Don't worry, I'm not gonna start any sword fights. I'm over that phase.

Mal ,'War Stories'


Natter 64: Yes, we still need you  

Off-topic discussion. Wanna talk about corsets, duct tape, or physics? This is the place. Detailed discussion of any current-season TV must be whitefonted.


Strix - Dec 03, 2009 10:13:14 am PST #22717 of 30001
A dress should be tight enough to show you're a woman but loose enough to flee from zombies. — Ginger

Polars bears don't hibernate, I'd think.

Then I'd think "There is no "bear" in "hibernate." Then I'd think, "What the fuck country did the Romans call Hibernia?Was it Scotland? Or Ireland? And what's the connection between why that country was called Hibernia and the word "hibernate?"

I am possibly not helpful.


javachik - Dec 03, 2009 10:14:54 am PST #22718 of 30001
Our wings are not tired.

Ha! You guys have been great, thanks. So the new proposed ad for our pain patch (which sends the pain into "hibernation") has a giant polar bear entering an ice den, the top of which segues into the dermal layers. Anyway, the first thing I thought was "polar bears don't hibernate" and let our marketing dept know. I'm just not sure if it's something that is going to catch the attention of anyone but Buffistas. I told my boss she owes me $5 if this campaign ends up being changed because of this issue.

As did I. TBH, I'd be kind of annoyed if I saw that ad, with a possible addition of shaky-fist at the propagation of erroneous information.

And this is my worry.


flea - Dec 03, 2009 10:15:12 am PST #22719 of 30001
information libertarian

And I'd look it up in the OED and reply that hibernate is from a latin verb meaning "to winter" and has an adjectival form "wintry," and if you grew up in Rome Ireland would seen damned wintry to you, too.


-t - Dec 03, 2009 10:15:51 am PST #22720 of 30001
I am a woman of various inclinations and only some of the time are they to burn everything down in frustration

"What the fuck country did the Romans call Hibernia?Was it Scotland? Or Ireland? And what's the connection between why that country was called Hibernia and the word "hibernate?"

Ha! I went there, too (with a sidetrack to Hibernia Nat'l Bank in NO), but it wasn't quite my first thought...


meara - Dec 03, 2009 10:16:17 am PST #22721 of 30001

Ok, wait, if the polar bear is my pain and it's hibernating, yeah my reaction is"does that mean it's coming back, MEAN and LEAN and HUNGRY?". Also, because of b.org I would giggle at the polar bear reference. And if it was a cartoon think of coke.


flea - Dec 03, 2009 10:17:22 am PST #22722 of 30001
information libertarian

Oh, except the OED derives Hibernia from Greek or Old Celtic (Iverna), and not the latin at all. That's weird. False etymology by the Romans, woot!


§ ita § - Dec 03, 2009 10:17:25 am PST #22723 of 30001
Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.

Can't they just use another type of bear? I just worry that the poor bear is being euthanised, or forced into somnolence. They're nasty buggers, but I don't associate them with the solitary concept of pain.

"Qi" is "chi," for the record. I think if you don't already have a strong tai chi preference taking the class is the best way to make up your mind.


Calli - Dec 03, 2009 10:19:31 am PST #22724 of 30001
I must obey the inscrutable exhortations of my soul—Calvin and Hobbs

I think if you don't already have a strong tai chi preference taking the class is the best way to make up your mind.

True. And the closer the class is, the more likely I am to actually make it there.


DavidS - Dec 03, 2009 10:19:55 am PST #22725 of 30001
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."

Speaking of Matilda and "Motherfucker" she had an interesting moment the other night.

On Monday she'd had a bad time of it during her doctor visit, getting held down for the nasal spray vaccination for seasonal flu and then a shot in the thigh for H1N1. She was really upset about being held down, particularly the nasal spray.

Then on Tuesday night she had a hangnail on her thumb that had ripped almost down to the quick. We just needed to trim it off before it got worse, but coming so quickly on the doctor appointment she was wild with anger about being held still to have it clipped.

When we released her she was shaking with fury and pointed an accusing finger at JZ and spat out, "You!" Now I've seen lots of angry, furious and out of control little kids. Emmett had some epic tantrums.

But this was different. If lightning could be generated solely by fury JZ would've been incinerated on the spot.

I wonder what was so distinctive about it, and I guess it was Matilda's self-possession. She wasn't out of control. Her fury was all contained and concentrated and her death glare was molten.

We were a little taken aback. If she had super powers we would've been dead.


flea - Dec 03, 2009 10:24:53 am PST #22726 of 30001
information libertarian

Did you know the word hideosity is first attested in 1807? Love.