Attendees: Graeme Thomas, Bruce Tober, John Dean, Robin Bignall &
Jeanne, Me & Mr Me, Laura Spira, Garry Vass*
The afternoon was indeed sunny (Philip is that rare thing, a
meteorologist who actually makes good predictions <g>), we found each
other quite easily at the relevant pub, and conversation was made on
various topics including: the correct way to say "castle", US
Immigration Officials, Howdy-Doody, Coronation Street, and whether
Scrabble players are terrorists.
Beards are clearly de rigueur in aue, and we did manage to seat three
of them in a row at one point. I have some photographs which will make
it onto the web later today, and Robin and Garry also took some.
Jac
* Yes, he arrived eventually, after Bruce and Graeme had gone, and just
missing Laura, and shortly after he arrived Robin & Jeanne had to go,
closely followed by Mr Dean, then DH and me. He hadn't even finished
his glass of wine before we abandoned him, the poor thing. :-)
In message <Xns93A1AAF57E9C1si...@163.1.2.7>, Jacqui
<sirlawren...@hotmail.com> writes
>["ish" because I'm about to fall asleep...
I know that feeling. Too much walking and too much spending at the
covered market. No. I take that latter back, there's no such thing as
too much shopping there.
>various topics including: the correct way to say "castle", US
>Immigration Officials, Howdy-Doody, Coronation Street, and whether
>Scrabble players are terrorists.
You forgot Days of Our Lives, Ambridge, and Mickey Mouse Club and failed
assassination attempts resulting in spilt Guinness turning Doc's White
trousers somewhat brown spotted.
>Beards are clearly de rigueur in aue,
Yeahbut. I didn't see you or Laura or Jeanne sporting one. God only
knows why.
>and we did manage to seat three
>of them in a row at one point. I have some photographs which will make
>it onto the web later today, and Robin and Garry also took some.
You done good girl, just forgot one essential, and a good time was had
by all.
>closely followed by Mr Dean, then DH and me. He hadn't even finished
>his glass of wine before we abandoned him, the poor thing. :-)
That'll teach him to be late.
BTW, we outta do one in Brum during the Jazz fest early next month. I
know it's close (timewise) but...
--
| Bruce Tober, <t...@star-dot-star.co.uk> , <http://www.star-dot-star.co.uk> |
| UK, EU +44-780-374-8255 (Mobile) |
| Now represented by The Speakers Agency Ltd |
| <http://www.thespeakersagency.com/speakerdetail.asp?speaker=160> |
Just as a side-note, I should like to add that I had good rant at the
Foreign Office.
I'll have to take this up with Laura at the next boink.
My photos are 1,2 and 3 on a roll of 24, so there'll be a slight
intermission before I upload them to my site.
--
wrmst rgrds
Robin Bignall
Remote Hertfordshire
England
>Nice going, you beat me to it.
>
>In message <Xns93A1AAF57E9C1si...@163.1.2.7>, Jacqui
><sirlawren...@hotmail.com> writes
>>["ish" because I'm about to fall asleep...
>
>I know that feeling. Too much walking and too much spending at the
>covered market. No. I take that latter back, there's no such thing as
>too much shopping there.
>
>>various topics including: the correct way to say "castle", US
>>Immigration Officials, Howdy-Doody, Coronation Street, and whether
>>Scrabble players are terrorists.
>
>You forgot Days of Our Lives, Ambridge, and Mickey Mouse Club and failed
>assassination attempts resulting in spilt Guinness turning Doc's White
>trousers somewhat brown spotted.
>
They're in the washing machine right now! Also had to clean my specs before
watching a DVD this evening - "The Others". Quite apt.
>>Beards are clearly de rigueur in aue,
>
>Yeahbut. I didn't see you or Laura or Jeanne sporting one. God only
>knows why.
>
>>and we did manage to seat three
>>of them in a row at one point. I have some photographs which will make
>>it onto the web later today, and Robin and Garry also took some.
>
>You done good girl, just forgot one essential, and a good time was had
>by all.
