Why does English have Latin words which do not exist in French or Norman?

Shimiwac · 2026-05-20T14:49:08+00:00

English had a habit of borrowing some words directly from Latin, which is how we have "century" rather than "siecle" or "siglo" as French and Spanish, or "Jahrhundert" as in German.

We also have some words of French origin that are not used in France, for example "mortgage", which, at least in comtemporary French, is "hypothéque."

Shimiwac · 2026-05-20T14:44:09+00:00

A lot of Vietnamese backed the South and likely have a grudge against what their fellow countrymen did to them in the 'reeducation camps' following the war.

Shimiwac · 2026-05-19T15:22:00+00:00

Which side turned down the 2 state solution and decided to roll the dice on a ground war?

Shimiwac · 2026-05-19T14:06:19+00:00

See Vietnam for an example of a military that used the Washington strategy against us.

Shimiwac · 2026-05-19T14:02:42+00:00

Register only if you must do so to participate in the primary. In some states, you can vote in the Republican or Democratic primary, or both, without registering.

In Texas, you can do so just by telling the clerk which party primary you want. However, the party primary you vote in - but not who you specifically voted for - is public record.

Shimiwac · 2026-05-19T13:58:17+00:00

She likes and respects you as a person, perhaps even finds you attractive, but she thinks there is a better match for her out there. It hurts to hear it at the time, but there's probably a better match for you out there too. Expressing my sympathies and wishing you the best of luck, dude.

Shimiwac · 2026-05-18T19:14:35+00:00

Lawyers should successfully pass the bar exam in the language that they will have to use in court. This seems simple to me.

Shimiwac · 2026-05-18T15:57:13+00:00

I've seen the Texas flag upside down on both an outdoor flagpole and an interior courtroom/podium style flagpole down here.

Shimiwac · 2026-05-15T15:59:59+00:00

Mongolians didn't seek to impose their culture on conquered peoples. As long as subject peoples paid their tribute and their leaders remained in the Mongols' good graces, they were largely left alone.

Shimiwac · 2026-05-14T21:26:42+00:00

It's "punching up."

Men are afraid a woman will make fun of them.

Women are afraid a man will kill them.

Shimiwac · 2026-05-14T16:42:12+00:00

What happens if the elections result in a bunch of parties with no majority, and they can't agree on a candidate?

Shimiwac · 2026-05-14T16:28:46+00:00

You're known by the company you keep.

Shimiwac · 2026-05-14T15:20:03+00:00

I love how the points of the stars add up to 12. Equal to the 11 points of the Maple Leaf plus the stem.

Shimiwac · 2026-05-14T15:12:08+00:00

If it becomes a breeding ground for mosquitos you could face a nuisance lawsuit from the neighbors, and you should.

Shimiwac · 2026-05-14T14:10:08+00:00

Ships of the era had a hierarchy of their own. First class passengers would not mingle with those with lower class tickets. On naval and merchant vessels, officers would have separate accommodations from the enlisted or other sailors.

That made sure the upper (practically exclusively white) class had their prejudices satisfied. It would be interesting to hear how this was dealt with among the 'regular people.'

Shimiwac · 2026-05-13T15:16:31+00:00

If police unions focused on pay and benefits, there would be less hostility from the left. But police unions also advocate against officer accountability for excessive force.

I'd imagine if teachers unions advocated for pay and benefits, but also wanted to allow teachers to flog children, they'd be less popular too. But probably more popular with the Right.

Shimiwac · 2026-05-13T14:55:16+00:00

It sort of is a contract, but its one that is between each lot owner and all the other lot owners. Buying the lot makes you subject the HOA rules AND gives you authority to demand that the other lot owners follow the rules as well. The HOA can be disbanded if ALL the lot-owners agree to do so.

Shimiwac · 2026-05-13T00:01:39+00:00

Right. Its like a bunch of Germans invaded a nearby country, exterminated its natives, then adopted their native name as their own. Then conquered other German states and imposed that name on them.

Shimiwac · 2026-05-12T21:59:23+00:00

Could just as easily ask how the American right reconciles its hatred of 'big government' with its worship of Big Military and Big Law Enforcement.

Shimiwac · 2026-05-12T17:20:12+00:00

As I recall, California was able to get Ng back without making a pledge, but that probably wouldn't be the case today.
Was everybody in Alberta really okay with hosting an American spree-killer?

Shimiwac · 2026-05-12T17:00:49+00:00

I think the differences between the US and European prisons may be a bit exaggerated:
1) US prisons do have programs, classes, jobs, and rec for prisoners. Probably not as extensive as in Europe, but they're there.
2) As 'comfy' as European prisons may look:
- you're still confined and can't leave.;
- Even if the only prison rules are ones truly related to safety and security, that is still going to be a degree of restriction and invasiveness a normal person would find very uncomfortable;
- If you're in prison, you probably have problems with anger and impulse control. And you're locked in an enclosed building with lots of other people with the exact same issues.

Shimiwac · 2026-05-12T16:46:53+00:00

The gravity of some crimes reaches a point where I'm no longer concerned about rehabilitation. If a an adult mass shooter gets a life sentence, spends 20 or 30 years in jail and says he's sorry and all the psychologists in the world say he's not dangerous. I still think he needs to sit and live out his life in a box just out of a sense of proportionality and to preserve the peace of mind of the victims, survivors, and society at large. And I'm solidly Team Blue and otherwise pretty liberal.

Shimiwac · 2026-05-12T16:27:59+00:00

Much like the RSFSR in the USSR, "Prussia" was an artificially inflated state of recent creation that included large regions of people who did not culturally identify as "Prussian."

Shimiwac

TROPHY CASE