GammaGlobulin

These days, of course, now that the entire world seems to be going to pot, no one seems interested in reading much beyond the level of Harry Potter. Even my best friend has stopped reading anything like the likes of Philip Roth. Philip Roth should have received a Nobel for literature. But, the reason he was overlooked for the Prize was because his sentences were too long, too beautiful, and too well crafted. And, for other obvious reasons, as everybody knows. Can you even imagine Philip Roth on Twitter? Trump, yes. Twitter is the perfect platform for any old Trump. So, don't wonder why your brain continues to shrink on Twitter when you should, actually, be reading books, written in perfect paragraphs, by writers like Roth. Too much work, you say, to read just one thought-provoking sentence? The world is going to pot. And, THIS is the way they like it.

How many here have read John Cheever? I once locked myself in a room with nothing but John Cheever books, for one week. I even read his daughter's book about Cheever before I unlocked the door. I consumed nothing other than potatoes and water for a week. This is how much I love John Cheever. To this day, anytime I hear or read a passage from John Cheever, I know his nationality. Some might say that The New Yorker is the house that Cheever built. What would you say? Cheever never masked his nationality, nor could he.

One more question: Would you prefer 'gathering gloom' or Would you prefer 'gathering glome' Guys in Singapore, as young as this city-state is, probably have never even heard of the gloaming of anything. Maybe, they have never read any decent poetry, or books, for example. They know not much about the gloaming of anything worthwhile. Guys from Singapore, they are not native-English speakers. On the other hand, in the UK, you will find fine writers of English. Nobody here who is not from the UK need think of writing a decent sentence so perfect and satisfying as any sentence somebody from the UK could toss off at a moment's notice. Do I think this is true? YES. I know this is true. In the UK, babes are born speaking fluent English, and then they are sent to some school at Windsor, Berkshire, in order to improve upon what they were born with. This is the way it was in 1967. 1967 was a far better year than 2020 ever was, and more romantic. JUST what Truth is, I can't say, anymore... 'Cause I love you! I LOVE you! Nights in White Satin..... Evermore. Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary, Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore— While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door. “’Tis some visitor,” I muttered, “tapping at my chamber door— Only this and nothing more.”

Thank you, my friend. Did you notice? I just passed 500,000 words on this righteous forum. This is no small achievement, at least for me. I have enjoyed every word of it.

Google can easily discriminate, just by writing style and word usage, I would imagine, even if Google did not have far more much more conclusive information to go by. In fact, if there is not already an app, then maybe we should create an app to identify Farang Pub writers, according to their writing style, socioeconomic class, hair style, and sense of humor, or lack of it.

I think you are correct in this. However, never underestimate a thorough test in the use of prepositions to separate the wheat from the chaff. There are just too many pretenders out there who would dearly love to pass themselves off as native-English speakers. Personally, I do not consider myself as a native-English speaker. The reason for this is because, during the past forty, or more, years, I have been going native in Asia. When I, now, speak by phone with my relatives back home, after over 40 years, they are hard put to understand me. They say I sound like a Chinaman. And, I know this is true.

A well-considered response, and have you also considered writers from Singapore? These guys are not only smart but also easily identify themselves by quirky word constructions. Singapore harbors a total mishmash of English speakers and writers with unique word usage and writing styles. Yet, it's not too difficult to group them in one heterogenous bunch, if you have been around them, long enough. The interesting thing is, when you ask them, they always insist that their First Language is English. But, when you ask them about their "native language", they hem and haw. Anyway, I can tell you how to separate writers from Singapore from the rest of the bunch: Just give them a short test on prepositions. It's easy for guys from Singapore to pass themselves off as native-English speakers....UNTIL... you test them on their usage of prepositions. Then....they fall by the wayside. Proper use of prepositions is not so easy because...there are no "rules" that can be memorized.

I thought not. Thank you.

