Graeme Thomas RIP
John J. Chew III
contributor Graeme Thomas. Graeme was killed in a car accident
earlier today, and is being mourned by his family and the tournament
Scrabble community, of which he was an influential member.
John
--
John Chew (poslfit on MD) * jjc...@math.utoronto.ca * http://www.poslfit.com
tinwhistler
John J. Chew III wrote:
> It is with deep sorrow that I must report the death of longtime AUE
> contributor Graeme Thomas.
Very sad news. I'm setting out his last posting from two days ago as a
sort of memorial:
From: Graeme Thomas - view profile
Date: Thurs, Nov 2 2006 8:38 pm
Email: Graeme Thomas <gra...@graemet.demon.co.uk>
Groups: alt.usage.english
In article <noz2h.8416$Wy6.1689@trnddc01>, Roland Hutchinson
<my.spamt...@verizon.net> writes
>Michael J Hardy wrote:
>> Is that actually dying out? -- Mike Hardy
>It's pretty much dead in Britain,
No it isn't. It is widely believed to be pretty much dead in BrE, and
one can find many assertions to that fact on Usenet and the Web, but
that doesn't make it dead. Many UK RR's on this very group use the
subjunctive as a matter of course. I, also, use it.
It is dying and old-fashioned, and I would no longer classify the
indicative as substandard, but the subjunctive is still alive.
>but still standard in the North America.
Quite so.
--
Graeme Thomas
Aloha ~~~ Ozzie Maland ~~~ San Diego
Frances Kemmish
> It is with deep sorrow that I must report the death of longtime AUE
> contributor Graeme Thomas. Graeme was killed in a car accident
> earlier today, and is being mourned by his family and the tournament
> Scrabble community, of which he was an influential member.
>
This is terrible news. I had the privilege of meeting Graeme three years
ago at one of our boinks in London, and he was as charming in person as
he has always been in the newsgroup. He will be sorely missed.
My sympathies to his family, especially to his twin brother - his "idiot
brother" as he used to call him - and to his friends.
Fran
tinwhistler
tinwhistler wrote:
> John J. Chew III wrote:
> > It is with deep sorrow that I must report the death of longtime AUE
> > contributor Graeme Thomas.
>
> Very sad news.
Link to his pic:
the Omrud
> It is with deep sorrow that I must report the death of longtime AUE
> contributor Graeme Thomas. Graeme was killed in a car accident
> earlier today, and is being mourned by his family and the tournament
> Scrabble community, of which he was an influential member.
I'm shocked and saddened - he was one of the gentlemen of AUE. I
read this last night but felt unable to reply until this morning.,
And he was right about the subjunctive.
--
David
=====
Wood Avens
jjc...@coxeter.math.toronto.edu (John J. Chew III) wrote:
>It is with deep sorrow that I must report the death of longtime AUE
>contributor Graeme Thomas. Graeme was killed in a car accident
>earlier today, and is being mourned by his family and the tournament
>Scrabble community, of which he was an influential member.
This is a shock. I'm very sorry to hear this.
He had a particular and unique way with words, one of the AUE
contributors who could be immediately recognised without the need for
the headers or the signature. I'll miss his style and his expertise
and his dry wit. I'd got very accustomed, too, to meeting him at
boinks in Oxford and in London, and it's hard to believe he won't be
there any longer.
And as David the Omrud says, he was quite right about the subjunctive.
--
Katy Jennison
spamtrap: remove the first two letters after the @
John Holmes
> contributor Graeme Thomas. Graeme was killed in a car accident
> earlier today, and is being mourned by his family and the tournament
> Scrabble community, of which he was an influential member.
That is very sad news. I will greatly miss the erudition and playful
humour of his posts here.
My sympathies to all his family, friends and colleagues.
--
Regards
John
for mail: my initials plus a u e
at tpg dot com dot au
LFS
> contributor Graeme Thomas. Graeme was killed in a car accident
> earlier today, and is being mourned by his family and the tournament
> Scrabble community, of which he was an influential member.
>
> John
This is very sad news indeed. Graeme's contributions to aue were always
worth reading and he significantly extended my vocabulary. He was a
regular boink attender and his gentle banter contributed greatly to the
fun of those occasions, to which he always wore his treasured aue T
shirt. He was always ready to offer an entertaining and inventive
solution to problems placed before him and he made light of his own
challenges. He will be greatly missed.
My deepest sympathy goes to his family, especially his twin brother.
--
Laura
(emulate St. George for email)
Peter Duncanson
<fkem...@optonline.net> wrote:
>John J. Chew III wrote:
>
>> It is with deep sorrow that I must report the death of longtime AUE
>> contributor Graeme Thomas. Graeme was killed in a car accident
>> earlier today, and is being mourned by his family and the tournament
>> Scrabble community, of which he was an influential member.
>>
>
>This is terrible news. I had the privilege of meeting Graeme three years
>ago at one of our boinks in London, and he was as charming in person as
>he has always been in the newsgroup. He will be sorely missed.
Yes. It is terrible news.
>My sympathies to his family, especially to his twin brother - his "idiot
>brother" as he used to call him - and to his friends.
This aue. I'm sure Graeme would appreciate a correction. He called
his brother his Idiot Sibling, as in:
On Mon, 12 Dec 2005 22:50:46 +0000, Graeme Thomas
<gra...@graemet.demon.co.uk> wrote:
...
>My Idiot Sibling studied chemistry to degree level. One of his exam
>questions during that time (possibly on the entrance exam) concerned the
>Flixborough explosion.
--
Peter Duncanson, UK
(in alt.usage.english)
Peter Duncanson
<fkem...@optonline.net> wrote:
This is a repeat reply with a missing word inserted.
>John J. Chew III wrote:
>
>> It is with deep sorrow that I must report the death of longtime AUE
>> contributor Graeme Thomas. Graeme was killed in a car accident
>> earlier today, and is being mourned by his family and the tournament
>> Scrabble community, of which he was an influential member.
>>
>
>This is terrible news. I had the privilege of meeting Graeme three years
>ago at one of our boinks in London, and he was as charming in person as
>he has always been in the newsgroup. He will be sorely missed.
Yes. It is terrible news.
>My sympathies to his family, especially to his twin brother - his "idiot
>brother" as he used to call him - and to his friends.
This is aue. I'm sure Graeme would appreciate a correction. He
Frances Kemmish
> On Sat, 04 Nov 2006 19:47:58 -0500, Frances Kemmish
> <fkem...@optonline.net> wrote:
>
>>My sympathies to his family, especially to his twin brother - his "idiot
>>brother" as he used to call him - and to his friends.
>
>
> This is aue. I'm sure Graeme would appreciate a correction. He
> called his brother his Idiot Sibling, as in:
>
<quotation snipped>
Thank you Peter; you are right, of course.
Fran
Mike Lyle
Like David, I couldn't find it in me to reply till today. It's
appalling to lose such a warm and lively spirit, and it wasn't easy to
believe. I usually thought of Graeme when I was stuck on an anagram in
the crossword, and now I suppose I shall always do so.
My heartfelt sympathy to all those near to him.
--
Mike.
Tony Cooper
Sibling". It seems that his brother was pretty sharp judging by:
Shortest reported game by a League member:
It was between Graeme Thomas and his brother Steve. Graeme asked Steve
"Do you want a game of Scrabble?".
Steve replied "No!".
http://www.btinternet.com/~m.d.pratesi/mp/LondonScrabbleLeaguehonours.html
--
Tony Cooper
Orlando, FL
Peter Duncanson
<tony_co...@earthlink.net> wrote:
>I always wondered why Graeme referred to his brother as his "Idiot
>Sibling".
Me too. Perhaps it is similar to a tall person being called
"shorty", or perhaps the Sibling did something many years ago that
was idiotic and never to be forgotten.
> It seems that his brother was pretty sharp judging by:
>
>
>Shortest reported game by a League member:
>
>It was between Graeme Thomas and his brother Steve. Graeme asked Steve
>"Do you want a game of Scrabble?".
