Hey folks,

 I hope that you have been enjoying discussions here in the Agora.  It’s still very new and we’re excited to see how it grows.

 I just opened up a new forum that should help out a little bit.  We have tried to set up the main categories and forums to reflect the most common topics that we think people will discuss here.  But sometimes you just have an idea that doesn’t fit neatly into the little boxes that we have provided.  Such a topic is perfect for the "Omnibus".

 I wanted a name that reflected the general and varied nature of topics to be posted there but felt that the word miscellaneous is a bit overused.  So hop on board the Omnibus!

Brad

The "Omnibus" is a good idea. For instance for questions about quotes. And for this: I’m sure there are lots and lots of language sites out there, and that you people know quite a few. Which does not prevent me from pointing in the direction of the MAJORITY ENGLISH DIBUL, a weekly "digital buletin about English from the perspective of the non-native speaker". It’s been kept alive for quite a while. Just now I received number 213! It’s veeeery good AND great fun. Please, do check it out at http://www.bentarz.se

el jarocho

In addition to the two new pieces about our language since 9/11, Dr. Language has a new piece about "a history" but "an historical."

[quote author=Brad Ross-MacLeod link=board=news;num=1028899651;start=0#0 date=08/09/02 at 09:27:31]

  But sometimes you just have an idea that doesn’t fit neatly into the little boxes that we have provided.  
 

Would it be alright (note: spelled as one word to mean OK) to post topics in the Omnibus that have nothing whatsoever to do with language? Or do you wish to keep the Omnibus language-oriented? I occasionally run into questions that I think forum members might be able to answer for me, but that have nothing to do with language.

Either way, I’m turning into a big fan of the Agora. Thanks for running it.

Ilka

Ilka,

 The Omnibus is indeed open to posts on any topic.  I have found that forums dedicated to a particular focus develop into a community of friends and acquaintances.  It becomes natural to want to share other kinds of ideas with these people.  Thus the Omnibus.  Feel free to start a new topic that you feel might interest our members.

 We’re glad to hear that you’re a big fan.  Spread the word!

 Brad

Ever since those hustle’n'bustle 1990s when our rather vast university campus started to replace all its pinball machines & pool halls with main-frame integrated computer stations like the one I am currently using here, it’s been truly great fun just shopping online and getting to know so many wonderful people around our real world!

Me, too. Not the university scene, but meeting people around the word.  I do enjoy that.  Had a penpal in France as a kid, and it took forever for the USPS to get mail to and from him.  This is
great.

Truly sophomoric expression “destroyed evidence” has to be the ideal textbook contradiction in mutual “birds of a feather” terms, as one solitary piece of damning evidence will too prove no less incriminating than what consummate pachyderm or anatomical sum of its differentiated parts may indeed pass for resounding, incontestable truth.  Rather my first & foremost concern happens to be what it could regrettably leave behind on the brightly polished limestone floor our august national legislature’s historic chambers.