Comments | brenk: Snow snow snow

brenk

Snow snow snow

Jan 27, 2004 10:42

Oh my, have we got snow. To the point where people are being asked not to drive in some towns, which hasn't happened since we lived in Lausanne and people took the little metro up to the top and used the road down to the lake as a ski slope. There must be about 18" here now, which is a fair quantity in 24 hours, and apparently there's even more ( Read more... )

Comments 10

derryderrydown January 27 2004, 09:52:02 UTC

I would say 'for'. I'm afraid my brain isn't capable of giving a sensible grammatical reason as to why but it sounds correct.

brenk January 28 2004, 07:41:44 UTC

Both "for" and "to" seem OK but "to" seems more like academic-speak, apparently. And 'sensible grammatical reasons' are often not as effective as gut feelings anyway. Thus spake one who dares claim she is a professional editor *g*.

And LOOK AFTER YOURSELF, please. I'm not going to lecture (although am tempted to by virtue of my Advanced Age)... but it's important.

When I win the lottery, I'm going to hire a very exclusive cruise ship and head for the Caribbean (which I can spell *g*) with a few selected mates. You going to come and be the guide for the bits I don't know? We need to do bits of St Lucia, Mauritius and some of the Out Islands of the Bahamas. Maybe Nassau for that pub I love so much...

... see what snow does to me? I HATE the bloody stuff.

evilshell January 27 2004, 10:07:02 UTC

Wow, you have so much snow!!!!

We had about 2" yesterday, which then mostly melted as it turned to rain, however, it is starting to flurry again here this morning.

Be careful out there driving!

I'd go with "for", but I am only going with my gut feeling on that one.

brenk January 28 2004, 07:36:03 UTC

It's snowing *again* it but did stop for most of yesterday. We're at 660 metres, which accounts for something but oh my, you should see La Chaux-de-Fonds which is 20 minutes from here and much higher. Chris was up there yesterday and says it's like Siberia.

And I have to take a cat to the vet this afternoon out in the wilds - ugh. Poor thing has some sort of fungus infection (which she's had before) and her nose is getting balder by the day. My sympathy for vets' bills - we have four cats and it can be an expensive business even though they don't often need more than the annual shots.

iamgerg January 27 2004, 10:13:21 UTC

Question please (one I asked the grammar community as well) - would you say 'eGovernment as a catalyst OF, FOR, or TO public management reform'? He uses all three *sigh* and neither Google or my impressive array of dictionaries seem to shed any conclusive light on the matter.

All of the dictionaries I own use TO. As in:
A free press... has remained... a vital catalyst to an informed and responsible electorate

As an aside, when I first read your question; my gut reaction was "I would think it is OF, or FOR... So it must be TO." But then this is to be expected from my ahem, "Phat Grammar Skilz." © :)

brenk January 28 2004, 07:30:33 UTC

"To" is in fact used widely in academia when catalysts are used metaphorically, so thanks :) My usual dictionary (Collins millennium) didn't offer preposition use and neither did the big Penguin one - although I dug out a couple more, smaller ones, that *did*. Go figure!

I thought I was fairly well-versed in prepositions but this one really got me thinking. Not really helped by some idiot on the grammar community suggesting I 'kill your boss because it means nothing anyway'. Hmmm.

rhianne January 27 2004, 12:21:42 UTC

Question please (one I asked the grammar community as well) - would you say 'eGovernment as a catalyst OF, FOR, or TO public management reform'? He uses all three *sigh* and neither Google or my impressive array of dictionaries seem to shed any conclusive light on the matter.

Heya sweetie - personally I'd say 'a catalyst for' as well, if that helps any.

The snow sounds like fun, we've not had any here as yet but they're still threatening. *g* But you know what it's like in the UK, the councils etc start panicking and telling people to stay in their homes if there's even a whiff of the white stuff, let alone 18".

We need to catch up soon - when are you free for a chat? :)

*hugs*

brenk January 28 2004, 07:23:11 UTC

Well, if you saw some of the responses on the grammar community... wow. They range from serious (and both 'for' and 'to' seem the favourites) to 'club your boss to death and quit as it means nothing'. This one has probably never read an academic paper by a professor of economics.

And YES to catching up - I'm keeping off AIM a little to avoid - er - beta-nagging and Cowley-moaning *g* but suggest a time and I'll be there - I'm in the office most days until six-ish your time except on Wednesdays when I knock off earlier to eat before the choir.

How was the hangover? *whistles*

And start thinking of holidays - I have some dates fixed now so if you still want to come and see snow we're only away 8-13 Feb and then not until mid-April with a bit of luck... and July / August are always good as nothing's ever scheduled then (unless a certain Shrub decides to go invade somebody else)

See you soon :)

rhianne January 28 2004, 08:52:37 UTC

heya mate,

am logging on aim now just for 15 mins or so (or until the boss comes in, whichever is first *eg*) if you fancy?

charlotteamess January 27 2004, 22:44:09 UTC

"For"...

If it's not too late (well no, I suppose all that white stuff isn't going to melt is it?) go and make a snowman, or two, or three (I'll stop before I get too carried away). After all, us poor Londoners only get a couple of centimeters - if we're really lucky ::sniff::.

As for losing plots, well, can I add several candidates on to that list?