#48913
11/28/2001 2:14 PM
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,400
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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tsuwm over in Q & A,posted about turkey's-- had me thinking about all the miss named things we have in english.
Turkey's (the bird) got there name in europe-- where all new and exotic things were associated with Turkey, the country. No matter were things might have originated, Turkey was often the last port of call, before western europe, so Turkey became the place of exotic things. some others include:
Turkey red-- a dye
turkish taffy-- a fruit candy
turkish toweling-- fabric
but there are many other things that inherit names from far away places that have nothing to do with there origins.. an other example is the all purpose excuse for bad language is "please excuse my french".
can you think of other things with place names that have nothing to do with what they are named for?
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#48914
11/28/2001 2:28 PM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
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#48915
11/28/2001 3:01 PM
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,467
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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French letters.
English muffins.
Dutch treats.
Irish mail (only fairly certain on this one!)
Pennsylvania Dutch.
Mexican standoff.
Long Island Iced tea
TEd
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#48916
11/28/2001 3:42 PM
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,400
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Posts: 5,400 |
Ted-- great list-- are there trends?
Turkey for exotic stuff--
French for sexy stuff- (french letters, french kisses)
english for food stuff- (English tea, english muffins)
dutch--the poor dutch, end up as cheap and drunken--Dutch courage=a stiff drink, dutch treat
chinese wall-- used as a legal term.. to show a complete division..
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#48917
11/28/2001 3:49 PM
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296 |
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#48918
11/28/2001 4:41 PM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Quite old - aircraft "Chinese three point landing" - nose and two wheels.
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#48919
11/28/2001 5:48 PM
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Posts: 11,613 |
Italian spaghetti; though British folks seem to call this spaghetti Bolognese, I think--I have no idea of how accurate that might be.
Polish sausage?
Vienna sausages? [barf e]
You do learn something every day: I tried Googling to see if the Australian Crawl (the swimming stroke) was conceived in Australia, and found that there is or was a rock band of that name; portrayed as fun-loving, sun-worshipping, playboy musicians radiating a healthy aura and rebellious charm...
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#48920
11/28/2001 7:16 PM
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,605
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Posts: 2,605 |
I understand that in many languages, a slang term for venereal disease refers to a despised neighboring country. E.g. (hypothetically), the french referring to it as "German disease".
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#48921
11/28/2001 9:38 PM
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 131
member
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member
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 131 |
From the subject line -- all I can think of now is Dairy Queen.
(singing) From the land of Dairy Queen....we treat you right!
been a lonnnnnnng day........
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#48922
11/28/2001 10:47 PM
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Posts: 6,296 |
What comes from The Land of Sky Blue Waters?
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#48923
11/28/2001 11:50 PM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Posts: 13,858 |
What comes from the Land of Sky Blue Waters?
Not what, but who? Tsuwm, of course.
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#48924
11/29/2001 12:56 AM
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
Carpal Tunnel
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About Egyptian cotton: " Here's a surprise to many The high-quality Egyptian cotton that is so popular the world over was not even available in pharonic times. It was only until the Christian period that cotton trees growing half-wild in Nubia (southern Egypt) started being used. And finally, in the 19th century, an American variety of cotton started flourishing in Egypt. So what did the ancient Egyptians wear? Linen. Most everything men, women and children wore was made from linen. In fact, the ancient Egyptians believed the Gods wore linen." http://www.egyptmonth.com/mag01012001/...so what in Sam's Hill is a "cotton tree"? All the cotton in my neck of the woods looks like a scrawny bush, at best, and really not much of a bush either. Would these scrawny plants grow into trees? Bush regards, WW
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#48925
11/29/2001 2:07 AM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Spanish windlass: a crude way of tightening a loop of rope passed around two fixed points, by inserting a rod between the ropes and turning it end over end so that the ropes are twisted tight. This is a jury-rig used only temporarily. But it can also be used as an emergency tourniquet to stop arterial bleeding.
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#48926
11/29/2001 2:29 AM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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"Most everything men, women and children wore was made from linen. In fact, the ancient Egyptians believed the Gods wore linen."
I'll bet they would have preferred cotton if they had it. Linen can be very durable, but I have read that one of the worst torments the soldiers at Valley Forge had to endure was linen underwear that was horribly abrasive. I don't know of anything that should have made the home made linen garments of Revolutionary times inferior to what the Egyptians made.
"Next to myself, I like Hanes best."
