13 January 2006
Because it's Friday, because I'm somewhat over-excited* and because I can, some nonsense.
From auntie beeb, at the end of a lengthy explanation of why the name of the acting leader of the Liberal Democrats is pronounced Mingis, comes this limerick:
A lively young damsel named Menzies
Inquired: "Do you know what this thenzies?"
Her aunt, with a gasp,
Replied: "It's a wasp,
And you're holding the end where the stenzies."
Which is so fabulously geeky it just made me laugh out loud.
(if you can't figure it out, I believe there are audio links available on the article)
* I just got word that I've got the go-ahead to go to @media this year (see my post about this year's resolutions), and I've got tickets to be in the same room as Richard Hammond this afternoon (muahahahahahaha!). Don't tell me you wouldn't be over-excited too.
There was a similar thread on alt.fan.pratchett a few weeks ago, which produced the following gems:
There was a young woman from Salisbury
Whose manners were quite halisbury-scalisbury:
She ran about Hampshire
Without any pampshire
Till her parents compelled her to walisbury.
and
Miss Fetherstonehaugh's extremely large featherstone
Was dropped, and picked up by a meatherstone
The meatherstone, name of Chomondley
Just stared at her domondley
At the sight of her all-over teatherstone
Woo, top news! See you there (at @media, not the Hamster thing, I prefer Clarkson myself).
I just got throughly confused by Cathy's comment,couldn't see how it related to the post, till I realised that I had followed the asterisk to the bottom and completely ignored the middle of the post. oops.
Saw the 'Mingiss' thing on the beeb last week, then forgot all about it. Well done for reminding me. Well done to Cathy for those gems. Oh, and see you @ @Media.
Richard Hammond? Mmm *sigh*
Looks like I'll be seeing you at @media then ... :¬)
Am feeling rather jubilant regarding the whole Mingies thingie as spent my childhood with my granny who taught me to pronounce the stationers John Menzies the Scots way and as a consequence got teased for years.
Oh and Richard Hammond... yummmm..
Cathy: I'm sure those are great, but tragically, I'm only able to get part of the first one. Anyone got a guide to English pronunciation lying around?
Dan: Clarkson is funny, but you can't fold him up and put him in your handbag for later.
Clair: Where the hamster is concerned, that's understandable. :)
Lori: *sigh* indeed. Shame I didn't actually wind up going :(
Lyle: You going too? Ace.
Birdy: Funnily enough, I was taught to pronounce it the correct way, but spent my life saying it wrong to circumvent any further kickings than I was getting already for being too "posh" (an irony which was entirely lost on my classmates).
Yeah, looks like my bunch will be sending me and the other web guy from the company.
All good - and proof that sometimes nagging the financial director and CEO can be a Good Thing. *grin*
Were you at the 5 O'Clock show on Friday? I was there too!
Lyle: That's excellent news.
Pauline: Didn't make it in the end because Adrian couldn't get away from work in time. Will be going another time though. Maybe see you there :)
Ho hum (I was hoping I wouldn't have to explain these!)
Like Hampshire being abbreviated to Hants (for which there is no rational explanation), Salisbury used to be known as Sarum. Hence "harum-scarum" and, er, "wear 'em" :-)
For those poor souls struggling with the second one too, Featherstonehaugh is pronounced "fan-shaw", and Chomondley is "chumley". Whoever said English is easy...
And gah. "Chomondley" should have read "Cholmondesley" both times. (Makes all the difference, I'm sure.)
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