As we are between Thanksgiving and
Christmas holidays, thought I might add some words used often during
the holidays, and their origins.
Mirth - Both mirth and merry come from an Old English word
meaning “joy” or “pleasure.” These words are themselves derived from
an older German root meaning “short-lasting.” Thus, something merry
is short-lived—although the consequences may not be.
In the 17th century, the word “merry” could include decidedly
earthier connotations, such as a merry-bout of sexual intercourse.
Sometimes a merry-bout resulted in a “merry-begot,” an illegitimate
child.
Merry - The word merry also gave us the merrythought, which
we now call the wishbone. The custom of pulling apart the wishbone
dates back at least to Roman times and may have evolved from the
Etruscan practice of alectryomancy, the practice of divining the
future using rooster clavicles. According to Roman legend, the
Etruscans selected the wishbone because its “V” shape resembled a
human groin, the repository of life. Thus, the wishbone was seen as
an appropriate way to unravel life’s mysteries.
In the 17th century, it was sometimes thought that whoever ended up
with the longer piece of the merrythought would marry first. Some
believed the person with the longer piece would get whatever wish he
chose. English settlers brought the practice with them to the New
World, and we still pull the wishbone apart today. The proper term
for the bone we pull apart is “furcula.” It comes from the Latin
furca, meaning “pitchfork.”
Fork - It is not particularly a holiday word, but used more
often during the holidays. Before becoming the word for what was
then a two-pronged utensil, the term was used in England to refer to
a forked instrument used by torturers. Although the fork seems like
an obvious tool, it was not used for eating until the eighth or
ninth century, and then only by the nobility in parts of what is now
the Middle East. Popular legend has it that Catherine dei Medici
brought the fork to France from Italy when she married King Henry I
of France in the 16th century. However, the use of the word to mean
a table fork came a hundred years earlier.
Beer and Ale - The word “beer,” stems from Latin bibere,
meaning “to drink.” The Germanic word for beer was aluth, from which
we get our English word “ale.” Ale also gave us the English word
“bridal,” because in the Middle Ages, ale was a noun that meant a
feast. A bride ale was literally a feast in honor of a marriage.
Sage - The herb sage is associated with Thanksgiving, but
historically, sage’s primary use has been medicinal. This is
reflected in its botanical name, Salvia officinalis. In Latin,
salvus meant “healthy,” a word that also gave us the English “safe.”
Sage has been used to treat inflamed gums, excessive perspiration,
memory loss, depression, sore throat, swollen sinuses, acne, toenail
fungus, hot flashes, and painful menstruation, among others. Because
sage is also used to combat diarrhea, gas, and bloating, it is the
perfect herb for a holiday that often results in overindulgence.
Tofurky - This relatively new holiday word makes many cringe.
It is a turkey substitute created in 2000 by Turtle Island Foods.
Tofurky is made from tofu, wheat gluten, oil, and “natural flavors,”
which include certain yeasts that lend Tofurky a “meaty” taste. Tofu
is fermented soy bean curd valued for its high protein content, as
well as its ability to absorb flavors from other foods. Tofu is
probably best enjoyed without thinking of the origins of the word,
literally “rotten beans,” which come from Chinese dou (“beans”) and
fu (“rotten”).
Christmas - This word comes from the Old English words
Cristes moesse, 'the mass or festival of Christ'. The first
celebration took place in Rome about the middle of the fourth
century. The exact date of the Nativity is not known, but even in
pre-Christian times the period from December 25 to January 6, now
known as "The Twelve Days of Christmas" was considered a special
time of year. The abbreviation Xmas, thought as sacrilegious by
some, is entirely appropriate. The letter X (chi) is the first
letter in the Greek word for Christ.
Reindeer - Did you know this word is actually redundant.
Rein is Scandinavian for 'reindeer', so reindeer translates to
'reindeer deer'. It came to English from Old Norse hreindyri.