>Steve replied "No!".
>
>http://www.btinternet.com/~m.d.pratesi/mp/LondonScrabbleLeaguehonours.html
--
Paul Wolff
<jjc...@coxeter.math.toronto.edu> writes
>It is with deep sorrow that I must report the death of longtime AUE
>contributor Graeme Thomas. Graeme was killed in a car accident
>earlier today, and is being mourned by his family and the tournament
>Scrabble community, of which he was an influential member.
>
hope will get to see these messages), to the postings of others here.
I liked Graeme and will miss him.
--
Paul
CDB
> contributor Graeme Thomas. Graeme was killed in a car accident
> earlier today, and is being mourned by his family and the tournament
> Scrabble community, of which he was an influential member.
I'm so sorry. He was someone whose posts were always worth the
reading.
HVS
> It is with deep sorrow that I must report the death of longtime
> AUE contributor Graeme Thomas. Graeme was killed in a car
> accident earlier today, and is being mourned by his family and
> the tournament Scrabble community, of which he was an
> influential member.
I met him just the once, at a London boink; he seemed a sincerely
good-hearted sort.
My heart goes out to his family, as an out-of-the-blue loss like that
is, I find, particularly difficult to come to terms with.
--
Cheers, Harvey
Canadian and British English, indiscriminately mixed
For e-mail, change harvey.news to harvey.van
John J. Chew III
Peter Duncanson <ma...@peterduncanson.net> wrote:
>On Sun, 05 Nov 2006 13:27:25 GMT, Tony Cooper
><tony_co...@earthlink.net> wrote:
>
>>I always wondered why Graeme referred to his brother as his "Idiot
>>Sibling".
I always assumed it was because Steve plays many different types
of board games but not Scrabble, but suspect now that it went deeper
than that, as Googling revealed the reflexivity of the relationship:
http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/danemaslen/danesgames/030.htm
(wherein Steve refers to Graeme as his Idiot Sibling).
Robert Lieblich
I echo what Laura said. Sharon and I met Graeme at two boinks, and
each time both of us were impressed with his erudition, his humor, his
graciousness. I've been skipping a lot of threads lately, but I'd
look for his posts before marking a thread marked. Whatever he said,
no matter the topic, was worth reading. It was somehow appropriate
that in this aggregation of people so interested in language, he was
the Scrabble champion and, in his work on word lists, the one among us
who was closest to the raw materials of the English language.
He leaves a gap in this group that no one will ever fill. I can only
imagine the size of the gap he leaves in his family. I hope their
memories of him will ease their pain.
--
Bob Lieblich
Peter Duncanson
jjc...@coxeter.math.toronto.edu (John J. Chew III) wrote:
>In article <r7qrk2l3hib8ctqob...@4ax.com>,
>Peter Duncanson <ma...@peterduncanson.net> wrote:
>>On Sun, 05 Nov 2006 13:27:25 GMT, Tony Cooper
>><tony_co...@earthlink.net> wrote:
>>
>>>I always wondered why Graeme referred to his brother as his "Idiot
>>>Sibling".
>
>I always assumed it was because Steve plays many different types
>of board games but not Scrabble, but suspect now that it went deeper
>than that, as Googling revealed the reflexivity of the relationship:
>
>http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/danemaslen/danesgames/030.htm
>
>(wherein Steve refers to Graeme as his Idiot Sibling).
Ah yes. It looks like mutual denigration of the affectionate kind.
Marius Hancu
My heartfelt condolences to the family.
Marius Hancu
Maria
> It is with deep sorrow that I must report the death of longtime AUE
> contributor Graeme Thomas. Graeme was killed in a car accident
> earlier today, and is being mourned by his family and the tournament
> Scrabble community, of which he was an influential member.
Graeme will certainly be missed -- and remembered -- in a.u.e. He was
knowledgeable, witty, and gracious -- always worth reading.
About his (and his brother's) birthday:
Begin quote, from this past summer (2006)===
"My brother and I always had to share our birthday party. It seemed
unfair to us -- other people got a birthday each, and enjoyed everyone
else's, but we only had the one.
"I can't remember when we came up with the obvious solution. We now
celebrate our birthdays twice a year, in January and July. The January
birthday party celebrates our odd birthday, as then our combined ages
makes an odd number. The July birthday party -- due in just three weeks
-- is our even birthday."===end quote.
And with added detail, another quote===
"My brother and I were born in July. In January we are therefore n.5
years old, for some n; together we are 2n+1 years old, which is the
cause for celebration. 2n+1 is an odd number, and therefore we call our
January celebrations our odd birthday. (It's also a peculiar sort of
birthday, as well.)
"In July we are each n years old, and therefore together we are 2n years
old. That's our even birthday..."
"We shall celebrate our centennial* in three weeks' time. We are
looking
forward to receiving our telegram from HM the Q. ===end quote
* If you've paid attention, you realize that they were, individually, 50
years old, which means they were, together, 100 years told.
I shall miss Graeme, and wish I'd had the opportunity to meet him in RL,
and not just in the group. My condolences to his family.
--
Maria
LFS
> In article <r7qrk2l3hib8ctqob...@4ax.com>,
> Peter Duncanson <ma...@peterduncanson.net> wrote:
>
>>On Sun, 05 Nov 2006 13:27:25 GMT, Tony Cooper
>><tony_co...@earthlink.net> wrote:
>>
>>
>>>I always wondered why Graeme referred to his brother as his "Idiot
>>>Sibling".
>
>
> I always assumed it was because Steve plays many different types
> of board games but not Scrabble, but suspect now that it went deeper
> than that, as Googling revealed the reflexivity of the relationship:
>
> http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/danemaslen/danesgames/030.htm
>
> (wherein Steve refers to Graeme as his Idiot Sibling).
>
I had the impression that this term was used between them in a very
affectionate way.
I have been searching unsuccessfully for the invitation Graeme sent me
to his and Steve's "centennial" birthday celebration, which sadly I was
unable to attend. It included an agenda for discussion over dinner which
contained at least three words that I had to look up.
the Omrud
>
> LFS wrote:
> > John J. Chew III wrote:
> > > It is with deep sorrow that I must report the death of longtime AUE
> > > contributor Graeme Thomas. Graeme was killed in a car accident
> > > earlier today, and is being mourned by his family and the tournament
> > > Scrabble community, of which he was an influential member.
> >
> > This is very sad news indeed. Graeme's contributions to aue were always
> > worth reading and he significantly extended my vocabulary. He was a
> > regular boink attender and his gentle banter contributed greatly to the
> > fun of those occasions, to which he always wore his treasured aue T
> > shirt. He was always ready to offer an entertaining and inventive
> > solution to problems placed before him and he made light of his own
> > challenges. He will be greatly missed.
> >
> > My deepest sympathy goes to his family, especially his twin brother.
>
> Like David, I couldn't find it in me to reply till today.
I've been wondering about that. I've come to the conclusion that
replying meant that I accepted it; failing to comment meant it
wasn't real yet.
--
David
=====
Frances Kemmish
I had rather a different experience. I felt the need to say something
right away, although I had trouble finding the words. I am having
trouble now in explaining why I felt that need.
I also spent some time looking for a press report of the accident,
although it was obviously too soon for such a report to be published. As
it was, I found a blog entry by a young family friend of Graeme's
reporting her sense of shock and loss.
Today, another blog - this one kept by a Scrabble player - reports:
"Graeme Thomas, a former chairman of the Association of British Scrabble
Players, had been involved in a fatal car accident on the early hours of
the morning. There had been a severe frost, and it was thought that his
car failed to take a sharp bend and hit a tree."
http://countrystrife.blogspot.com/2006/11/dreadful-year-for-uk-scrabble.html
Fran
Tony Cooper
<la...@DRAGONspira.fsbusiness.co.uk> wrote:
>John J. Chew III wrote:
>
>> In article <r7qrk2l3hib8ctqob...@4ax.com>,
>> Peter Duncanson <ma...@peterduncanson.net> wrote:
>>
>>>On Sun, 05 Nov 2006 13:27:25 GMT, Tony Cooper
>>><tony_co...@earthlink.net> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>I always wondered why Graeme referred to his brother as his "Idiot
>>>>Sibling".
