Terry Pratchett knighted in New Year's Honours List

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by Sparrow

There have been quite a few refuseniks over the years.

huh, apparently the refusals are some sort of state secret over there. funny.

[Sparrow]

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

huh, apparently the refusals are some sort of state secret over there. funny.

Yep, I think officially the first approach is along the lines of: "if you were to be offered an honour, would you be minded to accept?" - a specific offer is only made once the potential recipient has agreed to accept it.
So, technically, an honour isn't refused - and officialdom's blushes are spared.

[Nate the great]

Originally Posted by DixieGal

I think he probably will keep wearing whatever they buried him in. Too bad that they didn't do this a year ago.

Oook!

Originally Posted by Jellby

Oh my god... Have you killed him?

my god... She killed Terry!

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by Sparrow

Yep, I think officially the first approach is along the lines of: "if you were to be offered an honour, would you be minded to accept?" - a specific offer is only made once the potential recipient has agreed to accept it.
So, technically, an honour isn't refused - and officialdom's blushes are spared.

pfff... what a bunch of hot-house flowers...

well, unless they do what john lennon did, and accept it, but then return it 4 years later...

[=X=]

Everytime I hear about somebody getting knighted I can't help but to think of Bug's Bunny's "Robin Hood episode"

Sheriff: *bows*
Bugs: “Arise, Sir Loin of Beef!” *strikes Sheriff over the head with his sceptre*
“Arise, Earl (oil) of Cloves!” *strike*
“Arise, Duke of Brittingham!” *strike*
“Arise, Baron of Münchhausen!” *strike*
“Arise, Essence of Myrrh!” *strike*
“Milk of Magnesia” *strike*
“Quarter of Ten…” *strike*
Sheriff: (dazed, slurred) “You're too kind, your majesty.”
Bugs: (to audience) “Got lots of stamina!”




YouTube (link) jump to 6:30 min to see the secene

=X=

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

ha okay. the honours here are pretty prestigious usually, occasionally someone will refuse to recieve it to protest the government or something and it makes a huge fuss. you get a medal and a little coloured ribbon (each award has its own specific colors) to wear on your buttonhole. one of the grades is "Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur" which translates as "Knight of the Legion of Honor," although we don't have a monarchy in france (though the award was created by Napoléon Bonaparte, so...).

You still have a heriditary aristocracy in France, don't you, Zelda? I've occasionally encountered French people (in books!) with titles like "Comte" and "Duc".

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by HarryT

You still have a heriditary aristocracy in France, don't you, Zelda? I've occasionally encountered French people (in books!) with titles like "Comte" and "Duc".

well, we still have people descended from Comtes and Ducs (and kings...) and we still have aristocrats (you can spot them by the "de" in their name) but these titles are meaningless now. although there is also a movement (le légitimisme) to bring back the monarchy. but they are a bunch of loonies.

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

well, we still have people descended from Comtes and Ducs (and kings...) and we still have aristocrats (you can spot them by the "de" in their name) but these titles are meaningless now.

Does that mean I am an aristocrat?

Dale

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by DaleDe

Does that mean I am an aristocrat?

Dale

much like e.e. cummings' poetry and my posts, it has to be a small "de".

(however if that "De" in your pseudo is part of your actual last name and is followed by another word, you might be. well, your ancestors might have been.*)

edit () so in other words, quite possibly, M. de Priest.

[pshrynk]

I knew there was a reason you were the Quinn!

[HarryT]

Only if you're the "Duc de Priest" or something similar .

[Alfy]

Best English writer ever, except perhaps for that Shakespeare guy.

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Only if you're the "Duc de Priest" or something similar .

Well, spellings do change of the years and certainly spacing and capitalization. I have traced my ancestors back to a Huguenot that fled France in the 17th century but unable to go back an further without some resources in France. I do have some ancestors in England as well and that line goes back a little further.

Dale

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by Alfy

Best English writer ever, except perhaps for that Shakespeare guy.

Originally Posted by DaleDe

Well, spellings do change of the years and certainly spacing and capitalization. I have traced my ancestors back to a Huguenot that fled France in the 17th century but unable to go back an further without some resources in France. I do have some ancestors in England as well and that line goes back a little further.

Dale

so actually your question was rhetorical.

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

so actually your question was rhetorical.

Really? Were no Huguenots aristocrats? Or descendant from aristocrats?

Dale