HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: jim@cs.strath.ac.uk (Jim Reid)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.british
Subject: Re: royal family
Date: 26 Aug 92 17:14:24 GMT
	<CC.92Aug26131758@arran.dcs.ed.ac.uk>
	<1992Aug26.135141.5244@cl.cam.ac.uk>
Distribution: soc
Organization: Computer Science Dept., Strathclyde Univ., Glasgow, Scotland.
In-reply-to: ag129@cl.cam.ac.uk's message of 26 Aug 92 13:51:41 GMT

In article <1992Aug26.135141.5244@cl.cam.ac.uk> ag129@cl.cam.ac.uk (Alasdair Grant) writes:

   A lot of people say the Queen is rich. But I would guess that if the 
   House of Windsor were dissolved, most of that property would revert to
   the State. It is inconceivable that they would keep Buckingham Palace
   and the Crown Jewels...

Well these belong to the state, not the Royal Family. Even if they
were not, a few baubles and big mansions would be inconsequential
compared to the rest of the family's wealth - large swathes of land
(Prince Charles owns most of Cornwall), shares, treasury bonds and so
on. The Royal Family is worth billions of pounds.

		Jim
From: mark-r@ee.man.ac.uk (Mark Robinson (JO PhD))
Newsgroups: soc.culture.british
Subject: Re: Chortle and the Wheelies
Date: 3 Sep 92 15:32:54 GMT
Reply-To: mark-r@spec0.ee.man.ac.uk (Mark Robinson (JO PhD))
Organization: Dept Electrical and Electronic Eng, Manchester University, UK

In article <BtyMo6.D0r@apollo.hp.com> johnf@apollo.hp.com (John Francis) writes:
>Wasn't Chorlton(-cum-Hardy?) also the site of that ghastly white
>concrete housing estate (now, thankfully, demolished) that was
>already a slum by the time it was completed?
>It's many years ago now, but I used to drive past this eyesore
>on my way to work at UMIST.
>-- 
>John Francis                                johnf@apollo.hp.com
>Seen passing on the net:  Spotted Owl - the *other* white meat!

Not as I recall it. You may be thinking of Chorlton on Medlock,
which is closer to the City Centre, near to Hulme, which is where
ghastly white concrete housing estates are more likely to be found.

Cheers
Mark
mark-r@spec0.ee.man.ac.uk

PS. I'm also a UMIST graduate, but I stuck with it rather than
taking a cushy job paying about 10 times my present salary in
the States!!! (no flames please!)
From: fledgist@weber.ucsd.edu (Fragano Ledgister)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.british
Subject: Re: Bill and Ben
Date: 3 Sep 1992 21:47:26 GMT
Organization: University of California, San Diego
NNTP-Posting-Host: weber.ucsd.edu

In article <1992Sep03.173455.22324@bas-a.bcc.ac.uk> skaamjm@ucl.ac.uk (Matthew Moore) writes:
>fledgist@weber.ucsd.edu (Fragano Ledgister) writes:
>
>>>Can anyone remember the names of the tortoise and the flower in
>>>the popular childrens TV show "Bill and Ben the flowerpot men"
>>>
>
>>Wasn't the flower 'Little Weed'?
>
>'Weee-eed' was the way she used to announce itself.

I remember well! Now I've got the  signature tune running through my
head...
-- 
____________________________________________________________________
Dawn over the dark sea brings on the sun;                      
She leans across the hilltop: see, the light!
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Xref: sparky soc.culture.british:11958 sci.lang:6774 alt.usage.english:6983
From: iad@cogsci.ed.ac.uk (Ivan A Derzhanski)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.british,sci.lang,alt.usage.english
Subject: Re: Problem with 'they' (etc) as 3p singular common gender pron.
Date: 27 Aug 92 09:02:31 GMT
Organization: Centre for Cognitive Science, Edinburgh, UK

In article <1992Aug26.224805.12829@dscomsf.desy.de> Hallam@zeus02.desy.de writes:
>Hey folks! Look what I found,
>what is significant is the choice of newsgroups:-
>
>In article <2A973690.3322@orion.oac.uci.edu>, cortese@skid.ps.uci.edu (Janis
>Maria Cortese) writes:
>
>|>Newsgroups: sci.lang,alt.usage.english,soc.culture.usa
>
>Huh! what do the yanks know about English,

I can't believe I'm speaking for them, but, as a matter of fact, there
happen to be some of them that do know a thing or two about English.
And, I'm pleased to say, there are a few who adhere to British spelling.

