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You don't want to know.

2 (2.9%)

You NEVER *want* to know.

26 (37.7%)

Subscriptions to his Porn Datbase.

10 (14.5%)

Marigold wants the Hentai directory.

7 (10.1%)

Target practice with Yelling Bird.

5 (7.2%)

Olympic 10 meter AI Room Tossing!

0 (0%)

Get a job at the library - cataloging the Victorian Porn.

6 (8.7%)

He wouldn't; he's saving up for a new, bigger chassis.

2 (2.9%)

Get a job working at LANperk, the new chain of coffee stores!

2 (2.9%)

Working in a shipping warehouse for a webcomic merch store.

3 (4.3%)

Insert Meme Here.

1 (1.4%)

Find Marten a roommate who'd pay the rent.

5 (7.2%)

Total Members Voted: 66

[ChaoSera]

Is there enough interesting for a martial arts thread?

I would probably be a regular visitor in that thread.

Also, what MoM said.

[Is it cold in here?]

The martial arts posts in this thread also discuss the comic and if I split them then replies wouldn't make sense. A pity, since there's good material that would help launch a thread.

The thread is in Chatter for now, on the theory that it's about practicing sports.

[Loki]

Is there enough interesting for a martial arts thread?

Create the thread and the interest will follow.

Cuius testiculos habes, habeas cardia et cerebellum.
(botched Latin from Small Gods. Translated as "When you have their full attention in your grip, their hearts and minds will follow.")

[ankhtahr]

That one is almost as good as when Vetinari explains that his decision should be carried out, based on the old juristic principle of "quia ego sic dico".

You just gotta love Pratchett.

[Pilchard123]

Cuius testiculos habes, habeas cardia et cerebellum.
(botched Latin from Small Gods. Translated as "When you have their full attention in your grip, their hearts and minds will follow.")

Or even, "When you have them by the balls, their hearts and minds will follow".

[Loki]

Well, yes. I said what it was translated as, not what it actually means 

[muon]

I confess that I twitched a bit at Sam's grammar.

My brain automatically edited the text to be grammatically correct, so I had to go back and re-read it. Unfortunately, now that my brain is aware of the mistake, the automatic filtering no longer works and it's really jarring.

Warning - while you were typing there were 2 new posts debating Latin translation. You may wish to pretend to be Roman.

[Stoutfellow]

Why is it jarring, that a girl in her early teens is presented as using bad grammar?

[muon]

Given that she is, presumably, a native speaker, she shouldn't be making such severe grammatical errors. Generally, such things should have been corrected by the time she finished elementary school (11 or 12).

[ankhtahr]

Pilchard, why did you change your avatar? I identify people by their avatar, and you'll always be Emily to me…

[TinPenguin]

Given that she is, presumably, a native speaker, she shouldn't be making such severe grammatical errors. Generally, such things should have been corrected by the time she finished elementary school (11 or 12).

True, but I've heard plenty of adult Americans use this grammar (saying 'good' when it should be 'well'). Enough that it probably counts as a colloquialism...

[Loki]

Thank God I have well grammar.

[Sorflakne]

Dora in a skirt.  I approve.

[TinPenguin]

Thank God I have well grammar.

Yeah, you're English is really well!

[Akima]

In Australia, it is very common to hear this exchange: "Owaryamite?" "I'm good!" Needless to say, the second speaker is not making a comment on their moral status. I say "I am well!", but then I also only use "mate" ironically, to address people who are emphatically not mates.

Given that she is, presumably, a native speaker, she shouldn't be making such severe grammatical errors.

Only native-speakers can afford to be sloppy. One of the things that made me twitch about panel four, is that Sam can use bad English and get away with it as "a kid", where when I did it, even at a younger age, people called me Ching Chong, but my triggers are mine to deal with.

And yes, Dora looks very nice. I'm still not sure about the white belt though.

[Masterpiece]

Oh deer! Their is no way this could become worse.

[Akima]

They're is a whey.

[Carl-E]

Where their's a well, there's a whey. 


