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#2791 05/22/00 07:28 AM
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Some commentaries made about the corrections proposed by the spell checker have made me remind a 'fortune cookie' I read on the net a long time ago that pictures very well the way machines understand human language.


"The meat is rotten, but the booze is holding out."
Computer Translation of "The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak"



Juan Maria.

#2792 05/22/00 11:27 AM
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Ah, yes--GIGO


#2793 05/22/00 05:49 PM
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GIGO?
I must have lost my brains trying to grauate because I can't get you.


Juan Maria.

#2794 05/22/00 09:15 PM
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Sounds like a typical Barbecue!


#2795 05/23/00 12:25 PM
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Garbage in - Garbage out.

I should explain that my last post was a reply to Juanmaria's first post but it got slapped on the end instead of directly after his message. Apologies for the confusion it created.....


#2796 05/23/00 07:15 PM
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“Never go to bed without learning a new thing”. That’s my motto.
This GIGO reminds me of one more fortune cookie -this one was written when computers were expensive and we were kings-:

Gallois's Revelation:
If you put tomfoolery in a computer nothing comes out but tomfoolery. But this tomfoolery, having passed through a very expensive machine, is somehow ennobled and none dare criticize it.


Juan Maria.

#2797 05/23/00 10:32 PM
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Ah, Juanmaria. This explains why so many slow-learners are insomniacs!

Your anecdote reminds me of a time when my boss categorically stated that I was wrong because the inputted data could not be incorrect. It had gone through the computer, for Christ's sake! Later, he retracted his statement(short of an apology) after it was found that, after thorough rechecking, that the computer (horror of horrors) was wrong!! Or rather, it was incorrectly programmed (but not by me, I hasten to add!!!!),


#2798 05/24/00 08:55 AM
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>>the computer (horror of horrors) was wrong<<

All of which reminds me of a sign I once saw on the wall of a programmer's office. It was so apposite that I wrote it down and filed it:

"We have not succeeded in answering all of your problems. The answers we have found only serve to raise a whole set of new questions. In some ways we feel we are as confused as ever, but we believe we are confused on a higher level and about more important things."

You just gotta love it! :o)


#2799 05/24/00 10:51 AM
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Great, David!
This thread - and some private messages with Juanmaria - let me ask myself how many of us have a scientific background, because it seems clear that several of us have "something to do " with computers in a professional way (Anu is the first!).
And, it seems rather "strange", because often - as Juanmaria reminded me - people feel that classical and scientific studies are in some sense very different things.
Can I suggest the book
R.Pirsig
Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance ?
Ciao
Emanuela


#2800 05/24/00 11:01 AM
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some might suggest that science is one thing and computers quite another! (nescience perhaps? 8-)

#2801 05/24/00 11:47 AM
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I do not agree: you can use computers - and also screws and screwdrivers - just as tools, but in any case - behind them - there is a lot of scientific thinking; it is possible to use them even forgetting how they are made, but it is also possible to enjoj the way they work - and this is science.
Ciao
Emanuela


#2802 05/24/00 02:00 PM
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Speaking about computers. Have you noticed that the computer is ‘the perfect guilty’.
I explain: Some eons ago, before computers rule the earth, people had to take their responsibilities and, sometimes, even apologize for a blunder. Now when the bank loses your money, when you expend hours in a file or when your doctor forgets your appointment. They all put the blame on the computer and even we tend to accept this explanation as a satisfactory one.
If computers could complain ...


Juan Maria.

#2803 05/24/00 02:13 PM
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> Speaking about computers. Have you noticed that the computer is ‘the perfect guilty’.
I explain: Some eons ago, before computers rule the earth, people had to take their responsibilities and, sometimes,
even apologize for a blunder. Now when the bank loses your money, when you expend hours in a file or when your
doctor forgets your appointment. They all put the blame on the computer and even we tend to accept this explanation as
a satisfactory one.
If computers could complain ...

Indeed. I believe the word you are searching for is 'scapegoat'. What you are saying above is similar to the old term 'the cheque is in the post' which means that it is out of our hands now so don't come blaming us if it doesn't arrive.

Some people may accept a 'computer-down' explanation as satisfactory but you can only fool some of the people some of the time...

Besides a bad workman blames his tools. Next time a bankclerk says they can't process your cheque beacuse of a computer malfunction, be clever and ask them what down-time should you expect? The blank expression on their faces should be priceless! Bonus marks if they try to bluff their way and give a meaningful answer!!!


#2804 05/24/00 02:50 PM
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I think there’s a lot of science behind a computer, from mathematics to physics at its highest levels. But some aspects of my activity, programming, might be considered more as an art than as a science. It’s like this schoolmate everyone had that could draw almost any cartoon or a teacher’s caricature without any painting studies.
I’ve met with quite a few colleagues that, with only a minimal background, could solve any computing problem quickly and elegantly. I even have worked with people that could take pieces of other people code and, without understanding the way it worked, combine them to make a different program.
I must admit that my programming abilities rely more on a natural gift than on hours of deep study.


Juan Maria.

#2805 05/24/00 03:29 PM
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'Scapegoat' that's the word I was looking for.
You know that in Spanish we say 'Cabeza de Turco' 'Turkish head'. I don't have an explanation but I suspect some beheading behind this expression.

NOTE TO MY ISP:
Please, cut my Internet access. I REALLY have a work to do and a couple of starving children to feed. Have mercy!

Juan Maria.

#2806 05/24/00 03:38 PM
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>'Scapegoat' that's the word I was looking for.
You know that in Spanish we say 'Cabeza de Turco' 'Turkish head'. I don't have an explanation but I suspect some
beheading behind this expression.

I believe it was a popular sport during the days of the Grand inquisition. ;^)

> NOTE TO MY ISP:
Please, cut my Internet access. I REALLY have a work to do and a couple of starving children to feed. Have mercy!

Tell me about it! I've been on the list all day for the past two days and I have done nothing in the way of work. This noticeboard is just toooooo engrossing.


#2807 05/25/00 11:27 AM
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Juanmaria and Rubrick:

A-men! I seldom leave this board before spending an hour and
a half, and it seems like five minutes!
Also, thanks to all for allowing this computer-illiterate
mom (the major reason we got a computer is so the kids
could do better schoolwork) to participate without getting
completely overwhelmed by jargon.


#2808 05/25/00 06:50 PM
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>>the major reason we got a computer is so the kids could do better schoolwork<<

I believe you, Jackie-O! Can I offer to sell you a second computer, so that they can get on with their school work while you surf AWAD?

I'm often late for work after visiting the AWAD family!




#2809 05/27/00 07:22 PM
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One of the things that make me read and participate on this forum is meeting people whose universe is not ‘compucentric’. It is sort of refreshing.

Juan Maria.

#2810 05/27/00 07:28 PM
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Speaking about spell checkers.
I would like to suggest A_N_U to include his name on the spell checker dictionary. I can assure that his name is treated in a quite disgusting way.



Juan Maria.

#2811 05/27/00 11:23 PM
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Yes, please, David!!
They get very disgusted when they want the computer
and I'm on it, or when I pull rank and make them
get off!
If they are doing actual work, I stand here tapping my
toe with impatience 'til they're done!


#2812 05/27/00 11:29 PM
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>>people whose universe is not ‘compucentric’. It is sort of refreshing.<<

Juanmaria (forget "Baby"!)--
Aughh--ghh!! The LAST thing I want to be is "refreshing"!!

(Still, though, if the shoe fits, I suppose I must wear it.)
Ok,ok, it's not YOUR fault that the truth hurts! You're
back on my good side, Juanie Baby. Ciao.






