Angel and Firefly by est120

GENERAL DISCUSSIONS

Angel and Firefly

POSTED BY: EST120
UPDATED: Wednesday, June 2, 2004 10:03
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Wednesday, June 2, 2004 3:43 AM

I think Joss Whedon must be fond of the idea of horses and wishes. In the Angel Finale, Spike says: "Looks like wishes are horses today" or something like that and in Firefly (Trash), Jayne says "If wishes were horses, we'd all be eating steak.". Does anyone understand the meaning of these two lines?

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Wednesday, June 2, 2004 4:13 AM

CHRONICTHEHEDGEHOG

If wishes were horses we'd all be eating steak is simply that Jayne has so many wishes, if he had as many horses he'd eat some.

Spike's line is just a reference to Jayne's line.

check out my WIP firefly roleplay system at www.estador.co.uk/firefly

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Wednesday, June 2, 2004 4:27 AM

CYBERSNARK

I think "If wishes were horses. . ." is a known expression that predates Firefly. Damn if I know how the second half is supposed to go.

The same line (as I quoted it above, elipses and all) was used as the title to an early DS9 episode.

Probably Civil War-era, or possibly even medieval --probably uttered by some besieged leader desperately wishing for cavalry (i.e., "horses") to suddenly come out of nowhere and save his ass. Or possibly needing to move a large number of troops and not having the horses to do it quickly.

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We applied the cortical electrodes but were unable to get a neural reaction from either patient.

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Wednesday, June 2, 2004 4:44 AM

BROWNCOAT1

May have been the losing side. Still not convinced it was the wrong one.

I believe the line goes "if wishes were horses, than beggers would ride".

"May have been the losing side. Still not convinced it was the wrong one."

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Wednesday, June 2, 2004 5:57 AM

ZOID

My Daddy always used to say, "If wishes were horses, we'd all be riding." Which doesn't contradict Browncoat1's rendition of the saying, since we were lowest possible middle class; but it also makes "we'd all be eating steak" a closer and funnier line...

Being a Texan, he had a million little bon mots that I inherited, and some I adapted. He used to say, "Wish in one hand and sh*t in the other and see which one gets full the fastest", which I turned into the more apt (I think) and more acceptably usable, "Expect in one hand and expectorate into the other and see which one gets full the fastest."

Respectfully,

zoid

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Wednesday, June 2, 2004 6:46 AM

SEVENPERCENT

Quote:
Originally posted by zoid:
My Daddy always used to say, "If wishes were horses, we'd all be riding." Which doesn't contradict Browncoat1's rendition of the saying, since we were lowest possible middle class; but it also makes "we'd all be eating steak" a closer and funnier line...

Being a Texan, he had a million little bon mots that I inherited, and some I adapted. He used to say, "Wish in one hand and sh*t in the other and see which one gets full the fastest", which I turned into the more apt (I think) and more acceptably usable, "Expect in one hand and expectorate into the other and see which one gets full the fastest."

Respectfully,

zoid

The 'we'd all be eating steak' line is a hilarious turn on that phrase- If it was a misused word it would be called a malapropism, but I'm not exactly sure what the term is for phrases (if there even is one)-
However, I have to side with Kaylee against you Zoid (or as she would)- You cant take the cursing out of a phrase, it ruins the magic of it- Part of the fun is that it isnt socially acceptable, the other is that it gets the message across in the most blunt and obnoxious way possible- 'Expect and expectorate'? Nah- That is entirely no fun (as well as being uncool) - Remember, when in doubt, or in a totally inappropriate situation, let loose the F-bomb - It's ruttin hi-larious, trust me-

------------------------------------------
He looked bigger when I couldn't see him.

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Wednesday, June 2, 2004 6:55 AM

DELIA

I've always heard Static's version -- If wishes were horses than beggars would ride. I'm not totally ready to see Spike's uses of this line (there's one The Cautionary Tale Of Numero Cinqo as well) as references to Firefly. It's a pretty common expression, the title of a Star Trek Deep Space Nine episode, as well as the title of numerous songs and books.

___________________________________________
Spike: Why don't you rip her lungs out? It might make an impression.
Angelus: Lacks... poetry.
Spike: It doesn't have to. What rhymes with lungs?

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Wednesday, June 2, 2004 8:33 AM

ZOID

SevenPercent wrote:

Quote:
However, I have to side with Kaylee against you Zoid (or as she would)- You cant take the cursing out of a phrase, it ruins the magic of it- Part of the fun is that it isnt socially acceptable, the other is that it gets the message across in the most blunt and obnoxious way possible- 'Expect and expectorate'? Nah- That is entirely no fun (as well as being uncool)

Another paternal saying, "If you've got to explain it, it ain't funny", so I generally don't and people I use that phrase around generally find it funny. As far as being cool is concerned, the key to being cool (I think) is not giving a rat's ass if other people think you're cool or not. Similar to the 'it ain't funny' rule, worrying about being cool is uncool.

My 10-year old son's friends, my 15-year old daughter's friends, my 26-year old daughter's friends and my same-age friends have said I am "cool". I have politely told them -- in so many words -- that 'cool' is bullshit. If I'm 'cool' by all those generationally different measures, it's because I go out of my way to see things from other people's perspective, to establish a rapport, an open channel of communication; I then express my true self through that channel without trying to gild my own lily, or impress or suck up to those others. 'Cool' is hard work, and you can't do it in hopes of becoming 'cool'. That's why I say cool is bullshit.

See? Wasn't that explanation totally uncool? Which counterintuitively makes it cool, if unfunny...

Respectfully,

zoid
_________________________________________________

"I knew a man once. History will never recall him, or what he gave to make us free. That's the way he wanted it. But as long as I live I'll remember, and he'll never truly die."

- River, from A Child Shall Lead Them: A History of the Second War of Independence Wilkins, Richard

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Wednesday, June 2, 2004 9:05 AM

CREVANREAVER

If wishes were horses, then beggars would ride -

If wishing could make things happen, then even the most destitute people would have everything they wanted.

http://www.bartleby.com/59/3/ifwisheswere.html

And just for some fun, here's a little poem I found:

If wishes were horses, Beggars would ride.

If turnips were watches, I would wear one by my side.

And if "ifs" and "ands,"

Were pots and pans,

There'd be no work for tinkers!

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/rhymes/IfWishes.shtml

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Wednesday, June 2, 2004 10:03 AM

DELIA

Zoid --

Cool is as cool does. The coolest people I've known were the least likely to describe themselves as cool.

As for Paternal Wisdom, it is a great and glorious thing, even if it all comes from sports cliches. Asked to write on the "family motto," my sister did an entire essay on "Any given team can win on any given day and that's why you play the game." It looks a little funny on the coat of arms, but it sums up Dad Advice neatly (sometimes with the addendum of "because they all put their pants on one leg at a time.") Add in his much repeated Stonewall Jackson quote, "You may be whatever you resolve to be," and you've got the gospel according to Delia's Father.

Delia

___________________________________________
Spike: Why don't you rip her lungs out? It might make an impression.
Angelus: Lacks... poetry.
Spike: It doesn't have to. What rhymes with lungs?

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