Welcome back, Sharksworld fans. It’s 2017 and things are slowly starting to pick up momentum here, even though I am personally far from ready to dive right back into the rat race! Anyway, you have to earn your daily bread somehow, I guess.
There have been a couple of relatively interesting developments on the local rugby front over the festive period – fortunately (I think?) not concerning the Sharks. Firstly and completely unsurprisingly, Johann Rupert’s Remgro group appear to have ridden to the rescue of WP Rugby, entering into a partnership deal with the union that will see them take a 50% stake in an all-new commercial entity. Union President Thelo Wakefield, who oversaw the disastrous mess that led to the previous professional arm liquidating it’s way clear of a R75-million debt, continues in his role and perhaps the only silver lining here for fans (apart from a sizeable injection from the R100-billion Rupert family war chest) is that an increased stake should hopefully result in better leverage – and hence governance – by professional business people.
WP Rugby, though, has been “saved”, according to Wakefield’s rather triumphant statement and any concerns regarding a fire sale of player contracts appear to have been unfounded. One player who will not be throwing in his lost with the Cape based Stormers again, though, is former Bok Jaco Taute. After an uninspiring move to Newlands some years back, Taute is re-finding his mojo under Rassie Erasmus at Munster and has just announced an extension of that loan deal. WP may hold his contract for now, but the smart money is on Taute making the move to Thormond Park a permanent one.
Perhaps the strangest story to come out over the last few weeks, though, was the shock “resignation” of another Bok player, utility back Johan Goosen. Goosen, despite earning rave reviews for his play at Racing 92 in Paris over the last season or so, was apparently desperate enough to leave the French club that he decided to retire immediately from the game and return to South Africa to take up a role in the agricultural sector. This despite signing a new contract just last year for the princely sum of around R7M a season to stay in Paris.
Dark rumours regarding potential moves to Toulon and now Gloucester continue to circulate, but you can rest assured that real estate magnet Jacky Lorenzetti and his legal team will find a way to nail Goosen to the wall should he dare to so much as look at a rugby ball while performing his “Commercial Director” role back in the Free State.
Happy New Year! We’ll keep you posted on these and other stories as they develop.
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Welcom back Rob. Happy new year.
I hope they make a very scary example of Goosen.
@West Indies Cricket Board (Comment 2) : Lots of loopholes for him to exploit apparently. Will be interesting to see what develops
@SheldonK (Comment 3) : I loved it when Lorenzetti said “and those who advise him…”
@West Indies Cricket Board (Comment 4) : Seems the baddies in this case are the Essentially group.
@West Indies Cricket Board (Comment 4) : Those French club presidents are an interesting bunch
@robdylan (Comment 5) : Rob who are the 3 players you believe will have a big year for the Sharks this year? (Injuries aside of course)
I think that sentence should read:”…… who oversaw the recovery from the disastrous mess that led to the previous professional arm liquidating it’s way clear of a R75-million debt”
Walking away from R75m in debt and selling the 49% shares over and over to the same people is a pretty shrewd bussiness move.
@fyndraai (Comment 8) : you give him credit for his dodgy dealings all you want. I see nothing there that’s worthy of praise.
@SheldonK (Comment 6) : Truth, a colourful bunch.
@robdylan (Comment 9) : it’s a fking disgrace is what it is.
@West Indies Cricket Board (Comment 11) : @robdylan (Comment 9) : must agree it’s disgraceful how WP rugby did there business!!! Like them even less after what they did!!!
@SheldonK (Comment 7) : hmm, good question.
Lukhanyo Am
Thomas du Toit (Surely? Please God!)
Stephan Lewies
How’s that?
@robdylan (Comment 13) : Id be very happy with that. Must admit i am concerned about Thomas Dutoit this year…i fear him at tighthead could lead him astray.
Happy New Year Otto
Ai WP, why you have to play us fans like that?
I’m personally not going to shed a tear over Taute’s move to Ireland but sherbert the Stormers are going to have a hard time over the next while.
Taute gone, Kolbe on his way to France, Jones will surely head to Scotland before long and Kotze at the Bulls and you already have 4 core backline players missing.
