I’m Just Wondering…

Last night as I watched the Red Sox absolutely crush the New York Yankees, something that always brings a smile to my face, I saw an ad for some airline. At the end of the ad below the sale price on the screen is a disclaimer. Check it out in the small print.


The disclaimer says “Federal tax of $3.50 per take off and landing…”

A person gets charged a take-off and landing fee?

Well here’s what I’m wondering: You take off, fly your flight, but crash (though I hope not!!) and everyone miraculously walks away with just scratches and bruises. Are you still going to be charged the additional $3.50? There wasn’t any landing, it was a crash. There’s nothing in the disclaimer about crashing.

I’m just saying.

Wednesday's Word
formerly known as the "What're Words For..."

Word: Pick-ed (Adj.) (it’s two syllables)
Definition: pointed

Usage:
“You give that heifer the pick-ed end of the stick and she’ll move.”


(Definition from: "How To Talk Yankee", by Gerald Lewis & Tim Sample, copyright 1979, 1986 by The Thorndike Press; copyright 1989 by the First North Country Press)

Did You Know Tuesday...

...did you know that the deepest place on the Earth's crust is the Challenger Deep, a portion of the Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean? At a depth of 35,810 feet (246.88 meters), or nearly 7 miles, the pressure is 17,000 pounds per square inch!!

Monday Morning Chuckle

Maine comedian Bob Marley is wicked funny. And yes, his name really is Bob Marley, mon.

American Folk Festival 2008

I spent Saturday at the American Folk Festival in Bangor, now in its 4th year. The weather was fantastic: sunny, mid-80s, low humidity.

It was packed! It’s wicked awesome that so many people come out to enjoy this FREE event. There’s free music spread out over several stages, and the music is from so many different cultures that the attendees get exposed to some sounds they wouldn’t normally hear.

The Beaudoin Legacy play Two Rivers Stage

This year some of the bands were Johnny Hiland (a Maine native now living and recording in Nashville), The Beaudoin Legacy (a Franco-American sound), Jeffrey Broussard & The Creole Cowboys (zydeco), Genticorum (Quebecois), Hector Del Curto’s Eternal Tango Quartet (Argentine tango), CASYM Steel Drum Orchestra, JP & Joe Cormier (banjo), Benedicte Maurseth (Norwegian), and Chuck & Albert (Acadian), just to name a few of the many.

The Railroad Stage area is packed!

There is also an area where local craftsman have booths where you can check out their products, from woodcrafted products to handmade stone jewelery to homemade items such as jams, butters, soaps and ice cream. I'm only mentioning a few here, but there were a couple of dozen set up.

Folk Arts Marketplace

As with any outdoor festival, there was also a food court area. I got a huge piece of smoked salmon which was fantastic!!

At the end of vendor's row was a huge dance tent. Now, you can dance at any of the shows, but the dance tent is set up in such a way that the musicians playing here will get you on your feet and boogying.

Chino Nunez and Friends at the Dance Tent

After having attended so many Musikfest’s in Bethlehem, PA, I was excited upon my move back to Orono last year to have the Folk Fest nearby. I love these kinds of festivals. My one wish is that the Folk Fest and the city of Bangor could come to some kind of agreement where you can walk from venue to venue with beer instead of having to stay in one of the two designated beer areas to have a glass of this wonderful, frothy beverage. Maybe next year…..?

I also spent some time in the SeaDog Brewpub, which is located on the Penobscot River in Bangor and within the boundaries of the Folk Fest set-up. Hanging out on the outdoor deck with a SeaDog Bangor Pale Ale and listening to the sounds of Mitch Alden (of Now is Now) was a nice closure to my Folk Fest visit. Okay okay…it was three Bangor Pale Ales, but who’s counting, right?

Mitch Alden (of Now Is Now) performs at the SeaDog

Wednesday's Word
formerly known as the "What're Words For..."

Word: Gaffle (V.)
Definition: to snatch or seize

Usage:
“Toby gaffled onto that barrel of potatoes and toosted it right up onto the tailgate, all by himself.”

or

“When they offered me a new deal with the interest only eight per cent, I gaffled right onto it.”


