Alex Chaihorsky wrote:

2. Your passage about non-native English speakers is a bit alarming.
Have we
been that annoying in our misuse of the language of Shakespeare and
Chaucer
so that you felt compelled to hint us of our shortcomings?

Oh, no... he was suggesting that non-native English speakers know the
rules of English far better than native speakers, and in general, that
is true. That doesn't mean that non-native speakers actually speak
better English (although that is true on occasion, as well), but in
general they know the rules better. In other words, we know when
something *is* right, but not *why* it is right.

I have a Bachelor's degree in English writing and Literature, and
Master's degree in English Education (I'm trained to be an English
teacher), and do you know how many grammar classes I took at the
University? One. And 10 years later, my knowledge of English grammar
is still very native (ie., I *usually* know when something is right,
but not why). I'm more knowledgeable than most people, but that's
really not saying much.

Now, I believe I just opened myself up to scrutiny, and I'm sure the
above passage is full of mistakes. Sigh...

Cathy Weeks

Alex wrote:
... Now, about horse **** smell.
... our misuse of the language of Shakespeare

Having grown up without a barn, my first introduction to this particular
organoleptic distinction was in our seventh-grade production of "Midsummer
Night's Dream." Bottom has the relevant line: "I do smell all horse-****, at
which my nose is in great indignation." May we suppose that some wag slipped
a Pu-erh into the Bard's tea-caddy?

-DM

On 7 Dec 2004 18:19:02 -0800, "Cathy Weeks"
wrote:

Alex Chaihorsky wrote:

2. Your passage about non-native English speakers is a bit alarming.
Have we
been that annoying in our misuse of the language of Shakespeare and
Chaucer
so that you felt compelled to hint us of our shortcomings?

Oh, no... he was suggesting that non-native English speakers know the
rules of English far better than native speakers, and in general, that
is true. That doesn't mean that non-native speakers actually speak
better English (although that is true on occasion, as well), but in
general they know the rules better. In other words, we know when
something *is* right, but not *why* it is right.


Depends on nationality, I think. The Europeans have a good handle on
the rules and everything, but I still think that a native speaker can
speak better than a non-native speaker. There are so many nuances
that you just don't get in a classroom setting or in books.

I have a Bachelor's degree in English writing and Literature, and
Master's degree in English Education (I'm trained to be an English
teacher), and do you know how many grammar classes I took at the
University? One. And 10 years later, my knowledge of English grammar
is still very native (ie., I *usually* know when something is right,
but not why). I'm more knowledgeable than most people, but that's
really not saying much.

Ya, I got an English Lit degree with honors. I wrote a million
papers, and I think I got a pretty good handle on the rules and so
forth. I took many grammar/lingusitics classes. I taught a year in
China doing ESL and EFL.



Now, I believe I just opened myself up to scrutiny, and I'm sure the
above passage is full of mistakes. Sigh...

Cathy Weeks



Mydnight

--------------------
thus then i turn me from my countries light, to dwell in the solemn shades of an endless night.

On 7 Dec 2004 18:19:02 -0800, Cathy Weeks wrote:

Now, I believe I just opened myself up to scrutiny, and I'm sure the
above passage is full of mistakes. Sigh...

Nah, but I have a question...

In the course of a discussion, I came across a phrase like the
following:

... according to Ensign Pulver...

Now, someone responded while quoting just "Ensign Pulver" and making
it plural. That is, "Ensign Pulver"s.

This does not look correct to me. So, what is the proper way to make a
singular quotation into a plural?

Heh. You're the one who admitted to the English education.

--
Derek

Quitters never win. Winners never quit.
But those who never win and never quit are idiots.

Now, someone responded while quoting just "Ensign Pulver" and making
it plural. That is, "Ensign Pulver"s.

This does not look correct to me. So, what is the proper way to make a
singular quotation into a plural?

Heh. You're the one who admitted to the English education.

Using the apostrophe doesn't make it plural, it denotes possession.
The pluralized form of it would be Ensign Pulvers', but I don't think
you can pluralize a person. heh.


Mydnight

--------------------
thus then i turn me from my countries light, to dwell in the solemn shades of an endless night.

"Mydnight" wrote in message
...

Now, someone responded while quoting just "Ensign Pulver" and making
it plural. That is, "Ensign Pulver"s.

This does not look correct to me. So, what is the proper way to make a
singular quotation into a plural?

Heh. You're the one who admitted to the English education.

Using the apostrophe doesn't make it plural, it denotes possession.
The pluralized form of it would be Ensign Pulvers', but I don't think
you can pluralize a person. heh.


I thought the plural would be 'Ensigns Pulver'. No?

I never liked eggnog till this season. I've been drinking it like a
fish. I really like the Southern Comfort Traditional sold at Walmart.
It specifically says 'non alcoholic'. Interesting how brand names keep
selling themselves in non traditional retail.

Jim

Ian Rastall wrote:
Cathy Weeks wrote:

Anyone like the tea the first time around?

I did, when I tried it a few weeks ago. But then I was expecting it
to taste weird, after hearing about it for years. Plus it was some
good stuff.

With any acquired taste, like lapsang souchong, it depends on how
persistent you are, and how willing you are to be persistent about
something like tea. :-)

Ian
--
http://www.bookstacks.org/
http://www.sundry.ws/

Lewis 12/7/04

Derek writes:

On Tue, 07 Dec 2004 19:46:20 GMT, Mydnight wrote:

[...bad Puerh is bad...]

Oh, I fully support that assertion. But, in my opinion, higher quality
stuff just tastes less horrid. This was, after all a thread started by
someone who wondered if she was alone in *not* linking pu erh. She's
not.

I also can't stand the taste of eggplant. But that doesn't mean that
my wife stops trying to feed it to me because she likes it.

You know there's more than one kind of eggplant, too, right? By the
way, in my opinion, eggplant, unlike most vegetables, is nearly
inedible unless cooked until it's mushy. I hope your wife's got that
covered.

Eggplant is delicious. I love eggplant. You can leach out the tanins with
salt. What's wrong with you people. Derek, eggplant everyday until you
change your mind. Reminds me of fresh meadow grasses. (Your eggplants need
to be grown on the steppes in proximity of fine Siberian horses.

I'm nursing a horrendous cold with Guangxi green tea today. Ugh.

Michael

On Wed, 08 Dec 2004 14:40:39 GMT, Michael Plant wrote:

Lewis 12/7/04

Derek writes:

On Tue, 07 Dec 2004 19:46:20 GMT, Mydnight wrote:

[...bad Puerh is bad...]

Oh, I fully support that assertion. But, in my opinion, higher quality
stuff just tastes less horrid. This was, after all a thread started by
someone who wondered if she was alone in *not* linking pu erh. She's
not.

I also can't stand the taste of eggplant. But that doesn't mean that
my wife stops trying to feed it to me because she likes it.

You know there's more than one kind of eggplant, too, right? By the
way, in my opinion, eggplant, unlike most vegetables, is nearly
inedible unless cooked until it's mushy. I hope your wife's got that
covered.

Eggplant is delicious. I love eggplant. You can leach out the tanins with
salt. What's wrong with you people. Derek, eggplant everyday until you
change your mind. Reminds me of fresh meadow grasses. (Your eggplants need
to be grown on the steppes in proximity of fine Siberian horses.

Blech. I'm past 30, and I've yet to find a recipe for eggplant that I
like. Brussel Sprouts, on the other hand, aren't half bad.

I'm nursing a horrendous cold with Guangxi green tea today. Ugh.

Sorry to hear that. Stay warm and comfortable.


--
Derek

Those who profess to favor freedom and yet deprecate agitation, are
men who want crops without plowing the ground. -- Frederick Douglass,
abolitionist, editor and orator (1817-1895)

On Wed, 08 Dec 2004 14:40:39 GMT, Michael Plant wrote:

Lewis 12/7/04

Derek writes:

On Tue, 07 Dec 2004 19:46:20 GMT, Mydnight wrote:

[...bad Puerh is bad...]

