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Friday Afternoon Open Thread

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Blog Related
Posted on Fri Jan 07, 2011 at 04:39:05 PM EST
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    Friday Afternoon Open Thread | 51 comments (51 topical)

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    My internal and external clocks are going to be (5.00 / 2) (#2)
    by jeffinalabama on Fri Jan 07, 2011 at 05:55:36 PM EST
    VERY confused for the next 12 months. My Catalan classes are live at two in the morning, Spanish at 5 in the morning.

    IM and Skype and virtual lectures... My own admin just 'approved' my taking these courses, and French following, because it will help (or actually create) a language department here.

    And it's official, Catalan does make an American Spanish speaker's head hurt.

    Nice that it's free for me, although the tradeoff will be there in about 24 months. It'll be nice to be in one timezone.

    Anyone have any second-hand teleportation devices? I'll settle for Hermione Granger's time-turner.

    Glad my acquaintance is a profesora! Payback comes when her two year old gets older, and I either get him free courses here or I pay for them. I'm enrolled at no cost.

    My books should be here by midterm... I'm jonesing for a text already.

    I'm impressed (5.00 / 1) (#3)
    by CoralGables on Fri Jan 07, 2011 at 06:20:18 PM EST
    The Prisoner of Azkaban and The Princess Bride in one day

    Parent
    Once more into the breach... (none / 0) (#5)
    by jeffinalabama on Fri Jan 07, 2011 at 06:26:08 PM EST
    I couldn't help myself.

    Parent
    No I don't teach English... (none / 0) (#6)
    by jeffinalabama on Fri Jan 07, 2011 at 06:26:51 PM EST
    I'm just an eccentric old nerd.

    Parent
    But I go to work at 7am... (none / 0) (#12)
    by jeffinalabama on Fri Jan 07, 2011 at 06:37:55 PM EST
    Since I love the ukulele and Hawaiian music, I'd like to come. I'd like to learn Hawaiian, but not at the present time. My head would explode.

    Parent
    Y.\'all don't need rural sociologists ot ` (none / 0) (#54)
    by jeffinalabama on Sat Jan 08, 2011 at 04:06:17 AM EST
    statisticians, much to my chagrin. Or any more veterans.
    More likrly to move to southern South America, teach esl, and just move to the Atlantic beaches. Pick up my pension checks at the embassyin a couple of years.

    Parent
    One of my children just landed (none / 0) (#22)
    by Towanda on Fri Jan 07, 2011 at 07:22:13 PM EST
    yesterday in Hawaii.  Reports are ecstatic, and complete with Hawaiian phrases.  (This from the child who disliked foreign language courses.)

    I just hope that she moves back to the mainland, after having seen a piece of Paradise.  Aloha!

    Parent

    Oh, good. She'll only be there (5.00 / 1) (#41)
    by Towanda on Fri Jan 07, 2011 at 08:40:03 PM EST
    for ten days of heaven! So she won't be so smitten and will come back here to hell, um, winter.  Sure, that's it; it's that darned eleventh day that makes the difference.

    Parent
    On the other hand... (none / 0) (#50)
    by gyrfalcon on Sat Jan 08, 2011 at 01:27:16 AM EST
    Two friends of mine with three children decided they needed to move to Hawaii for professional reasons.  They sold their house, almost all of their possessions rather than pay to have them shipped, multiple farewell parties, lots of tears, etc.

    Less than two weeks later, I got an email from one of them saying they were coming home and
    could I put him up for a couple weeks while he house-hunted.

    I'll never forget his reaction when his plane landed in Burlington a couple weeks later, first week of May.  He was beyond ecstatic at the fresh, new green breaking out all over the place in this northern climate, something that doesn't
    happen in perpetually green tropical or near tropical zones.  Just sayin'.

    IOW, each to his own.  Personally, I'll take that ecstatic break-out of spring after a long winter here in the northern tier any day.  How can you enjoy spring if you haven't been through winter?

    I'm not religious, but it makes me understand why the Christian idea of the resurrection has always been so powerful.  I see it in nature incredibly vividly every year.

