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 #2 (permalink) Tue Jul 18, 2006 12:47 pm Eavesdropping? |
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I wouldn’t call it precisely eavesdropping, since his microphone was (unintentionally?) on for everyone to hear. But no, I don’t think we should listen in to a private conversation.
Unluckily for him and oh so ‘luckily’ for the press and the rest of the world everybody could hear his unfortunate choice of words.
I guess it was too juicy a morsel for the ever rapacious media to resist and ignore! |
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Conchita
Language Coach
Joined: 26 Dec 2005
Posts: 2826
Location: Madrid, Spain
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| #3 (permalink) Tue Jul 18, 2006 12:59 pm Eavesdropping |
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Speaking of ‘eavesdropping’, I was wondering what the term had in common with roof edges and found this interesting and funny explanation:
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| The origin of the term is from when people would literally hide out in the eavesdrop of a house to listen in on private conversations... Eavesdropping was already prohibited by ancient Saxon law. From the Saxon custom arose the term eavesdropping, as being one who pries into the business of others or listens to private conversations. By common law, an eavesdropper was regarded as a nuisance. The offence was punishable by fine. Though the offence of eavesdropping still exists in common law, there is no modern instance of a prosecution or indictment... The eavesdrop or eavesdrip is the width of ground around a house or building which receives the rain water dropping from the eaves. By an ancient Saxon law, a landowner was forbidden to erect any building at less than 2 feet from the boundary of his land, and was thus prevented from injuring his neighbors house or property by the dripping of water from his eaves. The law of Eavesdrip has had its equivalent in the Roman stillicidium, which prohibited building up to the very edge of an estate. |
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Conchita
Language Coach
Joined: 26 Dec 2005
Posts: 2826
Location: Madrid, Spain
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 Pamela
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 14 Mar 2006
Posts: 1239
Location: Rf
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| #5 (permalink) Tue Jul 18, 2006 14:06 pm Eavesdropping? |
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| Conchita wrote: |
I wouldn’t call it precisely eavesdropping, since his microphone was (unintentionally?) on for everyone to hear. But no, I don’t think we should listen in to a private conversation.
Unluckily for him and oh so ‘luckily’ for the press and the rest of the world everybody could hear his unfortunate choice of words.
I guess it was too juicy a morsel for the ever rapacious media to resist and ignore! |
Yes, the undercurrents appear to be raging everywhere. Isn't it amazing what a word can do? Frankly, I wish politicians everywhere would speak more directly instead of pussyfooting around with all their "politically correct" mumbo jumbo. Would it have been more admirable if "B" (note: he's usually referred to as "W" --> "Dubya") had said something like "regrettable differences of opinion"? I mean, that sounds a bit like the BBC’s use of the term "misguided criminals" to refer to the perpetrators of those deadly bombings in London last summer. 
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Yankee
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 16 Apr 2006
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Location: USA
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| #6 (permalink) Wed Jul 19, 2006 0:11 am Eavesdropping |
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I know the guy you talking about, he spent a couple of days in Hungary about two weeks ago.
No one knows why he came, but he was here, and it was so good that no one bothered to ask him about the reason.
Our ministers must speak too bad English, 'cause when they asked him about the cancellation of the visa just because he promised he would , he either didn't understand them quiet well, or just didn't give a damn about being too reasonable to these unimportant bunch of talking-monkeys, he told them the good news: the American-Hungarians say hi!
He was talking about those guys, who left Hungary about fifty years ago, in the big trouble, and had to spend the rest of their miserable lives in America, now these brave patriots sent a message that was so touching that no one dared to repeat the question.
Because of his visiting the whole Budapest was blocked for some days, but it was worth it, 'cause when he spoke to the masses he showed his big respect to our people by saying he was sorry about this little inconvenience.
He must've meant those guests of that hotel who had been thrown out because of him, or the half of the city, who couldn't use their cars for a week about.
I know, this guy is a big shot, but for God's sake, W.Axel Rose showed more respect to Hungary when he'd been late for three hours from the Guns 'n' Roses concert.
I don't think he cares though
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Spencer
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I know that person