docoflove1974

No, it was in the papers...just that we don't care unless it's at least 5.0.

There was a quake? hehe

Or...it could be that the hawk was hungry and the chipmunk wasn't looking for the incoming air raid.

I need to be able to download that, and show it to my students. It's a constant fight with college kids...they hear in high school that they can, and should, use Wikipedia...without realizing that they aren't always going to be able to trust the information on there. Crazy...like Fox News

Or, as I believe Ms. Mae West once said: "Honey, I'm easy, but not cheap"

Has this been transcribed? Ooooooooh I feel a research project coming on! (Well, a continuation of a theme)

Oh, that's what he wanted you to think...they alllllllllways know!

Ah, well, if we're gonna have this discussion, then I'll post my 2 'local' favorites: Gordon Biersch and Sudwerk (this one is in the town I went to college...and damn did the maibock make the end of the quarter fly by!

M'dear, you're sounding like a broken record...but I'll still take the Pertimaxus!

What about traders, who were peddling their wares? Or was this done more on water than on land?

No, my brain is indeed fried. I'm not happy about housing costs...it's going to force me to move from here, and my parents (who are getting ready to move in the next 5 years) are looking at places in the Central Valley instead of being able to stay in the Bay Area. That sucks beyond words. As for the brush fires...most of them are in underdeveloped 'wilderness' areas, so perhaps Mother Nature is telling those people that they shouldn't go messing with her work.

My area isn't Germanic, so I'm not gonna know for sure...but I believe you're right about Latin/Latinate influence being mostly post-Norman conquest. As I recall (sorry for the lack of sources on this), the language policy of the Normans was to use French/Norman in the court as well as much of middle-class business; from this there were many terms which diffused into English, but no true language take-over. Now, Roman language policy, from what I have read, was: if you wish to do business with us, do it in Latin. If you wish to converse with us in the empire, do it in Latin. Your education is in Latin. Otherwise, speak as you please. In some areas, there was a conversion (I would argue over a long period of time) from the local speech to Latin (of some register); in others, there was (probably) more local identity with the local language, and speakers chose to maintain their language, albeit (probably) influence by Latin.

For those of you who are knowledgeable in the art of writing long tomes...you'll agree with me (I think) that editing is worse than writing. When one writes, you are creating your thoughts as you go along. Sure, you have an outline of some kind, and you're following along with your sources close by--in my case, already summarized in its own Word document, so that cut/paste is easy. But it's still flowing out of your head, through your fingers, and onto the screen in front of you. There's a creative process that is awesome; I will go a full 18 hours just of writing, if the Muses so desire. Certainly I get in a groove of a few days where it all comes flowing out, and it's pretty cool. Editing..ugh. I'm a bit of a perfectionist, and with a dissertation advisor who is 1) picky; and 2) a perfectionist in her own right, well, I'm almost scared to let a chapter go out, fearing the comments that will come back. Oh, sure, they're wonderful comments, and definitely help to clear any misconceptions that others may have. And I know damn well that a dissertation is not your life's work--it's not even going to be the best work you'll do in your academic career--but it's hard sometimes to let it go. I'm always changing a word here, a phrase there. The first edit is usually when the big block are moved, but after that it's just rewording, clearing up crummy clutter. And I honestly believe that I'm much more stressed when I edit than when I write...I'm trying to view my thoughts in the eyes of others, and that's very hard. So, chapter 4 is out to the Powers That Be--my 2 dissertation advisors--and now I have 3 weeks to prep the 2 courses I'm teaching in the fall. I've told my advisors that I'll have the final chapter done by the end of October, which is about what I feel is right. Hopefully they'll comply!

I didn't realize that the Normans were so ethnically different from the rest of Gaul/France. I figured that they were Frankish-based like the rest.

Ain't it the truth...although the person who posted/furnished the video couldn't even spell the song title right! "Wrap It Up" Oh what the T-Birds could have been if only Jimmy had felt the need to leave. (RIP SRV)

"Pertimaximus" almost sounds like Russell Crowe should be involved in it....

I'll get right on that

C'mon...give credit to the alliterative master...or at least a nod in his direction.

Very interesting take on things...I wonder if attitudes towards the conquerers ('backward-looking' attitudes that is--those of the 'historians' in describing the conquerers) is central to this. Rome is a great and mighty empire...so, regardless of who they're conquering, they would have 'improved' the situation--regardless of the reality. The Normans were, well, French...I don't know too many who have described the French in a glowing review (although I could be wrong here). Additionally, much of this pro-Classic attitude starts in Medieval and, in particular, Rennaisance times. It seems that anything Roman or Ancient Greek (in particular, Athenian) is viewed in a positive light...regardless of reality.

Anything with tonic water makes me and my liver happy. Oh, and officially 'diet' any mixer doesn't exist! I refuse to accept it!

Dude, it seems to me that you are suffering a common maladity of all older males: crochettiness. In this case, it is compounded by a singular case of Noo Yawkah single-mindedness. It's amazing how similar this is to a similar psychological flaw of those in Texass. You can "commend" all you want...I shall have none of it. None of it, I tells ya!

This is what has kept my parents together for 30+ years!

It's bog! It's bog! It's better than bad...it's good!

Earthquakes: meh, a little shimmy-shake every once in a while keeps us on our toes. To be honest, you don't feel much as long as you're on a bed of granite and clay (as is most of the state) Mudslides: none here, thanks Bankrupt state economy: Ah-nuld is actually helping in that area...or so it seems. He got Dubbya to pay for the Guard's patrolling of the border! Hah! Etc.: the only thing that does sit well with me is the cost of housing...but I plan on winning the lottery and then not caring. So it's all good