Mistletoe is thought to be based on a German word for bird
excrement (mix) from the fact that the plant is propagated in it.
Some think it is derived from another German word (mash) which
refers to the stickiness of the berries. It is combined with an Old
English word (toe) meaning 'twig'. This shrub usually grows on
broad-leaved trees like apple, lime, and poplar.
Christmas Carol is a term which originally referred to a
non-religious ring dance accompanied by singing. Eventually it came
to mean a merry song with a tune that could be danced to. The
Italian friars who lived with St. Francis of Assisi were the first
to compose these songs in the early 1400s. Since the nineteenth
century, carols have been sung in place of hymns in many churches on
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Saint Nicholas was not only wealthy but modest, and he
liked to help people in need without drawing attention to himself.
Poor families would often find a gold piece or well-filled purse
without knowing where it had come from. His American successor,
Santa Claus, carried on the tradition.
Poinsettias have been a symbol of Christmas in the United
States since the 1820s when it was first shipped to North America by
Joel Poinsett, the American minister to Mexico.
Wassail - It comes from the Middle English waes haeil, which
means 'be in good health' or 'be fortunate'. Wassailing was the Old
English custom of toasting the holiday and each other's health.
Wassail is also the name of the spiced apple beverage used in such
toasting and has been drunk since around 1300.
Dec 13, 2013
What's in a Name, Kummerspeck
This German word means excess
weight gained from emotional overeating. Literally, 'grief bacon'. Seems
to me, putting those two words together must be an oxymoron.
Fisher Price
The holidays would not be the same without
thinking of toys, and one of the largest toy makers is Fisher Price.
The company is named after Herman Fisher and Irving Price. The
original founders of the toy company back in 1930 were businessmen
Herman Fisher and Irving Price, but also a children’s book author
and illustrator named Margaret Evans Price, Irving's wife, and a toy
store owner named Helen Schelle.
While the businessmen were instrumental in launching the company, it was actually the two women who collaborated on most of the company’s early and successful products, like Dr. Doodle, the duck push-pull toy that was based on a character from Margaret's books. Also, a lot of the early success of the company can be attributed to Helen Schelle, who had many connections in the incipient toy industry.
Fisher came from Pennsylvania and went to Penn State. If you visit the Penn State campus, you may have seen The Fisher Plaza, which was named after him. Before founding Fisher-Price, he worked as Vice President and General Manager of All Fair, Inc., a toy and game manufacturer. When Fisher and a group of investors (including Price) unsuccessfully tried to buy All Fair Inc., they decided to start their own company instead. Fisher is credited with coining the term “preschool toys” in 1934.
His partner, Irving Lanouette Price married into the wealthy Evans family of New York. His wife Margaret was a rich and well-known children’s author. Irving had a long career as an executive with Woolworth before retiring young and becoming Mayor of East Aurora, New York. His wealth helped start Fisher-Price.
While the businessmen were instrumental in launching the company, it was actually the two women who collaborated on most of the company’s early and successful products, like Dr. Doodle, the duck push-pull toy that was based on a character from Margaret's books. Also, a lot of the early success of the company can be attributed to Helen Schelle, who had many connections in the incipient toy industry.
Fisher came from Pennsylvania and went to Penn State. If you visit the Penn State campus, you may have seen The Fisher Plaza, which was named after him. Before founding Fisher-Price, he worked as Vice President and General Manager of All Fair, Inc., a toy and game manufacturer. When Fisher and a group of investors (including Price) unsuccessfully tried to buy All Fair Inc., they decided to start their own company instead. Fisher is credited with coining the term “preschool toys” in 1934.
His partner, Irving Lanouette Price married into the wealthy Evans family of New York. His wife Margaret was a rich and well-known children’s author. Irving had a long career as an executive with Woolworth before retiring young and becoming Mayor of East Aurora, New York. His wealth helped start Fisher-Price.
