Odds & Ends: From Chicago, With Love Edition | 168 comments (168 topical, editorial, 1 hidden)

notes from no w here

by Frank Schnittger (mail Frankschnittger at hot male dotty communists) on Tue Nov 11th, 2008 at 05:18:13 PM EST
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A pony for you! (none / 0)

"Pretending that you already know the answer when you don't is not actually very helpful." ~Migeru.

by poemless on Tue Nov 11th, 2008 at 05:32:57 PM EST
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Re: It's Dutch (4.00 / 5)

We don't say "niemand houdt van een slimme klomp"

Obama, OTOH, is rumoured to have Dutch roots. More specifically, Frisian roots. The local tabloid (IOW: the largest daily by circulation) just ran a made-up story on this that has been doing the rounds since February. From back then:

56572: Ús Barack foar President!

The gentleman on the left [now: above] is Mr. Jelle Obbema, a Frisian, who around left 1870 left Friesland for Kenya where he made a small fortune in the peppermint oil business. He was one of the founders of the famous Frisian King Peppermint company.
While in Kenya, de Volkskrant writes, Mr. Obbema had many love affairs. Offspring of these affairs were given the name Obama, the African version of the Frisian name Obbema. One of the sons was Sjoerd-Bark Obama, Barack Obama's great-grandfather.
Many Obbemas in Friesland have been famous for their athletic abilities. Finally, there is an Obbema Family Crest and on the crest are the words "Ja, wy kinne - Yes we can." The campaign slogan making the rounds in Friesland these days is: "Ús Barack foar President!"

Estimated truth value: 5% (the Obbema family does exist).

by nanne (zwaerdenmaecker@gmail.com) on Tue Nov 11th, 2008 at 05:45:50 PM EST
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Re: It's Dutch (4.00 / 3)

Today, we are all Obamas.

"Pretending that you already know the answer when you don't is not actually very helpful." ~Migeru.

by poemless on Tue Nov 11th, 2008 at 05:47:21 PM EST
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Re: It's Dutch (4.00 / 4)

Seriously. You see this? We finally elect a president with an IQ above 6, and these schmucks try to claim him immediately.

Be nice to America. Or we'll bring democracy to your country.

by Drew J Jones (pedobear@pennstatefootball.com) on Tue Nov 11th, 2008 at 05:57:11 PM EST
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Re: It's Dutch (none / 0)

She's from Chicago.

by ThatBritGuy (thatbritguy (at) googlemail.com) on Tue Nov 11th, 2008 at 06:07:22 PM EST
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Re: It's Dutch (none / 0)

That's not part of Yurp either, unless you want credit for Daley.

Be nice to America. Or we'll bring democracy to your country.

by Drew J Jones (pedobear@pennstatefootball.com) on Tue Nov 11th, 2008 at 06:16:25 PM EST
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Re: It's Dutch (none / 0)

I think he's arguing I have legitimate claim to being an Obama because I live in Chicago.

"Pretending that you already know the answer when you don't is not actually very helpful." ~Migeru.

by poemless on Tue Nov 11th, 2008 at 06:19:08 PM EST
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Re: It's Dutch (none / 0)

I know.

Be nice to America. Or we'll bring democracy to your country.

by Drew J Jones (pedobear@pennstatefootball.com) on Tue Nov 11th, 2008 at 06:23:20 PM EST
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Re: It's Dutch (none / 1)

If you go back far enough, we're all related. As discussed in the old Heritage thread.

This is more than just a trivial notion, brothers and sisters!

by nanne (zwaerdenmaecker@gmail.com) on Tue Nov 11th, 2008 at 06:39:14 PM EST
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Re: It's Dutch (none / 1)

True enough. But then, we have Balkenende. Can you blame us?