John Ray: Dickens

Oakman

Richard A. Abbott wrote:

And within 20 years of the invention of that word, Britain suffered "A Great Depression".

Well, what's the use of having a capitalist society if you can't have a good depression every quarter of a century or so?

Richard A. Abbott wrote:

But this wasn’t an empire, it wasn’t even a state, it was a company

Perfect Jeffersonism?

Jon Smith & Wesson: The original point and click interface

Lost User

Oakman wrote:

Perfect Jeffersonism?

A question for Stan I feel :)

Lost User

Stan Shannon wrote:

Heck, I eve detest Shakespeare.

I can understand why you might have a loathing of "The Bard". The words and phrases are from a time when Latin was actively taught at Public Schools. Over time, languages change and develop. Elizabethan English bares almost no resemblance to the English of today consequently, the works of Shakespeare becomes a hard subject to understand and master. But the words he used were, nonetheless, beautiful. However, with regards to your comments above regarding your wife's likes of Jane Austin. As she is such a fan of those novels, why not show her your endearing love by getting her a boxed set of those rather excellent BBCtv dramatisations. An excellent gift I'm sure you will agree.

Oakman

Richard A. Abbott wrote:

A question for Stan I feel

He's still trying to Google William Makepeace Thackery.

Jon Smith & Wesson: The original point and click interface

modified on Sunday, January 11, 2009 3:47 PM

Oakman

Richard A. Abbott wrote:

Elizabethan English bares almost no resemblance to the English of today consequently, the works of Shakespeare becomes a hard subject to understand and master.

Shakespeare certainly wrote for his time and no ours, but he also wrote to be watched, not read. It does take a special skill to read any of the 37 plays, of course. It's a skill that can be learned, but need not be, if someone sees a production of one of his plays done by a first rate company. On the other hand, much of his other writing - his sonnets, for instance, are easily accessible to anyone with even a modicum of literacy. Certainly the King James Version of the bible - written in no small part by Wm Shakespeare - is still beloved by a great number of people. Regardless of what you think of the religion, this is beautiful prose: And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Read it aloud and you can understand why any actor worth his salt loves Shakespeare.

Jon Smith & Wesson: The original point and click interface

Tim Craig

Oakman wrote:

I thought that was you.

I may have learned to design airplanes but I have enough sense not to jump out of them. ;P

"Republicans are the party that says government doesn't work and then they get elected and prove it." -- P.J. O'Rourke

Ilion

about everything.

Tim Craig

Stan Shannon wrote:

Actually, my wife is a huge Jane Ausin fan. I've had to endure that sh*t for the last 25 years.

Somehow I don't think she's gotten even yet. :laugh:

"Republicans are the party that says government doesn't work and then they get elected and prove it." -- P.J. O'Rourke

Ilion

Richard A. Abbott wrote:

The problem Jon is that both Ilion and Stan are taking the words of Dickens as a factual account of peoples lives of the time.

You're such a liar. It's you little fools who are trying to pretend that Dickens' fiction was accurate.

Lost User

Ilíon wrote:

You're such a liar

Is that the best you could do, how disappointed I am. Surely you can come up with something more original that hasn't before been previously used. Go on, give it a try, and amaze me with you superiority.

Oakman

Ilíon wrote:

about everything.

Poor little Troy. Is this what you have been reduced to? And you started off with your condemnation of Dickens so bravely and boldly. And now you have nothing left except the shallow and unsatisfying taunt of a six year old.

Jon Smith & Wesson: The original point and click interface

Dalek Dave

I learnt to jump from them. In fact I was underpaid to jump from them. Then I left the army and joined the Not Jumping From Aeroplanes Community. :-D I have the good sense not to design them!

------------------------------------ "The greatest tragedy in mankind's entire history may be the hijacking of morality by religion" Arthur C Clarke

Oakman

Dalek Dave wrote:

I learnt to jump from them.

Yeah, but I bet they gave you a parachute. They didn't waste any silk on us guys in Hueys

Jon Smith & Wesson: The original point and click interface

Gary Kirkham

Oakman wrote:

They didn't waste any silk on us guys in Hueys

Parachuting out of a falling helicopter probably isn't much safer than riding her down. :)

Gary Kirkham Forever Forgiven and Alive in the Spirit "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. Me blog, You read

Oakman

Gary Kirkham wrote:

Parachuting out of a falling helicopter probably isn't much safer than riding her down

Well, I never did the former.

Jon Smith & Wesson: The original point and click interface

soap brain

Ilíon wrote:

One might also note that even though Ilíon rarely makes orthographic errors, much less grammatical errors, he does not jump on others when they do.

You don't need to - you already have ample opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge of the subjunctive form.

Ilíon wrote:

But then, Ilíon doesn't appear to have a *need* to hold himself as superior to others, does he?

"I'm WAAAAY better at being humble than you are!"