HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: hiscrp@nuscc.nus.sg (C R Pennell)
Subject: game (no prizes)
Organization: National University of Singapore
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL4
Date: Sat, 12 Dec 1992 03:23:40 GMT

			TARARA
	PRESENTING THE SOC.CULTURE.BRITISH CHRISTMAS COMPETITION


A certain Wendell writes:
	I understand that prior to being sworn in as a U.S.
	citizen, the applicant is interviewed and is expected to
	answer a few questions about American government, history,
	and the like.  . . 




Now, British culture enthusiasts:
	Imagine you had to design a test of a similar nature for 
someone (say a Bosnian, or a Burmese or an American) who was applying for
British citizenship and had to show their grasp of British culture. What
TEN questions would you ask.

RULES:
1 One line per question (save on bandwidth)
2. VERY SIMPLE ENGLISH (they don't speak the language very well, remember)
3. No prizes  . . .

Richard Pennell, History NUS
From: dam@dcs.glasgow.ac.uk (David Morning)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.british
Subject: Re: SECRET PURPOSE OF FALKLANDS WAR
Date: 18 Dec 92 12:06:47 GMT
Organization: Glasgow University Computing Science Dept.

mcelwre@cnsvax.uwec.edu writes:



>SECRET PURPOSE OF FALKLANDS WAR

>Dr. Beter AUDIO LETTER #74 of 80

[Plot of Plan 9 From Outer Space deleted]

This Dr. Beter is quite mad.
Floating Cosmospheres?? Klingon type cloaking devices? Secret bases on the
moon with particle beam guns???

Dave

-- 
Newsgroups: soc.culture.british
From: pmoloney@maths.tcd.ie (Paul Moloney)
Subject: Re: Anglepoise Lamps
Organization: Somewhere in the Twentieth Century
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1992 19:38:57 GMT

Regarding "Luxo Jr.", Irish readers may be interested to know that it
is featured as one of the classic animation shorts that the Irish 
Film Centre are showing from the 17th to the 19th, at 3pm, 6pm and 8.45pm.
Other animations in the programme include 'Creature Comforts'.

(Looking back at that, it looks remarkably like an ad. No, I've nothing
to do with them - this is just purely a public service announcement).

P.
-- 
moorcockheathersiainbankshamandcornpizzapjorourkebluesbrothersspikeleepratchett
clive  P a u l   M o l o n e y    "I'm pretty witty and you're itty bitty    pe
james  Trinity College, Dublin     And isn't it a pity the city can't see?   vr
brownbladerunnerorsonscottcardprincewatchmenkatebushbatmanthekillingjoketolkien
Newsgroups: soc.culture.british
From: s8325281@mail.ncku.edu.tw (Ian Smith)
Subject: please give me info
Organization: National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL3
Date: Sat, 12 Dec 1992 11:26:05 GMT

To every kind soul!!

We are trying to figure out either domain name or IP address of
University of Edinburgh (Mechanical Engineering Department). Now,
what we got just something like mech.ed.ac.UK, but it seems that's not
the correct one. Could you tell me the exact one?

Thanks a lot!
From: mmh@cs.qmw.ac.uk (Matthew Huntbach)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.british
Subject: Re: Northern Ireland
Date: 16 Dec 92 09:31:00 GMT
Organization: Computer Science Dept, QMW, University of London, UK.

In article <92350.1614262893684@QUCDN.QueensU.CA> Andy <2893684@QUCDN.QueensU.CA> writes:
>In article <1992Dec15.134159.11229@dcs.qmw.ac.uk>, mmh@cs.qmw.ac.uk (Matthew
>Huntbach) says:
>>
>>In article <92346.1704452893684@QUCDN.QueensU.CA> Andy
>><2893684@QUCDN.QueensU.CA> writes:
>>>Once again, this is not the information I have seen, I shall look it up
>>>and post the stats but I believe Fermangh for example was over 80% RC as
>>>were/are the southern portions of the province
>>>
>>Well, in that case how come the constituency of Fermanagh and
>>Tyrone elects the *Unionist* MP, Ken Maginnis? Although this is
>>partly explained by the Catholic vote being split between SDLP
>>and Sinn Fein, it still indicates either that there is a
>>substantial proportion of Protestants there, or a substantial
>>proportion of the Catholic "80%" votes Unionist.
>
>What is the voter turnout? Also do Fermangh and Tyrone consitutencies
>correspond precisely to the respective counties?. How many ridings have
>nationalist/republican majorities out of the total?

