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What the? That's not what it means here.; what words mean in your country
Topic Started: Apr 24 2007, 05:24 PM (7,363 Views)
Xenaclark
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We would have to look at it in terms of exchange rate. So over there they would be billionairs but if the were to come here and have to exchange all their holdings, then yes they are richer.

Nicki
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Helen – “Don’t make this any harder for me!”
Nikki – “Yeah must be hard getting angry with someone you’ve snogged.”
Helen – “Oh please Nikki, be serious!”
Nikki – “I want to make love to you all night long…is that serious enough?”
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Canadabadgirl
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ETA - Talking about millions (as you do), am I right in thinking that what the UK calls a billion is a trillion in the US? So our billionaires are even richer in the US!


The boring banker will weigh in on this one.... Cassandra you're right and it used to be that a billion in Standard British English was what is now commonly called a trillion on both sides of the Atlantic.

Now, no matter where you live, a billion is one thousand million (nine zeros), although traders who deal internationally will sometimes call it a "yard", short for a "milliard", to avoid confusion.

That's apart from the exchange rate which, as Xena pointed out, would turn a billion pounds sterling into almost 2 billion US dollars right now. But exchange rates change over the decades, so that might not always be true. The two currencies were pretty close to par/even in the 1980's when some of you were just twinkles in the eyes of people with big hair...
:eek

Hope what I just said made sense. I'm trying to multitask.

aj57 where the heck have you been lately?

A.
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Cassandra
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Yes, thanks for explaining it CBG (and Xenaclark). It did make sense. :)

Sadly though, it's unlikely that I'll ever be putting it into practice!
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aj57
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cassandra
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Are football/soccer rules the same in all countries or are there variations? I've always assumed they were the same otherwise it would make international matches confusing.


i'm pretty sure they are. i think they all follow FIFA rules.

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Interesting is one word to describe it. Personally I might go for eyesore and hideous


This was one occasion I was trying to be diplomatic. I agree with your assessment. Those wooden poles mystify me. My uncle told me about the cost overruns when I was over - needless to say he was not too amused. Seems the architect died midway through construction and the wife took over?

cbg
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The boring banker will weigh in on this one


You underestimate yourself!

Speaking of exchange rates from way back when. There was a brief time when the canadian dollar was actually worth more than the u.s. dollar. I remember my dad joking that we should buy some Canadian dollars. We lived in Canada at the time.

cbg
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aj57 where the heck have you been lately?


Spring is here and no rest for the avid gardener. Mowing the lawn, transplanting geraniums I kept indoors over the winter, trying to figure out how to keep the damn rabbits out of my flower bed. Riding my bike along the beautiful waterfront trail we have here in Ajax. I'm even going to start riding my bike to work in Pickering - one hour each way. Good way to lose the hibernation weight.

Also, I take it you haven't read my semi-drunken musings on the member name musing thread?
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Cassandra
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aj57
May 18 2007, 01:17 PM
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Interesting is one word to describe it. Personally I might go for eyesore and hideous

This was one occasion I was trying to be diplomatic. I agree with your assessment. Those wooden poles mystify me. My uncle told me about the cost overruns when I was over - needless to say he was not too amused. Seems the architect died midway through construction and the wife took over?

I didn't think you did diplomatic! I'm glad you didn't figure out the wooden poles either. The architect dying certainly complicated things but wasn't really the main reason for the rising costs. Sadly there were rumours trying to pin the blame entirely on him. My understanding was that the project was really badly managed from the onset and that was the real reason. The choice of location, architect, building design and even the company hired to do the construction all seemed bizarre choices from the start. And I think they tweaked the design twice. Can't remember what the first change was but the second I think was to do with security after the events of 9/11.
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microsofty
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Cassandra
May 17 2007, 09:45 PM
And for those who haven't seen it ......

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:eek It is revolting, repugnant, repulsive, unsightly and dreadful!

Ooo, I guess that wasn't very diplomatic... :) (sorry)

Your story about the parliament building makes me think of our dear president who is building a wall around his house for R80 million. To the rest of the world it might seem like a pittance, but not to our poor local tax payers. Who knows what hidden talents this wall might have, seeing as our president doesn't believe that there is a crime problem in SA.

The exorbitant expenditure fun in this country is yet to start as we move closer to the 2010 WC... For a start the government wanted to demolish Green Point Stadium in Cape Town - a stadium with a very rich historical background - and replace it with something as ghastly as the Scottish parliament building. The provincial government in Cape Town put their foot/feet down and said "no way!" And the best part is that the government wanted the Cape's provincial goverment to foot the bill on this new stadium of theirs! (The Cape's provincial goverment is ruled by the opposition party to the national government, and they don't see eye to eye...)
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Cassandra
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microsofty
May 18 2007, 02:16 PM
:eek It is revolting, repugnant, repulsive, unsightly and dreadful!

Ooo, I guess that wasn't very diplomatic...  :) (sorry)
No need to apologise microsofty, I knew you wouldn't be diplomatic and I agree with that sentiment anyway (though you cheated and used five words)!!! :)

Some of the other sides of the building are even more bizarre and unsightly. And I haven't even started on the millions spent in investigating the mis-management or fixing all the millions of snags (problems including internal fixings)!!

Hmmm, it sounds a very serious kind of presidential wall for that price (but then I know even less about wall building than I do about BG). If your president doesn't think there's a crime problem then what exactly is he trying to keep out? Persistant paparazzi? Herds of Wildebeest sweeping majestically across the plain? :rolleyes:

Well, if your government wanted the Scottish parliament building then I personally wouldn't stand in their way. They can come and take it if they like. Unfortunately I have absolutely no say in the matter ... at all. :( But I don't think the design is adaptable enough to make it into a football stadium though so they'll have to come up with something as ghastly on their own!
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aj57
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microsofty
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And the best part is that the government wanted the Cape's provincial goverment to foot the bill on this new stadium of theirs! (The Cape's provincial goverment is ruled by the opposition party to the national government, and they don't see eye to eye...)


It's good (no, actually it's bad) to see that no matter where you live, the government always finds a way to waste taxpayers money and if they can offload it to a different level of government and a different party, so much the better.

In Canada, we have a federal government, a provincial government (two different parties at the moment) and where I live, we have the Regional government, then down to the municipal government, each having to have their slice of the pie. I think our tax free date in Canada (that point in the year when the money you earn is actually yours to keep, no longer going to the taxman) is sometime in July!

cassandra
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I didn't think you did diplomatic!


I know, I must be getting soft in my old age :lol1
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Washuai
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So the Scottish Parliament building looks like a weird fort, where people patrol the roof top armed. Actually, it kind of reminds me of the buildings in Jurassic Park, I could imagine people getting chased by raptors. Um, diplomacy? . . at least it's not a box and it isn't boring.

There's lots of examples of Govt. buildings in the US, where taxpayer money is wasted on buildings that also weren't even built right. The example I'm most familiar with, was a city government building, in SoCal, when I lived there that they wasted millions on.

Worse, Americans aren't just satisfied to build crap buildings on US soil with taxpayer money, we're building crap buildings in the middle east, too. I forget what the company with the contract to build clinics over there is, but it's just wrong. Health clinics with ceilings that won't stay up and the like. That's what our politicians point to, as our doing something beneficial over there. . All this waste and so many better ways it could be spent. .


It is sad that all governments waste taxes, no matter where we live.

Sedgeway to what things are called & where. .
Ok, we've already discussed Fanny & Bog, which I knew about fanny, before this thread, but I just wanted to say, knowing this stuff makes somethings even more amusing.

Like in Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf, there's some parts, where they have to be using the Brit slang, or all the use of Bog, just isn't as funny.

Also, I saw some comedian joking about lesbians turning a baseball cap into a fanny pack (it had a zippered pocket and another pocket) & he definitely wasn't Austrailian or aware of the Austrailian slang and neither was his audience and I was thinking, baseball cap, fanny pack and lesbian, just he could make something much funnier with that joke, if he was either telling it to an Austrailian audience or telling people what fanny is in Austrailia.

I'd like to ask some questions about skiver, though. I'd never really thought about the word much, before bad girls, I had this vague idea that it was from the UK and kind of comparable to a lay-a-bout or someone that shirks duties (you know before I read an actual definition, that was my take based on context where I was exposed to the word). I accept the better & more formal definitions. However, since the question has been raised in my mind, thanks to the urbandictionary (which isn't exactly a reliable source, by any means), I must ask. Norse & French possible orgins aside:

Is skiver, British in general, or are Scots, more likely to use it, than in other parts of the UK?
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microsofty
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Cassandra
May 18 2007, 04:16 PM
I knew you wouldn't be diplomatic...

But, but, but, but, why? I am stunned, left totally and utterly speechless! :silly

Cassandra
 
If your president doesn't think there's a crime problem then what exactly is he trying to keep out? Persistant paparazzi? Herds of Wildebeest sweeping majestically across the plain?

I had to laugh at the wildebeest image! That is exactly the irony of this whole wall thing! But of course one wouldn't have a problem with crime if you have something like 20 heavily armed bodyguards, a convoy of 16 cars and 3 zillion cops on motorbikes surrounding your 16-car convoy, when you need to leave the house to run an errand.

aj57
 
It's good (no, actually it's bad) to see that no matter where you live, the government always finds a way to waste taxpayers money

And now for part 2 of the Amazing Wall Story. Our government is very strict when it comes to job creation, due to the large number of population segments that live in poverty, with little to no eduction, and no work. This means that if you have a development somewhere, the developer should aim to employ at least 60% of his workforce from within the local community where the development would take place. Good idea in principle, I applaud them for it. But unfortunately the government doesn't practice what it preaches. The president is having the bricks for his wall imported from God knows where. This just doesn't make sense, since he could have kept a good number of people in a job for at least a few months if these bricks were produced locally. And it is not as if we don't have the know-how or the skills to make bricks! Especially now that everyone who's anyone without an education but with the idea to better themselves, is training as brick makers and brick layers. The brick industry seems to be some sort of an eutopia for these people at the moment!

Oh, the mind boggles.
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Cassandra
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Washuai
May 18 2007, 09:27 PM
I'd like to ask some questions about skiver, though.  I'd never really thought about the word much, before bad girls, I had this vague idea that it was from the UK and kind of comparable to a lay-a-bout or someone that shirks duties (you know before I read an actual definition, that was my take based on context where I was exposed to the word).  I accept the better & more formal definitions.  However, since the question has been raised in my mind, thanks to the urbandictionary (which isn't exactly a reliable source, by any means), I must ask.  Norse & French possible orgins aside:

Is skiver, British in general, or are Scots, more likely to use it, than in other parts of the UK?
I use the words 'skiver' (person who is avoiding work) and 'skiving' (playing truant) a lot. Yes, it is definitely a Scottish word and appears in old Scottish texts. However Scottish words can be commonly used in local English dialects as well (e.g. in the North of England). Though I'm tempted to think that skiver may be more widespread in England now - possibly an example of a Scottish word that has gone into general use? Does anyone from the South of England (or Wales) use the word 'skiver'? The origin as you pointed out is probably from French (esquiver 'to slink away'). Historically, the Scots had numerous alliances with the French against the English so sometimes a Scottish word would come directly from the French.

Washuai
May 18 2007, 09:27 PM
It is sad that all governments waste taxes, no matter where we live.
Yes it certainly it is, Washuai. And based on what microsofty said, it sounds like all governments also push vote-winning policies but then do something totally different when it suits them.

microsofty
May 18 2007, 09:41 PM
Cassandra
 
If your president doesn't think there's a crime problem then what exactly is he trying to keep out? Persistant paparazzi? Herds of Wildebeest sweeping majestically across the plain?
I had to laugh at the wildebeest image! That is exactly the irony of this whole wall thing! But of course one wouldn't have a problem with crime if you have something like 20 heavily armed bodyguards, a convoy of 16 cars and 3 zillion cops on motorbikes surrounding your 16-car convoy, when you need to leave the house to run an errand.
True! I think it would deter most criminals! Glad you liked the wildebeest image, though I have to confess that it is actually a quote. I should have put that in brackets. It's a famous line from a British sitcom called 'Fawlty Towers' set in a fictional hotel. I guess it's typical 1970's British humour but it stands up reasonally well to time. :)

ETA - Forgot to say that I don't consider a 'skiver' to be necessarily someone that is lazy. You can be a skiver without being lazy. Also I liked the Jurassic Park image, Washuai!
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aj57
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cassandra
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It's a famous line from a British sitcom called 'Fawlty Towers' set in a fictional hotel

I loved that show! Have the box set of DVD's. Some of the lines in that show are classic - from both Basil and Sybil.

I have a question for any Scots reading this thread (are you paying attention Cassandra?)

I'm curious as to how a Scot would pronounce the word "hypocrite". It may very from region from region, so any of you who would care to give me your version - spelled out phonetically - it would be appreciated.
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Cassandra
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aj57
May 23 2007, 06:47 PM
I have a question for any Scots reading this thread (are you paying attention Cassandra?)

I'm curious as to how a Scot would pronounce the word "hypocrite".  It may very from region from region, so any of you who would care to give me your version - spelled out phonetically - it would be appreciated.
Yes aj, I do sometimes pay attention! But I can't spell phonetically - it's far too long a word! Em .... I'm geniunely not too sure how you spell phonetically. I'll try this way anyway.

'hippo' (as in the animal) & 'crit' (rhymes with grit) ... you need to roll the 'r''s a bit too! ('hi-po-krit'? - corrected after reading Washuai's post)

Oi, who are you calling a hypocrite? :guns
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aj57
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cassandra - "hippo' (as in the animal) & 'crit' (rhymes with grit)"

that's perfect - i understand exactly how you pronounce it. if there are any other scots with a different way of saying it, or even you cassandra may know of how it might be pronounced in other regions?

cassandra - "you need to roll the 'r''s a bit too! "

yeah, yeah. you know i can't do that any more, though my sister (who is six years older than me) can fall right back into thick Scots like the flick of a switch. She's a bit of a show off.

cassandra - "Oi, who are you calling a hypocrite?"

Hey, if the shoe fits. :lol1

Though, I'm trying to figure something out. It would help if I knew which part of Scotland you were from - if you're willing to share, no biggie if not. You seem fairly intelligent, so I'm guessing you're not from Glasgow :guns I'm originally from Edinburgh, so have to keep the rivarly going.

P.S. - couldn't get the bloody quote thing to work and too lazy to re-type, so just took them out.
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Cassandra
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To be honest, I have absolutely no idea how else you would pronounce hypocrite! Your turn ... hint, hint!

aj57
May 23 2007, 08:01 PM
Though, I'm trying to figure something out.  It would help if I knew which part of Scotland you were from - if you're willing to share, no biggie if not.  You seem fairly intelligent, so I'm guessing you're not from Glasgow :guns   I'm originally from Edinburgh, so have to keep the rivarly going.

You're right - I'm not a Glaswegian! :)

ETA - Can I ask why you are asking this? Then I might expand upon my answer.
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