Add to the fact that many players must have been on the line with their agents after this business meltdown and Robbie Fleck still steering the ship, eish eina man!
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 15) : Happy New Year Claytie! Hope all is well…Seems to me that WP screwed over their creditors more than the fans….no? Good to see a post from you!
@Dancing Bear (Comment 17) : Hey hey Dawie , same to you bud.
Yes definitely Aerious more than anyone else but it still leaves a bad taste in the mouth. Also, I reckon I can pop in once in a while without getting into trouble 🙂
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 16) : When you have excellent junior structures at WP (like the Bulls), and not to mention high school and uni players, I think the union can handle the loss of the players you mention a little easier than teams like the Sharks, and even Free State. I have a sneaking suspicion that Rob du Preez is going to have a real break out year in 2017. After what I saw of him with the Baabaas, I think he has the skills, physical attributes and is coming into his own with regard to confidence. Depending on the recovery of Pollard, I think du Preez has an excellent shot with the Boks if he does break through this SR season, as I think he will.
Just a question: Anyone know if that ex Stormers wing Kobus Van Wyk is in Durban yet?
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 15) : Happy New Year, Daddy Saville! Must say, those kids are getting big and more beautiful by the day. Lucky man!
@SheldonK (Comment 20) : good question. I don’t think he is yet. Think he’s still finsihing up in France.
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 16) : Kolbe to France? This is news to me?
@robdylan (Comment 22) : Wouldnt that mean he misses a lot of Super rugby season then as French league finishes just before June Internationals. So he is basically a CC signing then
@SheldonK (Comment 23) : I’m not clear on when he’s meant to be returning. I thought he was in France as a medical joker? Let me see what I can find out
Ja, van Wyk joined UBB as a medical joker. That means a short term deal for a defined period (these things are often 3-6 months).
@Dancing Bear (Comment 19) : Well we’ve been mentioning the juniors for many years in the hope that they come through but they just end up at the Bulls. Rob is going to struggle until WP find a quality 9, somehow everyone at WP have it in their minds that Godlen Masimla is going to come good, they’re all mad!!!
@robdylan (Comment 21) : You are too kind sir!!!
@robdylan (Comment 22) : Toulon i believe
@robdylan (Comment 25) : Ah ok. Funny how often those medical joker stays often become longer than intended
I quite liked Kobus van Wyk, he and Ruan Botha were two of my favourite WP players of recent times. Both at the damned Sharks !!!
@robdylan (Comment 9) :
No praise, rather an acknowlwdgement that this is the logical outcome from how rugby is structured in SA. I predict that before too long, the Sharks and the other unions will walk down a similar path.
The dodgy dealings that led to all this may also have been made under a previous regime.
@fyndraai (Comment 29) : This all started under Wagners watch, wasn’t anything close to a secret either.
@SheldonK (Comment 20) : @robdylan (Comment 22) : as far as I know he’s there until the end of January so he should be at the Sharks from February.
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 28) : maybe time to move from blue and white to Black & White! your favourite players already made the move! 😉
@fyndraai (Comment 29) : no boet Sharks already decided to sell shares rather than screwing their creditors! Nothing logistical about it was a calculated underhanded business decision!
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 26) : @robdylan (Comment 22) : found some articles (November 2016) suggesting that Toulouse was interested in signing him.
oh this is too good:
“Racing 92 regrets to announce that Johan Goosen has not appeared at the club for the last two days and seems to have vacated his residence at Le Plessis-Robinson. As far as Racing 92 is concerned, Johan Goosen still remains bound to the club by an employment contract lasting four years, while his residence, company car, locker, and place in the locker-room all remain at his disposal. To this effect, Johan Goosen remains on the list of players qualified by the EPCR to play in the Champions Cup, starting with the match between Racing 92 and Munster this Saturday.
In response to Johan Goosen’s behaviour, Racing 92 is forced to initiate several legal proceedings aimed at enforcing its rights and redressing the harm done to the club. Racing 92 believes that the club is a victim of blatant fraud which Johan Goosen, his associates and various advisers must answer for in court.
