Little tid bit of word orgins
In George Washington's days, there were no cameras.
One's image was either sculpted or painted. Some
paintings of George Washington showed him standing
behind a desk with one arm behind his back while
others showed both legs and both arms. Prices charged
by painters were not based on how many people were to
be painted, but by how many limbs were to be painted.
Arms and legs are "limbs," therefore painting them
would cost the buyer more. Hence the
expression, "Okay, but it'll cos! t you an arm and a
leg."
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As incredible as it sounds, men and women took baths
only twice a year (May and October)! Women kept their
hair covered, while men shaved their heads (because of
lice and bugs) and wore wigs. Wealthy men could
afford good wigs made from wool. They couldn't wash
the wigs, so to clean them they would carve out a loaf
of bread, put the wig in the shell, and bake it for 30
minutes. The heat would make the wig big and fluffy,
h! ence the term "big wig." ! ;Today we often use the
term "here comes the Big Wig" because someone appears
to be or is powerful and wealthy.
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In the late 1700s, many houses consisted of a large
room with only one chair. Commonly, a long wide board
folded down from the wall, and was used for dining.
The "head of the household" always sat in the chair
while everyone else ate sitting on the floor.
Occasionally a guest, who was usually a man, would be
invited to sit in this chair during a meal. To sit in
the chair meant ! you were important and in ch! arge.
They called the one sitting in the chair the "chair
man." Today in business, we use the expression or
title "Chairman" or "Chairman of the Board."
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; Personal hygiene left much room for improvement. As
a result, many women and men had developed acne scars
by adulthood. The women would spread bee's wax over
their facial skin to smooth out their complexions.
When they were speaking to each other, if a woman b!
egan to stare at another w! oman's face she was
told, "Mind your own bee 's wax." Should the woman
smile, the wax would crack, hence the term "crack a
smile." In addition, when they sat too close to the
fire, the wax would melt . . . therefore, the
expression "losing face."
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Ladies wore corsets, which would lace up in the
front. A proper and dignified woman as in "straight
laced". . wore a tightly tied lace.
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Common entertainment included playing cards.
However, there was a tax levied when purchasing
playing cards but only applicable to the "Ace of
Spades." To avoid paying the tax, people would
purchase 51 cards instead. Yet, since most games
require 52 cards, these people were thought to be
stupid or dumb because they weren't "playing with a
full deck."
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Early politicians required feedback from the public
to determine what the people considered important.
Since there were no telephones, TV's or radios, the
politicians sent their assistants to local taverns,
pub! s, and bars. They were t! old to "go sip some
ale" and listen to people's conversations and
political concerns. Many assistants were dispatched
at different times "You go sip here" and "You go sip
there." The two words "go sip" were eventually
combined when referring to the local opinion and, thus
we have the term "gossip."
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At local taverns, pubs, and bars, people drank from
pint and quart-sized containers. A bar maid's job was
to keep a! n eye on the customers and keep! the drinks
coming. She had to pay clo se attention and remember
who wa s drinking in "pints" and who was drinking
in "quarts," hence the term "minding your "P's and
Q's."
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One more: bet you didn't know this!
In the heyday of sailing ships, all war ships and
many freighters carried iron cannons. Those cannons
fired round iron cannon balls. It was necessary to
keep a good supply near the cannon. However, how to
prevent them from rolling about the deck? The best s!
torage method devised was a squar! e-based pyramid
with one ball on top, resting on four resting on nine,
which rested on sixteen. Thus, a supply of 30 cannon
balls could be stacked in a small area right next to
the cannon. There was only one problem...how to
prevent the bottom layer from sliding or rolling from
under the others. The solution was a metal plate
called a "Monkey" with 16 round indentations. However,
if this plate were made of iron, the iron balls would
quickly rust to it. The solution to the rusting
problem was to make "Brass Monk! eys." Few landlubbers
realize that ! brass contracts much more and muc h
faster than iron when chilled. Cons equently, when the
temperature dropped too far, the brass indentations
would shrink so much that the iron cannonballs would
come right off the monkey. Thus, it was quite
literally, "Cold enough to freeze the balls off a
brass monkey." (All this time, you thought that was an
improper expression, didn't you.)
Send this fabulous bit of historic knowledge to your
friends. If you don't, your floppy is going to fall
off your hard drive and kill your mouse.
"If you can read this, ! thank a teacher."
"If you are reading it in English, thank our military
INTERNATIONAL THINKING
AT ITS BEST!
Question: What is the truest definition of Globalization?
Answer: Princess Diana's death.
Question: How come?
Answer: An English princess
with an Egyptian boyfriend
crashes in a French tunnel,
driving a Ger man car
with a Dutch engine,
driven by a Belgian who was drunk
on Scottish whisky, (check the bottle before you change the spelling)
followed closely by Italian Paparazzi,
on Japanese motorcycles;
treated by an American doctor,
using Brazilian medicines.
