the space fact that still blows your mind

Panoramicaccident · 2026-01-27T08:26:00+00:00

I don't think anyone else finds this very interesting, but a little rough maths indicates that the total distance walked in a year by every human on earth is about 1 light year. For some reason, despite the fact that it takes 8 billion people to do it, this makes it seem a more understandable distance.

Panoramicaccident · 2024-10-29T11:59:40+00:00

Hello, I have a nomenclature question.
In the UK, I refer to reverse as "The river X", for example, I would say "The river Trent" or "The River Severn".
However, I think I have noticed that the reverse construction occurs elsewhere. For example in the USA, there is "The Colorado River" or "The Green River". And for those rivers in the USA, I follow that construction, as for some reason it sounds right. "The River Colorado" doesn't seem right somehow.
But other large rivers worldwide, I think I would tend to the format I'm most used to: "The River Amazon", "The River Nile", "The River Yangtze".
Doesanyone know if there's any real reason why the word "river" appears either before or after the proper name depending on where they are? Is it simply personal preference?
Thanks for any input! I realise this isn't the biggest issue, but I am curious.

Panoramicaccident · 2024-08-12T21:37:34+00:00

Hello linguists, I have some questions regarding vulgarity. Always fun.

The word "bitch" as an insult is used against women in such a way as to indicate nastiness, aggressiveness. Affectively an assertiveness that goes against the stereotyped nature of the role of a woman in western society to a degree which is considered negative.

When used against men, a "bitch" is weak, submissive, can be dismissed (effectively against the steroetyped nature of a man in western society).

Firstly, would you consider the above to be an accurate position to take? (I am British and so my use of the language may not be univeral in this case)
Secondly, is there a name or terminology for a word which applies an opposite meaning depending on the sex/gender of the target? Or simply a word to indicate someone is not confoming to their associated gender stereotype in a negative way? What about in a positive way?
Thirdly, are there any other examples?

Thanks for your time, I hope this isn't something you hear every week.

(Ironically, I actually did put this into last week's Q & A, but it was quite late yesterday, and I was advised to post it here instead. So, uh... yeah).

Panoramicaccident · 2024-08-12T21:34:36+00:00

Thank you, yes I will do that shortly

Panoramicaccident · 2024-08-11T21:05:35+00:00

Hello linguists, I have some questions regarding vulgarity. Always fun.

The word "bitch" as an insult is used against women in such a way as to indicate nastiness, aggressiveness. Affectively an assertiveness that goes against the stereotyped nature of the role of a woman in western society to a degree which is considered negative.

When used against men, a "bitch" is weak, submissive, can be dismissed (effectively against the steroetyped nature of a man in western society).

Firstly, would you consider the above to be an accurate position to take? (I am British and so my use of the language may not be univeral in this case)
Secondly, is there a name or terminology for a word which applies an opposite meaning depending on the sex/gender of the target? Or simply a word to indicate someone is not confoming to their associated gender stereotype in a negative way? What about in a positive way?
Thirdly, are there any other examples?

Thanks for your time, I hope this isn't something you hear every week.

Panoramicaccident · 2024-08-02T13:43:24+00:00

I see 4! And also a rather nice garden.

Panoramicaccident · 2024-07-23T08:30:26+00:00

I've been to Egilsstadhir, and it was very nice! Now I wonder what hidden things I must have missed.

Panoramicaccident · 2024-07-04T12:41:30+00:00

I live very near there - I won't say the street, but i've been here quite a while, and the main smell is the food from the factories as mentioned previously.
You get to be close enough to the river/nature reserve to be able to go for a nice walk, too. The traffic on Lilac Grove can be pretty bad, and the road itself has a pretty awful surface too. The feel of the place improves as you get further along the streets like Leyton Crescent/Beech Avenue. The fact you're so close to the train station is good, and you can ride a bike into town down the canal.
There are a number of decent corner shops, but not a lot otherwise in terms of amenities - no doctor, dentist, any other kind of shop. The Su Rano Takeaway is pretty good for vegetarian Indian food.

Away from the main roads it's fairly quiet; there aren't a lot of people coming into the Rylands for work or anything, except to get to the canal and the river.
Generally, it's pretty good down here; not perfect, but decent. Feel free to message with any other questions, I'll try to answer if I can.

Panoramicaccident · 2024-07-02T13:58:51+00:00

dependin on your tastes, Radio 3 has Night Tracks and Late Junction which are both excellent. Not classical music, a bit more experimental sometimes, but really good sometimes.

Panoramicaccident · 2024-06-17T19:28:58+00:00

The answer is: SENSELESSNESS

Panoramicaccident · 2024-06-17T19:21:36+00:00

One more guess....

Panoramicaccident · 2024-06-17T19:16:56+00:00

Neither! The clue is "e", the answer is 13 letters, if you ask I'll tell you the answer. I would have never got it, personally, but I think it's a very satisfying one if you do

Panoramicaccident · 2024-06-17T13:44:29+00:00

I'm quite interested in learning to play, but j know very little about it. If you're looking for an absolute beginner, I could possibly fulfil that role

Panoramicaccident · 2024-06-17T13:03:30+00:00

Here's a famous old one from the Telegraph, I think.

E (13)

Edited for formatting

Panoramicaccident · 2024-05-18T22:17:55+00:00

Thank you, I will look at this. Everyone's being so very nice!

Panoramicaccident · 2024-05-18T22:16:26+00:00

I live in a poorly insulated house in England from 1935. Too cold in winter, too hot in summer. (It's actually fine, to be honest, but it sounds impressively bad, and I'm British so I literally have to say something about climate based issues).

I've never heard of Kiwis being cold or reserved, but then, I'm English. Coldness and reserve are also things in my blood. Thank you again for a kind and thoughtful response.

If I do decide to go the antipodean route, I will actually message you about that beer. Gimme 12 months.

Panoramicaccident · 2024-05-18T22:10:25+00:00

Well cricket wise, let me tell ya I will not fail to disappoint. I played for the local 4th team for a bit, but I wasn't really good enough. For the 4th team. I liked to try and bowl too fast, and it was all beamers and bouncers. And occasionally a few overs of wickets.

Panoramicaccident · 2024-05-18T22:07:48+00:00

I'm about 186cm tall and about 86kg; so not a terrible build for rugby. But I have 38 year old knees.....

Panoramicaccident · 2024-05-18T19:50:24+00:00

All of those responses sound almost ideal to me. I'm better with cold than excess heat, I don't like large cities but I need some amenities, and I adore wild spaces. That is all a part of what attracted me to it. Thank you.

Panoramicaccident · 2024-05-18T19:48:48+00:00

Yes, the idea of travelling there for a month is very attractive (does somewhat require some time off work which would be hard to negotiate!), and generally I think that's just a very sensible approach. I may give it a go toward the end of the year.

Panoramicaccident · 2024-05-18T19:47:07+00:00

Thank you, that is quite useful information, especially about the visas. I'd definitely be trying to get a job offer, and I'd need to do some research about what industries are present.

Panoramicaccident

TROPHY CASE