to "86" something...

So today, a friend posted to her Facebook wall a link and then posted to "86" a certain part of the post.  Well, this caused my mind to wonder and you know where that went...to further investigation.  I was challenged to understand this "strange" term, it's meanings and more importantly, it's origin.  Well, did I find a PLETHORA of information.  Seems there is NO consensus on WHERE this actually originated but there sure are a lot of opinions on the matter.  I thought I would share some of the highlights with you here!

First off, this is an American Expression (British people are not prone to this vernacular).  So, to start this discussion we have to get a few things right...it really is NOT ok to say, "eight-six" it is correct to say "eighty-six".  I know there are a few who think it is ok to use 8-6 in their vocabulary but it simply is NOT from what I have found to be true in my limited investigation on the matter.  86 is the term and that is the way is should be used....eighty-six!

Vague terms:
It can mean to simply get rid of something, toss it. "I'm about to 86 this piece of junk..." or someone...like firing from a job, "they 86'd me!"  Webster's suggests it was probably rhyming slang for 'nix and it first appeared in 1967 slang: to refuse to serve (a customer); also: to get rid of: THROW OUT.

In a Restaurant:

• In the kitchen when they are out of an item an announcement could be shouted, "86 on the Key Lime Pie".  This would mean that there is no more Key Lime pie for the day.
• The waiter may come to the customer and say, "The soup of the day is 86'd.  We're out."
• A fair amount of people believe the origin came from the days of the soda fountain.  86 was the password indicating they were out of an item as they had 85 flavors available.
• Some same 98 was used as code to say "the manager" was on the prowl so watch yourself!
• Another popular explanation comes from the New York City restaurant called Delmonico's.  This was a very popular place and one of their most popular items was the steak on the menu, and you guessed it, it was item 86 on their menu.  Because the steak was often sold out it became shorthand for being out of an item.
• I read that it really was originated with the soup kitchens and breadlines of the Great Depression.  The standard cauldron would hold 85 cups of soup so that the person who was 86 would get no soup!
• There is also the tale about the famous New York City restaurant called 21.  It seems that they had 85 tables here to seat patrons so when someone "undesirable" came to get a table, they would tell them they would be sent to the 86th one...which of course did not exist!

In the Bar:

• A bartender can "86" someone out of the bar because they have already had too much to drink.
• It could be said to not sell to that customer, "86 the guy in the booth".
• Interesting on this topic of bars, the New York State Liquor Code defines the circumstances in which a bar patron should be refused alcohol or, you guessed it, "86'ed".
• One of the most popular origins for this expression come from Chumley's (a famous 1900's New York speakeasy located at 86 Bedford St.)  During Prohibition, the entrance through an interior adjoining courtyard was used; for it was both discreet and private.  As per the New York tradition, cops were on Chumley's payroll and when they were about to raid the joint, they would call ahead.  The bartender would then give the command "86 everybody," which meant that everyone was to leave out the Bedford Street entrance because the cops would be coming in through the courtyard!  To this day there today at the same location with still no sign and entrance through the courtyard.
• Can't have an explanation without a cowboy tale, now can we?  Seems some take this expression way back to the Old West when most whiskey was 100 proof; they reserved bottles of 86 proof for the ladies.  Now if a cowboy got too rowdy, he would get the 86 proof served to him and this was considered in the least embarrassing so he would usually leave.

Still Other Ideas:

• Some think is has to do with a grave as they were dug 6 feet deep by 8 feet long therefore the item put in there would be dead or 86'd.  (This seems to not be a reason I would gravitate toward because I would think you would read this 8-6 and not 86'ed as we have established earlier!)
• How about this one...the streetcar line that operated on First Avenue on the east side of Manhattan ran from 14th Street to 86th.  As the Northbound car came to a stop, the motorman called out, "Eight-six.  End of the line.  All out!"
• The British merchant shipping standard crew was 85, so the 86'th would be left out.  (Again, this conflicts with above information as this was not a British slang from my readings!)
• Soldiers in America often refer to their missing soldier buddies as 86'd.  The missing in action (MIA'S) would be 86'd as this was being AWOL and in violation of the code from the UCMJ Sub Chapter X Article 86.
• One of the last reasons I found for this slang had to do with "offing" someone with the roots having to do with military action.  Another location said that it was not with the military but with the Mafia!  They would travel the distance of 86 miles out and 6 feet under meaning when a person was killed by the mafia they would be forced to dig his own grave many miles away from civilization; or the possibility of a simple variation of the slang term deep six which as the identical meaning.  It is simply meant to describe the approximate depth of water (6 fathers, 11 meters) needed for a burial at sea.  The term came into popular use among soldiers and veterans to describe missing solders then as 86's (see above).
• Finally, in you have ever seen the movie An Affair to Remember or Sleepless in Seattle you would be familiar with the scene where they are to meet on the top of the Empire State Building. All the elevators would go to the 86th floor and everyone would have to leave the elevator.  Well these movies have a positive twist to the top of the building but it was also known for a dark side; this public outdoor observatory was also the site of more than 30 suicides.  The building opened in 1931, apparently a few years before the term became popular - 86'ed.

So as you can see, there are MANY ideas to the origin and many times suggested on when it was coined.  Really don't know but I sure like a few of the ideas!

Elvis Presley - Blue Suede Shoes

So we are taking a trip down memory lane around here as one of my children is playing Blue Suede Shoes on the piano.  So funny how things we thought everyone knew, they did not.  We found a couple of links to help him get it right.  Hope you enjoy!

We also found this link of Elvis doing a screen test and of course, he is singing it too!

Miracle on Ice

Well the year was 1980 on February 22nd and the USA Olympic Hockey Team skated into history.  Most people talk about who they watch the game with and where they were watching as this was UNBELIEVABLE.  Here is a classic clip of sports infamy.

I was one who was privileged enough to actually hold one of the medals - Mike Ramsey #5 worked a summer job with one of my brothers so we were allowed to have a "family" viewing.  INCREDIBLE memory.  Do You Believe in Miracles?

the Apostrophe.

Yes, this is a post about the Apostrophe.   Why the apostrophe?  Because I found this incredible link that has some great discussion regarding the use and misuse of this wonderful English language tool.

Did you know there was even a society for the protection of the apostrophe?  It is called, The Apostrophe Protection Society.  How fitting.

I received the following information from a writing group that I am a part of and thought the information was worth sharing.  In the least there is a lot of food for thought here and hopefully you will even learn something new.  ENJOY:

Everywhere you turn, you see apostrophe errors. You'll find them in the produce department of the store ("Pear's for sale") and even in professional works that should know better, such as newspapers ("Its time for the Fall Festival").

There's actually a good reason for the confusion between "it's" and "its." Until the 19^th century, our plural form of the pronoun "it" was treated the same as a noun plural: "The lizard lost it's tail." That's because the word "'tis" was in vogue during that time, and it served as the contraction form of "it is." "Tis a lovely day."

However, as we moved into the 19^th century, "'tis" fell out of favor, and we began using "it's" as the contraction form of "it is." That's when we saw the emergence of the plain "its," which freed up the contraction, and then the confusion began.

But as you know, "it's" and "its" aren't the only troublesome areas where folks struggle with apostrophes. As to the other rules, they're covered in Evaluating Writing. But the main errors people make with apostrophes fall into these three categories:

Apostrophes in Possessives

YES: 

Use an apostrophe and an s when a noun owns something:

 Bill's ball

Mary's hat

BUT:

Use only an apostrophe when the noun is plural AND ends in an s. Otherwise, use the apostrophe and the s:

The cats' toys

The children's lessons

James's haircut

NO:

Do not use an apostrophe when you're talking about pronouns that own things, as in words such as his, hers, and its:

His truck is red.

Her shoes are new.

Its windows are tinted.

Apostrophes in Plurals

NO:

You do not need to use an apostrophe when you're referring to several nouns:

Bees make honey.

Dogs like to chase cats.

Apples are on sale this week.

