Archive : June 2011

Gods of old on the calendar

The gods of old lent their names to several, but not all, days of the week and months of the year. Let’s ramble through the calendar and see what gods are hiding there. Our first month, January, originates in the Roman januar...

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Happenings on the July calendar

While you ponder what to do next on these lazy, hazy days of summer, kill a few minutes considering these nostalgic events of Julys past. July 2, 1843 — Weird as it sounds, an alligator was reported to have fallen from the sk...

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Getting accustomed to being Canadian

Becoming accustomed to being Canadians was a tad difficult for the residents of the new province of Manitoba in 1870. While the other four provinces celebrated Dominion Day (now Canada Day) on July 1, 1870, the residents of the Red River Sett...

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English is a very strange language

As if proof were needed that English is a strange language, consider the following: • The bandage was wound around the wound. • The farm was used to produce produce. • The dump was so full th...

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The gods of Norse mythology

Whether we realize it or not, we’re well-informed about Greek and Roman mythology, but many of us are oblivious re the stories of ancient Teutons. Ask anyone to name a Norse god. The answer will probably be Thor, god of thunder. Request...

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Our intimate village

“What place is this?” asked Jacques Cartier. “Kanata,” was the reply from two native youth. A mistake in translation and the name of a village became the name of a nation. The two nativ...

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A grateful smile of thanks

(It was a delight to read the story below about WinnipegREALTORS® painting its third home in support of Take Pride Winnipeg’s Brush-up Winnipeg. Two of the three featured homeowners in the article, Celia Wilson and Diane Forrest, h...

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