[TAG] (forw) Pascal's Wager and me

[Jimmy O'Regan]

Jimmy O'Regan wrote:

> Rick Moen wrote:
> 
>> It was just a chance, throwaway remark on Usenet, and it was eight 
>> years ago.
>> Yet I _still_ keep coming across people quoting it.  Watch out; _you_
>> might end up being famous for something freaky like that, too.
>>
>> Footnote #3 is to an elaborate and very funny parody piece
>> ("alt.Shrugged"), in which the author imagines all the regulars of the
>> referenced newsgroup, including yr. humble correspondent, enacting
>> roughly the plot outline of Ayn Rand's _Atlas Shrugged_.  It should
>> be amusing even if you don't get the plentiful in-jokes like my being
>> infamous for dropping foreign phrases into the conversation.  
> 
> 
> Yeah, you get two of the funniest bits:
> 
> 'Rick Moen spread his hands regretfully.  "Sodomy non sapiens, dear."'

Hmm. On third inspection, that doesn't seem to hold up[1]: I'm pretty 
sure there should be an 'if' in there ('si'?). And isn't 'sapiens' think 
(homo sapiens = 'thinking man')? I thought 'Science' came from the Latin 
'to know'.

'Learn some Latin' is one of those things that's been on the TODO list 
for way too long. The last time I started, I got derailed at the 
'pronunciation' section[3]. I think I'll start with "Talkin' Like the 
Ancient Romans" 
(http://www.byzantinecommunications.com/adamhoward/latin.html), just 
because of the tagline: "Latin: Because You Never Know When You'll Find 
Yourself In Ancient Rome."


[1] You know: first glance = "Eh?", second glance = double take & 
laugh[2] (& c 'n' p), third glance = my copy of my mail.

[2] There was a Polish college student working with me this summer. I 
took delight in throwing in Polish words and phrases into conversation 
every now and again to see that reaction.

[3] See question 8 of the 'Occasionally Asked Questions' here 
(http://www.math.ohio-state.edu/~econrad/lang/latin.html):

"Q: My teacher says Caesar is pronounced "Kai'-sar", my priest says 
"Chay'-sar" and my parents say "See'-zer".  Who's correct?
A: It depends.  If you want a good approximation of ancient Roman 
pronunciation, then your teacher is correct.  For liturgical purposes, 
your priest is correct.  If you're talking about Caesar in English, then 
your parents are correct." [4]

[4] And of course, question 9:
"Q: Why do academic types always answer a simple question with "It 
depends."?
A: It depends."