John VanSickle escribió:
> burro:  From the Spanish word for donkey.  There may be a slang meaning 
> of which I am unaware.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burrito

Post a reply to this message

On Tue, 22 Apr 2008 17:25:11 +0200, "Gail Shaw"
<initialsurname@sentech sa dot com> wrote:

>
>p.s. if you want to improve your vocabulary -
>http://dictionary.reference.com/wordoftheday/list/
>

or
http://www.readersdigest.co.uk/wordpower/
:)
-- 

Regards
     Stephen

Post a reply to this message

Nicolas Alvarez <nic### [at] gmailisthebestcom> wrote:
> Bill Pragnell escribió:
> > 'on-TON-druh' might 
> > be a rough approximation (apologies to the French).

> "Critics of ad hoc pronunciation schemes point out that such schemas are 
> inherently self-referential, since they rely on the ability of the 
> reader to already know how a large number of words are commonly 
> pronounced. In addition, such schemas often assume a certain language, 
> dialect or accent on the part of the reader, and due to its popularity 
> in the US, this is very often a US accent."

  Personally I also oppose that type of "pronounciation syntax" which
looks more like the writer is having rough sex than anything else.

-- 
                                                          - Warp

Post a reply to this message

And lo on Tue, 22 Apr 2008 16:59:56 +0100, Nicolas Alvarez  
<nic### [at] gmailisthebestcom> did spake, saying:

> Mike Raiford escribió:
>> What? do you propose we use IPA?
>
> *I* would understand that easier!

Okee dokee

dublɑ̃ˈtɑ̃drə/ or /ˈdʌbəl ɑnˈtɑndrə

with UTF-8 that should display correctly.

-- 
Phil Cook

--
I once tried to be apathetic, but I just couldn't be bothered
http://flipc.blogspot.com

Post a reply to this message

On Tue, 22 Apr 2008 17:01:23 +0100, "Phil Cook"
<phi### [at] nospamrocainfreeservecouk> wrote:

>
>Everywhere worth going to
>
>'I say Cladius let's conquer Scotty land so as to partake of the wonderful  
>natural ice-cold springs and wander in our togas amongst the many thistle  
>farms enjoying the bracing ice winds and snow and the joyous keening sound  
>of the bagpipes.'
>'Or we could just build a bloody great wall along the border to discourage  
>any other idiots like you from trying to visit and keep the natives penned  
>up in that hellhole*'
>
>:-P
>
>*I forget, was Glasgow around back then?

Actually it was Hadrian who built it as he wanted to stop his army
from disserting at Hogmanay. And Glasgow was a green place in those
days, Jimmie. :)
-- 

Regards
     Stephen

Post a reply to this message

On 22 Apr 2008 12:12:29 -0400, Warp <war### [at] tagpovrayorg> wrote:

>
>  Personally I also oppose that type of "pronounciation syntax" which
>looks more like the writer is having rough sex than anything else.

So that is what rough sex looks like. I did not know, thanks ;)
-- 

Regards
     Stephen

Post a reply to this message

On Tue, 22 Apr 2008 11:00:35 +0100, Invisible wrote:

>>   "Barista" is rather easy to guess, especially if you know Spanish
>> (like I do).
> 
> Any hints on how to pronounce it?

bar-EE-stuh. (emphaize the second syllable)

>>   Double entendre is quite common speech, IMO.
> 
> Again, how do you even pronounce such a word?

Double en-tande (it's French, this is the way I usually hear it 
pronounced, with a silent 'r')

>>   What's unclear about "codependent"?
> 
> The fact that it's considered bad.

It's usually used in the context of substance abuse (drugs, alcohol, etc).

> Fact: My mum thinks I have an amazingly diverse and at times
> incomprehensible vocabulary.

We all have different sets of knowledge.

Jim

Post a reply to this message

Invisible <voi### [at] devnull> wrote:
> http://blog.orphi.me.uk/archives/268
>
> How many of these words can *you* figure out, without looking them up?
>
> Am I just supremely illiterate, or are these words actually rare?
>
> --
> http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
> http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*

Supremely illiterate? Not a chance in hell. But I might bet youthful.

Was a time I didnt know those words.

Ever have an epiphany? And we laughed with your celebration and cried with your
tears.
aQ

Post a reply to this message

Nicolas Alvarez <nic### [at] gmailisthebestcom> wrote:
> Bill Pragnell escribió:
> > 'on-TON-druh' might
> > be a rough approximation (apologies to the French).
>
> "Critics of ad hoc pronunciation schemes point out that such schemas are
> inherently self-referential, since they rely on the ability of the
> reader to already know how a large number of words are commonly
> pronounced. In addition, such schemas often assume a certain language,
> dialect or accent on the part of the reader, and due to its popularity
> in the US, this is very often a US accent."

Critics of *any* pronunciation schemes point out that such schemas are
inherently self-referential, and with the disadvantage of not being based on
anything familiar to the reader at all.

Seriously, I can't read pronunciation guides.

....Chambers
www.pacificwebguy.com

Post a reply to this message

Invisible <voi### [at] devnull> wrote:
> http://blog.orphi.me.uk/archives/268
>
> How many of these words can *you* figure out, without looking them up?
>
> Am I just supremely illiterate, or are these words actually rare?
>
> --
> http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
> http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*

They aren't too rare, though it's not unusual to be unfamiliar with any of them.

Now, if you want some fun words, you should try reading Stephen R. Donaldson's
works :)

....Chambers
www.pacificwebguy.com

Post a reply to this message

Bill Pragnell wrote:
> Nicolas Alvarez wrote:
>> Bill Pragnell escribió:
>>> 'on-TON-druh' might be a rough approximation (apologies to the French).
>>
>> "Critics of ad hoc pronunciation schemes point out that such schemas 
>> are inherently self-referential, since they rely on the ability of the 
>> reader to already know how a large number of words are commonly 
>> pronounced. In addition, such schemas often assume a certain language, 
>> dialect or accent on the part of the reader, and due to its popularity 
>> in the US, this is very often a US accent."
> 
> Fair enough. This example works fine for both british and US accents, 
> though.
> 
> :P
There is also the possibility that the actual French pronunciation would 
not be understood at all by English-speaking people, because they could 
be more accustomed to some deformed approximation. In this case the 
ad-hoc scheme can actually be more appropriate :-)

I know French people understand English with a French accent far better 
than English with an English accent, at least...

-- 
Vincent

Post a reply to this message

Mike Raiford wrote:

> (Sorry Andrew)
> 
> Now *that* was funny.

Itchy: Why are you laughing?

Scratchy: They're laughing at your pain.

Itchy: That's nasty!

Scratchy: Let's get 'em!

Itchy: Yeah!

-- 
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*

Post a reply to this message

Phil Cook wrote:

> Okee dokee
> 
> dublɑ̃ˈtɑ̃drə/ or /ˈdʌbəl ɑnˈtɑndrə
> 
> with UTF-8 that should display correctly.

Oooo, that looks indescribably *horrid* in monospace! >_<

-- 
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*

Post a reply to this message

Shay wrote:

> You're not knowing these words supports my low opinion of geek 
> television and literature [1], which I have found to be typically inane. 

Yes. Because I read a lot of that stuff... :-P

-- 
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*

Post a reply to this message

Gail Shaw wrote:

> How much fiction (excluding web comics) do you read?

In the last 3 years, I have read approximately 0 pages of fiction [not 
counting web comics, which is a very new trend for me].

What can I say? 90% of my life is spent writing computer programs. I 
don't *do* much else... [Unless you count sleeping anyway.]

-- 
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*

Post a reply to this message

>>  Personally I also oppose that type of "pronounciation syntax" which
>> looks more like the writer is having rough sex than anything else.
> 
> So that is what rough sex looks like. I did not know, thanks ;)

I feel I should interject something whitty here. But... seriously... I 
think it's already been done. Woah.

http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=734

[Note final panel.]

