I love her so much, I feel as if I’m flying… tucked her in, and now I’m going to bed.

?!?! So many people back? Or were they never fired after all?

Robert, Greg, Michelle…they’re all here?

Why does a hippie like me like dragnet so much? I think it’s great!

Dear Straight Dope:

Besides their poetic value to the song, what is the significance (if any) of the “parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme” in Simon and Garfunkel’s song “Scarborough Fair?” –Jeny Dowlin

Scarborough Fair was not a fair as we know it today (although it attracted jesters and jugglers) but a huge 45-day trading event starting August 15–exceptionally long for a fair in medieval England. People from all over Great Britain, and even some from the continent, came to the seaside town of Scarborough in the north of England to do their business. Eventually the harbor started to decline, and so did the fair. People are still going to Scarborough–it’s a tourist resort now–but all they get is parsley, sage, and rosemary. They just don’t have the thyme.

No one knows who wrote the original song “Scarborough Fair,” though most feel it dates from the middle ages. Bards in medieval England (or “shapers,” as they were called) didn’t usually take credit for songs they wrote. Most learned “Scarborough Fair,” then took it from town to town where others heard it and passed it along. Each shaper changed the lyrics and arrangements to suit his or her style. Following this tradition, Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel used only a small portion of the “original” lyrics on their 1966 album, “Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme.”

Though meaningless to most now, the four herbs spoke to the imaginations of medieval folk much as roses do today:

Parsley takes away the bitterness, in a spiritual as well as practical sense. Phytotherapists still prescribe parsley for people who suffer from indigestion. Eating a leaf of parsley with a meal is said to make spinach and other heavy vegetables easier to digest.

Sage has symbolized strength for thousands of years.

Rosemary–faithfulness, love and remembrance. Ancient Greek swains used to give rosemary to their ladies, and the custom of a bride wearing twigs of rosemary in her hair is still practiced in England and several other European countries today. The herb also stands for sensibility and prudence. Ancient Roman doctors recommended putting a small bag of rosemary leaves under the pillow of someone who had to perform a difficult mental task, such as an exam. Rosemary is associated with feminine love, because it’s very strong and tough, although it grows slowly.

Thyme represents courage. At the time Scarborough Fair was written, knights wore images of thyme on their battle shields as a symbol of their courage and endurance. Guess even then when thyme took a licking, it kept on ticking.

–SDSTAFF Songbird
Straight Dope Science Advisory Board.

Cows produce on average produces 10 gallons of saliva a day? is that true?

this just in from Ornj…

The Litter Box Song

you put your left paw in
you take your left paw out
you put your left paw in
and you scratch it all about
you do the Newty Pooty
and you cover it all up..

that’s what it’s all about….

They’re a strange bunch, management here, they really are — harder to deal with than the Imperial Chinese court, and considerably less attractive to look at. (to paraphrase a Terry Pratchett) The big boss is fond of being loud. A bit of a bully, he’s never really done that sort of stuff to me, but you can hear him 3 rooms down if he gets on a yelling jag.

Asked the mail shop gal if he knew anything about my invisimail. Sadly, the mail shop guy in charge got toasted on Friday, who knows where he’s at now.

Ah well… the world still spins, light still shines, and love is in my heart. What more could a person ask for? Ornj was in severe slumber mode, so I had to fend for myself after 10:30 or so… spent the time browsing LJ, skimming on-line work ads, and playing with Punky Newtster. It got dang chilly last night… had to shut the windows and turn on the little space heater again… (I suspect it dropped to the mid-low 40s, but not sure of the exact temp. I do know that Newtie was poofed up to stay warm, until I got him into the covers. 🙂 Little purry lawnmower)

Got into a stupid goof mood, so I ended up doing a little song for Newt… easy to take current tunes and pop in Newt for certain words…blue works especially well. “Newt Moon”, “Newt of Earle”, Use the word Newt for every note in the “Imperial Death Star March”… or for every note in “Green Acres” for that matter.

Ok, all you sweetie-pie peoples out there…

My birthday wish…

If you’d like to do something for my birthday, I have an idea for a nice gift in honor of what I’m doing this week.

Think you could go one day without using just plant based products? No milk, no chicken, no creature bits?

That’s what I’d like you to do for me. (My birthday is a week from Friday, February 2nd)… It’s nice to animals, kind to the planet and good for you, too. If you would like to do so, let me know! Who knows? Maybe it’s something you’ll decide to do longer.

A good way to do this is to have a Peanut butter and banana sammich or some beans and rice, applesauce….. . (a good scotto tribute, anyhow…I loves my PB&nanners)

Don’t humans have to eat meat to stay healthy?

