One is dead, and is mad, and I have quite forgotten

[nineveh_uk]

*Drum roll* BBC4 Saturday night once again brings us must-see Scandinavian programme, this time, costume drama.

1864! A year to echo down the ages. 1864! A year of blood and infamy, of heroism, of folly, of despair!

1864, the year of the Second Schleswig War!

*screeches to a halt*

Yes, it's an eight-part epic costume drama on the Schleswig-Holstein question, subject of about 15 minutes at A-level lo those many years ago. It stars the usual suspects of Danish TV, and has prompted dialect!fail wank on the internet. I can't wait.

Comments

[sonetka.livejournal.com]

Oh God, I would be ridiculously out of my depth trying to watch that. All I can remember about the Schleswig-Holstein question is that it existed (sort of like the Irish Question in 1066 And All That). Also that the Holstein is a very popular kind of cow. Still, glad the usual suspects of Danish TV are finding work!

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

I quoted 1066 and All That on the Irish Question in my A-level C19 British History paper. I like to think it gave an examiner a cheery moment.

*looks up Holstein cow* Ah, we call them Friesians. No doubt there is some complex trans-Atlantic history thingie going on here. I wonder whether they show up in the series - and whether there is "wrong cow" wank on farmer message boads.

[stevie-carroll.livejournal.com]

Thinks back to the 'how to recognise cows' part of pre-clinical studies.

Technically, Friesians and Holsteins are separate breeds, although a lot of the black and white cows in the UK are now crosses between the two. Holsteins are bigger and produce more milk IIRC.

I'm sure one breed is grumpier than the other, but I wouldn't swear to it.

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

Four legs and an udder, bigger and less woolly than sheep.

I didn't realise that you'd trained as a vet! Did you ever practice? I had a few James Herriot stirrings myself, until I did work experience, which usefully informed me it wasn't for me.

[stevie-carroll.livejournal.com]

:-)

I practised on and off for about six or seven years. My main problem was the general public and their lack of interest in real science (which seems to be getting worse all the time).

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

But why can't you treat the cat with homeopathy?

[stevie-carroll.livejournal.com]

Not to mention all the vaccine disputes.

[antisoppist.livejournal.com]

I have been puzzled for ages over how the local homeopath manages to be happily married to a vet and have finally discovered that she is a homeopathic vet.

Confirming that Holsteins are definitely not Friesians. You cross them for milk yield and being able to sell the bull calves to be reared for beef. Don't AI a Jersey with a Holstein bull. Jersey pelvises can't cope. (many an hour we spent reading the Bull Power semen catalogue, mainly for the names).

[auntyros.livejournal.com]

My brother, aged 5, already an expert on breeds of cow was asked by his primary school teacher, 'What animal is that?' His reply, disdainful as a small child could manage, 'It's a nothing cow.'

I think we can safely assume there will be 'wrong cow' wank.

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

Oops! So far I am not aware of chicken-wank in relation to this particular series. However I am hoping to see a recent Danish film "Men and Hens"*, which has no doubt sparked it.


*Seriously.

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

*applauds brother*

I decided that I had to look up whether there was cow-wank. Having had the Danish spelling of cow provided by Google translate*, I have come up with the glorious headline of "[Politican] angry over gang-rape of cow". Actually, I thought that the cow-scene didn't really work in the drama, but were I a politician that is not the angle I would have chosen!