Does anyone happen to know an approximate distance between Hallifax and any of the other cities or landmarks?

It's for... a project.

I know that Hallifax can easily be seen from the northern part of the ruins of Shallach. On Caffrey's graphical map of the Basin, the ruins are a couple of visual inches south of Hallifax.

In the real world, the average human being can see only three miles to the horizon on a flat plain, due to curvature of the Earth (of course, Lusternia may not have such curvature, but I think it's still a fair assumption). Hallifax is large, but not large enough to change this figure significantly.

Thus, I personally would venture to guess that the northern tip of the ruins of Shallach is approximately 2 to 2.5 miles away from the borders of Hallifax. Using this as a yardstick and Caffrey's graphical map, I think you could guesstimate distances well enough.

Just my two cents!

However, Hallifax floats high above the high tops of mountains-- you could see it from farther away because it floats above that curvature.

Good point. I'd forgotten that all of Hallifax is analogous to Cloud City on the planet Bespin. (Does this mean that Rika is analogous to Lando Calrissian?) For some reason, I'd been thinking that only some parts of it were floating in the sky.

I'll have to find another vantage point to reckon from, then, I suppose.

Are you my long lost twin or something?



In any case, consider that no matter where you are in the Basin, you can see each org's nexus effects. While I don't mean to imply they're close enough to be seen by each other, I rather thought the Basin was smallish and dense in arrangement.

We're definitely not twins.

You neglected to capitalize the word "Nazi," and therefore cannot possibly be a true grammar Nazi.

That's only if he's referring to Nazism as a proper noun. If he's referring to national socialism in general, using the slang 'nazi', then he could be right. Though if that's the case, the entire usage of the word for his intended purpose breaks down.

Do I get some coffee?

Nazism and National Socialism are synonymous ("Nazi" is simply a foreshortening of "National Socialist"). There's really no such thing as general National Socialism, since the term still refers exclusively to the practices of the Nazi Party, and has never been recognized as a legitimate political philosophy. National Socialism is really nothing more than a propagandized label for Hitler's brand of fascism. (Fascism is a general-usage political term.)

Nevertheless, you aren't wrong per se: Various dictionary sources confirm that Nazi is "often uncapitalized" when used in figurative contexts such as this one (grammar nazi), but that's simply the result of common usage. In my opinion, it is still more correct to treat Nazi and National Socialism as proper nouns, even though leaving them uncapitalized is technically acceptable.

No, you don't get any coffee. Single quotation marks are only used inside of another quotation, like so: "Jonathan said, 'Boy, I sure do hate these nasty pancakes,' and spat a mouthful of chewed-up pancakes onto the floor."

Unless one lives in Britain, of course.

I often forget that the British reverse their double and single quotation marks. Another British standard is placing commas and periods outside of quotation marks rather than inside, but that's also an accepted American style, so it's easier to remember.

In the interest of democracy, however, I should point out that there are far more native American English speakers than native British English speakers. As such, Britain is automatically outvoted when determining which style is most proper.

Ask about geography, get answers about grammar and national socialism.

Typical!

I must say that was an excellent topic derailing.

What a nazi.

(Rejected! )

I agree with the Badger.

But IRE conforms to Britishisms in most cases, so they've got that weight on their side.

I believe the word you're looking for is "Briticisms." (Yes, yes, "Britishism" can be used too... but it's far less common. I hate you all.)

I'm sorry for the derailment, Inky, but I did start off trying to help you out! I'm still working on it, by the way. I want to know, too.

...I forgive you for everything.

Psshaw. Electricians, doctors and bankers are similarly outnumbered, yet they aren't considered any less authoritative for it. All you've shown is that there are more uncouth Americans speaking English than people who know what's what!

That's an excellent point. Grammar-butchering charlatans, varlets and ne'er-do-wells don't really deserve consideration in this matter.

However, you forget that American English scholars, too, significantly outnumber British English scholars. English scholars are the equivalent of "electricians, doctors and bankers" in this context.

Therefore, y'all Brits are still outvoted.



...Dear Lord, "y'all" and "ain't" pass muster with the spellchecker?

Intended topic of this thread, requiescat in pace.