BarkellWH -> RE: Put it in the MW-oven (Jul. 8 2014 19:37:06)
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quote:
The Oceanic expanse was likely populated by seafaring groups from South East Asia and its thought that they island hopped all the way to Chile, Peru and Equador. Oceania indeed was populated by seafaring groups from Maritime Southeast Asia, most notably from today's Indonesia. But the origin of the groups who settled in Maritime Southeast Asia is pretty well established to have been Taiwan. Linguistic analysis traces the origin of the Pacific Islanders from Taiwan through the Philippines, and on to the Malay (Indonesian) Archipelago. From there they spread throughout Oceania. All of the languages of Oceania, from Madagascar through the Solomons, up through Palau, Micronesia, and the Marshalls, as well as the entire Polynesian triangle (New Zealand, Hawaii, Rapa Nui, and the islands within--Samoa, Tahiti, the Marquesas, etc.)--are known linguistically as Malayo-Polynesian. When I was in Samoa I detected certain words and cognates that were similar to Malay, which I speak well. For example, the Malay word for the number five is "lima," which is the word for five in Samoan as well. Speaking of Polynesia, one of the most interesting islands in that group is Rapa Nui (Easter Island). While assigned to the American Embassy in Santiago, Chile, I visited Easter Island and spent five days rambling around. It has a very interesting history and is an example of a people who, after carving from stone and moving to various locations their signature statues, known as "Moai," proceeded to completely destroy their environment, engaging in destructive ecological practices (completely denuding the island of trees) and warfare, eventually pulling down every single moai. Easter Island has attracted some well-respected anthropologists such as JoAnne van Tilberg, but it has attracted some real far-out types as well. Thor Heyerdahl, (of Kon Tiki fame) has tried to convince everyone, against all evidence, that the people of Rapa Nui (Easter Island) originated from Peru and Ecuador, rather than Eastern Polynesia. And remember that charlatan Eric von Daniken, who was convinced that the moai on Easter Island were created by aliens from outer space who landed there! The moai are spectacular, but they attract some real nuts with outrageous ideas (but I guess such far-out ideas sell to a gullible substratum who will believe anything). As for buying snacks at the local Seven-Eleven and sneaking them into the Emperador Hotel, rather than taking the snacks from the Emperador's room refrigerators and paying four times the cost one would pay at Seven-Eleven, you seem to forget that only the cream of society lodge at the Emperador. No self-respecting guest at the Emperador would think of stooping to such a common, plebeian practice. You, sir, have just made a thinly-veiled attempt to besmirch the reputation of a long list of distinguished guests who have lodged at the Emperador. Such an attempt borders on slander and calls for settlement on the field of honor. Your choice of weapons, sir. Cheers, Bill
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