Category: General

Now, now, settle down.

I have a song going round in my head and I’m blowed if I can remember what it is.  So, I thought to myself, why isn’t there a musical search engine that you can sing, hum, or whistle a tune into and find it?  But wait, I thought to myself again, the charioteers are an amazingly talented bunch, one of them will know for sure, so here’s some Bizet, I think, from Carmen, I think, so that someone can put me out of my misery.  (A capella and entirely unrehearsed…)

A video, latterly deleted by Bravo.

A senior citizen drove his brand new BMW Z3 convertible out of the car salesroom. Continue reading “Police humanity”

CATHOLIC MORNING COFFEE IN ROME

Four Catholic Men and a Catholic Woman were having coffee in St. Peter’s Square.

The First Catholic Man tells his Friends, “My Son is a Priest. When He walks into a Room, everyone calls Him, “Father.”

The Second Catholic Man chirps, “My Son is a Bishop. When He walks into a Room, people call Him, “Your Grace.”

The Third Catholic Gent says, “My Son is a Cardinal. When He enters a room, everyone bows their head and says, “Your Eminence.”

The Fourth Catholic Man says very proudly, “My Son is the Pope. When He walks into a Room, people call Him, “Your Holiness.”

Since the Lone Catholic Woman was sipping Her coffee in silence, the four Men give her a subtle, “Well….?”. Continue reading “Catholic Morning Coffee in Rome”

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These pictures refer to events that happened on this date – what are the events and in which year did they occur.

Low Wattage’s comment on his post ‘What does a redneck do with a golf cart’ about the value of learning to play golf, reminded me of an article in yesterday’s DT that only one in five children can tie a reef knot.

The article laments the lack of certain skills, such as tying reef knots and mending bicycle punctures, and claims that acquiring these skills is imperative for ‘later life’.

I can tie a reef knot, cook a meal, use a compass and, whatever Bearsy says, I can also read a map – but I’ve never needed to mend a bicycle puncture (I do know the theory!), never had to erect a tent (the thought of camping sends me into a panic!) and never climbed a tree in my life…

It strikes me that a lot of skills that are seen as ‘absolutely essential’ for later life are probably not necessary. The most important thing we need to teach our young is how to find the information they want when they want it. And that, according to this article, is precisely what the youngsters, with their ability to ’embrace the new technology’ are able to do.

How a Splendid Auto-Da-Fe was Held to Prevent Earthquakes, and How Candide was Flogged

After the earthquake, which had destroyed three-quarters of the city of Lisbon, the wise men of that country could think of no means more effectual to preserve the kingdom from utter ruin than to entertain the people with an auto-da-fe, it having been decided by the University of Coimbra, that the sight of several persons being burned alive in great ceremony is an infallible secret for preventing earthquakes. Continue reading “Candide: an extract”