    Parent

    My dad (none / 0) (#59)
    by Ga6thDem on Sat Jan 08, 2011 at 06:45:53 AM EST
    was like your friends. He lived in Hawaii and didn't like it. Too much sameness for him. Then I have another friend who grew up in S. Florida and wants to move to Maine. She hates FL and its weather. As for me, there would be too much winter in Maine. So like you say to each his own

    Parent
    Glenn Greenwald also isn't upset (none / 0) (#1)
    by oculus on Fri Jan 07, 2011 at 05:13:06 PM EST
    re Daley appointment to Obama admins.  Guess what?  Greenwald thinks the Pres. is running the show.  

    For those keeping score (none / 0) (#4)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Fri Jan 07, 2011 at 06:22:58 PM EST
    I have Tex A&M (+3) over LSU tonight. 3 units.

    Miles has too much luck this season. (none / 0) (#7)
    by jeffinalabama on Fri Jan 07, 2011 at 06:31:07 PM EST
    One unit, please. If I bet on sports, I go five units the other way.


    Parent
    Just biding my time until Monday night. (none / 0) (#10)
    by caseyOR on Fri Jan 07, 2011 at 06:33:31 PM EST
    GO, DUCKS!!!!!

    Parent
    Answered in the other open thread. (none / 0) (#14)
    by jeffinalabama on Fri Jan 07, 2011 at 06:39:45 PM EST
    so I'll say this much now. LALALALALALALALALA I'M NOT LISTENING TO CASEYOR! LALALALALALALALALA!

    Parent
    The exact maturity level required for (none / 0) (#17)
    by caseyOR on Fri Jan 07, 2011 at 06:48:32 PM EST
    friendly sports rivalries. :)

    By the by, I recently heard the story of how the War Eagle cry came to be. Something about an eagle circling the football field and then dying at mid-field. OMG! so sad and so disturbing.

    Parent

    Just an old myth, I think. (none / 0) (#18)
    by jeffinalabama on Fri Jan 07, 2011 at 06:56:40 PM EST
    There are three myths surrounding it, and the most boring is the most likely... it was a pin on the ROTC uniform in 1904 or something...

    Parent
    The ROTC pin does seem (none / 0) (#19)
    by caseyOR on Fri Jan 07, 2011 at 07:03:26 PM EST
    the more likely story, although not nearly as dramatic as soaring eagle dying on the field.

    Parent
    I'm no longer speaking to you. (none / 0) (#24)
    by jeffinalabama on Fri Jan 07, 2011 at 07:34:42 PM EST

    Neverevereverever to infinity.

    "My daddy can beat up your daddy!"

    Parent

    Chingon (none / 0) (#38)
    by jeffinalabama on Fri Jan 07, 2011 at 08:21:31 PM EST
    jajaja

    Parent
    Oh, means the same... (none / 0) (#44)
    by jeffinalabama on Fri Jan 07, 2011 at 09:14:31 PM EST
    Smart, sharp as a razor, quick witted... just to make sure of no misunderstanding.

    Parent
    Harbaugh to 49ers. Will Miles jump to (none / 0) (#13)
    by oculus on Fri Jan 07, 2011 at 06:38:15 PM EST
    Ann Arbor?

    Parent
    I'd miss him in the SEC, (5.00 / 1) (#15)
    by jeffinalabama on Fri Jan 07, 2011 at 06:43:19 PM EST
    but if he relocates, look for five years' worth fo conference champs after next season.

    He lets his players play... and the Big 10 isn't used to that. He'll also be able to recruit a few deep south speedy 320 pound players.

    Yes, they exist. Just not in Big 10 country. Ask CaseyOr about Samoans at Washington, for example, or look at some of BYU's players.

    Parent

    AD Brandon is probably holding (none / 0) (#16)
    by oculus on Fri Jan 07, 2011 at 06:46:40 PM EST
    confidential talks w/Urban.

    Parent
    Hoping to be the next Bill Walsh? (none / 0) (#23)
    by caseyOR on Fri Jan 07, 2011 at 07:25:15 PM EST
    I, too, think the move to the "Niners will prove to be a bad choice for Harbaugh. All I can think is Jim has fantasies of taking the "football wizard" title from the late Bill Walsh, and thinks that following Walsh's trajectory, from Stanford to the 49ers, will be his yellow brick road.

    With Andrew Luck's decision to forgo the NFL draft and return to Stanford, the Cardinal seems as well positioned as any team for next season. Why would Harbaugh want to make a move to the hapless 49ers? Can it really be as simple as blind ambition?

    Parent

    Maybe (5.00 / 1) (#29)
    by CoralGables on Fri Jan 07, 2011 at 07:42:31 PM EST
    he just wants to be 25 million dollars richer without having to move.

    Parent
    That's exactly (none / 0) (#40)
    by Zorba on Fri Jan 07, 2011 at 08:27:39 PM EST
    what my son said.

    Parent
    Maybe Harbaugh just wants (none / 0) (#46)
    by brodie on Fri Jan 07, 2011 at 10:28:54 PM EST
    to succeed in the pros, like his older brother.  Lots of siblings are driven by a sense of family competitiveness.  

    And the fact that he has a chance to coach with a Niners org, with a storied tradition of winning SBs, while not having to uproot his family, are worth double and triple points.

    Following the deeply disappointing and at times hapless coach Singletary, he'll initially have a lot of fan good will on his side and a fairly low hurdle to step over.  The real pressure comes in the 2d year, when everyone will expect significant progress and will have largely forgotten the previous coach's failures.  By the end of Y2 and into Y3, he'll need to produce.

    And if he fails with my Niners, there's always a decent head coaching job at one of the major college programs available, and he'll still be a fairly hot item given his clean, winning record at Stanford.  

    Parent

    From the Propaganda Department (none / 0) (#9)
    by Dadler on Fri Jan 07, 2011 at 06:33:00 PM EST
    Dadler has finished the online draft of his book! THE EARLY DAZE. PART 21 (the final chapter) ends this memoir of my younger self. Effusive praise for the first person to read the last chapter and comment.  Canned hams to be raffled. Organs to be donated.  Babies to be kissed.  Thanks to all who ever took a look at it.

    Here's my dream retirement... (none / 0) (#25)
    by jeffinalabama on Fri Jan 07, 2011 at 07:37:42 PM EST
    Turn the volume on, and then up, before you go to bed, and you'll have pleasant dreams. Except you Donals from Hawaii, I think you can open your window and get something similar. Need any Catalan speakers in Hawaii?

    Linky might help.... (5.00 / 1) (#26)
    by jeffinalabama on Fri Jan 07, 2011 at 07:38:59 PM EST
    Linky

    Parent
    And that was supposed to be (none / 0) (#27)
    by jeffinalabama on Fri Jan 07, 2011 at 07:40:12 PM EST
    "Donald," not donals. I nead an 'idiot' button.

    Parent
    Never thought of going to Uruguay. (none / 0) (#30)
    by caseyOR on Fri Jan 07, 2011 at 07:46:59 PM EST
    Now that I've listened to you link, jeff, it is on the radar. Have you been there?

    Parent
    Once. (none / 0) (#33)
    by jeffinalabama on Fri Jan 07, 2011 at 07:59:36 PM EST
    I hope it's not one of those 'go once' places.

    Parent
    or I;ve never been to Spain, (none / 0) (#52)
    by jeffinalabama on Sat Jan 08, 2011 at 03:40:25 AM EST
    but But I kinda like the music.

    Parent
    maybe more like (none / 0) (#55)
    by jeffinalabama on Sat Jan 08, 2011 at 04:12:12 AM EST
    rich emigrants versus surfers... Japanese retirees compared to beach folk.

    Parent
    I admit I am linguistic deficient. (none / 0) (#28)
    by caseyOR on Fri Jan 07, 2011 at 07:41:52 PM EST
    Please explain to me how Catalan differs from Spanish. Is it a dialect? Is it different in the way that British English differs from American English?

