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

UK: Being exdirectory
US: Be on no-call list

I thought we decided that exdirectory meant your number was unlisted - meaning it's not in the phone book and the operator can't give your number out to anyone.

Unlisted then.

i don't know that it makes much difference, but as it took me awhile to figure this out and i found the information worthwhile i'll share it anyway.

in the us you can have your phone number unlisted, which means it will not appear in phone directories for anyone to look up. however anyone still wishing to reach you can simply dial directory assistance and with your name and city (not even a specific address unless there are several of you in a given area) an operator can look up your number for anyone who asks.

it is also possible to have your number *unpublished*, which prevents directory assistance from being able to give out your number. unfortunately some phone companies (mine, anyway) charge a small fee for an unpublished number, an average charge is probably between $1-2 a month.

i have noticed tho, that having an unpublished number does not prevent online directories from publishing your phone number, address, and any other pertinent information they can dig up on you. i'm not sure how to stay off these directories, how to get off of them once you're listed, or how many of them even exist.

what kind of listings does 'exdirectory' cover?

Due to privacy laws, no-one is allowed to get your no. if you are exdirectory, I think. Only the police, the people you give it to(like gas co.s and stuff and friends) and weirdos can call you I think.

Although I have done no resaerch so don't trust a word I say.

Nougat

UK: nuuuu gaaaaaar
US: nu gat(?)

UK: Conker
US: Buck-eye?

I have no idea... what's a conker?

Seed of a horse chestnut Æsculus hippocastanum. Deep (chestnut ) brown about 1 - 2 inches across. Grows in two or three within a spiky protective green ball of a seed case.

http://www.rfs.org.uk/thirdlevel.asp?ThirdLevel=63&SecondLevel=34
has a picture of the seedcase and seed

Autumn schoolboy game is to have a few on a string about 6-8 inches long and bash it against your opponents Conker. Winner is still intact. One which has broken several other conkers is known as a two-er, fiv-er etc. Conker is presumably from conqueror.

Various arcane secret formulae exist to marinade the conker to make it stronger. Some may even work

A657623 Conkers

actually tho, the conker on the page you linked to looked more like a ball off a sweet gum tree...

*off to do a bit of research...*

this is the best picture i could find, doesn't look quite the same, but the picture on the horse chestnut page is just a cutaway drawing so it was kind of hard to tell.

http://www.mattoon.k12.il.us/hawthorne/Tie-In%20Trees/Sweet%20Gum%20Fruit.html

Broe, your picture is definitely from a gumball tree.

We had a chestnut tree in my front yard where I grew up, so I'm very familiar with what they look like... and how spikey the pods are... The picture of that hardly does it justice!

I remember seeing that entry about conkers, too - I don't know that we have a similar game here, but then I don't know everything.

What are Buckeyes then? Am I right in thinkiing they're Conkers?

This site suggests that horse chestnuts are part of the buckeye family and has lots of nice pics to show the various members.

http://www.cdr3.com/buckeyes/

Ain'y googling fun

Yay I got another one then.

ah, yes, now i see it... and i see how i was confused by the drawing on the other page. i've seen buckeyes before, but i'd never seen the spiky shell.

and not that it has much to add, but for the sake of completeness: A476787

They say soaking in vinegar is a strength inducig charm that works. However baking is cheating. Also where you bore the hole is very important.

Darn it I had another one that I've forgotten.