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[Kymela]

I don't like the way Rosetta Stone made that sound. XP I like how Gaelic sounds.

While I was waiting first Spanish to begin, I went from Hebrew to Arabic to Gaelic to Spanish in less than 40 mins. Never mixed anything up. In French, though, I always want to pronounce s' as in Gaelic. XD

[Edward]

I want to learn Latin but, like English, it isn't my strong suit. Any skill I have with English came from over a decade of explicitly trying to get better at it, not from any natural talent. So languages in general mystifying, which is perhaps why I enjoy them so much, despite my inanity.

Anyway, the story I'm about to share will seem, and in fact is, a little random:

In season five of Joss Whedon's Angel series, the title character and Buffy the Vampire Slayer star Spike get into an argument about cavemen vs. astronauts. The argument goes something like this:

Angel: You never listen to anythin-
Spike: You've alway got a stick up your -
Angel: Never smart enough to see-
Spike: You always want to be right -
Angel: It's not about what I want.
Wesley: Am I inturupting something?
Angel: Uh ... no, nothing important.
Wesley: ... It sounds serious.
Spike: No, it's ... Look, if a caveman and astronaut dukes it out, who'd win?
Wesley: This what you've been arguing about? Hm, would they be allowed weapons?
Angel: Yes Spike: No

All the characters spend the rest of the episode debating the matter until someone dies. No, seriously, someone dies at the end of the episode, stop laughing.

Being the geek I am, I listened to commentary of the episode, where they detail how the idea got started. Someone from the Buffy crew came over to them and posted a note on the Angel story board that read: "Caveman vs. Astronaut, weapons to be determined." The Angel crew, down to the key grips and janitors, spent the whole week arguing the matter.

The only part I'm confused about is someone coming over from the Buffy crew, since Buffy had ended by then.

So: Caveman vs. Astronaut, weapons to be determined.

[Kymela]

Maybe they meant someone who had worked on Buffy, but wasn't working on Angel?

I will not participate. :P

[M]

I enjoyed taking Latin but never learned it well enough to translate more than the most basic sentences. Now I’m trying to see how many years I can chip away at French without ever learning it. I can say things like “It’s raining!” and “Who’s that?”

When I was in graduate school, I met the only person I’ve ever come across who knew Latin fluently. I asked him how many years he’d had to study it to become fluent. He said it took him nine years.

[Edward]

Latin is actually a very easy language. The structure is rather simple, the pronunciation is easy (if you go by ecclesiatical, which is the Latin currently used for communication, and not the classical, whichi is some scientists' vague estimate on how it might've been pronounce two thousand years ago), and the words often resemble our own. I got a lot further with it than I did Spanish.

Weird, that it took him nine years.

[Kymela]

My favourite language has been Gaelic. I took a class in it and did really well. I was still doing really well until Raegan was born and our mum kept forgetting to take me. Haven't been able to go since. And now it interferes with Spanish. XP

The only reason I have taken so long in any language is because I need some direction in at least one. The others will follow suit. I've only had a college semester for one, Japanese a few years ago. I wish I had been able to take 203...

[Hanzleberry]

Alex, I love your random French! :D
I hope I did well on that Spanish exam yesterday. It was fun! :D

[Kymela]

I got a 89% on my chapter one pretest. I only have to study two parts of the chapter. :D

[Hanzleberry]

Congrats! :D I'm just worried about the algebra exam I took...

[M]

Les routes ici sont mauvaises meme quand il fait beau.

[Hanzleberry]

Yes.

[Hanzleberry]

How would you know, Al? We don't live in that part of Ohio. ;)

[Hanzleberry]

Well, yeah. Me too. ;)

[Kymela]

YEAH!!! I feel like a small celebration for posting in my first contest. WHOOO! That story has been easier to write than my others...

[Caitlan]

:D GO SAIRA!

