Monday, February 29, 2016
Donations in memory of John McConachie
Many people have requested information on where to make a donation in memory of our friend John.
I've decided to send it out as a 'blanket' email.
Tubman Funeral Home
403 Richmond rd
Ottawa, ON
K2A 0E9
Please indicate that your donation be forwarded to Harvest House in memory of John McConackie.
Harvest House is a local (Ottawa area) programme that helps young men & women problems of addiction.
Cheers.
Cliff W
No more fear mongering as our new government focuses on the real issues
ANALYSIS
Justin Trudeau rates highly on economy and approval in new polls
Concerns about economy increase as worries about terrorism and security decline
As the economy becomes an even more important issue for Canadians, Justin Trudeau remains the federal leader voters trust most to deal with it — as well as the leader with the most glittering approval ratings, according to the latest polls.
An important part of that support base comes from across the political aisle.
A new survey from the Angus Reid Institute (ARI) published Tuesday showed that 47 per cent of Canadians named the economy as one of their top two most important issues facing Canada today. Another 22 per cent chose jobs and unemployment.
This is a big spike from when the ARI last gauged Canadians' mood at the end of November. The economy jumped as an issue by 10 percentage points since then (rising to 59 per cent in Alberta, where the energy industry has taken a downturn), while concern about jobs and unemployment was up four points.
The issue that dropped by the wayside was terrorism and security, which fell to nine per cent from 21 per cent in less than three months.
Good read
Why I Choose Optimism Over Despair: An Interview With Noam Chomsky
One of philosophy's central and most perplexing questions is, "Who are we?" Indeed, virtually all essential questions about human civilization, power, authority and governance follow from the question of what kind of creatures we are.
But is there really something distinct about us as a species? Or, to put the question in a more traditional philosophical context, is there such a thing as human nature? Classical philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle thought so, and so did most philosophers that form part of the modern tradition, beginning with Thomas Hobbes and going all the way up to Nietzsche. Of course, scientists have also probed human nature, and continue to do so down to this day, with the question being of particular interest to linguists, evolutionary biologists, neuroscientists and psychologists.
Interesting historic trivia of phrases . . .
During WWII , U.S. airplanes were armed with belts of bullets which they would shoot during dogfights and on strafing runs. These belts were folded into the wing compartments that fed their machine guns. These belts measure 27 feet and contained hundreds of rounds of bullets. Often times, the pilots would return from their missions having expended all of their bullets on various targets.
They would say, “ I gave them the whole nine yards, ”
meaning they used up all of their ammunition.
*********************************
In George Washington's days, there were no cameras. One's image was either sculpted or painted. Some paintings of George Washington showed him standing behind a desk with one arm behind his back while others showed both legs and both arms.
Prices charged by painters were not based on how many people were to be painted, but by how many limbs were to be painted. Arms and legs are 'limbs,' therefore painting them would cost
the buyer more. Hence the expression, 'Okay, but it'll cost you
an arm and a leg.' (Artists know hands and arms are more difficult
to paint.)
******************************
As incredible as it sounds, men and women took baths only twice a year (May and October). Women kept their hair covered, while men shaved their heads (because of lice and bugs) and wore wigs. Wealthy men could afford good wigs made from wool. They couldn't wash the wigs, so to clean them they would carve out a loaf of bread, put the wig in the shell, and bake it for 30 minutes. The heat would make the wig big and fluffy, hence the term 'big wig'. Today we often use the term 'here comes the Big Wig' because someone
appears to be or is powerful and wealthy.
*********************************
In the late 1700s, many houses consisted of a large room with only one chair. Commonly, a long wide board folded down from the wall, and was used for dining. The 'head of the household' always sat in the chair while everyone else ate sitting on the floor. Occasionally a guest, who was usually a man, would be invited to sit in this chair during a meal.. To sit in the chair meant you were important and in charge. They called the one sitting in the chair the 'chair man.' Today in business, we use the expression or title 'Chairman' or 'Chairman of the Board.'
*********************************
Ladies wore corsets, which would lace up in the front. A proper and
dignified woman, as in 'straight laced' wore a tightly tied lace.
