Meaning of über-nerd
Christian Schuerer
Reading an American magazine I came across the word "über-nerd". Can
anyone explain what it means, please? I was wondering that the umlaut "ü"
is used in English at all. Is this word a combination of the German word
"über" (meaning something like "above", "beyond", "hyper-") and the
English word "nerd"? So, something which is "über-nerd" would be some
even more than just nerd?
Thanks,
Christian
John Seeliger
news:pan.2004.10.02....@gmx.at...
It would be the nerdiest of the nerds.
über-nerd : nerd :: über-model : model
Mike Lyle
It's now a quite common feature of informal English on both sides of
the Atlantic. It's jocularly formed on the pattern of "uebermensch".
You could say "übersandwich", or "überbike" or "über-"anything you
like!
Mike.
Donna Richoux
>
> Reading an American magazine I came across the word "über-nerd". Can
> anyone explain what it means, please? I was wondering that the umlaut "ü"
> is used in English at all. Is this word a combination of the German word
> "über" (meaning something like "above", "beyond", "hyper-") and the
> English word "nerd"?
Yes.
>So, something which is "über-nerd" would be some
> even more than just nerd?
>
You'll often find prefixes and suffixes in dictionaries. I see that the
free "Merriam-Webster Online" site doesn't have "uber", but their very
good "Merriam-Webster Collegiate" does (I find it's worth the fee of $15
per year):
Main Entry: über-
Variant(s): also uber- \ü-br, -br\
Function: prefix
Etymology: German, from über over, beyond, from Old High German
ubar -- more at OVER
1 : being a superlative example of its kind or class : SUPER- <übernerd>
2 : to an extreme or excessive degree : SUPER- <übercool>
--
Best -- Donna Richoux
An American living in the Netherlands
Roland Hutchinson
2004 14:20, Donna Richoux wrote:
> I see that the
> free "Merriam-Webster Online" site doesn't have "uber", but their very
> good "Merriam-Webster Collegiate" does (I find it's worth the fee of $15
> per year):
>
> Main Entry: über-
> Variant(s): also uber- \ü-br, -br\
> Function: prefix
> Etymology: German, from über over, beyond, from Old High German
> ubar -- more at OVER
> 1 : being a superlative example of its kind or class : SUPER- <übernerd>
> 2 : to an extreme or excessive degree : SUPER- <übercool>
It's not all THAT good if it doesn't mention "by analogy with Ger Übermensch
superman" in the etymology!
--
Roland Hutchinson Will play viola da gamba for food.
NB mail to my.spamtrap [at] verizon.net is heavily filtered to
remove spam. If your message looks like spam I may not see it.
Donna Richoux
> In article <1gl1pc5.459as91cwxxgzN%tr...@euronet.nl> on Saturday 02 October
> 2004 14:20, Donna Richoux wrote:
>
> > I see that the
> > free "Merriam-Webster Online" site doesn't have "uber", but their very
> > good "Merriam-Webster Collegiate" does (I find it's worth the fee of $15
> > per year):
> >
> > Main Entry: über-
> > Variant(s): also uber- \ü-br, -br\
> > Function: prefix
> > Etymology: German, from über over, beyond, from Old High German
> > ubar -- more at OVER
> > 1 : being a superlative example of its kind or class : SUPER- <übernerd>
> > 2 : to an extreme or excessive degree : SUPER- <übercool>
>
> It's not all THAT good if it doesn't mention "by analogy with Ger Übermensch
> superman" in the etymology!
That sounds a little harsh. I noticed the absence, too, but I thought
they might have left that out for a reason that you and I don't know.
We'd have to study the dates of early citations to be positive that
"uber-" as a free-floating prefix absolutely came from "Ubermensch" and
not from other uses -- I've heard German military titles starting with
"Uber-." OED might have more data.
I don't think the "uber-" is as tightly fastened to "ubermensch" as a
source as is, say, "-gate" of Watergate. An etymology of the "-gate"
suffix that merely described about gates and sluices and failed to
mention Watergate as a political scandal, would indeed be deficient. How
does M-W handle that one?
Main Entry: -gate
Function: noun combining form
Etymology: Watergate
: usually political scandal often involving the
concealment of wrongdoing <Irangate>
Sketchy, but adequate. As is the "uber" etymology. What do you want for
15 bucks a year? If you want utterly thorough, pay Oxford $500 per year
(or whatever, haven't checked lately).
don groves
wrote...
Similar to "alpha-geek". A topnotch technoid (technerd?); a
person who is very good with high tech devices to the exclusion
of all else and often lacks the barest of social skills.