That's the best I could manage. :-S

-- 
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*

Post a reply to this message

Orchid XP v8 <voi### [at] devnull> wrote:
> What can I say? 90% of my life is spent writing computer programs. I 
> don't *do* much else... [Unless you count sleeping anyway.]

  How many of the points in this list would you say apply to you?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loneliness#Common_symptoms

-- 
                                                          - Warp

Post a reply to this message

Stephen wrote:
> I did not know that "Barista" had entered the English language. Other
> than that I know all of them.

I've only ever heard it in reference to Starbucks. :-)

The only word I didn't know is sapphic.

And, incidentally, yes, Oedipus is supremely f'ed up. That's pretty much 
why it's still a part of the language thousands of years after it was 
written, in a different language yet.

> I would not say "supremely illiterate" but you don't have a broad
> enough education.

Or you don't read enough difficult books. Or you read them and skip the 
hard words.

It's sometimes fun trying to figure out what my wife (who learned 
Chinese first) is asking when she comes across a word she doesn't know. 
  "What's a mig-non?"

-- 
   Darren New / San Diego, CA, USA (PST)
     "That's pretty. Where's that?"
          "It's the Age of Channelwood."
     "We should go there on vacation some time."

Post a reply to this message

Invisible wrote:
>>   "Barista" is rather easy to guess, especially if you know Spanish
>> (like I do).
> 
> Any hints on how to pronounce it?

Hint: All spanish is pronounced just like it's spelled. Some of the 
letters might have different pronunciation than you expect, yes, but 
it's amazingly consistent ever since some Spanish bishop in the 1690's 
(IIRC) did the opposite of what the French do, and said "this is a mess 
- let's make it consistent."

-- 
   Darren New / San Diego, CA, USA (PST)
     "That's pretty. Where's that?"
          "It's the Age of Channelwood."
     "We should go there on vacation some time."

Post a reply to this message

Warp wrote:
>   Ok, I was thinking about Americans, actually. British people probably
> have little problem with that name.

Depends where you're from. In Boston, worcestershire is one sylable. In 
Texas, "yup" is three.

-- 
   Darren New / San Diego, CA, USA (PST)
     "That's pretty. Where's that?"
          "It's the Age of Channelwood."
     "We should go there on vacation some time."

Post a reply to this message

Darren New <dne### [at] sanrrcom> wrote:
> Hint: All spanish is pronounced just like it's spelled.

  Not letter-by-letter, though. Some combinations of letters are
pronounced differently than those letters alone would be. For example,
the 'u' in "gu" is pronounced differently than in 'gui' (where it, in
fact, is not pronounced at all). Moreover, the 'g' in "gu" is pronounced
differently from the 'g' in "gi".

  The letter 'l' is pronounced differently when it's doubled: "ll"
(although official Spanish grammar considers 'l' and 'll' two distinct
letters of the alphabet, to be precise).

  The letter 'c' is pronounced differently depending on the following
vocal. If the following letter is 'h', it forms its own distinct letter
of the alphabet, pronounced differently from either 'c' or 'h'.

  There's a difference in pronounciation of the letter 'd' when it's
followed by a vocal compared to when it's followed by 'r' and a vocal.

  The pronounciation of the letter 'x' varies according to which
(Spanish-speaking) country you are in. Maybe even inside the same country.

  IIRC, there are no words in Spanish which start with an 's' and with
the second letter being a consonant. If a Spanish-speaking person tries
to pronounce a foreign word like that, he will usually instinctively
pronounce an 'e' at the beginning of the word (ie. before the 's'), for
some reason (I never understood why).

-- 
                                                          - Warp

Post a reply to this message

Let's add: c, s, and z have a different pronunciation in Spain, but in 
many Latin-american countries, they're pronounced the same way.

Post a reply to this message

Warp wrote:
> Darren New <dne### [at] sanrrcom> wrote:
>> Hint: All spanish is pronounced just like it's spelled.
> 
>   Not letter-by-letter, though. Some combinations of letters are
> pronounced differently than those letters alone would be. For example,
> the 'u' in "gu" is pronounced differently than in 'gui' (where it, in
> fact, is not pronounced at all). Moreover, the 'g' in "gu" is pronounced
> differently from the 'g' in "gi".

