General Questions Thread

[Larthak]

Originally Posted by Skane

I don't, and as a bonus, I think you meant "coming" instead? Otherwise your statement has very unfortunate implications.

Cheers.

Unfortunate indeed.

No thanksgiving here either, which is kinda logical due to my location; no, not the one listed on the left, I meant Europe. ;D

At least I believe so, never heard of it being widely celebrated on this continent. Never really cared to research this stuff either.

[Vexx]

Originally Posted by 0utf0xZer0

Uh, Shuffle started airing in July 2005. The game itself didn't come out until 2004.

Ah, the wiki lied to me or I misread it... bleh, I suppose I should start writing things down so I can look up my own chronology.
edit: ah I grabbed the wrong data, it aired July 7, 2005 – January 5, 2006

I do know I was here before the meltdown and had to reconstruct everything from scratch including re-registering. Everything else is foggy (filed under trivial memories and thereby buried in dust).

[NightWish]

Originally Posted by Vexx

I do know I was here before the meltdown and had to reconstruct everything from scratch including re-registering.

Unless I'm very much mistaken you first registered on April 13, 2005.

[felix]

Originally Posted by Larthak

Unfortunate indeed.

What's unfortunate is how he doesn't know it's a American (as in Canada + USA) holiday. If I'm not mistaken something-something to do with the settlers conquering the land and prosperous year or what-not.

From Europe here as well.

[Konakaga]

Originally Posted by felix

What's unfortunate is how he doesn't know it's a American (as in Canada + USA) holiday. If I'm not mistaken something-something to do with the settlers conquering the land and prosperous year or what-not.

From Europe here as well.

Actually though it's an "American" holiday, only the USA celebrates at this time of year, while Canada does in either September or October, I can't remember off hand .

[Vexx]

Originally Posted by NightWish

Unless I'm very much mistaken you first registered on April 13, 2005.

Nah, after piecing together events and history that sounds right. Thanks!

[risingstar3110]

Asked this in the culture thread but no answer comes up, so being a bit impatient and running to here instead:

Originally Posted by risingstar3110

OK, this question should be more about culture than actual "learning Japanese thread..."

In anime with real ancient characters Horo (in Spice& Wolf) or Gekka (Kyouran Kazoku Nikki), the character often end their sentence with "ja" or "ya".. which is different with most of the Japanese structure end that i know of

Is that a really formal/royal way to speak or something?

[SeijiSensei]

As someone who grew up just a few miles away from Plymouth Rock, I'll be happy to provide a brief overview of Thanksgiving to our friends outside the United States. Thanksgiving commemorates a harvest feast shared by the "Pilgrims" and native Americans living along the shores of Massachusetts near Cape Cod. The Pilgrims were a group of religious nonconformists who fled England around the turn of the seventeenth century. After a brief stay in the Netherlands, they commissioned ships to sail across the Atlantic so they might establish a colony in the "New World." The Pilgrims landed in December of 1620, and most of the settlers who hadn't died in the voyage passed away in the initial, brutally cold winter of 1620-21. Only 53 of the initial 102 emigrants, and just four of the initial eighteen females, survived to take part in the feast. Few of these would have survived without the support of the native Americans who lived in close proximity to the colonists.

The story of the Pilgrims has one remarkable coincidence, the presence of the native American Squanto who was enslaved by John Smith (of the Pocahontas tale) and later lived in England. Considering the enormous size of the United States, the fact that the Pilgrims encountered a native who spoke English and could translate between the two groups has to be an historical coincidence of major proportions.

Legend has it that the Pilgrims first stepped foot onto Plymouth Rock when arriving in America. In fact this story is based entirely on the report of one Elder John Faunce who, at 94, was carried to the water's edge so he might point out the place where his father had told him the first step took place. Since the Pilgrims had already spent some time in Provincetown at the tip of Cape Cod before sailing into Plymouth harbor, the story is false on its face. There are also no contemporary accounts in the existing journals of the colonists to support the story. The current Rock is but a mere shadow of the original, having been split in two at one point and chipped away by souvenir hunters before it was placed in a protected location around 1880. It now resides at the bottom of a Roman-styled portico in Plymouth Harbor which was constructed in 1920 to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the Pilgrims' arrival. It's symbolic value is perhaps best summed up by a local historian and member of the Pilgrim Society, Rose T. Briggs, who wrote in 1968, ""It is the fact that they landed - and remained - that matters, not where they landed. Yet it is no bad thing for a nation to be founded on a rock."

