h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hello Red Dog
You sound like a very interesting person.
You may have noticed my nickname. Please do not be misled (about anything you may be misled about). I am hoping to change it very soon, just as soon as I figure out how.
Like you I am often interested in some very strange things. Recently I did a science project on the colour of the bacteria formed by fish in fishtanks. Admittedly, this is nowhere near as interesting as the stuff you're interested in.
Just out of interest (this probably breaks every rule of netiquitte ever written, but anyway) how old are you?
I guess (in all fairness) that I should probably tell you how old I am. I am 13 (can't get much simpler than that last sentence!). I'm not sure exactly why I ask, only I really couldn't get much idea of how old you were from your introduction. Not that it matters much. Gosh I am rambling on a bit aren't I? (and not using a lot of fairly necessary punctuation either).
OOO, OOO, ooo, I've just had a brilliant(ish) idea! Goodbye!

Hello Exuberance (may I call you that), interesting choice of monicker - first seen in middle english (roughly between 1150 and 1500) and from the Latin meaning being abundantly fruitful ... are you ? In my experience 13 year olds usually are ..... or at least aspire to be.

Sadly I am old in years ... but with ambitions to be wise as well some day. I have truely seen over 40 winters * or at least for what pass for winters here in Australia where I presently reside.

I like your short sentence - it has everything a sentence should have and as someone interesting once said to me - less is more (deep). I believe the shortest sentence in published literature comes from the Bible (something like "Jesus wept" I think).

Did you know that the sentence "Jackdaws love my big sphinx of quartz" is the shortest English sentence yet devised to include all the letters of the alphabet ? Interesting fact but not very interesting sentence.

Another interesting fact in an uninteresting sentence is "Satan oscillate my metallic sonatas" ... it's a palindrome reading the same backwards as well as forwards and one to amaze your friends with down the pub (you'll have to wait another 5 years for that particular pleasure I daresay unless you get yourself down to the F&F pub in H2G2 land - it's being renamed I hear). In my opinion I consider a more interesting palindromatic sentence to be "A man, a plan, a canal, panama" which has the added attraction of actually telling a true story (of Ferdinand De Lesseps of course).

Anyway I have a personal limit of not recounting more than 5 interesting things per posting and I am in danger of exceeding that limit - I do believe that I have been abundantly fruitful dear Exuberance **.

Woof-woof-woof

* Just between us I believe my internet age is closer to my shoe size than my calender age.
** There's nothing more satisfying than ending a sentence with an elegant flourish.

That really was a very interesting reply. UUUUGGGGHHHHHHH! My computer is being horrendously slow, I don't like to look up and notice that the last five sentences I have written do not appear on the screen. Even more annoying (sort of [see my nick]) is that I can't access my english assignment. That's all wrong isn't it, to be able to log on to the internet but not be able to do my homework?
Did you know that in the US shoe sizes go up to about a 110? <SMILEY TYPE="winkeye"/>
I think you're interesting facts are very interesting, so please relieve yourself of the irksome task of repressing you creative spirit when talking to me.
Do you love words and playing with words?
My mother is an english teacher and ever since I can remember she's taught me to love reading and words. Recently I obtained a list of rebuses (word puzzles) and some of them are exceptionally good (and impossible to post on h2g2).
Have you written anything for the guide? If so, what? I haven't. I keep meaning to.
Do you have your preferences set to goo? If not, I'd advice you to; it gives you a whle new outlook on this place (and it looks cool to)
I understand you are from the UK. I'm not sure why (maybe you mentioned it) but if I'm wrong please tell me.
What is your occupation?
Apart from the keeper of the ANNOYING HABIT OF WRITING IN CAPITALS <SMILEY TYPE="winkeye"/>
Gotta go
(I'm Australian if you didn't guess from that last sentence!)
bye

Hi Exuberance, you have asked a lot of questions & here is some answers and some questions for you to ponder too.

True I am of Scottish descent hence ref to Scotti the ancient Celtic tribe that went from Ireland to Caledonia in the Dark Ages.

I am set up for Goo ... an instant preference and no thought required.

I am working on several guide entries - doodling, male hairdressers, watch faces, etc. Having trouble finishing stuff .... never enough time or energy.

