I read somewhere that it means “pronounce the blessing,” but I have no idea how much weight to give any of these etymologies.
Then there’s also the general notion that “magic words” are the names of demons, spoken to summon them to do the magic. Why they would put up with that nonsense is something I haven’t worked out.
Wikipedia says:
Several folk etymologies are associated with the word: from phrases in Hebrew that mean “I will create as I speak”, or Aramaic “I create like the word” (אברא כדברא), to folk etymologies that point to similar words in Latin and Greek such as abraxas or to its similarity to the first four letters of the Greek alphabet (alpha-beta-gamma-delta or ΑΒΓΔ). According to the OED Online, “no documentation has been found to support any of the various conjectures.”
Well the Greek alphabet actually evolved directly from the writing system Semitic-speaking migrants used on their travels, which in turn they originally crafted from barely-used Egyptian Hieroglyphs representing syllable-sounds. Thus it is highly likely the spoken phrase is Semitic in origin, with the Greek spelling coming afterwards:
Is the magic brought forth by what the words mean or the sounds they make when intoned? If it’s by what they mean, then using any language would work as well, even neologisms. If it’s by the sounds, then you’ve got to figure out if and how it matters what the words meant.
I like the SATOR square, the added mysticism doesn’t come from the sound, but from the shape of the words.
“The hat stays ON during sex” 8D; tho other than too awkward/outta place in a slipshine it would be hilarious if danny also played his ukelele in the middle of it tho i guess that’d be logistically a bit unlikely
I mean Becky played “Go and Sin no More” on her phone or something during her go with Dina, anything’s possible! ^^
anon
i mean a song playing from your phone is diff than physically holding an isntrument or so (tho that would kinda be a way to multitask, them practicing for choir together [this situation aside i suppose a slipshine that takes place in those chorus rooms would prolly be a thing too])
Danny channels his inner AG:
“Hat or no hat?”
“Ukulele or no ukulele?”
Sal throws both out the window.
RonF
Baby, take off your coat
Real slow
And take off your shoes
I’ll take off your shoes
Baby, take off your dress
Yes, yes, yes
You can leave your hat on
You can leave your hat on
You can leave your hat on
Original song and lyrics by Randy Newman, but I liked Joe Cocker’s version the best.
Back when I was a spoken word poet, I had a tigerstripe snow camo sun hat that I wore on stage, and more than one groupie wanted the hat on during sex.
Pretty sure it’s Tuesday, based on Danny’s comment
anon
oh i guess i misread that or just thought he was picking a random day like how tumblr has a meme about certain dayslol but yeah it’s not like they’d go at it ALL day…
David DeLaney
strip title AND story title are staring at you, sir/madam/both/neither
College! Varying schedules! I starting to fell tired repeating this. Plus from what I been told, teacher care considerably less if you attend classes as long as you keep up with the materials.
You’re not alone. I recall semesters when I had one or two days entirely open each week. (Well, open except for all the reading and writing I didn’t get done on the other days because they were packed with lectures by everybody and his brother.)
I made exactly 3 classes for Ordinary Differential Equations my Sophmore year but aced the problem sets and the exams so I got an A. Nobody cared about whether I showed up for class or not.
Leah
I may have had a class or two where the first time I saw the teacher was the final exam. I passed.
Would y’all quit it with this? Damn. You realize most people try to avoid morning classes when they make their own schedules right? This ain’t highschool
223 thoughts on “Tuesday”
Ana Chronistic
“The day has come, and SO WILL I”
Grimey
10/10 comment. Absolute legend. Based. Absolute rizz. You ate this I fear.
Cholma
Reminds me of the old Eddie Murphy bit, where’s doing an impression of Jessie Jackson: “Baby, wake up! MY TIME HAS COME.”
Miri
Hopefully for Sal, so will Danny.
Heck, hopefully for Danny, do will Danny…
Miri
(eat this… Silly nesting comments, not nesting where expected!)
AbacusWizard
“GOD HIMSELF CAN’T STOP ME”
Arianod
No, but The Willis can.
shadowcell
but for you, it will be the most important day of your life
Freezer
#IUnderstoodThatReference
vlademir1
Of course!
