Terry Pratchett Knighted 366
ackthpt writes "Headlines have been popping up on Google News: 'Terry Pratchett declared himself "flabbergasted" to receive a knighthood as he led a group of writers, actors and performers honoured today.' The Discworld author and stalwart adversary of Alzheimers Disease has been a member of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for Services to Literature since 1998. He will be entering the new year as Knight Commander. Well done and Oook, Sir Terry."
Re:Services to literature since 1998? (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Congratulations (Score:5, Informative)
http://www.paulkidby.com/news/index.html [paulkidby.com]
Re:Real honor (Score:3, Informative)
titles have an associated meaning to them, typically, you could call yourself MindlessAutomata ruler of the ants! and nobody would give two hoots, to be given a title from the british monarch means something.
Maybe not to you, but it isn't a typically easy thing to get, and most people would agree it takes some level of skill/achievement.
You seem to be under the impression that being a monarch would be an easy job, I propose it would not, to be a horrible monarch may be easy, but being the example of manners and and grace 24/7 while going about your business would not be an easy job.
As for 'pointless traditions' what do you think culture is?, I know the points I have raised to not delve into the more meaningful aspects of it all, but it's 8pm new years eve here, so I'll return and post a more detailed comment later perhaps.
Re:Who? (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Real honor (Score:5, Informative)
The king doesn't have power to abolish his seat. The most you could do was abdicate, after which a successor would be found according to a well-defined modified primogeniture succession order. No approval from you would be needed for the coronation -- in fact, you would be in no position to approve or disapprove, having abdicated.
OK, US bashing is "Insightful" here (Score:0, Informative)
considering what i've seen in the south, who the fuck are you to call any country inbred??
The difference being, 1) Most people from the US South are not, in fact inbred; 2) Inbred trash are looked down upon in the US, not placed into a higher ruling caste.
Why do we even have a moderation system here? It really is off-putting to see how people abuse it.
Re:Services to literature since 1998? (Score:5, Informative)
Hmmm.. That should make her a Damsel me thinks, for a Dame is a lady Lord. Now I'm gender confused for what a Lady knight should be termed.
No, a Dame is the female equivalent to knight. The female equivalent to a Lord is Lady.
Re:Real honor (Score:3, Informative)
She's the head of state. But she doesn't choose those on the honour roll: there is a lengthy nomination process (which is how so many local councillors wind up with small honours). You can nominate anyone for an honour; the paperwork is extensive and putting together a case is hard work.
Re:flabbergasted?! (Score:5, Informative)
it was actually a reference to witches abroad
"'Der flabberghast,' muttered Nanny. 'What's that?' said Magrat. 'It's foreign for bat.'"
Re:Just for the record, only UK subjects (Score:4, Informative)
The UK doesn't have a written constitution, but it does nonetheless have a means of administration prescribed by parliament - a constitution.
Some laws are held to be 'constitutional'. The Bill of Rights 1688 for example (on which the American Constitution was partially based if I recall correctly), which limits the power of the monarchy. The Human Rights Act 1998 is another example.
It is of course possible for parliament to abolish any one of these laws - and I believe the same is the case in America, although a special majority of some sort is required to ammend the constitution. Beyond that somewhat technical difference, it's a similar system.
By convention, the Queen is said to have the right to be consulted, the right to advise, and the right to warn. Technically she has a right to veto legislation, but this last occurred in 1709 and if she attempted it today, I suspect there would be a constitutional crisis leading either to a general election or a referendum on the monarchy.
As it happens, the current monarch is noted for having been reasonably good at her job. She has experience of eleven Prime Ministers and the events of half a century - whether or not you agree with her constitutional position, she is currently an extremely useful resource to the government.
Re:Just for the record, only UK subjects (Score:4, Informative)
Service to the Arts has always been a valid category for honours to be awarded. Note that it's not enough to write a lot of books yourself (or songs, or paint a bunch of pictures, etc); it's also necessary to actively inspire and help others.
It also reflects a solid career in doing so, not merely a flash-in-the-pan fad star.
Re:Just for the record, only UK subjects (Score:2, Informative)
Genetics is the area of biological study concerned with heredity and with the variations between organisms that result from it.
A bigot is a person who is intolerant of opinions, lifestyles, or identities differing from his or her own.