#2813 05/28/00 06:15 PM
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>>'Scapegoat' that's the word I was looking for.<<

... and referring to another thread, "Nouns as Verbs", I heard the word 'scapegoat' used as a verb on a BBC discussion recently. The speaker said, '...they feel a deep-seated need to scapegoat", and later, "...this leads to scapegoating".

It seems as if the practise of morphing (another noun-as-verb?) is becoming widespread, and worse, acceptable.



#2814 05/30/00 05:22 AM
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That's a shocker, I must say! "Goatscaping" would be a much better-sounding word, although not strictly in accordance with the rules of noun-verbing. Let's adopt it, eh?

Rgds, lusy


#2815 05/30/00 06:01 AM
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"Scapegoating" has been used as a term for some time in Counselling circles - social sciences are always making up new terms. As a mathematician I always hated terms like "integration" and "differentiation" being bandied around. I've calmed down a little now.

So does Goatscaping rhyme with Netscaping?

Afterthought: I meant the new term to be the "ing" not the scapegoat bit


#2816 05/30/00 07:14 AM
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> That's a shocker, I must say! "Goatscaping" would be a much better-sounding word, although not strictly in accordance
with the rules of noun-verbing. Let's adopt it, eh?

Scapegoat comes from Escape goat - the goat that was allow to escape into the wilderness with the sins of all attached to it. 'Goatscaping' certainly confuses this. We would have to classify it with all the other -scape words, too.

Whereas we used to landscape our gardens now we would also goatscape our mistakes or failures - oh, dear!


#2817 05/30/00 09:34 PM
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>>Scapegoat comes from Escape goat - the goat that was allow to escape into the wilderness with the sins of all attached to it.<<
Rubrick, this is fascinating! Please tell more. Was this
some church ritual?


#2818 05/31/00 08:49 AM
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>>Scapegoat comes from Escape goat - the goat that was allowed to escape into the wilderness with the sins of all attached to it.<<

Jackie - here are the Bible references you might like to read:

Leviticus 16:5-14
10 The goat chosen to be the scapegoat will be presented to the LORD alive. When it is sent away into the wilderness, it will make atonement for the people.

Leviticus 16:20-28
26 The man chosen to send the goat out into the wilderness as a scapegoat must wash his clothes and bathe in water. Then he may return to the camp.

This is from Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable:

Scapegoat The Biajůs or aborigenes of Borneo observe a custom bearing a considerable resemblance to that of the scapegoat. They annually launch a small bark laden with all the sins and misfortunes of the nation, which, says Dr. Leyden, “they imagine will fall on the unhappy crew that first meets with it.”
The scapegoat of the family. One made to bear the blame of the rest of the family; one always chidden and found fault with, let who may be in the wrong. The allusion is to a Jewish custom: Two goats being brought to the altar of the tabernacle on the Day of Atonement, the high priest cast lots; one was for the LORD, and the other for Azazel. The goat on which the first lot fell was sacrificed, the other was the scapegoat; and the high priest having, by confession, transferred his own sins and the sins of the people to it, the goat was taken to the wilderness and suffered to escape.



#2819 05/31/00 01:23 PM
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David--thank you!!
I LOVE this Board! What an unexpected bonus I got!
I do have a question, though, about that word 'chidden':
how common is that? I very seldom hear anyone use any form
of the word 'chide', but I probably would have used
'chided' here, simply because I was unfamiliar w/ chidden.


#2820 06/01/00 02:15 PM
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> David--thank you!!
I LOVE this Board! What an unexpected bonus I got!
I do have a question, though, about that word 'chidden':
how common is that? I very seldom hear anyone use any form
of the word 'chide', but I probably would have used
'chided' here, simply because I was unfamiliar w/ chidden.

Apologies, Jackie. I've been off-line but I see David was able to elaborate on the definition and history of 'scapegoat. I've never heard the word 'chidden'. I presume that it is quite archaic or regional dialect. I'll look it up sometime.


#2821 06/01/00 02:19 PM
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> I've never heard the word 'chidden'.
I presume that it is quite archaic or regional dialect

actually, the *really archaic form is 'chode'. <g>


#2822 06/02/00 06:16 AM
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>>actually, the *really archaic form is 'chode'. <g><<

(grinning mischievously) So how would you treat "hide", = "hode"?

Seriously though, GuruNet seems to accept chidden, as does M-W.

Thinks - "ride" becomes "rode" and "ridden", but the two would appear to have different meanings.

Any comments, tsuwm?




#2823 06/02/00 10:03 AM
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> Thinks - "ride" becomes "rode" and "ridden", but the two would appear to have different meanings.

I don't think so. They just appear to be the same word used in different tenses. e.g. I rode my horse. I have often ridden my horse.

Of course, you could use the jocular and say 'we're glad we've got ridden of him'

Rubrick


#2824 06/02/00 10:06 AM
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> (grinning mischievously) So how would you treat "hide", = "hode"?

The famous writer of Jeeves and Wooster, P.G. Wodehouse would have to have his name revised to P.G. Widehouse, presumably?


#2825 06/02/00 04:16 PM
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>ride, rode, ridden

verb, past tense, past participle
bide, bode, bidden[obs]
stride, strode, stridden
slide, slid, slidden
hide, hid, hidden

go figure...



#2826 06/02/00 05:22 PM
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I'm not so sure that bidden is obs. but I've never heard of slidden or stridden.


#2827 06/02/00 10:41 PM
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I have seen stridden, as in 'he had stridden past the
crypt when...'.
Checked gurunet for slidden: listed as archaic.


#2828 04/02/01 11:34 AM
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With the current Foot and Mouth ..er.. crisis (nearly said epidemic and couldn't remember the "correct" term and the inability to dispose of the piles of dead animals, we currently have "Cowscaping" and "Sheepscaping" in UK. We don't have that many goats to need scaping.

Apologies for the sick humour, Rod


#2829 04/02/01 12:13 PM
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Tell me if I'm wrong, Rod.

Several years ago there was an outbreak of mad cow in the UK. The EU forbade exports to the continent, and the herd was to be destroyed. A suggestion came in from a Cambodian (it may have been as a letter to the NYTimes) that the herd be shipped to Cambodia, instead, to be set loose to wander the mine fields.


#2830 04/02/01 01:12 PM
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Juanmaria and Rubrick... and Jackie for this : thanks to all for allowing this computer-illiterate mom to participate without getting completely overwhelmed by jargon

Yes, Jackie YES! I hasten to add that those who are Computer Gurus have been most generous in sharing their expertise and -- more importantly -- have sent instructions that are lucid and thereby easy to follow.
Many thanks to all of you -- you know who you are!
wow


#2831 04/02/01 05:50 PM
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Programmers' answers
I have seen this sign:

** PRICE LIST **
ANSWERS: .50
CORRECT ANSWERS: 1.00
DUMB LOOKS ARE STILL FREE


#2832 04/02/01 05:54 PM
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In reply to:

the cheque is in the post



Or as we say in Westernesse, "the check is in the mail", is one of the two greatest lies. I won't mention the other one, as it isn't fit for ladies, but most of us know what it is.


#2833 04/02/01 08:59 PM
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Or as we say in Westernesse, "the check is in the mail", is one of the two greatest lies.
I won't mention the other one, as it isn't fit for ladies, but most of us know what it is.

In this context, the second sentence is an oxymoron. and !


#2834 04/02/01 09:24 PM
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I won't mention the other one, as it isn't fit for ladies, but most of us know what it is.

i didn't. i had to googlize it. word to the wise, don't ask... just use google (oh dear, what an unfortunate emoticon in this context)

In this context, the second sentence is an oxymoron.

oh, YAY, a chance to share my new word:

"APOPHASIS (n.) - mentioning something by saying it won't be mentioned: "We won't mention his filthy habits.""




