tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-117689112011-12-15T03:49:59.102+01:00The voLabulary: for Italian and English learners (and hey, you never stop learning!)<br/> Il voLabolario: per chi impara l'italiano o l'inglese (e, via, non si smette mai di imparare!)Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1211100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-54626793795277642022007-01-04T11:55:00.000+01:002007-01-04T12:05:38.199+01:00

The voLabulary is most likely closed... I am sorry for all our loyal followers, but new work responsibilities effectively made it impossible for me to post even a single entry in one full year - I would say this defintely qualifies as a de-facto closure.Archives will stay up for as long as they maintain themselves (some images already started disappearing, since I do not own the volabolario.it

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1138921096552466522006-02-03T00:57:00.000+01:002006-02-02T23:58:36.153+01:00

There's quite a lot of people (at least 5, that is) landing on this site because they would like to know the correct italian pronunciation of the names of the two mascots of the Torino 2006 Olympics (the ball-headed red bimbo, Neve, and the blue yob whose head you can see through, Gliz). So, for everyone interested: "Neve" (Snow) in italian... just say "never" in english, possibly without any "r

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1138788658512780822006-02-01T11:06:00.000+01:002006-02-01T11:18:33.060+01:00

Some people have privatley asked what it means that "I despise the vapid, logorrhoic useless rants that most blogs nowadays offer" (in the voLabulary "Who" section). After having read here above, do I still need to explain it? Alcune persone mi hanno privatamente chiesto cosa significhi che io "disprezzo le vacue, logorroiche, inutili farneticazioni che la maggior parte dei blog in questi tempi

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1138230536064013832006-01-26T01:08:00.000+01:002006-01-26T08:27:26.490+01:00

Olympic mascots: Lake Placid 1980 After careful inspection, we have decided what is wrong with this blue-skinned raccoon called "Roni". The main issue (apart from his blue skin) seems to be the alien posture , as if he was half seen from the front and half from the side. This makes it vaguely similar to the aristocratic (if a bit outdated) pose of Egyptian god Horus, as seen

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1138086320671921482006-01-24T09:03:00.000+01:002006-01-24T08:05:54.546+01:00

Olympic Mascots: Albertville 1992 This is a great idea! Have the winter olympics represented by a starfish, the classic animal found in snowy and mountainous environments! If you prefer a more traditional interpretation , it could look like Maggie from "the Simpsons" when Marge brings her out in the cold. I seem to remember she has a nice star-shaped suit too! Olympic Mascots:

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1137654497420982222006-01-19T09:06:00.000+01:002006-01-19T08:12:01.800+01:00

Olympic Mascots: Atlanta 1996 SCREAM! That blue thing has got olympic circles for eyebrows, bulbous eyes with star-shaped pupils and a mouth on its stomach!!! Apparently, this lovable erm... monster... was named "Izzy", the name coming from "Whatizit" because no one really knew exactly what it was. We're glad we're not alone in feeling like that. Mascotte Olimpiche: Atlanta 1996

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1137454147924054122006-01-17T01:26:00.000+01:002006-01-17T00:27:58.346+01:00

Olympic Mascots: Nagano 1998 I simply have no comments about these whatever-they-are named "Sukki", "Nokki", "Lekki", and "Tsukki" (the first and third sound very, very ambiguous both in Italian and English). Probably they were running late on deciding on a mascot in 1997, and gave some crayons to the 3-year-old daughter of some committee member, who came out with these

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1137021404455857102006-01-12T01:14:00.000+01:002006-01-12T00:17:54.173+01:00

Olympic Mascots: Salt Lake City 2002 Straight from "Oliver Twist", here come the three worst victorian names ever conceived. "Copper" and "Coal" , judging from their happy hopping and from Copper's idiot smile, must also be good customers of "Powder", obviously a local pusher.Three additional comments: What are those thingies they have around their necks? Dogtags? Were they

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1136848261979660422006-01-10T01:11:00.000+01:002006-01-10T01:02:16.040+01:00

Olympic Mascots: Athens 2004 The two happy pink weirdos above, for exmaple, have gracefully represented the Athens 2004 Olympics. I don't care if they are named "Ahena" and "Phebos", and that they are actually two ancient dolls. They do look like moronic walking pink pears with gout, and their hair is the color of their skin! I can only imagine the

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1136445251420668072006-01-05T09:13:00.000+01:002006-01-05T08:14:11.476+01:00

Turin will be Olympic host city in February, and work has been going on round here since about three years for preparing the event. Between building yards and media events, the city has been also involved in several controversies . For example, the two Olympic mascots, named Neve and Gliz (Neve is the ball-headed bimbo) have divided the populace. Some people say the two

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1136271563273738652006-01-03T08:57:00.000+01:002006-01-03T13:30:41.086+01:00

Here's three of our best wishes for a wonderful 2006:May you avoid this year's flu - avian or not, it makes you really sick. May your boss never decide that "who cares"?May you always have someone to sleep close by when the nightmares hit the floor at 5 o' clock in the morningNow, I want to hear some now year's propositions from our (15) readers! Note: This post originally contained at least one

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1135423339540081142005-12-24T13:22:00.000+01:002005-12-24T12:27:08.016+01:00

Greetings everyone... A small song whose lyrics you should read complete... The content is not as sweet as it may seem from the start...It was christmas eve babeIn the drunk tankAn old man said to me, won’t see another oneAnd then he sang a songThe rare old mountain dewI turned my face awayAnd dreamed about youGot on a lucky oneCame in eighteen to oneI’ve got a feelingThis year’s for me and

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1135149398422159612005-12-21T09:16:00.000+01:002005-12-21T08:19:34.463+01:00

Ladies and Gentlemen, here comes the Japan Christmas special of the year! Indeed, the best rolling-LED advice ever to see the light of day. Captured for your entertainment of the holiday season as a 15-second, 2-megabyte, .WMV movie with full soundtrack!!! Yes, you have never seen anything like this. A true linguistic gem, and a rare example of true, 100% engrish! Oh, what's the use? Just watch

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1135022985496230872005-12-19T22:08:00.001+01:002005-12-19T21:12:12.373+01:00

Japan loos 3: and here comes the brain of the toilet bowl - with more processing power that Wintermute from "Neuromancer" , the japanese toilet's control panel is also an excellent example of effective communication. Pray tell, kind sir, would the symbol just below "wash" represent? Is it just me or that small logo is not only a rounded "W" letter, but also a pictorial representation of

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1134717877119166782005-12-16T09:23:00.000+01:002005-12-16T08:25:03.133+01:00

Japan loos, part 2: as the sign placed between the air freshener and the toilet paper clearly says, this toilet bowl is a "non-mobile phone" . I found this nice example of "engrish" , i.e. japanese-english, partularly funny because of it semiological implications. "Ceci n'est pas une pipe" , anyone? Cessi giapponesi, parte 2: come il segnale messo

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1134543945774842822005-12-14T09:05:00.000+01:002005-12-14T08:13:52.066+01:00

Dangers, in Japan, seem to multiply in the bathroom. With a level of technology equivalent to a Mars Rover, the average Japanese loo is a true deathtrap according to the warnings written all over it. In fact, it is so dangerous that you should not splash water on it (which may sound a bit confusing considering that the bowl itself has got buttons to squirt water at your lower body), you should

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1134371360740343402005-12-12T09:08:00.000+01:002005-12-12T10:09:57.963+01:00

I had the chance of visiting (very quickly) Japan recently, and came back with some strange impressions. For one thing, it seems that the most trivial activities actually become hazardous, over there. Really, I could not understand what the danger in pushing a perfectly normal airport trolley around ever could be, but then again, hey, I'm "using it at my own risk", so what's the problem? Ho

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1134044713963239602005-12-08T14:24:00.000+01:002005-12-08T13:26:54.470+01:00

Since it seems we have got a nice 4-people (including one spambot) community here, I could not resist the temptation to try to know where veryone is from... So, if you want, you can just go to the voLabulary Frappr map and place yourself. I am particularly interested in the location of the spambot. Come on, nice spambot, good spambot, place yourself on the map! :)You can find what a spambot is,

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1133812904262400932005-12-05T22:00:00.000+01:002005-12-05T21:03:15.646+01:00

Sorry but I just can't resist the avalanche (four, coun'em, FOUR, including a spambot) of comments, and had to reply publicly. Yes, I have been a slacker recently. Of course, this applies only to the voLabulary, not to my life as a whole. In fact, I have been working quite a lot in the past few months, which is the main cause for the absolutely chronical delay in posts. I will be trying to post

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1126510384416791282005-09-12T09:25:00.000+02:002005-09-12T09:33:04.423+02:00

So, summer is over (even if I had no vacations yet), and I would like to say "hello" to all newcomers. The voLabulary has slightly changed, and I am not sure I can actually offer a daily post anymore. Since most of you subscribe to the announcements anyway, I actually hope you won't notice, as you will be notified when updates occur.For starters, we will run a series on italian bad translations

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1123615036963811452005-08-09T21:14:00.000+02:002005-08-09T21:17:16.970+02:00

The voLabulary will be taking a couple of weeks of vacation... See you for new and exciting stuff (and possibly a new graphical format) around the end of August!!! Il voLabolario si prende un paio di settimane di vacanza... Ci vediamo con nuove ed eccitanti cose (e probabilmente una nuova veste grafica) intorno alla fine di Agosto!

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1123223291683170532005-08-05T10:28:00.000+02:002005-08-05T08:30:08.476+02:00

According to my calculations, this is the one-hundredth post for the voLabulary! Sung to the tune of "happy birthday to you": "You belong to the zoo, you belong to the zoo, with the zebras the monkeys and the animals like you!"So that you can party with us, we have prepared some original special wallpapers with the celebrative image above. Download them here! 1400x1050 1280x1024

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1123136204876700612005-08-04T10:16:00.000+02:002005-08-04T08:16:44.900+02:00

A quickie before the big surprise of tomorrow... Would you like to work in an "english language halp desk"? Una sveltina prima della grande srpresa di domani... Lavorereste in un "halp desk di lingua inglese"?

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1123050106140272922005-08-03T10:21:00.000+02:002005-08-03T08:24:37.026+02:00

We will have a huge surprise for you on Friday. Be warned. Since we will be having this huge surprise on Friday, of course, we won't be having any post today. So there! Vi faremo una grossa sorpresa Venerdì. Siete avvertiti. Dato che vi faremo questa grossa sorpresa, naturalmente, oggi non ci sarà nessun post. Ecco!

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1122963145783216962005-08-02T10:12:00.000+02:002005-08-02T08:12:25.806+02:00

Tired of those nosy neighborhoods? Let them experience the sensation of being watched. All day. All night. Just paint a huge eye on your house, and you're done! Stufi di quei vicini impiccioni? Fategli provare l'esperienza di essere guardati. Tutto il giorno. Tutta la notte. Semplicemente, dipingete un grosso occhio sulla vostra casa, ed e' fatto!