If you like rebuses ask your mother to introduce you to holorimes ... they are as much fun as rebuses and need a little more creative spirit to get the best out of them. An example of a simple holorime is :-

Isle of view
I love you

(geddit)

A book on words I can recommend (amongst many) is Mother Tongue by Bill Bryson ( a life changing book, buy it, borrow it, steal it just go out and get it anyway anyhow).... wait a minute am I encouraging a minor to go out and break the law (thinks) - probably (concludes). Does this make me an accessory ? (only if you're a handbag comments Mr Mischieveous).

Also check out Brewers Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (on-line these days). Anything by William Safire. The Word Detective (online).

Occupation ... I buy stuff.

What State are you from ? Do you barrack for anyone ? What is your favourite colour ?

Putting on my best clairvoyant hat , my savant smoking jacket and the seeker for truth socks (slightly dodgy at the toes) my guesses are (1) Victoria, (2) Carlton and (3) Orange. How did I do ?

Woof-woof-woof.

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Hi Exuberance, I guess being in the Far West (coupled with the need to work will always put me behind you a good few hours). I try to be back home for 6pm each evening to catch Greebo T Cat's h2g2 quiz each night if I can. Sometimes it doesn't work out and I miss it

Re our talking points:-

1. ACT - Haven't been there yet but one of my fave authors Bill Bryson (quirky and v readable) spoke very highly of it in "Down Under" (chpt 6). Called it a "very large park with a City hidden in it .... and very agreeable" ..... instantly dispelled all the uninformed things I had heard about the ACT since I got here in Australia.

BB says that there are three mysteries about Australia (1) the rules of Australian Rules Football, (2) why the meat pie floater is so esteemed ["something unappetising and brown floating in something unappetising and green"], and (3) Australian politics and the voting system.

2. Yup Carlton is an AFL team in Victoria - when I first arrived on these shores I decided to follow an AFL Team called the Western Bulls (my interests are a mixture of cerebral and earthy pursuits and this is one of the earthy ones). Bulls because they were a poorly supported team and I like unders (it's a perverse streak that I have) and all things associated with s. I believe that you need stuff like this in your life - gives a belief system or a framework for you to hang things on .... once committed you shouldn't ever change (bit of personal philosophy there about supporting things). For me it's kind of an act of principle - nonnegotiable once you've taken the step.

3. Colour - what a great answer. Wish I could have thought of that - best thing I ever do is blurt out "purple" (my favourite colour) .... isn't "blurt" a really wonderful word by the way. You have given me something that I didn't have before - thankyou. I'm going to have to raise my game a bit I think.


Buying things - sadly nothing particularly interesting for you I fear about the things I buy for a living. I have a terribly responsible job for an American Oil Company and in big corporations you're not always encouraged to (a) have a sense of humour, (b) be too intellectual, (c) be creative, or (d) have an interest in "unusual" things .... count h2g2 into that category. It's very conformist !

So sorry to hear about the teacher thing . I have a similar problem at work with my boss - it's truly awful when you think that someone in authority has a poor perception of it . Why do you think it's happening - I think my boss has an issue with me because I'm smart and don't always conform to what he wants me to do (it's the principle thing again). I think he sees me as a threat . Console yourself with the thought that in the school system you're never that far away from a change in teachers. Try thinking about what their story is and why they behave like they do - it often helps to analyse the situation like that. Remember it's probably their problem not yours.

My school - several (moved around a lot as a kid - Dad was a professional footballer). I usually say Gateway Grammer School in Leicester which is where spent most of my time.

People from the Sceptre'd Isle or Blighty (from the Indian Bilayati meaning foreign place) are not only known as Poms but also as Limeys (American from the practice of British sailors eating limes to combat scurvy) and Tommy's (from Tommy Atkins - a typical/common english name along the same lines as John Doe, or Jean Crapeau, etc). You certainly picked on a good one with Pom's - this is one of those things lost in the mists of time where no one has a real clue. Best theory (among many) is that it comes from either a reference to Apples (Pommes) or Pomegranates which is supposed to denote the typical pink and white complexion of settlers coming into Australia. It was originally applied to newcomers and then extended to the British as a whole. Most unlikely explanation is the it comes from P.O.M.E - Prisoner Of Mother England (take a note that any word explanation that involves an accronym is universally wrong). Oh and yes Poms in Pomland know that they're called Poms by Aussies .... it doesn't bother anyone (worth remembering that the British on the whole regard Australia in much the same way that Australians regard New Zealand which is a truly delicious irony).