--
dg (domain=ccwebster)
Roland Hutchinson
2004 15:37, Donna Richoux wrote:
> Roland Hutchinson <my.sp...@verizon.net> wrote:
>
>> In article <1gl1pc5.459as91cwxxgzN%tr...@euronet.nl> on Saturday 02
>> October 2004 14:20, Donna Richoux wrote:
>>
>> > I see that the
>> > free "Merriam-Webster Online" site doesn't have "uber", but their very
>> > good "Merriam-Webster Collegiate" does (I find it's worth the fee of
>> > $15 per year):
>> >
>> > Main Entry: über-
>> > Variant(s): also uber- \ü-br, -br\
>> > Function: prefix
>> > Etymology: German, from über over, beyond, from Old High German
>> > ubar -- more at OVER
>> > 1 : being a superlative example of its kind or class : SUPER-
>> > <übernerd> 2 : to an extreme or excessive degree : SUPER- <übercool>
>>
>> It's not all THAT good if it doesn't mention "by analogy with Ger
>> Übermensch superman" in the etymology!
>
> That sounds a little harsh.
Perhaps so. I prefer to characterize it as my having set a very high
standard for what I consider "THAT good".
> I noticed the absence, too, but I thought
> they might have left that out for a reason that you and I don't know.
> We'd have to study the dates of early citations to be positive that
> "uber-" as a free-floating prefix absolutely came from "Ubermensch" and
> not from other uses --
A good point.
> I've heard German military titles starting with
> "Uber-." OED might have more data.
It's usually Ober- rather than Über- in military ranks, I think.
(...Yes... for the current ones at least, which are here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparative_military_ranks )
Nontheless, your point is well taken. Über- is certainly a productive
prefix in German, and might have come into English from multiple sources.
If there isn't definite evidence, I shouldn't expect the etymology to state
a conjectural origin in "uebermensch" without qualification (at least a
"prob." or something).
> I don't think the "uber-" is as tightly fastened to "ubermensch" as a
> source as is, say, "-gate" of Watergate. An etymology of the "-gate"
> suffix that merely described about gates and sluices and failed to
> mention Watergate as a political scandal, would indeed be deficient. How
> does M-W handle that one?
>
> Main Entry: -gate
> Function: noun combining form
> Etymology: Watergate
> : usually political scandal often involving the
> concealment of wrongdoing <Irangate>
>
> Sketchy, but adequate. As is the "uber" etymology. What do you want for
> 15 bucks a year? If you want utterly thorough, pay Oxford $500 per year
> (or whatever, haven't checked lately).
By a singular stroke of good fortune, someone is already paying the freight
on my spouse's behalf.
OED online doesn't have u(e)bergeek or u(e)ber- as a free prefix (though it
does admit both "Überfremdung" and "überhaupt" as English words of a sort,
as well as the phrase "über alles", pointing out that its use in English
reflects a misunderstanding of the German meaning in the former first
stanza of the German national anthem.)
Their earliest citation for "Uebermensch" is: "1902 Pall Mall XXVI. 405/1
Where Bismarck exerted the full..strength of the Uebermensch, Bülow always
remains the polite orator."
This predates the earliest citation for "superman" (Shaw's play, 1903).
Don A. Gilmore
It's an Aryan super-nerd.
Don
Kansas City
Mike Lyle
We just have to fall back on the language-experience of those who
were around at the birth. Yes, "ober" is the military form we all
know; similarly, or differently, "über-" is linked in the educated
English-speaking mind with Nietsche's "Übermensch" and the
misinterpretation of the German National Anthem by those who didn't
know the words. Few of those who were students in the 'sixties or
earlier knew more than that; but hardly any knew less. Applying
Occam's razor, we are left with little doubt. I certainly knew
immediately what was meant by "über-anything". This isn't quite folk
etymology: it's more like reportage.
Mike.
Jess Askin
>
> Reading an American magazine I came across the word "über-nerd". Can
> anyone explain what it means, please? I was wondering that the umlaut "ü"
> is used in English at all.
I don't think "ü" has been domesticated yet, by which I mean it still shows
up only in recognizably foreign words or jocular constructions like
"über-nerd." Contrast this with "ö," which is still sometimes used in
"coöperation," (and Nöel, of course), or "ė," which I saw just the other day
in "preėmptive" (in the New Yorker IINM).
Don A. Gilmore
news:cjnhej$3dv$1...@news.netins.net...
We're talking about two entirely different uses for the double-dot: as a
diacritical umlaut and as a diaeresis.
If it's a diacritical mark then it has to do with pronunciation and
generally only occurs in foreign words or names. Usually (typewriter
permitting) these are included when writing.
The diaeresis has pretty much disappeared in AmE, presumably relegated to
the same lexicographical gulag as the hyphen in "to-morrow".
