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"Of course, we all know that Beatriz Marinello is not an international terrorist and she is not trying to blow up any buildings. She is just trying to engage in a little honest embezzlement of the traditional type."
-- Sam Sloan

A free pawn?

Black’s left a Pawn hanging, and White can gobble it up with Rxe6. Is that move any good?

Click to continue reading “A free pawn?”

July 11th, 2007 4 comments
Posted by Donnie Filed under Chess

“99 Red Balloons” makes sense now

I always thought the lyrics to “99 Red Balloons” were kinda odd, but something’s always lost in translation. It can’t be helped.

Looking at a straight translation from the original German song “99 Luftballons”, it’s now obvious how loose the translation was. (Even “red balloon” is only used to match the syllable count in “Luftballon”, which just means “balloon”.) Here’s the first two stanzas:

Direct translation: “99 Luftballons” English lyrics: “99 Red Balloons”

Do you have some time for me,
then I’ll sing a song for you
about 99 balloons
on their way to the horizon.
If you’re perhaps thinking about me right now
then I’ll sing a song for you
about 99 balloons
and that something comes from such a thing.

You and I in a little toy shop
Buy a bag of balloons with the money we’ve got
Set them free at the break of dawn
Til one by one, they were gone
Back at base bugs in the software
Flash the message, something’s out there
Floating in the summer sky
99 red balloons go by

99 balloons
on their way to the horizon
People think they’re UFO’s from space
so a general sent up
a fighter squadron after them
To raise the alarm if it was true
but there on the horizon were
only 99 balloons.

99 red balloons
Floating in the summer sky
Panic bells it’s red alert
There’s something here from somewhere else
The war machine springs to life
Opens up one eager eye
Focusing it on the sky as 99 red balloons go by

“But unluckily most Germans here are too smart. They all speak good English and won’t be able to speak German to me.” — Alex Chiu

July 11th, 2007 2 comments
Posted by Donnie Filed under Entertainment

More evidence China is becoming America

Now they’re starting to emulate the USA in other ways: bad lawsuits.

Click to continue reading “More evidence China is becoming America”

July 11th, 2007 2 comments
Posted by Donnie Filed under Burning Agony, In the News

Not so diplomatic

Their solution is to add a “China-Free” label, since none of their ingredients comes from China.

Click to continue reading “Not so diplomatic”

July 11th, 2007 no comments
Posted by Donnie Filed under Bad Ads