I'm fully aware of the need and ability for language to change. I've studied English at college (in the UK) and have read much Chaucer, Shakespear, Marlowe, Dickens as well as many fine American authors such as Twain and Faulkner.
The problem in the changing of verbs to nouns is two-fold. I still maintain that it introduces jargon, which only serves to isolate certain section s of the population from fully engaging in conversation. Here, text (sms) messaging is a huge phenomenon. Most people in the UK who own a mobile phone will use text messaging to some degree. Most of those will also use the abbreviated form of language that is commonly used in these messages (eg 2mo = tomorrow, gr8 = great etc.) At what point do we say that these are part of the English language? By 'part of the English' I mean something that would be acceptable in a degree level text - something where the clear discourse of thoughts and ideas is of paramount importance.
Worse than that though, it encourages a certain intellectual laziness which discourages thought of how we actually use language to clearly express our thoughts.
And when the first person imagined being "zapped" with a lazer gun, I'm glad you weren't there to tell him that onomatopaeic sound descriptors could not be used as verbs.
That'll be laser. As in Light Amplification by the Stimulated Emission of Radiation.;-)
Who wants to say "I used google to search for it"?
Presumably anyone who wished to make a clear, concise statement. The problem with the lazy conversion of nouns to verbs is that it shows a rather elitist, arrogant attitude which assumes we all know what these terms mean. It's rather insidious because it excludes those who aren't 'in the know' from the conversation.
Sorry, but it _is_ a horribly insidious American thing.
It seems that architects don't design any more, they 'architect.'
Similary it appears that you don't search using google, you just 'google'.
Language is at it's most useful when we each take the time to learn the difference and uses of nouns, verbs and adjectives at the very least. And don't get me started on the apostrophe.
These books are largely an allegory of World War 1
Nonsense. That Tolkein hated allegory is well documented in his many letters.
In LOTR, Silmarillion and BOLT, Tolkein was trying to write an English equivalent of the sagas and tales that are so prevalent in much of Northwest Europe. Think an English 'Norse Saga.'
Actually, Star Wars borrows heavily both stylistically and in terms of plot from the 1950's film 'The Hidden Fortress', by the master Akira Kurosawa. George Lucas is a big fan of his work.
Your logic is bizarre. You could equally argue that because George Bush is 'intellectually challenged', he is the top man in the USA, ergo all Americans are stupid.
If they're that bad, how bad must the ones be that only make it as local council members?
This is founded on the spurious assumption that all local council members aspire to become MPs. It's also at odds with the previous statement that if the government was better run, then so would that council even if the local council members remained the same.
Debatable, but the point of the OP is still invalid. The OP's (and your) view of Communism may be that it is a dictatorship, but it doesn't follow that all dictatorships are Communist. Or Socialist. The OP didn't seem to be clear about these points.
Considering that everywhere Communism has been instituted it has led to dictatorship, it is arguable whether there is any difference.
Just because Communism leads to Dictatorship, doesn't mean Dictatorship equals Communism, as implied by the OP
Basically, any society that does not expressly protect the rights and property of individual citizens leaves open the door for government control of society, essentially a dictatorship of the elites.
This would also include distinctly non-communist dictators such as Pinochet
Oh wait, that's called communism, socialism...that's what we want right?
You should go back to school. Communism is concerned with collective ownership of land and property, Socialism looks towards equality via state control of the economy. Neither precludes the use of democracy within a society.
You're thinking of a dictatorship which could be of a left (think USSR) or right (eg Chile under Pinochet) persuasion.
There is a trivial workaround.
Put some code in an _external_ javascript file using the document.writeln function to write out the code for the object which uses the plugin.
In the head of the html page call this function.
Gets arounds the Eolas patent. Tried and tested in the new dev version of IE. Doesn't break unless javascript is turned off.
I do find most Americans abroad are quite loud and obnoxious, but on the times I have visited your country I've only experienced courtesy and service of the highest order.
Umm, the mag-stripe machines store the details of the card which has been travelling around the system.
The oystercard is identifiable to you personally.
That's the fundamental difference.
Slashdot Mirror
The problem in the changing of verbs to nouns is two-fold. I still maintain that it introduces jargon, which only serves to isolate certain section s of the population from fully engaging in conversation. Here, text (sms) messaging is a huge phenomenon. Most people in the UK who own a mobile phone will use text messaging to some degree. Most of those will also use the abbreviated form of language that is commonly used in these messages (eg 2mo = tomorrow, gr8 = great etc.) At what point do we say that these are part of the English language? By 'part of the English' I mean something that would be acceptable in a degree level text - something where the clear discourse of thoughts and ideas is of paramount importance.
