The many questions-not-worth-their-own-thread question thread XXI

[The_J]

Most people small-talk on autopilot, I've found; you almost suspend thinking for the opening moves of any casual conversation

Only if it's your mother tongue ^^.

 

[cardgame]

IUPAC spells it with two Is, Hobbs. Keep up with modern science.

But it's not pronounced with an i

 

[hobbsyoyo]

It's not spelled with a second 'i' here either cardgame.

 

[Camikaze]

*spelt

 

[hobbsyoyo]

hehehehe

 

[say1988]

And aluminium is both spelt (sic) aluminium in the dictionary and pronounced aluminium in real life. Unless you happen to be American.

I resent the accusation!

 

[cardgame]

*spelt

Would you say numbert.

 

[Camikaze]

About as often as you'd say uranum.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

Does anyone know of fun things to do in Iowa City?
Any suggestions?

Second question: What is the correct way to use an apostrophe to designate something I possess?

For instance Hobbs's thread v Hobb's thread v Hobbs' thread

 

[GinandTonic]

Would you say numbert.

No. It's pronounced numbered. Spelt is pronounced spelt so is spelt spelt.

 

[Flying Pig]

Does anyone know of fun things to do in Iowa City?
Any suggestions?

Second question: What is the correct way to use an apostrophe to designate something I possess?

For instance Hobbs's thread v Hobb's thread v Hobbs' thread

Should be Hobbs's: there is a traditional exception for Jesus' desciples, Moses' wanderings and St James' Square - generally Biblical names - and few people would realiset that Hobbs' thread is wrong.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

Should be Hobbs's: there is a traditional exception for Jesus' desciples, Moses' wanderings and St James' Square - generally Biblical names - and few people would realiset that Hobbs' thread is wrong.

I do my best to cover that up.

Thanks!

BTW why do the bible people get an exception? Also, is your punctiation standard to all English variants (or at least American) or just British English?

(Almost wrote English English)

 

[Borachio]

I'd personally write Hobbs' thread - since that's what I'd say. Hobbs's is just too twee, and I'd never say "Hobbses" (Too much like hobbitses). Though it may be correct according to some, dare I say outdated, grammar books.

 

[GinandTonic]

Hobbs' was what I was taught at uni.

 

[Farm Boy]

Does anyone know of fun things to do in Iowa City?
Any suggestions?

Visiting the University of Iowa? Hrm, too bad it's outside of football season, I hear that town thrums to the beat of it's local colosseum.

It's a pretty big university town. You might get decent mileage out of looking up their theater department and seeing if there are any shows, or googling their downtown bars to see if there the same.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

I'm not going there, I'm trying to help a friend out.

Any ideas for what makes a good not-quite-a-date-but-really-who-are-we-kidding-hang-out time?

Theater shows sounds good and they have an old, cool theater.

I was thinking a good twist on the whole dinner and movie thing would be to cook a meal that you can have the lady help you prepare in some small way. Like have her help you cut up the fruit for a fruit salad. This way she is involved and working elbow-to-elbow with the dude, but he's still doing most of the work. I can't think of something creative to do that involves watching a movie that isn't just going to a neat theater.

 

[Farm Boy]

Real theater is always a win. Dinner and show show is quaint enough it doesn't usually set off the omg "date" date bells but is cultured and charming enough to count in that column anyhow. Fixing the dinner works if he's at all competent at it, and it's better than going out since it shows he can and is willing to cook - but again, that's going to fall into the same date categorization as the theater would.

At least that's the impression I got when I was at Uni. Taking a lady out to the theater in your late 20s to early 30s isn't going to fool anyone though, that would firmly be in the date category.

 

[Flying Pig]

Because being written out again and again corrupted it, and it's happened often enough that it's become accepted - in a few centuries, I don't doubt that Hobbs' Thread will be correct.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

@Farm Boy - Even with the early 20's, late teens crowd, going to the theater/movies/dinner with just you and the girl counts as a date to most people.

I have ideas for this guy but winter really takes some of them off the table. I suggested fossil hunting as something novel, unexpected, hands-on, a way to seem intelligent and just good fashioned dirty fun but that probably can't happen in an Iowa winter.
________

Thanks Flying Pig!

 

[Farm Boy]

@Farm Boy - Even with the early 20's, late teens crowd, going to the theater/movies/dinner with just you and the girl counts as a date to most people.

I have ideas for this guy but winter really takes some of them off the table. I suggested fossil hunting as something novel, unexpected, hands-on, a way to seem intelligent and just good fashioned dirty fun but that probably can't happen in an Iowa winter.
________

Thanks Flying Pig!

Is there an indoors rock climbing joint?