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1122876868815787862005-08-01T10:14:00.000+02:002005-08-01T08:21:50.360+02:00

Push me up against the wallYoung kentucky girl in a push-up braFallin' all over myselfTo lick your heart and taste your health 'causeWith the bird I'll shareThis loney view...Red Hot Chili peppers, Scar Tissue (original here) Mi metti spalle al muro Giovane ragazza del Kentucky con il reggiseno push-up Non vedo davvero l'ora di leccare il tuo cuore e assaggiare la tua

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1122617701906492042005-07-29T10:15:00.000+02:002005-07-29T08:29:30.966+02:00

Many may like the scent of deep-fried stuff , but can you really call it a "good perfume", as this brand of frying oil claims? (the writing on the bottle reads "the good perfume of fried") A molti potrà piacere la fragranza della roba fritta , ma lo puoi davvero, in tutta onestà, chiamare un "buon profumo", come dice questa marca di olio per friggere?

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1122531292187058862005-07-28T10:14:00.000+02:002005-07-28T08:16:46.833+02:00

Some time ago, I had found a really nifty page describing 400 strange things you could do if you were bored. However, it seems it is not around anymore, which is a pity, because it was very witty. The best clone I could come up with is this. Do you have any other ideas? Un po' di tempo fa, avevo trovato una pagina veramente carina che descriveva 400 cose che potevate fare se eravate annoiati.

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1122445689408791752005-07-27T10:28:00.000+02:002005-07-27T08:29:01.950+02:00

During last week's business trip to beautiful (?) France, Hertz did a gorss mistake and gave me one of those luxury cars instead of the usual compact. It had electronic adjustment for everything and a seat with 8 degrees of freedom, so that you could easily find your most comfortable position. However, after 10 minutes of useless fidgeting with the controls, still feeling uncomfortable, I came

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1122357941773337712005-07-26T10:05:00.000+02:002005-07-26T08:14:02.706+02:00

If your name is Silvia, and you open a nail-polish shop, we strongly suggest you to separate "Silvia's" and "Nails" a bit more, so that people don't confuse the name of the shop with "silvia snails". I know that this is nipicking a bit, but I seriously thought this shop sold Gastropods until I came so close I could see inside... Se vi chiamate "Silvia" e aprite un negozio di smalto per unghie

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1122273107378035922005-07-25T10:31:00.000+02:002005-07-25T08:32:18.480+02:00

Midnight suns bid moors farewell, retreats from charging duskMountain echo, curfews bell, signal ending tasksThey place their faith in oaken doors, cower in candlelight The panic seeps through bloodstained floors as Grendel stalks the nightEarth rim walker seeks his mealsPrepare the funeral pyresThe shaper's songs no longer heal the fearWithin their eyes, their eyesMarillion, Grendel (original

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1121926810871882512005-07-21T08:17:00.000+02:002005-07-21T08:20:10.876+02:00

And so here we are, back from lovely (?) France. On my return, I noticed that a porn spam bot has subscibed to the email notification group. Say a big hello to "Elena" (interracialdating001@yahoo.com). By posting "her" email here in clear, I secretly hope she gets lots of spam from other bots. Let's see.Also please notice how these porn peddlers would like us to think the world is devoid of any

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1121666911987067422005-07-18T10:08:00.000+02:002005-07-18T08:12:09.306+02:00

I'll be away on a business trip next two days, then more things will happen, so there's a non-zero chance that this week will be very, very low traffic. Yeah, you read it right. Basically, you may be left without your favorite english (or Italian) learning resource for yet another week. Sorry.[...] If there's a bustle in your hedge-row, don't be alarmed, nowIt's just a spring-clean for the May

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1121406720483379272005-07-15T09:51:00.000+02:002005-07-15T08:02:19.116+02:00

Special Security Week Part IX: and, if the situation creates a little less distress on trained security personnel than the one outlined yesterday, emails still seem to work fine.But what if you finish the email when the emergency is over? Well, just add a note below. Logical, isn't it? (Translation of the email:"The red motorbike with license plate XXXX is falling down. Bye. oooh it has fallen.

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1121319364813390572005-07-14T09:36:00.000+02:002005-07-14T07:46:59.816+02:00

Special Security Week, Part VIII: so we've all seen those Hollywood movies where top-notch security personnel is confronted with strange situations, haven't we? Well, this was a real weird situation someone working in the security field really had to face. And, faced with the incredible, he replied by sending a likewise weird email: "The owner of the motorbike with license plate XXXX is kindly

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1121234963876977932005-07-13T10:09:00.000+02:002005-07-13T08:12:41.286+02:00

Special security week, part VII: the funky implement depicted above, commonly called in Italian "bloster", is used to lock the pedals of your car to make it more resistant to stealing; we show here, however, that it can have other uses too, like helping lock a door. A curiosity is that "bloster" is not an english word (even if it sounds like one) but a contraction of "BLOccaSTERzo" ("

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1121147223489543672005-07-12T09:46:00.000+02:002005-07-12T07:48:21.956+02:00

Special Security week, part VI: don't assume that cute poetic folk songwriters are all honey and sugar - take my word, don't get smart-alecky with Suzanne Vega! [...]ooohif I were a weaponyou said i'd be a gunlethal at close range I guessw silencer and stun well, if I am that weaponI am pointing now at youso just put down the hostage and we'lltalk it down until we see this through

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1121060678526277562005-07-11T09:44:00.000+02:002005-07-11T12:51:31.443+02:00

Warning - this post may stir controversy - read at your own risk.In the wake of the London bombings, I have heard people sadly starting to speak again in terms of "us" and "them". "Them" being "bad", "us" being "good". I do not in the slightest agree with this simplistic point of view. The world is much too complex, and the human mind too inclined to categorizing complex situations, for drawing

