In stand-up, one easy trope is 'this is an American thing, imagine the British version, aha'. From both sides of the pond: for every English act juxtaposing the vermin of our daytime telly with the grandiose nicompoopery of that of the USA, there's someone like Bill Hicks chuckling over how all we have to deal with is hooligans knocking over ( Read more... )

In the 17th century, to be faced with Hobson's choice was to be given the option - by one Thomas Hobson - of renting out either the horse in the stall nearest the door or taking zero horses. No preferences catered for; with the admirable directness of a school dinnerlady, you got what you were given, or you went without ( Read more... )