The Very-Many-Questions-Not-Worth-Their-Own-Thread Thread XLIII

[Valka D'Ur]

Well, most of mine are in the Trump threads (because it's a form suited to mocking absurdities).

And the ones here emerge immediately out of the discussion here about material/immaterial, and wouldn't make sense apart from that context.

I can just shut up.

Well, I mean . . . no . . . I can't. But I can stop writing limericks on this particular theme.

I'm in awe of your ability to compose limericks on the spot, and most of them scan perfectly.

For limericks in general, we do have this other subforum called Arts & Entertainment where writing threads can be found... (hint)

 

[Farm Boy]

Do you know those songs (mostly from the 50s) that use nonsense syllables to round out certain verse?

Is there one that is regarded as most famous, or most iconic? Or just jumps first to mind for you individually?

(Note: not "Who put the bop in the bipty bipty bop?" since that is working in a self-conscious and meta- way with the convention. Just a song that uses that convention.)

Marzey Doats is a favorite, but probably too bipity bipity. Duke of Earl is also intentionally complete nonsense. The bird might just be the word.

 

[Gori the Grey]

and most of them scan perfectly

It's nice to be appreciated in this specific way.

I think of meter as crucial to the effectiveness of a limerick.

I've actually been experimenting with the form in the ones I post here: seeing where I can and where I cannot get away with stressed syllable in an unstressed position. It's not always and it's not never, so I'm trying to work out when it does work.

I can certainly use the forum you suggest--if I want no one to see my work!

In any case, thank you for your kind comment.

 

[Valka D'Ur]

If people would just use that subforum for what it was intended, that's where people would go for such threads. There's plenty of discussion on some other topics that are A&E-related.

Anyway, OP coming up, that includes something I wrote the other day (not as ambitious as a limerick, but it'll do for a writing prompt on another forum I belong to).

link.

Even if I just end up talking to myself there, it's a useful place to keep track of them.

 

[Core Imposter]

Can someone explain to me, being ignorant of European politics, why a certain result in an EU election would dissolve the French parliament?

 

[Bonyduck Campersang]

Do Houthis pronounce the second h in Houthi? Rish! does not, he says Houti. It is a family name, right, so it should be said the local way?

The 'th' in 'Houthis' is a transcription of a single letter which sounds like a lisped 's'

"Into the face of the young man who sat on the terrace of the Hotel Magnifique at Cannes there had crept a look of furtive shame, the shifty hangdog look which announces that a South Australian is about to speak French."
With apologies to P.G. Wodehouse, The Luck of the Bodkins.

Wodehouse was a master of the deceptively simple art of writing words. One of my favourite examples is the passage in Summer Lightning where Ronnie Fish gets into a massive fight with a platoon of waiters. Let me see if I can find it on the internet

 

[Bonyduck Campersang]

Five yards from Sue’s table, Ronnie Fish would have said that his cup was full and could not possibly be made any fuller. But when he had covered another two and pushed aside a fat man who was standing in the fairway, he realized his mistake. It was not Hugo who was Sue’s companion, but a reptilian-looking squirt with narrow eyes and his hair done in ridges. And, as he saw him, something seemed to go off in Ronnie’s brain like a released spring.


A waiter, pausing with a tray of glasses, pointed out to him that on the dancing-floor evening-dress was indispensable.


Gentlemen in flannel suits, he added, could be accommodated in the balcony.


‘Plenty of room in the balcony, sir,’ said the waiter.


Ronnie reached the table. Pilbeam at the moment was saying that he had wanted for a long time to meet Sue. He hoped she had got his flowers all right.


It was perhaps a natural desire to look at anything but this odious and thrusting individual who had forced his society upon her, that caused Sue to raise her eyes.


Raising them, she met Ronnie’s. And, as she saw him, her conscience, which she had supposed lulled for the night, sprang to life more vociferous than ever. It had but been crouching, the better to spring.


‘Ronnie!’


She started up. Pilbeam also rose. The waiter with the glasses pressed the edge of his tray against Ronnie’s elbow in a firm but respectful manner and told him that on the dancing-floor evening-dress was indispensable. Gentlemen in flannel suits, however, would find ample accommodation in the balcony.


Ronnie did not speak. And it would have been better if Sue had not done so. For, at this crisis, some subconscious instinct, of the kind which is always waiting to undo us at critical moments, suggested to her dazed mind that when two men who do not know each other are standing side by side in a restaurant one ought to introduce them.