*********************************
Common entertainment included playing cards. However, there was a tax levied when purchasing playing cards but only applicable to the 'Ace of Spades.' To avoid paying the tax, people would purchase 51 cards instead. Yet, since most games require 52 cards, these people were thought to be stupid or dumb because they weren't 'playing with a full deck.'
********************************
Early politicians required feedback from the public to determine what the people considered important. Since there were no telephones, TVs or radios, the politicians sent their assistants to local taverns, pubs, and bars. They were told to 'go sip some Ale
and listen to people's conversations and political concerns. Many assistants were dispatched at different times. 'You go sip here' and 'You go sip there.' The two words 'go sip' were eventually combined when referring to the local opinion and, thus we have the term
'gossip.'
**********************************
At local taverns, pubs, and bars, people drank from pint and quart-sized containers. A bar maid's job was to keep an eye on
the customers and keep the drinks coming. She had to pay close attention and remember who was drinking in 'pints' and who was drinking in 'quarts,' hence the phrase' minding your 'P's and Q's'.
**********************************
One more: bet you didn't know this! In the heyday of sailing ships,
all war ships and many freighters carried iron cannons. Those cannons fired round iron cannon balls. It was necessary to keep a good supply near the cannon. However, how to prevent them from
rolling about the deck? The best storage method devised was a square-based pyramid with one ball on top, resting on four resting on nine, which rested on sixteen. Thus, a supply of 30 cannon balls could be stacked in a small area right next to the cannon. There was only one problem....how to prevent the bottom layer from sliding or rolling from under the others. The solution was a metal plate called a 'Monkey' with 16 round indentations. However, if this plate was made of iron, the iron balls would quickly rust to it. The solution to the rusting problem was to make 'Brass Monkeys.' Few landlubbers
realize that brass contracts much more and much faster than iron when chilled.. Consequently, when the temperature dropped too far, the brass indentations would shrink so much that the iron cannonballs would come right off the monkey; Thus, it was quite literally, 'Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey.' (All this time, you thought that was an improper expression, didn't you.)
They would say, “ I gave them the whole nine yards, ”
meaning they used up all of their ammunition.
*********************************
In George Washington's days, there were no cameras. One's image was either sculpted or painted. Some paintings of George Washington showed him standing behind a desk with one arm behind his back while others showed both legs and both arms.
Prices charged by painters were not based on how many people were to be painted, but by how many limbs were to be painted. Arms and legs are 'limbs,' therefore painting them would cost
the buyer more. Hence the expression, 'Okay, but it'll cost you
an arm and a leg.' (Artists know hands and arms are more difficult
to paint.)
******************************
As incredible as it sounds, men and women took baths only twice a year (May and October). Women kept their hair covered, while men shaved their heads (because of lice and bugs) and wore wigs. Wealthy men could afford good wigs made from wool. They couldn't wash the wigs, so to clean them they would carve out a loaf of bread, put the wig in the shell, and bake it for 30 minutes. The heat would make the wig big and fluffy, hence the term 'big wig'. Today we often use the term 'here comes the Big Wig' because someone
appears to be or is powerful and wealthy.
*********************************
In the late 1700s, many houses consisted of a large room with only one chair. Commonly, a long wide board folded down from the wall, and was used for dining. The 'head of the household' always sat in the chair while everyone else ate sitting on the floor. Occasionally a guest, who was usually a man, would be invited to sit in this chair during a meal.. To sit in the chair meant you were important and in charge. They called the one sitting in the chair the 'chair man.' Today in business, we use the expression or title 'Chairman' or 'Chairman of the Board.'
*********************************
Ladies wore corsets, which would lace up in the front. A proper and
dignified woman, as in 'straight laced' wore a tightly tied lace.
*********************************
Common entertainment included playing cards. However, there was a tax levied when purchasing playing cards but only applicable to the 'Ace of Spades.' To avoid paying the tax, people would purchase 51 cards instead. Yet, since most games require 52 cards, these people were thought to be stupid or dumb because they weren't 'playing with a full deck.'
********************************
Early politicians required feedback from the public to determine what the people considered important. Since there were no telephones, TVs or radios, the politicians sent their assistants to local taverns, pubs, and bars. They were told to 'go sip some Ale
and listen to people's conversations and political concerns. Many assistants were dispatched at different times. 'You go sip here' and 'You go sip there.' The two words 'go sip' were eventually combined when referring to the local opinion and, thus we have the term
'gossip.'
