Why is it that you can get salmonella from a chicken egg?

In response to last week’s question, "Why is it that you can get salmonella from a chicken egg?", my cycling friend Ted thought it was either "the Jewish chickens who eat bagels and lox" or "health conscious chickens who are trying to increase Omega-3's."

Dick suggested that it is "for the same reason that ptomaine poisoning does not involve a toe!" to which my dad's beach buddy Bob was specific when he advised, "Like most of nature's problems it begins in the ovaries...the chicken's ovaries.

My friend Richard and birthday bud Jon observed, "It appears that something fishy is going on in that business." This led my friend Effie to explain, "Those germs are really sneaky. They can get in anywhere!...and once a nice, wholesome egg gets infected, well, it starts hanging out with the wrong crowd and doing things that would break its mother's heart."

My friend Royce wondered, "think about where that egg comes from?". My Parrothead friend Sam then added, "As a non-fish eater, I assume that the chicken and chicken eggs are anti-salmon. There is no bacterial infection from salmon that yield chickenella or any rare squawking disease. Ultimately it is the chicken's fault - in other words, they are in the crapper -- rather than the hen house. And if they just cleaned up their act, well maybe there would be less egg contamination. Dirty birds... "

Please share your thoughts about "things that make you go 'Hmmm' ”:

• When something seems questionable, why do we identify it with fish?

Live well...laugh often and heartily…. have a good week and never regret anything that made you smile!

If people bug other people, then what does a bug do to annoy another bug?

In response to last week’s question, "If people bug other people, then what does a bug do to annoy another bug?", my friend Patrick concluded that they "probably badger or henpeck." My neighbor Al determined that they "pester" while my friend Richard declared, "He tweets them."


My writing and sailing friend Rich wrote, "Just be himself" to which my dad's beach buddy Bob expanded, "It is called "doing what comes naturally". Bugs do bugs and people try to imitate them."

My friend Swany had a different point of view when he wrote, "They put their finger, er, leg right next to their face not quite touching them and repeat, over and over, 'I’m not touching you'.”

My college roomie John wrote, "Hopefully, only a few people bug other people and not most of the time. Bugs are indifferent to other bugs, they are too busy bothering people." However, my organizational behavior friend Marya shared, "a funny question for a Wisconsin gal. When a bug buzzes in my ear, it annoys me. Then the bat swoops to eat it. A flying rat near my head, not so funny and will make you move faster than an electric shock to your rear!"


Please share your thoughts about "things that make you go 'Hmmm' ”:


   Why is it that you can salmonella from a chicken egg?
     (as occurred in last week's giant egg recall)


Live well...laugh often and heartily…. have a good week and never regret anything that made you smile!


Hal


PS: My friend Chris proposes propagating the theory about being more literal in our statements. For example, when someone says "You know what really bugs me?", I state "bugs!" and "You know what really floats my boat?", I almost always respond with "Water!"

When people say "For Pete's sake" and "Oh, for the love of...", who is Pete?

In response to last week’s question, " When people say "For Pete's sake" and "Oh, for the love of...", who is Pete? ", my punny writing and sailing friend Rich concluded that Pete was "a saint of a man who was a pumpkin eater with marital problems, and who had a principle and rabbit named after him. In his spare time he played guitar for the Who. Really, he was a Great one." However, my Parrothead friend Sam thought it "is the unnamed poor schlub that people pass in the street... Definitely not Black Pete of Mickey Mouse fame." My sailing friend Kate understands it is "some fisherman from Galilee whose name used to be Simon" while my cycling friend Ted explained that " this comes from "The Little Rascals" when Spanky was referring to his lovable pit bull Petey." Then my friend Swany declared that it is " Pete Rose. Mr. Baseball. Johnny Hustle. Most hits by anyone, ever. Banned for life. For Pete’s sake…."

This led my sailing friend Kurt to write, "You will need to narrow this one some. Being from NY, I know a lot of Petes. There is Big Petey, Little Petey..."

My dad's beach buddy Bob observed "Women say things like that. The full name is "Salt Peter". To this, my friend Richard "was going to say it's short for "saltpeter," but based upon world events (including the Gulf of Mexico), I'll say it's the abridged version of "petroleum."

"Every (good or bad) catholic knows that "for Pete's sake" is a reference to St. Peter," wrote my friend Mark. "I learned in the 1st grade from Sister Mary Charles (never got the "Charles"). My knuckles still ache from her acumen with a ruler." My former Valley colleague Larry added, "You can’t say for the love of God, God has too much power. Remember what happened during Noah’s time – global destruction. Same with Jesus & the Holy Spirit. St. Peter is about as high up as you want to go when saying an expletive." In agreeing, my cousin Wes then added, "for many Christians, Pete stands at the door of the Pearly Gates so they want to be get on his good side."

My neighbor Al expounded on this concept, writing that "these hail from a time when those phrases were considered blasphemous. Nowadays phrases like "for the love of God" and "for Christ's sake" are commonly used while the euphemisms are still used." And then Al noted, " it's a lot politer and easier than saying "...god damn mother f--cker!"


