News from England

Very sorry - not about cars.

I just want to tell you guys that Gordon Thompson, the arsonist who bragged about torching the 150 year old 'house of Reeves' store during the London riots has just been sent down for 11 years. London is still one of the safest Cities in the world and American visitors are as welcome as ever.

Now back to Dodge matters.

Thankyou.

Ray.

Murderers here get less time in many cases

...has just been sent down for 11 years.

Funny...over here in the USA we send people UP to jail.

I believe the Brits use 'down' because of the configuration of their courts. The 'accused' stands on a high platform that he/she got to by walking up a set of stairs from the holding cells. When they are found guilty they are escorted back down those stairs to the 'gaol'. I don't know why we say 'up' or 'up the river' unless it goes back to Attica being up the Hudson river from New England?

Yes, that is right, the expression goes back a long way in history.

I don't really care so long as we get justice!

Ray.

... I don't know why we say 'up' or 'up the river' unless it goes back to Attica being up the Hudson river from New England?

I believe it is because Sing Sing is up the Hudson river from New York City....

Ply 33 is right. Speaking in New York city, Sing Sing is "up the river".

I've also heard the expression 'sold me down the river' or something similar...

Following along the same sort of track, folks in America may have read / heard about Mathew Newton from Australia causing all this ruckus over there.

Let me just say that everyone over here thinks he's a moron and you guys shouldn't have to put up with him ! As a footnote.... we don't want him back here so can you guys keep him there please

"Sold down the river" goes back to slave days. If a slave would not behave his owner would threaten to sell him down the river. That meant, sell him to a slave trader for resale in the deep South. The deep south cotton plantations had the reputation for being the worst place for a slave compared to, for example, a Virginia tobacco plantation.

Following on from that, Rusty, in popular culture it would be the Swanee River - the famous Gershwin song sung by Al Jolson...but there is more to it than that.

Suwannee River - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Interesting.. I find the origins of words and phrases that we continue to use today to be fascinating. I'm currently reading the recently published; 'The Adventure of English' which discusses many such words & phrases. I was surprised to learn that many phrases we still use find there first known publishing in Shakespeare's writing, though I must admit I haven't had much exposure to the Bard.

I rely to much on the spell checker! It should be their, not there..... As Homer Simpson would say "D'OH!'

Ahem!

with respect; it should be 'too', not 'to'.

sorry.

Ray

I think we should worry less about spelling and puncuation and all of that sort of mumbo jumbo, it only discourages people that have something too add from doing so because of their fear of being seen as a lesser human being

No worries at all, Jason, so long as we can all understand each other there's no problem. As English is just one of a countless number of languages, I think we do quite well really!

Ray.

That was a boneheaded mistake on my part.... Another clear example of too much reliance on spell checker...

Hell no, Mike. I am always making mistakes like that and I should know better - I trained as a an English teacher!! I also taught music but gave it up after a year. In my experience, it's not so much WHAT you know as WHO you know that counts.....(or should that be whom?) :confused::eek:

Ray.

Those are words of wisdom for sure Ray...

Years ago I read a book called 'Heavens to Betsy'.

It had the origins of a bunch of quips. However I dont remember the origin of its namesake.

Years ago I read a book called 'Heavens to Betsy'.

It had the origins of a bunch of quips. However I dont remember the origin of its namesake.

From the Internet:

Meaning

A mild exclamation of surprise.

Origin

This American phrase has been in circulation since, primarily restricted to America, the latter part of the 19th century, although its use faded throughout the 20th century and it is now something of an anachronism. The first example of it that I can find is from the US journal Ballou's dollar monthly magazine, Volume 5, January 1857:

It is possible that the phrase is a minced oath and an alternative to 'Hell's bells', although there's no real evidence of that,

Of course, what we would like to know is, 'was Betsy a real person and, if so, who?'. Various theories have been put forward but it is unlikely that she will be identified. For phrases that contain names that are genuinely eponymous, i.e. named after a known person or fictional character, it isn't difficult to trace the person concerned, as in 'sweet Fanny Adams', 'kiss me Hardy' etc. When we come to phrase like 'Mickey Finn', 'happy as Larry', where there is doubt as to the named person, a strong case can be made to suggest that the names were invented. That seems to be the case with Betsy.

The etymologist Charles Earle Funk published Heavens to Betsy! and other curious sayings in 1955. In that he ventured the opinion that the origins of 'Heavens to Betsy' were "completely unsolvable".

See also: Heavens to Murgatroyd.

We need to remember it has been fifty or sixty years since some of us finish our schooling. bill

We need to remember it has been fifty or sixty years since some of us finish our schooling. bill

It is difficult for me to remember what I learned 50or 60 days ago if its not one of my primary interests and I never cared for school to begin with, took every opportunity I could to not be there.

I did find a link not long ago that gave some VERY interesting examples of where some of our Quips came from in regard to Victorian way of life though, I wish I could remember where that was, at least a couple of you guys it would seem at least would have really enjoyed reading that.

I don't think we ever really learn anything unless we really want to. For example, my dad taught me how to use a micrometer, work a lathe and rebuild a gearbox, which has been more use than most of the schooling ever has.

Ray.

Quote..........we ever really learn anything unless we really want to............Thats for sure, just like quitting smokin, cant quit unless you want to, BTW I dont smoke just using it as an example

I have a teenage son and can vouch for that first hand...

Another example is learning a musical instrument. No one taught Jimmy Hendrix to play like he did; he just put in the hours and hours of practise because he wanted to, not because he was told to.

Ray.

He was gifted with a talent in my opinion, I was gifted with bodywork/paint, you were gifted with something I am sure, some people are gifted just for gettin in trouble but we all have gifts in my opinion

I was gifted at playing the piano, but it still took countless hours to get all my grades!

Ray.

My wife plays the piano, we both enjoy music very much