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

Hi Jordan, I've been giving your fascinating George Washington entry.

I haven't yet read it all, but I thought I post here as I go along.

Just a couple of points so far:


>>thaw him in water<< was he frozen?

You have these two versions of the book title:

Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation

Rules of Civility and Decent Behaviour in Company and Conversation


I found both on google, so do I take it that it should be American spelling, i.e. behavior?

Oh, and your entry is at: A38426231

No, I don't think he was frozen in the traditional sense. But a dead body does sort of... freeze up in a way . The rigor mortis and whatnot. I think the goal was to use warm water to make his body less stiff. I'm not really an expert in human anatomy (I was a bit reticent in using that opening, because I was forced to basically copy the doctor's account word for word in places, or risk using medical terms I don't really understand. I decided to use it because I wanted to bring up the image of a Zombie George Washington ). Are there any better words to use? Thaw probably isn't the best word choice.

The reason for the inconsistency, I think, is that I copy-and-pasted the West Wing quote from another website (which probably transcribed the quote phonetically). Noah Webster had published his "American English" dictionary yet, and it was apparently a British translation anyways, so it's safe to say that this most American of Americans spelled like a Briton "Behaviour" is correct, and I would correct the quote from The West Wing.

Actually, if you'll forgive a bit of ranting, Washington's spelling was awful through most of his life. He was incredibly sensitive about his lack of education, and in later life he actually went back through his correspondence and writings, correcting his misspellings. So historians looking through his papers are constantly reminded of his sensitivity.

Oh, I see. It's just because he died in December that I wondered if he was actually frozen. Do you think it's worth a footnote pointing out that this was about the rigor mortis, or do you think I'm the only one who wondered about this?

I'll correct the Behavior in the quote.

Oh, and I do understand Washington's sensitivity about his spelling, I feel pretty much the same about vocabulary/grammar when I look at my first postings here from a few years ago.

I often feel the same way when I look at postings of my own from a month ago. I try not to look at my old entries. They can be quite embarrassing to read

I try to avoid footnotes where possible. Perhaps another word choice would make it more clear. If "unstiffen" were a word, that would be great Something to the effect of "to make the body less stiff" should be fine, I think.

I think it's more of a modern phenomenon to have your body frozen. There are stories of Walt Disney's head being frozen. And a famous baseball player named Ted Williams apparently wanted to be cryogenically frozen.

Oh, I didn't think of it being artificially frozen, but had the image of him having fallen off his horse somehwere, died through that accident and being found frozen stiff in minus temps.


You know what? I'll just put the 'thaw' in single quotes. (I could try to put 'unstiffen' and see if we'd get away with that. )

Ah!
No, Washington's death was not so dramatic. Different people list different causes for his death. There's the slightly disgusting explanation of a bad case of diarrhea, as well as (and I've never figured this out how this could be fatal) a 'sore throat'.

'thaw' works for me.

Diphteria comes to mind, I think that's combined with a 'sore throat'.
Oh well, whatever the cause of his death, I'd best go and read the rest now.

Yeah, like I said, I have no idea what the medical facts are. All I know is that in one of my books about US Presidents, there's a chart of "causes of death". In Washington's row is, simply, "sore throat". It's always puzzled me.

Don't get your hopes up. The first part of the entry contains the only truly interesting bits.

Well, it's a brilliant start, it drew me in right away.

I'm a bit confused: you talk of two-year terms, when in fact they're four years?

Thanks

Two year terms? Where?
I know I talk about his holding himself to two terms, which became a tradition. But a President's term has always lasted for four years.

Here:

Having been reelected in 1792, Washington voluntarily left office at the conclusion of his second two-year term.

Okay, you're right. That's embarrassing. It should absolutely be "his second four-year term". I must have somehow mixed up the 'two' with the 'second'. Thanks for catching that one.

That's what the sub-eds are for.

I sometimes wonder if it is more an advantage than a disadvantage that I'm no native speaker. It certainly makes me read things very thoroughly and question everything I'm not sure about - however silly that may look to others.

I've gone through it again, and it's ready as far as I'm concerned.

Let me know whether I can return it to the eds.

Yeah... thoroughness and attention to detail are not one of my better qualities in writing. It's always something I've missed.

I'm ready whenever you are.

It's gone now.

As for thoroughness and attention to detail: I'm German, according to common belief it must be in my genes or something.

I often miss things while reading/writing, I just try not miss anything to while subbing, though.

I was a sub once. I was truly awful at it. I had trouble with keeping myself within the bounds of British English. Also, I tend to ignore the rules which I think are stupid. I don't really have the temperament to be a subbie.

I'm placid.

Well, at least as far as subbing is concerned.

I don't have any problem with the rules, they are very good guide lines for me. I might agree with you if I was a native speaker, though.

It's gone pending yesterday, and it has a blob, so I guess it won't be long until it hits the FP. To be honest, that statue could be anybody (well, to me) - or is there something which makes it recognisable for Americans if seen like in the photo?