**********************************
At local taverns, pubs, and bars, people drank from pint and quart-sized containers. A bar maid's job was to keep an eye on
the customers and keep the drinks coming. She had to pay close attention and remember who was drinking in 'pints' and who was drinking in 'quarts,' hence the phrase' minding your 'P's and Q's'.
**********************************
One more: bet you didn't know this! In the heyday of sailing ships,
all war ships and many freighters carried iron cannons. Those cannons fired round iron cannon balls. It was necessary to keep a good supply near the cannon. However, how to prevent them from
rolling about the deck? The best storage method devised was a square-based pyramid with one ball on top, resting on four resting on nine, which rested on sixteen. Thus, a supply of 30 cannon balls could be stacked in a small area right next to the cannon. There was only one problem....how to prevent the bottom layer from sliding or rolling from under the others. The solution was a metal plate called a 'Monkey' with 16 round indentations. However, if this plate was made of iron, the iron balls would quickly rust to it. The solution to the rusting problem was to make 'Brass Monkeys.' Few landlubbers
realize that brass contracts much more and much faster than iron when chilled.. Consequently, when the temperature dropped too far, the brass indentations would shrink so much that the iron cannonballs would come right off the monkey; Thus, it was quite literally, 'Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey.' (All this time, you thought that was an improper expression, didn't you.)
Thanks Ralph
Sunday, February 28, 2016
Here is an exam for your spare time.
I'm only sending this to the brightest of my friends This test will keep that dreaded disease that effects your memory at bay! You only need 4 correct out of 10 questions to pass.
1) How long did the Hundred Years' War last?
2) Which country makes Panama hats?
3) From which animal do we get cat gut?
4) In which month do Russians celebrate the October Revolution?
5) What is a camel's hair brush made of?
6) The Canary Islands in the Pacific are named after what animal?
7) What was King George VI's first name
8 ) What color is a purple finch?
9) Where are Chinese gooseberries from?
10) What is the color of the black box in a commercial airplane?
Remember, you need only 4 correct answers to pass.
Check your answers below ....
ANSWERS TO THE QUIZ
1) How long did the Hundred Years War last?
116 years
116 years
2) Which country makes Panama hats?
Ecuador
Ecuador
3) From which animal do we get cat gut?
Sheep and Horses
Sheep and Horses
4) In which month do Russians celebrate the October Revolution?
November
November
5) What is a camel's hair brush made of?
Squirrel fur
6) The Canary Islands in the Pacific are named after what animal?
Dogs
Dogs
7) What was King George VI's first name?
Albert
Albert
8 ) What color is a purple finch?
Crimson
Crimson
9) Where are Chinese gooseberries from?
New Zealand
>
10) What is the color of the black box in a commercial airplane?
Orange (of course)
New Zealand
>
10) What is the color of the black box in a commercial airplane?
Orange (of course)
What do you mean, you failed?
Me, too!
(And if you try to tell me you passed, you LIED!)
Pass this on to your brilliant friends.
Me, too!
(And if you try to tell me you passed, you LIED!)
Pass this on to your brilliant friends.
Thanks Norman
Irish Compassion....
Irish Compassion....
Shortly after take-off on an outbound evening Air Lingus flight from Dublin to Boston,
the lead flight attendant nervously made the following painful announcement in her lovely Irish brogue:
the lead flight attendant nervously made the following painful announcement in her lovely Irish brogue:
Ladies and gentlemen, I'm so very sorry,
but it appears that there has been a terrible mix-up by our catering service.
I don't know how this has happened, but we have 103 passengers on board,
and unfortunately, we received only 40 dinner meals.
I truly apologize for this mistake and inconvenience.
When the muttering of the passengers had died down, she continued,
"Anyone who is kind enough to give up their meal so that someone else can eat
Will receive free, unlimited drinks for the duration of our 5 hour flight.
Her next announcement came about 2 hours later:
"If anyone is hungry, we still have 40 dinners available.
Thanks Randy
"COLORIZED HISTORICAL PHOTOS"
These photographs are absolutely incredible!
Many of them are from the Civil War era to the 1930's.
