• Calculators

    From Björn Felten@2:203/2 to All on Wed Dec 8 13:24:20 2021
    I saw a funny thing on Twitter (I think) some time ago. Someone posted "Before we had calculators we used" and then photos of ABBA and Kiss.

    Nobody seemed to get it. Many didn't even recognize the groups. And those who did, still didn't get it.

    I guess they were all into that Brandon stuff...


    ..

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  • From Dale Shipp@1:261/1466 to BjöRn Felten on Thu Dec 9 01:17:00 2021
    On 12-08-21 13:24, Bj”rn Felten <=-
    spoke to All about Calculators <=-


    I saw a funny thing on Twitter (I think) some time ago.
    Someone posted "Before we had calculators we used" and then
    photos of ABBA and Kiss.

    Nobody seemed to get it. Many didn't even recognize the
    groups. And those who did, still didn't get it.

    I might not have recognized a photo of ABBA, but do seem to remember
    Kiss -- and don't think that anyone could not recognize their wierd
    makeup.

    But as a mathematician, I do get the pun. You have to say the words
    outloud.

    I guess they were all into that Brandon stuff...

    Who is she?

    Dale Shipp
    fido_261_1466 (at) verizon (dot) net
    (1:261/1466)


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  • From Michiel van der Vlist@2:280/5555 to Björn Felten on Thu Dec 9 10:27:12 2021
    Hello Bj”rn,

    On Wednesday December 08 2021 13:24, you wrote to All:

    I saw a funny thing on Twitter (I think) some time ago. Someone posted "Before we had calculators we used" and then photos of ABBA and Kiss.

    Nobody seemed to get it. Many didn't even recognize the groups. And those who did, still didn't get it.

    I sure would recognise ABBA and Kiss on a picture, but I don't get it either. I guess it is one of those jokes that have difficulty making it across a language or cultural barrier.

    I guess they were all into that Brandon stuff...

    Never heard about Brandon...


    Cheers, Michiel

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  • From Björn Felten@2:203/2 to Dale Shipp on Thu Dec 9 11:13:09 2021
    But as a mathematician, I do get the pun. You have to say the words outloud.

    You got it! I knew that we had smarter people here in Fidonet than they have on Twitter, :)

    I guess they were all into that Brandon stuff...

    Who is she?

    LOL! Yes indeed...



    ..

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  • From Björn Felten@2:203/2 to Michiel van der Vlist on Thu Dec 9 11:21:19 2021
    MvdV> I guess it is one of those jokes that have difficulty making it across a
    MvdV> language or cultural barrier.

    No, I don't think you so. It's pretty universal.

    I guess they were all into that Brandon stuff...

    MvdV> Never heard about Brandon...

    It seems to some word famous USAian thing.



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  • From Björn Felten@2:203/2 to Michiel van der Vlist on Thu Dec 9 11:26:50 2021
    MvdV> I guess it is one of those jokes that have difficulty making it across a
    MvdV> language or cultural barrier.

    Come to think of it, it gets even better in German and much much better in Dutch. 8-)



    ..

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  • From Ward Dossche@2:292/854 to Michiel van der Vlist on Fri Dec 10 00:47:21 2021
    Michiel,

    I sure would recognise ABBA and Kiss on a picture, but I don't get it either. I guess it is one of those jokes that have difficulty making it across a language or cultural barrier.

    Read it out loud .... Abacus ...

    I guess they were all into that Brandon stuff...

    Never heard about Brandon...

    Something else our US-brethren and sisters think the whole world understands, and is even remotely interested in ... that's 4% of the world's population ...

    \%/@rd
    --- DB4 - Dec 5 2021
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  • From Ward Dossche@2:292/854 to Björn Felten on Fri Dec 10 00:49:48 2021
    MvdV> I guess it is one of those jokes that have difficulty making it
    MvdV> across a language or cultural barrier.

    Come to think of it, it gets even better in German and much much
    better in Dutch. 8-)

    The Antwerp-dialect tops it all ...

    \%/@rd
    --- DB4 - Dec 5 2021
    * Origin: Hou het veilig, hou vol. Het komt allemaal weer goed (2:292/854)
  • From Edmund Wong@1:153/7083 to Björn Felten on Fri Dec 10 10:17:28 2021
    You got it! I knew that we had smarter people here in Fidonet than
    they have on Twitter, :)

    Kinda reminds me of that Chris Farley movie which he hands over the latest technology to this guy. The box has the word "Sucaba" making it sound
    legit and awesome...

    Edmund

    ... The person who snores the loudest will fall asleep first

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  • From Michiel van der Vlist@2:280/5555 to Dale Shipp on Fri Dec 10 13:29:00 2021
    Hello Dale,

    On Thursday December 09 2021 01:17, you wrote to Bj”Rn Felten:

    But as a mathematician, I do get the pun. You have to say the words outloud.

    That's the first hurdle. How DOES one say it out loud? What I find difficult about English is the gap between the written and the spoken form. For me as a non native speaker it is next to impossible to link the one to the other. When "fish "is written as "ghoti", when "glochester" is pronounced as "gloster", worchester as "wooster" and "fetherstonehenge" as "fenshaw", how does one pronounce "ABBAKiss"? The written and the spoken form of English are almost two different languages. To me ABBAKiss" does not sound like "Abacus" at all.

