A, A, B, F, F, G, G, I, I, L, M, N, P, S, S, V
Three letters, and only three, could join this list in the near future. Which are they?
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These are initials of various countries or small states. I imagine the original question, with only one "A" in the list, was looking for the 15 that produce their own Euro coins (Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, Vatican). Adding a second "A" makes it a bit more woolly, but it becomes a list of countries and states in Western Europe only that use the Euro as their official currency (just add Andorra). Not as neat, but there you go. In either case, the most likely next three would be D, S, U -- Denmark, Sweden, and United Kingdom unless Gordon Brown gets his way. . |
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Chris
What important question of how to name people has been avoided since 1800?
In 1800 the Act of Union created the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (after 1922 just Northern Ireland). In all that time nobody has managed to coin a satisfactory word for a person from the UK derived from "United Kingdom". United Kingdomer? United Kingdomian? Unifikingdishman?
10-43 seconds and the fourth of October 1947. What is the link?
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Planck. The first is the Planck Time, which is the smallest measurement of time that has any meaning within the framework of the laws of Physics as we understand them (I say "we"...!). The second is the Planck Time of Death. |
Sgt. Dudfoot
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Who might find this especially satisfying this month?
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Kim Clijsters just did, as would any of the entrants in the Ladies' Singles (or Doubles) at Wimbledon. Or, come to think of it, the Mixed Doubles. A "double bagel" is a 6-0 6-0 win. |
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What do the following have in common: bowling, waterskiing, ballet (snow) skiing, Australian rules football, and korfball?
All have been demonstration sports at the Olympic Games, but never official events.
Zack
F18 minus F4 equals F14.
By the way, those bombs look too small to be particularly smart and the plane too high to be dropping them very precisely, it's all very macho but would it be very useful?
Running my eye down a particular list, I notice (among others): two accusative pronouns, a Turkish title, freedom, accidental, a warden, short stockings, and a blemish. Which of these is the odd one out?
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This is a listing of presidential pets: Him and Her (L.B.J.), Pasha (Nixon), Liberty (Ford), Lucky (Reagan), Ranger (G.H.W. Bush), Socks (Clinton), and Spot (G.W. Bush). Socks, being a cat, is the odd one out. |
Zack
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Alan
If you're in Reading, half-way between York and Bethlehem, how come you're 24 miles due east of Lebanon?
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I live near Reading and have occasion to go there at least once every week; however, I often visit Lebanon for its thrift shops (there is also a decent music [instruments] store there). Don't really go to York or Bethlehem that often, though. A bit too far away. Of course, I live in Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. |
John
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Phil
In my trusty old school dictionary between an antenna and a coarse bastard I find a sham attack, an Egyptian peasant, a criminal, a person who searches assiduously, a magical charm, an unfashionably heavy duty anklet, a command, inconstant, a person of superhuman wickedness or cruelty and an aggressive wind instrument.
I can't help thinking there's also something very important missing from this page. Can you think what it is?
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Between feeler and file you find feint, fellah, felon, ferreter, fetish, fetter, fiat, fickle, fiend, and fife. As for what's important and missing, there are options. If it's missing from the dictionary, then I suppose it's either a proper/brand name (e.g. Fig Newtons), an abbreviation (e.g. FIFA), too rude for sensitive schoolchildren (e.g. fellatio), or a new term (e.g. fibre optics). How important any of these is, is a value judgement; personally, I'd go for the biscuits, with soccer a close second... |
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Fig biscuits more important than fellatio? I beg to differ. Is that simply a sign of age Alan?
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Between a feeler and a fighter, we have a feint, a fellah, a felon, a ferret, a fetish, a fetter, a fiat, fickle, a fiend, and a fife (aggressive!?). As for what's important and missing, I don't know - some people might think fellatio is important, and I bet it's not in your dictionary! :) |
Zack
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Two nearly perfect answers there. I think ferret is better than ferreter, a ferreter is more the person who breeds ferrets or sticks them down rabbit burrows rather than the person who acts like one. Coarse bastard is the coarsest kind of file. Zack questioned my use of the adjective "aggressive" when refering to the fife, but I think it is more than justified. Fifes are plain flutes without keys, today only marching bands play them, nearly always with a military / Fascist / Protestant triumphalist connotation.
What is the following a list of?
coercive oath during the American Revolution
Mr. Numkena's classic science fiction film occupation
modern coffee empire
a source of peril
a famous Egyptian bird
a pretty plant native to Brazil
queen accused of being naughty
All are islands in the South Pacific: Loyalty, Cook, Starbuck, Danger, Phoenix, Bougainville, and Caroline.
Loyalty Island- The Oath Of Loyalty, which was forced on many American colonists during the American revolution
Cook Island- Anthony Numkena (better known as Earl Holliman) played a cook in the science fiction classic Forbidden Planet
Starbuck Island- Starbucks is the American coffee company that is encroaching upon the world.
Danger Island- the dictionary definition of danger
Phoenix Island- That famous Egyptian bird-god that rose out of the ashes
Bougainville Island- Bougainvillea (aka Bougainville) is the Brazilian plant.
Caroline Island- "Bad" Queen Caroline, British queen accused of adultery.
Mick T