Do you know Spongebob?

[Torsten]

Earlier today I shocked Slava and his wife by announcing that I didn't know about Spongebob. I had heard several people talk about the cartoon but I had never seen it. Slava said it's almost impossible that a person who grow up with a TV set in their home would know Spongebob. So here I'm putting the question to you: When and how were you introduced to Spongebob and what do you think of it/him? Also, what do you think of people who have never heard of Spongebob?
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Test Of English for International Communication
TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary

[Conchita]

SpongeBob (SquarePants) is known as 'Bob Esponja' in Spain. It was shown on Spanish TV one or two years ago (perhaps more?). My daughter used to watch this cartoon, so I occasionally did, too. The first time I saw the little fellow I thought it was a piece of Emmental cheese! The show is original and funny in a quirky sort of way, though I must say I prefer The Simpsons.

[Alan]

Hi Torsten,

I too am ignorant of what Conchita describes as 'the little fellow'. All I can do is quote a 'master' of the language:

The Unknown

As we know,
There are known knowns.
There are things we know we know.
We also know
There are known unknowns.
That is to say
We know there are some things
We do not know.
But there are also unknown unknowns,
The ones we don't know
We don't know.

A
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Not Really

[Conchita]

Aren't there also 'unknown knowns'? The ones we don't know we know.

[Alan]

Hi,

Hang on. You've lost me there! That would make it temporary amnesia or would it?
I don't know. Now what was it you said? This is where I'm tempted to do a spot of emoticonning but .. oh dear I've lost the thread again. Help, Rummie!

A
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English as a Foreign Language
You can read my EFL story Read all about it

[Conchita]

Who is Rummie?

My Google search was hopeless, unless it's a hangover helper!

[Alan]

Hi,

That's the nickname for Donald Rumsfeld who was responsible for the 'unknown' quote.
Are you suggesting that I need help with a hangover? Oh dear here comes that emoticon temptation again - I'm smiling even smirking - promise.
A
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Colour Idioms

[Yankee]

Hi Torsten

The Internet (or to be more precise, Ms Google) first introduced me to SpongeBob.
I can't really remember how that happened anymore.
But perhaps it was while I was looking for graphics or animated smilies.
Amy

PS
I'm in a state of shock over your incredibly late introduction to SpongeBob and his pals.

[Torsten]

Better late than never, Amy . Why do you think this is Spongebob character so popular around the world?
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Test Of English for International Communication
TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary

[Yankee]

.
I have no idea why SpongeBob is so popular. But I was amused when I learned that many episodes take place in a mythical place called 'Bikini Bottom'.

Did you know SpongeBob even has his own Wikipedia entry?
.

[Prezbucky]

Did I mention the boxer shorts?

At any rate, a Valentine's Day gift from a girlfriend introduced me to Spongebob Squarepants -- red boxer shorts with Spongebob and hearts decorating them.

lol
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Billie Jean is not my lover. Hee.

[Fan Of Arabian Horses]

[Yankee]

[Fan Of Arabian Horses]

Hi Amy!
Thanks for your explanation! Whatever I ask, you always give the right explanation in a pretty pleasant way.

[Fan Of Arabian Horses]

Hi Torsten!

I?m pretty delighted with your evaluating my improvement in the English. One of the basics of my success is/are your critique/s (countable noun?)

You?re perfectly right referring to usual expressions and idioms and also yes, I know/am aware of the "shed some light on......" idiom. But beside of all progress that I have made it unfortunately too often happens to me that I think what a German would think and try to translate my thoughts straightly rather than to use a more common English expression. Like in that case you referred to in your latter reply. Having a certain look on my own post I noticed that the above discribed adversity happened to me and instaed of deleting my mistake and substituting it for the correct (more usual) expression I rememberred your advice and gave the promise "I will not...." expecting the effect that Amy mentioned. Hope I?m not that much related to Bart Simpson.

Continue critizising and correcting me, please!

Regards

Michael

P.S. What happened to your latter post?