Re: Honours and gongs : Thu Jul 11, 2013 7:32 pm  

Rock God X wrote:

I haven't personally heard anyone use the greeting, "How do you do?", for at least 200 years. Maybe longer.

... only when followed by "Hev you cam fah ?".

Re: Honours and gongs : Thu Jul 11, 2013 9:21 pm  

Rock God X wrote:

I haven't personally heard anyone use the greeting, "How do you do?", for at least 200 years. Maybe longer.

How d'you do, Methuselah?

Re: Honours and gongs : Thu Jul 11, 2013 9:28 pm  

El Barbudo wrote:

... only when followed by "Hev you cam fah ?".

Surely not. "How do you do?" can only be followed by the response "How do you do?". And "How do you do?" again.

Re: Honours and gongs : Thu Jul 11, 2013 9:42 pm  

WormInHand wrote:

Surely not. "How do you do?" can only be followed by the response "How do you do?". And "How do you do?" again.

Not when with Royalty, apparently, one only speaks when one is spoken to.

Re: Honours and gongs : Fri Jul 12, 2013 12:13 am  

Rock God X wrote:

Allow me to rephrase:

Firefighters must be prepared to risk their lives on a daily basis, and actively do risk their lives every time they enter a burning building. Yes, there are measures in place to make it less dangerous, but the risk is very definitely there.

Well, an improvement, but still pretty meaningless, and out of context.

If we strip out your emotional subtext, the facts are that there are around 45,000 firefighters, and that since 1978, 82 have been killed on operational duty. Call it 2 a year, or odds of 22,500/1. That is only about twice the overall chances of being killed in a work accident in the UK.

I drive to work. That gives me an 8,000/1 chance of being killed in any given year. Far more dangerous than being a fireman. Yet to date I have not been offered a knighthood.

Rock God X wrote:

If our paths ever do cross, I will happily purchase for you the beverage of your choice. This offer is strictly on the understanding that you address me as 'Lord God of the Rock Music' for the entire duration of our meeting.

A small price to pay for free beer. Though I expect you know nothing about rock music, either.
********************************* ^^ ^^ this is " h u m o r o u s " ^^ ^^

Re: Honours and gongs : Fri Jul 12, 2013 6:45 am  

Ferocious Aardvark wrote:

I drive to work. That gives me an 8,000/1 chance of being killed in any given year. Far more dangerous than being a fireman. Yet to date I have not been offered a knighthood.

The (not very) subtle difference being, of course, that your driving to work doesn't save the lives of others. Unless you're such a good driver that your mere presence on the roads significantly reduces the odds of an accident occurring.

A small price to pay for free beer. Though I expect you know nothing about rock music, either. ]********************************* ^^ ^^ this is " h u m o r o u s " ^^ ^^

It was certainly more so than your last attempt!

Re: Honours and gongs : Fri Jul 12, 2013 8:14 am  

We give medals for bravery.
I suspect the dishing-out of real gongs such as VC's, GM's, etc. etc. is far more "considered" and awarded for specific acts of what is still quaintly termed "gallantry" but actually means seriously putting one's life in conspicuously great danger for the benefit of others ... rather than automatic knighthoods for Whitehall pen-pushers or seats in the Lords for services to backpocket-filling.

Re: Honours and gongs : Fri Jul 12, 2013 1:30 pm  

I always list my qualifications when corresponding,

Yours,

Sandra The Terrorist, 25m Swimming, Cycling Proficiency.

Re: Honours and gongs : Fri Jul 12, 2013 1:51 pm  

Rock God X wrote:

The (not very) subtle difference being, of course, that your driving to work doesn't save the lives of others. ..

Most firefighters lives are lost in attempted preservation of property, by far the most dangerous two things are explosions and building collapses. This is not to detract from their bravery, just your connection between risk to life and saving lives is not what you think it is.

Rock God X wrote:

Unless you're such a good driver that your mere presence on the roads significantly reduces the odds of an accident occurring.
..

Needless to say, I am.

Re: Honours and gongs : Sat Jul 13, 2013 9:31 pm  

Mintball wrote: The opportunity is too good to miss ... Lowry at the Tate Lowry at the, err, Lowry (and the Manchester Art Gallery) Just read your Tate blog after going this afternoon. Intetesting that you liked Atkinson Grimshaw's Liverpool Quay as I thought that was brilliant. In the same roomI also thought Girl by Gate was superb. Also, really liked the Jacob Epstein scultures. We did not get chance to go round the whole gallery as junior tires quickly. Wouldn't mind going again and have a longer look round. You may like this site: http://www.johnatkinsongrimshaw.org/ Seems like he used the Quay technique alot. http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/cla ... ate-n01612 I suppose this wasn't too bad: http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/wat ... ott-n01543

Mintball wrote: The opportunity is too good to miss ... Lowry at the Tate Lowry at the, err, Lowry (and the Manchester Art Gallery) Just read your Tate blog after going this afternoon. Intetesting that you liked Atkinson Grimshaw's Liverpool Quay as I thought that was brilliant. In the same roomI also thought Girl by Gate was superb. Also, really liked the Jacob Epstein scultures. We did not get chance to go round the whole gallery as junior tires quickly. Wouldn't mind going again and have a longer look round. You may like this site: http://www.johnatkinsongrimshaw.org/ Seems like he used the Quay technique alot. http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/cla ... ate-n01612 I suppose this wasn't too bad: http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/wat ... ott-n01543