Various civil proceedings will be taken out, partly to obtain reimbursement of the advance payments made to Johan Goosen with regard to his image rights, and also to obtain compensation for the non-provision of services to which he had committed in this domain.
A complaint will also be laid with the French Industrial Tribunal in order to prosecute the player’s fraudulent and wrongful failure to fulfil his contractual obligations and to compensate the resulting significant damage for the club.
A criminal complaint will also be filed, as the open-ended employment contract produced by Johan Goosen and signed by one of his friends and business associates appears to constitute a phony document, given that it is not conceivable that a player put an end to his sporting career while at the peak of such career, and accept a position in a South African company for a salary ten times less than what he was earning as a rugby player at Racing 92.
Full light must be shed on the responsibility of the various people who advised Johan Goosen in taking this aberrant and fraudulent strategy, and to this extent, there are grounds for wondering how Johan Goosen is being supported financially given the numerous commitments and investments he has to meet.”
Your move, asshole!
@robdylan (Comment 35) : ouch. Almost feel sorry for him but not quite.
@West Indies Cricket Board (Comment 36) : no, I don’t. 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 37) : Don’t you guys think it is a way for him to get in the Cheethas team again and so to play suoer rugby, as i might be wrong but it seems his springbok career might also be affected if he plays overseas? Not that I’m saying what he did is right, just trying to think what could be the cause going about it in this matter
@robdylan (Comment 35) : @West Indies Cricket Board (Comment 36) : @Henkb (Comment 38) : well think we will not see Goosen playing rugby for any other team!!! Also personally I support Racing 92 100%!!!
@West Indies Cricket Board (Comment 36) : @robdylan (Comment 37) : about time that players and agents is held accountable for contracts that they signed!!!
@JD (Comment 39) : @JD (Comment 40) : Racing should not let this go, as it will set the wrong president for players to come, and player that are contracted, not only to them, but other clubs also, I know most of the contracts signed are not worth the paper they are written on, I think if he went to them and explained his issues, they might have reached a common ground and both parties could have parted on a good way, and maybe tie up again sometime in the future, this is one big money bridge that you do not burn in this way
@Henkb (Comment 41) : personally I think that some agents believe they can do whatever they like and that clubs will just accept it because they the agents holds all the power!!! Really hope Racing also nails the agent/advisors involved!!!
@Henkb (Comment 41) : 100% agree. Players need to be held accountable.
Damn right players have to be held accountable and in Goosens case I have no sympathy, it may have been different if he was nearing the very end of the contract and wanted an early release but this guy just signed a long contract extension and then pulls this…..crazy.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 44) : And as for his friends / agent / advisors etc…… 😯 😳
@JD (Comment 34) : Ah yes Toulouse !! You’re quite right
@Henkb (Comment 38) : Howzit Henk. Ja, I think that’s exactly the reason he did it. He was hoping to “retire”, head back to Bloem and start playing for the cheetahs, perhaps even as an amateur while they found some underhanded way for his “professional job” to pay his bills while doing so? I don’t know, seems a foolhardy scheme and his agents really should know better. I mean, apart from being so unethical, it’s also just plain stupid.
SA buddies, explain this story with the exploding Kugas?
@robdylan (Comment 48) : Basically the Ford Kouga is a pprtable braai should you get hungry along the road and have some wors to braai
@robdylan (Comment 48) : Thats a million dollar question us normal folk cant explain and the #@&nuts at Ford even less so…..they tend to like blaming the Ford owner whose car has just spontaneously combusted (in one case killing someone)
Meanwhile back in the smog of China, 220 000 of these Fords have been recalled.
@SheldonK (Comment 49) : wow. Has this just recently started happening? They’ve been selling hte things here for years and I’ve never heard of one catching fire. Trust me – it would make the news here big time if it happened even once.
@robdylan (Comment 51) : Not sure how long it’s been happening but just recently made news. Know a guy with one and will hear if Ford said anything to them,
@robdylan (Comment 51) : Yeh its only recently come to light since beginning of December. Havnt heard of any reasons as to why its happening but there has been about 4 or 5 cases.