I didn't know that.

>   The letter 'l' is pronounced differently when it's doubled: "ll"
> (although official Spanish grammar considers 'l' and 'll' two distinct
> letters of the alphabet, to be precise).

Yeah. This and the "c" / "ch" are considered single letters. Like, in 
the dictionary, "lk" and "Lm" don't surround "ll". I think "r" and "rr" 
do the same thing, too. That's sort of what I was implying by "some of 
the letters are pronounced in unexpected ways."  I think the accents (as 
in stress on sylables) are very consistent too.

>   The pronounciation of the letter 'x' varies according to which
> (Spanish-speaking) country you are in. Maybe even inside the same country.

I'm sure stuff has drifted.  It's a heck of a lot more consistent than 
English, tho!

>   IIRC, there are no words in Spanish which start with an 's' and with
> the second letter being a consonant. If a Spanish-speaking person tries
> to pronounce a foreign word like that, he will usually instinctively
> pronounce an 'e' at the beginning of the word (ie. before the 's'), for
> some reason (I never understood why).

Cool. A lot of the oriental languages (mandarin, japanese) have mainly 
sylables with one consonant. (I.e., every consonant is close to a 
vowel.) So you don't get words like "consonants", which are easy for me 
to pronounce and hard for most people I know who grew up speaking chinese.

A funny story. "Hoya" is the spanish word for "cove" (as in, a bay of 
water good for parking boats). When the british/americans/English 
speakers took over the town next to where I live, they asked the spanish 
living there what it was called.  "La Hoya."  The brits then said 
"Hmmm... But it's spanish. Better mark it on the maps as "La Jolla".

-- 
   Darren New / San Diego, CA, USA (PST)
     "That's pretty. Where's that?"
          "It's the Age of Channelwood."
     "We should go there on vacation some time."

Post a reply to this message

Darren New escribió:
> Yeah. This and the "c" / "ch" are considered single letters. Like, in 
> the dictionary, "lk" and "Lm" don't surround "ll". I think "r" and "rr" 
> do the same thing, too. That's sort of what I was implying by "some of 
> the letters are pronounced in unexpected ways."  I think the accents (as 
> in stress on sylables) are very consistent too.

Dictionaries don't show those as separate letters (anymore).

Post a reply to this message

Stephen wrote:
> On Tue, 22 Apr 2008 10:31:12 -0400, Sabrina Kilian <"ykgp at
> vtSPAM.edu"> wrote:
> 
>> John VanSickle wrote:
>>> Oedipus complex:  n.  A romantic attraction towards ones own parent of 
>>> the opposite sex.
>>>
>> Usually refers only to a male's attraction to his mother. A female's 
>> attraction to her father is an Electra complex.
> 
> Since we are showing off with our Greek. I point Andrew to the "Medea
> complex" if he wants to worry :)

I wasn't referring to Greek, but to Jungian psychology.

Freud used Oedipus to refer to both sexes of a child, but Freud. . . 
well, Freud was stoned.

Post a reply to this message

Nicolas Alvarez wrote:
> Darren New escribió:
>> Yeah. This and the "c" / "ch" are considered single letters. Like, in 
>> the dictionary, "lk" and "Lm" don't surround "ll". I think "r" and 
>> "rr" do the same thing, too. That's sort of what I was implying by 
>> "some of the letters are pronounced in unexpected ways."  I think the 
>> accents (as in stress on sylables) are very consistent too.
> 
> Dictionaries don't show those as separate letters (anymore).

Heh. I suspect since computerization kicked in, it's harder to make that 
work right.  Anyway, I'm just going on what I remember of high-school 
Spanish when it comes to such rules.

-- 
   Darren New / San Diego, CA, USA (PST)
     "That's pretty. Where's that?"
          "It's the Age of Channelwood."
     "We should go there on vacation some time."