>>
>>
>> I always assumed it was because Steve plays many different types
>> of board games but not Scrabble, but suspect now that it went deeper
>> than that, as Googling revealed the reflexivity of the relationship:
>>
>> http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/danemaslen/danesgames/030.htm
>>
>> (wherein Steve refers to Graeme as his Idiot Sibling).
>>
>
>I had the impression that this term was used between them in a very
>affectionate way.
>
As did I, and it's somewhat disconcerting to see my full comment
snipped. My brother and I have some indelicate terms we use to
describe each other in jest, but they are used purely in brotherly
jest.
John J. Chew III
Frances Kemmish <fkem...@optonline.net> wrote:
>Today, another blog - this one kept by a Scrabble player - reports:
>
>"Graeme Thomas, a former chairman of the Association of British Scrabble
>Players, had been involved in a fatal car accident on the early hours of
>the morning. There had been a severe frost, and it was thought that his
>car failed to take a sharp bend and hit a tree."
>http://countrystrife.blogspot.com/2006/11/dreadful-year-for-uk-scrabble.html
I think the first report online was in the mailing list Graeme ran
for U.K. Scrabble players, which I believe can be viewed without
membership:
http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/uk-scrabble/message/50568
John J. Chew III
LFS <la...@DRAGONspira.fsbusiness.co.uk> wrote:
> I have been searching unsuccessfully for the invitation Graeme sent me
> to his and Steve's "centennial" birthday celebration, which sadly I was
> unable to attend. It included an agenda for discussion over dinner which
> contained at least three words that I had to look up.
He restricted himself to abecedarian verbiagerie in my invitation,
but his reply to my regrets was typical Graeme:
me> Kristen and I regret that we will be unable to attend the celebrations,
me> as we have an appointment with our midwife at 14:30 UTC that day,
me> and in the unlikely event that she gave Kristen written permission to
me> fly in the 36th week of her pregnancy, it would be impossible for us
me> to make it to Addlestone before about about 23:00 local time.
him> It's a pity about the "no fly" rules. It would be nice, in the
him> abstract, to exercise the odd corners of the nationality rules for
him> babies born in international waters. For maximum interest the airline
him> should be neither Canadian nor British. I understand that it is normal
him> airline policy not to charge half-fare for those who arrive mid-flight,
him> just as they don't offer refunds to those who don't make it to the
him> arrivals area.
A mutual friend here in Toronto has suggested that we continue to
celebrate his birthday each year, and I look forward to trading
Graeme stories with her next July.
T.H. Entity
wrought:
>John J. Chew III wrote:
>
>> It is with deep sorrow that I must report the death of longtime AUE
>> contributor Graeme Thomas. Graeme was killed in a car accident
>> earlier today, and is being mourned by his family and the tournament
>> Scrabble community, of which he was an influential member.
>
>Graeme will certainly be missed -- and remembered -- in a.u.e. He was
>knowledgeable, witty, and gracious -- always worth reading.
Indeed. Very sad news indeed.
--
Ross Howard
Robin Bignall
jjc...@coxeter.math.toronto.edu (John J. Chew III) wrote:
>It is with deep sorrow that I must report the death of longtime AUE
>contributor Graeme Thomas. Graeme was killed in a car accident
>earlier today, and is being mourned by his family and the tournament
>Scrabble community, of which he was an influential member.
>
This is awful news. Graeme was the very first AUE poster I met in
person, in 2003. He will be greatly missed here.
--
Robin
Herts, England
Solo Thesailor
> [...]
> About his (and his brother's) birthday:
>
> Begin quote, from this past summer (2006)===
> "My brother and I always had to share our birthday party. It seemed
> unfair to us -- other people got a birthday each, and enjoyed everyone
> else's, but we only had the one.
>
> "I can't remember when we came up with the obvious solution. We now
> celebrate our birthdays twice a year, in January and July. The January
> birthday party celebrates our odd birthday, as then our combined ages
> makes an odd number. The July birthday party -- due in just three weeks
> -- is our even birthday."===end quote.
Being quite new to AUE I thought it wasn't my place to say anything in
this thread. But now I feel moved to share with you that among
thousands of posts, some from tracing back through the archive, this
one from Graeme was one of a few that did quite stand out. I marvelled
at the power of language to portray the character and spirit of those
writers who were unknown to me and whom I'd never met and most likely,
one now definitely, never would meet.
Being unknown to each other I don't know why I feel so saddened by the
news, especially when I read the plain words reporting the accident,
written by his twin brother (on the web page that John J. Chew III
quoted). How much emotion was behind the unspoken words.... The power
of language to affect me was also in words reporting the location of
Hatfield where I used to range, the frost on the road -maybe black ice,
and the all-too-familiar real possibility of going off road hitting
something. I wish there was a way I could help reduce the pain that a
twin brother and the family bear.
--
Solo Thesailor
http://sailingstoriesandtips.blogspot.com
Arcadian Rises
On Nov 5, 8:18 pm, "Solo Thesailor" wrote:
> Being quite new to AUE I thought it wasn't my place to say anything in
> this thread.
Initially I also felt that it's not my place to make any comments here
because I only knew Graeme Thomas from his witty messages and rich
erudition, not personally, like many contributors to this thread did.
However, I feel close enough to many here to extend them my
condoleances for the loss of a friend and fellow boinker. May he rest
in peace.
Sara Lorimer
> It is with deep sorrow that I must report the death of longtime AUE
> contributor Graeme Thomas. Graeme was killed in a car accident
> earlier today, and is being mourned by his family and the tournament
> Scrabble community, of which he was an influential member.
Oh, that's awful. Thank you for letting us know. I'll miss him.
--
SML
Jacqui
> Mike Lyle had it:
> > Like David, I couldn't find it in me to reply till today.
>
> I've been wondering about that. I've come to the conclusion that
> replying meant that I accepted it; failing to comment meant it
> wasn't real yet.
I still can't quite believe it, even after reading the whole thread and
the report from his brother.
I had an important Scrabble-related question at work back in August
(don't ask) - Graeme was the first person I thought of when I wanted
clarification. His responses were both extremely detailed and funny*,
the way I will remember him.
Jac
*Needless to say, he was also *correct*.
Amethyst Deceiver
> It is with deep sorrow that I must report the death of longtime AUE
> contributor Graeme Thomas. Graeme was killed in a car accident
> earlier today, and is being mourned by his family and the tournament
> Scrabble community, of which he was an influential member.
I hope you will be able pass on my condolences to his family, especially
his brother. Graeme was not only a valued contributor to aue, and an
intelligent wit, he was a gentleman who managed to get me home from a
boink late one night despite my inability to tell left from right and
therefore to give precise directions.
I shall miss him.
--
Linz
Wet Yorks via Cambridge, York, London and Watford
My accent may vary
athel...@yahoo
John J. Chew III wrote:
> It is with deep sorrow that I must report the death of longtime AUE
> contributor Graeme Thomas. Graeme was killed in a car accident
> earlier today, and is being mourned by his family and the tournament
> Scrabble community, of which he was an influential member.
>
And thank you, Mr Chew, for realizing that the contributors to AUE
would want to know.
athel
Mike Lyle
Is there a little point-missing going on here? If there is, and if it
isn't on my part, I think Graeme might have been amused; and so gifted
a logodaedalus -- nay, logomagirist -- could no doubt have found a
suitably orotund, not to say sesquipedalian, form of words for a
clementiously castigative rescript. Whether or not the first letters of
"identical twins" suggested the soubriquet, any characterisation would
always face both ways.
--
Mike.
Arcadian Rises
On the same line of thought, could it be baby talk, from the time they
couldn't pronounce "identical"? Nah, "sibling" is more difficult than
"twin".
Well, there is a way to find out if your theory is right: just ask
Graeme's brother, I'm sure he will be happy to explain the private joke.
