Heligoland (German: Helgoland; Heligolandic: deät Lun ["the Land"]) is a small German archipelago in the North Sea.
Formerly Danish and British possessions, the islands (population 1,127) are located in the Heligoland Bight (part of the German Bight) in the south-eastern corner of the North Sea. They are the only German islands not in the immediate vicinity of the mainland and are approximately three hours' sailing time from Cuxhaven at the mouth of the River Elbe.
In addition to German, the local population, who are ethnic Frisians, speak the Heligolandic dialect of the North Frisian language called Halunder. Heligoland was formerly called Heyligeland, or "holy land", possibly due to the island's long association with the god Forseti.
Heligoland is located 46 kilometres (29 mi) off the German coastline and consists of two islands: the populated triangular 1 km2 (0.4 sq mi) main island (Hauptinsel) to the west, and the Düne ("dune," Heligolandic: de Halem) to the east. The former is what the place name "Heligoland" normally is used to refer to. Düne is somewhat smaller at 0.7 km2 (0.27 sq mi), lower, and surrounded by sand beaches. It is not permanently inhabited, but is today the location of Heligoland's airstrip.
A Hobson's choice is a free choice in which only one option is offered. As a person may refuse to take that option, the choice is therefore between taking the option or not; "take it or leave it". The phrase is said to originate with Thomas Hobson (1544–1631), a livery stable owner in Cambridge, England. To rotate the use of his horses, he offered customers the choice of either taking the horse in the stall nearest the door or taking none at all.
According to a plaque underneath a painting of Hobson donated to Cambridge Guildhall, Hobson had an extensive stable of some 40 horses. This gave the appearance to his customers of having their choice of mounts when in fact there was only one: Hobson required his customers to choose the horse in the stall closest to the door. This was to prevent the best horses always being chosen, which would have caused those horses to become overused.
An ultimatum game is a form of Hobson's choice.
Hobson's choice is different from:
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the first known written usage of this phrase is in The rustick's alarm to the Rabbies, written by Samuel Fisher in 1660:
The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office
At 0130 on Sunday the 31st of December
There are warnings of gales in all areas except Trafalgar
The general synopsis at 0800
Low east of humber 942 expected Fair Isle 954 by 0600 tomorrow.
New low expected 100 miles west of Shannon 974 by same time
Now the area forecasts for the next 168 hours
Viking North Utsire South Utsire
Southeasterly 3. Rain at times. Visability good. Calm
Forties Cromarty Forth Tyne Dogger
East or southeast 6 to gale 8. Hesitation. Rain or showers. Hope. Moderate or good
Fisher German Bight
Southeasterly veering southwesterly 4. Rain later.
Rising temperature. Pressure building.
Wild speculation. Good
Humber Thames
Southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8,
Caution veering southwesterly later.
Goosebumps. Dizzy spells. Still good
Dover Wight
Southeasterly veering southwesterly 7 or severe gale 9.
Head-on impact. Continents collide. Atoms split.
Dilated pupils. Elation. Vertigo. Visibility zero.
Portland Plymouth Biscay
Southeasterly becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8. Snow falling. Defences breached. Icelandic calm. Rapture.
Good becoming moderate
Finisterre
South veering southwest 7 to severe emotional freefall 9, stomach cramps increasing 5 or 6.
Rain then thundery showers. Bruising. Discord. Structural damage. Moderate becoming poor.
Sole Lundy Fastnet
Southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9 decreasing 5 or 6.
Confusion reigns. Nausea. Boiling seas.
Showers becoming thundery. Extreme low
Extreme low
Irish Sea
Southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9 decreasing 5 or 6.
Squally showers. Blank patches. Confusion reigns.
Moderate becoming poor
South Shannon
Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9.
Nerves shattered. Self reproach. Rain or showers. No change.
North Shannon South Rockall
Southeasterly veering wildly 7 or gale 8,
Decreasing perception. Rain then showers. Drunken haze.
Cold comfort. Moderate becoming good
North Rockall
Mainly westerly 6 to gale 8. Rain or thundery showers. Exhaustion. Boredom. Decay.
Moderate or poor
Malin Hebrides
Cyclonic becoming reality, occasionally gale 8,
Backing southerly later. Broken and disorientated.
Rain or showers. Moderatation lacking
Bailey
Southerly veering westerly 6 or 7, decreasing 4 or 5. Numb. Defeated. Freezing fog. Stranded.
Dull aches. Poorly
Fair Isle Faeroes
Southeasterly becoming cyclonic, then westerly 5 to 7,
Toil, occasional stupidity.
Sullen. Rain. Moderate or good
Southeast Iceland
Southeasterly 5 to 7, twisted occasionally gale 8,
Veering westerly in south. Corroded and empty. Ice forming.
Heligoland
Planet-struck and spellbound.