OT: Hemlines
Alistair Maclean
got any idea why hemlines lengthen during recessionary periods?
--
Alistair Maclean
From the UK tv series "The Kumars at No. 42":
Grandmother Kumar interviewing Patrick Stewart (Captain
Jean-Luc Picard of the Federation Starship Enterprise),
"Why aren't there any Indians in Star Trek?
Don't you need any IT support?"
docd...@panix.com
Alistair Maclean <alis...@ld50macca.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>I know this is totally off topic and Cobol un-related, but has anyone
>got any idea why hemlines lengthen during recessionary periods?
I'll take a stab at it... they get longer because they don't get shorter
or stay the same length.
DD
Hugh Candlin
Alistair Maclean <alis...@ld50macca.demon.co.uk> wrote in message news:2grohjARG9v$Ewp$@ld50macca.demon.co.uk...
> I know this is totally off topic and Cobol un-related, but has anyone
> got any idea why hemlines lengthen during recessionary periods?
Short skirts such as mini-skirts are a fad fashion, date quickly
and thus go out of style much faster than they come in.
In a recession, women cannot afford to replace their wardrobes
as often as that, so they stick to the tried and true - mid-length.
In other words, common sense wins again.
Peter E.C. Dashwood
"Alistair Maclean" <alis...@ld50macca.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:2grohjARG9v$Ewp$@ld50macca.demon.co.uk...
> got any idea why hemlines lengthen during recessionary periods?
>
I've given this a great deal of thought and I have a theory...
The lengthening of the hemlines actually CAUSES the recession.
All those guys on the trading floors are depressed because there isn't
anything interesting to look at. This is reflected in their dealing and
before you know it, the Western economy is on the verge of collapse.
I reckon they should have a topless stripper run around the Trading Floor
every couple of hours, just to keep the boys geed up... (It would probably
ensure better attendance in the public gallery as well...).
I think they used to do this in Parliament in the 18th century, because
there is an ancient record in Hansard which states "...a titter ran round
the room" ... And this was a time when the power of Great Britain was second
to none.
Although Mary Quant is believed by many to have invented the mini-skirt, she
got the idea from an American she was dating, named Seymour Legg. Legg was
an Economics student, and realised that the best way to avoid recession was
to keep the testosterone levels in the Stock Exchanges as high as possible.
In fact his philosophy was to keep EVERYTHING as high as possible. The rest
is history.
Pete.
Habitant
Can't get *any* shorter would be a better way to expess it, nay?
By the by dearie, here's one pearl o' a site:
http://www.u.arizona.edu/~chalmers/phil-humor.html
I know you'll enjoy it no end, auld crypt!
Rebeca Daver
Richard
> I know this is totally off topic and Cobol un-related, but has anyone
> got any idea why hemlines lengthen during recessionary periods?
During recessionary periods hemlines don't change - there is no money
to fritter away on luxuries like clothes.
However, during periods that are non-recessionary people do buy
clothes, usually with shorter hems.
Actually I doubt that there is any such causal relationship either
way, the Maxi skirts came out at a time which was not recessionary.
Peter Lacey
> Alistair Maclean <alis...@ld50macca.demon.co.uk> wrote in message news:2grohjARG9v$Ewp$@ld50macca.demon.co.uk...
> > I know this is totally off topic and Cobol un-related, but has anyone
> > got any idea why hemlines lengthen during recessionary periods?
>
> Short skirts such as mini-skirts are a fad fashion, date quickly
> and thus go out of style much faster than they come in.
I'm not so sure about that. Minis were in fashion from about 1965-1977, then there were those ugly calf-length
cullottes, but short skirts have been back "in" since about 1987. And they aren't going out just yet, although it's
true that the fashion industry has tried. IMHO women prefer shorter skirts- not crotch-grazers but definitely above
the knee - because they look more attractive on nearly all women.
PL
Howard Brazee
On 23-Nov-2003, rip...@Azonic.co.nz (Richard) wrote:
> > I know this is totally off topic and Cobol un-related, but has anyone
> > got any idea why hemlines lengthen during recessionary periods?
>
> During recessionary periods hemlines don't change - there is no money
> to fritter away on luxuries like clothes.
So they wear the skirts they bought earlier, only now their hemlines are longer?
Howard Brazee
On 22-Nov-2003, Alistair Maclean <alis...@ld50macca.demon.co.uk> wrote:
> I know this is totally off topic and Cobol un-related, but has anyone
> got any idea why hemlines lengthen during recessionary periods?
Guess:
Short skirts are a bold statement. Bold statements are related to when people
feel invulnerable and bright.
Long skirts are a conservative statement. We don't rock the boat when we are
worried about capsizing.
SkippyPB
<la...@mb.sympatico.ca> enlightened us:
The old maxim was when women's hemlines rose, so did the economy.
However, fashion trends are no longer the economic indicator they used
to be especially in the U.S.
This is due to the casual look becoming more predominant in the work
place and in general among the vast majority of the population.
The so-called "hemline theory" is said to have gotten its start in the
1920s when Wharton School of Business economist George Taylor noticed
in good economic times many women raised their skirts to show off
their silk stockings. When times were bad, women lowered their skirts
to hide that they weren't wearing any.
Supporting the premise was that the cost and availability of fabrics
have historically affected the hemline of skirts, say economists. In
boom times, when producers typically charge more for their yarn or
textiles, designers would make skirts shorter to cut costs.
"Often designers felt that they could maybe save 20 percent of their
material costs by creating new styles," says Edward B. Shils, the
George W. Taylor Professor Emeritus of Entrepreneurial Management at
the Wharton School.
But on the other hand, hemlines were starting to come down in 1927,
two full years before the market crash. In the '60s, everyone wore
short hemlines because that's the only thing the manufacturers made.
So, basically, that old adage doesn't hold up to scrutiny any longer.
Regards,
////
(o o)
-oOO--(_)--OOo-
Real Tombstone Epitaphs:
Harry Edsel Smith of Albany, New York:
Born 1903-Died 1942
Looked up the elevator shaft to see if the car was on the way down.
It was.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Remove nospam to email me.
Steve
Habitant
<swie...@neo.rr.NOSPAM.com> wrote:
>So, basically, that old adage doesn't hold up to scrutiny any longer.
Only the legs are!
Alistair Maclean
SkippyPB and Peter Dashwood seem to have the right answer. Thanks to DD
for the insightful observation. At least I didn't get asked to do my own
homework or post work completed so far.
In message <2grohjARG9v$Ewp$@ld50macca.demon.co.uk>, Alistair Maclean
<alis...@ld50macca.demon.co.uk> writes
Hugh Candlin
Alistair Maclean <alis...@ld50macca.demon.co.uk> wrote in message news:wVK58jArAow$Ew...@ld50macca.demon.co.uk...
>
> From the UK tv series "The Kumars at No. 42":
> Grandmother Kumar interviewing Patrick Stewart (Captain
> Jean-Luc Picard of the Federation Starship Enterprise),
> "Why aren't there any Indians in Star Trek?
> Don't you need any IT support?"
Seen the AP article about Dell bowing to complaints
and has stopped sending U.S. technical support calls
for two of its corporate computer lines to a Bangalore,
India, call center?
docd...@panix.com
Alistair Maclean <alis...@ld50macca.demon.co.uk> wrote:
[snip]
>Thanks to DD
>for the insightful observation.
Sometimes it helps to stand things on their heads, to turn the insights
out.
DD
James J. Gavan
Hugh Candlin wrote:
EXCELLENT ! Hope there's more like this, with no anti racial sentiment intended.
"jce' pooh-poohed my comment about "understanding what they would be saying", (reference phone call-ins), suggesting
they would have good home-grown Chicago accents perhaps. He really didn't think that through :-
- you live in Calcutta or Delhi, modest family something like 8 in a crowded house - you've done good and got
yourself a clerical job or perhaps banking. 'X' rupees per week
- you want to better yourself so you take off for the Land of the Free and settle in Chicago. Even after some five
years you will still have a fairly strong Indian accent - unless you take elocution classes like Maggie Thatcher did.
(Although here since '75, I *still* sound like a Brit, albeit I'll use N.American phraseology)
- We'll assume you acquire a Chicago accent - bearing in mind you are not doing at all badly in Chicago, dollar wise.
- So are you now going to go back to India and do a McJob for "x" + "y" rupees" ?
The sole purpose of the off-shoring was the intent to reduce costs - you might be marginally better off than when you
first left India, but it wont compete with your Chicago salary. (The net result, they will employ 'locals'. Ever
heard watched any Indian or African politicians speaking. Excellent command of the English language - but strongly
flavoured with local intonations).
Regardless of race, "verbal communication" can be a real turn off if you have to listen intently to a strange accent.
(Yep ! Even trying to understand a Texan on the Tandy/Radio Shack telephone board, many moons ago ).
As for outsourcing technology such as programming - no strong case, other than protecting the home market. And George
Dubya has pissed off the Europeans with his steel embargoes - watch 'em respond in kind. In a nutshell, ignoring the
theoretical stuff from either right or left-wing economists, the Depression/"Dirty Thirties" was the result of
restricting Free Trade.
Outsourcing does have its insidious side, the following I quoted to a couple of folks from an article in my local
paper about a week ago :-
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OUTSOURCING - I shuddered when I read this in Saturday's paper - and we aren't just talking IT. (HR and IT are the
'soft' targets) A quick summary :-
- 80% of executives committed to outsourcing at least one business function
- 43% want to outsource IT
- 36% their supply chain
- 31% for training
- 25% Human Resources
- 57% felt they had more control of the organization in some 8 months after
outsourcing
- 14% outsource on a temporary basis
- Most outsourcing contracts structured to last 5-10 years
- 53% claim they can 'move faster on strategies' by outsourcing
From a U of C professor, with reference to the outsourcing organizations, "So
you can end up with three or four people in Calgary, here, who are controlling
via contracts, maybe 50,000 workers".
I really am glad that I no longer have the bloom of youth in my cheeks.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jimmy
Hugh Candlin
James J. Gavan <jjg...@shaw.ca> wrote in message news:3FC2A14F...@shaw.ca...
I am really glad that you don't have strong feelings about the topic.
I wouldn't have wanted to get you rolling........
JerryMouse
> I know this is totally off topic and Cobol un-related, but has anyone
> got any idea why hemlines lengthen during recessionary periods?
Sometimes it's government intervention. Recently,
1. An advisory panel recommended to the FDA that the FDA ban against silicon
breast implants be rescinded, and
2. President Bush announced a very high tariff on imported undergarments, in
particular brassieres.
These two governmental actions will take everyone's mind off hemlines.
jce
thing I've read in a while...
I would suggest this at work but unfortunately I don't want to see any of my
co-workers in any state of undress....
