Ok, for the dumb American...what's BST?

And is it just me, or do the two links go to the same page?

[ edited by Rogue Slayer on 2005-08-18 21:24 ]

Rogue Slayer | August 18, 23:24 CET

British Summer Time. And yes the links go to the same page, it's more of an announcement than anything else.

Simon | August 18, 23:28 CET

British Summer Time...got it.
Is the webchat mod questions only or can 'people' submit questions? And will there be something on the main page to direct us to where we can check it out?

Rogue Slayer | August 18, 23:36 CET

I must be really dense, because I don't even see the announcement on that page.

tehipite_tom | August 18, 23:36 CET

We got the news in an email. I've changed the link to make it less confusing. Hence the no announcement on that page.

I imagine questions will be vetted first and then submitted to the relevant person (judging by what happens for other film web chat things).

Simon | August 18, 23:39 CET

I'm surprised that it's taking place at 12.30 BST as that will mean it will be 4.30am in LA unless it is being done to limit American questions

garda39 | August 18, 23:56 CET

It's being done for a British magazine, so I doubt they're concerned about international audience.

gossi | August 19, 00:03 CET

So if they're in London on the 25th...

Sorry, still hoping there's a chance that some of them might be at the London screening.

And, in related news, Lachlan Murdoch who has left Fox has named his new Australian company.... Illyria! Was he an Angel fan?

zz9 | August 19, 00:51 CET

Oh man thats so cool. But surely the chat would crash from the THOUSANDS of browncoats who try to get in?

eddy | August 19, 00:59 CET

Well, Illyria is apparently actually the name of some ancient country in real life... or so I've heard.

Psuedopod | August 19, 01:06 CET

I knew that it originated somewhere else, and he has spelt it differently. Just seems a coincidence. But if he dyes his hair blue and starts wearing leather...

zz9 | August 19, 01:16 CET

"It cannot have escaped our regular readers that we're rather looking forward to a film called Serenity this year...Needless to say, Empire is going to be all over this film like a rash..."

Ok, thrilled and perhaps a little bitter - I haven't seen any major American publications talk about 'Serenity' like this - am I wrong? *sigh*

forcorreo | August 19, 01:51 CET

Well, Illyria is apparently actually the name of some ancient country in real life... or so I've heard.

Illyria was the ancient (Roman, IIRC) name for what is now (mostly) Albania.

tehipite_tom | August 19, 02:19 CET

Yeah, forcorreo, it does look like the British press is more excited than their American counterparts.

Is this chat 12:30am BST or pm?

And since I'm talking to some Brits I've always wondered something:

The United Kingdom is England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales, right?

And England is only England; it is not the U.K., it's part of the U.K., correct?

And Wales is just as separate (in terms of national identity) as Scotland and Ireland, right?

Is "Great Britain" another way of saying "The U.K."? Or does "Great Britain" connote something else?

Is "Britain" another way of saying "Great Britain"? Or does "Britain" connote something else?

If you are "British" or "a Brit" are you from anywhere in the U.K., or are you English? Take Anthony Hopkins (Welsh, as if I had to tell you) and Michael Caine (English). Are they both British or is just Michael British?

Billy Connelly or Glenn Quinn (r.i.p.) would never refer to themselves as "Brits", right?

Please set me straight.

By the way--love the Union Jack. Think it's the best lookin' flag out there.

batmarlowe | August 19, 03:28 CET

"Illyria" is also the name of the country Viola lands in in "Twelfth Night" - a country ruled by a moody but strangely attractive man...

I think we know Joss likes Shakespeare.

Gill | August 19, 03:30 CET

Trying to answer, batmarlowe. The UK is the formal name of the country "The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.". That's because technically "Great Britain" is the name of the biggest island, the one most of us live on. Ireland is a separate island, consisting of Eire, independent nation, and Northern Ireland, part of the Union. Ireland, like Man, the Hebrides, the Orkneys, the Shetlands, Lundy, Wight etc. etc. is part of the archipelago, the British Isles.

We don't call ourselves Brits much, except when identifying ourselves to furriners. We tend to think of ourselves first and foremost in terms of our nation of origin - Wales, England, whatever. But if put on the spot, Billy Connolly (Scots), Anthony Hopkins (Welsh) and Michael Caine (English) would all say they were Brits. I think Glenn Quinn (rip) was from Eire, so he wouldn't.

Hope this makes some sort of sense.

Gill | August 19, 03:36 CET

The magazine staff in question have seen Serenity, by the way. And I heard a rumour they lurve it long time, 10 dollah.

gossi | August 19, 03:37 CET

The United Kingdom is Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland) and Northern Ireland. England and Scotland are kingdoms, Wales is a principality. The south of Ireland is a seperate country.

Antony Hopkins and Michael Caine are British, but only Michael is English. Anthony is Welsh. And god help you if you ever call a Scot "English"

I see Gill got there first.

zz9 | August 19, 03:41 CET

Just to throw something else in the mix - there is also the geographical rather than political phrase 'the British Isles' which includes Eire. This link contains heaps of facts.

There are also a range of takes on how people describe themselves and/or others. There are racial identity connotations - some will use English to mean 'white folk' and British to mean citizens. This can be done with inclusion or exclusion in mind (or just thoughtlessly).