;D
Rose by Any Other Name
Indeed.
The day Joyce watches you have sex.
NGPZ
*plays “Abracadabra” by Steve Miller’s Band on hacked muzak*
True Survivor
For the reframe, or the fact that soon there will be some bending spoons?
NGPZ
“Abra-abra-cadabra…
…I want to reach out and grab ya!”
Also the expression “abracadabra” comes from the Hebrew “Abara k’deebara” which means, “As I say, so it is”.
True Survivor
That is very cool. I didn’t know that.
bemisawa
Oh, awesome. Thanks for the fun fact!
StClair
Add me to the TIL list.
deliverything
I was curious and tried to look up more on that, but https://www.etymonline.com/word/abracadabra gives a very different etymology, and the only result I got for “Abara k’deebara” was a comment under a different strip: https://www.dumbingofage.com/2014/comic/book-4/02-i-was-a-teenage-churchmouse/babyyou/
Not saying you’re wrong, just that I’d like a source if only so I can read examples of its use in the original form, and DuckDuckGo didn’t provide.
Mark
I read somewhere that it means “pronounce the blessing,” but I have no idea how much weight to give any of these etymologies.
Then there’s also the general notion that “magic words” are the names of demons, spoken to summon them to do the magic. Why they would put up with that nonsense is something I haven’t worked out.
NGPZ
I think I read it in National Geographic magazine sometime back, but can’t seem to find a link to it where you dont gotta pay *sigh*
Carl Muckenhoupt
Wikipedia says:
Several folk etymologies are associated with the word: from phrases in Hebrew that mean “I will create as I speak”, or Aramaic “I create like the word” (אברא כדברא), to folk etymologies that point to similar words in Latin and Greek such as abraxas or to its similarity to the first four letters of the Greek alphabet (alpha-beta-gamma-delta or ΑΒΓΔ). According to the OED Online, “no documentation has been found to support any of the various conjectures.”
NGPZ
Well the Greek alphabet actually evolved directly from the writing system Semitic-speaking migrants used on their travels, which in turn they originally crafted from barely-used Egyptian Hieroglyphs representing syllable-sounds. Thus it is highly likely the spoken phrase is Semitic in origin, with the Greek spelling coming afterwards:
https://youtu.be/yPrcfawo9UM?t=107
HueSatLight
Is the magic brought forth by what the words mean or the sounds they make when intoned? If it’s by what they mean, then using any language would work as well, even neologisms. If it’s by the sounds, then you’ve got to figure out if and how it matters what the words meant.
I like the SATOR square, the added mysticism doesn’t come from the sound, but from the shape of the words.
NGPZ
Sal basically saying “As I say, so it is”, to her getting boyfriend sex before Joyce
“Abra-abra-cadabra…
…I want to reach out and grab ya!”
David DeLaney
2por que no los dos?
–Dave, also it apparently has to be in a language not native to the speaker. unless you realize the Rule of Unity, and the Poynting Rule, of course
ValdVin
TIL nugget!
Ray Radlein
That one line certainly makes it make sense, but OH MY GOD is EVERY other couplet in that song literally the worst rhyme in rock music history
NGPZ
can’t remember if TrainWreckords ever covered Steve Miller Band, hmf
ValdVin
Not that I know of.
What would it be? That album or the one after I don’t even remember any singles from (Italian X-Rays, I think).
IntangibleMatter
Joyce, just because everyone wants to know what’s happening in there doesn’t mean you can watch. That’s invasive.
Paradoxius
What? She’s just going to watch Sal, so it’s perfectly innocent curiosity!
butting
Not through the door, anyway. Climb up and look through the windows or NOTHING.
Alexander Krizak
Yeah, Joyce, you’re going to have to pay for a Slipshine subscription like everyone else.
Michael Steamweed
Not the Joyce / Joe slipshine that we need, but the Sal / Danny slipshine that we deserve.
(or is it the other way around?)
Felian
that did crack me up xD
David DeLaney
Nah – she’ll just borrow Amber’s
–Dave, Amazi-Girl must keep tabs on all the rampant shenaniganery
anon
considering joe didn’t close the door on the last panel before pulling joyce away it’s a chance someone else would pass thru lol
ktbear
Id like to think Dorothy will walk past, hear whats going on and mistakenly think its Joyce and Joe. I’d settle for Becky instead in a pinch.