Worse than that though, it encourages a certain intellectual laziness which discourages thought of how we actually use language to clearly express our thoughts.
Unlikely given that it's a bastardisation of the word googol.
And when the first person imagined being "zapped" with a lazer gun, I'm glad you weren't there to tell him that onomatopaeic sound descriptors could not be used as verbs.
That'll be laser. As in Light Amplification by the Stimulated Emission of Radiation. ;-)
Who wants to say "I used google to search for it"?
Presumably anyone who wished to make a clear, concise statement. The problem with the lazy conversion of nouns to verbs is that it shows a rather elitist, arrogant attitude which assumes we all know what these terms mean. It's rather insidious because it excludes those who aren't 'in the know' from the conversation.
Submit in haste, repent at leisure.
I guess it all depends on whether your definition of WORLD stretches out beyond the Atlantic or Pacific...
Sorry, but it _is_ a horribly insidious American thing. It seems that architects don't design any more, they 'architect.' Similary it appears that you don't search using google, you just 'google'. Language is at it's most useful when we each take the time to learn the difference and uses of nouns, verbs and adjectives at the very least. And don't get me started on the apostrophe.
Nonsense. That Tolkein hated allegory is well documented in his many letters.
In LOTR, Silmarillion and BOLT, Tolkein was trying to write an English equivalent of the sagas and tales that are so prevalent in much of Northwest Europe. Think an English 'Norse Saga.'
Actually, Star Wars borrows heavily both stylistically and in terms of plot from the 1950's film 'The Hidden Fortress', by the master Akira Kurosawa. George Lucas is a big fan of his work.
Rubbish. LOTR is _constantly_ being voted top of the best book ever written polls here in the UK.
You mean Saddam is dead and not just waiting, waiting... Ditto Bin Laden. If you're going to do a job, at least do it properly.
Hey, don't give out the impression that the Germans are somehow an especially deserving case.
Don't forget the French, Italians, Americans, Australians, Spanish, Irish.
Don't forget also that last week EMI and Time Warner were in talks to merge their music divisions
AOL/Time Warner demerger on the cards
How many times am I going to fall for that one on /.?
Your logic is bizarre. You could equally argue that because George Bush is 'intellectually challenged', he is the top man in the USA, ergo all Americans are stupid.
If they're that bad, how bad must the ones be that only make it as local council members?
This is founded on the spurious assumption that all local council members aspire to become MPs. It's also at odds with the previous statement that if the government was better run, then so would that council even if the local council members remained the same.
Sorry. Reality has changed theory.
Debatable, but the point of the OP is still invalid. The OP's (and your) view of Communism may be that it is a dictatorship, but it doesn't follow that all dictatorships are Communist. Or Socialist. The OP didn't seem to be clear about these points.
Just because Communism leads to Dictatorship, doesn't mean Dictatorship equals Communism, as implied by the OP
Basically, any society that does not expressly protect the rights and property of individual citizens leaves open the door for government control of society, essentially a dictatorship of the elites.
This would also include distinctly non-communist dictators such as Pinochet
Oh wait, that's called communism, socialism...that's what we want right?
You should go back to school. Communism is concerned with collective ownership of land and property, Socialism looks towards equality via state control of the economy. Neither precludes the use of democracy within a society.
You're thinking of a dictatorship which could be of a left (think USSR) or right (eg Chile under Pinochet) persuasion.
--1983 sounds about right. My 1990 Volvo estate does 30mpg around town, better on the (motor|free)way.
"News for Nerds. Stuff that matters." Slow news day then?
There is a trivial workaround. Put some code in an _external_ javascript file using the document.writeln function to write out the code for the object which uses the plugin. In the head of the html page call this function. Gets arounds the Eolas patent. Tried and tested in the new dev version of IE. Doesn't break unless javascript is turned off.
Calm down, it was only a joke.
I do find most Americans abroad are quite loud and obnoxious, but on the times I have visited your country I've only experienced courtesy and service of the highest order.
The honest truth.
Great, a repressive country that hates the entire planet, has nuclear weapons, is mentally unstable, and now can send people into orbit.
Enough about the USA, what about China?
Umm, the mag-stripe machines store the details of the card which has been travelling around the system. The oystercard is identifiable to you personally. That's the fundamental difference.
Checking windowsupdate.microsoft.com every day sounds like the best option.
What if the update breaks your PC. It has happened before.
The leader of the UK Conservative MEPs is the head lawyer at one of Europe's leading commercial solicitors. Go figure.