BS: Labour Day

Subject: RE: BS: Labor Day
From: Beer
Date: 03 Sep 12 - 10:33 PM

Labor day for me was a weekend that i could go to Pembroke Ontario for a great weekend of fiddling, song and connecting with friends from the past and making new one's.
However this year my buddy auctioneer asked me to work because he had one BIG estate sale to do. so i agreed. Got there at 7:45 this morning and finished at 8 this evening. this was with 2 auctioneers working the crowd. Unbelievable sale. But my point is, at 65 I am now a bit tired and do not care for Labor Day.
Adrien

Subject: RE: BS: Labour Day
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 03 Sep 12 - 02:08 PM

Latin- Labor, laboris.
OF writing, labor, labour. The latter seems to have been most commonly used; in English writing of the 1300s labour was used.

In the U.S. Noah Webster, 1798, says "common sense and convenience," would lead to adoption of public for publick, favor for favour, etc. In 1806, he swept the 'ou', a 'silent' letter, out of his dictionary. Also redundant consonants; traveler for traveller, wagon for waggon, etc.
He also transposed the 'er' in calibre, to caliber, etc.

Shakespeare used honor and honour indescriminately

Johnson in England was firmly for retaining the 'u' ih honor, labor, etc.

Webster dominated the field in America, hence 'labor' in the U.S.

The above from H. L. Mencken, "The American Language."

Subject: RE: BS: Labour Day
From: pdq
Date: 03 Sep 12 - 01:07 PM

Who took the you out of labour?

I have heard that Theodore Roosevelt gave a executive order shortening words including "shoppe" and "labour". He made them more American.

Subject: RE: BS: Labour Day
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 03 Sep 12 - 12:57 PM

The 'me' culture.

(I once knew a bit about the o-ou difference, but I would have to do some work with the OED to answer with anything that is factual and not anecdotal.

Subject: RE: BS: Labour Day
From: Ed T
Date: 03 Sep 12 - 09:35 AM

Who took the you out of labour?

Subject: RE: BS: Labour Day
From: gnu
Date: 02 Sep 12 - 09:59 PM

Saulgoldie, ChanteyLass, Sandy... thanks for your words.

Subject: RE: BS: Labour Day
From: Rapparee
Date: 02 Sep 12 - 09:07 PM

OBU was the right answer.

Subject: RE: BS: Labour Day
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 02 Sep 12 - 08:58 PM

It makes me a bit sad I'm afraid. Many workplace struggles over the last century made improvements for the organized, and those benefits eventually were passed on to all workers. Workplace safety and improvements in hours of work were at least as important as gaining fair wages and job sequrity. Today organized labour is in a constant struggle trying to maintain what was won in earlier times and it is a losing battle. Greedy corporations moved so many jobs to the far east seeking sweatshop wages that the hurt is being felt by almost all.    CEO's earn obscene wages as workers suffer, if they have a job at all. Free Trade and the so called global economy is killing us. Even prosperous places like Alberta are in trouble because they are selling out precious resources below value to maintain their boom. Neither governments or corporations value the worker as they both seek to fleece him of his last dollar. It is not a good time for labour!

Subject: RE: BS: Labour Day
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 02 Sep 12 - 08:16 PM

I think about the workers, too, and what unions did to improve their circumstances. Now we are being pushed backward.

For anyone interested, the attempt to organize a union at Mystic Seaport failed. One of the problems is that workers in certain positions were laid off for six weeks during the winter, while many in other positions were not. Among those laid off were those who work most directly with museum visitors: chantey singers, demo squad, historic interpreters, etc.

Subject: RE: BS: Labour Day
From: Bill D
Date: 02 Sep 12 - 02:55 PM

Means trash pickup is delayed one day....making the rest of the week harder for the trash men.

Subject: RE: BS: Labour Day
From: GUEST,Saulgoldie
Date: 02 Sep 12 - 02:54 PM

I give these special days at least a few minutes to think about what they are really about. And I think that the plight, worldwide, of the workers who REALLY make the wealth off of whose backs paper pushers take their over-sized salaries and bonuses is bleaker by the minute. Don't know what the solution is. Happy Labor Day. Workers of the world unite!

Saul

Subject: RE: BS: Labour Day
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 02 Sep 12 - 02:49 PM

Just like any other holiday.

Subject: RE: BS: Labour Day
From: gnu
Date: 02 Sep 12 - 02:25 PM

Fer me it was always trout fishin. Always had low water so we would hit the back back back country with a 4X4 truck and a chainsaw and go after the big trout under woods road bridges and in deep pools and beaver ponds while we scouted for deer and moose and birds to fill the freezer for winter. I miss those days in a way.

Subject: BS: Labour Day
From: Ed T
Date: 02 Sep 12 - 02:19 PM

Is Labour Day special to you? If so, in what way?
Has it lost its original meaning, becaming "just another shopping holiday" weekend? Or is it a summer end weekend tradition for you and your family?
What are your plans on this holiday (as it is in many areas)?