The targeted offenses: if you are stolen, call the police at once. please omnivorously put the waste in garbage can. deformed man lavatory. For the past 18 months, teams of language police have been scouring Beijing on a mission to wipe out all such traces of bad English signage before the Olympics come to town in August. They're the type of goofy transgressions that we in the English homelands love to poke fun at, devoting entire Web sites to so-called Chinglish.
But what if these sentences aren't really bad English? What if they are evidence that the English language is happily leading an alternative lifestyle without us?
Thanks to globalization, the Allied victories in World War II, and American leadership in science and technology, English has become so successful across the world that it's escaping the boundaries of what we think it should be. In part, this is because there are fewer of us: By 2020, native speakers will make up only 15 percent of the estimated 2 billion people who will be using or learning the language. Already, most conversations in English are between nonnative speakers who use it as a lingua franca.
In China, this sort of free-form adoption of English is helped along by a shortage of native English-speaking teachers, who are hard to keep happy in rural areas for long stretches of time. An estimated 300 million Chinese roughly equivalent to the total US population read and write English but don't get enough quality spoken practice. The likely consequence of all this? In the future, more and more spoken English will sound increasingly like Chinese.
Energy independence achieved by harnessing rotational energy of HW Fowler spinning in his grave.
#1
Already, most conversations in English are between nonnative speakers who use it as a lingua franca.
Except in the United States, where the NEA and other education 'professional' still push bi-lingual indoctrination.
However, thanks to Hollyweird movies and television and whole sell black marketing of pirated DVD and the like, the American form of English is likely to remain generally consistent. Outside those bi-lingual encumbered students.
#2
I don't have a problem with this and besides its an old problem. English always has had variants. Irish speaking english with gaelic grammar and constructs, ditto Indians, malays and Singaporeans, and even I have trouble decyphering the pidgin english spoken in the south pacific.
In fact, less than a hundred years ago, people from different parts of Britain had trouble communicating because of differences in their english.
#3
An estimated 300 million Chinese -- roughly equivalent to the total US population -- read and write English but don't get enough quality spoken practice. The likely consequence of all this? In the future, more and more spoken English will sound increasingly like Chinese.
That's moronic. These people get English language instruction. That doesn't mean they speak English, any more than Americans who get far superior high school Spanish instruction speak or read Spanish. It becomes just another useless course they take in school, alongside geography, history and political indoctrination.
#4
In the postwar period, all Koreans and Japanese have gotten English language instruction, all the way to college. That's roughly 120m people right there. How many speakers of English have you encountered among Koreans and Japanese?
#8
It's Wired Magazine. It would be unfair to expect one of their journalists to understand a complicated subject like linguistics. Old English gave us Beowulf; it then evolved into Middle English, giving us the Canterbury Tales; finally we have Modern English, with Shakespear, Thomas Jefferson, Jane Austen, and Robert Frost. Whyever should English cease to evolve now, just because the cutting edge intellectuals at Wired finally learnt how to write in complete sentences?
One day while driving with her father, Hannah Salwen noticed a Mercedes stopped next to a homeless man sitting on the curb.
'I said to my dad, 'If that guy didn't have such a nice car, then that guy could have a nice meal,'' the 15-year-old from Atlanta, Georgia, recalled. Another way for that guy to get a nice meal would be for him to go get himself a job. Or treatment for his mental condition. Or addiction.
And so began the tale of what the Salwen family calls 'Hannah's Lunchbox.' Because the parents still haven't figured out how things work so they end up feeling shame for being better off. Because all humans are equal and they are an unwitting part of a corrupt society that has gotten itself temporarily out of kilter, of course.
It started as family discussions about what they needed versus what was enough. Hannah's father Kevin, an entrepreneur, is on the board of the Atlanta Habitat for Humanity and is no stranger to community work, but he said this family conversation was life-changing.
'We stopped and paused and thought about what are the things in the world that could really make a difference, a little bit of difference in the world,' he said.
They talked about selling their cars or other things, but it was Hannah's mother, Joan, who came up with selling their 6,500-square-foot house, donating half the proceeds and then moving into a house half the size. Sounds like Joan doesn't like cleaning and totally pulled the wool over hubby's eyes.
For nine years, the family lived in a historic 1912 mansion near downtown Atlanta. It boasts five bedrooms, eight fireplaces, a kitchen that would make any cook jealous and even an elevator. Seems like Joan doesn't like cooking, either.
When Hannah would bring friends over, she said, often their jaws would drop and they'd gasp, 'Wow, you live here?'
