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

Hi, DinsdalePiranha,
(and Vanderwecken - sorry I didn't read your earlier post properly, first time. Widdershins seems to be an antonym so is it entitled to have an antonym? Must work on the concept.)

Originally, "widdershins" (withershins or any of its umpteen [well, at least ump] variations) was indicative of being in a state, or going in the direction, opposite to what was expected or usual, e.g. if your hair stood on end it was "widdershins" unless you had a crew cut in which case ...
Later it came to be used as indicating the opposite direction to the perceived direction of travel of the sun, and we got the meaning of rotation. Gradually it acquired the characteristics of bad luck or evil.
** Now if we wish to be serious about this, we need first of all to establish which way the majority of the world's population stirs its tea, then we can accurately identify and burn as witches those who will not recant and stir their tea properly. **

It occurs to me that the ** witch hunt ** business will probably be unsuccessful. It will probably be thwarted by mass migrations across the equator.
Damn. I thought we were on to something there.

Vandervecken
Sorry,
I'll get used to these buttons eventually.

dont stir me joints either man...cept for the whole waving in the air whilst explaining a like, really DEEP point, y'know.

Plaguesville,
Interesting idea (I quote):

"we need first of all to establish which way the majority of the world's population stirs its tea, then we can accurately identify and burn as witches those who will not recant and stir their tea properly"

First, I know you're joking, but you make an interesting point
This strikes me as a relatively sound justification for World War III. I mean, how many wars in the past were started with less adequate justifications than the one you just stated? I mean, first, England could declare war on America for being a bunch of iced-tea drinking, rebel rabble-rousers. Then, America could declare war on all of Europe, just for the hell of it. Then Germany could declare war on France, out of habit. English soccer hooligans could declare war on the Netherlands.
Canada could invade the U.S.A, because, frankly, NOBODY would expect that (it IS one of the world's largest unguarded borders, if not THE largest), and then the southern U.S. states could secede from the union AGAIN (I mean, we're dealing with states here that STILL refer to the U.S. Civil War as 'The War of Northern Aggression'). China and Japan could go at each other's throats, and Uganda could declare war on Uruguay, figuring that being a continent apart could be a safe bet. Russia declares war, causing it's economy to collapse even farther into the basement... Let's not even get into the rest...

Skip 5 years, 50 million deaths, and a couple nukes later...

All because of tea.

Fine idea, plaguesville.

Any other interesting scenarios for WWIII?

That's the trouble nowadays. No one can have his or her own little, mostly harmless hobby without other people interfering and spoiling it. If it weren't against the rules, it would make me spit.

Thinks: (bridging two fora) how many witches would you have to burn to distil Boston Harbour and make a decent cuppa with boiling water?

Sliding the forum sideways a little (O.K., then, sliding it sideways a lot), has anyone from the States seen 'The Patriot' (starring Mel Gibson) yet. It opens over here in a couple of weeks and I'm wondering whether to go and see it. The trailers make it look quite interesting, but they also make it look like 'Weren't the British nasty to us a couple of hundred years ago.' I don't know much about American history, although I recently bought a book on the War of Independence which I haven't read yet. I just don't like Hollywood playing around with history generally (which is why I refuse to watch 'U-571' EVER!)

The British didn't lose the war between 1775-1783. It was that those Prussian mercenaries were just not up to the job of subdueing a few Brits abaord,just like the Belgum police a few weeks a go,they panicked and over reacted. Perhaps then it was the British that won the war of independence for the Americans?. Just the first of many then in that case.
sorry i forgot what the date is tomorrow.

The Fourth of July
(as any fule kno)
is Louis Armstrong's official birthday.

He was actually born in August, and a year or two earlier than he always claimed but that's no reason why the whole world shouldn't celebrate the date he preferred.

If Her Britannic Majesty can have an official birthday, so should the world's favourite Uncle Tom.
Ooooooooooooohhhhhhh!
Sorry, I think he really was a great musician, the thought above belonged to others.

If you've ever been tempted to read the instructions on a tea packet....... (ducks the vegetable missiles and cries of "Get a life") you'll see that it is recommended to stir in the pot while the tea is mashing.
On my trip to Heathrow yesterday I stopped for tea at Debenhams in Lincoln (because they have a super view of the cathedral from their restaurant window). The pot, ostensibly for one, has the makings of three cups in it. The first cupful had the milk in first and was stirred clockwise, the second had the tea in first (on top of the previous dregs) and was stirred anticlockwise.The third cupful was too cold to drink, so didn't get any milk or stirring. This confusion is symbolic of my general mindset
For iced tea, you should have put some sugar in a jug and poured some of the boiling water that you were using to make the tea onto it. Thus you have already dissolved sugar/syrup when you need it. Keep a supply in the fridge if you drink a lot of it.

I'm delighted to see this one resurfacing, as it is intimately connected with the infinite improbability drive. So I feel that those who have joined in the last couple of years should be given the benefit of this collected wisdom - that's if any of you young whippersnappers have the patience to read the backlog. Share and enjoy.

On behalf of all relative newbies (of which I am still one), thanks for dragging this one back, Star.

We had this very discussion at work, after we'd exhausted the tea being made up a mountain bit, a few years ago.

I actually stir in a figure-of-8 motion, as this means the spoon traverses through more liquid, more efficiently - hence more turbulence. As I have my tea black, this also helps cool it down quicker.

B

No stiring required for me - weak black tea with no sugar

Was always told that the milk should go in first to allow it to warm gently as the near-boiling tea is added, otherwise it gets 'scalded'. Apparently (according to some half-remembered TV show viewed many moons ago) milk-in-first is characteristic of both the lower classes and the very upper classes. Milk in second is a middle class thing so as not to waste milk (don't want to put in too much) and to differentiate themselves from the bottom rungs.



k who actually prefers

That's a very good point, I'm not sure why I bother to stir my (strong) black tea, no sugar. It's not as if needs it.

Something for the left-hand to do while the right one's clicking, I suppose.

B

*wonders why Master B's right hand is clicking*

Are you doing anything strenuous with it that might be giving you a touch of RSI?

Goddamn it - I'm not rude all the time. I meant the mouse.

B

The only drinks I have that need stirring are coffee & cocoa.
I stir briefly to ensure that the coffee granules are dissolved, then add milk & twist again.
I'm predominantly an anti-clockwise stirrer, but occasionally change direction or go across stirring something like a pan of gravy or bowl of cake mix.

Now my tea & coffee drinking other half rarely uses a spoon at all - just tips tea bag/coffee granules in cup, sloshes in milk, then water. Result - grainy mess. But he drinks it.

I usually stir mine clockwise with my right hand - always with sugar, with milk when I have some . I do, however, tend to switch directions every few spins to create some turbulance and get things mixed up properly.

Kelli,

"No stiring required for me - weak black tea with no sugar "

BUT ... just think what effect the exercise would have when added to your current regime.

yeah - thumb and finger strength is often overlooked in any training regime...

clockwise: right hand