A numbers kind of guy

[Mertex]

Thank you.
Muchas gracias.
Grazie mille.
Danke sehr.
Spacebo.
Toda toda.
Merci!

Oooooh a multi-linguist !

You're welcome
De Nada
Prego

and bla bla bla = you're welcome..

Enjoy your time here at USMB, Stat..

[MENTION=40495]AngelsNDemons[/MENTION] - thank you for the kind words!

I tend to like to use the mention function with people I really like or when I want to share an especially informative posting with a lot of people. Is that acceptable behaviour here in USMB, or is that unusual?


I really do love many different foreign languages, and for a lot of reasons. I would like to list a few to see if it resonates with people here:

1.) It's just plain old fun. I mean, lots of fun.

2.) Each language (or language group) has a certain set of phonemes that are central to that language, but heard less or perhaps even not at all in other languages. For instance, the English "th", both silent (stimmlos) and voiced (stimmhaft) doesn't even exist in German. In fact, there was once an incredibly talented comedian in German TV with the stage name of "Loriot", and his wife also played on the show. She often had a segment where she played a German newscaster who was trying to be authentic about speaking English names and always stumbled over the name "Widdlethorpe", because when Germans see a "W", they want to pronouce a "V", the American or British "r" is very hard for them, and the "th" does not even exist in their language. So, a name like "Widdlethorpe" is a form of triple-threat. This comedy shows of Loriot's have become absolute cult in Germany.

3.) There are idiomatic expressions in one language that don't necessarily translate perfectly into another, because one culture's way of looking at life is not necessarily the same as another's. For instance, au Francais (in French), the expression "Au pif" literally means "at the nose" and makes no sense when literally translated, but it is used to mean a good guestimate. When we English speakers would say "off the top of my head" to indicate a spontaneous guestimate, the french say "off the tip of my nose" and the Germans would often say, in order to guestimate, "aus dem Bauch heraus" - or "from my stomach". So, in order to express an instantaneous guestimate based on, well, essentially, intuition, three of the world's best known languages use three different parts of the body to represent "spontaneous". Kinesthetically Cool, eh?

4.) Studies are proving more and more that switching out between two or more languages during the day stimulates more and more parts of the human brain that have barely been researched, and these studies are continuing to show that going back and forth between many languages improves a person's concentration span, both in intensity and in length. In my profession (which I have decided to be a little more mute about on this forum, it was used against me on a former forum, so I have learned my lesson from that one), I often work in 5 or 6 languages a day, including weekends. My little daughter, soon to be 7 years old, is being raised bi-lingually. From me, since the very first moments of her life, she had heard and still hears only English, and from her mother, she hears German. This is something I have been very, very consistent about, in spite of the fact that most of the day, I speak German. This is also part of the reason why I contribute to English speaking boards: it keeps my mother-tongue honed-up, so to speak. And my daughter is really coming along in perfect English these days.

That doesn't mean to me that people who only speak one language are somehow limited. They are not. I know people who speak only English or only German or only Polish, etc., who are absolutely brilliant, but the ability to master more than one language can only be an added plus for anyone who decides to do the shovel-work needed to become fluent in one or more foreign language(s).

So, I just threw four ideas out there and maybe some of my newfound friends and acqaintances here in USMB can add some thoughts - pro and con.

[MENTION=31258]BDBoop[/MENTION] - glad you invited me over, a pleasure. Wait and see if I really fit in here or not.
[MENTION=46181]Davocrat[/MENTION] - one of the finest members the other forum ever had.
[MENTION=43625]Mertex[/MENTION] - I have really, really missed you. What a joy to find you again.
[MENTION=45412]Drumhead[/MENTION] - don't know you yet, hope to know you quite well with time.
[MENTION=11278]editec[/MENTION] - don't know you yet, hope to know you quite well with time.
[MENTION=39702]MisterBeale[/MENTION] - don't know you yet, hope to know you quite well with time.
[MENTION=29697]freedombecki[/MENTION] - freedom, I really like your avatar and your words about our vets!
[MENTION=41527]Pogo[/MENTION] - don't know you yet, hope to know you quite well with time.
[MENTION=43268]TemplarKormac[/MENTION] - the same, and I like your avatar very much.
[MENTION=42916]Derideo_Te[/MENTION] - my instinct tells me that you are a mega-brain. My instincts are not often wrong.
[MENTION=20452]theDoctorisIn[/MENTION] - do I come to you when I have an internet cold?
[MENTION=42649]Gracie[/MENTION] - if you are only 1/2 as sweet as bdboop, then we will get along famously.

