Thursday, August 19, 2010
Moon may be shrinking, but very slowly
Odds and Sods
Odds and Sods
English words of Scandinavian origin
Much of the following comes from The English Language – Grammar, History, Literature by Professor Meiklejohn, printed in 1905, collected by Pat English for her blog, The Squirrelbasket.The early contributions of Scandinavian to English are or two kinds – place-names and ordinary words... The most striking instance of a Danish place-name is by, a town... there are in the East of England more than 600 names of towns ending in –by. Whitby is the town on the white cliffs...
By-law means a law specific to a particular town...
The most useful and most often used word the Scandinavians gave us is “are”. The pure English (Anglo Saxon) word for this would have been beoth or sinden. The Scandinavians also gave us the habit of using the word “to” before an infinitive...
Other old Norse words in English are:
Blunt, bole (of a tree), bound (on a journey), busk (to dress), cake, call, clog, clumsy, curl, cut, dairy, daze, dirt, droop, fellow, flit, hustings, ill, irk, kid, kindle, loft, odd, plough, root, scold, sky, tarn (a small mountain lake), weak and ugly…
Some other Old Norse words missing from this list might be: axle, blunder, dregs, gosling, hack, haggle, husband, knife, knot, lad, litmus, mire, mistake, oaf, ransack, reindeer, saga, scare, scarf, scathe, scrape, skill, skin, slaughter, sleuth (sloð means “trail”), take, thrall, troll, whirl, whisk, window (meaning wind-eye), work…
It was during the time when the English and Scandinavians lived side by side that we lost so many of the niceties of the language – not bothering any more with declensions and conjugations and with matching adjectives with their nouns in terms of gender and number etc. The adjective black can be applied to a cat whether male or female and to cats plural, without changing the ending. This was the biggest influence of the Scandinavians on our language...
From Norwegian
Aquavit (a kind of spirit distilled from potatoes), floe (as in ice floe), Kraken (sea monster), krill (small shrimp-like animals), lemming, quisling (from a wartime traitor, Vidkun Quisling), ski, slalom and Yngling (a sailing boat class from an old Norwegian word for “youngster.”
From Swedish
Angstrom (scientific measurement, from Anders Angstrom), gravlax (preserved salmon – originally “grave salmon” as it was preserved underground), moped, ombudsman, orienteering, smorgasbord (sandwich table), tungsten (meaning hard stone)
From Danish
Frisbee is an interesting one. Inspiration for the toy came from the airworthy pie tins of the Frisbie Bakery in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The family name comes from a place in Leicestershire called Frisby on the Wreak, the name meaning “farmstead or village of the Frisians” – there’s that by ending again…
There's more at the here.
For almost 200 years, the Ohio Clock has been the subject of rumor and curiosity.
Also: The Kidney Kingpin of India
When Eleni Dagiasi flew from Athens to Delhi for a kidney transplant, little did she know that her trip would involve a raid by the police. Turns out, the man she trusted to perform a kidney transplant surgery was known as India’s Kidney Kingpin.Yudhijit Bhattacharjee of Discover write an intriguing story about the black market of organs and the fall of the Kidney Kingpin:
The mastermind, India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) charged, was Amit Kumar—a man who performed the surgeries with no more formal training than a degree in ayurveda, the ancient Indian system of medicine. In a career spanning two decades, Kumar had established one of the world’s largest kidney trafficking rings, with a supply chain that extended deep into the Indian countryside. Some of his clients were from India. Many came from Greece, Turkey, the Middle East, Canada, and the United States.
At parties in India and abroad, Kumar introduced himself as one of India’s foremost kidney surgeons, said Rajiv Dwivedi, a CBI investigator based in Delhi. The claim wasn’t entirely illegitimate: Investigators estimate that Kumar has performed hundreds of successful transplants, a practice so lucrative that he was able to finance Bollywood movies and had to fend off extortion threats from the Mumbai mafia. Two weeks after the police crackdown in Gurgaon, Kumar was arrested at a wildlife resort in Nepal and brought back to India, where he now awaits trial.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
The Daily Drift
The Daily Drift
Today's horoscope says:Moving at great speed isn't your typical mode, but for now, you're getting somewhat ahead of yourself.
You're full of hot ideas and big schemes, and this is definitely good -- but you need to work on them some more before taking action.
It's not that they're impossible -- not at all -- but you need to keep pushing against adversity.
Take your time and you pick up some unexpected assistance.
Today is:
Today is Wednesday, August 18, the 230th day of 2010.
There are 135 days left in the year.
Today's unusual holiday or celebration is:
Bad Poetry Day
Cupcake Day
and
Mail Order Catalog Day
Don't forget to visit our sister blog!
Man who struck legendary homer dies
Bobby Thomson hit what some have called the greatest home run ever.