>
>>closely followed by Mr Dean, then DH and me. He hadn't even finished
>>his glass of wine before we abandoned him, the poor thing. :-)
>
>That'll teach him to be late.
>
>BTW, we outta do one in Brum during the Jazz fest early next month. I
>know it's close (timewise) but...
We're on. It was a lovely drive there and back, and I didn't exceed the
speed limit on the motorway by much. Well, not too much.
So what is the correct way to say "US Immigration Officials"?
I look forward to seeing the photos.
--
Rob Bannister
Great! Be sure they're at least 1.5 MB each.
I trust you found again a "disabled toilet," whatever that is.
wrmst rgrds up yours.
--
Dr. Reinhold (Rey) Aman, Ph.D.
{No snipping to demonstrate my point}
And if that's our beloved Howdy Doody, of Buffalo Bob and the Peanut
Gallery fame, there's no hyphen. Not that I'm being picky or nitty or
anything.
By the way, if anyone asks, the name was Princess Summerfall
Winterspring.
Or Summer Fall Winter Spring. Or Summer-Fall-Winter-Spring. Getting the
seasons in the right order is the main thing.
Maria Conlon
:-)
>> And if that's our beloved Howdy Doody, of Buffalo Bob and the Peanut
>> Gallery fame, there's no hyphen. Not that I'm being picky or nitty or
>> anything.
>>
>> By the way, if anyone asks, the name was Princess Summerfall
>> Winterspring.
>> Or Summer Fall Winter Spring. Or Summer-Fall-Winter-Spring. Getting
>> the seasons in the right order is the main thing.
>
> It were Princess Summerfallwintersping.
'Twere? In looking at Howdy Doody sites, I saw only the three versions I
listed. Even so, I'm willing to believe it was all one word, if only
because most last names are. (Never mind all the vons and vans.) The
real mystery is: What was her first name? Was it "Princess"?
"Sacagawea"? "Sasheen Littlefeather"? (That would be first and middle, I
guess.)
And by the way, I think there should be one more "r" in her last name.
ICBW, of course, but I'm not.
Maria Conlon
> So what is the correct way to say "US Immigration Officials"?
La Migra! Corran!
--
Martin Ambuhl
now exiled to
Hurricane Bait, Texas
ARGH. Mea culpa. Mea maxima culpa. Next get together the drink's on me
(literally if you prefer).
>>BTW, we outta do one in Brum during the Jazz fest early next month. I
>>know it's close (timewise) but...
>
>We're on. It was a lovely drive there and back, and I didn't exceed the
>speed limit on the motorway by much. Well, not too much.
Sounds good to me, the JF is 4-13 July
<http://www.bigbearmusic.com/FESTIVAL.html>. My favourite venue is The
Brasshouse <http://www.brindleyplace.com/History/Victorian%20Times/Histo
ry-TheBrasshouse.htm> on Broad Street and the Quayside. Good food, good
drink (including Old Speckled Hen) and reasonable prices for both.
SATURDAY 5th JULY - 1.00pm SOULER RHYTHM
5.00pm DR TEETH BIG BAND
SUNDAY 6TH JULY - 6.00pm JONNY BOSTON QUARTET
SATURDAY 12TH JULY - 1.00pm PETRA ERNYEI QUINTET (Czech Republic)
5.00pm SAMBURA (Brazil)
But feel free to check the rest of the schedule at <http://www.bigbearmu
sic.com/festivalcalendar.html> for anything more appealing
Fuckwits?
Is there/was there ever another? That's the very one.
>Not that I'm being picky or nitty or
>anything.
Well spotted, dick.
>By the way, if anyone asks, the name was Princess Summerfall
>Winterspring.
Been there, done that. Also Flubbadub, Chief Thunderthud, Clarabel, etc.
> In message <3EF504AF...@it.net.au>, Robert Bannister
> <rob...@it.net.au> writes
> >Jacqui wrote:
> >> conversation was made on
> >> various topics including: the correct way to say "castle", US
> >>Immigration Officials, Howdy-Doody, Coronation Street
> >
> >So what is the correct way to say "US Immigration Officials"?
