Things I Wonder About

This is a brief list of things that just don't seem right:

Why is there brail on drive up ATM machines?

Do you really want to be around when someone actually NEEDS brail at one of these?

Holidays

As you can see, I have a list of interesting events in the column at the left. This got me to thinking about how holidays are arrived at. Generally here in the USA, they are declared by some government entity. Here's one of the sillier examples: Ether Day.

Yes, that's right, a day to celebrate (if that's the right word) that stuff that puts you to sleep. Anaesthelogists and evil minions are probably the only groups really interested in this subject. But, as you can see from the page, the day was declared on Thursday, October 16, 2003.

Wow, what a sleeper of a holiday!

Piddling

To spend time aimlessly; diddle.

I think we need to spend moretime just piddling (yes, I know this also means to urniate and, yes, I know that we always seem to have time for that.). Since this whole page is dedicated to the silly things in life, this seems to be a great place for doing just that.

My wife will tell you that I piddle a lot. I'm doing so as I type this article. If you put the word piddle into Google (I refuse to use it as verb!) you get some interesting results:

PIDDLE is a Python module for creating two-dimensional graphics in a manner that ...

OK, programming . . . Doesn't seem like much of a piddle to me. Perhaps they're using the urinate definition . . .

Definition of piddle in the Online Dictionary. Meaning of piddle. What does piddle mean? piddle synonyms, piddle antonyms. Information about piddle in the ...

OK, a definition, but what is it check it out here.

piddle v. , -dled , -dling , -dles . v.tr. To use triflingly; squander: piddle away one's time. v.intr.

Another definition. This time, from answers.com. Amazingly, it's the same definition as the one above. Do you think there's some sort of piddle conspiracy going on?

The Piddle Inn, Piddletrenthide - Luxury En-Suite Accommodation, Comfortable Surroundings, Great Food, Wonderful Wine and Good Company!

Ahhh . . . the luxury of the Piddle Inn! Situated on the B3143 in the heart of the village of Piddletrenthide, and only 7 miles North of Dorchester, The Piddle Inn is easy to find. Yes, it's in England, where else!?

Offers a selection of accident prevention panties for cats and dogs.

And now, our first use of the word in a urniating context -- Joybee's Piddle Pants -- for animals, no less. I imagine that the propietors of the Piddle Inn will be happy to know they made it above this entry.

I don't think I'm supposed to go beyond the first page of a Google search (at least that's what the experts say most people do--stop at the first page, that is). I don't want to expend a whole lot of energy on an article about piddling, especially when I consider even writing this article a form of piddling.

I do think it's intereseting that Wyre Piddle has a mention in the WikiPedia. Seems like someone was expending some energy at least:

Wyre Piddle is a village and civil parish in the Wychavon district of Worcestershire, England. It is situated on the River Avon, near where it is joined by the Piddle Brook, between Evesham and Pershore.

It is not, surprisingly, the location of the Piddle Inn:

The Piddle Inn, Piddletrenthide, can be found deep in the heart of the Dorset countryside, nestled in the beautiful Piddle Valley. The Inn takes its name from the River Piddle which flows past the sunny beer garden and ample car park, creating a picturesque foreground for a stunning view of the countryside beyond.

It seems to be located on the River Piddle, while Wyre Piddle is located on the River Avon near the Piddle Brook. Seems like there are a lot of bodies of water with the name "piddle". Perhaps this results from the "sunny beer garden and ample car park" located near the Piddle Inn. I know that times that I have spent in sunny beer gardens have often resulted in some body of water forming . . .

Just Fun

These are some things that I find fun on a regular basis. (Click on the image to visit the site.)

DILBERT: I don't read comics much any more. We don't subscribe to a newspaper. But, I love this guy. He has really nailed the corporate world.

CARTALK: I'm not a car guy, but these guys have it down the right way. They provide somewhat real car information in a very entertaining and funny manner.

Wait, Wait, Don't Tell me!: A funny quiz show on NPR. This show summarizes things that happen in the news in an entertaining quiz show format.

Court Jester Returns

It's been quite a while since court jesters were in fashion. In England, the court jester's position died along with King Charles I, who was executed by Oliver Cromwell's supporters in 1649. The monarchy was restored 11 years later, but the position of jester did not return. (Seems sort of unfair, doesn't it. It would be another 150 years until the U.S. Congress came along to replace the jester for entertainment value.)

Well, now it seems English Heritage, guardian of various historic sites in Britain, is advertising for someone to be the nation's first court jester since the position was abolished. Here are the qualifications:

"Must be mirthful and prepared to work summer weekends in 2005. Must have own outfit (with bells). Bladder on stick provided if required."

"Mirthful", now there's a qualification!

(source)