Re: OT: Jules (fi: syllables)

At 09:45 16/06/2003 -0400, you wrote:
>Peter Bleackley scripsit:
>
> > Surely it's a reference to "Obelisk" = "large stone monument", which Obelix
> > is never seen without (a menhir, in his case).
>
>Sure.  Nevertheless, the fact that * and U+2020 are "asterisk" and "obelisk"
>is probably not a coincidence.  The application of "obelisk" (Greek diminutive
>for "cooking spit") to upright stones is ironic, of course; the Egyptian
>obelisk in New York City is by a similar irony called "Cleopatra's Needle".
There's one with that name on the Thames Embankment. In fact, I think they
were originally a pair.

Imagine the scene;
"I'd like to complain about this kebab!"
"What's the problem? Underdone? Not enough garlic?"
"No, it's threaded on a twenty foot lump of rock!"

Pete