From the diary of Lieutenant John le Couteur of the 104th Regiment of Foot... dated May 27th, 1813...

We both sat on the sound end of the wooden canoe, cocked her broken bow over the water and launched our bark for fame and glory. It was, in vulgar parlance, a funky affair but we got over safe.

Yup, you read that right... a "Funky Affair" in 1813... and no, George Clinton was born in 1941 so he wasn't there... although what an image that would be!

According to Donald E. Graves' wonderful tome, "Merry Hearts Make Light Days - The War of 1812 Journal of Lieutenant John Le Couteur, 104th Foot", which cites "A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue" by Captain Francis Grose, London 1796 (but reprinted in 1963) defines "funk" as...

To smoke; figuratively, to smoke or stink through fear.

Un-hunh...

So, this is the origin of "funk"... to effectively make a nasty smell because you're frightened.

Someone's gonna have to tell me how this ended up meaning cool base lines with rockin' slaps...

Hmmm...

GTA Residents - Help Support a Good Cause and Get Yourself Something To Read

If you're in the GTA and love books as much as I do or you're looking for a good Christmas gift idea... and want to support an EXCELLENT cause, PLEASE consider visiting The Giant Warehouse Book Sale at 120 Duffield Dr. near Kennedy and 14th Avenue (North of Steeles - just East of the DVP) on December 1st, 2nd, and 3rd...

Every book is 75% off... and ALL profits go to a very good cause, The Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of Canada.

Click here for details of the sale...

Again, if you're in the Toronto area, please go to this sale and help The Crohn's and Colitis Foundation!

Short post... but realistically, this is the only thought on my mind right now... which is indicative of the kind of Wednesday it is today here for the mighty-Mattster.

The standard last note on the old blog... PLEASE SUPPORT THE DREAM!

This blog is here to help promote a dream that an entire family shares... that dream is to rescue an old London Double-Decker bus.

Please, if you have a few minutes, take some time to find out more about this bus and the kooky dream by clicking here.

This bus is VERY special to myself and the whole family, and any help any person can lend us would be most gratefully accepted.

If you or someone you know might be interested, there's our pixel ad site, HelpCoverTheBus.Com and a PayPal donation button (see the upper-right hand side of the blog) and, of course, a Cafe Press shop for T-Shirts and shtuff!
(...and who doesn't need some shtuff!)

Please help us make this dream a reality and save a piece of history!

We thank you for your support!

Please Note: We are also hoping for help from a public relations/marketing standpoint... If you might be able to assist OR know someone who might be willing to, please click here and read this entry...