"Riding" is Canadian for constituency, yes? Fermanagh and South
Tyrone is a single constituency, which I assume from the name
contains the whole of County Fermanagh and part of County
Tyrone*. In fact, it doesn't make much sense to think in terms
of counties, since for all practical reasons they don't exist
any more. Local government is carried out by "districts", and
MPs elected by constituencies. There are 17 constituencies, I
forget how many districts but in general they're smaller than
counties. Fermanagh is not a heavily populated county, hence
the fact that it doesn't even make up a single constituency.

In fact, voter turnout in Northern Ireland is usually very
high, usually higher than the mainland. Fermanagh and Tyrone
actually held the record as the constituency with the highest
turnout.

4 out of the 17 constituencies return Nationalist MPs, Newry &
Armagh, Down South, Belfast West and Foyle (delicately named to
avoid the (London)Derry issue, though the neighbouring
constituency covering the county but excluding the city is
called Londonderry East, unlike Foyle it's predominantly
Protestant). There may be a fifth, but I can't recall it now.
Two other constituencies, Mid-Ulster and Fermanagh & South
Tyrone, have Nationalist/Republican majorities, but return
Unionist MPs because the Nationalist/Republican vote is split
between the SDLP and Sinn Fein parties, whereas the Unionist
parties stand a single candidate. The British government has
introduced proportional representation in district and European
Parliament elections to avoid this sort of split and ensure
fair representation for all, but wouldn't do this for
Westminster elections becuase this might encourage those (like
myself) who want to introduce it for all Westminster elections.

Matthew Huntbach

* pedantic note - it is form correct to refer to Irish counties in
this way, but not to English counties.
From: smckinty@sunicnc.France.Sun.COM (Steve McKinty - Sun ICNC)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.british
Subject: Re: Re: sesame st./Magic roundabout
Date: 18 Dec 1992 08:09:59 GMT
Organization: SunConnect
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: hardy.france.sun.com

In article <1992Dec18.014251.10802@news.Hawaii.Edu>, gerard@caliban.soest.hawaii.edu (Gerard Fryer) writes:
> In article <1992Dec15.143747.1@vms.ocom.okstate.edu>, chorley@vms.ocom.okstate.edu writes:
> |> It's too late, you've been deceived!!!
> |> 
> |> The Magic Roundabout is French!!!!!!!!!!
> |> 
> True, M.R. is French.  But the dialog is English.  Apparently the beeb
> receives the thing sans dialog, just with a music track (and without
> any idea of what the story is really about), and they just think up
> something that fits.


I think they got the original dialogue, but it had satirical/political
references that simply didn't translate sensibly. The translator
(who was it? Eric Postlethwaite?) just gave up & invented his own.

Steve

-- 
Steve McKinty
SUN Microsystems ICNC
38240 Meylan, France
email: smckinty@france.sun.com	   BIX: smckinty
From: esh2@po.CWRU.Edu (Evelyn S. Hlabse)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.british
Subject: HELP - GREEN CARD
Date: 17 Dec 92 18:33:32 GMT
Reply-To: esh2@po.CWRU.Edu (Evelyn S. Hlabse)
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH (USA)
NNTP-Posting-Host: thor.ins.cwru.edu


After reading a couple of the posts concerning green cards, I'm
getting a little concerned.

My parents came from the UK in 1956. My father has since died 
but my mother is still alive.  Her green card is blue and 
was issued in 1956.  She has Alzheimer's Disease which is only
going to complicate things.  I am a US citizen and have her
power of attorney.   Do I have to do anything about getting
her a new card or should I just quit worrying and leave things
well enough alone.

E-mail would be appreciated but isn't entirely necessary.

Thanks for any and all help.

Evelyn
--
From: Robert.Evans@cm.cf.ac.uk (Robert Evans)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.british
Subject: Re: If the Wales' divorce
Date: 17 Dec 92 18:39:35 GMT
Organization: University of Wales College of Cardiff, Cardiff, WALES, UK.

In article <12093@scott.ed.ac.uk>, jim@cogsci.ed.ac.uk (Jim  Scobbie) writes:
|> hiscrp@nuscc.nus.sg (C R Pennell) writes:
|> 
|> ewadams@netcom.com (Ernest Adams) writes:
|> >: Peter Scott writes:
|> 
|> >: >But just how widespread is antidisestablishmentarianism there
|> >: >these days?
|> 
|> >: The whole royal divorce question is certainly going to lead to a lot more
|> >: floccinaucinihilipilification with respect to the monarchy.
|> 
|> >	ANd of course will lead to practical problems, like where they are
|> >both to live. He can't bunk down (as AP/UPI put it so elegantly yesterday)
|> >with Grandma forever. Since he IS Prince of Wales perhaps a rural retreat
|> >in that Principality would be the ticket. Say, in (wait for it) :
|> 
|> >Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch
|> 
|> Or perhapshe'd want to live near the little railway station on the
|> Fairbourne narrow gauge railway in North Wales:
|> 
|> Gorsafawddacha'idraigodanheddogleddolonpenrhynareurdraethceredigion
|> 

Until he calls a Welsh parliament to confirm his claim to be Prince of
Wales, I'd prefer him to stay in England.  Anyway, the family's not
exactly short of desirable residences, the occasional blaze notwithstanding.

-- 
  Robert Evans, Department of Computing Mathematics,
  University of Wales College of Cardiff, Wales, UK.  +44 (0)222 874000 x 5518
  Robert.Evans@cm.cf.ac.uk                      (FAX) +44 (0)222 666182
From: mmh@cs.qmw.ac.uk (Matthew Huntbach)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.british
Subject: Re: If the Wales' divorce
Date: 16 Dec 92 08:59:30 GMT
Organization: Computer Science Dept, QMW, University of London, UK.

In article <1992Dec15.163714.8251@aisb.ed.ac.uk> eddie@cstr.ed.ac.uk (Eddie Rooney) writes:
>How about Henry VIII?  Divorce didn't seem to stop him (but then it was
>*his* church.....)

Henry VIII's marriage was annulled, it was not a divorce in the
modern meaning of the term. Annulment means that the marriage
was invalid for some reason - in Henry's case he wanted to
argue that his marriage to Katharine of Arragon was invalid
because she had been previously married to his brother.

Matthew Huntbach
Newsgroups: soc.culture.british
From: barcheta@admiral.uucp (Alec Cornell)
Subject: Re: Green cards
Reply-To: barcheta@admiral.uucp (Alec Cornell)
Organization: The Grid/Waffle BBS, 203-661-2873, -1279, -0450, -2967
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1992 05:44:31 GMT


> >Can anyone tell me why Green Cards are actually blue? Mine is. Does
> >reserved for Hispanics, Blue for Europeans etc.? 
> The colour appears to be dependent on age. If you see what I mean. For the
> last few years, they've been pink (mine is, and I count as a European).
> It's a long time since they were green, although everybody still uses the
> term.
> Now WHY the INS changes the colour occasionally, I don't know.
> 
> Daan Sandee                                           sandee@scri.fsu.edu
> Thinking Machines Corporation
> Supercomputer Computations Research Institute, B-186
> Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306-4052  (904) 644-4490


I'm sure the color of the "green cards" has nothing to do with national 
origin, because that would smack of racism to Americans.  What it 
probably has to with is counterfeiting -- since a "green card" can get 
you a job, it is worth money, just like a Social Security Card.  So they 
probably change colors periodically to keep counterfeiters on their toes. 
Also, cards from before the act that legalized illegal aliens who came 
before a certain year are probably different from cards issued after that 
act, since they allegedly "got tough" on illegal aliens after they passed 
that act.

Incidentally, my "green card", or alien registration booklet, in England 
was green on the outside with white pages inside.  Are they all like 
that?


--
barcheta%admiral.uucp@yale.edu (Alec Cornell) <yale!admiral!barcheta>
The Admiral's Public UNIX - Greenwich, CT - System Administrator: Doug Fields
(HST/V32) (203)661-2873 -- (PEP/V32) -1279 -- (V32) -0450 -- (V29/MNP6) -2967
>FREE!< Unix shell accounts, Usenet access, and Internet-style mail available
From: icpa@iat.holonet.net (Tony Rodriguez)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.british
Subject: International Software Assignments
Date: 17 Dec 92 19:50:42 GMT
Organization: HoloNet National Internet Access BBS: 510-704-1058/modem


	The International Computer Professional Association is a member 
supported organization for experienced software professionals who want to
work overseas. By using our network of over 750 technical recruitment firms 
in the US and abroad, members can find contract and permanent software jobs
throughout the world. If you are interested in working overseas, contact us
including your name, address, and evening phone number and we will send you
information on membership with the ICPA.


Sincerely 

Tony Rodriguez

Director ICPA


International Computer Professional Association
2261 Market Street, Suite 309
San Francisco, CA 94114
USA

Tel: (415) 695 - 7618
Fax: (415) 252 - 5769

email icpa@holonet.net
From: mmh@cs.qmw.ac.uk (Matthew Huntbach)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.british
Subject: Re: Northern Ireland
Date: 15 Dec 92 13:41:59 GMT
Organization: Computer Science Dept, QMW, University of London, UK.

In article <92346.1704452893684@QUCDN.QueensU.CA> Andy <2893684@QUCDN.QueensU.CA> writes:
>In article <1992Dec11.091405.28795@dcs.qmw.ac.uk>, mmh@cs.qmw.ac.uk (Matthew
>Huntbach) says:
>>None of the six counties is overwhelmingly Catholic in
>>population. A while back someone posted a population of all the
>>districts (which are smaller than counties) in NI, and none of
>>them was more than 80% of one religious background or the
>>other.
>
>This is not the information I have seen, Fermangh (sp) for example is
>predominantly Catholic as is the southern portion of the province
>>
>>At the time of partition all the 6 counties that form NI had
>>Protestant majorities, though two of them only just so and the
>
>Once again, this is not the information I have seen, I shall look it up
>and post the stats but I believe Fermangh for example was over 80% RC as
>were/are the southern portions of the province
>
Well, in that case how come the constituency of Fermanagh and
Tyrone elects the *Unionist* MP, Ken Maginnis? Although this is
partly explained by the Catholic vote being split between SDLP
and Sinn Fein, it still indicates either that there is a
substantial proportion of Protestants there, or a substantial
proportion of the Catholic "80%" votes Unionist.

As for the "southern portions" of the province, Mid-Ulster
again returns a Unionist (in fact a Paisleyite) MP due to SDLP
Sinn Fein splitting. Newry & Armagh and Down South now return
SDLP MPs, but not by overwhelming majorities, in fact both in
the recent past have returned Unionist MPs.

Matthew Huntbach
Newsgroups: soc.culture.british
From: dbrooks@osf.org (David Brooks)
Subject: Re: Yankee behind the wheel.. {HELP!}
Followup-To: soc.culture.british
Reply-To: dbrooks@osf.org (David Brooks)
Organization: Open Software Foundation
Date: Sat, 19 Dec 1992 22:35:42 GMT

ae498@yfn.ysu.edu (Dawn Bott) writes:
>
>ok.....sorry to bug all of you here, but i haven't a clue
>as where else to post this....

For goodness' sake, don't.  This is the perfect place.  All replies
guaranteed both witty and helpful (but not always comprehensible -- you
know who I mean).

>here's the story...in 11 days i'll be in England to spend
>the holidays with my sweetie...

Can s/he read road maps?  Make sure.  An alert navigator is priceless.
Many more roads than in the US have official numbers, and maps are
generally good about showing them.  For example, use "A312" rather than
"Putney" as a guide.

>i am really nervous about driving about on the left hand
>side of the road, using roundabouts....general stuff like
>that...

Most of us reading this have survived the same experience in reverse, so
take heart.

Make sure you insist on an automatic.

Try to rent at an airport or otherwise directly on a divided highway (i.e.
*not* in Croydon High Street, a mistake I made last time).  That way, you
will spend the first part of the trip with fewer choices to make; the lanes
and traffic flow will keep you on the right -- er -- this is so hard to
verbalise -- side.

Priority to traffic already on the roundabout (rotary) is much more
strictly observed than in the US.  And there are lots of them.

Signs that point off a major road onto a minor are on the near side of the
minor, not the far side.  For some reason I always found this difference
confusing.

Once you get accustomed to it, take special care turning right off a major
road onto a minor.  That's the time you'll find yourself on the wrong side.

Don't drive into central London.

And, independent of the left-ness, be very alert to roadsigns.  You will
encounter many detailed but helpful and logical roadsigns (well, logical by
comparison with the American variety).  Here's where the navigator comes in
handy again.  Make sure you agree on terminology, btw.  If either of you
have any right/left confusion, use yourside/myside, for example.

I would comment on the manners of the drivers, but things may have
changed -- and, besides, expectations are so different that people differ
strongly on this.  Everyone likes to claim their own drivers are the worst.

And enjoy the vacation.  That's an instruction.


-- 
David Brooks					dbrooks@osf.org
Open Software Foundation			uunet!osf.org!dbrooks
Allberall und ewig blauen licht die Fernen!  Ewig... ewig... ewig...
Newsgroups: soc.culture.british
From: dwilkins@maths.tcd.ie (David Wilkins)
Subject: Re: If the Wales' divorce
Organization: Dept. of Maths, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland.
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1992 22:15:38 GMT

In article <1992Dec12.032153.593@fwi.uva.nl> hm@fwi.uva.nl (Hans Mulder) writes:
>                       in 1698, the king of England was William of Orange.
>If there ever was a king of England who couldn't divorce and keep his job,
>it was William, since he was king only by virtue of his being married to
>Mary Stuart when she inherited the throne.
>
>Compare: if Charles divorces he may still be king, but if Di divorces she
>surely can't be queen.

William III was king by virtue of the fact that the crown was tendered
to the Prince and Princess of Orange (the nephew and eldest daughter
respectively of James II and VII) by the Estates of the Realm in
1688, as described in the `Bill of Rights' of 1689.  (The date may be
incorrect; I am working from memory here.)

To summarize the procedure:

   Following the flight of James II and VII, a constitutional
   `convention' was summoned to consider the constitutional
   situation and act accordingly.  This was elected in accordance
   with the procedures for electing parliaments, and on the
   same basis.  However the Convention was not in itself a
   parliament, since it was not summoned through writs issued
   by any King.

   The convention met and deliberated, and then, in the
   presence of the Prince and Princess of Orange, a
   `Declaration of Right' was read out.

   This declaration began by bluntly declaring certain actions
   of James II to be `unlawful' (or `illegal'; I forget the
   exact word used).

   The declaration went on to decribe certain `rights' representing
   the `constitutional liberties' of the English people, such as
   the right of freedom of speech within parliament.

   It was declared that James II, by his flight, had abdicated the
   throne of England, and that the throne was therefore vacant.

   The crown was then tendered to the Prince and Princess of Orange.
   During their joint lives, William and Mary would be joint
   sovereigns, and on the death of one, it would pass to the
   survivor.  During their joint lives, the royal authority
   would however be wielded by William, in the name of them
   both.

   The succession, on the death of both, was fixed as follows:
   first the joint issue of William and Mary, then the issue
   of Mary, then Princess Anne (Mary's sister) and her issue,
   and then in the issue of William (if he married after the
   death of Mary).

The throne was tendered to William and Mary on these terms
in the name of the `Estates of the Realm' and was accepted
by them.  After William and Mary were proclaimed King
and Queen, the convention declared itself to be a parliament,
and normal business resumed.

DRW
From: yadallee@ersys.edmonton.ab.ca (Dave Shariff Yadallee)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.british
Subject: Christmas mesage to s.c.b.
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 92 06:00:45 MST
Organization: Edmonton Remote Systems #1, Edmonton, AB, Canada

Christmas.  A time to celebrate the birth of Christ.

Also the time for Britons to fear the IRA.  And this year, the crown in crisis.

This year, I would like to say merry Christmas to you all!

Peace on Earth definitely! Let all Britons, English, Socts, Irish and welsh
(Cyrmite) all come together in brotherly love.

Also, let's stop this traitorous talk of a British republic.  Let us support
and somehow rebuke the Royals in order that the Royals, the government and the
people can feel closer together.

Also, beware of gift-barers.  Let us be careful about being annexed by Europe.
I am a full supporter of the pre-1974 Commonwealth Agreement.

Cheers mate, and let be happy during this festive season,

Dave Shariff Yadallee (B. Sc. (Econ/Math) (U of Alberta 1990) )
 (yadallee@ersys.edmonton.ab.ca, userLIBE@mts.ucs.ualberta.ca)
God Save the Queen, God Bless us All! Remember! Jesus Saves!!
Happy Christmas and Merry New Year to One and All - John Lennon
Newsgroups: soc.culture.british
From: jac54@cas.org ()
Subject: Re: An ENGLISH monarch??
Organization: Chemical Abstracts Service, Columbus, Ohio
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1992 11:56:49 GMT

In article <1992Dec18.055114.451@nuscc.nus.sg> hiscrp@nuscc.nus.sg (C R Pennell) writes:
>katherim@fraser.sfu.ca (Katherine Merle Mason) writes:
>: I have a question.  I have been studying Scottish history for a while,
>: and, in Canada at least, this necessarily entails studying a wee bit
>: of English history.
>:
>: My question is simple:  has there ever been an ENGLISH monarch?
>:
>: The Plantegenets were french.
>: The Tudors were Welsh.
>: The Stuarts were Scottish
>: The Windsors (were) are German.
>:
>: Any ENGLISH monarchs?
>: Even in some other country??
>:
>       Harold?

	Do you mean Wilson or Hardrada (as in the song)?

	Alec
Newsgroups: soc.culture.british,soc.culture.celtic