The clarity is astounding and the colorization looks like
it was taken with modern photo gear.
(Make sure you watch it on HD setting;
you can click on it in the upper right hand corner
of the screen when it starts playing)
Thanks Kerry
This Is What Florida Looked Like 100 Years Ago. part 2
Men standing around Sawfish and Bonito shark, Key West , Florida 1911
Woman with dog and rifle, 1915
Second annual Citrus Seminar: Gainesville , Florida 1911
Lady in white reclining on the beach in Palm Beach , Florida1896
Women showing their ankles in Pensacola , Florida 1905
The Breakers Hotel on Fire, Palm Beach , Florida 1903
St. Augustine, Florida street scene, 1893
Florida orange pickers in a grove, 1910
Railroad workers on a bridge in Lacoochee , Florida 1890
Sisters posed with a Bible, Jacksonville , Florida 1897
Bath House, White Springs , Florida 1912
Woman with dog and rifle, 1915
Second annual Citrus Seminar: Gainesville , Florida 1911
Lady in white reclining on the beach in Palm Beach , Florida1896
Women showing their ankles in Pensacola , Florida 1905
The Breakers Hotel on Fire, Palm Beach , Florida 1903
St. Augustine, Florida street scene, 1893
Florida orange pickers in a grove, 1910
Railroad workers on a bridge in Lacoochee , Florida 1890
Sisters posed with a Bible, Jacksonville , Florida 1897
Bath House, White Springs , Florida 1912
Saturday, February 27, 2016
New Puppy
This is Molly , I bought her as a surprise present for my wife but it turns out she's allergic to dogs .
So unfortunately I'm going to have to find a new home for her , and I'm just wondering if anyone out there can help ?
Her name is Phyllis she’s 52, great at cooking and baking, handy in the garden and enjoys housework.
Thank you in advance.
Thanks Ralph
Smith and Wesson AT THE ATM
When my friend goes to her ATM, she always brings along Smith and Wesson!
She has never had any problems.
Smith is on the left!
Thanks Randy
She has never had any problems.
Smith is on the left!
Thanks Randy
POOR OLE GUY
A man and woman were married for many years.
Whenever there was a confrontation, yelling could be heard deep into the night. The old man would shout, "When I die, I'll dig my way up and out of the grave and come back and haunt you for the rest of your life!" Neighbors feared him.
The old man liked the fact he was feared. He died at the ripe old age of 98.
After the burial, her neighbors, concerned for her safety, asked, "Aren't you afraid that he may indeed be able to dig his way out of the grave and haunt you for the rest of your life?
The wife said, "Let him dig. I had him buried upside down...and I know he won't ask for directions."
Thanks Shirley
SHOT???
A Toronto Woman Shot In Her Own Driveway….
Linda Plews, 26, a resident of Toronto was visiting her in-laws in Montreal and, while there, went to a nearby supermarket to pick up some groceries.
Later, her husband noticed her sitting in her car in the driveway with the windows rolled up and her eyes closed, with both hands behind the back of her head.
He became concerned and walked over to the car. He noticed that Linda's eyes were now open and she looked very strange. He asked her if she was okay, and Linda replied that she had been shot in the back of the head and had been holding her brains in for over an hour.
The husband called the police and the paramedics, who broke into the car because the doors were locked and Linda refused to remove her hands from her head. When they finally got in, they found that Linda had a wad of bread dough on the back of her head.
A Pillsbury biscuit canister had exploded from the heat, making a loud noise that sounded like a gunshot, and the wad of dough hit her in the back of her head. When she reached back to find out what it was, she felt the dough and thought it was her brains.He became concerned and walked over to the car. He noticed that Linda's eyes were now open and she looked very strange. He asked her if she was okay, and Linda replied that she had been shot in the back of the head and had been holding her brains in for over an hour.
The husband called the police and the paramedics, who broke into the car because the doors were locked and Linda refused to remove her hands from her head. When they finally got in, they found that Linda had a wad of bread dough on the back of her head.
She initially passed out, but quickly recovered.
Linda is a blonde, a Newfie, a Harper supporter and a die-hard Montreal Canadians fan, but that could all be a coincidence.....
Thanks Randy.... my blog, my punch line
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)