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1120803076161958862005-07-08T10:11:00.000+02:002005-07-08T08:26:07.756+02:00

Special security week, part V: so your work colleagues are a bunch of petty thieves, and you can't avert your eyes without the fear of your stuff being palmed away? Why not just lock your luggage with a bicycle lock? This picture was actually taken at my office - the idea is by DS... I can vouch that his luggage was safe until the end of the day. Settimana speciale sicurezza, parte V: dunque

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1120716489282589642005-07-07T10:08:00.000+02:002005-07-08T08:28:10.730+02:00

Special security week, part IV: Essential reading for all wannabee thieves, oops I meant "security experts": the MIT guide to lockpicking, or put down all other tools and buy a lockpick Don't look for an italian translation: there ain't none, and we don't plan to provide one soon, sorry.Kids, please, don't try this at home! (And don't say I'm suggesting you do it, because it's not true!)

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1120630305961285112005-07-06T10:11:00.000+02:002005-07-06T11:20:41.906+02:00

Special security week, part III: How to secure data. I think you will agree that the best way to secure data and communication is encrypting it to make it garbled, so that it A6DGCNBCV9 2 67FIAVRNG4 6 A76IQ IHQFB 6YQTR 67763BG I B76 X 3 B VFFD6 DVFV U6U6DC 44CUVIG BHOO9P8MH N B 8 6NGBU6 RDC35 T 34SECTW 2 4XTYVU57 6 G BNHMO9 8PJ PMYBGYRTV C Y32X 24AX 2 T 4354Y 6 UTG NO HPM8!Clear? Settimana

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1120544926206791032005-07-05T10:28:00.000+02:002005-07-05T08:32:43.990+02:00

Special Security week, part II: someone who has seen "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" once too many must have had the idea of using a rabbit as a guard animal for his shop. Notice in the enlargement the killer frown. Do I think the guard rabbit is a good idea? Let me put it like this: if you plan to have your shop robbed by giant sentient carrots, it might be! Settimana speciale sicurezza,

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1120456600343281382005-07-04T09:56:00.000+02:002005-07-04T12:26:19.846+02:00

Time for another "special week"... Since the first one we had was special money week some months ago, I thought to have a special security week this time. We will be dealing with all matters regarding protecting, locking and securing your possessions.For starters, here's what happens when your name is Mark Knopfler and you like playing with your guitar and with language (yes, pun intended even

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1120318974669961332005-07-02T17:34:00.000+02:002005-07-02T17:42:55.256+02:00

BREAKING NEWS! Merriam Webster word of the day copies the voLabulary! Just some weeks after we presented "pidgin" as the voLabulary word of the day, look at what Merriam Webster is having as its July 2 word of the day!!!So, spread the word. You want the original? The voLabulary is the original! Everyone else is just a copycat! :) EDIZIONE STRAORDINARIA! Merriam Webster word of the day copia

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1120195761142794812005-07-01T09:29:00.000+02:002005-07-01T08:12:35.166+02:00

If you're high on dope, nothing beats sitting down and designing that new building in central Berlin that was commissioned before you started shooting youself silly. So, wannabee architects, take a note and learn! If you want to be renown for your audacity and inventiveness, take a shot of speedball before sitting in front of your universal drafting machine! Vertical day-glo cows may only be the

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1120110849607818322005-06-30T09:54:00.000+02:002005-06-30T07:56:29.393+02:00

A great collection of bad pickup lines. It also contains the alleged number of times it has been tried, and the also-alleged number of times it has been successful. Pity for the site, which is almost as lame as the lines themselves. "to pick up" basically means "to get from the ground", while "abbordare" translates as "to board" (as pirates do)... Cultural diversity, here we come! Una bella

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1120025165973178082005-06-29T10:06:00.000+02:002005-06-29T08:06:05.993+02:00

Quick question: do airplane pilots run the risk of losing their bearings the first time they land at a new airport? And, if so, do copilots need to look at signs and maps for them once landed? I can picture it... "Next exit, right... no, wait! Left! Damn map, this crossing was just over the folding!" Domandina veloce: i piloti di aereo, corrono il rischio di perdere l'orientamento la prima

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1119935820852597662005-06-28T09:16:00.000+02:002005-06-28T07:20:37.773+02:00

If you want to show off your polish, the acme of refined, smart accessories for your car may be this sticker, proclaiming your slight distaste for your neighbor in a smooth, offhand way. "Donald duck"-esque colors help in keeping this all at the joke level, so that exceedingly sensitive people are not offended by your elegant humour. Naturally "polish" has got many other meanings... I invite

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1119851670750760392005-06-27T09:54:00.000+02:002005-06-27T07:59:02.596+02:00

Sorry for leaving you a week without your favorite daily post... What about a little linguistic gem (eek!) from one of the great artists of our century? (erm)[...] now baby listen I ain't into butt kissingif u think im going out like that, keep wishingu play hard to get then u won't get gotif u keep acting up ya end up a have not every day it seems that u want to treat me badevery day it seems

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1118953841021166372005-06-18T00:30:00.000+02:002005-06-17T09:27:39.836+02:00

Near Foligno, the hamlet of "Bastardo" ("bastard") sits really close to the village of "Due santi" ("two saints"). I am pretty curious to know whether the choice of these two toponyms was intentional, or whether it was the result of a casual match... I think it would be funny if it came from famous inhabitants.Note: I will be away for a week with no internet access - so no updates for next week

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1118901872822173192005-06-16T10:04:00.000+02:002005-06-16T12:04:31.086+02:00

