That reminds me that I got great response last week when, in an introduction, I used my worst job as my "little known fact": I once had a job telemarketing accidental death and dismemberment insurance.

But accidental death and dismemberment is almost as much fun to say as defenestration! When I worked for an insurance broker, I dressed as a victim of accidental death and dismemberment for a company costume party. Sadly, I came in second to a six foot penis and her sidekick, the five foot probe.

When I worked for an insurance broker, I dressed as a victim of accidental death and dismemberment for a company costume party. Sadly, I came in second to a six foot penis and her sidekick, the five foot probe.

HAHAHAHA!!!

Polgara, FYI, scrabulous HATES me and won't show me the board. Even with newly involved flash. I wonder if it's an issue of my firewall at school.

Even with newly involved flash.

Must be the end of a long day. Read this as "Even with newly involved flesh".

I've spent part of my day watching a Tru Calling marathon on Sci-fi. It got better as it went on. Next I think I'm going to catch up on Reaper. I love vacation. I'd go outside, but it's, like, 90° outside. Eff that.

Some of those BMI pictures are illuminating.

Adorable niece and nephew, paperdol.

Polgara, FYI, scrabulous HATES me and won't show me the board. Even with newly involved flash. I wonder if it's an issue of my firewall at school.

Aw, that's sad. :-( Could be a firewall thing, could be a Mac thing--but no, Allyson plays with a Mac. Hmm.... Maybe they did something funky with this weekend's upgrade? I don't know if anyone else has had a similar problem, but I'll ask around.

Such cute babies!

I, too, have a librarian question. Could someone point me to reliable statistics about religion in the world? Roughly how many people are Christian/Muslim/Jewish/Buddhist/Hindu/etc. etc.? Bonus points if you can help me to find the same statistics for the USA.

And yes, I'm being lazy, and I will totally do my own research if you're too busy!

Oh -- here's the info I got at work on Canadian Thanksgiving:

“In Canada Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday in October. Unlike the American tradition of remembering Pilgrims and settling in the New World, Canadians give thanks for a successful harvest. The harvest season falls earlier in Canada compared to the United States due to the simple fact that Canada is further north.

The history of Thanksgiving in Canada goes back to an English explorer, Martin Frobisher, who had been trying to find a northern passage to the Orient. He did not succeed but he did establish a settlement in Northern America. In the year 1578, he held a formal ceremony, in what is now called Newfoundland, to give thanks for surviving the long journey. This is considered the first Canadian Thanksgiving. Other settlers arrived and continued these ceremonies. He was later knighted and had an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean in northern Canada named after him - Frobisher Bay.

At the same time, French settlers, having crossed the ocean and arrived in Canada with explorer Samuel de Champlain, also held huge feasts of thanks. They even formed 'The Order of Good Cheer' and gladly shared their food with their Indian neighbours.

After the Seven Year's War ended in 1763, the citizens of Halifax held a special day of Thanksgiving.

During the American Revolution, Americans who remained loyal to England moved to Canada where they brought the customs and practices of the American Thanksgiving to Canada. There are many similarities between the two Thanksgivings such as the cornucopia and the pumpkin pie.

Eventually in 1879, Parliament declared November 6th a day of Thanksgiving and a national holiday. Over the years many dates were used for Thanksgiving, the most popular was the 3rd Monday in October. After World War I, both Armistice Day and Thanksgiving were celebrated on the Monday of the week in which November 11th occurred. Ten years later, in 1931, the two days became separate holidays and Armistice Day was renamed Remembrance Day.

Finally, on January 31st, 1957, Parliament proclaimed...

"A Day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed ... to be observed on the 2nd Monday in October.”

The harvest season falls earlier in Canada compared to the United States due to the simple fact that Canada is further north.

As if our harvest actually falls in November...

In the year 1578, he held a formal ceremony, in what is now called Newfoundland, to give thanks for surviving the long journey. This is considered the first Canadian Thanksgiving. Other settlers arrived and continued these ceremonies. He was later knighted and had an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean in northern Canada named after him - Frobisher Bay.

Otherwise known as, "Thank God we're off that boat." You know, I've never even known we had a first Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is not really mythologized here the way it is in the US. There's no breaking bread with the Indians, or any real historical ties. It's like, "Have the day off and stuff yourself with Turkey! Brought to you by Butterball."