>
> Fuckwits?
I have found US Immigration Officials to be uniformly polite, if a
little distant. The only rude Immigration Official I have ever come
across was Canadian, in Vancouver.
--
David
I say what it occurs to me to say.
=====
The address is valid today, but I change it periodically.
>t...@star-dot-star.co.uk spake thus:
>
>> In message <3EF504AF...@it.net.au>, Robert Bannister
>> <rob...@it.net.au> writes
>> >Jacqui wrote:
>> >> conversation was made on
>> >> various topics including: the correct way to say "castle", US
>> >>Immigration Officials, Howdy-Doody, Coronation Street
>> >
>> >So what is the correct way to say "US Immigration Officials"?
>>
>> Fuckwits?
>
>I have found US Immigration Officials to be uniformly polite, if a
>little distant. The only rude Immigration Official I have ever come
>across was Canadian, in Vancouver.
That's probably because you are British and didn't look too much like a
terrorist at the time. I imagine that after 9/11 all Brits are now under
suspicion. The 9/11 people appeared to have used Britain as a convenient
meeting / training venue, so the papers said.
--
wrmst rgrds
Robin Bignall
Quiet part of Hertfordshire
England
> On Sun, 22 Jun 2003 10:31:44 +0100, david56 <bass.b...@ntlworld.com>
> wrote:
>
> >t...@star-dot-star.co.uk spake thus:
> >
> >> In message <3EF504AF...@it.net.au>, Robert Bannister
> >> <rob...@it.net.au> writes
> >> >Jacqui wrote:
> >> >> conversation was made on
> >> >> various topics including: the correct way to say "castle", US
> >> >>Immigration Officials, Howdy-Doody, Coronation Street
> >> >
> >> >So what is the correct way to say "US Immigration Officials"?
> >>
> >> Fuckwits?
> >
> >I have found US Immigration Officials to be uniformly polite, if a
> >little distant. The only rude Immigration Official I have ever come
> >across was Canadian, in Vancouver.
>
> That's probably because you are British and didn't look too much like a
> terrorist at the time. I imagine that after 9/11 all Brits are now under
> suspicion. The 9/11 people appeared to have used Britain as a convenient
> meeting / training venue, so the papers said.
I flew to Los Angeles in October 2001 (and other parts of the USA
since) and met nothing but politeness. I did get the odd enquiry
from locals such as "How did you manage to get here?", to which I
replied "I walked".
But I've been going in and out of the USA since 1974 and I have never
overstayed or broken any laws, so I suppose they are not likely to
worry about me too much.
Au contraire, they will perceive you as a person who is clearly making an
effort to stay below their radar and therefore elevate you to 'Most Wanted'
status in order to capture you and discover by interrogation what nefarious
plans you are concocting while pretending to this innocuous persona.
--
John Dean
Oxford
De-frag to reply
>The afternoon was indeed sunny (Philip is that rare thing, a
>meteorologist who actually makes good predictions <g>),
As a result I am now sunburnt. Next time, Philip, please forecast an
overcast day.
>we found each
>other quite easily at the relevant pub,
I was second to arrive at the venue. I had an inkling that the chap sat
at an outside table was a boinker, as he was bearded, but his ingenious
idea settled the matter. He had constructed a sign saying "AUE". The
introductions that followed made it clear that he is Bruce Tober.
>and conversation was made on
>various topics including: the correct way to say "castle", US
>Immigration Officials, Howdy-Doody, Coronation Street, and whether
>Scrabble players are terrorists.
Scrabble players are amongst the nicest people on the face of the
planet, and even immigration officials know that. If one is under
suspicion of being a terrorist, one only has to prove that one is a
Scrabble player, and all those suspicions vanish. The immigration
officials then treat the Scrabble player as a VIP. It's obvious,
really.
--
Graeme Thomas
Especially when they find the records of your flying lessons at a small
air ranch in Wyoming.
He'll end up in Cuba.
Suspicious indeed, now you point it out. I am intending to visit the
Hard Rock Cafe, Las Vegas, and to get some free drinks in the
executive lounge in Chicago on the way out and back. Do you think
they will find out?