Yesterday we were sitting at an outdoors restaurant. After a particularly chilly gust of wind, the waitress approached us and asked if it was too cold for us. Before we could reply "yes" or "no", she immediately said: "I'll bring you a business card!". And, much to our bewilderment, she actually did! How was it related to being cold? What were we supposed to do, burn it for heating? Ieri eravamo

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1118816320194208392005-06-15T10:18:00.000+02:002005-06-15T08:19:22.000+02:00

For a bit of fun, look at what you can do by mixing english and pidgin latin... Illegitimati non Carbonundrum! Doing so with Italian is called "using macaroni Latin". What is it called in English? Using roast-beef Latin? Per divertirvi un po', guardate cosa si puo' fare mischiando l'inglese e un latino molto semplificato... Illegitimati non Carbonundrum! Farlo con l'Italiano si dice "usare

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1118729632154914522005-06-14T10:13:00.000+02:002005-06-15T08:20:29.593+02:00

This 17 year old states in this book review forum that she had never read a book, and was ashamed of it. We think she was definitely right to feel like that! After having read the book she is now reviewing in about five hours (you can imagine how intellectual the book is - remember she had never read one before!), she states it now is "her favorite book". Which is a bit like saying: I have eaten

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1118643885679007382005-06-13T10:24:00.000+02:002005-06-13T08:25:55.990+02:00

The best thing you've ever done for meIs to help me take my life less seriously, it's only life afterallWell darkness has a hunger that's insatiableAnd lightness has a call that's hard to hearI wrap my fear around me like a blanketI sailed my ship of safety till I sank it, I'm crawling on your shoreI went to the doctor, I went to the mountainsI looked to the children, I drank from the

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1118383805361786292005-06-10T10:10:00.000+02:002005-06-10T08:11:07.066+02:00

Don't take that crooked highway exit! Or at least, take it, but very, very slowly, and be prepared for a lot of zig-zagging! Non prendete quella contorta uscita dell'autostrada! O almeno, prendetela molto, molto lentamente, e preparatevi a fare un sacco di zig-zag!

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1118297132381286982005-06-09T10:05:00.000+02:002005-06-09T08:15:26.426+02:00

No matter what marketing actions I take, visits to the voLabulary just don't soar. I had originally planned to have an average one billion hits a day by month 2, and I'm way behind that figure. For this reason, please either help me with viral marketing by inviting your friends over to the voLabulary, or, if you think it isn't good enough for the billion visitors a day, to let me know via email

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1118210711718199892005-06-08T10:05:00.000+02:002005-06-08T08:09:55.186+02:00

Today, I heard someone saying (in english) he wanted us to "shovel more carbon into the boiler". Now, I'm fine with the boiler part, but why did he want us to try to burn IKEA pencils and diamonds? "carbon" = "carbonio"; "carbone" is "coal", in English. Oggi ho sentito uno che diceva (in inglese) che voleva che noi "spalassimo piu' carbonio nella caldaia". Ora, mi va bene la parte sulla

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1118094897030405042005-06-08T01:54:00.000+02:002005-06-07T19:05:21.106+02:00

2nd of June, and the Italian Republic, celebrating its national holiday, has its gears jammed by a graphic designer. It doesn't take a genius to imagine that the gears above, as they are drawn, would stubbornly refuse to budge, even if pushed by the most powerful motor. By the way, that is not even the official Italian Republic seal, which (wisely) has only one gear, It is just some lookalike

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1118037388143873862005-06-06T09:56:00.000+02:002005-06-06T07:59:28.863+02:00

"Something" from Chumbawamba. All hail the first church of Chumba!We'll be singingWhen we're winningWe'll be singingI get knocked downBut I get up againYou're never going to keep me downChumbawamba, Tubthumping (original here) "Qualcosa" dai Chumbawamba. Tutti salutino la prima chiesa di Chumba!CanteremoMentre stiamo vincendoCanteremoMi sbattono a terraMa mi rialzoNon mi terrai mai a terra

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1117374190834384772005-06-03T09:00:00.000+02:002005-06-03T18:39:11.636+02:00

The result of a clever marketing ploy, or of a completely clueless translator? Soon on sale at a market near you, we present the official Italian-american national hockey team's sweatshirt. Not completely United States, and not completely Italian.Sorry for the delay, everyone... I was moving! Il risultato di un furbo strategemma di marketing, o di un traduttore incompetente? Presto in vendita in

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1117351450374389082005-06-01T09:19:00.000+02:002005-06-01T09:28:01.013+02:00

On the subject of sticking things into other things (no, this is not red hot spicy week yet - I'm still preparing it). Here's what The Surreal Gourmet can do by sticking a salmon in a dishwasher and garnishing it with a cilantro sauce. Yes, apparently, you can then serve it, and people will find it good.The link is ripped from Hackaday, I admit it - but this recipe is too nice not to circulate

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1117373520384134782005-05-31T15:26:00.000+02:002005-05-31T09:07:47.680+02:00

"Your honor, the plaintiff requires an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth!". Can you imagine any better, more justice oriented name for a Lawyer ("Avvocato") than "Retaliations" ("Taglioni" as in "Lex Talionis")? "Vostro onore, il querelante richiede occhio per occhio, dente per dente!". Riuscite a immaginare qualche nome migliore, piu' orientato alla giustizia, per un avvocato che "Taglioni"?

