Irma. The biggest ever Atlantic hurricane......
Discussion
The Mad Monk said:
I think he has got a point.
If we (they) are going to give names to hurricane/storms in an alphabetical order, it makes sense not to give a storm a name which to some/many/most people sounds as though it begins with 'H', when we have just had H - Harry.
They could have called it HigginsIf we (they) are going to give names to hurricane/storms in an alphabetical order, it makes sense not to give a storm a name which to some/many/most people sounds as though it begins with 'H', when we have just had H - Harry.
The French use their own name/pronunciation for different countries/places, they say Paree, we say Paris., We say London, they say Londres, best just to use whatever name seems to fit the situation the best.
Of course we are just as guilty of doing this for our selves, when places such as Althorpe are pronounced Althrop, and let us not forget that the use of the letter T is in serious decline in the UK, with words like community being pronounced as communiee or Mike Brewers famous use of the word F in place of TH. `The bloke wanted four grand for the moter (yes, I know it is spelled wrongly) but I got it for Free!
or another of his favourites, Enfusiast
Of course we are just as guilty of doing this for our selves, when places such as Althorpe are pronounced Althrop, and let us not forget that the use of the letter T is in serious decline in the UK, with words like community being pronounced as communiee or Mike Brewers famous use of the word F in place of TH. `The bloke wanted four grand for the moter (yes, I know it is spelled wrongly) but I got it for Free!
or another of his favourites, EnfusiastThe Mad Monk said:
Well, we don't say Paree? We say Paris.
Why give a word a foreign pronunciation?
I agree that this is annoying; when it was all kicking off in Bahrain the BBC etc were pronouncing it as Ba-HA-rain, which I'm sure is how the locals pronounce it but it just seemed like an affectation. There is a British football reporter (radio) based in Brazil who is nightmare for this; he sounds like he has half a pint of phlegm in his throat when he pronounces foreign players names.Why give a word a foreign pronunciation?
Pan Pan Pan said:
Of course we are just as guilty of doing this for our selves, when places such as Althorpe are pronounced Althrop,
Laziness on the part of our ancestors, passed down through the generations? Al-Thorpe is correct, but declining quality of spoken language became more prevalent, surely? Ayahuasca said:
I wonder how much tax the island residents pay to the UK HMRC, you know, to contribute a bit towards things like C130s and so on?
Oh, that's right. None.
Well that's a new low for PH. The vast majority of these British Citizens are poor and earn minimum wage on a good day, they wouldn't pay any tax at all if they lived in the UK but they do in fact pay payroll taxes in BVI (10%). So whilst it's fair to say they don't pay taxes to the UK, net, neither do many regions in the UK. I'm very pleased to know you think humanitarian aid should be dependent on tax paid to HMRC though, I recon HMG should send me a lear jet if I'm ever in trouble.Oh, that's right. None.
Ayahuasca said:
I wonder how many UK residents have the right to rock up on to one of the islands and live there?
Oh, that's right. None.
Ridiculous comment. There are tens of thousands of British expats in the Caribbean.Oh, that's right. None.
fblm said:
Ayahuasca said:
I wonder how much tax the island residents pay to the UK HMRC, you know, to contribute a bit towards things like C130s and so on?
Oh, that's right. None.
Well that's a new low for PH. The vast majority of these British Citizens are poor and earn minimum wage on a good day, they wouldn't pay any tax at all if they lived in the UK but they do in fact pay payroll taxes in BVI (10%). So whilst it's fair to say they don't pay taxes to the UK, net, neither do many regions in the UK. I'm very pleased to know you think humanitarian aid should be dependent on tax paid to HMRC though, I recon HMG should send me a lear jet if I'm ever in trouble.Oh, that's right. None.
Ayahuasca said:
I wonder how many UK residents have the right to rock up on to one of the islands and live there?
Oh, that's right. None.
Ridiculous comment. There are tens of thousands of British expats in the Caribbean.Oh, that's right. None.
My point is that these island are not 'little bits of Britain'. Yes the UK should send aid if it can afford to, but it should not be seen as an obligation.
fblm said:
Ayahuasca said:
I wonder how many UK residents have the right to rock up on to one of the islands and live there?
Oh, that's right. None.
Ridiculous comment. There are tens of thousands of British expats in the Caribbean.Oh, that's right. None.
They have the right to apply.
You can visit for up to 6 months providing you can support yourself but must show proof that you will leave (return flight),.
You need a job before you go. You need a work permit (up to 5 years initially?). Almost no chance of becoming a resident.
So you might become an expat if you are financially independent or can get a job before you move there. But no inherent right to rock up to the BVIs.
Ayahuasca said:
My point is that these island are not 'little bits of Britain'.
Tell that to the Falklands and Gibraltar, they are all British Overseas Territory. I agree though that the UK should only do what it can afford to. Fortunately we have a 10bn overseas aid budget so clearly we can afford it! 
Vaud said:
They don't have the right to move and live there.
They have the right to apply.
You can visit for up to 6 months providing you can support yourself but must show proof that you will leave (return flight),.
You need a job before you go. You need a work permit (up to 5 years initially?). Almost no chance of becoming a resident.
So you might become an expat if you are financially independent or can get a job before you move there. But no inherent right to rock up to the BVIs.
Point taken. They have the right to apply.
You can visit for up to 6 months providing you can support yourself but must show proof that you will leave (return flight),.
You need a job before you go. You need a work permit (up to 5 years initially?). Almost no chance of becoming a resident.
So you might become an expat if you are financially independent or can get a job before you move there. But no inherent right to rock up to the BVIs.
Lucas CAV said:
The Mad Monk said:
TTmonkey said:
Hurricane Jose also looks like it will take a very similar track.
Why are so many people pronouncing Jose as Hoseh?I wonder, do American Spanish speakers murder the Spanish language in a similar fashion as American English speakers....?
TTmonkey said:
Lucas CAV said:
The Mad Monk said:
TTmonkey said:
Hurricane Jose also looks like it will take a very similar track.
Why are so many people pronouncing Jose as Hoseh?I wonder, do American Spanish speakers murder the Spanish language in a similar fashion as American English speakers....?
Short piece from Jost Van Dyke on BBC News at 10 this evening. Interviewed a couple of people - one of them a chap whose bar had been completely flattened. He seemed quite upbeat, said he had no money but he would "use this" [pointing to his head] to fix things. The other was Justine from Foxy's Tamarind Bar which has been quite active on Facebook providing updates, was battered but mostly intact and is now back up and running serving locals who need meals. Just a microcosm of course, but interesting to see the spirit of the people there.
Gassing Station | News, Politics & Economics | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff