17165. Macnas - 10/24/2005 9:22:08 AM What you need jex, is a little time off! 17166. jayackroyd - 10/24/2005 2:33:09 PM Some guy named Ralph from Michigan with a weird predeliction for caviar metaphors has a letter in today's NYTimes. 17167. Macnas - 10/24/2005 4:03:09 PM Too many caviar metaphors are bad for your health.
The sturgeon general says so. 17168. alistairconnor - 10/24/2005 4:33:21 PM That's wonderfully awful Mac...
The problem with stuff that gets me shaking with laughter, is that there's no way in the world I can explain it to my French office mates. So it just reinforces my reputation for weirdness.
(otherwise well-earned I might add) 17169. alistairconnor - 10/24/2005 4:37:34 PM The other thing that cracked me up today, I read in the Guardian sports section. This soccer commentator Rodney Marsh, explaining a bad-taste joke with the coach ended his international career :
Basically, before one match, he said to me "I'll be watching you for the first 45 minutes and if you don't work harder I'll pull you off at halftime." And I said, "Christ, we only get a cup of tea and oranges at Fulham!" And that's the last time I played for England.
It just doesn't survive translation. 17170. Macnas - 10/24/2005 4:40:41 PM Heard that before, still gets a chuckle. 17171. jayackroyd - 10/24/2005 5:29:13 PM Ralph's letter
Good job, wonk. 17172. jayackroyd - 10/24/2005 5:30:38 PM It scarcely makes its way into American English. I had to read it three times before I understood the double entendre. 17173. judithathome - 10/24/2005 6:33:14 PM Ah....now it's funny. 17174. Max Macks - 10/24/2005 6:49:37 PM lurk 17175. jayackroyd - 10/24/2005 7:10:55 PM yeah, I was trying to get the tea and oranges thing to make sense, but it wasn't the tea and oranges that were being jerked, um, around there. 17176. thoughtful - 10/24/2005 7:49:22 PM oh I get it...a little slow, but also unfamiliar with that little phrase.
Like the time after a large restaurant dinner with a brit friend of ours I declared, "I'm stuffed." and he looked appalled. Heck, how did I know what i was saying.
I mean this is the country where they advertise pasties all over the place. 17177. thoughtful - 10/24/2005 7:49:54 PM little did i know about fanny packs either.
17178. jayackroyd - 10/24/2005 8:01:14 PM I think I've been a little too oblique. Folks, please note that wonkers letter to the editor to the NYTimes did indeed run today, and is linked in 17171. My congratulations. 17179. PelleNilsson - 10/24/2005 8:09:59 PM I still don't understand it.
Btw, Ralph is a variation of the fine traditional Norse name Rolf. It was a Rolf who colonized Normandie.
On renewed reflection, maybe I do understand, but I'm too shy to ask. 17180. Magoseph - 10/24/2005 8:17:40 PM I still don't understand it
I didn't, but luckily I have a friend in Fort Worth. Even though, it took a while before I got it.
Wonks, congrats on your fine article. 17181. Ms. No - 10/24/2005 8:46:16 PM For the timid:
pull you off = jerk you off
My work here is done. 17182. thoughtful - 10/24/2005 8:50:43 PM congrats wonks! not easy to get a letter to the ed in the nyt!
good job! 17183. judithathome - 10/24/2005 9:30:32 PM Yes, wonks, in the discussion of the joke, I forgot to comgratulate you on your letter. I'm impressed! 17191. Macnas - 10/25/2005 12:36:52 PM Hello Mago.
|