For a complete history, my friend Bruce summarizes what he recalled from the History Channel (bottom of this email). Or consider that my friend Chris explained that "very few know he was an immigrant farmer who migrated from Alsace Lorraine on the border of France and Germany around the turn of the 20th century. His full name was Peter Klinkenburg Alowishisalot and he settled in lower Manhattan where he became a prominent butcher. Frustrated at the meat market trade as well as the daily grind, he would constantly shout obscenities and his wife Betsy would correct him to be more proper. They had a daughter named Louise, who would correct him as she did not want Peter to turn away possible suitors with his blasphemy. The customers so enjoyed the spectacles that the family displayed constantly that they started using the phrases themselves in social conjecture which became popular of course, as most do. This led to the "Pete" statements as well as "Jeezle Petes'!" and "Jeez Louise!" and "Heavens to Betsy" Of course I could be completely wrong and have no idea whatsoever but for Pete's sake give me a break!

My sailing friend Jodie agreed with "Heavens to Betsy!" while my sailing Kurt cautioned, "I'm just glad my name is not Will as in "fire at…"


My college roomie John advices, " Pete is that person who is into everyone's business. We do these things "for Pete's sake" and we care enough to think about him/her "for the love of Pete"! We can't please everyone, so remember to try to please yourself!"


Please share your thoughts about "things that make you go 'Hmmm' ”  aka ponderables:


     If people bug other people,
     then what does a bug do to annoy another bug?


Live well...laugh often and heartily…. have a good week and never regret anything that made you smile!


Hal

My friend Bruce, after much research, explained that "Centuries ago in Roman times, there was a pain-in-the-*** jock student named Pete. The nerdy kids couldn’t stand Pete who would blow milk through his nose or expel gas in the Roman baths. When Pete ran for student council president, a nerd campaign used protest signs to forsake Pete.
However, the signs displayed the word “Forsake” with a picture of Pete in the middle of the word. Other students misinterpret the signs thinking it meant “For-Pete-Sake” meaning to vote for Pete’s sake or interests.
As a result, Pete was voted student council president and introduced gummy worms on the cafeteria menu. Kids would exclaim, “Oh, for the love of gummy worms!” The nerds couldn’t stand the other students going on about, “Oh, for the love of this and that and this…blah blah blah.” The nerds would then roll their eyes and mutter, “Can you believe they thought the signs said for Pete’s sake?” To this day, we roll our eyes “Oh, for the love of…” for Pete’s sake."

Are your days numbered?

In response to last week’s question, "Are your days numbered?", my friend Effie observed, "My calendar seems to think so." My friends Royce and Richard concurred, "Just look at your calendar, Dude." However, my writing and sailing friend Rich challenged, "Nope, they are named."



My friend Kevin determined that "Yes, every single one of them is numbered. Today's number is 2." For my sailing friend Kurt, "after misplacing several days, I no longer know which number I am on. I think it is 16,816 give or take a couple of weeks."

My dad's beach buddy Bob took the holistic view, writing, "of course, hour by hour 0 to 24…day by day 1 to 31, month by month 1 to 12…and for me, year by year, 1930 to ? "

My birthday bud Jon declared, "Some seem infinite" while my sailing friend Mike, who needs to do some more sailing now that he has a clean bottom, was equally positive, "Prime numbers only for me."


My computer consulting friend Alan said, "Yes, some more than others." My college roomie John was a bit more descriptive, writing "most days feel like a good number and then many more to follow. Some days feel like a bad number and not too many left. When sailing, that day is a good number, for I feel energized!"


My pilot friend Ted wrote, "Of course they are-- I'm married. Remember?"


In closing, my neighbor Al reminds use to choose to make every day a good day when he wrote, "Since my very athletic and healthy brother just had a massive heart attack I tend to believe YES."


Please share your thoughts about "things that make you go 'Hmmm' ”:


              When people say "For Pete's sake" and
            "Oh, for the love of...", who is Pete?


Live well...laugh often and heartily…. have a good week and never regret anything that made you smile!

Enjoy the day:  It's 8-9-10.

two sculptures are equally talented, is it a draw?

In response to last week’s question, "If two sculptures are equally talented, is it a draw?", my writing and sailing friend Rich that it would be "more like a chip off the same block" and my friend Royce called it "a chip off the ol block."

My neighbor Dick concluded that "It would only be a 'draw' if they were wearing six shooters" while my friend Tracey cautioned, "only if the judges are not sketchy!"


My Parrothead friend Sam thought "you call it a forgery" although my friend Richard offered, "more likely each would be the very “image” of redundancy."


Please share your thoughts about "things that make you go 'Hmmm' ”:


         Are your days numbered?


Live well...laugh often and heartily…. have a good week and never regret anything that made you smile!


Hal

Thanks to the many of Alison's friends who helped with the Habitat for Humanity build as part of her birthday celebration: Thank you. The nap after 5 hours building in the sun was more than deserved!