Language invasion

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A while back, I started listening to the German rap group Fettes Brot (they’re essentially the German Beastie Boys). After enjoying listening to their music for a while, I wanted to appreciate the songs by actually understanding them, so I got of all the language materials I could find at the library and spent four months teaching myself German. I wouldn’t say I’m conversationally-fluent, but certainly travel-fluent. The strange thing is that after I learned German, I seem to have forgotten French, which I grew up with and spent six years learning in school. It’s almost as if the German part of my brain invaded the French part.

What, too soon? It’s been 75 years. 🤷

The really weird part is that whenever I try to do a German accent, it sounds French. 😕

Source Code Alternate Ending

Synetech Leave a comment
  • INT. MILITARY BASE
  • CAPTAIN GOODWIN sits at her desk using her computer, a new-email notification sound CHIMES and she CLICKS her mouse.
  • Her face widens and she jumps up excitedly running to DR. RUTLEDGE’s office.
  • GOODWIN
  • Dr. Rutledge! Dr. Rutledge!
  • RUTLEDGE
  • Yes? What is it? What’s happened‽
  • Captain Goodwin grabs his arm and hurries him back to her desk. She points to the screen sharply.
  • GOODWIN
  • He was right. Captain Stevens changed our reality!
  • RUTLEDGE
  • What are you talking about?
  • GOODWIN
  • I just checked my email. Look at the message I got this morning.
  • Dr. Rutledge looks at the screen with a dubious expresion, briefly changing to one of surprise, then back to one of sullen capitulation.
  • RUTLEDGE
  • No, that’s not what you think. The virtualized guest system simply leaked out into the host system. We’ll have to fix that, but it’s only a bug, nothing more.
  • GOODWIN
  • But look at the timestamp, the message was sent this morning!
  • RUTLEDGE
  • No, that’s the message timestamp. Look at the timestamp on the mail server. It was sent a minute ago.
  • Goodwin’s hopeful expression fades as she sees where Rutledge points.
  • RUTLEDGE
  • I’m sorry captain, but like I said, the source code maybe a powerful tool, but it is essentially just virtual-reality. He cannot change the real world, let alone alter the past.

  • If you would please begin the memory wipe now…
  • Rutledge heads back to his office. Goodwin lingers a moment longer, blinking, then TAPS a few keys. A computerized voice ANNOUNCES that the wipe has begun.
  • Goodwin heads out the door and closes it behind her.
  • CUT TO BLACK.
  • COMPUTER (V.O.)
  • Memory wipe complete. Ready for next mission.
  • THE END

Thanks to John August for the screenplay CSS.

What do women want?

Synetech Leave a comment

The radio hosts this morning were discussing Valentine’s day. The male asked listeners what women want these days and the female commented that he has been married for 16 years and still doesn’t know.

I called in to tell them that she misunderstood his question. He was not asking the general (and pointless) questions what do women want?, he was asking specifically what women want these days, as in 2012. For example:

  • Are women still happy with flowers and candy, or do they want an iPad instead?
  • Are they satisfied with a romantic dinner anymore, or do they prefer a cruise?
  • Can you still get away with buying them a new mop, or do they expect a Dyson?

Colored N

Synetech Leave a comment

Possibly seen on IRC:

I just started playing meatboy.
I’ve seen that; it looks interesting.
Yeah, it’s okay, but it reminds me a lot of that ninja game N.
* Bobert has joined #offtopic
In fact, it’s basically just a colored N.
* Bobert has quit IRC (racist jerks)
Huh?
I think it’s because you said “colored N”.
Oh, lol. Good thing I didn’t say “black and white meatboy”.
Ha, yeah, good thing.

[Djinn Joint] …the Cats Will Play

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I try to keep my cats as happy as I can. I try to give them as much love and treats as possible, and I try to keep them entertained. However, since they are indoor cats and never caught on to watching television, they are limited in what they can be entertained with.

While they generally seem to be happy, I have on several occasions wished to be able to entertain them even more.

A Djinn might grant this wish by turning me into a mouse so that the cats can chase and eat me. That would provide entertainment and a snack!