PedanticKarl is the new TA
Please welcome Karl Newman as the new HotForWords Teacher’s Assistant. Karl has been helping out the TAs and myself in many projects and we felt it was his time. – Marina and Capt. Jack
PedanticKarl
You can call me Karl Newman, PedanticKarl, PK or just Karl but just make sure to never call me late for a new viewing of a HotForWords lesson. Because of my thoughtful and generous nature, some of my friends lovingly call me Klaus, Santa Klaus, Santa, or just St. Nick and other endearing names.
I am blissfully single in Southern California, and being the perennial romantic optimist, I am looking forward to an ecstatic and soulful relationship some day. The good news is that there is no one to tell me when my daily allotment of HotForWords viewing is exceeded. The bad news is, that there is no one to tell me when my daily allotment of HotForWords viewing is exceeded. What? You expect me to have common sense?
My background is in both software and electronic hardware technology and I call myself a technologist, or sometimes geek, but never nerd. I have way too many hobbies and particularly enjoy dabbling in the visual arts such as painting, photography and creating videos, and studying history and the origins of words. To keep myself grounded, I enjoy getting my hands dirty in gardening and creating pleasing landscapes.
What you may find interesting is how I happened to come across the HotForWords You Tube channel. I had been watching You Tube videos before Google bought them, and early in 2007 I was doing some very intense research into the origins of the names of countries and cities in Europe, which led me to a variety of subjects and word origins. I read someplace about the many unchartered word origins in Eastern Europe and that an etymologist would be richly rewarded if they took up this challenge.
As I took my research to You Tube, I came across Marina’s channel and later found her videos to be on the “Most Viewed” pages. I casually followed her videos from early 2007, but did not take notice of her keen sense of humor and style until the “Dime and Penny” video. I continued to follow Marina’s videos, thinking that she probably belonged to some organization, not unlike “LonelyGirl15″. Later I learned more about Marina’s values and core beliefs through one of her videos, wich made me a fan, but I did not subscribe to her until June of 2008 after seeing the fantastic job that she did with the HotForWords web site.
Through Marina’s videos and comments, she has become a sort of mentor to me. Marina doesn’t know that, so don’t tell her. It is unbelievable what I have learned from Marina’s videos and I have some interesting stories to tell regarding my new-found knowledge. I have never met Marina, and only know her through her videos and comments. It is a wonderful privilege and an honor to serve Marina and the HotForWords community.
Sincerely yours,
Karl
What a great choice!
Hey, that’s what she said.
or was that me?
Hello Karl: I would like to have the source to look at…like the T.A.’s…MeLikaDoTheChaCha & PedanticKarl made the ‘Wall of Gravatars’. See if you can find yourself. Sorry we could not display all 41,623 thousand HotForWords friends.
Thank you, leonard …….. I would want to see my friends!…..
Good Job Karl.
Looks like you’re on your way Karl. First you become TA and now, according to the recent “Nerd” lesson, you’re on your way to make some $$$
Congratulations, Karl!
Just goes to show, no good deed ever goes unpunished.
Plumb proud of ya, boy!
Pennsyltucky9,
Glad that you’re back. How was the fieldtrip?
I was just talking about you in the forums section. If you have time take a look at the “Language and Culture” thread that Buzzword started.
Hi Warren,
The field trip was GREAT. Now I know more than I ever wanted to know about glacial geomorphology. I just hope I passed all my other classes this time around. If so, I’m DONE and due to graduate. Woo-hooo!
“woo-hoo!” back at you. i’d hire you, you could double as an exhibit.
Look who’s typing. Oh, sure, I knew apes could communicate by signing, but this is truly a breakthrough. It begs the question: when will they install a keyboard with a SHIFT key in your cage?
Tell you what, Warren: I have read the whole thread and I can honestly say I’m honored that you were reminded of some of those pitiful comparisons I was making on a similar subject last spring and summer.
Wow! That’s a seriously deep thread Buzz has going. Too bad his remunerative requirements have forced him to choose a career in medicine over teaching. What a waste!
I’d select his theory class over some of the instructors at my school in a heartbeat.
At this point it reminds me of writing term papers just a little too much for me to want to jump into that discussion right now (maybe after some time has elapsed– I’m resting and recuperating). But I gotta say, Buzz really knows how to pose questions that require some circumspect analysis.