Post a reply to this message

"Orchid XP v8" <voi### [at] devnull> wrote in message
news:480e5283$1@news.povray.org...
> Gail Shaw wrote:
>
> > How much fiction (excluding web comics) do you read?
>
> In the last 3 years, I have read approximately 0 pages of fiction [not
> counting web comics, which is a very new trend for me].
>
> What can I say? 90% of my life is spent writing computer programs. I
> don't *do* much else... [Unless you count sleeping anyway.]

Geesh...

Go visit your local library sometime. Besides being a great way to spend
some time, reading books increase your vocabulary and your general
knowledge.
You might even make a couple acquaintances at the library

Post a reply to this message

"Stephen" <mcavoysAT@aolDOTcom> wrote in message
news:oh3s04lmhpfifg72n29nden5k1ovdnoqin@4ax.com...
> On Tue, 22 Apr 2008 17:25:11 +0200, "Gail Shaw"
> <initialsurname@sentech sa dot com> wrote:
>
> >
> >p.s. if you want to improve your vocabulary -
> >http://dictionary.reference.com/wordoftheday/list/
> >
>
> or
> http://www.readersdigest.co.uk/wordpower/
> :)

Oooh... I like.
45.697 out of 50 first round. They got a bit harder from there.

Post a reply to this message

On Tue, 22 Apr 2008 15:16:21 -0700, Darren New <dne### [at] sanrrcom>
wrote:

>
>I've only ever heard it in reference to Starbucks. :-)

I've heard it in Italy


>And, incidentally, yes, Oedipus is supremely f'ed up. 

His head only got messed up when he found out that Jocasta was his
mother.

>That's pretty much 
>why it's still a part of the language thousands of years after it was 
>written, in a different language yet.

I think that its longevity is more due to it being used as an example
of "Whom the gods wish to destroy, they first make mad"
-- 

Regards
     Stephen

Post a reply to this message

On Tue, 22 Apr 2008 20:29:43 -0400, Sabrina Kilian <"ykgp at
vtSPAM.edu"> wrote:

>
>I wasn't referring to Greek, but to Jungian psychology.
>

I know, I was just being trivial :)

>Freud used Oedipus to refer to both sexes of a child, but Freud. . . 
>well, Freud was stoned.

And you need to tell that to a Stephen?  :)
-- 

Regards
     Stephen

Post a reply to this message

On Wed, 23 Apr 2008 06:51:27 +0200, "Gail Shaw"
<initialsurname@sentech sa dot com> wrote:

>> http://www.readersdigest.co.uk/wordpower/
>> :)
>
>Oooh... I like.

So do I. There is always a couple of copies of Readers Digest in
doctors and dentists waiting rooms.

>45.697 out of 50 first round. They got a bit harder from there.
>
Very good, I always get one wrong, be it five questions or twenty. 
-- 

Regards
     Stephen

Post a reply to this message

Warp wrote:
>   How many of the points in this list would you say apply to you?
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loneliness#Common_symptoms

All of them...?  Aren't those common to everybody?

<_______<

*cough*

-- 
Tim Cook
http://empyrean.digitalartsuk.com

-----BEGIN GEEK CODE BLOCK-----
Version: 3.12
GFA dpu- s: a?-- C++(++++) U P? L E--- W++(+++)>$
N++ o? K- w(+) O? M-(--) V? PS+(+++) PE(--) Y(--)
PGP-(--) t* 5++>+++++ X+ R* tv+ b++(+++) DI
D++(---) G(++) e*>++ h+ !r--- !y--
------END GEEK CODE BLOCK------

Post a reply to this message

Warp wrote:

>   How many of the points in this list would you say apply to you?
> 
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loneliness#Common_symptoms

Almost all of them. Why do you ask?

-- 
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*

Post a reply to this message

Gail Shaw wrote:

> Geesh...

Interesting.

> Go visit your local library sometime. Besides being a great way to spend
> some time, reading books increase your vocabulary and your general
> knowledge.