What was your history essay about - this is my mastermind subject, the thing I'm really passionate about and from which all my other interests flow - Archery, etymology, etc, etc.

What do you reckon to Red Dwarf ?

red
Woof-woof-woof

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Hi Red dog
Are you going to bark to me anymore?
Oh well, I guess I was just as bad to you, so I can't really talk.
I saw you over at Greebo's party. Sleepy, hey? Go to the B.O.F. inn

Hi Exuberance, I was just organising a mega posting to you (beena bit busy with the Food-in-film-title ganme I've been running over the weekend - more at the end).

Anyhow you made a v interesting comment about chatting - I definitely understand the issues but in the general scheme of things it's hardly the most dangerous of activities - try walking in a city centre late at night, meeting any of the multitude of Australian wildlife that can ruin your day, eating english beef, german suasage, GM'd food, Austrian wine, taking a headache tablet, etc, etc. Mind you if you do want to meet your fair share of unhinged wierdo's then H2G2 is definitely the place to be - and that of course is why we love it so much - it has to be the very best thing on the internet. Just think about it - total uninhibited freedom of expression (well nearly apart from the school prefects that is) coupled with the powerful use of enabling technology has created this wonderful vehicle for
personal expression. YAY.

I'm personally totally convinced that all this stuff has the ability to revolutionise society - not in business, not in commerce, not in dot.com stocks but in politicising society more. Now communism was a very good idea but totally impractical in it's application - just couldn't work as it bucked common sense and went counter to human behaviour (good example being collective farms). However both Marx, Engles and the founding fathers of the US were all going down the same path in one sense and that was how power could be transferred from the people as a whole to a particular group.

Marx and Engles reckoned it was all a con and advocated that the best thing to do was not to try as it would all go wrong (and power would end up in elites). To make sure that that didn't happen they advocated making everyone equal and created mechanisms for forcibly keeping them equal - surprise surprise this didn't work out all that well.

The writers of the constitution of the United States (a fantastically
gifted and enlightened group of men - and well worth a study) tried very hard to create a society that acknowledged that everyone was equal in the basics (life, liberty, pursuit of happiness - they forgot Pokemon for some reason), and equal in opportunity, but also tipped their tricorn hats to the notion that fundementally we're all different and therefore not equal - some of us are smart, some of us are beautiful, some of us have sporting prowess and then there's Pauline Hanson (the Oxley Moron to quote BB once again ).! Sadly American society and their political system have been hijacked - the system doesn't really work but the rules in their constitution hav esttod the teas of two centuries of abuse. Also no one writes like that any more - if you want read some words that will set you soaring then there are three things I always refer to (1) US Declaration of
Independence/Constitution preamble,(2) John F Kennedy's inauguration
speech, (3) Lincoln's Gettysburgh address. Also anything (anything at all) by Shakespeare. Have to say that Shakespeare is a pleasure that is best appreciated after school - it's been something I first thought wss OK(in a grudging way), then started to like a little till now I absolutely adore it - majesty, power, imagery - it has it all and had it all before anyone else knew what all was.

My point (finally) is that we're a short step from true democratisation- referendums are easily possible on all manner of matters by use of the net. The Swiss have been doing it for years - Canton referendums are frequent and truly allow the people to speak. Worth remembering that Politicians rank only marginally higher than used car salesmen or Realtors in peoples esteem.

Wow - that was a rant and a half - I may have to lie down for a while.

Synonyms for swear words - there's a good subject. You could always give up the fight and learn to swear in another language which would be a good compromise. Finnish would be good or Xhosa or Sanskrit. I'm willing to bet that the chances of meeting a Finn in Australia would be rather remote. It would be a bugg*r if Finnish words turned out the ame as anglo-saxon as they all share the same indo-european roots. Still if you did learn a few and ever went to Finland it would be very useful. Alternatively there's the Billy Connolly system (Billy's a Scottish comedian I'm rather familiar with - one of my earthy interests). Billy uses a letter substitution technique -
such a - Gettifer yer bassa- (you need a scottish accent to do it justice). This technique allows you to get close to the original profanity without contravening any moral codes.


