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#19828 02/21/01 11:34 PM
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enthusiast
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>K1W1-baiting, their national religion.

Very neat, Max. In the space of an hour or two today we've covered sex (here), politics (Oz compulsory voting over in Q&A>Epuration) and now religion.

So much for taboos.


#19829 02/22/01 02:33 AM
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Carpal Tunnel
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so much for taboos

Bring 'em on!


#19830 02/22/01 06:41 AM
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Bring 'em on!

Okay Max, Marty and all other antipodeans (plus imports), a couple I heard the other day that were new:

—New Zealanders know that "Tie Me Kangaroo Down" is really an Australian love song.
—Australians think that the New Zealand national anthem is "Baaaa-bara-Ann"



The idiot also known as Capfka ...
#19831 02/22/01 01:56 PM
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Pooh-Bah
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I recognize, but do not normally use, nearly all the gestures mentioned so far. Others include: (1) the extension of the first and middle finger into a "V" - held aloft, meaning peace in the 1960s and 70s, and meaning victory at other times; or held behind another's head, signifying stupidity; (2) extending the first and pinky fingers, with the remaining fingers folded, used as an insult or to impose a curse; (3) holding the fingers together as a unit and moving them rapidly up and down from the thumb, indicating that someone is speaking incessantly or annoyingly; (4) describing a circle with a first finger at one's temple, to indicate a belief that another suffers insanity; (5) stroking a nonexistent beard to indicate contemplation; (6) rubbing the tips of the thumb and first finger together, with minute movements, palm up, to imitate playing The Worlds Smallest Violin as an expression of false sympathy; (7) holding the hand, palm forward, with first and middle fingers together, apart from ring and pinky, also together, in the mighty Vulcan salute;(8) slapping the flat extended hand of another as an expression of approval; (9) thumb pointed down, as an expression of disapproval; and (10) thumb extended horizontally to solicit a ride at roadside.


#19832 02/22/01 01:57 PM
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wow contributes, regarding the ASL for "I love you": The ASL gesture is palm outward with thumb, first finger and little finger upright and other two folded into the palm.

This is by way of being an acronym. It is a bind rune combining the letters I, the extended little finger, L, the thumb and forefinger and Y, the extended thumb and little finger.


#19833 02/22/01 02:36 PM
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>>(4) describing a circle with a first finger at one's temple, to indicate a belief that another suffers insanity

the only ASL gesture i know is a variation of this-- If you fold down all your fingers except the pinkie, and they use your thumb to point to the first joint (top of the finger) this is ASL for a little or very little. If you now use your pinking to make circle at the temple, (standard crazy sign) you get a little crazy-- or wacky-- not as insulting and could be complimentary--
(some one was talking about me...)


#19834 02/22/01 02:59 PM
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journeyman
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How about just holding hands in front of you palms forward saying "stop" whatever you are doing? Also moving extended hand in circular motion, saying wind it up!


#19835 02/22/01 03:03 PM
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journeyman
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Another...pointing forefinger at someone (with other fingers folded into palm) and shaking finger...saying "whoa" or "that's enough"!


#19836 02/22/01 04:47 PM
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old hand
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My mom was initially confused by the Italian version of "come here". It's done with a DOWNWARD scooping motion; that is, palm downward, outstreched arm, then move it toward your own belly with palm still downward. (Like pulling poker chips toward yourself, palm down.) When repeated more than once, it always looked like "go away" to her. I think the outward motion required to "reset" the movement was the part she responded to, rather than the bringing-in part. Being mostly brought up in Canada myself, I would be inclined to agree.


#19837 02/22/01 06:15 PM
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Bean,
That's also the Brazilian gesture for "come here." I wonder if it's southern European in general? (Juan Maria, ¿donde andas?)


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