Cucumbers Cut Lengthwise appreciation thread

[lu_ming]

How could we ever forget to make an appreciation thread for the heart and soul of Moleman humour?:D

http://ineluctable.org/ieatfood/easy_udon/00005.jpg

[The Highway]

Aw hell no! You mean "Cucumbers Cut Sidewise Appreciation Thread"

These things are evil

[Hayden]

That picture has made me feel like eating a/some cucumber. This is the first time that I have ever felt like eating cucumber. I don't dislike cucumber, but this is the first time I have ever thought 'hey, I feel like eating cucumber'.

[lu_ming]

Such is the awesome power of cucumbers cut lengthwise, my friend.

[Hayden]

Aye, that was the first thought that crossed my mind afterward :D.

[tabstis]

These things should NEVER have recieved an appreciation thread.

[Hayden]

Are cucumbers a fruit or a vegetable?

[LogicDeLuxe]

Are cucumbers a fruit or a vegetable?I nevers asked this myself, but I find this interesting enough:
Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cucumber):
Having an enclosed seed and developing from a flower, botanically speaking, cucumbers are classified as fruits. However, much like tomatoes and squash they are usually perceived, prepared and eaten as vegetables.
And Wikipedia is probably written by molemen too: :)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ed/Cucumber_and_cross_section.jpg/400px-Cucumber_and_cross_section.jpg (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Cucumber_and_cross_section.jpg)

[Avistew]

Yeah, seriously, the whole fruit/vegetable thing is often very fuzzy, we mostly say "fruit" if we primarily eat it for dessert and "vegetable" if we primarily eat it as a side dish.

Also, I think figs and artichokes are actually flowers.

Anyways, I love cucumber. My favourite way to have it is "a la Cowabunga"... Am I the only person who uses that expression? Actually, is it Kowabunga? Anyways... You hold the cucumber, full, in your weaker hand, and a big knife in the main hand. Both held up in the air, with a plate on bowl in front of you on a table or something.

Then you yell "Kowabunga!" and slash a piece from the cucumber, and it falls in the dish. And then you eat it (with the skin on).

When I was a kid, my dad did all the parts up to eating it.

[Klatuu]

What about pickles? They are cucumbers, and commonly cut lengthwise.

Yeah, seriously, the whole fruit/vegetable thing is often very fuzzy...

Well, only for peaches and kiwi fruit. (And stuff that's been left in my fridge for too long.)


Anyways, I love cucumber. My favourite way to have it is "a la Cowabunga"... Am I the only person who uses that expression? Actually, is it Kowabunga? Anyways... You hold the cucumber, full, in your weaker hand, and a big knife in the main hand. Both held up in the air, with a plate on bowl in front of you on a table or something.

Then you yell "Kowabunga!" and slash a piece from the cucumber, and it falls in the dish. And then you eat it (with the skin on).


With my luck, I would end up serving my thumb. (with the skin still on).

[der_ketzer]

http://ineluctable.org/ieatfood/easy_udon/00005.jpg

This is blasphemy.

[Avistew]

What about pickles? They are cucumbers, and commonly cut lengthwise.

Ooh, that reminds me of a debate between my husband and his roommate about whether "pickle" meant a pickled cucumber, or a pickled anything. My husband would insist that he could call "a pickle" anything that was pickled, while his roommate insisted that "a pickle" only meant the cucumber one.
They would go on and on about it every time the subject came back. The could never convince each other.
I say, just eat them!

Incidentally, I pretty much only eat cornichons (http://www.extouge.com/images/cornichon.jpg). Wikipedia tells me you call them gherkins.
And really, you rarely cut these at all.

Well, only for peaches and kiwi fruit. (And stuff that's been left in my fridge for too long.)

I see what you did there :p

[der_ketzer]

What about pickles? They are cucumbers, and commonly cut lengthwise.
Only Satan and his minions cut their pickles lengthwise.

