*HTML is OFF *UBB Code is ON Smilies Legend
Smilies Legend
If you have previously registered, but forgotten your password, click here.
T O P I C R E V I E WBluemoon > In George Washington's days, there were no cameras.> One's image was > her 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 cost you an> arm and a leg."> > > 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. The y 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, hence 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.> > > 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 charge. They> called the one sitting in the chair the "chair man."> Today in business, we use th e expression title> "Chairman" or "Chairman of the Board."> > > 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> began to stare at another woman'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."> > > Ladies wore corsets, which would lace up in the> front. A proper and > dignified woman, as in "straight laced". . wore a> tightly tied lace. > > > Common entertainment included playing cards.> However, the re 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."> > > 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,> pubs, and bars.> They were told 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 "gossi p."> > > At local taverns, pubs, and bars, people drank from> pint and quart-sized> containers. A bar maid's job was to keep an eye on> the customers and keep> the drinks coming. She had to pay close attention> and remember who was drinking in "pints" and who was> drinking in "quarts," hence the term "minding your> "P's and Q's."> > > 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 storage method> devised was a square 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 stack ed 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 Monkeys.> > > Few landlubbers realize that brass contracts much> more and much faster than iron when chilled.> Consequently, 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.)> > > You must send this fabulous bit of historic> knowledge to unsuspecting friends. If you don't,> your floppy is going to fall off your hard drive and> kill your mouse.Solane StarTHESE ARE GREAT!!!!!THANKS BLUE!!!! Thanks for the Funny History Lesson 101 !!!!!!!!! Bluemoon
> In George Washington's days, there were no cameras.> One's image was > her 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 cost you an> arm and a leg."> > > 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. The y 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, hence 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.> > > 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 charge. They> called the one sitting in the chair the "chair man."> Today in business, we use th e expression title> "Chairman" or "Chairman of the Board."> > > 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> began to stare at another woman'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."> > > Ladies wore corsets, which would lace up in the> front. A proper and > dignified woman, as in "straight laced". . wore a> tightly tied lace. > > > Common entertainment included playing cards.> However, the re 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."> > > 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,> pubs, and bars.> They were told 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 "gossi p."> > > At local taverns, pubs, and bars, people drank from> pint and quart-sized> containers. A bar maid's job was to keep an eye on> the customers and keep> the drinks coming. She had to pay close attention> and remember who was drinking in "pints" and who was> drinking in "quarts," hence the term "minding your> "P's and Q's."> > > 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 storage method> devised was a square 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 stack ed 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 Monkeys.> > > Few landlubbers realize that brass contracts much> more and much faster than iron when chilled.> Consequently, 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.)> > > You must send this fabulous bit of historic> knowledge to unsuspecting friends. If you don't,> your floppy is going to fall off your hard drive and> kill your mouse.
THANKS BLUE!!!!
Thanks for the Funny History Lesson 101 !!!!!!!!!
Copyright 2000-2023 Powered by Infopop www.infopop.com © 2000 Ultimate Bulletin Board Version 5.46a
Powered by Infopop www.infopop.com © 2000 Ultimate Bulletin Board Version 5.46a