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Not sure what happened there!

ChrisE

Thanks. I have never heard of Claudette Colbert, or seen the film. What happened?

Malone

I am amazed to hear about your portable telephone. I assume "App" is an abbrev for "appliance" but I thought it was usually called a "device". Or does it stand for "Apple" who I understand make these gadgets.

You say it tells you when the next one is due, but I look at the timetable for that, not that the buses are ever on time. But how does the map know where the bus is? A great idea for the future for a forward-looking, forward-walking, forward-thinking traveller.

Tyke

Thanks for the suggestion but I have been wearing shorts all summer. I will pursue your mirror idea though.

Grunger

I cut it in half when we came down to I metre, but it is worth thinking about, thanks.

Jigjag

Although the use of various mobile phone and computer applications (commonly referred to as Apps) could you make your life much easier, I feel the 'Big Brother is watching you' aspect could put you off completely. Many of my bus timetables are more fiction than fact, though perhaps 'estimated time' would be more charitable. My phone/App knows exactly where the bus is as it is 'tracking' its movements in real time - I can watch its progress, and its lack of progress when it gets to the High Street. This enables me to be forward-thinking and forward-walking at all times, no need for reverse manoeuvres, the carrying of big, unwieldy sticks, placards and so on. Still, it means I miss out on the sense of adventure you must have each time you venture out.

I need confirmation of my feelings about MITIGATE.
I often see or hear 'mitigate against...' - that's not right, is it?

When I saw a letter in today's Times about 'measures militating against climate change...' I thought that was where the confusion lies.

Do people say 'mitigate' when they mean 'militate', particularly when followed by 'against'?

I’m with you Paul.
I think I’m correct in saying that mitigate is transitive, and militate is intransitive and correctly used with the preposition ‘against’.
X mitigates Y, suggests that X reduces the risk of Y.
X militates against Y, suggests that X is able to prevent Y, or stops Y happening.

Thanks, Jono. Nicely explained.

malone

I loved the Emma Peel clue and answer in the EV yesterday

grunger

Yes a lovely -ess word which I have not seen before

Malone

Yes it was an adventure - my first trip to town for 6 months