A few thoughts: A guy at a bus stop

Trivia of the day

Ever think you're hearing something in a song, but they're really singing something else? The word for mis-heard lyrics is 'mondegreen,' and it comes from a folk song in the '50's. The singer was actually singing "They slew the Earl of Morray and laid him on the green," but this came off soundingl ike 'They slew the Earl of Morray and Lady Mondegreen.'

The real name of the "I've fallen and I can't getup" lady is Edith Fore.

Virgina Woolf wrote all her books standing.

Alfred Hitchcock didn't have a belly button. It was eliminated when he was sewn up after surgery.

Pablo Picasso's career lasted seventy-eight years, from 1895 until his death in 1973. He made more than 13,000 paintings over the years and over 100,000 prints, engravings and designs. He also did over 300 sculptures and ceramics. Picasso used his mother's maiden name. His father's last name was Ruiz.

The famous split-fingered Vulcan salute is actually intended to represent the first letter ("shin, "pronounced "sheen") of the word "shalom." As a small boy, Leonard Nimoy observed his rabbi using it in a benediction and never forgot it; eventually he was able to add it to "Star Trek" lore.

Some bizarre laws

Hunting camels in Arizona is illegal.

In Colorado it's against the law to mutilate a rock in a state park.

In Kansas, when crossing the highways at night, pedestrians must wear tail lights.

In New Jersey cabbage cannot be sold on Sundays.

Also in New Jersey, it's illegal to wear a bullet proof vest while committing murder.

In New Mexico, it's against the law for idiots to vote.

In North Carolina it's against the law to sing off key.

On this day in history: May 17

1620

1st merry-go-round seen at a fair (Philippapolis, Turkey)

1673

Louis Joliet & Jacques Marquette begin exploring Mississippi

1792

24 merchants form New York Stock Exchange at 70 Wall Street

1804

Lewis & Clark begin exploration of the Louisiana Purchase

1846

Saxophone is patented by Antoine Joseph Sax

1875

1st Kentucky Derby: Oliver Lewis aboard Aristides wins in 2:37.75

1883

Buffalo Bill Cody's 1st wild west show premieres in Omaha

1884

Alaska becomes a US territory

1932

Congress changes the name "Porto Rico" to "Puerto Rico"

Saturday, August 1, 2009

A guy at a bus stop

A couple of days after Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson died, I'm waiting a bus stop. There's a guy waiting there. He's about 25, unshaven, and has a very large beer belly hanging out from beneath the bottom of his T shirt. I'm reading when he asks me if I've heard what happened. Thinking that he was going to start talking about either Farrah or Michael, I asked "What happened?" What I was not expecting was for him to tell me that his father is wanted by the FBI. I move away a couple of steps, then (perhaps stupidly) ask why his father is wanted by the FBI.

"I don't know. That's all my grandmother told me. You'd have to ask her. Do you want her number so you can call her?" I told him no and tried to start reading again. I really think I need to work on my ways to discourage people from talking to me, because it didn't work with this guy either.

So as I'm trying to read and keep one eye on him, he asks "Have you heard of Kris Kringle?"

Now those of you who know me will know that my first thought is of Santa Claus, Christmas and all sorts of good stuff. Thinking that Kris Kringle will be a "safe" topic, I say yea, I've heard of him.

My new buddy says, "So you know he was involved in a triple homicide? The cops are still looking for him." (I couldn't make this stuff up if I tried!)

Luckily for me my bus came, and it wasn't his bus, though I wouldn't have been surprised if he would have gotten on just to keep talking to me. He had the look of someone who didn't have anyplace to go. Of all the people at the bus stops, why is it that I seem to be the easiest one to talk to??