things and stuff

[low_delta]

I had a four-day week at work, since Monday was New Year's Day. This threw me off, and I was thinking it was Thursday all day.

Every day, on my way into work, it was 3°F. Most days it was 11° on the way home, but today it was 3°.

It's supposed to get above 10° tomorrow, and near 30° on Sunday. Yay! And then near 40° for the next four days, with rain. Boo!

I got a gardening catalog in the mail yesterday. I discovered a flower named lobelia siphilitica. Who would name a flower "syphilitic"? Later in the evening, I was reading a book and came across the word "syphilitic."

I hate throwing things in the trash. This week we're getting rid of an artificial Christmas tree and a printer/scanner. There ought to be homes for these things. Actually, I can't throw the printer in the trash due to regulations on the disposal of computers, but nobody wants it.

The pumps at the BP station have screens and play "content." They also let you enter a rewards membership number. I would consider joining it if they let me choose my preferences with regard to what content I see or hear on the pump.

Comments

[sirreal13.livejournal.com]

Found an interesting interview on "Science Friday" about the origin of the word Syphilis:
Dr. MARKEL: Well, it really was a beloved literary character that was created by an eminent physician, poet and professor named Hieronymus Fracastorius. And he did this in 1530 when he wrote an epic poem called "Syphilis Sive Morbus Gallicus" or what's also known as "Syphilis or the French Disease." And he wrote a poem about this mythical shepherd named Syphilis who rejected and then insulted the sun god. And in response, the deity struck him down with the dreaded malady, and that's where the name comes from. https://www.npr.org/2011/05/27/136717683/science-diction-the-origin-of-the-word-syphilis

Doesn't help re: origin of the plant name.

[ravenfeather.livejournal.com]

I HATE TALKING PUMPS!!!!

I have a computer, printer, vcr (yes!) and dvd player in storage because I have no way to get rid of them. I HATE this!

[ravenfeather.livejournal.com]

Oh, the lobelia is used in a medicine for syphilis, hence the name.

http://www.naturalmedicinalherbs.net/herbs/l/lobelia-siphilitica=great-blue-lobelia.php

[pondhopper.livejournal.com]

Thanks for finding the answer to that...I was really curious, Raven.
:)

[pondhopper.livejournal.com]

Talking pumps drive me crazy. We have them here also. If plant catalogs are arriving Spring will also.

[ravenfeather.livejournal.com]

It was odd, but it was the only thing that made sense to me. Odd because it means that it was used medicinally for syphilis BEFORE it was named.

[cynnerth.livejournal.com]

Electronics Recycling Drives are pretty common these days. We won't have to wait long for another one.