..but as my co worker said last time we had our: Equal Opportunity and
Diversity meeting....."Sexual Harassment? I've not had nearly
enough"....which was only slightly less amusing than than the statement "So
she's a Lesbian....I don't care, I don't even know where Lesbia is".
Obviously the others in my team have a little way to go....
JCE
"Peter E.C. Dashwood" <dash...@enternet.co.nz> wrote in message
news:3fc14...@news.athenanews.com...
jce
intended.
>
> "jce' pooh-poohed my comment about "understanding what they would be
saying", (reference phone call-ins), suggesting
> they would have good home-grown Chicago accents perhaps. He really didn't
think that through :-
the phone with foreign nationals and you don't even realize it. A bad
indian accent sticks out like a sore thumb. The irony is that people are
accepting of accents that sound Eastern European because the US contains a
number of Russians, Polish people and you kind of just over look that.
This is especially true if you watch Hockey and Tennis - you just get used
to hearing them.
I also would venture a guess that some of the people you hear that are
"Indian" actually are american citizens - only you cannot tell the
difference on the phone. I have Indian friends at work who I am sure people
think are one of the stealing jobs at $10 /hr when in fact they've lived
here for years, pay taxes like everyone else and really aren't all that
different.
It's all a question of how threatened people feel.
Also if your read the announcement carefully it says that they are moving
them back to Texas for two reasons:
They sound funny...
There answers are scripted...
Nothing about - we want to save American jobs.....
So don't hold your breath about the number of jobs streaming back to the
USofA. And don't hold your breath about them staying here.
> - you live in Calcutta or Delhi, modest family something like 8 in a
crowded house - you've done good and got
> yourself a clerical job or perhaps banking. 'X' rupees per week
>
> - you want to better yourself so you take off for the Land of the Free and
settle in Chicago. Even after some five
> years you will still have a fairly strong Indian accent - unless you take
elocution classes like Maggie Thatcher did.
> (Although here since '75, I *still* sound like a Brit, albeit I'll use
N.American phraseology)
But she didn't start out a Geordie did she....If you had seen Jan Molby the
"Dane" and Jan Molby the "Scouser" you'd rethink how much accents can
change. Ever seen Rory Bremner - he can sound like anyone.....
> - We'll assume you acquire a Chicago accent - bearing in mind you are not
doing at all badly in Chicago, dollar wise.
>
> - So are you now going to go back to India and do a McJob for "x" + "y"
rupees" ?
I never suggested that they move to Chicago - that would defeat the
globalist monsters reason for offshoring...
> The sole purpose of the off-shoring was the intent to reduce costs - you
might be marginally better off than when you
> first left India, but it wont compete with your Chicago salary. (The net
result, they will employ 'locals'. Ever
> heard watched any Indian or African politicians speaking. Excellent
command of the English language - but strongly
> flavoured with local intonations).
They have no reason no too. They're politicians earning good dough.
> Regardless of race, "verbal communication" can be a real turn off if you
have to listen intently to a strange accent.
> (Yep ! Even trying to understand a Texan on the Tandy/Radio Shack
telephone board, many moons ago ).
This is true - having an english accent in america is surprisingly helpful
....you get treated well....shame I've almost lost it...now everyone things
that my brit with a twang is AUSTRALIAN?!?
> As for outsourcing technology such as programming - no strong case, other
than protecting the home market. And George
> Dubya has pissed off the Europeans with his steel embargoes - watch 'em
respond in kind. In a nutshell, ignoring the
> theoretical stuff from either right or left-wing economists, the
Depression/"Dirty Thirties" was the result of
> restricting Free Trade.
Rock and a hard place...has no choice but to repeal the steel deal....but
now he needs the steel votes...what to do what to do....
One more to add....IBM is training 100.000 chinese IT specialists in Dalian.
This represents over 2/3 of IBM Global Services world wide...
JCE
jce
http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/2001/4/01.04.11.x.html
I personally think the hemlines stayed the same length but the women get
stumpier as they cannot afford the healthier lifestyle.
JCE
"Alistair Maclean" <alis...@ld50macca.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:2grohjARG9v$Ewp$@ld50macca.demon.co.uk...
Alistair Maclean
<bJwwb.107774$Ec1.4...@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net>, Hugh
Candlin <n...@spam.com> writes
gave the staff elocution lessons (some go so far as to give them
Scouser, Geordie or Brummie accents) and regular soap story lines so
that they could talk knowledgeably about last nights Eastenders. It was
deemed a dismal failure so they stopped it. However, the IT boss had
just returned from a mission to India, so they haven't given up yet.
The one thing that tickles me about the call centres is that the staff
give themselves English names, ostensibly so that you have a familiar
name to latch on to. I bet it is really a deliberate attempt to lull you
into thinking that they are sited in the UK and not Asia.
Has anyone started a 'boycott foreign call centre company' list?
--
Alistair Maclean
Peter E.C. Dashwood
"For there is no harm in laughter..."
(Sir Arthur Wing Pinero - in "Dandy Dick").
"jce" <defau...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:xVCwb.767$Cv6...@twister.tampabay.rr.com...
Hugh Candlin
Alistair Maclean <alis...@ld50macca.demon.co.uk> wrote in message news:no6sznCp21w$Ew...@ld50macca.demon.co.uk...
> In message
> <bJwwb.107774$Ec1.4...@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net>, Hugh
> Candlin <n...@spam.com> writes
> >
> >Alistair Maclean <alis...@ld50macca.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
> >news:wVK58jArAow$Ew...@ld50macca.demon.co.uk...
> >>
> >> From the UK tv series "The Kumars at No. 42":
> >> Grandmother Kumar interviewing Patrick Stewart (Captain
> >> Jean-Luc Picard of the Federation Starship Enterprise),
> >> "Why aren't there any Indians in Star Trek?
> >> Don't you need any IT support?"
> >
> >Seen the AP article about Dell bowing to complaints
> >and has stopped sending U.S. technical support calls
> >for two of its corporate computer lines to a Bangalore,
> >India, call center?
> >
> No. I did know one place which had tried to use Indian call centres and
> gave the staff elocution lessons (some go so far as to give them
> Scouser, Geordie or Brummie accents) and regular soap story lines so
> that they could talk knowledgeably about last nights Eastenders. It was
> deemed a dismal failure so they stopped it. However, the IT boss had
> just returned from a mission to India, so they haven't given up yet.
I don't have any bias against anyone of any religion, race, creed
or national origin. It wasn't my intent to imply that.
I do have a bias against short-sighted CEO's who cannot see
the long-term impact that they are having on the intellectual capital
of their company with this flood of domestic layoffs and offshore
job transfers, and on the domestic economy, short and long term.
I realize that I am saying that I am correct and that all of these
captains of industry are wrong, and that it isn't in my best interests
to do so. So be it. I have to be true to myself.
>
> The one thing that tickles me about the call centres is that the staff
> give themselves English names, ostensibly so that you have a familiar
> name to latch on to. I bet it is really a deliberate attempt to lull you
> into thinking that they are sited in the UK and not Asia.
I worked in one company with a very-highly rated IT staff.
We had people from all over the world. It was a great team.
We all got along really well. We did have one Indian chap,
called himself Sam. No big deal.
> Has anyone started a 'boycott foreign call centre company' list?
Only unofficially. The millions of unemployed who find it impossible
to take "advantage" of the entreaties of all of these same companies
to "come buy our products". With what? Their severance pay?
What time does the depression start?
docd...@panix.com
Peter E.C. Dashwood <dash...@enternet.co.nz> wrote:
>Thanks <G>.
>
>"For there is no harm in laughter..."
>
>(Sir Arthur Wing Pinero - in "Dandy Dick").
Consider this in light of the giggles of actor Richard Widmark in the role
of Tommy Udo, from 'Kiss of Death'.
DD
Jack Sleight
unable to purchase the latest styles.
If the hemlines go up the ladies can alter their skirts and still be
in fashon without capital expenditure. The mfgrs can't have that, so
the hemlines go down forcing the ladies into a "must buy" situation.
Regards, Jack.
"jce" <defau...@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:<6dDwb.771$Cv6...@twister.tampabay.rr.com>...
James J. Gavan
jce wrote:
> This is true - having an english accent in america is surprisingly helpful
> ....you get treated well....shame I've almost lost it...now everyone things
> that my brit with a twang is AUSTRALIAN?!?
>
A guess, but you must have originated from the South East for them to think you
were an 'Aussie". But you haven't got this lady's problem, from today's paper
reported by the Telegraph from New York :-
Tiffany Roberts (57), brought up outside Philadelphia, used to speak at a pitch
several octaves lower than now and with a broad northeastern U.S. accent.
She recovered from a stroke to find she spoke with an English accent. Victim of
a rare medical condition known as foreign accent syndrome, a speech disorder
caused by lesions in the brain, after the stroke. Friends and neighbours
ostracized her, accusing her of affecting her new way of talking to sound posh,
she said. Her new speech patterns, mixing elements of cockney, west country burr
and a hint of Aussie but nothing American, came to light only after months of
therapy to help her talk again.
I guess they can now find a 'medical condition' for almost anything.
And mention of New York above; I think both DD and Skippy are New Yorkers. From
the Travel Section, "Are New Yorkers Rude ?". Answer, "No, it's just that they
are too busy....". But the thing that staggered me was this - with a population
of 8 million, that figure is 10 times the population of Calgary, but the area
covered by N.Y. City is only ONE SIXTH of the area covered by Calgary ! Sure
Calgary is a very pleasant place to live, if you avoid the downtown core - but
oh my - it spreads like a cancerous growth across surrounding farmland, slowly
but surely obliterating some beautiful views of the mountains. We need a new
motto, "Build UP not OUT !". But having said that, I really do like my area of
single family dwellings, each on its own plot with no contact with the next
building.
Jimmy, Calgary AB
JerryMouse
> Here's my entry. During bad economic times the ladies are unwilling or
> unable to purchase the latest styles.
>
> If the hemlines go up the ladies can alter their skirts and still be
> in fashon without capital expenditure. The mfgrs can't have that, so
> the hemlines go down forcing the ladies into a "must buy" situation.
Logical.
Does logic, however, EVER enter into a ladies' fashion decisions?
Do modern ladies know HOW to lower a hemline?
Peter E.C. Dashwood
I'll see if it is on video...
Haven't even got round to seeing the final Matrix (Revolution) yet as just
too busy.
Everyone here is getting excited about the Premiere of Lord of the Rings:
The Return of the King.
I'll certainly drop everything for that as soon as it is in cinemas (Dec.
18th I believe...)
I have friends who are going to Wellington and intending to camp in their
van to be assured of a good spot for the parade on Monday. (Apparently the
whole City will be at a standstill...).
I guess these frivolities do no harm once in a while (as long as they don't
interrupt production and real work for too long...Harrrrrummmmphhhh).