Both the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the American Dietetic Association have endorsed vegetarian diets. Studies have also shown that vegetarians have stronger immune systems than meat-eaters and that meat-eaters are almost twice as likely to die of heart disease, 60 percent more likely to die of cancer, and 30 percent more likely to die of other diseases. The consumption of meat and dairy products has been conclusively linked with diabetes, arthritis, osteoporosis, clogged arteries, obesity, asthma, and impotence. (so I have another reason to ask you to do this… I want you folks around for a while longer)

A nice link to vegan fast food is here, if you’re like me, and happen to eat out far too often.

If this isn’t your thing, or seems daunting… good wishes are always welcome too. 🙂

Newtilla the Red is on a primal tear tonight, playing at being some sort of dwarf sabre-toothed tiger. Note to kelliebellie… he is growing larger, but his head and tail are remaining the same length… can it be he’s mutating?

For Destroll….

I AM THE VERY MODEL OF A MAJOR SUPER-CRIMINAL

THE MASTER-MIND
I am the very model of a major super-criminal
My costume is impeccable, my inhibitions minimal
My plans for world dominion are both logical and sensible,
But only those who envy me dare call them reprehensible.
I’ve mass-destruction in my grasp, atomic and bacterical,
But sharpest yet my rapier wit is honed with barbs satyrical,
I’ve kryptonite, from green to white, for any such occasions
That I failed to factor Superman into my grand equations.

HENCHMEN
That he failed to factor Superman into my grand equations.
That he failed to factor Superman into my grand equations.
That he failed to factor Superman into my grand equations.

THE MASTER-MIND
Napoleon and Hitler were my gurus philosophical,
And Dr. Doom my mentor in my studies catastrophical,
I’ve added all the latest of improvements to my cranium,
From eyeballs periscopic to a coating of titanium.

HENCHMEN
He’s added all the latest of improvements to his cranium,
From eyeballs telescopic to a coating of titanium.

THE MASTER-MIND
Of killing I’m a master, from zoology insidious,
To film critique in ways unique, and ambuscades euclidious,
My soul was bartered long ago to creatures quite infernal,
A price I paid quite gladly in exchange for life eternal;

With each and every stratagem I’m nearer to my victory
Except for super-heroes with opinions contradictory;
They upset my calculations which annoys me without measure,
And upon my hordes of lackies must be vented my displeasure…

HENCHMEN
[gradually inching off the stage]
Upon his hordes of lackies must be vented his displeasure
Upon his hordes of lackies must be vented his displeasure
Upon his hordes of lackies must be vented his displeasure…

THE MASTER-MIND
I wriggle through the penal codes through circumstance extenuous,
By employing only barristers reptilian and sinuous;
I escape from federal prisons and dimensions quite ethereal,
In time for juice and coffee, and a modest bowl of cereal.

HENCHMEN
[from the wings]
In time for juice and coffee, and a modest bowl of cereal,
In time for juice and coffee, and a modest bowl of cereal,
In time for juice and coffee, and a modest bowl of cereal

THE MASTER-MIND
For all my vast resources I have yet to be victorious,
But triumph now is imminent; the carnage will be glorious,
At last I shall achieve my quest for power unequivocal:
I am the very model of a major super-criminal!

HENCHMEN
At last he shall achieve his quest for power unequivocal:
He is the very model of a major super-criminal!

*irritated my mail didn’t make it to it’s destination yet.

It should’ve really been there by Saturday. I’m going to scour the mail shop for it during my next break.

First active healthy choice of the day… “No thank you” to homemade fudge.. ooh.. *BE GOOD SCOTTO*

In other south Florida News..

Snatch Violence
==============

An irate moviegoer, apparently blamed for kicking another’s chair,
pulled out a can of pepper spray and doused his accuser Friday during an
evening show at the Shops at Sunset Place AMC Theater — then sprayed a
police officer while trying to make his getaway.

http://www.herald.com/content/sat/news/Dade/digdocs/099198.htm

A sweet dual 833 NT machine was stolen over the weekend (after the major layoffs… ) most likely by someone with a key and door combinations.

2nd major theft, in recent memory…first one being a Nice laptop docking station a few months ago. I wonder if the culprit for both is the same, and if they’re still working here. My sympathy isn’t very high. security around here has been more of a goof than anything else. the numeric keypads just slow us down, and everyone knows the codes. (and in the main building, you can walk around one door to get in through an insecure one… go figure)

Looks like they called back and rehired some of the mail shop… Hoy and a few others are back, and I saw them making the mass exodus on Friday.

In other news, I still have to get stationary and some more trinkets for VAGG… Going to kick my tush into overdrive on that. I want to start mailing assorted Vallies out by Feb 01.

camgirls… so wacky