I don't speak German well, but I can do a number in Spanish......I missed you too, so glad you're here.
Ich spreche Deutsch nicht gut - pero hablo ESPAÑOL muy bien! Bien Benido amigo...

 

[derk]

I bet I know who you are! I think both our ID's there begin with B's.

 

[Statistikhengst]

Yeah, I have useless facts that will never win me a dime on Jeopardy.

For those familiar with the song by Steely Dan called "Rikki don't lose that number" - you will know that the song takes on a whole new meaning, when you understand what they were really referring to.
There is also a quick mention of "numbers" in the Cheap Trick song "Surrender", just as another reference point.

It is payday for me, so I am especially happy about numbers (real numbers) today.

Well, I would say it's time for you to earn your pay and let the cat out of the bag over that Steely Dan comment.... Rikki, Rikki, Riki Tiki Tiki Tavvi, right?

 

[Drumhead]

Je ne sais pas.

 

[Pogo]

Thank you.
Muchas gracias.
Grazie mille.
Danke sehr.
Spacebo.
Toda toda.
Merci!

Oooooh a multi-linguist !

You're welcome
De Nada
Prego

and bla bla bla = you're welcome..

Enjoy your time here at USMB, Stat..

[MENTION=40495]AngelsNDemons[/MENTION] - thank you for the kind words!

I tend to like to use the mention function with people I really like or when I want to share an especially informative posting with a lot of people. Is that acceptable behaviour here in USMB, or is that unusual?


I really do love many different foreign languages, and for a lot of reasons. I would like to list a few to see if it resonates with people here:

1.) It's just plain old fun. I mean, lots of fun.

2.) Each language (or language group) has a certain set of phonemes that are central to that language, but heard less or perhaps even not at all in other languages. For instance, the English "th", both silent (stimmlos) and voiced (stimmhaft) doesn't even exist in German. In fact, there was once an incredibly talented comedian in German TV with the stage name of "Loriot", and his wife also played on the show. She often had a segment where she played a German newscaster who was trying to be authentic about speaking English names and always stumbled over the name "Widdlethorpe", because when Germans see a "W", they want to pronouce a "V", the American or British "r" is very hard for them, and the "th" does not even exist in their language. So, a name like "Widdlethorpe" is a form of triple-threat. This comedy shows of Loriot's have become absolute cult in Germany.

3.) There are idiomatic expressions in one language that don't necessarily translate perfectly into another, because one culture's way of looking at life is not necessarily the same as another's. For instance, au Francais (in French), the expression "Au pif" literally means "at the nose" and makes no sense when literally translated, but it is used to mean a good guestimate. When we English speakers would say "off the top of my head" to indicate a spontaneous guestimate, the french say "off the tip of my nose" and the Germans would often say, in order to guestimate, "aus dem Bauch heraus" - or "from my stomach". So, in order to express an instantaneous guestimate based on, well, essentially, intuition, three of the world's best known languages use three different parts of the body to represent "spontaneous". Kinesthetically Cool, eh?

4.) Studies are proving more and more that switching out between two or more languages during the day stimulates more and more parts of the human brain that have barely been researched, and these studies are continuing to show that going back and forth between many languages improves a person's concentration span, both in intensity and in length. In my profession (which I have decided to be a little more mute about on this forum, it was used against me on a former forum, so I have learned my lesson from that one), I often work in 5 or 6 languages a day, including weekends. My little daughter, soon to be 7 years old, is being raised bi-lingually. From me, since the very first moments of her life, she had heard and still hears only English, and from her mother, she hears German. This is something I have been very, very consistent about, in spite of the fact that most of the day, I speak German. This is also part of the reason why I contribute to English speaking boards: it keeps my mother-tongue honed-up, so to speak. And my daughter is really coming along in perfect English these days.