    If I learn Spanish here in the States, a goal of mine, will I not be able to understand people in Spain? Or just in Barcelona?


    Parent

    My friend, who learned her Spanish in (none / 0) (#31)
    by oculus on Fri Jan 07, 2011 at 07:52:28 PM EST
    TX, but who is well-traveled in Spanish-speaking countries, had lots of trouble with Catalon.  

    Parent
    I think the best similarity (none / 0) (#35)
    by jeffinalabama on Fri Jan 07, 2011 at 08:04:54 PM EST
    I can think of would be either Dutch or Danish to German...I have heard-- don't speak any of those-- that a dutch or dane can easily understand german, but not vice versa. I think Catalan and Spanish are different languages, not simply different dialects. But enough of my 'blog-clogging.'

    Parent
    Catalan was once considered (none / 0) (#32)
    by jeffinalabama on Fri Jan 07, 2011 at 07:58:40 PM EST
    its own romance language, at least among Spanish speakers, but after the Spanish Civil War, Franco ordered it expunged. Catalonia fought longer against the fascists than any other area.

    I can't say enough yet, but my professor says it's as distinct as portuguese from spanish, and more distinct than, for instance, the difference between European portuguese and Brazilian portuguese.

    Here's one anecdote based on only a name: Pablo Casals, the famous cellist, was Catalan. He said his name was Pau Casals, from the Catalonian dialect or/and language.

    I think everyone, or almost everyone, from Catalonia now speaks Spanish, but the language continued 'in the family.'

    Similar happenings in, say, the USSR...Russian versus Ukranian. Similar, not the same.

    A fascist attempt to make everyone the same.

    My American Spanish, which is strongly Colombian style, is extremely close to European Spanish, except to me a z is 'zzzzzzzzz,' but a double l 'll' is jjjjjjjjj. In Argentina, that same double l is almost a 'shhhhh' sound. In Spain and Mexico, it's a 'Y' sound. llama is 'lama' for us speaking English, 'yama' for northern American and European Spanish, and 'jama' for south American Spanish...

    I haven't learned enough about the culture yet exept that there were plenty of Catalonian pirates. One of them was Cristobol Colon, or Christopher Columbus, to us... he wasn't really Italian, say the Catalonians, but a Catalan pirate captured at about 10 or 12 by the Castillans-- Ferdinand's folks, not Isabella's-- she was Aragonian.

    there are more cultural differences, but I'm just now learning them, along with the language differences. It keeps the brain active, thank goodness!

    Parent

    Sounds like Franco was as awful (5.00 / 1) (#49)
    by caseyOR on Fri Jan 07, 2011 at 11:54:34 PM EST
    to the Catalans as he was to the Basque. I believe elements of the Basque separatist movement, which started as Basque opposition to Franco, are still active. I could be wrong, but I think I've got that right.

    One of my fantasies is to spend time in that area of Spain that runs from Barcelona to Bilbao. To see the Guggenheim and the town of Guernica and all the Guadi architecture. Gosh, I want to go there.

    Parent

    El Caudillo = (none / 0) (#56)
    by jeffinalabama on Sat Jan 08, 2011 at 04:16:20 AM EST
    35 years of Mussolini with hitler's bad raciak overtones.

    Parent
    Personal note... (none / 0) (#58)
    by jeffinalabama on Sat Jan 08, 2011 at 04:46:52 AM EST
    an uncle served in The Lincoln for almost 2 years, but the US military thought he was a commie. He wzs only able to get in rhe '''''''merchant marine to continue the fight against fascism. We NEVER bought Spanish or Poryuguese goods until 1979, except olives.

    His ashea were interred with hie fellow Internationql Brigadeers a few years ago.

    Parent

    Thanks,,, when I blow it, (none / 0) (#47)
    by jeffinalabama on Fri Jan 07, 2011 at 10:45:55 PM EST
    please tell me! This gives another undercurrent to Isabella's funding of a Castillan pirate being given such a commission.

    Had I not mislearned this some 50 years ago my life would have taken a different direction.