@robdylan (Comment 51) : And the best of all is that Ford, just keeps saying they will look into it, but nothing so far, and there is a lot of them on the roads lately
@SheldonK (Comment 53) : Speaking about Ford, have you guys seen Beasts nee sponsored beast he got from Ford?
@Henkb (Comment 55) : Yeh the Mustang…will be a tight fit in there for him
@robdylan (Comment 51) : On Facebook, search “FORD Vehicles Burning”
@SheldonK (Comment 56) : Yah, he is not a small guy, but it fits him better, i also see that it is only a 6 months sponsor
@Henkb (Comment 55) : @SheldonK (Comment 56) : awesome looking car but geez a 4 cylinder Mustang it just does not sound right!?!?
@Henkb (Comment 58) : ya only 6months as the suspension will be stuffed after that with him inside
@JD (Comment 59) : Can’t agree with you more on that one, a mustang should be a 5l V8, as it is a muscle car after all, and the ecoboost one they gave him is not in that class, but as Sheldon said, it might be for a reason as they will have to change suspension ext when he is done, so it might work out a bit cheaper
Now comes standard with ejector seat and fire extinguishers.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 62) : 🙂 I think it should rather have a fire truck as standard, the ejector seat might cause a bit of a headache though
@SheldonK (Comment 60) : @Henkb (Comment 61) : @Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 62) : hahaha funny!!! Think after 6 months they might give him a F150!?
@Henkb (Comment 63) : 😆
@JD (Comment 64) : They should have just started with the F150, it is more Beasts style.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 19) : I have been a big fan of his for a while now…you can check my earlier posts. With his skill set though I think he can go very far playing 12….for the Sharks onviously????
@GreatSharksays (Comment 67) : He could be what Owen Farrel is to England.
This is the only Recent Ford Escape USA fire related recall I could find.
Seems on 3L engines only.
Recall Number
16V777000
Recall Date
10/26/2016
Component
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
Summary
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2010-2012 Ford Escape vehicles manufactured February 26, 2009, to April 29, 2012, and 2010-2011 Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured February 25, 2009, to December 12, 2010. On vehicles with a 3.0L engine, the Fuel Delivery Module (FDM) may crack, causing a fuel leak.
Consequence
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
What Owners Should Do
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the FDM flange with one that has a redesigned fuel supply port, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin December 12, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford’s number for this recall is 16S41.
Read more at https://www.cars.com/recalls/ford-escape/#rEiwyCSbc2RUCO52.99
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 57) :
facebook as a news source sets off my skepticism alarm
The Ford’s are all fine, it is the Samsung Galaxy Note 7s that have been blowing up, someone had one in a Ford……next thing you know……All I know is that the Samsung is banned to carry for air travel, but there is no ban on carrying a ford on board for air travel!!! 😆 😀
@fyndraai (Comment 70) : skepticism alarm???? you’re being kind. 😉
@Dancing Bear (Comment 71) : 🙂 best comment of the day
@Henkb (Comment 73) : I get lucky every now and then (even a blind squirrel can find a nut sometimes) 😉
@Dancing Bear (Comment 74) : nah man, I always enjoy reading your comments, the squirrel is not as blind as you may think
@Dancing Bear (Comment 71) : So continuing on my portable braai theme the Samsung S7 would be the firelighters and the Ford the Charcoal…still a god reason to carry around a pack of wors when travelling
@fyndraai (Comment 70) : Well yes if you are going to rely on it for all your news but it can be a powerful tool in cases where normal people share their experiences. Who knows what impact social media has had on Ford SA finally starting to realise they have a problem.
Btw after the last USA elections, CNN as a news source sets off my sceptism alarm. 😈
@fyndraai (Comment 70) : @Dancing Bear (Comment 72) : Skeptism……you guys have been in the USA too long. 😈
@Dancing Bear (Comment 71) : Nailed it 😆
glad to see we’re keeping ourselves entertained while the Sharks skive off 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 80) : When do they get back to business?
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 81) : I believe Monday
@robdylan (Comment 82) : All dik and unfit……except for Odwa, Sbura and 1 other. 😆
No Im sure they will all be in top condition.