    Next hurdle: I call the device a "telraam". While in Dutch it is also known as an "abakus" that is not a word I would use. I associate it with Latin.

    Last hurdle: when you were to ask me what I used before there were calculators, I would have answered "pen and paper" because that is how I learned it back then. I have seen a "telraam" but I have never used it. I do not know how to use it. To me it is an archaic device that was used /before/ they had pen and paper.

    Too many hurdles to bridge the language and cultural differences.


    Cheers, Michiel

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  • From Michiel van der Vlist@2:280/5555 to Björn Felten on Fri Dec 10 13:24:10 2021
    Hello Bj”rn,

    On Thursday December 09 2021 11:26, you wrote to me:

    MvdV>> I guess it is one of those jokes that have difficulty making it
    MvdV>> across a language or cultural barrier.

    Come to think of it, it gets even better in German and much much
    better in Dutch. 8-)

    Sory, you have lost me. Of course when you have to explain a joke....


    Cheers, Michiel

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  • From Michiel van der Vlist@2:280/5555 to Ward Dossche on Fri Dec 10 13:25:31 2021
    Hello Ward,

    On Friday December 10 2021 00:47, you wrote to me:

    I sure would recognise ABBA and Kiss on a picture, but I don't get
    it either. I guess it is one of those jokes that have difficulty
    making it across a language or cultural barrier.

    Read it out loud .... Abacus ...

    Abacus does not sound like "ABBAKiss" to me. But then I have never heard the spoken form of either.


    Cheers, Michiel

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  • From Kurt Weiske@1:218/700 to Dale Shipp on Thu Dec 9 06:52:00 2021
    Dale Shipp wrote to BjöRn Felten <=-

    I might not have recognized a photo of ABBA, but do seem to remember
    Kiss -- and don't think that anyone could not recognize their wierd makeup.

    Just because the two ladies went a little heavy with the eye shadow doesn't mean you couldn't tell Agnetha from Anni-Frid.


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  • From Kurt Weiske@1:218/700 to Michiel van der Vlist on Thu Dec 9 06:53:00 2021
    Michiel van der Vlist wrote to Björn Felten <=-

    I guess they were all into that Brandon stuff...

    Never heard about Brandon...

    She did that song "Gloria", didn't she?

    Oh, that's Laura Brannigan.


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  • From Dan Clough@1:123/115 to Michiel van der Vlist on Fri Dec 10 09:07:00 2021
    Michiel van der Vlist wrote to Ward Dossche <=-

    I sure would recognise ABBA and Kiss on a picture, but I don't get
    it either. I guess it is one of those jokes that have difficulty
    making it across a language or cultural barrier.

    Read it out loud .... Abacus ...

    Abacus does not sound like "ABBAKiss" to me.

    Then you're not doing it correctly.

    But then I have never heard the spoken form of either.

    So, how would you know if they sound alike?

    Your second sentence invalidates your first.



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  • From Dale Shipp@1:261/1466 to Michiel Van Der Vlist on Sat Dec 11 01:41:00 2021
    On 12-10-21 13:29, Michiel Van Der Vlist <=-
    spoke to Dale Shipp about Calculators <=-

    But as a mathematician, I do get the pun. You have to say the words outloud.

    MVDV> That's the first hurdle. How DOES one say it out loud? What I find
    MVDV> difficult about English is the gap between the written and the spoken
    MVDV> form. For me as a non native speaker it is next to
    MVDV> impossible to link the one to the other. When "fish "is
    MVDV> written as "ghoti", when "glochester" is pronounced as
    MVDV> "gloster", worchester as "wooster" and "fetherstonehenge"
    MVDV> as "fenshaw", how does one pronounce "ABBAKiss"? The
    MVDV> written and the spoken form of English are almost two
    MVDV> different languages. To me ABBAKiss" does not sound like
    MVDV> "Abacus" at all.

    You are right in your comments.

    MVDV> Next hurdle: I call the device a "telraam". While in Dutch
    MVDV> it is also known as an "abakus" that is not a word I would
    MVDV> use. I associate it with Latin.

    MVDV> Last hurdle: when you were to ask me what I used before there were
    MVDV> calculators, I would have answered "pen and paper" because
    MVDV> that is how I learned it back then. I have seen a
    MVDV> "telraam" but I have never used it. I do not know how to
    MVDV> use it. To me it is an archaic device that was used
    MVDV> /before/ they had pen and paper.

    MVDV> Too many hurdles to bridge the language and cultural differences.

    That is even true for English speaking countries. It has been said
    that America and Great Britain are two countries separated by a common language.

    Humor (AKA Humour), especially puns, is something that often does not
    cross the boundary between any two countries.

    Dale Shipp
    fido_261_1466 (at) verizon (dot) net
    (1:261/1466)



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  • From Dale Shipp@1:261/1466 to Kurt Weiske on Sat Dec 11 01:47:02 2021
    On 12-09-21 06:52, Kurt Weiske <=-
    spoke to Dale Shipp about Re: Calculators <=-


    Dale Shipp wrote to BjöRn Felten <=-

    I might not have recognized a photo of ABBA, but do seem to remember
    Kiss -- and don't think that anyone could not recognize their wierd makeup.

    Just because the two ladies went a little heavy with the eye shadow doesn't mean you couldn't tell Agnetha from Anni-Frid.

    I have no idea who you are talking about.

    Dale Shipp
    fido_261_1466 (at) verizon (dot) net
    (1:261/1466)



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  • From Björn Felten@2:203/2 to Michiel van der Vlist on Sat Dec 11 10:14:59 2021
    MvdV> To me it is an archaic device that was used /before/ they had pen and
    MvdV> paper.

    To a lot of people all, over the world, it's still the preferred way to do everyday calculations -- such as in market places. It's also been demonstrated over and over again, that it's faster and less prone to mistakes, than a modern calculator. Especially today, when most "calculators" are touch screen apps...



    ..

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  • From Michiel van der Vlist@2:280/5555 to Dale Shipp on Sat Dec 11 10:18:07 2021
    Hello Dale,

    On Saturday December 11 2021 01:47, you wrote to Kurt Weiske:

    I might not have recognized a photo of ABBA, but do seem to
    remember Kiss -- and don't think that anyone could not recognize
    their wierd makeup.

    Just because the two ladies went a little heavy with the eye
    shadow doesn't mean you couldn't tell Agnetha from Anni-Frid.

    I have no idea who you are talking about.

    ABBA > Agneta, Bj”rn, Benny, Anni-Frid.

    Agneta and Anni-Frid are the female members of ABBA. You were refering to the make up of Kiss, not ABBA. Kurt is mixing it up.


    Cheers, Michiel
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  • From Michiel van der Vlist@2:280/5555 to Dan Clough on Sat Dec 11 10:22:26 2021
    Hello Dan,

    On Friday December 10 2021 09:07, you wrote to me:

    I sure would recognise ABBA and Kiss on a picture, but I don't
    get it either. I guess it is one of those jokes that have
    difficulty making it across a language or cultural barrier.

    Read it out loud .... Abacus ...

    Abacus does not sound like "ABBAKiss" to me.

    Then you're not doing it correctly.

    So you say. But where is the authoritive source on the pronounciation of "ABBAKiss"?

    But then I have never heard the spoken form of either.

    So, how would you know if they sound alike?

    Your second sentence invalidates your first.

    You are missing the point. Which is that the pun only works for those who pronounce "ABBAKiss" as "Abacus". Which is not true for most non-native English speakers and probably not true even for some native English speakers.

    Making jokes cross language and cultural difference is very difficult.


    Cheers, Michiel
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  • From Michiel van der Vlist@2:280/5555 to Dale Shipp on Sat Dec 11 12:23:39 2021
    Hello Dale,

    On Saturday December 11 2021 01:41, you wrote to me:

    Humor (AKA Humour), especially puns, is something that often does not cross the boundary between any two countries.

    Exactly my point.


    Cheers, Michiel

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  • From Ward Dossche@2:292/854 to Michiel van der Vlist on Sat Dec 11 14:10:52 2021
    Making jokes cross language and cultural difference is very difficult.

    Lee Lofaso is a joke ...

    \%/@rd

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  • From Michiel van der Vlist@2:280/5555 to Björn Felten on Sat Dec 11 23:03:33 2021
    Hello Bj”rn,

    On Saturday December 11 2021 10:14, you wrote to me:

    MvdV>> To me it is an archaic device that was used /before/ they had
    MvdV>> pen and paper.

    To a lot of people all, over the world, it's still the preferred
    way to do everyday calculations -- such as in market places.

    Really? I do not have enough data to challenge your claim, all I can say is that I have never seen someone actually /use/ an abacus. But then I have not seen all of the world.

    It's also been demonstrated over and over again, that it's faster and
    less prone to mistakes, than a modern calculator. Especially today,
    when most "calculators" are touch screen apps...

    There is a problem with these "modern" calculators that might explain for the errors, at least when the user grew up with classic calculators.

    The "classic" calculator has a keyboard with 7 8 9 at the top and 1 2 3 just above the 0. The "modern" calculator, whose prime functionality is a telephone has 1 2 3 at the top and 7 8 9 at the bottom just above the 0.

    7 8 9 1 2 3
    4 5 6 vs 4 5 6
    1 2 3 7 8 9
    0 0

    The latter arrangement is a relic from the rotary telephone dial where zero comes after 9. On a rotary dial the "zero" is actually a "ten". The dial mechanism generates ten pulses when dialing a "zero".

    Cheers, Michiel

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  • From David Drummond@3:640/305 to Ward Dossche on Sun Dec 12 11:05:12 2021
    On 11/12/2021 23:10, Ward Dossche : Michiel van der Vlist wrote:
    Making jokes cross language and cultural difference is very difficult.

    Lee Lofaso is a joke ...

    I don't get it....

    --
    Regards
    David

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