Don
Kansas City
Jess Askin
"Don A. Gilmore" <eroml...@kc.rr.com> wrote in message
news:S3I7d.54134$B51....@twister.rdc-kc.rr.com...
Good point. I'm trying to think if there are any genuinely English words
that have "ö" as an umlaut. "ė" is unlikely, since it's not even used in
German, is it?
Christian Schuerer
>> The diaeresis has pretty much disappeared in AmE, presumably relegated to
>> the same lexicographical gulag as the hyphen in "to-morrow".
>
> Good point. I'm trying to think if there are any genuinely English words
> German, is it?
No, German umlauts are only ä, ö and ü.
Regards,
Christian
J. J. Lodder
That would be a mistake, I guess.
The alpha-geek presumably is derived
fram the alpha-male dear to ethologists:
the leader of of a group (of chimps for example)
and the first in the social hierachie.
To become the alpha-male a chimps needs to be
both a physically and socially capable individual.
The ape method popularized by Hollywood science:
just beating your breast hardest
won't work in chimpansee politics.
Now what does that make me think of ... ?
Jan
J. J. Lodder
> That sounds a little harsh. I noticed the absence, too, but I thought
> they might have left that out for a reason that you and I don't know.
> We'd have to study the dates of early citations to be positive that
> "uber-" as a free-floating prefix absolutely came from "Ubermensch" and
> not from other uses -- I've heard German military titles starting with
> "Uber-." OED might have more data.
It's ober- in some military titles,
and in civilian uses too.
The 'ober', who you can still call in a Dutch restaurant,
derives from the German 'oberkellner'.
(the kelner has gone extinct)
Best,
Jan
--
"Melde Gehorsamst Herr Oberst, immer zum befehl bereit" (Schweijk)
J. J. Lodder
> We just have to fall back on the language-experience of those who
> were around at the birth. Yes, "ober" is the military form we all
> know; similarly, or differently, "über-" is linked in the educated
> English-speaking mind with Nietsche's "Übermensch" and the
> misinterpretation of the German National Anthem by those who didn't
> know the words.
Not that much of a misrepresentation,
except for that verse not being (officially)
in the anthem anymore,
Jan
J. J. Lodder
> "Christian Schuerer" <c...@gmx.at> wrote in message
> news:pan.2004.10.02....@gmx.at...
> > Hi!
> >
> > Reading an American magazine I came across the word "über-nerd". Can
> > anyone explain what it means, please? I was wondering that the umlaut "ü"
> > is used in English at all.
>
> I don't think "ü" has been domesticated yet, by which I mean it still shows
> up only in recognizably foreign words or jocular constructions like
> "über-nerd."
Except in Münster, where it doesn't belong.
(as discussed before)
Contrast this with "ö," which is still sometimes used in
> "coöperation," (and Nöel, of course), or "ë," which I saw just the other day
> in "preëmptive" (in the New Yorker IINM).
Noël, of course. Or is it realy Nöel in American?
That is a different double dot, indicating a pronunciation break.
It comes from Dutch, or French, never from German,
Jan
CV
J. J. Lodder wrote:
> The ape method popularized by Hollywood science:
> just beating your breast hardest
> won't work in chimpansee politics.
>
> Now what does that make me think of ... ?
This, perhaps ?
http://www.stephenasmith.com/stuff/BushUnmasked.html
Donna Richoux
> In article <1gl1rmv.1pgvgglwiyctvN%tr...@euronet.nl> on Saturday 02 October
> 2004 15:37, Donna Richoux wrote:
>
> > I've heard German military titles starting with
> > "Uber-." OED might have more data.
>
> It's usually Ober- rather than Über- in military ranks, I think.
>
> (...Yes... for the current ones at least, which are here:
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparative_military_ranks )
Thanks to you and Jan for the correction. My German is next to nothing.
That looks like a chart to remember, all those title comparisons. Even
in English, I have trouble remembering things like "is a major higher
than a captain" when I read military books.
>
> Nontheless, your point is well taken. Über- is certainly a productive
> prefix in German, and might have come into English from multiple sources.
> If there isn't definite evidence, I shouldn't expect the etymology to state
> a conjectural origin in "uebermensch" without qualification (at least a
> "prob." or something).
And even if "ubermensch" absolutely was the best known source in
English, is the ditionary required by the rules of entry-writing to say
so? I suppose if it really was the only source, yes.
[snip much good stuff]
> This predates the earliest citation for "superman" (Shaw's play, 1903).
Shaw! A day or two I wrote about connecting "ubermensch" to Superman
comics, but I'd forgotten Shaw's title altogether. Not that anyone leaps
over tall buildings in that one.
Donna Richoux
>
> Except in Münster, where it doesn't belong.