See you around the campus!
Hey PT9, how are you doing? How are your classes coming? Good seeing you again.
Thanks PedanticKarl,
Classes are done (as long as I didn’t completely bomb any term papers or final exams, that is) and I should be all set to get my BA in Anthropology.
Is that the jingle of the Cavalry that I hear?
No, it’s a phalanx of T-34s surrounding your position with orders to deliver a special message: “Tanks for your support!” Uh-oh.
Well, it’s too late to say Happy Christmas, so I’ll have to use the same card to wish you A Happy New Year.
Nice to have you back among us.
You da man, Bob. May the your home be blessed with the warmth of love this year.
So what kind of hardware technology? Do you know the wobbulator?
Hey PK,
“blissfully single” but “perennial romantic” in Southern California (i.e. not far from Marina) and not wanting someone to tell you “when my daily allotment of HotForWords viewing is exceeded”? You’re not getting ideas, are you?
What ideas might thaaaaat bee?
the abundance of t.a.’s is obviously an attempt to pacify the dissent and resistance that is characteristic of the back of the class. we won’t have it! unfortunately we don’t recognize a “we” and so will just continue to be individually disobedient, obnoxious and use lots of foul language.
Hey buzz, balance and dissent is good. What’s that network’s slogan? Fair and balanced? There can’t be a ying w/o the yang and the fair w/o the foul.
By the way; “What is the sound of one hand clapping”?
Inquiring minds need to know.
And why is it heard just after someone farts?
Oh, and by the way buzz, it’s the wonderful simians in the back row like you who keep us honest.
Alriggghhhhtttt!!!
Congratulations man !! I was just wondering when are you going to be TA
Canned Rats! Klaus.
It is good to see hard work get rewarded. M’s promo video was very classy, but I especially liked the stairway vid you did a while back. Thanks for all you do.
Look at you Karl!
Way to go big guy. 
You definitely earned it. 
Congratulations, Kläuschen. I am very proud of you! But I already thought you did everything a TA is doing!!!! I guess that means they finally bestowed that great title rightfully to you!!!!!!!!!!!!
…….. die Germanin Heide
Vielen Dank Heide
Yay! PK is the new TA!!
I agree with the Captain that you are long overdue to receive this honor. Congratulations!
Keep an eye on Gorby, he’s on a schedule (poop, eat and poop some more).
Marina is ALWAYS busy, so be prepared to fend for yourself .
No “totem pole hierarchy” to deal with so no worries about being the new guy. CJ is the big Kahuna, so a lot falls to (on) him.
Your superb performance on Marina’s birthday video was very much appreciated. I especially liked the way you pulled in the Graviton thread Captain Jack started way back when..LMAO!
It’ll be nice to have you on board as a “go to” guy.
Congratulations, PedanticKarl
Congratulations Karl! I hope you like the photo frame. That was hand made on PS. No plugins for me. I was thinking of some kind of inspiration in making this. I wanted something colorful for Christmas holiday and yet not be to seasonal.
Oh I just heard Marina bellowing out!
She wants her coffee now! I guess it’s your turn. Oh and when your done with that Gorby would like to take a walk and don’t forget the bags. 
Hey Captain, I love the frame. It looks great!!!
OK, how much cream and is it one or two sugars
OK, Gorby walk coming up.
I think she likes it the way I drink my coffee; ‘Blonde and Sweet’.
Yeah Gorby is getting excited. He even already has his leash in his mouth. Mike is busy with replacing the battery in her smoke alarm. Doug is changing the soil in one of her herbs. I’m just running in circles trying to keep things afloat. Marina has her reading glasses on and she is buried in a few truck loads of books. Might need your help later to dig her out. Mike has a block and tackle we can use to hoist her out when she is done.
p.s. Yes ‘blonde’ is spelled correctly. Either way is correct.
Hey Karl, welcome.
Been wondering…If the Germans call their country Deutschland and the French call it Allemagne, where the heck did we get “Germany” from?
Hi Evan,
Germany appears to have the greatest number of words describing the people (tribes) that lived there. In short, the word Germany comes from the Latin, “Germania” in the 3rd century BC whose origin is unknown.
In short, the word Deutschland means “the land of the folk”,
where the origin of “Deu” traces back to referring to “the folk”.
