Why is a Raven like a Writing Desk?

A riddle is a phrase which makes a statement or poses a question. It has a doubled or hidden meaning. There are two types of riddles known as Enigmas and Conundrums. Enigmas are metaphorical and or allegorical and conundrums involve punning in the question or answer.

Lewis Caroll wrote a famous riddle in ‘Alice in Wonderland’.
Why is a raven like a writing desk? Although Caroll intended the riddle to have no answer, many people have put forward suggestions.
1. Because there is a b in both and an n in neither. (Aldous Huxley 1928)
2. Because it slopes with a flap. (Cyril Pearson)
3. Because the notes for which they are noted are not noted for being musical notes. (Sam Lloyd 1914)
4. Because Poe wrote on both.
5. Because it can produce a few notes though they are very flat. (Caroll)
6. They both have inky quills (Lloyd)
7. Bills and ‘tails’ are among their characteristics. (Lloyd)
8. Because they both stand on legs, conceal their ‘steals’ and ought to be made to shut up. (Lloyd)

Tolkien also uses riddles in his novel ‘The Hobbit’. Gollum and Bilbo play a riddle game. If Bilbo wins Gollum will show him the way out, if not he will be eaten. Here is an example of a riddle.

Gollum:
‘What has roots as nobody sees,
Is taller than trees,
Up, up it goes
And yet never grows?’

You may also enjoy reading
Alice in Winderland - The Logic behind the Fantasy by Mary Glaasole aka Magic Quill
http://bookstove.com/classics/alice-in-wonderland-the-logic-behind-the-fantasy/

Prozac and the Unhappy Fish

The widely prescribed anti-depressant Prozac is a cause of sexual dysfunction in fish and amphibians. Prozac, of which the active ingredient is Fluoxetine, is one of a group of drugs known as serotonin uptake inhibitors. They are prescribed to combat depression and depression.

You would think that Prozac in the water courses would result in a lot of happy fish! Well that is not the case. Research into Prozac and the sexual behaviour of goldfish has shown that sperm production in males in polluted water is cut by half. There is also a decline in the transmission and detection of pheromones leading to poor reproduction.
A study by the American Chemical Society in San Francisco recorded a huge number of fresh water Mussels extinct or under threat due to toxic chemicals in the water, of which Prozac is one. The drug causes Mussel larvae to be released prematurely thus contributing to a decline in these molluscs.

In Mosquitofish sexual maturity is delayed. In frogs there is a delay in metamorphosis from tadpole to adult.

Prozac is an environmental hazard and toxic water should be treated, not allowed to enter rivers, streams and so on where it is a threat to fish and amphibians in the wild. Germany is leading the way by investigating how to eliminate the presence of the drug from sewage. Many countries lack the motivation to do anything due to the cost of such procedures.

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The Blue Smartie - Removal of Nasties by Mary Glaspole aka Magic Quill
http://healthmad.com/children/the-blue-smartie-the-removal-of-nasties/

Mystery of the missing Stradivarius

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It’s the stuff of a crime novel; a thief slips into a performer’s room and makes off with his violin. Well, this is no work of fiction but an event which happened on the night of February 28th 1936.
Julian Altman was a violinist who performed in clubs in New York. His mother moved her son to the Oregon Apartments which were located near to Carnegie Hall. Her intention was that her son could get hold of a quality violin.


20 year old Julian Altman was at that time employed at the Russian Bear where he performed nightly dressed as a gypsy. Altman befriended doormen and musicians at the nearby Carnegie Hall. For a cigarette the guards would allow him to listen to the concert from the wings.
Huberman was performing at Carnegie on the night of the theft and he had two violins in his possession, a Guarnerius which he used for the performance and a Strad which he left in his dressing room.


Altman turned up at the back door of Carnegie after making an excuse to leave the Russian Bear. He wore a thick overcoat under which he intended to conceal the violin. Offering to keep an eye on things while the security guard had a cigarette break he entered the hall.
While Huberman was performing Bach’s Concerto in E Major, Altman slipped into his dressing room and removed the valuable instrument from its case. He then returned to his post as watchman until the security guard came back.


Huberman’s Secretary Miss Ibikin noticed the instrument missing during the second half of the performance and asked Huberman what she should do. He reassured her that the instrument was insured and that she must alert the authorities. No information was passed to the audience who sat enjoying the music, oblivious to the detectives who were questioning and searching behind the scenes.


Huberman said that the violin had a distinguishing mark where the neck had been repaired. Photographs of the instrument had recently been taken. Huberman did not believe the thief to be a musician for he left behind a collection of bows worth $9,000 and the case. The musician made an insurance claim of $30,000 from Lloyds in London.


Altman meanwhile was now performing with his valuable Stradivarius and although people wondered about it, he was never questioned. It wasn’t until on his deathbed in 1985 that he confessed to his wife that he had stolen the violin. There was much debate as to whether the woman should have claimed the ‘finder’s fee’ but the money she made is long gone.



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The woman who married Tchaikovsky by Mary Glaspole aka Magic Quill
http://quazen.com/reference/biography/the-woman-who-married-tchaikovsky/

Hallucinogenic and deadly toadstools

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1. Death Cap or Amanita Phalloides is a deadly poisonous fungus native to Europe. It was discovered in 1727 by a French botanist and ‘phalloides’ may refer to its phallic shape. It has a likeness to edible varieties of mushroom such as puffballs which has often led to accidental poisoning. Its victims possibly include the Roman Emperor Claudius and Charles VI. The toxin amanatin damages the liver and kidneys which leads to death. Unlike some poisonous toadstools, Death Cap does not lose its toxicity after cooking.

2. The Destroying Angel or Avenging Angel is closely related to the Death Cap. As little as half a cap contains enough toxicity to poison. Symptoms include stomach upset, delirium, cramps and convulsions. It damages the liver and the kidneys. After consumption symptoms may not appear for as long as 2 hours. Once the initial symptoms pass the victim begins to feel better again but a second onset of symptoms results in death. A combination of haemodialysis and medication have proved effective in the treatment of poisoning. Some success has also been gained from the use of Milk Thistle.

3. Fly Agaric or Amanita Muscaria is red with white spotting. It is probably the most recognisable of all toadstools often found in art and pop culture as a fairy or pixie stool. It is believed that the name Fly Agaric originates from its use as an insecticide. The toxicity of this toadstool is said to be counteracted by cooking, whereas drying increases its potency. It has been reported for its hallucinogenic properties.

4. Gold Cap, Psylocybe Cubensis is a psychedelic mushroom containing LSD. Psylos comes from the Greek meaning ‘bald head’. This toadstool is a hallucinogenic.

The worst day of your life

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What would you do to be able to take back the worst day of your life? Would you do it if you could? Keep in mind, you might not have a choice of what you replace it with.

Yes, that’s me.

The worst day of your life might have been a blessing. No matter how bad life seems or how bad you take it, it could have been worse

Read more: http://quazen.com/shopping/your-worst-day/#ixzz1AkCy6UkO