As a college math teacher, I'd like to emphatically state that being in math or the sciences or engineering does not excuse you from being able to put together a coherent sentence. 


Despite an apparently common misconception. 

[celticgeek]

The secretary in our organization (many years ago) was asked "What is the difference between an engineer and a physicist?" 

Her answer:  "Physicists can spell." 

[jmucchiello]

Aside from using "good" as an adverb there's nothing wrong with Sam's spoken English, and even that could be a regional thing, though not really in Mass.

[sixleaf]

Is it just me or have the comics gotten funnier lately? I actually laughed out loud at a few things.

[DSL]

I used to edit the editorial page of a college newspaper and then, for years, a "real" newspaper. That included letters to the editor, and I was appalled and finally settled on bemused to note some of the most egregious abuses of the language came from professional educators, notably professors of English.
However, graduate students from non-English-speaking countries tended to write the best English. I guess when you have to actually make the effort to learn something, you take care to use it properly.
One relative who is a trained teacher once "corrected" my use of "... and me" as a direct object to " ... and I." Some things you just have to let pass for the sake of family harmony, though we did agree that she would continue to teach Spanish and I would continue to use English for our respective livings.

[Kugai]

I like this one because by the end of it, I think you can see neither Pierce or his opponent were holding back.

[mustang6172]

"As in fencing, you're only supposed to attack certain parts of the body."

That is lazy writing on Stephenson's part. It is not true of épée fencing, for example. Incidentally the "duel" you refer to took place in the Metaverse, with Hiro ultimately hacking the code to drop a safe on his opponent's head as a finishing move, so it was at least as artificial as fencing, with as much connection to real sword-fighting as a round of Call Of Duty has to real warfare. Yes, I have read Snowcrash.

Ugh épée, proving that the small sword can actually be more pathetic and useless. Though it's not quite as disgusting as the bastard creation that is the fencing "saber". At least the small sword in it's original incarnation was about as lame as the épée or foil is presently and doesn't take the name of a proper combat weapon... not to mention ignore a good century plus of actual saber form.

Never understood dueling on a little strip either, completely nonsensical, may as well just glue your feet to the floor and not move at all.

Ever have one of those moments when you realize you're actually one of the least nerdy people in the room?

[Masterpiece]

Yes. When Ankh talks about Keyboards and other accessories or when Nekowafer talks about Flutterspy or Rainbow Dash.

[nekowafer]

Fluttershy! And I'm not even that into My Little Pony.

[jwhouk]

So how WOULD Pintsize find the money? (Sorry, only one answer)

You don't want to know.    1 (1.9%)
You NEVER want to know.    20 (38.5%)
Subscriptions to his Porn Datbase.    6 (11.5%)
Marigold wants the Hentai directory.    5 (9.6%)
Target practice with Yelling Bird.    4 (7.7%)
Olympic 10 meter AI Room Tossing!    0 (0%)
Get a job at the library - cataloging the Victorian Porn.    4 (7.7%)
He wouldn't; he's saving up for a new, bigger chassis.    2 (3.8%)
Get a job working at LANperk, the new chain of coffee stores!    1 (1.9%)
Working in a shipping warehouse for a webcomic merch store.    3 (5.8%)
Insert Meme Here.    1 (1.9%)
Find Marten a roommate who'd pay the rent.    5 (9.6%)

Total Members Voted: 52

[ankhtahr]

Well, Comic. Nothing spectacular.

[Rghfrgl]

Dora is a mean old lady who is going to make the skullmaster cry.

[K1dmor]

 

[mtmerrick]

Sam,  you make me experience FEELINGS

[jwhouk]

K1dmor: Win.

[mtmerrick]

Also, Faye's response is simply excellent

[Method of Madness]

Wow, Dora. That may be the worst thing you've ever said, and that's saying a decent amount.

[Kugai]

Did I hear sad Anime music in the background on that last Panel?


I think I did.

[pwhodges]

Thank God I have well grammar.