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#48927
11/29/2001 9:57 AM
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Posts: 6,296 |
And, speaking of Spanish windlass (new term for me, thanks, wwh), what about Spanish moss? Does it grow in Spain? I think it's a member of the pineapple family, by the way, if memory serves me well.
And here's a tangent: One of the most memorable table settings I've seen included silver candlelabra entwined at the base with Spanish moss. Wonder whether the design of the twisting was that of a Spanish windlass? Certainly windlessness was desired there to keep the candles glowing! (Just kidding here.)
Bright regards,
WaxWind
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#48928
11/29/2001 7:46 PM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Dear WW: Spanish Moss: Its Nature, History and Uses
... to which the genus Sphagnum (mosses that form peat) belongs. Spanish Moss and the
pineapple (Ananas comosus) belong to division Magnoliophyta , class Liliopsida ...
http://www.co.beaufort.sc.us/bftlib/spanish.htm
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#48929
11/29/2001 8:14 PM
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,400
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Posts: 5,400 |
interesitng WW-- my understanding about cotton was that is was native to china (once saw an interesting print-- made in england that featured "cotton bushes"-- they were envisioned as "mutton trees" --little sheep caught in a bush!)
cotton might not have been grown in ancient egypt, but trade existed... small amounts of silk fibers have been found in tombs, as well as cotton. trade caravans existed , and trade goods from china made it to the near east and europe from very early on.
and since cotton seeds are so hard to remove from the raw fiber, i suspect some seeds ended up getting transported to mid east-- so there is no telling when cotton first started to grow in the area.
and like many wild plants, the varieties we see today, are the most commercial viable.. there might well be some form of periennial cotton that grows in small trees.. but i suspect its it not the most productive variety.
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#48930
11/30/2001 12:16 AM
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 279
enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 279 |
Here's my list of misnamed words and phrases what have nothin ta do with their origin:
Maine Frame
Thai Breaker
Tibetan Horses
Colombo
Hungary Heart
Russian Home
Czech Shirt
Karachi Chop
Bonnbonn
College Liberian
Greece Lightning
Frankfurt - Tedfurst
Must Finnish Up now but there's plenty more where they came from.
Be seein ya
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#48931
11/30/2001 12:18 AM
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Must read more about the uses of Spanish moss! I've only seen it used, as described above, on the candelabra!
Now cotton trees--those I would enjoy seeing in any form, scraggly or not!
Finally, I have a pet peeve when it comes to trees, and, could I join one society, it would be to the destruction of these trees. They are the ailanthus: The so-called "Tree of Heaven," which, to my mind, is the "Tree of Hell." It's worse than cudzu. It's growing all up around Rt. 81 up through Pennsylvania and all down into Virginia. Huge copses of it are taking over the natural woodlands. It appears a bit like hickories in that it has a compound leaf. But it is inexorable in its growth pattern. Where redbuds and dogwoods should be growing along the woods, there are the many upshoots of damned ailanthus. It's been naturalized for a long time, often seen sprotting up through sidewalks in cities. It propogates itself like mad. I see into the future in which the great American woods are nothing but a tent of this ailanthus.
Again, if anyone knows of a society that works against the Tree of Hell(I'm not a joiner of societies by disposition, but here I cross the line), please let me know here or in a PM.
Thoroughly disgustreed,
WailingWin
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#48932
11/30/2001 12:33 AM
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511
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Good stuff, Gallant Ted. And you're right on every example: the names have nothing to do with the origins.  Quite germane on your part. Meanwhile, I'd like to suggest (again) that if anyone wants to discuss things other than words in great detail, I have a group of bookmarks that lead to forums on plants, wildlife, child rearing, cooking, etc. Happy to furnish upon request (though I won't be around much till next week).
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#48933
11/30/2001 1:46 AM
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 9
stranger
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stranger
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 9 |
Well, Annastrophic, let me see if I understand your meaning. You don't want any of us talking about anything fun and interesting in the week you'll be gone. Just words. Nuttin' but words. I tried posting the url's but they didn't go to the right pages  Anna, I was just trying to show that you, too, have posted your share of non-word oriented posts. Cut the rest a little slack, why don't you? The two URLs that I tried to post were for "Mav's Legs" under Q and A-wordless post under the heading ANIMAL SAFARI. And "sadder, butweiser" under Wordplay and fun where  under the heading of TMI appeared. So. Let he/she who is without sin cast the first stone. This is WORDPLAY AND FUN after all.
