Heaven: When Google Fails You: The 2018 General Question Thread

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  • MMMMMM Shipmate
    It seems to have taken on a life of its own, doesn't it? It started as an example of 50's to 70's humour, which I think seems to be popular at the moment (mind you, I don't think Dad's Army has ever been off the telly, has it?)

    MMM
  • I'm not sure he likes wine, but do you think it an appropriate gift for a doctor? I am leaving the area, he has been a source of strength and comfort through my mental struggles over 3 years, and I want to say Thanks.
  • Climacus, it is the thought that counts. A gift given with the intent to please pleases, whether the item is actually appropriate or not. Years ago, we had a birthday party for a new co-worker. We bought Éclairs to celebrate. As it turns out, due to dietary restrictions, she could not eat them (new employee, so we had not known her restrictions). Despite this, she was pleased and quite touched that we went through the effort for her. Even years later, she still speaks with pleasure about it. In fact, I think she still carries a photo of the Éclairs on her phone. It is not the gift. It's the thought.

    “My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going.
    I do not see the road ahead of me
    I cannot know for certain where it will end.
    Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean I am actually doing so.
    But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you." --Thomas Merton
  • MMM wrote: »
    ... We're going to see a Flanders and Swann 'tribute band' tomorrow!

    MMM
    Surely, that's brabbins and fyffe?

    NSFW (or maiden aunts).

    EG: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLDS9FCbxfo

  • MMMMMM Shipmate
    Brabbins & Fyffe are indeed not safe for work! Perhaps I'm just old, but I think F&S are funnier (although B&F are a great parody of them*)

    MMM

    *I nearly put 'piss-take' but I'm not sure they are, quite.
  • I wondered where they got the names from - Fyffes I guess comes from bananas but the only Brabbins I can think of is Martyn, currently conductor of the ENO, and he really doesn't remind me of those sketches.
  • I think b and f are not a piss-take (if that suggests a mocking tone), but are a sort of scurrilous tribute.

    I have no idea where their names come from, though.
  • Thanks Hedgehog. I'm guessing wine is to be preferred to an engraved rectal thermometer?
    :smile:
  • Depends on the engraving, of course. "Thinking of you" is probably not the way to go.
  • LydaLyda Shipmate
    Does anyone know why it is appropriate to applaud after various bits mid-stream at an opera and not between movements in other classical music programs such as symphonies, concertos, and oratorios? Since operas have a flow of narrative, I'd think that pausing for applause during an opera would be more of an interruption than for other kinds of programs. Also, has the no-applause rule always been in effect?
  • Why doesn't Tarzan have a beard?
  • finelinefineline Kerygmania Host, 8th Day Host
    I have no idea about the opera thing -applause comes naturally to me to show appreciation of an aria, the same as with songs in musicals. It doesn’t disrupt the narrative for me because I am always aware of being in the theatre, and the narrative is sung, which not the way people usually express themselves, so clearly it is an art form and performance.

    Once I went to a modern opera and some people booed and hissed and heckled at the end, because they didn’t like the score, which I thought was rude. I suppose at least their etiquette was they waited till the end to do it, rather than after each song. I applauded and stood up, because I really liked the performance, and most people applauded.
  • LydaLyda Shipmate
    Personally, I don't have a problem with applauding during an opera. I just don't understand why you can't do it during other classical programs, at least between movements. Why do people give a skunk eye to people who start to clap after a movement? Just because they can?

    Yeah, I've heard that some opera goers will give an instant poor review if they don't like the opera. I blame the Italians. :wink:
  • Why doesn't Tarzan have a beard?
    To quote from Chapter XIII of Tarzan of the Apes:
    A personification, was Tarzan of the Apes, of the primitive man, the hunter, the warrior. With the noble poise of his handsome head upon those broad shoulders, and the fire of life and intelligence in those fine, clear eyes, he might readily have typified some demigod of a wild and warlike bygone people of his ancient forest. But of these things Tarzan did not think. He was worried because he had not clothing to indicate to all the jungle folks that he was a man and not an ape, and grave doubt often entered his mind as to whether he might not yet become an ape. Was not hair commencing to grow upon his face? All the apes had hair upon theirs but the black men were entirely hairless, with very few exceptions. True, he had seen pictures in his books of men with great masses of hair upon lip and cheek and chin, but, nevertheless, Tarzan was afraid. Almost daily he whetted his keen knife and scraped and whittled at his young beard to eradicate this degrading emblem of apehood. And so he learned to shave—rudely and painfully, it is true—but, nevertheless, effectively.
    You asked.