Try reading the books (Score:3, Informative)
Second, he has made his attitude quite clear as regards honours in his books. They're fine so long as they are earned. His Prince Charles character goes from jester to king. Vimes goes from the gutter to a dukedom - but you have to earn the right to call him "mister". Witches get paid in the "solid coin of respect"; Magrat goes from witch to Queen but the witches think she has settled for second best. Obviously you should not read too much into what a writer says in his books, but Pratchett's take is very consistent.
Re:Their ingratitude? (Score:4, Informative)
You mean, that Iraq war which was started to find weapons of mass destruction that never existed, and were known by the US government not to exist?
Got to point out that the French supported the invasion of Afghanistan, which was a legitimate response to 9/11. Invading Iraq was merely Bush and Cheney's way of beating their chest.
I personally think that the French only tried to claim the moral middle ground; it just looked high from where the US was looking.
As for 600,000 people: I call bullshit. The US lost 416,800 total in WWII, of which 183,588 were in the European theatre. By contrast the Soviet Union - who were responsible for the fall of the Third Reich - lost over 10 million, nearly all in Europe. The US/British invasion was timed to take advantage of weakened defences due to the fighting in the Eastern front, and had the goal, not of freeing Europe, but of stopping Russia. Without the US, the French would be speaking, well, French (the USSR never forced their satellite nations to adopt Russian), but would have been aligned with the USSR. Wait, that's how they spent the 70s anyway!
Want to bring World War I into the picture as well? Then add another 116,708 - more than half of which died from the flu due to poor sanitation in US training camps (both in the US and in Europe). Total number of US deaths that could be attributed to "saving France": 300,296 - about half the figure you named. I'm sorry about your grandfather and all; my own grandfather flew with the Australian volunteers in the RAF. But get your figures straight. By contrast, the Commonwealth nations (Great Britain and related countries) lost over 1.7 million between WWI and WWI, most in the European conflict.
Excluding the US civil war, the US military has claimed 447,137 combat deaths since the start of the War of Independence - well short of your 600,000 total.
(figures [wikipedia.org] sourced [wikipedia.org] from [wikipedia.org] wikipedia)
Not a Knight Commander, a Knight Bachelor (Score:5, Informative)
Sir Pterry isn't a Knight Commander (which is a title within various British Orders), but a Knight Bachelor (which is a title outside the Order system). Formally, there are no initials he can add to his name as a Knight Bachelor, but many add Kt. So he could be styled "Sir Terry Pratchett, OBE" (Officer of the Order of the British Empire), but not "Sir Terry Pratchet, KBE" (Knight Commander...).
Re:oh for fuck's sake... (Score:2, Informative)
Their dry wit and accented English have given me many days of enjoyment.
Not to ridicule them, but to laugh with them and enjoy their culture. (Hobnobs and Pubs mate)
Having lived there for 4 years, I can safely say they are for the most part friendly and kind,
but some can be a stuffy bunch.
Pretending to know about American people because today we honor and express our joy for a beloved writer.
Anoraknid the Sartor - Come to my apartment North of Dallas, I'll gladly show you what we value in the US. We'll sit down, enjoy a Margarita and have wonderful discussions about politics and culture.
But don't rain on this parade, we're just sharing our appreciation among the community for an author many of us grew up engrossed in his books.
Trollope,Proust and Powell (Score:5, Informative)
Someone above has written about a world of literature out there. I've read (more than once) Trollope, Powell, Proust, along with all the usual stuff including the Russians in translation and the easier French and German classics, and I find it possible to appreciate them all. On the other hand, I couldn't get into Rowling.
DNA, there I agree with you. I read the books with pleasure but they are comparatively froth. Good froth, but not arise sir Douglas froth even had he not died young.
Comment removed (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Good omens (Score:3, Informative)
Sir Terry, Sir Terence, Sir Terry Pratchett, but never 'Sir Pratchett' - this form is not correct.
Sir Pterry?
Re:Who? (Score:3, Informative)
He will be on the Western side of the pond in Tempe, Arizona at the first North American Discworld Convention, September 4-7, 2009. Get in line now!
Sadly, due to his condition, this will probably be the last American convention that he attends.
http://www.nadwcon.org/ [nadwcon.org]
Re:flabbergasted?! (Score:2, Informative)
I think the parent was probably referring to the odd use of "adversary" in regard to an inanimate object. As in "opponent" or "enemy". It frequently implies that the relationship is two-way. I have to think that Alzheimer's isn't fighting back against him. In fact, I'm betting it isn't even aware of his existence...
Apparently they meant to say "an ardent supporter of Alzheimer's research" or something along those lines.