That doesn't mean to me that people who only speak one language are somehow limited. They are not. I know people who speak only English or only German or only Polish, etc., who are absolutely brilliant, but the ability to master more than one language can only be an added plus for anyone who decides to do the shovel-work needed to become fluent in one or more foreign language(s).

So, I just threw four ideas out there and maybe some of my newfound friends and acqaintances here in USMB can add some thoughts - pro and con.

[MENTION=31258]BDBoop[/MENTION] - glad you invited me over, a pleasure. Wait and see if I really fit in here or not.
[MENTION=46181]Davocrat[/MENTION] - one of the finest members the other forum ever had.
[MENTION=43625]Mertex[/MENTION] - I have really, really missed you. What a joy to find you again.
[MENTION=45412]Drumhead[/MENTION] - don't know you yet, hope to know you quite well with time.
[MENTION=11278]editec[/MENTION] - don't know you yet, hope to know you quite well with time.
[MENTION=39702]MisterBeale[/MENTION] - don't know you yet, hope to know you quite well with time.
[MENTION=29697]freedombecki[/MENTION] - freedom, I really like your avatar and your words about our vets!
[MENTION=41527]Pogo[/MENTION] - don't know you yet, hope to know you quite well with time.
[MENTION=43268]TemplarKormac[/MENTION] - the same, and I like your avatar very much.
[MENTION=42916]Derideo_Te[/MENTION] - my instinct tells me that you are a mega-brain. My instincts are not often wrong.
[MENTION=20452]theDoctorisIn[/MENTION] - do I come to you when I have an internet cold?
[MENTION=42649]Gracie[/MENTION] - if you are only 1/2 as sweet as bdboop, then we will get along famously.

Well, if you keep posting in that linguistic vein I'll be engaging in what seems to be called "following". (I find that term as Twitter employs it kind of psychologically iffy ). And it's quite a redemption for a guy who originally threatened to be about numbers.

I just tend to gravitate much more to letters than numbers...

My German's not nearly on par with my French, or possibly Portuguese, but then some posters don't seem to comprehend me in English, so ... always good to have options.

Very well then, you've come highly recommended. I say let him stay. All in favor?

 

[Pogo]

Yeah, I have useless facts that will never win me a dime on Jeopardy.

For those familiar with the song by Steely Dan called "Rikki don't lose that number" - you will know that the song takes on a whole new meaning, when you understand what they were really referring to.
There is also a quick mention of "numbers" in the Cheap Trick song "Surrender", just as another reference point.

It is payday for me, so I am especially happy about numbers (real numbers) today.

Really?
Wow, ya learn sump'm every day. Did not know that. Not sure if I remember the colloquial term "number". Sounds vaguely familiar but obscure.

I do know the meaning of the Royal Scam (the "city of St. John" being San Juan, Puerto Rico). I used that as a contest question on a radio station once. Got a bunch of calls but nobody figured it out. And of course we know where "Steely Dan" comes from...

Never cared for the Rikki song, just because musically weak -- now I'm going to pay more attention.

 

[Foxfyre]

I have greeted Stat to the board elsewhere but will give him a hidey ho here too. I have already proclaimed him to be fun, funny, articulate, interesting, and an asset to USMB.

Re that rep thing, if you do find somebody annoying enough you are compelled to neg rep, do read the board rules about neg repping and observe the 48-hour rule between neg reps. It is a pain in the butt for some who do like to neg rep, but it has cut down on malicious members bullying good folks off the board. In all my years I've been at USMB, I don't need all the fingers on one hand to count the neg reps I've given. I prefer to give a time out and just ignore those who are insufferable or behave in more unforgivable ways.

And I will look forward to your numbers gig at USMB. I do hope you are one of those who understands that 50% of a 100 does not carry the same weight as 50% of thousands when evaluating the significance of a statistic.

 

[Drumhead]

And of course we know where "Steely Dan" comes from...

I do. Maybe I should start a thread about song/band name meanings. I do not want to hi-jack this thread any more than I already have.

 

[Statistikhengst]

Ok, now that I've hit the magic number of 50 postings, here is a link to a thread I made in the elections section, which is a big part of why I would like to be here:

http://www.usmessageboard.com/elect...tatistics-galore-for-all-members-of-usmb.html

Take a look, enjoy the many numbers!

