Is the French spoken in Louisiana going extinct?
That's been said for a hundred years. Yet, one of our French immersion teachers, Kirby Jambon, (Prairie Elementary School) has been recognized by several international groups for his teaching, his poetry, and for his contributions the francophone world, specifically with regards to Louisiana French. Even the Académie française (the official "supreme court" on matters pertaining to the French language) is honoring Kirby for his work. Here's an editorial from today's (11/20/14) daily paper: French award honors teacher, validates local cultureExtinction happens with the last of a species ceases to exist, and yet, Kirby (and scores of other Louisiana French teachers) and their students continue to learn and flourish ... and keep alive the flickering flame of French. The Grammy-nominated musicians in La Bande Feufollet have been together since they were French immersion students. They play out all over Acadiana and beyond, and their parenting years are still ahead of them. You can best believe they'll talk to their kids in French. When I was program director at Vermilionville several years ago, I recruited many local French speakers to work at the living history museum. They even earned an extra (woot woot) 50 cents an hour because they were native speakers. Some of the guides and crafters were reticent about speaking their French in public, since it had been marginalized and maligned over the years. We were building a team and having fun when one sad day a bus load of French tourists showed up with their NY tour guide. By all accounts the tourists enjoyed their tours, but their guide was upset by our use of local expressions and words. She suggested we have flash cards to hold up when we said a word or phrase in Cajun or Creole French. Our director kindly pointed out that that might infer our French was somehow inferior, to which the New Yorker replied, "It is." I was especially heart broken because I'd found these wonderful people and exposed them to exactly the kind of insult that made them reluctant to share their language publicly. In an effort to mitigate circumstances, I said, "Bec mon chu. Tu comprends ça?" It broke the ice, got a laugh and it comes to mind as a reply to the question. Oh yeah. Kiss my ass!
When did the phrase "get jiggy with it" become extinct?
(from the "Urban Dictionary" at: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.ph... ) JIGGY A played out slang term from the mid to late 90's meaning getting loose or dreesing fly that was used by New Yorkers(mainly Harlem cats) before Will Smith came out with "Getting Jiggy with it". Yo dude looking Jiggy tonight with the Phat Farm sweater and the Jewalzz...or Damn you was getting Jiggy on the dance floor last night. (from http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.ph... ) 1. GETTIN' JIGGY WIT' IT - to dance, bust a move, get your "groove" on, shake the hoof OR putting the move on a member of the opposite sex with the intention of "bumpin' uglies" with them OR to be in style. He was out there on the dance floor at the reception gettin' jiggy wit' it; after the reception, both Pam & Mike went back to the hotel room and got jiggy wit' it under the bed sheets. 2. GETTIN' JIGGY WIT' IT a song written by william smith about dancing on ur mark ready set lets go/ dance floor pro, i know u know/ i go psycho, when my new joint hits/ juss cant sit/ gotta get jiggy wit it/ THATS IT!/
If the human race is racing toward extinction, as many seem to believe, does it prove or disprove the Darwinian principle of the survival of the fittest?
Darwinian principle is one thing. I didn't give much for it anytime anyway. Humans going into extinction, they may become gekko's. Jokes apart, I am working on a project, which is studying the decline in population and marriages and co-habiting behaviours in countries around the globe. It's more out if self interest than submitting it to WHO it The World Bank. Certain worrying aspects are there. All can see but can't stop. I am so much in awe of bill gates and his Microsoft and philanthropy, but knowingly or unknowingly he has flagged off the new age IT related disorders. We are nowhere near the danger zone yet. If we have to just take the count into our study, decline and increase is pretty balanced now. The worrying aspect is certain ethinic groups may become history if we don't act on it now. The Parsi community dominant in Mumbai is one such. The dwindling numbers are touching the RED. Whether it can stop,Who will call the shots?Where does one begin?Million dollar question, which is an ongoing research story for me. I find it interesting, intriguing and worrying. I see before my eyes, the world in fast motion, and know sadly within, I can't stop or freeze it. Time travel is a nice subject for a movie. But in real time, we can do very little to set things right. It involves various agencies and reports to correct. Thanks for A2A, you throw googlies once in a while, but this is a Yorker of a question, and THOUGHT!!!
Are we really running out of sand, as claimed in The New Yorker articles?
No, we aren't running out of sand.All beaches that the majority of people have experienced are artificial. They are artificially built up, and naturally washed away.Every single municipality along our coasts has a beach that is, at the very least, partially built up by artificial means. They are part of the tourism industry, and bring money into those cities and towns.It seems a silly argument that it's used to push the global warming argument. I believe the climate is changing, but it's disingenuous to treat these beeches as natural phenomena. It's rediculous to suggest that global warming is destroying beeches when those same beeches would have washed away anyway. Maybe it's happening faster now, but it doesn't matter.Until we address the guerilla in the room(population control), nothing we do to curb the poisoning of our world is going to matter.A capitalist society only does well while there is growth in the economy. We have set ourselves up for failure.How long can our economies grow along with our populations doubling every 40–70 years before we hit a point of no return?Because of tribalism, we can't agree on the time of day much less something as foreign to our sense of free will and rampant procreation as population control.We will either become extinct, or become gods.I believe it's going to get much, much worse before things ever get better. Maybe that's what it will take.