However, I have uncovered a controversy regarding that origin, and it may not hold water. The origin of “Deu” may have Latin origins such as “dieu”, “deum”, “deus” referring to “god / Zeus” and that root word may have come to Germany via the Basque country. It’s an interesting proposition and more research is needed.
The origin of country names is a fascinating subject. Some of the difficult parts is answering the Who, What, Where, Why, When and How questions and I constantly run into obstacles that say that there are no records. Holy political obstacles.
The answer to “why” the US calls Deutschland, Germany is only speculation on my part. My guess is, that if a place name cannot be pronounced in the native tongue (i.e. English), then the either the Latin or Greek form of that name is used. In other cases the name might be transliterated.
You can read more of the details here.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Names_for_Germany
The writings of Tacitus is also fascinating.
http://www.unrv.com/tacitus/tacitusgermania.php
Hi Karl –
Interesting that the Russians also have adopted the Latin “германия”. I’m skeptical of the Latin “deum” theory for “deutsch” — the proto-Germanic form was “Teutes” (from whence, “Teutonic”), which is cognate with the Irish “Tuatha” (also meaning “people.”)
It would be fun to engage Marina in a discussion of endonyms and exonyms, though I suppose she reaches a larger audience with “lollipop” and “cliche”.
OK, I can only be pedantic for so long, then I gotta go make wisecracks like “kerchief” being onomotopoeia.
G’night!
Evan
Good evening, ladies and Germans.
Congratulations Karl I have seen some of your videos that you have done about Marina you very good at puting them together
Congrats all around.
Do you have to grade the homework?
Your bucking for an ‘A’ aren’t you?
congratulations
Karl, Excellent choice by Marina & staff, you have always answers my questions, you have taught me much about the technical aspects of the inner workings of this computer thingy.
Mucha suerte en el futuro { not only the casinos
}
Congrats Karl
You will excel at this job.
smokey
Hey Karl,
Considering that you could recite each show from memory- It’s about time!
Congratulations, you’ll be a great asset to Marinas website and show.
Have a great day.
Congrats Karl, you got your wings today
Congrats PK
a well deserved honor, that I am sure you appreciate 
keep up the good work 
who knows you may yet get
Which is my greatest personal wish 
B.B.
Well done
to meet our dear teacher
Well done
Wow!!! How did this happen? I’m late for my own inauguration.
Thank you for all of your kind words. Marina has established a fantastic community of wonderful people from all over the world, and I appreciate your kind support.
PK
Well if you would read your email once in awhile.
way to go Karl!
Marina, tell Gorby Happy Birthday also.
Thank you John.
And John is correct. It is Gorby’s birthday today.
Check your HotForWords calendar, Dec 26.
It says Kobe, and I guess the calendar went
out before the Kobe to Gorby name change.
Happy Birthday Gorby!
I didn’t know that.
Congratulations, PKarl!!!! I thought you already WERE a TA, and have always appreciated your contributions to the community! Bravo!
Fianchetto, you hit an important key(s) on how TAs are chosen.
Congratz Karl. We talked about this for a while and your name kept coming up. You have been good for the site and contributed a lot of help in many behind the scenes activities. Welcome to the team.
Mike
Thank you kindly Mike,
You guys have all been great!
Congratulations, Klaus, I always wondered why you weren’t a TA already.
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO THE CHRISTMAS CARD I’VE BEEN
WAITING FOR FROM MY DEAR TEACHER OH MAYBE THAT COMES IN JANUARY.
ANYWAY, MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YA’LL AND GOD BLESS
CH the Christmas cards have already came out. Have you signed up for the cards. This you can do at the top right hand corner of the site. Use the same email address as you signed up for Marina’s site.
Mike
Also, some people have reported finding their card in the trash/spam folder; have you checked there?
interestingly, this year the “pre-holiday” card went to my Yahoo spam folder, but the holiday card went to the Inbox…last year, the holiday card had, indeed, gone to my spam folder…
chickenh0use, I show that you have opened all of my cards going all the way back to the Greetings from Siberia.
Is someone else in your email?
It shows that you opened both the pre-holiday card and the holiday card near the dates that they were sent.
If you haven’t, then that means that someone is going into your email account, opening the messages and deleting them.
Maybe the chickens got his email.
I’m in the same boat (to coin a cliche). I received no cards, either. So, there could be a technical problem.
well, well, well-deserved…dang nice guy, too…