Like most teens, Hannah loves to shop, and she jammed every space of her massive walk-in closet full of clothes. But she also knows many people are less fortunate; she volunteers at a local community food bank and other relief agencies. Because it feels so good. As long as she isn't one of those underpriveleged, of course.
Joan Salwen, a teacher, said the mansion was her dream home. 'It was a challenge,' she said of giving up that house. 'It was a test, almost, to see: How committed are we? I mean, how serious are these kids about what we should do? And they all nodded and there we were.' You'll all get to go to the highest level of liberal heaven.
So the Salwens put the house up for sale in May 2007 and started figuring out what they would do with half the proceeds, which would amount to more than $800,000. They spent six months researching charity organizations before deciding on the Hunger Project, an organization dedicated to helping end world hunger through people helping themselves.
Hunger Project Vice President John Coonrod said the family met with organizers in New York and notified them months later that the charity was the winner.
When the Salwen house sells, the money will be channeled through The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta over a six-year period and end up in Ghana, Coonrod said. 'This will underwrite a process in more than 30 villages to enable people to meet all of their basic needs on a sustainable basis,' he said. 'They will be able to grow enough food, to build clinics and schools, and the villagers will be doing the lion's share of the work.' And the Hunger Project will suck up as much of the funds as they can possibly justify via 'management costs'.
Coonrod said he'd never heard of a family donating in this way. Err, I wouldn't be waving that around much if I were you.
'Hannah's awakening to social injustice, and her family's ability to make a difference in that issue will make a profound difference in the lives of tens of thousands of people,' he said, estimating the money could affect more than 20,000 people in Ghana. But mostly the money will end up affecting about ten people in the United States.
Hannah's 13-year-old brother, Joseph, was so impressed with his big sister's ideas that he made a three-minute video of the family's project. The video won the grand prize in the 2008 'My Home: The American Dream' contest, sponsored by Coldwell Banker and Scholastic Publishing.
In the video, Joseph tells viewers, 'We're showing you can redefine the American dream.'
But the Salwens' house has sat on the market for more than a year. It's a tough time to sell any house, let alone one with an asking price of nearly $1.8 million. Real estate agent Sally George said she's shown the house 40 or 50 times, and there have been nibbles but no buyers. Many people are interested in the house's rich history but often don't know anything about the philanthropic aspects of the family's project. And I'll bet the Salwens are hoping that all changes before they write their book.
'I've never handled a house selling for this reason,' George said. 'I didn't learn about what the family was doing until early this year.'
Hannah and Joseph said most of their friends at school don't know about it. 'You all get out of my house now! We didn't do it for the fame or the glory,' said Joan Salwen. 'This was something Hannah sort of yanked us into.'
Even though it was Joan Salwen's idea to sell the house, it has been tough for her to give it up. 'I have to admit,' she said, 'I loved living in this house. Does that make me an evil person? I hope not because it's a beautiful place.' Yes, and you are only half as evil now. If you give me the other $800k, you will not be evil and you might get to go to heaven. But only as long as you never have any regrets about it for the next 15 years. And deny any that crop up after then.
The family recently moved to a house less than half the size of their mansion four blocks away. While Hannah's friends called her old home the 'wow house,' this one is more ordinary and that's fine with her.
Lately the family has spent a lot of time around the kitchen table talking about an upcoming two-week trip to Ghana. The Salwens will spend six or seven hours a day visiting the villages where their money will be put to work. And showering in their adulation. At least that's what the translators will tell them. In reality, they will probably all just be curious about who was stupid enough to give them half their money so they could keep on doing whatever it is that they have been doing until now without having to deal with the consequences. Kevin Salwen said the new house is great, it's just smaller. 'We as Americans have so much,' said Salwen, a former Wall Street Journal writer. 'We love the concept of half. We are going from a house that's 6,000 square feet to a house that's half the size, and we're giving away half the money.
'And we do think everyone can do something if they think through half.' OK, I'll start thinking about things that are half-baked.
Now remember folks, be gentle with your comments because it it might be harmful to wake up a sleepwalker.
Which is why they're not turning down interview requests...right...and that's why they're touring Ghana so that the villagers can thank them properly. What a self-righteous group of douchebags.
'If that guy didn't have such a nice car, then that guy could have a nice meal,'
I don't even know where to start with this one. The confusion of ideas...
#4
> 'We love the concept of half. We are going from a house that's 6,000 square feet to a house that's half the size, and we're giving away half the money.