[Ezny]

Yes, I enjoyed that running gag quite a bit actually. :)

Ooh, that reminds me of a debate between my husband and his roommate about whether "pickle" meant a pickled cucumber, or a pickled anything. My husband would insist that he could call "a pickle" anything that was pickled, while his roommate insisted that "a pickle" only meant the cucumber one.
They would go on and on about it every time the subject came back. The could never convince each other.
I say, just eat them!

'A Pickle' means a pickled cucumber, specifically.


If it's anything else, it will have a different name, most likely beginning with the word 'pickled.' [i.e. Pickled eggs, pickled lettuce ect.] is saurkraut pickled? I'm not sure, but if it is you wouldn't call it a pickle would you?

Your husband is confused. :o

[Avistew]

'A Pickle' means a pickled cucumber, specifically.

If it's anything else, it will have a different name, most likely beginning with the word 'pickled.' [i.e. Pickled eggs, pickled lettuce ect.] is saurkraut pickled? I'm not sure, but if it is you wouldn't call it a pickle would you?

Your husband is confused. :o

My various jars of "mixed pickles" (including some that don't have ANY cucumbers in them) seem to disagree with you :p

EDIT: here, from wikipedia:

Pickles may refer to

* A pickled cucumber, the food most commonly referred to as a pickle in the U.S. and Canada
* A pickled onion, the food most commonly referred to as a pickle in the UK
* Other vegetables that have been pickled

[Ezny]

My various jars of "mixed pickles" (including some that don't have ANY cucumbers in them) seem to disagree with you :p

EDIT: here, from wikipedia:

Hmmm when I see a pickled onion I think "Hey a pickled onion" NOT "Hey a pickle."


Whoever wrote the wiki is INSANE.

ok I'm kidding although, I can't speak for the uk or canada, but here in the states if someone called a pickled onion, a 'pickle,' they would get a very funny look. Or a pickled carrot a 'pickle' ect ect

[Avistew]

I think technically they're all pickles, but when you just say "a pickle", people will assume the cucumber one. So you need to specify if you want to be sure the person understands what you mean (say, pickled carrots, or pickled baby corn or something). Still, really, it means both and either.

I know that we have pickled wild cucumber right now, and while it's a cucumber, it's not the same type that's usually pickled so even for that the jar specifies "pickled wild cucumber" and not just "pickles".

[The Highway]

Anyhow, the point we all know is that cucumbers cut lengthwise are the Devil's favourite food, and angels eat cucumbers cut sidewise.

[Avistew]

My husband cuts bananas peels lengthwise.
He says it's a chef thing.

[The Highway]

My husband cuts bananas peels lengthwise.
He says it's a chef thing.

bananas are different because they're a herb.

[Avistew]

bananas are different because they're a herb.

What?! You pronounce the H in herb? Man, I was sure you didn't!
... Wasn't it "hour, heir, honest and herb"?

I'm totally confused now.

[Power46]

What?! You pronounce the H in herb? Man, I was sure you didn't!
... Wasn't it "hour, heir, honest and herb"?

I'm totally confused now.

You don't pronounce the "H" in "herb." The Highway (http://www.telltalegames.com/forums/member.php?u=17289) doesn't type in perfect English, so he may cause confusion.

[Avistew]

Ah, yes, that's a possible explanation too. Thanks!

[Nagaoka]

What about pickles? They are cucumbers, and commonly cut lengthwise.

Sammeth and Maximus thought so too. Kept blabbing their mouths in front of the mole men. You know what happened to them right? Sources report it as an "accident". Yeah. Uh huh...

[The Highway]

You don't pronounce the "H" in "herb." The Highway (http://www.telltalegames.com/forums/member.php?u=17289) doesn't type in perfect English, so he may cause confusion.

I am actually a grammar nazi, but I say the "H" because that's just how we do it down under.

[Sausy Gibbon]

So you complaining because somone is not pronouncing something they typed thats typed. Would it be better to type 'erb, 'onest and 'alf.

[Avistew]

Who are you talking to exactly, Gibbon?
I was just overreacting to the fact he wrote "a herb" and not "an herb", because I found it funny that it shocked me more than the fact he said bananas were herbs.
And he just pronounces it the Aussie way because that's where he's from.
I don't think either of us is complaining.