Arcadian Rises
Amethyst Deceiver wrote:
> John J. Chew III wrote:
> > It is with deep sorrow that I must report the death of longtime AUE
> > contributor Graeme Thomas. Graeme was killed in a car accident
> > earlier today, and is being mourned by his family and the tournament
> > Scrabble community, of which he was an influential member.
>
> I hope you will be able pass on my condolences to his family, especially
> his brother. Graeme was not only a valued contributor to aue, and an
> intelligent wit, he was a gentleman who managed to get me home from a
> boink late one night despite my inability to tell left from right and
> therefore to give precise directions.
>
I know exactly what you mean because I myself cannot give (or follow)
directions.
But someone who is not directionally challenged might read your message
differently: you were so drunk that you couldn't tell left from right
but Graeme was a real gentleman.
K. Edgcombe
the Omrud <usenet...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>I'm shocked and saddened - he was one of the gentlemen of AUE. I
>read this last night but felt unable to reply until this morning.,
>
>And he was right about the subjunctive.
May I echo both of David's sentiments?
I wonder whether someone who knows the family will be reading this newsgroup
and the responses? It would be good to think that our words of appreciation
are reaching someone who might be pleased by them.
Katy
LFS
I've emailed Steve and mentioned the messages here.
LFS
If you go to the Scrabble list:
http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/uk-scrabble/message/50578?o=0
- you can read lots of other similar messages and also Steve's messages
giving further details.
John J. Chew III
athel...@yahoo <athe...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
> And thank you, Mr Chew, for realizing that the contributors to AUE
> would want to know.
You're welcome. Telling a few people about what happened was the
only thing that I could think to do when I first heard about it.
Now, I've also resolved to be a bit more like Graeme, at least
insofar as I can try to be more of a helpful pedant.
John J. Chew III
K. Edgcombe <ke...@cus.cam.ac.uk> wrote:
> I wonder whether someone who knows the family will be reading this newsgroup
> and the responses? It would be good to think that our words of appreciation
> are reaching someone who might be pleased by them.
Graeme's IS, Steve, is a member of the uk-scrabble mailing list, and
someone posted a link to the Google Groups edition of this thread
there yesterday, so I expect that he has or will be reading the
postings here.
Steve posted a little more about the accident today at
http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/uk-scrabble/message/50665
which should be of help to those who can find comfort in learning
all that they can about a tragedy, but may be disturbing to others.
He added that the funeral will be "probably next week, and probably in
or near Lytham St Annes, Lancs", that he would post information about
it as soon as it was available, and responded to several requests for
his parents' address. I'll forward the funeral details here if no
one else does.
Daniel al-Autistiqui
>It is with deep sorrow that I must report the death of longtime AUE
>contributor Graeme Thomas. Graeme was killed in a car accident
>earlier today, and is being mourned by his family and the tournament
>Scrabble community, of which he was an influential member.
>
>John
"Lo! some we loved, the loveliest and best
That Time and Fate of all their Vintage prest,
Have drunk their Cup a Round or two before,
And one by one crept silently to Rest."
- Edward FitzGerald, _Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám_
Personally, I am not very saddened by this news. In my mind Graeme
was only a "minor" poster. I never thought of him much, let alone
cared greatly about him. I don't even remember seeing that many posts
from him.
daniel mcgrath
--
Daniel Gerard McGrath, a/k/a "Govende":
for e-mail replace "invalid" with "com"
Developmentally disabled;
has Autism (Pervasive Developmental Disorder),
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder,
& periodic bouts of depression.
[This signature is under construction.]
Peter Duncanson
<gove...@hotmail.invalid> wrote:
>On Sat, 4 Nov 2006 22:52:44 +0000 (UTC),
>jjc...@coxeter.math.toronto.edu (John J. Chew III) wrote:
>
>>It is with deep sorrow that I must report the death of longtime AUE
>>contributor Graeme Thomas. Graeme was killed in a car accident
>>earlier today, and is being mourned by his family and the tournament
>>Scrabble community, of which he was an influential member.
>>
>>John
>
>"Lo! some we loved, the loveliest and best
>That Time and Fate of all their Vintage prest,
> Have drunk their Cup a Round or two before,
>And one by one crept silently to Rest."
>- Edward FitzGerald, _Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám_
>
>Personally, I am not very saddened by this news. In my mind Graeme
>was only a "minor" poster. I never thought of him much, let alone
>cared greatly about him. I don't even remember seeing that many posts
>from him.
>
Different people react differently.
Some people in a.u.e have met him personally -- face to face.
Others know him only from his postings here. Those who enjoyed his
postings might agree that he was a "minor" poster in terms of the
quantity of his posts. However, they would say that, to them, the
quality of his posts was higher than that of some other more
frequent posters.
Many years ago I was in a bed in a public ward in a hospital. I
think there were about ten beds in the room. I had a virus infection
which gave me a high fever -- I was in a daze and not taking much
notice of my surroundings. Another patient died suddenly. After the
nurses and doctors had tried to revive him, and then removed his
body, a senior nurse came round to speak to each of us individually.
She asked me whether I was distressed and upset by the man's death.
I said "Not really". She walked away muttering to herself, sounding
offended, before I could explain that I was in a dream-like state,
and that nothing was affecting my state of mind very much.
I am saddened by the death of Graham Thomas, but not as saddened as
those who knew him better. I respect their sadness and grief, even
though I don't share it fully.
There is nothing wrong with reacting differently, Daniel.
--
Peter Duncanson, UK
(in alt.usage.english)
T.H. Entity
>On Sat, 4 Nov 2006 22:52:44 +0000 (UTC),
>jjc...@coxeter.math.toronto.edu (John J. Chew III) wrote:
>
>>It is with deep sorrow that I must report the death of longtime AUE
>>contributor Graeme Thomas. [...]
>
>Personally, I am not very saddened by this news. In my mind Graeme
>was only a "minor" poster. I never thought of him much, let alone
>cared greatly about him.
>
>I don't even remember seeing that many posts
>from him.
According to Google Groups stats he made over twice as many posts here
as you have to date.
--
Ross Howard
Garry J. Vass
news:eij5js$9nv$1...@news.math.toronto.edu...
> It is with deep sorrow that I must report the death of longtime AUE
> earlier today, and is being mourned by his family and the tournament
> Scrabble community, of which he was an influential member.
>
Stunned.
I met Graeme at a boink in the Pontefract Castle, in 1998. He was a solid
aue civilian who acted as loving midwife to the birth of the aue website and
to such playful flights of fancy as the [=SDC=].
Saddened by this sudden loss. I'll send flowers on behalf of aue tomorrow.
Wood Avens
>Saddened by this sudden loss. I'll send flowers on behalf of aue tomorrow.
Will you accept contributions towards the flowers?
--
Katy Jennison
spamtrap: remove the first two letters after the @
Mark Brader
of a memorial, here are a few of his stories that I find in my files,
mostly in chronological order, plus a couple of witty non-story postings
at the end of the list.
(These should be considered as excerpts. As well as compressing the
headers, I've generally eliminated signatures, quoted text, and in some
cases other things said in the same posting.)
************************************************************************
* From: g...@uniplex.co.uk (Graeme Thomas)
* Newsgroups: alt.folklore.computers
* Subject: Re: Big short circuits?
* Message-ID: <CDp7z...@uniplex.co.uk>
* Date: 21 Sep 93 10:04:44 GMT
Long, long ago, at an organization that had better remain nameless, a
torpedo motor was being tested. The drive shaft was connected to a
generator; the output from the generator was taken along a pair of
busbars across the ceiling to an adjacent room, where the power was
dissipated in a vat of brine. The torpedo motor and generator were in
a very strongly built room (for safety), and the busbars crossed a
corridor to get to the brine room.
One day a painter walked by, just as the test was at its height. He
accidentally shorted his 10 foot aluminium ladder against the busbars.
The shock made him drop the ladder, but by that time it had welded
itself to the busbars. When the fuss had died down, he only had a 6
foot ladder left.