 

[Statistikhengst]

I have greeted Stat to the board elsewhere but will give him a hidey ho here too. I have already proclaimed him to be fun, funny, articulate, interesting, and an asset to USMB.

Re that rep thing, if you do find somebody annoying enough you are compelled to neg rep, do read the board rules about neg repping and observe the 48-hour rule between neg reps. It is a pain in the butt for some who do like to neg rep, but it has cut down on malicious members bullying good folks off the board. In all my years I've been at USMB, I don't need all the fingers on one hand to count the neg reps I've given. I prefer to give a time out and just ignore those who are insufferable or behave in more unforgivable ways.

And I will look forward to your numbers gig at USMB. I do hope you are one of those who understands that 50% of a 100 does not carry the same weight as 50% of thousands when evaluating the significance of a statistic.

Indeed, indeed, indeed. Great to hear from you.

I am going to try my best to never give out a red point at all. Wait and see if that is possible.


Oh, and [MENTION=6847]Foxfyre[/MENTION], the numbers gig has begun. See posting number 49!!

 

[Statistikhengst]

And of course we know where "Steely Dan" comes from...

I do. Maybe I should start a thread about song/band name meanings. I do not want to hi-jack this thread any more than I already have.

Well, now you have whetted my interest, you can't stop now!!!

 

[BDBoop]

[MENTION=42649]Gracie[/MENTION] - if you are only 1/2 as sweet as bdboop, then we will get along famously.

Gracie and I are sisters from other mothers.

 

[Statistikhengst]

[MENTION=42649]Gracie[/MENTION] - if you are only 1/2 as sweet as bdboop, then we will get along famously.

Gracie and I are sisters from other mothers.

The Gracie and Boopie show?

The Boopie and Gracie show?

 

[Thx]

Hi!

I used to be on a forum elsewhere - and got burnt out. Haven't decided yet if I want to be on another forum at all, but a dear friend recommended this forum, so I am gonna check out usmb and see what's shaking.

I am a person who loves numbers and statistics. If you llike numbers too, then I bet we will get along famously. This may be hard to describe without sounding completely nuts, but the numbers kind of dance in my head - even while I am dreaming - and allow me to achieve a statistical overview of what is going on in the world.

I do lots of electoral statistics, but am branching out into other statistics realms as well. For me, it is totally relaxing and even helps me to have the energy to concentrate on my real profession in the outside world.

At the moment, for me, statistical probability is less important than actual statistical history of a recurring event, for instance, nuclear power plant security breaches, elections, atlantic storms or polio outbreaks in Asia - for I believe very strongly that knowing our past helps us to form our wished-for future.

I've worked pretty damned hard to be totally impassionate when it comes to numbers and not try to bend them to satisfy my own political leanings.

I am fluent in a number of languages and very much enjoy seeing other members salt-and-pepper their postings with words and phrases from a foreign language, for I believe that each language has it's own flavor and way of describing things that can't always be duplicated in another language. Did you know that the Inuits have about 20 different words for "snow" but no word for "war" in their lexicon?

Finally, I am willing to greet each person of good will with good will in kind, regardless of political leanings. Treat me well, I will definitely treat you well.

Off to the starting gate.....

Statistikhengst

Great to see you Statistikhengst and a few others I recognize!

Numbers and stats are all well and good, but how do you sing?

Thx

 

[BDBoop]

Hi!

I used to be on a forum elsewhere - and got burnt out. Haven't decided yet if I want to be on another forum at all, but a dear friend recommended this forum, so I am gonna check out usmb and see what's shaking.

I am a person who loves numbers and statistics. If you llike numbers too, then I bet we will get along famously. This may be hard to describe without sounding completely nuts, but the numbers kind of dance in my head - even while I am dreaming - and allow me to achieve a statistical overview of what is going on in the world.

I do lots of electoral statistics, but am branching out into other statistics realms as well. For me, it is totally relaxing and even helps me to have the energy to concentrate on my real profession in the outside world.