[Hayden]

I am actually a grammar nazi, but I say the "H" because that's just how we do it down under.

I can second this.

Also, how does everyone pronounce 'historic'? Because I've always wondered why it's written 'an historic day'.

[lu_ming]

I'm pretty sure the h in historic is pronounced. At least I pronounce it.

[The Highway]

I can second this.

Also, how does everyone pronounce 'historic'? Because I've always wondered why it's written 'an historic day'.

saying "a historic" is a bit jerky, just then when i quietly whispered it, so pronouncing the h in "an historic" is actually better.

[Hayden]

saying "a historic" is a bit jerky, just then when i quietly whispered it, so pronouncing the h in "an historic" is actually better.

Actually, yes. After reading your comment, I did the same, and "an historic" does come off the tongue a lot easier.

[LogicDeLuxe]

Actually, yes. After reading your comment, I did the same, and "an historic" does come off the tongue a lot easier.The exception proves the rule, I guess. :D
Btw., "a historic" (http://www.google.com/search?&q=%22a+historic%22) seems more common anyways. Google finds about 6,470,000 results vs. 2,600,000 results for "an historic" (http://www.google.com/search?&q=%22an+historic%22).
Also, conveniently, the first result for both terms might be of interest here. :)

[Avistew]

A well known grammar rule says that we should use an before vowel sounds; for example, an accident, an item, an hour. We use a otherwise: a book, a hotel, a university.

Harder to get than the silent Hs (after all we get those too) was the idea that "university" and the like don't start with a vowel. Took me years to get used to saying "a university" rather than "an university".

[Hayden]

And another thing. Who pronounces 'H' as 'aych' and who pronounces it 'haych'?

[caeska]

http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=383

OK this got off-topic fast. Who's the culprit this time?

[Power46]

I think it was Avistew's fault this time, caeska.

EDIT: And I pronounce it "aych."

[caeska]

Actually, the "H" in "Herb" is pronounced.

[Power46]

Actually, the "H" in "Herb" is pronounced.

Only if it is the name "Herb." The item by the name of "herb" does not have the "H" pronounced.

[Shwoo]

It's pronounced without the h in American and Canadian English, but in other forms of English the h is pronounced.

[Hayden]

EDIT: And I pronounce it "aych."

Yes! That is the way that I pronounce it. The way that I believe to be the correct way.

[The Highway]

Yes! That is the way that I pronounce it. The way that I believe to be the correct way.

it is. but what about "z"?

apparently, the "australian" way is "zed", but i just say z.

[Hayden]

http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=383

OK this got off-topic fast.

Well, there's only so much you can say about lengthwise-cut cucumbers. The topic doesn't exactly call for much discussing.

[Hayden]

it is. but what about "z"?

apparently, the "australian" way is "zed", but i just say z.

I say 'zed', unless I'm singing the alphabet or speaking the alphabet in rhythm (because it must rhyme with 'v') or if I'm saying 'ZZ Top'.

[The Highway]

I say 'zed', unless I'm singing the alphabet or speaking the alphabet in rhythm (because it must rhyme with 'v') or if I'm saying 'ZZ Top'.

zed zed top sounds even better!

[Hayden]

zed zed top sounds even better!

Hehe, sometimes I actually say that for a joke :).

Well... not a joke, but just to be dumb.

[The Highway]

Hehe, sometimes I actually say that for a joke :).

Well... not a joke, but just to be dumb.

coach zed guest starring for zed zed top.

i only say zed when i pronounce "ANZ"

[LogicDeLuxe]

http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=383Reminds me of this train: :D
http://www.telltalegames.com/files/samandmax/screenshots/whatsnewbeelzebub/ep205_train.jpg

[Shwoo]

it is. but what about "z"?

apparently, the "australian" way is "zed", but i just say z.
I'm reading your z's as "zed". It makes your post read strangely.

And it's the Australian way without "scare quotes". If you pronounce it zee, you're pronouncing it the American way.

Aitch and haitch are both correct in Australian English, though. I say aitch.