[Kymela]

XD

[Kymela]

I tired to post one before, the one on mirrors, but it didn't go anywhere. XP I knew what I wanted, but it wasn't making sense on paper and y'all would have been utterly confused. DX

[Caitlan]

XD I like your stuff Al, even if I have to think about it for a minute or two XD

[Kymela]

I was rather confused when I sat back and read the mirrors one. It came out that bad. XP

[Kymela]

That time we had the subject mirrors. It came out confusing to me when I tried to write it. XD I still hope to write it one day...if Edward can remember the opening line he gave me.

[Edward]

Erm ... nope, not really. What was it about?

[Kymela]

Deniol staring at a mirror, but he can't see his reflection and he's thinking. Just daydreaming away about being able to see everyone else.

[Caitlan]

coolio

[Edward]

Deniol looked in the mirror, not expecting but hoping to see his soul reflected there.

Not what I suggested before, is it?

[Kymela]

Not at all, but that's a possible, too. The other one was better. You didn't use his name.

[Edward]

The vampire studied the lack of reflection, wondering why his soul didn't bring it back to light.

[Caitlan]

ooh, that one is definitley best so far :D

[Kymela]

It works, but I really wish you could remember the other one. XD I really liked it. You said 'the man' and nothing about his soul. Something about seeing everyone else.

[Edward]

The man stood before the mirror, seeing in it everything except himself.

[Caitlan]

:D

[Kymela]

THAT'S IT!! Slight difference, but THAT'S IT!

[Edward]

Cool.

[Edward]

I just invented a new job: "Liason for hire" or "Mercenary Contractor". His job is to find the right man for your job. He'll take requests, such as if you wish to meet your worker and know as much about him as possible or if you want to keep your hands clean, keep the affair anonymous. Whoever fits the bill best is the person he hires on your behalf.

[M]

Kat, you’re a moderator! Congratulations. I have a feeling you’ll make a great one. I’ve just gotten back in town and tuned in, so I have some catching up to do.

[Stephanie]

Edward wrote: "The man stood before the mirror, seeing in it everything except himself."

Ooooo, that is an excellent starting line.

[Stephanie]

Edward wrote: "I just invented a new job: "Liason for hire" or "Mercenary Contractor". His job is to find the right man for your job. He'll take requests, such as if you wish to meet your worker and know as muc..."

What inspired this?

[Kymela]

He used it in D&D the other night. Worked out pretty well for us. Once we finish our quest, the liaison is going to get us ID papers. XD

[Stephanie]

D&D?

[Stephanie]

Ah. I see.

[Edward]

I was trying to think of a lawful neutral NPC - someone who follows the rules, isn't cruel to anyone, but also doesn't fight on behalf of the little guy. This person also had to tie into their story: They needed identification papers. So I thought of a job that could acquire such a thing while not creating waves for the lawful neutral character. They couldn't create the papers directly, because that kind of power is too dangerous for such a character, and he needed to distance any potential conflict between client and contract.

Thus, Augustus Boone the Liason for Hire was created.

[Edward]

I think I'll use him in a story as well ... several stories, in fact.

[Stephanie]

He sounds like an interesting character.

[Edward]

Sounds like a Republican. Democrats are ... chaotic good - they have the right intentions, but I have serious doubts they have a clue what they're doing.

Ah ... geeky political analysis.

Anyway, he was fun to play for a moment, and easier than many of the other whackjobs I attempt to act out.

[Stephanie]

Haha. Don't get my sister started on politics. We loves it and drives me crazy. I have my own favorite quote about it as it is.

[Edward]

I'd love to hear- er, read it.

[Stephanie]

I'll post it when I get back on the computer up stairs. It's currently being used and I'm on my NOOK right now.

[Stephanie]

All right here it is:

Being in politics is like being a football coach. You have to be smart enough to understand the game, and dumb enough to think it’s important. ~ Eugene McCarthy

Now, this doesn't mean I think people who like politics are dumb I just think that quote is funny.

[Stephanie]

Oooo, I have to take that soon.

[Stephanie]

Yeah. We'll see what happens. I'm welcoming the coming of my writing class though. The book looks really good.

[Stephanie]

:D Man that sounds sucky.