Pogo? Oh no!

As I am once again residing in a catered residence I do not have the task of cooking for myself, I merely have to pick one (or more) of the available meals that I wish to eat. However from time to time this is rendered problematic by the fact that I am not always sure what some of the offered food items are. Today there was an item on the menu called "Pogo". I was not aware that pogo sticks were edible. However it turns out that Pogos are what Canadians call hot dog sausages that have been coated in corn batter and deep-fried, and are served on a wooden stick to aid eating.

Alas I did not try one so I cannot tell you whether they are in fact edible or should be avoided.

Just when you thought it was safe...

After yesterday's discovery that making wine can be fatal, I was quite surprised to learn that drum-making can be fatal. In the past two years two drum-makers in the UK have died after inhaling anthrax spores from the animal skins. The danger comes when the skins are being prepared, that is to say having the hair removed from them and such. Although precautions can be taken quite easily, so the risks are small.

That and I don't actually know anyone who makes their own drums, or wine for that matter.

Lethal Grapes

I have long been aware of the dangers of alcohol, drink too much of it and it will kill you, either immediately or several years later. Drink alcohol and drive and you run the risk of killing yourself and others. However I was not aware that making alcohol could be lethal but it turns out that it is. As grapes used for making wine ferment they release carbon dioxide gas. Carbon dioxide is heavier than air so it sinks to the bottom of the wine vat, or wine cellar. Therefore making wine can be deadly, as wine makers run the risk of being overcome by the fumes. As such ventilation during the wine making process can be a life saver.

Guy Fawkes

Today is Guy Fawkes Day, not that you would know it in Ontario. Although parts of Canada still celebrate Bonfire Night, it is not that big a deal in Ontario. It also used to be celebrated in Colonial America until George Washington forbade his troops from celebrating it. In Australia Guy Fawkes night has not been celebrated since the mid 1960s as it was during this period that the various state governments outlawed the sale and public use of fireworks, partly due to the fears of bushfires in November.

That being said Guy Fawkes isn't much of a big deal in Northern Ireland.

What could be better than democracy?

In the unlikely event that it has escaped your attention, today is Election Day in the United States of America. The hyperbole has portrayed this election as the most important one since, well, ever. Now considering that America is a nation that believes in democracy to such an extent that it is willing to export it to a select few oil-rich states, you would not think its people would need reminding, or indeed, encouragement to vote. However as I have discovered today, that is just not so. In various places across the country American citizens who vote will be rewarded with free Starbucks coffee, or free donuts from Krispy Kreme, or free Ben & Jerry's ice cream. Even though it is illegal to entice people to vote.

It used to be that voting was its own reward, and one that was hard won.

Words, glorious words!

This morning I was looking in the mirror (alas unavoidable in the mornings) and I wondered what if the pink thing in the corner of my eye was called. I was sure it had a name as doctors love to name things. Later on my dad happened to send me an article about odd words. Turns out the pink thing in the corner of my eye is called a caruncula. I also learnt that those inedible silver balls on cakes are calle dragees and pronounced dra-zhay.

How pretentious.

Prairie Sense

Early this morning the clocks went back an hour in Canada. I am aware that this event happened last week in the UK. The reason Canada changed this week is so that it was in sync with the US who for some bizarre reason extended Daylight Saving Time. However I was interested to learn that Saskatchewan is on standard time year round and as such has no time change.

Life's simpler in the prairies, eh?