‘Mr Fish, Mr Pilbeam,’ murmured Sue.


Only the ringing of the bell that heralds the first round of a heavy-weight championship fight could have produced more instant and violent results. Through Ronnie’s flannel-clad body a sort of galvanic shock seemed to pass. Pilbeam! He had come expecting Hugo, and Hugo would have been bad enough. But Pilbeam! The man she had said she didn’t even know. The man she hadn’t met. The man whose gifts of flowers she had professed to resent. In person! In the flesh! Hobnobbing with her in a restaurant! By Gad, he meant to say! By George! Good Gosh!


His fists clenched. Eton was forgotten, Cambridge not even a memory. He inhaled so sharply that a man at the next table who was eating a mousse of chicken stabbed himself in the chin with his fork. He turned on Pilbeam with a hungry look. And at this moment, the waiter, raising his voice a little, for he was beginning to think that Ronnie’s hearing was slightly affected, mentioned as an interesting piece of information that the management of Mario’s preferred to reserve the dancing-floor exclusively for clients in evening-dress. But there was a bright side. Gentlemen in flannel suits could be accommodated in the balcony.


It was the waiter who saved Percy Pilbeam. Just as a mosquito may divert for an instant a hunter who is about to spring at and bite in the neck a tiger of the jungle, so did this importunate waiter divert Ronnie Fish. What it was all about, he was too overwrought to ascertain, but he knew that the man was annoying him, pestering him, trying to chat with him when he had business elsewhere. With all the force of a generous nature, sorely tried, he plugged the waiter in the stomach with his elbow. There was a crash which even Leopold’s band could not drown. The man who had stabbed himself with the fork had his meal still further spoiled by the fact that it suddenly began to rain glass. And, as regards the other occupants of the restaurant, the word ‘Sensation’ about sums the situation up.


Ronnie and the management of Mario’s now formed two sharply contrasted schools of thought. To Ronnie the only thing that seemed to matter was this Pilbeam – this creeping, slinking, ****oo-in-the-nest Pilbeam, the Lothario who had lowered all speed records in underhand villainy by breaking up his home before he had got one. He concentrated all his faculties to the task of getting round the table, to the other side of which the object of his dislike had prudently withdrawn, and showing him in no uncertain manner where he got off.


To the management, on the other hand, the vital issue was all this broken glassware. The waiter had risen from the floor, but the glasses were still there, and scarcely one of them was in a condition ever to be used again for the refreshment of Mario’s customers. The head-waiter, swooping down on the fray like some god in the Iliad descending from a cloud, was endeavouring to place this point of viewbefore Ronnie. Assisting him with word and gesture were two inferior waiters – Waiter A and Waiter B.


Ronnie was in no mood for abstract debate. He hit the head-waiter in the abdomen, Waiter A in the ribs, and was just about to dispose of Waiter B, when his activities were hampered by the sudden arrival of reinforcements. From all parts of the room other waiters had assembled – to name but a few, Waiters C, D, E, F, G, and H – and he found himself hard pressed. It seemed to him that he had dropped into a Waiters’ Convention. As far as the eye could reach, the arena was crammed with waiters, and more coming. Pilbeam had disappeared altogether, and so busy was Ronnie now that he did not even miss him. He had reached that condition of mind which the old Vikings used to call Berserk and which among modern Malays is termed running amok.


Ronnie Fish in the course of his life had had many ambitions. As a child, he had yearned some day to become an engine-driver. At school, it had seemed to him that the most attractive career the world had to offer was that of the professional cricketer. Later, he had hoped to run a prosperous night-club. But now, in his twenty-sixth year, all these desires were cast aside and forgotten. The only thing in life that seemed really worth while was to massacre waiters; and to this task he addressed himself with all the energy and strength at his disposal.


Matters now began to move briskly. Waiter C, who rashly clutched the sleeve of Ronnie’s coat, reeled back with a hand pressed to his right eye. Waiter D, a married man, contented himself with standing on the outskirts and talking Italian. But Waiter E, made of sterner stuff, hit Ronnie rather hard with a dish containing omelette aux champignons, and it was as the latter reeled beneath this buffet that there suddenly appeared in the forefront of the battle a figure wearing a gay uniform and almost completely concealed behind a vast moustache, waxed at the ends. It was the commissionaire from the street-door; and anybody who has ever been bounced from a restaurant knows that commissionaires are heavy metal.