  • SandemaniacSandemaniac Shipmate
    edited November 2018
    Does anyone known where I might find records of excommunications in the late 17th century? Or reasons why someone might have been excommunicated? I've been "volunteered" to help with a family history question, and I haven't a clue!

    ETA - in England

    Thanks,

    AG
  • RossweisseRossweisse Hell Host, 8th Day Host
    Lyda wrote: »
    Does anyone know why it is appropriate to applaud after various bits mid-stream at an opera and not between movements in other classical music programs such as symphonies, concertos, and oratorios? ...Also, has the no-applause rule always been in effect?
    It depends upon the opera. The older ones were frequently composed as opportunities for artists to show off what they could do, and applause was expected. When Wagner came along, that changed, because of the way he conceived and wrote his operas. There's probably something wrong if you don't applaud a well-sung aria in a bel canto opera - and if you do applaud during Strauss.

    I'm fine with spontaneous applause in symphonies and concertos, and a lot of the classics were composed with the assumption that there would be audible appreciation, especially after a bravura movement. I don't care for perfunctory applause, particularly after a profound quiet movement. That distracts.

    Here's a well-thought-out piece on the subject.

  • Does anyone known where I might find records of excommunications in the late 17th century? Or reasons why someone might have been excommunicated? I've been "volunteered" to help with a family history question, and I haven't a clue!

    ETA - in England

    Thanks,

    AG

    In Scotland, rather than England, and early C18th, rather than late C17th, but possibly relevant. If someone refused to accept church discipline then their right to take communion could be suspended. Presumably if they continued to refuse they were de facto excommunicated. One example from my own parish in 1714 involved a woman, Jean, who named a certain William as the father of her illegitimate child. William swore on the Bible that he was not the father, but Jean persisted in naming him. She was excommunicated for two years, but eventually agreed to accept church discipline (standing before the congregation in sackcloth for four Sundays) and was readmitted.

    Generally, the threat of excommunication was enough. Those threatened with it were usually charged with something, plus contumacy e.g. fornication plus contumacy, or slander plus contumacy, or assault plus contumacy. It was the contumacy aspect which tipped someone towards excommunication.
  • finelinefineline Kerygmania Host, 8th Day Host
    When it comes to prayer, does 'intentions' mean the same as 'intercession' - as in specific prayers for people or situations - or is there a difference in meaning?
  • BroJamesBroJames Purgatory Host, 8th Day Host
    I have only come across the use of ‘intention/s’ in the Roman Catholic and Anglo-Catholic traditions where the Mass is offered with particular intention for someone/thing. It doubtless will include prayers for that person/thing - what I would call intercessions. AIUI, however, it could in principle include intercessions for other people/things other than that which is the intention of the Mass.
  • Does anyone known where I might find records of excommunications in the late 17th century? Or reasons why someone might have been excommunicated? I've been "volunteered" to help with a family history question, and I haven't a clue!

    ETA - in England

    Thanks,

    AG

    Only person who seems to have been excommunicated from the Church of England around then according to Wikepedia is Henry Wilkinson and his crime seems to have been not reading the services in a licit manner. Actually, you might look up the Act of Conformity and see what the penalties were.
  • BroJamesBroJames Purgatory Host, 8th Day Host
    I think general excommunications were vanishingly rare. There may have been more cases where, in accordance with the BCP provision, ‘the minister of Holy Communion forbade access to "an open and notorious evil liver", until he publicly declared his repentance and amended his life.
  • finelinefineline Kerygmania Host, 8th Day Host
    BroJames wrote: »
    I have only come across the use of ‘intention/s’ in the Roman Catholic and Anglo-Catholic traditions where the Mass is offered with particular intention for someone/thing. It doubtless will include prayers for that person/thing - what I would call intercessions. AIUI, however, it could in principle include intercessions for other people/things other than that which is the intention of the Mass.