Pete.
<docd...@panix.com> wrote in message news:bq01st$nd$1...@panix1.panix.com...
docd...@panix.com
Peter E.C. Dashwood <dash...@enternet.co.nz> wrote:
>Haven't seen it, Doc.
>
>I'll see if it is on video...
I believe that it is, Mr Dashwood... and it is considered 'a classic'.
>I guess these frivolities do no harm once in a while (as long as they don't
>interrupt production and real work for too long...Harrrrrummmmphhhh).
Mr Widmark's portrayal of Mr Udo is no frivolity, Mr Dashwood... it gives,
I would say, a magnificent education. Just as there are some folks who
are kind, generous and born to be saints there are those who are born to
be the opposite, true monsters... and the folks who say 'That which causes
laughter is good' are forgetting those who are given giggles by observing
and causing the torment and suffering of others.
DD
docd...@panix.com
[snip]
>And mention of New York above; I think both DD and Skippy are New Yorkers.
I cannot speak for others, Mr Gavan, but I was not born in New York (my
father was born in The Bronx and his father on the Lower East Side), I've
worked there a bit and am passingly familiar with the environs and customs
extant. Consider the following:
British Tourist in Manhattan: 'Beg pawdon, sah, but might yew be so kind
as to tell me what time it is or shell I jest go and fuck myself?'
DD
Habitant
>
>Consider this in light of the giggles of actor Richard Widmark in the role
>of Tommy Udo, from 'Kiss of Death'.
Rumors had it that you look like Vincent Price with a bad hair day:
http://pages.prodigy.net/beatlebob/price.html
Birds o' a feather, if I might be so bold, auld bat!
Habitant
>British Tourist in Manhattan: 'Beg pawdon, sah, but might yew be so kind
>as to tell me what time it is or shell I jest go and fuck myself?'
France
A Pardon me sir, I would like to get to the airport and...
B Mais Monsieur, I'm not refraining you! Oh la, la!
England
A Beg yer pardon sah!..
B Thar's a good lad! Todlle off now
Merryland
A Yo, dude, where's the next..
DD I already gave at the office. Twice!
Yours,
Kavie Aarght
SkippyPB
I'm a born and bred Hoosier although I haven't lived there since 1980.
Alistair Maclean
<nos...@bisusa.com> writes
Yes. Feminine logic. Basically it is all to do with getting our (male
plural) danders up.
Jack Sleight
> In message <o7CdnWZN0tJ...@giganews.com>, JerryMouse
> <nos...@bisusa.com> writes
> >Jack Sleight wrote:
> >> Here's my entry. During bad economic times the ladies are unwilling or
> >> unable to purchase the latest styles.
> >>
> >> If the hemlines go up the ladies can alter their skirts and still be
> >> in fashon without capital expenditure. The mfgrs can't have that, so
> >> the hemlines go down forcing the ladies into a "must buy" situation.
> >
> >Logical.
> >
> >Does logic, however, EVER enter into a ladies' fashion decisions?
>
> Yes. Feminine logic. Basically it is all to do with getting our (male
> plural) danders up.
Ladies, I thank you, and my dander thanks you.
James J. Gavan
Alistair Maclean wrote:
> In message <o7CdnWZN0tJ...@giganews.com>, JerryMouse
> <nos...@bisusa.com> writes
> >Jack Sleight wrote:
> >> Here's my entry. During bad economic times the ladies are unwilling or
> >> unable to purchase the latest styles.
> >>
> >> If the hemlines go up the ladies can alter their skirts and still be
> >> in fashon without capital expenditure. The mfgrs can't have that, so
> >> the hemlines go down forcing the ladies into a "must buy" situation.
> >
> >Logical.
> >
> >Does logic, however, EVER enter into a ladies' fashion decisions?
>
> Yes. Feminine logic. Basically it is all to do with getting our (male
> plural) danders up.
Alistair (or, as you know, the spellchecker will say 'Alligator')
Well you started this, the Laird of Duart, (Have I got that right ?). True or
false - is this just folk lore. I recall from Mel Gibson's 'Braveheart" the
Scots mooning the English - BUT - back in ye olden dayes in the RAF this tale
went the rounds.
When a Scottish regiment was on parade, prior to the march-on, the terrifying
RSM, swirling his skirt, (sorry kilt - I was thinking of that new EU
designation <G>), inspected each man with thoroughness with a small mirror
attached to his boot. God help yon laddie if he wuz wearin' 'breeches' below
his kilt. ????
'Hemlines' really has gone on too long. Sir Isaac N. got it right., "What
goes up must come down".
Jimmy
Peter E.C. Dashwood
"SkippyPB" <swie...@neo.rr.NOSPAM.com> wrote in message
news:p5o9sv0p8shhrt1j7...@4ax.com...<snip>>
> I'm a born and bred Hoosier although I haven't lived there since 1980.
>
OK Steve, for those of us who weren't raised in the USA, please explain:
What's a "Hoosier"?
Thanks.
Pete.
Peter E.C. Dashwood
>Basically it is all to do with getting our (male
> plural) danders up.
>
It's certainly to do with getting our male SOMETHINGs up...<G>
Pete.
YukonMama
>Date: 11/26/03 3:28 PM Eastern Standard Time
>OK Steve, for those of us who weren't raised in the USA, please explain:
>What's a "Hoosier"?
>
I'll answer that for you Pete. A "Hoosier" is someone born or raised in the
state of Indiana. Comes (the story goes) from people there asking 'whosyer
mother whosyer father'.
My father considered himself a Hoosier even though he was born in Illinois.
Spent all of 72 hrs in Illinois :).
As for hemlines. I perfer somewhere between 2" above the knee to 6" above the
knee or all the way to the floor :).
Hugh Candlin
James J. Gavan <jjg...@shaw.ca> wrote in message news:3FC55A58...@shaw.ca...
>
> When a Scottish regiment was on parade, prior to the march-on, the terrifying
> RSM, swirling his skirt, (sorry kilt - I was thinking of that new EU
> designation <G>), inspected each man with thoroughness with a small mirror
> attached to his boot. God help yon laddie if he wuz wearin' 'breeches' below
> his kilt. ????
Nothing is worn under the kilt.
Everything is in perrrrrfect wurkin' order........
Donald Tees
Donald Tees
I believe it is a corruption of Hussier, and is the result of the state
being populated originally by german ex-soldiers.
Donald
docd...@panix.com
It is a term of generally - but not excessively - derogatory nature,
usually used by Canadians.
No, wait... sorry, that's 'hoser'. Do 'those of us who weren't raised in
the USA' lack the ability to use the WorldWide Web to reach such sites as
http://www.m-w.com?
DD
Alistair Maclean
writes
>Alistair (or, as you know, the spellchecker will say 'Alligator')
>
>Well you started this, the Laird of Duart, (Have I got that right ?).
>True or
>false - is this just folk lore. I recall from Mel Gibson's 'Braveheart" the
>Scots mooning the English
That's not all they used to do. Kilts (a modern invention) were really
rolls of plaid wrapped around the waist at varying heights, resulting in
much of the manhood being on display.
>- BUT - back in ye olden dayes in the RAF this tale
>went the rounds.
>
>When a Scottish regiment was on parade, prior to the march-on, the terrifying
>RSM, swirling his skirt,
Grrrr!
>(sorry kilt - I was thinking of that new EU
>designation <G>), inspected each man with thoroughness with a small mirror
>attached to his boot. God help yon laddie if he wuz wearin' 'breeches' below
>his kilt. ????
There was a film, starring Alec Guinness, in which the Major inspecting
his troops would check the condition pertaining to the nether regions by
means of a toe mounted mirror. Probably folk lore.
>
>'Hemlines' really has gone on too long. Sir Isaac N. got it right., "What
>goes up must come down".
>
>Jimmy
>
For the record, I'm not in favour of kilt hemlines going up.
Peter E.C. Dashwood
"YukonMama" <yuko...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20031126230150...@mb-m24.aol.com...
> >From: "Peter E.C. Dashwood" dash...@enternet.co.nz
> >Date: 11/26/03 3:28 PM Eastern Standard Time
>
> >OK Steve, for those of us who weren't raised in the USA, please explain:
> >What's a "Hoosier"?
> >
>
> I'll answer that for you Pete. A "Hoosier" is someone born or raised in
the
> state of Indiana. Comes (the story goes) from people there asking
'whosyer
> mother whosyer father'.
>
> My father considered himself a Hoosier even though he was born in
Illinois.
> Spent all of 72 hrs in Illinois :).
>
> As for hemlines. I perfer somewhere between 2" above the knee to 6" above
the
> knee or all the way to the floor :).
Yes, that is ladylike and attractive. I'd expect no less from you...<G>.
Thanks for that, Eileen. I am acquiring little snippets of
Americana...trivia for foreigners, if you like. Then, when introduced to
someone and they tell me where they're from, I can start a conversation....
(Well, it's infinitely better than a blank look and "So, how 'bout them
Cowboys?"...especially if they're not from Texas <G>)
1. Hoosiers are people born in Indiana.
2. Skeptical people come from Missouri. ("I'm from Missouri...show me...")
3. Cheese comes from Wisconsin.
4. Corn comes from Kansas.
5. Potatoes from Idaho.
6. Steel from Pittsburgh.
7. Oil from Texas. (And beef and pecans of course...)
It's an education...<G>. I have visited the USA more often than I can
remember and I ALWAYS enjoy the time I spend there. Such a great nation with
such huge diversity, opportunity, and power (for good or bad...).
Anyway, I'd like to complete the collection and get just one salient fact
about each of the 50 States. I wonder if posters here could help me out with
a comment about their home State?
I'm absolutely serious and would really like to have such a list.
Pete.
James J. Gavan
YukonMama wrote:
> >From: "Peter E.C. Dashwood" dash...@enternet.co.nz
> >Date: 11/26/03 3:28 PM Eastern Standard Time
>
> >OK Steve, for those of us who weren't raised in the USA, please explain:
> >What's a "Hoosier"?
> >
>
> I'll answer that for you Pete. A "Hoosier" is someone born or raised in the
> state of Indiana. Comes (the story goes) from people there asking 'whosyer
> mother whosyer father'.
Not quite in the same vein as your hoosier definition, but close. When we first
came here in '75 there was a young couple living some 6 houses away, immigrants
from Eastern Europe. Forgotten their family name but her first name was Anya.
In conversation with my wife, she told her how polite Canadians were, even to the
extent of using your first name. She was shopping in a supermarket, was at the
check-out and tendered notes and coins. The pleasant girl, shuffling through the
change in her register, and to complete the transaction, said :-
"Have yer got a penny an' yer ?"
Jimmy, Calgary AB
jce
http://www.50states.com/bio/nickname1.htm
Here we find the biography, the population, size, economy etc etc etc
Not nearly as much fun for you...but it's there...