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1117351092116112432005-05-30T09:08:00.000+02:002005-05-30T09:22:48.223+02:00

A high energy song to inspire your week... For whoever doesn't know what a collider is, follow this link, or look at a picture...[...] I gave you a golden ring to show you my loveYou went to stick it in a printed circuitTo fix a voltage leak in your collectorYou plug my feelings into your detectorYou never spend your nights with meYou don't go out with other girls eitherYou prefer your

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1116270744619402342005-05-27T09:06:00.000+02:002005-05-27T08:56:11.016+02:00

This magazine, dedicated to scuba divers, advertises as a cover article: "WETSUITS: THE SECRETS OF THE ZIP". Now what exactly these "secrets of the zip" would be, we wonder? Questa rivista, dedicata ai subacquei, pubblicizza sulla copertina l'articolo: "MUTE: I SEGRETI DELLA CERNIERA". Ora, quali sarebbero esattemente questi "segreti della cerniera", ci chiediamo?

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1116407338693172982005-05-26T09:00:00.000+02:002005-05-26T08:59:38.236+02:00

A Nigerian scam on a job-seek site? Seems so, at least judging from the 300.000 US Dollars salary for 6 months of work in Nigeria (for an IT firm that doesn't even have a proper email address)... Perhaps "Monster" should check its advertisers better?Don't know what a Nigerian scam, also called "419", is? It's well explained on Quatloos... And, if after having read (please do, it's one of the

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1116199481380337652005-05-25T09:00:00.000+02:002005-05-25T09:12:46.730+02:00

Lurid but true tales of musical ignorance: Portishead and Massive Attack be warned! I know someone who believes "trip hop" is written "tri-pop", and it must for sure be the evolution of something called "bi-pop" (yes, It's all true!); I took the liberty of noting that "bi-pop" must of course be linked in some way to "bebop". Storie scandalistiche ma vere di ingoranza musicale: Portishead e

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1116231576986610522005-05-24T09:00:00.000+02:002005-05-24T08:42:19.913+02:00

News for chain smokers: you better quit now - or at least, be prepared to find another job! Beyond the fact we reported some time ago of Italian firms proposing to decrease salaries for smokers to account for lost productivity, I have read in an Italian paper ("La Stampa") that some US firms are also prohibiting employees from smoking in their free time, because "they care for their workers'

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1116271698854762662005-05-23T09:15:00.000+02:002005-05-23T09:56:29.996+02:00

A "religious Monday song". Because we all are believers, on Mondays... after a weekend, just back to work or school, there's nothing to do but turn to religion and hope someone brings us out of the miry clay.I waited patiently for the LordHe inclined and heard my cryHe brought me up out of the pitOut of the miry clayI will sing, sing a new songI will sing, sing a new songHow long to sing this

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1116163790367555472005-05-21T09:22:00.000+02:002005-05-21T08:50:53.046+02:00

Just a quick note - schedule for post has changed: since the visitors over the weekend were so few, I have decided to add a word only Monday to Friday, and tweak the weekly schedule a bit, mainly by shifting the translation to Monday.Please let me have any comments on this idea by adding a public comment below, or by emailing me direclty. In case you noticed, yes, I have an address for english

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1116163354444262732005-05-20T09:07:00.000+02:002005-05-20T20:16:20.136+02:00

[...] Dressed up to the eyesIt's a wonderful surpriseTo see your shoes and your spirits riseThrowing out your frownAnd just smiling at the soundAnd as sleek as a shriekSpinning round and roundAlways take a big biteIt's such a gorgeous sightTo see you eat in the middle of the nightYou can never get enoughEnough of this stuffIt's fridayI'm in loveThe Cure, "Friday I'm in love" (complete lyrics for

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1116147762586721792005-05-19T09:54:00.000+02:002005-05-19T09:45:33.456+02:00

If you're not worried that your kids may get a tad depressed, you can have them play on the sinking titanic inflatable slide, as seen in Barcelona last year. Yes, the small letters on the left side actually say "TITANIC", so that you cannot be mistaken. It's really one of the hugest maritime disaster ever, reproduced as a toy. I suppose the next step is a "Hindemburg" inflatable balloon, so if

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1116095230764703912005-05-18T09:00:00.000+02:002005-05-18T08:16:33.936+02:00

Advice for Italians: try not to confuse "ass" with "ace". I have heard stories of a certain Italian employee that, while trying to teach his new (female) american manager the italian card game "briscola", repeatedly said sentences such as: "Do you have an ass?" "Give me your ass!" "Do you have an ass or not? If you have it, put your ass on the table!". You can imagine his embarassment when she

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1115930746274217082005-05-17T09:00:00.000+02:002005-05-17T08:18:53.590+02:00

An example of timely updates on a web page... Ohwell, I suppose that "every 8 years" MAY be considered "regularly". Un esempio di aggiornamenti tempestivi su una pagina web. Bah, suppongo che "ogni otto anni" POSSA essere considerato "regolarmente".

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1115931490711411992005-05-16T09:00:00.000+02:002005-05-16T08:19:23.800+02:00

Michael Jackson has three sons... Their names? Prince Michael Jackson, Paris Michael Catherine Jackson, and Prince Michael II Jackson. This example of sordid exploitation of son's names for publicity inspired me further possible names to give to your sons. Imagine you are called "John Smith". Why not call them "John Is The Best Smith", "John Catherine Everybody Loves Smith" and "John Got Money

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1115927026211595862005-05-14T09:00:00.000+02:002005-05-14T18:22:54.723+02:00

Your proposition may be good,but let's have one thing understood -whatever it is, I'm against it!And even when you've changed it or condensed it,I'm against it!I'm opposed to it.On general principles I'm opposed to it.For months before my son was born,I used to yell from night to morn -"Whatever it is, I'm against it!"And I've kept yelling since I first commenced it,"I'm against it!"Groucho Marx

