The Joker

My students at the seven junior high schools I teach at in Ohtawara city in Japan often asked me if I could speak any other languages, besides English and the smattering of incomprehensible Japanese I know.

Egomaniac that I am, I lied and said I sure could speak a few more languages. I thrilled them with the 12 words I learned in six total years of French classes. The four Spanish words (from Speedy Gonzalez cartoons). German (Sgt. Rock comic books & Hogan's Heroes). Swedish (from the movie Splash!)

I then took it up a notch. I told them I could speak Latin. I don't, but when has not knowing something stopped me?

It went something like this: "Tyrannosaurus Rex etcetera etcetera vice versa vini vidi vici caveat emptor corpus delecti." I told them it meant: "Beware of conquering the dead king". Since their English comprehension is 'iffy', they oohed and ahhed at my explanation. I probably used up all my karma with that one.

Somewhere teaching them Canadian,
Andrew Joseph
Today's title is courtesy of Steve Miller. It was chosen for the phrase "pompatus of love"  - which does actually mean something, but few know what it means - much like my use of Latin. According to the Oxford dictionary, pompatus means: to act with pomp and splendour.
Have a listen to the song. It's a lousy video version, but the only one I was able to find:  COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT