Friday, November 6, 2009

The More Things Change The More They Stay The Same...

Ever hear the old proverb saying 'The more things change the more they stay the same'?


The original wording in French is: "Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose."

It is of French origin and was used by the French novelist Alphonse Karr (1808-90). It also appears in George Bernard Shaw's 'Revolutionist's Handbook' (1903). Listed in the 1946 'Macmillan (Home) Book of Proverbs, Maxims and Familiar Phrases' by Burton Stevenson and in the 1992 'Dictionary of American Proverbs' by Wolfgang Mieder et al." From "Random House Dictionary of Popular Proverbs and Sayings" by Gregory Y. Titelman (Random House, New York, 1996). 

Here is a cartoon that was in the Chicago Tribune in 1934. Look carefully at the plan of action in the lower left corner.

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See how that old proverb still applies in 2009?


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EX-SMOKERS, HOLD ON TO YOUR SMOKING COLLECTIBLES
When you quit smoking, keep your tobacciana collectibles. Tobacco stands without the top parts are good plant stands. Cigarette cases are popular as small purses that will hold a credit card, driver's license and a little money. Tobacco tins and boxes are interesting storage containers, and the box labels and cigar bands work well for decoupage projects. Best of all, ashtrays can be used to hold short stemmed flowers or kept in the bedroom to hold earrings and rings overnight.

I have a whole whack of ashtrays...remember licking S & H Green Stamps to fill up 99 books so you can redeem them for a new toaster or the new fandangled thing called an Electric Can Opener? If you have someone on your gift list that collects vintage eclectic items...this would make a great gift. She could put it beside her sewing machine, desk, or even use in the kitchen as a spoon rest or hold a bar of soap.
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A neat advertising collectible that is cute as heck..A Kelloggs large Froot Loops cup with Toucan Sam looking quite dapper.
See these and many many more nostalgic collectibles at Supergrannys Treasures

Visit all the OLA Houses at Online Auction

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Roosters In The Hen House

My dear friend Mamie from Oklahoma sent me this story this morning...I enjoyed it...hope you will also.

It's called 'Old Butch'

John was in the fertilized egg business. He had several hundred young layers (hens), called 'pullets', and ten roosters to fertilize the eggs.

He kept records, and any rooster not performing went into the soup pot and was replaced. This took a lot of time, so he bought some tiny bells and attached them to his roosters.


PhotobucketEach bell had a different tone, so he could tell from a distance, which rooster was performing.  Now, he could sit on the porch And fill out an efficiency report by just listening to the bells.

John's favorite rooster, old Butch, was a very fine specimen, but this morning he noticed old Butch's bell hadn't rung at all!

When he went to investigate, he saw the other roosters were busy chasing pullets, bells-a-ringing, but the pullets, hearing the roosters coming, could run for cover.  To John's amazement, old Butch had his bell in his beak, so it couldn't ring.

He'd sneak up on a pullet, do his job and walk on to the next one. John was so proud of old Butch, he entered him in the Renfrew County Fair and he became an overnight sensation among the judges.

The result was the judges not only awarded old Butch the No Bell Piece Prize but they also awarded him the pulletsurprise as well.

Clearly old Butch was a politician in the making.

Who else but a politician could figure out how to win two of the most highly coveted awards on our planet by being the best at sneaking up on the populace and screwing them when they weren't paying attention.

Vote carefully, the bells are not always audible.


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Be smart and check for gift bargains at Online Auction

I have some neat idea gifts for the eclectic person that may collect, for example vintage tobacciana (ashtrays) or advertising items. Someone like whiskey or scotch? Make a neat gift with a Tullamore Dew small water pitcher and a small or large (depending on your pocketbook) bottle of booze.

Got a child that likes lifesavers? Give them my advertising lifesavers candy dish, add a box of lifesavers and you've got an unusual collectible gift.

Think outside the box....browse through my store, Supergrannys Treasures