@robdylan (Comment 82) : Any news of preseason games?
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 83) : talk I’ve heard is that any one of them who arrives back out of shape will get the Ungerer treatment straight away. Rob is not putting up with shit.
@SheldonK (Comment 84) : local only. There was a rather silly plan on the cards to go to Hong Kong on the way to Australia, but that has been shelved.
@robdylan (Comment 86) : Local sounds good to me. They usually play a club side combo but any other games would be interesting. Wish they would play 1 at Moses Mabhida but unlikely.
@robdylan (Comment 85) : so any fatty will get “The Ungerer”…has a nice ring to it haha
I might have missed the news on this subject, but do we have any warmup matches planned? I suppose nothing like the games in France last year, or they would have announced it already?
@Dancing Bear (Comment 71) : hahaha one of the best comments ever!!!
@robdylan (Comment 85) : @SheldonK (Comment 88) : stay fit or get “the Ungerer” hahaha RdP snr don’t mess around! Must say I like it a lot!
@SheldonK (Comment 87) : I heard Cheetahs, but this is all subject to confirmation
@robdylan (Comment 92) : That should be entertaining. Also interesting to see how much stronger our Super rugby side is compared to CC
There’s a 10s competition taking place in Brisbane in February before the season starts, all the kiwi and Aussie teams are competing plus, Toulon, a Japanese team, Samoan team and the bulls
@RuckingFun (Comment 94) : Think its the same one the Sharks played in last year in Mauritius
@GreatSharksays (Comment 67) : As much as most everyone here loves Lambie, we have to face that while he is still young, he has had some horrendous injuries in the last few years. To expect him to perform at the level he did before is asking a lot, and to expect him to now be injury free for long periods is also expecting a lot. I would love to see RdP in a backup role to Lambie at the Sharks, and fully expect he would get plenty game time at 10. Yes he could do well at 12, but AE is pretty settled at 12 and continues to improve.
I have to ask, whats the deal with Ungerer?
@Dancing Bear (Comment 96) : With RDP likely to remain in the cape who do you reckon should be the backup flyhalf this year?
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 97) : too many combo deals at KFC
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 97) : he came to pre-season carrying a little too much weight, so Rob sent him packing. He’s back now, though, so clearly he’s done the hard work needed.
😆 😆 😆 Festives!
@SheldonK (Comment 98) : Eish that is tough this year. If April can regain his confidence and form, he would make a good backup, I suppose Bosch is an option too. I hope (although unlikely) that Pat gets back to his old form and remains injury free this year.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 102) : Unfortunately I think that while Inny started out well in the CC, he was found wanting later on for experience and size. I just do not see him ready for SuperRugby.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 103) : yes must agree April and maybe Bosch is cover for Pat. Think Inny will get brutalized in Super rugby.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 77) :
But how do you know the person sharing his experience is normal, or real? Do you know anything about his/her integrity? Motives? Whether the experienced is faked or skewed? If the footage was edited or photo shopped?
News organizations are not perfect, but at least they have commercial interests, which to some extend depends on a level of integrity and objectiveness. I have not watched CNN in ages, what did they report incorrectly?
@Dancing Bear (Comment 102) : @Dancing Bear (Comment 103) : Yeh it does get tricky. Agree that Inny got exposed. April can warrant a bench spot if he is conditioned. Bosch is the conundrum…do u start him at fb and as your backup 10 or do you play him off the bench to cover 10/15. Personally id go with the second option.
@fyndraai (Comment 105) : This is all true but reading whats on social media and cross referencing it with the mainstream news media will give you a pretty good picture of what is going on, much like the hate crime that was streamed live on FB of the 4 special needs persons destroying another special needs kid, it was picked up by the mainstream media and now the world knows about it. Is it now any truer only because the main stream media are running with it? Anyway I get what your point is and its valid. I dont know if you were around at the time but there were some on this site that were very involved in setting up, supporting and propagating a whole campaign to get John Plumtree fired from the Sharks via a FB page set up for that very task. I believe it had a big effect on Plumtree being fired.