> (as discussed before)
Well, that's confusing. The Getty site shows there are towns around
Europe spelled "Münster" as well as other towns spelled "Munster". I
believe you mean "as the name of a cheese," and that turns out to be the
French one, without double-dot, as you say.
Mike Lyle
> Mike Lyle <mike_l...@REMOVETHISyahoo.co.uk> wrote:
[...]
>> misinterpretation of the German National Anthem by those who
didn't
>> know the words.
>
> Not that much of a misrepresentation,
> except for that verse not being (officially)
> in the anthem anymore,
I can't read anything offensive into it: it just looks like a routine
declaration of national unity to me. I don't know if there's anything
alarming about the boundaries specified in the same stanza, as I
don't know the geography all that well; but it looks harmless enough
till I'm informed otherwise.
Mike.
R H Draney
>
>Good point. I'm trying to think if there are any genuinely English words
>that have "ö" as an umlaut. "ė" is unlikely, since it's not even used in
>German, is it?
Not in German, but I learned to spell the capital of Albania with one....r
Roland Hutchinson
2004 04:59, J. J. Lodder wrote:
> It's ober- in some military titles,
> and in civilian uses too.
>
> The 'ober', who you can still call in a Dutch restaurant,
> derives from the German 'oberkellner'.
> (the kelner has gone extinct)
German "Oberkellner" is litterally "headwaiter" in English, but I gather
that at some point in time it the custom arose of diners addressing ALL
waiters as "Herr Ober", giving them a sort of courtesy title.
don groves
ster.demon.nl wrote...
But you're talking about chimps, which are known to have a social
order. I'm talking about geeks, a group that considers pizza and
Jolt cola to be a gourmet meal.
--
dg (domain=ccwebster)
Jess Askin
"Donna Richoux" <tr...@euronet.nl> wrote in message
news:1gl2z9n.qpwp1k20qneoN%tr...@euronet.nl...
Do you mean Pshaw!?
Jess Askin
"Roland Hutchinson" <my.sp...@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:2satqiF...@uni-berlin.de...
> In article <1gl2ovq.hg...@de-ster.xs4all.nl> on Sunday 03 October
> 2004 04:59, J. J. Lodder wrote:
>
> > It's ober- in some military titles,
> > and in civilian uses too.
> >
> > The 'ober', who you can still call in a Dutch restaurant,
> > derives from the German 'oberkellner'.
> > (the kelner has gone extinct)
>
> German "Oberkellner" is litterally "headwaiter" in English, but I gather
> that at some point in time it the custom arose of diners addressing ALL
> waiters as "Herr Ober", giving them a sort of courtesy title.
It's always surprised me that the real oberkellners don't object. Or do
they get a title upgrade too?
Mark Barratt
I think they may get called "der führer" - not when they're in
earshot, though.
--
Mark Barratt
Reinhold (Rey) Aman
> Jess Askin wrote:
> > Roland Hutchinson wrote:
[...]
> > > German "Oberkellner" is litterally "headwaiter" in English,
> > > but I gather that at some point in time it the custom arose
> > > of diners addressing ALL waiters as "Herr Ober", giving them
> > > a sort of courtesy title.
> > It's always surprised me that the real oberkellners
> > don't object. Or do they get a title upgrade too?
Certainly: Überoberkellner.
> I think they may get called "der führer" - not when
> they're in earshot, though.
"Führer" is alvays capitalized.
--
Reinhold (Rey) Aman, Philologist
AUEer Emeritus & Eremitus
Jens Brix Christiansen
> "ė" is unlikely, since it's not even used in
> German, is it?
Not in regular German, but it is used in the written version of the
German dialect spoken i Luxembourg. It actually appears in the name
of the country as written in that dialect: Lėtzeburg.
J. J. Lodder
An alpha implies a beta, and a gamma ...
and hence some social orderering,
and hence social interaction to establish that order.
Unlike the uebermensch of course, who is a class by himself.
Unless of course there is some other origin for the 'alpha-geek'
instead of the ethologist's alpha male.
Jan
J. J. Lodder
> J. J. Lodder wrote:
> > Mike Lyle <mike_l...@REMOVETHISyahoo.co.uk> wrote:
> [...]
> >> misinterpretation of the German National Anthem by those who
> didn't
> >> know the words.
> >
> > Not that much of a misrepresentation,
> > except for that verse not being (officially)
> > in the anthem anymore,
>
> I can't read anything offensive into it: it just looks like a routine
> declaration of national unity to me.
The 'ueber alles' is at the very least extremely chauvinistic.
I don't know if there's anything
> alarming about the boundaries specified in the same stanza, as I
> don't know the geography all that well; but it looks harmless enough
> till I'm informed otherwise.
Not harmless at all.