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#48934
11/30/2001 5:39 AM
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 866
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 866 |
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#48935
11/30/2001 5:41 AM
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 866
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 866 |
thousand island dressing?
stales
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#48936
11/30/2001 5:44 AM
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 866
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 866 |
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#48937
11/30/2001 5:47 AM
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 866
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 866 |
Bombay duck? (Well it may be from Bombay - but it ain't a bird)
stales
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#48938
11/30/2001 5:49 AM
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 866
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 866 |
Japanese riding boots
(Aussie slang for thongs, jandals, flip flops - whatever you like to call them)
stales
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#48939
11/30/2001 7:11 AM
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,189
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Posts: 4,189 |
It's Greek to me! Russian roulette Welsh on a bet (all my life I thought this was "welch," "welched," and "welcher" until we had that PC hub-bub when Clinton said it from our newly hypenated Welsh-Americans) In a New York minute makes no sense at all, right of troy?Non-Word Post...wait a minute ...we can't post without words, can we? So how can we have a Non-Word Post? although the amazing Faldage has pulled it off a couple of times Who's on first...What's on second... I Don't Know's on third.... 
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#48940
11/30/2001 7:12 AM
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,189
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Posts: 4,189 |
It's Greek to me! Russian roulette Welsh on a bet (all my life I thought this was "welch," "welched," and "welcher" until we had that PC hub-bub when Clinton said it from our newly hypenated Welsh-Americans) In a New York minute makes no sense at all, right of troy?Non-Word Post...wait a minute ...we can't post without words, can we? So how can we have a Non-Word Post? although the amazing Faldage has pulled it off a couple of times Who's on first...What's on second... I Don't Know's on third....
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#48941
11/30/2001 3:23 PM
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Posts: 13,803 |
Can you say, "in great detail"?
Sure you can.
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#48942
11/30/2001 6:35 PM
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,467
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,467 |
Sky Blue Waters
Hamms Beer, the Beer refreshing...
And other jingles which I cannot remember, but the beer was not so great.
TEd
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#48943
11/30/2001 6:57 PM
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,467
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Posts: 3,467 |
1. Is Hane Spanish for Jane?
2. And you like Hane's best WHAT next to yourself?
Hust asking.
TEd
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#48944
11/30/2001 7:27 PM
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,400
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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a danish (breakfast pastry)
roman meal (brand of bread
swiss cocoa (from the cocoa trees that grow in the alps no doubt!)
and not to be left out German chocolate.. (in a cake, this includes coconut -- an other delicacy from the alps! )
did we get candian bacon? (what do you candians call salted, smoked pork loin?)
irish potatoes (native to the andies..)
london broil --
NY steak
Hamburger's ( or the alternate --Aaagh! how do you spell Salsboughy? )
in sewing a double seam, called a French seam.
german measles
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#48945
11/30/2001 9:31 PM
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Posts: 6,296 |
of Troy: Your servings were well done!
Swiss steak: something my Aunt Dale mastered (steak, green peppers, onion, tomato sauce--what's Swiss about this?)
And chop suey (Chinese inferred) isn't Chinese, or so I understand...
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#48946
12/01/2001 6:22 AM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 137
member
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member
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 137 |
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#48947
12/01/2001 11:57 AM
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 460
addict
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addict
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 460 |
brussel sprouts
german shepherds?
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#48948
12/01/2001 12:20 PM
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Posts: 6,296 |
We call 'em brussels sprouts here. Is that incorrect? (If you pretend you're a giant eating cabbages whole, they're a lot more fun....)
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#48949
12/01/2001 3:23 PM
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,439
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Posts: 3,439 |
Hot as Dutch love.
And don't tell me it comes from the alcoves sleeping spaces built over ovens ... I'd rather have the illusion!
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#48950
12/01/2001 8:43 PM
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,146
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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(If you pretend you're a giant eating cabbages whole, they're a lot more fun....)And if you have a peg on your nose ... They should probably be called "euros sprouts" these days to be PC. And there'll be a host of regulations about growing them, keeping them, selling them, buying them and preparing them ... 
The idiot also known as Capfka ...
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#48951
12/01/2001 11:16 PM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Posts: 13,858 |
Re Brussels sprouts: One bit of Michigan lore my wife taught me was that Brussels sprouts are much nicer after the first frost. I have no idea why that is so, but on my Scout's honor it is true.
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#48952
12/01/2001 11:18 PM
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 279
enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 279 |
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