You know you've been a Mandolin Cafe member a while when.........

[journeybear]

I'm used to being called number two by the way.

You see, this shows the power of small words: There's a big, big difference between being referred to as "the shizzle" and just "shizzle." That little word makes a world of difference; makes the term pretty much opposite in meaning. So maybe you have been called "the number two" and just didn't hear the "the."

Oh yeah, remember to use the "the" when ordering at Burger King or such. "I'll have the number two" means you will get the original chicken (or whatever), and hopefully your way; without that "the" you might be disappointed. Little things mean a lot.

[Mandolin Mick]

Where would I be without this kind of wisdom from the lips of sages like Steve ... ?

[sprucetop1]

......you realise that anagrams of "Mandolin Cafe" include "A Flamenco Din" and "Failed Conman"......as well as "Manacled Info"...which must refer to those shut down threads....

......but what a site it is !

[Jim Garber]

Jim Garber will always be number one in my book

OK ... sorry. You know you've been a Cafe member for a long time when the fact that Garber is the #1 poster doesn't even register with you. "Well duh," you say. "Everybody knows that."

You know you've been a Cafe member for a long time when you actually care that you are the biggest blowhard on the forums.

[journeybear]

Thanks, Mick! I admit to being a bit of a language geek, but am not at all ashamed of this. There is a lot of joy and fun in saying just the right thing, and using just the right words to do so.

Brief semi-relevant anecdote: Just last night a woman came into the cinema wearing a T-shirt that said, "I am the grammarian about whom your parents warned you" - and not, as these sorts of things always say, "I am the grammarian your parents warned you about." I just about cracked up. I told her I appreciated this (I assume she was a teacher), being a writer, and mentioned one of my pet peeves is people who say "I could care less," adding that they clearly aren't thinking about what they're saying. She rolled her eyes so hard her head moved. I know, most of you probably couldn't care less and think this is just way too noodly, but proper usage, punctuation, grammar - these are key factors in communication, and in this typing-crazy world they are more important than ever. Besides, this crazy quilt muddled-up mutt of a language called English is a beautiful thing, and offers a lot if used well. Just sayin' ...

All right, my soapbox time is over. Next!

[JEStanek]

Jim, There's a difference between bloviation, blowhard, and what you provide. Always, enlightening. Keep up the good work. (One more post for me in an attempt to catch up!)

Jamie

[MikeEdgerton]

C'mon Jamie, stop it, it's going to go to his head.

[Laird]

Just last night a woman came into the cinema wearing a T-shirt that said, "I am the grammarian about whom your parents warned you" - and not, as these sorts of things always say, "I am the grammarian your parents warned you about."

The good news is that "whom" is on the way out, and will soon seem as archaic as "whither." The rules of grammar are descriptive, after all--a codification of the way people speak, as opposed to a prescriptive set of guidelines that can overrule decades of common usage. (Sorry, it's my day job!)

[mandopete]

....you miss Reverend Ted.

...and Mandodude's band names (I used to be in a band named "Mandodude").

Lucky #13!

[catmandu2]

The good news is that "whom" is on the way out, and will soon seem as archaic as "whither." The rules of grammar are descriptive, after all--a codification of the way people speak, as opposed to a prescriptive set of guidelines that can overrule decades of common usage.

But still great for folks who enjoy "correcting" others--but it does give grammas (grandmas), and those of a prescriptive orientation, a "bad name"

[journeybear]

The good news is that "whom" is on the way out ...

I don't think that's good news, nor (hopefully) true - but I do wish incorrect usage of it would be (on the way out, that is). I mean, I wish people would take the time to learn how to use these things, these tools which have been placed in our hands, these notions which have been placed in our minds - at least, tossed in our direction. But there is hope - the item causing a bit of mirth over at this thread does contain "whom" three times - improperly applied, naturally, befitting its nature.

You know you've been a Mandolin Cafe member a while when.....

... you think it's OK to speak your mind on any matter that comes up, regarless of what it has to do with mandolins. (I know, I resemble this remark. )

[Laird]

I don't think that's good news, nor (hopefully) true - but I do wish incorrect usage of it would be (on the way out, that is). I mean, I wish people would take the time to learn how to use these things, these tools which have been placed in our hands, these notions which have been placed in our minds - at least, tossed in our direction.

The best evidence of whom's inevitable demise is that even most English teachers and editors avoid using it in speech, well aware that its effect is mainly to make a modern speaker sound like he's auditioning for the role of a BBC butler. Its use announces our difference from people who speak English in its common contemporary form--we sound pretentious, out of touch, and a little bit silly, and that's the last thing that a writer needs to be doing. As a writer and editor (as well as an English professor), I usually just rearrange syntax to avoid the need for it.

And, yes, I love the digressions, too.

[farmerjones]

I think the first time i brought up Mando Caf'e, was on a 9600 baud modem, with windows 3 OS. That was one step above smoke signals.

But hey, i still remember my DOS commands. Why? Who know?

And no, i had something a bit more in '05. Prolly winders CE. WHooopeeeee.....

[journeybear]

That's sad, Laird. Teachers are supposed to be leading the way. Sigh ... ... I think if properly used it doesn't sound pretentious, but correct or appropriate, and people who don't get this - well, that probably isn't the only thing they don't get. I'll do my part; that's all I can do.

You know you've been a Mandolin Cafe member a while when.....

.. you've seen more sidetracks than a retired engineer, but still get a chuckle out of them ...

[Laird]

I'll do my part; that's all I can do.

Fight the good fight, JB! If I had to choose a battle against the ongiong evolution of the English language, it would be to retain the word "shall," which is a very useful word--and radically different from "should," which seems to have replaced it for many folks. Sadly, though, "shall" has become an archaism. How do we know? Just try using it, without sounding awkward, in speaking to a friend.

And on that note, I shall go and practice my cross-picking!

[AlanN]

Sadly, though, "shall" has become an archaism.

That doth (dost?) depends. In my firm, 'Shall' is used extensively within SOP-related documentation. Now, in common usage, that's anudder ting completely...

[Randi Gormley]

Speaking of digressions, whatever happened to the word "frock?" I ask you!

I recall from another, similar thread, that you know you've been a cafe member a while when you look on the Women with Mandolin thread to look at the mandolins. I don't remember who said it, but I (shall) always chuckle when I recall it.

... just thought of one of my own. You've spent hours paging through the Mandolins in Progress thread just to see the wondrous stuff there even if you can't afford it.

[AlanN]

and on a related note:

You've been here so long that current first-class builders weren't even showing yet: Brentrup, Mowry, et al.

[Mike Bunting]

JB you'll enjoy https://www.facebook.com/pages/Capta...47802875254452 my favourite FB page.

[journeybear]

Oh no! There goes another hour a day! Thanks a lot!




(The first is the best, a real gem, but the last is darn good, too.)

[Jim M.]

When a mandolin you sold in the classifieds 10 years ago shows up again (and you even think of buying it).

[catmandu2]

...you don't even play the mandolin any more (and you're in the top 20 posters...doh)

Corollary: You know when another week has gone by on the cafe when...you haven't seen the photo of Mandolin Mick playing bass in "a while"

[AlanN]

[Roger Wheeler]

Good one!!!

[MikeEdgerton]

You know you've seen that picture of Monroe holding up his entire band but have no clue as to where it was that you saw it.