Friday, 19 August 2011

Short Lists

Last week's sort of fizzled out in the end, despite all your fine suggestions, and it's still not quite clear to me what's on the final Short List and what isn't.

So just for fun (one of my favourite parlour games): who can name all the Ministers called "Norman" in Maggie Thatcher's and John Major's governments?

11 comments:

Peter Risdon said...

I thought Norman was John Major's wife.

Anonymous said...

Spelling error:

I think Mark, you will find that 'normal' has an 'L' in it! The answer therefore is none a mighty zero, as it would be for the next lot.

I am not normally a spelling pedant you understand,

Best
MikeW

Mark Wadsworth said...

PR, that was going to be the bonus round :-(

MikeW, a short list has to have one or two items on it. A list with no items on it is not a list by any stretch ofthe imagination.

Anonymous said...

That's what I like about you Mark. Most would have pointed out that it was just a crap joke.

If you understand 'list' to be a synonym for 'class', then I think, logically, you can have a class with zero members in it. Are you committing yourself to arguing against this position?

I don't mind by the way, after all I mostly stick to headlines and jokes about cows fucking housewives.

Best,
MikeW

Mark Wadsworth said...

MikeW, you're still not answering the question: "Who can name all the ministers [etc]".

Perhaps the answer is "Nobody can" but it can't possibly be "Zero", or else the question would have to have been "How many ministers..."

dearieme said...

Norman Normal
Norman Abnormal
Norman Bobbit
Norman LAMont
Norman laMONT
Norman Baldwithglasses
Norman Nigelandothersillynames
Norman Itsfridaysoivejusthad aglassofaratherdecentmuscadet.

dearieme said...

Norman Fowler. Do I win?

Mark Wadsworth said...

D, you're ahead with two-and-a-half, a few more to go.

DBC Reed said...

Norman Tebbitt, Norman St John Stevas -losing the will to live now.
What is the total?We've found four now,Lamont, Fowler, two above.How many left?

Mark Wadsworth said...

Fowler, Lamont, Tebbit, St John Stevas, I think. Plus bonus answer Norma Major.

Anonymous said...

There you go Mark - normal service