User Comments - calkins
calkins
Posted on: Lost in the Desert
January 7, 2009 at 10:57 AMDavid (and team), another editing masterpiece! And like others have said, the soundtrack was awesome...made me feel like I was watching an old B&W movie.
This level is way beyond mine, but I really enjoy listening to them because they do feel more like a complete story, with more time for sound effects and whatnot. A lot of fun to listen to, even not being able to understand a lot.
Posted on: Paying a Bill
January 7, 2009 at 10:44 AMToday I learned a better, well less "text book-y", way to say "to pay."
Instead of saying 付 fù, it's a little more "modern" to say 缴款 jiǎo kuǎn...at least in Taiwan.
Posted on: Outrageous Power Bill
January 6, 2009 at 11:45 AMThanks Changye, that makes sense regarding 瓦斯 being a loan word in Taiwan from Japan. I assume there must be many, with the many links between Taiwan and Japan.
I'll check out your and Hitokiri's thread also.
Posted on: Outrageous Power Bill
January 6, 2009 at 10:23 AMDoes anyone know the difference in this gas 煤气 méiqì and this gas 瓦斯 wǎsī ? I get a 瓦斯费 wǎsī fèi in Taiwan.
It looks like 煤气 is coal-produced, but I can't figure out the etymology of 瓦斯. I'm assuming it's a "greener" gas?
Changye to the rescue!
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One more question from this excellent lesson:
Would anyone be able to explain the difference between 这么 zhème and 那么 nàme, in using them to mean "so much"?
Thanks.
Posted on: Borrowing and Returning
January 5, 2009 at 11:44 AMHey Pete, thanks for the answer! I actually ended up going with 退还 tuìhuán. I asked the woman in the store if I should use 退还 tuìhuán or 还给 huángěi, and she said 退还 was better. But as we all know, Chinese is like PhotoShop...there are at least 3 different ways to do (or say) something!
Regarding the costume, it was for a work party ("uniform night")...I was a China Airlines pilot. Luckily, I didn't crash and burn....sorry, bad China Airlines humor.
Posted on: Food Oddities and Eye Exercises
January 5, 2009 at 11:31 AMI have to agree with kesirui. Calling a woman "sweetheart" is extremely condescending, even if you disagree with her and think her facts are "nonsense."
It's 2009, not 1949.
(Sorry kesirui, I know you don't need any backup...I just thought it was rude).
Posted on: Early January News
January 4, 2009 at 12:13 PMLight, actually Americans from the South would be ecstatic to be called Yankees...because we Yankees (Northerners) are so much better! Ha ha. Too bad Clay's not around to give his Southern opinion!
P.S. The U.S.'s current "lame duck" president is from Texas. Case closed ;-)
Posted on: Food Oddities and Eye Exercises
January 4, 2009 at 4:05 AMI agree with Andrew. Lobster for example...boiled to death.
I don't think it's "cruel to eat those things," there's nothing wrong with killing animals for food. Maybe sometimes the means of killing is not the most "humane," for instance choked shrimp and boiled lobster.
Posted on: Borrowing and Returning
January 4, 2009 at 3:41 AMWould you use 还给 huángěi to return an item to a store, for instance, returning a rented costume to a costume store?
Posted on: Paying a Bill
January 7, 2009 at 12:31 PMHi Changye, I think you're right (as usual). This was to pay building fees (at a bank), something I unfortunately needed to do!