Meanwhile, in the test room, the motor tore itself off the test bed,
and hurled itself across the room. The test engineers were rather glad
that the room had been *very* strongly built.
When the setup was replaced, they put a box around the busbars, so that
it couldn't happen again.
************************************************************************
* From: Graeme Thomas <gra...@graemet.demon.co.uk>
* Newsgroups: alt.usage.english
* Subject: Re: How to Get the USA to Convert to the Metric System
* Date: Tue, 14 Aug 2001 09:54:10 +0100
* Message-ID: <g6cjZtEy...@graemet.demon.co.uk>
When I first went to university I went into a tutorial. The tutor
wanted to find out how comfortable we were with simple mathematics and
estimation, and so set us some problems to solve. One of them was "what
is the mass of the Great Pyramid of Cheops at Giza?" We quickly managed
to estimate the volume (from a guess at the length of the thing, and its
height), but then came a problem. Our tutor asked "Does anyone know the
relative density of sandstone?" I suspect he was expecting the answer
"no".
I was a shy lad in those days, so I diffidently answered "between 2.6
and 2.7". My diffidence caused him to find a suitable work of reference
for a definitive answer. With some surprise he read out "2.65", and
thus was started my reputation for knowing all sorts of oddball facts.
After all these years I can now reveal the trick. I had had a summer
job working with some construction, and I had learned that concrete had
a mass of almost exactly 2 tons per cubic yard. I also knew that a
metre is about 1.1 yards, so a cubic metre is 1.33 cubic yards.
Equating the densities of sandstone and concrete seemed reasonable, and
I felt I could ignore the difference between tons and tonnes, but it was
those last two assumptions which led me to that slight diffidence.
************************************************************************
* From: Graeme Thomas <gra...@graemet.demon.co.uk>
* Newsgroups: alt.usage.english
* Subject: Re: English baguettes
* Date: Mon, 30 Jul 2001 13:35:23 +0100
* Message-ID: <4wVFL3BL...@graemet.demon.co.uk>
My favourite signpost was in Liege. (I note, in passing, that we were
practically *in* Liege before the road signs stopped calling it "Luik".)
At a T junction the options were given as "Toutes directions" and
"Autres directions".
["All directions" and "Other directions". --msb]
************************************************************************
* From: Graeme Thomas <gra...@graemet.demon.co.uk>
* Newsgroups: alt.usage.english
* Subject: Re: Referring to bombs [was: More "racist" bitches]
* Date: Sun, 1 Feb 2004 19:59:22 +0000
* Message-ID: <Gg$KvtBaq...@graemet.demon.co.uk>
I suspect that my worst entanglement with authority happened in France,
about 15 years ago. I was again travelling with my brother, who is my
identical twin. The French border guard, noting that our passports were
almost identical, came to the conclusion that at least one of them was a
forgery. He summoned a junior guard, and instructed her to keep us
under armed guard while he phoned in the arrest of these criminals.
The guard lowered her gun as soon as her boss left us, and, laughing,
advised us not to worry. "He's always doing something like this," she
said.[1] A couple of minutes later he came slinking back to us,
returned our passports, and said "You're twins, huh?"[2] The woman
almost ROFLed.
[1] The conversation was in French.
[2] In English.
************************************************************************
* From: Graeme Thomas <gra...@graemet.demon.co.uk>
* Newsgroups: alt.usage.english
* Subject: Re: European languages are dialects of each other?
* Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2004 10:50:20 +0000
* Message-ID: <KR2ZzLAs$ETA...@graemet.demon.co.uk>
A couple of years ago I was walking, with some friends, through a small
town in Portugal. We were in search of somewhere to have lunch. A
waiter came out of a restaurant to invite us inside, but wwe wanted to
look at the menus. The waiter apologized for only having one copy in
English; we said that we knew many languages, and we'd take whatever
he'd got, except Portuguese. He gave us menus in English, French,
German, and Spanish to look at.
I'm sure that this exercise would have been more useful if the menus had
been accurate translations of each other. We eventually decided to try
another restaurant (mainly on the grounds that this one didn't seem
Portuguese enough), but we came to the conclusion that if we'd lunched
at this one, we *would* have been surprised at whatever food arrived.
But this, too, is part of what it is to be European.
************************************************************************
* From: Graeme Thomas <gra...@graemet.demon.co.uk>
* Newsgroups: alt.usage.english
* Subject: Re: My way or the highway
* Date: Thu, 6 Jul 2006 04:58:48 +0100
* Message-ID: <HdragkB4...@graemet.demon.co.uk>
That reminds me, though, of a report I saw, years ago, of an accident in
Germany. A car got stuck at a level crossing; the train hit the car,
and derailed; the derailed train broke the banks of a canal, which
drained the canal for miles and flooded fields, destroying crops. The
damage cost millions. The car driver, when interviewed, said "I have
great faith in my insurance company." I have often wondered whether the
policy limits were sufficiently flexible to cover that accident.
************************************************************************
* From: Graeme Thomas <gra...@graemet.demon.co.uk>
* Newsgroups: alt.usage.english
* Subject: Re: The home for wasps?
* Date: Sun, 27 Aug 2006 23:51:07 +0100
* Message-ID: <WH0+WbCb...@graemet.demon.co.uk>
Around 40 years ago my brother, sister, and I were walking, while on
holiday, through some woods in single file. My brother stepped on a
log, which disturbed some wasps. My sister then stepped on it, which
infuriated them. I avoided the log, but they all stung me. I suffered
about a dozen stings, in several widely-separated places on my body.
Eventually we made it safely back to the house where we were staying.
My mother asked whether the insects were wasps or bees; I pointed out
that I hadn't had time to conduct extensive entomological research. At
this point one of the critters crawled out of my shorts. My mother,
clearly experienced in these things, identified it as a badly dazed
wasp, and started appropriate treatment.
I suspect that I'd react more badly to the stings these days.
************************************************************************
* From: Graeme Thomas <gra...@graemet.demon.co.uk>
* Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.fandom,alt.usage.english
* Subject: Re: Momentarily verbal
* Date: Mon, 25 Sep 2006 05:00:23 +0100
* Message-ID: <kQeCzJAX...@graemet.demon.co.uk>
A few years ago I went to give blood when the blood transfusion people
came to the office complex where I was working. It was late July (my
birthday, in fact), and England was going through what passes for a
heatwave. I'd guess the temperature was around 90F outside, but it was
rather warmer in the bloodmobile (a converted lorry (= AmE: "truck")).
After I'd given my armful I went to the back of the vehicle where the
nurses were dispensing cold drinks and snacks to the half-dozen or so
people who had also finished. Suddenly one of them fainted. This set
off a chain reaction, and after a few seconds I was the only person,
apart from the nurses, left conscious. The victims knocked each other
down like dominos.
I helped the staff provide first aid -- basically, just preventing the
victims from injuring themselves as they fell -- and then sauntered back
to the office for a cup of tea.
************************************************************************
* From: Graeme Thomas <gra...@graemet.demon.co.uk>
* Newsgroups: alt.usage.english
* Subject: Re: For your listening enjoyment
* Date: Tue, 26 Sep 2006 06:49:19 +0100
* Message-ID: <AufrspAf...@graemet.demon.co.uk>
In article <45189937$0$623$bed6...@news.gradwell.net>, "A. Gwilliam"
<bottoml...@southernskies.co.uk> writes
>Used to be that you did what your doctor told you to, like it or not.
>In my view we now have the opposite problem; the system expects the
>patient to drive the process along, without providing him or her with
>any real tools to help.
Right.
A few years ago I had to go into hospital for a minor operation. During
the afternoon the anaesthetist (= AmE: "anesthesiologist") came to talk
tome about the general anaesthetic he proposed to give to me. He
learned that I was not particularly concerned oer the procedure, nor was
I allergic to any of the drugs he was likely to use.
When I entered the anteroom, though, he mentioned that he'd been
thinking that, rather than use a general anaesthetic, perhaps a spinal
one would be better. We discussed the matter briefly (me: is that like
an epidural? him: Not really.) The following conversation then took
place:
Him: Well, which one should we go for?
