Posts by Carol Stewart

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  • Up Front: Oh, Cock!,

    Actually (joining the conversation late as usual) penis sizes are measured routinely in various other species, mostly in relation to studies of endocrine-disrupting pollutants that can cause masculinising effects on female animals and vice versa. Here and here* are a couple of examples.
    *Measuring alligators' penises sounds like an eventful day's fieldwork to me.

    Wellington • Since Jul 2008 • 830 posts Report

  • OnPoint: On Freedom of Speech,

    So's "gay" -- but my BH's grandnephew (who is a sweetie pie and doesn't have a homophobic cell in his body) has been on the receiving end of *cough* a free, frank and one-sided reading of the riot act the last time he used that as a term of disapprobation within my hearing.

    I maintain a similar campaign with a swarm of 11 year old boys .. she's a hard row to plough.
    I thought the usage of 'gay' in this way was quite a recent thing, but it gets bandied around in David Mitchell's novel Black Swan Green which is set in 1982 England.

    Wellington • Since Jul 2008 • 830 posts Report

  • Southerly: At Last, David Haywood's 2010…,

    Yes, Julia D was bemused about how her story changed so much in translation. Maybe gastronomical is the word rather than philosophical ..

    Wellington • Since Jul 2008 • 830 posts Report

  • Southerly: At Last, David Haywood's 2010…,

    Kim Hill interviewed Julia Donaldson a couple of years ago and she has an enchanting Scottish accent. She was talking about her books being translated into French .. The Snail and the Whale has quite a prosaic beginning in English (from memory):

    This is the tale of a tiny snail
    And a great big, grey-blue humpback whale

    But in French it is quite philosophical:

    Regarde, le petit escargot est sur la roche
    A quoi pense-t-il?
    Pourquoi il est la?

    Similarly, there is a bit where the Gruffalo says to the mouse You'll taste good on a slice of bread', but rendered into French it becomes You'll taste good on a bed of artichokes.

    heh.

    Wellington • Since Jul 2008 • 830 posts Report

  • Southerly: At Last, David Haywood's 2010…,

    I am kind of stoked I will hopefully get to graduate in American robes,

    Hopefully in 3<x<6 years ..

    Wellington • Since Jul 2008 • 830 posts Report

  • Southerly: At Last, David Haywood's 2010…,

    I did four years of a PhD before dropping out

    That's a big proportion* of a PhD, Danielle - should we call you Almost-Dr Moreau? Sure hope you salvaged something useful out of it.

    * as in, in NZ, there are normally three years' worth of funding allocated for a PhD scholarship. But not in the US - I understand they more usually take 5 years+.

    Wellington • Since Jul 2008 • 830 posts Report

  • Voting Local 2010,

    yesss! Hurrah for Celia. What great news. Party time.

    Wellington • Since Jul 2008 • 830 posts Report

  • Southerly: At Last, David Haywood's 2010…,

    I have to admit I have a very soft spot for books as objects.

    Me too, Ngaire. In our book group this year we have had some exceptionally beautiful books like this one - a joy to behold, to handle and to read.

    Wellington • Since Jul 2008 • 830 posts Report

  • Voting Local 2010,

    If the KCC (Kiwiblog Commenters' Club) weren't so deadly serious they'd be clowns. Blaming the opposing team for an own goal, eh?

    Nooo! Please think of another acronym! The KCC are the blameless junior branch of Forest and Bird.

    Wellington • Since Jul 2008 • 830 posts Report

  • Voting Local 2010,

    Ah thanks Judy, in your southern slough-rhyming-with-cow, and hope you are pleased with your local results.

    Wellington • Since Jul 2008 • 830 posts Report

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