In music, when a keyboard instrument is tuned such that it could be described as "well-tempered", the temperament used, if not equal temperament, is likely to be one of the class known as "well temperaments".  This usage of "well" as an adjective still jars with me, but is fully established (well established - ha!) in the relevant circles, and has a specific meaning distinct from that carried by "good temperament".

As for Sam, that usage, though wrong, is also well established in many circles, sometimes in specific idiomatic phrases like "the boy done good".

However, graduate students from non-English-speaking countries tended to write the best English. I guess when you have to actually make the effort to learn something, you take care to use it properly.

The point being that idiom is more than merely correctness, and takes a lot longer to learn (or rather, pick up), also varying more according to circumstances.  Simple correctness needs rules to define it, which in some senses language doesn't really have (they're added as a layer over the top by grammarians) - and which can lead, as Churchill remarked, to "the sort of language up with which I will not put [artificially avoiding the preposition at the end, in that instance].

[Lubricus]

I think it can be safely said that music jargon isn't the best place to go for grammar...

[cesariojpn]

Did I hear sad Anime music in the background on that last Panel?

I think I did.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kL2vlUlpytQ

[Akima]

Show us your "Mum face", Dora!

[Carl-E]

Kawaii Eyes.  Teen girls has 'em. 

That is all. 

[TinPenguin]

I love the 'good barista, bad barista' act Faye and Dora always do when Sam's around.

[Loki]

I don't think that's an act on Dora's part. Maybe her control issues are showing?

Honestly, I don't see why it would be that big of a deal if Sam hangs out with them instead of friends.
...does Sam *have* friends?
...they have adopted another one, haven't they.

[TinPenguin]

Ah, I didn't really mean 'act' as in 'put-on', just the way they behave, their 'dynamic'.


I think Dora's concern is over the fact that she is the real superior there, not Faye. The buck stops at her. It's a different kind of control issue - she's nervous about being responsible for a minor, and she doesn't want Jim to think she is irresponsible.

[techkid]

I use that "I don't want to deal with this!" hand gesture that Dora's using quite a lot. Funnily enough, it's usually at work and around kids.

Nice retort, Faye. Very nice

Warning - while you were typing a new reply has been posted. Quit moping already and review your post.

*sigh* Fine...

It's plausible, Loki. I mean, it's not exactly untrue that Sam is hanging around with friends, but there is a world of difference in meaning between "hanging around with friends" (usually implying hanging around a mall or shopping centre, or at a friends' house (which probably should be specified in case of emergencies)), and "hanging around at Coffee of Doom".

I didn't lie. I just... negated certain truths, that's all.

I tried to find a Youtube link to the quote, but to no avail...

[GarandMarine]

Did I hear sad Anime music in the background on that last Panel?

I think I did.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kL2vlUlpytQ

Angel Beats... That was a low blow man. I'll be crying in the corner till later if any one needs me.

[Border Reiver]

Wow, Dora. That may be the worst thing you've ever said, and that's saying a decent amount.

As a Dad - no, just no.  Dora's statement "You lied" is completely accurate and is meant to make Sam think about what she tells her father about where she's going.  Going to hang with friends and going to the coffee shop are two different things, and then there's whole bit about having been lied to before about Jim being aware where she is. 

[katsmeat]

Ugh épée, proving that the small sword can actually be more pathetic and useless. Though it's not quite as disgusting as the bastard creation that is the fencing "saber". At least the small sword in it's original incarnation was about as lame as the épée or foil is presently and doesn't take the name of a proper combat weapon... not to mention ignore a good century plus of actual saber form.

Meh.... give me the British, 1796 pattern Heavy Cavalry Sword, a weapon only marginally more refined than an axe.

[Lubricus]

...does Sam *have* friends?

Momo?

Seriously, we haven't seen any so far.

[Method of Madness]

@BR - Except she didn't lie at all. Faye is definitely a friend and obviously she considered Dora one too or Dora's remark wouldn't have been so hurtful. Also, how is a coffee shop an unusual place to go to hang out with friends?

[KOK]

...does Sam *have* friends?

Momo?

Seriously, we haven't seen any so far.

We have seen only a very tiny part af Samantha's life. We don't know anything about her friends.