I am not forgiving of speaking a language a guest doesn't speak, unless you don't know any other.

No excuse!

One should have a universally comprehensive batch of pictogram cards on hand so that you may still engage in conversation with guests who do not speak your language.

Plus, it's fun for parties!

"Could you please pass the gravy? What...what is that? Oh, it's like Pictionary! Um...that's a..an oyster? We're going to a clambake? Is that a neo-con choking a manatee? Baby fishmouth!"

"Whereas 'baby fishmouth' is sweeping the nation."

Shir: I'd absolutely love some help. I just need to get some of the letters down first. I'm dyslexic, which I swear is *seriously* getting in the way of learning a whole new alphabet. I never had this much trouble with French, German or Spanish (I thought I had an ear for languages, until I encountered ones from outside of Western Europe).

I'm cannot help but imitating the accent of the person I'm speaking with.

After a week in U.S., my jaws hurt from trying to imitate the accent. But it worked, in a way: people thought I was an American. American with a speech defect, but an American.

Or, possibly, the Americans I came across didn't understand that those tourists have different accents than their own.

I'm cannot help but imitating the accent of the person I'm speaking with.

Shir is me.

According to several friends who have done this, Barney Frank's phone-answering people are really appreciative if you call his office to let him know that he's awesome. They've been dealing with irate calls all day yesterday and today.

Shir: I'd absolutely love some help. I just need to get some of the letters down first. I'm dyslexic, which I swear is *seriously* getting in the way of learning a whole new alphabet. I never had this much trouble with French, German or Spanish (I thought I had an ear for languages, until I encountered ones from outside of Western Europe).

Of course! Email me, and I'll send you my Skype username.

And I have to ask - what is it in Hebrew accents that you find hard to follow?

My officemate is a Democrat and also a hunter, and thus owns several guns. I think he's the only person I know who's ever told me that he owns a gun.

Maybe republican gun collectors are afraid Obama's going to have them on a list if they let you know?

Then there's the guys showing up at Obama's visits in Arizona toting their assault rifles over their shoulders.

I DO want those guys on a list. That's bad taste, and therefore a mockable offense.

I'm cannot help but imitating the accent of the person I'm speaking with.

Shir is me.

I am she as you are she as you are me and we are all together.

Me too with the accent changing thing. I once left my parents a ridiculous and long British-inflected voicemail after watching An Ideal Husband.