docoflove1974

Here, here. Once I started reading up on the evils known as corn starch and corn syrup, I really started taking a hard look at the products I consume. It's amazing; I'm not much of a soda person (maybe 1-2 per month), so that never was an issue...but my favorite yogurt (Yoplait) is loaded with corn syrup, and it took me forever to find one that wasn't sweetened with (and thickened with) corn starch or corn syrup. Even the organics had it in there! I finally found a couple, but they're about $1/container (which is usually 4-6oz), and I ain't a-payin that. But seriously...look through the foods and drinks that you consume on a daily basis, and note how high up on the ingredient list corn starch and corn syrup are. It boggles the mind.

Ditto this and the other applause...I have the article printed out, so that I can read it later. I want to devote some time to this! I had a professor at Davis who was looking into the Lusitanians, their culture and their language (he being a good Valenciano, he wanted to pursue his roots). Sadly, he had a stroke shortly after I left, so I have no idea if he finished the book or not. But this as piqued my interest!

The majority of Americans are used to breaks during a game--baseball between half innings, football and basketball on time outs--and so sports like footy and hockey, where there are no breaks except for between periods, are not as popular. Lord knows we need time to run to the fridge so we have something else to stick in our pie hole Hockey is facing the same issue, too; hopefully they don't change it just to accomodate the ignorant masses. Yes, they are integral to footy, and in NFL you have penalties which affect the whole team--anywhere from 5 yards to 15 yards to wherever the spot of the foul was. Players usually don't get tossed from the game for accumulating penalties, but can on occasion be tossed for highly eggregious fouls. In basketball you have free throws, with flagrant fouls (usually when the erring player intending to harm the afflicted player; one can be tossed for those) and technical fouls (usually for balking at a ref's call a bit too strongly, or for kicking/throwing the ball in the stands; the non-erring team gets 2 free throws, plus possession of the ball, and if you get 2 technicals in a game you will be tossed). There's nothing really in baseball, save for warnings and, eventually, being tossed, but nothing organized like footy. Hockey has the penalty box, where the erring player must go for 2-4 minutes, and there is a power play, where the non-erring team has a man (or, sometimes 2 man) advantage while the erring player is in the box. Well, in California (and, perhaps, the West Coast in general) things are bit different. Youth soccer is huge, and most kids play at least until middle school, and many until later. It's as popular as youth baseball here. Then again, we have the weather that's most conducive--warm, and then cool, autumns and springs, with summers that are dry. When I lived in Texas, soccer is popular only for periods of time...the summers are just too hot for the kids, and the winters are pretty rainy. As for playing in the streets...I don't know if stickball will ever be replaced in the East Coast.

(I'd give you a gold star, but I don't have one of those on here)

For what it's worth, I would put the personal level titles in Latin (Patricii, etc.), just to maintain the consistency of the language...but explain it in the FAQ, or whatever. Then again, because I just got tagged for the same thing in revisions, perhaps that's why it's on my mind

Well, considering how US tennis is kinda stinky right now...

Yeah, but the Sox lost...in the 19th

The American announcers calling the game for ABC--who, until that bonehead, eejit, jackass move, had been saying how Zidane was the epitome of class, etc., the entire tournament--were at a total loss for words. I mean, I don't care what anyone says about your mamma, you can't be headbutting players, period, especially in overtime of the championship game. Bush-league, man, bush-league. (oh...Viva Azzurri!!! Campionati del mondo!!!)

Cripes...yeah, exactly like that. And it goes on for, say, 30 pages

It goes beyond editing...sentence construction that is so convoluted that it takes you 3-4 times to read a sentence just to understand it. It's hard for the reader to understand what you want to say when you write terribly!

Ever since my third year of college, with all of my classes being upper division in type, and with many academic writings to peruse, I have clamored for retraining of academians. And again I renew my plea. When I become Ruler of the World, every academian will take writing courses (in the language or languages in which they publish) approximately every 5 years. In these courses, the 'students' will re-learn and refresh themselves on the proper writing styles of their genre. The first course, which is mandatory and must be passed with at least an 80%, is on clarity of writing style. Christ Almighty, some people just can't write worth a hill of beans. It seems as if they bypassed the editory panel completely, and went from 'draft' to 'published product' in one fail swoop. In the past week and a half I've been reviewing my notes and articles/chapters on Functionalism (in linguistics, naturally) in order to gear up to write this next chapter. There were several items which I had to re-read at least 3-4 times, simply because I couldn't understand what the person was aiming for. How many times can you contradict yourself in one paragraph? Really, it seemed like there was a competition between two writers. I won't divulge any names (you never know who's reading your column ), but there are many who need this course...and badly. The other course, which will be mandatory for any academian (professor or lecturer) who teaches is a refresher course of teaching and presenting. Like its writing counterpart, each 'student' will have to renew their training approximately every 5 years, and will have to pass with at least 80%. Unlike the writing course, this other course will be multi-lateral: part methodology, part diction, and part speech/presentation skills. Seriously, I know that professors at Research I universities are hired because of their research and not for their teaching...but if you can't understand what the bloody hell the instructor is saying, or what they wish to say, or even what they plan on placing on the test...how are you expected to pass a course, let alone retain any information in the future? Ok, back to writing.