>they put a dyslexic in charge of
>writting the dictionary and as a result are unable to spell even simple little
>words like colour properly to this very day!

But some of them still know the proper spelling of "potato", so the
situation isn't that bad.  As for the Keeper of the Dictionary, well,
they didn't put him, he put himself (there was no election held, was
there?), and then, we may want to give him a point or two for his
ability to turn what you and I would call mass illiteracy into a
unique form of cultural identity.

>Since the official body which defines the English language

Which is ...?

>is somewhat tied up on more important matters <...>,
>it looks like soc.culture.brit will have to step in and fill the gap.

On the contrary, the proper strategy is to avoid stepping in and
filling gaps.  Once you've ridden the London Tube, you'll know why.

-- 
 `If ye hiv ears oan yer heid - then use them tae lissen.' (The Glasgow Gospel)
Ivan A Derzhanski   (iad@cogsci.ed.ac.uk;  iad@chaos.cs.brandeis.edu)
* Centre for Cognitive Science,  2 Buccleuch Place,  Edinburgh EH8 9LW,  UK
* Cowan House, Pollock Halls, 18 Holyrood Park Road, Edinburgh EH16 5BD, UK
From: bruce@tcom.stc.co.uk (Bruce Munro)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.british
Subject: Re: Beer (was Re: New World beer)
Date: 27 Aug 92 16:14:16 GMT
Organization: BNR Europe, New Southgate, London.

In article <1992Aug26.100233.20296@cs.hw.ac.uk> neilp@cs.hw.ac.uk (Neil Postlethwaite) writes:
>
>Obviously you haven't been in to many Scottish and Newcastle pubs round the
>borders, esp the English side. Many many of them sell 'Youngers Scotch Bitter'
>which is what is being referred to as 'a pint of scotch'. It isn't too bad
>and is fairly cheap(ish). Though in a pub in my home village of Gretna
>(Scottish side) when presented with the choice of Youngers Scotch Bitter
>or Broughton Special Bitter (from down Biggar, Edin way)  both at #1.20 a
>pint (!) the choice was not very hard to make.

The J. D. Wetherspoons chain of pubs sell Youngers Scotch Bitter at 99p
a pint which is pretty good value for an OKish beer. In fact they had a
promotion for a few months last year when it was sold at 79p a pint!
Apparently it was the cheapest pint sold in any pub in England.

-- 
Bruce Munro.  <bruce@tcom.stc.co.uk> || ...!mcsun!uknet!stc!bruce
BNR Europe Ltd, Oakleigh Rd South, London N11 1HB. 
Phone : +44 81 945 2174 or +44 81 945 4000 x2174
"There are no strangers, only friends we don't recognise" - Hank Wangford
Xref: sparky soc.culture.british:11881 rec.arts.tv.uk:5085 rec.arts.drwho:5522 alt.tv.prisoner:1221
From: dam@dcs.glasgow.ac.uk (David Morning)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.british,rec.arts.tv.uk,rec.arts.drwho,alt.tv.prisoner
Subject: Re: Americanising of the UK, Now: British TV in North America
Date: 25 Aug 92 17:03:56 GMT
Organization: Glasgow University Computing Science Dept.

jim@cs.strath.ac.uk (Jim Reid) writes:


>BTW, some of British children's TV programmes are very clever. In
>some, the humour can be quite sophisticated. For example, one of the
>best moments ever in British TV was an episode of Paddington Bear.
>[Incidentally, PB's not a cartoon, but animation using 3D objects,
>including the eponymous bear.] Anyway, this episode finished with
>Paddington dancing an exact copy of Gene Kelly's "Singin' in the
>Rain", right down to the reproachful policeman at the end! Apparently,
>this is the only time that Kelly has allowed anyone else to use this
>routine - he has copyright on the choreography. As I recall, the
>episode was about how Paddington's shopping trip was cut short when it
>started to rain. Check this out if you ever get the chance. It is
>wonderful.

