Author | Lightnews

paulclarkeuk.bsky.social @paulclarkeuk.bsky.social · 2d

I have read that Ichiro, when faced with a particularly banal question, would sometimes tell his interpreter "Tell them anything".

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paulclarkeuk.bsky.social @paulclarkeuk.bsky.social · 6d

Presented at the Midnight Society without Getting Stabbed by Mary: Achievement Unlocked.

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paulclarkeuk.bsky.social @paulclarkeuk.bsky.social · 14d

See, it's just like a human programmer.

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paulclarkeuk.bsky.social @paulclarkeuk.bsky.social · 17d

"Should that be ==?"

Marjorie James Keenan @unenthusiast.com · 18d

In honour of spooky month, share a 4 word horror story that only someone in your profession would understand.

rm -rf ~/

hammancheez @hammancheez.bsky.social · 18d

"The chancellor approved it"

paulclarkeuk.bsky.social @paulclarkeuk.bsky.social · 19d

I think of this one as fairly well known but that might be because of the Pennlee lifeboat disaster in 1981, which I guess is not so well known now.

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paulclarkeuk.bsky.social @paulclarkeuk.bsky.social · 24d

Per etymonline.com it's a bit uncertain but maybe a reference to its face resembling a badge. Brock, on the other hand, was borrowed by Old English from Celtic (Brythonic I guess, but it doesn't say).

Online Etymology Dictionary

The online etymology dictionary (etymonline) is the internet's go-to source for quick and reliable accounts of the origin and history of English words, phrases, and idioms.

etymonline.com

paulclarkeuk.bsky.social @paulclarkeuk.bsky.social · Sep 28

I'm guessing you've seen this: www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXbW...

Fonts hanging out - Elle Cordova (full compilation)

YouTube video by Elle Cordova

www.youtube.com

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paulclarkeuk.bsky.social @paulclarkeuk.bsky.social · Sep 27

Well you kept posting about birds and SF cons instead of running the EU!

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paulclarkeuk.bsky.social @paulclarkeuk.bsky.social · Sep 23

You can borrow mine, I'm not really using it.

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paulclarkeuk.bsky.social @paulclarkeuk.bsky.social · Sep 20

I've come across the word in histories of the period leading up to the American Civil War, to describe private armies intended to conquer parts of Latin America and incorporate them into the US as slave states in order to maintain the South's political power.

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paulclarkeuk.bsky.social @paulclarkeuk.bsky.social · Sep 14

Carrots: they're a food *and* a stick!

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paulclarkeuk.bsky.social @paulclarkeuk.bsky.social · Sep 8

Because they are on, Sorkins.

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paulclarkeuk.bsky.social @paulclarkeuk.bsky.social · Aug 26

Would "foregrounding" work?

paulclarkeuk.bsky.social @paulclarkeuk.bsky.social · Aug 13

The Angles, looking round East Anglia: "Okay, not our best decision".

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paulclarkeuk.bsky.social @paulclarkeuk.bsky.social · Aug 5

Do we know what the distinction between PIE pelnis and pelnom was? Difference cases?

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paulclarkeuk.bsky.social @paulclarkeuk.bsky.social · Aug 2

Savages, "Adore".
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7Zp...

Savages - "Adore"

YouTube video by SAVAGESBANDLONDON

www.youtube.com

paulclarkeuk.bsky.social @paulclarkeuk.bsky.social · Aug 1

And greeting them with "Evening. Pint of the usual?"

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paulclarkeuk.bsky.social @paulclarkeuk.bsky.social · Jul 28

This is only acceptable if he's covered in gravy and cheese first.

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paulclarkeuk.bsky.social @paulclarkeuk.bsky.social · Jul 25

My favourite was always the Thong.

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paulclarkeuk.bsky.social @paulclarkeuk.bsky.social · Jul 15

British English is usually socket. I think outlet is American.

paulclarkeuk.bsky.social @paulclarkeuk.bsky.social · Jul 8

Many years ago, when the hereditary peers could still vote, there was a news item in the Independent saying this was going to happen. Published on April 1st of course. I thought at the time it was a bit embarrassing that an April Fools joke would be an improvement over the actual system.

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paulclarkeuk.bsky.social @paulclarkeuk.bsky.social · Jul 7

Having spent some time in Florida that included getting soaked to the skin walking from a restaurant to a nearby car, and calling off a drive to the Kennedy Space Center because it was raining so hard that visibility was practically nil, it doesn't sound fake at all.

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paulclarkeuk.bsky.social @paulclarkeuk.bsky.social · Jun 26

For symmetry the Czech flag should feature croutons.

paulclarkeuk.bsky.social @paulclarkeuk.bsky.social · Jun 24

There's also the rather obscure English word "caitiff", which per etymonline comes from the Old North French version of chaitif, "caitive".

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paulclarkeuk.bsky.social @paulclarkeuk.bsky.social · Jun 21

The Bluemsbury Group.

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