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

QI the Japanese vs the French
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKhGI_-tcmU&feature=related

...yes, that's it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKhGI_-tcmU&feature=related

At about 1:30 mins in.

Why would a French soldier be a good person to have by your side?
Out of 168 battles since the fourth century BC the French have won 109, lost 40 and drawn 10.

How on earth to you draw a battle?....sounds like cricket

Effers, he was a survival specialist. His study at the Sorbonne completed, ready to become a frocked priest, he was full member of the French Mafia and in winter, when tithes were not so good, when he couldn´t get a job as tutor or poet at court, he moonlighted as pimp.

He sounds like quite an interesting person.

**

When I was in French Guiana which is mostly equatorial rain forest...there were plenty of French Foreign Legion there for training.

If the French aren't such great soldiers..you can see why they set up the Foreign Legion.

The Foreign Legion, when founded, was a political decision. They have long been part of their regular forces, but it´s very hard to get in.
From parachuting to roadbuilding, they are expected to be perfect at whatever - and if you aren´t, don´t apply.

I won't apply.

<>

Good question .
All I know is that contrary to what many think, Stevie Fry says the statistics indicate that they have been very good soldiers for most of their history. If this is true, it makes British successes against the French more impressive. It wouldn't be much to our credit if our triumphs had been against rubbish opposition, would it?

A Turkish friend once asked me who the main enemies of the English had been in history. When I told him it was the French he was all disdainful, like, "The French, but they suck at war, don't they?" But in fact, if it's facts we're interested in here, they've chalked up an impressive array of victories over the years, as well as some, er, draws.

The one's with the worst reputation are the Italians though.

And if Stephen Fry says something I will always sit up and listen.

A draw is always the most interesting result in cricket though - but that's cricket of course, which is something very special indeed that we invented.

>>..if Britain had been invaded, would we have made
as effective a guerilla force as the French? <<


I remember a book published back in the 70s that
revealed many there-to-fore secret plans for a
British Resistance. Short wave radios were hidden
in every pulpit, machine gun nests in the middle
of carnival carousels, armoured ice-cram vans...
It was mind-blowing to see pictures of prototypes
and actual installations! Job one was to re-arrange
all the road signs, turn them round so the arrow
to London pointed to Manchester and vice-versa.

Ah the age of secret weapons!
When every backyard tinkerer could create mayhem.
Them was good times.

"I was out in the garden planting deadly nightshade
for the Bosch when the wife comes out and says that
rationing has been imposed. Never you mind my dear
I says, you go put on kettle and we'll have a nice
hot cup of boiling water." - Beyond The Fringe (1961)

~jwf~

Hmm. Long portions of this thread devoted to the British genetic and linguistic heritage and to various historical events from Agincourt to the Napoleonic Wars to WWII.

What I fail to grasp is why anyone would make an issue out of any of these.

Thoughts?

We're being playful.

This place needs more of it, if it is to flourish.

>>If the French aren't such great soldiers..you can see why they set up the Foreign Legion.

Take a peek at the composition of the British army. Its backbone is mercenaries from Nepal, Fiji, the West Indies...



Largest volunteer army in history? Indian army, WWII.



Is there still a Belgian Foreign Legion? Remember they were deployed in the Katanga Crisis?

I wasn't disparaging playfulness, Frs. It was a serious question:

Are anti-French people really het up over the things that have been discussed? It's not like they're things that are still affecting anyone's lives, surely?

What anti French people?

<>

Aren't we supposed to be encouraging diversity?

And aren't all public sector jobs open to members of the Commonwealth?

here's a video that shows you how to make french toast.

Of course there's a silly advert at the beginning..but I'm going to make some.

http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-make-french-toast

I am quite happy that we didn't plumb the depths of the what's wrong with the French thread this time round.

Probably because Alec has slung his hook.

sprout

Me:
<>

swl:
>>Aren't we supposed to be encouraging diversity?

>>And aren't all public sector jobs open to members of the Commonwealth?


There was no criticism of British policy implied. Simply a comparison to the diversity of the French Foreign Legion. Incidentally - note that as soon as someone has served in the Legion they become a French citizen. This is not true of the UK armed forces.

A few *tiny* points, not intended as pedantry, but merely to illustrate the complexity:

- Nepal is not a commonwealth country.

- Neither is Ireland, yet Irish citizens may join up.

- For some Commonwealth countries, there may be a requirement of a period of residence in the UK.

- *I'm not sure of this*) For some, the home country may require a renunciation of citizenship. Something in the back of my mind is telling me that Pakistan is one such.*

http://www.army.mod.uk/join/20149.aspx

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article589974.ece




* I welcome, as does swl, the opportunities the British Army provides to Commonwealth citizens. However, I'll admit that while Pakistan clearly represents a fertile recruitment ground, there may be pragmatic reasons why it has not been the focus for large-scale recruitment. Besides - they're in and out all the time.