Originally posted by gingerjedi
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Nope, threaded was right...as always...Official name of the implement was a spongia. Learnt this from my 7 year old who is learning about Roman times at school, so it must be true...Illegitimus non carborundum est! -
So how does that translate to misunderstanding something? Surely your explanation refers to getting a bum deal?Originally posted by Flubster View Post
If I was too poor to afford a clean stick I wouldn’t be confused about the situation.Science isn't about why, it's about why not. You ask: why is so much of our science dangerous? I say: why not marry safe science if you love it so much. In fact, why not invent a special safety door that won't hit you in the butt on the way out, because you are fired. - Cave JohnsonComment
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If you were a barbarian you would not understand the toilet etiquet in Rome, so would end up getting hold of the wrong end of the stick.Originally posted by gingerjedi View PostInsanity: repeating the same actions, but expecting different results.
threadeds website, and here's my blog.
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Yeah, I believed you about cars... it was things like "augury" (Lat. augere 2nd conj, to increase as in augment, therefore to prosper, so a fortune-teller would help you prosper.) and "few" (Lat. paucus minced through the German sound shift, small or few). Both from Greek but I forget that. Nothing to do with birds.Originally posted by threaded View Post
I grant you auspices and most of the others though.Comment
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But they would be oblivious to their 'faux pas' and wouldn't know that they hadn't understood? Would they have been offered the clean end if they refused the tulipy end therefore showing they had grasped the concept?Originally posted by threaded View PostScience isn't about why, it's about why not. You ask: why is so much of our science dangerous? I say: why not marry safe science if you love it so much. In fact, why not invent a special safety door that won't hit you in the butt on the way out, because you are fired. - Cave JohnsonComment
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An "Augur" was the priest in ancient Rome who watched the flight of the birds. IIRC avi + geroOriginally posted by expat View Post
As to few: go a little further back with paucus and you'll find it meant chicks in a nest.Insanity: repeating the same actions, but expecting different results.
threadeds website, and here's my blog.Comment
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Why the heck didnt they use bog roll like everyone else ? I reckon they were a bit dopey these Romans
why didnt Archimedes or someone invent the 'double ended Spongia' for the morning after the night before
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("")("") Born to Drink. Forced to WorkComment
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Wouldn't both ends then be "sticky".........Originally posted by EternalOptimist View Post
As the phrase has at least 2 common usages (other than wrong end)......
a) Rough end of the stick
b) Tulipy end of the stick
Do they have opposite meanings......
If I was wiping my *rse with a stick I would certainly want to be holding the rough end (as opposed to using it to wipe)
conversely I wouldn't want to end up holding the tulipy end..... although wipig with the (already) tulipy end might be counter productiveComment
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They were quite well made things. Looked much like modern toilet brushes. So the rough end is indeed the business end.Originally posted by Drewster View PostInsanity: repeating the same actions, but expecting different results.
threadeds website, and here's my blog.Comment
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