The only thing I know about BLACK MAGIC is what I saw in Belize. Also, while I was there, I ate in a Chinese restaurant, in the city of Belize. ANYWAY, Man.... I do not know if anyone here believes in Black Magic...BUT.... You better believe that, in Belize, when I was there, there were some places between Belize City and Belmopan where some guys DID believe in Black Magic. And, this was not a joke. Of course, you will recall, I am sure, that John McAfee, the Virus Software Guru, was there in Belize, too. I was in Belize, Belmopan, and out on the Ambergris Caye, most of the time, too. Ambergris Caye is such a beautiful place to swim and snorkel. But, I have not been back there since around 1989, when the place was just starting up, and was very pristine. I just hope that this input about black magic is helpful. The only other thing I might add, which is probably what John McAfee would ask me to add, is this: So Black So Beautiful Black is Beautiful...

Dear Friends, Although it might not matter to most, still it seems to matter to some. Is it possible that, over time, after writing 500,000 words or more, on the Farang Pub, that anyone can hide their country of origin from careful readers, here? For example, for eons, I had tried, and still try, to feign that I am functionally illiterate, just striking keys with all thumbs, using malapropisms and abusing English grammar, at will. Yet, still, I have always been careful to maintain some semblance of well-written English, and, maybe, even a degree of writing excellence above the standard I have read on this Farang Pub. It is one thing to try to disguise one's nationality through changing one's writing style. This is totally fine. However, it is not fine to make spelling errors, grammar errors, punctuation errors, or mix up the past tense with the previous tenses. Also, writing changes over time. Did you think that people, 5000 years ago, write now, as they do, today? Even 60 years ago, people did not write as they do, today. This is a super-interesting Topic, I think. For example, how has my writing style changed over time, during the past many years. And, as well, is it possible for me to change my writing style just to feign being an Irish author, for example. Sure. I would dearly love to be an Irish author. But, this does not mean I could become one, just by changing my writing styles. Being an Irish author takes intelligence and wit, for example. So, anyway, I did not want to mention any particular culture, country, or place. I just wanted to know if people here can easily tell, just by reading the writer's writing style, where the writer hails from. When I read posts on the Farang Pub, in most cases, I do not worry too much about the country of origin for any given writer. I am too busy laughing. However, I know that, on occasion, some readers try to guess where some writer might be educated, or uneducated. I do not know why they might wish to have this information. If the writer is famous, then one might wish to know. Otherwise, then why worry about it? From a linguistics/linguistical point of view, a close analysis of our writings and postings might identify us as being from one place or another. However, again, would this be so easy, do you think? What I am saying is this: Let us say that I grew up reading nothing but William Thackeray. And then, after reading all of Thackeray, I happened to watch the Barry Lyndon film, ten times. Then, do you suppose, I would write anything like somebody who had rafted on the Mississippi? Therefore, I will say no more, except to ask your opinion about whether or not you can easily identify the nationality of a casual writer on the Farang Pub, without careful scrutiny. Again, very best regards, Gamma Please Note: In the following thread, if there is one, then I might be tempted to add a clip from Barry Lyndon, a wonderful film by Stanley Kubrick, in which Stanley gets shot in the leg. Thank you. Another Note: Although I can write better than this, yet, I just would like you to know that I am not shirking, and have never considered myself to be a slacker. Barry Lyndon, in my opinion, was also very misunderstood, especially by his wife. Kubrick is amazing. The film score adapted to this film is amazingly, amazing. Please enjoy this.

Or... Maybe he was.

What is the "raw prawn", anyway? Such a wonderful idiom! Lest we not forget, most of Aussie idioms are bastardized transformations from what the "new" 1940s' generations remembered from the English which their forebears brought over, on square-rigged sailing vessels, from the UK, to the colony. Australia had, up until Americans began interacting with the Australians, during WW2, been a very insular and blessed colony. Australians were considered quaint, when I was young. I respect Australians for their sincerity and for their being, mostly, like guys I have met in Iowa. RAW PRAWN? As for me.... I LOVE this idiom.

