Tuesday, August 7, 2007

Anagram Anarchy : Six

Alchemy notebook, cipher wheel.

If you need help understanding the language of anagrams, CLICK HERE for some background.

Each time, I will produce a new anagram for a chosen word or phrase. It's your job as budding translators to rearrange the letters to produce the answer.

So here's today's anagram:

Kick Me Bias

Hint #1: Sports.
Hint #2: Unfortunate Record.

Rearrange the letters to solve the puzzle, and leave your answer in the comments section to this post.

Spoiler Warning: I'll also confirm the solution in the comments section after someone guesses correctly. So if you want to work it out for yourself, do so before clicking "comments".

Good luck!

Quick Translations : Ouch!


Quick Translation : "When you wear too much mouse cologne."

Your Quick Translation : (Leave a comment!)

Monday, August 6, 2007

Postcards from the Edge : Alwizbme in Johor, Malaysia

(Click for larger view)

My next Postcard from the Edge...of the World comes from my new friend Alwizbme in Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia.

It reads:

(Click for larger views)

Ah, my old friend - the durian fruit. Thank you, Alwizbme! "Flash" - I like that! And if any of you would like to see my previous translation of the durian fruit, click here.

From what I can tell, the durian is quite wacky and wonderful, and I'm glad to hear that you don't think it's worthless, Alwizbme! I'm still not sure that I would be able to get past the stinky feet smell. Beauty (and smell) is in the eye (and nose) of the beholder (smeller).

When it comes to fruit, Alwizbme should know quite a lot. He runs the beautiful Tropical Bloom blog, which features breathtaking photographs and natural histories of the fascinating flora and fauna endemic to Malaysia. Here are a few of his most recent entries:

A purple Senduduk flower.

Hibiscus, Malaysia's National flower.

So if you're interested in a journey into the heart of a tropical paradise, be sure to check out Tropical Bloom. I totally understand Alwizbme's website. It's daily reading that will truly take you away. No further translation necessary!



Did you like this review? Guess how much Alwizbme paid me for it:

NOTHING! It was free!

And if YOU are interested in sending me a postcard and having your website "Translated" for free, it's simple! All you have to do is send me a postcard, and when I put it up on Rosetta Rants, just write a post linking to my post, so all your friends can see your card! That way, more people will learn about my idea, too!

Please CLICK HERE to learn more. I can't wait to hear from you!

And be sure to check out my new Postcards from the Edge Buttons!

Please CLICK HERE to read my previous postcards.

Ahem...I wouldn't mind a Digg, too.

Hello Kitty Hell


We now travel to Bangkok, Thailand where we will translate the language of embarrassment.

Yahoo news reports that Thai police committing minor offenses, such as littering and arriving late, will now be punished by being forced to wear Hello Kitty armbands for several days.

Talk about an effective punishment.

And although the language of embarrassment is perhaps the most poignant and universal vernacular, further punishment is necessary for policemen who commit more serious crimes. For example:

Cops found turning to the Dark Side will be forced to wear the Hello Kitty Darth Vader suit.

And cops caught exceeding the speed limit within city limits will be forced to cruise the streets of Bangkok in the Hello Kitty Ferrari.

I totally understand the language of embarrassment. You can bet that Bangkok's police force will soon be one of the world's most disciplined and well-behaved, because that Hello Kitty is one frightening little feline.

I know that I would be terrified to be seen with her on my arm in public. That would be Hello Kitty hell.

How about you?

Sunday, August 5, 2007

Quick Translations : Giant Ducky


Quick Translation : "I'd hate to see the bar of soap!"

Your Quick Translation : (Leave a comment!)

Saturday, August 4, 2007

Anagram Anarchy : Five

The Phaistos Cipher Disk. Crete, circa 1700 B.C.E.

If you need help understanding the language of anagrams, CLICK HERE for some background.

Each time, I will produce a new anagram for a chosen word or phrase. It's your job as budding translators to rearrange the letters to produce the answer.

So here's today's anagram:

Trout Halibut Emu Men

Hint #1: Movie.

Rearrange the letters to solve the puzzle, and leave your answer in the comments section to this post.