Don't worry, many Foreclosed Americans will be joining you, except involuntarily. I'm sure you can remain Smug though.
Which is why they made a video on it. And I'm sure Daddy and Mommy are looking for a book deal and appearances on Larry King, We Hate Good Morning America and other talk shows (for a fee of course)....
Hannah and Joseph said most of their friends at school don't know about it.
#6
'If that guy didn't have such a nice car, then that guy could have a nice meal,'
How does one guy having a Mercedes prevent the other guy from having a meal? Liberals (especially naive young ones) are so out of touch with reality. "I think what we have here is a failure to have enough clue-bats."
#7
No doubt Spot because the Mercedes guy didn't give half of his hard-earned income to the homeless guy who prefers to sit on the curb and do nothing (besides drink and/or do drugs or whatever it is he's into).
Look for them to want to start making 'half' mandatory - isn't that what the Obama 'home and dream' economic plan all about?
#10
It's prolly easy to be a generous liberal asshole when you are living in a 6,500 ft^2 house. I don't know that I have ever been on the inside of a privately owned house that big, who knows, they may suck ass.
Maybe if I lived in a 2million dollar house I'd feel differently about it, but for now I have to go with gorb on this one and say maybe the homeless guy should get off his ass and go to the free clinic for starters.
#12
Here's an idea. Give the city your 1.8 million dollar house. Probably make a swell homeless shelter.
The neighbors will love you for it I'm sure...
#13
The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta played a major role in the collaborative effort to house the King Papers at Morehouse College, King's alma mater. Mayor Shirley Franklin and a broad group of civic, education and business leaders completed an agreement with the King family to buy thousands of the Atlanta native's papers and books with borrowed money backed to the lender by pledges and guarantees. We formed ATLCF Collections LLC, a company owned and operated by The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, Inc. to purchase the papers. We are proud that The Community Foundation could play such an integral role in this historic project that will be a wonderful legacy for the city of Atlanta.
I certainly hope at least some of their proceeds make their way to this... worthy cause.
#14
' the money will be channeled through The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta over a six-year period and end up in Ghana'
From whence it shall come to find its way to secret Swiss Bank accounts of a soon to be deposed dictator from which it can be liberated only with the use of your bank account number...
#15
I'd feel a lot better if the money was donated to a church group. Giving the money to a group controlled by Atlanta's politically connected and hanger oners is like asking the Hamburgler to guard the Golden Arches.
Posted by: ed ||
07/08/2008 11:57 Comments ||
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#16
Ghana? Ain't Kofi from Ghana?
Come to papa....
#20
My family and I live in a 2800 sq foot house that might sell for $350 or so.
I think I'm damned lucky--though my wife and I worked hard to get it.
My house is plenty big; I don't know what I would do with a 6000 sq foot house.
I've got no problem with people giving their money away, they might even do some good if they are smart about it. Good luck to 'em.
But I also agree with previous posters that the homeless guy would be better off with 1) detox and/or treatment for mental illness; and after that, 2) a job.
Posted by: Some guy ||
07/08/2008 23:18 Comments ||
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Geological evidence found in Ohio and Indiana in recent weeks is strengthening the case to attribute what happened 12,900 years ago in North America - when the end of the last Ice Age unexpectedly turned into a phase of extinction for animals and humans - to a cataclysmic comet or asteroid explosion over top of Canada.
Climate change is a favorite topic for Tankersley. "The ultimate importance of this kind of work is showing that we can't control everything," he says. "Our planet has been hit by asteroids many times throughout its history, and when that happens, it does produce climate change."
Also interesting that two TV shows will be done for this, one on PBS, one on Discovery. I wonder how the approach will vary.
#11
Obviously an early experiment of the TESLA/ZIONIST PERFECTED DEATH RAY. Mossad time travels to the distant past to safely conduct such experiments. See also Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Ever wonder why there were no Jews in those cities when they were rayed/bombed?
//sarcasm off
#13
Who has the computational power and means to 'nudge' a large meteoroid or small asteroid on a trajectory that ends up someplace like Tehran? Plausible deniability, it is the will of Allen.
The tiny western Pacific island nation of the Marshall Islands has declared a state of economic emergency as soaring fuel prices threaten to shut down electricity supplies. 'The national power utilities are projected to face an estimated shortfall of 17.5 million US dollars to 21 million US dollars over the next 12 months assuming the global (fuel price) trend continues,' he said. This shortfall is close to 20 percent of the total national budget.
