I didn't intend to claim or imply that Instapundit is known for saying "Indeed" and "Heh" in succession. My understanding is that he has sometimes issued a bare "Heh"; that was what I was going for, as a response to what I understood to be SCMT's Glennism (and intended in the same spirit). I could be wrong, though, since I don't read his site.
Hmm. I'm familiar with the word in Farsi, but it usually means someone who is grotesquely large. I probably just haven't heard the other meaning, since, well, it doesn't come up so often.
Wikipedia : The Arabian ghoul is a desert-dwelling, shapeshifting demon that can transform itself into the guise of an animal, especially a hyæna. It robs graves and feeds on the flesh of the dead, or on young children. They also lure travellers into the desert wastes to slay and devour them.
There then follows excruciating detail about ghouls in various role playing games.
So is the Algol family of programming languages named after the star, or the creature? (Disappointing answer: neither, it's ALGOrithmic Language. I don't buy it. The creators of Dylan claim that it's DYnamic LANguage, but then one of the implementations is called "Gwydion".)
Thanks for posting this. All the best to Glenn and his wife.
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 02-18-05 2:04 PM
Indeed.
Posted by SomeCallMeTim | Link to this comment | 02-18-05 2:12 PM
Heh.
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 02-18-05 2:18 PM
Damn.
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 02-18-05 2:23 PM
Er, I hope it's clear that my "Indeed" was an homage, and my good wishes for his family are sincere.
Posted by SomeCallMeTim | Link to this comment | 02-18-05 2:55 PM
Wolfson, on the other hand, is just a ghoul.
Heh.
Posted by apostropher | Link to this comment | 02-18-05 2:58 PM
My "heh" was a response to the "indeed", not the post as a whole. Sheesh.
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 02-18-05 3:00 PM
I kid, amigo, I kid.
Posted by apostropher | Link to this comment | 02-18-05 3:01 PM
Maybe, if just once, you paid attention to careful use of language, Wolfson.
Posted by SomeCallMeTim | Link to this comment | 02-18-05 3:04 PM
I can admit that that was funny, Tim, despite your gratuitous slam at me in the Cornel West thread.
And anyway, Wolfson, I defy you to find an Insty "Indeed. Heh." as opposed to the ubiquitous "Heh. Indeed." Face it, you just blew this one.
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 02-18-05 3:08 PM
I didn't intend to claim or imply that Instapundit is known for saying "Indeed" and "Heh" in succession. My understanding is that he has sometimes issued a bare "Heh"; that was what I was going for, as a response to what I understood to be SCMT's Glennism (and intended in the same spirit). I could be wrong, though, since I don't read his site.
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 02-18-05 3:12 PM
Ghoul.
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 02-18-05 3:20 PM
It's a fair cop.
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 02-18-05 3:21 PM
I wasn't aware of this definiton of ghoul : An evil spirit or demon in Muslim folklore believed to plunder graves and feed on corpses.
If you have to be a ghoul, that's absolutely the kind of ghoul you want to be.
Posted by apostropher | Link to this comment | 02-18-05 8:51 PM
Hmm. I'm familiar with the word in Farsi, but it usually means someone who is grotesquely large. I probably just haven't heard the other meaning, since, well, it doesn't come up so often.
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 02-18-05 8:55 PM
According to the OED that's the primary meaning, and the derivation: [a. Arab. ghūl, from a verbal root meaning ‘to seize'.]
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 02-18-05 9:00 PM
There must be ghouls that deflower young maidens. Even for a bacon eater, that's gotta be better than munching corpses.
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 02-18-05 9:03 PM
Wikipedia : The Arabian ghoul is a desert-dwelling, shapeshifting demon that can transform itself into the guise of an animal, especially a hyæna. It robs graves and feeds on the flesh of the dead, or on young children. They also lure travellers into the desert wastes to slay and devour them.
There then follows excruciating detail about ghouls in various role playing games.
Posted by apostropher | Link to this comment | 02-18-05 9:09 PM
Ok, forget it then, I don't want to be a ghoul when I grow up.
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 02-18-05 9:12 PM
So is the Algol family of programming languages named after the star, or the creature? (Disappointing answer: neither, it's ALGOrithmic Language. I don't buy it. The creators of Dylan claim that it's DYnamic LANguage, but then one of the implementations is called "Gwydion".)
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 02-18-05 9:13 PM
Algol is totally named after the ghoul. I suspect the Freemasons are behind the Algorithmic Language dodge.
Posted by apostropher | Link to this comment | 02-18-05 9:16 PM
The ghast is similar, but worse: even elves can fall victim to their paralytic power.
Thanks, a-er, for making me read that. The flashback is all. your. fault.
Posted by FL | Link to this comment | 02-18-05 10:59 PM
I made my saving throw, and was thus spared the flashback.
Or were you talking about a flashback involving feasting on corpses?
Posted by Mitch Mills | Link to this comment | 02-19-05 5:43 AM