It's available on video and, yes, it is indeed wonderful.

Dave

--
From: pm3_norr@csd.brispoly.ac.uk (Paul Norris)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.british
Subject: Re: Dum dee dum...
Keywords: Archers
Date: 2 Sep 92 17:41:56 GMT
Organization: Bristol Polytechnic, England

In article <10062@uqcspe.cs.uq.oz.au> colin@cs.uq.oz.au writes:
}Go on someone -- an Omnibus?

Kate Aldridge is in *BIG* trouble.  Peggy's wartime boyfriend Con has turned
up from the States in response to the letter that Kate wrote pretending to be
her (I spent most of the Omnibus on Sunday thinking "Poor Jack"...)

She also locked William Grundy in the attic at Blossom Hill Cottage overnight
while she went off stealing cars (and crashing it) with her boyfriend - this 
lead to the fact that she's been using BHC as a hideout coming out.

Net result: Clarrie and Peggy are both furious and Jennifer is currently
making a complete hash of trying to smooth things over.

If I head off home now I'll just about catch this evenings episode, so I'll try
and post more tomorrow.

Paul


-- 
Nothing takes the taste out of peanut butter quite like unrequited love.
                                            --  Charlie Brown
Xref: sparky soc.culture.british:11968 rec.arts.tv.uk:5116 rec.arts.drwho:5602 alt.tv.prisoner:1236
Newsgroups: soc.culture.british,rec.arts.tv.uk,rec.arts.drwho,alt.tv.prisoner
Subject: Re: Americanising of the UK, Now: British TV in North America
From: ace@kryton.UUCP (Catherine Beckstead)
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 92 10:11:14 PDT
Organization: Paradox Alley F&SF BBS 805-492-8789

perl@dwrsun4.UUCP (Robert Perlberg) writes:

> 
> When I heard that they were considering an American version of "Red
> Dwarf" I nearly lost my lunch.  No way would the American networks ever
> allow a show with that level of depravity to see the light of day.  I
> can't even image what a sanitized version of "Red Dwarf" would be
> like.  "Hi, Honey, I'm Home" in outer space?  Don't tell me they're
> going to allow the word "smeg" on NBC.

From what I've heard, (at a con last Feburary), was that the producer
actually was selling the story as "a McHale's Navy in Space".
AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Catherine Beckstead                    ace@kryton.uucp
"Do you want to argue with a can of deodorant that registers
NINE on the Richter scale?"        --Ace, in "Dragonfire"
Xref: sparky soc.culture.british:12157 rec.arts.tv.uk:5240 rec.arts.drwho:5800 alt.tv.prisoner:1291
Newsgroups: soc.culture.british,rec.arts.tv.uk,rec.arts.drwho,alt.tv.prisoner
Subject: Re: Americanising of the UK, Now: British TV in North America
From: ace@kryton.UUCP (Catherine Beckstead)
Date: Thu, 03 Sep 92 18:16:29 PDT
Organization: Paradox Alley F&SF BBS 805-492-8789

danaf@aix.rpi.edu (Frank R. Dana Jr.) writes:

> 
> Good luck on the Gordon Bennett question! Sophie herself was asked that, prob
> at the Friends Christmas con in '91, and her response was essentially "Gee, I
> dunno, it's just something British people say."
> 
> If the "British people" don't know, nobody will...
> 
> I am...
>   -Frank Dana... known (718)-(212)-(516) over as Amiuser/Doc Ami!
> 

What I was told, (from a British person now living her in the US), is
that Gorden Bennett was a Canadian talk-show host back in the 70's
(I think).  He didn't seem to know why it is a slang term, nor did
he know much more about it.  Maybe our Canadian friends can enlighten
us further.  It is a term used in Red Dwarf a lot too.  At least
Holly used to say it.