Me: I don't know. I would like to consult an expert in these matters.
Do you know of one?
At this point he conceded that he was rather well trained in the
administering of anaesthetics, and that I was fully prepared to follow
his expert advice.
We did differ later. A comment from me revealed that his training had
been based on Latin, and not Greek. I said that I hadn't expected to
lose my kinaesthesia, while he maintained that I had lost my
proprioception. The surgeon, most unfairly, sided with the
anaesthetist: these medical types always stick together. The Junior
House Officer, who had spent much of the time gazing in rapt admiration
at my wedding tackle, giggled.
************************************************************************
* From: Graeme Thomas <gra...@graemet.demon.co.uk>
* Newsgroups: alt.usage.english
* Subject: Re: Conversation 09/12/06
* Date: Sat, 30 Sep 2006 15:05:14 +0100
* Message-ID: <dSPsjxAa...@graemet.demon.co.uk>
On my University Finals examination there was a question that, I
realized, could be answered by regurgitating the lecture notes on that
topic. So I reproduced those notes from memory.
A week or two later we had a viva voce, and the examiner, who had been
the lecturer for that topic, asked me about that particlar question and
answer. I responded, with the greatest degree of unctuous flattery at
my disposal, that I had found the notes to be a particularly clear
exposition of the topic, and I saw no reason why I should fall short of
perfection in the examination. When he had managed to control himself
he went on to ask some supplementary questions designed to find out
whether I had understood the point, or was just parroting the answers.
I managed to convince him that I *had* understood it.
He then pointed out that I had misquoted him slightly, by getting a
couple of words wrong.
************************************************************************
* From: Graeme Thomas <gra...@graemet.demon.co.uk>
* Newsgroups: alt.usage.english
* Subject: Re: Red tape (was Re: Why purple)
* Date: Sun, 28 Jan 2001 16:12:54 +0000
* Message-ID: <2wyG7WFG...@graemet.demon.co.uk>
Many years ago I used to be a civil servant. The department I worked in
occasionally used to produce punched paper tape, and this was sometimes
"classified". The various classifications were marked by using various
coloured "leaders" (first couple of metres of tape). I cannot remember
the colour scheme in detail, but the colour chosen to mark "secret"
tapes was red.
On one occasion there was a commotion in the department, caused by an
inability to mark a secret tape appropriately. With some bemusement we
discovered that we had run out of red tape.
************************************************************************
* From: Graeme Thomas <gra...@graemet.demon.co.uk>
* Newsgroups: alt.usage.english
* Subject: Re: Google 'momentarily' misuse corrected
* Date: Tue, 24 Oct 2006 22:18:36 +0100
* Message-ID: <99KU4YAs...@graemet.demon.co.uk>
I'm also told that "thousands" [of Google servers --msb] is a gross
underestimate. (It may not be exactly 144,000, but something like that.)
************************************************************************
* From: Graeme Thomas <gra...@graemet.demon.co.uk>
* Newsgroups: alt.usage.english
* Subject: Re: OT? Araucaria
* Date: Sun, 25 Jun 2006 23:36:05 +0100
* Message-ID: <H1saa9AV$wnE...@graemet.demon.co.uk>
In article <7e0u92lvo8ruag4na...@4ax.com>, Robin Bignall
<docr...@ntlworld.com> writes
>You are the very first AUEer I ever met.
[ Snip description of my slight usefulness. ]
I am getting a warm fuzzy feeling. I have, it seems, been useful, to an
extremely mild degree, to a couple of RRs. Another claims, without
giving evidence as to the reasons for it, to have always thought of me
as being of some slight use. But, until this thread, no one has thought
to comment on this.
For some reason I am reminded of:
No man is completely useless. He can always serve as a bad
example.
--
Graeme Thomas
(Reposted by)
--
Mark Brader, Toronto "Do right; have fun; make money."
m...@vex.net --Ian Darwin on Yuri Rubinsky (1952-96)
tinwhistler
Daniel al-Autistiqui wrote:
> Personally, I am not very saddened by this news.
When a close friend of Tennyson died, the poet wrote (over a 13-year
period) "In Memoriam," from which this stanza seems appropriate here:
Let knowledge grow from more to more,
But more of reverence in us dwell;
That mind and soul, according well,
May make one music as before
Aloha ~~~ Ozzie Maland ~~~ San Diego
Mike Lyle
Mark Brader wrote:
> For me Graeme was this newsgroup's raconteur par excellence. By way
> of a memorial, here are a few of his stories that I find in my files,
> mostly in chronological order, plus a couple of witty non-story postings
> at the end of the list.
Oh, game master! Vintage stuff. Many thanks for posting these samples,
Mark.
--
Mike.
jerry_f...@yahoo.com
> On Sat, 4 Nov 2006 22:52:44 +0000 (UTC),
> jjc...@coxeter.math.toronto.edu (John J. Chew III) wrote:
>
> >It is with deep sorrow that I must report the death of longtime AUE
> >contributor Graeme Thomas. Graeme was killed in a car accident
> >earlier today, and is being mourned by his family and the tournament
> >Scrabble community, of which he was an influential member.
> >
> >John
>
> "Lo! some we loved, the loveliest and best
> That Time and Fate of all their Vintage prest,
> Have drunk their Cup a Round or two before,
> And one by one crept silently to Rest."
> - Edward FitzGerald, _Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám_
Very appropriate.
> Personally, I am not very saddened by this news. In my mind Graeme
> was only a "minor" poster. I never thought of him much, let alone
> cared greatly about him. I don't even remember seeing that many posts
> from him.
I agree that there's nothing wrong with the feelings you express. But
for future reference, I think it's more polite not to express those
feelings where the deceased's friends and family are likely to read
them.
--
Jerry Friedman
jerry_f...@yahoo.com
> Tony Cooper wrote:
> > On Sun, 05 Nov 2006 17:51:07 +0000, LFS
> > <la...@DRAGONspira.fsbusiness.co.uk> wrote:
> >
> > >John J. Chew III wrote:
> > >
> > >> In article <r7qrk2l3hib8ctqob...@4ax.com>,
> > >> Peter Duncanson <ma...@peterduncanson.net> wrote:
> > >>
> > >>>On Sun, 05 Nov 2006 13:27:25 GMT, Tony Cooper
> > >>><tony_co...@earthlink.net> wrote:
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>>>I always wondered why Graeme referred to his brother as his "Idiot
> > >>>>Sibling".
> > As did I, and it's somewhat disconcerting to see my full comment
> > snipped. My brother and I have some indelicate terms we use to
> > describe each other in jest, but they are used purely in brotherly
> > jest.
>
> Is there a little point-missing going on here? If there is, and if it
> isn't on my part, I think Graeme might have been amused; and so gifted
> a logodaedalus -- nay, logomagirist -- could no doubt have found a
> suitably orotund, not to say sesquipedalian, form of words for a
> clementiously castigative rescript. Whether or not the first letters of
> "identical twins" suggested the soubriquet, any characterisation would
> always face both ways.
Precisely my thought.
Like many people, I always read Graeme's posts eagerly. I can only
imagine the feelings of the people who knew him, but I sympathize.
--
Jerry Friedman
Eric Schwartz
> It is with deep sorrow that I must report the death of longtime AUE
> contributor Graeme Thomas. Graeme was killed in a car accident
> earlier today, and is being mourned by his family and the tournament
> Scrabble community, of which he was an influential member.
I hadn't seen this post until a few days afterwards, but I must say I
will miss Graeme's contributions to AUE. His posts have always exuded
an air of class and taste, and will be sorely missed, I'm sure.
-=Eric
Amethyst Deceiver
> I always wondered why Graeme referred to his brother as his "Idiot
I always presumed that the name came from the fact that Graeme's brother
chose to attend an obviously inferior university from the one he went
to.
Peter Duncanson
<ma...@peterduncanson.net> wrote:
>
>I am saddened by the death of Graham Thomas, but not as saddened as
>those who knew him better.
