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

I think -um is the wrong tense.
as per the rhyme:
"What is it that roreth thus?
could it be a motor bus?
Ye, the hideous noise and hum
indicat motorum bum"

The word "uneducated" was well chosen:I know you did less that 5 minutes Latin, but this does not excuse not knowing that _verbs_ have tenses. Nouns (in languages where they decline) have cases
I'll get back on derivations shortly.

was a common ending for metals (Greek at a guess, but I'm a long way in a force 3 typhoon from an etymological dictionary) and Humphrey changed aluminum to fit with the ones already in the atomic table. As people discovered other elements they were also given ium endings to conform. Aluminum is an unusual case of the Yanks being more conservative than the Brits.

All this lion & bees/flies is related to a new element I've just identified called balonium

I think you'll find it's all Borax!

*sings "These are the many elements of which the news has got to Harvard,
there may be many others, but they haven't been discovered!" quietly to self*

Aside: It's no wonder you never win at Scrabble if you think nouns can't have tenses

Hey , I'm not about to expel anyone - but molasses sugar is molasses sugar. Not any of the other types you guys mentioned.

This is not an American-Brit mix-up, because molasses sugar is one of life's treats that I've discovered while living in London.

Back in the US, molasses is treacle. Or the other way around. With no flies or bees.

And about the Golden Syrup logo on the can...the phrase 'out of the strong came forth sweetness' comes from Judges 14:14, old testament; Samson sees the carcass in Judges 14:8.

I just looked at my "Tate & Lyle Granulated Sugar" - the slogan on the bag is "The Professional's Choice". No sign of the old Lion & Bees there... So, the question now is, what profession? Or are they just marketing it to yuppies, who I got the impression were increasingly taking their cappuchinos sugar-free these days...?

I read the recipe & I would say it is caster sugar required.
Icing sugar is very fine & exceptionally sweet, and I would not use this in a recipe, where sugar is required.
I hope this helps.

I would guess they mean the catering professional Peet. Acording to their website they do golden syrup in packages ranging from the small tin to tanker loads!

I think that the best method to resolve the spelling/pronounciation controversy is to just refer to Alumin[i]um by its chemical symbol--Al. That way, no-one cares how you spell or pronounce the full name

As Paul Simon said - "Call me Al"

*continues drooling at the thought of a tanker of Golden Syrup*

Thanks for all the input.

Conclusion: Use Caster sugar in the carrot cake recipe and Icing sugar in the cream cheese icing recipe.

I know all about syrup - everything I try to achieve where I work is difficult because it's like wading through syrup, treacle or custard.

Is custard universal ? Lumpy, runny or tasteless custard (often all three together) was the norm when I was at school.

I am proud to say I have refrained from eating custard all my adult life having been traumatised by that disgusting bright yellow lumpy stuff at school. I have occasionally been tricked into eating Creme Anglaise, a pale and insipid imitation, so I am told. I am also told that 'Bird's' is the only true custard, made by an American company! However, I am here to tell you that Life without custard is good.

Birds? Tut tut, you have been sadly misinformed. It's Ambrosia Devon custard you should be extolling. I like it cold

My Cuban sister-in-law makes a delectable custard called flan with caramel sauce.

When I were a young 'un, the local phrase for going out for a few drinks was to be "on the raz."

Any idea where that came from, and is it all UK or just N.E. ?

From 'razzle' I believe, a slang (and therefore probably US )noun meaning spree. In a similar vein, why 'to paint the town red' and whencefrom 'on the pull'?

Ou English tongue is liberal
But rather inexact.
If baby pike are pickerel
Are grown up mackerel macks?

Whoops! What a mess.

Our English tongue is liberal
But rather inexact.
If baby pike are pickerel
Are grown-up mackerel mack?