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

I just had to look up how to pronounce Ypres. That's one of those words that i'd only ever read and never heard pronounced (that I was aware of).

There should be a word for words you've read, but never heard pronounced. Sinecure is another word that until recently I'd never heard pronounced properly. (I had it completely wrong. I was thinking it might be SEE-nuh-KOO-ray when it's actually SIGN-uh-cure.)

We have terms like Baader-Meinhoff Phenomenon, so there should be a term for this.

Should we call it the Ypres effect? Is so should we pronounce it EE-press or Wipers?

I know how the Brits will pronounce it. I'd go with the French version:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gvJuHjUm2A

When I was about 10, I read something about architecture. I pronounced the word 'facade' as 'Fak-AID'.

About the same age, I read one of those Enid Blyton books. I wondered why one of the characters was an 'in-VAL-id'. I thought that wasn't a very nice thing to say about him just because he couldn't walk.

Yes, we need a word for this. I like Ypres Effect.

By the way, Gheorgheni:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0lfHTTzZJE

EE-per is the French pronunciation.

More like EE-pruh

You are right, Gnomon. I should know the International Phonetic Alphabet, but have been too lazy to learn it.

The IPA is only really useful between linguists. I don't use it often enough to remember what the symbols mean.

My weekend in Brussels was very enjoyable, despite the fact that it rained non-stop of Saturday and Monday. It was cloudy and dark the rest of the time so I didn't take many photographs.

Belgian beer is interesting. I tried three different types:

- lambic, which is a sort of mild, fruity, slightly bitter drink. It's made without adding any yeast, the yeast coming naturally from the atmosphere of the brewery.
- gueuze is a slightly fizzy, very bitter version of lambic. I didn't like it much but it was worth a try
- Trappist Chimay is a very dark, sweetish beer made by Trappist monks.

I went with my brother on a few sight-seeing tours - the Museum aan de Stroom in Antwerp plus a walk around the town; the town of Leuven (known historically as Louvain); and the Atomium, that great 1950s tribute to a glorious atomic future.

How were the pastries? I remember rich, decadent pastries everywhere I went when I toured Europe in 1970. Didn't get to Belgium, though. The pastry issue could determine whether I decide to go there some day.

There are waffles... There are always waffles in Belgium...

I didn't notice the pastries.

Belgium is famous for its fried potatoes, which Americans call "French Fries". The Belgians claim they are not French but Belgian and everything is served with fries. They're certainly very good, although different from the "chips" that you get in Ireland and the UK.

The other great Belgian specialty is the waffle. There are waffle shops everywhere.

Also eclairs, Danish pastries, tarts filled with cream cheese, beignets, pies of all descriptions, and variations on gingerbread and cookies. Sounds like a full menu

The German Army got tired of pommes frites at every meal at NATO HQ in Brussels. They used to complain to me.

Have you noticed how large the cats in Belgium are? Elektra always claimed they had 'pommefrite-itis'.

I remember the Monty Python insults directed toward Belgians. I think the joke was that there is so little to dislike about Belgians that they are therefor all the more deserving of dislike .

I thought it was the Hitchhiker's Guide that Belgium was a dirty word. Oh dear -

Turns out to be both.

The Monty Python version:

http://www.ibras.dk/montypython/episode37.htm

"Miserable fat Belgian b*****ds."

The American edition of the Hitchhiker's Guide had a section on "Belgum" being the ultimate insult.

Yeah... Specifically because the publishers were balking at the use of the word, .

Reasons to dislike the Belgians:

1. They put mayonnaise on French fries
2. Doctor Evil is from Belgium
3. They stole America's beer Budweiser when Anheuser-Busch was bought by a Belgian company
4. They can't seem to pick one language and stick with it
5. They gave the world Brussels sprouts, the worst-tasting veggie ever!
6. They inflicted King Leopold II on the Belgian Congo. he was cruel and murderous.
7. Their record on gender equality is not good
8. If you like nightlife, despair, because chances of finding any commercial establishment open after 7:00 p.m. are grim!
9. Even Belgians admit that customer service is terrible
10. With so many languages, street names have to be in multiple languages.
11. Disagreement is so common that it's hard to form a government.
12. The symbol of Brussells is a statue of a little boy urinating.

But, but, but.....There are times I get so bored that I'd gladly spend a week or two in Belgium. It wouldn't get tiresome in such a short time, would it?