tellitlikeitis

Math v. English

1 rabbit saw 6 elephants while going to the river. Every elephant saw 2 monkeys going toward the river. Every monkey holds 1 parrot in its paws.

How many animals are going toward the river?

Passing through a local Christmas market I came across a stall selling roast pork rolls. To advertise them stood a larger than life figure of a standing pig, wearing chef's whites, an apron and holding a knife.

To my astonishment a Muslim woman in traditional garb stood beside it and had her fellow Muslim friend take a pic.

Surely this must be as bad as actually eating the pork, to be posing with what was clearly there to promote eating it?

I'm an oldie, and I do sometimes read some absolute nonsense on Yahoo Answers, but then suddenly I'll read a question or a set of replies from young people who have real maturity and a sense of compassion to problems that can be quite complex. I suppose there are always idiots among us of any age, but I think lots of you younger people are amazingly wise!

Yesterday whilst enjoying a picnic in our local park, my husband and I picked a shady tree close to the children's play area which is mostly used by mothers with their toddlers. Close to the facility are included picnic tables, conveniently placed for the mothers and children but obviously usable by all.

At one point we noticed a man with obvious mental impairment and his carer walking through the park. The man, for whatever reason, had serious issues with rage and frustration, and whenever he felt annoyed would shout loudly, stamp his feet and yell out loudly, until placated by his carer.

A short while later they sat down at the picnic tables in the children's area for a packed lunch. Several times the man had loud tantrums, very similar to the ones some of the toddlers were having too, but obviously much more loudly, and several toddlers ran up, looked in curiosity and then ran off in fright to the safety of their mothers.

My husband was of the opinion that the carer should have taken his charge to a quieter area so that children would not potentially be scared by him, but I have a different view.

I think that, no matter how small the child, we need to teach them from an early age that some of us do not conform to a standard human pattern. We cannot and hopefully do not, hide away those with physical disfigurements so, provided no physical violence and endangerment is likely, those with mental impairment should be able to move freely in society, obviously with the help of carers when necessary.

What do other people think?

Trolls: Please would you remain under your bridges for this one. Offensive answers will simply be disregarded.

Like many oldies I am nostalgic for my past life and times. Music and scents are particularly evocative for me. I can't afford to travel much any more, but luckily I travelled and lived in several locations in my younger days. Whenever I get a whiff of Nina Ricci's L'Air du Temp perfume, I am instantly transported back to my years spent in Hong Kong, where it was my own favourite scent. To listen to Kenny G's Silhouette has me relaxing with a rum and coke at dusk on my verandah in Barbados. Ambre Solaire sun oil and I am back in my childhood with my mother on seaside holidays and when I listen to Rod McKuen's Beautiful Strangers I recall many happy years spent in Germany when my children were small.

What music and scents conjure up happy memories for you?

It seems that the row over where the recently discovered remains of King Richard III of England should be re-interred, is escalating. As the last king of the House of York, some feel he should be returned to Yorkshire and be interred at York Cathedral. Others say that he should remain where he fell 500 years ago at the Battle of Bosworth, and be re-interred at Leicester Cathedral. It is common nowadays for the body of a soldier to be returned to his loved ones and his native land, but that was not the case in the time of King Richard III, and, despite having living descendants, he does not actually have loved ones who personally remember him. Is it possibly the case that both Leicester and York are just trying to capitalize on his remains? After all, Richard III's tomb is sure to become a huge tourist attraction wherever it is. So who is correct and where would you re-inter him?

I ask simply from curiosity, after noticing that three of my 'comfort noises' this week were all to do with travel. The first was hearing fog horns on a misty morning as ships headed down the estuary towards the sea, the second was the sound of a distant train as it sped through our local railway station without stopping, and the third was the constant hum of traffic on a nearby motorway, early one morning when the windows were open.

I am staying with my daughter over Christmas this year. She and her partner, and my husband are carnivores. My granddaughter and I are lacto vegetarians. When I am at home I normally have all the trimmings plus portobello mushrooms cooked in a garlic and wine sauce. However my granddaughter hates mushrooms and I don't want to complicate the Christmas table with yet another vegetarian dish, so does anyone have any suggestions for something delicious that both she and I could enjoy alongside the usual Christmas fare.

Do any scrapbooking fans know where I can buy a Cricut personal electronic cutter in UK? I am quite happy to buy online or from a craft retailer, but all the leads I have tried online have just led to lots of frustration and no cricut!

Alternatively if there is a craft supplier in US who would supply to a UK address, I am desperate enough to pay whatever the shipping is.