car wheel? 21. How many sides are there on a standard pencil? 22. Sleepy, Happy, Sneezy, Grumpy, Dopey, Doc. Who's missing? 23. How many hot dog buns are in a standard package? 25. On which playing card is the cardmaker's trademark? 26. On which side of a standard venetian blind is the cord that adjusts the opening between the slats? 27. On the back of a $1 bill, what is in the center? 28. There are 12 buttons on a touch tone phone. What 2 symbols bear no digits? 29. How many curves are there in the standard paper clip? 30. Does a merry-go-round turn counter-or clockwise?
----------------------------------------------------------- Don't Look at answers until you complete all the questions: ----------------------------------------------------------- Answers: 1. Bottom 2. 50 (please tell me you at least got this one!) 3. Right 4. Blue, red, white, yellow, black, and gold 5. Q, Z 6. 1, 0 7. Right 8. 20 9. Red 10. 88 11. Counter (unless you happen to be south of the equator) 12. Towards bottom right 13. 12 (no #1) 14. Left 15. Top 16. Clockwise as you look at it 17. Roosevelt (FDR) 18. 8 19. Left 20. 5 21. 6 22. Bashful 23. 8 24. Did you notice there wasn't one ? 25. Ace of spades 26. Left 27. ONE 28. *, # 29. 3 30. Counter How did you do? wow (23 without cheating)
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Hey, wow nice quiz. I started on it before realising that there were too many US-centric questions for me to be able to score a less than humiliating mark. Then I realised that the number of US-specific questions could serve as an excuse for my low score on the ones I ought to have known, like not remembering which hand the SOL's torch is in.  
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Pooh-Bah
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I enjoyed your quiz, wow, but I must take issue with the quizmongers regarding one of the answers. As to question #11, "Which way does water go down the drain, counter-or clockwise?" the correct answer is "either, regardless of the hemisphere you are in." As summarized in The Straight Dope, The boring truth is that water drains every which way no matter what hemisphere you're in, for reasons which have to do mostly with the shape of the drain, the way you poured in the water in the first place, and so on.Persons interested in the details can find the discussion at http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_161.html
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water go down the drain, counter-or clockwise That's why the answer says : 11. Counter (unless you happen to be south of the equator)
I know the quiz is US-centric but it's got the kind of questions that surprises you about things you are sure you know!
Don't worry Max, I really had to think about the Lady Liberty torch question and then I got it wrong too. The other one that really threw me was #28. But (looking smug while patting self on the back -e) I did NOT look at the phone sitting on my desk. Sigh-ning off wow
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I, too, wish to take exception to the common knowedge quiz: four of the 50 "states" are aptually® (hi, tsuwm) commonwealths, though that had nothing to do with my scoring lower than wow.
My sister-in-law just sent me the following. I make no claim as to its validity. A couple of my answers were on the mark, and a couple more were creepily off.
The Dalai Lama Personality Test
This test is very exciting. It only has four (4) questions, and you'll be surprised about the results! Please do not scroll your screens to know the results before starting.
The human mind is like an umbrella: it works better when it opens. It is fun to answer the questions, but please follow the instructions. MAKE A WISH BEFORE STARTING THE TEST. Caution! Answer the questions step by step. This test has only four questions, but if you see the answers before finishing, your results will not be honest or accurate.
Scroll your screen slowly and write down your answers.
This is a serious questionnaire that will tell you a lot about your inner self.
First, order the following animals according to your preference: a) Cow; b)Tiger; c) Sheep; d) Horse; e) Pig.
Second, write a word that describes each of the following: a) Dog; b) Cat; c) Rat; d) Coffee; e) Ocean.
Third, think about someone (who also knows you and is important to you), that can be related to the following colors (do not repeat your answers.)
Name only one person per color: a) Yellow; b)Orange; c)Red; d) White; e)Green.
Finally, write down your favorite number, as well as your favorite weekday.
Did you finish? Verify that all your answers are accurate. Last chance to verify... ===========================================================
I shall add a bit here, to make a visual break before going down to the answers. Normally I simply delete all these things that say Pass this on and your wishes will be granted, etc. But there seems to be some interest here in taking quizzes, so I thought I'd put this as it is a bit different. I wonder if the Dalai Lama really said any of this? ===========================================================
Now, look at the answers below
===========================================================
This will define your priorities in life: Cow: means career. Tiger: means pride. Sheep: means love. Horse: means family. Pig: means money.
Your description of Dog implies your own personality. Your description of Cat implies your spouse or couple's personality. Your description of Rat implies the personality of your enemies. Your description of Coffee is how you interpret sex. Your description of Ocean implies your own life.
Yellow: Someone you will never forget. Orange: Someone you could consider a good friend. Red: Someone you really love. White: Your twin soul. Green: Someone you will remember all your life.
Send this message to as many persons as your favorite number, and your wish will be granted on your favorite day. This is what the Dalai Lama has said about the millennium, and it only takes a few minutes to read and think about it.
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