Terry Prattchet vs JK Rowling

[The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers]

in 60 seconds?
time it.

[Peter Ahlstrom]

As soon as I get some bread, I will!!!

[House of Mustard]

Maybe we were more cruel, but in our mission the challenge was to drink a gallon of milk in less than one hour, and then hold it down for another hour.

It was pretty common for people to get the first part done, but, from what I understand, that much milk in your stomach begins to curdle, and comes right back up -- often, guys would froth at the mouth for a little while before losing it.  Kinda dumb, yes, but we were nineteen.

[Peter Ahlstrom]

I got about 5/6 of the gallon down, then knew my goose was cooked and gave up... I did manage to keep that 5/6 all down, though!! Sure felt odd for a couple hours.

[The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers]

wow, you guys were harsh. Ours was just a gallon in an hour and hold it there. Still, even at that, the few who actually made it were standing over the toilet and/or tub suppressing gags during the last few seconds.

Fools didn't realize they should just gulp it down in the last 15 minutes. True, an hour later they'd be hurling all over the place, but they would have won the two pizzas.

[Onion of Death]

And think, if they were really resourceful, they could have gotten another meal out of it. Wait... that isn't a great thing to be thinking about while eating...  

[Peter Ahlstrom]

Okay... I admit it. The bread thing was hard. I didn't get it until my third try.  

First try I still had a piece left to eat at the end of 60 seconds (didn't compress it enough to start out)...2nd try I didn't do my final swallow until 69 seconds (I think I didn't put the first bite in soon enough, and put too much in right at the end), and third try I got it down to 56 seconds. So, it's not easy.

[fuzzyoctopus]

I will never understand you boys.

[Chimera]

Masochists, all of them.

[The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers]

What are you talking about? This was a human triumph. Ookla is now like unto a god. He should have my title.

[Peter Ahlstrom]

I...HAVE...THE POWAAAAAH!!

[42]

I will never understand you boys.

Yup, you never will:
http://articles.health.msn.com/id/100108044/site/100000000/

[The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers]

and if it's on MSN, it MUST be true.

[42]

Especially when they report behavioral science research that is over four decades old and has already entered most college textbooks.

Yup, really current work being done by MSN.

[bosssmiley]

Yeah, it really astounds me.  Is the series really that good?

I expect to get flamed by Rowling fans for this, but her work is derivative and predictable, a faddish series for people who don't really like books. I'm actually surprised she hasn't been sued for copyright infringement by the person who wrote a series of kiddies books called "The Worst Witch".
Every day I become more amazed that no-one has called this woman's bluff!  

Pratchett, by contrast, writes stories that actually treat the reader like an intelligent person. His recent childrens books "Wee Free Men" and "Hat Full of Sky" star a young girl who wants to become a witch. These books are so well written, so mindful of existing British folklore and so outright *mature* in outlook that Rowling should be wailing and gnashing her teeth in shame at her own limitations.

To anyone who's read both Rowling and "Wee Free Men": is there a single motif in the entire Rowling ouvre that compares with the simultaneously folksy and profound image of Tiffany burying Nanny Aching's china shepherdess on the Wold?
I think not...