Also: The Beatles in Hamburg - 50 years ago today
An article at the Telegraph remembers when John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Pete Best and Stuart Sutcliffe performed the first of their 281 concerts in Hamburg:
Their work rate was phenomenal – at one point in 1961 they played for 98 nights in succession, frequently starting at 7pm and going through until 7am. They learned how to survive on their wits, their flair for improvisation, their innate cockiness – and on a steady stream of uppers...
It is no exaggeration to say that it was in Hamburg that the Beatles properly learned how to play as a band ("It was our apprenticeship," Harrison said); it was in Hamburg where they made their first recording (as the backing band on a Tony Sheridan version of My Bonnie); and it was in Hamburg that John, Paul and George first played together with Ringo Starr (he was at the time the drummer with the rather superior Rory Storm and the Hurricanes, and told the lads that they had better work on their act if they wanted to get him to join).
That first performance 50 years ago was at the Indra Club – a dingy little place that doubled as a strip joint in the Grosse Freiheit ("Great Freedom") on the fringes of Hamburg's Reeperbahn red-light district. The band had driven from the Hook of Holland in an Austin minivan and had been given digs in a couple of bleak storage rooms in the back of a nearby cinema, the Bambi Kino ("It was a pig sty," Lennon recalled later. "We were right next to the ladies' toilet.")...
At the new club they were asked to play long sets seven days a week – and to "mach schau" – or put on a show, something Lennon in particular liked to do (he once turned up on stage wearing nothing but his underpants – and a toilet seat around his neck; he frequently addressed his audience with the greeting "Heil Hitler".)
Hempel explains how they played right through the night with only short breaks and drew on every musical influence they could. They learned fast. As Lennon recalled: "Every song lasted 20 minutes and had 20 solos in it. That's what improved the playing. There was nobody to copy from. We played what we liked best and the Germans liked it as long as it was loud."
Hot water killing Coral
At 93F the ocean is too hot
Indonesia is home to stunning coral reefs, but the only thing stunning about them right now is that they're dying off at alarming rates after a sea surface temperature rise. The Wildlife Conservation Society just released a report detailing the wide-spread extent of the destruction that occurred in May at the northern tip of Sumatra, as their "Rapid Response Unit" of marine biologists investigated and discovered that over 60% of the corals were bleached.
As the Wildlife Conservation Society explains, coral bleaching is a "whitening of corals that occurs when algae living within coral tissues are expelled - is an indication of stress caused by environmental triggers such as sea surface temperature fluctuations." Corals may or may not recover from bleaching. Bleaching has been common in other places from Florida to Malaysia. Stressors from a rise or fall in water temperatures to pollution can cause bleaching. But here in Indonesia, scientists found that 80% of some species have died already and more are expected to die in the next few months after surface temperatures in the Andaman Sea rocketed up to 34 degrees Celsius (4 degrees higher than usual) according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). If the bleaching occurs in other areas of the Andaman Sea, it's possible that this could be the worst bleaching ever recorded in the area.
"It's a disappointing development particularly in light of the fact that these same corals proved resilient to other disruptions to this ecosystem, including the Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2004," said WCS Indonesia Marine Program Director Dr. Stuart Campbell.
Corals can sometimes recover from bleaching if the right precautions are taken. This area was already undergoing improved management after the tsunami in 2004, and while this heat snap has wrought incredible damage, there is a chance that the corals can make a come back, albeit a slow one.
"This is a tragedy not only for some of the world's most biodiverse coral reefs, but also for people in the region, many of whom are extremely impoverished and depend on these reefs for their food and livelihoods," said WCS Marine Program Director Dr. Caleb McClennen. "Immediate and intensive management will be required to try and help these reefs, their fisheries and the entire ecosystem recover and adapt. However, coral reefs cannot be protected from the warming ocean temperatures brought on by a changing climate by local actions alone. This is another unfortunate reminder that international efforts to curb the causes and effects of climate change must be made if these sensitive ecosystems and the vulnerable human communities around the world that depend on them are to adapt and endure."
The impacts of global warming have been apparent among coral reefs for years. Unfortunately, the global community is doing little to limit carbon dioxide emissions, which has a double impact for reefs -- not only does that mean a rise in global temperatures which kills off reefs, but it also boosts ocean acidification, to which reefs also have difficulty adapting. While there are countless studies underway and multiple attempts at creating marine preserves where coral reefs can be protected as much as possible, there's little anyone can do when it comes to getting corals out of hot water.
The Gadget Hackwrench Religion
‘Fess up – who though that Gadget Hackwrench from the Disney TV series Chip ‘n Dale Rescue Rangers back in the early 90s, was adorable? Well, a group of Russian fans thought that the pilot, mechanic and inventor
Well, believe it or not, a group of Russian fans of Gadget Hackwrench have created a new religion, with the above mentioned cartoon character as the idol. They pray to posters of her, gather to talk about how incredibly great she is, compose songs about her, and spread stickers of Miss Hackwrench, wherever they go. It’s pretty unbelievable, but if Maradona has his own cult, why couldn’t Gadget Hackwrench?