As for CNN, well for weeks they promised the world that Hilary Clinton would be the next president of the USA, they proved it with opinion polls, experts, etc and treated anyone who might have suggested that Trump may have had the slightest chance of winning with scorn and contempt.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 107) : Question everything, it’s very hard to distinguish between fact and fiction nowadays.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 107) : Salmo, do you really think Andre’s group (which at its height had about 5 members) actually played any real role in Plum losing his job?
@Pokkel (Comment 108) : some would say in this post-truth world, there is no difference anyway. Things tend to “become true” if enough people believe them.
@robdylan (Comment 109) : Maybe, maybe not totally but I think it played a role. I used to check it out from time to time and it had grown to quiet a lot more than 5 or so. The thing is that it was out there and eventually other news sites / blogs etc started mentioning it.
@Pokkel (Comment 108) : @robdylan (Comment 110) : Its becoming a crazy world out there, the lines are becoming very blurred. These days you have totally fake stories or articles with crap content but with eye catching headlines promising some great expose / never before seen content which are all designed to get hits and here is where it gets weird for me in that legit advertisers then support these sites because they have the foot traffic that exposes them to a new huge market.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 112) : Agreed. Gone are the days when news stories actually had to have factual content or some substantial basis. Today the more sensational it sells no matter how false or unsubstantiated it is. People are no longer interested in truth just the next shock and horror or controversy
@SheldonK (Comment 113) : Sad but true. Just look at the headlines of most articles. The media companies also have a product to sell, and guess which topic more people will read, a story about a new signing or a story about Willie le Roux spotted with Derick Hougaard’s ex. Like you said, sensation is more important, as more people will read it…
@HeinF (Comment 114) : I couldn’t help but chuckle now 😆
@HeinF (Comment 114) : Willie did what…. 😯 😯
@SheldonK (Comment 116) : They were spotted together once in public, sitting very close together. Can’t really tell if there was anything in it, but obviously the “journalist” writing the story knew “for a fact” they were dating 😉
@HeinF (Comment 117) : They were obviously dating and she was carrying Willie’s child…
@SheldonK (Comment 118) : Yes obviously, the journalist probably left out that part on purpose for a follow-up story!
@HeinF (Comment 119) :
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 107) :
When the polls predicted A and the media reported that the polls predicted A and then B happened, it was not false reporting, it was true and accurate reporting of predictions that turned out to be inaccurate.
True or false does not apply to opinions and a poll is just an opinion. The reporting was only false if it did not match what the pollsters said at the time.
Not everything you see on facebook is false, just enough so that it’s wise to not waste time on anything until it makes it way into respectable media.
I don’t trust journalists, I don’t trust politicians, I don’t trust lawyers and I don’t trust doctors, but I do trust random people on facebook and twitter. ❓
I think you and I have different meanings / understanding of the word sc(k)eptism.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 123) :
What is the meaning of sceptism?
I can only find dictionary entrees for skepticism and scepticism.
@HeinF (Comment 114) : @SheldonK (Comment 116) : sad part is in some sense we are to blame for it as we buy the newspapers and go to the websites that write these rubbish! If somehow people stand together and stop buying into these stories the newspaper circulation numbers (and website hits) will decrease and they will be forced back to writing factually correct articles. Unfortunately that will never happen as like you say people love sensation and can’t get enough of other peoples mistakes, failures and humiliation!!!
@fyndraai (Comment 121) : only respectable media I know is Sharksworld!!!
@fyndraai (Comment 124) : Hold on while I check my culinary dictionary for the meaning of entrees.
@JD (Comment 126) : Yes, the nice thing here is that it’s only real rugby news and Rob will wait till he has all the facts, not just hearsay. The only thing that is sometimes not so accurate is Rob’s weekend results predictions, but won’t hold it against him, he is more accurate than I am 😉
@SheldonK (Comment 20) : He is in Durban 🙂
@HeinF (Comment 128) : LOL – I’m only human
@robdylan (Comment 129) : glad to hear he’s now in Durbs.
@HeinF (Comment 128) : @robdylan (Comment 130) : “I’m only human” nice excuse Rob 😉 yes thanx to Rob this is a site dealing in facts not sensation!!!
