Two customers in Kenny’s Store were debating our current hot spell. It was boiling – 30 degrees plus, not including the humidity. One said it was because of the weather, the other the climate. Weather was correct, climate means over a longer period.
I wonder if they considered back in 1816 when Canada did not have a summer because of the largest volcanic eruption ever at Mount Tambora the year before. Ash clouds covered an area the size of Australia. A colder climate affected the whole world.
There are many things that seem the same but are not. Robberies and burglaries always confused me. A “robbery” is some person-to-person theft using force,” said the local Law Office. “Burglary, however, only requires the intent to steal”. Meanwhile, “theft” simply means you stole without interacting with anyone. I’m still confused!
Maybe I am slow as they are, but I thought turtles and tortoises were the same. Turtle is an umbrella term for turtles, tortoises, and terrapins, according to National Geographic. Tortoises are turtles that strictly live on land while some turtles are aquatic. A straightforward way to tell the difference is to look at their feet. Tortoise feet resemble elephant feet while turtles have webbed feet.
I’ve always used “cement” and “concrete” interchangeably. In fact, when I wanted to buy cement at Home Depot, the salesperson said, “I think you are looking for concrete.” It seems that cement is the binding ingredient in ‘concrete’. Concrete also has air, water, and a mix or combination of aggregate like sand, gravel, or crushed stone.
Whether it is baking powder or baking soda, they are not the same. A simple slip of the tongue or confusing these two could make the difference between flat and fluffy baked goods. Baking soda is a crystalline alkaline salt. “Baking powder” is a leavening agent usually containing baking soda as one of the base ingredients.
There are more differences between “hotels” and “motels” than their first letters. Both types of lodging have the same essential purpose of housing travelers, but plenty sets them apart, too. ‘Hotels,’ a term with French roots, offer lodging, meals, entertainment, and other services. ‘Motels’ are a more recent American lodging choice meant for one or two-night stops for road travelers. That is why hotels supply more amenities as guests stay longer. I had a reputation with a motel in Pembroke before ever staying in one. Another teenager in the area booked a room for him and his girlfriend. He signed is using my name. It turned out the owner was a good friend of my mother’s and couldn’t wait until mentioning about ‘me’ staying overnight. I had a tough time clearing that one up. Years later I discovered who the culprit was.
The most difficult to sort out was ‘macarons’ and ‘macaroons’, two completely different desserts. French macarons are meringue-based sandwich cookies with either ganache, jam, or buttercream filling. They are notoriously tricky to make, but macaroons aren’t. Macaroons have shredded coconut as the main ingredient and are easier to make.
Interested in learning more about the sport of Rugby, I almost wish I hadn’t – it is so baffling. The team sports rugby league and rugby union have shared origins and thus many similarities. But in1895 became separate sports. 20 rebel teams in England formed their own Rugby Union – revised in 1996 with 10 teams from England and one each from France and Canada as a Super league, holding an annual competition between the winners of the Australian League and the super union.
The rest of the world belongs to the rugby league and the best of those teams participate in the World Cup every 4 years. This event rivals the Football World Cup in fan esteem. Many of the positions have similar names but in practice are very different. The ruby union has 15 players and the rugby league 13 The position known as ‘flanker’ is not in the rugby league and it has only 2 hookers compared to 9 hookers in the rugby union. The reduction of scrums has meant a faster free flowing game. Different skill sets and body types for players needed for the different positions has required more specialization.
Something that is substantially the same as something else, but differs in minor details, is summed up nicely by the Irish, “Everybody is the same, only different.”
