Being Austrian National and German-speaking, here is my version: It's not Ausfart, but Ausfahrt. The Aus meaning "out" and Fahrt represents "drive" (from fahren = to drive). 

I just read the latest issue (125) and just wanted to correct a mistake on the Sez You page. A reader wrote about every exit on the German autobahn being an ausfart. There is, however, an h missing. It should be ausfahrt.  It is, of course, a perennial source of humour for learners of German although I have to admit that after a while it does wear a little thin :)

Also, in your Spotlight on Saturday you forgot to mention that modern German has two words for "Saturday" - Sonnabend and Samstag. As far as I know, Sonnabend is more common in north Germany but, not being German, I wouldn't swear to it. Samstag certainly seems to be the preferred word on TV.  I assume that Samstag is derived from sabbath? 

Keep up the great work - your site is, as ever, a pleasure to read!

Thanks, both, for correcting the German spelling.  

That's right, not a book written *about* Engrish, a book written *in* Engrish: It's for sale on Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0595094724), but I found it first on an auction site. The title is How to Good-Bye Depression : If You Constrict Anus 100 Times Everyday. Malarkey? or Effective Way?  I've ordered a copy, needless to say :-) 

Malarkey?  Yes!

I was quite surprised to see in your thorough Spotlight on Saturday the picture you used to illustrate the Roman god, Saturn.  It is a picture of Getafix, the "venerable village druid" for the indomitable Gauls from the Asterix and Obelix comic series by Goscinny and Uderzo.  Getafix is one of the arch enemies of Rome and would be quite amused as being portrayed as one of the Roman gods. Were you unaware of the image source...or was this part of the joke? Thanks for your wonderful site!

Yes, it was part of the joke.   If you click on the image you are taken to a site about Getafix.  We are both huge fans of the Asterix and Obelix series.

For those who have read Asterix and Obelix  but still haven't gotten the joke in their names, they are puns on asterisk (*) and obelisk (†).  They are, if you will, merely footnotes to history.

I don't know what your dog looks like but I have yet to see one with an "S type curve" in its leg. It is more an "L type curve". On the golf course, which is the area dogleg is used most often these days, the fairway either turns left or right. If it goes left then right (I have never seen one of these but it might exist) that would be a double dogleg.  Of course I have every right to be wrong about this! Just ask my wife! <grin> But generally despite the upper part of the dog's leg, it is the lower part, where the noticeable crook is that is generally referred to with the dogleg. I enjoy the site.

Thanks for keeping us honest, Little Hammer!

I recently found your site and am enjoying it very much.  When discussing farts you say:

Literally the word petard referred to a medieval bomb used in siege warfare. These bombs were laid in tunnels under the walls of the place being besieged and often exploded prematurely, blowing up the sappers who laid them.

I just thought I'd mention that I believe, technically a Petard is an bell shaped explosive device that is affixed to a door, rather than simply placed in a tunnel. They were actually an early form of shaped charge, where the bell shape of the device caused greater force to be projected towards the door or whatever it was attached to. Also I believe they tend to date a little after the medieval period.

Another reader keeping our accuracy level as close to 100% as possible.  Thanks, Tom!  The correction will be made, your letter removed and no one will be the wiser.  Ah, the joys of internet publishing!

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