Tuesday 24 June 2014

This, that and the other

First, this: a gripe about Bloogger (again!).  The reading list on the dashboard, showing all the blogs I follow and the latest post on each, has been shrunk to show just the last post.  Just the one.  there is a link beneath which says, "view more", but that link doesn't work.  frustration is most definitely the name of the game!

Now that: the OB is much better (and thank you everyone for your good wishes) and has risen from her bed today and got dressed.  Whereupon I was instructed to wash the kitchen floor (did it on Sunday) and vacuum the stairs. (Now done that as well.)  I asked if she would feel like eating some lunch.

"A boiled egg and a slice of toast sounds good."

"What about dinner?  I shall be going to Asda this afternoon so can get anything then."

"Perhaps fish of some sort?"

Who does she think I am; Marco Pierre White or Raymond Blanc?  I can't boil an egg for goodness sake!

Lastly, the other.  This is in response to a pic on Skip's blog.

It was a sweltering August day in 1937 when the Cohen brothers entered the posh Dearborn, Michigan, offices of Henry Ford, the car maker. "Mr. Ford," announced Norman Cohen, the eldest of the three. "We have a remarkable invention that will revolutionise the automobile industry."

Ford looked sceptical, but their threat to offer it to the competition kept his interest piqued. "We would like to demonstrate it to you in person." After a little cajoling, they brought Mr. Ford outside to a black automobile parked in front of the building.

Hyman Cohen, the middle brother, opened the door of the car. "Please step inside, Mr. Ford."

"What!" shouted the tycoon, "Are you crazy? It must be two hundred degrees in that car!"

"It is," smiled the youngest brother, Maxwell, "but sit down and push the white button."

Intrigued, Ford pushed the button. All of a sudden, a whoosh of freezing air started blowing from vents all around the car. Within seconds, the automobile was not only comfortable, but quite cool.

"This is amazing!" exclaimed Ford. "How much do you want for the patent?"

Norman spoke up, "The price is one million dollars." Then he paused. "And there is something else: The name 'Cohen Brothers Air-Conditioning' must be stamped right next to the Ford logo."

"Money is no problem," retorted Ford, "but no way will I have a Jewish name next to my logo on my cars!"

They haggled back and forth for a while and finally they settled. Five million dollars, but the Cohens' name would be left off. However, the first names of the Cohen brothers would be forever emblazoned upon the console of every Ford air conditioning system.

And that is why, even today, whenever you enter a Ford vehicle, you will see those three names clearly printed on the air conditioning control panel:









NORM HI MAX


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