Much to my despair...

[James Deuce]

Even the BBC website has the journalistic integrity of a pre-school newsletter written by the pre-literate inmates.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4576623.stm

One word in this report needs a (sic) after it, because the scientist being quoted has used the wrong word to denote the transition of Voyager 1 from the Solar System to interstellar space. The word he's used usually denotes a journey with the same start and end point. If Voyager 1 manages to exist for an infinite amount of time, he may well be right. But given that the eventual collapse of the Universe has been disputed of late it looks unlikely that the Dr Edward Stone is unlikely to have his heinous mutilation of an apparently simple concept fixed for him by lucky happenstance.

So am I right in assuming that a fundamental disrespect for clear and effective communication is now de rigueur?

It's OK to display ignorance openly because everyone else says it is?

Bah, humbug.

[Skyryder]

Even the BBC website has the journalistic integrity of a pre-school newsletter written by the pre-literate inmates.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4576623.stm

One word in this report needs a (sic) after it, because the scientist being quoted has used the wrong word to denote the transition of Voyager 1 from the Solar System to interstellar space. The word he's used usually denotes a journey with the same start and end point. If Voyager 1 manages to exist for an infinite amount of time, he may well be right. But given that the eventual collapse of the Universe has been disputed of late it looks unlikely that the Dr Edward Stone is unlikely to have his heinous mutilation of an apparently simple concept fixed for him by lucky happenstance.

So am I right in assuming that a fundamental disrespect for clear and effective communication is now de rigueur?

It's OK to display ignorance openly because everyone else says it is?

Bah, humbug.

Is this what you are talking about.

"Voyager 1 has entered the final lap on its race to the edge of interstellar space," said Dr Edward Stone, Voyager project scientist at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, US.

If so then according to my definition of lap Voyager 1 has been there before.

Skyryder

[James Deuce]

Is this what you are talking about.

"Voyager 1 has entered the final lap on its race to the edge of interstellar space," said Dr Edward Stone, Voyager project scientist at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, US.

If so then according to my definition of lap Voyager 1 has been there before.

Skyryder

You're onto it mate.

It's a small thing, and yes languages change over time, but from a linguistics perspective that type of omission is viewed as decadent laziness, not natural evolution.

[XTC]

(10 karackters)

[James Deuce]

(10 karackters)

Yes, quite.

[Hitcher]

If Mrs H worked for the Beeb she would have sorted it!

[Skunk]

I suppose that answers your question completely, doesn't it Jim?

[Waylander]

Umm, exactly what does this have to do with the price of rice in china?

[StoneChucker]

Umm, exactly what does this have to do with the price of rice in china?

Screw the rice in Chine mate!


It's the avocados in New Zealand you have to worry about!

[MacD]

The one that bugs me is when (American) pilots announce that they are going to land "momentarily"!

Arrgghhhhhhhh.

[MrMelon]

If the BBC can't even get it right, we're all doomed!

[Clockwork]

The phrase "Final lap" is a common enough metaphore, maybe even a cliche. Whats the problem?

[James Deuce]

The phrase "Final lap" is a common enough metaphore, maybe even a cliche. Whats the problem?

A lap has the roughly the same start and finish point. Lap indicates a closed circuit.

[James Deuce]

The one that bugs me is when (American) pilots announce that they are going to land "momentarily"!

Arrgghhhhhhhh.

I feel your pain. I always expect a screaming vertical dive with a vicious flare onto the runway after that comment.

[badlieutenant]

i know bugger all about this but could the scientist be referring to voyager's orbit around the sun? I could google it but Im too tired to find out. Im guessing that old voyager has been looping around planets which would, Im guessing, mean it also followed a rough course around the sun, a few times now. Which would be like doing laps as it leaves out solar system. maybe..........