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1115403230708367702005-05-13T09:05:00.000+02:002005-05-13T08:17:39.186+02:00

This is how the British Army envisions a "Communications specialist". How can we, by only looking at him dressed like that and in that aggressive position, understand he is not your standard warmonger fanatic, but a highly skilled specialist? Easy! Apparently, he wears glasses! Questo e' come l'esercito Britannico immagina uno "specialista delle comunicazioni". Come possiamo, solo guardandolo

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1115402092452961922005-05-12T09:00:00.000+02:002005-05-12T08:39:22.813+02:00

This post has limited uses if you are a law-abiding citizen. "To be caught with a smoking gun" seems to be mainly an American expression, western tough-boy style, while the italian equivalent "essere pescato con le mani nel sacco" (to be caught with hands in the sack) reflects a certain stereotypical Italian preference for theft over violence. What would the British equivalent of this expression

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1115402496329390292005-05-11T21:00:00.000+02:002005-05-11T09:11:46.156+02:00

From a real job offer posted on a major job-seek site last week. Would you work for someone who misspells "JUNIOR" so grossly? Is it accepatble from a firm that boasts that "even if it is a large industrial firm, [xxx] merges in itself the concept of Know How with a young and dynamic reality (sic, second paragraph)"? Know How? Bah.Note: we know "junior" is a Latin word, and not English. However,

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1115554558532048672005-05-10T09:09:00.000+02:002005-05-10T08:15:10.636+02:00

Faith may move mountains, but, incredibly, for moving your stuff between two houses, you still need a lorry and lots of cardboard boxes. Note I: no, I am not going to title this page "Move - Trasloco". "Move" has way too many meanings to do that.Note II: "lorry", not "truck". La fede potra' anche spostare le montagne, ma, incredibilmente, per traslocare la tua roba tra due case, c'e' ancora

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1115403639272286182005-05-09T09:00:00.000+02:002005-05-09T08:59:40.406+02:00

Yes, this place is really called "Grumble square". Probably, this is where people went to make their remonstrations before the Internet allowed you to write a free letter using the complaint site presented some time ago!Note: picture is by RC - Thanks! Si, questo posto si chiama davvero "Piazzetta del Mugugno". Probabilmente, questo e' il posto dove la gente andava a fare le proprie rimostranze

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1115283979090711052005-05-07T10:56:00.000+02:002005-05-07T13:10:13.306+02:00

Not a song, this Saturday, but my favourite piece of my favourite play...[...]JULIET It is, it is [day]: hie hence, be gone, away!It is the lark that sings so out of tune,Straining harsh discords and unpleasing sharps.Some say the lark makes sweet division;This doth not so, for she divideth us:Some say the lark and loathed toad change eyes,O, now I would they had changed voices too!Since arm

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1114865825515270402005-05-06T09:00:00.000+02:002005-05-07T12:49:32.130+02:00

Barlaam II was Bishop of Gerace, but, as this plaque correctly notes, is mainly famous for having been "Petrarch and Boccaccio's teacher of Latin and Greek". An extremely prestigious job title for a bishop, especially considering that both authors then wrote almost only profane works in vulgar italian. Good job, Barlaam II!Note: "bishop" in English is also a chess piece, translated in Italian as

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1114865203919650672005-05-05T09:00:00.000+02:002005-05-05T09:34:19.526+02:00

This odd set of instructions for using a phone was sent by a colleague of mine some time ago:"C. When the third component answers (step B) push the number three (i.e. the numeric button with the "3" diphthong written on it)". Why on earth a "diphthong"? Isn't "3" simply a "number"? At the very worst, it can be "the name of an UMTS operator", but no, not a "diphthong"!Note: "diphthong" has a

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1114864883171418772005-05-04T09:00:00.000+02:002005-05-04T09:07:19.006+02:00

Amazing stories: German fragmentation toads baffle scientists! This article (only in italian, sorry) seems to present the latest invention of the German Army: the frag toad. Apparently, thousands of toads have been exploding in the past weeks, leaving scientists of the local public health labs baffled. No problems in water, no contamination, no nothing. Therefore the hypotheses left available

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1114864595976135542005-05-03T21:00:00.000+02:002005-05-05T09:58:33.613+02:00

Since everyone is talking about the new Pope, I can't refrain myself from doing a short foray into Vatican matters. It sure helps the image of the Church that they state their "professions" in latin. For example, Pope Ratzinger was "Defensor fidei". You would sound much more important if you were a "Dux Factor Codicis Machinarum" instead of "Lead Software engineer". And what about using "Senus

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1114864440478950452005-05-02T09:00:00.000+02:002005-05-02T09:41:31.053+02:00

Some things can just curdle your blood, like seeing this particular renown circus artist from this particular angle. According to me, there should be a law prohibiting hanging on corrugated metal posters with big faces. From certain viewing angles, the uneven surface makes everyone resemble "The elephant man"!Note: In england, blood apprently curdles like milk. In Italy, it freezes ("gela")

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1114522243918414972005-04-30T21:00:00.000+02:002005-04-30T10:25:56.883+02:00

That pure American brother, dull-eyed and empty-facedraces Sundays in Jersey in a Chevy stock super eightHe rides 'er low on the hip, on the side he's got Bound For Glory in red, white and blue flash paintHe leans on the hood telling racing stories, the kids call him Jimmy The SaintWell the blaze and noise boy, he's gunnin' that bitch loaded to blastin' pointHe rides head first into a hurricane

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1114445375386979392005-04-29T09:04:00.000+02:002005-04-29T10:22:27.976+02:00