Here’s what some of her worshipers think of their rodent goddess: “She is the divine being, the most untouched and perfect sibling of the great God on Earth”. “Why I love her? It’s a stupid question, how could I not love the Goddess?”. “She is strict, cute, optimistic and her level of technical knowledge is unachievable for a mortal being.”
And you wonder why religion has a bad name?
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
The Daily Drift
The Daily Drift
Today's horoscope says:An unexpected message comes your way, so keep your eyes and ears open -- as well as your IM window and your inbox.
You may be thinking about the long-term, and the universe is making big plans for you that you had no idea were in motion.
The more open your mind is, the better!
While it might not seem quite perfect at first glance, it should certainly grow on you quickly.
Today is:
Today is Tuesday, August 17, the 229th day of 2010.
There are 136 days left in the year.
Today's unusual holiday or celebration is:
National Thrift Shop Day
Don't forget to visit our sister blog!
Leave it to the Irish
Murphy applied for a fermentation operator post at a famous Irish firm
based in Dublin .
A Pole applied for the same job and since both
applicants had similar qualifications, they were asked to take a test
by the Manager.
When the results were in, both men had scored 19 out of 20.
The manager went to Murphy and said, "Thank you for coming to the
interview, but we’ve decided to give the Pole the job."
Murphy, "And why would you be doing that? We both got 19 questions
correct. This being Ireland and me being Irish surely I should get the
job."
Manager, " We have made our decision not on the correct answers, but on
the question you got wrong."
Murphy, " And just how would one incorrect answer be better than
another?"
Manager, " Simple. On question number 7 the Pole wrote down, 'I don’t
know.' You put down, ‘Neither do I’.
based in Dublin .
A Pole applied for the same job and since both
applicants had similar qualifications, they were asked to take a test
by the Manager.
When the results were in, both men had scored 19 out of 20.
The manager went to Murphy and said, "Thank you for coming to the
interview, but we’ve decided to give the Pole the job."
Murphy, "And why would you be doing that? We both got 19 questions
correct. This being Ireland and me being Irish surely I should get the
job."
Manager, " We have made our decision not on the correct answers, but on
the question you got wrong."
Murphy, " And just how would one incorrect answer be better than
another?"
Manager, " Simple. On question number 7 the Pole wrote down, 'I don’t
know.' You put down, ‘Neither do I’.
John Lennon letter arrives after 34 years
A British folk singer finally reads the letter that the Beatle sent him decades ago.
Also:
A third of adults ‘still take teddy bear to bed’
The survey also found that 25% of men said they even took their teddy away with them on business because it reminded them of home. Travelodge said that in the past year staff have reunited more than 75,000 teddies and their owners.
Spokesman Shakila Ahmed said: "Interestingly the owners have not just been children, we have had a large number of frantic businessmen and women call us regarding their forgotten teddy bear." Corrine Sweet, a psychologist, said cuddling a teddy bear was an "important part of our national psyche".
She said: "It evokes a sense of peace, security and comfort. It's human nature to crave these feelings from childhood to adult life. It's not surprising, then, that taking a teddy bear on a business trip is popular. As a bedtime bear evokes feelings of home, warmth, and can help you nod off - just like in babyhood." The study also found that the traditional teddy bear was the most popular cuddly toy among adults, with Winnie the Pooh second and Paddington Bear third.
Why Did Dutch People Wear Wooden Shoes?
The answer goes back to the country’s name, Neterlands roughly translates into “low lands,” which describes most of the terrain in the area. Because the country is filled with so many low lands, the ground was largely boggy and wet and leather shoes would become easily ruined and could not adequately protect the wearer’s feet from becoming damp. Wooden shoes on the other, were sturdy, could survive the muck and were better at keeping feet dry.
These days they are considered good safety shoes as they are difficult to crush or penetrate. They’re also good for kicking butt, as you can tell from this great Jackie Chan clip.
That'll learn ya.
Qusimodo was a real person
Notre Dame's hunchback had another job before becoming a bell-ringer, new research shows.
Also: The Amazing Monasteries Of Bhutan
Bhutan is still something of a mystery to many - this landlocked country is often overlooked by its larger and better known neighbors India and Tibet. However, the country, with a tiny population of only 700.000 people, has a rich history - and over 40 Buddhist monasteries.
Confucius says ...
It does not matter how slow you go so long as you do not stop.
The Wisdom of Confucius
We are running out of Bacon
The price of pork bellies, from which bacon is made, has shot up from 94 cents per pound as recently as June to $1.40 per pound in August.
In stores, average retail prices have risen by more than $1 per pound since last year, to more than $4, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported.
In stores, average retail prices have risen by more than $1 per pound since last year, to more than $4, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported.
Market analysts said the reason for the suddenly high prices is simple shortage: A year ago, 76.3 million pounds of pork bellies were in various commercial freezers around the country. In early August of this year, that storage figure had dropped to 35.4 million pounds.
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