@fyndraai (Comment 124) : @Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 127) :
Well played…it’s been fun following this little repartee…
@pastorshark (Comment 133) : Funnily enough, my clever phone offers “reported” as an alternative to “repartee”…am I the only one that finds that appropriate and mildly numerous at the same time? 😆
@pastorshark (Comment 134) :
The nice thing about English is, that they’ve decided long ago, that it is whatever English speakers say it is. Think about it. All we have to do is to keep using our meanings and inventions and sharksworld may one day be credited in the Oxford.
http://www.economist.com/news/books-and-arts/21713823-year-had-not-enough-hygge-and-much-too-much-brexit-remoaners-alt-right-and-fake
Sharksworld is were I hygge.
@fyndraai (Comment 135) : Brilliant…let’s make a concerted effort to get that right! When I wrote “numerous” in my last comment above, I obviously meant “humorous”…anyway, thank you for numerous humorous comments…
@fyndraai (Comment 136) : Is this crowd at the economist legit or must I “approach with caution”
@pastorshark (Comment 137) : At the end of the day it seems as if small keypads, too big fingers, bad eyesight, screen glare, spell checkers, bad spelling etc will be moulding English (and no doubt most other languages) as they is spoke.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 139) : 😆 LOL…sad, but true…both in terms of my personal experience of big fingers on bloody small keyboards and in terms of the result you describe…
@fyndraai (Comment 135) : English decided long ago??? Surely you jest….the plural for octopus in English prior to the 18th century was octopuses, then someone decided to use the Latin plural and it officially became Octopi. It was pointed out that Octopus is in fact not a Latin word but a Greek word, and the plural was changed to Octopodes. Finally some time in the 20th century someone decided that once a foreign word is adopted into English, it becomes an English word with all the rules associated with the English language (yeah, like there are any), and it was officially changed back to Octopuses. So there you go, nothing was decided long ago….. 😆
😈
@fyndraai (Comment 121) : As a trained and educated statistician, it is a complete surprise to me how anyone, including “false” news outlets believe the results of any polls. The exit polling has been proved to be horribly wrong every US election since 2000, so why was anyone surprised when they were so wrong in 2016? Furthermore, when a group of voters is referred to as misogynist, racist, etc just because of the candidate they support, do you think they will freely give their true opinion to a pollster???? Of course not, so on the one hand the mainstream media denigrates millions of people because they hold a certain political view, and then they are surprised those people did not respond honestly or did not respond to polls resulting in inaccurate polling, which the media then blames for their inaccurate reporting??? Perhaps they should have done some journalistic investigation into the polling and results.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 141) : OK I was still with Octopi! Thanx for the English lesson 😉
@JD (Comment 143) : 😆 Even my spell checker doesn’t like octopi, but octopuses is all good. I, personally still kind of like octopodes
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 138) :
The Economist magazine has been around since 1843 and has a stellar reputation for insightful and intelligent news and opinion. They style themselves as classical liberals, generally supportive free markets and freedom of movement for goods, services and people. They recognize the need for a role in the economy by the state. More often than not, they support the center right political parties. In the current environment, they were supportive of the elite establishment. Pro Remain, pro Colombian peace deal and against the ideas of people like Chavez, Trump, Farage, Le Pen ect. A large portion of their subscribers seem to be CEOs, diplomats and academia.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 141) :
It is my understanding that the Académie française officially decides what is, and what is not French, and that in Germany changes in spelling are debated and decided by the federal and state parliaments.
Against that, English, with the principle that anything in use by English speakers everywhere may be considered English, is more free and flexible.
Obviously I am excluded.
@fyndraai (Comment 145) : Thanks for that, interesting that they are generally liberal but would vote centre right. But from your synopsis it seems like a source of good journalism.
@fyndraai (Comment 146) : I spent some time in a small town with a large South African German population and it often came up in conversations with SA Germans that had been on holiday in Germany how the language in Germany seemed (to them) to be changing with many English words making their way into everyday mainstream German language use. It would be interesting to know how many of these new English / German words are now seen as official.
@fyndraai (Comment 29) : thank you