I'm returning in about three weeks carrying a brand new passport. I
presume that the immigration computers will be able to associate me
with my new passport to me with my old passport, but I had wondered
about carrying the old one to be sure.
> In message <bd45te$k02$1...@newsg2.svr.pol.co.uk>, John Dean <john-
> de...@frag.lineone.net> writes
> >david56 wrote:
> >>
> >> But I've been going in and out of the USA since 1974 and I have never
> >> overstayed or broken any laws, so I suppose they are not likely to
> >> worry about me too much.
> >
> >Au contraire, they will perceive you as a person who is clearly making an
> >effort to stay below their radar and therefore elevate you to 'Most Wanted'
> >status in order to capture you and discover by interrogation what nefarious
> >plans you are concocting while pretending to this innocuous persona.
>
> Especially when they find the records of your flying lessons at a small
> air ranch in Wyoming.
I've been to 38 of the states, but I don't remember Wyoming. Hang
on, I'll check the map. Nope, that's one I have missed. I've been
through Idaho, Montana and both the Dakotas, but I've avoided Wyoming
so as not to draw attention to myself.
Don't worry about not having been there. The records have been
created. And what's in the files is the only reality that counts. You
might as well get value, and demand the lessons.
PB
> I'm returning in about three weeks carrying a brand new passport. I
> presume that the immigration computers will be able to associate me
> with my new passport to me with my old passport, but I had wondered
> about carrying the old one to be sure.
Bring the old one anyway. I love looking at old passports.
--
Dena Jo
(Email: Replace TPUBGTH with denajo2)
Mmmmm a likely story, but keep it up, the feds are often too dim to
question you further on it once they've heard that.
>on, I'll check the map. Nope, that's one I have missed.
Other than the air ranch, not much to miss.
> I've been
>through Idaho, Montana and both the Dakotas, but I've avoided Wyoming
>so as not to draw attention to myself.
That's the dead giveaway. Since there are no records of YOU being there,
they'll "know" you were using a disguise and false ID. Probably
disguised yourself as a peaceful A-rab tourist.
Salaam
They're not called BB for nowt.
>I'm returning in about three weeks carrying a brand new passport. I
>presume that the immigration computers will be able to associate me
>with my new passport to me with my old passport, but I had wondered
>about carrying the old one to be sure.
I always do. The red stamp they stamped my old one with is barely
legible.
Ingenuous is my middle name.
>He had constructed a sign saying "AUE". The introductions that
>followed made it clear that he is Bruce Tober.
Well, actually he took a piece of A4 with instructions to the gathering
out of his pocket, folded it in thirds and with his biro wrote "AUE" in
letters about an inch high. Not terribly useful, or wouldn't have been
had it been me looking to read that with my crap eyes. Fortunately
Graeme's eyes are apparently better.
>>He had constructed a sign saying "AUE". The introductions that
>>followed made it clear that he is Bruce Tober.
>
> Well, actually he took a piece of A4 with instructions to the
> gathering out of his pocket, folded it in thirds and with his biro
> wrote "AUE" in letters about an inch high. Not terribly useful, or
> wouldn't have been had it been me looking to read that with my
> crap eyes. Fortunately Graeme's eyes are apparently better.
I have very crap eyes (for starters, only one of them works anything
like properly) but I still saw the sign too. Although I must admit,
like Graeme, it was the beard that made me think "aue-er". (Of course,
had Graeme not been at the bar it would have been simpler, since he was
wearing a Totally Official T-Shirt.)
Jac
well that's a good sign then (pun possibly intended).
>Although I must admit,
>like Graeme, it was the beard that made me think "aue-er".
Which is exactly how I recognised you (surely not by your pregnant
tummy).
>(Of course,
>had Graeme not been at the bar it would have been simpler, since he was
>wearing a Totally Official T-Shirt.)
I didn't even notice that till he pointed it out about five minutes
after arriving.