Can you get tetanus from tinfoil gum wrapping?
No. First off, tetanus is almost extinct in the US, with less than ten cases per year. Secondly, it has nothing to do with metal, or even rusty metal. Tetanus is a bacteria that can be found in the soil. So unless you picked up the gum from the dirt first, there is no chance.
What are some ways to tell a fake New Yorker apart from a real New Yorker?
The easiest way: their accents. No question. Assuming they can mimic one of the local variations, then:In Manhattan:1) they say "north" and "south"; New Yorkers say Uptown or Downtown.2) they are confused as to the direction they are facing on one-way Avenues. All New Yorkers know, for example, that Seventh Avenue heads downtown, and Third, for example, heads uptown. Get out of the subway and see which direction traffic is moving, you know which way to go.3) they say "Avenue of the Americas"; New Yorkers say "Sixth Avenue".4) Houston Street is pronounced "house-ton"5) they don't remember subway tokens6) they identify the subway line by its color (red, green, blue, etc.). New Yorkers by its number or letter (A-train, 1-train, etc.) Older New Yorkers like me may inadvertently say IRT, IND, etc (the original designations of the various lines). In fairness, that gets a look of confusion from anyone under the age of 40, even if they were born and bred New Yorkers.7) they don't know that the Borough of Manhattan is New York County, or that the Borough of Staten Island is Richmond County. Brooklyn is Kings, Queens is Queens, and the Bronx is the Bronx. And it's always "the Bronx".8) they can't give you directions to obvious landmarks. New Yorkers will give you precise directions to wherever you want to go, from wherever you are standing.9) they don't know that there are two "Mets", the Metropolitan Opera House, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. And of course the baseball team, but that is not a place. 10) they don't know that Grand Central Station is a post office (ok, many New Yorkers don't either). The train station is Grand Central Terminal. And while it's acceptable to say "Penn" when you mean Penn Station, it's never acceptable to say "Grand", but rather always "Grand Central"11) they don't realize that if you are in the outer boroughs, when people refer to "the City" they mean Manhattan, not the entire City of New York12) They call neighborhoods by their more recent fashionable names, like "Clinton" instead of "Hell's Kitchen". Real New Yorkers of a certain age will always say "Hell's Kitchen", even though we know it is gone forever (which, trust me, is a good thing)In the Outer Boroughs:No one is pretending to be a New Yorker. They all are, by birth or assimilation.
What is banana swing in cricket?
Banana swing is referred to a " fast swinging yorker " ball which follows a path similar to a typical banana which looks like a "C" shaped. Bowling a yorker itself is very difficult and bowling it in shape of banana makes it nearly impossible. Not sure but this term was first coined to describe Waqar Younis yorkers which swung similar to a trajectory of a banana and were nearly unplayable. I dont see any bowler in todays crop capable of bowling such a ball. Yorkers itself are becoming rare, banana swing are already extinct. I still remember Irfan Pathan bowling similar deliveries when he was at his peak.
Anyone know any strange facts?
. The King of Hearts is the only king without a moustache on a standard laying card. . Forest fires move faster uphill than downhill. . More people use blue toothbrushes than red ones. . During your lifetime, you'll eat about 60,000 pounds of food. . Some Ribbon Worms will eat themselves if they can't find anything to eat. . In the White House, there are 13,092 knives, forks and spoons. . Recycling one glass jar saves enough energy to watch 3 hours of T.V. . Every year, kids in North America spend close to half a billion dollars on chewing gum. . The toothpick is the most commonly choked-on item in North America. . The banana could become extinct in 10 years. . The stomach of a Hippo can grow up to 10 Feet long and hold 400 pounds of food. . Ostriches can run faster than horses and the males can roar like lions. . Fingernails grow up to four times faster than toenails.
Does a random act of kindness still exist? In this cutthroat world, I thought it’s already extinct.
Random Act of kindness is that still exist? In this cut throat world I felt it is already extinct. Yesterday I was in an antique store when someone came and offer his help and gave me all the information I need to purchase an antique artifact that interest me. This guy gave me all the information I need and maybe gave me 30-45 minutes of his time . At first being a New Yorker , I was bit shocked but then the Southern charm of North Carolinas is so special. I thought he was part of the store but he is also a shopper there. It is nice to feel this kindness sometimes. I learn my lesson , from now on I will start this random act of kindness to others as well . It did touch my heart.Truly.