With what do you Interlard your conversations?

Interlard, the Word of the Day for Thursday, April 8, 2010, is almost self-explanatory in its basest meaning. The original sense of the word, now obsolete, was "to place lard or bacon amongst, or to mix, as fat meat with lean." Now, however it means, “to insert between; to mix or mingle; especially, to introduce something foreign or irrelevant into; as, "to interlard a conversation with oaths or allusions."
I was especially taken by the words “to introduce something foreign or irrelevant into” and the example of "to interlard a conversation with oaths or allusions." How many time’s have you experienced a good conversation ruined by the introduction of foreign or irrelevant thoughts and words? And the more so, by totally unnecessary swear words; and oft, even more so, by the inexcusable and offensive to me at least, word, “Umm!”
Of course it is always very easy to pick on the conversation of others isn’t it? Bu but let us also never forget our own conversations too! Yes, how many foreign or irrelevant words, (like oaths or allusions), do we use each day? So let this word of the day become real to us all and if we must interlard our conversations, please let us do it with relevant and meaningful words and not offensive or dumb ones. BFNW

How well do you honour the past?

Took the following from a friend‘s blog. (She is currently living in Papua New Guinea.)
“Today ******* and I went to Sohano Island, which sits in the Buka Passage, that is the small bit of ocean between Bougainville and Buka Island. There are some war memorials at Sohano and I visited them on your behalf.
The Australian memorial was a bit off the beaten track! It wasn't very far, but the path to it was almost non-existent and we ended up with lots of prickly burrs in our clothes for our effort! The first 3 photos above are of this memorial. I think the words are pretty clear on the first picture, but the second one is a bit harder to see – it says: In memory of the service given by the coast watchers and the loyal natives who assisted them 1939-1945.
The Japanese war memorial was more prominent and we just walked on nice short grass to get to it… You can see it from the sea when you are travelling on a motor boat as it is at the top of a hill at a point on the island.”
I found it interesting and even a little disturbing, to find that one side, (the winning side) neglects their memorials to the dead, while the other (The side that lost) maintains their memorials to the long departed.
All of which made me wonder, with Anzac Day coming up fast this month, if I really truly honour the past, or simply pay it lip service, one or two days a year, and then promptly forget about it the rest of the time? How about you? Are you any better at honouring the Past than me?

Hypothetical Moral Dilemma for you? 6/3/2010

When I was in Secondary School (Watsonia Technical School) in the early 60’s, the strongest drug around my school then was ordinary Cigarettes, so I missed out on ever having the opportunity to ever try Marijuana. Similarly, although it was definitely around the places I worked in, in the and 70’s and early 80’s, and I knew of people who possibly used it or had possible access to it, I never saw the need to try it at all.
Not even in the 90’s, which we spent in the Transkei area in South Africa which supposedly grew the best marijuana (Or Dagga, as it is called there) in the world, whilst still strictly illegal.
Now, shortly, my wife and I, will be going to Amsterdam where apparently smoking Marijuana is Legal. So my moral dilemma is, should I, just because it is/will be legal to do so, now take advantage of this legal opportunity to try Marijuana or not? After all I can legitimately say I am thinking of trying it to cure my ongoing and persistent headaches, thus giving reasonable health grounds for trying it?
Don’t worry, I am not seriously considering trying it, but was again struck by the irony that just because a thing is now legal, doesn’t necessarily mean it is good for you or that you must now rush out and try it, just because you can now do so legally. What say you?

The Good Wife

Winston Churchill supposedly once said, "My most brilliant achievement was my ability to be able to persuade my wife to marry me."
After having been married for 37 years yesterday, I have only 3 words for Him:
"Amen Winnie. Amen."

Do you like Havaianas?