The position is then complicated by sport. In the Olympics,there's a British team (sometimes called Team GB - i.e. not Team UK) and yet for football (soccer) there are seperate teams for each bit of the UK - hence 'English' rather than British soccer hooligans make the news. Rugby has a different set up again.

purplehazel | August 19, 05:57 CET

I knew about the English/Scot thing. And like I said I've always wondered what all the different names meant. But what prompted me to ask was last night on his show, Craig Ferguson spat after he said "the English". He was half-kidding. But only half. But I could listen to Craig Ferguson and Billy Connelly talk all day. I love Scots (It's not "Scottish", right or is it? "Because if it's not Scottish it's crap!") accents. Love all the U.K. accents, actually. And all the varieties, especially Cockney and Scouse.

Anyway, I'm gonna get me a map and check this out now. I've read many more place names than I was expecting.

Thanks for your responses.

batmarlowe | August 19, 11:08 CET

But will there be any log of this event, for those of us who won't be able to watch it live?

Le Comité | August 19, 13:01 CET

I'll try and do a cut and paste job as the chat goes along. Might be a good idea if other posters who get in do the same.

Simon | August 19, 14:02 CET

A Scottish accent is fine. Scots is the dialect, with a muckle great selection of its own words.

Craig Oxbrow | August 19, 14:52 CET

Oh I've got another question from this line - If I called someone Irish, would I be referring to anyone from the island of Ireland - from Northern Ireland or Eire? Is there something you call somebody from Northern Ireland to differentiate then from somebody from Eire - besides calling them 'british'? I've always wondered that.

forcorreo | August 19, 15:21 CET

Really depends on the person's political affliation. I would call myself Northern Irish, some might call themselves Ulstermen, others would say they are from the North or the Six Counties or just Irish. It's a tricky kettle of fish really.

Simon | August 19, 15:43 CET

I'm from the States, but I usually let people label themselves before I go treading on any ethnic/political toes. If they don't, I don't either.

I think the objectionable term is Scotch, which is a drink as opposed to a people or a language.

Actually my mother and I were in a pub somewhere in England when a patron made the mistake of calling her a Yank. The Southern diva in her took over and she informed them in no uncertain terms that she was in no way a Yankee, and that she did not care to be called that. (I tried to point out the difference between Yank and Yankee, but she was having none of it.) It ended up in an interesting discussion about what were common names that were used to refer to different groups, Brits etc included, and whether they were considered polite etc. ...And they bought us a couple pints. ;-)

[ edited by newcj on 2005-08-19 14:07 ]

newcj | August 19, 16:06 CET

newcj, my inner Southern girl surprised many a British and Australian friend when they referred to me as a Yank. Oh that didn't go over well. And I totally get that it means "American" but it really rubs Southerners the wrong way all the same. I'm of the opinion every last US citizen should be required to spend time abroad. :)

WhoIsOmega? | August 19, 16:17 CET

I realize I'm in the minority on this, and feel free to flame, but I don't identify with my ethnicity or political/geographical affiliation. The more little groups people are in, the more opportunity to exclude others, IMHO. Flaming starts...NOW!

jaynelovesvera | August 19, 16:29 CET

I'd rather people didn't use the term 'flaming' here, even in jest.

And in actually keeping with the topic here, Empire Online now have details of the chat on their website so I've changed the link accordingly.

Should be lots of fun :).

Simon | August 19, 17:34 CET

Sputter, sputter...pfft.

No problem here. I pretty much like people until they start taking some group identification too seriously. That is when I start getting nervous and back off and out. (Watch my dust. ;-) )

April, I'm sure there are plenty of Southerners who have that reaction. In that I am the lone Yankee in my family, it doesn't bother me, of course. I got used to having "Yankee" thrown in my face by my big brother early on. I always thought it was funny and endearing though, the way my crusty, plain-spoken Great-Uncle was careful to spare the feelings of his one poor little niece who had had the misfortune to be born and raised in New Jersey. He told my mother she was sounding like a "damn Yankee" when she went home, but if he couldn't understand something I said he made it a point to blame it on my being "an Easterner." I always thought that was very thoughtful and considerate of him.

Edited to add on topic: So if this translates into 4:30 PT it would be 7:30 ET and we established AM, right?

[ edited by newcj on 2005-08-19 15:38 ]

newcj | August 19, 17:36 CET

Yeah our West Coast chums will have to be up for 4.30am PST (ouch) and the East Coasters can be online at a more civilised time of 7.30am ET.

This is great coverage btw, Empire Magazine is probably the world's most popular and most highly regarded film magazine. Spielberg loves it from what I can remember.

Simon | August 19, 17:44 CET

jaynelovesvera, identifying with culture/politics/ethnicity etc. is how people define themselves and their identities. It's how characters and conflicts are created. Wouldn't the world be generic if we were all the same? These details are nothing to be ashamed of, even though it's hard sometimes when the group you are part of does things you don't agree with.

I love that Joss adds these elements but does not focus on them at all. Other writers do it all the time. His characters are separated by souled/souless, good/evil and all the levels in between. Humans in his stories are just part of one big group, regardless of ethnicity or political affliation. Makes for good stories appealing to all kinds of different folks.

WhoIsOmega? | August 19, 17:50 CET

So, I guess the "some members of the cast" is referring to Nathan and Summer.

MySerenity | August 19, 19:02 CET