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Catherine Beckstead                    ace@kryton.uucp
"Do you want to argue with a can of deodorant that registers
NINE on the Richter scale?"        --Ace, in "Dragonfire"
From: cc@dcs.ed.ac.uk (Chris Cooke)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.british
Subject: Re: royal family
Date: 31 Aug 92 12:05:03 GMT
	<JIM.92Aug26181424@hunter.cs.strath.ac.uk>
	<1992Aug28.143336.12459@ttinews.tti.com>
Distribution: soc
Organization: Department of Computer Science, University of Edinburgh, Scotland
In-reply-to: jackson@soldev.tti.com's message of 28 Aug 92 14:33:36 GMT

In article <1992Aug28.143336.12459@ttinews.tti.com> jackson@soldev.tti.com (Dick Jackson) writes:

   I wonder if they really *own* it in the usual sense of the word.  The
   Queen has tremendous powers, but only so long as she doesn't actually seek
   to use them.  Is is not largely the same with their wealth.  Can you
   imagine PC putting Cornwall up for sale?

Yes, I can.  Most of their wealth is personal, private wealth.  The remainder
(the "state" wealth) would still be enough to make them some of the richest
people in the world though, I'd imagine.
--
	-- Chris. 	cc@dcs.ed.ac.uk   (on Janet, cc@uk.ac.ed.dcs)
From: jim@cs.strath.ac.uk (Jim Reid)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.british
Subject: The Queen Mary (was Re: QE I)
Date: 1 Sep 92 11:45:01 GMT
	<1992Aug31.145813.23224@ttinews.tti.com>
	<7143@bigbird.hri.com.hri.com>,<1992Aug31.171253.18856@dcs.glasgow.ac.uk>
	<1992Aug31.182833.19425@menudo.uh.edu>
Organization: Computer Science Dept., Strathclyde Univ., Glasgow, Scotland.
In-reply-to: chem91@Rosie.UH.EDU's message of 31 Aug 92 18:28:33 GMT

In article <1992Aug31.182833.19425@menudo.uh.edu> chem91@Rosie.UH.EDU ("Bill Harrison (713)-743-2789") writes:

   The QM will probably now be scrapped...

Well there has been talk of a Scottish consortium taking the Queen Mary
and making it the centrepiece of a new theme park on the River Clyde.
This would be an rather uncomfortable reminder of the days when the
river was the centre of the world's shipbuilding industry - now no more.

		Jim
From: cecilia@juliet.caltech.edu (Prof. Wagstaff)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.british
Subject: Re: royal family
Date: 1 Sep 92 16:57:00 GMT
Distribution: soc
Organization: California Institute of Technology
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41

In article <1992Aug27.205001.8542@vax.oxford.ac.uk>, reese@vax.oxford.ac.uk writes...
> 
>Nonsense!  Why is there all this talk of the monarchy going
>downhill?  The concept of monarchy as a moral arbiter of the nation
>is a purely 19th century invention, and a bad one at that. Why should
>the royal family behave better than anyone else?  In the 18th century
>the mores of the royal family were a byword for promiscuous depravity.
>Let's get back to those fun times, rather than the starched and stiff
>etiquette-ridden concept of monarchy we have today. Let the press and
>people jabber and tut-tut.  What's wrong with that?
> 
>Sure, we're paying for them.  But what does that really mean?  Are
>we paying them to pretend to be something we are not? Are we paying
>them to represent Britain as it is not?  Surely we have them as a
>(constitutional) institution, as a political buffer, as ruler of
>last resort.  Who, then, should care how they behave. They are
>monarchs by right, by birth, because that is the system we have, and
>that is the tradition we have.
> 
>Just say no! to the media-induced hype-up of the royal family as
>THE high moral example for this nation. Just say no! to hypocrisy.
> 
>Jason

HERE! HERE!  What a breath of fresh air you are Jason!  I am sick and
tired of the media here in the US feeding off the Royal Family and their
personal problems. 

Cecilia
From: mmh@cs.qmw.ac.uk (Matthew Huntbach)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.british
Subject: Re: P.R. [was Re: royal family]
Date: 29 Aug 92 20:16:46 GMT
Organization: Computer Science Dept, QMW, University of London, UK.

From: david@postman.gr.osf.org (David George)
In article <1992Aug24.121134.18431@dcs.qmw.ac.uk>, mmh@cs.qmw.ac.uk (Matthew Huntbach) writes:

|> Oh dear, look at all those other poor, poor countries in
|> Europe, which unlike the UK have proportional representation,

>but is there any evidence that a dose of propotionality will improve the
>British Economy.  The German political example has provided a relatively
>stable FDP (with left or right party of choice) government since the 60s.
>Italy has a fairly chaotic, corrupt system but both countries are ahead of us
>in the economic league tables (whatever they prove).

The only difference between a "collapse of the government" in
Italy and a "cabinet shuffle" in the UK, is that in the former,
the PM's slot gets shuffled around as well, apart from that the
Italian way justs sounds chaotic, but is a lot more democratic
(every faction has to get its share, unlike the UK where the
PM's faction gets the lot).

My evidence was more of the negative kind - showing that
Proportional Representation does not necessarily lead to a poor
economy.

Matthew Huntbach
From: stephen@cc.uow.edu.au (Stephen Nicholson)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.british
Subject: Re: Bill and Ben
Date: 27 Aug 92 23:42:37 GMT
Organization: The Nightmare

susher@vax.oxford.ac.uk writes:

>In article <1992Aug25.004615.24471@odin.corp.sgi.com>, mark@tequila.asd.sgi.com writes:
>> Can anyone remember the names of the tortoise and the flower in
>> the popular childrens TV show "Bill and Ben the flowerpot men"
>> 

I think this has been adequately answered by other people here. Yes, this
kid's show made it all the way to Australia and I remember watching it
as a little toddler.

However, as media folklore would have it, when the series first came out,
Bill and Ben used to live in the same pot. Gasp horror! cried the moral
watchdogs - we can't have two male characters living in the same pot!
Its digusting! The old farts made the two puppets live in separate pots.

Anyone remember if such is true - or just folklore?

>Steve

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stephen Nicholson				 stephen@wampyr.cc.uow.edu.au
NorTel Technology Centre			 Wollongong University

"I was hired and fired but never inspired,
 flattering chattering words to impress me" - 'Tantalized', The Church
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: soc.culture.british,rec.arts.tv.uk,rec.arts.drwho,alt.tv.prisoner
From: jackson@soldev.tti.com (Dick Jackson)
Subject: Re: Americanising of the UK, Now: British TV in North America
Organization: Transaction Technology Inc.
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 1992 14:51:38 GMT

>In article <1992Sep3.102548.12962@cas.org> jac54@cas.org writes:
>>
>>	I think it's supposed to be Gordon-Bennett.  John Gordon-Bennett
>>	was the richest man in Britain in or aroun the 20s and 30s and
>>	he was a great believer in flaunting it.  This was probably the
>>	origin of the use of his name as an expression of exasperation.

Is it not true that GB also gave his name to at least one high tech
sporting event? I have in mind some kind of motoring competition, and
also hot air balloon racing.

I am almost sure that the baloon races which are held every year in
the Palm Springs area are given his name, although having recently
written Queen Elisabeth when I thought I was writing Queen Mary, even
I don't trust anything I say any more.

Or could there be two Gordon Bennetts!?

Dick Jackson
From: kp@cc.uow.edu.au (Karen Pepper)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.british
Subject: Re: Can a foetus succeed a dead monarch?
Date: 24 Aug 92 03:12:48 GMT
Organization: University Of Wollongong

w.p.coyne@newcastle.ac.uk writes:



>When the king dies the throne passes to the eldest son, or if he
>has no sons then to the eldest daughter, if he has no children then
>to the nearest other relative.

>   Now what happens if on his death his wife is pregnant?  

I think Mary Queen of Scots was born about a week after her father's
death, and she (obviously) still became queen.

-- 
* Karen Pepper                  *                                     *
* Moth Wrangler and Stylist     *  " Fingite me mortuum esse. Dicite  *
*                               *    aliquid belli. "                 *
* kp@wampyr.cc.uow.edu.au       *                        - Petronius  *
From: Christopher.Carne@brunel.ac.uk (Christopher J Carne)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.british
Subject: Re: Mansell out ? [was Re: VNS: Mon 17-Aug-1992]
Keywords: VNS,news,sport
Date: 26 Aug 92 11:53:59 GMT
Organization: Brunel University, West London, UK

Latest report from today's Grauniad sugggests that Martin Brundle may
well be out of the Benetton team next season to make way for Patrese.
Benetton are reportedly keen on having an Italian driver although
engine suppliers, Ford and sponsors Camel are less keen to see Brundle
go. If Brundle does get the heave-ho, there is a possiblity of getting
Berger's place in the McClaren team. A more likely scenario is that 
McClaren's current test driver Mark Blundell will get the drive.

CHR$
Newsgroups: soc.culture.british,rec.arts.tv.uk,rec.arts.drwho,alt.tv.prisoner
From: donnell@shark.micro.umn.edu (Your Heinous)
Subject: Re: Americanising of the UK, Now: British TV in North America
Organization: none
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1992 16:19:34 GMT

In article <BCR.92Sep2143519@hpl3sn02.cern.ch> bcr@cernapo.cern.ch (Bill Riemers) writes:
>In article <1992Sep2.061058.21842@osf.org> sp@osf.org (Simon Patience) writes:
>>  Well... it's an abbreviation for smegma.
>
>Thanks for that enlightenment.  Now, what in the hell does "smegma" mean?
>
>                                   Bill

At least in the US, Smegma is a term for the lint that collects around
the foreskin of an un-circumcised penis.
I am not making this up.

					--Judex--
From: newt@dcs.glasgow.ac.uk (Michael Steven Newton)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.british
Subject: Re: The Celtic Cross
Date: 1 Sep 92 08:22:06 GMT
Organization: Glasgow University Computing Science Dept.

esh2@po.CWRU.Edu (Evelyn S. Hlabse) writes:


>In a previous article, IO20402@MAINE.MAINE.EDU () says:

>>Please, could someone tell me the origins of the Celtic Cross, I have worn one
>>for some time, and I am fed up with people continually asking me if I am
>>Catholic. Does the cross have religious ties? Or is it just a pagan symbol?
>>
>>      Thank you,
>>              Tak Car loves,
>>                     Kerry
>>

>It is a religious symbol.  When I visited Scottish cemetaries in

  What is, in your definition, the difference between "pagan" and
"religious"?  You must be making the distinction between the spiritual
practices of the indigenous people of world, and the people who came along
with swords and spears calling themselves the "Christians", right?

  Well, the Celtic Cross is a beautiful blending of pre-Christian Celtic
elements and Christian motifs.  The quartered circle in the center is one
of the oldest Celtic designs, similar to and sharing the common heritage
of IndoEuropean motifs like the swastika and swirl, implying movement and
solar associations.  Thus integrating the Celtic sun god of youth  with
the Christian "young" god.

  Goddess bless,
  michael
From: ag129@cl.cam.ac.uk (Alasdair Grant)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.british
Subject: Re: royal family
Date: 26 Aug 92 13:51:41 GMT
Reply-To: ag129@cl.cam.ac.uk (Alasdair Grant)
Distribution: soc
Organization: U of Cambridge Comp Lab, UK


Malaysia have a system where they elect a monarch from among the various
hereditary princes. I guess the UK could elect one from the Noble Dukes.
Like Malaysia it would change regularly to minimize corruption.

A lot of people say the Queen is rich. But I would guess that if the 
House of Windsor were dissolved, most of that property would revert to
the State. It is inconceivable that they would keep Buckingham Palace
and the Crown Jewels...
From: egpv29@castle.ed.ac.uk (JHenderson)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.british
Subject: Gordon Bennett
Date: 3 Sep 92 09:59:59 GMT
Organization: Edinburgh University

Surely this is a way to avoid the terrible sin of blasphemy - you
start by saying "Good God" and it mutates. My old granny says
"Good Garden Stuff" for, I think, similar reasons (if the word
"reason" can be used in connection with my granny).

-- 
==================================================================
-Jeremy Henderson            |  Une souris verte
 egpv29@castle.ed.ac.uk	     |  Qui courrait dans l'herbe
==================================================================