Apostrophes in Contractions

YES:

Use an apostrophe when you're combining two words into one:

Doesn't = does not

Can't = can not or cannot

Isn't = is not

You're = you are

Did You Know?

Here are some random things that I thought were worth sharing.  Who knew?

Alaska: More than half of the coastline of the entire United States is in Alaska .

Amazon: The Amazon rain forest produces more than 20% of the world's oxygen supply. The Amazon River pushes so much water into the Atlantic Ocean that, more than one hundred miles at sea off the mouth of the river, one can dip fresh water out of the ocean. The volume of water in the Amazon river is greater than the next eight largest rivers in the world combined and three times the flow of all rivers in the United States .

Antarctica is the only land on our planet that is not owned by any country.  Ninety percent of the world's ice covers Antarctica. This ice also represents seventy percent of all the fresh water in the world. As strange as it sounds, however, Antarctica is essentially a desert; the average yearly total precipitation is about two inches. Although covered with ice (all but 0.4% of it, ice.), Antarctica is the driest place on the planet, with an absolute humidity lower than the Gobi desert.

Antarctica:

 

Brazil: Did you know that Brazil got its name from the nut, not the other way around.

 

Canada: Canada has more lakes than the rest of the world combined. Canada is an Indian word meaning ' Big Village '.

Chicago: Next to Warsaw, Chicago has the largest Polish population in the world.

 

Detroit: Woodward Avenue in Detroit, Michigan carries the designation M-1, so named because it was the first paved road anywhere!

 

Damascus, Syria: Damascus, Syria was flouringing a couple of thousand years before Rome was founded in  753 BC, making it the oldest continuously inhabited city in existence.

 

Istanbul, Turkey: Istanbul, Turkey is the only city in the world located on two continents.

 

Los Angeles: Los Angeles' full name is El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora la Reina de Los Angeles de Porciuncula - and can be abbreviated to 3.63% of it size: L.A.

 

New York City:  New York City has been known by the term 'The Big Apple' .  It was coined by touring jazz musicians of the 1930's who used the slang expression 'apple' for any town or city.  Therefore, to play New York City is to play the big time - The Big Apple.

There are more Irish in New York City than in Dublin , Ireland;  more Italians in New York City, than in Rome, Italy; and more Jews in New York City than in Tel Aviv, Israel .

 

Ohio: There are no natural lakes in the state of Ohio , every one is manmade.

Pitcairn Island: The smallest island with country status is Pitcairn, in Polynesia , at just 1.75 sq. Miles/4,53 sq. km.

Rome: The first city to reach a population of 1 million people was Rome, Italy in 133 B.C.  There is a city called Rome on every continent.

 

Siberia: Siberia contains more than 25% of the world's forests.

S.M.O.M.: The actual smallest sovereign entity in the world is the Sovereign Military Order of Malta (S.M.O.M).  It is located in the city of Rome, Italy and has an area of two tennis courts.  As of 2001, it has a population of 80 -- 20 less people than the Vatican.  It is a sovereign entity under international law, just as the Vatican is.

Sahara Desert: In the Sahara Desert there is a town named Tidikelt, Algeria, which did not receive a drop of rain for ten years.  Technically though, the driest place on Earth is in the valleys of the Antarctic near Ross Island.  There has been no rainfall there for two million years.

 

Spain: Spain literally means 'the land of rabbits'.

 

St. Paul, Minnesota: St. Paul, Minnesota, was originally called Pig's Eye after a man named Pierre 'Pig's Eye' Parrant who set up the first business there.

Roads: Chances that a road is unpaved:  in the U.S.A. = 1%;  in Canada  = .75%.

Russia: The deepest hole ever drilled by man is the Kola Superdeep Borehole, in Russia.  It reached a depth of 12,261 meters (about 40,226 feet or 7.62 miles).  It was drilled for scientific research and gave up some unexpected discoveries.  One of which was a huge deposit of hydrogen - so massive that the mud coming from the hole was boiling with it.

 

United States: The Eisenhower interstate system requires that one mile in every five must be straight.  These straight sections are usable as airstrips in times of war or other emergencies.