>t...@star-dot-star.co.uk spake thus:
>
>> In message <3EF504AF...@it.net.au>, Robert Bannister
>> <rob...@it.net.au> writes
>> >Jacqui wrote:
>> >> conversation was made on
>> >> various topics including: the correct way to say "castle", US
>> >>Immigration Officials, Howdy-Doody, Coronation Street
>> >
>> >So what is the correct way to say "US Immigration Officials"?
>>
>> Fuckwits?
>
>I have found US Immigration Officials to be uniformly polite, if a
>little distant. The only rude Immigration Official I have ever come
>across was Canadian, in Vancouver.
Would that have been an Immigration Official, or a Customs Official?
Two separate groups, aren't they?
--
Tony Cooper aka: tony_co...@yahoo.com
Provider of Jots, Tittles, and Oy!s
>In message <bd45te$k02$1...@newsg2.svr.pol.co.uk>, John Dean <john-
>de...@frag.lineone.net> writes
>>david56 wrote:
>>>
>>> But I've been going in and out of the USA since 1974 and I have never
>>> overstayed or broken any laws, so I suppose they are not likely to
>>> worry about me too much.
>>
>>Au contraire, they will perceive you as a person who is clearly making an
>>effort to stay below their radar and therefore elevate you to 'Most Wanted'
>>status in order to capture you and discover by interrogation what nefarious
>>plans you are concocting while pretending to this innocuous persona.
>
>Especially when they find the records of your flying lessons at a small
>air ranch in Wyoming.
The largest purchasing group of prayer rugs in the U.S. is FLAPS:
Florida League of Arab Pilot Schools.
Graeme's eyesight is so good that he penetrated my cunning disguise. I
was planning to pretend to be Truly. I might have been able to convince
the others for a while but there's no fooling a Scrabble champion.
--
Laura
(emulate St. George for email)
Customs agents, however, regard Scrabble players as a pain in the ass.
[1] Scrabble players, when asked to have their luggage examined,
present their bag and demand that the agent reach in blindly and
withdraw only the number of items that the agent has last used.
Agents find it very difficult to arrange underwear on little wooden
racks.
[1] Piles. Seven points without bonus coverage. I would have used
"hemorrhoids", but I couldn't find a four letter already-placed word
within "hemorrhoids".
> On 22 Jun 2003, david56 posted thus:
>
> > I'm returning in about three weeks carrying a brand new passport. I
> > presume that the immigration computers will be able to associate me
> > with my new passport to me with my old passport, but I had wondered
> > about carrying the old one to be sure.
>
> Bring the old one anyway. I love looking at old passports.
I have to admit that it hadn't occurred to me that anybody other than
Immigration would be interested in my old passport. I also have one
with an entry stamp into China in 1980, which was pretty uncommon
then for a Westerner.
Yes. It was an Immigration official, who questioned me closely about
the reason for my visit to Canada, in a fairly unfriendly manner.
Nobody has ever asked to look in my bags.
>Graeme's eyesight is so good that he penetrated my cunning disguise. I
>was planning to pretend to be Truly. I might have been able to convince
>the others for a while but there's no fooling a Scrabble champion.
I am astounded by these references to my excellent eyesight. I have no
such thing. I have plenty of myopia, presbyopia, and astigmatism. I
also have keratoconus.
I can, however, reveal the method behind my instant recognition of
Laura. Normally my visual memory is extremely accurate, and I can
instantly recognize anyone that I've seen before. For some reason Laura
manages to slip by my recognition circuits, and she never resembles my
mental image of her. So I merely greet any strange AUE personality as
Laura. It works every time.
--
Graeme Thomas
>Customs agents, however, regard Scrabble players as a pain in the ass.
>[1] Scrabble players, when asked to have their luggage examined,
C**p, you happen to be correct, but not for the reasons stated. They
get very suspicious of our electronic timers.
>[1] Piles. Seven points without bonus coverage. I would have used
>"hemorrhoids", but I couldn't find a four letter already-placed word
>within "hemorrhoids".
Try "emerods".
--
Graeme Thomas
Challenge! How would that work? If "emorods" was on the board, how
could it be used to build "hemorrhoids". To place "hemorrhoids", one
needs 4 or more tiles already on the board in a sequence that is
within "hemorrhoids".
Given several words in columns or rows that present spaces for the
right or seven or less tiles, it can done. I don't see, though, how
it can be done using just one word.
Use "hemorrhoid", though, and it can be done if "Rho" is on the board.
Depending what surname goes along with "David", you may be in for a bit of an
experience:
http://www.kgun9.com/story.asp?TitleID=3201&ProgramOption=News
This story doesn't mention it, but according to another source even Ozzie and
Harriet's surviving son isn't immune to suspicion....r
>Nice going, you beat me to it.
>
>In message <Xns93A1AAF57E9C1si...@163.1.2.7>, Jacqui
><sirlawren...@hotmail.com> writes
>>Beards are clearly de rigueur in aue,
>
>Yeahbut. I didn't see you or Laura or Jeanne sporting one. God only
>knows why.
Jacqui's pregnant so she can get away with anything, blaming the baby.
Well, it works for me!
--
I think denial as a coping strategy is often underrated.
[Akuvikate, mkp]
Oy! right back at ya....
> it can done. I don't see, though, how
>it can be done using just one word.
>
>Use "hemorrhoid", though, and it can be done if "Rho" is on the board.
And if "rho" is properly placed with respect to a single letter in a nearby
crosslight, the plural is also possible....
Next challenge: find one that works when the first vowel is spelt as "ae"....r
> Jacqui's pregnant so she can get away with anything, blaming the
> baby. Well, it works for me!
I'm blaming all sorts of things on the baby at the minute. What I'll do
afterwards is not clear. We may have to get a budgerigar or something.
Jac
I was thinking that just this afternoon. "The baby made me do it"
isn't going to work when the baby's asleep, or whatever.
> That's the dead giveaway. Since there are no records of YOU being
> there, they'll "know" you were using a disguise and false ID. Probably
> disguised yourself as a peaceful A-rab tourist.
Being surrounded by True 'Merkins, I hear a lot about the conspiracies
that abound here. The one lesson I have learned is that the absence of
evidence proves the point. It goes further: it proves how deep the
conspiracy goes. This is not limited to my current world of Hurricane
Bait, Texas, or even to my right-wing relatives in Kentucky who
(mysteriously) are obsessed with the JFK assassination. I remember
showing one of my Palestinian friends in Somerville, MA a complete list
of all members of the boards of the banks in Boston. At that time,
there was not a single Jew listed. He was completely at ease with this:
"That proves the Jews are controlling the banks from behind the scenes."
--
Martin Ambuhl
now exiled to
Hurricane Bait, Texas
>>Try "emerods".
>
>Challenge! How would that work? If "emorods" was on the board, how
>could it be used to build "hemorrhoids".
You don't need to. The word "emerods" is an old-fashioned term for
haemorrhoids, or representations of them in gold, used as charms.
--
Graeme Thomas
I never saw it before, but it's even in the Bible:
Wherefore ye shall make images of your emerods, and images of your
mice that mar the land; and ye shall give glory unto the God of Israel:
peradventure he will lighten his hand from off you, and from off your
gods, and from off your land.
1 Samuel 6 v5
Fran
> I've avoided Wyoming
> so as not to draw attention to myself.
Ha! They'll see through that in a flash. You're not dealing with children
here ...
--
John 'No-one expects the Department of Homeland Security' Dean
Oxford
De-frag to reply
Ha! But the Pilot Schools purchasing the *smallest* number of prayer rugs
must, ipso facto, QED, argal, contain the most *confident* terrorists.
Oh Boy, are the FBI going to mark *your* card for that, Missy
Except those who prefer to play PIV to take advantage of the double letter
square.
My passport ran out of room last week - for the second time. When that
happens, you need to go the embassy and get some new pages glued in. It's
free!
Not only is it free, but it's relatively painless, so it raises the embassy
one notch above completely worthless for me :).
>I have to ask - is an air ranch similar to an air guitar? Do people run
>around like I did as a kid making horsey noises and slapping their bums with
>their hands?
