Comments on: Update on ‘Firefly’ and geekhood http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2007/08/08/update-on-firefly-and-geekhood/ Eric D. Snider's blog. Mon, 01 Dec 2008 20:12:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Shinosuke http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2007/08/08/update-on-firefly-and-geekhood/#comment-51920 Shinosuke Fri, 10 Aug 2007 14:52:43 +0000 http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2007/08/08/update-on-firefly-and-geekhood/#comment-51920 After reading all of these comments about how hard Chinese is to pronounce, I'm glad that I learned Japanese. Yes, they still have characters that have two different meanings, but usually they are combined with other characters so it is easier to understand. Also, the have an alphabet of 47 or so letters and you can write the whole language in it. Haven't seen Firefly yet, but I do know that the Japanese on Heroes is usually pretty good when spoken by Hiro and Ando-kun, but George Takei's japanese is HORRIBLE. Same with everybody elses Japanese. After reading all of these comments about how hard Chinese is to pronounce, I’m glad that I learned Japanese. Yes, they still have characters that have two different meanings, but usually they are combined with other characters so it is easier to understand. Also, the have an alphabet of 47 or so letters and you can write the whole language in it.

Haven’t seen Firefly yet, but I do know that the Japanese on Heroes is usually pretty good when spoken by Hiro and Ando-kun, but George Takei’s japanese is HORRIBLE. Same with everybody elses Japanese.

]]> By: whome http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2007/08/08/update-on-firefly-and-geekhood/#comment-51730 whome Thu, 09 Aug 2007 23:34:37 +0000 http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2007/08/08/update-on-firefly-and-geekhood/#comment-51730 In Mandarin Chinese there are only about 413 to 416 actual spoken words (depending on who you ask) so each word is a homonym multiple times over. The word that sounds like "shrr" is the most common spoken word with 70 to 100 characters all using the same sound. So the intonation and context are terribly important in Chinese. Obviously, puns and/or wordplay form one of the easiest forms of humor in Chinese. Tongue twisters are fun and easy to invent. And popular song lyrics are impossible to understand unless you have them written out and you follow along. When you introduce yourself ("Hello, my name is Shrr."), people ask which characters are used ("Which Shrr character?"), since there is no context for a name. It's a very different world. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to pare a pair of pears. In Mandarin Chinese there are only about 413 to 416 actual spoken words (depending on who you ask) so each word is a homonym multiple times over. The word that sounds like “shrr” is the most common spoken word with 70 to 100 characters all using the same sound. So the intonation and context are terribly important in Chinese. Obviously, puns and/or wordplay form one of the easiest forms of humor in Chinese. Tongue twisters are fun and easy to invent. And popular song lyrics are impossible to understand unless you have them written out and you follow along. When you introduce yourself (”Hello, my name is Shrr.”), people ask which characters are used (”Which Shrr character?”), since there is no context for a name. It’s a very different world.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to pare a pair of pears.

]]> By: Slash http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2007/08/08/update-on-firefly-and-geekhood/#comment-51692 Slash Thu, 09 Aug 2007 17:55:08 +0000 http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2007/08/08/update-on-firefly-and-geekhood/#comment-51692 "Ally Sheedy was hotter before Molly Ringwald cleaned her up." No truer words have ever been spoken. “Ally Sheedy was hotter before Molly Ringwald cleaned her up.”

No truer words have ever been spoken.

]]> By: Argus Skyhawk http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2007/08/08/update-on-firefly-and-geekhood/#comment-51656 Argus Skyhawk Thu, 09 Aug 2007 14:34:06 +0000 http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2007/08/08/update-on-firefly-and-geekhood/#comment-51656 That is one spot where I disagree with Emerson. If you look closely, the fly seems to be walking on a flat transparent surface, not on Belloq's face. I believe the fly was accidentally added to the image when the shot was being developed or something. It has been suggested on other message boards that the fly landed on the lens while the shot was being filmed, but I think it would look a lot larger and out of focus. Anyway, I really enjoy that "What a Geek Believes" flyer. That is one spot where I disagree with Emerson. If you look closely, the fly seems to be walking on a flat transparent surface, not on Belloq’s face. I believe the fly was accidentally added to the image when the shot was being developed or something. It has been suggested on other message boards that the fly landed on the lens while the shot was being filmed, but I think it would look a lot larger and out of focus.