You made an interesting comment that school isn't the place to play around with new concepts and ideas - I'm not sure whether that is a sad indictment on the school system or something that needs a good airing. From my perspective (older and stupider) school is two things (1) a boiling cauldron of less than charitable thinking and slavish conformity to perceived norms from the inmates, (2) a place in which you'll make life changing decisions based on inadquate knowledge and preparation.

It also begs the question that if school isn't the place then where is? What we all need are mentors - in traditional extended families this was a role usually performed by uncles, aunts, grandparents, etc but one which is lost in the modern world. Everyone else is too much of a threat to self-esteem, etc .. although it's quiet possible for you to try and develop someone that could act as a mentor for you. But I do take your point about H2G2 - the community here is so switched on and smart that it's deeply impressive.

Noted the comment about eccentric pommy teacher - sadly eccentricity is the great curse and blessing of the British. It's something to be treasured in moderation but guarded against when it is uncontrolled.

I missed the point about Histoire by the way - didn't know about the
bilingualism. Let me guess why you like it - you get a different
perspective (history written by the victors and all that). I also like to study things I didn't know about - I'm always drawn to the dark ages myself. Great choice with the Vikings by the way.

Glad to see that we have a meeting of minds re Red Dwarf -. Who'd ever dream you could make a sci-fi sit-com and make it work so well. I've been watching since series 1 took off in the UK (told you I was ancient). Hard to pick a fave character but if pushed it'd have to be Rimmer (how sad am I). I think it's because he struggles against his fate all the time- hopeless odds and all that - and is so obviously a loser that you can't but help like him ()there goes my perverse streak again).

Ahhh Seinfeld - love it when I can watch it (7:00pm is a really bad time for me). Only problem is that I get a bit overwhelmed with the back2back episodes - I like my pleasures strung out a bit more rather than be force fed them all at one sitting. Having said that - Fave character has to be George for exactly the same reasons as I like Rimmer. Hang on - this is worth thinking about for a moment ? Why do I really like all the losers even though they're actually mostly unloveable miscreants - probably an insecurity thing buried somewhere I reckon - possibly non-threatening types ? Dunno - have to work on that one for a while.

Greebo's quiz is a (mostly) daily one - it called the H2IQ quiz and you can get of it off Greebo's space.

If you have time check out the Food in Film Title game I started last week on the H2G2 community conversation forum - we've had so much fun and all the entries have been so funny that we're about to run the H2G2 Oscars from the Musehome

Red
Woof-woof-woof

Hi Red Dog
I can't give that reply justice because I have to go to bed. i may not get on a computer for the next couple of days, but I will reply on the weekend.

Bye

You are a kind person to let me know to wait. Talk to you more at the w/e.

Red

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Why hello again - sorry for the delay in reponse - I got somewhat tied up with a few things -(film game and Brit-English for the most part).

So where were we - you had a preposterous week last week ... does that imply that this week is going to be posterous and last week was only training of some kind. I don't know (obviously I've been spending wayyy tooo much time on British-English recently).

I'd strongly recommend going for the swearing in another language ploy - it's not just the language but the images are also so different that they just don't translate. I'm told that in French all swear words are farmyard related and that one of the worst things you can do is not to call someone (say) a pig but "some kind of pig". Why this should be worse is beyond me.

I've just looked up a few things for you and I'm amazed to find that I do know how to swear in Xhosa - Hlebeshako will get you into deep trouble there but here it translates to "your mothers ears" (see what I mean).

To round off the topic here`s a few others ...

Chinese don't like being called a turtle.
Norwegians don't like being called a
If you stub your toe in the middle of the night in Finland you'd likely exclaim "ravintolassa" which roughly translate sto "in the restaurant" (figure that one out).

However you are in very good company with your high (and most laudable standards) .... Malayans, Polynesians and Native Americans are not reputed to swear.

