OT Tax cut madness

[Andy_Faber]

Rather be one of them than a Fascist. Anarchist - a person who rebels against any authority, established order, or ruling power. 2 : a person who believes in, advocates, or promotes anarchism or anarchy especially : one who uses violent means to overthrow the established order.

If those wielding the power are subjugating the people while benefitting their cronies do they not deserve overthrowing?

Yes they probably do but whoever is nominally 'wielding power', the cronies will cronie on, because they are smarter than the politicians whatever the colour of their ties.

[Geoff Parkstone]

Ah but my natural magnetism would divert your compass in different directions

[Geoff Parkstone]

Totally off this topic, but MA, as a resident cloggie, do you understand German language? Was debating last night on the subject of German nouns being classified as male, female or neuter. Question is, in this era of no ***ual determinism, have any of these words been determined as non binary now? Has the word for spoon for example (traditionally masculine) changed?

[MadAmster]

GP, I know more than a billion German words but only because I can count...... the area of Germany I frequently visit, we have a relative of sorts there, former step father in law who's lived there for 30 years, on my wine buying trips is Rhineland Pfalz and they have a weird accent/dialect which sounds really weird. I'm fluent in English and Dutch, can still read and understand written French and Spanish but don't have sufficient vocabulary recall to have anything more than a basic conversation ordering food and drinks or clothes/shoes. Beyond that I'm done for. Rhineland Pfalz-ish has me struggling to identify the sounds made, never mind forming words and sentences from them. Imagine something akin to a blend of Scouse and Geordie on steroids.

Proper German does, indeed, have male, female and neutral nouns all with their own consequences for the rest of a sentence. Way too difficult for me to get my head round these days. To the best of my knowledge, men are still men, women are still women. I can only presume that Trans people fall into the neutral category.

Sorry, can't be more helpful than that.

[ramAnag]

GP, I know more than a billion German words but only because I can count...... the area of Germany I frequently visit, we have a relative of sorts there, former step father in law who's lived there for 30 years, on my wine buying trips is Rhineland Pfalz and they have a weird accent/dialect which sounds really weird. I'm fluent in English and Dutch, can still read and understand written French and Spanish but don't have sufficient vocabulary recall to have anything more than a basic conversation ordering food and drinks or clothes/shoes. Beyond that I'm done for. Rhineland Pfalz-ish has me struggling to identify the sounds made, never mind forming words and sentences from them. Imagine something akin to a blend of Scouse and Geordie on steroids.

Proper German does, indeed, have male, female and neutral nouns all with their own consequences for the rest of a sentence. Way too difficult for me to get my head round these days. To the best of my knowledge, men are still men, women are still women. I can only presume that Trans people fall into the neutral category.

Sorry, can't be more helpful than that.

The last time I was in Holland we visited a bar/restaurant in Venlo (?) just over border from Germany. Seeking to be polite we asked the barman/owner how to say a few words in Dutch. ‘Just think b*****dised German’...came his friendly, though not entirely helpful, reply.

Not sure if MA agrees or is offended.

[MadAmster]

Not offended at all rA. Just as the US and UK languages have the same base but have diverged down the years, the same applies to German and Dutch. The German language is harsher, more guttural. Their grammar is also way more complicated.

I go 2 or 3 times a year to Rhineland-Pfalz to visit my former step father in law and to buy some delicious wine from the local vineyards of the Nahe valley. 20 years ago we knew the best ones to visit. In more recent times 2 have passed from father to children. Prices have increased and quality diminished so we don't visit those any longer. the 3rd one we used frequently, the owners have just retired and it's been taken over by a firm based outside the region. Same story there, price up, quality down. A 4th one we have used closed down. Just one of our "favourites" left for now. The area has a weird dialect and despite being fluent in 2 languages and OK-ish in 2 others (used to be competent in them but lack of use has taken its toll) I find it hard to distinguish sounds, never mind words. I've given up on German. If they can't handle one of the 4 languages I speak, that's their hard luck. I have discovered though that, if I converse with a German in Dutch and they reply in German, there are sufficient similarities in the languages for us to, at least, get by.

[ramAnag]

Not offended at all rA. Just as the US and UK languages have the same base but have diverged down the years, the same applies to German and Dutch. The German language is harsher, more guttural. Their grammar is also way more complicated.

I go 2 or 3 times a year to Rhineland-Pfalz to visit my former step father in law and to buy some delicious wine from the local vineyards of the Nahe valley. 20 years ago we knew the best ones to visit. In more recent times 2 have passed from father to children. Prices have increased and quality diminished so we don't visit those any longer. the 3rd one we used frequently, the owners have just retired and it's been taken over by a firm based outside the region. Same story there, price up, quality down. A 4th one we have used closed down. Just one of our "favourites" left for now. The area has a weird dialect and despite being fluent in 2 languages and OK-ish in 2 others (used to be competent in them but lack of use has taken its toll) I find it hard to distinguish sounds, never mind words. I've given up on German. If they can't handle one of the 4 languages I speak, that's their hard luck. I have discovered though that, if I converse with a German in Dutch and they reply in German, there are sufficient similarities in the languages for us to, at least, get by.

I envy your linguistic ability. I can be polite and order beer, wine and food in most (European) places but beyond that...nada!
One lovely Spanish hotel owner on the way down had one of those audio translation apps on his phone. I know it’s lazy but I may have to invest. Too late to learn now.

[Geoff Parkstone]

Surely the answer adopted by most is to order in English and just shout louder!!

[Andy_Faber]

Surely the answer adopted by most is to order in English and just shout louder!!

Have younot learned any Greek?

[Geoff Parkstone]

I might say to rA "τα έχεις παραχέσει"