The difficulty is finding books which are actually enjoyable to read. 
Don't get me wrong, I do *enjoy* reading good fiction. The difficulty is 
finding it.

> You might even make a couple acquaintances at the library

I've heard this gem before. However, given that talking is strictly 
prohibited, I fail to comprehend how this one works...

-- 
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*

Post a reply to this message

On Wed, 23 Apr 2008 13:12:20 +0100, Invisible <voi### [at] devnull> wrote:

>
>> You might even make a couple acquaintances at the library
>
>I've heard this gem before. However, given that talking is strictly 
>prohibited, I fail to comprehend how this one works...

When was the last time you were in a library :) Now-a-days the sound
of keyboards clicking would deafen you :(
-- 

Regards
     Stephen

Post a reply to this message

Invisible <voi### [at] devnull> wrote:
> Warp wrote:

> >   How many of the points in this list would you say apply to you?
> > 
> > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loneliness#Common_symptoms

> Almost all of them. Why do you ask?

  I thought so.

-- 
                                                          - Warp

Post a reply to this message

Darren New escribió:
> Nicolas Alvarez wrote:
>> Dictionaries don't show those as separate letters (anymore).
> 
> Heh. I suspect since computerization kicked in, it's harder to make that 
> work right.  Anyway, I'm just going on what I remember of high-school 
> Spanish when it comes to such rules.

You still need to sort ñ as a separate letter between n and o, and I 
doubt that's changing any time soon :)

Post a reply to this message

Invisible wrote:
> Gail Shaw wrote:
>> You might even make a couple acquaintances at the library
> 
> I've heard this gem before. However, given that talking is strictly 
> prohibited, I fail to comprehend how this one works...

Yeah, add that to the fact that if one is antisocial, the only reason to 
be in a library is the books.

Mmm, books...tasty.

om nom nom nom

-- 
Tim Cook
http://empyrean.digitalartsuk.com

-----BEGIN GEEK CODE BLOCK-----
Version: 3.12
GFA dpu- s: a?-- C++(++++) U P? L E--- W++(+++)>$
N++ o? K- w(+) O? M-(--) V? PS+(+++) PE(--) Y(--)
PGP-(--) t* 5++>+++++ X+ R* tv+ b++(+++) DI
D++(---) G(++) e*>++ h+ !r--- !y--
------END GEEK CODE BLOCK------

Post a reply to this message

And lo on Wed, 23 Apr 2008 13:12:20 +0100, Invisible <voi### [at] devnull> did  
spake, saying:

> The difficulty is finding books which are actually enjoyable to read.  
> Don't get me wrong, I do *enjoy* reading good fiction. The difficulty is  
> finding it.

Out of pure curiosity have you had chance to glance at any of the titles  
or authors that everyone here has suggested at one time or another?

-- 
Phil Cook

--
I once tried to be apathetic, but I just couldn't be bothered
http://flipc.blogspot.com

Post a reply to this message

On Wed, 23 Apr 2008 15:30:40 +0100, "Phil Cook"
<phi### [at] nospamrocainfreeservecouk> wrote:

>And lo on Wed, 23 Apr 2008 13:12:20 +0100, Invisible <voi### [at] devnull> did  
>spake, saying:
>
>> The difficulty is finding books which are actually enjoyable to read.  
>> Don't get me wrong, I do *enjoy* reading good fiction. The difficulty is  
>> finding it.
>
>Out of pure curiosity have you had chance to glance at any of the titles  
>or authors that everyone here has suggested at one time or another?
>

I don't think that there is any point. I've met lots of people who
don't read fiction and if you've not picked up the habit by your
twenties then I don't think that there is much chance that you ever
will. Me I read the back of the cereal packet at breakfast. Over and
over :)

-- 

Regards
     Stephen

Post a reply to this message

"Invisible" <voi### [at] devnull> a écrit dans le message de news: 
480f27e4$1@news.povray.org...

> The difficulty is finding books which are actually enjoyable to read. 
> Don't get me wrong, I do *enjoy* reading good fiction. The difficulty is 
> finding it.

