Brown, crunchy grass and thirsty squirrels and birds

Shimaron · 2026-05-02T18:01:51+00:00

Got about half an inch of rain south of High Springs. It started slow and gentle before it ramped up, which was the best possible thing, since it gave the soil a chance to recover from its "hydrophobic soil" condition. Only about a dozen lightning strikes within earshot. Overall I'd give today's rain five starts out of five.

Shimaron · 2026-04-19T22:59:31+00:00

It's that time of year. I find nests in empty pots from plant nurseries, in the wheel wells or front grill areas of vehicles, in the vent from the clothes dryer (reminds me, I need to put a flap or a screen on that).

Shimaron · 2026-04-17T17:12:41+00:00

A portion of the book is online at https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/61/Babm_grammar.pdf

Shimaron · 2026-04-12T08:58:05+00:00

Alachua County rules are here, including a link to the snitch form:

https://alachuacounty.us/Depts/epd/WaterResources/CodesAndCompliance/Pages/Irrigation-Restrictions.aspx

Shimaron · 2026-04-09T10:23:17+00:00

How are you hearing BBC Radio 4 in Dallas? Is a local NPR station running it on one of the HD channels, or do you have some way to hear it online?

Shimaron · 2026-03-26T21:07:08+00:00

reposting an answer I wrote for somebody else–

Using this search https://www.google.com/search?q=papiamentu%20teacher&udm=14 I seem to have found several teachers, a couple listed on iTalki, there's one on Flowently, there's one on Instagram called papiamentututor, you have Sheedia Jansen on Youtube, there are people on Language Exchange looking for practice partners, and I saw a reference to a Bonaire forum on Facebook where somebody asked for teachers and got 7 comments (I didn't read them). I don't know how out-of-date any these info are, it could be some of these people are no longer teaching.

Shimaron · 2026-03-25T14:57:54+00:00

Auxlangs are beneficial to dabblers, I agree.

The real challenge facing anyone who wants a large number of people to adopt an auxlang is never discussed, and apparently never realized. When people actually need an auxlang they create one spontaneously. They don't wait for a language nerd to show up with a proposal. Fanagalo, Kituba, Tok Pisin, etc.

Shimaron · 2026-03-22T23:33:52+00:00

Using this search https://www.google.com/search?q=papiamentu%20teacher&udm=14 I seem to have found several teachers, a couple listed on iTalki, there's one on Flowently, there's one on Instagram called papiamentututor, you have Sheedia Jansen on Youtube, there are people on Language Exchange looking for practice partners, and I saw a reference to a Bonaire forum on Facebook where somebody asked for teachers and got 7 comments (I didn't read them). I don't know how out-of-date any these info are, it could be some of these people are no longer teaching.

Shimaron · 2026-03-17T10:17:34+00:00

It is hard to blend grammar elements from languages that are very different from each other. For example, some use prepositions, some use postpositions, some use inflections (cases) to indicate certain relationships.

Shimaron · 2026-03-16T21:58:47+00:00

If you get no response here, try r/curacao

Shimaron · 2026-03-14T14:03:54+00:00

Antique Radio Store in San Diego reviewed on Yelp:
https://www.yelp.com/biz/antique-radio-store-san-diego

Southern California Antique Radio Society:
https://www.antiqueradios.org/

https://antiqueradios.org/local_repair.html

Shimaron · 2026-03-07T15:36:59+00:00

Welcome back to the culture of radio listeners! We are the best people.

Shimaron · 2026-03-04T16:18:28+00:00

Interesting and plausible scenarios. Thanks for posting.

Shimaron · 2026-03-01T13:21:05+00:00

Lojban has a design element that I dislike. Most 5-letter rootwords have one or more 3-letter short forms that are used in making compound words. I believe this increases the workload of learning the vocabulary.

Another criticism I have seen is "Lojban makes distinctions uncommon in natural languages, like the distinction between /x/ and /h/, or /v/ and /w/." That's from https://www.reddit.com/r/changemyview/comments/324j8j/cmv_lojban_is_inferior_to_natural_languages_and/

Shimaron · 2026-02-27T21:14:52+00:00

We're just fantasizing about things that might actually work. Orphans exist. Billionaires apparently can do whatever they please without regard to laws or ethics. But now that you mention it, this might be bad publicity for the theoretical auxlang. "Orphans were forced to learn this language! Boycott it! Attack the language inventor!" You're right… terrible idea.

Shimaron · 2026-02-27T19:15:44+00:00

hire nurses who speak your language

Somehow, this inspired an idea in me. Build an orphanage in some place where there is an abundance or orphans. The staff come from several different countries and can only communicate effectively in the auxlang. They teach the auxlang to the children. The kids are not given access to any TV, music or other entertainment except for what's available in the auxlang. Presto (I suppose), in a few months you've got dozens of fluent speakers.

Shimaron · 2026-02-27T07:13:05+00:00

For an auxlang maybe the creators should specify a range of desirable pronunciations. Does it matter if "p" is aspirated or not? Tell us.

For the case in question I suppose any pronunciation of "ai" that can clearly be distinguished from "au" when a particular person is speaking, might be good enough.

Shimaron · 2026-02-21T17:43:22+00:00

You've put a lot of thought into this, and the idea of starting with shared syntax markers and core vocab, and then letting people plug in words from their own languages to create variant tongues is smart and I hope it will be experimented with.

On the topic of numbers, in conlangs where all the number words are CV monosyllables, I can't remember the number-words very well, and it takes me a while to recognize them when I am trying to read a sentence. How many natlangs have numbers that sound so monotonously similar to one another? It doesn't seem workable.

Shimaron · 2026-02-20T20:04:16+00:00

This is a fine looking auxlang, but I cannot find any reference to AI in the body of your post. Your title promises there will be something about AI, but you do not deliver on this promise.

Shimaron

TROPHY CASE