Okay, peeps. This is your vague and vexing introduction to “The Best Thing Ever” Blog Game. I can’t go into too much detail for a few more days, BUT I do need some things from you right now to get the game going:
First: Well, hm, I suppose I need players. So why don’t you all just decide to play right now, knowing absolutely nothing about it? I really do think that’s best. I mean, blind, ignorant commitment to God-knows-what always works for me. Just allow yourself to be dragged along. Surrender. Succumb. Sell your soul. You know, for fun and stuff.
Second: I need those people who just decided two seconds ago — blindly, ignorantly — to play this game to do this:
Choose the thing that, in your opinion, is The Best Thing Ever to come out of England.
Simple.
I don’t care what it is. It could be a person (even though, yes, I know, a person is not a thing, but whatever, that’s the name of the game and I’m not changing it). It could be a historical event. It could be a movie. An actor. A sport. A book. A food (‘tho unlikely). Again, this is your opinion. No right or wrong here. No judgment. Pick that English thing (or person — a very very valuable non-thing) that you really truly love or admire or appreciate most. I want you to be totally invested in your choice. Don’t just say, “Uhm, okay …. I can’t really think of anything but I wanna play …. so Posh Spice, I guess. Ho-hum.”
NO!
There’s no crying in baseball and there is NO blase in The Best Thing Ever Blog Game!! If your choice is bangers and mash, then embrace it! Embrace it with a full heart and a sound mind and all ten of your grubby little banger-soaked fingers!
Third: I cut the list off at 16 things. Which is ridiculous, I know, as if “There are only 16 good things ever to come out of England, nyah.” Or, well, worse: “There are not EVEN 16.”
(Hm, okay. Don’t think about that, Trace. Forge ahead. Blindly. Ignorantly. As only you know how.)
So …. 1 choice per person. If 16 people don’t step up to the plate — blindly, ignorantly — then I will …. well, I don’t know yet. But I can tell you this: I will be ….. uhm …. extremely proactive. Or WORSE. Grrrrrr, etc.
Also, this just occurred to me: Posh Spice is NOT an option. Because I said so. See? Extreme proactivism.
Also also: Winner gets superdelicious COFFEE!! And if you don’t like coffee, you get to — PRETEND!! Hooray for Mama teaching you good manners for awkward moments just like this!
Please don’t ask what this is all about. Please don’t offer a guess. All will be told shortly.
So. 16 people choosing 16 of The Best Things Ever from England.
Ready? GO!!
The Mini Cooper. Love it!
Ooooh! Anita, good one!
Okay. That’s the first one.
I am delurking to add Jane Austen to the list. Without her, the world would never know Mr. Darcy (and all her other brilliant creations).
The judicial system, and “presumption of innocence”. They didn’t invent “presumption of innocence” but they were the most vigorous practictioners of it. It become the whole backbone of the law.
Oh, and Clive Owen, too.
The Magna Carta. Not a very exciting answer, but it has been the basis for making millions of lives a whole lot better in the ensuing 800-plus years.
Aw, Sheila and Dave beat me to it…lemme think.
St. Thomas More.
Cripes. Everyone here is going so highbrow.
I was going to say Alec Guinness or Ealing Studios comedies.
If it’s not too dumb, I’ll say Alec Guinness.
I’m torn between Monty Python and the MadPriest. You really should allow more than one choice. And Benny Hill, okay–I’ll stop spewing now.
Hey, magna carta, presumption of innocence, and St. Thomas More were taken, so I had to reach low.
Oh, okay, one more–ban me if you must–Julia of Norwich.
Jane Austen (especially Mansfield Park).
Missy — Which one is it?? I need ONE choice right now. There are reasons. 😉
Marijka — You and Sarah both had comments that went into moderation. Sorry! Since you had the same answer, I’ve gotta give it to sarah because she said it first. Can you think of another one?
Douglas Adams and Doctor Who.
Well, it seems like a very obvious choice, but since Jane Austen and the magna carta were already taken, I’m going with the Beatles.
Shakespeare!!!!!
I don’t know much about England, but I have always been a big Winston Churchill fan. That’s my pick.
Typhoo QT instant white tea. Ok, this may not be the “best thing ever to come out of England,” but, it is pretty darn good tea (for instant tea) and tea and coffee sort of go together.
DAMMIT! JLR took The Beatles! Um… Ireland?
Laurence Olivier belongs on this list, but I’ve already had my pick.
WG — So is that your choice? I can’t tell with the ? there at the end.
There is no ? in The Best Thing Ever blog game!! 😉
And Dave, I agree.
I came to the game late!!!! Can I still get in? My best thing ever is Dr. Who!!!!
YES! YES! YES! IRELAND! IRELAND! IRELAND!