I had a mini-flashback to the epitome of dancing in a video, both done by the same artist: Fatboy Slim Praise You and

And if Dubbya had done it...oh, let's not go there.

Fresh off of the presses of LINGUISTList: Title: Ancient Celtic Placenames in Europe and Asia Minor Series Title: Publications of the Philological Society Publication Year: 2006 Publisher: Blackwell Publishing http://www.blackwellpublishing.com Book URL: http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/book.as...5706&site=1 Author: Patrick Sims-Williams Paperback: ISBN: 1405145706 Pages: 420 Price: AUS $ 75.95 Paperback: ISBN: 1405145706 Pages: 420 Price: Europe EURO 22.99 Paperback: ISBN: 1405145706 Pages: 420 Price: U.S. $ 39.95 Abstract: An original study revealing the history of place-names from Ireland to Anatolia, from Scotland to the Apennines, and from to Andalusia the Black Seas. Includes numerous original maps and uncovers new methodology for linguistic geography. Uses a dataset of over 20,000 names recorded by Greek and Latin authors such as Polybius, Caesar and Tacitus and by early geographers such as Strabo, Pliny, Ptolemy and the Ravenna Cosmographer. A significant work for archaeologists, historians and philologists studying the early distribution of Celtic and other Indo-European languages. List of maps Preface 1. Introduction 2. A Database Approach 3. The Long Arm of Coincidence 4. Selected Celtic-Looking Strings and Elements 5. The distribution of the Selected Celtic-Looking Elements 6. The Extent of Celtic Names: i. Northern Europe (above 48 latitude) 7. The Extent of Celtic Names: ii. Central Europe (latitudes 44-47) 8. The Extent of Celtic Names: iii. Southern Europe (latitude 43 and southwar 9. The Extent of Celtic Names: iv. Asia Minor (west of longitude +35) with v. Note on Remaining Areas around the Mediterranean (north of latitude 35 and west of longitude +35) 10. The Extent of Celtic Names: vi. Africa and Asia (south of latitude 35 and east of longitude +35) 11. The Extent of Celtic Names: Summary 12. Prospects for Further Research Abbreviations Bibliography Index of Place-Names Linguistic Field(s): Historical Linguistics Written In: English (eng) See this book announcement on our website: http://linguistlist.org/get-book.html?BookID=20095

I felt like I needed to bring some class back to this thread: Classic BB

Someone forgot to tell her that she shouldn't wear red lipstick *gasp* Oh, and the dancing elephants in the background almost pulled it off. hehe

Seriously, one of the best matches I've ever seen. Optimal game would be Italy v. Portugal; that way, should Italy win, I'll be quite happy, but if Portual should win, then I'd be happy for them. Zidane can play for third place

That's called the 'grad student special' And I've done it many times...and am going to do so again, once I get paid on a regular basis (again). Also: many university libraries take purchase requests. I know they'll take them from grad students and professors, and perhaps some will from the undergrads, too. It might be a while before the library gets them, but hey, it's worth the wait sometimes.

Ouch...did I hear right that he's resigning as England's coach? Think of it this way...at least England showed up during the tourney. More than I can say for us Yanks. Viva l'Italia!!!

Brazil is out! Wow...there went my pick...I expected them to go all the way, as many did, I'm sure. I only saw the last 5 minutes of the match, but it sounds like it was an evenly-contested match. As for England-Portugal...what was Rooney thinking? Anyway, any time it comes down to PKs, my heart goes out for the team that loses...it seems like such an unfair way to lose. C'est la vie, I guess.

I'll see your Dr. Demento and raise you a Ren and Stimpy

I was under the impression that this was the first time in the World Cup that the two countries have met.

I didn't see the early match, but glad to hear that Ronaldo has the goals record. But, wow, what a match with Spain v. France. Zidane with the last goal was only to be topped by Ribery's first goal...both were things of beauty. It sets up a great way for Zidane to end his career: versus Brazil.

I was going to suggest the citrus rinds, too...thankfully our problem here isn't so much squirrels, but deer. There's an easy solution for that, too: marigolds and mums. They can't stand them!

Penguin it is! Thanks, gents!