Pronunciation
Many times there are words we see online or
in the paper and we might know what they mean, but do not know how
to pronounce. Here is a site that can assist http://www.forvo.com/languages/en/
The site has many languages and the words are not pronounced by a robotic sound, rather by a human sounding voice. Unless you have a program like Wordweb, that lets you highlight any word, click to see a definition, and hear it pronounced, this is the next best thing.
The site has many languages and the words are not pronounced by a robotic sound, rather by a human sounding voice. Unless you have a program like Wordweb, that lets you highlight any word, click to see a definition, and hear it pronounced, this is the next best thing.
Kitchen Tip
Use a cheese grater for easier spreading of
cold, hard butter. When you are buttering bread, pastries, etc., it
is difficult when the butter is hard. Rather than waiting for the
butter to soften, you can quickly solve the problem with a cheese
grater. Grate the butter over whatever you are making. This process
generates a little bit of heat and the smaller pieces of butter will
melt faster and spread better when they hit a warm piece of toast or
while mixing dough for pastries.
Jazz
If you like jazz, you will love this web site Jazz on the Tube.
According to the site, it has thousands of jazz videos from many of
the great legends of jazz from Art Blakely to Wes Montgomery and
more. One of my favorites -The Girl from Ipanema with Astrud
Gilberto and Stan Getz Enjoy.
YouTube Restricted Videos
For those YouTube videos that
have age restrictions which require you to be logged in to an
account to view, just change “watch” to “v” in your YouTube URL to
bypass these restrictions.
Dec 7, 2013
Happy Friday
Paint is just a pigment of your imagination.
I imagine painting a smile on my face by having a Happy Friday!
I imagine painting a smile on my face by having a Happy Friday!
Energy Drinks Unmasked
A friend of mine, Jeff wondered
what is in energy drinks that makes them work and are they safe.
That sent me scouring my personal stash and the web for answers. The
following excludes the larger volume drinks, such as Monster, Red
Bull, etc., and offerings from Pepsi, Coke, and others. Those all
have their own host of reasons to avoid, but that is for another
discussion.
Most of the two ounce shot energy drinks contain varying amounts of taurine, caffeine, sucralose (splenda), niacin, vitamin B12, B6, folic acid, sodium, acai fruit extract, guarana, and many other ingredients that are almost impossible to spell or pronounce. Others have green tea, L-carnitine, ginseng, yohimbine, and all contain water and natural and artificial ingredients (whatever that means). Most have zero calories listed. Many have warning not to take more than one every four or six hours (likely in self defense from the FDA).
Many are described as an energy shot to enhance concentration and improve performance. They do not specify what performance. A number of them are designed specifically for hangover relief, and a few diet suppression. The only difference I could find in these ingredients was more vitamin B12 (in one type 10,000% of the daily value). Some of the names are 'pure energy, 5-hour energy', 'eternal energy, 'extra energy', 'Extra strength energy', 'java-mite', 'XX Energy', 'high energy', 'hangover recovery, 'diet aid', etc.
The majority of the dozen I checked come in little white two ounce bottles covered with shrink wrap covers. Interesting that so many have the identical bottle (with the exception of the bottom indents) and wrapper type regardless of manufacturer. Could find no common denominator other than that. Prices ranged from as low as $.88 to $3.98 for the same size. Interesting to note that one of the most popular and most expensive, 5 hour energy has the least liquid at 1.93 ounces.
Most sites agreed the biggest reason for the jolt is the large amount of caffeine, about as much as two cups of coffee in a small two ounce dose. Studies show they are no better as a pickup than coffee, although they are concentrated in less liquid as well as more convenient and quicker to drink. Annual revenues for energy drinks is about 13 billion dollars.
Bottom line, the caffeine is the kicker, the vitamins go out in the urine, the other ingredients are for flavor, preservatives, and color. None have proven to be bad for us, probably due to the trace amounts contained. None are good for children for the same reasons as coffee. In spite of a few rantings by the usual fear mongers, these have yet to be proven unsafe, with the exception of occasional jitters common to those who do not well tolerate caffeine. In my case, they seem to work as advertised and do not provide any physically noticeable high or low.