Oh, I fully support that assertion. But, in my opinion, higher quality
stuff just tastes less horrid. This was, after all a thread started by
someone who wondered if she was alone in *not* linking pu erh. She's
not.

I also can't stand the taste of eggplant. But that doesn't mean that
my wife stops trying to feed it to me because she likes it.

You know there's more than one kind of eggplant, too, right? By the
way, in my opinion, eggplant, unlike most vegetables, is nearly
inedible unless cooked until it's mushy. I hope your wife's got that
covered.

Eggplant is delicious. I love eggplant. You can leach out the tanins with
salt. What's wrong with you people. Derek, eggplant everyday until you
change your mind. Reminds me of fresh meadow grasses. (Your eggplants need
to be grown on the steppes in proximity of fine Siberian horses.

Blech. I'm past 30, and I've yet to find a recipe for eggplant that I
like. Brussel Sprouts, on the other hand, aren't half bad.

I'm nursing a horrendous cold with Guangxi green tea today. Ugh.

Sorry to hear that. Stay warm and comfortable.


--
Derek

Those who profess to favor freedom and yet deprecate agitation, are
men who want crops without plowing the ground. -- Frederick Douglass,
abolitionist, editor and orator (1817-1895)

12/8/04

On Wed, 08 Dec 2004 14:40:39 GMT, Michael Plant wrote:

Lewis 12/7/04

Derek writes:

On Tue, 07 Dec 2004 19:46:20 GMT, Mydnight wrote:

[...bad Puerh is bad...]

Oh, I fully support that assertion. But, in my opinion, higher quality
stuff just tastes less horrid. This was, after all a thread started by
someone who wondered if she was alone in *not* linking pu erh. She's
not.

I also can't stand the taste of eggplant. But that doesn't mean that
my wife stops trying to feed it to me because she likes it.

You know there's more than one kind of eggplant, too, right? By the
way, in my opinion, eggplant, unlike most vegetables, is nearly
inedible unless cooked until it's mushy. I hope your wife's got that
covered.

Eggplant is delicious. I love eggplant. You can leach out the tanins with
salt. What's wrong with you people. Derek, eggplant everyday until you
change your mind. Reminds me of fresh meadow grasses. (Your eggplants need
to be grown on the steppes in proximity of fine Siberian horses.

Blech. I'm past 30, and I've yet to find a recipe for eggplant that I
like. Brussel Sprouts, on the other hand, aren't half bad.

NOT HALF BAD???? Brussel Sprouts are the
*only* veggie more delicious than eggplant.

I'm nursing a horrendous cold with Guangxi green tea today. Ugh.

Sorry to hear that. Stay warm and comfortable.

I'll try. Thanks.

Michael

On Wed, 08 Dec 2004 14:58:05 GMT, Michael Plant wrote:

12/8/04

On Wed, 08 Dec 2004 14:40:39 GMT, Michael Plant wrote:

Lewis 12/7/04

Derek writes:

On Tue, 07 Dec 2004 19:46:20 GMT, Mydnight wrote:

[...bad Puerh is bad...]

Oh, I fully support that assertion. But, in my opinion, higher quality
stuff just tastes less horrid. This was, after all a thread started by
someone who wondered if she was alone in *not* linking pu erh. She's
not.

I also can't stand the taste of eggplant. But that doesn't mean that
my wife stops trying to feed it to me because she likes it.

You know there's more than one kind of eggplant, too, right? By the
way, in my opinion, eggplant, unlike most vegetables, is nearly
inedible unless cooked until it's mushy. I hope your wife's got that
covered.

Eggplant is delicious. I love eggplant. You can leach out the tanins with
salt. What's wrong with you people. Derek, eggplant everyday until you
change your mind. Reminds me of fresh meadow grasses. (Your eggplants need
to be grown on the steppes in proximity of fine Siberian horses.

Blech. I'm past 30, and I've yet to find a recipe for eggplant that I
like. Brussel Sprouts, on the other hand, aren't half bad.

NOT HALF BAD???? Brussel Sprouts are the
*only* veggie more delicious than eggplant.