I would assume an air ranch is a ranch with an airstrip. We have an
air community, referred to as a fly-in community, near Orlando. The
houses are built along an airstrip (landing field) and many of the
houses have t-garages so they can pull their planes in. John Travolta
was one of the residents, but I think he sold his house. See:
http://www.conway.com/sprucecreek/
Now you've given me hiccups. And I've suddenly realised what the line
dancing class at the community centre must have looked like when we
slapped our thighs and shouted "Yee ha!"
I gotcha. I don't lose my turn, do I? I play Scrabble, but just with
family. What are the rules about British and American spellings? Can
I place "haemorrhoids" and can you place "hemorrhoids"? (Ignoring the
number of letters consideration.)
>Being surrounded by True 'Merkins,
You have my sincere commiseration's.
>I hear a lot about the conspiracies
>that abound here. The one lesson I have learned is that the absence of
>evidence proves the point. It goes further: it proves how deep the
>conspiracy goes.
Makes perfect sense to me.
--
| Bruce Tober, <t...@star-dot-star.co.uk> , <http://www.star-dot-star.co.uk> |
| UK, EU +44-780-374-8255 (Mobile) |
| Now represented by The Speakers Agency Ltd |
| <http://www.thespeakersagency.com/speakerdetail.asp?speaker=160> |
Don't count on it. I've seen "the baby" blamed for virtually everything
for at least 18 years after its birth.
>>> on, I'll check the map. Nope, that's one I have missed.
>>
>> Other than the air ranch, not much to miss.
>>
>I have to ask - is an air ranch similar to an air guitar? Do people run
>around like I did as a kid making horsey noises and slapping their bums with
>their hands?
No, no, no. It's similar to a dude ranch but instead of teaching faux
cowboy skills, they teach flying skills. One of their most popular is
"Take Off and Fly" One of their least popular is "Landing the Sucker".
>I gotcha. I don't lose my turn, do I? I play Scrabble, but just with
>family. What are the rules about British and American spellings? Can
>I place "haemorrhoids" and can you place "hemorrhoids"? (Ignoring the
>number of letters consideration.)
This is a bit off-topic, even for AUE, so I'll be brief. A full answer
is in <http://www.teleport.com/~stevena/scrabble/faq.html>.
"Family Scrabble" is played to any convenient dictionary, or, more
often, to the "I shout louder, so it's a word" rule. But more organized
Scrabble is played to the _Official Scrabble Players Dictionary_, 3rd
edition (in American[1] schools), the _Official Tournament and Club Word
List_ (in American and Israeli tournaments and clubs), and _Official
Scrabble Words International_ (everywhere else[2]). _OSWI_ is a
combination of _OTaCWL_ and _Official Scrabble Words_ 4th edition;
_OSW4_ is all sufficiently short Scrabble-valid words from _The Chambers
Dictionary_. _OSPD3_ is _OTaCWL_ without various rude words.
Most of the common words used in AmE and BrE are in all the books. For
example, HUMOR and HUMOUR are allowed everywhere. The differences
between the word lists are in the selection of more uncommon words. The
selection does not appear to have been made with any great show of
logic.
The challenge rules also differ. In the American rules those players
who challenge valid words lose their turn. Challenges are free in the
UK rules. Some countries are experimenting with a points penalty for
incorrect challenges, typically 5 points. The FAQ has the details.
[1] ObAUE: by "American" I mean in the USA and Canada.
[2] There are nuances. See the FAQ for details.
--
Graeme Thomas
> I play Scrabble, but just with family.
Now *that* would be something to see. I'll bet the Russian DIL wins
every time.
On the contrary, I would think that having an alphabet with 32 letters costs
dearly at the end of a round....r
>like properly) but I still saw the sign too. Although I must admit,
>like Graeme, it was the beard that made me think "aue-er". (Of course,
Plus ca change. I was at the very first UK AUE boink, and identified the group
by precisely the same method. I think Linz and I were the only beardless
participants (Markus shaved his off shortly afterwards, but I am assured this
was not cause and effect).
