what I have learned today.

[Cudzoziemiec]

Although it was Britain that had the Hillman Avenger.

[Mrs Pingu]

Is red coloured/shaded carpet not a thing any more? I can see blue, and any shade you want on the grey to brown continuum, but not much in the way of warmer colours. (I want something that hides cat fur and biscuits 😁)

[ian]

Red dyes tend to bleach quickly in sunlight (because they only reflect the lowest energy light rays). It's why red cars parked outside always end up looking like shit. A semi-sunbleached carpet isn't popular.

[Mrs Pingu]

We had a reddish colour carpet in the 1st igloo, although we probably didnt have it very long before we moved to the last place. Just thought it was odd.

[cygnet]

That the Volkswagen Golf is not named after a sport but weather (Gulf stream). See also Scirocco.

And Bora (Golf with a boot).  Maserati did the same: Bora, Mistral, Khamsin etc.

Wonders what a Bora was called in the US, given the Golf was a Rabbit.

ISTR that the 1970's Passat (also a wind) was called the Dasher.  Agressive names work[ed] better in the US, apparently.

Although the 1990's Passat dream sold pretty well
https://youtu.be/VFGJb1rpoFI

[mrcharly-YHT]

Is red coloured/shaded carpet not a thing any more? I can see blue, and any shade you want on the grey to brown continuum, but not much in the way of warmer colours. (I want something that hides cat fur and biscuits 😁)

We went for a buff brown, on the basis that it would hide both the Border Terrier and Tortie fur.

It does, too well. Run vacuum over carpet and look in horror at the landing strip exposed.

[Asterix, the former Gaul.]

Although it was Britain that had the Hillman Avenger.

It was called the 'Plymouth Cricket' in the states, I always thought bowls was more Plymouth's sport.  A friend bought one for use in Manchester; he believed no one would want to steal it.  One day he was mugged in a car park just after getting out of it. They left the car and took his wallet.

[T42]

That the Volkswagen Golf is not named after a sport but weather (Gulf stream). See also Scirocco.

And Bora (Golf with a boot).  Maserati did the same: Bora, Mistral, Khamsin etc.

Wonders what a Bora was called in the US, given the Golf was a Rabbit.

ISTR that the 1970's Passat (also a wind) was called the Dasher.  Agressive names work[ed] better in the US, apparently.

Although the 1990's Passat dream sold pretty well
https://youtu.be/VFGJb1rpoFI

I can't think why.


---o0o---

When the first Passat had just been released they had one on show on the concourse of the Gare de Lyon.  I remember noticing that the boot overhung the rear bumper - which was a flimsy chromed effort that might have been pinched from a 1950's Ford Pop.

[fimm]

Red dyes tend to bleach quickly in sunlight (because they only reflect the lowest energy light rays). It's why red cars parked outside always end up looking like shit. A semi-sunbleached carpet isn't popular.

When my parents moved into the house I grew up in in 1974 they brought a carpet from their previous house with them. It was red. When they moved again, over 40 years later, that carpet was still there, and was showing its age more by being worn than by being faded.

[cygnet]

That the Volkswagen Golf is not named after a sport but weather (Gulf stream). See also Scirocco.

And Bora (Golf with a boot).  Maserati did the same: Bora, Mistral, Khamsin etc.

Wonders what a Bora was called in the US, given the Golf was a Rabbit.

ISTR that the 1970's Passat (also a wind) was called the Dasher.  Agressive names work[ed] better in the US, apparently.

Although the 1990's Passat dream sold pretty well
https://youtu.be/VFGJb1rpoFI

I can't think why.


---o0o---

When the first Passat had just been released they had one on show on the concourse of the Gare de Lyon.  I remember noticing that the boot overhung the rear bumper - which was a flimsy chromed effort that might have been pinched from a 1950's Ford Pop.

IIRC (and I quite possibly don't) the inspiration was that the Passat was USA's second most popular "import" model at the time. 25 or so years on, VW seem to have binned it for the US market

[T42]

The word brumation, being "a state or condition of sluggishness, inactivity, or torpor" that reptiles enter during periods of low temperature.

Or bankruptcy?

[JefO]

... That the Egyptians brew something called Sakara Black. Don't ever let yourself get confused between Sakara Gold and Sakara Black.

This stuff is fire in a tin.

15%

One tin is enough.

[Basil]

Sorry, but this is a 'What I have failed to learn today' post.

Today is Owain Glyndŵr day.  Fine. Lots of flags and bunting on the shops and pubs, bands in the park etc.
However, because local tradition has it that his mother¹ was from here, ffair Elen is our variant.
But, maybe due to poor Google fu, I can find no evidence that she was from by 'ere (as we say um.. by 'ere)
Me in the pub. "How do you know?"
Locals. "Everybody knows."
Me. "How do they know?"
Locals. "Everybody knows"

Google doesn't help.  Did she work weekends in the Spar?

Yet again, I have failed to learn.

¹ Elen ferch Tomas ap Llywelyn

[Cudzoziemiec]

New vocab. I am now au fait with "ofay".

[T42]

Onion juice was used to treat gunshot wounds in the American Civil War. Natural antibiotic, but not that effective.

[ian]

Trading in onion futures isn’t legal in the USA.

[Canardly]

Ian knows his onions!

[T42]

The Onion Futures Act is a United States law banning the trading of futures contracts on onions as well as "motion picture box office receipts".

- that Google thing.

You might be OK with shallots and garlic though.

[Cudzoziemiec]

Reads more like the Onion "Futures Act" than "the Onion Futures Act". Nevertheless, I'm sure it is in fact true.

[ian]

The act was sponsored by Gerald Ford, the not-so-memorable 38th president of the USA.

[Pingu]

Furryboottoon, WA - HT Mr Larrington otp.

[aidan.f]

'wwoofing' - 'Working on organic farms ' with a site - https://wwoof.org.uk/en/

[Kim]

Lots of facts about sea otters, for it is Sea Otter Awareness Week.

[Cudzoziemiec]

That Lynyrd Skynyrd were actually from Florida. I guess they were just sufficiently with it to realize that "Sweet home Florida-da" wouldn't make a good song!

[Mrs Pingu]

That Lynyrd Skynyrd were actually from Florida. I guess they were just sufficiently with it to realize that "Sweet home Florida-da" wouldn't make a good song!

That song was in riposte to some Neil Young songs referencing Alabama and the South.