SoA Forums

Quote from: Jon Freitag on Today at 12:34:02 AMSeems I am in dire need of remedial re-education in British colloquialisms and idioms.

Not at all.  But I believe that understanding cricket is something that many Americans say they struggle with, so I thought I'd help out 

Of course, the concept of squirrels being a disease vector is not so strange once one realises that they are closely related to rats, notorious spreaders of bubonic plague and other complaints.

Do we think that the displacement of red squirrels by invasive grey squirrels has had the benefit of eliminating leprosy from the UK?  In which case, should we all do our bit for public health by shooting ecologists who are trying to preserve and reintroduce this pestilential breed?

 

Good find.

Quote from: Imperial Dave on Today at 06:31:57 AM

Quote from: DBS on May 03, 2024, 10:16:40 PMAlso interesting because the purple actually looks... purple.  I simply mean that sometimes there are suggestions that Tyrian purple may not have always been a shade that we would now automatically class as purple.

I did think that myself!

I think you are both right in that we know the shade is dependant on the species and precise details of manufacture. I watched a video some time ago about a chap (I am sure it was Tunisia) who had heard about this in school as 'local history' and decided to try it for himself. He got some deep colours which he used to dye some wool but not the wonderful purple we are looking at on that BBC article - that is very purple'. The Wikipedia article on Tyrian purple shows other examples from different species.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyrian_purple#/media/File:Purple_Purpur_(retouched).jpg

Back to the green monkey theory....!

Quote from: DBS on May 03, 2024, 10:16:40 PMAlso interesting because the purple actually looks... purple.  I simply mean that sometimes there are suggestions that Tyrian purple may not have always been a shade that we would now automatically class as purple.

I did think that myself!

Quote from: Erpingham on May 03, 2024, 05:56:07 PM

Quote from: Imperial Dave on May 03, 2024, 05:33:16 PMHowzat?

Won't need to explain to Justin but for Jon.  "Howzat!" is a cry of triumph when a wicket falls at cricket.  "Howzat?" or "Howizee?" is the question a bowler asks/screams at the umpire if he thinks he has taken a wicket.  This is known as "enquiring of the umpire" or "asking the question". For maximum spectator enjoyment, the bowler must by supported in an impassioned scream by baying team mates and the umpire must stand impassive and give the barest shake of the head. 

Seems I am in dire need of remedial re-education in British colloquialisms and idioms.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/may/03/leprosy-passed-between-medieval-squirrels-and-humans-study-suggests

Little beggars!

Also interesting because the purple actually looks... purple.  I simply mean that sometimes there are suggestions that Tyrian purple may not have always been a shade that we would now automatically class as purple.

A very good possibility