#2835 04/03/01 03:46 PM
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Bobyoungbalt spurted: I won't mention the other one, as it isn't fit for ladies, but most of us know what it is.

Then bridget96 spat out: i didn't. i had to googlize it. word to the wise, don't ask...

I didn't either. I googled too. And I'll never doubt you again, b96...


#2836 04/03/01 05:05 PM
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2 greatest lies
Well, ladies, don't say I didn't warn you. Now you know where the Greek myth about Pandora came from -- same place as the story in Genesis where the serpent goes after the woman, not the man, because she has to know for herself. (This section of Genesis is a description of human nature -- see Adam's response to God: "It's not my fault -- it's the fault of that woman you gave me!" implying that it's actually God's fault, thus foreshadowing the dodge of trying to stick responsibility on the victim, or the one offended against)


#2837 04/03/01 05:21 PM
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...I can hear WWH holding his tongue...

Oh, but it is fit for ladies!

[heteroduckingwhilstskippingtownemoticon]


#2838 04/03/01 05:53 PM
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<<Oh, but it is fit for ladies!>>

That's why it's an oxymoron.


#2839 04/03/01 06:17 PM
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"...but most of us know what it is."

I think this is the "real" oxymoron.




#2840 04/03/01 08:06 PM
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"Bobyoungbalt spurted"
"Then xxxxxx spat out"
"...I can hear WWH ..."
remaining silent, please



#2841 04/03/01 09:26 PM
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Thank you Fiberbabe, and Jo(sephine)90 - I shall take you at your word and not google it, as I have not the foggiest idea what it is.


#2842 04/03/01 10:11 PM
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I have not the foggiest idea what it is.

Me either, sweet Max. I can't even guess what to google.
Frankly, I thought the other greatest lie was, "Sure, I'll stick by you after the baby comes".


#2843 04/04/01 01:57 PM
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the other greatest lie was, "Sure, I'll stick by you after the baby comes"

Right up there with : "Of course I'll respect you in the morning."
Also, "I'll call you."

And lest we forget the gentlemen :
"Can't we just be friends?"
wow


#2844 04/04/01 02:10 PM
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Apparently the second biggest lie was not one Clinton used.


#2845 04/05/01 08:00 AM
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In the spirit of uplifting, intellectual posts, and pedantic inquiry (plus felicidal inquisitiveness) I decided to contribute my mite to this thread. (If you look at the bottom right corner, you'll see him sitting there - his name is Dot. Please don't squash him. )

Am currently reading a book called As we know it: Coming to terms with an evolved mind by Marek Kohn. One of his main subjects for dicussion is, as in any discussion of the evolution of the human mind, the acquisition and development of language.

During this discussion he suggests that one of the oldest lies of all may well be: "He's behind you."

Apparently chimpanzees use a variant of this. When under threat from a larger chimp, or from a larger force, chimpanzees have been seen to mimic the 'warning' gesture (nervous tension, upright posture, staring in the direction of the predator that has just been spotted) - looking over the shoulders, or behind, the threatening chimpanzees, whose attention is then diverted to look behind them too. So this particular lie is almost certainly pre-linguistic!

This naturally segues into the consideration, as all true English-people know, that the oldest art from of all has to be the Panto.

cheer

the sunshine warrior


#2846 04/05/01 03:03 PM
Joined: Sep 2000
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the oldest art from of all has to be the Panto

"OH, NO, IT'S NOT!"

It would have to be commedia del' arte behind them

(please correect my Italian, emanuela!)


#2847 04/06/01 08:18 AM
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,004
old hand
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old hand
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the oldest art from of all has to be the Panto

"OH, NO, IT'S NOT!"

It would have to be commedia del' arte behind them

(please correect my Italian, emanuela!)


"Oh yes it is!"

the harlequin




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