I apologise for misspelling Graeme.
(I'm puzzled as to how it happened.)
Arcadian Rises
Peter Duncanson wrote:
> On Mon, 06 Nov 2006 17:58:36 +0000, Peter Duncanson
> <ma...@peterduncanson.net> wrote:
>
> >
> >I am saddened by the death of Graham Thomas, but not as saddened as
> >those who knew him better.
>
> I apologise for misspelling Graeme.
>
> (I'm puzzled as to how it happened.)
> --
It's a quite common reflection of denial.
About your previous message, in case Graeme's relatives read this
thread, they should know that D.a-A is really autistic as his
screenname describes him. One main trait of this disease is a
self-absorbtion pushed to the limits of inability to empathize,
emotionally, or even rationally.His message is an illustration of this
inability.
T.H. Entity
wrought:
Isn't it also an illustration of why Daniel would do well to avoid
threads where empathy is, if not exactly expected, certainly more
appropriate than expressing the lack of it?
If -- even for the very best of reasons -- we can't help ourselves
from upsetting people in certain circumstances, the only reasonable
course open to us for everyone's sake is to make an effort to steer
clear of those circumstances.
If on occasion in the past I've found myself wondering whether
Daniel's access to Usenet ought to be supervised in some way, after
this I now definitely think it should be.
--
Ross Howard
HVS
-snip-
>> About your previous message, in case Graeme's relatives read
>> this thread, they should know that D.a-A is really autistic as
>> his screenname describes him. One main trait of this disease is
>> a self-absorbtion pushed to the limits of inability to
>> empathize, emotionally, or even rationally.His message is an
>> illustration of this inability.
>
> Isn't it also an illustration of why Daniel would do well to
> avoid threads where empathy is, if not exactly expected,
> certainly more appropriate than expressing the lack of it?
That was my reaction; as no-one asked Daniel if he empathised,
there was no need for him to volunteer his (condition-related) lack
of empathy -- silence would be a more socially-acceptable approach.
-snip-
> If on occasion in the past I've found myself wondering whether
> Daniel's access to Usenet ought to be supervised in some way,
> after this I now definitely think it should be.
We probably mean the same thing, but I'd have said "guided" rather
than "supervised" (which to me implies control rather than
monitoring/advice).
--
Cheers, Harvey
Canadian and British English, indiscriminately mixed
For e-mail, change harvey.news to harvey.van
Sara Lorimer
Let's save Daniel's writing for a different thread, if anyone really
wants to discuss it.
--
SML
HVS
> [snip]
>
> Let's save Daniel's writing for a different thread, if anyone
> really wants to discuss it.
Entirely correct; sincere apologies.
John J. Chew III
Steve Thomas confirms your misunderstanding of the origin in private
e-mail:
> I can clear up one minor point, which you can forward to the group if
> you think it proper. (See, a real live subjunctive!) Graeme and I have
> been describing each other as "Idiot" (pronounced "ijjit") "Sibling" for
> some 30 years. I believe I started it in reference to his tertiary
> education (I speak loosely) at the University (again, loose) of
> Cambridge, and he responded in kind in admiration at my own from the
> University of Oxford (in aeternam floreat). Graeme would tell the story
> with a somewhat different slant, accusing me of having trouble with my
> pronouns. My taking up of general board games ("one damn' thing after
> another") and his of Scrabble ("the same damn' thing over and over
> again") merely cemented matters.
Millicent Tendency
wrought:
I (yes, it's me) just meant having someone sitting next to him
whenever he's about to hit the Send button, just in case -- as in this
case -- he's about to put his foot in it big time.
There are many ways for people with developmental or personality
disorders to interact with "normal" people, many of them
Internet-based. I'm just not sure that an unmoderated Usenet group --
is the most suitable one for Daniel.
--
Millicent Tendency
(TEFKATHE)
HVS
-snip-
We clearly agree, but as Sara Lorimer very properly pointed out in
her reply to my post, this is an inappropriate thread for a continued
discussion of Daniel's writing.
John J. Chew III
last item to announce concerning Graeme Thomas: his brother
Steve has posted funeral details at
http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/uk-scrabble/message/50725
In brief, it will be in Blackpool on Monday afternoon.
LFS
> last item to announce concerning Graeme Thomas: his brother
> Steve has posted funeral details at
>
> http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/uk-scrabble/message/50725
>
> In brief, it will be in Blackpool on Monday afternoon.
>
John, you don't need to apologise - I'm sure that I speak for many who
are very grateful to you for keeping us informed.
And if you want to stay around you'd be very welcome.
(Obaue: stay around? stick around? hang around? Do they all mean the
same thing?)
Amethyst Deceiver
> last item to announce concerning Graeme Thomas: his brother
> Steve has posted funeral details at
>
> http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/uk-scrabble/message/50725
>
> In brief, it will be in Blackpool on Monday afternoon.
thank you for posting this, John. I am going to see if I can get the day
off (and OB can too) to attend, on behalf of AUE.
--
Linz
Wet Yorks via Cambridge, York, London and Watford
My accent may vary
Nick Spalding
on Wed, 08 Nov 2006 07:15:52 +0000:
> (Obaue: stay around? stick around? hang around? Do they all mean the
> same thing?)
To stay or stick around is generally a good thing, to hang around maybe
less so.
--
Nick Spalding
Will
Wot he said. I'm ashamed to say that he had never pinged my radar - my
loss, I now find.
Will.
K. Edgcombe
Amethyst Deceiver <sp...@lindsayendell.co.uk> wrote:
>John J. Chew III wrote:
>> I apologise for continuing to post off-topic here, but have one
>> last item to announce concerning Graeme Thomas: his brother
>> Steve has posted funeral details at
>>
>> http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/uk-scrabble/message/50725
>>
>> In brief, it will be in Blackpool on Monday afternoon.
>
>thank you for posting this, John. I am going to see if I can get the day
>off (and OB can too) to attend, on behalf of AUE.
I'm very pleased to think that someobody will be there representing the rest
of us who knew and appreciated Graeme. Thank you, Linz.
Katy
Amethyst Deceiver
It's, well, not a pleasure, but the only thing I could do. We have got
the day off so OldBloke will have a bracing hour or so showing
YoungBloke the delights of Blackpool while I shed a tear. Because I
will.
Mike Page
Linz, please, can you find out and post details of any charity to
which donations should be sent in lieu of flowers. I was always
entertained by Graeme's posts and will miss him in the group and
at boinks.
Gunga Din
"Amethyst Deceiver" <sp...@lindsayendell.co.uk> wrote in message
news:eis7cd$1flp$1...@fiasco.xenopsyche.net...
> John J. Chew III wrote:
>> I apologise for continuing to post off-topic here, but have one
>> last item to announce concerning Graeme Thomas: his brother
>> Steve has posted funeral details at
>>
>> http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/uk-scrabble/message/50725
>>
>> In brief, it will be in Blackpool on Monday afternoon.
>
> thank you for posting this, John. I am going to see if I can get the day
> off (and OB can too) to attend, on behalf of AUE.
>
Flowers dispatched today. Traditional arrangement white plus green edges.
Handsomely funded to do us proud. Done right and totally-official.
Note says, "
With deepest sympathy,
ALT-USAGE-ENGLISH
Steve Carras
Thanks, and RIP Graeme Thomas, whom I regreat that I did not have the
bigger pleasure of writing to ehre earlier since only on an OCCASIONAL
basis did I haunt alt.usage.english, but glad to see the post reposted
and I "Google-Searched" his name my self, came up with some good posts
of his.
Amethyst Deceiver
> Linz, please, can you find out and post details of any charity to
> which donations should be sent in lieu of flowers. I was always
> entertained by Graeme's posts and will miss him in the group and
> at boinks.
I will do, of course.
maisn...@aol.com
Gunga Din wrote:
> Flowers dispatched today. Traditional arrangement white plus green edges.
> Handsomely funded to do us proud. Done right and totally-official.