It specifies the boundaries as
N: Belt, which includes half of Denmark,
W: Nordsee, which includes the Netherlands, Belgium, and some of
Northern France,
E: the Memel, which is a small river in what is now Lituania,
and hence Lituania, Poland, etc., and
S: the Etch, which is nowadays better known as the Adige, near Bolzano,
which implies a claim to all of the Austrian Empire, hence
Tchechoslavakia, Hungary etc, and some parts of Northern Italy,
such as South Tirol and Venice.
And not harmless in practice too:
in an unprovoked war of agression against Denmark for example
Bismarck added about a third of what was then Demmark to Prusia,
(the region below Jutland, south of Flensburg)
to get the Northern border somewhat closer to the Belt.
As you know, more followed.
The war on Denmark was just an excercise
for taking on France in 1870.
The 'Deutschlandlied' laid territorial claims on Germany's neigbours
in all directions, and these neighbours were right
in fearing for their safety
once Germany acquired sufficient military power
to do something about those 'parts of Germany'.
Add some buffer zones on all sides,
and 'Deutschland' by the Deutschlandlied
is about what Hitler held before invading Russia.
It is surprising I think that the Americans
allowed Adenhauer to reinstitute it as anthem,
on the pretext that the text is now the third stanza only,
as if the first verse with its 'ueber alles' no longer exists.
The reason apperently was that the Americans by then
desperately wanted the 'new' Western Germany
as a fully armed bulwark agains 'communism'.
This 'new' German anthem infuriated the Russians of course,
who saw it as yet another confirmation of their idea
that the Bundesrepublik was nothing but a continuation
of Nazi-Germany under another leadership.
Best to forget about the words altogether,
(but the music isn't that great either)
Jan
--
"Alemania omnia superior" (The Goths, Asterix)
J. J. Lodder
> In article <1gl2ovq.hg...@de-ster.xs4all.nl> on Sunday 03 October
> 2004 04:59, J. J. Lodder wrote:
>
> > It's ober- in some military titles,
> > and in civilian uses too.
> >
> > The 'ober', who you can still call in a Dutch restaurant,
> > derives from the German 'oberkellner'.
> > (the kelner has gone extinct)
>
> German "Oberkellner" is litterally "headwaiter" in English, but I gather
> that at some point in time it the custom arose of diners addressing ALL
> waiters as "Herr Ober", giving them a sort of courtesy title.
Like the legendary Latin American army,
which only has captains and above,
Jan
J. J. Lodder
In Germany there are both a Munster and a Münster,
neither having anything to doo with cheese.
France has only a Munster (where the real Munster cheese comes from)
Another tricky one Gewurtztraminer (the wine) is
Gewurtztraminer when it is French, (Alsace)
Gewuertztraminer or Gewürtztraminer when it is German.
Best,
Jan
Harvey Van Sickle
-snip-
> Best to forget about the words altogether,
> (but the music isn't that great either)
I must disagree with that: I figure Haydn wrote a cracking tune, and
it's a pity about the arrogation of it for the anthem.
(As pointed out at
http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Das_Lied_der_Deutschen, it's
interesting that a tune which is irrevocably associated with Germany
borrowed its music from a nationalistic Austrian anthem.)
--
Cheers, Harvey
Ottawa/Toronto/Edmonton for 30 years;
Southern England for the past 22 years.
(for e-mail, change harvey.news to harvey.van)
Ross Howard
<harve...@ntlworld.com> wrought:
>I figure Haydn wrote a cracking tune, and
>it's a pity about the arrogation of it for the anthem.
A pity? The 'Arrogate Choral Week was up there with Wagner in Beirut
or Mozart in Salisbury as a definite must on any discerning music
lover's calendar.
--
Ross Howard
Mark Barratt
Out of mild interest, is that title (it means leader, ugye?)
still used neutrally in German, or did it die in the bunker
alongside its most renowned bearer?
--
Regards,
Mark Barratt
Mike Lyle
routine
>> declaration of national unity to me.
>
> The 'ueber alles' is at the very least extremely chauvinistic.
I took it as "above all" in the singer's affections, rather than as a
statement of international dominance. But then look at the vile
Marseillaise and the silliest bits of GStQ.
>
> I don't know if there's anything
>> alarming about the boundaries specified in the same stanza, as I
>> don't know the geography all that well; but it looks harmless
enough
>> till I'm informed otherwise.
>
> Not harmless at all.
> It specifies the boundaries as
> N: Belt, which includes half of Denmark,
[...etc...]
OK, so I'm informed otherwise! Thank you.
> (but the music isn't that great either)
I'll accept your castigation on the rest, but not on that: it's
beautiful. (Remember that in Britain it's used for a well-loved hymn,
with satisfying harmony.)