However, it was his telltale lilt that told otherwise.

I would not be surprised if you do, in fact.

The beauty of the Farang Pub is that anybody can be any nationality they wish to be. You can be American. And, I, I can be Irish. Nobody, as I said years ago, knows where anybody comes from. This is the beauty of the Farang Pub.

You are always dependable, and positive. Thank you for being someone, maybe the only one, we can truly depend on. Thank you.

Maybe for further investigation: I suggest that you study kinship terminology, among cultures and within cultures, in order to better decipher power relationships, and FACE, and hierarchy in the social setting. Have you really done your homework on this one?

Concerning the aforementioned book, "The Way Thais Lead: Face as Social Capital", the reason that I might not read this books is because, in the "Introduction", it is clearly stated that, "You don't have to be a scholar to read on." Also, I do not like sentences which end in the preposition, "on". Also, I have never been "perplexed by the leadership scene in Thailand". I have never been perplexed by anything I find here, after living most of my life in Asia. Basically, this book reads like a Masters Thesis, and no more than a PhD thesis. I have read a few Masters Theses, and I would never wish to read another. One thing that I do find pleasurable is that, in this PhD thesis he uses informal language and terms, such as "spot on". If this is a PhD thesis, then why use this INFORMAL term, which is British, as everybody knows. The only reason I ever use the term, "spot on", is just so that I might "fit in" better on the Farang pub. So, I guess I will not read this novel, next week. Still, a good effort. Thank you for advertising this here. (If I NEVER hear the term, "Social Capital", ever again, I will be far less likely to puuke my guts out. Always, social capital this, and social capital that. Stop with the social torture, PLEASE.)

Keep in mind, please, that, unless expats can READ Thai, then they will NEVER be able to SPEAK Thai. So sad, yet true. Passa Thai has such a simple vocabulary, with only a very few vowels and constanances. One of the HUGEST mistakes Guavas make when coming to Thailand for nooky is not to first learn the Thai script before they leave their home country, which they have been dying to leave, for years. Some expats don't even know where to find a vowel. They look up and down, but they can't even recriminate between a vowel and an inconstenenance. Who might have any sympathy for such expats who know nothing about Thai script? Why are they here, in the first place, if they care so little about Thai script? Why not just go to Mexico, instead, and learn a bit of Maya. (Mayans are extremely proud people. Same as people here. But, Maya script is easier.) Please keep in mind that Thai script is an ALPHABET. But, Maya script might not actually be an alphabet, as in the original, used years ago, but more of something you might encounter in Egypt, inside the pyramids. I would be happy to learn the Maya language if I lived in Central America. So, why are you not willing to learn Thai, while living here? Makes no sense. Maybe you think too much.

Thank you for reminding me. Is it permissible to post something priceless, just one more time?

Flores para los muertos? Fiori per i morti? Do you recall the flower seller in either Under the Volcano or Catch-22? Was she speaking Italian or Spanish, anyway?

Spanish Fly...

If I may say so: 'Grapes of Wrath', Steinbeck (the novel) 'Under the Volcano', Malcom Lowry: (the film version of the novel, with Albert Finney) These are two of the more harrowing books/films for anyone to read/watch, when one is young. Read them at your own risk. The film version of Under the Volcano is so spectacular just due to the outstanding work done by Finney. Finney knows how to act, and he became an outstanding actor, anytime he was provided with a decent role, one with amazing writing. ==== Don't watch Under the Volcano unless you are prepared to be affected by this for the rest of your life. So depressing. So magnificent. And, so.... On Topic, here, as an example of one of a multiplicity of circumstances that can become the worst thing that ever happened to you. Just my humble opinion.

I do not know. However, here is something I know you will enjoy.... The REASON I know you will enjoy this is because... I just do. I just do. You enjoy writing like this...IMHO. Also, you enjoy Albert Finney, too, if I am not mistaken.