This is sent to you by an American,
using Bill Gates's technology,
and you're probably reading this on your computer,
that use Taiwanese chips,
and a Korean monitor,
assembled by Bangladeshi workers
in a Singapore plant,
transported by Indian lorry-drivers,
hijacked by Indonesians,
unloaded by Sicilian longshoremen,
and trucked to you by Mexicans
That, my friends, is Globalization
From a Military Doctor
I am a doctor specializing in the Emergency Departments of the only two
military Level One-trauma centers, both in San Antonio, TX and they
care
for civilian Emergencies as well as military personnel.
San Antonio has the largest military retiree population in the world
living
here As a military doctor, I work long hours and the pay is less than
glamorous.
One tends to become jaded by the long hours, lack of sleep, food,
family
contact and the endless parade of human suffering passing before you.
The
arrival of another ambulance does not mean more pay, only more work.
Most often, it is a victim from a motor vehicle crash. Often it is a
person
of dubious character who has been shot or stabbed. With our large
military
retiree population, it is often a nursing home patient.
Even with my enlisted service and minimal combat experience in Panama,
I
have caught myself groaning when the ambulance brought in yet another
sick,
elderly person from one of the local retirement centers that cater to
military retirees. I had not stopped to think of what citizens of this
age
group represented.
I saw "Saving Private Ryan." I was touched deeply. Not so much by the
carnage, but by the sacrifices of so many. I was touched most by the
scene
of the elderly survivor at the graveside, asking his wife if he'd been
a
good man. I realized that I had seen these same men and women coming
through my Emergency Dept. and had not realized what magnificent
sacrifices
they had made. The things they did for me and everyone else that has
lived
on this planet since the end of that conflict are priceless.
Situation permitting, I now try to ask my patients about their
experiences.
They would never bring up the subject without the inquiry. I have been
privileged to an amazing array of experiences, recounted in the brief
minutes allowed in an Emergency Dept. encounter. These experiences have
revealed the incredible individuals I have had the honor of serving in
a
medical capacity, many on their last admission to the hospital.
There was a frail, elderly woman who reassured my young enlisted medic,
trying to start an IV line in her arm. She remained calm and poised,
despite her illness and the multiple needle-sticks into her fragile
veins.
She was what we call a "hard stick." As the medic made another attempt,
I
noticed a number tattooed across her forearm. I touched it with one
finger
and looked into her eyes. She simply said, "Auschwitz." Many of later
generations would have loudly and openly berated the young medic in his
many attempts. How different was the response from this person who'd
seen
unspeakable suffering.
Also, there was this long retired Colonel, who as a young officer had
parachuted from his burning plane over a Pacific Island held by the
Japanese. Now an octogenarian, his head cut in a fall at home where he
lived alone. His CT scan and suturing had been delayed until after
midnight
by the usual parade of high priority ambulance patients. Still spry for
his
age, he asked to use the phone to call a taxi, to take him home, then
he
realized his ambulance had brought him without his wallet.
He asked if he could use the phone to make a long distance call to his
daughter who lived 7 miles away. With great pride we told him that he
could
not, as he'd done enough for his country and the least we could do was
get
him a taxi home, even if we had to pay for it ourselves. My only
regret
was that my shift wouldn't end for several hours, and I couldn't drive
him
myself.
I was there the night MSgt. Roy Benavidez came through the Emergency
Dept.
for the last time. He was very sick. I was not the doctor taking care
of
him, but I walked to his bedside and took his hand. I said nothing. He
was
so sick, he didn't know I was there. I'd read his Congressional Medal
of
Honor citation and wanted to shake his hand. He died a few days later.
The gentleman who served with Merrill's Marauders, the survivor of the
Bataan Death March, the survivor of Omaha Beach, the 101 year old World
War
I veteran, the former POW held in frozen North Korea, the former
Special
Forces medic - now with non-operable liver cancer, the former Viet Nam
Corps Commander. I remember these citizens.
I may still groan when yet another ambulance comes in, but now I am
much
more aware of what an honor it is to serve these particular men and
women.
I have seen a Congress who would turn their back on these individuals
who've sacrificed so much to protect our liberty. I see later
generations
that seem to be totally engrossed in abusing these same liberties, won
with
such sacrifice.
It has become my personal endeavor to make the nurses and young
enlisted
medics aware of these amazing individuals when I encounter them in our
Emergency Dept. Their response to these particular citizens has made Me
think that perhaps all is not lost in the next generation.
My experiences have solidified my belief that we are losing an
incredible
generation, and this nation knows not what it is losing. Our uncaring
government and ungrateful civilian populace should all take note. We
should all remember that we must "Earn this."
Written By CPT. Stephen R. Ellison, M.D.