    No, not a joke. Factual errors by a young supposed prodigy lead to different lifes all years afterward. I "stepped on my wee-wee" in front of a lot of influential people in an extemporaneous speech at a gathering.

    I'd be willing to bet I've screwed that one up since then any time I've spoken of it.

    how about this... wow. such a simple fact, yet so flawed to fact-y people.

    Parent

    So, is Catalan also different from Basque? (none / 0) (#48)
    by caseyOR on Fri Jan 07, 2011 at 11:45:58 PM EST
    I've been reading quite a bit this year about the Basque people, the Basque area, culture, civil war, etc. I am fascinated. And, it was my impression that Barcelona was part of Basque country. I guess I was wrong.

    Franco did horrible things to many people in Spain, which is par for the course for evil dictators. The treatment of the Basque people was particularly egregious. Did the same happen to the Catalans? And do you know how the Basque and the Catalan are connected, other than both being part of Spain?

    The Basque were amazing sailors, explorers and traders. In fact, there is some evidence that indicates Basque sailors landed in North America before both Columbus and Leif Erickson.

    Parent

    Basque is truly it's own (none / 0) (#53)
    by jeffinalabama on Sat Jan 08, 2011 at 03:58:31 AM EST
    it's own culture, family names, everythingp in Europe.

    In South America, for insrance,people with the last mame 'Echevarry' a name looked down upon as a little bit inferior, again during and posyt Franco considering Baque roots, gets discriminated against. but in the America's, it's considered purely Spanish.

    Genetically, Vasqueros aren't 'true Iberians,' or are the 'only true Iberians, whether French or Spanish. In south America, seen as purely
    European, even more so than "criollos," 'pure' Spaniards with old Birthright papers.

    And I forgot today is Saturday. No class till Monnday at 2 a.m. Otherwise, I could have stull been asleep.

    Yep, a long year ahead.

    Parent

    The Basque language is (none / 0) (#60)
    by brodie on Sat Jan 08, 2011 at 10:04:33 AM EST
    indeed unique -- one of the few languages that scholars say don't appear to have origins with neighboring languages (the Aymara language of Peru and the Etruscan language also fit into this murky, mysterious category).

    And it's appropriate that our word in English -- bizarre -- comes from the Basque.

    As for culture, I remember as a kid greatly enjoying watching games of jai alai in part because of the odd nature of the curved funneled stick being used to catch and redirect the ball.

    Parent

    FYI, Ukrainian is (none / 0) (#51)
    by gyrfalcon on Sat Jan 08, 2011 at 01:34:11 AM EST
    nearly identical to Russian, no more than a dialect-- according to Ukranian Russian friends of mine.

    For social-political reasons, there's been a huge movement in Ukraine for the last 20 years or so to differentiate Ukraine from Russia in every possible way, but according to my friends, it's a largely bogus recent invention.

    No idea independently whether that's true, but that's what my friends (descendents of "white Russian" emigres from the '20s) say most emphatically.  They are ethnically Ukrainian, but have always considered themselves essentially Russian.

    Parent

    But Stalin and his henchmen (none / 0) (#57)
    by jeffinalabama on Sat Jan 08, 2011 at 04:26:05 AM EST
    wanted to and practiced Ukranian linguistic and cultural cleansing, includin Breshnev's  10 year
    year policy... suppresion of culturek language religion...started after the re=emergence of Ukranian anti-Soviet poetry in about 1963.

    Parent
    apropos of nothing, (none / 0) (#34)
    by jeffinalabama on Fri Jan 07, 2011 at 08:01:31 PM EST
    it's nice to be able to write about or talk about things like this on a site where people are wicked smart.

    I was just reading about Haley Barbour's parole (none / 0) (#61)
    by desmoinesdem on Sat Jan 08, 2011 at 11:29:39 AM EST
    of the two sisters, conditional on one donating a kidney to the other. Can that really hold up? From what I saw it's not even clear the sisters are a match to do the donation. What's he going to do, return the healthy sister to prison?

    Friday Afternoon Open Thread | 51 comments (51 topical)

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