So difficult that you couldn't find a single fiction book to read in the 
past 3 years? Is that even possible?
Do you mean that you've already exausted a couple of millenia of world 
literature and can't find anything left to read, or that you have literary 
tastes so bizarre (Haskell-themed BDSM?) that books that suit you just don't 
exist?

G.

Post a reply to this message

On Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:25:25 +0200, "Gilles Tran"
<gil### [at] agroparistechfr> wrote:

>or that you have literary 
>tastes so bizarre (Haskell-themed BDSM?) that books that suit you just don't 
>exist?

Argg! My world view has just been enlarged. :)
-- 

Regards
     Stephen

Post a reply to this message

And lo on Wed, 23 Apr 2008 15:57:58 +0100, Stephen <mcavoysAT@aolDOTcom>  
did spake, saying:

> On Wed, 23 Apr 2008 15:30:40 +0100, "Phil Cook"
> <phi### [at] nospamrocainfreeservecouk> wrote:
>
>> And lo on Wed, 23 Apr 2008 13:12:20 +0100, Invisible <voi### [at] devnull> did
>> spake, saying:
>>
>>> The difficulty is finding books which are actually enjoyable to read.
>>> Don't get me wrong, I do *enjoy* reading good fiction. The difficulty  
>>> is finding it.
>>
>> Out of pure curiosity have you had chance to glance at any of the titles
>> or authors that everyone here has suggested at one time or another?
>
> I don't think that there is any point. I've met lots of people who
> don't read fiction and if you've not picked up the habit by your
> twenties then I don't think that there is much chance that you ever
> will.

I just can't imagine not reading fiction; it's just my default state of  
being.

> Me I read the back of the cereal packet at breakfast. Over and
> over :)

Well they do sometimes put quizes on the back, or mazes; mazes are fun ;-)

Personally I avoid reading cereal packets. It's an odd quirk but at that  
time in the morning I really don't want to know what makes up the contents  
of my breakfast; or for that matter which irrating personality is  
endorsing it and telling me what I should be eating with it, how I should  
be eating it, and what I should be doing before and after eating it and  
basically making me feel bad about just dumping it in a bowl with some  
milk before conveying it from bowl to mouth with a spoon in an feeble  
attempt to gain consciousness prior to the coffee hit.

-- 
Phil Cook

--
I once tried to be apathetic, but I just couldn't be bothered
http://flipc.blogspot.com

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"Invisible" <voi### [at] devnull> wrote in message
news:480f27e4$1@news.povray.org...
> Gail Shaw wrote:
>
> > Geesh...
>
> Interesting.

To give you an idea, if I'm not swamped with deadlines, I usually get
through 2 or 3 books a week. Those are 500-800 page books.
For a week holiday I'll often pack 6 to 8 books, and finish all of them

> > Go visit your local library sometime. Besides being a great way to spend
> > some time, reading books increase your vocabulary and your general
> > knowledge.
>
> The difficulty is finding books which are actually enjoyable to read.
> Don't get me wrong, I do *enjoy* reading good fiction. The difficulty is
> finding it.

If you're going to a library, ask a librarian. They're more likely than
anyone to know a good book in a specific genre that the library has.
You could also ask here, if you trust our opinions. What kind of fiction do
you enjoy?

Besides, if you're just borrowing the books, what do you lose by taking
something you're not sure of? Perhaps an hour of your time.

> > You might even make a couple acquaintances at the library
>
> I've heard this gem before. However, given that talking is strictly
> prohibited, I fail to comprehend how this one works...

It's not prohibited in any library I've been in. Making loud noises is
prohibited, but a soft conversation with another patron on the merits of a
particular book isn't a problem.