You could always go for the ole standbye - euphemisms, the darn , drat, golly, gosh route but you run the risk of being labelled a wollyback or something.

Concur with the Kryten like but I think he's even better with his guilt chip removed !

Be good

Red

That answer was just what I needed! If last week was preposterous, the first two days of this week have been absolute shockers. Try studying a novel about nuclear war for a term and then discussing in an essay "Could humans living on Earth in the year 2001 survive a nuclear blast". Cheerful stuff. Anyway, at the moment I am a total wreck for various other reasons I am not going to go into here as they would depress me even further. If that's possible.

Kryten is truly evil minus guilt chip! I love it.

Thanks so much for those alternatives to swearing. They are so good. Would go into more detail but dinner is served.

Bye

Forgot to mention this.
In the book I am reading I found the sentence that just about sums up what I think about swearing "Words are too precious too waste".
Incidentally, the book is fantstic. It's called "The Parrot's theorum" and it's somewhat along the lines of "Sophie's world" etc. I think I mentioned those books in another posting. Anyway, I thoroughly recommend all the books in this posting.

Has ye lost your voice? Cat (dog?) got your tongue? I need your support through this last week of school!

Ooops sorry - didn't mean to ignore you. I haven't been de-woofed I've just been busy venting my spleen about the ban on discussing the British Election. Two researchers I value highly have resigned in high dudgeon (lovely old english word that) and declared that they're going off to seek pastures new. They like me are persons of principle but I prefer to stay on and fight. So I've joined the Zaphodistas.

My real world has gone a bit pear shaped recently (do you have that expression in Australia). It's a very useful term to describe a siutation where everything goes sort of wrong but in a non-traumatic way. It's sort of a stoic expression - resigned to fate that kind of thing. My angst has come about from my Boss (the one I have trouble with) having to go back to the states on compassionate leave (his father sadly died). Although we don't get on really all that well he must have thought more highly of me than I knew as he's left the whole project in my hands until he comes back ... positively luverly I thought until I realised that I also had his whole workload to bear as well. Still c`est la vie.

Still back to you and the troubles of school. What can I say ... only one week to go (to the end of term I suppose). My experiences at school were rather mixed .... my parents moved around a bit so I had a good time up to 14 then moved from one teaching jurisdiction to another and fell into Hell. I left a nice comprehensive co-ed school to go to a traditional single sex grammer school (very good education but a lousy preparation for life). Although you haven't been terribly expansive I do detect some big pluses going for you ...

1. You're obviously bright ... after all h2g2 attracts only the finest minds (clever, intelligent and witty ... a most potent combination).

2. Your mother sounds a gem .. educated, intelligent and interested in you (not always seen as a plus by teenagers I grant you but I find that people only really come to appreciate thngs of true value later in life ... sometimes too late and sometimes never at all). My parents were from good old fashioned Scottish working stock and I've only recently come to truely appreciate that.

3. You're being exposed to change and challenge early in life .... this is great preparation for the future. The thing to always hang onto is that school is only a transitory thing and it's really just a springboard into life itself. The thing about that of course is that (he says probably taking a shaky analogy toofar) gettinga good launch is a combination of having a good springboard and a good diver as well .... one can compensate for another if you get my drift.

What I think you are in need of is a need a bit of inspiration so I'm going to give you a gift from me to keep your head up. Ages ago I recommended to you to read JF Kennedy's inaugural address if you ever needed a bit of motivation and to place all your troubles in context. My gift to you is a transcription which I've just hand typed (I left a couple of hundred words out of the middle but it doesn't lose anything by the omission).

People should read this as a tribute to a brave and honourable President who was taken from us all too soon ........

"Fellow citizens, we observe today not a victory of party, but a celebration of freedom - symbolizing an end, as well as a beginning - signifying renewal, as well as change. For I have sworn before you and Almighty God the same solemn oath our forebears prescribed nearly a century and three-quarters ago.

The world is very different now, for man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life. And yet the same revolutionary beliefs for which our forefathers fought are still at issue around the globe - the belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state, but from the hand of God.

We dare not today forget that we are the heirs of that first revolution. Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans, born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage and unwilling to witness or permit the low undoing of those human rights to which this nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today at home and around the world.

Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to ensure the survival and the success of liberty.

This much we pledge and more. To those old allies whose cultural and spiritual origins we share we pledge the loyalty of faithful friends. United there is little we cannot do in a host of cooperative ventures. Divided there is little we can do for we dare not meet a powerful challenge at odds and split asunder.

To those new states whom we welcome to the ranks of the free, we pledge our word that one form of colonial control shall not have passed away merely to be replaced by a far more iron tyranny. We shall not always expect to find them supporting our view. But we shall always hope to find them supporting their own freedom; and to remember that, in the past, those who foolishly sought power by riding the back of the Tiger ended up inside.

To those peoples in the huts and villages across the globe struggling to break the bonds of mass misery, we pledge our best efforts to help them help themselves, for whatever period is required; not because the Communists may be doing it, not because we seek their votes, but because it is right. If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.

So let us begin anew, remembering on all sides that civility is not a sign of weakness and sincerity is always subject to proof. Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate.

Let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of belabouring those problems which divide us.

All this will not be finished in the first 100 days. Nor will it be finished in the first 1000 days. Nor in the life of this Administration, nor even perhaps in in our lifetime on this planet. But let us begin.

In your hands my fellow citizens, more than in mine, will rest the final success or failure of our course. Since this country was founded, each generation of Americans has been summoned to give testimony to its National loyalty. The graves of young Americans who answered the call to service surround the globe.

Now the trumpet summons us again, not as a call to bear arms, though arms we need, not as a call to battle, though embattled we are, but a call to bear the burden of a long twilight struggle, year in amd year out, `rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation` - a struggle against the common enemies of man; tyranny, poverty, disease and war itself.

Can we forge against these enemies a Grand and Global Alliance, North and South, East ad West, that can assure a more fruitful life for all mankind. Will you join in that historic effort ?

In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility, I welcome it. I do not believe that any of us would exchange places with any other people or any other generation. The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavour will light our country and all that serve it - and the glow from that fire can truly light the world.

And so my Fellow Amercians; Ask not what your country can do for you: ask what you may do for your country.

My fellow citizens of the world; Ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man,.

Finally whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you. With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth Gods work


Red

Thankyou.

That is indeed inspirational. (I particularly thankyou for points 1.,2., & 3.)

Stay and fight is infinitely preferable to turning tail (or coat).

Not having been introduced to "pear-shaped", I generally just sit there feeling miserable until I get angry enough to fly again. But I can laugh at pear-shaped, it's sort of cute!

School doesn't seem so bad now I've seen the backside of a term. Only another three to go...

1.

2. She sure is (a gem) way too interested in everything I do. In my opinion. Actually she's not bad. In fact she's very good. My dad's good too. I haven't mentioned him yet. Or my brother. He's very good with computers etc. That means he's good at maths. Which is a big bonus. (oh, the joy of. writing in. disjointed sentences, my english. teacher doesn't like it.

If I replied to every paragraph of JFK's inaugural address I'd by the end of it, so I'll just give abrief overvies of first impressions (VERY first impressionish, I just read it).

Yes, isn't it dreadful that we can have the power to fix all poverty, but we have created the power to destroy all life as well.

The old "we are as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided" (that's not supposed to be derivatory {is that the right word?}).

"Let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of belabouring those problems which divide us."
Perfect for dealing with school problems.

"All for one and one for all" (that's not being cynical).

In summation (that's a word now, even if it wasn't before)
I have great respect for JFK's speechwriter and will be unable to be cynical properly for at least two days.
Seriously, it was really good for me to read that.

*read subject line for further clarification of what I will be doing now*

Exuberance Personified ACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thankyou.

That is indeed inspirational. (I particularly thankyou for points 1.,2., & 3.)

Stay and fight is infinitely preferable to turning tail (or coat).

Not having been introduced to "pear-shaped", I generally just sit there feeling miserable until I get angry enough to fly again. But I can laugh at pear-shaped, it's sort of cute!

School doesn't seem so bad now I've seen the backside of a term. Only another three to go...

1.

2. She sure is (a gem) way too interested in everything I do. In my opinion. Actually she's not bad. In fact she's very good. My dad's good too. I haven't mentioned him yet. Or my brother. He's very good with computers etc. That means he's good at maths. Which is a big bonus. (oh, the joy of. writing in. disjointed sentences, my english. teacher doesn't like it.

