please empty your brain below
9th June 2020 - I noticed the stray apostrophe.

However, I felt that there was a bigger and more important point to make about ongoing modern exploitation of people that continues to go unchallenged.

Perhaps we (or is it us?) grammar pedants choose our battles?

Blue Witch | Homepage | 10.06.20 - 8:09 a.m. | #

I too noticed the rogue apostrophe, but considered it way off-topic to highlight the error. I thought that surely somebody else would though.

Frank F | 10.06.20 - 8:28 a.m. | #

I noticed the apostrophe but thought it inappropriate to mention it in response to such an interesting story. And how timely...

Waterhouse | 10.06.20 - 8:31 a.m. | #

Thank's for the update

DavidC | 10.06.20 - 8:35 a.m. | #

RIP, the Apostrophe Protection Society.
And now let's all get on with the important job of erasing everything which causes offence to someone.

Tim W | 10.06.20 - 8:42 a.m. | #

Re: lockdown loosening

While most of the country relaxes, I got this one from my employer: "Professional Services functions will in the main be delivered remotely, probably until after the extended Christmas closure that was announced recently."

Chz | 10.06.20 - 8:43 a.m. | #

I assumed the apostrophe was as per the original, and they did grammar differently then. Did you insert it to see if anyone would pick up on it?

martin | 10.06.20 - 8:48 a.m. | #

I had a Creme Egg resting on at least one of you pointing out the rogue apostrophe, but alas it remained uneaten.

diamond geezer | Homepage | 10.06.20 - 9:01 a.m. | #

Saddened in Milligan's statue being removed. I cannot comment on here but am incensed in the way this story is being blown out of proportion by a sensationalist media.

Had a lovely 'breakout' walk yesterday, doubled my post lockdown travel circle to a massive 4 miles.

davews | 10.06.20 - 9:02 a.m. | #

5th June - Disappointed that you accept their self description as a restaurant.

31st May - The sunshine may have abated but the record period still stands.

kev | 10.06.20 - 9:06 a.m. | #

I noticed the apostrophe, quickly rejected the idea that DG had introduced it in error, and then forgot to comment on it. Its arguably ought to have an apostrophe, or alternatively shows that we could safely drop the possessive apostrophe more widely (as in German).

Alan R | 10.06.20 - 9:08 a.m. | #

I also spotted the apostrophe but felt it was a distraction. Of all the statues under review Milligan was probably the most deserving of removal as it should have been consigned to a museum rather than re-erected so recently. The rest in my view should remain; unlike Milligan's, our generation didn't put them up and we're in danger of removing all reminders of our past here.

On the canned veg front, why not open them to check that it's worth buying a replacement? You might otherwise be in for a let down when you do need them.

On the lockdown easing front, TfL office staff were told long before the government came clean about its probable duration that we were unlikely to be back in the office this year.

Ralph Ayres | 10.06.20 - 9:21 a.m. | #

I’m a big supporter of these statues being removed. If anyone is missing these statues perhaps they should go visit the Docklands Museum for a primer on what these people stood for.

There’s not much that can be done about the most offensive thing that currently exists in the U.K. though... the Daily Mail.

Beanie | 10.06.20 - 9:32 a.m. | #

Didn’t notice the errant early 19th century apostrophe as I was too busy expressing entrenched opinions with wildly misplaced certainty.

Perhaps the Watford covered market could be relocated back to the empty Debenhams store.

Andrew | 10.06.20 - 9:36 a.m. | #

I too noticed the apostrophe, but I didn't think it would be helpful to point out that whoever commissioned the wording was illiterate, if only because we can all make up our own minds when we see the evidence.

Ian | 10.06.20 - 10:07 a.m. | #

Big Brother Season 1 was probably the most fun I ever had watching a show with housemates, so I'm with you on that DG. (This Life is a close 2nd.)

Kevin | 10.06.20 - 10:07 a.m. | #

Nothing new here - Roman emperors would erase mention of some predecessors or rivals on stone monuments. Pictures edited in USSR for decades. Temples burnt or blown up. Statues toppled.