[Hayden]

i only say zed when i pronounce "ANZ"

Yeah, Ay-eN-Zee just sounds strange.

[The Highway]

I'm reading your z's as "zed". It makes your post read strangely.

And it's the Australian way without "scare quotes". If you pronounce it zee, you're pronouncing it the American way.

Aitch and haitch are both correct in Australian English, though. I say aitch.

Am i mistaken, or are about 25% of the people on these forums that post frequently Australian?

Also, i didn't use them as "scare quotes".

[lu_ming]

I pronounce "H" as "aytch" and "z" as "zed".

[Avistew]

I only say "zed", except for ZZTop. I was taught the singing alphabet with "zed" in it so I'm not sure why you'd need to change it for that.

I don't get the "I just say z". Do you say "zzzz", without any vowel? That sounds like a weird way to say it.

[The Highway]

I only say "zed", except for ZZTop. I was taught the singing alphabet with "zed" in it so I'm not sure why you'd need to change it for that.

I don't get the "I just say z". Do you say "zzzz", without any vowel? That sounds like a weird way to say it.

I say Zee. Better?

[Hayden]

I pronounce "H" as "aytch" and "z" as "zed".

Same. All of the smarter people I know pronounce these letters this way.

[The Highway]

Same. All of the smarter people I know pronounce these letters this way.

R u speeking dat eye iz nought smart?

[Shwoo]

Also, i didn't use them as "scare quotes".
Scare quotes is a term for a particular use of quotation marks. In this application, quotation marks are placed around a single word or phrase to indicate that the word or phrase does not signify its literal or conventional meaning.
If you weren't using them that way, then what were you trying to imply by putting the word Australian in quotes?

And I say zee when it's part of a name. A name is a name.

[jaden551]

I say zee or zed depending on what the people around me think I pronounce it:
If they think zee I say zed
and vise-versa.

Also aitch

[Eternal The Fox]

DD: Lol... The cucumber... Is Cut lengthwise! MADNESS!

[Avistew]

I have no clue if I pronounce the H in "H" or not. I've been told I sometimes add H sounds to random words that start with a vowel or forget them when they should be pronounced. I'm going to say I'm inconsistent on whether I say "haytsh" or "aytsh".
French is "ash", incidentally. And "zed" for Z.

[Lena_P]

I generally think of French speakers as pronouncing "H" as inbetween. You kind of have that aspirant/sighing at the beginning while English speakers will pronounce it as "aitch" with the first sound like the "a" in "ate" or an "h" sound like in "hate". That might be why some people hear you saying an extra "h" while others don't; they have different sensitivities to it. Like I know a British man who complains about younger people saying "wif" or "wiv" instead of "with", and yet he does it himself constantly. He just doesn't hear it when he does it.

[HolmeBrian]

cucumbers are a gourd they are in the same family as pumpkins and zukes technically it is a vegetable because of this reason same with pumpkins also a vegetable because the seeds are soft not hard fruits have to have hard seeds or they land in this catagory.

[Lena_P]

Pumpkins do have hard seeds.

[HolmeBrian]

no they don't there is a fine line between hard and soft seeds they are the hardest of the soft i am not sure of the specifics when it comes to determining hard vs soft but pumpkin seeds are soft

[Lena_P]

I can't see how blueberry/strawberry/currant seeds are harder than pumpkin seeds ...

[GinnyN]

I eat pumpkin seeds once, in my chinese class ^^!. Now, those were the biggest pumpkin seeds ever! And maybe not from the same pumpkin you are talking about.

[caeska]

I like cucumbers to be honest, they're really good to have on cheese. But they have to be sliced or it's impossible to eat.

[Avistew]

I remember being taught that gourds are fruit. So pumpkins would be fruit, squashes too and so on.

Anyways. The interesting thing in French is that we have an aspirate H, but it's only used in laughs and the like. Like "Ha ha ha", each H is aspirate.
And seriously, why is it called "aspirate" instead of "expirate"? I don't know about you, but I breathe out, not in when I pronounce a H.