Mike.
don groves
That's the only origin I can think of but the phrase was never
meant to be taken seriously. All "geek" and "nerd" comments
should be treated as humorous until proven otherwise.
--
dg (domain=ccwebster)
Jess Askin
"Jens Brix Christiansen" <je...@alesia.dk> wrote in message
news:8ce8d2a4.04100...@posting.google.com...
I remember that song -- Der letzte Zug nach Lėtzeburg.
Christopher Green
> Mark Barratt wrote:
>
> > Jess Askin wrote:
> > > Roland Hutchinson wrote:
>
> [...]
>
> > > > German "Oberkellner" is litterally "headwaiter" in English,
> > > > but I gather that at some point in time it the custom arose
> > > > of diners addressing ALL waiters as "Herr Ober", giving them
> > > > a sort of courtesy title.
>
> > > It's always surprised me that the real oberkellners
> > > don't object. Or do they get a title upgrade too?
>
> Certainly: Überoberkellner.
I was thinking Hauptoberkellner would be a good Übertitle.
>
> > I think they may get called "der führer" - not when
> > they're in earshot, though.
>
> "Führer" is alvays capitalized.
But only used in combining forms anymore, such as Wagenführer or
Zugführer, I think. I do recall that Nazi usage forbade using Führer
uncombined to mean anything other than AH himself, and it may have
skunked other usages (except possibly sarcastic ones).
--
Chris Green
--
Chris Green
J. J. Lodder
> J. J. Lodder wrote:
> > Mike Lyle <mike_l...@REMOVETHISyahoo.co.uk> wrote:
> [...]
> >> I can't read anything offensive into it: it just looks like a
> routine
> >> declaration of national unity to me.
> >
> > The 'ueber alles' is at the very least extremely chauvinistic.
>
> I took it as "above all" in the singer's affections, rather than as a
> statement of international dominance. But then look at the vile
> Marseillaise and the silliest bits of GStQ.
The 'Wilhelmus', the oldest of them all, (text about 1580)
is a wonder of civilization, by comparison.
No xenophobia, no territoroial claims,
no feelings of superiority over others in it.
(It actually is an 'apologia' for William of Orange
for supposedly being in a state of rebellion against the king of Spain,
who had put a large prize on his head.)
> > I don't know if there's anything
> >> alarming about the boundaries specified in the same stanza, as I
> >> don't know the geography all that well; but it looks harmless
> enough
> >> till I'm informed otherwise.
> >
> > Not harmless at all.
> > It specifies the boundaries as
> > N: Belt, which includes half of Denmark,
> [...etc...]
>
> OK, so I'm informed otherwise! Thank you.
Just remember that the true Germany is half of Western Europe really,
with certain parts of it temporarily 'unter fremder Verwaltung'.
However, to be fair,
one should admit that the really new Germany, after the reunification,
is a well-behaved coutry without territorial claims on others.
> > (but the music isn't that great either)
>
> I'll accept your castigation on the rest, but not on that: it's
> beautiful. (Remember that in Britain it's used for a well-loved hymn,
> with satisfying harmony.)
Each to his tastes of course,
and I must confess to finding the new European hymn
(Beethoven of course) a musical horror as well,
apart from the equaly ridiculous text.
But at least it isn't offensive,
Jan
Ross Howard
Green) wrought:
Googling on "der Führer site:.de" brings up loads of non-Hitlerian
hits.
--
Ross Howard
Mike Lyle
[...]
> However, to be fair,
> one should admit that the really new Germany, after the
reunification,
> is a well-behaved coutry without territorial claims on others.
>
You know, I hate to spoil the party by getting seriously serious for
a moment, but I think the Germany we see now _is_ the true Germany.
I'm not a good historian, but my sense is that the nineteenth-century
unification process set up unbearable internal tensions and conflicts
which had to explode outwards.
Mike.
Donna Richoux
I started wondering in which sense "alpha-geek" is used. Is it the
socially-dominant sense of the anthropologist, or is it just a vaguer
"ultra, super, very-much-so" sense? Is an alpha-geek the chief geek of a
group, the geekiest of the geeks, or could a reclusive hermit, say, with
superb technical skills but no colleagues, be an "alpha-geek"?
I found examples, but so far they are of both kinds, so no conclusion:
Office/group setting:
What was the job? Field producer for Tech TV. Most of my friends
think it's perfect for me- I've been in TV for 11 years (as of
today), and I *love* technological stuff (I'm considered the
newsroom alpha geek because of my gadgets).
When I was a senior admin in a Silicon Valley company I was known
as the "alpha geek" because I was the most computer literate in the
department
Within the office, Mike is sometimes referred to as the "Alpha
geek" because of his oversight of the computer system.