JCE
"Peter E.C. Dashwood" <dash...@enternet.co.nz> wrote in message
news:3fc5d...@news.athenanews.com...
jce
Florida - The Sunshine state
Florida - White sand beaches...often top 10 rated
Florida - A Citrus Industry that hates the Steel Industry and the legacy of
Dr Atkins
Florida - Where All y'all tourists find Lizards fascinating
Florida - Where a Mouse, and not politicians, determines the economic status
Florida - Home of the Space Program
Florida - Retirement Capital of the world
Florida - Where a right to die is up to the Governor....in so many ways
Florida - Where there *is* life North of Miami
and finally....
Florida - Where one day we will *all* move up to Canada and drive at 25 mph.
Florida - Where you have to mention the "vote" at least once....*sigh*.....
JCE
"Peter E.C. Dashwood" <dash...@enternet.co.nz> wrote in message
news:3fc5d...@news.athenanews.com...
>
Judson McClendon
Many West coast people would be surprised to learn that, as far as the
beach itself is concerned, any Gulf state beach is completely out of the
league of any beach California has to offer. The sand is very fine, very
white, and no rocks at all, contrary to many California beaches where
you can get a concussion dropping onto the coarse yellow sand/rock
mixture. In the LA area you have everything from coarse sand to house
sized boulders on the beaches. If you run, you can break your toe on a
head sized rock sticking out of the sand. The 'behind the beach' scenery
is a different matter, though. The California coast, particularly the area
south of S.F., is absolutely stunning. Just be ready to dodge mud slides
if it's raining, and wildfires if it's not. ;-)
I'm from Alabama. From midway south, Alabama is mostly flat, pine
trees abound. North of midway, the terrain varies from plains and low
hills to the northwest, to hilly and mildly mountainous to the northwest,
with a wide variety of vegetation and wildlife. Alabama is very green,
if it isn't paved, it has vegetation on it. Alabama used to be a very big
cotton state, but is much more diversified these days. North Alabama
has thousands and thousands of long chicken houses, where zillions
of chickens are grown. Colonel Sanders may have been from Kentucky
(beautiful, green state, lots of horses), but I'll bet he got his chickens
from Alabama. :-) There is (no joke) a statue of a bowl weevil in
(IIRC) Enterprise, because after bowl weevils destroyed their cotton
crops years ago, they switched to growing soy beans and made a
killing. There is a lot of industry in the Birmingham area (historically
second only to Pittsburgh in steel production), and lots of high-tech
stuff around Huntsville, home of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center.
Among other things, the space shuttle engines were designed and built
there. College football in Alabama is Serious Business, with The
University of Alabama and Auburn University as two of the hottest
collegiate rivals in the US. Alabama has gulf coast beaches around
Mobile, which is a large seaport, were there are many old antebellum
(pre Civil War) homes, with lots of azaleas, magnolias and cotton-
woods. :-)
On the dark side, there used to be serious racial persecution here. I
can remember 'colored' and 'white' water fountains in stores, and
separate theater entrances, when I was a boy in the 50's. There is an
infamous video of Birmingham police using fire hoses and police
dogs on black protesters in the 60's. Much darker things were done
in secret. I remember when the first blacks were enrolled at my high
school through forced integration when I was a junior. Fortunately,
that situation is enormously better today. Looking back, it seems
incredible that such things were openly tolerated and endorsed by a
callous white majority, who thought of themselves as 'good people'.
--
Judson McClendon ju...@sunvaley0.com (remove zero)
Sun Valley Systems http://sunvaley.com
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that
whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
Joe Zitzelberger
"Peter E.C. Dashwood" <dash...@enternet.co.nz> wrote:
>
> It's an education...<G>. I have visited the USA more often than I can
> remember and I ALWAYS enjoy the time I spend there. Such a great nation with
> such huge diversity, opportunity, and power (for good or bad...).
>
> Anyway, I'd like to complete the collection and get just one salient fact
> about each of the 50 States. I wonder if posters here could help me out with
> a comment about their home State?
>
> I'm absolutely serious and would really like to have such a list.
>
> Pete.
Georgia, an otherwise unremarkable place, enjoys over 100 miles of
Atlantic coastline. Its best feature is that it is not Alabamastan,
located next door.
Hawaii makes more money off of grass then it does off of pineapple. Or
at least it did 20 years ago when I was a resident.
Texas really is like 'a whole other country' -- there is a small group
of creative thinkers in the large open space between El Paso and San
Antonio that believes that the Republic of Texas is really a separate
country. They have even elected a governer, though some say he often
forgets to take his medication.
And speaking of kilts, both Georgia and Texas have official tartans.
Judson McClendon
>
> Georgia, an otherwise unremarkable place ... Its best feature is that
> it is not Alabamastan, located next door.
You're right, Georgia is an unremarkable place, and we agree, its best
feature is that it isn't here in Alabama. :-)
SkippyPB
>In article <3fc50...@news.athenanews.com>,
>Peter E.C. Dashwood <dash...@enternet.co.nz> wrote:
>>
>>"SkippyPB" <swie...@neo.rr.NOSPAM.com> wrote in message
>>news:p5o9sv0p8shhrt1j7...@4ax.com...
>>> On 25 Nov 2003 22:32:59 -0500, docd...@panix.com enlightened us:
>>>
>><snip>>
>>> I'm a born and bred Hoosier although I haven't lived there since 1980.
>>>
>>
>>OK Steve, for those of us who weren't raised in the USA, please explain:
>>What's a "Hoosier"?
>
>It is a term of generally - but not excessively - derogatory nature,
>usually used by Canadians.
>
Didn't see this question until Doc responded to it. You must be
posting from Shaw whom Airnews blocks because they allow spammers to
live on their network. Anything for that old Canadian nickel, I
guess.
I take it you never saw the movie, "Hoosiers" staring Gene Hackman
either. Hoosier is a term given to those who are born in the state of
Indiana. It's origins are not completely known as there are 2 or 3
theories floating about. But it's been in use since before Indiana
even became a state.
>No, wait... sorry, that's 'hoser'. Do 'those of us who weren't raised in
>the USA' lack the ability to use the WorldWide Web to reach such sites as
>http://www.m-w.com?
>
>DD
One must wonder.
SkippyPB
<dash...@enternet.co.nz> enlightened us:
Not any more. Steel comes from Japan.
>7. Oil from Texas. (And beef and pecans of course...)
>
>It's an education...<G>. I have visited the USA more often than I can
>remember and I ALWAYS enjoy the time I spend there. Such a great nation with
>such huge diversity, opportunity, and power (for good or bad...).
>
>Anyway, I'd like to complete the collection and get just one salient fact
>about each of the 50 States. I wonder if posters here could help me out with
>a comment about their home State?
>
Not my home state, but California produces more rice than any other
state and is second in the world behind only China. Arkansas has more
hectares dedicated to rice farming than California.
>I'm absolutely serious and would really like to have such a list.
>
>Pete.
>
Regards,
Peter E.C. Dashwood
<docd...@panix.com> wrote in message news:bq5827$j46$1...@panix1.panix.com...
> In article <3fc50...@news.athenanews.com>,
> Peter E.C. Dashwood <dash...@enternet.co.nz> wrote:
> >
> >OK Steve, for those of us who weren't raised in the USA, please explain:
> >What's a "Hoosier"?
>
> It is a term of generally - but not excessively - derogatory nature,
> usually used by Canadians.
>
> No, wait... sorry, that's 'hoser'. Do 'those of us who weren't raised in
> the USA' lack the ability to use the WorldWide Web to reach such sites as
> http://www.m-w.com?
>
Obviously, Doc, I can't speak for other people who were not raised in the
USA.
In my own case, I have no problem with using the World Wide Web to find out
anything.
However, the interaction between self and a search engine is sterile and
clinical, while undoubtedly effective.
I therefore CHOOSE sometimes to gain information by interaction with human
beings. This is good for the soul.
Pete.
> DD
>
Alistair Maclean
<dash...@enternet.co.nz> writes
>
>1. Hoosiers are people born in Indiana.
>
>2. Skeptical people come from Missouri. ("I'm from Missouri...show me...")
>
>3. Cheese comes from Wisconsin.
>
>4. Corn comes from Kansas.
>
>5. Potatoes from Idaho.
>
>6. Steel from Pittsburgh.
>
>7. Oil from Texas. (And beef and pecans of course...)
And red kidney beans and nodding donkeys.
>
>It's an education...<G>. I have visited the USA more often than I can
>remember and I ALWAYS enjoy the time I spend there. Such a great nation with
>such huge diversity, opportunity, and power (for good or bad...).
>
>Anyway, I'd like to complete the collection and get just one salient fact
>about each of the 50 States. I wonder if posters here could help me out with
>a comment about their home State?
>
>I'm absolutely serious and would really like to have such a list.
>
>Pete.
>
>
--
Alistair Maclean
<defau...@hotmail.com> writes
>Florida - Retirement Capital of the world
Florida, God's waiting room.
Alistair Maclean
<ju...@sunvaley0.com> writes
> There is (no joke) a statue of a bowl weevil in
>(IIRC) Enterprise, because after bowl weevils destroyed their cotton
>crops years ago, they switched to growing soy beans and made a
>killing.
Alistair Maclean
Joe Zitzelberger <joe_zitz...@nospam.com> writes
>Texas really is like 'a whole other country' -- there is a small group
>of creative thinkers in the large open space between El Paso and San
>Antonio that believes that the Republic of Texas is really a separate
>country. They have even elected a governer, though some say he often
>forgets to take his medication.
>
>And speaking of kilts, both Georgia and Texas have official tartans.
What, registered in Scotland? SACRILEGE!
Judson McClendon
> Judson McClendon
> > There is (no joke) a statue of a bowl weevil in
> >(IIRC) Enterprise, because after bowl weevils destroyed their cotton
> >crops years ago, they switched to growing soy beans and made a
> >killing.
> Shurely shome mishtake? Do you mean Boll Weavils?
Yes, thanks. Duh. :-)
Warren Simmons
want to file away. No order of significants is implied. But first
even the Indiana University has not been able to pin down exactly
what a Housier is, but the one given sounds good.
I'm from Gary, IN. Named after Judge Gary who was a part of the USSteel
organization. On the net you can view many views of the land it was
build upon, and gather many other details from USS archives. The sand
dunes around the tip of Lake Michigan had been used as a location for
movies.
An electric train joins Gary to Chicago and South Bend. Major RR systems
run through Lake County even prior to the building of Gary.
Gary, in addition to the steel mill facilities has or had a factory that
produced windshield wiper blades! It was also the home of The Gary
Screw and Bolt, or known locally by some a the "rape and run".