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And lo on Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:28:55 +0100, Stephen <mcavoysAT@aolDOTcom>
  

did spake, saying:

> On Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:25:25 +0200, "Gilles Tran"
> <gil### [at] agroparistechfr> wrote:
>
>> or that you have literary
>> tastes so bizarre (Haskell-themed BDSM?) that books that suit you jus
t  

>> don't exist?

lash = do putStrLn "You've been a naughty boy haven't you?"
           grovel <- readLn
           if grovel == yes
               then putStrLn "So you need to be whipped"
               else putStrLn "Liar! You need to be whipped"

> Argg! My world view has just been enlarged. :)

Oo I've got a ton of spam with just that subject heading.

-- 

Phil Cook

--
I once tried to be apathetic, but I just couldn't be bothered
http://flipc.blogspot.com

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Phil Cook wrote:
> I just can't imagine not reading fiction; it's just my default state of 
> being.

Hey, I read nothing but non-fiction until fifth grade, whereupon the 
teacher forced the issue by requiring a book report on a fiction book. :-)

-- 
   Darren New / San Diego, CA, USA (PST)
     "That's pretty. Where's that?"
          "It's the Age of Channelwood."
     "We should go there on vacation some time."

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And lo on Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:14:27 +0100, Darren New <dne### [at] sanrrcom>  
did spake, saying:

> Phil Cook wrote:
>> I just can't imagine not reading fiction; it's just my default state of  
>> being.
>
> Hey, I read nothing but non-fiction until fifth grade, whereupon the  
> teacher forced the issue by requiring a book report on a fiction book.  
> :-)

It wan't meant disparagingly, simply an Error Does Not Compute for my OS  
:-)

-- 
Phil Cook

--
I once tried to be apathetic, but I just couldn't be bothered
http://flipc.blogspot.com

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On Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:54:56 +0100, "Phil Cook"
<phi### [at] nospamrocainfreeservecouk> wrote:

>
>I just can't imagine not reading fiction; it's just my default state of  
>being.
>
My Rule of Life #3 (After the heavy stuff); Always have a book,
especially if using a computer :) 

>> Me I read the back of the cereal packet at breakfast. Over and
>> over :)
>
>Well they do sometimes put quizes on the back, or mazes; mazes are fun ;-)
>
>Personally I avoid reading cereal packets. It's an odd quirk but at that  
>time in the morning I really don't want to know what makes up the contents  
>of my breakfast; or for that matter which irrating personality is  
>endorsing it and telling me what I should be eating with it, how I should  
>be eating it, and what I should be doing before and after eating it and  
>basically making me feel bad about just dumping it in a bowl with some  
>milk before conveying it from bowl to mouth with a spoon in an feeble  
>attempt to gain consciousness prior to the coffee hit.

It was a figure of speech, Phil :)
-- 

Regards
     Stephen

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On Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:02:46 +0100, "Phil Cook"
<phi### [at] nospamrocainfreeservecouk> wrote:

>
>lash = do putStrLn "You've been a naughty boy haven't you?"
>           grovel <- readLn
>           if grovel == yes
>               then putStrLn "So you need to be whipped"
>               else putStrLn "Liar! You need to be whipped"
>

See You Jimmie. You a perv or sumthing? :)

>> Argg! My world view has just been enlarged. :)
>
>Oo I've got a ton of spam with just that subject heading.

LOL I am a simple soul at heart ;)
-- 

Regards
     Stephen

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Phil Cook wrote:
> And lo on Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:14:27 +0100, Darren New <dne### [at] sanrrcom> 
> did spake, saying:
> 
>> Phil Cook wrote:
>>> I just can't imagine not reading fiction; it's just my default state 
>>> of being.
>>
>> Hey, I read nothing but non-fiction until fifth grade, whereupon the 
>> teacher forced the issue by requiring a book report on a fiction book. 
>> :-)
> 
> It wan't meant disparagingly, simply an Error Does Not Compute for my OS 
> :-)

I took no offense. :-) I read lots of fiction now. :)

The first fiction book I read was about a family captured by the giant 
AI that is built into Phobos by the now-extinct Martians. I wish I could 
remember the name - "Phobos is missing" or something like that...

-- 
   Darren New / San Diego, CA, USA (PST)
     "That's pretty. Where's that?"
          "It's the Age of Channelwood."
     "We should go there on vacation some time."

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