(Definition from: "How To Talk Yankee", by Gerald Lewis & Tim Sample, copyright 1979, 1986 by The Thorndike Press; copyright 1989 by the First North Country Press)

Did You Know Tuesday....

...did you know that the Eastern-most point in all 50 states (by direction of travel) is Sail Rock, which is just offshore of West Quoddy Head, Maine?

Come on up and watch the sunrise!!

Monday Morning Chuckle

Summer Olympics are in full swing (**yawn**), and the big story is about Michael Phelps' amazing run in swimming and winning 8 gold medals. That's a record, and he's now the most medalized Olympic person ever in the history of the universe, or something like that. Maybe he's now ruler of the cosmos too, not sure. I'm not really a follower of the Summer Olympics. I mean, I hope the USA kicks ass, but the events just aren't enticing to me. (Now, the Winter Olympics I totally dig....)

Today's chuckle comes from Michael Kay who was on yesterday's Sports Reporters on ESPN (Sunday, 8/17/2008). In talking about Michael Phelps, Mr. Kay remarked:

"He's the best thing in the water since The Incredible Mr Limpet".

hahahaha! That was wicked funny, ayuh.

For those too young to know who the hell Mr Limpet is, here you go (sorry, I can only provide the link because Blogger is sucking ass today and every time I try to upload a video, it disconnects on me).

Not Quite Sure...

...what this product is because the pop-song theme is in Japanese...or is it Chinese..? I don't know. And I don't even know that the little square product with the buttons on it actually is. Or what it does.

http://www.asovision.com/putiputi/movie.html

It appears the happy couple falls in love playing with the...thing...and then they both start frowning and white tail-things start hanging from their eyes. It's bizarre, eh?


As Steve Martin and Bill Murray would say: "What the hell is that??"

Wednesday's Word
formerly known as the "What're Words For..."

Word: Toost (V.)
Definition: to lift

Usage:
“We cut a long maple pole, got a good prize, and toosted the truck right out of that ditch.”



(Definition from: "How To Talk Yankee", by Gerald Lewis & Tim Sample, copyright 1979, 1986 by The Thorndike Press; copyright 1989 by the First North Country Press)

Did You Know Tuesday…

…did you know that in July of 1969, Sesame Street started as a test show on Philadelphia’s PBN channel, WUHY-TV (now WYBE)? That following November the show debuted nationally and has been a hit with kids ever since.

I grew up watching it ( it debuted when I was 4) and to this day kids still love it.

So, Happy 39th Birthday Sesame Street! Thanks to your teachings, I am actually able to count as high as 39.

Monday Morning Chuckle

Now, I don't profess to be a ball-golfer...I'm all about disc golf.

But even with my limited knowledge of golf I know you're supposed to put the ball in the hole....not the club.

Wednesday's Word

formerly known as the "What're Words For..."

Word: Prize (N.)
Definition: leverage

Usage:
“Put that crowbar under it and give her a good prize.”




(Definition from: "How To Talk Yankee", by Gerald Lewis & Tim Sample, copyright 1979, 1986 by The Thorndike Press; copyright 1989 by the First North Country Press)

Did You Know Tuesdays….

Did You Know…

…that a jiffy is an actual unit of time? The measurement of time that a jiffy represents is different depending on where it’s being used.

We know it generally as some short period of time, as in “I’ll be back in jiffy.”

In electronics, a jiffy is about 1/60 of a second. In computing, it’s approximately 0.01 seconds. Check the Wiki entry for jiffy to learn more.

But do it in a jiffy!

Monday Morning Chuckle

No doubt this is the window from a catholic church.

This depicts the 'snake turning into rod' miracle.

Rolling Cooler

This past Tuesday night at WZON’s monthly Fenway Faithful Club gathering, I came in second of three in a Joe Castiglione impression contest. Now, none of us came anywhere close to the casual grace that is the Voice of the Boston Red Sox. But, since we gave a shot, we all got a prize.

My prize? I got a rolling cooler made by Igloo. That’s right, a rolling cooler.

I am now, officially, a Real Man of Genius.

TFKoP Note: I do not endorse the drinking of any product by Anheiser-Busch as it all tastes like the inside of a cow's rectum. They do, however, know how to hire good marking firms.