Spoiler Warning: I'll also confirm the solution in the comments section after someone guesses correctly. So if you want to work it out for yourself, do so before clicking "comments".

Good luck!

Hats of Meat

We will now investigate the language of haberdashery - specifically, we will discuss the phenomenon of meat hats.

Possibly dating back to the 16th Century, meat hats have continued to please crowds in even the highest circles of society. According to the Hats of Meat Website:

"The expression 'I’ll eat my hat' traces back as far as the 19th century, usually credited to Abraham Lincoln in reference to one of his trademark stovepipe hats, which were often made of tenderloin".

Meat hats may be composed of any sort of bodily material, while the fashion trend remains the bane of PETA members worldwide. Here are a few examples:

The Pork Pie

The Base-Bull Cap

The Brisket Yarmulke (Made from 100% Kosher beef)

Now, I'm not saying that it's not creative, but I just don't think that meat translates well into clothing.

Perhaps it's because I think the appeal of having emergency food rations on your head is outweighed by the hats' propensity to attract bears.

I just can't put my finger on it. Is it the sight, the feel, the smell of meat on your head? I just don't understand the appeal of meat hats. Can you help me translate?


Friday, August 3, 2007

Quick Translations : Bad Teeth


Quick Translation : "Couldn't afford a toothbrush."

Your Quick Translation : (Leave a comment!)


Thursday, August 2, 2007

Postcards from the Edge : Adria in Westfield, MA

(Click for larger view)

For our next edition of Postcards from the Edge...of the World, we travel to the beautiful Stanley Park, in the middle of Westfield, Massachusetts. My good friend Adria from In Cinq has sent me a postcard that reads:

(Click for larger views)

Thanks, Adria! It looks like a beautiful park! I pulled a few photos from the Stanley Park website:

It really seems like a great place in summer or winter - despite the wacky geese!

Adria's In Cinq is one of the most creative blogs I've ever seen. Adria's site is a wonderful collection of visitor-submitted cinqpics, or self portraits with accompanying cinquains (9-word poems).

If you'd like to submit your own cinqpic to In Cinq for all the world to see, just follow these simple steps along with sending your self portrait:

Contributor Guidelines

You've snapped the self portraits. Now snap yourself a self poem. Reveal yourself in a 9-word cinquain.
1st line: one word that represents you
2nd line: two words that describe you
3rd line: three words that show you
4th line: two words that express you
5th line: the essence of you, in one word
Also share your: Gender, age, location. Examples: "guy, 28, third floor corner cubicle"; "girl, 19, Boston."


Here's mine:

Guy, 30, in the foliage.

watching
listening artistically
passenger retroactively arrived
exorbitant dissection
experiment


And, yes - I was making a weird face. I don't always look like that. And there are plenty more cinqpics where that came from. Every day you can check out new cinqpics from around the globe.

I totally understand In Cinq. It's a great way to translate the lives of people from around the world into something a little closer to home. No further translation necessary.

And if YOU are interested in sending me a postcard and having your website "Translated", it's simple! All you have to do is send me a postcard, and when I put it up on Rosetta Rants, just write a post linking to my post, so all your friends can see your card! That way, more people will learn about my idea, too! Please CLICK HERE to learn more.

And be sure to check out my new Postcards from the Edge Buttons! They're loads of fun!

CLICK HERE to read my previous postcards.

I can't wait to hear from you!

Wednesday, August 1, 2007

Surströmming

We now travel to Sweden, where we will investigate the language of food delicacies. Today, I am referring to Surströmming, or canned fermented baltic herring.

Surströmming is produced by soaking herring fish in brine and fermenting them for one to two months in barrels. Next, the ripe morsels of joy are canned and allowed to ferment for up to six additional months, causing the cans to bulge from a build up of carbon dioxide.

Haloanaerobium bacteria are responsible for imparting surströmming's unique flavor, through their production of propionic acid, acetic acid, and hydrogen sulfide.

It sounds something like rotten eggs with vinegar.

Opening cans of the pungent fish may be dangerously explosive, a practice which has been banned from several airlines. Besides the safety issues, how would you like to sprayed in the face with the stuff?

It sounds very interesting, but I'm not sure I understand the appeal of surströmming.

Have any of you tried it? Can you help me translate?