Most of the two ounce shot energy drinks contain varying amounts of taurine, caffeine, sucralose (splenda), niacin, vitamin B12, B6, folic acid, sodium, acai fruit extract, guarana, and many other ingredients that are almost impossible to spell or pronounce. Others have green tea, L-carnitine, ginseng, yohimbine, and all contain water and natural and artificial ingredients (whatever that means). Most have zero calories listed. Many have warning not to take more than one every four or six hours (likely in self defense from the FDA).
Many are described as an energy shot to enhance concentration and improve performance. They do not specify what performance. A number of them are designed specifically for hangover relief, and a few diet suppression. The only difference I could find in these ingredients was more vitamin B12 (in one type 10,000% of the daily value). Some of the names are 'pure energy, 5-hour energy', 'eternal energy, 'extra energy', 'Extra strength energy', 'java-mite', 'XX Energy', 'high energy', 'hangover recovery, 'diet aid', etc.
The majority of the dozen I checked come in little white two ounce bottles covered with shrink wrap covers. Interesting that so many have the identical bottle (with the exception of the bottom indents) and wrapper type regardless of manufacturer. Could find no common denominator other than that. Prices ranged from as low as $.88 to $3.98 for the same size. Interesting to note that one of the most popular and most expensive, 5 hour energy has the least liquid at 1.93 ounces.
Most sites agreed the biggest reason for the jolt is the large amount of caffeine, about as much as two cups of coffee in a small two ounce dose. Studies show they are no better as a pickup than coffee, although they are concentrated in less liquid as well as more convenient and quicker to drink. Annual revenues for energy drinks is about 13 billion dollars.
Bottom line, the caffeine is the kicker, the vitamins go out in the urine, the other ingredients are for flavor, preservatives, and color. None have proven to be bad for us, probably due to the trace amounts contained. None are good for children for the same reasons as coffee. In spite of a few rantings by the usual fear mongers, these have yet to be proven unsafe, with the exception of occasional jitters common to those who do not well tolerate caffeine. In my case, they seem to work as advertised and do not provide any physically noticeable high or low.
Toilet Tips
After analyzing 51 public restrooms,
experts found that the stall closest to the restroom door
consistently had the lowest bacteria levels (and the most toilet
paper). The first stall probably sees less traffic because it's near
the door and people want privacy. When you are finished, stand
before you flush. When toilets are flushed, a fine mist of water
containing contagious bacteria sprays up. You can catch intestinal
bugs and hepatitis from it.
Relieve yourself and relieve some stress at the same time. Before you go to bed, put some small strips of flushable paper and a pencil in the bathroom. In the following morning, take a seat and write down the names of all the people or situations in your life causing you angst. When finished with your business, throw the paper in the bowl and flush. You will be amazed at how great this makes you feel.
Relieve yourself and relieve some stress at the same time. Before you go to bed, put some small strips of flushable paper and a pencil in the bathroom. In the following morning, take a seat and write down the names of all the people or situations in your life causing you angst. When finished with your business, throw the paper in the bowl and flush. You will be amazed at how great this makes you feel.
Wordology from the Comics
Many words we use actually
came from newspaper comics. Here are a few:
Goon - The word “goon” to describe a simpleton or stupid person dates back to the 16th century, when sailors sometimes compared folks to the albatross, often colloquially referred to as a “gooney bird.” However, “goon,” when used to describe a muscular, not-so-bright, hired thug, comes from the Popeye comic strip, notably Alice the Goon, an eight-foot tall giantess with hairy forearms.
Wimpy - J. Wellington Wimpy was a hamburger loving soul and also a character in the Popeye comics. While the word “wimp” is from World War I, the soft-spoken, intelligent, cowardly Wimpy gave us a way to describe being a wimp.
