gah. fuckity fuckity fuck. i lost the stylus from my phone tonight. i have spares. in england. gah
Use your dog damn finger, like ordinary mortals.
more from the midsts of (internet) time
Hur, hur, he said 'midsts.' You wanna give that spell checker a damn good kickin.'
That GPS tracking using gmail maps does look interesting. Too bad it it uses python. Maybe someone will port it to perl or php. I don't know about the serial data collection part.
I've used Microsoft streets with a notebook and a GPS device and it works fantastic. The accuracy is within yards.
What make is your anorak?
internet time is big and diffuse and has ceveral sentres. as such, it has several midsts.
i said midsts, i meant midsts
Posted by
Brock, 28th May 2005:
It is spelt right, WH, it is just an inappropriate use of the word...
Very well, I'll concede that. Unusual usage.
Posted by
Grim..., around May 2005:
Can't you buy a spare?
Or use a McDonalds coffee stirrer?
i have spares in the uk. buying spares is almost certainly an order-from-manufacturer deal. but i shall be trying
Posted by
Brock, around May 2005:
Where in the UK, Cal? Can't you get them sent to you?
Or are you not getting all your shit shipped over that side of the pond, or do you still not know if you are staying?
Posted by
Emma, around May 2005:
"lost in the midsts of time" would be appropriate.
[edit] oh bugger, now I'm in a "logged in as Emma but actually Alfie" thing.
Posted by
Brock, around May 2005:
Don't talk shit, Alfie/Emma mutant two-into-one person.
Definition
in the midst of sth
in the middle of an event, situation or activity:
I'm afraid I'm too busy - I'm in the midst of writing up a report.
The country is in the midst of an economic crisis.
Are you suggesting that Cal wasn't trying to say "Lost in the far distant and vague past", but rather "Lost in the middle of something".
Care to capitulate? Or do you consider time to be an event, situation or activity?
i meant in the middle of internet time. somewhere in the nineties. innit.
Posted by
Brock, around May 2005:
Hmmmm.
/me watches Cal reach for the straw...
Posted by
WarHead, around May 2005:
.. boater? He'd look very fetching in one.
(/me waits for some smart-arse to 'shop such a thing.)
Do you remember when they put a bounty on Kofi Annan's head?
Posted by
WarHead, around May 2005:
No, when exactly was that?
Posted by
ellipse, around May 2005:
historical research has it at 20 minutes ago
Posted by
WarHead, around May 2005:
No, it doesn't.
"lost in the midsts of time" IS an appropriate use of the word midsts.
just three from the first google page:
"The exact origins of the church are lost in the midsts of time"
"The origins of the annual Ashbourne Shrovetide football game have long been lost in the midsts of time"
"perhaps the recipes are out there, lost in the midsts of time"
so there :P
It's a fairly common phrase brock.
Some people say "lost in the mists of time" but I imagine one is a corruption of the other.
Nobody ever says 'Dog Damn' though.
Posted by
Brock, around May 2005:
I'd be prepared to accept that it is a fairly common
mistake, Alfie, like people saying 'Arctic' for the abbreviation of Articulated Lorry, for example. However, no matter how common you think it is (I've never heard it myself) ít doesn't make it right.
The definition is clear, and 'midsts of time' would have to mean 'in the middle of time' and being as we have only (at best) a vague idea when time started this is clearly impossible to quantify. That is assuming that you can, as I stated earlier, see time as an event, situation or activity. Of the four online dictionaries I looked at, and my home dictionary, the definition is of "middle" of a tangible period. Cal's attempt to worm his way out seems to be the closest to making the expression valid, but it is clearly very tenuous.
For reference:
dictionary.reference.com/se...
www.askoxford.com/results/?...
Interesting, really. I imagine that the most likely cause of the misuse of the word has, as you suggest, been from mis-hearing/pronouncing "mists of time". It wouldn't be the first time an expression became considered correct merely through volume of usage, though.
I mean, take "america! Land of the free!" for example. This is obviously a corruption of the more correct: "america! land of the fat arrogant cunts!"
Clearly.
Posted by
Gary, around June 2005:
Hmm.
Posted by
Grim..., around June 2005:
What a thrilling thread =]
Posted by
WarHead, around June 2005:
1. I write 'dog damn' quite a lot, because I prefer not to blaspheme, even though I am not a religious person.
2. Trust Brock to run with this one. It was just supposed to be a bit of fun, not a spin off from the English Debates in flickr.
3. I also have been known to say, 'A God is for life, not just for Christmas,' but I'm sure someone else said it first.
Racism.
I hate all americans because of the actions of the American Government. God, I love the English at the moment. Even if it's got nothing to do with the actions of a government, to judge people based on a stereotype has to be a big load of rubbish, yes?
Oh, all English people have a stiff upper lip and don't like talking about their emotions. Go on, folks, shatter those illusions. Don't live in a grotesque parody world of stereotypes. Just think what would happen if the wind changed.
O and do not worry Brock. I know you were taking the piss if that's going to be your defense.
Posted by
Brock, around June 2005:
NO. I
really hate americans...
;)
And Mr Head, I ran with it because it became interesting. After the initial obligatory Alfie abuse, it became a discussion, rather than an argument. Or at least from my end.
If you are not a religious person, then surely you can't blaspheme, because you aren't taking anyone's name in vain. You are just using a word, as God (and Jesus, etc) is a fictional character. The way I have always argued it, is that it has no more significance that saying "Blimey Riley!". It has always irritated me that religious sorts expect me to respect their viewpoint, but don't allow me the same or factor how I act to
my value system rather than theirs.
Yeah, i'm with Brockles, I hate the yanks too.
Remember Doc, Sweeping generalisations is where it's at.
Posted by
ellipse, around June 2005:
i hate cockroaches, yeah i agree with Vic and Brock
Sorry. I was well drunk and on a bit of a rant.
Posted by
WarHead, around June 2005:
Brock, I take your point about my inability to blaspheme, but I'd prefer not to offend anyone who is religious as I respect their right to their beliefs .... even if they are mad God botherers.
Posted by
WarHead, around June 2005:
Nah, it's just the Doc with an ill-fitting hoody.
he should buy a shiny new one at bluewater this weekend