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#71675 05/29/2002 8:09 PM
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Well, it's fishonabike, Jim, but not as we know him...

Hi folks!

I've finally managed to convince myself I have the self-discipline to be an occasional dive-in Awadian rather than the hopeless word-junkie that once was.

Well, we'll see, eh?

If I still have a job in a few weeks time, then I've cracked it - and I'll be absobloodylutely delighted to be able to have the best of both worlds.

I come bearing a little gift. My friend John S. Allen has taken the search for the origins of
A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle
a step further than we managed a while back, and has received an email from the phrase's author, no less!
Check it out:
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Vista/3255/herstory.htm

He neglects to mention, however, that he found out about Irina Dunn's role through yours truly, and that yours truly found out from (and gave credit to) none other than good ol' JazzO on good ol' AWAD:
http://wordsmith.org/board/showthreaded.pl?Cat=&Board=miscellany&Number=5821

Ah, well.



Could someone please fill me in on anything I need to know as a virtual newbie? Anything not generally relevant to newbies is probably best communicated as a private message. Oh, and I've noticed Max & Jo's little Guide to Awadia. Very nice it is, too

I'm going to apologize in advance for likely YARTing and for my lack of attention to anything outside the immediate vicinity of the posts I make, OK? Of course you should still consider yourselves fully licensed to point out such environmentally unsound practices to me.

Phew. An essay where I meant a paragraph. If only I were still a student [sigh]

That's it for now - I'm off for a swimcycle around...

Greetings old friends (who I happily notice are still in abundance) and new!



#71676 05/29/2002 8:25 PM
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Caloo, calay
Oh frabjous day,
The Shona has returned!!



Await E-mail....


#71677 05/29/2002 8:35 PM
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A hearty welcome back, Fish! I've read your posts from days gone by with deluxe delight.

Bathymetric regards,
Wordwind


#71678 05/29/2002 8:42 PM
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#71679 05/29/2002 8:54 PM
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Well, FishonaBike, we have never met, but I look forward to reading your posts! Welcome back aBoard!


#71680 05/29/2002 9:16 PM
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My friend John S. Allen has taken the search for the origins of
A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle


The same John S. Allen who wrote STREET SMARTS Bicycling's
Traffic Survival Guide?


I used to distribute that booklet when I was an Effective Cycling Instructor with the old League of American Wheelmen.

Oh, yeah, WELCOME BACK!!!


#71681 05/29/2002 9:18 PM
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Hiya shona - we overlapped a little bit before you went into exile. I'm very glad you're back. I think you'll find that many a post has been posted lamenting your absence, and now we can get back to talking about words.

Oh, and thanks for wasting much of my afternoon with that h2g2 site!


#71682 05/29/2002 9:20 PM
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we have never met

I've met lots of Angelfish, of course.


Imagination is often depicted as wings, isn't it? Perhaps my bike should, like you, have wings attached.


#71683 05/29/2002 9:24 PM
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#71684 05/29/2002 9:28 PM
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a day for the return of the prodigals

Hi Nuncle!

Who's the other returnee - the invisiblified Mav? I thought I'd seen recent contributions from our favourite Welsh dragon


#71685 05/29/2002 9:33 PM
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shona mon chou, I am so glad you are back. Happy sigh with moon eyes. I am happy you finally had that talk with yourself and came to your senses, fishy though those senses may be.

How's the home pond? And the guppies?




#71686 05/29/2002 9:35 PM
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Oh frabjous day

Ah, to be greeted by Lewis Carroll, and by an extract from probably my favourite work of his - it's good to be home, Auntie !

Aside: Damn, going to have to be careful not to wear out the smileys. And exclamation marks, at that..


#71687 05/29/2002 9:43 PM
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From one who, too, was apart and has returned, welcome.


#71688 05/29/2002 9:44 PM
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Bathymetric regards

Naturally as long as it doesn't get too shallow I won't ever be out of my depth. Though that isn't to say the deeper the better.

Delighted to make your acquaintance, WW.




#71689 05/29/2002 9:49 PM
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The same John S. Allen who wrote STREET SMARTS Bicycling's Traffic Survival Guide?