This one, whose name was McTeague, and who had spent many lively years in the army before retiring to take up his present duties, had a grim face made of some hard kind of wood and the muscles of a village blacksmith. A man of action rather than words, he clove his way through the press in silence. Only when he reached the centre of the maelstrom did he speak. This was when Ronnie, leaping upon a chair the better to perform the operation, hit him on the nose. On receipt of this blow, he uttered the brief monosyllable ‘Ho!’ and then, without more delay, scooped Ronnie into an embrace of steel and bore him towards the door, through which was now moving a long, large, leisurely policeman.


IV


It was some few minutes later that Hugo Carmody, emerging from the telephone-booth on the lower floor where the cocktail bar is, sauntered back into the dancing-room and was interested to find waiters massaging bruised limbs, other waiters replacing fallen tables, and Leopold’s band playing in a sort of hushed undertone like a band that has seen strange things.


‘Hullo!’ said Hugo. ‘Anything up?’He eyed Sue inquiringly. She looked to him like a girl who has had some sort of a shock. Not, or his eyes deceived him, at all her old bright self.


‘What’s up?’ he asked.


‘Take me home, Hugo!’


Hugo stared.


‘Home? Already? With the night yet young?’


‘Oh, Hugo, take me home, quick.’


‘Just as you say,’ assented Hugo agreeably.
He was now pretty certain that something was up. ‘One second to settle the bill, and then homeward ho. And on the way you shall tell me all about it. For I jolly well know,’ said Hugo, who prided himself on his keenness of observation, ‘that something is – or has been – up.’

 

[really]

Can someone explain to me, being ignorant of European politics, why a certain result in an EU election would dissolve the French parliament?

It doesn't directly.
As President Macron decided that the results show that the current parliament does not reflect the desires of the country as displayed in the EU election.

He dissolved the parliament and called an election with the expectation that the new parliament will reflect the mood of the nation.

Politically he wants the troublemakers to be elected now so that when it comes to the 2027 presidential election he can point at what they have or haven't done in parliament and claim their promises were all talk.

 

[Gori the Grey]

How would you spell the sounds that Charlie Brown's teacher makes?

One site online uses "wah wah wha"

 

[Bonyduck Campersang]

Mpwaa mpwaa mwaa waaa

 

[Samson]

Why does anyone buy a single family home in a HOA?

I the UK I am familiar with leaseholds, which is the general solution to ownership of common areas of a multi occupancy building such as a block of flats. It is rubbish, but there is a genuine problem of co-owned assets that need to be maintained. "They" have tried to spread this model to more traditional housing, but that is clearly a bad idea and they are trying to make it illegal.

In the US this is frequently solved with HOAs. I get it for mutli occupancy buildings, but it is really common also with single family homes. Buying such a home is a massive decision and investment, and there are homes available that are not in HOAs in all cities in the US. Everyone hates HOAs, and you hear about all sorts of horror stories such that it must always present a risk to your investment. Why do so many people choose to buy houses in a HOA? How come so many houses end up under a HOA, when it seems it would reduce their market value?

Spoiler Four minute video that prompted the question :

I only got 2 minutes in

 

[Narz]

HOAs sound awful. A friend of mine just sold his place and got out of one.

 

[Cutlass]

Why does anyone buy a single family home in a HOA?

I the UK I am familiar with leaseholds, which is the general solution to ownership of common areas of a multi occupancy building such as a block of flats. It is rubbish, but there is a genuine problem of co-owned assets that need to be maintained. "They" have tried to spread this model to more traditional housing, but that is clearly a bad idea and they are trying to make it illegal.

In the US this is frequently solved with HOAs. I get it for mutli occupancy buildings, but it is really common also with single family homes. Buying such a home is a massive decision and investment, and there are homes available that are not in HOAs in all cities in the US. Everyone hates HOAs, and you hear about all sorts of horror stories such that it must always present a risk to your investment. Why do so many people choose to buy houses in a HOA? How come so many houses end up under a HOA, when it seems it would reduce their market value?