Maybe...if you've lost your taste buds in a horrible eating accident.

I can think of several vegetables that are more delicious than
eggplant or Burssel Sprouts. Sweet Potatoes, for example, make
wonderful mashed potatoes, pie or even waffles.

I wouldn't get within 5 miles of an eggplant waffle. Yech.

I'm nursing a horrendous cold with Guangxi green tea today. Ugh.

Sorry to hear that. Stay warm and comfortable.

I'll try. Thanks.

Michael



--
Derek

"If you're at a urinal, and the Senate Majority Leader steps up to the
urinal next to you, make sure you stop peeing before turning to shake
his hand." -- Max Weinberg

Alex Chaihorsky wrote:

1. I never drunk any horse ****, so can't help you here. Now, about horse

That was the point behind the "... as horse **** smells" qualification.

**** smell. Having been around horses quite a lot during my Siberian geology
years I can tell you one thing - there are probably few substances in the
world that smell that diversified. And mainly dependant on the animal's
diet. None of which (the smells), I dare to say, are disgusting.

Back in my Texas geology days, our fantasies were mostly aimed at beer.

For your virtual collection of smells I will testify that a Cossack horse
that grazed upon fresh mountain grass on alpine meadows around Hangar
volcano on my beloved Kamchatka Peninsula leave a smell of its urine that is
unmistakably strong smell of a freshly cut just baked rye bread. So much so,
that the gentlemen who accompany these horses on their hard journeys across
the mountains for months, as I did, would stop their monotonous and
exhausting walk, lift their heads and inhale that smell with joy and hope of

I'm afraid I find that recollection profoundly disturbing, Sasha. I will
stop and savor the smells of cedars, Chinese restaurants, leather shops,
wildflowers, and pine needles but tend to pass by urine without stopping
(although my dog seems to share your interest). And tell me, what are
Cossacks doing in Kamchatka anyway? Or is it just their horses?

RC Or is it "as"? Will any of you non-native English speakers, who seem to
RC be the only ones who know the rules of grammar these days, correct me if
RC necessary?

2. Your passage about non-native English speakers is a bit alarming. Have we
been that annoying in our misuse of the language of Shakespeare and Chaucer
so that you felt compelled to hint us of our shortcomings?

The reverse. Americans seem to be the ones with pronoun-ced deficiencies in
knowledge of parts of speech.

Everyone whose pu-erh has equinouric notes, send them to Sasha! Especially
if they're of the Cossack variety.

Best,

Rick.

If it rolls off the table it's not a toucha. A real toucha can only
wobble. No fair splicing two together and claiming it is a toucha
baseball. What happens to that missing center? Is there a Chinese
version of the street shell game?

Jim

Lewis Perin wrote:
Patrick Heinze writes:

[...]

Ater I read so much about Pu Erh in this NG I decided to give it a
2nd
try. I just stumbled over it, not in a teashop though, but in a
local
imported goods shop. I got a kind of pressed 'teaball', about 1,5
cm
in diameter...well...not really a ball, but pressed and small,
though
^-^
Anyone knows what this is? Is that one of the 'cakes' read aout?

No, cakes (bingcha/beengcha/beencha) are more or less flat discs,
though they're much thicker than e.g. a DVD. What you have is a
tuancha.

/Lew
---
Lew Perin /
http://www.panix.com/~perin/babelcarp.html

On Wed, 08 Dec 2004 13:02:03 GMT, "Robert Wright"
wrote:

"Mydnight" wrote in message
.. .

Now, someone responded while quoting just "Ensign Pulver" and making
it plural. That is, "Ensign Pulver"s.

This does not look correct to me. So, what is the proper way to make a
singular quotation into a plural?

Heh. You're the one who admitted to the English education.

Using the apostrophe doesn't make it plural, it denotes possession.
The pluralized form of it would be Ensign Pulvers', but I don't think
you can pluralize a person. heh.


I thought the plural would be 'Ensigns Pulver'. No?

beats me, I give up. heh.




Mydnight

--------------------
thus then i turn me from my countries light, to dwell in the solemn shades of an endless night.