3. Not so sure, but anyway.

If I replied to every paragraph of JFK's inaugural address I'd by the end of it, so I'll just give abrief overvies of first impressions (VERY first impressionish, I just read it).

Yes, isn't it dreadful that we can have the power to fix all poverty, but we have created the power to destroy all life as well.

The old "we are as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided" (that's not supposed to be derivatory {is that the right word?}).

"Let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of belabouring those problems which divide us."
Perfect for dealing with school problems.

"All for one and one for all" (that's not being cynical).

In summation (that's a word now, even if it wasn't before)
I have great respect for JFK's speechwriter and will be unable to be cynical properly for at least two days.
Seriously, it was really good for me to read that.

*read subject line for further clarification of what I will be doing now*

Exuberance Personified ACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well I see that two congratulations are in order. I wonder which gives you most pleasure - ACE or a weeks respite from school ? I rather liked being greeted by an ACE when I signed on as a researcher ... made it all friendly and welcoming.

I just got hit on a posting I made to British-English by the moderators which has made me very and . I took some Monty Python material off a public site because it interested me as it contained some RAF Banter from WW2 (cabbage crates over the briny kind of stuff). Monty Python was braodcast on the BBC so I didn't think it'd be a problem but apparently the Moderators did. I'll be OK in a week or two.

I have my out-laws over here from the UK for two weeks which will be a bit of a trial. They're both in their 70`s and hate the sight of each other (too lazy to separate and too fond of fighting I think). It's all very sad so I'm taking nightly refuge in H2G2.

Also saw your embarrassing moment on the thread I started yesterday. If it's any comfort I had a similar moment a few years ago - I spent a lot of time attending Pub Quizzes (great combination - alcohol and general knowledge) and I found myself in a very good team. However every so often someone would drop an enormous clanger and then be ridiculed by the rest of the team for a long time.

First one off the mark was our Team Captain Dennis - the opposition got a question `what European international airport has the designation letters FRK` - they answered FRANKFURT. One point to them and our Captain relaxed. His question was `what European international airport has the designation letters ZUR`. Our Captain surprised us, the other team, the whole Pub and the county of Surrey by answering `DUBLIN`. He was Red for about 6 months on the back of that one. He never could explain what convoluted thought process turned ZURICH into DUBLIN.

Next victim was my friend Shane. He got a two part question ...`from the chemical symbols for Sodium and Iridium can you name a middle eastern country. I watched Shane write down on his pad Na and Ir (good so far) and then lean back on his chair, close his eyes and started to think. I thought he was playing to the crowd until he got prompted for an anwswer - I was expecting to hear IRAN but Shane said with the greatest confidence `CHINA`. I fell off my chair laughing. I was still laughing when the other team fluffed the answer and got their question ...`from the chemical symbols for Calcium and Helium can you name a common ailment`. Shane's answer must have really fried their brains because of answering ACHE (Ca + He of course) they answered with GASTROENTERITUS !!!!! Well it took me about two hours to stop laughing (I'm grinning all over my face as I type this).

Of course I had years of fun at Shane and Dennis's expense but like everything else you eventually crash and burn. My turn came with a vengence one night. Our local was packed and I got a question `What British Peer disappeared in 1974` - this was in hindsight a very easy question as a certain Lord Lucan after mudering his Nanny in error (he thought it was his wife) fled the UK and hasn't been seen since. Spookily enough it happened to be in 1974 as well. Sadly my ears were operating on another planet that night and what I heard was `What British Pier disappeared in 1974`. My answer was a hiddeously embarrassing `BRIGHTON` which was followed by a huge wave of laughter. Still not cottoning on I had a second go at it and changed my answer to `SOUTHEND` which actually managed to shut everyone who was laughing up but only because they were by now choking with laughter. Eventually someone took me to one side and pointed out that the question wasn't about seaside resorts that had piers but about the aristocracy. This is the first time I've been able to talk about it in a decade.

I sympathise with you on New York.

What have you got planned for the next week .... any essay writing to catch up on ?

Red