Except for natives, everyone who lived there moved there from somewhere
else often using USS built homes and RR Sleeper Cars to house
people as they moved there. American Bridge also had a plant there, and
so did National Tube, both part of USS. I worked at the steel mill in
the foundry on the open hearth, and in the maintenance shops as a crane
operator. After IU, I worked at the Gary Works of the National Tube
Division as a college recruit. From there I was transfered to Pittsburgh
for the Univac I project of the Division which later became a corporate
center.
Gary School district was based upon the Wm. Wirt system and was known as
the work, study, play system.
My folks came to Gary from the other end of the state (Orange and Dubois
Counties). In the western migration many families lived in these
counties before some moved on. Orange County has a town called French
Lick. There is a great old hotel there and artesian well that spews
sulfur water marketed as "Pluto Water".
Near the Ohio River is Santa Clause, IN. They do a big business in
stamping mail this time of year. Much lumbering, and wooden products are
made including Pianos and Furniture Factories. At one time French Lick
area was the winter home of the circus that became Barnum and Baily.
Just 20 or so miles north of French Lick is Bedford where Indiana
Limestone is mined. Twenty miles north of Bedford is Bloomington, IN
home of Indiana University where this GI got some more learning and
Hoggy Carmcal wrote Stardust.
David Letterman is from Indianapolis which is the home of Eli Lilly and
other notable companies.
Perhaps 100 miles north of Indianapolis is South Bend, home of the
Studebaker Wagon Manufacturing Co. which turned into an Automobile
factory and the home of Notre Dame.
Over on the Mississippi boundary an early French Trading Post existed.
Today it is called Vincennes?
Oh, and don't forget the Wabash River, subject of song and flood.
This excludes many other sites and attractions.
Hope this is entertaining off subject material from one very early
COBOL er!
Warren Simmons
Warren Simmons
Warren Simmons
LX-i
> Anyway, I'd like to complete the collection and get just one salient fact
> about each of the 50 States. I wonder if posters here could help me out with
> a comment about their home State?
Well, I can give you my home state and my current state of residence.
Tennessee (home state) - There's something in each of the 4 largest
cities. Tennessee's state capital, Nashville, is -the- capital of
country music, and Memphis is rich in the jazz tradition, along with
being the birthplace of Elvis. Chattanooga is famous for its role in
railroads (and the Glenn Miller song "Chattanooga Choo-Choo"). And, in
the northeast corner of the state, you have the Great Smoky Mountains,
with Pigeon Forge (one of the prime shopping destinations for miles
around) and Gatlinburg (a German-themed city up in the mountains).
(And, of course, the best college football team, the Tennessee Vols, is
from Knoxville. ;> )
Alabama (where I am now) - "Alabama the Beautiful". It's one of the few
states where you can go to the mountains, lakes, rivers, and beaches
while staying in the same state. Along with that, it's got a long
history in the civil rights movement - Montgomery is home to MLK Jr.'s
church, and is the city where Rosa Parks refused to move on a bus after
the seat in which she was sitting was moved from the colored section to
the white; also, it was the destination on the Selma to Montgomery
march. Tuskegee was the home of George Washington Carver, who came up
with over 300 uses for peanuts through the course of his career.
I could probably write 3x as much about both states... :) But maybe
that'll give you some conversation topics...
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~ / \ / ~ Live from Montgomery, AL! ~
~ / \/ o ~ ~
~ / /\ - | ~ LXi...@Netscape.net ~
~ _____ / \ | ~ http://www.knology.net/~mopsmom/daniel ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ I do not read e-mail at the above address ~
~ Please see website if you wish to contact me privately ~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Warren Simmons
Warren Simmons
Hugh Candlin
Alistair Maclean <alis...@ld50macca.demon.co.uk> wrote in message news:QWABcdEGv6x$Ew...@ld50macca.demon.co.uk...
> In message <20031128074105.052$5...@news.newsreader.com>, Judson McClendon
> <ju...@sunvaley0.com> writes
> > There is (no joke) a statue of a bowl weevil in
> >(IIRC) Enterprise, because after bowl weevils destroyed their cotton
> >crops years ago, they switched to growing soy beans and made a
> >killing.
> Shurely shome mishtake? Do you mean Boll Weavils?
Boll Weevils, more likely ....
docd...@panix.com
Warren Simmons <wsim...@optonline.net> wrote:
[snip]
>Perhaps 100 miles north of Indianapolis is South Bend, home of the
>Studebaker Wagon Manufacturing Co. which turned into an Automobile
>factory and the home of Notre Dame.
'Notre Dame' being pronounced by the locals not as 'NO-truh Dahm' but more
along the lines of 'NO-der Dayme'... I spent some time in South Bend on
contract and i found it to be a sad town. In the Neighborhood Local I
frequented (The Ewing Cafe... what a dive!) folks would suck down some
suds and reminisce about the Goode Olde Dayse, when all the businesses
were running... Studebaker, South Bend Tool & Die, the mighty names of
yore... back in the mid 1950's and it has been downhill ever since.
(This was my standard for Sad City Stories until I spent time on a
contract in Wilkes-Barre, PA... where folks would reminisce about the
Goode Olde Dayse when all the coal-mines were running... back in the mid
1920's.)
DD
docd...@panix.com
Peter E.C. Dashwood <dash...@enternet.co.nz> wrote:
>
><docd...@panix.com> wrote in message news:bq5827$j46$1...@panix1.panix.com...
>> In article <3fc50...@news.athenanews.com>,
>> Peter E.C. Dashwood <dash...@enternet.co.nz> wrote:
>> >
><snip>
>> >OK Steve, for those of us who weren't raised in the USA, please explain:
>> >What's a "Hoosier"?
>>
>> It is a term of generally - but not excessively - derogatory nature,
>> usually used by Canadians.
>>
>> No, wait... sorry, that's 'hoser'. Do 'those of us who weren't raised in
>> the USA' lack the ability to use the WorldWide Web to reach such sites as
>> http://www.m-w.com?
>>
>
>Obviously, Doc, I can't speak for other people who were not raised in the
>USA.
Mr Dashwood, if making a request 'for (group)' constitutes speaking 'for
group' then you've done so already... see above where you ask for an
explanation 'for those of us who weren't raised in the USA'.
>
>In my own case, I have no problem with using the World Wide Web to find out
>anything.
>
>However, the interaction between self and a search engine is sterile and
>clinical, while undoubtedly effective.
>
>I therefore CHOOSE sometimes to gain information by interaction with human
>beings. This is good for the soul.
Many things are said to be 'good for the soul', including Adversity... but
all things in moderation, moderation included.
DD
Paul Knudsen
<alis...@ld50macca.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>I know this is totally off topic and Cobol un-related, but has anyone
>got any idea why hemlines lengthen during recessionary periods?
Can think of two possibilities: (1) In tough times people skimp on
heat and long dresses are warmer. (2) Dress manufacturers want the
customer to think she's getting more for her money.
--
Get on the NRA Blacklist: http://www.NRAblacklist.com
Paul Knudsen
<ju...@sunvaley0.com> wrote:
>"jce" <defau...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> Florida - White sand beaches...often top 10 rated
>
>
>Many West coast people would be surprised to learn that, as far as the
>beach itself is concerned, any Gulf state beach is completely out of the
>league of any beach California has to offer.
Been to both. The girls are cuter in California. What else matters?
S Comstock
[snip]
>all things in moderation, moderation included
Ah well. Moderation to excess, that's my motto.
Kind regards,
-Steve Comstock
800-993-9716
303-393-8716
www.trainersfriend.com
email: st...@trainersfriend.com
256-B S. Monaco Parkway
Denver, CO 80224
USA
Judson McClendon
> "Judson McClendon" <ju...@sunvaley0.com> wrote:
> >
> >Many West coast people would be surprised to learn that, as far as the
> >beach itself is concerned, any Gulf state beach is completely out of the
> >league of any beach California has to offer.
>
> Been to both. The girls are cuter in California. What else matters?
A number of years ago, when ABC practically owned the TV sports
business, ABC would always put a TV crew in college games whose
sole purpose was to seek out 'honey shots' of good looking girls to put
on the screen from time to time throughout the game. Someone once
asked the crew where the most beautiful girls were. They said "Without
doubt, it is UCLA and the University of Alabama." We also have gulf
coast beaches here in Alabama. :-)
SkippyPB
On Sat, 29 Nov 2003 01:49:59 GMT, Warren Simmons
<wsim...@optonline.net> enlightened us:
>Well, Peter, there are a few more things about Indiana that you might
>want to file away. No order of significants is implied. But first
>even the Indiana University has not been able to pin down exactly
>what a Housier is, but the one given sounds good.
>
>I'm from Gary, IN. Named after Judge Gary who was a part of the USSteel
>organization. On the net you can view many views of the land it was
>build upon, and gather many other details from USS archives. The sand
>dunes around the tip of Lake Michigan had been used as a location for
>movies.
>
>An electric train joins Gary to Chicago and South Bend. Major RR systems
>run through Lake County even prior to the building of Gary.
>
>Gary, in addition to the steel mill facilities has or had a factory that
>produced windshield wiper blades! It was also the home of The Gary
>Screw and Bolt, or known locally by some a the "rape and run".
>
Gary is also the orginal home of Michael Jackson and family. I don't
know if there is a connection between Screw and Bolt and the Jackson
family or not.
>Except for natives, everyone who lived there moved there from somewhere
>else often using USS built homes and RR Sleeper Cars to house
>people as they moved there. American Bridge also had a plant there, and
>so did National Tube, both part of USS. I worked at the steel mill in
>the foundry on the open hearth, and in the maintenance shops as a crane
>operator. After IU, I worked at the Gary Works of the National Tube
>Division as a college recruit. From there I was transfered to Pittsburgh
>for the Univac I project of the Division which later became a corporate
>center.
>
>Gary School district was based upon the Wm. Wirt system and was known as
>the work, study, play system.
>
>My folks came to Gary from the other end of the state (Orange and Dubois
>Counties). In the western migration many families lived in these
>counties before some moved on. Orange County has a town called French
>Lick. There is a great old hotel there and artesian well that spews
>sulfur water marketed as "Pluto Water".
>
>Near the Ohio River is Santa Clause, IN. They do a big business in
>stamping mail this time of year. Much lumbering, and wooden products are
>made including Pianos and Furniture Factories. At one time French Lick
>area was the winter home of the circus that became Barnum and Baily.
>
>Just 20 or so miles north of French Lick is Bedford where Indiana
>Limestone is mined. Twenty miles north of Bedford is Bloomington, IN
>home of Indiana University where this GI got some more learning and
>Hoggy Carmcal wrote Stardust.
>
Aaah, IU, the poor step-child of the big 3 colleges in Indiana. As
this Purdue alum knows, IU pales in comparison to Purdue which is
among the top 10 engineering schools in the world and has graduated
more astronauts than any other U.S. school.