What can be more preposterous than someone mistaking the national Italian food with hamburgers? I mean, "traditional american" pizza and panzerotti is like saying "traditional english" sauerkraut or "traditional german" patè de foie gras! We can partly forgive the restaurant in question only for one reason: the sign was photographed in Edinburgh, and scotsmen are not exactly noted for their

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1114444985293297832005-04-28T09:00:00.000+02:002005-04-28T09:18:14.056+02:00

Bred for sexual intercourse? Can happen, but only if you are a horse. This article (I sadly lost the original link) presented the rather happy story of a purebreed horse cloned not to race, but to only have sex. Ask me what I prefer to do, whether run in circles at top speed sweating and carrying a whip-toting dwarf or fool around with hot mares all day, and I know what my answer is.Note: the

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1114444734490844472005-04-27T09:00:00.000+02:002005-04-27T08:08:38.306+02:00

Should I see a shrink? Every time life asks me the fatidical question "Is the glass half full or half empty?", my answer is invariably "That's not the problem! The problem is who the heck took half of my water!".Note: "Shrink" has also other meanings, especially as a verb, where it mainly means "to contract". Dovrei vedere uno strizzacervelli? Ogni volta che la vita mi pone la fatidica domanda "

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1114444420620001942005-04-26T08:51:00.000+02:002005-04-26T09:21:04.826+02:00

Special Money Week, extension - Monetary Tuesday: guarding your hard-earned riches. Nothing better than a good old dog to guard your loot, but, when you are so rich you need something a bit more souped-up, maybe you can discourage potential thieves by advertising Fido as something more aggressive. Note that the sign actually only says "beware of the dogs". Ohwell, you can't say it's false

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1114243293446774402005-04-23T09:58:00.000+02:002005-04-23T10:01:33.450+02:00

A little Saturday song for the Special Money Week (which will continue on Tuesday after Liberation Day, with a special Money Tuesday):It's fun to charter an accountant And sail the wide accountan-cy, To find, explore the funds offshore And skirt the shoals of bankruptcy. It can be manly in insurance: We'll up your premium

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1114155328009945962005-04-22T09:24:00.000+02:002005-04-22T14:13:09.136+02:00

Special Money Week, part V: high finance, part II. After yesterday's calculation, someone noticed that I hadn't catered for investing money. So here is an update, always calculated with high-precision, high-tech, professional tools (Windows' "calc.exe"). So. If you want to get your 96.000 Euros per year only through investment revenues, considering a generous 5% revenue, I calculate you need an

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1114061411783728432005-04-21T09:30:00.000+02:002005-04-22T09:23:59.870+02:00

Special Money Week, part IV: how much do you really need to retire forever, and never work again? I recently performed this calculation, and obtained the result which has since then become my financial goal. I think you can decently live with about 2.000 euros per month, but then again, you may need to support a family, let's say of four. That yelds (2.000 EUR x 4 people) = (8.000 EUR x 12

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1113975013839028922005-04-20T09:30:00.000+02:002005-04-20T08:06:49.226+02:00

Special Money Week, part III: judging from its real-estate assets, this commercial activity does not look very healthy. Yet another proof that dealing in valuable merchandise (in this case, gold and silver) may not be enough to make you wealthy for life, especially if you only only "buy" it, as is the case here. Be warned! Be wary! Settimana Speciale dei Soldi, parte III: a giudicare dalle

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1113888615640094972005-04-19T09:30:00.000+02:002005-04-26T14:36:55.480+02:00

Special Money Week, part II: of course, once you have made some dough, you need to spend it. If you really have some billions to spare, then you can buy a plane ticket to Edinburgh using the website depicted in the snapshot, like I tried to do. Of course you need to fully realize how much are they asking in euros. That particular amount of money is more or less what I expect to find in the

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1113802229825592572005-04-18T09:30:00.000+02:002005-04-19T09:10:49.550+02:00

Moolah, or in other words money, will be the central theme for this week, Special Money Week. Let's start with how to make money.According to a theory by yours truly and some friends, a way could be the well-tested beggar approach, only swapping pitiful requests and situation with glamorous ones, made to inspire envy. The rationale, as demonstrated by some TV shows, is that people like to hear

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1113629439533520752005-04-16T07:30:00.000+02:002005-04-16T14:12:11.223+02:00

[...] please bleed so i know that you are real so i know that you can feel the damage that you've done who have i become to myself i am numb is this really living sometimes it's hard to tell or is this just a kinder, gentler hell turn out the lights and let me stare into your soul I was born and bled for you to hold [...]Ben Harper, "Please Bleed" (

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1113546932588386622005-04-15T08:35:00.000+02:002005-04-15T11:59:28.996+02:00

Potatoes may seem ochre yellow, burnt sienna, burnt umber or light brown to most of us, but that may not apply to everyone. In fact, it does not apply to a big supermarket around here that, due probably to some color blindness issue advertises "blue potatoes".Note: some Italian learners may find interesting that "blue" ("azzurro" is more specifically "azure blue" or "sky-blue") is for some

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11768911.post-1113459697842633352005-04-14T08:20:00.000+02:002005-04-14T10:18:19.430+02:00

Pearls of wisdom: "Let's remember that pearls are only the small crap that oysters accumulate around trash that gets in their home". This sentence was originally published some years ago by "Linus" magazine in the one of their reader-contributed sections. The editors (and in particular one of them) are the ones that chose the title "Pearls of Wisdom". Not me. Just to be clear. Perle di saggezza:

Monsieur Jacques Pernodnoreply@blogger.com0