Waterfalls: The water of Angel Falls (the world's highest) in Venezuela, drops 3,212 feet (979meters). They are 15 times higher than Niagara Falls.

Northwestern National Bank - Weatherball

Today a friend on facebook brought up this old Minnesota Jingle...do you remember it?

When the Weatherball is glowing red, warmer weather's just ahead.

When the Weatherball is shining white, colder weather is in sight.

When the Weatherball is wearing green, no weather changes are foreseen.

Colors blinking by night and day say, precipitation's on the way.

So,  intrigued I had to so some checking and I found out some interesting facts. 

During its 33-year existence, the Weatherball did more than flash forecasts. It was perched atop the Northwestern National Bank building in downtown Minneapolis, and became a landmark on the downtown skyline, a common word in the local vocabulary, and the basis for a jingle that all residents could recite.

Hailed as the tallest illuminated sign between Chicago and the West Coast, the 12-story Weatherball was introduced to Minneapolis amid great fanfare on October 7, 1949. Built to withstand winds of up to 140 miles per hour, it survived hurricane-force gales just three days after it began operating.

Unfortunately, the Weatherball succumbed to a fire on Thanksgiving Day in 1982 that destroyed the bank building. It was not rebuilt.

Here are a couple of fun fact links...

Song only :MN Historical Society. Click under image on Real Player.

History of Weatherball in MN.

Info regarding the history of this bank - click here.

A interesting quote I ran across regarding the announcement by Northwestern National Bank (or possibly it was called Norwest Bank by then) regarding why the weatherballs were being discontinued was because they "no longer matched the bank's corporate identity."

"That's correct," said Dave Moore, a local news anchor. "The weatherball was usually right."

Here was another little nugget I thought I would share as well because my husband grew up in Richfield and his parents could have been one of those who received the "Magic Key".  What is the "Magic Key"?

Well, in 1954 the Richfield News ad reports Mr. Weatherball has a new location at 78th and Penn.  He now has a treasure chest that only a "Magic Key" can open.  Apparently all the residents living in Richfield, Bloomington and Edina received a "key" in the mail but only one would open the treasure!  It was the "Magic Key"!  What was in the treasure box you ask?  Well a treasure...it contained more than $10 cash!  WOW!!

The Founder of Mothers Day

The following article was found at: (The Founder of Mother's Day)

Anna Jarvis, the founder of Mothers Day, was born in Webster, Taylor County, West Virginia, on May 1, 1864, the ninth of eleven children born to Ann Marie and Granville Jarvis. The family moved to Grafton, four miles south of Webster, when Anna was a year and a half old. It was here that the future founder of Mothers Day spent her childhood, receiving her early education in public schools. In 1881, she enrolled at the Augusta Female Academy in Staunton, Virginia, now Mary Baldwin College. Upon finishing, Miss Jarvis returned to Grafton where she taught school for seven years.

From childhood, Anna Jarvis often heard her mother say that she hoped that someone would one day establish a memorial for all mothers, living and dead. One incident in particular was a driving force in keeping this wish alive. The incident occurred during a class prayer given by Mrs. Jarvis in the presence of her daughter, Anna, then age twelve, at the conclusion of Mrs. Jarvis' lesson on "Mothers of the Bible." She closed the lesson with the prayer "I hope that someone, sometime will found a memorial mothers day commemorating her for the matchless service she renders to humanity in every field of life. She is entitled to it." Anna never forgot that prayer, and at her mother's graveside service, Anna's brother Claude heard her recall that prayer and say "...by the grace of God, you shall have that Mothers Day."

After the death of her father in 1902, Anna Jarvis along with her mother and sister Lillie, had moved to Philadelphia to reside with her brother Claude. After her mother's death on May 9, 1905, Miss Jarvis began an intense campaign of fulfill the wish of her mother.

Kseniya Simonova's Sand Drawings

This is one of the those post that you just sit back and see the great talent of this women, Kseniya Simonova.  There is story here as she draws a picture of the occupation of Germany, the Jews, the war.  Incredible talent.

She was performing for a program in which she is competing so you will see the audience moved by her interpretation and artistry.