>
> Note says, "
>
> With deepest sympathy,
> ALT-USAGE-ENGLISH
My mother originally requested that no flowers be sent. Dragging this
thread somewhat vaguely on topic, it appears that by this she meant
something other than the obvious interpretation. She was very touched
by the thoughtfulness of the gesture, and has asked me to convey her
heartfelt thanks. So I do, and add my own.
My mother doesn't understand computers at all, except as a means of
making simple tasks complicated, and I don't think she entirely grasped
the details of my explanation of the function of a news group. But
when
I simplified it by saying that it was at heart a bunch of enthusiasts
arguing about language, especially English, she was enlightened.
"That's very Graeme."
I will in due course show the less computer literate of my family the
contents of this thread. They'll probably be as moved as I've been.
Steve Thomas (the Idiot Sibling's Idiot Sibling)
Frank ess
I have been, too.
Even as a relative stranger I see that among all those who _deserve_
to be remembered, sometimes the right ones _are_.
--
Frank ess
Sara Lorimer
> Flowers dispatched today. Traditional arrangement white plus green edges.
> Handsomely funded to do us proud. Done right and totally-official.
>
> Note says, "
>
> With deepest sympathy,
> ALT-USAGE-ENGLISH
Thanks, Garry. Can I chip in? (I would e-mail you, but I don't have your
address.)
--
SML
Maria
What Sara said goes for me, too.
And thanks for doing what you did, Garry.
--
Maria
http://www.familyhomefront.net/
There's only one 'n' in my email address, and it's not in my first name.
K. Edgcombe
Maria <maria...@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>Sara Lorimer wrote:
>> Gunga Din <none> wrote:
>>>
>>> With deepest sympathy,
>>> ALT-USAGE-ENGLISH
>>
>> Thanks, Garry. Can I chip in? (I would e-mail you, but I don't have
>> your address.)
>
>What Sara said goes for me, too.
>
<aol>me too </aol>
Katy
Peter Moylan
> maisn...@aol.com wrote:
>> I will in due course show the less computer literate of my family the
>> contents of this thread. They'll probably be as moved as I've been.
>>
>
> I have been, too.
>
> Even as a relative stranger I see that among all those who _deserve_ to
> be remembered, sometimes the right ones _are_.
Very well said. I agree wholeheartedly.
--
Peter Moylan http://www.pmoylan.org
Please note the changed e-mail and web addresses. The domain
eepjm.newcastle.edu.au no longer exists, and I can no longer
receive mail at my newcastle.edu.au addresses. The optusnet
address could disappear at any time.
Paul Wolff
maisn...@aol.com writes
>
>My mother originally requested that no flowers be sent. Dragging this
>thread somewhat vaguely on topic, it appears that by this she meant
>something other than the obvious interpretation. She was very touched
>by the thoughtfulness of the gesture, and has asked me to convey her
>heartfelt thanks. So I do, and add my own.
>
>My mother doesn't understand computers at all, except as a means of
>making simple tasks complicated, and I don't think she entirely grasped
>the details of my explanation of the function of a news group. But
>when
>I simplified it by saying that it was at heart a bunch of enthusiasts
>arguing about language, especially English, she was enlightened.
>"That's very Graeme."
>
>I will in due course show the less computer literate of my family the
>contents of this thread. They'll probably be as moved as I've been.
>
>Steve Thomas (the Idiot Sibling's Idiot Sibling)
>
expressing sympathy; I'm sure I speak for all who have stated their
sorrow when I say that we are glad to know first-hand that our feelings
have reached those who matter most.
--
Paul
In bocca al Lupo!
Wood Avens
>My mother originally requested that no flowers be sent. Dragging this
>thread somewhat vaguely on topic, it appears that by this she meant
>something other than the obvious interpretation. She was very touched
>by the thoughtfulness of the gesture, and has asked me to convey her
>heartfelt thanks. So I do, and add my own.
>
>My mother doesn't understand computers at all, except as a means of
>making simple tasks complicated, and I don't think she entirely grasped
>the details of my explanation of the function of a news group. But
>when
>I simplified it by saying that it was at heart a bunch of enthusiasts
>arguing about language, especially English, she was enlightened.
>"That's very Graeme."
>
>I will in due course show the less computer literate of my family the
>contents of this thread. They'll probably be as moved as I've been.
Steve, thank you. We may be word freaks, but words sometimes feel
inadequate to convey the sense of the group's collective heart going
out to you and to the rest of your family; so I'm glad the words seem
to have come up trumps.
When you show the thread to your family, it might be wise to explain
some of the group jargon: for instance, in the language of this group
a "boink" is a face-to-face meeting, and "Totally Official" is a group
catch-phrase, and so on.
--
Katy Jennison
spamtrap: remove the first two letters after the @
Jitze Couperus
jjc...@coxeter.math.toronto.edu (John J. Chew III) wrote:
>It is with deep sorrow that I must report the death of longtime AUE
>contributor Graeme Thomas.
I've been on the road and away from AUE for a while. I get back
and download some thousands of posts, scanning the headers
quickly to see if anything gets my attention.
Then I hit this one. So sad... I met Graeme at a couple of
boinks that were scheduled to coincide with my infrequent
trips to Blighty. I was always hono(u)red and impressed
that people would come from afar to meet. After each of these
boinks wound up for the evening, Graeme invariably asked
me to join him in a meal - we would walk to a restaurant
and have a good long natter on all manner of subjects
before he left for the train station and I would wend my
way back to my hotel.
These tete-a-tetes were not only very enjoyable, but
also very illuminating into a fascinating mind. I remember
them fondly and they will remain with me. I am so sorry
that they will never be repeated.
http://alt-usage-english.org/boink_jul02/DSCN0337.jpg
That picture brings it all back...
Jitze
Gunga Din
"K. Edgcombe" <ke...@cus.cam.ac.uk> wrote in message
news:ej09n1$d5q$1...@scorpius.csx.cam.ac.uk...
It's a very kind thought offering to chip in, but I'm quite proud to note
that our sympathy gesture was fully subscribed and then some.
By way of remembrance, you might consider our website because it is no
longer a sponsored project and needs to pay its own upkeep. While I don't
know what the Charities Commissioner thinks, it certainly qualifies as a UK
non-profit charitable undertaking in my book...
And I hope everyone here agrees.
Maria
> Katy, Sara, Maria,
>
> It's a very kind thought offering to chip in, but I'm quite proud to
> note that our sympathy gesture was fully subscribed and then some.
>
> By way of remembrance, you might consider our website because it is no
> longer a sponsored project and needs to pay its own upkeep. While I
> don't know what the Charities Commissioner thinks, it certainly
> qualifies as a UK non-profit charitable undertaking in my book...
>
> And I hope everyone here agrees.
"Our website" being the AUE Web site? Where shall I send a contribution?
(If you mean another Web site, please advise.)
As always, fond regards,
Maria
Mike Barnes
>It is with deep sorrow that I must report the death of longtime AUE
>earlier today, and is being mourned by his family and the tournament
>Scrabble community, of which he was an influential member.
I've just returned from holiday to hear this terrible news. I knew
Graham from his postings, his attendances at boinks, and e-mail
correspondence. Such a warm and interesting person. He will be greatly
missed.
--
Mike Barnes
Cheshire, England
maisn...@aol.com
John J. Chew III wrote:
> It is with deep sorrow that I must report the death of longtime AUE
> contributor Graeme Thomas. Graeme was killed in a car accident
> earlier today, and is being mourned by his family and the tournament
> Scrabble community, of which he was an influential member.
Graeme's funeral was held on Monday 13th November, at
14:00 GMT. It was a Humanist service (see, for example,
www.humanism.org.uk for details of what that entails), and
very touching it was too. There wasn't a dry eye anywhere
near me. This group was represented by Linz, if I can be
informal, and that representation, plus the earlier flowers,
were much appreciated by the family.
I still find Graeme's passing hard to accept, but the near-
universal affection in which Graeme was held, by members
of this group and others elsewhere, has helped enormously
in dealing with the stresses involved.
Steve Thomas