Spoiler Four minute video that prompted the question :

I only got 2 minutes in

Because of availability. You buy a house based on what you can afford, what you want to get, and what is available in that location. And some of them come with drawbacks. But you can't do better. HOAs are often one of those. But other people actually want them, as it enforces "community standards". As in 'keep the riff raff out'. Which can also be read as racism, although they have to go through some pains to actually avoid saying so.

 

[Birdjaguar]

HOA tend to keep home prices high for the homes in them. The fees can be expensive and the visual standards can be expensive to maintain. For some people, that is exactly what they want: community standards that are enforced, long term higehr prices; exclusivity to the top half of the social order.

 

[Synobun]

Keep in mind that over 60% of new constructions in the US are built into an HOA and that participation/adherence is mandatory once you're in. The "why" is pretty simple: there is likely no alternative.

An HOA can also be pretty useful if managed properly. They often aren't.

 

[Samson]

The "why" is pretty simple: there is likely no alternative.

This is not the case if one is buying a house. One can always just not buy a house, like most people have no choice in.

And even given one is buying a house, if one is in a city surely there is always enough choice that not every house is in a HOA?

over 60% of new constructions in the US are built into an HOA

This I guess is the core of the why, it must be because the capitalists make more money that way, or else they would not do it. How come those 60% do not make less money because no one want to live in a HOA?

HOA tend to keep home prices high for the homes in them.

If home prices are higher for a HOA than a non-HOA then it must be attractive, rather than people buying them out of desperation, right? Can it really be racism that drives these things to be attached to 60% of mew homes?

 

[Birdjaguar]

I am not a fan of HOAs

How to Write an HOA Welcome Letter (with Template)

Discover how to write a perfect HOA welcome letter. Learn how to welcome new residents with a HOA welcome packet.

www.hoalife.com

2015 data:

Research reveals home buyers seek non-HOA communities

Independent American Communities Consumer Education for Homebuyers, Home, and Property Owners | Exposing Condo & HOA Dysfunction, Corruption, & Abuse | homeowners association, condominium, cooperative housing, affordable housing, housing consumer protection, news, HOA legislation, HOA case law...

independentamericancommunities.com

 

[Valka D'Ur]

I am not a fan of HOAs

How to Write an HOA Welcome Letter (with Template)

Discover how to write a perfect HOA welcome letter. Learn how to welcome new residents with a HOA welcome packet.

www.hoalife.com

2015 data:

Research reveals home buyers seek non-HOA communities

Independent American Communities Consumer Education for Homebuyers, Home, and Property Owners | Exposing Condo & HOA Dysfunction, Corruption, & Abuse | homeowners association, condominium, cooperative housing, affordable housing, housing consumer protection, news, HOA legislation, HOA case law...

independentamericancommunities.com

I had to laugh at the swimming pool and tennis courts. Around here, people are more concerned with snow removal and repairs due to hail and wind storms.

And people seriously don't want elevators in multi-storey condo buildings? That's insane. Not that the building I live in is a condo, but elevators make all the difference for disabled people and when people are moving in and out.

I guess some people like the torture of moving furniture up and down stairs.

 

[Samson]

I am not a fan of HOAs

How to Write an HOA Welcome Letter (with Template)

Discover how to write a perfect HOA welcome letter. Learn how to welcome new residents with a HOA welcome packet.

www.hoalife.com

2015 data:

Research reveals home buyers seek non-HOA communities

Independent American Communities Consumer Education for Homebuyers, Home, and Property Owners | Exposing Condo & HOA Dysfunction, Corruption, & Abuse | homeowners association, condominium, cooperative housing, affordable housing, housing consumer protection, news, HOA legislation, HOA case law...

independentamericancommunities.com

Who goes to the trouble of writing an 800 word article about a serious subject but does not bother to remove their ipad and mobile phone battery status from the screenshots of a screenshot they used to create the graphs?

Spoiler Example graph from above article one screenie taken with 100% battery other with 91% :

How hard is it to trim it?
10 seconds later

 

[Cutlass]

I had to laugh at the swimming pool and tennis courts. Around here, people are more concerned with snow removal and repairs due to hail and wind storms.

And people seriously don't want elevators in multi-storey condo buildings? That's insane. Not that the building I live in is a condo, but elevators make all the difference for disabled people and when people are moving in and out.

I guess some people like the torture of moving furniture up and down stairs.

Most growth in housing in the US is in the South and Southwest. In the North, the housing stock is older. And so there's less of all of that.