Dagwood Sandwich - A Dagwood is any stacked sandwich that consists of a variety of meats, cheeses, and other condiments. Dagwood Bumstead, husband in the Blondie comics built the piled-high wonders out of anything and everything he could find in the refrigerator.
Milquetoast - Someone who is even wimpier than Wimpy is a total milquetoast, as in Caspar Milquetoast, a character from a one-panel comic strip by H.T. Webster called The Timid Soul. Caspar’s surname was a play on the bland dish called milktoast that was often served to invalids or folks with “nervous” stomachs. Caspar Milquetoast was a guy who would buy a new hat rather than trespass when his blew off his head and onto a lawn with a “Keep Off the Grass” sign.
Mutt and Jeff - Mutt and Jeff were two comic strip characters created by Bud Fisher in 1907. Augustus Mutt was a tall, lanky ne’er-do-well who liked to bet on the ponies, while his pal Othello Jeff was short, rotund, and shared Mutt's passion for “get rich quick” schemes. The strip became so popular that “Mutt and Jeff” is used to describe any duo displaying opposite physical characteristics.
Keeping up with the Joneses - You have likely wondered who are these Joneses. In the comic strip of their origin, they were never seen. Keeping Up with the Joneses was written and drawn by Arthur “Pop” Momand and was first published in the New York Globe in 1913. The strip followed the daily life of the Aloysius P. McGinnis family, and Mrs. McGinnis’ envy of their wealthy neighbors, the Joneses. Al endured his wife outfitting him in “trendy” clothing like lime-green spats and lemon-colored gloves, because that is how Mr. Jones dressed.
Dinty Moore - Both the Hormel canned stew and the triple-decker corned beef/lettuce/tomato/Russian dressing sandwich that bear this name were inspired by the tavern owner in the popular George McManus comic strip Bringing Up Father. Maggie and Jiggs were Irish-American immigrants who won a million dollars in a sweepstakes. Maggie eagerly adapted to their new lifestyle, but former bricklayer Jiggs missed his boisterous pals and frequently sneaked off to hang with them at Dinty Moore’s, where they would feast on corned beef and cabbage and Irish stew while enjoying a few toddys.
Whammy and Double Whammy - According to the comic strip Li'l Abner, Evil-Eye Fleagle was a zoot-suited hood who came from Brooklyn, New York. He could shoot beams of destruction from his eyes. A regular whammy could knock a dozen men unconscious and the double whammy could collapse a building. I trust these provided a 'Linus blanket' for your curiosity.
Goon - The word “goon” to describe a simpleton or stupid person dates back to the 16th century, when sailors sometimes compared folks to the albatross, often colloquially referred to as a “gooney bird.” However, “goon,” when used to describe a muscular, not-so-bright, hired thug, comes from the Popeye comic strip, notably Alice the Goon, an eight-foot tall giantess with hairy forearms.
Wimpy - J. Wellington Wimpy was a hamburger loving soul and also a character in the Popeye comics. While the word “wimp” is from World War I, the soft-spoken, intelligent, cowardly Wimpy gave us a way to describe being a wimp.
Dagwood Sandwich - A Dagwood is any stacked sandwich that consists of a variety of meats, cheeses, and other condiments. Dagwood Bumstead, husband in the Blondie comics built the piled-high wonders out of anything and everything he could find in the refrigerator.
Milquetoast - Someone who is even wimpier than Wimpy is a total milquetoast, as in Caspar Milquetoast, a character from a one-panel comic strip by H.T. Webster called The Timid Soul. Caspar’s surname was a play on the bland dish called milktoast that was often served to invalids or folks with “nervous” stomachs. Caspar Milquetoast was a guy who would buy a new hat rather than trespass when his blew off his head and onto a lawn with a “Keep Off the Grass” sign.