    Thanks, BroJames. I've also only come across 'intentions' in Catholic and Anglo-Catholic traditions - not just for Mass, though, but also in blank books where people write their intentions. I thought at first it was the Catholic word for intercession, but both words seem to be used. Maybe intercession is the prayer itself, and the intentions are what are being prayed for, or asked for prayer for. Maybe intentions are another word for what evangelicals would use 'prayer requests'.

  • BroJames wrote: »
    I think general excommunications were vanishingly rare. There may have been more cases where, in accordance with the BCP provision, ‘the minister of Holy Communion forbade access to "an open and notorious evil liver", until he publicly declared his repentance and amended his life.

    And I understand Holy Communion services were rather rare at that period as well ...
  • LydaLyda Shipmate
    Rossweisse wrote: »
    Lyda wrote: »
    Does anyone know why it is appropriate to applaud after various bits mid-stream at an opera and not between movements in other classical music programs such as symphonies, concertos, and oratorios? ...Also, has the no-applause rule always been in effect?
    It depends upon the opera. The older ones were frequently composed as opportunities for artists to show off what they could do, and applause was expected. When Wagner came along, that changed, because of the way he conceived and wrote his operas. There's probably something wrong if you don't applaud a well-sung aria in a bel canto opera - and if you do applaud during Strauss.

    I'm fine with spontaneous applause in symphonies and concertos, and a lot of the classics were composed with the assumption that there would be audible appreciation, especially after a bravura movement. I don't care for perfunctory applause, particularly after a profound quiet movement. That distracts.

    Here's a well-thought-out piece on the subject.

    Thanks, Rossweisse. I was sort of hoping you'd be along give me the low-down. Your approach sounds quite sensible. And thanks for the link. :smile:
  • RossweisseRossweisse Hell Host, 8th Day Host
    Lyda wrote: »
    Thanks, Rossweisse. I was sort of hoping you'd be along give me the low-down. Your approach sounds quite sensible. And thanks for the link. :smile:
    Thank you, Lyda. You're welcome!


  • Does anyone known where I might find records of excommunications in the late 17th century? Or reasons why someone might have been excommunicated? I've been "volunteered" to help with a family history question, and I haven't a clue!

    ETA - in England

    Thanks,

    AG

    I've delved a bit and in the late C17th, in Aberdeen, there were a number of excommunications for apostacy. The "apostates" were either Roman Catholics or Quakers. Presumably they didn't care about being excommunicated from the Church of Scotland! There was one excommunication for murder.

    There is also a reference to the "little excommunication." I think this is the situation I referred to in my previous post, when someone was suspended from receiving communion pending church discipline, but then refused to accept church discipline, and the suspension became indefinite. The example in the records was of someone refusing to mend a quarrel with a neighbour.

    The struggles of the church to impose what they regarded as decent behaviour in the C17th are a joy to read. There was a warning not to talk to fairies, not to play football on the Sabbath, not to use witchcraft to lessen the pains of childbirth, not to use the "unseemlie" word "partie" instead of the more seemly "whore." Two men were disciplined for "making rymes upon Grizzel McKerrall" Alas, the rhymes were not recorded. Apparently Grizzel herself was unaware of the rhymes as she was "beastlie drunk" at the time.

  • What does "packed in the EU" mean? I'm baking and have noticed that my greaseproof paper says "packed in the EU for Tesco Stores Ltd." Does this mean that it is imported, or could it mean that it is produced in the UK part of the EU?
  • BroJamesBroJames Purgatory Host, 8th Day Host
    Maybe it’s made in Norway
  • North East QuineNorth East Quine Shipmate
    edited December 2018
    On a First World War Roll of honour, one man served in the "3rd A.G.S." Google provides lots of suggestions for "A.G.S" but none of them are military regiments! Anyone know?

    (He survived the war, so it's not just a case of looking him up on the CWGC website.)
  • Army General Staff, perhaps? - There may be other versions though, I suppose.
  • Thank you!
  • You can find out more about WW1 records on Find My Past, articles showing what is available here. You can also, for a fee, download a number of documents as pdfs (it's how I found my grandfather's regiment's war diaries).
  • BroJamesBroJames Purgatory Host, 8th Day Host
    From this list of WW1 medal card abbreviations, it might be Army Gymnastic Staff, on which see more here
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