Not-Forgotten Languages

I found something that I had to share with the world. It's an English-to-Pig Latin translator. I wasn't even looking for it (I was searching for an English-to-Latin translator), but there it was. And I, like the nerd I am, was very happy that I'd found it.

Brings back memories, is what it does. I spoke that language all the time in elementary school, and I can still do it pretty well now. I also used to use another code-language, Ubbi Dubbi, at about the same time. I can also speak Ubbi-Dubbi Pig Latin, I kid you not. I'm a bit out of practice, though, so I can't say "antidisestablishmentarianism" very well anymore.

Just wanted to pass on this gem and the memories that go with it. There was indeed a time when everyone spoke Pig Latin.

Ylerecnis,

N

Why Tolerance is Bad

I walked into the building this morning and saw the big purple sign and the green t-shirts, both inscribed with the words "i tolerate" ("itolerate," in the case of the t-shirts). On the purple sign, a heart dots the "i."

It's a noble cause (if I had gotten wind of the t-shirts, I might even be wearing one now), but I find that "tolerate" is a strange word to use. Just look at one of its main definitions: to endure without repugnance; put up with. And its synonyms: abide, accept, bear, brook, go, stand, stomach, suffer, support, sustain, swallow, take, withstand. This is just like the expression, "Love of the sinner, hate the sin." Basically, when you say that you are tolerating someone, you really hate what they do, but you'll brave through it. How stuck up is that?

I propose that we choose a new word, one of its synonyms: accept. I accept. I accept that people around me have different sexual orientations, different religions, different lifestyles. I accept that everyone else has a right to do what they like, and I'm okay with that. Other people are different from me, and I just have to ask, What's the problem with that?

So... I'll tolerate this week. I'll accept the people around me. Happy acceptance week.

Ylerecnis,
N

I Palindrome I

I recently learned of a song that I think is pretty cool. It's called "I Palindrome I," by They Might Be Giants. The chorus is the best part, I went and read the lyrics online and the verses don't make much sense for a palindrome song. Check it out, if you can. I bet it's on YouTube somewhere.

Some interesting facts about the song.

A list of palindromes.

Ylerecnis,

N

Pirates Really DO Reverse Global Warming!

For those of you who have been touched by his noodly appendage, you know that Pastafarianism teaches that lack of pirates causes global warming. I stumbled onto this bit of proof, actually, from Google (aka god). Take a lesson from this. Dress and talk like a pirate. And eat pasta. Let your veins run with holy sauce!

Ylerecnis,
N

Guns and Public Safety

I cannot deny that guns are dangerous. They are, after all, hand-held tools that eject lead slugs at incredibly high speeds. Anyone who thinks that they're not going to do any damage is an idiot. But does this really mean that we could get rid of them? Does this mean that the world would be a better place with more gun control?

Chicago doesn't have a reputation for really being a secure place. Twenty Chicago Public Schools students have been killed by gunfire since September. So, shouldn't we just get rid of all these guns? Wouldn't that have saved the lives of these students?

Well, that would be nice, wouldn't it? Getting rid of another tool of violence would be fantastic. It'd also be fantastic if we could stop people from getting stabbed (with all sorts of things), strangled, drowned, or beat to death. However, none of these things can be completely eliminated. People always have and (as far as I or anyone else can see) always will be in danger of homicide. It doesn't matter what tools have been available over the ages, from rocks to knives to bare hands- the only way to permanently stop murders would be to kill everyone.

If we did try to take away guns, is anyone so naive as to think that no one would hold onto them? Let's see, what type of person would hide and smuggle illegal items in order to do great harm to innocent people? Maybe the type of people who would commit crimes with guns in the first place! And then what you have is a defenseless population. If criminals know that they are in danger of getting killed, they are far less likely to commit a crime. If the government were to confiscate guns from their potential victims, they would be incredibly emboldened. Just look at the crime rates for Washington D.C. and Great Britain, places where private gun ownership is illegal.

Control by armed government not the answer, either. The fact is that there are not enough police to protect everybody, it takes too long for them to arrive at the scene (if you're calling 911, especially), and sometimes you don't even get a chance to scream. It is important for people to be self-armed in order to protect themselves.

Guns must, of course, be handled responsibly, and everyone who uses them should take lessons, but gun control is not the answer. In fact, it is a great solution to crime rates.

Ylerecnis,

N

The Pride of Being Irish (Among Other Things)

Why, I ask, is it so special to be Irish? Not that I'm complaining, of course, being part Irish, but I have to wonder what makes it so special (or, perhaps, merely popular among the masses- I have to admit that lots of Americans from various cultures hang on to old customs from their ancestral country). Why don't people get as worked up about being Kenyan, or Scandanavian? Have you ever heard the phrase, "Kiss me, I'm Native American?"

I think the reason must be because of Ireland's diaspora. Apparently, life in Ireland has been hard over the ages, and lots of people left there. A lot of people came here, apparently. According to a 2006 survey, 12% of the American population claim Irish descent. That would explain why being Irish is so darn popular.

But that doesn't seem to explain it all. Something must be appealing about the country and people itself- the charming accents, the pretty red hair, the green pastures, the minstrels and the bonny lasses. I can't say how much of it is true, but I do like Celtic music, such as the Chieftains, Silly Wizard, and Celtic Woman. Not all Irish, I admit, but Celtic music and mythology is really appealing to me.

But you know what's really cool? Being Irish, Welsh, German, and probably a bunch of other things at the same time! With this much in the way of heritage, I can pretty much pick and choose which parts of my history I want to celebrate. That's the way it is for a lot of people in the U.S., and that's fantastic. Also, it brings out a lot of chance for diversity and great genetic combinations. One thing that pretty much all Americans can say with conviction- mutts rule!

Ylerecnis,

N