Mutt and Jeff - Mutt and Jeff were two comic strip characters created by Bud Fisher in 1907. Augustus Mutt was a tall, lanky ne’er-do-well who liked to bet on the ponies, while his pal Othello Jeff was short, rotund, and shared Mutt's passion for “get rich quick” schemes. The strip became so popular that “Mutt and Jeff” is used to describe any duo displaying opposite physical characteristics.
Keeping up with the Joneses - You have likely wondered who are these Joneses. In the comic strip of their origin, they were never seen. Keeping Up with the Joneses was written and drawn by Arthur “Pop” Momand and was first published in the New York Globe in 1913. The strip followed the daily life of the Aloysius P. McGinnis family, and Mrs. McGinnis’ envy of their wealthy neighbors, the Joneses. Al endured his wife outfitting him in “trendy” clothing like lime-green spats and lemon-colored gloves, because that is how Mr. Jones dressed.
Dinty Moore - Both the Hormel canned stew and the triple-decker corned beef/lettuce/tomato/Russian dressing sandwich that bear this name were inspired by the tavern owner in the popular George McManus comic strip Bringing Up Father. Maggie and Jiggs were Irish-American immigrants who won a million dollars in a sweepstakes. Maggie eagerly adapted to their new lifestyle, but former bricklayer Jiggs missed his boisterous pals and frequently sneaked off to hang with them at Dinty Moore’s, where they would feast on corned beef and cabbage and Irish stew while enjoying a few toddys.
Whammy and Double Whammy - According to the comic strip Li'l Abner, Evil-Eye Fleagle was a zoot-suited hood who came from Brooklyn, New York. He could shoot beams of destruction from his eyes. A regular whammy could knock a dozen men unconscious and the double whammy could collapse a building. I trust these provided a 'Linus blanket' for your curiosity.
Google Flight Info
Enter your airline name, flight number,
and city of departure or arrival (separated by commas) into the
Google search box and it will give you current information,
including gate information. As mentioned in another post, you can
enter your shipment number into the search box for status of your
package from UPS and Fedex. I love this.
X-Ray Vision Glasses
Another of those inventions, which
started out in comic books has just been announced. Evena Medical
just unveiled its new Eyes-On Glasses System that helps clinicians
see vasculature below the skin and deliver needles safely on the
first try. Hard to locate veins are easier to see and access.
The glasses are based on Epson's technology like Google Glass, that can display graphics for the wearer to see, and has a pair of forward facing cameras for 3D imaging along with illumination to brighten the target. It uses multi-spectral lighting and the infrared and near-infrared frequencies the cameras uses are tuned for looking at vasculature.
In addition, the glasses include digital storage to enable verification, documentation, and telemedicine capability to share images remotely. The glasses also interface with hospital electronic medical records systems for documentation.
The glasses are based on Epson's technology like Google Glass, that can display graphics for the wearer to see, and has a pair of forward facing cameras for 3D imaging along with illumination to brighten the target. It uses multi-spectral lighting and the infrared and near-infrared frequencies the cameras uses are tuned for looking at vasculature.
In addition, the glasses include digital storage to enable verification, documentation, and telemedicine capability to share images remotely. The glasses also interface with hospital electronic medical records systems for documentation.
Goodness of Bacon
Traditional pork bacon has many good points. It is
high in protein, vitamins, and minerals, including B6, B12, niacin,
thiamin, riboflavin, iron, magnesium, potassium and zinc, as well as
choline, a nutrient which helps improve cognitive performance,
memory, mood and mental alertness. Bacon has about 30 calories per
regular slice.
Bacon flavored salt is low in sodium, zero calories and fat, kosher and vegetarian. It allows bacon lovers to enjoy all the flavor of their beloved treat without a side of guilt. Sprinkle it over eggs, potatoes, meats, baked beans, soups, salads and sandwiches.
Bacon flavored salt is low in sodium, zero calories and fat, kosher and vegetarian. It allows bacon lovers to enjoy all the flavor of their beloved treat without a side of guilt. Sprinkle it over eggs, potatoes, meats, baked beans, soups, salads and sandwiches.
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