The Off Topic Topic

[Grey Fox]

I just found out that the US sends military aid to Vietnam.

The War on Drugs, eh?

[Valmy]

I just found out that the US sends military aid to Vietnam.

Yeah that went so well the last time. What could go wrong just sending them a few helicopters and advisers...

[Josquius]

what's up with your francophobia 

I have to listen to it every day.

Not really an answer. Half of my team is French and frequently speak French to one another.

I have to hear it every day and the unspoken self evident part of the post- it is an irritating, ugly language.

I miss japanese, swedish and even Dutch.  Would have liked to learn them.

[Valmy]

I have to hear it every day and the unspoken self evident part of the post- it is an irritating, ugly language.

Why would such a wrong-headed opinion, so against all decent taste and common sense, be self-evident?

[Duque de Bragança]

I have to hear it every day and the unspoken self evident part of the post- it is an irritating, ugly language.

Why would such a wrong-headed opinion, so against all decent taste and common sense, be self-evident?

Little Englander factor. 

[Razgovory]

I just found out that the US sends military aid to Vietnam.

The War on Drugs, eh?

Looks like it's to box China in.  It's not a lot of aid, it seems to be based around educating Vietnamese officers in English, but it still seems weird.

[Grey Fox]

what's up with your francophobia 

I have to listen to it every day.

Not really an answer. Half of my team is French and frequently speak French to one another.

I have to hear it every day and the unspoken self evident part of the post- it is an irritating, ugly language.

I miss japanese, swedish and even Dutch.  Would have liked to learn them.

You speak English! Basically the sound grinding teeth together makes!

[Josquius]

I have to hear it every day and the unspoken self evident part of the post- it is an irritating, ugly language.

Why would such a wrong-headed opinion, so against all decent taste and common sense, be self-evident?

The Germanic languages, though generally not 'pretty' in the conventional sense of the word, have a certain logical beauty to them.. They also have this fraternal pseudo-English factor about them which just tugs at the ears and says "You should understand this".
The true romance languages (Spanish & Italian)...Now they are pretty. They have a wonderful free-flowing almost sing song quality to them. They're passionate yet relaxed. They're exotic but still vaguely familiar. Which is a tantalising combination. A pretty girl speaking these languages is one of the most wonderful things in the world.

French....French has none of this. Its the ugly middle child. It lacks the flowing beauty of its southern brethren and it is completely berift of the logical kool that makes the Germanic languages so fascinating. Its just there. Clearing its throat and mumbling, conjugating one word into another for no good reason.

[Josquius]

You speak English! Basically the sound grinding teeth together makes!

You don't have to be Lionel Messi to say Joey Barton sucks

[Jacob]

The Germanic languages, though generally not 'pretty' in the conventional sense of the word, have a certain logical beauty to them.. They also have this fraternal pseudo-English factor about them which just tugs at the ears and says "You should understand this".
The true romance languages (Spanish & Italian)...Now they are pretty. They have a wonderful free-flowing almost sing song quality to them. They're passionate yet relaxed. They're exotic but still vaguely familiar. Which is a tantalising combination. A pretty girl speaking these languages is one of the most wonderful things in the world.

French....French has none of this. Its the ugly middle child. It lacks the flowing beauty of its southern brethren and it is completely berift of the logical kool that makes the Germanic languages so fascinating. Its just there. Clearing its throat and mumbling, conjugating one word into another for no good reason.

How lettowesque.

[Tamas]

what's up with your francophobia 

I have to listen to it every day.

Not really an answer. Half of my team is French and frequently speak French to one another.

I have to hear it every day and the unspoken self evident part of the post- it is an irritating, ugly language.

I miss japanese, swedish and even Dutch.  Would have liked to learn them.

Oi, mate, pickin' on da ol' French a' ya? Is al good bruv, 'avin a laugh n' all, bot les be honest: the queen's own ain't something to frame on the wall now innit?!

[Barrister]

what's up with your francophobia 

I have to listen to it every day.

Not really an answer. Half of my team is French and frequently speak French to one another.

I have to hear it every day and the unspoken self evident part of the post- it is an irritating, ugly language.

I miss japanese, swedish and even Dutch.  Would have liked to learn them.

Oi, mate, pickin' on da ol' French a' ya? Is al good bruv, 'avin a laugh n' all, bot les be honest: the queen's own ain't something to frame on the wall now innit?!

A magyar has no right to criticize other people's languages. 

[garbon]

Oh my

[crazy canuck]

Not taking some sort of action is preferable?

Hell, why aren't we sacking university presidents and engaging in hunger strikes over global warming, or the war in Syria?  That'll show 'em.

Because we were able to elect people that took those issues more seriously 

Good thing the Tories lost, then. Saved our university presidents from sacking, and our students from starving. 

University Presidents tend to have no ability to institute policies that deal with the war in Syria.  University Presidents tend to have a great deal of influence over policies which deal with the conduct of students.  Your analogy is getting close to Marti territory circa 2000.

[Malthus]

Not taking some sort of action is preferable?

Hell, why aren't we sacking university presidents and engaging in hunger strikes over global warming, or the war in Syria?  That'll show 'em.

Because we were able to elect people that took those issues more seriously 

Good thing the Tories lost, then. Saved our university presidents from sacking, and our students from starving. 

University Presidents tend to have no ability to institute policies that deal with the war in Syria.  University Presidents tend to have a great deal of influence over policies which deal with the conduct of students.  Your analogy is getting close to Marti territory circa 2000.

Hey, I'm responding to your reply.

Thought I would disagree - university presidents have, in fact, very limited capacity to deal with acts like some nut making a "shit swastika". I'm pretty sure that each and every university president is "against" that sort of thing. The notion that, if only the "right policies" were in place, that sort of thing would not happen - lacks an air of reality.

Now it could be that these administrators are guilty of other stuff. But so far, it appears that they are catching blame for stuff no actual reasonable person could possibly think they could prevent, and I'm sorta surprised you support that.