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#9018 10/30/00 04:33 AM
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In reply to:

I never did find out, but if his theories (following Ayn Rand) are true, then he is today running the world, unbeknownst to us, and if on schedule, he should have achieved this Wizard of Oz-ian stature by about 1986.


Now known as Anu Garg, perhaps? If he isn't running the world, he's at least running one of the best parts of it.

Bingley



Bingley
#9019 10/30/00 08:56 AM
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Re Wogs

I've joined this FF quite late too.

It struck me as bizarre when I first came to Australia that (white, "north European") Australians refer to Greeks and Italians as wogs. coming from the UK, I had always heard the term applied to West Indians or other black people. Even more intriguing is the use of the term by Australians of Greek or Italian descent applying it to themselves. There's even been a very successful film called The Wogboy which is a self lampooning comedy starring a Greek-Australian actor.

I think it must partly be a self protective measure, rather like gay men deliberately labelling themselves as "queer" - ie. if I refer to myself by the the most offensive racist or prejudiced epithet, I won't be hurt by the worst that can be hurled at me by bigoted morons using the terms abusively.


#9020 10/30/00 02:58 PM
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I love accents too, but I am ever so concscious about asking about them. Then I went and asked my fellow temp in the office where she was from: "Australia". So it's back to the drawing board for me if I cannot even tell an Australian accent...




#9021 10/31/00 04:43 PM
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I loved an episode recorded in Pardon My Blooper (a collection of old radio out-takes) where, upon being asked the question:
"Are you a natural-born citizen of the United States?"
a lady replies:
"No, I was born Caesarian"





#9022 10/31/00 09:15 PM
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>natural-born citizen

Now if Macbeth had had that level of attention to detail ...


#9023 10/31/00 09:31 PM
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>natural-born citizen

Now if Macbeth had had that level of attention to detail ...


Indeed! I remember the first time I read "The Scottish Play" (Blackadder reference) being greatly aggrieved at such a lame device being used in such a critical role - great language, plot device stinks worse than a fish after a long ride! (present company excluded, natch)



#9024 11/01/00 07:20 AM
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>I love to collect accents, so I'm always interested to know where they come from!<
My partner Dina, who is also very interested (not to say curious) in people, when she meets a french-speaking person, never asks "where are you from?", but rather "Are you from Paris?" - She never fails to get a detailed answer!






#9025 11/01/00 08:47 AM
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great language, plot device stinks

Whether it is wossname's being "untimely ripp'd", or the woods moving against the castle, the plot devices are pretty peurile. But then, Shakespeare was never very good at that sort of thing, was he? Think about the notion that a sister could be disguised as a man and look exactly like her brother (Twelfth Night), or a handmaiden could compromise her mistress at night without her mistress realising it (Much ado...), or that two young lovers kill themselves because they are too stupid to check properly for signs of life (Romeo and Juliet). Shakespearian plays were, I think, made for the willing suspension of disbelief...

cheer

the sunshine warrior


#9026 11/01/00 03:47 PM
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"Are you from Paris?"

Round here, the native Lancastrians say to me, "Tha's not from rahnd 'ere, is tha?" - however , they would say that to someone from Garstang (the next small town - but with a distinctive accent) just as they would say it to someone like me, with a "Southern" accent.


#9027 11/02/00 12:14 AM
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Shakespearian plays were, I think, made for the willing suspension of disbelief
shanks, you're absolutely right. It's something I must have registered at some level before, but it never became conscious. So I really have learned something today!
On that note, methinks 'tis time for bed (said Zebedee).

stinks worse than a fish after a long ride
Max, you've done it again I'm definitely going to re-use this one!


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