Archaeologica.org

Have you ever read Flatland, by Edwin Abbott? It won't help you see the 4th dimension or higher on its own, but it's a pretty good discussion about how and why it's difficult to perceive the one above you.

but I lose track when I try to make sense of how they would interact.

Yep! That's what meant, I phrased it badly.

Roy.

Yeah, the English language is more complicated than some think, eh!

Yep! I've pulled you up on the differences in understanding and then saw an example of it the other day.
An Englishman in New York phoned for a taxi, (or should I say cab?) and explained that he wished to 'hire a taxi.'
Utter confusion resulted. 'Hire' in the UK of course, but in the US it means to employ! The colonial's term is 'rent' of course.

Roy.

Digit wrote:The colonial's term is 'rent' of course.

Just that short sentence says a lot about from what perspective you look at the world!

But it is funny to observe the differences.
The first time I was walking around in Vegas I saw a traffic sign on the Strip that utterly confused me (my English being based on British English): "Don't walk on the pavement"!
"Huh", I thought, "these Americans must be crazy: if not for walking, what is a pavement for?". It turned out that pavement in American English is the road surface, the asphalt. While pavement in British English is what Americans call the sidewalk of course.
And then there is e.g. boot and trunk. And when an Englishman 'tables a proposal', it means exactly the opposite of what an American means when he says that. And how about 'fanny'...!

Churchill already said it succinctly: "The Americans and the English are divided by a common language."

Just that short sentence says a lot about from what perspective you look at the world!

It doesn't, it's a standing joke between me and our American friends, same as they say Limey.
BTW, it wasn't Churchill as such, he only borrowed it.

Roy.

One of the funniest events in my short life was when I was escorting a UK female sales lady of our company during a trade show in Chicago.

As were checking into the hotel, we were deciding when to meet for breakfast.
After we came up with 8:30 she turned to the desk clerk and said:
“Will you knock me up at 6:00?”

After he revived, I had to explain what she meant.

Did he say yes?
I'm not aware of how the phrase came to its present meaning in the US kb but over here it is entirely different and is based on history.
When I started work a lot of factories still used steam for some purposes, and many used a large, and loud, steam whistle to inform their employees that the shift was soon to start. They are illegal now.
Prior to that factory owners employed a 'knocker up'. His equipment consisted of a long pole which he used to knock on the bedroom windows to waken the occupants.

Roy.

YES ON PROPOSITION 19!

Vote early, and vote often!

If it passes come to Rancho Barracuda for your herbal needs when in Northern California. We have been growing quality medical marijuana legally for years now. We grow some of the finest organic Blackberry Kush you ever smoked. All organic fertilizer, and no pesticides.

Wow! Its going to be really weird when people start advertising on bill boards....

Barracuda wrote:YES ON PROPOSITION 19!

Absolutely.

We grow some of the finest organic Blackberry Kush you ever smoked.

I'll stay with my Amnesia Haze for now (grown under artificial light), but thanks for the invite anyway.

Wow! Its going to be really weird when people start advertising on bill boards....

I'm not sure if that'll be allowed under Proposition 19, but overhere – where we've had legal possession (5 grams max, 5 plants max) and sales in regulated 'coffee shops' for 35 years now – advertising cannabis is illegal and always has been (as advertising tobacco will be very soon).

Digit wrote:Did he say yes?
I'm not aware of how the phrase came to its present meaning in the US kb but over here it is entirely different and is based on history.
When I started work a lot of factories still used steam for some purposes, and many used a large, and loud, steam whistle to inform their employees that the shift was soon to start. They are illegal now.
Prior to that factory owners employed a 'knocker up'. His equipment consisted of a long pole which he used to knock on the bedroom windows to waken the occupants.

My brother and his business partner went to NY on a business trip. That business partner's English was passable, but not great. So my brother set him up: he told him they were going to a hotel where they had pure 18 carat golden taps and shower equipment in certain rooms, at no extra charge if you were lucky to get one of those rooms. So the business partner should ask for one of those when he checked in. He did: he asked the desk if he could have a room with a golden shower, please....



It took 20 minutes for desk personnel to recover!

I'll stay with my Amnesia Haze for now

http://drugabuse.gov/infofacts/marijuana.html

Roy.

Digit wrote:

I'll stay with my Amnesia Haze for now

http://drugabuse.gov/infofacts/marijuana.html

And now go study peanutbutter's carcinogenic properties!
And I trust you use your mobile on speaker only, eh?
Wouldn't want to fry your brain, would you?

I loath Peanut butter and don't have a mobile phone, but still had cancer, but no point in increasing the risk is there?

Roy.

Digit wrote:I loath Peanut butter and don't have a mobile phone, but still had cancer, but no point in increasing the risk is there?

Really? I trust you never go outside then either. You can get cancer from the sun. That's been proven beyond a shadow of a doubt. Carcinogenic responses from mobile phone use have never been proven, though. And, trust me, they've tried!