>David Letterman is from Indianapolis which is the home of Eli Lilly and
>other notable companies.
>
Letterman is from Indianapolis but graduated from Ball State
University in Muncie, IN.
>Perhaps 100 miles north of Indianapolis is South Bend, home of the
>Studebaker Wagon Manufacturing Co. which turned into an Automobile
>factory and the home of Notre Dame.
>
>Over on the Mississippi boundary an early French Trading Post existed.
>Today it is called Vincennes?
>
Vincennes is on the Illinois border. No Mississippi river or state
anywhere near it.
Regards,
Bob Wolfe
In addition, Indiana is the home to Purdue University from which Neil
Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon graduated.
It is also home of Peru, Indiana, the unofficial Circus Capital of the
World.
Warren Simmons <wsim...@optonline.net> wrote:
Bob Wolfe
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When replying by e-mail, make sure that you correct the e-mail address.
Check out The Flexus COBOL Page at http://www.flexus.com
Bob Wolfe
Having been born and raised a Hoosier, I feel compelled to comment.
There are a variety of theories as to the origin of the term. Here is
a web site from the Indiana Historical Bureau:
http://www.statelib.lib.in.us/www/ihb/emblems/hoosier.html
"Peter E.C. Dashwood" <dash...@enternet.co.nz> wrote:
>
><docd...@panix.com> wrote in message news:bq5827$j46$1...@panix1.panix.com...
>> In article <3fc50...@news.athenanews.com>,
>> Peter E.C. Dashwood <dash...@enternet.co.nz> wrote:
>> >
><snip>
>> >OK Steve, for those of us who weren't raised in the USA, please explain:
>> >What's a "Hoosier"?
>>
>> It is a term of generally - but not excessively - derogatory nature,
>> usually used by Canadians.
>>
>> No, wait... sorry, that's 'hoser'. Do 'those of us who weren't raised in
>> the USA' lack the ability to use the WorldWide Web to reach such sites as
>> http://www.m-w.com?
>>
>
>Obviously, Doc, I can't speak for other people who were not raised in the
>USA.
>
>In my own case, I have no problem with using the World Wide Web to find out
>anything.
>
>However, the interaction between self and a search engine is sterile and
>clinical, while undoubtedly effective.
>
>I therefore CHOOSE sometimes to gain information by interaction with human
>beings. This is good for the soul.
>
>Pete.
>
>> DD
>>
>
docd...@panix.com
S Comstock <scom...@aol.com> wrote:
>Doc Dwarf writes ...
>
>[snip]
>
>>all things in moderation, moderation included
>
>Ah well. Moderation to excess, that's my motto.
[DIALECT HUMOR ALERT]
[DIALECT HUMOR ALERT]
[what follows is a representation of English as it might be spoken by a
non-native speaker of the language; some people find such things offensive
and might avoid offense by not reading further]
[YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED... DIALECT HUMOR ALERT]
'Eeeeyyyyy, nobody, she's-a ask 'What's-a motto to you'!
DD
Joe Zitzelberger
Paul Knudsen <r459...@sneakemail.com> wrote:
> On Fri, 28 Nov 2003 06:40:16 -0600, "Judson McClendon"
> <ju...@sunvaley0.com> wrote:
>
> >"jce" <defau...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> >>
> >> Florida - White sand beaches...often top 10 rated
> >
> >
> >Many West coast people would be surprised to learn that, as far as the
> >beach itself is concerned, any Gulf state beach is completely out of the
> >league of any beach California has to offer.
>
> Been to both. The girls are cuter in California. What else matters?
And the water is much, much, colder in California.
This can be a benefit or a curse, depending on the girls...
Joe Zitzelberger
Alistair Maclean <alis...@ld50macca.demon.co.uk> wrote:
> In message <joe_zitzelberger-A9...@corp.supernews.com>,
> Joe Zitzelberger <joe_zitz...@nospam.com> writes
> >Texas really is like 'a whole other country' -- there is a small group
> >of creative thinkers in the large open space between El Paso and San
> >Antonio that believes that the Republic of Texas is really a separate
> >country. They have even elected a governer, though some say he often
> >forgets to take his medication.
> >
> >And speaking of kilts, both Georgia and Texas have official tartans.
>
> What, registered in Scotland? SACRILEGE!
You do know that the Irish were wearing them 10 centuries before the
Scots made them famous, don't you?
Warren Simmons
Studabaker. They were close enough in age (dad and his nephew)
that we ever so often would travel to S.B. to visit. His nephew
was involved on the assembly line maintenace in some capacity,
and at his late 50's began to take flying lessons. Dad, his nephew,
and my younger brother enjoyed talking about this hobby. As an
employee of S.B. he would get a new car delivered without any prep
and take it to a gas station, and put the car on the rack to tighen
all the bolts.
My cousin who lives in OR once had a company that built house trailers
and the pickup truck versions thereof. They (with permission of S.B.)
used the brand name "CONESTOGA" , the name used by the S.B. people for
their wagons.
Driving from Gary tgo S.Bend in those days seemed endless. Now, the
turnpike gets you there in a mile a minute (or less).
By the by, have you read the site called "freshmeat". I believe some of
the readers here would find some of the material available and listed
daily of much interest. In particular, the OO people. Some of the
material is cross platform, but much is Linux related. Today I found
a text, etc. for JP..
Warren Simmons
Alistair Maclean
Joe Zitzelberger <joe_zitz...@nospam.com> writes
>
>You do know that the Irish were wearing them 10 centuries before the
>Scots made them famous, don't you?
No. When?
James J. Gavan
Alistair Maclean wrote:
> In message <joe_zitzelberger-C1...@corp.supernews.com>,
> Joe Zitzelberger <joe_zitz...@nospam.com> writes
> >
> >You do know that the Irish were wearing them 10 centuries before the
> >Scots made them famous, don't you?
>
> No. When?
>
Joe,
Boy did you piss off my Scottish walking buddy when I related your message.
He's also partially an Ulsterman.
Truth is there was a great deal of to-ing and fro-ing between the northern
Irish and Scotland, (Picts and Scots). And back when you're talking about,
there weren't 'kilts' but men wore 'skirts', or a piece of cloth wrapped
around their midriff. Not just the Irish and Scots, but probably the Welsh
as well and no doubt the early 'Britons' prior to Roman occupation. Bearing
in mind the Celts originally extended into Eastern Europe, no doubt many of
those folks wore makeshift 'skirts' until some lady took on the title of
seamstress.
"Aye laddie, there's nuthin beats the sound o' the pipes and the swirlin'
o' the kilts.
But truth be told, if yee wear breeches it sure keeps yer knackers
warrrmmmm !".
Jimmy, Calgary AB
Joe Zitzelberger
Alistair Maclean <alis...@ld50macca.demon.co.uk> wrote:
> In message <joe_zitzelberger-C1...@corp.supernews.com>,
> Joe Zitzelberger <joe_zitz...@nospam.com> writes
> >
> >You do know that the Irish were wearing them 10 centuries before the
> >Scots made them famous, don't you?
>
> No. When?
6th Century, adapted from the roman tunics from what I gather.
Granted, the Scots were wearing them at that time as well, but they were
all just men in skirts until Englands blood-thirsty ayatollah -- err --
benevolent monarch -- made the wearing o' the plaid a treasonous crime
in the mid-18th century.
Since the law was targeted at Scotland they get the reputation for
"inventing" the kilt.
Don't people always seem to be more interested in the illegal things
than the legal...
Joe Zitzelberger
Whups -- I didn't mean to offend.
From what I can gather, the Celts (foredaddys of the Scots and Irish
among others) were some of the first users of actual trousers in Europe,
predating the clashes with the Romans -- but after being pushed to the
limits of the British Isles by the Romans they started adopting some of
their dress.
I didn't mean to suggest that Scots were not wearing kilts pre-jacobite
days, only that others were wearing them then as well. They had some
different traditions -- the Irish, for example tended to solid colors
and used the tarten patterns at the county level instead of the family
(or clan) level.
It seems like there are two reactions to kilts. The first (women
usually) reaction is to the effect of "wasn't Mel Gibson cute in that
'Braveheart' movie?". The second is "those were the skirts all the guys
in Scotland got executed for wearing, right"! People tend to forget
that other cultures had them as well...
Jack Sleight
docd...@panix.com wrote in message news:<bqaimf$kda$1...@panix1.panix.com>...
Peter E.C. Dashwood
<docd...@panix.com> wrote in message news:bq96gt$81n$1...@panix1.panix.com...
Time you visited another sad town, Doc.
You need cheering up <G>...
Pete.
docd...@panix.com
[snip]
>> Many things are said to be 'good for the soul', including Adversity... but
>> all things in moderation, moderation included.
>>
>
>Time you visited another sad town, Doc.
>
>You need cheering up <G>...
I do, Mr Dashwood? Some find me o be the very Soul of Jollity...
... until, of course, Nurse Ratched comes around with their meds.
DD
docd...@panix.com
Jack Sleight <jacks...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>Ay, meesta Doc. I got onea ting I say ta you, "Upper US".
A fellow I know with an Hebraic background tells me that is where the
Michaganners live.
(All right... this gets multi-lingual so I will try to explain. 'Upper
US' is the punch-line of a dialect-humor joke, the set-up line of which is
'What is Italian for 'suppository'?' There is a state in the Northern
United States of America named 'Michigan', the residents of which are
called 'Michiganders' (pronounced 'mih-shi-GAHN-ders'). There is a word
in Yiddish, 'meshugas' (pr. 'mih-shu-GAHSS'), which translates as
'eccentric' or 'crazy'; one who has 'meshugas' is called a 'meshuganner'
('mih-SHU-gah-ner'). It is one small step in mispronounciation from
Michangander ('one who is from Michigan') to meshuganner ('one who is
crazy') and an equally small step in mis-spelling Michigander to
Michiganner. The jokes then run together in a manner to do Ionesco
proud:
Q. What is Italian for 'suppository'?
A. That is where crazy people live.
... proving, once again, that A Joke Explained Is A Joke Lost.)
DD
Habitant
>Studebaker, South Bend Tool & Die, the mighty names of
>yore... back in the mid 1950's and it has been downhill ever since.
Or down the river as it often happened when bends are just around
the.. corner..!
>
>(This was my standard for Sad City Stories until I spent time on a
>contract in Wilkes-Barre, PA... where folks would reminisce about the
>Goode Olde Dayse when all the coal-mines were running... back in the mid
>1920's.)
Ye doth groweth in them Goode Auld Dayfes, doth'n ye, viejo burro?
I jef loveth Aulder Gentf,
Yfabell Ftarftruck
Peter E.C. Dashwood
Thanks Volker, this is definitely going in the collection...
Superb!
Pete.
"Volker Bandke" <vba...@bsp-gmbh.com> wrote in message
news:270isv0o6km3ek8dd...@4ax.com...
> On Fri, 28 Nov 2003 00:17:17 +1300, "Peter E.C. Dashwood"
> <dash...@enternet.co.nz> wrote:
>
> >
> >Anyway, I'd like to complete the collection and get just one salient fact
> >about each of the 50 States. I wonder if posters here could help me out
with
> >a comment about their home State?
> >
> >I'm absolutely serious and would really like to have such a list.
>
>
> I am not (absolutely serious, that is). And sorry about stepping on
> so many toes, but here it is: (and no, I don't know any more from
> where I got this, I have it for many years....)
>
>
> STATE MOTTO's <not?>
>
> Alabama: At Least We're not Mississippi
> Alaska: 11,623 Eskimos Can't be Wrong!
> Arizona: Dehyd-rific!
> Arkansas: Litterasy Ain't Everthing
> California: As Seen on TV
> Colorado: If You Don't Ski, Don't Bother
> Connecticut: Like Massachusetts, Only Dirtier and With Less Character
> Florida: Ask Us About Our Grandkids
> Georgia: We Put the "Fun" in Fundamentalist Extremism
> Hawaii: Haka Tiki Mou Sha'ami Leeki Toru
> (Death to Mainland Scum, But Leave Your Money)
> Idaho: More Than Just Potatoes... Well Okay, We're Not, But The
> Potatoes Sure Are Real Good
> Illinois: Gateway to Iowa
> Indiana: 2 Billion Years Tidal Wave Free
> Iowa: Land of James T. Kirk
> Kansas: First Of The Rectangle States
> Kentucky: Five Million People; Fifteen Last Names
> Louisiana: We're Not All Drunk Cajun Wackos,
> But That's Our Tourism Campaign
> Maine: Cheap Lobster
> Maryland: A Thinking Man's Delaware
> Massachusetts: Our Taxes Are Lower Than Sweden's
> (For Most Tax Brackets)
> Michigan: First Line of Defense From the Canadians
> Minnesota: For Sale
> Mississippi: Come Feel Better About Your Own State
> Missouri: Your Federal Flood Relief Tax Dollars at Work
> Montana: Land of the Big Sky, the Unabomer, and Very Little Else
> Nebraska: Ask About Our State Motto Contest
> Nevada: Whores and Poker!
> New Hampshire: Go Away and Leave Us Alone
> New Jersey: You Want a ##$%##! Motto?
> I Got Yer ##$%##! Motto Right Here!
> New Mexico: Lizards Make Excellent Pets
> New York: You Have the Right to Remain Silent,
> You Have the Right to an Attorney
> North Carolina: Tobacco is a Vegetable
> North Dakota: Um... We've got... Um... Dinosaur Bones?
> Yeah, Dinosaur Bones!
> Ohio: Don't Judge Us by Cleveland
> Oklahoma: Like the Play, Only No Singing
> Oregon: Spotted Owl, It's What's For Dinner
> Pennsylvania: Cook With Coal
> Rhode Island: We're Not REALLY An Island
> South Carolina: Remember the Civil War? We Didn't Actually Surrender
> South Dakota: Closer Than North Dakota
> Tennessee: The Educashun State
> Texas: Se Habla Ingles
> Utah: Our Jesus Is Better Than Your Jesus
> Vermont: Yep
> Virginia: Who Says Government Stiffs and Slackjaw Yokels Don't Mix?
> Washington: Help! We're Overrun By Nerds and Slackers!
> Washington, D.C.: Wanna Be Mayor?
> West Virginia: One Big Happy Family -- Really!
> Wisconsin: Come Cut Our Cheese
> Wyoming: Wynot?
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> --
> With kind Regards |\ _,,,---,,_
> ZZZzz /,`.-'`' -. ;-;;,
> Volker Bandke |,4- ) )-,_. ,\ ( `'-'
> (BSP GmbH) '---''(_/--' `-'\_)
>
> Murphy's second law: Everything takes longer than you think.
>
> (Another Wisdom from my fortune cookie jar)
Peter E.C. Dashwood
I read it.
Interesting and informative, but lacking the insight one often gets from
personal observation.
I'd still like to have a personal comment from you regarding your home
State. Is everybody proud to be Hoosier (like it says in the article)?
Travelling all over the World I frequently receive the identifier "Kiwi". (A
friend of mine in L.A. has threatened to make a movie called "Kiwi Pete"
based on my early life... (before I became a respectable computer
consultant..<G>)
Although I am proud of my heritage, my world view prevents me from indulging
in fervent patriotism (except when we play Australia or the French <G>...at
anything...). (My theory is we need to be Human Beings first, before we
start putting on the labels...).
While I have no problem being identified with a fragile, flightless, almost
blind little bird that snuffles around for worms and insects, at least it is
identifiable. I'm not sure how I'd feel if nobody could explain what it
meant or how it originated...<G>
And nobody can see a Kiwi (bird) walk or run without smiling or laughing
(they have a delightful bouncing roll that is very amusing).
Pete.
"Bob Wolfe" <rtw...@flexus.com> wrote in message
news:asghsvkrnfj2pp2ai...@4ax.com...
Bob Wolfe
>Thanks Bob,
>
>I read it.
>
>Interesting and informative, but lacking the insight one often gets from
>personal observation.
>
>I'd still like to have a personal comment from you regarding your home
>State. Is everybody proud to be Hoosier (like it says in the article)?
Pete:
Yes. Quite proud.
......but native Hoosiers always differentiate between being a Indiana
University Hoosier and a Purdue Boilermaker Hoosier. There is
actually quite a difference!
(cross-state rivalries, if you hadn't already guessed that)
;-)
Indiana University uses the term for their mascot. Some of us want to
make it clear that while we ARE Hoosiers, we are NOT IU Hoosiers.
>Travelling all over the World I frequently receive the identifier "Kiwi". (A
>friend of mine in L.A. has threatened to make a movie called "Kiwi Pete"
>based on my early life... (before I became a respectable computer
>consultant..<G>)
Has a nice ring to it. But which native NZ item does it refer to?
The bird or the fruit? Or is it a 3rd category? Careful how you
answer!
;-)
>Although I am proud of my heritage, my world view prevents me from indulging
>in fervent patriotism (except when we play Australia or the French <G>...at
>anything...). (My theory is we need to be Human Beings first, before we
>start putting on the labels...).
Agreed 100%. I love this country, but certainly do not always agree
with the policies and actions taken by our government. Patriotism is
not blindly following the leadership du jour.
There seems to be a misconception in countries outside the US that ALL
Americans are all blindly patriotic, rabidly imperialistic and all
"packin' heat" between our belt and our gut.
Any reasonable person would know that this just isn't true. Just as
stereotypes of people from other nations are merely generalizations
having little to do with reality.
There is a LOT more heated debate in this country than many realize.
The last presidential election should be evidence enough that all
Americans are NOT cast from the same mold. It was a virtual "dead
heat."
>While I have no problem being identified with a fragile, flightless, almost
>blind little bird that snuffles around for worms and insects, at least it is
>identifiable. I'm not sure how I'd feel if nobody could explain what it
>meant or how it originated...<G>
Aha! So it IS the bird! Does that mean I am being identified with a
baseball player from New York?
;-)
>And nobody can see a Kiwi (bird) walk or run without smiling or laughing
>(they have a delightful bouncing roll that is very amusing).
So you DO have something in common with the little bird.......trying
to get people to smile!
There are millions of worse pursuits in this world! Keep makin' 'em
smile.
Judson McClendon
> >
> > Many West coast people would be surprised to learn that, as far as the
> > beach itself is concerned, any Gulf state beach is completely out of the
> > white, and no rocks at all, contrary to many California beaches where
> > you can get a concussion dropping onto the coarse yellow sand/rock
> > mixture. In the LA area you have everything from coarse sand to house
> > sized boulders on the beaches. If you run, you can break your toe on a
> > head sized rock sticking out of the sand. The 'behind the beach' scenery
> > is a different matter, though. The California coast, particularly the area
> > south of S.F., is absolutely stunning. Just be ready to dodge mud slides
> > if it's raining, and wildfires if it's not. ;-)
>
> A Judson, I've BEEN to California many times and never stubbed my toe at
> Redondo, or Long Beach, or Malibu...<G>
Yeah, but I'll bet you SAW those rocks, even if you didn't trip over 'em! :-)
I did stubb my toe at Long Beach once, and almost got a stone bruise on
another rock. Don't remember which beach that was, but in the L.A. area.
> > I'm from Alabama.
>
> Always wanted to visit Alabama; haven't yet, but hope to change that.
Most of the people from other parts of the country who have never visited
the southern states are pleasantly surprised. One of the big surprises is
how friendly most of the people are here, especially in the less urban
areas. There is an honest openness here that is not as prevalent in other
parts of the country. It's also not 'backward' as people seem to believe
who know the south only through movies and TV. If you have ever heard
of the book "A Walk Across America", there is a chapter called "TAA
(Totally Amazed by Alabama)". The author lived in Maryland, I believe,
and had never visited the south.
> > From midway south, Alabama is mostly flat, pine
> > trees abound. North of midway, the terrain varies from plains and low
> > hills to the northwest, to hilly and mildly mountainous to the northwest,
> > with a wide variety of vegetation and wildlife. Alabama is very green,
> > if it isn't paved, it has vegetation on it. Alabama used to be a very big
> > cotton state, but is much more diversified these days. North Alabama
> > has thousands and thousands of long chicken houses, where zillions
> > of chickens are grown. Colonel Sanders may have been from Kentucky
> > (beautiful, green state, lots of horses), but I'll bet he got his chickens
> > from Alabama. :-) There is (no joke) a statue of a bowl weevil in
> > (IIRC) Enterprise, because after bowl weevils destroyed their cotton
> > crops years ago, they switched to growing soy beans and made a
> > killing.
>
> Is that the same as a "boll" weevil?
Yeah, and I've picked lots of cotton too (grew up on a farm), so I should
have caught that. :-)
> >There is a lot of industry in the Birmingham area (historically
> > second only to Pittsburgh in steel production), and lots of high-tech
> > stuff around Huntsville, home of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center.
> > Among other things, the space shuttle engines were designed and built
> > there. College football in Alabama is Serious Business, with The
> > University of Alabama and Auburn University as two of the hottest
> > collegiate rivals in the US. Alabama has gulf coast beaches around
> > Mobile, which is a large seaport, were there are many old antebellum
> > (pre Civil War) homes, with lots of azaleas, magnolias and cotton-
> > woods. :-)
>
> Wow! I'd really love to see that. It is amazing that there are still
> buildings that pre-date the Civil war. I bet some of them are beautiful.
> (Shades of "Gone with the Wind"?)
