Author Topic: Quotes from work (Read 180696 times)

Jonathon · « **Reply #275 on:** March 05, 2008, 10:50:45 AM »

I need some opinions on the following quote:

Quote

Commemorates Russia's 1812 defeat of Napoleon.

This made me do a double take. Why would anyone commemorate a defeat? It seems more natural to me to talk about commemorating a victory. Does it strike anyone else as just a little off?

Neutros the Radioactive Dragon · « **Reply #276 on:** March 05, 2008, 10:53:25 AM »

It works, but is clumsy. I think I'd choose something that meant "in rememberence of" instead.

Tante Shvester · « **Reply #277 on:** March 05, 2008, 10:54:24 AM »

It didn't until you pointed it out. I'm still not sure if it does to me, though.

Jonathon · « **Reply #278 on:** March 05, 2008, 10:58:06 AM »

It could just be that I'm really tired today and took an extra half-second to parse it. My mental process went something like "Why would Russia commemorate its own defeat? Oh, wait—it was Napoleon who was defeated." The more I look at it, the more I think it's probably just fine.

Neutros the Radioactive Dragon · « **Reply #279 on:** March 05, 2008, 11:03:58 AM »

Well, I parsed it the same way....

Maybe I am a bot?

rivka · « **Reply #280 on:** March 05, 2008, 11:15:10 AM »

While it's not the greatest phrasing, I'm having trouble coming up with anything better. "Victory over Napoleon" is worse, neh?

Brinestone · « **Reply #281 on:** March 05, 2008, 11:18:45 AM »

They defeated Napoleon. I don't see what's wrong with it.

pooka · « **Reply #282 on:** March 06, 2008, 06:18:14 AM »

The thing is, the Russians didn't really prevail over Napoleon on the battlefield. My impression was it was the Russian winter that did him in. He tried to march on to the Capital and his army just disintegrated... I think. I could be wrong.

Now I'll have to go look it up.

Campaign of 1812... Napoleon did make it to Moscow, but found it abandoned and on his retreat the army disintegrated. Basically, the Russians out-retreated him. Again, not what you'd call "victory" but defiinitely a defeat for Napoleon.

Porter · « **Reply #283 on:** March 06, 2008, 07:37:38 AM »

I'd call that a victory.

rivka · « **Reply #284 on:** March 06, 2008, 07:40:41 AM »

Traditionally, the Russians have won wars by surviving their winter weather better than the namby-pamby invaders.

Furs and vodka.

Neutros the Radioactive Dragon · « **Reply #285 on:** March 06, 2008, 07:52:21 AM »

Jonathon · « **Reply #286 on:** March 06, 2008, 08:09:03 AM »

Here's an awesome map/chart showing Napoleon's advance and retreat. The width of the line represents the number of men in his army. Peach is the advance, and black is the retreat.

rivka · « **Reply #287 on:** March 06, 2008, 11:17:56 AM »

Wow. Great link, Jonathon.

Jonathon · « **Reply #288 on:** March 06, 2008, 11:22:02 AM »

It's kind of mind-boggling to think that less than 2.5 percent of those soldiers came back alive.

And that site has all kinds of cool stuff. I'd forgotten about it until this discussion.

pooka · « **Reply #289 on:** March 06, 2008, 12:29:17 PM »

Yeah, a lot of people try and do that with the election. I personally find The population weighted map of the US really disturbing. I understand what point they hoped to make, but it only succeeds in suggesting that the cartographer was dropping acid or something.

Jonathon · « **Reply #290 on:** March 06, 2008, 12:32:14 PM »

I think I can identify Utah on that (not actual borders, but at least the general blobby area).

rivka · « **Reply #291 on:** March 06, 2008, 02:04:07 PM »

Quote

I understand what point they hoped to make, but it only succeeds in suggesting that the cartographer was dropping acid or something.

No kidding.

Tante Shvester · « **Reply #292 on:** March 12, 2008, 02:01:35 PM »

"In Mexico, the fourth of July falls on the fifth of May."

rivka · « **Reply #293 on:** March 12, 2008, 02:02:01 PM »

Jonathon · « **Reply #294 on:** March 12, 2008, 02:02:14 PM »

*blink*

rivka · « **Reply #295 on:** March 12, 2008, 02:15:08 PM »

Are you familiar with Cinco de Mayo?

Jonathon · « **Reply #296 on:** March 12, 2008, 02:24:03 PM »

Of course. That quote just made my brain hiccup.

rivka · « **Reply #297 on:** March 12, 2008, 06:14:27 PM »

Well, sure. It should be "In Mexico, the fourth of July falls on the sixteenth of September."

Jonathon · « **Reply #298 on:** March 12, 2008, 07:16:08 PM »

Um . . .

rivka · « **Reply #299 on:** March 12, 2008, 07:22:39 PM »

Quote

A common misconception in the United States is that Cinco de Mayo is Mexico's Independence Day; Mexico's Independence Day is actually September 16 (dieciséis de septiembre in Spanish), which is the most important national patriotic holiday in Mexico.