Rose by Any Other Name
Ah, but would Dorothy settle for Becky in a pinch?
Adept
I think it’s been established she wouldn’t.
Adept
oh I got confused. Is Dotty into Becky? I don’t think there’s been any suggestion she would be.
Rose by Any Other Name
Honestly, if Joyce asked for consent to watch right now, I’m not sure Sal would say no.
“Witness me!”
RonF
“Joyce, y’all watch this to see how it’s done!”
TheLurkerAbove
I guess we’re getting a Slipshine after all.
Kyrik Michalowski
Aaaaaawwwwww yeah.
Nathan
DON’T ANY OF YOU KIDS HAVE SCHOOL.
NGPZ
Re: alt-text,
I suspect the slipshine will have him remove it almost immediately, won’t it? XD
NGPZ
oops not meant to be a reply LOL
anon
“The hat stays ON during sex” 8D; tho other than too awkward/outta place in a slipshine it would be hilarious if danny also played his ukelele in the middle of it tho i guess that’d be logistically a bit unlikely
NGPZ
I mean Becky played “Go and Sin no More” on her phone or something during her go with Dina, anything’s possible! ^^
anon
i mean a song playing from your phone is diff than physically holding an isntrument or so (tho that would kinda be a way to multitask, them practicing for choir together [this situation aside i suppose a slipshine that takes place in those chorus rooms would prolly be a thing too])
Mark
Nah, the music is for after.
Michael Steamweed
Danny channels his inner AG:
“Hat or no hat?”
“Ukulele or no ukulele?”
Sal throws both out the window.
RonF
Baby, take off your coat
Real slow
And take off your shoes
I’ll take off your shoes
Baby, take off your dress
Yes, yes, yes
You can leave your hat on
You can leave your hat on
You can leave your hat on
Original song and lyrics by Randy Newman, but I liked Joe Cocker’s version the best.
Opus the Poet
Back when I was a spoken word poet, I had a tigerstripe snow camo sun hat that I wore on stage, and more than one groupie wanted the hat on during sex.
Thag Simmons
Sal doesn’t care
Jamie
I mean, if I had the choice between intimate contact with either of these women, or class…
Well, no one’s ever accused me of having too much class.
Ray Radlein
congratulations you have just pinpointed why I washed out of grad school
Reltzik
But has anyone ever accused you of having too much intimate contact with women? Because if not, that’s not really that diagnostic of a comparison.
anon
maybe it’s a weekend? or sal has afternoon classes/her skipping one class for sex wouldn’t be that outta chara
Nathan
Pretty sure it’s Tuesday, based on Danny’s comment
anon
oh i guess i misread that or just thought he was picking a random day like how tumblr has a meme about certain dayslol but yeah it’s not like they’d go at it ALL day…
David DeLaney
strip title AND story title are staring at you, sir/madam/both/neither
Jeremiah
College! Varying schedules! I starting to fell tired repeating this. Plus from what I been told, teacher care considerably less if you attend classes as long as you keep up with the materials.
Mark
You’re not alone. I recall semesters when I had one or two days entirely open each week. (Well, open except for all the reading and writing I didn’t get done on the other days because they were packed with lectures by everybody and his brother.)
RonF
I made exactly 3 classes for Ordinary Differential Equations my Sophmore year but aced the problem sets and the exams so I got an A. Nobody cared about whether I showed up for class or not.
Leah
I may have had a class or two where the first time I saw the teacher was the final exam. I passed.
Needfuldoer
Life drawing is an afternoon class. It’s probably only about 9:00 in the morning right now.
Nymph
Why does this question need to be asked every time they’re around in the mornings?
A) what are you a cop?
B) college classes don’t all start in the morning
C) even if they did, haven’t you ever skipped a class before?
Goodness.
Taffy
Like I said, buncha hall monitors around here.
zee
Would y’all quit it with this? Damn. You realize most people try to avoid morning classes when they make their own schedules right? This ain’t highschool
JA