Anyway, I really enjoy that “What a Geek Believes” flyer.

]]> By: Owain J. Brimfield http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2007/08/08/update-on-firefly-and-geekhood/#comment-51608 Owain J. Brimfield Thu, 09 Aug 2007 11:44:17 +0000 http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2007/08/08/update-on-firefly-and-geekhood/#comment-51608 Randy - there's a scene in 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' where a fly dives right into Paul Freeman's (Belloq's) mouth while he's speaking and he just carries right on as if nothing happened. Randy - there’s a scene in ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ where a fly dives right into Paul Freeman’s (Belloq’s) mouth while he’s speaking and he just carries right on as if nothing happened.

]]> By: Winslow http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2007/08/08/update-on-firefly-and-geekhood/#comment-51597 Winslow Thu, 09 Aug 2007 11:09:03 +0000 http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2007/08/08/update-on-firefly-and-geekhood/#comment-51597 Belloq was a character in Raiders, and he ate a fly, right on camera!! You can see if you rewind. Belloq was a character in Raiders, and he ate a fly, right on camera!! You can see if you rewind.

]]> By: euphonious monk http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2007/08/08/update-on-firefly-and-geekhood/#comment-51575 euphonious monk Thu, 09 Aug 2007 09:29:26 +0000 http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2007/08/08/update-on-firefly-and-geekhood/#comment-51575 Belloch is the archaeologist aligned with the Nazis in Raiders of the Lost Ark, although IMDB has it spelled "Belloq." The bit with the fly is mentioned in http://www.indianajones.de/indy1/texte/trivia.php about 3/4's of the way down. Belloch is the archaeologist aligned with the Nazis in Raiders of the Lost Ark, although IMDB has it spelled “Belloq.” The bit with the fly is mentioned in http://www.indianajones.de/indy1/texte/trivia.php about 3/4’s of the way down.

]]> By: RandyTayler http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2007/08/08/update-on-firefly-and-geekhood/#comment-51536 RandyTayler Thu, 09 Aug 2007 06:50:54 +0000 http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2007/08/08/update-on-firefly-and-geekhood/#comment-51536 "I believe that Belloch ate that fly" ?? I tried googling with no luck. Can anyone enlighten me? “I believe that Belloch ate that fly” ??

I tried googling with no luck. Can anyone enlighten me?

]]> By: Kiersten http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2007/08/08/update-on-firefly-and-geekhood/#comment-51510 Kiersten Thu, 09 Aug 2007 05:46:51 +0000 http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2007/08/08/update-on-firefly-and-geekhood/#comment-51510 Ditto what Kamisaki says on the Chinese. I was gonna post it myself, but actually took the time to read the comments first. So, yes, this is superfluous. Ditto what Kamisaki says on the Chinese. I was gonna post it myself, but actually took the time to read the comments first. So, yes, this is superfluous.

]]> By: Kamisaki http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2007/08/08/update-on-firefly-and-geekhood/#comment-51416 Kamisaki Thu, 09 Aug 2007 00:39:42 +0000 http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2007/08/08/update-on-firefly-and-geekhood/#comment-51416 Well, to be fair, the actors themselves admit their Chinese was terrible (if you watch the extras on the Firefly series DVDs). Seeing as how Chinese as a second language does make a lot of sense within that universe, I'm willing to give them a pass on the point that it happens to be a language that's nearly impossible for American English speakers with little training to pronounce well. Anyway Eric, congrats on discovering Firefly. As for your geek cred, I don't think you have to know everything about geekdom to be appreciated by its members. As long as you know something, you'll be fine. Well, to be fair, the actors themselves admit their Chinese was terrible (if you watch the extras on the Firefly series DVDs). Seeing as how Chinese as a second language does make a lot of sense within that universe, I’m willing to give them a pass on the point that it happens to be a language that’s nearly impossible for American English speakers with little training to pronounce well.

Anyway Eric, congrats on discovering Firefly. As for your geek cred, I don’t think you have to know everything about geekdom to be appreciated by its members. As long as you know something, you’ll be fine.

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