At the moment, for me, statistical probability is less important than actual statistical history of a recurring event, for instance, nuclear power plant security breaches, elections, atlantic storms or polio outbreaks in Asia - for I believe very strongly that knowing our past helps us to form our wished-for future.

I've worked pretty damned hard to be totally impassionate when it comes to numbers and not try to bend them to satisfy my own political leanings.

I am fluent in a number of languages and very much enjoy seeing other members salt-and-pepper their postings with words and phrases from a foreign language, for I believe that each language has it's own flavor and way of describing things that can't always be duplicated in another language. Did you know that the Inuits have about 20 different words for "snow" but no word for "war" in their lexicon?

Finally, I am willing to greet each person of good will with good will in kind, regardless of political leanings. Treat me well, I will definitely treat you well.

Off to the starting gate.....

Statistikhengst

Great to see you Statistikhengst and a few others I recognize!

Numbers and stats are all well and good, but how do you sing?

Thx

When you have PM capabilities, feel free to let me know if I recognize you! And welcome aboard.

 

[Thx]

Hi!

I used to be on a forum elsewhere - and got burnt out. Haven't decided yet if I want to be on another forum at all, but a dear friend recommended this forum, so I am gonna check out usmb and see what's shaking.

I am a person who loves numbers and statistics. If you llike numbers too, then I bet we will get along famously. This may be hard to describe without sounding completely nuts, but the numbers kind of dance in my head - even while I am dreaming - and allow me to achieve a statistical overview of what is going on in the world.

I do lots of electoral statistics, but am branching out into other statistics realms as well. For me, it is totally relaxing and even helps me to have the energy to concentrate on my real profession in the outside world.

At the moment, for me, statistical probability is less important than actual statistical history of a recurring event, for instance, nuclear power plant security breaches, elections, atlantic storms or polio outbreaks in Asia - for I believe very strongly that knowing our past helps us to form our wished-for future.

I've worked pretty damned hard to be totally impassionate when it comes to numbers and not try to bend them to satisfy my own political leanings.

I am fluent in a number of languages and very much enjoy seeing other members salt-and-pepper their postings with words and phrases from a foreign language, for I believe that each language has it's own flavor and way of describing things that can't always be duplicated in another language. Did you know that the Inuits have about 20 different words for "snow" but no word for "war" in their lexicon?

Finally, I am willing to greet each person of good will with good will in kind, regardless of political leanings. Treat me well, I will definitely treat you well.

Off to the starting gate.....

Statistikhengst

Great to see you Statistikhengst and a few others I recognize!

Numbers and stats are all well and good, but how do you sing?

Thx

When you have PM capabilities, feel free to let me know if I recognize you! And welcome aboard.

Well I guess I must have made a big impression on you from the other board...

Think back to that other place and it should come to you, Thx1138...?

Thx

 

[BDBoop]

Great to see you Statistikhengst and a few others I recognize!

Numbers and stats are all well and good, but how do you sing?

Thx

When you have PM capabilities, feel free to let me know if I recognize you! And welcome aboard.

Well I guess I must have made a big impression on you from the other board...

Think back to that other place and it should come to you, Thx1138...?

Thx

Woot-wooT!!! Yes!!! lol, thanks, thx! Glad to see you here.

 

[Thx]

When you have PM capabilities, feel free to let me know if I recognize you! And welcome aboard.

Well I guess I must have made a big impression on you from the other board...

Think back to that other place and it should come to you, Thx1138...?

Thx

Woot-wooT!!! Yes!!! lol, thanks, thx! Glad to see you here.

I thought it would come to you, it has been awhile since you were active over there.

You know that is the second political board I see going down that way, my previous board before that just suddenly closed up shop... on an unspoken word everyone just left and in what was I guess three days the place turned into a regular ghost town and a few months after that was gone.

I use "Thx1138" but prefer just "Thx" (pronounced "Thcks" ) if it is available.

Good deal, sick of having well thought out, well researched, backed-up posts buried under someone's endless "tit-for-tat".

Thx

 

[BDBoop]

We may be a bit of a ghost town for the holiday! Time will tell. Other than that, this place is generally crazy-busy.

 

[Statistikhengst]

Good to see this thread attracting people of good-will! That is a very, very good sign, imo.