Skills:
if you're just looking for an easy way to implement a mailing list,
and you're not an alpha geek or sysadmin type (I honestly don't
have any idea what your level of technical expertise is, and I
mean no insult, just offering info), you might consider having your
list hosted by a professional organization who handles all the
scary server and technical issues for you.
The problem I am not an Alpha Geek, so I am hoping I can figure out
how to get this to work.
Please be kind with the comments because I'm not an alpha geek
(more like a beta geek)
Why would it matter? For one thing, if being an alpha-geek has *some*
social component, then skills like communicating well, being helpful,
being energetic and efficient at accomplishing tasks, would count for
something, too -- not just knowing a lot about technology. But as the
second group shows, skills and knowledge are central to the geek
stature.
J. J. Lodder
> J. J. Lodder wrote:
> [...]
> > However, to be fair,
> > one should admit that the really new Germany, after the
> reunification,
> > is a well-behaved coutry without territorial claims on others.
> >
> [...]
>
> You know, I hate to spoil the party by getting seriously serious for
> a moment, but I think the Germany we see now _is_ the true Germany.
We all very much hope it is, don't we?
> I'm not a good historian, but my sense is that the nineteenth-century
> unification process set up unbearable internal tensions and conflicts
> which had to explode outwards.
I don't believe in this kind of historical fatalism.
With some more luck WW I might never have happened.
We'll never know of course,
Jan
J. J. Lodder
From your examples I think alpha geek would be used apropriately
for some geek who is respected as the most outstanding of them all
by a peer group.
For the hermit kind the ueber-nerd might be more appropriate.
Best,
Jan
Mike Lyle
But we can make informed guesses. Fatalism was not what I had in
mind: things have causes, that's all.
Mike.
Don A. Gilmore
news:1gl7fv2.1wx...@de-ster.xs4all.nl...
> > Why would it matter? For one thing, if being an alpha-geek has *some*
> > social component, then skills like communicating well, being helpful,
> > being energetic and efficient at accomplishing tasks, would count for
> > something, too -- not just knowing a lot about technology. But as the
> > second group shows, skills and knowledge are central to the geek
> > stature.
>
> From your examples I think alpha geek would be used apropriately
> for some geek who is respected as the most outstanding of them all
> by a peer group.
> For the hermit kind the ueber-nerd might be more appropriate.
I always assumed that the "alpha" prefix was a facetious reference to Aldous
Huxley's "Brave New World". His "grading" of assembly-line-made humans
began with "alpha" as the superlative model and went on down through the
Greek alphabet from there to the "Epsilon-minus, semi-moron". It may
surprise you to learn that contributors to AUE are often ordered according
to this same system.
Don
Kansas City
Poet Fury
> It's now a quite common feature of informal English on both sides of
> the Atlantic. It's jocularly formed on the pattern of "uebermensch".
> You could say "übersandwich", or "überbike" or "über-"anything you
> like!
Tee hee hee. REALLY want to call someone an übergoober now.
--
http://www.genjerdan.com/nvm/tdis/index.html
Of course it's music. It has notes in it, doesn't it?
Pat Durkin
"Don A. Gilmore" <eromlig...@kc.rr.com> wrote in message
news:2sibjcF...@uni-berlin.de...
> "J. J. Lodder" <nos...@de-ster.demon.nl> wrote in message
> news:1gl7fv2.1wx...@de-ster.xs4all.nl...
> >
> > From your examples I think alpha geek would be used apropriately
> > for some geek who is respected as the most outstanding of them all
> > by a peer group.
> > For the hermit kind the ueber-nerd might be more appropriate.
>
> I always assumed that the "alpha" prefix was a facetious reference to
Aldous
> Huxley's "Brave New World". His "grading" of assembly-line-made humans
> began with "alpha" as the superlative model and went on down through the
> Greek alphabet from there to the "Epsilon-minus, semi-moron". It may
> surprise you to learn that contributors to AUE are often ordered according
> to this same system.
It would certainly surprise me. On what website would one find this
ordering?
For my part, I would assume that the "alpha" prefix refers to dominance in a
field, with such a rating based on a more commonly recognized rank order,
such as the wolf-pack "alpha" male and female. Yes, even the spontaneous
recognition of superiority among AUE members has a feeling for this kind of
rating.
Don A. Gilmore
news:76V8d.6306$Vm1...@newsread3.news.atl.earthlink.net...
> > I always assumed that the "alpha" prefix was a facetious reference to
> Aldous
> > Huxley's "Brave New World". His "grading" of assembly-line-made humans
> > began with "alpha" as the superlative model and went on down through the
> > Greek alphabet from there to the "Epsilon-minus, semi-moron". It may
> > surprise you to learn that contributors to AUE are often ordered
according
> > to this same system.
>
>
> It would certainly surprise me. On what website would one find this
> ordering?
