User Comments - Tal

Posted on: Jewish Holiday

As I said, a convention. I think it was extended to any word used to represent Yahweh. As you can see from the biblical quotation below, he was/is a deity too terrible to be looked upon. It came to be thought that even naming him (in full) was disrespectful. In fact the tradition was (again, according to my understanding) simply to speak of 'the Lord' and never 'Yahweh'.

Posted on: Jewish Holiday

It's my understanding that the Hebrew language is written without vowels, and that when reading it one has to figure out from context what the vowel sounds would be. As the Jewish scriptures were written in that language, I guess it's become a kind of convention to omit the vowel sounds in English transcription (for some people.)

Posted on: Calling an Ambulance

The idea (as mentioned in the podcast) is that drivers of vehicles ahead of the ambulance will look in their rear-view mirrors, realise that an ambulance is behind them, and in a spirit of love for their fellow human beings will try not to delay the ambulance, will try to move out of the way (if possible) to let it through. But in China....

Posted on: Calling an Ambulance

I mean that the front of many ambulances in western countries look like this, but that in China that would be pointless.

Posted on: Calling an Ambulance

Hi changye

You mean no Japanese ambulance would have the word ambulance written on the front backwards? And that if it did, no one would trouble to try and move out of the way quickly?

Posted on: Calling an Ambulance

Of course it would be pointless to write 救护车 backwards on the front of Chinese ambulances, because no one would bother trying to move out of the way more quickly anyway. (Actually it wouldn't even occur to anyone to write it on backwards.)

Posted on: Is China Scary?

I guess a superduperpower would be the one that establishes a world government, imposes benevolent dictatorship on all us dumb homo sapiens and initiates real civilization. Don't hold your breath phil, it might be up to the robots in the end!

@prindy - planet of the apes? lol You got it!

Posted on: Moving In Together

I want the original intro back! I wannit wannit wannit now! And if I don't get it, I'm gonna break this computer. Then my chair. And then just... cry. Like this.

Posted on: Is China Scary?

Much talk these days centres on China's future role as a global 'superpower', this century being "China's century" etc.

According to this interesting essay China is not and never will be a 'superpower', though it does make me wonder if in fact the definition of what a superpower is has changed with the fashion of the times. Some good points made though, an intelligent and informed perspective. Via here.

Ah, 'short-sighted humanity' I say though. How long 'til the consumerist bubble bursts. Can 'civilization' even survive this century? It's the Age of Stupid for sure, come 2100 I doubt many of those left will give a fig who the superpower(s) are.

Posted on: Rhetorical Question Marker 难道

Here's an update on paul's version:

你对我说中文说得那么快，难倒你不知道我不是中国人吗？

By the way, is it a wise crack to 'ask' someone:

难道你是白痴吗？  or is it terribly rude?

I don't have anyone in mind, but that seems like such a useful phrase!