Not quite everything in the south was destroyed in the Civil War,
though the Union forces tried hard enough, during and after the war.
Ironic aside: Many people don't know that the Civil War was not really
about slavery, it was about states rights. The southern states proposed
legislation before the Civil War to abolish slavery over several years,
but the northern states voted it down. In 1860 the state of Virginia came
within one vote of abolishing slavery there. A government program of
cash incentives to release slaves, progressively increasing taxes upon
slave owners, and a deadline after which slaves would be legally freed
could have freed all the slaves within the same time frame as the Civil
War. A lot of people both black and white lost there lives in that stupid
war that could easily have been avoided. The framers of the United
States Constitution worked very hard to create a relatively weak central
government, with most of the power at the state level, much closer to
the people. The Civil War was the first major break with that, and now
we are burdened with a huge, inefficient central government that is
constantly trying to 'make one shoe fit all'. I can't help but wonder how
different the U.S. and the world would be had the abolition of slavery
been handled with wisdom and compassion instead of a hot headed
"fix it right now and damn the cost" attitude.
Judson McClendon
> kind of clumsy...like people people who play tennis a lot <G>
Yeah, on the farm we used to struggle over how to describe people
who hoe cotton/corn a lot. :-)
Judson McClendon
> >
> > Georgia, an otherwise unremarkable place, enjoys over 100 miles of
> > Atlantic coastline. Its best feature is that it is not Alabamastan,
> > located next door.
>
> ROFL! I think I detect some (friendly?) rivalry here...
When they get 'uppity' we Alabamastanians sometimes remind our
Georgia neighbors that Georgia was a penal colony in early colonial
days, so most of them are probably descendants of thieves and robbers. ;-)
Howard Brazee
On 1-Dec-2003, "Judson McClendon" <ju...@sunvaley0.com> wrote:
> Yeah, on the farm we used to struggle over how to describe people
> who hoe cotton/corn a lot. :-)
I grew up having absolutely no idea that the word "whore" was ever pronounced
differently than it was spelled. Interesting enough
http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=whore
doesn't give the "hoe" pronunciation as an option.
Dictionaries often are very slow at including dialects - even when those
dialects become mainstream.
Note: I read where police in Colorado are told to spell phonetically when
transcribing what people tell them. It ends up that they do this when someone
speaks with a black dialect but since white dialects are "normal" they don't do
so with a local white accent.
Chuck Stevens
nor the etymologically-similar word "shirt" is of Celtic origin, but rather
Germanic (the earlier "shirt" representing a more direct West Germanic root,
the later "skirt" being a Scandinavian import of almost certainly the same
root).
Likewise "kilt" is of Scandinavian origin *as a verb* (wrap around, cause to
overlap?), and doesn't seem to appear *as a noun* until around 1730. I'd
have expected a Celtic word for this garment.
-Chuck Stevens
"James J. Gavan" <jjg...@shaw.ca> wrote in message
news:3FC928E5...@shaw.ca...
James J. Gavan
Chuck Stevens wrote:
> Are you sure they called them "skirts" back then? Neither the word "skirt"
> nor the etymologically-similar word "shirt" is of Celtic origin, but rather
> Germanic (the earlier "shirt" representing a more direct West Germanic root,
> the later "skirt" being a Scandinavian import of almost certainly the same
> root).
>
> Likewise "kilt" is of Scandinavian origin *as a verb* (wrap around, cause to
> overlap?), and doesn't seem to appear *as a noun* until around 1730. I'd
> have expected a Celtic word for this garment.
>
> -Chuck Stevens
>
Ouch ! Gotta watch for you and Bill - seeing as you both devoured 'word stuff'
at University.
Non-language expert, I was using the word 'skirt' generically. I accept your
etymological Germanic and Scandinavian roots. Hardly surprising as the Celts
originally inhabited the whole of Europe.
Basically from the "Story of English", both the book and TV series, I was
fascinated how the Indian word patar (?) moves over into Europe eventually
finishing up as 'father' in English. Similarly, same TV series, the closeness of
Gaelic(Scottish) and old Dutch - words like cow and butter as examples, and of
course 'kirk' and 'kerk'.
Yes no doubt there is a Gaelic/Celtic word for 'skirt', just as there is
probably a distant Gaelic spelling/pronunciation for 'Gavan' - until Ollie
Cromwell and his merry band went over there !
Jimmy
Alistair Maclean
writes
>
>Truth is there was a great deal of to-ing and fro-ing between the northern
>Irish and Scotland, (Picts and Scots).
Scots not Picts. The Scots came from Ireland and crossed to Mull.
> And back when you're talking about,
>there weren't 'kilts' but men wore 'skirts', or a piece of cloth wrapped
>around their midriff. Not just the Irish and Scots, but probably the Welsh
>as well and no doubt the early 'Britons' prior to Roman occupation.
The Romans describe the wearing of trousers (baggy) not skirts by the
Britons. Romans tended to wear skirts whilst foreigners wore trousers.
>Bearing
>in mind the Celts originally extended into Eastern Europe,
Ah-ha. The Keltai (mentioned by the ancient Greeks) was a generic term
referring to anyone from the north of the alps. No identifiable group,
even in Britain, identified themselves as Celts. The notion of the Celts
is modern dating from the 18th century.
>no doubt many of
>those folks wore makeshift 'skirts' until some lady took on the title of
>seamstress.
>
>"Aye laddie, there's nuthin beats the sound o' the pipes and the swirlin'
>o' the kilts.
>But truth be told, if yee wear breeches it sure keeps yer knackers
>warrrmmmm !".
>
>Jimmy, Calgary AB
>
--
Alistair Maclean
>> >You do know that the Irish were wearing them 10 centuries before the
>> >Scots made them famous, don't you?
>>
>> No. When?
>
>6th Century, adapted from the roman tunics from what I gather.
>
>Granted, the Scots were wearing them at that time as well, but they were
>all just men in skirts until Englands blood-thirsty ayatollah -- err --
>benevolent monarch -- made the wearing o' the plaid a treasonous crime
>in the mid-18th century.
Bearing in mind that the first mound of clan graves at Culloden is for
the Maclean clan one of the things that makes my blood boil about that
period is how soon after the rebellion my clan were adopting English
names (I have distant relatives called George and William dating from
1800).
>
>Since the law was targeted at Scotland they get the reputation for
>"inventing" the kilt.
>
>Don't people always seem to be more interested in the illegal things
>than the legal...
--
Jack Sleight
> (All right... this gets multi-lingual so I will try to explain. 'Upper
> US' is the punch-line of a dialect-humor joke, the set-up line of which is
> 'What is Italian for 'suppository'?'
I remember the answer being: "innuendo". "Upper US" was the answer
eliceted by the question: "What do Italins call Vermont, New
Hampshire, Maine, etc?" or something like it.
LX-i
> "Peter E.C. Dashwood" <dash...@enternet.co.nz> wrote:
>
>>Is there a word for people born in Tennessee? "Tennesseeans" sounds
>>kind of clumsy...like people people who play tennis a lot <G>
I don't know how I missed this - yes, "Tennesseeans" is the term. :)
--
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James J. Gavan
Alistair Maclean wrote:
> >Truth is there was a great deal of to-ing and fro-ing between the northern
> >Irish and Scotland, (Picts and Scots).
>
> Scots not Picts. The Scots came from Ireland and crossed to Mull.
>
OK so I went in alphabetical sequence - what would a Sassenach know anyway <G>
>
> Ah-ha. The Keltai (mentioned by the ancient Greeks) was a generic term
> referring to anyone from the north of the alps. No identifiable group,
> even in Britain, identified themselves as Celts. The notion of the Celts
> is modern dating from the 18th century.
Maybe this group should be renamed 'Anything but COBOL'. I see where you're
coming from, but a quick dash downstairs to the basement, I found my Penguin
paperback ' The Celts' by a Nora Chadwick. Hell - I can have a memory lapse -
it was printed in 1972.
She's not on the same wavelength as you - that's where I got my original quote
from. Your word 'Keltai' is written as 'Keltoi' from Greek (KEATOi - with
appropriate Greek symbols). Known by that name from the 5th century, the
Romans referred to them as the Galli - later becoming Galatae in both Greek and
Roman writing.
She gives dates and details, consistently using the word 'Celt'; without again
reading her book in detail, for a summary, the Penguin Atlas of World History
Vol I, (1974). No reference to Keltai/Keltoi - but Celts with dates :-
- 496 - 396 - Ten years war with the Veii :-
:
Conquest and destruction of city (Veii). Roman advance to north now possible.
Celts gradually migrated from their homes on the upper Rhine and Danube into
France, Spain, the British Isles and southward along the Danube (La Tene
period).
Iron weapons, warlike aristocracy. Only priests could offer sacrifice and
decide legal questions - was the basis of the priesthood's great influence -
i.e., the Druids, (** which you and I recognize from the Isle of Anglesey and
Mount Snowdon in N. Wales **).
- 400 - Incursion of Celts into Italy, settlement of Po Valley
- 390 - First encounter with Romans at Clusium
- 387 - Sack of Rome by Gauls : beaten by the Celts led by their duke (=
Brennus) at the Allia; the 'Hellenic' city of Rome was taken and burned.
Receing+++ ransom, Celts withdrew with much booty. (380 - reconstruction of
Rome).
- 396 - Conquest of Veii by Romans and decay of Etrus(can) power in the Po
valley as a result of Celtic incursions.
- 298 - 290 (Roman) 3rd Samnite War - their opponents were a coalition of
Samnites, Etruscans, Celts, Sabines, Lucanians and Umbrians.
- 285 - 282 - Struggles with Celts - conquest (by Rome) of the territory of the
Gallic Sennones (Ager Gallica and Sena Gallica).
- 279 - Incursion of Celts (= Galtians) into Asia Minor - supported Nicomedes
who with their aid founded the Kingdom of Bythnia
- 275 - Pushed back into Galatia in Asia Minor by Antiochus I
Then the conglomerate Celtic history seems to dry up, more in line with the
'native bands' we are familiar with. Ms. Chadwick does classify the 'British'
Celts into two groups . (Unfortunately without wading back through the book,
I've lost the reference). She neglected to include the small Celtic enclave in
N.W. Spain, although she mentions the Bretons. Interestingly she refers to the
Manx population as being Celtic. I recall you mentioning the Isle of Man was
occupied by Vikings. (Perhaps she is categorizing Vikings as Celts as well ?)
She also has pictures of Celtic works of art - Saint-Goar on the Rhine,
Heidelberg, Czechoslovakia, Rome ('The Dying Gaul'), various U.K treasures,
finishing up with the Book of Kells.
Seems like they were a pretty busy bunch - even when they weren't in a punch-up
amongst themselves, (loike me Irish brethren, when they've had a jar or two !)
Jimmy