The very one, Geoff!
His main site is http://www.bikexprt.com, and very impressive credentials he has, too. As if being into fish on bikes wasn't enough.

A very worthy occupation you had there. Still into cycling?



#71690 05/29/2002 9:53 PM
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Hiya Hyla,

thanks for wasting much of my afternoon with that h2g2 site

My pleasure. I did the same. Resisted joining up, though!

get back to talking about words
Anything is possible, even from me.




#71691 05/29/2002 10:18 PM
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Hi Max!

I feel like a Teletubby, wanting to give big hugs all around. (Ah. Does anybody else know what I'm talking about here? I'll explain later if so. Then again.)

no closer to discerning the ultimate source
Hmmm, well, we are a bit closer. I know that "Man needs Religion like a fish needs a bicycle" is known as Vique's Law. Also, from Irina Dunn's email, we know that she knew of the saying from philosophical writings. And last but not least, bikes have only been in common usage for a fairly short number of years. We don't have to delve into history much.

I'm convinced we'll find out some time.

the young man's brutal, callous and vicious closing sentence in that post
Eeek! How could I be so thoughtless, my dear chap? Actually I believe Ms Dunn's origins are rather more diverse than is implied by Ms Steinem if you check out the biog linked in to JSA's page. And I'm sure JazzO didn't mean it. And, umm... hey, look at that! [points skyward then runs away]


#71692 05/29/2002 10:27 PM
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had that talk with yourself and came to your senses

Salut choupette,

Actually I came to my senses and stopped talking to myself. Good thing, too!

The pond's currently under partial renovation and in partial chaos. Quite fun, though - great having an area that you can't make any more chaotic (the guppies definitely agree there)







#71693 05/29/2002 10:32 PM
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welcome, welcome, welcome..
i can't help but think of the girl scouts song-

Make new friends, but keep the old
One is silver, the other gold.


and it is golden day, seeing your name. i am so glad to see you back!



#71694 05/29/2002 10:35 PM
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one who, too, was apart and has returned

Glad you're still here too, Father.

Oh, would you mind giving Max a quick refresher on the immeasurable value of forgiveness, and on the peace that passeth understanding? Thanks. I ask not for myself but for the greater good of all, of course.



#71695 05/29/2002 10:37 PM
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Make new friends, but keep the old
One is silver, the other gold


That's lovely, Helen. Never heard it before.

Thank you.


#71696 05/29/2002 10:41 PM
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Hiya Shona

Great to see you here. Will we be expecting a flood of posts or just an everyday deluge? Either way, it's good to see the fish dipping a fin in the water.

I don't think that Mav is around at the moment. Fr Steve is back after a break (hi Fr Steve, forgot to welcome you back). We've mislaid Ravi the Sunshine Warrior, so we need a help with the British words those 'mercans seen to struggle with from time to time.


#71697 05/29/2002 10:45 PM
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Imagination is often depicted as wings, isn't it? Perhaps my bike should, like you, have wings attached.


I love this man already! [kiss-e]


#71698 05/29/2002 10:58 PM
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#71699 05/29/2002 11:12 PM
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Welcome home, Shona. I look forward to many enjoyable posts.


#71700 05/29/2002 11:21 PM
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Saint Paul wrote to the Philippians: "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (4:7, Authorized Version)

This catchy phrase is perhaps more familiar to Episcopal children as it is echoed in "the birthday prayer" used in many congregations: ""Watch over thy children, O Lord, as their days increase; bless and guide them wherever they may be. Strengthen them when they stand; comfort them when discouraged or sorrowful; raise them up if they fall; and in their hearts may thy peace which passeth understanding abide all the days of their lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen." (1979 Book of Common Prayer [American]).

This peace is not something desired by all, e.g. Helen Keller, who said: "I do not want the peace which passeth understanding, I want the understanding which bringeth peace."

No, I can't give "Max a quick refresher ... on the peace that passeth understanding" because it PASSETH UNDERSTANDING!












#71701 05/30/2002 12:21 AM
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the young man's brutal, callous and vicious closing sentence in that post.

Max, do forgive me! I was but an infant then and had no knowledge of the wonders found in the nation just up from the one I mentioned in that post.


#71702 05/30/2002 2:51 AM
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WELCOME BACK Fishonabike!

