connectivity

this is how it is with most foreign languages with me. "Norio" and "Facebook". The meaning is there; the subtleties are lost in a flurry of symbols and sounds. In french I can usually catch half the nouns and a third of the verbs, as long as they're present tense. This is plenty enough to go drinking with people and to order in a restaurant, but explaining philosophy is definitely out (unless your philosophy hinges solely upon good food and drunkenness).

I worked with a person who could ask for a beer in eight languages. Very useful. I glancingly knew a guy who could say "I have explosive diarrhea" in twelve languages. It was a good party trick. We all do what we can in this increasingly connected world we share.

----------
In an unrelated aside, I noticed that my last three posts have included screenshots from my computer, which probably says all too much about my waking moments lately.