sarajw

sarajw, 3 days ago

@vasilis Oooo. Interesting.

In your "two to two" example I would add 'minutes' in for clarity either way.

If you're speaking the time as if you're reading a digital clock, you don't need to say minutes:

"it's ten-thirty-eight"
"let's meet at two-fifteen"

but you probably wouldn't say
"it's thirty-eight past ten"
"it's fifteen past two"

"quarter past two" is fine.
so is "twenty to two"
you might also say
"it's twelve minutes past two"

let's see if there's a pattern...

1/3

sarajw, 3 days ago

@vasilis

With quarter and half hours, you don't specify minutes or hours UNLESS you're speaking about relative time:

"see you in half an hour, yeah?"
"how long? about an hour and a half"

otherwise:

"it's half past 3"
or colloquially "it's half 3"

(many languages say "half" to mean "half to" not "half past" which is arguably more correct, but confusing to me)

Otherwise I think you say 'minutes' if:

• not reading in digital-clock style
• saying a time that isn't a multiple of 5

2/3

sarajw, 3 days ago

@vasilis

So... OK are:

twelve minutes past two
quarter past two
two-fifteen
twenty to seven
eight minutes to six
five to six
twenty-seven minutes past eight
twenty-five past eight

I think. This is working in my brain but you're welcome to pick holes!

3/3

sarajw, 3 days ago

@arestelle @vasilis Yes I think that's common, too.

sarajw, 3 days ago

@vasilis it works, just sounds a little odd because it's not commonly said like that.

I like this because I'd never thought of it before!

So many things like that in English where us native speakers don't notice until it's pointed out. Like the order of a string of adjectives.

@arestelle

sarajw, 3 days ago

@vasilis aaaaalso just a note that my English is British, so there's probably some differences between what I find normal vs Americans or Aussies or any other English-speaking peoples (like, I don't think Brits can assume our English is the 'proper' version any more!)

@arestelle

sarajw, 3 days ago

@vasilis Hah yes, I basically made the same point. Even within the UK there'll certainly be variations.

sarajw, 3 days ago

@poppacalypse ooh I like it! Astro and 11ty next? ;)

sarajw, 3 days ago

@poppacalypse True, 11ty is more static. Astro is pretty powerful now, and also has Astro DB - but you're probably right it's content-first, or was: https://astro.build/

sarajw, 3 days ago

@aardrian I'm not sure you come across gruff, but you are very direct online - you don't mince your words or suffer fools gladly.

Honestly I think those are good traits even if they are a little intimidating.

I wonder how you'd tweak it without feeling false 🤔

sarajw, 3 days ago

@aardrian hahahah, aha. I did wonder what you meant by "one of those" 😆

sarajw, 3 days ago

I find it hard being blocked, even when the person in question behaved badly.

Entirely unsurprising, but still sad.

Anyway, if you call yourself an ally, behave like one?

sarajw, 3 days ago

@andycarolan right? Dick move

sarajw, 3 days ago

@flori right? Of all the things to double down on

sarajw, 3 days ago

@juanfernandes @andycarolan yes. Agreed.

sarajw, 3 days ago

@dutchcelt mmhmm.

Last night when I decided to share this and it auto cross-posted to bluesky I was like, oh no.

But now I'm blocked by him in both places it's actually a bit free-ing? He is always extremely negative about most everything, and rarely lifted anyone up, which is pretty shit considering he considers himself an ally. So now I don't have to see it around any more.

sarajw, 3 days ago

@eivind exactly what has happened yep.

He clearly used it initially as definition 6. "men's slang, sometimes offensive" and then wouldn't just roll it back 🤷

sarajw, 3 days ago

@dutchcelt Well, everyone in that reply thread, anyway. Most are likely blissfully unaware... Hence I wanted to make a few more people awake.

sarajw, 3 days ago

@woodsbythesea they've already been involved, it seems. I don't know anything for sure, though.

sarajw, 3 days ago

@sachagreif thank you so much! And understood :)

sarajw, 3 days ago

@mattround @simeon what would be involved in "running" it?

All I have is a thread full of half-cut bell peppers:
https://front-end.social/@sarajw/109994451332222396

sarajw, 3 days ago

@simoncox @mattround @simeon doooo eeeet

What's annoying is when I look carefully at a pepper and try to choose a good comedy cross section, it never works out. It's all by chance!

I do add the eyes in myself, though. They aren't already there.

sarajw, 3 days ago

@mattround @simeon Well see I don't want money, but I am very short on time. Happy to do something asynchronously and playfully?

sarajw, 3 days ago

@mattround that's what the pepper thing is for me, lazy amusement that happens mostly by chance :)