Tomeing said the country has enough diesel to keep the power generators running until the end of August but needs to find 8.5 million dollars in the next week to pay Seoul-based SK Networks for last month's diesel shipment and a downpayment for the next shipment.
The Marshalls Energy Company told the government last week that it cannot raise the money in time without an immediate cash injection.
The cabinet has decided to seek financial help from the United States, Taiwan, Japan, Australia and other countries and donor agencies to prevent a shut down of power in the country of about 54,000 people. 'Without electricity everything will come to a standstill,' Finance Minister Jack Ading told visiting Asian Development Bank officials this week.
#1
Mr McAuley, an adult instructor in the Lancashire Army Cadet Force, based at Fulwood Barracks, Preston, claimed that he had been a paratrooper at the battle of Goose Green in the Falklands War and that he was the second SAS man on the balcony of the London Iranian Embassy siege in 1980.
In fact married Mr McAuley, who lives in Chorley, used to serve in the Army Catering Corps.
LOL!!
Posted by: Frank G ||
07/08/2008 11:03 Comments ||
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#3
I find the 'emergency chute deployment' story a bit thin; the tailcone on these aircraft are ejected and the slide then comes from a compartment in the floor; i have deplaned from these aircraft many times and have never seen anything above me that even cloely resembels control cables or plumbing. Don't forget this series of aircraft was the subject of an AD after the Alaska flight 261 crash that found a failure of the horizontal stabilizer actuator (jackscrew) due to improper lubrication. Several others were found in similiar shape and required immediate replacement; others were deemed satisfactory.
personal opinion: this aircraft was in the early stages of AK 261 part II and the pilot saved it.
(but the consiracy theory is more funner!)
#7
No you wouldn't. Senior executives' time is always under heavy demand. US CEOs average 75 hours a week on the job - I can't imagine the president works much less. Except for Reagan, for good or ill.
#8
I started counting, and Mr. Wife easily spends 75 hours a week dong his job -- not counting business dinners -- and he's only middle management at a Fortune 500 company. His brother-in--law, who has a mid-size local HVAC company, regularly works 'til midnight.
#9
Besides, Air Force One doubles as a command center. The President can stay in touch with whoever he needs to at all times.
Plus the press gets to sit in the back of the plane.
For a candidate, I suppose the press is the major reason they need an MD-80.
Posted by: Rambler in California ||
07/08/2008 19:59 Comments ||
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#10
Note to Senator Obama: Other things you should never, ever accept from either of the Clintons, or their friends, if you value your hide:
1) Their cook or any food prepared by anyone even vaguely associated with them.
2) Any security personnel, armed or unarmed.
3) Physician referrals.
4) Limousines to drive down steep mountain roads.
5) Powder cocaine.
6) Packages that smell like fuel or that have gift clocks in them.
7) Free lessons for sky or scuba diving, bungee jumping, bronco busting, alligator wrestling, skiing or spelunking.
8) T-Shirts featuring the Target Corporation or Red Cross logos.
9) Contracts that require your signature in blood.
10) "Symbiotic health worms" you need to swallow.
#11
Moose, add to your list: never offer her your VP slot. Remember that if you do, the only thing standing between Hillary and her lifelong destiny ambition is your last heartbeat.
Posted by: Rambler in California ||
07/08/2008 20:27 Comments ||
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#12
Hillary's reaction per her closest advisors... DANGIT! DANGIT! DANGIT!
Posted by: a yankee ||
07/08/2008 21:21 Comments ||
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#13
'Symbiotic health worms' you need to swallow. I think Opophis already has that.
Posted by: Frank G ||
07/08/2008 10:39 ||
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#1
A $28 million city project aimed at improving drainage and beautifying one of the city's prettiest parks is suspected of feeding this massive algae bloom, officials said.
We're from the government. And we're here to help...
#6
Sell the algae for $10/lb. as health food. The lefty vegans would buy it by the truck load. Set a few tons aside at $100/lb. for the really rich and stupid ones. They'd be serving it at art openings and cocktail parties for months.
Last week I communicated to Senator Obama and his presidential campaign my firm intention to remain in the United States Senate, where I believe I am best equipped to serve the people of Virginia and this country. Under no circumstances will I be a candidate for Vice President.
A year and a half ago, the people of Virginia honored me with election to the U.S. Senate. I entered elective politics because of my commitment to strengthen Americas national security posture, to promote economic fairness, and to increase government accountability. I have worked hard to deliver upon that commitment, and I am convinced that my efforts and talents toward those ends are best served in the Senate.
In this regard, the bipartisan legislative template we were able to put into effect through 18 months of work in order to enact the new, landmark GI Bill will serve as a prototype for my future endeavors in government. This process, wherein we brought 58 Senators from both parties to the table as co-sponsors, along with more than 300 members of the House, gives me renewed confidence that the Congress can indeed work effectively across party lines and address the concerns of our citizens.
At this time I am also renewing my commitment to work hard to make sure that Senator Obama wins both Virginia and the presidency this November. He is a man who speaks eloquently about our national goals and calls for the practical solutions that must be put into place to obtain them. I will proudly campaign for him.
I don't recall anyone asking him. I sure don't recall seeing Obama say anything about him. Perhaps Jimbo found out that he's not on the short bus list?
Posted by: Steve White ||
07/08/2008 00:00 ||
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#8
Something about the photo reminds me of "Oompa Loompa Doodly-doo..."
Posted by: Grenter, Protector of the Geats ||
07/08/2008 11:11 Comments ||
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#9
"The Vice-Presidency, you offer me? The chance to be your running-mate, your sidekick? Fool! Do you think I can be bought so easily? Do you think I grovel for a lackey's wages? I spit on your vice-presidency!"
Posted by: Mike ||
07/08/2008 13:37 Comments ||
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#10
So, is he saying that his year and half in the Senate does not qualify him to be vice-president?
Some soldiers return from war burdened by memories. Some soldiers are able to work through these issues and get on with life, and some can't. Army Pfc. Joseph Dwyer was one who could not, and in the end it claimed his life.
Whatever your thoughts are on war, Iraq, and the politics of war, send a prayer for this man's soul, and for his wife and child.
Posted by: Steve White ||
07/08/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
Sounds like his condition was complex, stress + chemical use to relieve the stress = cell damage accompanied by chemical use. Is there a specialty for dealing with PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) and the associated complexities of this illness????
Posted by: a yankee ||
07/08/2008 1:06 Comments ||
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#2
the 31-year-old collapsed and died after abusing a computer cleaner aerosol.
#3
Sounds like the poor guy had several things working against him, maybe even latent mental illness. That's too bad, its difficult to force help on a person though.
#4
Need to get guys like that better help. Problem is they pretty often refuse it.
Combat exposes everything you have, and for some people, they have flaws that once exposed, cannot be dealt with, and may prove fatal.
Its actually a rare enough occurrence (PTSD->death) these days that it shows the system is doing a decent job - not fantastic, but certainly better than before.
#5
The lifetime risk for schizophrenia alone is 7.2 per 1000 people. And PTSD, a disease in itself, can exaggerate symptoms of other mental illness as well. It will make the paranoid more so, as well as the obsessive/compulsive, the neurotic, the manic-depressive and the bi-polar.
And the most common mental illness, depression, is strongly impacted by stress.
#6
he had a lot of issues, and we (via our gov't) should make sure that the next of kin and kids are well-taken care of, regardless. Either it was undiagnosed, or a result of deployment. What less should we do? My prayers to his soul and the family and friends. Sounds like a horror-show nobody should go through
Posted by: Frank G ||
07/08/2008 21:03 Comments ||
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#1
Great read, felt like I've seen the movie but better than actually seeing the movie. What 'till this guy sees Billy Madison then he's really gonna be pissed.
Every Schwarzenegger and Chuck Norris film, huh? Knew it was going to be a good read after that line - didn't realize Junior and Missing in Action had such aweful arab stereotypes.
Wonder what this dude thought about Peacemaker, or was that realistic and not stereotyped. What say you Nahoul?
#3
The funny part is the bits he find most objectionable have some solid basis in truth. And that is what makes them funny, not incorrect stereotypes, but correct stereotypes.
I counted perhaps 20 citations in his criticism that were founded in truth. For example, his complaint that Israel started the Six Day War preemptively. Does he expect us to believe that those Arab armies encircling Israel were just practicing their drill and ceremonies?
"I was just minding my own business in the lion's cage and harmlessly poking him in the face with a stick when he attacked. How unfair of him. I wasn't doin' nothin'."
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
One day while driving with her father, Hannah Salwen noticed a Mercedes stopped next to a homeless man sitting on the curb. 
Kevin Salwen said the new house is great, it's just smaller. 'We as Americans have so much,' said Salwen, a former Wall Street Journal writer. 'We love the concept of half. We are going from a house that's 6,000 square feet to a house that's half the size, and we're giving away half the money. 
From the Webb office:
