Buying Cigarettes – Linguistic Reply

Ξ November 20th, 2008 | → 2 Comments | ∇ Mumble |

So I went to buy 20 Dunhill International cigarettes [yes, I know it's filthy and that any 'thinking person' shouldn't!]

Me: “May I have twenty Dunhill International please?”

Him: “I’m sorry [checking the shelves], we don’t have any”

Me: [More than slightly incredulus (I buy them there all of the time)] “You DON’T have any  Dunhill International?” [hoping he'd perhaps go and search; given my internation and my 'I don't believe it' tones].

Him: “Yes”

Now, it’s that last bit … I mean, I’m more used to hearing ‘No’ as an answer to similar questions … “You DON’T have any  Dunhill International?”

“No”

Yet, when I heard, “Yes”, well, it kind of threw me!

Not a normal response in my experience, but one that’s grammatically correct!

Alumni Weekend

Ξ November 17th, 2008 | → 0 Comments | ∇ Mumble |

The folks responsible for Oxford’s Alumni Weekend have released video footage and [some] recordings of the whole affair.

My ugly-mug made it on to both the video, and Question Time [sweet Harriet’s voice and image are on both in mixed-media too -- if you're sharp!]

So, here they are for your pleasure/entertainment!

Alumni Video

Spot us if you can!  Although I was granted the pleasure of closing the thing out – so I’ll be easy to spot!

Question Time Audio

Harriet’s about 4 minutes in [much to her surprise I might add!], and I totally fudge my question at the end [the question was expected, but my mouth failed to function ].

As Black as Barack Obama

Ξ November 3rd, 2008 | → 1 Comments | ∇ Mumble |

They say Barack Obama is ‘Black’, but why is that – given that he’s half ‘White’
Why isn’t he ‘White’, or Half Black’ or Half White?

Anyway, if he loses, it will surely show that the USA is intrinsically racist [and that they're fucked].