Re: [tied] Re: Mercury and lead

Torsten,

Let me add something to this interesting thread. I understand that mercury and lead are poisonous substances. We Spanish speakers call the disease caused by lead "saturnismo" ( < Saturn and his astrological connections, I guess... I am not in touch with it). I am not so stubborn to deny that these substances are actually dangerous. The point is that you are trying to explain a lot of facts (historical, political, sociological, linguistical, etc.) with a sort of "pan-mercurism" or "pan-leadism", am I wrong? I can't deny that some renowned individuals (add Van Gogh to the list, too) have suffered from this kind of contamination. This is a fact to start with. The problem (or what I think it is) arises when you try to explain the fall of the Roman Empire, for example, as to have been the product of Nero, Caligula or somebody else's madness. A big change (a revolution, for example) is not the product of a single mind, and I doubt it can be done if this unique mind is a mad one indeed.
I have another posting from you regarding mercury:

Subject: 
          [tied] Spanish paralysis
     Date: 
          Mon, 05 Feb 2001 14:39:45 -0000
     From: 
          tgpedersen@...
 Reply-To: 
          cybalist@yahoogroups.com
       To: 
          cybalist@yahoogroups.com


Another strange idea:

When I had my mandatory Aztec course, they taught us that at that
time, Spanish x = sh and j = zh. Now of course they are both = kh.

Of course not. x= k + s and j is a voiceless velar fricative that has no equivalent in English. I will add this explanation to your "pan-mercurism" although it is not correct in terms of Spanish language.

To sum up, and as my English is not good enough, perhaps I am wrong in supposing that you are a bit ironic here:

> Am I wrong, or perhaps you are trying to associate it with Mexican,
> Colombian and Peruvian guerrillas?
> 
No, no, no. You did that. I am a nice person. I only have nice 
opinions. I don't think there is any more violence in the three 
countries you mention than in any other civilized nation.

Am I wrong, Torsten?

Regards,

Omar

P. S.: By the way, are you not thinking about linking mercury to the "mad cow" disease...? :-)