[Lena_P]

Because there's an aspirate when you say aspirate? Frankly, there is much about English that doesn't make sense. The important thing is to roll with the punches and not eat bitter cucumbers. (That's one thing I don't get; cucumbers in California never taste as good as the ones I get in KSA. Why the heck would they taste better there when they're grown in a desert?!)

[thesporkman]

I remember being taught that gourds are fruit. So pumpkins would be fruit, squashes too and so on.

Anyways. The interesting thing in French is that we have an aspirate H, but it's only used in laughs and the like. Like "Ha ha ha", each H is aspirate.
And seriously, why is it called "aspirate" instead of "expirate"? I don't know about you, but I breathe out, not in when I pronounce a H.

"Aspirate" and "expirate" would both essentially mean the same thing. "A" is the Latin prepositional prefix meaning "from," and "ex" is the Latin prepositional prefix meaning "out of." "De" is the prefix meaning "out from," and so "despirate" would also mean pretty much the same thing. "Inspirate" would mean "to breath in." "Obspirate" would mean "to breath in front of." "Conspirate" would mean "to breath with." "Respirate" would mean "to breath back" or "to breath again." Et cetera.

[Wapcaplet]

And "zed" for Z.
As it is in Canada (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRI-A3vakVg) as well.

[Avistew]

As it is in Canada (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRI-A3vakVg) as well.

As far as I know, it is so in any English-speaking country that isn't the US.

Also, @thesporkman:

as·pi·rate, tr.v.
1 Linguistics
To pronounce (a vowel or word) with the initial release of breath associated with English h, as in hurry.
To follow (a consonant, especially a stop consonant) with a puff of breath that is clearly audible before the next sound begins, as in English pit or kit.
2. To draw (something) into the lungs; inhale.

So when it's not in linguistics, it means to breathe in, not out.

[Wapcaplet]

As far as I know, it is so in any English-speaking country that isn't the US.
We didn't make it up -- it's actually a regional British English dialect pronunciation that happened to catch on in the colonies, if this is to be believed (http://www.billcasselman.com/cwod_archive/zed.htm). The Straight Dope also backs up that story (http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1632/why-do-the-british-pronounced-the-letter-z-zed).

[Avistew]

I wasn't trying to sound insulting. Changes in language due to distance are common, and considering most of your alphabet is pronounced in a "-ee" way, "zee" makes some sense.
Just saying that I was aware it's the same in Canada, and in most English-speaking places. Actually in school in France, we weren't even taught the "zee" variation.

EDIT: and usually, we're taught the stuff that's most different from French. Cue to years of being taught that "voyage", "vacation" and "baggage" aren't words in English, and you need to use "journey", "holiday" and "luggage".

[Irishmile]

I can not stop laughing its too funny....... cut lengthwise... comedy gold

[jaden551]

In the north-west england it depends on how posh you act really posh is zed normal is zee.

[Nagaoka]

EDIT: and usually, we're taught the stuff that's most different from French. Cue to years of being taught that "voyage", "vacation" and "baggage" aren't words in English, and you need to use "journey", "holiday" and "luggage".


Wha? I'm confused. Why were you taught that those weren't words, or even words not commonly used? At least where I'm from both sets of terms are common.

[Avistew]

Wha? I'm confused. Why were you taught that those weren't words, or even words not commonly used? At least where I'm from both sets of terms are common.

That's the point. Even when the words exist and are commonly used, if there is a word close to French and a word not close to French, they either told us that the words didn't exist, like in the examples above, or that they were never used, such as for instance "liberty", which was never used except for "statue of liberty".

Then in university I was told "oh yeah, all these words exist, we just wanted to make sure you'd learn the words that aren't close to French". We were penalized if we used the "wrong" ones! We got points deduced from our marks for using words like "comprehend" or "utilize". It's ridiculous.

[Jake]

Well, there's only so much you can say about lengthwise-cut cucumbers. The topic doesn't exactly call for much discussing.

The solution to that is top stop discussing it then, and move on. This forum in general has become pretty shitty about just letting threads die and starting new ones. It's actually fairly annoying and lame.