I researched the Rock for a high-school history project, which is why I know its story so well.

[mindovermatter]

since thanksgiving is being discussed, maybe someone could tell me if this is true..I heard that native Americans view thanksgiving as a day for mourning, since it was basically the beginning of the end for them. I wouldn't be surprised if it were so, but is it true?

ok, the question I really came into this thread to ask, was what is the current state of Yugioh?
I stopped watching/playing long ago...but I hear that Yugioh is still strong in the form of yugioh 5D.
so, how is this show? Is there any shred of the original plot or characters, or is the name "yugioh" not at all relevant anymore to the show?
how about the card game? Is it still semi popular? Are the cards decent?

thanks

[TinyRedLeaf]

Originally Posted by SeijiSensei

The current Rock is but a mere shadow of the original, having been split in two at one point and chipped away by souvenir hunters before it was placed in a protected location around 1880. It now resides at the bottom of a Roman-styled portico in Plymouth Harbor which was constructed in 1920 to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the Pilgrims' arrival.

The Roman portico (right), seen from the shore:


The big rock in question:


Yes, it's really, really BIG:

Originally Posted by risingstar3110

In anime with real ancient characters Horo (in Spice& Wolf) or Gekka (Kyouran Kazoku Nikki), the character often end their sentence with "ja" or "ya".. which is different with most of the Japanese structure end that i know of

Is that a really formal/royal way to speak or something?

I don't know about the latter character, but Horo apparently uses elements of an Edo-era dialect used by courtesans (oiran). It may or may not have been influenced by Kansai dialect, because both forms sound similar to my foreign ears. I'm basing that on the Kyoto-courtesan dialogue that appeared in Rurouni Kenshin: Tsuiokuhen, which had a curiously pleasant, coquettish lilt.

[ChainLegacy]

Maybe I should be ashamed for not visiting there since I'm from MA and I love history...

[risingstar3110]

Originally Posted by TinyRedLeaf

I don't know about the latter character, but Horo apparently uses elements of an Edo-era dialect used by courtesans (oiran). It may or may not have been influenced by Kansai dialect, because both forms sound similar to my foreign ears. I'm basing that on the Kyoto-courtesan dialogue that appeared in Rurouni Kenshin: Tsuiokuhen, which had a curiously pleasant, coquettish lilt.

It's quite interesting there.

But i don't think Gekka is anywhere close to an oiran, or have such flirty nature (unless it's towards sushi, she loves sushi). So it must be one of the older dialect, i guess =]

[SeijiSensei]

Originally Posted by mindovermatter

I heard that native Americans view thanksgiving as a day for mourning, since it was basically the beginning of the end for them. I wouldn't be surprised if it were so, but is it true?

Yes, some native American activist organizations have taken to demonstrating on Thanksgiving for these reasons.

Originally Posted by ChainLegacy

Maybe I should be ashamed for not visiting there since I'm from MA and I love history...

Well, it is just a rock. You won't see much more than you can see in the fine picture TRL just posted. I'd suggest a visit to Plimoth Plantation instead. It's a replica of the colony populated by actors who play actual residents of the time. They maintain themselves in character throughout. It's always funny to watch one of them ask an unsuspecting visitor how they arrived at the Plantation, then look puzzled and confused when told the visitors came by automobile. The Mayflower II, a replica of the original ship, is anchored near the rock in Plymouth harbor. It's mind-boggling to imagine over a hundred people crammed into a space not much larger than my apartment for two months.

[MeoTwister5]

I asked around and learned that the registration and testing fees for the USMLE for 2011 and 2012 would likely be approx. $3000 for foreigners, not counting the amount habing to spend going Stateside to take parts of it. $3000 is the gross salary of a first year medical resident for one whole year without taxes. In other countries, this is very high amount for someone who really just wants to train and earn while doing it before coming back home to practice.

So yes, ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?

(Yes that was a legitimate question)

I've dropped Singapore from my list because they don't offer training unless you become a citizen, and even then you still have a conditional practicing status.

My research into taking Canada's MCC exam is looking well, but I haven't come across enough details for foreigners looking to apply at an embassy, where to get the study manuals and guides (there are however a ton for the USMLE in every bookstore) and how much the registration costs. Can anyone give suggestions?