Try here:
www.whoosh!.com
Let us know where you rank.
Don
Kansas City
Mike Lyle
> On Sat, 2 Oct 2004 19:03:05 +0100, Mike Lyle wrote:
>
>> It's now a quite common feature of informal English on both sides
of
>> the Atlantic. It's jocularly formed on the pattern of
"uebermensch".
>> You could say "übersandwich", or "überbike" or "über-"anything you
>> like!
>
> Tee hee hee. REALLY want to call someone an übergoober now.
Tesco sell jumbo peanuts: you could start there.
Mike.
Jess Askin
"Ross Howard" <ggu...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:vgd2m0habvsn3n0ta...@4ax.com...
I know you're kidding about Wagner in Beirut, but wouldn't that make a
terrific movie?
J. J. Lodder
> "J. J. Lodder" <nos...@de-ster.demon.nl> wrote in message
> news:1gl7fv2.1wx...@de-ster.xs4all.nl...
> > > Why would it matter? For one thing, if being an alpha-geek has *some*
> > > social component, then skills like communicating well, being helpful,
> > > being energetic and efficient at accomplishing tasks, would count for
> > > something, too -- not just knowing a lot about technology. But as the
> > > second group shows, skills and knowledge are central to the geek
> > > stature.
> >
> > From your examples I think alpha geek would be used apropriately
> > for some geek who is respected as the most outstanding of them all
> > by a peer group.
> > For the hermit kind the ueber-nerd might be more appropriate.
>
> I always assumed that the "alpha" prefix was a facetious reference to Aldous
> Huxley's "Brave New World". His "grading" of assembly-line-made humans
> began with "alpha" as the superlative model and went on down through the
> Greek alphabet from there to the "Epsilon-minus, semi-moron".
Nonsense, geeks are all alphas of course.
> It may surprise you to learn that contributors to AUE are often ordered
> according to this same system.
By Ford!
Make the sign of the T!
Jan
Steve Hayes
wrote:
>Don A. Gilmore <eromlig...@kc.rr.com> wrote:
>
>> "J. J. Lodder" <nos...@de-ster.demon.nl> wrote in message
>> news:1gl7fv2.1wx...@de-ster.xs4all.nl...
>> > > Why would it matter? For one thing, if being an alpha-geek has *some*
>> > > social component, then skills like communicating well, being helpful,
>> > > being energetic and efficient at accomplishing tasks, would count for
>> > > something, too -- not just knowing a lot about technology. But as the
>> > > second group shows, skills and knowledge are central to the geek
>> > > stature.
>> >
>> > From your examples I think alpha geek would be used apropriately
>> > for some geek who is respected as the most outstanding of them all
>> > by a peer group.
>> > For the hermit kind the ueber-nerd might be more appropriate.
>>
>> I always assumed that the "alpha" prefix was a facetious reference to Aldous
>> Huxley's "Brave New World". His "grading" of assembly-line-made humans
>> began with "alpha" as the superlative model and went on down through the
>> Greek alphabet from there to the "Epsilon-minus, semi-moron".
>
>Nonsense, geeks are all alphas of course.
And the chickens are epsilon minus?
--
Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/7734/stevesig.htm
E-mail - see web page, or parse: shayes at dunelm full stop org full stop uk
don groves
> wrote:
>
> >Don A. Gilmore <eromlig...@kc.rr.com> wrote:
> >
> >> "J. J. Lodder" <nos...@de-ster.demon.nl> wrote in message
> >> news:1gl7fv2.1wx...@de-ster.xs4all.nl...
> >> > > Why would it matter? For one thing, if being an alpha-geek has *some*
> >> > > social component, then skills like communicating well, being helpful,
> >> > > being energetic and efficient at accomplishing tasks, would count for
> >> > > something, too -- not just knowing a lot about technology. But as the
> >> > > second group shows, skills and knowledge are central to the geek
> >> > > stature.
> >> >
> >> > From your examples I think alpha geek would be used apropriately
> >> > for some geek who is respected as the most outstanding of them all
> >> > by a peer group.
> >> > For the hermit kind the ueber-nerd might be more appropriate.
> >>
> >> I always assumed that the "alpha" prefix was a facetious reference to Aldous
> >> Huxley's "Brave New World". His "grading" of assembly-line-made humans
> >> began with "alpha" as the superlative model and went on down through the
> >> Greek alphabet from there to the "Epsilon-minus, semi-moron".
> >
> >Nonsense, geeks are all alphas of course.
Only in their own minds. The real alphas are given the honorary
title "hacker". Hacker to a true geek is the highest from of
compliment, meaning that one's peers recognize the wonders she
can do with snippets of code. Only in the media is hacker a
derogatory term.
--
dg (domain=ccwebster)