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AKICOLJ (well sort of)
Jan. 4th, 2011 01:47 pmWas there ever any merit whatsoever in On the Buses?
Does our car have a notice on it inviting overtaking drivers to cut in dangerously close, preferably without indicating?
Was there ever a book more riddled with inconsistencies than The Voyage of the Dawn Treader?
Why, when there are tens of thousands of waxwings in the country, have I still not seen one?
Are there any more questions I should be asking?
Does our car have a notice on it inviting overtaking drivers to cut in dangerously close, preferably without indicating?
Was there ever a book more riddled with inconsistencies than The Voyage of the Dawn Treader?
Why, when there are tens of thousands of waxwings in the country, have I still not seen one?
Are there any more questions I should be asking?
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camillofan has asked me:"Is the distinguishing feature of fantasy (as opposed to other sorts of speculative fiction) Magic?"
And she has also said:
"What you need is a bracing debate on what exactly constitutes fantasy literature."
So - over to you, oh wise FList. What made a book "fantasy"?
Post-war development
Jul. 22nd, 2010 11:23 amAnd another one.
While no expert, I am tolerably familiar with post-WWII British history and politics. But how does it compare with the history and politics of other major European countries (eg Germany, Italy, France) for the same period?
There are obvious differences - France had been invaded and occupied; Germany and Italy had both been defeated in war; Germany had been partitioned. But how much did this affect their later development? What lessons could we have learned from them that we didn't?
(Um, this is turning into a huge subject! But any enlightened comments -philmophlegm, gramarye1971, parrot_knight, maybe? - would be much appreciated!)
ETA: ( And here's a song about it )
While no expert, I am tolerably familiar with post-WWII British history and politics. But how does it compare with the history and politics of other major European countries (eg Germany, Italy, France) for the same period?
There are obvious differences - France had been invaded and occupied; Germany and Italy had both been defeated in war; Germany had been partitioned. But how much did this affect their later development? What lessons could we have learned from them that we didn't?
(Um, this is turning into a huge subject! But any enlightened comments -
philmophlegm, gramarye1971, parrot_knight, maybe? - would be much appreciated!)ETA: ( And here's a song about it )
Quantitative easing
Jul. 22nd, 2010 09:10 amTaking a leaf out of philmophlegm's book -
Can someone (maybe the estimablephilmophlegm himself) explain quantitative easing to me? More specifically - how can the government both be selling gilts to the market, and buying back gilts from the market, at the same time?
Thank you!
philmophlegm's book - Can someone (maybe the estimable
philmophlegm himself) explain quantitative easing to me? More specifically - how can the government both be selling gilts to the market, and buying back gilts from the market, at the same time?Thank you!
We are going to the Forest of Dean at the end of July. Any hints as to what we should do / where we should go while we’re there?
And we’re going to Dorset and Devon in mid September. Again, any hints for things to do / places to go / where to eat?
And we’re going to Dorset and Devon in mid September. Again, any hints for things to do / places to go / where to eat?
Tech support
May. 31st, 2010 06:12 pm(1) Two mini fluorescent tubes in the kitchen don't work. We have replaced the tubes, but to no avail. Any ideas? (The third does work, so there is at least power in the general area).
(2) The DVD drive on the laptop doesn't work. It makes a grinding noise when there's a disk in it, but the laptop doesn't acknowledge the disk. Any ideas?
(2) The DVD drive on the laptop doesn't work. It makes a grinding noise when there's a disk in it, but the laptop doesn't acknowledge the disk. Any ideas?
Questions, questions
May. 8th, 2010 08:04 amIs there anything decent on at the cinema this weekend?
Should I sell my old film cameras?
Why was I dreaming about selling our hardback "History of Middle-earth" collection?
Did Europeans reach America before 1000 AD?
Are there any more questions I should be asking?
Should I sell my old film cameras?
Why was I dreaming about selling our hardback "History of Middle-earth" collection?
Did Europeans reach America before 1000 AD?
Are there any more questions I should be asking?
Thornbury Hoard
Mar. 9th, 2010 07:14 pmWe went to Bristol City Museum & Art Gallery on Sunday. Among other exhibits, they had the Thornbury Hoard - 14,600 (I think) small coins, each one a nummus of copper alloy, from around 330 AD. They had been buried in an urn or pot.
There was a bit of commentary with them - when they were made, where they were made, who was depicted on them, how they were found etc. But it didn't address the question of why there were so many coins of identical value.
So, oh wise FList - any ideas???
There was a bit of commentary with them - when they were made, where they were made, who was depicted on them, how they were found etc. But it didn't address the question of why there were so many coins of identical value.
So, oh wise FList - any ideas???
AKICOLJ part 3
Feb. 18th, 2010 04:17 pm(1) How much would it cost to remove a bath and supply and fit a shower and enclosure, with associated plastering, tiling, painting, "making good" etc? Only a ballpark figure is needed!
(It's a long story, and the background would only confuse!)
(2) What was the exchange rate between French Francs and Pounds Sterling in 1943? (Or rather, purchasing power of 1943 Francs in 2010 terms?) Again, I'm only looking for a ballpark figure!
(3) Where does the quotation "I am a plain, simple man with plain, simple tastes, and I want to say, plainly and simply, that ... " come from?
(It's a long story, and the background would only confuse!)
(2) What was the exchange rate between French Francs and Pounds Sterling in 1943? (Or rather, purchasing power of 1943 Francs in 2010 terms?) Again, I'm only looking for a ballpark figure!
(3) Where does the quotation "I am a plain, simple man with plain, simple tastes, and I want to say, plainly and simply, that ... " come from?
AKICOLJ part 1
Feb. 16th, 2010 09:03 pm1. Our electric drill is failing - the rechargeable battery holds hardly any charge, and needs re-charging each time it's used. Can anyone recommend a replacement?
ETA
2. Our radiators don't appear to have a bleeding valve - any ideas?
ETA
2. Our radiators don't appear to have a bleeding valve - any ideas?
(1) When updating the AVG anti-virus software on my PC, I get the message, "A .bin file is missing." Any ideas what I should do about this?
(2) I seem to have got a pesky AIM toolbar on my laptop, in place of the normal quick search box for Google. How can I get rid of this?
(2) I seem to have got a pesky AIM toolbar on my laptop, in place of the normal quick search box for Google. How can I get rid of this?
Some of us from work are going to be doing some voluntary work at a primary school, which includes planting shrubs in their garden. I understand there's heavy clay soil, and it's a partially shaded site. Non-toxic plants would be needed, and preferably something that can stand up to rough treatment.
So - what should we choose to plant?
So - what should we choose to plant?