Five years ago? Must be that at least. Coordinated by Garry, of course.
Sorry I couldn't get to Oxford; the Other Place is still rather busy.
Katy
> david56 wrote:
>
> > I've avoided Wyoming
> > so as not to draw attention to myself.
>
> Ha! They'll see through that in a flash. You're not dealing with children
> here ...
No, thank goodness. Americans I can deal with.
--
David
I say what it occurs to me to say.
=====
The address is valid today, but I change it periodically.
> Depending what surname goes along with "David", you may be in for a bit of an
> experience:
>
> http://www.kgun9.com/story.asp?TitleID=3201&ProgramOption=News
Not me, fortunately.
> "Family Scrabble" is played to any convenient dictionary, or, more
> often, to the "I shout louder, so it's a word" rule.
Playing with my father-in-law, we abide by the "my glance is steelier
than yours" rule. (He was a maths teacher and it shows.)
Jac
Er. I'm not sure I want to touch that comment with a bargepole.
Oh, what the hell. So what does Ian think of you playing with his
father?
--
| Bruce Tober, <t...@star-dot-star.co.uk> , <http://www.star-dot-star.co.uk> |
| UK, +44-780-374-8255 (Mobile) +44-121-553-4284 (land) |
Well, so long as I don't break or damage him it seems ok...
It's quite hard to get any decent anagrams out of fathers-in-law*.
Scrabble sets** are easier.
Jac
* "Flash tinware" is probably the best.
** "Treble's scabs".
Oh. Well that's okay then.
>It's quite hard to get any decent anagrams out of fathers-in-law*.
>Scrabble sets** are easier.
Very true.
Oh, jolly good!
I believe there were some beardless partners at that, but they weren't
AUE-ers. And we managed to locate each other at Cambridge railway station
despite the beards or lack thereof, which I thought was pretty good going!
> Five years ago? Must be that at least. Coordinated by Garry, of course.
I moved to the north-wet in May 98 so yes, at least 5 years ago.
> Sorry I couldn't get to Oxford; the Other Place is still rather busy.
And the north-wet was too far to travel from this time.
>> Don't count on it. I've seen "the baby" blamed for virtually everything
>> for at least 18 years after its birth.
>
>Oh, jolly good!
Yes, you're welcome. I knew you'd be thrilled to bitz to hear that.
>
>
--
| Bruce Tober, <t...@star-dot-star.co.uk> , <http://www.star-dot-star.co.uk> |
| UK, +44-780-374-8255 (Mobile) +44-121-553-4284 (land) |
Interesting: for Australians they'll put the "leave to land for an
indefinite period" stamp in the new one if you ask, and sometimes even
without being asked. But it's a good idea to carry the old one to
persuade them to do it; though I once persuaded them by sheer force of
silver-tongued oratory. (And don't those bastards ever smile?)
Mike.
Since US visa arrangements changed, allowing people from the UK to
visit without a visa for 3 months, I haven't bothered to get a new
visa. You just fill in the form on the plane and they let you in.
Indeed: five years and three months, according to
http://alt-usage-english.org/sym1/index_sym1.html
--
Mike Barnes
Cheshire, England
> My passport ran out of room last week - for the second time. When
> that happens, you need to go the embassy and get some new pages
> glued in. It's free!
>
> Not only is it free, but it's relatively painless, so it raises the
> embassy one notch above completely worthless for me :).
Is that a little passport or a big passport? According to their web
site, if you attach a signed request with your application, you can
get a 48-page passport instead of the usual 24.
--
Evan Kirshenbaum +------------------------------------
HP Laboratories |It does me no injury for my neighbor
1501 Page Mill Road, 1U, MS 1141 |to say there are twenty gods, or no
Palo Alto, CA 94304 |God.
| Thomas Jefferson
kirsh...@hpl.hp.com
(650)857-7572
Any progress on the Brum Boink?
Adrian
No, but since I'm hoping to get to gig on all ten days, if you (any of
you) wanna get together even at the last minute, just give me a bell on
0780-374-8255.
Nice tip! I'll do that next time.
Kind regards,
GJV