I've heard lots of great things about you, am looking forward to your occasional dive back into the swim of things!

Hev


#71703 05/30/2002 9:24 AM
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I do not want the peace which passeth understanding, I want the understanding which bringeth peace.

Priceless. Sadly, as the Stones would have it: "You Can't Always Get What You Want"

No, I can't give "Max a quick refresher ... on the peace that passeth understanding" because it PASSETH UNDERSTANDING

Arrrkkk----*. Touche, sah.

how do I get an acutely accented "e", folks?





#71704 05/30/2002 9:38 AM
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Shona, if you have a Mac, hit option+e, then e again et voila:parm my French é

If you're a pathetic PC user, you'll have to ask one of your Gatesish cohorts.

--FischweiB


#71705 05/30/2002 9:42 AM
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Will we be expecting a flood of posts or just an everyday deluge?

Best expect an English Spring, Jo: lots of heavy showers with occasional sunny spells.

And speaking of "sunny", very careless of you to mislay shanks. Where was he last seen?

Always happy to help those on the Other Side (of the Pond that is). After all, if we don't, those 'orrible Australasians will.
[pedals rapidly for cover]

Fisk


#71706 05/30/2002 9:54 AM
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Hev, that's about the best use of colour I've ever seen on this Board.

heard lots of great things about you
look forward to...

Eek, not sure I can live up to all this expectation, Hev and Faldage!

Suppose I'll settle on being just a tad more Terminator II than [almost any Disney film you like] II


#71707 05/30/2002 10:05 AM
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Hi pezcyclando©! (That would be fishonabike in Spanish) Like DubDub, I too know you only from the reruns and am very glad to see you back. Besos.


#71708 05/30/2002 10:59 AM
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Hi Fishonabike,

I think we crossed paths, I on my way in, while you were on your way out. (You know how it is when you first sign up - takes a while to straighten out the personalities - then some of them disappear!) So welcome back!


#71709 05/30/2002 1:08 PM
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pezcyclando©

Hey consuelo, that's great! Sounds like a brand name for something fizzy and/or whizzy. Definitely more streamlined than the somewhat clunky fishonabike. I'd keep a firm grip on the copyright for that one.

Piscis Bicyclata ©


#71710 05/30/2002 1:15 PM
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From a pathetic PC user: é is obtainable by holding down the ALT key and entering 0233 on the numeric keypad.

Try this Þ O Noble MacUser




#71711 05/30/2002 1:37 PM
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Touché

Yippee!

Cheers me old son.

Macs schmacks - so how much diesel you burning these days FishweiB ?!

Incidentally my token effort at following not even the second, but the third way is by using the Opera browser almost exclusively [smug holier-than-thou look]

Fisk




#71712 05/30/2002 2:24 PM
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Welcome back, fellow resident of silly Sussex, best placed county in the British Isles. We did not overlap, so tho’ you are not new to me, I am to you. Pleased to meet you.

Thinking about your intriguing nom des clés I took a look at words with a piscine connection and found a couple of things that were new to me:

Common of piscary – right of fishing in another’s water along with owner (and others).

Fish – piece of ivory etc. used as a counter in games. (Was fishplate derived from this?) Perhaps the counters were originally carved to a flat fish shape. I shall investigate.

Speaking of roadkill, as we were on another thread, do you notice what seems to me a surprising number of dead badgers on our country lanes? Quite a large animal for even a lorry to hit – don’t get too many artics on the lanes I use. Makes me wonder about disposal of the remains from a certain illegal sport……Any views? By the way, are badgers found wild in North America, I wonder? Must look it up.

dxb.



#71713 05/30/2002 2:33 PM
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are badgers found wild in North America, I wonder?

YCLIU, but I can tell ya too - they are. Last one I saw was on the same recent camping trip where I saw magpies. Sadly, this one was just a skin - a hunter I met had found it dead on the road and hung it up at the campground store, along with other road-kill skins (foxes, coyote, racoon, skunk) he'd found, to encourage people to drive slower in the country.


#71714 05/30/2002 2:43 PM
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[white]FishweiB[/white]

Or Fishweiß if ya knows howta do thatn. ALT-0223


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