A friend of ours is Currently visiting South America and was recently in Buenos Aires. Where he reported, “Havaianas for as low as $15AUD. Not bad huh.” To which I thought, “How would I know if that was good or bad, as I don’t even Know what a Havaiana is”.
At first, I thought it might have been a Cuban Cigar, but as I don’t think this person smokes, I didn’t think that was it though. So l looked it up on the Net and found out that the exotic sounding ’Havaiana was simply a brand or trade name for a simple product that, although supposedly introduced to us by the Kiwis, is a quintessential piece of Australian footwear. Yes! That exotic sounding Havaiana, is simply a brand of the Humble thong, or as it is known in South Africa, the Flip-flop!
Thus, Havaianas are a Brazilian brand of thongs/flip-flops that gained world recognition in 1998 after the company developed a style of the sandals for the World Cup that featured the Brazilian flag. Although Havaiana flip-flops have only become wildly popular in the United States in the last five years after many celebrities were seen wearing them, the brand has been around since 1962. The brand's famous slogan "Havaianas. The Real Ones." originated in the 1970s as a response to other companies making knock-off versions of the flip-flops. The shoes are known for their comfortable soles and straps. The name Havaianas means Hawaiians (in Portuguese), which is where they obviously come from via Japan where all thongs/ flip-flops apparently originate from.
All in all, all the above doesn’t really mean all that much to me, but it was surprising to learn that a product that many Australians would think was synonymous with Australia, both has other names and originated elsewhere far from Australia.
All of which made me wonder how many other things we proudly claim as our own that we should actually be giving credit and recognition to? And I guess the same thing should be asked of my own life too? What things am I currently taking or being given credit for that I should be giving or directing to the correct source? Maybe you too need to ask that same question too? Over to you now for your reflection.

What is your current prejudice?

When we came back from South Africa in 2002 and brought a car here, we started using the local Mechanic in Ringwood that our oldest daughter used, who in fact was technically an Auto electrician who worked out of a small factory next door to a Brake and Clutch mechanic. And between the two there wasn’t too much that they couldn’t fix when it came to car problems. Then our youngest daughter also took her car there and all was happy for many years, but then late in 2008, the oldest daughter bought a late model Mazda and we, a new Mazda and we both took them to the Mazda dealer. At around the same time our youngest bought a late model Holden and our Mechanic/auto electrician decided to give up his business and go and work for wages next door at the Brake and Clutch place. At the same time our Youngest independently decided that she wanted to take her Holden to a Holden specialist. So that is how, although we all used the same mechanic, we all left him but not because of any fault or weakness of his.
Well the youngest took her Holden to the Local Holden specialist a couple of times and wasn't very happy with them or their service and so when a sudden problem occurred after Christmas with the ignition, 5 days before she was planning to drive up to Townsville, some 36 hours driving time away, she decided to go to another Holden dealer, but they couldn’t do it for four days, (a little over 24 hours before she wanted to leave) and that it would cost her $300.
So I suggested that she go back to this other mechanic, where our mechanic now works and just get their opinion on the matter. So we did and they were open first day back after the Christmas break, and although our Mechanic wasn’t there, the Boss of the place worked out what the problem was, and said that whilst he could do it, they were really busy and it really was a locksmiths job anyway. So he checked that the locksmith he used was open and we went around there.
But all the way there the youngest was saying, “BUT IT IS NOT RIGHT TAKING A CAR TO A LOCKSMITH! A CAR NEEDS A MECHANIC. “
Anyway as her options were rather limited, she went. However after speaking with the people there, who immediately knew that her Holden was an Astra around the year 2000 model and that they had a stack of Ignition cylinders for most makes and models of Cars, she was much happier about them “fixing” her car. And less than an hour’s work and only $135.00 later, she was one very relieved and happy young lady.
I think that left to her own devices she would not have gone to the locksmiths but waited till the last minute for the $300 fix. A decision that not only would have cost more for no better a job but left her stressed for those extra 4 days.
All of which made me wonder what prejudices I might have, that are also irrational and illogical when you really think about them. After all where else would you go for help with a problem with a lock and key, but a locksmiths, even if the key and lock belong to a Car?
So I just thought I would start the New Year with the thought that perhaps all of us should re-evaluate our current prejudices anew and see if perhaps they too are irrational and need changing. What do you think?

When do you take your Christmas decorations down?

Well I finally finished taking the Christmas Decorations down yesterday. I had wanted to start on Boxing Day but was told that I should leave them up till Jan. 1st at first. And then someone else said, no Jan 6th is the day they stay up to.
Well I compromised and the Cards and the outside lights came down on Jan 3 and the Tree yesterday.
But am still wondering what is the normal day to remove the Christmas Decorations and the reason for why that particular day?
To me, once Christmas Day is past, there is no point in them staying up! What are your thoughts please?