[SaintessHeart]

Originally Posted by SeijiSensei

Well, it is just a rock. You won't see much more than you can see in the fine picture TRL just posted. I'd suggest a visit to Plimoth Plantation instead. It's a replica of the colony populated by actors who play actual residents of the time. They maintain themselves in character throughout. It's always funny to watch one of them ask an unsuspecting visitor how they arrived at the Plantation, then look puzzled and confused when told the visitors came by automobile. The Mayflower II, a replica of the original ship, is anchored near the rock in Plymouth harbor. It's mind-boggling to imagine over a hundred people crammed into a space not much larger than my apartment for two months.

One question. Why turkey and not other birds for thanksgiving?

Originally Posted by MeoTwister5

I asked around and learned that the registration and testing fees for the USMLE for 2011 and 2012 would likely be approx. $3000 for foreigners, not counting the amount habing to spend going Stateside to take parts of it. $3000 is the gross salary of a first year medical resident for one whole year without taxes. In other countries, this is very high amount for someone who really just wants to train and earn while doing it before coming back home to practice.

So yes, ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?

(Yes that was a legitimate question)

I've dropped Singapore from my list because they don't offer training unless you become a citizen, and even then you still have a conditional practicing status.

My research into taking Canada's MCC exam is looking well, but I haven't come across enough details for foreigners looking to apply at an embassy, where to get the study manuals and guides (there are however a ton for the USMLE in every bookstore) and how much the registration costs. Can anyone give suggestions?

Go South. Australia. I know a number of people who go there to study and practice before coming back here.

As for going about finding out about it, I would suggest that you ask a few Aussies here with regards to their locale and get them to email the authorities for you, like Haruka_Kitten and fallschirmjager.

WRT Singapore, I am sure that it is PR and not citizen. I'll drop an email tomorrow morning before I go to school, should be able to get a reply by Friday.

PM TRL or hope that he will see your question. I am sure in his field of journalism he should be able to get or regurgitate specific information more easily than me.

[ganbaru]

Originally Posted by MeoTwister5

My research into taking Canada's MCC exam is looking well, but I haven't come across enough details for foreigners looking to apply at an embassy, where to get the study manuals and guides (there are however a ton for the USMLE in every bookstore) and how much the registration costs. Can anyone give suggestions?

If you are coming to Canada for your training, if you can choose the province where you would train, Quebec isn't much of a good suggestion if you don't speak french; even with all the past good talk the integration of foreign doctor on the system is said to be rather slow at best when they the language berrier isn't a problem...

[ChainLegacy]

Originally Posted by SaintessHeart

One question. Why turkey and not other birds for thanksgiving?

It's native to North America. Even today, where I live (a town established in the 1600's, not too far from where the pilgrims first landed) you see wild turkeys crossing the road sometimes. They were probably even more abundant back then, and easy to catch. They're also quite large for a bird and would provide a good meal.

[SaintessHeart]

Originally Posted by ChainLegacy

It's native to North America. Even today, where I live (a town established in the 1600's, not too far from where the pilgrims first landed) you see wild turkeys crossing the road sometimes. They were probably even more abundant back then, and easy to catch. They're also quite large for a bird and would provide a good meal.

I assume that joke was localised there as,

Why did the turkey cross the road?

[risingstar3110]

Question about Japan politics (i avoid the word "political culture" because mod may shift my post into culture thread D: )

I mean probably (actually definitely) some of us would consider that politics are quite dirty business with politicians are lying bastards that can't wait to vote on which sheep gonna be for dinner. But what's about Japan's general public opinion on politics?
They had a party that ruling over century (probably not that long) before the recent political development.... and stereotypically speaking , probably have that "maintaining-harmony society" status like most East Asia country. And beat me if i'm wrong, but there seems little news about Japanese mass demonstration about social or political issues (opposing to Europe and US or even Korea) since GFC 2008.

So in Japan, are there much opposing forces to the government in general? (other than the shadow government/ oppose party)

[Suomi]

so I started writing a story, a 8.5 by 11 sheet of notebook paper worth...and then my English teacher told me to look at National Novel Writing Month.
I forgot.
Now it's five days til the deadline...is it totally insane to try and do it??