Facts remain.

historywins | 10.06.20 - 10:13 a.m. | #

Let's not forget to rename the dock.

historywins | 10.06.20 - 10:17 a.m. | #

Big Brother - it'll now be ten classic episodes that they think will survive scrutiny by Twitter, so any controversial episodes will join Jeremy Kyle, Little Britain and Gone with the Wind in socially distanced archives (although the get around is to hire someone with an intellectual sheen who will 'put the episodes in context').

2005 was the last classic series, but even then the producers were introducing alcohol on a more regular basis to influence events, rather than just let things evolve naturally, although contestants were becoming more knowing as well.

Still Anon | 10.06.20 - 10:22 a.m. | #

Seeing as you're missing pedants, there are four types of burger on the menu, but cheeseburger and double cheeseburger have to share a picture.

Ian | 10.06.20 - 10:28 a.m. | #

I assumed it was an historic apostrophe that we should preserve in memory of a time when beliefs, attitudes and social norms were very different from what they are today.

ActonMan | 10.06.20 - 10:50 a.m. | #

Well, that appears to be a rather quick public consultation process. Apparently having the statue located directly outside a museum, in an area with historical links to slavery, is not the right context for it to exist in.

Also - apologies to Gordon for the misnaming in yesterday’s comment. Hope I can be forgiven for having George on my mind.

Sam | 10.06.20 - 10:53 a.m. | #

Among* a daily cornucopia of doom and gloom, three glorious rays of sunshine stand out: the anticipation of what DG's daily topic will be; what will I learn; what will the comments reveal? Your sterling efforts are noted. A certificate, possibly embossed, is in the post.
* amongst?

Stuart Render | 10.06.20 - 10:53 a.m. | #

I was more confused by the strange contraction of "Robert" to "Robt" to have noticed the apostrophe.

Harry | Homepage | 10.06.20 - 11:49 a.m. | #

5th June 2020 - UberEats shows a slightly wider selection for Bow. You can also get a Hamburger, a Vegetable Deluxe and even a "Plain Hamburger Happy Meal" though whatever a "Plain Hamburger" is, it's not offered as an item in itself (MDs is missing a trick as it could expand the menu even further) and the Happy Meal is the same price as a regular Hamburger one. There's a Vegetarian section on the menu but nearly half of it is taken up with fries and meals are listed separately to the burgers/sandwiches to make the menu look bigger than it actually is. And who actually likes the Vegetable Deluxe?

Tim Roll-Pickering | 10.06.20 - 11:56 a.m. | #

I assumed the apostrophe was in the original and that dg was too kind to put a [sic]. I also thought everybody else would point it out. I did not demur from doing so on the grounds that the subject matter was too weighty, because I do not see that as an either/or.

Sarah | Homepage | 10.06.20 - 12:47 p.m. | #

I always enjoy digging back in the DG archive, so very much enjoy this new post format! Particularly anything pre 2010 being referenced is a nice suprise!

Alex | 10.06.20 - 1:19 p.m. | #

May I be the first Pedant to point out that there are also a number of Idiosyncratic examples of Punctuation. and Capitalisation, in the splendidly carved Foundation Stone, also depicted in the Article.

Charles | Homepage | 10.06.20 - 1:36 p.m. | #

I clicked on your Big Brother link from 30 May 2005, not because I’m a Big Brother fan but more out of curiosity for what you wrote all those years ago. That led me to your post a day earlier on 29 May 2005 when you reported on how the Dome would reopen in 2007 after six years in mothballs. At the time I think we all would have agreed with your assertion: ‘I really can't imagine Londoners "popping down The 02" for a night out - it doesn't trip off the tongue easily.’

Londoners might not have been ‘popping down’ but they’ve certainly said they’re ‘going to’ the o2 in the years since.

If in 2025 we read today’s and yesterday’s blog, will we see the events of the last few weeks as a milestone for real change and understanding? Yours is such a precious record DG.

irked | 10.06.20 - 5:43 p.m. | #

Evening update - a contrasting response from neighbouring Hackney Council here.

Sam | 10.06.20 - 5:44 p.m. | #

Following the permanent closure of Watford's Debenhams, now we discover John Lewis won't be reopening either. That's the shopping centre's two flagship stores shuttered, and Watford left without a department store for the first time since the 19th century.

diamond geezer | Homepage | 09.07.20 - 11:37 a.m. | #











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